Parents and Citizens Association - Update

WELCOME

A warm welcome to all parents of Davidson High.  We would very much like to encourage you to become involved in our active P&C body.  Participation in P&C activities is a great way to meet other parents, teachers and keep in touch with what is happening at school.  I can assure you that your time at Davidson will pass very quickly and participation in the P&C is a great way to make the most of the opportunity to be involved in your child’s education.

We would like to encourage new parents to come along to P&C meetings and contribute to discussions and participate in decision making. The P&C provides great support to the school enabling it to purchase valuable equipment and resources that all students have the benefit of using.

OUR MEETINGS

Meetings are an informal gathering of sub-committee convenors, parents and the Principal.  Principal, Rod Cawsey attends each meeting and presents an informative report on what is happening at school at the current time. Guest speakers, usually faculty teachers often attend our meetings and inform on the happenings in their department. Meetings are held at 7.30pm on the fourth Tuesday of each month during school term. These are informal events open to all parents. Attending meetings is totally obligation free and you are more than welcome even if you just wish to sit in and hear what’s going on, or better still, contribute your ideas.

WHAT DOES THE P&C DO?

The P&C works closely in conjunction with the Principal to provide funds in areas as requested by the school. Financial support is one way in which the P&C assists the school. This is achieved, in part, through fundraising activities, but mostly through the profit received from our Maebashi Japanese Cultural Visit and the Canteen. These funds contribute towards the purchase of educational resources and equipment, and to improvements within the school's grounds. In the past the P&C has raised funds to extend the computer network and provide more computers, provide playground shelter, furnish specialist rooms such as the dance studio and provide other essential educational resources.

2007 ACHIEVEMENTS

A total contribution from the P&C to the school of $80,000 in 2007 as follows:

• Maebashi Committee - cultural visit by 48 Japanese students contributing $23,000
  
• Canteen Committee – successfully staffing and running the school canteen 5 days a week and contributing $15,000
  
• Performing Arts Committee - co-ordination of the sale of The Entertainment Book for Rock Eisteddfod resulting in $2289.00 and fundraising events to support SOPA resulting in $2828.00.
  
• Grounds Committee – water feature outside Principal’s office, stone wall edging outside office and support to the ECO Club.
  
• Parent voluntary contributions of $23,754.00
  
• Assistance with front of school project
  
• Assistance with BBQ on school Open Night
  
• Staffing of the Uniform Shop
  
• New Library computers x 4
  
• Digital projectors x 2
  
• Jewellery kiln
  
• Digital camera
  
• Tarket flooring for the dance studio
  
• Funds to assist the school’s Flying Squad program
  
• P&C Dinner Dance held in July
  
• Wine fundraiser resulting in $460
  
• Computer upgrades for staff consisting of $9,000

COMMITTEE MEETING DATES 2008

Tuesday         26^th August
Tuesday         23^rd September
Tuesday         28^th October
Tuesday         25^th November (AGM & General Meeting)
Tuesday         9^th December

OFFICE BEARERS

The election of office bearers takes place at the Annual General Meeting which is held in November.

Presidents Report

By the time you receive this report our Maebashi guests and students should be back in Japan after a very enjoyable and educational experience at Davidson.  From what I have seen this year's visit has been very successful and culturally rewarding. 

I take this opportunity to thank all volunteers who helped with this year's Maebashi, with special thanks to Bill Akhurst, Brenda Okada, Sue Anderson, Sharon Lorge and James Humberstone.

At our last P & C meeting held 29th July Sue Anderson advised the meeting about numerous interesting details and events. Only by attending our meetings can you get such personal insight into what is going on in the school!  The P & C voted to donate $15,500 to the school (which was raised partly by last years Maebashi and partly by the hard workers in the Canteen) for education equipment above and beyond what would be available to the school/students through the usual education department budget.   This extra equipment includes for example, an LCD projector, tarket for dance, a leadership program for 30 students and many other things.  Your support of our Canteen and help with events such as Maebashi and other P & C events will ensure our continued ability to purchase such equipment and fund such programs.

Congratulations on the Rock Eisteddfod performers reaching the grand final yet again.

For your information - our page on the school website will soon include The Dispatch reports.  Please have a look at www.davidson-h.schools.nsw.edu.au and if you are interested in receiving the P&C Minutes you can also advise us at the contact details listed.  If you are not able to make regular P&C Meetings but would like to keep in touch with your P&C please consider this option.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday 26th August in the staffroom at school, where we will again have a guest speaker and lots of relevant information.  You are all welcome, so come along and be well informed and enjoy yourselves.

Chris Garvan

Maebashi

The 38 students, aged between 13 and 17 years, from Maebashi Japan arrived at Davidson High School on Saturday 2nd August and were treated to a welcome morning tea in the Jan Jones room before meeting their respective host families.  Many of them could not speak much English but the smiles on their faces indicated they were going to enjoy their experience.

Over the weekend they were treated to the sights of Sydney as shown by their host families.  Many headed to the city, the bridge, Centrepoint and Darling Harbour to experience the many wonderful tourist destinations the city boasts.

Week 1 - Monday they had English lessons at school, shared buddy classes and enjoyed a pizza lunch.  On Tuesday they enjoyed a trip to the Blue Mountains. The highlight of the trip being the cable car ride, train ride, the beauty of the Three Sisters as well as some shopping in Leura.  Wednesday there were more English lessons to be had and the traditional Golden Slipper competition which involves Davidson High teams competing against the Maebashi students in softball and soccer for the trophy. The winning school being announced in a future assembly where the winner gets handed the trophy to keep for a year and hopefully this year it stays at Davidson.  Thursday saw them enjoying a sightseeing excursion to the Opera House and the Australian Museum.  Friday was a day at school learning English and sharing classes with their buddies.  Saturday was a free day with their host families.  Sunday the traditional Maebashi picnic was held at Manly Dam.  Always a great day where all the students and host families gather to experience an Aussie bush bbq.

Week 2 - Monday they were treated to a craft day where they tried their hand at dot painting and making some Gum Nut characters.  Tuesday was an excursion to Manly for some last minute souvenirs and shopping.  Wednesday is the traditional farewell party where all the host families are invited to a night of Japanese entertainment by the students. They wear their traditional clothes and sing and teach us to dance. It is also their graduation night.

The students leave for Japan on Thursday with many tears shed by students and host families. By the time this report is read they will be back in Maebashi reflecting on their wonderful Australian and in particular, Davidson experience.

In particular I would like to thank parents Brenda Okada and Sharon Lorge, community member Bill Akhurst and the staff of Davidson High School for all their efforts in supporting this wonderful cultural experience.  A very big thank you to all the host families and students who without your efforts the Maebashi experience would not be possible.

James Humberstone - Convenor

Canteen

A revised Canteen Menu has been sent home – please note there are a couple of amendments – “due to unforeseen circumstances Sushi will no longer be available and the Tuna Pasta Salad will not be available until Term 4”.  Don’t forget - if you would like more time at recess order your lunch before school.  Thank you to all you ladies and gents for volunteering your time to help in the Canteen.  It doesn’t matter if it is only an hour; your help is really appreciated.  Thank you to our hard working staff for all your efforts.

Coralie Turner-Morris - Convenor

Performing Arts

Congratulations to Mr Peade and the cast and crew of Eternity who have qualified for the Grand Final of Premier Division in the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge to be held on Friday 5th September.  Our performance at Wollongong Entertainment Centre was nothing short of brilliant.  It was felt by many of the Davidson parents in the audience to be one of our best performances.  Our wonderful talented dancers performed magnificently and were complimented by the smooth precision carried out by the stage crew.  The lighting, contrasting costume colours of red, white and black and colourful sets all complimented the performance.  Well done everyone - you made us all very proud and we get to do it all again in the final.  Good luck!

In regard to fundraising - thank you to our parent community who has supported our fundraiser of the Entertainment Book.  Our popular Cake Stall and Sausage Sizzle will be held again this term on Friday 29^th August.  Once again we ask all performing arts students to donate cakes or sweets to the stall to help raise funds for performing arts.  A separate note will be sent home to all students asking for support.

Carolyn Watters - Convenor

Grounds

Thank you to Monika and Amy Johnston, Lesley Snell and Ben Baxter, Pat Keetles, Karen Duffy, Graham Johnson, Phyll and Barry Morris and Bill Sainsbery who attended one or more of the last working bees.  Most of the bare ground around the cricket nets has now been mulched and work has commenced on simplifying the garden bed layout at the back of the Science block.

The next working bee will be held on Saturday 23^rd August from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm.  We would love to see some new people attending and even an hour of your time is most appreciated.  Students attending receive Blues points.

Sam Phillips - Convenor

Sport

Recent selections have seen Alexandra Montague qualify for the Sydney North Gymnastics Artistic Women’s Team (Div. D) and Aaron Hinds in CHS Rugby 1^st Team congratulations to both.

Cross Country saw Jordan Smith as our only school representative finish 18^th in the NSW All Schools State Championships 18 Years Boys Race over 8 km. At the same time he placed 6^th in CHS State, & his Sydney North team won the team category for the 18 Years Boys Division for the sixth year in a row.

At the Sydney North Regional Athletics Meet held on 4^th – 5^th August some early results indicate several students have performed well  – Sam Soden 4^th place in 16 Years Boys High Jump, Jacob Bonner 5^th place in 14 Years Boys Discus, Andrew Seller 6^th place in 16 Years Boys Javelin, James Kang 5^th place in 17+ Years Boys Javelin, Georgina Rowe in the 16 Years Girls gained 1^st place in Discus, 8^th place in Javelin, and 5^th place in High Jump, Jeff Jackson 3^rd place in 16 Years Boys 800m race, and Jordan Smith 1^st place in both the 17+ Years Boys 800m & 1500m races. A more comprehensive report will be available once the full carnival results are posted on the Sydney North website.

Phil Smith - Convenor

Social Committee

Being a part of the Social Committee is a fun way of helping out with some of the events that are part of our school year. Our Social Committee is involved in the Welcome Night for the new Year 7 Parents, organising refreshments for Parent/Teacher interviews and drinks and nibbles for the Parents of our Year 12 students on their school graduation night.  If you would like to know more please contact Marcia Garvan on 9452 2429 or Linda Cahill on 0431 943 191, we would love to hear from you.

The Dispatch Mailout

If you would like to meet other parents from school, enjoy a cup of tea and are available twice a term on a Thursday morning we would like to hear from you.  The Dispatch is sent home twice a term and we need helpers to put it envelopes.  You don't have to commit yourself, just come and try it.  Thank you to Kerrie Waldron for assisting with the last Dispatch and thank you Alison for the morning teas.  We managed to finish by 11.00am.  Just another couple of helpers and we would knock hours off.   For more info please ring Alan Turner-Morris 9451 0525.