Model Farms High School NEWSLETTER€¦ · Model Farms High School NEWSLETTER ISSUE 27 Term 3– Week 9 Monday 8 September 2014 Gooden Drive, Baulkham Hills Telephone: (02) 9624 3133

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Model Farms High School

NEWSLETTER ISSUE 27 Term 3– Week 9 Monday 8 September 2014

Gooden Drive, Baulkham Hills Telephone: (02) 9624 3133 Facsimile: (02) 9838 8407 Email: [email protected]

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Student Success Congratulations to our performing arts students who have been busy this week performing

around the region. Last Monday night our Year 10 Dance students along with Marcus Loy

and Danika Hampstead performed at the Celebrating the Arts Festival in the Riverside

Theatre. On Tuesday night the Year 10 Drama students performed and were accompanied

by Madeline Seddon and James Norcott to provided some beautiful music and song to

complement their performance. The Year 10 group has also just been informed that they

were successful in their audition for the State Drama Festival which will take place at the

Seymour Center later in the Year. Additionally the Year 9 and 11 Dance troupes also

performed at the Hills Performing Arts Festival at the Evans Theatre in Penrith Panthers

on Friday night. Some people in the performing arts circle think that MFHS is a

Performing Arts school, which of course we are not, but this is such a tremendous

accolade and an endorsement of skills of our teachers and students. Congratulations to

everyone involved.

Congratulations also to Pranav Hosur who won the Blacktown City Mayoral Creative

Writing Prize in the 15-18 aged Poetry category. There were some 230 entries in this

competition so to be declared best is quite an achievement. Well done Pranav.

School Conference Last weekend 65 staff attended our first whole school conference where we engaged in

two days of extended professional development. We examined how we can achieve

deeper, meaningful learning through the development of 21st century skills. We explored

the shifts in skills, engagement and the digital disruption that learners experience and how

the exponential growth in computing power is changing how people work. All of these

things have an impact on learning.

On our second day staff used their critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and

communication skills to start designing our BYOD policy as well as getting more

acquainted with Project Based Learning approaches to teaching. The staff feedback is

extremely positive and generally everyone felt that, despite it coming at the end of a

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working week and immediately before the start of another, they were fresher and more

engaged than at the very end of the year when we are all exhausted. I would like to thank

the staff for giving up personal time to participate.

Theft at school

Unfortunately there has been a few incidences of theft at school and I would like parents to

encourage students not to bring valuables to school with them. While we do what we can

to monitor areas where bags are left, we cannot always prevent the cunning from finding a

way around our security. Obviously we do not take theft lightly and any student who is

found to have engaged in this criminal activity will have serious disciplinary measures

imposed on them.

Christina Bennet

Principal

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FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

Science and Maths Exposed Last week, I had the pleasure of hosting 1000 students from across Western and South Western Sydney at the Science and Maths Exposed event at the University of Western Sydney, Parramatta. Twenty schools attended the event, including a wonderful group of students from Model Farms High School. On the day, students experienced a laser multimedia presentation, a workshop by Fizzics Education and a great session by Ruben Meerman, the Surfing Scientist. This is a fantastic event that not only highlights how much fun mathematics and science can be, but also shows students an array of careers and opportunities study in these disciplines can provide.

CHS Baseball I would also like to congratulate our CHS Baseball team for the way they played and conducted themselves throughout the recent CHS tournament. Unfortunately, they came across Hunter Sports High School, a real contender to take out the title in their final match. Played in very difficult and windy conditions, Hunter came out on top, however our boys can hold their heads up high. Well done boys!

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Whole School Conference I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the work and commitment of the staff at Model Farms High School. Over 60 staff members attended our School Conference on Saturday and Sunday, held at the Novotel Rooty Hill. Staff members engaged in professional development and dialogue on topics such as 21st Century Learning, the School Management Plan, Bring Your Own Device and Project Based Learning. Thank you to everyone involved and especially those who worked together in the organization of such a large scale event. Have a wonderful week, Mark Grady Deputy Principal

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TERM 3 - 2014

WEEK 9 Mon 08/09 Yr 11 Exams 10GY Pyrmont Excursion Yr 7 English Speaking Task Primary Links Jasper Road Yr 8 PDHPE Risk Taking Task due this week Tue 09/09 Yr 11 Exams Yr 9 Mathematics Assign 2 due 9GY Natural Hazards Assign due History Year Research Assign due 8F2 Unit 2 French Test Listening Reading, Writing Test in class J8F2 Unit 2 French Test speaking test in class p5 Wed 10/09 Yr 11 Exams Yr 10 English Essay Assessment Yr 10 Drama Shakespeare Performance Night Thur 11/09 Yr 11 Exams Yr 8 English Writing Task Yr 10 Electronics Robotics Assignment due 8 Muj1 Pop Song Analysis Assignment due 7I Japanese Language test in class p3 7U Japanese Language test in class p4 Premier’s Debating Regional Final at James Ruse High School Fri 12/09 Yr 11 Exams All Yr 8 Restaurant Excursion p3-6 All Yr 8 Language Classes to French/Japanese Restaurant Yr 9 Graphics Technology Assessment Task 1 due Yr 9 Essay Assessment Task 7S Japanese Language Test p1

WEEK 10 Mon 15/09 Yr 11 Exams Yr 10 History Topic Test Assessment Yr 10 Work Experience 15-19 September 7R Enrichment Day Yr 8 Music Assignment 8F1 and 8F2 Tues 16/09 Yr 11 Exams J9 History Topic Test Assessment Task Yr 10 Work Experience Week 15-19 September Yr 9 EM Radiation Test Wed 17/09 Yr 11 Exams Yr 10 Work Experience Week 15-19 September Thur 18/09 Yr 11 Exams Yr 10 Work Experience Week 15-19 September Yr 9 EM Radiation Test Yr 12 Graduation Evening Fri 19/09 Yr 11 Exams Yr 10 Work Experience Week 15-19 September Support – Term 3 Rewards Excursion Newington Armoury Yr 12 Breakfast

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FROM THE HSIE DEPARTMENT

Reminders Year 9 have a Commerce Assignment due by the end of the term. Year 8 History Assignments due over last two weeks. Year 9 History Elective ‘Heroes and Villains’ assignment due Week 1 next term. Year 10 History Vietnam War Topic Test this Friday 12th September.

Mr Barons’ Year 9 Geography

class recently tested their physical fitness while making notes about flooding in their Natural Hazards lesson. After pairing up, one partner was designated runner and it was their job to run across the hall to notes that were pinned to the wall. They had to remember as much of the notes as they could and then race back to their partner at the other end of the hall and dictate the notes for them to write down. The runner would then run back to the wall to memorise the next sentence. The winners were the pair who had the correct notes in their book first. After the first notes were complete it was time to switch roles and the scribe would run and the runner would scribe. Mars bar prizes added extra motivation!

From Yr 7 Geography, Global Environments: Deserts.

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Mr G. Bowen- for HSIE Faculty

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FROM THE FACULTY THAT COUNTS

Congratulations to the following Maths merit recipients: Year 7 Joshua Paine Year 8 Alex Di Bon, Liam Maharaj. Year 11 Ritwik Misra Year 12 James Eden x 2, Vi Ngo x 2

Year 12 students avoid the end of term rush and hand in your Maths merits as soon as possible so that we can issue faculty merits for you in time to have them count towards your bronze, silver and gold awards. Check all of the places at home that you could have left Maths merits over the last 6 years; desks, cupboards, wardrobes etc. After this week you only have 2 weeks to go!!

This week’s news

Assignment Season:

The table below sets out the due dates. Please ensure that your child follows the marking criteria. Any assignments submitted after the due date will have 10% of their mark deducted for each day that the assignment is late. Difficulties with access to computers is not a valid excuse for late submission as students can have access to computers in the library from 8am to 8:35am 3pm to 3.30pm and also at recess and lunchtime every day. Any students who are experiencing difficulties with their assignment need to discuss it with their teacher. The Year 7 Smarties assignment was due Tuesday 26th August. The Year 8 Pythagoras assignment and Year 10 Statistics assignments were due 2nd September.

If a student in Years 7 to 10 is absent from school on a day when an assignment is due because of illness, a letter from a parent or caregiver stating that the student was sick and/or a doctor’s certificate must accompany the assignment. This letter will be in addition to the absence note for the front office. If this is not done, the normal penalty of 10% off the marks per day will apply, as per school policy.

Year Assignment Due Date

9 Statistics - ABS 9th September 2014

11 General

Communications 29th August 2014

12 General 1

Mathematics and the Human Body

25th August 2014

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Marking Assignments:

Here is a photo of some of the Year 8 Pythagoras Theorem assignments that have been submitted. Many are of an excellent standard. The Year 8 teachers in the Mathematics Faculty will have lots of marking to do this week!

Year 11 Yearly Exams:

Year 11 will do their Yearly Examinations for their Preliminary courses in weeks 9 and 10 of this term. Here are Mrs Aldabbas’ tips for effective study.

Mrs Aldabbas’ Tips for effective study

1. Study in a quiet environment.

2. Break big tasks down into manageable chunks so you're not overwhelmed.

3. Use a variety of study techniques - reading, writing, diagrams, question-and-answer, note-taking,

summarising and essay formats all help you prepare for the different types of questions you will get

in the exam. Plus, they work in different ways to help you learn and remember.

4. If you don't feel well prepared, don't worry about what you can't change and focus on what you

can do in the time remaining.

5. Try to exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet.

6. Get sufficient sleep and try to stick to a routine.

7. A little bit of anxiety is not a bad thing - it's to be expected and can enhance performance.

However, let someone know if you're feeling overwhelmed.

8. Have regular breaks. After a while concentration decreases and you become less productive.

9. When you take a break - enjoy it. Don't spend this time worrying about what you should be doing.

10. Stay positive.

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Calculators:

Please make sure that all students have their own calculator. The Casio fx-82AU is sold at the uniform shop for $35. Different brands of scientific calculators work differently and it is important that everyone in a class has the same calculator. Students need this calculator from Year 7. It is vital for their progress that students are familiar with their calculator and know how to use the different functions.

Free Maths Tuition:

Free Maths tuition is provided every Thursday afternoon after school from 3pm to 4pm. Years 7 to 10 are in room 8-07 and Years 11 and 12 in 8-06. It is fully supervised by the Mathematics Faculty.

Fun with Maths

This week’s question: What is the smallest number that can be divided by all of the numbers from 1 to 10? Last week’s question: Rolling three (six sided) dice resulted in three different numbers and their product was 48. What could the numbers be? Answer: 2,4,6 Have a Mathematical week, From Jackie Dalton and the Maths Faculty Staff

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FROM THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

Congratulations to the following English & Drama Faculty Merit Award recipients:

Year 7: Adam Roberts

Year 12: James Eden (x 10)

Premier’s Debating Challenge Congratulations to our Year 9 debating team (Joanna Bennetts, Simone Cao, Angie Geng, Corinne Kennedy and Abbey Sim) for a convincing win over James Ruse High School in the Regional Semi-final of the Premier’s Debating Challenge. The topic for the debate was ‘That we should abolish all states’ and to our girls’ credit as the affirmative team, they chose to narrow the scope of the argument to focus on abolishing all state governments. James Ruse High School did have a number of strong rebuttals but in the end it came down to the fact that we had identified that it would benefit the people of Australia to cut out the middle man and give more opportunities to local governments. The Year 9 team now face Penrith High School in the Regional Finals on Thursday 11th September at James Ruse High School. Best of luck girls, you can do it!

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DRAMA AT THE FARMS Celebrating the Arts Festival – Riverside Theatre, Parramatta

Our Junior Drama Ensemble and our Year 10 Drama class performed at the Celebrating the Arts Festival at the Riverside Theatre on Tuesday evening. Our students showcased their theatricality with highly engaging moments on stage with their pieces ‘Every So Often’ and ‘Do You Have A Minute?’ Well done to our hard working students who deserve every success in developing sophisticated, cohesive and outstanding playbuilt pieces. A further congratulations is extended to our Year 10 Drama class who have been invited to perform at the 2014 NSW Public School State Drama Festival on the 23-24 October. This is a huge achievement and the students should be extremely proud of their efforts in Drama this year. Once again, well done. Tickets for the State Drama Festival can be purchased through the box office at the Seymour Centre on 9351 7940.

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Year 10 Shakespeare Performance Night

Wednesday 10th September 2014 School Drama Room @6:30pm

A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo & Juliet

*Tea and coffee provided

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Year Adviser Noticeboard From Mr. Montgomery REMINDER - 2015 Year 12 Jerseys

Payment is due this week by Wednesday 10th September 2014. It was great to see the Jersey Committee design some outstanding jerseys for the year group to vote on this week. Thank you to the committee for getting behind the design process and putting their heads together to come up with our ultimate 2015 Year 12 Jersey.

Yearly Exams Have Arrived! Best of luck for your Yearly exams Year 11!

Keys to success across the Yearly Exam period:

Stress will not help you achieve success.

1. Eat well.

2. Stay hydrated.

3. Rest breaks are essential.

4. Say NO to technology!

5. Revise. Read. Repeat.

6. Try your best to ensure there are no regrets.

Ms Estacio & Ms Greer

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FROM THE SUPPORT UNITY

All the students of the Support Unit have been highly engaged learners, in the video game-like

experience that was designed to inspire scientific learning; created conjointly by CSIRO scientists

and online education developers IntoScience and 3P.

With individual logins, the interactive program saw students wander through the caves, using a

personalised avatar to collect specimens and analyse them in a virtual laboratory. Virtual experiments

and deep contextual activities in the online 3D environment of the Jenolan caves in the Blue

Mountains bring the biodome to life. The students have thoroughly enjoyed the experience where

different aspects of science are brought to life, while expanding their learning through inquiry,

knowledge, application and reasoning.

Anna Varghese

Classroom Teacher Support

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NEWS FROM THE DANCE SPACE DANCE …the subject that moves you

“We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche

BEST OF LUCK or “BREAK A LEG” to our Year 9 Dance class and Year 11 Dance class

performing in the HILLS PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL this Friday. Hope you have

a wonderful experience performing in a professional venue to large audience.

Year 9 Dance – Term 3:

Dynamics Assessment Due week 8

Contemporary Choreographer Assessment due week 10

Safe Dance Booklets

Year 11 Dance – Term 3:

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR EXAMS!

Yearly Exam Preparation: Composition criteria 1a & 1b,

Performance Skills phrases, Dance Analysis

TYPES OF STRETCHING FOR DANCE – ACTIVE Where you hold a stretch using your agonist muscles. Active stretching stimulates and prepares muscles for use during exercise. Active stretches not only stretches the muscles and tissues, but prepares the muscles for the action by activating and warming them up.

Reminder to Ensemble members: rehearsals each Wednesday 2:40-3:30pm

MFHS Dance Ensemble

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CHANGE OF CONTACT INFORMATION

MODEL FARMS HIGH SCHOOL

Name of Student: ____________________________________ Year ___________

New Address: ________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________ Postcode: ______

Correspondence: ______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________ Postcode: ______

Email Address: _______________________________________________________

New Home Phone No. __________________________________________________

Mother Mobile: ________________________________________________________

Mother Work: _________________________________________________________

Father Mobile: ________________________________________________________

Father Work __________________________________________________________

Emergency Contact if changed: _________________________________________

Phone No. ____________________________________________

Any change in Medical Condition e.g. Allergy, Asthma etc.

Details _______________________________________________________________

Bus Pass: YES / NO

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SPORT BUS PASSES CAN NOT BE PURCHASED ON WEDNESDAYS

Sports Bus 052-001

Please indicate preferred pass:

A 5 trip pass for $37.50 No. of passes ______ Total $________

A 10 trip pass for $75.00 No. of passes ______ Total $________

Name of Student/s _______________________________________Year/s____________

Payment by: CASH CHEQUE

PAYMENT BY MASTERCARD OR VISA SLIP

Please circle the appropriate card

Please debit my Mastercard / Visa Account No:

Amount in figures _____________________________

Expiry Date: _______________ CCV: ___________

Name of Credit Card Holder (as shown on card) ______________________________

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MODEL FARMS HIGH SCHOOL

Model Farms vs Various FINALS 10/09/14

GRADE SPORT VENUE ROOM TIME STAFF HT

BOYS GRADE

Open Soccer A/B 1W1 12:15 – 2:40 Stevenson MC

15’s Soccer A/B 7.10 12:15 – 2:40 Jiminez JB2

Open V’ball A/B 5.3 12:15 – 2:40 Hietamaki JE

Open’s OzTag 8.5 12:15 – 2:40 Puleo JB2

15’s Rugby League 506 12:15 – 2:40 Luttringer JB

GIRLS GRADE

Open Soccer 1W2 12:15 – 2:40 Vince MC

15’s Soccer 7.12 12:15 – 2:40 Keen JC

Open B’ball A/B 4L1 12:15 – 2:40 Chand FH

15’s Basketball A/B 8.12 12:15 – 2:40 McKenna JB2

Open Touch A/B 5.4 12:15 – 2:40 Jones JB

15’s Touch A/B 5.9 12:15 – 2:40 Battistella JD

MIXED

Hockey Old Saleyards Res 6L3 12:15 – 2:40 Parker FH

Frisbee (Op & 15’s) Doyle Park 3K2 12:15 - 2:40 Rappolt JE

REC SPORT

Rock Climbing $7.50 +bus

The Edge Castle Hill 809 12:15 – 2:40 Munroe, Bowen GC

Ten Pin Wondabowl $6.50 + bus

Wondabowl Castle Hill

804 12:15 – 2:40 Ljubicic, J.Singh BM

Gym $7 + bus Waves 807 12:15 – 2:40 Dawson JD

Ice Skating $8+ bus Sydney Ice Arena 8CR1 12:15 – 2:40 Villigran, Robertson FH

Squash $5 Winston Hills 4L2 12:40-2:40 Wawrzyniak, Medina JB2

Tennis Olympus $5 Winston Hills 701 12:40-2:40 Georgopoulos, Weingarth JC

Rec Walking Around 702 709 710 713

12:40-2:40 Manson, Varghese, P.Singh, Rawat, Gardner, Relf, Sanders

BM JD

MC

House Sport School TLC 12:40-2:40

Estacio, D’Souza, Kyrios, Archer, Vella, Owen, Kumar,

Snell

JC JD

Boot Camp School 507 12:40-2:40 Daly MM

Zumba $5 School D-Studio 12:40-2:40 Gregory JB

YEAR 7 SPORT

7U Netball 708 12:40 – 2:40 Dunger JC

7R Blacktown Indoor - $4.50 + bus

501 12:40 – 2:40 Crouch MC

7B TBall (Gooden) 3DR 12:15 – 2:40 Montgomery JC

7S Blacktown Indoor - $4.50 + bus

502 12:40 – 2:40 Edwards GC

7K Tball (Gooden) 3C1 12:15 – 2:40 Murphy JE

7I Gymnastics $8.00 505 12:40 – 2:40 Leghorn JE

NON SPORT School 3MU1 12:40 – 2:40 Neville GC

SPORT DETENTION School LIB 12:40 – 3:00 Woods DD