Meehan Matters James Meehan High School 58 Harold Street, Macquarie Fields NSW 2564 Phone: 9605 4395 jamesmeeha-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Issue 1 – Term 2 May 2019

CALENDAR EVENTS Term 2, 2019

Week 6: Wednesday 5 June Friday 7 June

End of Ramadan – Eid SES LEAPS

Week 7: Monday 10 June Tuesday 11 June Wednesday 12 June Thursday 13 June Friday 14 June

Public Holiday Stage 4 Police Workshop Athletics Carnival Regional Cross Country SES

Week 8: Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 June Tuesday 18 June Thursday 20 and Friday 21 June Friday 21 June

Hilton Work Inspiration

Program Stage 5 Police Workshop

Zone Athletics Carnival

LEAPS SES

Week 9: Friday 28 June

Red Nose Day SES

Week 10: Monday 1 July to Friday 5 July Tuesday 2 July Wednesday 3 July Friday 5 July

NAIDOC week

Year 10 Future Finder Day – UOW Merit Assembly 100% attendance Barbeque Rewards Excursion LEAPS SES LAST DAY OF TERM

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Welcome back to Term Two; with the amazing weather I trust everyone had a great break. Classes have settled into the new term and we are looking forward to seeing parents/carers at the events we have planned for this term. Term Two is always a busy term in every aspect and this year is no different. Winter Uniform As we return back for Term 2 and the cooler weather commences, it is important that all families are reminded of our uniform expectations. The wearing of our school uniform is compulsory and should be worn with pride. Our uniform plays a key role in assisting with student and whole school safety. In the winter months the school uniform allows for sweaters and/or zip–up jackets to ensure students remain warm and comfortable. The uniform is NOT to be replaced by a range of hooded tops and non-uniform items. If any families are experiencing financial difficulty in the purchase of the school uniform, please contact the front office in the first instance for additional support. Naplan Well done to all Years 7 and 9 students who completed their Naplan tests in Reading, Writing and Numeracy. Thank you to the English faculty for their organisation and supervision of students and the smooth completion of NAPLAN. Project JMHS has submitted an application with the NSW Government for funding to continue improving the facilities at school. As community members of Macquarie Fields I will need you to vote for the project on the Government’s site. More information will be made available to you later in the term. Thank you for your support.

Issue 1 – Term 2 May 2019 Basketball/Futsal courts and COLA As you can see when you pass the school the facilities are getting closer to completion. At this stage we have been informed that the handover should be completed by the end of term. Our school continues to build on its resources to benefit the students’ learning and quality teaching practice in our school. Staff will be participating in twilight sessions in Term 2 and Term 3. As a result of the twilight sessions the school will not be operational on the last day of Term 4. Ms N Dukic PRINCIPAL

SUPPORT UNIT REPORT

Science Fair This Term the classes in the Support Unit held their first ever Science Fair. All students participated in a group or individual investigation, using the Scientific method, to answer a question or research an area of interest. The results were outstanding with students presenting their findings to the whole unit. We were lucky to have some guest Scientists to judge our projects and a big congratulations to the SM class who were the overall winners for 2019 with their investigation of the power of positive words. Also, congratulations to Hayden C whose “Rainbow in a jar” project was highly commended. Well done everyone on a great event - we can't wait for next year's Science Fair!

Issue 1 – Term 2 May 2

Technology Mandatory The Technology Mandatory Life Skills classes (Year 7/8) have been comparing the tools and materials Aboriginal Peoples used to survive, with tools and materials used today. Students are designing and making a fabric project intended to hold a form of technology or other items. These students have all enjoyed using the design process to plan, create and evaluate their project.

Issue 1 – Term 2 May 2019

Sports Day In March JMHS students attended the Minto Sports Day for students with disability. They were able to try modified sports including cricket, hockey, netball and soccer. What a great opportunity to try out our PDHPE movement skills while making new friends!

Issue 1 – Term 2 May 2019

ENGLISH FACULTY REPORT In their Critical and Creative Thinking groups, 5N and 5H have rewritten the nonsense poem “Jabberwocky” from Lewis Carol’s novel “Alice in Wonderland and Through the Lookinglass”. Enjoy the new translations.

Jabberwocky By Alyssa, Frankie, Alyah, Giselle

It was close to dawn and the slimy toads were jumping around.

How crazy were the birds flying in and out of the caves.

Beware the dragon, my son!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the fierce bird that fought the furious match.

He took his deadly sword in hand, still searching for his horrific enemy, so he rested by the Gumnut tree, and

stood awhile in thought

In an awkward thought he stood, the dragon with eyes of flame, came flying through the shadowy cave, and

screeched as it came

One, two! One, two! And through and through, the deadly blade went “sling slang”, he left it dead and with

its head went leaping back.

“Did you slay the dragon? Come to my arms, my miraculous boy! Oh wondrous day! Hip! Hip! Hooray!

He giggled in his joy. It was close to dawn and the slimy toads were jumping

around.

How crazy were the birds flying in and out of the caves

Jabberwocky by Braedyn

It was chilly and the slimy toads did croak and choke in the pond, and the rats rage outgrew. Be careful of the dragon, my son. The jaws that bite the claws that catch. Watch out for the Phoenix and get rid of the ferocious Griffin. He took his jagged sword in hand. Long time the deadly enemy he sought. So rested he by the ancient tree and stood awhile in thought. And, as in blind thought he stood, the dragon, with eyes of flame, came screeching through the tangled woods, swooping as it came. “And have you killed the dragon? Come to my arms my heroic boy. O fabulous day hip-hip hooray!” he yelled in his joy. It was chilly and the slimy toads did croak and choke in the pond, and the rats rage outgrew.

Jabberwocky Remake By : Ava, Alyah, Rory, Malayziah and Blake

‘It was bright and the slimy frogs Did hop and play in the marsh:

All happy were the hogs, And the school of fish were harsh.

“Beware the beast my son!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the big bird, and shun

The furious cat!”

He took his shiny sword in hand; Long time the epic enemy he sought-

So he rested by the willow tree And stood a while in thought.

And, as in courageous thought he stood,

The beast, with eyes of flame, Came whistling through the mouldy wood,

And gobbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through The shiny sword went shing-shang!

He left it dead, and with its head He went striding back.

Issue 1 – Term 2 May 2019

“And have you slain the beast? Come to my arms my heroic boy! O happy day! Woohoo! Hooray!

And guffawed in his joy.”

It was bright and the slimy frogs Did hop and play in the marsh:

All happy were the hogs, And the school of fish were harsh.

Jabberwocky

By Lewis Carroll

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand;

Long time the manxome foe he sought— So rested he by the Tumtum tree

And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood, The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffling through the tulgey wood, And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through

The vorpal blade went snicker-snack! He left it dead, and with its head

He went galumphing back.

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”

He chortled in his joy.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

The Jabberwocky

By Ali, Tatigjoana, Ronald, Eleanor Twas morning, and the slimy toads Did eat and leap in the swamp How crazy were the toads leaping in and out Of the exposed swamp

Beware the strange-tailed tyrant, my son The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the chubby bird, and shun The furious Alexandermac

He took his beastly blade in hand Long time the fearsome foe he sought So rested he by the Gumgum tree And stood awhile in thought

And, as in cowardly thought he stood The strange-tailed tyrant with eyes of flame Came flashing through the dark wood Roaring as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through The beastly blade went “crickle, crack” He left it dead, and with his head He went skipping back And hast thou slain the strange-tailed tyrant Come to my arms, my heroic boy O wonderful day! Hallelujah! He chuckled in his joy Twas morning, and the slimy toads Did eat and leap in the swamp How crazy were the toads leaping in and out Of the exposed swamp

Issue 1 – Term 2 May 2019

The Fire Dragon by Kaila, Emily & Ashleigh

It was chilly, and the shiny toads Splished and splashed in the pond. All chirpy were the birds, And the possum brothers gave way. “Beware the fire dragon my child! The jaws that snap and the claws that snatch! Beware the Waterlord and slay the ferocious Cheetah!” They took the golden egg in hand. A long time they travelled— Only just slipping past the fire dragon, And crouched down, very rattled. As they thought while rattled, Something lunged out and baffled the child! Eyes of flame beamed back --- They weren’t as safe as they thought. One, two! One, two! Through and through The fire dragon puffed, And the child ran with fright, As he dodged the fire dragons bite. “Yippity yay! Yippity yay!” The child chortled in joy, They escaped the mighty fire dragon, And survived another day. It was chilly, and the shiny toads Splished and splashed in the pond. All chirpy were the birds, and the possum brothers gave way.

ENGLISH FACULTY REPORT - ENGLISH STUDIES On Friday 5 April 2019, year 12 English Studies students came together to share a meal. They have been working on a module that centres on English and Family Life. Students viewed the film ‘The One Hundred Foot Journey’, about how food brings people and families together. Students prepared food, set the table and shared a meal as a family. It was a very enjoyable – and quiet – lesson!

ANZAC CEREMONY This year the Anzac Day ceremony was held on Friday 12 April in the school’s Anzac Garden. Our school captains, Vera Wehbe and Samiha Obeido led the formal ceremony. Alyah Pera, in Year 9, did the Acknowledgement of Country. The chief guest was Honourable David Elliott, the Minister for Police. He spoke about how Australia and other countries were involved in the war and the impact it had on the soldiers. Another special guest was Ms Margaret Jarosz who represented Ingleburn RSL. During the ceremony the Minister for Police and two Year 9 students, Bryse Besters and Georgia Besters laid wreaths at the base of the Aboriginal and Australian flags in memory of the fallen soldiers. Vera Wehbe read the Ode and then the Last Post was played followed by a minute’s silence. The Australian National Anthem was played at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Lest we forget

Issue 1 – Term 2 May 2019

LIFE PROGRAM

The students in 4A and 4J are participating in the LIFE program where they are mentored by the senior students in the school. They are covering topics such as their identity, including their family, their personality and strengths; and building positive relationships. Later in the program they will learn to express themselves through telling stories using storyboards and interviews and capturing the ideas through film making.

CANTEEN NEWS

We would like to introduce and welcome our new Canteen Assistant, Mrs Shobna Wilkes, to James Meehan High School. Shobna comes with a world of experience. There is a new range of food available from the canteen for the coming months. Breakfast is now available from 8-30am. This includes toasties, yoghurt with fruit, hot Milo and raisin toast. Students can also order their lunch before school. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available by order only. A full price list is included in this newsletter.