Cootamundra High School Newsletter

Term 2 ‐ Week 6, 2021

PRINCIPAL: Mrs Leesa Daly  

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL: Mr Christopher Payne

Principal's Report

It is hard to believe that we are already half way through the 2021 school year. Time fly’s when you are having fun!

We started the term off with an awesome Colour Explosion Run organised by our very capable Student Representative Council. This was not without its challenges and I congratulate the SRC students for their persistence and commitment to follow through when the going got tough. The students and staff who participated had a great day. Well done.

We are super proud of our CHS Dance Group, so brilliantly led by Miss Longmore, who have been selected to perform at the Riverina Contemporary Dance Festival to be held at the Albury Entertainment Centre on the 4th of June. The students have worked incredibly hard all year and it is nice to have their efforts acknowledged and rewarded. I can’t wait to sit in the audience and see them in action.

As part of our Reconciliation Week activities, CHS staff and students are looking forward to connecting with our wider school community next week when we host our Community Breakfast from 8-9am on Thursday 27th May. Everyone is welcome. Please remember to contact the school to RSVP for this event.

Another important date to lock into your calendars is the fabulous CHS NAIDOC Astronomy Night which will be held on Monday 21st of June (weather pending), starting with a BBQ at 5:30pm followed by a wonderful presentation by local Wiradjuri man Peter Beath. We will have 3 Dobsonian telescopes and our main telescope in the observatory in operation. Keep an eye out for our flyer on our Facebook page and newsletter.

This week, myself and two other staff members, had the wonderful opportunity to participate in and present at the LEAP (Leading Educators Around the Planet) ‘Reconciliation In Education - Yes We Can’ forum at the Sydney Masonic Centre. Keynote speakers included the inspirational Dr Chris Sarra (Stronger Smarter Leadership Institute founder), Karen Mundine (CEO Reconciliation Australia), Dr Anita Heiss (award-winning author, Professor of Communications at the University of Queensland and an Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation) and Dr Pasi Sahlberg (school teacher, teacher-educator, researcher, and policymaker in Finland and advisor to education system leaders around the world). It was uplifting to hear about the successful initiatives being implemented in our schools across the state that are leading change in the Aboriginal Education sphere.

After consulting with stakeholders - students, staff, parents/carers about the school uniform, I can advise that it was strongly agreed upon that ‘representative clothing/apparel’ is not considered part of the daily Cootamundra High School (CHS) uniform. It was agreed that any student who represents CHS at regional, state or national level can have this embroidered acknowledgement put onto their CHS shirt or jumper that the school will pay for. An amendment to the CHS Sport and Uniform policies will now occur and updated versions of both polices will go up onto the CHS website.

Our 7 and 9 students have completed their NAPLAN assessments and are to be congratulated on the positive manner in which they participated in these assessments. Thank you to Ms Willougby and her team for the smooth organisation and running of NAPLAN. It has been lovely to hear feedback from our students who are participating in our Covid Intensive Tutoring program about how they have been able to make improved connections with their learning in classrooms and indeed in the way they addressed responses in NAPLAN. Ms Moore is doing an amazing job leading this tutoring program.

All students in Years 7-10 participated in the SEED (Self Esteem Education Development) workshops in week 3, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from students being received. If you haven’t had a conversation with your child about these workshops and what they got out of it, I strongly encourage you to do so.

In the coming weeks and during the next school holidays we hope that the cola will go up over our basketball courts along with new drainage, seating and a fence. We will also see the Cooler Classroom initiative start that includes new reverse cycle air conditioners installed in all teaching and learning spaces and the removal of the ‘old blue heaters. This project should be completed by the end of the school year. We have also been lucky enough to be part of the Rural Access Gap Infrastructure Rollout (computers/ICT) which has entitled us to order 27 new teacher devices and 54 new student devices to improve our school’s digital maturity. Delivery is subject to international supply so this may take some time for the devices to arrive. 5 more classrooms have been upgraded and are fully operational in B block with new carpet, blinds, state of the art interactive panels, paint, chairs and tables.

We have much to be grateful for here at Cootamundra High School. I appreciate the enormous effort and work of all my staff who consistently go above and beyond to provide awesome opportunities and experiences for our students on a daily basis in each and every classroom and as part of our extra curricula offerings. It is nice to see our students actively engaging and making the most of these opportunities also.

Living the dream!

Regards

Mrs Daly

Ms Walker (l) and Mr Payne (r) with Dr Chris Sarra
Mrs Daly with Dr Pasi Sahlberg (Teacher, researcher and policy maker from Finland)
Karen Mundine (CEO Reconciliation Australia) with Mrs Daly
Mrs Daly with Dr Chris Sarra (Stronger, Smarter Leadership Institute founder)
Mrs Daly with Dr Anita Heiss (author, Professor of Communications at the University of QLD and Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation)
Ms Walker (l) and Mr Payne (r) with Dr Chris Sarra
Mrs Daly with Dr Pasi Sahlberg (Teacher, researcher and policy maker from Finland)
Karen Mundine (CEO Reconciliation Australia) with Mrs Daly
Mrs Daly with Dr Chris Sarra (Stronger, Smarter Leadership Institute founder)
Mrs Daly with Dr Anita Heiss (author, Professor of Communications at the University of QLD and Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation)
Ms Walker (l) and Mr Payne (r) with Dr Chris Sarra

CHS Calendar - Upcoming Events and Dates to Remember


Jun 4
  • Riverina Dance Festival Showcase in Albury
Jun 10
  • Work Readiness Session for Yrs. 11 and 12
Jun 16
  • Future Proof (2nd Session) Yr. 8
Jun 21
  • Red Cross - Pathways for Protection (Yrs. 7 - 10)
Jun 25
  • Last day of Term 2
Aug 16 - 18
  • Dubbo Wether Challenge
Oct 7
  • Yr. 7 Vaccinations (2nd Dose)


Reminder for Parents / Carers


Please remember to contact the front office via Skoolbag, Email or by phone if your child is sick or absent from school for any reason.

Thank you

Year 11 Numeracy

This year we have been lucky enough to participate in the pilot for Numeracy CEC for stage six students.

This activity demonstrates the students using the geoboards to create areas of different shapes, sometimes multiple different ways. This allows them to manipulate the area of the shape to reach their target and is a great visual tool to solidify their understanding of the concepts.

While they were completing this task, they were also collecting evidence for their term three assessment task by taking photos of the shapes that they were making.

COVID INTENSIVE LEARNING SUPPORT PROGRAM

As we all know, 2020 was a difficult year, in which our students and teachers rose to the challenge of learning remotely due to COVID-19. For our students the seven weeks of disrupted learning was an unsettling time. The government and department have recognised this, allocating funding to all public schools in the state, to employ additional teachers to support student learning in literacy and numeracy.

Since the beginning of this term, Ms Katherine Moore, has delighted in providing additional tutoring sessions for students from Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9, whom have been identified as students who would benefit from additional tutoring support.  In the past five weeks, groups of four or five students, (withdrawn from usual classes), have been focusing upon a variety of literacy skills; short story writing, grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation.

Students have set their own literacy goal and receive regular feedback from Ms Moore about what they are doing well, and how they can improve.  The students have been positive thus far and will be involved for between 10 to 20 weeks overall. This program will be ongoing until the end of 2021.

(Students pictured - L to R) Kristian Miller, Graham Neale,  Jai Willoughby and Toby Tanks

Ms Katherine Moore

LIBRARIES ARE A PLACE TO RE-CHARGE YOUR MIND

THE school library has plenty of new books for students to browse and choose to read at home or on campus. The great thing about books is they don’t need batteries and you can read them anywhere! They re-charge your mind – and at Cootamundra we are always re-stocking with fiction and non-fiction for students to enjoy. The school’s reading program, which all students participate in after lunch, has introduced some new genres. So whatever students enjoy, they can explore by choosing a book from the library. Our library stocks a wide range of genres to cover student interests as well as magazines, quick reads, picture books, graphic novels to suit every level of reading. Non-fiction which covers many topics is also a great resource for assignments. 

Relaxation and Recreation are a big part of the day in the library for recess and lunch. A chess club is in the throws of being formed and students are testing their skills. Other students are happy to play card games. Some students enjoy filling in puzzles and at present we have the 1000-piece challenge to complete a picture of a dragon.

We have also created a gallery space for artworks from senior students to be displayed in the library and the feedback from  other students and visitors has been very positive, which is great for the artists themselves!

School libraries are also a place of advanced learning and many students come to study in the space. In line with the national curriculum we have secured study guides across the different subject areas. They’re a great resource and available if students ask at reception. The library is open from 8.30am in the morning if anyone needs to work on an assignment  – or just escape the cold this winter!

Ms Freeman (Teacher-Librarian)  

Ms Grewal (Library Assistant)

We stock a wide range of book genres to suit all reading interests and levels
CHS Library - Pop in and enjoy all it has to offer
We stock a wide range of book genres to suit all reading interests and levels
CHS Library - Pop in and enjoy all it has to offer
We stock a wide range of book genres to suit all reading interests and levels
CHS Library - Pop in and enjoy all it has to offer

ZONE CROSS COUNTRY - TUMBARUMBA

Ten CHS students travelled across to Tumbarumba on Friday 7 May to compete at the Zone Cross Country.  It was a glorious day and all students ran beautifully earning themselves spots at the Riverina Cross Country which will be held in Gundagai in June.

All students are to be commended on their behaviour and application to their race that was shown on the day.  

Special congratulations to Niketa Smart (u16 Girls) and Graham Neale (u13 Boys) who are came first in their age division. 

 

Age Division

Name

Ranking

U12 Boys

Aiden Smith

5th

U13 Boys

Graham Neale

1st

U13 Boys

Paul Bean

5th

U13 Girls

Grace Derrick

5th

U13 Girls

Hallie Kelly

2nd

U14 Boys

Jack Randall

3rd

U14 Boys

Kristian Miller

6th

U16 Boys

Dennis Wheatley

4th

U16 Girls

Niketa Smart

1st

U18 Boys

Lachlan Webb

2nd

U14 Boys competitor Kristian Miller
U13 Boy’s winner Graham Neale
U13 Boy’s competitor Paul Bean
U16 Girl’s winner Niketa Smart
U16 Boys competitor Dennis Wheatley
U14 Boys competitor Jack Randall
U14 Boys competitor Kristian Miller
U13 Boy’s winner Graham Neale
U13 Boy’s competitor Paul Bean
U16 Girl’s winner Niketa Smart
U16 Boys competitor Dennis Wheatley
U14 Boys competitor Jack Randall

AG PLOT NEWS

As always, there is plenty of things happening at the Cootmundra High School Ag Plot! Already this term we have had lambs born and pastures sown; it’s a busy time with lots of exciting things planned! A big thankyou to Julian Jones of Delta Ag for his generous donation of Pasture Mix, and to Greg and Kathryn Holt for their donation of hay for our livestock, we really appreciate it!

This year, Cootamundra High School have entered the Dubbo Wether Challenge. This is a Prime Lamb finishing competition, with the school that has the best wethers at the end of the competition in August wins. The wethers are currently being halter broken, and will be shown as part of the competition, with the sheep also being judged on the quality and quantity of their fleece and meat yields. Keep your eyes peeled on the Facebook page for updates on their progress.

The Cootamundra High School Show Team have been very busy too, with the arrival of a steer and heifer from Back Creek Square Meater Stud. The students spend 3 lunch times a week down in the yards teaching the cattle to lead and tie, and preparing them for their first show. A big thank you to Tony and Sue Dickinson for being so generous with their cattle, time and expertise, the students are very grateful for the opportunity to learn from such experienced cattle handlers.  

Cootamundra High School were the lucky recipients of 2 (surprise) donations of feed for our stock.  A big thank you is extended to Justin and Kylie Roberts for the donation of a big square bale of hay and to Leeanne Craw and family for the donation of canola meal.  These donations are truly appreciated.

Samara Callaghan

CHS Agriculture in Action

One of our ewes with her lambs
'Dubbo Wethers'
Sown Pasture
Ringo
Ringo and Rhianna
One of our ewes with her lambs
'Dubbo Wethers'
Sown Pasture
Ringo
Ringo and Rhianna
One of our ewes with her lambs

SEED PROGRAM

Self Esteem Education and Development

Students in Year 7 – 10 completed the Self Esteem Education & Development workshops at Cootamundra High School on the Monday and Tuesday of Week 3. The students engaged in a range of activities which focused on developing student understanding about managing emotions, self-esteem, confidence and building supportive relationships.

BILL TURNER TROPHY

Congratulations to our Bill Turner Trophy team of Abbey Sloan (co-captain), Bella Paulissen (co-captain), Jada Parkinson, Keira Cross, Tomyka Hinds, Charli Leggett, Andie McTavish, Makayla Mitchell, and Hannah O’Loughlin for winning the John Dorczak Shield on Thursday 6 March at O’Connor Park in Cootamundra.

The girls faced a quality Young High School team in Round 2 of the Bill Turner Trophy and played outstandingly to win 5-2 on the day.  CHS goal scorers were Abbey Sloan (2), Tomyka Hinds (2) and Bella Paulissen (1).  Special thanks also for the exceptional work of Makayla Mitchell and Jada Parkinson in goals on the day.

Player of the Day for the CHS side was Bella Paulissen and she is pictured below with Bill Turner Cup and Trophy convenor David Dunn and Player of the Day for the CHS Boy’s team Lachlan McDermott.

Special thanks to Cootamundra Strikers for allowing us to use their beautiful ground and to Kath O’Brien for running the canteen.

The team now advances to Round 3 of the competition and will face Wagga High School at home at the end of May.

Mrs English

Some of our CHS players with the John Dorczak Shield.
Combined Cootamundra High School and Young High School teams.
Co-captains Abbey Sloan and Bella Paulissen with Bill Turner Cup/Trophy Convenor David Dunn from Wagga Wagga.
Player of the Day for the CHS Girl’s and Boy’s teams Lachlan McDermott and Bella Paulissen.
Some of our CHS players with the John Dorczak Shield.
Combined Cootamundra High School and Young High School teams.
Co-captains Abbey Sloan and Bella Paulissen with Bill Turner Cup/Trophy Convenor David Dunn from Wagga Wagga.
Player of the Day for the CHS Girl’s and Boy’s teams Lachlan McDermott and Bella Paulissen.

BUCKLEY SHIELD RUGBY LEAGUE

Congratulations to all boys involved in the Under 14s Buckley Shield team. The students represented Cootamundra High School proudly as they competed against Kooriginal and Young High School at Nicholson Park on Tuesday of week 4. Our team won one game and lost one game with outstanding performances from a number of our players including Will White and Graham Neale.

A huge thankyou to the students from Year 7 who stepped up to play an age group above on the day and to Jaiden Duncan of Year 12 who assisted with the coaching and management of the team.

OPEN GIRLS SOCCER

On the 29 March, our Open Girls Soccer team faced Murrumburrah High School at O’Connor Park in Round one of the State Knock-out competition.  With a number of players new to the game, the team fought valiantly but by half time the score was 4-1 to Murrumburrah with one goal to CHS midfielder Anisa Rees.  The team rallied in the second half, with no further goals scored which was a superb effort under extremely warm conditions. 

The team is to be congratulated on their sportsmanship both on and off the field and for playing hard until the final whistle. 

Special thanks to Lachlan Webb and Blake Sloan for running the lines on the day and to Cootamundra Striker’s for the use of O’Connor Park.

 Mrs English

YR. 9 AND 10 FORENSICS

This week students have been investigating blood spatter as they continue to learn about physical evidence.

Mia can be seen here dropping fake blood so that the different features can be analysed at different heights.

THE ENRICHMENT HUB

As part of the recent renovations at Cootamundra High School and as a direct result of feedback provided to us from students, parents and staff, we have an amazing new learning space which is known as The Enrichment Hub. This newly furnished space is a place for all students and teachers to access and provides a bright, open environment for learning. The Enrichment Hub is available for all students to access every recess and lunch time. Many students have already had an experience working in this room as part of a whole class, in small groups or individually. With an ‘open door’ approach, Ms Bateup is based in this room, (B4.5) and enjoys evolving innovative ways for students to utilise this space so they can Connect, Succeed and Thrive. This unique space will ensure all students’ learning requirements are known and valued.

Plenty of room to enhance your skills
A friendly atmosphere for all to enjoy
Plenty of room to enhance your skills
A friendly atmosphere for all to enjoy
Plenty of room to enhance your skills
A friendly atmosphere for all to enjoy

SCHOOL BASED APPRENTICESHIP AND TRAINEESHIP

Pictured here is Katie Berkrey signing her SBAT contract for Aged Care with Relieving CEO of Adina Court Mrs Jennifer Apps, and Melanie Howell from Sarina Russo Apprenticeships. Katie will be employed by Adina Court whilst she studies her Certificate III in Ageing as part of her HSC pattern of study.
Pictured here is Katie Berkrey signing her SBAT contract for Aged Care with Relieving CEO of Adina Court Mrs Jennifer Apps, and Melanie Howell from Sarina Russo Apprenticeships. Katie will be employed by Adina Court whilst she studies her Certificate III in Ageing as part of her HSC pattern of study.
Pictured here is Katie Berkrey signing her SBAT contract for Aged Care with Relieving CEO of Adina Court Mrs Jennifer Apps, and Melanie Howell from Sarina Russo Apprenticeships. Katie will be employed by Adina Court whilst she studies her Certificate III in Ageing as part of her HSC pattern of study.
Pictured here is Katie Berkrey signing her SBAT contract for Aged Care with Relieving CEO of Adina Court Mrs Jennifer Apps, and Melanie Howell from Sarina Russo Apprenticeships. Katie will be employed by Adina Court whilst she studies her Certificate III in Ageing as part of her HSC pattern of study.
Pictured here is Katie Berkrey signing her SBAT contract for Aged Care with Relieving CEO of Adina Court Mrs Jennifer Apps, and Melanie Howell from Sarina Russo Apprenticeships. Katie will be employed by Adina Court whilst she studies her Certificate III in Ageing as part of her HSC pattern of study.

JUNIOR PDHPE

Our Junior PDHPE classes have started off well in Term 2 with Year 8 completing a unit on Inclusive Communities.  Students have started to examine what influences their attitudes and beliefs, what are stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination and how to recognise and challenge these to promote inclusivity and diversity in our communities.  During practicals, Year 8 are completing a unit entitled Kick, Pass, Catch which includes practicals such as touch football, soccer, league tag, AFL and variations of each game.

 

This term, Year 9 are learning about Sexuality and Sexual Safety. A range of sub-topics are covered around empowering students to get healthy and how to create environments that support their health including safe practices, external influences on their behaviours, healthy decision making and staying safe on-line.

 

Our unit of work for this term for Year 10 PDHPE is entitled Staying Safe (Safe partying).  In this unit, students learn about risky behaviours and how to make better decisions when it comes to their health and safety.  Over the last few weeks the students have examined how to respond positively to life’s challenges, the importance of a healthy sense of identify and well-being and have learnt how the ‘Trust, Talk, Take Control’ strategy can be used to assist them to gain control of a situation that may become out of hand.

In terms of practicals, both Year 9 and 10 are focussing on Court Sports which includes Basketball, Netball, Tennis and Volleyball and variations of these games.

TELL THEM FROM ME SURVEY



All students in Year 7-12 have completed the first Tell Them from Survey of 2021.

Students completed the survey and have provided the school with vital feedback to inform future planning on a number of student focus areas such as student connection and school curriculum.

FROM THE CAREERS DESK

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YEAR 12!

It is that time of the year again for students wishing to apply for university entry.

A number of very good opportunities are available at the moment for students looking to access both Charles Sturt University (across a range of their campuses) and the University of Canberra.

Charles Sturt is offering the Charles Sturt Advantage Program, which enables students to apply online with the possibility of being made a firm offer based on their Year 11 results.

The University of Canberra has opened its UC August Early Round Offer, which also considers criteria other than ATARS. Year 12 are strongly encouraged to access their Google Classroom and follow the links.

There are some tips and tricks for both these programs to give students the best possible advantage.  It is therefore highly recommended that before submission, a draft is given to Mrs Alderman for checking.

 

WORK EXPERIENCE FOR YEAR 10

This week, Expression of Interest forms have been circulated to students for Work Experience, which is coming up in Week 8 of this term.

Students are reminded that forms are due back into the Careers Office by Friday 21st May.

There will be occasions that some businesses cannot host Work Experience during this time frame. Every effort will be made to ensure students can be placed at an alternative time should this be the case.

If students aren’t sure about where, or what business to nominate, they are strongly encouraged to call in to the Careers Office for assistance. 

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