6 March 2020

Bellingen High School

NEWSLETTER Telephone: 02 66551 315 Fax: 02 66552 630 Website: http://www.bellingen-h.schools.nsw.gov.au

From the Principal

Half of the term has already passed – it’s hard to believe how quickly

time seems to go by, and, as always, so much is happening at Bellingen

High School.

This week will mark the first hand out of our new Interim Progress

Reports in Term 1, which is not about assessments, grades and marks

but about attitudes to learning and positive behaviours within each classroom. These

reports are also very important information for parents of students at a transition point in

their schooling (Year 7 and Year 11), so you know how your student is coping in their new

learning environment and with the demands of expectation, work load, work ethic and

quality work output. Once received, should you wish to discuss anything raised within,

please contact the school, or again – for those parents of Year 7 and 11 – please come

along to the barbecue on Monday, March 16, 2020 to raise concerns or discuss issues. We

apologise for having to change the date of the event – but the weather has been so

arbitrary! Fingers crossed for a fine afternoon on 16th March! Year 7 parents should also

receive a phone call from a core classroom teacher this week to ask how your student is

settling in and if there is anything we should be aware of or can do to assist in this process

– and this information will be relayed to relevant staff so that appropriate action can be

taken.

There has been a lot of maintenance work undertaken this last month around the school.

It’s nearing completion and we are grateful to students, staff and parents for their patience.

In an old school, as the school gets older, many working parts fall into disrepair and need

maintenance. The overall look – painting etc. – is just lipstick and mascara on the ‘old girl’

to spruce her up and make the learning environment – both classrooms and grounds –

more appealing for all who use them.

Our next Assembly (next Tuesday) will be a focus on Waste Management and Language

Use. Our grounds are lovely – we are lucky to have the sprawling grounds we do but it is

unfortunate when students buy noodle cups or icy cups at the canteen and spread some

of the rubbish associated with both of those products over the grounds. We have plenty

of bins for this – there is no need to litter. There is a minority of students responsible for

this – but it affects the whole school learning community and the wider community who

use the grounds in the afternoon – for training or BYO practice or those who use it on the

weekend – church groups; craft groups etc. The same can be said of poor language used

by students – from simple salutations to manners and general courtesy. Manners and

courtesy cost nothing but go such a long way to make a mark on the social culture of an

environment or a community, as well as leaving an indelible impression about a person’s

character and inherent values. Whilst we will address these as school concerns next week,

I would really appreciate conversations about these matters at home, if you think

appropriate, to raise student awareness and allow them time to consider what we are

saying before the date.

Our previous focus was on Teaching and Learning and Assessment, asking students to

consider goals for their 2020 academic journey and to ensure that they give 100% to their

work. We made plain our expectations relating to submission timeframes and ensuring

that the best work is produced and submitted, re-iterating repeatedly that ‘near enough is

not good enough’ and that a draft is just that. Drafts of tasks can be given to teachers for

annotation to improve the work before submission and students should look at the

feedback on returned tasks and ask how to improve and grow for future tasks. Sometimes,

all it takes is the first time of asking for a pattern of improvement to be formed.

Until next time –

Yours in a continuous improvement cycle of education:

Kim Dixon

Years 7-10 Assessment Schedules – Term 1

Week YEAR 7

8 English – Narrative

HSIE – Skills Test

10 Visual Arts

Science – Life Under the Microscope - Model

YEAR 8

7 HSIE - Research

8 English – Poetry Anthology

10 Visual Arts

11 Science – Separating Mixtures - Topic Test

YEAR 9

10

Drama

English – Group Project

Visual Arts/ Choose Your Own Medium / Ceramics

Photography

11 Geography 9.2/9.4/9.5 – Test

YEAR 10

9 English – Essay

Science – Need for Speed – Skills Exam

10 Drama

History 10.1/10.4 - Test

Accelerated Reader

Bellingen High School has purchased Accelerated

Reader, a computer-based program to monitor

reading practice and progress in Years 7 and 8.

It helps the teacher librarian and English teachers

guide students to books that are at their individual

reading levels. The students can take short quizzes

after reading a book to check if they’ve understood

it.

All students in Years 7 and 8 will undertake an initial

quiz at the beginning of the year to determine each

student’s reading level. The program provides a

multiple-choice assessment that takes students about

15 minutes on a computer. Teachers can also use

results from other assessments or their own

judgment.

Each student is assigned to a specific range of books

on the program’s BookFinder list. Books in that

range will be challenging for the student but not too hard to read. This concept is called a

zone of proximal development (ZPD). In AR, it’s used to guide book selection.

Students choose a book that’s in their ZPD. A teacher or librarian will help students with

selecting books. The library collection has now been mapped to the reading levels of our

students.

Haridian Ramirez

Teacher Librarian/ Distance Ed Coordinator

The National Day of Action

against Bullying and Violence is an

important day in our school calendar to join with

other schools across Australia to say ‘Bullying. No

Way!’

Bellingen High School are joining the nationwide

movement with schools across Australia to Take

Action Together against bullying on Thursday 19

March 2020.

We’re proud to be an NDA school!

We’re proud to say ‘Bullying. No Way!” We are putting our anti-bullying initiatives in

the spotlight and calling on our school community to stand with us on Thursday 19th

March.

Thursday 19th March will be a yellow/orange mufti day. All students wearing mufti

will receive a free wristband. SMILE mentors will be running activities at lunchtime as

well as a fundraising cake stall. Don't forget to bring a few extra dollars to school.

We encourage students to take hold of the issue and talk about what works. Let’s

support our students to drive powerful messages and take action to prevent bullying.

The NDA promotes school, parent and community partnerships to build supportive

learning environments to find workable solutions to address bullying.

Together we can make change. Everyone has a role to play in supporting young people

in dealing with bullying ad helping to energise positive discussions about the issue.

Students have a voice in talking about bullying on the NDA 2020. It’s important we

include them in finding solutions.

Help our school community deliver a powerful message that bulling and violence are

never okay.

Frieda Gorman

Coordinator

Stymie Focus – Weeks 5 & 6

NSW School Vaccination Program

Each year NSW Health works in partnership with schools to offer the vaccines

recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for

adolescents as part of the school vaccination program.

In 2020 the following vaccines will be offered:

YEAR VACCINE NUMBER OF DOSES

Year 7

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine 2-doses at least 6

months apart

Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine Single dose

Year 10 Meningococcal ACWY vaccine Single dose

31st March 2020

Year 7

Gardasil (HPV) Dose 1

Boostrix (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis-whooping cough)

1 dose only

Year 8 Catch up Year 8 Gardasil (HPV) if required (only if

commenced in Year 7)

19th May 2020

Year 10 Nimenrix (Meningococcal ACWY) 1 dose only

Year 7 Catch up Year 7 if required (late forms, absentees from

term 1)

Year 8 Catch up Year 8 Gardasil (HPV) if required (only if

commenced in Year 7)

3 November 2020

Year 7 Gardasil (HPV) Dose 2

Catch up if required (late forms, absentees)

Year 8 Catch up Gardasil (HPV) if required

Year 10 Catch up Nimenrix (late forms, absentees)

Parent Information Kits that include an information sheet, consent form and privacy

statement have been sent home to parents/guardians and need to be returned to the

school’s front office ASAP. Any student who didn’t receive a kit can collect one from

the front office.

To consent to the vaccination of their child, parents/guardians are advised to:

read all the information provided

complete the consent form, including signing their name next to the vaccine/s they

would like their child to receive

return the completed consent form to their child’s school

ensure that their child eats breakfast on the day of the school vaccination clinic.

Please note that, to improve vaccination completion, students will be opportunistically

offered any missed doses during Year 7 or 8 (for HPV and dTpa vaccination) and during

Year 10 or 11 (for Meningococcal ACWY vaccination).

Parents/guardians who wish to withdraw their consent for any reason may do so by writing

to the school Principal or phoning the school. The Procedure for Withdrawal of Consent is

available on the NSW Health website at www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/

Pages/withdraw_consent.aspx.

A Record of Vaccination will be provided to each student vaccinated at each clinic either

as a physical card or a text message sent to the mobile number recorded on the consent

form. Details about vaccinations given at school will also be uploaded to the Australian

Immunisation Register (AIR) to support complete vaccination histories.

Careers News

Year 12 Strategies for Success Day

It was great to work with our wonderful Year 12

students last week looking at career pathways,

maximising success in the HSC, applying for Uni,

Early Entry, Study Skills and many other

important issues. Thank you to Bello Youth Hub

for fitting us in and to Bellingen Golf Club for

feeding us well! The parent session was also well

attended and we look forward to working

together to achieve a successful final year of

school. If you are a Year 11/12 parent, please join

our parent Facebook group.

Sydney University

I was recently invited to Sydney University to discuss initiatives

to encourage applications from rural schools. There are lots of

new entry pathways in the pipeline! It was lovely to meet up

with ex Bellingen High Student Conaire Deagan who is studying

Bachelor of Science (majoring in Mathematics and Physics) and

enjoying life in Sydney. Conaire has part time employment

with the Uni as a Leadership Officer, encouraging future

students from rural and low socioeconomic status backgrounds.

He lives on campus, highly recommends University of Sydney

and makes extra cash from tutoring HSC students.

Year 10

Please note Year 10 Work Experience dates from Monday 16th November - Friday 27th

November. Students are encouraged to find their own placement with the help of

parents. Paperwork and further information will be issued shortly.

Frieda Gorman

Careers Adviser

Dear Parents and Carers

In Term 1 2020, our school is taking part in the Tell Them From Me student survey. The survey will provide us with valuable feedback on what our students think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the different ways that teachers interact with them. Schools in Australia and around the world have used the Tell Them From Me survey to help them improve. The survey is completed online and is run by an independent research company, The Learning Bar, which specialises in school-based surveys.

Staff in schools will not be able to identify individual students from their responses. To ensure confidentiality, participating students will receive a unique username and password. Where fewer than five students respond to a question, the results will be suppressed. The survey typically takes 30 minutes or less to complete and will be administered by the school during normal school hours. Once the surveys are completed by students, reports are prepared and in most cases are available to schools within three business days.

As well as schools getting student feedback, the Department of Education, through the Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE), has access to data from across NSW and is running a research project to look at state-wide patterns of student wellbeing, engagement and effective teaching practices. The research is looking at how these things impact on student outcomes, including academic performance. Individual students will not be identified in any CESE publications, and all information will be handled in accordance with the relevant privacy legislation. Students’ personal information will not be disclosed by the department to any other person or body other than as required by law.

This research will help schools in New South Wales to better understand how to improve student wellbeing and engagement. It will also help teachers and principals discuss what works to improve student outcomes.

Participating in the survey is entirely voluntary. Your child will not take part if either you or your child do not wish. If, during the survey, your child is uncomfortable, he/she can choose to stop the survey at any time. The majority of questions in the survey can be skipped.

If you do not want your child to take part in the survey, please complete the form in the newsletter and return it to the school by Monday 23 March 2020. More information about the survey and the research is available in English on the CESE website: http://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au/information-for-parents To access the survey for Bellingen High School go to: http://nsw.tellthemfromme.com/gpdt5 Kim Dixon Dr Jenny Donovan Principal Executive Director Bellingen High School Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation

Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation

Tell Them From Me student survey: Information and consent form for parents and carers

Tell Them From Me Student Feedback Survey non-consent form

If you do not want your child to participate in the student feedback survey, please sign this form and return it to the school by Monday 23 March 2020. I DO NOT give consent for my child/children to participate in the Tell Them From Me student feedback survey.

Name of student 1 Year Name of student 2 Year Name of student 3 Year / / Name of parent/carer Signature of parent/carer Date

Transition Progress Reports

Over the next few weeks, Bellingen High will be launching a new set of reports called

Transition Progress Reports. These reports are designed to give a ‘snapshot’ of how

students are settling in to their new courses and classes. Teachers will indicate how students

have settled in areas such as attendance, understanding content, individual and

collaborative work as well as interactions with peers and staff.

The reports offer an opportunity to speak with your children about what they are doing

in each of their subjects; where their strengths are or where they may feel they need extra

support. We know that students who regularly discuss their school work at home often

feel a greater sense of achievement and feel more comfortable asking for support in

particular areas. Below is an example of report pages.

Reports for Year 8 and 10 will be issued this week, followed by Year 11 and 9 over the

next two weeks and finally, Year 7 in week 10. More detailed reports showing student

achievement in each subject will be issued at the end of each semester.

Thank you for your continued support.

David Neville

Coordinator

Share the Dignity

Bellingen High School SMILE mentors are once again supporting the Share the Dignity

Campaign for the month of March. Collection bins are located in the School Library and

Careers Office - please help by getting your donation of pads, tampons and/or liners,

incontinence products into the pink Collection Bins. Please contribute if you are able to

do so and thank you for supporting this cause.

Year 10 Camp

Students have received permission notes and information regarding the Year 10 Camp in

Sydney this December. A deposit of $60 is due by Friday 3rd April. The balance of $350

can be covered by selling official raffle tickets which will be issued in the next few weeks

once prizes are confirmed. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions at this

stage.

Frieda Gorman and Jon Winfer

Year 10 Advisors

Bellingen High School P&C

Annual General Meeting & General Meeting

Monday 9 March - 6pm

Staff Common Room

Sport News MNC Swimming – 14 years double

A small team of 21 swimmers from Bellingen High School travelled to Grafton to

swim in the Mid North Coast Zone Carnival on Monday, 24th February. The weather

was wet but this did not put a dampener on the keen swimmers there to do their

best.

The results were amazing with a number of very fast times. Swimmer of the Meet

was Lulu McGrath who was the 14 years Age Champion with four individual 1st places.

Just behind her in the 14 years girls was Kaia van Heuvel with two 1st, a 3rd and a 4th

placing giving her Runner-up Champion.

Two more classy swimmers were also Runner–up Champion in their age groups.

Rebecca Hodgson was outstanding with one 1st and five 2nd places in the 17 years +

age group. Young swimmer Harriet Pagulayan-McCabe displayed real style finishing

with four 2nd places and a 3rd place to finish Runner-up Champion in the 13 years age

group.

The boys had some good individual results with strong 3rd, 4th and 5th placings.

However, it was the relays where the Bellingen swimmers really shone, despite losing

key swimmers that morning. The loss of swimmers meant there were only 6 relay

teams competing for Bellingen at the Carnival.

First was the 6x50m Girls All Age Relay, which requires a swimmer from each age

group from 12 years to 17 years+. The girls performed strongly finishing 2nd and

were very happy. What they didn’t know was the team that won had swum two

swimmers of the same age. An email during the week informed the school that they

actually finished in first place!

Next relay teams were the boys and girls Open 4x50m Medley relay. The girls had

Harriet (13), Kaia (14), Lulu (14) and Rebecca (17) in this open event. Despite their

tender years they finished 2nd.

The boys also had a young team with all four boys only 14. They finished just out of

qualifying in 3rd place but a really great effort.

To finish the carnival there is always the 4x50m Freestyle Age relays.

The 13 years girls finished a strong 3rd and were very happy.

The final two teams to swim for Bellingen were the girls and boys 14 years’ teams.

The girls beat Coffs Harbour High School in a close finish making them Mid North

Coast Champions.

Then the boys took to the water and inspired by the girls smashed the opposition.

The boys (who also swam in the Medley relay together) were Patrick Carey, Riley

Meenahan, Jai Bowd and Caleb Daykin and are now Mid North Coast Champions!

A rare double with both the 14 years girls and 14 years boys MNC Champions – looks

bright for the future.

Champion teams - 14 years girls - Janae Taylor, Eliza Cross, Kaia van Heuvel, Lulu McGrath.

14 years boys - Riley Meenahan, Jai Bowd, Caleb Daykin and Patrick Carey

13 years girls - Chia McGrath, Roxy Thomas, Saskia Scheib and Harriet Pagulayan- McCabe

Jon Winfer/Liz Hoy

Sport Organisers

Netball News

The Bellingen High School Opens Girls Netball team attended the Mid North Coast

Netball competition at Sportz Central on the 2nd March. In their first game, the

team defeated Dorrigo High School convincingly to move onto the second round.

After less than a ten minute break and barely time to sit down and catch their

breath, the team then faced CHEC - the champions from last year’s competition.

After a slow start in the first quarter, the Bellingen girls found their rhythm and

began to work well as a team, displaying excellent defence and movement around the

shooting circle. Despite the Bellingen team's best efforts, CHEC triumphed. The

team as a whole are to be congratulated for their dedicated performance on the day

in extremely hot and humid conditions.

A special mention and congratulations to Angelica Pisani Mehmet who was selected,

based on her outstanding performance on the day, to be in the Mid North Coast

team who will play on the 25th March at the North Coast competition.

Holly Wilson

Coordinator

Angelica Pisani

Mehmet passing

to Willow Cronin

who scores a

goal

Urunga Football Club 2020 Registrations

now open!

Mini Roos 5-7 years $112

Junior 8-11 years $132

Junior Youth 12-17 years $202

Youth Senior Comp 16-18 years $202

Senior Comp Over 18 years $330

Mens over 35 years $350

All new players to the club receive

a FREE Urunga Raiders FC polo shirt

To register, visit

www.playfootball.com.au/register

For more information email registrar@urungafootball.com

Don’t forget to access your $100 Active Kids NSW rebate for children enrolled in school.

Apply for your voucher by visiting

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au

/transaction/apply-active-kids-

voucher

DATES TO REMEMBER

MARCH MAY

9 P&C Meeting 2-3 CHS Touch 15’s (Girls/Boys)

9 Year 8 Get Up Girls Program 4 Year 10 & 12 Parent Evening

10-12 CHS Volleyball (Boys) 4 AFL Greater Northern Trials

11 NC AFL 15’s 5-7 CHS AFL (Boys)

11 Rugby League 9’s (Boys) 5-7 CHS Hockey (Boys)

12 MNC v LNC Rugby League 7 MNC Touch (Girls/Boys)

13 NC Touch 15’s 8 Year 11 & 12 UNE Open Day

13 AFL U15’s (Boys) 11 P&C Meeting

15-17 Creative Arts Excursion 11 MNC Squash (Girls/Boys)

16 Year 7 & 11 Meet & Greet Parent BBQ 12-14 NAPLAN

17 St Patricks Day ♣ 15 Year 8 UNE Maths Day

17 MNC Football Trials (Girls/Boys) 15 MNC Cross Country

18 League Tag (Girls) 18 NC Golf Trials

18-20 Indigenous Girls Camp (Years 8-11) 19 Vaccinations

19 NC Basketball 19 NC Lawn Bowls

19 National Day of Action Against Bullying & Violence 19-21 CHS Football (Boys)

20 Year 10 HSIE 2 & 3 Coasts Excursion 19-22 Opal Dreaming Trip

20 NC Touch Trials 15’s (Boys/Girls) 22 NC Touch Opens

24-26 CHS Volleyball (Girls) 25 Year 10 Volunteers Day

25 NC Netball 26-28 CHS Football (Boys)

26 NC Rugby League 15’s/Opens Knockout 28-29 Coffs Coast Futsal

26 Futsal 19’s (Girls) Did you know?

Bones found at Seymour Island indicate

that, 37 to 40 million years ago,

penguins stood just under 2 metres tall

and weighed around 115 kilograms.

The two tiny holes drilled in every BIC

pen is to ensure that the air pressure is

the same both inside and outside the

pen, which helps the ink flow to the tip.

Bulldogs do not sleep.

Baked beans are actually not baked, but

stewed.

In Slovakia they have Christmas Carp

that live in the family bathtub for a few

days before they are eaten.

The ocean gets its saltiness from the

tears of misunderstood sharks who just

want to cuddle.

Sonic the Hedgehog’s full name is

actually Ogilvie Maurice Hedgehog.

27 NC Hockey

30-3/4 Year 12 VET Work Placement

31 Vaccinations

31 NC Football

APRIL

1-3 Small Enterprise Opal Dreaming Camp

1-3 CHS Swimming

1-7 Royal Easter Show

2 NC Rugby League 15’s/Opens

7 CSU Excursion (Years 11 & 12)

7 Da Vinci Decathlon (Years 9 & 10)

7 MNC Football Knockout (Girls/Boys)

9 End Term 1

10 Good Friday

27 Staff Development Day

28 Students Return – Start Term 2

29 Cross Country

29 NC Rugby League Finals Day