GUNDAGAI HIGH

GUNDAGAI HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER 7 February 2015

UPCOMING EVENTS

Year 7 parents and staff bowls night

P&C Meeting 6pm

February 10th

February 16th

February 19th Immunisations Years 7, 11 & 12

March 16th to 20th Year 12 Mid-Course Exams

March 26th HSC Art Study Day

Welcome to 2015

I would like to welcome all students and their families to the 2015 school year. I also wish to extend a

special welcome to those that are new to Gundagai High School.

Over the first few weeks students have displayed excitement to be back with their schoolmates and

engaged in their learning. Our Year 7 students have settled in well and appear to be enjoying their

transition.

Many exciting extra-curricular activities are in being planned for our students in 2015, including the

Northern Territory Outback excursion, specific year group camps and many educational, sporting and

cultural activities.

Staff are continuing to develop the 2015-2017 GHS School Plan, the school’s website and Facebook

page. We welcome the local community’s feedback and input of schooling matters. Please do not

hesitate to contact the school on 6944 1233 or come and join the P&C meeting on Monday 16th Feb.

A number of key changes have occurred for the commencement of 2015:

School Director

Toni MacDonald, the new Director of Public Schools New South Wales Cootamundra Network, will be

visiting GHS in the near future. We look forward to working with Toni and wish her well in this position.

Staffing Changes

Mrs Miggins– Great Lakes

College Foster campus

Mr Hunt– On Leave for 2015

Mrs Hunt– On leave for 2015

Ms Thake– Illawarra Sports

High School

Miss Turner– Engadine High

School

Relieving Positions

Mr Bridgeman- Principal

Mr Bishop- Deputy Principal

Mr Chadwick- TAS Head

Teacher

Miss Weaver- Maths/ Music/

Visual Arts Head Teacher

New staff

Mrs Sandra Daley- SLSO

Mr Joshua Harris– TAS

Miss Kate McGrath– TAS

Mr Ian Morton– English/ HSIE

Mrs Casey Norden– English/

HSIE

Mr John Officer- Multiple KLAs

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

157 Hanley St GUNDAGAI Ph: 02 6944 1233 Email: [email protected]

Trees

In 2014 many trees throughout the school were identified as a safety hazard. This has resulted in

several trees being removed and others trimmed during the month of January. The school is currently

investigating shade options for playground areas and also the planting of new trees around the school

grounds.

Cameras

Due to a number of break-ins which occurred during 2014, Gundagai High School has invested in

security cameras which have been placed around the school. These cameras are for security

purposes and will be used to help police in their investigations if security breaches continue. The

cameras will not be used as a monitoring tool in the playground, however, they may be used if there is

a major incident during school hours.

School Development Day Tuesday 27th January, 2015

All school staff completed the compulsory Anaphylaxis training over the holidays and were also

awarded their CPR certificates from the training that took place on the last day of school 2014.

Staff also engaged in Mental Health First Aid, which guided them through ways to identify someone

who is struggling with their mental health. We were given advice on how to support and care for our

students.

Staff spent time preparing for the new school year and completed two workshops. Mr Hall and Mr

Crane ran sport orientated activities. Miss Annetts and Miss Carr briefed all staff on the new Year 7

students and suggested teaching methodologies that would be of benefit to our new cohort.

School Swimming Carnival

Congratulations to Mr Hall and Mr Crane for their organisation in planning and running another

successful swimming carnival. Thank you to the staff and students who participated in the carnival

and to those who achieved Age Champion. Good luck to those students who will represent GHS in

the coming weeks at the District and Zone carnivals.

Year 12, 2014

Year 12 students who graduated in 2014 have received excellent news in the past few months.

Sixteen students received at least one offer to university in a variety of courses including Arts,

Communications, Sport Sciences, Engineering, Nursing, Information Technology, Education, Social

Sciences, Criminology and Health. This is a fantastic achievement and the students are to be

congratulated.

In addition, six students have been successful in gaining apprenticeships. This is an excellent

accomplishment in a very competitive employment market. Well done students.

Samuel Jones – Snowy Hydro

Chris Lewin – Rossin’s Developments

Andrew McLeay – Electrician Canberra

Jospeh Bruce – Carter Holt Harvey Mill

Miles Hunt – Hindmarsh Constructions

Robbie Ward – Smith’s Auto Centre

Simon Bridgeman

Relieving Principal


DEPUTY PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Welcome Back to 2015

It has been great to see all students back for the 2015 School Year. Staff have been impressed with

the punctuality, behaviour, appearance and the uniform that students have displayed to start off the

year.

Important Dates

All staff at Gundagai High School will be using the Calendar on the Gundagai High School website.

Important dates such Assessment tasks, Sporting trials, excursions and holidays will be placed onto

the Calendar.

We encouraged students, parents and guardians to regularly check the calendar, and the school’s

website, for important information.

Please find the link to the GHS website below:

http://www.gundagai-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/

Aerosol cans

Aerosol cans are a banned item in all DEC Schools. A reminder to all students, parents and guardians

to ensure they are left at home and not bring them to school. Students found with aerosol cans will

have them confiscated immediately and will then need to pick them up at the end of the school day.

Students wishing to bring deodorant to school must ensure that they use either a deodorant stick or

pump.

The school appreciates your co-operation in this matter.

Lockers

Gundagai High School has lockers available for hire for all students in Years 7 – 12. The cost of the

lockers is $60 per year. Students will need to pick up a locker note from the front office, have it

completed by their parents or guardians and return it to the front office.

Once this has been done the Deputy Principal will assign the locker to the student.

Student Essentials

Available for sale at the front office are:

$8 – GHS 8Gb USB Drives

$7 – GHS Bucket hats

$17.60 – Calculators

These are essential items in a number of subjects across the school. The Mathematics Department

encourages all students to have the same calculator for consistency of learning in the classroom, hats

are mandatory when going outside for Technology and Agriculture subjects, and a USB Drive is

essential for all students to back up their school work.

An important reminder to all students that loss off data or computer work is not grounds for appeal or

a reason for handing assessment tasks in late.

http://www.gundagai-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/


School Uniforms

School uniform purchase can be made through a number of methods:

Lowe’s in Wagga Wagga

Lowe’s Online - http://www.lowes.com.au/Schools-Online.aspx

GHS Front Office

Only limited amounts of stock are available through the GHS Front Office.

The Uniform Price list is attached to Newsletter.

A reminder to all students that the uniform policy is for students to wear black leather-enclosed shoes.

The following information regarding footwear is DEC Policy:

DEC Footwear Requirements.

In the absence of any medical certificate, the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

requirement is not negotiable. A parent/guardian signing a disclaimer is insufficient.

The student, parent and /or guardian need to re-evaluate participating in the subject.

Basically the PPE requirement is a condition of entry into the workshop or laboratory

and was developed by undertaking a risk management exercise.

It is unacceptable to allow students in workshops without the prerequisite PPE.

In a number of subject areas, particularly subjects in the TAS Department, leather-enclosed shoes are

mandatory for both practical and theory subjects. Leather shoes with mesh panels in the sides do not

provide sufficient enough protection and students may be excluded from lessons.

The school appreciates the co-operation of students, parents and guardians in this matter.

Attendance and Notes

The absence from school by any student requires a note to be handed to the front office or roll call teacher

to explain the absence.

Please see attached to the newsletter a copy of the absentee note, or you can find it on the school

website:

http://www.gundagai-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/our-school/attendance-absences

Matthew Bishop

Relieving Deputy Principal

http://www.lowes.com.au/Schools-Online.aspx


FRONT OFFICE NEWS

Late Arrivals

The school day starts at 9:00am with Roll Call. It is important for your child to attend roll call in the

morning as it is an information sharing time. If there are any variations to the day, roll call is where

everyone finds out about it. A lot of sporting announcements are also made at these roll calls. If your

child doesn’t arrive at school on time to attend roll call, they need to sign in at the front office.

There are several issues with students arriving late to school including:

Students don’t know if there are any variations to the school day which may include visiting

workshops, room changes, program changes, nominating for sporting events and choosing a sport for

Wednesday afternoon sport.

These partial lateness’s add up over the year and will be shown on their school reports that they

have had unexplained absences. This does not look good when they apply for a job and need to show

their school reports.

Students arriving late to a class are disruptive to both the teacher and fellow students.

We ask all parents to encourage their children to arrive at school by 8:45am, attend roll call and are

ready for lessons. If students are late to school they are required to bring a note explaining the reason

for their lateness, just as they would on their return to school if they were away for the whole day/s.

Early Departures

If your child has to leave school early for any reason such as doctor or dental appointments they must

hand in permission note to the front Office in the morning before roll call. A leave pass showing time

of departure will be prepared and handed back to the student. The student takes the leave pass to roll

call and the roll teacher will mark the roll accordingly. When the student needs to leave they show

there teacher their leave pass then go to the front office sign the leaving school book upon departure.

Absences

Gundagai High School is required under the Education Act 2009 to record and report on all

absences (Whole day and Partial absences). This includes students who are “a few minutes late”.

Parents are responsible under the act to explain the absences of their children from school with a

written note.

Student Details and Updates

A Family details form will be sent home with students around week 4. This will give you a opportunity

to review the school data and update any changes for eg. Phone Numbers, Addresses, Medical info

etc.

Fees

Fee statements will be posted out very soon. Prompt payment would be appreciated as these funds

buy supplies for the student’s education.


Lost Property

All personal belongings need to be clearly named. Lost property is situated in the front office. At the end of each term unclaimed/unnamed items of school clothing are taken to our local Op Shop.

FOR SALE

GHS school hats $7.00

GHS USB (4GB) $8.00

Calculators $17.60

All available at the front office.

2015 CENTRAL AUSTRALIA AND OUTBACK QUEENSLAND EXCURSION UPDATE

Students wishing to attend the Central Australia and Outback Queensland Excursion are invited to attend a meeting during lunch one, Friday 13th Feb. The parent and guardian information session with Goodes Coaches, Ms. Sturt and Mr. Rake will be held during an evening this term (date and time yet to be confirmed). A reminder to those students who have paid the first instalment, the second payment is due by the end of this term. For more information please see Ms. Sturt in the English staffroom.

Why English?

Parents and other interested community members are invited to participate in an evening where we

look at some of the important aspects of the study of English at high school. English is the only

compulsory subject from years 7 to 12 and some students and parents question the relevance of the

study of poetry or Shakespeare’s plays, for example. The English teachers at Gundagai High will host

one evening each term to share our love of English with the broader Gundagai community. Everyone

is welcome to this evening, even if English wasn’t your favourite subject at school. So, come along

and see what your children are learning in English and perhaps how education has changed since

you were last at school. The first topic we will cover is poetry and later this year we will look at other

texts including Shakespeare’s plays. We will also run a session on speech writing later in the year.

We would love to see you for coffee and a snack to begin with at 6 pm on Tuesday 17 February at the

school. Contact Mr Regan at the school for further information.

ENGLISH


The Australian Tax Office has changed the process for students applying for a Tax File Number

(TFN). Schools are no longer able to process TFN application forms!

The new process involves students completing an online application form and then visiting a

participating Australia Post Office outlet to have their identity verified.

To apply for a TFN students need to visit.

https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Ind/Apply-for-a-TFN-on-the-web/?fb_locale=es_LA

After they have completed this form students will need to print their application summary and take this

together with proof of identity documents to a participating Australia Post outlet. This must be done

within 30 days of completing the online form.

Information on the type of Proof of Identity documents that can be used can be found at

https://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Ind/Apply-for-a-TFN-on-the-

web/?anchor=Proof_of_identity#Proof_of_identity

AGRICULTURE NEWS

ANGUS SOCIETY RECOGNISES GUNDAGAI HIGH’S MELBOURNE SHOW SUCCESS

At the recent Angus Youth Round-Up and dinner Gundagai High’s Melbourne Show Team were

presented with a trophy and prize money to recognise their success as a member of the winning

Borthwick Trophy team at the 2014 Melbourne Show. The steer was one donated by Drumard

Partnership of Humula for the school to feed and prepare for Melbourne.

D Chadwick Agriculture Teacher

CAREER’S ADVISER’S NEWS

Some of the

successful 2014

Show Team with

the trophy.

https://staffowa.det.nsw.edu.au/owa/redir.aspx?C=C9Lwj6-tHkS8La9PNf_KJcaQ1qUvFdJIX7eW_9bMTDPN1VQkOkn8tWTQJAWdCWxbw83IgNb_Zxw.&URL=https%3a%2f%2fwww.ato.gov.au%2fIndividuals%2fInd%2fApply-for-a-TFN-on-the-web%2f%3ffb_locale%3des_LA

https://staffowa.det.nsw.edu.au/owa/redir.aspx?C=C9Lwj6-tHkS8La9PNf_KJcaQ1qUvFdJIX7eW_9bMTDPN1VQkOkn8tWTQJAWdCWxbw83IgNb_Zxw.&URL=https%3a%2f%2fwww.ato.gov.au%2fIndividuals%2fInd%2fApply-for-a-TFN-on-the-web%2f%3fanchor%3dProof_of_identity%23Proof_of_identity

https://staffowa.det.nsw.edu.au/owa/redir.aspx?C=C9Lwj6-tHkS8La9PNf_KJcaQ1qUvFdJIX7eW_9bMTDPN1VQkOkn8tWTQJAWdCWxbw83IgNb_Zxw.&URL=https%3a%2f%2fwww.ato.gov.au%2fIndividuals%2fInd%2fApply-for-a-TFN-on-the-web%2f%3fanchor%3dProof_of_identity%23Proof_of_identity


GUNDAGAI HIGH RFS CADET STATE CHAMPIONS ARE THE 2015

YOUNG CITIZENS OF THE YEAR

At the recent Australia Day awards in Gundagai the schools RFS Cadet Team were awarded the

honour of Young Citizens of the Year. The cadets gained this accolade through their commitment to

serving their community, upholding the values of the RFS and training for and winning the NSW State

Championships in 2014. The Cadets are active in their community assisting with the operation of

various events around town including the Giddy-Up, Battle on the Bidgee, Riverfest, regional cross

country and various school fund raisers. They are also active during flood times assisting with

sandbagging or moving the contents of flood prone houses. The cadet unit has been an integral part

of the sport program at GHS since 2010. The recipients of the award are Stacey Lewin, Savannah

Thomson, Marten Petty, Brodie Wilson, Stuart Petty and Mitchell Luff.

I wish to thank Ian Petty for all his work in 2014 as the coach and mentor of the cadet unit, also Karen

Lewin for assisting with the Team whilst at the titles in Pambula. Their support is invaluable and very

much appreciated.

D Chadwick Cadet Coordinator

The Cadet team receiving their awards on Australia Day (B Wilson absent)


WELCOME YEAR 7

What a great start to the year it has been for 42 Year 7 students who commenced their high school

journey at Gundagai High School last Wednesday, 28th January.

The students have settled extremely well into their new setting, which at first can be quite daunting.

Each student has shown a keen approach to their learning across all subjects and as a group has been

complimented on their enthusiasm, eagerness and organisational skills. Students have handled the

significant changes from primary school including reading timetables, having several class teachers for

a variety of subjects and moving around a bigger school environment, with maturity and for this they

are to be congratulated.

It has been excellent to see all students in full school uniform and wearing the correct footwear. Thank

you to parents and caregivers for assisting students to be fully prepared and ready in all facets for high

school.

Students took home an invitation for parents and caregivers to attend a ‘Gundagai High School Staff

and Parents Get Together’ which will take place Tuesday 10th February at the Gundagai District

Services Sports Club. I look forward to meeting parents and seeing familiar faces at the event.

If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact me on (02) 69 441 233.

I have thoroughly enjoyed welcoming the Year 7 students to Gundagai High and look forward to a

wonderful year!

Miss Lucy Annetts

Year 7 Adviser


Boys Girls

12 Year

1st Oscar Bartlett 2nd Cameron Smart 3rd Matthew Dowell

1st Samantha Tout 2nd Jazmine Carberry 3rd Jarrah Ransome

13 Year

1st Clay Webb 2nd Campbell Smith 3rd Bradley Luff

1st Jane Lemon 2nd Bridget Smart 3rd Tanisha Denhert

14 Year

1st Noah Hargreaves 2nd Riley Britt 3rd Oliver McDonnell

1st Maranda Carberry 2nd Karleigh Bower 3rd Peta Salmon

15 Year

1st Claz Bishop = 2nd Will Carberry = 2nd Harry McDonnell

1st Shae Smith 2nd Amelia Smith

16 Year

1st Joseph Carberry 2nd Tylor Rolfe 3rd Matt Peterson

1st Rachel Stuckey 2nd Clare Tout

17+ Year

1st Jimmy Lindley 2nd Jospeh Murray 3rd Marten Petty

1st Billie-Joe Carberry 2nd Nikki Smart 3rd Toni Cribb

2015 SWIMMING CHAMPIONS

Are you having issues with peers?

Do you want some advice about school or home concerns?

Are you worried about a friend?

The Girls and Boys Supervisors are available to advise

and assist students.

Make an appointment with Miss Carr (females) or

Mr Crane (males).


The Gundagai Concert Band is taking new members. Students and their parents are invited to an information and registration session at Gundagai High School MPC at 4pm on Monday 9th February. Come and have fun and learn to play an instrument. Enquiries Brenda Argaet 0427441688 or Karen Byron (Kelly) 0402730577

GUNDAGAI/ADELONG JRL - REGISTRATION DAY

Gundagai/Adelong Junior Rugby League will be holding another registration day on Wednesday 18th of February at the Gundagai Swimming Pool from 3.30 to 5.30pm - Cost is $65.00 per player and capped at $150.00 for 3 or more children. New players welcomed and must show original Birth Certificate on Registration day (new players receive bag, socks & shorts). Payment must be made on the day of registration. Parents are also advised that it is COMPULSORY that each child registered has a current Medical Advice Card completed. Medical Advice Cards will be available on registration day and MUST be completed prior to training or playing. ALL players wishing to try out for the Representative teams the trials will be on the 21st of March for U12’s – U15’s at Wagga and must be registered beforehand. All children MUST be registered before they commence training and before they play their first game. - All enquiries can be made to Shane Bartlett on 0417 755 903 or Jacki Fairall on 0488 997 321. For all information check out our website http://gundagaiadelongjuniors.leaguenet.com.au

TUMUT BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

Autumn Competition Registration Day

Thursday 19th February

4pm to 6pm

at Club Tumut Nomination forms available from Sportspower

Registration enquiries to Debbie Webb on 0427 647027

COMMUNITY NEWS

https://staffowa.det.nsw.edu.au/owa/redir.aspx?C=khpLOmLKi0Wg6wjPCk9m17WXF-8xFdJI6Lafqt_EyB-otWZIbQAowf5wnEYmYZnwenfW96aoItY.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fgundagaiadelongjuniors.leaguenet.com.au

REASON FOR ABSENCE

My son/daughter ________________________ in Year _________

was absent from school on ________________________________

(Dates student absent)

Reason: Sick Medical/Dental Family Leave

Signed: __________________________________Parent/Carer

Date: _____/____/____

REASON FOR ABSENCE



(dates student absent)



Date: _____/____/____

REASON FOR ABSENCE






Date: _____/____/____

REASON FOR ABSENCE






Date: _____/____/____

Documents

GUNDAGAI HIGH