General School News

Special Provisions for HSC Examinations 2020

Disability Support provisions are practical support for students with a disability. Students’ special examination needs may include learning (literacy difficulties), medical (including diabetes, epilepsy, chronic pain), vision or hearing difficulties.

Examples of provisions available include: braille or large-print papers, use of a writer and/or reader, use of an oral interpreter, extension of test time, rest breaks, separate examination supervision and permission to take medication.

If your child is considering applying for Disability Support (formerly known as Special Provisions), here is some important information from NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) regarding changes to Disability Support:

•  Evidence should be no older than term 4 of the year prior to the HSC.
•  Students experiencing an anxiety disorder should seek appropriate treatment or therapy prior to applying for provisions to ensure they have adequate strategies to cope in an examination situation.
• A course of evidence-based treatment often removes the need for disability provisions. Applications are likely to be declined unless the student has first undertaken treatment or therapy.
• If treatment has not adequately addressed the issues, only then should provisions be sought to assist the student in an examination situation.

Examiner aware - speaking or performance:

for a student in a speaking or performance examination who may require accommodation where, for example, the student:

• has a stutter or is unable to maintain eye contact
• lip reads and needs to face the examiner
• is on the autism spectrum and may miss drama cues
• requires enlarged stimulus material where appropriate

NESA prefers that applications for existing conditions are submitted to them by the end of Term 1, 2020. It is possible to lodge a late application.

If you have any queries regarding Disability Support applications, please contact    either W. Chandler or M. Jeuring Learning and Support Teachers (LaST) 42963844

Mr. W. Chandler

Learning and Support Teacher

NSW School Vaccination Program

Each year NSW Health works in partnership with schools to offer the vaccines recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for adolescents as part of the school vaccination program.

In 2020 the following vaccines will be offered:

Parent Information Kits that include an information sheet, consent form and privacy statement will be sent home to parents/guardians. To consent to the vaccination of their child, parents/guardians are advised to:

• Read all the information provided
• Complete the consent form, including signing their name next to the vaccine/s  they would like their child to receive
• Return the completed consent form to their child’s school
• Ensure that their child eats breakfast on the day of the school vaccination clinic.

Please note that, to improve vaccination completion, students will be opportunistically offered any missed doses during Year 7 or 8 (for HPV and dTpa vaccination) and during Year 10 or 11 (for Menignococcal ACWY vaccination).

Parents/guardians who wish to withdraw their consent for any reason may do so by writing to the school Principal or phoning the school. The Procedure for Withdrawal of Consent is available on the NSW Health website at www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/ Pages/withdraw_consent.aspx.

A Record of Vaccination will be provided to each student vaccinated at each clinic either as  a physical card or a text message sent to the mobile number recorded on the consent form. Details about vaccinations given at school will also be uploaded to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) to support complete vaccination histories.

HSIE (Humanities)

Students in Miss Nicholson's Year 11 Ancient History class have had their first taste of what it is like to be an archaeologist, along with the issues they face in discovering, excavating and preserving artefacts.

The students simulated the process of an archaeological excavation as they 'excavated' the chocolate chips in cookies. They discovered how excavation is both destructive and scientific. Students also employed their coordinate geography skills in mapping their excavations on their grids.

Students will continue to use the knowledge and skills they have acquired during this activity to learn about the excavation, treatment and display of ancient human remains.

Sarah Nicholson

SRC 2020

The Student Representative Council (SRC) is up and running again for 2020!

The students have gotten straight back into it, organising the sale of roses and chocolates for Valentine’s Day. Students are encouraged to buy a rose for that someone special or a friend, in support of future initiatives run by the SRC.

Additionally, the SRC is supporting 'Shave for a Cure' this year. The preparations have begun to organise fundraising efforts including a BBQ and mufti-day to raise important funds to support blood cancer research.

SRC Elections

Nominations are now open for the SRC 2020. Students can collect a nomination form from the HSIE staffroom. Forms need to be in by Friday the 14th of February (week 3). Voting will take place on Tuesday the 18th of February (week 4). Students who join the SRC have the chance to build their leadership skills which are useful not only in the school setting but across the community and in their future careers.

The purpose of the SRC at Lake Illawarra High School is:

• To encourage student participation in all areas of school activity and decision-making.
• To facilitate the process by which members of the student body can make an input to matters affecting the school.
• To bring Lake Illawarra High School and the Community of Schools together as a community. This, for the SRC, includes building up the school spirit and generating feelings of loyalty, pride, enthusiasm and security throughout the school and community at large.

The role of the SRC at Lake Illawarra High School is:

• To widen the range of activities for, and service to, the students.
• To promote commitment and responsibility from all students.
• To liaise with similar bodies from other schools on issues of common concern. 

PDHPE

Lake illawarra High School will be organising a 'Walk/Run for Wildlife', held in conjuntion with our annual Cross Country carnival. All funds will be given directly to Wildlife Rescue South Coast to assist in the rehabilitation of our native animals, who were injured during the devestating fires. Students will be given their sponsorship form during Week 3 and can either compete in the Cross Country carnival competitively or walk the course to help raise funds.  One student will be selected at random to receive a family pass to Shoalhaven Zoo as a reward for raising funds.

SPORTS COMMITTEE

BREAKFAST CLUB

CLONTARF Corner

The year has started on a great note, with the young men coming back with plenty of energy and stories to tell from their holidays. 

We welcome to the academy 16 new members who have started their journey at Lake Illawarra High School.  We have a great Term planned for the young men with plenty of opportunities for every member. 

The expectation that our members need to have attendance above 85% at school, great behaviour in class and keeping up with their class work will put them in great stead to be eligible to make it away on Clontarf camps, carnivals and a range of experiences.  Bigger than any of that we want to support these young men in achieving the best result they can whilst at school.

The last couple of weeks we have seen a few of the activities listed below:

• Year 7 induction day
• Year 7 parents/carers lunch in the Clontarf room
• 3 Clontarf training mornings
• Afternoon activities cooking, ping pong, nerf wars
• Year 12 breakfast

Upcoming events:

• Morning trainings – Tuesday + Fridays
• Afternoon activities– Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
• Seniors document day at Wollongong – Wednesday 19th Feb
• Expo Night at school – 5pm-7pm – Wednesday 19th
• Clean Australia day morning – Fri 28th Feb

Science

Welcome back for another great year at Lake! Students have been busy in the laboratory already, with Year 7 students learning about lab safety and equipment and earning their Bunsen burner licences. This is always a very exciting time for our Year 7s and we hope they enjoy Science and learning about the world around them as much as we do!

Year 9 students have been focusing on a biology unit, studying the organisms that live in different ecosystems on Earth and the factors that affect their survival. Pictured here, students are investigating the effect of temperature on worm activity. There was a marked increase in worm activity when the water was heated, and also when cooled - many went for a dip! Students discovered that worms cannot swim, but they can survive underwater because they absorb oxygen through their skin. (Disclaimer: No worms were harmed in the making of this learning activity! :)  They were on loan from the agriculture plot's worm farm, and returned safely after the investigation was completed).

Term 1 also brings many opportunities for Science students to learn outside of the classroom:

• Year 12 Biology will be visiting the UNSW Museum of Human Disease on March 4.
• Dr Karl will be holding a Q&A with our junior students on March 11.
• Our school is once again involved in the Sydney Royal Easter Show's School Display. Students are working hard on this, and will travel to Sydney to set up our amazing display. Students will be invited to attend the Easter Show to see the display (and get their fix of rides on wristband day) on April 3.
• Year 8 students are invited to attend a Marine Studies taster excursion on April  6.

Ms Kerry McKinlay  

Head Teacher, Science

Photo Day

A reminder that Photo day is on Tuesday, 10th March, so bring your best smiles! Information is being handed out during week 4.

Worlds Greatest Shave

On Friday 13th of March, Mrs Wells and Mr Nairn will take part in the World's Greatest Shave. 

When someone signs up to shave, cut or colour for World’s Greatest Shave, they fundraise to make sure families facing a blood cancer have a place to call home during treatment, someone to turn to, and access to the best possible care and treatment. Money raised by World’s Greatest Shave also helps to fund Australia’s best and brightest blood cancer researchers in their quest to deliver rapid advancements in diagnosis, treatment and ultimately — a cure. 

We have set a target of $1000 and are well on our way. The current total is $693.

There are a number of ways to show your support. 

1) Sign up to shave! See Mrs Wells for a permission note and you can join the Lake Illawarra High team.

2) Donate. You can donate online at http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/lakeillawarrahigh​ . Cash donations can be made to Mr Nairn or Mrs Wells. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

3) Show your support on the day by buying a sausage sandwich or making a donation to colour your hair.

Thank you to everyone who has already donated.

Ms Wells