S E A T O N H I G H S C H O O L

Newsletter A Culture of Achievement

Department for Education and Child Development T/A South Australian Government Schools CRICOS PROVIDER : 00018A

June 2014

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CORE VALUES • Respect • Responsibility • Achievement

Principal’s Column As we approach the end of Term 2 many students are nearing the end of their Semester 1 subjects and/or completing significant aspects of full-year subjects, specifically:

Year 12 Trial Exams Year 12 Research Project moderation Year 10 Literacy Moderation Year 8/9 Panel Presentations Year 11 major tests and assignments Year 11 Work Experience

As well as providing staff with important information on student progress these activities give students the opportunity to both demonstrate and extend their learning and support the development of a broad range of skills which are critical in students’ academic and personal achievement. In keeping with our site priorities a number of special programs supporting student wellbeing have either recently been run or will be taking place in the final weeks of term. For example:

Year 10 Community Service Day Year 8/9 Wellness Program Year 10 Citizen and Adelaide CBD Passport Year 11 – Youth Driver Education Program Programs such as these are vital in terms of addressing the range of issues facing young people in today’s society and in developing behaviours and characteristics consistent with our Graduate Qualities.

Planning for 2015 is well underway. We are evaluating changes made to the Year 8 curriculum pattern this year and again making some adjustments. As the implications of Australian Curriculum extend into year 10 next year some minor changes will be necessary at that level as well. We are currently identifying vacancies for teacher and leadership positions (2015 –) to be advertised in the near future. As student numbers and subject choices are confirmed further positions may be identified.

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Seaton High School Glenburnie Street Seaton SA 5023 Phone 8445 2944 Fax 8445 7159 Email:dl.0941.info@schools.sa.edu.au Web – www.seatonhs.sa.edu.au

See page 2 for important school dates

As usual, a wide variety of activities continue to take place across the range of programs and subjects offered at Seaton HS. For example (a small selection!):

• Year 8-11 Dance, Drama and Music performances • Western Zone sport competitions • Year 9 PE bushwalk • Year 8/9/10 leadership groups • Senior and Middle School Student Councils • ICAS Science Competition

Richard Abell, Principal _____________________________________________________

What’s happening behind the screens? The internet and online technologies, like mobile phones are incredible tools. They provide an opportunity to communicate, learn, play and be entertained by content from around the world. Like communicating in the real world there are risks in interacting online - cyberbullying, scams, sexting, identity theft just to name a few.

As part of its Cybersmart Outreach program, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (the ACMA), delivers free internet safety awareness presentations for parents, teachers and students. Presentations provide valuable information about the risks confronting children online, and offer tools and tips to help make their internet experiences safe and positive. To help your children stay safe online, Seaton High School is hosting a Cybersmart Outreach—Internet Safety Awareness presentation designed for all parents,

Thursday 24th July at 5.30pm (Conference Room, main building)

Internet safety presentations cover topics including:

• the ways young people use the internet and emerging technologies

• potential risks for teens & children online, such as cyberbullying, illegal content, inappropriate contact, identity theft, grooming and predatory activity

• tips to help them stay safe online. A separate presentation will be held for all Year 8 students on 24th July during school time. A letter has been sent home to Year 8/9 parent/caregivers this week. Any parents of Year10-12 students are welcome to attend and are asked to notify their attendance by contacting the Front Office on 8445 2944 by 1st July.

Term 2

Friday 4th July Last day of Term Dismissal 2pm Term 3

Monday 21st July Student Free Day Australian National Curriculum Planning Day Tuesday 22nd July Term 3 commences 8.35am Monday 5th August Koishikawa Students Arrive Friday 5th September School Closure Show Day Monday 8th September Student Free Day Staff Training & Professional Development The full Term 2/3 calendar is available on our school website

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We are currently looking for families who would like to host a Japanese student visiting from Koishikawa High School. This highly successful program is only possible with the support of our families.

The Koishikawa students will be arriving in Adelaide on 4th August and departing on 15th August.

We are currently taking expressions of interest from families that have previously hosted or new families that would like to participate.

If you would like to express your interest, or would like further information, contact Meredith Gray, Cultural & Social Inclusion Coordinator meredith.gray948@schools.sa.edu.au or contact our front office on 84452944

Important Dates Terms 2 & 3

Japanese Homestay

Mitchell Tansell is a Year 9 student in our 8926 class. As well as providing his own unique comic each issue, he will also be providing ‘character biographies’.

Student Contributions

12 Seaton students attended workshops at the University of Adelaide on Wednesday 11 June to promote engineering as a career path to young women. The workshops involved completing engineering tasks in civil, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering. Presentations on the importance of science and maths in senior school and the opportunities offered by engineering were conducted by women engineers, students and lecturers.

Building loudspeakers out of paper plates and plastic cups

Only 11% of engineers employed overall in Australia are women and in core engineering roles the figure is a lot less. There is no reason why the opportunities and rewards offered by engineering should be closed to women since the requisite skills in science and maths are ably demonstrated by women. The problem is in opening up the profession and assisting girls to choose a career path that will be of benefit to them and to Australia as a whole. This was the purpose of the workshops

Young Women in Technology

Some of the workshops included programming lego mindstorm robots to perform a dance and programming using graphical interfaces. These introduced students to programming concepts including iteration and sequence. Students observed cells that had been subjected to high pressure and constructed earthquake proof structures. The presentations emphasised the importance of science and mathematics in the senior school and were conducted by women who engaged the students and provided an example of what is possible.

Programming the lego robots for the “dance off” Demonstrating the loudspeakers, constructed

from paper plates, wire, magnets and plastic cups

The students reported that they enjoyed the day, particularly the morning tea and lunch which was provided by the University. The University also provided an excellent range of speakers, guides and demonstrators who were mainly volunteers who gave their time willingly. Our students also experienced the general atmosphere at the University and were exposed to some of the social and academic facilities. The success of the day was ensured by the excellent way our students conducted themselves, showing an interest and courtesy to all of the University volunteers and engaging with the activities. It was a pleasure to escort the students on this activity. Stuart Williams and Denise Gaskell

Constructing an earthquake resistant building Testing the earthquake resistant structures.

As part of the year 9 SOSE program students must undertake a unit in Aboriginal Studies. This involves looking at aspects that have influenced indigenous life since white settlement. What better way to learn about this first hand than to experience this on a camp to Camp Coorong. Camp Coorong is located just out of Meningie, near the world famous Coorong area. The camp is an area ran by the Ngarrindjeri people to educate and give experiences on life of the local indigenous population.

Beach Time Our program took in aspects such as traditional basket weaving, visits to the 42 mile crossing, the barrages and the township of Raukkan, a view of a mallee fowl nest, fish traps and the history and origin of the Chinamans Well.

Camp Coorong – Year 9

For the first time this year the students were involved in a revegetation program along the Coorong. This is a program run by Camp Coorong and involves replanting native vegetation along the Coorong to restore the original scrubland, so important for Indigenous culture, their food and medicine and to encourage wildlife back to the area. We hope this becomes an annual event and that the school can give back to this natural environment.

Tree Planting by students – and the results of their hard work A highlight for the students was a look at the museum set up by the Ngarrindjeri people to show their history, culture and their innovation. The students were able to get their hands on traditional weapons used by the Ngarrindjeri people as well as tools, baskets and art work.

In addition, Ngarrindjeri Elder, Daryl Rigney, spoke to the students about his life growing up in the area, the stories of his people and the importance of retaining this culture for future generations.

The camp was a great experience for the students (and I am sure a bit of fun!!) and a great way of taking their learning outside of the class room.

A big thank you to Ellen Trevorrow and Daryl Rigney who run Camp Coorong and allowed us a glimpse into their childhood and their culture and to the Seaton staff who give up their time to allow our students these experiences. Jamie Downs. Year 9 Coordinator

SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE

The School Dental Service is the major provider of dental services for babies, children and young people under 18 years in South Australia. Around 130, 000 children attend every year. The Commonwealth Child Dental Benefits Schedule for 2 – 17 year olds started in 2014. ALL children are very welcome to continue to access dental care at the School Dental Service. Dental care is FREE for most children and the School Dental Service will bulk–bill Medicare. Children who do not qualify for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule can also attend – a small fee will apply for each course of general dental care provided. School Dental Clinics are located across Adelaide and regional SA. To locate your local School Dental Clinic, and for more information about the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, visit www.sadental.sa.gov.au

South Australia Speech and Hearing Centre (SASHC) SASHC is owned and run by dual qualified speech pathologists and audiologists* who specialise in the diagnoses and intervention for Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

July Offer -$100 discount on full diagnostic APD assessment (including diagnostic hearing testing and comprehensive report) *Audiologists are the recognised professionals for the diagnosis of APD This offer for is subject to appointments booked between 01/07/14 –31/07/14 only.

Goodwood Road Cumberland Park, SA 5041 Ph. 8272 9997 www.sashc.com.au

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