Welcome to Term 2 2018 From the Principal

Term 1 was a positive beginning to the year for our school.  Our staff are focussed on helping our students to work on succeeding with their education.  Our school will always support students who are making a genuine effort to work with us.  All students and staff at ETASC should be striving to display ethics and behaviour which are going to be beneficial to all.

A Pathway Plan interview is conducted with every student in Year7, Year 9 and in Year 10.  Pathway Plans provide a framework where ETASC can provide support and guidance for students so they can develop vocational and job goals and make informed decisions about their career path.  I aim to be part of every interview with the students so I have the opportunity to meet them.  Our Student Development Coordinator, Jasmyn, follows up and monitors every Year 10 Pathway Plan with each student to ensure they are getting the support they need.  We believe the Pathway Plan framework positively assists students to make realistic and achievable plans for their future.

NAPLAN testing will occur in Term 2 for our Year 7 and Year 9 students.  At ETASC we see the NAPLAN Tests as an experience for students to engage in and to better prepare them for similar activities in the future.  Students who go onto sit their HSC, students sitting tests for entry into TAFE trade courses or similar, and students who go for job interviews that may involve a literacy numeracy test will benefit from having experienced the test conditions for NAPLAN.  This is an example as to how our school model is designed to provide students with experiences that will help them in the world of work.

Tony Mylan
ET Australia Secondary College Principal

Year 7 Constant Cravings Cakes Excursion

When: Tuesday 8th of May
Location: Constant Cravings Cakes, Gosford

Students will use the skills and content taught in Food Technology this Term to complete a number of safety and cake decorating exercises at the Constant Cravings Cakes facility located in West Gosford. The information each student will collect during this excursion will be used in class to illustrate key safety concepts required as part of the course requirements.

This excursion has been designed to engage Year 7 students in a practical setting, providing the opportunity to use the skills taught in the classroom in a hands on experience.

Parents please note this permission has already been sent to you via email. Please reply to this email with approval for your child to attend.

Mayor Jane Smith Visit to Parkside Building

When: Thursday 10th of May
Location: Parkside Building

On Thursday 10th of May at 10am the Central Coast Mayor, Jane Smith will be visiting the Parkside Building which accommodates ET Australia Secondary College along with other community services.

With Central Coast Council currently deciding on the future of the Parkside Building, it’s an important opportunity for all tenants to showcase the great services they provide to the Central Coast community.

During this time it’s appropriate for students to act in a mature manner when walking between classes or to morning tea in Kibble Park.

Year 7 Geography Excursion

When: Tuesday 15th of May
Location: Muogamarra Nature Reserve, Hawkesbury River

Year 7 students will be going on a Geography fieldwork excursion to Muogamarra Nature Reserve near the Hawkesbury River.

Muogamarra Nature Reserve is an extraordinary place to visit. The reserve is home to many native flora and fauna species and only opens 6 weekends a year, preserving fragile ecosystems and Aboriginal cultural heritage.

During the day, students will identify features of the riverine landscape and investigate the human landscape including how it is used and valued by different groups.

This excursion fits in with this Term’s Landscape and Land Form topic to be studied in Year 7 Geography.

Parents please look out for the permission note for this excursion being sent to you via email in the next couple of days.

Year 8 Q-Station Harbour National Park Excursion

When: Monday 21st of May
Location: Q-Station Harbour National Park, Manly

In History this term, Year 8 students will be studying the Great Plague which occurred in Medieval Europe.

Q–Station will provide students the opportunity to see how the Great Plague affected Sydney after first contact. Students will examine how authorities dealt with first contact during early British settlement and how it has changed over time.

Students will explore how sickness and disease influenced why the site was established and how it functioned. Students will also discover the story of plague outbreaks in Sydney and the quarantine process that occurred in the event of a plague.

Parents please look out for the permission note for this excursion being sent to you via email in the next couple of days.

Year 9 and 10 Sydney Jewish Museum Excursion

When: Tuesday 22nd of May
Location: Sydney Jewish Museum

As part of Year 9 and 10 History, students will be attending the Sydney Jewish Museum in Darlinghurst.

The Sydney Jewish Museum is a museum dedicated to documenting and teaching the history of the Holocaust, challenging perception of morality, social justice and human rights.

Students will have the opportunity to experience the displays in the museum, interact with sources from the Holocaust, and speak with a Holocaust survivor.

The focus of this excursion will be on a deeper understanding of the events surrounding the Holocaust, as well as to explore the Holocaust as an important event in world history.

Parents please look out for the permission note for this excursion being sent to you via email in the next couple of days.

Year 8 Museum of Contemporary Art Excursion

When: Friday 29th of June
Location: Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney

Year 8 students will be going to the Museum of Contemporary Art to look at how video can be used in art.

Students will be looking at the exhibition “Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday” and will be able to participate in a hands-on workshop using technology.

This combines outcomes in Year 8 Science being taught this Term which include planning and inquiry, technology using videos and art by making and appreciating art.

To learn more about the “Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday” exhibition visit www.mca.com.au

Parents please look out for the permission note for this excursion being sent to you via email in the next couple of weeks.

Semester One Reward Day – Go Karts Go

When: 3rd and 4th of July
Location: Go Karts Go, Newcastle

College reward days are designed to reward those students who exhibit positive behaviour, outstanding effort and excellent attendance during the semester.

This semester students will be offered the opportunity to attend Go Karts Go in the Newcastle area for a day of high octane fun!

Parents please look out for the permission note for this reward day being sent to you via email towards the end of Term 2.

Teaching Staff Changes

New staff

Welcome to Jaclyn Brownhill who has been appointed as the College’s Gifted and Talented Teacher.

Changes in responsibility

Kim Wheeler has been appointed as the Curriculum Coordinator until the end of 2018.

Scholarships

Parent/carers of ETASC students are encouraged to apply for a scholarship at any time during the year.

A scholarship is money set aside which can assist a family experiencing hardship to pay school fees. Scholarships are available for eligible Year 7, 8, 9 & 10 students and applications are a relatively simple process, with the majority of scholarship applications succeeding.

Students who attend school regularly and apply themselves to their academic progress will be eligible.  A successful applicant who receives a 50% scholarship will have their contribution to school fees matched dollar for dollar by the scholarship sponsor.

Some terms and conditions apply.

To apply please download our scholarship application form and hand it into the College office.

2018 Enrolments

The College is enrolling students for 2018 and beyond.

ETASC has expanded and enrolments have increased compared to 2017 across all years. Year 7, 9 and 10 are at full capacity. Places are still available now for 2018 in Year 8.

We are always accepting enrolments for future years up to and including 2020. Our school’s growing reputation is generating ongoing interest. Thank you to those parents and students who are recommending our school to prospective students who will value and enjoy what ETASC provides.

If you or anyone you know are interested in a place for 2018 in Year 8 you are urged to act now. Please call the College office on 02 4323 1233 so we can send you an information pack in the mail.

Opal Cards

The Department of Transport’s introduction of OPAL Cards is designed to reduce schools’ involvement in the issue and re-issue of this free service for school children. Parents are now responsible to follow up with errors / lost and stolen cards. Students are advised not to put OPAL cards near phones or other disabled cards.

For more information on Opal Cards please refer to our College Handbook.

Contacting Students in Class Time

Please do not phone your child during class time, they will be tempted to answer which is very disruptive to the class. Their phone should be off and out of sight. Parents/carers who need to contact their child during school hours are asked to do so by calling the college office on 4323 1233 or wait until break times.

School Fees

Parents/carers are required to make sure that school fees are kept up to date.

The school is restricted on what we can offer to your child without these fees and we will not include students in activities where fees are outstanding.

For more information on ETASC school fees please refer to our College Handbook.

PDHPE

Love Bites Junior

In weeks 2 and 3 of this term Year 7 and 8 will participate in the Love Bites Junior program provided in conjunction with Regional Youth Support Services (RYSS). Love Bites Junior is a Respectful Relationships program designed for young people aged 11-14 years and will focus on friends, respectful relationships, bullying and gender along with relationships, love and control.

PDHPE Practical Component

The PDHPE practical component this term will consist of a series of team sports held at Ray Maher Oval for Year 7 to 10 students. These sports will combine team building skills and physical activity for students.

Free After School Tutoring

Any student who wants help after school (on any subject) should ask the subject teacher and arrangements will be made to provide free tutoring for most afternoons.

Weekly Timetable

Tuesday:
Extension Maths (Y10 students intending to complete the HSC) 2:30pm to 3:30pm
Literacy tutoring 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Thursday:
Extension Science (Y10 students intending to complete the HSC) 2:30pm to 3:30pm
Numeracy tutoring 2:30pm to 3:30pm

All extra curricular or tutoring classes are free.

Excursions and Events

There are a number of School Events planned for Term 2.

Parents/carers will be emailed with details of each event and where permission is required, we ask that you REPLY to the email with your permission, as instructed. This will ensure that your response goes to the staff member who is responsible for that event.

Students without parental/carer’s consent provided cannot be included in the event, phone calls, handwritten notes and texts will no longer be accepted, unless a prior agreement has been made with the Assistant Principal. Some events will be limited due to transport or other considerations, so getting in early will be important, once you are notified that bookings are open.

School Lockers

The school has provided lockers at no cost for students to store their school bags to improve security and work, health and safety.  Students are asked to clean out their locker at the end of every term. Items left in lockers at the end of each Term will be discarded. If you value the contents of your locker, please take it with you.

Students are encouraged to keep lockers locked at all times, even when empty. We are keen to prevent unauthorised access to your locker and/or to have other people placing objects in lockers which do not belong there.

Medication Taken at School

Parent/Carers are reminded that students must not bring medication to school without advising the school in writing (this includes non-prescription medication). Medication which needs to be taken during school hours must be held and administered by school staff, not the student.

For more information on medication at ETASC please refer to our College Handbook.

Student Expectations and Rewards

Students are expected to observe common courtesy, and show respect for each other and for staff.

Where students demonstrate consistent effort in the school community they may be rewarded with a Gold Card, which can be used to access various privileges or recognition. These rewards are designed to be timely, appropriate and meaningful to the student.

For more information on expected student behaviour and rewards please refer to our College Handbook.

Year 7 NAPLAN Testing

In May 2018 the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will be completed by students in Year 7 and Year 9. NAPLAN has the support of all State and Territory Education Ministers and will assess the literacy and numeracy skills of students across Australian schools.

The results of the tests will provide important information to schools about what each student can do, and will be used to support teaching and learning programs. Parents will receive a report indicating their child’s level of achievement. Each student’s level of achievement will be reported against the national minimum standard.

The NAPLAN tests will be conducted from 9th – 11th May 2018. A fourth day or ‘catch up day’ is scheduled on the 12th May 2018 for students who missed a test or were absent on a test day.

If you wish to discuss NAPLAN testing in further detail please do not hesitate to contact ETASC Curriculum Coordinator Kimberley Wheeler on 4323 1233 or via email on Kimberley.Wheeler@et.makearchive.com.au

Year 9 NAPLAN Testing

In May 2018 the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) will be completed by students in Year 7 and Year 9. NAPLAN has the support of all State and Territory Education Ministers and will assess the literacy and numeracy skills of students across Australian schools.

The results of the tests will provide important information to schools about what each student can do, and will be used to support teaching and learning programs. Parents will receive a report indicating their child’s level of achievement. Each student’s level of achievement will be reported against the national minimum standard.

The NAPLAN tests will be conducted from 9th – 11th May 2018. A fourth day or ‘catch up day’ is scheduled on the 12th May 2018 for students who missed a test or were absent on a test day.

If you wish to discuss NAPLAN testing in further detail please do not hesitate to contact ETASC Curriculum Coordinator Kimberley Wheeler on 4323 1233 or via email on Kimberley.Wheeler@et.makearchive.com.au

Year 10 HSC Minimum Standards Tests

Meeting the HSC minimum standards will mean that your child has the literacy and numeracy skills that are essential for success in learning and life after school.

If your child achieved a Band 8 or above in all of the 2017 Year 9 NAPLAN reading, writing and numeracy tests they are recognised as having met the HSC minimum standard in that particular area. They will not need to sit the corresponding online test. If they did not receive a Band 8 or above in all or any of the aforementioned tests they must complete the corresponding online tests.

ET Australia Secondary College will give year 10 students two opportunities throughout the year to sit the online tests at school.

The dates for the online tests are:

Term 2 week 4:
Reading and writing – 22^nd of May 2018
Numeracy – 23^rd of May 2018
Catch up on missed exams – 24^th of May 2018

Term 3 Week 4:
Reading and writing – 14^th of August 2018
Numeracy – 15^th of August 2018
Catch up on missed exams – 16^th of August 2018

If you wish to discuss HSC minimum standards testing in further detail please do not hesitate to contact ETASC Curriculum Coordinator Kimberley Wheeler on 4323 1233 or via email on Kimberley.Wheeler@et.makearchive.com.au

Year 10 Meningococcal Vaccinations

The NSW Health Service will be attending the College on the 5^th of July to conduct the first round of vaccinations for meningococcal for Year 10 students.

If you have received the paperwork for your child to be vaccinated, please contact the College office on 43231233.

The second round of vaccinations will take place in November this year.

Say What You Mean (SWYM) Writing Program

SWYM is a writing program to encourage students to Say What You Mean. All students will participate in a weekly lesson to build confidence in essay writing as they learn about format, text type, literacy skills and use of academic vocabulary.

Term 2 theme – SWYM Meets.
Students will be given fortnightly topics to analyse, plan and write, write, write!

Procedure for Friday Classes – Years 9 and 10 Only

With the introduction of the SWYM writing program on Fridays in 2018, Year 9 and 10 students who are up to date with their work will be able to now leave at 12:55pm on a Friday.

Those students who have work outstanding will need to remain at school until 2:25pm to complete their work.

Parents/carers should avoid scheduling medical appointments or organising work shifts for students during this time so they are available to stay back for catch up if required.

ET Australia Secondary College Term Dates

2018 ET Australia Secondary College staff development days (no school for students):

• Monday 30th of April
• Tuesday 1st of May
• Monday 23rd of July
• Friday 28th of September

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