Newsletter - Corrimal High School

CORRIMAL
HIGH SCHOOL
ENGAGING
INNOVATIVE
LOCAL
Newsletter
Thursday, 17 March 2016
TEACHING FOR ENGAGEMENT, OPPORTUNITY AND SUCCESS
Find us at: Murray Road Corrimal, NSW, 2518
Mail: PO Box 372 Corrimal, NSW, 2518
Phone: 4285 1199
Email: Corrimal-h.schools@det.nsw.edu.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/corrimalhs
Website: www.corrimal-h.schools.nsw.edu.au
PRINCIPAL’S PERSONAL MESSAGE
COMPLIMENTS, SUGGESTIONS AND CONCERNS
The school is keen to hear from you if you have a compliment or suggestion or a concern about any aspect
of our service.
WE VALUE YOUR FEEDBACK
We like to know if you think we’re doing something well. It helps us to make sure we continue to do great
things in public education. We’ll make sure that your message is passed on.
We are constantly improving the way we work, so let us know if you have any suggestions for how we could
do things differently.
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU
If you have a concern we will deal with your issue thoroughly and fairly.
We have a clear process for resolving problems and suggest that you contact us as early as possible if you
have a concern or complaint.
WORLD’S GREATEST SHAVE
CHS was involved in this fundraiser for blood cancer research last week. Over $2800 was raised by the
students and staff.

Congratulations to the students and staff who volunteered to shave or colour their hair to raise
funds.

A big thank you to all of the school community who donated money to the event.

Thank you to Mr Foster; Mr Wellings; Ms Wood and Ms Price for their organisation and assistance in
running the event.
We would also like to thank Uni Hair and Beauty, and former student Hope, for volunteering to do all the
shaves and cuts.
Mr M King
Principal
DATE
EVENT
Monday 21 March 2016
Year 7 and 11 Progress Report Interviews
2:30pm to 5:30pm
Friday 25 March 2016
Good Friday
Monday 28 March 2016
Easter Monday
Wednesday 30 March 2016
School Cross Country
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WORLD’S GREATEST SHAVE 2016
TRUE ROLE MODELS FOR THE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY. CHS IS VERY PROUD OF YOU!
Many of us have been touched by cancer in some way. Many people know someone close to them that has
suffered through the trauma that is cancer or have supported friends and family throughout their ordeal. To
show their support, some of the very awesome students of Corrimal High School banded together for the
World's Greatest Shave. On the 11th of March 2016, several students and staff shaved, waxed or coloured
their hair to raise research funds and awareness for blood cancer. Not only did many students donate their
hair (in some fashion) but those that could not participate in the shave donated much needed funds and
assisted the Corrimal High School team to raise over the $3,000 mark! Even former students got involved,
with Hope and Michelle from Uni Hair and Beauty donating their time or resources in completing the cut and
shaves!
We really appreciated your support and thank all volunteers, all those who donated and all those who gave
up some hair for a short period of time for such a worthwhile cause!
Mr J Foster
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Last Tuesday Mr Wellings and I had the pleasure of taking the Opens Boy’s rugby
league team to participate in the knockout stages of the Hornby Shield at Croome
Road Sporting Complex. It was an extremely hot day and our boys had two, thirty
minute games against Albion Park and Kanahooka. The first games saw us
coming up against Albion Park and it was a very even game, going into half time
12-4 down. A late try in the second half to Albion Park edged our boys out of the
competition in a hard fought 18-4 loss.
Our second game against Kanahooka was a low scoring game riddled with lots of
handling errors and penalties. There were some big hits and we unfortunately lost
6-0 in a very close game. All students are to be commended for their behaviour
and efforts on the day. Getting students to training and a little more discipline on
the field is needed for our upcoming games in term two. A big thank you to Kias
Chalmers-Mulder for his assistant coach role and Cody Farrar and Kaleb Hocking
for working hard during the games to keep the players hydrated.
SPORT
OPEN BOY’S RUGBY LEAGUE
Mr S Abbott
2016 GRADE SPORT COMPETITION
Students in Years 7-11 will have the opportunity to participate in the 2016
Illawarra Zone Grade Sport Competition during Terms 2 and 3. Students will be
selecting their sport during Week 11 and trials will be held Week 1 Term 2. We
encourage all students to choose a grade sport and enjoy the various sports on
offer.
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SOUTH COAST REGIONAL SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Last week we had three CHS swimmers compete in the Regional Swimming
Championships at Dapto Pool. Well done to Connor Phillips (Year 12),
Patrick Vallance (Year 11) and Nioka-Rose Blair (Year 7) on your fine
performances in the pool.
Connor
Patrick
Nioka-Rose
SOUTH COAST REGIONAL GIRLS FOOTBALL REPRESENTATIVES
Congratulations to Claytyn Gehrke (Year 11) and Tatum Etherden (Year 10) on
their selection in the Regional Open Girls Football team. The girls will compete in
Cromer at the NSW CHS State Championships at the end of May. Well done
girls, the school community is very proud of your achievements.
Claytyn
Tatum
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2016 ILLAWARRA ZONE NETBALL GALA DAY
On 7 March the Under 15’s Girls Netball team competed at the Illawarra Zone
Netball Gala Day at Berkeley and were placed 7th overall. Our team comprised all
Year 7 students and the girls were playing against much older students
throughout the Gala Day. Despite this, the girls played with pride and
determination and were a pleasure to coach. I am looking forward to watching the
team grow together as we continue to train and develop as a team Well done to
all the girls, you were an absolute delight to take to the Gala Day.
Mrs B Arthur and Mr K Majoor
Sports Organisers
MUSIC
NEWS
Music in 2016 has started with a bang! The
Percussion Ensemble is rehearsing a new original
student composition that features a mix of hand
drums, stick drums and glowing drumsticks!
The Vocal Ensemble has already performed at the
School Open Night. They did a tremendous job
performing ‘Riptide’ by Vance Joy. We have many
new members and they are all doing a stellar job.
Elective music sees Yr. 9/10 studying Music for
Small Ensemble. Yr. 11 is studying Music for Radio,
Television, Film and Multimedia and Yr 12 are
studying Popular Music. All elective music classes
are progressing well and we are unearthing some
very prestigious talent.
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SUPPORT UNIT
STRUCTURED CLASS TIME BREAKS
Students in the Orange class are involved in a
variety of structured activities such as Uno and
puzzles. These activities help to break up the
lesson and increase concentration levels plus it
also helps to build positive relationships within the
classroom.
Ms H Mathews
EARTH HOUR 19 MARCH 8:30-9:30PM
It’s almost that time of year again where people in
countries all over the world forsake their electricity
for an hour and switch off for the future of our planet.
This year Corrimal High School will be doing just
that. As an extension project, Year 7 Blue has begun
working on planning an Earth Hour School’s Event
to be held on the Friday 18th of March. Many
fantastic ideas have been proposed and each
student in Year 7 Blue is working enthusiastically to
raise awareness of such an important issue. So
please join us in switching off for the
#PlacesWeLove on Saturday 19th March from
8:30pm-9:30pm.
THE “TELL THEM FROM ME” STUDENT FEEDBACK SURVEY
I am delighted that this term, our school, like many others in the state, will participate in a Department of
Education initiative: the Tell Them From Me student feedback survey. The survey aims to help improve
student learning outcomes and measures factors that are known to affect academic achievement and other
student outcomes. The focus of the NSW-wide survey is on student wellbeing, engagement and effective
teaching practices.
More information about the survey is available at: http://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au/information-for-parents
The survey is a great opportunity for our students to provide our school with valuable and quick feedback
on what they think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the different ways that teachers
interact with them. Schools in Australia and around the world have used the Tell Them From Me survey to
help improve how they do things at school.
I want to assure you that the survey is confidential and school staff will not be able to identify individual
students from their responses. The survey is conducted online and will typically take less than 30 minutes
to complete. It will be administered during school hours between 14 March and 8 April. Participating in the
survey is entirely voluntary.
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CHS STAFF IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Name: Alex Mar
Faculty/Position: Deputy Principal / HT Admin
Time at Corrimal High: 4 years this time, 6 years last time.
Qualifications: B.Ed PDHPE & M.Ed Special Education
Where did you go to school? Thirroul Primary, Woonona High, Wollongong
University
Past schools (where you have taught): Campbell House SSP, Ambarvale HS,
Kanahooka HS.
How long have you been teaching for? 20 years FT + 5 years casual
Have you worked in other jobs? Bank Teller, owned a Skate & Sports Centre
Favourite subject when you attended school? PE, Science, Maths. (It was about
the teachers).
What do you like about teaching? Building relationships, making a difference and
watching young people improve and grow into respectful and productive citizens
What are your interests outside school? Family, Soccer, Surfing
What is your favourite?:
 Book - Power of One
 Band - ACDC
 Movie - Blindside
 Sports team - Thirroul Thunder
Do you have a pet? No
Anything else interesting that you would like to share about yourself? I have a
bravery award endorsed by the Queen
Can you tell us something we don’t know about you? 53 years old, married with
5 children, the oldest is 23 and youngest is 16. I love sports cars. I love to travel.
What is your greatest sporting achievement? Going to State Athletics as
Regional Champion for long jump in Year 12. Winning Tasman Cup Open Boys
State KO in 1980. Still playing Soccer and Touch Footy (both slowly)!
The best thing about Corrimal High is......The people. I love going to work every
day, saying hello, having a laugh, doing some work and making today better than
yesterday and tomorrow better than today.
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NEW CHS MERIT SYSTEM
To effectively acknowledge positive student behaviour at CHS, the school’s Positive Behaviour for
Learning team (PBL) has redesigned the system for rewarding students who strive to demonstrate the
school’s values of Respect, Responsibility and Safety.
The students will continue to accumulate PBL stamps for demonstrating positive behaviour in
classrooms, with accompanying faculty, bronze, silver, gold and principal levels applied.
Those students that reach these levels will be presented these awards at merit assemblies in conjunction
with reward days and fun extra-curricular activities offered to those students throughout the year.
See merit flow chart for further details.
Responsibilities
Student takes completed stamp
sheet to any HT who
issues a faculty award and places a
positive referral on Millenium.
1 complete PBL class stamp
sheet
3XFaculty Merit
=
Bronze
3X Bronze
Student takes merits to YA’s who
collate and present awards Bronze
& above at termly merit assemblies,
places a positive referral on
millennium.
=
Silver
3X Silver
=
Gold Certificate
3X Gold
=
Principal’s Award
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AIME HIGHER
AIME stands for the Australian Indigenous
Mentoring Experience. It is a dynamic educational
program that aims to provide support to Indigenous
students and give students involved the skills,
opportunities, belief and confidence to grow and
pursue their dreams. AIME in the Illawarra takes
place at the University of Wollongong and is
grounded in small group and one-on-one mentoring.
Students can work on building self-confidence,
positive attitudes and leadership skills while setting
and making steps towards their personal goals.
AIME has assisted students identify goals and work
towards completing school and achieving postschool success through admission to University,
admission to TAFE, seeking apprenticeships or
traineeships and any other life goal that might seem
too big to tackle.
Students have meet with Steph from AIME who has
discussed what AIME looks like for students in 2016
over some pizza. Many students have already
returned their note to attend. If you would like your
student to attend, please have them return their
note as soon as possible to Mr Foster. AIME begins
in term 2 for all year groups and finishes in October
2016 with a final celebration.
SCHOOL OPAL CARDS
Over 350,000 students eligible for subsidised travel
under the School Student Transport Scheme have
been provided with a School Opal card for travel
within the Opal network.
This year, Transport for NSW and transport
operators have allowed eligible school students to
travel without a School Opal card for the first seven
weeks of the school year, provided they are in
school uniform or can provide evidence they are
attending school (i.e. school student ID card or copy
of class timetable).
As most students have now settled in to their new
travel patterns for the year and have received their
School Opal cards, the grace period will end on
Monday 21 March 2016.
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