What's On?
- Tuesday 26th November: Sports Academy Awards
- Wednesday 27th November: Minimbah Celebrations
- Wednesday 27th November: Year 12 Sign Out Day
- Wednesday 4th December: GEM Academy $20 Boss Stalls & Art Exhibition
- Wednesday 4th December: Year 12 Formal, Newcastle City Hall
- Tuesday 5th December: Year 9 Focus Day
- Tuesday 10th - Thursday 12th December: Year 7 Swim School
- Friday 13th December: School Assembly, Years 7-11
- Wednesday 18th December: Last Day Term 4 for Students
- Thursday 19th - Friday 20th December: Staff Development Days
principal's message
Dear Parents, Carers and Students,
As Term 4 gets well underway, it's hard to believe that the school year is almost coming to an end. This is a great opportunity to look ahead to a time of celebration, reflection, and anticipation for what lies ahead celebrating all that we have accomplished and embracing the growth and new opportunities yet to come.
This term has already kicked off with great energy and enthusiasm. On Tuesday, we were blown away by the annual CAPAL Showcase, where our incredibly talented students brought the arts to life through music, dance, drama, and visual art. Their creativity and hard work were on full display, and we are so proud of each student involved. Our heartfelt thanks go to the CAPAL staff, the students, and the community members who attended to support this memorable event.
Our Year 12 students are currently navigating their HSC exams and eagerly awaiting their official Sign-Out Day on November 27, followed by their Year 12 Formal at Newcastle City Hall on December 4. It will be a time to honour their journey, reflect on their achievements, and celebrate their milestones as they take their next steps into the future.
Looking ahead, we have more exciting events on the calendar. On November 26, we will host the 2024 Sports Award Presentation Assembly, celebrating the impressive achievements of our athletes and recognising their hard work and dedication. The following day, November 27, will be our Minimbah Celebrations evening—a special occasion to recognise the accomplishments of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, bid farewell to our graduating Year 12s, and celebrate the 2024 award winners. My sincere thanks go to the Minimbah team for their ongoing support in organising what promises to be a truly meaningful celebration.
As we approach the close of the school year, our students and teachers are finalising assessments and preparing reports, which will be issued on December 17 for Years 7 to 10. At this time, I would also like to take the opportunity to thank all our exceptional teachers and staff, whose unwavering commitment to excellence continues to shape the learning, cultural, and sporting experiences for our students.
On December 13, we will come together one last time for 2024 at our Presentation Day Assembly. We warmly invite parents and carers to join us in applauding our students’ achievements, successes, spirit, and persistence.
Thank you all for your continued support, encouragement, and commitment to making this year a success. Let’s make the most of these final weeks, celebrating our progress and looking forward to the possibilities of 2025!
Warm regards,
Ms. Rachel Byrne - Principal
MATHEMATICS
Term 2 class Assessment tasks
All students studying Mathematics in years 7-10 have assessment tasks in the upcoming weeks. Students have been issued task notifications and should be revising work to strive for their personal best.
All upcoming assessment dates can be found in the HSHS Assessment handbook.
Maths in Trades Novaskill Training:
Year 9 ‘Maths in Trades’ students have recently taken part in a Regional Industry Education Partnership (REIP) program at Novaskill Broadmeadow where they constructed outdoor furniture.
The students were given the agency to collaborate and make decisions about the steps to undertake to complete the task. This hands-on task has given the opportunity to our students to use their mathematical skills in a real-world context. Our students took pride in their work and appreciated the guidance from the Novaskill representative.
English Write Now
We are thrilled to share some wonderful feedback from our Year 7 and Year 8 reading lessons. Students have been immersing themselves in a variety of engaging books during these sessions, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. The lessons have not only provided an opportunity to improve reading skills but also given students a much-needed chance to relax and unwind in their busy school schedules.
Many of our students have expressed that these lessons offer a sense of calm and focus, helping them develop their overall wellbeing. The quiet time to read has been a welcome break in their day, allowing them to step away from screens and distractions, and just enjoy the stories they are exploring. It’s wonderful to see both Year 7 and Year 8 students bonding over their love of reading and benefiting from the peaceful environment these sessions create.
In addition, our school library is still developing its collection to ensure a diverse and engaging range of books for students to enjoy. We are open to donations of quality, well-loved books that could find a new home in our library. If you have any gently used books that you believe would benefit our students, we would be grateful for your contribution. We also welcome suggestions for new titles to purchase so we can continue to expand and meet the interests of all readers.
We look forward to seeing this enthusiasm grow as students continue to discover new books and develop their love for reading and would like to thank you for your support in fostering a love of reading in our school community.
Our Stage 5 Drama class worked incredibly hard, and we are so proud to share that they performed at this year’s CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts) Showcase! As part of their contribution, they not only took to the stage but also premiered a film they had created, demonstrating their impressive talents in both live performance and filmmaking. This was a huge achievement for the class, and we were so excited to see their creativity and dedication come to life during the showcase. We couldn't be prouder of their hard work and artistic growth.
GEM ACADEMY
The GEM Academy has been extremely busy of late, with lots of exciting activities happening across all seven classes.
At the end of Term 3, the Ruby class entered the Lake Macquarie Living Smart Festival School Garden Bed Competition. With the dedication and persistence of Mrs Gilmore, Mrs Cottrill, students and families of the Ruby class, and support of our school staff, the class was successful in taking out the People’s Choice award and took home a cheque for $1000. This will be used to continue to build and implement our garden projects.
The Ruby class has also entered the Lake Macquarie Waste to Art competition. The Ruby class has created a sculpture, using objects found on Leaving to Learn excursions including garden hose, hub caps and discarded fence panels. The sculpture represents the class's strong passion and enthusiasm for gardening, recycling and art making. The class has created a visual representation of an urban 'found' material garden. The artwork is on display at the Swansea Library until mid-January. We would love for our local community to visit the exhibition, and vote for us as their favourite. The Ruby class will be visiting the exhibition in Week 9.
The Ruby class, combined with the Sapphire class, will be performing a dance and drum routine at the Annual Combined Schools concert at Jesmond Senior Campus, to celebrate the end of 13 years of schooling for our Year 12 students. They have been busily practising a routine which incorporates dance moves and glow sticks!
12 of our GEM students and 3 staff attended the inaugural All Abilities Touch Football gala day held at Tomaree Sports Complex in Week 4 of this term. We played 6 games on the day, against a number of other schools, and the students showed some impressive sportsmanship, teamwork and skill to score some incredible tries. Special mention goes to our award winners on the day, who were selected by our Year 11 student helpers from Tomaree High School:
- Coaches Award: Shealinda Hopgood
- Encouragement Award: Mitchell Long Swan
- Spirit Award: Zachary Toward
- Best and Fairest: Nelson Wong
Our Leaving to Learn groups still have a number of excursions to go for 2024. They have trips to Myuna Bay playground, Catherine Hill Bay and Tomaree planned, just to name a few. They’ve had a busy and very enjoyable year, and look forward to doing it all again next year.
Throughout the year our GEM Drama group has been rehearsing their play, an original script written by Mrs Stewart, called “A Mixed-Up Fairy Tale”. The group will be presenting their play later this term, and are very excited to be travelling to the Civic Playhouse at the end of this month, to see a similar production, called “The Magic Hour”. We are looking forward to seeing what goes into a live production and to checking out the Civic Theatre whilst we are there.
GEM students have also been enjoying the Mountain Bike Program run by Mrs Wade Phillips. The program combines learning, safety and fun! Students develop important skills like bike handling, teamwork and leadership, while also enjoying the outdoors. Whether they’re climbing a hill or cruising down a trail, students gain both physical and life skills that will serve them well in and out of the classroom. It’s the perfect mix of adventure and learning!
Finally, we have had another successful year with our Coffee Shop program, where our staff continue to be treated on a Friday with some amazing meals prepared by both Mrs Stewart and Mrs Wilkes. Our student helpers have been reliable as ever, serving staff with a smile and assisting with meal preparations in the kitchen. We are looking forward to our end of year celebrations with a Christmas Coffee Shop for staff in Week 9 and a special Christmas lunch for all of our GEM students in Week 10.
HSIE
Dear Parents and Carers,
We’re excited to share the latest activities and achievements of our students in the HSIE faculty, showcasing the range of dynamic learning experiences that our students have been involved in recently.
Our Year 7 Enrichment Geography students enjoyed a fantastic fieldwork excursion to the Awabakal Nature Reserve. This hands-on experience allowed them to connect classroom learning to the natural world, applying key geographical concepts in a beautiful, local environment. Students demonstrated curiosity and enthusiasm, making the most of this opportunity to deepen their understanding of the natural landscape.
Year 8 History students had a unique opportunity to learn about pre-contact Indigenous society directly from the Minimbah Team, who shared valuable insights into topics such as kinship, weapons and tools, lore, and the enduring connection to country. This experience provided our students with an enriched understanding of Indigenous cultures and histories, highlighting the depth and resilience of these traditions.
In Year 9 Geography, students have been actively involved in investigating geographical issues within their local community. Through this fieldwork, they have applied their learning to real-world contexts, enhancing both their understanding of key geographical issues and their awareness of local environmental challenges.
Our Year 10 students are engaging in a series of skills-based lessons designed to build essential capabilities for their upcoming Stage 6 pathways. These sessions focus on strengthening critical thinking, research, and analysis skills, preparing them for the demands of senior study.
Our Year 11 students have embraced the start of their HSC journey with energy and enthusiasm. As they approach their first assessment tasks later this term, we encourage them to continue attending class regularly, making the most of the support available from their teachers and Mr. Berry.
Finally, we wish to congratulate our Year 12 Class of 2024, who have successfully completed their HSC exams! This cohort was truly exceptional, and it has been a pleasure to watch them grow into remarkable young adults. Each of them brought something unique to our classes, and we are so proud of their hard work and dedication.
We’re also pleased to welcome two practicum students from the University of Newcastle who are joining us for their teaching placements. Miss Tyrie is working alongside Miss Bryant, and Mr. Frederick is working with Miss Gaynor. Both have shown a great commitment to supporting and engaging with our students, and we are excited to have them as part of the HSIE team.
Warm regards,
HSIE Faculty
MINIMBAH NEWS
A huge congratulations to the 2024 Year 12 students on your recent graduation and to those sitting their HSC exams we wish you lots of luck and look forward to seeing what the next chapter is for each and every one of you.
This term has started just like every other term ... super busy! The Minimbah team have been delivering perspectives in classes, continued with attending lessons to offer learning support, selected students attended a cultural immersion camp ran by Winanga-y
Dreaming, SistaSpeak and BroSpeak have continued with year 8, there are transitions days ahead, Cultural incursions, NRL School to work visits, Minimbah dance performances and in a few weeks the Minimbah Celebration Awards evening.
MINIMBAH CELEBRATIONS : Wednesday 27th November 2024 held at Hunter Sports High School - S BLOCK from 6pm arrival - 6:30pm start
WELLBEING
This term there has been, and will be, lots happening in Wellbeing. The Wellbeing staff team is looking a little different this term. Mrs Guzel is back from maternity leave and in the position of Head Teacher Wellbeing. Maddie Powell has just started in a Student Support Officer (SSO) role and will be working on Wednesday mornings, Thursdays and Fridays - we would like to welcome Maddie and acknowledge the significant amount of expertise and support that she will bring to the school. Sarah Cesare is also a fantastic addition to the Wellbeing Hub and continues to support a number of students across the school.
A number of programs to support student wellbeing have also commenced this term. Breakfast Club is running each Friday morning before school - thank you to HopeUC and Mt Hutton Baker’s Delight for their incredible support, and the staff who assist with this each week. The Sequel Project has also kicked off and some students from Year 10 will be mentoring in the Transition Program for students in Year 6 who will be coming to HSHS next year.
This term there will be a Year 9 Focus Day (5th December). Thank you to Lewis Horne for his organisation of the day. Students will have the opportunity to take part in a number of programs and presentations mainly around mental health and healthy relationships.
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
Getting to school by bus in 2025: Will your child be catching the bus to school next year? Applications are now open for a Bus Travel Pass. As it’s a busy time of year, we highly recommend you make this application before the end of the year. It’s also good to check the bus timetable to make your child’s journey to school as easy as possible. Here is how it works:
Bus passes
- All students catching the bus in 2025 will need a school travel pass.
- Under the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS), eligible students can apply for free or subsided travel between home and school.
- For more information about the School Student Transport Scheme and how to apply for a school travel pass, visit https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/#/ from a desktop computer.
Bus timetables
Busways is the school bus operator that runs your schools’ bus services. To find your child’s school bus timetable visit the Busways website by using the following steps:
- Go to busways.com.au/nsw
- Click on ‘school services’ in the navigation bar and then proceed to ‘school timetables’
- Enter the school’s name in the field that says ‘enter a school name’
- Select the school’s name and the timetable should open on your device. If you are unable to find or search for the school’s name, use the drop-down menus on the same web page to find the school.
- Once the timetable is opened, you will be able to identify which school bus services are available in your area for your child to use.