Progress with Pride

Creative Edge University

Wadalba

Community

School

Newsletter 2016

Term 3, Week 4

“Learning for all is first and foremost”

(School Strategic Direction 1: 2015-2017)

Our new phone number is 0243 562 888

August 2016 Calendar

8/8/2016-19/8/2016 Year 12 Exams

17/8/2016 MAD Night CAPA

2/9/2016 Primary Father’s Day Breakfast

9/9/2016 Numeracy Day Year 7

For more details see http://www.wadalba-c.schools.nsw.edu.au/calendar and https://www.facebook.com/WadalbaCommunitySchool

Applying Mathematics to real

world scenarios

Principal’s Report

Education Week

Education Week is always one of the highlights of our calendar. We look forward to welcoming families to

the many events that showcase the talents of our young people.

The state theme for Education Week 2016 is 'Shared stories, better learning, and stronger communities'.

Taiwanese Visit

This term we have had ten Taiwanese students visiting with us for three weeks. It is a terrific opportunity for

a cultural exchange and for students to develop an understanding about how life, including schooling,

compares across other places in the world.

Thank you to host families and student buddies for their support.

Academic Excellence

As always, learning for all remains our focus. I have encouraged students to read their half yearly reports

carefully to understand strengths that have been identified by their teachers about their learning and to help

set goals about their next steps for ongoing growth.

We wish Y12 well as they prepare for their trial HSC Exams, submit their major works and prepare for their

final exams. We look forward to celebrating the graduation of Y12 at the end of the term.

Y11 will complete their Preliminary HSC course with their yearly exams at the end of the term.

Subject selection for Y10 into Y11 and Y8 into Y9 has taken place this term. This is an exciting time for

students as they exercise greater choice in their learning.

A reminder to check out our Study@WCS page on the school website http://www.wadalba-

c.schools.nsw.edu.au/curriculum-activities/study-wcs for study and revision ideas.

Tell Them From Me survey

Later in the term we will have the opportunity to collect information from students, families and teachers

with the Tell Them From Me surveys as we commence our evaluation and planning cycle. The surveys help

guide our school directions and planning. We hope families will help us by completing the survey.

Information about the student surveys will also be sent out as part of the organisation.

Mr McGrath Principal

Deputy Principal Report Tell Them From Me Survey This term, Wadalba Community School is taking part in the Tell Them From Me student survey. The survey will provide us with valuable feedback on what our students think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the different ways that teachers interact with them. Schools in Australia and around the world have used the Tell Them From Me survey to help them improve. The survey is completed on-line and is run by an independent research company, The Learning Bar, which specialises in school-based surveys. Staff in schools will not be able to identify individual students from their responses. To ensure confidentiality, participating students will receive a unique username and password. Where fewer than five students respond to a question, the results will be suppressed. The survey typically takes 30 minutes or less to complete and will be administered by the school during normal school hours. Once the surveys are completed by students, reports are prepared and in most cases are available to schools within three business days. This survey will help your school better understand how to improve student wellbeing and engagement. It will help the school identify what works to improve student outcomes. Participating in the survey is entirely voluntary. Your child will not take part if either you or your child do not wish. If, during the survey, your child is uncomfortable, he/she can choose to stop the survey at any time. The majority of questions in the survey can be skipped.

If you do not want your child to take part in the survey, please contact your child’s year advisor. More information about the survey and the research is available in English on the CESE website: http://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au/information-for-parents NAIDOC Assembly 2016 NAIDOC assembly was again very successful, the theme was Songlines :The living narrative of our nation. Songlines are intricate maps of land, sea and country. They describe travel and trade routes, the location of waterholes and the presence of food. In many cases, Songlines on the earth are mirrored by sky Songlines, which allowed people to navigate vast distances of this nation and its waters. The Aboriginal students and Didge group supported Casey Natty our Aboriginal support worker and special guest Kyle Shilling in traditional song and dance. Kyle also performed RAP songs that the students thoroughly enjoyed.

Ms Jane Harris

DP

Taiwanese Students’ Study Tour Students at Wadalba Community School

Wadalba Community School has been hosting a group of 10 students, aged 10-15, from Taiwan during their

three-week study tour of an Australian school.

In this short time, the visiting students have integrated into all aspects of Australian schooling life with a

buddy student. As well as completing English Language lessons, the students have became part of a class and

have experienced a range of practical subjects that are not part of the general curriculum in Taiwan.

The cultural exchange has been mutual, with Wadalba Community School students having the opportunity to

learn about another culture and language and gain a broader perspective on the world.

Before they returned home on Saturday, the students’ classmates ensured that they get a taste of

everything “Australian” eg. meat pies, Vegemite

Year 9 AVID students engaging in a cultural exchange activity with their visiting Taiwanese classmates

Visiting Taiwanese students and their buddies on an excursion to Sydney

Brankica Kokinovic Teacher – Wadalba Community School

Year 7

Year 7 will be involved in a Numeracy Day on Friday 9th September. In groups they will be completing mathematics based activities including Tower of Hanoi, Giant Yahtzee, Tanagrams and an Amazing Race. Lunch will be provided on the day. Karen Bellamy Year 10 Advisor

Creative Edge University Visit

Learning Choices Good News

On Friday 1st July, 15 students went to see the new movie Finding Dory at the Metro Cinemas at Lake Haven. These students were invited to attend the excursion because they had consistently displayed our school values of Respect, Responsibility and Excellence. Each student had to achieve a ratio of 3 positive referrals for any negative referrals across the whole term as well as hand in required work. Referral ratios were checked for each student every week and they were encouraged to meet their goals. Students were then given the opportunity to choose the movie to see and a vote was taken. Finding Dory was the winner.

On the day, we caught the public bus and each student managed their own money to buy a ticket and buy their own lunch. The teachers that went with the students Mrs Burton, Mrs Young and Mr Farah and they were so proud of every single student. Students acted responsibly and respectfully for the whole day and many said that they really enjoyed the experience and were keen to know where we were going next term! All students in the Learning Choices programs started again with a balance of zero positive and negative

referrals for Term 3. Every student has the opportunity to meet their goals and be invited to the next

excursion. We are thinking about catching a train to Sydney and perhaps even going on a ferry.

Please start and put some money aside so that your child can be part of this if they meet their goals. These

experiences of catching buses and trains are vital to students developing their travel skills.

Congratulations to the following students who achieved their goals: Ashley Connolly Nathan Fox Nicholas Goodyear Luke Hansen Bailey Hatcher Ebonnie Jager Brock Loder Julieanne McQuillan Taylah Robertson Jaiden Rush-Wichelow Jaii Shrimpton Brett Spiken Jemima Stewart Natalie Van de Ven Emilia Campbell Hannah Chauncy Kaydan Cox Alex Daelman Mandy Farrugia Patrick Graham Bryce Marlow Mitchell Pombart Gavin Sharp Sarah Taylor Reece Thomas Alec-Zander Withyman

Some of the students enjoying the movie

Transition meetings for Students and Families in the Learning Choices Program Transition meetings for all students in the Learning Choices programs have begun. All families are contacted invited to attend a meeting to discuss your child’s progress in detail. During the meeting we discuss options for next year as your child progresses to taking electives. We have already met with many families and look forward to meeting with everyone in term 3.

Talented Students in the Learning Choices Program: All of our students are talented in many different ways. Ashley Connolly is one such student. She has a passion for gaming and making models and used those talents in a Food Tech assignment during Term 2. Ashley had to research the ingredients and recipe for the cake and design the decorations on top She also wrote and tested various recipe options before deciding on the final one. Her final result not only looked phenomenal, it tasted lovely as well. It was a beautiful butterscotch flavour that she shared with her peers and teachers. Congratulations Ashley, you have an amazing talent and we look forward to seeing more from you in the future.

Ashley proudly displaying her awesome cake.

Mrs Burton Head Teacher Learning Choices.

Education Week for 2016 at Wadalba Community School was an exciting, suprising and wonderful celebration of our students talents. Here is just a small selection of the

events for the week which included Year 7 Cultural Day, Open Classroom, CAPA Showcase, Wadalba’s Got Talent, Physical Theatre, Drama, Dance and Art

Workshops.

Education  Week  @  

Wadalba  

Artwork: Christie Beckett, Student at Eora College 2009

Certificate II in Construction

This course is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who wish to develop their skills in

the construction industry. We offer a Certificate II in Construction which includes your

Whitecard which allows you access on any building site in NSW. The course offers great

support from the Yulang unit and trade teachers. If successful, at the completion of course

Yulang/Tafe will link you with one of our employment partners in the building industry.

Course starts: Monday 29th August 2016

Course Finishes: Friday 25th November2016

Where: 255 Wilson St Darlington.

Course runs for 3 days a week for 12 weeks.

For more information or to enrol please contact Clint Cooke on 0449707082 or

clinton.cooke1@tafensw.edu.au

SHARED NETWORKS\SI_AboriginalProgs on Umfres3\Courses\communityservices2,2014 flyer.pptx Version 1 –S1 - 20134 Page 1 of 1 Yulang AETU Section Disclaimer: Printed copies of this document are regarded as uncontrolled. The version on the website is the current version. Please check http://sitwww.tafensw.edu.au/ to ensure this is the latest version.

A Collaboration between The Epicentre and Central

Coast Primary Care Family Wellbeing Program.

Delivering free Yidaki and Dance workshops for lo-

cal residence living in the Wyong LGA.

Workshop aims:

• Empower and embody culture

• Providing a sense of belonging for young

men through Yidaki and Dance

Location: San Remo Neighbourhood

Centre (The Epicentre) 28 BRAVA

AVENUE SAN REMO NSW 2262

PH: 02 4390 7888

Cost: Free

Day & Time: Wednesdays 3pm

Nigel Millgate: 0412 361 653 / nigel@ccpc.com.au

Ben Glover: 0432 353 451 / ben@ccpc.com.au

Commencing Wednesday 17th August 2016