Our Mission: To provide a quality comprehensive and inclusive educational environment where all students can achieve Newsletter also on the web at www.cowra-h.schools.nsw.edu.au Principal: Charles Gauci B.Ed., Dip.T. Deputy Principal: Paul Bullock B.Sc., Dip.Ed. Deputy Principal: Ian Pattingale B.App.Sc., Dip.Ed.
Volume 2014 Issue 12
Friday 22 August, 2014
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
YOUTH AMBASSADORS
Term 3 is an immensely important period of time for our senior students. HSC courses are starting to draw to an end, with a number of practical courses being marked already and major HSC projects coming to a conclusion. I wish all these students the best of luck with this phase of their HSC. It is also very important at this time that students remain focused on their studies as there will be many distractions. I ask parents/caregivers to please help in keeping them on track and working towards their final goal at this vital time.
Ten students from our school were chosen by the Cowra Youth Council to act as ambassadors of goodwill for the many overseas and other visitors who attended the recent Breakout 70th Anniversary commemorations. Their roles were many and varied throughout the four days of events including forming guards of honour at a number of wreathlaying & other ceremonies, plus escorting and making welcome official dignitaries & visitors from Japan. Their major role was to accompany Ambassadors from all the countries which participated in World War I in the ringing of the Peace Bell to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the start of the war.
School uniform is an important component of our school culture. I ask parents/caregivers to please ensure students adhere to our School Uniform Policy. We will be monitoring students’ appearance and communicating with parents regarding students who are regularly out of uniform. If you have any difficulty regarding your child accessing uniforms, please contact the school to discuss solutions. This week Cowra High celebrated Science Week. It was fantastic to see students engaging in a wide variety of activities which were displayed during our weekly assembly. I congratulate Miss Pomering and the science staff for highlighting this fascinating and fun subject for our students. Certainly the rocket launches by Mr Edmonds’ Year 10 class were a hit ~ fantastic!
All of these students performed their tasks with distinction and grace. They worked extremely hard, often until late in the evening, and, along with the three chosen from St Raphael’s, were an absolute credit to their school. I would like to publicly congratulate and thank them all ~ Jessie McLean, Maddy Jones, Luke Reid, Yoshi Kondo, Tayla Garratt, Isabelle Lloyd, Emma Rowston, Lily Shingles, Lucy Wilson & Olivia Perkins. They made me proud to be their teacher. Judi Smith
Yesterday the first round of the CKC Cup kicked off. This is a fun sporting competition for Years 7 to 10 between Cowra, Canobolas and Kelso High Schools ~ the focus is all about sportsmanship and having a go. Have a great fortnight. Charles Gauci
☼☼☼ PO Box 72 • Dowell Street • Cowra 2794 • Telephone: 02 6342 1766 Facsimile: 02 6342 1578 • Email: cowra-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au We value lifelong learning ~ learning is for everyone
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COWRA HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
YEAR 9 JAPANESE EXCURSION
A YEAR IN JAPAN – CALLING ALL STUDENTS!
On Thursday 31 July, the current Year 9 Japanese class along with the Seikei Exchange student, Yoshi Kondo, made their way to the Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre.
If you are currently in Year 9 or 10 and would like a year off normal school ~ adventure beckons! We are currently calling for nominations to be the 2015 exchange student to our sister school Seikei High, in Tokyo. This exchange has been going for nearly 45 years. It offers a scholarship which pays airfares and insurance to the value of $3,000. Most other expenses are covered by the school in Japan or host families. The successful student will live with 3 or 4 different host families and attend school for the year. If you are in Year 10 next year, you will complete your Year 10 equivalent at Seikei and come back to Year 11 with your friends the following year. The exchange is from January 2015 to January 2016.
The girls and Yoshi filmed a three minute movie for the Japan Foundation’s Video Matsuri Competition. This is a competition where we will be judged on our ability to speak the Japanese language as well as our acting skills! We will also be judged on how well we have interpreted the main theme of The Apple.
It is not necessary for you to be studying Japanese to gain the scholarship. What is needed is a keen interest in experiencing another culture and learning the language & customs. This can have great advantages later in many areas of employment. So if you are an outgoing person who likes the idea of making new friends and having many experiences not available in Australia, this exchange may be for you. Nominations are now being sought for our 2015 student. If you would like to know more, please see (or phone) Megan Perkins or Judi Smith at school within the next week, pick up some information sheets and/or a nomination form. We are happy to discuss & explain the process to you and your parents/caregivers. Deadline for forms to be submitted is 3:30pm on Friday 29 August. ☼☼☼
WE We would like to thank teachers, Mrs Rice & Ms Smith, for their ongoing support to allow this film to happen. We would also like to thank the Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre for allowing us to film our movie. Emma Rowston & Lucy Wilson Year 9 Japanese students ☼☼☼
No need to debate Go to school Don’t be late!
LIFE WITHOUT BARRIERS VE Would you like to become a foster carer? Life Without Barriers is seeking compassionate people who can provide a nurturing & stable home for young people who require support & care. If you would like to make a positive difference to a young person’s life, Life Without Barriers would love to hear from you. Phone: 6394 9713 or 0429 998 506 Email: lee.curtis@lwb.org.au
PO Box 72 • Dowell Street • Cowra 2794 • Telephone: 02 6342 1766 • Facsimile: 02 6342 1578 • Email: cowra-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au
COWRA HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER ANU RURAL WEEK VISIT On Wednesday 13 August, the school hosted a large group of medical students from the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra who were in Cowra as part of their Rural Week. This visit was organised by Cowra’s Dr Louise Baker and had a twofold purpose ~ to share information with senior students interested in pursuing careers in various medical fields and for the ANU students to learn more about our local Aboriginal community. Following morning tea and a welcome by Mr Gauci, several ANU students spoke about their particular course & various pathways into it. It was interesting to note that they had all completed university studies in another field prior to pursuing their present medical degrees. Next was a performance by the Wagambirra Dance Group which the visitors greatly appreciated. Jo-Anne Williams & Cheryl McAlister then spoke about the school’s various programs for Aboriginal students, illustrated by a PowerPoint of photos from the Breakaway program, before showing the visitors our “big goanna” sculpture and explaining its significance. The ANU students also visited Erambie & Yalbillinga Pre-School, the Council and the hospital.
Page 3 Year 12 Major prize winners ~ Jessica Harris & Kaitlyn Brooks Minor prize winners ~ Monique Gillespie, Kaitlynn Trethewey, Cameron Edgar, Lucas Martin-Edgar, Naomi Reid, Mae Eldridge, Kayla Banks, Sancia Baratto, Abbey Bull, Samantha Nicholson, Bianca Riggio, James Peel, Emily Murphy, Breeanna Burns, Angus Hart, Hannah Murphy, Jaimey Dougherty, Jessie McLean, Bernadette Buckley & Dom Carter Year 11 Major prize winners ~ Maddie Jones & John Clark Minor prize winners ~ Thomas Wheatley, Patrice Sharp, Paige Ellis, Alyssa Hindmarch, Vivienne Wells, Donna O’Brien, Isobel Fragar, Luke Reid, Sean Simpson, Sally Cooke, Kimberley Smith, Jayson Penman, Georgia Waters, Beth Shingles, Kirstie Hammond, Hannah Russell, Charlie Johns, Hayley Pound, Ainslie Dunlop & Amy Edgar Thanks to Mrs Cathy Ellis for assisting with the organisation of the special draws. Years 9 & 10 will get their turn soon! Congratulations to this week’s PBL winners: Bushman Boots & All voucher ~ Blayd Almond Sportspower voucher ~ Sarah White Canteen vouchers & chocolates ~ Jessica Brown, Jessie McLean, Courtney Mossman, Laura Rowston, Sean Simpson, Sarah White & Alex Wilson
Abbey, Mae & Sancia
Kaitlin & Jessica
Dr Baker, visiting ANU students and the Wagambirra Dance Group at the big goanna Jaimey, Breeanna, Dominic, Bianca, Angus, Jessie & Bernadette
☼☼☼ PBL NEWS A special PBL draw was held on Wednesday 13 August for Years 11 & 12 during their Year Meetings. With hundreds of coloured eagles in the boxes many students were hoping to win a prize. There were two $20 Coles/Myer vouchers for each year group for the major prize and lots of yummy chocolate treats for the minor prizes.
Kaitlynn, Monique, Cameron & Naomi
PO Box 72 • Dowell Street • Cowra 2794 • Telephone: 02 6342 1766 • Facsimile: 02 6342 1578 • Email: cowra-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au
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COWRA HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER P&C NEWS
Thank you to parents and staff who attended our last meeting on Wednesday 30 July. We were fortunate to have at our July meeting Mr Jason Nottingham, who gave our members an overview of the HSIE programs available to students at Cowra High School. An issue raised at our monthly meeting was the proposed changes by the Federal Government to the NSW Gonski agreement past 2017. This is very significant for NSW schools, as it results in a $1.2 billion cut for NSW schools. In simple terms this means fewer staff, resources and less support for students with higher needs after 2017. The P&C has emailed further information on this to all parents, as it is a critical issue for our local school community and has significant implications to our school's funding in the future. A short video which explains how the Gonski model of funding applies to schools is available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=xylDiOl7RGI. Please register your support for this important initiative at www.igiveagonski.com.au/ ~ it only takes a few moments, and your support is greatly appreciated. Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 3 September at 7:30pm at the Cowra Services Club. At this meeting we will have a presentation from the Technology & Applied Science faculty. Please consider coming along to this meeting to meet other parents and staff, and have a say about your child's education. Trisha Long P&C President ☼☼☼ ORANGE SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION Registrations are now open for their 2014-2015 season and will be taken on Saturday 23 August at Club Newstead from 1.30 – 3.30pm. If you have never played softball before or haven’t for a long time go along to a Come & Try Day on either Saturday 20 or 27 September at Sir Jack Brabham Oval in Orange. For more information, contact Pam Kelly 0419 013 951 or Jacquie Lisle on 0407 934 471.
SCHOOL SOCIAL The next social will be held on Wednesday 3 September, 6.30 - 9.30 pm ~ the theme is Rainbows and Unicorns.
PO Box 72 • Dowell Street • Cowra 2794 • Telephone: 02 6342 1766 • Facsimile: 02 6342 1578 • Email: cowra-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au