ET Australia Secondary College is expanding again in 2019 by providing an extra 15 student places in Year 7.  This growth in Year 7 is to respond to unprecedented demand from parents and students who want a place at ETASC.  We will be recruiting for extra teaching and support staff to ensure that our very successful staff to student ratio is maintained.  We want our school to remain a small school.  A small school model has many benefits.  A key feature of our school is our safe and nurturing environment and we believe keeping the school small is a factor in us achieving and maintaining our great school atmosphere.

Our Year 10 students are rapidly progressing towards the achievement of their RoSA.  We have conducted Career Pathway Plans with our Year 10 students and their parents/carers.  The individualised Pathway Plans set out plans for work experience placements to occur in Term 4 and also records specific employment and further study plans for each student to ensure that the positive momentum achieved by students this year continues on for next year and beyond after graduation.

Our academic focus on literacy and numeracy skills, our school philosophy that is designed to create a safe and nurturing environment, and our focus on fostering each student’s work ethic appears to be a successful combination.

If anyone ever has suggestions about how to improve on our success, we are open to opportunities and suggestions.

I hope that every student enrolled at ETASC fully utilises the opportunities available to them in our school and in the education pathways that are presented.

Tony Mylan
ET Australia Secondary College Principal

Excursions and Events

There are a number of School Events planned for Term 4.

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.

Year 9 and 10 The Great Race Excursion

When: 23rd and 24th of October
Location: Sydney CBD

Year 9 and 10 students will have the opportunity to participate in an overnight excursion to Sydney which will help consolidate the content they have studied in Geography, English, PDHPE, Maths and Science this year and orient them for future travel to the Sydney CBD for recreation, work and/or study opportunities.

Daytime activities are a Captain Cook Cruise around Sydney Harbour and The Great Race, which is a guided interactive ‘race’ around Sydney with challenges in small groups. For information about the Great Race please visit: https://www.greatrace.com.au/events/schools/

Students will also participate in night time activities such as ten pin bowling or a ghost tour of The Rocks. Students will be given the opportunity to indicate their night activity preferences, but no guarantees can be made. These activities may be subject to change depending on final numbers.

Parents please look out for the permission note for this excursion which has been sent to you via email.

Year 7 and 8 2019 Orientation Days

When: Tuesday 23rd October and Tuesday 4th of December
Location: ET Australia Secondary College

Each year in Term 4, ET Australia Secondary College holds orientation days for new Year 7 and Year 8 students commencing their enrolment the following year.

These days have been designed to provide new students the opportunity to meet their teachers and fellow class mates for 2019.

Activities have been planned for the students and refreshments will be provided on each day.

On Tuesday 4th of December students will participate in literacy and numeracy testing that will enable the teaching staff to prepare differentiated work for all new students from the beginning of 2019.

An email will be sent to all new parents in the next couple of days advising of the dates and times as well as any other requirements for the day.

If you have any questions regarding the orientation days please contact the College office on 02 4323 1233.

Duke of Edinburgh Overnight Hike

When: Friday the 26th and Saturday the 27th of October
Location: Hornsby to Berowra

Duke of Edinburgh students will be participating in the qualifying overnight hike on the Great North Walk.

The hike starts at Hornsby and the students will make their way to the camping ground at Crosslands Trackhead where they will spend the night. The following morning students will continue their hike through to Berowra/Cowan.

Parents please look out for the permission note being sent to you via email.

Year 8 Geography Excursion

When: Monday 26th of November
Location: Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park

In Term 4 Year 8 students have the opportunity to visit the Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park in Calga.

Students will spend the day examining the interconnections between flora, fauna and how human interaction on habitats affect the management and sustainability of ecosystems.

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

Year 7 and 8 Powerhouse Museum Excursion

When: Wednesday 28th of November
Location: Powerhouse Museum, Sydney

Year 7 and 8 students in Term 4 will visit The Powerhouse Museum for a hands on Science and Technology experience. This excursion is designed to engage students in a practical setting, providing the opportunity to use the skills taught in the classroom. Students will use their skills to complete a number of different research and experimentation exercises throughout the day at the museum.

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

Year 7 China Incursion

When: Tuesday 4th of December
Location: ET Australia Secondary College

As part of the study of History, Year 7 students will have the opportunity to participate and immerse themselves in Chinese culture for an entire day of cultural programs.

Students will join in on activities which include lion dance, tai chi, Kung Fu, Chinese dance, musical variety workshop, Chinese magic show and calligraphy.

Parents as this is an incursion there will be no permission note sent via email. If you would like to know more please contact the College office on 43231233.

Year 10 Graduation Ceremony

When: Friday 14th of December
Location: Mingara Recreation Club
Time: 5:30pm – 10:30pm

Every year the school holds a celebration event to recognise the achievements of its Year 10 graduates.  Family and friends have already received a formal invitation to the 2018 Year 10 Graduation Ceremony.

This event is a chance for family and friends to see students being recognised for their academic and personal achievements.  It is an opportunity for extended families to witness this milestone in their child’s education.

A $120 payment for this event secures 3 tickets at a subsidised price.  These tickets are for the graduate and two guests, additional tickets can be purchased for $70 each.  There is a two course meal and soft drinks.  This is an alcohol and smoke free event.

Parents if you haven’t already replied, please RSVP to the invitations previously sent to you by email no later than Friday 19th of October.

ET Australia Secondary College Celebration Assembly – Year 7 to Year 9

When: Tuesday 18th of December
Location: Central Coast Leagues Club
Time: 12:30pm

All parents, friends and family are invited to come along and join our students in our end of year celebration assembly. Awards will be given out for each year along with a showcase of performances that our Year 7 to Year 9 students have worked on this year in class.

A light afternoon tea will be provided after the official ceremony has finished.

Parents please look out for further information being sent to you via email closer to the event.

We look forward to seeing you all there celebrating the school year with us.

Employment Opportunities

The college is currently advertising the following positions:

• Stage 5 Mathematics Teacher – Full Time Contract
• Stage 4 Technology Teacher – Full Time Contract
• Stage 5 HSIE Teacher – Maternity Leave Contract

If you would like to know more about the requirements of each position, please call the college office on 43231233 and ask for an application pack.

Additional Year 7 Class For 2019

With the demand for places in Year 7 in 2018, ETASC will be adding an additional Year 7 class to the College in 2019.

The class sizes will remain the same as 2018 with 15 students in each Year 7 class.

Additional staff will be employed to help with this expansion. If you are interested in enrolling your child in Year 7 in 2019 please contact the College office on 02 4323 1233.

Regular Pattern of School Attendance Required by Students

A reminder to parents that in order for their child to retain enrolment here at the college, students need to maintain a consistent pattern of attendance.

The NSW Education Department require all students to have a minimum attendance percentage of 85% throughout the year.

This means the college expects every student to attend school every day unless they are too sick to attend. In the event of absence caused by illness, the college requires an explanation of the absence within 24 hours of the student’s absence. Notification can be provided via text message, email or phone call. In the event of three or more consecutive days off, the college can request a Doctor’s certificate to support the provided reasons. If you have other reasons for a student being absent for the day (family emergency for example) please provide the college office with an explanation so we are able to account for the student’s absence.

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

Request for Student Leave

The Department of Education’s requirement for school attendance also affects opportunities for families to take holidays during school Terms. Some schools are withdrawing the option of families taking students out of school for holidays. ETASC is flexible but the Minister of Education requires us to ensure all student leave during Term time be approved by the college Principal in advance. A student leave request form is now available from college reception and needs to be completed 4 weeks prior to the planned absence from the College.

Please contact the College office on 4323 1233 if you have any further queries about holidays during school Term.

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.

2019 Enrolments

The College is currently accepting enrolments for students for 2019, 2020 and beyond.

Our school’s growing reputation is generating ongoing interest, so much so, that Year 10 for 2019 is already full. ETASC students in Year 9 this year are presumed to be continuing into Year 10 next year and are allocated a place for Year 10 in 2019.

Thank you to those parents and students who are recommending our school to prospective students who will value and enjoy what ETASC provides.

We are always accepting enrolments for future years up to and including 2021.

If you or anyone you know are interested in a place for Year 7-9 in 2019 you are urged to act now. Please call the College office on 4323 1233 so we can send you an information pack in the mail.

School Fees

School Fees for 2019 are $1400.  This increase in fees is the first increase in school fees since 2014.

A reminder to parents and caregivers that ETASC is a fee paying college and the contributions made provide opportunities to students to participate in a variety of different learning experiences.

It is a requirement of a student’s enrolment that school fees are paid by parents/carers and failure to pay fees will result in the students enrolment been withdrawn.

Scholarships are available to families who are suffering financial hardship and we encourage all parents/carers to apply for scholarships if they are struggling to pay school fees. Information regarding school fees, payment plans and scholarships are available on the college website.

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

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.

PDHPE

Students attending ETASC are required to participate fully in PDHPE. This includes doing some physical activity as part of their subject. In Term 4 we are offering the following activities to all students in order to encourage more active involvement.

All students will participate in:

• Gym (Snap Fitness)
• Waterfront walking
• Dancing (contemporary/hip hop)
• Lawn bowls
• Archery strike
• Oz tag
• Boxing (for fitness)

Where a student has a temporary incapacity and requests an exemption, a letter from a parent will suffice for one week, any time beyond one week must be supported by a Doctor’s Certificate. If you need further information please contact ETASC PDHPE teacher Joshua Wakem on 43231233.

Please note these sport options are subject to change depending on student selections.

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.

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 College 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 and 8 Excursions and Events

Year 7 and 8 parents please take note of School Events planned for Term 4.

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.

Year 8 First Aid

In Term 4 in PDHPE class, Year 8 students are participating in the keeping safe in summer unit.

This unit of work focuses on providing students with information and learning experiences that can be used to assist them or someone else in need, especially in an emergency situation.

Year 8 will participate in their senior first aid certificate where they will focus on CPR, managing injuries and how to respond in emergency situations.

If you need further information please contact ETASC PDHPE teacher Joshua Wakem on 43231233.

Year 10 Work Experience

Year 10 students will have the opportunity to participate in a 3 week work experience program starting on the 26th of November and concluding on the 7th December. Students will be encouraged to negotiate a minimum of 25 hours per week unpaid work with the help of parents/carers and Jasmyn, ET Australia Secondary College’s Student Development Coordinator (SDC), in an area of interest to them. Students may stay with the same company in the same work experience trial for the duration of their work placement, however trialling various occupations may be a great opportunity.

During work experience Jasmyn, the SDC, will visit all students to monitor their progress and participation as well as receive feedback from their workplace supervisor. Students are fully covered by ET Australia’s insurance policy for the duration of approved work experience.

Students who are unable to find work placement are required to attend school until graduation.

Year 10 Graduation

The 2018 Year 10 Graduation has been booked for Friday the 14th December 2018.

Parents please RSVP to the invite sent to you via email by Friday 19th of October.

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.

After a successful start to SWYM, Year 9 and 10 students will be concentrating on introductions and conclusions for their persuasive writing this Term. It will be great fun seeing the students implement the So What Factor and working on their ‘hooks’.

Year 7 and 8 students will continue their Word Vomit creative writing programs which encourage students to blurt out (on paper) their amazing creative ideas and refine them through the art of drafting and editing. We are hoping to have one original story from each student by the end of the year with the opportunity to create a school creative writing magazine.

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.

Year 10 Meningococcal Vaccinations

The NSW Health Service will be attending the College on the 12th of November to conduct the second 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.

This is the final round of vaccinations to take place in 2018.

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