Our Mission: To provide a quality comprehensive and inclusive educational environment where all students can achieve Newsletter also on the web at cowrahigh.net 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 2015 Issue 13
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT Cowra High and the local community is very proud of our senior rugby league team in making the University Shield semi-finals (the final 4 in the state) with a convincing win against Shoalhaven High School 44 - 22 on Wednesday. It was fantastic to watch the boys play such a spirited game while being supported by the entire school and members of the public. I’m looking forward to the next round against Chifley College and I’m confident that it will be a great game. I also want to congratulate Toby Baker & Alana Ryan who have been elected as our 2016 School Captains and Tobie Gilmore & Emma Robinson as Vice Captains for 2016. I know student leadership for next year will be in excellent hands. We will hold a special assembly early in Term 4 where we will induct our new leaders and present them with their badges & blazers. At this assembly Year 10 students will also take the opportunity to give a brief speech as part of the nomination process for School Prefect 2016. HSC performances continue to roll on ~ I wish our Drama students the best of luck for Tuesday’s practical examination or I should say, break a leg. Have a great fortnight
Friday 21 August, 2015 NAIDOC DEBATING CHALLENGE This week the Cowra High NAIDOC debating team competed in the regional round in Dubbo. Although they were runners-up they will still get to travel to Sydney in November to compete at the state level of the competition which is very pleasing. Jaylee Dunn, Jackson Oliver, Lucy Wilson & Imajen James won their first debate against Kelso High School and found themselves up against Forbes High in the final. Unfortunately Forbes were able to repeat their success when we met them in the local round, taking out first place. However, both the first and second teams progress to Sydney. The topic of the debate was That all sacred lands should be handed back to the traditional owners. Cowra was affirmative in both debates and performed strongly each time. Congratulations to the students who put so much time and effort into preparing their arguments and practising their speeches. Inala Childs ~ Debating Coach
Charles Gauci
REMINDERS Year 11 Exams Week 9 & 10 Year 12, 2016 Jersey orders close 4 September 2015 Year 12 Final Assembly 17 September 2015 Overdue elective fees need to be paid Contact details to be updated Items of clothing clearly labelled 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 moral ~ we can collaboratively make moral judgements to guide decisions and behaviour
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COWRA HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER SEIKEI VISIT 2015
It was with great pleasure that we welcomed Seikei High School back to Cowra High in Week 5. After such a successful visit to Japan & Seikei High School last October, we were very keen to catch up with our Japanese friends again. Sixteen students lead by Mr John Millen, Miss Akemi Winn, Mr Yuzo Koyama & Mr Tomohiko Hidaka enjoyed two weeks in Cowra staying with the families of Cowra High students. They arrived to a very chilly reception from the Cowra weather after leaving a heatwave of record proportions in Tokyo! The students enjoyed many cultural activities during their stay ~ a visit to Cowra’s various dedications to our shared history, shearing & feeding lambs at the Wallace family farm and excursions to Jenolan Caves & Dubbo Zoo. Judging by the happy faces & laughter, all excursions were a wonderful success. The Hello & Welcome social was a real hit, with the Seikei students thoroughly enjoying an informal & happy get-together.
The valuable social interaction and development of new friendships is a special thing and I would encourage all of our students to get involved in this experience. On that note, we are in the very early stages of organising a return trip to Japan & Seikei High School in September/October holidays next year. I know that our buddies & billets have all come to understand how special such visits can be through their involvement in this short exchange. Expressions of interest for this visit will be called for shortly. May I take this opportunity to sincerely thank the host families of our 16 Seikei students for their care ~ it is a significant commitment and one that is truly appreciated. Thanks also to the Wallace family who treated us to such a wonderful taste of Aussie farm life. Such visits make Cowra High School unique and add to the exceptional educational opportunities on offer at our school. Thank you again everyone. Megan Perkins Seikei Excursion Co-ordinator IRLEN SYNDROME OR SCOTOPIC SENSITIVITY There is some fantastic news for all those students at Cowra High School who have Irlen Syndrome (Scotopic Sensitivity). Coloured exercise booklets are now available at the Yellow House Printers Cowra. The booklets can be printed in your required colour and cost $5 per booklet. Mrs Smith in English has some samples of the booklets if you would like to have a look.
Yellow House Printers Rowston Lane Cowra Ph: 6341 1022 / 0447 311 126 http://www.yellowhousecowra.com
Perhaps the aspect of which I am most proud are the friendships and bonds forged between our students & their Seikei brothers & sisters. Although students are often hesitant initially, by the end of the visit tears are often shed as it proves difficult to farewell our friends.
Students who attend school are more likely to: Achieve higher outcomes Stay out of trouble Be more motivated Build stronger friendships Develop good work habits Be punctual and reliable Go on to further education Gain high paying jobs
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 Big Eyes will be shown on Sunday 23 August at 2pm at the Civic Centre Theatrette which has a new large screen & surround sound. This will be hosted by Cowra Musical & Dramatic Society. Tickets are available at the door and include afternoon tea. Phone 6340 2064 for any enquiries.
Page 3 SAFER DRIVERS COURSE FOR LEARNER DRIVERS Are you wanting to get your P’s? Would an extra 20 hours in your log book help? PCYC Cowra will be holding its Safer Drivers Course for Learner Drivers at the Young Road complex on Friday 11 September (Module 1) and Saturday 12 September (Module 2). The course consists of: Module 1 being a 3 hour facilitated group discussion Module 2 being a 2 hour in-car coaching session Cost of the course is $140 and participants receive 20 hours credit in their Learner log books upon completion of the course. You must have 50 hours of actual driving experience recorded in your log book to register for the course.
SOFTBALL REGISTRATIONS Bletchington Softball Club welcomes new and returning players of all ages. Registration days are Saturday 22 & 29 August at Calare Public School from 1.30 – 4pm.
Each course is limited to a maximum of twelve participants and booking forms are available at PCYC’s Young Road complex.
Email bletchington.softball@gmail.com for more information. SERVICE NSW Your Service NSW Cowra Service Centre enables you to complete over 800 NSW Government transactions in one location. Transactions include: Driver licence & photo ID cards Vehicle registration renewals Senior cards Contractor licence Location: 97 Brisbane Street (same location as the former motor registry)
Open: Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm
NAPLAN The NAPLAN results for Years 7 & 9 were handed out last Wednesday. If you didn’t receive your results please collect them from the office.
PO Box 72 • Dowell Street • Cowra 2794 • Telephone: 02 6342 1766 • Facsimile: 02 6342 1578 • Email: cowra-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au