Wongan Hills District High School
Wongan Hills Dis trict High Sc hool
Issue 14
6th August 2014
D at es t o
r e me mb er
Assembly
tomorrow 2.15pm
ICAS Maths
This Friday 8th August
Student Council Camp
Monday 11th Wednesday 13th August
Keys for Life
After school each
Wednesday
Inside this
issue
Principals
News
2-3
BIVOUAC
4-5
Community Notices
6-7
Cultivate
Issue 14
FROM THE PRINCIPALS DESK
Page 2
Congratulations to Miguel Reyes and Thomas Clune who were chosen to participate in
the Science Aspirant Camp for year 7 students on 13 to 15 August. Twenty five
students from across the Inland Lighthouse Network were chosen due to their
performance on the Science PAT testing. All Year 7 students from 19 schools in the
Inland lighthouse network were invited to complete this assessment. This camp is
funded by the network in an attempt to give opportunities for our top science students.
THE “
PURPOSE OF
EDUCATION
IS TO
REPLACE
AN EMPTY
MIND WITH
AN OPEN
ONE.
Malcolm
Forbes
ATTENDANCE
The Education Department’s states that students must attend school on a regular
basis to gain the maximum benefit from schooling and optimise their life opportunities.
Research has established that every day counts and that there is no safe level of
absence from school.
On Monday our school used SMS for the first time to follow up student absences for
primary aged students. This SMS will continue to be sent each Monday to parents/
guardians whose child has an unexplained absence for the previous week. You will be
given a week to respond either replying to SMS, e-mailing, providing a note, signing
entry in diary, or verbal explanation. Our preference is for parents/guardians to
respond immediately they know their child will be absent. If we have not received a
response at the end of each fortnight parents will be contacted by phone to ask for
explanations as to why their child was absent. When replying by SMS or through any
other forms of communication listed, please ensure you give the reason for the
absence. Please note that these reasons need to be acceptable. Answers such as, “I
kept my child home” or “my child was absent” are not deemed to be acceptable and
you will be contacted for further information. Should the absence still be deemed as
unreasonable it will recorded as “an unacceptable absence” and therefore will affect
your child’s attendance record. For a vacation to be deemed as acceptable, a parent is
required to negotiate this in advance with the principal. The principal will need to be
satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for authorising the absence. Completion of
a work package during the period of absence is normally required. On- going absences
will be followed up for both primary and secondary students and action commenced
where warranted. Some parents of both primary and secondary students will already
have received a letter of concern indicating their child has attended less than 80%.
Illness
Although we are having a real push on the importance of attendance (see above) and
the impact attendance has on education...we DO NOT want sick students to attend
school.
Please keep any sick child at home, or make alternative arrangements for them, and
notify the office of the illness.
At the moment Wongan Hills has been hit hard by a few bugs and these are just going
to keep recirculating if students do not rest up and recuperate. Thank you in advance
for helping us to conquer the germs.
Student-centred funding model
Next year will be the first year of implementation of the Student-Centred Funding
Model. There are various items including student characteristics and targeted
initiatives that make up the overall funding model. Students with specific needs are
catered for and attract more funds as does certain school characteristics such as
location. The funding is based on projected enrolments so the final allocation will not
Wongarette
Issue 14
Page 3
be known until after census each year. The school now has access to a one line budget
of over three and a half million dollars. We receive an amount for salaries and the rest is
in unallocated funds. As a school we can make decisions as to how best use this
unallocated money. However, all costs including salaries for fixed term staff, utilities and
the day to day operational costs will need to be budgeted for from these unallocated
funds.
What will the changes mean for our school? Overall there will be an anticipated
reduction in budgeting terms of approximately $350 000. The full reduction will be
introduced in 2016. A transition adjustment of $121 600 has been provided for 2015.
Again these figures may change as they are dependent on next year’s student
enrolments. What is important is that where savings can be made it will directly provide
more options for our school. Despite the reduction we will continue to have a focus on
ensuring we deliver the best outcome for our students.
Emergency Evacuation Drill
Within the near future we will be holding an emergency evacuation drill. In the past we
have provided information to staff when a drill is likely to be held. This year we have
decided not to provide advance notice to further test our responses and readiness.
Please do not be alarmed when you hear the school siren sounding.
CAMPS AND EXCURSIONS – Being eligible to attend.
With many camps and excursions ahead in Terms 3 and 4 we remind you, that to be
considered eligible to attend camps and excursions students must consistently
demonstrate appropriate behaviour. This requirement is based upon safety issues for all
students and the rights of all students to participate and enjoy activities.
The school has no desire to see any student missing out on a camp or excursion but the
needs of the class collectively, and the enjoyment and learning opportunities of all, need
to be balanced. If behaviour choices result in a student being ineligible to attend an
excursion or camp, they will not miss out on learning opportunities. Work will be left at
school for them to complete.
Student Council Camp
Next week 13 student councillors will attend a student leadership camp in conjunction
with Dalwallinu DHS councillors. They will be accompanied by Mrs Boase, Mrs Simpson
and Mr Stretch (Dali). The purpose of the camp is for students to work on their skills as
leaders, develop confidence, build communication skills and work on teamwork
strategies.
Musica Viva 2014
The annual Musica Viva Concert is coming Tuesday 9th September.
It will run from 1pm - 2pm and will be held at the Civic Centre.
All students from Kindy to Year7 will be attending.
More details to come in the next Wongarette.
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I s s u e
1 4
BIVOUAC 2014
Page 4
This year 31 cadets along with Miss Dedman, Mr Simpson, Mr Creasey, LV,
Mr Howell and Mr Dale Breen attended the 11th Bivouac at the Fowler’s
Block. We had a special visitor in the form of Ms Jo Scardigno, our State
Co-ordinator with DFES, who came out and camped with us for the night.
We had all types of weather
out on camp with the rain
coming along on
Wednesday morning. Many
people ask why we camp
at this time of year and the
answer is simple – to provide
cadets with the
opportunities to learn to
deal with all types of
weather conditions. We all
survived the rain, although
there were a few tents that
had become indoor pools!
Cadets participated in lots of different activities
including making paracord items such as
bracelets, lanyards and keychains, archery,
shelter building, masterchef mystery box cook off,
climbing Mt Sugarloaf, night games, and making
smores.
Wongarette
Issue 14
BIVOUAC 2014
We also had a visit from the local police
and on Tuesday night, met up with our
local fire fighters to learn about the
equipment they use to removed people
from cars when accidents occur.
A big thank you to these people for
making our camp a success. Thank you
to Mr Terry Clune for bringing out some
extra big tarps before the rain set in and
to Mr Neil McQueen for all your help
getting people and equipment to and
from camp. Finally, a HUGE thank you to
Colin and Wendy Fowler, who without
your permission to use your property, we
would not be able to provide this
experience for our Cadets.
Wongarette
Page 5
Issue 14
School Community Notice Board
Page 6
School b us services for
2 015
Parents of eligible students in education support
centres/schools and rural areas who are starting or
changing schools in 2015 and would like to use the
free orange bus service must complete an online
application on the school bus services website by
Sunday 31 August 2014. Find out more in the
support for country families section of the Year 7
intranet.
Students living in public transport areas in Perth
and selected centres across the State can access
Transperth bus and train services. Information on
services for these students is in the managing the
transition section of the intranet.
Page 7
Issue 14
TENNIS COACHING
TERM 3 2014
I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU THAT TENNIS COACHING, USUALLY
OFFERED IN TERM 3 BY MYSELF (DONNA COCKING) WILL HAVE TO BE
CANCELLED DUE TO A SPORTING INJURY SUSTAINED BY MYSELF LAST
WEEK. AS I AM UNSURE OF THE OUTCOME OF THIS INJURY AS YET I WILL
KEEP EVERYONE INFORMED AS TO WHETHER I AM ABLE TO CONTINUE
WITH LESSONS IN TERM 4 OF THIS YEAR.
I AM SORRY FOR THIS DELAY BUT I REALLY HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL IN TERM
4.
I WILL ADVERTISE FOR NAMES TOWARDS THE END OF THIS TERM IF I AM
ABLE TO COACH.
REGARDS
DONNA COCKING
Dalwallinu Show
SATURDAY 23rd AUGUST
FREE ENTRY FOR ALL CHILDREN UNDER
12 !!!!!
YES – THIS IS CORRECT !!!!
FREE ENTRY FOR ALL CHILDREN UNDER
12 !!!!!
CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE!!!!
www.dallyshow.com.au
Junior Golf
The Wongan Hills Golf Club will be holding golf lessons
this term, for children in years 1-7.
Details:

Golf clubs will be provided

Children are to wear footwear clothing for
weather on the day

Sneakers are to be worn

Parent help will be appreciated.
For further information and expressions of interest,
please contact Mrs Leslie Oliver (co-ordinator) on
96711 161. Please leave a message if the phone is
unattended.
Wongan Wobblers
Fundraising for The Weekend to
End Womens Cancer
BINGO NIGHT
23rd August
Wongan Sports Pavillion
Door open at 6.30pm
Eyes down at 7pm
$25 per book
ALL INFORMATION OF THE DAY INCLUDING
ENTERTAINMENT, SCHEDULES, PRICES AND CONTACTS
ARE THERE.
MEMBERSHIP!!!
DID YOU KNOW THAT ONE $20 PAYMENT MADE BEFORE
THE FRIDAY THE 23RD OF AUGUST ENTITLES YOU TO THE
FOLLOWING?
* Free Admission for Member (Myself) and One Guest And
* Free Entry for Members’ Children less than 16 years
FREE ENTRY FOR ALL CHILDREN UNDER
12 !!!!!
Get your membership form from the website or, from the
show schedule booklet around town or, contact the
secretary.
Check us out on facebook!!
Free
computer including
internet access
and printing
The Wongan Hills CRC are offering
school children free computer including
internet access and printing, to do their
homework after school.
The CRC is open until 4.30PM Monday
to Friday.
If you need any further details please
don’t hesitate to contact us on
9671 1691.
Thank you,
Emmi Taylor
Wongan Hills CRC
Coordinator
P: (08) 9671 1691
E: [email protected]
W: www.wonganhills.crc.net.au