Secretary's Award for Excellence
Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in public education
West Wallsend High School has been the recipient of the 2019 Secretary’s Award for Excellence.
The annual awards showcase NSW public school students, teachers, staff and parents who have made major contributions to their school communities and serve as role models to their peers. They also acknowledge schools that have embraced innovative programs to turn around school results and are changing the way education is delivered within the government system.
West Wallsend High School was one of a handful of schools recognised.
The school executive team and staff have been instrumental in increasing student HSC success. They have embraced a vision for school improvement targeting specific initiatives with relentless focus. Of critical importance has been the engagement in an extensive suite of internal and external professional learning offered over the last five years. Our HSC improvement which is evidenced in data is a testament to the strategic focus of building the professional capacity of staff to enhance opportunities for all students. The learning community’s commitment to innovation is to be commended.
Department of Education Secretary, Mark Scott said, ‘The awards celebrated excellence within the State’s public education system by showcasing those who had made major contributions as role models to their peers, their schools and the wider education community.’
The Public Education Foundation’s Executive Director, David Hetherington said, ‘The Foundation was proud to host the Awards on behalf of Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell and Department Secretary, Mark Scott AO.’
“The event is always the highlight of the education calendar, showcasing the wonderful people and extraordinary talent across NSW public education – schools, students, teachers, school staff and parents,” Mr Hetherington said.
Congratulations West Wallsend High School learning community.
Dr Fiona Walsh
Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) Showcase
Thank you to all the families and friends that attended our CAPA Showcase in Week 5. This year was extra special with students from our Sugarloaf partner primary schools taking part in the evening performance. The art exhibition was a hit with students from our partner primary schools who enjoyed the opportunity to vote for their favourite artwork at the matinee showcase. When all the votes were tallied Year 10 student, Shaylee Van Breukelen was awarded the 'Young Westy Art Prize' for her sculpture.
Congratulations to the dedicated teachers who worked so hard to put this event together, our talented artists and performers who impressed, inspired and instilled joy and provided an excellent evening of entertainment. You can see more photos on our website.
NAIDOC Celebrations
A full week of events celebrated the cultural heritage of our nation’s First Peoples organised by our Aboriginal Education Team. To start West Wallsend High School’s NAIDOC Week, 7S talked about the importance of Acknowledgement of Country. As a class they wrote an Acknowledgement of Country paying homage to the traditional custodians our school sits upon, the Awabakal peoples. Here is Taleshia Brown, Payten Barnes and Hayden Waddingham reciting 7S’ acknowledgement.
Thank you to our community for attending our formal NAIDOC ceremony led by our Aboriginal student leaders. We enjoyed performances by the vocal group, Tyreece Sampson (dance) and Flick Cody and Piper Butcher who performed a cover of 'Black Fella White Fella'. Our yidaki group is growing in numbers; you can listen to them playing in the video 'Snapshots from our NAIDOC Ceremony'. Students and staff shared their thoughts on this year’s theme 'Voice, Treaty, Truth'.
With almost one hundred of our students identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, culture and community are valued in our school.
Cultural activities ran across the week. On Tuesday students learnt how to weave with Miss Rubie. On Wednesday a boot camp was run by NAIDOC guest, Evis Heath. Year 9 Geography students and year 10 Aboriginal Studies students enjoyed a bush tucker morning tea. Karen Rubie (Callaghan College Education Pathways Aboriginal Coordinator) worked with students on a ceremonial kangaroo skin. Students chose a theme/story for their skin, and with Mrs Rubie, they transferred their design onto the surface, ready for the next stage. Other students chose to learn traditional crafts such as using Aboriginal art symbols and putting them onto emu callers and clap sticks.
The week concluded with a community breakfast followed by a student working bee led by Mr Chandler clearing a space for a bush tucker garden.
Book Week
Our English faculty organised a comprehensive range of activities for Book Week. On Monday, some of our students walked to West Wallsend Public School to share their love of reading with the Kindergarten students.
On Tuesday students were able to enjoy a 'Booknic' relaxing with snacks and a good book during their break time.
Wednesday was the 'Dress-Up Day Parade'. Competition was fierce with students and staff vying for the best-dressed prizes.
Online Library
Students are encouraged to take part in our trial for an online library. To access a wide range of e-books and audiobooks, WWHS students can go to our online librarylogon using their DET login and password. The e-library has some extra functions to help students enjoy their reading, such as the ability to change font style, size and dyslexia filters to make reading more accessible. Students can also listen to an audiobook for something different to do.
STEM Success
8 teams from 4 different schools took part in stage 5 of the STEM innovation + defence program. Students showcased their innovative projects and also participated in a business pitch where they were judged based on innovation of product, identified market and overall presentation.
Jake Muller and Zahnee Bridge proudly presented the concept of the SAVI vest (sensory assistant for the visually impaired) and were announced winners of the pitch event. They received an invitation to travel to Sydney in November with 10 of the best business pitch teams from the Hunter region to pitch to industry and investors.
Huge thanks and recognition must go to their talented Science teacher and project mentor, Janine Goodwin for her unwavering support, and to year advisor, Amy Blakemore for her continual guidance.
On the Water
On Sunday 25 August Duke of Edinburgh candidates went to Booragul on Lake Macquarie to complete the practical component of their canoe training. Mr Johnson was the trainer and instructor for the day with the assistance of Mrs Foster and Mr Milat. The day started with a safety briefing, a refresher on paddling techniques and activities for the day ahead. We spent a couple of hours in the canoes, then stopped for a BBQ lunch before completing the final stage of the training. I am happy to say that all candidates passed their course ready for our next great adventure. The Duke of Edinburgh Awards is an excellent opportunity for young people to learn new skills, work as a team and challenge themselves while experiencing our beautiful bush and waterways.
Mr Johnson, WWHS Duke of Ed Coordinator.
Update to NSW Schools Enrolment Policy
You can find out about changes to the enrolment policy for schools in NSW in the ‘Information for parents’ flyer. This will not affect students already enrolled or those who have accepted an offer of enrolment at our school for 2020.
If you have any concerns or queries please contact Dr Fiona Walsh (Principal) at the school via email westwalls-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au or by phoning 4953 2111.
NSW SCHOOL VACCINATION PROGRAM 2019
School vaccination clinics continue into Term 3 with Year 7 being issued with their next immunization on 11th September 2019.
WHAT IF MY CHILD HAS MISSED A VACCINE?
If your child has missed any vaccinations they will be offered any missed doses at the next clinic at their school.
WHAT IF MY CHILD HAS NOT RECEIVED BOTH HPV VACCINES BEFORE THE END OF 2019?
Any year 7 student with missed doses of HPV vaccine can be caught up in 2020.
ADDITIONALLY:
• Any 2019 year 8 student who commenced HPV vaccination while in year 7 and are yet to finish the course of HPV (and who has not received any from their local doctor) can still receive this at the next clinic at their school (as long as 6 months have elapsed).
• Any year 10 student who returned a signed consent card for Meningococcal ACWY vaccine and has not receive this in 2019 (and who has not received it from their local doctor) can still receive this at the next clinic at their school.
Please note:
• As of July 2017 any student who has missed school program vaccines or any childhood vaccines can now receive these vaccines from their local doctor.
Don’t forget a Record of Vaccination is given to each student for each vaccination. Parents/guardians should ensure that this record is kept for future reference and should not assume that their child has been vaccinated if they do not receive this Record of Vaccination.
Any questions, visit the NSW Ministry of Health website
Fundraising
Our school has been busy fundraising! GaTS and SRC/SHOUT students ran a very successful Bunnings BBQ earlier this term raising funds for their programs. A big shout out to Ms Blakemore for her organisation and to all the staff, students and parents who supported us.
Our P&C organised another McDonalds Fundraiser this term at Edgeworth McDonalds. Thank you to everyone who supported this event.
In Week 7 this term (2-6th September) our SRC/SHOUT student team have organised a fundraiser to support Newcastle Dog Rescue. They are asking for donations of food/supplies for dogs and puppies during the week, the collection point is the 'kennel' by the Deputies offices. On Friday they will run a bake sale to raise some much-needed funds for the shelter. Please support if you can.
Cancer Sux
Our major fundraising effort for the year is our Cancer Sux Walkathon, taking place this year on Tuesday 24 September. This is the 10th year that our school has undertaken this event and we would like to make it the biggest and best yet. We have chosen to donate all monies raised to the Mark Hughes Foundation again this year to support their work with brain cancer. Students have already been given sponsorship forms and will be starting to collect donations. This is a whole school event. Students and teachers will walk from school to the top of Mount Sugarloaf and back to the school. Please sponsor a student - if every student and teacher raised a minimum of $10 each, we would exceed $6000 in donations. We are excited to announce that Danny Buderus (Mark Hughes Foundation representative) will be at our school to see the students off at the start of our walk.
School Maintenance Local Trades Providers and Suppliers
The NSW Government has committed the largest investment in planned maintenance at public schools in the history of NSW. A record $1.3 billion is being spent on an ambitious delivery program, focused on employing local businesses and contractors across the state.
To assist in addressing regional school maintenance issues and at the same time provide work for local trade’s persons and suppliers across the Hunter / Central Coast regions, over $100 million is being invested to upgrade and maintain our school infrastructure.
Given this record spend by School Infrastructure NSW, you are invited to an Asset Management Unit industry breakfast briefing. This will provide information to existing and new contractors on how you can get involved.
Due to the success of our first briefing and the fact that we capped the number, we are running a further two sessions. These are:
- Friday 6th September 2019 – 7:00am at Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College – The Entrance Campus (Primarily targeted to Company’s / Tradespeople on the Central Coast)
- Friday 20th September 2019 – 7:00am at Rutherford HS (Primarily targeted to Company’s /Tradespeople in the Lower Hunter/Upper Hunter)
To find out more by attending our Industry breakfast register at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/industry-engagement-information-session-tickets-65766578607 or contact your Asset Management Unit on 4088 3500.
