Email weewaa-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au ; Phone 02 6795 4477 ; Fax 02 6795 3005

http://www.weewaa-h.school.nsw.edu.au/

Principal’s Report It seems like only weeks ago that I was writing my report for the first 2016 school newsletter. It has been a terrific year of progress and achievement in every faculty area. I thank our dedicated staff for their unwavering commit-ment in the pursuit of providing our students with the best education opportunities we can. We have seen more students than ever before offered scholarships to participate in university camps during term breaks. Each scholarship requires considerable work on the part of our staff and they do this willingly in their bid to help our students seize every opportunity they can. Our new robotics team hit the ground running early this year and were awarded Rockie Team of the Year. We are incredibly thankful to our sponsors who made this world-class program possible for our school. Thank you for also getting behind us again in preparation for the 2017 competition. The school’s Ag Team has gone from strength to strength and the results they have achieved are testament to the goals they set for them-selves and the hard work that went into achieving them. This year’s Gala Night was a great success and enjoyed by many. As we continue to build our music offering, students are eagerly be-coming more involved, often spending their breaks in the music room making music. Another first this year was an all female Year 12 Wood Technology class. Each student designed and crafted impressive furniture pieces.

Issue 15, November 21st, 2016

Remembrance Day

It has been pleasing to see several students have achieved at a state level with their sporting endeavours and I congratulate them and the staff that have assisted in their coaching.

Our campus has steadily been undergoing a facelift as we work to update and upgrade our facilities and resources. A large LED school sign will soon be installed in the school grounds, adding to our communication with families and the community more broadly.

The Wee Waa community is such an important partner for us in making education goals and dreams possible. I’d like to thank not only the organisations that donate funds and their time, but also to the many that welcome our students for work experience and take part in the annual mock interviews. We are fortunate to have such a strong, community minded town that values their young people.

We hope to see you on the 7th December for our speech night.

Principal Annabel Doust

Making Music

Two & Three Way Instruments

Year 7 and 8 Music class have been studying different types of instruments and how sound and music is made using acoustic sound including;

• Aerophone – Using air, such as a flue • Chordophone - Using strings, such as a guitar • Membranophone – Using a membrane or skin, such as a drum • Idiophone – where the instrument vibrates to produce a sound,

such as a bell or gong Music teacher, Mrs Legge (nee Freer) set students a challenge to design and make a musical instrument that could be played at least two ways. Several students took the challenge a step further and created instruments that could be played three ways. The results as you can see from the photos below were impressive.

New Guitars & Keyboards

Mrs Legge was delighted to take delivery recently of a full set of new guitars (chordophone), 15 in all as well as six new keyboards. The purchase of these instruments further adds to the quality and capacity of the school’s instrument mix.

Students have not wasted time in putting the instruments to use to learn traditional Christmas music.

Speech Night Performance Preparations

A reminder about our annual speech night on the 7th December. Students are working hard on their music pieces and look forward to sharing these with you on the night.

Under 14’s North West Cricket Knockout

Our Under 14’s mixed cricket team were triumphant in their defeat of Narrabri High School in the North West Knockout competition. Specifically for the North West, the competition game saw Narrabri win the toss and elect to bowl.

Achieving 3 for 169 after 30 overs, top scorers were Jacob Hopman 49, Dylan Smith 32, BJ Cruickshank 30 and Jock Symington 27.

Narrabri’s best bowler was Campbell Hancock who achieved 2 for 42.

In reply Narrabri were all out for 72 with their best batters being Jakeb Nippress 22 and Aaron Baker 11.

Narrabri was all out in the 20th over.

Wee Waa High’s best bowlers were Nick Morrison with 4 for 7, Rylee Sadler with 2 for 4 and BJ Cruickshank with 2 for 16.

The school’s cricket coach, Mr Patrick Legge said: “It was all-round a very good team performance with everyone contributing.”

“I was really impressed with the way Jacob and Jock opened the batting and it allowed us to play with more freedom later in our bating.”

“Everyone fielded well, took their chances and catches and I commend each of our players on their great all-round team effort. It was virtually faultless.”

CAREERS NEWS : Ms L.Widauer - YEAR 10 MOCK INTERVIEWS 2016

Ms Stephenie Blewitt – Assistant Careers Teacher, Students- Liam Clements, Zoe Conomos, Brodie Newman, Amelia Cruickshank, Dylan Dixon, Georgia Dickinson, Georgia Cone, Harmoney Cotten and Isabella Crutcher.

On Monday 14th November 2016, Year 10 students participated in the annual mock interviews. People from local businesses interviewed the students at Namoi Cotton Cooperative. Mrs Pam Callachor, Mrs Sally Knight, Mr Alan Galagher and Mr John Girven volunteered to interview the students. Following the interviews the students were given an evaluation telling them of their strengths and also areas in which they could improve. Although nervous, the students did very well and realised the importance of preparation, personal presentation, communication skills and the need to research the training required for the position they were applying for and the company in which they would be working.

On Monday evening, Rotary hosted the annual dinner for the students at the Imperial Hotel. The guest speaker was Ms Sally Knight who gave an inspiring talk about the skills needed for success. She also gave them feedback on their interview performance. Following the meal, students thanked all of the participants including Mr Steve Mallinson who had assisted in the organisation of the day and the booking of offices at Namoi Cotton. The students also thanked the interviewers, the guest speaker, Rotary and Ms Blewitt and Mrs Widauer who had assisted them in their preparation.

Students will be undertaking work experience during the week 21st to 25th November and some students will also be undertaking additional weeks of work experience. Some of the occupations chosen by the students include Nursing, Primary School Teaching, Farming, Engineering, Stock and Station Agent, Real Estate, Law, Hospitality, Beauty Therapy, Hairdressing, Entomology, Sales and Management, Welding, Aquaculture and Information Technology. One student also did a week’s work experience with Cricket Australia while another will be working in stock whip production.

Wee Waa High School would like to thank all of the participants in this annual event. We greatly appreciate the support and time given by the volunteer interviewers, Namoi Cotton for providing the venue and Rotary for the wonderful dinner they provided for the students.

Abby Downes Attends The NSW Constitution Convention

150 senior high school students attended the NSW Constitution Convention at Parliament House on Monday, November 7, 2016. Selected from schools across NSW, Wee Waa High School captain, Abby Downes was delighted to have had the opportunity to take part in the auspicious day.

Conducted in the Legislative Assembly, often referred to as the Green Room, the hall was filled to the brim with enthusiastic students eager to learn more about referendums and plebiscites.

Guest speaker for the day was Professor Ann Twomey, Professor of Constitutional Law at Sydney Law School, who Abby described as inspirational.

The day was designed to assist students studying Legal Studies. Students worked in groups where they studied previous plebiscites and referendums.

Abby said that the opportunity provided her with an amazing learning experience and she agreed with Professor Twomey’s point that the really positive aspect of a referendum or plebiscite was that no matter what the outcome, you know that that is what the majority of the population wanted, not just the government of the day.

Lest We Forget

Our student leaders proudly represented our school at the Wee Waa Remembrance Day service last week. It was their first official duty as school captains.

Back at school, classes were paused at 10.55am and teachers explained to students the importance of Remembrance Day and why it is special to Australians. A minutes silence was then observed at 11.00am.

For All School Uniform Sewing Requirements

Ag Roundup - Week 6

Yr 11 Agriculture have commenced their HSC course studies with a broiler feeding trial. Students fed the broilers two different feed mixes, a chick starter soft mix and a higher protein turkey and meat chicken mix. The class weighed the chicks every second day for five weeks and are in the process of compiling and analysing the results. It’s been very interesting seeing the difference in growth rates of these meat birds.

Year 7/8 Technology have been enjoying lots of practical lessons this term. They have hilled-up their garden rows and planted sweet corn. The class has also been learning about the safe handling of cattle and practicing their skills by bringing the cattle into the yards and mustering them into the race. They are also learning how to lead the cattle by practicing on the heifers kindly loaned to us by Myona Charolais and they are steadily gaining confidence in this area.

Primary Industries student have commenced their livestock unit this term. They too are learning the safe handling of livestock principles and are testing their knowledge, bringing both cattle and sheep into the yards regularly.

The Show Team are busy working to break-in our little heifer calf, Champagne ready for next year’s show season. She is a stubborn little thing but proving to be a lot of fun to get to lead. The students’ persistence is paying off and I’m sure she’ll be ready for the ring in no time. Champagne and her mother, Bubbles will be going back out to join the Hereford bull for the summer holidays. The aim is to get Champagne broken to lead before then.

If anyone has any spare small plastic pots for transplanting and germinating seedlings, the farm would very much appreciate them. Please drop off to the school’s front office.

Kind Regards, Verity Gett

Record Number of University Summer Camp Scholarships Awarded Wee Waa High School is proud to announce that five of our students have been selected from a state wide selection process to attend various university summer schools over the upcoming school holidays. Universities conduct summer schools to provide students who may consider going to university the opportunity to experience university first hand. Students get to explore a subject area of interest to them and to live on campus for the week in student accommodation. The experience is designed to see how university is accessible to them and to build their confidence and future education goals. Careers Adviser, Mrs Lindy Widauer said: “Demystifying university is important as it helps potential students feel more confident about their understanding of what university is like, both in terms of university facilities and accommodation as well as from an education point of view.” “Each day is filled with various hands-on activities that showcase what university is like and what kind of careers you can have as a uni graduate.” Sam Galagher and Noah Platt (pictured right) are two of the 90 male students from across NSW selected to attend the University of Newcastle’s ‘Live It’ program in December this year. Emily Shearin (pictured right) was selected to join a similar number of female students at the University of Newcastle for their ‘Girl’s Choices’ program earlier in December. This year the University of Newcastle’s course activities will focus on maths, science, engineering and health careers. There will also be plenty of fun activities planned to help students meet and form new friendships.

Budding Wee Waa High School robotics team member and potential future engineer, Douglas Anderson (pictured left) has been selected by Sydney University to attend their Australian Engineering Summer School in January 2017. Science teacher and robotics team mentor, Mrs Sharon Grellman said: “This year we have had seven of our students selected for university experience programs. It is the greatest number of university scholarships to be awarded to Wee Waa High School students in any one year and we are thrilled. We work hard to seize every possible opportunity for our students. Opportunities that will help them better understand their options and the opportunities available to them after high school.”

During the mid-year school holidays, Year 11 students Lateisha Doolan and Chloe Murphy were selected to attend the University of New South Wales’ Nura Gili Winter School. An experience that both students found invaluable and gave them a clear idea of the subject areas they wish to pursue after their HSC.

Disability Services Expo Gives Access To Information of Services

The disability services expo hosted last week by Wee Waa High School was a first for the region.

Co-ordinated by teacher, Mrs Carmel Schwager, the aim of the expo was to bring service providers to the community so that local families and careers didn’t need to travel to Tamworth or further afield to access information and services.

“Having an expo here in Wee Waa made it so much easier to get the information needed to make informed choices and decisions.” said Mrs Schwager.

Bruce Cowan Year 10, 1979 There is no doubt that hard work, determination an excellent work ethic and great people skills have been the secrets to Mr Bruce Cowan’s success. During years at Wee Waa High School, Bruce’s natural talents and interest were in woodwork and metalwork and anything sports related. His father was an electrical contractor and it was Bruce’s job from age 14 to assist him after school and on weekends. “Being the only son, my father just expected that it would be me that followed him into the business, but to be honest it wasn’t what I wanted to do at the time. Right or wrong, being a police officer was where I had my sights set. I think it was the uniform that I liked most. But Dad got his way and after I finished Year 10 and I went off to TAFE to study to be an electrician and to work for him. A few years later we became business partners.” Bruce conceded that his father obviously had a better idea of what was best for him than he did because not long after starting his electrical apprenticeship at TAFE, Bruce found he was really enjoying it. “I also really like working with my father. We were great mates.” Can you tell us more about your career path after finishing high school? “Straight after I finished Year 10, I went to work with my father and did my electrical apprenticeship under him.” “99% of our work was domestic work. Working for Dad I learnt to do everything methodically and meticulously. “Do it right the first time” was what he instilled in me.” “Dad and I were best friends, but people said working together wouldn’t work. Went on to work very happily together for 25 years.” “In my early years with Dad I also joined our local Fire and Rescue service. I’ve been with them for 26 years and quickly progressed through the ranks. For the last 22 years I have been the Station Commander. It can be a lot to juggle with work when you’ve had call outs, but it is rewarding and it is such an important service for Wee Waa and the surrounding area.” What are you doing now? “After a long drought and as my father was getting on in years, we I decided to wind the business up and I joined Cotton Seed Distributors as a Production Assistant. My job entailed operating machinery and helping in the factory. After three years in this role I became the Site Electrician and today I am the Assistant Operations Manager.”

A big part of my role is managing 19 staff, planning and managing our casual staff of up to 16 during peak season. Essentially my role is to ensure that the operations process is efficient and of a high standard.” What do you love about what you do? “Without a doubt, it’s the people I work with. I enjoy my interaction with each area of the business and my work is really interesting. I enjoy the cyclical nature of business and the seasons bring with them constant change and new challenges. It keeps things interesting. You have to be able to react quickly and respond to whatever the season brings with it.” What do you think is the secret to success in life and work? “Work ethic and the way you treat people. I believe in treating people the way I would like to be treated.” “Also, I have seized every opportunity that has come along.” “My father instilled in me a quality and efficiency commitment and attention to detail and this is something I have passed on to my son.” Do you have a moto you live by? “I’m here to please and pleased to be here.”

Wee Waa Community Carols

When: Sunday 11 December

Time: 7pm

Where: Wee Waa Hospital

BYO Chair, blanket

Contact: 67954236

Call For Tenders School Canteen Licence

Tenders are called for the licence of the Wee Waa High School canteen for the school year commencing 6th February 2017. The term is for one year, with the option to extend for up to a further four years.

Annual school enrolments are approximately 167 students.

General enquiries and requests for a Tender Information Package should be referred to;

Jocellin Jansson Telephone: 02 6795 4477

Tenders must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked ‘Confidential – School canteen tender” and sent to:

The Principal Wee Waa High School Purcell Avenue Wee Waa NSW 2388

Tenders close at 3pm on December 9th, 2016.

A tender visit and briefing session is planned to be held in the near future.

All applicants much make themselves familiar with clause 2 of the tender offer.

Wee Waa High School ‘Bush Bots’

Robotics Team Cherry Fundraiser

ORDER FORM By ordering some freshly picked Roth Farm cherries from Mudgee, you will be helping our Robotics Team participate in the 2017 FIRST Robotics Competition in Sydney. This year we won the Rookie Team of the Year and on the back of this success, we are hoping to double the number of students in our team to give more people the opportunity to learn about robotics and engineering. Please help us with some of our accommodation and travel costs by ordering some cherries.

Cherries are picked only once they reach the point of perfection and delivered to Wee Waa with 48 hours. Delivery is expected to be Monday 14 Dec (the date depends on the season as they will be here only days after picking.) We will let you know delivery date closer to the time and cherries will need to be collected that day as the school does not have coolroom capacity to store them longer.

Please return your order to the Wee Waa High School front

office with payment by Friday 9th December 2016.

Name………………………………………………………. Ph Number………………………………………..

Box Size Number of Boxes Price Per Box Total 2kg $30.00 $ 5kg $55.00 $ Total Boxes Ordered: Total $

Thank You For Your Support