ARMSTRONG DRIVE, TOORMINA NSW 2452 026653 3077 toormina-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au www.toormina-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

TERM 3| WEEK 4 | AUGUST 2013

NEWSLETTER

LEADING THE WAYToormina High School has elected their school leaders for 2013/14.

Congratulations to Grace Casey, Lauren Dam, Laura Devoy, Ben Field, Blake Greenway, Mikayla Lee, John Lovett, Jamie Newling, Tarsha Shipman and Taylor Stockham.

The team met recently for training at Boambee Community Centre. On this day they participated in activities focusing on communication, leadership and teamwork. Through participating in these activities they all demonstrated highly developed communication skills, the ability to work effectively as a team and an excellent understanding of leadership.

In the afternoon they discussed their goals for their time as prefects. Their most important goal is to be positive role models for the student body. They aim to have meetings with junior students and continue to develop pride in Toormina High School. They will be available at assemblies and lunchtimes for students to approach them with any concerns or issues they would like to discuss.

The team have elected Laura Devoy and Blake Greenway as their Captains, and Mikayla Lee and Jamie Newling as Vice-Captains.

We wish them all the very best in their time as leaders of our school.

Lisa Mullan - Head Teacher Welfare

CREATING OUR FUTURE

TOOR M I N AHIGH SCHOOL

2013/2014 Captains and prefects pictured below from left; captains Laura Devoy and Blake Greenway, vice captains Mikayla Lee and Jamie Newling, prefects Lauren Dam, Ben Field, John Lovett, Tarsha Shipman and Taylor Stockham

Absent from photo, Grace Casey

HIGH SCHOOL

NEWSLETTER

YEAR 8 ARTOver the past term students have investigated a number of Post Impressionist artists and painting techniques.

Students were asked to find an image of a landscape that was either a place that was special to them or that they found appealing.

As a group they have excelled with their overall results and have been highly commended by many of their peers. Well done Year 8.

Matt Francis - Art Teacher

Kurt Cullen, Jess Biddolph and Kirrily Newman show their landscapes.

TERM 3 | WEEK 4 | AUGUST 2013

ARMSTRONG DRIVE, TOORMINA NSW 2452 026653 3077 toormina-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au www.toormina-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

CREATING OUR FUTURE

TOOR M I N AHIGH SCHOOL

Toormina High School continues it’s participation in the Australian IndigenousMentoring Experience at Southern Cross University.

Students from year 9, 10, 11 and 12 partcipate in this program and will undertake 4 full days of mentoring sessions across the year. Each year group focuses on a variety of topics:- the Year 9 cover respect and pathways to success, Year 10 racism, building a resume and public speaking, while Year 11 and 12 learn about resilience, study/life balance, jobs of the future, and developing their on line resume that will connect them directly with corporate and university partners of AIME.

AIME uses structured education mentoring to link university students in a one-on-one relationship with high school indigenous students. AIME also connectsstudents with post Year 12 opportunities, including further education and employment. 85% of students Aboriginal students who complete the AIMEprogram achieve their HSC.

Judith Peen - Aboriginal Education Officer

AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS MENTORING EXPERIENCE

Pictured right are Kyanna Donovan, Kaitlin Reeves and Maddison Brownparticipating in the interactve component of the program.

In July the Minister for Citizenship and Communities, Victor Dominello, announced the start of state wide consultations to determine the best ways to advocate for children and young people in NSW.

The consultation initiative includes a designated web page, a Discussion Paper and an online survey located on the NSW Government’s Have Your Say portal at www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au and a child-friendly survey at www.kids.nsw.gov.au

HIGH SCHOOL

NEWSLETTER

SINGER/SONGWRITER

TERM 3| WEEK 4 | AUGUST 2013

ARMSTRONG DRIVE, TOORMINA NSW 2452 026653 3077 toormina-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au www.toormina-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

CREATING OUR FUTURE

TOOR M I N AHIGH SCHOOL

Brianna Hawkins-Cain of Year 10 has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence in Song-Writing.

Brianna wrote an original song and submitted it to the 2013‘Music Count Us In Songwriting Search’. Her song made it through to the finals, but narrowly missed out being selected.

Brianna is a talented singer, guitarist and song-writer.Congratulations Brianna!

Bev Babbage - Music Teacher

Photo of Brianna with Mrs Babbage and Ms Bluhm (Head Teacher CAPA)

INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE COMPETITION DISTINCTION

Towards the end of last term a number of students took part in the International Science Competition, which is a quizz competition between students in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and other regions around the Pacific.All students that participated receive a certificate.

Luke Zerbe in year 7, received a Distinction, which represents a mark in the top 10% of all children that participated in 2013.

Congratulations Luke.

Derek Howard - Science Teacher

NATION OF ORIGIN

Four students from THS recently played in an Under 16’s team in the first Nation of Origin competition in Dubbo.

Indigenous and non-indigenous players came from all over the state to play. The first day was 9 degrees and raining!

We won 2 of our 5 games. It was a good challenge and we met new friends. THS players were Jesse Kirkman, Bradford Sinclair, Victor Brown and Tyson Hoffman.

Bradford Sinclair & Victor Brown

HIGH SCHOOL

NEWSLETTER TERM 3 | WEEK 4| AUGUST 2013

ARMSTRONG DRIVE, TOORMINA NSW 2452 026653 3077 toormina-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au www.toormina-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

CREATING OUR FUTURE

TOOR M I N AHIGH SCHOOL

The internet is a great tool used by all students for entertainment, research and socialising. The internet does, however, come with some dangers including cyber bullying and personal information being shared unknowingly.Students learn about being cyber smart through a number of lessons at school, where we encourage students to use the internet wisely and safely.

A site tailored to parents can be found at: http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/par-ents.aspx.Click on the bottom right corner of this webpage for an ‘Easy Guide to Socialising Online’. This gives a lot of useful information on many of the social networking sites that young people use on a regular basis.

Lisa Mullan - Head Teacher Welfare

IMPORTANT DATES - WEEkS 5 & 6

MON 12/8 to 16/8

Yr 12 Trial HSC

FRI 16/8 Whole School

‘Finale Fever’Music & Drama HSC Trial Performance6-8pmDrama PortableGold Coin entry

WED 21/8 P&C Meeting 5pm

ThuR 22/8 SU Coffee Shop

MON 26/8 Yr 12 HSC Visual ArtBoard of StudiesMajor Works Due

PRINCIPAL’S COLUMN

Swans Cup AFLToormina High School 16's Boys Swans Cup team played some outstanding football this year on their way to finishing 2nd in the Northern Zone Finals.

To get to this level in the competition the team won both the Zone Gala Day and the Regional final. They then travelled to Newcastle where they played three games, winning two and losing to the eventual winners by only 5 points.

This result means Toormina Highs 16’s AFL side are the second best team this year from the NSW border to Sydney’s Northern suburbs across both public and private schools.

Well done boys!Ky Schwartz - Team Coach

Photo from front left - Shay Kovalskis, Justin Pryce, Riley Gray, Darcy Tees, Jarrod Reeves, Jake Window, Ben Sonter, Sam Taylor, Jesse Kirkman, Blake Greenway, Ky Schwartz (Coach),Tyke Kemp, Jahni Kemp, Dion Delevante, Mitchell Clarke,Riley Pryor, Jacob Whalen, Jamie Newling, Tyh Murphy

Dear Parents,Thank you for your support for our school during the past week while we have been ensuring that C block is properly assessed, cleaned and found suitable for reoccupation after being reroofed. As always, our students have risen to the challenge. We aim to educate them to be active problem solvers in life and whenever we need them to act cooperatively, flexibly and for the common good, they demonstrate their commitment and good humour and do so.

Visitors to our school frequently comment on the courtesy and friendly atmosphere in classrooms, hallways and the playground. On excursions, external contacts remark on our students’ good manners and cooperative spirit. We foster these qualities in our students as we consider them to be important life skills which will help them to approach all challenges as opportunities for creating good outcomes and for building their own capacity and character.

I hope you enjoy our newsletter.

Liz Donnan

CYBER SAFETYAbsent from photo - Chris Morcambe, Lance cullen, Jacob Khalil, Marley Dungay, Daniel Lavender, Victor Brown, Ryler Maher, Jaden Keenes

by Michael Grose - No. 1 parenting educator

2013 Michael Grose

Michael Grose PresentationsPO Box 167 Balnarring Vic 3926 p + 61 3 5983 1798 f (03) 5983 1722 e office@parentingideas.com.auAll rights reserved. For more ideas, support and advice for all your parenting challenges please visit our website.

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Parenting is an endless ride of excitement, challenge, joy, adventure, frustration and so much more. Step-parenting and negotiating the tricky world of blended families is another ride altogether.

Six years ago, I unexpectedly found myself being a part-time single dad to my two kids (aged 8 and 6 at the time), sharing 50/50 custody with my ex. Things got even trickier when my new partner and I had our two boys a couple of years later (now aged 4 and 2) though I remember thinking, “How hard can raising a blended family be?” Doh!

At various times over the years I’ve felt torn between my role as a dad and a partner. I often find myself caught in the middle of family issues between my older kids, between those kids and their half-brothers, between all four of my kids, and between my partner and myself!. All the while also trying to resolve ongoing issues with my ex-wife. Crikey!

What I have discovered out of all this is that step-parenting and raising a blended family is a slow and steady process. Sometimes we all move forward in leaps and bounds and other times at a snail's pace. It is very much a case of ‘three steps forward, two steps back’.

Here are seven step-parenting lessons I’ve learned along the way

The step-parenting ride of your lifeBeing in a blended family is a huge learning curve. Writer Malcolm Dix shares seven lessons he’s learned in his journey as a step dad.

1. Find what works best for your new family. Be patient as that process of discovery takes time – often years. Note: As with any parenting, what works is subject to change at any given time as kids mature and their needs and interests change.

2. Develop new traditions and rituals and make sure the older children are a big part of these. It gives them a sense of ownership and belonging. In our house, we use our Friday family meetings (the day my older kids arrive at our house) to catch up on each other’s news, discuss any issues or concerns (and come up with potential solutions) as well as plan the week ahead.

3. Don’t expect to be a modern-day “Brady Bunch”. There will be times your new partner won’t be overly fond of your kids – and vice versa – but that’s life. Let go of unrealistic expectations about playing instant ‘happy families’ and you’re more likely to make it out the other end. Don’t expect or force your kids to accept your new partner (or their new siblings) straight away with open arms, but do make it clear from the outset that your expectation is for mutual respect and appreciation.

4. Never ‘trash talk’ your ex-partner in front of your kids, no matter how angry or frustrated you are. This creates anxiety and makes you look bad. Save those conversations for your partner, trusted friend … or the dog!

5. Never use your kids to relay messages to your ex-partner. Wherever possible, go direct to the source. A communication book is a good tool to keep both parties up to date with things like school notes, behavioural issues, after school activities, party invitations, expenses, etc.

6. Talk, talk and talk again with your partner (which is not always a natural thing for us guys). Always provide a united front when parenting, particularly around issues of discipline. Don’t undermine each other in front of the kids or things will unravel quickly.

7. Never lose your sense of humour or romance. Never.

So if you find yourself on a similar journey then hold on tight, smile and enjoy the ride. It really is the best ride I’ve ever been on, even if I have felt sick a few times on the odd twist and turn.

Malcolm Dix (aka Ninja Dad) is a Western Australia-based father of four, speaker and writer. Read his weekly Ninja Dad blog at www.malcolmdix.com