BIRRONG BULLETIN

The Newsletter of Birrong Girls High School Cooper Road, Birrong 2143 Telephone: 9644 5057 Fax: 9644 8157

Issue No. 1 February 2018

‘Ad astra’ – Reaching for the Stars

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT Dear Parents,

This is the first edition of the Birrong Bulletin for 2018, and I warmly welcome to the school community our many new students, especially our enthusiastic and keen Year 7 students and their families. In addition, I am very pleased to welcome our new teachers and staff: I am confident that they will all complement and support our school’s strong culture and values. I encourage all new students and parents to come along to the Welcome Barbecue to be held on Wednesday 14 February from 5-7pm. This is an excellent opportunity for all new parents to meet their daughter’s teachers and classmates in an informal and relaxed setting. Take a moment to introduce yourself to your daughter’s teachers and find out the best ways to support her learning. Outstanding HSC results The class of 2017 maintained our school’s impressive record of achievement in the HSC with a top ATAR of 98.75. Congratulations to the 128 successful students who achieved the HSC and especially to the high achievers whose names were published in the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) List for marks over 90 in a course. Deserving special mention is Vyvy Nham whose name was published in the NESA All Round Achievers List for achieving results in the top band possible for at least 10 units of HSC courses, an extraordinary achievement indeed. All teachers of the girls in Year 12 2017 were delighted with our 45 Band 6s (above 90 in a course) in 21 courses shared amongst 21 students. Many of our 2017 HSC class achieved very high Australian Tertiary Achievement Ranks (ATARs) and were offered places at university. Congratulations girls, we are very proud of you! 2017 Achievements Celebrated Our 2017 Presentation Day was held at the Bankstown Sports Club and was a whole school celebration of the academic, sporting and civic achievements of our students. Gabriela Love, an

ex-student who has forged a highly successful career in the non-traditional fields of mining and engineering was our guest speaker. Gabriela is currently Project Manager – Mining Studies at Newcrest, responsible for step change projects within the Technology and Innovations Group, based in Melbourne.

An outstanding role model, Gabriela inspired our students to be innovative and creative in their career planning, to pursue interests with passion and persistence and to be flexible and adaptable in responding to the challenges of an ever changing world. She left students with the powerful message that education, self-belief, hard work and a growth mindset are strong indicators of success.

Thank you to Mr Mohan and his team who ensured that this event was a great showcase of our students’ success. Thank you also to all the families who shared our annual celebration.

School Diaries All students will receive a school diary this year to help them develop the organisational skills to manage homework and assessments. Students who use school diaries effectively are more successful learners because they complete tasks and assessments by due deadlines, organise their time effectively and develop positive study habits. Students should bring their diaries each day, enter due dates for homework and assessments and use their diaries to plan chunks of time to ensure that tasks are completed. Teachers will be working with students to support them in using their diaries effectively. I request that parents support teachers by monitoring their daughter’s use of the diary at home. Inside this issue: Page/s

Principal’s Report 1-2

Report from the Deputy Principals 3

Introducing the New Teachers 4-5

Head Teacher Administration Report 5-6

Welfare Matters 6-7

Careers News 7

Library News 8

ABCN Scholarship 8

QuickSmart Presentation 2017 9

UTS Summer School – January 2018 9

Welcome BBQ for new students and parents 10

Next P&C Meeting 10

School Calendar 10

Go4Fun Program 10

BGHS Procedures: What do I do …? 11

NSW School Vaccination Program 12

Transdev School Bus Timetable 13

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DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) Our DEAR program is a very important aspect of our school’s literacy policy. All students are required to bring a novel to roll call where they can experience the joy of uninterrupted reading time and develop good reading habits. Research tells us that reading for pleasure strengthens comprehension, builds vocabulary and improves spelling. A good book does more than that: in providing an entry into another world, it offers different points of view and different ways of thinking, nurturing creativity and critical thinking skills. Please support our DEAR program by encouraging your daughter to read widely and by ensuring that she is prepared for DEAR by bringing a novel of her choice each day. Reflection Friday This year we will continue our Reflection Friday program to encourage students to reflect on the progress they are making in their learning. Each Friday during DEAR, students will access their diaries to reflect on their weekly successes as well as areas needing improvement. Teachers will be modelling this process to support our students as reflective, self-regulated learners. Parent Involvement All parents are invited to be a part of the school’s parent committee. Supporting the school and being involved in the school’s planning and decision-making processes can be very motivating for students as it shows that their parents are interested and know what happens at school. This term’s P&C meeting will be held on Wednesday 7 March at 5pm in the Common Room. All parents are encouraged to attend the year’s first P&C meeting. Front of School Construction works at the front of school have been delayed; the new deadline for completion is now Easter. Uniform Policy Our School Code of Behaviour requires students to wear the school uniform with pride. It is my expectation and the expectation of the entire school community that full uniform is worn by every student not only at school but to and from school every day. Our school community is very supportive of our Uniform Policy because they see it as an important aspect of our school culture. Uniform helps girls develop their sense of belonging to the school and items like fully enclosed leather school shoes help ensure their personal safety. I will arrange interviews with the parents of girls who do not comply fully with the Uniform Policy.

Privacy and Communications Throughout the year, the school will be publishing examples of student work as well as names and photographs of our girls in publications such as the local newspapers, the Birrong Bulletin,

the school magazine and the school’s website. If you have any objections to your daughter’s work, name or photograph being published in this way could you please inform the Principal in writing by Friday, 16 February. Congratulations to:

the following Year 11 students who were outstanding ambassadors for our school at The University of Technology Summer School, Sydney, during the January holidays: Mouaminah Abdulrahman, Sarah Al Helfy, Hala Alameddine, Safa Alameddine, Natasha Baker, Hend Elkashouty, Maryam Elkashouty, Sarah Ha, Fereshta Jamshidi, Asal Khalaf, Victoria Lin, Jasmine Maxwell and Minahil Rana. These students had a wonderful introduction to university life and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to explore areas of interest as diverse as science and engineering, media and communication, information technology and design. Coming Events:

Welcome Barbecue for all new parents and students will be held on Wednesday 14 February from 5-7pm.

The school’s Swimming Carnival will take place at Birrong Leisure Centre on Wednesday 21 February. All students must attend this important date in our sporting calendar. Even if your daughter is not a swimmer or competitor it is important that she attends to maintain her record of school attendance and to support her classmates.

A meeting of the P&C will be held in the Common Room at 5pm on Wednesday 7 March. All parents are invited to attend and show their support for their daughter’s education by getting involved in the P&C.

I invite you to contact the school to make an appointment with me (Tel: 9644 5057) if you have any issues that you wish to discuss about your daughter’s education.

I wish you all a very happy and rewarding 2018. Margaret Fletcher Principal

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REPORT FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPALS

As we begin 2018 the Deputies wish every student from Year 7 to Year 12 success in meeting all the challenges which await you this year. Now is the time to set your short and long term goals so that each of you can achieve your personal best. We trust that this will be a year during which each student can take pride in her academic growth and in the personal excellence she is able to apply to all areas of her life.

There are many opportunities available at Birrong Girls High School for your daughter to be involved in and develop her personal and social skills. Year 11 students are working hard as Peer Support leaders supporting the Year 7 students and developing communication, organisational and leadership skills of their own.

The school swimming carnival will be held on Wednesday 21 February at Birrong Leisure Centre. It is a day for fun and participation. All students are expected to attend the carnival as they would any other school day.

More information and permission notes have been distributed to students and should be returned as soon as possible. Remember, give your child every chance to succeed; a day absent from school here or there doesn’t seem like much, but can lead to significant gaps in learning. The safety of our students travelling to and from school is important to us. You will often see us at the railway station and the school crossing supervising students as they enter and leave our school. We ask you to partner with us to ensure your daughters are safe by abiding by the school zone road rules before and after school each day.

At the start of the 2018 school year the RMS introduced seven new school zone offences aimed at improving pedestrian safety around schools. For example, stopping on a pedestrian crossing in a school zone carries a fine of $330 and a loss of 2 demerit points. Queuing across an intersection in a school zone, including roundabouts, will incur a $439 fine and a loss of 2 demerit points. The table below shows some of the other changes to fines and demerits in school zones.

Our school website is updated regularly with information, photos and videos that showcase student success. The school calendar provides details of events and excursions. New information will be added as the school year progresses. We hope to see all the Year 7 parents at the Year 7 Welcome BBQ on Wednesday 14 February. To the stars - Ad Astra! Ms Cross and Ms George Deputy Principals

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INTRODUCING THE NEW TEACHERS

Phillip Farrugia Science

My name is Phillip Farrugia and I am excited to be joining the Science faculty at Birrong Girls High School for 2018. I completed my Master of Teaching (Secondary) at WSU in 2016 and my Bachelor of Science at WSU (majoring in general biology) in 2014. As part of my university course I taught at Richmond High School, The Hills Grammar School and Fairfield High School as part of my practical experiences. I taught at Fairvale High School in the Science faculty last year. I believe Science can benefit anyone willing to learn, as it helps people understand the world as well as how everything in it works and interacts together. Science can work to bring all of students’ skills together in one place, particularly literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills. I would like to thank all of the staff and students for the warm welcome I have received when I came to Birrong Girls and I am looking forward to having a fun and eventful year teaching here.

Madalyne McEwen PDHPE

My name is Madalyne McEwen and I am excited to join the PDHPE faculty at Birrong Girls High School this year. I may look familiar as I completed my practicum teaching at Birrong Girls mid 2016 and also taught casually throughout 2017.

I completed a Masters of Teaching at the University of Technology (UTS) in 2016. I also have a Bachelor of Heath and Movement. I have taught at various schools so far but most recently I was at Canterbury Girls High School during Term 3 and 4 of last year. I love teaching, especially PDHPE as it is fun, relevant and interesting. I encourage all my students to “have a go” as trying your best is all I ask for in my classroom. I am very glad that I chose to become a teacher as it has definitely

become my dream job. Helping students learn and encouraging students to be active are my favourite parts of teaching. I would like to thank all the wonderful teachers and students who have made my return to Birrong Girls High School enjoyable. I am looking forward to 2018!

Elizabeth Nabhan Mathematics

My name is Elizabeth Nabhan. I have recently joined the Mathematics faculty at Birrong Girls. I enjoy solving problems in Mathematics and teaching students to work mathematically, and am looking forward to teaching the students.

Mathematics allows students to develop their problem solving and critical thinking skills that will be later used in life to help them advance both in their education and their careers. I completed a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics)/ Bachelor of Teaching at the University of Western Sydney in 2006. I was fortunate to find employment the following year as a Maths teacher at a private school and remained there for 10 years. It was the school where I spent the first 10 years of my teaching career. After that, I had the opportunity to work as a relief teacher in various schools throughout Western Sydney and have taught other subjects as well as Maths. Before training as a teacher I spent almost 20 years being a mother raising my kids and went to university the year my eldest went to university. I studied full time, and received an Equity Scholarship, while at the same time had to manage a household. It was hard work, but I managed to fulfil my dream of becoming a high school Mathematics teacher. It just goes to show that if you are determined to do something and you work hard at it, nothing can get in your way. There will be barriers and road blocks, but ultimately, you will achieve the goal you set out to achieve. Just don’t give up when it gets hard. Thank you to the staff, especially the Maths and Social Sciences staff, and students at Birrong Girls, for warmly welcoming me to be part of your community. I am looking forward to this coming year.

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Lisa Stewart Social Sciences

My name is Lisa Stewart and I am very excited to be joining the Social Sciences faculty for 2018 at Birrong Girls. Before becoming a teacher I was an accountant but I soon found that it wasn’t a very fulfilling career for me as I always felt as though I could make more of a difference in people’s lives by doing something more rewarding. It was then that I decided to pursue a career in teaching and I haven’t looked back! I completed my Masters of Secondary Education degree at the University of Technology at the end of last year. Whilst completing my final semester at university, I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to teach Business Studies and junior Geography and History for one term at Menai High School and then casually teach for the remainder of last year. Outside of school I enjoy playing sports such as soccer, netball and oztag in an attempt to keep fit and active. I am looking forward to working with both the staff and students at Birrong Girls High School and I am sure it will be a fantastic year!

Maysa Hassan Social Sciences

My name is Maysa Hassan and I

am very happy to be joining the

Social Sciences faculty at

Birrong Girls High School.

I have a Bachelor of Law and a

Bachelor of Arts (majoring in

Ancient History) from Macquarie

University. During my time studying, I worked as a

legal intern and paralegal, where I had the

opportunity to work with youth from disadvantaged

communities. This led me to discover my passion

for teaching, and shortly after completing my

Bachelors, I decided to enrol in a Masters of

Teaching at Western Sydney University.

I started off my teaching career working in the

private school system, before working in the

public system. I worked at a school in Sydney’s

North Shore for a year and a half where I taught

Social Sciences and Studies of Religion. I then

moved to Macarthur Girls High School where I

taught History.

I am already enjoying being a part of Birrong Girls,

and would like to thank the staff and students for

being so welcoming.

HEAD TEACHER ADMINISTRATION REPORT

Welcome back to the 2018 school year. Attendance is a vital component in every student’s learning. Statistics clearly show that the students who achieve their best are those students who have great attendance. School begins at 8:30am and as such, all students need to be at school prior to the bell for the start of first period. For those families new to the school and as a reminder for others, I have included a procedures sheet in this bulletin, so that if you have any questions regarding attendance, hopefully this can point you in the right direction. The text messaging system is a very valuable tool in tracking student attendance. If your daughter has been absent from school you would have received a text message from the school that asks you for a reply text. It is very important that you make contact with the school as soon as possible via text reply or phone call so your daughter’s school records can be updated to justify her absence. The effectiveness of the text messaging system in ensuring the safety of your daughter relies on you responding to the text by explaining the nature of your daughter’s absence, her name and roll call class. If you have any concerns about the text message system please contact the school. I also encourage all parents and students to download the Skoolbag App. Skoolbag delivers school notices directly to parents and students free of charge and its use will increase this year. To avoid missing out on important information, install the free Birrong Girls High Skoolbag App by searching for our school name on either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. For Windows Phone, and Windows 8.1 or 10 users, search for Skoolbag in the Windows store. Many families have changed their personal and contact details because they have moved house, changed telephone companies or obtained a new mobile phone number. It is very important that you inform the school immediately of any changes you make. There have been several incidents at school where the school has needed to contact parents in an emergency and have not had the most up to date contact numbers.

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If you change your mobile phone details it is very important that you inform the school immediately.

The Department of Education’s School Attendance Policy, which the school follows, can be viewed at the following web site: https://education.nsw.gov.au/policy-library/policies/school-attendance-policy

Thank you for your continued support. Mr Clark Head Teacher Administration

WELFARE MATTERS

Welcome back to school for an exciting and successful 2018. The Welfare Team wishes all students and their families a very productive and enjoyable year. We look forward to working with families in our school community to support the learning, growth and wellbeing of our students so that they succeed and thrive.

The Welfare Team includes the School Counsellors, Ms Athena Tselepi, Ms Susan Leigh and Ms Patty Kalavritinos, the Year Advisers and Assistant Year Advisers, as listed below, and the Head Teacher Female Students, Ms Cathy Salvagio.

Parents and guardians can make an appointment to see our school Counsellors, the Head Teacher or the relevant Year Adviser if there are issues or concerns that you wish to discuss.

Below is a list of the Year Advisers and Assistant Year Advisers.

YEAR 7 ADVISER - Ms Morozov Assistant Adviser - Ms Nixon YEAR 8 ADVISER - Ms Shinas Assistant Adviser - Ms Wessels YEAR 9 ADVISER - Ms Anthony Assistant Adviser - Ms Moxon YEAR 10 ADVISER - Ms Rothwell Assistant Adviser - Ms Parkinson YEAR 11 ADVISER - Ms Waltho Assistant Adviser - Ms Zomaya YEAR 12 ADVISER - Ms Hawk Assistant Adviser - Ms Lazarevski

Student Assistance Families who are experiencing financial difficulties can seek assistance from the school towards the payment of uniforms, either new or second hand, excursions and subject fees by arranging an appointment with Ms Salvagio. Parents must be

able to show that there is financial need. Pensioner Concession cards or Centrelink cards can be used to show the need of the family. School Uniform Policy Our school uniform policy outlines and clearly demonstrates the uniform items that our students are expected to wear on a daily basis. Our uniform clothing items can be purchased at Berelle School Wear, 3 Bellona Avenue, Regents Park, phone 9738 1264. The trading hours are Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm and Saturday 9:30am to 1:00pm. Our uniform includes enclosed black hard leather school shoes for safety, especially when working in the Science laboratories, art studios and kitchens. For students who wear long sleeves the school has a long sleeved blouse. Wearing a short sleeved blouse with a long sleeved undergarment is not considered to be part of the uniform and is not acceptable. If for a very good reason an item of uniform cannot be worn on a given day the student is required to have a note of explanation signed by a parent or guardian which the student presents to her Year Adviser before school to obtain an Out of Uniform Pass. If the student fails to follow the appropriate procedure consequences will apply. It is expected that students have more than one school outfit and that their uniform items are washed and ironed regularly so that they are in a clean uniform at all times. Excuses such as “it’s dirty” or “it’s in the wash” are not acceptable. The hems on school trousers and skirts should be neatly sewn and should not drag on the floor. Ragged and torn hems are not acceptable and are a safety concern. Being in full school uniform demonstrates each student’s respect for and commitment to her school community and enhances the good image of our school. Wear the uniform with pride and be proud to be a Birrong girl. Study Skills Program Year 12 students will participate in the Elevate Education HSC preparation seminars on Thursday 8 March during periods 2 and 3 which will focus on study strategies for the preparation of assessments and examinations and on techniques to assist students to be more effective learners and to cope better with examinations. Students will also be provided with access to the Elevate Education website and online resources to assist students with HSC resources, study, assignments and exams throughout the year. Year 11 students will participate in Elevate Education HSC preparation seminars on Friday

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23 March during periods 2 and 3 which will focus on effective learning strategies and study techniques to enhance students’ performance as a senior student. Students will also be provided with access to the Elevate Education website and online resources to assist students with study, assignments and exams throughout the year. Year 10 students will participate in Elevate Education seminars on Wednesday 4 April during periods 2 and 3 which will focus on time management and study strategies. Students will also be provided with access to the Elevate Education website and online resources to assist students with study, assignments and exams throughout the year. All students must attend these very beneficial seminars which will be of a reasonable cost as the school will pay part of the cost. A note with details about the seminars will be issued to students closer to the time. Vaccinations Our school is participating in the NSW Adolescent Vaccination Program for Year 7, Year 10 and Year 11 students. The following vaccinations will be provided over the year: Year 7: * Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination for cervical cancer prevention, two doses will be given. Vaccination in Year 7 is ideal as the immune system gives a strong response to vaccines at this age. * Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (Whooping Cough) (DTPa) vaccine, one dose is given. Year 10 and Year 11: a single dose of Meningococcal. The vaccinations will take place on the following dates: Visit 1 on 5 March 2018 for Year 7 students (Single dose of DTPa and Dose 1 of HPV) Visit 2 on 10 August 2018 for Year 10 and Year 11 students (single dose of Meningococcal) Visit 3 on 26 October 2018 for Year 7 students (Dose 2 of HPV). Students will be issued vaccination consent forms closer to the time. Parents/ guardians should read the information provided with the consent form to understand the facts about the vaccines that will be offered. Information in languages other than English is available at http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/schooltranslations No student will be vaccinated without the signed original consent form. After the vaccination, students will be given a Record of Vaccination card to take home to keep

their immunisation records up to date. Please keep vaccination records in a safe place as they may be required for future work or travel. Ms Salvagio Head Teacher Female Students

CAREERS NEWS

For new students and parents, the careers office is located on the left upon entry into the library. The door is always open for students, and parents are welcome to make bookings via the front office if they require any information. The Careers Adviser is here to help students with resume writing, cover letters, pathways for post schooling, careers counselling and mock interviews. Providing information about university courses, UAC and UMAT is a very important part of the Careers Adviser’s role.

Year 12 students who have not attended an interview should book an interview in their study period or recess/lunchtime via the booking sheet on the door. It is as simple as writing your name in the time slot that you are free or just drop in – the door is always open.

Below are the results of the class of 2017 in regards to their post school destinations.

Number of students

University 82

College 18

TAFE 8

Working 4

Seeking Employment 5

Other 7

The above figures show that 108 students (2017 cohort) are moving onto tertiary education with 82 of those gaining direct entry into university. The importance of this is that the unemployment rate for people with post Year 12 qualifications is 4% (Australian Bureau of Statistics-persons aged 25-34).

Mr Mouzakis Careers Adviser (Relieving)

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LIBRARY NEWS

Ms Fletcher's Display

Welcome to the school library for 2018! We are excited about all the new books we have and the opportunities for reading. A reminder for returning students and an introduction for new students: the library opens at 8am and closes at 2:50pm. As well as before school the library is open at lunchtime and recess (except Tuesday). Junior students can borrow 4 fiction and 4 non-fiction books for a period of two weeks. Senior students can borrow 6 fiction and 6 non-fiction books. Library cards for new students are now ready for collection. You are responsible for all library books borrowed under your name so NEVER lend your card to anyone else. It is easy to renew books either at the Circulation Desk or on the Portal so you never need to have an overdue fine.

The library operates Scholastic Book Club for students who like to buy their own books. We also encourage students to take up the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge for Years 7–9 and the Principal’s Reading Challenge for Year 10. In 2018 Book Week will be held in August to the theme of “Find Your Treasure”. That is our opportunity to celebrate books and reading. Competitions and prizes will add to the excitement of Book Week.

Year 7 students will come to the library during the year to study Information Literacy and learn about narrative and story so that they can enjoy going deeper into recreational reading. They will also be shown how to log on to the Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) in library lessons from Week 6 to record their reading list. There are 30 desktop computers in the library for use during class, before school, and at recess and lunchtimes. Years 8 and 9 can be assisted with PRC log-on in the library at recess or lunchtime after 5 March. We like to remind students that you can also borrow PRC books from your local public library to add to your school list.

We are always looking for new books and we like to share with our reading community so if you have any suggestions for books that we don’t have please email Mr Davidson at victor.davidson@det.nsw.edu.au.

If you love libraries tell us why in a paragraph and go in the running for a prize. (Competition closes on 14 February). Mr Davidson, Mrs Dyer and the Library Monitors look forward to helping you in the library this year. Mr Payne also works in the library. He is the IT specialist and he will help those students with log on problems. Mr Davidson Teacher Librarian

AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY

NETWORK (ABCN) SCHOLARSHIP

Congratulations to April Boyer in Year 11 who has been awarded the ABCN Scholarship. April was one of 24 successful students across Australia to receive the scholarship out of 400 applicants. As part of the scholarship she will receive $7000 over a three year period to help fund her studies. She will also receive advice from a dedicated mentor to help with planning for the future and understanding the world of work. Congratulations April! Ms Waltho Year 11 Adviser

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QUICKSMART PRESENTATION 2017

On Friday 24

November 2017, we held our

QuickSmart presentation. This presentation was for Term 1, 2, 3 and 4 student champion awards and for Year 7 and Year 8 graduated student awards. The presentation was attended by our QuickSmart students, parents and staff. Ms Blok, Ms Hmeidouch and Ms Turkoz acknowledged the award recipients and students were presented with their trophies and certificates. These awards are given to the girls who have had outstanding results and commitment while on the QuickSmart program. All QuickSmart students were congratulated and celebrated for their hard efforts and achievements during the course of the year. Our 2017 award recipients are as follows:

Term 1: Kilijah Grentell Year 7 Term 2: Jasmine Chaaraoui Year 8 Aziza Giarraputo Year 7 Term 3: Mariam Alautbi Year 8 Aliyah Zalfa Year 7 Term 4: Alaa Elmasri Year 8 Congratulations and well done girls on a

tremendous effort. Keep up the great work!

Ms Hmeidouch and Ms Turkoz QuickSmart Co-ordinator and Instructor

UTS SUMMER SCHOOL – JANUARY 2018

During the school holidays, a group of students, currently in Year 11, participated in a two week summer school program at UTS. We participated in activities that involved working practically, theoretically and innovatively with students from other schools. We were given the opportunity to pursue our interests in one of the following areas: Media, Design, Engineering and IT, Science, Health and Business. It was the perfect opportunity to experience university life and learn about the differences between secondary and tertiary education. UTS generously provided morning tea and lunch, Opal cards for travel and time for playing sports during lunch. As part of the program, each group of students was assigned a number of mentors who accompanied them throughout the program. They were great role models, helping us around the university, assisting us during lessons and inspiring us to explore and innovate. We learnt a great deal about university pathways, university life, and any other areas of interest through the range of academic talks presented by UTS students.

This unforgettable experience culminated in a graduation day, where students were given graduation robes and received their completion certificates. We highly recommend this program for future years.

By: Asal and Fereshta, Year 11

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FREE fun program to help kids

become fitter, healthier and happier!

Do you have children 7 to 13 years old? Are

you worried about their weight?

To find out more and register:

www.go4fun.com.au

1800 780 900

Go4Fun@sswahs.nsw.gov.au

BIRRONG GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL PARENTS & CITIZENS ASSOCIATION

Parents are invited to attend the

P & C MEETING on Wednesday 7 March 2018 at 5pm in the Common Room

BIRRONG GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL CALENDAR For your diary / noticeboard

February: Wednesday, 14

th Year 7 (and new enrolments)

Welcome BBQ, 5-7pm Wednesday, 21

st School Swimming Carnival

at Birrong Leisure Centre, 8:30am – 2:15pm

March: Monday, 5

th Year 7 Vaccinations

Wednesday, 7

th Year 5/6 Open Morning

P&C Meeting, Common Room, 5pm

Tuesday, 20

th Parent/Teacher interviews,

2-6pm Thursday, 22

nd and Year 8 Swim School

Friday, 23rd

Monday, 26

th School Photo Day

To all new 2018 parents (and especially Year 7 parents)

You are invited to a

on Wednesday 14 February 2018 from 5.00pm – 7.00pm

for a welcome to Birrong Girls High School.

We hope to see you there!

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BGHS PROCEDURES: What do I do …?

What do I do... If I COME LATE TO SCHOOL

School starts at 8:30 am.

If you are late you must go to the late desk (near the finance office) and get a large blue late note.

What do I do… WITH THE BLUE LATE NOTE

Show the blue late note to your class teacher and then see Mr Clark at the start of Recess.

Take the blue late note home to your parents and ask them to complete the reason for your lateness.

Return the blue late note the next day to Mr Clark – Head Teacher Administration.

What do I do … IF I KNOW I WILL BE LATE TO SCHOOL

You should bring a note from home explaining why you are late.

Hand this note in at the late desk (near the finance office).

You will be given a large blue note.

Show this large blue note to your class teacher and see Mr Clark at Recess.

What do I do … IF I COME TO SCHOOL AFTER ROLL CALL IS FINISHED

If you arrive late to school, no matter what time, you must always sign in at the front office.

Do not just go to class. The school must know that you are here and see Mr Clark at Recess.

What do I do … IF I AM ABSENT FROM SCHOOL

Ring and notify the school or reply to the text message sent to your parent after 11am.

Include your name, roll class, date of absence and reason for your absence in the text message.

If you are away for a few days or miss an assessment task you should bring a Doctor’s Certificate.

What do I do … IF I AM GOING ON A HOLIDAY

You must inform the school that you are going on a holiday. Do not just leave.

Your parents must provide a letter explaining where you are going, your date of departure from school and your date of return to school.

If you are going overseas you must bring a photocopy of the plane ticket.

What do I do…IF I NEED TO LEAVE SCHOOL EARLY

You must never just walk out of the school.

Bring a note from your parents explaining what time you must leave and why you must leave.

Include your name, roll class and date on the letter.

Give this letter to Mr Clark – Head Teacher Administration no later than 8:20am on the day you need to leave. You will be issued with a yellow School Leave Pass.

What do I do … IF I AM AT SCHOOL AND I FEEL SICK

Never just ring your parents to pick you up.

Get a note from your class teacher to leave the room.

You must then see Ms Paul (Science) or Ms Russell (Finance Office).

They will contact your parents or family member.

What do I do …IF I AM MARKED ABSENT AT ROLL CALL BUT I WASN’T (e.g. work placement)

Speak to your roll call teacher.

If you receive a letter asking where you were, bring this letter to Mr Clark or Ms Araujo (Reception).

The Department of Education’s Attendance Policy can be viewed on this website:

https://education.nsw.gov.au/policy-library/policies/school-attendance-policy

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