24th October, 2014 – Issue 32

Phone: 02 67461177 Fax: 02 67462648

Email: quirindi-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Message from the Principal With 2015 school planning well underway, I would like to invite interested parents to our P&C meeting next Tuesday 28th October at 6.30pm at the Quirindi Bowling Club. At this meeting we will be discussing new community consultation procedures for school planning and seeking parent input into our future structures. This is an opportunity to be part of an authentic decision making process for your child’s education and I hope you are able to attend. Congratulations to our Boys and Girls Basketball sides who travelled to Terrigal and Bathurst this week to compete in the CHS Knockout Preliminary rounds as they are in the top 16 in the State. I had a telephone call from a teacher at Terrigal High after our boys played and was so proud when she conveyed her congratulations on their outstanding sportsmanship and professionalism on and off the court. She went on to say that she has not seen manners as good as those displayed by our students for many years in school sport. I sincerely thank all students who recognise that, when they wear our uniform to events, they take us with them. We have a great school! Any parents considering enrolling their child at Quirindi High School for 2015 who have not already submitted an enrolment application, are encouraged to contact the school on 67461177 to make an appointment. Our projected 2015 numbers are on the rise, which is fantastic news. Have a great weekend Meghanne Clarke

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Congratulations to Oliver Smith – Vice Captain

Tristan Wong – Captain Zara Constable – Captain

Kaitlyn Hamson – Vice Captain on their election by the school community to their

School Leadership Roles for 2015.

INTRODUCING OUR SCHOOL LEADERS

FOR 2015

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Ryan’s on target for a great outcome in Industrial Technology Metal

As 2014 draws to a close, all the hard work and effort put in throughout the school year begins to show. Year 10 Metal student Ryan Cornish’s major project is a great example of what motivated and organised students can achieve at Quirindi High. Ryan chose his mini bike project, and consulted with his teacher early. He made sure all the necessary components were organised and sourced outside of class time and had a clear picture of what he wanted to achieve each time he arrived at the workshop door for practical lessons. Ryan now has the satisfaction of knowing he has completed a successful project, and has time to make sure the supporting written documentation for his project folio is up to the same high standard for Term 4 marking. Well done Ryan!

Dave Wood

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Library Happenings! Reading Challenge

Have you challenged yourself to read a

book each month yet?

Pick up a book and you just might

“ Discover or rediscover the joy of reading” !

Need a book to read? Come and browse the shelves and try out our Reading Chair!

Browse the shelves and discover a whole

new world in one of the great books we have in the Library.

STUDY SKILLS TIP FOR OCTOBER – How To Stay Positive As Exams Approach. Recently a student sent this email: Hi I was wondering if you could do a tip on staying positive when you are stressed and feeling depressed as our exams are coming up and I have been feeling depressed lately and I think it would help.

It can be difficult to stay positive or “be up” as exams approach. The more important the exam the more stress we can feel. Worse, if we don’t do anything to make us feel good, stress can lead to anxiety and depression. There are many reasons why students feel this stress and depressed mood as examination dates approach.

• Students receive distorted messages and perceptions about the importance of the exams, such as, “this can/will determine your future” etc.

• With the pressure and stress of exams students avoid doing the work necessary to be prepared and as a result feel more overwhelmed, hopeless, anxious etc. Students can feel they have no control of their situation.

• When we allow the pressure, stress and upset to build we can get into bad habits and let go of good habits. As a result students can feel more drained and exhausted and find it difficult or impossible to “climb out of the dark hole” they are in.

A holistic approach to boost wellbeing as exams approach.

The key to being positive and managing negative emotions such as anxiety and feeling down and depressed in any pressure situation including exams is to “fuel up”. It goes without saying that if we are exhausted, tired, stressed, depressed etc. it is very difficult if not impossible to deal with the pressure of exams. “Fueling Up” is about boosting wellbeing factors in your life. You need to boost the wellbeing factors in your BODY, MIND and EMOTIONS. Trying to “feel good” or be “positive” when your body is exhausted and depleted is impossible! This is something we all know yet many of us find it difficult to change.

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Here are some things you can do to boost the energy in your BODY:

• See a doctor.

Visit your doctor and get a check up. It’s important that any medical issues are ruled out because you may try some of the following tips without noticing any benefit while all along there may have been a medical issue that needed attention. • Get better sleep.

Feeling good all starts with getting the right amount and type of sleep. Start with a good night - time routine. Stop anything that stimulates you such as caffeine or TV or computer, iPad or phone screens etc. Try a warm drink such as chamomile tea and use essential oils such as lavender oil. Having a soothing bath or shower can also help along with gentle stretching of tight or tense muscles. If you still feel you are not getting a “good” sleep be sure to see your doctor. • Eat in Moderation

Never skip a meal, especially breakfast. Breakfast replenishes your body and helps you start your day full of energy. Eat three main meals, and two to three snack meals a day. Eating five to six times in a day keeps your blood sugar levels balanced, giving you an overall sense of well-being needed for focusing on your tasks and responsibilities. • Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise, at least three times per week for a minimum of 30 minute sessions, can virtually “soak up” stress chemicals in your body and help you to relax and even sleep better. Brisk walking, aerobic classes, swimming, bike riding, or jogging are great exercises to release stress buildup and relax your body and mind to either start or end your day right.

Here are some things you can do to THINK more positively:

• Change your thinking and perceptions

Write down your top 5 fears and worries. What’s the worst thing that can happen? Then ask yourself, “IS THAT TRUE”? Usually fears and worries are not based on reality but on imagined scenarios that have little to no evidence. If it’s something that can’t be changed bring acceptance to it. It is what it is for now! • Change your focus

Have you noticed that what we worry about we make bigger and keep closer to us by the way we think and focus. Try this…make your fears and worries SMALL in size (5 cm in height) DARK in brightness and as far away as possible in DISTANCE. When we change the size, brightness and distance of the things that upset us in our minds it reduces the intensity of the emotion.

Here are some things you can do to FEEL more positive:

• Acts of kindness

Make a list of 5 acts of kindness you can do every day. Make them simple acts of kindness that are easy to do such as saying thank you etc. Do these 5 acts of kindness every day for 6 weeks. The research shows that people that do this and think of 3 good things in their life (as above) have a dramatic positive boost in their mood. • 3 good things exercise

Every day at the start and end of your day think of 3 good things that happened. Write them down. Then think about either WHY those good things happened or how it MADE YOU FEEL when those good things happened.

This month’s tip from Rocky Biasi at Human Connections. Learn more about techniques that can help manage stress at: https://xb145.isrefer.com/go/entap/Enhanced/ Learn more this year about how to prepare for examinations by logging into the Online Study Skills Handbook

QHS students have direct access to this handbook through the school’s Moodle site. They use their DET username and password to access QHS Moodle.

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Need help with a Research Assignment? Make sure you bring your assignment to the Library and we can help you

locate the best information to get your assignment done.

iPads in the Library We now have 16 iPads available for use in the Library. They are becoming very popular as another way of accessing information and providing a different way of learning during the school day. Great to see the iPads getting so much use.

Happy Reading, Studying and Researching

Mrs Owen – Teacher Librarian Mrs Sweep – SAS Library

Kodee-Lee Allbon, Cassidy Carter, Abbey Lobsey and Sophie Robertson using the iPads during one of their lessons.

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Mathematics Yearly Exams

As part of the assessment procedure, students in Years 7 – 10 will sit a yearly examination in Mathematics. The examinations will give students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of all concepts taught during the year. All students in a year group will sit the same examination. The examination schedule will be as follows:

Year Date Lesson Venue

10 Monday 27th October Period 3 Multi-purpose Centre (School Hall)

9 Monday 27th October Period 2 Multi-purpose Centre (School Hall

8 Tuesday 28th October Period 3

Students sitting alphabetically;

Adler to Fechner – Rm 4

Fisher to Nean – Rm 1

Parsons to Weir – Rm 2

7 Wednesday 29th October Period 1 or 2 Students sitting in their own classroom

7.1 – Room 1

7.2 – Room 4

7.3 – Room 5

All students will require pens, a lead pencil and a ruler for the exam. All students will need to bring their school calculator to the exam. Any student who feels they are unable to have a calculator on the day should see Mrs Holmes. If students have any questions about the yearly exam they should ask their class teacher or come and speak to Mrs Holmes in the Maths Staffroom. Parents and guardians are welcome to contact me if they have any queries.

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This week Year 11 students participated in a Study Skills workshop with Rob from Elevate Education. Rob presented an information filled 2 hour workshop providing students with lots of practical tips on how to get the most out of their senior studies. This study skills program, presented by Elevate Education, is a fantastic workshop and is presented by motivating and enthusiastic young presenters who have put what they are saying into action. A fantastic way for our Senior Students to work towards upgrading their skills.

YEAR 11 STUDY SKILLS WORKSHOP

Abbey Mingay, Georja Rumbel, Rob (From Elevate Education), Zara Constable, Tristan Wong, Petria Slade, Bailey Beresford, Danielle Lawlor

Study notes from the workshop

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End of Year Excursions are fast approaching

REMINDER Outstanding Elective Fees

Students will be denied the privilege of attending non-compulsory excursions as per the Quirindi High School policy if there has been no effort in the payment of elective fees over the year. Any fees owing from the previous year will have to be paid in full as soon as possible. We would be grateful if you could settle your account as soon as possible.

A student assistance scheme is available through a government funded subsidy whereby, anyone who is having financial difficulty is encouraged to contact the Principal requesting assistance with payment for excursions or elective fees.

This will be dealt with in the strictest of confidence.

Uniform pool

The school has a uniform pool that is available for all families to use, however it is currently running low on school skirts. If you have any uniforms that no longer fit your child, it would be appreciated if you could please bring them into the school to add to our uniform pool. If you need help in obtaining a uniform, come to the front office and you can access the uniform pool.

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Werris Creek Swimming Club Registration/Information Days

Saturday 25th October at 12pm – 2.30pm

Saturday 1st November at 11.30pm – 2.30pm

at the Werris Creek Club House.

Swimming Assessments for Learn to Swim

(children and adults) as well as swim squads

and people with special needs

Saturday 1st November 2014 from 11.30am – 2.30pm

at the Werris Creek Swimming Pool

Season Commences on Monday afternoon 3rd November at 4.30pm.

Please check our Facebook website for updates

For further enquiries, please contact our Werris Creek Swimming Club email on werriscreekswimclub@gmail.com or our Club Secretary Tammie Clark on

0428 474602.

QUIRINDI SWIMMING CLUB

QUIRINDI SWIMMING CLUB’s 2014/2015 season is about to get underway. The town pool will open on Saturday 1st November!

Registration / Information days: at the Pool from 11am until 1pm PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF TIME

Saturday 25th October

Saturday 1st November

Grading day: at the Pool from 11am til 1pm PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF TIME

Saturday 1st November

So please bring your children along to the Grading day with their swimming gear, so the Club can work out squads for commencement from Monday 3rd November. Enquiries can be directed to Kelly Barwick 0428471723, Sarah Pollard 046889033, Shelley McInnes (text) 0428462720, qascinc@hotmail.com or Facebook page Quirindi Swimming Club.

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Dates to put on your Calendar

Week Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Sat/Sun

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B

27th October

Exam Week

Years 7-10

28th October

P&C Meeting

29th October 30th October 31st October 1/2

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A

3rd November

Wallabadah

Horse Sports

4th November 5th November 6th November

Year 12

Formal

7th November

8/9

6

B

10th November 11th November

RSA

12th November

RCG

13th November 14th November 15/16

7

A

17th November 18th November 19th November 20th November 21st November 22/23

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B

24th November

Year 10 Work

Experience

Commences

25th November 26th November 27th November 28th November 29/30

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A

1st December

Year 10 Work

Experience

Continues

2nd December 3rd December

Year 7 2015

Orientation

Day

Year 7 2015

Parent

Information

Evening

4th December

Year 5 Taster

Day

5th December 6/7

10

B

8th December

Excursion

Week

9th December 10th December 11th December 12th December 13/14

11

A

15th December 16th December

Presentation

Day Starts at

10am

17th December

Students finish

for the year

18th December

Staff

Development

Day

19th December

Staff

Development

Day

20/21

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Liverpool Plains Shire Council

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