Parents’ Bulletin – 28/08/08
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Principal’s Report
My congratulations to Jodene White, Demi Hall, Courtney Turvey, Carmel Harvey, Jasmine Martin, Sophie Keath and Kelsey Treacy who were prize winners in Kerang Schools Book Competition. Well done to the prize winners and well done too, to all of the students who participated in the competition.
Congratulations to our Tournament of Minds Team, comprising Jude Geale, Madalyn Price, Zac Cartwright, Jack Barr, Luke Long, Michael Gurnett and Patrick McIntosh, which was successful at the Regional Competition held last Saturday. Our school has been participating in the Science and Mathematics section for many years and we have been very successful, this region attracts students from Mildura to Gisborne. Our students worked for over six weeks designing and building their solution to a scientific problem, and this was presented in a competitive way in Bendigo last Saturday. My congratulations to our students and my thanks to Mrs McLeish, Mr Hill and all of the staff who worked with our kids over the past six weeks, giving up their lunchtimes and time after school to make this project a success.
It has been remiss of me not to mention our outstanding debaters, who performed so well in the recent interschool debating competition. It has been said that two things feared most by most people are death and public speaking, and of the two, public speaking is the more feared, so any student who participates in debating and public speaking has already acquired a rare skill. My thanks to Mrs Parker and the English staff for their contribution to the debating and public speaking in our school.
Parents and friends are reminded that on Friday night our senior students will be holding their Senior Formal Ball. As usual our parents and friends are invited to observe the young ladies and gentlemen at the commencement of the evening.
This week I am sending home parent opinion surveys to a randomly selected group of 56 parents. The information collected from these surveys will be considered by school council and forms an important part in helping the school to set its priorities.
Lloyd Lewis
Principal
New Jackets
A reminder that the new school jackets, to be worn over the rugby tops are now available in a range of sizes and can be ordered from Kerang Embroidery for $34.00. They come with the school name embroidered on them, the same as the rugby tops.
Dean Rogers
Assistant Principal
Year 10 to Year 11 VCE/VCAL Information Evening
This will be held on 3rd September from 7.30pm—9.00pm in the KTHS Staffroom. All parents of Year 10 students are urged to attend. Information will be presented regarding course selection—both VCE and VCAL. Students are also asked to attend. Bring your copy of the senior school handbook.
Formal Ball
The Formal Ball will be held next Friday night, 29th August. Parents are welcome from 8.00pm—8.45pm. Remember: this is an alcohol free event.
Senior School Course Selection—2009
All Year 10’s and Year 11’s will receive the Senior School handbook early next week. Subject selections must by in by Friday, 5th September. Year 10 students and parents should attend the VCE/VCAL information evening. Year 11 students and parents are encouraged to make appointments to see either Ms Anderson or Miss McClure to discuss their course selection.
VCE 2008—Units 3 & 4 Exam Revision— Swan Hill
Thursday, September 11th, 4.00pm
Subjects available: Methods, Psychology, Chemistry, English, ($24.00 per session). Names, subjects and money to Ms Anderson by Wednesday, 3rd September.
VCAL 2009
Students wishing to do VCAL (Intermediate) next year will need to get a form from Miss McClure.
Sharon Anderson
Senior School Manager
Uniform Store
The Uniform Store will be open on Tuesday, 2nd September, before school. After school by appointment only, due to lack of demand.
For further information or to make an appointment, weeknights between 5.00pm and 6.00pm, please phone Viv Credlin on 5452 2889.
Lunchtime & After School Tutorials
Sessions next week (Sessions next week (YELLOW week) as follows:
LUNCHTIME: AFTER SCHOOL:
Tues: Maths Mon: Maths, Humanities
Wed: Art, Maths, Chem Tues: English, Maths, Legal Studies
Thurs: Art, Maths Wed: No After School Tutorials
Thurs: Health, Science, Chemistry
If you have any suggestions or queries regarding these sessions, please don’t hesitate to ring me at the school, 5452 1062.
David Dickson
Tutorial Help Co-ordinator
Hair Design and Beauty
The Australian College of Hair Design and Beauty in association with Kerang Technical High School
The delivery of Certificate II Hairdressing is to promote vocational pathways for young people particularly in areas of skills shortage.
The program supports appropriate entry to the industry via pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships or further fulltime education.
This allows the VET options promoting vocational pathways to reflect student’s aspirations and industry skills needs.
The program delivery will be over 30 weeks per year for 2 years with 6 hour class sessions = 360 hours.
The programs will be in Theory and Practical modes and work place experience. Theory sessions—This will be delivered at the KTHS utilizing ACHDB staff.
The program outcome will be Certificate II in Hairdressing. It is envisaged that the theory/practical units will be delivered alternate weeks.
Course Cost
$250.00 - Enrolment Fee Waived
$350.00 - Equipment, Unit books and uniform
$1000.00 - Made in 2 semester payments per year
($500.00 on commencement and $500.00 in July)
Interested students to see Miss McClure before Thursday.
Jan McClure
Careers Co-ordinator
Kerang & District Book
Competition
Congratulations to Demi Hall, Courtney Turvey and Carmel Harvey for receiving 1st prize in the Senior Foreign Language Section. Jodene White and Jasmine Martin books were “Highly Commended”, Sophie Keath and Kelsey Treacy won the prize for Best Front Cover and Hand Illustrations.
Maria Lewis
LOTE Co-ordinator
National Literacy and
Numeracy Week
Sept 1 – 5
Activities @ KTHS * Scrabble in Seven
* “What Am I reading?”
* A spell off
* Trivia in home groups
These are just some of the activities which will
happen throughout the week at lunch times so all
students are encouraged to participate.
Tournament of Minds
On Saturday, 23rd August, after six weeks of problem solving and preparation, Jude Geale, Madalyn Price, Zac Cartwright, Jack Barr, Luke Long, Michael Gurnett and Patrick McIntosh, were accompanied by Mrs McLeish and parents to La Trobe University Bendigo to compete in the Maths Engineering Section of Regional Tournament of Minds.
This year’s Maths Engineering Challenge was “One Step Forward”.
From the front a sheer mountain cliff can appear an impossible challenge, but there may be a small sloping path on the far side that leads gently ever upward to the peak.
Such is the metaphor of Climbing Mount Improbable in which complex abilities can evolve by a multitude of small steps.
In a distant corner of the Universe, new creatures are emerging on a young planet. One of these new creatures is ‘The Feetoocheeny’. Teams are to explain how the ability to step over obstacles without falling down has developed from an earlier creature with fewer legs and will demonstrate how this enables it to walk and step over obstacles without falling. This opens up new opportunities for the creature to thrive and multiply.
Whilst the Long Term Maths Engineering Challenge presentations are open for team and non-team participants to watch, the Spontaneous Challenge presentations are for team members and judges only. Teams are given a problem and have 5 minutes discussion time and 2 minutes to present their solution back to the judges.
Winners are determined by combining the total of both the Long Term Challenge and the Spontaneous Challenge scores.
KTHS received Honours this year, which was a terrific effort for the team.
Sonia McLeish
T.O.M. Co-ordinator
Debating At Boort
On Wednesday, August 6, 2008 Students from KTHS travelled to Boort Secondary College to participate in a wonderful day of debating.
Topics were sent to the four schools participating only two weeks beforehand and so it was a busy time for students to get themselves organised, particularly as many of the students were also involved in the Operetta, ‘Pan the Man’.
Our Senior team argued that the Government should be looking at alternatives to the desalination plant, our Intermediates argued that we already have tight regulations on advertising in this country and we do not need any more rules, and our Juniors contended that TV can be good for you.
All teams worked well together to develop team lines. It was particularly pleasing to see our Junior team consist of 4 boys and they represented the school very well indeed as first time debaters.
We did not win the prepared debates. Then, the ‘secret’ debate topics were given and teams had only 2 hours to prepare themselves. This is probably the most interesting part of the day as the skills the students develop preparing for the set topics are seen when they have to work independently of teachers to develop their own case.
Unfortunately, we did not win a debate for the day but the scores were very close and students came away from the day declaring that they had enjoyed themselves and were prepared to have another go next year.
Thanks to all staff who helped out. It was a terrific day.
SECOND HAND BOOK SALE
Following is a list of parents who have money and/or unsold books for collection. If you don’t require unsold books, they can be donated to Rotary, to send overseas. Please call at the office to collect money and/or books.
If you have any queries, please contact me.
Helen Reilly
Business Manager
Vicki Franzini Neil Harrop
Christine Hosking Sharon Jarman
Nyamal Johnson Sharryn Mathieson
Hilary McIntosh Jan Monaghan
Narelle Theobald
Books only:
Cheryl Farrar Colleen Mathew
Angela Roney
KTHS SENIOR SCHOOL
IMPORTANT DATES
Semester 2, 2008
VCE DEADLINES
Friday, 24th October
DEADLINE Date for Unit 4—no work to be accepted after 4.00pm on this date.
Friday, 7th November
DEADLINE Date for Unit 2—no work to be accepted after 4.00pm on this date.
VCE END OF YEAR EXAMS
Unit 3/4
Friday, 31st October—Thursday, 20th November
Year 12 classes finish on Friday, 24th October
Valedictory dinner—Thursday, 20th November
Unit 2
Monday, 17th November—Wednesday, 26th
November
Note; Unit 2 deadline is Friday, 7th November
Year 11 Revision classes from Monday 10th November—Friday 14th November
(2009 Orientation Classes -Thursday 27th
November—Friday 28th November)
VCAL
VCAL students will follow their normal
programme.