T H E F O R T N I G H T LY N E W S L E T T E R F R O M G A L S T O N H I G H S C H O O L 2 0 1 8 T E R M 4 W E E K 4

Celebrating Excellence in Student LeadershipHouse Leader Induction Ceremony

On Tuesday 16th October 2018, the 2019 House Leaders Induction Ceremony was held. House Leaders are selected for their leadership qualities to enhance the Galston High School community spirit and PBEL initiatives.

As a part of the assembly, Jade Nolland, Nathan Modde, Logan Trethowan and Ben Berry addressed the assembly outlining the vision for the House Leaders in our school for 2019. Provided below is their speech which clearly articulates what the 2019 House Leaders will aspire to.

House leaders take on a role in the school that is different to any other. Our objective is to strengthen school morale and instil spirit throughout the school whilst developing pride for all those who attend

Galston High School.

Prefects have been described as the face of the school, they are the ones out in the community promoting and exemplifying our school values of respect, responsibility and personal best. They cannot promote our school if they do not have pride in our core values of respect, responsibility and personal best.

The SRC are our social conscience and focus on working with Ms Tourlas to ensure students have what they need to learn in the classroom and beyond. SRC cannot do what students want if the student body does not have a desire to want their school to be better.

The Library leaders – these are the

students that exemplify our 3 keys but they do it in the location of the library.

This leadership role takes on new meaning for all of us as leaders and learners, as our role as House Leaders is key to promoting school spirit and pride for all those who attend Galston High School. I am proud to be a representative of Samurai’s and know that I am helping to make our school an even happier place to be.

School spirit is important because it sets the tone for various aspects of the school and its students. It creates a sense of community. With a sense of community comes the development of relationships and building on school Pride that is immeasurable and contagious.

Induction Ceremony (cont’d)...

I believe that school spirit translates into higher expectations of one’s self and surroundings, pushing for positive changes at school and community level. This in turn does nothing more than make our learning at Galston High School more fulfilling…because it makes us want to be here, achieving our personal best. As house leaders in 2019, our goal is to continue to build on student and staff involvement in a variety of activities, this year we were proud to see so many students and staff from Year 7 to 12 involved in a range of activities which we left. The activities we plan is with the goal of helping all staff and students develop an attachment to their school house. We want all students to feel like they belong at Galston High School and we want you all to be involved.

We will always try our hardest to promote our school values and work towards ensuring there is pride in our school and in the community. We will work with your best interests to make the school a better place and we also work with our fellow leaders in the SRC and Prefect Body to bring your wants for the school into reality.

As house leaders, particularly Viking house leaders, we may annoy you when it comes to making relay teams for sporting events. We may be ‘loud’ in our endeavours to get all students and staff involved in activities we do through the term, but we will be doing everything we can to make sure that all students feel like they belong to a house that is a part of the Galston High School culture and to help the Vikings beat the Knights next year.

House Leaders at Galston High School are in a unique position, our role is to not only positively represent the school to the entire community but also support students in exemplifying our 3 keys, of respect, responsibility and personal best. We also provide younger students with a friendly group of people for which they are available to come to at all times. As

leaders we need to display sociability, initiative, persistence, self-confidence and most importantly empathy.

As house leaders in 2019 we will aim to continue to improve whole school house spirit and increase participation at our sports carnivals, this year it was great to see so many students come out and compete and wear their house colours. Remembering that participation can mean you being in attendance is just as important as winning a race.

We have not taken on this position to be in a position of authority over you, but to encourage and to provide the opportunity for you to participate in activities that you will thoroughly enjoy. As a Spartan leader, I will be coming and cheering you on to encourage you to achieve your personal best and to wear red, the colour of our house when competing as we try to take out the House Point trophy next year.

In term 2 this year we were inducted as house leaders and it was only a short time in the role but we have made a fantastic contribution to the school spirit and participation in events around the school. We requested that the House Leader Induction, be much earlier and this has occurred this year. I am a proud Knights House Leader and look forward to representing you over the next four terms.

In March, we spent time at Leadership camp in March, with Mr Gage and Mr Van Baarle which assisted us in planning how we would start the process of leading the improvement in school pride and the events we would hold over the next three terms.

Part of this planning, was having a range of events that all students could be involved in as school and house spirit is more than just being sporty.

In Term 2 we started with our Athletics Carnival and later in the term we had the scavenger hunt and the hugely successfully Mario Kart Challenge, which will now be an annual event, so keep

practicing.

This culminated in a BBQ for the winning House Knights at the end of term2.

In Term 3, there was the Paper plane throwing competition and in RUOK week the basketball competition. We were also proud to support the library leaders in book week and enjoyed gaining points for our houses in book week costumes.

In this term, there is the Oz Tag competiton happening at recess and lunch on Thursdays, so come along to the Hockey Oval and support these teams. As a huge finale to the year, all the leadership groups will be running a school colour run. There will be more details to come. If you have any great ideas for events that you would like to see run next year, please speak to one of your house leaders.

Now it is time to present the House Points Award to the winning house.

The house which came fourth was Spartans

With Vikings in 3rd place and Samuari in 2nd place.

As a proud Knights leader, I am happy to announce that KNIGHTS are the House Points Champions for 2018 to celebrate this awesome feat, there will be a BBQ lunch provided this Friday at lunch time for Knights house members and the official trophy will be presented at Presentation Night.

Thank you and we look forward to having you participate in school carnivals and events.

Congratulations to our House Leaders

House Leaders of Samurai

Stephanie Kassapakis, Aaron Hogan, Jade Nolland, Sam Loria, Gemma McCusker

Induction Ceremony (cont’d)...

House Leaders of the Spartans

Lilli Clifton, Felicity Whiteman, Robbie Cullen, Ben Berry, Riley Paton, Kai Brady, Hayley Clark-Donaldson

Term 3 and 4 have been very busy for the House Leaders as there has been many activities as you can see in the photographs.

A few highlights included:

Supporting the SRC with RUOK week at Galston High School with a basketball shooting competiton where 50 students and teachers took part.

Our winners were: First - Nick Woodgate Red House Year 12

House Leader Report

House leaders of the Vikings

Harrison Kinnish, Cameron Philip, Emily Woods, Steven Huang, Nathan Modde, Maddie Hill, Corey Olivier, Brenden de Berg

Second - Dylan Leeuw Yellow House Year 12Third - Nathan Modde Green House Year 10 - junior winnerFourth - Mr Kim Sing Green House

Supporting the Student Librarians during bookweek; our favourite activity was Transfiguration Tuesday. A paper Aeroplane competition. It was so close until Mr Whiteman stepped up and threw his plane well past all the other competition.

First – Mr Whiteman – Green HouseSecond - Andrew Acetunio in Year 12 – Green HouseThird – Nick Featherston – Year 11 – Yellow House. Junior winner – Tyler Townsend – Year 7 – Red House

Farewelled our 2018 leaders with a thank you luncheon with the SRC.

This term we have started an Oz-tag competition at recess and lunch on a Thursday and this has been a huge success. With 5 Year 7 teams and 7 senior teams and 1 teachers team. The competition is fierce!

We would like to send out a big shout of Thanks to Mrs Searle who organised a points score board, which we have placed next to the P&C bubblers outside the canteen.

Thank you Fiona Lamont and Lachlan Gage on behalf of the House Leader Team

House Leaders of the knights

Trent Dalton, Amelie Stuut, Thalia Smith-Astudillo, Chloe Anjoul, L o g a n Trethowan, Liam McKenzie, Ben Jeffrey

Upcoming Events

This Week

Sunday 11 NovemberBronze D of E

Monday 12 NovemberYear 11 Hospitality Work PlacementBronze D of EIncursion - School to Work Project - Draper/LanskeIncursion ANZAC Project with Rowland Village 9am-3pm - Lamont

Tuesday 13 NovemberYear 11 Hospitality Work PlacementIncursion - School to Work Project - Draper/Lanske

Wednesday 14 NovemberYear 11 Hospitality Work PlacementYear 12 Clearance DayIncursion Year 10 GPs in Schools Program - van BaarleIncursion - School to Work Project - Draper/LanskeIncursion - 2019 HUB Transition - 9.15am - 11amYear 7 Police Talks 8.50 - 9.50amYear 8 Police Talks 9.50 - 10.40am

Thursday 15 NovemberYear 11 Hospitality Work PlacementSport Finals

Friday 16 NovemberYear 11 Hospitality Work PlacementYear 12 Clearance DayYear 9 Excursion Advanced Games & Coaching during class time - SmidtYear 9 Excursion Recreational Sport - Smidt/van Baarle during class timeExcursion ext 2 English - Uni of Sydney - MurrellIncursion ANZAC Project with Rowland Village 9.00am - 1.30pm -Lamont

Next Week

Monday 19 NovemberIncursion ANZAC Project with Rowland Village 9.00am - 1.30pm

Tuesday 20 NovemberCricket TrialsP&C Meeting

Wednesday 21 NovemberYear 7 VaccinationsIncursion 2019 HUB Transition 9.15 - 11.00am

Thursday 22 NovemberZone Orienteering Gala Day

Friday 23 NovemberYear 11 Young Endeavour Interviews - van BaarleIncursion - Ngamura Program for Aboriginal students

Saturday 24 NovemberGold D of E

Sunday 25 NovemberGold D of E

Still to come

Monday 26 NovemberGold D of EYear 7 Swim School

Tuesday 27 NovemberGold D of EYear 7 Swim School

Wednesday 28 NovemberQuirindi ExcursionGold D of EYear 7 Swim School

Thursday 29 NovemberQuirindi ExcursionGold D of EAdvanced Games & Coaching Excursion - Smidt

Friday 30 NovemberQuirindi ExcursionGold D of EYear 7 Surf Ed ExcursionYear 9 Advanced Games & Coaching Excursion during class time - SmidtYear 9 Recreational Sport Excursion during class time - Smidt/van BaarleOxfam Excursion - Lamont

Homework ClubHomework Club operates every Wednesday afternoon from 3.30 - 4.30pm.

Students can receive help from teaching staff with homework and assessment tasks, or simply utilise the Library computers and wifi to complete their work.

Proudly supported by

Prefect Report

This week at Galston High Years 7-10 finished off their yearly exams on Wednesday. Year 12 finished off their HSC exams this week as well, Drama was the final exam this afternoon and it’s safe to say all students are relieved it’s all over. Year 11 hospitality students start work placement next week, heading to locations within the community and across the city. The semester two Year 9 Bronze Duke of Edinburgh students recently undertook the challenge of their bronze practice walk, their first of many walks to come. They started their walk on Sunday the 28th of October at Muogamarra fire station. They walked to Crossland via Berowra Waters. They stopped and enjoyed a great view of the water as they sat and ate lunch. They had a great evening sitting around the camp fire and playing games. They all had a great time and are looking forward to their future walks.

Humanities Faculty Focus...

What a great year in the Humanities Faculty! We have all been engaged in awesome learning experiences with our students.

Year 7 have started the study of History this semester and have been looking at the topic of ‘What is History?’ Which includes primary and secondary sources and the value of personal and local history and there is no better place than to learn about this than by visiting the Waddell Cottage and undertaking an artefact activity.

Year 8 participated in a Medieval Show, to better understand the world of this time. The production was a great opportunity for students to be hands on with the equipment of Knights from the time and sample the lifestyle. All students who went along enjoyed their experience and had lots of fun especially at the end experiencing weapons from the Middle Ages (blunt of course!). Mr and Mrs Cosgrove presented their outstanding presentation to Year 10 late in Term 3.

Year 11 Business Studies students entered 2 Business Plan competitions this year. These require a lot of work and demand a high quality product. Students have to create a business and write a detailed operational, marketing and financial plan (including; cashflow statements and break even analysis) for their hypothetical business. This year they also had to consider the ethical and social responsibilities of the business. Newcastle University sent the students Certificate of High Achievement and we are still awaiting the results from the Economics Business Educators Competition. In the photographs you can see the branding and mission statements for these businesses. Year 11 have also been learning about operation processes by running a popcorn business for the lesson. Lots of fun and learning was had by all.

I would like to thank both the staff and students of the Humanities Faculty for their hard work and commitment to learning.

Mrs Lamont Head Teacher Humanities

Year 10 History for their study of the Cold War attended the informative and highly interactive presentation of Mr and Mrs Cosgrove on the experiences of soldiers at war and their experience at home after the Vietnam War. Students always enjoy this presentation and are able to understand the war from a new perspective. We will be delighted to present the Vietnam Veteran’s Association with a donation at the end of the presentation to assist them in the upkeep of the equipment used in the presentation.

The next day, I received this lovely email of thanks from Mr and Mrs Cosgrove;

Dear Fiona & HSIE Team,

Thank you for inviting the Vietnam Veterans Education Program to Galston High again. We note this was our seventh yearly visit to deliver our program on Australia’s Involvement in the Vietnam War (1962 to 1972) and the impact of that war on veterans and their families. Across two and a half hours of presentation time your students displayed a keen interest in the topic. Student behaviour was of the highest standard and a variety of thoughtful questions were asked at the conclusion of our program; another indication of students engaging with our address. Your role play/dress up group were wonderful to work with and helped demonstrate aspects of an infantry soldier’s life during the Vietnam War. We trust our presentation adds another layer of information and understanding of the Vietnam Topic and will assist students with their assignment tasks later in the year.

The hospitality and support given to us by staff across our visit was also greatly appreciated. Please pass our sincere thanks to the Principal, HSIE staff, students and the cafe crew for making our visit another memorable one.Thank you in anticipation of your usual voluntary donation to our VVAA St Marys Outpost Sub Branch. These funds help our sub branch support ALL veterans from ALL

wars and conflicts, in particular our younger service men and women returning from the War on Terror.

We will be in contact later in the year to advise of our program availability in 2019 should you seek our services again.

Best wishes to the Principal, students and staff.

Vin & Nancy CosgroveVietnam Veterans Education Program

This is a new and innovative product which aims to manufacture high quality football socks that have a slot implemented into them which allows a shinpad to be easily put on and removed. Our long term vision is to create a more practical, comfortable and safer way to play! Luke, Lukas and Matt

SHREDBRO is a business offering unique retro ski gear for avid skiers and snowboarders wanting a quality product to spice up their style. Colby and Aiden

Our main goal was to provide the sporting community with the ability to help athletes all around the globe to find their average speed, throwing speed, hitting speed or throwing speed. Nick and Rowan

Blue Lock is a company that offers a DIY kit to the customer to stop the struggle that many old car owners with the absence of a key-less car entry which allows customers to get into their car without having the key in their hand. James, Giorgio, Ryan

At Kickex we believe playing a range of sports should be cheap and easy. We make it our mission to change the way we buy different pairs of sports shoes for each different sport played. We strive to make families save hundreds of dollars yearly on buying sports shoes. We aim to use the same materials used in most sports shoes, so every shoe is to sporting needs and requirements. Teresa, Jessica and Airlie

Year 11 Branding & Mission Statements...

WADDELL CAFE

GALSTON HIGH SCHOOL

INTRODUCING

THE

ULTIMATE PLACE TO RELAX

EXCLUSIVELY FOR STAFF, SENIOR STUDENTS & PARENTS Operated by y ear 10 students & staff

NOW OPEN EVERY TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY

DURING SCHOOL TERM

9:00 AM - 1:30 PM

LOCATED IN THE ADMINISTRATION BLOCK

VISIT & HAVE A COFFEE WITH US