16 February 2023

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Address

Principal’s Message

Kaya

Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to the first edition of School zine for 2023. I would like to welcome all our parents, students and staff back for the new year. It has been a very smooth and well organised beginning to the year and our year 7 students seem to be doing very well. It was wonderful to observe so many happy students all commencing with a great energy and enthusiasm for the year to come.

Parent contact is very important at Newton Moore SHS, and we value parents as partners in your child’s education. Please make a note of your child’s teachers from their timetable, as well as their Wellbeing Coordinator if you need to make contact. Email is the best way to contact your child’s teachers with a message that includes your child’s name and year, your contact details, and the nature of your enquiry. Please be aware that during the day our teachers are busy teaching and supporting students. It is reasonable to expect a response within a couple of days to an email enquiry. If your enquiry is urgent, you should call or email your relevant Wellbeing Coordinator or Deputy Principal.

It is always important that where a parent has any concerns or queries regarding the classroom that contact is made with the teacher as the first point of call. Contact details are located on our website or you can ring the front office if you would like a teacher’s email addresses.

I would like to enlist your support in working with us on some key focus areas for 2023 including:

• All students focusing on academic achievement and completing work to the highest possible standard, including keeping workbooks of a high standard.
• All students attending school every day, unless they are sick or attending a school organised program.
• All students exhibiting the Newton Moore SHS values at school and in the community, particularly happiness, success and teamwork.

We look forward to seeing you on our open night which is scheduled for 21st February 3.30-6pm. On this evening there is an opportunity to greet and meet staff, collect relevant information about high school, including student course and assessment outlines, and find out about subject expectations. Also, a reminder that NAPLAN testing is scheduled for 15th March onwards and it is important that all students are in attendance.

Susan Kerr M.Ed.Admin, B.Ed,Dip.Teach

PRINCIPAL
Newton Moore SHS

From the Finance Team

Secondary Assistance Scheme Allowance

Would you like up to $350 towards your child’s 2022 school contributions & charges?

Do you hold one of these Centrelink concession cards?

• Family Health Care Card
• Pensioner Concession Card
• Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Concession Card

Is your student(s) listed on the card?

Is the card valid during Term 1 2023?

You do not receive the Abstudy Supplement Allowance or intend applying for it from Centrelink (Note: If you do receive this, apply for Abstudy Supplement Allowance, see below)

If you answered YES to all 4 questions above, you can apply for the Secondary Assistance Scheme allowance.

You may receive the following allowance, reducing your account at the school:

PLUS

CLOSING DATE: Last day of Term 1 – Thursday 6th April 2023.

Apply at the Accounts Office between 8am and 3.30pm daily.

Remember to bring your valid concession card and the bank account details where the clothing allowance will be paid to.

If you are unable to get to the office during school hours or have any further queries, please contact Michele or Karen on 9722 2419, or email michelle.scanlan@education.wa.edu.au.

Abstudy Supplement Allowance

If you receive Abstudy from Centrelink or intend applying for Abstudy, you may be eligible for $79 towards your 2022 school contributions & charges!

Do you receive the school fee allowance of $78 or $156 from Centrelink as part of the Abstudy School fee Allowance?

Or

Do you intend applying for the Abstudy Allowance?

Do you hold one of these Centrelink concession cards?

• Family Health Care Card
• Pensioner Concession Card
• Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Concession Card

Is your student(s) listed on the card?

Is the card valid during Term 1 2023?

If you answered YES to all 4 questions above, apply for the Abstudy Supplement Assistance allowance and $79 may be paid directly to the school towards school contributions & charges.

CLOSING DATE: Last day of Term 1 – Thursday 6th April 2023.

Apply at the Accounts Office between 8am and 3.30pm daily.

Remember to bring your valid concession card and the bank account details where the clothing allowance will be paid to.

If you are unable to get to the office during school hours or have any further queries, please contact Michele or Karen on 9722 2419, or email michelle.scanlan@education.wa.edu.au

Lower School Deputy Principals’ Update

A big welcome to the new Year 7s and a welcome back to our Year 8s and 9s. The Year 7s have quickly found their feet and adjusted to the high school life of moving classes, changing teachers and racing to the canteen line.

I would encourage all students to the benefits of being organised with their BYOD device and school equipment, learning their timetable and maintaining their Good Standing through attendance, following our PBS expectations and staying on top of school assessments and weekly homework.

Wellbeing Coordinators

I would like to introduce the Lower School Wellbeing Coordinators, who work alongside myself in supporting the students within each year group. We encourage all parents/guardians to communicate with us with in regards to how best to support your child.

NAPLAN Year 7 & 9s

2023 brings the move of NAPLAN to Term 1 with the official NAPLAN testing period running from Wednesday 15th of March to Friday the 25th of March.

Practice Tests will be scheduled during Week 4 and 5 providing students with an opportunity to understand the structure and expectations of the NAPLAN exams.

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) assesses literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for every child to progress through school and life. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual NAPLAN tests in reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

Students and parents can access the public demonstration site to view sample tests from the link below.

More information will be in future newsletters and also emailed home closer to the date.

NMSHS Parent Open Evening - Tuesday 21st February 2023

On Tuesday, Week 4 (21/02/2023), the NMSHS Parent open Evening will run from 3.30pm-6pm. Parents and students can meet their teachers, ask questions and gain further information on supporting their child at school. The Year 7 Support Team will also be available within the IRC to ask any further transitional information. Please come along for as little or as long as you wish.

Senior School Deputy Principals’ Update

OLNA (Years 11&12)

Changes to OLNA in 2023 means that there are now more opportunities for students who have not yet met the required standard to sit the test.

The first window is for Year 11 and 12 commencing in Week 5 of this term.

To achieve the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) students must pass all three components if they have not already pre-qualified in Year 9.

Students who have not passed some, or all of the tests will need to sit the appropriate test during this time.

OLNA testing will be held between the following times:

Students will be provided with information about the exact day and period for each test in the next couple of weeks.

In preparation for these tests, teachers will be supporting students to improve specific literacy and numeracy skills. We recommend that students and parents access the SCSA website from the link below for further information, practice and example tests.

Year 11 & 12 ATAR Students – The importance of study

The time for commitment to a regular Home Study program is right now, from today. 15 to 18 hours per week has proven to be necessary for most students. When examinations loom, you will need to step this up a bit further.

Home Study includes:

• All set homework and assignments.
• Completion of summary and study notes on the work covered during the day, or week, or a longer period of time.
• Completing drafts and plans for discussion
• Practising of past examination paper questions.
• Working on major projects
• Wide reading and viewing
• Skills practice
• Use of the revision and study guides recommended by your teaching staff
• Preparation for tests and examinations.
• Set reading and extension reading.
• Organising files and coursework.

In Senior School Time students will be working through study techniques. Encourage your child to talk to their teachers if they are unsure about any of the work that they have been set.

Year 11 & 12 VET students

If your child has already secured a work place this year, well done and good luck. If they are still searching for a place, please see Mrs Read-Smith in the VET office at either recess or lunch for further support. It is also essential that your child meets all deadlines that are set in their General, Foundation and Certificate courses. Please encourage your child to talk to their teachers if they are unsure about any of the work that has been set, and make sure that they have a study timetable organised.

If you have any questions about courses and requirements for Year 11 and 12 please contact Miss Nightingale, Deputy Principal by e-mail kate.nightingale@education.wa.edu.au or by phone on 97222400

Study Skills

The importance of setting goals.

Every year students are encouraged to set goals for the year, but we don’t always explain why setting goals is important.

Research has shown that people who set goals (and use them effectively) not only perform better, but suffer from less stress and anxiety and are happier and more satisfied with life.

In 1953 a Harvard Uni study showed that 3% of the students graduating that year wrote down their specific career goals. Twenty years later, a team of researchers interviewed the class and found that the 3% who had written down their goals were not only happier, but were worth more financially than the other 97% combined.

Here are some more reasons why you might like to set some goals for the year:

• Setting goals gets you to think about possibilities.
• Goals give you a direction to work towards.
• Goals give you a clear picture of where you want to go.
• Goals help you to push yourself just that little bit more.
• Goals help you have a more fun and fulfilled life.
• Goals can give you motivation and focus.
• Setting goals helps you do all the things you want to do in life!

You have probably set many goals already without even realising it – not every goal has to be written down, but it certainly helps you to stay on track if you do write it out. You can set goals for all the different aspects of your life.

Remember, if you don’t set goals, you’ll find that life just sort of ‘happens’ to you rather than you actually deciding what you want out of life then making what you really want happen, so get in the driver’s seat of your life and take control with your goals this year – both personal and academic.

You and your parents can learn more about how to achieve your academic goals from the link below by logging in with the details below and working through some of the units.

Attendance

Attendance Matters

School attendance is critical for the achievement of academic results, positive wellbeing, and a sense of belonging. Student attendance is recorded for all classes and students are required to attend school every day from 8.40am to 3pm. Our expectation at Newton Moore Senior High School is that students attend school at least 90% of the time, and absences from school can be explained with a reasonable cause. Student Services will work in collaboration with staff to support students and their families to attend school regularly.

Did you know you only have 7 days to explain student absences from school?

Absences can be explained by:

• Replying to the SMS absence notification sent on the day of the absence
• Message 0400 207 827 with Student Names, Date and reason for absence
• Sending the school an email newtonmoore.SHS@education.wa.edu.au
• Phoning the school 08 9722 2400

After 7 days an unexplained absence is recorded as “unacceptable” and will affect your child’s ability to attend camps and reward activities, and will appear within the attendance percentage on the semester academic report.

SMS

The School requires that an explanation of a student’s absence is provided on the day of the absence. An SMS will be sent home to parents for all students who are marked absent without notification on the day of the absence. The easiest way to explain any absence is to reply to this SMS immediately.

SMS: 0400 207 827
Please save this number to your mobile device

Admin Report

National Opinion Survey for Schools

Kaya / Hello NMSHS families,

The National Opinion Survey for schools has three components - Students, families and staff.

I have activated the Families Survey and although it is early in the year this is the time of the year it has been completed in the past. This allows us to track responses over multiple years looking for trends and patterns.

The survey is now open and will be closed on Saturday 25 February at 1pm.

Taking the time to complete this survey and give honest responses allows the school to make strategic decisions that are based on the broader views of all families.

Your child or children will also be completing a survey over the next two weeks at school from a student perspective.

Please email me if you have any feedback or issues with the survey.

Click on this link to start the survey.

Kind Regards,
Paul Dyson
Deputy Principal

Newton Moore Stars

2023 Bunbury Young Citizen of the Year

CONGRATULATIONS! NMSHS is so proud of Year 12 student, Charlotte Mills, who over the school holidays was awarded the City of Bunbury’s Young Citizen of the Year Award. Charlotte also won the 2022 Zonta Club Young Women in Public Affairs Award and has been shortlisted for the WA Young Women in Public Affairs Award. Charlotte is an active member of our school who is a part of our MASH program and is on our Student Executive. We could not be prouder of Charlotte and her achievements.

Meet the Team

Paul Dyson

Cameron Brook

Kym Holroyd

Student Services Update

The Student Services team play a pivotal role, working with the school community to support the social, emotional and educational wellbeing of students by:

• providing access to a range of supports and services to keep students connected to school, engaged in learning, feeling valued and confident to face life’s challenges
• working to build healthy, respectful and positive relationships
• promoting student wellbeing

We take our students wellbeing very seriously here at Newton Moore Senior High School. Recent studies have highlighted mental health as a key concern for young people in Australia.

Welcome to our dedicated Student Services Team for 2023

Mrs Jodi Dyson

Deputy Principal

As manager of Student Services, she works collaboratively with our leadership team, staff, students, and the wider school community to best support the social, emotional and academic outcomes of our students.

Wellbeing Coordinators

Year Coordinators are the first point of contact to assist in welcoming and settling students into Newton Moore. They support the welfare of all students within their year cohort. They work with the Teachers to ensure that school is a safe, supportive and positive experience.

Student Support Officers

Student support officers (SSOs) work to enhance the wellbeing and learning outcomes of students. Our SSOs work closely with our Wellbeing Coordinators to support student wellbeing. SSO’s assist students to develop social and emotional skills through targeted evidence-based programs and strategies that build resilience, coping skills and positive relationships.

School Psychologist

Our school psychologist plays a key role in supporting students, parents, teachers and school administrators in a wide range of areas including: mental health and wellbeing, complex behaviour, learning difficulties and disabilities, attendance and engagement, suicide prevention and incident management.

Ms Iona Hughes

School Nurse

Ms Sam Curtis

The school health nurse assesses adolescent health needs and frequently engages in health counselling with our students to identify issues, risks and protective factors. They provide advice, assist with access and referral to other services that provide our students and families follow-up care.

School Chaplain

Ms Deb Cunningham

School chaplains contribute to the wellbeing of students by providing social, emotional and pastoral care. Our chaplain’s role is to build student resilience and wellbeing by engaging students in structured activities and programs.

Deb will be building student resilience and wellbeing by engaging students in structured activities and programs.

She offers confidential, non-judgemental pastoral care and programs based on respect, compassion and service.

School Officer

You will see Tracy on the frontline of student services every morning until recess. Our school officer ensures student attendance is accurate and she supports families to provide information about their child’s absence. Tracy will direct your child to one of our experienced Student Services Team should they require any assistance.

Ms Tracy Pitts

Senior School Student Leaders

Welcome back to all students and families at Newton Moore SHS, and a warm welcome to our new Year 7 students. I will be working closely with the Student Leaders this year, and will be assisted by Brooke Edwards in Student Services. Ms Edwards and I have a number of activities planned in this space designed to support and extend the leadership potential of our students across all levels.

On Wednesday 8th February, Ms Edwards took our School Captains (Zoe and Amalee) to a networking event delivered by Youth Leadership Academy focussing on speed networking, self and service leadership, ownership, responsibility and community.

The school leaders meet each week to plan activities and assist in developing our “Belonging Culture” to the school, students, families and staff. I am hopeful that the skills they will develop over the course of the year will provide them with a solid foundation for life in years to come.

Paul Dyson
Deputy Principal

Newton Moore SHS Student Leadership Group 2023

2023 School Captains

Year 11/12 Senior School Student Leaders

Year 10 Student leaders

Learning Areas

VET

2023 Workplace Learning Students – Off to a great start!

The Year 11 and 12 VET students have started off the year with enthusiasm, attending many interesting and varied work experience placements over the past three weeks as part of their Workplace Learning Program.

Workplace Learning allows students an opportunity to try out a number of employment industries to get a taste of some of the work they might like to pursue in their future careers, with the added bonus that all hours that they perform go towards their school grades. Under the supervision of experienced staff, students are able to observe and participate in real life work situations, learn new skills and build their confidence in a work setting. Some of the industries students are currently performing work experience in include Building and Construction, Automotive, Retail, Education, Child Care, Sport and Recreation, Hospitality, Animal Care, IT and Administration.

This exposure to workplaces can also lead to further opportunities in employment, with some students securing traineeships, apprenticeships and paid work as a result of successful placements.

Congratulations to our new and current School based trainees for 2023.

Technologies

Safer Internet Day

Tuesday 7th of February was Safer Internet Day and Mr Henden’s Year 7 students completed a series of activities based on safe internet practices. In the photo below, Pye, Jasmine and Charlie cut out and create their chatterboxes as part of the lesson.

Download this easy-to-read Guide on the exact steps to follow to set up your child's iPad or Android device.

Aboriginal Education

Clontarf

The Clontarf Foundation exists to improve the education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and by doing so equips them to participate more meaningfully in society.

This year at the Newton Moore Academy we are fortunate enough to have all 3 staff stay on board to continue to work with the young men at school. Steve, Shawn and I are excited to be back for another year at the academy. With no COVID restrictions limiting the program we are hoping to be able to run at full capacity and offer plenty of activities for our students. We have after school sports and Kaarda clubs 3 times a week. As well a morning trainings on Wednesday and Friday’s.

This term we are also fortunate enough to be fielding football teams in the Clontarf Cup (yr10-12) and Cecil Andrew’s Carnival (yr8-9). As well as running an Induction camp for year 7’s and a Leadership camp for year 12’s.

Finally, Saturday the 18th of February we will be running the sausage sizzle at Bunnings. Come and support the boys as the money raised will goes towards their Country Week or other school payments.

Stars

Hi All

Term 1 for 2023 has started off busy for the Stars Foundation. We have a few new enrolments which shows that Stars is growing. Students have been excited and keen to get on our buses ready for school.

We have been running our first sessions with the girls and getting to know them. We have been working with our new Year 7s to build strong, positive relationships, and have also discussed our 4 Pillars which include Wellbeing, Education, Training & Employment, Healthy Lifestyles and Community.

With our students from last year, we discussed our Stars expectations and values which are Respect, Honesty, Pride and Commitment. We reminded the girls what is expected of them from Stars and the school. We are very excited to see a good number of our Year 11 girls from last year continue with their education this year and go through to Year 12. We are very proud of them making such a big decision to stay at school and graduate this year.

Our Year 12s went away on their Year 12 induction camp in Perth where they joined other Stars girls from across the state to participate in a two-day camp which encompassed cultural and educational activities.

Most of our girls have settled into school well and are happy to be back. We also have a few girls returning who have been out of school for a while and were very happy to see them back.

The Year 9s were enjoying their new Noongar language classes with Jodie Riley starting a new position as a Noongar language teacher. The girls have been doing so well and they have been getting certificates for their hard work congrats girls.

News from Parent Bodies

Canteen News

Hi Everyone. We hope you all had a great school break.

The new My School Connect lunch ordering system is up and running! Yay!

To close your existing Quickcliq account, please log into your account, go to Profile and down the bottom is a request to close account. When you do this, any funds will be refunded to you. It took about 4 days for it to show in the bank for us. We will be closing this soon.

In the meantime, please use the QR CODE, or this link-

Register for a My School Connect account. There is also an app for you to download. Android users will need to wait as they have only just made one for us and it isn't working properly just yet. Apple users can go right ahead. Any issues please let me know.

The Canteen Crew

School Board

School Board 2023

I am pleased to say our School Board is highly effective and has all the characteristics listed below. We are always looking for new members, so if you are interested in being a board member, please email Susan.Kerr@education.wa.edu.au and indicate an expression of interest.

Characteristics of effective school board

Events

Community Notices