murray bridge high school · murray bridge high school ... mon, 11 mar adelaide cup holiday tue,...

Principal: Phil Fitzsimons 8532 1788 – Chairperson Governing Council: Sue Horsnell 0413 866 666

Murray Bridge High School

It is through working together, with respect, that we can achieve excellence

Excellence, Respect and Working Together

From the Principal Phil Fitzsimons

Mobile Phone Task Team Initiative

In 2012 Murray Bridge High School introduced the mobile phone task team initiative

designed to address the inappropriate use by students of their mobile phone.

Extensive evidence already existed within the school that the misuse of mobile phones in class was having a detrimental effect on the ability for students to learn

and teachers to teach. Furthermore, it was becoming increasingly obvious that

mobile phones were being used for the purpose of bullying and harassment.

The Mobile Phone Task Team comprised 4 staff members. Their role was to work with students, parents and staff on identifying strategies that could minimise the

detrimental impact the misuse of mobile phones was having on the effective teaching

and learning taking place in the classroom.

In term 1 a survey was undertaken which identified 418 issues relating to mobile

phone issues in one week.

In response, the Mobile Phone Task Team addressed the whole school through

ongoing year level assemblies outlining the school policy on the correct use of

mobile phones; visited pastoral care classes on a weekly basis speaking with students as a class or individually and addressed staff on a regular basis at staff meetings on

developing common approaches.

By the end of term 4 the number of mobile phone issues in the classroom dropped

considerably to less than 20 per week. Further outcomes saw student awareness of responsibilities with mobile phones increased, significant reduction in conflict

between teachers and students over mobile phones and clear support from the

majority of parents and caregivers provided.

Further review of the initiative uncovered broader issues facing many of our students, which has now seen the conversation shifting towards a supportive one. Particularly

as the team was regularly working with students faced with regular conflict in their

lives.

It is clear that the Mobile Phone Task Team made significant inroads into this issue however there is still more ongoing work required, particularly as the phenomenon

of social media expands and the levels of accessibility to mobile phones increases.

As a result the school has made the decision to continue with the current structure

of the Mobile Phone Task Team for the foreseeable future, as we believe the

positive outcomes achieved thus far outweigh the costs attached to the initiative.

I would like to thank Darren O’Connor, Brendan Watts, Laura Latz and David

Berresford for their work in 2012. The team in 2013 welcomes Supriya Panjwani as

Laura moved to another school at the end of last year.

TERM 1, Week 6 - 4 March 2013

CALENDAR

TERM 1

Week 6

Fri, 8 Mar Standards Day

Week 7

Mon, 11 Mar ADELAIDE CUP HOLIDAY

Tue, 12 Mar STUDENT FREE DAY

Sat, 16 Mar CENTENARY STAFF DINNER

Week 8

Tue, 19 Mar Finance Committee – 7pm

Thu, 21 Mar Harmony Day

Week 9

Tue, 26 Mar Governing Council AGM – 7pm

Fri, 29 Mar EASTER FRIDAY

Week 10

Mon, 1 Apr EASTER MONDAY

Week 11

Fri, 12 Apr Last day of Term 1- 2pm dismissal

TERM DATES 2013

Term 1 - 29 Jan – 12 Apr

Term 2 - 29 Apr – 5 Jul

Term 3 - 22 Jul – 27 Sep

Term 4 - 14 Oct – 13 Dec

STUDENT FREE DAYS – 2013

Tue, 12 Mar - Staff T&D

Mon, 20 May - Australian Curriculum (please note amended date)

Tue, 11 Jun - Staff T&D

Mon, 28 Oct - Australian Curriculum

SCHOOL CLOSURE

Fri, 6 Sep - Show Day

Murray Bridge High School Newsletter 4 March 2013

2

Jim and Luke Stephanie and Lotta

Lucas Ina

Staff Profile by Class 8X

Each fortnight in the Newsletter we will be including a section

called Staff Profile. The students in 8X will interview different

staff members and ask them questions relating to their goals and

favourite things. This week we introduce Stuart Kenny, Kara

Stevens and Jacqueline Heaney.

Name: Stuart Kenny

Teaching area/s: Student Counsellor

No. of years teaching: 12 years

Goals for 2013: To continue striving for excellence in

delivery of the Health and PE curriculum.

To support staff and students regarding

their health, welfare and safety at school

and do whatever is in my power to help

them enjoy their school life.

To continue enjoying my life and have as

much fun as possible.

Favourite Food: I like a lot of different types of food;

Asian, Italian, Mexican, but I’m

particularly fond of bacon and egg

toasties with cheese and tomato sauce.

Favourite Hobby: I love building Lego, playing PS3 games

(Lego and Batman), puzzles, Sudoku and

watching movies.

Favourite Quote: Dream, Believe, Create, Succeed. I also

like “Me, We”. (Muhammad Ali)

Name: Kara Stevens

Teaching area/s: English and Drama


Goals for 2013: To encourage all students to apply

themselves and achieve their goals.

Favourite Food: I love pretty much all food, but nothing

beats lemon cheesecake or lemon tart!

Favourite Hobby: Reading, shopping and playing netball for

Imperials.

Favourite Quote: ‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it

is the courage to continue that counts’.

(Winston Churchill)

Name: Jacqueline Heaney

Teaching area/s: Science


Goals for 2013: I hope all my students achieve the best

grades they can. I also hope to see

more of South Australia and its beautiful

beaches.

Favourite Food: Irish Stew with dumplings.

Favourite Hobby: Reading and Crochet.

Favourite Quote: “To err is human to forgive, devine”

Welcome Exchange Students by Helen Peake

In term one Murray Bridge High School has been fortunate to welcome three new exchange students as well as to welcome back

an exchange student who has been in Australia for over 6 months

now.

Jim Eckhardt and Lotta Oswald have both arrived from Germany

(under the SA German Exchange Program) and are being hosted by

the families of Luke Johnson and Stephanie Dadivas.

The SA German Exchange Program works on the German student

coming to Murray Bridge High School to study for one term and

then, at the end of the year, our students go to Germany to study

at the school of their host buddy.

We have also welcomed Lucas Ragazzo from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Lucas is here for 12 months and is being hosted by the Rotary Club of Tailem Bend.

Ina Brunbauer is being hosted by the Rotary Club of Murray Bridge.

Ina is from Austria and certainly appears to making the most of the many opportunities extended to her.

To all the exchange students we extend a very warm welcome and trust that their stay is an exciting and educational one.

School Leaders Induction by Helen Peake

During the Assembly on February 18th the new Student

Representative Council were inducted. We were pleased to

welcome Don McLean, President of the Rotary Club of Murray

Bridge to induct both the Prefects (Year 12) and the Year Level

Captains (Years 8–11). Congratulations to all these students on

being selected by their peers to represent them this year. Thank

you to Don McLean for giving up his time to induct the SRC.


3

Year 12 Aquatics by Isaac McEvoy

With equal parts trepidation and excitement, our Year 12

Physical Education class set off to the Murraylands Aquatic

Centre for their three day aquatics practical. Upon arrival at

the Aquatics Centre it was decided that our students were to

undertake the sport of ‘Sailing’ for their assessment. With only

a handful of students ever sailed before, it promised to be a

very exciting and fulfilling time.

Within the three days, students learnt how to rig the boat,

tack, gyb, and one of the more enjoyable aspects of the

course, capsizing.

All students took to sailing like a ‘duck out of water’, so to

speak, and enjoyed the three days of beautiful weather on the

river. This has been reflective on the grades that the students

were able to achieve. I would also like to thank Mrs Bone for

her involvement and support while on the river with the

students.

Do you want to study medicine?

Students interested in pursuing medicine and other health

courses need to sit the UMAT test on 31 July 2013.

MedEntry is a government accredited Registered Training

Organization specialising in UMAT preparation. A

pamphlet regarding this is available from Mrs Hodge or

visit www.medentry.edu.au

Acquaintance Evening by Ruth Hicks

On Wednesday 20th February parents, students and families

were invited to a sausage sizzle and acquaintance evening.

The evening was well attended, with all enjoying the sausages

and vegie patties cooked by staff. The evening was an

excellent opportunity for families to mingle with Pastoral Care

and subject teachers in an informal setting and be able to

connect names to faces. Over 300 listened to tips for

supporting students to be successful academically and socially

in the Middle School and meeting the requirements for SACE

in the Senior School.

All parents are encouraged to make contact with individual

teachers either by phone or email by ringing the Front Office

and asking for their email address. The strong message is that

we want to work together with families to get the best

outcomes for each individual student.

Staff work together to cook for the Acquaintance Evening

Patti Williamson meets with parents and students on the night

http://www.medentry.edu.au/


4

Year 9 Fabric Technology by Ruth Shakes

The Year 9 Fabric Technology class has just completed their

first piece of work in textiles. The task was to create and sew 2

designs suitable to be placed on a tea towel or pillow slip using

two techniques of machine applique and hand applique.

The students created their designs, selected their fabrics and

after some practice started sewing. They discovered that the

simpler the design the easier it was to sew. All students were

able to successfully complete the task. The hand applique took

the longest time to complete along with a lot of concentration

and for some, frustration. Students learnt that quality crafts

take time to complete and it can be fun listening to music or

chatting with friends while doing the work.

The completed products have demonstrated some excellent

practical skills with some good hand/eye coordination shown.

Feedback by people observing the works has been very

positive.

Please see below samples of students work.

Doorways 2 Construction by Greg Fulwood

Last week saw the Doorways Plus trainees doing a controlled

demolition of one of the timber framed structures at the back

of the Skill Centre. The object was to salvage as much of the

timber as possible in good condition so that it can be reused by

the new trainees this year. Controlling costs by salvaging

materials will be a valuable skill in the careers of these budding

builders.

The new trainees began their first project for the year in each

building a saw horse using some of the salvaged material.

These saw horses are extremely well built and if anyone is

interested in purchasing one or more I’m sure we may be able

to accommodate.

Civil Construction by Greg Fulwood

Continuing on from a project initiated by D2C last year is the

completion of the retaining wall behind the grounds shed. The

trainees spent time getting levels correct and working out

materials needs to complete this very worthwhile project. Skills

in Civil Construction will be further developed with other

projects around the school as the year progresses.

Year 10 Automotive by Chris Afford and Will Blight

This semester in Year 10 Automotive we have been able to

bring in our remote control cars. We have a mixture of

electric and combustion engine cares. Will has a Toyota Supra

which we successful tuned and is running much better than

before.

The Automotive Department has their own remote control

cars which we will be disassembling and rebuilding through the

year to learn more about their construction and operation.

We hope we can be successful in keeping these cars running.


5

Documentary Filmmaker visits Murray

Bridge High School by Lachlan Miles

On Thursday 21st February Nara Wilson, a student film maker

currently studying at Flinders Uni, and her film crew visited our

school to interview and film some students and staff about

racism in schools. Nara was particularly interested in a subject

recently added to our curriculum called Cultural Studies. Her

intention is to include an episode in her documentary about our

Aboriginal curriculum.

The final product will be used as a classroom resource and

Nara will be marketing her work to several TV networks

including ABC, SBS, and NITV. We look forward to seeing the

program when it has been edited and are proud that once again

Murray Bridge High School has been recognised as a school that

lives up to its values of Excellence, Respect and Working Together.

Reminder School Fees are due

Material and Services charges (School

Fees) are to be paid in full by the end of Term 1 – Friday 12th April 2013.

To make arrangements to pay by

instalments or information on how apply

for School Card, please contact Helen Wilden – SSO Finance on 8532 1788.

Pedal Prix by Gilbert Tuazon, Pedal Prix Coordinator

Murray Bridge High School will once again compete in the

Australian HPV Pedal Prix series in 2013. With the successful

performances from 2012 still fresh in our minds, we look

forward to bigger and better things in 2013!

At this stage I have registered two riding teams, therefore

there will be openings for approximately 20 riders. The team

will also be seeking support crew members (Non riding).

Team/staff/parent/helpers meetings will be organised and

announced very soon. Riders’ trainings will also commence

soon in order to get the riders fit before the events.

For all information relating to Pedal Prix events, please take the

time to visit and read the Pedal Prix notice board in ‘A Block’

foyer (Next to the Counsellors’ offices).

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR UPDATES ON THE NOTICE BOARD

If you have any questions or queries please see me.

2013

Year 8 Immunisations – Term 1 2013 by Liz Hodge and Stuart Kenny, Student Counsellors

The District Nurses will be visiting Murray Bridge High School

on Wednesday 20th of March to administer free vaccinations to

Year 8 students.

All students will receive a vaccination for Hepatitis B and

Varicella (Chicken Pox). All female students will also receive

the first of three HPV (Human Papillomavirus), Gardasil’

injections (the second and third will be administered later in the

year).

Your child would have received an Immunisation Information

Pack containing an envelope to put immunisation records in, a

letter of information and a return form/consent card which

needs to be returned to school (through your child’s’ Pastoral

Care teacher) no later than Friday 15th of March.

Students must have returned the appropriate consent card to

receive the vaccinations. If you do not wish for your child to

receive the vaccination(s), you must still return the consent card

but you must indicate that you do not wish for your child to be

vaccinated.

If your child has not yet received the Immunisation Information

Pack you need to get in touch with your child’s Pastoral Care

Teacher or Stuart Kenny at the school on 8532 1788.

If your child misses this first round of vaccinations you are able

to catch up through your local GP or you could visit the Murray

Bridge Library on the second Wednesday of the month from 2pm – 4pm.


6

HAVE YOU RECEIVED THE SCHOOLKIDS BONUS?

Do you know about the Schoolkids Bonus? It is a new cash

payment to help eligible families and students with the costs of

primary and secondary school studies. Around 1.2 million

families have already benefitted from the first wave of payments

in January 2013 – have you?

If you receive a family or income support payment, including

Family Tax Benefit Part A, you could be eligible to receive $410

a year for each primary student and $820 a year for each

secondary student, with half paid in January and half paid in July.

The Schoolkids Bonus replaces the Education Tax Refund (ETR)

and is a much simpler system. You no longer need to collect

receipts and payments are made automatically so you don’t have

to wait months to make a claim via your tax return. Unlike the

ETR you can choose how you use the payment to best support

your children’s education – whether it be school books,

stationery, uniforms, school fees, or excursions.

Check your eligibility by visiting australia.gov.au/schoolkidsbonus

and if you think you might have missed out on the January

payment, contact Centrelink – either in person at a Centrelink-Medicare Office or by calling 132 468.

TAKING RESPONSIBILITY Personal responsibility is the mark of true leadership. However shirking responsibility or shifting the blame to others is a national sport in many western countries. “Its not my fault” can be heard in court rooms, political rallies and in sporting tribunals everywhere as blame for a transgression is shifted away from the individual and placed on a scapegoat. It is little wonder that many children are experts at shirking personal responsibility. Lack of personal responsibility is shown when children find excuses or blame others for their misbehaviour. Siblings are blamed for starting fights, parents for children’s school lateness and classmates for misbehaving at school. Anything or anyone but themselves is to blame! “It’s not my turn” is another way of shirking responsibility. Most parents want their children to be responsible for their actions. Taking responsibility means that a child sees a problem and fixes it. A child who takes responsibility helps out regardless of how many times they have helped before or who causes a situation. When a child complains that the toilet roll is empty then he or she can be invited to take responsibility for it. Similarly, if the bread bin is empty, the fire is out or the living room floor is a mess then the message could be that they should ‘do something’ about these situations. When a child is late for school, forgets to hand in homework or deliberately hurts a classmate even though some teasing occurred then he or she needs to shoulder the blame and take responsibility for their actions. Sounds tough but this is the approach to take if we are to promote a true sense of responsibility, initiative and accountability. In families some children become adept at ducking their responsibilities. It is smart management to share the load using rosters and other organisational strategies. But in the myriad of informal situations around the house where someone needs to take responsibility then it is helpful to take the “don’t tell me, please fix it” approach. Next time a child responds to your request for help with that classic line “but it’s not my turn” look them straight in the eye and say, “You know, you may be right but isn’t it lucky that you are so willing to help” and simply walk away. No buts, no arguments. Try this...Put it into practice

To promote personal responsibility in your child:

Make sure they have some jobs at home so that others rely on them.

Use a roster for jobs and place responsibility on children to do tasks without being reminded.

AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE CADETS

MURRAY BRIDGE

622 Squadron AAFC Murray Bridge is holding an Interest Night

open to the community on Friday 15 March 2013 from 7.30pm

to 9.30pm at our Head Quarters – 19 Caroline Street Murray

Bridge. Everyone is invited to come along and see the

challenging and fun activities we offer in our training and survival

camps, field craft and navigation, flying, water activities, abseiling,

caving and much more. How exciting to be able to learn to fly

at 15. Our program is accredited for SACE and Duke of

Edinburgh Awards.

622 Squadron is a premier youth development organisation in

Murray Bridge, established in January 2010 by our local youth

from the Murraylands, Mallee, Angas, Bremer and Strathalbyn

regions.

The AAFC is the leading Australian youth development

organisation for girls and boys from ages 13 to 18 years of age.

Cadets come from all backgrounds, form bonds and lifelong

friends with cadets at State and National levels via our National

Accredited Development Program. They learn life skills,

leadership, initiative, self-confidence and discipline, teaching

skills, loyalty and fun in a military environment.

For more information about the AAFC log onto www.aafc.org.au or contact 622 Squadron on 0417 203 196.

http://www.aafc.org.au/

murray bridge high school · murray bridge high school ... mon, 11 mar adelaide cup holiday tue,...

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