Gunnedah High Newsletter Week 5 ∙ Term 1 ∙ 2023

Yaama

Welcome to our new-look newsletter. During school terms, it will arrive in your inbox each fortnight. This digital format means we are able to include more photos, short videos, and links to events and websites. It's all about keeping our school community better connected!

We've had an incredibly busy start to the year with our Swimming Carnival in Week 1, School Photos and SRC's Valentine's Day fundraiser in Week 3, and our return to sport on Wednesday afternoons.

Several new staff members have started at our school this year, and many new exciting programs will be running. I will introduce you to each of these in the coming newsletters.

And at the P&C meeting tomorrow evening I will be discussing the new policies being introduced this year. They are:

• Mobile Phone Policy
• Anti-Bullying Policy
• Behaviour Management Policy

I encourage everyone to attend the meeting as it not only allows you to discuss important school issues, but it also provides an informal opportunity to engage with staff and other parents and caregivers.

This newsletter includes a lot of information as it is our first for the year. So, if there is anything that you are unsure of, please call our friendly Front Office staff, Jo and Peta, on 6742 0155 during school hours.

Donna Riley, Executive Principal

Dates for your diary

• Tue 28 Feb P&C Meeting 6pm
• Wed Mar 15 NAPLAN Year 7 + 9: Writing
• Thu Mar 16 NAPLAN Year 7 + 9: Reading
• Mon Mar 20 NAPLAN Year 7 + 9: Language & Conventions
• Tue Mar 21 NAPLAN Year 7 + 9: Numeracy
• Tue 21 Mar Harmony Day
• Thu 23 Mar  Biz Brekkie Connect
• Tue 28 Mar Year 7 Vaccination
• Tue 28 Mar P&C Meeting
• Thu 6 Apr Last day of Term 1
• Mon 24 Apr Staff Development Day
• Tue 25 Apr ANZAC Day
• Wed 26 Apr First day of Term 2

An easier way to communicate

In 2023, most of our school's communication will be emailed to parents and carers using a software program called School Bytes. There is no complex setup or fiddly apps to deal with, the information is simply sent to you via email.

What do you need to do?

Check your junk folder to make sure you haven't missed any emails, and mark the email address noreply@mail.schoolbytes.education as a SAFE SENDER.

If you give online permission for your child to attend an event, please have a conversation with your child so that they are clear about attending.

You can add events to your online calendar or print them for your fridge using the blue icons at the top of the online permission form.

Payments

When payments are required you will be sent an email containing an easy-to-use payment link from School Bytes.

1. You will be required to give online consent in addition to the payment.
2. Students can also pay with cash, cheque or card at the Front Office after online consent has been given.
3. If you have paid online, the online permission must also be given. Payment alone does NOT guarantee a place.
4. Online permission and payment is cut off two days prior to all events and excursions to allow for staffing, buses, medical information and rolls to be prepared.
5. Some sports and excursions fill up fast! Early payment, together with online permission secures your child’s place. For this reason it is important to check your email daily.

If you are unsure about any of these steps, please contact the Front Office on 6742 0155 for assistance.

Homework Club

Homework Club has started and is available to all students.

• Wednesdays 8-9am - General Study (all students welcome)
• Thursdays 3.15-4.30pm - Research Skills (Years 10-12) or General Study (all students).

Snacks are provided.

To attend please see Mrs Worboys in the Library and put your name down by the end of recess the day before the scheduled session.

It is important to note that minimum numbers are required for each session to run. Students will be notified if a session is cancelled.

If you'd like more information on what will be covered in RESEARCH SKILLS please drop in and see Mr Mason in the Science staffroom.

Health

Health Care Plans

If your child requires a Health Care Plan as determined by their GP, please email or drop in an updated copy to the Front Office as soon as possible.

Online consent for school vaccinations

If your child is in Year 7 or Year 10 this year, you can now provide online consent for their routine school vaccinations.

In Year 7, students are offered free vaccines for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) and human papillomavirus (HPV). In Year 10, students are offered the meningococcal ACWY vaccine.

Vaccination will only be provided at school if consent has been received.

How to provide consent:

1. To complete online consent for your child’s school vaccinations, visit NSW Health
2. Follow the steps to log in to your existing ServiceNSW account. This is the same account you may already use to renew your driver’s licence. If you don’t have a ServiceNSW account, refer to ServiceNSW to create one.
3. Update or confirm your personal details in ServiceNSW as required.
4. Complete the School Vaccination Consent Form for your child/ren. You will need to:

• Enter your child’s personal details
• Provide the Medicare card details for you and your child
• Read the linked Parent Information Sheet and privacy statement
• Provide consent

If you or your child do not have a Medicare card, consent can still be provided by requesting a paper-based consent form directly from your child’s school.

The benefits of providing consent online:

• easily update your child’s details
• receive SMS and/or email notifications when vaccinations are given
• faster upload of vaccination records to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

For more information on routine school vaccinations, please visit NSW Health.

Sports News

Parents and caregivers are reminded to check their email for Wednesday Sport permission notes if their child is partaking in the following off-site sports:

• Netball
• CrossFit
• Walking
• PCYC
• Rec Games

Helpful Info

My child is sick, how do I notify the school? Notify the school by phone or reply to the text that will be automatically sent to you if your child is not at school.

What do I do if my child is late? Notify the school by phone or send a signed note with your child stating the reason for their lateness. The note must be taken to the Front Office on arrival at school.

What happens if I need to pick up my child during the day? Notify the school by phone or send a signed note with your child stating the reason for leaving the school grounds. This note must be presented to the Front Office before 9am. If the student needs to leave during a class, they will be given a pass to show their teacher the time they need to leave. They will need to sign out at the Front Office and sign back in again when they return. The reason for their absence must be justifiable, eg. a doctor’s appointment.

What happens if I need to pick up my child in an emergency? Please call the Front Office, not your child, and allow at least 10 minutes for the student to make their way to the Front Office.

Bell Times

Gunnedah High School has new bell times for 2023. The school day will now end at 3.15pm. There is no change to bus times, students will be supervised until their bus arrives.

Study periods for Seniors

Year 11: Students need to be at school all day from 9am until 3.15pm, even if a study period is timetabled for the first or last period of the day. Students need to sign in at the Front Office if their first class is a study period, then proceed to Senior Study or the Library.

Year 12: If a study period is scheduled for their first or last period of the day, students do not need to be at school during that time. They must sign in and out at the Front Office when arriving and leaving. Students cannot leave during the day for any other study periods.

P&C Meeting

Tuesday 28 February - All welcome

The P&C meet on the fourth Tuesday of every month during term from 6-7pm in the school library. All parents and caregivers are welcome to attend.

To add an item to the agenda please email gunnedah-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

School Uniform

Sports shirts have arrived and are available to purchase for $35. These shirts are to be worn on Wednesdays only.

The 2023 GHS Uniform Price List shows all available uniform options. The Uniform Shop is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8.30-10.30am.

Meet our Staff

In each newsletter we will introduce one of our talented teachers or non-teaching staff. This week we've selected our Deputy Principal, Mrs Simone Carlyon.

Mrs Carlyon

• I’m a runner 🏃‍♀️
• I have 4 kids - 15, 14, 12, and 10
• I love health and fitness
• I have been a PDHPE, HSIE, English, and Teacher Librarian.

Cultural

Year 9 Aboriginal Studies students are working on their own didgeridoos and clapsticks. We'll share more photos as they progress.

Library News

eBooks and Audiobooks are coming to our Library!

Look out for more info in the next newsletter.

SRC Fundraiser

Valentine’s Day provided the perfect opportunity for our SRC to kick-off their 2023 fund-raising.

Students and staff were able to purchase a heart balloon or a ‘boombox serenade’ for their Valentine (or bestie) to enjoy. At recess, a delicious bake sale offered cupcakes, heart cookies, and more for sale.

More than $100 was raised. The charity SRC is supporting this year will be decided soon, and then the funds will be donated.