WYNDHAM COLLEGE A partner within the Nirimba Collegiate Group of Schools and the Nirimba Education Precinct

WYNDHAM WHISPERS
Nirimba Education Precinct, Eastern Road, Quakers Hill Phone: 9208 7100 Fax: 9208 7199 Website: www.wyndhamcol-h.schools.nsw.edu.au

NOVEmber 2013
Principal Karen Smith Deputy Principals David Macleod-Jones & Robert Bredin Collegiate Deputy Principal Joe Camilleri

November November 18 November 18 November 19 November 19 November 20 November 21 December December 2

Yr 10 Orientation Parent Information Evening 5.30pm-7.30pm Friends of Wyndham Yr 10 Orientation Yr 11Marine Studies-Aquarium, IMAX Yr 12 Formal Yr12 Business Studies- Sydney Tower

December December 4-5 December 5 December 17 December 18 January January 28 January 29 January 30

Visual Arts to Bundanon Yr 11 Presentation Day Wet N Wild Last day Term 4- Students Staff Development Day Yr 11 Commence Yr 12 Return

FROM THE COLLEGE PRINCIPAL By the time this newsletter is printed Year 12, 2013 will have completed their HSC exams. Brian Driver, the Presiding Officer, congratulated our students on their behaviour at the exams. I know for many students it will be a time of great relief and will now nervously await their results. A reminder to the Class of 2013 regarding the barbecue after receiving HSC results at the College. We will love to hear what you received, what you are going to do in 2014 and just a general catch up. Year 12 Formal this year is at Rosehill. Many thanks to Kasia for organising this event. I know it will be a great night. Staffing / Curriculum 2014 Students / families have all been informed of the new curriculum / timetable changes for 2014. Our current Year 11 students have now moved to the HSC course. On Thursday 31st October we held a very successful Conference Day. Many thanks to Robert, Megan, Jeff and their team for organising the day. Margot Braithwaite, Principal Liaison Officer from the Board of Studies addressed the College, highlighting the importance of assessment and attendance at school. Next year we will have significant changes in our staffing, with several of our staff either retiring or on leave. Most of our staffing replacements will come from our collegiate partners. We welcome these staff members to Wyndham.

FRIENDS OF WYNDHAM COLLEGE (P & C)

All Parents are invited to attend

Tuesday 18 November 2013 7PM

Administration Block

Wyndham College

November 2013

Congratulations I am able to report success by our students studying with UWSCollege. Wyndham had 9 students undertake university studies. All our students achieved either credit, distinction or high distinction. They were: Sam El-Kamand, Aaron Gutugutuwai, Jessi Hunt, Bhawantha Jayawardena, Mackenzie Lawrence, Goergina Lord, Erin Meyer, Elliot Roynon and Ryan Vincent. Students who achieve a distinction or high distinction will be offered a scholarship by UWS. These results ensure our students receive a priority offer and a $20,000 scholarship if they choose to study at the University of Western Sydney. Congratulations and good luck to all these students. Many thanks to Joanne Cupac the school coordinator of the program for her coordination and guidance she offers these students. Again thanks to the support provided by the UWSCollege. We are extremely proud of all students and look forward to many more success and recognition stories. Congratulations to Dylan Johnstone who has been nominated by industry for excellence in the work place and has won the School Based Trainee Category in the 2013 Breed Awards for Excellence. Dylan will be honoured at a presentation ceremony on 19th November. Congratulations to Damien Scott and Jacob Hansford who have both won Combined High School Blues for outstanding sporting achievement. These students will be honoured at a ceremony on 29th November at ANZ Stadium. Two Dance students have been nominated for inclusion in Callback. They are Nadia Krygsman and Kristin Martin. We eagerly await the outcome of the next stage of the selection process. Congratulations to these students. Several of our HSC Visual Arts students major works have also made it through to the next stage of the selection process. Hopefully I can report the successful students later this term. Library Agreement a reminder to all, that we have re-signed an agreement with the Nirimba Education Precinct TAFE/UWS library that enables our students to not only use the library for research but to have borrowing rights. This gives a significant advantage to our students as the library has a wonderful collection which complements our own Wyndham/Terra Sancta library resource. Students interested in accessing this facility should see Connie, our own librarian to complete the necessary documentation. Uniform I would ask that we pay some attention again to uniform. It appears to me that a small number of students have fallen into bad habits. I ask that all students ensure that they are in uniform each day and that in the rare event where there is a mishap and it is not possible to be in full uniform, that a note from home be provided. Finance should never be an excuse as we have a Student Assistance Scheme which can be accessed via the office and is confidential. If students need uniform there are additional opening hours for the shop on Monday 18th November 5.30 8pm, Tuesday 17th December 68pm. In 2014: Thursday 23rd January 10am 1pm and Thursday 30th January 12.30 1.30pm. Leaving School Grounds a reminder to all that students are not permitted to leave the school grounds if they do not have a timetabled lesson. Students are to utilise this time in the library, focusing on school work. If students need to leave they must have a signed note from parent/caregiver and this note needs to be signed by one of the Deputies. I seek your support and cooperation in this matter. _______________________________________________________________________________ 2

Wyndham College

November 2013

Year 11, 2014 November 18 and November 19, we welcome the year 11 cohort for 2014. Thank you to Shelley Woodhams, Megan Bond and their team for organising this important event. Many of these students come from a very small cohort to a substantially larger cohort and some can find this transition challenging. We are focusing in on improving this process for our students. For our current Year 11 students (now HSC) the upcoming Christmas holidays needs to be a time for consolidating major projects, IRPs, PIPs etc. When they return in 2014, they have only 3 terms of formal schooling remaining and I encourage all students to utilise this time wisely. I bring to the attention of all parents a website called School A to Z, a practical help guide for parents. It can be found at www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au. There is a particularly useful section on how to help the whole family survive the challenges of Year 12. This may be particularly useful for Year 12, 2014 and their families. I would like to wish each and everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please have a safe holiday and I look forward to working with everyone in 2014. Karen Smith College Principal

FROM THE YEAR 12 DEPUTY PRINCIPAL Farewell to Year 12 - 2013 Congratulations to all Year 12 students on the completion of their HSC studies. At the end of Term 3 our Year 12 graduation ceremony celebrated the achievements of our students over the past two years. Staff and families proudly joined together to congratulate our young women and men as they concluded their formal secondary studies at Wyndham College. Thank you to all staff who were involved in the organisation of the ceremony and morning tea it was truly a memorable event. The Higher School Certificate exams finish on Wednesday November 6. Over the past 5 weeks, all of our Year 12 and students sat for hundreds of exam papers in a broad range of HSC Board Developed Courses. The Presiding Officer and exam supervisors commended the students on the friendly, courteous and cooperative manner in which they conducted themselves throughout the duration of the examination period. The college would also like to thank those Year 11 students who assisted as readers and writers for students who were granted special provisions. The HSC results are due for release on December 18 2013. We hope that all students receive the successful outcomes towards which they have worked. Finally, as this is our last edition of Wyndham Whispers for this year, I would like to wish all of you a happy and safe Christmas and a positive new year. Together, we can all make 2014 a great year. David Macleod-Jones Deputy Principal

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Wyndham College FROM THE YEAR 11 DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

November 2013

Last week we had our My HSC Conference, a day of preparation as students moved from the Year 11 Preliminary course and commenced Year 12 and the Higher School Certificate. We had Margot Braithwaite from the Board of Studies explain in easy-to-understand language what was required to succeed in Year 12 and how the BOS came up with students final HSC marks. Three Wyndham ex-students also spoke about their experiences and provided advice about how to cope successfully with the HSC. I spoke about the commitment, the promise that each student should make to themselves as they commence Year 12 studies. Students were asked to sign and return a contract which stated: I am prepared to make the necessary commitment to the HSC in 2014 as outlined in the Senior Commitment document in relation to: Board of Studies requirements ATAR requirements Requirements for the satisfactory completion of a course HSC assessment tasks Effective use of study periods Homework, study and work commitments Completion of non-assessment tasks

I am prepared to accept the responsibilities of a senior student and to follow the school rules regarding: School uniform Seeking help I shared with students my disappointment that a number of them did not successfully complete the Preliminary course and as a result, could not continue their studies into Year 12 the result of a lack of commitment. I asked the students to consider that it is a small investment to put serious effort into their Year 12 studies given that their working life beyond it may be 40 years. A good HSC result does provide more options for a happy life in a good career. I emphasized the significance of this fact using the results of a 2013 Gallup study that revealed 67% of people in the workforce did not like the job they had and regretted not working hard enough at school/ I told them of MY commitment to THEM: continually reviewing attendance, engagement in class and N Award warnings and assisting with motivation and support where needed to get them the best possible HSC and the future options that it opens up for them. Parents: Like all of us on the senior executive at Wyndham, I know from personal experience the challenges and stress involved in getting my children, (sometimes kicking and screaming), to get the best possible HSC results. We feel your pain! My advice is start working with, cajoling and encouraging them now! It is much more painful if left closer to the first HSC exam in October 2014. We want them to succeed as much as you do. I look forward to working with you with that goal in mind.

Robert Bredin Deputy Principal

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Wyndham College FROM THE COLLEGIATE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

November 2013

In my first year in this position it has been a rewarding experience meeting with so many teams of teachers and respective leaders in managing many exciting programs within the Collegiate. From each campus site teachers stepped up to coordinate and lead these programs including: KLAs meetings, Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL), Student Representative council (SRC), Gala days, Indigenous activities, subject selection evenings, taster days at Wyndham college, apprenticeship traineeship evening, and more. I am extremely grateful for the vision which the overarching College Management Group (CMG our respective school principals), demonstrated in enabling the release of staff to partake and contribute in these development programs. Further may I express my gratitude for staff giving up their personal time to ensure evening programs satisfied the needs of all our clientele. Ultimately all students within the collegiate were the beneficiaries of the energy injected into the teaching and learning of our students. A big thank you also goes out to all our close external stakeholders who contributed vital services supporting our programs. May I also express my delight in the meeting of so many students within our Collegiate. The contribution of engagement, commitment and active participation of all students ensured that programs were productive and beneficial. Congratulations!

Orientation program for year 10 2013 at Wyndham College Another important component of our Transition Program at Wyndham College, in conjunction with the three feeder schools of Quakers Hill High, Seven Hills High and Riverstone High is the Orientation program on the 18 and 19 of November. The program aims to bring together all students Collegiate and Non collegiate into Wyndham College to become engaged in the educational values and safe physical environment it has to offer. All students will have an excellent opportunity to meet many of the staff who will look after their welfare and educational wellbeing for the next two years. It is essential that all eligible / enrolled students to attend these two days. By now year ten students should have returned an acknowledgment slip of attendance to their respective year advisors. It is the intention of the Wyndham College Principal that at no time, are our parents to be left out of the loop in this transition process. On Monday evening 18 November all parents of our new year 11 2014 are invited for a brief welcoming night to ensure our activities of educational engagement of our stakeholders (our young adults) are transparent and meaningful. Xmas Wishes

It may seem premature but as this is the last newsletter may I express to all to have a safe and Holy Christmas 2013. May you all have a restful and enjoyable break. Please remember that if you have any collegiate educational issues please dont hesitate to give me a call at Wyndham College on 9208 7100. Yours in Education, Mr Joe Camilleri - Collegiate Deputy Principal.

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Wyndham College UNSW MATHS COMPETITION (ICAS) 2013 RESULTS

November 2013

The UNSW Mathematics Competition (ICAS) was held on Tuesday 13th August, 2013. Congratulations to Thomas McDonell for obtaining a distinction and to Bhawantha Jayawardena for a credit in this Competition. Well done.

SRC NEWS Grip Leadership On the 1st November the 10 members of the SRC attended the Grip Leadership Conference at the Homebush Sports Centre. This was a fun and entertaining way to learn about leadership, gain inspiration, get new ideas and develop skills in various aspects of leadership.

CONGRATULATIONS TRAVIS HOLMES - Winning work adds colour to Barangaroo The Artwork of Quakers Hills Travis Holmes has taken centre stage at Sydneys most talked about construction site. The 16 year old won the 13 to 18 age category of the See Your Artwork competition with his piece titled Barramundi, Bream and Barangaroo.

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Wyndham College

November 2013

DANCERS GRACE STAGES IN CHINA.

Wyndham College students danced their way through a whirlwind Chinese cultural exchange in the holidays. Callista Banks, Mikaela Blair, Tegan Dean, Nadia Krygsman, Kristin Martin and Lotus Rana, accompanied by Dance teacher Sarah Minol performed at schools in Shanghai, Ningbo and Hanzhou. They performed two dances; one was a lyrical piece of Fleetwood Macs song Go Your Own Way. The second dance set to Broadway tunes classic It Dont Mean a Thing (If It Aint Got That Swing), both choreographed by Sarah. The girls were very excited about the experience and were able to see the different style of dance of another culture.

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Wyndham College

November 2013

Congratulations ERIN BRAY Erin Bray won 3rd place when she competed in the Arndell Anglican College 20th Annual Equestrian Carnival on Saturday 21st September 2013 at the Hawkesbury Showground. Well done Erin

Congratulations ETHAN SMART Ethans film Bring to Light was selected to be screened at the 2013 Robin Anderson Film Awards last week.

WYNDHAM SUCCESS STORIES Student: Lawson Spare HSC completed 2009

Q:1 What subjects did you do for your HSC at Wyndham? Answer: Chemistry, Biology, Advanced English, Maths, Retail, Earth & Environmental Science Q:2 What courses are you enrolled in now and what do you intend to do after you finish? Answer: Bachelor of Biomolecular Science (Pharmaceutical Chemistry), Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours) Q:3 How did Wyndham College help you achieve your goals? Answer: There was good teaching and lots subjects offered. The excursions were great and ironically we even went to ANSTO which is now where I work. Q:4 Tell us about your experience at Wyndham. Answer: There were lots of extra-curricular activities offered and the experience was great but when you think back you also realise how short the time was. Q:5 What is your message for the present students at Wyndham? Answer: I think you should pick a goal and work hard to achieve it and then you will achieve what you deserve. _______________________________________________________________________________ 8

Wyndham College SRC CHRISTMAS NEWS

November 2013

Toys and Tucker

SRC are organising the annual Toys and
Tucker collection again. Bring in items of food (non-perishable and in date) or toys (unwrapped) or toiletries (soaps, toothpaste, etc) and show it to your roll call / Connect teacher. He or she will then give you an award point for citizenship on the schools award system and you can take it and put it in the box under the tree in the Library. The best roll call group wins a prize.

SRC Santa will be out and

about on Wednesday the 11th December. Have your photo taken and get a free lolly or chocolate.

WORLD VISION SPONSOR CHILD This is the end of our first year with Adukomah as our sponsor child. Comforts parents didnt want to continue with her sponsorship so we were given Adukomah. She has an excellent report card. She is in Grade 2 at school and her school activity is sweeping. There are 63 students in her class. She walks to school. She leaves for school at 7am and returns at 2pm. When she grows up she wants to be a teacher. Her health is classified as good. Her best friend is Portia.

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Wyndham College SRC UPCOMING EVENT

PUT A SMILE ON YOUR DIAL DAY

November 2013

Put a Smile on Your Dial Day will be happening again this year. Date to be decided. SRC will be giving out free cupcakes at recess. What random act of kindness will you do?

FAREWELL MARGARET FARREY This is my last year at Wyndham College, but also my last year of teaching full time. As of January 31st I will be retiring but hopefully will pick up some casual teaching, especially at Wyndham as I would like to maintain links/friendships with the staff here. I have enjoyed my time at Wyndham College immensely since beginning here in January 2000. I have formed life-long friendships with many members of staff, not only those on the English History faculty, but other subject area teachers, who have been absolutely fantastic to work with. Watching students mature and develop and perform well at the HSC has also been a great joy-thats where we teachers get our warm fuzzies. I have also found it particularly rewarding working with the various SRC groups over the past 10 years. Thank you to Ian Wing who offered me the coordinators position back in 2003, seeing something in me I didnt see in myself. I have loved interacting with some of the best students/people we have had at Wyndham College. I will miss this position a great deal. (Maybe I could be a guest speaker at an SRC Leadership Camp one year). I also want to thank Tina Papas and David Pawley who have been my fellow coordinators and supportive side-kicks. So thank you to the current staff, but also a big thank you to those who have gone before. I have learnt so much from teaching alongside such amazing teachers and wonderful human beings. Margaret Farrey

UNIFORM SHOP NEWS additional opening hours The uniform shop will be opening on the following days: 2013 Monday 18th November Tuesday 17th December 2014 Thursday 23rd January Thursday 30th January

5.30pm - 8pm 6pm 8pm

10am - 1pm 12.30pm - 1.30pm

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Wyndham College UNIFORM SHOP The Uniform Shop is open on Thursdays 12.30pm -1.30pm It is located at the top of C Block. EFTPOS is now available with a surcharge of $3.00 Orders are to be paid in full at time of ordering.

November 2013

FREE -MATHS TUITION- CHANGE OF DAY & TIME All students are invited to join the free Maths tuition that is held in C4 every Wednesday afternoon from 3pm to 5pm. Be there!

FREE -CHEMISTRY TUTORIALS Every Tuesday at 3pm 4pm in B01

FREE -PHYSICS TUTORIALS Every Monday at 3pm 4pm in B01

Seven Hills High School P&C Association Trivia and Bingo Night Saturday 16th November! The event will be held in the school auditorium and will be for over 18s only. As well as competition prizes there will be door prizes, table theme prizes and games. Teams will consist of 8 players and the cost to participate will be $10.00 per person. Doors open at 7.00pm for a 7.30 start BYO drinks and nibbles To book a table, contact the school on 9624 3329.

HANDY TIPS
Essay writing Structure Structuring an Essay is easy when you know how. There are many different types of Essays (or Responses) and they can have many purposes, but the basic structure is the same. This fact sheet lets you in on the secret. Find our more: https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/eppcontent/glossary/app/resource/factsheet/4116.pdf _______________________________________________________________________________ 11

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IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE INFORMATION

SMS - the College number is 0416 906 146.

Excursions Excursions are an important part of the school curriculum. They provide students with a diversity of learning experiences that are very valuable. However, the excursions take considerable time and effort to organise so that they run efficiently. For this reason the school policy is that all excursion money must be paid by the date indicated on the permission note. Students who do not pay by this date will not be able to attend the excursion. If there is a special circumstance preventing payment by the due date, your child should see the Head Teacher.

CHANGE OF DETAILS
To keep student records as up to date as possible please complete the slip below, if you have changed address or changed phone numbers, and return to the front office. Student Name ... New Address Home Phone ... ..

Mobile Phone Mother Name.... Mobile Phone -Father Name Date...............

Signed .

Emails
If you have recently changed your email address please complete this slip and return to the office:
Student Name ___________________________________________________ Email Address ___________________________________________________
Please print carefully

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