Menai High School
Principal
2019 HSC Results
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all our Year 12 students and their amazing teachers on Menai High School’s excellent HSC results in 2019. Our school achieved 53 band 6 results across 22 subjects and 291 Band 5 results. Congratulations to Eva Dean who achieved our top ATAR of 97.8. Congratulations Class of 2019, you have done yourselves and your school proud!
Art Express Success
Congratulations also to Lauren Lamotta whose HSC visual arts major work was selected to be displayed as part of the Art Express exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW. Over 8,000 works were nominated from across the state and only 48 were chosen to be exhibited at the NSW Art Gallery. This is a huge achievement for Lauren and well deserved recognition for her outstanding body of work. Congratulations also to Laurens’ teacher Ms Almond.
Extension Science Project Makes International Competition
We extend a huge congratulations to Phoebe Pang on the success of her HSC extension science project. Phoebe was selected as a finalist in the BHP foundation Science and Engineering Awards held in Melbourne on February 4th in recognition of her HSC extension science project. Phoebe was selected as one of 26 finalists from around Australia to compete in the prestigious science and engineering awards.
From the 26 finalists, Phoebe has been chosen as one of a team of six people to represent Australia at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Anaheim California in the United States in May of this year. The International Science and Engineering Fair is like the Olympics of science for high school students.
We wish Phoebe lots of luck in the competition and congratulate her and her teacher Ms Hanna on such a wonderful achievement.
See Ms Hanna’s report later in this newsletter for more detail on this wonderful achievement.
Parents and Citizens Association and School Council
Last Monday we had the first meetings of our School Council and the Parents and Citizens Association for the New Year. At these meetings all positions were declared vacant, annual general meetings were held and new members were elected as executive members. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our 2019 office bearers for their service and welcome our 2020 office bearers to their roles.
With reference to the Parents and Citizens Association for 2020, Lyn Allsop-Guest continues as President, Lisa Chapman and David Linquist as Vice- Presidents, Con Dasaklis as Treasurer, Helena van der Merwe as Secretary Marika Momircevski as Assistant Secretary. On behalf of our community, I would like to thank all P and C office bearers for their service to our school. I look forward to working with you over the course of the year. I welcome your involvement with the school and value the role the Parents and Citizens Association plays in supporting the leadership and development of the school. It is through productive partnerships such as these that we are able to achieve the best learning outcomes for our students and children.
With regards to our School Council, Barney Ellevsen (Principal), Lyn Allsop-Guest (P&C President), Raelene Allen, Paul Constance, Ekbal Sayed-Rich, Luke Meagher (Staff), Sarah Wotherspoon, Helena van der Merwe, David Linquist (Parents), Janan Codmani, and Will Straker (School Captains). The School Council will also invite two community representatives.
I thank you all for your service to our school and look forward to working with you this year.
Year 7 Orientation Dinner
Quality relationships with our students, parents and community are extremely important to everyone at Menai High School. That is one of the reasons why the Year 7 Orientation Dinner is such an important event on our calendar. Sharing a meal with our new Year 7 students and their families is a wonderful way to deepen the relationship that we have started between school and home. That relationship is centred on providing the best possible educational experiences for our young people and we know that is most effective when school and home are able to work closely together to support our students through whatever challenges may present throughout their schooling.
I look forward to meeting and getting to know our year 7 families better on the evening of Friday 28th February for our Orientation Dinner in the school hall.
Safe School Travel
Welcome back to a new school year! Sutherland Shire Council Parking Officers will be out at all schools again this year helping you to ensure that all children get to and from school safely. Please click here to find out more information regarding this.
Principal’s Recognition
Christopher Oberg – selected to represent Sydney East in the Boys’ Softball team and competed at the NSWCHSSA Carnival at Lismore on 11/12 February, 2020.
Ryan Klem - selected to represent Sydney East in the Boys’ Softball team and competed at the NSWCHSSA Carnival at Lismore on 11/12 February, 2020.
Koby Roberts - selected to represent Sydney East in the Boys’ Softball team and competed at the NSWCHSSA Carnival at Lismore on 11/12 February, 2020.
Heather Oberg – selected to represent Sydney East in the Girls’ Softball team and will compete at the NSWCHSSA Carnival at Curl Curl from 25-27 February, 2020.
Brinly Peters – selected to represent Sydney East in the Girls’ Cricket team and will compete at the NSWCHSSA Carnival at Bathurst on 17-20 February, 2020.
Deputy Principal
Deputy Principal's Message
Mrs R Allen – Years 7 and 9
The Menai High School Junior Assessment Policy Booklet was handed out to all students in Years 7, 8 and 9 at their recent year meetings. The students completed a quiz on the policy to check their understanding of the rules and guidelines. Please ask you child to show you the booklet. It also contains the timeline for assessments. A copy of this policy will be placed up on the school website in the near future.
One aspect of the policy I wish to highlight is the support program that the school will provide students who have not completed course work which contributes to the completion of the assessment work. This is called the Junior Review Panel. Teachers and Head Teachers will be asked to refer students to the Deputy monitoring the review and parents will be invited to attend meetings with the panel to discuss support the school can provide. The aim is to help all students show what they have learnt and demonstrate the skills that they are developing in the courses they are studying.
Thank you to the many families who have returned the Welfare and Discipline sign off forms for 2020. A few still need to be returned. The sign off is a recognition that both students and parents/caregivers have read and acknowledge the discipline processes and rules of Menai High School. Also parents and students need to return the school’s personal technology device charter.
Term 2, 2020
Thursday, 30 April 2020 –
- a.m. – Personalized 2020 HSC written examination timetable released (via Students Online and Schools Online).
- p.m. – 2020 HSC written examination timetable released.
Term 3, 2020
Friday, 18 September 2020 - Submissions due (via Schools Online) for:
- HSC school assessment marks
- HSC Life Skills outcomes
- Assessment grades for English Studies and Mathematics Standard 1
- Estimated examination marks for students doing optional exams
See 2020 School terms and public holidays for NSW Government schools.
Term 4, 2020
Thursday, 15 October 2020 - HSC written examinations commence.
Friday 23 October 2020 - Year 11 grades and Life Skills outcomes to be submitted (via Schools Online).
Monday 02 November 2020 - 2021 HSC student entries open.
Friday 6 November 2020 –
- HSC written examinations conclude no later than this date.
- After last HSC written examination
- HSC Assessment Ranks released to students via Students Online for 4 weeks
Friday 20 November 2020 - Year 10 grades and Life Skills outcomes to be submitted (via Schools Online).
Tuesday 15 December 2020 - HSC results released and HSC Results Inquiry Centre opens.
January 2021 - HSC testamurs mailed.
Year 8
Reading for enjoyment and literacy skills
There are some great resources on the Department website for parents to support their child’s reading. At Menai High School, we encourage all students to read regularly at roll call and each day at home. I have shared some recommendations from the Department here.
Ten great reads for your high school child
Reading is a fun and rewarding activity for children beginning high school and builds core literacy skills. Here are some favourite titles.
1. Vincent and the Grandest Hotel on Earth (Lisa Nicol)
The Grandest Hotel on Earth is a magical place that sits on the highs of the Mabombo Ranges When 11-year old Vincent meets Florence he begins a journey into a world of fantasy and adventure that will lead him into facing new hitherto unknown personal challenges. This enchanting tale attracts a wide range of readers.
2. Eddie Woo’s Magical Maths (Eddie Woo)
Imagine a maths book that tests your mind with fascinating problems in a really enjoyable way: you have this book from Eddie Woo, Australia's best-known maths teacher. Eddie is the head mathematics teacher at Cherrybrook Technology High School, Sydney. His book is a fun but informative album of puzzles and codes that need to be broken.
3. What I like about Me (Jenna Guillaume)
At 16 Maisie Martin is a deeply sensitive girl desperate to avoid embarrassment, especially about her body. Who would ever believe she’s now part of a beauty pageant? What’s more, she’s facing the challenge at a time when she needs her dad and someone else has snagged the boy she likes. Maisie is determined to succeed and she’s not going to give up.
4. How it Feels to Float (Helena Fox)
This is a story about love and grief. Biz, a girl who lost her dad when she was seven is quiet about her life and thoughts. And she has a lot of the latter. Deep, dark thoughts. Biz has a life – her friends, her mum and the twins – but she also has a strange connection to her dad, who reminds her about her past and who really shouldn’t be around yet still is.
5. Adam Spencer’s Numberland (Adam Spencer)
Adam Spencer is one of Australia’s favourite mathematicians. He brings the subject to life by making it real. Have you heard of a yottabyte or the 1800s version of Fortnight? This book is full of amazing facts like how a GPS works. And it asks some pretty interesting questions, like could you solve a $1,000,000 maths question? The real deal for maths lovers.
6. As Happy as Here (Jane Godwin)
Three teenage girls from very different backgrounds find themselves sharing a hospital ward. When they witness a crime in the park below their window, they bond over trying to solve it and each undergoes a profound change. A coming-of-age story.
7. Guts (Raina Telgemeier)
Raina wakes up one night with an upset stomach but her problems aren’t really due to a tummy bug. She eventually works out she’s worried about a whole lot of things at school including her friends, her looks and food. From the renowned graphic novelist, Raina Telgemeier, this book is about growing up and facing challenges many of us have to deal with.
8. Catch a Falling Star (Meg McKinlay)
Up in the sky above Frankie Avery’s head, a space station is about to crash to earth and with it will come memories of a past she’d prefer to forget. Thoughts of grief and challenges about life that are not easily fixed. It’s 1979 and Skylab is hurtling back into the atmosphere, along with something that a 12-year old girl never really talks about with anyone.
9. Explore Your World: Weird, Wild, Amazing! (Tim Flannery and Sam Caldwell)
Do you love animals and exotic creatures? If so, this marvellous zoological compendium is for you. Are zombie jellyfish real? Do frogs like opera? What’s it like to wrestle a python? Explore the wonderful world of nature with a book to expand your horizons.
(And one for you)
10. BEING 14: Helping fierce teenage girls become awesome women (Madonna King)
Your daughter’s teenage years are going to be challenging but you know that already. This book is a practical but imaginative guide to how 14-year-olds think and act in the years before adulthood. Based on interviews with about 200 14-year olds, Madonna King unlocks strategies to help your fierce daughter in the challenging years ahead.
Uniform donations
If you have any uniform items in good condition which your child may have outgrown please consider donating these items to the second hand uniform shop.
Have a great week .
Mr L Meagher - Years 10 and 11
Welcome back to all students and parents of Year 10 and 11. This year I will be using this space to include advice and practical tips regarding study and revision, but for today I just want to remind everyone of the Year 10/11 Assessment Information Evening which is at 6pm in the school Hall on February 19th. All Year 10 and 11 students are expected to attend along with at least one parent.
Share the Care with Your School
Changes in a child or young person’s physical or mental health can affect their schooling and relationships. Support is available for Menai High School students experiencing either mental health or physical health concerns.
Please let us know here at Menai High School if your child has presented at or been admitted to hospital or an emergency service for any physical or mental health concern so that we can discuss further support with you.
Ask us for help with:
- Keeping your child safe
- Returning to school following a physical or mental health incident
- Identifying school staff your child can talk to
- Developing an individual support plan to help stay connected with school during tough times. This might include flexibility around school hours, homework or catching up with school work
- Accessing support from the school and outside agencies
We know that looking after your kids is your number one priority – and it’s ours, too. Let’s work on it together.
Good News
Term 1 has started off on a positive note and I would like to thank our fantastic team of Year Advisers for assisting their year groups with a smooth transition. In particular I would like to acknowledge the hard work of our Year 7 Year Advisers, Mrs Barry and Mr Ensor for assisting Year 7 in finding their feet so quickly here at Menai High School.
Vaccinations
Year 7
The first round of Year 7 Vaccinations are on Wednesday 4th March, 2020. If you would like your child to be vaccinated at school, please ensure the consent form is returned to roll call teachers by Friday 21st February, 2020. Spare consent forms can be collected from the front office or from Miss O’Donnell in the Maths Staffroom.
Year 8 catch up vaccinations will also take place on 4th March (for those who were absent and have already filled in forms in 2019).
Keep Your Details Up to Date
Just a reminder that if you have changed living circumstances, new phone numbers, change in family circumstances or even new health issues that have arisen, please let the school know either through contacting the front office, Year Advisers, Head Teacher Welfare or Deputy Principals of the year group your child/ren are in. The more we are informed then the better we can support your children at school.
Miss B Stone
Head Teacher, Welfare
Wellbeing Wisdom
Sentral Parent Portal
As you are probably already aware, Menai High School is using a more streamlined online daily administrative system which integrates our student timetables, student wellbeing, attendance, reports and homework functions. It is called Sentral and is easily accessible by all Menai High School families.
The Sentral Parent portal allows parents access to all the same features as the student portal plus a private messaging function with your child’s teachers.
We encourage parents to activate their Parent Portal by using their unique access key. Parents of students in Years 8-12 should have their access keys already from roll outs in previous years. Year 7 students received these access letters to take home to parents via their Student Learning classes in week 2 this term.
If the letter with your access key and portal set up instructions has been misplaced or you are new to the school, please email me at leonie.ferraro@det.nsw.edu.au and I will email you a copy of your individual access letter.
For any other queries relating to the parent portal, please contact the IT support staff, Mrs Ferraro or Mrs Cooper on 9543 7000.
For more information about the features of the Sentral Parent Portal, visit https://www.sentral.com.au/our-products/parents/
Mrs L Ferraro
Head Teacher, Administration
G & T Corner
Exciting Science Extension News
Our first cohort of Science Extension students excelled in their research projects and HSC examination in 2019, with all students scoring in the highest two bands in the state and one student Tsz Yee (Phoebe) Pang, placing equal eighth in the State in her HSC exam. This is an outstanding achieving for these pioneering students in a new subject.
Last year we also announced that Tsz Yee (Phoebe) Pang, whose project concentrated on the effects of microplastics on an oyster’s niche role in an ecosystem, placed third in the Earth and Environmental Category at the State Young Scientist Awards and was selected as one of the top 90 projects from NSW to progress to the National level of the Awards, the BHP Foundation Science and Engineering Awards. (Hear Phoebe speak about her own project at https://vimeo.com/386863273).
Phoebe was then as one of twenty-six finalists from thousands of entries received from all around Australia, a major achievement in the country’s most prestigious Science and Engineering awards for students, and was invited to attend a four-day Science camp followed by further judging and an awards ceremony in Melbourne held on Tuesday, 4 February 2020.
At these awards, Phoebe was announced as one of six students to represent Australia at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Anaheim, California in May this year. This is such a brilliant and well-deserved achievement. Congratulations Phoebe!
Our new Science Extension students for 2020 have brilliant examples to follow in the 2019 cohort and are already well on their way with impressive research proposals submitted last week. Stay tuned for more on our young researchers’ work.
Ms A Hanna
Head Teacher, Science
Extra Curricular
CAPA – Ms J Almond, Relieving Head Teacher CAPA
The CAPA Department at Menai High School has had a successful start to 2020. We celebrated 2019 HSC student, Lauren Lamotta at the ArtExpress opening located in the Art Gallery of NSW. The printmaking series titled, Reminiscing, is a beautiful collection of lino prints that intricately documents the Queen Victoria Building.
The Dance department had a record breaking number of auditions trying out for sport dance and ensemble. Year 7 Dance students were provided the opportunity to audition for a Dance scholarship valued at $250. The presentation of the two Dance scholarships will be given at the Year 7 Orientation Dinner.
Drama students were given the opportunity to attend Onstage, a showcase of exemplary individual projects by HSC Drama students.
The Music department also started their morning rehearsals and again a large number of Year 7 students participated in this. The musical production of High School Musical has been busily rehearsing during sport and weekly afternoon sessions. Performances of High School Musical will occur Week 9 Term 2.
Ms J Almond
Relieving Head Teacher
Creative & Performing Arts
Years 7-10 PDHPE at Menai High School
Personal Development, Health and Physical education (PDHPE) is one of the key learning areas for students in Year 7 to 10. Our school’s PDHPE program aims to provide opportunities for students to learn about, and practise ways of, adopting and maintaining a healthy, productive and active life. It also involves students learning through movement experiences that are both challenging and enjoyable, and improving their capacity to move with skill and confidence in a variety of contexts. It promotes the value of physical activity in their lives.
Menai High School’s PDHPE program provides the opportunity for students to explore issues that are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of themselves and others, now and in the future. These issues include physical activity, mental health, drug use, road safety, sexuality and sexual health, nutrition, respectful relationships, personal safety, diversity, gender roles and discrimination.
The PDHPE program aims to encourage students to make informed decisions about their lifestyle taking into account the values of the family, culture and religion to which they belong. The school program will be implemented in a manner that supports the role of parents and caregivers, and reflects the ethos of the school community.
An overview of some of the content of the PDHPE program that may be considered sensitive is provided below.
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Stage 4 (Year 7 and 8) |
Stage 5 ( Year 9 and 10) |
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Relationships
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Relationships
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Drug Use
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Drug Use
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Sexual Health
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Sexual Health
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Should you wish to discuss any aspect of the course or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or Mr Robinson on 9543 7000 at the school.
Mr M Robinson
Head Teacher PDHPE
Careers News
Next Occupational Health & Safety White Card course will be held on Monday 9th March. Permission notes are available from outside the Careers Office in the Library. Cost approximately $110 and minimum age is 14 at the time of the course. Any family with financial difficulties can discuss the situation with Mr Gregory.
Mr G Gregory
Relieving Careers Adviser
VET News
It has been a busy start of the year for the teachers of Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses at Menai High School. With students studying in six industry curriculum frameworks in this year’s Year 12 cohort, we have over 20 students set to go out on work placement in the first few weeks of Term 1.
Work placement is a mandatory component of VET courses. It offers students the ability to gain first-hand experience of the world at work, gain job ready skills and practice those skills learnt in class. Many of our students have been offered part-time work or post-school employment as a direct result of their successful work placement. One of our Year 12 students has recently gained part-time employment in the Hospitality Industry as a direct result of her Year 11 work placement.
We have a dedicated and hardworking team of qualified VET teachers at Menai High School and have achieved outstanding results in the HSC exam over the past few years. Last year Isabella Wells achieved equal fifth place in the State in the Primary Industries HSC Exam. That is an outstanding effort. Congratulations go to Isabella and her teacher Ms Ready on this wonderful achievement.
Ms L Blanche
Relieving Head Teacher VET
Menai High School Reading Program
Dear Parents of Year 7,
An important component of your child’s homework is our Sustained Reading Program. Your child is required to read for 20 minutes each evening, Monday to Thursday. They record what they read in their diary and have a responsible adult sign it as verification that the reading has been done. On Fridays the Year 7 Roll Call teachers monitor the diaries and record the number of signed entries.
Students can choose what they read; it can be a novel, graphic novel, magazine or even a newspaper. Sustained Silent Reading is an important part of developing overall literacy skills and the more that young people engage with text the more capable and confident students they will become.
“Sustained Silent Reading is not only intuitively appealing but also is supported by research.” Elaine M. Garan, Glenn DeVoogd
Reading underpins all academic endeavour including Maths. It is also a fundamental skill for life. In Primary school, students are given the skills, knowledge and understanding required to read. In High School, students must build on the foundations that have been laid down so that they can fully access the curriculum and respond to written texts in ever increasingly sophisticated ways. The importance of reading cannot be over emphasised. For this reason we ask for your support of this program.
Here is a link you may find interesting.
https://education.seattlepi.com/advantages-sustained-silent-reading-1638.html
Sharron-Del Wakely
Literacy Support Teacher
Winter Sports Offered for 2020
All students will select a winter sport online in Weeks 5/6 – click here to access a list of the sports offered.
Other
P&C News
A warm welcome to all new and returning families and friends in our Menai High School community. This year promises to be another strong year for the P&C at Menai High School, and it was fabulous to see more new members joining us at our first meeting for the year on Monday evening and contributing to the discussions with the school Executive. The P&C relies on the goodwill and support of families and community members, and we are keen to welcome more members to join us, particularly as Year 12 families move on to life after high school.
We also held our AGM on Monday and I am honoured to have been re-elected for another year as P&C President. I am also grateful to everyone who took a position on the P&C executive committee, Vice Presidents: Lisa Chapman and David Linquist, Treasurer: Con Dasaklis, Secretary: Helena van der Merwe and Assistant Secretary: Marika Momircevski. I look forward to working with the executive team and the P&C members over the coming year in support of our school community. Our first event is the Year 7 dinner on Friday 28th February and we are looking forward to welcoming our Year 7 students, families and friends to what is a wonderful night.
P&C members and parents are often asked to be panel members to assist the school Executive with teacher recruitment. If you are panel trained and would like to add your name to our pool of P&C/parent panel members, please let me know. Anyone interested in becoming panel trained can complete an online course at the link below. The course is short and very straightforward, and your valuable contribution to the panel process would be greatly appreciated.
https://www.teach.nsw.edu.au/jobsnsw/selectionpaneltraining/
The safety and wellbeing of our students is paramount, and I am delighted (and relieved) to be able to confirm that the M92 bus safety issue has finally been addressed. Reports from the school Executive confirm that students are now safely boarding the diverted M92 in the dedicated school bus bay at the front of the school. Thanks to all involved along the way. This end result shows that persistence and determination definitely does pay off.
Finally, I am very happy to confirm that we have been successful with our grant application from the Federal Member for Hughes, Mr Craig Kelly. The grant of $20,000, which is part of the Federal Stronger Communities Programme (round 5), will be used to upgrade the Menai Community Farm. This project includes installing a shade sail, a sheep shelter, egg nest boxes and replacing ageing tools and equipment. P&C are co-funding this project and we are looking forward to a massive shopping spree over the coming weeks. Thank you to Mr Frank Zumbo, Mr Kelly’s Chief of Staff, for making us aware of this grant.
P&C meetings take place on the second Monday of each month during school term. The meetings are held in the school library and commence at 6.30pm with the Principal’s report. All members of the school community are welcome, so please consider coming along this year to support your P&C and be involved in supporting our school community.
Our next meeting will be on Monday 9th March, we look forward to welcoming you.
Lyn Allsop-Guest
MHS P&C President
Email: mhs.pandc.president@gmail.com
Menai High School 2020 Canteen Menu – click here
Menai High School Uniform List – click here
Family Planning – NSW –
Puberty, Sexuality and Relationships: A workshop for parents and carers of people with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders – click here for more information.
Carer Support Service – Sharing the carer journey –
National Insurance Disability Scheme (NDIS) can be a difficult process to manage, in particular for first time users. Click here to access more information regarding two upcoming forums.
WEP – World Exchange Program –
Scholarships now available – click here to find out more.