Lessons are starting earlier Term 2 As of Monday, 7 May lessons will start at 8.30am each day of the week, and will finish at 2.30pm, instead of 2.40pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Lateness to school will result in students missing out on learning and not just roll call.

At a staff meeting this week staff were introduced to the Academy Roll Marking software and agreed generally that it will be a more efficient way of noting student absence than the current procedures, including roll call.

There will be no roll call at the beginning of each day, from Monday 7 May, with class rolls being marked every period electronically by class teachers.

I urge parents to note the changes to school routine, commencing on Monday 7 May, and ensure that their child is at school on time and ready to commence learning, in time for Period 1 commencing at 8.30am.

Absentee notes can be placed in the collection box at the front office. Please ensure you have your child’s full name on the note.

School Attendance

One of the most important things you can do to ensure your child has a bright future is to ensure they go to school everyday and get there on time. It sounds simple but is so true.

The correlation between school attendance and children’s achievement levels is well established. The more time students spend at school, the more likely they are to experience school success.

Conversely, according to a report from the Victorian Auditor General, students who are regularly absent from school are at great risk of dropping out of school early, and of experiencing long term unemployment.

Missing a few minutes each day may not seem like a big deal but your child may be missing more than you realise if he or she is continually late. It’s reassuring to know that you increase their chances of success by making sure they turn up to school every day, and of course regular school attendance also helps kids prepare for the workforce, where it will be expected they turn up each day work-ready. The real world is unforgiving of those who stay away with NO EXCUSE. Transition Success At the start of 2012 a Year 11 student enrolled at Kanahooka High School. Robyn had a clear desire to leave school and find work in the Child Care Industry. Not an easy task in the current climate. Despite the difficulties she was determined. On one of her first days at school she sought assistance in finding work experience. Work experience was found at a local childcare centre and at the end of the work experience week to her credit received a rave review while also juggling school work and part time work. Unfortunately there was no

opportunity for a traineeship at this centre but a few weeks after attended another centre for an interview and week’s trial for a potential traineeship. Robyn proved herself through her exceptional punctuality and her willingness to learn and work additional hours without being asked. Due to her work ethic she was successful in impressing the owner and she has now left Kanahooka High to complete a traineeship in Child Care and start a successful career in the industry.

She would not have been successful if it was not for her motivation and willingness to get stuck in and a have a go. Kanahooka High wishes her all the success in her career.

Students wishing to find work experience, work or an alternative path of study and work should speak to either the School Careers Advisers Ms Phelan, Transition Adviser, Mr Banasiak or Mr R Mar.

Mr Banasiak Transition Adviser

The Kanahooka Outreach Program in Room 501 Kanahooka High School, in partnership with Karabar Distance Education Centre, now operates an educational Outreach Program. This program is designed to assist those students who find difficulty in attending and contributing to mainstream school. Another large group that the program supports is that of pregnant and parenting young people.

Students admitted to the program have an individual education plan (IEP) developed which includes enrolment in distance education, work placements and vocational education courses.

Further support is supplied in the areas of social development and living skills.

Although the program has only been operating this year, indications are that it has started to deliver a wide range of positive outcomes, some expected and planned for and some totally unexpected.

Teachers on the program currently implement IEP’s for 26 students, all whom are dual enrolled at Karabar Distance Education School in Queanbeyan and Kanahooka High School.

The Outreach Program has three full time staff and two part time teachers, one of whom is a specialist in vocational education placements.

Reconciliation Art Comp A group of Year 8 students worked on designing and creating a poster for a competition. The theme

for this year was “Our Place”. Our students discussed what reconciliation means to us as a school and community.

Ideas were drawn up and a design was agreed on. Many lunch times were spent in the art room working towards a piece we should all be proud of. Further information on the outcome of the competition in weeks to come.

Ms Abarcia

ANZAC DAY The Dapto Annual RSL sub branch ANZAC day

march was held on Sunday 22 April. Six SRC members proudly represented Kanahooka High School and marched

alongside war veterans and other organisations from the Dapto/Kanahooka area. The parade proceeded along the highway with police escort and finished at the memorial opposite Dapto Railway Station. A wreath was donated by the P&C and laid during the service.

Kana KaresKana Kares Kanahooka High School Email: kanahooka-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

PO Box 302, Dapto NSW 2530 Web: www.kanahooka-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

Phone: 4261 4011 Fax: 4261 4700 Term 2 - Week 2 4 May 2012 KANAHOOKA HIGH SCHOOL IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE DAPTO LEARNING COMMUNITY

UPCOMING EVENTS Monday 7 May

• New Bell Times Commence

Monday 8:30 - 2:40pm Tues, Wed and Fri 8:30 - 2:30pm Thursday - Sport day 8:30 - 2:20pm

Tuesday 8 May

• Merit Assembly

Year 9 - 12 9.30 - 10:30am Year 7 - 8 12:00 - 1:00pm

• Careers Expo

Wednesday 9 May

• Zone Cross Country Carnival

• Year 10 Start Smart Bank Talks

• P&C Meeting 7:00pm

Monday 14 May

• Year 7 Vaccination

Tuesday 15 - Thursday 17 May

• NAPLAN - Year 7 & 9

Thursday 17 May

• Careers Snapshot BHP Steelworks Tour

Friday 18 May

• Athletics Carnival

• NAPLAN Catch Up Day

SVDP Breakfast Club Every Tuesday 7.30am in Room 703

Cross Country - Kiama We had a record number of entries this year, especially in the older age groups, both males and females. Congratulations to all those stu-dents completing the challenge at their own pace. Special congratulations to those below who are the age champions and top 3 in each age group. Thanks to all staff who made the day a success, as officials or competitors. 12 Year Girls - Kiana Elford, Jessica Barnes, Tiarne McNamara 13 Year Girls - Emily Ryan, Rachel Hockey, Emma Jai Hopkinson 14 Year Girls - Ebony-Rose Allan, Shaina-Lea Johnson, Ella Soderlund 15 Year Girls - Kayla Stork, Kaitlyn Kelly, Yemaya Roughley-Hutchison 17 Year Girls - Elise Gersbach, Shannen Self, Katie Hockey 18 Year Girls - Sharna Dare, Emma Koplick, Kyah White

12 Year Boys - Joshua McNamara, Lachlan Smart, Jack Aish 13 Year Boys - Jordan Paterek, Harley Bock, Travis Tyrrell 14 Year Boys - Kyle Moore, Kevin Mansell, Jayde Cooley-Anderson 15 Year Boys - Joshua Childs-Earl, Tayler Stock, Cameron Cooper 16 Year Boys - Brennon Yates, Wylie Myers, Dean Pender 17 Year Boys - Chad Matagi, Shaun Sperring, Grant Macdonald, Brock Phillips 18 Year Boys - Gareth Jenkins, Jacob O'Connor, Travis Taylor

Scrapheap Adventure Thank you to everyone who supported the Scrapheap Adventure Ride held over Easter. The Small Motor Maintenance Group helped restore a postie bike during

Term 1 which was ridden to Mt Kosciuszko to raise money for Down Syndrome NSW. Team Kanahooka left on the postie bike with our support crew on Thursday afternoon and arrived at the venue late on Saturday. We had a few problems along the way with the bike involved in a few minor crashes but the postie bike travelled well over 500km on mostly dirt roads and performed brilliantly. Team Kanahooka raised approximately $2,000 and the event raised over $67,000. Special thanks goes to Mrs Nyman who drove the support vehicle. Next year will see the event travel to Bourke and we look forward to Team Kanahooka entering another postie bike to make the trip into the outback.

Hospitality Catering Function On Monday 30 April Year 11 and 12 VET Hospitality students catered for 140 lady bowlers from all over the region at Dapto Citizens Bowling Club Gala Day. Students prepared morning tea and a luncheon which was very much appreciated by the club and participants on the day.

Students involved were able to further develop the food preparation and styling skills they use in

the classroom and also worked as a team to complete all tasks efficiently. Students were able

to use a semi-commercial kitchen and fine tune their time management skills.

All students who participated enjoyed interacting with the

senior members of our community and the co-ordinator of the program, Mrs Darlene Woods, expressed her appreciation to the school and individual students. The behaviour and professionalism shown by KHS students was exemplary and a credit to the school.

The current Year 11 VET Hospitality students will also be catering for the Dapto Citizens Bowling Club Christmas function later in the year.

All students who participated should be proud of their contribution.

Ms Evitt, VET Hospitality Teacher

Visual Arts As part of work on literacy in Visual Arts Year 7 were asked to write a poem on dragons. D irty dangerous dragons R oll around in the dirt A nd they breath fire when angry G ood dragons eat gooey slime O n Saturday all the dragons owned the caves N ight time is the best time for the dragons to go to the nuclear plant and glow

By Emily Camilleri Year 7

Last term in Visual Arts we learnt about mythology and dragons. We designed our own dragon, drew it and lino carved it using really sharp tools. We then printed it by rolling ink with a roller and pressing it on to paper. We did an additional 4 prints. After this we picked our least successful print and added colour to it. Thanks Ms Abarcia.

By Blake Dingle

Wollongong 2022 Exhibition Wollongong City Council are about to put the Wollongong 2022 plans on public exhibition. The plans will guide Council, businesses and the community for the next ten years through our community vision, goals and key projects.

For the first time, Council has created a children and young people friendly document to encourage everyone in our community to get involved.

The exhibition period runs from Thursday, 26 April until 24 May 2012.

Parents - Are you keen to help your child with their career choices?

You can help by attending the public session of the Illawarra Credit Union Careers Expo on Tuesday 8 May. Entry to the public session is free.

The expo is open to the public:

Tuesday 8 May 4.00 - 6.30pm Hockey Stadium, Waples Road Unanderra.

Interested Year 10, 11 and 12 students will be attending during school time, but are also encouraged to go back to the Expo in the public session with the support of family members.

Ms Phelan, Careers Adviser

Would $500 help cover education expenses? By joining Saver Plus you could receive $500 to help pay for educational items including text books, computers, uniforms, camps, tuition and subject costs.

Many families are already taking advantage of the Saver Plus program and are saving for educational expenses.

To be eligible you must:

• be a parent or guardian of a student

attending school, or be intending to attend vocational training yourself

• have a current health care card or pension

card, and

• have some income from work (includes

casual & cash work)

To find out more contact Saver Plus on 1300 610 355 or SMS your name and postcode to 1300 610 355.