HIGHER SCHOOL CERTIFICATE 2009

Congratulations to our top-achieving students in the 2009 HSC: Tijana Novkovic, Danielle Sihapanyaxay, Tammy So, Mitchell Wong, Lee Canta, Igor Stevanovski, Danny Huang, Kylie Tran, Biljana Boskic, Prayag Lagan, Shane Kingsbury, Melissa Petrovska, Jaime Ross, Lucy Tran, Tanya Davood, Abir Farhat, Monica Keo, Manda Khudhir and Louise Simonetta.

Overall results in Biology, Economics, English Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2, PDHPE, Senior Science, Community and Family Studies, were excellent when compared to statewide results.

More than 50% of our students achieved results in the top two bands for the following courses: English Extension 1, Community and Family Studies, Mathematics 2 Unit, Maths Extension 1 and Maths Extension 2.

Results for students in the following HSC courses were excellent with between 73% and 91% of students gaining results in the top three bands: English Advanced, Economics, Community and Family Studies, Information Processes and Technology, Mathematics 2 Unit, Music Course 1, PDHPE, Biology and Senior Science. The 2009 HSC results were better than last year in sixteen courses - a continuing improvement trend in recent years.

SCHOOL CERTIFICATE 2009

In recent years we have seen an improvement trend in School Certificate results and overall results compare favourably with those of "like school groups" in the state. Official DET feedback indicates that the “value-added” statistics reveal that student achievement levels at the School Certificate are significantly higher than would normally be expected – based upon testing in Year 5 at primary school. In fact, many of these results are much higher than an average of the school’s results in the past five years, and could be considered as “outstanding” when compared to figures for like school groups.

The following students are to be congratulated for achieving excellent overall results in the 2009 School Certificate Examinations: Stephanie Nguyen (Dux), Danny Cao, Stephanie Croucher, Stephanie Garzaniti, Kenan Huseyin, Whoopi Hutman, Sibel Ilker, Stefan Ivanisevic, Aaron Jolley, Gina Jung, Stefan Lay, Antony Le, Anthony Luu, Ivy Ly, Michelle Maiuolo, Kirsty Nguyen, Linda Nguyen, Matthew Porpiglia, Jessica Ribbons, Fanulla Sapountzis and Michael Sprod.

Click here for details of Student Awards and Achievements at our 2009 Annual Presentation Evening

BRAINIAC COMPETITION: On Friday 11th December, I had the privilege of accompanying Hasti Saeedi and Jelena Lukic (Year 7), Samantha King (Year 8) and Vanessa Luu (Year 10) to a “Brainiac” competition. This competition is for Gifted and Talented students from schools throughout South Western Sydney and is held at Mary Mackillop College. Nicknamed “The Academics”, these four intelligent, polite, and witty students competed in four sessions throughout the day: • Knowledge questions (English, Mathematics, History and Geography) • Problem solving/letter writing (Geopolitics) • Spontaneous role play • Visual alchemy The Academics wore bright smiles on their faces all day as they exercised their intellectual gifts and were able to converse and swap information (or fibs!) that were delivered from table to table across the hall by ‘runners’ from Mary Mackillop. Prairiewood High School, as a whole, should be very proud, as The Academics were leading the competition all day, only to be pipped at the post in a bonus question round. Hasti, Jelena, Samantha and Vanessa came third out of 10 groups of Gifted and Talented representatives from both private/independent and public schools. They managed to finish well in front of Mary Mackillop, Good Samaritan College, All Saints Boys and Patrician Brothers Fairfield, and were only narrowly beaten by Westfields and Cerdon College. The day was a great success, the girls represented Prairiewood in such a positive and energetic manner. Prairiewood will definitely win the competition in the future. Well done girls!

Miss J. Peters  

Other student achievements for 2009 included...

SCHOOLS' DEBATING and PUBLIC SPEAKING - 2009
Our school's Year 8 debating team finsihed as winners of both the Zone and Interzone competitions in 2009.

TAFE VET AWARD for 2009
Matthew Fletcher was successful in being recognised as the TOP PERFORMING STUDENTS at Wetherill Park TAFE in 2009.

PwC BUSINESS STUDIES COMPETITION (UNSW) 2009
The following PHS students gained DISTINCTION results: Lee Canta, Dominic See, Danielle Sihapanyaxay,
Mitchell Wong, Prayag Lagan and Lourene Chan

UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS for NSW and ACT SCHOOLS
Forty-five students from Prairiewood High School received offers of university course placements in 2009.

LANSDOWNE ZONE "BLUES" SPORTS AWARDS - 2009
The following awards were presented to PHS students for 2009:
Jonathon Masiasomua (Rugby Union), Gaby Pese (Volleyball), Saia Tanginoa (Sports All-Rounder)
Shane Kingsbury (Swimming), Open Bpoys' Rugby Union Team. SHane Kingsbury was also honoured by being presented
with the award for Sportsperson of the Year.

AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS' MATHEMATICS COMPETITION - 2009
Congratulations to Justin Mercieca, Jessica Ta, Andre Fathalla Yousiff, Anna Quach, Newman See and Martin Shakir
who received Distinction Awards in the Australian Schools Maths Competition - 2009.

AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS' SCIENCE COMPETITION - 2009
Congratulations to Daniel Shephard, Amirah Todor, Nasma Lazym, Steven Quach, Stephanie Garzaniti and Danny Huang
who received Distinction Awards in the Australian Schools Science Competition - 2009.

NATIONAL SCHOOLS' CHEMISTRY COMPETITION - 2009
Congratulations to Dominic See and Jason Huang who received High Distinction Awards and Newman See
a Distinction Award in the National Chemistry Competition - 2009.

AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS' A.C.E.R. COMPETITION - 2009
Congratulations to Stephanie Garzaniti, Ivy Ly, Jessica Prestipino and Selina Riva who received
a High Distinction for Italian in the A.C.E.R. Awards for 2009.

NATIONAL SCHOOLS' ENGLISH COMPETITION - 2009
Congratulations to Bianca Croucher, Ashly Dahdal, Hasti Saeedi, Samantha King, Jessica Lisciotto
and Stephanie McCann-Hoey who received Distinction Awards in the National Schools English Competition for 2009.

SOUTH WESTERN SYDNEY REGIONAL SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS - 2009
Alicia Gaffey - 6th place in Girls' 14 years 200m Freestyle event
Alicia Gaffey - 11th place in Girls' 14 years 100m Freestyle event

HIGHLIGHTS for 2008 included...

• Paddock to Plate - was a successful function organised as a special initiative of the University of Western Sydney and staff from twelve different high schools to provide opportunities for students to gain new experiences and skills by working with experts from the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Norwest Business Park. The key focus was for students to gain a broader perspective and understanding of growing and producing fresh ingredients… on the farm… right through to the preparation and serving of meals in a first class restaurant. This initiative was well supported by dedicated teaching staff from our schools – especially in the areas of agriculture, food technology and hospitality.
• The Year 9 Food Technology class won the Castle Hill Show 2008 Scone Trophy: first place Stephanie Flores and Gina Odicho, second place Casey Nelson and Josephine Bejin, third place Tye Pham and Nadia Khoshaba and fourth place Selina Riva and Alyssa Martinez. Ribbons were also won for first place in appliqué work – Steven Nguyen and Fanulla Sapountzis and tie-dyed article – Casey Nelson; second place in machine made article – Deanna White and textiles article – Jessica Ribbons; third place in machine made article – Deanna White and fourth place in machine made article – Jessica Pestipino. Pairiewood High was awarded the title of 2008 Grand Champions of the youth category
• Prairiewood High students continued their prize-winning streak at the Penrith Show as well. First place awards were presented to Helen Ching, Hien Phu of Special Education, Stephanie Flores, Gina Odicho of year 9 for cake category; Eric Tran, Brandon Vongsauvanh of year 7 for pikelet category; second place awards were received by Yohann Khudhir of year 7 for pikelet category; and third place awards were presented to Melissa Hong, Truc Lam of Special Education, Kassie Sacco, Amy Moffitt of year 9 for cake category and D’Shaun Keenan and Kane Yousif of year 7 for pikelet category. Sport
• Prairiewood High School was awarded the title of Zone Swimming carnival champions for the third consecutive year.
• Shane Kingsbury of Year 11 was announced as Age Champion for swimming in the Lansdowne Sports Zone. He broke two swimming records – 100m butterfly and 10m backstroke. He won a silver medal for the 17 – 19 years 100m Butterfly and competed in two events at the Australian National Swimming Championships.
• Rachel O’Brien and Norise Tu’au (Vice Captain) both representatives of the South Western Sydney Girls’ Volleyball team achieved third place in the NSW CHS Championships.
• Norise Tua’au of Year 12 was selected in the NSW CHS Volleyball team to tour New Zealand in June for the Trans Tasman Tournament. Norise was named Most Valuable Female Player for the NSW CHS Volleyball knockout finals and in the All Star Six. She also represented the NSW U/19 team in the National Championships in Melbourne.
• Fehi Fa of Year 9 and Nazli Hocaoglu of Year 8 were selected for the NSW U/15 Volleyball team to play in the National championships in Albury during the April holidays.
• Rachel O’Brien of Year 12 was awarded the prestigious Pierre de Coubertin international award for excellence and achievement in sport.
• 2008 Sportsman of the Year was Shane Kingsbury and the 2008 Sportswoman of the Year was awarded to Norise Tu’au.
• The Special Education students won for the 13th consecutive year the Marching Competition at the Metropolitan Athletics Carnival. The theme was “Bring on Beijing” and the students waved Chinese Flags and streamers and wore red soccer shirts.
• Prairiewood Open rugby team was invited to represent Australia in the 2009 Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament to be held in Japan. The school has received overwhelming support from the Sydney Morning Herald, Channel 7 and local newspaper media has been outstanding – with offers of financial support, sponsorship and donations from a range of companies and individuals. The initial ‘kick off’ was a very successful school dance, which raised almost $5000 towards the trip.
• U/13 – U/15 ten-a-side rugby team won $2000 worth of Samsung equipment by being the team that showed “spirit in rugby”, showing that sportsmanship, camaraderie, and values in sport mean just as much as the score.
• U/14 rugby team won their age division for the fourth consecutive year.
• U/16 rugby team won their age division. Saia Tanginoa and Michael Luong of year 10 were selected in the Sydney Junior U/16 rugby team to compete at the U/16 Australian Championships in Queensland.
• John Tanuvasa of year 12 was selected for the NSW U/17 rugby team. Other
• Stephanie Bellchambers of Year 11 was selected by staff as our school’s nomination for the Public Education Ambassador Program, a regional initiative for Education Week in 2008.
• Kassey Alaalatoa of year 11 was awarded the 2008 VET student of the year which is sponsored by Fairfield Business Education Partnerships Inc.
• Nazli Hocaoglu of Year 8 was selected to attend a talented and gifted student’s forensic science camp held at The Armidale School located in Armidale NSW. This involved collecting evidence using the forensic science laboratories and using the criminal database. The course culminated in a mock trial presided over by a real lawyer (magistrate) to convict the perpetrators of the crime investigated using the forensic evidence analyzed.
• The National Law Week Competition promoted saying NO to discrimination. Clare Melville of Year 10 became a finalist in the Year 10-12 Anti-Discrimination Board Writing Competition and was presented with her award at Parliament House in Sydney by the Attorney General Mr John Hatzistergos.
• Seven students received distinction awards in the Australian Mathematics competition: Alan Tran of year 7, Jessica Ta of year 8, Steven Cao, Jason Nguyen, Bryce Johnson, Newman See and Rawin Keo of year 10.
• Emily Galleguillos and Bryce Johnson of year 10 achieved high distinction awards in the National Italian competition. Sara Bustamente, Steven Cao, Sarah Joudo, Matthew Lisciotto, Alena Mayugina, Estelle Mostarac, Martin Shakir and Chiara Wheeler of Year 10 achieved distinction awards.
• Six students received distinction awards in the Australian English competition: Jessica Lisciottoand Samantha King of year 7, Michelle Franic and Michelle Maiuolo of year 9 and Bryce Johnson and Sasha Otovic of year 10.
• Jason Huang of year 10 achieved a high distinction in National Chemistry Competition and distinctions were awarded to Bryce Johnson of year 10, Lawrence Chan and Danny Huang of year 11.
• Five students received distinction awards in the Australian Science competition: Allan Allaf of year 7, Jason Huang, Bryce Johnson and Clare Melville of year 10.
• Michael Catanzaniti of year 12 received a high distinction award and prize in the UNSW Price Waterhouse Coopers Economics competition with a ranking of 99.287.
• Two students, Jimmy Bou Obeid and Wesley Leong, received high distinctions in the Australian Geographic Competition. Seven students received distinctions.
• Members of the school Agricultural team gained third place in the 15-20 month Square Meater breed judging at the Canberra Show.