3 February 2016

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Welcome to our first newsletter of 2016. Welcome back everyone and I hope you all had a relaxing and rejuvenating festive season. As I write this, we have just finished our whole school parade and welcomed the Year 7s to Emerald SHS. First the good news, at the commencement of the holidays, we posted our senior results the day after they were published. For the first time ever, 100% of our ESHS Year 12s finished secondary schooling with a QLD Certificate of Education. A great result indeed! Also our OP students achieved very well with over 50% receiving an OP between 1 and 10, another great result. When this information was posted on our Facebook page, it eventually reached 7,000 people. How good is that?

New staff

I wish to welcome the new staff on behalf of the Emerald school community: Mr Tuppack – Deputy Principal ( Years 9&10), Mrs Bland – English and Humanities, Mrs Fitzgerald – Guidance Officer, Ms Royal – Visual Arts, Mr Kowald-Dawson - ICT, Ms Fehlhaber – Music and Maths, Mrs Cabrera, - Special Education and Mrs Somerville – Special Education.

New Head Of Department Positions

Last year we commenced an extensive review of the Heads of Department positions after the school review and considering our students’ needs and current staff profile, it was clear that a restructure may assist with school improvement. Our leadership team and HODs are now operating along Year 7-12 curriculum lines. Mrs Weatherly is leading English, Ms Brennan is leading Maths, Mr Van Hees is leading Humanities subjects and the Honours program, Mr Dewaan is leading Sciences, Mrs Shaw is leading Senior School and VET subjects, Ms Wilcox is leading The Arts and Indigenous Education programs, Ms Comallatti is leading HPE, LOTE and Wellbeing classes, Mrs Elsden is leading ICTs and Learning Support and Mrs Shelton is leading Special Education.

This year we are also introducing a Well-being class for all Year 7, 8 and Year 9 students. The class will be 70 minutes each week and focus on enhancing student organisation, resilience levels, goal setting and personal development programs such as anti-bullying strategies. This is an important development for our junior school students as entering adolescence brings a unique set of challenges. As a school we want to support our junior students through adolescence with this well-being program.

Aunty Denise

On behalf of the Emerald School Community I wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Aunty Denis Huet who passed away recently. Aunty Denise played an important leadership role in making Emerald a whole community. We will miss her dearly.

Special Mentions

Congratulations to all our graduating Year 12 students, their academic results were wonderful!

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” – Judy Garland

Ray Clarke
Principal

News from Junior Secondary

It’s an exciting time of the year to be involved in all things Junior School. After a successful transition program in late 2015 our Year 7 students are here and ready for high school. I have met a large number of our incoming Year 7s and heard plenty of great news stories about their favourite subjects, sporting teams, instruments and more. 2016’s cohort of Year 7s are sure to be in the top two groups we have had at Emerald SHS.

While we welcome in the Year 7s we welcome back the Year 8s. 2015 saw them overcome the challenges of being our first group of Year 7s at Emerald SHS with ease as they made our school their home. 2016 promises great things for our Year 8s including a number of extra-curricular activities and opportunities helping our new Year 7s settle in as quickly as possible.

REMINDER: With social media becoming an ever increasing part of people’s lives, be sure to follow our Facebook and Twitter accounts for regular news and updates. While we are keen for our parents to “follow us” please remember that students need to be 13 years old to have their own Facebook page.

Keep a look out in the coming weeks for an Assessment Calendar for your child. If you have any questions or concerns in relation to Year 7 and 8 students please get in contact with me at the school.

All the best,

Hayden Ryan
Deputy Principal – Years 7 & 8

News from Middle Secondary

The 2016 school year has begun and as Deputy Principal I have spoken to Years 9 and 10 about doing their best all the time. By best, I emphasised being polite, being prepared and participating in all areas of their schooling. Being polite, being prepared and participation is the school's focus for 2016 and with the support of Ms Gilbert Head of Year for Year 9 and Ms Carter Head of Year for Year 10 and staff, parents and Guardians can be assured that your student will be supported through this academic year. I ask you to talk to us about your student and their needs. Your student is important to us.

I encourage Parents and Guardians to look at their student's diary. A very important part of the diary is the vocabulary lists for each subject. These lists are being added to during lessons and will assist students in developing their vocabulary. Please, look for homework and assessment due dates. During the PC class, students have been guided through their diary by their PC teacher highlighting school expectations. The school places great importance on this diary.

Regards

Rob Tuppack
Deputy Principal – Years 9 & 10

News from Senior Secondary

Welcome

I would like to welcome the parents of our new to Emerald State High School students into the senior school. Our students in senior school will be supported by many teachers and in particular by their Pastoral Care teacher who will have face-to-face contact every day.

Following is a list of the Heads of Department and Heads of Year (previously referred to as Year Manger) assigned to each year level in the Senior School. The Head of Year will work closely with the Pastoral Care teacher to oversee student wellbeing and attendance whilst the Head of Department is responsible for curriculum and the tracking of the Queensland Certificate of Education.

Along with these key people, a number of other staff may be of assistance to your child; namely the Guidance Officer, Mrs Valda Fitzgerald, the Youth Support Coordinator, Mrs Kelly Parter and the school Chaplains, Ross Grierson and Chloe Gangnepain. The contact details for each of these people can be found on the website or contacting the office. All staff can be reached by telephone or email, and I encourage you to contact the school if you have any concerns regarding your child throughout the year.

QCE

It is critical that parents are aware of how their child is progressing towards the achieving their QCE. If your child has failed a subject than they may be at risk of not achieving their QCE and is imperative that an interview is arranged with me to discuss options.

Congratulations

I would like to congratulate our Year 12 students of 2015 who achieved excellent academic results in their Overall Positions (OPs) and the Core Skills Test last year. 100% of our students received a Queensland Certificate of Education, an outcome of their strong academic commitment, fine scholarship and successful working partnerships with the school’s exceptional teaching staff.

Student Leadership

Next week we formally acknowledge and induct our Student Leaders into the School. Student leadership is a role of great importance at Emerald State High School, as students accept responsibility for representing their peers in all aspects of school life, and embrace the duties and challenges their roles expected of them. Leadership is about giving service to the school, being role models, setting standards for others to emulate, and providing inspiration for their fellow students to work together as a team. Student leaders also provide a bridge between staff and the student body. Please join us for the Leadership Induction Ceremony on Tuesday morning at 8.45am.

Senior School Subject Changes

Any student in Years 10, 11 or 12 wishing to make an application to change Authority Subjects must submit their application before the end of Week 3, Friday 12 February. After this date, no general changes to students’ academic programs will be considered until the end of Semester 1.

Certificate II Automotive Technology and Certificate II Electro Technology

Year 11 students start Tuesday 9th February and Year 12 students start Wednesday 9th March due to work placements.

Leigh Dyer
Deputy Principal – Years 11 & 12

Student Textbooks

Textbooks and loaned resources are now available from the library for students who have paid their school fees (either in full or have commenced a payment plan). Students are encouraged to see the librarian during break times to collect their resources, and need to bring their current school fees receipt with you. We are working towards getting the students their Pearson passwords for eBooks. Please be patient.

School Photos

Information Night

Get Started

PCYC

PCYC are seeking community minded volunteers to assist with babysitting during our Group Fitness Classes. Hours are 9am-10.15am Monday – Friday. Any assistance on any day/s would be greatly appreciated. Contact Emerald PCYC on 4987 7475 or come in and see us at 114 Borilla Street, Emerald. QLD

What is it like living in Emerald?

Want to have your say about the Emerald community and are over 18? Then you are invited to take part in a research project about attitudes towards living within a mining community. If you agree to be involved in the study, you will be invited to participate in an interview. The interview, with your consent, will be audio-taped, and should take approximately 1 hour of your time. The interview will be conducted at a venue of your choice. If you are interested in participating or have any questions about the study, please contact Katerina Kanakis by either:

Phone: 4781 6879
Email: katerina.kanakis@my.jcu.edu.au

For further information, read the information sheet below.

Scouts

St Patrick’s Catholic Church

Reconciliation, Confirmation, Eucharist Sacramental Program (Year 4 and above):

• Reconciliation Parent Information Session - Tuesday, 2 February 2016 at 3.30pm
• Reconciliation Ceremony, Saturday, 5 March 2016
• Confirmation & Eucharist Parent Information Session - Wednesday, 13 April 2016 at 3.30pm
• Confirmation Ceremony, Friday, 10 June 2016 at 6pm
• Eucharist Ceremony, Saturday, 11 June 2016 at 6pm

Enquiries contact Mrs Francie Hartley, 4982 1066