Bayala - Term 1 Week 4 2024

'Bayala'

Welcome to our Newsletter 'Bayala'. 

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

Our Vision

Upcoming Events

TERM 1 2024

• Year 7 Great Aussie Bush Camp - Monday to Wednesday 26 to 28 February 2024
• Year 7 Vaccinations  -  Friday 1 March 2024
• Dental Clinic Visit - Monday 11 March 2024
• Year 7 Meet the Teacher - Tuesday 12 March 2024
• Open Night  -  Tuesday 12 March 2024
• NAPLAN - Wednesday 13 March to Monday 25 March 2024

Term 2 2024

• Year 10 Vaccinations - Friday 21 June 2024
• Year 10 Subject Selection Evening - Tuesday 25 June 2023
• Year 12 Trial Examinations - Wednesday 26 June to Friday 5 July 2024

Principal's Update

I would like to welcome all students, parents and community members to a new school year. I would also like to warmly welcome all new students and parents, particularly our Year 7 students and all other students who have joined us for the first time.

Every new school year brings a hope and expectation that things will be better than last year. We all want what is best for our children, and every year we strive to raise the bar, make improvements, challenge our students and help them get ready for their chosen paths in life. As a school, we have come a long way in the last few years, despite the many challenges we have faced as a community, and the path to improvement and high standards will continue in 2024.

I am pleased to report that our Year 12 students did exceptionally well in the 2023 HSC. There has been a significant improvement in HSC results since 2017, with our school in the top 25% in State for value added, but last year’s HSC also saw a significant improvement in top 3 band results, with 71% of students who sat HSC exams getting a result in the top 3 bands. On top of that, 37% of students achieved a result in the top 2 bands, with Band 6 results in English, Legal Studies and Society and Culture. Not a single student received a Band 1 result. This is an outstanding achievement by students, teachers and parents, especially if we consider the many challenges this year group faced over the last few years.

The school has finally published its updated Discipline Policy to reflect the Department’s Behaviour Policy which takes effect from the beginning of Term 1, 2024. You may recall that there was a delay in the introduction of the revised Discipline Policy following a change of government in March of  last year.  Parents, staff and community members also had opportunity last year to attend the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) meeting where feedback was provided on the planned changes to the Behaviour Policy. The school’s revised Discipline Policy – Behaviour Support and Management Plan can be found on the school’s website on https://hawkesbury-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-our-school/rules-and-policies.html

As part of the Department’s Behaviour Policy 2024, the procedures for suspension and expulsion from school have also been updated. One of the changes includes grounds for immediate suspension from school if a student is in possession of, or uses vapes or e-cigarettes. I urge all parents to be vigilant and ensure that their children do not bring vapes to school. We are now aware of the incredibly harmful impact of vapes and e-cigarettes, and it’s critical that our young people get the message that vaping is unacceptable and that it will not be tolerated. For their own good.

This year the school received additional wellbeing funding to support families who may be struggling with meeting the costs of uniform, elective course fees, camps or excursions. I urge all parents who may be struggling with the above to confidentially contact the school by either speaking to me directly or by filling out the School Assistance Form which can be accessed through this link:

https://hawkesbury-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/supporting-our-students/school-assistance.html. The School Assistance form is also available on the school’s website. While the funding is limited, it is a welcome boost in support that can be provided to families that may be struggling financially.

With our continued focus on learning and student wellbeing, the school will introduce The Resilience Project in 2024. The Resilience Project is a proven program that is committed to teaching positive mental health strategies to prevent mental ill-health and build young people’s capacity to deal with adversity. Teachers and students will engage in weekly lessons and activities around the key principles of Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness (GEM), and Emotional Literacy to build their resilience.

More information about The Resilience Project can be found by following this link:

The Resilience Project. I also urge you to check out TRP@HOME– a site filled with activities for the whole family to help you improve your and your children’s resilience and wellbeing.

I would also like to remind parents that children under the age of 17 must be at school every day, unless they are unwell. On occasion, students may go on family holidays or attend family or cultural events, for example, during the school term. In the event that you are planning to travel during the school term, you must apply for Extended Leave – Travel for your child. This process ensures that all legal requirements are met and that I can, if travel is approved, issue your child with an official Certificate. It is not uncommon that authorities – particularly at airports – ask for these certificates if a school-age child travels during the school term. The Extended Leave – Travel form can be found on the school’s website by following this link: https://hawkesbury-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/about-our-school/notes.html. All forms should be submitted at least 3 weeks prior to the travel date.

Last week you would have received an email about this year’s school contacts titled Who Can I talk To? The leaflet identifies key contacts at the school and who to call in different situations. I hope that you will find this guide useful when contacting the school.

I expect that 2024 will be a year full of new challenges, but I am confident that all parents, students and staff will work together on our journey of continuous improvement.

Igor Maric                                                                                                                                                                                                      Principal

From The Deputies

Open Night

Open Night 2024 will be held on Tuesday 12 March between 5pm and 7pm. A BBQ will be available from 4.30pm.

Members of the local community are invited to come to the school to talk to staff and students, and view classrooms and facilities.  Our student leaders will be conducting tour groups around the school.    

Leaflets advertising Open Night have been distributed to our partner primary schools.       

Uniform

I 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:

• The striped school jacket, school commemorative hoodie 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.
• Non HHS hooded tops (hoodies), a top under a HHS polo shirt, 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 Deputy Principal recess detention.

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

Please consider donating any HHS uniform items that can no longer be worn by your child to the school. These unform items should be in good condition.

Kerrie Shortland                                                                                                                                                                                         Deputy Principal

______________________________________________________________

Literacy

Our strategy to improve literacy outcomes for students at HHS has three tiers universal, targeted and intensive. Universal approaches use the framework of the Hawkesbury Learning Journey – students are explicitly taught the skills to demonstrate understanding, practice critical thinking, and synthesis and evaluate information in all learning areas. We use the learning scaffolds of WALU and MURU to assist students to develop skills in reading and writing. WALU is a writing scaffold that has helped our students improve their writing to demonstrate knowledge, critical thinking and synthesis of ideas.

MURU is a tool to assist students with unpacking a text to improve comprehension and inferential understanding.  

Main Idea: Identifies ideas in a texts or sections of texts.

Inference: Use information and clues to infer from a variety of texts 

Making connections: Link information across and within texts to develop an understanding of the ideas in a text.

Evaluating texts and sources: Explore tools and techniques used to add authority to texts and assess credibility or apply to different situations.

Targeted approaches to improve literacy and numeracy include individualised tutoring and support within the classroom. Tutors help individual students to unpack assessment tasks and examine coursework, when required.

Assessment Booklets

Year 7-10

The assessment schedules provide opportunities for teachers to gather evidence about student achievement in relation to syllabus outcomes. They are designed to clarify student understanding of concepts and promote a deeper understanding.

Year 11 and 12

Assessment booklets have been distributed to senior students. It is important that students familiarise themselves with the assessment policy and requirements of each of their courses. The booklet sets out the weightings of the component assessed in each course, as well as the value and nature of each task        

Assessment booklets can be located on our school’s website under the Learning at our School tab.

Nicole Martirena                                                                                                                                                                                         Deputy Principal

______________________________________________________________

Benn McEvoy                                                                                                                                                                                                Deputy Principal

______________________________________________________________

NAPLAN Online 2024

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point in time
assessment of literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress
through school and life. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual NAPLAN
tests in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and
numeracy. Our school will be participating in NAPLAN Online between 13 March to 25 March
2024.

In preparation for NAPLAN Online, our school will also be participating in practice tests
over the coming weeks.  The practice test is a trial-run and key preparation activity
for NAPLAN Online in March. It is not an assessment of student ability and the tests will not be
marked. Excessive preparation for NAPLAN Online is not recommended. Students can use
the public demonstration site to familiarise themselves with the types of questions and tools
available in the NAPLAN Online tests. If you have any questions about NAPLAN Online,
exemptions or withdrawals, please contact the school.

Swimming Carnival

The school swimming carnival was held on Wednesday 21 February at Richmond Swimming Centre. All students who  attended enjoyed a wonderful day of racing and activities.

The following students were Age Champions

12 Years Age Champion          Girls        Scarlett Noble                                                                                                                  13 Years Age Champion          Girls        Scarlett Bew             Boys           Joel Karberis                                                          14 Years Age Champion          Girls        June Britton             Boys           Wilson Steinbach                                                15 Years Age Champion          Girls        Chelsea Karberis    Boys          Noah Bew                                                              16 Years Age Champion          Girls        Amy Brice                  Boys         Ryan Millard                                                        17 Years Age Champion          Girls        Meika Steinbach      Boys          Ryan Brice

House points were as follows:

Deerubbun                    173                                                                                                                                                                          Erringhi                           78                                                                                                                                                                          Narara                             128                                                                                                                                                                          Willaree                          118        

Commemorative Hoodie Order

7 Star Class

School Bytes Finance Module

School Bytes is the Finance Module used at Hawkesbury High School. School Bytes is a simplified finance system for both families and the school.

The School Bytes portal is available for you to register and begin using:

(Link: https://portal.schoolbytes.education)

What is the School Bytes portal
The School Bytes portal provides flexibility for you to conveniently:
• Make school payments online (including paying for multiple siblings at once)
• Use a family credit to pay for an activity or school contributions
• Download a receipt for payments made
• View all historical payments in one place
• Complete and submit digital permission notes
• View the status of all permission notes
• Request a refund if required
This can be done where you want at any time: day or night.

Through the portal, you will easily be able to download a receipt once a payment has been
made and have access to view all historical payments when needed. Online payments are
processed in real-time and can be viewed by school staff immediately.
While our preference is for payments to be made via the portal, we will still accept payment
via cash, cheque and EFTPOS at the front office before 2.00pm.

Front Office Hours

Please ensure all queries are directed to our Administrative Staff durning the below hours: 

Monday - 8.15am - 3.15pm

Tuesday - 8.15am - 3.15pm

Wednesday - 8.15am - 2.00pm

Thursday - 8.15am - 3.15pm

Friday - 8.15am - 3.15pm

Introducing Schoolzine & the SZapp App

We would like to introduce you to our interactive Parent Communication Platform - Schoolzine. 

Schoolzine allows us to provide our school community with a multi-functional, interactive platform that can be accessed wherever you have internet. At home on your PC, via your mobile or perhaps on your iPad - completely at your convenience.

By installing the SZapp App, parents and carers can receive instant alerts and news feeds, as well as our school newsletter, submit absentee forms and more.

Please view the below 'SZapp Presentation for Parents' powerpoint for instructions on installing the app.

Student Absences

On occasion, your child 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 absent from school 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 away for more than one day, you will receive an SMS each day unless you specify the days of their absence in your response.

If your child will be away 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.

Australian Red Cross Lifebood Visit

Can you spare a bit of time to give blood and change lives? 1 in 3 people in Richmond will need blood, and they need people like you to give it. We’re rolling into town from 18 to 21 March. Don’t forget to pre-book your spot at Lifeblood.com.au, on our app or on 13 14 95.