7 December 2016
Newsletter Articles
From the Principal
Welcome to our final newsletter for 2016. I hope at the end of 2016, every stakeholder in our community can say it was a productive year. We made significant ground in laying a platform of stability for the next 3 years, until we commence our next whole school audit and review. Right now our HODs and teachers are busy finalising our junior school assessment and planning for the new year. This last week, our junior school students will undertake a productive and enjoyable program of alternate learning activities.
Staff Changes
I wish to publicly thank all the staff for their efforts to improve student results and care for our student body in the many different ways they can. They planned and coordinated camps and excursions to enhance our students learning experiences. They cared for them when they were sick at school and gave our students support when faced with new challenges in group settings. They were their mentors and at the same time their “critical friend” who helped them to learn lessons about life as well as in subjects. I am proud to say I work with them. This year we say farewell to: Mrs Beck, Mr Kurd, Miss Pusika, Ms Hannah, Mrs Kenney and Mrs Sharman who we will miss as they are leaving the Emerald area. I wish them all the best on behalf of the Emerald school community.
2017
Next year will not be a year of significant change; rather it will be a year of consolidation about our improvement agenda in behaviour and teaching standards. Not “flashy” programs rather a genuine focus on the fundamentals of learning and having high expectations for every student to achieve to their potential. Our target s and goals will be similar to this year where we had some good success. For example this is the second year in a row now where 100% of Year 12 ESHS students are expected to graduate with a QLD Certificate of Education
Special Mentions
- To our Deputy Principals Mr Shannon, Mrs Shaw and Mr Ryan who worked tirelessly to ensure our staff and students had a “Fair go” at achieving their goals
- To Our Support Worx team who worked to ensure all at risk students are cared for appropriately
- To our new senior leaders who are a great group of young adults who inspire me to be better.
- To Mrs Shelton who does a wonderful job leading the special education and learning team.
2017 School Leaver Strategy
What’s next for school leavers? Vocational education and training could be the smart next step
Vocational Education and Training (VET) is the right choice for many school leavers. VET qualifications can provide students with a pathway to employment or a stepping stone to university. The Queensland Government subsidises more than 300 qualifications, allowing eligible school leavers to gain a qualification at little or no cost. All school leavers, from Year 10 to Year 12, can register to receive more information about vocational and training opportunities in 2017. By texting YES to 0476 850 648, school leavers can start receiving text prompts in 2017. The texts will connect them with information about training opportunities.
Young people can choose how much or how little information they receive and they have the option to opt out at any time. Please encourage your school leaver to register with this service. The Department of Education and Training (DET) is collecting the young person’s mobile number for the purposes of providing them with regular updates on training opportunities during 2017. The mobile phone number will be accessed by authorised employees or contractors of DET. The young person’s mobile number will not be given to any other person or agency unless they have given us permission or we are authorised or required by law. If you have concerns about how the mobile has been used please contact 1800 210 210 (this is a free call). Opt out details will be provided on every text sent by DET. This information service will automatically end on 1 December 2017. Standard charges will apply to SMS messages sent to us. SMS sent to the young person will incur no additional cost.
BMA READ Program
“I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework.” - Lily Tomlin
Have a great summer break!
Ray Clarke
Principal
From the Deputy – Junior School
This has been a fantastic term of celebrations of achievements for all our students with events such as the school formal and graduation ceremony celebrating the year 12’s successful completion of year 12 and our Awards Night celebrating the amazing work done by all our students from Year 7 through to Year 12. A special thank you to our senior cohort who have all demonstrated the true essence of Emerald State High School and have made us proud about their journey here at school and excited to learn what lies in their future. Best of luck Graduating Class of 2017!
Graduation 2016
At Emerald State High School we believe that every student matters not only educationally but social and emotionally as well. That is why we have a zero tolerance policy on bullying and harassment. Bullying and harassment has a destructive influence on student wellbeing and their sense of security. Bullying and harassment includes physical and verbal harassment and social and emotional discrimination. Each and every person at Emerald State High School share more than the single commonality of this being a place of work or education we also share our humanity and as such we need to treat each other as we desired to be treated ourselves. The Momondo – The DNA Journey clip below illustrates how closely all people are related, a pertinent message for all of us around tolerance and acceptance.
As the end of 2016 rapidly approaches I urge all students to finish with positive intent and ensure that they participate to the best of their ability in all of their assessment. The assessment period is a time where the extra effort in study and writing your assessments will translate to better grades and an amazing intrinsic knowledge that you have been true to yourself and put in your best effort.
I hope you all have a fantastic holiday season and I look forward to seeing you safe, well and ready to learn in 2017
Hayden Ryan
Deputy Principal – Years 7 & 8
Year 7 News
Good day and a happy end of year 7! 2016 has been enriching and rewarding, being able to see the students develop and grow over this year. They have a few more years to go but from what myself and their other teachers have been able to see they will be an asset to Emerald State High School in their years to come.
It is with some sadness that I say goodbye to the students at this time as I am leaving the school, and Emerald in 2017, however Andrew Gardner is ready and excited to become their Head of Year next year. I have worked with Mr Gardner to get camp finalised for next year. For the year 8 cohort it will be at Kinchant Outdoor Education Centre at Kinchant Dam. It will be held in term 1, week 5 and students should have received a letter regarding dates for camp, approximate cost and payment dates. The students should receive another letter and forms at the start of the year to complete and return with final payment as soon as possible so they don’t miss out.
I will be working closely with Andrew Gardner over the final weeks in the Head of Year roll. It is still the expectation that all students are present up to 3pm on Friday 9 December in full school uniform being POILTE, PREPARED and PARTICIPATING.
I wish all the students the best of luck for their future and to have a wonderful, cool and relaxing holiday break. It has been a privilege, and an honour, to work with them in their first year of high school.
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Head of Year 7 2016: Megan Sharman |
Head of Year 8 2017: Andrew Gardner |
From the Head of Department: Science
Curriculum News
The grade 7s are currently studying earth and space sciences while the year 8 students are completing their Biology assignment on cells, survival and reproduction. Year 9s are learning about the nature of chemical reactions (endothermic vs exothermic) and the grade 10 Science students have been lately studying Newtons Law’s and its applications. In the senior sciences, year 11 and 12 Science in Practice students have been learning about geology and mining techniques. The year 11 Chemistry students have been studying industry and agriculture where they were challenged to explore the possibility of taking the manufacturing of a chemical to a foreign landscape. The year 12 Chemistry students completed an exam on the chemistry of power. The year 11 Biology students have been looking at diseases investigating HIV and Ebola and its impacts on society. The year 12 Biology students investigated ethical issues in Biology including biological warfare, surrogacy and children genetically born from three- parents. The year 11 Physics students have been studying forensics and collisions while year 12s completed their final assessment on nuclear radiation and radiation.
Excursions
Grade 9 students attended the ‘Expand Your Mind’ Science Day in Blackwater on the 10th of last month. This is a higher order thinking activity for year 9 students with an interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). Throughout the day students worked together on a robotics challenge where they programmed a mining vehicle to navigate a mine site. They participated in a chemical processing challenge where they were involved in separating a mixture of iron filings, rock, sand and salt. They also took part in a coin launcher challenge where they launched a projectile into the target.
Professional Development
A professional development session was conducted by Dr. Damien Kee on how to inspire the students and discover how teachers can integrate robotics into the Science curriculum. The day involved learning practical ideas and activities to run in the classroom using the latest LEGO Mindstorms system and discover why robotics is fast becoming a major tool in the teaching of the Technology, Maths and Science. During the day the following topics were covered:
- Basic construction of robots
- Force and motion (speed and velocity of a moving car)
- Basic use of sensors
- Integration with the Curriculum
Aneel Dewan
Head of Department – Science
From the Head of Department: HPE & LOTE
What a year it has been!
2016 is quickly coming to an end. It has been an amazing year for the Japanese and HPE departments. There have been lots of different events that the school has participated in this year and we hope to do the same next year.
Sport has been massive again in 2016 at Emerald State High School. Students represented the school at local, CH, CAP and state level. We also had the largest number of students participate in Western 7s this year. A massive congrats to all the staff that have been coaches, managers, and helpers this year.
The Japanese Department started the year with having 10 students and 2 teachers from Japan visit in February. This was then followed in the middle of the year with some year 7 and 8 students having conversations over Skype with an English camp in Ichinoseki Japan. The students really enjoyed being able to use their Japanese and also learning about Japan from students their age. In September holidays, 14 students and 2 teachers went to Japan for 2 weeks. They participated in a week of homestay and then toured around Japan. We hope to be able to do all of these events again next year.
If you would like to host a female exchange student from our sister school in Japan for a week in February or have a student in grade 10, 11 or 12 in 2017 and would like to participate in the September Japan Tour please email rcomo3@eq.edu.au for more information.
I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday.
Bek Comollatti
Head of Department – HPE & LOTE
Maths News
We have reached the end of the year and all assessments and results are finalised. It has been a wonderful year and all students have learnt a lot and further developed their mathematical skills. It is a friendly reminder to students and parents that all textbooks and graphics calculators are returned to the school as soon as possible. This will ensure that they are available to future students at the beginning of the 2017 school year.
It is at the end of this school year that we farewell Tiffany Beck who has been with the maths faculty at Emerald State High for the last seven years. It has been a pleasure to work with you and the students have all appreciated your efforts.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Samantha Hokins
Junior Secondary Teacher
Arts News
As the year is fast approaching the ARTs department are preparing for the musical mid-next year. Three days last week were devoted to train our performers to prepare for the ‘Battle of the Bands’. We have extremely talented students who are dedicated to perform next year and Ms Prior-Drama, Ms Fehlhaber-Music and Ms Wilcox-Head of Arts are all contributing to prepare our students for the immense task ahead.
Our Arts Department has seen the majority of students succeeding in their field this year. The year eight Art class of Ms Royal finished this year on a high note by paying homage to some of the world’s famous artists in their appropriations. Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’ and Edward Munch’s ‘Scream’ were two of the favourite subjects for their work. To appropriate work, students had to alter a particular part or parts of the original image to put their own interpretation on the artwork. It still had to be recognisable as the original masterpiece but with a twist.
Library News
As we near the end of the school year students need to ensure that all library items are returned.
Pearson Textbooks
We are reviewing the use of Pearson textbooks and eBooks in Years 7 to 10. Year 7 to 9 students have these for English, Geography, History, Mathematics, and Science, while Year 10 students have these for Mathematics and Science. If your child was in these years for 2016, we ask that you please take a minute to complete the survey.
Pearson Textbooks & eBooks
Premier’s Reading Challenge
As part of the 2016 Premier’s Reading Challenge, TUH Health Fund is offering students the chance to win a $1000 bursary for their school and a $50 voucher for themselves by submitting 50 words or less describing how their teacher or librarian inspires their love of reading.
http://www.bigthankyou.com.au/
Summer Reading Club
The Central Highlands Regional Council Libraries are participating in the Summer Reading Club, along with a number of other activities. See the attached brochure or their website for the full program.
Autism Workshop
Dam Safety
Tips for staying safe at dams, weirs and channels
- Look for hidden dangers – Check for submerged stumps, rocks or weeds before entering water
- Keep a safe distance – stay at least 200 metres away from dam and weir walls
- Read the signs – they contain important information about hazards and restricted areas
- Remain aware – stay alert to potential dangers and keep a close eye on friends and family
http://www.centralhighlands.qld.gov.au/about-council/news/water-safety-paramount-silly-season/
Exchange Students
BRING FRENCH CULTURE TO LIFE!
Why not volunteer to host an international student from France next year? We have a small group of delightful French students coming to Australia for 10 weeks to immerse in local culture, experience our schools, sports, environment and lifestyle. All students speak excellent English, have their own spending money, cover all school expenses, and we arrange all aspects of their program. It’s fun and interesting to help these young people achieve their Australian dream. If you’d like know more, please email your interest to rl@scce.com.au.
Christmas
University Accommodation
