Bayala - Term 4 Week 5 2024

'Bayala'

Welcome to our Newsletter 'Bayala'. 

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

Our Vision

Upcoming Events

Term 4

• Year 12 Formal - Friday 15 November 2024
• Project 10 - Monday 18 November to Friday 29 November 2024
  
• International Men's Day - Tuesday 19 November 2024
• U15s Trial Rugby League Game vs Richmond High School - Wednesday 20 November 2024
• Year 7 Orientation Day - Tuesday 3 December 2024
• White Card Course - Term 4 - Friday 6 December 2024
• Presentation Day - Monday 9 December 2024
• Year 10 Formal - Thursday 12 December 2024
• Good Vibes Fest - Friday 13 December 2024
• Rewards Excursion Raging Waters- Monday 16 December 2024
• End of Year Activities - Tuesday 17 & Wednesday 18 December 2024
• Last day of school - Wednesday 18 December 2024
• Staff Development Days (Pupil Free) - Thursday 19 & Friday 20 December 2024

What's On at HHS - Additional Information

Police Liaison Talk

When: Tuesday 19 November

Who: Year 10 in Project 10

About the talk: Operation Pivot is the NSW Police Youth Command anti-violence strategy. The presentation at schools gets students to talk about issues they might face in their school or community and allows police to educate students, get rid of some misconceptions or knowledge gaps, and hopefully in turn might assist some students in "pivoting" their thinking and behaviour

International Men's Day

When: Tuesday 19 November

Who: Male students and staff

Location: Turtle outside Administration Office

Information: To collect a sausage sandwich, each student will need to select a pre-printed pledge, and put their pledge in a pledge box before collecting the bread for their sausage sandwich. The theme for 2024 is 'Positive Male Role Models', so the pre-printed pledges would read similar to the following:

• I understand positive male role models always show the courage to ask for help when they're not OK. 
• I understand positive male role models always respect women. 
• I understand positive male role models always ask for consent.
• I understand positive male role models always prioritise their health and wellbeing. 
• I understand positive male role models always encourage their mates to be kind, honest and ambitious. 
• I understand positive male role models always speak up when they see or hear racism, sexism or homophobia. 
• I understand positive male role models always use words, rather than violence, to express their anger or sadness. 

Year 7, 2025 Orientation Day

Orientation Day for incoming Year 7 students will be held on Tuesday 3 December 2024.

Details are as follows:

Where: School Hall

Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm

Enquiries: Ms Cullen - 2025 Year 7/8 Stage Advisor

Information for Students:

Students are to wear their full primary school uniform and are also encouraged to bring a bottle of water, notepad and pen.

Welcome Assembly:

Please arrive by 9:00am. The formal assembly and parent information session will commence at 9:15am. At the end of the assembly students will be collected by our Peer Support Leaders and staff to participate in orientation activities.

Our enthusiastic Year 9 Student Peer Support Leaders will lead their groups in a series of fun activities aimed at familiarising new students with our school.

Rewards Excursion

When: Monday 16 December

Time: Arrive at school 8am for an 8.15am departure, return by 2.50pm

Who: In order to attend the rewards excursion, students from the winning house and the top 5 point earners for the remaining houses, need to demonstrate that they have followed the school's STAR values and expectations throughout the year. 

Good Vibes Fest

When: Friday 13 December

Time: Lunch into Period 5

What: More information will follow closer to the event.

Principal's Update

Dear School Community,

As we are halfway through Term 4, I want to take a moment to reflect on the remarkable journey our students have undertaken this year. Learning has been at the heart of our school, and I am incredibly proud of how our students have embraced challenges and sought to expand their knowledge and skills. Our dedicated teaching staff has worked tirelessly to create engaging and inspiring learning environments, ensuring that every student feels valued and empowered to achieve their best.

This term, we have seen our student leaders shine brightly. Their commitment to fostering a positive school culture and supporting their peers has been truly inspiring. I encourage all students to continue to take on leadership roles, whether big or small, as these experiences help build confidence and resilience.

In the realm of sports, our students have demonstrated outstanding teamwork and sportsmanship. It has been thrilling to see our athletes represent the school in various competitions, showcasing their hard work and dedication. Let’s continue to cheer them on as they strive for excellence both on and off the field.

 In reflecting  on the challenges and triumphs of the past term, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the exceptional dedication and hard work of our teaching staff. Their commitment to fostering a positive learning environment and support for our students' academic and emotional growth do not go unnoticed.

As we wrap up this term, let’s embrace the final weeks with enthusiasm and determination. Together, we can make this a memorable conclusion to the school year.

Mrs Nicole Martirena

From The Deputies

8C, 9S and 10S Applications

The application process for 8C, 9S and 10S 2025 will be explained to students this week. Mrs Shortland will speak to students in Years 7, 8 and 9.

If students would like to apply, they will complete a questionnaire and the panel will also check for teacher recommendation.

The questionnaire will be due by the end of Week 7 (29 November).

If you have any queries please contact Mrs Shortland.

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 are the only school jumpers to be worn (excluding our Senior jackets / jerseys).
• 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), 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.    

Mrs Kerrie Shortland                                                                                                                                                                                        Deputy Principal

At Hawkesbury High School, the safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priorities. Considering this commitment, we are currently undertaking a comprehensive review of our security measures across the school site. This initiative aims to identify areas for improvement and enhance the overall safety of our learning environment. Over the past few months, the school leadership team, in collaboration with department of education security experts and assets, have been assessing our existing security platforms. We have been looking at various aspects, including access control, surveillance technology, communication protocols, as well as emergency response procedures. Our goal is to ensure that we have robust and effective systems in place to protect our students and staff. We are considering several potential improvements, including:

1. Enhanced Surveillance: Evaluating the installation of cameras in key areas to monitor activity and deter any unauthorised access.
2. Access Control: Implementing stricter access protocols to ensure that only authorised individuals can enter the school grounds during and after school hours.
3. Emergency Preparedness: Reviewing and updating our emergency response plans, including regular drills to ensure that staff and students are well-prepared for any situation.
4. Community Partnerships: Strengthening our collaboration with local law enforcement and emergency services to improve our response capabilities and safety measures.

We understand that safety is a shared responsibility, and we are committed to working closely with our community to create a secure environment for our students to learn and thrive.

Mr Benn McEvoy                                                                                                                                                                                         Deputy Principal

Nan Tien Temple Excursion

Year 12 Society and Culture students visited the Nan Tien Temple to gain insight into Buddhist beliefs, customs and rituals over two days. This opportunity will help them further understand their study of the unit “Belief Systems and Ideologies”

Guide Dogs Program

Star Class are very fortunate to be participating in the Guide Dogs NSW/ACT Positive Paws Project for term 4. They have been very eager to learn all that they can in how to train Guide Dog pups by completing set activities that assist in socialising and developing the confidence of the Guide Dog puppies. Pawesome effort Star Class!

Richmond High Careers Market

Students had an amazing time learning about different career paths at the Richmond High Careers Market! Thank you to all involved in showing our students what they may choose to do in the future.

Star Class News

Student Achievements

ACYP NSW Advocate for Children and Young People

To celebrate Children’s Week, children and young people were invited to submit a drawing, painting, photo or digital illustration that showed us how they connect with and enjoy the environment around them. ACYP NSW were so excited to receive nearly 400 submissions to the competition, which made the Advocates job of selecting just nine finalists very difficult! ACYP NSW want to give a big round of applause to everyone who participated, it was a pleasure looking through every single submission. 

Congratulations to Year 8 student, Alison Watt who received an impressive 3rd place in the 12 - 18 years category. Well done Alison!

Red Room Poetry

Hawkesbury High School's entries have officially contributed to planting a native tree in the POEM FOREST on Dharawal Land in the Wollongong LGA!

You can now find our poem, The Panda's Time by Hunter Hayne (Year 10), published on the Red Room Poetry website: Read it here! https://redroompoetry.org/student-poems/the-pandas-time/

We’re in the running for over $5,000 in POEM FOREST prizes alongside youth voices from all across Australia! Congratulations to our finalists, Hunter Hayne, Tane Arnold-Warne and Ruby-Rose Knott. Please take a moment to explore the finalists from Hawkesbury High School and their poems and share them with family and friends. Every poem helps make a difference!

Fantasia Showstoppers Aladdin JR Production 

We are thrilled to announce that some of our talented students, Elissa Lindsay and Tabitha Broughton, performed in the Fantasia Showstoppers Aladdin JR production in October. Congratulations ladies, you are representing our school with pride!

Year 12 Major Works

Congratulations to Jack Miller and Catherine Sultana who both had their Industrial Technology Timber and Furniture major projects nominated for possible entry into the SHAPE exhibition. SHAPE showcases outstanding major projects by HSC Design and Technology, Industrial Technology and Textiles and Design students in NSW. Well done to you both!!

CHS Athletics Competition - Sports Star

Congratulations to Tamara in Year 9 who competed in the Combined High Schools competition earlier this month. She had a great comp, just missing out on medals, coming fourth in both long jump and 90m hurdles and did personal bests in both!! Tamara also achieved a qualifying time for Australian championships in her hurdles final. Congrats Tamara! You represented your school with pride!

Our Futsal Team

Our Hawkesbury High's Futsal team competed on October 15 and have represented our school with pride! 

Year 7 Netball Gala Day

Despite only having 6 players, our Year 7 Netball gala day team worked hard through the mid court in every game, had great communication and determination and as a result won all 4 of their games. They also had lots of fun getting to know each other better and making new friends across the Macquarie Zone. We would like to also extend a big thank you to Olivia, Amy and Jacinta of year 10 for umpiring, coaching and managing our team. Your commitment to developing your leadership skills is commendable and thank you for giving back to our school.

Girls Rugby - Round Robin Gala Day

Congratulations to the Girls Rugby League team who competed in the Round Robin competition at Winmalee High School on Tuesday 3 September 2024. The Girls Beat Blaxland High 28-12 in the Grand Final to win the Blue Mountains Gala Day Competition. Amazing job girls! You represented our school with pride!

White Ribbon Cup

White Ribbon Australia is an organisation that raises awareness of violence against women. The White Ribbon Cup is a friendly soccer competition between local schools at Windsor High School to promote the work of White Ribbon Australia. Despite some close results not going our way, the team represented the school well and played some great soccer!

Inspire Dance Competition

On Monday 23 September, our dance ensemble competed at the Inspire Dance Competition. The girls gained a 3rd place in one of their sections. Congratulations to all involved. A special thanks to Keira Kwiez of Year 12 who has been working with our dance ensembles this year and choregraphing their routines. Awesome job ladies!

Wear It Purple Day

Hawkesbury High School celebrated Wear It Purple Day on Friday 30 August. Students enjoyed a wide range of creative and collaborative purple-themed activities to show their support for young people who experience feelings of sadness, isolation and shame due to their gender and/or sexuality. Sincere thank you to Warwick and Lauren from headspace Hawkesbury, and Hannah from HART youth for sharing their time and resources with our students throughout our celebration.

Remembrance Day

Hawkesbury High School captains Paige Barlow and Jack Roberts attended the Windsor and District RSL Sub-Branch Remembrance Day commemoration service at McQuade Park, Windsor, on Monday 11 November, to remember the courage, endurance, initiative, discipline and mateship of Australia’s First World War servicemen and women, and honour all Australians who have lost their lives defending our nation.

Commemorative Address written by SRC Coordinator and HSIE teacher Mr Brady in consultation with school captains Paige Barlow and Jack Roberts.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, veterans and their families.

I would like to respectfully acknowledge the Dharug people, the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet today. I would like to pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, for they hold the traditions, cultures, memories and hopes of Aboriginal Australia. I would also like to extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here today as well as all the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who served.

One hundred and six years ago, a signature in French Marshall Ferdinand Foch’s railway carriage formalised the armistice between Germany and the Allies which brought an end to the First World War- four years of relentless fighting, merciless bloodshed, and ever-present fear on the front line and the home front. What was referred to as ‘the war that will end war’ by British author H.G. Wells in August 1914, soon became known as the Great War- not for its grandeur, but instead its vast reach of devastation around the world.  

Throughout those four years, our nation- with a population of no more than 5 million at the time- saw 416, 809 men enlist to fight alongside the Allies. Our military personnel were initially deployed to German New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, and Egypt in the latter months of 1914. Within a year, the newly trained Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, affectionately known as ANZACs, had fought valiantly on the Gallipoli peninsula. After departing the Dardanelles, our troops continued to embody the ANZAC spirit- courage, endurance, initiative, discipline and mateship- in battles across the Western Front and the Middle East. 

Over 600 Hawkesbury locals enlisted to fight in the First World War. Amongst them were William Teale, who described helping a mate in the trenches after a shell burst right near them in a letter to his Riverstone-based parents from France in December 1916: ‘I dressed his wound at once then carried him to a doctor, under heavy shell fire. I thought my time had come, but I put plenty of heart and confidence in myself and I pulled through all right’. Private Arthur Norris reconnected with Charlie Stewart, from Cornwallis, in a hospital in Mitcham, England, and reflected on their meeting in a letter sent from England to his Windsor-based parents in July 1917: ‘He had been wounded in both ears and on the back. I had not seen him since that day we went to Wiseman’s Ferry for a picnic in 1909. I did not know him, and asked where he came from, he said ‘Windsor’. When I said I came from Windsor, he recognised me. I have seen a little of the world now, but there is a trip I want to take more than any other, and that is to dear old Australia’. Private Charles Clifford described the impact of the war in a letter to his Windsor-based brother Henry from France in August 1917: ‘I have seen more the last 2 years than the rest of my life. Perhaps I will be grey when I come back, but a sadder and wiser man, I hope. Summer is still with us, and the weather is fine so far. We often go for a swim. I tell you it is fine to have a good old splash, it reminds me of the old Hawkesbury’. These extracts, published in World War One- Hawkesbury Heroes Volume II, demonstrate that while our local troops fought on the other side of the world, the qualities, comradery and comforts embedded in our Hawkesbury region fuelled their bravery, tenacity, and inner-strength amidst circumstances which led Private Clifford to reflect, ‘what he goes through here, would kill him in civil life’.

Local women also exemplified the qualities of bravery, tenacity and inner strength throughout the war, volunteering for service in auxiliary roles such as cooks, interpreters, and munitions workers. Nurses from the Hawkesbury district who served in the Australian Army Nursing Service included Nurse Hendren, Sister Dickson, Sister Louise Young, Nurse Vida Greentree, Matron Alice Mary Cooper and Matron Julia Bligh Johnson.

On the home front, Hawkesbury residents showed unwavering admiration, care and compassion for our troops. This support was evident in letters sent to the Windsor and Richmond Gazette newspaper, fundraisers hosted by the Choral Society, farewells and welcome home gatherings at the Windsor School of Arts, and the provision of training for returned soldiers at the Hawkesbury Agricultural College.

One hundred and six years ago, when Australian war correspondent Charles Bean wrote ‘and so it is peace’, over 60, 000 Australian men who were alive four years prior had been killed in the First World War, and a further 156, 000 wounded, gassed or taken prisoner.

Since November 11^th 1919, Australians have honoured King George V’s request for ‘a complete suspension of all our normal activities’ at ‘the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month’ so that ‘in perfect stillness, the thoughts of everyone’ remember the ‘Glorious Dead’.

One hundred and five years later, we stand together to remember Australia’s First World War heroes, as well as the more than 102, 000 Australians who have lost their lives defending our nation in more than two dozen military conflicts since 1860.

Undoubtably, one of the everlasting legacies of the First World War is the unbreakable resilience of the Hawkesbury people, and the reminder that war cannot eradicate love. This sentiment was evident in the Windsor and Richmond Gazette on November 15^th 1918, which reflected on celebrations of the armistice in McQuade Park: ‘Good old Windsor did its part well in the peace rejoicings. The town let itself go. The populace was wild with delight. The park was beflagged, and the rotunda lit up by electric arcs’.

Lest we forget.

30th NSW Schools Constitutional Convention

Hawkesbury High School’s Legal Studies student, Jack Roberts, was chosen from applicants across the state to attend the 30th NSW Schools Constitutional Convention, held at NSW Parliament. Jack joined 100 fellow students at the NSW Parliament's Legislative Council Chamber, to engage in collaborative discussions and insightful debates about democracy and the Constitution. The Hon. Ben Franklin MLC, President of the NSW Legislative Council, welcomed and praised students for their active involvement and dedication to learning. We’re incredibly proud of Jack for his selection, participation and outstanding representation of our school! Photo acknowledgment: The Legislative Council Chamber, Parliament of NSW, with The Hon. Ben Franklin MLC and Professor Emerita Anne Twomey AO, University of Sydney, alongside student delegates at the 30th NSW Schools Constitutional Convention.

Festival of New Ideas

The Hawkesbury High School Senior Leadership Team 24/25 attended Hawkesbury City Council's Festival of New Ideas Youth Summit at Memorial Hall, WSU Hawkesbury Campus, on Thursday 7 November and Friday 8 November. Our student leaders applied a range of leadership skills, including communication, collaboration, problem-solving and creativity, in workshops promoting self-expression, advocacy, and community engagement. Students also engaged with a range of youth organisations, including Youth Action, headspace and HCOS, as well as Hawkesbury City Council councillors, including Nathan Zamprogno.

Agriculture Spring Additions

Welcome to the world 

New additions to the flock include 3 new ewes and 2 rams.

The naming of the was determined by the Year 10 agriculture class. And all names start with a W.

So welcome to: Wilbur, Willow, Wendy, Widget and Wippa

Year 10 Coffee Club

Year 10 students Sienna Burke, Chloe Van Eyk, Bianca Dunn, Scarlett Small and Jordan Thompson have been learning how to make Cafe standard hot chocolate and coffee. They invited a family member to enjoy a hot beverage with them last week. Thank you to Ms Harbottle and Danielle McKelvie for their support with training us all and in the kitchen. We look forward to these students being able to teach the next Coffee Club students.

Singing for the Silent - Sydney Women's Fund

Students and teachers gathered in the Hall for Hawkesbury High School's 2nd Annual Singing For The Silent charity event during  Period 5 on Thursday 26 September. The Senior Leadership Team, and a host of Hawkesbury High School staff, delivered wonderfully choreographed lip sync performances to an incredibly joyous and enthusiastic audience. Thank you to our entire Hawkesbury High School community for your support with this event! All money raised from the event was donated to the Sydney Women's Fund, which is currently overseeing its Urgent Domestic and Sexual Violence appeal. We raised $260.00 and this donation was generously doubled via the matched funding program. 

Year 12 Graduation

Our Hawkesbury High School Year 12 graduates have officially bid farewell to their high school journey! We're so proud of all their hard work, resilience, and achievements they have demonstrated throughout the past 13 years of their learning journey. Here's to new adventures, lifelong friendships, and bright futures! We wish each of our graduates all the best with their future endeavours - we know you will do amazing in any path that you choose. Please see our facebook page for more photos. 

World Teacher Day

On October 25, we celebrated World Teacher Day! We took a moment to appreciate the incredible teachers at not only Hawkesbury High School, but all schools, who inspire, guide, and shape our futures. Your dedication and passion for education make a difference in students’ lives every day. Thank you for all the hard work you put in. We are grateful for you!

Safe School Environment