Year Adviser News
Year 7 Year Adviser
Maati El Hafiane
What a year 2019 has been for Year 7. It feels like only yesterday that I was handing out timetables to all the nervous Year 7 students.
2019 has been an exciting year with the introduction of a number of new subjects such as Fiction and Nonfiction, Commercial Maths, STEM, Intensives, Collectives and Big History. Students have participated in a number of activities such as the Boys and Girls groups led by myself, Mr Murphy and Ms Kavanagh, athletics, cross country and swimming carnivals, STEM excursion to Sydney University, Harmony Day and MADDFEST.
I’d like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Ms Espejel, the Year 7 Assistant Year Adviser for all your help and support this year. You’re a great role model and a pleasure to work with. I’d like to also thank Mrs Marasinghe and Ms Hunter for all their support this year. Year 7 have definitely benefited by having your assistance this year.
I’m extremely proud to be the Year 7 Year Adviser and am looking forward to what lies ahead as the students return as Year 8 students.
I hope that everyone has a safe and relaxing holiday.
Year 9 Year Adviser
Tanya Newsome
Although I have only had the pleasure of guiding year 9 for Term 4, it was apparent early on how talented, resilient, and self motivated our year group is. Juggling School Spectacular, and sporting commitments alongside academic requirements is challenging enough. However, our year 9 also placed themselves outside their comfort zone in order to complete a lengthy Junior School Captaincy selection process, and eagerly participated in our Self Esteem and Peer Dynamics Workshops, both of which facilitated a roller coaster of emotions, and brought our year group closer together.
It was my pleasure to be there for year 9 to assist with any concerns, and help make your time at school as engaging as possible. I look forward to seeing everyone back in 2020, in one piece, and eager to learn.
Year 11 Year Adviser
Courtney Griffiths
Family Planning NSW visit
During Week 1 of this term, all Year 12 students participated in an informative discussion around healthy relationships, consent and sexual health with Family Planning NSW consultants. This content is a mandatory component of the Life Ready Program which is being delivered during Plan My Future lessons. All students engaged in a range of activities and discussed different perspectives and values around all topics. Year 12 students demonstrated a respectful and mature attitude when discussing their own perspective and when considering the perspective of others on a variety of assumptions within this topic. Family Planning NSW provided contact details and additional resources which students can contact at any time during and after school as part of their development in building independence to access health and support services.
RYDA Excursion
During Week 3 of this term, Year 12 students attended A RYDA Drive Safely Program at Penrith International Regatta Centre. Students engaged in activities to provoke a deep thought process regarding risk assessment of scenarios they are exposed to everyday as drivers, passengers and pedestrians. The activities included a conversation with a NSW Police office and their first hand experience with driver related issues, a survivor of a car accident and the life consequences from the accident and how it could have been prevented, training from a driving instructor, perspective of a family affected by the loss of a family member and demonstrations of the effect speed can have on the stopping distance of a vehicle.
Sleep Connections
Week 3 and 5 PMF lessons Evans High School welcomed a guest speaker from Sleep Connections to discuss the benefits a good sleep routine can have on memory, health and wellbeing. They were given a sleep diary to monitor their own sleeping patterns and given strategies which could be used to improve the amount and quality of sleep they are getting each night. Some of the sleep promoting strategies include:
Turning off the blue light produced by devices such as phones, tablets and laptops. Blue light directly affects your body's production of the sleep hormone melatonin. Melatonin is responsible for making you feel sleepy, and blue light suppresses the production of this important hormone.
Keep the same sleep routine on weekends and weekdays to avoid fatigue.
Sleep 8-9 hours a night to ensure the brain goes through the longest REM cycle of sleep. REM cycles are responsible for cleaning and repairing the brain as well as storing and processing information for memory. This is key to retaining information learnt in a school day.
Drink more water at least 2 litres per day to replace water loss during breathing and sweat. Avoid caffeinated drinks such as soft drink, coffee and energy drinks after lunch as they have an extended effect on the body and can keep the body awake at night.
Turn off devices and stop studying 1 hour before bed to allow time for the brain to wind down. This is a great time to have a conversation with family members and build strong relationships during the HSC period.
Ernst and Young Resume Writing and mentoring workshop
In Week 7, a group of students participated in a workshop on resume writing with mentors from the Ernst and Young.
Year 12 Jackets
Year 12 have been proudly showcasing their senior jackets as part of their continued pride in the Evans High School Uniform. In 2020, there will be an additional new design senior white polo shirt design which will be available to purchase from the uniform shop prior to school returning.
HSC Checklist:
The following is a checklist for Year 12 students to ensure they are prepared for their post HSC plans:
ALL students need to complete their registration for students online in order to update their details, access their ROSA grades for previous years and HSC results when they are released after the HSC. Students are also reminded to check their unit details are correct and if relevant subject changes are up to date.
ALL students are to log into Job Jump to identify their post school pathways they are interested in so Ms Jansen, School Career Adviser, can provide additional support and opportunities as they arise which tailors specifically to their needs.
For students who would like to go to University, if they have not done so already they are reminded to express their interest to Ms Jansen for SRS, Schools Recommendation Scheme IMMEDIATELY to avoid missing out on this opportunity!!! This program offers an opportunity for students to apply for early entry to a course at their preferred university without the dependence on their ATAR result.
Victor Chang award
Congratulations to Jiayi Wu and Lachlan Campbell who were awarded the Victor Chang award for Science at Blacktown City Council. They were nominated by their teachers for their tenacity and commitment in their science subjects.
The Victor Chang School Science Awards were developed to foster and encourage an interest in science among secondary school students, with the aim of promoting careers in science as a viable and interesting career path.
Named after the late cardiac surgeon and pioneer of modern heart transplantation, the Victor Chang School Science Awards were established to celebrate young, gifted students, and to stimulate growth in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subject areas.
Presentation night
A huge congratulations to all of the students who received an award at presentation night. Ms Bautista and I are extremely proud to represent such a determined group of students striving for success in so many areas.