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We are a Respectful, Responsible, Safe and Successful School

Caswell Street, PEAK HILL NSW 2869

P: 02 6869 1304 E: peakhill-c.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Peak Hill Central School

Newsletter

Success Through Effort Everyday at PHCS

Term 2 Week 6 - Friday 5 June 2020

NOW TAKING ENROLMENTS FOR KINDERGARTEN & ALL YEARS for 2021

Keep an eye out for our publicity regarding enrolment packs and Kick Start Kindy Program in the coming weeks

TAKE A NEW LOOK AT PEAK HILL CENTRAL SCHOOL The BEST possible START to your education-NSW Public Schools Official BEST START Program

High Expectations, High Achievement Behaviour and Educational Outcomes

Future Proof your Child Future focused Pedagogy and classrooms. By the start of 2021 all students in K-10 will be engaged in the ACTIVATE program including Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics

Programs in Science and Technology including 3-D printing, Drone Technology, Virtual Reality and Robotics Make an appointment for an individualised meeting with the new Principal Mr Peter Neilsen to discuss the importance of your child’s future so you can make an informed decision about your child’s education.

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Principal’s Message

Principal Mr Peter Neilsen Deputy Principal Mrs Catherine Doyle Head Teachers Secondary Studies Mr Joshua Brown Miss Lucy Dempsey Head Teacher Access Mrs Crystal Stanford Assistant Principal Miss Grace Stewart Administration Manager Mrs Tanya Stanford Aboriginal Education Officer Mrs Vicki Sharah P & C Committee President Mrs Kelly Dart Secretary/Treasurer Ms Kim Dern

Reconnecting with every student We have now been learning back at school for two weeks and I am proud to announce that the staff have been reconnecting with all students. The students have been fitting back into school routines, focused on their learning and are enjoying seeing their teachers and friends. The school has been following up with students who have not returned to school. I am pleased to say that we have almost all families back at school full time. Additional support has been provided for all levels including Support programs, the Centre of Excellence, and the Homework Centre open in the library each Wednesday after school until 5pm to assist students with homework, assessments and catching up on skills and work not understood while working from home.

Reconciliation week Over the past week PHCS has been able to focus on National Reconciliation Week with the theme, In this together, National Sorry Day and Mabo Day. Students and staff have engaged in activities and dialogue throughout the school. Our theme for #NRW2020 – In this together – is now resonating in ways that could not have been foreseen when it was announced last year, but it reminds us whether in a crisis or in reconciliation we are all in this together. Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians – as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation. At the heart of this journey are relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.

Reports Due to the Covid 19 situation the mid-year reports will look different to in the past and have been pushed back for release to parents on the 28th August, week 6 Term 3. This allows for more time to teach and assess student progress. If any parent or carer requires any feedback regarding their child’s learning please phone the school to make a phone appointment with your child’s teachers.

School Hooded Jumpers How great does our school look in the new hoodies purchased for every student. On the cold and rainy first day of winter under the theme of National Reconciliation week – In This Together, the school community K-12 came together for a whole school photo. Mr Neilsen was so proud of the student’s reaction to receiving their jumper. Mr Neilsen stated that the main objective was to ensure equity in access to a warm winter jumper and was hopeful families could assist the school by encouraging the wearing of the uniform each day to school. Mr Neilsen said that in addition to being warm the jumpers gave the students a sense of belonging and pride in the school, promoted school spirit, provided a safer school environment and helped prevent bullying. If students have been absent from school and have yet to collect their jumper they can be picked up from the front office on return to school.

Focus on Literacy The teaching staff continue to undertake Professional Learning in Literacy Learning Progressions to ensure our teachers are equipped with the skills to ensure students at Peak Hill Central School improve their reading, writing, spelling and grammar skills so students can exceed their potential. Kind regards Mr Peter Neilsen Principal

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Principal’s Message Continues Deputy Principal’s Report

Welcome Back to Full Time School! We have had the most brilliant fortnight back at full time schooling. The students have returned so refreshed and ready to learn. It has been so exciting to visit classrooms from Kindergarten to Year 12 this fortnight and see our students so engaged and excited about learning. We are making massive leaps and bounds in student achievement this year, despite COVID-19. Keep talking to your children about their day at school and what they are learning. The Importance of Personal Hygiene A sincere thank you to students for their diligence in maintaining high standards of cleanliness and handwashing before school and regularly throughout the day. Please keep up this brilliant effort as it is helping to keep everyone safe. The Centre of Excellence Mrs Danielle Tremain-Cannon has been busy in the Centre of Excellence testing the Literacy and Numeracy skills of the students in Year 7 to Year 10. This information is then being used to tailor individual support to each of our secondary students, so that every single child can see improvement in their learning every day. The Importance of School Attendance “Regular school attendance means more opportunities to develop learning and positive relationships with teachers and friends. Absences from school disrupt a student's learning, friendships, wellbeing and belonging, which can begin a downward cycle towards compounding disengagement. Gaps in knowledge and skills can be difficult to catch up. These gaps can easily grow and students who miss out on a preceding building block of knowledge often find it difficult to keep up later. When school staff and students, families and the community work together we can cultivate a positive learning environment with high expectations for all our students to achieve their potential.” Mark Scott, The Secretary Department of Education School Uniform Students are coming to school every day looking fabulous in their school uniforms! A sincere thank you to families for supporting the wearing of uniforms at Peak Hill Central School, by every student, every day. Thank you Mr Neilsen for providing a beautiful new school hoodie to every student from Kindergarten to Year 12. We have so many happy, warm and appreciative students and families!

Enrolling students in all years

2021

Caring is Central

Enrolling students in all years

2021

Future-proofing the

children of Peak Hill

Enrolling students in all years

2021

Take a new look at PHCS

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Nanyabura Program Every Tuesday It was very exciting this week for students in Primary and Secondary to participate again in the Nanyabura Program with Denis Moran. The program is designed to support and improve student participation and retention rate in school. The program has been designed to support students through:

Developing improved communication and social skills

Mentoring

Leadership opportunities

Developing and understanding healthy living;

Strengthening Cultural awareness If you have any questions about the Nanyabura Program please speak with Mr Mitchell Thomas who coordinates this program with Denis Moran. Extra Study Time and Support For any student in Kindergarten to Year 12, who would like to have any extra support or assistance with their classwork, homework or assessment tasks, teaching staff are available to work with students on Wednesday afternoons from 3.30pm to 5pm. If you are interested in sending your child/ren please let me know, as all students are welcome! Thank you everyone for your positive attitudes, hard work and enthusiasm over the past fortnight. Take care and have a wonderful long weekend! Mrs Catherine Doyle Deputy Principal

Deputy Principal’s Report Continues

Fortnightly Wrap Secondary students have returned to school displaying great enthusiasm and eagerness to complete all set tasks. All teachers are extremely happy with the way students have re-entered the classroom after such a long period off face-to-face teaching. From a personal point of view, it has been great getting into the classroom and meeting all of our students and watching them develop their skills in Mathematics and Problem solving. This fortnight Stage 5 students have started their work on the ‘Equations’ Topic, whilst Stage 4 have been working on ‘Area’ and ‘Indices’. The student assessment schedule is being revised with some assessments being move back in light of Covid 19. This is to give our students the best chances of doing well and striving for excellence in their academic stud-ies. Mr Joshua Brown Head Teacher Secondary Studies

Head Teachers’ News

Correct Footwear for Specialist Areas A friendly reminder that all students using the Science Lab for experiments, the Hospitality kitchen and the Industrial Technology workshop must wear fully enclosed leather shoes or boots to participate in practical activities. Please do not hesitate to speak with me if you have any questions regarding this safety requirement.

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What a Week! I'd first like to say how fantastic the students have been since returning to school on the 25th May. It has been incredible to see students engaged in their learn-ing, making positive choices and being respectful, re-sponsible, safe and successful. Reconciliation Week This week students have been participating in activi-ties to recognise and learn more about the importance of Reconciliation Week. National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The dates for NRW remain the same each year; 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the recon-ciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively. Recon-ciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (https://www.reconciliation.org.au/national-reconciliation-week/) Homework Centre A reminder for all students that Homework Centre will run every Wednesday from 3:30-5pm. Students from K-12 are welcome to stay at school for the afternoon and receive extra assistance to complete assessments, homework, or help in areas they may be struggling with. If you would like any more information, please contact the school on 68691304. A friendly reminder that if at any time you would like to discuss your child's progress at school, please feel free to contact the school (68691304) and make an appointment to meet with the relevant staff. All staff at PHCS are committed to providing the best learning environment possible for that every student is known, valued and cared for. Your feedback and input is val-ued and appreciated. Miss Lucy Dempsey Head Teacher Secondary Studies

Primary Interest Groups Last week was the first week of Primary Interest Groups. Students selected from the following options: beading & macramé, cooking, sport, choir and garden. I didn’t get a chance to walk around and see each group but speaking with students afterwards and looking at all the photos I am positive that it was a real success. Stu-dents will remain in the same interest groups until the end of term 2 and next term will get a chance to choose something different. Reconciliation Week All K-6 participated in a range of activities to acknowledge Sorry Day and Reconciliation week. New Hoodies Thank you Mr Neilsen for providing each primary stu-dent with a brand new school hoodie. As the days get colder I am sure they will be very warm. MacqLit Literacy Intervention This year the school has invested in running a literacy intervention program called Macqlit. The aim of this program is to help and support students with their reading. Mrs Lyndal Edge and Mrs Kelly Dart have been trained to deliver the program. If your child has been selected for the program an information note has al-ready been sent home this week. If you have any ques-tions about the program please don’t hesitate to con-tact the school. Library Students in K-6 have begun library lessons with Miss Heraghty this week. Congratulations Miss Heraghty for taking this role very seriously. She has spent time re-decorating the library and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the future. Homework Club Don’t forget homework club is on for students K-12 in the library each Wednesday afternoon 3:30pm. Have a happy and restful long weekend. Miss Grace Stewart Assistant Principal

Head Teachers’ News Continues Assistant Principal

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HSC Information Homework Club

Homework Club will be held every Wednesday in the School Library from 3:30pm to 5:00pm.

ALL STUDENTS ARE WELCOME

Assistance will be provided for:

Assessments

Homework

Catch up work not completed whilst learning from home

Marathon Health will be visiting Peak Hill Central

School on Tuesday, 9 June 2020 to carryout hearing

screenings.

If you would like your child/ren to have a Free Hearing

Screening please returned their permission note to

the school front office by Monday, 8 June.

Ms Corina Barnes

Learning and Support Teacher

Free Hearing Screenings

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School Library

Welcome to the Library! This week marks the start of the Library program for Primary students. Each week classes will attend Library lessons for half an hour with Miss Heraghty and Mrs Strahorn. During their lessons students will learn about the li-brary, how to find books, the dewy decimal system plus much more. Students will be given time to borrow books during their lesson and will be rewarded each time they return their book 5 times. So please remember to bring your Library Bag and borrowed book. The theme for terms 2 and 3 in the Library is “ADVENTURE”. I look forward to taking students on different adven-tures through books each time they visit the Library. Miss Teagan Heraghty Library Teacher

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Primary Interest Groups

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Primary Interest Groups Continues

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Look What’s Happening in K/1/2 It has been a wonderful two weeks back at school with students working hard in all areas. In Mathematics we have been working on addition and subtraction. Kindergarten have been using objects, like counters and our colourful bears to help them complete addition and subtraction with numbers 1-10. Year 1 and 2 have been using number lines and hundreds charts to help them add 2-digit numbers. Miss Elsie Woodley Classroom Teacher

K/1/2 with Miss Elsie Woodley Year 2/3 with Miss Tiarne McLeod

Learning in Year 2/3 What a fantastic return to full-time at-school learning we have had in 2/3! We have been practising different strategies for adding and subtracting big numbers and have been working on making our writing more detailed and exciting. I am so proud of how hard the students have been working and how they have all been working cooperatively in the classroom. Please congratulate your child on their delightful work this fortnight. I am so proud of each of them! Miss Tiarne McLeod

Classroom Teacher

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This Fortnight in Year 5/6 This week students have continued their studies in the History topic, ‘The Australian Colonies’. The 19th Century was a time of mass migration from Europe to Australia. America and Canada were the favourite destinations as they were relatively close; a twenty day trip instead of a three month journey to Australia or New Zealand. A ticket to New York was a quarter of the fare to Sydney. However, many free settlers chose to migrate to the other side of the world, to Australia. We investigated the pull factors which attracted thousands of British and Irish free settlers to Australia in the 1800s. Then we created a word cloud on the computer of all these ideas to display in our classroom. Miss Grace Stewart Assistant Principal

Year 3/4 with Ms Michelle Ross Year 5/6 with Miss Grace Stewart

Year 3/4 Yarn Up The very talented Year 3/4 students worked super hard in writing to plan their own Dreamtime story. They have selected a turtle that educates children about keeping the oceans clean. We are also very lucky to have the amazing Akayla from Year 11 visit our room to support learning. We look forward to seeing you Akayla on a regular basis. Essential Assessment started this week in Year 3/4. This program will be used across the school to identify students’ gaps in Literacy and Numeracy. Our amazing academic student of the week is Ado. He tries super hard and completes all tasks to the best of his ability. This little champion should be very proud of his dictionary work and multiplication investigation task. He often plays vocabulary memory with me and displays wonderful sportsmanship by praising my efforts, even when he wins. Well done, Ado! Jackson is one of our magnificent mathematicians. He is highly motivated and manages his time magnificently. I am very proud of you Jackson for setting high expectations in our classroom. Ms Michelle Ross

Classroom Teacher

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Stage 4 Language with Ms Michelle Ross

Stage 4 Language Students were super keen to start their Term 2 Language program today and to be honest so was I. This year Wiradjuri language will run two afternoons a week for Year 7/8 students. This fortnight students worked with Aunty Vicki, Mrs Cartwright, Mrs James, Meiko and myself to extend their knowledge of Sorry Day, Acknowledgement, Family and Totems. Students have learnt how to count from 1-to in Wiradjuri. I am honoured to work with these talented and respectful teenagers again as I have missed them dearly. You are all growing into amazing young adults and your families should be very proud of your respectful and responsible behaviour in class. Many thanks to the Language Team for their hours behind the scenes to make class so successful. Ms Michelle Ross Language Teacher

School Canteen Specials

Community Information

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New School Canteen Menu

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Positive Behaviour for Learning

Week 6 Secondary PBL winners L-R: Amelia Barwick, Tijuana Keed, Missy Beeby, Jada Redpath and Lauren Hando

Week 6 Secondary Russell Draw winners L-R: Shelby Dargan, Quentin Weaver, Kerryanne Watson and Isabella Read

Week 6 Secondary PBL winner: Shanekwar Wright

Week 6 Secondary PBL winners absent from photos: Goran Milinkovic, Zakariah Hawksworth, Isabella Robinson

Week 6 Primary Russell Draw winners L-R: Liam Westcott, Lillianna Bendich, Ida Gavin, Michael Redpath and Kodei McMaster

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School Photographs

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A Love of Learning at PHCS