The Family NewsleTTer www.jamesfallon.nsw.edu.au

Fallon Street, Albury, NSW, 2640 02 6025 1688

Principal: Jenny Parrett Deputy Principal: Ross McGarvie Deputy Principal: David Johnson

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Term 3 has ended with so many positives in our school.

The Creative and Performing Arts Showcase was superb. The talent and variety in the performances,

and the works on display in the foyer, in the intimate and professional space of The Cube, made for

an excellent evening. Congratulations to the Creative and Performing Arts students and staff for this

wonderful event.

This week, our Year 11 students engaged in Crossroads, a 25 hour mandatory course on supporting

students with health and wellbeing information. Our group had the maturity and positivity to attend

an overnight camp at Hume Weir, and every guest speaker was very impressed with the level of

engagement in the group. Congratulations to the PDHPE staff for the smooth running of this event.

Our Year 7 and 9 students engaged in the NAPLAN technical readiness trial this week also. This was

an additional test, and I have great admiration for our students, who, in the main, cooperated with

the exercise. Next year NAPLAN will be online for students, and our technology is more than ready

to cope with the test.

Our Positive Behaviour for Learning team held two rewards events on Monday 18th September– a

morning tea (with me- a definite perk of the job) and a Rewards BBQ, with a “big day out”

atmosphere. The sun was shining, the music from Year 12 students was fantastic, and the crew fed

the whole school in a lunchtime session. What a wonderful time! Congratulations to the PBL team,

who put this event together.

The departure of our HSC class of 2017 was one that left the whole community feeling affirmed in

what we hope to achieve with our students. The walk off before the school was beautiful, and the

assembly on Thursday 21st September was warm, loving, inspiring, and supportive. Our guest

speaker, Zoe Singer (HSC Class of 2012) had her mother, Bronwyn Wood (also an ex student of JFHS)

read out her speech, which is attached. This was a perfect moment for the school and for the two

wonderful women who gave their time to the school yesterday. The Year 12 students presented

beautiful gifts to many, and there were quite a number of tears as we acknowledged the

contributions of the cohort, and their gratitude towards the school. Our Year 12s also received their

academic awards, rather than on the Presentation Evening, major awards excluded – this was a

worthwhile change, as the students were present to receive them before they leave school officially.

The year group then departed the hall, with Jacob Brockley leading the group via the ramp. This was

a wonderful act of inclusion for a student who has travelled from Corowa every day for school for 6

years, and has been such an asset to our school community. Congratulations to our school leaders,

and our Year 12 Year Adviser, Deanna Fletcher, who created this event.

After a very long term, I hope that all our students enjoy some time with their families.

Jennifer Parrett

PRINCIPAL

FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

Year 12

After a powerful Year 12 Graduation Assembly yesterday, 23 days remain until the first HSC written

examinations - English Advanced and English Standard, on Monday, 16th October.

With no more lessons and assessment tasks required, each and every one of our students of the

class of 2017 has a lot of time to revise and attempt practice examination questions. Significant

improvement is often made during this time with those students who remain focused and follow a

structured study and revision timetable. Year 12 teachers will be available to students here at the

school from Monday, 9th October – the first day of Term 4 – until the examinations finish with the

Drama written examination on the afternoon of Tuesday, 7th November.

Good luck to all of our wonderful Year 12 students in the weeks ahead. Make the most of them.

Year 11

Final examinations for the Preliminary HSC courses were completed at the end of Week 9 for most of

our Year 11 students. Examinations will be returned and reports issued early in Term 4. There is

always something to be learned from the verbal and written feedback which all teachers provide

following exams. Reports also represent an opportunity to reflect on classroom and homework

habits and skills. In doing so, students can refine their approach to the HSC year.

Ross McGarvie

Deputy Principal

DANCE

A few weeks ago a number of our dancers travelled to Sydney as part of the Riverina Albury

Dance Ensemble. They performed at the State Dance Festival. This was a wonderful and well

deserved experience for the girls who successfully auditioned for the event in March.

JFHS dancers pictured ( from bottom right) are Czarlene Villanueva, Juliet Whyte, Jessica

Harris, Gabby Berry,

Melodie Gason,

Courtney Hartley,

Athena Bouteris,

Laura Bunn, Soraya

Doubleday and

Jessica Wilson.

The dancers from

AHS were Asha

Krautz, Sophie

Dawson, Kara

Gratton and Renee

Boyd.

Laura Bunn (Year 7) earlier in the year was

selected for the State Dance Ensemble which is

an amazing achievement. She had a busy week

in Sydney as she performed with the Dance

Ensemble group (above) but also stayed on

and performed with the State Dance

Ensemble.

NAIDOC ACTIVITY DAY

Year 7/8 MC worked extremely hard to bring together this Aboriginal flag for this year’s

celebrations. Teachers, students and school staff were asked to create a hand print. These

hand prints were then transformed into one large Aboriginal flag by everyone in the Special

Education faculty. This Aboriginal Flag represents the whole of the James Fallon school

community supporting NAIDOC 2017.

Thankyou to every-one

who participated in

this wonderful

activity.

Ms. Callaghan

Special Education

YEAR 12 – FINAL ASSEMBLY

Year 12 Assembly Speech

Hello Class of 2017! What a nostalgic time. I can’t believe it has been 5 years since I sat in

these seats.. about to finish year 12… finally!

Most people in the room are probably thinking, thank god this day has come. No more

school, no more classes, it’s over! Some of your teachers are probably thinking ‘wow they

actually made it’… maybe not.

Either way, these final few weeks are so surreal.

For those who don’t know me, I came to this school in 2007. I had no idea how to read my

timetable. I had never seen so many kids in one place. I hated history, I hated that I was too

young to be in the rock eisteddfod and I hated the sport shorts. I’m guessing some of us will

have this in common.

Little did I know, the next 5 years would be some of the best building blocks of my life, and

where I would meet some amazing people that are still significant in my life today – no

matter where we have ended up. You might not realise how much it means to you until

you’ve been out of school for five years, or even 10. Believe me it will come.

By the time I reached my senior years, I received the Level 1 Award. Old Mr Taylor, who

admittedly I had probably given a hard time over the years, was so proud. He wrote to me

‘Zoe can be outspoken, Zoe is feisty, Zoe speaks for the underdog, she speaks out when

wronged or treated unfairly and she speaks her mind. I have supported Zoe on several.. and I

mean several occasions against being penalised for simply defending herself. I have a lot of

respect for Zoe, for her tenacity, for her integrity, honesty and feistiness’. He may have

blamed the red hair.. it could be true I wouldn’t know any different!

This is me in a nutshell. The outspokenness started early. There is an art to being feisty yet

respectful and I nailed it. The teachers at this school allow you to do this. Not only do they

allow it, but they support you to be your true self. They allow you to grow and flourish, to

have a voice. They challenge you, they guide you and they respect you. School today is not

about authority; it’s about mentoring and guidance. We are so fortunate to have so many

mentors and guides at this school.

When you reach your senior years, most of the ‘don’t care attitude’ is gone, and you really

start to enjoy learning and appreciating what it means to be an adolescent reaching

adulthood. School is where you spend most of your time, how lucky we are that this is the

school where we spent it.

Toward the end of year 12 comes the pressure of where to from here? I was one of the few

people who didn’t go on the field trips to universities and who didn’t apply for early grad

entry into a course. When I look back I don’t really know why? I was the first person in my

family to complete Year 12, with two amazing women, my mother Bronwyn Wood and my

aunty Janine Howard leaving this very school in Year 10. My mum, now a health

psychologist and my ultimate role model had gone to uni through all my childhood. I always

knew I would end up at university.. but it never crossed my mind to be proactive about

making it happen. I knew I wanted to help people and that’s all I knew.. sounds cliché but

it’s true.

I had always advocated for others and had a passion for working with vulnerable children

and families. Suddenly, Mr Turner, the Careers Adviser was chasing me down pointing out it

was a week before the cut off date… and told me about the ability to defer. So there it was,

with only a few days to spare I applied for early entry to CSU and LaTrobe for a Degree in

Social Work and Psychology.

Before I knew it, the acceptance email came for Bachelor of Human Services/Master in

Social Work at Latrobe Wodonga. I suddenly panicked. I thought oh my god! I haven’t even

finished school yet! I need to travel the world, I need money, I’m sick of textbooks! So I

deferred. I worked 3 jobs and lived at home, I went to Europe for a month and I saved

money to move out of home. A year later I re-enrolled in my subjects and started university.

I’ve been here ever since. The reason I couldn’t be here to present this speech today is

because I am on my final placement, after four years at university. I am so close.

What I didn’t mention is that I didn’t receive a good ATAR. I recently was asked to have a

profile written about my experience for those who didn’t receive the ATAR they had hoped

for and still made their dreams come true.

I was an A Grade student. I was in the 1’s classes, I received above 75% for all of my HSC

assignments, I even got 100% for a Dance Essay. I chose English, Maths, Dance, CaFS,

Business and Legal Studies. I had always been a successful student, and with all my excellent

HSC marks – the day my ATAR came crushed me. I got less than 60.

But what did this teach me? This taught me that this number doesn’t define your future, or

the person you have become at James Fallon High School. What you do learn is respect,

responsibility, passion, commitment, pride, dedication and resilience. This is invaluable.

Congratulations and good luck Year 12… this is only the beginning.

Delivered by Ms Bronwyn Wood on behalf of her daughter Zoe Wood, who could not be

present.

Mrs Jennifer Parrett and Mrs Deanna Fletcher (Year 12 Year Advisor)

Class of 2017

IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR ATTENDANCE

HIGH ATTENDANCE = MORE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES =

MORE QUALIFICATIONS = MORE CHOICE

Ways for parents to encourage attendance:

Regularly check your child’s attendance record at the school to see if it matches with your

own record.

Talk regularly with your child about school and how they feel about it. They are more likely

to attend if they feel supported and their anxieties are acknowledged.

Only grant days at home for genuine illness.

Avoid taking holidays in school time.

Praise and reward good attendance and punctuality in the mornings.

If you have concerns, ring the school and ask to talk to your child’s

Year Adviser.

Month Week Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat/Sun

Oct

2017

1A

9 Students return for Term 4

10 Year 7 2018 Orientation Day

11

12

13 School Spectacular Rehearsals Wagga

14/15

2B

16 2017 HSC Examination Commence Riverina Visual Arts Camp Wagga

17 Riverina Visual Arts Camp Wagga

18 Riverina Visual Arts Camp Wagga

19 Riverina Visual Arts Camp Wagga

20 Year 9 Wirraminna Excursion

21/22

3A

23

24 25

26

27

28/29

4B

30 Mobile Dental Service visit

31 Mobile Dental Service visit

1 Mobile Dental Service visit

2 Mobile Dental Service visit

3 Mobile Dental Service visit Year 7 Immunisations (round 2)

4/5

Nov

2017

5A

6 Year 10 Examination Week

7

Melbourne Cup (VIC) Year 10 Examination Week Year 7 2018 Family Information Evening 7-8pm 2017 HSC Examination Conclude

8 Year 10 Examination Week Year 12 Graduation Dinner

9 Year 10 Examination Week Year 7 2017 Exhibition Night 4.30-7.30pm

10 Year 10 Examination Week School Spectacular Rehearsals Wagga

11/12

Remembrance Day

6B

13

14

15 Year 10 Wellness Expo EAL/D Parent Information Session P3-4

16

17

18/19

7A

20 La Trobe Engineering Showcase Year 10

21 School Spectacular Sydney

22 School Spectacular Sydney

23 School Spectacular Sydney

24 School Spectacular Sydney

25/26

8B

27 Year 9 Sydney Excursion

28 Year 9 Sydney Excursion

29 Year 9 Sydney Excursion

30 Year 9 Sydney Excursion

1

Year 9 Sydney Excursion

2/3

Dec

2017

9A

4

5 Year 7 2018 Orientation Day #2

6

7 Presentation Night

8

9/10

10B

11

12

13

14

15 Final day of 2017 school year for students.

16/17

New Resources for the Learning Centre

This term we received a number of wonderful new resources to help our

newest English language learners. These were due to a $500 grant from

Charles Sturt University which we gratefully received as part of their Rural and

Regional Development Program. Many of the students who use this space have

loved trying out the new games.

Gilene Mkosa and Patrick Bandolelwa Dinesh Chamlagai and Madan Rai

John Matendo and Dinesh

Chamlagai.