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BULAHDELAH CENTRAL SCHOOL

A PRIDE School Strive to Achieve Term 2 Week 6 Issue 8 3rd June, 2013

Strive to Achieve

BULAHDELAH CENTRAL SCHOOL

A PRIDE School

Strive to Achieve Term 1 Week 4 Issue 2 18th February, 2013

BULAHDELAH CENTRAL SCHOOL

A PRIDE School

Strive to Achieve Term 1 Week 4 Issue 2 18th February, 2013

GREAT NEWS INSIDE * Results Primary Sports Carnival

* Primary Soccer

* Year 11 Adviser

* Student Attendance

* Heath Francis

* Yr8 Art

BCS SCHOOL PROGRAMS VALUE OF THE WEEK Participation. We promote

participation & school spirit in an

environment that values the

participation of students, staff & the

wider community. Are you actively

involved in the life of the school?

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Wednesday, 22nd May saw the Primary school

hold its annual athletics carnival. It was an

overcast day with predictions of rain. However

the decision to go ahead was made and the

morning passed without weather interfering.

The rain arrived around lunchtime and many

thought that the carnival would not continue but

again, we were lucky and the weather cleared

enough to enable us to get the last lot of events

in.

Previous to the carnival day we held the 800

metre races, heats of the 200 metres and all the

high jumps.

Many thanks to the parents who helped out on

the day and to the ladies in the canteen who

were great in providing lunches to the students.

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Kenny 186 Bradman 198 Wentworth 190 Melba 202

Congratulations to the following students who competed and achieved well on the day.

BCS Athletics Champions 2013

8 Year Boys Equal 1st Jai Nott & Zane Pringle 3rd Kelly Hutchison

8 Year Girls 1st Charlise Luxon 2nd Ruby Roberts 3rd Amia Murphy

9 Year Boys Equal 1st Angus Devon & Billy Watt 3rd Zac Watt

9 Year Girls 1st Amber Cunningham 2nd Claire Terry 3rd Khloe Middleton

10 Year Boys 1st Blake Richardson 2nd Harry Plummer 3rd Bailey Middleton

10 Year Girls Equal 1st Mahala Hawkins & Equal 3rd Chloe Hartley &

Miranda White-McDougall Seleana Murphy

11 Year Boys 1st Angus Plummer Equal 2nd Hayden Baker

& Kobi Watt

11 Year Girls 1st Heidi Buchanan 2nd Abby Whitfield 3rd Abigail Green

12 Year Boys 1st Jayden Saville 2nd Toby Crispin 3rd Liam Garemyn

12 Year Girls Equal 1st Chyna Smith & Equal 3rd Amy Cherry &

Hayley Chalker Rylee Harvey

And the winner was…………

K B W M

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We were very lucky indeed to get our

athletics carnival completed. After an

interruption, due to rain and an extended lunch,

we were able to complete the day on time. I

would like to thank the parents who attended the

carnival to support the students and those who

assisted with activities, on the day. With smaller

staff numbers, we rely on the goodwill of parents

to be able to run the carnival successfully. I am

sure that the students appreciate your help. I

know that the staff really appreciates your help.

Thanks! I was also impressed with the level of

participation and excellent behaviour of all

students. It was an excellent day, all in all.

Congratulations to Melba, the champion House

for 2013 and to the age champions.

Our Yrs 5&6 students participated in the

University of Newcastle Science and Engineering

Challenge, last Tuesday. Both Mr Backhouse and

Mrs McDonald were very pleased with the

engagement of the students throughout the day.

They were placed 3rd and 4th out of 8 teams, on

the day a very credible performance indeed. It

was also reported that their behaviour was

exemplary! Congratulations to all Stage 3

students who attended. We are very proud of

your efforts. Thanks, to Mrs McDonald for

organising the day.

Both our boys and girls soccer teams were

defeated by stronger teams from Tea Gardens

Public School. The teams, coached by Ms Laurie,

played hard and were very competitive for the

duration of both matches. Ms Laurie was very

pleased with their efforts. Well done guys!

Discover Uni Day is on again this Wednesday, 5th

June, for our Year 6 students and family

members.

This is a wonderful opportunity for our students

to discover what university is all about and see

that university really is for everybody. I am

looking forward to accompanying the students on

this day. If the past two years are anything to go

by, the students will have a great day.

The school is hosting a Gifted and Talented day

for selected students from BCS and our feeder

schools, this Friday 7th June. The day will have a

geography focus and is being facilitated by Mr

Ben Holt and Ms Catherine Rees from the

Secondary department. This is another event on

the transition calendar for the Myall Learning

Community.

Our Stage 3 debaters have their first debate

against Wingham Public School, this Thursday.

We wish them luck and await news of the

outcome. Mrs Wills has been preparing the

students for many weeks now. Thanks Mrs Wills!

June 3-11 Half Yearly Exams Yr8-Yr10

5 Yr 6 Discover Uni Day

6 After School Active Comm. Care

7 MLC Gifted & Talented

10 Queen’s Birthday

13 After School Active Comm. Care

12-14 Great Aussie Bush Camp

14 Yr10 Hosp. Showcase

17 School Captains Speeches

18 School Captains Voting

20 Yr7 & Yr9 Male Vaccinations

26 Chris Hoare Cup Gloucester

28 Last day of Term 2

BCS DEPUTY PRI. PRINCIPAL:

IMPORTANT DATES:

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On Tuesday 21st May 2013, I took the boys’ and

girls’ soccer teams to Tea Gardens to play against

Tea Gardens Public School in the PSSA (Port

Stephens Sports Association) competition. The

boys played first with great enthusiasm and

determination. Unfortunately, Tea Gardens were

the stronger team on the day and won the game

4-0.

Both girls’ teams were well matched. Again, the

Bulahdelah side played with determination and

perseverance.

It was a nail-biting match for me, so many times

the girls lined up to score a goal but the Tea

Gardens’ goalie pounced and gained possession

of the ball. Chyna Smith scored the only goal for

Bulahdelah. Tea Gardens won the game 4-1.

Both teams showed good sportsmanship qualities

during the game and I’m proud of the

commitment they have shown over the last

couple of months during the training process.

Brooke Towers and Madison Hurtado showed

great leadership skills in sharing new soccer skills

with their team mates and giving encouragement.

I would like to congratulate both teams for their

efforts. Ms Karina Laurie

This week, the school was very fortunate to

receive the donation of a good quality drum kit

from Mrs Simone Hill. Simone comes from a

musical family, and she along with her sons

Hamish and Bryce Hunkin, enjoy playing music. Simone started playing the drums when she was 10. After buying a new drum kit when she was younger, her father donated her old kit to her school in New Zealand so that it would be of benefit to many students in her school. Simone has recently bought herself a new kit, and just like her father, she wanted to donate her old kit to her children's school.

We thank Mrs Hill for her very generous

donation. The drums will be played, and enjoyed

by many students in the school.

TEA GARDENS PRIMARY SOCCER:

DRUM KIT DONATED:

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As we move past the halfway point in

the term Secondary students are

moving towards the completion of their

first semester. Year 11 reports are currently

being written and Years 7-10 will be doing their

half yearly exams and tests this week.

Year 11 students have also been considering

whether they would like to stand for the position

of school captain. I have received several

nominations and these students will be

interviewed by the school executive next Friday

before presenting themselves as candidates to

the school. The nominees will appear in the next

school newsletter, 17th June, and the captains

and vice captains will be inducted at the end of

term assembly on Thursday 27th June.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the

Rotary sponsored Model United Nations

Assembly competition at Muswellbrook. Our

school was represented by Year 11 students

Cordel Murphy and Megan Terry who had been

given Greece as their nominated country.

Students had to debate a range of international

issues in a forum set up to be like the United

Nations General Assembly. Congratulations to

Megan and Cordel who did an outstanding job

arguing their case. This is the first time our

school has participated and we thank the Tea

Gardens Rotary Club for sponsoring our

participation and Graham Dunn for liaising closely

with the school.

Teams have commenced training for the Chris

Hoare Challenge Cup in Rugby League and

football with competitions scheduled for June

26th at Gloucester. If anyone has skills in

coaching Rugby League please contact me at

school as we have a very keen group of young

men who wish to do the best they can in this

competition.

Congratulations to Molly Wilton on her selection

in the Hunter Combined High School Bowls team.

She will be competing this week in the NSW

Schools’ championship in Warilla.

Finally could I ask parents to please closely

monitor their child’s use of Facebook. This week I

have had to intervene on a number of occasions

for incidents of cyber bullying and inappropriate

messages.

BCS DEPUTY PRINCIPAL:

Front Row 2nd from left Megan Terry & Cordel Murphy

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I graduated from Newcastle University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Education via the accelerated graduate program after working in the Hospitality industry as a Trade Qualified Chef for 10 years. During my time in the industry, I worked my way up from a kitchen hand and waitress, to gain an apprenticeship at Myall Shores. Once qualified, I was promoted to Executive Chef at both the Plough Inn Hotel and Fekala Health Spa. I am qualified to teach Hospitality, Food & Beverage, Commercial Cookery, Food Technology and Technology.

I also coordinate the Student Representative Council and just recently I have been appointed the Garden Specialist for the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program. I have a passion for Martial Arts and I am a member of the Bulahdelah Shotokan Karate Club, studying Shotokan Karate under Sensei Allan Connor. I was ranked Number 1 in Australia for Point Sparring (fighting), Number 2 for Continuous Sparring (fighting) and Number 6 for Kata (patterns) in the Ladies’ Intermediate Division at the Australian Martial Arts Championships last year. I am now running a 9 week self defence program during sport time for students from Year 6-10. I would also like to inform parents that I am now taking orders for senior jerseys for Yr12 2014. The cost is $71 for a fleecy jersey without a nickname on back or $81 with a nickname. Notes have been sent out regarding this jersey and I would like to remind parents and students that all elective fees must be paid before payment of jersey can be accepted. Also, only jerseys which have been paid for in full by the order date, will be ordered. Next term, my Year 11 students will also have the opportunity to travel to Jindabyne and experience a fun filled week in the snow with Mr Gladys. They will also have the opportunity to attend the RYDA driver awareness education program at Taree later this term.

YEAR 11 ADVISOR CATHRYN GUTHRIE:

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We are currently running a campaign on a government entitlement “Child Tax Offset”, for children in Years 4, 5 or 6. The “Child Tax Offset” is a government entitlement which they introduced in 2001 but unfortunately was not given a lot of media exposure (like today’s entitlements). Many parents had never heard of it and did not claim the entitlement. One of the main reasons why we believe so strongly in this is that we know that financially it is hard for parents with the continuous costs of raising children (uniform expenses, school expenses, outside sport activity costs, medical expenses etc.) and if parents are entitled to this money they should receive it. As the government has now put a deadline on this entitlement, we encourage you to act fast before you miss out. For further enquiries please email; childoffset@twelve.com.au.

Celebrate Attendance

Hints and Tips No 1: Responsibilities

Parent/s or caregivers are required – by law – to

provide a written or verbal explanation to the

Principal within seven days of any absence as to why

their child was not at school.

It is important that the school receives a written or

verbal explanation because:

(1) It is a parent’s legal obligation to explain their

child’s absence within seven days.

(2) It is a requirement that the school investigate

all unexplained absences.

(3) It avoids the school and the School

Attendance Officer from making unnecessary

investigations.

(4) It is the way the school knows that your child

was legitimately absent and not truanting

from school.

If you have any difficulties in providing a written explanation for your child’s absence, please contact your school principal.

CHILD TAX OFFSET:

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Students and parents will notice some changes in the front office from Monday 3rd June, as we will now have an attendance counter. This will be located at the front counter in the office. Any student leaving earlier or arriving later than the normal school hours will need to use this counter. (If a student has a note to leave early, the process of gaining approval from the Deputy Principal in the morning must still be followed). Students will also be provided with printed leave passes from here. Parents may have noticed our focus on attendance this year. You may have received an email or SMS alert when your child has been marked absent, asked to provide written notes explaining absences, asked to sign a flexible attendance pass for your child or been contacted by the district HSLO (Home School Liaison Officer). Parents are reminded that it is a legal requirement for all children aged between 6 and 17 to attend school and an explanation is required if they are absent.

Students are asked to provide a note to their roll call teacher explaining any absence on the day of their return. Bulahdelah Central School has developed a proforma to assist you with the details required on the note. These are available from the roll teacher or the front office.

Each of these reasons are examined and coded. To date some of the notes that have been received have not met the requirements of a justifiable reason. Please accept the following reasons, in table below, as a bit of a guide.

Justified × Unjustified

Sick Medical appointment Leave – funerals, serious illness of

family member, misadventure, religious occasions (max 15 days/year)

No classes (Yr 11 & 12 only and students must have Flexible Leave Pass)

Family holiday (must be approved by Principal)

Suspended Exempt (application from school to

District Office)

× Slept in

× Appointment

× Family matter/ issues

× Visitors

× Visiting

× Late

× Weather

× Didn’t feel like going

× Been bullied

× Housework/ farm work

× Babysitting

STUDENT ATTENDANCE:

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Heath Francis OAM (Order of Australia Medal) is one of Australia’s most consistent and successful Paralympians. On the 1st May 2013 Mr Stephen Bromhead (Myall Lakes) informed the House that a talented former Paralympic athlete, Heath Francis, from Booral, will be inducted into the Hunter Region Sporting Hall of Fame. Born (in 1981) and raised in Booral, near Newcastle, Heath had his right arm amputated at the age of seven after an accident on the family farm. Not to be held back, Heath would go on to represent Australia in Athletics at the age of 16 at the 1998 IPC World Athletics Championships in Birmingham. At the 2006 IPC World Athletics Championships, Heath became the first athlete to win the T46 100m/200m/400m treble. Heath also competed at three consecutive Paralympic Games in Sydney (2000), Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008). He also competed at the 2006 Commonwealth Games where he won a Gold medal.

Heath's Paralympic career saw him tally up a medal haul of six gold, four silver and three bronze medals as well as holding numerous World Records. Two World Records are still held by Heath to this day. In January 2001, Heath was awarded a Medal of The Order of Australia for his service to sport as a gold medallist at the Sydney Paralympic Games in 2000. He was also awarded an Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and a Centenary Medal in 2001. From 2003 to 2010, Heath was an Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder. In addition to his career, Heath is an ambassador for Good Return (a not for profit organisation) and a supporter of the Australian Himalayan Foundation. Today Heath is retired from competition and he has advanced his professional career in the finance industry as a newly appointed GTS (Global Trade Services) Client Manger at Westpac Banking Corporation in Melbourne. Just goes to show even country boys can live their dreams and succeed!

Bulahdelah Central School 1999 Yr12 School Captain

Paralympic Athlete

GTS Client Manager at Westpac

WHERE IS HE NOW????????

Participation Respect Innovation Determination Excellence

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Food Glorious Food

Year 8 art students have just completed some

fantastic Pop Art sculptures all inspired by food.

Over the term we painted food packets, made

yummy ice cream sundaes and learnt about Pop

Art. As they say, a picture says a thousand words,

so just look at these awesome works created by

our fabulous young artists.

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Hayden Foley of Year 10 competes at state and national level in motox. He rides in junior lites 15 years and has usually between 30 and 35 other riders competing against him. Hayden has been riding since he was 4 years old. When he is not travelling to compete, he rides with his local clubs at Cessnock and Maitland. Hayden has to travel far and wide to enable him to compete, even as far as Glen Helen USA. Hayden enjoyed this trip and can’t wait to go back again early next year to experience the thrill of conquering the USA tracks. Some of the events Hayden has competed in over the last 6 months are: Stadium X Coffs Harbour 1st place Stadium X Mudgee 1st place North Coast Series 4th overall Central Series at Tamworth 3rd Mudgee 1st Arena X at Newcastle, Dubbo, and Toowoomba 6th overall State Titles at Cessnock 10th

On Wednesday 29th May, Bulahdelah Central School students performed “You Raise Me Up & Hallelujah” in the Secondary Vocal Group section at the Taree Eisteddfod. Our students performed very well and are to be congratulated on their 3rd place in this competition. I thank all the students involved for their hard work leading up to the performance. I would also like to thank the parents and grandparents who travelled to Taree on the day to support our students.

Back row: Isabella Francis-Nieswandt, Logan Wade, Alex Barry, Kyra-Lea Gregory, Shai-Ann Howell. Front row: Tara Price, Chelsea Brown, Samatha Wheatly, Chloe Haylett, Keahne Hurtado.

HAYDEN FOLEY EXCELS AT MOTOX:

SECONDARY VOCAL GROUP:

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The BCS Canteen staff Sheryl Barry (Canteen Manager) and Christina Watt continue to provide a healthy and varied

selection of foods for our students and staff. They prepare healthy one-off specials each week. These specials are

publicised each fortnight in the school newsletter and on the school web site. Students and staff are invited to order

from this list in addition to the Menu/Price List.

Specials this fortnight are:

BCS distributes the Tall Timbers newsletter by

FAMILY EMAIL. Please ensure that your family

email is entered correctly on our records. We also

place a copy of our newsletter on our website;

Next Newsletter for Term 2: 17th June.

http://www.bulahdelah-c.schools.nsw.edu.au.

Parents and carers, you should be aware that there have been some students presenting with impetigo, school

sores, recently. Please read the following fact sheet on what you need to look out for and how best to treat your

child/ren.

DATE RECESS COST LUNCH COST

June 3 Wedges $3.00 Hamburgers $4.50

June 4 Goujons $3.00 BBQ Chicken & Salad $6.00

June 5 Chicken Wings $3.00 Roast Beef (G) Roll $3.00

June 6 (M) Wraps $3.00 Kebabs & Salad $6.00

June 7 Scones Jam & Cream $2.00 Greek Salad $4.50

Jun 10 LONG WEEKEND LONG WEEKEND

Jun 11 Chilli Cheese Bread $2.00 Bacon & Egg Roll $4.50

Jun 12 Meatballs $3.00 Fish & Chips $5.00

Jun 13 (Mini) Chicken Wraps $3.00 Rissole (G) Roll $3.00

Jun 14 Noodles $2.00 Curried Sausages $4.50

HOUSEKEEPING INFORMATION:

IMPETIGO FACT SHEET:

CANTEEN SPECIALS:

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Students/Mum

REMEMBER!

to send in your Scholastic Book Orders by:

Tuesday 18th June, 2013 Don’t miss out on some excellent books, posters, games and fun

things to make and do.