Achieving Excellence

All the same, it's a step in the right direction

It's a step in the right direction all the same

When a little sparrow wants to leave the nest

First he has to put his feathers to the test

Tumbling from a treetop can't be called success

But, it's a step in the right direction nonetheless

‘A Step in the Right Direction’ , 

by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman

from ‘Bedknobs and Broomsticks’

Literacy in the Home

At our P&C meeting this week, I spoke about the importance of literacy in the home.  We have launched a new section of the school website on literacy and numeracy which has a number of helpful activities and templates for parents to use with their children.

 

The website has information and resources on NAPLAN, writing, spelling, multiplication tables, study notes and brain games.  A recent article stresses the importance of regularly reading novels.  

Another study indicates that having 350 books in the home is ideal.  

 

In terms of my introductory quote, it is important for students to make a “step in the right direction” with their reading and always have a novel.  Ordering from Book Club is a useful way to increase your home library.  

 

Attendance

We have a strong focus on attendance and our mantra is that ‘every day counts’.  This also links with my introductory quote in that every “step in the right direction” by attending leads students towards success.  I explained the importance of sustained attendance at this week’s CHAMP assembly.  The aim is for every student to attend 100% of the time unless they are sick.  We have asked Connect teachers to touch base with some students and parents about attendance and I have been making contact as well.  The purpose of these phone calls are to ensure you know that your children are known, valued and cared for at Cecil Hills High School and we all benefit from seeing them 100% of the time.

Assessments

At this time of the year, for most courses, assessment tasks are just being issued and have not yet been completed.  In relation to formal assessment tasks, this means that everyone is on ‘equal first’ and everyone has an equal chance to show their full potential this year.  When you child receives an assessment task, it is important for them to read it fully, understand what is expected of them and start to map out their plan to tackle the assessment task immediately.  Students experience difficulties when they leave assessment tasks to the last minute and therefore leave no time to talk with their teacher about the task.  All of our assessment booklets are available online by clicking here.  Each assessment booklet contains a list of the formal assessment tasks and proposed dates for each year group.  I have included an example for Year 10.  As parents, it is important to track these and help your child stay on track by asking about the task a few weeks before it is due, the week it is due and then the night before it is due.

School shoes

Families are reminded that students must wear traditional black hard leather lace-up school shoes with white socks.  Parents should be guided by the examples on this website as to the appropriate style.  This uniform requirement is based on safety as subjects including Science and Technology have particular WHS (Work, Health and Safety) requirements to ensure that students are protected while in specialist rooms with equipment and chemicals.

Reading our newsletter in a language other than English

If you have family members or friends who wish to read the newsletter in another language other than English, please select the language preferred at the Google Translate button, which can be found on the bottom of the front page of the newsletter,  on the left hand side of the page.

P&C Meetings

Our first P&C meetings for 2020 were attended by a very large number of parents.  The P&C Annual General Meeting was held on Monday, 2 March 2020 and the following parents were appointed to the following positions:

  • President: Alfred Grasso
  • Vice-President: Vesna Jeromin
  • Vice-President: Kylie Frendo
  • Treasurer: Andrea Marambio
  • Secretary: Dianne Vella

We will not have our normal P&C meeting on Monday, 6 April 2020 as our senior VET Hospitality students are taking control of the Cucina 105 Restaurant at Liverpool.  In lieu of a P&C meeting, we will be enjoying this special event and I encourage parents to attend.  Further information on bookings is detailed in this newsletter! 

 

I look forward to continuing to work with the staff, students and parents of Cecil Hills High School, the best school in NSW.

 

Mark Sutton, Principal