Kariong Mountains High School

NEWSLETTER5th of May 2011TERM 2 Week 2KARIONG MOUNTAINSHIGH SCHOOLTelephone0243 400246Facsimile0243 400259Festival Drive, Mount Penang ParklandsKARIONG NSW 2250Emailkariongmtn-h.school@det.nsw.edu.auWebsitewww.kariongmountainshigh.com.auin the diaryWeek CommencingMonday May 9WEEK ATuesday May 10STARS AssemblyYear 8 RecipientsNaplan Years 7 and 9Wednesday May 11Naplan Years 7 and 9Thursday May 12Naplan Years 7 and 9Friday May 13AFL U15’s Swan Shielda word from our principal anne vineWelcome back to Term II – which is already shaping up to be full of excitinglearning adventures for students at Kariong Mountains High School.I look forward to discussions with parents about planning beyond 2011, as inkeeping with our commitment to community participation in the school, sostart thinking and discussing with friends and community members what yourideas are for senior schooling at Kariong Mountains High School.REMINDERNAPLAN testing for Years 7 & 9 students takes place next week. Students willneed their calculators for the numeracy paper. Students have undertaken somepreparatory work to assist them in being ready for NAPLAN. Parents are asked toremind their children that ‘doing one’s best’ is the most important aspect of thetesting period. The results are used to better support them in learning and arenot about ranking.Tuesday May 17Sydney League TrialsWednesday May 18Buckley Shield Gala Daynewsletter submissionsFriday May 20Athletics CarnivalMingaraRecreation CentreArticles for submission inour weekly newsletter arewelcome. Items includingwritten or creative work canbe left at our front office orsent by email tojulie.kellner@det.nsw.edu.auby Tuesday 4pmKMHS athletics carnivalFRIDAY MAY 20MINGARARECREATION CENTREFurther details will besent home with studentsnext week .free coaching toall KMHS athletesCoaching in speed and powerfor all team sports as well asspecific technique training forathletic events across alldisciplines is being provided forour students on a weekly basisafter school on Mondays andWednesdays3.45 – 5.00pm.All welcome.Ms Kerry SmithATFCA / AA Level 4 Coach:Throws; Sprints, Hurdles,Relays; JumpsBHMSc – majoring in ExercisePhysiology / BiomechanicsstarsCongratulations to our First Term Recipents - details inside

NEWSLETTER5th of May 2011TERM 2 Week 2KARIONG MOUNTAINSHIGH SCHOOLTelephone0243 400246Facsimile0243 400259Festival Drive, Mount Penang ParklandsKARIONG NSW 2250Emailkariongmtn-h.school@det.nsw.edu.auWebsitewww.kariongmountainshigh.com.auhow to improve communication with your teenagerComing to high school marks a significant shift in the way thatyoung people see themselves and relate to others, includingtheir peers, parents and teachers. Adolescence is marked by theonset of puberty and with it the attendant rush of hormones,the testing of boundaries and the changing importance ofrelationships with peers. The family is no longer the focal point.Peer groups assume much greater importance with therecognition and valuing of friends and social groups veryimportant. Group dynamics affect behaviour and fundamentalquestions such as ‘Who am I’ and ‘Why’ become preoccupations.All this results in behaviours which are sometimes challengingand difficult to understand.What can you do as parents to maintain open lines ofcommunication with your adolescent child?Be constructive and communicate what you expectFocus on the behaviour rather than the child .This isn't easy todo when you're angry, but you do not need to stifle youremotions. Tell the child how you feel, but talk about the child'sbehaviour, not the child. When your anger has cooled,communicate how behaviour can change in a positive way.Using praise effectivelyCatch them being good. Reinforce good behaviour with positivewords. Praise the process- don't reserve praise for somethingthat has been accomplished, rather encourage the child's workand effort, whatever the result. Be sincere- it's best to avoidpraising everything the child does. Instead, single out thosethings into which they’ve put a great deal of effort or behaviourthat has definitely improved.Using Good Listening SkillsBe Interested and Attentive. Don't be distracted, maintain eyecontact to show the child that you're really concentratingon them.Encourage TalkingYou might begin with "Tell me about your day at school."Children are more likely to share their ideas and feelings whenothers think them important.Avoid Dead-End QuestionsQuestions that require a yes or no answer lead a conversation toa dead end. Ask them questions that require description,explanation or sharing of ideas.Listen PatientlyAdolescents especially may seem uncommunicative or havedifficulty explaining or finding the right words. Patience is a key.A parent can "extend" the conversation by responding to his orher statements by asking a question that restates or uses someof the same words your child used. "You said Mr. Smith was a'mean man'. How was he mean to you?"Hear Children OutAvoid cutting children off before they have finished speaking. Itmay be difficult to listen respectfully and not correct them, butrespect your children's rights to have and express opinions.Listen to Nonverbal MessagesChildren may communicate nonverbally by the tone of theirvoice, their facial expressions, their energy level, their posture,or changes in their behaviour patterns. When a child is upset, itmight be best to wait until a later time when he is calm.Reflect FeelingsTry to mirror your child's feelings by repeating them. "It soundsas if you're angry at your teacher." Restating or rephrasing whatchildren have said is useful when they are experiencingpowerful emotions; however, understanding their emotionsdoes not mean that you automatically agree with them.Clarify and RelateHelp clarify when you can and relate experiences whenappropriate. By doing this, you can help your child obtain adeeper understanding of the problem which may help them tosolve the problem on their own.Remember, you are the best audience for your child and themost important adult who may help them to approach andsolve any problems they may encounter! Effectivecommunication is the key!Ideally, criticism points out a child's misbehaviour, affirms theirability to do better, and teaches them new ways to behave.However, criticism often springs from anger, stress,and impatience.Hear the Words with Your Child's EarsIf you hear yourself making negative comments, try to replacethem with positive ones.Gus VrolykDeputy Principal(Material for this piece was adapted from a web page constructed by Shari Cockerhamhttp://pages.cms.k12.nc.us/scockerham/communicationskills.html)

NEWSLETTER5th of May 2011TERM 2 Week 2KARIONG MOUNTAINSHIGH SCHOOLTelephone0243 400246Facsimile0243 400259Festival Drive, Mount Penang ParklandsKARIONG NSW 2250Emailkariongmtn-h.school@det.nsw.edu.auWebsitewww.kariongmountainshigh.com.aulaurine croasdale visits our schoolOn Tuesday 5th April, our school’s talented creative writers from Years 7, 8 and 9 were given the rare opportunity to workshopwith Australian author, Laurine Croasdale.Laurine has a well-established reputation, having published three fiction titles for University of Queensland Press (Trivia Man,Red Golf Balls, What Truly Counts), two books for Pan Macmillan (Surf School and Surf Sisters) and a range of non-fiction titlesfor the ABC and Simon & Schuster. She was also a script writer on the first season of Hi 5 and regularly reviews books onABC radio.The one and a half hour workshop enabled students to :• listen to the experiences of a published author and the process involved in becoming a published author• participate in creative writing techniques and activities used by the author• ask questions relevant to the craft of writing and the publishing process.• learn about the difficulties within the process of fiction writing and the art of organising ideas and takinginspiration.• understanding the drafting process and the role of the publisher and editor.Laurine has an online writing workshop program for students who are interested in furthering their talents in this area.For the students who attended ... keep writing.... and if you are thinking of becoming an author ... keep writing.Mr Beau Crum and Ms Lidia Jeffrey

NEWSLETTER5th of May 2011TERM 2 Week 2KARIONG MOUNTAINSHIGH SCHOOLTelephone0243 400246Facsimile0243 400259Festival Drive, Mount Penang ParklandsKARIONG NSW 2250Emailkariongmtn-h.school@det.nsw.edu.auWebsitewww.kariongmountainshigh.com.aucongratulations jaimee farrantAs we prepare for the school athletics season that begins with the school carnival and ends with the NationalChampionships in December, it seems appropriate to celebrate the feats of Jaimee Farrant who has just completed thedomestic athletic season with some outstanding results. Competing under the banner of two separate associations withdifferent rules of competition and equipment weights has played no havoc with the thrower, who has handled thetransition with ease.In February, as an U14 athlete at the Athletics NSW State Championships, and moving up a weight in all three throws,Jaimee was 3rd in the Discus and 4th in both the Shot and Javelin. A month later Jaimee improved on her distances tofinish 2nd in the Discus with 33.71m and 3rd in the Shot (11.40m.) at the Australian Junior Championships. It should alsobe pointed out that Jaimee threw the same weight discus that Olympic women use in this competition.Moving back down a weight for the Little Athletics NSW State Championships in late March, Jaimee won both the shotand discus events and was second in the javelin. This earned her a place in the coveted “State Team” to compete at theAustralian Little Athletics Championships (ALAC) that is always held around ANZAC day each year.ALAC consists of two competitions, an U15 multi event championship, and an U13 teams championship in which eachstate is entitled to choose a team of 22 athletes across the U13 age group. To be included in the team is dependent upona group of selectors who attempt to maximise the point score across every event undertaken in both the boys and girlsdivision, and it is not always the winner of an event that is selected, depending on the athletes versatility.After two team bonding camps, Jaimee did her bit for NSW last weekend by winning both the shot and discus, creatinga four point lead on the opposition as well as scoring well for the javelin. NSW won the teams championship for the firsttime since 2005, and our own Jaimee Farrant was a key contributor to the result.Congratulations Jaimee on a fantastic athletics season. Take a rest so you can do us proud again this year.Kerry SmithHead Teacher PDHPE

NEWSLETTER5th of May 2011TERM 2 Week 2KARIONG MOUNTAINSHIGH SCHOOLTelephone0243 400246Facsimile0243 400259Festival Drive, Mount Penang ParklandsKARIONG NSW 2250Emailkariongmtn-h.school@det.nsw.edu.auWebsitewww.kariongmountainshigh.com.auHonour RollTerm 1 2011starsSTARS ASSEMBLY5th PeriodPerformance SpaceYears 7 and 9Thursday May 5th, 2011Year 8Tuesday May 10th, 2011Year 7Year 8Year 9Melissa AbeyAhmad Abou-KingCasey AlcockAmelia ChadwickRachael CluleyEmily CodyNathan ColemanKallen FarleyConnor GraysonReece HunterBlake KerslakeIrene KyriacouIsabella LazzaroniDan MatthewErin McNamaraErin McRobertsChristopher MortellRhys PriceSapna RanigaMeckala ScottAmelia ShearerAmelia SmithMarika TultsChantelle VassaloDaniel WeingaertnerToby WellsAbby WilsonMia YoungRebecca AdlardKayla AlexanderSamuel AshbyDouglas BagalaCaitlin BlakemoreJordan BleikerSamuel BovisJoshua Brown-BeresfordJoshua BurkeMeaghan BurnLuke CarnevaleNathan CarraroAshleigh CatonHayley ChadwickThup-Tim ClarkeCameron DownAdam EliasRebecca GallMaria GanekoMadison GoodwinPatrick GoodwinKirsty GuldbrandsenRenee HannanChelsea HerbertLauren HolstEbony HudsonEmily JacksonTeleah JensenChloe MayhewReeanon McMahonClare McNamaraKatlyn-Anne MossmanNatalie MumfordEloise NicolJessica PageKayla PirrieSammy PirrottinaKaiah Pobee-BineyEmma RyanZacheriah SimunovicNicole SkillenLuke TaylorRachel VellaJessica WardRyan WaughJasmine WilliamsonEmily DartBrendan GaskinSophia GeorgasAlmalee GordonBradley HerbertTaylah KingBenjamin LawranceShane LittlehalesBrook MackeyKiara MoekeJames PatonJessica SandemanMonique SkillenErik TultsJacob Van EdenJesse WellsBrooke Westwood

NEWSLETTER5th of May 2011TERM 2 Week 2KARIONG MOUNTAINSHIGH SCHOOLTelephone0243 400246Facsimile0243 400259Festival Drive, Mount Penang ParklandsKARIONG NSW 2250Emailkariongmtn-h.school@det.nsw.edu.auWebsitewww.kariongmountainshigh.com.auCanteen NewsSOS CANTEEN VOLUNTEERS NEEDEDThe canteen desperately needs Monday, Wednesday & Friday volunteersbetween 10.00am to 2.30pm.Please contact Marie Connolly, Canteen Supervisor during school hours to book your spot inthe canteen on 4340 0246 or 0408 022268.~This weeks canteen roster:-9/05/2011 10/05/2011 11/05/2011 12/05/2011 13/05/2011Tracey Wells Jodie Hale. Sharon Peruch... Maria Skillen.. Kerrie Crawford..P&C MEETING 7PMDarline Lumby-fr 1.15pmThanks Marie Connolly, Canteen Supervisor 4340 0246 or 0408022268The Entertainment Books have arrived at school. The books are beingsold by the P&C for $60. We can send the book home with your childwhen payment is received at the school office (cash or chequepayable to KMHS P&C) or come to the school office to pick up thebook yourself.LOST PROPERTYWe have quite a collection of clothing that hasnot been claimed in our front office.These items have found their way from theswimming carnival, camp and playground. If youbelieve that your child has misplaced any itemsplease ask them to go to the front office andmake their claim.It may also be timely to request that all clothingbe labelled to allow for the easy return of items tothe correct owner.

NEWSLETTER5th of May 2011TERM 2 Week 2KARIONG MOUNTAINSHIGH SCHOOLTelephone0243 400246Facsimile0243 400259Festival Drive, Mount Penang ParklandsKARIONG NSW 2250Emailkariongmtn-h.school@det.nsw.edu.auWebsitewww.kariongmountainshigh.com.auT HE ROTARY CLUB OF UMINA BEACH INC.P RESENTSAsk The Expertswith Dr John IrvineAnd his Panel of Psychologists fromThe R.E.A.D Clinic PartnershipTHESE TOPICSCAN BE DISCUSSEDAdolescent counsellingADD/ADHD - diagnosis &managementAddictionsAnxiety disordersBehaviour managementlly iliBrain InjuriesBi-Polar DisorderConflict ResolutionDepressionEating DisordersFamily RelationshipsGriefLearning DifficultiesPain ManagementParenting TechniquesPersonality DisordersPhobias & FearsPost Traumatic Stress DisorderSleep DisordersSpeech DisordersStress ManagementStudy ProblemsToiletingVocational GuidanceF RIDAY 20TH MAY 2011AT 7:00PMB RISBANE WATERS ECONDARY COLLEGEWOY WOY CAMPUS AUDITORIUMEDWARD STREET, WOY WOYTICKETS $20AVAILABLE ATBW SC - W o y W o y & Um i n a Ca m p u sRa i n e & Ho r n e - Et t a l o n g & Um i n aEm p i r e Ba y Pr i m a r y Sc h o o lEm p i r e Ba y Es t a t e A g e n c yEt t a l o n g Pu b l i c Sc h o o lK a r i o n g Mo u n t a i n s Hi g h Sc h o o lORPh o n e Ro t a r i a n Ge o f f Me l v i l l ea t Em p i r e Ba y Es t a t e A g e n c y4 3 6 9 2 2 7 5PROCEEDS FROM THE NIGHT TO SUPPORTROTARY MENTAL HEALTH PROJECTS and A VILLAGE SCHOOL IN THE PHILLIPPINES