Inside this issue:

Regional Swimming

Representatives

1

Principal’s Report 2

Secondary News 3

Infants/Primary

News

4/5

Swimming Carnival

Results

6/7

HSIE News

Science News

Indigenous Sparkies

Program

Choir News

Year 1 Notice

8

9

10

10

10

Message Board

11

1

Pictured L to R: Janalee Conroy, Chantae Eyre,

Eren Donnelly, Kynan Heatherall, Xanthe Eyre,

Taylah Donnelly, Diondre Murphy & Shannah

McHughes with Aunty Crystal Donnelly

& Mr York.

Brewarrina Central

School News

Friday 2nd December, 2011

Brewarrina Central School

As another fortnight comes quickly to an end, I hope that everyone has

survived the floods and is now able to return to school. If there are any

issues with attendance, please let the office staff know so we can help as

best we can.

Please remember to send a note to school, or ring us, if your child is sick or

away for another reason. It is a legal requirement that we have notes

about students not at school. If your child is going to be away for any

length of time sick, please make sure you see the Doctor and get a

certificate for them. This covers you and us in the event of an enquiry.

Thank you.

A survey was sent out with the last newsletter, and to date about 20 have

been returned. Thank you to the families who have sent the surveys back.

Students who have returned the surveys will now be able to receive their

reward as they finally arrived this week. Office staff will ensure that all

members of the family get their reward. All surveys that were returned

will be placed in a draw in another week or so. Get those surveys back

please!

Aunty Bim and Aunty Leslie have been/will be visiting families to collect

surveys and supply new ones as necessary as I need them all back by next

week. Thank you for your assistance with this.

I would like to wish the swimmers going to Dubbo good luck, swim well and

enjoy the Regional Carnival. The school is pleased that so many of our

students could have the opportunity to attend the Carnival. GO BRE!

As the floods start to recede, please be careful of snakes as you move

around town.

Please also remember that STUDENTS ARE NOT TO LEAVE THE

SCHOOL GROUNDS AT RECESS AND LUNCH unless they have

brought a note to the office. Please ensure that your children know this as

it is a huge safety issue for us. Thank you

See you around town!

Kerry Bryan

Principal

Brewarrina Central School News Page 2

Page 3 Brewarrina Central School

As week 7 draws to a close, it is great that now the flooding is going down, students

are able to resume their normal way of coming to school. If you kept your child at

home during the flooding, please make sure you send a letter into the Front Office so

that it can be recorded. We have quite a lot of unexplained absences in the high school,

and need your help to get them down. In particular, partial absences are high in the

secondary, usually from students coming back from recess and lunch late or from tru-

ancy. Several students have been placed on contracts in an effort to rectify this, and

all absences continue to be monitored.

Also, please continue to encourage your child to wear the school uniform. Winter gear

will soon be in at the school if you would like to start organising your child’s winter

uniform before the cooler weather arrives. Can’t wait for the heat to go!

Year 10 have completed the Personal Learning Plan (PLP) process. Thankyou to the

students for giving up their time for the interview. Tuesday 13th March from 11:30 to

1:30, any parent or carer can come up to the school to see Mrs Trapman about their

child’s PLP. Alternatively, you can ring to make a particular time if this timeframe

does not suit you. The PLP outlines subjects the students are doing, their goals for the

short and long term and how the school can best support them in achieving these

goals. Year 7 PLPs will begin within the next fortnight.

Some students have already travelled away for TAFE this term, as the school is sup-

porting several TAFE courses for our senior students. Students should ensure they

have all the necessary equipment and expenses. Mr Rossi has worked very hard to

help the students enrol and find ways of getting them to their destination. Also, stu-

dents have the responsibility of catching up on work they miss back at school while

they are away.

The Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) team continue to work on a consistent re-

ward system for the school. The system is based around the River Rules and focuses

on rewarding students for displaying positive behaviour in school. This process takes

time, and will hopefully be up and running in term 2. Students at the moment are set-

tled into the school routine and have been displaying some very good behaviours.

Though it would be good if they came to class on time!

There is not much else happening in the high school over the next fortnight, but you

never know. Please, if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child, don’t

hesitate to contact the school.

Thanks,

Kath Hertslet & Sarah Trapman (Head Teachers)

Brewarrina Central School News Page 4

INFANTS/PRIMARY NEWS

Our sporting achievements in the Primary school for 2012 have

commenced on an exciting note. This Friday the 9th March we have 8

students representing the Bourke schools at the Regional Swimming

carnival in Dubbo.

Shannah McHughes, Chantae Eyre, Xanthe Eyre,

Janalee Conroy, Ehren Donnelly, Kynan

Heatherill, Diondre Murphy and Taylah Donnelly

all have a busy day with individual swimming

events. Janalee, Chantae, Taylah and Shannah

are also competing with other districts in the

senior girls relay. Students have given up after-

noons and trained with Mr York at the local pool.

In just two weeks they have improved their swimming skills. Crystal Don-

nelly our (relieving) Aboriginal Education Officer and Mr York will accom-

pany the students to the carnival. I look forward to hearing their

achievements and wish them all the best.

We have entered the David Peachy Shield (football) for

2012. The first game is at Cobar at the end of March.

The David Peachy shield continues at Coonamble and

Bourke next term. We also have indicated our school will

play in the Outback Challenge at Bourke in term 2. I will

keep you informed of these events closer to the date.

Swimming as our term sport continues for the next few weeks on Fridays.

Please ensure your child/ren have swimmers, a towel and a hat each

Friday. If you do not have a season pass to the pool entry each Friday is $2.

Children are practising swimming skills and water safety.

Ms Williams has again organised the home reader program. Your child

should have come home with a folder and a book to

read. Once the book is read please encourage your

child to return the book to be swapped for a

new reader.

Page 5 Brewarrina Central School

INFANTS/PRIMARY NEWS cont’ We are encouraging children to wear a hat or cap at school for

sun protection during recess and lunch. We would appreciate

you ensuring your child has a hat each day.

Teachers will be organising in the next few weeks, times to

meet with you and discuss your child’s Personalised Learning Plan. These

meetings can be held in the school or a home visit can be arranged. You

are always most welcome to visit your child’s class and see their wonderful

work. We also hold our weekly assembly in the hall on Fridays at 2.15pm.

Parents and family are most welcome to attend. Members of 5/6W conduct

the assembly and some classes present work.

Can I remind you children from Kindergarten to year 6 are now coming out

about 5-10 minutes before the recess and lunch bells to eat their food on the

silver seats? We have commenced this due to

many children playing and not eating or having a

drink. If you can make it to school a bit earlier

than previously some children may not be as

anxious waiting for their recess or lunch. The

canteen is providing a wonderful choice of food

and orders are organised in class groups. Your

support to the canteen will ensure children stay in the school grounds

whilst having nutritious food.

Many parents know I am the year 2 teacher this year.

However I am available to meet with you and discuss

any concerns or issues you or your child have in the

afternoons between 2-3pm and after school.

Cathy Clark

Deputy Principal (Primary)

Newsletter Title Page 6

Page 7 Volume 1, Issue 1

INFANTS/PRIMARY

SECONDARY

12

(Secondary) 13 14 15 16 17+

Age

Deon Reynolds

(Primary)

Daniel

Clarke

Bree

Coffey

Rodney

Reynolds

Derek

Eyre Male

Felly

McHughes

Deakin

Bennett

Glen

French

Nathan

Johnson

Edward

Simspon

Thomas

Conroy

Ralph

Doole

Daniel

Ferguson

Paeten

Bennett

Katrina

Cochrane

Stella

McHughes

Letisha

Boney

Briane

Conroy

Verina

Crawford Female

Tahli

McHughes

Rikkia

Nicholls

Peta-Marie

Williams

Age 8 9 10 11 12 (Primary)

Male 1st

Kynan

Heatherall

Josiah

Sullivan

Diondre

Murphy

Kaylan

Murray

2nd Jackahl Allan Hudson Ronald

3rd

Clancy

Hertslet

Stephen

Hertslet

Alii

Pakutoa

Junathean

Coady

Female 1st

Ehren

Donnelly

Xanthe

Eyre

Brooke

Ford

Shannah

McHughes

Chantae

Eyre

2nd

Savannah

Moore

Tarah-Lea

Kirby

Mikaela

Tattersall

Janalee

Conroy

Dolly

Jackson

3rd Annette Taylah

Newsletter Title Page 8

Brewarrina Central School Human Society and its Environment (H.S.I.E)

Hello to all the community and I hope everyone is looking forward to a new school year of learning

excellence!

My name is Matt Micallef and I am the Human Society and its Environment (H.S.I.E) teacher at

Brewarrina Central School. The purpose of writing this newsletter is to let the community know a

little about what will be learnt in the first half of term one of History and how we can all help our

students in achieving their best.

Years 7 and 8 will be looking at Aboriginal history and the impact European settlement had on Ab-

original people from the landing of the First Fleet to the turn of the 20th Century. Obviously this is

of great importance for everyone in this country to know about but it is also of particular signifi-

cance for our students to have a clear grasp on the topic. Years 7 and 8 will receive an assignment

to do which will be due on the 16th of March (Friday week 8) (a copy of the assignment sheet that

students will receive in the first week is attached to this article). There will be time allocated in

class to work on it as well, though it will be of great help if parents and carers encourage students to

do work on this assignment at home as well.

Year 7 and 8 will also receive homework to do in the first couple of weeks where parents and carers

will be of great help. Students will be creating a poster about their family’s history. Students will be

expected to add a family tree, get interviews from family members and bring photos to put on their

poster. The posters will be due on Friday week three.

Year 9 will be beginning their Stage 5 (years 9 to 10) focus on Australian History by firstly learning

about Australia from the year of Federation to 1914 when the First World War begins. They will be

no assignment, instead student’s will have an in class test on the 9th of March (Friday week 7) on

the subject therefore encouragement from parents and carers to study and complete homework will

mean each student will be able to do their best.

Year 10 will be beginning an interesting year as they will be the first year 10 to not do a School

Certificate. Whilst there are still discussions as to what will replace the School Certificate, the ad-

vantage is that the teaching program can be better tailored to the needs and interests of the year

group as opposed to teaching ‘to the test’ so to speak.

As a result of this, I’ve decided to try something a little different for the first half of the term. Year

10 will learn about the emergence of Australian hip-hop culture from the 80’s till today as part of

their post-war decade culture study.

Year 10 will have an assignment for this topic which is due on the 8th March (Thursday week 7)

(a copy of the assignment sheet is also attached to the end of this article)

If anyone has any inquires about the content taught or how their student is performing in HSIE

please do not hesitate to contact me on the school phone number: 6839 2186

Matthew Micallef

H.S.I.E Teacher

Page 9 Volume 1, Issue 1

Year 7/8 (1)

Students are in their last stages of completing their topic looking at “Earthly Sys-

tems” – how plants and animals interact with each other and the environment.

They have had a trip to the river prior to the flooding to take measurements and

will return after the floods to take more. They will take this information about the

river and turn it into a class report, including posters. Soon they will move onto a

new topic looking at how the particles that build everything operate.

Years 9 & 10

Students are in their final stages of the topic “Biodiversity” which looks at how

plants and animals interact and the effects humans have had on their environment.

They have also been gathering data on the acidity, turbidity and other features of

the river pre-flood and soon post-flood. This will go towards their individual re-

ports and the information will also be used by the HSC Senior Science students in

their final topic “Disasters” this year. In a few weeks, they year 9’s and 10’s will

move onto a new topic looking at chemistry.

Year 11 Senior Science

Students are currently studying how plants interact with their environment, and

ways to make agriculture and horticulture better. They will complete a series of

self-paced booklets and exercises in class and have a major assessment task. This

task is related to how plants use light when germinating. Don’t forget that Term 4

will see them beginning their year 12 studies.

IMPORTANT DATES: major assessment task due – Monday19th March

Year 12 Senior Science

This term marks the half way mark for our seniors final year of study, as they sit

their HSC in November. Their current topic is Medical Technology – Bionics

which looks at how technology helps people to stay alive and live better lives. This

includes looking at how life support works, how pacemakers were developed and

how scanning machines function. Students are also making headway into their ex-

am preparations.

Ms Shanahan

Science Teacher

Newsletter Title Page 10

PARTICIPANTS OF THE INDIGENOUS

SPARKIES PROGRAM BADEN BARKER

PETER GORDON

CHOIR

Choir is starting this term!

It will be held every Thursday

at Recess in the Library.

Remember to bring your recess and

a friend with you.

-Mrs Fares

Year One Town Walk

Year One will be participating in

a town walk to coincide with their

COGS unit ‘The Way We Live In

Bre.’ Students will be leaving

school at 11.30 on Wednesday

14th March. If you would like to

meet your child in town, please

feel free to meet us

at the park at 12.30.

Students will return to

school at 1pm.

-Mrs Fares

Page 11 Volume 1, Issue 1

COUNTRY RUGBY LEAGUE

VISIT

CANTEEN NEWS

No orders for recess after 9:30am

No orders for lunch after 11:30am

Specials– Thursdays & Fridays

Toasted Sandwiches– Mon/Tue/Wed

All week Hot Box $5 & Wraps $4

SORRY THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS

Thank you

TRACY GREIG

Brewarrina

Central School

Bourke St Brewarrina 2839

Phone: (02) 6839 2186 (02) 6839 2195

Fax: (02) 6839 2325

ABN: 94 748 207 388

E-Mail: brewarrina-c.school@det.nsw.edu.au

ATTENTION TO ALL PARENTS IF YOU HAVE ANY NEW CONTACT

DETAILS INCLUDING NEW ADDRESS,

NEW HOME OR MOBILE PHONE

NUMBERS PLEASE INFORM

THE SCHOOL ASAP.