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This week brought exciting news as our new science spaces and dance room are now open for use! These additions will add enriching experiences for all students in maths and science. It has been so great walking through these spaces this week and seeing students in action learning!
Congratulations to our students for an outstanding week of merit awards! I'm thrilled to announce that 646 individual merits were given this week, reflecting commendable demonstrations of our school values: Respect, Courage, Self-Discipline, and Achievement. Thank you to students for your dedication and commitment to upholding these values, both within and out of the school community.
A gentle reminder to all students and families regarding the ACT Education Directorate device policy. Please note that personal devices, including gaming consoles, speakers, handheld, and wearable devices, are not permitted at school. This policy is in place to ensure a focused and productive learning environment for all students. We appreciate your cooperation in adhering to this guideline. As we continue to progress through the term, let's maintain our momentum in our learning and school activities.
Have a wonderful weekend and GO FRASER for the swimming carnival win next week!
Trish
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IMPORTANT DATES FOR WEEK 4 2024
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Wednesday 21 February
Thursday 22 February
- Swimming Carnival
- Breakfast Club
Friday 23 February
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SCHOOL BOARD NOMINATIONS
In 2024 Calwell High School is seeking several new members for our School Board. We will be seeking nominations for:
- 1 parent representative
- 1 P&C Association representative
- 1 student representative
- 1 staff representative
Nominations close on Monday 19 February. Please consider contributing to the life of our school by nominating for a place on our School Board. Elections will take place following the nomination period if needed.
To nominate, please fill in and follow the instructions on the nomination form and submit it to the Front Office.
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HOUSE CAPTAINS
This week we held our first House Group meetings to elect our 2024 House Captains. Interested students were asked to complete a nomination form prior to the meetings outlining how they demonstrate our school values, and why they would like to be house captain.
Thank you to all students who had the courage to nominate themselves, and a big congratulations to the following House Captains for 2024 – looking forward to seeing you all in action at our Swimming Carnival next Thursday;
Freeman
Juniors – Amilie B and Scarlett W
Seniors – Dylan T and Charlie K
Irwin
Juniors – Kobie K and Alice J
Seniors – Brock K and Katie L
Fraser
Juniors – Emily D and Elena Y
Seniors – Amilia W and Evelyn B
Webber
Juniors – Misha S and Dean F
Seniors – Darvin M and Paulo R
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TECHNOLOGY
Year 8 Digital Technology
Year 8 digital technology students start 2024 with a bang by taking part in the Australia-wide NCSS (National Computer Science School) Coding Challenge. Each week for five weeks the students will receive new coding challenges to solve. By working on these challenges, the students will learn how to think like a computer programmer and learn how to make programs using a real coding language.
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Year 8 Woodwork
This term, students are diving into 5 weeks of exciting woodwork. In pairs, they'll use the design cycle to craft their own unique Jenga Game, complete with a creative surface design and a limited-edition series name. To add a fun twist, a battle between teams awaits at the end of the 5 weeks.
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HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Year 7 Health & PE
It’s been fantastic welcoming our new Year 7 students to Health & PE at Calwell! Our first week was spent getting to know each other and participating in team building activities and class challenges. As with all the other year groups, Year 7 are currently completing an Athletics unit; learning, practicing and developing skills in shot put, discus, javelin, long jump and high jump.
There have been some fantastic results and we look forward to seeing this in action at our school athletics carnival later this term. After our athletics unit, Year 7 will head to the classroom for this term’s health unit, Identity and Sense of Self. This unit focuses on identities and change, looking at topics such as self-esteem, self-confidence, values and beliefs.
Year 8 Health & PE
In our Year 8 PE class this term, students are participating in athletics and then moving on to cross country running. Alongside physical activities, we're also covering a theory topic on Identity and Sense of Self.
This combination is designed to improve physical skills and encourage students to think about their own identities. It's a practical approach to learning that connects physical health with self-awareness and personal growth.
Senior Health & PE
We're straight into the swing of things across all senior Health & PE classes this year. In our first week back, students were asked to set themselves an individual goal for Health and Physical Education in 2024. Students were asked to consider what they can do to get the most out of Health & PE lessons, as well as how their teachers can support them in achieving their goals.
This information, as well as feedback from students regarding their preferences for how lessons are structured and what sports and activities we play, will be considered and used to inform our practical units of work. This term has begun with our Athletics unit, in preparation for our school athletics carnival being held at the end of this term.
Students are given the opportunity to practice and develop their techniques in shot put, discus, javelin, long jump and high jump. It has been great to see the improvement as we compare their results to those from previous years.
After Athletics, we will head into the classroom for our first health unit, focusing on making healthy and safe choices as it relates to parties, alcohol and substance use and other risk taking behaviours.
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Sports Design and Modification
In this new unit, students are taking a deep dive into a variety of sports, examining how they are constructed, and how they can be modified with new rules and equipment. Over the course of this semester, students will be creating their own sports and creating proposals to build their entrepreneurial skills.
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Year 9/10 Human Movement
In our Year 9/10 Human Movement class, we're excited to embark on a three-week theoretical exploration of leadership, a topic chosen by our students for its relevance and importance.
During this term, we'll be focusing on cardiovascular health, engaging in high-intensity interval training (HIIT) courses, and participating in a variety of exercise games designed to boost heart health and endurance. This dynamic approach allows students to not only learn about the principles of physical fitness but also apply them in a fun, interactive setting. We look forward to sharing our progress and achievements with you throughout the term.
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OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Outdoor Education 1
This semester has gotten off to a great start with our two Outdoor Education 1 classes running at capacity. So far we have been focusing on group dynamics, team building, safety and preparation.
We are just about to kick off with Canoeing specific content for our upcoming camps in Weeks 9 and 10. Weeks 5, 6 and 7 will see classes heading down to lake Tuggeranong to put their theory into practice! Looking forward to a fantastic term ahead.
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Advanced Outdoor Education
Advanced Outdoor Ed has launched full steam ahead into the year with work already commenced on the three competencies we will be covering this term; Minimise environmental impact, Snorkel and Surf small waves using basic manoeuvres.
We have been designing and refining our class shirt for 2024 as well as setting ourselves up for a full year of Vocational Education and Training with the aim to have a full Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation completed by the end of the year! This week we’ve kicked the practical side of things off by a visit to Active Leisure Centre at Erindale college to practice some water safety and basic Snorkelling skills.
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ENGLISH
Year 7
Unit - Totally Texts
In term 1 we will be examining how to use structure and language to communicate clearly through different texts. Together we explore the influences shaping our reading, interpretation, and creation of texts, reflecting on how our individual experiences impact the way that we make connections and construct meaning.
We then delve into the structural elements of narrative writing before students get the opportunity to spread their creative wings and demonstrate their writing skills, composing an original narrative story.
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Year 8
Unit - Media Madness
Media is all around us! In term 1 year 8 learn to be critical consumers of news and news media.
We ask what the role of 'news' is in our culture, and how the media works to shape our view of the world and ourselves. Students are encouraged to analyse news to determine the credibility and reliability of information before we delve into the murky depths of fake news, where it has evolved from and what its impacts are.
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Year 9
Unit - Coming of Age
In the first term, students connect with the concept of coming-of-age, through either 'A Monster Calls' by Patrick Ness or 'The Catcher in the Rye' by J.D. Salinger. Together, they explore the world of young characters and how their experiences are mirrored in storytelling.
Students are encouraged to draw connections between the ideas explored in the novels and their own lives. They predict what might happen, immerse themselves in the texts, and reflect on how language shapes meaning and impacts readers. It's a journey of discovery and connection through literature!
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Year 10
Unit - Change the World~ Protest and Persuasion
During the first term, students will be exploring expressions of protest across a variety of texts and contexts. They'll be analysing how these protest texts depict the world, both as it currently stands and as it could potentially evolve.
Through engaging with a diverse selection of texts drawn from historical and contemporary sources, including multimedia and visual materials, students examine the role of protest in shaping our society. They will reflect on how these texts portray and challenge cultural and social values, fostering a deeper understanding of the world around them.
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SCIENCE
We are looking forward to an exciting semester in science, especially with our newly renovated science labs opening up!
Year 7
Year 7 have started the year with an Introduction to Science, focussing on laboratory safety and learning to identify some of the specialised science equipment that they will soon be using in the labs. I am really looking forward to our first two experiments, investigating the effect of marshmallows on heat loss in hot chocolate, and collecting data on how bubbles can "survive" on different surfaces. Our next topics will be on Particles & Substances and the Earth, Sun & Moon.
Year 8
Year 8 have been focussing on Working Scientifically, testing out their investigation skills with the gummy bears experiment. Next up they will be learning about Forms of Energy and then the Rock Cycle and Plate Tectonics.
Years 7 and 8 are also learning the importance of team work and cooperation as well as following the correct safety procedures besides the health and safety guidelines to avoid any accidents.
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Year 9
Year 9 have been studying the topic Atoms - Models & Reactions. We will all be looking forward to testing out our new science labs when the chemistry experiments start in a couple of weeks. They will be extending their skills as scientists when we start our Independent Research Projects later this term, an exciting time where students get to choose their own topic of interest to investigate. They will finish the semester studying the Earth’s Spheres & Cycles.
Year 10
This semester Year 10 have started with their topic on Forces & Motion, where they will study Newton's Laws using dataloggers and then apply their understanding to evaluate forces in a sport of their choice. Then it will be Year 10's turn to study Chemistry.
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Hello parents, carers and friends
Just a reminder - hoping to see you at our P&C AGM next Wednesday 21st February 6pm in the main staffroom at CHS. Pizza too!
We’ve received nominations for various P&C committee roles for the coming year, but we’ll also be seeking a new Treasurer this time. Our long-standing Treasurer Michelle Bruce has been doing a marvellous job but now has to step down due to other commitments. We sincerely thank Michelle for her outstanding contribution in this role over many years. Please let us know if you're able to help, at calwellhighpandc@gmail.com, and I can give you a call to discuss further.
Geoff Puleston, Calwell High School P&C President
calwellhighpandc@gmail.com
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SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS 2024
- Wednesday 21 February - Catch Up Portrait Day
Please go to www.theschoolphotographer.com.au and enter code X4026SUP53C to order.
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ACT CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE COMMISSIONER RIGHTS IN ACTion! FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER
The February 2024 Rights in ACTion edition is about children and young people’s right to education. This month’s newsletter looks at what the right to education means and which laws protect it. It shares the story about Malala’s fight for girls to go to school and how to celebrate your own progress by creating a learning time capsule.
Children and young people can send contributions in any format they like about anything they want. They can also send messages to the ACT Children and Young People Commissioner on Instagram @actkids_CYPC, call on 02 6205 2222, send an email to actkids@act.gov.au or go to Young Thinker Forum to upload files.
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BUS SAFETY WEEK 2024: SAFETY NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE!
“What’s this coming along the road? It’s a bus it’s a bus… it’s a school bus!” This week is Bus Safety Week 2024, and we are going back in time to 1989 with the original Bus Safe Rap because safety never goes out of style. Bus Safety Week is an opportunity to remind students of the importance of safe behaviours when on and around buses, bus stops and interchanges.
Brush up on your safety skills and see if you can do the Bus Safe Rap:
- Signal the driver: Always signal the driver a safe distance from the curb by raising your arm – and giving the driver plenty of notice.
- Wait safely: Wait until the bus has left before you cross. Never walk in front of a bus, as other road users may not see you.
- Respect bus stops: Bus stops and interchanges aren’t playgrounds. Avoid running or playing ball games while waiting for a bus.
- Stay alert: Put your phone away and turn the music down when moving around bus interchanges and crossing roads.
Let's showcase our commitment to safety as a community, from the bus stop to crossing the road, make safety your daily jam.
Visit Transport Canberra’s travel safely to school webpage for resources and information to make sure all students have a safe journey to and from school.
Visit Transport Canberra’s travel safely to school webpage.
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NATIONAL OFFICE OF CHILD SAFETY – 'ONE TALK AT A TIME'
The National Office of Child Safety has launched the ‘One Talk at a Time’ Campaign that aims to help prevent child sexual abuse by encouraging adults to learn about the issue and have ongoing, proactive, preventative conversations with children, young people and other adults. The campaign is aimed at adults with children and young people in their lives. For more information about the campaign, visit One talk at a time. Let’s end child sexual abuse ‘One Talk at a Time’.
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COMMUNITY URGED TO REPORT ONLINE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AS CHILDREN HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL
As students head back to school for 2024, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) is encouraging the community to report any cases of inappropriate, harmful or criminal activities that have occurred online to children. Help ensure the safety, care and wellbeing of children is protected online. Abuse can be reported to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE). Read the full AFP media release for more information.
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