T H E F O R T N I G H T LY N E W S L E T T E R F R O M G A L S T O N H I G H S C H O O L 2 0 2 0 T E R M 1 W E E K 4

Swimming Carnival Highlights...

Olympics Unleashed...

As the Tokyo Olympic Games approaches, Galston High

School was lucky enough to have Australian High Jump

champion Nicola McDermott visit our school to talk to

our Year 9 students. Nicola had a dream when she was

eight years old to represent Australia in the Olympic

Games, a dream which is now coming to fruition. She

shared many of her thoughts and experiences with

our students about achieving their own goals and the

journey ahead for them.

Nicola is from the Central Coast and is the first Olympian

to come from this area. Here are some of her insights:

Overcoming fears can start with identifying the

roadblocks such as other people’s opinions, comparison

and culture, with comparison being the biggest

killer of passion. Everyone is different, with different

circumstances, opportunities and experience. Just

because something has not been done before does not

mean that it cannot be done. I trained for the most part

on an oval which I had to use public transport to reach.

A big goal requires every aspect of health and life to

be reconsidered, but if you’re willing, the result will be

incredible. It involves redefining our habits, thoughts,

intentions and communication skills. The most rewarding

part isn’t the medal or the destination of reaching the

goal – it is the person you become. For you to achieve

your goal in your chosen area, you must:

i) set strong goals and write down your dreams

ii) identify roadblocks to reaching them

iii) take action to remove the roadblocks

You can follow Nicola’s journey

@nicolamcdermott

@AusOlympicTeam

Access timetables, reports, attendance and more online The Sentral student and parent portal is an online source that students and parents can visit to access student-specific information.

The portal displays a copy of each student's personal details such as home address and parent and emergency contact details, which you are able to check. It also enables access to school newsletters, academic reports, student timetables and attendance, as well as a number of other features.

Our student and parent portal is located at https://ghs.sentral.com.au/portal/login

Parent AccessTo register for access, please go to https://ghs.sentral.com.au/portal/register and fill in your details. Once your details have been correctly matched to a student, we will approve your account and provide you with an individual security key.

If we are unable to match your details to a student, we will contact you individually to verify your access.

Student AccessTo access the student portal, go to https://ghs.sentral.com.au/portal/login and enter your login details.Login: Your Department of Education username (for example “john.smith”)Password: Your Department of Education password

For more information on registering for or using Sentral, visit the school website.

English Faculty Focus...

2020 has begun with most year groups well underway with a novel study. Across the years, these texts gain sophistication, asking students to expand their thinking from their own personal context out towards increasingly diverse contexts, spanning time, culture and values.

Knowing what your child is studying in class is a great way to not only engage with and value their learning, but to open up new and exciting conversations that help to shape their emerging identity and sense of place within the larger world. Better still, why not read with your child? This can be through having them read to you (they are never too old for this!) and asking questions about the text to confirm their understanding, or it can also be through you reading the text concurrently and discussing your own thoughts and reactions.

To learn more about what your child is studying in class (and the focus of their learning), take a moment to look over the relevant outline of the English units taught in Term 1.

Year 7Unit: Diaries, Biographies and Life WritingYear 7 are studying Boy by Ronald Dahl and I Am Malala by Malala Yousefzai.This unit is designed as an introductory unit for Year 7 and encourages students to get to know others in the class. Students review different forms of writing focusing particularly on diaries, autobiographies and life writing. They learn about their own and the life stories of others, within the context of language, literature and literacy. Students are encouraged to compose texts using a variety of figurative devices.

Year 8Unit: My World, Your WorldYear 8 are studying Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah.

In this unit students examine how literature helps us to understand culture. Students will gain an appreciation of how through literature we can gain insights into the similarities and differences between other cultures and times and our own. Students will also come to appreciate how through literature we can express our social and personal identities and how literature has both social and artistic value.

Year 9Unit: Speaking Out! Speech Writing and Public SpeakingThis unit focuses on the skills of speech writing and public speaking. In this unit students will explore the steps necessary to prepare an effective public speech, will evaluate elements of persuasion and appeal to enhance oral presentation, and work on timing, volume and body language to suit the audience. Students will listen to and produce a range of spoken texts on a complex theme or issue, identify and control linguistic structures and features in a range of spoken texts, and evaluate strategies used by other speakers to enhance their oral presentation.

Year 10Unit: Identity Year 10 are studying Looking for Alibrandi by Melinda Marchetta or A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness or The Story of Tom Brennan by JC Burke.

This unit will concentrate on analysing the theme of identity within the chosen novel. Students will explore the various levels of meaning in the novel and consider the techniques used to create meaning. Students will explore issues associated with adolescence,

individual and cultural identity and family. They will make connections between their reading and their own lives and explore how character development can reveal thematic development.

Year 11 English StudiesMandatory Module: Achieving through EnglishThe skills developed in the module assist students to access and comprehend information, ideas and language in everyday and workplace texts, and to compose appropriate texts in response. Students experience, engage with and critique literary and other texts that expand horizons by showing, through an imaginative use of language, the variety and richness of people’s working, schooling and community lives.

Year 11 English Standard and AdvancedCommon Module: Reading to WriteEnglish Standard are studying the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, English Advanced are studying the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

In this module, students undertake the intensive and close reading of quality texts from a variety of modes and media. In doing so, they further develop the skills and knowledge necessary to appreciate, understand, analyse and evaluate how and why texts convey complex ideas,

English Faculty Focus (cont’d)...

relationships, endeavours and scenarios. Central to this module is developing student capacity to respond perceptively to texts through their own considered and thoughtful writing and judicious reflection on their skills and knowledge as writers. Students read texts that are engaging thematically, aesthetically, stylistically and/or conceptually to inspire or provoke them to critique skilfully, or to respond imaginatively. Through the study of texts, students develop insights into the world around them, deepen their understanding of themselves and the lives of others, and enhance their enjoyment of reading.

Year 11 English ExtensionModule: Texts, Culture and ValueEnglish Extension are studying The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli.

Students explore the ways in which aspects and concerns of texts rom the past have been carried forward, borrowed from and/or appropriated into more recent culture. The module develops students’ understanding of how and why cultural values are maintained and changed.

Year 12 English StudiesModule D: Digital Worlds

Students examine the language, structure, purpose and audiences of digital texts, and develop their skills in using language appropriately and accurately to compose and engage interactively with these texts. Students consider the potential of new technologies to enhance learning, work

and social interaction and broaden their understanding of the particular issues, ideas and values confronting society and individuals in the digital age. This module invites students to investigate the opportunities afforded by new technologies for democratic participation and social change, and reflect on their responsibilities as users of digital technology and on the ethical dimensions of the digital world.

Year 12 English StandardModule A: Language, Identity & CultureEnglish Standard are studying The Castle by Rob Sitch.

In this module, students consider how their responsesto written, spoken, audio and visual texts can shape their self-perception. They also consider the impact texts have on shaping a sense of identity for individuals and/or communities. Through their responding and composing students deepen their understanding of how language can be used to affirm, ignore, reveal, challenge or disrupt prevailing assumptions and beliefs about themselves, individuals and cultural groups.

Year 12 English AdvancedModule A: Textual Conversations

English Advanced are studying Richard III

by William Shakespeare and Looking for

Richard by Al Pacino.

In this module, students explore the ways in which the comparative study of texts can reveal resonances and dissonances between and within texts. Students consider the ways that a reimagining or reframing of an aspect of a text might mirror, align or collide with the details of another text. In their textual studies, they also explore common or disparate issues, values, assumptions or perspectives and how these are depicted. By comparing two texts students understand how composers (authors, poets, playwrights, directors, designers and so on) are influenced by other texts, contexts and values, and how this shapes meaning.

Year 12 English ExtensionElective 3: Reimagined WorldsEnglish Extension are studying The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin.

In this elective, students explore and evaluate the textual representations of a variety of re-imagined worlds that challenge or confirm the known, question the unknown and explore the possibilities of different realities. They analyse the ways texts invite responders to re-evaluate understandings and perceptions of their own world, and the ways texts can offer creative, provocative and other insights into humanity. Students consider the potential of texts to push the boundaries of the imagination in creating new worlds and alternative experiences.

This Week

Monday 24 FebruaryZone Swimming Carnival

Tuesday 25 FebruaryGirls Touch Knockout pds 5&6 Years 8-12

Wednesday 26 FebruaryPhoto Day - catch upNSW All Schools TriathlonYear 12 SLR Galston Aquatic Centre during class

Thursday 27 FebruaryNSW All Schools Triathlon

Friday 28 FebruaryExcursion Years 8 & 12 Baseball Knockout Competition

Sunday 1 MarchStudent Leadership Camp

Next Week

Monday 2 MarchStudent Leadership Camp

Tuesday 3 MarchStudent Leadership CampSydney North AFL Trials

Wednesday 4 MarchSydney North Netball TrialsYear 11 Biology Excursion Sydney Olympic Park

Thursday 5 MarchYear 11 Agriculture Excursion Tocal Farm Visit

Friday 6 MarchSydney North boys/girls Basketball trials

Saturday 7 MarchMMS Rehearsal Day

Sunday 8 MarchMMS Rehearsal Day

Still to come

Monday 9 MarchSydney North Golf Trials

Tuesday 10 MarchYear 7 SRC/Student Librarian and Farm Leader Induction Assembly

Wednesday 11 MarchOpen DayYear 12 SLR Galston Aquatic Centre during class

Thursday 12 MarchSydney North Soccer Trials

Upcoming Events

Homework Club

Homework Club operates every Wednesday afternoon from 3.30 - 4.30pm.

Students can receive help from teaching staff with homework and assessment tasks, or simply utilise the Library computers and wifi to complete their work.

Proudly supported by

Year 7 Camp Highlights

As part of Galston High School’s commitment to academic excellence, all students have the opportunity to participate in a number of academic competitions throughout the year. These competitions will access a number of key learning areas and will be an extension of each student’s program of study. It is expected that students in 7H and 8H will take part in all of the competitions.

Competition (Year Levels) - Sitting date ICAS: Science (7-12) - 17/08 – 21/08/2020ICAS: English (7-12) - 24/08 - 28/08/2020ICAS: Digital Technologies (7-10) - 24/08 – 28/08/2020Australian Mathematics Competition (7-12) - 30/07/2020Australian History Competition (7-10) - 1/04/2020 – 1/06/2020Australian Geography Competition (7-10) - 18/03 – 1/04/2020

There are three significant reasons for students to enter each event.

Firstly, it will provide an academic challenge for students to see how they compare with others from government and non-government schools Australia wide. All students are recognised for their efforts with results graded from participation through to High Distinction and medals for the top performing students. Each student will receive a certificate with their results which will be an excellent addition to their Curriculum Vitae, demonstrating their willingness and capacity to challenge themselves academically.

Secondly, each student and the school will receive a confidential analysis of the results which is an excellent diagnostic tool for students and teachers to identify strengths and weaknesses in each subject. The results of the tests provide data that is subject specific and that cannot always be obtained from analysis of NAPLAN results. Students who compete in subsequent years will gain the benefit of seeing their skills develop and knowing if their strategies for improvement have been beneficial.

Competition level awarded in each subject/House Points allocated

Participation = 2Credit/merit = 4Distinction = 6High Distinction = 8Top 1-3% = 10

Finally, each student will be contributing to the house point’s competition for every academic competition completed. Points allocated are based on the level of achievement reached in each competition. The table above summarises the point allocation.

Academic Competitions...

The SRC will be conducting our annual Harmony Week event on the 24th March.

Harmony Week is a time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism, and the successful integration of migrants into our community. Australia is one of the most successful multicultural countries in the world and we should celebrate this and work to maintain it.

The message of Harmony Week is everyone belongs.It is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values.

Did you know?

Nearly half (49 per cent) of Australians were born overseas or have at least oneparent who was. We identify with over 300 ancestries.

Since 1945, more than 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia.

85 per cent of Australians agree multiculturalism has been good for Australia.

Apart from English, the most common languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Tagalog/Filipino, Hindi, Spanish and Punjabi.

More than 70 Indigenous languages are spoken in Australia.These facts are taken from ABS 2016 Census Data. Check out the Australian Bureau of Statistics website.

During this year’s assembly, our school counsellor Miro Zivanovic will be giving a talk about his cross cultural experiences in Australia.

The SRC will also be running a food fair at recess promoting the diversity of Australian society.

Harmony Day...

Prefect Report...

See why Galston High School is an unbeatable choice for the education of your child in 2021! On Wednesday 11th March from 9:30am - 12pm, we are having our annual Open Day. The day will begin with a short information session and will include school tours, led by our student leaders. At the conclusion of the Open Day, families are invited to join our student leaders for a tour of the school followed by morning tea at the historic Waddell Cottage. Open day is always a fun and informative opportunity to get involved with our school community early, and we hope to see you there!Year 7 has recently completed Best Start - a NAPLAN style test which allows our school to identify areas in which they may need the most help. This helps teachers to tailor lessons to suit their class’s needs, as well as the needs of individual students. Year 7 are also settling in to the idea of a timetable, as well using their diary to organise their workload - and the new subjects they have taken on.

Year 9 have completed their trial NAPLAN tests and are waiting in anticipation for their results. The trial NAPLAN not only gives an indication to the individual students of which areas need improvement, but also allows it to be compared to other schools.

Valentine's Day was celebrated at Galston High last Friday. Year 12 students, as part of a donation to the Year 12 charity of choice, dressed up to deliver cards, cupcakes, roses and serenades. All students at the school had the opportunity to purchase an item for their special someone. Many students and teachers enjoyed their sweet, and sometimes embarrassing Valentines gifts! Leadership camp is coming up on the

1st to the 3rd of March for students who are part of the Prefect team, SRC, House Leaders, and Student Librarian Team. This is always a fantastic opportunity to grow closer as a team and develop some unlikely friendships, as well as challenging ourselves physically and mentally. The camp takes place in the picturesque Vision Valley, and we are all excited, awaiting the date.

Since 1934 the Australian Air League has been teaching young boys and girls nationwide all about aviation, while helping them develop important life skills like leadership, discipline, self confidence and teamwork. When you join the league you will make new friends and take part in fun and exciting activities, on the ground and in the air. Each week you will attend your local squadron where you will learn valuable skills and take part in fun and interesting activities and classes. Some of our classes include Meteorology, Navigation, Photography and Community Service. Squadrons also attend training camps, sport and recreational days, flying experiences and ceremonial drill. We welcome boys and girls the age of 8 years old from all different cultures and backgrounds. Parents and families are welcome to support or even join their local squadron as a volunteer. All adult members and volunteers are Working with Children Checked. The Australian Air League is running both a fun and educational programme that is making fine citizens out of our young Australians.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE AUSTRALIAN AIR

LEAGUE AND YOUR CLOSEST SQUADRON PLEASE CONTACT

www.airleague.com.au Email: info@airleague.com.au Free Call: 1800 502 175

NSW Group

Saturday 7th March Sunday 8th March8:00pm-10:30pm OR 2:00pm-4:30pm

PIONEER THEATRE12-14 Pennant Street (corner Castle Street), Castle Hill

TICKETS AVAILABLE DIRECT FROM THE BAND - PLEASE CALL 0426 134 058 OR www.trybooking.com/BGNVF

Governor Macquarie Memorial Pipe Band

Sydney, Australia

GMM

EARLY BIRD TICKET PRICES ON SALE NOW!Adults = $25 • Pensioners & Under 18 = $20

Early Bird prices valid until 11:59pm on 22nd February after which prices revert to:Adults = $35 and Pensioners & U18 = $25

A Celtic AffairFeaturing Eileen McCann & the Governor Macquarie Memorial Pipe Band

The Governor Macquarie Memorial Pipe Band have performed with Sir Paul McCartney, John Farnham and as part of the opening act for theEdinburgh Military Tattoo in Sydney.

ONLY 2 SHOWSBOOK NOW!

Singing sensation,violinist and guitaristEileen McCann.