PRINCIPAL'S NEWSLETTER - Arthur Phillip High School

PRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTERTERM 1 2009 www.aphs.nsw.edu.au ARTHUR PHILLIP HIGH SCHOOLWelcome backThe school year has started well. Welcome to all ournew parents and students in Year 7 and to all our newlyenrolled students inYears 8-12. We know you will enjoyyour school years at Arthur Phillip.Our HSC students achieved outstanding results in 2008and we expect our Year 12, 2009 students to do just aswell. At least 74 of the 2008 HSC students will take theirplaces at universities all over Sydney. We will celebratethe success of these students at a special assembly thismonth.Enrolments are at an all time highOur enrolments are higher than ever before and we areimpressed by all our new students who have chosen tocomplete their secondary studies at Arthur Phillip. Manysay they appreciate our flexible timetable and the hugesubject choice available. With around 550 students inYears 11-12 we are able to provide an excellent rangeof subjects from high level extension classes to morepractical classes including several nationally accreditedVET courses.Proud to be publicWhile media hype about private vs public educationcontinues, I am sure the parents of Arthur Phillip studentsrecognise the value of the education we provide for theirsons and daughters. We do not charge high studentfees but we certainly do not stint on quality teachingand learning programs and we have highly qualified anddedicated teachers. I am constantly overwhelmed by theenthusiasm and expertise of our staff. We are totallycommitted to the public education system and believe itprovides the best preparation for lifelong learning.Initiatives for 2009As you would expect of us we have some excitinginitiatives planned for this year. Year 7 students havebeen tested for literacy and numeracy and we arecurrently coordinating their classes. We will have at least2 laptop classes in Year 7 and 2 -3 classes in Years 8 and9. All other classes will have access to school laptops.We are also continuing our gifted and talented group inYears 9-10 where students will work on projects as wellas classwork. We expect our innovative e-literacy coursefor Years 7-10 to really help our students achieve well incritical areas of literacy. Parents are also able to accessour online literacy support program and we will havenumeracy online programs available (Mathletics) for allstudents later this term.Congratulations to the HSC class of 2008There were some outstanding results in 2008 and we haveprinted the top 20 students’ results and the courses they will bestudying at university this year. We had 56 band 6 results and178 band 5 results across a wide range of courses - a greattestimony to our teachers’ dedication and the motivation ofArthur Phillip students.Our value added scores are outstanding - our best ever - furtherproof that students at Arthur Phillip can maximise their resultsin the HSC.Our top HSC studentsSamuel Muisyo 98.4Raymond Zhang 97.6Batool Moussa 97.05Bolor Amgalan 97.7Mohammed Rafat 95.35Ghazal Sultani 94.5Aicha Mhajer 94.45Affan Guliyara 92.3Nupoor Modi 92.15Christopher Tran 91.35Peter Lam 91.2Joanne Du 91Khoung Ly 90Nikhil Rao 91.775 students were accepted intouniversity. Students from APHSwere accepted into a wide rangeof courses including: Engineering,Interior Design, Teaching,Science, Medical Science,Pharmacy, Business/Commerce,Economics, Arts, Psychology,International Studies, CreativeArts/Creative Writing, Computing,Social Sciences, Planning,Radiography, Mathematics,Software Engineering, Accounting,eBusiness and Liberal Studies.The Premier and Minister for Education andTraining visit Arthur Phillip High to announcetechnology initiatives

Curriculum for Years 11-12We will continue to monitor senior students’ curriculumpatterns and attendance to ensure courses are appropriatefor students’ needs, interests and abilities. Our CareersAdviser, Mr Dark will be working with Year 12 studentsto help them choose university courses and to apply forscholarships and access schemes. I will also interview everysenior student at least twice throughout the year.Our VET work placement program will ensure students havepositive experiences in the workplace and are ultimatelyable to make informed decisions about their future careergoals.Gifted and Talented classesThis year we have set up two gifted and talented classesin Years 9 and 10 and some of these students are sittingfor HSC courses as accelerated students. Our Year 9students are studying Earth and Environmental Studiesvia the Lachlan Macquarie College initiative with studentsfrom James Ruse and Parramatta High schools. Otherstudents are completing the HSC Information Processesand Technology course.TechnologyWe believe we are equipped to deliver a 21st centurycurriculum with technology programs and resources thathave gained the school national acclaim. As NSW rolls outthe digital revolution laptops you can expect APHS to remainat the forefront! We will continue those programs this yearand we have employed Mr Scott Barnham (previously fromApple Australia) to work with students and teachers to createoutstanding technology programs across the curriculum.Our accelerated students continue to perform outstandinglyin the HSC.WelfareHead Teacher Welfare, Ms Marden is coordinating acomprehensive program for all year groups to ensurestudents learn a range of social skills and how to resolveconflict (peer mediation). We also have specific programs onstudy skills organized for all senior students (Years 10-12).An anti-bullying program will be running throughout the yearto proactively address this important issue in schools.Senior Mentor TeamSenior students are managed by the Senior MentorTeam which includes several members of the executiveand our Careers Adviser, Mr Dark. For senior studentsthe first point of call should be the Library where MrDavis, Mr Dark and Ms Duric are available to helpthem.In 2009 we are a PSP /PAS schoolOur school community has committed to being one ofthe 576 schools across NSW on the Priority SchoolsProgram(PSP) for the funding period 2009-2011.The PSP is based upon the principles of equity andsocial justice in education. The PSP supports schoolswith the greatest needs to reduce, and eventuallyeliminate, the achievement gap in learning outcomesfor their students.To achieve this aim the PSP schools work to:• improve the literacy and numeracy achievementsof our students• improve the quality of teaching and learning• enhance partnerships among schools, parents andcaregivers and community agencies• increase the effectiveness of classroom and schoolorganisation• develop and sustain a positive and inclusive schoolculture• ensure all students achieve the syllabus standardsfor their stage of schooling, where appropriate• increase the level of students’ participation,engagement and retention• raise the expectations of students, teachers, schoolexecutive, parents and caregivers.The PSP and Priority Action Program will provideour school with additional resources this year andinnovative and exciting opportunities for us to worktogether to achieve these outcomes. The activitiesof the PSP include professional learning for teachersand community members, resource development, andresearch and sharing of practice in local networks ofPSP schools.The school dayOur school hours have been maintained as per 2008 toensure greater safety for students at the end of the day.The school day starts at 8.30am. The Parramatta transportinterchange is a very busy centre and we prefer our studentsto leave at staggered times for their safety.Year 10 students now wear senior uniform and stay at schoolan extra 30 minutes per day.Student attendanceWe expect all Arthur Phillip students to attend school everyday so that they can maximise their learning outcomes. Theuse of SMS text messaging for students who are absent,late or who truant any classes will continue in 2009 andany parents who have not yet provided us with their mobilephone contact numbers are advised to do so.Medical informationParents are reminded that we need to know about anystudents who have a medical condition that may impacton their school performance.

UniformWe expect all students to wear uniform, including blackshoes. All our uniforms are now available at Lowes.Students can still purchase ties from the Front Office.Lowes will measure students for our new winter blazer. Eventhough we cannot imagine cold weather at the moment, ourParramatta winters can be very cold and the wool blazerwill be very useful.Students will be excluded from certain school and school-linked activities if:• their clothing compromises agreed upon schoolcommunity standards articulated in the school uniformrequirements, and might be considered damaging to theimage of the school in the larger community.• where the health and safety of the student or of otherstudents, particularly as defined by occupationalhealth and safety legislation, would otherwise becompromised.School feesContributions and subject fees are now due. We wouldappreciate your prompt payment of these fees so that wecan provide additional equipment and resources for thevarious subjects. It is now possible to pay school fees viaEFTPOS.School PhotosSchool photos will be held on February 23 for students inYears 7-10 and March 3 for students in Years 11-12.Students will receive information envelopes. They mustwear full school uniform for the photos.Staffing changesIn 2009 we have some changes to the schoolexecutive:• Ms V Kiaos is our new HT Mathematics• Ms Coveney is our new Head Teacher MentorIn addition we have new members of staff in English,Mathematics, Science, ESL and PDHPE. Severalfaculties now have in excess of 12 teachers. Last yearseveral of our beginning teachers acquitted themselvesoutstandingly in gaining accreditation according toTeachers’ Institute standards. We are very fortunate tohave such talented teachers at APHS.Laptop classes 2009Parents who have purchased laptops may be able toget a refund this year. The Education Tax Refund willprovide some much-needed relief to help families meetcosts, with refunds of up to $750 per secondary schoolstudent.All families with school children who receive FamilyTax Benefit Part A will be eligible for the Education TaxRefund, which will be paid to families from 1 July this year.Provided parents keep their receipts, the Education TaxRefund will apply to some of the most common back-toschoolitems, including:• laptops;• home computers and associated costs;• home internet connections;• printers;• education software;• trade tools for use at school;• school text books; and• stationery.Year Advisers for 2009Year 7Year 8Year 9Year 10Ms C Barton - PE facultyMr P Murkins History facultyMs S O’Loughlin English facultyMs S King - PE facultySenior mentors Mr Davis and Mr Dark (and Ms Duric) areall located in the Library