From The Principal - Mitcham Girls High School

No 8, Friday 14 September 2012, Term 3

From The PrincipalDear Families,

Another action packed term is about to come to a close. The greatest achievement for us this term has been the CIS Accreditation. As you know we are now a very proud, interna-tionally accredited school, however, this does not mean that we can now rest on our laurels. Our processes and effectiveness as a school will continue to be monitored by the Council of International Schools over the next nine years. At the end of this time the school will need to go through full process of accreditation again.

Recently we had the privilege of attending the outstanding dance performance “Fleeting Moments”, presented by the MGHS Momentum and Velocity and, of course our fabulous Year 12 Dance students. There were a total of fifteen acts, through which students show-cased their skills and talents, their stamina, their total focus, their passion and their profes-sionalism. All students are to be congratulated – the school is certainly very proud of them all.

As you know, the students had an extra long weekend last week. They had two days off school whilst the staff were given the usual “Show” day off. These two days are used ef-ficiently by our students and staff. Once again we had a large number of students and teachers participating in the annual Ski Trip and, for the first time, we had a small number of students and two teachers go to Melbourne to visit some important historical sites. On Monday, all teachers attended a training day. We concentrated on how to deal better with cyberbullying and how to support students with mental health issues.

On the last day of term, your daughter will be issued with her Term 3 report. Unlike previous reports, there will be four comments against each subject. These comments should give you a lot more information on your daughter’s strengths in each of the subjects as well as areas for improvement. Given that we are now commenting on our reports, and therefore providing a lot more information to you and to your daughter, we will not hold a Parent/Teacher interview night in Term 4. Should you need to speak to any of your daughter’s sub-ject teachers please feel free to email them.

I would also like to inform you that at this point in time we have 147 Year 8 enrolments for 2013. This is the second highest number we have ever had and we certainly thank our wider community for their continued support and for promoting all the great programs we have at Mitcham. I know that our students and our parents are our best ambassadors.

By now our Year 12 students should have started their revision for any exams they may have and should be busily completing their major assignments. It may be a stressful time for some students, so you may need to be a little more patient and more understanding than usual. Encourage your daughter to eat well and to get enough sleep. Celebrations may have to wait until after the exams!

Once again our teachers will run holiday lessons. It is extremely important that they attend these so that they may be better prepared for exams or for any other work they may need to do before the end of the year.

Have a relaxing two weeks. We certainly hope to see many parents at our Celebration As-sembly and Presentation Night in Term 4.

Regards,Antoinette Jones

Kyre AveKINGSWOOD SAP 8272 8233F 8373 [email protected]

What, When and Why No 8, Term 3 2012 page 1

Important

Information for all

Families

Proposed 2013

Materials & Services

Charge:

Details on page

2 & 3

What, When and Why No 8, Term 3 2012 page 2

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Mitcham Girls High School

KYRE AVENUE, KINGSWOOD SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5062

Phone: 08 8272 8233 Fax: 08 8373 3013 Email: [email protected] Website: www.mitchamgirlshs.sa.edu.au

Dear Families, Re: Proposed 2013 Materials and Services Charge You are invited to attend a special meeting of the Mitcham Girls High School Governing Council. This meeting will take place on Monday 22 October at 7:00pm. It will be held in Staff Room, located in the Administration Building, accessed from the Kyre Avenue car park. The Governing Council has proposed that the 2013 Materials and Services Charge be set at $595.00. Details of the proposed charges are outlined on the DECD approved notification attachment. At this meeting Governing Council will vote for the approval of the proposed 2013 Materials and Services Charge. Before taking a vote the meeting will be opened up for discussion and all parents are invited to participate in this discussion. Please be aware that the Governing Council will be polling all parents to make the entire sum legally recoverable. It is vital that the Governing Council has an indication of people attending this meeting. Therefore, if you would like to attend, please complete the slip below and post to the school before Wednesday 17 October 2012 or email [email protected]. In lieu of attendance at this meeting, parents/students can express their views in writing to the Chairperson of the Governing Council. Regards, Paula Mitchell Chairperson Governing Council ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please return to Mitcham Girls High School by Wednesday 17 October 2012

MITCHAM GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL GOVERNING COUNCIL MEETING

I will be attending the Governing Council meeting on 22 October 2012 at 7:00pm. Name: ………………………………………………………. Contact Phone Number: …………………………………

What, When and Why No 8, Term 3 2012 page 3

Mitcham Girls High School - 0903

Notice of Materials and Services Charges for 2013Notice of Charges for Years 8 - 13

ITEMS AND SERVICES COST ($)HEADING

Printed and electronic materials related to the educational program and which are provided for the student

Workbooks $0.00Text Book Hire $25.00

SUBTOTAL (ZPREM ) $175.00

Stationery items that are provided for the student

Stationery Items $0.00

SUBTOTAL (ZSTAT) $16.50

$5.00$11.50

ID CardsStudent Diary

Materials and Services that are provided by the school for the student to consume or use the materials or take ownership of a finished article produced by the student with the materials

Access to Student Information Technology

$150.50

Access to Machinery $24.00

SUBTOTAL (ZACMS) $379.50

Access to Equipment $40.00Curriculum/Subject Supplies and Services

$165.00

$0.00Other [please Specify]

Materials for inclusion in the school library and to enable use by the student

Library resources including access to borrowing library resources

$24.00

SUBTOTAL (ZACLI) $24.00

Total Materials and Services Charge (excluding Subject Charges) $595.00

These subject charges are in addition to the Materials and Services Charge above for those students undertaking the following subjects.

Subject Description Cost ($)$60.00Music Tuition- per Semester$40.00Yr 10 Food Studies - per Semester$40.00Stage 1 Food & Nutrition / Food & Hospitality (catering) - per Semester$60.00Stage 2 Food & Hospitality - Whole Year

$0.00

$0.00Other [please Specify]

Photocopied Material $150.00

What, When and Why No 8, Term 3 2012 page 4

FLEETING MOMENTS 2012The 2012 production of Fleeting Moments was the school’s major Dance event for the year and the Year 12 Dance examination performance which was held at the Odeon Theatre, Norwood, on Tuesday 4 September.

For the Year 12s, nerves really kicked in when we at-tached our assessment numbers to our costumes, know-ing we were about to be marked on all our hard work and effort. We supported each other before performing by huddling together and giving supportive comments, personal and group goals, finishing with our memorable mantra word for a fabulous night: ‘BOSH’! This was our moderation, our time to shine and show everyone just how hard we had been working, to prove to everyone that we were fabulous doing what we do best ... DANCE!

Standing side stage, our adrenaline levels, excitement and nerves continued to rise until we finally got onto the stage and danced our hearts out and let everything go. The moment the last piece was finished and we came back onto the stage for the curtain call was the moment we realised it was over. There would be no more stress-ing over doing our best because it was clear to each and every one of us that our best was exactly what we did. We couldn’t have asked for a better night! The mixed emotions of relief, pride, achievement and sadness overwhelmed all seven Year 12’s and side stage, as the applause continued, we huddled together to celebrate our last performance ending it with one final ‘BOSH’ and a huge group hug of support!

On behalf of the Year 12 dancers I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone that helped in making our moderation so wonderful, especially Ms Swan for the time and effort she put into shaping us as individual dancers, for the choreography, and for putting together a fabulous show. Thank you also to Ms Steel for her cho-reography, Mr Tran for the photography, Ms Arnold for all of her help and organisation of the night, Ms Jones for being so proud, and to all the students who partici-pated, whether it was performing or in an offstage role. THANK YOU! Thanks of course also go to our enthusias-tic audience – we hope you had as much fun as we did!

Fleeting Moments was a fantastic opportunity for all stu-dents to have a taste of what being part of a professional dance production is like. The full day rehearsal was a fun and fantastic experience which allowed all the danc-ers to revise their pieces and get comfortable with the stage. We had a professional stage, lighting and sound, as well as projections, rehearsal studios and dressing rooms which certainly made the Year 12 feel special. The professional venue helped make the night memorable for the performers and the audience. We had fabulous support from fellow students in Momentum and Veloc-ity and the Year 10/11 group performed brilliantly.

Danielle Hutton (12.01)

What, When and Why No 8, Term 3 2012 page 5

ESL STuDENT aND FaMILy BBQ:SHarING FOOD aND STrENGTHENING COMMuNITy

On Saturday 25 August, a group of ESL students and their families gathered at Mitcham for a com-munity BBQ. The event was attended by more than 60 students and their families, along with teachers and support staff. A group of dedicated student volunteers arrived from 9:30am onwards to start preparing and cooking food for the BBQ. All the girls demonstrated great skill and energy in the kitchen and produced an array of delicious dishes for the guests to enjoy.

The BBQ lunch was an informal gathering with people from different cultural backgrounds shar-ing food and making connections with each other and with our school community. Hawa Nagbe, one of the students working her magic in the kitchen on the day, afterwards reflected that, “It felt like we were a family”. The BBQ was a great success and it was pleasing to see everyone hav-ing a good time together in a more relaxed set-ting.

Well done and a big thank you to all who were in-volved.

Laura HarveyESL Teacher

SCIENCE NEWS

What, When and Why No 8, Term 3 2012 page 6

Science Week

The Middle School enjoyed Science Week assembly and our adorable chickens.

All Year 10s went to the Wayville Showgrounds to experience Science Alive. It was lots of fun and a

worthwhile experience to find out more about science careers.

Oliphant Science awards

There were 20 pieces of work chosen by teachers to enter the state wide competition. Congragulations to prize winners: Zoe Charman, Imogen Murphy, Alice Robert-son, Miki Harmston, Steph Lesmo, Amber Wales, Ashleigh Goode, Emma Crook, Wendy Shirra & Abbey Taylor

Helen MarussinszkyScience Coordinator

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Congratulations to Louise Mitchell (9.16)

Louise came 1st for her age group (13 – 14 years) in the South Aus-tralian Trampoline State Competition on 18 and 19 August. She was 1st for Junior Elite Tram-poline, 2nd for Double Mini Age and 3rd for Synchronised Age.

Well done Louise!

Baria Khan

Runa Hong

Parween Ghulami

Congratulations to Baria Khan (12.04), runa Hong (12.04) and Parween Ghu-lami (12.02) who have received Merit Awards in the Soroptimist Inter-national “Community Service Youth Awards”.

What, When and Why No 8, Term 3 2012 page 7

In Times of Stress

Maddie Edwards, one of our Year 12 students, squeezes every millimetre of air and moisture from tiny bits of paper as a way of managing her stress levels and at the same time ends up with a neat origami product. Her last effort resulted in daffodils which she took to the Cancer Ward at Flinders Medical Centre.

Maddi describes herself as a “math nerd’, so meas-uring the angles needed for the folding was also an enjoyable exercise. Not only did she de-stress in the making of them, she got an extra energy boost by seeing the delight they brought to the patients.

renie WalkerCommunity Studies Teacher

QuICKSMarT MaTHS COMES TO MITCHaMDuring Terms 2 and 3, a group of twelve selected Year 8 students, three instructors and one coordina-tor have been trialling this exciting program at Mit-cham. It is a program which concentrates on mak-ing basic number facts automatic. The theory is that if these facts become automatic, then the working memory is free to spend more time on the solving of problems. Problem solving is also an important part of the program.

QuickSmart has been developed by SiMERR at the University of New England in Armidale, NSW. It be-gan in 2001with a few rural schools but due to its huge success has now been implemented in over 600 schools (both primary and secondary) involving over 10,000 students around Australia.

The program is aimed at students who have been struggling with basic skills and are keen to improve them. They are tested against a control group at the beginning and end of the program to monitor their progress. It is intensive and one instructor works with two students of similar ability for a 30 minute lesson, three times a week over 30 weeks of the year. A specially constructed teaching program, sup-ported by extensive material and computer-based resources is used.

The program also includes intensive and regular professional development for instructors where hubs of schools get together to discuss and learn from each other, under the guidance of personnel from SiMERR.

Students and teachers need to be committed to the program as it requires students to miss other lessons. Nevertheless, the research indicates improvements for QuickSmart students in class, in their attitudes to school, their attendance rates and their levels of confidence in and out of the classroom.

These results are already starting to show at Mit-cham with some teachers indicating increased confidence and performance and students keen to better their individual scores with a healthy rivalry between students.

renie Walker

MFS TaKES POWErFuL raP MESSaGE TO yEar 11s

Fire fighters from the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) will be taking a powerful road safety message to Year 11 students on Monday 8 October.

The firefighters will be delivering the MFS Road Awareness Program (RAP).

The MFS RAP, sponsored by AAMI and the Australian Professional Firefighters Foundation, is a suc-cessful program presented by MFS firefighters to Year 11 students in secondary schools through-out metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia. The program has been running for seven years, delivering in excess of 540 presentations to over 63,000 recipients. Statistics show that road crashes are the number one cause of death for 16-24 year olds throughout Australia.

The MFS firefighters present a hard hitting and emotional RAP where they give the students the opportunity to see the consequences of bad decision making. Their message is through “Con-centration and Common Sense” almost all road crashes are avoidable. The MFS believes that if we start with new drivers at 16 years old we can create a positive generational change in driving attitudes, decision making and behaviours giving our students the opportunity to significantly reduce the carnage on our roads.

We believe the road safety message is getting through and there are positive signs of genera-tional change. Statistics show the following deaths occurred on our roads in our target age group 16-24:

2009 41 2010 31 2011 11

Whilst there is significant improvement we still lost 11 people too many in 2011.

The program is a classroom presentation which takes students through the re-

alities of road crashes. A feature of the presentation is a road

crash survivor relating his or her experience and

making an impas-sioned plea for the students to learn from their mistakes.

As road users we get to choose the

risk – but we don’t get to choose the con-

sequence. Our young drivers will learn to be road

users with good attitudes, make smart decisions and under-

stand that safe behaviour on the road is their responsibility.

Meredith arnold Senior Leader

What, When and Why No 8, Term 3 2012 page 8

VET / TErTIary EDuCaTIONUni SA Health Sciences Workshops 2013Preparing for Health Sciences Workshops February 2013 at UniSA www.unisa.edu.au/health/hswork-shop.

Flinders University Science and Engineering Faculties

Information Evening for Parents on Thursday 20 September from 6.00pm-7.30pm in the Science Innovation Learning Centre (SILC) Building, Physical Sciences Road, Bedford Park, SA, 5042. The night is designed to provide parents and fam-ilies with helpful, practical tips on supporting stu-dents in Years 10, 11, and 12 with a particular focus on providing support during end of year examina-tions and the application and selection process. The evening will also cover how to get the most out of an ATAR score, with emphasis on Science and Engi-neering courses. The night will feature guest speak-ers covering a wide range of practical topics and re-freshments and light snacks will be provided.

Places for this free evening are strictly limited and bookings are essential. To reserve your place please visit: http://www.flinders.edu.au/events/show/event/science-engineering-parents-informa-tion-evening and complete the online application form or call 08 7221 8661.

Lunch Time Session on Thursday 27 September from 12.00pm-1.00pm at Flinders University Victoria Square, 182 Victoria Square, Adelaide, SA, 5000.

Places are strictly limited and bookings are essen-tial. To reserve your place please visit: http://www.flinders.edu.au/events/show/event/science-engi-neering-parents-information-lunch-time-session and complete the online application form or call 08 7221 8661.

Tertiary Applications for 2013University applications close on Friday 28 Septem-ber, TAFE applications open on Monday 24 Sep-tember.

Jill OlifentVET Coordinator

‘r u OK?’ Day Thursday 13 September was R U OK? Day – a na-tional day of action dedicated to encouraging all Australians to take responsibility for the wellbeing of others by regularly connecting with the people in their lives. By regularly reaching out to one another and having open and honest conversations, we can all help build a more connected community and re-duce our country’s high suicide rate.

I recently went to a workshop run by Centacare about navigating teenage depression. I was shocked to discover that over 2,000 people in Australia took their own life last year and that youth suicide in Aus-tralia is a leading cause of death in the 15-24 year age group (second only to motor vehicle accidents). It was less of a surprise that 70% of mental health problems appear during adolescence, but never-theless it is a striking percentage and one that left me feeling very unsettled.

You don’t have to be an expert to do this because we all have the capacity to reach out and offer sup-port to people who are struggling.

1. The first thing to do is simply ask “R U OK?” 2. Listen without judgment3. Encourage action4. Follow up

Most people don't openly share their feelings, par-ticularly if they're struggling. The best thing we can all do is regularly talk to the people we care about - regardless of whether they are at risk - because con-nection is good for us all.

In the time it takes to have your coffee, you can start a conversation that could change a life.

Who will you ask?

You may be reading this after 13 September, but it’s okay to ask people R U OK any day.

Bek BrownCPSW

What, When and Why No 8, Term 3 2012 page 9

What, When and Why No 8, Term 3 2012 page 10

Library End of Year Process: Return of Resources

Year level

Date Action

Stage 2 Tuesday 9 October • Each Stage 2 student will be provided with a list showing all resources on loan

Friday 9 November • Final clearance day for all Stage 2 students. • All lockers should be empty and clean.

Stage 1 Monday 12 November • Each Stage 1 student will be provided with a list showing all resources on loan

Friday 30 November • Last day to return resources. • All lockers should be empty and clean.

Year 10 Monday 12 November • Each Year 10 student will be provided with a list showing all resources on loan

Friday 30 November • Last day to return resources. • All lockers should be empty and clean.

Year 9 Monday 19 November • Each Year 9 student will be provided with a list showing all resources on loan.

• Students are asked to clean out lockers and to return any resources they no longer need.

Thursday 6 December • Year 9 to return all resources. • All lockers should be empty and clean.

Friday 7 December • Final Locker check. Any resources to be returned to the Library immediately.

Year 8 Monday 19 November • Each Year 8 student will be provided with a list showing all resources on loan.

• Students are asked to clean out lockers and to return any resources they no longer need.

Wednesday 5 December • Year 8 to return all resources. • All lockers should be empty and clean.

Friday 7 December • Final Locker check. Any resources to be returned to the Library immediately.

PLEASE NOTE: Any lockers not emptied by 2.25pm on Wednesday 12 December will be opened and cleaned out by staff.

Accounts will be issued in Week 10 for all non-returned items

UNIfORm ShOp

The Mitcham Girls High School uniform is available from the following locations:

Mitcham Girls High School Trading Hours during School Term: Thursdays 8:00am – 1:30pm

uniform Management Services109 rundle Street, Kent TownTel: 08 8363 5255Trading Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5:00pmor place an order over the phone.

What, When and Why No 8, Term 3 2012 page 11

What, When and Why No 8, Term 3 2012 page 12