2016 term 2 – week 4€¦ · hunter sports high spectator 2016 term 2 – week 4 . balancing...

Hunter Sports High School Pacific Highway Gateshead NSW 2290 www.huntersports.com.au

T: 4943 5755 F: 4942 2565 E: [email protected]

A Message from the Principal

It’s been an action-packed couple of weeks at Hunter Sports High with our Years 7 & 9 students completing their NAPLAN tests last week, trials taking place this week for our next intake of Talented Sports Program students, and our Athletics Carnival in full flight at Hunter Sports Centre today and tomorrow. The half-yearly exam period is upon us now too with Years 7 & 8 commencing exams next week (23-25 May), Year 11 from 26 May – 3 June, followed by Years 9 & 10 in Week 7 (6-8 June).

While our students are in study mode, Hunter Sports High staff have been busy learning too with all staff attending a professional learning session last week to expand their knowledge about future-focused learning environments. The redevelopment of Hunter Sports High will see new and innovative classrooms and technology throughout the school and in recent weeks we have introduced innovative learning spaces to give staff and students the opportunity to explore new ways to teach and learn. These spaces also give us the chance to trial various furniture options to see what will work best in our new school.

The staff common room has had a makeover with new flexible and functional furniture installed as well as beanbags, lounges, ottomans and lots of colourful chairs and cushions giving students many options for learning and comfort. This new style of learning is also changing the way our teachers teach and enhances their ability to support students. Feedback has so far been overwhelmingly positive, with staff reporting significant improvement in student engagement and collaboration and students very happy with their flexible learning environment.

In other great news, our TSP programs continue to attract corporate support. We welcome new sponsors Flight Centre, Boost Juice, Hunter TAFE and Panda Kitchens whose generous support has enabled the purchase of new uniforms and equipment for our programs.

To end the last fortnight on a very positive note, I received an email during the week to acknowledge the great work of our Minimbah staff and students in their participation in the NRL’s Indigenous round last weekend. Our students took part in workshops during the week and many attended the Knights v Sharks game on Sunday, meeting players and watching the game. Year 12 student Zoe Khan performed the Acknowledgement of Country and tossed the coin prior to the game. This was a great experience for our students and I was extremely proud to have such outstanding feedback about their involvement in the event.

Rachel Byrne - Relieving Principal

Hunter Sports High Spectator

2016 TERM 2 – WEEK 4

BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT

OUR SCHOOL VALUES: RESPECT

RESPONSIBILITY SUCCESS

HSHS staff took part in professional learning sessions last week in our new ‘futures learning’ classrooms (top) and above: Year 12 student and

prefect Zoe Khan with Sharks player Ben Barba at the Indigenous Round against the Newcastle Knights last weekend.

Hunter Sports High Spectator 2016 TERM 2 – WEEK 4


Closing the Gap from School to Work

Hunter Sports High students took part in an exciting week of events to celebrate the NRL’s Indigenous Round last week, kicking off with the Newcastle Knights ‘School to Work’ program and culminating in front row seats at the Knights v Cronulla Sharks match at Hunter Stadium on Sunday.

The School to Work Program (S2W) is an education and employment program that utilises the positive profile of the game of rugby league to support and encourage young Indigenous Australians to make positive choices for their future by providing them with work experience, mentoring and leadership opportunities to ensure they successfully complete school and transition into further study, training or meaningful employment.

Students participated in various cultural workshops during the week and were offered tickets to Sunday’s game where they formed a guard of honour as the two teams ran onto the field. Year 12 student and prefect Zoe Khan performed the Acknowledgement of Country and the coin toss while students met with Sharks player Ben Barba following the match and were able to ask questions about his indigenous heritage, his development into an NRL player along with questions on the day’s match.

Thank you to the NRL Indigenous Unit, to the Newcastle Knights and Cronulla Sharks, and to our Minimbah team for their work in coordinating this great experience for our students. It is sure to promote positive decision making, leadership and education in our Indigenous youth. The following is an excerpt from an email from the NRL’s School to Work Project Officer Jason Solomon following the week’s events and makes us all very proud of our students:

“Hunter Sports High should be proud of the students that were involved on the day and I cannot say how much they made the day enjoyable for me and how they interacted with students from other schools and the NRL, Knights and Sharks Officials. It makes me and the NRL Indigenous Unit proud to see that our future is in safe hands. So thank you Hunter Sports High School for such a successful and enjoyable day for the NRL, Knights and Sharks during Indigenous Round 2016.”

Upcoming Events DATE EVENT Fri 20 May Athletics Carnival

@ Hunter Sports Centre, Glendale Star Struck Choir Rehearsals

@ Newcastle Entertainment Centre Wiripaang Reading Program SHINE Program Mon 23 May – Wed 25 May

Year 7 & 8 Half-Yearly Exams

Mon 23 May Support Unit Leaving to Learn Excursions

Drumbeat Workshop Tues 24 May Boys & Girls Hunter Tennis Trials

@ District Park Tennis Centre Wed 25 May U13 & U15 Knights Knockout

@ Windale Oval Wiripaang Reading Program BroSpeak SMART Program Thurs 26 May – Fri 3rd June

Year 11 Half-Yearly Exams

Thurs 26 May Buchan Shield U16 Rugby v Hills Sports High @ Seven Hills

Year 9/10 Boys Touch Football State Finals @ Werrington

Social Media & Healthy Relationships Seminar @ HSHS

Fri 27 May SHINE Program Volleyball State Schools Cup @

Newcastle Basketball Stadium Mon 30 May Drumbeat Workshop PBL Lesson Wed 01 June Wiripaang Reading Program Centre for Hope BroSpeak SMART Program State of Origin Rewards Excursion Thurs 02 June Year 12 Leadership Program @

Parliament House, Sydney Tues 07 June P & C Meeting, 6pm, HSHS Library Mon 06 – Wed 08 June

Year 9 & 10 Half-Yearly Exams



Future-Focused Learning As the redevelopment of Hunter Sports High School draws closer, staff and students are changing the way they think about classroom design and rethinking the way they learn and teach with the introduction of ‘future-focused learning spaces’ and technology to enhance learning and engagement.

Our Relieving Principal Ms Byrne and several HSHS staff have visited the Department of Education’s Futures Learning Unit at the Australian Technology Park in Sydney recently to see students and teachers testing prototype learning spaces to determine how to incorporate these new ideas and technologies into Hunter Sports High School, now and into the future.

“The way our children learn is evolving and we need to rethink the way our school works, the way our teachers teach, to enhance the learning experience for our students,” explained Ms Byrne.

“To succeed in the future our students will require problem-solving and critical thinking skills,” she said. “They will need to be able to work independently and together with groups of other students. The spaces they learn in have to be more flexible and integrate new technologies and opportunities for collaboration between students and teachers.”

“Our learning and support staff have conducted research amongst students to determine how and where they like to learn and what they think collaborative learning is. Their responses have been taken into consideration to allow our students flexibility over how they learn in our new interactive learning spaces.”

The new flexible learning spaces provide more ‘free’ space and lightweight furniture (including lounges, beanbags, and soft furnishings) that can be easily moved around by teachers and students to create functional spaces for individual and team work, including the flexible use of technology and writable surfaces which encourage students to investigate and collaborate. Student self-direction, self-reflection and evaluation is encouraged through these spaces which reflect the environments students will experience as they move into the workplace.

These new classrooms and modern learning environments are the way of the future and combined with new project-based teaching and learning practices, they are already significantly improving student learning engagement at Hunter Sports High School.



Describe your favourite learning space

• My favourite learning space would be outside under cover on a bean bag being relaxed and colourful.

• Open rooms, with air conditioning, comfortable chairs like beanbags or computer chairs, more chilling colours on the walls, and silence.

• My favourite learning space in this school currently would be the art room. It brings everyone together and lets other people talk.

• A room with low tables and technology where the students would be able to work in different areas depending on what kind of work they are doing.

• Beanbags, couch chairs, cushions on the floor.

Student responses to new flexible learning spaces:

• I feel like I’m more focused and engaged in my learning. • I enjoy the relaxed feel about the room. • Students feel more grown up in the learning space. • Students are engaged and lots of collaboration is

happening. • I enjoy learning at my own pace. • I’ve had less negative incidents this year and I feel

comfortable and more focused. • I love the different type of learning. • I feel more responsible for my learning. • Less disruption in the class so I can get my work done.

Teacher responses to new learning spaces:

• Increased student engagement. Students are more settled and focused.

• There has been an improvement with students’ overall attendance.

• Lots of collaborative learning through the development of self-directed learning.

• Increased involvement with disengaged students. • Students are really enjoying the new furniture and are

more relaxed.

Prior to the introduction of our new innovative learning spaces we asked students a few important questions to find out what we should include in the new spaces. Here are some of their insightful responses and some feedback following a number of lessons in the new interactive classrooms.

What is collaborative learning?

• Working together as a team or a group. • Working with other people and having a chance to make

new friends. • Where students work together to complete a task. • Working together to complete a task and socializing. • Collaborative learning means to learn together in small

quiet groups with friends or people you get along with. • Team work.

Where do you like to learn?

• In a more relaxing room so it’s easier to concentrate on working instead of trying to sit in an uncomfortable chair.

• Somewhere comfy (couches, bean bags, comfy chairs) • I like to learn outside because it is a much bigger area to

move around and have your own personal space. • I like to learn in a more calm and quiet space but also

more of a hands-on environment. • I like to learn in an open classroom-like area with

'stations' for technology and hands-on activities. • I like to learn in a relacing space with music, quietness

and you can sit wherever you want. • If I'm working in classrooms, it doesn't bother me.

However, if I were to have a classroom change, I'd like to have beanbags instead of chairs and iPads instead of books and pens. I also get a lot of my inspiration to learn from the outdoors.

How do you like to learn?

• Hands on with other people and I like working in an open space.

• I like to work in groups and in a hands-on way because you learn more and it’s fun.

• Hands on definitely, not theory. No writing please! • I like to work in groups and by myself because in group

work you can help each other and by yourself you can write what you want.

• I learn best in small groups with friends, especially when we get to sit down and talk about the subject we are focusing on.

• I like to learn hands on, I hate to learn watching. I also like to have someone there to help when I need it.

• I like a bit of both hands-on learning and teacher directed learning.

Student Insights to Learning:



Aladdin Musical Theatre Excursion Hunter Sports High students and community are invited to attend an excursion to Sydney to see the Aladdin musical on 17th of August. Tickets include bus travel with Sid Fogg’s and show and are $110.

We will travel to Sydney for lunch followed by the matinee performance at the Capitol Theatre. Please come along and enjoy the experience with our students. There are limited spaces on the bus, it’s a great social day, first to purchase tickets will be able to enjoy a great event. Please contact Mrs Hudson for a note or more information.

Language News Our classes have been enjoying some time with Mr Wagner and Mrs Drew who have been taking Mrs Ingram’s classes while she is on leave. They have had the opportunity to create wonderful paper-based works of art modelled on traditional Japanese symbols as well as learning about body parts, modes of transport and even a song or two!

The organisation for the 2017 Japanese trip is continuing smoothly, with our itinerary being finalised as this goes to press. We can guarantee this journey to Japan will be a fascinating mix of cultural activities and high tech adventures as we discover the old and new parts of this beautiful country.

Fundraising efforts continue in Term 2 with a guessing competition to be drawn on the 30th of June. We have a great range of prizes that have been kindly donated by members of our community. Tickets are available to purchase from students or the CAPAL staffroom here at school. For more information about these fundraisers or to donate prizes, please contact Miss O’Brien.

Arigato Gozaimasu from Mrs Ingram and Miss O’Brien!

GETTING CREATIVE IN CAPAL

Art News: In art classes this term our Year 9 students have been working with ink to create self-portraits and have tried their hands at sketching figures from real life. Year 10 students have developed their skills working with chalk and charcoal, learning to use a grid to copy images and working from photographs of their own eyes. A selection of works from these talented students is shown above.

Star Struck Singers: Students of Hunter Sports High choir have been accepted to participate in Star Struck 2016. Star Struck is a major arena show that is held each year at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre. The dates for Star Struck are the 17th and 18th of June. Tickets are available at: http://m.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=STARSTRU16&v=NEC

Congratulations to Year 11 student Jai Pascoe who has been accepted into Star Struck for backstage. Jai has a long running history of backstage experience with Young People’s Theatre and works on their productions. Jai’s role at Star Struck will be in the tunnels, he will be the one who is giving the dancers the cue to go on and off stage. He is very excited and happy about the role. Congratulations again to you Jai and good luck!

The Hunter Sports High choir rehearse every Thursday at Lunch 1 and all students are welcome. Mrs Hudson encourages all students to come along. No auditions or experience necessary, just bring your lunch!

Music News: Our HSHS Stage Band are well on the way to playing at our first concert for the year. We will be travelling to one of the local nursing homes in the near future and then perform at a showcase held at HSHS in Week 9 or 10 this term for family members who I’m sure are curious about what happens in band lessons. More information will be coming home soon.

http://m.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=STARSTRU16&v=NEC

http://m.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=STARSTRU16&v=NEC



learning about how to make a timetable for a weekly meal planner. In PE we are doing athletics and for theory we are learning about good decision-making. In TAS we are making a pencil case and have just made a wooden noughts and crosses game. We are reading a book called Lockie Leonard by Tim Winton which is a great and interesting book for teenagers. We celebrate all class birthdays by having a cake.

Opal Class: Written by Charmaine Bower

With a new start to the term the Opal Class have started working on their individual Personal Interest Projects and the classroom has been modified to accommodate individual learning. We all now have our own individual work space, two new lounges and a big common area in the middle where we can do group work and also work in teams.

The Opal class was involved with running the Term 1 Formal Assembly. At the beginning of Term 2 Charmaine Bower joined the Opal class and brought with her a good work ethic and a willingness to assist other students.

James, Emily and Brodee participate in an alternative program with the Itinerant Support Teacher for Hearing. All students from the Support Unit are involved in a Leaving to Learn program which involves visiting various community sights around the area.

Ruby Class:

The Ruby Class have had a great start to Term Two. We have celebrated a number of birthdays in the class, and have enjoyed bonding over cake and hot chips! The class has been very busy choosing Personal Interest Project topics this term. Students have chosen such topics as sharks, pirates, waterslides, cruise ships, villains and zombies, just to name a few.

We are collecting photos, making find-a-words and creating our slideshows using Google Drive. Some of our kids have also been involved in programs such as "Drum Beat" and "SHINE Girls" this term. We have continued with our Leaving to Learn program, visiting the ANZAC Memorial Walk and Fort Scratchley for our first outing.

Jet Class: Written by Darcy Gleeson and Sarah Morgan

We have all now started Leaving to Learn and our group went to Caves Beach. It was fun and awesome. We saw a heap of crabs and we had such a good time. All of the class have chosen their Personal Interest Project topics which range from Iron-Man and Aboriginal culture to cooking.

For our art lessons we have been doing melted crayons to create images and for History we are researching about the life of Anne Frank and World War 2. In Maths we are

SUPPORT UNIT: Student Perspectives



SPORTS REPORT

Netball News: Our netballers travelled down to Wollongong recently for the NSW U/15's CHS Championships. The girls played 16 very tough games over two days. They got off to an amazing start with seven wins from eight games on the first day, followed by one win, one draw and three losses on day two to finish sixth in NSW. It was an amazing effort from quite a young team and four of the girls were selected to trial for the NSW U/15's CHS team (Emma Bradford, Cheyanne Tomkin, Kyra Powell-Caffyn and Brandii Davis-Walsh). Emma and Kyra made it to the final 30 out of 150 girls and Brandii was selected in the state side. Congratulations Brandii and to all the girls in what was a very big week in netball! Finally, a big thank you to our sponsors Creer Property for our new uniforms which were a hit down there!

Ten out of Ten:

All ten Hunter Sports High students who trialled for the Northern NSW Rugby League team to contest the NSW CHS Championships later this month were selected in the

side. Congratulations and best of luck to all the boys!

State Selection:

Basketballers Joel Rauch and Riley Villacampa played for the Hunter Region in the CHS Championships earlier this month, finishing fourth in the state after a 2-point loss in the semi final. Joel was selected in the NSW CHS state team and will now play in the Tri Series as he vies for a spot in the All Schools state team.



FLYING START FOR FOOTBALL It has been a great start to the year for the Hunter Sports High football program. The fresh-faced Year 7 students have settled into routine while the senior players were straight back into the action, already having played three of their Errea Cup matches. The girls proved they will be strong contenders for the title this year with a 9-0 win over Endeavour Sports High, an 8-1 win over Bossley Park and a narrow 3-2 loss to Westfields Sports High. A win or a draw with Hills Sports High will put the girls into the opens final in Term 3. The boys kicked off their title defence with two draws against Endeavour and Bossley Park and a loss to Westfields.

Junior squad action is also underway with our Bill Turner boys recording a 3-1 win over the International Football School in a friendly. Unfortunately the boys went down to Whitebridge High School in their opening knockout match. Coach Daniel McBreen was proud of the boys’ efforts considering the number of Year 7 boys who had to play due to injuries. A special mention should go to Daniel Stephen who managed to play against boys twice his size and still score. The girls started their knockout campaign in style yesterday, also against Whitebridge, with a resounding 15-0 victory. Off the field our players have been complementing their training loads with football specific ‘prehab’ and functional movement workshops. It has been the goal of the football program and Hunter Sports High to develop the total athlete and educate players on the importance of core strength, functional movement and technique to reduce the risk of injury and improve sport performance. Hunter Sports High would like to take this opportunity to welcome Daniel McBreen and Andrew Goldman to the coaching staff for 2016. They join Craig Deans on both senior and junior lines. Both coaches have their Advanced C licence and coach in the Emerging Jets Program. Daniel is also a former A-League grand final and golden boot winner. Having quality coaching is fundamental to the quality of the program we are able to deliver and we thank them for devoting their time and sharing their knowledge and experience with our students.

Welcome to our new football program sponsor Reading

Cinemas Charlestown. Thank you for your generous support of our school and our students.

Disclaimer: Advertisements included in this newsletter are a source of revenue to offset bulletin costs and are not in any way considered recommendations by the school.



STUDENT WELFARE NEWS: This student welfare his page lets students, parents and carers know about some of the great programs and support services that are available to students and their families at Hunter Sports High School and in the local community. We hope you find it helpful and informative.

Quote of the Week:

Cyber-Safety Seminar The first of our Social Media and Healthy Relationships Presentations were given earlier this week in the stadium for Years 7, 9, and 11 students to help keep them safe online. All students were engaged and questions were asked and answered about the important issues facing our youth today – cyberbullying, sexting and healthy relationships. Students from Years 8, 10, and 12 will attend this presentation next Thursday.

Disclaimer: Advertisements included in this newsletter are a source of revenue to offset bulletin costs and are not in any way considered recommendations by the school.



GET CREATIVE AND GET YOUR ENTRIES IN FOR THIS GREAT STUDENT

DESIGN COMPETITION.

ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY JUNE 3 (END OF WEEK 6)

2016 term 2 – week 4€¦ · hunter sports high spectator 2016 term 2 – week 4 . balancing...

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