11 October 2017

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Welcome to this our first newsletter of the term. The first week back, we had our parent teacher interviews on Wednesday which were well-attended and made for a positive start to the final term of the year. Term 4 is always a great term for me personally because we commence celebrations of the progress our students have made and the school as a whole. It is also a time when we start reflecting on the year and plan for an even better 2018.

Our improvement agenda for this year remains the same. Our first focus is on Teacher pedagogy and our 5 embedded classroom standards of practice. Our second focus is on engagement through our whole school positive behaviour language program which includes essential skills in classroom management. It has worked well for us and will continue to improve our student performance in the next years.

In case you have not already heard, our Under Cover Area commences a major upgrade into a hall on the 17th of October. The upgrade is projected to be completed by the second week of Term 1, in 2018.

Coming up

• 9th – 12th October: Brisbane Band Camp
• 13th – 15th October: Western 7s competition
• 16th October: Student Free Day & Emerald Teachers Conference
• 21st October: Symphonic Band performing at Legend and the Locals tour at Capella Cultural Centre.

Special mentions

• Jacob, Courtney and Fiona who stopped at the shopping centre to help Mrs Firth hand out Colour Run flyers. She really appreciated it!
• Congratulations to Jaidyn Cody and Jett Williams who represented Capricornia in the state Track & Field 10-12yrs events and Nicole Burley for the Track & Field 13-19yrs.
• Special thankyou to Ms Comollatti and Ms Bintley for taking our students to Japan over the break.
• Thank you to our P&C who built another shade shelter on the oval over the holidays and are continuing to fundraise for our school with these events:

Applications are now open for the STEM Girl Power Camp, in Brisbane on 20–24 March 2018. Our school is eligible to nominate one female student who will be in Year 10 in 2018 and has a keen interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). In addition to attending the World Science Festival, students will have the opportunity to visit research institutions and meet STEM professionals. Current Year 9 state school students interested in becoming a STEM ambassador are encouraged to contact the school principal.

When the world says, "Give up," Hope whispers,” Try it one more time." – Author Unknown

Have a healthy weekend and all the best to our Western 7s players this weekend,

Ray Clarke
Principal

From the Deputy Principal – Middle School

Welcome back to an exciting term 4. Firstly a thank you to all those students and parents who have participated in SET Plans and subject selections. It can be a difficult time for students deciding their future pathway. If there are any students who were away and missed out, please make sure you come and see me ASAP to ensure you have the opportunity to pick your subjects for next year.

It has also been great to see the 7-9 Honours classes participating in some extracurricular development of their science and writing skills over the last two days. It has no doubt been a rewarding experience for all those involved.

If you have any questions regarding year 9 and 10 students please don’t hesitate to contact me at bvanh2@eq.edu.au

Thanks

Ben Van Hees
Deputy Principal – Middle School (Acting)

From the Head of Department –English

Welcome to Term 4! What an action packed term that we are all experiencing in our English Department.

This term in Junior Secondary English students are engaging in novel studies. Our Year 7 students are enjoying the quest of Percy and his friends in Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief, our Year 8 students are exploring the adolescent life of a boy named Lockie in Lockie Leonard, and our Year 9 students are engaging with the post-apocalyptic world that Katniss and Peeta navigate in The Hunger Games. All year levels will be completing an exam in the next fortnight. They will then commence reading and deconstructing monologues in preparation for their next assessment task. Year 7 students are planning and creating a dramatic monologue from the point of view of a major secondary character from the novel (not Percy Jackson). The monologue is to take place in response to a significant event that occurs in the novel. Throughout their monologue, they will focus on the thoughts and feelings of the character in response to the event. Year 8 students are about to commence writing an internal monologue. This will require them to choose a time and place within the plot of their novel and express their thoughts, feelings and emotions. Year 9 students are currently working on a one person monologue OR a two person dialogue that fills a (gap or silence) in the novel The Hunger Games. They will focus on a technique called ‘fill a gap or silence’ to reveal the values, attitudes and beliefs of a character during a significant event or relationship within the novel. All students in years 7-9 will be presenting their assessments in the form of an oral presentation.

Year 10 English Essentials students are currently studying Romeo and Juliet. They will be completing two assessment tasks this term. One task will require them to write persuasive paragraphs in response to questions regarding Romeo and Juliet. The second task will require the students to write a persuasive letter. Year 10 English students are currently exploring poems and identifying the subject matter, mood, tone of voice, poetic techniques, and vocabulary choices and the theme or message of each poem. They have started focussing on and reading poetry with teen issues and they will be completing a Poetry test this term.

Year 11 English Communication students have been busily creating an Australian-themed board game, which they will then be required to sell by presenting a sales pitch to prospective investors in the ‘Shark Tank’. Year 11 English students will be presenting their oral assessment in response to reading Macbeth. They are writing an analytical essay after completing their reading of Macbeth. Their essay is based on a number of questions that are provided.

Year 12 English Communication students have been reflecting on their own traits and they have been writing a reflection from positive experiences from their time at school. Within their reflection they will be choosing one trait that has resulted from a negative experience and submitting it for a ceremonial burning. Students are also be required to explain how this item helped them to ‘rise up out of the ashes’ to become a better person. Year 12 English students have been writing reflections to demonstrate the validity of the statement that “no text is neutral” by deciding whether the documentary that they viewed was effective in changing or influencing your opinions on the issue. I would like to wish our year 12 students all of the very best for their future and I am looking forward to attending their formal and sending them off at their graduation.

Lastly, school attendance is vital in ensuring your child has the best opportunity to be an active learner in class and informed of what is required to complete their assessment to a high standard. Please ensure that if your child is away that they follow up with their teacher to see what has been missed.

This will be my final newsletter item for this year. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday and a joyous and festive Christmas.

Terri Weatherley
Head of Department – English

From the Head of Department –Mathematics

Welcome to term four! We are well away into our last term with the year 12s only weeks away from their graduation. It is however, an opportune time to remember that the remainder of assessments (1 exam for mathematics) is equally as important as the previous ones. Keep up the work ethic year 12s, you are almost there. We wish our Year 12s well for their future.

Year 11s have a big task ahead of them in finalising their prep concerning assignments and exams. They will head into grade 12 in the not too distant future. A suggestion is to keep up study routines. As a guideline, 20-30 minutes x 3 a week study sessions should be a minimum. This will bode well in year 12.

Our year 10s have, as you are aware, successfully completed 3 terms of a relatively new program. The success rate has been high with results being better than previous years. We will continue to offer preparatory Essential Maths, General Maths, Maths Methods and Specialist Maths in year 10.

Our juniors are coming through strong this term. The year 7 and 8 classes are working on skills that need improvement as part of our targeted teaching. Year 8 will be sitting a practice test in week 3. This will help identify the gaps in skills that they may still have. Together the teachers and students will then work to bridge these gaps.

Year 9 students have now worked on potential subjects for next year. Going forward discussions will continue on the relevance of subjects to student goals. We must realise, this year 9 cohort will be the first to enter into the new senior syllabus.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank parents and students alike for your continued support and encouragement towards the school. We have made a lot of progress this year and believe we will make significant headway in the future.

RANDOM NUMBER SEQUENCE FACT (Interesting…)

In mathematics, the Kolakoski sequence, sometimes also known as the Oldenburger-Kolakoski sequence, is an infinite sequence of symbols {1, 2} that is its own run-length and the prototype for an infinite family of related sequences. It was initially named after the recreational mathematician Wilam Kolakoski (1944–97), who discussed it in 1965 (Wikipedia, 2017).

The 1s and 2s appear in a run of one, or in a run of two. However, here is the cool bit: the length of runs actually recreates the original sequence! It is the only sequence that does it (except for the same sequence with the initial 1 deleted)

Nahroon Nazim
Head of Department – Maths

From the Head of Year – Year 12

I expect everyone is as surprised as I am at how fast this year has sped by – our year 12 cohort are about to leave us… Wow! This term is hectic with awards night, exams and the FORMAL!!, culminating in graduation on Friday 17th November. Bookmark these dates:

• 1st November: Awards Night
• 6th – 8th November: Exam Block
• 13th – 14th November: students are engaged in alternate activities here at school
• 15th November: students are to attend the Town Hall from 8:30am to prepare the hall for their formal. All must attend so rolls can be marked. If and where students have appointments a letter must be handed in, signed and giving details of how the student is to leave or be picked up.
• 16th November: Students to meet at Emerald Aquatic Centre by 9am, where we will cook a splendid breakfast. They will be dismissed by 1 o’clock – any variation will need a note. Those students who are unable to attend must have reasons to the office that day. Students must pay to enter the pool but breakfast will be provided. Lunch and snacks may be purchased at the pool.
• 17th November: Graduation ceremony. Parents, family & friends should arrive by 8:30am as we intend to start the ceremony at 8:50 promptly. This ceremony culminates in a morning tea and the cutting of the graduation cake. Students may then farewell al friends and staff.

In Week 4 we will be organising arrival times for students at the formal venue as well as photo times if the family require a professional portrait. All further details will be in a sent home in Week 4.

Kate Hume
Head of Year 12

Science News

Junior School

The Year 7 students have just started their Space unit in which they will explore how the positioning of the sun, earth and moon affect the seasons, tides and time of day. In Year 8, they are learning about different types of rocks and how they are formed. Our Year 9 students are learning about chemical reactions and will soon begin their extended experimental investigation into designing and creating heat-and-eat packs! The Year 9 Robotics class are programming and flying drones.

Senior School

Year 10 Biology students are exploring evolution this term, while our 10 Chemistry students are studying redox reactions and our Year 10 Physics students are looking at optics. Year 11 Biology students are learning about infectious diseases, while the 11 Chemistry class are exploring industrial chemicals and the 11 Physics group are studying Forensics! Our Year 12 Biology students are conducting research into current biological issues, while the 12 Chemistry students are looking at chemistry of power, heat transfer and gas laws, and the 12 Physics students are learning about nuclear reactions and radioactive decay.

Business Education News

Students studying Certificate I (Year 10) or Certificate II (Years 11 and 12) in Business have been able to gain an understanding into the practical skills and knowledge in business administrative tasks. Areas of study have encompassed database development, advanced word, excel and electronic presentation skills, workplace health and safety, the importance of work teams and the refining of verbal and non-verbal communication techniques.

Our Year 11 and 12 Business Communication and Technologies class have been undertaking study in the components of event administration and management. Students engaged in an opportunity of visiting a local regional event, GemFest, earlier last term. This provided the students with an opportunity to see first-hand the logistical requirements of a multi-day event and engage in conversations with event coordinators and other key stakeholders.

Year 10 Business Communication and Management students spent Term 3 studying the field of Ecotourism. This unit saw students building an understanding of the principles of Ecotourism and undertaking a critical analysis of an established business within Australia ensuring to provide recommendations for any areas of development found wanting. During Term 4 students will be learning about International Business, specifically working towards utilising business and market analysis tools to make judgements on business life cycle phases and expansion opportunities.

If you are interested in studying Business in grades 10-12 please don’t hesitate to contact Miss Lawson or Mr Muscat.

Library News

Writing ICAS Results

The results have come back for the Writing ICAS, which Paige of Year 8 voluntarily sat earlier this year. She was required to create a piece of writing in response to a question in a set amount of time. This piece of writing assessed students’ knowledge of genre, textual grammar, syntax/punctuation, and spelling. Paige scored above her year level average in all areas, and overall was above the average of the year level above her. She received a Distinction certificate, which means she scored in the top 11% of students in her year level in the country! Congratulations Paige on an outstanding result!

Literary Festival

On the 10th of October, students from the Honours Program in Years 7-9 participated in our 3rd Literary Festival. This year, authors Elaine Ouston, Royce Bond, Casey Ardron, and Aleesha Darlinson led students through 4 workshops about setting, description, suspense building, and characters in writing. Students enjoyed the day and all finished with writing that they will be continuing to work on for the possible inclusion in our published anthology.

Guidance Officer News

RU OK?

The Support Works Team helped Emerald State High School students and staff celebrate RUOK? Day during their weekly Breakfast Club in the final week of Term 3.

The RUOK? charity advises that if you have a feeling that the behaviour of someone you know or care about has changed, or it seems that they are just not themselves, start a conversation to help the friend, workmate or family member open up. If they are okay, they know you are caring enough to ask. If they say they are not okay, help them find strategies that will better manage their concerns.

Follow the conversation steps.

For more information see:

If life is in danger, call 000

Career Information:

• Students looking for university scholarships across Australia search within The Country Education Foundation 2018 Scholarships Guide available via the link below.

• Students applying to QTAC who have experienced circumstances that have negatively impacted on their recent studies can complete an Educational Access Scheme (EAS) application for consideration. Some EAS categories require a statement completed by the school. See your Guidance Officer for further information.
• Get a Jumpstart on your career – Australian Government website developed with youth for youth.

Community Events

Emerald PCYC is raffling a signed Melbourne Storm jersey. Tickets can be purchased at the PCYC or by calling (07) 4987 7475.

Road Safety Shorts with Dr Bridie