S trive & T hrive

ORACLEORACLEWarialda High School newsletter

Providing advantage through diverse educational opportunities for every student

A proud School of the Gwydir Learning Region

Apollo Avenue, Warialda NSW 2402

T 02 6729 1000 I E warialda-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Dates for your Diary

Week 8 March 19Year 12: Assessments in Ancient History

Year 11: Assessments in Mathematics Advanced & Standard & Visual Arts

Year 9/10: Assessments in Mathematics

March 22: School Social

March 23: Senior Agriculture case study and farm product study

Week 9: March 26Year 12: Assessments in Business Services, Primary Industries, Hospitality & SLR

Year 11: Assessments in Advanced English, Standard English, English Studies & IT Timber

Year 9/10: Assessments in Line Y-PASS & Design and Technology

March 22-23: SES Cadetship Program training days

March 26-29: Vocal Camp

March 28: NRL League Tag Gala Day

Issue 3 - Term 1 - Week B Tuesday 20 March, 2018

Students ExcellingCongratulations to our 4 musicians who have been selected to travel to Italy next January with the West of the Divide Wind Band and Choir. Louisa Gilmour, Dakota Perrett and Nicholas Waller were selected in the Wind Band, whilst Keziah McIntosh was selected in the Choir.

Congratulations to Eric O’Sullivan and Courtney Barwick who were selected in the North West Under 15 Touch teams to travel to the CHS State Championships in Mudgee and Lilliana Reardon who was selected as a shadow. Well done to all players who trialed in Inverell last week for that team, which is a highly sought after opportunity.

Well done to the Opens, Under 16’s and Under 14’s teams that travelled to Inverell for the Super Rugby League 9s gala day last week. In the hot conditions all players performed admirably in the fi rst school games of the year, with more matches to follow in term 2.

Tell Them From MeI am delighted that this term, our school, like many other public schools in the state, will participate in a Department of Education initiative: the “Tell Them From Me” student feedback survey. The survey measures factors that are known to aff ect academic achievement and other student outcomes. The focus of the NSW-wide survey is on student wellbeing, engagement and eff ective teaching practices.

More information about the survey is available at: http://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au

The survey is a great opportunity for our students to provide us with valuable and quick feedback on what they think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the diff erent ways that teachers interact with them. Schools in Australia and around the world have used the Tell Them From Me survey to help improve how they do things at school.

I want to assure you that the survey is confi dential. The survey is conducted online and will typically take less than 30 minutes to complete. It will be administered during school hours between March 26 and April 6. Participating in the survey is entirely voluntary.

A consent form and FAQs for parents/carers about the survey is contained in this Oracle. If you do not want your child or children to participate, please return the form in this Oracle to school by March 26. Copies of the form and FAQs are available from: http://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au/information-for-parents.

Staff ChangesThere will be a number of staff changes from next week. I have accepted a position as the Principal of Illawarra Sports High School and I look back with fond memories of my 5 years in the position of Principal at Warialda High School. Thanks to all students, staff and parents/carers for their support in that time. The position will be advertised during term 2. Mrs Young will be relieving Principal and Mrs La Fontaine will be relieving Deputy Principal. Miss Gillespie has accepted a position at Warren Central and we welcome Mrs Walker in a fulltime capacity in Art/Science load.

Best wishes to all in your education journey

Contributed by Mr Gary Hampton, Principal

More Dates for yourDiaryWeek 10 2 AprilApril 4 Boys & Girls Football (soccer), Boys Rugby League 15s & Girls Netball Trials in Coonbarabran

April 8-10: State Swimming championships

Week 11 9 April13 April: Last day of Term 1

Term 2April 30: Staff return to school

May 1: All students return to School

May 5-6: CHS TouchTrials in Mudgee

May 6-11: Regional Instrumental Camp

May 10: School Photos

May 21: HSC Music Workshop in Tamworth

Rude, Harassing or Bullying BehaviourThe past week has involved our students in discussions on distinguishing between being rude, harassing and bullying. Friday’s Assembly recognised that it was the National Day of Action to stamp out Bullying. I spoke at length about choices and considering others. More importantly I wanted students to be respectful of each other and the many adults who are trying to help them open the doors to many options that may be there for them.

However, several of our students are struggling to recognise the rights of others to learn and their teachers to teach. Much of this is due to the ongoing misuse of mobile phones. I would particularly encourage parents to discuss how their child should use their phone. The rules for their use at school indicate clearly that they should be away when in class at all times. However, their teachers are presently giving students one chance and beyond that students who continue to be uncooperative are politely asked to take their phone to the Front Offi ce to be kept securely until 3:10 PM. It would be anticipated that students abide by the rules that are equal for all. To reinforce this, parents please refrain from contacting your child during classes either by call or text as this does tend to muddy the waters. I look forward to greater engagement of our students in classes without that distraction.

Contributed by Deputy Principal, Mrs Helen Young

School Social Theme “The Letter M”Term 1 School Social is scheduled for this Thursday, March 22 from 6 PM to 9 PM.

The theme is “The Letter M”. Tickets, $3 per student, need to be purchased asap or the Social may be cancelled. Student’s and parents are reminded that drink bottles and bags are not allowed but there will be a canteen available.

The SRC have Best dressed awards and fun competitions during the night.

Donations & Letters to Fiji StudentsSRC and AECG students wrote personalised letters to the Fiji students asking to be pen pals, this has been a wonderful experience for all the students at WHS.

The SRC would like to thank everyone for all the wonderful donations.

SRC Guess CompetionAll students have participated in the Easter Egg guessing competition. The winner will be announced next Thursday before Good Friday.

Elective feesStatements were sent out to families to pay overdue fees on electives a couple of weeks ago. Could you please assist the school by paying these as soon as possible.

Payments can be made via the POP payment system on the school internet, eftpos by person or over the phone, cash or cheque. Please contact the school if you are having fi nancial diffi culties.

If these fees are not paid, students may be changed to a non-fee paying course and/or will not be eligible to participate in non-mandatory excursions.

Formal Assembly CertificatesCongratulations to the award winners last Friday.

Silver Certifi cates

Nickolas Williams, Alyssa Siftar, Lucy Lockyer, Amica Cuell, Isaac Armstrong, Christopher Keeley

Faculty Certifi cates

Abbiegail Dunnicliff , Alyssa Siftar, Amica Cuell, Andrew Marle, Anthony Francis, Brayden Miller, Brianna Williams, Brodie Jane Baker, Caleb Withers, Calee Tranter, Charlie Cush, Charlie Dawson, Charlotte Lockyer, Cordelle Dunnicliff , Daemon Fohmsbee, Dakota Perrett, Emma Weatherall, Emma Hall, Eric O’Sullivan, Florence Armstrong, Grace Lockyer, Hannah Tooley, Hayden Hancock, Holly Duff , Holly Smith, Hunter Rose, Hunter Brown, Jackie Woodward, Jade Hicks, James Skinner, James Williams, Jarrod Nolan, Jordan Johnston, Kane Evens, Lacey Smith, Liliana Reardon, Lillian Delanty, Louisa Gilmour, Luke Hobday, Mason Daley, Matilda Barwick, Maverick Mitchell, Michael Nolan, Mikalea Johnston, Natalie Tu, Nicholas Waller, Nicola Briggs, Paige Delanty, Peter King, Rhylie Honour, Ruby Mitchell, Sarah Miller, Savannah Hughes, Sophie Hall, Stacey Allison, Tanaya Temple, Tegan Brown, Toni Jane Brown, Tyson Bialecka, Will O’Sullivan, William Delanty, Wyatt Laidlaw

PBL Silver Certifi cate Draw

The winners of the PBL $10 voucher Silver Certifi cate draw, donated by the Warialda High School P&C were: Nickolas Williams and Charlotte Lockyer

Thank you every one who supported by donating to the children of Fiji.

Kerrie O’Rourke, who has taken gifts for children in Fiji previously, will be transporting all the donations. A big thank you Kerrie.

Musicial Notes Italy!

Congratulations to our 4 musicians who have been selected to travel to Italy next January with the West of the Divide Wind Band and Choir. Louisa Gilmour, Dakota Perret and Nick Waller were selected in the Wind Band, whilst Keziah McIntosh was selected in the Choir. Sarah Heaton from Bingara, also a Gwydir Concert Band musician has also been selected.

Mrs Conway and Mrs Gilmour will also be touring as part of the staff who will accompany the students.

The tour will include concert performances, master classes and school exchanges in Rome, Venice, Florence, Zagreb, Lake Bled and Postojna.

This is the 4th overseas tour for the West of the Divide regions, having previously toured to Hawaii, Hong Kong and Vienna.

Mrs Conway is very proud of these musicians. The hard work now begins to save up as well as learn the repertoire as soon as possible.

Vocal Camp

We wish our seven vocalists who have been accepted to attend Vocal Camp this year all the best for a great fun week of singing. They are: Keziah McIntosh, Isabella McIntosh, Florence Armstrong, Matilda Barwick, Natalie Tu, Alyssa Sifter, Caleb Withers

Concert Band

It has been fantastic to see so many musicians attending Gwydir Concert Band rehearsals. We can hardly fi t in the music shed! The band is making a great sound and has been challenged with some harder music this year. A big thank you also needs to go to Mr West and David Brown for all their assistance with the band over many years. Also thank you to all our parents and families who make it possible for the students to attend after school.

Middle School Band

Both the advanced and beginning middle school band groups are up and running. It is great to see so many interested students wanting to learn an instrument. It was wonderful to meet all the parents of our new musicians. Thank you for making the eff ort to come in to our school and sign up.

Instrumental Camp

The Regional Instrumental Camp will be held at Lake Keepit on Sunday May 6 to Friday May 11, 2018. Applications forms will be on the Regional Arts website as we get closer to the date. Here is the link:

https://dichall.wixsite.com/regionalartsne/music-events

Acappella

Acappella singing has commenced in the music shed at lunch times on Monday with Mr West and Mr McIntosh. We have some fabulous singers in our school and the group has been having lots of fun in the fi rst few weeks of rehearsals.

Ukulele

Mr McIntosh has started a ukulele group at lunch times on Tuesdays and already the students are playing quite a few chords. We do not hire ukuleles as they are not very expensive and can be purchased from most music retailers.

Communication

Please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Conway if you have any concerns or queries about anything in the Music Faculty. Please phone Warialda High School’s offi ce and they will either organise an appointment or put you in contact with Mrs Conway.

***MEDIA RELEASE*** The North West Theatre Company 5th March, 2018What is an Opera Lounge?

In a changing marketplace the traditional Opera House has sought new ways to deliver the beautiful music of opera to those who love it and to those who are yet to discover it. Just as the ‘Three Tenors’ introduced “Nessum Dorma” to a wider audience, the Opera Lounge is a style of musical presentation that provides for the loveliness of opera without the big scale staging.

Bingara’s Lexi Hutton is now well established with one of the world’s great opera ‘houses’ Deutsche Oper, Berlin. Lexi started there fi ve years ago as a young artist. Now she is an established member of the ensemble, playing some of the great operatic roles like Susanna in Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro”, and Musetta in Puccini’s “La Boheme” on the big stage in Berlin.

In ‘opera’, singing takes on a pure, highly technical, almost instrumental form. Opera Australia describes the diff erence between ‘popular music’ and ‘operatic’ singing as follows:

Singing in the Western world is now generally divided into classical and popular styles; the main diff erences concern volume. Essentially all singers, in all ‘pop’ fi elds depend upon the microphone. This enables them to deliver their message in a conversational or whispered style of great intimacy as well as a loud and dramatic style.

Operatic singers on the other hand, mostly still depend on their own unamplifi ed voice, which they must be able to project to the back row in a large auditorium. In order to make the large sound needed to fi ll an opera house without using any amplifi cation, the singer must use all the natural resonance of the sinus cavities in the face and head. These natural spaces are, in eff ect, like little amplifying ‘echo’ chambers.

The opera singer must focus the tone so that the sound travels forward from the mouth, and they must breathe correctly. Proper breathing requires using the full capacity of the lungs. As the lungs are fully fi lled, they displace the diaphragm, a membrane which stretches across the base of the chest cavity; then, using the strength of this membrane, the air is expelled in a controlled fashion. ‘Diaphragm breathing’ which gives the voice maximum projection is also a major source of the vibrato, the slight waver in the voice which characterises the opera singer’s sound.

Lexi has been working on her singing craft for many, many years. She still looks for new techniques and ways to vary her sound. She has found that diff erent teachers will provide new ideas on how the sound should be made and the music interpreted.

“I was delighted to hear Lexi sing at Deutsche Oper Berlin at Christmas last year in the role of Musetta in “La Boheme,”said her father, Rick Hutton. “… where, in an auditorium with more than 2000 people, she could be clearly heard, her voice carrying over an 80 piece orchestra, which included six double bases.”

On April 14, this year, at the Roxy Theatre in Bingara, Lexi Hutton will sing, with the accompaniment of just one piano, played beautifully by Tom Williams, formerly of Moree, but now entrenched in Melbourne after several years in Germany.

Not only will Tom play and Lexi sing some of the most beautiful opera music, they will also take time, in true ‘Opera Lounge’ fashion, to tell the story of their incredible journeys in opera. Tickets for the afternoon performance, which includes a high-tea to follow, are now available on-line at www.roxybingara.com.au/category/whats-on/, or through the Bingara Visitor Information Centre, phone 6724 0066.

Soprano

Alexandra Hutton

Pianist

Thomas Williams

BACK

from

BERLIN

Saturday April 14, 4:00pm Roxy Theatre, Bingara an ‘Opera Lounge’

Tickets: $30 Adults, $25 Concessions (includes after show High-Tea!)

Bookings: www.roxybingara.com.au/category/whats-on/ or 6724 0066

The North West Theatre Company

...presents...

CENTRE FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS AND EVALUATION WWW.CESE.NSW.GOV.AU

Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation

Tell Them From Me student surveyFrequently Asked Questions (parents and carers)

1. What is the Tell Them From Me

student survey?

The Tell Them From Me student survey asks questions about

factors that are known to affect academic achievement and

other outcomes. It aims to help improve the learning outcomes

of students. The survey is designed to measure, assess and report

insights from the student point of view at the school and system

levels. The focus of this NSW survey is on student wellbeing,

engagement and effective teaching practices.

2. What kind of questions will the

survey ask?

The survey questions relate to the following 18 measures for

primary schools:

Participation

in sports

Behaviour

at school

Effective

learning time

Participation in

extra-curricular

activities

Homework

behaviour

Teaching

relevance

Sense

of belonging

Interest

and motivation

Teaching

rigour

Positive

relationshipsEffort

Experience of

being bullied

Valuing

school outcomes

Skills and

learning challenge

Advocacy

at school

Positive teacher-

student relations

Expectations for

success

Positive learning

climate

The survey questions relate to the following 22 measures for

secondary schools:

Participation

in sports and extra-

curricular activities

Homework

behaviour

Expectations for

success

Feeling challenged

in class

Academic

self-concept

Behaviour

at school

Experience of

being bulliedTruancy

Sense

of belonging

Interest and

motiviation

Effective

learning time

Aspirations: finishing

Year 12, University, TAFE

Positive

relationshipsEffort Teaching relevance

WellnessValuing

school outcomes

Positive learning

climate

Teaching rigourAdvocacy

at school

Advocacy

outside school

Positive teacher-

student relations− −

3. How have schools been selected to

take part?

The survey is open to all NSW government schools at no cost to

them. Your child’s school has decided to participate.

CENTRE FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS AND EVALUATION WWW.CESE.NSW.GOV.AU

4. How will taking part in this survey benefit

my child’s school?

The Tell Them From Me student survey will provide school

principals and school leaders with insight into student

engagement, wellbeing and effective teaching practices at their

school, from the perspective of students.

Data collected from the survey responses are quickly compiled

into reports for school leaders. Principals can then use this

information to help them identify emerging issues and plan for

school improvement.

5. What does my child need to do to

participate in the survey?

The survey typically takes less than 30 minutes and is conducted

entirely online through a secure website operated by the survey

developers, The Learning Bar. Schools will make computers

or laptops available so that students can complete the survey

during school hours.

6. Does my child have to participate?

No, participation in the survey is optional. Your child will not

take part if either you or your child do not wish. If, during the

survey, your child is uncomfortable, he/she can choose to stop

the survey at any time. The majority of questions in the survey

can be skipped. Parents/students have a right to apply for

access to, and correction of, a student’s information.

7. Will the school be able to identify my

child from their responses?

Staff in schools will not be able to identify individual students

from their responses. To ensure confidentiality, participating

students will receive a unique username and password. Where

fewer than five students respond to a question, the results will

not be made available.

A small number of staff in the department’s Centre for

Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE) will have access to

individual student responses for the purpose of state-wide

analysis. Individual students’ data will be held on a secure server

with access strictly limited to CESE researchers. The researchers

are interested in trends only – not in individual student

responses. No student will be identified in any publication. No

school will be identified unless they have given permission.

8. What sort of analysis will be done on the

survey data?

Once the surveys are completed by students, reports are

prepared and in most cases are available to schools within

three business days. School leaders can use the data to better

understand the experiences and views of students at their school.

CESE will undertake state-wide analysis of the survey data in

conjunction with existing student data held by the department,

including performance data.

The results will help all schools better understand the

relationship between wellbeing, engagement, effective

teaching and student learning. Results from CESE’s analysis

of this data will also help teachers and principals discuss

what works to improve student outcomes. This supports

the department’s continuing focus on quality teaching and

leadership. The data will be retained for future analysis to help

us better understand the nature of student engagement and

wellbeing over time.

9. Can all school students participate in

the survey?

The primary school survey is designed for students in Years

4 to 6. Schools are encouraged to allow as many students as

possible in these Year groups to participate. Secondary schools

are encouraged to allow as many students as possible in Years 7

to 12 to participate.

10. When will the Tell Them From Me

survey happen?

The surveys will be conducted in all participating schools at the

end of Term 1 and (optionally) Term 3/4.

CENTRE FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS AND EVALUATION WWW.CESE.NSW.GOV.AU

What is CESE?

The Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE) is part of the Department of Education.

CESE has been established to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and accountability of education in New South Wales.

CESE will identify and share what works, creating new opportunities to improve teaching and learning across all of education.

More information about CESE is available at: www.cese.nsw.gov.au

What is The Learning Bar?The Learning Bar specialises in research-based design and facilitation of student assessments and survey solutions for both primary

and secondary students. The in-house research team led by the President, Dr J Douglas Willms, undertakes extensive projects used

in the school system to effect national policy. It is against this research that the survey, Tell Them From Me, has become the largest

national school survey in Canada, used in nine of the ten provinces. More than 4,500 schools and 3.5 million Canadian students

have participated in the survey over the last twelve years.

Dr Willms holds the Canada Research Chair in Literacy and Human Development and played a lead role in the development of

questions on student engagement for the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

For purely administrative purposes, The Learning Bar will also have temporary access to identifiable student responses to the

survey questions. Other than The Learning Bar and CESE researchers within the department, identifiable student responses will

not be disclosed to any other person or body other than as required by law.

More information about The Learning Bar is available at: www.thelearningbar.com

If you have any questions about the parent survey, please contact CESE via email: TTFM@det.nsw.edu.au or by telephone:

9561 8056 / 9561 8370.

CENTRE FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS AND EVALUATIONE cese@det.nsw.edu.au www.cese.nsw.gov.au

Tell Them From Me Student Feedback Survey non-consent form

If you do not want your child to participate in the student feedback survey, please sign this form and return it to the school by Monday 26th March, 2018.

I DO NOT give consent for my child/children to participate in the Tell Them From Me student feedback survey.

Name of student 1 Roll class of student 1

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Name of student 2 Roll class of student 2

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Name of student 3 Roll class of student 3

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Name of student 4 Roll class of student 4

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