nshs newsletter - Narrabeen Sports High School

nshs newsletter
Respectful
Responsible Successful
02 March 2016
narrabeen sports high school ph 9913 7820 fax 9913 3526
[email protected] www.narrabeen-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
Principal’s report
‘I can be happy in life. Actually, anyone can, provided they choose to be. By making an effort to smile at
people, look happy, laugh and greet people with a smile, happiness will become contagious’.
Woohooinc.com
How great are our students:
On Thursday February 19, three of our senior students were at the Narrabeen North Pool, when a freak wave knocked
an older lady into the pool fully clothed with her handbag. At the time there was a concern for some surfers as the
waves were quite high, which is why she was standing where she was. Our three students jumped in and provided
assistance to her – well done and thank you: Shaylyn O’Mara, Daniel Deal and Lachlan McCann-Brasch.
Narrabeen commits long term to the White Ribbon
campaign
Narrabeen staff have been trained by White Ribbon Australia and
we have embedded the program into our wellbeing structures.
Our school is now recognised as a White Ribbon school by the
organisers of the White Ribbon Campaign. This recognition
means we are committed to stamping out violence and
harassment and have an end result of developing respectful
young men and women with integrity who act with dignity. As an
ongoing commitment we actively focus upon building
relationships and teach the values we expect which is core to our
Positive Behaviour Learning values. The school supports this role
modelling through the efforts of our Youth Workers (Ellen and
Andrew), our wellbeing lessons in Years 7, 8 and 10, the Rock
and Water program, the special focus days on wellbeing twice a
year, as a member of the Northern Beaches Project and several
structured mentoring programs.
A special mention for our fantastic surfers:
Narrabeen entered five teams made up of boys and girls groups into the Maitland and Port
Stephens Toyota High School Teams Challenge held as part Surfest Newcastle Australia.
Congratulations to all competitors and especially the girls who won the event. Two of the
boys teams came second and third respectively. Our teams were competing against fifty
two other teams and more than 250 students from all over NSW and Vanuatu. This unique
surfing competition is designed to ensure an emphasis on working as a team –
congratulations and well done Narrabeen.
Building capacity in Mathematics to better prepare our students for the future:
Sydney University recently announced their expectations of students in HSC Mathematics
courses. For many of their courses such as Business, Commerce, Law, Medicine, Science and Engineering degrees
from 2019, they will admit only students who achieve Band 4 or greater in the 2 unit Mathematics course, not to be
confused with the General Mathematics course which is less rigorous.
To meet this requirement Michael Palme our Head Teacher
Mathematics, works tirelessly to ensure teaching and learning is
engaging for students and they get the support needed. To assist
with the ongoing improvement of Mathematics, the school requests
parents encourage their children to work on Mathematics everyday
of the week, including weekends for between 30 – 45 minutes in
Years 7, 8 and 9. For Years 10 and beyond an hour is expected.
The structure would include completing classwork, using the text
book to go through examples as well utilise Mangahigh. All
students have a log-on for Mangahigh which is a game based
Mathematics skill website. The reasoning behind this request is to
build the familiarity students have with Mathematics. Learning
Mathematics is attributed to being akin to learning a foreign
language in that if students don’t go over their work as part of a
routine, they lose the capacity. There is a strong focus on literacy
in life, with even subtitles being a possibility for tv but there isn’t
the same exposure to Mathematics. The routine is everything.
Getting the communication correct:
Narrabeen utilises email now as the main source of communicating with parents. If you change your email address
please ensure the school gets the new one. Likewise with mobile phone numbers and addresses, please let us know if
they have been changed so we have all the correct information. We do more than rely on email though - don’t forgot
to like us on Facebook and download our APP.
Aiming for academic excellence:
Providing opportunities for students to extend their thinking and test their understanding of subject areas is
important. Michael Palme, Head Teacher Mathematics is coordinating the ICAS tests for 2016. These tests are
available in a range of subject areas and provide an important opportunity for students. There are more details
further in this newsletter.
Focussing upon SUCCESS:
Narrabeen has high expectations for students in regards Academic achievement. All
students are encouraged to plan their time, use a study plan and ensure they are
doing an appropriate amount of school based work a night; this should include
revision, homework, assessments and a daily focus upon Mathematics. To further
ensure strong routines which are necessary to build success, students are
encouraged to submit draft assessments and follow our SUCCESS guidelines. Years
7 and 8 students should look at an sixty minutes a night on average, Years 9 and
10 ninety minutes a night on average and two hours on each day of the weekend
and Years 11 and 12 about two hours a night and three hours each day on the
weekend. Without this ongoing effort, our outstanding HSC success from 2015 will
be a flash in the pan – our dedicated and brilliant teachers can only do so much,
students have to commit to working hard and building consistency into their lives.
It takes time and commitment to build up to these timings and with many of our
students committed to many outside of school activities, the daily reliance on a
study plan is crucial. Teenagers excel with routine and that is exactly what a study
plan provides. There is a lot of support in Narrabeen to assist students reach their
potential. It is obvious to us in a selective sports high school; many students have
numerous outside of school commitments, which is why our message is to get a
strong routine!
In three weeks Year 12 will be sitting their Half Yearly examinations and by now should be revising daily and doing
practice responses for possible questions they will receive. Year 11 are getting into the swing of the senior student
expectations and have been handed their assessment booklets. All students 7 – 12 have been given large calendars
on which they can plot their assessments and activities/ commitments. This allows students to see where they can
study and where they can’t. Matched up with a study plan, a routine is easily established.
We operate homework club on Monday and Thursday between 3.15 – 4.15 pm as well provide structured guidance to
seniors via the expertise of Ms Ives our librarian who operates a tutorial type approach with seniors and Ms Agha our
Learning Support Teacher. If you are worried about the progress of your child, please do not hesitate to contact Ms
Agha.
A big than you to our P&C:
Our February Carboot sale was a tremendous success and we are grateful to our wonderful community for its support.
The P&C provides the school with ongoing resourcing without which, the opportunities for our students would be
limited. A special thank you goes to Geoff Bateman without whose ongoing dedication, the carboot sales would not
operate so smoothly. We are very grateful for all of the parents, staff and students who assisted on the day.
‘We are young’ – Narrabeen’s cultural exchange documentary airing on SBS2 :
During the April holidays and early term 2 last year, Narrabeen was part of an SBS documentary ‘We are young’
filmed in conjunction with China’s CCTV. The series involved students from eight Australian schools and eight Chinese
schools participating in a cultural exchange and completing challenges. The series is currently airing on SBS2 on a
Sunday afternoon and is also available on SBS on demand. The first two episodes featured Narrabeen Sports High
School where Jerry from Beijing stayed with the Yii family. Sean Chivers, our Captain is featured in the series in a
couple of weeks. It makes for good viewing and shows our school and students positively.
Some outstanding sports achievements:
Girls team won the Maitland and Port Stephens Toyota High School Teams Challenge (part of Surfest Newcastle
Australia). The boys team came second and third respectively
Jaylin Rae and Sean Chivers: Selected in Sydney North Baseball Team
Abbey Waterworth: Silver U16 Pole Vault at NSW Junior Athletics Championship
Jacob Winston: 6th in U17 Boys 110m hurdles and 7th in U17 Boys Long Jump at NSW Junior Athletics Championship
Rebekah Dallinger and Sally Ferguson: Selected in Sydney North Basketball team
Blake Hersee: U15 NSW Gold Rugby Union Representative
Ryan Donohoe: Under 16s Champion at the Pro Junior and Surfest Sanbah Cadet Cup
Jamie Thomson: Runner-Up Under 14s at the Pro Junior and Surfest Sanbah Cadet Cup
Lance Berry
Calendar of Events
Week 7A
7 March
8 March
10 March
11 March
The Exchange - Writing Collaboration with Year 5 and 9 Narrabeen North PS
Boating Safety Year 7,8 and 9
Homework Club 3:15-4:15pm
Warringah Zone Swimming Carnival
Selective High School Test (Hall)
Open Girls KO Basketball (Round 1) @NBISC 12:35-2:15pm
Homework Club 3:15-4:15pm
Year 7 Vaccinations @School Library
Junior Leaders to Narrabeen North PS 9-10am
Eagle tag Refereeing @NSHS 12:35-3:15pm
Oliver Musical Rehearsals
Week 8B
14 March
17 March
18 March
19 March
Sydney FC Academy @Endeavour Sports
The Exchange - Writing collaboration with Year 5 and 9 Narrabeen North PS
Homework Club 3:15-4:15pm
Dux Assembly 10:15am
Duke of Ed First Aid @ Dance Room
Harmony Day
Sydney North Swimming @Homebush
Opens and U14 Rugby League@Nolans Reserve
Homework Club 3:15-4:15pm
Bronze Duke of Ed Practice Hike
PCS Extension Test – Hall
Junior Leaders to Narrabeen North PS 9-10am
Eagle tag Refereeing @NSHS 12:35-3:15pm
P&C Movie night
Oliver Musical Rehearsals
Bronze Duke of Ed Practice Hike
Week 9A
21 March
24 March
PCS Extension Test - make up day
Homework Club 3:15-4:15pm
Premiers Sporting Challenge - Learn to Lead (Year 7-10 and Primary Year 5-6)
Homework Club 3:15-4:15pm
Easter Vacation 25 – 28 March school resumes 29 March
From the Deputy Principal
Thank you to the many staff and parents who attended the recent Year 7 Parent Evening. This was a valuable
opportunity to convey information about the school and develop relationships between staff and parents that will
continue for years to come. Parents were issued with the Year 7 Assessment Schedule which outlines assessment
tasks in every course and the approximate dates that they are due. This is a valuable document to assist you in
monitoring and managing the submission of set tasks. If you were unable to attend, they can be obtained from the
Year 7 Advisers, Ms Buxton and Mr David.
Students in Years 10-12 have been issued with their assessment booklets to assist with monitoring and managing the
submission of set tasks. Students in Years 7, 10, 11 and 12 were also emailed their schedule. The Assessment
Booklets for Years 8 and 9 will soon be distributed. Year Advisers of Years 8 and 9 will in the mean time email the
assessment calendar to assist you with planning schedules. If your child has not brought one home you can access
them from your child’s Year Adviser and shortly on the school website under Assessment and Reporting.
Thank you also to the many parents and students who attended the Year 10 RoSA and Year 11 Preliminary HSC
Information Nights. Mr Berry, Ms Postle and I presented regarding study habits, the Board of Studies, Teaching and
Educational Standards requirements to receive a RoSA and the supports available to assist students. Thank you to Mr
Moore, Mr Wigan and Ms Tan for supporting us on this evening.
Just a reminder, that whilst all staff welcome contact with parents, an appointment must be made for meetings. This
can be done by leaving a phone message for the teacher at the Administration Office. It is not appropriate to move
through the grounds to teacher’s classrooms or staffrooms as they may be teaching or in confidential meetings. This
is also a matter of child protection as we must be aware of all persons on the grounds at all times. Parents are
welcome to visit the front office at any time and if the senior executive are available we would be happy to discuss
any matters of concern but we cannot guarantee our availability and do not wish to disappoint. As such, making an
appointment is the best option.
Students are reminded that aerosol deodorants are banned due to the risks posed to staff and students with
respiratory problems such as asthma. We politely request that students do not bring them to school.
Parent volunteers are most welcome in high school. You may be able to assist in the canteen, covering books, or
listening to students read. If you are interested please contact Leila Agha our Learning and Support Teacher or our
canteen supervisor Viv Roberts.
Parents are reminded that inappropriate use of the laptops such as playing games in class may mean that students
will have to use traditional methods to record their course work. Laptops provide an alternative learning experience
for students and they must be fully charged each night and brought to class. We would be disappointed to hear that
some students were not able to engage in technology lessons due to inappropriate usage.
I am delighted with the number of students wearing correct school uniform. They are a very impressive sight as they
walk into the school in the morning and I thank parents for being assertive and ensuring that correct uniform is being
worn each day. Students in Academy are reminded that they must get changed into their formal uniform after the
Tuesday and Thursday session.
Parents are reminded that the DEC School attendance Policy 4.1.2 states that “Parents are required to explain the
absences of their children from school promptly and within seven school days to the school.” After this time, the
computer system automatically changes this absence to one being “unexplained”. This cannot be modified. All
absences are reported on the semester reports and many prospective employers may interpret an unexplained
absence as the student being unreliable. The easiest way to prevent this is to respond to the SMS that goes out each
morning indicating the reason that your child is absent.
Lisa Peacock
2016
Student Prefect Profiles
SCHOOL CAPTAIN – REBECCA WHITEHEAD
I went to Turramurra North Public School and have many fond memories that include their sports carnivals, excursions, my
lunch times with friends and the Year 5 and 6 camps.
For my HSC I am studying Advanced English, General Mathematics, Geography, Ancient History, Business Studies and
Music. These subjects allow me to pursue travel when I leave and volunteer for charities. I do want to go to university and
study Business or Geography. Hopefully eventually I will become a travel manager or tour manager. The things I like to do
to keep my life real are singing, athletics, traveling and music.
Doing the HSC at Narrabeen has meant that I have been immersed in a friendly and supportive environment with teachers I
know and trust. The teachers have had my best interests at heart and provided me with the opportunity to expand my
knowledge and achieve at the highest level.
I love the friendly relaxed environment at Narrabeen which has made school an enjoyable experience. I have many
highlights that include making great friends, participating in the challenge of the Duke of Edinburgh, the Academy Tennis
Program and the 2014 Beauty and the Beast production. This musical production was a particularly awesome experience
where I got to meet lots of other students in different years and have a go at activities outside of my comfort zone.
I have really enjoyed the sporting experiences offered to me through the Academy and I am grateful for having a really
good skill base. The Debating Program at Narrabeen has also allowed me to further develop my confidence in public
speaking and thinking on my feet. I believe if it wasn’t for Narrabeen I would have never been part of these programs or
considered I had the ability to do them before.
Being School Captain is a huge honour and this position allows me to give back to the school community and be involved in a process to create opportunities for others.
My goals are to collaborate with all students and create more enjoyable opportunities, so that they maximise and enjoy their educational experience. The legacy I would
like to leave is to encourage students to become active global citizens and have an increased awareness of UN global goals for sustainable development. We are
implementing two of these goals next year as part of a school program which involves raising funds to build a well in a Cambodian Village.
SCHOOL CAPTAIN – SEAN CHIVERS
I attended Wakehurst Public School, where I enjoyed my time. At Narrabeen I am studying English Standard, General
Mathematics, Business Studies, PDHPE, Construction Vet and Geography. These subjects will help me become a fire fighter,
physical education teacher, personal trainer or a builder. I enjoy playing many different types of sports but really enjoy my
baseball where I am a representative player for State League. In general I like trying new things.
I have enjoyed a lot of things about Narrabeen and the teachers are fantastic and care about what they do. I have been given
many opportunities such as being part of the ‘We are Young’ television series where I got to travel to China and went to a
Chinese school for two weeks in Beijing. Being able to help students in younger years and guide them to make good choices
has been a great opportunity Narrabeen has provided me.
As a member of the sports Academy I had the chance to excel in sport and design a healthy and balanced life style. During my
time at Narrabeen I have played Cricket, Golf, AFL, Basketball and represented Sydney North in Baseball.
Doing the HSC at Narrabeen has made me more mature and allowed me to build strong relationships with teachers; I have
enjoyed being treated like an adult. The greatest buzz this year was being appointed as School Captain which has allowed me
to demonstrate my real potential. The legacy I want to leave Narrabeen with is that it is important to strive to be your best.
VICE-CAPTAIN – ERIN HEALY
I went to Narrabeen Lakes Public School and really enjoyed my time there. I have many fond memories which include being a
regional athlete and swimmer. I also sang in their choir and performed in the junior eisteddfod. In 2010 I was appointed
School Captain and was really proud when the school erected the ‘Healy Henhouse’ after my family.
The subjects I am studying for in the HSC are English Advanced, English Extension 1, Modern History, General
Mathematics, Community and Family Studies, Biology, History Extension. I excel in literacy based subjects and still find a
great love and joy in sciences. This duality has, and will, enable me to pursue a duplicitous well-rounded career path. I
currently aspire to be a nurse when leaving school. My hobbies and interests include swimming, playing guitar and enjoying
films and the theatre.
I have really enjoyed my time at Narrabeen as I have made some close friendships and developed very strong relationships
with my teachers. I love being part of the school and especially see it unify; I feel I am part of a solid community. My time in
high school has allowed me to pursue my interests and formulate passions.
During my time at Narrabeen I have been involved in many of the outstanding programs the school runs. I enjoyed the Junior
Leadership Program which involved me going back to my primary school and working with students in Year 4. I felt this
allowed me to build the skill set to be a good role model, which I utilised during the Peer Support Program where I mentored
Year 7 students transitioning to high school. This year Narrabeen provided me with the opportunity to participate in the
Careers Mentoring program which saw me matched up with a mentor externally sourced who had similar interests and career. This allowed me to establish my goals
and set about working towards my future. Participating in the Debating Program throughout my time here has provided me with a good grounding in developing my
communication and leadership skills. The other school program I had a good time in was Academy Swimming which helped me with my discipline and commitment.
Doing the HSC at Narrabeen means a lot to me. It is a fulfilment of many years of hard work, dedication and achievement. I have been stretched academically beyond
my limitations, which has allowed me to further develop my abilities. The cohort I am going through with, are good friends and I have been given a good opportunity to
solidify long term relationships.
As Vice Captain I want to be remembered as someone who leads with courtesy, consideration and insurmountable vision. This role has allowed me to better myself as
an individual in every aspect and with the wider community. My goal in life is to be the best individual I can be.
VICE-CAPTAIN – EVAN YII
I went to Lodge International and Tunku Pinta International schools for my primary years. I liked primary school because of
the comfortable environment which helped to nurture my inquisitive nature and fuel my interest in society and the world.
The subjects I am studying for the HSC are English Advanced, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, PDHPE and
Mathematics Extension 1. I aim to become involved in the field of psychology when I leave school as it plays a large role in
people’s everyday life. I was a Sarawak State Swimmer when I lived in Malaysia and continue to swim to keep a focus. I
have a love of music which started when I learnt to play the piano at age seven. Upon starting high school I picked up
playing the guitar.
Doing the HSC at Narrabeen means a lot to me as it is the peak of my formal schooling. It is providing me with the best
opportunity to achieve as the school has a holistic approach to learning.
My time at Narrabeen has been enjoyable because of the capacity and level of engagement from all of my teachers. They
have assisted me immeasurably. The school environment sets us up to be motivated and we are encouraged to do our best
always. This is especially seen through the friends I have made at this school.
Whilst a student at Narrabeen I have been part of the Academy All Codes Football Program, swam at Zone and Regional,
CHS and CIS level. I was also part of the Careers Mentoring Program which has inspired me to achieve my post school
goals. Being involved in the Creative Arts Showcase and performing to such a large crowd was also an honour.
I want to leave a legacy of constant progression which is an idea that always encourages improvement. The goals I would
like to achieve are in accordance with doing my best in the HSC with the end result reflecting Narrabeen’s emphasis upon academic excellence. Ultimately I want to
contribute to the community the school is part of.
PREFECT – NATALIE WELSH
I went to Narrabeen North Primary School where I had really positive experiences and especially enjoyed performing in the
dance concerts and being appointed the School Captain.
The subjects I am studying for the HSC are Visual Arts, Design and Technology, Music, Advanced English and General
Mathematics. These subjects will allow me to go into a creative field when I leave school, giving me enough knowledge to
start my own fashion label, which is my dream career. To keep myself sane during the HSC I like doing creative stuff,
travelling, singing, yoga, going to the beach, looking at and buying fashion, designing things and enjoying music.
During my time at Narrabeen I have thoroughly enjoyed the subjects I am studying. I have loved all the new people I have
met along the way. This school’s environment has enabled me to grow as an individual. During my five years at Narrabeen I
have really liked being part of the school. I was one of the leads in the Beauty and Beast musical in 2014 as well being part of
the Student Leadership Representative Council.
Completing my HSC at Narrabeen has been very important to me and made realise that the HSC is a big commitment.
Attending a small school has been really beneficial as the teachers know me really well and have a good idea of my
capabilities and being a Prefect is a massive privilege. My goals as a Prefect are to bring more fun and creativity to our school
environment. I would love to leave a legacy based on this at Narrabeen.
PREFECT – JOSHUA GACELOS
I remember my first day at Dee Why Public School and feeling a sense of belonging. It was such a multicultural school; my
first day nerves were settled quickly as I felt an instant sense of security. I would have to say one of the most fulfilling
experiences I had in primary school was being part of the leadership team running fundraising events. The camps were
heaps of fun also.
The subjects I am studying at Narrabeen for the HSC are Modern History, PDHPE, Community and Family Studies, General
Mathematics, English Standard and Food Technology. Hopefully whilst studying these subjects I will be able to pursue
university and study Food Sciences and Human Studies.
Playing basketball has always been a passion of mine and I enjoy playing it in my free time. As a member of the Academy I
also play Basketball at school. I also enjoy fast paced activities am keen to learn new things. During my time at Narrabeen I
have come to enjoy many things which include the privilege to be part of the Student Leadership Representative Council.
The school camps, excursions, fundraisers and events such as Harmony Day have made my high school experience a
fantastic one. During my time at Narrabeen I have been involved in the Junior Leadership Program and played in the
knockout basketball team.
Completing the HSC at Narrabeen has allowed me to get a good foundation. I have developed sound skills in resilience,
motivation and stress management. I have really found my experiences so far in the HSC to be rewarding and exciting as I
can see the doors of the future opening.
Being a Prefect at Narrabeen has inspired me to lead by example, set a standard of leadership that I hope younger students
will look up to. The legacy I would like to leave would be to establish events such as our 2015 Christmas Carols concert to help strengthen our school community.
PREFECT – LILY BROWN
I went to Narrabeen North Public School and thoroughly enjoyed my time. The best thing I remember about primary school
was the fun fairs and days like ‘Bizarre Bizarre’. I was also honoured to be a Prefect in Year 6.
The subjects I’m studying for my HSC are Geography, Advanced English, General Mathematics, PDHPE, Community and
Family Studies and Food Technology. When I graduate from high school I want to go on to further study and become a
primary teacher. To keep myself balanced during the HSC I focus upon my dance and cheerleading.
I have found the relationships with other students and teachers to be the best things I have enjoyed about Narrabeen. It’s
been fun and the bond I have with my teachers has allowed me to excel. I also have great memories of the camps we have
gone on – the fun days.
Narrabeen has given me a lot of opportunities. I enjoyed going back to Narrabeen North as part of the Junior Leadership
Program where I got to help out younger students. The Dance Academy has allowed me to build strong friendships with the
girls, especially those in younger years and the teacher. I found the Careers Mentoring program to have been very valuable
as it helped me build my confidence and lay strong foundations for making good decisions for my future.
Doing the HSC at Narrabeen has meant a lot to me. The teachers have made sure we’re on the right track. I have really
noticed the difference the support networks have made for myself and other students, such as the Homework Club, the
teacher Senior Mentoring Program for Year 12 students and the School Counsellor.
Essentially when this year is over, I want other students to see that I have made a difference as a Prefect. I am passionate
about making Harmony Day work and ensuring students receive praise and reward for their efforts and will continue to strive to make our school cohesive.
PREFECT – DANE MAJOR
I went to Narrabeen North Public School and had a brilliant time there and the teachers were awesome.
The subjects I am studying for the HSC are Biology, PDHPE, Advanced English, Modern History, Mathematics and
Construction VET. Looking towards the future I would like to become a primary school teacher. To relax and chill during the
HSC and keep my balance, I surf and enjoy anything to do with the beach. I also love being around family and friends.
In the time so far I have spent at Narrabeen, I have enjoyed making lots of friendships as well as the relationships I have
made with my teachers. These have really helped me engage in my learning. Narrabeen has been good to me. I was in the
Academy between Years 7–10 for Touch Football and I have played in a lot of the sporting teams. I have been part of the
Student Leadership Representative Council where I have developed strong interpersonal skills.
Completing my HSC at Narrabeen has allowed me to understand it is just a journey that can open up better opportunities for
my future into what I want as a career and for my life. My goal as a Prefect is to enjoy the year and soak up the atmosphere
of belonging at this school. I enjoy the feeling that comes with being a year out from finishing. I intend to volunteer for as
much as I can to help make this even a better school.
Art News
Year 12
This is a big year for our HSC Visual Arts students who are currently developing and refining their concepts for their
Body of Works. The subjects they have selected to explore range from themes about animals, urban decay, street
scapes, the cycle of life, sky scapes and the ocean. They have been experimenting with art materials to develop their
ability in their chosen materials with some exciting experimental approaches starting to emerge.
The students investigate an artist and/or artists to use as their inspiration and gain insight into how artists develop
meaning in their artworks. They are able to work in the Senior Studio where they have their own space to turn into a
creative outlet to work in at any time.
Students will visit the Manly Art Gallery Exhibition, “Express Yourself” to view Body of Works created by students on
the Northern Beaches in 2015. The Exhibition will include the Body of Work from a Visual Arts student from our
school, Michelle Mediati which is a sculpture titled “The Outsiders”. The art forms the students have selected at this
stage are drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, textiles, digital imaging and photography. This will ensure the annual
Creative and Performing Arts showcase will be worth a visit this year in Term 3 to view the Body of Works created by
our senior students over the coming months.
Year 7
The Year 7 cohort has made a great start to 2016 in Visual Arts. Currently we are studying the elements of art,
learning realistic drawing techniques and creating self-portraits. The range of themes explored will be self, fantasy,
our place and landscapes.
We have been so pleased to have so many enthusiastic and creative young artists in our classes. Several students
have been working on drawings and paintings at home, and developing their artmaking skills in their own time.
Pictured below are some of the talented Year 7 students holding up their personal explorations of drawing completed
in their leisure.
Visual Arts Department
Clare Schneider and Shannon Purcell
Safe Boating Presentation
We have been offered an opportunity to have Mr Anthony Downs, from Roads and Maritime Services, come to our
school this month to talk to Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 about the fun and safety issues that are associated with boats. This
will happen on Monday Week 7 this term, 0 March, in our School Hall.
Mr Downs will talk to Years 7 and 8 during period two, and also to years 9 and 10 during period 3. This is a free
presentation to our students.
He will also talk about how young people can obtain a boat licence, the times when life jackets need to be worn and
the new “distances off” that are about to change.
We are looking forward to this presentation.
Mr Bob McClung
TAS Faculty
Year 11 Report
“Some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard at it” – Winston Churchill
Year 11 have made an outstanding start to 2016 with many students applying themselves to the rigours of the
Preliminary HSC with great respect and responsibility. We have welcomed Sam, Aaliyah, Jake, Matt, Josh, Joe, Dylan
and Teagan to our cohort this term in addition to numerous International Students, all of whom have settled in
extremely well.
Homework & Assessment Planning
With only three terms comprising the Preliminary HSC year, it is vital that students establish a study routine in order
to achieve not only academic success but a healthy school-life balance. All students have been provided with an A1
school calendar and their assessment booklet, which should be utilised to visualise due dates and to prioritise tasks
for completion. A study guide document has also been emailed to all parents containing tips and templates for
students to plan a weekly schedule. Given the immense pressure that can result from numerous homework tasks and
assessment deadlines, all students have been encouraged to see me should they wish to establish a study plan.
For those students who do not wish to purchase and use a paper diary, “My Study Life” is a fantastic free online tool
that enables students to keep track of homework and assessment tasks and create an electronic version of their
timetable. Students can access the site via a web browser using their education email but can also download the
corresponding app on their smartphone device. Any tasks or reminders will automatically sync between the students’
devices, enabling them to see their timetable and/or tasks at any time. For more information, see
https://www.mystudylife.com/
Year 11 Camp
A Year 11 camp has been approved for 3 days from Wednesday to Friday August 10 – 12 (Term 3 Week 4) and will
take place at Outdoor Education in Forster. Any student who receives an N-award in any subject or is suspended
under the school’s discipline policy will not be eligible to attend the camp. More information will be distributed to
students at a later stage in the year.
Should you have any further questions or queries regarding Year 11, please do not hesitate to call me on:
(02)9913-7820 or email me at [email protected].
Melinda Tan
Year 11 Adviser
Musical Waves
Open night I am sure will be a very successful evening. Congratulations to the musicians who will perform at the
event. Paris Whiteley a fabulous singer and Tayanita Robertson of Year 9 will most definitely enchant the audience
with their singing and piano playing. Carina Leon De La Barra of Year 12 will sing a foot-tapping rendition of Jason
Mraz’s song “I am Yours”. Alvin Bousfield will play his own compositions on guitar demonstrating his compositional
ability and sound finger picking. He will be accompanied by Isabel Bottero ,who is a singer for one of these pieces.
Holly Smith is a very happy song-bird who is always keen to show her wonderful talent on Open Night which is much
appreciated.
Natalie Welsh, Carina De La Barra and Billy Harpur of Year 12 Elective Music 1, have an opportunity to perform at the
PCS combined school Festival on August the 8th to showcase their HSC performance pieces this year as well as our
school Showcase. We wish them well.
Year 9 are 1earning about 1950’s Rock n Roll. They will complete their interim practical marks and assessments on
their Viva-Voces which is an Oral Presentation of a 1950’s song
Year 8 are in the process of writing music jingles for their first task assessment in weeks 8. I am sure they have
enjoyed this course!
Year 7 Music classes are working towards their “Haunted House Sound Composition” assessment also in week 8. Year
7 are really enjoying their course as well!
Lunch-time concerts will commence in week 4 of term two in A15 Music Room. These concerts will help promote the
students performance technique, camaraderie and support of each other and to help build performance confidence.
The importance of regular performance practice is essential for students to achieve well in this area. Please ensure
your children practice on their instruments at home. It would be much appreciated.
If there are any Year 7 students who would like to join the concert band please contact Dr Sylvana Augustyniak.
Wishing you all a happy week.
Dr Sylvana Augustyniak
YEAR 8 REPORT
Team 2020 have settled well into their second year of high school. It certainly has been a very busy start to the term
with students being involved in the many extra-curricular activities that Narrabeen offers. We have a number of
students preparing for the school musical Oliver! which we are all really excited about watching. Many students are
involved in Drama Club, Concert Band, Robotics Club and have been in various sporting teams including touch
football, softball, netball and basketball.
The school swimming carnival was a huge success and congratulations to
Zach Morris, Kylie Sakiyama and Mia Stevens who were Age Champions for
their respective age groups. We would like to wish all students the very best
at the Zone Swimming Carnival next week.
In Week two Year 8 students were involved in a very valuable study skills
session, which provided students with effective study tips including how to
utilise a weekly study timetable. Most subjects have assessment tasks due
over the next four weeks and it is really important that students are
organised and complete all tasks to their personal best. Homework club is
being held every Monday and Thursday afternoons from 3:15-4:15pm. This provides a fantastic centre for students to
complete homework and assessment tasks and we encourage all students to attend.
On Monday 7 March Year 8 students will have the opportunity to have Mr Anthony Downs, from Roads and Maritime
Services come to the school and talk about the fun and safety issues that are associated with boats. He will also
provide relevant information about how young people can obtain a boat licence, the importance of wearing life jackets
and the new “distances off” that are about to change.
This term in Well-Being lessons there is a focus on Resiliency and in particular utilising the Resilience Doughnut. The
Resilience Doughnut is a model for building resilience that considers both the internal qualities of a resilient person as
well as the factors in the person’s environment which support and interact with those internal qualities. The Resilience
Doughnut is a simple and practical tool which can be used to support the development of resilience in children and
adolescents.
We would like to welcome Samantha Watson, Lachoneus Paki, Sebastian Muehlich and Witika Rees-Hatu who have
joined us in 2016.
If you have any enquiries in regards to Year 8 please email me [email protected]
Rheanna Hesp
Year 8 Adviser
HSIE Report
Narrabeen warmly welcomes Mrs Pearce, Miss Hickey, Mr Hinton and Miss Durant as they join Miss Babic, Mr Wigan
and Mr Conroy in HSIE. Our new-look team of enthusiastic HSIE teachers are committed to sharing their passion for
History, Geography, Commerce and Business Studies and have already put plans in place for exciting fieldtrips and
enrichment activities to engage students throughout 2016.
YEAR 10 GEOGRAPHY
Year 10 Geography students were the first group to venture out on fieldwork this year with an urban-studies
excursion investigating issues of growth and decline in Barangaroo, Millers Point and the Rocks. Students assessed
the environmental impacts of development (turbidity, nutrient enrichment, wind, ambient noise and shadow) while
using sophisticated fieldwork equipment and took a ferry to see the extent of urban renewal on the harbour. In
addition to their upcoming fieldwork skills test, Year 10 will incorporate their learning from this excursion for their
major assignment this term. Students will need to use the goals from the 2036 Plan for Sydney to create an original
urban plan for the White Bay precinct near the ANZAC Bridge.
YEAR 12 BUSINESS STUDIES
Year 12 Business studies students were given the opportunity to see business operations first-hand at Blackmores,
Warriewood. The class were given an exclusive tour behind the scenes to see the ins-and-outs of running a business.
Since returning to school, students have been able to apply their learning and incorporate examples of operations
processes at Blackmores into essays and assessment responses.
YEAR 10 ELECTIVE GEOGRAPHY
Mr Wigan’s Y10 Elective Geography class have been making sense of the political geography quagmire in Syria. Using
the statement “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”, students have used the key geographic inquiry questions to
engage in project based learning about political and religious tensions. Some key investigations have explored the
differences between Sunni and Shia beliefs, the ‘winners’ and ‘loser’ of the Arab Spring and international reactions to
the refugee crisis affecting Syria’s neighbours. Students will present their research on Open Night with a video
documentary, interactive quiz and visual representations such as Jessica’s “Wheel of Conflict”.
Year 12 Business Studies
Year 10 Geography
Year 10 Elective Geography
SENIOR GEOGRAPHY AND BIOLOGY FIELDTRIP
All permission notes and deposits for the 2016 Geography and Biology fieldtrip to Tropical North Queensland are now
due. The six-day fieldtrip including visits to Mossman Gorge, the Daintree Rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef, ziplining,
snorkling and university-level field work will take place from 29 June – 4 July. Please keep May 29 free in your diaries
– our students and teachers will be running the BBQ at the next Car Boot Sale to raise money to subsidise the cost of
the excursion.
YEAR 7 GEOGRAPHY
Finally, Year 7 Geography have also been issued permission notes for their upcoming fieldtrip to the wetlands at
Careel Bay. Students will be using field-equipment to measure salinity, pH, nitrogen and turbidity in a range of
wetland environments as well as investigating the impact of human modifications to the environment. Please ensure
all money and notes are returned by April 1.
SPORT REPORT
SCHOOL SWIMMING CARNIVAL
Close to 700 students made their way to Macquarie University Sport and Aquatic Centre on Friday 12th March for the
Narrabeen Sports High School 2016 Swimming Carnival. A new venue and the reinvention of the School Houses gave
a sense of a new phase in swimming at NSHS, and the day did not fail to deliver.
From the first gun the racing was on. Throughout the day numerous NSHS records were broken and many close
finishes were seen. It was amazing to see so many students challenging themselves to take the block and do their
best for their team. The knowledge that their friends and teammates were cheering them on from the pool deck made
it that little bit easier and rewarding.
By the end of the day it was O'Neill that stood above the rest to claim the House Championship - a huge
congratulations to all members.
Although this achievement was impressive, it was surpassed by the effort put in by all those who participated across
the day to help the Swimming Carnival be the HUGE success it was. From the amazing Sports Coordinators who
worked tirelessly in the background to organise everything, to the teachers who helped out on the day, to every
student who hopped on a block to race or cheered from pool deck, to all the parents who made the journey out to
support, and finally to everyone who worked together to ensure that the venue was absolutely spotless upon leaving thank you.
All students should be extremely proud of themselves.
Congratulations to the following students
2016 NSHS Records
Zach Morris: 12-14Boys 200m Freestyle - 2:13.25
Zach Morris:12-14Boys 200m IM - 2:38.06
Kylie Sakiyama: 12-14Girls 200m IM - 3:34.52
Ryan Yii: 15-16Boys 200m IM - 2:38.16
Ryan Yii: 15Boys 50m Breaststroke - 36.01
Jordon Hunt: 16Girls 50m Butterfly - 36.76
Xanthe Gittings: 16Girls 50m Backstroke - 39.46
Jordon Hunt: 16Girls 50m Breaststroke- 41.85
Congratulations to the 2016 NSHS Swimming Age Champions:
Girls:
12 Years - Jasmine Kirkland (2nd: Mia Creed, 3rd: Abbie Morris)
13 Years - Mia Stevens (2nd: Taylah Portelli, 3rd: Paige Morris)
14 Years - Kylie Sakiyama (2nd: Macy Carrothers, 3rd: Julia Indicatti-Dalpiaz)
15 Years - Hayley Creed (2nd: Chloe Jones, 3rd: Eve Baker)
16 Years - Jordon Hunt (2nd: Xanthe Gittings, 3rd: Bailee Nix)
17+ Years - Ella Donohoe (2nd: Jennaya Wiggins, 3rd: Lily Brown)
Boys:
12 Years - Jarrod Love (2nd: Thibault Iatrou-Kosterman, 3rd: Josh Thomson)
13 Years - Jarryd Maree (2nd: Zach Couper, 3rd: Massimo Vezzola)
14 Years - Zach Morris (2nd: Taine Wright, 3rd: Noah Grainger)
15 Years - Ryan Yii (2nd: Ethan Raper, 3rd: James McCrindle)
16 Years - Zac Stracey (2nd: Jacob Chidiac, 3rd: Conor Hickey)
17+ Years - Evan Yii (2nd: Bailey Lodge, 3rd: Lachlan Francis)
AWD - Bailey Lodge
TOUCH FOOTBALL
Open Boys Touch
Congratulations to the Open Boys Touch Football team who defeated Mosman High 16-1 on Thursday 25 February in
Round 2 of the knock out. The boys had a solid win and will play Randwick Boys.
Open Boys Team:
Daniel Riggio, Conor Hickey, Nathan Van Buuren, Mitchell Quetcher, Lachoneus Paki, Zach Forsyth, Mitchell Donnelly,
Lachlan McGreal, Resmine Sionemale, Charlie Griffith, Zac Stracey, Brandon Reading, Witika Rees-Hatu and Cuban
Porter-Sheen.
Open Girls Touch
The Open Girls Touch Football team had a convincing 16-1 win against Carlingford on Friday 26 February.
Congratulations to all students involved on an outstanding game.
The team:
Caitlin Hickey, Caitlin Cimarosti, Jennaya Wiggins, Briana Hibbert, Bailee Nix, Macy Carrothers, Piper Martin, Olivia
Senior, Sariah Paki, Emily Van Buuren, Hayley Creed, Jasmine Nix, Summer Syron, Mikayla Smith
SURFING
Narrabeen sent five teams (4boys, 1girls) teams to compete at the Surfest High School Teams Challenge on Thursday
25th and Friday 26th February, at Dixon Beach Newcastle.
Competing across the two days in challenging conditions the Girls team of Chyna Stuart-Edwards, Kyla Whitfield and
Anne Dos Santos (photo L-R) overcame the opposition to take out the competition. The girls competed intelligently
and effectively as a team and this was the deciding factor.
In the Boys competition the standard of surfing was incredibly high and in particular, the final was a very tight fought
battle. In the end the NSHS team of Jamie Thomson, Ryan Donohoe and Dylan Moffat placed second; and the NSHS
team of Ethan Raper, Joe Keogh, and Tas Grainger placed third.
Demonstrating the depth of surfing at NSHS, and the great work that the Academy program (surfers, coaches,
supervisors included) is doing, 4 teams made the semi-finals and three into the finals (the fifth team was less than 2
points from the quarte-final round).
A huge congratulations to all surfers who represented NSHS with great integrity and enthusiasm. Key to the success
was support - with everyone on the beach to cheer other teams on, surfers helping to caddy and provide tips and
advice.
The team: Anne Dos Santos, Chyna Stuart-Edwards, Caitlin Hennessy, Kyla Whitfield, Ethan Raper, Emerson Raper,
Beau Haoui, Zac Chappelow, Joe Keogh, Tas Grainger, Ryan Donohoe, Jamie Thomson, Dylan Moffat, Dakoa
Davidson, Liam Moir, Kiron Ludwig, Jack Bannister, Tom Gale
Special thanks to all those who assisted the team over the two days of competition - Jeremy Raper, Peter Thomson,
Gerard McCullum and Aaron Morris. Thank you to Mr McDonald for his constant support and dedication in ensuring
students are provided with such wonderful opportunities.
Recently Ryan Donohoe and Jamie Thomson competed in the Pro Junior and Surfest Sanbah Cadet Cup in Newcastle.
Congratulations to Ryan who won the 16s Division Surfest Sanbah Cadet Cup and Jamie Thomson who came 2nd in
the 14s division.
RUGBY UNION:
Congratulations to Blake Hersee who has been selected in the U15 NSW Gold Rugby Union Team. This is an amazing
achievement and we wish Blake all the very best for his upcoming matches.
Rugby 7s Boys Gala Day:
Both boys teams played really well throughout the day. They were up against some tough opposition who had a lot of
big strong young men.
Narrabeen white went down to Matraville, Westfields and Hunter putting up a strong and valiant fight throughout each
day. Stand out performers were Darcy Hoy, Rory Lee and Tasman Parnell.
Narrabeen Blue also played well the entire day. They came up against strong opposition in Hills, Illawarra and Hunter.
The boys all showed great sportsmanship and a large amount of talent was evident. Lucas Toy, Josh Beezley and
Taine Wright were standouts on the day.
Both teams came together to play each other in a battle of Narrabeen. Narrabeen white took home the cake with a
solid 12-0 lead at the bell.
Rugby 7s Girls Gala Day:
The girls worked fantastically together through the entire day and showcased some high quality women's rugby. The
girls played Westfields, Hunter, Illawarra and Matraville. The girls showed huge talent by all with standouts Jazmon
Tupou-Witchman, Deija Ngatai-Chantung and Caitlin Hickey combining well with the rest of the squad to win against
Hunter and Illawarra.
Knockout Softball:
Narrabeen Sports High played Wyong High in the open boys’ softball knockout competition on the February 17. With a
mixture of students as well as some gun juniors the boys played with great spirit and integrity on the day.
Unfortunately some early mistakes cost us valuable runs which in the end was just too hard to run down by the final
innings. We lost 15-9 in the end. The highlight of the day was Mitchell Donnelly hitting an absolute screamer of a
home run late in game which was great to see, a special mention to Christian Senior who was an excellent assistant
coach and fantastic bat boy as well as Jaylin Rae who pitched well majority of the game. Thank you to Mr Mitchell for
coaching.
Car Boot Sale:
Thank you so much to all the parents, teachers and students who helped on Sunday 28 February at the Car Boot
Sale. The money raised on the BBQ will go towards purchasing new sports uniform for our students. A special mention
thank you to the following students who helped on the BBQ: Alex Hogan, Mai Kwanming, Luke Bosco, Zach Couper,
Mikaela Dive, Eve Baker, Lauren Bateman, Lana Sexton, Maxine Rossi, Mia Creed, Kye Creed, Hayley Creed, Toby
Geisker, Holly Smith, Bianca Carter, Jakob Hogan, Evan Yii, Taya Robertson, Sebastian Muehlich, Janina Muehlich and
Sean Chivers
SYDNEY NORTH REPRESENTATIVES
Congratulations to the following students who have already been selected in Sydney North Teams
Sean Chivers – Baseball
Jaylin Rae – Baseball
Jaylin Rae – Softball
Sally Ferguson – Basketball
Rebekah Dallinger – Basketball
ATHLETICS:
Abbey Waterworth recently competed at the NSW Junior Athletics championships in the U/16 Pole Vault and finished
with a silver medal and will now travel to Perth to compete in the Australian Junior Athletics Championships on the
March 13. We would like to wish Abbey all the very best.
Jacob Winston placed 6th in U17 Boys 110m hurdles and 7th in U17 Boys Long Jump at NSW Junior Athletics
Championships. Congratulations Jacob.
Upcoming Events:
8th March: Zone Swimming Carnival at WAC
17th March: Sydney North Swimming Carnival at SOPAC
17th March: Open Boys Rugby League at Nolans
24th March: Premier Sporting Challenge (PSC) Learn to Lead Day
If you would like to inform Narrabeen about your child’s sporting success please email the sports coordinator;
[email protected]
Helping out
at
Car Boot Sale
Touch Football
and
Rugby 7s
Surfing
and
Swimming
Alternatives to repetition
There is no single strategy that seems to be effective for all students who are not achieving to
teacher and/or parent expectation. Successful approaches include a combination of evidencebased intervention strategies and programs that support the academic, social and behavioural
presentation of individual students. Early identification is extremely important and research
shows enormous benefits from structured and engaging programs that incorporate basic literacy
skills, social skills, emotional literacy skills and prosocial values.
The Learning Support Team within a school is responsible for developing appropriate intervention
programs for students who are not achieving to expectation. The LST may access and implement
specialised academic support, including within school and regional programs, e.g. Support Teacher
Learning intervention, Reading Recovery, Designated STLA, additional assessment such as a
psychological (school counsellor), language or occupational therapy assessment. The results of such
assessments should make practical recommendations for support and remediation.
Further Reading
Andrew J. Martin (2011): Holding back and holding behind: grade retention and
students’ non-academic and academic outcomes, British Educational Research Journal, 37:5, 739-763 This article also
cites a comprehensive list of additional research articles.
Helen McGrath (2006): To repeat or not to repeat? WORDS, Journal of the Western
Australian Primary Principals’ Association.
Dianna Kenny (1991): Is more of the same better? A study of grade retention
(Melbourne, ACER)
Researched and written by school counsellors/psychologists from Parramatta District Guidance Teams: Jacqui Vos, Loralie Thomson,
Helen Yiu, Erin Zammit, Paul Bayes, Rosemary Flett, Agnes Girardi, Kay Boshier December 2011
Making a Decision about Repetition: A Best Practice Guide
Every year there are some students who don’t achieve aswell as their teachers or parents expect.
Parents of a student who is not achieving the expected outcomes academically, who may be socially
immature or who may have missed a lot of school because of illness or holidays may wonder if
repetition would benefit their child. Current research does not support repetition as a strategy
for students who are not achieving to expectations.
Within any class and any grade there will be a wide range of academic achievement. There will also
be differences in maturity, social skills, ability to concentrate and behavioural presentation.
Current “good practice” caters for a wide range of student ability. Teachers and support
personnel are skilled at making accommodations to the class program in order to cater for all
students.
Repetition was a more common and accepted practice in the past when concepts and skills were
taught in discrete one-year courses and the focus was primarily on academic achievement as an
indicator of success or failure. Current good practice, with reference to the “response to
intervention model”, suggests that students learn at their own rate and that work should be
adjusted to suit student needs, regardless of grade level. Therefore, there is little point in
students repeating a grade to do “more of the same”.
Research into the outcomes of repetition suggests that there are few, if any benefits for a student
to repeat a grade and do the same thing that led to his or her lack of achievement. Repetition
may, in fact, cause long-term negative outcomes. Having a child repeat a grade assumes that
another year of that grade will benefit the student. There may be individual cases where a
child may appear to benefit from repetition, but current research suggests that these cases are
very rare. While there is evidence to suggest that a student may benefit in the year of
repetition, or even the year after, it appears that these benefits are short-term, and within a few
years the positive effect of repetition has disappeared. Students who did not repeat a grade
appear to have similar, or even better, academic and social outcomes as those who did repeat.
Repetition is most likely to occur in the early grades of primary school and those in favour genuinely
believe that the initial benefits will last long-term. Unfortunately, the negative effects usually
occur much later, in high school, and are not apparent to the initial decision- makers.
Academically
Research that compares the outcomes for similar low-achieving students who repeat and do not
repeat is very clear:
•
Students with language and learning difficulties, intellectual disabilities, challenging behaviour
and/or attention and concentration difficulties do not benefit from repetition. In fact,
subjecting those students to another year of schooling is more likely to have a negative
effect, particularly in the long-term.
•
Repeated students may show some academic gains within the first few years of repetition, but
these gains reduce over time. By mid to late high school, repeated students may actually be
achieving at a slower rate than similar peers who did not repeat.
•
Students who repeat a year and do “much of the same” are found, long-term, to be significantly
lower in academic motivation, engagement, and literacy and numeracy achievement. Generally,
students do not “catch up” academically.
•
In the long-term, students who did not repeat generally achieve better academically, leave
school later, and are more likely to access post-school education, such as university or TAFE.
Socially and emotionally
Research information suggests that repetition may have negative or harmful effects. There
appear to be few, if any, positive outcomes:
•
In the short-term, repetition may cause significant stress, a sense of failure and a loss of
self-esteem. Even when managed sensitively, students who repeat are likely to feel that they
have “failed”. Most students look forward to going on to the next grade with their peers and feel
a sense of shame and loss of status. This may be exacerbated if younger students from the
repeated grade out-achieve the repeated student (which is quite likely).
•
In the long-term, as they progress through high school, students who have repeated have a
greater tendency to miss days of school, not complete homework and assignments and
disengage from learning. Because of their non-engagement with school, they are more likely to
develop challenging and oppositional behaviours. Students may lose their sense of community
“connectedness”.
•
Long-term studies vary, but in general, it appears that over time, peer relationships are not
adversely affected by repetition. Repeated and non-repeated students report a similar attitude
and perception of peer relationships.
•
In the long-term, there is little evidence to suggest that students who are repeated because of
perceived immaturity or difficulties with peer relationships have any better outcomes than
similar students who did not repeat.
Some 17 year olds are going to a party and have
asked their friend who is 19 years old to buy some
alcohol for them. Is this legal?
The 19 year old is committing two offences. The first is obtaining
alcohol for a person under the age of 18, and the second is supplying
alcohol to a person under the age of 18. An on-the-spot fine of $1,100
or a court imposed maximum penalty of $11,000 and/or 12 months
imprisonment applies for each offence.
I have agreed to host a party for my 16 year old. As part of this I was going to
provide food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. I am worried about providing
alcohol but apparently ‘it’s at everyone’s parties’.
Did you know that in NSW, except in specific circumstances, it is illegal to sell or supply alcohol to
people under the age of 18? The law applies anywhere and at all times, including homes, halls and public
places generally.
As the host of a party where alcohol is supplied, you could be issued with an on-the-spot fine of $1,100 by the
police for every minor that you serve. You may also be liable for a court penalty of $11,000 and/or 12 months
imprisonment for each person under the age of 18 who is supplied with alcohol. An exception to this is where a
parent or guardian supplies liquor to their child away from licensed premises. You may also have a defence to a
prosecution if a parent or guardian has specifically authorised you to supply alcohol to their child, although you
would need to be able to prove this in court.
The law also makes it illegal for minors to drink alcohol on licensed premises. The minor can receive an on-thespot fine of $220 or the court can impose a maximum penalty of $2,200.
A minor must not take delivery of any liquor sold over the telephone or by facsimile or by mail order or through
an internet site unless he/she was ordered or requested to do so by his or her parent or guardian. The minor can
receive an on-the-spot fine of $220 or the court can impose a maximum penalty of $2,200.
However, a person must not order or request a minor to take delivery of liquor sold over the telephone or
by facsimile or by mail order or through an internet site. An on-the-spot fine of $330 or a court imposed
maximum penalty of $3,300 applies to a person for this offence.
For more information about the liquor laws and young people refer to the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming
and Racing website (www.olgr.nsw.gov.au).
This publication is intended as a guide only. The contents do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such.
Persons wishing formal advice on matters referred to in this publication should consult their solicitor.
Alcohol Celebrations and supply, information for parents
© NSW, Department of Education and Communities, 2012.
No knives at school
Parent Fact Sheet
Safety and Security Directorate
There is no good reason to bring a knife to school.
NSW now has the toughest knife laws in Australia. As a parent, you need to be aware of
these laws, as you can also be charged if you allow your child to carry a knife.
No knives allowed
at school under any
circumstances.
•
•
•
If a student has a knife at
school the principal may call
the police.
The student may be expelled
or suspended immediately.
Possessing a knife includes
your child simply having one
in their bag or locker. Having a
knife for self-protection is also
illegal. If you are concerned
about your child’s wellbeing or
safety, contact the principal.
Tough penalties apply for
children convicted of knife
offences, including gaol
sentences of up to 25 years if
someone is injured with a knife
during an assault.
Every child has the right
to feel safe and secure at
school. There is no good reason for a child to ever have a
knife at school.
If you want to talk about
children and knives at school,
please contact the principal.
Your child’s school will advise
you about these courses and
the procedures for carrying
knives legally to and from
school and TAFE.
What kind of knives
are prohibited?
As school policy is designed to
keep all students safe, no type
of knife is allowed at school. No
type of knife is allowed at school.
That means no butter knives or
fruit knives in lunchboxes, or knife
tools for craft purposes.
•
•
•
•
Flick knives, ballistic knives,
sheath knives, push daggers,
trench knives, butterfly
knives and star knives are all
prohibited.
Your child cannot bring to
school any item that can be
used as a weapon (such as a
chisel).
In lessons requiring the use of
knives, for example cooking or
trades, your child’s teacher will
supply and supervise the use
of the tools.
There are some senior
subjects, such as hospitality,
where children may be
required to have their own
knives.
The law makes
parents responsible
You need to make certain your
child is aware of the school’s
rules and the State laws about
knives.
If you allow your child to carry
or possess a knife at school or
in a public place, you can be
charged.
•
The police can search any
child they suspect of having
a knife. They can confiscate
any dangerous object they
might find during the search.
•
Your child must comply with
such a police search, or
they may be arrested and
charged.
•
It is also illegal for anyone to
sell a knife to anyone who is
less than 16 years old.
NSW DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITIESWWW.DEC.NSW.GOV.AU
Regular School Attendance
Information for parents and carers
All children have a right to an education. Only by regular school attendance can
children make the most of educational opportunities, leading to greater social and
economic outcomes.
Schools play a vital role in the social
and emotional development of children.
Regular attendance enables students
to develop a sense of belonging to a
peer group and assists in building
important coping and friendship skills.
Confident children are less likely to
engage in anti-social behaviour.
If students miss out on the basic
skills in the early years of school, they
may experience learning problems in
later years. Ultimately, unsatisfactory
attendance at school may affect the
awarding of the School Certificate.
Schools, in partnership with parents,
are responsible for promoting the regular
attendance of students. While parents
are legally responsible for the regular
attendance of their children, school staff,
as a part of their duty of care, monitor
part or whole day absences. Parents
and schools have specific responsibilities
concerning children’s attendance
at school.
Responsibilities of the principal
Principals are legally responsible for
maintaining accurate records of student
attendance. When reasons for absences
are provided to the school by parents,
principals are accountable for their
decision to record a student’s absence as
justified. Principals may decline to accept
as satisfactory an explanation for an
absence and will record that absence
as unjustified.
Principals may request medical certificates
or other documentation when absences
explained as being due to illness are
frequent or prolonged.
the Board of Studies NSW for home
schooling. The New South Wales
Department of Education and Training
may take legal action against parents and
carers who do not send their children to
school without a valid reason.
What is a justified reason for
being absent from school?
Justified reasons for absences may
include the student:
■■
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Responsibilities of parents
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The Education Act 1990 requires that
parents (including carers) ensure that
children of compulsory school age are
enrolled at and regularly attend school,
or are registered with the Office of
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having an unavoidable medical or dental
appointment (preferably, these should
be made after school or during holidays)
being required to attend a recognised
religious holiday
being required to attend an exceptional
or urgent family circumstance (such as
attending a funeral)
being sick, or having an infectious disease.
Head lice infestations can be a common
occurrence, particularly in primary
schools. Parents should check their
child’s hair regularly for head lice and
undertake treatment where eggs or
lice are identified. Information on how
schools can support parents to manage
and prevent the spread of head lice can
be accessed from the student health
section of the Department’s website
at http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/
studentsupport/studenthealth/conditions/
headlice/index.php. Advice from NSW
Health indicates that there is no need for
students to be sent home or excluded
from school because of head lice. Having
head lice is not a justified reason for
prolonged absences from school.
Absences for reasons such as some of the
following may not be justified:
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Shopping
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Sleeping in
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Working around the house
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Minding younger siblings and other
children
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Minor family events such as birthdays
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Hair cuts.
It is important to realise that parents
(including carers) may be prosecuted
if children have recurring unjustified
absences from school.
Keeping the school informed
Whenever possible, parents and carers
are encouraged to provide an explanation
for absences before the absences occur.
The principal of the school has the right
to question parents’ requests for their
child to be absent from school. They may
also question an explanation given for a
child’s absence from school.
If you are having difficulty getting
your child to attend school regularly,
you might like to talk to the school
principal or the school counsellor.
In primary school you could also
approach the assistant principal and
Holidays
in secondary school, your child’s year
adviser would be a good contact.
Parents and carers are encouraged not to
withdraw their children from school for
family holidays. If this is necessary parents
should discuss these absences with the
principal and may be requested to apply
for a Certificate of Exemption from
attendance at school. This will ensure
that these absences are not permanently
recorded as unjustified.
When considering applications for
Certificates of Exemption, principals may
consider a variety of factors. These may
include compassionate reasons, family
reunions, the educational merits of the
holiday and agreement for the student to
complete assignments while on holiday.
In some cases application for Distance
Education may be more appropriate
than seeking an exemption from school
attendance.
Arrival on time
Arriving at school and class on time:
■■
If your child has to be absent from
school, it is important to tell the school
and provide a reason for the absence. To
explain an absence parents and carers
may:
■■
send a note, fax or email to the school
■■
telephone the school, or
■■
visit the school.
© June 2008
Student Welfare Directorate
NSW Department of Education & Training
Need help?
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ensures that students don’t miss out
on the important learning activities
scheduled early in the day when the
students are most alert
helps students learn the importance of
punctuality and routine
gives students time to greet their
friends before class and therefore,
reduces the opportunity for classroom
disruption.
Home school liaison officers offer
support with attendance at school.
Some school areas also have
Aboriginal student liaison officers
who support the attendance of
Aboriginal students.
Telephone your local Department of
Education and Training regional office
and speak to the student welfare
consultant if you would like further
support. A list of regional office
telephone numbers can be accessed
at the web site address: www.det.
nsw.edu.au/contactus/index.htm or
by telephoning 131 536.
Lateness is recorded as partial absence
and must be explained by parents or
carers in the same way as other forms
of absence.
Must my child attend all
activities, including sport?
YES. Sport and other physical activities
help the healthy physical and mental
development of children. Sports and
sports carnivals are normal school
activities and students must attend.
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