SGHS NEWSLETTER

Parent Teacher Evening

I would like to send out a huge thankyou to the parents and carers who came along on Tuesday evening to meet with their children’s teachers. There were lots of great conversations, plenty of positive feedback, sausages, coffee and a few “home truths”. All these things combined to make it an excellent event. If you were not able to attend and would like feedback on your child’s progress, please email the school.

#togetherweroar

You may have noticed a hash tag appearing on some of our new publications, in particular the Years 9 to 12 Assessment Booklets. I am passionate about bringing our community together so that we can provide the best educational opportunities for our students. I want our students to grow up with a stronge sense of who they are – culturally and socially and I want them to have the skills they need to get the jobs they want in the future. If this means they need to go to university, then I want them to have the academic background to be successful at university. This is very achievable if we work together hence the hash tag, #togetherweroar.

Easter Break

As Term 1 draws to a close I would like to thank my staff for their hard work and dedication over the last 11 weeks. To my teachers – thank you for planning, preparing and delivering engaging lessons. To my office staff – thank you for managing the administrative aspects of our school (this is not an easy task). To my learning support officers – your contribution in the classroom is priceless and our students would be lost without you, so thanks. To my groundsmen, my lab assistants, my kitchen assistants and my canteen workers – thank you for the enthusiasm you bring to work each day and your calm efficiency. I would also like to thank the students for doing their best, week in and week out. I hope you all have a great break and return to school next term refreshed.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY Monday 29 April - Wendy Rogers, Julie Ann Brett

Tuesday 30 April - help please

Wednesday 1 May - Leisa Hart

Thursday 2 May - Wendy Rogers

Friday 3 May - Tina Bultitude, Wendy Rogers

 Monday 6 May - Julie Ann Brett

All students have been set  NAPLAN NUMERACY, READING & WRITING PRACTICE on our Education Perfect platform. Each student has a login: "sghsfirstnamelastname" and a password. These practice assessments have been set as holiday homework and are optional.​​

The students were asked a series of questions about what kind of community young people want to live in and why it matters to them. The students were asked about their aspirations, ideas, challenges and the key issues and barriers to progress that affect young people from their perspective.

Our group represented South Grafton High School with pride and provided insightful information for the Clarence Valley Council to consider.

After getting settled, we raced down to the water, ready to test our gear in the sparkling waters. It was truly spectacular. The water was the perfect temperature and filled with bright coloured fish and a solitary turtle, which swam through the harbour welcoming us to the island.  That night as our heads hit the pillow, we were content.

On our first morning we woke to the screeches of shearwater birds echoing through the trees. Some of us went snorkelling to the SS Protector shipwreck, admiring the colourful parrotfish, elegant turtles and abundant jellyfish.

After breakfast, we headed to Shark Bay to go for a shallow snorkel. Coral of many shapes and colours were scattered throughout the bay, attended by schools of fish, giant rays and sausage-like sea cucumbers. An hour in the water and we trekked back through the island for lunch and then to North Beach for a relaxing swim and a reef walk through vibrant coral, clams and more sea cucumbers.

An afternoon snorkel to the wreck completed the day’s activities, which were followed by an evening of stargazing and listening to beautiful acoustic music. While stargazing we were regaled with stories about Crux, Orion and his enemy Scorpio.

On the Wednesday we headed to The Blue Pools where we were privileged to see the outer-reef coral, parrot fish, puffer fish, a moray eel and turtles. A truly magical and overwhelming experience, made confronting by views of dead coral.

The day ended quickly and the next thing we knew we were shipped out to The Coral Gardens by boat where we floated down current admiring the flora, fauna and jellyfish. After breakfast and a swim, we flocked to the lecture room to present the posters we had created about our chosen marine animal. The posters contained fascinating information about such creatures as the Blue Ringed Octopus, the Port Jackson Shark, the Spotted Eagle Ray, Epoulette Shark and Sea Cucumber. After a short deliberation, the teachers judged the Burnt Sausage Sea Cucumber poster as the best, awarding its co-creators a delicious prize.  A night watching Top Gun and searching for turtle hatchlings led us to a new day.

We got up extra early and headed out by boat to see The Bommie, a massive coral structure, which harboured many species of fish. The name is derived from the shape of the coral, which resembles the shape of a bomb explosion. Another breathtaking experience that won’t be easily forgotten.  

At night we competed in the 2019 Heron Island Games Night where we were privileged to meet Maverick, a pilot esteemed in rank and ability who oversaw the games. At the end of the night, some were lucky to come first, second, or third and those even luckier were awarded with the loser spoons of 2019. Thus, the night ended.

The next day was sombre and final. Waving goodbye to the island, we began the long and arduous trek back to Grafton, and home. It was thanks to the wonderful Science staff of South Grafton High School that we were able to experience such a life changing opportunity. We will be forever thankful.

Levin Shillam