emergency, their arrival at school may place …moodle.wghs.nsw.edu.au/pluginfile.php/36/mod_forum...2016/03/13 · emergency, their arrival at school may place themselves in danger,

WILLOUGHBY GIRLHIGH SCHOOL A Leader in Girls Education

NEWSLETTER 3 March 2016

February – March Calendar Red typeface denotes the event is open to the

public

Week 6A 29 February – 4 March Monday 29 Assembly

Tuesday 1 March ‘In Concert’ Choir rehearsal

Wednesday 2 Year 7 & 8 Religious

Seminars

Thursday 3 Year 8 Geography

excursion

Week 7B 7 – 11 March

Monday 7 International Women’s Day

Celebration Assembly

Wednesday 9 Year 9 & 10 Religious

Seminars

Open Night

Saturday 12 2017 Extension Class test

Week 8A 14 – 18 March

Monday 14 Year 10 Geography Camp

Assembly

Tuesday 15 Year 10 Geography Camp

P&C Meeting 7.00pm in

the Staff Common Room

Wednesday 16 Year 10 Geography Camp

Thursday 17 Zone Swimming Carnival

Friday 18 Year 11 Design

Technology Excursion

Week 9B 21 – 25 March

Year 12 Mini Trial Examinations

Monday 21 March – Wednesday 5 April

Tuesday 22 Year 9 Commerce

Excursion

Wednesday 23 Easter Services

Friday 25 Good Friday

Deputy Principal’s Report

Evacuation and Lockdown Procedures Periodically, the school holds both evacuation and lockdown drills. The evacuation procedure occurs when there is a need to move out of the school building because of possible emergencies such as a fire, gas leak, earthquake or bomb threat. When the evacuation siren sounds continuously for 30 seconds, students under the direction of classroom teachers move via the safest route to the school’s designated “safe zone”. Everyone must remain secure in the “safe zone” until the situation has been declared safe by the Principal. Another possible emergency procedure is called Lockdown. Lockdown is when everyone in the school must remain secure in rooms because it may not be safe to go outside. The signal to go into Lockdown is the normal school bell ringing continuously for 1 minute. This procedure occurs when there is a potentially dangerous or suspicious person or group of people on or around the school grounds. Everyone must remain secure in rooms until the situation has been declared safe by the Principal. During these emergency procedures it is very important that students do not communicate electronically with any other person either inside or outside the school. Parents should be aware that there will be no access to the school grounds and that information will be restricted until the emergency situation has been resolved. It is important that parents or other members of the school community do not arrive at the school in order to pick up their child or attempt to contact their child by telephone or text message, unless contacted by the Principal or Police to do so. Parents should also be aware that, depending on the type of emergency, their arrival at school may place themselves in danger, and hinder the work of emergency personnel. Your cooperation with these procedures will assist the Principal, Police, and other emergency personnel to resolve the situation quickly. Sometimes an emergency procedure could last for an extended period of time or extend beyond the normal school hours. If this happens, it is important that everyone remains secure either in the “safe zone” during an evacuation or inside during a lockdown. The Principal, with the assistance of the Police, will then notify parents using the most appropriate means, including via the media. Satisfactory Completion of Courses The NSW Board of Studies sets the eligibility and pattern of study requirements for the award of Record of School Achievement (RoSA), Preliminary and Higher School Certificate. To receive a result in any course, students must satisfactorily complete that course. Satisfactory completion of a course involves following the course developed or endorsed by the Board of Studies. Students must apply themselves with diligence and sustained effort to the set tasks provided by their teachers and must demonstrate achievement of course outcomes. Students who are late or absent and do not attend lessons regularly are unlikely to be able to demonstrate achievement of course outcomes, and that they have applied themselves with diligence and sustained effort. Department of Education guidelines require that students must attend 85% of the time unless exempted by the Principal. The Board of Studies requires schools to issue students with official warning letters in order to give them the opportunity to redeem themselves. Should such a letter be received, students are strongly advised to respond immediately and address the action required as detailed in the letter. Teachers will be reviewing the progress of all students who have received warning letters throughout the year. Final determinations will be made by the Principal towards the end of Term 3. If a student fails to comply with the requirements they will be given an “N” (Non Completion) determination for that course. The student will be ineligible to have that course recorded on their Board of Studies Record of Achievement. This may result in the student being ineligible to receive the award of RoSA, Preliminary or Higher School Certificate.

Mr S Leavers Deputy Principal

Year 7 2017 Upcoming Events

Wednesday 9 March – Open Night for intending

Year 7 2017 students and

Saturday 12 March -Extension Class test for 2017

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Cupcake Capers at the Carnival On 17 February, we held our annual swimming carnival at the Lane Cove Aquatic Centre. But this was no usual swimming carnival; the SRC wanted to make this, one to remember… After lots of planning and organisation the SRC decided that we would have a fundraiser event at the swimming carnival where we sold cupcakes, incorporating our theme this year- ‘#women with a voice’. We got several very generous donations from different businesses such as The Cheesecake Shop, The Cupcake Bakery and My Little Cupcake. The cupcakes provided were very impressive and were sold out within half an hour of the carnival. But there was a lot more to come! The SRC had also organised two, one metre cakes to be sold! Although we were sceptical about selling two metres worth of cake- we did it! Willoughby girls and teachers were very supportive to the cause and successfully helped us to raise a very impressive amount of over $900! These funds will go to the Room to Read foundation that will help children (especially girls) receive an education so they are able to read and write. This worthy foundation helps children across parts of North Africa and South-East Asia. The Room to Read foundation helps girls to receive an education so that they can go out into the world with a voice, they also help educate girls and get them out of home for a few days a week to prevent them from becoming child brides and also to stop them being forced to work to hard in other jobs. The Room to Read foundation is on the way to helping 171 million uneducated children. After the swimming carnival we hope that all the girls at Willoughby feel like they have helped make a small, but positive change in the world. Thankyou to Ms Piech for helping us co-ordinate the event and also Sophia Sandwith, Hannah Beaton and Scarlett Bell. By Georgie Bryden Year 10 SRC

Cupcakes donated by The Cupcake Bakery

Cupcakes donated by My Little Cupcake

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Technology Update

Welcome to new parents and students and welcome back to our existing school population.

In Computing Studies classes, Year 9 is looking at the past, present and future of technology, so I thank you for cranking up the grey matter for your trip down memory lane to help them to complete their interviews. Year 10 is looking at the complex nature of Artificial Intelligence and the ethical dilemma associated with giving AIs a bank account. Ask your daughters if Andrew should be allowed to get married?

Year 11 SDD are working their ‘evolution of software’ assessment. They have debated the pros of having a National Privacy Act, Intellectual Property Laws and other issues in relation to computer software. They are learning all about ergonomics and why it is important when not only using a computer but how you would have to thinking about it when you develop software. They have looked at the skills needed to be a software designer and developer. They are having fun developing many different programming exercises using VB.Net. They have looked at how software and hardware are mutually dependent components of a computer system, and their new challenge is, mastering reading and writing Binary, Hexadecimal and ASCII.

Year 12 SDD are working on the planning and design of their major projects and preparing for their mini trials. They are revising different types of sort and search methods such as a bubble and binary. They are looking at how they are written in different languages for example in Vb.Net and Java. They have studied the CPU in the operation of computers, in particular the fetch-execute cycle, and have studied machine code also known as Object code once it has been translated. They have revised ‘what is test data’ and how you need it to manually check the solution to a problem. Year 11 IPT are reviewing the school’s website in its current format to suggest changes which may improve its function and look.

C13 is open at lunchtimes on Tuesday and Thursday for students to use the desktop computers. Students should be aware that this room is open for them with access to the computer network. A teacher will be supervising the room and is able to offer the students generalised help with their work.

The Moodle is the school’s working site and only students and staff may login to it. However, parents may download documents which have been placed on the front page. (see address below)

The Parent Portal is specifically designed for parents. One may access a variety of components, such as, timetables, newsletters, attendance, reports, etc. Details for registration are distributed for Year 7 parents and parents of new students at the Welcome Evening. For those who do not attend we will post the Year 7 details to the correspondence address in our administration system and for the other new parents your daughter will receive the details in her Homeroom. If parents do not receive details by the first week in March then please send an email to the school requesting the details. (see address below). Please ensure when registering one uses a proper email address and then after one logs on use the access key to link to your daughter’s details.

Students have their own access to the school portal using their normal school login details. The site is the same; a blue and white coloured site. If one sees a black coloured site this is the staff portal and it will not let you access it, however, there is a link in the bottom left hand corner to the parent/student portal site.

Software is available for students from the Academic Software Download Centre (see link below). Please ensure your daughter registers firstly (top right hand corner) with her education email address e.g. [email protected]

All students should now be on the printing application and have $5.00 credit if school fees have been paid. Printing at school can be made from any device using websubmit from a browser. (see address below) Credit may be topped up by use of the student library card which will become available soon. This card can be swiped through the blue recharge box in the library where money can be exchanged for credits.

Students with their own devices may also map our school drives to their device giving them access to all of the information they may get from our school network. For windows devices we have developed a script which may be found in StdInfo on our network (see address below), please read the word document firstly. For Apple devices refer to the online document on how to map drives below.

With regard to the BYOLD (Bring Your Own Learning Device) program, we do not suggest examples of devices and the school does not recommend any particular device.

Any device will suffice, however, please ensure the device has:

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• WiFi capability with 802.11 a/b/g/n at 5GHz (Please double check as this frequency range is not common. Your home WiFi may operate at 2.4 GHz, so the device will connect at home but not at school.)

• a battery life of at least six hours • screen size at least 11" • comfortable size keyboard • before leaving home ensure all of the software and drivers are up to date. (esp. WiFi)

Connecting to the internet at school may require the configuration script to be entered in the Wifi or Internet options. Windows devices should have the Internet options opened, go to connections, Lan, and enter the configuration script into the relevant section. Apple devices open wifi, Network Preferences, Proxies, enter the configuration script. See config script below. NB [willoughbg-h] it is a g not a y. Of course this may not be necessary if one turns on auto discovery. Try it firstly.

School Website www.wghs.nsw.edu.au

School Email [email protected]

Student Email address [email protected]

School Moodle moodle.wghs.nsw.edu.au

Parent Portal Student Portal

web1.willoughbg-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/portal

Calendar -assessments -parents -variations to routine

web1.willoughbg-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/webcal

Library Enquiry web1.willoughbg-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/library

Academic Software Download Centre

https://nsw-students.onthehub.com/WebStore/Welcome.aspx

DEC Student Portal student.det.nsw.edu.au

Configuration Script http://pac.schools.nsw.edu.au/schools/willoughbg-h.pac

Drive mapping for Apples (how to) http://osxdaily.com/2010/09/20/map-a-network-drive-on-a-mac/

*Windows drive mapping script file

StdInfo\Computing\network script (choose file for year (read the word file firstly))

*School Network drives Student Information drive: http://10.26.16.18/stdinfo

Student Dropbox drive: http://10.26.16.18/dropbox

Student’s home drive: http://10.26.16.18/studentdata$/YYYY/loginname where YYYY = year finishing school

*Printing from BYOLD to school printer

10.26.16.19/websubmit

I hope this year is a fruitful one for us all.

Mr P Devitt and Ms McLeod Computing Studies

Year 10 Geography Camp

The Annual Year 10 Geography Camp will take place at Broken

Bay Sport and Recreation Centre from Monday 14 March until

Wednesday 16 March 2016.

The camp is a key element in the Stage 5 Geography course as students will be conducting

fieldwork within the natural landscapes around Broken Bay and Barrenjoey Headland. We

are fortunate to have these special ecosystems on our doorstep….they provide our

students with a fun and challenging learning environment while they investigate coastal

management issues.

A note with updated details has been sent to parents/carers. Payment will need to be

finalised by Monday 7 March 2016

Additional information is available on Sentral

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Year 11 Camp….challenges and camaraderie

Year 11 Camp – Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Narrabeen

This year our annual Year 11 camp was held at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation from 10 to 12 February. Our camp was all about supporting each other as a year group and challenging ourselves. At the outset, Ms. Blackman (our Year Adviser) set us to the task of approaching and getting to know one other person who we had never spoken to before. Excited, and ready for camp, we took this challenge on, and I think most people can say that they found a new friend. Throughout the three days we got to participate in a number of activities including, yoga, abseiling, raft building, canoeing, study skills, a trivia night, a cook out and a competitive and exciting scavenger hunt. Raft building was definitely a highlight; we attempted to build rafts out of crates and planks of wood. Some rafts were successful, however others fell apart and girls were left soaking wet. This activity required teamwork and trust. It was great to see everyone get involved and even better to see those who volunteered to test out the rafts. I’m sure some of them regret that now! Abseiling was also a fun activity; it was amazing to see how so many people stepped out of their comfort zones. It is safe to say that most of the year found yoga to be one of the most enjoyable activities. It was very relaxing and exactly what we needed to prepare us for the year to come! Also, a special thank you to Ms Henzell who came down and gave us a presentation about growth mindsets and shared her experiences regarding learning. Overall, the Year 11 camp was a blast and I’ve never seen our year bond so quickly before. Thank you to all the teachers who spent time with us at camp. It was a truly a rewarding experience which has prepared us for our Year 11 student life. Ayesha Bhalla, Year 11 student

Year 11 students participated in fun

activities at the Camp

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Careers….what’s new?

Congratulations to the 2015 Year 12 students on their performances last year. It was wonderful to hear the various pathways that students will be following in the future 2016 is an exciting year for the Senior Students at Willoughby Girls High School with many decisions to plan for Post School Options. Year 10 Year 10 begin scheduled Careers Lessons with me once a cycle to explore Study and Career Pathways using various websites and resources. We will also be concentrating on preparing students for events such as Work Experience in Term 2 Week 7, June 6-10. Parents - If you or family friends are interested in hosting a Work Experience Student in your place of business please contact me at School. Year 12 Year 12 students are welcome to come and book an interview time with me help to with Career and or Study options for 2017. A reminder that if you are looking to study Medicine or Optometry, you will need to sit the UMAT exam in June (Registrations open on their website). Careers Website Subscription (These services are provided for the school community only) The School subscribes to a Careers Websites that enable access to information regarding further study, careers and upcoming events at Universities, TAFE and Private Colleges. This acts as a “one stop shop” instead of having to access multiple sites to find out much of the current information available. www.jobjump.com.au password – squirrel

Also the School Moodle site has School specific materials and resources to do with Careers. Year 10 Work experience materials are there already available for download 2016. Click onto the CAREERS tab

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Year 7 Camp…making friends Sarah

As new Year 7’s, on our first few days (although not just then), we all had a desire to meet new people, but, had

previously stayed in our ‘comfort zones’ amongst our previous friends. Camp was our ‘ice breaker’ and our

integration into high school and our new peer group. I found myself meeting, and even becoming close to new

friends. I only really remember canoeing. I met so many people in the space of an hour, and I am experienced at

canoeing- even pairing up with a close friend leads to you to others. Of course, I don’t really remember much of

the second day, as Charlotte will tell you (see below), but I know I had a great time.

Eesha

“Lights out”, the teacher had said. The second she was out of the cabin, the whispers started. Somebody had

turned on their torch and was reading. Girls had moved their mattresses to the floor and decided to sleep there.

The whispers turned to chatters, the chatters turned to ruckus. Nobody felt like sleeping, except perhaps, me. I

have always had a bad history of sleeping in camps. In Year 5 we had a midnight feast. In Year 6 we tried sock

wrestling on the cabin floor. But for the first time in the history of my school camps, I actually wanted to sleep.

But now how could I?

Eventually the noise died down and I felt myself drifting…I opened my eyes. My cabin mate was shaking me

vigorously. It was six thirty and I was going to be late for dish duty. Sigh.

Charlotte

After a chaotic night full of giggles and stories everyone was thirsty for more adventure. A friend of mine was

absolutely delirious from her considerable lack of sleep. I did up her harness while she babbled about a law

course she’d been on recently and I sent her up the 10m wall once I’d heard quite enough about her interest in

actus rea and mens rea. I glanced at my friend who was grinning foolishly on her way up the tower; I suited up

and fitted a helmet on my head. I got up slightly after Sarah, and leaned back calmly, but before I could start

hopping down the obstacle I heard an almighty crash. Though I knew exactly who it was. Our group’s yelps

were however very unnecessary. Although my friend had just fallen 4m, she experienced no pain, a few minor

painless scratches and hardly remembers the incident due to some serious exhaustion. I explained to Mum that

night that I’d made a new friend, who lost grip of the rope at abseiling and fell 4m. She really knows how to

make a good first impression.

Conclusion

We will all have memories (well, some of us will), of the great times we have had on camp. But this camp, the

camp of meeting new people and starting fresh, will stay with us forever.

Eesha Jamthe, Charlotte McLeod, and Sarah Power 7E

Year 7 students enjoyed rock-climbing, water sports, high ropes and other challenges

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Competition Test Date Years Amount

Digital Technologies Tuesday 17 May 2016 7 – 10 $ 8.00

Science Tuesday 31 May 2016 7 – 12 $ 8.00

Writing Monday 13 June – Friday 17 June 2016 7 – 12 $17.00

Spelling Wednesday 15 June 2016 7 $11.00

English Tuesday 2 August 2016 7 – 12 $ 8.00

Maths Tuesday 16 August 2016 7 – 12 $ 8.00

A note has been given to all students with more information and payment details. Payment is due on Wednesday 16 March. All students are encouraged to sit the tests.

The International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS)

is an independent, skills-based assessment program which recognises and rewards student achievement.

ICAS is unique, being the most comprehensive generally available suite of academic assessments for primary and secondary school students. The assessments comprise Digital Technologies, English Mathematics Science, Spelling Writing tests.

For more than 30 years, Educational Assessment Australia (EAA) has continuously improved and enhanced ICAS. Today, this experience means ICAS is a 21

st century quality

assessment that keeps pace with classroom learning. A new ICAS test is developed annually for each subject in each year level by our team of subject matter experts. All ICAS tests are reviewed by experienced teachers to ensure that they accurately assess students’ skills and are relevant to what they are learning at school.

Each test is sat at the student’s school and is invigilated by teachers under normal examination conditions.

Over one million student entries are accepted from over 6,300 schools in Australia and New Zealand annually. In addition, students from over 20 countries including Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and the USA participate in ICAS each year At Willoughby Girls High School, the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools 2016 will be conducted on a series of dates listed in the table below with the cost of each test:

Become a WEP host family in 2016!

Do you want to experience new cultures? Are you curious, welcoming and keen

to show off your lifestyle? Have you thought about hosting an overseas

exchange student? WEP Australia are looking for volunteer host families now! If

you think you match the above criteria, request an information pack on our

website today: https://wep.org.au/host/ or phone 1300 88 4733

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COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARD

News presenter Jacinta Tynan leads an intimate evening of discussion surrounding women’s health and empowerment. Special guest speakers include:

Natalie Isaacs, founder and CEO of 1 Million Women, will speak

about women taking practical action through the way they live, the

choices they make and the way they spend money.

Dr Donna Lau, a medical doctor with a special interest in all aspects

of women's health, will discuss general information about

menstruation and pelvic floor exercises.

Representatives from Share the Dignity will speak about their

program aimed at providing homeless women and women at risk

with sanitary products

Representatives of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia will speak about

eliminating childbirth injuries and avoiding maternal death through

treatment, rehabilitation and education.

The event will be held in the MacMahon Room (upstairs) in the Willoughby Hotel, 315 Penshurst St, North Willoughby. There will also be delicious novelty cupcakes, giveaways and a glass of bubbly or soft drink on arrival. Parking is limited so we encourage you to catch public transport or carpool with a friend. Book Now at: https://www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/EventDetails.aspx?PageID=1892&eventid=3587

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All ladies, girls and children are invited to the Heart Foundation’s Up Girl event on

Sunday 13 March 2016. This event aims to increase women’s health and fitness by

encouraging cycling. Gear up Girl is Sydney’s largest recreational bike ride for women

and girls and is a Bicycle NSW initiative which has been run since 2008.

This non-competitive event is the ideal way to show students and families where there are safe, separated

cycleways in Sydney. Riders can choose a leisurely 20km Beach Ride, the 40km Classic Ride, or the 60km

Coast Ride. All are achievable, enjoyable and scenic – and kids ride free! See www.gearupgirl.com.au for

all details.

Heart Disease is still the number one killer for Australian women. Through Gear Up Girl, we all have the

opportunity to help change this.

Invitation to Heart Foundation – Gear Up Girl event – 13 March 2016