Narrabri High School Newsletter

Welcome back to term 3! This is a crucial term for our Year 12 students, as they prepare for the HSC. They are currently in the middle of the Trial HSC, and I hope that they make a similar effort to the Half Yearly examination, as so many students completed these examinations at home, during the high-point of the school lockdown.

On the topic of COVID, it is difficult to predict what may happen in the coming months, but I am proud to say that our school and our community have been following the set guidelines which has put us in a sound position, especially in comparison to other towns and one particular state. With regard to the latter, I am very sympathetic  to the people who live in that state, as so many of them have also been following the "rules", but a minority have not…..and knowing the potency and ease of transmission, I can only hope that we will have more luck by using more common sense. The inability to hold parent information evenings at the school,  and the big question mark over the Year 12 formal, make matters difficult, but we must continue to adhere to the advice that has been given.

This term we welcomed back Mrs Rhiannon Mulholland (nee Hall) part -time, but farewelled Ms Cynthia McDonald and Mr Peter Woof. Ms Rachel Lilliebridge is absent for the next three terms, as she has a new baby daughter to dote on. Despite looking for replacement staff, we have been unable to source them. This has resulted in some changes to the timetable, and student class teachers. It is also possible that there will be some periods when the school cannot provide a class teacher, with minimal supervision in the playground possibly taking place. Staffing the school continues to be a significant challenge, and whilst the school is making every effort to minimize the disruption to student learning, I would ask, once again, for your support and patience.

On the first day of this term the school had a productive school development day. One of the highlights for me were the Year 12 hospitality students, who came in on that day to complete an assessment task relating to key competencies in their course. The really did a great job-congratulations to them and their teachers. Elsie Ford entered The North West Battle of the Bands showcase event premiered online. Elsie Ford won the coveted award for the original song category. She entered a video of herself playing guitar and singing her own song 'Is This What Love is Meant to Feel Like'. The full Northern Daily Leader story can be found below in the newsletter. 

At the start of August every year the school is required to provide the Department of Education with anticipated student numbers for 2021. This is always a difficult task, which has proved to be even harder, as our transition and elective processes have been delayed.  At this point it appears that we will have an approximate 5% increase in student numbers, but as the actual number will not be known until February, I am wary about saying anymore. In raising this I am being transparent and optimistic, that our community has done a good job of coming through such a hard drought, and the COVID health situation-of course neither of this are actually finished.

As noted above, some of our school processes have required a rethink. On Wednesday August 5th we had Year 10 into 11 student information afternoon, with a ZOOM meeting for the parents in the evening. This was very successful, and I thank the student, parents and staff for the positive way in which they responded. By now you should have received the first semester report for your child. Whilst we cannot hold parent information evenings, if you would like to discuss a specific subject, please contact your child's teacher to organise a meeting-with ZOOM being the first preference. If you would like to discuss several subjects, please contact your child's Year Adviser to assist.

School photos organised in a slightly different format this year due to COVID-19. Students had to forgo their usual year group photos and posed for individual photos only. Year 12 were the exception to the rule, and like all year 12 photo traditions, the year 12 FUN Photo is one not to miss.

School photos will be disseminated in the coming weeks.  

Year 7 Visual Arts

Year 7 have been developing their knowledge further of the seven elements of art, focusing on tone, texture and form.  They will be using these skills throughout the term in creating a pencil drawing of animals. 

Year 8 Visual Arts 

Year 8 have begun term three looking at portraiture, by creating a title page where they abstracted a picture of their chosen celebrity.  The rest of the semester students will focus on drawing the facial features and later in the term they will be drawing a portrait. 

Year 9 Visual Arts

Year 9 started term three, by delving deeper into visual art movements.  They are focusing on the postmodern frame, analysing Banksy and appropriation. Students have been working on creating a lino design that links with the environment and street art through repeating their carved image.

 Year 10 Visual Arts

Clay has been added to the year 10 elective materials, students have spent three weeks working on their nature inspired abstract tile. Their tiles will sit and dry, then they will be fired and able to paint, the students are eager to add colour to their creations.

Year 11 Visual Arts  

Year 11 were given a mini body of work project where they explored the theme ‘Identity’.  They had the option to explore different mediums and forms. This project is due in week 6 and I am eager to see the result of all the students’ hard work.

Year 12 Visual Arts

Year 12 have been working on their body of work, they are getting closer to the end.  They have worked well despite COVID interruptions. Both their theoretical and practical knowledge is developing. 

Following Government guidelines and COVID-19 restrictions a number of excursions planned at the start of the year had been cancelled. Parents and carers who who have not yet claimed excursion refunds, can do so by phoning Narrabri High School on 0267921633.

Contact person Julie Goode.  

Activities under consideration from Term 3

The following events will be reconsidered in Term 3. For now, these events must remain on hold.

• Kindergarten orientation
• School camps
• Excursions (other than field trips explained)
• Parent attendance at assemblies and other school events (e.g. graduation ceremonies or student speech events)
• Parent volunteers – e.g. parent reading helpers (note: canteen and uniform shop volunteers are permitted)
• Interstate excursions.
• School-based activities that involve large gathering of adults are not permitted at this time. These include parent/community gatherings such as parent functions, working bees, fundraisers, school BBQs, large parent information evenings, and large on-site cultural events. These large gatherings and the following activities will continue to be reviewed and assessed based on AHPPC and NSW Health advice and may be permitted at a later date.

Need some help lightening your mental load? ?

You’re not alone. ReachOut.com Australia has fast tracked the launch of a study support hub to help you with whatever the HSC throws at you. It’s full of great tips and case studies to help you on your journey to 2020 HSC.

The partnership aims to build an even greater support network around HSC students this year, as they work towards their HSC during COVID-19.

Find more info here: https://bit.ly/3c8ubOH

Year 10: Please Return Careers Workbooks

All year 10 students were provided with a Careers workbook at the beginning of the year. Originally, the workbook was to remain at the school and was only to be used in lessons. After stricter Covid restrictions came into place, however, it was necessary to distribute the workbooks to students so that they could undertake their lessons at home, augmented with online work through Google Classroom.

The workbooks are an integral part of the Careers program and are now needed urgently for classwork. Despite many requests, however, fewer than 50% of students have returned their workbook to the school. Parents are urged to encourage students to return these workbooks as a matter of urgency.

Queensland Uni Applications Now Open

Those Year 12 students interested in applying for courses at Queensland Universities: please be aware that QTAC (the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre) is now open for 2021 applications. QTAC is Queensland's version of UAC and operates in a similar way, but your preferences may need to be ordered differently. Please see Mr Randall before applying. There are a number of closing dates depending upon the course for which you are applying. Please go to the course search option on the QTAC home page and check the date for each of your course preferences. 

I was a student at Narrabri High School from 2004 to 2009. In school my favourite subject was always Biology. After high school, I began studying at University. I completed a Bachelor of Science at Griffith University in Brisbane, followed by Honours (a one-year research project), and in 2015 I began a Ph.D. studying a group of Australian spiders called the ‘golden trapdoor spiders’. The goal of my Ph.D. project was to discover and describe new species in this group of spiders, and to better understand their evolution. In the end, we discovered over 30 new species of trapdoor spider, and we now have a far greater understanding of the biology of these mysterious animals. This information is crucial to protecting them from threats such as habitat degradation.

For my Ph.D. thesis, I received the ‘Award of Excellence in a Research Thesis’. This award is given when the examiners of a Ph.D. thesis determine that the science conducted by the student was of a very high standard, and that they cannot suggest any way in which it could be improved. Receiving this award was a huge honour, but in reality, the credit should also be shared with my supervisors, colleagues, family, and friends. Without the support of these people I could never have completed my Ph.D.

After my Ph.D., which I finished at the beginning of 2019, I began a post-doctoral research fellowship at Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At this museum I am working with a world-renowned team of Arachnologists on a new project. The entire experience in Argentina has been incredible, but also challenging. I’ve learnt to speak Spanish, and I’ve experienced an entirely new culture, all while studying and learning more about spiders!

I encourage students of Narrabri High School to take risks in their career and in their early life. The path I have taken has not always been easy, but to me, life is more fun when it is challenging, and when you are experiencing new things.

Jeremy Wilson.

Friday 7th August saw the SRC host a partial mufti day for Jeans 4 Genes Day. Students were encouraged to swap their school pants/skirts for something denim & were asked to bring a gold coin donation to help the Children's Medical Research Institute raise money to develop treatments and cures for children with genetic diseases.The SRC would like to thank everyone for their part in supporting this great cause. The students and staff of NHS managed to raise around $500 which is a fantastic effort.

The Australian cotton industry is hoping to attract a new cohort of students to its relaunched Cotton Gap program, so they can experience farm life and explore the career pathways available in agriculture.

Cotton Australia’s Cotton Gap program is a future-focused industry program that exposes school leavers to the diverse range of careers available in the cotton industry. 

The program was first launched in 2017, but it didn’t run last year because of the impact drought and reduced water allocations had on jobs in rural industries.  

See below media release, remember you don’t have to come from a farm to do this.

Year 12 Hospitality students at Narrabri High School operated “Stella’s Cafe” as a part of their assessment towards their Certificate ll in Hospitality.

Students were assessed in their service skills, preparation & service of non-alcoholic beverages, communication skills and running “Stella’s Cafe”. The menu included both morning tea and lunch service for around 70 NHS staff. 

Congratulations to all - what a fantastic achievement!

https://vimeo.com/395822028https://vimeo.com/395822028    Study and homework help available online, 24/7  

We know the school day may look a little different for your child right now. That’s why, along with all of the online learning modules, we’re providing around-the-clock human support with ‘Studiosity’ for all students.

Your child has 24/7 access to a huge network of expert teachers and subject specialists, online, on-demand. They can connect to an expert in minutes and ask a question one-to-one when they get stuck, or upload a draft essay or assignment for review anytime and get fast, helpful feedback on how to improve it. 

Students can access Studiosity FREE all year, thanks to Narrabri High School. Simply log in to the school’s Studiosity service via studiosity.com. Your child should have received an invite to use this service via their school email address.  

Watch this video to find out more: https://vimeo.com/395822028

Contact person Miss Anderson

With the cooler weather, school winter uniform is encouraged to be worn. This means, plain navy jumpers only. On Wednesday, students are allowed to wear plain navy school representative jumpers. Please remember appropriate black leather/suede shoes are compulsory. If your child is out of uniform please provide a note of explanation. Financial support is available for purchasing the uniform, any questions please contact the school on 6792 1633.

If students are repeatedly out of uniform it will be recorded as an incident. Continually being out of uniform may also impact on representative activities if it becomes an ongoing issue.