8 June 2017

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Welcome to this fortnight’s newsletter. Last week we had Grin and Tonic perform for our students and we held our own State of Origin (Teachers V Seniors) game as a prelude to the big match. It was great fun for all. Congratulations to the teachers who were eventual victors. This week is another short week with our public holiday however we have some important dates coming up.

Upcoming Events:

• 7th June – Show Holiday
• 8th- 14th June - Senior Exam Blocks
• 12-16th June – Year 10 Work Experience
• 14th June – Year 12 QCS Practice
• 16th June – Year 7 Arts Performance
• 17/18th June – Musical Practice
• 20th June – STYMIE Day
• 21st June – Athletics Carnival
• 22nd June – Religious Education
• 23rd June – Last day of term 2

As you can see we have a significant extra-curricular schedule to finish off the term, however there is plenty of learning and study to be completed before the end of term. So parents, now is a good time to sit down with your child and discuss with them all the assignments and exams they need to complete. You can assist them with organising a study plan so that they know they can do this if they keep to their plan.

Special Mentions:

• Last fortnight our Chess teams competed in the local chess competition. Congratulations to Peter Watson who came in second overall, to ESHS TEAM ONE who came third in the teams’ event and to all the students who participated. There were over 100 competitors and a special thankyou to the staff who took them, especially Ms Prior and Mr Grierson.
• Thank you to Mr Dawson and Mr New who have been doing a great job running our technology facilities this year.
• The Arts Department staff are working really hard as they prepare for the students for our musical next term. We wish you and the students well for the Musical.

“In a rapidly ascending balloon were two men.
One watched the earth getting farther and farther away.
One watched the stars getting nearer and nearer.”
George Jean Nathan, "Viewpoint," A Book without a Title, 1918

C’mon the Maroons!

Ray

Ray Clarke
Principal

From the Deputy Principal – Junior School

Supportworx!

In a term including three public holidays, a show holiday and NAPLAN things certainly move quickly for Junior School students. It has been fantastic to see how effortlessly our Year 7 students have made themselves a part of the school over the past term and a half. Their maturity and interactions with students in different grades is a credit to themselves and the hard work undertaken between their primary schools around transition time to make their move into high school as easy as possible. Of course there are always challenges with school and I would like to take some time to explain our support people here at school that look after all of our students. Supportworx, in A Block, consists of our Guidance Officer, two Chaplains, School Nurse, Youth Support Co-ordinator, Indigenous support co-ordinator, attendance officer and work place co-ordinator. This team of dedicated staff members support our students in a multitude of ways to ensure their learning, social and emotional needs are developed and supported throughout their schooling. If your child is having difficulty at school and you think they may require some additional support, this team are most likely to be the people who provide their care and guidance to assist with your child’s concerns.

Hayden Ryan
Deputy Principal – Junior School

From the Deputy Principal – Senior School

It always amazes me how quickly a term goes. It seems like last week that I was writing my article for the 1st week of the term and now here we are with 3 weeks to go to the end of the term. This term there has been a number of times I have seen the seniors shine – ANZAC day, meeting the Prime Minister, and fun run day to name a few.

Study Periods

Many students in the past week (many year 11s) have asked me for a study period. It is an expectation that students study a combination of six (6) subjects. Study periods are granted to students who have something that significantly impacts on their ability to study six (6) subjects. This could be due to having a traineeship or apprenticeship, a student with learning difficulties or disabilities, students who have a carer role, a student with English as additional dialect and some bus students who are travelling on the bus for a large proportion of the afternoon/morning. Students must see Mrs Fitzgerald in Supportworx to discuss any changes to their timetable.

Attendance targets

The school requires that students in the senior school attend school at least 92%, this equates to approximately 4 days absences each term. Year 11 and 12 students who do not meet this target are at risk of not attending the formal as well as not being able to purchase a senior jersey.

QCS Test

A reminder that the QCS test will soon be upon us (29th and 30th August). Year 12 students will be sitting a practice QSC test on Wednesday week 9. Students will receive feedback from this early in term 3. Any student that is OP eligible and not wanting to sit and those who are OP ineligible that want to the sit the QCS test must see Mrs Fitzgerald before the end of term.

Senior school 2019 and beyond

As you may be aware there will be major changes to the senior school from 2019. This means a change for students currently in year 9. 2018 will be the last time OP scores will be given and the QCS test will be sat. Replacing these will be school external exams and an ATAR score. I have attached for you a copy of the powerpoint “Queensland’s new systems of senior assessment and tertiary entrance” as well as a fact sheet. The powerpoint gives background information as well as timelines for the rollout. More information will be given during the subject selection process. If you would like any clarity on these issues, please let me know.

Exam block

Exam block timetables were handed out to students last in week 7. The exam block runs from Thursday 8th to Wednesday 14th June. Students are only expected to attend school for during their scheduled exam times.

Regards

Tanya Shaw
Deputy Principal – Senior School

From the Head of Year – Year 9

It is hard to believe that we are already half way through the year. I imagine the students are very busy completing final assessment pieces and studying for the upcoming exams. Please encourage your child to be getting enough sleep in preparation for this important time.

PBL Focus – Polite

We have been focussing on being polite and complying with teacher’s instructions and the expectations of our school. We have been exploring the idea of why a teacher/staff member may give an instruction – to enhance the learning of child or others, safety, help others or to be able to deliver the next set of instructions. We have also explored the expectation of ‘Following staff member’s instructions promptly’ and what promptly means.

Uniform

As the weather cools down, I would just like to remind students and their families about our correct Uniform Policy (which can be found on our website or in the student diary). Emerald State High School jackets OR plain black jumpers are to be worn. School jackets can be purchased from the tuckshop during the hours of 10:30am – 1:00pm on Monday to Friday. Another reminder that only plain black jumpers are to be worn with no slogans, logos, patterns and prints and no hoods. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation as it is not only a means to ensure our students look good, but also a security precaution.

If for whatever reason, your child is unable to wear the correct uniform (shorts, shirts or jacket), they are expected to bring a signed note from home explaining the reason. If a child does not supply this note, they may be asked to go to the Deputy Principal to discuss the matter further.

Blue Notes & Attendance

Our expectation of our students is that they will have an attendance rate of at least 91%, although we do understand that this is not always possible due to medical, family, sporting reasons etc. If your child is unable to attend school, please contact the school to inform us of the absence. If your child will be missing a considerable amount of school, please contact either your Head of Year or child’s teachers to collect any work that they may miss. If your child receives a blue note (which has identified the days your child has been away), please return it to the school as a matter of urgency.

Claire Prior
Head of Year 9

English News

Persuade Me!

The students in the Junior School are extremely busy putting the finishing touches on their first oral presentations of the year. Year seven have a range of topics. Should we have single gender classrooms in our schools? Should uniforms be compulsory? Should breakfast be made available at school? Are computer games really educational? They are digging deep to add all the persuasive and literary devices they can find to convince their classmates of their position.

Year eight students are broadening their concept of the world by highlighting the issues in the media regarding asylum seekers coming in to Australia. Their letters to the editor of the Courier Mail are a result of a 360 degree study of the statistics, political, economic and humanitarian issues at hand. Students are to be congratulated for their enthusiasm as they apply their writing skills to real-life issues affecting all Australians. Year Nine are analysing persuasive techniques used by advertisers and critiquing advertisements using the metalanguage of the journalism and publishing industries. With presentations beginning later in Week 8, classrooms will be exciting places to be with our young orators swapping places with their teachers at the front of the classroom.

Hospitality News

Everyone is looking forward to the end of Term 2 as they progress in completing the requirements in their respective subject area. The Junior Home Economics Year 8 class is about to present their chosen savoury parcel that is a combination of 2 or 3 different food cultures fused into a new exciting healthy dish. These HEC 8 students had been experimenting a range of cultural foods with different flavours, textures and aromas to produce a visually appealing food product loaded with nutrients needed by a growing active teenager. They have been encouraged and guided by new trends in cooking following the technological processes of food design.

As observed, their theoretical knowledge and understanding about food production has been broadened by sharing their experiences and sensory evaluation of their newly created Fusion Food. For several weeks, they have been exploring cultural dishes from different parts of the world. Through these practical cooking activities, students were able to display a great appreciation of what multiculturalism can offer in a cooking class.

The HEC 9 class has been expanding their knowledge and understanding of concepts, facts and procedures about healthy eating. Every week, they have a simple dish to explore such as vegetable slice, mini frittatas, beef stir-fry noodles, baked custard, lemon cheesecake, tuna mornay and pasta bake. Students were able to have a hands-on practice of the complex processes in food production such as gelatinisation, maillard reaction, caramelisation, and coagulation to name a few. At the end of each cooking activity, students were able to assess whether their food product is healthy or not and lined up with the criteria for sensory evaluation and had a perceptive reflection on the impact of fast food to health and well-being. In the following week, the HEC 9 students are theoretically equipped to sit for a written examination about healthy eating practices of teenagers.

The Senior HEC 10 students are in the midst of finalising their written assessment on a magazine article focusing on the different food intolerances that could lead to malnutrition, diet-related diseases and tragic endings. Each week, these senior students explored food products that will suit the various special dietary requirements of customers in a coffee shop who are coeliac, vegan, lactose intolerant, diabetic, nut and crustacean allergic. These students were made aware to cater, plan and produce meals based on the dietary needs of some customers with special dietary requirements. According to a latest research conducted in Hospitality catering, Australia is the allergy capital of the world. Thus, HEC 10 students are now able to offer the special dishes in order to meet the growing demands of dining customers in the Hospitality area. The students are enjoying the challenge as they sharpen their awareness and enthusiasm in the food production of customers with special dietary requirements.

Humanities News

A lot has been happening in the Humanities department with due dates for assessment all due. In year 7 History, students are finishing their oral presentations comparing ancient Egypt and China. Likewise, year 8 history students have been presenting their oral presentations comparing medieval Vikings and Japanese Samurai. Year 9 history students have spent the term studying the First World War and all classes have had an opportunity to put on white gloves and interact with artefacts from the war, including expandable periscopes and bayonets. 9F students have also been researching the lives of soldiers whose families received death plaques after the war. Their work is available to see on Historypin (Death Penny is the collection’s name).

The senior school has also been working hard through assessment finishing up units in Legal, Ancient History and Modern History. With the exam block coming up every one is revising hard and tying up all curriculum loose ends.

G’Day USA News

Students that are wanting to go on the G’Day USA trip, need to have forms and deposit to Mrs Galea in the library this week.

Library News

The Premier’s Reading Challenge has been set for students in Year 7 to 9 to read 15 books (print/electronic/graphic) before August 25th. If they meet the challenge, students will receive a certificate of congratulations and it will be recorded as an extra-curricular activity that they have participated in. If students would like to participate, they should see Mrs Galea in the library for a recording form.

Uniforms

All uniforms are now back in stock at the tuckshop. Girls polo shirts are now available in XXXXL.

Research request

Managing Type 1 Diabetes in Children: A Parenting Perspective

Being a parent of a child with type 1 diabetes can be extremely stressful. The University of Queensland is seeking parents of children with type 1 diabetes to take part in a research study that will explore factors that could help or hinder parents in managing their child’s diabetes. If you are a parent of a 2- to 10-year-old child with type 1 diabetes, we would love to hear from you! By sharing your experiences (confidentially) you will help us identify better ways for health care professionals to support parents and families. To complete the online survey, please go to the link below. For further information about the project or to request a survey to be posted to you, please email Jade Grambower at j.grambower@uq.net.au or call Dr Amy Mitchell at the Parenting and Family Support Centre at The University of Queensland on (07) 3346 1202. Thank-you!

Community Events

Through the Student Representative Council, our school supports Our Rainbow House.