T H E F O R T N I G H T LY N E W S L E T T E R F R O M G A L S T O N H I G H S C H O O L 2 0 1 9 T E R M 4 W E E K 8

Presentation Evening Highlights...

Presentation Evening (Cont’d)...

This Week

Monday 9 DecemberYear 10 Summer Dance

Tuesday 10 DecemberStudent Librarian Induction

Wednesday 11 DecemberYear 9 Water Sports Excursion

Thursday 12 DecemberYear 9 Water Sports ExcursionHub Class 3 Community Access 12 - 3pm - SmallYear 10 Wheelchair Basketball Educational ProgramHub Class 1&2 Community Access - Gilmour/Lindley

Friday 13 DecemberYear 11 Wheelchair Basketball Educational ProgramRec Sport Excursion pds 1&2

Next Week

Monday 16 DecemberHub 3 Community Access - MarshCommunity Thank you Morning TeaExcursion Christmas Carols at Rowland Village 9.30 - 12.30pm

Tuesday 17 DecemberHSC results realeased

Wednesday 18 DecemberYear 12 Morning Tea in Waddell Cafe 10.30amLast day for studentsIncursion Student Welfare Team Rewards Day

Term 1 2020

Tuesday 28 JanuaryStaff return to school

Wednesday 29 JanuaryYears 7, 11 & 12 return to schoolYear 7 Welcome Breakfast 8.00am

Thursday 30 JanuaryYears 8, 9 & 10 return to school

Upcoming Events

Homework Club

Homework Club operates every Wednesday afternoon from 3.30 - 4.30pm.

Students can receive help from teaching staff with homework and assessment tasks, or simply utilise the Library computers and wifi to complete their work.

Welfare/HUB Faculty Focus...

Year Senior Mentoring ProgramThis year the Senior Mentoring program continues to grow.

The purpose of the program is: • For the students to give it all they have got in Year 12, to

ensure they “don’t leave any petrol in the tank”. • Establish a culture of success within the year group by

pushing, encouraging and motivating them.• Opportunity to be a part of the 10% on top program.• To support and guide students as they prepare for the

challenges of the HSC and post high school. To help set achievable goals.

• Provide students with the essential skills needed to maximise individual results across all subjects.

We do this by: • Focusing on the process and not the result. • Working smarter. Some students may also need to work

harder. • Doing the little things right to minimise stress and

maximise performance. • Starting early in the HSC course and build your skills,

knowledge and understanding in each subject.• Differentiating between assessment tasks, homework

and study. • Ensuring everything students are asked to do will have a

purpose – we will not be wasting their time.

This program involves students and teachers meeting regularly to talk about support, study techniques, preparation for assessments, school and post school options. It has been successful for a number of students who are in regular contact with their mentors. This year we will be reviewing the program and making any relevant changes to further support students who are interested in gaining the best possible ATAR.

Student Welfare TeamThe Heart of the SchoolLEADERSHIP ROLE is focused on student welfare to support learning by connecting students with their learning environment and to ultimately succeed and thrive at GalstonHigh School

Student Welfare Team The Student Welfare Team is a newly created team this year which has made a difference across Galston High School. It started when multiple girls from Year 10 attended a mental health forum at Macquarie University and Castle hill which helped our understanding of mental health and the stigma around it. From this with the help of Mr van Baarle we decided

to create a Student Welfare Team which promoted the well-being of staff and students as well as raising the awareness of mental health.

Throughout the year we have participated in multiple random acts of kindness to make people at the school feel better. Our first activity was handing out lollies to students as they walked into school in the morning. This brought a lot of smiles to faces. Our next activity was putting nice, motivational and uplifting notes in the lunch orders of staff and students, with positive messages. We also gave these nice messages to all teachers to brighten their day. Another activity was putting $5 canteen vouchers under random chairs in every classroom to bring a smile to one lucky student in each classroom. For Halloween we gave out lollies at the front of the school. We have also played happy music at lunchtimes and handed people happy notes in mornings. The Student Welfare Team is a motivational team that takes part in random acts of kindness around the school which has improved the wellbeing of students and staff from Galston High School. We look forward to continuing this next year and hope that more people keep joining.

Chelsea Johnston

The Hub have continued to successfully achieve in a variety of activities throughout the year. We welcomed continuing to build school and community links for work experience. We thank Mrs Annette Fraietta for working with some students from Years 10, 11 and 12 in the Waddell Café where students learnt and developed customer service skills, barista skills and money handling. In the community we have had the opportunity for students to participate in work experience at the Salvos Store, Dural and IGA, Galston. The students involved in these opportunities have thoroughly enjoyed the time to develop work skills and represent Galston High School in our community.

Students have enjoyed their fortnightly Community Access days to develop their work, social skills and independence skills in a fun environment. Highlights have included lawn bowls, ten pin bowling, the Powerhouse Museum and travelling on the Metro.

Throughout the year the Hub students have enjoyed their classes with mainstream teachers, and some students attending mainstream classes. We thank all mainstream teachers for their expertise. Hub students have also thoroughly enjoyed participating in whole year excursions

HUB Update...

HUB Update (cont’d)...

and programs such as swim school. The Hub looks forward to further developing our students skills in 2020.

Below are some comments from Hub 1 about their Science experiments from term 4:

In the Hub this term we have been doing science experiments. My favourite experiment was the Mentos in soft drinks. We had to put Mentos in five different soft drinks and observe. I didn’t know that if you put Mentos in soft drink, it “explodes”. It was really cool. - Yasemin

The Paper Planes experiment was cool to see them fly, but it was hard to find a design. They were hard to make. My “Design 2” flew the furthest distance which was 7.8 metres. – Daniel

My favourite experiment was the “Dominant Side” experiment. It was just super fun. I did most of it with the right side of my body. Kicking the ball was the most fun. My rating was that my brain uses both sides equally well. – Geoffrey.

Canteen Volunteers of the Month...

Our lucky Volunteers of the Month for this term. A happy Vanessa Collits for September, a surprised Wafa Sweedan for October and for November a beaming Leanne Luzar all pictured receiving their gifts. Thank you to all our fantastic volunteers in the canteen for all your hard work and support. You're a great team and definitely appreciated - just ask the children.

Big thanks to our sponsors Maria Rubino who supplies the beautiful flowers and Liz Fox for her delicious handmade candles, diffusers and soaps. You'll see Liz at the markets on Friday night.

Have a great holiday and see you next yearwith loveBig Red

Proudly supported by

Prefect Report...

Last week, from Sunday 24th November to Friday the 29th November the Year 12 students completed their Gold Qualifying Walk for Duke of Edinburgh – their final walk. Many students associated with the Duke of Edinburgh were relieved yet melancholy when arriving home from their final walk, including our School Captain Holly Hayes

On Monday the 25th of November, our School Captain: Sam Loria and Year 7 prefect: Maddie Morris, had the pleasure of attending Hillside Public School’s presentation. Where they had the pleasure of presenting awards to children such as the Hills Hawks Sports Award – present by Sam – and the Premiers Sporting Challenge Medallion – presented by Maddie – to the recipients. Although the day had presented rain, luckily the rain subsided for the assembly and the prefects were able to enjoy their evening without getting wet. Sam and Maddie really enjoyed seeing Hillside’s clear sense of community – very welcoming sight

to them both.

On Tuesday the 3rd of December we enjoyed our annual presentation night, which featured exceptional achievements from all years in the areas of academia, sports, school and community service as well as extracurricular actives, whilst celebrating and encouraging the student’s accomplishments. Throughout the night talented performers within GHS, entertained the attendees and afterwards a delicious supper was catered by the Year 12 Hospitality Class. Presentation night at GHS is highly anticipated, and we had the pleasure to have many special guests, local residents, students and their families all there, and we would like to thank them for taking the time to celebrate the achievements of our students.

On Wednesday the 4th of December, we hosted Orientation Day, where we introduce local Year 6 students to our school. Giving them the chance to experience a few example lessons from different faculties. It was a fun

day which introduced the community to the supportive environment of our school.

Coming up, Thursday the 6th of December the school is hosting the Rotary Twilight Christmas Markets, come on down from 5:30pm-8:00pm for a merry old time. Hope to see you there!

And whilst we’re in the mood for fun the prefect team is getting ready for our Christmas Day Assembly in week 10, it is fast approaching and we have some great activities planned. Hope you’re excited for Christmas, but just in case you’re not, we know this assembly will get you in the spirit!We are also busy preparing for our annual Christmas food drive. From the start of December, we will be collecting canned food donations that will be distributed to people in need of food this Christmas through Galston Rotary Club. We are hoping to get all the students on board for this worthy cause and house points will be given for each donation.

Important dates

Last day of term 2019 - Wednesday 18 December 2019

First day of term 2020 for Years 7, 11 and 12 - Wednesday 29 January 2020

First day of term 2020 for Years 8, 9 and 10 - Thursday 30 January 2020

Take a look at the new video Galston High School has produced.

Professionally filmed in 4K over three days, the video showcases the school and it’s students, welcoming Year 7 to join a “small community with big opportunity.”

Year 7 students Ruby Sandlin and Ryan Billington performed in the lead roles, taking the audience on a journey through high school life at Galston. Many students filled out “extra” roles in the scenes, so watch carefully

to see if you can spot someone you know!

To view the video, go to the home page of the school’s website: https://galston-h.schools.nsw.gov.au

Have you seen our new video?