| Newsletter 19th June 2009 |
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PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
On Tuesday we celebrated “World Cleaner’s Day” with a morning tea for our wonderful cleaners. Thank you again to them for all the commitment that they show to their work each day. They ensure that our facilities are well looked after and their commitment is much appreciated.
Student academic reports for semester one are currently being finalised and they will be posted to parents by June 29. If they do not arrive during the holidays, please contact the school on July 13 when the office reopens after the holidays and check that the mailing address that we have on our system is accurate. Parent teacher interview evening is on Tuesday, July 21. There will again, be no need for an appointments to be made.
Farewell Mr Mucha. Last week Dan Mucha indicated that he is retiring at the end of term. Thank you Dan for the amazing positive influence you have had on so many students who have come through Sunnybank High since your appointment here in 1973. We thank you also, for your inspiration and commitment to so many extra curricular programs that have been offered. We will miss you but we wish you good health and happiness in your retirement.
There are many colds and sniffles around at present. I ask that parents support the health of our entire school community by keeping students at home if they are unwell.
Please make sure that school contact data and emergency information is accurate so that we can contact you quickly if your student needs to be collected from school.
I am on leave for three weeks following the holidays and while I am away, Donna Hedges will be acting Principal. I know she will do a fine job and that she will be welcomed into our great Sunnybank High community.
Holidays commence on Friday June 26. Students return to school on Tuesday, July 14. Have a
happy and safe holidays.
Diane Hicks
Principal
LIBRARY
Term Two in the Library has once again started at a hectic pace .Our Year Elevens are engaged in research on Nazi Germany. Our Year Ten’s will be discovering the mysteries of Ancient Egypt and Year Nine SOSE will be looking at the affects of development on many endangered species throughout the World. These are only some of the research topics being tackled by our students this Term. It is the Library with its many and varied resources: book, Reference tools, DVD’s and the Internet which provides our students with the high quality information they require to complete their research and assignment work as well as providing access to the appropriate computer hardware to deliver their Power Point presentations.
Our students quickly discover from doing research in the Library that it truly is the gateway to the world of fascinating information. Just a quick click of the mouse and they can be in touch with a plethora of information on any topic.
As well as computer access students have access to quality print information from the fifty thousand book items available. Access to this information can be obtained through our automated library system which has been networked across the system.
It was also very pleasing to note that there has been an increase in the number of our students engaging in wider reading during Term One. Quite a large number of novels were borrowed from our Fiction section by students. If you want to improve your English this is the way to go about it. Remember the old saying, “reading truly is the food for our imagination.”
The following are some Internet sites you may find useful when doing research.
Global Carbon Exchange:
This website calculates the impact of carbon footprints and the necessary offsets to compensate.
Wicked-Topics: Eat Well and Exercise:
This resource comes from the NZ Ministry of Education. This interactive website encourages children to engage in physical activity and eat a balanced diet.
Earth Calender:
Students can discover the diversity of holidays and celebrations around the World. They can search by date, country, religion, and even lunar phases.
Animal Fact Sheets:
This website provides facts on reptiles, birds and animals. It also contains information, quizzes and photos and provides links to related topics including National Parks, nature conservation and cultural heritage.
Mrs J. Heikkinen (Teacher Librarian)
Mrs J. Heikkinen
Teacher Librarian
RUGBY LEAGUE
It has been a big month for Rugby League at Sunnybank High, with teams in all grades beginning or continuing in their respective competitions. In the Year 8’s the ‘Firsts’ have continued their strong form in the Elite Broncos Challenge competition. In the past month the boys have defeated Mountain Creek 36-20, Keebra Park 14-12 and Coombabah 58-6. The match against Keebra Park at Southport was particularly pleasing as Keebra Park were previously undefeated, this now leaves Sunnybank as the only undefeated team in the competition at the top of the ladder.
The Year 8 ‘Seconds’ Team have kicked off their season in the District Competition with strong victories against Park Ridge 36-4 and Macgregor 42-0. The boys are coming along well and are starting to produce some great team play.
The Year 9’s look to be the big improvers thus far with two big wins in the District competition to start the season. They look like they could go all the way through to the Metropolitan finals and also qualify for the end of season Broncos Challenge finals if they continue with their current form.
The Year 10’s have also had a promising start to the season with two solid victories and they will also be eying off the Metropolitan Finals later in the season.
The Opens ‘Firsts’ season kicked off in successful fashion with a win against local rivals Cavendish road, however the last two matches have seen the boys defeated by the very strong Keebra Park and Palm Beach Currumbin. This week the boys travel to the North side of town to take on Wavell. With a fully fit team the ‘Firsts’ have the ability to be a very good team come finals time, but unfortunately there has been a real struggle with injuries this season.
The Opens ‘Seconds’ have also been playing very well of late with a victory against St.Thomas More College 30-12 in a Trial match which will hopefully become an annual event. The match prepared the boys well for the Karawatha District gala day which the boys also won. This moves the team onto the Metropolitan finals later in the season.
All the best of luck to all teams for their games this week and we will be back soon with further updates as the season progresses.
Mr.Petrie
Rugby League Coordinator
SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS EXCELLENCE PROGRAM
YEAR 10
At the beginning of this year we examined projectile motion using air powered water rockets. We determined the optimum mass of the rocket and volume of water that produced the longest flight. We did hit the school a few times with the rockets but no damage was done.
We are also testing the hypothesis that fish have a 7 second memory. We are designing mazes that the fish need to swim through to get to their food. As the experiment continues, we will make the mazes more complex and time the fish.
We have started a longitudinal ecological study of different one metre square areas around the school. Eventually we intend to make a short movie showing the changes that have occurred through the year.
Bec Seib
YEAR 7 & 8
The Science Enrichment Program with Mrs Partha on every Tuesday and Thursday mornings is a lot of fun. We have figured out challenging puzzles and done exciting experiments. “Slime – making” and “super bouncy balls” were very enjoyable and everyone had a lot of fun. We eagerly look forward to continuing this program in semester 2.
Calvin Lewis (year 7) & Sarah Miller (year 8)
EDUCATION TAX REFUND
You may be able to claim your textbook fees in your 2008-2009 tax returns. If you still have outstanding textbook fees you can pay before the end of June and be able to claim this on your tax. If you have been paying by Centrepay you may collect your receipts from the Finance Office. Below is information from the Australian Taxation Office.
Education Tax Refund - Don't forget to claim.
How do I claim the Education Tax Refund? Put in your tax return. If you don't lodge a tax return, claim on a separate form or over the phone. If you use a tax agent, make sure you ask them to claim for you.
The Education Tax Refund lets you claim up to 50 per cent of eligible education expenses for school children. If you are eligible, you can get back up to $375 for each primary student and up to $750 for each secondary student.
You can claim things like text books, stationery and even internet costs. Remember, you need to keep all receipts for expenses you claim.
If you receive Family Tax Benefit Part A for a child at primary or secondary school, you will be eligible. Some other people are eligible too. To find out more about this and other information such as what you can and can't claim go to:
or call the Tax Office on 13 28 61.
BLUE LIGHT DISCO
Mt Gravatt Blue Light is holding its next dance on Friday July 3 at 7pm in the Sunnybank State High School Assembly Hall, Gager Street, Sunnybank. The dance is for children strictly between the ages of 7 and 14 and is between 7pm and 9.30pm. There are lucky door prizes handed out during the night. This event is fully supervised by police officers and blue card holders. Cost of entry is $5.
Shane Stanley
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