RESPECT INCLUSION RELATIONSHIPS LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT

NEWSLETTER ISSUE 4 MAY 19 2017

DIARY DATESTertiary Pathways Tue May 23 toTour Fri May 26

8/9 Boys & Girls Wed May 24 KO Football

Snow Tour Parent Wed May 24 Meeting 7.00pm

10 Boys & Girls Fri May 26 Volleyball

Year 10 Career Expo Wed May 31 at EJEHS

Power Cup Mon May 29 to Fri June 2

Year 9 Melbourne Mon June 5 toCulture Tour Fri June 9

Pupil Free Day Fri June 9

Queen’s Mon June 12 Birthday Holiday

Year 10 OED Surf Wed June 14 to Camp Fri June 16

Science & Thu June 22 Engineering Challenge

Matilda Camp Wed June 28 to Thu June 29

TERM DATES 2017Term 1 Jan 30 - April 13Term 2 May 1 - July 7Term 3 July 24 - Sept 29Term 4 Oct 16 - Dec 15

STAFF LEADERSHIPPrincipal Tricia RichmanDeputy Principal Jenna HewlettBusiness Manager Christine RehnSenior Leader Donald Gapp

www.whyallahs.sa.edu.au

Broadbent Terrace, Whyalla SA 5600 P 08 8645 8844 F 08 8645 0057 E dl.0822.info@schools.sa.edu.au

FROM THE PRINCIPALDear Parents, Caregivers and Community Members,

It is hard to believe that we are already at the end of week three. The term has started very well, with both staff and students working hard.

I would like to welcome new staff member Mr Patrick Conti to our team. Mr Conti is teaching some Maths, Science and PE subjects.

Term two is already looking to be very busy with the following things already on the term calendar.

• Year 10 Outdoor Ed Camp

• Year 9 Outdoor Ed Camp

• Year 10 Tertiary Pathways Tour

• Year 9 Melbourne Culture Tour

• Year 10 Outdoor Ed Surfing Camp

• Learning Centre Matilda Camp

• Year 8/9 Boys and Girls Football

• Year 10 Boys and Girls Volleyball

• The SASSTA Power Cup

• Year 10 Career Expo at EJEHS

• Year 7 Half Day Transition Visits.

NAPLANYear 9 NAPLAN testing was conducted during week 2. A special thank you to Ms Jenna Hewlett for her organisation and coordination of this testing. The majority of our Year 9 students tried hard and took this testing as an important aspect of learning.

We hope to have our 2017 NAPLAN results by the end of July. Parents will receive their child’s individual test results via the mail.

SAASTA Power CupOur year 10 Aboriginal students have been working hard during SAASTA lessons to prepare for the Power Cup in week 5.

Students will spend the week in Adelaide playing in a nine-a-side football carnival at Alberton Oval. The cup concludes at the Adelaide Oval, as the pre match entertainment before the Port Power vs Hawthorn game.

I would like to acknowledge and congratulate Mr Sean Sheedy, Mr Riley Sanders and Ms Melissa Calliss for their hard work to get the SAASTA students ready for this event.

Reporting ProcessThank you to parents who attended Learning Conversations with staff late last term. I hope that you found it useful and provided you with the opportunity to discuss your child’s progress with their teachers.

Term two will see staff writing written reports on the student’s progress to date. Reports will be posted home at the end of the term.

Year 7 Transition VisitsThis term will see year 7 students across the town spend a half a day at Whyalla High as part of their transition to high school.

Staff at Whyalla High really enjoy these visits, as it gives them a chance to meet possible new students for 2018.

If you have any questions about these half day visits please contact our Transition Coordinator, Mr Sean Sheedy at the school.

Pupil Free DayPlease make a note that Friday June 9 is a Pupil Free Day. Staff will be working with the Stuart High and Edward John Eyre High staff to look at both Australian Curriculum and SACE subjects.

Please feel free to contact either Jenna or myself if you have any questions or concerns about your child’s learning at Whyalla High School.

Tricia RichmanPrincipaltricia.richman777@schools.sa.edu.au

RESPECT INCLUSION RELATIONSHIPS LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT

YEAR 10 SACE INFORMATION NIGHTIn week 2, staff from Edward John Eyre High School came to Whyalla High to speak to the parents and caregivers of our year 10 students about SACE as part of the transition process.

The Whyalla Secondary Schools Alliance is eager to involve families in the important transition from year 10 to 11 and we had a positive turn out, with many families coming along to hear about the subject selection process and taking the opportunity to ask questions.

We would like to thank all the staff from Edward John Eyre High School who presented on the night and look forward to our first transition visit in week 5.

Emma Hunter Year 10 coordinator

8E AND 8F - JACK AND THE BEANSTALK!In week two 8E and 8F participated in an integrated lesson, which combined Mathematics and English.

It surrounded using the Jack and the Beanstalk fairy tale as a base and completing an investigation on ratios.

This task involved comparing a human pencil to a giant pencil and using ratios to determine the size of the giant in the book. From an English perspective, students looked at the features within the fairy tale such as language techniques and the key message of the story.

Students then applied their mathematical inquiry skills to complete the following scenario: ‘Jack is desperate for his mum to believe him about the giant that he has seen up the beanstalk! He has stolen one of the giant’s pencils to help make his point. If Jack has the pencil, what can he tell her about the giant?’

Once students completed their investigation they then demonstrated their learning by drawing their giants to scale with chalk on the asphalt.

Daisy Keating and Tara Lampe 8E & 8F teachers

PLPThis term, the year 10s have started their Personal Learning Plan course during care group sessions. I have been highly impressed by the year 10’s committment to the course, which was evident in the standard of work that was submitted in their first assessment last Friday.

The remaining PLP due dates are as follows

Assessment 2 - Personal Action Plan - due Friday 9 June (week 6)

Assessment 3 - Exploring the World of Work - due Friday 10 June (week 9)

Assessment 4 - Personal Development Reflection - interviews start Monday 24 July (term 3, week 1).

Emma Hunter Year 10 coordinator

RESPECT INCLUSION RELATIONSHIPS LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT

THINKING MATHS PROGRAMJenna Hewlett and Tara Lampe are involved in a two term program of professional learning for maths teachers in upper primary and lower secondary South Australian schools. It is designed to stimulate deeper and more engaging instruction in mathematics.

The program supports teachers in the deep learning of mathematical content as outlined in the Australian Curriculum Mathematics. The project focuses on 3 areas:

* quality task design

* sequencing of conceptual development

* research-informed effective pedagogies.

They will attend five professional learning days that are run over two terms by facilitators who model rigorous teaching and learning processes. They will have tasks with multiple entry and exit points to differentiate the curriculum and cater for students with a wide range of mathematical experience and

dispositions. Jenna and Tara are sharing the knowledge they have learnt with the other mathematics teachers at Whyalla High School.

HOME EC UPDATEWe have had a very busy start to term 2 over in Home Ec!

Our year 8 classes are starting their new subjects of Food Technology and Textiles, they have been busy learning the safety rules of each room and developing their basic skills.

Year 9 Textiles have been focusing on different styles of interior design. They are looking forward to working on their futures design project.

Year 9 Food Technology started the term focusing on using their 5 senses while cooking. They participated in many sensory activities with the highlight being the ‘blind taste test’.

Year 10 Food Technology has started the term by focusing on Food Styling, they have participated in styling practicals and written magazine articles focusing on healthy and well-presented food.

Year 10 Textiles are busily working on their Junk to Funk outfits. They are participating in the Whyalla Special School’s fundraiser in August. Students must create an outfit from scratch using only junk. Watch this space to see some awesome creations!

Year 10 Child Development are very busy planning their birthday parties for the end of week 5.

Home Ec has some exciting and engaging activities planned for the rest of the term that both teachers and students are looking forward to working on.

Miss Murphy, Miss Kober, Mrs Birch and Mrs Harvey

RESPECT INCLUSION RELATIONSHIPS LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT

YEAR 10 OED CAMP AT MOUNT REMARKABLEDuring week two, the year 10 Outdoor Ed class travelled to Mount Remarkable National Park for their second trip.

Accompanied by Mr Ellidge, Miss Edwards and Mr Birch, the year 10’s hiked a total of 45km in three days. The group travelled 15km Wednesday, 21km Thursday and 9km Friday. Students challenged themselves both physically and mentally as they hiked up and down very steep tracks, while carrying all their gear.

Students created a camp fire to keep warm

and cook on, slept in tents and cooked on trangias. Teamwork was essential throughout the camp, as we had to carry all our gear and deal with some pretty tough conditions. I was extremely impressed with the way the students behaved and encouraged each other to push themselves. Overall the camp was a great success, and all the students that attended should be proud of their achievements.

Mr Ellige

THE LITTLE MERMAID MUSICAL PRODUCTIONThe cast have been working hard learning the songs for this year’s production. Our principal cast have been committed to learning their harmonies and shown leadership in the larger group.

This term we will start learning choregraphy and putting together the group numbers.

I have been overwhelmed by the level of enthusiasm at rehearsals and we are well on the way to becoming ‘a hot crustacean band’!

Emma Hunter Musical Director

PLP AND WORK EXPERIENCEThe year 10 students are currently engaged in working through the tasks of their Personal Learning Plan, a South Australian Certificate of Education compulsory unit of study.

From my initial observation the students are doing well. I encourage each caregiver and parent to ensure their child is at school on time so they can access help to complete each assignment.

Many of our students have accessed work experience. The onus is on each student to organize their own work experience, except if it is at the Whyalla Hospital.

We currently have 16 students who will experience hospital life during this term. Other students have accessed schools, and local businesses. Encourage your child to come and see me if they are interested in work experience opportunities.

Don Gapp Senior Leader

NAPLANThe year 9 students have recently completed their NAPLAN tests.

I was most impressed with the majority of students who clearly worked hard to complete each test and do their best. As a school and community we have to continue to instil in the students that education is important and that success and achievement are worth striving for.

Effort is a huge contributing factor for success, but not the only determining factor. A range of strategies, seeking help and a repertoire of approaches will assist us to learn and improve in all aspects of our life.

It is important that we all keep learning academically, socially and emotionally.

Don Gapp Senior Leader