PRINCIPAL’S REPORT 2ND DECEMBER 2011 ISSUE 13 Dear Parents and Community, Who can reconcile that we only have 2 weeks of the school year left? It has been a frantic year which has passed in a ‘nano’ second. In 2 weeks you will have your children for 6 weeks to do all the chores around the house, to have dinner waiting when you come home from work and to pamper and spoil you over the holiday period. It is time now to set the seed for what may happen over the holidays and if you are successful in achieving all of the above then pass on your tips to the rest of us.

Congratulations to Jake Hoban who will be representing the North Coast at the State Debating Titles next week. Jake along with our junior debaters, has demonstrated what our children can do if they are given the opportunity and have the determination.

It was nice to see the incoming Year 7 with us last week and this week. They were looked after by the present Year 9, and all reports suggest a good day was had by all. All 90 of them, I hope will be excited about coming to school, meeting new friends and starting the last journey of their school lives. Next year we are hoping to involve more parents in the knowledge of how kids learn. We will conduct a number of workshops which will demonstrate to parents some of the skills we as teachers use to teach your children.

It is a delight of this position I hold, to hear positive comments and receive encouraging emails. This week it has been provided by Community members in commenting on our Year 10 students as they go about their volunteer work in the community “….there is certainly hope when I see what these kids were doing as opposed to all the other stuff we see and read about…” I only hope that our students can maintain this positive attitude and spread it among their future communities. Hilton Humphries

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CALENDAR

Presentation Assembly 9.15am - 11am Thursday 15th December

Yr 10 Presentation Assembly 9.15am Wednesday 7th December

Last day of School- Friday 16th December 2011

First day back 2012- Monday 30th January 2012

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DEPT. DIRECTORS VISIT SCHOOL

ð Principal’s Report

ð Calendar

ð Directors Visit

ð Yr 6-7 Transition

ð Work Placement

ð Vision Camp

ð Attendance Program

ð Websites

ð Tools Tips and Resources for Parents

ð Holiday Activities

Greg Prior, Deputy Director General with Gumbaynggirr Language teacher, Edrica Jarrett and students It was with great pride, when Principal, Hilton Humphries, was given the opportunity to show visiting Education Department Directors all that our school has to offer. Peter Haigh, Regional Director, Greg Prior, Deputy Director General and Wendy Bagust, relieving School Education Director, were all extremely impressed with the school’s new commercial kitchen where they stopped for a cuppa and chat with student and parent representatives. Hilton then guided the visitors to the Language centre where they joined in a Gumbaynggirr Language class being taught by Edrica Jarrett. During the travels around the school, the directors, were able to meet many of the teachers and observe a variety of classroom activities.

Right - Peter Haigh, Regional Director and Greg Prior, Deputy Director General, discuss school matters with Jacob Welsh, Libby Seymour and Hannah Iredale while enjoying a cappuccino seated in the new ‘alfresco’ area of the school’s commercial kitchen.

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YR 6 – 7 TRANSITION The last two weeks have seen a large number of Year 6 students from primary schools across the Nambucca Valley attend our high school for their transition activities. It has been a busy time with the Year 6 students participating in a variety of activities in and out of the classroom. This program, coordinated by Head English Teacher Mike Major, is designed to ease any anxieties about high school and allow the students to experience the fun and learning they can expect next year.

The Ropes

Science Class

Printmaking class in Visual Art

Nambucca Heads Primary School girls enjoying the BBQ

Science teacher, Alison Nowland, shares a fruit platter

St. Patricks Primary School students enjoyed being shown around the high school

Please see the school website for more photos http://www.nambuccahd-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/

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YEAR 11 – WORK PLACEMENT - 2011 Year 11 students attended Work Placement throughout 2011. A number of students needed to complete 2 or 3 placements to meet the requirements of their VET courses. Nambucca Heads High School and Youth Directions Placement Coordinator, Helen Mower would like to extend their thanks to the businesses who have assisted with work placements for students in 2011. Businesses involved covered a range of industry areas for VET courses offered at the school in Business Services, Construction, Entertainment, Hospitality, Information Technology, and Metal & Engineering. If your business would like to be part of the Work Placement Program in 2012,

please contact Helen at the school on 0265 686 777.

Kade Gray & Jake Russo - Nambucca Heads Bowling Blake McNeil-Inspiration Real Estate (with Linda Ford) Club

Hospitality Group with Lynn Christian - Hosp Teacher , Kade Gray, Trent Urquhart, Jake Russo, Libby Seymour, Annie Stig, Reanna Stacey & Lynn Christian

Ebony Colb - Mad Hatters Tea Garden Bowraville (3 girls together), Katey Dyer (Golden Sands Tavern) and Grace Mukunga (MangroveJacks Coffs Harbour)

Harley Douglas - Woollams Construction Trent Dunne - Nambucca Smash Repairs & Towing

Katelyn Jarrett - Barrimba Maarra Health Clinic Blake Ryan - Zenys Photographic Studio

Bethany Gregory with Odin Franklin - NV Youth Services Centre - Skatefest 2011

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STATE VISION CAMP The recently held State Vision Camp at Yarrahapinni Convention Centre, saw many students ranging from low vision to fully blind enjoy the time of their lives. The vision impaired students spent four days experiencing many outdoor activities such as horizontal bungee, beach activities, climbing ropes, karate and flying fox runs. There was plenty of music at the dance party and African drummers keeping the beat. The waterslide provided much fun and excitement. It was a rewarding camp as students were able to share self-contained living and meet many new friends. Below is a collage of their time at camp.

“I’VE MADE SO MANY NEW FRIENDS”…“THIS WAS THE BEST CAMP EVER”…“WHERE IS CAMP IN 2012?... “I HAD SO MUCH FUN!”… “I DIDN’T KNOW THERE WERE SO MANY BLIND KIDS AROUND”

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BASKETBALL ATTENDANCE PROGRAM The involvement of 15 NHHS students in the Basketball Attendance program has brought them great rewards. The group, comprising students from Yrs 9 and 11, topped the school attendance program with South Grafton High School. The basketball teams from both schools played each other on Saturday 19th November on the Gold Coast. The students travelled up to the Gold Coast early Saturday morning to be coached by Australian basketball international, Cayla Francis, at the stadium belonging to NBL team the Gold Coast Blaze. After their coaching session, the NHHS team played their keenly anticipated game against South Grafton High School. NHHS’s Mentor Coordinator, Gary ‘Duke’ Lee, who travelled up with the team, said “he was very impressed to see the team’s commitment to playing their best during the game and their high level of competitiveness and skill. These attributes helped them to come out with a successful game against South Grafton”. It was a great experience for the students to play basketball in a professional arena with all that goes with it”. The students were then able to watch a game of elite skill and sporting entertainment between the Townsville Crocs and the Gold Coast Blaze. At the end of the competition the students met with many of the professional NBL players.

Back Row - Left -Adrian Wilson, Harley Abdoo, Ryan Cooper, Madison Rotumah, Steven Wilson, Samantha Mitchell and Duke Lee. Front Row - Left -Jade Sutton, Justin Hull,Kieran Jarrett and Craig Jarrett

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WORLD BOOK WEB Good news! Our library now subscribes to the World Book Web. Our World Book subscription allows us to give you and your family access to this valuable reference source at school and on your home computers 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. To access the World Book Web, follow these simple steps: Go to www.worldbookonline.com Enter Username - nambuccahigh Enter Password – pelican

SCHOOL A TO Z – TOOLS, TIPS AND RESOURCES FOR PARENTS www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/ To help with your child's homework, understanding technology, their wellbeing and other growing needs.

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SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES – JANUARY 2012 The Nambucca Shire Council school holiday activities are for 12-18 year olds only. These activities are drug and alcohol free. Council's Community and Cultural Services department have organised the following school holiday activities for the final 2 weeks of the January 2012 holidays: 1 SEA KAYAKING THE SOLITARY ISLANDS MARINE PARK - Friday 20 January

2012 2 BUSH WALKING IN BONGIL BONGIL NATIONAL PARK – Tuesday 24 January 2012

3 THE NAMBUCCA VALLEY AMAZING RACE – VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE NAMBUCCA SHIRE – Wednesday 25 January You must ring Patricia 6568 0249, Naj 6568 0255 or Vicki 6568 0254 to book a place for the activity and transport, if required. Limited places – Bookings essential!

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Indoor Carpet Bowls Come along to the Nambucca Heads RSL on Wednesday nights to take part in playing Carpet Bowls. Coaching will be given to new players. Costs are $1.50 for 3 games and there is prize money to be won. For more details please contact Frank Stennet – 6568 1009 or Thelma Spokes – 65688525 Competition starts 7.00pm each Wednesday.