James Meehan News

James Meehan News James Meehan High School 58 Harold Street, Macquarie Fields NSW 2564 Phone: 9605 4395 [email protected]

Issue 1 – Term 3 August 2019

CALENDAR EVENTS

Term 3, 2019

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Week 6 26.8.2019 -

30.8.2019

* Signs & Graphics course




* Signs & Graphics course * Life Program * Girls Program

Week 7

2.9.2019 - 6.9.2019

* Year 11 exams * Year 10 Work Experience




* Year 11 exams * Year 10 Work Experience * LEAPS * Life Program * Girls Program

Week 8 9.8.2019 –

13.9.2019

* Year 12 exit interviews



* Life Program * Girls Program

Week 9

16.9.2019 - 20.9.2019

* U15 Girls Netball

* Stage 5 Pastoral Day

* LEAPS * Year 12 Hospitality * Life Program * Girls Program

Week 10 23.9.2019 –

27.9.2019

* Merit Assembly * Year 12 Day Out

* 100% Attendance BBQ

* Year 12 Graduation

Canteen closed Last day of

term

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

elcome back to all our students for Semester 2. It was great to see the majority of students in their full school uniform and prepared to learn. Year 12 has finished their trial HSC examinations, and have only this term before their HSC examinations begin.

This term is a busy term with activities including Multicultural Day, Year 12 Drama HSC Performances, end of term Formal Attendance and Award Assembly and the Year 12 Graduation. For Year 11, it is their final term of the Preliminary course and they will also be busy with final examinations and getting ready for Year 12, which commences in Term 4. Students in Year 10 have been completing their subject choices for Year 11 2020. Parent / teacher evening was a great success and I would like to thank all staff for their participation in making it an evening where we are able to share the positive events of JMHS. I would like to thank the community for their support of our project proposal and I hope everyone has had the opportunity to vote for our project on the NSW Services website. If you have not been able to vote as yet please contact the school and our CLOs and AEO will be able to assist.

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Education Week 2019 – Every Student, Every Voice Education Week was in Week 3 and this year the theme was Every Student, Every Voice. I was fortunate to be part of a Q & A forum with the SRC members where they asked me along with Ms Chan, Ms Rogers, Ms Marcic and Mr Nguyen a series of questions about ourselves and the school. During the Q & A it became obvious to us the calibre of the staff and students that we have at JMHS. The theme reflects our commitment to preparing students for the future with a sound education in their secondary years. Our school has high expectations and maintains a focus on continuous improvement for our students, our teachers and our school. Students are at the heart of every decision that is made in education and we want every child’s individual potential to be identified and developed by quality teaching in a supportive learning environment. Great teaching and learning occurs in classrooms in public schools every day. The forum enabled discussion to happen around the needs and wants of the students. I would like to thank Mr Pabiona along with Ms Waddell, for their efforts in making this event happen. We are looking at more Q & A forums in the future. Adding to this, for effective learning to occur, students need to be at school on time. Arriving at school and class on time:

Ensures that students do not miss out on important learning activities scheduled early in the day. Helps students learn the importance of punctuality and routine Gives students time to greet their friends before class Reduces classroom disruption.

I would like to welcome Ms Tania Irons to the role of Relieving Principal while I am away on leave until the final week of Term 3.

Ms N Dukic PRINCIPAL

PDHPE and SPORT REPORT

State Volleyball: fter winning the Sydney South West Knock Out competition, the Open Girls Volleyball team progressed to the NSW State Volleyball Competition

on 24 and 25 July. At the competition the girls were nervous, however, shook off the nerves and began playing more confidently as a team. Overall the team finished 13th in the state. This was a great achievement for James Meehan High School in Volleyball and reflects the hard work, efforts and motivation by students and Ms. Radmanovic.

Regional Athletics Across two days, a group of seven students from James Meehan High School attended the Sydney South West Regional Athletics Carnival. The table below outlines the students and their overall achievement for the day against other students in our school Region. These students have displayed great effort in their particular sporting event and have represented James Meehan High School with pride and honour.

Student Name: Event: Place:

Nicole Pili Shot Put Discus

1st Place

Evans Sarpong 100m Javelin

13th Place 6th Place

Trey Sawyer 100m 8th Place

Tatiygana John Varu Javelin 11th Place

Brock Borchardt Shot Put 6th Place

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James Meehan High School would like to congratulate and wish Nicole Pili the best of luck at the State Athletics Carnival. This will be her last year to compete for James Meehan High School before she graduates year 12 and progresses on to her future aspirations. Katrina Fanning Cup: The Open Girls Rugby League team competed in the Katrina Fanning Cup on 6 August. The team progressed to this competition after being the top ranked team from the West Secondary Females Competition. The girls’ team played hard and despite injuries, bumps and bruises placed 3rd in Western Sydney. They represented themselves and James Meehan High School outstandingly and should be proud of their achievement and place within the Western Sydney Area. Year7 Gala Day: Year 7 participated in their first Sport’s Gala Day on the 9 August. A number of Year 7 students went along to the Gala day as either players, spectators, coaches and/or umpires. The students participated in Netball, Soccer and Touch Football. Overall, each team played collaboratively and displayed great sportsmanship towards each other and the other schools. Ms. Reynolds, the Year Adviser and Sports Coordinator, was very pleased at how well this cohort played as a team and the high level of skill of the students in the year. All teams progressed to the Finals with the Netball students finishing the competition undefeated in 1st place. The Touch students placed 2nd in their competition while the Soccer students placed 3rd after a gruelling semi-finals match that went into two overtimes and finally, a penalty shootout. A big congratulations to all the students who participated and supported each other throughout the day. Ms Reynolds PDHPE FACULTY

HUMAN SOCIETY AND IT’S ENVIRONMENT (HSIE) FACULTY REPORT

STAGE 4 HISTORY “Poo from the Past”

hese photos were taken during class in Term 1, showing students experiencing an archaeological dig. They dissected "Poo from the Past".

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STAGE 5 GEOGRAPHY

Students did a sketch map of surrounding biomes (Biotic and Abiotic elements)

STAGE 5 GEOGRAPHY Sustainable Biomes

Staff and students explored different biomes using VR glasses.


STAGE 5 HISTORY

Wold War 1 and World War 2

tudents observed artefacts from War Memorials.

FIRST AID AND CPR TRAINING COURSE

tudents in Year 12 SLR were involved in a First Aid and CPR training course on Thursday 8 August, 2019. The students learnt ways to treat and handle first aid situations. They were able to identify which first aid strategies to use for different scenarios. A written and practical

assessment was undertaken of the new skills they had learnt, in order to obtain a First Aid and CPR qualification.

Mr Salem PDHPE FACULTY

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MATHEMATICS FACULTY REPORT

erm 3 has started well in all Mathematics classes. Please let me remind parents / carers that it is imperative that your child comes to school fully prepared, with all necessary equipment in Mathematics being pens, pencils, a ruler, calculator and workbooks. Calculators are available

from the front office for $22, which includes engraving of student name on both the back and cover of the calculator. During Terms 1 and 2, Stage 4 was investigating the concepts of ratios through hands-on activities with counters. They were also busily looking at number patterns with paddle pop and coloured sticks, cotton buds and different 3-D shapes.

Stage 5 created models of 3-D shapes to see which shape could package 4 tennis balls (below)

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The Mathematics staff, look forward to working collaboratively with you for the rest of the year to ensure the best possible outcomes for your child. Please be reminded that homework is given regularly, so ask your child about this. If they say they have no homework, then ask them to revise their work. Regular and continual revision is necessary to ensure that concepts taught are retained and consolidated. If there are ever any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at the school. Mrs Matthews RELIEVING HEAD TEACHER – MATHEMATICS

LEAPS 2019 LEAPS (Law Firms Encouraging and Assisting Promising Students) has seen James Meehan High School students be fortunate enough to experience many fun and enjoyable excursions so far this year. These include Jet boating, climbing The Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon, to viewing the city from the top of Sydney Tower. Our students have had a blast! Most importantly they have been engaging in mentoring sessions every fortnight with a lawyer from the MinterEllison law firm. Session topics include how to stay focused at school, being aware of the dangers of online social media and overall how to improve as a person.

Mr Pabiona LEAPS COORDINATOR


SCIENCE WEEK 2019

uring Science Week, Stage 5 students had the opportunity to attend the Science Festival at the Australian Museum. The topic discussed was, “Know Your Enemies”, which helped us gain knowledge about certain diseases and how they can affect us in the future by the choices we

make today.

We had access to many workshops during the day with activities, which allowed us to have fun and learn new things. All in all, it was a great experience and we learnt more about Science.

Raven-Leigh and Ava (Stage 5 students)

Group in Hyde Park

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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS

immos Beach Reserve has undergone a major upgrade with new walking trails, stairways, a kayak/canoe ramp, place

names and signage. The tracks were closed during upgrade works to ensure our threatened species, flora and fauna remained protected. Simmos Reserve is an excellent resource for the local community to connect and enjoy the natural environment at your doorstep. Stage 5 students from James Meehan High School learned about biodiversity and sustainable use of our nature reserves and have walked a trail with the Campbelltown Council education Officer, Michaela Beattie. Students were involved in naming the trails and have been eagerly looking forward to their opening.

Come along to Simmos Beach for the launch

of the upgraded trail.

When: Saturday 24 August. 11.30am - 2.30pm. Programme: 11.30am Official opening by Cr Meg Oats followed by a Bush Picnic and guided bush tucker walk and fun nature treasure hunt for the kids.

This is a community event. Further information of the launch is available at: https://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/WhatsOn/SimmosBeachTrailNetworkOpening

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https://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/WhatsOn/SimmosBeachTrailNetworkOpening


FUTSAL OPENING On Thursday 15 August 2019, during Sport, our Stage 4 soccer students were the first to play on the new Futsal soccer field.

ANTI-BULLYING WITH WESTS

est Tigers representatives delivered a presentation on Celebrating Difference to all stage 4 students on Tuesday 13 August. The presentation was

engaging, informative and highlighted the importance of accepting people and the differences they bring. All stage 4 actively engaged and listened respectfully to the West Tigers representatives.

CANTEEN NEWS lease note that our school canteen will not be operational on the last day of term – Friday 27.9.2019.

Students are to come to school prepared with food and drinks for the breaks of recess and lunch.

PARENTS PLEASE NOTE Students Absent from School

lease note changes to School Attendance Policy. Where a student is absent from school, a note explaining the absence must be received by the school within 7 days. Where a note is not received the absence will be recorded as unjustified. This cannot legally be changed should a note be received after

7 days. Absences, both justified and unjustified are recorded on school reports.

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