May 2012 9th Bandwagon 5.30pm-10.00pm-THS Hall 15

th-18

th NAPLAN-THS Hall

15th Finance Committee Meeting-5.30pm

15th

Tour of the new canteen at 6.10pm followed by the P&C meeting-6.30pm-Library 28/5-2/6 Dance Festival-TREC

June 2012 19

th P&C Meeting-THS Library-6.30pm

29th

Last day of Term 2

July 2012 16

th All students return for Term 3

September 2012 21

st Last day of Term 3

October 2012 8

th All students return for Term 4

December 2012 11

th Presentation Evening-6.30pm-THS Hall

19th

Last day of Term 4 for students 20

th-21

st Staff Development Days

Date Issued 4/5/2012

Tamworth High School

THE BUZZ Willis Street, Tamworth NSW 2340

Telephone: 6765 7888

Fax: 6762 1264

Email: tamworth-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Website: http://www.tamworth-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

THE BUZZ

Anzac Day Students and staff turned out in large numbers to represent Tamworth High and other

community organisations during the numerous Anzac Day Commemorative Services in

Tamworth and in other smaller settlements in the Tamworth Regional Council area.

Captains, Prefects and staff attended the Dawn Service at Anzac Park, and then proceeded

to provide Morning Tea (including Anzac biscuits) at the Gipps Street service.

Over 80 students and staff proudly marched with the school down Peel Street. Mr Chaffey

and the Captains attended the main service in the Town Hall and laid a wreath on behalf of

the school community.

All students and staff involved in these activities receive a school Silver Award.

Tamworth High School P & C

Association Inc.

L .Courtney Secretary ( thsp_and_c@yahoo.com.au)

P&C Meeting - Next meeting is on Tuesday 15th May, in the school library @ 6:30pm, all welcome. TOUR of NEW canteen @6:10pm prior to the

meeting. English faculty will give a short presentation (15mins) of their

directions to commence the meeting @ 6:30 pm.

School Uniform – the P&C supports the wearing of school uniform correctly and

during winter including a tie.

Uniform Pool - Opens Thursday lunch and by appointment when

required, please contact the front office. New and pre-loved school

uniform items are available. School Ties are now available at the

canteen for just $18, as well as socks for hockey and football for $10.

If you have a spare hour or so each week to help, please let us know.

Canteen – The P&C thanks Cheree and her band of volunteers for the great service. The canteen is always willing to hear from anyone who has a spare

day or two a month to help out.

P&C Email Newsletter Group - trying to be ‘greener’, if you

would like to receive the school newsletter via email please email

thsp_and_c@yahoo.com.au

KOALA – THS Annual School Magazine - If you paid your school

fees for 2011 and have not received your complimentary KOALA please see the

ladies at the front office.

In late 2011 as one of their first fundraising events, Prefects held a BBQ on the last day

of the school year for Alexander Wagg, to help raise money to support Alex and his family

in their time of need. Together Tamworth High School students and teachers raised $300 to

help in the critical time. We have recently sent the money to Alex and his parents. Prefects

would like to say a big thank you to everybody who came and helped raise money.

Bandwagon is open to all students of Years 10, 11 and 12 from schools all over Tamworth.

The event will be held in the Tamworth High School Hall on Wednesday 9th May, doors will

open at 5.30pm and students will not be let in after 6.30pm, the event will finish at 10.00pm.

The theme this year is carnival/circus so everybody get your costumes prepared and jump in

to buy your tickets. Tickets will be sold every break at the bottom of the quad for $8 until

Tuesday 8th May. All profits will be donated to Ronald McDonald House.

Statements for 2012 have been posted out for your child’s school fees.

Elective Fees are compulsory and need to be paid as soon as possible. This

ensures resources needed for practical lessons are available so students can complete their chosen course. If you have any issues with payment of the

Elective Fees, please do not hesitate to contact the School Office on 6765 7888

for assistance.

School contributions are voluntary. They are used to provide materials for all

students to use or keep in compulsory subjects which do not charge separate

fees. If School Contributions are paid in full by the end of Term 3, 2012 you will receive a free copy of the “Koala” Year Book for 2012.

You have the option of paying the School Contribution through our Library

Fund for a tax deduction.

We appreciate your continued support of our school.

Just a reminder to all

parents/carers, please do

not use the staff car park

at the front of the school to

drop off/pick up students.

This area is for staff,

visitors and delivery

trucks and the car park

can become quite busy and

congested at the beginning

of the day and also at the

end of the day. We

a p p r e c i a t e y o u r

cooperation on the safety

of the students and others

around. Thank you.

Education Scholarship Winners

Staff Youth Mental Health First Aid Training All teaching and student learning support staff were trained in Youth Mental Health First

Aid procedures on the training days at the commencement of Term 2. The training was

jointly provided by Department of Education and Communities and the Department of

Health. The training will assist staff to better provide support to our students, and is part of

the School Plan in providing supportive school environment to increase attendance at the

school. The training was also useful in placing a focus on student welfare leading to

improved initiatives within the school, and cooperation with the Department of Health.

Jessica Taggart and Zarayn Knight were recently

presented with certificates to acknowledge their

successful applications for Regional Aboriginal

Education Scholarships.

Both Jessica and Zarayn have been awarded $1000

scholarships to assist with their educational

expenses.

Congratulations!

Northern 2012 Once again, students from Tamworth High School have journeyed throughout this fine

country to explore some of our most well-known national icons. Watch this space for a full

report with lots more pictures; here is just a taste. Students on top of Uluru and on the boat

returning from a day snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef near Airlie Beach.

Purple Bee Party It was the Year 12 students turn to celebrate at the end of Term 1 by winning the Purple Bee

Party. Well done Year 12!Fairy bread, chocolate crackles and, of course, the cake were quickly

devoured.

Which year will be able to achieve the largest number of purple bees in the first half of Term 2?

Work Continuing on New Neighbour

Earthworks are now complete and foundations are well under way for the new shopping centre

adjacent to Tamworth High.

The Great Nundle Dog Race

Program of Events

Sunday 6th May 2012

Nundle Recreation Ground

From 10.00am

For further information contact

Nundle Public School P&C Association

95 Jenkins St, Nundle NSW

www.nundle.info/nundle/dograce

nundle-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Ph: 6769 3253

The Great Nundle Dog Race is an

alcohol free event

NO alcohol is to be brought onto or

consumed on the ground

Does your daughter like to DANCE? Tamworth BJP Physical Culture Club have the classes for you. Tamworth Physie Club is a not-for-profit organisation who provides dance classes for girls aged 3 to 103. Physie is a combination of Pilates, Jazz, Ballet and strength routines set to modern music. Dance choreography is age appropriate and this helps girls and ladies to develop co-ordination, rhythm,

deportment, flexibility and self confidence. We promote fitness in a fun and friendly atmosphere. Come and give us a try! Your first lesson is FREE!! For class times and further information please see our web-site www.tamworthphysie.com or phone Jenny Murray on 67656446.

Collaborative effort a ‘sustainable’ winner! Students and staff from the Special Education ED classes along with senior Visual Art students

and members from the school choir have won a special prize in the Sustainable Namoi Living

Schools Competition for two recent projects, and their fantastic efforts promoting biodiversity

within the community.

Last term students partnered with volunteers from Endeavour

Park to complete and install an impressive mural featuring

native birds on the rainbow lorikeet bird enclosure. The mural

has met with rave reviews from visitors to the park.

The mural inscription reads:

‘Humanity shares this planet with every other living thing.

Biodiversity is our greatest treasure.

We just want to celebrate this amazing beauty with you.’

In a second project, students from the school choir, under the musical directorship of Jasen

Scott, worked very hard in an afternoon recording session at Tamworth TAFE. They rehearsed

and recorded a jingle promoting biodiversity. With the support of the Namoi Catchment

Authority the goal is to eventually air the jingle on community radio. Students and staff

acknowledge and greatly appreciate Peter Scott from P.C Scott Audio Productions for

generously offering his time and technical expertise to produce the jingle, and to Craig

Somerville from Tamworth TAFE for his co-operation and support in co-ordinating use of the

state-of-the-art TAFE recording studio.

Lyrics from the jingle:

‘Biodiversity, biodiversity,

enriches our community, enriches our community.

Protect, preserve and propagate

the future will appreciate our

biodiversity, biodiversity.’

Both projects were co-ordinated by Special Education teacher Mrs Cristine O’Connell who

wishes to acknowledge the valued co-operation and assistance of staff and students especially

Mr Miles Cantwell, Mrs Rebecca Sullivan and Ms Jacqui Goodwin. The projects built valuable

connections with the community, required team work, collaboration and fostered relationships

between groups of students who otherwise would not have connected.

The true success of both projects is in raising awareness of the huge benefits of living

sustainability, and actively preserving the biodiversity in our native flora and fauna for future

generations.

The KOALA 2011 is now available for purchase.

The cost is $20.00.

If you paid your General Contribution for 2011 you are entitled

to a free copy. Please come to the Front Office to pick it up.

A FREE two-hour workshop designed to

provide practical advice about:

Understanding the laws for L and

P licence holders.

Supervising learner drivers.

Completing the Learner driver log

book.

Understanding the benefits of

supervised on-road experience.

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL

NAPLAN Years 7 and 9 students will participate in the National Assessment Program Literacy and

Numeracy (NAPLAN) during Week 4 of this term. The test timetable for our school is as

follows:

Tuesday May 15

Period 1 – Year 7 Language Conventions, 45 minutes

Period 2 – Year 9 Language Conventions, 45 minutes

Period 3 – Year 9 Writing, 40 minutes

Period 4 – Year 7 Writing, 40 minutes

Wednesday May 16

Period 1 – Year 7 Reading, 65 minutes

Period 3 – Year 9 Reading, 65 minutes

Thursday May 17

Period 1- Year 7 Numeracy, Calculator Allowed, 40 minutes

Period 2- Year 9 Numeracy, Calculator Allowed, 40 minutes

Period 3- Year 7 Numeracy, Non-Calculator, 40 minutes

Period 4- Year 9 Numeracy, Non-Calculator, 40 minutes

Friday May 18

Catch-up day for anyone who has missed any of the tests.

Most students will sit the tests in the Hall.

Students were given a note last week which outlined further information about NAPLAN,

including withdrawal of your child from testing, exemption from testing and special

provisions. All students in Years 7 and 9 are expected to participate in NAPLAN unless they

have been exempted or withdrawn.

Please note that students will need a scientific calculator for their first numeracy test

on Thursday. Pencils will be provided.

Please do not bring mobile phones, MP3 players, rulers, pencil cases, etc into the test

venue. When not participating in the testing program, students will attend normal classes.

Please contact Mrs O’Sullivan or Miss Coombes at the school on 6765 7888 if you have any

queries regarding the NAPLAN.

NAPLAN The NAPLAN tests are coming. This year they are on Tuesday, May 15 to Thursday, May

17 with a catch-up day on Friday, May 18. The NAPLAN is a test of:

Literacy

Reading

Writing

Spelling

Grammar & punctuation

Numeracy

Data, measurement, space, geometry

Number, patterns, algebra

Each student who sits the tests will be provided with a summary of their performance. This

includes a ranking of their performance compared to the school average and state average.

This summary also gives a list of all questions that the student got correct and incorrect. It is

a great way for teachers to identify the areas that their students require extra assistance.

Design and Technology Year 9 Design and Technology have had a productive first term, designing and making their

own individual phone or MP3 holder. The class was given a design brief to meet and set out

researching existing products and come back with their own individual designs. Students then

embarked on exploring alternate methods for manufacturing and selected the best method based

on materials and time constraints. The class finished their products to an excellent standard and

were proud to set them up for a picture. The projects ranged from a wire framed teddy bear

phone holder, moulded acrylic plastic to a cushioned French provincial chair.

M. Van Doesburg

New Canteen Mrs Cheree Buttonshaw and her band of volunteers are now back into the refurbished Canteen.

Rolls and Wraps, drinks, packaged foods and her wonderful hot foods are all available again.

Other school supplies, books, sports clothing accessories etc are also available. Future

developments will continue with a full ‘cafeteria-style’ delivery of a greater range of foods.

Make sure you support your canteen by regularly buying your requirements there and

thoughtfully disposing of any rubbish.

All patrons and volunteers should be aware that there is constant video surveillance and your

image will be recorded.

INSURANCE FOR STUDENTS AT

SCHOOL

If anyone is interested in insurance for

your child at school there is an

information pamphlet available at

SAO.

Parking in Willis Street Tamworth Police have advised the school that they will be undertaking a blitz on parking and

dropping off/picking up students in Willis Street. The blitz will be over the next few weeks.

The street is a ‘No Parking Zone’ so cars cannot stop there. Fines will range from $150.00 to

$265.00. You can quickly drop off/pick up students but this cannot take more than 2 minutes.

There are more suitable places that are close to the school where you can stop and drop off/

collect students. These are:

Jean Street

Kathleen Street

Anne Street

Jenkin Street

We understand that you would like to collect your children from a location as close to the

school as possible, particularly with the recent wet weather. However, police want to enforce

safe driving and parking practices around the school so as to avoid accidents to school

students.

Parents delivering students to school and collecting them at the end of the

school day are asked to do so at the pedestrian entries to the school in Kathleen

and Jean Streets. The Willis Street entry can get quite congested with buses and

the front car park is for staff and special transport students only. Thank you

for your consideration in this matter and making student entry and departure

as safe as possible.

Parents Please Note:

With any absence from school, an explanation is required

within seven (7) school days.