Hunter Sports High News Term 4 - Week 10 - 2024

TAS

VET Hospitality

2024 has been a fast-paced and successful year for the TAS faculty! Our students have excelled across all subjects, with many Year 8 and Year 10 students eagerly selecting electives in Stages 5 and 6. They’ve enjoyed hands-on learning in our state-of-the-art facilities, guided by our dedicated and experienced staff.

Our VET Hospitality students have demonstrated their skills by operating The Dugout Café, serving delicious food and beverages to staff, senior students, and guests. Most recently, they provided catering at the CAPA Showcase evening before and during intermission. Special thanks to Ms Carolan, Mrs Hearne, and Mackenzie Bell (Year 11) for assisting with service at the event. The Year 12 class has completed the course, with an impressive 93% of students earning a Certificate II Qualification in 2024 and our Year 11 cohort completed their first 35 hours of industry work placement.

Stage 4 Technology

Year 7 Technology students have been hard at work in Stage 4, showcasing their creativity and skills. From designing digital comic strips and apps using algorithms and code to crafting and racing CO2-powered dragsters made from balsa wood, they've been exploring a variety of exciting projects. Whilst Year 8 Food & Agriculture students have created a thriving sustainable vegetable garden, enriched by leftover coffee grounds from The Dugout Café. This term, they’ve enjoyed preparing, cooking, and eating fresh produce from the garden, using it to make healthy Caesar salads and stir-fries. In their second focus area, Materials Technologies, students have honed their skills with specialist tools and equipment, including using a timber scroll saw for cutting wooden structures, a laser cutter for etching front panels, and a 3D printer to accessorise their Lollie dispenser projects.

Stage 5 Electives

Recently students from the year 9 and 10 Marine Studies classes visited Nelson Bay for a snorkelling experience at Fly Point and a trip up Tomaree Head Lookout. Thank you to Mr Davies and the ‘Dive Newcastle’ instructors for organising these unique experiences for our students.

“Mr Davies took us up to Nelson Bay where we spent the day snorkelling. We were given wetsuits, flippers, and snorkels and went into the water. In the water we saw fish, octopus, and turtles. We swam in the water with these sea creatures and we got to interact with them from a safe distance. The water was clear and a really pretty colour which made it easy to spot the marine life around us. We had a great day a Fly Point, Port Stephens!” Written by: Paige Tooth Stage 5 Marine

This term, Sweet Design students put their skills to the test by developing and running their own bakery business. They produced a dozen cupcakes each, crafted to industry standards, and sold out completely by the end of Lunch 2!

For students interested in pursuing an apprenticeship after school, Industrial Technology offers the perfect foundation. Under the guidance of our specialist Technology teachers. Mr. Hogan's Industrial Technology Metal and Outdoor Furnishings students have excelled this term, creating high-quality projects such as beach fishing rod holders and coffee tables pictured.

Stage 6 VET – Construction

With expert guidance from Mr Harmer, Year 11 students have been adding the final touches to their outdoor timber chair projects. These efforts contribute to achieving competency in the Certificate qualification they are working towards.

Our best wishes go to the HSC cohort of 2024 in VET Hospitality, VET Construction and Industrial Technology Timber who will receive their examination results on Wednesday 18th December 2024.

From our families to your family, we wish you a safe and happy holiday!

PE Picks

Year 7 Swim and Survive Program

In Week 9 of Term 4, all Year 7 students from Hunter Sports High School took part in an exhilarating 3-day Swim and Survive Program, meeting their PDHPE syllabus requirements for Aquatics. Blessed with three days of glorious sunshine and warmth at Speers Point Pool, students enthusiastically participated in a variety of water activities.

On Day 1, students underwent assessments and were subsequently divided into groups to rotate through eight diverse learning stations over Days 2 and 3. They honed essential skills such as diving and discovery, rope and object rescues, swim techniques and endurance, first aid and CPR, treading water, and clothed swims. To further heighten the excitement, we introduced novelty games, a sporting extravaganza, and thrilling water polo challenges!

Throughout the program, students displayed exemplary behavior, organization, respect, and enthusiasm. Both the general public and pool staff were full of praise, remarking that this group was one of the best we've ever had!

Congratulations to Year 7, 2024! You have gained valuable aquatic knowledge and skills to take into the summer holidays, making the PDHPE staff extremely proud. 😊

Outdoor Recreation Overnight Excursion

In week 3, the Stage 5 Outdoor Rec class completed an epic 25km overnight expedition hiking from Somersby to Patonga Beach. This hike followed a section of the Great North Walk between Newcastle and Sydney. The participants were responsible for planning and navigation for this trip.

Each group member had to carry all the equipment needed for the two days....including tents, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, cookers, enough food and water, first aid and navigation equipment. Each pack weighed between 15-20kg.

The boys demonstrated great skill, fitness , organisation and resilience to complete this trek in one of the fastest times Mr Tait had witnessed in all the years he had done this expedition.

Road Whyz

Year 11 Students participated in a driver safety program which really focused on them thinking about the consequences of their actions on the road.

Accelerated Health and Movement science boot camp

Year 9 students who will be accelerating in the new stage 6 Health and Movement Science Course in 2025 were given the opportunity to participate in an intensive day where they built their knowledge around stage 6 expectations, assessment procedures as well as the key skills in writing, interpreting data and research that will all form a large part of what they will need to do in HMS.

CAREERS

Wow- Where did the term go?! As usual in Careers, we were super busy organising work experience, EPP and RIEP programs, excursions and TAFE courses. It is always heartwarming to reflect on the large number of students engaging in Careers opportunities. With that in mind, we asked some of our students to reflect on their Careers experiences in 2024:

“I want to be a train driver, so I jumped on this opportunity as quick as I could. I really enjoyed this day. We had 3 activities to do during the day. I was in the yellow group. Firstly, we observed people doing track work. They had to repair a broken sleeper. At first, we watched and then we actually helped. I Used a pelican pick to clean out the ballast. I had to get a good grip and use pliers when helping remove the sleeper. I was instructed to hold out a red flag, so the train stopped well before the maintenance point. The crew removed the track block and communicated with the workers. I then held up the green flag so the train could continue on its journey.

Secondly, we went into a signal box where the signals are controlled by an operator. We learned about the different levers and how they operate the signals and the points section of track between two tracks called the points. For the 3rd activity, we got to go in the cab of the locomotive. I got to blow the horn! We got 5 runs around the track.

After that, we had lunch and did an interview with people from the ARTC. We got to ask questions about jobs and TAFE courses. This was really beneficial. NBN News even came and took some footage of us!

Finally, we got to go to the engine shed and look at some locomotives. It was enjoyable to watch them put the diesel locomotive away. I have a goal to drive trains in the future, so this day was informative and highly relevant to me.” Jensen E who took part in the recent RIEP - Get on Track Rail Experience excursion.

"During the course, I learnt how to solder copper pipes together and complete other pipework that plumbers often do. We had to mark, then bend the pipes before cutting them with a cutting tool. We completed some theory to gain a good knowledge of what it takes to work safely in an industrial environment. After doing this course, I did some work experience with a local plumber. We had to use an excavator to dig a hole so we could replace some pipes that weren’t flowing well. We replaced the old pipe with a PVC pipe and then connected it to the main sewer. I really enjoyed the work experience and in 2025, I want to continue investigating working as a tradesman." Ejay - Year 10. Completed the EPP Plumbing HeadStart Pre-apprenticeship course in 2024

Our Careers team have been out on-site exploring work experience opportunities for next year already! We want to thank Komatsu Rutherford for providing a tour of their facilities and explaining how they can help our students into a rewarding trade in mechanical or electrical.

T2

" The T2 program is a great opportunity for students like me to manage school, TAFE and work commitments while doing a School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship. One of the best things about the program is how flexible it is. It allows us to balance everything without feeling too stressed. In T2 we have time set aside to focus on our TAFE work which helps us stay on track with our learning and meet deadlines. This flexibility means we can take the time we need to complete our assessments and focus on the skills we are learning in our SBAT roles. Another big part of the T2 program is how it helps us become more independent. We are trusted to manage our own time and responsibilities. For example, we decide when to work on assignments, study for TAFE or prepare for tasks at our jobs. We call potential places to get work experience in what we are interested in. This teaches us how to be organised and take control of our own learning, instead of always having someone check on us. We learn how to stay motivated and get things done on our own. This skill is very important because it helps us in both our SBAT roles and in everyday life. The program also gives us support when we need it even though we are learning to work more independently, the teachers and staff in T2 are always there to help if we have questions or need advice. They guide us when we are unsure and make sure we have everything we need to succeed. This balance of independence and support helps us feel confident and prepared for the future. The T2 program is very helpful because it gives us the time, space and skills to handle our school, TAFE and work." T2 student reflection.

Big Picture

This has been our first year in Big Picture. It has been filled with exciting and challenging opportunities. We were all very anxious to adapt to new learning styles but have found it gets better with more experience and knowledge. It has been helpful having other, older students around to guide and support us through our first year. Being in Big Picture gives you the chance to explore more hands-on projects as well as work experience and outlearning. Big Picture not only builds your knowledge and skills but allows you to create friendships that could last a lifetime.

Our favourite team building excursion this year has to be the recent Raw Challenge trip. It was muddy, gross, and exhilarating, but everyone got involved and had a great time." By Rylee, Floss and Maddy. 

Hunter Academy

"This year I’ve had the best time in Hunter Academy for many different reasons. Firstly, the teachers are always helping and guiding us to be the best we can. For example, Miss Winter always sits down with us and explains it in a way that we understand. Secondly, I enjoyed the excursions we went on. My favourite was going to the zoo because we got to see animals that we have never seen before and learn about them. Thirdly, we had a Christmas party and Secret Santa to celebrate our year together. It was amazing. Overall, it was a wonderful year in Hunter Academy and I will miss it a lot next year." Jaxon Johnson

"This year in Hunter Academy I had lots of fun in sports, when learning and made lots of good friends. My favorite thing to happen this year in Hunter Academy was our Christmas Party because there was Secret Santa, an endless amount of food and we were all together celebrating the new year, but also the year we had had together. The best excursion has to be going to see Moana 2, as it was nice, fun and exciting. I enjoyed my time here this year and can’t wait till next year." Rawiri Thornton Puru

" In Hunter Academy this year, I learned so much and have improved in so many areas that I can’t even describe. Before I was in Hunter Academy, I wasn’t completing my assessments or work, but now I am achieving my goals, both academically and socially. I’m so grateful to have teachers a.k.a. Mr. Armstrong and Miss Winter to support and guide me constantly throughout the year. I’m so thankful for all the happy and enjoyable memories made in Hunter Academy this year." Cruz Ace Toomey

"2024 in Hunter Academy has been the greatest year. There were so many exciting things that happened this year. We went on so many excursions with the whole class. I feel like I’ve improved my literacy and numerous skills because of the amount of times I have attended school and because of the support from Mr. Armstrong, Miss Winter and Hannah. I’m thankful for being in Hunter Academy this year and I look forward to next year and what it has in store." Khalifa Ahoy-Bates

T1 Happenings - Semester 2

T1 has had a busy semester 2. The Term 3 project was Urbanisation and Migration, which included reading The Happiest Refugee by Ahn Do, watching a variety of documentaries, and discussing gratitude for our way of life. Term 4 saw our project combined with science to explore Forensics. Students have been participating in a variety of activities involving creative and critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork. In conjunction with this, we are reading Scar Town, a novel about teenagers solving a mystery. Additionally, we have read The Line Formation which introduced the students to the issues of segregation, racism, and the importance of teamwork. We also studied films such as 'The Blind Side' and 'Remember the Titans' which covered similar themes. Students also got their first introduction to Shakespeare with Ms Scobie our passionate Deputy and English teacher completing a unit of work on Romeo and Juliet. T1 then got the chance to watch the film Romeo & Juliette, Baz Luhrmans modern take on the classic love story starring Leonardo Di Caprio.

Students in T1 also continued to engage in many outlearning experiences throughout Semester 2. Firstly, this included an excursion to the Newcastle CBD and Stockton to coincide with our urbanisation project. We had the opportunity to observe the revitalisation of the CBD before catching the ferry across to Stockton to enjoy the green open spaces and the beach foreshore. The Term 3 celebration excursion was to the Hunter Valley Zoo where our students enjoyed getting up close and personal with animals we had discussed earlier in the year during our Biomes project. With many of our students indicating their love of the water and our coastline our Term 4 out learning experience included a Swim and Survive program. The program saw T1 visit the Newcastle Baths on three occasions to improve their swimming and lifesaving capabilities through a number of structured activities.

T1 students are given many opportunities to develop their personal self, outside the classroom. Many of our students accessed courses, programs, and excursions such as the Year 9 Trade Awareness, Girls on Fire, Nourish Program, Fit for Work program, TAFE Start Your future courses and the International Childcare College. These programs have allowed these young adults to gain wonderful experiences, skills, and certificates to make them more employable.

Some T1 students embarked on their first Work Experience this Semester with a range of placements being organised from Mechanical and Child Care through to Lawn Maintenance and Gardening.

Finally, our some of our students were successful in representing Hunter Sports High as a part of Waiyarang teams in Cricket, Rugby League and Football. These opportunities have led them to follow these sports into local competitions.

School & Community notices

School Travel Passes: Applications are now open for 2025 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel. Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their School Opal card at their nominated postal address from mid-January 2025.

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.

In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs. Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

Further information can be found at transportnsw.info/school-travel. Enquiries can be submitted at transportnsw.info/passes-concessions-feedback