welcome [toormina-h.schools.nsw.gov.au]...driving through the bus bay before and after school is a...

ARMSTRONG DRIVE, TOORMINA NSW 2452 026653 3077 [email protected] www.toormina-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

TERM 1 | WEEK 3| FEBRUARY 2017

N E W SLETTER

Welcome to all Year 7 students, our other new students this year and their parents. This is my first opportunity to communicate with you as Principal of Toormina High School. It was with great excitement that I was appointed as Principal. I must congratulate Dr Joanne Bellette for the excellent work she did as Relieving Principal, and I am confident that she will be very successful in her new role as Principal of Corowa High School.I would like to welcome our other new staff to Toormina High School: Mrs Melanie Murray – Deputy Principal; Mr Brock Janssen – Drama Teacher; Mr Mitchel Stuckey – PDHPE Teacher and Ms Jhade Greentree – Science. We also say goodbye to Cheryl Ward and Shane Verran who have both retired. We wish them well.I recently outlined to the staff the high expectations that I have of them in and out of the classroom. My focus is on teachers demonstrating high quality professional practice through the delivery of quality lessons, resources and facilities combined with high expectations for our students. To assist teachers to achieve these goals I have significantly increased educational funding to Faculties, directly allowing Head Teachers and Teachers to access the teaching resources needed to make a difference in the classroom. Additionally we are commencing investigating the possibility of air-conditioning more classrooms (dependent on the availability of power); improving the Support Unit and play areas; and the possible upgrading of one of the Home Economics Kitchens to Commercial Kitchen status. We have completed construction of a new multi-bay shed and await delivery of a bus to support our students in community access programs, sport and other out of school activities. Teachers will be communicating high expectations for our students every day in their classrooms. These expectations include but are not limited to having books and pens for every lesson, completing homework and assessments on time and to the best ability of each student, wearing school uniform with pride and arriving at school on time. It is well documented that a child who embraces the positive culture of any school will achieve success. I am determined to make all students at Toormina High School successful. I encourage parents to work in partnership with the entire school community in achieving our school goals and or school motto “Creating Our Success”.We held a Year 7 Parent, meet and greet afternoon on Tuesday 7 February. This was an opportunity for parents to come and meet the teaching and support staff that will be working with their children in 2017, an opportunity to discuss anything that may assist a child’s learning in the classroom with his or her teachers. We were pleased to meet many of our parents at this event. If you would like to discuss any more private or personal matter regarding your child’s education, please contact the school and make an appointment with either myself or Mrs Murray (Deputy Principal in-charge of Year 7, 9 and 11) or Mrs McDowell (Deputy Principal in-charge of Year 8, 10 and 12).The Parents and Citizens Committee held a Bunnings Fund Raising BBQ on Saturday. Despite the heat, the team of parents and staff were kept extremely busy supplying over 800 sausage sandwiches to the local community. Thank you to the parents and staff who attended the BBQ and made the day such a success. Our next P&C Meeting will be Wednesday 15 February at 5.30pm. I encourage all parents to consider joining the P&C and becoming an active member of this important decision making body.Just a quick reminder to all of our parents about parking, dropping off and picking up of students before school and after school. Adherence to the “No Stopping” and “No Parking” zones will ensure that parents do not receive a large fine from Police or Council Rangers. Driving through the bus bay before and after school is a dangerous practice for our students as they may walk between buses to access vehicles parked on the side of the street.Yours in educationPaul Humphrey

Welcome

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N E W SLETTER TERM 1 | WEEK 3 | FEBRUARY 2017


We like to introduce our new staff to our THS Community with a questionnaire and a photo...

Name...Melanie Murray

THS Position...Deputy Principal

The high school I attended was... Corowa High School on the Murray River.

On weekends I enjoy... relaxing, reading, golf and sewing.

I love... travelling within Australia, the smell of the bush and the gum trees and also

travelling overseas especially off the beaten track for example the Silk Road in

China and on safari in Kenya.

I don’t like...hair that falls over people’s faces.

Name...Paul Humphrey

THS Position...Principal

The high school I attended was...Patrician Brothers Blacktown and the John Paul II

Senior College Marayong.

On weekends I enjoy...relaxing by going fishing, boating or a drive through the

amazing bushlands that surround Coffs Harbour.

I love...sport of any type, but I have a real passion for Sydney FC. I also love driving

and exploring this great country of ours. I also love teaching and working with

students and other teachers.

I don’t like...social media! It causes too many issues between friends.

When I was a teenager I wish someone had told me...that life really is like a box of

chocolates – you really don’t know what you’ll get!

Name...Jane Franke

THS Position…School Counsellor, Monday and Wednesday.

The high school I attended was...way more fun than I thought it was at the time!

On weekends I enjoy …my coffee of a morning.

I love...my family, travelling Australia, writing poetry and hearing other people’s

stories.

I don’t like…nastiness, intolerance, mosquitoes or traffic.

When I was a teenager I wish someone had told me…your exams, assessments and

grades are temporary but your education is permanent.

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Name...Mitch Stuckey

THS Position...PDHPE Teacher

The high school I attended was...Lithgow High School.

On weekends I enjoy...renovating, surfing, kayaking, Rugby and sport.

I really like...my life, my family, friends, travel, helping people and learning.

I don’t like...racism, poverty, and government corruption.

When I was a teenager I would have liked someone to have told me...you can

make a difference in this world and you will.

When you help people it makes you feel good.

Take good care of your Mum and Dad, you don’t have them all of your life.

Name...Jhade Greentree

THS Position...Science Teacher

The high school I attended was...Quirindi High and Dorrigo High School.

On weekends I enjoy...swimming, reading and being in nature.

I love...camping, learning new things and footy - I just moved here from Cronulla so

up the Sharkies!

I don’t like...tomatoes and negativity.

When I was a teenager I wish someone had told me...mistakes are a crucial part of

life. Learn from them, grow from them and never be afraid to seek help.

Name...Brock Janssen

THS Position...Drama / Music Teacher

The high school I attended was...in the Upper Hunter at St Joseph’s High School

Aberdeen & Muswellbrook High School.

On weekends I enjoy...the beach, and DJing in nightclubs.

I love...anything Holden related, music, crime shows, horror movies, fast rides at

theme parks and musicals.

I don’t like...coriander, carrot, early mornings, and when the Frozen Coke machine

at McDonalds is in defrost mode!!

When I was a teenager, I wish someone had told me...to save up money to be

better prepared for the cost of university textbooks, cars, rego, insurance and all the

other stuff you have to pay as an adult!!

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2017 Year 7 Welcome to high school year 7! It is so wonderful to see so many smiling and excited faces, all ready to learn.

On behalf of all the staff, I would like to welcome you to Toormina High School and promise that we will do

everything that we can to ensure that the years you spend here are as productive, rewarding and memorable

as possible.

Year 7, my advice to you is to make the most of your time at THS because these years are some of the best of

your life and they will go by so quickly. Participate in a wide range of activities in and out of the class room,

always put 100% into your work at school and at home and make as many new friends as possible.

Parents, encourage your kids to be the best young adults that they can possibly be. Education is a team effort

and your role is so important. I am always here for a phone call or a meeting to discuss any issues, questions or

problems that you or your child has – keeping those lines of communication open is crucial!

One of many quotes about education was written by WB Yeats, he said, “Education is not the filling of a pail,

but the lighting of a fire.” It is my hope that we can be the spark that ignites a lifelong love of learning in each

and every student!

Matt Gray, Year 7 Adviser

THS UNIFORM SHOP open every MONDAY 8:30am - 4:00pm, Karina 0468 436 217

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2017 Year 7

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N E W SLETTER TERM 1 | WEEK 3| FEBRUARY 2017


Year 7 Bonding Day

IMPORTANT DATES

WED 15/2 P&C Meeting, 5:30pmALL WELCOME! THS Library

THURS 16/2 School Photos

THURS 16/2 Year 12 University Roadshow THS Library 11:00am - 12:00pm

THURS 27/2 & 28/2

Year 7 Bonding Days

THS students pictured above, Will Bailey, Will Lloyd, Zach Stevenson and Jesse Buckle represented the North Coast in cricket during the holidays. The boys played as part of a development tour in a reciprocal arrangement between the Gold Coast Cricket Academy and North Coast Cricket.Their teams played matches against Cricket Academy sides for the first two days then a Far North Coast side on the third day. All boys did extremely well individually and in their respective teams.

SUMMER CRICKET TOUR

A Learn to Surf 5-week course starts in Coffs Harbour next week. Surfboards, wetsuits and rashirts are provided. Lessons are conducted at Diggers Beach for ages 7 – 17 years. Small student to instructor ratio (with 24 years’ experience), cost is $99. Please call Helene at East Coast Surf School on 66 515515.

Please donate any unwanted school uniform items to our Head Teacher Welfare, Sue Winsor.All donations gratefully received!

Year 7 parents please return the permission note & payment for the Bonding Days excursion.This unique experience will be held on 27 & 28th February.Although held over two days this is not an overnight excursion. The aim is to give fun, experience-based learning for Year 7 and to encourage a sense of personal growth and to support students to form relationships with their peers. Sessions on personal wellbeing and bullying will be included.Lunch will be provided, please bring morning tea.Cost is $85 and can be paid at the office or online via the THS website, details of the paying online are outlined in the next page of this newsletter.

The school farm has received a grant from the Coffs Council to start a composting programme. Students will be creating rich soil from the schools animal and food waste. Composting will not only help to educate the students about nutrient recycling and to improve the school farm's soil quality but will also reduce the school's input into the council's waste facilities.

Dr Andrew Willhoite, Agriculture Teacher

GREEN SCHOOLS GRANT

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SPIRIT OF TOORMINA AWARD

Congratulations for showing a fantastic attitude that embodies

the Toormina High School philosophy of caring, sharing

and participating.

Corey WarnMaton Davey

Jack BriggenshawKarina Allen, Library Assistant

SAWTELL PHYSICAL CULTURE CLUB

Info at Toormina Gardens Saturday February 28 from

9:00am.Classes start February 7 and first 3

classes are free!Classes held at Toormina

Primary School.

Again this year, Toormina High is offering students in years 11 & 12 the opportunity to be part of its CREST Senior Mentoring Program. The program aims to improve students’ writing and study skills across all subjects as they prepare for the HSC.I will be available for personalised mentoring sessions during normal school time, over most days of the week. Interested students should see me as soon as possible to book into the Mentoring Roster. Students can only book in during their free periods or, if they have no free periods, I will organise a time to suit.Year 12 will have priority and spaces are filling up fast.I have set up a website at http://crestseniormentoringprogram.weebly.com/ and an Edmodo group for students to access. The program aims to teach students the skills needed to:o critically edit, draft and improve their own written work (including assessment tasks)o write thoughtful, sophisticated, well-structured responses and essays suitable for the HSC subjects they studyo interpret questions/tasks specific to particular subject areas and apply this to their responseso know, understand and use the high level vocabulary needed for specific HSC subject areaso plan and manage their time efficientlyo reflect on their own learning style and needso cope with stress/problems o summarise and study effectively prior to exams.

Further information regarding this great opportunity is on the website or see me.Julie RobertsHead Teacher – Teaching & Learning

CREST Senior Mentoring ProgramMake Online PaymentsIt is now possible for parents to make online payments to the school for amounts owing for students, via a secure payment page hosted by Westpac. Payments can be made using either a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card. The payment page is accessed from the front page of the schools website at http://www.toormina-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/ by selecting $ Make a payment Items that can be paid include voluntary school contributions, subject contributions, excursions, sales to students and creative and practical arts activities (these include band, drama and dance). There is also a category called Other. This to cover items not covered in the previous headings.When you access the $ Make a Payment you must enter:• the students name, and• Year group – Year 7 2017• date of birth.These details are entered each time you make a payment as student information is not held within the payment system. This is a secure payment system hosted by Westpac to ensure that your credit/debit card details are captured in a secure manner, these details are not passed back to the school. You have the ability to check and change any details of the payment before the payment is processed. Receipts can be emailed and/or printed.Details of the payments are passed daily to the school where they will be receipted against your child’s account. As a receipt has been issued from the payment page a further receipt will not be issued by the school.Enquiries please phone THS 66 533077.

Denise 0403850370 or Sandy 0427228611

Website sawtellphysi.weebly.com

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Parents, please note that if your child is ineligible for free bus travel, Forest Coach Lines offers discounted Term Passes. Please contact our office on 66 523201 or 66 541063 to find out the cost for your child to travel on our school buses throughout the Term - a Term Pass saves you money and the hassle of paying every day for bus travel.

If you wish to track your child’s school bus with Forest Coach Lines North, you can do so through the free transportme™ passenger app. You can download the app from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store - look for ‘Forest Coach Lines North’ and then your child’s Route Number, and track the bus in real time!

Nigel ToothRegional Manager NorthForest Coach Lines Pty/Ltd9 Hurley DriveCoffs Harbour NSW 2450P 0266 523201 or 0266 541063E [email protected] www.forestcoachlines.com.au

BUS TRAVEL Skoolbag is a FREE app for your smartphone, ipad or tablet which allows you to receive alerts and

information & the newsletter instantly from our school.We are encouraging everyone to please install Skoolbag.

This is an easy, cost effective means of communication for THS.

Simple instructions are on the last page of this newsletter, or on the THS website or contact us

for help on 66533077.

Please ‘like’ and share our Toormina High SchoolFacebook Page, look for our school logo.

NSW SCHOOL VACCINATION PROGRAM 2017Each year NSW Health works in partnership with schools to offer the vaccines recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for adolescents as part of the school vaccination program.In 2017 the following vaccines will be offered to Year 7 students*:• dTpa vaccine (Diphtheria, Tetanus & Pertussis (whooping cough)) as a single dose• varicella vaccine (chickenpox) as a single dose; and• human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in a 3-dose schedule at 0, 2 and 6 months Parent Information Kits that include an Information sheet, consent form and privacy statement will be sent home to parents / guardians. To consent to the vaccination of their child, parents / guardians are advised to:• read all the information provided• complete the consent form, including signing name next to the vaccine/s they would like their child to receive• return the completed consent form to their child’s school• ensure that their child eats breakfast on the day of the school vaccination clinic.Please note that students who commence HPV vaccination in school clinics in Year 7 but do not complete the course during the school year may be offered catch-up doses at school in Year 8. Parents will be notified by letter from The Public Health Unit if this applies to their child.Students who have any HPV doses at their GP will be advised to complete the course with their GP.Parents/guardians who wish to withdraw their consent for any reason may do so by writing to the school Principal or phoning the school. The Procedure for Withdrawal of Consent is available on the NSW Health website at: www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisationTo improve vaccination completion, students will be opportunistically offered any missed doses throughout the year where possible. A Record of Vaccination will be provided to each student vaccinated at each clinic. Parents/guardians should ensure that this record is kept for future reference and should not assume that their child has been vaccinated if they do not receive this Record of Vaccination.

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During this class students undertake practical lessons involving snorkelling and underwater photography. The 2016 students are pictured here at the Muttonbird Island harbour reef where they have found an octopus. Drew Gilchrist (pictured) is pointing out the lair of the octopus to other interested students. The harbour reef is home to many tropical reef fish in the summer and wobbegong sharks can often be found here as well.

Dr Andrew WillhoiteMarine Studies Teacher

Year 10 Marine Studies

Sawtell Soccer Club registration days will be on Saturday 4th, 11th & 18th of February at Toormina Gardens, 9am-12pm. Registrations need to be in ASAP so we can validate teams. For more info please email us [email protected]

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At the end of Term 4, 2016 the Year 9 aviation students enjoyed half a day touring the Coffs harbour Airport.First stop was the control tower watching planes land and takeoff, listening to the level of communication between pilots and the controller and learning about the training and career paths available.Second stop was the Professional Pilot Traing Centre. Students experienced the inside of small planes and tried their skills on the joy stick in a flight simulator.Eaglecopters allowed the students to checkout the controls and interior of a helicopter and also the assembly of an additional machine being rebuilt on site.Students enjoyed the tour and were surprised by the level of services available at our local airport.

Derek Howard, Aviation Teacher.

AVIATION STUDENTS

Absent from schoolIf your child is absent from school please ring, write a note or respond to SMS text WITHIN 7 DAYS. An acceptable reason MUST be given or absence is classified as ‘unjustified’ by the Department of Education.

Leave school earlyIf your child needs to leave school early please have them bring a note to the front office BEFORE SCHOOL to have it signed by a Deputy Principal. This enables the student to receive an EARLY Leave Pass, if no pass students must be signed out by a parent or carer.

LockersLockers are available for a non-refundable $10 per year.

Change of DetailsPlease let the office know if you change address, phone, mobile number or email address. Also please ensure your Emergency Contact phone number is kept up to date.

NewslettersNewsletters are sent by email and Skoolbag and are available on the THS website. Paper copies are also available at the office. If you would like friends or family to receive a newsletter please ring THS 66533077 and we can arrange this.

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P&CWelcome to 2017.A special welcome the Year 7 students and new enrolments. The P&C started the year running with a surprise Bunnings BBQ on 4/2/17. With very little time to organise, Carolyn Collins did an exceptional job of pulling together a roster and supplying what was needed. I think everyone who worked under the awning was as cooked as the sausages!! But despite that we sold the most drinks and sausages in our BBQ history!! Listed below are our helpers for the day. A very big THANK YOU! Parent helpers were: Carolyn Collins, Brad Donnan, Dionne Court, Maree Gallagher, Suzy Turner, Jaye Gilchrist, Craig Smith, Carleen Bake-Smith and Jason Bake. Staff included: Paul Humphrey, Kathy McDowell, Craig Holden, Simon Bilsborough, Kate Williams, Adam Berrada, Kyah Schwarz, Annabel Speight and Andy Robb. Thanks to the students also: Aidan Loveday, Kara Donnan and Jorjah Bake.Thank you so much!! Hopefully we will have more notice next time.

The first P&C meeting for the year will be held Wednesday 15th Feb at 5.30 in the staff room which is just near the front office. I encourage parents of new students to attend so they can see what we do. If each child's parent/carer attended just one meeting per year, we would have a vibrant P&C.

Thanks again!!Michele BakeP&C President

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welcome [toormina-h.schools.nsw.gov.au]...driving through the bus bay before and after school is a...

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