Thefortnightlynewsletter OfCastleHillHighSchool EXCELLENCE .

,,Thefortnightlynewsletter ofCastleHillHighSchoolEXCELLENCEVolume 11INNOVATIONSUCCESS9 August 2013PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGEGolden Anniversary Showcase – August 21Every year the school celebrates a showcase ofstudent music, dance, drama and song. This year itwill be a golden year, our 50th, hence the title: “GoldenAnniversary Showcase of the Performing Arts”. I thinkit’s safe to say there will be some 60s flavour in themusic to celebrate the school’s opening in 1963. Thiswill bring back memories for many.The anniversary showcase will take place onWednesday 21 August from 7.30pm in the SchoolAuditorium.As always, it promises to be an outstanding display ofstudent initiative, teamwork, talent and entertainment.Tickets can be purchased through Room 1(96344199) or on the night at the box office in theauditorium. I look forward to seeing you there.We are nearly 50 years oldReserve Saturday August 17 from noon until 4 pm –that’s when we have our Open Day to celebrate ourgolden anniversary. So much has been prepared andthe school is looking its best. Come along and see oldmusicals, take time to laugh at the 2000 oldphotographs from our archives, find your son ordaughter’s name (or, your name!) from the e scarves, ties, wine or coffee mugs,invest in a paver for the new BBQ area, take theguided tour using our very user friendly brochure withdetails of the school’s history . and much more.It really will be a terrific event.Trials are nearly overThe HSC Trial examinations for Year 12 will be completed on Monday 12 August. Students will return totimetabled classes on Tuesday 13 August where reflection on results will commence and a rigorous revisionprogram will be implemented.Teachers have been working in small teams marking in a similar way to procedures conducted by the Boardof Studies at Higher School Certificate marking centres in October and November. We employed outsidesupervisors to release teachers from supervision duties so that expertise in marking could be shared, deepdiscussions could be had and standards set in line with HSC practice. This valuable professional learningexercise not only benefits teachers and their knowledge, but of course our students as well.EXCELLENCEINNOVATIONSUCCESSSchool Telephone: 9634 4199 School Facsimile: 9899 6527 Website: http://www.castlehill-h.schools.nsw.edu.auPage 1

Annual Business Breakfast – August 16Annually, we open our school for a Business Breakfast inviting local businesses, community members,education stakeholders, local MPs and the teaching and student executive of Castle Hill High School. It’s atime for us to show the wider community who we are, what we believe and what we value. Our wonderfulhospitality department, including over thirty students, have created a delicious breakfast menu, the like ofwhich could be served in any first class restaurant. Excellence is prized by the Hospitality teachers and theirstudents, so we can expect a treat.The Business Breakfast will take place on Friday 16 August from 7.30am – 8.30am.Telstra tower – the work and opposition continuesA lively meeting was held at Castle Hill High School on the evening of Tuesday 6 August by interested andagitated community members opposed to the installation of a telecommunication tower on the roof of CastleHill RSL, less than 100 metres from the boundary of this school’s fence. A very informed and intelligentcommunity group has organised a number of letter drops and petitions so please look out for these.In the meantime I have written to our director, Mr Tim McCallum seeking his support of our opposition to thetower. Interestingly, the DEC “adopts a policy of prudent avoidance “ regarding telecommunication facilitiesand “has a preference for a distance of at least 500 metres from the boundary of the property” as set out inthe Mobile Telecommunication Facilities Policy (1997).Education funding – “OUR CHILDREN ARE WORTH IT”“Better Schools” – previously known as the Gonski Reform - is now a bipartisan federal policy. Both partieshave agreed to fund schools based on the model designed by David Gonski and his team of high poweredreviewers. Worth billions of dollars, this is a landmark achievement and reform, one that will pave the way forfuture generations and the betterment of our society.NSW boldly asserted itself with this reform. It was the first state to sign up to the federal government’snegotiations. You will recall that the education minister, Adrian Piccoli, visited Castle Hill High School earlierin the year, just after the signing of the deal. He proudly had his picture taken holding the now famous Gonskihand inscribed with “I give a Gonski”. Principals were proud of the fact that this was a minister prepared toinvest in education. All business people know that investment is critical if you want to grow, prosper andimprove; and it’s the same for education.It’s a shame that some people are easily offended by reference to the Gonski reforms. They don’t want toinvest in schools. They mustn’t have children or believe that quality in education can change lives.Vicki BrewerEXCELLENCEINNOVATIONSUCCESSSchool Telephone: 9634 4199 School Facsimile: 9899 6527 Website: http://www.castlehill-h.schools.nsw.edu.auPage 2

EXCELLENCEINNOVATIONSUCCESSSchool Telephone: 9634 4199 School Facsimile: 9899 6527 Website: http://www.castlehill-h.schools.nsw.edu.auPage 3

Bill Turner Cup 15’s Boys FootballThe Bill Turner Cup is one of the world’s largest team sport competitions.Over 400 schools compete each year – which means around 6,000 players from NSW,Queensland, ACT and Victoria. This knockout-style competition encourages fun and fair playfor players aged 15 and under in 2013.The Bill Turner Cup is in its 35th year in 2013.Castle Hill High School had a very successful 2013 in this competition. The team progressedup to the final 16Schools out of the over 400 schools competing. We were successful in winning the SydneyNorth Area through a 6-0 victory over Cherrybrook HS away followed by a 3-1 victory over atGalston HS at home. For the next round the team travelled up to Davidson HS where CastleHill was again successful with a 2-1 win. This now placed the team into the Sydney North Areafinal against Pennant Hills HS. This game was played away at Pennant Hills, the game wasevenly contested and the teams were only separated by a well taken goal from ZacSpethwhich was enough for us to gain a 1-0 win.We now moved into the final 16 schools and faced Trinity College at Hills Sports HS. The boysput in a fantastic effort against Trinity and unfortunately went down 3-0. All of the boys in theteam are to be commended for their sportsmanship, determination and team spirit.15’s Boys Football team – Taylor Cambaz, Lachlan Campbell, Matthew Cottam, JoshuaCramer, Damien Cupac, Liam Daynes, Joel Flude, Liam Gilchrist, Joshua Henderson, ConnorHolmes, Reuben, Laubscher, Shoaib Mohammed, ZacSpeth, Aaron Tobin, Walter Wegmannand Ethan Zirh.Congratulation boys!Mr WilliamsPD/H/PEEXCELLENCEINNOVATIONSUCCESSSchool Telephone: 9634 4199 School Facsimile: 9899 6527 Website: http://www.castlehill-h.schools.nsw.edu.auPage 4

CASTLE HILL HIGH SCHOOL50TH BIRTHDAY OPEN DAYAll parents, past, present and future, and past students and teachers areinvited to attend the school’sOpen Day on Saturday 17 August 2013 from 12 noon to 4.00pm.Tour the school grounds, corridors, classrooms, gym and auditorium. Your journey will finish inthe Common Room where all photos, DVDs and special memorabilia such as ties, scarves,wine and pavers may be purchased.On your journey you will visit The Louise Malyon Garden, the Art Gallery, different facultyclassrooms, the Library, just to mention a few of the highlights of your tour. Those pastparents and students will notice a huge improvement in the classroom and surrounding gardenareas.Come, tour the school and discover many more changes.EXCELLENCEINNOVATIONSUCCESSSchool Telephone: 9634 4199 School Facsimile: 9899 6527 Website: http://www.castlehill-h.schools.nsw.edu.auPage 5

CANTEEN NEWSWe’ve had a very busy start to Term 3 in the canteen.The winter menu continues to be popular, (there’s nothing likehot pasta on a cold winter’s day), but with unseasonal warmweather we are experiencing, we have decided to re-introduceSushi earlier than we expected.In an effort to encourage more students and staff to try thisdelicious healthy food we have reduced the price to 3.00 – avery popular decision! Sushi will be available every dayexcept Tuesdays.The School Open Day is fast approaching (August 17 12noonto 4pm). The Canteen will be operating as a café during this time, so if anyone would like to volunteertheir valuable time please call Joanna Sutherland on 9634 1188 (8am – 2pm). It should be a funafternoon, so if you have an hour or so to spare, please come and join us.The Canteen Café is a great opportunity to show visitors to the school, how wonderful our canteen isand advertise how healthy choices can be successful in the school environment.Joanna SutherlandCanteen Co-OrdinatorHOMESTAY REQUIREDEvery year we have our visit from Onojo, Japan.This year they will be with us from20th - 26th August.We are looking for homestays for3 twelve year old boys.If you are able to help, please contact KrisBaker (Japanese teacher)at the school on 9634 4199.EXCELLENCEINNOVATIONSUCCESSSchool Telephone: 9634 4199 School Facsimile: 9899 6527 Website: http://www.castlehill-h.schools.nsw.edu.auPage 6

NSW PS Millennium Marching Band(Pre game for Sydney Kings in February,ANZAC Day,pre game Sydney Roosters July 2013)The Millennium Marching Band entertained the crowd outside and inside the Entertainment Centrebefore the Sydney Kings basketball game on Sunday 24 February,2013 with a musical performanceand dance moves to Thriller, Louie Louie, I want you back, You can call me Al, Don't stop believin'and Spain.Millennium Marching Band completed two rounds of the ANZAC march playing Down Under, I amAustralian and the theme from The Great Escape. ABC commentators described the band as"spectacular". At the Roosters game on 20 July, the crowd was entertained by a Michael Jackson set(Thriller, ABC, I want you back).The band's major tour to the USA (Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle) in September, 2014looks set to go ahead. The MMB is looking for instrumentalists (e.g. trombone, tuba/sousaphone,flute, trumpet, clarinet, sax, euphonium, drummers/percussion) and colourguard (anyone who likes todance/move) for 2013 and the 2014 tour. Join Cameron Anderson (Year 12), Lachlan Anderson andDavid Clarke (both Year 8) in the MMB for fantastic music and performance opportunities. Google Millennium Marching Band Apply 2013.EXCELLENCEINNOVATIONSUCCESSSchool Telephone: 9634 4199 School Facsimile: 9899 6527 Website: http://www.castlehill-h.schools.nsw.edu.auPage 7