walchacentralschool · 2019-11-15 · of their comfort zone and have to challenge themselves to overcome their fear of heights. Everyone is challenged to go as high as they can and

walchacentralschool A JOURNEY OF LEARNING FROM K TO 12 K-12 NEWSLETTER

HAPPY AND SAFE STUDENTS 15 November 2019 NEWS AND VIEWS OF YOUR LOCAL CENTRAL SCHOOL

WALCHA CENTRAL SCHOOL

154E North Street Ph: 02 67772777 WALCHA NSW 2354 Fax: 02 67771009 PRINCIPAL: Mr Mark Hall P&C President: Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.walcha-c.school.nsw.gov.au

CANTEEN ROSTER - Week 6 Term 4, 2019

18/11/19

Emma

Warneminde Green

19/11/19

Lesley Doyle

Anna Wood

20/11/19

21/11/19

Kylie Dunn

22/11/19

In Week 9 of last term, 24 of our Year 9-10 students went on an excursion to Coffs Coast Adventure Centre. Their first stop was the surf school at Sawtell where the students learnt about surf awareness and how to ride a surfboard. Our students always enjoy this activity and participate with great enthusiasm. It always amazes me how, with just a little practice, they learn to ride a surfboard so quickly.

When we get to the camp the students are given an orientation of the facility and taken to their cabins to settle in. Then it’s tea time and they can’t believe how good the food is so, needless to say, they never miss a meal.

The students are challenged with high wire activities where they are taken out of their comfort zone and have to challenge themselves to overcome their fear of heights. Everyone is challenged to go as high as they can and it is great to see them encouraging each other to go as far as they can.

The commando course is always entertaining. The students are put into teams and have to help each other through a gruelling set of obstacles that sees them crawl through mud and water traps where they get absolutely filthy, but they love it.

The last visit of the excursion is to go to the Dolphin Marine Conservation Park where the students learn what is being done to protect the marine life in our waterways and oceans. They get to watch and participate in the dolphin show and get their photos with the dolphins and a friendly seal. This is a nice way to finish off what has been an extremely fun and exhausting four days.

The whole excursion is about team building, learning to tolerate others in a close environment, challenging themselves and having a great time while doing it. As teachers, Miss Gaynor and I see it as a great experience to watch the students grow as individuals, step up to the challenges set for them and achieve, to the best of their ability. We both feel they all accomplished this in the time we had.

Tony Bozza

Stage 5 Coffs Excursion

Dr David Townsend Student learning is always our focus here at Walcha Central School. Last week we were fortunate to be visited again by Canadian academic, Dr David Townsend. Dr Townsend continued the work he began earlier in the year with staff and students. During his visit, staff worked with Dr Townsend in a series of workshops where they were able to reflect on our progress as a school and most

importantly, to devise strategies for improvement that can be implemented and sustained into the future.

Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza Recently, students from Walcha Central School’s livestock team competed at the Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza. The team, ably prepared by Mrs Jones and supported by a team of generous and enthusiastic parents were excellent ambassadors for our school and further details can be found in this edition of the newsletter.

Sydney Excursion Students from Year 11 are currently in Sydney for a week of learning in our state’s capital. This is an excellent experience and students have the opportunity to see what life in a city can offer.

Thanks to Mrs Bayley for organising such a valuable learning experience and to Mr Stanton for accompanying them.

New Timetable-Secondary Don’t forget that in Week 6, all secondary students will have a new timetable as they begin a new academic year.

Claim the Date Our annual Presentation Day will be held in the MPC on Friday 22 November commencing at 1pm. All members of our school community are invited to attend and share in celebrating the achievement of our students. Further details are contained in this newsletter.

Premier’s Debating Challenge Finalists Congratulations to our Year 6 Warriors debating team who, on Monday, competed in the regional final for the Premiers Debating Challenge against Timbumburi Public School AND WON!!! This qualified them to attend the State finals at Stanwell Tops next week, however, due to the fires throughout NSW, this event has now been postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date.

Debating is a great skill that will prove invaluable for our students in later life. Thank you to team coach, Mrs Brenda Watkins whose guidance and advice has enabled our students to develop their skills and prove themselves against much larger schools in our region.

Student success Congratulations to all students who have represented the school at various events this term. We have achieved some excellent results and our students continue to represent the school capably and are a credit to their school, families and community.

Details of these achievements have been included in this edition of the newsletter.

There are many more things that deserve celebration and space has not permitted me to mention them all. Throughout this newsletter, there are many more stories as well as those on our Facebook page and website.

For photos, notes, information and more, visit our school website http://www.walcha-c.schools.nsw.gov.au

K-12 NEWSLETTER 15 November 2019

Welcome to our

Walcha Central School

Captains and Vice Captains for 2020

Secondary Captains: Morgan Dunn & Hannah Dunn Vice Captains: Chloe Swanton & Anastasia Haling Primary Captains: Toby Crawford & Emily Ussher Vice Captains: Hamish Warden & Phoebe Fenwicke

Simon Warden Deputy Principal



At the end of last month, 13 Walcha Central students and 9 head of cattle made the annual pilgrimage to the Scone Beef Bonanza. Students battled strong winds, dust storms, and a short down-pour while they prepared themselves and the cattle for the competition. We had lots of fun and a successful weekend.

Abbey Mackaway and Sophie Worth both won their paraders classes in the 16 years competition. Hannah Dunn (17 years) and Jessica Wake (15 years) placed second in their respective parader classes. Sophie Worth also won the 16 years junior judging competition, after sprinting from her paraders final to the junior judging ring to make her winning speech.

Our cattle may not have taken the eye of the judge on the day. But we had some success on the hook with the two charolais steers (Ching and Chong), that were generously donated by Mark and Dee Morowitz, placing 3rd and 1st in their respective classes. ‘Stitch’, our charolais x Angus heifer donated by the Worth family, just missed out on a ribbon, placing 6th in her class.

Walcha students also enthusiastically took part in the interactive competition on Saturday night with one group coming third in the competition, winning themselves some great prizes. Students also won the school some extra brushes and combs for the show box, through actively asking questions and dobbing their teacher in to get up and judge the pen of cattle on show.

Thank you to all the parents who kindly donated cattle, and to those who made the trip down to support the students at this event. An extra big thank you to Mark Mackaway and Evan Dunn for taking on roles as camp fathers and keeping us all well fed.

Dinah Jones



On Friday 25 October, Walcha Central School K-6 students were fortunate enough to have grandparents visiting our classrooms.

Grandparents were able to experience activities such as music, painting, board games, family tree plans and lots of other fun activities. This was followed by an amazing morning tea where they were able to sit and relax with other grandparents.

We thank everyone who attended, for their commitment and ongoing support of both our school and the students.

Tiny Gardens Project

Earlier this term, Year 6 Walcha Central School students were involved in trialling a Citizen Science project, written by science researcher Dr James O’Hanlon from the University of New England. The project looked into how ants disperse seeds.

Principal of Thalgarrah Environmental Education Centre, Matt McKenzie and Dr

James O’Hanlon explained the value of citizens across Australia following scientific fair test procedures to collect and upload data for research into supporting continued vegetation growth in Australia.

Footage of students conducting the experiment and explaining their learning will be used to launch the program across Australia. All members of the filming party commended the students on their enthusiasm and ability to explain their predictions and conclusion in detail.

Brenda Watkins

Kristy Bird

Charlize Haling represented Walcha Central School at the Liverpool Plains Equestrian Interschool event held at Quirindi Showground on 18, 19 & 20 October.

Charlize and her horse ‘Monte’ received third place in the 60cm One Day Event, Reserve High Point score in secondary dressage for Level 4, and fourth place in showjumping.

Liverpool Plains

Equestrian Interschools

Competition


On 28 & 29 September, Thomas Bullen competed at the Australian Junior Dirt Track Championships which were held at Somersby on the Central Coast.

In the 85/150cc 13-16yrs Big Wheel class, Tom won 4 out of 5 of his races and placed second in his last race which resulted in him coming away with an Australian title.

Tom works extremely hard at this sport and his hard work and commitment have paid off.

Australian Junior Dirt Track Championships

On Friday 1 November , 3/4B, 4/5P

and 6W visited the local pioneer cottage

as part of their history focus.

Students were able to ask volunteers

questions about the historical features

within the cottage and the surrounding

displays. They used this excursion to

build their knowledge of the history of not

only Walcha but the world around them.

Pioneer Cottage

Excursion

Walcha Central School students were privileged to be visited by Selina Win Pe, founder of the organisation ‘Will of Courage’. Selena is a survivor of the terrifying ordeal known as the ‘Sydney Siege’ which occurred in Martin Place in mid December 2014.

In early 2019, she was resolute in finding purpose and meaning to her life. As a result she has dedicated the rest of her life to aiding rural and remote Australia.

Selena met with Year 8 students and told a small part of her story. She gave each of the students a cap and donated food to support the breakfast club. The students enjoyed their brief engagement with her and expressed that they hoped she will return soon.

Selina Win Pe visit to WCS


CALENDAR See website for more details /18/ http://www.walcha-c.schools.nsw.gov.au

18/11/2019 7-12 timetable rollover

22/11/2019 Presentation Day - 1pm in the MPC

28/11/2019 - 29/11/2019

Yr 6 Orientation day and Workshop day.

29/11/2019 Kinder Transition

2/12/2019 - 6/12/2019

Trade Readiness Program - Bricklaying workshop @ WCS

02/12/2019 - 13/12/2019

Primary School Swimming Scheme

02/12/2019 - 13/12/2019

K-6 Safety Talks

5/12/2019 Responsible Pet Education Program - K-6 classes on rotation

6/12/2019 Stage 6 Ag - Farm Case study @ UNE Smart Farm

6/12/2019 Festival Friday school and community event @ WCS from 4pm

16/12/2019 Year 6 Farewell activities: P5 - disco for K-6 students in the MPC 3:10 to 6pm - games and dinner for Yr 6 students

17/12/2019 1/2RS Celebration of Learning in the TLC

Back-to-School

Stationery

Requirements 2020

Students currently in Years K - 5 will soon be given a list of back-to-school stationery requirements for 2020 as well as an order form and price list for Walcha Newsagency for these items. These lists will also be available on our school website.

Current Year 6 students will receive their list of back-to-school stationery requirements for 2020 at the Year 7 orientation days and Kindergarten 2020 will receive their list at the end of the Kindergarten transition program.


We are excited to share that our school canteen is now a leader in providing a healthy food service to our students and staff. Our menu has been recognised as a ‘Great Choice Healthy School Canteen’ meaning that it meets the NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy.

A big thanks goes to our Canteen Manager & the P&C committee for all their hard work in reviewing our school canteen menu. Please support our canteen by ordering lunch and/or recess or volunteering in the canteen.

Orientation Days for Year 7, 2020 Students and Parents

We are concluding our Year 6 into 7, 2020 transition program with two orientation days for current Year 6 students which will be held on Thursday 28 November and Friday 29 November 2019. Both days commence at 9am in the library and conclude at 3:10pm.

Parents are invited to attend the morning session on Thursday 28 November 2019 which concludes with morning tea with the executive staff at 10:50am.

Students are encouraged to wear their sport uniform as they will be participating in activities throughout the day. Students are also advised to bring their recess and lunch or order from the canteen.


Documents

walchacentralschool · 2019-11-15 · of their comfort zone and have to challenge themselves to overcome their fear of heights. Everyone is challenged to go as high as they can and