COASTAL LEARNING COMMUNITY

Kingscliff High School

Kingscliff Public School Cudgen Public School

Pottsville Beach Public School

Bogangar Public School Fingal Head Public School

Duranbah Public School

Newsletter

YEAR 5 CAPA TRANSITION DAY 240 Year 5 students from across the Coastal Learning Community, came together at Kingscliff High School for the 2016 CAPA Transition program.

Students filled their day engaging with Visual Arts and an elective of Dance, Drama, Big Band or Music unleashed.

Each group worked with a CAPA staff member and were mentored by our GAT Senior and Junior Kingscliff High School students.

At the end of the day all students gathered in the MPU for a showcase for students and teachers. We saw performances ranging from ‘Fairy Tales in a minute’ , a jazz dance routine, Big Band, and rocking out with ‘We will rock you’ body percussion with Music Unleashed. In the background was a rolling slideshow of the amazing photography manipulation pieces that the Visual Art students completed.

It was fantastic to have so many happy faces from both the students and the primary school teachers. They had a wonderful day and left with positive and engaging experiences at Kingscliff High School.

TERM 2, 2016

COASTAL LEARNING COMMUNITY

MURWILLUMBAH PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVALThursday 23 June was a triumphant evening for our Kingscliff High School Wind Symphony Orchestra and Kingscliff High School Big Band, with both ensembles taking out first prize in their respective categories of the Murwillumbah Performing Arts Festival open division.

The two ensembles under the direction of Band Director Adam Meyer scored an outstanding 93% and 97% breaking a five-year winning streak held prior to the evening by a post school age community based band.

Supported by the unflagging efforts and expertise of Head Teacher of Creative & Performing Arts teacher, Kurstin Boyd and Band Director Adam Meyer, our band members were able to realise a goal they had set themselves some two years ago.

“We have worked so hard these last two years to build our numbers and establish an award winning program and to start to see the fruits of our labour was amazing. Adam Meyer is an outstanding Band Director and the band students’ skills and engagement have improved dramatically. ” – Kurstin Boyd HT CAPA Kingscliff High School.

All of our band members began their musical careers in their respective primary schools spread across our Coastal Learning Community, and have clearly benefited from their participation in our performing arts pri-mary to high school transition program. This Coastal Learning Community connection was a big part of our success on the night, with a number of Kingscliff Public School students taking part: Flynn Thompson (Year 6), Beau Thompson (Year 6), Louis Thompson (Year 6), Eliza Raymond (Year 6), Grace Cleary (Year 6), Holly Wells (Year 6), Jasper Foggo (Year 5), Sammy Cooper (Year 4) and Isla Puckeridge (Year 4) did an amazing job playing difficult repertoire and networking with our Kingscliff High band members.

The KHS Wind Symphony Orchestra and KHS Big Band members are all the result of our strong Coastal Learning Community partnership, and it is fantastic to see them reaching their full potential in a program that they are truly passionate about

Kingscliff High School Band Members - Cassandra O’Brien - (former Kingscliff Public School), Logan Taylor - (former Pottsville Beach Public School),Danni Geeves (former Pottsville Public School), Jacob Brown (former Kingscliff Public School), Anastasia Phillips (former Kingscliff Public School), Inari Phillips (former Kingscliff Public School), Connor Insull (former Kingscliff Public School), Devlin Foggo (former Pottsville Beach Public School), Gabrielle Booth (former Kingscliff Public School), Kye Ackerman (former Kingscliff Public School), Akihiro Zhang (former Kingscliff Public School), Cedric Weder (former Kingcliff Public School), Kaylea Miller (former Pottsville Beach Public School), Rian Brassett(former Kingscliff Public School),Remali Heffernan (former Bogangar Public School) Taj Felton - (former Kingscliff Public School), Casey Mansfield (former Kingscliff Public School) ABSENT: Millie Harmon and Liam Withers

COASTAL LEARNING COMMUNITY

MEGAN JACOBSON• Class of 2001 Kingscliff High School (won the Sydney Morning Herald

Young Author of the Year that year)• Class of 1995 Kingscliff Primary School (Dux of the year)

• Studied Journalism at Charles Sturt University

CURRENTLY • Currently works in TV news production at the ABC, Sydney, working

on Midday Report, 7pm bulletin, 7.30 Report and Lateline.• She has worked in the script departments of several Australian TV

shows as a script storyliner and script editor, and still does occasion-al freelance scriptwriting work.

• Her debut novel ‘Yellow’ was published in February by Penguin Random House.

• Her second novel will be released in March next year.

FAVOURITE MEMORY OF KINGSCLIFF PUBLIC: Climbing the tree out at the back oval (although I think we were break-ing the rules...) and it’s also where I was first introduced to debating, which I continued throughout my school years.FAVOURITE MEMORY OF KINGSCLIFF HIGH: The encouragement from the dedicated teachers. Also, there aren’t many schools where you can do photography assignments in a rain-forest, learn about marine science by snorkelling in a creek, and where you can choose surfing and beach walking as sport electives! I adored the natural beauty of the place and the way the students interacted with the natural environment as part of their learning.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Megan said she had the best education anyone could ask for at Kingscliff, I have all these friends now who went to these expensive, exclusive Sydney private school, but I strongly believe my experience at Kingscliff trumped all those fancy schools.

My history teacher Mr Wallis was the one who encouraged me to enter the Sydney Morning Herald young writer competition year after year, until I won (I had actually given up creative writing until he asked me to submit). He’d had several of his students over the years win that competition, which is such a huge feat, and it’s such a testament to his excellence as a teacher.

Above: Penguin publicity pictureLeft: Graduation Day (2nd on left)Right: Drama class (Front left)Below: Yellow book launch. From left Shari Sebbens, friend and Redfern Now and The Sapphires actress, who performed a read-ing at the launch; Tara Wynne, Megan’s agent at Curtis Brown Literary Agency; me; Mellina Marchetta, author of Looking For Al-librandi, (officially ‘launched’ Yellow); and Laura Harris, Publishing Director at Penguin

COASTAL LEARNING COMMUNITY

DID YOU KNOW? Kingscliff High School opened for business in February 1986 with the Inaugural Principal Mr Milton Simmons and Deputy Principal Mr Robert Guthrie. There was a staff of 29 with 420 students in Years 7, 8 and 9. It was officially opened later that year on 10 October 1986 by the Premier of NSW, Mr Barrie Unsworth and the ceremony was attended by many local dignitaries.

The school over the next ten years continued to grow and in 1996 there was approximately 1100 students with 94 teachers under the leadership of Mr Milton Simmons (Principal) and Mr Doug Weir (Deputy Principal). The school was initially built to cater for 900 students. It was during the 90’s that the school was expanded with additional classrooms being added and a block on the TAFE grounds given to Kingscliff High to use as senior classrooms. This block was named after a HSIE teacher Mr Russell Evans who was instrumental in getting the TAFE subjects added into the senior subject selection at Kingscliff High.

In 2000 due to the increasing student population Kingscliff High School was given its second Deputy Principal, Mr Stuart Cutcher and he joined the Deputy Principal at that time Mr Ken Allison.

The school’s Principals have also changed over the years with Mr M Simmons (1986-1998), Mr D. Walshe (1998-2004), Mrs B. Theobald (2005- 2007), Mr A Tolley (2008 - 2014) and Mr M. Hensley (2014-2016).

This year 2016 the school’s student population is 1053 with 116 staff and under the leadership of Mr M. Hensley (Principal) and Deputy Principal’s Mr B. Cowell and Mr S. Graham (Acting Deputy whilst Mrs R. Ludeke is on leave).

Over 31 years Kingscliff High School has continued to have a high profile in all aspects attracting over the years a large number of students including those out of zone. These students have been attracted to Kingscliff High School because of the high standards achieved in all areas, especially academic and sporting. As well as the pleasant environment, the extensive subject choices both in senior and junior school and the great ambiance within the school community.

All Kingscliff High students are encouraged to be lifelong learners and aspirational citizens and gain Achievement through Endeavour.

KINGSCLIFF HIGH SCHOOL - ONCE UPON A TIME...

WHY WE LOVE KINGY ! by Renee and Zane - School Captains 2016Kingscliff High School is not only a place for learning, but is also place to grow and thrive. In our six years here, our teachers and friends have helped us to develop into our best selves by encouraging us to reach and expand our maximum potential. Coming to KHS guarantees you the best experience alongside passionate, caring teachers, unique facilities and great friends!Our amazing location near the wonderful Cudgen Creek and beautiful Kingscliff beaches means that we have the best learning environment. In only five short minutes, we can take full advantage of our coastal environment for marine studies, sports (including snorkeling, kayaking and surfing), and the annual Kingy High surfing competition. There really is no other school that is as lucky as us!Although our school is so large, the Kingy High community is certainly close knit! With opportunities to join the SRC, KHS Leo’s Club and many other clubs and organisations, you are definitely going to make friends with peers from all years. For us being in Year 12, we have friends in Year 7 through to our own year, and we all work together to make our school and community the best it can be.You may have heard already, but it is no lie… at Kingscliff High, we love our sports! There are plenty of opportunities to participate in school teams for cross-country, athletics, volleyball, football and rugby, hockey, swimming…the list goes on. We’ve even had some of the world’s best athletes come from Kingy High, like Steph Gilmore, Jason Wilson, Nathan Eglington, Matthew Abood, Michael Gordon and Codie Klein…just to name a few. KHS also excels in the creative and performing arts, with students regularly participating in community events and our very own CAPA showcase night each semester.Our teachers have supported and encouraged us continuously, from our junior years to our journey through our hardest year in high school, the HSC year. Their passion to help their students is undeniable!Kingscliff High has given us the best experience we could have asked for, and it will for you too!

COASTAL LEARNING COMMUNITY

DID YOU KNOW? Fingal Head Public School first opened its doors as Cave Point Provisional School in 1895. A small settlement of quarry workers and their families developed in the area but the nearest school was five miles away, so an application was made to establish a school. It was originally opened as a provisional school, and in 1897 the average attendance was sufficient (over 20) for the conversion of the school to a public school. The Cave Point School building was erected by residents, however in 1898 it was demolished in a gale. The school operated temporarily in the harbour office but with diminishing enrolments and no permanent location Cave Point Public School was closed in 1899.

Between 1900 and 1911 some of the children attended Tweed Heads School while others did not attend school at all. In 1911 it was deemed by the government that there were enough children living at ‘The Caves’ to establish a school. The school reopened as Fingal Point Provisional School in February 1913, and then became Fingal Point Public school from 1 January 1914. In 1962 the school underwent a final name change to Fingal Head Public School.

The school celebrated 100 years of education on the Fingal Peninsula in 1995.

Today Fingal Head Public School is a vibrant place of learning for the children and a focus for the local Fingal community.

FINGAL PUBLIC SCHOOL - ONCE UPON A TIME...

WHY WE LOVE FINGAL ! By Macy and Birren

The trees in the Dreamtime Pathway are swishing around while the waves on the beach are crashing down and overhead an osprey is circling…that’s our amazing Fingal Head!

Fingal is the most welcoming and inviting school on the coast, with kind and caring teachers who are leading us to achieve our best throughout our school years.

Students at our school have many opportunities to get outdoors and into nature, for example our school is part of an Aboriginal community. This means we have beautiful surroundings of wood sculptures and totem poles that children have painted. We also have a beautiful Dreamtime Pathway to explore and see all the native plants and bush tucker.

At Fingal School we are keen participants in all kinds of sports! In summer, when it’s warm, we like to choose fun sports like surfing and swimming, and in winter we choose exciting indoor activities the whole school can enjoy, like ten-pin bowling.

The students here at Fingal are exceptionally hard working, imaginative, cultural and set a great example in every way!

Caring for the local environment is very important to the kids at Fingal School, and we have been recognised with National and State awards from the Clean Beaches Council. We work hard with Fingal Coast care, looking after our beautiful beach and our own little rainforest.

What do Fingal kids say about our school:

“The best thing about Fingal is that there are nice kids and no bullies.” Harlon

“I love all the teachers.” Leila

“I love that we are a small school and everyone knows each other.” Indi

“My favourite thing to do at school is playing sport with my friends.” Mibin

“I love learning all about our environment.” Hester

“My favourite thing is when we go on excursions.” Jason

COASTAL LEARNING COMMUNITY

COASTAL LEARNING COMMUNITY