GUNNEDAH HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Find us at: Marquis Street, Gunnedah NSW, 2380 Phone 02 6742 0155 Fax 02 6742 4429 Website: www.gunnedah-h.schools.nsw.edu.au Email: gunnedah-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au Issue 4 21.03.2014

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

This week the new Deputy Principal replacing

Wendy Blaker started at Gunnedah High. Her name

is Toni Skewes and she comes from Glen Innes High

School where she has been the English Head Teacher

for many years. She has relieved extensively as

Deputy Principal and even Principal, is a senior HSC

marker, she has also conducted workshops

professionally developing teachers throughout the

New England region on how to get the best out of

students at the HSC, especially extending students to

the top levels of HSC achievement. Mrs. Skewes will

be in the position of Year 8, 10, 12 Deputy Principal

for the rest of the year. Can I thank David Gale who

has relieved as Deputy for the last

few weeks and has done a great job.

Mr. Gale is continuing on in several

roles. Firstly, co-coordinating the

Term 1 Good Start Assembly which

will be held in the school gym on the

8th April, acknowledging students

who are applying themselves and working to their

personal best. Secondly, Mr. Gale is working with the

2015 Year 7 Adviser, Rowena Singleton, to

coordinate with our partner primary schools in

organising the timetable of transition events that will

occur during 2014. A major information night will be

held Thursday evening, April 3rd

. It will kick off at

5.30pm with a sausage sizzle and the information

evening will be from 6:00 - 6.45p.m.

Year 12 completed their half yearly exams this week.

Year 12 teachers are marking exams and working on

half yearly reports. Reports will be released before

the end of the term. I put to Year 12 students to take

the advice of teaching staff and work with them, the

HSC will be here faster than you think.

Shane Kelly, Principal.

Excellence and

Innovation in a

Unique and

Caring School

Semper Optime “Always Your Best”

CAFÉ OPTIMÉ

www.cafeoptime.wordpress.com

Issue 4 21.03.2014

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CAF É O PTIME

Each Friday between

11:00am – 1:00pm

Cafe Optime is opened

to staff, family and

friends of Gunnedah

High School senior

hospitality students.

Cafè Optime gives

hospitality students “hands on” experience on

running a cafe, from prep to service. Next time

you’re thinking of somewhere to eat, why not pay our

students a visit, with treats like Blueberry and Lime

Cheese Cake, Club Sandwiches and Thai Beef Salad,

how can you resist. Follow the students and teachers,

Mrs. Megan Verdon and Mrs. Sharon Collins, on Cafè

Optime’s Blog: www.cafeoptime.wordpress.com

WELC OME MRS SKEWES

Gunnedah High School, welcomes Mrs. Toni Skewes

to our staff. Mrs Skewes is the new Deputy Principal

replacing Mrs. Wendy Blaker. Mrs. Skewes will be in

the position of Year 8, 10, 12 Deputy Principal for

the rest of the year. Mrs. Skewes, comes from

Glen Innes High School where she was Head

Teacher, English.

GS K IDD HOS PITALITY STUDENTS

Senior students from the G.S. Kidd Memorial School

visit our school weekly and, along with Gunnedah

High School students, are participating in Mrs.

Verdon’s hospitality class.

RDA

Year 9

Students

recently

participated in

the Riding for

the Disabled

(RDA), training

day. Each

fortnight the

students

volunteer to

assist this

worthy program

Issue 4 21.03.2014

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KEEP MEDIC IAL INFO RM ATIO N UPDATED

We welcome information

from parents about your

child's health, even if you

are not requesting specific

support from our school.

Our school asks for

medical information when you enrol your child. It is

also important that you let us know if your child’s

health care needs change or if a new health condition

develops.

Information about allergies, medical conditions such

as asthma and diabetes and other health care related

issues (including prior conditions such as medical

procedures in the last 12 months) should be provided

to the school by parents. Please provide this

information in writing to the Principal. This will

greatly assist our school in planning to support your

child’s health and wellbeing.

Please also remember to notify staff in the school

office of any changes to your contact details or to the

contact details of other people nominated as

emergency contacts.

We appreciate your assistance in this regard and

assure you that any information you provide the

school will be stored securely and will only be used

or disclosed in order to support your son or

daughter’s health needs or as otherwise required by

law.

WELC OME MISS L YNDSAY SC HEITEL

Congratulations Miss Scheital

on your appointment to

Gunnedah High School

Science Faculty.

SCRIPTURE SEMINAR IN FO RMATIO N

Please sign below, indicating that you have read this

note.

Name

Parent/Carer:........................................................

My Student’s

Name:...................................................................

Year: .....................

Signature: .............................................................

Date:....................................................................

The Minister’s Fraternal is planning

scripture (religious education) seminars for

Years 7-10.

The seminars are a mix of games,

films, performances, talks and other

items which are designed not only to

be enjoyable but also to help promote

student thinking.

The seminars are non-denominational and important

in helping students make life choices. Scripture is

part of the NSW Department of School Education

Programs.

If you would NOT like your student to attend, please

sign below and have your student return this form to

the school’s front office before Wednesday 26th

March 2014.

I would not like my student

(Name):.................................................................

Of year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . to attend scripture.

SCHOOL PHOTOS

Tuesday 25th

March 2014

Personalised Envelopes

Photo Packages including:

Standard Pack $35.00

Family Pack $25.00

Envelope available from front office

Payment to be enclosed in envelope

or: online payment

Website: www.fotosales.com.au School Code: 14NE187801

Café Optime Friday 11am – 1pm

Issue 4 21.03.2014

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Attendance It is our aim at Gunnedah High School to give your child the opportunity to the best possible education. Part of this process is encouraging regular attendance. Students absent from school The students need to bring a note to school if they are absent from school. A phone call to the school is also acceptable. The note needs to have justifiable reasons for students being absent from school. Please clearly identify these reasons. Leave can be granted in some instances so be clear in your reason. Unjustified reasons for absence

My child slept in

Personal reasons

Family reasons

My child missed the bus

My child refused to come to school Please note: An appointment is usually acceptable but we need to know what type of appointment so it can be coded accurately Students Late To School Students, who are late to school i.e. after 9.00am, should have a note explaining the reason for their lateness. Lateness without notes will result in unexplained absences. Those who arrive during roll marking need to report to the hall to be signed into school. If you turn up to roll call late this will be noted after three times in a cycle your parents will be phoned to confirm you being late. Discrepancies or frequentness will result in making up the time. Important announcements are made in roll call. Therefore it is important that students move quickly to their roll groups once the bell has sounded. If arriving after roll mark (after 9.15am) students need to report to the office to sign in. It is okay for parents/guardians to deliver the students to the office if they don’t have time to write a note. Students Wishing To Leave School During The Day Permission will be given for students to leave school during the day if there is legitimate business that cannot be completed after school hours. This can include dental and medical appointments, family matters and meetings with officials. Students should bring a note to school which states the reason for requesting leave, the time(s) the student will be leaving and/or returning to school, and the student’s details such as full name, year & roll group. This note needs to be presented to Mrs. Verdon at the front office between 8.45am -9.00am and a Leave Pass obtained. Police may ask the student to produce this leave pass if they are seen outside school grounds during school hours.

Please note: if a note is not presented to the front office prior to 9am parents will have to come into the school

to collect their child.