30th June , 2017, ISSUE NO. 10

Disco Inferno - Spectacular Calendar

July 18th

Students Return Term 3

July 25th

Defence Force Talk Year 9 - 12

July 27th - 28th

Duke of Edinburgh Year 9

July 27th

Parent/Teacher Night Year 7 - 11

August 4th

North Coast Athletics

Once again students from NHHS put on a spectacular musical for the

community to enjoy. The show was a sell out on three of the four nights with

matinees also enjoyed by the primary schools in our area. Students from

Coffs Jetty and Toormina High Schools also attended a matinee

performance. This production was truly a whole school involvement.

Students from all faculties were involved in the final production from building

and painting the sets, preparing food for the actors and crew to helping with

packing up. The effort that was put in by staff and students was astronomical

and is why we had such a polished production. The general comment from

the audience as they left was “a fantastic performance, such talented kids”. A

number of students became ill during the week, but they soldiered on until

the final performance A big thank you to Mr Matt Gilbert who, even though

has taken another position with the Department of Education, gave his time

to help bring the show together. And now we look forward to two years time

when the next performance will be held - what will it be?

Cast and Crew - Disco Inferno the Musical

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents and Community

As we come to the end of Semester One I would like to take this opportunity to thank both the

students and the parents and guardians of NHHS for your support of our school. On Wednesday, we

held year meetings where year advisors presented students with certificates of merit and letters of

appreciation to students. Over 800 certificates were issued and over 250 letters were sent home.

Congratulations to all students who received a certificate or letter or, as in many cases, more than

one certificate and a letter. NHHS values your work and persistence at school. Thank you.

On Tuesday, I attended my first Learning Management and Business Reform (LMBR) training day.

The LMBR program will deliver schools with modern finance, student management and student

wellbeing systems that will provide all NSW Public Schools with an integrated set of tools designed

to help staff deliver the best possible outcomes for the students and communities they serve via a single point of access. In

this week’s newsletter and on our Facebook page we have published a letter about the changes in school payment systems

being implemented through LMBR.

Reports will be printed during the holidays and distributed in week one of Term 3. Our Semester One Parent/Teacher

Evening will be held on Thursday 27th July from 3.30pm to 6pm, which is Week 2 of Term 3. At the beginning of next term

we will provide you with the information needed to book your teacher interviews online.

Enjoy your time with your children over the next two weeks. All students return Tuesday 18 July

I would like to make mention of a staff member who is retiring this week after 38 years of

teaching with the Department of Education. Mr Peter Lennox came to Nambucca Heads

High School as a Mathematics teacher in 2005 having also taught at Macksville and

Bellingen High Schools. He has also coached the school’s soccer teams over the years,

with some success. We would like to congratulate Peter and wish him all the best in his

retirement. He will now be kept busy with household chores and packing Kerry’s lunch for

her as he sends her off to work each day.

Simon McKinney

Principal

The Nambucca Heads High School P&C ran a very successful canteen for the duration of the

musical. We have made a profit of approximately $800. A big thank you to the members who

contributed their time and cooking abilities. We are also still running the raffle for the tickets to

the Rugby League World Cup final. First prize 4 tickets to the game. Only 100 tickets are being

sold. Tickets are available from members or by contacting Annette Welsh at the school we will

also have them available at the Parent/Teacher evening being held on 27th July. Also, there will

be a price increase of approximately $2 - $3 per item on uniforms from 1st September. Our next

meeting will be held on 26th July. Everyone welcome.

NHHS P&C Report

Visual Arts Teacher, Mr Chris Barnes, is still accepting donations for his Kokoda Challenge Youth

Program. If you would like to donate to this great cause please use the following link: https://

kokodachallenge.com/donate-online Event : 96km Kokoda Challenge, Team Name: FNC Trail Crew.

Any donation large or small will be greatly appreciated. Donations over $2 are tax deductible. Any

questions please contact Mr Barnes through the front office of the school.

For more information about Kokoda Foundation please visit: http://kokodachallenge.com/youth-

program. A video of the 2016 challenge can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=o4KdLHtzqZI. Thank you

AND don’t forget Mr Barnes is keen to get a crew from Nambucca Heads High School together for the

challenge next year.

Musical Notes

“I liked the devil scene with the song, ‘Welcome to my Nightmare.’ I thought it was very cool with the demons, the lighting, the musicians and the actors. I also liked the costumes and the backdrop. The fog was interesting and funny. It gave a hellish

look. I liked how when the spider was in the fog it looked very cool.” Alex

“My favourite person in the musical was Terry D. He made the audience laugh a lot.” Ethan

“I liked it that they never forgot words and acted really well, singing songs and making a fantasy.” Jerrai

“I liked the scenes connected with Fantasy – the devil scene and the angel scene. My favourite characters were Jack (Oran) and Maggie (Lucy). It was good because of all the funny scenes, which everybody found funny. I especially liked the dancing scenes – Shalayna and Amanda’s solos. I liked Josie’s voice when she sang and Terry D., the D.J. I loved the nightmare

scene because of the dancers climbing up the stairs and the smoke coming out of the set. I give this show a 9.8/10.” Carly

“I liked Jack (Oran) because he spoke to the audience and he was funny.” Anonymous

“Tom (Riley) was so funny. He made the audience laugh and looked silly in his clothes. I was really sad when I thought he’d

died. But he didn’t so that was good. It was a great show and I want to watch it again.” Anonymous

“I was in the musical as a dancer this year. The best part of being in it was getting to know everyone and watching the crowd get involved in the dancing. My favourite scene was the hell scene. I thought the fog was cool and it added a cool effect. I loved how much support there was for each other. I think the actors did a great job even though most of them were sick.” Lucy

“My favourite bit was when Mia was dancing and all the dancers, especially Mia. She is an awesome dancer. She is better than everyone else. Mia is AMAZING! But Dom is also alright. She is soooo good at dancing. I got to sit in front of Mia and she

was better than everyone!” Liam

“I thought the musical was interesting. My favourite part was when Tarryn did the YMCA but unfortunately I had to get up and

do it with him. At the end, the musical was great!” Mark

“My favourite character of the musical was the devil person. I liked her costume and the props that she used. I liked the way

she was in control of all the scenes she was in.” Kailee

“My favourite character is Terry D. because he was funny and energetic. I liked the whole show because it had a good

storyline.” Abbey

“My favourite scene was the ‘hell’ scene because the setting was very good and the fog added suspense. It was also a strong effect for hell. The actors were great but Jane (Josie) was my favourite because she is an amazing singer and a great actor. I also liked the YMCA because the audience could get up on stage and it was funny because they had no idea what they were doing. The dancers were also great. I enjoyed watching my

friends.” Jasmin

Nambucca Heads High School now has a dedicated mobile phone number for parents/carers

to SMS the school when they need to contact us regarding their student. You are able to

advise the school of your child’s absence, changes to contact details, leave messages for

teachers etc. The number is 0476 857 222

YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO RING THIS NUMBER IT IS ONLY FOR SMS.

Office staff will check for messages throughout the day and respond where necessary.

If contacting the school through this means you will not be required to send a written note to

explain absences etc.

Challenging Boundaries

A group of Year 8 students have been spending Thursday afternoons with Mrs Thomas and Miss Versluys learning important group skills and challenging individual boundaries by using the ropes course. The first session had students playing cooperative games and using the low ropes course as well as learning how to tie knots and practicing mindfulness. Last week students transitioned to the high ropes course and in pairs scaled “ the dangling duo". It was great to see the students working together, encouraging each other and, although out of their comfort zone at times, making every attempt to push themselves further. Thank you to Miss Ussher- Kinnear and Isaac Hodnett- Daly for your help last week and Mrs Bagordo for the photos. We look forward to Thursday afternoons in Term 3 (the group will continue into Term 3) to see the group perhaps conquer the most testing of the high ropes courses - "the leap of faith”….we have every confidence that the students will be up for the challenge. Miss Michelle Versluys A small but keen bunch of runners have been training hard at EJ Biffen on Monday afternoons with Sumah and Indie running some impressive PB's in the recent Lower North Coast athletics competition held at Scotts Head and progressing to the North Coast level, well done girls! With the grounds closed after all the rain we improvised and used the car park and local streets to do some speed work and relays. Run training will continue in Term 3, Monday afternoons 4pm at EJ Biffin Field, you don't have to be fast or fit, just come along (and maybe you will surprise yourself) -

everyone welcome - parents, carers and teachers. Miss Michelle Versluys

Once again congratulations to Shelayna on her recent results from the Coffs Harbour Eisteddfod which was held from 9th through to the 24th June. Shelayna competed in 17 solo sections achieving three 1st place, three 2nd , two 4th, four Highly Commended and one Very Highly Commended. As well as these results Shelayna took part in the Senior Scholarship classes for both Jazz and Contemporary, run by the Adjudicator Louise Buljubasich, to gain selection to compete for the scholarships at the Senior Gala Concert . There were over 15 competitors in each of the scholarship classes and Shelayna was selected as one of the three finalists for the Jazz Scholarship. She danced beautifully and was awarded 1st place in the scholarship - such an amazing achievement. To top this off, the Adjudicator awarded Shelayna the scholarship to attend a week long summer workshop at the Brent Street Dance Academy in Sydney in January 2018. Congratulations and well done.

Run, Run, Run

Ready to “challenge the boundaries” and master the ropes course

Mr Rumsey would like to thank students, parents and staff for their support of the after

school basketball that has been happening this term . He has been extremely happy with

the behaviour and the good nature in which the students have participated in this training/

fun . He is looking forward to seeing everyone again on Tuesday afternoons in Term 3.

Shelayna Boorer

Shelayna (far right) with other winners

Year 11 Biology - Botanical Gardens

School and Community Notices

Year 11 Biology students travelled to Coffs Harbour to participate in three workshops at the Botanical Gardens. First the students looked at different plants and how plants have evolved over millions of years, comparing modern species with extinct species, why there has been a change and how fossils provide evidence that Australia was once part of a large landmass called Gondwana. They also looked at native plants and the adaptations they have that have led to their success in Australia’s arid climate.

The “Australian Museum” presented the second workshop. Students were split into two groups and completed activities where they compared extinct mega fauna with modern day representatives. This included Diprotodon (giant Wombat) being compared with the modern Wombat, Megalania (giant goanna) compared to the modern goanna and snake. Also, the modern platypus was compared with Obdurodon (the Riversleigh Platypus). This allowed students to see how similar and different these animals were, and to make inferences about habitat, diet and why the mega fauna became extinct.

The third session was presented by Taronga Zoo. It focussed on the evolution of marsupials and monotremes in Australia and why the modern kangaroo is so successful in Australia. Students also learnt about the echidna and shingleback lizard and how these animals’ adaptations allow them to survive in a wide range of environments. Students were able to see first hand adaptations with the zoo bringing along a ring tailed possum, an echidna (lynx), a snake (...ick!!!) and a shingleback lizard. It was a great day with students being able to be hands on with the animals.

Year 11 Biology students now have to complete an assessment task based on the field trip which is due on Friday 28th July so they have the holidays to work on it. Miss Louise Lockyer

Nambucca Heads High School would like to thank

Teachers Mutual Bank for their recent contribution to our

art department. Two Year 11 students, Olivia Desic and

Tasman Malouf, will be attending the National Art School

in Sydney over the school holidays. With the donation

from Teachers Mutual Bank, fees and accommodation for

the students will be fully paid. Teachers Mutual Bank is

extremely happy to support students to their full

potential. The scholarship from Teachers Mutual Bank is

greatly appreciated by NHHS. Ms Angela Bagordo, Olivia Desic,

Tasman Malouf and Ms Wendy

Welch from Teachers Mutual Bank