Hunter Sports High News Term 1 - Week 6 - 2024

What's On?

• Wednesday 6th March: Whole School Swimming Carnival
• Tuesday 12th March: Sports Academy Information Night
• Thursday 14th March: Years 7and 9 NAPLAN Writing
• Friday 15th March: Years 7 and 9 NAPLAN Reading
• Monday 18th March: NAPLAN Catch up
• Thursday 21st March: Years 7 and 9 NAPLAN Language
• Friday 22nd March: Years 7 and 9 NAPLAN Numeracy
• Monday 25th March: NAPLAN Catch up
• Friday 29th March: Good Friday Public Holiday
• Monday 1st April: Easter Monday Public Holiday

principal's message

The 2024 school year has kicked off with a flying start, and we're thrilled to be settling into the new term at Hunter Sports High. A warm welcome goes out to all our new students and families—we're eager to get to know each of you as you embark on your journey with us.

Our incoming Year 7 students have begun their journey at Hunter Sports High with great enthusiasm. Reports from their recent adventure at the Great Aussie Bush Camp indicate they had an unforgettable experience. Our Year 7 Camp is a beloved tradition, providing our newcomers with the chance to bond with peers, connect with teachers, and take on personal challenges. A heartfelt thank you goes to Mr. Scott McCarter, our dedicated Year Advisor, for his outstanding efforts in ensuring our newest students feel supported as they transition into high school life.

As we embrace the opportunities of the new year, we also welcome new staff members while bidding farewell to others. Congratulations are in order for Ms. Melinda Workman, who has assumed the role of Deputy of Inclusion and Support. We're thrilled to introduce this new position for 2024, anticipating the positive impact it will have across our school community. Additionally, we're delighted to announce that Ms. Lisa Scobie will continue her valuable role as Acting Deputy Principal for Years 8 and 11.

With NAPLAN on the horizon, students are gearing up to showcase their literacy and numeracy skills—a valuable opportunity to identify strengths and areas for growth. We are committed to providing the necessary support and resources to empower students for these assessments, fostering confidence and readiness. We encourage all students to approach NAPLAN with positivity, recognising its significance in their academic journey and overall development.

In addition to academic updates, Year 7 and 11 interim reports will be distributed to parents by the end of Term 1. These reports serve as a checkpoint to update you on your child's progress and adjustment to high school or senior courses.

For our newest members of the community, our school newsletters are published twice per term, offering essential updates and insights into student achievements. Past newsletters and school information can be found on our website at huntersports.com.au, and we regularly share news on our official Facebook page.

Lastly, but importantly, we will continue to maintain a strong focus on student attendance here at Hunter Sports High. We firmly believe that 'Every Day Counts', and we urge students and parents alike to prioritise attendance. Regular absences can impact learning and development, with students below a 90% attendance rate deemed educationally at risk. Let's work together to support student attendance—please notify the school of any student absences, and reach out if you have any concerns regarding attendance.

Thank you for your continued support as we navigate this exciting journey of learning and growth together.

Ms Rachel Byrne - Principal

English write now

Welcome back to 2024 and our first edition of English Write Now. Usually we start the year by introducing any new members of the faculty, but in 2024 the English faculty remains unchanged. We have all settled into our new classes and planned some fun and excitement for 2024.

At the heart of English lies the timeless practice of reading. This year our Teacher Librarian Ms Hamilton has introduced a wide reading program for Year 7 with the vision that in the coming years, all students of Hunter Sports High School will have dedicated time to engage in reading. Reading not only enriches our minds but also nourishes our souls. It transports us to different realms, introduces us to new ideas, and fosters empathy by allowing us to walk in someone else's shoes, if only for a moment. Through reading, we gain insight into diverse perspectives, expand our knowledge, and cultivate a lifelong love for learning. In an era dominated by digital distractions, nurturing a passion for reading has never been more crucial. As educators and parents, it is our collective responsibility to in still the habit of reading in our students. By providing access to a rich array of literature and texts and fostering a supportive environment that celebrates reading, we empower our students to become critical thinkers, creative problem-solvers, and lifelong learners.

NAPLAN is fast approaching, and provides a valuable opportunity for students to showcase their skills in literacy, offering insights into their strengths and areas for improvement. We are committed to preparing our students to excel in these assessments by providing comprehensive support and resources to bolster their confidence and readiness. We encourage all students to approach NAPLAN with a positive mindset, knowing that their efforts contribute to their academic journey and overall development.

Wishing you all a year filled with discovery, growth, and the joy of reading.

HSIE

The HSIE faculty extend a warm welcome to our newest faculty member, Miss Tanika Goodyer! Miss Goodyer joins us after having The HSIE faculty extend a warm welcome to our newest faculty member, Miss Tanika Goodyer! Miss Goodyer joins us after having previously worked at Muswellbrook High School and Singleton High School. Her passion for education and dedication to student success make her a valuable addition to our team

As we dive into the new academic year, we would like to recognise the efforts of our Year 12 students who commenced their final year of studies. Ensuring they are seeking support from teachers and Mr. Berry in the Senior Hub is essential to achieve their personal best. For our Year 11 students embarking on their senior studies, we encourage you to approach this year with enthusiasm and determination. Remember, staying up-to-date with your work is crucial, and we highly recommend utilising the Edrolo online learning platform for both revision and catching up on any missed material.

To our incoming Year 7 students, welcome to high school! This marks the beginning of an exciting chapter in your academic journey. Throughout the year, Year 7 and Year 9 students will delve into the fascinating world of Geography, while Year 8 and Year 10 students will explore the depths of History.

As part of our commitment to providing enriching educational experiences, we have planned several exciting excursions for the year ahead. Students will have the opportunity to visit the Awabakal Environmental Centre, where they will investigate the coastal landscape of Awabakal Nature Reserve and explore the ways in which humans have shaped this environment. Additionally, trips to Newcastle CBD will allow students to examine the impact of urban processes on inner-city Newcastle.

Furthermore, Year 11 and Year 12 students studying Modern History and Legal Studies will have the opportunity to visit the Sydney Jewish Museum and Toronto Local Court, where they will gain invaluable insights into historical events and legal processes. We look forward to a productive 2024 and year of success and achievement for our students.

WELL BEING

Hunter Sports High School would like to welcome Angela Matla our new Student Support Office. Angela has a background in social work and community services. She is a musician and also runs music groups for people with a disability outside of school.

You will see her around on Mondays, Wednesday and Friday.

In the Mathematics department

Welcome to another year of learning and striving for success. 2023 proved to be extremely successful in terms of student numeracy growth and success. We are setting the bar even higher this year and would like to remind students of some simple expectations to be successful at Mathematics in 2024.

Equipment required for every Maths lesson:

• Laptop. (With charger or enough charge for entire day)

• Calculator (This is compulsory. Casio fx82 is recommended by NSW BOS and can be purchased at the office)

• Pen

• Exercise book (A4)

Get to know our online Platforms:

Canvas: All students will be part of a Canvas course for their class. This is a portal for information, announcements, communication with teacher and access to relevant class content.

Education Perfect (Years 7-10): This website www.educationperfect.com is an interactive portal that supplements the work students’ study in class. Every student will have a unique login and password. EP is used for interactive lessons as well as pre-testing and post-testing. Students are welcome to see their class teacher or Sean Love (HT Maths) for login assistance.

Edrolo (Years 11-12): This website www.edrolo.com is an interactive portal that supplements the work students’ study in the HSC courses. Every student will have a unique login and password. Edrolo is used for lesson reviews, HSC practice questions as well a compulsory Progress Check at the end of each topic that all students must submit.

Term 1 Assessment tasks

All students studying Mathematics in years 7-10 have assessment tasks coming up in week 9. Students will be issued the task notifications through Canvas. All upcoming assessment dates can be found in the HSHS Assessment handbook on the school website.

Minimbah

The Minimbah Team is off to a busy start in 2024. We welcome back Aboriginal Education Officers Shaun Skuthorpe and Brooke Elers and returning in 2024 after joining us late in 2023 are our two Aboriginal Student Learning Support Officers (SLSO) Bree Poulton and Nathan Darcy.

Some of the Minimbah Dancers that performed at Dance Raite last year were asked to preform at the Yabun Festival on January 26th, the Yabun Festival is one of Australia’s largest one-day celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and is more than just a gathering; “it’s a living testament to the enduring strength h and vibrancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures”. Congratulations to our Minimbah dancers who preformed at this event.

Adding to this was the significant invitation for he dance group at Link-Up NSW on 13th February. Link-Up (NSW) Aboriginal Corporation was founded in 1980 to assist all Aboriginal People who had been directly affected by past government policies; being separated from their families and culture through forced removal, being fostered, adopted or raised in institutions. This performance was very important as it was on the day known as Apology Day – on 13th February 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd offered a formal apology to Australia’s Indigenous peoples, particularly the Stolen Generations, on behalf of the nation at Australian Parliament House.