ISSUE 188

2023 - Term 4, Week 10

Welcome!

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land, the Awabakal and Worimi people. We also pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging.

Words by Sophie & Angel

Editor Welcome

Welcome to issue 188 of TGIF!

From our famous Fish Wedding and Pets of the Week, to students' success in Exhibition week and inspiring efforts to find LTIs, this Semester's TGIF group has covered it all. Over the past term, you may have noticed a few changes in our releases, like the surveys we released earlier in the term that aim to give our readers more of a voice, and the physical copies of our newsletter distributed to advisories. We’d like to thank everyone who was kind enough to share their amazing stories, thoughts and experiences with us to bring our school community closer together. This week, we hear from Harvey about his experience at the sailing LTI, a review of the important Consent Labs workshop, an album review, a bug of the week, and even more.

We look forward to listening and sharing more stories next year… in 2024!

Words by Sarah

Holiday message from Quinn

Digital art by Marley

2023- Cooks Hill Campus was the place to be! This year has been filled with so many highlights. Congratulations to our Year 12 Graduates- this was a phenomenal bunch of students who will no doubt continue to do amazing things!

The volume of Out- Learning that happened in 2023 surpassed all other years! This included excursions, murals, LTI's, University Open Days, TAFE courses and SBAT's. This success was achieved through hard work by students, their families and our staff. Connecting our young people to 'real world learning' is the best part of our design, seeing students develop skills to initiate conversations, try new challenges and thrive in areas of their passion and interest, makes being at Cooks Hill Campus so rewarding.

Staff Farewells:

Jamaica- Good luck on your travels in 2024. You will be missed, however, we know that you are about to embark on an amazing adventure! You have been a wonderful teacher and Advisor. Jamaica just this week passed her beginning teacher phase, and is now fully accredited with NESA. We look forward to giving you your certificate when you come back to visit us in 2024.

Louis- Congratulations on your Teaching Degree. We are certain that working as an SLSO with us, has helped you develop into the wonderful Teacher you have become. Good luck and we may see you back as an Advisor at Cooks Hill Campus one day.

Harry- We are sorry to see you go. Good luck in your next role (primary school students are pretty awesome too, and they are lucky to have you). Thankyou for being a great SLSO in 2023.

Ash- School Counsellors are in high demand across schools at the moment, and we are very proud of you gaining full time employment. We are sad however, it's not with us at Cooks Hill Campus. Within the year, you developed lovely trusting relationships with students and staff. Good luck.

Elke- Some of you may not have met Elke, but she has an office in the wellbeing hub and takes up a car park! Elke will be taking on a new role as a Teacher at NEXUS. Elke is kind, compassionate, reliable and honest. This new role will be challenging and exciting, but we know you are a fantastic fit for this role.

Student Farewells:

As you leave for your next steps, please always remember to keep in contact. We would love to know what adventures you take on next. Good luck at TAFE, University studies, Employment or changing schools. You are always part of the Cooks Hill Campus community and we thank you for the joy you have brought to our school over your time with us.

Thankyou

Thanks to all the staff at Cooks Hill Campus, my job is better because of the joy, passion and enthusiasm you have for your roles. We really are a phenomenal team.

Thankyou to the students, who surprise me daily with your ideas, innovative thinking, random questions and your teenage shenanigans. I really do enjoy being a part of your life!

Stay Safe, Stay Well, Stay Active, Stay Connected. See you all in 2024 for our next adventures.

Quinn Robertson: Campus Leader

What We Did!

Term 4 student exhibitions

Exhibitions are over for the term and year. Here's a quick recap on some of the cool projects people saw this term:

Project on arachnology that scared some of the panel
Exploration of physics concepts through aerial circus arts
A detailed corset of a butterfly with beads stitched into it
A project on what you should feed your dog and what’s in mainstream dog food

These were just some of the interesting things people explored. Looking forward to see what comes next year, and have a good holiday.

Words by Melody

Advisory 1

Advisory 2

Advisory 3

Advisory 4

Advisory 5

Advisory 6

Advisory 7

Advisory 8

Friday sailing program

Making Waves Foundation is the name of the organisation that runs this program in Newcastle Harbour.
Cate and Louis attend each week with Harvey, Lachlan, Mil, Harrison, Cameron, Jasper, Jamie, Will and Hudson.
When the weather is good, students are assigned different roles and they head out in a 30-50 foot yacht.
Harvey’s job is with the jib. The jib is the front sail and you have to get the ropes and bag sorted, you attach then raise the sail. When the boat does a tack (turns swiftly) you have to duck under the jib so it doesn’t sweep you off the boat or knock you out!
Some of the roles involve: steering, operating winches (this is how you control how much rope is being let loose - the ropes are attached to the mast and the boom), navigation (with Toni).
Next week, the students will be in full charge of the ship! There is normally a skipper (person in charge). He likes a 70s rock soundtrack and jokes that no requests will be taken for the playlist. But when you are out in the wind, you can’t hear any music.
There are life jackets that everyone wears - some are automatic (which inflate when you hit the water), and some are manual (you have to blow it up yourself while treading water.
The purpose of the course is to learn team work, cooperation and collaboration skills, as well as knowledge of sailing, boating lingo, and maritime knots.

LTI success stories

Headstart in engineering/manufacturing

Annie S recently completed a Headstart pre-apprenticeship skills course. Here she explains more...

"I completed a multi-trade pre-apprenticeship training program specifically in engineering and manufacturing. The course involved learning modules and hands on practical work where we created a sliding bevel gauge. My favourite aspect was how easy it was to create a project in just a short time.

The application process was so simple and easy, all you need to do is put in an EOI and then they send through further paperwork.

I did this course to further my knowledge and skills and to have something on my resume to help me get into the trades industry."

Best of luck with your future pathway, Annie!

SBAT in Nursing - update from the Neonatal Unit

Story by Dascha

Throughout the first year of my Nursing School-Based Traineeship (SBT), I completed 337 hours of placement in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at the John Hunter Children’s Hospital. My experience in NICU has been incredible, I have gotten to work with specialised nursing staff, Neonatal Nurse Practitioners, Neonatologists (doctors specialising in neonates) and many other specialists and allied health staff.

A highlight from my experience in NICU is getting to attend a complex surgery on a one kilogram baby. The surgeries were a supraglottoplasty and a laryngoscopy to treat laryngomalacia (a collapsed airway which caused the baby to have impaired breathing). The baby's surgery was very successful, and I got to nurse the baby post-surgery.

Throughout my time in NICU I have gained invaluable experience in the care and nursing of babies, and families, and working within a multidisciplinary team. Working towards my Certificate III in Health Services in NICU has been amazing!

Harvey hits the newsroom

Interview with Harvey, by Dascha

Can you tell me about your LTI? I'm currently interning at 2HD and NEWFM, where I work in the newsroom. Recently, they've asked me to speak live on air.

What's your role at your LTI? My main responsibility is submitting pieces of writing for the news cycle. Sometimes, the articles I write end up on the website. Interestingly, both 2HD and NEWFM share content, as the writers are the same for both.

What motivated you to pursue this LTI? I have a strong interest in journalism, and my path to this internship was through a referral from the Newcastle Herald. Richard King personally recommended it to me.

What are your goals for this LTI? I was initially hoping for some extra cash, and I did win $2 for the Melbourne Cup. Beyond that, I aim to gain valuable experience and immerse myself in the atmosphere of journalism as a profession.

What do you appreciate about your LTI? One aspect I really like is the flexibility with my time. I have frequent breaks, and the working environment is very accommodating. The people there, including Steven, Kath, and Kreevo from the morning staff, make it enjoyable. Next week, I'll be working with the advertisement staff and exploring the screen where content is compiled for future radio channels.

Any specific highlights? The freedom and the people. It's a lot of power; I even joked that I could bring down the whole station with just a press of a few buttons.

Check out one of Harvey's articles here

Landcare LTI group visits the Greening Centre

Community Kids SAPG

This term in the Community Kids SAPG we had a great time walking to Cooks Hill Preschool and creating activities to do with the kids. Last week the kids came here to Cooks Hill Campus. They made some reindeer headbands, did Christmas 'Just Dance' and we read the book 'Santa comes Newcastle'. They loved having options of what to do instead of us just telling them one thing to do.

Words by Amelie

Tech help for seniors

A message of praise for our students who attended the Intergenerational Tech Help for Seniors day at Newcastle City Council’s Digital Library on 15th November.

“A massive thanks for bringing in Jasper, Alex and Isaac today. We were blown away with their skill, patience, and ability to connect with the seniors. The aim of this project all along has been to reduce social isolation among seniors, build their capacity, and get them practicing things they previously thought they "couldn't do."

We were so thrilled to have these three exceptional students along. Jasper, Isaac and Alex were truly fantastic examples of what intergenerational learning could be, what it can build, and what difference it can make. They are each a credit to themselves and to Cooks Hill Campus.

It was great to watch Alex teach our senior who spoke Mandarin to text WhatsApp messages to his friends. Alex even had two seniors Air-Dropping each other photos by the end of the day. Amazing!

Isaac's kind, quiet and insightful presence was so appreciated by his table, and he displays a maturity beyond his years in his ability to connect and share stories with our seniors. Similarly, Jasper was an absolute natural with their table, explaining and rephrasing things in a way that was easily understood. Watching the students interact with the seniors so capably was truly a highlight of this entire program.”

Additional photos by Brad Ryan from Shot by Brad https://shotbybradco.com.au/

Student writing

Want to know more about Freud, and his personality theory? Click here for the next instalment in our psychology feature from Zephyr.

Consent Labs

On Wednesday, November 8th, Cooks Hill Campus welcomed 'Consent Labs,' an organisation dedicated to educating and empowering young people on consent and respectful relationships. The interactive workshop proved to be an enlightening experience for all students in attendance. The workshop was facilitated by four representatives from Consent Labs. The session was thoughtfully structured into two parts, providing insights for different age groups at Cooks Hill Campus.

In the initial session, all students came together to delve into the fundamental concepts of consent. The workshop aimed to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of how to navigate consent respectfully in various situations.

The second session was tailored to address the specific needs of different age groups within the Cooks Hill Campus community. The senior group, consisting of students in years 10 to 12, delved into the intricacies of healthy relationships and effective communication. Meanwhile, the junior group, students in years 8 and 9, focused on the digital realm. The workshop explored consent in the context of online interactions and cyber security. Students gained valuable insights into safely navigating explicit content and learned essential skills for maintaining their digital well-being.

Overall, the Consent Labs workshop not only provided essential information but also created a platform for meaningful conversations among students. The event was a testament to CHC's commitment to equipping students with the skills and understanding necessary for the future.

Words by Dascha

Shakespeare workshop

On Wednesday of Week 9, the 10th grade did their Shakespeare workshop on the play Macbeth. The students were given varying roles in the play, including yours truly playing Macbeth. The workshop was very interesting, and with the paramount of a big foam sword-fight at the end, the experience was ultimately a lot of fun.

Words by Harvey

Revolution Excursion

Newcastle Uni - Future Creatives excursion

Art We Made

Mural painting on Darby Street in Week 10....

Art in Action SAPG group...

(Photos by Sophie & Angel)

Art in Action - Lily's fish

Art in Action - Sammi's digital character design

Art in Action group in action

Art in Action - Tessa's cats

Art in Action - Florence's dress up cats with custom storage tin

Art in Action - Maddie's fish

Student exhibition artworks...

Heartstopper by Sophie

Art timeline by Jamie

Flowers by Sophie

Diorama by Tessa

Reading response artwork by Celia

Emroidery & cross-stitch works by Shaylani

Portrait by Lily M

Textiles by Simon

If you would like to see your creative works featured in TGIF, please email us at felicity.davis10@det.nsw.edu.au

What We Saw!

Song of the week: osamason - Trenches

Welcome to the TGIF music review. This week I’m doing a short piece on Osamason’s recent drop “Trenches”. Osama’s been making waves in the underground scene recently for his distorted aggressive sound, and Trenches pushes this sound to its limit. With a rumbling, wall shaking bassline and a chaotic organ melody, this beat is easily one of the hardest I’ve heard in a long time. Osama’s upbeat aggressive flow pushes through the song, and the dirty bass heavy mix calls back to his song “Lil O”, which this song seems to be a spiritual successor to. Trenches is a crazy track and I’m looking forward to what Osamason drops next, stay tuned.

Review by Melody

Movie review: FNAF

Josh Hutcherson

The FNAF Animatronics: Foxy, Chica, Freddy and Bonnie

Five Nights at Freddies

Review by Angel

Basic Thoughts: The movie was great. I was a bit disappointed that Markiplier WASN’T in the movie since he basically carried the franchise and made it what it is today. However the movie was mostly good. Another thing that I didn't like is the fact that the lore was very different in the movie compared to the lore in the game. The characters were mostly correct except for the ones that play a huge role that were missing. For example: Elizabeth Afton and CC (Crying Child/Evan) were NOT there, instead there were two new characters Abbie and Garret. I assume that Abbie is Elizabeth and Garret is CC. Vannessa is supposedly William Afton's child even though William's REAL children are Mike, Elizabeth and CC. Williams' wife Clara was also missing from the movie.

FNAF cast: Mathew Lillard as William Afton, Josh Hutcherson as Mike Schmidt, Elizabeth Lail as Vannessa Monroe, Piper Rubio as Abby Schmidt, CoryxKenshin as the driver, Kat Conner Sterling as Max, Grant Feely as Foxy’s Spirit, Mary Stuart Masterson as Aunt Jan, Kevin Foster as Freddy Fazbear, Ryan Reinike at Freddy's Security Guard, Jess Weiss as Chica, MatPat as Waiter, Christian Stokes as Hank, Jade Kindar-Martin as Bonnie, Joseph Poliquin as Carl, Jessica Blackmore as Mike’s Mum, Bailey Winstone as Kim, Theodus Crane as Jeremiah, Victoria Patenaude as Social Worker.

Rating: 7/10 (in my opinion)

Bugs of the week

Words by Asha

Green Tree Ant Mimic Spider (Amyciaea albomaculata)

Although definitely not a bug, this spider lives with the Green Tree Ants in Queensland/Northern Australia. It looks just like all the other ants, as well as smelling like them; it does this by feeding on the ants' larvae. Green Tree Ants are poisonous to predators like birds and lizards, so the spiders have evolved to look this way so they don't get eaten.

Alkali Fly (Ephydra hians)

California's Mono Lake is a fish's nightmare due to its crazy high alkaline levels, yet birds seem to flock many times a year to feed. What's the secret? Alkali Flies! These little guys have tiny hairs all over their bodies that trap a thin layer of air, allowing them to zip in and out of the water. This is the primary food source for all the birds there.

The Kutzadika’a people and surrounding indigenous communities consider these flies a delicacy and relied on them as a significant food source.

Overall, the Alkali flies of Mono Lake are a fascinating example of how nature can provide for both humans and wildlife in unexpected ways. They are a testament to the resilience and adaptability of life in even the harshest of environments.

Pet of the week: Archie

Archie sleeping

Archie waiting for mum to get home

One day it was scorching, so I slept in the lounge room where the aircon was, so I could be cool and sleep easily. Then I woke up to Archie (my dog) licking my face. I was really confused so I checked the time and what do you know? It was 3:00 in the morning. What would you do if you got woken up by your dog or pet at 3:00 AM?

Words & photos by Angel

Info For You!

Town Hall Announcements & Outlearning Opportunities

Debating intro session on Wednesday in Week 10 - see Finley for details
LTI opportunities at Pitcrew.ai, for young people interested in exploring the world of machine learning and AI in the industrial space.
TAFE Start Your Future courses are now open for Term 1 2024, for any students 15 years and older (including those who have already attended YES or YES+ courses). Many options including Animal Care, Automotive, Beauty, Hairdressing & Barbering, Hospitality/Bakery, Cleaning, Construction, Furniture making, Childcare & Nursing.
Final call for applications for TAFE TVET courses for current Year 10s - many options including Animal Care, Hospitality, Baking ,Beauty & Salon, Early Childhood, Music Industry, Screen & Media, Design, Events & Tourism, Automotive, Aeroskills, Construction, Engineering, IT, Fitness, Electrotechnology, Plumbing, Real Estate, Maritime

Check out the LTI Canvas page for the latest LTI & Outlearning opportunities, or speak to Andy.

Words of the Week

Rizz (rizz)

Ok, ok, I know, before you all get upset at me for making the English word of the week stupid slang, I would like to point out that the Oxford Dictionary word of the year is rizz.

We should all know that rizz is short for Charisma, but it specifically refers to one’s ability to attract another person through their style, personality, charm or attractiveness. The word rizz has been extended to Rizzler, to describe someone who has a lot of rizz. Both rizz and Rizzler are used extensively online, mostly by us younger generations, so to any adults or people who have no clue what rizz is, and why your younger relatives tell you that you’ve got none, you’re welcome.

Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3, Kenny's perfect example of a Rizzler

Ecce Homo, nicknamed Monkey Christ because of its clumsy restoration is a prime example of Verschlimmbessern

Verschlimmbessern (German) (fer-shlim-bes-sern)

Verschlimmbessern is the act of trying your best to improve something, but ultimately screwing up and making it worse, like when your friend is having a bad day and you decide to cheer them up with a joke, but the joke hits just a little too close to home, and they end up in a worse mood, that's verschlimmbessern.

It comes from two phrases: verschlimmern, which is to make something worse; and verbessern, which is to make something better; so literally translated, verschlimmbessern would be “for worse better”.

WotW by Marley