From the Principal
There are many different times in the year when parents are reminded of the significant challenges they face in raising children. This may be when they receive their child’s unfavourable semester report, or when their child shares a disappointment; missing out on a position of leadership or losing in a team final, or it might be when a child shares their anxiety about some social interaction that is troubling them.
In each of these cases one of the key factors contributing to the child’s difficulty in dealing with these disappointments is self-doubt. I have observed this same phenomenon in many different schools over time and have no hesitation in stating that self-doubt and lack of confidence holds more young people back than any other factor I have experienced in my thirty years as an educator.
A parent can send their child to a school such as Northholm but the choice of school alone won’t guarantee a child will be happy or that they will achieve. The critical factor will always be a child having confidence in their abilities. Real confidence-building is the most important skill you can bring to your role as a parent. Children with healthy self-esteem and self-confidence learn more, achieve more, have more friends and are generally happier than those with low levels of confidence.
I do admit however, that building a child’s self-confidence is not an easy task. It takes, time, commitment and considerable patience. Building a child’s self-confidence is not just a matter of heaping positive comments on
As parents and as educators we need to tackle children’s lack of confidence on a number of different fronts – that is, what they think...head, how they feel…heart and what they do…hands.
We need to:
Foster positive mindsets in young people and a real sense of optimism.
Help young people overcome their fears and anxieties so they can take more risks socially and academically.
Develop a lasting sense of independence and self-sufficiency so they can really start achieving.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you to Mrs Hooper, Ms Hastie, Ms Smith, Mrs Rudd, Mr Kinch and Mr Childs who accompanied our very excited Year Five and Year Six students on their excursions to Bathurst and Canberra…Quite a commitment in the middle of Winter!
MORE GOOD NEWS FOR EMILY JAMGOTCHIAN
Emily is on a roll at the moment! She has just received notification that she has been accepted into the Triathlon NSW Development Squad. Well done Emily!
NAPLAN STUDENT REPORTS – A MESSAGE FROM ACARA
As we approach the return of NAPLAN student results, ACARA has written an ‘open letter to parents’ with clear messages about NAPLAN student reports, how to read them, what to do with them and what’s next for students. Click the link to view:
http://www.northholm.nsw.edu.au/assets/pdfs/naplan-letter-for-parents-20140801112414am.pdf
Lynne Guthridge
Key Dates
IN TERM THREE
28 Jul – 8 Aug HSC Trial Exams
Tue 5 Aug Year Seven and Eight Study Skills Information Night Wed 6 Aug Year Eleven Student/Parent/Teacher Night
4 – 8 Aug Year Ten Work Experience
Fri 8 Aug Years Five, Six, Seven and Eight School Disco Thu 14 Aug Year Eight into Year Nine Information Night Thu 14 Aug Year Nine and Ten Music and Drama Evening 15-17 Aug Ski Weekend
Mon 18 Aug Visual Arts, Design Technology and Drama HSC Major Works Showcase Wed 20 Aug Vaccinations – HPV (Dose 3), VZV (Chicken Pox)
Mon 25 Aug Music and Drama HSC Recital Night Wed 17 Sep Year Twelve Last Day Classes
Fri 19 Sep Last Day Term Three
TERM DATES 2014
Term Three Mon 14 Jul – Fri 19 Sept (10 weeks)
Term Four Tue 7 Oct – Fri 5 Dec (9 weeks including Speech Night week)
P&C SOCIAL COMMITTEE / CLASS PARENT FUNCTION DATES
Wed 20 Aug P&C Meeting, Northholm Grammar School – 7.30pmWed 17 Sep P&C Meeting, Northholm Grammar School – 7.30pm
MUSIC AND DRAMA HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE RECITAL NIGHT
On that note, the Higher School Certificate Music performances will be on the following week, Monday 25 August from 7.00pm in the Addison Centre for Performing Arts. Music One students have been polishing their solo performances and will present a range of repertoire from their chosen topics; these include Jazz, An Instrument and its Repertoire, Popular Music and Theatre Music. Again, family, friends and members of the Northholm Grammar School community are encouraged to come along and support the students. This is also an excellent opportunity for younger students who wish to pursue Music for their HSC to gain an understanding of the course requirements. Tea, coffee and light refreshments will be served.
Catherine Manalili
Head of Creative and Performing Arts
Careers
CAREERS BOARD NOW ON DISPLAY!
You will notice our fantastic new Careers Board outside my office which provides students with information on upcoming university/college open days, job opportunities and more! Fliers are pinned to the Board and booklets (which are categorised into 3 groups: Universities, Colleges and TAFE) are stored in the purpose built table under the Board.
Students are encouraged to have a look at the Board and see me with any queries you may have regarding further studies or job opportunities.
UNIVERSITIES OPEN DAYS (AUGUST - SEPTEMBER) University of Newcastle
Thursday 7 August 3.00pm to 6.00pm, Port Macquarie Campus Saturday 16 August 10.00am to 3.00pm, Central Coast Campus Saturday 23 August 10.00am to 4.00pm, Callaghan Campus Web: www.newcastle.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Saturday 16 August
All day tours and information sessions cover degrees, scholarships and accommodation. Web: www.uow.edu.au
Australian Catholic University, Canberra (Signadou) Campus
Saturday 30 August 9.00am to 4.00pm
223 Antill Street, Watson ACT Web: www.acu.edu.au
Web: www.anu.edu.au
Phone: 6125 4643 for individual, tailored campus visits.
University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy
Saturday 30 August Web: www.unsw.adfa.edu.au University of Canberra Saturday 30 August 9.00am to 4.00pm Web: www.canberra.edu.au
University of Notre Dame, Australia, Sydney Campus
Saturday 30 August 9.00am to 3.00pm
104 Broadway, Broadway NSW 2007. Web: www.nd.edu.au/sydney
University of Sydney
Saturday 30 August
Web: http://sydney.edu.au/future_students
University of Technology, Sydney
Saturday 30 August, Sydney Campus 11.00am to 1.00pm
Saturday 6 September, Kuring-gai Campus 9.00am to 4.00pm
Phone: 9514 171, Web: www.uts.edu.au
University of Western Sydney
Sunday 31 August 10.00am to 2.00pm
(UWS Parramatta Campus, Corner of James Ruse Drive and Victoria Road, Rydalmere) Web: www.uws.edu.au
Australian Catholic University, North Sydney Campus
Australian Catholic University, Strathfield Campus
Saturday 13 September 8.30am to 4.00pm
COLLEGE OPEN DAYS (AUGUST - SEPTEMBER) William Blue College
Saturday 16 August
North Sydney Campus, Level 9, 171 Pacific Highway, North Sydney Web: www.williamblue.edu.au
Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
Saturday 30 August 10.00am to 1.00pm
Blue Mountains Hotel School - 1 Chambers Road, Leura 2780 NSW
Bedford College
Saturday 6 September, Glebe Campus 9.30am to 3.00pm
Saturday 6 September, 13 September and Friday 14 November, Norwest Campus 9.30am to 3.00pm
Web: www.bedford.edu.au
Southern Cross University, The Hotel School, Sydney
Saturday 13 September 9.00am – 1.00pm
Location: 60 Phillip Street, Sydney,
Web: www.hotelschool.scu.edu.au
Tocal Agricultural College Open Day
Friday 26 September and 3 October 10.00am to 3.00pm,
Target Group: Year Ten, Eleven and Twelve leavers, Phone: 1800 025 520 or 02 4939 888, Email: [email protected]
Louise Hooper
Head of Student Services
Sport
The next few weeks are going to be extremely busy with a number of carnivals and gala days taking place. It is fantastic to see the students actively engaging in the wide variety of co-curricular opportunities that are available to them in sport. The Hills Zone Winter Competitions are getting close to their conclusion and we
noticeboard outside the Sports office to do so to see if they have been successful in being selected for this squad. A permission note regarding this carnival has gone home via e-mail and I ask that students return these promptly to the Sports department so that we are able to finalise the team. The HICES Athletics Carnival is also being held later this term and a permission note will be e-mailed students in this team by the end of the week. Students in Years Three to Six need to return their notes for the Northwest Basketball Challenge as soon as possible.
UPCOMING SPORTS DATES – TERM 3
Thu 14 Aug Year Three Sports Gala Day Tue 19 Aug HZSA Athletics Carnival
Wed 27 Aug Year Five Northwest Schools Basketball Challenge
HILLS ZONE WINTER SPORT COMPETITIONS
As a result of me having been on Year Six camp this week I have not been able to compile a list of reports on how our teams faired this week. I apologise for this and will ensure that next week’s edition contains as many reports highlighting the performances of our sporting teams as possible.
I encourage students and families to stay in close contact with dates and achievements via the Weekly Record and the Daysheet. If there are any questions about anything to do with the various competitions, please do not hesitate to contact the Sports Department directly.on 9656 2017.
Fixtures for Week 4
Sport Team Fixture Day Venue
Basketball - Boys Year 7 Northholm v Marian Tue 5 Aug Northholm Basketball - Boys Years 10+ Northholm v BYE Thu 7 Aug -
Football - Boys Years 7, 8 and 9 Northholm v NO GAME (Finals) Wed 6 Aug -
Netball Years 8 and 9 Northholm v WCC 3 Wed 6 Aug Kellyville Court 11 Netball Years 10+ Northholm v NO GAME Wed 6 Aug -
Rugby Union 14's Northholm v NO GAME Mon 4 Aug -
NSW U/13’s STATE HOCKEY TEAM
The school would like to extend their congratulations to Rashil Jetley (Year Seven) who has been selected as a member of the NSW U/13’s State Hockey Team. This is a fantastic achievement. The team will be contesting the National Championships in Adelaide in October this year. Well done again Rashil.
Greg Kinch
Acting Head of Sport and Coaching
Argyle & Tweed (Uniform Shop)
ARGYLE AND TWEED
Opening times during Term
Tuesdays and Fridays 8.00am to 11.00am Phone: 9656 1045
Phone orders are available by using Visa or MasterCard. Please note: that due to Department of Health regulations, swimming costumes and hats bought at the Uniform Shop cannot be exchanged.
Northholm P&C
CANTEEN
Many thanks to our volunteers this week. Next week we look forward to seeing:
MONDAY (1st) 4 Aug Elizabeth Hamilton and Melissa Dimmock TUESDAY (1st) 5 Aug Laragh Conn and Darlis Reen
WEDNESDAY (1st) 6 Aug Kerrie Guthrie, Kellie Burns and Katherine Henderson THURSDAY (1st) 7 Aug Joanna Davies and Caroline Payton
FRIDAY (2nd) 8 Aug Sue Upton, Tamara Taylor and Glenda Snow
Lauren Coetzee
Canteen Roster Secretary 0409 553 889
SECOND HAND UNIFORM SHOP - Opening Times
End of Term Three - Change to Summer Uniform
Wednesday 6 August 3.00pm to 5.00pm Wednesday 13 August 3.00pm to 5.00pm Wednesday 20 August 3.00pm to 5.00pm
Wednesday 10 September 3.00pm to 5.00pm Wednesday 17 September 3.00pm to 5.00pm Saturday 20 September 10.00am to 2.00pm Sunday 21 September 10.00am to 2.00pm
For more details please go to: www.northholm.nsw.edu.au/uniform/second-hand-uniform/ or email
Liz Nadalutti
Secondhand Uniform Coordinator
