http://www.sirjosephb-h.Schools.nsw.edu.au Ph: 9773 6054 Fax: 9792 3863 Turvey Street, Revesby NSW 2212
Issue 2 - Term 2 - Week 9 Friday, 17 April 2020
Principal ’s Message
As Term 2 draws to a close and we wonder where the year has gone, it’s a good time to reflect on some of the wonderful achievements of our students over the past few months. Achievements such as our all-conquering debating teams (under the wonderful guidance of Mrs
Papagianopoulos) who have already had some strong wins in the Year 9,
10 and 11 competitions and our many and varied sporting teams which are progressing further than ever before in their respective state knockouts with the help of great coaches such as Mr Misic, Mr Davidson and Mr
Garlick. Karim Zreika and Henry Vo of Year 12 have been able to access fantastic opportunities in their chosen field of acting and a number of our students have learned to sail as part of The
Helmsman Project, which we are extremely fortunate to be a part of. Our students have also been able to widen their experiences at a number of our partner universities (University of Western
Sydney, The University of Sydney and University of
Technology Sydney, to name a few) and through work placements with a wide range of companies.
When our students do so well in this wide range of endeavours, it brings great credit to the school and further enhances our reputation in the community.
It is not uncommon for many of our casual teachers to tell me that Sir Joseph Banks is their favourite school to work at because of the friendly students and the supportive staff. Therefore, it upsets me greatly when a small minority of our students act in a thoughtless and selfish manner when travelling to or from school. Misbehaviour or rudeness on the buses or around the local community destroys all the hard work done by so many people at our
Inspiring excellence through opportunity, innovation and success school and lessens our name within the local community. This hurts everyone within the school in the long run. It is important to remember that whenever a student is wearing our uniform, they are a representative of Sir Joseph Banks High
School and that is something to be really proud of.
On Wednesday 18 th June, a very successful Year
11 and 12 Parent/Teacher Night was held. There was also a special presentation of Principal’s
Awards to ten Year 12 students who achieved exceptional results in their mid-course reports.
I would also like to take the opportunity to remind parents and caregivers that a couple of the most important events on our calendar are fast approaching. Parent/Teacher Night for Years 7-10 will take place immediately after the winter holidays on Wednesday 16th July and Subject Selection
Night for Years 8 and 10 takes place on the following Wednesday 23rd July. It is vitally important that parents and caregivers are in attendance on the relevant evenings to support their children. I look forward to seeing you there.
Important Dates
End of Term 2
School Development Day
Students return
Parent/Teacher Night
Year 7 – 10
Subject Selection Night
Year 8 and 10
P&C meeting
P&C Trivia Night @
Revesby Workers Club
Friday 27
Wednesday 16
Wednesday 23
Wednesday 30
Friday 5 th
Brad Mitchell th
Monday 14
Tuesday 15 th th
Principal
June
July
July th rd th
July
July
July
September
Page 1

Issue 4 - Term 3 - Week 6
School Leadership Team 2014
Rosalie Nguyen, Filip Stempien, Angel Luong and Mahmoud
Roumie
Meet Sir Joseph Banks High School ’s school captains for 2014 – Angel Luong and Filip
Stempien. When asked what it means to represent the school, both Angel and Filip agree that it is our unique culture, warm atmosphere and sense of community that makes them proud to be school captains. These duties aside, both students are currently working hard towards their HSC. Angel who shows a passion for creative endeavours is hoping to complete a degree in primary school teaching at university next year. Whilst Filip who excels in English and modern history, is looking forward to a career in journalism with a focus on foreign correspondents. Both Angel and Filip share a strong sense of responsibility for all students at
Sir Joseph Banks and feel privileged to be held in such high regard. Ultimately, the most rewarding attribute of being a school captain for both students is the opportunity to be involved with all students across the school.
Parent/Teacher Night & Subject Selection Night
Immediately after the winter holiday break, on
Wednesday 16th July, we will be holding the
Parent/ Teacher Night for all of our Year 7-10 students and a week later (Wednesday 23rd July) will be Subject Selection Night for our Year 8 and
10 cohorts. To ensure that our students make informed subject choices for next year, everyone in those year groups and their parents/caregivers are asked to attend. Further information about these events will be sent home closer to time. In my experience, it is the students who have strong support at home and clear lines of communication with the school that are our highest achievers and those that reach their potential. We look forward to seeing large numbers of our parents at these
Inspiring excellence through opportunity, innovation and success
Friday, 17 April 2020 important events, so that we can work together to support your child's progress and development.
The Helmsman Project
Our student sailors have set foot on dry land after an exciting week long voyage along the east coast of Australia. They have had to readjust to living life on solid ground after life on the water. Several claimed that their classrooms were rocking, especially Solomon and Alvin who felt these effects for a week after stepping back onto solid ground.
The rehabilitation to dry land came with a series of half yearly exams the week following the students ’ return. I guess there really is, no rest for the weary, at least not for the sailors anyway.
The students, who were accompanied by their deputy and teacher, Mr Endicott, had some thrilling experiences to share when they arrived back at school. They were forced to enjoy Alvin's excitement as he caught his first ever flathead, screaming o ut, "YEAH… I CAUGHT A FISH" so loudly that his voice echoed across the bay and woke local residents in the middle of the night.
Solomon and Bajram fought a constant battle to overcome the effects of sea sickness, (with
Solomon heaving over the side of the boat and
Bajram sleeping his sickness away) emerging as victorious heroes. Mr Endicott flipped burgers in the kitchen, Justin and Alvin revised for exams and everyone went fishing, swimming and rowing on a small beach in Pitt Water Bay. There was a beach cricket contest between Mr Endicott, Alvin and
Justin where they used a small log as an improvised cricket bat and Mr Endicott made an unforgettable classic, one handed, outstretched catch to claim a wicket off Justin. The highlight would have to be Solomon and Bajram fleeing from a shark which they claim was circling their dingy whilst they were fishing.
The crew reflected on all of their experiences at the end of the voyage and finished with a great sense of achievement. The Helmsman Project will continue for the students as they plan their new
‘WOW' goals to achieve. There is even talk of a trip to New York City.
Justin Whiting

Issue 4 - Term 3 - Week 6
J.J. Pollock Science Scholarship
The J.J. Pollock Science Scholarship is merit based and only available to students who completed their HSC course of study at Sir Joseph
Banks High School and who enrol in a tertiary science course in the year following their HSC to study any field of science or engineering.
Friday, 17 April 2020
Patrick, who is now in his second year of tertiary studies in science, recently received the remaining
$2500 for 2014. Mahmoud has been awarded the
J.J. Pollock Undergraduate Science Scholarship for the period 2014/2015. He received this award for gaining the highest HSC result at Sir Joseph Banks
High School for a student enrolling in a science course in a tertiary institution in the following year.
The scholarship consists of a cash grant of $5000 over two years to support the successful completion of a program of study in the sciences at a tertiary institution. This annual scholarship has been made possible by a generous donation from the family of J.J. Pollock who was a very well respected and remembered head teacher of science at Sir Joseph Banks High School for 22 years.
Nikolas Medojevic, recipient of the 2010 J.J. Pollock Science
Scholarship, has graduated with a Bachelor of Science
(Forensic Science) after three years. Nikolas was then accepted into an Honours program with the National
Measurement Institute -
Australian Sports Drug Testing
Laboratory. This national laboratory does all of
Australia's doping testing for the World Anti-Doping
Agency. Nik's project is based around steroids and developing a better way of detecting one specific steroid to improve doping control in sport. This research should have a scientific journal article published and be seen internationally. Nikolas says that getting first hand laboratory experience and working with a fantastic team is an amazing experience!
Nikolas is the first of his direct family to go to university. He says it's a great feeling knowing that he's accomplished something huge.
Congratulations Nikolas! The students and staff of
Sir Joseph Banks High School are very proud of you.
Congratulations also go to Patrick Chau (Sir
Joseph Banks High School HSC graduate 2012) and Mahmoud Hammad (Sir Joseph Banks High
School HSC graduate 2013), both of whom received scholarship funding this year through the
J.J. Pollock Science Scholarship for their studies of science at university.
Inspiring excellence through opportunity, innovation and success
FACS Housing NSW Youth Scholarship Award
On Tuesday 20 th May 2014, Justin Krojs participated in the Housing NSW Youth Scholarship
Awards Ceremony held at
Casula Powerhouse.
Justin Krojs, of Year 11 and
Youssef Youssef of Year 12 have each received $2000 to assist them with resources to support their studies during Stage 6.
Congratulations boys. We are very proud of you.
Year 11 debaters triumph in Round 2 debate
Our Year 11 debaters travelled to Sefton High
School to compete in Round 2 of the Premier's
Debating Challenge.
Despite suffering a defeat in Round 1, our debaters bounced back using their exceptional skills to win in what was one of their closest, yet finest, debates.
Congratulations to Kameron Omar, Waleed
Quader, Matthew Haywood and Long Trinh for their outstanding effort.

Issue 4 - Term 3 - Week 6
Surviving the HSC
If your child is studying for the HSC, you're probably feeling the stress too. Many parents want to help but don't want to interfere.
As well as pre-exam tension, there are other common factors that can make life seem even more challenging for the whole family.
Year 12 is often the year when students:

Lose interest in school

Develop an intense relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend

Get their driver's licence

Experiment with legal or illegal drugs

Have a part-time job

Develop an eating disorder

Suffer from depression.
If any of these concerns sounds familiar, don't despair. You're not alone - and this won't last forever.
Find out more about surviving the HSC on the
School A to Z website.
Video: Teachers talk about how parents can help their teen manage the study load and stress when they're preparing for the HSC.
CAPA News
The CAPA faculty has been very busy this semester! Term 2 is an important term in establishing quality concepts and techniques for the music, drama and visual arts major projects.
Many hours have been spent working with Year 12 before, during and after school. I strongly encourage all Year 12 parents to support their children by asking them about their major works and gently persuading them to work more consistently at home.
Last term, we ran the Joeys Photo 5 competition which resulted in a very successful exhibition of student work in the drama room. The winner, Cloe from Year 8, was rewarded with a digital camera,
Inspiring excellence through opportunity, innovation and success
Friday, 17 April 2020 tripod and memory card. The winners all received
$25 gift cards. We were astounded by the quality of work produced and we are certainly looking forward to next year's entries, although we may have to find a bigger venue to house all the great work.
As the head of CAPA, I very much enjoy walking into the CAPA block hearing music from various bands practising at lunch. We constantly have students knocking on our door asking if the music room is free for practice which is a real credit to Ms
Witten-Hannah who is working hard with her students. The choir is also sounding amazing!
James Cipollino from Year 10 has been successful in gaining a place in a 10 week visual arts workshop at the Arts Unit where he will work with a practising artist. We hope he enjoys the opportunity and produces some super work!
We are pleased that students are taking advantage of drama opportunities available to them. A group of Year 9, 10 and 11 students are participating in a youth theatre ensemble at Bankstown Arts Centre and drama intensive workshops at the Arts Unit. A big congratulations to Karim Zreika who has landed a role in the international movie 'Gods of Egypt' and to Henry Vo who will be the lead actor in a short film called 'Eve'. We are so proud of you all!
Brenda Stajcic, Happy Head Teacher
Art Tragic
Joeys Photo 5 Competition winner

Issue 4 - Term 3 - Week 6
Boys touch football
A big congratulations to the boys touch football team who have advanced to the third round of the touch football knockout. For the second year in a row, the boys have made it to the central venue and will play early in Term 3. Well done to all the boys and to the coach, Mr Davidson.
Social media, kids and privacy
Regardless of your child's age, the world may already know a lot more about them than you suspect. According to recent research:

92% of children under the age of two have a digital presence (it starts with proud parents posting newborn baby photos on Facebook or
Instagram)

A quarter of Australian children aged between eight and 12 use Facebook, despite the minimum age for a user being 13

More than 20 per cent of tweens publish photos of themselves on the photo-sharing website
Instagram

Young people between the ages of 14 and 19 have an average of 453 fans, friends or followers on social media.
Even if you don't know a lot about social media yourself, you can help your child stay safe online simply by asking them about the social media accounts they are using, and regularly reminding them of the importance of keeping their personal information private.
The Information and Privacy Commission NSW has created a lot of practical information for parents and children, to support 2014 Privacy Awareness
Week. It includes:
Inspiring excellence through opportunity, innovation and success
Friday, 17 April 2020

Security tips for parents and teens

Resources to help prevent identity theft

Information on cyberbullying

Guides to protecting your digital reputation

Information about mobile apps and the data they may collect.
You can also find a parent's guide to social media – including Kik Messenger, Instagram, Vine and
Facebook - in the School A to Z technology glossary.
Panania North and SJBHS special project
Members of our student promotions team recently had the opportunity to work with Panania North
Public School's SRC on a special project to promote Panania's three key behaviour expectations.
After a fun filled photography session with SRC students at Panania North, Cloe, Asmara, Danial and Justin worked in the MAD Room to create an animated PowerPoint presentation that was shown at Panania's assembly. Staff and students laughed as Sally Safe, Rex Respectful and Lenny Learner delivered their important messages to the school.
The project was a great success. Students from both schools had so much fun and learnt so many new skills that we can't wait to work together again.
Visit the website to view the photo gallery.
P&C
The P&C is getting ready for a busy second half of
2014. What we have planned:

Trivia night @ Revesby Workers Club Friday 5 th
September 6:30 pm

Bunnings BBQ in Term 4 (tbc)

Joeys Movie Night @ Joeys Friday 28 th
November 2014
Any parents who would like to be involved in helping with preparations or would like to donate prizes for the Trivia Night or Movie Night please contact Anita Krayem on 9773 6042.

Issue 4 - Term 3 - Week 6
P&C Facebook
The P&C is happy to announce the launch of their
Facebook page. The page will be used as a link to parents and the wider community about the major events and what’s going on at SJBHS.
At the moment you can see photos from our
Tuesday Cake Decorating Class. This Facebook page will become the centre hub for finding out information about what the P&C are doing around the school and in what way you will be able to help.
You can help us reach our next milestone by liking us on Facebook.
2014 Trivia Night
The annual P&C Trivia Night will be held at
Revesby Workers Club in the Waratah Room on
Friday 5 th September at 6:30 pm. The P&C would like to thank Revesby Workers Club for donating the Waratah Room.
Tickets and table bookings can now be made at the front office. Tickets are $10 each or $100 for a table of ten. Start organising your teams for a wonderful night full of fun and great prizes.
If you require any more information or would like to donate or sponsor the Trivia Night please contact
Anita Krayem on 9773 6054.
Inspiring excellence through opportunity, innovation and success
Friday, 17 April 2020
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT
When your child is going to be absent to attend an appointment, always write a note in advance. If your child is ill, phone the school as early as possible that morning and write a note of explanation.
The Department of Education has attendance officers who will contact any home where a student’s attendance level falls below 85% - it allows them to check on the whereabouts of each child and to ensure that all students are safe. If your child is upset by any family matter, let the school know so they can provide support.
Bridges to Higher Education University Visits
2014
Every year Bridges to Higher Education organise visit for parents to come in and see what is available for their child at university level. Parents have the opportunity to see for themselves the educational environments and the options available to them.
The dates for 2014 are as follows:
ACU : Thurs 22 nd July 2014
The University of Sydney: Thurs 31 st July 2014
Macquarie University : Thurs 4 th September 2014
UTS : Wed 10 th September 2014
University of Western Sydney : Fri 17 th October
2014
The University of Sydney Visit
Parents are invited to attend The University of
Sydney Parent and Community Information Day.
This is a great opportunity for parents/caregivers to come and see what the university has to offer. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and see

Issue 4 - Term 3 - Week 6 for yourself what a wonderful place The University of Sydney is.
As part of the Bridges to Higher Education Program this is the first of many university visits for 2014.
To book your spot on any or all of the university visits please contact Anita Krayem on 9773 6054 to confirm your place.
Bring Your Own Device
As you may be aware the Digital Education
Revolution (DER) program where students in Year
9 were supplied with a laptop came to an end in
2013. So that students in the current Year 9 cohort can also have access to technology that will be used as they progress through their high school years many secondary schools have introduced a
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy where students can bring to school their own devices and use them at school.
The devices that students bring to school must have certain specifications so that they can connect
Inspiring excellence through opportunity, innovation and success
Friday, 17 April 2020 to the school ’s wireless network. More information was given out at two meetings organised for parents on Friday 20th and Monday 23rd June.
Parents of Year 9 students were mailed information regarding this.
If you were unable to attend either of these meetings and would like information about BYOD please look on the schools website. If you have further questions please do not hesitate to contact the school and speak to Mr Duffy the Local Area
Network Administrator or Mr Endicott .
Bankstown Council Youth Summit
Five of Sir Josephs Banks High School’s bright young minds attended the Bankstown Youth
Summit on Friday 13 th June. It was a fantastic opportunity for all students in the area to discuss hot topics that face the youth of Bankstown today.
To accompany a morning filled with group discussions, ice breakers and a presentation from
Stanley Remmy; an invitation was extended to students to create a presentation on one of the outlined topics that impact young people in
Bankstown. Our team of students chose to focus on mental health, the title of the presentation being
‘Pandora’s Box’. The students were extremely passionate about the topic and the changes they wanted to see in the community. This ranged from initiatives to reduce the stigma attached to mental health to physical actions such as chill out rooms in schools, mandatory mental health first aid and happy mind tents. These students should be congratulated on their efforts as they won first prize in their age group.