Tumut High School Newsletter

The SRC Recognition assembly was held this term to focus entirely on the student body and what students have achieved throughout 2019. The assemby recognised individual students, as well as collective bodies for their accomplishments in a number of areas including academic pursuits in English, Mathematics, Science and Geography, and others excelling in Sports, Creative Arts, Chess and Agriculture. The assembly closed with a slideshow showcasing photos taken at school events over the year.  

From the perspective of a school leader, the assembly went well in  achieving its purpose of recognising greatness at Tumut High School. The assembly also served as a great learning experience, and now we have better ideas of how to run the assembly. Thank you to the parents and family members who came to the assembly, our SRC Coordinator Ms Weir for her help, and to our fellow SRC members.  By Captain, Dom Erbacher

The Recognition Assembly has been a recent SRC initiative to try and promote and recognise the successful pursuits during the school year of many of our students. We want to reward students who may not be acknowledged in the school by other means to encourage participation of students in the numerous opportunities available at Tumut High. The assembly is entirely student run by the SRC to promote student voice in the school. This year many different awards were presented including cattle parading, chess, maths and geography competitions, debating, public speaking and participation on the local radio. We were privileged to have Sounds of the Mountains Manager Mr David Eisenhauer in attendance to present the THS Radio News awards to students who had delivered our news on the radio throughout the year.  The SRC will be working on planning another assembly next year to continue to showcase all the great things students are doing at Tumut High. By Captain, Lori Webb

We are a Positive Behaviour for Learning school and our values are Respect, Responsibility and Safety. Students who demonstrate these values during lessons are rewarded with an extended recess. 

PBL Student Acknowledgement

On Thursday, 14th November 2019 our Year 12 students with members of their family attended the Tumut High School Year 12 Farewell at the Tumut Golf Club. Lovely entertainment was provided by Year 10 students Daisy James and Madison Hibbert. Fantastic food was catered for by Year 11 Hospitality and proved to be a crowd favourite. Year 12 students enjoyed dressing up and thanks to Zara Burgess Photography for capturing this special event. A link to the Year 12 Farewell photos is on our school website. 

At the farewell Year 12 2019 Captains Sam D'Alesandro and Samantha Barton proudly presented Tumut CanAssist members with a cheque for $3100 from their fundraising efforts back in October.

Tumut High School Policy Document

 “THS supports a SAFE learning community which develops RESPECTFUL and RESPONSIBLE citizens”

 Controversial Issues In School Policy

Previously parents and teachers held clear and generally common expectations of each other’s task and there was a social consensus that some topics would be excluded from being taught at school. That situation has changed. Teachers and students increasingly face changing, complex societal issues which are less clearly defined. At times there will be matters which will be considered controversial by some parents. In this context, it is important for schools to protect and foster practices which have implications for the rights of teachers, students and parents.

Schools are places where students are preparing for informed and reasoned involvement in community life. The school’s educational policies and programs are developed within a state-wide framework of values and systemic objectives. The NESA website can be accessed to view current syllabuses taught in schools. ( https://syllabus.nesa.nsw.edu.au/ & http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/ )

At Tumut High School staff:

 ·         in discussions of controversial issues, will ensure that opinions are expressed and evidence is presented impartially.

·         will, when a statement of a teacher’s view may be necessary to help students formulate their own views or to answer a request from students, make a balanced and restrained statement, which will be presented as one opinion to be considered critically along with any others.

·         will, when confronted with syllabus content of a controversial nature, maintain communication between the school, the students and the parents in relation to the school’s educational program and the principles on which it is based. The teacher has the responsibility to inform parents, prior to the occasion, of the specific details of the program, so that the parents have time to exercise their right to withdraw their child from a particular session. In this regard, a parent’s decision will be respected.

·         will communicate to parents in a variety of ways, depending on the context and nature of the issue considered controversial. In these situations the school will use one or a combination of the following: a letter home with students; information posted on the school website; articles written in the school newsletter; emails sent to parents/carers; community information sessions.

·         will make available this document to teachers, parents and carers at the beginning of each year and make students aware of their right to exclude themselves from activities addressing controversial issues.

 Related Department of Education Policies & Documents

Controversial Issues in Schools Policy, 2016:

https://education.nsw.gov.au/policy-library/policies/controversial-issues-in-schools Controversial Issues in Schools Policy Implementation Procedures: https://education.nsw.gov.au/policy-library/policies/controversial-issues-in-schools

Audiovisual Materials in Schools – Procedures for Use, 2010:

https://education.nsw.gov.au/policy-library/policies/controversial-issues-in-schools

RESPECT – RESPONSIBILITY - SAFETY

We held a Remembrance Day service with both students and staff honouring local soldiers. Our students were very respectful during the service and many students were involved in speaking about soldiers with local connections.

Thank you to Year 8 students who created a wonderful display in the Resource Centre.

Year 8 students went to stay at Kianinny in Tathra for a 2 night camp during November. Activities included a trip to the beach to learn how to surf with great waves and all students managed to catch some waves. Night activities were fun with lots of games and laughter. Team activities like raft building, archery, mini golf and riding the flying fox filled in the next 2 days on camp with team rescue and trust rope good exercises in boosting comradery within the Year group.  Definitely the surfing was a highlight for many.

Special thanks to Year 8 Year Adviser Mrs Ryan for a great excursion.

PAIN - Physical Activity in Nine!

In Week 6 this term,  21 Year 9 students went on the PAIN Trip with Mr O’Brien and Ms Perry. After two weeks’ of training and preparing we all set off on Monday morning with our 20kg packs to the Kosciuszko National Park.

Day 1 - Just before lunch we got dropped off 4 kilometres from Ghost Gully and started our trek. After a couple of stops we got to Hainsworth Hut and all relaxed and set up our tents. We played cards in the hut and had a good night’s sleep in readiness for tomorrow’s big day.

Day 2 - We were up early and ready at 8.30am to begin our 17 km trek. Everyone pushed through the day hard and we kept stopping to fill up our water bottles. It was hot and a few people had blisters but when we arrived at Pockets Hut everyone was relieved and relaxed for the rest of the day. Sadly the toilet was out of order and we had to rely on the Orange Shovels of Destiny.

Day 3 - We set off for Old Currango Hut 12 kilometres away. We crossed over a few creeks and some people got wet feet. When we reached the hut we had lunch and then walked a bit further to a big creek where we swam and played in the mud.

Day 4 - Another 12 km slog in the heat. There were a lot of hills and everyone helped each other up. On the way we stopped and did the Hokey Pokey to liven us all up. When we reached Ghost Gully everyone was tired but we all just ran and dumped our bags on the ground. We all went to the creek and Bailey and Daniel caught a fish with their hands. Luckily there were two toilets at the campsite. Luxury! That night we relaxed and had fun games together. It was a very funny and enjoyable night.

Day 5 - We packed our gear ready for the last trek of our journey – only 4.5 k’s. As we had already done 50 kilometres everyone smashed this little walk with ease. Everyone was relieved when we saw the bus but we were also sad that the trip was going to end. We had all grown closer and had a really good time together.                  

By Megan Castle and Gemma Delany (Year 9)

Year 10 students had the opportunity to participate in a week long trek to Mount Jagungal experiencing camping and trekking in the Snowy Mountains. On Monday the 21st of October a group of energetic year 10 students, accompanied by Mrs Stiles and Mr Ebeling embarked on their one week adventure, and just after the speedy bus ride up the mountains, they set out on the gruelling first day walk of 2km to the hut at which they set up camp. They woke up the next morning fresh-faced and ready to tackle the day ahead of them. Packs on, they began to walk, and walk and walk some more. The team conquered Mt Jagungal, trania cuisine, the art of keep going and most importantly becoming one with nature. The next few days were filled with hill after hill, a few snake sightings, a couple of blisters here and there, an alarming amount of scroggin, somewhat interesting conversations and a lot of new and fun experiences. With the aid of teamwork and a bit of whinging they ended up back at the hut where they first started. It’s safe to say that the mini bus coming around the bend was a sight for sore eyes. The budding mountaineers were delivered back home on the Friday all in one piece. A big thank you to the real MVP’s, Mrs Stiles and Mr Ebeling for supporting us all on this journey and making this trip memorable for all. By Phoebe Pearce (Year 10)

From the 19th to the 22nd November Year 10 students went to Canberra for the Year 10 three night camp. On the first day we went to the University of Canberra and had taster university lessons and a tour around the dormitory. After the Uni visit we played team laser tag before settling in to our accommodation at Warrambui Camp. On Day 2 we went indoor rock climbing, ice skating and to the Big Splash Water Park. Ice skating was one of my personal highlights of the trip. The following 2 days were spent hanging out at Warrambui Camp doing indoor and outdoor team building activities. These activities really brought the year group together.

The students would like to thank our Year 10 Year Adviser Mr V for organising the excursion. By Chloe Ferguson (Year 10)

"I arrived here in July, I was nervous and full of fears. I was really scared of going to school, I didn’t know anyone and the school system is very different from what I’m used to.

I was lucky because I met some amazing people who are now my friends that welcomed me in their group and helped me whenever I needed it – especially in finding classes because at the beginning I was very very lost.

What I love most about my new school is the little things such as wearing the uniform; it’s something that I don’t have the chance to do in Italy, and changing room for the classes because I’m used to sitting in the same room for 6 hours.

It has been really interesting to participate in the classes and see how different Italian lessons are taught compared to Australian lessons.

School here is more like a community, a family and I’m so glad that I’ve been a part of it.

Since I started school here I’m able to say for the first time in my life that I like going to school. I love the relationship that you have between you all and also with your teachers who are always a huge support". By Federica (Year 11)

We wish Federica safe travels home and all the best for her future studies.

From the 10th to 14th of November, I was flown to Sydney by Australia's Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) to their Lucas Heights campus. There I participated in ANSTO’s Big Ideas Forum - a congregation of 18 students and 9 teachers ready to learn about the nuclear reactor and other scientific instruments housed in Lucas Heights. To be selected for the Big Ideas Forum, two students from the same school needed to jointly submit a video on a question they had that in some way was related to STEM. A fellow Aurora student and I made a video inquiring how hydrogen fuel cell technology could be integrated into our society, to lessen the need for burning fossil fuels, then we theorised about how it could be done, proposing ideas of our own.

At the Lucas Heights campus we were given a tour of the area and the nuclear reactor before being allowed onto the floor, where various instruments perform neutron scattering. We also got a tour of the three particle accelerators housed on site and a talk from a Scientist on France’s International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), an international nuclear fusion experiment that Australia has been involved in. We made bio-degradable plastic in a professional chemistry lab; conversed with four researchers on site who work with Neutron scattering; met six of the eight post-graduates who were on placement for two years; visited ANSTO’s cyclotron in the heart of Sydney where we were given a tour and an explanation of how it works and what it does; visited the Museum of Sydney and the Museum of Human Diseases at the UNSW; had a tour of the Lucas Heights Resource Recovery Park, and watched a movie in the cinemas.

The ANSTO Big Ideas Forum was awesome and has helped consolidate my aspirations for the future - it expanded my STEM horizons, showed us what science can do and opened us all up to career opportunities that we otherwise would not have even dreamt of. It was an amazing experience to meet career scientists - most of whom had Ph.D.’s. Thank you to my Aurora Chemistry teacher Mrs. Boneham for accompanying us to the Forum.

By Harry Bottero (Year 10)

On Tuesday 25 November, eight students of the Burrabinya program graduated in front of family, friends and Brungle Public School. Over the course of the year, students have gained skills and knowledge in their future career, their local culture and community to strengthen their goals and dream for the future and to develop the necessary support networks that will assist them to achieve. This years program has culminated with the completion of the Brungle Public School Greenhouse restoration, which will enable both the Public School and the Wiradjuri Cultural Centre to grow both native and vegetable plants from seed, and provide a learning environment for schools across the Wiradjuri nation to gain traditional knowledge. 

This year’s award recipients were: Erin Williams, Abby Williams, Skye Proud-Williams, Grace Denny, Lowana Russell, Jade Turner, Courtney Hodgkin and Hannah Machell.

These young ladies have provided valuable mentoring in reading writing and art to the Brungle Public students and also assisted transitioning year 6 students by providing useful knowledge for them coming to our school next year. Well done ladies, you have made a positive impact on both schools.  Winnie and I would like to say thank you and to wish you the best in your future career journeys.

By Shannon Hibbens - Work Pathways Coordinator COMPACT Inc