2009 Newsletter 4

Newsletter
August 2009
Digital Education Revolution update
What’s on
What an exciting time in the history of education in NSW!
The Digital Education Revolution Leadership Team at
Sydney Distance Education High School has been very
busy planning for the rollout of laptops to staff and Year 9
students.
7 - 21 August
• Trial HSC Examinations
Some Year 9 teachers received laptops on Wednesday 8th July and they will
participate in an intensive professional learning program utilising the laptops.
We are expecting student laptops to arrive in August. They will be distributed to all
Year 9 students who are enrolled with SDEHS as their “home” school. Other Year 9
students will receive their laptops through their “home” school.
The laptops will add a new dimension to learning programs, and provide a valuable
tool for collaboration, research, problem solving and developing critical thinking skills.
A program of workshops will be held to help students get acquainted with their laptop
and its applications. The date of these workshops is to be advised. In addition, there
will be ongoing support, including online (through Moodle - our online Learning
Management System), offered to students following the rollout.
So exciting times are ahead for our Year 9 students and teachers!
Software on the new laptops will include Geogebra (a powerful open-source program
that combines dynamic geometry with algebra), music software, and art and design
software.
Operation Art 2009
Operation Art is a program which encourages young people to create artworks
for children at The Children’s Hospital at
Westmead.
11 August
• Year 9 Excursion - History,
Police and Justice Museum
and Susannah Place
21 August
11 Hospitality Practical
Cookery Examination
• Year
26 August
11 Study Day - Physics
• Year
31 August Cancelled
• Year 9 Study Day Mathematics
1 September
• Year 11 Study Day Chemistry
2 September
School - Study Day
• Middle
3 September
• Year 10 Study Day - Science
The works featured here are by SDEHS
students Gus, Ali, Anna and Acquaro. Their
artworks are currently on exhibition at the
Penrith Regional Gallery as part of the
Operation Art Program.
9 September
• Year 12 Study Day Geography
Sienna
21 September
• Year 12 Study Day - Science
23 September
• Year 12 Study Day - Earth
and Environmental studies
24 September
10 Study Day Mathematics
• Year
Anna
Gus
Ali
Principal’s Message
Welcome back to Term 3!
I wrote in the first Term 2 Newsletter that I would highlight in a future newsletter
SDEHS Productions, that exciting new space on our website. But, first of all, let’s get
back to basics!
What are the purposes of our website?
Our website is a portal for communicating about our school, for e-learning
collaboration and for celebrating flexible learning, quality teaching and 21st century
learning.
Our Life
Our work
Communicating about the school includes enrolment, curriculum, calendars,
newsletters, the school plan and the annual school report.
Peace Day
Sharing through online forums is part of flexible delivery. Our website mirrors the
richness of blended learning which links students, families, staff and communities.
Celebrating through films of quality teaching and learning in action, showcasing
students having fun with their learning and supporting students and supervisors at
home forms part of our vision.
Big Day In
2009
SDEHS Productions is now an exciting place on our website where you can see so
much of the soul and success of distance education. It is a place where the quality of
teaching and learning and supporting relationships is seen as central for the spirit and
focus of 21st century learning.
Right now, we have five films and two slideshows communicating and celebrating our
work in distance education and have four more films in production.
Big Day In, Boys Day In and Literacy and Numeracy Day show students, families and
staff at our open days working together and engaged in learning.
Peace Day is one result of our partnership with South Western Sydney Region for our
Stage 6 Aboriginal Studies course students. We see Patrick Dodson, Sydney Peace
Prize winner for 2008, at Cabramatta High School’s Peace Day. Students from many
schools, including some of our Aboriginal Studies course, are inspired by Patrick’s
hopes for our future.
Our Life: Our Work follows four of our 2008 Visual Arts students as they work on their
HSC artworks with support from their teachers. This film is rich with imagery reflecting
the talent, dedication and commitment of our teachers, students and the families who
provide such encouragement and support.
SDEHS Productions also includes two slideshows. The first is our 2008 Year 12
Presentation Day with images of student work and involvement in many school
activities. The music with the slideshow was composed by one of our students.
The second slideshow features our 2009 Big Day In held during National
Reconciliation Week. There were heaps of activities, Koori Radio recorded interviews
and comments made during the day and our students made the music!
Enjoy!
Boys Day In
Year 12 Major
Works 2008
Mark Piddington
Literacy
and
Numeracy
Day
HSC Students
The Sydney Morning Herald has sent Sydney Distance
Education High School 40 copies of the HSC 2009 Official
Study Guide , published in June 2009. If you would like a
copy please contact Christine Lazaris at christine.lazaris@
det.nsw.edu.au or 9383 0245 to have a copy sent out to
you.
Adam l
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What students say about e-learning
Artwork by Vasken
“I found it more enjoyable doing the course online because it was more interactive and I understood everything
as I had to read all the information rather than just listen to it. Having the course online makes it more accessible.
Instead of having to travel to see a teacher, I can simply do it myself. … I think that having the course online
combined with phone and email access to a teacher lets me complete the course whilst being able to talk to a
teacher if I have to.” Sam
“I like how easy it is to access the work and make sure you are keeping up/ahead. You can see your marks and
how you're going and all that you have achieved which is cool. Also, the activities are fun. It's always a treat to see
what's the next activity and if it's a good one like a quiz or forum.” Annika
”Working online is a better experience in some ways compared to working with a teacher, because you are
learning exactly what the course outline is, without learning information that you would not be tested on. Also
working on the internet allows me to concentrate on a certain subject without having the distractions of a
classroom environment. On the other hand, working on the internet gives the opportunity for me to log on to other
sites that are more entertaining or fun than my work.” Kahlia
“I think that it is better to do the course over the internet rather than face to face with a teacher... working online
creates a more relaxed environment where you are able to focus. But, if you’re not good at independently focusing
… access to many other things like MSN and Facebook can make you waste time and fall behind. Personally I
like to do the course online because there are less time constraints, and I feel more relaxed.” Amy
”I think the most beneficial aspect of Moodle is the interactive approach to distance education. It really utilises the
technology available to develop the course in an engaging way.” Nicola
“I like Moodle because you are able to watch or read real stories about people depending on the topic. It's a quick
way of getting through your studies, as it's fast and fun such as the quizzes. It allows the student to get away from
the pen and paper and just quickly type. Also you can learn more effectively on the topic due to group forums as
you receive a range of ideas and different points of views.” Eden
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Students work in their e-learning Course
Artwork by Cindy
Artwork by Cindy
Artwork by Danielle
The dance rooms are asleep, waiting for someone to dance upon their feet. As the rain falls from the sky above,
the world surrounds me with lots of love. The field is one big circle of green, and bodies pass me, fat and lean.
Oh look I see a swimming pool, these are some things I see at school. Georgia
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Image manipulation
This activity for Year 9 Information and Software Technology students involves combining an
image they have taken with a well-known landmark. They are also asked to list at least two of the
tools and techniques they have used.
The finished product by Cass, using the
Magic Wand and Lasso tools.
The finished product by Tim in which he used
techniques of rotation, crop and soften.
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inbe
a
n
r
der
B
Quiz!
Test your mind with these 10 quiz questions. The first 20
students with 10 correct answers win a prize! Email your
answers to duncan.gerdes@det.nsw.edu.au.
1. Which one of the five is least like the other four?
BEAR, SNAKE , COW, DOG, TIGER
2. If you rearrange the letters "BABTIR", you would have the name of a:
Claymation at SDEH
The Middle School study day involved claymation and was
based on the Vikings. Students created an animated video
using imovie on the computer. The students modelled
characters out of plasticine
and then placed them in
a short, amusing action
sequence. Digital cameras
were used to produce
an entertaining film clip.
Students had an enjoyable
and fun filled time.
OCEAN, COUNTRY, STATE, CITY, ANIMAL
3. John, twelve years old, is three times as old as his brother. How old will John be when he is twice as old as his brother?
15, 16, 18, 20, 21
4. Which one of the five designs is least like the other four?
A Z F N E
5. Which one of the numbers does not belong in the following series?
9, 7, 8, 6, 7, 5, 6, 3
6. Which one of the four is least like the other four?
TOUCH, TASTE, HEAR, SMILE, SEE
7. "If some Bifurs are Bofurs and all Gloins are Bofurs, then some Bifurs are definitely Gloins."
This statement is: TRUE, FALSE , NEITHER
8. Which one of the designs is least like the other four?
MALABAR PUBLIC SCHOOL
Will be celebrating their
9. Mary was both 13th highest and 13th lowest in a spelling contest.
How many people were in the contest?
13, 25, 26, 27, 28
10. An electric train is travelling South at 70 mph, the wind is blowing 30 mph to the East. Which direction is the smoke going to travel?
a) Northeast b) None of these
d) Southwest
c) Southeast
CENTENARY
Starting with an assembly on October 21 and finishing
with a cocktail party on October 24
For more information or to add your name to the
mailing list contact
the Centenary Committee on
info@mps100.com
or visit the website
www.mps100.com.au
Tickets are on sale now for the Cocktail Party and
pavers are available for purchase to place in our
Centenary Garden
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Maressa Rodrigues Year 9
The annual ‘Doodle for Google’ competition is on again. Here is a chance for all the aspiring artists and graphic designers to
have their work published on the Google homepage for all the world to see.
All of our Visual Arts and Visual Design students will receive an information package in the mail shortly. But you don’t have to
be studying Visual Arts or Visual Design to enter. Simply call or email Duncan Gerdes (Head Teacher Creative and Performing
Arts) for more details. Phone 9383 0235 or email duncan.gerdes@det.nsw.edu.au.
Book Week Competition
Book Week 2009 is from August 24 – 28. The theme for this year is Book Safari.
The library invites all students to enter our Book Week Poster Competition.
Posters can be A4 up to A3 size and should relate to the theme for this year. Prizes will be awarded at each Stage (4, 5 and 6).
The winning posters will be displayed in the library during Book Week. Prizes and certificates will be awarded to the winning
entries.
Entries should be submitted to Christine Cato by mail or digital entries may be emailed to Christine.cato@det.nsw.edu.au .
Entries close Wednesday August 19th.
Also readers… WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are currently expanding our fiction collection to prepare for the Premier’s
Reading Challenge 2010. If you have any favourite authors or books we would love to hear from you. Please email Christine.
cato@det.nsw.edu.au with the name of the book, author and the reason you think this book would be a good addition to our
library.
Peer Support Movie Days
Towards the end of each school term
we hold a movie day on the Central
Coast.
Keep a look out for further
information in both the SDEHS
Newsletter and also for the flyers
which will be mailed to you each
term.
Students attending movie day in
Term 2
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Science Study Days
Keep a look out for your invitations to the Science Study Days in Term 3.
We look forward to seeing as many Science students as possible at the
upcoming Study Days. As always, we will be doing a lot of experiments and
also going over some theory to help better understand the Science concepts
you are currently studying.
It is most important for our Year 11 and 12 students to attend their Study
Days, as all of the ‘mandatory’ experiments (as listed in the Syllabus) are
covered, as well as theory lessons and exam preparation materials.
The SDEHS Science Team
Luke Hawkins Yr 9
GET ON UP!
She’s always down, from day to day losing
hope, on her bed she lay.
Wondering what to do she gives up on
herself
And every one that comes and tries to
honestly give her help.
But it’s a sunny day
Get out from them sheets
The rains gone away
Get on your two feet.
Enjoy the most of everything you have
Because nothing lasts forever
Put a smile on your dial
And lets do this thing together.
So if you’re feeling down
Feeling real low
Be strong and believe
And let your shine glow.
Yusuf Yr 9
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Assessment Tasks in Science
Congratulations to all Year 9 Science students who have completed their first Assessment Task in Science. It is important that
students complete all Assessment Tasks by the due date and make sure that you read the ‘Scope and Format’ letter that is posted
out before every Assessment Task. There will be one more Assessment Task in Year 9 Science scheduled for mid-September.
As always, a ‘Scope and Format’ letter with all of the information will be sent out a couple of weeks before the task is due to start,
providing you with information about the task.
Year 10 Science students have completed and returned Assessment Task 2. It is important that all students try their very best in
each Assessment Task because these marks count toward their overall school assessment for the School Certificate. Later in
Term 3, Year 10 will do their final Assessment Task in Science, the Trial School Certificate.
It is important that all Year 10 students start to prepare for the School Certificate exams as soon as possible. Remember that the
School Certificate is held in November and examines all of the work covered in Stage 5 (both year 9 and 10), so never throw away
your old work! We will be sending out preparation packs later in the year, and also asking all of Year 10 to log on to the SDEHS
Moodle site to work on the ‘School Certificate Preparation Package’. Details of how to log on and what to do will be sent to each
student early in Term 3.
Year 12 students are well on their way to the HSC. They will be doing their Trial HSC in weeks 3 and 4 of Term 3. We wish them
well and remind all Year 12 students to contact their teachers if they need any assistance in preparing for the Trials.
The SDEHS Science Team
Congratulations to Jenna Benson who was the first to answer all five Science Trivia questions correctly from the last
Newsletter – Hope you enjoy your SDEHS coffee mug!
Science Trivia
Be the first SDEHS student to correctly answer the following FIVE questions and email your responses to: david.
tracy@det.nsw.edu.au – the first correct entry received wins your very own Sydney Distance Education High
School COFFEE MUG!
1. Which is the only planet in our solar system that has a day longer than its year?
2. What are you shopping for if the sales assistant brings out a Brannock Device?
3. (a) What do you call a group of Emus?
(b) What do you call a group of Flamingoes?
(c) What do you call a group of apes?
(d) What do you call a group of goldfish?
4. What is the term given to the point when a conductive material suddenly exhibits properties of superconductivity?
5. (a) Hagiophobia is the fear of?
(b) Brontophobia is the fear of?
(c) Plutophobia is the fear of?
(d) Apeirophobia is the fear of?
The answers to the questions from the last newsletter were:
1. Pork
2.
3.
4.
5.
The Kuiper belt.
The water table under Mexico City is being drained for human consumption. As a result, Mexico City is sinking at up to 16 inches per year.
Ants
A vigintillion.
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Sydney Distance Education
High School students have
been actively involved in
social justice for six years.
Be part of the solution:
write a letter, make a
difference.
ACT NOW
Contact
Address: Forbes Street, WOOLLOOMOOLOO NSW 2011
Postal address: Locked Bag 5000, POTTS POINT NSW 1335
Phone: 02 9383 0200
Fax: 02 9383 0222
Email: sydneyh-d.school@det.nsw.edu.au
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