Tech Talk Sydney June Technical 2019 High School · 2019-06-03 · An Academically Selective School...

An Academically Selective School for Boys

Tech Talk Sydney June Technical 2019 High School

686 Forest Road BEXLEY 2207 Phone: 9587 5899 Fax: 9553 [email protected] www.sths.nsw.edu.au

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1SCHOOL CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3PARENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM DATES . . . . . . . 3SECOND HAND UNIFORM SHOP DATES . . . . . . . . . . 3DEPUTY PRINCIPALS’ REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4NEW REPORTING FORMAT FOR YEARS 7 AND 8 . . . 5NANZAN CULTURAL VISIT FLYER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6SCHOOL NOTICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7LIBRARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8MANGA WORKSHOP - 7 MAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10P&C REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11FACULTY NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

PERFORMING ENSEMBLES NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12MUSICALE FLYER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13WELLBEING REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14CAREERS REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16SCHOOL NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18YEAR 7 SRC INDUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18AMAZON WEB SERVICES SUMMIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19PLAIN SPEAKING AND DEBATING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20SENIOR GIFTED STUDY DAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21YEAR 11 CAMP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22YEAR 11 CAMP PHOTOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24PARENT PARTNERSHIP - 22 MAY MEETING . . . . . . 26

FROM THE RELIEVINGPRINCIPAL

YEAR 7 SRC 2019Congratulations to our newly inducted Year 7 SRC members who were elected by their peer group to represent them. Their induction ceremony was held on Friday 10 May and was followed with a Morning Tea with staff and families. Their photos appear on Page 16. Well done to each of them. I wish them all the best as they take on the challenge of representing the voice of their classmates, and developing their communication skills, confidence and leadership.

MOTHER’S DAYThank you to the P&C, and to the very hard work of Irina Konstantinidis and Khalida Bentaalla for organising the Mother’s Day Morning Tea on Thursday 2 May. They provided an amazing feast for Tech mothers and their sons, with over 100 in attendance. There were delicious sweets and savoury items, and decorations to admire to brighten up the day. My thanks to all who made the morning such a spectacular success.

DR PRUE SALTER Dr Prue Salter will be talking to Year 7 students and their families from Tech and St George Girls on Monday evening, 3 June at 6pm at St George Girls HS. I do hope that you are able to make it. Due to her expertise, Prue is in high demand and has to be booked for parent events about a year ahead. We are, therefore, fortunate to have her present this seminar. Please arrive a few minutes early to collect the handouts.

Khalida Bentaalla and Irina Konstantinidis

June 2019 Tech Talk

PARENT PARTNERSHIP AND MR PAUL COPELANDIt was great to see so many parents at our BYOD workshop on Tuesday 28 May, to learn more about how to use restriction controls on the iPad. Paul Copeland, HT Technology, spoke first and his presentation was followed by a hands on workshop led by Mr Cooper’s Accelerated IPT class who helped parents individually with iPads. It is important that students and parents are aware that electronic devices are effective educational tools when used appropriately. See photos on Page 26.

NAPLANYear 7 and 9 sat for the NAPLAN tests during week 3 of term. These external tests consist of Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation, and Numeracy. Results should be made available around September and will assist the students and the school to prepare for the new HSC Minimum Standards tests that the students will sit for to determine eligibility for the HSC.

SECONDARY SCHOOLBOYS CHALLENGE CUP TABLE TENNIS COMPETITIONWhat a great achievement and effort from Danny Dong (7RW) and Benjamin Hyun (8RM) as they represented our school in the 2019 NSW Secondary

S c h o o l b o y s Challenge Cup Table Tennis Competit ion on Monday 27 May. They were awarded GOLD medals after a whole day competing against many other schools.

Best wishes for Danny and Benjamin as they were also selected by the NSW Table Tennis Association to represent the NSW Team in the 2019 National Junior Championships in July.Diane WilsonRelieving Principal

Benjamin Hyun (8RM) and Danny Dong (7RW)


PARENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

DATES FOR TERM 2Year 10 - Thursday 6 June

Academic Advisers and Subject Selection

Year 11 - Tuesday 11 JuneUniversity Pathways

Year 12 - Thursday 13 JuneEAS, Misadventure and Equity

SECOND HANDUNIFORM SHOP DATESTerm 211 June

Term 3 13 August10 September

Term 4 12 November3 December - Year 7 Orientation Day10 December

School Stream

Download theSchool Stream Appfor your phone

SCHOOL CALENDARTerm 2 - 2019 June3 Athletics Carnival4 P&C Meeting - Common Room - 7pm6 Year 10 Parent Partnership Meeting - Library 9am10 Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday11 SRE - Year 9, Period 1; Year 10, Period 211 Second Hand Uniform Shop 10.30-noon13 Year 12 Parent Partnership Meeting - Common Room 9am14 Regional Cross Country17-21 Year 10 Work Experience18 SRE - Year 7, Period 1; Year 8, Period 221 Year 7 Parent Teacher Interviews - 1.30-3pm24-25 Zone Athletics Carnival24-26 Performing Ensembles Camp

July1-5 SRC Week1 Musicale Rehearsals1 Years 8 and 11 Parent Teacher Interviews2 Musicale - 6.30pm5 Term 2 ends

Term 3 Resumes on Monday 22 July for Teachers

and Tuesday 23 July for Students

Running Group is on every Wednesday Morning

Anime Club every Monday at LunchtimeThis calendar is a general guide. Sometimes event dates change unexpectedly. For a full up to date list of school

activities please refer to our calendar at any time through the Schoolstream app.

June 2019 Tech Talk

DEPUTY PRINCIPALS’

REPORT

TERM 2 ASSESSMENTSTerm 2 is a busy one with all years having assessment periods. Years 7 and 10 have now completed theirs with Years 8 and 9 to have finished by the end of Week 6. Year 12 assessments resume in Week 7 followed by Year 11 in Week 8.

MID YEAR REPORTS AND PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWSYear 11 and 12 reports were issued recently and I trust that parents are working together with their children to take heed of any advice given for improving performance. This year we are continuing with four separate dates for Parent Teacher interviews to allow a greater access to teachers. Please take the opportunity to meet with your son’s teachers to discuss his progress. Booking requests for Parent Teacher interviews are completed online using the URL and access code provided in a separate email closer to the dates.

REMAINING PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS DATES ARE AS FOLLOWS:Year 7: Friday 21 June 1.10 – 3.30pmYears 8 and 11: Monday 1 July 3.30-6.30pm.Years 9 and 10: Tuesday 30 July 3.30-6.30pm

NAPLANYear 7 and 9 completed their NAPLAN tests for Literacy and Numeracy in May. Results will be available for parents towards the end of Term 3.

SRC WEEKSRC Week will be held during Week 10. There will be many organised activities for both students and staff to participate in. This is an excellent way of encouraging students to contribute to the school and have a good time in the process. Activities included a Pizza Day, Scavenger Hunt, Teachers Vs students Family Feud and a Talent Quest.

ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL OR LATENESS TO SCHOOLExplanations for absences from school or lateness to school should always be provided to the school by parents within seven (7) school days. This can be done in a variety of methods including replying to the school text message, sending in a note with the student, a phone call or email.Reasons for absence and lateness are varied. Some reasons are deemed by the Department of Education as valid reasons and others are not. Notes are processed and the information will appear on the intranet or Sentral. Valid reasons will appear as Sick or Leave. Reasons deemed not to be valid will appear as Unjustified. Leave not explained after seven days will be converted to Unjustified.Medical appointments should be made outside of school hours where possible. This includes during sport time. Sydney Tech is an integral member of our Sport Zone and student participation in grade teams means that they have made a commitment to the school, their coach and fellow players.


UNIFORMAs the weather becomes cooler, a reminder that students are still expected to wear correct school uniform. Blazers are compulsory in Terms 2 and 3 for Years 7-12. If students need extra warmth, then the school uniform jumper may be worn under the blazer. Hoodies are not acceptable in any circumstance. Sports uniform is to be worn on Wednesdays (Sport Day) but black track pants are not acceptable. Students in Year 12 who are not currently participating in school sport can wear full school uniform on Wednesdays, particularly if they have outgrown their sports uniform.

YEAR 10 PLANNING FOR YEAR 11 Year 10 are soon to commence discussions and planning subject selection for 2019 and career paths under the guidance of the Careers Adviser, Mr Mouzakis. We will also be holding a Year 10 into Year 11 Information Night in early in Term 3 to provide up to date information on Preliminary and HSC requirements and assist the students in choosing their subjects for 2019. Further information will be available shortly.Kirk Grinham Melissa BurgessDeputy Principal Rel Deputy Principal

NEW REPORTING FORMAT FOR YEARS 7 AND 8 - LEARNING PROFILE

Standard WB WA WTApplies sustained effort to all tasksApplication of task management strategies to meet deadlines Works collaboratively with others Demonstrates effective help seeking strategies Takes intellectual risks in own learning and problem solving

WB = working beyond optimal standard WA = working at optimal standard WT = working towards optimal standardAfter a comprehensive 12 month collaborative process led by the Learning to Learn Team, the new Sydney Technical High School academic reports for Stage 4 will be implemented this semester.The Learning to Learn Team worked together in the 3 Rivers Leadership Challenge along with 10 other high schools across NSW to formulate the new reports that will be rolled out for Years 7 and 8. The new reports provide a focus on encouraging a growth mindset while giving clear, succinct and meaningful feedback for how students have progressed over the semester and what they can do to continue to improve in the future. The Stage 4 reports will feature a new ‘Learning Profile’ which emphasises the importance of grit, resilience, collaboration, and help-seeking as essential skills for student success. For each

profile standard, Stage 4 students will now be receive either ‘working beyond’ optimal level, ‘working at’ optimal level or ‘working towards’ optimal level with respect to their age and course expectations. This will clearly show areas students are excelling in as well as those which need further improvement in order for them to advance academically. Changes for Stages 5 and 6 may come after feedback from the first implementation with Stage 4. This change is a part of the greater Learning to Learn Project which incorporated the Year 7 Transition Program led by Pamela Stergiou, new Year 7 Transition Coordinator. Antoinette JohnstonCo Leader Learning to Learn Team

June 2019 Tech Talk

Have a spare bed or guestroom? We need your help!

STHS is looking for host families When: Wednesday 24 July – Friday 9 August 2019

(17 days 16 nights) Who can apply: STHS families of students in Years 8 to 11 Additional info : Gratuitous payment of $500 to host for 2 weeks

Gratuitous payment of $250 to host for 1 week *Earn points for the Wykeham Award! *Learn about a different culture simply just by going about your everyday life! If interested or for further information, contact Ms Mac Email: [email protected] Phone: 9587 5899

ABSOLUTELY NO JAPANESE LANGUAGE SKILLS NECESSARY!!!


SCHOOL NOTICESIMPORTANT HEALTH INFORMATIONA student in our school is currently receiving treatment which results in a lowered immune system. This means that the student is more prone to getting ill from infections. As the student is not contagious but has a chronic illness, it is important that he participates actively in the day to day school program without any major limitations. A major concern is that if this student develops measles, chicken pox, whooping cough or influenza, he could become seriously ill. It is important that we prevent this situation from occuring.If your child has or may have measles or chicken pox, it is important that you:1. Do not send them to school

2. Notify the School Principal as soon as possible.

3. Take them to your GP or medical centre to confirm diagnosis if possible.

SCHOOL SECOND HAND UNIFORM SHOPThe Second Hand Uniform Shop is located in Vera’s Cottage. The Second Hand Uniform Shop is run by volunteers. Volunteers are needed - please contact the office with your name and phone number.During the school terms, the Second Hand Uniform Shop

is usually open on the Second Tuesday of each calendar month, from 10.30am-12 noon. The Uniform shop will next be open on Tuesday 14 May 2019. Come along and grab a bargain. If you have any donations of used uniform items, please send them to the Office.

CHANGE OF MOBILE PHONE NUMBERS AND ADDRESSESIf you have changed your mobile phone number, email or mailing address, please contact the school immediately so that we can update our records.

OFFICE HOURS AND PAYMENTSThe School Office is open from 8.15am-3.15pm for enquiries. Payments by students should only be made before school, between Period 1 and 2, at Recess and at Lunch. Payments will not be taken after the bell has gone at the end of lunch.Payments over the phone or at the front office can only be made from 8.15am-1.45pm.Payments on Line can be made using the link in your emailed statement or via the STHS website (see below). If you would like an account statement sent to you please contact the office.

Website Payments -To make online payments, click on the ‘online payment’ link in the top right hand corner of the HOME page above the SEARCH box.

SICK BAY AND YOUR SONIf you receive a phone call from the office informing you that your son is unwell and in sick bay, you must attend to this promptly and collect your son as soon as possible.Your son cannot be left in sick bay for lengthy periods of time.

VISITORS TO SCHOOLPlease be aware that it is a legal requirement for ALL visitors on school grounds during school hours to report to the School Administration Office for sign-in and sign-out. This includes parents and caregivers.

ATTENTION PARENTS - SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND LEAVEIf your child is absent from school, an explanation must be provided to the school within seven school days from the first day of any period of absence.It is Departmental Policy that if your son needs to leave the school early for an appointment, then a letter must be brought to the school and it must be signed by one of the Deputy Principals before the start of the school day for leave to be granted.If you reply to an SMS about your son’s absence, please note his name, class and reason for the absence on the SMS.

June 2019 Tech Talk

“A good library supports every area of learning within the school, making the practical application of the more curriculum based areas of learning so much more potent .” - Morris Gleitzman, Author and Australian Children’s Laureate

The Charles Kingsford Smith Memorial

Library of Sydney Technical High School

LIBRARY REPORT

HOW LIBRARY FUND DONATIONS HELP YOUR CHILD“Your donations to our school’s library fund have been vital to many changes that you will see this year in the STHS library. Earlier this year, we purchased a new security gate system to replace an old and broken one that dated back to 1994. This system was a major purchase for our school and will help keep our resources safe for years to come. However, your donations go towards many other purchases that will benefit your children daily.• New fiction, nonfiction and reference books are constantly being

added to the library’s collection to keep your child able to have access to the latest bestsellers, the most recent research publications and current HSC study guides and textbooks for all subjects taught at STHS or through Distance Education. Money has also been spent this year on more shelving to hold these resources. Students also have access to a wide range of e-books and ClickView videos.

• Magazines and periodicals have been ordered to help your child to keep up with current events. The library has a wide assortment of magazines from The Economist, Time, Choice, New Internationalist, BBC History, How it Works, Inside Sport, APC (tech), Rolling Stone, Cosmos, Men’s Health, National Geographic and more. These provide essential resources to students of current issues such as robotics, politics, climate change and movements such as “Me Too” and how they affect business and society as a whole.

• The library recently held its first Author in Residence program, providing an opportunity for students to meet and interact with authors and illustrators. On Tuesday 7 May, graphic artist Matthew Lin led a workshop on creating manga with 40 enthusiastic students. This was funded to provide free access for any student who desired to take part. Justin Chin in Year 10 said, “Matthew was very helpful in terms of his advice and approach towards drawing manga style artwork and characters. For someone who isn’t an expert when it comes to freehand sketching, I managed to create a very fine artwork by the end of the workshop with his help. I would definitely look forward to seeing more of these kinds of workshops in the future!” Our school values these creative opportunities for our students. More photos are on Page 10.

• New games have been purchased. Sure, they can be seen as “fun” but they have proved essential to students who have cemented relationships before school and during breaks with others. Games bring opportunities for communication, interaction, skill and a mental break from a difficult curriculum that most students face daily. We have a wide range of card games, board games and chess sets available to students. In a world of people glued to technology, these interactions are vital to boys’ formation of relationships and for building a sense of community.

• Quiet time for silent reading is another thing the library offers to your sons. To aid in this, the library has purchased more soft seating in addition to the popular bean bags, with the favourite spot being nestled under the stairs for a cosy reading nook. This furniture


helps the students to relax and unwind and provides a wide reading area for classes in the library. Anxiety and depression are common problems with gifted students, and this time for reflection and relaxation can help them mentally unwind.

• Books at Breakfast is a student run book club that provides a safe space for students to discuss a wide range of issues facing adolescents today through discussions of books set in the modern world with teenagers as the protagonists. Reading and discussing these issues “will help young people to develop empathy, insight into themselves and other people, interpersonal c o m m u n i c a t i o n skills and a capacity not only to develop creative problem-solving strategies, but to recognise that their problems are alive, organic and ever-changing as we are and can only be defeated with bravery and resilience,” according to author Morris Gleitzman.

• Collaborative and independent study space for our senior students is available upstairs in the library. The library has purchased more tables and seating for this area this year. When informally polled on what they wanted in the senior section, students responded with more soft seating to sit and read and more space to work together so we delivered. New furniture will arrive this term.

• Students are each given a certain amount of printing per person for each term to print assignments, essays, posters, brochures, etc. Library computers are available for students to do research or to create their own work to submit to teachers. We also have laptops for loan.

• School supplies such as rulers, calculators or USBs are available for loan.

• The library has purchased security cameras to keep students and their personal belongings safe. The installation will take place in the next few weeks.

• The library also provides equipment for assessment purposes such as headsets with microphones for speaking and listening

components of exams in various faculties and for distance education.• Educational books, DVDs and journals aid our teachers by supporting curriculum and keeping staff up to date with the latest professional research and best practice. These include resources for our LaST (Learning Support) teachers who work with students in the library. We thank the families who have contributed to the STHS Library Fund and hope that you see how important your donations are to the daily life of students and staff. Elizabeth GreavesRelieving Teacher Librarian

“What a school thinks about its library is a measure of what it feels about education .” Harold Howe

Our Matthew Lin Manga Original

June 2019 Tech Talk

Manga Workshop 7 May


Upcoming May P&C Meeting

Tuesday 4 June 2019

Common Room - 7pmAll Parents Welcome

JuneTuesday - 2 July 2019Auditorium - 6.30pm

P&C Particpation at

Musicale 2019

P&C REPORT

P&C MEETINGIt’s always great to see everyone at the P&C meetings. We are coming to the middle of the year and a lot of exciting things are happening. The P&C Meeting is a great way for parents to find out the latest events at the school as well as helping to decide how best to utilise the P&C funds to support the school.Even though we are already half way through 2019, there are still many events to look forward to. The next major event the P&C is supporting is the School’s Musicale 2019 on Tuesday 2 July. We hope to see you all there to support the school bands and musicians. The P&C will continue our tradition of providing affordable food and drinks for the evening for you and your family to enjoy at the concert.The combined Sydney Technical HS and St George Girls HS P&C evening will be hosted at Sydney Technical HS this year in August. This is a great evening where we will hear and learn from our guest speaker as well as have a chance to meet some of the parents from our sister school (SGGHS). More details will be coming out soon and I hope you will all support this evening.Other events to round out the year will include Staff Appreciation Day and Father’s Day Breakfast.

ENTERTAINMENT BOOKA reminder that the STHS P&C is selling the 2019/20 Entertainment Book. You can purchase either the physical or the digital version of the Entertainment Book directly via the Sydney Technical High School P&C purchasing website (www.entbook.com.au/206m530). Please share the link with your friends and family who might be interested in the Entertainment Book. Every purchase via the STHS page will help raise more funds to support the students and teachers of STHS.

CONTACTING THE P&CJoin us on the STHS Facebook page (www.facebook.com/groups/sthspandc). The email for contacting the P&C is [email protected] Please send your suggestions, queries etc to this email.

UPCOMING P&C MEETINGSSee above for the next P&C Meeting dates.Warren MakP&C President

June 2019 Tech Talk

PERFORMING ENSEMBLE NEWSTerm 2 is a busy one with the Performing Ensembles Camp and also Musicale! All these events are happening during Week 9 and 10 this term. The Performing Ensembles Camp will be a fitting reward to the boys after the assessment period which takes up most of the middle of the term.The camp will take place at The Tops Conference Centre at Stanwell Tops from Monday 24 June until Wednesday 25 June. It is a wonderful opportunity for the boys to grow as musicians and to get to know students across all year groups. There will be lots of rehearsals but also outdoor activities and live musicians will perform on one of the evenings. Permission notes have been sent home from rehearsals and need to be returned as soon as possible. Please call Mrs Ryan in the Creative Arts staffroom if you have any questions or queries. Musicale will be taking place on 2 July at 6:30pm in the School Auditorium. It is a wonderful night which showcases all the musical talent here at Tech. See our Musicale Flyer opposite for all details. The P&C will be selling light refreshment during interval and if you are not part of the P&C and would like to volunteer your time to help, you can email Mrs Ryan on [email protected] or contact the P&C directly on [email protected] you for supporting the Performing Ensemble Program. Julie RyanCreative Arts

FACU

LTY

NEW

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SYDNEY TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOLPERFORMING ENSEMBLES

Invite you to…

MUSICALE 2019

Tuesday 2 July –- 6.30pm

Featuring…

Concert and Stage BandsIntermediate Concert Band

Strings, Choral, Guitar, Small Ensembles and Soloists

Cost: $4 Concession - $8 Adults - $20 Family

Supper will be provided for a small cost and satisfaction is free.

AUDITORIUMForest Road, Bexley - Parking on front oval via Forest Road

Phone: 9587 5899

STHS Music Students, Teachers and Parents thank you for your support.

June 2019 Tech Talk

WELLBEING REPORT

ACADEMIC PROCRASTINATION As we enter the halfway mark of another school year and teachers embark on the reporting process, it is time to reflect on a common issue that my team and I regularly talk about with students. In particular, we have conversations with the students in the senior school about their academic progress and performance. They are intelligent young men who we have the privilege of teaching every day, yet for specific reasons, some are not working to their potential, their requirements or near the standard that can produce their personal best. Parents are alerted to this, if they are not already consciously aware of the situation, via semesterised reports, letters from teachers and assessment results. Like the teachers, parents also recognise these students’ talents but become frustrated with their lack of motivation, communication or effort.Whilst these characteristics are not necessarily unique to teenage boys, within the context of an academically selective school populated by students with the opportunity to have a range of university choices, it is concerning. When staff speak with students who are identified in these categories, in most circumstances the boys will articulate, very clearly, what has gone wrong and what needs to be done. Yet, often, the change does not occur. What I am describing here, falls under the category of academic procrastination. This is a concept that does have a higher prevalence amongst intelligent students and which, if left unrecognised, may affect a student’s learning and therefore future, long after they leave high school. The tendency for students who procrastinate is that key tasks seem to come all at once. This is not the reality but the result. The reasons behind academic procrastination vary but usually include:• Negative self talk that hijacks their attempts to begin school work before

they start. Sadly, this is usually illogical and factually inaccurate. Students may think there is little point in bothering to continue when there are still several marks available in the remaining assessments.

• They allow potential distractions to become actual distractions – these can be associated with their mood, energy levels, motivation, technology (gaming in particular), home environment, work/tutoring commitments.

• Fear of failure leads to leaving things until the last minute and therefore submitting work of lesser quality.

• Perfectionism – it sounds strange but this can also be a deterrent behind students being able to simply “Get on with it!”

Ways that students and their parents can break the cycle of procrastination include:• Challenge the self talk and overcome the internal monologue that is

allowing them to become fixated on unhelpful thoughts. For every negative thought process, we should aim to outweigh these by at least two positive thoughts.

• Conduct a distraction audit – identify all of the behaviours, events, people, devices and settings that trigger procrastination. Consider these honestly and always get a second opinion. Identify what they can control and put limits on these around frequency and access. Again, it might help to have someone helpful keep tabs on this and ask the tough questions or take a strong stand if they cannot control this by themselves.

• Rewards – when something is completed – this may be a goal or a school based task, take the time to celebrate this by doing something that makes them feel good. Go to the movies, hang out with mates. Balance is the key here.

• Chunking – sometimes referred to as partialisation. By identifying and prioritising the steps associated with a task or a series of deadlines, the


requirements may seem less overwhelming. This process also gives you clear start and end points or at least the choice to begin work on the part of the task that you enjoy most or are good at. Dr Andrew Martin from UNSW is a world renowned education academic who has presented to staff and students here at Tech in the past. The link below contains a useful tool created by him for students wishing to engage with chunking as a means of avoiding procrastination:

http://www.lifelongachievement.com/image/data/Singapore.pdfA further recommended source around practical advice and tips to manage academic procrastination can be found on Dr Prue Salter’s Online ELES Study skills handbook: https://www.studyskillshandbook.com.au/inside/inside_content/home6.html

YEAR 11 CAMPI was fortunate enough to go away with Year 11 on their last school camp and we all had a great time. During the day the students were able to participate in a range of physical and challenging activities that promoted team building, cooperation and encouragement amongst the students. Each activity had a key message linked with the mandatory crossroads course. At night the students heard from Dr Prue Salter about study skills, and on the second night were entertained by ventriloquist and magician, ‘Fast Jimmy’. The behaviour of our students was outstanding and made it that much easier for the instructors and teachers who were on camp.These camps do not happen without a significant amount of preparation behind the scenes and Mr Gamage, Year 11 Adviser, deserves huge congratulations. Thanks must also be extended to the other staff who left their classes and families behind for three days: Ms Haitidis, Ms Stergiou, Ms Chork, Ms Tan, Ms Benyamin, Mr Davis and Mr Bromwich.The study skills session run by Dr Prue Salter on the first night of camp focused on helping students identify changes and improvements they could make to their studies in order to maximise their results in their final years of school. The main areas covered were:• Moving into a senior mindset.• Working effectively in the evenings and dealing

with distractions.• Managing time efficiently• Managing workload and planning for assessments• Making brain – friendly study notes on a regular

basis• Using a wide variety of active study techniques to

suit individual learning stylesParents are encouraged to review the handout from

the session with students and discuss the main areas identified where changes need to be made. Parents can also find extra study skills tips on the following website: http://studyskillstoptipsparents.com/.All students and parents at our school have access to a great study skills website to help students develop their skills. Go to http://www.studyskillshandbook.com.au and enter the username: STHS and the password: 686success. There are many useful handouts on the ‘THINGS TO PRINT’ page on this site and students can work through the units where they need additional help.

WELLBEING ASSEMBLIESWellbeing assemblies continue this term - the first assembly was 24 May. We have a combination of staff and student led presentations as well as a variety of external speakers across the different year groups. Cybersafety presenter Johnny Shannon and Jonathan Benica are back again this year to educate our Year 8 students about Cybersafety and the dangers associated with risk taking behaviour. Tom Reynolds from Drug Education Australia will speak to Year 10 with a focus on drug and alcohol education and Brainstorm Productions are coming to perform their new ‘Wired’ production to Year 11 as well as their ‘Sticks & Stones’ production for Year 7. We also have Howard Smith back later this term to present to Year 11 on ‘Stress and the HSC’ and we are excited to hear from a new Youth Motivational speaker, Daniel Merza, present to Year 9 on how to become a ‘Leader of your Life” with a particular focus on Growth Mindset and Building Resilience when times are tough.Peer Support will also continue in Term 2 for Year 7 with topics on Grit, Gratitude, Avoiding Distractions, and Mindfulness/Mental Health will be additional topics delivered to our students at Wellbeing Assemblies later this term.

TOO SICK FOR SCHOOL?As the cold weather hits, so do the winter bugs. It’s often hard to know whether to send your child to school or let them stay home to recover, especially when that means an adult cancelling work. If your child seems unwell you should always keep them home from school and seek medical advice. NSW Health and the Department of Education have some further information for parents/carers to help answer your questions about common childhood illness and how long sick kids need to miss school. Find it by typing this link into your web browser https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/practical-help-for-parents-and-carers/family-wellbeing/health/too-sick-to-go-to-schoolNick Stokes Head Teacher Wellbeing

June 2019 Tech Talk

CAREERS REPORT

UNIVERSITY VISITSThe three universities in which the majority of our students enrol have now visited the school and presented to the students. The University of Sydney, the University Of New South Wales and the University of Technology Sydney have all distributed their 2020 course guides to our students. These coupled with the UAC Guide 2020, list all the courses that will be available to them to enrol in next year.Students should use these resources to work out their five preferences for the application. Applications are now open and the deadline for the discounted rate is 30 September.Universities also hold Open Days where you have a chance to talk to different faculties about specific courses and their structure, through to what majors are available and job prospects. More information about Open Days will be in the next issue of Tech Talk.Regardless of the path you pursue, it is advisable to build various skills. Competition for graduate jobs is fierce. Students need to do internships prior to graduating to acquire the skills you may not learn in class.Sydney University have released a paper on the skills that are required by graduates to succeed in the workplace. These are listed in the table below.

The Oracle, which is the Sydney Tech High careers newsletter, is being published every week and distributed via email to students in Years 10-12 and parents.If you are not receiving The Oracle or would like to make an appointment to discuss any career related matter please call me on 9587 5899 ex 110.

UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG - TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR GLOBAL FOOTBALL PROGRAM Starting in February 2020, the UOW Tottenham Hotspur Global Football Program will offer students a unique opportunity to study a UOW or UOW College Australia qualification while also developing their football (soccer) skills, with training provided by fully qualified coaches from English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.


Successful students will undertake 16–20 hours of football training each week for 36 weeks, tailored around academic study. They will also have opportunities for selection to compete at a local, national or international level.

Applications are open now. To apply, interested students should submit an online application for the football program as well as apply to study at UOW.https://www.uow.edu.au/future/football/index.html

COMPETITIONS

The Flash Fiction ChallengeThis exciting international creative writing challenge, organised by NYC Midnight Movie Making Madness, features several rounds in an exciting and time based competition.Designed to help discover and promote a new wave of talented storytellers. NYC Midnight aims to provide the prizes and exposure necessary for writers to take their next big step towards writing professionally.Participants have to create original short stories (1,000 words max.) based on genre, location, and object assignments in just 48 hours.http://www.nycmidnight.com/Competitions/FFC/Challenge.htm

National Youth Concerto CompetitionCloses 28 JuneThe 2019 National Youth Concerto Competition Finals Week is from Saturday 5 to Sunday 13 October. The application form is now available. The National Youth Concerto Competition (NYCC) is recognised as the most prestigious competition in Australia for string soloists aged up to 17 years. https://www.qyo.org.au/2019/nycc

National Computer Science Challenge 2019- University of SydneyBegins 29 JulyThe NCSS Challenge is unlike any other programming competition. They will teach you how to program, rather than expecting you to be an expert already. If you’re a seasoned coder, we have something for you too – the problems range from relatively simple to mind-bendingly hard. Running for about five weeks, we will release notes and problems containing the information you will need to complete the week’s programming challenges. https://groklearning.com/challenge/

National History ChallengeCloses 30 AugustThe theme for 2019 is People and Power.The National History Challenge is a research based competition for students. It gives students a chance to be an historian, researching world history, examining Australia’s past, investigating their community or exploring their own roots. It emphasises and rewards quality research, the use of community resources and effective presentationhttp://www.historychallenge.org.au/Jerry MouzakisRel Careers Adviser

June 2019 Tech Talk

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YEAR 7 SRC INDUCT ION Congratulations to our new Year 7 SRC Representatives - Araf Ahmed, Salih Mujala, Lincoln Rogerson, Ali Syed and Andrei Villacorta. who were inducted at assembly on 11 May.


AMAZON WEB SERVICES SUMMITOn Wednesday 1 May, Sydney Tech was invited to the 7th annual Amazon Web Services (AWS) Summit, the largest gathering of the cloud computing community in the region.The AWS Student Track is a session held as part of this conference, which is aimed to inspire impressionable young minds on the latest disruptive technologies influencing the way we live and work today, and its limitless possibilities in the future.Students started their AWS Summit experience with VIP seating at the AWS Summit Day 1 Keynote, which was hosted by Glenn Gore, the Worldwide Lead Solutions Architect, Amazon Web Services. As one of the original supporters of the Student Track since its inception four years ago, Glenn presented the latest technologies in cloud, AI & Machine learning, IoT, and Robotics

and demonstrated how they are being applied by the world’s most forward thinking companies. The boys listened to the lead Engineer from the Ferrari Formula One Team and the future developer for EA Games.Following the keynote, students got the opportunity to hear from various Amazon personnel in a careers panel discussion, and had their minds challenged with interactive workshops involving group challenges, ideation, as well as code building and voice enabled technology.Greg CooperInformation Processes and Technology Teacher

June 2019 Tech Talk

Plain Speaking CompetitionAdrian Lozancic and Lochie Bown represented Sydney Tech in the Plain Speaking Competition Regional Final today held at Sylvania HS. Both boys spoke exceptionally well in their prepared speeches on masculinity and the voting age. Congratulations to both students! Lochie Bown will compete again in the State Semi Final for NSW.

Year 12 Debating CompetitionCongratulations to the Students in the Year 12 Debating team who have, as of 20 May, had back to back wins against Caringbah High School and Blakehurst High School on the topics of education and the media respectively. Go Tech! A report on the third debate will be in the July Tech Talk.

Lochie Bown, David Alukkal, Tyrone Martinez and Alex Nguyen.


Senior Gifted Study Day On Wednesday 22 May, a group of Year 11 students were selected to participate in a senior gifted study day at Ascham School. Several other high performing schools from across Sydney and New South Wales also participated at the conference. The event consisted of a series of lectures and an interactive debate hosted by lecturers Julie Arliss and Dr Chris O’Neill, both of whom travelled from Oxford University, England, as well as Australian Jeffrey Hodges. The topics that were covered throughout the day were highly intellectual and potentially contentious, including the concepts of Epistemology, Tolerance and Freedom, Philosophical Love and Relationships, and finally wrapping up with a presentation on Outstanding Achievement. The boys had a lot to say about these highly engaging subjects. Perhaps the highlight of the conference though, was the interactive debate on the following statement:

“Students should not be allowed cell phones in school”. Both sides of the debate had compelling arguments however it was decided by an audience vote that the case for allowing students to bring phones to school was indeed stronger and more valid, and therefore came out on top.Overall, the conference was highly impactful and enjoyable to all who attended. It was an opportunity for which everyone was grateful. We would like to extend our gratitude to Ms Irvine who spent her day supervising and ensuring a safe and fun time for all the boys.Eric NapperYear 11

June 2019 Tech Talk

Year 11 CampThe last camp for most, but definitely the most memorable for all! Not only was it a break from the rush of studies, it was a chance to spend our last camp with the friends we enjoyed hanging out with the most. Everyone strengthened their bonds with each other and without a doubt, we certainly had one of the best experiences so far in our schooling journey. The food was more than just bearable, activities were really fun and to our surprise the floors were not made of concrete. Upon arrival, we were greeted warmly by the staff of Sydney Academy of Recreation and Sport, and formally began our last camp as a cohort. We left in high spirits to our first activity. Throughout the course of the camp, the activities we did varied from canoeing, high ropes, abseiling and the ‘leap of faith’. Some of us challenged our fear of heights as we stood on the edge of the 10m high platform, while others thoroughly enjoyed themselves, repeatedly climbing back up for more. As night approached, we headed to dinner still full of energy. After a filling dinner, we were greeted by Dr Prue Salter and learnt new study skills which helped prepare us for the tidal wave which is Year 12. Having received a large amount of information, we headed back to our cabins. We prepared for our night feast of hot pot and noodles, and card games. With a common room in between, many of the boys went to play Super Smash Bros on the switch, and were proved to be not as good as we thought we were, by Mr Bromwich. After a rowdy night, we headed off to sleep.After a few hours of ‘restful sleep,’ it was time for another full day of activities. However, many of us were


left disappointed that our typical breakfast foods were missing. But with that being said, we still managed to leave the dining room full, and ready for our next session. At canoeing, many of us found an amazing time to bond with friends. A few of us capsized, but nonetheless we eventually all got wet. This was a memorable time for us and all our mates. In a small group, we hung out at the bay near the shore, sat together, and strengthened the bond we all knew we needed. We skipped some rocks and took our time watching the sun set, enjoying the last few days together.Before we knew it, lunch was lurking around the corner and we were ready to eat again. After a filling lunch, the next activity awaited us and a new challenge had arisen. The leap of faith was a memorable one for many and definitely a challenge for all. Having climbed the 8m was the first step, but trusting the person whom you only met a day ago with your life was the next step. I guess that’s why it is called the leap of faith after all.That night, was a night to remember. A magician, comedian and ventriloquist played by one person - who knew that was possible? Ranging from the classic card tricks, to seeing illusions we’ve never seen before. Fast Jimmy was definitely a cracker!Although it was the final camp, we’re happy to say that we all enjoyed it. Some memorable moments included the awards at the end, ranging from “Mr Elastic”, “Harness Helpfulness” and even “Putting on a Harness,” it was one of, if not, the best camp we’ve had and we are glad to have spent it together with our friends.Jason Zhu, Ziyi Wang and Glenn Gao

Photos by Emmanuel Takla, Mr Shane Gamage, Mr Nick Stokes

June 2019 Tech Talk

June 2019 Tech Talk

Parent Partnership - 28 MaySentral and Bring Your Own Device at Tech

An informative session was had by parents on Tuesday 28 May when they heard Paul Copeland (HT Technology) talk about the school program Sentral and trouble shoot any issues with regard to the Bring Your Own Device (iPad) program. Students from the Year 9 Information Process and Technology Class were on standby to help parents and answer questions.

Tech Talk Sydney June Technical 2019 High School · 2019-06-03 · An Academically Selective School...

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Transcript of Tech Talk Sydney June Technical 2019 High School · 2019-06-03 · An Academically Selective School...