13th August 2010

Issue 11 2010

Newsletter

Inside this issue:

Principal’s Report 2

Library News 3

Athletics Carnival Results

4

Carnival Photos 5

Community Notices & National Tree Day

6

Coomealla AECG & Coomealla HS

NAIDOC 2010 Elders Awards Night

7/8

Recipe Corner 8

Coomealla High School

“Our community strives to provide all students with the foundations to develop skills and values enabling them to be positive contributors to society.”

Sturt Wins Athletics Carnival!

Coming Up

16th—18th August Yr 10 into 11 Subject Choice Interviews

Tuesday, 17th August P&C Meeting, 7.30pm—Come and meet our new Principal

23rd—27th August Year 11 Work Placement

Wednesday, 18th August Chess Competition in Library

Friday, 27th August Tournament of Minds Excursion

Open Girls Champion Rebecca Elstone showing excellent form in the high jump.

Page 2 Coomealla High School

Principal’s Report

On Monday 9th August Coomealla High School held a very successful parent information evening. The purpose of the evening was to inform parents about subject choices for their students going from Year 10 into Year 11.

This is an important and significant time. Students entering Year 11 have completed their time as ‘juniors’ in the school and will take on the responsibility of senior school. The choice of subjects takes on a new importance as students are beginning to think about their future after school. Students will be asking themselves, “do I want to go to university, do I want to take on an apprenticeship, am I interested in TAFE or college, do I even know what I want to do?”

With the new fifteen plus legislation now into its second year students must remain at school until they are 17 and have completed their School Certificate. If a student chooses to takes on further study such as TAFE, an apprenticeship, or at least 25 hours per week of full time work they can leave at the end of Year 10. The majority of our students, however, will be looking at a return to senior school and, as a result, must have a good understanding of the choices available to them.

Students and their families must understand a whole new language surrounding their schooling. Terms such as units, ATAR, Board Developed Courses, Board Endorsed Courses must be understood and their implications known. We need to understand what is a VET course and how subjects link in with TAFE.

The most important element in this process is knowledge. If parents and students fully understand the process and the options that are available they will make the right choices. If students wish to go on to university then they must ensure that they choose the correct subjects. Choosing the wrong subjects for their career could prevent them being accepted at university, even at this early stage.

Knowledge is the key to making good choices. If you are unsure about choosing subjects please contact the school. Mrs Pauline Smith, our careers advisor, has an excellent understanding of the requirements needed for a range of careers. Head Teachers and your child’s teachers can give specific information relating to individual subjects. Contact the school and arrange a time when you can ask questions and make informed choices.

To assist this process Mrs Smith and the Year 10 Advisor, Ms Francis, will be interviewing all Year 10 students about their choices for next year. This is an important and exciting time and as Principal I want to ensure that all of our students make their best possible start to senior school.

On another note we have begun a PIPs Program (Phone Intervention Program) to contact parents immediately if their child is not at school. We are endeavouring to improve the speed of communication between the school and families regarding absences and to encourage parents to phone the school if their child will not be attending on a particular day. If you have any change in your contact details please advise the school. Also, providing the school with your email address will enable us to forward a copy of the newsletter directly to you each fortnight.

This week is SASS Staff Recognition Week. Our SASS staff are integral to the running of the school. They assist in classrooms, maintain our grounds and provide smooth running to administrative and financial procedures within the school. They allow teachers to get on with the core business of teaching our students. I would particularly like to thank our SASS Staff at Coomealla High who have eased my transition to the school with their knowledge and professionalism.

Rob Scotton

Page 3 Issue 11 2010

Library News

Book Week— 21-27th August

Theme: Across the Story Bridge

Book Week is the longest running children's festival in Australia, celebrating its 65th birthday in 2010.

Chess At Coomie This week we had our regular chess session with Robyn Heaysman . Next week we are planning a mini tournament run on the Swiss format. The games will be timed and run on a round robin basis. The overall winner for this tournament will receive a small prize. A second tournament will run in Week 10. Students will need to nominate so that the draw and organisation can be finalised by next Tuesday, 17th August .

Book Reviews

Stolen by Lucy Christopher Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost.

Winds Of Heaven by Judith Clarke When Fan was little she dreamed of magical countries in the faraway blue hills. And as she grew up she dreamed of love, and the boys came after her one by one by one. Clementine thought her cousin Fan's house in the country had a special smell: of sun and dust and kerosene and the wild honey they ate for breakfast on their toast. But then there were the feelings: the anger that smelled like iron and the disappointment that smelled like mud. Still, Fan was strong and beautiful and Clementine thought she'd always be like that. But Fan was seeking something, and neither she nor Clementine knew exactly what...

Loving Richard Freyman By Penny Tangey Richard Feynman was a Nobel Prize-winning physicist. Catherine is a science-loving fifteen-year-old. Richard helped build the atom bomb. Catherine is just trying to survive school. When your life is falling apart around you, is talking to a dead physicist normal? Catherine thinks so, but it isn't until her life begins unravelling that she learns who she can really trust.

School Magazine -The production of this year’s magazine has begun. This year’s publication will cover the year’s events and include students’ creative work. It will be available in November. Once again sponsorship is being sought to offset the cost of producing the magazine. Letters have been mailed to many of our usual sponsors. If you did not receive a letter but would like to contribute to this worthwhile record of the school’s history please contact 5027 4506. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Page 4 Coomealla High School

Great Weather + Outstanding facilities +

Fantastic Students =

A fun and successful carnival

STURT WINS ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

The athletics carnival, held over two days on the 26th and 28th of July, was a well patronised event. Students made every effort to enter events and it was great to see lots of participation. A huge THANK-YOU to all students who attended and participated, and to all staff for their efforts over the two days.

RESULTS:

1st Place - STURT 10207 Points

2nd Place – OXLEY 9690 Points

3rd Place – COOK 7609 Points

4th Place – MITCHELL 7300 Points

AGE CHAMPIONS

Girls

Champion

Girls

Runner- Up

Boys

Champion

Boys

Runner- Up

12 Years Amy Rix Victoria Wright Derek Smith Aaron Duck

13 Years

Shanae Tilley Lauren Fraser Ian McKinnon Kenneth Nichols

14 Years Caitlin Elstone Sarah Watts Samuel Ramsden Jacob Watt

15 Years

Ellen Fraser Sarah Clothier Ryan Tilley Dylan Darby

16 Years

Brittany Watt Catherine Crowley Lachlan Cottrell Scott Linklater

Open

Rebecca Elstone Rhiannon Appleby James Burrows

Zac Carter

Page 5 Issue 11 2010

Page 6 Coomealla High School

Junior Heat Basketball Tryouts

Girls—August 21st, 28th and September 4th Boys—August 22nd, 29th and September 5th

More Information: call Mildura Basketball Association on 5023 2241 or go to www.mildurabasketball.com.au

Wentworth District Junior Football & Netball Club Presentation Night

Presentation night will be held on Friday 27th August at 7pm at the Club Rooms.

U10s, U12s & U14s to bring a salad and U16s and all Netballers to bring a sweet.

We will have a BBQ Tea and heaps of fun.

Please do your best to get there.

Basketball Practice

Under 10 & Under 12 basketball practice for all boys and girls with Heat STAR Kevin Smith Fridays from 4pm—5pm.

Cost is $4 with all players to bring along a basketball and drink.

Term 3 Aussie Hoops for boys and girls from 4 years old and up. Monday afternoons at the Mildura Basketball Stadium on 8th Street. Details: 5023 2241

Year 12 Key Dates!!!!!!!!!

30th August 2010—Major Works Due

17th September 2010—LAST Assessment Tasks

Thursday 14th October 2010—HSC Commences

National Tree Day Year 8 Agriculture students planted shrubs

recently as part of National Tree Day. Students will care for the plants and participate in further

environmental activities throughout the year.

Mr P Colley

Page 7 Issue 11 2010

Coomealla AECG & Coomealla High School

NAIDOC 2010 Elders Awards Night

The night started with Tamika Smith & William Philp making the acknowledgement of, and welcome to, country. The Master of Ceremonies was former Coomealla High School student Rudolph Kirby. A performance by the Dareton Public School Dancers followed, and was very entertaining.

After the performance dinner was served and everyone enjoyed the delicious meal. Keynote speaker Ron Jackson spoke about his early days and his education in schools and in the community. The major awards were what the night was all about and we celebrated the Elders who contributed directly to students and school education.

The Elders receiving awards were:

Ray Lawson

Jessie Atkinson

Hector Hudson (Dec)

Dawn Smith

Arthur Lawson (Dec)

Christine Kelly

Rex Smith

Olive Mitchell (Dec)

Roland Smith (Dec)

Doreen Mitchell

Elsie Coombs

Eric Murray

The band went from 9pm-12pm. They were called Digging Up Bones and come from Lake Cargelligo.

In attendance were Principals: Robert Scotton Coomealla High School, Warren Davies Wentworth Public School, Cathy Eddie Buronga Public School, Barb McDougall Dareton Public School, Glenn Walker Gol Gol Public School, Barbara McIntire TAFE, Robyn Lynch, Deputy Principal and Neil Plumridge, Deputy Principal SiP's Program Coomealla High School, Cindy Berwick NSW President State AECG, Raymond Ingrey Executive Officer, Community Organisations Mallee Family Care, Coomealla Health Aboriginal Corp and Greater Western Area Health Service.

Well done to the Coomealla Junior AECG for their assistance in the organisation and smooth running of the event.

Tamika Smith

William Philp

Elisha Mangal

Jaharlyn Mitchell

Lacynnda Smith

Maria Smith

Dylan Tyers

Amy Harris

Maydina Smith

Tanara Mitchell

Krystal Smith

Kylie Mitchell

Matilda Johnson-D'Antione

Thanks to Tristen Smith, Leanne Taylor & Amanda Johnson for co-ordinating the event, it was a great success. Ron Jackson, President Coomealla AECG

Aunty Elsie Coombs accepted an Elders Award for herself and another on

behalf of Hector Hudson (Dec)

Newsletter

Principal: Rob Scotton Silver City Highway Dareton NSW 2717 Phone: 03 50274506 Fax: 03 50274837

email: coomealla-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Issue 11 2010

The greatest degree of inner tranquillity comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being.

- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

Left:

William Philp, Ron Jackson and Tamika Smith

Coomealla AECG & Coomealla High—NAIDOC 2010 Elders Awards Night Full Report — Page 7

Right:

Uncle Neil Taylor,

Tanya Smith and Aunty

Joyce Taylor

Amy Harris and Uncle Rex Smith

Recipe Corner:

HEALTHY SANDWICH IDEAS Smoked salmon. Economise with trimmings,

dress with a spoonful of low fat crème fraiche and a scattering of dill.

Avocado, thickly sliced, with crumbled grilled bacon.

Mashed banana and finely chopped dates.

Cold roast beef. As a relish, cook finely sliced onions until slightly charred and leave to cool.

Spread breads with black olive paste, pesto or hummus, then add filling.

Make bruschetta: grill slices of ciabatta or other open-texture bread on both sides. Rub with cut garlic if you wish. Drizzle olive oil over the bread, and top with mashed soft cheese like Gorgonzola, hummus and chopped tomato, or Parma ham. Pack close together in a box and cover with foil to keep the topping in place.

Thinly sliced ham, with finely sliced bottled artichokes or red peppers.

Brie or Camembert cheese, sliced, topped

with finely grated carrot. Mix canned fish like tuna or salmon with

lemon juice, paprika, finely chopped onion and a little mayo.