24 October 2024

Principal’s Address

Principal’s Message

Kaya welcome to the first edition of Schoolzine for term 4.

School updates

I want to begin by thanking Ms Nightingale and the deputies and all the staff for ensuring that everything went smoothly over term three while I was on leave.

The end of term 3 was particularly busy. Our Year 12’s final day was celebrated by having their final day at the bowling alley - lots of fun was had by all who attended I hear. We also had our final Year 12 assembly. Feedback provided to me was that it was a wonderful event with kind and hopeful words spoken to students by Ms Nightingale and Ms King. Ms Edwards also had the opportunity to thank the year 12 exec students for their wonderful contribution as leaders of our school. Our formal presentation ceremony will take place on Thursday 14^th of November at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre. I encourage all parents to enter this in their diary so they can attend this wonderful evening. 

The end of term 3 final event was our memorable ‘Battle of the Knights.’ Two girls after the event who saw me at a local shopping centre said, “Oh Mrs Kerr it was such good fun, you missed the best ever day.” I also heard from reliable sources the MND (Motor Neurone fundraiser) was an extremely successful event and students really enjoyed the ice bucket challenge and the opportunity to douse some teachers in cold water and ice.

NAIDOC theme this year was “Keep the Fire Burning- Blak Loud and Proud”. A special thank you to all the elders and family members who attended our special morning tea. This year we had a photo booth located near the IRC where students could take photos of themselves. Another popular activity was the sand art and the student dance group. Again, thank you to all the exhibitors who supported our 2024 NAIDOC school celebrations.

In week 3 we start our Year 6 half-day Flying Start Transition Program for selected students from local primary schools. This special transition program is designed for year 6 students to ensure they feel comfortable in their transition into high school. The transition program involves lots of meet and greet opportunities and the chance for students to attend some of our practical classes.

Education updates

In January, the Federal and Western Australian State Governments announced that WA would become the first state in Australia to accept the School Resourcing Standard (SRS), representing a further 1 billion investments in our sites education system. We are looking forward to seeing if this will directly make a difference to our schools one line budget in 2025.

Australia is continuing to experience a teacher shortage, with schools finding it challenging to staff all their classes. This means on occasions the student services and the school leadership, deputies and the principal are teaching classes and doing other duties to accommodate the staff shortages. I appreciate that you understand the added pressure our staff are under without relief teachers to backfill.

Compass is our new IT system, and we were lucky enough to be part of the first schools to be given access to this new system. This IT package replaces several outdated systems being used to monitor student data, set budgets, and manage assets. The technology is expected to deliver significant time savings for school staff and eliminate the duplication of tasks. It is part of a raft of measures designed to reduce the amount of time that teachers and school staff spend on administrative and reporting tasks.

Looking forward to another great term

Boorda

Susan Kerr  M.Ed.Admin, B.Ed,Dip.Teach
PRINCIPAL
Newton Moore SHS

From the Finance Team

2024 Contributions and Charges

As we are preparing for 2025, it is a good time to clear up any unpaid contributions and charges from this year.  It is never too late to start a payment plan and your payments can continue through the school holidays and into 2025.  We appreciate all parents and caregivers who make the effort to pay these costs, as they are valuable funds to ensure your child has all the resources needed in their classrooms for effective learning.

2024 Specialist Program Charges

A reminder to those parents and caregivers who have children enrolled in our specialist programs, being MASH, Science Horizons and Science Engineering, that if the 2024 compulsory charges are not paid, your child will be excluded from the program in 2024.  To avoid disappointment, please make payment before the end of October to ensure your child’s smooth transition to their program in 2025.

Payment Plans

A quick reminder on payment plans, these are available to all parents and caregivers for payments of any amount and frequency.  Payments can be made to the school bank account which is easily set up in your internet banking.  If set and forget helps in your daily life, then this is the plan for you.  

Need more information?

Please contact the accounts office if you need any information on your school costs.  The school bank details are below, along with other payment options to suit your individual requirements.

Email: newtonmoore.shs.accounts@education.wa.edu.au
Phone: 9722 2419

Bank Transfer

Account name:   Newton Moore Senior High School

BSB:                  036-134
Account #:         19-7827
Reference:             Student name

BPay

Newton Moore Biller Code: 106708

Please use the unique reference number on your invoice or contact the accounts office to obtain this number.

Centrepay

Newton Moore Centrelink CRN: 555 062 848L

If you receive payments from Centrelink, you can choose to have some of your benefit paid to the school. 

In Person

The accounts office can accept your payment by eftpos and cash during the hours of 8am and 3.45pm every business day.

By Phone

Please call the accounts office on 9722 2419 to make a payment with your credit card during the hours of 8am and 3.45pm every business day.

Lower School Deputy Principals’ Update

As we step into the final term of the year, there's so much to be excited about! Our musicians will be off to camp, we have a range of TAFE taster programs lined up for our Year 9s and 10s. Additionally, various reward camps for our academies are on the horizon.

As we embrace these exciting activities, it's essential to stay focused on our school expectations. Actively listening to teachers, supporting your classmates, and staying on top of your work will help ensure you’re well-prepared for upcoming assessments and achieving your best.

This term, our Year 8s and 10s will also be participating in PAT testing. This assessment will help us gauge progress over the year, similar to NAPLAN, providing teachers with up-to-date insights into students’ literacy and numeracy skills. This information is crucial for tailoring our teaching to meet the needs of all students.

Let’s make this term one to remember! Stay engaged, work hard, and support each other. Here’s to a fantastic finish to the year!

Incoming Year 7’s for 2025

NMSHS is still awaiting over 25 enrolments for the 2025 Year 7 cohort, and I am aware a number of these are younger siblings of current NMSHS. Without enrolment, students cannot attend the transition activities commencing in Term 4. Can I please encourage the completion of enrolment forms as soon as possible. If any assistance if required or you have any further enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact the front office for further support.

Enrolment acceptance letters should have arrived within your emails and further information will come as Term 4 progresses.

Please note the Year 6 NMSHS Transition Day is Tuesday December the 3rd 2024.

Senior School Deputy Principals’ Update

At the end of last term we said farewell to our Year 12 students, it was truly rewarding to see them off. Their hard work and dedication have paid off, and they definitely deserve a well-earned break—well, most of them! We wish our ATAR students the best of luck as they prepare for their final exams. Remember, you’ve worked incredibly hard to reach this point, and the finish line is in sight. Stay focused, study diligently, and you'll reap the rewards of your efforts!

Our Year 11 students have just 7 weeks left in the school year—provided they complete all their assignments and stay on track. I encourage everyone in Year 11 to submit their work on time and attend every day. This will ensure you don’t miss anything important and can enjoy an early release in week 7.

For our Year 10 students, it’s time to gear up for the OLNA (Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment), scheduled for weeks 3 and 4 (October 21st to November 1st). More details will be provided soon, but now is the perfect time to brush up on your numeracy and literacy skills.

Wishing everyone a productive and successful term ahead

 Study Skills Update – Parental Support During Assessments 

As assessment periods approach, students often face increased pressure, which can lead to significant stress. While some handle it with ease, others may find it overwhelming. One of the best ways to manage this pressure is through preparation. The earlier students start, the less likely they are to feel anxious as deadlines loom. As a parent, your role is crucial in helping them manage stress and maintain a balanced approach to studying.

Here are some practical tips to support your student during this busy time.

Encourage a Healthy Lifestyle. A well-rounded lifestyle is key to achieving good results.

Offer Practical Support. Openly ask your student how you can help.

Keep Communication Open. Be a consistent source of support by maintaining open lines of communication.

Focus on Effort, Not Just Results. It’s important to reassure your student that effort matters just as much (sometimes if not more) than results.

Help Manage Worries and Stress. If your student feels overwhelmed, guide them

If you want to read more follow the following link www.studyskillshandbook.com.au

Our log in details are:

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)

We are thrilled to see our students embracing the expectations at NMSHS. This commitment not only fosters a safe and respectful environment but also helps our students develop essential skills for life beyond school.

To acknowledge and reward consistent demonstration of these expectations, we recently hosted a pizza lunch for the top 5-point earners in each year group for Term 3. It was a delightful way to celebrate their hard work!

We encourage all students to maintain this positive behaviour as we approach the end of the term. Stay tuned for more exciting rewards to come! Keep up the great work, everyone.

Newton Moore Stars

Duke of Edinburgh International Award

There were 88 gold award recipients attending Government House in Perth on Thursday 19^th September.  Andy Delavigne was the inaugural NMSHS Bush Ranger Cadet to receive the gold award.

Several other DOE schools also had individual inaugural award recipients showing any student can have a go.  

 Andy now has been accepted into ECU in 2025 for a Bachelor of Education on an experience-based entry pathway, because ECU says the gold award shows his dedication, resilience, and patience in achieving his goals.  

 Andy wants to thank Debbie Hall for her Blogging mentoring and both Amber Boyd and Marc Simojoki in Bush Rangers Cadets for their ongoing support.

To get the Gold Duke of Ed Andy started in November 2022 giving 1 hour a week to each of the following:

• Skill - 78 hours to learning how to blog
• Physical Recreation - 52 hours doing Taekwondo
• Voluntary Service – 52 hours doing NMSHS Bush Ranger Cadet (plus online volunteering during Covid lockdowns)
• Adventurous Journeys
• Practise: walking the Bibbulmun track near Walpole for 5 days 
• Qualifying: walking the Bibbulmun track near Kalamunda for 5 days
• Gold Residential Project – Volunteering as a leader at a 5 day Cahoots Teen summer holiday camp 

Meet the Team

Meet ….

Mason Garwood

Teaching Area:  Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer

Learning Areas

Science

Wetlands Revegetation Project

After months of hard work and preparation the planting phase of our wetlands revegetation project has begun.

 Many school groups including the wetlands studies class, engagement program students, CALM Cadets and VET Active volunteering students have contributed. Support provided by the Southern Ports authority has enabled this worthy environmental project to come to fruition. 

VET

Battle of the Knights – Pizza Making Fun

Year 12 students Ruby Penny, Jasmyn Crowd and Bonnie Bartholomew and Year 9 student Murray Flinn worked together with Ms Rogers, Ms Kneuker, Ms Potter, Ms Martyn, Ms Myles and Ms Falconbridge to prepare freshly made pizzas at the Battle of the Knights carnival last term.

Their fantastic teamwork and cooking skills came together to provide a delicious lunch for the staff on the day.  A big thank you to them all for volunteering their time to help in the kitchen.

Thank you also to the staff who supported the day by purchasing pizzas, and especially to Ms Rogers and Ms Kneuker for organising the day and directing the helpers. It all ran like clockwork because of you.

A successful day all round!!

Career Practitioner

South32- Work Inspiration Excursion (Worsley)

Last term in Week 10, 19 students from NMSHS and NMESC attending a work inspiration excursion to the South32 Refinery in Worsley. Students had the opportunity to explore the mine site, whilst developing a good understanding of how it works and its operations. All student thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Thank you to our School Chaplin Phil, Tish Kneuker and Rebecca Brotton for supporting the students on the day.

"I found the South Worsley 32' excursion quite educational and very informative about what it is and how the whole operation works. I also enjoyed all the people and workers who talked about their jobs and how important they are" - Grace Michael, Year 10 Student

‘Try a Trade’ TAFE- Term 4

‘Try a Trade’ continues in Term Four for our Year 9 Students. We currently have three TAFE sessions scheduled over the next few weeks.

If you are in Year 9 and interested in attending one of the following:

*Civil Construction and Horticulture (Full Day) Friday 25th October (8 spots remaining)

* Horticulture and Fitness (Full Day) Friday 1st November (11 spots remaining)

* Beauty Massage (2.5hrs) Date- TBA (waiting list)

Please come and see me. My office is located between the Career Hub (B3) and the Art Room (B4).

Ms Audino
Career Practitioner

Music

In Week 2 Term 4, 37 of the Music Specialist students visited Mornington Adventure Camp.

Students rehearsed for 2 full days before visiting and performing to Harvey Primary School and Adam Road Primary school.

In between rehearsals students got the chance to unwind with Archery, a Water slide and finish the day with a woodfire pizza. A fantastic effort from all students who attended and two fabulous performances to finish the trip- well done team!

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Technologies

The Technologies department VET courses have been the focus of the last week and we have hit the term running!

In conjunction with the Science and VET department we have banded together to maintain and rehabilitate the wetlands and the schools gardens with Jarrod from Precision and Active Volunteer Students.

Aboriginal Education

Stars

Jason Thompson

Jason has begun Term 4 sensationally. He has been working closely with Operations Officer Steve and he hasn’t missed a day of school, has attended Clontarf morning trainings, afterschool activities and been a terrific bloke in our academy room.

We are looking forward to assisting him reach both his short term and long-term goals for this Term.

Clontarf

It’s great to be back for the last Term of 2024 and nice to see all the boys after a restful break.

We have an action-packed Term ready for fellas to encourage them to have strong school attendance, display Clontarf behaviours at school and be rewarded for doing so.

The camps for this Term are our Year 12 Major Trip to the Gold Coast, Wadjemup (Rottnest) Football Cup and End of Year Reward Camp to Margaret River. We will also be running other attendance incentive challenges including the Last Man Standing competition, the last two academy members to not miss a day of school will be able to choose a sporting jumper of their choice.

The key event on the Term calendar will be the Clontarf Awards afternoon which will be held on the 11^th November. An afternoon tea will be served in the Clontarf Academy room at 4.00pm and then the awards will take place at 4.30pm in the Performing Arts centre. We welcome all our boys, their families, school staff and Clontarf Foundation partners to come and celebrate the wonderful year that it has been here.

Keep an eye out for invites!

Follow the Dream

Choice Programs

MASH

Last term, Year 7 MASH students were lucky enough to get specialist coaching from Volleyball WA coach Brad, with funding from Sporting Schools. Students learnt basic skills, and then transferred these into game play. 

News from Parent Bodies

Canteen News

School Board

The school board plays a pivotal role in our school. At the Term 3 meeting the school board reviewed some reports from the school academies, the STARS and Clontarf aboriginal programs. The reports outlined what each of these program’s values are and where and how they provide support to the aboriginal students and their families of our school.

The board members also reviewed the school’s attendance data and discussed strategies for addressing poor attendance. It agreed that we need to continue to work with families so that we have more students attending school regularly. The school continues to prioritise attendance and we are very grateful for the work our dedicated attendance officer Jo Brookes does each and every day following up with families about why their child is not at school.

At the next meeting of the School Board on October 30^th we have an open board meeting so any parents can attend. If you intend to attend our board meeting, please contact Christie Borg the principals PA on 97222400.

The focus of the next school board meeting will be on reviewing the Business plan strategies and evaluating the 2024 NAPLAN data. There will also be an opportunity for the board to find out about the Learning Support team role and the work they do across the school to support students with special needs.

Community Notices