PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
Subjects for 2009
Our website contains the 'Lines' for Year 9 and Year 11, 2009. While our continuing students have chosen their subjects, prospective students will need to examine the lists and make a choice.
I intend to maintain class sizes considerably smaller that those found in other schools, eg., in Year 9 Wood Technology has 11, Music 8 and Textiles 11, and in Year 11 most classes have between 8 and 17 students.
We also maintain smaller Core classes, especially in Year 7, to assist with the transition from Primary to High school.
I expect there will be more students at TFHS in 2009 and there will certainly be more new staff.
New Head Teacher English
It is a pleasure to welcome Mrs Lyndell Town as the new Head Teacher English this week. Mrs Town came to us from Willoughby Girls High School and will be a great asset to TFHS. I would like to express my thanks to Ms Tancred who temporarily filled the position after the promotion of Ms Hutton.
Upgrades
Students will have noticed the building upgrades over the last holidays as new offices have been established for additional staff, classrooms and three complete corridors have been carpeted and the Canteen is in mid-upgrade. Many thanks to Mr Davies and his student support group who are working hard to feed the school in place of the usual canteen... a big job indeed!
End of Year CARNIVAL
This P&C initiative will be a major event for 2008 and follows closely on the great Trivia Night that was also a product of the dedicated P&C.
The Carnival will involve all our students from 2pm on Friday 12 December and I'm sure most will stay on to enjoy the rides and activities until 7pm.
New Students
We have enrolled 6 new students in the first week of Term 4. If you know of students contemplating a change to TFHS in 2009 please have them contact the school and that will help with our '09 planning.
HSC
Business Studies was the first HSC exam this week and all went well. The paper was considered 'fair' and I feel this may have given some confidence to the students.
Tests and exams are a regular part of the school environment. It is important that exams be kept in proportion – they are important, but not the end of the world. Some things can be done to make exams a more valuable, worthwhile and less threatening experience for students. Remind your child to:
- Have all necessary material with them.
- Have a relaxing night before their exams.
- Read the entire paper.
- Plan their time.
- Jot down ideas as they come to them.
- Not leave any questions unanswered.
- Never leave the room early.
- Not spend too long on multiple choice questions.
- Maintain a stable energy level.
Here are some steps you can take to help your child start high school on a positive note:
1. Be interested and enthusiastic about their move to high school
2. Attend the high school orientation day
3. Make sure travel arrangements to and from school are organised
4. Discuss the changes every student will experience
5. Organise your child's uniform well before the first day of school
6. Learn about school routines and timetables
7. Help your child to develop good study habits
8. Practise organisational skills
9. Discuss emergency and safety issues
10. Let your child know that you trust them and that they can trust you.
For further information talk to your school principal, contact your regional office or go to www.schools.nsw.edu.au
Writing school notes
If your child is absent, you need to write a note within seven days:
- It must explain why your child missed school
- Include how many days your child was away
- Include your child's name and roll class
- If your child is going to be away for more than three days please call the school to let the teacher know. You will still need to write a note when your child returns to school.
- Include other information, perhaps they have an injury and cannot play sport.
- Your child can return it to the school office or rollcall teacher.
More information at: www.schools.nsw.edu.au/media/downloads/gotoschool/ttsy7.pdf
Mr Peter Gillam - Principal.
YEAR 10 WORK EXPERIENCE
Parents - please note that all Year 10 students will be doing work experience from 17th - 21st November, 2008. All paper work must be in by 3pm sharp on Friday 7th November.
CREATIVE and PERFORMING ARTS NEWS
OCTOBER 2008
As the HSC written papers commence, we wish our students every success with their respective exams, building on the hard work they have presented in class and through study.
The school musical for this year, A Broadway Bungle, is building momentum with students involved in rehearsals for a variety of disciplines across the week. All cast members will receive a full rehearsal schedule for the weeks leading up to the performances. Please ensure that your child is available and present at these times, as it is essential for the success of the show. Booking details will be advised closer to the event. We are very excited to be presenting this independent work and everyone involved is enjoying the experience!!
The Talented Dance Program is continuing this term, for junior and senior ensembles. Dance teacher Ms Samantha Parkinson is looking for any student who has danced in the past, who is currently dancing, or who wishes to start, to come along Tuesday afternoons and join in again for a very exciting term of dancing!! Please come to the CAPA staffroom for further details.
Junior Dance Ensemble Years 7-8 3 – 4pm C12
Senior Dance Ensemble Years 9 - 11 4 – 5pm C12
A BROADWAY BUNGLE
Presented by The Forest High School
FRIDAY 28TH NOVEMBER
7.30PM SCHOOL HALL
P&C is Proud to Present the First End Of Year Carnival
Pre Pay your Wrist Bands NOW $25 for unlimited rides
FREE ENTRY
Thrill Rides: including Twister, Supper Sizzler, Bungy Jumping.
Family rides: including Play Port, Cup & Saucer, Clown Castle
Side shows: including Mickey Mouse throw, Pick a Box, Snow Cones, Fairy Floss, Show Bags
And MUCH MUCH MORE!!!!!!!
Professional stall holders, Bags, Jewellery, Clothes, Christmas Decorations, Presents, Coffee
and Fine Food.
Come for some good old fashioned entertainment - Security Patrols in place
Pre Pay $25 for your Wrist band for unlimited Rides NOW and SAVE $$
This offer is up until Friday 21st November ONLY
Pay at the School Cashier or call 9451 5111
Wristbands will be distributed on the day from the ticket booth on the oval
IMPORTANT P&C ANNOUNCEMENT AND CELEBRATION!!!
Our next meeting is to be held on Wednesday 12th November and you’re invited to join us as we have a tour of the new canteen and pop a bottle of bubbly to celebrate.
We also have a very important vote that needs to take place. Our constitution desperately needs to be updated and in order to do that, the constitution as it currently stands, requires 50 people present to vote for any changes to the constitution. As you can appreciate, this is not workable as we don’t get 50 people to a meeting…..until now…..I hope! I am asking if you could make an extraordinary effort to come to this next meeting, EVEN FOR JUST THE FIRST 30 MINUTES, to assist us with this situation so that your P&C can be more effective in the future. Please see the agenda below for the notice of motion.
We also want to show off our fabulous new canteen….you won’t recognize it!
Agenda for 12/11/08
7.15 Meet in the Library.
7.30 Vote on the motion that…’the number of members required to vote at a General meeting of the P&C, in order to effect change to the constitution, be 15’.
7.40 Tour of the canteen.
8.00 Return to library for remainder of meeting.
9.30 Meeting finished.
I thank you in advance for your support…..we need and appreciate it!
Yours Sincerely
Pam O’Flaherty
P&C President
UNIFORM SHOP
Uniform shop will be open from Week 2 due to the canteen renovations
Attention YEAR 10 GIRLS - Senior skirts need to be ordered in October this year to attract $10 off price
CANTEEN
As you are all aware our canteen is being completely rebuilt, so it will remain closed for the first & second week of this term
The NEW Summer Menu will be in place by the end of October.
I would like to invite you all to come & have a look at the new canteen from Week 3 or even volunteer for a day to "try it out"
Women: Technology Skills for Home, Business and Work
Free morning tea with industry speakers at Northern Beaches College, next week on Thursday 23rd October.
Robyn Woolley
Institute Women's Strategy Officer
TAFE NSW – Northern Sydney Institute
THANK YOU TO FORESTVILLE FERRETS RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB
Thank you to Forestville Ferrets Rugby League Club for their generous donation of gym/weights equipment to the school. It is very much appreciated and will come in handy in our new weights room.