the fortnightly newsletter of castle hill high school ... · to the high school when it is really a...

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ EXCELLENCE INNOVATION SUCCESS

School Telephone: 9634 4199 School Facsimile: 9899 6527 Website: http://www.chhs.nsw.edu.au

The fortnightly newsletter of Castle Hill High School

EXCELLENCE INNOVATION SUCCESS

Volume 1 5 February 2010

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE Welcome back It’s been a wonderful start to the year. Students have settled quickly into their routines, as expected. As I flagged last year, Castle Hill High School is expanding. So many people want to come to this school. Debbie Boss and I spent a large part of this week and last week interviewing parents and enrolling new students. I seem to recall that this was the way we finished last year! We welcome, in particular, new students and their families to this great school. New teachers I’m delighted to welcome five new teaching staff to the school.

Trevor Bala is an experienced Mathematics teacher who has spent the last seven years at Colo High School.

Farah Heidarishahi is also an experienced Mathematics teacher who spent several years at East Hills Girls High School.

Catherine Griffiths is new to the English faculty and has just graduated from university prior to spending some time at the University of Cambridge doing further study of Shakespeare.

Sharon Shaw is from England where she was the equivalent of a Head Teacher prior to emigrating to Australia with her husband and children. Sharon is in the TAS faculty and we welcome her experience.

Dianne Bradshaw is our new counsellor and again is very experienced having worked in a number of schools.

Trevor Bala Farah Heidarishahi Catherine Griffiths Sharon Shaw Dianne Bradshaw



Great things We ended last year on such a high with strong Higher School Certificate and School Certificate results. Our HSC dux was Yuan Chao with an ATAR of 97.4. Rightly, she, her parents and teachers are very proud of this achievement. What is just as exciting is the number of HSC subjects with students achieving above the state in Band 6 (or E4 for extension subjects). The following subjects had students with very strong Band 6 performances which were above the state:

English (ESL) English Extension 2 Mathematics Extension 2 Japanese Beginners Japanese Continuers Information Processes and Technology Community and Family Studies Drama Biology Design and Technology Industrial Technology PDHPE

As part of our celebration of wonderful results, the school will be holding a High Achievers’ Assembly for last year’s HSC group to celebrate and honour their achievements. This, followed by morning tea, will be held for parents and high achievers on Tuesday February 9 in front of Year 10, 11 and 12. I very much look forward to this event. My School website No doubt you have heard about, read about and seen much from the media on the My School website. You may recall I wrote about the implications of this - of ranking schools and comparing schools on league tables, and the like - last year in Drawbridge. I continue to be saddened by this very messy, unfair and grossly simplistic animal. On one level, at its base form, it all seems reasonable: transparency, “good information” for parents, test results compared with like schools (or as Ms Gillard has said “comparisons based on apples with apples”). I’m afraid that you have been deceived. I have always said it is the questions you ask that are the key to unlocking mysteries. Try these eight questions:

1. Is it fair and transparent and “good information” to compare our school with a selective school? (We have been: Brisbane Grammar, a highly selective (you can’t get in without doing well on a rigorous test) and expensive (about $20,00 per year, textbooks and uniforms not included) school in Queensland has been compared with us. Unsurprisingly, students at Brisbane Grammar performed better than us on NAPLAN. Learning difficulties students, students with autism or even “average students” are not part of the mix in this school – they are selected out.)

2. Is it fair to compare our school with an isolated, South Australian primary school with a student population of 55 (East Murray Area School in South Australia). Unfortunately, when compared with us, they did poorly. I have emailed the principal with my outrage that his fine school has been so denigrated. Likewise we were compared with Gairnder Primary School in Gairnder, Western Australia which has 44 students and is a “small, rural school”. What is similar about us? Is this what “judging apples against apples” means? Why should we be made to look good at their expense?

3. Is it fair to apportion results for Year 7 students who do their tests in May (four months into high school) to the high school when it is really a reflection of student work in their primary schools? I’m afraid that’s what the system is and I “don’t get that”.

4. If you think improvement (or value added results, as it is sometimes called) is important – and who wouldn’t value improvement - then why isn’t it measured and published? Of course an Olympic runner is going to beat a local club athlete. But if we were to measure the improvement made by the Olympian and the club athlete the result may be very different – and would generate a more interesting conversation.



5. Even if you do poorly as a school, is it fair to publish it on the net for the whole world to see? Do you want me to ask teachers to publish the rank order of students in each test and publish it on our website? If your child came near or at the bottom, is that what you would want?

6. If postcodes were apportioned to each of the schools from top to bottom what would we see? If we just look at Sydney schools, those at the bottom are in western Sydney and south western Sydney where there is significant disadvantage. Those at the top are in the north or east. Are you surprised by that? Why do you think that would be? And did we know that anyway? (Answer: yes)

7. Can you compare a good teacher of autistic students or students whose families have suffered mightily in civil wars and police states who score poorly academically with a good teacher of private, selective school students who score well academically and say the latter is a better teacher than the former?

8. Is NAPLAN a good measure of academic performance? Is it a good measure of teaching? Is there a better measure? Why isn’t the HSC used to judge schools?

9. What can possibly happen out of this? We have done well but we have no room to take more students who may be seduced into thinking their school is not up to speed. And even if we did have room, we don’t want to be any bigger than we are.

I have always said that you must have as much information as possible about your son or daughter’s progress. This we believe happens. You get very explicit and specific material on your child’s NAPLAN, School Certificate and Higher School Certificate performance and comparisons with the state. But it’s not published on the net for the world to see. I’d be happy to talk to parents about My School – but I’d be happier to talk to you specifically about your son or daughter’s progress and their engagement with school and how we can work well together. Finally Our front board in the foyer will display not only those students who achieved an ATAR over 90 in last year’s HSC but those students in 2009 who made exceptional achievements. Their achievements are directly and indirectly attributable to their work in this school.

Steven Dusevich – First place in the Australian Schools Computing Skills Competition Ashleigh Maihi – Australian Young Writer of the Year Sabine Bellstedt – NASA scholarship to the USA Michael Farrell – Captain of the U18 Australian Basketball Team Tara Kilminster – Pierre De Coubertin Award Hanni Trewin – Member of the State Drama Ensemble Geoffrey Whittacker – Design and Technology major work exhibited in the Powerhouse Museum.

You will not see any of this information on the My School website. The question is: why? Vicki Brewer

Yuan (Savannah)Chao 2009 HSC Castle Hill

High School Dux



Happy New Year and welcome to 2010. My name is Jennie Thompson and I have somehow become the President of our P&C. I am really looking forward to the role, as this will be my last year with a child at school-Momentous. Firstly, I wish to thank Gareth McCray for the massive effort he put into his role as P&C President for so many years. His tenure saw the school surmount many hurdles. Of particular note were his efforts in gaining our electricity upgrade, school air conditioning and the submission of applications for successful funding grants. Gareth helped raise the community profile of our school with constant, positive promotion and personal involvement. Thank you Gareth, your footsteps will be hard to follow. Secondly, I wish to offer my congratulations to our P&C Executive members, elected at the AGM in December. They include: Anne-Maree Kinley Vice President

Allan Schumacher Vice President Sally Wilsdon Secretary John Tedesco Treasurer Belinda Mitrovich Executive Diana Wyllie Executive Bruce Rhodes Executive Malcolm McCahon Executive Jenny McKee Executive Ingy Shokry Executive

I am sure we will have a great year working together. Don’t forget the P&C is your forum for voicing issues of concern, promoting positive aspects of your children’s schooling and a chance to get involved. The Uniform shop and Canteen are run by the P&C and contribute thousands of dollars each year to help your children’s educational environment. Volunteers are always needed. Even a day, once a term would be appreciated. Join us for the next meeting. We will be hoping to organise a trivia night for a little later in the year. If you have any ideas or can donate prizes come and let us know. Next meeting: Wednesday 17th February 7.30pm in the Common Room. See you then Jennie Thompson-President



IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Correct money would be appreciated when making any payments by cash at Room 1 as the school is unable to change large dominations, especially prior to 9.00am. ******************************************************** Notes or telephone calls are required from Parent/Caregiver to explain a student’s absence from school. Notes are required for a student’s late arrival to school and leaving early from school. Students are to bring Early Leaver letters to Room 1 at the beginning of the day, to enable a pass to leave class to be issued. ******************************************************* Student ID cards are required at school at all times. ******************************************************

CARS AND CHILDREN DON’T MIX! Vehicle access to the school grounds is strictly limited to staff and delivery vehicles only. Parents and Students (with driver’s licence) are also reminded that blocking school or residential driveways, even if only for a moment, to pick up or drop off students, contributes to traffic congestion around the school and unnecessarily increases the risk to our students. Please observe these restrictions to assist with student safety.

SCHOOL BUS ZONE

Parents/Caregivers need to take notice of the signs located outside the front of the school. If you intend on collecting your child/children from the front of the school in 2010, PLEASE do so from the legal parking areas ONLY. Parents/Caregivers need to be aware that Castle Hill High School has been informed that Council Rangers will be actively patrolling school areas. In addition to the obvious safety risk to our students, it is a possibility that fines maybe issued and demerit points lost if you park illegally ($243 and 2 demerit points). Parents can drop off their child /children at Carinyah Crescent which is located off Carramarr Road. There is a gate off Bert Parkinson Reserve that leads directly into the school. There is plenty of parking and is a safe place to drop off students. Your co-operation regarding the safety of the students would be appreciated.



SCHOOL PHOTO DAY

Friday 26 February 2010

All students should make very effort to attend school on that day and be in full Summer Uniform.

Photo envelopes which will be distributed prior to photo day, must be returned on the 26 February, with the correct money or receipt number recorded, should you choose the on–line option for ordering. The school does not collect payment for the photos. The photographer collects the payments on 26 February, which is the photo day.

Please see the flyer below for the purchase options.

Ms M Stapley Teacher/Librarian



CASTLE HILL HIGH SCHOOL SPORT 2010

The following opportunities are available for students at Castle Hill High School who are interested in participating in sporting based competitions during 2010.

SCHOOL CARNIVALS Students are allocated through their pastoral care classes into one of the following house groups.

Caernarvon House Colour – Yellow Durham House Colour – Blue Edinburgh House Colour – Red Windsor House Colour – Green

Students represent their House Group at the Swimming, Cross Country and Athletics Carnival. These Carnival details are: Swimming Carnival - Friday 5 February 2010 at Parramatta Pool Cross Country Carnival - Cross Country Week during Sport lessons, 15 - 19 March at Castle Hill High School Athletics Carnival - Thursday 6 May 2010 at Blacktown Olympic Park

The individual who achieves the highest point score in their age group at the Swimming and Athletics Carnival will be awarded Age Champion for 2010. The Highest placegetter at the Hills Zone Cross Country Carnival will be the Cross Country Age Champion for 2010. The students who are successful in finishing in the first two places at the Hills Zone Swimming and Athletics Carnival will progress to the Sydney West Carnival. The students who are successful at finishing in the first two places at the Sydney West carnival will progress to the NSW CHS Carnival. In Cross Country the first six places from the Hills Zone Carnival progress to the Sydney West Carnival. The first six places at Sydney West progress to the NSW All Schools Cross Country Championship. The highest scoring school team of four students will also progress from Hills Zone to Sydney West and the highest scoring school team at Sydney West will progress to the NSW All Schools Carnival.

The 2010 dates for these Carnivals are Swimming Zone 23/24 February Parramatta Sydney West 23 March Homebush CHS 29/30 March Homebush

Cross Country Zone 28 April Macquarie Uni Sydney West 18 June Penrith All Schools 23 July Eastern Creek

Athletics Zone 15/16 June Homebush Sydney West 29/30 July Blacktown CHS 9/10/11 September Homebush

CASTLE HILL KNOCKOUT TEAMS 2010 Castle Hill High School is entered into the following state wide knockout competitions Students are to listen at school assemblies and read daily notices for when trials are being organised to select these knockout teams. Boys 15’s AFL Open Baseball Open Basketball 15’s Basketball Open Cricket Open Football 15’s Football Rugby League- Hills Cup Open Touch Open Volleyball

Girls Open Basketball 15’s Basketball Open Cricket Open Football 15’s Football Open Hockey Open Netball Open Softball Open Touch Open Volleyball Open/15’s Water Polo



CASTLE HILL HILLS ZONE TRIALS The following Hills Zone teams will be selected to represent Hills Zone at the Sydney West trials. Only students who play weekend representative sport and are of a suitable age should attend these trials.

1. 15’s Boys AFL 2. Open Boys Baseball 3. Open Boys/Girls Basketball 4. Open Boys/Girls Cricket 5. Open Boys/Girls Football 6. Open Boys/Girls Hockey 7. Open Boys/Girls Lawn Bowls 8. Open Boys/Girls Netball

9. Open/15’s Boys Rugby League 10. Open Boys Rugby Union 11. Open Boys/Girls Softball 12. Open Boys/Girls Squash 13. Open Boys/Girls Tennis 14. Open Boys/Girls Touch 15. Open Boys/Girls Volleyball 16. Open Boys/Girls Water Polo

Students are to listen at school assemblies and read daily notices for when Hills Zone trials are being held. Mr Williams Sports Organiser

Castle Hill High School Sports Merit System The Sports Council would like to implement a rewards system for those who participate in sport at Castle Hill H.S. At the end of the year we normally organize an excursion for the top 50 point scorers. Students accrue points according to the following guidelines and all they need do is to submit their points to the PE staffroom after completing one of the activities below. Event Points Three events at - swimming carnival 10 - athletics carnival 10

Representing C.H.H.S. at a Zone Carnival or Zone Team 20

Participating with a good run at school Cross-Country Carnival (Criteria to be published before the carnival) 10

Regional representative in a Carnival or Sport Team 30

School Knockout Team – rounds 1-3 10

School Knockout Team – rounds 4 + 20

Regional sports team winners 30

CHS (i.e. N.S.W.) representation 40

Australian representative 50

RLSS - Bronze Star 10 - Bronze Medallion 15 - Bronze Cross 20 - Junior Instructor’s Certificate 20

St John Senior First Aid 20

Sports Council 20

School sport service (organizing/refereeing competitions, etc) 10

Team manager zone carnival 10

Dance representative 5

Playing in a lunchtime competition 3

Any other activity (see PE staff for point’s value)



ENJOY PUBLIC SPEAKING???

Enter the Rostrum Voice of Youth Competition! Both Junior and Senior levels of competition. The Speech is based on a designated topic (choice of 5). Entries close Wednesday 24 February 2010. Cost is $20.00 per student. Rules and entry forms are available from Mrs O’Sullivan in the English Staffroom.

Languages Alive

The Languages Department is looking forward to a busy and productive year in 2010. We were delighted with the 2009 HSC results. Overall, thirty students presented for six Languages Courses. 63% of these students (19 out of 30) achieved Band 5 or 6. We are also busily planning two important study tours. Our three week French Study Tour will leave on 21 March. Twenty-seven students will be accompanied by Ms Wood and Mr Gainey (and their respective partners). The students will be staying with French families and attending school at CIV, our sister-school near Nice (in the south) and then flying to Paris for a week to see the sights and hone their French speaking skills. Mrs Kris Baker will also be accompanying fifteen students on a Japanese Study Tour in September. They too will be attending school in Japan and travelling from Tokyo to Fukuoka with trips to Hiroshima, Kyoto and Osaka. We are very pleased to welcome Ms Caroline Quee back to our department. She has been working in Paris and travelling around Europe. Ms Quee will be teaching a number of junior and senior Japanese classes. Already the corridors are buzzing with “Konnichi wa” and “Bonjour” as our new Year 7 classes embark on their language learning and practise their new skills. Eight French students from CIV will be visiting us in May and June for 6 weeks, attending school and staying with host families. We are always grateful to the Castle Hill High School community who open their hearts and homes to visiting overseas students every year. Without this support we would be unable to run such a wide diversity of exchange programs. Donna Wood HT Languages

VOCAL ENSEMBLE Castle Hill High School Vocal Ensemble rehearses once a week at lunchtime each Tuesday in D13. Each year the ensemble prepares exciting and varied repertoire for the Arts North Secondary School Music Festival, which is held at the Angel Place Recital Hall. The group also practises for performance opportunities including school assemblies and Presentation Day. Students are trained in vocal health, harmony and balance, and sing pieces from Jazz, Cultural, Theatrical and Classical genres. Everyone is welcome to attend. Cara Drewitt Smith



FROM THE CANTEEN

Welcome to students new to Castle Hill High this year and welcome back to everyone else. This school operates a healthy canteen – over the last couple of years we have reduced the amount of unhealthy food and have tried to introduce healthy alternatives that will appeal to teenagers - sushi being one item that is very popular with both younger and older students. We make all our own rolls, sandwiches, wraps with salad fillings, salad trays, watermelon tubs, and soup in the winter terms. The hot food we sell is within the School Canteen Association’s guidelines with regard to fat, sugar and salt content. During the winter terms, we try to have a different ‘special’ each day. Pasta with Bolognaise Sauce and Nachos on Wednesdays are very popular. Students wanting hot food need to line up at the Hot Food window where they can also purchase cold food items. However, hot food will not be sold from other windows. Students are reminded that they are only to buy for themselves, not bulk buy for friends and pay separately as this takes time and holds up those in the queue behind them. There is a limit of 4 items per student. We are open every day from 8.15am for students to place lunch orders (bags available at the canteen free of charge) and to buy breakfast items such as fruit, toast, raisin toast, toasted sandwiches, milk etc. Orders can also be placed during recess. Students pay for their lunch when ordering so that at lunch time, all they need do is collect it from the Lunch Order line – often much quicker than lining up to buy over the counter! We would like to remind parents that the canteen is unable to change $50.00 notes before school. We are in desperate need of more canteen helpers and would encourage you to come down and ‘have a go’. Most parents are pleasantly surprised to find that, after their first day, high school canteen is not as scary as they had anticipated!! There will be some price rises this term and a new up to date price list will be posted on the website, and available from the canteen, as soon as possible.

HELP!! HELP!! HELP!! HELP!! Our canteen relies on volunteer help from parents to operate effectively and WE NEED YOUR HELP. Every year we lose long term volunteers as their children finish school and over the last few years volunteer numbers have greatly diminished. So far this year, we have less than 5 offers of help from the new Year 7 intake of approx. 220 students, and we have 3 days each month with no helpers at all. We appreciate that everyone is very busy these days, but we ask that you volunteer your time one regular day per month which, when holidays are taken into account, works out to be between 7 and 10 times a year. It is a great way to get to know your school, find out what is happening at school, make new friends yourself and also meet the new friends your child will make. It is not limited to mums, we’ve had dads and even a grandma on our roster in the past, so everyone is very welcome – and the canteen is air conditioned so it’s a comfortable working environment on very hot days. There are a couple of ways you can help – either come down for a full day between the hours of 9am and 2pm, but starting times are flexible if you have younger children to organise, some of our helpers start a little later – or if you are unable to come for the whole day, can you spare an hour or so to come down and help with recess and/or lunch serving? Having volunteer help has always enabled us to keep prices as reasonable as possible, but without enough volunteers we have to roster paid staff to keep the canteen open, with the inevitable consequence that prices will have to rise to cover the extra costs. Please phone us in the canteen on 9634 1188 – we are there from 7.00am until about 2.30pm - or fill in the tear-off slip below and return it to the canteen as soon as possible, so that we can get the new roster organised.

Jenny Denmark and Narelle Fereday Canteen Supervisors Canteen direct line: 9634 1188 (7.00am – 2.00pm) _______________________________________________________________________________________ NAME:_________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS:______________________________________________________________ PHONE NO:______________________MOBILE:_______________________________ PREFERRED DAY(S):____________________________________________________ I am unable to spend the day at canteen, but can help during recess/lunchtime serving: RECESS (10.15 – 11.00am): DAY(S):_______________________ LUNCH (12.45 – 1.45pm): DAY(S):_______________________



UNIFORM SHOP NEWS

2010 Opening Hours Term 1

DATE OPENING TIMES

Weeks 2 to 10 Every Monday and Friday 8.15 am to 11.30am The Uniform Shop has had a very successful beginning to the year. Thank you to all those people who purchased early and waited patiently in the heat. Thank you to Amy and Lara Wallis who gave up their holidays and they were efficient and gracious, and able to answer many school procedure questions. All stock in all sizes is available, except 14Y PE Shorts, which are on order and will be here in a few weeks

Margaret Pritchard Uniform Shop Manager



FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER Published and distributed by email to parents each

Friday fortnight during school term.

CALENDAR 2010

UPCOMING EXAMINATIONS

Year 12 Half Yearly

Monday 22 March – Thursday 1 April 2010

Year 11 Half Yearly Tuesday 20 April – Friday 30 April 2010

P & C MEETING

Wednesday 17 February 2010

DATE

CALENDAR EVENT

TERM 1, WEEK 3A 2010

DATE

CALENDAR EVENT TERM 1, WEEK 4B 2010

Monday

8 February

2010

Monday

15 February

2010

VET Information Night 6pm Common Room

Tuesday

9 February

2010

2009 HSC High Achievers Assembly – Session 2 Year 8 Graphics Excursion (Class 8TG – 7HR1)

Tuesday 16

February 2010

Year 8 Graphics Excursion (Classes 8TG – 7GB1, 8TG – 7WX1)

Wednesday

10 February

2010

Assembly Years 7-10 Year 7 Camp - 7.30am– Tea Gardens

Wednesday 17

February 2010

Assembly Years 7-10 Scripture Seminar Year 8 Meet the Teachers for Parents of new

students BBQ 6pm P&C Meeting 7.30pm

Thursday

11 February

2010

Year 7 Camp – Tea Gardens Thursday

18 February

2010

Peer Support – Session 3

Friday

12 February

2010

Year 7 Camp – Returning 3 – 3.30pm Friday

19 February

2010

Battle of the sexes (am) – Year 12 Prefects Girls/Boys Night In (pm)



CASTLE HILL COMMUNITY NEWS and ADVERTISING

BRENNAN DRIVING SCHOOL

CLASS 1A LIC. 006937

9624 3545 Discount off first lesson for new

students only Valid to 31.12.2010

Mention Castle Hill High School and for every referral, $2.00 will be given to the school.



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All exercise book requirements may be purchased at NewsXpress at Castle Towers

the fortnightly newsletter of castle hill high school ... · to the high school when it is really a...

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