School Newsletter—Contact Volume 13 Edition 2 Term 2 June 2013
From The Principal As I read through this edition of Contact I am impressed with the range of activities our students and teachers have been involved in. From trips to the United States, to Hayes Creek, debating and rock climbing, our students have the opportunity to go wide and far and Darwin High School is fortunate to have great students and teachers willing to go the extra mile. Darwin High School is all about providing every child with the opportunity to achieve their best academically and to be involved in extra curricular activities. I am sure you will be impressed with the range of activities our students and teachers have reported here in this edition of Contact. Darwin High School Civic Awards Civic Awards are given to students at Darwin High School who represent the school in the community. We wish to recognise these students and show that the school values their achievements. They may be involved in cultural, sporting, charity, commemorative or civic activities. Students can be nominated by teachers, students or members of the wider community. We would appreciate your assistance in identifying students who deserve these awards. Please email your nominations to karen.gilfuis@ntschools.net or phone on 8999 1222. Semester 1 Reports Semester 1 reports are included with this edition of Contact. As always, if you have any queries or concerns, please contact the relevant Year Level Coordinator, Faculty Senior or teacher to arrange a meeting. Financial Contributions I wish to thank those parents who have made voluntary financial contributions to Darwin High School this year. Your support enables us
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For Your Diary—Parent Teacher Night
to provide your child with a quality senior secondary education. Additionally, I want to acknowledge the parents who have finalised the reimbursement costs for consumables used by their child in their subjects during Semester 1. Our students are being prepared for a very competitive world and your direct support helps to fund enriched learning opportunities by ensuring we can provide a full range of up to date resources across all subject areas.
Parent teacher night will be on 19 August (3pm—7pm) for all year levels. Interviews will be a maximum of eight minutes duration. We are once again using the internet-based booking system called Parent Teacher On-Line (PTO). Please access the system as follows:
Go to the school’s home page
Commencement of Semester 2 Teaching staff return to work on Monday 22 July. Students return to School on Tuesday 23 July.
http://www.darwinhigh.nt.edu.au/
Click on the parent Teacher Online tab
Click Obtain PIN/Password and enter your email address.
Finally, my thanks to all staff for the exceptional efforts this semester. Enjoy the break, and I look forward to working with all members of the School community in Semester 2.
Your PIN will be emailed to you. If you encounter any problems using PTO please contact the school office by phone on 89991263, or by email to shannon.foy@ntschools.net. Please note that PTO will be available for bookings from 9 August starting at 3:30pm
Trevor Read Principal
Assistance
Year 12 News
If you require clarification or assistance with any matter whatsoever, you may wish to contact some of the following people:
Using the Holidays Wisely The June/July vacation gives us time to take stock of how the year has progressed to date. For some it has been a great semester and for others things have not gone as well as they should have. Term 3 will be crunch time particularly for those students whose subjects have external examinations as they complete all summative tasks by the end of the term. Students need to ensure they attend all lessons. Some students are missing lessons to finish off assessment tasks on the day that they are due. This causes gaps in learning and ultimately makes it more difficult for them to succeed. Similarly, students need to make use of their study lines and not waste them through chatting with their mates or ducking into town for some takeaway.
Mr Aaron Dalgleish
Year 10 Coordinator
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Mr Kevin Northcote
Assistant Principal Year 10
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Ms Ros France
Year 11 Coordinator
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Ms Patricia Cryer
Assistant Principal Year 11
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Mr Michael Loftus
Year 12 Coordinator
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Mr Marty Isaksen
Assistant Principal Year 12
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Ms Meg Davis
Careers Practitioner Year 10
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Ms Jodie Matthews
Careers Practitioner Year 11
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Ms Janine Watt
Careers Practitioner Year 12
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Ms Anne Donnelly
NTCET Coordinator
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Ms Anne Hosking
School Counsellor
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Use the four week break wisely. Relax for some of the time, but do not procrastinate. Refocus and start revising what you have covered in Semester 1.
Ms Kerry Williams
School Counsellor
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Ms Linda Sanders
Home Liaison Officer
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Mr Paul McConnell
Defence Liaison
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Ms Barbara Tapsell
AIEW
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Ms Lily Zhong
International Students Coordinator
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A number of teachers are running tutorials during the four week break. If you are in town please make use of these tutorials. On the next page is a list of some of the tutorials that are running. However, it would be wise for your child to check with their teachers in case schedules change. Year 12 Graduation and Formal The Graduation and The Formal will be held at the Convention Centre on Monday 25 November.
The Graduation Ceremony will occur in the Auditorium from 5.30pm until 7.00pm. This event does not incur a cost and parents and families are welcome to attend. The Formal will be held in one of the halls at the Convention Centre. This event is only for Year 12 students from Darwin High School. Tickets will be on sale in Term 3. Marty Isaksen Assistant Principal Year 12
Michael Loftus Year 12 Coordinator
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You’re Invited As you may be aware, it is Darwin High School’s 50 th Anniversary on the Bullocky Point site this year. The School is celebrating this milestone by having a number of events for students, past and present, as well as for the general community. We would like to invite you to attend the following events: Free Community Event at Darwin High School –Tank/Pavilion Thursday 8th August 4.30pm-6.30pm Come and participate in a FREE event at the School which is open to everyone, young and old! There will be drama, dance and entertainment activities, tours of the school, an historic exhibition and the opportunity to connect with past staff and classmates. Take advantage of free parking and the chance to head off to the Mindil Markets afterwards. Black Tie Ball at SKYCITY Casino Lawns Saturday 10th August 7.00pm A celebration of the School will be held at SKYCITY. Tickets can be purchased through the Darwin High School Finance Office at $195.00 per head which includes a three course meal, four hour beverage package, entertainment, live music and door prizes. Charlie King will be our MC for the night and many past students and staff will be in attendance. Tickets will be on sale only until 31st July so get in quick! It is going to be a brilliant night! HURRY FOR TICKETS: 89991229 / 7.45am-3.45pm
Stage 2 June/July Tutorials
Monday W e e k
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
June 24 9-12 Physics and Chemistry Ms Standley 9-1 Community Studies (All Classes)
June 25 9-1 Community Studies (All Classes) 9-12 Creative Arts (Ms Laidlaw) 10-2 Spanish (Ms Tomassi)
June 26 9-1 Community Studies (All Classes) 9-3 Chemistry (Ms Disney) 10-2 Spanish (Ms Tomassi)
June 27 9-1 Community Studies(All Classes) 9-12 Maths Methods (Ms McConnell)
June 28 9-1 Community Studies(All Classes) 9-3 Physics (Ms Disney)
July 1 9-12 Physics and Chemistry (Ms Standley) 9-12 Maths Studies (Ms Offer)
July 2 9.30-12 Specialist Maths (Ms Tan) 10-2 Italian (Ms Tomassi)
July 3 10-12 Biology (Ms Emons) 10-2 Italian (Ms Tomassi)
July 4
July 5
July 8 9-12 Physics and Chemistry (Ms Standley)
July 9 9.30-12 Specialist Maths (Ms Tan)
July 10 10-12 Biology (Ms Emons) 10-2 Dance (Ms Calver)
July 11 10-4 Dance (Ms Calver)
July 12 10-4 Dance (Ms Calver)
July 15 9-12 Physics and Chemistry (Ms Standley) 10-3 Dance (Ms Calver)
July 16 9.30-12 Specialist Maths (Ms Tan) 10-4 Dance (Ms Calver)
July 17 10-5 Drama (Ms Cawthorne) 10-12 Biology (Ms Reimers)
July 18 10-5 Drama (Ms Cawthorne) 9-12 Maths Studies (Ms Griffiths) 12.30-4 Physics (Ms Disney)
July 19 10-5 Drama (Ms Cawthorne) 9-3 Chemistry (Ms Disney) 8-2.30 Outdoor Education (Mr Dalgleish)
1 W e e k 2 W e e k 3 W e e k 4
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ETANT Stage 2 English Studies Examination Workshop A dozen students attended a Stage 2 English Studies Examination Workshop held one Saturday morning in late April at CDU. It was run by the English Teachers Association of the Northern Territory (ETANT) for a gold coin donation. Presentations were made by a number of teachers who were aiming to lift the performance of students in the Examination, the only area of the course in which Northern Territory students do not perform as well, or better, than students in South Australia. Strategies for approaching the Critical Reading, Poetry, Single Text and Paired Text sections of the paper were outlined by the presenters. The mood of the day was best captured in the words of two of our Stage 2 students who attended the workshop, Kaejenn Tchia (top row striped shirt) and Sasha Beekman (back row left): The English Studies Seminar was a fantastic opportunity to learn about techniques to do well and achieve in the English Studies course and final exam. Each of the four presentations was fantastic as they gave many tips on how to succeed in this course and also how to avoid pitfalls in exams. I thoroughly enjoyed the engaging presentations and found the resources which we took away with us very helpful. (Kaejenn) and in a rather more ironic assessment, The examination workshop was a surprisingly decent way to spend two hours on a Saturday morning. It was more fun than I would have had on my own. While I would have usually been sound asleep, dreaming of course about how much I love English Studies, we broke out into dance to learn how to remember our quotes, learnt after all these years how to actually write a sentence and listened to the advice of great teachers with decades of experience who, after constantly telling us to “stick to the word limit”, all went over time. The workshop really helped me to understand how to approach our end of year exam and I think that if we all take this advice on board, we’ll end up surprising even ourselves. (Sasha) Susan Cameron (one of the teachers who went badly over time)
Batik On 23 May, four special Stage 2 Indonesian students were chosen to attend a Batik Exhibition and Workshop at the Indonesian Garden at Charles Darwin University. The highlight of this excursion was the process of making hand-made batik on wood and cloth by using a tool called canting. The history, types of batik and processes of making hand-made batik were shown in a PowerPoint presentation before the workshops commenced. After the presentation, there was a short quiz and our two Stage 2 Indonesian students each answered a question correctly and received either a batik bag or table cloth. Each person was given a piece of wood and cloth which had a drawing or pattern on it. The canting is a small copper vessel. The canting is held as a stylus, which is filled with boiling wax and then used to trace the drawings. Students had to make sure that the canting was refilled regularly as the wax dries quickly and makes it difficult to trace. Tracing both sides of the cloth is essential otherwise the outline of the picture cannot be seen when the process is finished. We learnt that patience was the key to making beautiful hand-made batik. When finished tracing, the materials are put into water and are then transferred into yellow dye to soak for five minutes. The material is then transferred to red dye for another five minutes. The wood and cloth become red, making the wax easier to see. The wax is boiled off and the materials are washed in clear water and then left to dry. The excursion was very interesting and fun. We learnt how to make beautiful hand-made batik. Participants were given free batik gift bags and information sheets at the entrance. Indonesian food was served for everyone and exhibits of different types of batik patterns were displayed. Sarah Brown Year 11 4
bating guru, to Mrs Boland and to Kobi Stewart, our very capable Year 11 photographer, who all contributed the help essential to the success of the debating season this year.
All Talk at Darwin High Debating Darwin High School entered four teams in the Darwin Interschool Debating Competition this year, and they all distinguished themselves by improving their strategic and performance skills during the season. Saurav Kundu, Chetan Ganesh, Beth Hubble and Yada Katonchaleekul formed the strength of the Year 10 team, coached by Mrs Naidoo. The mixed Year 10/Year 11 team of Courtney Buckley, Andrew Harding, Shannon Hunt, Lauren Northcote and Sami Harper just missed out on the Finals, in spite of frequently having to struggle to make up a team as several members had won awards which took them overseas at crucial times for debating. They were a delight to coach. The mixed Year 11/12 team of Furdosa Ab Abor, Philby Baby, Fiona Lay, Skye Manley, Pauline Melas and Dorsa Salehzadeh also performed very well coached by our expert in argument construction and rebuttal, Ms Schuman, while the Year 12 Team of Maggie Coggan- Gartlan, Daniel Hamilton, Kenny Lee, Asim Razi and Kaejenn Tchia more often than not coached themselves and did not lose a debate during the season. The team skills were boosted by two members of the NT Debating Team of 2012, Daniel and Kenny. The Year 12 team went on to win the Finals which were held in Parliament House on Wednesday, May 22 before a panel of adjudicators from the Australian Debating Federation. The trophy was presented by the Member for Nelson, Mr Gerry Wood, who came to the Finals to support the opposition team from Good Shepherd Lutheran College. They very effectively presented the Affirmative Case for the proposition that “ the world has never been the same since 9/11”. To add to our sense of achievement, Daniel Hamilton, Kenny Lee and Kaejenn Tchia were all selected to represent the Northern Territory in the state debating team which will contest the Australian championships in Brisbane in August. Debating is a student and staff intensive activity, so our thanks go to all the debaters, to Ms Schuman, Mrs Naidoo, our coaches, to Ms Disney, the de-
United Nations Youth Association Conference For the first time, UNYA’s April conference was residential, held at the end of the mid-semester break at Kormilda College, and attracted delegates from all over the Northern Territory. Participants are allocated a country which they research and for which they then advocate before a mock UN General Assembly representing their country’s point of view on a series of motions before the Assembly. UNYA ran a morning workshop at Darwin High School to prepare students for the mock Assembly, and thirty three students from all years attended. Our delegates to the Conference were Chetan Ganesh, Rebecca Smith, Courtney Buckley and Lauren Northcote while Asim Razi assisted as a facilitator. The convenor’s comment on our delegates’ performance was: the students performed well, and they engaged really well with workshops and debate, which was very good to see. They interacted really well with the other delegates and the facilitators, and I think they ultimately enjoyed every aspect of the conference. Congratulations go to Rebecca, Year 12, Courtney, Year 11 and Lauren, Year 10 who were all chosen to represent the Northern Territory at the UN Youth National Conference 2013 to be held in Sydney in July this year. This Conference is one of the greatest experiences for speakers and debaters, if previous winners from this school are to be believed. Plain English Speaking Award 2013 PESA is the most demanding public speaking competition open to school students. To their credit, five students presented a Prepared Speech of six minutes on a social issue, and an Impromptu Speech of three minutes after four minutes preparation time competing for the three places available to Darwin High School in the NT Finals held at CDU on Saturday, June 1. All the Prepared Speeches were very good, so ultimately the Impromptus determined who moved to the next level. The adjudicators, Ms Labowitch and Ms Stylis, found the choice difficult, but eventually Daniel Hamilton, Kenny Lee and Asim Razi made the cut, while Courtney Buckley and Kaejenn Tchia just missed out. For Courtney it was a trial run, as she has the opportunity to compete again next year with this year’s experience behind her. There were ten entrants in the NT Finals, three of whom came from Alice Springs, so the competition was challenging. Finally Daniel came in as runner-up to an articulate and witty contestant from Casuarina Senior College in what appears to have been a very close decision. It is unusual to have so many students willing to undertake the work involved in this competition at a time of the year when they are faced with particularly demanding assessment requirements. All five entrants from Darwin High School are to be congratulated on their willingness to take part and on their excellent performances. Lions Youth of the Year 2014 Early next term, Lions will start the process of selecting the Lions Youth of the Year for 2014. The aims of the award are, according to the website, to encourage, foster and develop leadership in conjunc5
tion with other citizenship qualities in our youth, at the age when they are about to enter the fields of employment or higher education. …The qualities sought, apart from academic attainments are those of leadership, personality, sportsmanship, public speaking and good citizenship.
Sleep Your Way Through High School At a recent Positive Schools Conference held in Brisbane, one of the key messages was that our students are not getting enough sleep and that sleep needs to become a priority. Students at Darwin High School are no different to students in Queensland. The amount of sleep they are getting is not enough. Many of our teachers have been frustrated to see students not engaging in class because they are sleep deprived. Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, a leading adolescent psychologist who spoke at the Positive Schools Conference and author of Surviving Year 12 suggested that our students need ‘beducation’. According to Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, it is important that when our students sleep they enter REM sleep. REM sleep stimulates the brain region used in learning. He suggested that girls aged between 10 – 19 and boys 10 – 21 needed 8.25 to 9.25 hours of sleep each night. He also talked about the sleep cycle alarm clock that monitors sleeping patterns and avoids waking people in the middle of REM sleep. See (http://www.sleepcycle.com/howitworks.html). He also strongly advocated that the school days begin at 10am and finish at 4pm. Students who are not getting enough sleep tend to have an increased level of the stress hormone cortisol. This results in an adolescent who is grumpy, moody, insensitive, lacks empathy and at times angry. Sounds familiar? Dr Michael Carr-Gregg’s ‘beducation tips’ were:
If your son or daughter demonstrates some of the qualities Lions is looking for, and participates in a range of community activities, please encourage him or her to take part in the award. Initially, applicants can contact susan.cameron@ntschools.net after consulting the website, http://lionsclubs.org.au/activities/youth/yoty/ and downloading the entry form. Susan Cameron Debating and Public Speaking Coordinator
Climbing High The first week of Term 2 saw the Stage 2 Outdoor Education Students heading to Hayes Creek for three days of climbing. The trip was the culmination of a term’s work focused on developing climbing and rope skills and risk assessment and management when climbing. Despite some rain in Darwin the clouds stayed away which made for some searing temperatures at the rock face. At times, the rock got so hot it would burn your hands. The students coped well with the challenging conditions seeking shade whenever they could find it and making regular trips to the creek for water and a cool down. It was the first time climbing outdoors for most of the students. Many were surprised at the differences between climbing outdoors and climbing in the gym. It is harder because the holds are not obvious, are usually smaller and some of the rocks move and break off. The students faced these challenges and enjoyed those magic moments you get climbing in the outdoors like watching the kites circle overhead from the top of a cliff or glimpsing a rock wallaby darting from behind a boulder. Over the course of the three days most students attempted at least 10 climbs totaling more than 150m in vertical height and everyone completed a 40m abseil. I was very proud of all the students. Some students faced their fears of heights whilst others pushed their climbing techniques to the limits, tackling some pretty challenging overhangs. All students, after some early reminders, took the management of risk very seriously and encouraged and supported their peers, which was great to see. A big thanks must go out to all the teachers that supported the trip, without them it wouldn’t have been possible. Likewise, thanks also to INPEX who made a donation to the program at the start of the year which allowed us to purchase new ropes carabineers and slings for the trip. Aaron Dalgleish
dim the lights before bed time have a routine make sure the bedroom is cool and dark minimise anxiety (avoid arguments) avoid stimulants drink milk (warm), cherry/peppermint tea to help ‘chillax’
get rid of the phone and other distractions. An article that expands on these ideas and well worth reading appeared in New Scientist http://www.newscientist.com/article/ mg21829130.100-why-teenagers-really-do-need-an-extra-hour-in-bed.html
Kevin Northcote Assistant Principal Year 10
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). On 6 March this year, Stage 2 Chemistry students went to Charles Darwin University to gain first hand information about Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). Students were grouped into three, and after being briefed with the laboratory safety rules, we set out to perform the AAS experiment. Our aim was to determine the amount of calcium in a given sample of milk. AAS is an analytical method used to determine the concentration of elements in a particular sample. A rather fancy machine named the 6
spectrophotometer vaporises the sample and shines light of specific colours onto it. The elements in the sample corresponding to that colour absorb the light. The transmitted light’s intensity is compared to the original intensity and, with a bit of maths, the concentration is found. The resulting concentration of calcium was compared to the amount mentioned at back of the milk carton box. Here was an opportunity to sue the milk company if the results did not match!
Under the Microscope Can you guess what these are images of? See P11 for the answers
Since we had limited time to conduct two experiments at once, out teamwork skills were put to the test. While two team members were performing the AAS, the other performed the TLC. TLC is a form of chromatography which is a technique used to separate mixtures of organic compounds, i.e., those containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. It involves the process of adsorption in which substances cling to the surface of objects. Our aim was to determine the constituent amino acids of a protein sample. We placed a small sample of the protein on an adsorbent substance. The varying affinities of each amino acid in the protein to the adsorbent determined the extent to which the acids separated and moved up along the surface. Thus, after some time, the acids had travelled different distances along the adsorbent material and were separated. Using another chemical, these amino acids were then identified. In the real world, chromatography is used in the detection of pesticides or insecticides in food and water, the identification of medicinal plants and their constituents and to determine the components of proteins. AAS and TLC are topics that we are currently learning at school. This CDU excursion allowed us to learn these topics kinesthetically, while our teachers fill us in with the visual and auditory aspects. In this way, we have a comprehensive and detailed understanding of AAS and TLC which would not have been possible without this trip. It is always insightful to see that the topics we learn at school can be applied to real life situations, and always gives us students the motivation to study further and pursue careers in Science. We would like to thank the CDU staff and our teachers who made all of this possible. Asim Razi and Jaz Ocampo
Thank You Many thanks to Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) who kindly donated glassware and miscellaneous laboratory equipment to the Darwin High School Science Faculty. This equipment, previously used for water analysis and sediment sampling, is a great asset to the faculty and much appreciated. It will be used predominantly by the Year 12 Chemistry classes and it is great for students to have the use of equipment of this quality.
Photo L to R: Stacey Bridges, Justine Akugizibwe, Sau-Ching Leung, Madeleine Chin, Louise Jettner
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Tony Copland Science Faculty Senior.
Melbourne Arts Trip At the beginning of Term Two, students from Drama, Music and Visual Arts went on a trip to Melbourne which immersed them in the art and culture of the city. Each group got to do activities relevant to their specific subjects and then all groups joined together for some events, such as watching a filming of The Project and touring the famous Art Centre. I was a part of the Drama group and we were lucky enough to tour the Malthouse Theatre and attend performances around the city every night! A highlight for many of the Drama students was the day that we had a tap-dancing lesson at the fabulous Glamour Puss Studios and then a workshop in hula hoops, tight wire and trapeze at the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA). We also got to tour and do a voice workshop at the Victorian College of the Arts which was a great chance for students to experience what it is like studying arts at tertiary level. The trip allowed us all to experience the truly art-driven lifestyle of Melbourne and it inspired many students, including myself, to pursue further training and careers in the arts after we leave school. I think that all students got something different out of the trip, and when it came time to come home most were not ready to leave it all behind. We had had experiences and created memories that will never be forgotten and returned with a greater passion for the arts and everything it offers. Danae Reid
Congratulations to Sam Perry who performed in the National Class Clowns competition in Melbourne in April and came Runner Up! Swords Drawn, Drums Beating and Colours Flying Towards the end of May, Darwin High School was honoured to receive an invitation from The Right Worshipful The Lord Mayor of Darwin, Katrina Fong Lim to attend the Freedom of Entry Parade and the Civic Reception which followed. Nicholas Wozniak, Zac Cork, Toby Williamson, Daniel Jung and Deshan Cheliah witnessed the ancient ceremony in which the RAAF Base Darwin exercised their right to parade through the City ‘with swords drawn, drums beating and colours flying’. The airmen were ‘challenged’ by the Chief Executive of the City of Darwin and the City Marshall. They ‘presented’ their scroll of ‘permission’ and were allowed to proceed. At the reception in the Civic Centre, the Chief of the Air Force in Australia, Air Marshall Geoff Brown AO, spoke at length with the students. There was much favourable comment from both RAAF personnel and members of the general public on the boys’ presentation and the manner in which they conducted themselves. Judy Boland LOTE/Business Faculty Top right, students with Chief of Air Force Air Marshall Geoff Brown AO Left, students with the Rt Worshipful Katrina Fong Lim, Lord Mayor of the City of Darwin.
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NASA TRIP— ‘To boldly go where no-one from DHS has gone before.’ On 29 March 2013, 18 students left Australian soil and travelled to the US, accompanied by three wonderful teachers Mrs Tan, Ms Griffiths and Ms Disney. On our way to Los Angeles, we flew almost 20 hours with Virgin Airlines, stopping at Brisbane. Though the flight seemed to last an eternity for most of us, we were entertained by Virgin’s inflight services including our own back-seat screens to watch all the latest movies! Arriving in LA we met our fantastic tour guide, Mike who travelled with us for the duration of the 17 days we visited the US. While we were in LA, we visited many iconic places including Manhattan Beach, Venice Beach, (and a lot of other beaches) Santa Monica Pier and the La Brea Tar Pits. We also went to Hollywood, getting a tour of celebrity houses, taking photos with wax celebrities at Madame Tussauds and of course seeing the famous Hollywood sign. After five days of exciting activities in the ‘City of Angels’, our next stop was the Grand Canyon. On the way, we stopped at Las Vegas, watching the beautiful water fountain show in Bellagio and also visiting Caesar’s Palace. By far the most exciting place in Vegas was the Stratosphere Casino, where we shot up more than 105 storeys to the top of the tower; one of us, Taylah, even sky-jumped from the top becoming the bravest soul on the entire trip. At the Grand Canyon, we took in the great geological portrait which has unquestionably defined itself one of the seven natural wonders of the world. We also walked the Sky Walk, a glass platform suspended 21 metres from the cliff edge with a two kilometre drop beneath us. Our final destination was Orlando, where we finally made it to NASA. There, we underwent student astronaut training and even went on our own space mission! Over the course of five days we toured around important NASA sites including launch pads, assembly buildings and also had lunch with an astronaut. On the final days of our trip, before coming back home, we visited Walt Disney World, visiting their four parks and also doing educational programs; where we became conservation heroes and budding scientists. After 17 days of fun-filled activities we sadly said goodbye to the US, transiting in Sydney on the way home. This trip was spectacular and beyond words. We made great new friends and gained the experience of a lifetime. Kae Jenn Tchia and Daniel Hamilton
C4E AusAid Presentation On Tuesday 21 May, the Year 11 C4E class was visited by Mr Laurent de Schoutheete from Australia Aid. Through an enjoyable presentation he educated the class on the importance of international aid and of statistics and formulae in relation to aid development. Australia Aid has the goal of obtaining funds for underprivileged countries in order for them to eradicate hunger and disease, promote the equality of men and women and achieve international education. Laurent explained how modern technology can help identify progress within this problem, all revolving around the area of statistics. Laurent's specific role is to compare the annual statistics concerning the achievement of their goal. Laurent summarised that, although entering a career that is not associated with mathematics, mathematics is a tool that can always be utilised. He emphasised its importance. The presentation was very enjoyable and everybody was motivated by Australia Aid and Laurent's story. The class was surprised about the significance of Mathematics in the workplace and were happy to see a real world application of statistics. Jeremy Kimm 9
3D Printing @Darwin High School Darwin High School, in partnership with ICT for Learning, has established a project for the promotion, instruction and implementation of the use of 3D printers in Darwin schools. Other schools in the project include Nightcliff Middle School and Palmerston Senior College. The project has resulted in a Maker Bot 3D printer on loan to Darwin High School for the duration of the year. Printing in 3D is increasingly in the news and is described as a worldwide manufacturing revolution that could displace currently manufacturing nation giants such as China, Europe, Asia and America with a more corner shop or DIY approach to manufacturing. The Maker Bot Replicator can be used in many different ways. At one level, it can be used for making a rapid prototyping music player, CAD designs and BBQ CAD designs for Stage 1 classes. It can also manufacture more complex designs such as gaming console control boxes for Electronic/Robotics students, and also be at the heart of a collaborative project between Web Design, CAD Design and Business, where the courses for these three classes will overlap to set up an online design ordering and manufacturing business similar to the Swedish IKEA design company. Currently the print medium is PLA and SBA plastics. These already come in a wide range of colours, fluorescent, dissolvable etc. There is a new cherry wood filament that smells and looks like cherry wood, that also can be worked – drilled, milled, sanded, routed etc, exactly like real wood. The material science in this field is immensely active world wide. In a few months time, there will be metal conducting plastic filament so circuit boards, switches etc, can be manufactured using 3D printers. Add to this the possibility of magnetic filament, and this will allow electric motors to be manufactured. Add this again the possibility of edible filament and hamburger conglomerates can produce delicious looking 3D Maccas. There has been some concern by the media about the use of 3D printers being to manufacture firearms. This concern is possibly ages old, when once, parents of youth worried about bows and arrows. Since then, the bar has been raised considerably. Parents, however, can be reassured this type of technology will not be used for the manufacture of firearms in the classroom. As with any high impact new technology, there is always a double edged sword involved. Education, and teaching at DHS, is emphatic on teaching 10
balanced perspectives where issues of ethics, change, responsibility and community are taught. Peter Coulter Design and Technology teacher
Auto CAD Auto Cad is a really good class to take for those interested in architecture of any form. During the first semester, using Revit Architecture 2012, I have created a maze, my own ‘dream house’, and an entire resort and bridge, all with impressive three dimensional, fully rendered results. In taking this class I have been able to develop an understanding of, and familiarise myself with, the Revit Architecture software. Ashliegh Beaumont Year 11 This first semester I studied AutoCAD. We used two programs called AutoCAD and Revit Architecture. I am currently creating a suspension bridge and a resort, and I’m really passionate about it. I used my imagination to get the ideas for my creation. I learned that building structures such as houses will take more than just designing. You need to do more planning before you create it.” Jude Lluch Year 11
Christian Discussion Group This group gives students the opportunity to talk about what they believe and to hear what is actually written in the Bible. The group is held in room B17, every Thursday lunchtime. Students bring their lunch with them. The Anglican Youth Minister, Rev. Bruce Chapman also comes to many of the meetings and assists with the programme. The group meets throughout the year and financially sponsors a child in need of assistance to obtain nutritious food and an education. We sponsor a young girl in India called Vanshika. Donations towards her sponsorship are welcome from anyone at any time. Recently the students conducted a successful fund raiser at lunchtime and raised funds for several months support. The monthly support is $44. Much thanks goes to the students who have been generous in donations and supporting the fund raiser. Our school community has students from many different backgrounds and faiths. This group provides a forum for discussion and opportunities for integration with others in the school community. Any questions can be directed via email or in person to rosie.reimers@ntschools.net Rosie Reimers Convener
Compulsory Elements of the NTCET
Under the Microscope Answers (from page 7)
Students tackle compulsory elements of the NTCET in each year level. At Year 10 this is the Personal Learning Plan; Year 11, a full year of English and a semester of Mathematics and at Year 12, any three Stage 2 subjects. In all of the compulsory elements, students must obtain a C grade or better in order to gain their NTCET.
The images on the left hand side going down are: - soldier beetle hind wing - hemiptera carnivorous waterboatman notonecta male - frog testes - box jellyfish tentacle The right hand side going down are: - triticum sativum wheat - helianthus older root - hemiptera carnivorous waterboatman nontonecta male I have always been interested in science and nature and this was the perfect opportunity to combine those to loves and investigate the mysterious microscopic world that we encounter everyday yet never seem to give a second thought about. I wanted to explore the secrets of this world and capture its magnificence to share and invoke scientific curiosity within the school community. Courtney Buckley Year 11
As we complete one semester in all Year levels, students should take stock of how they are progressing through their NTCET. Most students have tracked well and achieved the required minimum of a C in their compulsories. For Year 12s, they should make sure they are sitting on at least a C or better at this point in time in any three of the Stage 2 subjects they are studying. If a student is in Year 10 or 11 and has not achieved a C or better in the compulsories in Semester 1, they should contact the relevant year level Assistant Principal or myself to see what we can arrange to help them to meet the compulsory requirement. If a student is in Year 12 and is not tracking to obtain a C or better in three of their Stage 2 subjects they should contact the Year 12 Assistant Principal, the Year 12 Coordinator or myself to discuss the issue. Anne Donnelly
Stage 1 Drama
This Term the Stage 1 Drama students were divided in four groups to create one major performance piece. After reading a playscript and discussing the themes within it, they decided to devise their own piece based on how teenagers perceive issues around them. At this time Kim Jong-un began posturing and making threats and this became a real concern for these students. They started to think about the actual possibility of their world at war and how it would affect people today. Each group researched, workshopped and wrote this intense and emotional play, which was performed in A covered way. They learnt the importance of collaboration and empathy with each other and towards the people who they were conveying in their stories. They experimented with storytelling and staging techniques and displayed lateral thinking, creativity and maturity during the development process of ‘III’. The students did a fantastic job and would like to publicly thank Tom Lydiard, Danae Reid, Rochelle Cabry, Sam Perry, Jess Puetz and Maggie Coggan-Gartlan – Stage 2 Drama students who managed the technical side of the show.
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Defence Transition Mentor News Defence Family Helpline: The Helpline operates 24-7 and is staffed by qualified human services professionals including social workers and psychologists. The Helpline can assist with managing during deployment, posting and relocation, support for partners’ employment and education, support services in the community and assistance with children’s education, childcare options and support for children with special needs. The Defence Family Helpline Number is: 1800 624 608 or Email: Helpline@defence.gov.au Education Assistance: Education Assistance provides tuition assistance or therapy for a member’s dependent child attending a primary or secondary school following a posting to a new location. Tuition may be available for one hour per week, for up to 14 weeks. Application forms are available from the DTM. Farewell to our Troops: Top End families and soldiers have farewelled troops in the past few months as the latest contingents of troops were deployed to the Middle East. Specific details of groups departing are available in the June/July edition of the Top Ender magazine. Keeping In Touch (K.I.T) Newsletter: The June edition is now available. The purpose of this newsletter is to ‘Keep In Touch’ with the families of members away from home for extended periods of time due to work related commitments. These separations can be due to deployment, exercises, courses, time at sea or unaccompanied postings. The newsletter provides information on community events/ activities and support services available to Defence families throughout the period of separation. Contact the DTM if you would like to receive this newsletter. Long Tan Anzac Ceremony: Along with my wife, Lauris Maths teacher DHS, I was lucky enough to attend this years’ Dawn Service on Anzac Day at Long Tan Memorial in Vung Tau, Vietnam. It was an especially moving ceremony with many Vietnam Vets and Ex Pats in attendance. Each year Darwin High School presents the Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award to a Darwin High School Student. The Top Ender: The June/July edition of the Top Ender is now available. The tri-service magazine is created by defence families for defence families. It is a great source of information and news for ADF families and partners. The current edition includes articles on troops being farewelled, arrival of the marines, school holiday activities and much more. You can organize delivery by emailing: thetopender@aapt.net.au Paul McConnell Defence Transition Mentor (DTM)
Mathematics Sustainable Garden The Stage 2 Integrated Learning class have been busy constructing their sustainable garden. They have designed the layout, moved soil, put down reticulation, laid mulch, constructed footpaths and edges. The garden is beginning to take shape with various fruit and vegetables being planted. Mr Pisani’s SIEU Mathematics class has their own section of the garden and has been very successful in growing watercress as well as beginning banana trees. A Year 10 Level 2 class have planted carrots, tomato and pumpkin. The Stage 2 Integrated learning class has planted corn, watermelon, chilli and passion-fruit. The students have been involved in calculating the perimeter, area, drawing to scale and measuring the plants. Some students have taken on the challenge themselves by designing the reticulation system taking into account flow rate and also establishing whether or not the plants are “normally distributed”. All students should be congratulated on their hard work! Mrs. Offer Mathematics Teacher
Darwin High School is part of the 40 Hour Famine in 2013! This year, we're raising community awareness and much-needed funds for World Vision projects in Malawi, Ethiopia, East Timor, Nepal, Tanzania, and Uganda. The 40 Hour Famine will be observed from the 16-18 August 2013 with fundraising continuing till the end of the term. The 40 Hour Famine is one of Australia’s biggest youth events, raising community awareness and much-needed funds to help fight global hunger. Remember that with just $40, it can help feed a family of six for a month! If students or staff members want to participate, they need to join the Darwin High team. To be part of the Darwin High team, go to 40hf.com.au/DarwinHighSchool and click on "join this team" - you'll be able to collect donations online, contribute to the Darwin High group, and watch our fundraising grow. If you'd also like to collect cash donations, please see me for a receipt book after you've joined the team online. Premilla Naidoo
Do something real to fight global hunger and help people who are chronically hungry and living in poverty – donate to the 40 Hour Famine! 12
Dance at DHS In Term 2, the Dance Department celebrated Nesian Pride with a series of workshops with Julia Gray, the artistic director of Sunameke Pacific Island Dance Company. “From old to new old that’s the way we go forward” saw over 70 students learn Talanoa Te Pate which was performed at our recent dance fundraiser, Dance 13 on May 24 2013. I would like to acknowledge the tireless work of Stephanie Cvirn and Julia Quinn for their contribution to the realisation of Dance 13, and our Dance 13 Major Raffle sponsors: E Print, Parap Fine Foods, Paraphernalia, Michael Gunner, H. Troon Darwin, J.R Communication, Picture Framing Darwin, Fernwood Gym, the Quinlan family and the Chin family. The $5 500 raised from Dance 13 contributed to the WA Dance Trip and also the 2013 DHS Dance Program of activities. Dance 13 showcased a smorgasboard of performances that confirmed the vibrant presence of dance actively shaping creative options for younger generations of Darwin artists, extending their possibilities beyond the classroom and stage. Every year someone creates a heartfelt performance and earlier this year DHS, SLIDE youth dance, the Department of Mental Health and SRA presented BRAVE a bold and confronting dance theatre performance that tackled the harsh issues of Bullying. Over 2500 students attended the performance season and BRAVE attracted over 1000 from the general public to its public performance. We are anticipating touring BRAVE to the Alice Springs region in early 2014. Now DHS Creative Arts Dance Stage 2 Dance in conjunction with Joanna Noonan from SLIDE are creating sections of a new work entitled SECRETS – which addresses the sad concerns relating to drug addiction. On 2 nd of August DHS Dance will host a double bill: a work in progress showing of SECRETS illustrating SECRETS can be fatal and Stage 2 Dance student choreographic works. In the meantime the annual WAAPA WA Dance trip will take place from 20 — 29 June and will no doubt challenge, inspire and motivate the 25 students attending. Sarah Calver Dance Teacher
The Immigration Experience From 11 - 15 May the Stage 2 Italian class went to Melbourne as part of their research for their in-depth study on Italian immigration in Australia. Students visited a couple of Immigration museums in Melbourne, where they developed an understanding of the reasons as to why Italians migrated to Australia, the impact and consequences of their journey and their various achievements. The Melbourne Immigration Museum was quite general and provided an exhibition full of stories from migrants of different cultural backgrounds. The museum also gave students the possibility to act as immigration personnel who had to decide whether an immigrant had the necessary skills and requirements to successfully enter Australia, the students really enjoyed this aspect of the tour and it really helped them appreciate just how difficult it is to migrate to Australia and how lucky they are to be born here. The second museum, Museo Italiano, strictly focused on Italian immigrants and their stories and the students participated in a guided lecture from one of the staff members at the museum. It was situated close to Lygon Street (Little Italy), along which we went for a walk and enjoyed typical Italian food and coffee. It was definitely an interesting experience, and the street and cafes resembled those of Italy. In fact, it was nice to hear the accents of native Italians in conversation at every café or restaurant we went into. During our time in Melbourne, the students also had the opportunity to visit Melbourne University and take part in a conversation class with several of the university students studying Italian. This experience gave the students a chance to interact with university students and gain an understanding of the demands of university life and the expectations of studying a language at such a high level. Our final visit was to SBS Radio. The staff member there took us on a guided tour of the radio station and 13
Stage One Legal Studies Excursion In late April 2013, eighteen Darwin High School Students in Stage 1 Legal Studies undertook an excursion and assessment to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. During this visit Year 11 students had the opportunity to discuss, debate and vote upon an agreed topic affecting Australians. Several weeks prior the students were part of an election organised and held by the Northern Territory Electoral Commission in collaboration with Parliament House. Campaign speeches were presented and both staff and students took part in the voting. After a few more weeks of organising, the class agreed to debate and vote on the motion of same-sex marriage, in light of recent coverage and much discussion. We were divided into two political parties: the United Territory of Australia Party (UTA), which favoured the Bill and The New Democracy (TND), which stood against. The ‘Same-Sex Marriage and Divorces Act 2013’ was introduced into our Assembly, with students tasked to argue elements either for or against our Bill. Our audience varied from government ministers, opposition members as well as members of the public. Soon after the completion of our speeches, we were invited into the Attorney General’s Office, where the Hon. John Elferink MLA, who has responsibilities as the Minister for Justice and Correctional Services, discussed with us the role of law in society and how the government can assist with improving our justice system. In the Attorney General’s office, the Minister held a live-to-air interview with MIX104.9, in regards to a government program “Sentenced to a Job”, which provides low-risk security prisoners the opportunity to secure jobs during their sentence, with stable income and a solid job foundation upon the prisoner’s release. We were fortunate to witness and listen to how our government and other organisations are able to communicate its messages to the outer community. The trip was truly fulfilling and also outlined the importance of valuing our democracy which also coincided with the ANZAC Day’s Commemorations. Although our trip was only for a few hours, the experience was a reminder of the importance to appreciate, preserve and continue to improve our justice system. Our experience would not have occurred without the support of our teachers, Year 10 Metal Work the staff of Parliamentary Education Services, the Northern Territory Electoral Commission and both the government and opposition members. Christopher Teng Year 11 Legal Studies Student from previous page then gave the students the opportunity to experience the broadcasting of a news report in Italian, by taking them to one of the studios and having them present a demo news broadcast. The students thoroughly enjoyed this and had many questions to ask about the demands of a radio presenter and the unexpected bloopers when broadcasting live. Through this trip the students were able to gain an understanding and appreciation of why so many Italians decided to migrate to Australia and how they impacted on the development of Australia as a country. They also gained a deeper insight into what the process of migrating to another country is like and how challenging it can be for those that come here. Ilaria Tomassi Italian Teacher 14
The Times They Have Changed Inside cover of the 21st Birthday Edition of the Darwin High Year Book 1985
Post Cyclone 1974
A Generation of Celebrity Chefs—Stage 2 Food and Hospitality Semester 1 has been a very busy time for students. They are to be congratulated on their hard work so far, especially as they have shown great resiliency by juggling several tasks at the same time. In Term 1, students became Celebrity Chefs as they demonstrated how to safely prepare a dish for a formal home dinner party to their peers. Students then worked collaboratively to plan and create a canapé menu for a major school event we will cater for in Term 3. They also commenced their external component: the Investigation.
Here’s your chance to be part of history! As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations, a time capsule will be sealed on 16 September 2013. It will be opened on 16 September 2063 as part of the centenary celebrations marking 100 years of occupancy of the Bullocky Point site. Friends of Darwin High School are invited to lodge a message for their descendants. The message may be a letter, a diary, a family history or photographic prints. Conservators have advised against the use of staples or other metal fasteners such as bulldog clips or paper clips, as the metal will corrode over time. They also warn against depositing CDs or USBs, because, in all probability, the technology to read such devices will no longer exist. (How many of us have 3½ inch floppy discs barely 10 years old that can no longer be read?) Specially printed envelopes will be available for purchase from the School. They will be in three sizes; Large, Medium and Small. Depositors are urged to register their interest by emailing dhs.timecapsule@ntschools.net and so reserve an envelope, as space will be limited and allocated on a ‘first-comefirst served’ basis. Further information may be obtained from Judy Boland at Darwin High School ph: 8999 1260 or judy.boland@ntschools.net.
Emma-Louise Loehr
Xiaoqin Zheng, Li Ming Zheng, Xiaoqing Lin and Phuong Nguyen.
This term, students have been working steadily on their Investigation, as well as two other practical activities. Students were very interested in learning about how well Darwin’s food and hospitality industry is addressing dietary restrictions, whilst also learning how to use technology commonly used in commercial kitchens. During stand-down, students will be finalising their Investigation. They have the opportunity to attend tutorials to obtain assistance, as well as submit a draft on Monday 8 July. In Term 3, students will be required to attend school from 3.00pm – 7.30pm for a group activity assessment on Friday 9th August, as they will be catering for the Cocktail Party during Darwin High School’s 50th Anniversary Birthday Celebrations. This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase their skills developed through-out the course. Tina Sketchley Stage 2 Food & Hospitality Teacher 15
Snippets from the 1972 Year Book
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Out and About SIEU
This semester, students new to Australia in the SIEU have been learning about life in Australia. On a visit to Parliament House they met Ms Delia Lawrie, the Leader of the Opposition, learnt about the way Australia is governed (including how to vote and how preferential counting works) and saw Parliament question time in action.
Year 11 Narrative—Collateral Damage by Vimu Wijayaratne The hot desert heat was thick like a heavy blanket and drained the energy out of anything that tried to contend with it. It leached the moisture out of any bare flesh until there was nothing left but skin and bone, a death trap for any foreigner to these conditions. But Huznaan was accustomed to this environment given that he had been living every day of his life for fifteen years since birth being surrounded by it. He was a dark brown coloured, skinny but fit young man. He didn’t have many material possessions but he wore his traditional robe and Keffiyeh proudly. It had been passed down from his grandfather after his death, a constant reminder of what his grandfather used to be. His large crooked nose was a prominent feature that stood out from the Keffiyeh and only his deep set dark brown eyes under his heavy eye brows were visible between the top and bottom half of the Keffiyeh that covered his whole face. If he was to be unlucky enough to get in the path of a sandstorm, his Keffiyeh and robe wound be his only line of defense to protect his face and body from the razor sharp grains of sand that would be flying around trying to suffocate and cut him in the desert’s second attempt to kill. He was walking north on the bitumen road to the town of Al Karid for the daily piece of flat bread and some fruit. Nothing lasted that long in the hot Afghanistan climate. He held his already growling stomach and licked his parched lips at the thought of the nourishment the juicy fruit will provide. He was revising the teachings of the Koran when his subconscious detected the pungent smell of something being fried. It didn’t take long to identify the source; a large dry bush was burning bright red with the sand cobra that had been resting underneath the minimum shade it provided being baked in a matter of seconds. Self combustion was a common sight in Afghanistan, not a sufficiently interesting sight to keep Huznaan’s focus occupied for long. He wondered if he could eat the baked cobra but then he dismissed the thought as soon as it appeared. He wasn’t hungry enough to eat one of the most poisonous snakes anyway. He shaded his eyes and looked up at close to where the sun was positioned, too scared of the intensity to look directly at it. It was nearly noon and he had to find some shade to rest during the hottest part of the day. The only sufficient shade was provided by a single dead tree that stood near a muddied well. Huznaan sat down underneath the tree and peered at the well next to it. There was still a small pool of muddied water that had been guarded by the dead tree, but the water was clean enough that the parasites that inhabited it could be seen. He rested his head on the trunk of the tree and thanked the tree for the shade it provided. He went to sleep thinking of the tree that once would have been lusciously green and a clear beacon in the desert supported by the once clean and life giving well that lay next to it. “The desert takes every last chance of hope away” Huznaan muttered and went to sleep. ****** Aladdin was caught by surprise at the sight of a lone boy lying underneath a dead tree who was dressed in an orange robe and Keffiyeh that was tanned from many years of use. Aladdin would have never seen him if it wasn’t for the Keffiyeh that fluttering in the wind signaling his presence. The boy seemed harmless and was wearing the same type of robe as Aladdin’s white robe – a symbol of the same ethnic group. The boy also didn’t seem to carry any weapon but Aladdin was not certain of the stranger and in these parts of Afghanistan divided by many warlords of many small ethnic tribes and the constant threat of the Taliban, approaching a stranger was a common cause of death. Nevertheless Aladdin diverged from his path to Al Karid and walked to check on the state of the boy. When he got within a few meters range Aladdin 17
Year 11 Narrative continued
Student Career Development Faculty
instantly recognized the boy as being the grandson of his former friend and rushed down to his knees and shook the boy violently until he woke up and jumped to the side, taking a few seconds to identify the intruder. Huznaan’s face quickly lit up in recognition of his old friend. Aladdin relieved that his friend was well, tossed his water skin to Huznaan. “A young man like you should not be running around the desert without one of these” said Aladdin. After a few sips of water Huznaan replied “I do if I want to eat something tonight”. Aladdin quickly laughed to cover the mention of Huznaan’s situation. Huznaan had become an orphan after his grandfather’s death. Both of Huznaan’s parents were dead after a car bomb had claimed their lives two weeks after Huznaan’s birth. Huznaan was too small to remember his own parent’s faces but he accepts their fate whenever his parents are mentioned. After an hour of rest Huznaan and Aladdin left again for the town of Al Karid. Huznaan traveled on one side of the road while Aladdin traveled on the other - in order not to disrupt any of the light breeze that travelled through the desert cooling them. They had not travelled for more than an hour when a loud “BANG” threw Aladdin off to his side. His vision was impaired by the dust and his eyes refused to focus and he could only hear ringing in his ears. He clutched his head tightly until the ringing passed away and slowly got up. He dusted himself off while checking to see if everything was in working order. He was fine. Then a thought of absolute terror struck him. He looked up at the body of his companion, deformed, no longer familiar. Aladdin knew exactly what had happened but couldn’t bring himself to believing it. He raced towards Huznaan, a large portion of his body burnt and floating on top of a large pool of blood rippling outwards. Aladdin turned Huznaan onto his back with the strand of hope that there still will be life left in the boy that once was so energetic and happy, but only death stared at Aladdin in the face. Aladdin stood frozen on the spot holding Huznaan’s body with tears running freely down his cheeks bewildered by what had just taken place. Aladdin’s face was twisted in a grimace of satiated potent horror, torn by a combination of grief and the thought that he was unable to do anything to prevent it. About two kilometers away a plume of dust marked the incoming of a multitude of jeeps driving to the south, oblivious to what was clearly intended for them. Another boy, only fifteen claimed by a roadside bomb at the hands of a war that he had no part or say in. In the name of a war that has no purpose, a war that does not seem to have an ending, and blinded of any reason to end.
Year 11 Woodwork
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With first semester drawing to a close it is an opportune time to reflect on progress so far. This semester has seen many opportunities for students to engage with representatives from education providers and industry which hopefully has assisted with some decisions about their future. For students, now is a good time to take stock of what their goals are and whether they are working towards achieving them. Their success in Year 10 influences their choices in year 11 and 12 and as a consequence their pathway choice. It is an opportune time to ensure a full understanding of the requirements required of their post school pathway be it work, apprenticeship, TAFE or university. Research and preparation in Year 10 and 11 assist in avoiding disappointment later on. Year 12 Year 12 interviews are almost completed with nearly all students being offered a one on one meeting. The four week break is an opportunity to consolidate the research needed to be prepared for the next step. If students are applying for university they need to be finalising their course choices in order of preference.
University applications open in August and close on 27 September. Workshops on how to apply to universities will be offered at lunchtime throughout August and September. It is also a good time to research scholarship opportunities and accommodation options. Students seeking employment should be refining their resumes and even beginning to apply as many organisations have lengthy recruiting processes. We are happy to assist with refining resumes once they have been written. TAFE applications are mostly done directly to the TAFE. Students could consider Certificate IV and Diploma qualifications if available in their area of interest. Many Certificate III qualifications are apprenticeships so students can only enrol in these if they are employed as an apprentice.
Other support: Don’t forget that we are continually updating careers and future education information plus online links within the Careers section of the Darwin High School website http://www.darwinhigh.nt.edu.au/careers.html.
You can also “like “us on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DHSCareersCentre?ref=ts&sk=wall
The Jobs Board is up and running again on the ground floor of B Block. Students looking for work should check the board regularly. Tax File Number (TFN) application forms are available in the Careers Office (bottom of B Block) Students need a TFN for employment, scholarship applications and University Applications.
It is with great pleasure that we are able to announce that Tre Manning-Watson has been successful in being selected as a finalist in the VET in Schools student of the year category of the Northern territory training Awards. Tre now attends a selection weekend at the end of the term and we are so proud of him.
Dates for your diaries: 22 and 13 June 31 July 12 August 12 August 19 August 20 August 21 and 22 August 25 August 27 September
Year 11 Year 11 formal interviews started late in the semester. The interviews allow us to introduce Jodie Matthews as the Year 11 Career Practitioner and VET Coordinator. Jodie comes to us with a strong background in careers, VET and alternative education. Jodie has enjoyed spending time with the Year 11 students and in some cases parents, to assist with identifying the tools needed to make proactive and informed decisions about their chosen pathways. About 130 of our Year 11 cohort have been interviewed so far. Students are notified of their appointment times.by email.
MedEntry UMAT Training UMAT Test (Term 3) Melbourne University Housing Industry Association Apprenticeship opportunities South Australian Universities University of Adelaide (2pm-4pm) Careers Expo @ Darwin Racecourse CDU Open Day University Applications close Janine Watt Year 12 Career Practitioner
Buckley, Mariah Hender, Mitchell Hardy, Dakota McDowell, Jayson Rose and Lauren Northcote. This saw Darwin High enter three teams into this competition. This was a new experience for some players having not played much squash before. By the end of the day all the players had improved significantly and some excellent and skillful games were played against tough teams from Casuarina Senior College and Marrara Christian College.
Our VET students have been working hard to achieve the competencies of their courses and a number of our students get to demonstrate their learning in the workplace over the coming weeks. We wish them all the best in this experience. Many students gain employment and professional networks from their Workplacement which is invaluable to their futures.
By the end of the day after playing around six games of squash, most of the students were exhausted. In the Grand Final Darwin High School Team 3 played Casuarina Senior College in a close fought game. After leveling the first two sets 1 – 1, it came down to a thrilling third set with Jayson Rose leading the way for Darwin High. In a fast paced and action packed final set, Jayson Rose was victorious giving Darwin High a 2 set to 1 win over Casuarina Senior College.
I would like to wish all the Year 11 students the very best in their exams. For those of you that get the results that reflect your efforts, well done. For those that don’t, feel free to come and see me early next semester. Enjoy your break.
Congratulations to all the students who participated in this day.
Year 10 Many Year 10s recently participated in the Work Experience Program as part of PLP. The response from employers was exceptional and we are very grateful for their ongoing support. Thank you also to the parents who assisted with the organisation prior to the placement as well as during the week. Students have reported a high level of satisfaction and have said that the experience has assisted them with some decisions about their future.
Nathaniel Smith Manager Term 3 Sports Cluster competitions will be held in athletics, soccer, orienteering, table tennis and aquathon. Events are promoted through students’ email, mentor notices and announcements. For more information about School Sports or if you would like to contribute to the DHS Sports Report please contact Mr Steve McGugan.
All students who studied PLP have has an individual interview with Meg Davis the Year 10 Career Practitioner. 19
Sports News outstanding results in the boy’s junior division was Todd Richardson with a 1.75m leap in the high jump.
Netball Rebecca Winch was outstanding in her play at the recent Oceania Schools 16 Years Netball Championships held in New Zealand. Australia played NZ in the final and despite losing Rebecca was selected in the Australasian team. OUTSTANDING!!
In addition to our competitors, Henry Tollner and Stacey Gamston helped out on the day with equipment and officiating and were highly commended. Sam Berhane has undertaken a Level 1 Coaching Course in Athletics and has qualified to work in the After School’s Programmes (ASC) Our athletes will have further opportunity to compete in Territory Track Time events in mid-June at Fred’s Pass, Late July in Katherine, August 29 back in Darwin, Top End Cluster Carnival Week 2 Term 3, Schools Knock Out August 22, and NT Championships first weekend in September.
Basketball Darwin High School entered six boys teams and two girls teams in the Top End Schools Basketball Championships held May 7 at the Darwin Basketball Centre. Our boy’s teams finished 1st, 4th , 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th while our girl’s teams placed 1st and 3rd.
City to Surf DHS had a team consisting of both staff and students who ran in the recent “biggest ever” City to Surf wearing the colours of DHS. Special mentions to student Georgia Hardy, teacher Ms Heather Stanley and organiser competitor Mr Shane Pisani. Cricket DHS is competing for the Top End Challenge and will play their first game in Week 10 of Term 2 against Kormilda. Further games will be held against CSC, Palmerston SC and O’Loughlin College prior to Play Offs.
Stand out players on the day were Caitlin Chamberlain in the girls Competition and Jordan Bretherton for the boys. Both our teams played St John’s in the final. The Girls winning team was Che-Louise Cookatoo, Isabella McDonald, Caitlin Chamberlain, Tilly Bassham and Dakota McDowell. The boys team was Thomas Liebelt, Jordon Bretherton, Donald Sanger, Tobias Dickery, Peter Morris and Kris Evans.
Squash Cluster Day On Thursday 4 March 11 students from Darwin High competed in the inaugural squash cluster day at the newly constructed Darwin Squash Complex at Marrara. The following students participated; Henry Tollner, Joshua Kelly, Tom MacMillan, Krshna Capaque, Annabelle Choy, Courtney
Athletics DHS had students in senior boys and both boy’s and girl’s junior division at the Athletics NT Trial Schools Knock Out meet. This meet was part of the Territory Track Time Meet on May 18 at Tilly Bassham the Arafura Stadium. Our junior boys’ and girls’ team performed well and should gain a placing to be given an invitation to the Nationals Schools Knock Out event to be held in Townsville early December. The NT final is to be held in late August. Tilly Bassham was our girls stand-out athlete, Nelson Rossingh was sensational in the senior 800m and relay run while the pick of a group of
Todd Richardson
Jayson Rose
Darwin High Squash Team—Winners of the City Cluster Competition
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