page 2 page 3 - home - tweed river high school 2 page 3 i have thoroughly enjoyed my first term at...

I have thoroughly enjoyed my first term at Tweed River High School in the role of Deputy Principal for Years 7, 8 and 9. I thank everyone for their warm welcome and the ease at which I have been allowed to settle in.

Tweed River High School is a dynamic and vibrant place of learning and I commend all of the staff and students for their hard work, commitment and achievements.

I look forward to working with staff and students in 2016 to improve learning outcomes for students. We are currently exploring some very interesting research and evidence based learning routines for further implementation in 2016. This is a very exciting time to be involved in the education of our young people as the Department of Education delivers its key reforms to support local decision making resulting in better outcomes for students.

Ms. K. Taylor

Deputy Principal

Welcome to the 2015 edition of Seagull magazine.

This year’s magazine provides a pictorial keepsake highlighting a selection of our student achievements throughout the year.

Our school purpose is to provide an innovative, safe learning environment which promotes excellence through oppor-tunity, teamwork and respect. We achieve this purpose through promoting our Core Values:

• Teamwork

• Respect

• Excellence

• Opportunity

• Safety

This magazine again higlights our core values and our vision.

Articles and photographhs highlight a diverse range of student achievements; including individual and group achieve-ments and opportunities provided due to our strong links with our partner primary schools through the Tweed Learn-ing Community and our relationship with the Tweed 5 High Schools (T5).

Our outstanding academic programs are higlighted, along with our cultural sporting and leadership programs. These programs include:Band and music programsAcademic talent Pathway (ATP) and Accelerated learning Class (ALC)Tweed Learning Community programsSports Development Program (SDP)Tweed valley sporting competitionStudent leadership programs, including Wollumbin Dreaming, our Tweed River High School Student Representative Council and the T5 Student Representative CuncilPrincipal’s Quality Work AwardsDance programs, including School Spectacular and Far North Coast danceEd Vu and our term 4 creative and performing arts eveningStudent VolunteeringThe Human Powered Vehicle initiative

I would like to thank our outstanding teaching staff for the quality of lesson delivery and support provided to our students, along with the wide range of extra curricular activities they support to ennsure that our students are well rounded individuals.I would like to thank our Head Teachers and Deputy Principals for their leadership. They are tireless in their quest to ensure the greatest opportunities for our students.

I would also like to thank our administartion staff: Terese Walker and her team for their outstanding school organisa-tion, along with our canteen staff, Student Learning Support Officers, Norta Norta tutors and Titans for Tomorrow team who provide a vast range of support for students.

Thank you to our P&C who support a wide range of school programs

Please enjoy the articles and photographs highlighting out wonderful journey this year. I am enormously proud of our achievements.

Thank you to everyone whose contributions make Tweed River High School such a wonderful place to learn and work.

Leisa Conroy

As 2015 draws to a close it is a good time to reflect on the year’s events. 2015 saw my role change a little. Rather than Deputy Principal’s supervising the odd or even years of schooling. I was asked to supervise Years 10-12.

2015 saw the first group of Academic Talent Program students move into the senior school. Tweed River introduced a satellite Distance Education centre in partnership with Southern Cross Distance Education School, to support some of our students who find regular school routines challenging.

During this year, work commenced on our new Trade Skills Centre for Metals and Engineering. It is expected that this facility will be ready for use early in Term 1 2016, when a class of eighteen Year 11 students are set to commence their training. The facility will continue a range of trade level equipment and machinery related particularly to Light Fabrication and Welding trades areas. This will currently be the only facility of its type north of Wollongbar TAFE near Alstonville and will provide the opportunity for students to undertake training to a Certificate II level.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank students in our SRC for their work this year. They are an important part of the fabric of our school and are the key body for students to contribute to and participate in school initiatives.

For our Year 12 students we wish them all the very best as they move on to new adventures and step out into the next phase of their lives. Quite a number are heading to university while others are moving into employment while others have GAP year plans. They have represented to their school well and I hope they continue to be good ambassadors for Tweed River High School as they move through society.

B Mackney

Deputy Principal

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Peer Support LEADERSHIP Opportunities Problem solving Goal setting SRC Commitment Study Skills, Brain Gym

REALskills: Take a STAND-Yr 8; ‘Switched On’ - Yr 10;

Healthy relationships, Respect, Responsibilities, Resilience

BBQ Breakfast ~ support from Elevation Church Group

Brainstorm: Verbal Combat, Cyberia, the Hurting Game

LIFE CHOICES: Yr 9 ~ Jesus Racing Team

Motivational Media: ‘JIGSAW’ fitting the pieces together

Achievement Program: Academic Performance, Personal Best, Citizenship, Creative & Performing Arts, Sporting achievement, School to Work

Principal’s QUALITY WORK Awards Achievement Excursion: Dreamworld

Year 7 CAMP: Team Work, develop relationshipsThank you to the Welfare Team who through their commitment, dedication and

encouragement has helped to provide support for their year groups and encouraged involvement and participation in a number of proactive and positive programs throughout 2015. The opportunity to work with our students has again been a

rewarding, encouraging and refreshing experience.

Bronwyn Mackney, HT Welfare. November 201

This year has been a busy one and as it draws to a close I would like to acknowledge our wonderful SASS team who do a wonderful job supporting our staff, students and whole school community.

In Term 2, due to a decrease in staffing entitlement, Anita Waters accepted a transfer to Kingscliff Public School, as a part-time Administration Officer. We wished Anita well in her new role but are very happy that she is still a part of our team as a student Learning and Support Officer at our school.

In Term 3 we have had some movement within the team allowing for some valuable cross-training and opportunities to develop new skills. Toni Jeffs has been welcomed to the Applied Technology area, Kaye Bray has been offering her assistance and good humour to the Science faculty and Helie has had the opportunity to learn new administrative skills and interactions with students at the front counter in the Administration office. Thank you ladies you are doing a great job.

Ron Leadbitter, our General Assistant, has done an amazing job with our grounds maintenance, the lawns are so well kept, the gardens are full of beautiful plants and flowers and our hedges look amazing. Rolly Van Mosseveld, our Farm Assistant, does a wonderful job with maintenance of the school farm and care of the farm animals. Nathan Conlon is most helpful and a very valuable support to the whole school looking after all our computers and technical issues. Thanks guys for taking such pride in our resources and facilities.

Chris Morgan, Sandie Dawney and Jim McDermott, our Aboriginal Education Officers, continue to assist and support our indigenous students and the wider school community while Cris James, our Library Assistant, takes great care and pride of the fantastic library resources available to all students and staff. Thank you for all the good work you do.

What can I say about our Front Office staff. Allan Boan in the Print Room keeps a well-oiled, ship-shape “engine room” always providing top quality printed resources and high level maintenance of the new photocopiers across the school. Rebecca Boxsell, Jacqui Kyle, Tracey Kingi, Tanya Perandis, Kris Dinsey and our newest “recruit” Jodie Watson continue to go above and beyond on a daily basis. It is an honour to work with a team of such positive, dedicated, enthusiastic and professional people who strive to “keep the wheels turning”, embrace change and offer innovation, system improvements and support to staff and the entire school community at every opportunity.

Thanks to the casual staff who have assisted us throughout the year, Kaylene Caine, Lesley Bulluss, Damien Boan and Kathy Roberts, your hard work and dedication is much appreciated.

Another big thank you goes to our School Learning Support Officers, Robyn Crowe, Maria Swaddle, Anita Waters, Shauna Cradock, Sandie Dawney, Tulsi Blacka, Nathan Conlon, Michael Ryan, Melanie Chant and Brett Watson who continue to provide our students and teachers with invaluable support and encouragement in the classrooms and within the “Quicksmart” program in the library.

Thanks to our team of highly qualified and skilled tutors Mandy Schaefer, Lana Allison, Lilas Monniot, Brent Anderson, Margaret Sponberg and Shauna Cradock, who assisted our Indigenous students with tutoring, reading groups and their personal learning plans.

The School Administrative Support Staff at Tweed River High School are a wonderful group of hard-working and dedicated people who look forward to supporting our students, parent and teachers in 2016 and beyond.

Terese Walker

School Administrative Manager

If we all do a little.....We acomplish a lot.

Welfare2015

Page 7

SRC Report

As we farewell the 2015 SRC team we welcome the new members of the 2016 SRC including Tarryn Aiken, Lilee Attenborough Doyle, Cameron Bartrim, Jason Bentley, Teisha Curtis, Tiah Curtis, Josh Freeman, Natalie Freeman, Brooklyn Freer, Jarrah Gibbs, Kayla Harris, Caleb Howard, James Jarrett, Sasha Jarrett, Tyson King, Zac King, Zoe Nuss, Lachlan Prestage, Rachel Scott, Brooke Stoddard, Holly Taylor, Sam Taylor, and Josh Wilmott. We have also elected the executive members including Captians: Layla Mackenzie and Drew McCoullough and Vice Captains: Grace Smith and Liam Boxsell, Events Coordinators: Olivia Attenborough Doyle and Emily Wood, and Secretary/Treasurer: Corey Cox. Our team will endeavour to support and represent the students to the best of their ability.

The SRC has had a very successful year being involved in many community and school based initiates providing opportunities to develop teambuilding and leadership skills. During these events we raised funds for local charities such as Kids in Need Association, National charities including World Vision, Leukaemia Foundation and White Ribbon Day. The ongoing support the SRC has received contributes to the success and provides further opportunity to encourage students in important aspects of the school community. The initiation of the T5 SRC has extended the communities involvement and contribution to the healthy relationships between schools.

At the beginning of the year the SRC was provided with the opportunity to send four students to the YLead Conference held in Brisbane. From this experience students gained extensive knowledge about student leadership and were able to integrate the strategies within the school community. Due to the generous contributions of the P&C students were able to experience important leadership skills. The SRC are grateful for the continuous support of the P&C.

The SRC this year has now implemented the initiation of including the Acknowledgment to Country before the commencement of the school assembly every Monday and thanks for the support from Mrs Ryan, Uncle Jim and Aunty Chris. This year has been a very busy year starting with Valentine’s Day and the swimming carnival followed by Shave 4 a Cure and the Year 7 disco. We also support Biggest Morning Tea and Harmony Day. Along with some of the other students from the school we represented our school with pride in the ANZAC day march. The athletics carnival and EDVU were also held throughout the year allowing the school community to develop school spirit.

The SRC would like to thank Mr Wood for his constant efforts throughout the year helping shape the SRC into a committed group of young leaders over the past years. We would also like to thank Mr Winter for his contribution in Term 4 covering Mr Wood while he has been absent. We would also like to welcome Mr Winter as the new SRC Coordinator for 2016, we are in great hands and we are looking forward to working with him throughout next year. Our vision for the following year will incorporate the ideas of increasing school spirit as well as working closely with teachers to improve the school environment for students of Tweed River High School.

Our sincere thanks also go out to the following people for their continual support of the SRC, Jo Kydd in the canteen for supporting various events that the SRC has held throughout the year along with donating canteen vouchers for students that have excelled during the year, the office staff for their efforts in placing our reports in the newsletter and saying announcements over the speaker, Mr Ron Leadbatter, for his support in setting up and cleaning up after events, Mrs Mackney for her organisation and energy to ensure all events take place, and last but certainly no least, we would like to thank Ms Conroy and the executive staff members for giving the SRC the opportunity to organise events for the school. We are looking forward to a big 2016 and hope everyone enjoys their Christmas and well deserved holidays.

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2015 has seen the introduction of our Business Link Sponsorship program,

this program now has 26 business link sponsors.

Business Link Sponsors 2015Best Friends Pets – Tweed Heads South

Blue Owl Café – Tweed Heads

Bunnings Warehouse – South Tweed Heads

Coolangatta BCC Cinemas

Coolangatta Bowls Club

Coolangatta Surf Club

Epic Skate – Tweed Heads

Grill’d Restaurant – Coolangatta

Hogs Breath Café - Coolangatta

Hoyts Cinemas

Innovative Superannuation & Accounting Pty. Ltd Kingscliff

Kmart

Lions Club of Coolangatta/Tweed Heads

McDonald’s Restaurants – Mr J. Davis

Mrs J. Riding – Tweed River High School, parent

Mrs J. Ryan – Tweed River High School, staff

Mrs M. Sponberg – Tweed River High School, retired English staff

Network Educational Australia

Seagulls Club

Suncorp Bank

Tweed Heads Bowling Club

Tweed River High School Retired Teachers Group

Victory Ford – Mr V. Lapardin

Westpac Bank

*********

Hon Justine Elliot MP – Federal member for Richmond, New South Wales

Mr Geoff Provest MP – Member for Tweed, NSW Legislative Assembly

Tweed River High School staff and students would like to sincerely thank our Business Link Sponsors for their generous donations to support our reading programs in 2015. This has been our most successful year for students taking part in the reading challenge for 2015.

This success would not have been possible without the commitment of our Business Link Sponsors; we hope to expand the program in 2016.

Each week we host approximately 12 reading classes. We would like to thank the English faculty for their ongoing commitment to our students and their reading endeavours.

Our collection of resources is being systematically improved and re vitalised, our funding has allowed the purchase of many of the most popular and contemporary books and series available.

Our senior collection now has the most up-to-date study guides and resources to support the 2016 HSC.

Congratulations must go to the senior students who use the library during their study periods, their attitude to study is to be commended and hopefully this will result in them being rewarded with marks in the HSC that reflect their diligence to learning.

The library is always a hive of activity; faculty classes; Titans 4 Tomorrow; Write book in a Day; university seminars; debating; exam venue for years 11 and 12; NAPLAN, staff functions as well as various staff meetings. Students are able to use the library and its facilities every day.

Mr Phil Whitehead, Ms Lilas Monniot, Mrs Cris James

7o English9-3 English

Year 10 art display

Gallipoli : 100 Year Centenary display

Page 11

Vortex cannons, flaming music tubes, hair-raising static … it’s been another great year in the science department.

Unveiled at EdVu this year, Mr North’s vortex cannon can accurately knock a cup off a student’s head at 25 paces. The wonders of air pressure put to effective use!

More on air pressure: using sound to make fire sculptures. The Ruben’s fire tube uses the pressure waves that are sound to make flames jet further: a kind of pyro-visual-equaliser.

More fun with Physics was supplied by the Van Der Graaf generator, with students’ hair getting charged up – way up!

Then there are the bubbles of CO2 made by Ms Andrews – bubbles that burst in a milky cloud.

Some of our students took the opportunity to attend the Science Experience at Griffith University (https://www.scienceexperience.com.au/) this year, generously subsidised by our local Rotary clubs. They enjoyed great company and performed a series of thrilling experiments. This is a great taste of University and science careers.

Congratulations too to the students who entered the Science Olympiad exams. These are a challenging test of critical thinking and problem solving using the scientific method.

It’s been another great year in Agriculture with year 8, 9 and 10 classes productively engaged in various enterprises. Year 8 have grown vegetables all year, studied tropical fruits, visited Tropical Fruit World, built worm farms and learnt the importance of worms in agriculture production. Year 9 have monitored egg production rates, propagated herbs and measured the growth rates of our ewes and two new lambs. Our Agriculture assistant, “Rolly” as usual has kept the farm in tip top condition. The year 10 class have focussed on Poultry breeds, Nursery plants and Cattle so far. They are in the process of building a Banana circle as part of the permaculture garden … as well as creating successful vegetable crops all year. The biggest new attraction to the farm is the breeding enterprise of our new Dorper and Damara ewes and our Merino ram.

This year, we also welcomed some new members of the science faculty – our yet-to-be-named lambs. Year 9 students have been invited to pick names for them both – Albaaaht Einstein perhaps?

Mrs J. Dunbar

-Yr. 9 Philosophy Coordinator

-Debating Coach

_________________

Miss K. Lenhardt

-Stage 4 English Coordinator

-ICAS Organiser

_________________

Mrs G. Malcolm -Bourke

-Stage 5 Coordinator

-Debating Coach

_________________

Mr J. Miller


-Debating Coach

Mrs S. Smith

-Head Teacher


-Extension English coordinator __________________

Mr L. Buchanan

-Year Adviser

-2IC of English

-Advanced English Coordinator

__________________

Mrs E Cunningham


-Debating Coach

__________________

Mr J. Winter

-SRC Coordinator (Relieving)


The English Faculty at Tweed River High School is a mixture of youth and experience. Within its eight members, there is a wide range of teaching experience that allows for a diverse approach to the teaching of English.

The English Faculty also organises and runs the school’s highly successful debating teams, as well as Tweed River’s involvement in various public speaking and writing competitions. Students are encouraged to participate in these extra-curricular activities as a means of developing their communication and social skills, as well as bolstering their confidence as members of the community. English teachers also enjoy these opportunities to build a greater rapport with their students away from the usual classroom setting.

Our teachers are involved in a wide range of whole school activities, including mentoring new scheme teachers, supporting library staff, pastoral care of particular year groups and tutoring HSC students.

The English Faculty fully complies with DEC and BOS regarding a holistic approach to the teaching of English in the junior and senior schools: that we as teachers move away from teaching just one text type and instead teach integrated, concept-driven units, which include picture books, film, television, radio, computer technology, poetry, literature, language and spoken-word texts, and give students a wide experience of texts, values and skills. It is important to develop meaningful and varied tasks and activities which challenge and develop students’ English abilities, and to reward effort through Tweed River’s welfare policy.

-Mr L. Buchanan

HT English (Relieving)

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“Hsc ancient pic” – Year 12 An-cient History students this year went to Sydney for 3 days to take in the sights as well attend lectures given by professors on their HSC topics for Ancient History. We also visited the Ni-cholson Museum on Sydney Uni campus which has some amazing displays – including a Lego model of Pompeii!

Legal Eagles. Year 11 Legal Studies students who competed at Bond Univer-sity in the national ‘mooting’ competition. Mooting is a legal debate between com-peting schools and follows a strict court procedure. Tweed River students com-peted well against stiff competition from public and private schools from across Australia. The Tweed River Team was generously assisted in their preparation by solicitor Ken Lee who also provides a prize and an offer of work experience to each Year 12’s top Legal Studies student.

Year 9CWIS (World Indigenous Studies) stu-dents at Jellurgal cultural centre. They got taken on a cultural walk around Burleigh Headland which is a very significant Indigenous cultural site. They also participated in an Aboriginal dance ceremony and yarning circle.

HSIE

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It’s been another exciting year in Marine Studies. We have introduced a number of new species into our aquariums and are currently growing the following fish: barramundi, murray cod, moray eel, mud crab, hermit crab, fortescue, silver shark, oscar, red devil, severum, guppy, red claw crayfish, blue claw crayfish, red cherry shrimp, aquatic snails and brine shrimp (otherwise known as “sea monkeys”).

This year’s Marine Studies excursions included snorkelling in Tweed River and at Cook Island, boating, kayaking, fishing and trapping in Tweed River and a trip to Seaworld. We also had a number of students complete the Open Water SCUBA course. It’s exciting to note that two of the instructors teaching the SCUBA course, Emily Ardill and Jacob Bonner, are ex-students who completed the same course while attending Tweed River High only two years ago.

Tweed River High now has a NSW boat license assessor on staff and this year over 50 students passed the boating course. To help deal with this large number of students, the school purchased a new 3.9 metre Quintrex boat. This was only made possible by the efforts of the P and C. Huge thanks also to Tweed Seasports, Tweed Bait, Unique Aquariums and BCF for their ongoing support.

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This year has been full, very full, of music both new and old, by performers both seasoned and novice. Most notably this has been the year Tweed River High’s singers were broadcast to the whole of the Gold Coast.

In September our best vocalists were invited to take part in Sea Fm’s “Perfect Pitch” competition. This was a wonderful opportunity for our singers, who not only thoroughly enjoyed the rehearsals with DJ Ross, but performed exceptionally well at the “Grand Performance” in front of 800 people at Movie World.

On a day to day level the music department continues to provide opportunities to learn a variety of styles, with an array of instruments, both individually and collectively. To extend on our in class programs, the school is a venue for musical tutoring. The scheme has established itself as a provider of quality individual instruction in a wide variety of instruments including the voice. This is a unique opportunity for students to acquire first rate guidance from first rate tutors within the school grounds. All enquiries should be directed to me through the school.

The school has employed Felicity Moran as our new band teacher. She is a multi-instrumentalist who is also one of our main tutors, and has been integral in invigorating our current band. Students who have had prior instrumental or band experience are encouraged to make enquiries.

Felicity Moran will also be aiding Mr Mitchell in the implementation of the 2016 Year 7 ATP instrumental program. As part of this exciting program students will be given in class band instrument tutoring.

The school achieved excellent results in the Murwillumbah Festival of Performing Arts, most notably being awarded first place in the Large Vocal/ Instrumental Ensemble and the High School Rock Band. All students who participated are a credit to the school, both for their diligence and their impeccable behaviour during rehearsals and performances.

This year we have been involved in two performance evenings, Ed-Vu and “The Extravaganza”. Both occasions allowed our performers to demonstrate why Tweed River High School has a long standing reputation for musical excellence in the Tweed area.

Farewell to year 12 2015! This group has been the backbone of the school’s music department for the last six years. From their application, determination and participation they were integral in not only establishing the current band program in 2010, but helping it survive six years of metamorphosis. A very genuine thanks to Chris Sorensen, Amilia Green, Brayden Clark, Lucas Catel, Isaac Thiessen, Joel Schramm-Eyre, Brayden Small, Caitlyn Foltyn, Laurie Cale, Georgia Ekstrom and Emma Blanck. We wish you all the best for now and for the future!

Mr Peter Walker

2015 has been a busy year for the Creative and Performing Arts Faculty. We wished a fond farewell to Ms McNaught in Drama and appreciated all her hard work, especially in the production of our Musical Extravaganza in late 2014. In her place we welcomed the effervescent Ms McPhereson, who worked doubly hard with our Senior Drama students and inspired the Visual Arts classes with her dynamism and creative skill. It was such a pleasure to have Mrs Smith return from maternity leave, her warm smile and creative expertise was enjoyed by all her classes. However, CAPA will have to do without her again as we wish her well for 2016 and the birth of baby number two! For another year Mr. Spry wowed us with his computer expertise and inspired the photographic and digital imaging classes to great heights.

The CAPA students worked hard and produced sensitive, vibrant and creative art works throughtout the year. The HSC students created wonderful artworks, drama monologues and sensational music this year and were enthusiastic in their theoretical discussions. The performances were outstanding and the school is lucky to have the benefit of the talent and enthusiasm of Mr. Walker and Ms Pope. Mr Mitchell worked hard with his young year nine stars, who shone in Performance.

Mandy Alsop - HT CAPA

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2015 has been a very eventful year in the Applied Technology faculty. Jan Amos – Head Teacher for many years retired from teaching in July. Mrs Amos made a significant contribution to Tweed River High School and to public education. We wish her all the best for retirement and her new endeavours.

The faculty welcomed a new Kitchen Assistant, Toni Jeffs who replaced Helene after her transfer to another area. Toni has settled in well to our faculty and the students and staff appreciate her valuable support in our very busy practical rooms.

Mr Rimell has proven to be a valuable addition to our staff for 2015. He brings with him an enthusiasm for teaching and a wealth of life experience in Food and Beverage. It is rewarding having a male on our team.

Ms Marriott expertly guided the cohort of Year 12 Textiles students in creating and completing their Textiles major works. This is an extremely big task, with Ms Marriott running holiday and weekend workshops.

Ms Mackney employed her skills and knowledge to restructure and write the current program/assessments for the adjusted Community and Family Studies syllabus. Ms Mackney’s experience with senior students has delivered outstanding HSC results every year for our students.

Mrs Simpson created a new Technology unit for Year 8 which has proven a popular one featuring cuisines throughout the world. She has also revamped the Year 11 and 12 Food Technology assessments to keep them current. Mrs Simpson needs to be acknowledged for the outstanding HSC results her students received in 2014 for Food Technology. Great work!

This year students have enjoyed the opportunities the Applied Technology Faculty have offered –

• Edvu cook off challenge

• Whitehouse Fashion illustration/Folio workshop

• T5 cook off challenge

• Preparing/serving supper at Yr 6-7 Transiton night

• Preparing/serving refreshments at the CAPA Entertainment night

• Using our new photo booth for food photography

The faculty can only run with the support of a committed staff. Our team is dedicated with a vision for the future of our students.

Kay Gordon

Relieving Head Teacher

Applied Technology

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If you build it they will come! Ask your parents what movie this is from.

Firstly, congratulations to the 2015 HSC students, particularly Engineering Studies, Industrial Technology, IPT and Construction students. Best of luck for your future careers!

This year a number of new projects were undertaken by students across both senior and junior classes. The TAS staff are forever looking at developing projects which are targeted at student interests and build pride in the skills learnt and the products made. It was certainly pleasing to see the interest taken in the new projects, particularly the skateboards and programmable electronics, with many students working outside of class and into lunches. Some of this year’s projects are listed below:

• Solar Signs – Design a sign to communicate a message about you. Watch it glow different colours in the dark.

• 3D Designer Tags – Design and print your own bag, pencil case tags and jewellery.

• Co2 Dragsters

• Surf themed picture frames

• Electronic projects with 3D printed cases.

• Programmable electronic projects.

• 3D Computer Aided Design using Creo Parametric and Sketchup Pro.

• Designer skateboards – Manufacture the skateboard and the veneer marquetry.

In addition, for the second year running a group of students participated in the annual RACQ 24Hr Human Powered Vehicle race. Another huge success! Thank you to Mr Arrowsmith for all his work along with Mrs Sinclair and Mr Rimell for their help and support at the event.

I would like to thank the students and the TAS Staff, Mr Mackney, Mr Arrowsmith, Mr Cassar, Mr Patch and Mr Yensch for all their hard work.

Kind Regards

M. Wiggins

Relieving Head Teacher TAS

I have to say that I am in charge of one of the busiest faculties in the school.

Ms Cowan wears a cap of many colours, she not only worked with her Year 12 class towards the HSC but is also the Supervisor of Girls and works with female students through a whole range of issues, the Volunteering Programme Supervisor which helps students co-ordinate all the hours students spend volunteering which then leads to state recognition which looks good in a C.V. She is also the SDP Co-ordinator and this year introduced our first SDP camp which because of its success will be the first of many to come. Ms Cowan has also had the responsibility of being Relieving Head Teacher of the faculty on and off throughout the year and her experience and support is much appreciated.

Ms Alford has also worked in preparing her first senior class for the HSC, she is also the Sports Organiser. The role of the S.O. is constant which means the organisation of all sporting carnivals, school sport from week to week which means organising all staff and students to be in the right place at the right time. Added to this Ms Alford has been the coach of some very successful netball teams.

Ms Pope our Dance PD/H/PE teacher has continued her dedication to dance working before and after school with a very talented and energetic group of young ladies. She has continued the tradition of having 12 students selected for School Spectacular in Sydney in November this year. She has also had a significant role in planning and programming for the PD/H/PE faculty. A big congratulations goes to Ms Pope on her selection as Year 7 Year Advisor for 2016.

Mr Swaddle has had a successful year this year as coach of some of the most successful touch football teams ever at TRHS this year. His dedication to these students and for providing opportunities that these students will remember for the rest of their lives is priceless. Apart from this his involvement in faculty planning is outstanding and is of great support to me as Head Teacher. He relieved as Head Teacher for all of Term 1 from day 1 and was a baptism of fire which he survived extremely well. He is also the Teachers Federation representative which is also a time consuming task. Also the Year 11 Year Advisor which also takes up a lot of time.

Mr Fugar in his second year here at Tweed River has now cemented his place in the faculty and now knows all the “ins and outs” of the school. He has been deeply involved in planning and programming within the faculty and has brought fresh ideas to our faculty. He has also coached Futsal and touch teams as well. He has gained a good rapport with both staff and students and will be a valuable asset to both the PD/H/PE faculty and the school for years to come. On behalf of the PD/H/PE faculty I would like to congratulate him on his recent marriage and wish him and Amanda all the best wishes for the future.

Page 23

As a Head Teacher it is a privilege to have such a talented and dedicated group of people to lead and I thank them very much for their hard work in making a positive impact on the students at Tweed River High School.

EDUCATION WEEK

Congratulations to those TRHS or Feeder Primary school students who participated in our interactive displays at Ed-Vu and one lucky student won a $50 sports voucher to be spent at TRHS on any sport product or service eg: subject fees, competitions, uniforms next year.

NATIONAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DAY

This year we celebrated National Health and Physical Education day by encouraging sports teachers to nominate students who participated to the best of their ability at sport on 9/9/15. Ms Cowan would like to congratulate all prize-winners and acknowledge all staff and students who embrace sport each Wednesday afternoon and throughout the year.

SEMESTER 1 AND 2 SPORTS PRESENTATION DAY

The Wellbeing Professional Learning Community were able to secure a bi-annual Sports Presentation Day which formally acknowledges our students sporting achievements. Ms Cowan and Ms Alford would to thank the Wellbeing PLC and other staff and community members who support sport at the school.

SPORT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

This program provided opportunities for students to receive experienced coaching in one of five sports. This year, the sports and mentors were dance (Ms Pope), netball (Ms Alford), surfing (Mr Lambert), tennis (Ms Cowan) and touch (Mr Swaddle). SDP has provided the foundation for much of the individual and team success at school, zone, regional, and state level. Ms Cowan, SDP Coordinator, introduced the Sports Excellence Camp at Gold Coast Sports Super Centre. The Sports Excellence Camp will be back by popular demand next year and we have been fortunate enough to secure more places for students.

PREMIER’S SPORTING CHALLENGE.

This program has been extended to allow students across the T5 schools the opportunity to develop their sports leadership skills in fully funded leadership workshops and camps. Ms Cowan would like to congratulate to all PASS and PE students who have been nominated.

M Green HT on behalf of all the PD/H/PE staff

Page 25

Tweed River High School has had another excellent year in sport in 2015. It has been a pleasure to work closely with a number of our top sporting students once again this year. It still amazes me what fantastic students we have at the school, many of which have outstanding talent but are modest about their wonderful achievements. We have had a number of sporting teams and students make state level in their respective sports in 2015 and I would like to mention a few of the school based sporting highlights we have had in the past year:

• Our Year 9 and 10 Girls Touch team won the NSW Touch All Schools Championships in Sydney. This is nearly the same team who won the Year 7 and 8 championships a couple of years ago!

• Open Boys and Girls Knockout Touch teams – 3rd and 7th in the NSWCHS Touch Knockout competition respectively.

• U15 Netball team – 9th in the NSWCHS Knockout Competition in Berkeley, near Wollongong. This is the third year run-ning that the team has made state level; we are the first school on the North Coast to make state three years running. Our current U15 side has recently made the North Coast Final to be played in 2016.

• Open Girls Rugby League team were North Coast Champions

• Jesse Curtis (Year 11) and Tarryn Aiken (Year 10) made the NSWCHS Open Touch teams and competed at the National Youth Championships on the Sunshine Coast

• Open Netball team competed at the State Knockout Finals Series in Berkeley, which is the first time in many years that the school has reached this level in Opens.

• 8 students represented the North Coast at the NSWCHS Athletics championships in Homebush Bay in Sydney. Kayla Har-ris (Year 8) came 3rd in the 13’s javelin event, and then went on to place 8th at the NSW All Schools level.

• Tahnie Lipponen (Year 10) and Brooklyn Freer (Year 7) competed at the NSWCHS Swimming Championships in Home-bush Bay in Sydney

• Kate Marshall (Year 11) and Nikaila Hartley (Year 12) represented the North Coast Open Netball team in the NSWCHS Championships.

• 10 students made the North Coast Open Touch teams to compete in the NSWCHS Touch Championships. The girls’ team came 4th and the boys came 3rd at state. It been 6 years since the North Coast girl’s side made the Top 4. Well done to Mr Swaddle for coaching the open boys’ team in 2015, a role he will be continuing in 2016.

• Jalen Riley (Year 9) made the Greater Northern U15 Rugby League side and played at the NSWCHS Championships in Sydney.

• Travis Coleman (Year 12) competed in the NSWCHS Cross Country and NSW All Schools Triathlon, with a personal best placing in the Triathlon with 13th in the state.

• Alycia Fathers (Year 8) represented the North Coast at the NSWCHS Gymnastics Championships

• Dainton Hickey (Year 9) made the North Coast U15 AFL team

We have also had a number of students (too many to mention!) who have had outstanding sporting achievements outside of school in sports such as Presley Johnson in Taekwondo, Tahnie Lipponen in the Australian Surf Life Saving Pool Rescue Championships, Alycia Fathers in Gymnastics, and Ryan Chilton representing Qld in the Australian Inline and Ice Hockey championships. I encourage students to advise the school and the sports organiser of their achievements so we can support these students whilst they are competing in state, national and international events.

Many of our school sporting achievements would not be made possible if not for the support of our teachers who coach and mentor our students and organise trips away to compete in various competitions. A big thank you and congratulations must go to the teachers who have taken on coaching roles this year. I would also like to thank the number of parents who have been so supportive of our students and willing to help out with trips away and competitions.

Tweed River High has a strong sporting cohort of students and I look forward to another successful year in 2016 in the role. I would like to encourage all students to speak to me about their sporting achievements, as some students I know are undiscovered. Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the staff members who have supported me in the Sports Organiser role this year, in particular the PDHPE staff who are always willing to help and put themselves out to ensure sport runs smoothly in the school.

Yours in Sport, Ms Jennifer Alford

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This year has been a great year for Dance at Tweed River High School. We performed in the Far North Coast Dance Festival and competed in the Gold Coast Eisteddfod. We also took part in the School Spectacular in Sydney, which was a televised event. Overall a lot of hard work, dedication and effort were put in to the rehearsal and performance of all of the dances, so congratulations to all the dancers in the Junior Dance Ensemble, Senior Dance Ensemble, Talented Dance Ensemble, SDP Dance Ensemble and the School Spectacular Group. This year’s EDVU was also a huge success with a great performance by the groups stated above as well as the solo dancers.

We had the opportunity to take a group of our Indigenous dancers down to a professional workshop with Bangarra Dance Company. At this workshop the dancers had the chance to be selected into the Indigenous Dance Ensemble for School Spectacular. From all of the schools on the North Coast both Jennifer Old and Keeley Perandis got down to the top 12. All dance students in years 9 - 12 also had the opportunity to audition to be part of a Tweed Network Dance Ensemble, which combines dancers from Kingscliff High School, Banora Point High School and Tweed River High School. The following 6 students were successful and took part in many showcases with this group; April Stoddart, Nina Green, Jennifer Old, Brooke Catlin, Catlin Mison and Monique Green.

There was also a massive CAPA Performance Extravaganza on Thursday 19th November. This was a night that brought together musicians and dancers to showcase their talents. Students worked extremely hard and showed excellent commitment and effort. Congratulations to all those involved in the night.

Lastly, this year we say goodbye to four year 12 students. Zoe Boxsell, Nina Green, Chelsea Wilson and April Stoddart. They have represented the school extremely well in dance and we wish them all the best for the future. Nina Green and April Stoddart also completed their HSC in Dance through T5 at Kingscliff High School; they worked extremely hard and have achieved excellent results. Nina Green also got a call back on all 3 of her practical pieces, this is an outstanding achievement and one in which we at Tweed River High School are extremely proud of her for.

Miss Pope – Dance Teacher

2015 SPORT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Sport Coach MentorDance Erin Forbes Ms PopeNetball Karen Jefferies Ms AlfordSurfing Dave Davidson Mr LambertTennis Scott Styman Ms CowanTouch Sammy-Jo Curtis Mr Swaddle

The Sports Excellence Camp at Runaway Sports Super Centre was a highlight of the year. Students learnt about sports nutrition, sports psychology and body balance. SDP students had access to exceptional facilities and participated in activities for fun, fitness, team-building and strategy such as stand-up paddle boarding, night laser skirmish, RPM (cycling class), aquatic games, beach games, yoga and pool recovery sessions. Check out the camp photos! 2016 camp details will be released in Term 1, 2016. Don’t miss out!

We have had some fantastic school, zone, regional and state team results and individual selections. (Please see the Sports Report). We have also been able to recognise more of our students through our Semester Sports Presentations Days. Congratulations!

Thank you to our sponsor, Mr Davis from McDonalds and the Premier’s Sporting Challenge participants who help make sporting opportunities more accessible for our students.

2016 trials begin in Term 1, 2016.

Yours in Sport,

Ms Cowan

(SDP Coordinator)

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2015 has been the most successful year by far for the Tweed River Turtles with many team and individual performances to take note of. Both our boys and girls continue to excel in various competitions and trials with our seniors continuing to fly the proud Turtles flag with the help of some very talented youngsters.

This year saw our highest representation of students in both Far North Coast and North Coast teams with these teams also having their most successful year at State competitions.

Special individual mention this year must go to Jesse Curtis and Tarryn Aiken who both made the NSW State CHS Touch teams. This is a huge achievement for them and our school. Continuing on from his success in making the NSW CHS team Jesse won the prestigious Gary Clarke Medal. This medal is awarded to a NSW CHS Touch player who shows great commitment and leadership. Huge congratulations to Jesse on this very well deserved award.

Not only have we seen some great individual performances but also some outstanding team performances. We also had our most successful year at the CHS Opens State Finals with our Boys Team placing 3rd in the State and our Girls team placing 7th. This is a massive achievement for a school situated on the border so far away from the more successful Sydney teams. We also took our Year 7/8 Boys and Girls to Bathurst this year for the NSW State Finals. Sadly we didn’t make it through the group stage but the kids showed they will be a force in the future. To say this trip was an interesting adventure with cancelled planes, free food and hotels, a day out in Sydney and some fun bus rides would be an understatement. Thanks to all the students for their patience and behaviour on this trip.

We also decided to have a crack at a Queensland title this year and took a Mixed Turtles team to the QLD All Schools State Finals in Brisbane. We weren’t sure what to expect over the 4 days but with the team we had we were quietly confident. The team breezed through the group stage and ended up losing in the Semi final to the school that would go on to win the competition. The team placed 5th which is a great first shot at a state that is renowned for their dominance in Touch.

Our greatest achievement came in the form of being crowned the Year 9/10 NSW State Girls Champions. This was a massive effort from our girls who also won the Year 7/8 title in 2013. The girls showed all their class winning 7 games in a row to take out the Grand Final in a nail biting drop off against Helensvale (even sweeter when you defeat an invited Queensland team). Special mention to Tarryn Aiken who was named player of the final.

2015 will also see the sad end of an era with the departure of some of our Year 12 students who have been very special to me in their time at Tweed River. Tim Warren and Nikeah Wyles Togo I thank you for your friendship and hope that you will also be a part of our Turtles family in the future.

Lastly a big thankyou to Mr Winter for all his coaching this year, to our referees and outside coaches Sammy Jo Curtis and the families who continue to give up their time to support because without their help Touch could not be successful at our school.

Mr C Swaddle

Touch Football

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Netball

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The first year of high school is coming to a close for the Year 7 OCEANS and what a year it’s been! New friendships have been forged, old friendships have strengthened and many good times have been enjoyed. Some of the highlights include:

− The camp at Tallebudgera

− The Year 7 dance

− Whale watching at Hastings Point

− Swimming and Athletics carnival

Academically, the Year 7 OCEANS have been impressive from the start. The amount of Principal’s Quality Work awards, Commendable awards and Academic awards received by Year 7 students this year has been exceptional. 2015 also saw a number of Year 7 students competing in numerous academic competitions and they all did their school proud.

The OCEANS students participated enthusiastically and with competence in our school sporting carnivals, with some going on to represent their school at regional level and beyond. We have also been strongly represented in a number of other sporting activities.

Throughout this year I have been constantly amazed by the maturity shown by many of our Year 7 students. As a group, their attitude and behaviour has been outstanding and they have made me proud to say I am their Year Adviser. Looking towards 2016, I have no doubt that the awesome OCEANS of Tweed River High, like the other mighty oceans of the world, will continue to challenge and inspire us.

M Betts.

Year 7 Co-ordinator

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2015 has been a year that has seen our Year 11 students take their first steps towards life after school. The ROSA year last year saw much success from our students and we looked forward to them continuing this in 2016. Senior school saw us say goodbye to some of our year group and we thank them for their friendship, the memories they shared with us and their contribution to all our growth and we wish them well in the future.

It was a successful year for Year 11 both in the sporting and academic fields. Congratulations to the following students who received Principals Quality Work Awards for outstanding work they have completed in class throughout the year;

Blake Bossie, Liam Boxsell, Jasmine Curtis, Emma Gearon, Victor Greenfield, Megan Gribble, Layla Mackenzie, Tiffany Neilsen, Chloe Robson, Georgia Saunders, Michaela Thomas, Matisse Rose Valentino, Melanie White, Faith Williamson and Emily Wood. Special mention also to Megan Gribble who also received a Principal’s Quality Work Medal.

Our sporting achievements this year have seen students compete at the highest levels of Far North Coast and North Coast representing not only the school but also our year group. We have had some exceptional individual and team performances at both State and Regional level from various students in Rugby League, athletics, swimming, Touch Football and Tennis just to name a few. Special mention must go to Jesse Curtis who this year made the NSW State Touch team which is a huge achievement for him and our school. Congratulations to all these students on the spirit and hard work you have shown.

Year 11 students have participated in various group activities this year such as SRC Camp, Sports Carnivals, Tweed Valley Sport, Work Experience, University showcases, TAFE and listening to various guest speakers. It is our hope that they have learnt something from each of these activities and it makes them better people.

Congratulations to our School Captains for 2016 Drew McCullough and Layla Mackenzie and our Vice Captains Liam Boxsell and Grace Smith. I am sure they will do our year group and school proud with all their efforts.

I would like to thank Year 11 for their hard work and behaviour over the past 4 terms. They continue to make me proud to be their Year Adviser and as we move into our final year of school next year I know that many challenges lay ahead for them as individuals but also for us all as a group. Have a great Christmas break Year 11 and I look forward to seeing you all safe and healthy in 2016.

Mr Swaddle

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Year 12 has had a very good year and are now coming to the end of their HSC exams. There have been a number of early university entry applications submitted with some offers already being received. One of the people I must congratulate here is Ani Mehta who was awarded early entry to Griffith University’s Bachelor of Engineering with Honours. This offer was gained after Ani successfully completed a number of university level units while keeping up with his school work. CONGRATUALTIONS!

Well the last six years have flown by and my Year of students have finally come to the end of their time at Tweed River High School. It really is scary how fast that time has gone by but I have greatly enjoyed the time and feel very privileged to have played a role in guiding these fine young people through their school lives while here at Tweed River. We are all very proud of them all.

Graduation Day was a very busy day for us, starting with our Graduation Breakfast at South Tweed Bowls Club. It was quite special sitting down to breakfast with Year 12 and looking around at the students. All were dressed in their uniforms and looked like they greatly enjoyed the huge breakfast.

The next part of the day was the whole school assembly, but due to rain, we needed to have this in the SEC. I think in the last thirteen years this was the first time that a Year 12 assembly has been rain affected which was a bit of a pity but thankfully we all fitted into the SEC just fine.

It seemed fitting that the last Year 12 Assembly would be held in the SEC where we had our first Year 7 assembly in 2010. At that assembly I gave the Year its name which was ROCKETS and our motto was “Aim high and fly straight”. I have been reminding the kids of this constantly since that first assembly and it gave us something to work towards. It is my hope that Year 12 remembers this motto fondly in the years to come. I must also thank Year 12 for the marvellous painting of a rocket that they presented me with at the graduation ceremony. It has pride of place on my living room wall.

Now we are coming up to our school formal and I’m sure that everyone is looking forward to this greatly. I have been working very hard to make sure that this is a very special night and hope it will be so.

Once again, I would like to wish Year 12 2015 and their families the very best for the years to come and thank them for being such a great year. Farewell and Good Luck!

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What is the the Norta Norta Room? It is a place of learning!

During 2015 the Norta Norta teachers and tutors have assisted many students at TRHS to improve their performance and achievements by helping them to complete classwork and assignments, un-derstand, revise and develop skills.

The Norta Norta program, which is available on Monday, Tuesday and Friday each week, is a won-derful opportunity for students from Year 7 to Year 12. It was established to help Indigenous stu-dents with their learning, understanding and achievements. TRHS has provided this program, tutors and resources to benefit the students of our school. Each Indigenous student met the tutors and com-pleted a Personal Learning Plan (PLP) at the beginning of Term 1. Yr 7 parents were invited to an informative, welcome morning tea to meet the tutors and find out what the program offered.

The team of tutors has helped with general guidance, career opportunities and social skills as well the development of organisational and self-discipline procedures. The Norta area is located upstairs in the Library and has excellent facilities including computers / laptops as well as a variety of re-sources in a well set up and comfortable learning hub. The Norta Norta team has specialist tutors in several subject areas who offer help with remedial and extension work for all students. The best results are usually achieved when the students initiate early assistance and request help themselves. Ellie, our Welfare/Reading dog has been an important member of the team who has provided sup-port, comfort and companionship to many students.

Those senior students, who attended regularly have benefitted from the individual assistance in subject areas, provided by the experienced tutor team, with many improving H.S.C. outcomes, ob-taining employment, or furthering their studies. As students succeed, greater personal satisfaction, confidence and self-esteem become apparent.

The 2015 tutors (Mandy, Lana, Margaret, Shauna, Lilas, Brent and Izzy) as well as the Norta stu-dents would like to thank all the TRHS staff, especially Aunty Chris, Sandy, Uncle Jim, Mrs Jan Ryan, Kim and the Library staff for their assistance and cooperation throughout the year.

The Norta Norta team looks forward to helping more students achieve their goals.

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