DATE/EVENTS

UP COMING DATES

Tuesday 14th February

Swimming Carnival

Wednesday 15th - 17th

February

Burrendong Excursion

Wednesday 22nd February

AECG Meeting 1.00pm

Lands Council

I N N O V A T I O N , E X C E L L E N C E , O P P O R T U N I T I E S & S U C C E S S

M O N D A Y 6 T H F E B R U A R Y , 2 0 1 2 T E R M 1 W E E K 1

N Y N G A N H I G H S C H O O L

PO Box 156 Cobar Street NYNGAN NSW 2825

Phone: 02 68321004 Fax: 02 68321769

Email: nyngan-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Website: www.nyngan-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

New Staff Nyngan High School 2012

We welcome our new staff members to Nyngan High School and hope that they enjoy

their time with us.

Pictured from L to R are: Hellene Underwood - Creative & Performing Arts, Year 9

Student Adviser and English /Drama Teacher, Kyri Martin - School Admin Officer

(Photocopying and Front Office), Sami Dunk - PDHPE Teacher, Penny Nash -

PDHPE Teacher - Temporary Relief Scheme, Hailee Byrne - Visual Arts Teacher and

Tiarna Stafford - Dance Teacher - Temporary Relief Scheme.

Please stop and say hello to our new staff when you see them.

Welcome to 2012

I would like to welcome each and every one of our families

back for another exciting year at Nyngan High School. I would

also like to take this opportunity to welcome the new families

and students to our wonderful school.

Nyngan High School is a school of quality teaching and learn-

ing and we pride ourselves on striving to achieve excellence in

all that we do. It is these values that we will aim to instil in

each of our students throughout the year so that they may con-

tinue to grow as an individual and add value to our school and

school community.

In 2012 we have four new members of the teaching staff and

one new member of the administrative team.

Ms Hailee Byrne joins our school as the new Visual Arts

teacher taking over from Candice Roots who has returned to

her home town of Glenbrook. Miss Byrne is a beginning teach-

er who brings enthusiasm and passion with her, through her

love of all things art. Miss Sami Dunk also joins our team in

2012 as one of our PDHPE staff. Miss Dunk comes from Ta-

ree and is extremely excited about being part of the dynamic

team at Nyngan High School.

Miss Tiarna Stafford joins our staff as one of our Temporary

Relief Scheme teachers. Miss Stafford has a PDHPE degree

specialising in Dance. We are excited about being able to con-

tinue to strengthen the Creative and Performing Arts Program

at Nyngan High School with the skills that Miss Stafford will

bring to this position.

Miss Penny Nash is the second of our Temporary Relief

Scheme staff. Miss Nash is also PDHPE trained and comes

from Newcastle. Having Miss Nash as part of the staff at Nyn-

gan High School will further support our strong PDHPE pro-

gram within the school.

Mrs Kyri Martin will begin in her full time position as one of

the School Administration Officers. Mrs Martin joins Nyngan

High School from Nyngan Primary School.

Last week Mr Ashley Parker received a transfer to Tomaree

High School. Mr Parker begins in his new position on the 6th

February. It is with tremendous pleasure that we welcome Mrs

Hellene Underwood to our school in a permanent capacity in

2012. Mrs Underwood has been an integral part of the success

our school has had in 2011 with the introduction of a strong

Creative and Performing Arts program and will continue to

support our school over the coming years. We would like to

welcome each of the new staff to Nyngan and wish them all

the very best as they continue on or begin their educational

journey. We are sure that our children will be the benefactors

of these staff, along with those dedicated teachers already

educating our children.

This year will prove to be an exciting and challenging year at

Nyngan High School and I am looking forward to introducing

you to all of our staff over the coming weeks.

I would like to emphasise that I have very high expectations

for all of our staff and students and these expectations are not

limited to the classroom. It is essential that Nyngan High

School is recognised across the region and the state for the

wonderful programs, the quality of our teaching, the academic

success of our students, the behaviour of our students and the

other fantastic opportunities that our school offers to improve

learning for your children. This can only be done if we expect

the very best in all that we do.

We will continue to provide a newsletter to each family on a

Monday afternoon, so please ensure you ask your child for the

newsletter. It is a great way to keep informed about the school,

see the wonderful achievements of our students and staff and

keep in touch with our school community. The school also

provides newsletters to a number of local businesses and all of

our newsletters are published on our school website

(www.nyngan-h.schools.nsw.edu.au).

We are committed to ensuring that we are as efficient as we

can possibly be when it comes to printing so if you would pre-

fer an emailed copy of our school newsletter could you please

send an email to myself so I can add you to our distribution

list.

I look forward to working with you and your children in 2012

and beyond. You can contact me on 68321004 during school

hours or via email on chad.bliss@det.nsw.edu.au anytime.

Welcome back to 2012. It is with your support that we will

continue to grow our truly amazing school.

My Warmest Regards,

Chad Bliss

Principal

Welfare and Discipline Policy

All students are taught each aspect of the schools welfare and

discipline policy at the beginning of the school year. This poli-

cy document is a guide to how the school will deal with inci-

dents of welfare and discipline and merit. In 2012 we have

further revised our school welfare and discipline policy to en-

sure a more thorough understanding of our expectations are

taught. A full copy of the Welfare and Discipline policy can

be found on our school website. A reminder that if you have an

issue at anytime with something relating to your child please

speak with your child‟s teacher by making a phone or in per-

son appointment. If you feel that the situation has not been

resolved you have the right to contact your child‟s head teach-

er for the subject concerned or the deputy Principal, Mrs Hunt.

If you still feel that your issue has not been resolved please

make phone the school on 68321004 and make an appointment

to speak with Mr Bliss.

School Uniform

Nyngan High school is a uniform wearing school and this deci-

sion has been supported by our school P&C. All students are

expected to be in full school uniform each day and full sports

uniform on sports days. This includes black leather school

shoes. If you have difficulty purchasing any item of school uni-

form for any reason please make an appointment to see Mr

Bliss. Our school prides itself on how our students look and Mr

Bliss is happy to speak with any parent or caregiver about this.

Attendance at School

The Government and the Department of Education has recently

reviewed a number of child protection initiatives. Attendance at

school was one of these. If your child is absent for any reason, it

is essential that you contact the school and provide notification

of the child‟s absence in writing on the first day your child re-

turns. Our school will take very seriously unexplained absences.

If students are genuinely ill or have some other genuine reason

for not being able to attend school, then the school will support

you at all times however, it is the parents/caregivers responsibil-

ity to ensure that their children attend school everyday.

Lunch Passes

As was the case in 2011, no student will be issued with lunch

passes in 2012. Students may not leave the school grounds at

any time unless they are picked up and signed out by a parent or

caregiver. Occupational Health and Safety legislation states that

we have a duty of care for all of our students and we are unable

to provide this care if students are not on the school premises.

Our school canteen is open 5 days per week for recess and lunch

and Annie Wherritt our new canteen manager has an exception-

al school canteen menu to cater to all students. For individual

discussions regarding this policy, please make a time to speak

with Mr Bliss.

School Lockers

All students will again have lockers issues for use this week.

For all new students to our school a locker contract needs to be

completed and returned to the school before the lockers can be

issued. Please fill in the attached locker contract form and return

to Mrs Hunt.

Mid Term Break

As agreed to by our school community and all schools in the

Bourke School Education Group our mid term breaks this year

will remain as Friday of Week 5 and Monday of Week 6 each

term. This will mean that the term 1 mid term break will occur

on Friday 24th and Monday 27th February 2012.

School Swimming Carnival

Next Tuesday 14th February will be our Annual School

Swimming Carnival. Permission notes will be sent home

tomorrow with all students. The carnival will be held during

the day this year and will begin at 8.40am and students will

be dismissed from the pool at the conclusion of the carnival.

It is expected that the carnival will conclude at approximately

2.00pm. All parents and members of our school community

are welcome to attend.

Deputy Principal’s Newsletter Report

Welcome!

A warm welcome is extended to all Year 7 and new students

and their families. I‟m sure that you will enjoy the wonderful

experiences provided for you at Nyngan High School.

Welcome back to all students and families who were here in

2011. I hope you enjoyed a relaxing holiday. After 7 weeks

of holidays, I spoke to a few students around town who said

that they were looking forward to returning to school, which

is lovely to hear. I‟m sure we will enjoy a successful and

happy 2012 together!

Updated Information

Nyngan High School is moving towards text messaging par-

ents regarding the absence of their child from school. It is a

convenient, non-invasive method of allowing parents to

know that their children are safe in classrooms throughout

the day.

Could we ask that all parents provide their updated mobile

phone information to the front office via a note which will be

sent home this week please? It is also important that we are

able to contact you in the event of an emergency.

Students With emergency Care Plans

Some of our students have severe medical conditions that

require particular action in an emergency. These students are

required to have Emergency Care Plans. Some of the plans

that we have pinned up in staffrooms have photographs

which are years old and do not accurately represent how the

child currently looks. This is a concern in the event of a

teacher who does not know your child being responsible for

their immediate emergency care.

Would all parents of students who have Emergency Care plans

please provide updated photographs to our front office? We

have school photographs on file from 2011 which you are wel-

come to use, however, you will need to contact the front office

to discuss this please. Thank you in anticipation of your assis-

tance.

Senior Student Attendance

Senior students are allowed to arrive for the beginning of Peri-

od 2 if they do not have a class Period 1. They are also allowed

to leave the school at the beginning of Period 5 if they do not

have a lesson Period 5 that day.

Students are to be at school, involved in lessons or studying in

the Library at all other times. Parents are asked to assist the

school in ensuring that your students follow these rules please.

Student Welfare and Discipline Review

The staff is part way through beginning a review of our Stu-

dents Welfare and Discipline Policy at Nyngan High School.

Our Core Rules and the types of behaviour expected by all

students are included on the posters below:

Swimming Carnival

Our Swimming Carnival is to be held on two separate days this

year. The long distance events will be held in the afternoon of

Monday 13th February and the rest of the carnival during the

normal school day on Tuesday 14th February. We look forward

to seeing as many supporters as possible at our carnival.

Getting Off to a Good Start

Wondering how to help your kids do well at home and at

school this year? The department‟s parent resource School A

to Z has a webcast full of expert tips for you to help your chil-

dren have a more successful year.

The „Getting off to a great start webcast‟ has a number of

chapters on how to motivate children for learning, advice on

peer relationships and how to handle bullying, communicating

with children and the importance of strong home-school rela-

tionships.

The expert panel features advice from a child psychologist, an

experienced family doctor and the department‟s deputy direc-

tor-general (schools) Greg Prior.

Watch the webcast at: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/

wellbeing/development/getting-off-to-a-good-start

National Year of Reading 2012

Welcome to a new school year. This is the national year of

reading and to celebrate, there is a host of literary-related

events and competitions happening right around Australia.

For an events calendar and more information go to:

www.love2read.org.au. Why not make a late New Year resolu-

tion to read more yourself? And if you have younger children

and don‟t already read regularly to them, set aside some quali-

ty time to help instil a love of books and reading .

We’ve Got School Covered

Practical help for parents is available online at the School A to

Z site. Created by the Department of Education and Communi-

ties, this is a thriving online community with comprehensive

homework and school life support for parents that is easy to

use, relevant and engaging. There are free apps to download,

informative podcasts, videos and articles by experts in the

field. Check it out and save it to your favourites:

www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au

Fair Work Checks

Many teenagers undertake casual work. A helpful guide to

how much they should be getting paid and the minimum con-

ditions can be found at:

www.fairwork.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx

If you have any queries there is a helpline at 13 13 94. You can

also lodge an online workplace complaint if you feel your

child has been unfairly treated.

Student Equipment Requirements

Students will require the following things to maximise their

learning at school:

• English /HSIE (Aust Stud) - 128 A4

book, stapled & margins already ruled

• Mathematics - 128 ex-

ercise book

• Science - 128 A4

book, stapled & margins already ruled

• Visual Arts - A4 Visu-

al Art diary

• PE - 64 A4

book, stapled & margins already ruled

• Music - we will

provide

• TAS

Stage 4 Mandatory Technology - 96 A4

book & display folder

Stage 5 Food Technology - 200 page book &

display folder

Stage 5 Agriculture - 200 page

book & display folder

Stage 5 Work Education - 128 page

book & display folder

Stage 5 Metals - 128 page

book & display folder

Stage 5 Wood - 128 page

book & display folder

Other equipment

• Casio fx-82 AU PLUS calculator

• Ruler

• Compass

• Protractor

Pens, pencils, eraser & sharpener

2012 Bell Times

The students and staff voted to change our daily routine to not

include NRL. As a result, the following new bell times will be

followed throughout the year:

On Assembly Days, the bell times will be slightly different:

We look forward to seeing many parents at our 1pm Assem-

blies this year.

Have an enjoyable start to the year!

Kind Regards,

Nicole Hunt

Deputy Principal

...........................................................................................................................

REMINDER:

Burrendong Excursion on Wednesday 15th

February to Friday 17th February

Medical and Permission Notes need to be re-

turned before Friday 10th February

Payments need to be finalised—with the ex-

ception of those paying off the total amount

Ring the school on 68 31004 if you need any

further information

Thank you

.............................................................................................................

AECG MEETING

22nd February, 2012

1.00pm

at the Lands Council

All interested members of our School

Community are invited to attend

ROLL CALL 8:38 8:50

PERIOD 1 8:50 9:55

PERIOD 2 9:55 11:00

RECESS 11:00 11:30

PERIOD 3 11:30 12:35

PERIOD 4 12:35 1:40

LUNCH 1:40 2:10

PERIOD 5 2:10 3:15

ROLL CALL 8:38 8:50

PERIOD 1 8:50 9:45

PERIOD 2 9:45 10:40

RECESS 10:40 11:10

PERIOD 3 11:10 12:05

PERIOD 4 12:05 1:00

ASSEMBLY 1:00 1:50

LUNCH 1 1:50 2:20

PERIOD 5 2:20 3:15

Science News

Welcome back to another exciting year in the world of Science.

Stage 5 need to start thinking about their Independent Research

Projects. We will be conducting the investigations during term

1, to be presented in week 4 of term 2. Students seem to gain the

most from the project when the family gets involved in the ac-

tivity

Think of a problem and possible answer (hypothesis)

Design and conduct an experiment to investigate the problem

following scientific procedure.

Analyse your results and do some secondary source research to

see what others know.

Write a discussion on your findings

Write a conclusion

Let‟s get the „creative juices‟ flowing for some inspirational

ideas this year.

Stage 4 will be involved in a Guided Research Project during

term 3 to help them develop the skills required to gain success

independently.

Other events that we are hoping to include in our calendar this

year are:

Stage 5 Science and Engineering Challenge (last year‟s group

got to go to Newcastle to compete)

Stage 4 „Murder Under the Microscope‟ (MUMs the word)

The ICAS Science competition which has gone global

Water monitoring of the Bogan River in second semester

and more............

On This Day - 6th February – First ‘test-tube’ Human egg

fertilisation

„In 1944, American obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr John

rock (1890-1984) with Miriam F. Menkin fertilized the first

human egg in a test tube. After hundreds of efforts, they had

produced the first laboratory- fertilized, two-cell human egg.

The embryo was not returned to the womb. Is best known as a

developer of the birth control pill.‟

Today in Science History © 1999 - 2012 by Todayinsci

Please feel free to contact me at the school if you have any

questions about the programs we will be involved in this year.

Leonie Montgomery

Head Teacher Science

CANTEEN NEWSLETTER

Hello everyone

Welcome back to school for 2012. My name is Annette Wher-

ritt (Annie) and I am your new canteen manager at Nyngan

High School.

I am looking forward to meeting many of you at the canteen

throughout the year. I would like to encourage all students,

staff and parents to offer any suggestions for our menu that

may be nutritious and delicious. I am happy to take all sugges-

tions under advisement to see what great foods we can offer

our students and staff at Nyngan High School.

I have attached a menu for the canteen (NHS TUCKERBOX)

to the school newsletter to assist you with your orders and

budgetary requirements.

I am also offering our first special for the “Tuckerbox” which

is a Chicken Schnitzel Burger (includes lettuce & chicken

schnitzel plus you can choose Mayonnaise or Sweet Chilli

Sauce or both on a freshly baked roll). The cost is just $5.00

for this filling and nutritious burger, but remember you MUST

order all lunch SPECIALS as they will not be available at the

Tuckerbox window at lunch time. This special will begin from

Monday 13th February until Friday 24th February.

We will be offering a new special every fortnight so keep your

eye‟s out for these in the school newsletter.

We are also offering a loyalty card to students to encourage

PRE-ORDERING of lunches. Each time a student orders their

lunch their card will be stamped. After collecting six stamps

the student will be entitled to a free drink of their choice. The

loyalty card will become the responsibility of the student and

if they are misplaced or forgotten they cannot be redeemed as

there will be no records kept by canteen staff.

The “Tuckerbox” does not offer credit so please don‟t ask as

refusal may offend.

Enjoy your term.

Annie

Nyngan High School

Locker Policy

The school lockers, funded by our P&C, are made available for student use in storing school supplies and personal items nec-

essary for use at school. The lockers are not to be used to store items which cause, or can reasonably be foreseen to cause, an

interference with school purposes or an educational function, or which are forbidden by state law or school rules. The school

retains the right to inspect the locker and its contents to insure that the locker is being used in accordance with its intended

purpose and following the Department of Education and Training‟s Code of Conduct, particularly the responsibility to care for

property belonging to themselves, the school and others.

Locker Allocation

Lockers will be offered to all students of Nyngan High School.

The P&C have determined that there will be NO cost associated with the hiring of school lockers however, if there is damage

to the lockers, it will be the responsibility of the student and family to cover the cost of repairs or replacement.

Locker Rules

In order to implement the school's policy concerning student lockers, the school adopts the following rules and regulations:

1. Locks

The school will retain access to student lockers by keeping a master list of combinations or retaining a master key. Students

may not use their own locks to prevent access to lockers by school staff and any unauthorized locks may be removed without

notice and destroyed.

2. Use of Lockers

Lockers are to be used to store school supplies and personal items necessary for use at school. Lockers shall not be used to

store items which cause, or can reasonably be foreseen to cause, an interference with school purposes or an educational func-

tion. Students will be expected to keep their lockers in a clean and orderly manner.

3. Authority to Inspect

The school retains the right to inspect lockers to insure they are being maintained in accordance with the conditions noted in

No. 2. All inspections of student lockers shall be conducted by the Principal, or Deputy Principal.

4. Inspection of Individual Lockers

a) The inspection of a particular student's locker will not be conducted unless the Principal, or Deputy Principal has a rea-

sonable suspicion to believe that the locker to be inspected contains items which cause, or can reasonably be foreseen to

cause, an interference with school purposes or an educational function.

b) Before a particular student's locker is inspected, the student, if present on the school premises, shall, where practicable, be

contacted and given the opportunity to be present during the conduct of the inspection unless circumstances require that the

inspection be conducted without delay in order to protect the health and safety of others present on school premises. Whenever

an individual student's locker has been inspected under this rule without the student's presence, Principal, or Deputy Principal

shall notify the student of such inspection as soon as practicable thereafter.

5. Inspection of Lockers

a) An inspection of all lockers in the school, or all lockers in a particular area of the school, may be conducted if the Principal

or Deputy Principal reasonably believes that such an inspection is necessary to prevent, impede or substantially reduce the risk

of:

(1) an interference with school purposes or an educational function,

(2) a physical injury or illness to any person,

(3) damage to personal or school property.

6. Withdrawal of Lockers

The privilege of access to a locker may be withdrawn by the Principal, either permanently or for a period of time, if there is

found to be a breach of any of the conditions above.

Nyngan High School

Locker Application Form

Locker Application Form

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

The school lockers, funded by our P&C, are now available for student use in storing school supplies and personal items neces-

sary for use at school.

Who is able to hire a locker?

Lockers will be available for all students. The school has 200 lockers available for student use.

How much do I have to pay?

The lockers will not cost any family. They have been provided to reduce the stress associated with carrying additional equip-

ment to and from school each day.

Students who cause damage to, lose locks or vandalise any locker will be responsible for the full cost of repair or replacement

of the lockers.

What does my child have to do?

Read the attached policy relating to the use of lockers at Nyngan High School

If you are happy to proceed with the agreement contract, sign the permission slip below and return to the front office.

...........................................................................................................................................................................................................

Please return to the front office:

I give my permission for my child to have a locker at school.

I also agree to the conditions attached in this document about the appropriate use of the lockers.

Child‟s name: ............................................................................................................... ................

Parent/Caregiver Signature: ................................................................................................. ........