tech talk sydney september technical 2017 high...

Tech Talk Sydney September Technical 2017 High School

686 Forest Road BEXLEY 2207 Phone: 9587 5899 Fax: 9553 [email protected] www.sths.nsw.edu.au

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1SCHOOL CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3DEPUTY PRINCIPALS’ REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4WELLBEING REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5P&C REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8SCHOOL NOTICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10YEAR 11 ADVISER REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14NEWS AROUND SCHOOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

ALUMNI DAY PHOTOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17YEAR 10 ACADEMIC ADVISER INTERVIEWS . . . . 18NANZAN MEETS STHS PHOTOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20TREE PLANTING AT TECH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22CAREERS REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23LIBRARY REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26BUILDING FUND/LIBRARY FUND . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

TECH ALUMNI DAY 2017On Friday 25 August we held a Tech Alumni Day. This was a new format where we invited four different year groups 1996, 1997, 2011 and 2012. We had approximately 40 alumni attend and a few ex staff. The alumni who attended enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with old classmates and find out some interesting facts about the school since leaving. They were able to view the Year 12 HSC Visual Arts students’ major projects and have a tour of the school. They attended the school weekly assembly where they watched the Year 10 Commerce Political Campaign speeches. Mark Youssef, one of the alumni, spoke at the assembly about his experiences since leaving Tech and his involvement in school life while he was at school. He encouraged our students to make the most of their time at Tech and take advantage of all it has to offer. This was followed by a morning tea, where the alumni caught up with current staff. Some of the alumni were able to stay longer and visit some technology classes.Thank you to Trevor Trotman for his organisation, the Year 8 and 9 students who acted as tour guides and the Year 10 camera crew.

Sydney Tech - an academically selective school for boys

SRC ELECTIONSThe SRC elections for 2018 office bearers are now finalised. Congratulations to all students selected. We know that you will fulfil your role responsibly and with pride. Special congratulations to our newly elected School Captain for 2018 – Louis Troulis and Vice-Captain Terence Qi. We are confident that they will represent the student body and the school in a positive, confident, responsible manner.

Louis is an avid public speaker. This year, he progressed to the final of the United Nations Youth Public Speaking Competition and is a valuable member of the Year 11 debating team. In his spare time he likes to play tennis, soccer and chess. His favourite subject is English and he is undecided about his career path. He would love to study Law but he also has a passion for cinematography.Terence has a history of being involved in mixed martial arts. In his free time, he likes to relax through drawing. At school he is involved in ISCF and his favourite subject is Japanese. He is aspiring to a career in Medicine.

PARENT PARTNERSHIP SEMINARSThank you to all the parents who attended our recent seminars. We enjoy running these sessions to maintain the connections between the school and the parent community. It is a great opportunity for you to gain some insights into how to support your sons at school and through their adolescent years. The final sessions for the year will be held in Weeks 4 and 5 of Term 4. We will also be looking for your feedback about the sessions held this year as well as suggestions for future sessions.

SCIENCE AND ENGINEERINGCongratulations to our Science and Engineering team who came first in the Sydney Regional competition against some very tough private and public school competition. Their strength on the day was String Waves and Flat Packs. In the rules of the competition, only the top scoring 8 teams across the state go on to the finals in Newcastle, and unfortunately that didn’t happen for us this year. Ms Noyes reported that the students’ collaboration and teamwork was outstanding. Thank you to Ms Noyes, Mr de Rooy and Dr Voulalas for their roles as mentors and their guidance in developing knowledge and skills of the students.

Rikki Arendsen, Jack McDougall, Alex Ho, Terence Qi, Roary Xu, Louis Troulis - Year 12 SRC 2018

Captain - Louis Troulis and Vice Captain - Terence Qi

Nehal Nafcy and Minsu Jung

accepting the Certificate on

behalf of the Team


SCHOOL CALENDARTerm 2 September1 Mock Assembly5 SRE: Period 1 - Year 10; Period 2 - Year 95 P&C Meeting - 7pm, Common Room5 Year 12 Trivia Night6-8 CHS Athletics Carnival8 2018 SRC Induction Assembly11-13 NAPLAN Online22 Year 12 Graduation Assembly and Luncheon22 Holidays commence

October9 Staff and Students return to School11-12 Year 9 Camp12 Year 11 and 12 HSC Information Night16 HSC Exams commence

This calendar is a general guide. Sometimes event dates change unexpectedly. For a full up to date list of school

activities please refer daily to the school calendar via the school intranet.

PARENT PARTNERSHIP MeetingsSchool Common Room - 9am

DATES FOR TERM 4Year 7 Gifted and Talented Education - Reading for SuccessThursday 9 November

Year 8 Lifting Year 9 EngagementThursday 2 November

Year 9 Reading for Senior English SuccessTuesday 31 October

Year 10 How your Child can stand out in the Crowd- Opportunities for Senior Students at TechTuesday 7 November

Year 11 University ScholarshipsWednesday 8 November

FAREWELL TO YEAR 12The last day of school for Year 12 is Friday 22 September. There are several activities for Year 12 on the last day of school including a student breakfast followed by the farewell assembly and luncheon at Doltone House. I wish Year 12 all the very best for their remaining weeks at school and for the HSC exams next term.Relieving PrincipalDiane Wilson


DEPUTY PRINCIPALS’

REPORT

SUBJECT SELECTIONSubject selections for Year 10 are currently being finalised. We are currently looking at numbers of students selecting each subject to determine which classes will run and which are not viable. An information evening for parents of Year 8 students was held on Tuesday 29 August in the auditorium. Subject selections for Year 8 into 9 will need to be submitted by clicking on the link emailed to students by Monday 4 September. The class lists for each subject in both of these years will be finalised early in Term 4. Changes may be made during Term 4 only if there is room in the class students wish to enter.

FINAL EXAMS FOR YEARS 7-10Year 7 yearly exams will be held early in Term 4 - in Week 4. Exams for Years 8 will be conducted in Weeks 4 and 5, Year 9 will be conducted in Week 5 and Year 10 yearly exams will be held in Week 6. All students should have begun to make study notes or revision notes as preparation for the exams. Students should make use of the extra free time they have during the school holidays to help prepare for these exams.

YEAR 10 IN TERM 4Year 10 students may wear senior uniform (white shirts) from the beginning of Term 4. This might also be a good time to consider purchasing a blazer for the senior years if you have not already done so.

YEAR 11 IN TERM 3 AND 4 The Year 11 final assessment period will begin in Week 9 of Term 3, from Monday 11 to Friday 22 September. The timetable for the exams is currently being designed and will be distributed to students when it is finalised. These tasks conclude the preliminary courses for all students in Year 11. The beginning of Term 4 is the start of the HSC courses for these students. Official assessment tasks for the HSC will begin in Term 4. Students need to complete a minimum of 10 units for the HSC. All Year 11 students are to enter their HSC subjects/units by clicking on the link emailed to them by Monday 11 September. This needs to include any units being picked up. Please be mindful of the eligibility policy. Changes to subjects will occur in Term 4 from the beginning of Week 3. Year 11 students who drive to school or are a passenger in a car driven by another student must see Mrs Wilson in Term 4 to collect the correct permission letter. These forms must be completed, signed by parents and returned as soon as possible.

YEAR 12 HSC PREPARATIONYear 12 are preparing for the countdown to the HSC. Exams begin on Monday 16 October and conclude on Tuesday 7 November. Students should take on board the valuable feedback provided from the recent Trial HSC examinations in order to make improvements. Students studying Design and Technology, Languages, Visual Arts and Music have already completed the practical component of their HSC. Year 12 will be having a meeting on Tuesday 5 September about the final days of school, the last day (breakfast, assembly, luncheon), the HSC days, misadventure, signing out and requirements for a safe conclusion to their school life.Diane Wilson Kirk GrinhamDeputy Principal Deputy Principal


WELLBEING REPORT

OUTGOING YEAR 12 ADVISERSAs the Year 12 Class of 2017 completes their final weeks of school at Tech, it is important that we recognise and congratulate their Year Advisers over the past six years – Ms Julie Ryan (Year 7-9), Ms Wendy Mac (Year 10) and Mr Nathan Brown (Year 11-12) - on their commitment to the academic and personal development of these boys, most of whom arrived here way back in 2012. On behalf of the school community, including students, staff and parents who have been put at ease with the knowledge that their sons have been working to always give their personal best, I would like to thank Julie, Wendy and Nathan for their hard work and dedication to the wellbeing of these boys.

RELIEVING YEAR 7 ADVISEROn behalf of Year 7 parents and students I would also like to acknowledge and thank Ms Bilton for her role in relieving as Year 7 Adviser whilst Ms Eath was filling in as Head Teacher Social Science for part of this term. Ms Bilton has been a valued member of the wellbeing team during this time and contributed some great ideas during our Wellbeing Planning day in August.

PLANNING DAY On Tuesday 15 August the Wellbeing Team held a planning day which was used to map out the school’s current Wellbeing Programs in 2017 against the Wellbeing Framework’s three core principles: Connect, Succeed and Thrive. The completed map clearly shows that the school is participating and supporting student wellbeing from all three areas quite thoroughly thanks to the many programs and extra curricula activities on offer at the school. The Wellbeing Team also evaluated programs using the latest Wellbeing toolkit available from the NSW Department of Education and made a start on planning for our 2018 Wellbeing Assembly topics for next year.

PARENT PARTNERSHIPSIn Term 3 the Wellbeing team organised a series of presentations for parents across all year groups at our most recent Parent Partnership meetings. We heard from an external presenter from the Federal Police’s ThinkUKnow program who spoke to parents of students in Years 7-9 about appropriate use of technology and cyber safety. Year 10 parents were given a presentation by the Year 10 Adviser, Ms Eugene Sugowdz about the thriving senior student. Key messages taken from this presentation were for students to have a good work/life balance in the senior school, have a suitable area in the home for studying and for parents to support and monitor their son’s stress levels and assessment schedules closely. Ms Sugowdz also outlined the benefits of seeking parental and school support earlier rather than later throughout the senior years.Ms Ellen Campbell (Year 11 Adviser) also gave a brilliant talk to our Year 11 parents providing advice around stress management and work life balance using her own personal experience as a parent/teacher as well as making reference to Dr Michael Carr-Gregg’s book “Surviving the HSC” and Professor Andrew Martin’s book “How to Motivate Your Child at School and Beyond”. Finally, our Year 7 parents received a presentation and general overview of our school’s current Wellbeing Team, including


programs on offer and procedures in place at the school to support students. I would like to extend my thanks to Eugene Sugowdz and Ellen Campbell for their time and effort in putting these presentations and resources together for our parent community. Below are links to helpful sites that were part of the presentations - parents who were in attendance or those who could not make the Parent Partnership Meeting may wish to explore further: 1. ThinkUknow (Federal Government cyber

safety program) http://www.thinkuknow.org.au/site/ 2. INSIGHT (Black Dog Institute’s youth program)

http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/public/education/youthprograms.cfm

3. Beyond Blue Surviving Year 12 (Fact sheet for parents)http://resources.beyondblue.org.au/prism/file?token=BL/1331

YEARLY EXAMSIt is that time of the Year when students are sitting their final round of exams. This can often be a stressful time of the year that can make some students more prone to panic attacks. DoE sites such as the Schools A-Z offer lots of advice to parents and students with regard to how to deal with the stresses that come from sitting exams and studying. Further free resources can also be found on Andrew Fuller’s website which has some very useful tips on preparing for tests. Andrew is a clinical psychologist who works with many schools and specialises in the wellbeing of young people and their families. Dates for Yearly exams:Term 3 - Weeks 9-10 Year 11 students Term 4 - Weeks 4-6 Years 7-10 studentshttp://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/homework-and-study/homework-tips/managing-exam-stresshttp://andrewfuller.com.au/free-resources/

STUDENT EYECARE PROGRAM IN TERM 4The school is pleased to announce that the Student Eyecare Program will be running this year. An optometrist will be onsite during school hours to provide students with a free comprehensive eye examination that is covered through Medicare Australia. One in six students have eye conditions that go undetected which is due to the high level of visual demand on their eyes from books, laptops, tablets and smartphones. Every attendee will receive a full report about their eye health and a prescription will be provided if glasses are required. The prescription can be taken to any optical store to get the glasses made. Don’t let your child miss out on this worthwhile health program! A letter was sent home with students in Term 3 Week 6. Please return all forms and place them in the box outside the main office by Friday 8 September 2017 (Term 3 Week 8). Additional forms are available from either the Main Office or Mr Stokes (Wellbeing Office).Nick StokesWellbeing Head Teacher


Dr Prue Salters online study skills handbook

www.studyskillshandbook.com.au

Username: sths

Password: 686success

MAKING THE MOST OF FEEDBACKThroughout the year you will have been receiving feedback from your teachers about your assessments. But are you making the most of this feedback? Many students are too focused on what mark they received and neglect to make the most of the feedback they are given.It’s not just about what you did wrong either! The feedback is a chance to celebrate what you did right, what you understood and the skills and learning you demonstrated.However it is also a chance to address areas you found difficult or did not perform as well in.Below are some questions you can ask yourself when an assessment is returned to make the most of the feedback you are given.When a test or exam is returned:• What specific feedback did your teacher give

you and how should you use that feedback?• Will you be tested on these topics again or are

they important for overall understanding in this subject?

• Which areas do you need to ask for help on as you still don’t understand?

• Which questions from your test paper should you re-do? Re-do them!

• Should you re-write any questions or essays and re-submit?

• Was there any revision work you did not complete before the test?

• What topic areas do you need to review and revise, what should you do to address these?

• Are there topics you still need to finalise study notes on?

• Are there sections of your study notes that you need to re-do?

• Did you plan ahead to give yourself enough time to revise?

• What changes do you need to make in the way you study for that subject next time?

• Are there students who did really well that you can talk with to find what they did differently?

For other types of assessments:• What parts of the assessment did you do

really well?• What did you enjoy about the assessment?• What can you learn from the feedback you

were given?• Is there any part of the feedback you don’t

understand that you need to discuss with your teacher?

• Can you ask a student who did really well if you can look at their assessment so you can see what is needed to get top marks?

• What could you have done differently?• Do you understand what you need to do to

improve or do you need to ask your teacher for more guidance?

You can learn more about how to make the most of feedback at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au by logging in with the details below and working through some of the units, particularly the units on ASSIGNMENT SKILLS and AFTER TESTS AND EXAMS.


P&C REPORT

Upcoming September

P&C Meeting

Tuesday5 September 2017Common Room

7pm

(No meeting in October due to school holidays.)

November P&CAnnual General

Meeting

Tuesday7 November 2017Common Room

7pm

All Parents Welcome

Hi AllIt is September and spring is in the air. Year 12 students have completed their trials and are into the last few weeks of school life. They will be getting ready for the final surge preparing for the HSC exams.JOINT MEETING OF THE STHS AND SGGHS P&CSWe had our annual joint P&C meeting with the St George Girls HS P&C on Tuesday 1 August 2017. We had a very good turn out from both School P&Cs.Our guest speaker for the evening was Dr Jae Jung. Dr Jung is a senior lecturer at UNSW in the School of Education. Dr Jung spoke on the topics of Educating gifted and talented children with special focus on career decision making.He outlined the education interventions for gifted and talented children found in Australian schools. These were mainly curriculum differentiation, ability grouping, acceleration, enrichment and independent learning. Dr Jung explained the legal framework where the Education Act 1990 in NSW recognises a State’s duty to ensure that opportunities are provided for every child with special abilities.Following his research, the main factors influencing the career decisions of gifted adolescents were identified as: -• High expectations of others in society, especially parents• High self-aspirations• A need for intellectual challenge and stimulation• A desire for well-paying occupations• A desire for high status/prestigious occupationImportance of personal interests, importance of one’s abilities, possession of more occupational information, tendency to early career decisions, multipotentiality and striving for perfection also featured in the decision making. Dr Jung also detailed the careers normally chosen by the gifted adolescents.He also explained how parents could assist the gifted adolescent and highlighted the following areas: -• Provide support in seeking career related information in various

fields.• Provide support to gain career related experience in various fields.• Refrain from restricting the range of career options considered by

your child.• Recognise that there is no such thing as a “perfect career”.• Recognise that present-day children would go through many careers

in their life time.• Recognise that the career decision making process will be different

for each child.Dr Jung finished by expressing his frustration that most gifted kids of today do not reach their true potential due to the lack of challenge.The presentation was followed by a Q&A session where Dr Jung responded to many of the various queries from the parents. All who attended left with a deeper understanding of how to assist a gifted and talented child to achieve their potential.All who attended were treated to a sumptuous supper.


GONSKI FUNDINGThere is still no resolution in the Gonski funding issue. Please ensure that you keep the pressure on all the elected representatives so that the original Gonski model will be funded to its completion as promised by both major political parties during the election campaign. This is a very important issue that will influence the quality of education received by our children attending the public school system in decades to come.

NEXT MEETINGOur next meeting will be held on Tuesday 5 September 2017 at 7.00 pm in the Common room.

CONTACTING THE P&CThe email for contacting the P&C is [email protected] Please send your suggestions, queries etc to this email.

Please ensure that all of you check out the official STHS Facebook page. We are looking for more likes. Please be aware that there are several unofficial Facebook sites claiming to be the STHS site. The official site can be identified by the school emblem as the profile picture and a photo of our signage taken just outside the Administration Offices, as the background.Hope to see all of you at our next meeting. Arosha RatnayakeP&C President

Jacqueline Lyons, Jude Perera, Dr Jung, Arosha Ratnayake and Betty Romeo at the combined STHS and SGGHS P&C Meeting.


Change of Mobile Phone Numbers and

AddressesIf you have changed your mobile phone number, email or mailing address, please contact the school immediately so that we can update our records.

Sick Bay and your Son

If you receive a phone call from the office informing you that your son is unwell and in sick bay, you must attend to this promptly and collect your son as soon as possible.

Your son cannot be left in sick bay for lengthy periods of time.

School Second Hand Uniform ShopThe Second Hand Uniform Shop is located in Vera’s Cottage. The Second Hand Uniform Shop is run by volunteers. During the school terms, the Second Hand Uniform Shop is usually open on the Second Tuesday of each calendar month, from 10.30am-12 noon. The Uniform shop will next be open on Tuesday 12 September. Come along and grab a bargain. If you have any donations of used uniform items, please send them to the Office.

IMPORTANT HEALTH INFORMATION

A student in our school is currently receiving treatment which results in a lowered immune system. This means that the student is more prone to getting ill from infections. As the student is not contagious but has a chronic illness, it is important that he participates actively in the day to day school program without any major limitations. A major concern is that if this student develops measles, chicken pox, whooping cough or influenza, he could become seriously ill. It is important that we prevent this situation from occuring.If your child has or may have measles or chicken pox, it is important that you:1. Do not send them to school2. Notify the School Principal as soon as possible.3. Take them to your GP or medical centre to confirm

diagnosis if possible.

NOTICES


TRANSPORT -2017Applying for a new School Opal Card

Step 1: You MUST apply on line at home at the following website:transportnsw.info/school-students

This will then be forwarded to the school electronically for endorsement.

Step 2: It is important to keep track of your application. Transport will contact you via your email.

Step 3: Once approved, the School Opal Card will be sent directly to the address provided on the application.

If you require any further assistance contact the following:General Enquiries and Assistance: 131 500

Translator and Interpreter Service: 131 450

For more information or to notify Change of Address, Lost or Stolen cards

Phone 131 500 or visit transportnsw.info/school-students

Please note that the School Opal Card is only for travel to and from School. You will not be able to use it on the weekend or for excursions. Please ensure that you have a Youth Opal card for travel after hours, on

weekends and during school holidays.


Office HoursThe School Office is open for from 8.15am-3.15pm.

PaymentsPayments by students should only be made before school, between Period 1 and 2, at Recess and at Lunch. Payments will not be taken after the bell has gone at the end of the day.Payments over the phone can be made during office hours (8.15am-3.15pm).Payments on Line can be made via our online payment system located on the STHS website. (Top right hand corner of the HOME page.)

Attention Parents:School Attendance and Leave

If your child is absent from school, an explanation for the absence must be provided to the school within seven school days from the

first day of any period of absence.

It is Departmental Policy that if your son needs to leave the school early for an appointment, then a letter must be brought to the

school and it must be signed by one of the Deputy Principals before the start of the school day for leave to be granted.

If you send an sms about your son’s absence, please put his name, class and reason for absence.

Please do not park across any private driveways or school

driveways, in our surrounding streets, when dropping your

children at school or collecting them from school.

Also do not drive into any of our school carparks to stop or park.

Please do not park across any private driveways or school

driveways, in our surrounding streets, when dropping your

children at school or collecting them from school.

Also do not drive into any of our school carparks to stop or park.


School WebsiteONLINE PAYMENTS

To make online payments, click on

the ‘online payment’ link in the top right hand corner of the HOME page above the SEARCH box.

TECH TALKTo locate Tech Talk on the

website, click on NEWS on the home page, then click

on PUBLICATIONS and Tech Talk will be

downloaded along with other publications relating to the

school.

We also have a school Facebook page

If we are unable to use our Alert SMS Message System, important communication

will be available on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/sydneytechnicalhighschool/?fref=ts

Please be aware that it is a legal requirement for ALL visitors on school grounds during school hours to report to the School

Administration Office for sign-in and sign-out. This includes parents and caregivers.


YEAR 11 ADVISERREPORT

This time of year has great significance for Year 11s. Students have the results from the early Term 3 Assessments and should have their heads down studying for the final Year 11 exams. The new prefects have been elected. They are, in no particular order, Roary Xu, Deen Essop, Ervin Liang, Rikki Arendsen, Leo Guo, Jack McDougall, Alex Ho, Hadi Ahmed, Hilton Nguyen, Taj Bosworth-Gonzaga, Louis Troulis (Captain) and Terrence Qi (Vice Captain). Congratulations to these students who are all fine young men. It is now a time when we farewell the outgoing Year 12s as the current Year 11s prepare to take over as the senior students in the school. The beginning of the HSC 2018 journey is just around the corner. Where has the time gone? Time management is crucial for the Year 11s as they prepare for the final exams. Unfortunately, some students’ recent results show that they have not yet managed their time effectively. All students should now have a study timetable and be using it every day during the week and on weekends. The ELES Online Study Skills Handbook at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au is a rich source of information including “Things to Print” for parents and students. The user name and password to log-on to the site were sent by SMS text message to parents in March this year. If you have misplaced these details, please contact the Year Adviser, Ellen Campbell, as this is such a valuable resource. Useful resources for parents include: “How can you get your child motivated to do their work for school?” and “Helping Students Develop Effective Study Skills: ELES Top 10 Tips for Parents”. To assist Year 11 students with time-management and preparation for the forthcoming exams, I have provided each student with the following resources from the ELES website: “Summarising”, “Active Studying”, “Preparing for Exam Blocks”, “Test-taking Techniques”, “After Tests and Exams”, “Time Management Skills”, “Keeping Organised at Home”, “Time Log Template” and “Your Brain and Memory”. I have also provided the home page of the “Free Weekly Schedule Templates for Word – 18 Templates” which students can access online. Students need to choose a Template and follow instructions on the ELES website. Firstly, fill it in with regular activities, such as school, sport and family activities. In the time remaining, students need to write specifically what they will be doing. Each study timetable needs to include daily note-taking and summarising of content that has been taught in that day’s lessons AND homework and assessments AND practice exam questions. Students need to write practice essays, creative writing and paragraphs in English in addition to set homework and hand it to their teacher for feedback on a weekly basis. They should ask their teachers in all subjects how they can improve their understanding and results. This shows their teachers that Year 11s have initiative, are eager to do well, and are smart at using their teacher’s feedback to improve their results. It is imperative that Year 11s follow the advice given to maximise the use of their time in a sensible, balanced way. For assistance with any matters for Year 11 students, please contact the Year Adviser - Ellen Campbell, Head Teacher Wellbeing - Nick Stokes, School Counsellor - Stephanie Lawrence or Deputy in Charge of Year 11 - Kirk Grinham.Ellen CampbellYear 11 Adviser


Year 11 about to start their last year of STHS - from Year 7 in 2013 to Year 12 in 2018


NEWS AROUND SCHOOL

Our school was again invited to participate in the Canberra Maths Day run by the Australian Mathematics Trust at the prestigious Australian National University (ANU). The competition was expanded this year to allow us to enter two teams consisting of Jordan Ka Truong, Joshua Wong, Nathan Gock-King, Tony Nguyen and Geoffrey He. Our second team included Hilton Nguyen, Andrew Murphy, Oishik Sarkar, Royce Chen and Tigger Liu. Both Jordan and Hilton have been recent prize winners in the Australian Mathematics Competition and in the weeks leading up to the competition, had been sharing their expertise with other team members so the potential for a strong showing was evident. The Thursday afternoon bus trip was pleasant and full of good humour with the accompanying teachers Mr Sender and Ms Dinos.

The format of the day consisted of the usual Group, Swiss, Crossword and Relay contests and it was clear early on that our boys would be amongst the placings. Ultimately our boys finished in second and third positions, which in my view trumped only one of them finishing first. The competition on this day is extremely talented and the boys can be very proud of their achievement and the exemplary way in which they represented the school. The trip back to Sydney was a happy one. Well done to all participants!Michael Sender

Canberra Maths Day


Alumni Day


nanzan meets STHS


CAREERSREPORT

WELCOME SPRING!The start of the new season and warmer temperatures will set pulses racing as we head toward the business end of the year!Year 12 students will be busy attending university open days, applying for their ATAR, scholarships and other schemes allowing them the opportunity to study at a tertiary institution. There is a lot of information on the school intranet page to guide them through the murky waters. I have included some important dates that every Year 12 student and parent should be aware of.The most important offer rounds for Year 12 students are December Round 2 (Thursday 21 December 2017) and January Round 1 (Friday 12 January 2018), after ATARs are released. This is when most Year 12 applicants receive their offers.

DECEMBER ROUND 2 OFFERS (IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER) Thursday 14 December 2017 – NESA releases HSC Results via email or sms at 6am Friday 15 December 2017 - ATAR’s released at 9amSunday 17 December 2017 – Year 12 students have until midnight to lock in their five preferencesThursday 21 December 2017 - Uni offers released on the UAC website at 7.30am

UNIVERSITIESUNSW and Reserve Bank Economic WorkshopThursday 14 September 12pm at the RBA, Martin Place, SydneyReserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and UNSW Business School invites Year 11/12 high school students to discover more about the world of Economics.Join the RBA and hear all about what a career in Economics is all about. You will also have the opportunity to meet and ask questions of the RBA staff - some who are graduates of UNSW Business School. https://www.futurestudents.unsw.edu.au/economics-workshop-unsw-reserve-bank-australia

WSU MUSIC AUDITIONS11 September 2017 at WSU Penrith (Kingswood) CampusIf music is your thing, then come study with us. We teach all kinds of music, with an emphasis on the music of today. We’re small enough to foster a sense of community and large enough to open your career onto the world stage. Come and audition for the Bachelor of Music. Be prepared to play two contrasting pieces and bring along your portfolio and musical compositions if you are a composer. Tour through the brand new music precinct and meet the high calibre teaching staff. https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/home/events/music_auditions2


UNSW and Macquarie Group Finance Workshop Friday 15 September 9.30 at UNSW Business School, KensingtonUNSW Business School and Macquarie Group invites Year 11/12 high school students to discover more about the world of Finance.You will also have the opportunity to meet and ask questions of UNSW current finance students, who will tell you all about University life and what it's like studying finance as a major.https://www.futurestudents.unsw.edu.au/finance-workshop-unsw-macquarie-group

ACU - OUR CAMPUS FROM YOUR COUCHAustralian Catholic University 360 Virtual Tour - Strathfield, North Sydney and Brisbane Campuseshttp://www.acu.edu.au/international/virtual_tour

TAFELandmark TAFE Drone Essentials Course at Riverina InstituteOne year after its launch, newly developed TAFE course has attracted more than 400 students across the state, from a range of industries.The Drone Essentials course covers foundational skills in using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) otherwise known as a Drone.

h t t p : / / w w w . d a i l y a d v e r t i s e r . c o m . a u /story/4844041/drone-course-gives-wings-to-industries/ https ://www.rit . tafensw.edu.au/courses/d e t a i l / d r o n e - e s s e n t i a l s - s t a t e m e n t - o f -attainment-2017-836998

AUSTRALIAN APPRENTICESHIPS: MY GAIN VIDEOSThe next series of Australian Apprenticeship My Gain videos have been published on YouTube. These videos ask apprentices and trainees to respond briefly to set questions about their job and job hunting experiences. They are directed at young people contemplating career pathways and where to look for job opportunities.https://www.youtube.com/user/AAPathways

SKILLS AND THRILLS AT THE WESTERN SYDNEY APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINEESHIP EXPOTuesday 29 August, 3.30pm, 4.30pm, and 5.15pm at Penrith PanthersThe FREE show will help students and parents discover and understand the latest on jobs of the future, industry trends and how to connect their passions to a successful career outcome.https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/skills-and-thrills-at-the-western-sydney-apprenticeship-traineeship-expo-tickets-36133059955

PRIVATE COLLEGESAcademy of Interactive Entertainment

Information Evening Wed 13 September, 6pm–8pmFind out about 2018 study options and where an AIE course could take your career.h t t p : / / w w w . a i e . e d u . a u /information-evening


OTHER NEWSGap Years and Why They’re Often a Huge Mistakehttps://schoolsindustry.com.au/2017/08/10/gap-years-and-why-theyre-often-a-huge-mistake/

TAFE Bytes: How to Start Your Own Small Business http://tafebytes.com.au/small-business/

Rail CareersThere are a wide range of careers available in the rail industry, these include engineering, customer service, corporate jobs and more. This website provides information about the industry and provides students with information about how they can succeed in the industry.http://railcareers.net.auThink Your WayThink Your Way is a resource for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with targeted advice about post-school study options.http://www.thinkyourway.edu.auGap Medics International Medical Work ExperienceShadow doctors, nurses, midwives or dentists in hospital for 1–8 weeks.https://www.gapmedics.com/aus/

CAS Hawker Scholarship The CAS Hawker Scholarship is awarded to Australian students, usually those entering their first year of university. It is awarded based on personal qualities, demonstrated leadership and academic ability.

The 2018 CAS Hawker Scholarship opens on

Monday 4 December 2017 and will close on Friday 5 January 2018.http://www.hawkerscholarship.orgNSW Police Force Exam Background Information Booklet and Sample Exam QuestionsStep by step guide that explains the process of applying and gives example questions of the exam.https ://nswpolice .acer . edu .au/ f i l es/E n t r a n c e - E x a m -booklet-NSW-Police.pdfHow to Choose a CareerThe options can seem endless and overwhelming. And many high school students worry about choosing the wrong career. So what do you want to be when you grow up? What future do you want? And, most importantly, how can you go about working it out?http://this.deakin.edu.au/career/how-to-work-out-who-you-want-to-be-when-you-grow-upCommon Job Interview QuestionsFive questions you will definitely be asked in a job interview. What they are and how to handle each one.https://year13.com.au/your-next-job-interview/Mr ZigasCareers


LIBRARY REPORT

PREMIER’S READING CHALLENGE A total of 88 students from Years 7-9 have now completed the Premier’s Reading Challenge. This is a record achievement and all students who completed the challenge will benefit with improved literacy levels. Congratulations to these students who have completed the Premier’s reading Challenge in the past few weeks: Year 7: Ethan Chung, Srikaran Gomadam, Shintaro Seino and Victor Yan Year 8: Dean Casarotto, Liam Truong, Rayan Zaioor and George Kekatos Year 9: Vincent Yuan and William ZamanyThe Premier’s Reading Challenge closed on Friday 25 August at midnight, however reading for next year’s PRC can begin straight away. It is recommended that students keep a list of books that they read so that when registration for the 2018 PRC commences in March of next year, they can immediately enter their books.The PRC booklists are an excellent resource for parents looking to find some recommended books for their sons to read. Some researchers have found that reading high quality literature enriches the life of readers, improves empathy levels and increases connectivity in the brain (Bergland, C. “Reading Fiction Improves Brain Connectivity and Function”, 2014). Bergland makes the point that readers of fiction develop their capacity to feel compassion for others in difficult circumstances as their brain visualises the character’s problems, effectively putting the reader into the shoes of another person. The importance of young men developing greater empathy and resilience is emphasised in the well-known paediatric psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg and Elly Robinson’s new book, “The Prince Boofhead Syndrome” (2017). Their book expresses concern about the disturbing increase of adolescent males who treat their loving mothers with contempt and expect to have their every

need met by their parents. We can hope that our sons will become better men by reading quality fiction. Recent attempts to replicate the research showing that reading a wide range of quality fiction make us into better people have produced mixed results (Currie, G. “Can Reading Fiction Literally Change Your Mind?” 2016). What is not in dispute

is that we want to bring up our sons with a healthy sense of themselves as literate, resilient, sociable and compassionate young men. Reading fiction provides a welcome escape from our daily life and a model for us


not to give up when problems face us in our own lives. It can only help if our boys read a wider range of high quality fiction, more often.Are you looking for the key to Good Health, Happiness and Good Fortune? The path of life

is rarely smooth and adolescence is a time of challenge for most people. Students might like to investigate a display of books in the library written by experts on topics that support young

adults as they encounter various difficulties. The display includes titles such as “Navigating Teenage Depression”, “Understanding Anxiety”, “Dealing with Depression”, “Street Smart Handbook”, “Drugs info file”, “Coping with Separation and Divorce” and many more. Our “Issues in Society” series also provides a wealth of reliable information and different points of view about topics pertinent to young people: “Violence Against Women”, “Drug Law Reform Debate”, “Sugar Consumption” and “Young Drivers and Road Safety” are just a few of the many titles available. Students may request books, including print and eBooks for the library to purchase by filling out a “Book Request Form” or asking library staff. Ellen CampbellTeacher Librarian


BUILDING FUNDTech High, established in 1911, was originally located in a building in Mary Ann Street, Ultimo, and known as Ultimo Central Technical School. The Official Opening of the new school buildings on McConnachies Paddock, Forest Road, was performed on 2 August 1958. Our school buildings are always in need of upgrading and renovation. The priority areas for our Building Fund in 2016 are to upgrade toilets. Currently our bathrooms do not meet environmental standards, waste water and electricity. Your contribution to the fund will enhance student and staff well-being and contribute to an improved school environment. There are various amounts you can donate or you can suggest your own amount. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

LIBRARY FUNDThe school has established a school Library fund. This fund is designed to enhance student learning and improve access to up to date resources from a range of different media. Our school Library is in constant use by students and teachers for research, private study and building general knowledge.

Currently, our school library is undergoing refurbishment so that both the environment and literature available are up to date and suitable for 21st century learning.

Your contribution to the fund will enhance our ability to provide inspiring and essential reading for our students. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

Yes I would like to contribute to the Sydney Technical High School Building Fund Library Fund

$130.00

$250.00

$500.00

$750.00

…………… .. (write amount you wish to donate)

I wish to pay by Cheque (enclosed) Parent Online Payment (POP)

OR debit my credit card Visa Mastercard

Card No:

Security Code: Expiry Date: /

Cardholder’s Name: …………………………………………………………………………… (please print)

Signature ………………………………………… . .…………… Student’s Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Payments can also be paid by telephone on (02) 9587 5899. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

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