Alstonville High School Newsletter

Alstonville High School Newsletter
Developing future citizens and leaders of the community – life long learning!
Cawley Close Alstonville
Phone: (02) 6628 5222
Fax: (02) 6628 1223
Web: www.alstonvill-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
19 February 2014
Issue 2
Alstonville High School
Our community values integrity in all aspects of life
Values
Learning
We value and support:
 A positive, healthy and safe
learning environment
 Respectful
attitudes
and
actions
 Diversity
 Pursuit of personal excellence
 Service to community
 Team work
 Quality learning and teaching
 Initiative, leadership and selfdiscipline
We aspire to be:
 Life-long learners
 Creative and critical thinkers
 Effective communicators
 Skilled in literacy and numeracy
 Independent and organised
 Competent and innovative with
technology
 Environmentally, socially and
culturally informed
 Caring and compassionate
CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2014
th
Wed
Mon
Tues
Fri
Tues
th
Sat
th
Mon
Wed Fri
Wed
Fri
Tues
26 Feb
rd
3 March
th
4 March
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7 March
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11 March
15 March
17 March
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st
19 – 21
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26 March
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28 March
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8 April
P&C Meeting – 7pm
Vaccinations – Year 7
Vaccinations – Year 9 Boys
School Photos
Yr 7 Welcome BBQ / Yr 6
Information BBQ – 5:30pm
Alstonville & Wollongbar P&C Fun
Run
Photo Catch Up Day
Year 7 Peer Support
Camp
P&C Meeting – 7pm
AHS – Cross Country
Parent / Teacher Night
A renewed focus on encouraging
student meritorious behaviour
As part of our focus on nurturing a love of
learning we undertook a review of our
student merit award scheme in 2013.
Whilst the previous scheme has been
operating successfully for a number of
years we were aware that improvements could be made.
During 2014 we will be progressively implementing some
modifications to the scheme which we hope will result in
helping to improve students’ engagement and independent
learning. The review was informed by discussions with
students, P&C and staff, as well as the initial results from the
Tell Them What You Think survey that was conducted in 2013.
This term we have already introduced one change and that is
the introduction of merit cards that students can use in an
auction of prizes and incentives at the end of term. Staff have
been provided with small cards to distribute to any students
that they see acting in a meritorious manner at school.
Students keep these cards and at an auction at the end of
term use them as ‘currency’ to collect prizes or incentives.
As well as these new cards students can still earn merit
awards for more sustained effort in class and around the
school which will accrue towards more substantial
recognition.
Year 6 and 7 Welcome BBQ – 11th March – 5:30pm
Families of students currently in year 7 at Alstonville and
families of students who are currently in year 6 and are
considering enrolment at Alstonville High School in 2015 are
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Alstonville High School Newsletter: Issue 2, 19 February, 2014
invited to a Open Night and Welcome BBQ starting from
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5:30pm on Tuesday 11 March.
The night will include a combined welcome and
demonstration of student work in the school hall followed by
tours of the school and demonstrations in classrooms.
Families of students in year 7 will have a chance to meet
teachers as you help your child(ren) complete a teacher
‘dance’ card on the night.
There will be information sessions for year 6 parents repeated
throughout the night by members of the school executive
team ensuring that interested families can find out about
what we can offer, as well as having a chance to ask questions
in smaller group settings.
A BBQ will run during the evening and there will be tea, coffee
and other drinks available. If any parents would like to
volunteer to help on the evening this would be greatly
appreciated.
Integrating technology in classrooms to enhance
learning
A little over 4 years ago the Federal government started a
scheme called the Digital Education Revolution (DER). The aim
of this scheme was to provide support to improve student
access to technology to support learning, both in classrooms
but also in other environments such as the home.
This resulted in students in year 9 being issued with a laptop
computer at the beginning of each year for three years, and in
its final year Alstonville High School took delivery of laptop
computers that we grouped together in class sets in mobile
trolleys that were also charging stations. These have been
distributed around the school and can be used in classes and
other places around our school. We also have a bank of
laptops which can be loaned to students for specific purposes.
The DER scheme finished in 2013 and the challenge has
moved to school communities to look to what best suits the
needs of students and teachers in ensuring that ICT is used to
enhance learning.
One of the things that has changed since commencement of
the DER scheme is the introduction and proliferation of a
range of increasingly sophisticated mobile devices such as
smart phones and tablet computers which can be used to
enhance learning.
It is obvious that technology will continue to change rapidly
and school communities will be faced with the challenge of
determining appropriate responses to these changes.
As part of this process we have looked at some of our existing
policy frameworks. We currently have policies to outline our
expectations in relation to mobile phones and MP3 players.
These guidelines were developed before the proliferation of
smart phones, ready access to wireless and phone company
data plans (which provide access to the internet via a range of
mobile devices).
Whilst it is obvious that any of these devices when used
inappropriately can prove to be a distraction to quality
learning or harmful if used maliciously (making a focus on
responsible Digital Citizenry vital) it is also obvious that when
used properly they can enhance learning for our students.
Accompanying this newsletter is a mobile devices policy which
we would like to introduce to replace our existing mobile
phones and MP3 policy. A key expectation of this policy is that
the classroom teacher will determine what technology is
appropriate to be used for any learning activity and that this
judgement will be respected by students. The new policy will
allow teachers and students to use devices for a broader
range of learning activities, such as photographing practical
works as they are developed for the purpose of producing
more detailed and accurate portfolios. Senior students
currently can copy electronic versions of books to tablets and
smart phones and the change would mean they could use
these devices to read these texts in class.
We will engage in further discussions about how we can
increase students’ access to a range of devices as the next
step beyond DER over the next term, but this policy allows us
increased flexibility as we undertake these discussions. We
will ensure that equity remains a prime consideration as we
move forward with initiatives in this important educational
domain.
The policy that is attached has not been introduced yet and
our current policy around the use of mobile phones and MP3
players remains in place as we gauge feedback to this policy
and further discussions about mobile electronic devices. We
welcome your feedback.
Upgrade to hall change rooms
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On the 24 of February work will commence on Stage 1 of our
upgrade to the student change rooms in the hall. Stage 1 of
this work will involve the installation of a new solar hot water
system for the showers, and the upgrading of plumbing
fittings and fixtures along with replacement of some tiles
where necessary. Stage 2 of the upgrade will hopefully occur
in 2015 and will involve the refurbishment of the cubicles
including the fitting of individual doors (to replace the current
curtains).
Primary Industry Trade Skills Centre
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On Wednesday 19 of February Kevin Hogan, representatives
of Public Works, DEC and our school planning team will be
meeting at Alstonville High School as part of the process of
refining our planning for our new Primary Industries Centre,
commencing a process that will hopefully see the new building
ready to take enrolments in 2015.
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Alstonville High School Newsletter: Issue 2, 19 February, 2014
Alstonville and Wollongbar P&C Fun Run
The Alstonville High School and Wollongbar Primary School
P&Cs will be holding their annual fun run on Saturday March
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15 2014. Information about this event will soon be posted on
the Fun Run Website:
http://www.alstonvillewollongbarfunrun.com.au/
In the meantime we would appreciate hearing from anyone
associated with Alstonville High School who can help out with
the event. In particular we would appreciate volunteers who
can help with the BBQ, act as a marshal for one or more event,
or help with the set up and pack away. If you are interested in
helping with this terrific community event please contact
Alstonville High School and leave your details with the front
office or via email.
Mobile Dental Van Update
Just a reminder that the mobile dental van looks on track to
commence visits to Alstonville High School from about
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February 26 . If you want your child to use this facility then
the necessary paperwork will need to be completed prior to
the van visiting Alstonville High School.
Students whose parents have completed the necessary
paperwork will then just need to inform the school of the time
of their appointment and they will be provided with a pass out
so they can go to their appointment and when they are
finished they simply need to come back to the front office and
they will be signed back in and sent straight back to class,
minimising time lost during the school day.
Of course, any parent or carer who wishes to accompany a
child for their appointment can arrange to meet them in the
front office in the same way that you do if you are taking your
child offsite for an appointment.
Further information and forms can be found on our school
website at:
http://www.alstonvill-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/news/mobiledentist-service-at-ahs-in-2014
New Lockers
As was mentioned in our last newsletter we are looking to
place further orders for new lockers to replace the old metal
lockers that have been in the school for many years. Interest
from families has been strong. The sooner we have enough
expressions of interest the sooner we can place an order. We
would like to place an order for a minimum of 40 to 50 new
lockers to reduce the cost of delivery.
If you are interested in taking a new locker if we order more
please let us know by sending an email to our school email
account alstonvill-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au using the
subject “locker” and including your child’s name and roll group
in the email or simply send a note into the front office with
the same information. If there is sufficient demand for more
of the new lockers we will place an order. The new lockers
cost $20 per year.
Footwear reminder
It is disappointing that we still have students wearing the
incorrect footwear to school. We remind students and parents
that canvas shoes are not suitable shoes to wear to school and
are not part of our school uniform. Students should be
wearing shoes that are predominantly white or black and
which have leather or a leather-like vinyl upper. Students who
do not wear the correct footwear can find themselves on
detention or restricted in activities at school until we can
ensure they are wearing the right shoes. We would like to
avoid this situation occurring and ask for your support.
David Silcock
Principal
Alstonville High School Annual Swimming
Carnival 2014
Alstonville High Schools Annual Swimming Carnival was held
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on Wednesday 5 February. The weather throughout the day
was appalling with continuous rain, making conditions
miserable. However the competitors on the day managed to
withstand the weather and make the best of it.
The standard of competition between our competitive
swimmers was excellent with many students swimming
outstanding times. Congratulations to all the House Captains
who organised the March Past, Laps for Points and other
Novelty Activities, the spirit and participation shown
throughout the day is a credit to the whole school community.
Age Swimming Champions 2014
Age
Champion
Age
Girl
12yrs
Brooke
12yrs
Hofmeyer
(Year 7)
13yrs
Alyssa Iles
13yrs
(Year 8)
14yrs
Sarah
14yrs
Bransgrove
(Year 8)
15yrs
Jade Cusack
15yrs
(Year 10)
16yrs
Leah McDuff
16yrs
(Year 10)
17+yrs
Alyce Tozer
17+yrs
(Year 12)
House Pointscore 2014
1st
Marshall (Blue)
2nd
Maguire (Yellow)
3rd
Crawford (Red)
4th
Lumley (Green)
Champion Boy
James Fleming
(Year 7)
Thomas Rawson
(Year 7)
James Leslie
(Year 8)
Daniel Sawyer
(Year 9)
Felix Margraf
(Year 11)
Julian
Aenishaenslin
(Year 11)
681pts
671pts
655pts
553pts
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Alstonville High School Newsletter: Issue 2, 19 February, 2014
Volleyball
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On Tuesday 11 February Allison Larrescy and our Open Girls and
Boys Volleyball teams travelled to Evans Head K-12 School for the
Northern Rivers Volleyball Gala Day and Zone Trials. Both our teams
won all their games to progress to the 2014 State Knockout. As an
added bonus six of our students were selected into the Northern
Rivers Zone Volleyball teams. Congratulations to Rachel Yager yr11,
Antonella Maccianti yr12 and Athena Wilson yr10 for their selection
into the girls team and Mitchell Pearce yr11, Michael Blackler yr11
and Isaac Hay yr11 for their selection into the boys team. Students
selected into the Northern Rivers team will now travel to Coffs
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Harbour on Monday 24 February to compete at the North Coast
Region Volleyball Trials. Thanks to Allison Larrescy for coaching both
of these teams and driving the mini bus to both Evans Head and Coffs
Harbour.
Basketball
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On Monday 17 February Alstonville High School had four students
contest the Northern Rivers Zone Basketball Trials at Lismore.
the presentation. Please return the permission note which
was handed out last Friday to allow for enough seating.
TAFE/TVET Update 2014
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This Wednesday 19 February is the last time students in
Years 11 and 12 can start a TAFE / TVET Course for 2014.
Students have been told this information at year meetings on
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Tuesday 18 February. It is also the last time students can
change to a different course.
This is a reminder that travel costs are paid for by students.
Students must also go to TAFE during half and yearly exams as
TAFE cannot change their operation weeks. We will not
timetable exams on Wednesdays for TAFE students.
If parents or students need to contact me please phone the
school on 6628 5222 or email me on
karen.horne@det.nsw.edu.au for any careers matters.
Congratulations to Charlotte Yager yr8 and Zoe Hurley yr9 for
selection into the Open Girls team and Austin Moore yr10 and Sam
Stanek yr11 for being selected in the Open Boys team. These
students will now compete at the North Coast Basketball
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Championships to be held at Lismore on Friday 28 February.
K Horne / Careers
Waterpolo
These will need to be returned to the photographer on Friday
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the 7 of March (or the backup day Monday the 17 March,
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if your student is absent on the 7 March) when your child’s
photo is taken.
Alstonville High School has two students selected into NSWCHS State
Waterpolo teams that will compete at the NSW All-Schools
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Waterpolo Trials in Sydney on Monday 10 March. If Felix Margraf
yr11 or Liam Hair yr11 are selected into the team they will compete
at the School Sports Australia National Waterpolo Championships.
Good luck!
Billets
The Northern Rivers Zone will host the North Coast Basketball
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Championships at Lismore on Friday 28 February. We require host
families to billet six students from the most southern schools in our
region. Host families will be required to provide a bed and dinner on
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Thursday 27 February and breakfast on Friday 28 February.
Families interested in providing a billet should give their names and
contact details to Mr Francis.
The Northern Rivers Zone will host the North Coast Swimming
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Championships at Lismore on Tuesday 11 March. To enable
students from the most southern schools of our region the chance to
compete we require host families to billet these swimmers. Host
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families will be required to provide a bed and dinner on Monday 10
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March and breakfast on Tuesday 11 March. Families interested in
providing a billet should give their names and contact details to Mr
Francis.
Paul Francis / PD/H/PE
Careers Messages
Message to Year 12
All Year 12 will be attending an awareness presentation by
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local and interstate universities on Thursday 27 February in
the Alstonville High School hall. To minimise disruptions, no
normal classes will run Periods 7 and 8, as all students will be
supervised in the hall. Parents are very welcome to come to
School Photos
Envelopes individually marked with student name and bar
code will be sent home in roll call on Monday 24th February.
All students are included in the composite year photo so it is
important for all students to return the envelope even if your
child/ren are not purchasing a photo.
To enable families to budget for this cost, the packs available
are:
Pack A at a cost of $35 includes 1 composite year photo and 10
individual photos of various sizes. (This has been the most popular
pack over the last few years)
Pack B at a cost of $40 includes 1 composite year photo and 15
individual photos of various sizes.
Pack C at a cost of $45 includes 1 composite year photo and 16
individual photos of various sizes
Pack D at a cost of $20 has 10 individual photos of various sizes BUT
no year photo.
Pack E at a cost of$22 has only the composite year photo with NO
individual photos.
There are also a variety of gift packs at an additional $15 per
pack
Note: The school/canteen has no ability to provide change on
the day, so payment options include:
Credit card slip completed and placed in envelope (this is the
preferred method), payment online, or cheques to Academy
Photography (not the school) or correct cash in envelope.
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Alstonville High School Newsletter: Issue 2, 19 February, 2014
Family photos of siblings at Alstonville High School can be
ordered by collecting and returning a separate envelope from
Mr Hill in the Mathematics staff room.
Mr Hill / Maths department
Year 9 2013 Design and Technology Class
Spaghetti Bridges
To finish of the year with a fun design project, students were
challenged to build a model bridge structure using various
forms of pasta. This proved more challenging than they first
thought with their structures morphing from their original
design ideas, to a final product sometimes with more glue
than pasta. The winning structure belonged to Ben Whitehead
and Mia Riordan with the best weight to load ratio.
Congratulations to all!
Winning Structure
Director will be Mr Scott Thomas (English Staff), Musical
Director will be Mrs Colleen Bowles (Music Staff),
Choreographer will be Mrs Karen Stanton (English Head
Teacher) and Production Manager will be Mr Mike Sheehan
(Mathematics Staff).
Many other staff will be co-ordinating various departments
(programs, costumes, props etc.). The exact dates are: 4
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shows over the period 9 , 10 & 11 October.
Principals, other roles and chorus will be cast by audition and
will be open to Years 7-11 only (Year 12 students will be too
busy with the HSC).
Rehearsals will be on Wednesday afternoons instead of Sport
during Terms 2 and 3, with some rehearsals to be held in the
Term 3 holidays as we get closer to opening night.
NO STUDENT WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE OUT OF CLASS
THROUGH THE WHOLE PERIOD OF THE SHOW
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Auditions will be in Week 8 (Monday 17 March and Tuesday
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18 March) AND Week 9 (Monday 24 March, Tuesday 25
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March and possibly Thursday 27 March) of Term 1, after
school, from 3.45pm until 6.00pm. Successful auditionees will
choose Musical as their sport for Terms 2 and 3.
Bugsy Malone is a musical spoof very loosely based on events
in Chicago during the Prohibition era. The show specifically
follows the rivalry between two street gangs and a washed up
but well-meaning boxer, Bugsy Malone. Bugsy ends up taking
control of Fat Sam’s gang and helps defeat Dandy Dan and his
gang.
http://www.stageagent.com/Shows/View/1479 is
a good starting site for the list of characters. Students
auditioning will be required to sing a song from the show
(available on YouTube), but will audition with a live pianist.
Students wishing to audition should collect a form from Mr
Sheehan at the Maths staffroom.
We hope to see your child at auditions!
Any parents or community members who would like to
volunteer to help with the musical are welcome. If you can
help out please contact our producer Mike Sheehan.
Mr Groves / D & T Teacher
High School Musical
No…it’s not THE “High School Musical”, but
OUR High School Musical.
Alstonville High School will present the
Musical “BUGSY MALONE” at the end of Week
1 in Term 4, 2014.
Mr Sheehan / Maths
Year 11 Peer Support Leaders - Woolworths and
Bunnings fundraiser BBQ.
An in store fundraising BBQ was hosted in the Ballina
Woolworths in December 2013 with success in both financial
gain and program development. It was a source of pride to
witness our school leaders selling both sausages and the
merits of the Peer Support Program to members of the local
community in uniform and on behalf of our school. A total of
$414 was raised at this event.
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Alstonville High School Newsletter: Issue 2, 19 February, 2014
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A follow up fundraiser was held on the 9 February 2014 at
Bunnings in Ballina with members of the same group. Again
the students demonstrated school pride, leadership and
commitment to raise a total of $850. Funds raised will be
distributed to reduce the cost to volunteer Peer Group
Leaders to attend the camp.
A very special thank you to George Parson, Stephanie O’Brien,
Bruce Fleming and Chris Hill who helped out on the day.
The leadership group who saw this project to completion
were: Aliah Harrop, Emily Griffin, Chris Laing, Olivia Rigney,
Bree and Sharna Kelly, James O’Connor, Kaitlyn Pearce,
Caylene Withers, Amanda White, Richelle Gibson, Hayley
Wallace and Sophie Blaich.
Special thanks to Mr Groves and his able team of students for
assisting in its hanging.
Ian Roberts / Head Teacher Visual Arts
Junior State Cup Touch Football Tournament Port Macquarie
Nine Alstonville High School students proudly represented the
region at the NSW Junior State Cup Touch Football
tournament at Port Macquarie last weekend. Ballina Touch
Club sent seven teams to the event, which is contested in age
divisions from Under 10s to Under 18s. The representative
players were: Austin and Tarni Fay, Lucy Turner, Maya Layton,
Charlotte Yager, Taylah Wilding, Brooke and Mikayla
Hofmeyer, and Shana Povey-Hyatt. The Under 14s Ballina
Bullsharks girls’ team, which included Tarni, Lucy, Charlotte
and Mikayla, made it through to the quarter finals.
Congratulations Bullsharks!
Year 7 Peer Support
The Year 7 students have started their Peer Support activities
which will culminate in the Camp (Camp Koinonia) at Evans
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Head on the 19 , 20 and 21 of March. Notes have been
handed out and are due back on the 3rd of March with
payment for planning purposes. All students are encouraged
to attend one of the best events on the school calendar.
Ben Holmes / Peer Support Co-ordinator
Congratulations to the ‘Mr Roberts Mural Group’!
On Tuesday the Respect, Responsibility and Participation
Mural finally found its place in the school quadrangle. The
mural has taken a very dedicated group of thirty gifted and
talented art students almost two terms to complete. The
mural was an extension activity on sport afternoons and is the
first of several other projects for this group.
Absent: Sharna Povey-Hyatt
Contribution from parent – Mandy Burdon
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Alstonville High School Newsletter: Issue 2, 19 February, 2014
Highlights from Annual Swimming Carnival 2014
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Alstonville High School Newsletter: Issue 2, 19 February, 2014
P&C, Canteen & UniformNews
Our next P&C meeting is Wednesday 26th February at 7 pm in the Staff
Common Room. Please come along and have your say about what the
P&C will be doing this year.
Canteen News.
 Check the menu board for our weekly menu.
 Something new every week!
 Orders taken daily. Don’t miss out on some of our limited
specials.
 See Robynne Surtees, Business Manager for any special
dietary needs.
 Iced fruit cups not available after 2pm
IMPORTANT! PLEASE notify Robynne if unable to
attend rostered canteen day.
Volunteers needed daily. Flexible times available.
Volunteer needed 12.30-1.30pm on Fridays. Please notify Robynne
if you can help.
Uniform Shop
 Hours open 8am -10am Monday and Friday for general
uniform and stationery needs
with emergency sport uniform sales Wednesday 8am-10am.
 Limited stationery needs available.

White Aprons now available at $15
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Alstonville High School Newsletter: Issue 2, 19 February, 2014
Looking for an alternative and cheaper Winter
sport for you or your child?
WHY NOT GIVE HOCKEY A TRY?
ALSTONVILLE HOCKEY CLUB
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Junior SIGN-ON – Wednesdays 19 and 26th February 4-5.m.
Gap Rd Grounds
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Senior SIGN_ON – Sundays 23 February & 2 March 4-5p.m.
Gap Rd
VISIT: www.alstonvillehockey.com.au or
PHONE: Glen Hunter 0402674525 Brian Mooney
0428281067
Australian Air Force Cadets
The Australian Air Force Cadets in East Lismore is
holding an information night for interested teenagers and
their parents at 6pm on Friday, 28 February, 2014.
The venue is Airforce Road, East Lismore, on the Army
Reserve base.
For further information, phone Roy on 0405 166 060 or
Steve on 0427 635 331.
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