Issue 01 - February 2015

Aberfoyle Park
High School
Newsletter Taylors Road East Aberfoyle Park 5159 Phone: 8270 4455 Email: info@aphs.sa.edu.au Website: www.aphs.sa.edu.au Diary Dates February 26 Yr 11 Aquatics Camp Yr 12 Parent Acquaintance Evening 6.30pm-­‐7.45pm March 9 10 13 17 26 30-­‐31 3 6 7 9 10 Adelaide Cup Public Holiday Pupil Free Day Finance Mtg 6.30pm Governing Council Mtg 7.30pm Sports Day Open Night Special Day: Yr 9/10/11 Yr 9 Drama Production April Good Friday Easter Monday Interview night 8-­‐12 RAP Program: Yr 11 Early dismissal 2.15pm 27 30 April-­‐Term 2 Anzac A ssembly L3 Yr 8 Immunisation May 1 8 12 12-­‐14 Yr 9/10 Aquatics Camp Generations in Jazz Ignite Testing Finance Mtg 6.30pm Governing Council Mtg 7.30pm NAPLAN WELCOME TO 2015 We had a great start to the 2015 school year with Day 1 dedicated to our 220
Year 8 students who had the run of the school and our year 12s who spent the
day at Flinders University. Day 2 saw everyone return and I would like to
commend students and staff for the exceptionally positive start to the year. I
especially welcome all the new year 8 students and their families, other new
students and their families at each year level and the new staff and of course a
warm welcome back to our continuing students, families and staff.
2015 remains dedicated to improving student learning outcomes through a
relentless focus on quality teaching and learning. Staff committed enormous
amounts of time in 2014 to Australian Curriculum (AC) implementation and 2015
will see this process continue with all learning areas now implementing the AC.
I congratulate the following students for their outstanding achievements in 2014
School Dux: Daniel Bell with an ATAR of 99.55, School Based Apprentice of the
Year – Ari Molzer (Certificate IV in Programming) and SAFTS Vocational Student
of the Year – Gemma Brandenburg (Small Business). Other Year 12 students with
outstanding academic achievement were:
Ashleigh Lane
Ashwini Chettiar
Chloe Lorimer
Braden Wood
Dayle Arblaster
Caleb Mercer
99.35
96.05
92.55
92.30
91.35
90.20
Lara Junghardt
Tyler Marchiori
Shabnam Kashef
Austin Gordon
Zachariah Hondrou
97.45
93.10
92.30
91.40
90.50
These students are to be commended for their hard work and effort throughout
their time at Aberfoyle Park High School. It is imperative that we also recognize
and acknowledge all students who successfully completed their SACE. Success is
not only measured by a numeric value, but how well a student manages to achieve
their personal best.
We welcome a number of new staff to the school including:
Adam Broughton
Sue Burford
Heather Carter
Brooke Curtin
Siobhan Docherty
Ellen Glass
Ranga Gunasekara
Andrew Harris
Chris Jones
Inside this issue: Year 12 News – Attendance Reminders – Thread APP -­‐ STEM@APHS -­‐ Year 8 Camp – Animals Anonymous – Immunisation Program Issue 1, February 2015 HASS / Home Ec
Student Services
English / Research Project
Dance/Drama/Art
Youth Worker
HASS/English
IT Technician
HASS
Ma/Sc/Eng
Marco Juric
Kathyrn Lamb
Marcus Sheehan
Tess Peterson
Shannyn Siemens
Catharine Watson
Sally Wilson
Kellie Woolford
Provider Name: Department for Education and Child Development T/A South Australian Government Schools CRICOS Provider No. 00018A HPE
Learning Support/FLO SSO
Ma/Sc
LIFT / Learning Support
Ma/Sc
HASS/PLP
Learning Support Coordinator
Eng/HASS
Liz Mead
Issue 1, February 2015 YEAR
12
STUDENTS’
ORIENTATION DAY
Tuesday 27th January 2015 was
the first day back for our new
cohort of year 12 students and
was spent at Flinders University,
for the annual Orientation Day.
180 students and Advisor
Teachers boarded the buses at
school, and arrived at Flinders,
ready for a day’s program of
events including presentations by
members of the Senior Team,
guest speakers and former APHS
year 12 students and morning tea
provided by the University.
The students were informed
about
important
matters
pertaining to their final year of
secondary schooling. Students
then listened keenly to an address
by Philip Guerin, Student Advisor
at Flinders; to the “Approaches
to Learning”, Kristin Vonney,
Project Officer for Science
Education in the 21st Century;
and finally to an interesting
address given by an inspirational
PhD student from Flinders,
Rebecca Flower.
Orientation Day traditionally
includes academically successful,
past Aberfoyle Park High School
students speaking to small groups
of students about “What to expect
in Year 12” and “How to avoid
some of the pitfalls”. On the day
we were delighted to listen to
words of wisdom imparted by
Ashwini Chettiar (2014 School
Captain), Daniel Bell (2014 Dux
of the School) and Tyler
Marchiori.
This first day to a brand new
school
year
was
spent
productively, and deemed a
successful, enjoyable beginning to
Year 12, setting the tone, and
outlining the expectations of our
students, and giving them all the
experience of spending a day at a
tertiary institution.
Nina Mlynowskyj
IMPORTANT REMINDERS RE ATTENDANCE
At APHS student attendance is recorded for every lesson using DayMap and
parents, caregivers and students can check this by logging into DayMap.
Attendance and punctuality every day for every lesson is important and is
reflected in student achievement. It also establishes good work habits in terms
of punctuality and attendance. Prospective employers always look at these two
aspects as it gives them an understanding of a young person’s reliability. We
know at times students are tempted to stay home to “catch up” on work but
this can then lead to a cycle of falling further behind as they then miss what
happens in class and this causes further stress. If you think this is occurring
please let the Home Group teacher know and this can be addressed through a
range of support / intervention processes that we can do at school.
We ask for your support in, where possible, making appointments out of
school hours or in the school holidays to support full attendance at school and
also notifying us if your child is absent.
Parents / Caregivers Responsibilities
• Please encourage and support attendance and punctuality
• If you child is absent please inform the school:
• Email Student Reception: studrec@aphs.sa.edu.au
• Phone: 8270 4455 press 1
• Email your child’s home group teacher: firstname.lastname@aphs.sa.edu.au
• Check the DayMap Parent Portal regularly to monitor attendance. Click on
the “Daymap Connect” link https://daymap.aphs.sa.edu.au/daymapconnect
• Let the school know if you think there are any issues causing absenteeism
or a reluctance to attend. Leigh Charlesworth and Carol Davey are the
Counsellors. They can be contacted via email on:
Leigh.Charlesworth@aphs.sa.edu.au or Carol.Davey@aphs.sa.edu.au
THREAD APP - a new tool to help keep
children and young people safe
A new personal safety app which enables children and
other users to send emergency alerts and broadcast
their GPS location to trusted contacts has been
released. The Thread app – developed by the Carly
Ryan Foundation (CRF) with funding from the State
Government and Google – is the latest in a range of
measures to improve children and young people’s safety in South Australia.
The app will help children and young people become more educated and
aware of their personal safety, giving parents discreet contact with their
children when they’re not in a supervised environment. The Thread app is
available for Apple users via the Apple App Store. An app designed for
Android devices is expected to be available to download on the Google
YEAR 12 PARENT ACQUAINTANCE EVENING
On Thursday 26th February from 6.30 – 7.45 pm, we will be hosting a Year 12
Parent Acquaintance Evening at the school. A number of speakers will address
parents about Senior School expectations, VET and University Pathways and
processes we have in place to support students. There will be an opportunity
for you to meet your child’s Advisor Teacher and Year 12 subject teachers.
Drinks and nibbles will be provided.
An email was sent to students with further information about the evening and
details about registering your attendance. If your child did not receive this
email or did not advise you about this event, please contact Mary Smith via
email
who
will
ensure
you
receive
this
information.
Mary.Smith@aphs.sa.edu.au
The Senior School Team looks forward to meeting with you on the night.
Warren Eaton
Issue 1, February 2015 PARENT INFO EVENING AT FLINDERS UNIVERSITY
11th MARCH 2015
The Parent Information Evening at Flinders University is designed to provide
parents and families with helpful, practical tips on supporting students in
years 11 and 12, with a particular focus on providing support across the
areas of science and maths. Speakers will cover topics including careers in
science and engineering; managing stress and how to support someone who
is stressed; and tips on effective studying. To reserve a place, please visit
website:
www.flinders.edu.au/science_engineering/events/parent-information-evenings.cfm
Any enquiries please contact Flinders - silc@flinders.edu.au or 7221 8661
STEM@APHS
SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING & MATHEMATICS
With such a packed STEM agenda
we couldn't fit it all in the last
Newsletter, so here is a quick
rundown of some of the activities
that took place towards the end
of last year.
2014 Concept 2 Creation
Expo, Golden Grove
Pictured below, APHS students
presenting at the Expo conducted
at the Golden Grove Arts Centre.
C2C has continued in the IGNITE
program as a project based
activity whereby small groups of
students use project management
processes to develop a product
or service from concept to
creation.
With the use of industry
experience and assistance the
students have taken on a wide
variety of challenges, including the
Mars
Exploration
Design
Challenge, Eco VOLT Challenge
and the SA Power Networks
Drone Challenge.
SMAF ORIENTATION DAY AT FLINDERS UNIVERSITY
This year, 44 APHS students will be studying Stage 2 Specialist Mathematics,
Chemistry and Physics at Flinders University. Last year’s SMAF O Day gave our
students the chance to meet their teachers who are delivering these subjects in
2015 at Flinders University. The day provided students with the opportunity to
enrol in Flinders on Line (FLO) and the University Library. Students also took
part in Science and Maths workshops. In the afternoon parents were invited to
attend an information session as well as tour the facilities our students will
utilize during their study.
Problem Based Learning Expo
at the Australian Science and
Maths School 2014
Students explained their findings
investigations and from research into
Energy Efficient House Design at this
event in November 2014. They
studied the ways in which the
principles of conduction, convection
and radiation could be addressed in
order to keep their houses cool in
summer and warm in winter. The
comments from the judges on our
students
work
reflected
our
student’s passion and confidence,
good use of technology to gather
and present data, and how clearly
they had explained solutions to
practical problems.
Programming Challenge 4 Girls
at the University of Adelaide
2014
This event provided the opportunity
for Year 9 girls who are interested in
IT to have a look at computer
programming using simple visual
programming tools including Scratch
and Alice.
CSI APHS 2014
Mr Jak Haggett’s Year 10 sleuths
were engaged in solving another
crime as part of their study of
Forensic Science. After carefully
collecting evidence from the ‘crime
scene’ students conducted a series
of
analytical
tests
such
as
chromatography and blood typing.
They also examined blood spatter
patterns, fingerprints, and samples of
handwriting
and
listened
to
eyewitness testimonies.
2015 is shaping up to be just as busy as 2014, in this semester Year 10 students
get a taste of STEM at Flinders University, and the University of Adelaide host
the Young Women in Technology Experience and UniTech.
Issue 1, February 2015 YEAR 8 CAMP
This year the year 8 classes went to a camp at 'El Shaddai'. Throughout this
camp we did several activities such as; the giant swing, rock climbing,
canoeing and many more. I really enjoyed this camp as the food was really
good and healthy and all the activities not only gave us a lot of fitness but also
caused us all to create new friendships. My favourite part of this camp was
the rock climbing and canoeing as both activities required teamwork and
strategy. My least favourite part of camp was that we all had to go to bed so
early (10pm), but most of the camp was really fun and I would go back again.
Zoe Christie
For year 8 camp we went to El Shaddi. When we got there we were told to
get into groups of 4-6. Well I didn’t really know anyone there except for two
of my friends which meant that we only had three people. Luckily Ms Grava
saw us and saw another group of three girls and put us together. After about
an hour we had become best friends! That night we met some boys that
were in the same home group as our friends so we played soccer and after a
little while we all became friends. It was really funny because we have friends
that are from all over the world. It was great the activities were really good
and some of them pushed you out of your comfort zone which is great.
Everything was really fun and interesting. I wish I could go there again!
Lizzy Maher
ANIMALS ANONYMOUS
On Monday 9th of February,
Adrian from Animals Anonymous
came to APHS, to show the
international
students
some
Australian animals.
First he showed us a Tawny
Frogmouth, which lives in gum
trees. Then he showed us a Blue
Tongue Lizard, which is the food
of the Tawny Frogmouth. He also
showed us a Bettong which is
related
to
Wombats
and
Kangaroos.
There
are
no
Bettongs living in the wild in
South Australia and there are only
60 in the whole world.
He also had some Dragons and a
Sugar Glider which is also nearly
extinct. It was a very nice
experience to see and touch
some Australian animals.
Niklas Twesten
Brecht Schule, Germany
2015 IMMUNISATION
PROGRAM
The City of Onkaparinga is again,
offering
a
school
based
Immunisation Program in 2015. It
consists of three visits provided
free at the school. All Year 8’s
will
have
received
an
Immunisation Pack at the start of
week 2 term 1 2015 during home
group. Please check with your
child if you have not received the
pack or know nothing about it.
The Year 9 Program is nonoperational as of 2015.
1st Visit – Thursday 30th April
(Week 1 Term 2)
All Year 8: HPV dose 1
All Year 8: Varicella
2nd Visit – Thursday 25th June
(Week 9 Term 2)
All Year 8: HPV dose 2
3rd Visit – Thursday 29th
October (Week 3 Term 4)
All Year 8: HPV dose 3
Joff Sander
PASTORAL CARE WORKER
Position Vacant Advertisement
(Previously known as “School
Chaplain”)
ABERFOYLE
PARK
HIGH
SCHOOL
Address: Taylors Road, Aberfoyle
Park SA 5159
Schools Ministry Group along
with the Aberfoyle Park Schools
Ministry Network are seeking
applications for this 8 to 10 hour
per week position, commencing
Term 2, 2015. The position exists
to offer support to students, staff
and the school community.
A Job and Person Specification,
including details on “How to
Apply”, is available from Schools
Ministry Group on 8378 6800 or
mail@smg.asn.au
Closing date: Monday 23rd
February, 5 pm
JUNIOR BASKETBALL
SKILL DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM
Monday evenings during school
terms
4pm-5pm Age 6-9
5pm-6pm Age 10-13
$5 per class per
child
REGISTER NOW
Hub Recreation Centre
8270 1360