The YarnThe YarnThe Yarn

No Gap No Excuse All staff members at Shoalhaven High School are participating in the No Gap No Excuse program which aims to educate all staff employed in public schools in our region about Aboriginal history and culture. Trained teacher facilitators are guided and assisted by local community representatives in the delivery of the five modules of this program. Shoalhaven High School has been very fortunate to obtain the services of community members who have such a wealth of local knowledge.

Pictured with SHS Principal, Mr Kem Rakiposki and Deputy Principal, Ms Kerrie Lindsay, are our local community representatives, Aunty Grace Crossley, Aunty Ruth Simms, Aunty Lena Bloxsome, Aunty Margaret Simoes and Aunty Pat Lester (SHS Aboriginal Education

Officer).

Shoalhaven High School Newsletter for Indigenous students and families Issue 2 - 2013 Aiming Higher

IPROWD (indigenous Policing Recruitment Our Way Delivery) IPROWD is a specialist training program to assist Aboriginal people to gain entry to the NSW Police Academy at Goulburn, which is the first step to becoming an officer in the NSW Police Force. The Australian Government, TAFE NSW, The NSW Police Force and Charles Sturt University are working in partnership to offer IPROWD training programs at a range of locations in NSW including Nowra. Shoalhaven High School Year 12 graduates from 2012, Tyson Cloos, Jeremy Walker and Brenden Lord, graduated from the first intake of IPROWD after their six month course earlier in the year. Year 11 students Cassie Gill and Bradley Pholi are participating in IPROWD at present and their enrolment in the program will contribute to their HSC. Congratulations to Darren Wellington who has been accepted into the IPROWD program for 2014. For more information about the IPROWD program call 1300 830 177 or email iprowd@tafensw.edu.au

Pictured: 2012 Year 12 graduates - Tyson Cloos, Brenden Lord and Jeremy Walker in their IPROWD uniforms.

Tamika Smith

Tamika has always been a wonderful role model for other students at Shoalhaven High School as she is focussed on working towards her career goals. During 2013, Tamika started her SBAT traineeship through the Djinggi Program (Certificate 3 in Education Support). This involves working at Nowra East Public School every Monday and second Thursday. Tamika has been working with a Year 1 and 2 composite class. “I really enjoy working with the class and seeing everything the teachers have to do. It’s really interesting being on ‘the other side’ - not being the student,” Tamika commented. Going to TAFE for three days every term is also a requirement of the traineeship. Tamika believes the traineeship has given her a fantastic insight into the world of teaching and has realised she really wants to pursue a career in teaching, particularly Infants teaching. Tamika is also a talented sports person and her involvement in sport has come in handy to further develop her teaching skills. Tamika was selected by the Illawarra Sports Academy to train in their netball team. This involved training in Wollongong once a month and representing the Academy at a number of netball competitions playing against other regional teams from around NSW. Tamika was one of only three girls selected from the Shoalhaven to represent the Academy. Tamika hopes to enrol in a teaching degree at the University of Wollongong at the completion of her HSC in 2014.

Cassie Gill

Cassie is one of our quiet achievers at Shoalhaven High. She is a member of the Student Representa-tive Council and will be a prefect at Shoalhaven High School in 2014. Cassie believes her experience in the SRC is an opportunity to show leadership and set a good example by being a role model for younger Indigenous students at school.

Cassie is also a participant in the IPROWD program which she commenced at the start of Year 11. It involves attending a TAFE course once every two months for three days as well as completing online modules. Cassie has been enjoying the IPROWD program. “The course involves learning about ethics and what it takes to become a police officer. Things like developing communication skills, teamwork and collaborative skills, as well as learn-ing about maintaining fitness,” Cassie explained. At the completion of the course, Cassie will receive a Certificate II in Government Services and after her HSC she will be able to go straight to the Police Academy.

Cassie is keen to pursue a career in policing as she feels we need more indigenous people in the force. Her ultimate career goal is to work in police rescue and bomb disposal. “Shoalhaven High School has provided some great learning experiences for me,” Cassie said. She has also been involved in the peer support program in Years 9, 10 and 11, which she feels was the beginning of her leadership skills development.

As a senior student, Cassie has particularly enjoyed Society and Culture and Drama.

Watch out for Cassie in her police uniform in a couple of years time!

AIME Students from Years 9 -12 have been involved with AIME (Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience) for the second year in a row; this year it was held at the Shoalhaven campus of the University of Wollongong. Students attended two days per term to participate in sessions ranging from team building activities, respecting employers and teachers, study skills, goal setting, time management, resilience and life balance. Students attending have been quite enthusiastic about their involve-ment in the program. Year 11 student, Cassie Gill said, “AIME is good because it extends my knowledge about how education should be valued.” Year 9 student, Tiahn Maker commented, “AIME is fun and helps with things you have never thought about.” The program aims to help Indigenous students prepare for what lies ahead of them after school, and it also gives students a small taste of university life. By Teisha Cloos Pictured above: Teisha Cloos is presented with a

framed AIME Hoodie in recognition of her participation in the Youth Leadership - Earn, Learn, Legend Program which was held at the Gold Coast. Teisha was nominated by AIME.

The Other Election

Teisha Cloos made it into the top 100 candidates for The Other Election. Participating AIME students recorded a speech about why they would like to be the Prime Minister of Australia. The Other Election was an Australia wide event organised by AIME. This was an outstanding effort by Teisha to be listed in the top 100.

Pictured below: SHS students participating in the AIME program at the UOW Shoalhaven Campus.

Sports Profile

Kyeisha Hanchard

Year 10 student, Kyeisha, only started competitive swimming less than two years ago and in a very short time she has demonstrated her exceptional talent in this sport. In the winter of 2011 Kyeisha commenced squad training to focus on perfecting her swim strokes, and in November of that year she learnt the butterfly stroke. Within five months of learning butterfly, Kyeisha was swimming at the NSW State Swimming Carnival representing the Illawarra and South East Region. Kyeisha is a member of the Nowra Swim Club and she has excelled at carnivals held around the state representing her club. She has won countless trophies and medals and was awarded Girls Club Champion two years in a row since starting in 2011. Last year she was also placed 2nd overall in the Open division. Kyeisha has gained inspiration from Jordan John (her mother’s god daughter) who at the age of 13 years swam a 5 kms ocean swim, braving numerous blue bottle stings and managing to complete the swim 5 minutes faster than Australian champion, Grant Hackett. Since starting swimming it has become a major part of Kyeisha’s life as she has done work experience as a swim instructor and now teaches children how to swim. One day, Kyeisha would love to volunteer in some of the poorer areas of the world to teach children how to swim.

NAIDOC WEEK 2013 Shoalhaven High School hosted a range of activities for NAIDOC Week in July, including a morning tea in the school library where local Aboriginal identity Gerry Moore was a guest speaker. Pictured below: Members of the SRC with Aunty Janelle, Aunty Pat and Gerry Moore.

Pictured below: Aunty Ruth Simms chats with SHS Principal

PLP PLP (Personalised Learning Plan) interviews have been taking place during the year with all Aboriginal students, parents/carers and SHS staff. It is a requirement of the Department of School Education that all Aboriginal students have a PLP so teachers can support students and assist them in reaching their educational and career goals. If you have not had a PLP interview with your child then please contact the AEOs (Aunty Pat or Aunty Janelle) to arrange an appointment.

AEOs Aunty Pat Lester and Aunty Janelle Burnes are the Aboriginal Education Officers (AEOs) at Shoalhaven High School. Their role is to assist and support Aboriginal students and their families. If you have any queries about Indigenous programs, events or activities, then give Aunty Pat or Aunty Janelle a call at Shoalhaven High School.

Former Shoalhaven High School students, Tallara Kennedy and Emma Talbert pictured here with Kathleen Maguire are now AIME Mentors at UOW Shoalhaven Campus.

Cullunghutti Shoalhaven High School students were a part of the celebrations of the establishment of the Cullunghutti Aboriginal Area. The ceremony was held at the Shoalhaven Heads Community Centre. Talesha Farrell-Wellington played a role in the official ceremonial activities representing Shoalhaven High School and the Jeringa people. Pictured representing SHS are - incoming School Captains, Stuart Thomson and Marni Killick; Cassie Gill, Brad Pholi, Talesha Farrell-Wellington, Dylan Colless, Marynell Proszenyak, Liam Payne & Corinne Tillett.

Aboriginal Studies Year 12 Major Works Year 12 Aboriginal Studies students must complete a major work as part of their course requirements for the HSC. Pictured here are some of the students with their projects. Teisha Cloos chose to depict the story of her identity in the form of a painting. Morgan Mummery– Martin investigated her Aboriginality, Kellie Lloyd researched the history of the Barrawong and Darren Wellington researched the history of the Jeringa people.

Shoalhaven Indigenous Graduation Ceremony

Year 12 students from across the Shoalhaven celebrated the completion of 13 years of school at a graduation dinner held at the Bomaderry Bowling Club in September. Twelve Aboriginal students graduated from Shoalhaven High School this year.

Pictured enjoying the Graduation dinner are: (left) Teisha Cloos with her mum and nan; (bottom left) Latrell Blair, Darren Wellington, Morgan Mummery-Martin , Teisha Cloos & Kellie Lloyd; (below) Aunty Grace Crossley and Darren Wellington.

Year 12 Graduation Ceremony Congratulations to Teisha Cloos who received a number of awards at the Shoalhaven High School Year 12 Graduation Assembly. Teisha was awarded: Best All Round Student (for Participation and Outstanding Excellence in all Academic, Sporting and Service Activities); Excellence - Dance Ensemble (for commitment to the Dance Ensemble); Virginia Pollock Memorial Award (for Excellence in Aboriginal Studies); Emerald Award (the highest Award a student can achieve under Shoalhaven High’s Merit System); and an Award for Application to study. Teisha also performed her HSC

dance, “Can’t Hold Us” at the Ceremo-ny.

Congratulations also to Kellie Lloyd and Darren Wellington who also re-

ceived Awards for Application to Study.

Year 12 2012: What are they doing Now? Tallara Kennedy, a graduate of Year 12 at SHS in 2012, has completed her first year of a Bachelor of Arts at the Shoalhaven Campus of the University of Wol-longong. Tallara has also just been appointed as a personal assistant to Gerry Moore the Managing Director of Habitat Personnel. Juanita Webster is also studying through the Australian Catholic University whilst working as a receptionist at AMS (Aboriginal Medical Service). Aimee Lonesborough is also working at AMS as a trainee health worker.

Congratulations Sara! Sara Campbell was the winner of the

Aboriginal Youth Engagement Strategy Art Competition. Pictured with

Sara are: Uncle Noel Wellington, Uncle Ted Braddick & Aunty Pat Lester.

Year 12 student, Latrell Blair gave a powerful performance at the SHS Gala Night. Latrell also performed at the Year 12 Graduation Ceremony. Look out for Latrell on the stage and screen in the near future!

Newsletter team: Melinda Phelps, Teisha Cloos, Cassie Gill, Latisha Coslovich, , Maddie Farrell, & Talesha Farrell-Wellington, (border design) Contributors: Helen McCosker, Judy Kowalski, Richard Luland & Gail Fitzgerald

TRANSMIT Earlier in the year students from Years 7 – 12 were involved in the TRANSMIT Project which was organized by the Bundanon Trust. Students from Shoalhaven, Nowra, Bomaderry and Vincentia High Schools participated in workshop activities at the Bundanon Trust’s properties at Riversdale and Bundanon with industry professionals from NAISDA, William Barton (renowned didgeridoo player) and performance poet, Candy Royale. The workshop culminated in a performance for the opening of NAIDOC WEEK at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre. Pictured below: William Barton at Bundanon with some of the boys involved in the TRANSMIT Project. Pictured below:

William plays the didgeridoo and Larry Timbery-McLeod listens.

Below Right: Teanna Pope listens to Candy Royalle while constructing a poem. Below left: Brian Williams, Latisha Coslovich, Carley Gray, Carley McAlister, Jade Trindall & Larry Timbery-McLeod practise their work in progress dance at Riversdale.

The final product— The TRANSMIT Project performance at the opening of NAIDOC Week at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre.. Well done, everyone involved, as it was a fantastic performance and a wonderful experience for all the students involved in the project.

Jessicah Bell Tom D’Elboux

SBAT A number of Aboriginal students at SHS are involved in School Based Traineeships/Apprenticeships. Tamika Smith, Corinne Tillett and Caitlin Christiansen are all enrolled in the (Djinggi Program) Cert. III Education Support; Jessicah Bell is gaining a Business Services qualification; Tom D’Elboux is completing the Certificate II in Pharmaceutical Manufactur-ing; and Cassie Gill and Brad Pholi are involved in the IPROWD Program.

If you are interested in finding out more about the SBAT program, please contact Mr Croxon, the Careers Adviser at SHS.

Brad Pholi

Jessicah Bell with Ms Helen McCosker

Julie Ashby working with Janaya Ebsworth

Norta Norta The Norta Norta Program offers tuition for Aboriginal students at Shoalhaven High School. Our tutors are qualified teachers who are employed to support Aboriginal students to match or better the educational outcomes of the broader student community - helping to close the gap! Please contact Shoalhaven High School for more information about the Norta Norta Program.

Congratulations Talesha!

Talesha Farrell-Wellington

was the winner of the 2013 Shoalhaven Purple Ribbon Project Art

Competition. Talesha has been accepted into the Djinggi Program for

2014.