November 2012 - Edition No 7 - Scappoose High …...November 2012 - Edition No 7 Successful Learning - Responsible Living page 2 PRINCIPAL’S REPORT Hello everyone and welcome to

November 2012 - Edition No 7

Successful Learning - Responsible Living page 1

IMPORTANT DATES: Year Assemblies - Friday 9th November 2012 - School Hall

Year 12 Sign Out - Monday 12th November 2012

ESSA - Tuesday 13th November - Computer rooms

Next P&C Meeting - Tuesday 13th November 2012 - 7pm Admin Office.

Year 12 Formal - Wednesday 14th November 2012

GATS Challenge - Wednesday 21st November 2012

Showcase Night - Thursday 29th November 2012 - School Hall

Orientation Day - Wednesday 5th December 2012



PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Hello everyone and welcome to the first Morissetian for Term 4 2012. Term 4 is always a busy term, and as a

result, a term that also move very quickly. We have the culmination of the academic school year, semester two

reporting, year 12 Higher School Certificate Examinations and a number of cultural and presentation events.

However, I guess the plus of this particular busy term, is the fact that it means we get to recuperate over a

lengthy summer vacation and Christmas.

Moving into week 5 of term four we are now well underway with our year 6 to 7 Transition Program. Year six

students have been at our school for our RAP day, where year nine peer support leaders led workshops with stu-

dents from all of our different partner primary schools working together. Our Enrichment Class offers have been

mailed out to parents. Our Middle School initiative has begun on line within each of the schools connected

classrooms. This initiative is something extremely unique within our region and it is has been a fantastic process

to have our high school teachers working so closely with the primary school teaching staff. I am now looking

forward to our main transition day in early December.

A number of new initiatives are being developed this term in Aboriginal Education. The collaboration of Selina

Archibald our AEO, Shannon Archibald an SLSO and Norta Norta Tutor and an outside educator have put

together a Didgeridoo Program. This program begins in week 5 and will include not only teaching a group of

Aboriginal students how to play the Didgeridoo but about its origins, it’s manufacture and cultural significance.

In line with this two staff members – Mr Mitchell and Mr Kendall – along with myself will also be learning

about the instrument with the students. Serious planning has also been put in place for the Staff Development

Days at the end of the term where we are hoping to take all of our teaching and classroom staff on a cultural

learning day to significant Aboriginal sites in our area. Local Aboriginal people will elaborate and educate our

staff. I am looking forward to this experience at the end of the term.

Earlier this term I organised a meeting involving all of the P&C Committees from each of our partner primary

schools and the high school. We all met at the high school one Tuesday afternoon and we discussed the notion

of a P&C that stretched across all of our schools and did a “get to know you” activity. After this we sat down to

a light meal prepared by our Hospitality students with Mrs Kerr and Mrs Dekker. This was a very successful

evening and one that I hope is the beginning of an important and binding relationship. I look forward to meeting

with them again in 2013.

During week four our Executive had a planning day at Eraring Power Station. The power station gave us free

access to their facilities for the day and we were able to get through some serious evaluations of 2012 as well as

start in-depth planning for 2013. I was very fortunate on the day to have the support of Mr Mark McConville

from Toronto High School, who sat in the principal’s chair for the day and Mrs Edwards and Mr Bettison who

acted as deputies on the day.

Finally, I would like to invite you all to put in your diary Thursday the 29th of November. This is the date of our

Showcase Evening and the GATS Committee have been very busy coordinating this event. I know last year the

event was very successful and well attended by our community and I look forward to taking part in the event

and seeing you all this year.

Please have a great term and look out for specific events at Morisset High School that are coming up from now

until the end of the year on our calendar.

Yours Sincerely,

Mark Snedden



DRIVING SCHOOL

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[email protected]

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

As I write, Year 12 are currently completing their HSC exams. Again, many thanks to Reverend Pope for

allowing the students to sit the majority of their exams in the church hall. This is a very quiet facility so the

students are able to complete their exams with no interruptions.

Year 11 have now started the HSC component of their studies. They have received an assessment booklet

which outlines when their various assessments will take place during the next 4 terms. It is vital that students

do not miss any tasks. To that end, it is important that when students organise time off school for holidays,

work placement, etc. so that it does not conflict with assessment dates.

Some Year 11 students will drop one of their subjects now that they have started the HSC. This can only be

done when all of the paperwork has been completed. If parents have any concerns about the implications of

dropping a subject they should contact the school and ask to speak to either Mrs Burton or Mr Pierpoint.

A small number of Year 10 students are at risk of not receiving their record of School Achievement (RoSA).

This is because they have outstanding work. The parents of these students would have received letters

indicating ‘N’ warning. Please ensure your child completes all outstanding work. Students who don’t qualify

for the RoSA will be required to repeat Year 10.

Due to the fact there is no external, state wide test for Year 10, the results recorded on the RoSA are based on

school assessment. As a consequence, not only do students need to complete all tasks but they need to do so at

their personal best level. As always, if you have any concerns or suggestions please contact the school to arrange an interview time.

Colin Pierpoint

Deputy Principal

Years 9, 10 & 11

mailto:[email protected]



Morisset Students Shine in ICAS Competitions.

Morisset High School students have achieved excellent results in the external ICAS competitions. 51 students

from years 7 – 11 competed in competitions in Computing skills, Science, Spelling, Writing, English and

Maths.

Our students received 38 Credit certificates and 10 Distinction certificates across these competitions. This is an

outstanding result from our students who demonstrated considerable commitment and enthusiasm towards these

competitions.

Special mention must be made of the following students who achieved excellent results:

Lachlan Frazer ( Year 7 ) who achieved 2 credits and 2 distinctions

Shelley Curwen ( Year 7 ) who achieved 4 credits

Laura Imoson ( Year 7 ) who achieved 4 credits

Louis Jarasius ( Year 7 ) who achieved 2 credits and 1 distinction

Jessica Southwood ( Year 7 ) who achieved 2 credits and 1 distinction

Ben Jacobson ( Year 8 ) who achieved 2 credits and 2 distinctions

Katia Turner ( Year 8 ) who achieved 4 credits

Breanna Farrell ( Year 10 ) who achieved 2 credits and 2 distinctions

All students who received a Credit or a Distinction certificate will be recognised at our merit assembly in Week

five.

Darren Mitten

What to expect in High School

The transition from primary

to high school often creates

in kids a mix of anxiety and

excitement. Two videos fea-

ture Year 7 students giving

great tips about life in high

school—making friends,

trying out new things, and

organised and planning as-

signments and study. In-

formative and fun

http://

www.schools.nsw.edu.au/

gotoschool/highschool/

index.php

HOMEWORK HELP NEWSLETTER

You can now easily subscribe to updates from the award-winning website for parents. School A

to Z. each term you’ll receive newsletters with the latest information to help you manage your

child’s homework and study, health development and technology use.

Go to: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/about/subscribe



Middle Schooling Initiative- Morisset High and Our Partner Primary Schools

( see front page photos)

Organised through Term 2 and 3, and now being operated each fortnight through Term 4, is our Middle Schooling

Initiative with Morisset High and our seven partner Primary Schools.

It involves English teachers Ms Starkey and Ms Bland having designed an English novel unit, which, through

video conferencing, is being shared and taught with the primary Year 6 teachers and their classes. The novel is

Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nimh.

Through the use of this technology, it was great to see the excitement generated by the primary students all

participating at each of their schools and being able to see and hear the other students’ responses too. It also

assists the transition to high school, where the Year 6 students are part of the same “digital” class with students

they will meet in Year 7.

Well done to Ms Starkey and Ms Bland, and all the Year 6 teachers as well as the particular assistance of the

Deputy Principal at Morisset Primary School, Mark Kyrwood .

Literacy/Numeracy and Aboriginal Education Committees

This is a short excerpt from the Thankyou note from the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Thanks to all and especially Katie Bland for her organisation and the team work of the Literacy/Numeracy and Aboriginal Education Committees. We raised $150 and sent many books. Thank you to all our wonderful generous supporters, big and small, from corporations to individuals, from our loyal volunteers to our hardworking Emily. You will be delighted to know that because of your efforts, our fundraising is currently at $515,000. Help spread the word about a Sydney based Trivia night and our Xmas Fundraising Appeal (outlined in this newsletter) and encourage your friends to like us on Facebook & follow us on Twitter to help us achieve our final $85,000In over 50 remote communities, thousands of books were delivered as far afield as Mimili and Roxy Downs in SA to Alice Springs and the surrounding areas in the territory and everywhere from Cunnamalla in QLD to Meekatharra WA. In cities, regional centres and some remote schools, there was a groundswell of support and spirit of reconciliation on national Indigenous Literacy Day. At Sydney Opera House our Foundation's Chair Juliet Rogers spoke to the heart of why national Indigenous Day exists. She said: "The Foundation's core objective is to make a positive difference in the lives of Australian Indigenous children that will go on to enhance their educational opportunities in school. Our concern", she said, "is literacy, not just reading, by which we mean the love of storytelling, the joy of books, the power of stories". The Literacy/Numeracy Committee is at present gathering data through a survey of students, teachers and parents about the effectiveness of the “Let’s Write” program, initiated this year. Parents! Please keep an eye out for a short digital survey sent from the “survey monkey” digital site to your home email entitled “Let’s Write”, and complete as soon as possible.

Mrs Peita Berzins (Literacy Coordinator) Mrs Sue McDonald (Aboriginal Education Coordinator

https://staffowa.det.nsw.edu.au/owa/redir.aspx?C=d16ce87182184be2a334017eab544c22&URL=http%3a%2f%2fcts.vresp.com%2fc%2f%3fILF%2f95e6e05ff2%2f96bb2ffc65%2f743c5e8801

https://staffowa.det.nsw.edu.au/owa/redir.aspx?C=d16ce87182184be2a334017eab544c22&URL=http%3a%2f%2fcts.vresp.com%2fc%2f%3fILF%2f95e6e05ff2%2f96bb2ffc65%2f3d5312e03f



Morisset High School Showcase Night 2012.

Morisset High School will hold its annual SHOWCASE night on Thursday the 29th of November 2012 in the

school hall. A range of performances are planned such as the Island Dance Group, Rock Eisteddfod team,

public speaking, singing, drama, Italian skits, dancing and cheerleading.

All interested persons are invited to attend. The night starts at 6.30pm and concludes at 8.30pm. There will be

an interval of 15 minutes where finger food and tea/coffee will be served. Entry is free however a donation box

will be available for those interested in making a contribution. Any money raised will be used to purchase new

props for our Rock Eisteddfod team for 2013.

Come along and support your local high school students and celebrate the diverse range of talents on show.

Darren Mitten

( GATS coordinator )

Senior Leadership Team

I am pleased to announce the senior student leadership body for 2013. Congratulations to our 2013 captains

Ben Phillips and Kaitlin Vandermeer, our vice captains, Rachel Eastcott and Tyson Willoughby and our

prefects, Jasmin Bell, Louise Dash, Aimee Hobson, Caitlin Griffiths, Emily Jeffries, Emily Carr, Jessica

Sylvester, Rebecca Gattera, Yvonne Teulilo, Erin Kelly, Jade Jones-Antcliffe and Liam Yokoyama.

I look forward to working with this group of young people on projects to improve school life for students at

Morisset High School.

Ms Veitch

The Family and Technology

Our kids spend more time with media than in any other

activity besides sleeping. So how do we as parents

negotiate this minefield and help our children grow up in

an emotionally and spiritually healthy environment?

Daron Pratt Will give a free lecture on this subject

(includes question time)

When

2:30pm, Saturday 17 November

Where

Hillview Adventist Church Hall

Gimberts Road, Morisset

Enquiries: Phone 4977 2488

UNIFORM SHOP NEWS As mentioned in the previous newsletter

there has been a price rise that took effect

on October 1st.

All polo shirts : $ 29.50

Sport shirts : $34.50

Sport shorts :$26.00

Hooded Jumpers : $37.00

Thanks Roz.

I have already had a few enquiries as to

my opening time in January, these will be

on the school website in a few weeks

when all details are finalised. They will

also be in the next newsletter.



SCIENCE REPORTSCIENCE REPORTSCIENCE REPORT

Twenty Eight students travelled by train to Newcastle University , with Mrs McDonald, to take part in the

Inaugural Year 8 Science and Engineering Challenge. It was a terrific, fun filled exasperating and exhilarating

day where we entered two teams into a competition of challenges. These were supplying electricity to a city

region, designing and constructing the following devices: a catapult, an earthquake proof tower, an aeroplane

and a formula one wooden car. All students involved had a great day and met a lot of students from the other 4

schools we competed against. Of the six teams on the day we came in Third and Sixth place overall. In the

individual competitions, we made the record in the range of the catapult for not only the day, but the week with a

mighty 28m throw of the hacky-sac! We came first tin the Earthquake tower and the formula one cars and

second in the Aeroplane design and accuracy, with third in the Electricity grid supply. A truly fantastic effort

from Team Morisset. All students were then treated to a science show with explosions and liquid nitrogen, then

information about the 2013 Electric vehicle competition – so for any enthusiastic Parents/Carers out there you

are invited to join us next year as we venture into the Electric Vehicle competition, please let us know if you are

interested.



STUDENT WELFARE WORKERSTUDENT WELFARE WORKER

Hi Everybody,

I would like to introduce myself to all Students, Parents, Teachers and Staff. My name is Tina and I am

joining the Morisset School Community as a Student Welfare Worker. My position is funded through the

School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Worker Program and is available until December 2014 and hopefully

beyond this.

My previous working history is in Youth Mental Health, Youth Outreach Work, Case Management,

Working in a Youth Drop in Centre and starting up the Street Smart Program in Fremantle, Western

Australia.

My role at Morisset High is to first and foremost get to know students (so please stop and say "hi" if you see

me wandering around looking lost), helping students by referring them to any outside services they may need

in the community, organising workshops and information sessions on issues that may be present at the school

or may be affecting you or others (if you have any ideas, please let me know by coming for a chat,) as well as

supporting the great staff already at the school.

I am a very approachable person, so students and parents please feel free to come see me with any concerns

you may have or just for a chat to get know me. I will be located in Q Block near Mr Leyshon's office but to

the left or you can contact me through the school's main switchboard. I will be at the school for 1.5 days a

week Thursday afternoons and all day on Fridays.

Thanks and talk to you soon.

Tina Anderson



P & C REPORT

As my term as P&C President draws to a close and my time at Morisset High ends, I would like to take this

opportunity to thank all the staff and students here at Morisset High. It has been my pleasure to work with three

very different Principals over the last ten years and numerous teachers. In this time I have seen a number of

changes within our school and I have met so many fantastic students. I have been invited to a variety of school

functions including Formal Assemblies where I have presented awards to many of our talented students for their

achievements and have sat on numerous Merit Selection Panels for new teaching staff.

The P&C Committee is made up from a group of committed parents and community members. Parents are able

to voice their concerns or raise suggestions on how improvements could be made and this provides a vital link

between a student’s school and home life. Through profits from our canteen we are able to provide additional

funding to our school for resources that could not be purchased otherwise. During my time here we have donat-

ed money to our school for a variety of valuable projects including Rock Eisteddfod, refurbishment of the Con-

nected Classroom, GATS programs, Year 6 Scholarships for a student from each of our Partnered Primary

Schools and resources for many faculties desperately needing additional funding. We have also sponsored many

of our high achieving sports and performing stars who represent our school at a State and/or National level.

Each year we cater for a morning tea for our graduating Year 12, their families, friends and teachers.

On Wednesday 17 October 2012 a positive step was made to bridge the gap between P&C Committee and the

P&C Committees from our Partner Primary Schools. Mr Snedden hosted a supper for representatives from each

P&C Committee. We spent time getting to know each other and enjoyed a dinner in our café prepared by our

Hospitality students. It was a successful evening and hopefully the start of a long term relationship between our

collective groups of P&C Associations.

Without the fantastic volunteers in the Canteen and on the P&C Committee, we would not be able to make so

many valuable contributions to our school. If you have some spare time during the school day and are able to

help in the Canteen, please call Maree on 4973 3125.

The P&C meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month in the Administration Block at 7:00 pm. Our

P&C Association makes a valuable contribution to our school environment and we welcome all parents and

community members to attend our meetings.

Thanks to Mr Snedden and the Executive Committee for working with the P&C Committee to make our school

a safe and positive learning environment. We have shared a very successful relationship and I look forward to

watching our school continue to prosper in the future.

I have enjoyed working with each and every parent and community member whilst a member of Morisset High

School P&C Association. Thank you to the outgoing committee, Joanne Molloy, Anna Dussin, Peter Hobson

and especially to Sue Lane who is also leaving our school this year. It has been a pleasure working with you all.

I wish the incoming 2013 committee all the best for the future.

Jayne Moore

P&C President



Agriculture News: Year 12 VET Primary Industry students participated in World’s Poultry Science Association Education annual

competition open to all primary and secondary students in Australia and took out first Prize!! Well Done to

Melissa Byrnes, Matthew Shinagl, Joshua Foreman, Benjamin Schenk Nathan Field, Luke Cormick and Mr

Victor.

The students undertake research into poultry, enabling students to learn more about science and agriculture as

well as the poultry industry.

This research can be with live birds (meat or layers), poultry (e.g. eggs, meat) or could be related to other

poultry production areas e.g. designing electronic equipment or business management of the school’s flock.

The competition involved planning, literature review, doing the research, analysing the results and reporting.

There were three category groupings – Primary, Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary. The assessment of

each competition entry (reports and posters) was conducted by an independent group of WPSA committee

members and industry representatives.

The eight week experimental trial that we carried out was a little different in

that from a minimal information base we decide to test whether the colour of

the laying box could have an impact on where our supplied point of lay

pullets would decide to lay. The more we researched the Internet the more it

appeared that a general consensus was that the laying boxes should be dark

and it didn’t matter what they we made of or how they appeared. Our team

decided that we would paint a laying box a dark colour, a bright colour and a

light colour as these were the types of paint colours we had access to

through the generosity of our school’s General Assistant (Mr Nick Steel).

The experiment started slowly, because our point of lay pullets which were

supplied early in Term 2 didn’t decide to start and lay until the first week in

July.

Melissa Byrnes, Matthew Shinagl, Joshua Foreman, Benjamin Schenk (Front Row)

Nathan Field, Luke Cormick and Mr Ron Victor (Back Row)

Our Team



From our internet research we found that laying boxes are described as only requiring to being as dark as possi-

ble, with no reference to colour and that they should contain clean straw, wood shavings, shredded paper, rice

hulls or some kind of clean bedding.

If the laying boxes are changed in colour, then logically, the darkest colour will be selected by the hens to lay

their eggs.

This raised the question: “Do layer hens really prefer dark coloured laying boxes or is it a bit of a myth?” Our

research provided evidence that hens actually prefer to lay in lighter coloured boxes. Our hens chose to lay

more often in the bright yellow boxes and for this wonderfully researched information our VET students were

awarded 1st prize in the World’s Poultry Science Association Education annual competition.

16 point of lay pullets (Isa Browns) Three different coloured laying boxes

Our calves are steadily growing and enhancing our grounds with extra fertiliser at times. The students are

responding well to the care and attention needed for living things to grow and developed and their sense of

responsibility is growing daily as they tend to the animals. We are aim to show cattle at Morisset, Tocal,

Central Coast Agriculture Teachers and Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza Shows again. We are always looking for

sponsors to help meet some of the costs or equipment needs for providing our Agricultural and Primary

Industries students with these diverse educational opportunities. Again our thanks go to Mr Victor and Mr

Cartwright who take the responsibility to organise the competitions and transport as well as look after the farm

during weekends and holiday periods. Their work is very much appreciated.



Our Piglets are thriving and increasing their mass greatly since being born over the last holidays.



Documents

November 2012 - Edition No 7 - Scappoose High …...November 2012 - Edition No 7 Successful Learning - Responsible Living page 2 PRINCIPAL’S REPORT Hello everyone and welcome to