KEMPSEY HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER PO Box 3268 West Kempsey NSW 2440

Phone 65 626166 Fax 65628570

Email kempsey-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Issue 9, Term 3. 2012.

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Jordan, Bradley and Courtney assembling Lego Robots (More on page 12 )

Lego Robotics and Automation

September Calendar Wed 5 KHS Year 11 & 12 Exams Thurs 6 KHS Year 11 & 12 Exams Fri 7 Year 7 Gala Day

Year 10 Marine Studies to South West Rocks

KHS Year 11 & 12 Exams Sat 8 Debutante Ball at RSL

6 pm for 6.30 pm

Tues 11 AECG Meeting 10.30am Elders Council Building UNE Careers in Health Period 7-8 for Years 9-11 Fri 14 20/20 Cricket Day Thurs 20 Year 12 Slave Day Fri 21 Year 12 Final Assembly &

Lunch

Last Day Term 3

October Calendar

Mon 8 Term 4 resumes

Tues 9 Year 7 – 10 Merit Assembly

Fri 19 Year 7 Vaccinations

Mon 22 to Year 11 SLR Nymboida Wed 24 Camp Thurs 25 to Ag students to Upper Fri Fri 26 Hunter Beef at Scone

Kempsey High School

P&C MEETING

13th September 2012

7.15pm in School Library

Everyone Welcome

Congratulations to

Sean Gilbay

Winner of KHS’s Billy Cart Competition

HOMEWORK AND TUTOR CENTRE

KEMPSEY HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY

3.30pm to 5.00pm

MONDAYS, TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS

ALL STUDENTS WELCOME

Light refreshments available

Help available for assignments, assessment tasks and homework.

Transport is available for out of town students:

TUESDAYS – Armidale Road to Bellbrook

THURSDAYS – Frederickton, Collombatti Road & Clybucca

Parents may need to meet their students at the drop off points.

The centre provides support to any student who is having

difficulties in any subject or those who simply want some extra Help.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Student Leaders As we move towards the HSC exams, the Year 12 student leaders have handed over the reins of student leadership to our new Captains, Vice Captains and Prefects. The induction took place at a formal assembly on Wednesday 15th. August 2012. The outgoing leaders pinned the badges of office on the new leaders before the new leaders recited the pledge. The ceremony was a fitting conclusion to the month long process of nomination and election. A highlight of the process was the excellent presentation of the candidates’ speeches to the school prior to voting on election day. The new student leadership team is: Captains: Sally Evill

and Ricky Sharp Vice Captains: Tiffany Kirkwood

and Riley Sohier. Prefects: Troye Barker, Rachelle Gurney,

Erin James Glenn Miles

Year 10 Interviews The transition coordinator Mr Sinclair and careers teacher, Mr Rix will be interviewing Year 10 students and their parents in the two week period from Monday 27th. August to Friday 7th. September 2012. These interviews have been very well attended in the past because of their value in organising further support for students, developing a plan for a career and helping to make decisions about courses to study in years 11 and 12. Any parent who would like to have an interview who has missed the opportunity is asked to contact Mr Sinclair or Mr Rix on 6562 6166.

Girls Uniform The Student Council requested that a dress be added to the school uniform and following meetings of staff and parents a design has been approved. The dress is now available from the Uniform Shop in the Centerpoint Arcade. Sizes 6,7,8 and 10 cost $50, size 12 $52, size 14 $54 and size 16 $56. The dress is able to be worn by senior and junior students.

Debutante Ball Eleven young ladies and their partners will make their debut at the Kempsey High School Debutante Ball on Saturday 8th. September 2012 at the Kempsey Macleay RSL club. The debutantes will be presented to Ms Liz McMahon at about 6.30pm. The debs and partners have been preparing for many weeks receiving tuition from Mr Neil Monckton. Tickets are available from the Kempsey High School office at a cost of $35. I sincerely thank all those who have assisted to make this occasion special in the life of these young ladies and their partners.

SRC Charity Team - Pyjama Day Asthma Fundraiser

On Friday the 29th of June, Kempsey High held a Pyjama Day to raise money for the Asthma Foundation. Students were asked to wear their pyjamas to school and bring a gold coin donation which would entitle them to go in the draw to win a mystery prize. In total the school raised $173 which was a great effort. The winner of the mystery prize was Casey Jackson who won a family sized block of chocolate.

Congratulations to all the students and teachers who took part in the day and donated a gold coin. Thanks to Year 10 students, Sarbjit Rooprai and Sarah Mitchell, who came up with the terrific idea and organised the fundraiser and to all the SRC students who helped on the day.

Ammanda Naulty, Siobhan Appleton, Amy Malcolm, Sarbjit Rooprai

For further information regarding asthma log onto http://www.asthmafoundation.org.au/

Year 7’s Billabong Excursion

On the 10th August 2012 a large group of Year 7 students caught a bus to Port Macquarie’s Billabong Wildlife Park.

This trip was to enhance the students study in the unit ‘Living Together’.

The centre took the students on a fully guided tour of the park and they saw koalas, kangaroos, dingoes, reptiles including snakes and lizards, spider monkeys and even the newly acquired snow leopards.

The students participated in hands-on activities including feeding the kangaroo and wallabies in an open enclosure, with a group of even feeding a joey while it was in the pouch. Other activities saw them cuddle up to a koala and pat a dingo.

In the afternoon session the students participated in a reptile presentation giving them the opportunity to pat a python, crocodile and a blue tongue lizard.

Mr Reid and our science prac teachers (Mr Carlsen, Mr Cowell and Mrs Greenwood) cooked a really good BBQ lunch with kids even coming back for fourths....... after finishing their booklets.

The students learnt a lot about how our native animals live and interact.

A big thank you to Miss McMahon, Aunty Nat and Miss Veness for helping out on the day.

Celebrate the Macleay

On Sunday 26th. August 2012 Kempsey High was well represented at Celebrate The Macleay. The Red Onion Cafe was particularly popular and by 1pm had completely exhausted supplies of milk and coffee. Mr Saul, Mr Koren, Mrs Dowling and students from the farm brought several animals for young children to pet. These included the three poddy calves recently donated to the school by Andrew and Dianne Noakes. There were demonstrations of leading, clipping and preparing cattle and lunging of horses. A lot of interest was also shown in the Billy Carts which are available for sale from the school. Many thanks to everyone who gave of their time and effort to make the day such a success.

Techno Push Challenge

Techno Push Challenge

Twenty Year 7 and Year 8 students have returned from the NRMA Techno Push Challenge held at Raleigh Raceway with an Encouragement Award (Year 7) and an Excellence in Engineering Award (Year 8).

The students built billy carts through the Practical Maths program which is designed to improve students’ understanding about Maths through practical learning. The students had to undertake six challenges: putting together the cart which they had made: sprinting; braking; surviving the obstacle course (actually carting a litre of water to test the cart’s design); and presentation of the cart and how it was built using recycled materials. Thanks to Ms Cater, Mr Cooper, Mr Hinchcliffe and Mrs Rossiter for all their work in this great program.

NSW Nura Gili ‘Light and Fire’

Year 10 and 11 Aboriginal students were recently inspired by guest speakers from UNSW, Nura Gili as part of their Light and Fire’ program.

This initiative is designed to showcase UNSW, Nura Gili and the programs provided to Year 10-12 Aboriginal students. ‘Light and Fire’ is about sharing, building and strengthening the career opportunities, subject choices and knowledge of tertiary studies. It encourages Aboriginal students to think about their future and their options after high school that will inspire, empower and motivate success in our future Aboriginal leaders.

Nura Gili Centre for Indigenous Programs provides pathways to learning opportunities that embrace Aboriginal knowledge, culture and histories. Nura Gili strives for excellence in educational services and works towards assuring participation and access to all the programs it offers.

Mark Rix

Careers Adviser

“Don’t Worry be Happy” Day – Wednesday 22/8/12 Student Representative Council (SRC) – Student Equity Advisory Team (SEAT) The SRC conducted a student engagement survey earlier this year and asked students what made them want to come to school. One of the top reasons they identified was having enthusiastic teachers. “Don't Worry Be Happy” Day was organised by the SRC SEAT team as a thank you to all the staff for making KHS a place they want to be. The team delivered a Red Onion Cafe coffee or tea and a snack to every member of staff. A big thank you to the SEAT team members who were part of this initiative - Amy Malcolm, Sarbjit Rooprai, Naomi and Siobhan Appleton, Sarah Mitchell, Nick Kesby, Sam Harwood and Kinne Ring. Well done.

Lego Robotics (front page)

Students are in groups of four. They start building a robot from scratch by following a guide. They add all different types of wheels or tracks for movement. The students learn to program their robots using sensors through computer software. They often have competitions with other groups and have fun changing the robots course.

Kempsey Little Athletics Sign up days: 31st August 2012, to 7th September 2012 from 4-6pm at Services Club Park, Kempsey.

Club nights are held each Friday at 4:00pm at Services Club Park, from September 14th, 2012 Free trial nights: 14th September and 21st September 2012

Nulla Junior Cricket

Registration Days

Registration days will be Tuesday 4th September or Wednesday 5th September 4pm-5.30pm at the Kempsey RSL Bowling Club in Austral Street, Kempsey. Enquiries to Matthew Baker (0428 625455, 6563 1972) or Leanne Cook (0402 327 462) or Ricki Saunders (6563 6350)

South West Rocks

Netball Club Presentation Night

Saturday 15th Sept in the BBQ area at the Country Club. Starts at 6pm.

Learning Express

Tuition Peter and Julie Field are now operating Learning Express Tuition replacing Kip McGrath Education Centre. They are offering five complementary lessons for a student from Kempsey High who wants some extra help. A free assessment precedes the lessons. Contact Mr Eller if you would like to be considered for this offer.

Kempsey Heights Cricket

Club Cricket Muster Days

Sunday 2nd September 10am -12noon

Kempsey Heights Bowling Club For more information: Michael 0411

966 835 Stephen 0427 235 853

Manning Support Services Inc. ABN: 88 845 915 950 78 Wynter Street P.O Box 759 TAREE NSW 2430 Charity Number: 14250

I _______________________ __ would like to attend the parenting program: Living with Teenagers . I can be contacted on _________________________(ph) Email address ______________________________ other contact_______________________________

Living With Presents

Teenagers

Are you living with a Teenager? Need to reclaim your sanity

Come along to this helpful program that may change the way you view your teenager and learn strategies to be able to live to ,tell the tale

Living with Teenagers will look at:

Manning Support Services Inc. are currently delivering a successful 6 week Parenting Program called: Living with Teenagers. We would like to be able to offer this 6 week program to parents of students at Kempsey High School. At this stage it is an expression of interest and we would like to hear from you on whether or not you would attendthis course.

The course will run from 9.00-11.00am on one weekday for 6 weeks. The course would be run on school grounds to make it convenient for you to attend. To register your interest and receive additional information about the course please fill out the information below and return it to school by the 14th September 2012.

Self-Esteem Discipline Behaviour Depression

School exams

Sleep Driving Study

Cyberspace Boundary Setting

Being Assertive Communication

Drugs Bullying

Peer Pressure Setting Goals

Kind RegardsNatasha Brotherton

Relationship Educator Manning Support Service Inc.

P: 02 6551 1800 l F: 02 6551 5700email: natasha@mssinc.org.au

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School Administrative Staff

NATIONAL RECOGNITION WEEK

This week is a time for us to show our appreciation for the work of all our administrative staff. This includes the front office staff, the school learning support officers who assist in classrooms, our Aboriginal Education Officer and the Aboriginal Education workers, our General Assistant, Farm Assistant, Science Assistant, Home Science assistant and library assistants.

To all of you, thank you for everything

you do to support our students, parents and students.

Former Student

Kim McMillan – Australian Womens Baseball

Kim started T-ball at the age of 6 and continued playing for Kempsey Cougars Baseball Club through the U/10, U/12, U/14, U/16 and Senior Teams. In 2005, she joined the Women’s League in Sydney with Cronulla, travelling 6 hours each way for her games. Kim was then selected for the Country NSW teams to play at Nationals in Melbourne in 2005, Ipswich 2006, Perth 2007, Illawarra 2008 and Melbourne in 2009. At this last event, she was named Tournament MVP (Most Valuable Player). At 19 years of age, Kim moved to Sydney to be closer for the Australian Squad training and trialled for the NSW team. She made her debut for NSW on the Gold Coast in 2010, and represented in Canberra in 2011 and again in 2012.

From the National Tournaments, the Australian Team is selected every second year to attend the World Cup. In 2006, Kim made the Australian training squad. She then made the actual team to attend the World Cup in 2008 in Japan. In 2010 Kim again represented her country at the World Cup in Venezuela with the Australian team winning the Silver Medal and Kim being recognised as the Best Designated Hitter in the world.

At the 2012 Nationals in Canberra last April, Kim was selected for the All-Star Team which is based on the best results from players at the tournament. Her achievements included Best Hitter after all rounds and Most RBI's, making her a definite choice for this year’s Australian World Cup team competing in Canada in August. Kim will be assisting the team in its endeavours to win gold playing 3rd Base, Designated Hitter and Pitcher.

Kim is currently playing for Blacktown Workers in the Women’s team. She trains twice a week with the Aussie girls in Sydney and plays on Saturdays in the A grade men’s competition as well as doing gym every day.

Even with this workload, Kim recently made her way back to Kempsey with a team-mate just before she left for Canada in order to run coaching clinics for the local juniors, from whose ranks she emerged all those years ago.

Go Kim! We’re exceptionally proud of you.