Seven Hills High School Parent/ Teacher Evening

4.00pm – 8.00pm 10 April

Book an interview via the parent portal in Sentral.

Upcoming Events April

8-12 Helmsman Project Camp

9 Dance Camp

10 Parent/Teacher Evening 4 pm- 8pm

P & C Meeting 7:30 in the Library

11 ANZAC Assembly

12 Last day of Term 1

29 School Development Day

30 Students return for Term 2

Year 9 Fast Forward Launch at WSU

May

1 School Photo Day

7 School Athletics Carnival

8 P & C Meeting 7:30 in the Library

10 Mother’s Day Breakfast

Blacktown Zone Cross Country

Johnson Avenue, SEVEN HILLS 2147. Phone 9624 3329

Email: sevenhills-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au Website: http://www.sevenhills-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/

Seven Hills High School A member of the Nirimba Collegiate group of schools

Newsletter

April 2019

Seven Hills High School Parents and Citizens Association

7.30pm 10 April I encourage all parents and community members to attend this meeting in order to have an input into the school and to learn about what is taking place in classrooms on a daily basis.

At this month’s meeting, we will presenting information on ESafety and hear from Teresa Rodd, Head Teacher English/HSIE.

Greg Johnstone

Principal

Auditorium upgrade completed! We have recently completed works to make our school auditorium wheelchair accessible. At a cost of nearly $30,000, the access ramp will ensure that all members of our community are able to attend school and community functions at this venue.

Shave for a Cure – SRC Initiative 14 & 15 March, Seven Hills High School participated in the World’s Greatest Shave.

The day started early with a few of the SRC arriving early to set up the gazebo and to start spray-painting the students’ hair.

At recess, the hair spraying continued with Jaden McManus, Koby Barlow, Thomas Scott and Gabriel Morley getting their heads shaved. Thanks to Mr Way, Holly Holmes and Ms Jordan for being excellent barbers. A special shout out to Thomas Scott for raising almost $200, which was the most collected by a student.

At lunchtime, the shaving recommenced, with an auction held to see who got the right to shave the teachers’ heads.

We raised $595 for the Leukaemia Foundation to help the fight against blood cancer.

Kyle Cavanagh

School Vice-Captain

School Uniform Reminder! The upcoming school holidays are a great time to shop at Lowes, Seven Hills, for school uniform items such as shirts, shorts, skirts and trousers as well as the school jumpers. At school, we have stocks of the school sports uniform as well as the official wet weather jacket. No other wet weather jacket is considered school uniform. Students are to wear fully enclosed leather or leather like shoes each day.

As winter approaches, having at least two of each uniform item will ensure that, no matter the weather, your child will always come to school in full school uniform.

Tights are not to be worn to school, instead of a skirt, shorts or trousers, under any circumstances.

Should any family be experiencing financial difficulties they are encouraged to contact the school to put in place a plan for the purchase of all uniform requirements.

Quality Second Hand Clothing Required Do you have items of school uniform that you wish to donate to our second hand clothing pool?

If so, they can be brought to the Print Room or the Administration Office.

Any donation would be greatly appreciated.

Fundraising BBQ and Cake Stall

On election day, Year 10 ran a BBQ to raise funds for their formal and end of year gift to the school. They were joined by members of the P&C who not only assisted with the BBQ but also supplied cakes which were sold as part of the fundraising effort.

The Year 10 students worked incredibly hard throughout the day, with some arriving at school before 6:30am to assist.

We need to make special mention of the teachers Year 8 students Ziah Burns, Yasmin Howarth and Jorja McManus and the parents who assisted throughout the day, in particular Darren Burns, who sourced a lot of the food and drinks used for the BBQ.

The day was a success with the BBQ and cake stall raising over $900.

‘Stand Tall Walk Tall in Country’ On Tuesday 2 April, I attended the first day of Warrawi Yana Nura – ‘Stand Tall Walk Tall in Country’ Culture and Leadership program.

We heard about the importance of a fire in the Aboriginal culture- for meals, heat, birth, death and other ceremonies. I understood more about why some people don’t know about their tribe due to the disconnections throughout the centuries. We discussed the responsibility of our generation to build knowledge of our culture and spread this knowledge, as we get older, to others.

The best part was kayaking on the Hawkesbury. We saw the sharpening grooves in the rocks used by ancestors of this land. I met some nice people from other schools and I’m looking forward to the next day in May.

Sania Ball

Senior Constable Williams also recommended the following sites for parents to support them in keeping their children safe online…

esafety.gov.au is highly recommended as it addresses specific issues as well as cyber safety in general.

Think U Know as a Google entry will also give lots of information and ideas.

Cross Country Carnival

The school Cross Country Carnival was held on Wednesday 3 April.

The Age Champions:

16 Years: Somnang Callaghan and Savior Yohana

15 Years: Kayla Alfred and Finian O’Connell

14 Years: Ella Brown and Aiden O’Connell

13 Years: Jasmine Cole and Jacob Organ

12 Years: Sogud Ghaboush and Philip Bosanac

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) = Social Skills Lessons

Our Year 7 and Year 8 students have completed the first term of their participation in this program. As well as learning more about what our school offers students – especially through ROAD and our Merit Scheme – students have considered such things as Bullying, Cyber Safety, Multicultural Diversity and Empathy as elements of daily life and as areas of impact throughout life.

Each Year 7 and Year 8 class has a SEL lesson once a cycle (fortnight) where students learn about the Science and theory driving various behaviours and attitudes and develop skills to manage the same.

Last week, our Police Liaison Officer, Senior Constable Meagan Williams, delivered a presentation on cyber bullying and staying safe online. Students participated in these seminars with interest.

Our SEL lessons will continue in Term 2 for Year 7 and Year 8 students.

Julie Wilk

Program Coordinator

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Premier’s Sporting Challenge – Learn to Lead Leadership Program

On 3 April, students from Seven Hills West and Seven Hills Public Schools headed to Seven Hills High to participate in the annual Premier’s Sporting Challenge Learn to Lead Program.

The day involved ten Year 10 Physical Activity and Sports Studies students coaching the primary school students, and selected Year 7 and 8 students, in a range of sports and activities including: Tables Tennis, AFL, Soccer, Touch Football and initiative Games.

Everyone had a great time on the day and we are excited about our next generation of sports leaders.

Thank you to our Year 10 coaches for all their hard work preparing for the day.

Daniel Way

Student Leadership Coordinator

The overall point score:

1st place Freeman House – 207 points

2nd place Ellis House – 189 points

3rd place Bradman House – 167 points

4th place Thorpe House – 145 points

Katie Luscombe

Sports Organiser

On Tuesday, we held our annual Multicultural Lunch, where staff and students brought food and drink from many countries to share on the day.

We finished Harmony Week with Grade Day and a disco. It was great to see all the staff and students getting into the spirit of the day, dressing up in their Year Group’s theme and doing all they could to win. The students competed in academic games such as numbers and letters, athletic games including mini relays and minute to win it games.

Year 10 were victorious on the day.

News from the Wellbeing Team

Harmony Week

This year, Harmony Week included student led seminars and activities, a fitness challenge and various activities during lunch time throughout the week.

Careers News

Platinum Club at Wyndham College

Thank you to all the Year 10 students who have completed their application for Platinum Club at Wyndham College in 2020.

The supporting documents and submissions were of a very high standard.

Good luck in the selection process.

Enrolment Packages – due Friday, May 4.

All Year 10 MUST hand in their completed enrolment forms by Friday of week 1.

The pathway to Wyndham College is always plan A for the students at Seven Hills High School.

If you require an envelope, please see me.

Student Self-Assessment Program

As part of the Student Self-Assessment Program, the Wellbeing Team coordinates sessions for students to set academic goals for the semester and evaluate their progress towards these at regular intervals.

Students in Years 10 and Year 9 have already completed the process for Term 1. Year 7 and 8 will be given the opportunity to set academic goals this week.

Up-coming activities in Term 2:

• Tuesday April 30 Year 9 Fast Forward Launch at WSU Hawksbury campus • Friday May 10 Mother’s Day Breakfast • TBC Federal Election Fundraising BBQ

Carissa Howell

Head Teacher Wellbeing (Rel.)

The Wood Turners program – Semester 1

During this term, three students participated each week on a Thursday in the Wood Turners Program.

This is a mentoring and employment program for students in Year 10. If a student successfully completes the program, they are awarded a certificate from the club.

On Thursday 4 April, I attended the presentation of the certificates to Trinity Carter, Aalyiah Fisk and Nytaha Hayburn. Many of the club members commented on their attitude and skills whilst participating in the program.

Annual Charity Dinner for the Helmsman Project

The Helmsman Project generously invited Mr Johnstone, 2 past participants and myself, to their annual Charity Dinner held at the Jones Bay Wharf, on Thursday 4 April.

The two students selected to attend were Taliah Meisake and Chantelle Davison.

Both girls had worked very hard during the community project.

Tonnie Slater

Careers Adviser

The Helmsman Project 2019 – Boys group

Once again Seven Hills High School has been offered the privilege of participating in the Helmsman Project.

The boys group started with the Launch Event on Wednesday 20 March, in the school library. The boys will be guided through both individual and group coaching sessions during Semester 1. They will finally plan and complete a community-based project.

The boys then attended a community project-planning day in the city at JP Morgan with three other schools on Wednesday 3 April. The boys had to plan and then ‘pitch’ their ideas to a panel for approval and a possible grant of $500. The boys were successful in securing the $500 towards their proposed project.

Congratulations and well-done boys!

The next phase will be to attend a 5-Day Camp in Week 11 with the three other schools and their coaches.

We hope they have a fabulous time and the weather is kind.

Parent Page

The writing of P.E.E.L paragraphs is a major focus for our students in 2019.

http://www.dotcomwomen.com/society/education/features-of-academic-writing/25181/

P&C Donation

A big thank to the P&C for their donation of a container to store our school’s giant chess set which students access at both recess and lunchtime.

Thanks to Kyle Cavanagh, Jaden McManus, Storm Harrison-Smith (students) and Darren Burns (parent) for their efforts in constructing the container.

Carissa Howell

Head Teacher Wellbeing (Rel.)

Chinese Gardens Excursion On Thursday 4 April, a group of Year 7 students and students who are members of the Chinese Language Club went on a very interesting excursion to the Chinese Gardens.

When we arrived, we were advised to download the app, "The Emperor's Quest", which set a challenge to find all 12 hidden Chinese animals.

When walking into the garden, there were two giant dragons. One Dragon had its tail in the ocean and the other had its tail in the clouds, making them two different types of dragons, representing friendship.

While exploring in the garden, there were many lizards, waterfalls and plants and many cameras were out taking photos. Some students dressed up in Chinese traditional clothing, peacefully discovering the garden.

We had lunch at the Lotus Restaurant and the food was absolutely delicious!

At the end of the day, most students had found all the animals, and filled the galleries on their phones. The students spent the last hour in Chinatown, which was lots of fun.

Thank you Mr Harper for organising the excursion. Another thank you to Ms Andrew and Ms Hynd for attending the excursion with Year 7 and 8.

Rhianna Ali

Photos supplied by Mrs Andrew and Lia Kowold

Premier’s Reading Challenge

We have around 40 students involved in the Premiers Reading Challenge. Contact me with any questions and remember it is not too late to get involved!

Bruce Stewart

Librarian

Meet the Library Assistants

Thomas Denton from 7B works Friday in the Library.

What do you like about working in the Library?

I like learning more about how a school Library works and the OLIVER cataloguing system.

What is your favourite book and why?

The first book that caught my attention was GONE by Michael Grant. I like the whole GONE series because of all the unlikely or impossible occurrences that happen, and I like that it’s not adults running the world.

What are you reading now?

PLAGUE by Michael Grant, it’s part of the GONE series.

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Library Matters What a busy term it has been!

New carpet on the mezzanine, new displays, new assistants, new activities, and of course new opportunities to engage with books and reading.

Displays

Harmony Week was a highlight. We had games in the Library and students engaging in what Harmony Day represents.

New Books

New books on the way include the CBCA book week shortlisted titles. Check out the children's book council Australia website for more details. As well as these are books requested by students through our wish list at the circulation desk.

If you have requested a book, check out the new book shelves when school resumes.

SEVEN HILLS HIGH CHESS TOURNAMENT This year we introduced a Chess Club and a school tournament for our students. We had fantastic interest in the competition, with 23 students competing.

The tournament began with all players competing in three round robin games, with the eight students with the most points making the finals.

Four students had to battle it out in playoffs to make it into the quarterfinals and eventually we got down to the Grand Final between Riley Green of Year 8 and Andy Zhang of Year 7.

The Grand Final was incredibly well supported, with almost 60 students in the library to witness Andy Zhang’s victory.

Well done to all involved and a huge thank you to Lenea for her assistance in running the event.

Bruce Stewart

Librarian

An Important Message Updating Student Information

Please make sure all family information is up to date to ensure all school correspondence is received. This includes phone numbers, addresses and email addresses. Mobile numbers are necessary for student absentee text messages and email addresses are important for accessing the Parent Portal. The Parent Portal will be used for appointment bookings for Parent\Teacher Evenings and accessing school information.

Please contact the office if you need to update your information.