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The Family Newsletterwww.jamesfallon.nsw.edu.au

Fallon Street, Albury, NSW, 264002 6025 1688

Principal: Jenny ParrettDeputy Principal: Ross McGarvieDeputy Principal: David Johnson

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Term 3 has ended with so many positives in our school.

The Creative and Performing Arts Showcase was superb. The talent and variety in the performances, and the works on display in the foyer, in the intimate and professional space of The Cube, made for an excellent evening. Congratulations to the Creative and Performing Arts students and staff for this wonderful event.

This week, our Year 11 students engaged in Crossroads, a 25 hour mandatory course on supporting students with health and wellbeing information. Our group had the maturity and positivity to attend an overnight camp at Hume Weir, and every guest speaker was very impressed with the level of engagement in the group. Congratulations to the PDHPE staff for the smooth running of this event.

Our Year 7 and 9 students engaged in the NAPLAN technical readiness trial this week also. This was an additional test, and I have great admiration for our students, who, in the main, cooperated with the exercise. Next year NAPLAN will be online for students, and our technology is more than ready to cope with the test.

Our Positive Behaviour for Learning team held two rewards events on Monday 18th September– a morning tea (with me- a definite perk of the job) and a Rewards BBQ, with a “big day out” atmosphere. The sun was shining, the music from Year 12 students was fantastic, and the crew fed the whole school in a lunchtime session. What a wonderful time! Congratulations to the PBL team, who put this event together.

The departure of our HSC class of 2017 was one that left the whole community feeling affirmed in what we hope to achieve with our students. The walk off before the school was beautiful, and the assembly on Thursday 21st September was warm, loving, inspiring, and supportive. Our guest speaker, Zoe Singer (HSC Class of 2012) had her mother, Bronwyn Wood (also an ex student of JFHS) read out her speech, which is attached. This was a perfect moment for the school and for the two wonderful women who gave their time to the school yesterday. The Year 12 students presented beautiful gifts to many, and there were quite a number of tears as we acknowledged the contributions of the cohort, and their gratitude towards the school. Our Year 12s also received their academic awards, rather than on the Presentation Evening, major awards excluded – this was a worthwhile change, as the students were present to receive them before they leave school officially. The year group then departed the hall, with Jacob Brockley leading the group via the ramp. This was a wonderful act of inclusion for a student who has travelled from Corowa every day for school for 6 years, and has been such an asset to our school community. Congratulations to our school leaders, and our Year 12 Year Adviser, Deanna Fletcher, who created this event.

After a very long term, I hope that all our students enjoy some time with their families.

Jennifer ParrettPRINCIPAL

FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

Year 12

After a powerful Year 12 Graduation Assembly yesterday, 23 days remain until the first HSC written examinations - English Advanced and English Standard, on Monday, 16 th October.

With no more lessons and assessment tasks required, each and every one of our students of the class of 2017 has a lot of time to revise and attempt practice examination questions. Significant improvement is often made during this time with those students who remain focused and follow a structured study and revision timetable. Year 12 teachers will be available to students here at the school from Monday, 9th October – the first day of Term 4 – until the examinations finish with the Drama written examination on the afternoon of Tuesday, 7th November.

Good luck to all of our wonderful Year 12 students in the weeks ahead. Make the most of them.

Year 11

Final examinations for the Preliminary HSC courses were completed at the end of Week 9 for most of our Year 11 students. Examinations will be returned and reports issued early in Term 4. There is always something to be learned from the verbal and written feedback which all teachers provide following exams. Reports also represent an opportunity to reflect on classroom and homework habits and skills. In doing so, students can refine their approach to the HSC year.

Ross McGarvieDeputy Principal

DANCE

A few weeks ago a number of our dancers travelled to Sydney as part of the Riverina Albury Dance Ensemble. They performed at the State Dance Festival. This was a wonderful and well deserved experience for the girls who successfully auditioned for the event in March.

JFHS dancers pictured ( from bottom right) are Czarlene Villanueva, Juliet Whyte, Jessica Harris, Gabby Berry, Melodie Gason, Courtney Hartley, Athena Bouteris, Laura Bunn, Soraya Doubleday and Jessica Wilson.

The dancers from AHS were Asha Krautz, Sophie Dawson, Kara Gratton and Renee Boyd.

Laura Bunn (Year 7) earlier in the year was selected for the State Dance Ensemble which is an amazing achievement. She had a busy week in Sydney as she performed with the Dance Ensemble group (above) but also stayed on and performed with the State Dance Ensemble.

NAIDOC ACTIVITY DAY

Year 7/8 MC worked extremely hard to bring together this Aboriginal flag for this year’s celebrations. Teachers, students and school staff were asked to create a hand print. These hand prints were then transformed into one large Aboriginal flag by everyone in the Special Education faculty. This Aboriginal Flag represents the whole of the James Fallon school community supporting NAIDOC 2017.

Thankyou to every-onewho participated inthis wonderful activity.

Ms. CallaghanSpecial Education

YEAR 12 – FINAL ASSEMBLY

Year 12 Assembly Speech

Hello Class of 2017! What a nostalgic time. I can’t believe it has been 5 years since I sat in these seats.. about to finish year 12… finally!

Most people in the room are probably thinking, thank god this day has come. No more school, no more classes, it’s over! Some of your teachers are probably thinking ‘wow they actually made it’… maybe not.

Either way, these final few weeks are so surreal.

For those who don’t know me, I came to this school in 2007. I had no idea how to read my timetable. I had never seen so many kids in one place. I hated history, I hated that I was too young to be in the rock eisteddfod and I hated the sport shorts. I’m guessing some of us will have this in common.

Little did I know, the next 5 years would be some of the best building blocks of my life, and where I would meet some amazing people that are still significant in my life today – no matter where we have ended up. You might not realise how much it means to you until you’ve been out of school for five years, or even 10. Believe me it will come.

By the time I reached my senior years, I received the Level 1 Award. Old Mr Taylor, who admittedly I had probably given a hard time over the years, was so proud. He wrote to me ‘Zoe can be outspoken, Zoe is feisty, Zoe speaks for the underdog, she speaks out when wronged or treated unfairly and she speaks her mind. I have supported Zoe on several.. and I mean several occasions against being penalised for simply defending herself. I have a lot of respect for Zoe, for her tenacity, for her integrity, honesty and feistiness’. He may have blamed the red hair.. it could be true I wouldn’t know any different!

This is me in a nutshell. The outspokenness started early. There is an art to being feisty yet respectful and I nailed it. The teachers at this school allow you to do this. Not only do they allow it, but they support you to be your true self. They allow you to grow and flourish, to have a voice. They challenge you, they guide you and they respect you. School today is not about authority; it’s about mentoring and guidance. We are so fortunate to have so many mentors and guides at this school.

When you reach your senior years, most of the ‘don’t care attitude’ is gone, and you really start to enjoy learning and appreciating what it means to be an adolescent reaching adulthood. School is where you spend most of your time, how lucky we are that this is the school where we spent it.

Toward the end of year 12 comes the pressure of where to from here? I was one of the few people who didn’t go on the field trips to universities and who didn’t apply for early grad entry into a course. When I look back I don’t really know why? I was the first person in my family to complete Year 12, with two amazing women, my mother Bronwyn Wood and my aunty Janine Howard leaving this very school in Year 10. My mum, now a health psychologist and my ultimate role model had gone to uni through all my childhood. I always knew I would end up at university.. but it never crossed my mind to be proactive about

making it happen. I knew I wanted to help people and that’s all I knew.. sounds cliché but it’s true.

I had always advocated for others and had a passion for working with vulnerable children and families. Suddenly, Mr Turner, the Careers Adviser was chasing me down pointing out it was a week before the cut off date… and told me about the ability to defer. So there it was, with only a few days to spare I applied for early entry to CSU and LaTrobe for a Degree in Social Work and Psychology.

Before I knew it, the acceptance email came for Bachelor of Human Services/Master in Social Work at Latrobe Wodonga. I suddenly panicked. I thought oh my god! I haven’t even finished school yet! I need to travel the world, I need money, I’m sick of textbooks! So I deferred. I worked 3 jobs and lived at home, I went to Europe for a month and I saved money to move out of home. A year later I re-enrolled in my subjects and started university. I’ve been here ever since. The reason I couldn’t be here to present this speech today is because I am on my final placement, after four years at university. I am so close.

What I didn’t mention is that I didn’t receive a good ATAR. I recently was asked to have a profile written about my experience for those who didn’t receive the ATAR they had hoped for and still made their dreams come true.

I was an A Grade student. I was in the 1’s classes, I received above 75% for all of my HSC assignments, I even got 100% for a Dance Essay. I chose English, Maths, Dance, CaFS, Business and Legal Studies. I had always been a successful student, and with all my excellent HSC marks – the day my ATAR came crushed me. I got less than 60.

But what did this teach me? This taught me that this number doesn’t define your future, or the person you have become at James Fallon High School. What you do learn is respect, responsibility, passion, commitment, pride, dedication and resilience. This is invaluable.

Congratulations and good luck Year 12… this is only the beginning.

Delivered by Ms Bronwyn Wood on behalf of her daughter Zoe Wood, who could not be present.

Mrs Jennifer Parrett and Mrs Deanna Fletcher (Year 12 Year Advisor)

Class of 2017

IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR ATTENDANCE

HIGH ATTENDANCE = MORE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES = MORE QUALIFICATIONS = MORE CHOICE

Ways for parents to encourage attendance:

Regularly check your child’s attendance record at the school to see if it matches with your own record.

Talk regularly with your child about school and how they feel about it. They are more likely to attend if they feel supported and their anxieties are acknowledged.

Only grant days at home for genuine illness.

Avoid taking holidays in school time.

Praise and reward good attendance and punctuality in the mornings.

If you have concerns, ring the school and ask to talk to your child’s Year Adviser.

MonthWee

k Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat/Sun

Oct2017

1A

9Students return for Term 4

10Year 7 2018 Orientation Day

11 12 13School Spectacular Rehearsals Wagga

14/15

2B

162017 HSC Examination CommenceRiverina Visual Arts Camp Wagga

17Riverina Visual Arts Camp Wagga



20Year 9 Wirraminna Excursion

21/22

3A

23 24 25 26 27 28/29

4B

30Mobile Dental Service visit




3Mobile Dental Service visitYear 7 Immunisations (round 2)

4/5

Nov2017

5A

6Year 10 Examination Week

7Melbourne Cup (VIC)Year 10 Examination WeekYear 7 2018 Family Information Evening 7-8pm2017 HSC Examination Conclude

8Year 10 Examination WeekYear 12 Graduation Dinner

9Year 10 Examination WeekYear 7 2017 Exhibition Night 4.30-7.30pm

10Year 10 Examination WeekSchool Spectacular Rehearsals Wagga

11/12 Remembrance Day

6B

13 14 15Year 10 Wellness ExpoEAL/D Parent Information Session P3-4

16 17 18/19

7A

20La Trobe Engineering Showcase Year 10

21School Spectacular Sydney




25/26

8B

27Year 9 Sydney Excursion





2/3

Dec2017

9A

4 5Year 7 2018 Orientation Day #2

6 7Presentation Night

8 9/10

10B

11 12 13 14 15Final day of 2017 school year for students.

16/17

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