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Hunter Sports High
Spectator
2015 TERM 1 – WEEK 2
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
A Message from the Principal
Welcome to 2015 at Hunter Sports High School! I hope you all
enjoyed the holidays and that the year ahead is a fantastic one
for you and your families.
A special welcome to all our new students and families who
have joined us this year. Our Year 7 students are off to a great
start and are settling well into the high school routine, making
new friends and learning a lot already.
We are in the midst of exciting times at Hunter Sports High
School and I am excited about the positive changes ahead with
the launch of the Positive Behaviour for Learning program next
week (see more information further in the newsletter) and
continued progress on the school’s redevelopment. I continue
to be involved in fortnightly redevelopment meetings and will
keep you informed via the newsletter and the school website as
news comes to hand.
There’s no missing the new signage for our Positive Behaviour for
Learning program which launches at our school next week.
Hunter Sports High’s Facebook page now has
close to 1500 followers. It’s a great way to
keep up to date with the latest news,
achievements and events from our school. If
you haven’t already liked our page, just search
for ‘Hunter Sports High School – NSW DEC’
and click like!
Hunter Sports High School
Pacific Highway
Gateshead NSW 2290
www.huntersports.com.au
T: 4943 5755
F: 4942 2565
E: hunterspt-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au
We have also launched a new sport, Girls Rugby, in the
Talented Sport Program, taking us up to 15 sports programs on
offer. We are working closely with the Australian Rugby Union
to develop the program and look forward to seeing some great
success and achievements from our girls.
For those who missed the last newsletter last year, I would like
to advise that our Principal, Mrs Louise Gallagher, will be
continuing in her role with ‘Local Schools Local Decisions’ for
another 12 months and that I will continue in the role of
Relieving Principal in 2015. Mr Trent Colley is the Deputy
Principal for Years 7 & 9, while Mrs Bronya Thomas (Years 8 &
10) and Mr Mark Curry (Years 11 & 12) have been reappointed
as Relieving Deputy Principals for this year.
Further in the newsletter you will find information regarding bell
times, our uniform shop, parking and canteen etc. We will
continue to provide regular communications with our school
community via this fortnightly newsletter, the school website
and our Facebook page. If your email address has changed or
hasn’t been provided previously, please contact the school
office on 4943 5755 to ensure we have the correct contact
details for you to receive all school communications.
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Our school Open Night is coming up on Tuesday 24 February
and I encourage all families and community members with
students currently in Years 5 and 6 to come along and learn all
about Hunter Sports High School and the great opportunities
available to students at our school.
We have a big year to look forward to at Hunter Sports High
School, full of exciting new projects and programs, academic
and cultural opportunities, engaging teaching and learning
experiences, sporting events and competitions. I look forward
to working with you this year to achieve our goal of providing a
challenging and broad learning environment that balances
academic excellence and sporting achievement through high
expectations and community collaboration.
Rachel Byrne - Relieving Principal
Hunter Sports High Spectator
2015 TERM 1 – WEEK 2
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
Upcoming Events
DATE
EVENT
Wed 11 February
PBL Launch (Periods 3 & 4), 12pm
Extension 2 English Clinic @ Newcastle
Grammar School
Apology Anniversary Assembly
School Photos
Friday 13 February
Tues 17 & Wed 18
February
Wed 18 February
Tues 24 February
Tues 27 - Fri 30 Jan
Girls KO Cricket Final v Wingham
Open Information Night
AECG Meeting 6pm @ HSHS
2015 Bell Times
Positive Behaviour for Learning
(PBL) to Launch at HSHS
The Positive Behaviour for Learning program will be officially
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launched at Hunter Sports High School on Wednesday 11
February. PBL is a school-wide behaviour initiative that
encourages positive behaviour from students and has been
shown to improve students’ self-concept and motivation to
learn, increase attendance and retention, and lead to higher
academic achievement. It employs a whole school approach
and we are confident it will impact positively on attitudes of
the school community towards behaviour and learning.
At Hunter Sports High School we will be reinforcing our core
values of respect, responsibility and success and will also
introduce a new student reward system to acknowledge
students who exemplify these values.
New signage has been placed throughout the school, from
the front gates and administration building, to playgrounds,
classrooms, the canteen and corridors, to reinforce the
school’s expected values. The signage explains what these
values mean in different school settings and how students
can put the values into practice.
RESPECT:
Think twice, say it nice
Consider others
Be proud
RESPONSIBILITY:
Make good choices
Listen and follow instructions
Right place, right time
SUCCESS:
Set goals
Aim high
Celebrate achievements
Parents, carers and community members are invited to
attend the launch, which will be held in the HSHS Bini
from 12pm. Light refreshments will be served. For further
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information or to RSVP (by Monday 9 February), please
contact the school office on 4943 5755.
We look forward to seeing the benefits of this new program
and sharing it’s successes with you as the year progresses.
This year we will again run on a two week timetable, with
Year 7-10 sport run on Tuesday mornings, and an early
finish on Wednesdays at 1.45pm. Please note that all
students who remain at school after lunch on Wednesdays
can access our Homework Centre from 2.10pm-3.10pm
when buses arrive.
Senior TSP football, cricket and rugby league squads will
train on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. All other TSP
squads, senior and junior, will run on Monday (Period 1) and
Wednesday (Periods 1 & 2), with training commencing at
8.30am on those days.
Hunter Sports High Spectator
2015 TERM 1 – WEEK 2
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
Around the Grounds: with Mr Colley
Welcome back to all students for what is anticipated to be
another fantastic year at Hunter Sports High School, in
particular to our Year 7 students, any new student attending
HSHS for the first time, and to the families of these
students.
During 2015, my role will be primarily overseeing the Year 7
and Year 9 cohorts of students. In supporting the learning of
every student, Kim Hulbert will be the Learning and Support
Teacher assisting with Year 7 and Margarite Lock will be the
Learning and Support Teacher assisting Year 9. Kim and
Margarite will devise learning support for students to
improve literacy and numeracy skills as well as extended
students who need to be challenged more academically.
Both ladies will work in consultation with the class teachers.
At the end of 2014, Head Teachers met to allocate students
into classes for this year. These classes were based on
academic performances throughout last year. In years 7-9,
the class structure will see one academic class in each year
with mixed ability classes for the remainder. With ongoing
professional learning in 2015 for staff in differentiating the
curriculum, our teachers are well equipped to meet the
learning needs of all our wonderful students.
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Attendance is another priority in 2015 that I will be
keeping close contact with parents about. In
consultation with Miss Kellie Rose (Attendance
Coordinator), I will be monitoring Year 7 and Year 9
students arriving late to school, truanting class and
students with full day absences. My focus is to have
students in the ‘Right Place at the Right Time’ at all
times. If your son/daughter is late to school or absent
for a whole day, it is expected a note will be handed into
Student services to explain this absence.
Looking forward to a great year of academic success,
cultural excellence and sporting achievement in 2015.
Mr Colley
Deputy Principal
Starting High School
in 2016 or 2017?
Some general reminders for 2015:
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Student uniform is a very important aspect of a school
culture and I will be monitoring the wearing of correct
school attire at all times. This includes when travelling
to and from school and when representing the school.
For work, health and safety reasons it is expected that
all students have a leather upper shoe for school as
there is a shift away from the black canvas-style shoe.
Parents and students are encouraged to contact the
school to make an appointment at the uniform shop to
purchase uniform or contact me if you require
assistance. If a student is out of uniform for any reason,
they need to see a Deputy Principal before school
begins and provide a note from home.
Students need to be ready to learn at all times. Early
in Term 1, I will be visiting classes to ensure students
are exhibiting the attitude of being ready to learn at all
times. This includes having appropriate equipment for
every lesson (pens, books, calculators, laptop etc.). I
cannot emphasise this enough within our school.
HUNTER SPORTS HIGH SCHOOL
OPEN NIGHT
For all prospective students
and their parents/carers
(students currently in Year 5 or 6, and those wishing
to enter other years at HSHS)
TUESDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 2015
6.30pm in the Binishell
• Faculty displays
• Big Picture Education
• Targeted Sports Programs
• Redevelopment Information
• Student & staff presentations
• Performances and more
Come along and see all that
Hunter Sports High School has to offer!
Hunter Sports High Spectator
2015 TERM 1 – WEEK 2
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
Office Hours
Parking
The school administration office is open from 8.30am 3.30pm Monday to Friday for enquiries and payments etc.
EFTPOS and credit card facilities are available. Sorry, no
cash withdrawals.
Due to safety and space considerations parking within the
school grounds during school hours is limited to staff only.
Delivery vehicles and visitors are able to enter the school for
the time of their business. Students are NOT to park their
vehicles within the school grounds at any time.
Uniform Shop
The Hunter Sports High School Uniform Shop is available
for sizing and purchasing on Mondays and Tuesdays
from 8.30am – 12.00pm. EFTPOS and credit card
payments are accepted however, payment by cheque is not
available for uniform purchases.
Clinic Procedures
If you receive a phone call from the clinic to pick up your
child, could you please go to the front office where your
child will be called to meet you. Please note that you will be
asked to show proof of identification when picking up the
student.
Canteen
The school canteen operates during lunch breaks from
Monday to Friday. Lunches should be ordered by 8.50am to
avoid queues. Please see the school’s website
www.huntersports.com.au for the canteen menu and price
list.
Parents and carers are also welcome to volunteer in the
canteen. If you have any time to spare and would like to
help, please contact Canteen Supervisor Margaret
Wiseman on 4942 3868.
Year Advisors
Year Advisors for 2015 are as follows:
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Year 11
Year 12
Ms Ashley Wilson
Mr S O’Neill
Ms Karen Jubb
Mr M Harrison
Mr Darren Fromson
Mrs Meryl Ward
These teachers supervise the welfare of students in their
allocated year and check on students’ progress, conduct
and attendance. They can also give assistance with
personal problems involving students in their year. Should
any issues arise with your child their relevant Year Advisor
can be contacted through the school office.
Due to Occupational Health and Safety concerns, parents
are not to enter the car park to drop students off at school or
to park within the school grounds at any time.
Please also be aware that Lake Macquarie City Council
Rangers have advised that they are again patrolling School
Zones as we commence the new school year.
Below is a list of school zone offences. Please be mindful of
these parking regulations and remember that the safety of
our students is our priority.
Hunter Sports High Spectator
2015 TERM 1 – WEEK 2
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
Around the Grounds: Mathematics
Around the Grounds: English
2015 sees the introduction of the new mathematics syllabus
for Years 8 and 10 to complement the Year 7 and 9
Greetings and welcome to 2015 – welcome to another year
of stories, poems, films, ideas, and learning and progression
and all that – welcome!
syllabus’ that were introduced in 2014. Students in Years 710 have been provided with course outlines that detail the
units of study for each course, the outcomes being
addressed and the timing and nature of assessment tasks.
To support learning in class, all students in Years 7-10 will
be given a personal access code for Mathletics which is an
interactive online mathematics program. Teachers will tailor
activities specifically for their class and students are
encouraged to use the program to supplement what is learnt
in class. Students in Years 11 and 12 will have access to
Maths Online which has been proven to be a valuable tool
for senior mathematics.
All students will be provided with homework at the beginning
of each topic and are encouraged to complete this work as
The English faculty is actively implementing the new
Australian Curriculum and the current HSC prescriptions.
There is, to be sure, a raft of splendid features within the
new curriculum and the existing courses. The staff is looking
forward to exploring them with students throughout the year.
Our Year 8 and 10 students are currently engaged in a
literature study. Novels across a range of genres are being
enjoyed and considered in a variety of ways. And while the
students analyse and respond, compare and think about the
characters and events of each book, at the heart of the work
is a love for stories and the possibilities for learning in a
variety of ways.
Meanwhile Years 7 and 9 are busily unlocking their creative
writing juices. Imaginative thinking and writing skills
converge in a perfect storm of story-telling and selfexpression. This is a fun unit of work which allows the
students to explore a range of possibilities within class.
instructed by their teachers.
A reminder, that each student is required to have a scientific
calculator for each mathematics lesson as well as a
designated mathematics work book and the appropriate
stationary.
Mrs Wendy Beckett
Head Teacher - Mathematics
Our returning senior students are again wrestling with the
rigours of the HSC and CEC courses and we wish them well
in their endeavours this year.
And the English faculty will once again provide our students
with opportunities for debating, drama, journalism and a
coterie of other creative activities. We're looking forward to a
terrific year of learning and growth for our students. Please
feel free to contact the faculty if there are any questions
about our programs.
Hunter Sports High Spectator
2015 TERM 1 – WEEK 2
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
HSHS P & C Association
Student Representative Council
The Hunter Sports High School P & C Association held its
first meeting for 2015 earlier this week and it was great to
see some new faces come along to support the school.
We are looking forward to forming a strong Student
P & C Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month
from 6pm in the school’s common room. Parents and carers
are encouraged to attend. This is a great way to meet other
parents and families from the Hunter Sports High School
community and to contribute to the success of the school.
achieved a great deal for the school last year and were
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year assemblies at the end of Week 2 and year 7 students
The next meeting, the AGM, will be held on Tuesday 3
March. In this meeting Executive Members will be voted in
for the next 12 months. These positions include: President,
Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
To vote in the meeting you must pay or renew your HSHS
P & C Association membership fee of $1.00.
Representative Council this year at Hunter Sports High
School to represents all students from Years 7-12. We
successful in supporting several charities, including the 40
Hour Famine and Bandana Day among others.
Students from Years 8-11 were selected by their peers in
will be selected in coming weeks. All successful students will
be presented with their badges at an assembly in Week 4.
The first SRC meeting will be held in Week 3 and will get us
on the right track for the year. This meeting will involve a
discussion on leadership skills and setting our goals for a
If you have any questions regarding the P & C Association,
please contact the school.
great 2015 at Hunter Sports High School.
Hunter Sports High Spectator
2015 TERM 1 – WEEK 2
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
In the Swim: 2015 Swimming Carnival
The Hunter Sports High School swimming carnival was held
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at Charlestown Pool on Tuesday 3 February and again on
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Wednesday 4 for our serious swimmers.
Personal bests and records were set while students cheered
each other on throughout the day and got into the carnival
spirit by supporting their house teams.
Congratulations to Webb House on taking out the title of
2015 Swimming Carnival Champions and to the following
students who were declared age champions following their
outstanding performances in the pool:
12 Years Girls:
12 Years Boys:
13 Years Girls:
13 Years Boys:
14 Years Girls:
14 Years Boys:
15 Years Girls:
15 Years Boys:
16 Years Girls:
16 Years Boys:
17+ Girls:
17+ Boys:
Nakita Leard
Jack Faber
Emily Winpenny
John Crameri
Maja Deans
Cohan Geelan
Ashley Robottom
Nick Pearce
Brittany Naylor
Alex Wheeler-Phillips
Erin Boon
Jayden Wright
The Zone Swimming Carnival will be held at Swansea Pool
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on Monday 16 February with many students qualifying to
represent Hunter Sports High School. Please contact Mr Tull
if you have any questions about the zone carnival. Good
luck to all our super swimmers and thanks to all HSHS
students for a fantastic day of fun and sportsmanship at our
carnival this week.
Hunter Sports High Spectator
2015 TERM 1 – WEEK 2
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
MEET THE PREFECTS:
Harry Morton
Did you do anything exciting during the school holidays?
I went to Perth for the National Championships in the 49er class
(sailing)
What do you love about HSHS?
The flexibility the teachers provide for us to succeed both
academically and in our chosen sport.
How did you feel when you were announced as a prefect?
Excited.
What subjects are you studying for your HSC?
Maths, English, Modern History, PDHPE, Engineering.
Engineering is my favourite as it has a lot of practical in it.
What are you planning to do when you finish school?
Hopefully join the Australian Sailing Team and do a personal
training course.
Your most memorable moment at HSHS (so far)?
Winning the Bing Lee Sportsperson of the Year award last year.
Best teacher you’ve ever had and why?
Mr Staley. He is a funny guy and makes learning easy and fun.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Don’t hesitate, just do.
Who has been the biggest role model in your life?
Chris Nicholson. He is a two time Olympian and always has
good advice.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Relaxing and spending time with friends.
How do you think your best friend would describe you?
A funny guy.
What is your favourite food?
Lasagne
What is your favourite holiday destination (or your dream
destination) and why?
Krabi in Thailand would be my favourite place as it is so
relaxing.
Hunter Sports High Spectator
2015 TERM 1 – WEEK 2
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
STAFF PROFILE:
Ms. Rachel Byrne
Principal (Relieving)
How long have you been teaching at Hunter
Sports High?
Two and a half years
What subjects do you teach?
PDHPE
What were your favourite subjects at school?
PDHPE
How was your time in high school?
I loved it – it was lots of fun!
What is the best thing about teaching at HSHS?
The great students and staff
Your most memorable moment at HSHS?
Seeing the drama production on stage last year – it was
the first one the school has done in over twenty years!
Do you play any sports?
Not at the moment but I have represented Australia in
Touch Football and NSW in rugby and cricket.
What else do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Technological & Applied Studies is a
major Key Learning Area for delivery of
education at our school
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These facilities will provide diverse learning
opportunities for students to engage in curriculum
pathways resulting in attainment of VET
qualifications whilst still at school
The TAS subjects provide effective learning
opportunities and a valued pathway to further
education and employment for students within our
community
These facilities will provide the opportunity for
successful workplace transition
Spending time with my family, camping and boating.
Who was your childhood hero?
Mark Waugh
What is something you can’t live without?
My family
Three people you’d like to have dinner with?
Barrack Obama, Don Bradman and Ellen
Did you do anything exciting during the holidays?
I spent lots of time with my two beautiful kids.
A pearl of wisdom to share with HSHS students?
“Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use
to change the world” – a quote from Nelson Mandela.
Hunter Sports High Spectator
2015 TERM 1 – WEEK 2
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
Hunter Sports High Spectator
2015 TERM 1 – WEEK 2
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
Hunter Sports High Spectator
2015 TERM 1 – WEEK 2
BALANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
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