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PARK PRESS

Our School Values are – RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY & COMMITMENT’

Find us at: 120 Church Street Albion Park 2527 Email: Albionpk-h@det.nsw.edu.au Tel No: 4257 1744

Term 2, Week 8 13 June, 2017

Coming events Week 8

Monday 12 June Queen’s Birthday

Tuesday 13 June Playgroup

Wednesday 14 June

Thursday 15 June Defence Recruitment Presentation

Friday 16 June Yr 8

Yr 9/10

Yr 10

Yr 11/12

Yr 11/12

Maths Half Yearly

Debating Day

Incursion – South Coast Writers

Exc-AIME

Support Work Experience

Week 9

Monday 19 June Zone Athletics Carnival

Japan trip information evening 4-5pm

Tuesday 20 June

Yr 8

Playgroup

Support unit team building day

Subject Taster Day

Wednesday 21June Beanie’s for Brain Cancer Day

CAPA Performance Night

Thursday 22 June Yr 12 Ext 1 Maths Half Yearly Exam

Friday 23 June Yr 9

Yr 10

Yr 11/12

Peer Support Training

Incursion – South Coast Writers

Support Work Experience

P & C MEETING Monday 26 June, 2016 at 6pm

Students of the Fortnight This fortnight we would like to acknowledge the amazing efforts of Viviana Benavente and Faith Brown who raised an incredible $1,065 for Anthony Pietrobelli’s Go Fund Me Page.

On Wednesday 19 April, these two outstanding young ladies ran on a treadmill at Fernwood

Shellharbour for twelve hours straight, clocking a jaw dropping 147km! Both of you are outstanding ambassadors for our school and we are so very proud of you. Principal’s Message Welcome to week 8 of Term 2. Currently, our Year 8 students are in the process of discovering all the options they have for elective subjects in 2018. It is a very exciting time for Year 8 students as they get to have a say in the curriculum they will study across 400 hours of study in Years 9 and 10.

They recently participated in a subject market where they were able to discuss with Head Teachers what each subject really offers. This leads into Subject Taster day next Tuesday, 20 June, where they will be able to participate in three Taster lessons, of subjects they are currently thinking they would like to study.

The information evening for 2018 subject selection, for current Years 7, 8 and 10 students, and their parents will be held on Tuesday, 1 August. For senior subject selection (current Yr 10) the meeting will begin at 3.30 pm. For current Year 7 and 8 students, the meeting will begin at 5.00 pm. Further information and detail will be sent home in the coming weeks with your child.

Leading into Term 3 is a busy time for our Year 12 students who have their Trial HSC exams beginning week 2 of next term. This is a great opportunity for them to really gauge where they are at with their study, as the Trials follow the same structure as their actual HSC exams.

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Now is the time for Year 12 to really knuckle down, so to speak. Good luck Year 12 with your study over the next couple of weeks and of course you exams.

Our recent Athletics Carnival was a great success and I would like to extend my thanks to all the students who attended and participated with such enthusiasm. In particular, Mr Blake and the PE crew did a fantastic job in organising the day. We will no doubt have a very strong team to send off to the Zone Carnival to be held Monday, 19 June. All the best to those who will be in attendance.

Paul Ridgway Acting Principal

Beanie and Flanno Day On Wednesday 7 June, Year 11 held a “BBQ, Beanie and Flanno Day” to raise money for Anthony Pietrobelli and his family. The response from the school community was outstanding. It was wonderful to see so many staff and students get behind this great cause and luckily, it was perfect beanie and flanno weather. The sausage sizzle, lolly bags and drinks were also a hit with all items selling out well before the end of lunch.

Albion Park High School is very excited to announce we raised a massive $1,144.70! A big thank you must go out to all the staff and students who donated money, lollies, made posters and assisted with the BBQ on the day.

A special mention must also go to Year 11 and members of the organising committee for giving up their lunch time and for their great team effort. I’m proud to say our first fundraiser as a year group was a huge success.

Raffle ticket sales for the 50/50 fundraiser are also going well and we are on our way to raising $1000. The raffle will be drawn sometime next term.

Support Unit Update It is with much pride that I returned at the beginning of the year to lead a fantastic team of teachers and SLSOs working across our three classes, busily preparing, programming, teaching and supporting all of our wonderful students within the Support Unit.

At the end of term one, we finalised all our Individualised Education Plans (IEPs) for each student. Thank you to all the families who attended and contributed to your young person’s IEP. Your input and feedback was much appreciated.

Currently, our senior students are busily completing a TAFE course delivered externally, while also completing a ‘Retail’ course delivered here at school. Much time and effort goes into matching, locating and securing suitable work placements so all of our seniors can spend at least one day of the week engaged in a work experience or a job crew program.

We currently have our students placed at Calderwood Golf Course, Blue Cove Learning Centre, Gwenda Markwell Racing, Repco Auto Parts, Shellharbour Golf Links, Nicholls Construction Group, Illawarra Pet Supplies and a small supported group working at Coles Shellharbour.

Could I please take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to all the wonderful local businesses that continue to support us, and teach our students these invaluable work ready skills in a ‘real’ world environment.

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Our Year Twelve students have been out visiting the local disability service providers to see what post school programs will be on offer for their transition out of school. They will also be participating in a mock interview program planned to encourage the students to read and respond to an advertised position, dress for and sit the mock interview and then receive ‘real’ feedback from local business representatives, all aimed at improving their work ready skills.

Looking ahead, we are very excited to be entering a group of students from the Support Unit to participate in the wonderful journey preparing and performing in The Southern Stars production. To say they are a little excited is an understatement. We can’t wait to see you perform later in the year!

Our next Support Unit Camp is scheduled for September/October 2018, however the hard task of fundraising for this opportunity begins now.

Last week, students received their fundraising packs for our Pie Drive. This is a fantastic way for everyone within our school and community to support our students by buying family sized pies, quiches, cakes and slices. It provides a stacked freezer of yummy winter goodies but, more importantly, it supports our students to financially access a three day camp away together. Please throw your support behind this and see any of the Support Unit staff if you would like an order form.

As many people would know the NDIS is to be

introduced on 1 June, 2017. This has created a

large amount of confusion and uncertainty for

families supporting a young person with a

disability. What does this all mean for the young

person and what services will be available to

support the young person as they transition away

from the known security of school?

Please save the date; there will be an information

session “Consumer Rights and the NDIS” held

here at Albion Park High School on 11 September

at both 10am and 6pm for all young people, their

families and support networks to attend. There

will be more information coming as we get closer

to the date.

Finally, we have had a smooth start to the year

and the students have enjoyed amazing success

in learning opportunities, sporting achievements,

TAFE endeavours and work experience

placements. Keep working hard guys!! And

always remember…

Sarah Hiscocks

Head Teacher Special Education

Year 10 Future Finders Excursion To the University of Wollongong Have you ever been asked the question, "so what are you going to do once you finish school"?

I always felt nervous answering this question, because I really had no idea. I would often make things up just so I didn't look or sound stupid. I'd tell people I wanted to be a doctor or lawyer or sports journalist just because it sounded cool. But really, I hadn't given it much thought until the day I graduated high school... then reality struck and I was petrified.

It's taken me years to realise, that it’s fine if you don't know exactly what you want to do after school, however, you do need a plan or a strategy. In this day and age, the average person will change career paths eight times so you need to explore your options.

The UOW Future Finders day helps Year 10 students consider their options after they leave school, and give them the tools to follow their dreams or devise a strategy for the next chapter of their lives.

It was a great day, students attended a variety of workshops and lectures in various educational faculties so they can gain an understanding of what's on offer. Our students were awesome as always, and I guarantee next time someone asks them what they will do after school, they'll be able to answer that question with confidence. Shannon Farrugia

National Sorry Day

Albion Park High School commemorated National Sorry Day, an Australia-wide observance on Friday 26 May. This gave the school community the chance to remember

and commemorate the mistreatment of the

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country's indigenous population, and share the steps towards healing for the Stolen Generations, their families and communities.

The school would like to acknowledge and thank the presenters who participated during the commemoration. Our school captains Abigail Bowes and Seth Phillips welcomed our visitors and school community. Keana Dobeson led the assembly with the ‘Acknowledgment to Country.

The team from AIME (Wollongong) shared their story. Dallas Harrison representing the school community spoke about the next generation and the steps they can make to move forward. The Illawarra Flametree dancers, comprising local school students and Shakiah-Lee Preo from Albion Park High School performed. Richard Campbell played the didgeridoo, after the viewing of the apology spoken by Kevin Rudd in February 2008.

Sophie Pardoe, Emma Brewer and Tiana Ristevski who all are studying for a barista course, prepared a light lunch for visitors and guests.

The school community thanks the many elders who attended our Assembly commemorating National Sorry Day.

Year 7 students Amber Fowler, Kiara Parsons, Lachlan Cusack and Brydon Hall enjoyed the ‘Sharing Stories’ performance at the Wollongong Town Hall celebrating culture and stories for Reconciliation Week 2017. Local indigenous performers from a variety of local schools shared their talents, creativity, identity and stories on the stage. Albion Park High School students Shakiah-Lee Preo and Keana Dobeson danced with the ‘Flametree’

dancers sharing the story about the Illawarra Black Swan and the Flannel Flower.

In this intergenerational project, local elders shared their stories with the younger generation, who were encouraged to creatively express these stories through dance, song, and theatre. The students delighted in stories such as the Birth of the Butterfly, Flannel Flower and the Illawarra Black Swan. Pan Pacific School Games Huge congratulations to the schools’ swimming queen, Amy Lucas of Year 12, who has now been selected for the Pan Pacific School Games at the end of the year.

The Pan Pacific is an international meet which will be held in Adelaide in early December over the course of ten days. This includes a two day introduction meet and greet session, training and opening ceremony.

Amy was obviously thrilled to be selected to represent New South Wales at this level and we, as a school, are just as thrilled for her. She will be lining up in the 50 metres butterfly and possibly the medley relay. Well done Amy! We’re all very proud of you.

Measles Alert An infectious disease alert was issued by NSW Health, notifying the public of the outbreak and recent locations visited by those affected by the virus. NSW Health is urging people to take advantage of the free measles vaccine, available at GPs, and to look out for measles symptoms.

Now that students have returned for Term 2, schools should ensure that they are aware of the symptoms of measles and notify their local Public Health Unit if a student or staff member is diagnosed with the virus.

Symptoms to watch for include:

Fever Sore eyes Cough Following fever, sore eyes and cough - a

red, blotchy rash typically spreading from the neck to the rest of the body that follows three to four days later.

Measles is mostly spread by coughing and sneezing. Students and staff who have been in

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close proximity to individuals with measles should be monitored, and consult with a doctor if they are showing signs of any of the symptoms mentioned above.

Volunteering at the School Canteen

Can you spare a few hours to assist with food preparation and Counter service.

Daily 7.45am –

8.30am Preparation and Counter service

Thursday 8.30am -

10.40am Preparation and Counter service

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Friday

10am –

12.45pm

Preparation and Counter service

The times listed are peak times, but anytime you are available to assist would be greatly appreciated. We especially need help on Tuesdays. Contact: Shona Smylie 42571744 Ext 117

Apprenticeship & Traineeship Information Sessions

These sessions provide students, parents and carers with helpful information and resources on increasing chances of gaining an Apprenticeship or Traineeship, including:

What employers want

Where to find the jobs Strategies and resources

In attendance will be Skillsroad Show, TAFE NSW, Defence Force Recruiting, Group Training Organisations, Training Services NSW, Apprenticeship Support Australia, plus employer and apprentice interviews. Link to Bookings for this free event:

The Shellharbour Club event on Wednesday

June 14, go to:

https://register.eventarc.com/38320/

The Builders Club, Wollongong event on

Tuesday June 20, go to:

https://register.eventarc.com/38321/