murray bridge high school · afl aboriginal academy by miranda mulder congratulations shaun tyas!...
TRANSCRIPT
Principal: Phil Fitzsimons 8532 1788 – Chairperson Governing Council: David Watson 0416 201 488
Murray Bridge High School
It is through working together, with respect, that we can achieve excellence
Excellence, Respect and Working Together Tel: 8532 1788 Fax: 8532 5335 Email: [email protected] www.murraybridgehs.sa.edu.au
From the Principal Phil Fitzsimons
Welcome back to term 2. I trust all students and their families had a pleasant Easter holiday break.
Student Achievement One of the strategic directions for the school is Excellence in Learning with a
particular focus on celebrating student success. In term 1 I was pleased to
see high levels of student achievement. The table below indicates the
number of A grades students achieved in each of the year levels. It should
be noted that students in Year 8 – 11 have seven subjects and in Year 12 four subjects.
Year Level 4 or more A Grades received – formative result
Year 8 22
Year 9 15
Year 10 16
Year 11 8
3 or more A Grades received – formative result
Year 12 5
On Tuesday, 6 May, morning tea will be held for these students to recognise
their achievements.
At the end of this term the school will be introducing a new concept to
acknowledge the academic success of our students with a formal assembly
to be staged in Week 10. Students achieving academic success of 4 or
more A grades in Years 8-11 and 3 or more A grades in Year 12 will have their achievements formally acknowledged with a medallion and a certificate.
Parents and family will be invited to this assembly as well.
Attendance Data I applaud parents and staff for their efforts in supporting students to value
the importance of attending school every day. Over the last 4 years the rate
of student attendance has steadily improved. However, all year levels are still well short of the 93% target rate the school has set itself as being
acceptable.
Attendance by Year
Level
% Attendance
2011 2012 2013 2014 -
Term1
Year 8 88.2 87.8 90.0 90.3
Year 9 83.1 86.7 86.7 83.9
Year 10 86.7 84.6 86.5 86.4
Year 11 80.4 87.2 88.9 87.0
Year 12 83.1 87.1 90.4 90.5
Total all Year Levels 84.2 86.6 88.5 87.6
TERM 2, Week 2 – 5 May 2014
Staffing
At the end of last term we farewelled Ms Angela
Embling. This term we welcome back Ms Amra Causevic
from maternity leave.
NAPLAN
In Week 3 of this term all Year 9 students will undertake
the NAPLAN tests over a period of 3 days. Like
previous years, the school encourages all students to
achieve their personal best. While there is considerable
political debate over the NAPLAN and the subsequent
political point scoring over the information presented on
the My School website, my belief has always been that
the information gathered from the NAPLAN results
benefits the teachers, parents/caregivers and the students
through an identification process of the student’s
strengths and weaknesses. Teachers use this data in
their curriculum planning and as part of the school’s
approach to improving the numeracy and literacy
outcomes for all students.
Parent/Teacher Interviews
On 6th and 7th May all parents and caregivers are invited
to attend the interview evening with their student’s
teachers. These evenings are valued highly by the school
and are a wonderful opportunity to get to know your
student’s teachers and discuss your student’s progress.
If you are unable to attend on the evening, teachers are
always willing to meet at another suitable time.
Student Uniform
As winter fast approaches parents and caregivers are
reminded of the need to ensure that their student
maintains the correct full school uniform every day at
school. A reminder that the wearing of hooded jumpers,
leggings and blue denim jeans is not part of the school
dress code. I ask that all families support this policy, as
has been predominantly the case for this year.
Enjoy reading this week’s Newsletter.
Murray Bridge High School Newsletter 5 May 2014
2
Year 8/9 Aboriginal Students Camp at
Woodhouse by ATSI class and Brooke Goyne
On Wednesday, 26th of March the Year 8 and 9 Aboriginal
students of Murray Bridge High School left for a three day
camp at Woodhouse. During the camp the students were
divided into two teams called the Kangaroos and the Koalas
so that everyone could get to know each other and make
new friends. The students participated in a variety of
activities including laser skirmish, challenge hill, cooking, quiz
night and painting a boomerang. In our free time we played
ping pong, football and taught each other some important
words in different Aboriginal languages.
We slept in bunk bed cabins and had to do our own dishes
after each meal. On the final night of the camp we had a
group discussion, where we shared information about our
cultural identity and if we knew where our names come
from. We had a fantastic time, challenged ourselves to try new things and made some new friends.
Year 9 Excursion to the Botanic Gardens by Tayla Groves, Mollie Thulborn and Cody Sinkinson
On Wednesday, 9th of April, the Year 9 Cultural Studies class
travelled down to Adelaide to visit the Botanic Gardens. The
students went on an Aboriginal plant trail. On the trail they
learnt about the different uses that trees can have, such as
food, clothes, tools, medicine, transport tools, shelter and glue.
There was a different variety of uses. Also on the trail they got
to imagine what life was like before the Europeans.
Mr Miles: “Hopefully students can take this knowledge and use it
in their everyday lives by thinking about sustainability and looking
after the earth and its plants and animals.”
Murray Bridge High School Newsletter 5 May 2014
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AFL Aboriginal Academy by Miranda Mulder
Congratulations Shaun Tyas!
Shaun has been accepted into the AFL Aboriginal Academy
(AAA). This Academy is based at Alberton Oval and has been
created in partnership with SAASTA and the Port Adelaide
Football Club. 30 students from around the state have been
chosen to take part. Students will attend the Academy one day
a week for 40 weeks where they will have access to all of Port
Adelaide’s staff and training facilities. Part of the program also
involves the participants completing Certificate III in Sport and
Recreation. If completed successfully, this certificate can provide
50 SACE credits. We are very excited for Shaun and wish him
well!
SAASTA Certificate III Sport and Recreation by Sherry Bone
Once again this year the SAASTA team will be attending three
one week blocks at Regency TAFE to complete requirements for
the Certificate III in Sport & Recreation.
The first block was held in Week 11, Term 1 and again the
students who attended embraced the opportunity to study in an
adult learning environment. Students attended both practical
and theory based subjects including, organise personal work
priorities and development, respond to emergency situations,
provide customer service and undertake risk analysis.
Students also had the chance to improve their football skills and
tactics with excellent coaching and teaching from some of the
most experienced lecturers on campus.
The SAASTA team was also the first group of students to trial
the TAFE’s new high ropes course. This challenging course was
completed by all members of the team with flying colours.
Evenings were also jam packed with activities including making
pizzas and hamburgers for dinner in the TAFE kitchen and an
excursion to West Lakes for a well-earned shopping trip!
Well done to all students who attended the block, you did an amazing job.
Shaun with Paul Vandenbergh from Port Adelaide Football Club
Murray Bridge High School Newsletter 5 May 2014
4
Stone Carving Experience by Goran Yakas
During Term 1 of this year, our Year 8, 9 and 10 Visual
Arts students were given an opportunity to express their
ideas in stone; limestone to be precise.
After sharpening their skills and exploring the medium in a
number of introductory workshops, the students set about
designing and developing their own sculptures.
Dressed for the occasion in overcoats and sporting safety
glasses, they set about pounding, grinding, drilling, sanding,
rasping, eroding and smoothing the stone into their person
vision.
Their efforts have been rewarded with some spectacular
results, some which are displayed in the school and some will go on to be displayed around the community.
Congratulations
To Kedeisha Kartinyeri and
Brad Wright who were
selected into the 2014
Australian U18 National
Basketball teams.
The Championships were held in Canberra between 10th
and 17th of April.
Kedeisha reports back that they played games for 7 days
against every state in Australia. The Girls team made the
top 4 and finished in 3rd place with a bronze medal and
the boys finished 9th.
The National Young Leaders Day – 2014 by Brendan Watts
On Thursday 27th March, the Halogen Foundation
Australia presented the National Young Leaders Day at
the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Phea-Jae Gage,
Reece Waltrovitz, Courtney Afford and Bianca Howell
represented the school at this event, listening to a
series of motivational speakers including Daniel Flynn
(A co-founder of Thankyou), Anneka Deaton (Airforce
Pilot) and a lady who has climbed Mount Everest.
There were also opportunities for the students to
interact with the speakers and other organisations and
tertiary institutions who provided information about
courses, programs and extra-curricular activities that
they offered. The theme for the day was “I am
somebody”, implying that if somebody needs to do
something to make the world into a better – we are all
“Somebody”.
The students attending were great ambassadors for the
school and all came away positively motivated.
Murray Bridge High School Newsletter 5 May 2014
5
Karoonda Farm Fair Success by Ian Howard
Murray Bridge High School students swept the board again in
this year’s wool handling competition at the Karoonda Farm
Fair with a first and third placing. Tom Daniel, Courtney Afford
and Hayley Vardon worked quickly and with precision to take
out first prize of $250 and the trophy. Michael Verrall, Nikia
Heaven and Jennifer Whitehead took out third prize. The
other two teams also performed admirably but were unplaced.
The students competed against 12 other teams from schools across the state.
Drumbeat Performance at The Station By Luke Wilson
During Term 1 a selected group of Year 8 students attended
the Drumbeat Program. Once a week the group had a
session where they learnt various life skills which included
working as a team, developing their confidence and playing
some fantastic beats!! After 10 weeks of teamwork it
accumulated into a performance at ‘The Station’ to help
celebrate Youth Week. The students spoke in front of the
crowd as well as performed on the Drums. The whole
performance was a huge success and the students were very
excited over their efforts.
LM Trade Training Centre Update By Greg Fulwood
National White Card Training (NWC)
The LMTTC has run two training sessions in Term 1 for NWC
training. 39 students and trainees together with 4 staff have so
far completed the training and received their White Card.
This is a Nationally Accredited Unit and a mandatory
requirement by law for anyone interested in the Construction
Industry to do Work Experience or Structured Workplace
Learning, to be employed, carry out any type of construction
work or enter any construction site for any purpose. The NWC
training develops basic skills in relation to Work Health & Safety
and the obligations and requirements associated with it.
We have a fully booked training session scheduled for Tuesday
20th May and another training day scheduled for Friday 27th June
which is filling fast.
Anyone interested in NWC training can contact Greg Fulwood
at the LMTTC on 0411 657 105.
Electro Technology
During the last two weeks of Term 1 the trainees have been
working in the Multi Trades Workshop (formerly the Polymer
workshop in the Skill Centre). They are learning the art of sheet
metal work under the guidance of their Trainer Mr John Davis of
TAFESA.
They have put their new found skills to making storage boxes for
the multitude of hand tools available for their use in this
workshop.
Doorways to Construction
Beginning this Term the trainees will be starting their largest
project for the year. They will be constructing a timber framed
extension to the southern end of the Pedal Prix shed joining
onto the side of the Little Athletics storage shed.
The construction will enable the trainees to use many skills from
digging foundations and site preparation and concreting to stud
work, door, window framing and roofing.
The site work for the new extension
will be carried out towards the end
of week 1 with the trainees working
on site from week 2 onwards. The
site will be easily recognisable with
bollards and bunting surrounding the
perimeter. Please feel free to
observe, but only from a distance for safety reasons.
L-R: Teacher Ian Howard, students Courtney, Tom, and
Hayley and Graham Buchanan and Bob Reid from
TAFESA
Murray Bridge High School Newsletter 5 May 2014
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Workplace Practices by Laurice Braithwaite
On Thursday, 3rd April, Mr Brenton Lewis, Chief Executive of
the Murraylands Regional Development Board addressed the
Stage 1 Workplace Practices class about the future of local
employment.
He informed students which new regional employment
opportunities, especially in the food Industry, should be
available in the next couple of years and advised them on
how they could choose a future in an area of choice for
either the long or short term.
His advice to “start at the bottom” and “work hard at what
you do” was followed by positive examples of where this
could lead to, such as further education and managerial
positions.
Mr Lewis also offered to discuss work issues with any
student who wished to contact him. Students appreciated
the time he took to spend with the class, the talk and the
general nature of the information supplied.
CFS Fundraiser by Natasha Bourke & Tahlia Hills
We are currently studying SACE Stage 2 Community Studies.
For this subject we decided to raise money for our local CFS.
We have already organised two fundraisers one which was held
on Sports Day and the other on the 2nd of April (Casual Day).
Sports Day - 7th of March we held our CFS stall where we sold
bottles of water for $1 and bags of lollies which were 50c or $1.
We sold out of the lollies at about 12pm but did not manage to
sell all the water. We sold about 82 bottles of water. We also
walked around with a donation bucket and collected around
$60 in donations.
Casual Day - 2nd of April we held our CFS Casual Day, asking
the students and teachers to wear the CFS colours which are
red, green and yellow. We still had water left over from our
sports day fundraiser so we decided to sell the water for $1.
We also had a donation bucket sitting on the table where we
raised about $50. Selling the water we raised about $20. With
the support of people dressing up on the day we were able to
raise about $130.
Easter Prize Draw by Lisa Riley, CPSW
The prize for our Easter draw
held last term was a 900gm
chocolate Easter bunny! 150
students and staff entered the
draw by answering 3 questions
about the history of Easter. The
winner was Liviya Hobbs in Year
10. Congratulations Liviya, I’m
sure lots of people helped you
enjoy your prize!
Thanks go to the Murray Bridge Churches for donating
the chocolate bunny, the SSO counter staff for helping
people with the draw answers and to Mr Geiger for
drawing the winning entry.
Murray Bridge High School Newsletter 5 May 2014
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Sammy D Foundation - Partywise Workshop by Doug Gray, Year 10 Coordinator and Jo Heward, ILC
On Tuesday 8th April, 40 plus Year 10 students from MBHS and
33 students from the ILC attended this workshop held at The
Station, as part of Youth Week. The program was presented by
Headspace in collaboration with Communities for Children.
Sam Davis was a 17 year old footballer who died after being
coward punched in the back of the head at a party, almost six
years ago. The Sammy D Foundation was set up in his honour to
help students to understand the implications of poor decision
making and how they can be life changing.
Sam’s dad Neil spoke about Sam, including life before and after
the night that claimed Sam’s life and the impact on the whole
family. Students were given information about Drugs and
Alcohol and two students (Livi Hobbs and Luke Prentice) were
involved in a simulated demonstration about the effects of
alcohol, using “drunk goggles”. Students then split into groups to
workshop some strategies for dealing with party scenarios and
reported back to the whole group. Overall the session was very
informative, relevant and hopefully everyone who attended will
think about the impact of choices they make, particularly when it
comes to partying. No-one will forget Sam Davis.
We would like to congratulate all the students from the ILC and
MBHS who attended on their excellent behaviour.
Motor Accident Commission / SAPOL
Presentations by Barb Quast
As you are all no doubt well aware, there have been a
number of serious accidents affecting our student cohort
over the last three months. One was a fatal accident. As a
result we invited SAPOL and the MAC to come to the
school on Monday April 7th to conduct two sessions with our
senior students. The first was directed at the Year 11 group
and focused on the “Fatal Five” leading causes of road
accidents among this age group: fatigue, alcohol and drugs,
peer pressure, risk-taking and speed. The presenter was a
member of SAPOL, and the session was interactive and
involved the students in discussions.
The second session was directed towards the Year 12 group
and included some of the same messages but also focused
on “Getting Home Safely” as this is the group, many of
whom are now legally able to drink.
Mr Noel Kneebone, father of Molly an ex-student of MBHS
who was killed in December 2013 asked to be part of those
presentations, and provided a really powerful message to our
senior school student group by bringing the issue very close
to home and making it personal. We hope that by becoming
pro-active we can get our student cohort thinking about the
risks and dangers inherent in being drivers, and prevent the
tragedies that we have seen in recent months.
Parents and Friends Report by Tracey Cregan
On Tuesday, 25th of March we held our AGM which
resulted in several new parents joining the committee.
The new committee now consists of:-
Chairperson - Tracey Cregan
Deputy Chair - Narrelle Roe-Simons
Secretary - Brendan Watts
Treasurer - Ruth Mussger
General Members - Cheyne Howard, Carol Kruschel,
Sam Dowling, Tracey Long, David
Watson, Kerry Daniel, Codi
Miegel and Rosalie Nethercott,
and Phil Fitzsimons.
Unfortunately our egg and bacon fundraising BBQ held on
Election Day outside the school gym was not as successful
as we had hoped it would be, but I would like to thank
Keith and Rose Simmons, Donna Pearce, Ruth Mussger,
Brendan Watts, Phil Fitzsimons and Luke Johnson for
volunteering their time.
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 20th May 6pm – 7pm
in the staff room. If you are interested in being a part of
the P&F and couldn’t get to the AGM you are more than
welcome to attend any of our meetings.
Murray Bridge High School Newsletter 5 May 2014
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Youth Opportunities celebrates another
successful term! By Stuart Kenny, Student Counsellor
and Youth Opportunities School Based Coordinator.
Murray Bridge High School, in partnership with Youth
Opportunities SA, has successfully delivered the Personal
Leadership Program for 18 Year 10 students throughout Term
1 of this year. This program is conducted for one day per
week over the course of the term in an adult learning
environment. Each Monday these 18 students attended
Murray Bridge TAFE to experience the many beneficial aspects
of the program.
For those unfamiliar with the organisation, the program and its
relationship with Murray Bridge High School; Youth
Opportunities is a not for profit organisation working in
partnership with schools to help young people realise their
potential. They provide Personal Leadership Programs for
selected Year 10 students and mentoring for graduates until
they leave school. Murray Bridge High School has delivered
the program since 2005, currently running one program per
term, in term’s 1, 2 and 3 this year.
Murray Bridge High School is changing the culture of the school
and the lives of young people by providing Year 10 students
with the chance to participate in the Youth Opportunities
Personal Leadership Program. The program has been created
to empower them with the skills and knowledge necessary to
make positive life changes and choices and to create successful
and happy lives despite their circumstances. South Australian
schools have observed improved student behaviour, increased
student achievement and decreased harassment and bullying as
a direct result of its programs.
Students initially apply to participate in the program through an
interview, with successful applicants establishing goals relating to
how they wish to grow and develop as an individual and a
leader throughout the program. Students then set about
achieving their goals utilising stories and lessons conveyed via
animated DVD lessons and facilitated discussion.
While this is occurring within the group, individual students
are taken out to receive one to one coaching to specifically
tailor the program principles to the goals they have for their
lives.
Students commence the program in many cases shy and
inward and emerge as confident and outgoing young adults.
Many are bursting with promise, but lacking in direction, only
to come away with the skills and desire to harness their ability
and fulfil their potential. Upon completion of the program,
graduates also receive a certificate of completion, a reference
and achieve 10 credits towards their SACE.
The term culminated with the Graduation Ceremony held on
Wednesday, 9th of April (Week 10, Term 1), attended by the
families and friends of the 18 graduates, the Principal and
Deputy Principal of Murray Bridge High School, Murray Bridge
High School staff and members of the community, including
former President of the Rotary Club of Murray Bridge Mr
John Scarvelis and Director of RALY Stephen Walker, also
from the Rotary Club of Murray Bridge.
Congratulations must go to all students who graduated - you
performed extremely well, spoke confidently, presented
yourselves in an incredibly positive manner and provided great
testimony to the Personal Leadership Program. A special
thank you must go to Doug Gray, Year 10 Coordinator at
Murray Bridge High School, for his kind and thoughtful words
at the Graduation. Also, a very special thank you must go to
Hayley Nielsen (MBHS staff member) and Tom Cleland
(Youth Opportunities Senior Trainer) for working tirelessly
with these students to ensure they were given the greatest
opportunity to meet their goals and develop as young people.
For more information on how you can support or have your
child be involved in the ongoing success of the program at
Murray Bridge High School, please visit our website at
www.youthopportunites.asn.au or contact myself, Stuart
Kenny (Student Counsellor and Youth Opportunities School
Based Coordinator) on 8532 1788 or email
Murray Bridge High School Newsletter 5 May 2014
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Murray Bridge High School Newsletter 5 May 2014
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Murray Bridge High School Newsletter 5 May 2014
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DATES TO REMEMBER
TERM 2
Tuesday & Wednesday 6 & 7 May
Parent/Teacher Interviews 3.30 – 7.30pm
Friday, 9 May
Careers Expo – Murray Bridge Showgrounds
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 13 – 15 May
NAPLAN TEST
Tuesday, 13 May
Finance Committee – 5.30pm
Monday, 19 May
STUDENT FREE DAY
Tuesday, 20 May
Parents and Friends – 6.00pm
Governing Council – 7.00pm
Sunday & Monday 25 & 26 May
Careers Expo – Adelaide Convention Centre
Thursday, 29 May
Year 8 Immunisations
Friday, 6 June
Year 11 Production – 7.00pm
Monday, 9 June
QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HOLIDAY
Tuesday, 10 June
STUDENT FREE DAY
Thursday, 12 June
Maths Apps external exam
Monday – Friday, 16-20 June
Year 11/12 Exams
Tuesday, 17 June
Finance Committee – 5.30pm
Tuesday, 24 June
Parents and Friends – 6.00pm
Governing Council – 7.00pm
Wednesday, 25 June
Year 9 Immunisations
Music Showcase – Drama Workshop
Wednesday, 2 July
Youth Opportunities Graduation – 3.3pm
Friday, 4 July
Last day of Term 2 – 2pm dismissal
ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND GIVE BLOOD
The Blood Service is visiting the John Dohler Hall, 31 Swanport Road, Murray Bridge on:
Tuesday 6 May 12.00 noon to 7.00 pm
Wednesday 7 May 11.00 am to 7.30 pm
Thursday 8 May 11.00 am to 7.30 pm
Friday 9 May 7.30 am to 3.00 pm
If you already haven’t made an appointment to give blood you can call us on 13 14 95
Before you donate eat something, drink 4 good-sized glasses of water and bring photo ID.
Do you want to assist your children with their school work? Are your reading, writing and maths skills a little rusty?
TAFE SA can help you!
Contact us to find out how; you may even be eligible for free accredited training. *Conditions apply.
TAFE SA Murray Bridge Contact: Peta Gregory Contact Number: 8535 6571