hunter sports high spectator - hunterspt-h.schools.nsw.gov.au · hopefully the easter chocolates...

OUR VALUES:

RESPECT RESPONSIBILITY

SUCCESS

Top: Students took part in activities and presentations to mark the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence last week.

Above: Kirsty Fenton and Annie Grove after the Young Matildas 2-1 victory over Thailand in an international friendly last week in Sydney.

Hunter Sports High School Pacific Highway Gateshead NSW 2290 www.huntersports.com.au

T: 4943 5755 E: [email protected]

We had a wet and wild day at Hunter Sports High yesterday but our students and staff braved the weather as best they could and I thank them all for their patience and tolerance in very unpleasant conditions. We’re back to normal and drying out today and I hope you all fared okay at home.

Last week Hunter Sports High took a stand against bullying, joining with schools around the country to mark the National Day of Action (NDA) against Bullying and Violence on Friday. All students across all year groups took part in presentations and participated in activities to help them know what to do should they be bullied or be a witness to bullying at school. We also introduced students to a new online reporting platform, ‘The Bully Box’, as another way to address bullying concerns via a smartphone app. Students can download the app to their phone or computer, enter the school code (HSHS2018) and report incidents of bullying. It allows students to safely and anonymously report bullying or other school safety concerns and empowers ‘up-standers’. Our Support Unit also got involved by making a pledge to support each other and stand up against bullying. They used a drone to capture their thoughts about bullying and shared their message on our Facebook page.

This week we also had a special assembly planned to mark Harmony Day but unfortunately it was cancelled due to the extreme weather. Hunter Sports High has a proudly diverse community and we like to celebrate our differences whenever we can. We will now include this as part of our first formal assembly next Thursday where we will also recognise the consistent effort of students so far this term.

The Easter long weekend falls at the end of next week (Week 9) and on return in Week 10 our Year 12 students will commence their half-yearly exams. Students should use the next week wisely to review their work and see teachers if they need help in any subject. Hopefully the Easter chocolates will help them with their study too! The exam timetable and rules are included further in the newsletter.

A big congratulations to Annie Grove (Year 11) and Kirsty Fenton (Year 9) who represented Australia in the Under 20 Young Matildas team who played an international friendly against Thailand in Sydney last week. Another outstanding achievement for both girls.

Our next P & C Meeting (and AGM) will be held on Tuesday 3rd April at the school. All positions on the committee will be declared vacant on the night and elections held to fill the positions for 2018. If you would like to be involved, or just want to come along to find out more about Hunter Sports High, please join us from 6pm meeting at the front office near the bus shelter.

Have a safe and happy Easter break!

Rachel Byrne – Principal

Hunter Sports High Spectator

TERM 1 – WEEK 8 – 2018

BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT

Hunter Sports High Spectator TERM 1 – WEEK 8 – 2018


Upcoming Events DATE EVENT Friday 23 March Project Booyah, Shine, Finding

Wellness & Brospeak Programs Hunter PSSA Netball Gala Day Year 7 Immunisations Open Boys Touch Gala Day Australian Reptile Park Excursion Monday 26 March Support Unit Leaving to Learn Wed 28 March Project Booyah, Centre 4 Hope,

Deadly Streaming, Brospeak Hunter SSSA Rugby Union Trials U16 CHS Trial U13 9-a-side Knights Knockout Year 9 Marine Studies Thursday 29 March Open Boys & Girls Touch Trials Formal Assembly CAPAL Senior Experience PSSA Hockey Trials Buckley Shield v Endeavour Sports High School Rugby 7s PSSA Boys Football Trials Friday 30 March GOOD FRIDAY Public Holiday Monday 02 April EASTER MONDAY Public Holiday Tuesday 03 April P&C AGM & Meeting, 6pm Project Booyah AFL 9s Secondary Gala Day Wed 04 April PAL Leaving to Learn Deadly Streaming Hunter Region CHS Hockey Trials Thurs 05 April Year 10 Marine Studies Jet Class Recycling Girls PSSA Football Swans Cup Secondary Girls Gala Year 10 Marine Studies Thurs 05 April – Wed 11 April

Year 12 Exams

Friday 06 April Project Booyah, Shine, Finding Wellness, Brospeak

Year 9 & 10 Boys & Girls Touch Primary Cross Country Carnival Hunter PSSA Rugby League Trials

Standing Together Against Bullying



SCIENCE GETS ELECTRIC

Having already learnt all about Waves and Communication earlier this term our Year 9 science classes have moved on to study Electricity and what better way to start the topic but to get the students to play with 50,000 volts of charge! The Van De Graaf Generator has a moving belt which accumulates static electricity on a metal dome. It produces high voltage but low current levels which means it is safe to play with. Students got to learn some properties of electricity first hand as well as many other important scientific concepts. Above are some pictures of the students having fun learning about electricity! At the end of this term Year 9 students have their first Scientific Practical Investigation Assessment Task.

Year 12 Half Yearly Examinations Year 12 have their half-yearly examinations coming up in Week 10 and 11 of this term. The Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Senior Science examinations are two-hours in duration and will cover most of the first two topics of their course. All Year 12 students should be preparing for these assessment tasks to achieve the best possible grade. Each of the Science courses has received last year’s 2017 half-yearly examination with the answers and all the students should be attempting the questions, checking their answers and asking questions of their teacher about any concepts they find difficult to understand. Completing summaries for the topics and handing in their practical reports will also aid in the students’ understanding of their subject.

STEM Garden Project

As part of the first project in STEM students were required to design a garden that they would like to grow in the agriculture block at the back of our school. Students had to choose what type of plants they were going to grow and what they were going to do with the produce after harvesting. Students also had to work out ways they were going to stop animals and pests from destroying or eating their plants. They had to work out costs for their garden and make sure the conditions and the time of year was right for planting. For their assessment task, students will present their written report and display their garden to fellow classes to explain what they have designed and how they have gone about the process.

Launching into Laws of Motion

Year 10 science students have been investigating ‘Forces’ and have had fun designing a Water Rocket as part of the topic. They were given an open-ended question and had to build a rocket which could be launched the highest. Jaleal Cooper, Taige Moore and Tyrone Nean painted their rocket project with colours from the Aboriginal flag and they had a heap of success launching their rocket. Students had to determine what factors such as design, amount of water and air pressure, had the best effect to get the highest-flying rocket and then applied these factors to Newton’s Laws of Motion. Students worked together in groups and learnt valuable lessons on the importance of communication and being a member of a group to complete a given task.



Healthy Pizzas & Prac on the Menu

2018 has brought some challenges to the TAS Department after the fire late last year, however, due to the resilience of the talented TAS staff we have relocated into five demountable classrooms to continue the strong educational focus for which we are known.

Projects this term have included solar models and bridge building in the mandatory technology classes to highlight the diversity and dynamics of solar power and bridge structures. ‘Making Healthy Normal’ was a topic in Food Technology and students cooked fruit pizzas made from pikelets to highlight different ways for teenagers to make healthier food choices.

Industrial Technology Timber classes have been adjusting to the demountable woodwork classrooms and students are producing some good practical projects which are allowing them to continue their skill development and appreciation of timber.

Several Year 12 Hospitality students have just completed their mandatory work placements and by all accounts thoroughly enjoyed the experience and were held in high regard by their respective employers and/or place of engagement. Students in Marine and Aquaculture Studies, Construction and Metals and Engineering are also progressing at a sterling pace with several Year 12 Construction students undertaking their work placement this week, again with positive feedback.

Thank you to the TAS faculty and students for their perseverance this term as we continue the countdown to the completion of our new facilities.

Mr David Winter - Head Teacher TAS

Girls Star in Hunter Squad Eleven Hunter Sports High girls have been selected in the Hunter Region football squad for 2018 – including three shadow players and two of our girls named as Captain and Vice Captain of the squad. Congratulations to Renee Pountney (captain), Ellie Jones (vice captain), Brianna Trappett, Leia Puxty, Mona Walker, Brianna Williams, Jess Davis and Kirsty Fenton,and also to shadow players Ruby Jones (shadow GK), Chelsea Williams and Olivia Kakoulidis.

2019 Talented Sports Program Trials

(and some beyond). They have studied about various festivals including Setsubun and Hinamatsuri and other aspects of Japanese culture including Cherry Blossoms, Hanami and Cat Day.

Term 1 Assessment Tasks

All students in Year 7 and 10 will receive notifications about their assessments tasks for Term 1 this week. Please check that your student is aware of the timings of these tasks and prepares appropriately.

ありがとうございます (Thank you)

ングラム先生 (Ingram Sensei / Mrs Ingram）

Thank You for the Music A big thank you to Allan Ward Music who very generously donated five fantastic reconditioned flutes to Hunter Sports High recently. These flutes will give students who wouldn’t normally have access to an instrument an opportunity to play a musical instrument and receive the many benefits from playing one. If any students are interested and would like the chance to learn and play a flute in a small ensemble (during lunchtimes), please see Mrs Ward in the CAPAL staffroom.

2018 is the Year of the Dog! Although it did not originate in Japan, the Chinese zodiac and the 12 animals that represent it, have been embraced by Japanese culture wholeheartedly.

In Japan, everyone immediately knows the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar. The respective animal of the year often adorns New Year’s cards called nengajoo and calendars, and a lot of families decorate their homes with references to the zodiac sign of the coming year. It’s no exaggeration to say that the Chinese Zodiac is an inherent part of Japanese day to day life and culture.

Students in Japanese classes have been learning about the zodiac, its origin and how to say their zodiac in Japanese. They have learnt about famous Japanese dogs including the famous ‘Hachiko’ who waited for his owner at Shibuya Station nine years after his owner’s death, the very popular robot dog ‘Aibo’ and ‘Pochacco’ a very cute Sanrio character.

Students have learnt how to write dog in two styles of Japanese writing. Dog in Japanese is “inu”. In hiragana it is written as いぬ and in kanji it is written as 犬.

Some students can also talk about whether they have a dog or not (and other animals). Students also know that although in English dogs say “woof woof”, in Japanese they say “wan wan”. They have made very cute origami dogs and have drawn some very cool dogs.

Have you heard that some Japanese trains make a barking noise as they travel along the tracks? Yes, it doesn’t sound true, but it is! Ask any of the students studying Japanese about this to find out why!

Year 7 have started their Japanese studies very enthusiastically. So many students are using the Japanese they have studied in class to greet teachers and friends as well as ask them questions (and of course if they don’t study Japanese, they have no idea what is going on!). They can ask and say names, ages, birthdays, zodiac, where they live, phone numbers and pets. Students can count to 100



Japanese Classes Embrace the Year of the Dog



Excursions Inspiring Music Students

HSC music students recently attended an excursion to Newcastle Conservatorium to watch ‘Reprise’, a concert that is comprised of outstanding and exemplary performances from the previous year’s HSC. Our Hunter Sports High School students were inspired by the performances, so much so that one of our students had learnt one of the guitar pieces over the weekend so that he could play it by Monday! This is just one example of the excellence that is happening in our senior and elective music classes. Our next senior excursion will be a trip to the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Conservatorium of Music to tour their facilities and check out the performance venues and courses on offer. Following this, we will again attend Newcastle Conservatorium for the HSC Music Day in May, where students will gain vital knowledge for aural and performance aspects of the HSC Music 1 course. In class, Year 12 have been working consistently and have presented informal class concerts for some lucky junior music classes. Year 10 have been busy working on whole class performance pieces where we have combined a variety of instruments in order to make small ensembles. We have focused on increasing skills related to the concepts of music, score reading and performance practise. Year 9 have honed their skills in responding to aural examples by using the concepts of music in order to detail the texture of sounds in an excerpt of music. They have also achieved very well in performing solo and small band performances with set chord structure and melodic interest.

Amazing Works of Art

It has been a busy start to the year in our art classes as can be seen in the amazing creations pictured above.

Year 7 are beginning to go through the basics of colour theory and, when introduced to watercolour techniques, have taken to it like ducks to water.

Year 8 are busy working through a drawing course, developing both confidence with their drawing skills and an ability to look at their subjects with an artist’s eye.

Years 9, 10 and 11 are likewise focussing on drawing but also with a wider use of media. Chalk and charcoal are popular and all classes have produced wonderful work. Watercolour and ink also remain as favourites for students and they also enjoy adding more expression to their work. This course continues to be a centre of mindfulness and happiness as students immerse themselves in their work and lose themselves to art and music. Mr Frazier says he is lucky to teach such great classes!



STUDENT WELFARE at HSHS: Keeping Our Students Safe & Happy Our student welfare page lets students, parents and carers know about some of the great programs and support services that are available to students and their families at Hunter Sports High School and in the local community.

Quote of the Week:

Year 7 Wellbeing Programs Our wellbeing programs for Year 7 students wrapped up this week with a talk from our police liaison officer who spoke to students about cyberbullying, sexting, and online safety.

The program has successfully introduced all students to healthy relationships, our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) lessons, and wellbeing support at the school.

Mentor Support Network

The Mentor Support Network helps disadvantaged youth achieve their educational goals. Each year they award scholarships and support to local students in financial need and we were lucky enough to secure two scholarships this year to help our students with educational resources.

Bullying. NO WAY!

Hunter Sports High stood united with schools across Australia on Friday 16 March to mark the eighth National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA). This important day gave our school the opportunity to ignite thoughtful and positive discussions about bullying and ways we can work as a community to address it. A powerful message was sent to our students through presentations to each year group. We began the sessions with a video presenting what bullying is and how students can help themselves and others and then launched our new online platform ‘The Bully Box’ as another powerful tool to report bullying at Hunter Sports High School. Students can download the app on their phone or computer, put in the school code (HSHS2018) and report alleged incidents. All students also received a yellow pamphlet titled “Bullying: Preventing and Responding to Student Bullying in Schools Policy” with further information about bullying. Through positive action we can make a real change. Website of the Week www.bullyingnoway.gov.au This website has resources for students and parents regarding what bullying is, the warning signs of bullying, and online safety.

http://www.bullyingnoway.gov.au/



Year 12 Half-Yearly Examinations

Every Day Counts

As we head toward the end of first term it is timely to remind students and parents of the importance of regular attendance at school. Students can maximise their potential through regular attendance at school and we urge parents to ensure their children are attending school and giving them every chance to learn and succeed.

A day here or there might not seem like much but this can make a huge impact on your child’s learning. The table above shows the impact that having regular days off can have on student learning and outcomes. If your child is absent from school for any reason a note/email/phone call should be made to the school explaining the absence as soon as possible after the date of absence.

hunter sports high spectator - hunterspt-h.schools.nsw.gov.au · hopefully the easter chocolates...

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