Acknowledgement of Country
Embedded Files
We would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land, the people of the Awabakal and Worimi nations. Let us pay our respects to the elders both past, present, and emerging, for they hold the culture, tradition, and hopes of Indigenous Australia. We must always remember that under the asphalt and concrete this land is, was, and always will be Aboriginal land.
-Hope
Happy School Administrative & Support Staff Week!
School Administrative and Support Staff (SASS) week is a time to recognise, and celebrate SASS staff for all their vital contributions to schools. We are lucky to have such a great team of staff here. Anna, Bec, Harry, Matty, Dan; We appreciate you so much! Cooks Hill Campus (CHC) would be nothing without your incredible support, help, and love for our beautiful school.
Anna is an incredibly hard working, kind, and fabulously dressed who you can find hanging out in the office. Oftentimes typing away! She always wears a warm welcoming smile, and is truly the heart of our campus!
Bec is an absolute powerhouse, who knows the Big Picture model like the back of her hand. She’s incredible with all things LTI, projects, senior study work and the list goes on. She’s the walking, talking encyclopedia of CHC, and we truly cherish her knowledge and involvement with students!
Harry adds a calm and caring presence to CHC! He’s kind, welcoming, supportive, and does some awesome work in the LTI and outlearning space! Not to forget the amazing job he’s doing at helping run the choir Social Action Project Group with Alex. He makes a great addition to our CHC staff!
Matty is our fantastic tech guru / wizard! Would we be able to print without him? Probably not. Though he’s only on campus on Wednesdays, his efforts certainly don’t go unnoticed. He works diligently across our school, keeping everything flowing smoothly!
Dan is our drama & wellbeing man!! He has a great knack for bringing people together through performance and play. He does a fabulous job at running the Drama SAPG, loves to have a chat about movies or a students' personal interests, and also runs the wellbeing groups D&D, Drumming, and Rock & Water!
Pictured: [L-R] Harry, Anna, Bec & Dan.
-Article by Poppy
Interviews with our SASS staff
Interviews with our SASS staff
Harry
Q: What led you to Big Picture?
A: I love the self-directed learning model of Big Picture and feel that it is a wonderful opportunity for young people to explore what they're passionate about.
Q: What’s your favourite part about working at CHC?
A: It's so exciting to be part of the students' learning journey as they deep dive into their chosen topic!
Q: What is a fun fact about you that no one knows?
A: I have a drift sim at home that I record videos on and upload to YouTube.
Q: If you could do one project, what would it be?
A: For my project I would record an album.
DAN
Q: What led you to Big Picture?
A: I knew very little about Big Picture before I joined Cooks Hill Campus. When Chloe and Phelissitie asked me to join the team in Learning Support, I had no idea what the day-to-day looked like in a Big Picture school. Since coming here, I have found the program to be invigorating, the advisories full of unique and nuanced learning opportunities, and the campus to be a wonderfully positive learning environment.
Q: What’s your favourite part about working at CHC?
A: At the moment, I am thoroughly enjoying my role in CHC's wellbeing programs - with the drumming, Rock & Water, and D&D, my Fridays are always exciting!
Q: What is a fun fact about you that no one knows?
A: I climbed Machu Picchu, I'm a licensed SCUBA diver, and I flew a plane. I'm also a British immigrant, and an Australian citizen since 2018.
Q: If you could do one project, what would it be?
A: I would direct 'Cymbeline' by William Shakespeare. I doubt anyone would want to watch it, but I'd have a good time.
BEC
Q: What led you to Big Picture?
A: Not long after relocating from NZ, my kids were starting high school, so I began researching 'secondary education'. I was left unimpressed with the segregation and lack of innovation to be found across the system. Where I did find some inspiration was in new ideas, such as 'passion projects', initiated by Nathan Towney, past Principal of NHS...this led me to Big Picture, then looking into how I could help out at CHC.
Q: What’s your favourite part about working at CHC?
A: That's easy - the people, both colleagues and students.
Q: What is a fun fact about you that no one knows?
A: I think that no one knows is the fun fact.
Q: If you could do one project, what would it be?
A: Essential Question: 'How can GenAI be used in project-based education to enhance learning rather than substitute thinking?'
Making Waves - Wright of Passage
The Making Waves Wright of Passage program brings youth together for 7 months to build a dingy from scratch; purchasing materials, cutting them into shape and putting everything all together.
Two of our Year 12 students recently completed the program and for this issue Lincoln interview them!
The first student interviewed was Will. Will has completed a Maritime Start Your Future TAFE course, the Making Waves Sailing program and interned with Mid Coast Boat Yard.
What types of skills did you develop?
Carpentry, joinery (putting wood together), project management, power tools and fibre glassing.
How long did it all take?
I've been doing it since February this year.
What challenges did you over come?
Getting new parts, not measuring twice before we cut, and resource management.
Name of the dingy/how you come up with the name?
It felt right that we name it 'Dingus the dingy'.
What did you like most about it?
Socialisation, learning from mistakes, liked how it was all practical/ hands on.
Through this program I learnt I want to peruse a career in wood working.
We also chatted with Harrison who also is in Year 12. Harrison has taken a similar path as Will, completing the same courses/programs along with gaining his General Purpose Hand (GPH) course with MAST.
Will you pressure a career in this area?
Yes, I want to be a shipwright!
what did you like most about it?
Hands-on practical work.
Skills learnt?
Carpentry.
To see the launch of 'Dingus' and learn more, you can watch the NBN news segment!
-Lincoln
Farewell Year 12s
For one of our last TGIF's for this term, our crew decided it would be a great idea to ask our fabulous Year 12's questions that had us curious for answers.
Our questions:
1. What are you most excited for outside of school life?
2. If you had to re-do any school year what would it be?
3. Best memory from school?
4. Favourite advisory snack?
We are going to miss our Year 12's very dearly and now we can all look back on these and remember the wonderful times we had with them!!
-Ruby
Asha
Going on adventures during times I would've been at school.
Year 2 because of the simplicity in school work.
Taking my wheelie chair down the hallway at full speed.
Any bread that has ever existed.
Will
Future employment and future learning.
Year 10, so I could get an LTI earlier.
Meeting incredible people and having a bond with advisors.
Toasties with hot sauce with best buddy Roland.
Mil
Freewill/ free time during the day.
Year 11, should've done more fun projects.
Lunar park trips/excursions.
Vanilla coke/boost chocolate bar/turkish delight chocolate.
Harvey
Term long break in Term 4 .
Year 6.
Got elected for sport captain in Year 6 .
Eclipse mints (green).
Anni
Freedom to do anything and try different things.
Year 10 or 11.
Making the David Tenant wall in class.
Salted caramel chocolate.
Marley
Sleeping in/more free time.
Year 10 or 11, to redo projects.
Nothing comes to mind so far.
Massive tub of icecream to make spiders.
Flossie:
Meeting new people at university.
Year 10
??
English breakfast cup of tea.
Jasper
Travelling to Japan.
Year 8.
Formal in Year 10.
Bahn mi.
Joe
Being able to be an adult who can make his own decisions.
Redo Year 4 or 6 to play more sports.
Told the joke for Town Hall one time.
Chips and salsa.
Lachlan
Getting out more, being able to explore.
All of them but Year 10 mostly.
Waves of Wellness with school (surfing lessons) and going to Taronga zoo for an excursion.
Freckles or two minute chicken noodles.
Sammi
Freedom/ doing whatever I want.
Year 9.
Catching up with friends.
Hot chocolate and choc chip cookies.
Aviva
Not being in school anymore.
Year 11.
The first informal/Year 10.
Chocolate thickshake from Maccas.
Layla
Sleep in.
Year 6 because it was so good.
Formal/ Year 11.
Stealing Jasper's food (Bahn mi).
Ev
Sad to leave, gained a lot of connections.
Year 11.
Just the school school environment, feels familiar and a good place to be.
Pocky (chocolate).
Syd
Going to Nepal for a month/ travelling.
Year 11.
First week at Cooks Hill Campus, got complimented by my now friend on my socks.
English breakfast/ Frank's muffin.
Roland
Travelling/ schoolies.
Year 7 or 8.
Reuniting with Jacob (my best bud).
Toasties with hot sauce with best buddy Will.
Jamie
1. Being free on weekdays and organising more hangouts with friends.
2. I don't really think I'd redo any term. Of course there's some terms where I procrastinated more when I should, but I've really enjoyed my time here and think it was all spent pretty well.
3. When there were guest speakers at town hall and there was low key a flood and we had a power outage and we all got to go home early.
4. I still think very fondly of the 'Soup Day' Advisory 1 had back in 2023! We had Sopa De Fideo, Wonton Short Soup, and Pumpkin soup. I made the first one, and it was really nice to share a family recipe with the rest of the advisory.
Alissa
1. Personally, the thing I’m most excited for is being able to move away and be able to have my own home. (Being able to own a cat is a bonus).
2. I think I would like to re-do year 10.
3. Back in year 10, Mars, Veya and I created a “movie scene” using all the little trinkets in my bag at break. It was the most ridiculous thing ever but every time I find that video I cant stop laughing.
4. One of my favourite parts of being in advisory 6 is that Alison likes to cook with the advisory. I enjoyed watching everyone attempt to make rice paper rolls (key word- attempt).
Kit
1. I’m excited to learn more about myself as an individual.
2. If I could re do any school year it would be 2020 (year 7) because of lockdown and COVID.
3. My best school memory is the excursion to an art talk in 2023.
Alex
1. Being able to wake up after 7am.
2. Probably Year 10 (2023) I think I could've had a lot more fun and done more things than I actually did.
3. When the storm killed the school's power in the middle of Town Hall.
4. Roll ups/muesli bars.
Emiel
1. I look forwards to opening my own blacksmith business.
2. I would redo year 9 so I could stay at school a little longer.
3. Making direct eye-contact with the principal while I drink my water.
4. Ludicrous amounts of chocolate.
Vance
Cameron
Josh
I'm most looking forward to being more independent and being able to choose what I study in university.
Year 10 so I could put more effort into my Gateway project.
Spending time with my friends at lunch and recess.
Diet Coke.
Charlie
I'm excited to see how life goes without school taking up 6 hours most days.
If I could re-do any year it would definitely be year 7 so I could have given myself a better start to school.
My favourite memory is probably when me and my friends used to film Tiktoks at lunch before the ban.
My favourite snack is when it was my birthday and we got the little cup cake things from Aldi.
Harrison
Work at a boat yard.
Year 7.
Practicing drill with my mates.
Carrot sticks.
Mars
1. I think I'm most excited to pursue other hobbies I haven't been able to engage in as much due to being so busy with school. I'd really like to learn to play an instrument properly; piano and guitar are my top choices. I'd also like to do more rollerskating!
2. I don't really know. Year 7 and 8 were terrible so I wouldn't want to go back to that time in my life necessarily, but I do sometimes find myself wishing I could do it over. Then again though, I might not even be at Cooks Hill if that were the case. Realistically though, probably early primary school sometime. Maybe year 3. That was a good mix of being a little kid and getting older.
3. I have a lot - but from Cooks Hill specifically the Luna Park excursions were heaps of fun. Spending time with my friends in general are always my favourite memories.
4. Aldi Mi Goreng noodles.
Shaylani
Not having to do school work
Year 2
Kenny
Veya
Advice from the Year 12s
Advice from the Year 12s
For their last Senior Study session, the Year 12s got together to list some advice for everyone!
Get a Learning Through Internship (LTI) sooner.
Do more drawings instead of writing.
Base things more on what you want to do rather than what you think you should do.
It's ok to bother older students with questions. It isn't even bothering for them and people want to support you!
Know the difference between healthy comparison and unhealthy comparison.
Surround yourself with people that support you and give you constructive feedback.
Know that even if your work looks different to others, that doesn't mean it's inferior.
Outlearning is super useful!! It's not all academic.
Don't lose sight of what you love.
Combine academic with creativity, you can find connections between even the most diverse interests.
Sign up for free opportunities! Listen out in Town hall for group LTIs, courses and workshops. Years 8/9/10 is all about doing everything and trying out lots of different subjects. It doesn't all have to relate to all of your work, just say yes!
The early years are for giving everything a go.
Photos of the week
Crossword
Welcome to this weeks crossword puzzle! All of the clues relate to Learning Through Internship, however remember to think outside of the box as some of the answers require a bit of mental gymnastics. For those who need a little extra help, here's a clue: a heteronym is a word that's spelt the same as another word, but has a different pronunciation and meaning, and a homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word, but has another meaning.
Thanks for reading!
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