student newsletter€¦ · danny henman . education.nsw.gov.au ... • write a letter to your...

Issue 11 | 21 August 2019

Opportunity * Wellbeing * Engagement 2-40 Chickiba Drive, East Ballina NSW 2478 | Tel: 02 6681 0300 | Fax: 02 6681 0499

Email: [email protected] | Web: https://sthcrossc-d.schools.nsw.gov.au Our school stands proudly on Bundjalung land

Student Newsletter

From the principal’s desk

Hello all,

I hope this newsletter finds you well and safe, and that everyone who lives in a high-risk area has a bushfire plan in place.

Since the last newsletter, B Block has been completed and we are waiting on works to commence for C Block. Once complete, this will allow us to move all of our teaching staff. We will then complete some other works to finalise the support staff in the school and will be fully functional on a single site. We are all very much looking forward to this.

Seniors should be in full swing preparing for and/or sitting their trial examinations. Good luck with these, please ensure you use these as a trial

run for both preparation and sitting the HSC exam. Only 9 Weeks until the HSC starts, so study, revision and preparation is vital.

Primary have been busy with many of their programs and have settled in well to their new spaces. I know they are looking forward to being able to use some of the specialised spaces as they become available. I have seen some samples of the works being presented and encourage all students and supervisors to keep up the great effort and attitude to learning – well done to all.

Our front office is now fully set up and although we are still waiting for the staff from Ballina Campus to move over and settle in, if you are looking for us, please use the big main administration building with both our sign and banner out the front. We look forward to meeting with you at any point.

As always, if you have any concerns for your child’s education, please contact the office to make an appointment with any of our executive staff, who are only too happy to assist.

Yours in education, Danny Henman

education.nsw.gov.au

Southern Cross School of Distance Education Student Newsletter Issue 11 | 21 August 2019

Opportunity * Wellbeing * Engagement Page | 2

Primary news – History At our last mini-school, primary students learned about the Stolen Generations and the significance of Sorry Day. Aboriginal community members told the students about what life was like on Cabbage Tree Island when they were growing up. Some of the older women still tidy their houses first thing in the morning, a habit they developed when ’the welfare’ might be coming.

Students then shared a reading of Sorry Day, by Coral Vass. Two stories entwine in this retelling of the momentous day when the then Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, acknowledged the sorrows of past and said 'sorry' to the generation of children who were taken from their homes.

Some of the students’ responses are recorded below:

• I have drawn a picture of when the kids hid – Marcus • I have drawn a picture of the Prime Minister saying sorry – Mackenzie • I have drawn a picture of Parliament House because it is where they announced we are sorry –

Pearl • I learned that Sorry Day is about saying sorry for the Aboriginal kids being stolen – Sage • I have drawn a picture of someone hiding in the reeds. After listening to your story, I wondered what

it would be like to live back then, as an Aboriginal kid. Thank you very much for letting me hear the story – Jazmine

• I have drawn a picture of the kids running from the officer. After listening to your story, I wondered how we can treat everyone fairly.– Rain



High school news– History History teachers are having a very busy term as we review and improve our learning materials. We are also planning our move to the new building and doing lots of professional learning. One great event was a presentation with the fantastic Eddie Woo. During Mr Woo’s session we thought about how we can better teach numeracy to help students with the maths needs of history.

So why do history teachers care about numeracy? Think about it – historians need to use:

• timelines • maps • tables • graphs • statistics.

All of which need strong numeracy skills so historians can interpret facts and understand chronology.

To see Eddie Woo in action, visit Woo’s wonderful world of maths on YouTube.

Eddie Woo, 2019

Samuel Wiki CC BY 4.0

Revision and study History teachers have also been busy preparing Year 12 for the HSC Trials and Year 11 for their final exams – both on this term. It’s a good reminder for all students. Make sure you're up-to-date with your course work, do regular revision and make summaries of what you have learnt. These things will drive improvement.

All students should be doing some homework or revision for each subject every week. Some suggestions for students include:

• preparing summaries in your own words to revise content and skills • drawing diagrams, mind maps or brainstorms to show the main ideas and links between them –

make sure you always have evidence to support ideas • explaining a topic or key concept to someone else • memorising short quotes or statistics • reading widely on topics being studied – check out the bibliography in your learning material.

Study timetable A study timetable can help students plan their time.

• Download a sample study timetable for a typical Year 11 student. Adjust the timetable for your own child’s subjects.

• Download or print a blank study timetable to help your child plan.

The NSW Department of Education has some great resources for parents and carers to help children with their schooling, including homework and study tips. Visit Parents and carers for more information.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq0EGvLTyy-LLT1oUSO_0FQ

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq0EGvLTyy-LLT1oUSO_0FQ

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eddie_Woo,_February_2019_01_(cropped).jpg

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en

https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/practical-help-for-parents-and-carers/media/documents/Sample-study-timetable.docx

https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/practical-help-for-parents-and-carers/media/documents/Study-timetable.docx

https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/practical-help-for-parents-and-carers



High school news – History Submitting on canvas or via email

With a growing number of students submitting work digitally, we need a consistent naming rule for files. Please follow these rules for submitting history work.

• Only scan and submit the exercises you have been asked to complete.

• Self-correct the activities to see how you’re going, but don’t return them.

• Only upload or email one PDF – not lots of separate files for different pages.

• Save one PDF with your name and the work you are submitting, for example: o first name-last name-WWI-Part-2 o first name-last-name -Aztecs-Part-4 o first name-last name-Xerxes-Part 5 o first name-last name-migration-Part 2 o first-name-last name-assessment-3

Saving files in the same way helps your teachers process and mark your work more quickly. This helps you get your feedback earlier

Contacting your teacher With a growing number of online lessons, we may not always be available to take your phone call. We may be out visiting students, doing phone lessons, writing learning materials, as well as setting and marking your work. We want you to contact us if you need help or have any questions about your work. Email is the best way to make sure your teacher gets your question or feedback. Teachers will get back to you as soon as they can. Make sure you use the subject line of your email so teachers know quickly what they can do to help.

Thank you A big thank you to all the schools hosting our students completing their Trial HSC exams this term – both single subject students and full-time. We really appreciate your help preparing our students for the HSC with authentic exam venues and conditions.



High-class history students Check out some of the work samples of our students.

Year 10 rights and freedoms Task: Imagine you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander girl or boy taken from your family when you were three. You are present for Kevin Rudd's national apology in 2008. Explain the significance of his speech for you. You may choose one of the following formats to complete this reflection task:

• Write a diary entry the night you are told.

• Write a letter to your friend describing how you were told.

• Create a multimedia presentation of how you felt upon being told.

• Write a song telling your story.

Student’s poem: Sorry. A word that means so much....

They have finally realised that it was not a good thing.

I lost my loved ones. I lost my family. I lost my dignity, my culture.

My life was ruined. I feel so sad, scared and angry about what happened to me.

Now they have said sorry.

But sorry doesn't bring back the past.

Hopefully, the future will be fixed.

For the children I hope that they will be reunited to their families and loved ones.



Year 10 migration assisted passage poster - Cailee Cossins

Migration poster - James King



Spanish Conquest poster - Tonya Turner Kerr

Vikings unit Valhalla drawing - Livia Green



Aztecs Tenochtitlan postcard - Livia Green



High school news Grafton Hub kayaking at Red Rock Here are some photos from our end of term kayaking day at Red Rock. A very positive day – great weather, excellent attitudes and some good kayakers. Students: Brodie, Kyra, Caitlin, Logan, Liv, Trinity and Santasia



School and community news Interested in a career in the Defence Forces?

Come along to an information session for distance education students Monday 26 August 2019 10:30am

The Defence Force Recruiting Team will be visiting to speak to students, parents and carer who may be interested in the army, navy, air force or defence reserves.

All age groups are welcome to attend.

Location – Southern Cross School of Distance Education, Chickiba Drive East Ballina

STAR Early Offer Program Southern Cross University

Applications open on 1 May and close on 13 September.

STAR Early Offer program at Southern Cross University allows students to receive an offer into any undergraduate degree on the basis of current grades and principal’s recommendation.

Study at one of the three campuses or online.

Offers are released after HSC exams but prior to HSC results.

For more information visit:

https://www.scu.edu.au/star-early-offer/

or contact your Senior Year Adviser

student newsletter€¦ · danny henman . education.nsw.gov.au ... • write a letter to your...

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