Newsletter 4 November 2022

Hello families and friends

Term 4 is well underway and we are enjoying a calm and productive school learning environment. Now we just need the weather to remember that sunshine and warmth are appreciated as we experience a celebratory culmination of learning experiences, journeys, and pathways.

Indigenous Inner North Cluster Day

Along with our indigenous students, I had the absolute pleasure of attending the Inner North Celebration of culture day earlier this term. Whilst the weather saw a move from Corrobboree Park to Dickson College the fun and experience was still top notch. Students played buroinjin, made damper and through many other activities connected with each other and local community members.

Band Excursion to the National Museum of Australia

Earlier this week our bands were fortunate enough to play at the National Museum of Australia. All five bands played a selection of music. The truly special moment was each band learning and playing a different section of a piece of music from an Indigenous Composer. The students were amazing in their demonstration of achievement and performance, and as representatives for Lyneham High School.

World Teachers Day

Last Friday was World Teachers Day, where across the world we pause from busy schedules to celebrate the amazing and impactful work our teachers do each and every day. Lyneham High School is a great school because of the dedication, skill, and commitment of its teachers. Teachers play an essential role in our children's lives and I am in awe and grateful of the difference they make each and every day. Congratulations and hats off to the teachers of Lyneham High School and across the ACT.

2023 Intentions and Permissions

We have started planning for 2023 and ask that you inform us of your intentions as soon as possible. If your year 7/8/9 child WILL NOT be attending Lyneham High School in 2023, we ask that you please contact the front office on 61421176 or Lynehamhs@ed.act.edu.au.

If your child is continuing at LHS in 2023, we are seeking a suite of permissions for 2023 and an updated medical form. Refer the “Permissions for 2023” email that we sent on 31 October for more detail.

Safety Notices

Mushrooms

The Education Directorate has received reports of children ingesting mushrooms found in the playground, which can be very dangerous. Please find linked an urgent Safety Alert containing advice about what to do if mushrooms are found on school grounds and information about the symptoms of mushroom poisoning.

Flash flooding

As Canberra continues to experience above average rainfall, the risk of flash flooding in our waterways has been amplified. It is timely that we remind children and young people of the dangers associated with playing in or around stormwater. Please find linked a Safety Alert outlining the risks and providing some useful water safety resources.

Kind regards,
Jacqui Ford

Attention families of students in Years 7-9
Elective Selections for 2023

Will open next week:
Monday 7 November at 10:45 for year 7 students
Tuesday 8 November at 10:45 for year 8 & 9 students.

All students in years 7-9 need to do the following before they can make their selections:

Create an SSO account OR reset their password. Instructions for SSO and links to the elective timetables and handbooks can be found here.
View the SSO User Guide here to familiarise oneself with the platform when it opens.

Support to access the SSO platform is available from Ms Boer in the Maths staffroom during recess or lunch.

Students have received reminders of their SSO open times in announcements during first period classes through this week. They also received this information via email on 19 October.

All instruction documents and updates to the timetables and handbooks can also be accessed on students Year Group Google Classroom pages and the Subject Selections Page of Lenni.

Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) Results

Last term, 51 students sat the AMC at school. The final marks have been returned showing some pleasing results. All year groups' results were well above the ACT average for this competition with 43 students receiving a Credit or higher (Distinction/High Distinction/Prize) award. Three students, Andy Li (year 7), Yuri Bai (year 7) and Hongkai Chen (year 10) and their carers, have been invited to attend an awards ceremony to receive awards for their achievements in the AMC. Andy achieved a High Distinction with Yuri and Hongkai being awarded Prizes for their achievements.

All students who participated are to be congratulated for putting themselves through a rigorous test of their mathematics ability and can now claim their respective achievement certificates from their maths teacher or from Mr Morris in the Maths Staffroom. Students can also claim the question booklets used on the day if they wish.

Bicycle Security

Bicycle theft is a reality in society, and Lyneham High is unfortunately not exempt from being targeted.

Our school mitigates this by keeping the bike compound locked through the day (generally from about 9:30am to about 2:30pm) and having a teacher on duty at the bike compound at the end of the day (from about 3:05-3:20pm). Our Building Service Officer team also promptly repair the occasional damage to the external fencing wire.

Additionally, we urge students to keep their bikes locked with a good quality lock and encourage parents to regularly check with their children that they are using their locks. Periodic reminders about bike security are also given to students through daily notices.

Our staff carry out ad-hoc visual checks of the compound and are always dismayed to see up to 30% of bikes not being locked at all. Some of these bikes even have a chain/lock still wrapped around the handlebars or seat-post (therefore totally unsecure!). Many other bikes are seen to be secured with very cheap/flimsy locks that are easier to pry open. Of course, addressing these measures will not guarantee that a bike won’t be stolen, but they’ll make it considerably more difficult.

Massed Bands Performance

17 November 2022 4:00pm

This year the annual massed band concert will be held on the LPAC oval (please bring picnic blankets and chairs)

This is the most exciting concert on our calendar as it is so unique to Lyneham High School and it demonstrates our wonderful music community in its entirety.

For our newest families, the massed band concert features all of our concert bands performing a number of pieces as one massed band! If you have always wanted to know what 350+ students sound like performing together then here is your chance :).

This particular concert will be extra special as it is also going to be the official farewell for Debbie Masling, the Executive of Music who established our amazing band program over 20 years ago.

Attendees will also be able to farewell our year 10 Concert Band Students as they graduate from the program that they have been an integral part of for four years.

Important Information:

The timings for the concert are:
Students arrive 3:30pm
Concert commences 4:00pm
Concert concludes at 5:45pm approx.

Students to bring the following:

Band instrument - Instrument cases will be stored in the LPAC auditorium
Home copies of music, including your massed band music pack.
Water bottle as it is likely to be hot in the auditorium.
Items such as backpacks are discouraged as they will have to be left unattended in the LPAC Auditorium. Should a student have items such as a wallet or phone then they should not leave them in their bag in the LPAC Auditorium.

Next P&C Meeting

P&C meetings are held at 7pm on Tuesday of every week 3 and week 8 of term. For the foreseeable future, they are now only held online via the Microsoft Teams meeting at this link. The next meeting is on Tuesday 29 November.

School Calendar

Did you know the school’s calendar of events (excursions and the like) are maintained as a Google Calendar which is accessible from the front page of the school’s website (see below)? Events are maintained weekly.

Google Calendar

School website

Community Notices

Lyneham High School
61 Goodwin Street
LYNEHAM ACT 2602
Ph: 6142 1176
Email: lynehamhs@ed.act.edu.au