whispers june 2013

7/28/2019 Whispers June 2013

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Principal Deputy Principals Collegiate Deputy Principal

Karen Smith David Macleod-Jones & Stan Pianko Joe Camilleri

FROM THE COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

Subject Selection Evening was held on Thursday evening June 6 andaround 800 parents and students availed themselves of the opportunity toseek out advice relating to the selection of subjects for Year 11 2014. Theevening was a great success with all of the Executive staff of the College

present to assist parents and students to select their subjects for next year.

In my address on the evening, I pointed out some of the difficulties we facedue to the popularity of our College. Whilst we will always enrol studentsfrom our collegiate partner Year 7-10 schoolsQuakers Hill, Riverstoneand Seven Hills, we are now in the position of it being extremely unlikelythat we will enrol other students. The College is on the maximum numberof students it can accommodate, we have ten demountable classrooms(portables) and there is no land left to place any others.

As has been the case in recent years, a waiting list will be established for

students seeking entry from schools other than the collegiate partners,however, I believe it will be very unlikely that we will be able to access itfor next year.

WYNDHAM WHISPERS

WYNDHAM COLLEGE

A partner withi n the Nir imba Collegiate Group of Schools

and the Ni rimba Education Precinct

Nirimba Education Precinct, Eastern Road, Quakers Hill

Phone: 9208 7100 Fax: 9208 7199

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

JUNE 2013

FRIENDS OF

WYNDHAM

COLLEGE

(P & C)

All Parents

are invited

to attend

Tuesday

18 June 2013

7PM

Administration

Block

JUNEJune 18 Friends of WyndhamJune 20 Yr12 PhotographySydneyJune 21 Yr12 Marine StudiesSydney AquariumJune 26 MADD Performance Night

June 28 End Term 2

JULY

July 15 Staff Development Day

July 16 Students returnTerm 3

July 22-Aug 2 Trial HSCJuly 24 Yr11 Parent Teacher meetingJuly 25 Aust National Chemistry CompetitionJuly 31 ICAS-English Competition

AUGUSTAugust 1 Aust. Maths CompetitionAugust 1 Yr11 Photography-SydneyAugust 13 Maths CompetitionAugust 20 Friends of WyndhamAugust 20 Yr11 fast Forward UWS ExcursionAugust 21 Road Youth Trauma Forum

August 22 Yr11 Biology- Mt Annan Botanic Gardens


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Wyndham College June 2013

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The special enrolment policy developed for Wyndham in 1999 still applies. Whilst the general policyacross the state for DEC schools is that students have access to their local high school, that does notapply directly to Wyndham. Access to Wyndham is through our collegiate 7-10 schools (where the

policy of local area access does apply). This means that if students from the local area chose not toattend the local DEC school, they will not then be able to expect to have access to Wyndham. This isespecially the case now, as it could mean that there would not be room for students from the partner 7-

10 schools, and of course that is not an option.

Uniformnow that the wet and cold weather has hit, we find that a small number of students are notattending in full uniform. Wyndham is, as our learning community determined, a uniform school.

We expect all students to attend in the full college uniform. We are aware that there are sometimesextenuating circumstances which could temporarily prevent the wearing of full uniform. All we requireunder these circumstances, is a note of explanation from home. Most students, most of the time, do theright thing in this regard but I would ask that you support us if you are phoned by one of the collegestaff regarding this matter.

I have explained to students that there is no excuse to be out of uniform without a note.

Term 3 Important Dates

School Development Day Term 3this day will occur on Monday 15 July 2013. Normal schoollessons will resume on Tuesday 16 July 2013.

On 22 July, Trial HSC begins for all Year 12. The Trial will run for two weeks.

Year 12 Graduation is on 19 September 2013.

Staff Changes for Term 3at the end of this term Stan Pianko, Judy Staciwa and Neil Maclean will

all be retiring. Robert Bredin, Deputy Principal from Quakers Hill High School, will relocate toWyndham as Deputy Principal replacing Stan. Judy Staciwas position is yet to be filled. We arecurrently in the process of filling this position by merit selection. Neil Maclean will be taking longservice leave before commencing retirement. His position will be filled by a casual teacher at this stage.I would like to thank all of these staff members for their wonderful contribution to Wyndham College.They have made a difference and will be greatly missed. I wish them well in their retirements.

Some Positivesas I conclude, I would like to congratulate our students in several areas: first, theircontribution to the Precinct Reconciliation event held at UWS College; second, the great performance atthe Western Sydney Dance Festival held at the Hills Centre; third, the assistance provided at our Subject

Selection evening; fourth, to great representation at Zone level for athletics, soccer, and rugby league.

On Wednesday 5 June, 15 students (9 Wyndham and 6 Terra Sancta) currently in Year 12 werepresented with their certificates and scholarships by UWS for their outstanding achievements in theuniversity courses they undertook in Year 11. I was extremely proud of all students and the outstandingresults they had attained. They are all well on their way to tertiary education.

A reminder there will be the upcoming MADD Evening on 26 June 2013. Thank you to all ourperforming arts teachers. I know this will be a great evening.

In each of the events, our students were a credit to the college. Well done and thanks.

Karen SmithCollege Principal


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FROM THE YEAR 11 DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

Its with a tinge of sadness that I am separating from the Department of Education and Communities onJuly 16th 2013. I began teaching as a twenty one year old in 1971 at Mount Druitt High School. It wasand is a great school. Most of us who started teaching there stayed for at least seven years, some for

twelve.

I would like to think that I have made a positive contribution to all the eight schools I have taught in andto highlight any one of them as the one I am most proud of would be simplistic. I gave each my fullattention and enthusiasm. There are, however, two experiences that I am particularly proud of. The firstis making the effort, sometimes at great personal cost, to help develop and maintain a seamless seniorexecutive through collaboration, trust and professional respect. I must be honest and say that this has

been the most challenging aspect as a member of a dynamic executive team. At Wyndham College Isincerely feel that our senior executive is a family that I will miss.

There were very many indigenous students at Mount Druitt High School when I started teaching. I wastwenty one and many of my students were fifteen and sixteen years old. When I do meet them nowsome forty years later I am introduced to their own family members as uncle Stan. I now have a

better understanding of the title and am humbled and deeply honoured whenever I am addressed thatway by adults in their late fifties and early sixties.

During the 1980s I either authored or co-authored about a dozen mathematics textbooks. Some twentyfour years later I am still receiving a royalty cheque for about $80 representing the times my works arequoted by others around Australia. I think its five cents for each citation. Thats about one sixteen

hundred times a year someone around Australia thinks my ideas are worth considering and I am chuffedby the thought.

When I was about eleven years old I knew that I wanted to be a teacher. My greatest influence were myteachers at Blacktown Patrician Brothers and later the teachers at Blacktown Boys High School. I havealways considered teaching to be my vocation and not my career. I have never been ashamed to say thatwhen applying for positions within the department, howeverI feel it didnt impress the career orientedmembers of panels. A vocation is a life long experience, a career finishes on a date. I will continue toteach in various capacities and settings until I no longer can.

My greatest joys have been the students I teach, meet and serve. Yes, there have been experiences that Iwould rather not of had but they have only been there to highlight the many joys, wonderfulexperiences, sharing of sorrow and the elation of success. We very often read about the negative aspects

surrounding the youth of today. Some of the criticism is warranted, most of it is not.

I feel very positive and am filled with hope because I know the problems that we as adults have createdand havent found a solution for will be solved by the students we teach, the adults of tomorrow.

Good bye and thank you for allowing me to serve you.

Stan PiankoDeputy Principal


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FROM COLLEGIATE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

One of the biggest advantages of belonging to the Nirimba Collegiate is the access of all our feeder

schoolsQuakers Hill High, Riverstone High and Seven Hill High with the year 10 into 11 Transition

Program presented to these students. Through the active presentation of modules, relating to students

making life career decisions, our careers advisors proactively encourage and support all stakeholders

to partake in the Collegiate Transition program. Well acknowledged and promoted by the Collegiate

Management Group (CMG), students are invited to attend Wyndham Senior Campus for Try-a Day

Taster lessons. During these visits the students from the feeder school are given the opportunity to

taste senior curriculum well presented by the senior teachers. I am extremely grateful to all the staff,

ably led by the Principal, Mrs Karen Smith and all the respective KLA Head Teachers, with their staff,

in providing these precious moments to inform / assist students in making the right and informative

subject choices for year 11 2014.

In conjunction with these Taster lessons the students and their families also have had the opportunity

to attend other special evenings to be advised of the many career paths their children have available to

them at Wyndham College. This includes the inaugural Traineeship and Apprenticeship information

evening hosted by Riverstone High School, and the Subject Selection evening hosted by Wyndham

College. These events are placed on the Collegiate calendar to enable and ensure that all of our students

are given the best possible and available information to make the correct choices in their career and

educational planning.

Ive had the pleasure in visiting the feeder schools to promote this transition program with all the year

10 students.

With this process packages are given to the students which include documentation which must be

completed and returned immediately to their respective careers advisor. This paperwork is critical in

formulating curriculum structure at Wyndham for 2014. Further to this the careers advisors also run

interviews with the students to consolidate choices and decisions made. It is imperative that this

paperwork is submitted to their careers advisor. Non submission of paperwork could jeopardise their

enrolment at Wyndham College. A professionally produced CD will also be distributed to all year 10

candidates 2013 of the Nirimba Collegiate.

May I express a big thank you to all staff (teaching and office administration) who have enabled thistransition process / program to work well in assisting our 2013 year 10 candidature in making the best

possible and informed decisions during this time of their educational life.

Please dont hesitate to give me a call if you wish to discuss any educational matter you have regarding

your son/daughter.

Yours in Education

Mr Joe Camilleri - Collegiate Deputy Principal.


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WWYYNNDDHHAAMM CCOOLLLLEEGGEE IINNVVIITTEESS YYOOUU......

SUPPORT STUDENTS - SYDNEY DANCE FESTIVALStudents in the Support Faculty participated in the Sydney Dance Festival and excelled during their

performances. They were eager, energetic and excited yet respectful and grateful for having the chance

to perform and were great ambassadors for Wyndham College.


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WYNDHAMS ADVANCED ENGLISH EXCURSION TO RIVERSIDE HAMLET

FRIDAY MAY 3RD,

2013

It's 9AM, May 3rd

and Dimitri's Year 12 class is gathered at Quakers Hill train station.Looking around one notices the yawns of anticipation. Soon caffeinated, students thenembarked on a great thespian journey to Parramattas Riverside Theatre. This was where

the Sport for Jove Theatre Company produced their 2013 production of ShakespearesHamlet. This production and following symposium by Damian Ryan and his actingteam had Wyndhams Advanced English students leaving with two things:1) a clearer understanding of their own personal reading of the play which will help themin their HSC assessments and 2) a new or even heightened sense of appreciation fortheatre.

Students who had been studying the text closely in class, debating meaning and assessingother productions, were left breath-taken by both the tension created by these actors and

their personalised ownership of them. A combination of modern and traditional ideas forsetting and staging, props and costumes had its mostly teen audience engaging bothcritically and intellectually with the play. There were even admissions of enjoymentmade by students to their teacher. The surprisingly comedic production ofHamletshowed how tragedy can be suitably treated with laughter to break tensions, show theinterpretive nature of a script, and give an inlet into a charcter which allowed for empathyfor otherwise desperate characters who would commit evil acts.

Lindsay Farris brought Hamlet to life in and in the following symposium it was explainedhow the various characters can be presented and the very solid reasoning and justifiedcreativity of their decision-making. This intellectually stimulating task had studentsasking and even answering questions and this is exactly what the Board of Studies willask of our students in October.

In discussions during the lunch break students debated:Claudius never loved her to begin with!

Ophelia and Gertrude knew full well what was going onWas she pregnant!? (No way!)Clearly Shakespeare continues to rile up contemporary audiences. Honour, revenge, duty,

struggle, human purpose and value were some the themes which became central topics ofdiscussion. The passions permeating from the young minds of our Wyndham studentswill serve them well in the HSC and ultimately promote informed citizenship. Theirhigher-order thinking skills flourished as they hypothesise and antagonise over assessingthe moral integrity of characters and appreciate how the play still resonates with amodern audience.

Even the train trip home had students talking about the play and only to periodically turnto the train window to gaze out of it introspectively. Perhaps their Facebook statuses

would not reflect this and the twittersphere remained intact that evening but it wasunanimous, they genuinely enjoyed it.Dimitri Papanis


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SRC Suggestion Box

Any students with sensible suggestions can put them in the SRC Suggestion Box locatedin the schools Library. The SRC meet every Thursday at lunchtime in E6 so suggestions

can be dropped off there or given to a member of the SRC. All reasonable requests arediscussed at meetings.

UNIFORM SHOP

The Uniform Shop is open on Thursdays 12.30pm -1.30pmIt is located at the top ofC Block.EFTPOS is now available with a surcharge of $3.00Orders are to be paid in full at time of ordering.

FREE -MATHS TUITION

All students are invited to join the free Maths tuition that is held in C4 every Tuesdayafternoon from 3pm to 4pm. Be there!

FREE -CHEMISTRY TUTORIALSEvery Tuesday at 3pm4pm in B01

FREE -PHYSICS TUTORIALS

Every Monday at 3pm4pm in B01

MOBILE PHONESa timely reminder

Recently we have had some incidents involving mobile phones. If mobile phonesare brought to college, they are to be used responsibly at all times.

They are not to be used in class time and they are not to interfere with the

learning of students at the college.

I have attached the colleges mobile phone policy. It is to be adhered to at all times. Breaches of the

policy will be dealt with under the colleges discipline policy.


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Objectives Policy Statement

1. Responsible use of mobile phone by students, with guidance from teaching staff, will provide a secureand safe learning environment.

2. Students using mobile phones have the responsibility to report inappropriate behaviour and materialto their supervisors.

3. Students should not be using mobile phones in classes unless for the express purpose of the lessondevised

4. Students should be aware that a breach of this policy may result in disciplinary action in line with theschools discipline policy.

Context

1. This policy document should be read as consistent with school discipline, child protection, anti-discrimination and anti-racism policies.

Responsibilities and delegations

Misuse and Breaches of Acceptable Usage

Students will

Never send or publish:o Unacceptable or unlawful material or remarks, including offensive, abusive or discriminatory

comments

o Threatening, bullying or harassing another person or making excessive or unreasonabledemands upon another person

o Sexually explicit or sexually suggestive material or correspondenceo False or defamatory information about a person or organisation

Ensure that personal use is kept to outside class time unless specified by teacher Never publish or disclose the email address of a staff member or student without that persons

explicit permission

Not reveal personal information including names, addresses, photographs, credit card details andtelephone numbers of themselves or others

Ensure privacy and confidentiality is maintained by not disclosing or using any information in a waythat is contrary to any individuals interests

Never plagiarise information and will observe appropriate copyright clearance, includingacknowledging the author or source of any information used

Ensure that permission is gained before electronically publishing users works or drawings. Alwaysacknowledge the creator or author of any material published

Ensure any material published on the internet or intranet has the approval of the principal or theirdelegate and has appropriate copyright clearance

Students will be aware that:

They are held responsible for their actions while using mobile phones

They are held responsible for any breaches The misuse of mobile phones may result in disciplinary action and suspension


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Anaphylaxis Information

HSC English Belonging

Paper 1 Lecture for Standard

& Advanced

DATE: Wednesday 19th JuneTIME: 6.30pm-7.30pm

COST: $7.00Accompanying Parent free.

2013 HSC LECTURES

HSC Modern History

Lecture

World War 1

DATE: Tuesday 25th June

TIME: 6.00pm-7.30pmCOST: $7.00Accompanying Parent free.

HSC English Essay

Writing Skills Lecture

DATE: Saturday 29th June

TIME: 2.00pm-3.00pmCOST: $7.00Accompanying Parent free.

All lectures held in Max Webber Library Function Centre.Level 1, Cnr Flushcombe Rd & Alpha St, BLACKTOWN.

TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED FROM MAX WEBBER LIBRARY PRIOR TO LECTURE.TICKETS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

For more information contact: Reference Desk at Max Webber Library, Blacktown.9839 6620


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CHANGE OF DETAILS

To keep student records as up to date as possible please complete the slip below, if you have changed address orchanged phone numbers, and return to the front office.

Student Name ...

New Address ...

Home Phone ..

Mobile PhoneMother Name....

Mobile Phone -Father Name

Signed . Date...............

ExcursionsExcursions are an important part of the school curriculum. They provide students with adiversity of learning experiences that are very valuable.

However, the excursions take considerable time and effort to organise so that they runefficiently. For this reason the school policy is that all excursion money must be paid bythe date indicated on the permission note. Students who do not pay by this date will not beable to attend the excursion.

If there is a special circumstance preventing payment by the due date, your child shouldseethe Head Teacher.

If you have recently changed your email address please complete thisslip and return to the office:

Student Name ___________________________________________________

Email Address ___________________________________________________Please print carefully

Emails

IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE INFORMATION

SMS - the College number is0416 906 146.

whispers june 2013

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