Model Farms High School NEWSLETTER

ISSUE 36 Term 4 – Week 8 Monday 26 November 2012

Gooden Drive, Baulkham Hills Telephone: (02) 9624 3133 Facsimile: (02) 9838 8407 Email: modelfarms-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE… Student Success: Congratulations to Jessica Rookeward and Mackenzie Bohan of Year 9 and James Barnes of Year 12 on being nominated and making it through to the final stage of the Hills Shire Schools Excellence Awards. These students have been nominated in the Music & Art, Sport and Academic Achievement categories and will attend an awards ceremony at Castle Hills RSL on 3rd December to find out if they have won. We will attend with them and wish them luck. Congratulations to Year 9 student Jessica Tsering who has won double accolades in the Sculptures by the Sea Student Photography Competition. While on the excursion in October, Jessica took some photographs of the sculptures and entered them in the competition after she returned to school. Sculpture by the Sea's head photographer, Clyde Yee, was the Competition's judge, and was highly impressed with the level of skill seen in the entries. Jessica‟s photograph has been chosen out of all the entries to feature on the exhibition's website. She not only receives a $100 license fee, but her photo was chosen by Clyde Yee, head photographer for Sculpture by the Sea as the best photo received in the entire competition. For this Jessica will undertake a photography internship at Sculpture by the Sea next year. This will give Jessica a huge opportunity to work with leading photographers in the industry at one of Sydney's biggest events, all with the aim of encouraging her to create more fantastic photographs. Of Jess' photograph of Peter Tilley's work 'In Search of the Sea', Clyde said, “Nicely framed and composed, Jess used the overcast weather to create a lovely moody shot of Peter Tilley's work.” Jessica‟s work features on the Sculpture by the Sea website homepage www.sculpturebythesea.com Year 12 Formal: Year 12 students had a beautiful night at their formal last week and they had the pleasure of a fabulous setting, wonderful food and service and a fun night of dancing and entertainment at Curzon Hall. Our young people looked really magnificent arriving in their chariots dressed to the nines in all their finery. I would like to thank them for their impeccable behaviour, all the staff who attended and all the kind parents who came to pick them up again promptly at the end of the evening. Check out some photographs which are already up on our Facebook page. Christina Bennet Principal

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Student Payments Window

Due to the school's End of Year Financial Year, we will not be able to take any student payments on the 28th, 29th & 30th of November & 3rd December. The Payments window will re-open on the 4th

December.

We apologise for any inconvenience Jo Warner - School Administrative Manager

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FROM THE DEPUTY Year 10 and the RoSA: There are a couple of things that are very different from the old School Certificate process that some parents are still unaware of. While there are numerous changes the following facts are key to understanding how the process works.

When your teen's new best friend is a bad influence: Best friends are a key part of adolescents‟ lives. But what do you do when you suspect your child‟s best buddy is a bad influence? Experts discuss different approaches. Find out more: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/wellbeing/behaviour/when-your-teens-new-best-friend-is-a-bad-influence

The RoSA is designed to record and credential all of a secondary school student‟s academic results up until the HSC and is a cumulative record of all academic achievement. Students are not issued with a RoSA (Certificate) until they leave school. While all students currently receive grades for courses they complete at the end of Year 10, this system will be extended to also capture grades for courses a student completes in Year 11. If a student leaves school before receiving a grade in Year 11 or 12 courses, their RoSA will record the courses they commenced. This measure acknowledges the fact that many students begin senior secondary study but then leave school for employment or other training opportunities before receiving their HSC.

Fair allocation of grades It is important for parents, employers and students to know that grades awarded for the RoSA credential are given fairly and consistently. NSW teachers are very experienced in determining the standard of work that warrants a particular grade. As A to E grading is extended into Preliminary (Year 11) courses, the Board will work with teachers to ensure that appropriate standards are developed and applied at that level. The Board will also provide schools with information about the historical allocation of grades to their students. This will serve as a guide for the allocation of grades to current students. These methods of moderation and monitoring of grades will help ensure that parents and employers can know that a grade awarded in one school is equivalent to the same grade

awarded in another school.

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Work and study advice: There is a range of school staff who can help your child navigate their way through study and training options. Student support is provided by key people such as career advisers, transition advisers, year advisers and school counsellors. Our wonderful careers adviser Ms Woods is definitely a person to speak to if you need more information. Students are requested to leave their name on the booking sheet outside of the careers office if they need to make an appointment. Parents are welcome to call Ms Woods to discuss any issues related to work, alternative venues like TAFE and university. Find out more: http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/leavingschool/schoolleaveage/options/atyourservice.php Exploring careers by subject: Help your child to broaden their ideas about work and career paths. Bullseye posters have been designed to help your child assess career and training options based on 33 subjects. Each includes sample career biographies by young people. Find our more: http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/CareersandTransitions/CareerDevelopment/Resources/Pages/CareerBullseyeposters.aspx Access to 2012 HSC assessment ranks and HSC results: HSC students will be able to access their assessment rank for each course in Students Online from 3.00 pm on Thursday 8 November. HSC results will be available online, by SMS or telephone from 6.00 am Wednesday 19 December. Students need their Student Number and HSC PIN to access Students Online and their HSC results. Find out how to recover a HSC PIN and update personal details in Students Online.

Facebook is a 4 letter word!: Wow! I am seriously over the rubbish that is going on over Facebook. The things that are said to and about each other are frequently a disgrace. I am getting to the point where I feel like screen-shotting some of this rubbish and doing a “name and shame”. I can only assume that some parents are not having a look at what their children are doing and saying of an evening and of a weekend. I spend the lions-share of many days dealing with the issues that arise out of inappropriate communication on Facebook. I would strongly encourage all parents of students who have Facebook to insist they are allowed to trawl through the conversations of their child‟s comments, their likes and those of their so-called “friends”. The gutless wonders who generate some of these hate pages where unsubstantiated lies are made need outing. Year 9 boys are the largest offenders at the moment. If you have a student in Year 9 please go through your student‟s Facebook. I will be screen shotting some of the things “liked” by students next week and emailing these to parents.

Mark Anderson Deputy Principal

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TERM 4 CALENDAR

WEEK 8

Mon 26/11 Yr 7, 2013 Pathfinders Day Yr 11 Modern History Assessment Periods 2 and 6 Yr 10 Peer Support Tue 27/11 Yr 7, 2013 Pathfinders Day Yr 10 Peer Support Wed 28/11 Yr 8 „A Case of Conspiracy‟ Thur 29/11 HSIE Review MUFTI Day

Primary Links Matthew Pearce Public School Yrs 7-11 Dance Workshop period 4

Fri 30/11 HSIE Review Yr 7 Vaccinations

Yr 11 Phy Assignment due Yr 11 Phy Man Ray Assignment due

WEEK 9

Mon 3/12 Yr 12 FT Assessment Task 1 due Tue 4/12 Ancient History Source Analysis Duke of Ed hike

Support – History Excursion The Rocks

Wed 5/12 Yr 7 2013 Orientation Day Duke of Ed hike Yr 11 HSC Task 1 Maths Ext 2 Yrs 6-7 Orientation Day Thur 6/12 Yr 11 HSC Task 1 Mathematics and

General Mathematics Yrs 7-11 Dance Workshop period 4 Fri 7/12 Yr 11 HSC Task 1 Mathematics

Extension 1

WEEK 10 Mon 10/12 Yr 11 Biology Assessment Task Yr 11 Recognition Assembly 8:45am

– 09:30am Tues 11/12 Year 8 Recognition Assembly

8:45am – 09:30am Wed 12/12 - Thur 13/12 Year 10 Recoginition Assembly

08:45am-09:30am Yr 11 Chemistry Skills Assessment

Periods 4 and 5 Fri 14/12 Year 7 Recognition Assembly

08:45am-09.30am Yr 10 Celebration Day

WEEK 11 Mon 17/12 Yr 9 Recognition Assembly

08:45am-09:30am Tue 18/12 Support Excursion Featherdale

Wildlife park Presentation Evening 07:00pm

Wed 19/12 Term 4 Ends Yr 12 HSC results out Thur 20/12 ATAR Results announced BBQ lunch on the front lawn Staff Development Day Fri 21/12 Staff Development Day0

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WWW.MODELFARMS-H.SCHOOLS.NSW.EDU.AU

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WWW.MODELFARMS-H.SCHOOLS.NSW.EDU.AU

Uniform Shop Re-opens for Normal Trading FRIDAY - 31 JANUARY 2013

MODEL FARMS HIGH SCHOOL UNIFORM PRICE LIST

Trading Days and Hours Monday, Wednesday and Friday

8.10 am until 9.00 am

Payment Options Cash - Cheque - Visa - Mastercard

NO Eftpos

ITEM PRICE

BOYS

Shirt - Blue (Junior) / White (Senior) $30.00

Shorts – Grey (easy care) $35.00

Long Trousers (easy care) $45.00

GIRLS

Blouse – Blue (Junior) / Lemon (Senior) $30.00

Skirt – Check (Junior) / Grey (Senior) $55.00

Long Pants $40.00

JUMPERS

Fleecy $40.00

Wool - (Australian Wool) $80.00

SPORT

Top $40.00

Shorts $35.00

TRACKSUIT (By Order Only)

Jacket Only $75.00

Pants Only $50.00

Complete Set $120.00

MISCELLANEOUS

Aprons $13.00

Tie – Junior / Senior $20.00

Blazer $200.00

Calculator $35.00

Exercise Books – ie. maths, music, normal $various 2012/2013 - Prices subject to change without notice – includes 10% GST

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WWW.MODELFARMS-H.SCHOOLS.NSW.EDU.AU

FROM THE FACULTY THAT COUNTS Congratulations to the following Maths merit recipients:

Year 7

Ezra Teh Year 8

Sean Clancy Please remind your children to submit their Maths merits (in bundles of five) to their teachers so that they can receive their Maths Faculty Merits before the end of the year. This week’s news Luna Park Excursion: The Luna Park excursion for Year 10 was a great success despite our traditional rainy day.

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Year 11 First HSC Assessment Task: The first HSC assessment tasks will be held in week 9. The schedule is as follows:

5th December Extension 2

6th December General Maths and Maths (2 unit)

7th December Extension 1

Calculators: Please make sure that all students have their own calculator. The Casio fx-82AU is sold at the uniform shop for $35. Students need this calculator from Year 7. It is vital for their progress that students are familiar with their calculator and know how to use the different functions.

Fun with Maths: Year 9 are currently studying Graphs of Physical Phenomena. Travel graphs are studied as a part of this unit and they can be confusing. Sometimes students think that the graph refers to travelling up hills instead of interpreting the relationship between time and distance travelled. This link gives a really good description and explanation of travel graphs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9l4s98zHEw Have a Mathematical week, From Jackie Dalton and the Maths Faculty Staff

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Year 7 Adviser Report: On Thursday 15/11/2012 the school held the first Multicultural Day celebrations. It was a successful event with lots of fun. Year 7 students had a part in the event by participating in the international games or helping on the food stalls. Also, the JRC representative ran two games, “Pin the tail” and “ Box Hunt”. We had a big group of students who were interested in the games. At the beginning of week 7, Year 7 started their swim school. The swim school program is designed not only to teach students to swim, but to make them water aware which aims to encourage students to use safe water practices. It was lots of fun!

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SPORT BUS PASSES CAN NOT BE PURCHASED ON WEDNESDAYS

Sports Bus 052-001

Please indicate preferred pass:

A 5 trip pass for $37.50 No. of passes ______ Total $________

A 10 trip pass for $75.00 No. of passes ______ Total $________ Name of Student/s _______________________________________Year/s____________ Payment by: CASH CHEQUE

PAYMENT BY MASTERCARD OR VISA SLIP Please circle the appropriate card

Please debit my Mastercard / Visa Account No: / / / 4 digits 4 digits 4 digits 4 digits Amount in figures _____________________________ Expiry Date: _______________ CCV: ___________ Name of Credit Card Holder (as shown on card) _______________________________ Signature of Credit Card Holder: ____________________________________________

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The office may need to contact you urgently please complete the form below and detach from newsletter and return to the front office. CHANGE OF CONTACT INFORMATION MODEL FARMS HIGH SCHOOL

Name of Student: _____________________________________________ Year _____________

New Address: _____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________ Postcode: _________

Correspondence: __________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________ Postcode: _________

Email Address: ____________________________________________________________________

New Home Phone No. ______________________________________________________________

Mother Mobile: ____________________________________________________________________

Mother Work: _____________________________________________________________________

Father Mobile: ____________________________________________________________________

Father Work ______________________________________________________________________

Emergency Contact if changed: ______________________________________________________

Phone No. _____________________________________________________

Any change in Medical Condition e.g. Allergy, Asthma etc.

Details ___________________________________________________________________________

Bus Pass: YES / NO