November 2014 - Edition No 6

Successful Learning - Responsible Living page 1

IMPORTANT DATES: Year 7 Exams - Monday 10th to Wednesday 12th November - School Hall

Year 12 Sign Out Day - Monday 10th November - Common Room

P & C Meeting - Tuesday 11th November - Administration 7pm

Year 12 Formal - Wednesday 12th November - Marina Views, Carrington

GATS Showcase night - Wednesday 26th November - School Hall

Year 6 Orientation Day - Wednesday 3rd December

Support class enjoying a day at Newcastle

November 2014 - Edition No 6

Successful Learning - Responsible Living page 2

Principal Report

I sincerely hope that everyone has settled in to term four for 2014. I know that this is said fairly often, but this year has gone

very fast. I think the pace of the school year is increasing with the amount of changes and new initiatives that the DEC introduces. In the current climate public schools in NSW are introducing fourteen new initiatives/directives simultaneously

which does have an impact on workloads and time spent at school. However, having said this, I am very happy where the

school is heading, our numbers are increasing dramatically, we have seen significant improvements in student data and our reputation is constantly improving in our community.

The Higher School Certificate concludes this week. This year we have supported Heritage College who have completed all

of their examinations at our school. The HSC is always a difficult time of the year with room changes, the loss of the hall and having extra personnel in our school. I would like to thank Mr Leyshon and the LAST team for their efforts this year in

supporting our students and executing the HSC with minimal disruption. Finally, and more importantly, I wish year twelve

all the best in their result and future.

In conjunction with this the year 12 formal will be held next week at the marina in Newcastle on Wednesday the 12th of November. This event is always an important function on the school calendar and is a night where students and staff can

celebrate together and relax as a collective at the end of the HSC journey. I look forward to seeing all of the students and

their families on the evening. This term has been a very intense and busy one for our Aboriginal Education Team and Students. The school was successful

in gaining a grant to build a learning circle in our bush tucker garden as well as to facilitate the building of another circle at

Morisset Primary School. This has been a mammoth effort by staff and students at the school as well as community

members. Without the team effort of school and community this could not have been possible. I am looking forward to the completion of the project and celebrating the opening with our community. The other initiative in Aboriginal education that

is currently in action is a Cultural Identity Camp. This camp has been developed in conjunction with cultural leaders within

our community and the DEC and involves a three night cultural immersion in Wollombi. I appreciate the efforts of all involved in this initiative and I am looking forward to joining the camp on Thursday evening. I am hoping that this will be an

annual event at Morisset High School for our Aboriginal Students and community.

Our University Partnership with the Family Action Centre and Social Welfare Faculty concluded this week. We have had a fourth year Social Welfare intern within our school for the past two months completing a site study, mapping services and

resources, as well as completing a Photo-Voice Project with year nine photography students. I have been very impressed

with the support offered by the University as well as their enthusiasm in embracing our school and community. No other

such partnership exists in the whole Hunter/Central Coast and I am looking forward to extending this relationship in 2015. On the 20th of November our Local Management Group P&C will have its final meeting for 2014. This initiative has been

extremely successful for our schools, having representation from every primary school as well as the high school. We will

meet at the high school and we have two special guests attending, Mr Steve Harris Director Public Schools and Mr Pat Conroy Member for Charlton. Our final meeting will conclude with a light meal prepared by my hospitality students. This

group has strengthened the voice of public education within our immediate area and it is an initiative that other LMGs are

now adopting. The school is over half way through the development of our next three year strategic plan. We have worked very closely with

the staff, executive, DEC personnel, student body, community, AECG and partner primary schools in formulating our

priorities. The executive are currently developing targets and outcomes within the priorities and strategies for their

implementation. I am looking forward to sharing our next three year plan with the community in 2015.

To finish I would again like to wish our year twelve students and families all the best in the future and I look forward to

hearing of their successes.

Mr M. Snedden

Enrich your home with a WEP exchange student arriving in January 2015!

World Education Program (WEP) is looking for caring families who wish to experience another culture in their own home by becoming a volunteer host family. Browse through student profiles, and select a student who you think will fit best into your family and lifestyle!

For further information, please contact Sylvia Kelly (WEP Inbound Manager) on 1300 884 733, by email on info@wep.org.au or by visiting our website www.wep.org.au.

November 2014 - Edition No 6

Successful Learning - Responsible Living page 3

Deputy Principal’s Report

As we reach the midway point of Term 4 students can reflect on where they are up to in their stages of education and

parents and carers can reflect on how they can best support their student.

At publication, Year 7 and Year 9 will be wrapping up their Yearly Examinations, however, it is important to note that

subject teachers will not be completing marking of assessments and judging outcomes and reports until later in the term.

It is important for students to maintain focus until the end of the term and year as assessments are still to be finalised and decisions are yet to be made about classes for Year 8 and Year 10 - where classes are graded according to

subject. Yearly reports will be issued in the last week of term.

Year 7 can look forward to the study of Music in Year 8 as part of their Stage 4 Creative and Performing Arts Program

and in the study of Technology (Mandatory) the study of elected TAS subjects in Home Economics and/or Industrial

Arts.

2015 is a significant milestone for Year 9 with the formal commencement accreditation for their Year 10 Record of

School Achievement or ROSA though. Also Year 9 electives for their 3rd elective (Z Elective) have been processed and

the timetable is being developed to set up the new classes.

Year 11 completed their Preliminary HSC at the end of term 3 with their yearly examinations and are now well into

their first term of their HSC study. Notifications for the first HSC assessments are now being given to students. Year 11 Reports will go home any day now and it is important to discuss with your student the feedback on exam marks and

assessments provided by teachers to ensure clear directions for study in moving into the HSC.

I have recently issued the Morisset High School 2015 HSC Assessment Booklet and the BOSTES HSC Rules and Procedures Booklet and briefed all of Year 11 on their responsibilities in meeting the requirements of the Higher School

Certificate. The booklet outlines all assessment tasks scheduled for the HSC in all subjects and clearly explains

students’ responsibilities and what they are required to do should they receive an N Warning or experience illness or misadventure in completing tasks. A copy of the Assessment Booklet is available on the Website. Please don’t hesitate

to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Finally an attendance reminder as student absences will be noted on reports as being explained or unexplained. Prospective employees still place a great deal of importance on attendance information on reports. Please note

regarding attendance:

As you would be aware all children are required, by law, to attend school each day the school is open. Students

who are absent must, by law, have that absence explained by their parent / care giver. I am working closely with the Home School Liaison Officer to identify those students who are failing to satisfy these requirements. If your

child is absent please provide a note of explanation the day the student returns to school.

Arriving to school late without a valid reason is also a breach of parental responsibilities to ensure their child

attends school. If a student is late to school they must have a note to explain why (except in circumstances such

as a bus breaking down).

As I will be taking long service leave for the last 4 weeks of term (from 24th November) I would like to wish all students and their families all the best for the end of year and the holiday season and I look forward to seeing you again

in 2015. Please note Mr Davies will be relieving Deputy Principal during this time.

Gary Bennett

Deputy Principal Yr. 7, 9 and 11.

November 2014 - Edition No 6

Successful Learning - Responsible Living page 4

1ST BRAKE DRIVING

SCHOOL

LEARN TO

DRIVE

Contact Steve

0438 455 733

Email: sj1959@outlook.com

(Monday—Sunday

All Hours Considered

ABN No. 901 332 9728 41

L

Breakfast club

School Hall

Tuesday mornings between 8.20 and 8.45am

Our Breakfast Club is proudly sponsored through regular donations

from local businesses, including; Morisset Coles and McDonalds

Volunteers or product donations will be appreciated

Please contact Miss King for more information - 4973 1999

Canteen News

VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED MHS canteen is run by the MHS P & C. The canteen is not only a wonderful service to the students and staff but a

valuable fundraiser for the school.

The P & C contributes profits from the canteen to the school to provide and enhance student resources and facilities at MHS. Help us keep this wonderful service profitable by donating your time. Meet other parents and staff. Come and

help prepare food, serve students and enjoy the social company of the canteen.

Any time donated is greatly appreciated. Contact Maree at the canteen 4973 3125 if you can volunteer.

November 2014 - Edition No 6

Successful Learning - Responsible Living page 5

PDHPE

Congratulations to following students who have achieved excellence in PDHPE electives for the month of September and October.

Students of the month, September 2014

Laura Ward- SPORTS COACHING

Ryan Birch- PASS

Shelly Curwin- PASS Adina Hawkins- PASS

Adam Gale- PASS

Joel Heffernan- PASS Brock Morgan- PASS

Carlton Pavy- PDHPE

Emily Heffernan- PDHPE Anika Dodd- SLR

Emily Serone - SLR

Emily Blackstock - Dance

Thank you :-)

Mrs Natalie Hilder PDHPE Staff

Students of the month, October 2014 Chiraphong O'Loram - SPORTS COACHING

Tom Vandermeer- PASS

Cameron Lee- PASS

Jesse McLachlan- PASS Kirby Macdonald- PDHPE

Jake Ellis- SLR

Maddi Sandiford- DANCE

1ST BRAKE DRIVING

SCHOOL

LEARN TO

DRIVE

Contact Steve

0438 455 733

Email: sj1959@outlook.com

(Monday—Sunday

All Hours Considered

ABN No. 901 332 9728 41

L

STUDENT EXCHANGE

Student Exchange Australia New Zealand is a not-for-profit secondary exchange organisation which is

registered with education & regulatory authorities in

each State and Territory. You can find out more about our organisation by visiting

www.studentexchange.org.au.

If you have any questions about hosting an exchange

student or would like to view profiles of students arriv-ing from other countries, you can either respond to this

email or call our office on 1300 135 331.

Hosting an exchange student can be a truly rewarding experience. It allows a family to experience a foreign

culture first hand, be exposed to a new language and

pass on a bit of our own culture. They might even make a friend for life!

Year 12 SLR

"Year 12 Sport, Lifestyle and Recreation (SLR) have

had a busy start to Term 1 Year 12. The students have been studying Aquatics and have been practising their

lifesaving and swimming techniques at Morisset Pool.

The students have also been

having a lot of fun in prac-tical lessons.

Great work 12SLR,

Mrs Natalie Hilder

November 2014 - Edition No 6

Successful Learning - Responsible Living page 6

WANTED - UNIFORMS If you have any unwanted uniforms eg: out grown, moved to senior ranks or simply finished school our

Welfare department always needs them.

Just drop them off to the front office and they will be put to good use.

Thank you

Roz Burchell

Creating a backyard habitat workshop

Monday 17 November, 10.30am – 12noon

Come along and discover how you can use native plants to provide habitat for birds, butterflies and frogs and find out how to set up an insect hotel.

Location: Morisset Library, 39 Yambo Street

Community Education Grant Program - Hunter

Local Land Services

If you are part of a group or organisation that is planning an educational event or developing an educational

resource for the local community, you might be eligible for financial assistance through the Hunter Local Land

Services (LLS) 2014/15 Community Education Grant Program.

Organisations across the Upper Hunter, Lower Hunter and Manning Great Lakes regions can apply for up to

$1500 to support education, capacity building or communication in the areas of:

• Natural resource management

• Animal health (primary production focus)

• Pest animal control

• Agriculture

• Preparing and responding to emergencies like flood, fire and drought

Activities can include:

• Community events

• Running of field days, workshops and courses

• Educational signage

• Production and distribution of educational resources

• Small-scale on ground works that have an education focus

Applications for funding can be submitted at any time however projects must be completed by the 31st of May

2015. Send your application in early to avoid missing out.

To download an application form go to www.hunter.lls.nsw.gov.au/our-region/financial-assistance.

For further information, or to discuss a proposal, please contact Jane Dickinson (Education Coordinator) on (02)

4938 4923 or jane.dickinson@lls.nsw.gov.au. Alternatively, you can speak to project staff at any of our offices:

hunter.lls.nsw.gov.au/our-region/contact-us.

November 2014 - Edition No 6

Successful Learning - Responsible Living page 7

Support Unit

The Junior Support Class was thrilled to have a visit from Mrs Kemp with her new baby Harriet. They are very well and we

enjoyed their visit.

We were also thrilled to hear recently that our teacher Miss McKay has just become engaged and we were excited to celebrate with her.

Our recent Community Access Days have been supporting our PDHPE program on healthy lifestyle choices so we have

travelled to Newcastle Beach and Morisset Pool for some swimming and safety practice and also enjoyed some free time

playing beach volleyball and paddling.

It won’t be long now until we have to say a formal goodbye to our Year 12 students, Emily, Vanessa, Codi, Casey, Keanu and Jarod.

We all wish them every success in their life after school and hope they will keep in touch with us to let us know how they

are getting on. We are planning our Unit farewell to them very soon.

November 2014 - Edition No 6

Successful Learning - Responsible Living page 8

We have also started having visits from the Year 6 students who will be coming to school next year. They have been joining us for lots of our lessons and we are helping them to get used to High School life.

In our Technical classes we are now making a picture frame with Mr Johnson and cooking Christmas treats with Ms Rogers.

We have been lucky to have a local volunteer community member Mrs Jeanette Coulter offer to run a special Deportment

and Etiquette Course for our girls once a fortnight. The boys have special lessons with Mr Breton during this time. Already

the girls are learning how to walk nicely, speak into a microphone and improve their manners.

November 2014 - Edition No 6

Successful Learning - Responsible Living page 9

Year 11 English Studies Excursion Earlier this year, Year 11 English Studies were looking at the topic ‘Science and Discoveries’ and the impact of these

discoveries on our society. As part of the unit, students were invited to participate in an excursion to visit the Sydney

Aquarium at Darling Harbour. We caught the train in the morning and were lucky enough to miss the rain. We had a great time looking at all the different

marine animals, especially the sharks! We all got to take turns reaching into the tide pool at the Barrier Reef enclosure to

touch the starfish, sea anemone and other sea creatures.

A very big thank you to all the students who came along and made it an excellent day!

November 2014 - Edition No 6

Successful Learning - Responsible Living page 10

DEBATING NEWS

WESTERN SHORES LEARNING ALLIANCE DEBATING CHALLENGE On Wednesday 29th October 2014 Morisset High School hosted the first annual Western Shores Learning Alliance Debating Challenge. Each primary school from the Western Shores Learning Alliance entered a team in the event and the

students from the Morisset High School debating teams acted as adjudicators and mentors for the primary school students.

On the day each team participated in two debating rounds. The topics for these rounds were ‘that learning a second language should be compulsory in schools’ and ‘that computers have a negative impact on our learning.’ The insight and

information each primary school student brought to these topics was very impressive and was communicated at an

outstanding level. As a result, all debates were very closely contested. At the end of the day the team from Bonnells Bay Public School and Wangi Wangi Public School participated in the Grand Final. Their chosen topic was ‘that playing team

sports should be compulsory at school.’ This proved to be the closest debate of the day. After thoroughly considering the

arguments put forward by both teams the adjudicators decided to award the Western Shores Learning Alliance Debating

Challenge Shield to Wangi Wangi Public School.

We cannot wait to host this event again next year!

Miss Harding

PREMIER’S DEBATING CHALLENGE

This term has been a very exciting time for debating at Morisset High School. Our Stage 4 team comprising of Hannah C,

Jayanna G, Maddison P and Amber H were successful in winning their zone in the Premier’s Debating Challenge. As a result, they proceeded to the Inter-Zone finals where they were successful in defeating Terrigal High School. This meant

they progressed to the Semi-Final round against Merewether High School where, in a very close debate, the girls were

narrowly defeated. We are so impressed with their dedication, hard work and commitment to debating. Congratulations, girls!

Miss Harding and Ms Starkey

November 2014 - Edition No 6

Successful Learning - Responsible Living page 11

Under 15 GIRL’S NETBALL The Under 15 girls Netball team travelled to Cardiff to compete in the Westlakes Gala day. The girls were up against some tough competition from surrounding schools; Toronto, West

Wallsend, Cardiff, Lake Macquarie and Glendale. The girls play well all day showing great sportsmanship and having fun. They had a couple of close games with a big win against Lake Macquarie. Cardiff were the eventual winners.Congratulations to Jayanna Gibson (yr8) on

winning Morisset's Most Valuable Player for the day. Thank you to our senior (very competent) umpire Laura Ward and Miss Morris for taking the students on the day. Well done girls!

Mrs Hilder & Miss Morris.

November 2014 - Edition No 6

Successful Learning - Responsible Living page 12