FORMAL ASSEMBLY

On Thursday September 10, we held a formal assembly that featured a range of important presentations and acknowledgements. The assembly began with a Welcome to Country delivered by Kiara R and Sam J. Our Principal, Mr Fowke, gave a heartfelt speech reflecting on “Are You OK?” Day, encouraging kindness and connection within our community. 

We also recognised the achievements of our Year 12 students with the presentation of Trial Exam Merits, and celebrated Platinum and Gold Awards for positive behaviour and contributions. In addition, students involved in Dream Cricket received School Community Service Merits for their outstanding support and commitment. The assembly included other updates including; Year 12 Charity Report, the Student Representative Council Report, Sports Report, GEM Mail and the Shrek Musical Report.

The event was officially led by our Vice Presidents, Lilly T and Noah P, who did an outstanding job guiding the proceedings. It was a meaningful gathering that celebrated student effort and community spirit.

Year 12 Trial Examinations 

Congratulations to Year 12 on Their Trial Examinations. We extend our sincere congratulations to all Year 12 students for their efforts and achievements in the recent trial examinations. This important milestone reflects your commitment and perseverance throughout the year. As you continue your preparation for the HSC, we wish you every success. The entire school community is proud of your accomplishments and supports you as you approach your final exams.

Gold and Platinum Awards

Gold and Platinum Awards are presented to students in recognition of outstanding positive behaviour, achievements, and contributions to our school community. These awards celebrate students who consistently demonstrate respect, responsibility, and excellence both in and out of the classroom. Congratulations to all recipients for setting a wonderful example and helping make our school a great place to learn and grow.

Dream Cricket - School Community Service Merits

We are proud to recognise the students involved in Dream Cricket, an initiative that promotes inclusion, teamwork, and community engagement through the sport of cricket. Congratulations to those students who have received School Community Service Merits for their dedication and positive contributions to this program and our wider school community. Your commitment helps strengthen our school spirit and exemplifies the values we hold dear.

Year 12 Charity Report

"We want to start with a thank you for your support last Friday with what was a very successful Jersey Day. With the Jersey gold coins and the money from the cup cakes and lollies we raised nearly $700 which is incredible, thank you again.  

At the moment we are taking donations for our charity night auction and the community of Inverell have been incredibly generous.  

We have a fantastic donation from Bunnings Inverell of an esky and a BBQ.  

Inverell Bearing Centre have donated a massive 29 piece metric deep socket set, whatever that means, but it is worth over $300.  

Gasweld Inverell have donated spanners 

Stewarts Grain Trading have donated a bag of dog biscuits 

ARB have donated a high quality torch

TLE Electrical kindly donated a 3 in 1 bathroom exhaust fan, heater and light and we have heard a rumour that Mrs Alexander is looking to update her bathroom and she already has her eyes on this item.  

There is also another rumour circling that a coffee machine may also be donated, but this is yet to be locked in.  

If staff and Year 11 drivers could please refrain from washing your cars for the next two weeks and support our car wash that would be very much appreciated, OLD Mr Stuart, we might even give your bike a spray with the hose if you are lucky.  

Another reminder that on Monday of week 10 staff and Year 11 will also need to bring $5 cash to secure your park, we can already hear Mrs Hawkins complaining!! 

Myles has been locked in as our Auctioneer and there will be the usual lucky door prizes, raffles and games to enjoy on the night, so we hope to see you all there.  

Thanks again for your support of our charity, the VRA."

- Lilliana H and Claudia C

Student Representative Council Report

As representatives of Inverell High School’s SRC, we are here today to provide a brief update on upcoming events and projects we will be working on throughout the term.

Pizza and PJ Day was a massive success. We managed to raise a good amount of money for the SRC. Thank you to everyone who dressed in their PJs and brought a gold coin to support us.

The executive and a few of the Year 10 SRC members were asked to support the Inverell Legacy Group last Wednesday by setting up stations and seeking donations for their merchandise around the main street. They raised over $2,200, which will go towards supporting local families of those who have served or are descendants of service personnel.

Just a reminder that Breakfast Club is in the Rotunda Quad every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday if you need some extra food to start your day.

That concludes the SRC report for this week. Thank you for your continued support of the SRC, and please stay tuned for further updates on our upcoming events and activities.

-Rueben T and Lily W

Sports Report

Mrs Marshall delivered the sports report, highlighting recent achievements and participation across a variety of events. Our students continue to demonstrate outstanding sportsmanship, teamwork, and dedication, representing the school with pride. Congratulations to all who have taken part in sporting activities, and thank you to Mrs Marshall, PDHPE staff and all coaches from around the school for your ongoing support and encouragement.

"We have been moving pretty quickly into cricket season and we have games rapidly approaching for the open boys and girls teams. Make sure you listen to notices, keep your attendance above 85% and make good choices to be in contention to be included in the teams 

We have an AFL day coming up in week 10 and its great to see our students showing an interest in a new sport. We wish our 2 teams all the best in this comp 

Next Thursday the U15’s netball team play their next games which is a regional final that will be held here in Inverell at the complex. As it is a regional final, we are looking to take some spectators, like we did for the basketball to cheer our team on. Sign up sheets for that will be out soon. Also remember it is for students above 85% attendance, no levels and those of you who are role models, doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.  

Tomorrow, we have four teams competing at Tamworth in the regional schools cup netball. We dominated at the Inverell carnival and we wish all teams the best of luck! 

This week we received some amazing news from our HSC Dance class who performed for the external examiners in Week 5. Two dancers, Hallie and Ella, received a call back for their core performance and major performance. As well as Jess, Elkie, Tink for their core performance. What this means is, they were selected from across the state to have the chance to audition and if selected they are to perform in Sydney in February with the best dancers across NSW schools. Usually only around 30 schools are selected for a call back so this is an amazing achievement for the girls and Inverell high. It is also an incredible achievement for Mrs Alexander, who has only been teaching dance for three terms. She also choreographed both dances. The girls are required to video their performance and send it through next week. Also, next week we are hosting a dance showcase night here in the MPU on Wednesday starting at 6pm. You will be able to see the HSC dancers, the Year 11 dancers, and if you are interested in studying dance in senior years it would be a great opportunity to see what the end goal looks like.  

-Mrs Marshall

Mrs Marshall also gave an entertaining report of the Rugby 7s excursion to Tuggerah. The tournament was an excellent opportunity for students to showcase their skills and demonstrate resilience, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Rugby Sevens, with its fast-paced and demanding nature, required quick thinking and adaptability - qualities that our teams exhibited throughout the day.

Both the girls' and boys' teams faced strong competition, displaying determination and effort in every match. Despite some injuries, the girls' team showed great resilience and courage, while the boys' team competed fiercely against tough opponents. Each player contributed significantly, with notable performances across both teams.

Overall, Mrs Marshall reflected that the excursion offered more than just competitive play; it fostered team spirit, helped build lasting friendships, and reinforced the values of commitment and perseverance. We thank all students for their dedication and the coaches for their ongoing support.

GEM Mail: Celebrating Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness

Our GEM Mail initiative shines a spotlight on the key principles of the Resilience Project—Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness. Through fortnightly lessons, students actively participate in activities designed to improve their social and emotional skills, nurturing kindness, understanding, and self-awareness. Throughout the term, students who demonstrate these vital skills are recognised by their teachers and rewarded for their positive contributions to our school community.

Congratulations to this term’s major GEM Mail draw recipient, Hayley Schofield of year 10, whose outstanding display of gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness has truly inspired us all. Keep an eye out for more GEM Mail updates, and join us in celebrating the continued growth of our students!

Shrek Musical Report

Three of our students shared their experiences participating in the Sapphire Schools combined production of Shrek The Musical Jr. They spoke enthusiastically about their involvement in the performances and the valuable relationships they developed with students from other schools. This collaborative musical theatre project provided a wonderful opportunity for students to work creatively together, build confidence, and celebrate their shared love of the arts. We are proud of their dedication and the positive connections formed throughout this memorable experience.