6 August 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Parents and Carers

It is an absolute pleasure and privilege to have been Principal of Henbury School, for the last 10 years. It is with mixed feelings that I announce that my last day of being Principal at Henbury will be Friday 9 August. As of Monday 12 August, I will commence in my new role as Principal of Zuccoli Primary School. I will miss students, staff and the extended Henbury community. It is time for a change for me professionally and for Henbury School to continue to flourish under a new Principal. Sarah Corry will be Acting Principal to the end of this year. The position will then be advertised in Term 4.

I look forward to seeing the exciting new ventures that will be undertaken by students and staff. Some of my highlights for me are:

Henbury Corporate Luncheon. How brave were we in 2010 to take on such an undertaking. We jumped feet first into the unknown world of Event Management, with the only experience hosting and organising school assemblies. This event is now embedded in the social calendar of Darwin.

The New Henbury School. After 7 years of lobbying, planning, designing the new school opened on the new site. This week marks the 3 year anniversary of us working in the new school. The school is like the TARDIS, from the road it looks like an average sized school. Then when you walk through the gate the buildings unfold around the ‘village green’. The space to breathe, to have classes that are purposed built for our needs and the acknowledgement that we are a secondary school is incredible.

Branding. Henbury has a very distinctive branding with school and business logos, colours, and vehicle wraps. Who would have thought that it would take 18 months to create a new logo!

Recognition. The work that staff undertake at Henbury has been acknowledged at a local, Territory Level and National Level, raising our profile to a school of excellence.

Growth. In 2008 the school’s enrolment was 59 students, this had grown in 2019 to 141 students.

Programs. Fundamental to all learning undertaken by students is the diversity of programs that are offered. We pride ourselves in ‘Preparing our Students for Future Lifestyles’. From the PossABILTIES Expo, Work Training, Skills Sets, school businesses/class enterprises, functional literacy and numeracy programs and all the other extras. There is something for all students.

School Businesses. The Op Shop, had two different locations before moving to Aralia St. What an important business! Opportunity Knocks doubles as a work training site and functional Op Shop. In the Op Shopping circle it is known as one of the best Op Shops around. Henbury on Aralia opened at the end of Term 1, 2019 and has become an integral member of the Darwin coffee scene.

Staff. It never ceases to amaze me what an amazing staff there has been over the last 11 years. What they all have in common is their dedication to improving outcomes for all the students at Henbury. Their dedication to sourcing innovative initiatives, enables Henbury to be an outstanding school.

Students. Students arrive in Year 7 uncertain of the next 6 years. Seeing the graduating Year 12s over the last 11 years fill me with pride. To see them develop into resilient and confident young men and woman, is reward for the job I do.

This is not goodbye, it the closing of one door and the opening of another. Once in a while opportunities arise and it is up to us all to make the most of these opportunities. I often say that we can’t change the past but we can influence the future. Thank you Henbury for the opportunities.

Carolyn Edwards
Principal

NIGHTCLIFF MIDDLE SCHOOL OUTREACH

RU OK Day – Trust the Sign Tour, Darwin City stop

Trust the Signs, Trust your Gut and Ask R U OK?

Wednesday 31st August the Nightcliff Middle School outreach class joined the R U OK Australian road show at Raintree PARK. As a part of the ‘Happy Days’ cycling team, the NMS tribe helped by planning, organising and running the Smoothie bike at the special event which supported Mental Health awareness and suicide prevention conversation while introducing support networks. The general public had a chance to learn more about when it’s time to ask R U OK? and how to use our 4 steps to navigate a conversation with someone you’re worried about. Starting an R U OK? Conversation by using these four steps,

1. Ask R U OK?
2. Listen
3. Encourage action
4. Check in

The students were eager to please the customers and worked collaboratively, using excellent communication skills. Students demonstrated healthy and safe food handling skills and pedal power to produce a delicious FREE smoothie to the thirsty crowd.

For more information on the upcoming RU OK day head to the link below.

A huge thank goes out to the RU OK team for their inclusion, positivity and informative discussion. MP, Luke Gosling’s team for providing the ingredients for the healthy smoothies and family and friends that help to transport the food and support our class. Finally, the HAPPY DAYS cycling team for inviting us to help with promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention through the CYCLING team HAPPY DAYS for Grand Fondo. If you interested in joining the team for the upcoming Grand Fondo, all cycling abilities welcome, please see the following link:

GREETINGS FROM PURPLE 3

Purple 3 have been having a wonderful time getting out and about in the local community. Having a great team such as Jane, Ted, and Helen has made our excursions even better for both students and staff.

Some of the exciting and fun places we have been to include:

• Nightcliff bowls:
  Heidi setting her sights on a strike

• Anula community playground:
  Jayden preparing the sausages on the BBQ for our lunch,
  Willam held tight as he zipped across the sand on the flying fox
  Leigh having a blast on the playground

• George Brown Botanical Gardens:
  Paulo sliding down the playground slide

• Northern Territory Museum and Art Gallery:
  Paul taking a closer look at Sweetheart

Have a great weekend from Purple 3 class

SPORTS VOUCHERS

The Sport Voucher Scheme is an initiative of the NT Government, providing children with the opportunity to participate in sport, recreation and cultural activities.

Parents or carers can now apply for their Semester 2 voucher via their website below.

See attachment below for more information or call the Sport Voucher team by phone on 1800 817 860.

MENINGOCOCCAL VACCINATION

The Department of Health has provided the following important information about meningococcal vaccinations for schools to communicate to families:

Meningococcal disease is a rare but very serious bacterial disease. There are 5 main strains that cause meningococcal disease - A, B, C, W and Y. The most common strain currently in the Northern Territory is W.

The best way to protect your child or teenager from getting meningococcal disease is by vaccination. In the Northern Territory children aged 1 – 19 years are eligible to receive a FREE meningococcal ACWY vaccine. The meningococcal ACWY vaccine provides protection against 4 strains of meningococcal disease (ACWY) and is administered as a single dose.

Vaccines are available from your Community Care Centre, Health Clinic and GP practice (GP practice may charge for consultation).

If your child has already received a meningococcal ACWY vaccine (called Nimenrix®, Menveo®, or Menactra®) then they do not need another vaccine.

Meningococcal B is not covered by this vaccine but a course of meningococcal B vaccine is available from your GP with a private prescription.

If you require further information about vaccinations, contact the NT Immunisation Register on 8922 8315.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy birthday to the following students who celebrate their birthday in August!

Moise – 1st
Simaki – 3rd
Leeam – 8th
Enrique – 17th
George – 20th
John K – 24th
Carter – 28th
Kyle – 28th
Azaria – 28th
Hayley – 28th
Mary – 28th
Banjo – 29th

UPCOMING EVENTS

COMMUNITY NOTICES