From the editor
Leaves newsletterPRINCIPAL'S REPORT
2009 Curriculum
This is the time of year when we construct the curriculum pattern for the following year... especially for years 9 and 11. The process at TFHS is a complex one as we allow students to express their preferences before the final decisions are made and each year there are modifications that reflect the particular interests of the year group... interestingly, each group of students has its own 'personality'.
We have emphasized that Year 9 and 11 students need to be flexible and have a few 'spare' choices as it is unusual to get a timetable that includes all their first choices.
Interviews with students who have subject 'clashes' will take place next week.
TFHS in 2009
We are busy at the moment organising interview panels for new and replacement staff in 2009. The first positions to be filled will be for a second Deputy Principal and a Head Teacher Administration.
I really appreciate those members of the parent community who have offered to work on selection panels and any future opportunities to take part in the training will be offered through LEAVES so we can have a bigger 'pool' of trained community members.
TRIVIA NIGHT
Many thanks to the P&C organisers who are working so hard to make this event a big success. The night is primarily for adults and the questions will reflect this audience.
Congratulations
Lachlan Illingworth (Year 10) has been selected as the Forest representative on the 'UNICEF Australia Junior Roundtable on Asia Pacific'. This is great honour and Lachlan will spend a day at Parliament House in Sydney discussing youth issues.
Congratulations also to the teachers and students who organised, displayed work and performed on MADD Night. This is a showcase of the talents of all concerned.
Thank you also to Mr Goodwin who, as Year Advisor (year 8) organised the Information Night last Tuesday Night.
Canteen
A lot of work has been invested in a 'new' Forest school canteen and this refurbishment should take place in early October this year. Many thanks to the Canteen Committee (current and former) and the P&C (current and former). Our students will be grateful for many years to come.
Mr Peter Gillam - Principal.
HSIE REPORT
It's around September that exhaustion starts to set in and tempers begin to fray in HSIE staffrooms around the state. Ours is certainly no exception.
Trial HSC papers have been set, examined and marked with only reports still to complete. However, the realisation of how much there is to do before our Year 12 students leave means there is little time to relax and take it easy. Year 11 exams are quickly approaching let alone all the junior school exams beginning in Term 4.
If anything creates a sense of satisfaction for staff, it is the submission of quality major works by our senior students. As I write, Year 12 Extension History students are submitting their 3,500 word research topics for marking, covering a diverse range of topics that include "Was Von Paulus a Coward", a study of the actions of the German commander in Stalingrad during World War II and "The Effects of Gandhi's Experiences in South Africa on the Development of Satyagraha - An Interpretation". Each marks the end of months of work.
In the last week, Year 12 Society and Culture major works have been bundled up and forwarded to the Board of Studies for marking. Students this year have produced some outstanding pieces of work in their 5,000 word research paper known as the P.I.P. (Personal Interest Project), which we anticipate will do very well. The P.I.P. is worth 30% of the final HSC mark. Topics this year include "The Paradox of Astrology", "The Effects of Drug Addiction on the Micro and Macro Worlds", "For the Love of a Baby - IVF and Being Infertile" and "From One Extreme to Another: size zero and obesity in women".
Senior Geography students have also just submitted their research assignment known as the Senior Geography Project (SGP), a 3,000 word paper. Topics this year included "A Study of Coastal Management practices between Cronulla Beach and Wanda Beach", "Sustainable Tourist Management in Manly" and "Urban Decay and Renewal in Dee Why". Some geographers were heard to be "boasting" about how hard they are working after handing in their SGP's, just weeks after having to submit a field work assignment on the catchment area between Frenchs Forest and Narrabeen Lagoon.
If you thought your sons and daughters were busy, it doesn't end here. Business Studies students have just submitted their major practical study of a business. With an average length of 30 typed pages covering an enormous diversity of businesses, the midnight oil will certainly be burning over the next few weeks for all of these to be marked.
With the School Certificate quickly approaching, I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage your sons and daughters to be thoroughly prepared for the exam in History, Geography and Civics. There is no escaping the fact that good results will only be achieved by hard work and that there is no better preparation than revision and study.
Since I last wrote in the Leaves, there has been one staffing change within the HSIE Faculty. Mr Karnups, an army reservist, has been posted to the Solomon Islands as part of Australia's peace keeping contingent. We are very lucky to have secured the services of a very experienced teacher in Ms Erica Cavanagh, in his place.
If the opportunity does not arise before the event, best wishes and good luck to all our HSC students. We have every confidence that you will acquit yourselves well and achieve outstanding results.
Kevin Stapleton - Head Teacher HSIE
Student Representative Council
The last two weeks have been busy with the elections for 2009 Student Representative Council. The Forest SRC year commences from Term 4 to end of Term 3 the following year to accommodate Year 12 studies. The 2009 SRC welcomes all new members and the Captains-elect look forward to working with the new team in 2009, beginning with the Leadership Camp early Term 4. Issues rising throughout the year, and even some technicalities of eligibility for executive positions, will be raised at the annual general meeting on camp, the time where the SRC Constitution can be amended and changed.
We thank the outgoing Year 12 SRC members for their dedicated commitment to the school - they have been wonderful role models and a delight to work with, many since Year 7.
A special thank you to:
Amelia Brown and Novan Sachrudi (Captains), Dale Druhan and Craig Riley (Vice Captains), Amanda Boyce and Corey Moreton (Sports Captains), Taegan Burns and Matt Dewar (Performing Arts Captains)
Greg Ashton, Anthony Bateson, Peter Irving, Adam Poole, Alex Underwood and Madison Walker
Student Representative Council 2009
Captain Positions
A few of their responsibilities include: - Leadership of the school’s student body, Role model for all students, Promote The Forest High School, Be available to students and be supportive of them, Represent The Forest High School at public functions and meetings, Chair and/or address school assemblies or special functions, such as Presentation Night, Assist with hosting visitors to the school, Be actively involved in whole school initiatives
Captains
ROSE GRIFFITHS
JAMES MOORHOUSE
Vice Captains
BROOKE CRESSWELL
ALEX NICHOLLS
Sports Captains
OLGA KOKORIS
ADAM SAEZ
Performing Arts Captains
MONICA GAMAYUNOV
LIZZY LATTER
YEAR 8
BACKHOUSE, GEMMA
BEDOS, ANDREW
FRENCH, LIDDY
ILLINGWORTH, CAMERON
MILLS, TODD
PAGE, ELOISE
TARLINTON, JAIMEE
YEAR 9
BUTCHER, JENNA
GREGG, VANESSA
KALRA, ANIK
KOSTER, KATIE
McCALLUM, SARAH
STAPLETON, CHRIS
STEEL, JACK
TODD, MATTHEW
YEAR 10
BECKER, KATIE
DICKFOS, BEN
LATTER, ALI
LEE, JOHN
MASON, SUZETTE
STEGMAN, FRANK
THOMPSON, ROHIN
WILKINSON, ADAM
YEAR 11
BEDOS, CALLUM
ELLIOTT, LAURA
HEYS, BIANCA
HODGE, EMMA
ILLINGWORTH,
PAGE, HILARY
POWER, AMY
TRUSZEWSKI, ALEX
WILKINS, STEPHANIE
YEAR 12
BEE, SARAH
CRESSWELL, BROOKE
DYER, HAYDEN
ECOB, SAM
GAMAYUNOV, MONICA
GRIFFITHS, ROSE
KOKORIS, OLGA
LATTER, LIZZY
MOORHOUSE, JAMES
NICHOLLS, ALEX
SAEZ, ADAM
STAPLETON, STEPHEN
TARLINTON, JORDY
TRUSZEWSKI, LILY
WEST, ALAN
TRIVIA NIGHT
$15 per person includes light supper
Over $6 000 worth of prizes including:
Please contact the office to book your table.
P&C TRIVIA NIGHT RAFFLE - 200 TICKETS ONLY
Tickets available for $20.00 each from Mrs Awdry in the Print Room
ONE PRIZE ONLY - 42" PLASMA HD TV
IMPORTANT SPONSORS FOR OUR TRIVIA NIGHT
and
Paul Nash
Panash Design
Paul@panash.com.au
UNIFORM SHOP
SPECIAL - SENIOR SKIRTS $45.00 - AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ONLY -
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY JUNIOR HOCKEY
Sydney University Hockey Club Juniors are based on the North Shore and participate in the Northern Area indoor hockey competition. The Club currently has vacancies in the U/13, U/15 and U/18 age groups. Indoor hockey is a fast fun game using a lighter stick and ball than field hockey.
Games commence around 12th October and continue until 14th December and are played at Balgowlah Boys High School or Auburn Centre. Training sessions are held prior to the comp commencing.
If you are interested, please email juniorhockey@suhc.asn.au with your name, date of birth and which comp you would like to play in. Players do not have to have played with Syd Uni before.
WARRIEWOOD NIPPERS
Join the fun at
Warriewood Nippers
Starting 12th October
Registration available online @
www.warriewoodslsc.com.au
Or at the surf club on
Sunday 14th September and
Sunday 21st September,
10am—12 noon.
All new members please bring Birth
Certificate to registration
Any queries contact Jen
jhuston@bigpond.net.au
FAMILY DAY
Please click on this link to view details from Westbus regarding a family deal for Sydney Spirit supporters FAMILY_DAY.pdf
COLLAROY SURF CLUB
The Collaroy Surf Club would like to extend an invitation to all students who may be interested in joining the Club and participating in surf life saving activities over the upcoming 08/09 Season.
Collaroy Surf Club has a proud history in respect to family participation, competition and services to the Community. Our junior member (Nippers) activities cater for Surf Awareness and Participation from age 5 to 13 years. From there, Nippers move into the transitionary Cadets section before joining the seniors.
There’s something at the Club to cater for all interests and all levels, whether that be on the Beach or in the Water. Children might simply want to gain an awareness of Surf Lifesaving and basic surf skills through to elite Competition at State and National levels. Parents are also encouraged to participate.
Nipper registrations will be taken on September 14th & 21st from 10am-12pm, upstairs at the Clubhouse on
Enquiries can be made to Tara Sole at tarasole@hotmail.com, on 0402 021 974, or at the club website http://www.collaroysurfclub.com.au/collaroy/join_the_nippers.html
CHANGE OF ADDRESS AND/OR PHONE NUMBER
Please ensure that the school is advised if you change your address or phone numbers as it essential that we have all current information, especially phone numbers in case of emergencies. If you need to change any details, please get your child to come to the office and collect a form so your updated details can be placed on your file.
WORKING BEE - SATURDAY 13th MARCH 9AM - 12 NOON
Please come along to our next working bee and help tidy up the school grounds. Could you please bring any tools that you have such as brooms, wheelbarrows, spades, secateurs or saws for minor tree pruning.