Bayala - Term 1 Week 11 2023

'Bayala'

Welcome to our Newsletter 'Bayala'. 

'Bayala' is a Darug word meaning yarning or conversation. 

Our Vision

Upcoming Events

• Staff Development Day - Monday 24th April 2023
• Parent Teacher Interview bookings open - Monday 24th April 2023
  
• Anzac Day Public Holiday - Tuesday 25th April 2023
  
• Students Return - Wednesday 26th April 2023
  
• Term 2 sport commences - Wednesday 26th April 2023
  
• Hawkesbury Show Excursion - Friday 28th Arpil 2023
  
• Year 9 Walking to Scibberas Excursion - Tuesday 2nd May 2023
• Parent Teacher Interviews - Tuesday 2nd May 2023
  
• CHS Swimming - Wednesday 3rd May 2023 - Friday 5th May 2023
  
• Warrawi Yana Nura Cultural Leadership Camp - Wednesday 3rd May - Friday 5th May 2023
• School Athletics Carnival - Friday 12th May 2023
  
• Big Science Competition - Monday 15th May - Friday 26th May 2023
  

Principal's Update

Term 1 of 2023 has been marked by a return to our usual routines, which is a welcome difference to a number of previous years that have been impacted by significant disruptions and a lot of uncertainty. While many challenges remain, we are looking forward to working with you to address these challenges and ensure that our children get the education they deserve.

In the last newsletter I wrote about a Parent Advisory Council (PAC) meeting on 21 March and the possibility of re-forming the school’s P&C in 2023. The PAC meeting was an opportunity for parents to provide feedback on the draft Behaviour Support and Management Plan, and it was an opportunity to discuss what the PAC or a P&C might look like this year. After some deliberation, it was evident that all parents who attended the PAC meeting on 21 March preferred the idea of continuing with Parent Advisory Council meetings as it is a less formal and flexible type of meeting that encourages parent and community engagement.

I would also like to take this opportunity to notify the community that the School Development Day at the beginning of Term 3, will be moved from Monday 17 July, to Friday 21 July. This means that students will attend school on Monday, 17 July, but stay at home on Friday, 21 July. This change will allow school staff to combine the school development day on Friday, 21 July with the school’s Staff Conference on Saturday, 22 July. Two days of back-to-back professional learning will maximise opportunities to plan for and implement improvements that have a positive impact on student learning.

I would also like to inform you that the school will have two parent/teacher evenings this year. The first parent/teacher evening will be on Tuesday, 2 May, while the second opportunity to talk to your children’s teachers face to face will be in Term 3, on 25 July.  Both parent/teacher evenings will be open to parents of all year groups from years 7 to 12. Interview booking information via the Parent Sentral Portal will be emailed to all parents at the beginning of Term 2.

During the PAC meeting on 21 March, a few parents suggested that the school develop a parent contact guide with key school contacts. The WHO CAN I TALK TO? guide below includes some key contacts and situations in which you may need to contact them at school. While the guide does not cover every situation, parents are advised to contact the front office on 4579 6800 if you are unsure of who you need to speak to. A similar guide has been developed for students and it will be displayed around the school for easy access.

Finally, the school is currently evaluating its Wellbeing Policy and Procedures, which includes a review of low-level supports available to students, including access to the Wellbeing Hub and the use of timeout cards. A gradual return to normal routines after years of disruptions due to bushfires, floods and COVID, means that the school is increasingly focussing on proactive strategies to build student resilience and improve student wellbeing outcomes through self-regulation and positive interactions with their environment. Research tells us that best outcomes are achieved when young people are empowered by building resilience rather than accommodated through avoidance. While students with higher level needs will continue having access to individualised wellbeing supports, including the Hub, most students will be supported through universal wellbeing strategies that include information on building resilience, managing conflict situations and focussing on positive thinking patterns. At the same time, I would like to reassure parents that targeted intensive supports will continue for students who need it, and that the school will continue working with parents and external health care providers to support students with complex wellbeing needs.

From The Deputies

Uniform 

We would like to thank parents and students for maintaining the school’s STAR values by wearing the correct school uniform. Correct uniform is an important safety consideration that allows the school to manage risks around unauthorised people on the school grounds. 

The following are important reminders of the HHS school uniform procedures: 

UNIFORM TO BE WORN IN COOLER WEATHER 

• The striped school jacket or school jumper (maroon) with the school emblem.  
• The HHS track pants are the only track pants allowed as school uniform. 
• A plain navy or black crew neck sweatshirt may be worn under the school uniform jacket if an extra warm layer is needed.   
• Hooded tops (hoodies), jeans, leggings and non-HHS sport shorts are non-uniform items and cannot be worn to school. 

• If a student is out of uniform, they will be provided with appropriate clothing and be expected to change. 
• Students who are out of uniform and without a note from parents, will be issued a recess detention.   

If you have any queries about uniform or require assistance, please contact the school on 4579 6800.

Positive Paws Program

Last week, six students accompanied by two student mentors completed the Positive Paws Program at Guide Dogs NSW/ACT (Glossodia).

Each term, a small group of eight HHS students attends the Glossodia site of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT to participate in a program with Guide Dog puppies. The students attend once a week for approximately two hours and participate in activities that increase the socialisation of young puppies before they leave Guide Dogs for their puppy raisers.

The Positive Paws Program is an amazing collaboration between the school and members of the local community, that benefits both the Guide Dog puppies and our students.

If students are interested in participating in the program, they are to see Mrs Shortland.

Learning and Wellbeing Hub  

The Wellbeing Hub has been in place for four years and has been an essential part of the school’s wellbeing support resources as we assisted students impacted by the combined effects of bushfires, flooding events and COVID. 

It is now the time to focus school resources on the more proactive strategies of building student resilience and positive thinking patterns whilst they are in the classroom. The Wellbeing Team has developed a guide containing simple coping strategies that students can use whilst they are in the classroom. This guide will be offered to students. 

The Hub will remain as part of a suite of targeted intensive supports for a small number of students with complex wellbeing needs, but from Term 2, the focus of the Hub will be as a learning support space for identified students.    

 Lastly, we wish staff, students and their families a Happy Easter break and look forward to seeing everyone back in Term 2.

Mrs Kerrie Shortland, Mrs Nicole Martirena and Mr Benn McEvoy

Student Absences and Leaving Early

On occasion, your child/ren may need to be absent from school. Justified reasons for student absences may include:

• being sick or having an infectious disease
• having an unavoidable medical appointment
• being required to attend a recognised religious holiday
• exceptional or urgent family circumstances e.g. attending a funeral.

If your child is required to leave school early, we request that a note be sent to school with your child in the morning of the absence. They will need to present to the Front Office and the note will be signed off by a Deputy Principal. The student will then receive an Early Leaver's slip from the Front Office, which they will show their teacher when needing to leave class. They will then proceed to the Front Office and wait to be collected.  

If your child is absent from school for the entire day, you can inform us of the absence using one of the methods below:

• Call the Administration Office during office hours with date of absence, child's name and reason for absence
• Responding to the absence SMS from the school
• Sending an email to the school with date of absence, child's name and reason for
  absence
• Sending a hand written note into the office on the day your child returns to school.
  Please include your name, you child's name, date of absence and reason for absence
• Completing an 'Absentee Form' in the SZapp App

If your child will be absent for more than one day, you will receive an SMS each day unless you specify the date range of their absence in your response.  

If your child will be absent for more than 5 school days, please complete an application for extended leave - travel and return the application to school. This form is located on our website under About our School - Notes

Parents must provide a verbal or written explanation for absences to the school within 7 days from the first day of any period of absence.

Where an explanation has not been received within the 7-day timeframe, the school will record the absence as unjustified on the student's record.

Halogen National Young Leaders Day

LEADERSHIP GROWTH

The Senior Leadership Team and Student Representative Council attended the Halogen National Young Leaders Day conference at the International Convention Centre in Darling Harbour on Tuesday 7th March. School Captains Lorretta S and Branden C shared the stage with Bondi Rescue’s Anthony ‘Harries’ Carroll, who spoke about optimism amidst adversity. Students also listened to leadership talks from biomedical engineer Dr Jordan Nguyen, former Australian Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett, and music journalist and radio host Maz Compton.

International Women's Day

On Wednesday 8th March, 2023, a select group of students had the opportunity to attend the International Women's Day conference at Hawkesbury Valley Crown Plaza. The students along with the peers from local schools, enjoyed a light morning tea and refreshments, as they listened to inspirational talks on, creating a gender equal future and embracing equity for all. Speakers included, Melissa Stubbings (Merana) Annukina Ward (MYAN NSW) and, Hawkesbury Young Citizen of the Year, Emily Lowe.

Female students, along with staff were also invited to the International Women's Day breakfast in the Hall. Staff and students enjoyed some light snacks and refreshments. It gives an opportunity to celebrate the female students and staff here at Hawkesbury High School. #EmbraceEquity

Parent Teacher Interviews for Years 7 - 12

Interviews will be held on Tuesday 2nd May 2023 in the school hall between 4.00pm and 7.00pm

INTERVIEW ARRANGEMENTS

Parent teacher interviews will now be booked through the Parent Portal only. Bookings will open on the Monday 24^th April being, week 1 in term 2.

If you have not yet created an account, please refer to the letter you will have received in term one 2023 with your individual access code and register for your access.

Please log on and book an interview with your son/daughters teachers. This all must be completed before Monday the 1^st of May.

Please log on to the Internet and register for access to our Parent Portal here:

https://hawkesburyhs.sentral.com.au/portal2/#!/login

Please note if an appointment is not booked through the parent portal the teacher may be unavailable for any interviews at that time.

PLEASE REMEMBER APPOINTMENTS MUST BE BOOKED THROUGH THE PARENT PORTAL ONLY.

Please contact the school with any queries or for your access code.

We look forward to meeting you at our Parent/Teacher evening.

Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation Presentation

On Tuesday 28 March, staff, students and community members listened to a presentation about Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation. Uncle Michael and Uncle Willie shared their experiences with students about what it meant to be a part of an institution, their personal resilience and how their corporation is sharing information to enact change. Community members also had an opportunity to ask the Uncles any questions and have real life feedback. Hawkesbury High School is extremely grateful for their time and willingness to share. Thank you - Didjurigura.

Permission Notes and Payments

School Bytes offers our parents and carers the flexibility to give permission for activities and make payments any time of the day or night. 

Our statement of accounts will continue to be emailed directly to parents/carers via email.

Permission notes will be emailed to parents/carers with an online consent link and payment link (if applicable). Parents and carers have the option to give permission and make payment via this email link sent from the school.

All activities can be seen and permission given in the School Bytes parent Portal. The School Bytes portal also allows parents/carers to make multiple payments at once via the Service NSW payment gateway. 

Please see the below link that outlines the parent guides in School Bytes.

Open Girls Netball team

RUNNERS UP

Congratulations to our Open Girls Netball team who competed in the Macquarie Cup Carnival on Friday March 17. The girls played phenomenally all day long in extremely hot conditions walking away with wins against Colo, Richmond, Windsor, Crestwood, Glenwood, Rouse Hill and Kellyville. Special mention to Jacinta, Laura, Anna and Ashlee who were selected for the Probables v Possibles match at the end of day. This saw Jacinta selected into the Macquarie Zone for the upcoming Sydney West Carnival.

Year 9 Industrial Technology - Timber Cheese Boards

Our Year 9 students have been busy designing and creating some wonderful cheeseboards during class. Well done to Year 9 on your wonderful results.

Year 12 Work Studies Fundraiser

Year 12 Work Studies BBQ fundraiser was a great success on Thursday Week 8. The 4 students of our class worked hard in the 37 degree heat to provide a delicious lunch to the students of our school. Our class did a Team Enterprise Project which has allowed us to now purchase items to work to improve a part of our school environment. Thank you to all those who purchased something from our stall. Special thank you to our extra volunteers who lent a hand on the day- Ms Testone and the extra Year 12 students, especially our boys on the BBQ, Cody and Neven, cooking sausages in the hot weather.

Harmony Day Celebrations

Students acknowledged Harmony Day on March 24, by wearing orange and celebrating cultural diversity within our school population by creating flags to recognise differences in our heritage which ultimately enrich our school community.

Community Announcements