Woolgoolga High School Issue No. 6

GOOD NEWS WEEK

Web address: www.woolgoolga-h.schools.nsw.edu.au E-mail: woolgoolga-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

From the Principal P.2 Vet tells his story P. 8

Important coming dates P.3 Cross Country results P. 9

ANZAC Day P.4 Career News P. 10

Electrifying Experience P.5 Parent tips P. 12

Blue Chilli Digital Innova-

tion Challenge Workshop

P. 6 Help for pupils as they

choose

P. 13

May 8, 2015

A belated Harmony Day was celebrated last Friday at Woolgoolga High School despite the torrential rain!

The assembly celebrated our cultural diversity, promoting inclusiveness and respect, sharing the message

that everyone belongs. Students from a culturally and linguistically diverse background (CALD), prepared a

video acknowledging their heritage. It was enlightening as well as entertaining. We certainly are a culturally

diverse community!

Awal Maker, a member of our Student Representative Council spoke about the rich fabric that makes up

our nation and our local community. She re-

minded us of our school’s rich diversity with

over 114 students (and staff) having a back-

ground other than English and over 20 different

languages spoken at home. We recognise that

all these students and their families add to the

amazing cultural tapestry that makes up our

school.

Our junior Australian and Indian dancers per-

formed beautifully, presenting a traditional Indi-

an dance followed by JUGULA, a group con-

sisting of Aboriginal and Indian performers.

More Harmony Day on Page 14

Issue No. 6 Page 2

From the Principal’s Desk

to thank the following new members of our committee for their support:

President—Di Della

Vice President—Isabel Garrett

Secretary—Rachel Piper

Treasurer—Helen Young

Publicity Officer—Megan Hart The Woolgoolga Anzac Day Ceremony as depicted in this newsletter was a great success. I was very proud to march with over 130 of our students to help commemo-rate this important day. Elizabeth Noonan-Prentice is also to be congratulated on her significant part in the ceremony.

I would like to thank Kristina Crook for inviting seven of our most creative and IT savvy students and two teach-ers, Mrs Harrison and Mr Bordignon, to the Digital Inno-vation workshop held last week in Coffs Harbour. Our students mixed with many of the most innovative adults in Coffs Harbour. The workshop was led by Allan Jones the entrepreneur who has extensive experience in de-veloping start up companies.

Workshops of this type have the potential to create lifetime opportunities for our brightest and talented stu-dents.

Another successful Harmony Day continued last Friday even though there was torrential rain. Thanks to Mrs Bryne.

Until next time

Guy Wright, Principal

I have just been notified by

Troy Baker, the Principal of

St Francis Xavier Primary

School at Woolgoolga that

their school has been

notified of a confirmed case

of Whooping Cough (also

know as Pertussis) in the

school and this is a very

serious condition that needs

to be monitored carefully.

Their school has also been

told that if anyone in your family is experiencing any of

the symptoms listed on the NSW Health fact sheet,

your family doctor should be consulted immediately.

Once children have been treated with medication for

five days they are allowed to return to school. St

Francis Xavier Primary School has been in contact

with NSW Health and received advice on the current

outbreak.

As we have a very small community at Woolgoolga,

please monitor your child and take the appropriate

steps. Further information and the fact sheet can be

accessed by following this link

www.health.nsw.gov.au .

I have attached the letter sent home to St Francis

Xavier students from Troy Baker on the Community

News Page (page 16).

Last Tuesday night we held an extra-ordinary P&C meeting to vote in our committee for 2015. I would like

Page 3 Issue No. 6

IMPORTANT COMING EVENTS

18 May MNC Zone Cross Country

21 May Coffs Career Expo

27 May Woolgoolga High School Careers

Day

The WHS P & C

meets on the

second Tuesday of

every month at

6.30pm

Woolgoolga Rotary Auction

This Saturday 9th May

1.00pm for large items

Auction shed with smaller items will be open from 10.00am

Lots of goods available due to previous cancelled auction

Premier's Reading Premier's Reading

Challenge for 2015 Challenge for 2015

Years 7, 8 and 9 students keep reading so you can com-plete your PRC for this year. Yummy Canteen vouchers for those who complete before the deadline. See the

NSW PRC website or Mrs Hart for more details.

Issue No. 6 Page 4

After a successful and moving ANZAC Day ceremony at the school the day before, a record number (even greater than

2014) of Woolgoolga High School students attended the 2015 Centenary of Gallipoli ANZAC Day march and ceremony.

Community members and staff alike were proud to see the sheer size of the delegation and dedication shown by our

school students on yet another beautiful day. We gathered to commemorate those who have served in conflicts in years

gone by and paying respect also to those who continue on active duty in the name of the 'ANZAC'. Well done to all of

those involved, especially special guests at the ceremony and to Mullaway Public school students and our own Elizabeth

Noonan-Prentice who spoke at the dais. The ANZAC spirit was strong among the attendees today. Lest We Forget.

Mrs Megan Hart

ANZAC DAYANZAC DAYANZAC DAY

Issue No. 6 Page 5

Electrifying ExperienceElectrifying Experience As part of their HSC study, the Year 12 Physics students

visited the Woolgoolga electricity sub-station.

This excursion consolidated their learning on electricity and

transmission networks. They saw massive transformers (or

trannies for short), safety features and electrical monitoring

equipment.

Thank you to John Jenkins from Essential Energy for the

opportunity.

From left to right:: Jeremy Rush, Khushdeep Dhaliwal, Josh Murray, Shai Bargwanna (modelling the

fashionable one-piece white overalls, Thanh Phan (hiding behind Shai), Nathaniel Hushon, Kyle

Worrall, Zacchary Wolfe and Mr Pursch

Page 5

Woolgoolga High students with Start-up guru Alan Jones of Blue Chilli

On Thursday 30 April 2015, 7 Woolgoolga High School students attended a workshop in Coffs Harbour

hosted by startup guru Alan Jones of BlueChilli, as part of the Telstra Stores Coffs Harbour Digital

Innovation Challenge. Alan Jones boasts an impressive resumé being the co-founder of web and mobile

startups, as well as having senior management experience in larger companies including Yahoo!, News

Digital Media and Microsoft.

Blue Chilli partners with budding entrepreneurs to help build, grow and invests in new startups.

Alan exposed students to the techniques and tricks of identifying problems to be solved, how to evaluate

the best problems to pursue, how to generate ideas and find out how to test them in low-cost ways - and

how to put it all together into a lean business model, a feature that is at the heart of his approach.

The workshop started with the “Lean Entrepreneurial Idea” where all participants had to find a problem by

walking around the Coffs Harbour Market place for 15 minutes. The next stage was learning to quickly

scale a business idea. Looking at customer persona and who is your hottest customer. The workshop

discussed rational versus irrational decisions with customer behaviour. After lunch the group conducted a

resource audit. What do you have? What do you need? Where to get mentors and learning methodologies.

The next step, the workshop was to complete a Lean Business Model Canvas. This enabled the students to

identify key partners, key activities, customer segmentation, selling your services, costing structures and

revenue streams

The workshop was aimed at students preparing for the Digital Innovation Challenge, a competition

designed to inspire budding entrepreneurs to create and pitch their innovative digital solution to improve

business - and provide them with the prize money and specialist support they need to make it happen. A

total of $10,000 worth of cash and prizes is on offer in two categories – Open Entrepreneur (25’s and over)

and Youth Entrepreneur (Under 2’5s). For more info, go to www.digitalinnovationchallenge.com.au

Blue Chilli Digital Innovation Challenge Workshop

Issue No. 6 Page 6

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http://sixdegreescoworking.com/

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Issue No. 6 Page 8

PHOTO: DAVID BARWELL

Like thousands of young men conscripted in the

Vietnam War, Barry Beard struggled to readjust to

post-war life in Australia.

After completing his national service as an infan-

tryman and radio operator in the conflict, he

worked in a range of jobs before succumbing to a

devastating breakdown due to severe post-

traumatic stress disorder.

Since recovering , Barry has turned to writing.

He’s published several award winning short sto-

ries as well as his deeply personal memoirs—Well

Done, Those Men.

Barry this week shared his experiences with Year

10 students at Woolgoolga High School as part of

the 2015 legacy Essay, Visual Arts and Bursary

Competition.

The competition aims to improve the understand-

ing of the effects of sending young people to war

and Legacy’s role in rehabilitating families who

suffer the effects of the war.

During his visit to the school on Wednesday, Mr

Beard spoke openly about his memories as a

young conscript and how’s he tried to make sense

of what Vietnam did to the soldiers who fought

there.

Mr Beard said the students had responded well to

his speech.

“the students had some very interesting questions

and the more we got into it the more interested

they became.” he said.

“I suppose one of my main messages is that war is

what happens when diplomacy fails.”

Woolgoolga High School Deputy Principal Iain

Henderson said the presentation was especially

poignant in the wake of the Anzac Centenary.

“The students have been studying Vietnam studies

in history...it was an absolute privilege to have

Barry come and visit the school,” he said.

Entries are still open for the 2015 Legacy Essay,

Visual Arts and Bursary Competition.

Submissions must be lodged with Coffs Harbour

Legacy PO Box 4260, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450 or

admin@coffslegacy.com.au by November 15.

Prizes will be presented in December.

Vet tells his story

Issue No. 6 Page 9

OPEN BOYS TOUCH FOOTYOPEN BOYS TOUCH FOOTY Congratulations to the Open Boys Touch Team

For winning the first two rounds!

Rounds: Defeated Dorrigo 5-4 Defeated Coffs Harbour 8-4

WHS Cross country results

1st

DiamondDiamond 288 points

2nd

ArrawarraArrawarra 276 points

3rd

MullawayMullaway 274 points

4th

EmeraldEmerald 234 points

Congratulations to

Age Champions:

12 Years: Madyson Cowling, Ryley Smidt

13 Years: Sasha McNab, Broden McBeath

14 Years: Rhianna Birch, Reeyce Sadler

15 Years: Berach Desalegn Bekel, Sam Burke

16 Years: Awal Bol Maker, Isaiah Koopmans

17 Years: Gemma Hutchinson, Lachlan McPherson

18Years: Caitlin Valentine, Mitchell Huthnance

Issue No. 6 Page 10

Coffs Career Expo

21st May - Year 10 - Cost $10 and note

Woolgoolga High School Careers Day

27th May - Year 10, 11 & 12 all afternoon

Whitecard

16th June - Cost $95 and note

RSA and RGA

26th/27th August - Year 11 & 12 - Cost $220

Defence Force Talk

14th May Year 10, 11 & 12 - Name on list with Mrs Chivers

Year 10 Work Experience

22nd June -26 June - Please hand paperwork to Mrs Chivers ASAP

Please be aware that careers has its own website

www.woolgoolgahighcareers.com

Issue No. 6 Page 11

2015 SPORTS DATES

PLEASE NOTE: DATES AND VENUES ARE CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINTING

BUT ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE CHECK CLOSER TO EVENT.

SPORT DATE CARNIVAL VENUE TERM

CROSS

COUNTRY

Mon 18 May MNC Zone Cross Country Grafton 2

Fri 5 June NC Regional Cross Country Kempsey 2

Fri 17 July NSW State Cross Country Eastern Creek 3

ATHLETICS

Thur 11 June MNC Zone Athletics Carnival Coffs Harbour Inter-

national Stadium 2

Fri 31 July NC Regional Athletics Carnival Coffs Harbour Inter-

national Stadium 3

Thurs 3 Sep to

Sat 5 Sep NSW CHS State Athletics Carnival Homebush 3

Congratulations!

Charlie Worsnop, Parvan Mullee and Hamish Schulz who played a superb game of bowls yesterday against

CHEC.

Thanks for your hard efforts boys. Ms Jones

Issue No. 6 Page 12

Parent Tips!Parent Tips!

Bullying knows no bounds

When cyberbullying hits home - what one mum wishes she’d done differently. Because most cyberbullying

happens in the home, parents need to be aware of the technology that young people are using.

http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/technology/cyberbullying/when-cyberbullying-hits-home

Safetytown website – A road safety education program This innovative website reinforces the road safety messages that children are learning at school. It provides practical strategies to help families learn how to be safer pedestrians and road users. The seven key road safety messages cov-er pedestrian safety, car passenger safety, bus passenger safety and safety on wheels (bicycles, foot scooters, skate-boards and rollerblades). For further details, visit https://www.safetytown.com.au

Managing depression

One in four kids over 12 has symptoms of depression. Would you know what to look for and how to help?

Don't be afraid, ask your child how they are feeling and keep communicating with them.

Find out more: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/wellbeing/health/managing-depression-in-children

Spellcheck

Is your child learning to spell? Struggling with the weekly spelling lists? Here are a few strategies that will

help:

Find out more:

http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/zh/homework-and-study/english/english-tips/getting-your-child-used-to-

writing

Page 13 Issue No. 6

Help for pupils

as they choose NORTHERN Beaches students are set

to gain invaluable career advice

next month thanks to an initiative led

by the Woolgoolga and Northern

Beaches Chamber of Commerce.

The fifth annual Woolgoolga High

School Careers Day will see doctors,

fire-fighters, pilots, plumbers, social

workers and representatives from

dozens of other professions visit the

school to help guide students on

their chosen career paths.

The initiative is hailed as a unique

format on the North Coast.

Year 11 student Amy Carroll took

part in the 2014 Career Day and said

it provided the chance to discuss

career options with people of exper-

tise.

“For a younger student with many

career opportunities, it’s really ap-

pealing to have people come into

our school and talk about the real

world,” she said.

‘We were also given factual de-

tails including annual salaries, statis-

tics regarding university degrees

and the passing percentage.”

“Overall it was just a really pro-

ductive and informative day.”

In preparation, students have

nominated three careers they have

an interest in, and the chamber of

commerce and supporters then

“ The initiative is

hailed as a unique

format on the

North Coast.

find people in the career fields to

speak with students in small tutorial-

style groupings.

It is aimed at Year 10 students in

preparation for their subject choices

in Year 11 and 12.

160 Woolgoolga High School stu-

dents will participate in the Careers

Day. For the first time, Coffs Harbour

High School will aslo send 60 stu-

dents to take part in the initiative.

The Chamber of Commerce’s Ray

Willing said presenters were asked

to talk about a range of applicable

subjects such as what subjects that

may have assisted them in their ca-

reer, advice on how to access train-

ing for a career, and answering

questions students may have.

The Woolgoolga high School Ca-

reers Day will be held on May 27.

Issue No. 6 Page 14

Continued…

Students from Indian background delighted hungry staff and

students by cooking traditional Indian red bean curry with an

endless supply of chapatis! The canteen also catered for a

range of internationally inspired dishes to sample. Thank you

to the hard working canteen staff!

The traditional staff vs students sporting matches had to be

postponed unfortunately due to the very wet conditions. We’ll

try for a dryer day later in the term.

Safety First

Parents, carers and students are reminded not to

use the staff car park for dropping off or picking up their children,

unless using the disabled parking bays.

Our car park is very congested, especially on rainy days directly before school begins and after

school finishes. Parking is available at the front of the school for safety and a covered walkway for stu-

dents’ convenience leads from the bus bay into the grounds.

Issue No. 6 Page 15

Issue No. 6 Page 15

Volunteers needed to serve in only 1 hour increments:

8.30am - 9.30am

11.00am - 12.00 noon

1.00pm - 2.00pm

If you can help please ring the school on 66541500 or follow the link on

the school’s website to complete the expression of interest.

CanteenCanteenCanteen———Eat Fresh Eat Fresh Eat Fresh http://www.woolgoolga-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/parent-information

See menu with price list on the school’s website

InsuranceInsurance Insurance for accidents during school/sport time is the responsibility of the

parent/caregiver. There are a number of private providers who are able to

provide insurance cover at reasonable rates.

Page 16 Issue No. 6

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Woolgoolga High School

Centenary Drive

Woolgoolga NSW 2456

Phone: 6654 1500 Fax: 6654 1936

www.woolgoolga-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

E-mail: woolgoolga-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

EFTPOS Facilities for credit/debit

card transactions are now available

for making payments at the school

office. There is no cash out facility.

The office is open for students to

make payments before school and

during Break 1.

Woolgoolga High School Silver Awards

are generously supported by:

WOOLGOOLGA PIZZA PLACE

Beach Street, Woolgoolga

Phone: 6654 2744

McDONALDS

Pacific Highway,

Coffs Harbour

EAGLE BOYS PIZZA

Fawcett Street, Woolgoolga

Phone 13 14 33 or 6654 9433

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