WHAT’S COMING UP? DECEMBER 16 & 17 Wambangalang Excursion – MC 18 Final day for students 2020 JANUARY 28 Staff return 29 Yrs 7,11&12 return 30 All students return FEBRUARY 17 - 19 Year 12 Visual Art excursion to Artexpress 18 School Photos

Congratulations to our Dux of Year 7 Blake Tonkin, Year 8 Caitlin Cram, Year 9 Scott Barling, Year 10 Joann

Fidock and Year 11 Ella Geyer, who were presented with their award at our annual Presentation Day.

DUX - Caitlin Cram Yr 8, Scott Barling Yr 9, Ella Geyer Yr 11 and Mr Phil Rufus

Narromine High School Newsletter Phone - 6889 1499

Email - narromine-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Webpage - www.narromine-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

Term 4 Week 10 Issue 8 Wednesday 18 December 2019

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PRINCIPAL’S REPORT Thank you for a wonderful 2019 On behalf of all the staff at Narromine High School, I would like to thank all our families for their support and contributions to our school. Many of you have attended information evenings, parent teacher nights or have been part of the P&C. Year 12 2019 Narromine High School has achieved outstanding results, even before Higher School Certificate outcomes were received this week. Half of the class of 20 students have already received unconditional entry to the universities of their choice, a record for a school with a 62 per cent Indigenous enrolment. Their success in 2019 is partially attributed to a change in our school culture during the past 18 months where we have put in place structures to support wellbeing enabling us to develop a more dynamic academic environment for our students. When you combine this with personalised learning, the outcome for students is terrific and we are very proud of our Year 12 class of 2019 and our teaching staff. We have always encouraged students to use the Schools Recommendation Scheme to apply for early entry to university and this year’s result has been outstanding. When you add in the likely candidates for TAFE, up to 75 percent of our Year 12 students could be transitioning to tertiary education. Our school captain Frances Sinclair, intends to study a five-year double degree in forensic science and criminal justice at the University of Canberra. Vice-captain, Jordan Itoya, travelled a slightly different path to his chosen course of study and will become the first in his family to attend university, gaining entry to the University of NSW through the Nura Gili Indigenous access scheme to study Bachelor of Social Research and Policy course. Sam Green was assisted by Dubbo based training group 'Education and Training Out West'. Sam successfully applied to be part of Macquarie University’s Leaders and Achievers program, formerly the Global Leadership program. Sam will be studying a Bachelor of Planning. Josh Hennessy is taking up an offer to study nursing at CSU’s Dubbo Campus and hopes to move to the Port Macquarie campus in 2021. Congratulations to all Year 12 students and we wish you the best of luck with your chosen career path Season’s Greetings Finally, I wish each and every one of you, Season’s Greetings and hope you have a wonderful holiday vacation. I look forward to seeing you in 2020 when we will strive to do it all again, even better than this year! Thank you to our incredible teaching and support staff for your invaluable support and contributions to our students at Narromine High School. Phil Rufus Principal TRANSITION – SPORTS GALA DAY On Wednesday 13 November we hosted a sports gala day for our future 2020 Year 7 students. The gala day was run by our wonderful PE teacher Miss Piccolo and her Stage 5 PASS class as a part of their Sports Coaching unit of work. Students participated in a range of activities from volleyball to basketball with the support of Clontarf and Girls Academy staff. The gala day is another important transition activity and aims to support our new students in meeting current staff and students. Thank you to all three primary schools for their commitment to our transition program this year. Mrs Burns Head Teacher Wellbeing

TRANSITION – NARROMINE HIGH SCHOOL OPEN DAY On Wednesday 6 November our school hosted the Narromine High School Open Day. The afternoon showcased a range of faculties within the school and aimed at supporting future students, community, parents and current families in accessing our school and engaging with our staff. Staff ran sports mini games, cupcake decorating, science experiments, open classrooms, farm display and an archaeological dig. Students ran a BBQ, coffee shop and performed music throughout the afternoon. A plaque was also laid to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Narromine High School. A massive thank you to all staff, students and community who participated in the afternoon. We are looking forward to seeing how the open day evolves in coming years.

HSC MINIMUM STANDARDS

We have now completed our testing program for 2019 for Years 10 and 11 and congratulate all students who have prequalified for their HSC. For students leaving prior to Year 12, being able to show that you have achieved the minimum standards in Literacy and Numeracy can be an advantage in getting a job. Students who have achieved Level 3 will receive their certificates with their yearly reports. Don’t worry if you haven’t quite got there yet, as we will be continuing to support students to achieve this during 2020. YEAR 7 2020 - BEST START ASSESSMENT From 2020 as students enter Year 7 they will have the opportunity to complete a Literacy and Numeracy assessment which will provide us with valuable, detailed information about their skills and areas which need support. This will be completed in the first few weeks of the school year, to allow teachers to focus on these areas as soon as possible. This is NOT the NAPLAN test, which will be held in May next year. LITERACY PLANET Teacher and student feedback has been very positive and we will look to expand our use of this program for students, into homework and preparation for NAPLAN. Parent access will also allow you to check in on your child’s literacy. STAGE 4 Our Stage 4 students have completed the “Strange House” unit of work and below are examples two of their stories. Cathy Reynolds Head Teacher English THE CLOWN HOUSE

It was old, decrepit and strange. The room seemed old but the walls were rainbow coloured and glistened

before my eyes. The single bed laid up against the back wall with its rough mattress coloured red. The bed

side table stood on one leg beholding an ocean blue glass vase. The last thing that I could remember was that

I was sleeping at my best friend Jim’s place. We played ‘Call of Duty’ all day long. Then it got dark and

everyone was asleep. I was laying in my swag when I heard a loud bang echo through my ears. I instantly

leaped out of my skin with fear. I gained my feet and approached the window. Nothing was there. I crept

down the hallway and arrived at the front door. I reached for the door handle when suddenly the rusty door

swings open to reveal a shadowy figure. The lightning flashed and gave off a gleaming light which revealed

a very tall, creepy clown. My feet wouldn’t move. At first the clown just stood there staring at me with his

glassy eyes when unexpectedly he sprinted towards me.

I awoke in a freakishly, colourful room that I have never seen before. I explored my surroundings and

decided I didn’t want to stay. I slowly wandered over to the shiny yellow door. I grabbed the door handle

and steadily started to twist. Voices suddenly started to ring through my ears so I stopped. I realised they

were chanting my name. “Harry, Harry, Harry”, they softly chanted as I stepped away from the door. The

voices were ringing around my head over and over again until I heard a spooky clown laugh. Everything

went quiet after that. I snuck back over to the door and quickly clenched the door handle and flung it open.

In front of me was a long, dark hallway. I started to run as fast as I could. I hit the end of the hallway when I

heard a loud screech. I tried to ignore it and crept down the stairs beside me. Below was a door. I observed it

and to my knowledge it was locked by a blue lock. To escape this mysterious clown house I had to find the

key. I tip-toed into the kitchen area which seemed very odd. Everything was coloured a bright green. I

searched everywhere for the key but I couldn’t find it. I turned my body so I could head towards another

room when I found the clown blocking my path. I froze in fear. His teeth had blood drooping off the ends of

is pointy, yellow teeth and his pale, white clown suit reeked of wet socks.

He charged at me and I again awoke but I was back in my swag. I thought that it was all a dream until I

glanced at the window and saw the clown drooling down the window. He sheepishly giggled and slid down

the glass and vanished out of sight. I ran towards the window to seek the clown but he was gone. After hat

night I stopped talking to Jim and I never returned to that house until they moved away and my mother

decided she wanted to move in. I was only dreaming anyway……

GHOST WRITER

Raymond Laughlin was a kind well-respected man by all who knew him. He grew up from the age of ten, in

the care of his Uncle Aubrey, as his parents were lost at sea, on their return journey from China, where his

father was posted. He couldn’t remember his grandparents. Raymond had heard others speak of his

grandmother, Emily, a harsh woman who thought corporal punishment and abusing her two sons was

acceptable. She was not well liked by locals or other servants at the manor. Aubrey never spoke of her.

Raymond, even as a child lived in his head. He cared not for outdoor pursuits, preferring his own company

and writing stories. During his youth Raymond was a happy, yet quiet child.

Gave not a moments worry to his uncle.

Uncle Aubrey lavished his young charge with all manner of things; the best food, fine clothes and a stable

filled with the most expensive horses. His uncle had only one stipulation-Raymond was never to enter the

bed chamber in the southern wing of the manor. The room had not been entered for as long as Raymond

could remember.

Most of my servants have now gone. Now there is only my housekeeper and grounds men on staff. Uncle

Aubrey is these days infirm at the age of 93. I have appointed a full-time nurse to care for him. At the age of

52 I am now the master of Laughlin manor. I spend my time as I please; writing stories, some of which have

been published.

Lately though, sleep evades me. In its place are haunting dreams. They seem so real, but surely reality

couldn’t be so gruesome. I recall having similar dreams as a young boy. Fleeting images of spectres racing

through the halls; a woman’s anguished cries haunting me.

My nightmares persist. I am surviving on little restful sleep. These terrifying images seem so real but they

couldn’t be, could they?

The same thoughts run rampant through my mind. These disturbing illustrations are connected in some way

to the southern wing. Even as an adult I have not entered the forbidden bed chamber. Though now I fear I

must; to allay any fears and extinguish once and for all these horror filled dreams.

Armed with a lantern, I make my way up the kitchen staircase. The boards creak as I tread on each step. In

no time I find myself in front of the locked door. I am a boy of ten once more. My mouth is dry. There is an

acrid stench emanating from the room. After all these years I enter.

It is sombre, as there are heavy drapes and furniture that looks like it’s from another era. The settled dust

lifts as I enter. The room is large. I lift my lantern so I can see around the room. I see it and I am startled.

Looking back at me from the four-poster bed is a face; but not a face of life, more like a mask of death. It is

a skeleton, I scream!

Who is this person? The hair in a braid is still intact. The nightdress dusty and dulled with age. The jaw is

agape. A pillow lies askew next to her head. I stood transfixed, staring at the axe protruding out of her skull.

I realise in a moment of shock-horror who owned the axe. My uncle’s prized possession, passed down from

his father, in the head of his mother. My heart is beating as if it is out of my chest. Dear God, I am living

with a murderer!

Oh what a great couple of nights! Our students outperformed themselves and we are all so very proud of the hard work put in by the cast and crew to bring our performance to you all. Thank you also to staff members for their input, it was very much appreciated.