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Week 7 has been a great week (despite waking up with Covid this morning). There is a real buzz of excitement and nervous anticipation with our Year 10 students, who are nearing the end of their high school journey. We are proud of the way they are respectfully expressing their gratitude to staff and we can’t wait to see them all polished up for their formal next week.
This week we were also given a sneak preview of our newly upgraded Science labs. They are looking truly amazing with state of the art equipment and bright open spaces that will cater for a wide variety of teaching and learning styles. We look forward to students being able to enjoy them from day 1, 2024.
Special thanks to Geoff and Libby and our amazing P&C for organising a great Trivia Night at Grill’d Woden last night. Families, students and staff all enjoying the food, trivia and banter and although the winning team was made up of Calwell staff, I was not on that table and have therefore launched an enquiry.
This morning three of our special Year 10 students were recognised at the ACT Year 10 Excellence Awards. These annual awards have a special place on the ACT landscape and we are incredibly proud of our students.
Congratulations:
Georgia N – Successful Learner
Jade L – Confident and Creative Individual
Sally J – Active and Informed Citizen.
Have a great weekend.
Steve
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IMPORTANT DATES NEXT WEEK
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Monday 27 November
- Year 10 Graduation Practice, 11.30am
Tuesday 28 November
- Homework Club, Break 2
- Erindale College T10 day
Wednesday 29 November
- On Country Learning
- Year 10 Breakfast, 8.30am
- Year 10 Walkout Assembly, 9.30am
Thursday 30 November
- Homework Club, Break 2 and After School
- Breakfast Club
- ThinkUKnow - Years 7 & 8
- Year 10 Formal, 6.00pm
Friday 1 November
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As we eagerly await the first concept drawings of our new logo and colour palette, we have had some questions from families around uniform. We have been working with our uniform supplier, Workin’ Gear Schools, our School Board and P&C to come up with the following uniform timeline:
2024 – Current uniform
Our current uniform will remain for the entirety of 2024. Workin’ Gear Schools have generously agreed to discount their remaining stock by 50%! This means you can now pick up our polos for $14 and hoodies for $21! If you order online, the uniforms can be delivered to the school at no cost. Once this stock is sold out, students who need new uniforms will be allowed to wear plain red or black polos or hoodies for the remainder of the year.
2025 – Transition year
We anticipate our new uniform will be on sale from late 2024 in preparation for 2025. Both the new and current uniform may be worn during 2025 to ensure families get full use of the current uniform.
2026 – New uniform only
All students and staff will be expected to wear the new uniform.
Please do not hesitate to contact our Business Manager, Helena Williams, should you have any questions at all.
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DANCE
Dance students across all four years have had an incredibly busy Term 4 with two massive performances. Students showcased their talents and made the school proud when they performed in the AusDance Youth Dance Festival earlier in the term, then backed it up only two weeks later with our schools end of year show, Arts Extravaganza. These were incredible experiences for the students, showcasing to the community, family and friends all of the hard work they have been putting in. With all the performances ticked off students have had the opportunity to rest their feet and have a break from all the dancing, now currently looking at key health topics.
The junior classes have been exploring respectful relationships with lots of good class discussions and class work. They have been examining what can influence relationships, how to identify respectful and positive relationships as well as identifying and developing skills and strategies when faced with unhealthy or harmful relationships. Our senior classes have been exploring fitness in the community. This has included examining the positive outcomes of healthy communities and looking at different types of fitness and exercise to support better health.
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LSU
We have been using and writing procedural texts in projects this semester. We began by putting together a wheelbarrow with the instructions printed out.
We made our personal terrarium, and then one for the classroom. This meant looking up information in the internet and finding a YouTube video to follow. We discovered a 'text' is not only presented in words but a combination of words and images. We also found that we had to consider the needs of a plant, which, as it turns out, are not so different to that of animals, and that includes us humans.
Last week we potted up one hundred tomato plants for the P&C to sell at Calwell Markets. They sold quite a few too!
Just for a treat we made Christmas Rocky Road. None of our LSAs like it which upset Mr Curtis. He told us that he didn't think their taste buds had matured sufficiently to appreciate the flavours.
We are now writing our own procedure. We are making Christmas table decorations; one for home and some for Warrigal, the nearby Aged Care Village.
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Maths
Our senior LSU Maths class recently wrapped up an exhilarating Minecraft Maths Unit, where students explored mathematical concepts by calculating building perimeters and total volumes within the Minecraft universe. This immersive approach not only engaged their creativity but also applied theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios, fostering a deeper understanding of mathematical principles. The students thoroughly enjoyed this unique learning experience, showcasing their enthusiasm and problem-solving skills while navigating the intricacies of the game.
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Senior HaSS
Year 9/10 LSU HaSS has been focusing on Civics and Citizenship this semester, looking at the democratic values that underpin the Australian Parliament.
Students have engaged in finding out how the House of Representatives and the Senate work together and how laws are made. We are currently researching the history of protest in Australia, and finding out that through the use of petitions, access to our local members and peaceful protest, ordinary citizens can influence how the Government makes decisions that affect the Australian people.
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HaSS
Year 8 HaSS have been exploring geography. This term we have looked at the phenomenon of natural disasters. Students have learnt about tsunamis, natural erosion, volcanoes and landslides.
For each of these disasters we have built a model of the landscape, recreating the conditions where these natural disasters occur. We then recreate the disaster and see what effect to has. For example, we used bicarbonate soda and vinegar to simulate volcano eruptions and looked at how the lava flowed.
Student will be writing up their findings this week and have thoroughly enjoyed the adventures in geography (on a mini scale).
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SCIENCE
Students enjoyed making their own ice cream from scratch with milk, sugar, and ice and, by doing so, learned the science involved in the state of matter as well as the sustainable use of abiotic things in the environment.
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OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Surf Camp and Recap
Another fantastic Surf Camp for Outdoor Ed took place Thursday and Friday of Week 6. We were fortunate to have time to set our camp up in the dry and even had time for an afternoon of surfing, games and fun before the rain came in. Despite some reasonable rain overnight, we woke up at 6.00am to a spectacular blue sky, hopped on to Maui and headed down for a dawn surf. Two and a half hours later, students had decided they’d had caught their last wave and we headed back to camp for a rapid breakfast, pack down and loading of the trailer. This allowed us a quick 30 minute stop at Shark Bay before a bus full of exhausted Calwell High Students headed home.
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A massive thank you to all the teachers and volunteers (Ms Chester, Mr Bradley, Ms Carr, Alice Fraser and Rory Blackburn – Rooney) who made all of the Outdoor Ed trips so successful this year. Without them, none of our adventures could’ve gone ahead. Lastly, to all of the Outdoor Ed students of 2023 and particularly the OG group in Semester one, you have started something here at Calwell that will hopefully last well into the future and you have set a very high benchmark to meet for future classes. The way you represented yourselves, Calwell High School and our Outdoor Ed program is to be commended.
Looking forward to a spectacular year of Outdoor Learning in 2024!
Mr Rodriguez
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Calwell Climbing club has seen some new members join, expanding our numbers and students participating! Climbers get to challenge themselves by choosing their won adventure up one of our stations. Challenges can vary from just trying to make it up using whatever is available, so restricting your holds to a single colour. All the while, being belayed by their peers.
The climbing connection club provides students of all year groups and abilities an opportunity to come, try something new and be active while doing it! I look forward to seeing more participants in the coming few weeks before the year is out.
Mr Rodriguez
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Hello parents, carers and friends
Congratulations to Calwell High's students, families and staff for the excellent results achieved with the recent School Satisfaction Survey. CHS is certainly moving forward in a very positive way and the P&C is proud to be part of this journey.
Thank you to our 'Flippin’ Awesome' team for all your help with our P&C BBQ at Calwell Community Markets last weekend. It was a successful day in many ways. As a foremost achievement we once again were able to engage with the local community, with many opportunities to spread the positive word on CHS.
As a fundraiser we went well – these events help position the P&C to assist our school with funds more readily. Thank you to teacher Peter Curtis and the LSU students for getting us up and running with the tomato plants that we sold at the bbq – a very worthwhile and popular sideline on the day.
Geoff Puleston, Calwell High School P&C President
calwellhighpandc@gmail.com
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CAREERS AND STUDENT PATHWAYS
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FILM PRODUCTION WORKSHOP
Where: AIE Canberra
When: Saturday 18 November
Link: https://aie.edu.au/aie_event/film-production-workshop/
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RESPONSIBLE SERVICE OF ALCOHOL (RSA) COURSE
On Tuesday 21 November, Calwell High students participated in the RSA course run by CIT. Eleven students were given training in the skills and knowledge required to serve and sell alcohol in a responsible manner (RSA). It included the current laws surrounding liquor and its service, strengths and effects of alcoholic beverages and responsible service strategies. The CIT trainer conducted role plays and all our students successfully displayed their skills to refuse service of alcohol to intoxicated customers.
SILICA EXPOSURE PREVENTION TRAINING COURSE
On Wednesday 22 November, Calwell High students participated in the Silica Exposure Prevention Training course run by QTIC. Nineteen students participated in training that provided them with the skills and knowledge required to understand and prevent exposure to Silica. The Silica training is mandatory (along with White Card and Asbestos) for anyone who wishes to pursue work that is conducted on a work site and was successfully completed by all our students, well done!
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STUDENT FREE DAYS 2024
From 2024, there will be four student-free days for ACT public schools. These are the first day of each school term:
· Term 1, Monday 29 January 2024
· Term 2, Monday 29 April 2024
· Term 3, Monday 22 July 2024
· Term 4, Monday 14 October 2024.
We use student-free days for staff development, enabling us to plan in a student-free environment. Student-free planning days have been expanded from one to four days from 2024 as part of our new Teaching Staff Enterprise Agreement which prioritises better teacher workloads for educational leadership, teaching and learning.
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CANBERRA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY'S SCHOOL FORMAL SPECIALS
The Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) is offering school formal specials for hair and beauty services and wearable floral arrangements. Hair and beauty services, including hairstyling and spray tans, are available until the Friday 24 November 2023 and wearable florals are available to order until Friday 8 December 2023.
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RIGHTS IN ACTion NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER ISSUE
Link: November Rights in ACTion
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YWCA FESTIVE GIVING DRIVE
The YWCA Festive Giving Drive aimed at addressing food insecurity in our local community. The rise in the cost of living has impacted all of us this past year, but none so much as the most vulnerable in our community.
The Lanyon Food Hub has seen an overwhelming increase in new members of different demographics seeking emergency support. Now more than ever our services are needed and we need your help this festive season. Your donation will go towards our Festive Giving Drive to provide those in need with the support they require over this period, whether through food relief, material aid or gift cards to lessen the financial burden this holiday season. You can also donate directly via the website here: https://ywca-canberras-festive-giving.raisely.com/
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ACT GOVERNMENT RENT RELIEF PROGRAM
The Christmas/Festive season is fast approaching, and along with it is the additional Christmas/Festive preparation expenses, not to mention the bills that will start rolling in come the New Year!
Care continues to facilitate the ACT Government’s Rent Relief program for those who rent privately in the ACT. Eligible renters can apply for the one off grant of 4 weeks rent up to a maximum of $2,500.
Please note: The current turn around for applications is 2-3 weeks, but could increase depending on the volume of applications received.
For more information, eligibility criteria and application form head to our website – www.carefcs.org/rent-relief-scheme
Care will be closed for Christmas from Friday 22nd December 2023 reopening Tuesday 2nd January 2024.
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