8 December 2022

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Address

Principal’s Message

Kaya and welcome

2022 has been filled with wonderful experiences. I have thoroughly enjoyed the many success stories we have had, and I feel privileged every day to work in such a dynamic environment filled with focussed, hardworking students; dedicated staff and vibrant community members.

We have had loads of sporting events, academic competitions, camps and excursions. It has been brilliant seeing so many students take up the opportunities to participate in events and activities. A lot of learning happens for students who get involved in school events.

Students have also been working hard on the academic front. At this stage, all year groups are busy completing exams and assessment tasks. I encourage everyone to stay focussed and keep working hard to ensure that results reflect their best efforts.

At the end of this term, we will be sending out Semester Two School Reports to all parents and caregivers, so please ensure that the school has your correct email address. (This may also be a good opportunity to check that your other contact details are also up to date).

These reports will provide a snapshot of student progress. I encourage all parents, carers and students to read these carefully, paying particular attention to the attitude, behaviour and effort ratings and teacher comments, as well as noting the grades achieved.

Finally, to staff, students and families: thank you once more for your contributions to the school this year. It has certainly been a great one. Please can I remind parents how important it is that your child stays at school right up to the end of the school year.

Have a most enjoyable break! Enjoy Christmas, stay safe and we look forward to seeing you all in 2023.

Merry Christmas

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

From the Finance Team

Contributions and Charges 2023

A big thank you to our parents and caregivers who have paid contributions and charges in full. We really appreciate your commitment to our school.

Charges are the compulsory component of your child’s education program at Newton Moore, and must be paid in full to ensure the resources that are required to meet the outcomes for that subject are available to your student. The Department of Education does not provide funding for this purpose and so the school needs to reallocate funds from other priorities to cover any charges that remain unpaid by parents or carers.

Contributions, although voluntary, do make a huge difference to the school’s ability to deliver the programs at Newton Moore, and the school greatly appreciates those parents who provide their ongoing support in this way.

The 2023 Contributions and Charges booklet is now available.

2023 Resource List for Years 7-12 Now Available

Next year’s booklists have been published and are available to parents in the attachments. The online ordering cut-off date for FREE home delivery will be Thursday 15th December 2022, for delivery during the week of 20th January 2023. Orders can also be dropped off at the school office and we will forward them to our preferred supplier, Campion Education, on your behalf, but they must be prepaid. Hard copies of the booklists can also be obtained from the school office. Campion also have retail stores in Malaga for families who regularly travel to the metro area.

Lower School Deputy Principals’ Update

Well, we are almost there with the finish line in sight. I would like to encourage all students to continue to attend school and participate in the many fun reward activities that fill the last few days of the year.

Transition Day 2022

On Tuesday, all Year 6 students enrolled for NMSHS in 2023 attended their transition day and followed a school timetable for the day. The students participated in a range of subjects, completed a tour of the school and met key staff that would be supporting them in Year 7, 2023. There were plenty of excited faces and many questions answered as the day progressed. We look forward to the incoming Year 7 students in 2023, and welcome both students and their families to the Newton Moore school community.

Second Semester Reports

Semester 2 reports for Years 7-10 will be available to parents/guardians and students on Wednesday 14th December 2022 through CONNECT. Please be aware that students who were late enrolments and students falling below 40% attendance may not receive a grade for their subjects.

Reports can be a time for celebration and reflection, as well as a time to set some goals for the following year. Well done to all NMSHS students that have worked hard across 2022 and we look forward to working with you all again next year.

Senior School Deputy Principals’ Update

Critical Thinking Skills

There are many things you can do to develop your critical thinking skills before you come back to school next year. Critical thinking is your ability to think clearly and rationally, reflecting and developing your thoughts. Sometimes we can get a bit lazy with our thinking and we only consider things at a superficial level. Here are some things you can do to enhance your critical thinking.

1 Clarify your thoughts

The best way to clarify your thoughts is to try and explain your thinking to someone else. Even if you are talking to an imaginary person, you will find that explaining your thinking out loud helps you to see the flaws in your argument.

2 Question assumptions

Don’t take your thoughts for granted, every now and then think about why you believe a certain thought or how you know things to be true. Get in the habit of pausing and looking at what you are thinking and questioning what thoughts underlie your assumptions. Don’t just conform and accept a view because it is the popular one, instead pause and reflect on the arguments for and against that viewpoint and the strengths of each argument.

3 Look for other perspectives

When you are presenting an argument, imagine yourself in a debate and think about what the opposing side might say. What would someone with a completely opposite view to you believe? Can you understand why they might think that way? Can you see some validity in their viewpoint?

4 Keep an open mind

In order to look for other perspectives keep an open mind. If you immediately dismiss any thought that does not fit into the way you see the world, you will never be able to expand and develop your viewpoints, you will have a very fixed and limited view of the world.

5 Be curious

Start to look outside the things you normally read and watch and think about. Learn more about things you know nothing about and were not previously interested in. Listen more to what people say, we learn so much more when we really listen rather than spend time planning what we will say next.

6 Make informed judgements

It is ok to not have an opinion about something because you don’t have enough information yet. Avoid rushing to judgements, take your time to gather information and evidence and assess it before making a decision. Try not to let yourself be swayed by emotion as this can affect your ability to assess information intellectually.

You and your parents can learn more about thinking skills at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au by logging in with the details below and working through some of the units.

Attendance

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)

We look forward to celebrating students, recognised for their outstanding adherance to our school expectations this semester. They will enjoy a movie experience (popcorn and icecream included) for their efforts.

To finish off the year our PBS behaviour expectaion focus is Celebrate Success. This fits under the the broader expectation of Wellbeing.

Admin Report

Student Services Update

Warmer weeks ahead – what is the acceptable uniform?

Our school dress code:

• Fosters and enhances the public image of the school
• Assists in building school and team spirit
• Ensures you are dressed cohesively for specific school activities
• Increases the personal safety of students and staff by allowing easier identification
• Encourages equity among all students, and
• Simulates expectations in the workplace.

Student Executive Leadership Camp

Each year our newly appointed Student Executive members have the opportunity to attend a leadership camp in Perth. Here they participate in their own version of the Amazing Race. The students learn to work together, communicate effectively and identify the next School Captains for 2023 (watch this space for the big announcement).

School Nurse

Learning Areas

Science

Year 8 students have been learning about human body systems as part of our biology curriculum this term. We are lucky enough to explore the circulatory system by conducting a heart dissection in class. This allowed us to explore the cardiac muscles, the chambers and the vessels involved in pumping blood.

VET

Congratulations to our Year 11 students Chloe Hodgkinson and Ashlyn Buswell for their success in the 2022 regional WorldSkills competition.

Both girls attended a breakfast at the Crown Perth where they were presented with their medals.

Ashlyn received a silver medal for the Hospitality competition and Chloe won a Gold medal for her outstanding achievement in the Kitchen Operations competition.

Chloe has been selected to represent Western Australia in the National competition which is being held in Melbourne in August, 2023.

Competing in a WorldSkills competition opens up pathways for students that they never thought were possible.

A huge congratulations to both girls and we look forward to following Chloe’s progress whilst she prepares for the big competition.

Career Practitioner

Industry presentations to Year 7 and 8 Careers classes

During Weeks 6 – 8, Yr 7 and 8 Careers classes had virtual presentations by represenatitives from different industries:

• Brick & Block Careers
• National Disability Services
• Construction Training Fund

Students got the chance to find out more about different careers within the sector, ask quesitons and consider whether any of the occupations may be on interest to them in their future.

Yr 7 students: Wade Rogers & Jacob Herdsman

Careers for the Future workshops

In Weeks 6-8, Year 7 and 8 Careers classes also had Jobs South West come into class to deliver a 3-part Careers for the Future workshop. These lessons included fun activities, games and discussions to consolidate what we have learnt in Careers over the semester. During the final workshop a surprise guest presenter joined their classes.

Aboriginal Education

Principals and staff from the Bunbury South Network did an on-Country visit to the Collie River Elbow, Wyalup rocky point burial site, and the Big Swamp Bird Park

We were lucky enough to hear some amazing stories about the history and culture of Bunbury and the impact on the Wandandi people

Stars

This term has been very busy for Stars. We started with our Year 12 End of Year trip, which was amazing. We took the girls down to Walpole and Albany for a week and stopped at tourist attractions along the way.

For the first two nights, we stayed in Walpole at the Rest Point Caravan Park in beautiful Holiday Villas. We went out to dinner and lunch while there, and visited the Tree top walks in the Valley of the Giants.

On our last day in Walpole, we stopped at the Denmark Animal Farm and got to know the animals that were there. It was good to see the girls having a good time and doing something different. After that Animal Farm, we popped into Willoughby Park Winery in Demark and had lunch. The food was delicious.

After our beautiful stay in Walpole, we made our way down to Albany and checked into Emu Point Holiday Village, and the villas were awesome. We went on a river cruise which was a great experience and, afterwards, we treated the girls to a pamper at a local beauty salon. The girls thoroughly enjoyed it. On our last night, we went out to dinner at SIXD DEGREES Restaurant and headed back to Bunbury the next day.

We also had our Stars Awards night with a great turn out of family and our Stars girls. There were lots of awards and gifts that were handed out. We also invited special guests from our school who attended, including our school principal, Sue Kerr, HOLAS from each learning area, and the deputy principals.

Some of our other guests were Sue Cuneo from the Education Department; the Mayor of Bunbury, Jaysen de San Miguel; and Stars Regional Manager, Lorelei Histon. It was such a pleasure having our special guests at our Awards Night and seeing a good turn out with our Stars girls.

We also had Ashlee Humphries who is an Aboriginal Health worker with the West Australian Health Services come in and do some sessions with our Year 10 girls, talking about healthy relationships and taking care of your body. The girls enjoyed their sessions and received a certificate and gift for completing their sessions.

Our amazing Year 11s enjoyed a nice lunch last week with Stars Coordinator, Leandra, to finish off the end of the year. They have all given it their best in the last couple of weeks to try and complete all their tasks. We can’t wait to see them next year for Year 12, positive fresh and with an eagerness to work hard and graduate in 2023.

This week we also had our Year 7,8, & 9 Team Building and Leadership excursion to Adventure Forest Southwest. The girls had a fun day filled with team building activities and then they had a go at the high ropes. The girls were happy to have a go at everything and enjoyed the whole day.

We hope to see the girls back next year, ready and happy to start the year.

Clontarf

Awards Night Award Winners

Specialist Programs

Engineering

F1 in Schools

Nova won Best Trade Display, Innovation & Outstanding Industry Collaboration. Moorditj won all the race categories (by about .020 seconds!) and Best Verbal Presentation as well as Best Graphic Design and Best Team Marketing, and got second place overall. They were also invited to the National finals with a wildcard invitation.

Choice Programs

MASH

YEAR 7 MASH

Forest Adventures high ropes excursion

On Friday the 25th November, the Year 7 MASH group were finally able to attend their team building and high ropes excursion to Forest Adventures in Busselton.

The students started the day with a number of team building activities to get them thinking and working together. The rain came down just to make things a little more difficult for them.

As the sun came out, it was on to the high ropes course. Apprehension and hesitation made way for excitement and exhilaration as the students took themselves out of their comfort zone and explored the dizzy heights of the many different courses on offer. Moving through tunnels, travelling along zip lines and jumping from platforms, the students had a rewarding day.

Thanks to Mr. Kirwen and Miss Myles for taking the group for an awesome day.

News from Parent Bodies

Canteen

Thank you to all students, staff and parents for your wonderful support this year. We appreciate it very much.

We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays. We hope you enjoy some time with your families and we look forward to seeing everyone again next year.

Stay safe & have fun!

The Canteen Crew

School Board

This term, the School Board will play a very significant role in ratifying the 2023 school budget. The members of the School Board will also be looking at the Charges and Contribution booklet, the booklist and other significant financial documents.

It also the time of the year when the Board reviews the 2022 NAPLAN data and discusses strategies for school improvement.

The final Board meeting for the year is an opportunity for Board members to review the School Business Plan priorities and to take the opportunity to discuss the achievements made by the school.

A special thank you again to the School Board for the support and guidance they provide to the school.

Susan Kerr
Principal

Community Notices

Thank you to all our sponsors for 2022