NEWSLETTER Term 2 Issue 2 2018 Wingham High School€¦ · A session on note taking skills was presented, ... Ways to revise work for Visual, Auditory, Kinaesthetic and Reader/Writer

1

NEWSLETTER Term 2 | Issue 2 | 2018

Learn ing in an envi ronment o f Respect , T rus t , Fa i rness & Pos i t iv i ty

Wingham High School

Dates to

Remember

June 14

HSC Study Day

Art Express Excursion

June 19

Careers CSU Excursion

June 20

Bangarra Excursion

Primavera Exhibition Excursion

July 2

Macquarie University Excursion

July 4

Excellence Assembly

July 5

Newcastle University Excursion

RESPECT | TRUST | FAIRNESS | POSITIVITY 9 Rowley Street Wingham NSW 2429 | 02 6553 5488 | www.wingham-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

Newsletters are published in Weeks 3,

6 and 9 each term, online at

www.winghamh.schools.nsw.edu.au or

Hard copies are available at the Front

Office and the Library.

From the Principal’s Desk

Payments for excursions etc,

can be made online at

www.winghamh.schools.nsw.edu.au

Welcome to another newsletter edition for Term 2. I am hoping that all

parents and carers have received their child’s Endeavour Progress Snapshot.

This initiative is still in its infancy and we are most interested in any feedback

that you may have.

Every student has the capacity to achieve and we have tried to capture some

of the characteristics that go a long way in paving the way to success. It

hopefully provides opportunity for discussion between teachers, students,

parents and carers as to how these characteristics might be further developed.

The snapshot is designed to be separated from academic results and focus

more on personal attributes.

As the title suggests, it is a snapshot in time and we expect it to be dynamic

and possibly observed differently across subjects. I hope the information is

useful and provides an opportunity to praise students for their quality efforts.

Again any feedback is genuinely appreciated. Enjoy the read.

Taree and District Eisteddfod Winners - more on page 2

Social Fun - more on page 5

Reminder

Now that the colder weather is here,

remember to put students names on

jumpers and coats, so they can be

returned if lost.

2


Wingham High School competed in the 2018 Taree and

District Eisteddfod over the past week and was attended by

students from schools around the district. This was the first

time Year 7 and 8 have competed in the Speech and Drama

section of the eisteddfod, and was also the first time Year 9

Drama and Year 10 Drama have competed in their respective

sections.

On Monday, the debaters from Wingham High competed in the Intermediate Debating section. They were the negative

for “People In Glass Houses Shouldn’t Throw Stones”. They argued commendably and walked away with a 3rd place for

Wingham High School, starting off our successful journey.

Tuesday saw the start of the Drama competition. In a largely competitive section titled Intermediate Scripted Drama,

Year 10 took out 1st place with an impressive score of 80/100; Year 9 taking out 2nd place with a 79. This was in a section

of eleven competitors and had groups from many schools across the district. Year 9 and 10 can be extremely proud of

their efforts – the whole audience was in stitches!

The next day saw Wingham High’s youngest years compete in the Junior Scripted Drama section. Despite having no

drama experience, Year 7 and Year 8 managed to place 1st and 2nd in this section, respectively. No experience = no

worries! These students performed to a professional standard and can be extremely proud of themselves.

What a week! Wingham High displayed talent, enthusiasm and impeccable behaviour at the 2018 Taree and District

Eisteddfod – a representation of our core values in every way. A big thanks to Mr Gary Dunbier, Mr Darko Jovanovic and

Mrs Dheera Smith for helping organise this event and supporting the students with rehearsals.

Miss Ashley Thomas.

Wingham High School News let ter

This term Wingham High School are sending home the first of the new Endeavour Progress

Snapshots. Students will be evaluated twice per term and will acknowledge, reward and

encourage positive behaviours and citizenship of our students as measured against our core

values. Snapshots will be issued to students in weeks six and one.

These Endeavour Progress Snapshots will assist students to discuss and improve their

application in the classroom. The reports are also be formatted in a way that will be an

excellent addition to any resume when students begin searching for employment and further

studies.

Endeavour Progress Snapshot

Outstanding Achievement Workshop for Year 8

Successful Learners Workshop for Year 8 Students who achieved over 80 'Usually' on their last report were rewarded and recognised for their achievement.

Students who participated in the workshop were: Mikaela Core, Mykella Wynter, Amber Moore, Dylan O'Hara, Marissa

Clark, Caitlyn Clark, Ashlee Vickers, Stella Hey, Tara Lawton, Joel Eggins, Jorja Mulligan, Jim Turner, Glenn Allard, Miranda

Frendin.

Taree and District Eisteddfod

Students who earned a place in the Outstanding Achievement Workshop for

Year 8 were challenged to collaborate in team building exercises involving

problem solving, creativity and writing skills. They also learnt how to build

resilience and self-efficacy through their actions and participated in a self-

esteem building activity.

It was a pleasure to facilitate a workshop for such motivated and inspiring

students. Students who participated in the workshop were:

Isobel Butler-Kwa, Lea Urquhart, Shari Urquhart, Anh Maggs, Mia Polley,

Stephanie Davis-Stone, Amber Loretan, Emily Turner, Josiane DeSouza

Rodrigues, Amelia Hansen, Kali Wells.

3

On Wednesday 16th May Year 10 students eagerly participated in a Study

Skills day conducted at Wingham Services Club.

The students were escorted to the club in beautiful sunshine by Mr Austin

and Mrs Austin and got to work learning about the time management

matrix presented in the work of Stephen Covey. Discussions focused on

encouraging students to spend time working on tasks that are important

but not urgent, to ensure they can reduce the time needed working in a

stressed state created by leaving things to the last minute! After this

students were given the opportunity to set out a weekly planner for the

term that is structured in a way to ensure they can achieve a balance

between school, family, friends, work, looking after themselves, sport and

other commitments.

A session on note taking skills was presented, providing students the chance to practice a systematic method of reading

and taking notes from complex texts, allowing them to summarise and put things in their own words – a skill needed for

the next few years at school! This note taking method is derived from a DET approved Literacy pedagogy called Reading

to Learn, developed from the work of Dr David Rose and is utilised by a number of staff across the school.

After a recess break in the Central Park sunshine that saw many students ably impersonating sea gulls at the beach, the

students returned to work learning about a whole range of study methods. Ways to revise work for Visual, Auditory,

Kinaesthetic and Reader/Writer learners were presented through students developing their own Sketchnotes – a visual

representation of ideas and content.

Finally students were introduced to the work of Stephen and Sean Covey and the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers.

The 7 Habits cover behaviours from being proactive and showing self-control, goal setting, time management, listening

to, learning from and working with others to achieve goals and finding balance between work rest and play.

Feedback from the students was overwhelmingly positive and future days are being planned based on their feedback.

Year 10, thank you for your excellent behaviour, positive approach and fantastic work ethic shown on the day – be sure to

join the Google Classroom to access further resources particularly focused on the 7 Habits that will assist us all in

achieving what we want over the next few years.

Thanks must go to Mrs Austin for developing so much of the workshop material, Mr Keen for the hot chips at recess and

of course Wingham Services club for allowing us access to the club auditorium which proved the perfect quiet space for

us all to work so well together.

Please do not miss the Year 10 into 11 Subject Selection night coming up on Tuesday June 12th it is an important

proactive step we can all take to help achieve our goals for the last few years at school.



Sharing Culture Wingham High students were given the opportunity to witness and participate in an

incredible performance by Gwenda Stanley.

The students who brought their notes and money in learnt about her culture and even

some new words. Gwenda performed the dance of the emu, kangaroo and more. It

was a fantastic and informative experience and was plain to see how Gwenda has a

passion for her culture and genuinely loves teaching people about it.

The students were taught about different types of boomerangs and their uses and

what the words from her culture mean. Gwenda invited the students and teachers up

for a dance and didn’t take no for an answer, she brought obvious smiles to faces and a great vibe.

Students who attended the performance walked out knowing more about her and the culture that many people

around us are a part of. The experience was one not to be forgotten and would be enjoyable for all ages.

Amber Moore & Shari Urquhart

Year 10 Study Day

4

The Wingham High School Ag farm had a pop-up farm shop on Friday 1st June at 1pm to sell some of the

amazing fresh produce lovingly grown by the students themselves. The students also ran the shop which they

really enjoyed and gained valuable customer service and cash handling skills.

This was a test run to see if the shop would be viable and if

we would be able to keep up with the demand every week.

The students made $35 at our first farm shop and the money

goes into a fund to purchase more seedlings that the

students will grow. So, it was decided that since it went so

well they would open again last Friday and this time sold $70

worth of produce!

As the citrus season kicks in there will be a lot more beautiful,

fresh fruit and vegies to be purchased. Check out our

Facebook page for updates.


Circartus


Circartus, a sport that requires balance,

concentration and tolerance and fun. Year 7 to 10

students walked down to Wingham’s very own

Circartus. After they removed their shoes and bags,

they began the warm-up. When they were all hyped

up (most of them already exhausted), the students

then begin practicing a series of acrobatics and

circus skills. Some of these include diabolo, stilts and

devil’s sticks.

All the students and staff had loads of fun.

Farm Gate Sale

After a very successful 2017 Astronomy Evening the WHS Science Facility would like you to reserve the evening of

Wednesday August 15th for another Community Astronomy Evening. Charles Sturt University Port Macquarie donated a

telescope in 2017 for use by our students.

We need any budding astronomers to dust off their equipment and bring it

along on the evening. Any community members who are willing to come

along and share their skills/knowledge will be most welcome.

Contact Mr John Hawkins in the Science faculty if you would like to be a

presenter on the evening and share the knowledge of southern night skies.

Community Astronomy Evening - Wednesday August 15th

Canteen Roster Phone Judy on 6553 5488 if you would like to volunteer.

5



6



Title Blurb

Documents

NEWSLETTER Term 2 Issue 2 2018 Wingham High School€¦ · A session on note taking skills was presented, ... Ways to revise work for Visual, Auditory, Kinaesthetic and Reader/Writer