30 March 2017

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Welcome to this fortnight’s newsletter. Much has occurred in the past two weeks and this final week we have cross country, the Year 7 camp, and guest speakers presenting. Recently there have been several major announcements in Queensland Education. The first is the introduction of a new tertiary entrance system that will commence in 2019 with Year 11s. New senior school subjects will be introduced and Queensland will align with the nation for an ATAR score instead of an OP score to gain university entrance. Currently our traditional subjects are already being re-written to include about one quarter of the Year 12 assessment to be external assessment. So, great curriculum changes are ahead again. We will conduct more information sessions about the 2019 changes towards the end of this year.

The second major announcement from the state government involves Emerald SHS directly. As part of the advancing education program recently announced we have been granted a $1.5 million upgrade of our multi-purpose shelter. How good is that!!!

The upgrade will start we understand later on this year, weather permitting

Please note re Cyclone in North QLD – We will text message parents and also use Facebook should there any concerns about this extreme weather event impacting our school community.

Coming Up:

1. 27-29 March – Year 7 Camp
2. Friday 31st March – School cross country
3. School Holidays – 1 April – 17th April
4. School resumes Tuesday 18th April
5. Interim Reports out by Thursday 20th April
6. Wednesday Period 4, 3rd May – Year 12 Driver safety program

Special Mentions:

• Big Thankyou to our senior leaders and their teachers for catering at the football to raise funds.
• To the Arts department and their well-run fundraiser, Music on the Green, on Saturday evening for Arts camp.
• Congratulations to Harry Bray for gaining selection into the Capricornia touch team as well as Josh, Matt and Nick in the senior school.
• Mrs Weatherley and Ms Prior for organising the school girls’ rugby league.
• To our outgoing P&C executive they did a wonderful job last year and welcome to our new executive.
• Congratulations to Year 11 student Will Southwell who has been accepted into the Art Space Young Ambassadors program with the Mackay Gallery
• Congratulations to Ben Gregg who is representing our school on April the 1st at a CHRC Regional Community Summit at Blackwater.
• Congratulations to Kaden Renwick and Joe Stoneman for gaining selection in the Australian JKA Karate team to compete in Ireland this year.

“Sports is human life in microcosm.” Howard Cosell

Have a safe break,

Ray Clarke
Principal

From the Deputy Principal – Junior School

Our Year 7 students enjoyed an action packed two days at Camp Fairburn earlier this week. Despite the weather closing in the students completed a range of activities including rafting, canoeing, rock climbing and orienteering. It was fantastic to see how well the students worked together to overcome the challenges placed before them. With little sleep Monday night due to the heat (and a bit of chatting), the students continued to set themselves and their team challenging goals and worked as a unit to achieve success. A big thank you to Mrs Gibson for her organisation of the camp and the teachers who supported her and our students throughout the two days.

Hayden Ryan
Deputy Principal – Junior School

From the Head of Department – Science

Curriculum News

The grade 7s are currently studying separation methods and mixtures while the year 8 students are concentrating on the basic Chemistry concepts of reaction rates. The Year 9s are learning about electricity and renewable energy while the year 10 Physics and Chemistry students have been lately working on their extended experimental investigation scientific reports. The year 10 Biology class has been focussing on the human body and cell systems this term.

In the senior sciences, year 11 and 12 Science in Practice students have been learning about ecosystems and conducting water quality tests from samples collected from Fairbairn Dam. The year 11 Chemistry students have been studying atomic structure and bonding while the year 12 Chemistry students have recently completed their extended response tasks on the chemistry of drugs. The year 11 Biology students have been looking at ecology this term where they did a cane toad dissection while the year 12 Biology students have been learning about homeostasis and signalling systems. The year 11 Physics students have been studying optics and light while year 12s studied the topics of electricity and magnetism this term.

Excursions

On the 9th of March we held a QMEA Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) event to provide Year 10 students from invited schools with an insight into the professional careers in the minerals and energy industry. During this one-day workshop, students completed three practical activities that focussed on a number of areas of Science, Engineering and Maths. These hands-on activities were based on real world activities conducted by minerals and energy professionals. The students had the opportunity to network with geologists, engineers and environmental scientists who work on minerals and energy worksites and understand more about their roles, their career paths and what they do.

Aneel Dewan
Head of Department – Science

From the Head of Year – Year 10

This term has been a very busy start to the year for the grade 10 cohort. Students have selected senior subjects for the first time in year 10 providing them an insight into what their final two years of school will hold. There is a large step up from year 9 to 10 and students are required to put in greater hours outside of class time to complete their assessment to a high standard. This also allows students to have greater independence and select a pathway which suits their needs and interests.

So far this year our focus for behaviour has been on being prepared. Thank you for your support and assistance in ensuring that your child is prepared for their learning. It is an expectation that they bring to every lesson their diary, a pencil case with all necessary requirements and a subject-specific notebook. All students have also been issued an individualised assessment planner with each piece of assessment draft and due dates listed. This encourages students to be prepared prior to their assessment by completing study and work outside of school hours.

If students have been absent it is an expectation that this is explained by a phone call or text message to the school. If these have not been explained a blue note will be sent home and parents/guardians are required to provide an explanation of why students have been absent. Thank you for your assistance with this as it is very important that we monitor student attendance closely as research has displayed higher attendance rates increase academic achievement.

During week 9, year 10 students completed the first stage of their work experience. Students were working in a vast numbers of businesses around town developing skills involved with a particular industry. Throughout work experience students have gained a greater appreciation of the ‘real world’ as they are expected to complete the same amount of hours as a full-time employee. Feedback from workplaces has been encouraging as students have been quick learners and adapted with ease to a new environment. Students will have further opportunities to complete work experience later in year.

Adam Heath
Head of Year 10

Health & Physical Education News

In HPE this term, our junior school students are participating in a range of sports. The year 7 students are enjoying playing modified bat and ball games and the year 8 students are participating in netball and basketball. The year 9s are participating in invasion games that include netball, basketball and soccer. The junior school has also had an ultimate Frisbee competition running between the classes in each year level throughout the term. The year 10s have been learning the game of European handball, while the year 11 and 12 students are refining their golfing skills.

For the theoretical component, the year 7s are learning about adolescence and identity and have been creating solutions to scenarios that they could come across during adolescence. The year 8s are studying nutrition and how to create healthy eating plans that will fit into the recommended healthy eating guidelines. The Year 9s are looking at respectful relationships. Class discussions have been integral in developing their understanding. Our year 10 students are looking at the culture in Australia and how sport fits into that. Both the year 11 and 12 students are studying sports psychology and goal setting and applying their knowledge of this to their golfing performance. In a final note, participation is essential in the subject of HPE so I’ll leave you with a few words from the great Thomas Edison; “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” We look forward to continuing to see our students continue to try their best in this subject.

Humanities News

The end of term does not mean slowing down for Humanities subjects, as many year levels will be beginning to examine topics for assessment next term. Year 7 History will begin looking at Ancient Egypt and Ancient China, working towards a research assignment comparing the two. Year 8 History will similarly be comparing Viking society and culture with Samurai and the historical period they existed in. Year 9 will examine the first World War and the causes of this conflict. In Year 10 Ancient History, students will be showing off their film version of Greek myths that they have worked on in groups. Senior Ancient History are looking at the Trojan war for their assessment coming up next term. These last weeks and lessons of Term One will be crucial for getting a foundational understanding of the topics we will study next term. This also means that students can begin reading about these topics over the holiday period, and it is a great idea for them to borrow a book from the library before the term is over.

Industrial Design & Technology News

Junior ITD

The year 7s are continuing with their term rotations. These students are making LED acrylic backboards. This project allows the students to get a taste of what ITD offers and how to use all the workshop equipment, especially the CNC machine which engraves a picture into the acrylic. The year 8s have finished off their tea light candle holder and are moving forward with the designing of their desk lamp projects. This project is very enjoyable and allows the student to design a piece using both acrylic and wood. The year 9 industrial technology and design class have just finished off designing and construction of their serving trays. These trays were to be designed to hold two cups of water of varying sizes. The students have started field testing them to see how their designs hold up. The year 9 Design and Technology class have spent the term learning about the engineering principles associated with designing a human powered vehicle. They have also spent their time fundraising enough money for them to buy the materials to build a HPV to race in the 24-hour Maryborough Technology Challenge in September. The year 9 DAT class would like to thank all everyone who has helped out with our fundraising events, as well as the local groups and businesses that have donated to our cause.

Furnishings

The senior furnishings students have been working on their joining activities, as well as constructing a dock box speaker. While this project has had a large practical component, the students will be finishing off the term with theoretical assessment. The year 10 students have put their finishing touches on their book cases and are now looking forward to using their new skill to start the next project.

Engineering

The senior engineering students have started their final projects which will take them the majority of the year to complete. The year 12 students are to construct a bench vice. The student with the highest grade for the subject will be awarded with the golden vice at the end of the year. The year 10 students have completed the finishing touches on their drill gauges and are seeing out the term with the last little bit of theory before moving on the designing a belt loop.

From the Library

ICAS Tests

This year, students will once again have the opportunity to complete the ICAS Tests, also known as the University of NSW subject tests, for Digital Technologies, Science, Writing, Spelling, Mathematics, and English. The first of these is Digital Technologies. The Digital Technologies ICAS covers general technology skills from a range of curriculum areas and a variety of contexts. It is a multiple choice test which will only take 1 lesson on May 23th. From this, each student will receive a certificate along with an explanation of their results. If your Year 7 – 10 student is interested, they need to collect a permission letter from Mrs Galea in the library and ensure that it is returned to her along with the $8.80 to the office by March 30th.

BILBY Awards

The BILBY (Book I Love BEST Yearly) Awards are open for nominations. At the link below until March 31st students can nominate their favourite individual book for their age group. The shortlist of 5 books for each category will be released a few days later. It is suggested that students read through the shortlist and then cast their vote for their favourite later in the year. Happy reading!

Study Club News

So far this term we’ve had fantastic numbers of students attending study club. Our school runs a free study club for students every Monday and Wednesday from 3-4pm in the library. We have so many dedicated teachers who volunteer their time and expertise to help our students. All students are welcome to attend and can enjoy a free afternoon tea. If students would like a specific teacher to be there to help them, then students are encouraged to ask that teacher a day in advance. We look forward to continuing to provide this valuable service to our students for the rest of the year.

Payments News

The school office now has access to Centrepay online. If you are interested in having your school fees deducted directly from your Centrelink payments, collect a form from the office.

The tuckshop now has EFTPOS for the purchase of uniforms only.

Sport Events

Community Events