From the Principal Farewell Year 12! Congratulations to all year 12 students and their families on completing high school. Our graduation assembly was an outstanding success with the help of our special guest speakers Costa Georgiadis, host of ABC Gardening Show, and Ruan Simms, the captain of the Australian Women’s Rugby League Team. Ruan was interviewed on stage by Akira Kelly, who showed a real talent for journalism. Akira and Tabitha Mashman have been working at ABC TV as part of our partnership with them. On behalf of the whole school community, I wish all of year 12 success in their future.

2017 School Leaders At the Year 12 graduation assembly the 2017 school leaders were announced. They are: School Captains: Helen Fonokalafi and Ismael Chan Foon School Vice Captains: Monicqa Moale and Ezrin Roslan Support Unit Leaders: Justin Mares (C) and Steven Wildman (VC) Sports Captains: Jade Matapuku and Ky Rodwell Senior Student leaders: Jasmine Trindall and Max Williams Congratulations to these young leaders.

Retirement of Mrs Robyn Mander –Ross Mrs Robyn Mander-Ross has retired from teaching after 14 years at this school and over 40 years working for NSW Public Schools. Robyn worked very hard to ensure our students received up to date information about post-school opportunities, school-based apprenticeships, university pathways, work experience and general words of wisdom. Robyn was an asset to this school and she will be missed!

I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!

Nerida Walker Principal

MATRAVILLE SPORTS HIGH SCHOOL Anzac Parade, CHIFLEY NSW 2036 T 9661 8000 F 9661 4254 Email: matrasport-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

September 2016 Issue 2 - Term 3, Week 10

English Department Update

Mrs Holloway, HT English, Relieving

Sydney Story Factory - update

We again thank Richard Short and the SSF volunteers for their work this term with the 10B English class. Their work on Dramatic Monologues has assisted their understanding of Shakespeare this term and increased their confidence with writing skills.

Next term Year 8 are looking forward to constructing a Radio Play with SSF to support their work on Close study of a Drama and we are also planning a Creative Writing workshop for Year 11 as they enter their Year 12 HSC English course and the Area of Study – Discovery.

Young Australian Workshop - Shakespeare

As in 2015, this term we again had an incursion with Year 7-10 being invited to pay a reduced price of $5.00 to view a performance of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, as well as a Midsummer Night’s Dream. This interactive show was enjoyed by those who attended and helps to break down the stigma that Shakespeare is “too difficult” to study at school.

World Vision and Young Mob Leaders

We would like to thank Sophia Romano (World Vision), Peter Cooley (Firsthand Solutions) and Mark Thorne (Young Mob Leader) for again organising a cultural camp for some of our Year 10 Aboriginal Studies students who are completing their leadership course at the moment.

You may recall three of our students attended a camp in the April school holidays to Martu Western Australia. This term Ali-Grace Finn, Yarraan Doyle and Jay Cook had the chance to experience a 4-day cultural camp on the beautiful South Coast. Thanks also to Mr John Carter who gave up three days of his personal time to attend, so our students could participate.

Inspiring our future teachers

Last month Linda Holloway (Relieving HT English/HSIE/LOTE) and Shallan Foster (UK and Aboriginal Programs coordinator) were asked to give a lecture at the Australian College of Physical Education at Homebush. They had delivered this lecture to a larger group at UNSW earlier in Term 2.

A group of 15 trainee teachers were informed about Aboriginal education and opportunities available at Matraville Sports High School and how they can carry on this great work in the schools they will be employed in, in the future. We would like to thank Dr Greg Vass (UNSW) Mr Peter Rowles and Ms Natalie O’Toole (ACPE) for this opportunity to inspire others.

Belvoir theatre – Ruby’s Wish.

A big THANK YOU to the Belvoir theatre for once again supplying us with FREE tickets to allow our students to experience LIVE theatre.

On the last day of this term 15 of our Year 8 students will be seeing the Belvoir theatre’s production of Ruby’s Wish – the story of a little girl confined to a hospital bed for much of her childhood. She has had to grow up too fast and confront too much in her young life. But a visit from Dot, a tongue-tied clown doctor, she finds a way to use her greatest asset: her imagination. The two characters create their fantasy world of mop monsters, bed caves and imaginary paper friends – imagination can make almost anything come true.

We hope that Mr Brodie and the Year 8 students enjoy the performance.

Exciting times ahead

Continuing on with our partnership with the ABC, Akira Kelly and Tabitha Mashman have been invited by the ABC’s Grandstand sports reporter, Shannon Byrne, to assist her with commentating the Koori Knockout, now in its 46th year. The girls attended an initial meeting last week at the Triple J Studio to give advice, plan their ‘angle’ and gain some experience with the technology required for this Sports Journalism experience.

They will be also attending another workshop in the first week of the holidays, leading into the 4-day competition over the October long weekend. This year the competition is being held in Sydney, hosted by the Redfern All Blacks who snatched victory in golden point in 2015. As veterans of attending many Koori Knockout carnivals, the girl’s insight into the event was invaluable research for Shannon Byrne. This year they will be assisting by conducting interviews with players, reporting on the historical significance of the event and assisting Shannon with other commentating responsibilities.

We wish the girls luck with this amazing opportunity and thank the ABC’s Grandstand Sports Reporter, Shannon Byrne, Lachie Macara, Triple J’s Senior Producer and Johanna Elms, who made this all possible for the girls.

Ms Anna Epta, Learning and Support Teacher

MATES Program

Our MATES social inclusion program is now up and running for Years 7 and 8! We have enjoyed a pizza lunch where MATES volunteers and students across the mainstream and support unit had the opportunity to meet and enjoy a social gathering together around food.

Several MATES have also been enjoying our social games lunchtimes. Students have been invited to the library on Tuesdays at lunch to interact with each other, learn how to play new games, teach their skills to other mates, learn how to take turns and have fun. Students look forward to the following week where they can try out their new skills or have a turn at another game.

Mr A Bussell, HSIE Teacher/Year 8 Year Adviser

Australian Geography Competition Year 7 Blue entered the Australian Geography Competition earlier in the year. This is a challenging Australia-wide competition on current issues using problem solving and mapping techniques. The results came back last week, with Zoe Cass from Year 7 being awarded a Credit in this competition. A big congratulations to Zoe, as well as to all of Year 7 Blue for participating in this year’s competition and I look forward to future success.

Ms P Hamilton, PDHPE Teacher

Girls Rugby League The Girls Rugby League program has been making great progress this term. They have been playing in a three week friendly game against JJ Cahill towards the end of term, which was organised through the NRL. In their first game they played without a few key players but managed to come away with a draw (narrowly avoiding the nesting plovers on the field). But unfortunately an inexperienced JJ side forfeited the second game due to injuries sustained in the first game. Their next game is due to play on the last week of Term 3. Our Rugby League girls are also making good impressions off the field, being invited recently to attend a press conference with the captain of the Jillaroos, Ruan Simms and the captain of the Silver Ferns Sarina Fiso for the announcement of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup which will be hosted in Sydney. For the first time the women’s competition will run concurrently with the men’s competition. The girls were extremely excited to meet some of the leading female superstars of Rugby League.

Community Engagement Touch Football Tournament Around 20 students will compete in a touch football tournament in the last week of term, aimed at engaging with the local community, indigenous students and the Defence Force. The games will be played as a round robin throughout the day and will involve two teams from Matraville Sports High School and ten from various divisions within the Defence force, with a barbecue afterwards and the opportunity to watch the Indigenous Defence force Rugby League team play against the Redfern All Blacks. The students participating will all receive a memento from the day as well as a playing singlet designed by our very own Ali-Grace Finn Mongta in year 10.

Ms L Brown, HT Science

Science Department Update The Masters of Teaching program concluded last Friday. This program works to improve language, literacy and numeracy with the students of Year 7 Green and Year 8 Blue. The culmination of this program along with the UNSW students and the school students celebrated with a thank you afternoon tea. A big thank you to Katherine Thompson UNSW for overseeing the program and Margaret Phillips for organising the Certificates for the participating students. Selected Year 8 Science students are participating in the Invest Program, which is a cross curricular initiative encouraging improved engagement and participation in the classroom setting. The Year 8 and our Support Unit students entered the Royal Australian Chemical Institute Crystal Growing competition all our students received a Certificate of Participation and our Support unit received a Highly Commended Certificate. Congratulations to all students. Year 7 entered the Paper Plane throwing competition on the 22nd of August. The competition was an exciting and successful event for both students and staff who helped with all the logistics of running the competition. The three students who qualified for the Regional Finals held at Sydney University on the 27th August were Zoe Cass, Latu Mafile’o and Thomas Kearns. Congratulations to Thomas for participating at the Sydney Finals. Year 12 Biology students finished their HSC course with a visit to POW Children’s Hospital on 1st September, which is run by the hospital. This excursion covers the students HSC course topics of Communication, Search for Better Health and Maintaining a Balance. Year 12 HSC Biology students should maintain contact with their teacher up until their HSC exam. We wish the students the best of luck for their upcoming exams. A reminder for all students for Term 4 full that leather shoes are an Education, school and Work, Health & Safety requirement for all Science practicals. Spare shoes can be left in the science prep room with your name on them.

REMINDER Upcoming School Vaccination Clinic (Visit 3) will be on

Tuesday 11th October. Any Year 7 students who have not already started the

program, are invited to start on this day. Note that HPV vaccine is only free to those who start the

course in Year 7. Otherwise costs are approximately $450.- for the 3-dose course.

Mr G Woods, Rel HT TAS

Food Tech All Food Tech classes have been cooking and learning about Australian Traditional and Multicultural foods with some really good foods being produced this term. All classes Year 7-12 have been showcasing, not only their academic ability but their practical levels with a variety of catering events, gaining community experience and producing some very good food for the Education Departments LMBR training participants morning teas.

Ms L Keating, Rel Deputy Principal

2016 Deadly Kids Doing Well Awards Congratulations to the following students who represented Matraville Sports High School at the 2016 Deadly Kids Doing Well Awards. I attended the awards ceremony on behalf of the Principal and felt very proud of the positive contribution that Matraville Sports High School students made to this wonderful celebration of Aboriginal Education in NSW. Congratulations and thankyou to the following students for their commitment, dedication and excellence in learning: • Cianna Walker for her beautiful singing as a part of the Vocal Identification Group • Maali Ward-Lowe, Jasmine Trindall, Jasmine O'Rourke and Alyssa Silva for their skills and creative expression as a

part of the Aboriginal Dance Performance • Corey Bennet for his commitment to his learning and the school community honoured by receiving a 2016 Deadly Kids Doing Well Award Thank you also to Jane Stanley, Calita Murray, Tamara Amatto, Pauline Beller, Louise Gerondis and Corey Stewart for helping to prepare the students or supporting them on the day. I must say that attending this event has been a highlight of my time as Relieving Deputy Principal in the school this term. Thank you to the majority of students for their hard work and commitment to learning this term. Keep going - remember reach for the stars! Thank you to parent/ carers for supporting your child's learning. It has been great meeting many of you this term.

Important Dates for your Calendar

23rd September Last day of Term 3 10th October All staff and students return for Term 4 11th October Year 7 vaccination program 11th October P&C Meeting @ 7.15pm 17th October-4th November HSC Year 12 7th - 11th November Exams Years 7/8/9/10 6th December Year 6 Orientation Day 13th December Presentation Day 18th December Last day of Term 3 for Students