Term one has been a challenging one for all members of our school community and once again, quite different from the previous two years. Whilst our students have been able to participate in excursions and sporting events once again, we have also seen many students absent due to illness or the need to isolate. The recent heavy rain has also impacted on many of our students and families, and also on attendance due to minor flooding. Despite these factors the majority of our students have continued to have a high attendance rate, which is very pleasing.
Seven of our students successfully progressed in swimming making the journey to the state finals in the Combined High Schools Swimming Championships last week. Max Bott swam personal bests in both the 50 and 100m freestyle and the 13 years boys Relay team, Aiden Hardy, Tyler Hill and Ned Oxenbridge and Luca Pensini, are to be congratulated on their swim. Congratulations to Kiera Hetherington and Bailey Whitton for their success, with both students wining Gold Medals. Kiera was placed first in the 16 years 100m butterfly and Bailey first in the 16 years 100m and 200m butterfly. Bailey also came second in the 16 years 50 and 100m freestyle and Kiera took bronze in the 16 years 100m backstroke. Congratulations and well done to all.
It was a pleasure this week to acknowledge students for their achievements during the term at our School Cup Assembly. Well done to all those who have been recognised by their teachers for their achievements, keep up the good work and outstanding efforts. It was also great to be able to invite parents to attend this celebration of student achievement. It was lovely to welcome parents of Years 7 and 8 to Parent/Teacher interviews, another first, after two years.
The ANZAC Day Assembly was another highlight this week. The acknowledgment of country and introduction delivered by Charlotte Miller, Billy Miller, and Bronx Dunn, was very moving and thought provoking. Our School Leaders spoke very well, not only about the ANZAC tradition but also the involvement of the many Australian service men and women in all conflicts and peace keeping forces since World War 1. Our invited guests from the Laurieton and Kendall RSL Sub-Branches, Mr John James, Mr Allan Beatty, and Mr Glen Webster were very welcome and pleased to support and participate in our event. One of our guests Allan “Buster’ Beatty, spoke to the school about the service and contributions made by women nurses over the years since the Boer War in 1900. We were also very privileged to welcome Mrs Joy McKenzie to our ceremony from Port Macquarie Hastings Pipe Band to play the Last Post and the Reveille, which was enjoyed by all. Thank you to all the staff and students involved in the planning, our guests and the audience, our student body, who are to be congratulated on their participation and the solemnity and respect they displayed.
The final week finished off with some planned excursions for Year 12 and the Targeted Sports groups and a special rewards trip to the Royal Easter Show for another large group across year cohorts. The Show Team also undertook a journey to the Royal Easter Show. Despite the inclement weather, they were very rewarding experiences, and a great time was had by all.
I would like to wish all a Happy Easter and a safe and relaxing holiday before we return for Term 2.  Students return on Wednesday 27 April.

Mrs M Hutchinson
Principal

Please take note of the following announcements, for any questions please contact us on 6556 8100. 

Friday 8 April - Last day of term 1
Wednesday 27 April - Students return to school Term 2
Wednesday 4 May - Cross Country
Tuesday 10 May - Parent Teacher Interviews Years 9 & 10
Tuesday 17 May - Parent Teacher Interviews Years 11 & 12

Anzac Day Assembly

CHHS Cup Assembly

CHS State Swimming Championships

Kiera and Bailey both won the 100m Butterfly at the CHS carnival last Friday, the 1 April.  Well done on those Gold medals!!

Year 8 students in Gift of Life Walk

Year 8 students and teachers took part in a Gift of Life Walk as a great way to open up conversations with families and friends about organ and tissue donation. We are challenging our community to take the next step and register to become an organ and tissue donor today.

Greater Northern Australian Football Team

CHS Golfing Championships

Colby competed recently at the North Coast High Schools Golf Championships in Yamba. Colby finished five over off the stick through 27 holes. He tied second off the stick and won the net by a few shots. He played extremely well and will return to Yamba on the 19 June to attend the CHS Golfing Championships.
Well done Colby on this outstanding result.

LNC Hockey team

North Coast CHS Football Selection Trials

On Tuesday 5 April five Camden Haven High students travelled to the new synthetic turf football fields at Coffs Coast Sport and Leisure Park to compete in the North Coast CHS selection trials. It was a very hot day with tough competition. Charlie was a stand out in goals for his team making amazing saves. Sam had a very impressive never give up work ethic on the field. Will flew up the wing chasing every pass.

The girls trials were just as tough. Congratulations to Mia who was a standout key player in her side. Mia was selected in the team and will travel to Bathurst in May. Congratulations to Jasmine  who was selected as a shadow player for the girls squad. Jasmine rarely stopped running while on the field and was also a stand out player. Well done to all five students who attended.

Northern NSW Rugby League Trials

Five students from CHHS  represented the Mid North Coast at the Northern NSW Rugby League trials. Congratulations to Adam and Reeve who were selected in the team to play the Hunter team early next term. From this trial a North Coast team will be selected to play at the state championships and trial for the NSW CHS team.

Paramedics 101 opportunity for Mia and Indianna

On Friday 1 April, two Year 12 students, Mia and Indianna, had the opportunity to be involved in a two-hour Paramedics 101 interactive session. The session was delivered by John Mokler, an active paramedic on the Mid North Coast and paramedic for over 20 years, sharing his knowledge about his career as a paramedic / first responder. and what a 'typical day' might look like. Throughout the session, Mia and Indianna were able to use their free mini first aid kit to practise basic bandaging techniques, as well as learn about the Paramedical Science and courses offered for those students wishing to look at a career in emergency medicine / first response.

Senior Marine Students at Lake Cathie

Senior Marine Studies students are currently studying the health and water quality of Lake Cathie with their teacher, Dr Deb Geronimi. Last week the students went to the lake and met with Revive Lake Cathie community group member (Greg) and looked at various water quality parameters from different sites around the lake. They have found the water quality to be extremely poor even though the lake is now open to the ocean. They found that oxygen levels are very low in some areas which will be detrimental to aquatic life. They also found that there are significant levels of ammonia in the lake, which is extremely toxic to living organisms. Ammonia is released as organisms decompose; it is also present in raw sewage. The ammonia samples were analysed back at school in the Science Labs. The lake system is very unhealthy and needs some urgent action to help restore it back to a healthy ecosystem.

Year 7's Adventures in Port Macquarie

After six weeks of rained out sport, Year 7 finally got to have a bit of fun. Last Thursday they were treated to an adventure in Port Macquarie. The girls had a great time bouncing and flipping at Springloaded Indoor Gymnastics Centre, while the boys enjoyed rock climbing and laser tag at Centre of Gravity.
Both the students and staff had a great time.

The CHHS Drama Group at Oliver

The CHHS Drama Group at the Flying Fruit Fly Circus

The Camden Haven Drama Group took a bus load of thespians to see The Flying Fruit Fly Circus - Girls with Altitude. This dynamic performance was all about empowering women in the world. It showcased the talented youth of today through circus acts. Our students were left in awe of what these young people were able to do. The Year 11 Drama class were especially fascinated as they work up to their first assessment in Drama, the group performance. It matters not what someone is born but what they grow to be.

CHHS Interact Easter Fundraising Competition

CHHS Interact hosted a lucky door prize competition on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Each day before school and at recess students and teachers had the opportunity to purchase tickets to enter into the daily draw to win an Easter prize which contained chocolate eggs of all shapes, sizes and flavours as well as a marshmallow easter bunny. In total 390 tickets were sold over the three days raising a total of $208.75 which will go towards future projects. If you are interested in joining interact, please come along to D1 on Thursdays at lunchtime or see one of the team. 

Premiers Senior Debating Challenge Round 2

The senior debating team were drawn to debate against Henry Lawson High School from beyond the mountains for the second round of the Premiers Senior Debating. The new format meant that Henry Lawson were arguing their first debate while Camden Haven High were in the knockout round after already using up their “life” in the first round to Bulli High School.
The debate was held online using Zoom in their respective school libraries. Both teams were given one hour to prepare after deciding the topic to be “That We Should Ban Early Entry for the HSC” with Camden Haven being the Affirmative team. The Topic was relevant considering that both teams had a mixture of Preliminary and Year12 students studying for University.
Camden Haven and Henry Lawson both argued around the issues of opportunity, equality and which system was more stressful for the students and families. Both teams displayed a pleasing ability to engage and discuss the issue, although in the end, the adjudicator decided that Camden Haven delivered their rebuttals better as they were more connected with their main arguments.
I would like to congratulate the team of Lukas, Daniel, Jasmine and Doug for their ability to adapt, remain graceful under pressure and their teamwork in achieving their first win for 2022.

Step Up Awards

Notices from the local community. Click on an image to see a larger version.