WILLYAMA WHISPERS – Term 1, Week 6, 8 March 2019 Principal: Grant Shepherd PO Box 708, Broken Hill, NSW, 2880 Phone: 08 8088 1055, Email: willyama-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au, Web:http://www.willyama-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

Artwork by Makayla Perry The Drought 2019

Principal’s Update There have been a number of great things happening at Willyama High School in recent weeks as we pass the halfway point of Term 1 already. Our school swimming carnival was a huge success with some good participation and great performances on the day by a number of our students. More details inside. We strongly encourage all qualifying swimmers to participate in as many events as possible in the upcoming West Darling carnival this Friday. Our school leader induction ceremony was held last week and it was great to see so many parents/carers and family members attending on this special occasion. We all look forward to achieving great things with our school leaders this year. School photos were also held last week. It will take a few weeks for them to be processed before they are returned to school for those who have ordered them. We will then make up our new student ID cards for 2019. Our Year 7-12 Meet and Greet parent/teacher afternoon is on this Tuesday 12 March from 4:00-6:30pm. This is a great opportunity for you to touch base with your child(ren)’s teachers and have a discussion about their progress and how we can work together to maximise their learning. We look forward to seeing you. Grant Shepherd Principal

Swimming Carnival The annual Willyama High School swimming carnival was held on Friday the 22 February. There were a great number of students who got involved either by competing in events, cheering for their house and participating in the novelty events. Students who competed in events and also the swim through accumulated points for their houses. On the day Kyara was the champion house, amassing 563 points. Yancowinna came in a close second with 475 points and Hexham took third with 363 points. The competitiveness of the day was in full force with 3 new records being added to the books. Kalyce Pressler worked hard to break 2 records:

• 15 yrs female 50m Breaststroke • 15 yrs female 100m Breaststroke

And Ethan Attard holds the new:

• 14 years male 50m Freestyle record

Age champions of the day were:

• 12 yrs male - Jvargo Hebbard • 12 yrs female – Alani Woods • 13 yrs male – Conrad Coombes • 13 yrs female – Amalie Howse • 14 yrs male – Ethan Attard • 14 yrs female – Sophia Brain • 15 yrs male – Kaiden Johnson • 15 yrs female – Kalyce Pressler • 16 yrs male – Ethan Callegher • 16 yrs female – Michelle Coombes • 17 yrs male – Colby Schiller • 17 yrs female – Maighan Mashford

A big congratulations to all who competed and attended the carnival. We wish those competing at the West Darling carnival all the best when they represent Willyama High School.

Student Leaders Induction Ceremony

On Wednesday the 27 February, Willyama held their induction ceremony to recognise our 2019 student leaders. A range of students were recognised during this ceremony for their leadership going in to 2019. Year 12 Music class performed during the ceremony and Mrs Bush and members of her year 10 Food Technology class provided morning tea to our student leaders and their families. It was a great event for all involved and these students are to be commended for their willingness to embody our school values of Respect, Responsibility and Cooperation to the remainder of the student body and the community.

School Captains

Tanvi Singh Jack Stacey

School Vice Captains

Heaven Celotto Sean Rothery

SRC President Ellie Simmons SRC Vice President Ethan Kelly Publicity Officer Hamish Bolton Treasurer Riley Mashford Secretary Ayva O’Meara Liaison Officer Campbell Quintrell

SRC Members Year 7

Katelin Day, Lachlan Flaton Taylor-Jayne Mullins, Alani Woods

Year 8 Ella Camilleri, Sydnie Lindsay, Piper Murray, Cohen Tonkin

Year 9 Jorgeanne Alfiler, Ethan Callegher, Jasmin Fryer, Madison Lambert, Evan Mason, Tess Muscat, Sarah-Jane Smith

Year 10 Hannah Campbell, Isaiah Hughes, Seth Kreitner, Sydney Moynihan, Cooper Treloar

Year 11 Seth Brown Year 12 Jasmin Algate, Hannah Ferguson,

Lauren Fisher, Maighan Mashford

National Harmony Day Thursday March 21 is National Harmony Day which celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. Harmony Day is celebrated annually in Australia and helps spread the continuing message that 'Everyone Belongs'. It is about community participation, inclusiveness, diversity, respect and belonging. Harmony Day began in 1999, coinciding with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Each year it is marked by people coming together and participating in local activities. One of the activities we are running at Willyama is a Mandala colouring-in competition in the library. Ms Henderson will have a box of Mandala colouring-in competition entries in the library for students who did not receive one in roll call.

There will also be a box in the library to leave completed entries which will be put on display. During lunch time on Thursday 21 March the winner of the competition will be announced in the library. Willyama Year 10 students will also be visiting Bugdlie Preschool on Tuesday 19 and Thursday 21 March 2019. Students who have received permission notes are reminded to return them to Miss Kelly as soon as possible. Students will be assisting Bugdlie Preschool staff with various Harmony Day activities. Orange is the official Harmony Day colour and many people wear orange clothes or ribbons to represent cultural diversity and inclusion. Although it is not a casual clothes day students and staff are encouraged to wear a pop of orange such as a ribbon or scarf or bandana to promote cultural awareness and belonging.

Pin board display in Library

Premier’s Reading Challenge 2019 This year’s Premier’s Reading Challenge started on the 4 March. The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely.

Research proves how important it is to get children reading for at least 20 minutes a day. The included infographic explains this in a really powerful way:

All Year 7 students will participate in the Challenge with their English teacher, with one lesson a fortnight dedicated to reading. Students will come to the library for that lesson and will spend this time reading, either independently or in a guided reading group led by the Teacher Librarian or English teacher.

Students will also be able to use this time for borrowing and to record completed books in their reading log and on the Premier’s Reading Challenge website. Students will earn Vivo points when they finish a book and if they complete the Challenge (which requires them to read 20 books before the Challenge ends on 30 August) they will also receive a Premier’s Reading Challenge certificate.

Please encourage your student to read at home too. Aiming for at least 20 minutes of reading a day will have a positive impact on their future success

Any student in Years 8 and 9 who wishes to participate in the Challenge can come to the library at recess or lunch to register.

NSW School Vaccination Program Each year NSW Health works in partnership with schools to offer the vaccines recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for adolescents as part of the school vaccination program. In 2019 the following vaccines will be offered:

Parent Information Kits that include an information sheet, consent form and privacy statement will be sent home to parents/guardians. To consent to the vaccination of their child, parents/guardians are advised to:

• Read all the information provided

• Complete the consent form, including signing their name next to the vaccine/s they would like their child to receive

• Return the completed consent form to their child’s school

• Ensure that their child eats breakfast on the day of the school vaccination clinic. Please note that students who commence HPV vaccination in school clinics in Year 7 but do not complete the course during the school year may be offered catch-up doses at school in Year 8. Students who have any HPV doses at their GP will be advised to complete the course with their GP. Parents/guardians who wish to withdraw their consent for any reason may do so by writing to the school Principal or phoning the school. The Procedure for Withdrawal of Consent is available on the NSW Health website at www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation.

YEARS VACCINE NUMBER OF DOSES Year 7 Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine 2-doses at least 6

months apart

Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine

Single dose

Years 10 Meningococcal ACWY vaccine Single dose

To improve vaccination completion, students will be opportunistically offered any missed doses throughout the year where possible. A Record of Vaccination will be provided to each student vaccinated at each clinic either as a physical card or a text message sent to the mobile number recorded on the consent form (within 1 business day). Parents/guardians should ensure that this record is kept for future reference and should not assume that their child has been vaccinated if they do not receive this Record of Vaccination.

Year 12 Chemistry Year 12 Chemistry have been investigating the strengths of common household acids and bases by using quantitative analysis techniques known as titrations. During this practical, they are determining the concentration of acetic acid in white vinegar. This practical requires precise skills in operating the various types of volumetric glassware and as you can see, everyone needs to be paying close attention.

SRC Planning Day On Wednesday 6 March, Willyama’s 2019 SRC members participated in a planning day to decide on the events they will be participating in this year and the causes they will be supporting. This planning day was held at Headspace. It was a great opportunity for this year’s SRC members to become a team and decide what they want their 2019 legacy to be.

Broken Hill North Public School SRC Induction

Four of our SRC members, Seth Kreitner, Jasmin Fryer, Sydnie Lindsay and Taylor-Jayne Mullins, accompanied by Mr Shepherd and Miss McGuigan had the opportunity to attend Broken Hill North

Public School’s SRC Induction ceremony. This was a great honour to our former North students to be invited to return to their primary school as representatives of our Willyama student leadership team.

Dates to Remember • Monday 11 March – Year 10 Vaccinations

• Tuesday 12 March – Year 7-12 Meet & Greet 4pm– 6:30pm

• Tuesday 12 March – Rugby League 7’s Under 14’s and Girls Tag

• Friday 15 March – West Darling Swimming Carnival

• Wednesday 19 March – Harmony Day Bugdlie Group 1

• Thursday 21 March - Harmony Day Bugdlie Group 2

• Wednesday 27 March – Year 11 Crossroads

Youth Frontiers Mentoring Program Youth Frontiers is a NSW Government-funded youth mentoring program that connects students aged 12 to 16 with adult volunteer mentors. The aim of the program is to help students develop their self-esteem and confidence. In 2019 Youth Frontiers has funding available for 35 students (aged 12-16 years) to participate in this year’s program. Any young person who might benefit from the support of a mentor is encouraged to speak to Sophie Weathersbee and is most welcome to attend the information session. Information Session: Thursday 7 March 5pm to 6pm

Headspace Broken Hill 231 Blende Street Broken Hill NSW 2880 Nibbles and refreshments provided

Contact: Sophie Weathersbee 0447 568 704 Sophie.weathersbee@marathonhealth.com.au