message from the principal - fairhills high …now commence 6 days of year12 classes as part of the...
TRANSCRIPT
Harvey Wood – Principal Kathryn Middleton – Associate Principal, Senior School
Russell Poulier – Associate Principal, Middle School Paul Donaldson – Associate Principal
16th November, 2015
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
PRINCIPALS REPORT
Dear Students, Parents and Staff VCE Exams
Congratulations to our VCE students who are nearing the end of a long, challenging period of exams. It all began on
Wed 28th October with Year 12 English and culminates with Year 12 language exams on Tuesday 16th November.
Students, parents and staff will now eagerly await the arrival of all VCAA results which are delivered on December
14th.
Our Year 11 VCE students have also now completed their Semester 2 exams. On average, each Year 11 student
undertook five examinations lasting one and a half hours in duration. Student results will be included in Semester 2
reports and this experience serves as a good practice for what they can expect in Year 12. Our Year 11 students will
now commence 6 days of Year12 classes as part of the Grad start program. Year 10 students began their exam cycle
on Friday 13 November and at the conclusion of day 6 will commence five days of VCE Start experiencing life as a
Year 11 student.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER Saturday, 21st Nov - Thailand Trip leaves Tuesday, 24th Nov – SEAL Orientation Day Friday, 27th Nov - Year 10 Final Assembly Sunday, 29th Nov – Friday, 4th Dec - Basket Ball National tournament in Canberra Thursday, 3rd December - Luna Park Excursion Saturday, 5th Dec – Book Exchange
Uniform support.
A very big thank you to all of our current and past students and parents who have generously donated uniforms back
to the school. We have many families who very much appreciate a helping hand when it comes to providing extra
items of uniform for their children and we would hope that this generosity continues. Donations can be left at the
main office.
Kearney shoes have begun a “Back to School 2016” sale before the school year actually ends. They are offering 20%
of all Clarks, ROC and Harrisons school shoes and have outlets in Forest Hill, Chirnside Park and Epping Plaza.
Year 8 Accelerated and Year 9 into 10 Course Selection
On Wednesday 4th November all current year 9 and year 8 accelerated students participated in a period long
presentation conducted by Ms Jenny Oliver and Ms Kath Middleton covering subject selections for 2016. The
students were sent home with a 2 page booklet outlining the core and elective choices at year 10 as well as a
practice course selection sheet. It is anticipated that the actual 2016 selection sheet will become available within
the next 2 weeks and its completion and return will be preceded by an optional Information Evening for parents and
students. If students or parents have any questions they are welcome to contact Kath Middleton at any time.
Fun and Games with Year 11 Business Management thanks to Ms La Leggia
In early October, 26 eager year 11 Business Management students were unleashed on the city of Melbourne for the
annual Great Amazing Marketing Race. Teams ventured to all corners of the city spurred on by clues and a
determination to win.
Congratulations to Ruby, Shayla, Keely, Nick, Ashley and Jess who scored the win. Highlights included the Eureka Sky
Deck and the Edge Experience.
Remembrance Day Remembrance Day commemorates the day the guns fell silent on
the western Front in Europe. The Fairhills High School community
very proudly commemorated and honoured our fallen from this
and subsequent wars with a reading of the Ode followed by a
minutes silence at 11.00 am on Wednesday 11th November. We
would also like to take the opportunity to thank Meaghan
Townsend of Year 7 who actively visited classes and staffrooms
during her lunchtime and other spare moments to sell
Remembrance Day items as part of poppyappeal.com
Girls Senior Basketball We wish the Girls Senior Basketball Team well as they head up to the National School Basketball Championships at the end of the month. The team has been working hard off the court doing fund raising activities like BBQ's, a raffle and selling chocolates as well as gaining great support from some sponsors like Ray White, KSC Phoenix a Local domestic Basketball Club, Unique body worx an automotive repair centre and Schroeder and Wallis who have all contributed to allow the girls to play in Canberra. Andrew Potter Director of the Basketball Academy
Thailand Community Service Trip - 21st November to 5th December In a little over a week’s time eleven Year 11 students along with Stewart MacCartney and Adrienne Tanner are
embarking on their 15 day Community Service Trip to Thailand. We will be involved in a Community Project that
restores broken irrigation lines and working in the local school in a small hill tribe community. We will then be
embarking on a Trek in north eastern Thailand for 4 days. We will then leave northern Thailand and return to
Bangkok where we will be working in the slums alongside the Urban Neighbours of Hope.
The students have been preparing for this trip since the beginning of the year. We have been meeting regularly to
plan fundraising, to learn about Thailand; its people and the country, walking the 1,000 steps to build our fitness and
general team building activities.
Our fundraising has been a key focus of the group and we have managed to raise in excess of $10,000. We wish to
acknowledge the generous support from various community groups, businesses, our school community and the
tireless support of our parent group.
Ferntree Gully Rotary generously donated $1,000 towards our community project,
The school’s student leadership group has directed nearly $1,000 of fundraising money towards our trip.
Our parent group has held 12 Bunnings BBQ’s.
The students and staff who have bought countless numbers of chocolates.
Our main fundraising event was the Trivia night. It was a lot of fun and it was well supported by our staff and
students. We raised in excess of $2,500. We wish to acknowledge the following individuals and businesses for
their generous donations on the night.
Puffing Billy
Eureka Skydeck
Bunnings
Cuckoo Restaurant
Tupperware Aust
Bonita Beauty
Hogs Breath Cafe Knox,
Luna Park
Imax theatre Melbourne Museum,
Crayola
Nick Wakeling
Alan Tudge
We are incredibly excited about our upcoming trip and look forward to the opportunity of sharing our stories upon
our return.
The Thailand Team 2015.
Working Bee Project
The working bee held on Sat 24th Oct was a huge success. Joining parents and staff from Fairhills High were over 200 volunteers from Hillsong Church, including two bus loads from the western suburbs. They worked tirelessly from 8am into early evening to deliver an amazing array of improvements to the school, including:
· Painting inside and outside of seven portable classrooms, and 4 music rehearsal rooms · Pressure washing brickwork around the A block courtyard · Weeding and mulching of garden beds across the entire school · Re-carpeting of two portables, four music rooms, a foyer and the main Staff room · Removal of many fallen trees and logs from the lower grounds · Clean up the basketball stadium car park · Re-decorating the VCE Common Room from top to bottom!
We are very grateful to the volunteers from both Fairhills and Hiillsong for their work on behalf of our school community. They donated a lot of time and materials to the project, delivering many thousands of dollars of improvements for the benefit of our students.
Paul McLeish Facilities Manager
The VCE Common Room
VCAL Room
Important Administration Information
Electronic statements were recently emailed to parents – it would be appreciated if any
outstanding fees / charges could be settled as soon as possilbe.
All students returning to Fairhills in 2016 will have received an ‘Enrolment Information Kit’
during last week – please return the necessary documentaion for each student at your earliest
convenience.
FAIRHILLS HIGH SCHOOL VALUES AWARD Congratulations to Sarah Dunlop and Alex Nguyen (Year 9), recipients this week of a Fairhills High School Values Awards. Sarah was nominated by Ms Hirst and Alex was nominated by Ms Takahashi and Mr Milner for their recent demonstration of the school's values of respect, responsibility, persistence, inclusion, and integrity. Well done Sarah and Alex!
2015 BOOK EXCHANGE and Second Hand Uniform Sale – will be held on Saturday, 5th December from 10am – 12noon. Books should be deposited on Friday, 4th December between 8.30 and 9.30am or between 3pm and 7.30pm. A list of books available for buying / selling was attached to the Enrolment Informations packs deistributed last week. The list will also be available on the Website soon. Donations of uniform items can be dropped off at the school office at any time. The book exchange is reliant on Volunteers to operate, if you can assist please contact Irene on [email protected]
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Term 4 is a busy time for the music department. Students present for their VCE performance and written exams. Some woodwind students will be attending the Regional concert band workshop and recording session. Our end of year concert will be held in the lovely theatre at Swinburne TAFE. This is a wonderful opportunity for music students to experience performance in a beautiful venue. All family and friends are invited to the End of Year Concert. Put the date in your diary! Please see details below. Please contact Nicole McAlister through the school office or email [email protected] if any queries regarding the instrumental music program.