FROM THE PRINCIPAL · canteen. Canteen Manager, Michelle Waugh, does an amazing job designing and providing healthy, fabulous affordable food for our kids, wonderfully supported by

email: [email protected] website: www.coffsharb-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

Cnr Edinburgh & Nile Streets, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2450 Telephone: 02 6652 3466 Fax: 02 6651 4004

“Light out of Darkness”

QUALITY EDUCATION SINCE 1938

Term 1 — 2017/01 27th February 2017

Welcome to all families, new and returning. We have had a very busy start to the year, with a large number of new enrolments — not only from the local area, but from other parts of the state, from Queensland and Victoria and overseas. Our new students and their families come from a whole range of backgrounds, which is just how we like it in our proudly comprehensive high school. Experience has shown again and again that the diversity of a population contributes significant educational benefits for everyone. We gladly open our classrooms to all students within our zone, knowing that all students thereby have a richer learning experience. Of course another vital part of that rich learning experience for all is the quality of the work done by our classroom teachers. We are immensely fortunate that our school is consistently able to attract high-calibre teaching staff. Later in this newsletter you will see some of that for yourself as several of them introduce themselves. Everything we achieve rests upon the expertise and dedication of our teaching staff, and you can rely on the fact that most of them will go way beyond the basic requirements to get the best possible outcomes for your child. We have had some significant staffing adjustments to make this year, in the absence of both our deputies: Mr Wilson will continue his current deployment at the Regional Education Office, and Ms Steward is on leave.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

mailto:[email protected]

2 CHHS NEWSLETTER 2017/01

It is a measure of the depth of quality among our teaching staff that we have two other able and highly experienced staff members who have the skills to step into these vital leadership roles for the whole of 2017. Mr Nicholas Henry moves from PDHPE to take over support of Years 7, 9 and 11 and oversee curriculum management. Ms Sheree Burnham, hitherto Head Teacher HSIE, will be responsible for supporting Years 8, 10 and 12 as well as managing buildings and maintenance and teachers’ professional learning. I am delighted to report that as expected they have hit the ground running and have already demonstrated their competence and sensitivity in managing the myriad tasks that confront deputy principals every day of the year. In addition, our amazing Careers Adviser, Ms Dionne Court, will take on the new position of Head Teacher Senior Studies, with the task of helping students learn how best to manage the complexities of their senior years. Parents may have heard about some imminent changes to HSC eligibility, which relate to students’ Year 9 NAPLAN performance. Mr Henry and I will be available on parent-teacher evenings to explain these changes. In the meantime, you can get additional information by following this link to the NESA (new name for the Board of Studies) website: https://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/policy-research/pdf_doc/stronger-hsc-std-faq.pdf

The first major whole-school event of the year, the swimming carnival, has already been and gone. The age champions were celebrated at a whole-school assembly this week, but I take this opportunity to add my personal congratulations for some fine efforts. Tayah Teale, 13 years’ champion, deserves special mention: she broke four records!

Congratulations to Darcy Turner for his excellent results in last year’s HSC which earned him the award of Dux 2016 and a place on the school’s honour board. Darcy is working for the first six months of this year before joining his brother Daniel (School Captain 2012) in Mexico where he is completing his Honours year for his Bachelor of Journalism (UTS) degree. Darcy will commence study in Bachelor of Arts at the University of Wollongong in 2018.

Patti Kearns

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

https://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/policy-research/pdf_doc/stronger-hsc-std-faq.pdf


Welcome back to the 2017 school year and a warm welcome to all new parents and carers.

CANTEEN

It’s been a huge start to the year for our vibrant, happy team of volunteers and staff in the canteen. Canteen Manager, Michelle Waugh, does an amazing job designing and providing healthy, fabulous affordable food for our kids, wonderfully supported by Amanda Langfield and Ros Rose. Michelle, Amanda and Ros were run off their feet in the uniform shop at the start of term, selling $31,000 in uniforms and $7,500 book packs. We are extremely grateful for their hard work and commitment to ensuring a smooth start. We also sincerely thank all volunteers who helped. Please note we now have EFTPOS facilities in the canteen and uniform shop for all purchases over $5. VISA & MasterCard credit cards incur a 1% fee. The vast majority of P&C fundraising comes from our canteen. Over the past two years, the P&C has been able to fund the much needed shade structures ($41,000); a new dishwasher in the canteen ($4,200); new blazers for formal events ($7,100); new water coolers ($6,000); assistance to students who represent the school at state level in sports, cultural or academic pursuits ($5,500); aluminum seating ($5,000); and school shade gazebos to take to sporting events ($800). The canteen relies heavily on volunteers. If you are a parent/carer or other family member who is able to spare some time please call Michelle on 6652 4637. It's a great way to stay involved and contribute to your child's education once they are in high school.

P&C MEETINGS

At our first meeting of the year (February), the P&C had an interesting guided tour of all the new works at the school. We were shown the new shade structures, the state-of-the-art water coolers; much needed upgrades to the Science labs and the amazing Room 9 makeover which was designed by Year 8 students. We are very grateful to Dane Zeeman of Zeeman Accounting, our new honorary auditor, who is in the process of auditing the P&C books this year.

NEXT MEETING ~ AGM 6TH

MARCH 2017

Our next meeting is the Annual General Meeting, followed by the general meeting. We warmly welcome all parents to our meetings — they are informative and actually enjoyable. Meetings are on the first Monday of the month at 7.00 pm in the school library. Entry is via the front entrance on Edinburgh Street. Should you wish to contact the P&C, our email address is [email protected]. You may email for information about attending the next committee meetings, or with ideas on how to better support our school. All emails are reviewed by the P&C Secretary and where appropriate are included as correspondence at the following P&C meeting. We look forward to hearing your ideas. We look forward to meeting you at our next meeting. Sally Bryant PUBLICITY OFFICER

P&C REPORT



Students and staff have had a great start to the year. We had a fantastic swimming carnival with many records broken, on a scorching Coffs Harbour day. It has been a vibrant start to the year with many new enrolments across all cohorts and we welcome several new staff. Structural changes have included new rooms in Science, Learning Support and HSIE. Water filters have been installed in four locations across the school (including the Ag Farm), so that students and staff may enjoy fresh filtered water all year round and reduce plastic waste. Thank you for the support from our school community in providing these facilities for our students. An important initiative that the whole school is adopting this year is the Orderly Classroom Environment Program. This program is being led by Mr Taylor (Head Teacher Mathematics) and me. All teachers are using visuals in the classroom to assist students in maintaining focus in class, by organising their work and ideas and by incorporating debriefing strategies to improve content and concept retention. One way that parents can support this initiative is by asking your son/daughter “What did you learn in English today?” The student will then need to recall what they referred to during the lesson debrief. Coming up at the end of this term are Parent/Teacher evenings for all year groups. Year 7 will participate in Police Talks; a joint program with our school and NSW Police to create awareness of the law and young peoples’ responsibilities within it. Year 7 are also invited to attend The Great Aussie Bush Camp, a welfare initiative that will be coordinated by Mr Twigg (Year 7 Adviser). The whole school will be inspired by a Motivational Media presentation that Mr Hardie-Porter has organised for Friday 3rd March. Years 9 and 10 Self Select Science students will be fortunate to attend an excursion to Brisbane. Furthermore, the CAPA and English faculties will combine to provide our senior students with a rewarding and highly educational experience in Sydney. All students and staff have now settled into a new school year. Parents are reminded that should you have any concerns or queries; please contact our school administration staff for support. Mr Henry (Relieving Deputy Principal Years 7, 9, 11) and I look forward to meeting with you all at some stage over the coming year. Sheree Burnham RELIEVING DEPUTY PRINCIPAL (YEARS 8, 10, 12)

FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL


DATE

EVENT

1st March

MNC Swimming Carnival.

6th March P&C Meeting – School Library – 7.00 pm.

13th & 14th March Parent/Teacher Interviews – a letter will be emailed home shortly.

15th & 16th March Police Talks – Year 7.

20th – 22nd March Encore Sydney Excursion.

21st March Year 12 Standard English “Away” Excursion.

22nd – 24th March Year 7 Great Aussie Bush Camp Excursion.

23rd March “Shave for a Cure” – 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm – school hall.

27th March – 7th April Year 12 Exams (over two weeks).

27th March Year 7 Vaccinations (some Year 8 catch ups).

29th – 31st March Years 9/10 Self Select Queensland Questacon Excursion.

3rd April P&C Meeting – School Library – 7.00 pm.

4th April Science and Engineering Challenge – Woolgoolga High School

7th April Last day of Term 1.

TERM DATES FOR 2017

TERM 2 Monday 24th April – Staff Professional Learning day – no students. Tuesday 25th April – Anzac Day — public holiday. Wednesday 26th April to Friday 30th June 2017. TERM 3 Monday 17th July – Staff Professional Learning day – no students. Tuesday 18th July to Friday 22nd September 2017. TERM 4 Monday 9th October to Tuesday 19th December 2017.

Last day for students will be Friday 15th December.

Monday & Tuesday, 18th & 19th December – Staff Professional Learning days – no students.

IMPORTANT DATES


Ashleigh Atkins ~ Mathematics Faculty

“Hi my name is Ashleigh Atkins, and I have joined the Maths faculty at Coffs Harbour High School for 2017. Having spent much of last year working in the student learning support team, I am so pleased to continue working within the Coffs High community. With a background in Engineering and experience working as a Photovoltaics Engineer, I am excited to share my passion for Mathematics and Technology with students over the coming year.”

Simon Donald ~ English Faculty

“Hi, I’m Mr. Donald and I’ve been able to come join the Coffs Harbour High School Community this year, basing myself in the English and HSIE Faculties. I’ve spent the last six years teaching and coaching several sporting teams at Dorrigo High School after I moved to the region from South Africa, and I am looking forward to continuing the enjoyable experiences I have already had working with so many fascinating and engaging students and staff. If I’m not teaching or organising my classes, you’ll probably find me running around outside playing as many sports as possible.”

Peter Fenton TAS Faculty

“Hello, my name is Peter Fenton. This year I am fortunate enough to be teaching Industrial Technology Timber, Electronics, Metalwork and Junior Technology Mandatory in the TAS faculty. I am looking forward to guiding all my students and excited to see what the Year 11 Woodwork students produce this year leading into their HSC major projects. It is sure to be a positive year of learning ahead.”

Angela Kellahan ~ Mathematics Faculty

“Hello students, family and friends. I’ve joined the Mathematics faculty at CHHS from Sydney, where I’ve been teaching for the past 19 years. Before that I was teaching in rural NSW. I love Mathematics and am truly passionate about engaging with students in the classroom. I look forward to a great 2017.”

MEET OUR NEW STAFF MEMBERS


Carly Murray ~ TAS Faculty

“I have recently relocated to Coffs Harbour after living in Sydney for most of my life and I am very excited about the coastal change. I have been appointed to teach within the TAS faulty for semester one of this year. I will be mainly teaching junior Technology Mandatory, Industrial Multimedia and Exploring Early Childhood. I look forward to the many practical classes my students will participate and learn within and all opportunities in which Coffs Harbour High School may bring.”

Joshua Myles ~ TAS Faculty

“Hello, my name is Mr Myles and I’m a new TAS teacher here at Coffs Harbour High. I’ve recently been transferred here from a tiny little town in the Riverina called Corowa where I’ve spent the last five years teaching. I’m looking forward to making all sorts of fun things with the students and enjoying a sensible climate.”

Brittney Scriven ~ HSIE Faculty

“My name is Brittney Scriven; I've recently graduated from the University of Newcastle with a Bachelor’s degree in Teaching. My teaching areas are language and history. I look forward to my stay at Coffs Harbour High School."

Mark Pratt ~ SLSO LAST

“Hi all, I love watching movies, fishing, and going 4 wheel driving. Thank you to everyone for making me so welcome to this school. I look forward to the coming year ahead.”

MEET OUR NEW STAFF MEMBERS


SCHOOL FEES & VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS

To run Coffs Harbour High School at the standard we feel necessary and to ensure the total education of our students, we have to supplement the grant made by the government by our own efforts. The P&C Association provides a variety of materials for the school. However, the government grant and the P&C funds are still not enough. It is therefore necessary for the school to charge a service fee. This money is used to cover the administrative costs, for sporting equipment, duplicating material for instruction leaflets and examination papers, library purchases, textbooks and a wide range of other services. In addition, fees are required for some subjects to cover the cost of materials used by students. Invoices for all students are issued in Term 1 of each year. The following options are available for payments

Parent Online Payments (POP) through our school website at:-

www.coffsharb-h.schools.nsw.edu.au and go to “$ MAKE A PAYMENT” on the home page;

Cheques and cash at the front office; or

EFTPOS at the front office.

If you have any concerns, please contact the front office staff on 6652 3466.

Please note: Should you wish to make a payment for an elective fee before receiving your

invoice, this can be done as stated above.

The Department’s school finance section has advised that schools are no longer permitted to

take credit card payments over the telephone.

STUDENT ASSISTANCE

This scheme has been introduced to assist families with junior secondary aged children attending secondary schools who face financial stress. Application forms for students wishing to obtain funds from this scheme are available from the front office or from the Welfare Head Teacher. Funds will generally be allocated to support the purchase of uniform, school supplies and curriculum based excursions.

PERSONAL AND LOST PROPERTY

For everyone’s benefit, please label all pieces of clothing, gear and personal belongings with the owner’s name. Students should not bring large sums of money or valuable items to school. If it is necessary to bring such items to school, students should hand them to a responsible person for safekeeping. The office is normally happy to accept such items for a short period of time. No responsibility can be accepted for any items left unattended in bags, change rooms or the grounds. Any lost property will be held at the office. Students should check at the office for anything they have misplaced.

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

http://www.coffsharb-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/


ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE FROM SCHOOL

Our duty of care starts for students when they get off the school bus or are dropped off at school. Students are expected to come straight into the quadrangle area and remain in the school grounds (unless accompanied by a teacher or on excursion). Staff supervise students at the end of the day until the departure of the last bus. Students are not permitted to get off the bus and walk down to the local shopping centre, unless they have a note from a Deputy Principal, which may be given for students who have a valid reason.

IF YOUR CHILD NEEDS TO LEAVE SCHOOL EARLY

Send a note to school from you requesting permission for them to leave early.

BEFORE SCHOOL the child takes this note to the Rolls Office to get a “leave note”.

They present this “leave note” to their classroom teacher at the beginning of the period during which they are to leave school. They must carry this leave note with them in case they are questioned by the School Police Liaison Officer.

On Wednesdays (Sport Day) all early leaver notes must be signed by a Deputy Principal before being processed by the Rolls Office.

It would be very much appreciated if parents and students could follow the above points as this will ensure the efficient operation of the front office with minimal disruption to classes. We thank you for your support in this matter.

Parents of Year 7 students are invited to attend a “Meet and Greet” afternoon at Coffs Harbour High School. It will be a casual occasion for parents to speak with the Year 7 Adviser and Head Teachers of various faculties.

Date: Tuesday, 7th March 2017

Time: 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm

Where: Coffs Harbour High School Quad (Amphitheatre)

A barbeque will be provided. Entry will be via the lower gate on Camperdown Street. We look forward to seeing you there. Ryan Twigg YEAR 7 ADVISER

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

YEAR 7 PARENT MEET AND GREET


MATHS CLUB

The first meeting of the Coffs Harbour High School Maths Club was held in Week 4 and the plan is to meet each week on Tuesday and Friday at lunchtime in the library computer lab. Each session is student driven and supervised by a member of staff. The club is an opportunity for students who enjoy Mathematics to work collaboratively with peers from Years 7 – 12. The student driven model will be based on the SOLE project (Self Organised Learning Environment) and will ask students to explore ‘big problems’ using mathematics to explain environmental, political and social problems which face the world. SOLE’s are created when educators encourage students to work as a community to answer their own vibrant questions using the Internet and other forms of connected classrooms. We are already looking at links with a school in Sydney and another school in Newcastle.

Brandon Skewes (Year 12) was elected by peers as the Inaugural Maths Club President. Brandon said “It is an honour to hold the position and what I am most looking forward to is sharing my passion for Mathematics with junior students. There are very few opportunities to work with students from other year groups and I would like to thank the school and the Mathematics staff for allowing this to happen”. The Maths Club will commence its first challenge in the next few weeks, making a three to five-minute video about what we see as the future of Mathematics and entering it in the ChooseMath17 student competition. There is $2,000 prize money for the winning team. Emma Hayes, former CHHS Dux and Mathematics Extension 2 student, will be the first guest presenter to the club in coming weeks. Over is a picture of the first meeting. David Taylor HEAD TEACHER MATHEMATICS

CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY


MATHS CLUB

CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY


THE JEANNIE BAKER COLLAGE ACTIVITY

At the end of 2016, students Sarah Hunt, Kate Hansen and Eliza Chaffey, were the main artists that helped Mrs Latham create a facsimile of a page from the Jeannie Baker book “Mirror”. The scene is the Market place in Morocco, North Africa. Well done girls! The collage will shortly be hung in the Library for you all to see. Gail Latham TEACHER LIBRARIAN

LIBRARY NEWS


The upcoming year is an exciting one for our faulty with new topics to teach. In accordance with the Department of Education, we have made changes to our Years 7 and Year 9 Geography programs. Year 7 Geography will now start off the year looking at water as a resource, its value and the need for sustainable management. Year 9 will examine the physical characteristics and productivity of our different natural habitats. The big questions of population and future food supply will play a major part in these investigations. These Geography changes follow previous ones made to our history programs. Students from Year 7 to Year 10 are now studying not only ancient cultures but also important modern events like early exploration, industrial revolution, slavery and the Holocaust. It is hoped that such topics will make our students more curious about the world around them. Our staff has expanded with the return of Ms Moore, Ms Bonney and Ms Webb and the welcoming of Ms Mahoney, Mr Donald and Ms Scriven. These teachers bring added skills and experience to the wealth that is already present with Mr Mellalieu (Relieving Head Teacher), Mr Dun, Mr Hardie-Porter, Ms Bailey, Ms Burnham, and Ms Stanmore. With her arrival Ms Scriven would like you to know that … "I could not be starting my teaching career in a more supportive faculty with co-workers willing to guide me in preparing the best for the students. Chinese is a subject that at first seems like a daunting and foreign, literally and figuratively, mountain. I am looking forward to scaling that mountain with my new students.’

Brittney Scriven LOTE Teacher

拜老师"

We would also like you to know that Ms Bonney will be once again running the ERC (Environmental Representative Council). The ERC is a student led group of like-minded people who are engaged in sustainability projects and environmental education aimed at encouraging our school and wider community to be mindful of our environment and the people in it. 2016 was a very successful year for the ERC with such projects as raising funds to purchase five water filters for families in Cambodia and the planting of an Australian native garden. Nevertheless, 2017 is looking just as promising with projects like a native bee habitat, Coffs Creek clean-up and a ‘Pay-it-forward clean water campaign’ being discussed. All in all, it has been a great start to the year. Donna Stanmore HSIE TEACHER

CHINA 2017 — REMINDER

Students who are attending the 2017 China trip

need to provide a colour photocopy of their

passport and a copy of their travel insurance to

Mrs Burnham as soon as possible.

HSIE/LOTE FACULTY


Welcome back to a new school year. This year is the Chinese Year of the Rooster and we hope it has started well for all of our school community. Year 8 students have been learning about the Chinese zodiac and New Year’s traditions as they take their first steps in learning Mandarin. This year, as well as the Year 8 classes, we have two Year 9 and one Year 10 elective Chinese classes. It is wonderful to see that more than 50 of our students have chosen to continue their language learning journey. There have been a number of changes in the Chinese teaching team for this year. Sheree Burnham is in the Relieving Deputy Principal role, and is being replaced for the year by Brittney Scriven. Brittney comes to us from Muswellbrook and has already done a practicum placement teaching at the school in 2015. We are lucky to have her back. Also joining our teaching team for the year are our Confucius Institute volunteer teachers Tina Hu and Lisa Li. Lisa is from the Inner Mongolian capital of Hohhot and very excited to be spending a year with the students of Coffs Harbour High School. Tina also taught with us last year and had such a positive experience that she requested special permission to teach at CHHS again for another year. She was granted this permission and it is our great pleasure to welcome her back. The volunteer teachers are a wonderful addition to our language classrooms and provide our students with the opportunity to practice genuine cross-cultural communication. Lisa and Tina have already taken time out together with Head Teacher John Mellalieu to visit Bellingen Public School's class One Aqua for a Chinese language lesson and lantern making session. They had a tour of the school and got to meet Year 1 and 2 students and then worked with One Aqua. The students learnt to say hello in Chinese and found out where in China our two teachers home towns were located. The students asked lots of questions and learnt some interesting facts about Chinese culture. At the end of the session our two teachers lead the class in making beautiful paper lanterns. Lisa and Tina were impressed with the students’ efforts and the warm welcome they received. In Week 1 of Term 2 we will be taking around 50 Year 8 students to South Bank in Brisbane to take part in the Buddha’s Birthday Cultural Festival. This is a very popular event and past year’s students have really enjoyed the chance to practice Chinese calligraphy, martial arts, use a Diablo and other cultural activities. Permission notes were handed out on Monday 20th February and places fill up quickly, so be sure to get them back to the office quickly to avoid missing out. Here’s looking forward to a great year of language learning!

新年快乐！

David Dun CHINESE TEACHER

HSIE/LOTE FACULTY


Chinese Confucius Classroom

visits Bellingen Public School

HSIE/LOTE FACULTY


RECORD AFTER RECORD WAS BROKEN

AT THE CHHS SWIMMING CARNIVAL

The swimming carnival was a great success. Being such a hot day, students were keen to hit the water in both the competitive and non-competitive events. Year 12 started off the day, cooling off the crowd before their traditional swim to open the carnival. The carnival finished with the staff vs students relay and we were very impressed with Mr Twigg's speed in the water! A huge thanks to Mrs Jennifer Pearce for all her organisation of the event, the PDHPE staff for helping set up and to all staff for their help in running the carnival. It was also great to see so many friends and family in attendance on the day. The Mid North Coast Swimming Carnival will be held on 1st March 2017 at the Coffs Harbour Olympic Pool. Congratulations to all swimmers who have qualified. You will need to see Mrs Pearce in the PD/H/PE staffroom for permission notes and information on the carnival. Sapphire House won the carnival with Gallows a close second. Results and age champions can be found below and you will be able to find more photos in the gallery album soon.

CHHS SWIMMING AGE CHAMPIONS

B O Y S G I R L S

12 YEARS

Coby Trotman

12 YEARS

Clover Bourne

13 YEARS

Levi Bannerman

13 YEARS

Tayah Teale

14 YEARS

Hunter Churchwell

14 YEARS

Amelia Hill

15 YEARS

Zac Huls

15 YEARS

Katelyn Eagles

16 YEARS

Sid Smythe

16 YEARS

Bella Grace

17 YEARS & OVER

Kai Onley

17 YEARS & OVER

Taylor Blay

H O U S E P O I N T S C O R E S

1st place Sapphire 364 points

2nd place Gallows 330 points

3rd place Emerald 166 points

4th place Macauleys 128 points

PDHPE FACULTY


Swimming records broken

Event Time Name

Girls 13 Years 50m Freestyle 28.53 Tayah Teale

Girls 15 Years 50m Freestyle 30.15 Katelyn Eagles

Boys 15 Years 50m Freestyle 27.25 Zac Huls

Girls 13 Years 50m Butterfly 32.46 Tayah Teale

Girls 13 Years 50m Backstroke 34.11 Jorja Welch

Girls 15 Years 50m Backstroke 35.99 Tarryn Arnold

Boys 13 Years 50m Backstroke 36.96 Levi Bannerman

Boys 17 Years & over 50m Backstroke 31.50 Kai Onley

Girls 13 Years 100m Freestyle 1:06.01 Tayah Teale

Boys 17 years & over 100m Freestyle 59.15 Kai Onley

Girls IM 50m Individual Medley 2.47.60 Tayah Teale

Jennifer Pearce CARNIVAL ORGANISER

PDHPE FACULTY


PDHPE FACULTY


PDHPE FACULTY


PDHPE FACULTY


The end of the 2016 school year saw the continuation of Coffs Harbour High School’s ‘Learn to Swim Program’ for our EAL/D students. Forty-five students from all year groups participated in eight days of intensive swim lessons at the Coffs Harbour Aquatic Centre followed by two days of surfing/ocean awareness sessions. The students were very enthusiastic about the program and learned many new skills which will benefit them as members of our coastal community. There were a handful of students who did not know how to swim and were initially uncomfortable in the water. By the end of the program, these students had grown confident with many able to swim a full length of the pool. Others who had attended the program in 2015, and already had some swimming ability, were able to hone their skills and become more confident in the deep water. The surfing part of the program was a much anticipated, fun activity which brought smiles and laughter to all. We finished the program with a barbeque on the Jetty foreshores to celebrate the end of the school year and the beginning of summer. A special thanks to the staff of Coffs Aquatic Centre and the East Coast Surf School for their enthusiasm and flexibility.

Justin Bullock EAL/D TEACHER

EAL/D LEARN TO SWIM AND SURF PROGRAM


EAL/D LEARN TO SWIM AND SURF PROGRAM


CAREERS DEPARTMENT KEY DATES – TERMS 1 AND 2

Date Activity Recommended

Year group

Additional Information

Friday 5th May University of New England Excursion

12 One day visit to Armidale to learn more about the university.

Friday 26th May

WH&S White Card for the Construction industry

Students aged

14 and over

A compulsory one day course for any student wishing to complete work experience or employment in construction related industries.

Monday 19th June – 23rd June

Year 10 Work Experience

10

One week compulsory work experience program for all students in Year 10. Students can start making arrangements for their placement as soon as possible.

UNIVERSITY ROADSHOW

Thank you to Charles Sturt University and Southern Cross University for visiting on Thursday 16th February to present the University Roadshow.

CAREERS


SCHOOL BASED TRAINEESHIPS AND APPRENTICESHIPS

We currently have a number of School Based Traineeship or Apprenticeships available for current Year 10/11 students. These are where students can combine their schooling with approved training and paid employment with a local employer.

Certificate II Individual Support with local Aged care provider

Certificate II Warehouse Operations with Reece Plumbing

Certificate III Retail with Kmart Toormina (Indigenous)

See Mrs Court for more information and go to http://www.sbatinnsw.info/

YEAR 10 WORK EXPERIENCE

It has been wonderful to see so many Year 10 students keen to find out more about work experience. This year the program will be conducted during the week Monday 19th June to Friday 23rd June 2017. As in past years, this program will prove most useful in giving students a broader appreciation of the world of work and also prepare them for the important decision making processes relating to their future careers. Students will be required to find their own employment placements and to find their own methods of travel to and from work each day. We must point out that students will have to comply with strict deadlines set down by the school for the return of all permission notes, documents and return of Student Placement Records; otherwise they will be excluded from the program and will have to attend school during the Work Experience week. A full package containing all documentation will be provided to students later in Term 1, however in the interim, students are encouraged to start thinking about where they would like to undertake their placement, and start enquiring with local employers. Students are also required to complete an online safety induction prior to going out on Work Experience. This course, called Safety Check can be found at: http://www.coffsharbourhighcareers.com/?page=workplace-safety It can also be found on the www.coffsharbourhighcareers.com website under the Workplace Learning> Workplace Safety tab. Students are required to complete the short safety course. Upon completion, students are to print off their certificate of completion and submit it with their completed Student Placement Record. To complete this online induction, students will need to have access to a computer or digital device. As parents, you have an important influence on student career planning. Please discuss the Work Experience job choice/s with your son/daughter and ensure they are being realistic in relation to their abilities, interests and the program. Students are encouraged to make appointments and ensure they present themselves adequately when approaching prospective employers. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the school.

CAREERS

http://www.sbatinnsw.info/

http://www.coffsharbourhighcareers.com/?page=workplace-safety

http://www.coffsharbourhighcareers.com/


During the Work Experience Program students are not to be paid by participating employers. We ask that employers, parents and students adhere strictly to this policy as any payment to students will void the NSW Department of Education’s insurance cover and could make the student ineligible for further inclusion in work placement programs.

Some students may apply for Out-of-Region Work Experience, however all placements are only permitted to be in NSW. It should not be assumed that all such placements will be accepted as approval will have to be sought from authorities outside and apart from our school. It is the responsibility for parents to arrange and pay any costs for transport and accommodation associated with such placements.

During Work Experience school uniform will not be required but clothing appropriate to the job should be worn. Some employers may require a name badge to be worn. Some employers may require Confidentiality Agreements to be completed and signed prior to student commencement for the week.

Our school will not allow any student to actively participate in any job in the Building and Construction Industry without firstly providing documentary evidence to the school of completion of a mandatory WorkCover NSW approved ‘WHS General Induction for Construction Work in NSW’ course for the industry. The onus is legally on the employer not to direct anybody to undertake construction work until they are satisfied that the student has completed the above course for the Building and Construction Industry. Coffs Harbour High School will be running this course on Friday 26th May 2017 at school. The cost is $100 per student and bookings can be made by contacting the Careers Office.

Upon completion of the work experience program, students will be presented with a Certificate of Participation and a completed Feedback Form from their employer.

We must bring to your attention the information contained in the attached document entitled Parents and Carers Guide to Workplace Learning Revised edition 2016 as issued by the NSW Department of Education. Please read this information carefully and retain the documents. If there are any questions or problems regarding this program, please contact our Careers Adviser on 6652 3466. Additional information can also be obtained from the Workplace learning tab on the careers website:

www.coffsharbourhighcareers.com

THE SMITH FAMILY iTRACK PROGRAM

Coffs Harbour High School has an excellent relationship with The Smith Family. Once again we will be running the successful iTrack e-mentoring career program to selected students in Year 10. The aim of the program is to link students with mentors from the business world to increase their confidence and knowledge when making career decisions. If you feel your son/daughter would benefit from this program, please contact the Careers office prior to 17th March. For additional information go to: https://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/what-we-do/our-work/at-school/secondary/itrack

CAREERS

http://www.coffsharbourhighcareers.com/

https://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/what-we-do/our-work/at-school/secondary/itrack


TVET

TAFE Vocational and Education and Training courses commence Wednesdays for many senior students at both the CHEC and Coffs Harbour campuses. Parents often have questions relating to TVET courses and this information aims to answer many of these.

Campuses – TAFE offers different courses at two campuses; CHEC and Glenreagh Street Coffs Harbour.

Course delivery – The majority of TVET courses are held on Wednesdays, however some full day courses are also delivered on Fridays. Should a student be enrolled in a Friday course, the schools rolls office will be advised to eliminate absence issues at school. It is the student’s responsibility to talk to their school teachers to discuss options for completion of work missed whilst at TVET.

Attendance – Attendance to the TVET course a student is enrolled in is compulsory for all lessons. Should a student not be able to attend any lesson they must contact their TAFE teacher via phone or email to advise in advance. Extended absences need also be advised to the school.

Transportation – Transportation to and from TAFE campuses is the responsibility of students and parents. Bus transfer to TVET courses is not covered under the school transport system with local bus companies.

Communication – TAFE regulations only permit that any written notifications of misadventures, unexplained absences, warning letters for non-completion of assessments and work placement are sent directly to the student not parents. However, copies of warning letters are also sent to the school for appropriate follow up with students and parents, where necessary.

Work Placement – Work Placement is a compulsory component of many TVET subjects. Failure to complete work placement where advice has been made can result in a student not passing the entire course, thus impacting greatly on HSC results. Please discuss with your child if work placement is compulsory for their course and encourage them to be proactive and diligent during their placement.

Should any parent have any questions about TVET, please do not hesitate to contact the Careers Adviser. Dionne Court CAREERS ADVISER

CAREERS


Talking points for ABSTUDY

ABSTUDY

ABSTUDY helps with costs for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australians who are studying or doing an Australian Apprenticeship. You may be able to get ABSTUDY if you are:

an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australian

enrolled in an approved course or apprenticeship, and

not getting any other government help to study or do an apprenticeship or traineeship.

ABSTUDY payments

Parents or guardians of students younger than 16 and living at home may be able to get ABSTUDY Schooling Allowance.

Full-time students who are 16 or older and living at home may be able to get ABSTUDY Living Allowance. The amount you get may depend on your parents’ annual income.

Full-time tertiary or preparatory course students and other secondary students may be able to get ABSTUDY Living Allowance. The amount you get may depend on personal, parental or partner income.

Full-time Australian Apprenticeship, traineeship or trainee apprenticeship students may be able to get ABSTUDY Living Allowance. The amount you get may depend on personal, parental or partner income.

Applying for ABSTUDY

To claim, call the ABSTUDY line on FreecallTM 1800 132 317. You can submit supporting documents online at humanservices.gov.au/submitdocumentsonline

If you can’t claim over the phone, you can get a claim form at humanservices.gov.au/abstudy

How long it takes to assess your claim depends on how complex your situation is.

Get in early and submit your claim up to 13 weeks before you start your course or apprenticeship.

COMMUNITY INFORMATION










BUS TRAVEL

Please note that if your child is ineligible for free bus travel, Forest Coach Lines offers discounted term passes. Just contact our office on 66 523201 or 66 541063 to find out the cost for your child to travel on our school buses throughout the Term. A term pass saves you money and the hassle of paying every day to travel.

Should you wish to track your child’s school bus with Forest Coach Lines North, you can do so through the free transportme™ passenger app. You can download the app from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Look for ‘Forest Coach Lines North’ and then your child’s Route Number and track the bus in real time.

Nigel Tooth Regional Manager North P 0266 523201 or 0266 541063 E [email protected] W www.forestcoachlines.com.au

until next time



http://www.forestcoachlines.com.au/

Documents

FROM THE PRINCIPAL · canteen. Canteen Manager, Michelle Waugh, does an amazing job designing and providing healthy, fabulous affordable food for our kids, wonderfully supported by