Dates for Calendar

Term 2

Anzac Day Service - Thursday 25 April

Students return to school - Tuesday 30 April

Careers Expo - Tuesday 30 April

Athletics Carnival - Friday 3 May

Cross Country - Wednesday 8 May

Year 7—9 Girls League Tag @ Young - Thursday 9 May

School Captains Governors Visit - Tuesday 7 & 8 May

MURRUMBURRAH

HIGH SCHOOL

PRINCIPAL:

MR DALE RANDS

12 April 2019 Mercury

Mercury

Year 7 Portfolios

On Tuesday 9th April, Year 7 students and their parents/carers were invited to our Year 7 Learning Expo. The afternoon was all about celebrating the Year 7 students first term of learning at MHS. On display was a large selection of stu-dent work.

All students were presented with a school portfolio, in which they keep their reports, certificates, letters and achievements over their time at MHS. The portfolio also contained a small report on what the students have been up to in class.

Thank you to all families that attended the afternoon.

Page 2 Mercury

Principal Report

Well done everyone on a great term.

I would like to start my report this fortnight by repeating something I stated to the whole school on assembly this week. “Thank you to staff, students and the community for making this school a great place to be. It is a real pleasure to work at Murrumburrah High School”. I cannot state it proudly enough – for me to be Principal of this school makes me very happy.

Over the last week I have attended two local functions, a business breakfast at the Light Horse Hotel and I was guest speaker at the weekly Rotary Dinner at the Terracotta Restaurant. Both of these functions enabled me to talk about who I am and where I grew up to the many local people and business holders that were present, but more importantly what I want to achieve for the school and the plans for the future. Many of these ideas I have talked about or I have mentioned in previous newsletters but this time I want to expand on a couple of changes that happened re-cently and next term will be occurring. Firstly the school was very happy to see many tradesmen in the school over the last week undertaking vital works. Plumbers to clear out all the storm water drains all around the school grounds that had been clogged with clay etc. over many, many years (they will be back to dig up the collapsed drain pipe), builders to repair the leak in the roof above the front office area, glaziers in to repair a couple of cracked windows, locksmiths to fix old locks, gutters cleaned out on some of the buildings and even our own local council workers came to help with their backhoe to clear out the storm water runout drain at the bottom of the oval. Hopefully this will have stopped the flooding problem we have had over time. Coming over the holidays will be new carpet into the upstairs walkways and then at the beginning of next term we will have new linoleum to replace the very lovely (1970’s) lime green linoleum in the last 3 areas of the school. The entire school Wi Fi network will be upgraded and expanded to provided much better and stronger coverage for all teaching areas, the downstairs walkways will all have new car-pet and some classrooms also, the roller door on the shearing shed will be fixed this Saturday (or a new one ordered), a whole new set of photocopiers will arrive early next term to enable us to save money and be more efficient at our daily jobs and finally…….the big one. I have had it con-firmed that the entire school roof, downpipes, guttering and all timber panelling will all be re-placed this year starting from about the June/July school holidays. This is a really expensive exer-cise and we gratefully acknowledge the work of Department of Education Assets Management in Wagga and our very own Director Meg Couvee for fighting the good fight and securing funding for this project. The job will go out to tender next term and the work will begin.

Finally the picture below shows our recently purchased school bus and the logo design that was chosen to show who we are every time we drive around with the students.

So as you can see, not much has been happening at the school!!!!! Enjoy the Easter holiday break, stay safe and I will see everyone at the ANZAC march and then back at school on Tuesday 30th April.

Mr Dale Rands

Principal

Page 3 Mercury

Platinum Awards In 2017 Murrumburrah High School introduced a positive level system to reward our students and to encourage everybody to be positive citizens of the school. There are currently three levels stu-dents can move though after the base green on which everyone starts. Students are awarded merits digitally through our Sentral Wellbeing System which put them at Blue (50 merits), Purple (100 merits) and Platinum (200 merits). This year we will be introducing a higher level of Diamond, which will involve students moving their way through the awards again, but this time getting a "Double" blue and purple before the award of the Diamond. More information to follow. So far this year three students have achieved enough merits to move to Platinum level. Students who achieve Platinum have been awarded merits from their teachers and have completed an application form where they were re-quired to demonstrate their suitability for the award. This application was judged by the executive and as a result they received a certificate and a rewards voucher at the assembly on Monday. On Tuesday they attended a Principal's morning tea function. It is my great pleasure to announce Elizabeth Shorrock in Year 12, Xavier Vasquez in Year 11 and Amity Sheargold in Year 10 have achieved Platinum level at Murrumburrah High School. Elizabeth Shorrock has been a student at Murrumburrah High School since 2016 after moving here from the Blue Mountains with her family. She is an excellent student at all times, demon-strating exemplary behaviour, wearing her school uniform proudly and abiding by all school rules and responsibilities. In the classroom Elizabeth excels, completing all work and homework and requesting more to match her motivation. She has helped coach the school netball team as well as played for the school, she assisted at Paddock to Plate and submitted artworks into state wide and local competitions. As a year 12 student Elizabeth has been a driving force behind the fund-raiser plans for their Year 12 community project, the purchase of another defibrillator for the town. Additionally she is a great helper to her peers and younger students within the school. Eliz-abeth is a very ambitious young woman who plans to go to university next year. According to her teachers, as an excellent role model, she is a very worthy recipient of this award. Xavier Vasquez has been a student at Murrumburrah High School since Year 7. He is an enthusi-astic student who makes the most of his class time. He abides by school rules and wears his uni-form proudly. It is as an SRC representative that Xavier really stands out, making it as a regional representative which is very impressive. As an SRC representative in the school, he has demon-strated his ability to lead by example. Xavier is a keen sportsperson, assisting with the coaching of the school soccer team alongside playing. Xavier is an very ambitious person who desires a career in the sciences, and hopes to go onto further study after finishing school. According to staff members Xavier is a quality senior student who is cooperative, collegial and committed. Amity has been a student at Murrumburrah High School for three years. In this time she has im-pressed all of those who have come into contact with her as a mature and conscientious student, completing all class and homework with diligence. She is always impeccably behaved, abiding by all school rules at all times. Amity wears her uniform everyday with pride. In her time at Murrum-burrah High School Amity has performed at CAPA night and was a team member for debating. She is an SRC representative in 2019 and is enjoying the role of working for the improvement of the school. According to her teachers Amity is always respectful to her peers and teachers, and is a highly recommended recipient of this award. These students are role models to all students at Murrumburrah High School and should be very proud of their achievements. Congratulations Elizabeth, Xavier and Amity.

Page 4 Mercury

P&C News

A very successful AGM was held on Monday 1st April and it was so nice to see some new faces! All positions were declared vacant but were retained by the current holders

President: Sarah Rowan Secretary: Vanessa Webster Treasurer: Mel Peisley

We were also joined on the night by Courtney O’Keeffe and Kelly Martin-Dye from Murrumbur-rah Public School P&C to further discuss both P&C’s working more collaboratively for the benefit of both schools. We plan to work together on future promotional events and fundraising oppor-tunities, which we are really looking forward to. The MHS & MPS P&C get together held at the Light Horse Hotel on Friday 29th March was a fun night out and we look forward to making this a more regular fixture. As a P&C we have been asked by Hilltops Council to run the canteen at the Youth Week Activities to be held at Roberts Park on Tuesday 16th April from 10am-3pm. If you are able to help assist the canteen for an hour or two or can do some baking for the day, please contact me on 0487 255 083.

Sarah Rowan

President

Anzac Day Service

Harden ANZAC Day commemoration service will be held on Thursday 25 April, in the second week

of the school holidays.

All students are encourage to attend this im-portant community event.

Students are to wear full school uniform and to assemble outside the Mechanics Institute from

10.30am, ready to march to the Cenotaph at the Newson Park.

Congratulations!!! Congratulations to our award recipients — Jarrod Phelan who received his Purple Level and Amity Sheargold, Liz Shorrock and Xavier Vasquez who received the prestigious Platinum Level.

Page 5 Mercury

Stage 4 Science

Stage 4 Science students studying specimens of invertebrates and vertebrates.

Stage 4 TAS

Stage 4 TAS students computer coding microprocessors and coding using Lego Minestorm.

Good luck to Tom Ings who is competing in the Australian High School Ro-deo Association Finals at Murrurundi this weekend. We will keep you updat-ed on his attempt to represent overseas.

Ukulele Practice

Students had fun this week practising ‘Riptide’ on the ukuleles.

Good luck Tom Ings

Page 6 Mercury

HSIE GEOGRAPHY

With the end of term 1, both stage 4 and 5 will be starting new topics in geogra-phy. Stage 4 have finished the topic of “liveablility” with a practical task designing their ultimate city. Next term they will be starting to look at “global interconnec-tions”, where students examine the connections people have to places across a range of scales. They will explore how transport, information and communication technolo-gies and trade link people to many places. They will develop explanations about the effects of human activities, such as production, recreation and travel, on places and environments in Australia and across the world.

Stage 5 will also be starting a new topic “human wellbeing”, where the focus will be on students examining the nature of, and differences in, human wellbeing and devel-opment that exist within and between countries. Students will attempt to measure human wellbeing and development to reveal spatial variations and develop explana-tions for differences. Students investigate examples from Australia and across the world of issues affecting development. Local, national and global initiatives to im-prove human wellbeing are also examined.

HISTORY

Stage 4 have been studying the mysterious ancient human remains of the Iceman also known as Otzi. He is a 5,300 year old European man who was found by hikers in the French Alps. Numerous examinations of his remains have been undertaken and students have been studying the evidence to determine how he died. Their final task is to make a conclusion where there has been evidence of excellent critical thinking!

In Stage 5 history the students have just completed a unit on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Formed in 1948 in response to the horrific actions perpetrated on countries and peoples, the students have been exploring the European Holocaust. As a culminating activity, students re-searched their own area where violation of human rights has occurred. Students pro-duced a photo essay that involved a critical reflection of the choices they made for the presentation.

STAGE 5 - Crimes and Catastrophes

This is the second time we have run this history elective group. We completed a task examining historical fiction as a historical source, while more recently students have spent the term exploring a number of historical mysteries, including the mystery of the Princes in the Tower. This topic explores whether the “crookback” king Richard III murdered his nephews and seized the crown of England in 1483. The class is enthu-siastically exploring primary and secondary evidence, analysing it for its reliability and usefulness. This activity will culminate with the reveal of the discovery of Richard III’s body in a Leicester carpark and the official reburial of his body in Leicester Ca-thedral.

Stage 4 HSIE learnt all about archaeology using choc chip cookies!

HOW TO DO IT (if you want to try this at home!) 1) Explain that today the children will become archaeologists. The cookie represents an archae-ological site and the chocolate chips are artefacts. 2) Give each child a cookie, paper towel and toothpick. Remind them not to touch their cookie as archaeologists can’t just pick up artefacts! 3) Children should excavate their cookies with toothpicks, being careful not to damage them.

HSC History Extension - In HSC History extension Elizabeth Shorrock is under-taking a major history research project whereby she has to conduct original research into an area of debate. She is looking at whether or not the Celts of ancient Britain were "barbarians". This is a project that is conducted over 8 months. At the end she will produce a 2500 word essay.

Page 7 Mercury

White Card Qualification

This term a number of students completed the (CPCCWHS1001 Prepare to Work Safely in the construction industry) commonly known as the Construction White Card course. Although it was a long day all students successfully completed the course and gained useful skills and a national-ly recognised qualification.

Digital Technologies

Year 7 and 8 Students in Term 1 completed the Digital Technologies component of Technology Mandatory Years 7–8 syllabus. Students gained an appreciation of coding software and relevant hardware. The ‘Crack the Code’ program covered coding and modifying code, fluency in program-ming language and using working inputs and outputs.

Industrial Technology Metal

This term Industrial Technology Metal were working on metal bench-work projects. Fabricating small tools and gauges which is developing their metalwork hand skills. Students also developed skills in the use of the angle grinder, MIG welder and Stick welder for next terms projects.

Page 8 Mercury

Year 12 Fundraiser - Disney Day

On Thursday many students and staff had fun and dressed up as Disney characters for the Year 12 Fundraiser. The Year 12 IVY group have decided on a community project where they are raising funds to pur-chase a defibrillator for the use of the community. Gold coin donations were collected and Year 12 are also holding a bake sale during the day to raise funds. Thank you to everyone who supporting this great cause!

Page 9 Mercury

Farm Club @ Sydney Royal Easter Show

Youth Week—Tuesday 16th April

Attention Youth of Harden (12 to 18 years). Come down to Roberts Park on Tuesday 16th April for a great day put on especially for you. There will be: music and food inflatable attractions which include; giant ob-

stacle course, a Jurassic Adventure, volleyball court, and mechanical bull

Time: 10am to 3pm Cost: $5 per person Tickets are available from the Hilltops Harden Office.

Page 10 Mercury

Murrumburrah High School - Term 2, 2019

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Sat Sun

April 1

29 30

Careers Expo @

Young

Students return to

school

1 2 3

Athletics Carnival

4 5

May

2

6 7

School Captains

Governors Visit

Stage 5 History @

Boorowa

8

School Cross Coun-

try

School Captains

Governors Visit

9

Year 7—9 Girls

League Tag @

Young

10

Mercury

11 12

3

13 14

NAPLAN

15

NAPLAN

16

NAPLAN

17

Zone Cross Coun-

try @ Tumbarum-

ba

18 19

4

20

SRC State Camp

21

SRC State Camp

NAPLAN

Genius Hour @

MHS

22

SRC State Camp

23

SRC State Camp

24

SRC State Camp

Mercury

25 26

5

27 28

Genius Hour @

MHS

29 30 31 1 2

June

6

3 4

Genius Hour @

MHS

5 6

NSWCHS Girls Foot-

ball State Champi-

onships

7

Questacon School

Visit

Mercury

8 9

7

10 11

Genius Hour @

MHS

12 13 14

Riverina Cross

Country @

Gundagai

15 16

8

17

Year 12 Hospitality

Placement

18

Year 12 Hospitality

Placement

19

Year 12 Hospitality

Placement

Zone Athletics @

Temora

20

Year 12 Hospitality

Placement

21

Year 12 Hospitali-

ty Placement

Mercury

22 23

9

24 25

26 27 28 29 30

July 10

1 2 3 4 5

Mercury

6 7

Murrumburrah High

School

Smith Street

Harden NSW 2587

Phone: 02 6386 2755

Fax: 02 6386 3048

E-mail: murrumburr-

h.school@det.nsw,edu.au

MURRUMBURRAH HIGH SCHOOL

PRINCIPAL:

MR DALE RANDS

We’re on the web https://murrumburr-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/

Preparing our students for tomorrow’s challenges through learning

School Website - https://murrumburr-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/ - To view newsletter, photos, newsletter and events. School Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/murrumburrahhigh/

Skoolbag App - Please download the Skoolbag App, Create an account, add ’Murrumburrah High School’, Allow notifications. Newsletter - The school newsletter is uploaded to the School website and Skoolbag App

Keep up to date with MHS

The Harden Soccer Club is looking forward to the 2019 season, and would like to remind all past and future players that registrations are now up and running for the

upcoming season. With a fresh committee, a title to defend, and a great family atmosphere, the Harden Club can look confidently towards 2019.

Player registrations are done exclusively on line through the new playfootball.com.au portal, the

link to which can be found on the Harden Soccer Club Facebook page. Registrations will run through until Friday, April 12, with the season scheduled to commence on May 4.

For further information, please contact President Gaye Forge on 0476 877 727, or Allison Manwar-

ing on 0429 19 453. Also, keep an eye on the Harden Soccer Club Facebook page for information regarding registration dates and other important 2019 season information.