21 March 2025

Principal’s Report.

I hope this newsletter finds you well. Some fantastic student news to start the newsletter this week.

Jodi (Year 12) is 1 of 20 Australian students to shortlisted for the Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship. If successful, Jodi will travel to the USA to participate in an Aerospace and STEM Camp. We look forward to hearing of her success!!

Priya Taylor Sidhu participated in the Lions Youth of the Year program this year. The entrants were very worthy participants and performed extremely well. Priya as the overall winner, will participate in the district finals at Bagara in Week 8, Term 1 2025. We wish Priya every success!!

Our swimming carnival is on again on the last day of the term. To make things easier for students, parents and staff, we have set up the consent form process on 'Q-Parents', the school app that allows parents to interact with the school and quickly and easily give permission for school events without tedious notes that are often found at the bottom of school bags. If you are not a member but would like to be, please contact the school office. Students whose parents are not on Q-Parents will still need to return a paper note in the old-fashioned way.

2025 Improvement Mission: In 2025 we will ensure success for every student by increasing engagement and reducing defiance and truancy. This will be achieved through High Expectations, Capability Development and Quality Assurance.

Our P&C Annual General Meeting was held last week, and I am proud to announce that we have seen some returning and some new members elected.

• President – Michelle Botma
• Vice-President – Duncan Stewart
• Secretary - Lesley-Anne McDowall
• Treasurer – Amanda Farrell

I am very confident that this very talented team will very ably continue the great work of 2024 into 2025.

I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the 2024 executive for the amazing work that they have done to support our school.

A reminder that 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)

And now for something completely different …

I seek your support in promoting participation in the Year 12 Completers survey, which is commencing soon. The Department of Education conducts the post-school destination survey for all students who completed Year 12 last year in Queensland.

Further information about Year 12 Completers Survey is available at www.qld.gov.au/nextstep/. Should you have any queries about the survey, please contact the department’s Next Step team on (07) 3055 2845 or by email at nextstep@qed.qld.gov.au.

Finally, on behalf of the Emerald State High School community I want to wish Jenny Schulz, one of our beloved cleaners, all the very best in retirement. Jenny has provided a high quality of dedication and service to our community for 40 years. We will be forever grateful to her and the positive impact she has had on our community. Thank you, Jenny!!

From the Sapphire Deputy.

As we progress through another exciting term and move closer to the Easter holidays, there are many important events and initiatives taking place across the school. From academic progress to extracurricular activities, there are plenty of opportunities for students to engage with and develop new skills. We encourage families to stay informed and involved, and we thank them for their support so far this year.

Focus on Defiance and Truancy

This year, we are placing a strong focus on student behaviour, particularly addressing issues of defiance and truancy. Regular attendance in lessons, along with polite and respectful behaviours are key to academic success and a positive school environment. We ask parents and caregivers to support us by reinforcing the importance of following school expectations. Our staff are committed to working with students to foster responsibility and accountability, ensuring that all students have the best possible learning experience.

Year 10 Work Experience

Our Year 10 students are preparing for their upcoming work experience placements in Week 9, where they will gain valuable insights into different career paths. This opportunity allows them to develop important workplace skills and build confidence for their future endeavours. Thank you to the businesses and organisations that will be supporting our students in this learning experience.

If your child has not organised their work experience, please reach out to our Industry Liaison Officer, Ellie Noy, via ewnoy0@eq.edu.au.

Upcoming Swimming Carnival!

We are looking forward to our upcoming Swimming Carnival on the last day of Term 1 (Friday 4th April), which promises to be a fantastic day filled with team spirit, competition, and fun. Students are encouraged to participate and cheer on their peers. Last year, the Sapphire Barramundi’s claimed victory, and they will be looking to do the same again this year. Go Sapphire!

Term 1 Reporting

Teachers have been diligently assessing student progress, and reports will soon be available. These reports provide valuable insights into each student’s learning journey across their various subject areas. We encourage parents and caregivers to discuss these reports with their children and reach out to teachers if further clarification is needed.

• Year 7-10 reports will be sent out on Friday 4th April.
• Year 11-12 reports will be sent out on Thursday 24th April.

Parent teacher interviews will take place on Tuesday 6th May – bookings will be available in the first week of Term 2.

Remember, learning is a continuous process, and we are here to support every student in achieving their best.

Lions Youth of the Year

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Priya Taylor-Sidhu who was named the overall winner for Lions Youth of the Year in Emerald earlier this month. This is a fantastic achievement, recognising her outstanding leadership, academic excellence, and public speaking skills. Priya’s dedication and hard work have been truly commendable, and we celebrate her success. We wish Priya all the best in the next stages of the competition.

As always, we appreciate the ongoing support from our school community. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to make contact – jfehl8@eq.edu.au. Let’s continue making this year a rewarding and memorable one for all!

Regards
Mrs. Jacinda Stefaniuk
Deputy Principal – Sapphire

From the Science team.

Recently, the Chemistry students of Emerald State High School completed their experiment incursion!

Regards
Mr. David Horsfall
Teacher

From the Maths team.

Study Tips for Success in Maths Exams

• Practice, Practice, Practice – Solve past papers and textbook exercises to reinforce skills.
• Understand Concepts – Focus on why formulas work, not just memorisation.
• Use Flashcards – Summarise key formulas and definitions for quick review.
• Time Yourself – Work under exam conditions to improve speed and accuracy.
• Use the Student Portal – Access class materials and catch up on any missed content.
• Ask for Help – Get clarification from teachers or classmates when needed.
• Stay Organised – Keep notes neat and structured for easier revision.
• Get Enough Rest – A well-rested mind improves problem-solving and concentration.

Year 7

Students are mastering numbers, prime factor trees, and squaring. Their end-of-term exam will test these concepts, so regular practice and revision are essential.

Year 8

Students are completing their statistics and sampling assignment, due in Week 9. They should focus on understanding different sampling methods and analysing data effectively.

Year 9

Students have completed their assessments for the term. In Term 2, they will be examined on scientific notation, so regular revision of this topic will be beneficial.

Year 10 Essentials

Students are working on their measurement and networking project, due in Week 10. Applying concepts to real-world scenarios will be beneficial.

Year 10 Core

Students are focused on quadratics and conditional probability, with an exam in Week 10. Practising past problems will help reinforce understanding.

Year 11 Methods

Quadratics, inverse functions, and cubics are the key topics, with an assessment at the end of term. Students should ensure they understand function transformations.

Year 12 General

With IA2 approaching in Week 9, students have another week of study before their exam. Consistent revision and problem-solving are crucial.

Good luck with your assessments!

Regards
Mr. Dan Van Hees
Teacher

From the Languages team.

Welcome back Minna-san!

The Languages program this term has students studying a variety of topics across Years 7 – 12. These include:

Year 7 – “Meeting new people”

In this unit, students will learn how to introduce basic information about themselves to others whilst discovering the differences between Japan’s culture and tradition versus Australia. Additionally, they will also be learning the Japanese alphabet (Hiragana and Kanji) as part of their studies.

Year 8 – “Free time and Hobbies”

This term in Japanese we will be covering the unit of ‘What’s in a Time Capsule’ and focusing on discussing our hobbies and free time activities. Students will be given an assignment where they will be required to present a speech and reflect on the different alphabets of Japanese.

Year 9 and 10 – “What are sub-cultures?”

Students will analyse and create a poster exploring different subcultures in Australia, Japan and abroad!

Year 11– “My world - Family/Carers/Friends”

As the name of the topic suggested, Year 11 students will explore a range of sources that focus on discussion around the concept of family, carers and friends and how it connects or contrast in relation to themselves.

Year 12- “Travel, Technology and Media’

Year 12 students on the other hand will explore a range of sources that focus on discussion around the concept of travel, technology, and media in the 21st century! How exciting!

Exciting news for elective students!

We are excited to announce a unique opportunity for our elective students who have chosen Japanese in Year 9 or 10, who have the opportunity to participate in a virtual conversation session with Japanese students from Ichinoseki school in Japan. This immersive trip is designed to provide participants with a valuable cultural experience, fostering personal growth and global awareness

Have a wonderful rest of Term 1!

Regards
Mr. Oliver Lamb
Teacher

From the Arts team.

As we near the end of the term, students across the Arts have been working hard on both the creative and reflective processes of their craft—from filmmaking and drama to painting and music.

Our Senior Music students are preparing for a special showcase on March 20, from 5:00–7:00 PM at the School UCA, Old Airport Drive.

The concert will feature performance assessment from students in Year 12 Music, Year 11 Music and Year 11 Music in Practice. It will also feature compositions and performances from exemplary Year 9 and Year 10 Music students.

We look forward to celebrating the incredible talents of our music students at this event.

Regards
Miss. Kate Myers
Teacher

From the Humanities team.

Recently, our Senior Legal Studies students in Year 11 have been preparing for their first exam, by studying Legal Foundations and the Criminal Investigation Process. This extends to the fascinating area of tapping into genetic and genealogy databases to prove a case beyond reasonable doubt.

Year 12 Legal Studies have been assessing the impact of body worn cameras by police officers in assisting to carry out their job effectively and will consider interesting issues such as civil liberties and infringement of privacy.

With much of Term 1 over already, our Junior classes are nearly ready to complete rotations to new units. Year 7 History students will move from Ancient Egyptian society to that of Ancient China in their new unit. A world apart but with so many similarities, students will begin to see the patterns that form in human civilization across time and space. Year 8 students move from their study of The Vikings to The Plague and Year 9 students will complete the Industrial Revolution to move to their study of World War 1.

Year 7 Geography will move from ‘Liveability’, looking at how our spatial environment can improve our life locally and here at school, to study the magnificent ‘Water Cycle’ which has moulded and sculptured this beautiful planet. We’ve recently seen so much in the news about our beaches being eroded. Students will study technologies that assist society to cope with the bigger patterns and systems that often seem beyond our control.

Our Year 10 History students are completing a study of Ancient Greece. Myths and legends, daily life, the Peloponnesian War, Olympics and democracy are some of the amazing topics that have helped to expand their understanding. It’s exciting to move on to the next unit “Pop Culture” to see how 60’s, 70’s and 80’s world events created waves of reaction from various age groups. Have fashion and hairstyles simply done a complete three-sixty? Hopefully not in this authors lifetime!

Humanities subjects not only offer students a deeper understanding of where they’ve come from but also develop important questioning strategies and technology skills that will direct us all into a safer future.

Regards
Mrs. Vicki Hawkins
Teacher

From the Sports Coordinator.

On Tuesday, 4th March, amidst the serene landscapes of the Botanic Gardens, students from Years 7 to 12 gathered for an exhilarating day of cross-country races. The event featured courses ranging from 3km to 5km, challenging participants to showcase their endurance and determination.

This year's carnival saw remarkable performances, with eight outstanding athletes breaking records: Shelbie, Reikura, Honor, Ainsley, Zane, Seth, Indi, and Koko. Additionally, we congratulate our age champions who demonstrated exceptional skill and perseverance:

• 12 yrs. Girls: Shelbie
• 12 yrs. Boys: Tyler
• 13 yrs. Girls: Reikura
• 13 yrs. Boys: Zane
• 14 yrs. Girls: Honor
• 14 yrs. Boys: Seth
• 15 yrs. Girls: Claire
• 15 yrs. Boys: Mason
• 16 yrs. Girls: Ainsley
• 16 yrs. Boys: Dustyn
• 17 yrs. Girls: Indianna
• 17 yrs. Boys: Connor
• 18 yrs. Girls: Koko

The final house point tally saw Topaz take the win on a massive 147 points, followed by Zircon on 100 points, Garnet with 73 points and Sapphire with 56 points.

The top six students from each age group who came in within the time frame, will move onto the next round of representation at the Central Highlands trials on the 2^nd of May next term.

The event was a testament to the dedication and sportsmanship of our students. We look forward to seeing more incredible achievements in future events!

Regards
Mrs. Emily Brennan
Sports Coordinator

From the Gym Club.

Gym Club 2025 has kicked off and the students are already demonstrating progress. Each week we see about 12 students using the gym facilities on Thursday at first lunch.

Students are given multiple programs that they can chose from to complete each week, including a chest, legs, back and arms workout. Each workout has been designed by a qualified Personal Trainer with the goal to improve muscular strength and development. As the students work through these programs, they can be signed off to safely complete complex movements under the supervision of experienced teachers, these movements include Barbell Squat, Bench Press and Deadlifts.

So far, our gym club members have demonstrated respect for their peers in the gym, care and proper use of the equipment and assist each other with exercises and equipment clean up at the end of each session. Keep up the good work.

Regards
Mr. Slade Blunt
Club Coordinator

From the Positive Behaviour for Learning Team

At Emerald State High School we are:

• Polite,
• Prepared, and we
• Participate

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