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Blacktown Mail
Term 2 2017
Preparing Boys for their Future since 1959 Par ally Selec ve Boys High School
PO Box 6627, Blacktown DC 2148 School Email: blacktownb‐[email protected] School Website: www.blacktownb‐h.schools.nsw.edu.au Phone: 9622 1558 Fax: 9831 2282
Principal Mr Shaun Addy
Principal’s Message I would firstly like to welcome back all students and staff to the “Autumn
Term”, in the hope that all had a great break and have returned keen to
con nue the wonderful work that began in Term 1.
School Improvements
The CAPA rooms refurbishment was completed during the holidays, with
new walls, furniture and fixtures provided to modernise the learning space.
The TAS refurbishment is also close to comple on with pain ng and new
no ceboards installed to give a more engaging learning space for the boys
studying the many technology based subjects offered by the team.
Work on the basketball and quad resurfacing is s ll an on‐going process due
to the inclement weather, but should be completed soon, as will the extra
covered walkway in the car park and covered table tennis area.
Staff changes
Late last term we farewelled Mrs Sharman, our Head Teacher Science who was successful in gaining a
Deputy Principal posi on at Turramurra High. Mrs Sharman has had a fantas c impact on Blacktown Boys
over the past 8 years. Although we will miss her, we wish her well in her new posi on. We will be
adver sing for a replacement later in the year, but in the mean me, we will combine the Science and
Maths facul es under the experienced guidance of our Maths Head Teacher Ms Lees.
Uniform
It makes me proud to be Principal of a school that places such importance on uniform. Our boys are
ambassadors when they are in the public arena and their presenta on goes a long way to ensuring that
our school is seen in the best light. It is great to hear members of the general public and colleagues from
other schools comment on how good our boys look. As we move into colder weather, please encourage
your sons to wear BBHS jackets and blazers, or to save money, any plain maroon top without logos.
New School Plan
All schools are required to develop 3 year school plans that help direct improvements in teaching and
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learning. We have commenced the dra ing process for our school plan 2018‐2020 and will be providing
numerous opportuni es for parent / community input as the year progresses. I will keep you posted.
Lawn Bowls
One of the downsides of being Principal is that I don’t o en get to accompany students on extra‐
curricular ac vi es. Last Term as self‐appointed coach of our
Lawn Bowls team I had the rare opportunity to take boys out
of the school to compete in the Western Sydney bowls
compe on. None of the players had much experience with
bowls, and given the amount of rain during Term 1, we didn’t
get any opportuni es to train on grass. Nevertheless, the
boys did a fantas c job winning 3 matches out of 5, and only
missed out on reaching the regional finals by the smallest of
margins. The team
were great ambassadors for the school and made me proud to be
their Principal. Hopefully they will go on to enjoy this sport next
year.
Regards
Shaun Addy
Principal
Thomas Brooks, Ahmet Numan and Mitchell Davis ready to play
The team ea ng up a storm!
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APRIL
25th Anzac Day (Public Holiday)
26th Start of term
28th Australian Geography Compe on
MAY
1st Year 10 Assessment Week
Year 11 Half Yearly Exams
2nd Year 10 Assessment Week
Year 11 Half Yearly Exams
3rd Year 10 Assessment Week
Year 11 Half Yearly Exams
4th Year 10 Assessment Week
Year 11 Half Yearly Exams
5th Year 10 Assessment Week
Year 11 Half Yearly Exams
Zone Cross Country
9th NAPLAN
10th NAPLAN
11th NAPLAN
15th Year 9 Assessment Week
Year 7 Vaccina on Program
16th Year 9 Assessment Week
P&C Mee ng 10am
17th Year 9 Assessment Week
18th Year 9 Assessment Week
19th Year 9 Assessment Week
22nd Year 7 & 8 Assessment Week
23rd Year 7 & 8 Assessment Week
ICAS Digital Technology
P&C Mee ng for Term Two will be on: Tuesday 16th May at 10am and Tuesday 20th June at 10am The mee ng will be held in the library. All parents are welcome.
MAY con nued...
24th Year 7 & 8 Assessment Week
25th Year 7 & 8 Assessment Week
26th Year 7 & 8 Assessment Week
Sydney Writers Fes val Year 11
30th ICAS Science
JUNE
1st Zone Athle cs Carnival
HSC & Careers Expo
2nd Zone Athle cs Carnival
6th Parent/Teacher Evening Years 10, 11 & 12
12th Queens Birthday (Public Holiday)
13th ICAS Wri ng
14th ICAS Spelling
Sydney West Cross Country
20th P&C Mee ng 10am
22nd Western Sydney Careers Expo
30th No payments to school via Portal ll
31st July ‐ see le er page 2
End of Term 2
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Deputy Principal’s Message
Deputy Principal Mrs Trish Ma hews
The year seems to be moving quickly, and it is no wonder with all the exci ng
opportuni es for our boys to show their enthusiasm for academic, extra‐
curricular and spor ng pursuits. Blacktown Boys’ is certainly the place to be. An
Interna onal Robo cs Compe on, Zone Spor ng Trials, Cricket Compe ons
and Mock Trial are just some the ac vi es that boys can be and have been
involved in during Term 1. An enthusias c group of students and parents also
met with Mr D’Souza and a representa ve from The Duke of Edinburgh’s
Interna onal Award for its re‐launch in 2017. More informa on for can be found
at the website: www.dukeofed.com.au
Term 2 promises to be just as exci ng, with deba ng rounds star ng, the
Premier’s Reading Challenge con nuing, Public Speaking and ICAS compe ons
taking place, so it is important that the boys listen well during assemblies and
Home Room, as these are our main points of communica on for day to day
ac vi es.
Staff welcomed the opportunity in Week 11 of Term 1 to meet parents at our Barbecue Por olio/Progress
Report pick‐up for years 7‐11, where they discussed progress with parents and students in an informal
se ng. Record numbers in the past have certainly showed that parents like this informal opportunity to
meet with teachers.
We are now moving into our Semester 1 assessment period for all years, the culmina on of which will be
the issuing of Semester 1 reports and more formalised Parent Teacher Mee ngs for Semester 1 which will
be 6/6/17 for Years 10, 11 and 12 and early in Term 3, on 25/7/2017 for years 7, 8 and 9. On this occasion
parents can pick up reports and schedule specific mee ng mes with teachers. I look forward to the
opportunity to meet parents on this occasion. This year we are hoping to have the system for making
Parent Teacher Evening appointments online so it is important that email addresses are up‐to‐date.
If you haven’t already logged on to the Parent Portal you can s ll do so using the key code that you were
provided with earlier this year. If you would like this re‐sent or you need to update your email address
please contact the school and we would be happy to help.
In Term 2 we have planned a Parent Informa on Evening for all parents of student in Year 7, 8 and 9, who
would like to know more about the new Literacy and Numeracy Minimum standards which will be in place
for students doing the HSC from 2020. An invita on will be sent home early next term.
We always welcome input and sugges ons from parents, and thank parents who have been involved in
phone surveys and informa on evenings in the past. We also welcome sugges ons to further engage with
our school community and look forward to hearing from you with any ideas about what you would like to
hear and discuss in parent seminars or informa on evenings. I can be contacted on 9622 1558 if you
would like to make any sugges ons, or discuss any ideas about how we can serve you be er.
Mrs Trish Ma hews
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From the Head Teacher Administra on Head Teacher Administra on Mr Christopher Pace
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Head Teacher English
Mrs Renae Bystrzynski
From the English Faculty It has been a busy and produc ve start to the year in English at BBHS!
Firstly, welcome back to all of our students. We hope that the summer break
was enjoyable. This year, we welcome a new teacher, Ms Graham, to our faculty.
Ms Graham has taught in overseas se ngs as well as here in NSW, and is
qualified to teach English and Drama. We hope she enjoys her me with us here
at BBHS.
Year 12 have con nued with their HSC course content, moving through Module
A in both the Standard and Advanced courses. The English Extension 1 students
are con nuing their explora on of Roman cism, while our solo English Extension
2 student has devoted me and energy to the Major Work process. At the half‐
way point in the course, it is a great me to take stock of all English content
covered so far and to consolidate this learning with revision and the crea on of
effec ve study notes.
Year 11 have had a strong start to their senior English studies. The Standard and Advanced students
began the year by examining an Area of Study on belonging. This allowed students to examine a variety of
texts which explore this concept. Our inaugural English Studies course is going from strength to strength,
with the students nearly comple ng their module on the media.
Year 10 have explored the impacts of colonialism through a close study of poetry this term, as they work
towards comple on of their RoSA. Year 9 studied the impacts of culture on texts through their unit, ‘East
Meets West’, focusing on films and other texts which show the differences in eastern and western
cultures. Year 8 have nearly completed their novel study, while Year 7 have had a fantas c start to their
high school careers by exploring the concept of heroes.
For the first me in a li le while, Year 8
are also studying drama and making great
use of the refurbished performance
studio. We look forward to building some
interest in elec ve drama in Stages 5 and
6 as the year con nues.
A reminder to all parents and students,
that students must hand in all
assessments on me and that these must
be the students’ own work. If you have
any concerns about the rules regarding
assessment, please do not hesitate to
access the Assessment Booklet for Years
10 ‐ 12 (available on the Parent Portal), or
contact Mrs Bystrzynski.
Coming up in Term 2, we have deba ng
Crea ng Effec ve Study Notes in English
Refer to the relevant syllabus for your course for specific
details about Modules
Consider using a visual organiser, such as a table,
mindmap, flash cards or Venn diagram to organise
informa on
Use dot points/short phrases, rather than long ‘chunks’ of
text
Colour code for easy visual access (use this in modera on)
Access previous HSC exams on the NESA website to see
ques ons previously posed in Paper 2 (the Modules paper
– different for Standard and Advanced)
Seek help/feedback from your English teacher
Start early so you have me to refine if needed
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for Years 7 & 8, and for Years 9 & 10. There will also be opportuni es for students to par cipate in public
speaking compe ons, so students need to keep their ears and eyes open for details. ICAS English, spelling
and wri ng compe ons are also coming up. NAPLAN tes ng will take place during Week 3.
We hope that students enjoy a well‐earned break over the Easter period and look forward to seeing our
boys back refreshed and ready for Term 2!
From the Mathema cs Faculty
Head Teacher Mathema cs
Mrs Miriam Lees
We are looking forward to another busy term in Mathema cs with Half‐Yearly
examina ons, reports, compe ons and excursions all happening.
Equipment
As we approach Half‐Yearly Examina ons for all grades except Year 12, it is mely
to remind parents and students that it is essen al that ALL students have a
calculator that they can bring to EVERY class.
We recommend the Casio FX82 Plus as it greatly simplifies frac on and sta s cs
work for the students. These calculators are given to any student who has paid
their full school fees. However, if you are unable to purchase a calculator, please
let Mrs Lees know so that we can arrange access for your son.
NOTE: NESA (NSW Educa on Standards Authority) does NOT accept mobile
phones as calculators in the HSC Exams, and neither do we.
Homework
Homework is work set by the classroom teacher at the end of most lessons. Homework gives a student a
chance to independently prac ce what they have learnt in class. Comple ng homework helps a student to
consolidate their learning, and prepare for the next lesson. Mathema cs is best learnt bit‐by‐bit, so if your
son is struggling in class, please support him by ensuring that daily homework is completed.
Australian Mathema cs Compe on
While entries for the ICAS compe ons have been finalised, permission notes for entry into the Australian
Mathema cs Compe on will be handed out early this term. These external compe ons provide an
excellent opportunity to prac ce examina on techniques without the risk of “failing” as the results do not
affect school marks.
How to Study for the Half‐Yearly Examina ons
Studying involves a complete revision of previous learning. The aim of studying is to prepare a student for
a specific assessment task. At BBHS, all students are given a formal no ce of assessment tasks at least two
weeks before they are due. This no fica on will list all the topics that a student needs to study to be
prepared for the task.
As every student is different, they will each study in a different way. Students should use the assessment
tasks in Year 7 – 10 to prac se the method of studying that BEST suits them. Study techniques that work
well in Mathema cs include:
* Prac ce, prac ce, prac ce: The more you prac se answering maths problems, the be er
you will be at them.
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* Review Errors: By understanding how you approached the problem before and where you
went wrong, you can avoid making the same mistakes in the future.
* Master the Key Concepts: Try to understand the process (how you did it) and logic rather
than rote learn rules. Perhaps write out the steps required to solve problems.
* Understand your Doubts: Avoid skipping ques ons that you don’t understand. Ask for help
from your teacher or a friend.
* Create a Distrac on Free Study Environment: When studying, make sure your FULL
a en on if on the problem and that you are not distracted. Studying with suitable music can
help create a relaxing atmosphere and s mulate the flow of informa on.
* Create a Mathema cal Dic onary: Create Notes or Flashcards with all the concepts,
terminology and defini ons you need to know.
* Apply Maths to Real World Problems: Looking for a prac cal applica on on what you are
learning can help you remember the concepts be er.
Mathema cs requires me and pa ence to master. By preparing properly, you will help your son to have
confidence when they walk into the examina on room.
The schedule of Half‐Yearly Examina ons for all grades can be found on the school website.
Using Mathema cs to Predict Earthquakes
Mathema cs has many prac cal applica ons in our modern society, including sta s cal analysis, building
design and surveying. The following ar cle from Double Helix (doublehelix.csiro.au), highlights how
mathema cal analysis can be used to predict the ming and size of earthquakes.
How big is an earthquake?
Earthquakes are some of the most destruc ve natural disasters in the world. But there’s a huge
difference between a big earthquake and a small one. A three on the Richter scale is small enough that
you could sleep through it, while a six will damage buildings and a nine would be among the largest
earthquakes ever recorded. So what’s the deal with the Richter scale?
The Richter scale can be a bit decep ve because it is a logarithmic scale. That means every me you go
up one on the Richter scale, the vibra ons get ten mes bigger. A magnitude six earthquake isn’t twice
as big as a magnitude three; it’s actually 1000 mes (x 10 x 10 x 10) bigger! So if a magnitude three
earthquake moves the ground one millimetre, a magnitude six would move the ground about one metre.
Over the past 100 years, scien sts have measured a lot of earthquakes, and luckily, most earthquakes
are small. In fact, the number of earthquakes of a certain size fit a different logarithmic pa ern. In a year,
you might get about 1000 magnitude five, 100 magnitude six, and ten magnitude seven earthquakes.
Truly big earthquakes, such as the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake in New Zealand, occur roughly once a year.
If we keep extending the pa ern, things get a bit weird. Every 100 000 years, we might expect an
earthquake of magnitude 13, which would release roughly as much energy as the comet that killed the
dinosaurs. Even worse, every 100 million years or so, we could expect an earthquake to rip Earth in two.
The Earth is now 4.6 billion years old, so there’s clearly something wrong with this predic on.
Recently, Spanish mathema cians looked into the ques on. Drawing from a long history of earthquake
records, they came up with a new way to extend the pa ern of earthquake frequency. This new pa ern
is much be er at matching the numbers of large earthquakes that we see. Luckily for us, it also says the
Earth will never be ripped in half by an earthquake!
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Head Teacher Science
Mrs Melissa Sharman
From the Science Faculty Classes around the senior block have
been buzzing with ac vity over Term 1,
and our students are to be congratulated
on their posi ve start to the school year.
Over the term, year 10 has been looking
into chemical reac ons, while year 9
modelled natural disasters and
successfully presented informa on on a
chosen event.
Year 7 and 8 completed prac cal assessment
tasks – year 8 on separa on, and year 7
displayed their new skills by measuring the
expansion and contrac on of gases using
balloons.
Year 12 are now a li le over half way through
their HSC courses, having completed two of the
core modules and their half‐yearly examina ons. It is a pleasure to see
students reflec ng on their learning and ac vely
seeking feedback on ways to con nue developing
their understanding and applica on of content
knowledge. Students who have received N‐Award
warnings are reminded to complete the missed work
or task, in order to have their learning back on track.
Upcoming tasks for year 12 include research tasks for
Biology and Chemistry (due weeks 4 and 6
respec vely) and a prac cal inves ga on task for Physics (week 8).
The year 12 Chemistry class and Miss
Hussein visited the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology
Organisa on (ANSTO) at Lucas Heights earlier in the term. ANSTO is a
leader in chemical, materials and environmental research, and
produces many of Australia’s medical radiopharmaceu cals. The
students toured the facility, observing the OPAL research reactor, the
Neutron Guide Hall, and the
linear accelerators. Year 12
had a great day, and appreciated seeing firsthand the different
opportuni es nuclear science can offer.
Year 11 Biology had a successful field trip to the Penrith Lakes
Environmental Educa on Centre. They were able to conduct
various measurements, and wrote up their first official field trip
Year 9 modelling convec on
currents and volcanoes
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report on factors of this local ecosystem. All students represented themselves and Blacktown Boys well,
and are to be congratulated for their mature approach to the day.
Term 2 topics and assessment tasks
And farewell…
Finally, I would like to say a fond farewell to the whole school community at Blacktown Boys High School.
As I move into a different posi on, I am amazingly grateful for all the opportuni es and experiences of
the last 8 years here. The staff and students have been wonderful to work with, not just within science,
but in all aspects of the dynamic learning environment here. I par cularly wish the current year 12
cohort every success in their final studies, and hope all students make the most of their me at
Blacktown – as I have!
Mrs Melissa Sharman
Year / Course Topic name Assessment task Week
7 Science The Living World
8 Science Survivor Joint media crea on – with PDHPE 3‐5
9 Science Core of the Ma er Skills Test 4
10 Science It’s Just a Theory Secondary Research, own experiment conducted 2 & 10
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From the HSIE Faculty
Head Teacher HSIE
Mrs Gina Jackson
Term 1 has gone by so quickly and in this rela vely short me the HSIE staff have
worked hard to provide a range of ac vi es to extend our students’ learning .
Below is a snapshot of some of the ac vi es that students have experienced
within and outside the classroom.
YEAR 8E HISTORY ‐ MR DIBBS
8E have began their new focus unit on 'Japan
under the Shoguns'. This was a me period in
the Middle Ages where Japan was ruled by
Samurai, and their borders were closed
where people could not enter or leave. This allowed a vibrant and rich culture to
develop, steeped in tradi on and free from the influences of the outside world. At
the end of Term 1, students in 8E learned about the tradi onal art of Origami making. Students folded
Paper Cranes, Hearts and Sailboats from images depic ng the Japanese Flag and tradi onal Shinto Gates.
COOKIE ARCHAEOLOGY
In Term 1, Year 7 students have learnt about how historians
inves gate the ancient past, and why they do it. This has involved
outlining the main features of history and archaeology, learning
about the roles that historians and archaeologists play in historical
inquiries, and defining relevant historical terms and concept.
Students in 7H on the le , simulate the process of archaeological
excava on as they “excavate” the chocolate chips or raisins in
cookies. They discovered how excava on is both destruc ve and
scien fic.
MOCK TRIAL
The first round of Mock Trial took place on the Wednesday,
March 15th. Our school hosted Delaney College in a criminal
case. Our school had to prosecute an alleged vandalism
offence. Our two barristers, Nicholas Wright and Cameron
Heydeman were able to successfully cross examine the defence
witnesses and make relevant objec ons. William Luu and Kayaan Udachia were convincing witnesses and
were able to provide tes mony which supported our legal arguments. In the end our team were
rewarded for their hard work and prepara on by taking out the victory on the day. Our second round will
be against Patrician Brothers Blacktown on Thursday, April 27th.
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WATERFRONT WORKOUT
On Monday 6th January, 50 Year 10 students a ended the
Waterfront Workout excursion. The excursion gave students
an insight into Sydney as a growing city, allowing them to
observe urban growth and decline around the Darling
Harbour Area. During the excursion, students were able to
par cipate in fieldwork ac vi es which were taught by
Observatory Hill consultants. The excursion proved a valuable learning point for students, assis ng them
with discussions in the classroom and knowledge in their research ac on plans.
ASX SHARE MARKET GAME 2017
Students in years 9 and10 Commerce are currently par cipa ng
in the ASX Share Market Game. The game started on 9 March
and finishes on 17 May.
The aim of the game is to help students to develop their
knowledge of the share market through independent research of
companies and through online trading which simulates the actual
market. Students are provided with a hypothe cal $50 000 to trade for a 10 week period. They have
already discovered the tumultuous nature of the stock market with many having expensed the highs and
lows of making and losing money.
ANZAC DAY
Our school ANZAC Day Ceremony was held on Friday, 7th April. Our
ceremony was led by our school leaders Alan Reji and Frank Starr. It
was an appropriately sombre occasion and included members of the
Australian Army marching in parade forma on. We would like to
extend a big thank you to LAC Coen
Henry, a former Vice‐captain of
Blacktown Boys High School for
delivering the Acknowledgement of Country. Thank you also to Sergeant
Hughes, our guest speaker who informed the students about his ac ve
service in the Solomon Islands and East Timor.
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From the Library
Teacher/Librarian Mr Patrick Everingham
The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge is open again for 2017. The aim of the
challenge is to encourage students to read widely for enjoyment and knowledge.
Par cipa on in the challenge will improve their reading and wri ng skills and
expose them to a wide range of ideas and situa ons which will be of posi ve
help in their developing intellectual and emo onal maturity.
All boys from BBHS from years 7, 8 and 9 are invited to enter the Premier’s
Reading Challenge for 2017, and con nue the recent history of a ainment at Blacktown Boys High in this
area. Those students who successfully undertake the challenge will read 20 books between February 1st
and September the 1st 2016. Students who achieve this will be awarded a Premier’s Reading Challenge
Cer ficate and appear on the Premier’s Reading Challenge Honour Roll 2017.
See the librarian Mr Everingham if you have any ques ons about the Premier’s Reading Challenge 2017.
ANZAC DISPLAY IN THE LIBRARY
In order to commemorate ANZAC day at the BBHS Library
Mrs Singh the Library Assistant has arranged a visual display
in the library foyer of books, poppies, an Australian flag and
some informa on sheets.
The library has many books commemora ng Australia’s
involvement in overseas conflicts some of which are on
display. Some of the newest ones we have are the books
from the publishing company DK which produce large
hardcover books with many illustra ons and photographs. This style of book with plenty of visual
informa on is always popular with students.
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BBHS CHESS IN THE LIBRARY
Chess is a popular pas me at Blacktown Boys High
Library and this year it is more popular than ever
because the library has purchased four extra
compe on sized chess sets and dedicated an area of
the library where chess boards remain set up all day.
This enables many students to immediately start
playing chess during their recess and lunch breaks.
Every day this area of the library has many students
from all age groups in the school playing chess from
beginners to very good players.
There are now six compe on style chess sets available in the library each day and these are usually in use
each and every recess and lunch break.
The library generally runs a Chess Compe on for Year 7 during 2nd term. The compe on is Round Robin
with a finals round to decide the overall winner. Cer ficates are awarded to all the students who
par cipate. No fica ons of these compe ons are usually by posters in the library and by Daily No ces in
Homeroom. So if you are interested in chess watch out for these no ces.
Term 1 has
proven to be a
busy term for
the Student
Representa ve
Council. On
Tuesday 28th
February, the
SRC were
inducted at a whole school assembly, whereby six Year 7 students were
welcomed into the leadership team.
This was followed by a leadership training day on Friday 10th March, during
which students par cipated in team building ac vi es, public speaking and
planning projects for the year ahead. The day was enjoyed by all, with
students forming groups to work on projects
throughout the year.
The SRC have been mee ng on a weekly basis,
coming up with ideas to improve the school
community. Students have also represented the
school at both school and community events, such
as the Macarthur Girls SRC cluster. The SRC look
forward to a great year ahead!
SRC Co‐ordinator Miss Jessica Shields
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From the CAPA Faculty
Head Teacher CAPA/PDHPE Mrs Kate Burne
The news from CAPA from Kate Burne HT CAPA and staff David
Conley, Melissa Hunter, Evan Shiel and Victoria Zaw
Canberra Visual Arts Camp – 2nd and 3rd March, 2017
The CAPA camp was
held in Canberra this
year with 50 students
and 3 staff a ending
and visi ng Art
galleries, Questacon,
the Ins tute for Sport
and The War
Memorial to name
just a few sites. It was a great trip because the
students were engaged, coopera ve and
respec ul. The camp helped to build a sense of
community and allowed for seniors to mentor
our junior students. The ques on of ‘Who We Are Now’ and the research we did will form the basis of our
artmaking this year. Preferences for food, environments and ac vi es were expressed and the group had
a lot of fun while away. The faculty would like to thank the
parent body for its support of such ac vi es.
Please note that we are thinking about visi ng Mudgee in
2018 and that both informa on and expression of interest
le ers will be made available as early as Term 2, 2017. We do
not like to disappoint, but these trips fill quickly, and we go on
the basis of the first back with payment and notes get the
places. The faculty u lises informa on gained on these
excursions for exhibi on work, and those who do not a end
are given image pacts and/ or alterna ve work to complete.
Alfresco
ALFRESCO is an Italian term for dining in the fresh air.
This semester, Year 8 Visual Arts have been studiously
partaking in learning experiences that emphasise the
power of food. Students have been heavily engaged in
discussions about how food can bring us together, help
us to explore new cultures and strengthen our
rela onships with our friends and family.
So far students have created food sculptures using a
variety of materials. Drashy Bhavasar and Benji
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Joseph’s work samples that received
outstanding results are shown.
On behalf of the CAPA faculty, we would
also like to thank family members of our
Year 8 students whom contributed
treasured family recipes to our Alfresco
programs. Your recipes had us saliva ng.
A special thank you to the Joseph Family
for sharing their lamb curry known as
‘Mughlai Karahi Gosht’ in Hindi.
Please note 2016 Year 12 Visual Arts students should have collected their diaries and artworks by Term 1,
2017 as storage facili es are limited.
From the TAS Faculty
Head Teacher TAS
Mr Nikolai Liu
Look, it goes without saying that Term 1 has been busy for TAS, as well as the
whole school, with bucket loads of interes ng and exci ng things going on in the
world of Technological and Applied Studies. Speaking of the ‘world of TAS’, a
significant change is on the horizon for TAS with a dra syllabus available for
comment for the new Stage 4 Technology (Mandatory) syllabus. There is no
meline as yet for the implementa on of the new syllabus but the TAS faculty at
BBHS will be having a closer look at this on the Term 2 staff development day.
And on the topic of that day I would like to men on that we have three teachers
from our faculty including myself, Mr Elsner and Mr Hartley delivering workshops
to fellow TAS teachers across the whole Nirimba Learning Community to impart
our cu ng edge skills and knowledge to other TAS teachers. Just another
example of how talented, engaged and up to date our staff are in TAS at BBHS.
And yet I digress! We are here to look back on the Term 1 2017, which, as I write
this ar cle, is midway through Week 9. It is nearly 7am and I am currently on the
train creeping down the Great Dividing Range towards Blacktown from my wonderful abode in
Katoomba. As I gaze out the window (a er a pause from typing) I am looking down on a cloud‐covered
Sydney, as the pastel hues of a new sun begin to electrify the skies and signal the beginning of a new day.
The plan today is to visit the Museum of Applied Arts and Science (former Powerhouse Museum) with my
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Year 9 IT‐Electronics class. It promises to be a terrific day out and about on the town. I did ponder the
point yesterday, with our super‐fantas c Farm Assistant, Mr O’Brien, how on earth they are going to
move the Boulton and Wa steam engine and Locomo ve No. 1 to the new site in the west of Sydney
over the coming years if that plan goes ahead. This is an interes ng engineering and logis cal challenge in
and of itself. So engineering students of BBHS, I pose the ques on: “How would you move them?”
Speaking of things farm‐related, it has been pleasing to see how well 8TM2 have taken to working on the
farm to create new garden beds, and just on Monday, plant the carrot, radish and le uce seedlings that
they have grown from seed this term. Perhaps a Year 9 Agriculture class for 2018 is growing as we speak
side‐by‐side with the vegetables!
A massive event for BBHS this term concerns the FRC Robo cs team which competed during Week 8 at
Sydney’s Olympic Park. Our team overcame many challenges to finish a gallant 27th and I would like to
congratulate the team, Mr Elsner and Mr Hartley for all of their hard work and commitment to get their
robot onto the field this year. It has been a hard year for the team and hopefully we can streamline the
processes to make our robot more compe ve next year. Mr Hartley will talk to that a bit later on.
While I am men oning students who have been doing great things, below are students who were hand‐
picked by our TAS faculty for Achievement Awards this term which included a cer ficate presented by Mr
Addy on assembly during Week 7 and an addi onal 25 Vivo points:
Mohammad Kiazolu Year 8 Agriculture
Isaac Muyambo Year 10 Food Technology
Yi Fan Shen Year 11 Engineering Studies
Cameron Heydeman Year 11 Industrial Technology – Mul media
Jarrod Grgic Year 12 Industrial Technology – Timber
Con nuing on with meritorious men ons, I would like to give a big thank you to our Food Technology
students and Ms Hussein for resurrec ng our Thursday morning Coffee Club program. This is a great
opportunity for students to refine their barista skills whilst providing one of those li le weekly things, for
want of a be er word, that make our work environment pleasant and social for the staff at our school. So
on behalf of all the caffeine‐enriched staff at BBHS, thank you! Oh, and the coffee has been excellent as
well.
And finally, I had the pleasure of being involved in selec ng and presen ng the 2016 TAS Curriculum
Award at the Presenta on Evening earlier this term. The award was given to James Kidd from last year’s
Year 12 for his outstanding Industrial Technology – Timber project which received a Band 6 for the HSC.
This was a great reward for all of the hard work James put in to this subject and a great achievement for
our TAS faculty. So well done and hopefully we can get another Band 6 in
TAS this year.
Keep working hard students of TAS and I look forward to more adventures
next term.
Mr Liu – HT TAS
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The Year 8 STEM@BBHS program is underway and Year 8
students have been busy comple ng a range of engaging STEM
ac vi es including designing and making paper planes, paper
tables, water wheels, debunking bad science, wri ng
reflec ons and crea ng prototypes. Next term the challenges
get bigger and be er with students working with Lego NXT
robots and Ardunio microprocessors and a emp ng to cook a
marshmallow using mathema cs. It is possible! In fact, I have
seen it scaled up to cook a whole sausage! It’s true! Our
progress report BBQs might be something quite different in the future. I can imagine drones picking up 3D
printed mathema cally‐cooked sausages, neatly presented on a piece of bread with some sauce and
some onions, and on a napkin, gently dropping it into our welcoming hands. But I digress.
The STEM lab has been completely refurbished and now has new furniture and computers although we
are just wai ng on a data projector to be installed as a finishing touch.
STEM teachers recently completed a PL@BBHS training session
on Project Based Learning, which will drive the philosophy
behind this course. David Grover, from the STEM Academy (of
which BBHS is a proud member), came to the session to meet
staff and was impressed with the scale of what we are
a emp ng with Year 8 this year.
All parents and guardians should have received a le er from
me via your son explaining the STEM@BBHS program and our
philosophy behind it. If by any chance you did not receive the
le er and would like a copy, please email me on
[email protected] and I will organise it for you.
Otherwise, please feel free to contact me at the school if
you have any ques ons or concerns regarding
STEM@BBHS.
Mr Liu – STEM Coordinator
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From your Year Advisors
Year 7 Mr Daniel D’Souza
What a busy term!
I would firstly like to commend all
Year 7 students for their posi ve
a tude towards high school. This has
made the ‘scary’ transi on easier.
Thank you boys! Secondly I would like
to thank all of the parents, carers and
families of our new Year 7 students for
providing posi ve support this term.
The transi on to ‘big school’ has been
much smoother due to the work of
everyone. Thank you very much!
Highlights of Term 1
The highlights of the term were definitely Year 7 Camp in
Week 8 and Year 7 Welcome BBQ in Week 10. Ms
Shields, Ms Zaw, Mr Dibbs and I had the pleasure of
taking 65 students to Outdoor Educa on Camp in
Morisset on the NSW Central Coast. The boys had an
absolute blast par cipa ng in all the ac vi es offered,
including High Ropes, Leap of Faith, Mul Climb, Super
Drop and the smash hit of the camp, Mud World. A er
dinner on the first night, the students had the mountainous task of ‘rescuing’ seven Year 7 ‘hostages’
from the ‘evil’ teachers, in an intense and suspenseful game of Bush Commando. The boys worked
together in their groups and managed to ‘save’ 5 of the 7 hostages without the teachers knowing! It is
definitely safe to say everyone was extremely red come Tuesday a ernoon, a er a jam‐packed Camp.
Year 7 Welcome BBQ was held in Week 10, with many parents and families a ending. It was a wonderful
opportunity for parents to meet teachers and also parents to meet parents. I was pleased to see so
many parents introducing themselves to other
parents and families, in true Blacktown Boys’
spirit. I had the pleasure of speaking to many
families during the a ernoon and heard all
posi ve things about the start of the year.
Coming Soon…
In Term 2, our Peer Support program, run with
Year 10 Peer Support Leaders, will be in full swing.
This will give Year 7 a chance to network and
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Year 8 Miss Pembe Hussein
connect with other boys in the school, now that they are se led into their own classes. Early in Term 2,
Year 7 will sit their NAPLAN tests. Please see below for dates. More informa on about this will be
communicated early Term 2.
I’d like to congratulate all of Year 7 again for such a posi ve start to the year. I look forward to another
exci ng and busy term. Have a safe and happy break!
Mr Daniel D’Souza
Year 7 Advisor
Welcome back Year 8!
Congratula ons on ge ng back into the swing of things so smoothly, and
working so hard already.
We started off this year with a splash! The Swimming Carnival went swimmingly,
with so many great compe tors earning points for their Spor ng Houses. There
was also racing in the Cross Country. Our Athle cs’ Carnival is yet to be held due
to the wet weather. The new date is Friday of Week 1 in Term 2 (April 28). Be
sure to wear your sports uniform on this day and par cipate in all events, as it is
a great day of fun and excitement.
Thank you to all the parents who came along to the Por olio Pickup Barbecue
and cha ed to teachers’. It was a great a ernoon, where we got to see many
familiar faces.
Thank you to Senior Constable Amanda Jones for coming in and speaking to Year 8 about their rights and
responsibili es as young adults. It was a fantas c talk, and the students were very respec ul to our guest.
Congratula ons to Robert Kowalczyk in 8D for earning Student of the Term. He has con nued to show
Safety, Respect and Learning in all subjects, and con nues to help his peers.
This year, Year 8 Homeroom is dedicated to helping students work towards the Valida on of Assessment
for Learning and Individual Development (VALID) Science assessment in Term 4. It is an 80‐minute
mandatory assessment that will be conducted on a computer at school. It will test students on the
concepts they have learnt in Science in Years 7 and 8, and it is vital that students a end roll call everyday
to prac se.
Next term Year 8 will have their assessment week in Week 5. In this week, students will sit half yearly
examina ons in selected subjects. We will talk about exam prepara on in our Year Mee ng. Please use
the term break to get a head start on your studies.
Remember to con nue to use the school website to keep updated on the latest events and news at
Blacktown Boys’ High School.
I thank you for the ongoing support; together we will achieve the best for your son.
Yours sincerely,
Miss Pembe Hussein
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Year 9 Mr Daniel Dibbs
Term 1 in 2017 has been a term of posi ve transi on for Year 9. They have
adjusted wonderfully to having a new Year Co‐Ordinator, and it has been an
honour and privilege to move with Year 9 into a posi ve beginning of 2017
focusing on our core values of Learning, Respect and Safety. Many students have
re‐evaluated their focus on these core values a er Year 8 and have shown
impressive demonstra ons both in and outside the classroom environment.
Congratula ons to our student of the term, Zebe Flomo, who has shown
impressive improvements and dedica on to his learning, respect and safety at
the beginning of Year 9.
Year 9 have had the opportunity to par cipate in the school wide Harmony Day –
a celebra on of cultural diversity within the local Blacktown community. Year 9
narrowly missed out on winning the poster compe on – an honour that went to
Year 7. Well done!
An increased par cipa on in school spor ng ac vi es such as Swimming Carnival, Zone Swimming
Carnival, and Cross Country (thanks in part to our refreshed Spor ng House point system from Miss
Lovering) has allowed Year 9 students to proclaim their school spirit in being a ‘Blacktown Boy’.
At the Stage 5 mee ng, Year 9 students were joined by our Blacktown Boys’ High School Police Liaison
Officer, Amanda Jones, to discuss the importance of online safety, as well as displaying respect for each
other outside of the school as well as within. It was fantas c to witness students engaging in conversa on
that allowed them to gain a greater understanding of Australian Law and a newfound apprecia on for our
core values in Posi ve Behaviour for Learning.
As Year 9 gets older, there is an increased focus and importance in ensuring that course requirements are
met for gaining a Record of School Achievement (RoSA) by the end of their schooling life. Year 9
Homeroom groups will soon be receiving an assessment informa on booklet which will assist them in
their second Semester and give them vital informa on to con nue their progression into Year 10 and
beyond. It is impera ve that students begin developing healthy home study rou nes to prepare them for
an increasing workload, and ensure that students keep track of assessment due dates as well as consul ng
with classroom teachers before due dates if issues arise.
Regards,
Daniel Dibbs
Year 10 Mr David Mar n
Welcome back to another year, and with 2017 comes the halfway point for Year
10 in their secondary school lives. There have been some very pleasing signs of
students demonstra ng their maturity, and most students seem mentally
prepared for the next few years. I am sure most parents and students will no ce
a shi in responsibility and demands on their me this year, as the students
begin to be treated as young men, rather than adolescents and teenagers.
A er only a single term, there have already been numerous events in which the
students have been involved. These have included the school Swimming
Carnival, Cross Country, Robo cs, and par cipa on in a range of spor ng teams,
including Volleyball, Cricket, Rugby League and Soccer. Congratula ons to those
students who were also elected as House Captains or Vice Captains, and SRC
members, and will be demonstra ng their leadership skills throughout the year. I
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10G Interview to Impress
would also like to congratulate the Peer Support Leaders who helped out with Year 7 Orienta on and
se ling into the school, as they did a fantas c job and needed very li le teacher assistance in running the
Peer Support program.
Our partnership with outside organisa ons has also con nued already this year, with 10G a ending a
single day program run through the ABCN, with a visit to Optus for mentoring with interview skills and
communica ng in a professional manner. A huge thanks to Mr Hodges for running this excursion, and
there are other plans in the works for similar programs to be held by either Optus or other ABCN
members. Several students are also involved in the Macquarie Mentoring program, which provides them
with study skills, organisa onal abili es, and helps them plan their entry into University and further
study. The LINK program with Sydney University is also being planned for the remainder of the year, and
staff from the University are already working on several ac vi es to run throughout the year.
Parents should be aware that around the middle of 2017, Year 10 will be making their subject selec ons
for Year 11 and 12. I have been talking to many of the students already about what their ini al thoughts
are, and will con nue to work with them to support them in understanding the requirements of each
subject. As I have said to other year groups in the last few years, students should pick subjects which they
are most interested in, or feel most confident in, rather than what they think will, ‘scale well,’ for an
ATAR. If students are interested and engaged in the subjects they are studying, they are more likely to
achieve high marks in those subjects, and therefore achieve a high ATAR. Choosing a subject because
they think it will give them entry into University is not always the right decision, as the student may
struggle or not apply themselves as much, and consequently their ATAR will also suffer. There will be an
informa on evening held prior to subject selec ons, with more informa on forthcoming during Term 2.
On a related note, I’d also like to encourage students to be organised in managing their workload.
Parents can support their sons by assis ng them with priori sing work, and ensuring all homework and
assessment tasks are completed before the due date. Students will always receive sufficient me to
complete assessment tasks, and leaving them un l the last minute is not an effec ve work habit.
Students should take full advantage of the me they are given, and begin working on all tasks as soon as
they receive it. This will also allow them to show dra s to their teachers, receive some feedback and
make improvements before the
final submission. Developing
effec ve strategies now will
benefit students for the years to
come. As parents, I encourage
you to discuss with your child
their current approach to
schooling, and if you have any
concerns or wish to discuss your
son’s progress, please feel free
to contact the school.
Mr D. Mar n
Year 10 Advisor
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Year 11 Mr Evan Shiel
Term 1 has been a very busy and even ul term for students in Year 11. They
have been studiously working through the Preliminary course and are quickly
approaching their Half Yearly Exams. Students have received their exam
metables in homeroom and should make use of the two weeks in the Easter
holidays to study. The exams are scheduled during Week 2 of Term 2.
In Week 9 of this term Year 11 was visited by the Blacktown Local Area
Command’s Police Youth Liaison Officer to deliver a presenta on on the very
important topic of Domes c Violence. It was a reminder for students that it is a
very real issue and has serious consequences in their community. Students of
Year 11 at Blacktown Boys’ High School are commi ed to upholding the Values
of the White Ribbon and to put an end to violence against women.
A big congratula ons to three students in Year 11 who par cipated in the Open
Boys Basketball Team, Jaimejose Paje, Utkarsh
Sharma and Yuvanraj Mahendran. The team was narrowly defeated by
Penrith High School in the third round of the tournament. The students
displayed outstanding
sportsmanship even in the face of
defeat.
For his fantas c service to the school
community, the recipient of Student
of the Term for Term 1 2017 is Faiaz
Ali Shafar.
Next term all of Year 11 will be
offered the Meningococcal Vaccine
through NSW Health. Students will
be bringing home an informa on kit
with them at the end of Term 1. This
kit contains informa on about the
program and consent forms to take
part.
Evan Shiel
Year 12 Mr Andy Franjic
It has been a very busy term for our Year 12 students with a major focus being
on making sure that they are doing everything possible to achieve their personal
best in each subject. I’m sure the boys are star ng to appreciate the significance
of me and how quickly it passes. Mr Conley has had some lengthy discussions
with the students during Homeroom about the importance of finding the most
suitable me and place to study.
A endance & Punctuality
At this stage of their schooling it is impera ve that our students are a ending
school every day and ge ng to school on me to make the most of their
learning opportuni es. It is not acceptable for students to be absent without a
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genuine reason or delaying their arrival to school for whatever reason they see as relevant.
Study Periods
Addi onally, students need to be using any study periods they may have in a produc ve manner. This
means doing meaningful work in the library or the designated senior area adjacent to the tennis courts.
Playing basketball, table tennis or otherwise does not cons tute meaningful work. As seniors, I would like
to see our students se ng the example for those in the years below them.
Secondary Schools Student Leadership Program
Our School leaders, Alan Reji and Frank Starr will be a ending this program on Thursday, 6th April at NSW
Parliament House. It is a chance for students to develop their knowledge of our system of government,
parliamentary proceedings and the role of the Governor. I am sure both students will make the most of
this opportunity and look forward to hearing about their experiences on the day.
N‐Award Warnings
N‐Award Warnings are issued when a student is not mee ng, or is at risk of not mee ng the
requirements of a HSC Course. It is disappoin ng that a number of students have been issued warnings
for not comple ng set tasks, or in some cases, not having commenced a task that requires a significant
investment of me to complete. With li le over two terms of their school lives remaining it is crucial that
students are using their available me wisely both at home and at school. If students are having difficulty
with an assessment task or otherwise, they need to be proac ve and seek help well before the due date
of tasks. The Head Teacher, Classroom Teacher & Year Adviser are all willing to provide advice and
assistance if a student is experiencing difficulty.
Stage Mee ng
At the Term 1 Stage Mee ng our Police School Liaison Officer – Senior Constable Amanda Jones delivered
an informa ve presenta on on domes c violence and the different forms of violence that can occur in a
rela onship. While this is not a topic that is enjoyable to discuss it is important for our young men to be
aware of their rights and responsibili es in rela onships including the ac ons and behaviours that
cons tute domes c violence. Our students asked numerous ques ons throughout the presenta on and
certainly appreciated a greater awareness of this significant issue in our community.
Year 12 Jackets
A number of our students are now proudly wearing their jackets and they
do appear very happy with the final product. A reminder for those students
who have not collected their jackets, that any outstanding school fees need
to be paid, including any balance owing for the jacket, before it can be
collected.
Year 12 Formal & Fundraising
I would like to thank Kevin Kyaw, Zahid Rashid Khan, Abdul Nasiry & Omer
Abdelaziz who arranged an appointment in their own me with a formal
venue. We hope to have a booking for our formal secured shortly. I would
also like to thank Ezekiel Adomako who has been doing a collec on in
Homeroom each week to raise addi onal funds.
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Extra Curricula Activities Football Feature
This term has been uninspiring for football at BBHS. Our first round match against Parrama a High School
was con nually postponed due to the dismal weather. Due to the postponement, Blacktown Boys’
advanced to Round 2 on a forfeit win. Our Round 2 match will be against Muirfield High School in Week 1,
Term 2.
Also next term, we have our Bill Turner under 15’s squad playing against Mitchell High School. More
informa on to follow soon. Lastly, trials for the Year 7 and 8 Western Sydney Wanderers Schools Cup will
commence mid Term 2. Typically we only enter 1 team into the compe on, however this may change this
year as there has been a larger interest in both year groups. Keep listening out for those announcements.
If there are any ques ons about our different football teams at BBHS, please contact Mr Daniel D’Souza,
via phone or email at [email protected].
Keep on kickin’
Mr D’Souza
Opens Knockout Volleyball
The BBHS Opens Knockout Volleyball team played Greystanes High School in Week 10 of Term 1. In a very
evenly contested match, we were just edged out in each set. It was definitely a case of the score not
represen ng the match itself, as we lost the match 3 sets to 0, but there were only 10 points between the
two teams across the three sets. A few costly errors in our serving and return game gave Greystanes the
opportuni es they needed, and they capitalised on them. Although we were the be er team within the
rallies and scored more points in open play, we were our own worst enemy, turning the ball over several
mes through unforced errors. I was proud of the team’s efforts, and felt we were very close to ge ng
the desired result. A huge congratula ons to the team that consisted of Junior (Captain), Zephaniah,
Chris an, Nelson, Tavake, Able and Nithu.
Blacktown Boys’ High School is
proud to deliver the Duke of
Edinburgh’s Interna onal
Award in 2017! Mr D’Souza the
Award Leader at BBHS and Mrs Denning will be guiding the Award Par cipants through their commitment
to the Award.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award is an interna onally recognised award that unlocks young people’s
leadership skills and independence. The Award is a long term commitment to a be er person, and
involves 4 components: Physical Recrea on; Skill; Service; Adventurous Journey.
Par cipants must complete a set number of hours for each of the above, at a level which best suits them;
Gold, Silver or Bronze.
In 2017, BBHS has a small group of Year 10 boys who are keenly intent to undertake the Award. I look
forward to working with these young men in a aining their Duke of Edinburgh Award.
If you have any queries about the Award, please do not hesitate to contact me via phone or email at
Mr Daniel D’Souza
Award Leader, Blacktown Boys’ High School
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Community Notices NOTICE FROM NSW TRANSPORT regarding OPAL CARDS School holidays A reminder for students: The School Student Transport Scheme doesn’t cover travel during school holi‐days or on weekends. In Opal areas, students may see “reason codes” on Opal card readers if they use their School Opal card during these mes. Please see the table below for reason code explana ons. School Opal cards will be reac vated at the start of Term 2.
School Term Bus Pass Opal areas – Students who have purchased a School Term Bus Pass that is due to expire at the end of the term will receive an email from Transport for NSW reminding them to renew their pass. Parents, guardi‐ans or students should go to transportnsw.info/school‐students for more informa on.
Students changing school If a student is changing or leaving school; parents, guardians or students can go online at transportnsw.info/school‐students and update their details.
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SCHOOL UNIFORMS ONLINE
I am pleased to let you know that the school uniforms can now be ordered online at Lowes. This is an exci ng addi on to the service that Lowes currently provides to Blacktown Boys High School.
h p://www.lowes.com.au/CampusCategories.aspx?depid=354
Lowes offers free delivery for orders over $100. There is a $10 delivery fee for orders less than $100 or they can be picked up from the store at no extra cost. See the adver sement in this newsle er for further details.
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