21 February 2025

Principal’s Report.

Dear Emerald State High School Community,

We have had a fantastic start to the year with lots of engaging, inclusive and challenging things happening in our classes. I have been very pleased with the calm and productive tones in our classes. Well done everyone!

Like probably every school in Queensland, we have had some students away ill. A reminder that if students are ill, they are not expected to be working - their job is to rest and get well again. Please note that we will be understanding of their situation and the impact that this will have on their assessment.

Attendance

I spoke last year with the students about the things that make a real difference to success at school. Ability is helpful, but the things that really make a difference are Effort, Attitude and Attendance.

The following things in particular are important:

• Attending school as regularly as possible
• Putting in a quality effort in class - using every second of every lesson to do our best
• Completing homework and studying at home to consolidate our learning
• Being organised and ready to learn (PREPARED)
• Getting involved in learning (PARTICIPATE)
• Maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle – exercise, relaxation, friends, diet
• Maintaining quality relationships with teachers and friends (POLITE)

Regular attendance is particularly important, with the following attendance rates providing a guide to the impact on academic success.

• 95% attendance = 1 day a month (minimal impact)
• <90% attendance = 1 day a fortnight (noticeable impact)
• <85% attendance = 1.5 days a fortnight (very significant impact)
• <80% attendance = 1 day a week (critical impact)

Positive Behaviour for Learning Focus - Use Technology For Its Intended Purpose

Our focus this fortnight responds to our data around Technology Violations. Not just students using banned items (mobile phones & ear pods) in class and in the playground, but also inappropriate use of school technology resources. Student Personal Devices (mobile phones & ear pods) must be Away For The Day, between the 8:50am until 2:50pm. Students observed using devices during this time must be asked to take them to the office, where they can be collected at the end of the day. Positive behaviour choices are always acknowledged with Hi 5s or Positive Postcards. Our Mobile Phone Policy can be found on Page 9 of the Student Diary.

Kind regards
Mr. Troy Sanson
Principal

From the Topaz 1 HSC.

Welcome back for Term 1, 2025! It has been a great start to the year, with house spirit running strong amongst Topaz (the best house). It has been great to walk around PC classrooms and see new and returning students ready for a new year.

My name is Oliver Lamb and I would like to introduce myself as the Topaz A HSC for 2025. I support students who are in Topaz PC classes 1-4 and Peter Sanson is the Topaz B HSC who supports students in Topaz PC classes 5-8. PC structure has seen some slight shifts, with classes now divided into Junior PC (Years 7-9) and Senior PC (Years 10-12). Each house continues to have a team that consists of a Deputy Principal, Head of House (contact first regarding behaviours) and HSC (contact first regarding wellbeing).

Students have settled in and have received their diaries, which should be used to record important dates, including homework and assessment. Our big focus is using the diary throughout the year.

Students have been completing house spirit activities in their PC class where they have been completing get to know you quizzes, bingo and much more. It has been awesome to see students from different year levels interacting with each other and getting involved with the activities. I am looking forward to seeing this house spirit at the swimming carnival at the end of the term!

I’m looking forward to a great term with Topaz A and please reach out to me if you have any questions, or concerns.

Regards
Mr. Oliver Lamb
HSC – Topaz A

From the Maths team.

The Mathematics department is working hard to make sure every student has success.

Year 7

Mathspace, an online maths program, is being rolled out and used in Year 7. It maps the mathematical skills of students from Year 3 onwards, and then suggests specific skills to work on. If we think of success in maths as being built brick by brick, with one year level being built on top of the previous year level, then Mathspace allows students to address any missing bricks. It helps students do this away from the teacher, by providing video examples and an AI chatbot that students can interface with. By individualising content for each student, we are better able to meet each students’ needs.

If your child has not returned their Mathspace note, please follow up on any teacher communication around this.

Year 12

Specialist Mathematics

A big shout out to the dedicated students of Year 12 Specialist Maths, who gave up part of their weekend to attend a Saturday class for four hours. This has helped them get ahead in the syllabus, which will allow them to better prepare for external exams.

Thank you to Andersens for fuelling the students with a subway lunch!

Mathematical Methods

Year 12 Methods students will now be able to access a tutorial every Tuesday in Period 4. This is a voluntary session but will help student consolidate their knowledge and access the help of a Year 12 Mathematical Methods teacher.

Regards
Mr. Raj Bhar
HOD

From the HPE team.

We have had a great start to the year in HPE at ESHS.

Across the junior school, our students are participating in minor games, street hockey, soft-crosse and bat and ball sports. In the classroom we are discussing cyber safety, positive mental health and the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

Our elective Year 10s are studying fitness training principles and training programs associated with our school gym, while our senior Sport and Recreation students are continuing with their officiating assessments. Our senior Physical Education students are discussing ethics and integrity and tactical awareness.

Regards
Mr. James Fitzpatrick
HOD

From the Arts team.

As always, the Arts Department have many projects on the go; creativity is flourishing and innovation is high!

Events

• Our 2025 musical, Mamma Mia! is officially underway. Monday 17th February marked the official end to auditions, with students eagerly awaiting the announcement of cast roles on Thursday 20th February!

Drama

• 7 Drama: Our current Year 7 Drama classes are well and truly underway with investigating this Arts strand. Students have been learning about the Elements of Drama - our foundational set of concepts for creating Drama.
• 11/12 Drama in Practice: 11/12 Drama in Practice are officially underway with their IA1 Devising Project! Students are engaging with Queensland Theatre's, The Scene Project 2025 as their stimulus for this task. Our seniors have been busy investigating the inspiration materials for the 2025 script and are keen to begin workshopping their own interpretations of the themes and concepts advised by Queensland Theatre.

Media

• Year 7 Media – Disney Villains: Students are building a basic understanding of how film techniques, such as camera angles, lighting, and music, create meaning and shape the portrayal of villains. They’re exploring how these elements work together to evoke emotions in the audience.
• Year 9 – Music Videos from Past to Present: Students are discovering the evolution of music videos while gaining hands-on experience with filmmaking. Through creative experimentation, they’re learning how to bring their ideas to life on screen.
• Year 10 – Film Making Fundamentals: Students are diving into short filmmaking, focusing on how directors purposefully use techniques like framing, sound, and editing. They’re preparing to complete an analysis task that unpacks how these choices create meaning and impact the audience.

Music

• 7 Music - Throughout the term, students will create their own unique rock song and learn the basics of piano, guitar, ukulele and drums. We have already spent some time completing "guitar bootcamp" and the basics of piano chords.
• 9 Music - In the process of learning pop music on their chosen instrument for an end of term performance assessment.
• 10 Music - Analysing and evaluating the effectiveness of fusion music and experimenting with making their very own fusion songs.
• 11 MUS/MUP/12 MUS - Practicing their chosen performance pieces and preparing for an end of term concert - stay tuned for more details!

Visual Art

• 7 Art – Students are wrapping up their continuous line drawing which the have turned into a watercolour portrait and will be starting the reflective task this week.
• 9 Art – Students have commenced their experiment folio, focusing on the making style of Basquiat. They will then investigate the painting style know as Vanitas and finish with mirroring the work of Hundertwasser.
• 10 Art – Students have commenced their experiment folio, focusing on Street Art.
• 11 and 12 Visual Art – Students completed their stimulus experience last week and are now commencing their FA1 and IA1 written report.
• 11 and 12 Visual Art in Practice – Students are experimenting with Lino carving and designs to help develop ideas for their resolved artworks.

Regards
Miss. Amy Cochrane
Teacher

From the Humanities team.

Exploring the Past and Present: A Busy Term in Humanities

This term has been an exciting one for our Humanities students, with hands-on experiences, engaging discussions, and deep dives into History and Geography. Across all year levels, students have been developing their critical thinking and research skills, whilst exploring fascinating topics.

Digging Into the Past: Senior Ancient History in Action

Our Senior Ancient History students have been putting their archaeological skills to the test! Engaging in hands-on activities, they have been learning about excavation techniques, artifact analysis, and how historians reconstruct the past from physical evidence. This practical experience has deepened their understanding of the challenges and rewards of uncovering history firsthand.

Junior Historians on the Move

Across the junior school, students have been diving into their history, with each year level exploring a unique period of the past:

• Year 7: Ancient Egypt – uncovering the secrets of the pharaohs, pyramids, and daily life along the Nile.
• Year 8: The Vikings – legendary warriors, explorers, and settlers who shaped medieval Europe.
• Year 9: Students are exploring the Industrial Revolution and understanding how this event has shaped our modern world.
• Year 10: Ancient Greece – studying the achievements of one of the most influential civilizations in history, from democracy to mythology.

These studies not only bring the past to life but also help students understand the lasting impact of these societies on the modern world.

Geography in Action: Exploring Our World

In junior Geography, students have been learning about topics that connect their studies to real-world issues. Some of the key areas of focus include:

• Our Local Area: Investigating the unique features of our surroundings and understanding the factors that shape our environment.
• Eco-Tourism: Exploring sustainable tourism and how it helps protect natural and cultural heritage.
• Natural Hazards: Examining the causes and impacts of events like bushfires, floods, and earthquakes, and how communities respond to them.

These topics encourage students to think critically about their role in the world and how geography influences daily life.

As we move further into the term, we look forward to seeing our students continue to engage with history and geography, developing their skills as researchers, analysts, and global citizens. Stay tuned for more updates on their learning adventures.

Regards
Mrs. Kerrie-Ann Van Hees
HOD

From the Guidance Officer (Years 10-12).

The Support Works team at Emerald High are glad to be back for 2025, working to provide support to assist our students’ well-being. Support may include helping students engage with learning and the school community, assisting with personal, social/emotional, or educational needs, developing additional resilience skills, or planning for future careers. We are fortunate to have three new staff Ms Lee, Ms Donna and Chappy Greg join our team this year.

Our current staff  includes Head of Department Mrs Pillay, two full time Guidance Officers Mrs Fitzgerald (Yr10-Yr12) and Ms Lee (Yr 7-Yr 9), School Nurse - part time, Nurse Alice (Wednesday to Friday), part time Social Worker Ms Joanna (Monday, Tuesday and every 2nd Wednesday), Youth Support Coordinator Ms Donna (Monday to Thursday) and two part-time Chaplains, Chappy Ross (Monday and Tuesday) and Chappy Greg (Friday and half Thursday).

To help support your child’s return to secondary school the following suggestions are from a Queensland Department of Education publication titled “Spark Their Future”:

1. Stay connected
   • Let your child talk about how they are feeling. Guide the conversation to what they enjoy about being back at school.
2. Talk about their friends
   • Remind your child that returning to school means reconnecting with their mates. A quick call or text to close friends ahead of time might help them reconnect.
3. Speak to their teachers
   • You don’t have to do this alone. The teachers at school can help make the transition as smooth as possible.
4. Identify learning gaps
   • If you know your child struggles with a particular subject, let their teacher/s know so they can work with them on it.
5. Organise stuff
   • Help your child organise their school books and equipment so they have what they need.
6. Be positive
   • Focus on what your child enjoys about being at school such as having lunch with their friends or the fun of learning in a group.
7. Re-establish a routine
   • Let your child come up with a plan for their morning routine and encourage them to write it down so you can talk about it together.
8. Encourage sleep and exercise
   • Make sure your child gets enough sleep and exercise to help them feel calm and relaxed about their return to school.
9. Be reassuring
   • Remind them that they are not alone in returning to school and that their friends are there to share the experience with them.
10. Mark the transition
    • Do something fun together, have a family movie night or bake some treats for your child to take for lunches.
11. Make a deal
    • Talk about how every day at school counts and encourage your child to return to school. Also agree what you will do to support them and recognize their effort.
12. Ask for help
    • The school can answer any questions you have so give them a call and have a chat.
    

Click on the link below to discover further ways to support your teenager’s learning.

Regards
ESHS Guidance Officer

From the Positive Behaviour for Learning Team

At Emerald State High School we are:

• Polite,
• Prepared, and we
• Participate.

Behaviour Focus

Our current behaviour focus is “Use Technology For Its Intended Purpose”.

Community Notices