May 2015
Principal’s Message
Upcoming Events
25 to 17 May
Last week I had the pleasure
of reading 320 Year 12
reports. Generally I was
impressed with the effort
students are putting into
their subjects and the
diligence with which they
are applying themselves to
their
coursework
and
assessment tasks. It was lovely to award twenty two
students a Certificate of Excellence for their report and
to personally congratulate them on their achievement. I
would like to take this opportunity to thank our hard
working teachers for their very detailed reports and for
their involvement at the recent parent/ teacher
evening. Many of the parents I spoke to were extremely
grateful for the feedback they received and for advice
on strategies for improvement in the coming months. I
would also like to thank our SASS member Linda Lees
for her work on the night receipting fee payments. I
look forward to meeting Year 11 parents at the
forthcoming parent/teacher interviews on Tuesday.
Aboriginal Studies in Action
One of the best aspects of my job is joining in classroom
activities and seeing students engaged in authentic
learning. Recently Aboriginal Studies teacher Anatole
Zurrer invited me to his class to hear community leader
Aunty Fay Carroll talk to students about her experiences
as a young Aboriginal woman growing up in Australia in
the 1960s.
2 June
18 June
19 June
23 June
24 June
28 June
Week 6B
IMP camp
Week 7A
YR 11 Parent Teacher Interviews
Week 9A
Information Evening 4.30pm
June 19 - Year 11 Drama Night
Week 10B
NAIDOC Assembly
SRC Sleep Out
East Timor trip
Aunty Fay is a regular visitor to our campus and her
wisdom and advice is much valued by students and
staff. I am extremely proud that Blackwattle Bay is one
of a small number of schools in the State to offer
Aboriginal Studies. Our consistent above State Average
results in this subject is testament to the hard work of
Aboriginal Studies teacher Anatole Zurrer and
Samantha Arnull who provides academic support to our
Aboriginal students.
Praise for Public Education
An article ‘The Public School Advantage’ by the
President of the NSW Teachers Association, Maurie
Mulheron caught my attention recently. Based on
recent research from the University of Queensland and
30 other academic works Mulheron confirms what
parents of students enrolled in our College know; that
there is no academic advantage in sending a child to a
private school.
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This view is further supported by Associate Professor
Chris Ryan who has examined Australia’s performance
in reading and maths in the PISA testing program. He
states:
“At the school level the declines in performance of
schools have not been associated with many of their
observed characteristics, other than that the declines
appear to have been concentrated among private
schools. Where private schools once generated better
outcomes than public schools, given the compositions
of their student bodies, this was not the case after
2003.”
A recent study by Trevor Cobbold an economist with
the Australian Productivity Commission concludes that
private schools do not use the resources at their
disposal more effectively than public schools. The study
could not find any evidence of financial efficiency in the
non-government sector.
that are marketed on myths and protected by vested
interests with the funding advantage they enjoy leading
to a more unequal Australia.
The funding crisis has led to a growing gap between the
advantaged and disadvantaged.
As a nation we must do better. Our children deserve no
less”.
Blackwattle Bay Information Evening
I look forward to welcoming prospective Blackwattle
parents and students to our annual Information Evening
on Thursday June 18. This is an important event as it
gives families an opportunity to experience the campus,
meet the staff and find out about subjects and extra
curricula opportunities in the senior school. Our
Ambassadors and School Leaders will act as tour guides
during the evening and will be on hand to answer
questions and ensure the night runs smoothly.
The Importance of Sleep
One of the questions I invariably ask students referred
to me for poor academic progress and work ethic,
concerns how much sleep they get each night. Their
answer is often way below what is considered by
psychologists to be necessary for adolescents. The
following article sheds light on this issue:
Mulheron’s article concludes:
“What is happening in Australian education is that
private schools are effectively schools of social mobility
Teenagers don’t sleep enough

Just about everyone who has ever parented a teenager
has made a complaint along the following lines:
 They never go to bed at a reasonable time
 They operate in slow motion in the mornings
 They waste the whole weekend sleeping
Many teens, particularly older ones, find it hard
to sleep before 11pm. Most high schools start
before 9am.
Research has found that approximately 25% of
teenagers get less than 6.5 hours sleep on weeknights,
while only 15% get more than 8.5 hours.
 Teenager’s sleep on weekends can shift by an
average of over 3 hours from weekday sleep
patterns. This can be attributed to accumulating
sleep debt during the week, natural body clock
changes, and lifestyle choices.
Consequences of Teenagers Not Sleeping
 Studies have linked sleep deprivation with
depressive feelings in adolescents. In one study
of teens who were found to be depressed,
approx. 73% were not getting enough sleep.
 Research has shown lack of sleep is linked to
obesity in teenagers.
 There are clear connections between adequate
sleep and the ability of people to concentrate.
Studies have found direct relationships
The sleeping habits of teenagers form a part of the
common adolescent stereotype along with messy
rooms, moodiness, and vanity. What is not so common
is an understanding regarding the importance, effects,
or factors that influence teenagers sleeping patterns.
Facts about Teenagers Sleep
 Contrary to popular thought teens need nearly
as much sleep as children. The National Sleep
Foundation suggests teenagers require 9.25
hours of sleep per night.
 Biological sleep patterns (circadian timing
system) change during adolescence resulting in
a teenagers natural sleep pattern starting later
in at night. Research suggests this pattern does
not change back until the early 20’s.
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
between hours of sleep and academic
performance.
 For old teenagers driving while sleep deprived is
the equivalent of driving with a blood alcohol
level of 0.08% -illegal in many jurisdictions.
Approximately 20% of fatal road accidents
involve driver fatigue.
How To Help
We can’t control puberty induced sleep pattern changes
in teenagers, and it is beyond most adults to change the
starting times of high schools (though it is a cause
worthy of more attention.) However there are some
behavioural factors that can assist helping teenagers
sleep, or at the very least minimise sleep deprivation.
 Try to establish consistent bed times,
particularly as the weekend approaches



Minimise use of TV’s or computer screens
within an hour of going to bed.
Try to have homework completed well before
needing to go to sleep.
Avoid caffeine and sugar from late in the day.
Alcohol and nicotine will also mess with sleep
patterns.
Try to establish daily routines before bedtime
so the body learns to expect sleep soon.
Relaxing activities are obviously recommended.
-For more Information:
http://understandingteenagers.com.au/blog/2010/06/t
eenagers-dont-sleep-enough/#sthash.VFtdpPAx.dpuf
School Fees
The prompt payment of subject fees and other contributions helps us to create the best learning opportunities we
can provide. Generally, income collected by the school is used to support six key areas; subject specific materials,
administration, technology, textbooks, the P&C and Library.
Many parents are taking advantage of Blackwattle’s easy way to pay school fees online via the school’s website.
Payments can also be made in full or by instalments by cash, cheque, and credit card. Should parents be
experiencing financial difficulty they are encouraged to apply in writing to the Principal for assistance. Please
contact the school for an application form.
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Music kicks off with a series of concerts……..
On Friday 1st May, students from our Year 11
Music 1 class kicked off Term 2 with another series
of Friday Lunchtime Concerts. Running through
Weeks 2-6, students have been given the
opportunity to present pieces in front of their
colleagues.
On Monday 18th May, our school representatives:
Eoin Varley, Aidan Wood Thomson, Hayley
Mitchell, Joshua Clark, Hana Pritchard-Jones, Joel
Agius, Paddy Reynolds, Erin McKenna and Jacob
McKenna, all of whom belong to The Arts Unit’s
Symphonic Wind Ensemble, took to the stage at
the Sydney Town Hall as part of In Concert.
Performing pieces including Edvard Greig’s
Symphonic Dances, the students brought great
credit to our College for their fine performances.
Music Workshop at Leichhardt Campus
On Thursday 7th May, students involved in Music 1
and Music 2 were involved in a College Music
Workshop at Leichhardt Campus. The College
Music Workshop allowed students not involved in
co-curricular instrumental programs, to part take
in an ensemble based learning, building a positive
relationship between the Elective Music students
and discipline in working within an ensemble.
Working on a medley of Beatles tunes including
Penny Lane, Ticket to Ride and Can’t Buy Me Love,
Year 11 students acted as mentors to Elective
Music students from Leichhardt and Balmain
campuses. Students from all three campuses took
part in sectional workshops and thoroughly
enjoyed the experience of making music together.
A great way to start period one
Year 11 Visual Arts students have been making
preparatory sketches for their landscape paintings
completed this semester. For most students it
became a rewarding process as they refined their
skills in composition and painting techniques. In
term two, the area of practical study is sculptural
techniques. We are looking forward to seeing
these works at the College Visual Arts Exhibition in
July.
Keep this date in your diary:
Tuesday 28th July 2015 Sydney Secondary College
Visual Arts Exhibition at ‘The Muse’ , Ultimo
TAFE, Mary Anne St. Ultimo. Opening night 6.00 7.30 pm
Below:
Left: Year 11 Visual Arts students drawing lesson in
the beautiful school surrounds
Right: Jackson Hastie year 11 Visual Arts with one
of his impressive landscape paintings
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Year 12 Biology get close with microbes
Above: Patty and Finlay in the
beginning stages of making
samples of bacterial and fungal
colonies as part of yr. 12 Biology
topic ‘Search For Better Health.’
Using a cotton swab,
which was dipped
into
soil,
Mr
Mansfield rubbed the
swab over the agar
jelly in the form of the word ‘HI’
(agar jelly is used to grow
microbes into colonies during time
in a lab incubator). Proves just
how many microorganisms are
found within a speck of soil. Every
dot indicates the presence of a
single microbe that has multiplied
and grown into a colony.
Microbe
growth – everywhere there is a
coloured dot indicated an airborne
microbe that has landed on the
dish during one lesson. Proves
microbes inhabit all parts of the
planet, including the air
Year 12 Earth and Environmental Science Students
soil
compaction
differences
in
the
Blackwattle
playground. Good work Simon and
Jimmy.
Above: Mr Mansfield took his year
12 Earth and Environmental class
out to our walkway to observe
what the council has constructed
in order to preserve the bank
(rocks to stop erosion from wave
wash on the bank)
and
mangrove
seedlings to stabilise
the sediments.
Year 12 Earth and Environmental
class: Callan, Gabriel and Todd –
scientists!
Above: Year 12 Earth and
Environmental class observing the
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Above: Year 12 Earth and
environmental class doing more
testing on soil at BBC.
Above: year 12 – measuring the
pH
level
of
soil.
Year 11 Biology become little SETTLERS at Kurnell for the FIRST time
What a day! The sun was shining, weather was sweet; it
made you want to move your dancing feet. Ok, you can
stop singing that song you like Mr Mansfield and tell us
what yr11 Biology classes did last Wednesday 29th April,
2015.
mangroves and got to get their feet wet, literally, and
catch sea life in Botany Bay. Please see the photos for a
snap-shot of what the students did.
Good on you team: a huge thank you to all the students
for being such good productive learners throughout the
jam-packed day. On behalf of science can I say that we
really appreciate all your very respectful behaviour to
the instructors, the environment, the teachers and the
respect you displayed for one another; you made it a
great day.
Purpose: all Biology students participated in a
productive learning experience at a mandatory
excursion down at Kurnell. The purpose was to observe
the local environment, sample the organisms in the
areas studied and to participate in scientific field
surveys of abiotic (non-living features) of various
environments, such as temperature variations in and
out of mangrove forests.
Thank you to the science teachers and Mr Colcott who
came along and supported the students.
Mr Mansfield
Science Teacher
Activities: students learnt how and why crabs are
located in varying abundance throughout the
roots deep within sediment,
which is anoxic (no oxygen).
Above: Vivian and Imogen get
into field sampling of abiotic
(non-living) characteristics of
the mangrove environment.
Above: stuck…how do I get
back now the tide has comein?! I took a teaspoon of
cement mix to toughen-up and
got my feet wet.
Above: completely saturated,
Imogen and Hannah display
their
catches
from
the
relatively deep blue.
Above: Get into it boys!
Above: eager students looking
for organisms in Botany Bay.
Above: Mangrove aerial roots,
called pneumatophores, which
allows for oxygen to reach
Above: go on, act “normal”
everyone!
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Above: sampling life in the
mangroves at low tide.
just great to be out and
learning.
To Myles Houlbrook- Walk and Ryan Bondfield for their
involvement in the NSW Plain English Speaking Award. Both
students competed valiantly in their bid for victory, with
compelling presentations and thought provoking
arguments.
However, it was Myles Houlbrook-Walk who deserved the greatest applause as it was his particular skill in the
impromptu section that saw him proceed to the next round. We wish him luck in his semi-final on Wednesday 20th May.
Alysha Magee
Public Speaking and Debating Co-ordinator ‘
Wrap with Love
Worried about your daughter’s recent obsession with
knitting? Don’t worry – it is for a good cause!
The Positive Place has begun to support ‘Wrap with Love', in their pledge to provide warm wraps for people suffering
from extreme cold.
In 1992 Wrap with Love began with the idea to help as many people as possible by providing warm Wraps to ward off
hypothermia and in the past 20 years we have sent more than 323,000 Wraps to people in over 75 countries, including
Australia, with the help of our hardworking and generous volunteers.
The group meets on Fridays at Lunch in the careers’ room- and they will be knitting over the next few weeks.
Alysha Magee, Rachael Hill.
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P&C Update
Only two P&C meetings have been held this year - one
to organise the welcome to parents and the AGM
meeting - so May 27 and June 17 meetings are
important to keep up our momentum.
At the March meeting the P&C agreed to fund two
water bottle filling stations and to run a small social and
fund raiser.
The event, a movie preview at Hoyt's Lux Cinema at
Broadway, was held on May 20 and drew a full house of
30. Drinks and canapés were followed by "Woman In
Gold". Thanks to the generosity of Hoyts and The
Weinstein Company tickets raised $870.
We thank Emma Snowden for organising the event and
seeking support that lead to the P&C only paying for the
food and beverage package.
Further events, both social and fund raising will be
discussed at the May meeting. Rather than run "mega"
events needing mass support to cover the setup cost
the P&C is considering smaller events of interest to
sections of our diverse school community this year.
Your ideas are very welcome!
We are also expecting an update on proposals for
additional bicycle racks, a recycling proposal and fund
raising for library upgrades and a grand piano at the
next meeting. Progress reports on the new Canteen
operator will also be welcome.
You can see P&C activities and minutes at the P&C
Website https://sites.google.com/site/sscbbpc/
You can also find links to e-mail sscbbpc@gmail.com to
sign up for our communications.
The P&C is determined to turn the P&C levy in your
school fees into school improvements inside the year so
please get those fees paid promptly so we can reinvest
in the school.
Boys stuff..RUOK?
Boys stuff..RUOK? is a wellbeing and mental health initiative focusing on 8 boys in Year 11 for 80 minutes each
Thursday Period 3 with Peter George Year 11 Year Adviser
and Neville Filby the Boys Adviser. The boys will have the
chance to meet and connect with us during this time. The
session will be spent kayaking and bike riding in our
beautiful local surroundings on Sydney Harbour in Glebe.
The sessions are based around involvement in physical
activity and the idea that boys will talk about stuff while we
are doing exercise rather than talking face to face. We
currently have 350 students in Year 11 and this program will
attempt to treat students as individuals and provide the
support needed for them to engage and be successful in
their student life at Blackwattle Bay Campus.
We have the kayaks at school to begin the program using
kayaking as the medium, however we have just received funding to purchase 9 mountain bikes to maximise
the opportunity for bike riding both on the foreshore paths recently completed by Sydney City Council and
around the bay at Drummoyne.
The program will be targeting students from many cultural and SES backgrounds in Year 11 and aims to
provide positive male role models for our boys. The program was launched on Thursday 1 May with 5 boys. It
has proved to be very well received by our Yr 11 students. Any questions about the initiative can be addressed
to Peter George peter.c.george@det.nsw.edu.au or Neville Filby neville.filby@det.nsw.edu
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DRAMA NEWS
BLACKWATTLE STUDENTS ON STAGE AT THE
SEYMOUR CENTRE
Well done to Lizzie Huggins, Sam Fraser and Nelson
Morgan-August in year 11 for being part of the NSW
Public School's Arts Unit Senior Drama Ensemble.
They will be performing in the State Drama Festival in
October this year.
State Drama Company presents “Deoxyribonucleic
Acid (DNA)” with our year 12 students performing.
Year 12 students, Finn Potter, Conor Teevan and
Myles Houlbrook-Walk are part of the prestigious
NSW Public School's Arts Unit Drama Company.
YEAR 11 DRAMA PERFORMANCE
Congratulations to all three students who successfully
auditioned for this year’s production 'DNA', playing
for one season of five performances in June 2015 to
be held at The Regional Theatre, Seymour Centre. We
applaud the boys for their commitment to this
wonderful program and for representing Blackwattle
Bay Campus.
Blackwattle Bay Campus Drama Night is being held on
the evening of June 19th in the Lecture Theatre. The
Performance will consist of self-devised scenes and
monologues from the two year 11 Drama classes.
These scenes and monologues will be workshopped
over several weeks culminating in a public
performance on this date. This is an excellent
opportunity for the Drama students to demonstrate
their performance skills and gain valuable experience
in engaging an audience with their imaginative
presentations. The Performance is open to family,
friends and members of the general public. Look
forward to seeing you there!
Tickets are now on sale for the 2015 State Drama
Company’s production of “Deoxyribonucleic Acid
(DNA)” written by Dennis Kelly. “DNA” is a powerful
examination of teenage peer pressure and desire to
fit in with the group; morality, pack mentality and
cruelty. The disaffected youth culture is front-andcentre and becomes a terrifying expression of
aggression and lies. Please Note: This production
deals with contemporary social issues. It also
includes language that may offend.
Leo Sorbello
Drama Teacher (Blackwattle Bay Campus)
Performance Dates & Times:Thursday 11 June – 7.30pm evening performance
Friday 12 June – 11.00am matinee performance
(Q&A session follows)
Friday 12 June – 7.30pm evening performance
For further information and to book tickets, please
contact the Seymour Centre Box Office directly:Phone: 9351 7940
Web: www.seymourcentre.com
Tickets:
$25.00
(matinee);
(student/concessions); $34.00 (adult)
$28.00
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