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WILLOUGHBY GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL
A Leader in Girls Education
NEWSLETTER
2 April 2015
Open Night Science
Our ANZAC Assembly, marking
the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli,
will be held on Friday 24 April
April/May Calendar
April
Week 1A 20 – 24 April
Monday 20
Students return to school
Tuesday 21
Year 11 Duke of Edinburgh
pre meeting
P&C Meeting 7.30pm in the Staff Common Room
Tuesday 21
Year 9 Geography Excursion
Friday 24
ANZAC Assembly
Year 7 Reptile Incursion
Week 2B 27 April – 1 May
Tuesday 28
Years 7 and 12
Parent/Teacher Night
Wednesday 29
Year 9 and 10 Religious
Seminars
Friday 1 May
Year 10 Commerce Incursion
Saturday 2 – Monday 4
Duke of Edinburgh
May
Week 3A 4 May -8 May
Monday 4
Year 8 Music Incursion
Tuesday 5
In Concert rehearsal
Friday 8
School Development Day –
no students at school
Friday 3 – 19 April Autumn School
Holidays
Students return Monday 20 April
By Aela Morrison, Anika Chan and Areebah Khan
On the evening of Open Night, 6 people in our class, 7E, (including
us), volunteered to help run science experiments. We ran four
different amazing experiments. We felt ecstatic about the fact that
we were encouraging primary school students to attend WGHS. We
had a great opportunity to learn things about science that we
wouldn’t have learnt this year. The experiments were a big step up
from the things we did in primary school and we really enjoyed the
experience. When we were in Year 6, we walked into the same lab
and were amazed.
The most fascinating experiment was probably the rainbow flame
test. In this experiment we tested different chemicals by waving
them through the Bunsen Burner flame. Each chemical changed the
flame’s colour. There was also the tea bag rocket experiment, which
was incredible. Everybody was stunned.
Overall, we had an amazing night and wish we could do it all again.
SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OF COURSES
The NSW Board of Studies Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES) determines the eligibility
and pattern of study requirements for the award of the Record of School Achievement and Higher
School Certificate. To receive a result in any course, students must satisfactorily complete that course.
Satisfactory completion of a course involves following the course developed or endorsed by the
BOSTES. Students must apply themselves with diligence and sustained effort to the set tasks provided
by their teachers and must demonstrate achievement of course outcomes.
Students who are late or absent and do not attend lessons regularly are unlikely to be able to
demonstrate achievement of course outcomes, and that they have applied themselves with diligence
and sustained effort. Department of Education guidelines require that students must attend 85% of the
time unless exempted by the Principal.
The BOSTES requires schools to issue students with official warning letters in order to give them the
opportunity to redeem themselves. Should such a letter be received, students are strongly advised to
respond immediately and address the action required as detailed in the letter.
Teachers will be reviewing the progress of all students who have received warning letters throughout
the year. Final determinations will be made by the Principal towards the end of Term 3 and in Term 4.
If a student fails to comply with the requirements they will be given an “N” (Non Completion)
determination for that course. The student will be ineligible to have that course recorded on their
BOSTES Record of Achievement. This may result in the student being ineligible to receive the award
of the Record of School Achievement or Higher School Certificate.
Mr S. Leavers
Deputy Principal
IMPORTANT DATES FOR TERM 2
Students return to school on 20 April 2015.
Students come to school on Monday 27 April 2015 (Saturday 25 April Anzac Day).
School Development Day is on 8 May 2015, students do not attend school on this day.
Year 10 Geography Camp Report
White sand, clear waters and… geography skills? Year 10 camp was a little different this time.
Not only did we get to do the usual camp activities like rock climbing, high ropes, orienteering and
initiative games, but we also got the opportunity to conduct primary research on Palm Beach and
Barrenjoey Headland to aid us in our upcoming geography assignment (and it was a lot more fun
than it sounds).
To start the three days my group collected data on the Palm Beach area. Although it took us a
while to drag ourselves to the top of Barrenjoey Headland (it’s steep, okay?) the view definitely
made the climb worthwhile. After a speech about the area, along with frantic note taking and a lot
of photos, we headed back down to Palm Beach to talk dune stabilisation, longshore drift and
pollution. We did an in-depth study on the dunes of Palm Beach (which are, in fact, very important)
using some impressive geographical instruments, and a beach audit of the pollution at Palm
Beach. We barely had time to admire each other’s sunburns before it was back to the bus, and
onto a boat to the NSW Sport and Recreation Centre in Broken Bay, where we would be spending
the remaining time of the camp.
The other highlight of the three days was the optional camp out activity, where we left our
comfortable cabins for tents in the wilderness. We had to choose what food we would carry and
cook, pack our own hiking packs, and carry and set up our own tents. My cooking group managed
to whip up a four course meal of garlic bread, tomato pasta, sausages and damper, all cooked on a
fire we made and tended ourselves. It was a great learning experience and a lot of fun — a
sentence that sums up the entire Year 10 camp.
Ruby Hamersley
Year 10
Parent - Teacher Interviews on April 28, 2015
4.00pm to 8.00pm
ONLY for parents of students in Years 7 and 12
New Online booking system
Access is through the Parent Portal
http://web1.willoughbg-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/portal/login
Opens for Bookings April 13, approx. 9.00 am (second week of the term break)
Closes for Bookings April 26, approx. 3.00 pm
The previous booking site was a test site to allow parents and teachers to become
accustomed to the process. This site is now closed. Any bookings made on this site
were for testing only and, therefore, are not valid.
Parents, of students in Year 7 and 12, who wish student progress interviews with
teachers will need to ensure they book new times in the booking site which becomes
active on April 13 (second week of the term break).
I refer you to the article I placed in the school newsletter of March 23 which further
explains the new system.
Early feedback from parents has indicated the new system is much easier and more
convenient for all involved.
(see above for actual times)
Please don’t leave it to the last minute to book as the system automatically closes
according to its internal clock.
Mr P. Devitt
Head Teacher Computing Studies