12 December 2018

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Welcome to our last newsletter for 2018. This has been a most significant year for planning. We are introducing a new senior curriculum for every year 11 subject next year. In 2020 we will be fully aligned with the rest of the nation in that our students will also receive an ATAR score if they wish to obtain university entrance. Our VET certificates are already nationally aligned. In the Junior School we have finalised planning early to be aligned with the National Curriculum in key learning areas. So yes our staff have worked hard and participated in significant training to be ready for the new Australian Curriculum.

I wish thank all the parents who have supported the school, not just when awards are handed out, but more so when consequences are handed out. I refer to the use of mobile phones and the stance we take at schools. Phones should be handed in before school and collected at the end of the day. Our school is all about learning, and mobile phones are an incredibly powerful distraction. Indeed they are often a source of abuse and contribute to weakening the resilience levels of some students. So thank you to the parents who supported us with this issue, it is a crucial issue all school communities have to deal with.

So how did we go this year? Our Parents School Opinion Survey increased significantly, this is something we have been wanting to improve and so we are proud of that achievement. In NAPLAN we improved slightly in reading and went down a little in writing, overall we are still travelling well with like schools. Again we are on track for 100% QCE and hopefully some good news over the Christmas about some of our OP students’ scores. So the results tell us we are well on track with our 4 year plan with gradual and incremental improvements. These improvements only come with stability of staff, school structures and systems, in other words – consistency. Next year we commence our 4th year school review and our focus will be to continue along the same improvement agenda:

• Engagement through Pedagogy
• Engagement through Positive Behaviour Learning (PBL) and High Performing Teams (HPT)

You will note the second pillar mentioned above now includes HPT. This is necessary because PBL is to engage students so we need a vehicle to encompass staff and community (this is HPT) which is our communication strategy. I believe High Performing Teams has kept us strong this year in the light of many distractions that can sometimes detour a school away from its improvement agenda. I am glad to say we have developed strong teams this year, and we now have the data to show it.

In closing I wish you all the very best over the summer break and hope you all get time to relax and celebrate what a great nation and great school we have.

How is tertiary entrance changing?

The OP will be issued for the last time to students in Year 12 in 2019. In 2020, if you’re eligible, you’ll be ranked for university using the ATAR. A broad range of courses can contribute to the ATAR:

• Five General subjects; or
• Four General subjects, and one VET qualification at Certificate III or above; or
• Four General subjects, and one Applied subject.

To be eligible, you’ll also need to pass an English subject, but your result will only contribute to your ATAR if it’s one of your best five subject results. Your ATAR will be calculated and issued by the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre. Visit its website for details:

If it’s flooded, forget it

Every year Queenslanders risk their lives by driving through floodwater — a decision that affects others including rescuers, family and friends. With storm season approaching, make sure you plan ahead in case of an emergency, whether it’s mapping out an alternative route or rethinking travel altogether. For tips on how to stay safe visit the Floodwater safety website.

“He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery.” – Harold Wilson

All the best & looking forward to 2019,
Ray Clarke
Principal

From the Head of Year 7

Year 7 is almost over!

It is hard to believe that our year 7s have almost completed their first year of high school. It is pleasing to note the growth of many students who demonstrate both resilience and leadership in their participation in school life. I would like to congratulate all students on their enthusiasm in tackling every task that is thrown at them. They have shown exemplary behaviour throughout the year.

In the last week of the school year, departments have planned engaging activities for students to participate in, with many of our year 7 students being invited to attend a movie on Thursday in recognition of their good behaviour and effort in class.

I hope the year 7s enjoy spending some quality time with their families over the Christmas break and return refreshed and energetic to begin year 8 in 2018. Make the most of this special time and please stay safe. I look forward to working with our cohort as they progress into year 8 and the challenges ahead. I would just like to leave the year 7 group and their families with some parting words by Roy T. Bennett: “Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you imagine”.

Kate Deighton
Head of Year 7

From the Attendance Officer

Year 12 Jersey’s / Year 12 Formal / Interest re School Based Apprenticeship (SBA) / Future Leaders Senior & Junior

Attendance is paramount for students who wish to partake in the above highlights during their high school years. Leadership positions, acquiring a senior jersey and going to the Year 12 formal all require 91% attendance or above to participate. Did you know that your attendance counts as a reference if you wish to pursue a school based apprenticeship with a prospective employer? Please be mindful that every day counts and follow our 3Ps. Parents please ensure all absences are explained.

ROLL MARKING IN STATE SCHOOLS

The holidays are fast approaching. While it may be tempting to let your child stay home for the last day, or even the last week of term, our school would prefer to see every child on every day of every term. We strongly believe children need to attend school every day to receive the most benefits from their education. Did you realise that skipping the last day of every term adds up to more than a whole term of schooling missed throughout a child’s education? Skipping a whole week of school each term means your child will miss more than 15 months of their education!

2019 Continuing Student Enrolment Forms

Booklets are being sent home this week to all continuing students. Year 10 & 11 students need to return their completed booklets as soon as possible prior to or on Friday November 30th. Year 7, 8 & 9 students need to return their completed booklets no later than Friday December 7th.

Parents, all outstanding invoices need to be finalised by Friday December 7th so that student subject selection is not affected for 2019.

HPE News

The end of 2018 is quickly approaching so it is only fitting that we reflect on the year of sport that was. Term 1 kick started with many students trialling to represent Capricornia, Central Highlands and ESHS in a large variety of sports. We also saw the students pull on their house colours for the first time of the year as they swam, ran, laughed and sweated their way through the obstacle course, cross-country and swimming carnival. The athletics carnival was the star of Term 2, where students attempted to jump, sprint and throw their way to victory. Topaz continued to make their mark, taking out their second house win of the year. The large presence of ESHS at various interschool competitions was prominent throughout Term 3. ESHS’s most dedicated netballers produced stellar results at the Vicki Wilson Competition in Rockhampton, whilst our committed rugby players took on the Gladstone 7s competition. Western 7s rounded out our year of interschool sport, with approximately 90 students taking the field in ESHS colours. As we take some time out to prepare ourselves for the 2019 sporting calendar all members of the HPE department would like to thank everybody who has helped, as a coach, manager or mentor, for what they have contributed this year. We are very excited to see the sporting achievements 2019 offers and encourage all parents and students to keep an eye on our Facebook page and student notices as trialling dates for CH and Capricornia are released in Term 1.

English News

As 2018 draws to a close the English department would like to thank students and their parents for their dedication and effort through the year.

Year 12 English Communication students finished on a high with an oral reflection on their experience throughout high school. Year 11 English Communication students submitted a board game design and the year 10s reflected on the character changes of characters from the novel Tomorrow When The War Began.

The junior students are participating in an alternate program for the final week of school and spent Monday with the English Department creating blackout poetry, playing English games such as Taboo and Trivia and learning about the quirks and interests of their English teachers with a scavenger hunt around the school.

Learning Support News

As the year draws to a close, I would like to thank all of the staff that have been involved in this department in 2018; in particular I thank our very hardworking teacher aides – Delores Sheppard, Michelle Byrnes, Natalie Barsby, Janene Vale, Narelle Rowcliffe, Gillian Wilkins, Estelle Earl, Judy Day, Rosie Tu, and Kathleen Wills. Behind every good teacher is a teacher aide, and you all are truly dedicated to Emerald State High Schools’ students.

2019 will see a change in this department, as I move back into my teaching role in the English department. Rest assured that this department is in safe hands, and the support needs of our students will continue. In the first few weeks of 2019 ICP letters will be sent home and further contact made. However if you have any concerns about the needs of your child, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

Any EALD (English as a Second Language or Dialect) students, especially in Senior, will still be able to access me for additional support to ensure their continued success.

Gabrielle Hunt
Learning Support Teacher

Library News

Library items

As students finish their schooling year, they need to ensure that all library items are returned. It is recommended that students wait to have their items scanned to ensure that they are returning their own copy of a text and not someone else’s. Students who are doing Year 12 OP English in 2019 will need to borrow The Book Thief before they go on holidays as need to have read it before the beginning of the new school year. These students will only be able to borrow this novel once all of their other library items are returned.

P & C News

Emerald State High School prepares for its 50th year! (From CQ News)

It was a blast from the past when Lynne Spackman (Dahlenburg), Donna Lewis (Mattingley), Gayette Shaw (Sager) and Andrew Hawkins recently walked through the gates of Emerald State High School. Part of the original year 8 cohort that started at the school in 1969, they were invited to the school for a tour run by current year 7 students in preparation for the 50th jubilee celebrations next year.

Donna Lewis remembers that the class all walked from Emerald State School (where the secondary department had been) and were counted off into three separate classes. Back then, only A and B blocks were constructed and C and D were built during the first year. Some students enjoyed cream buns and pies for lunch at the tuckshop and some walked across the road to the corner store for lunch.

Andrew Hawkins remembers boarding at the CWA Hostel (building near the hospital) during school time. He also spoke about how they were all billeted out to homes that were lucky enough to have televisions so they could all watch the moon landing.

The year 7 students who all have a long family history of attending the school, Madison Powell, Indie Logovik and Declan O'Sullivan, made the perfect tour guides, showing off the different rooms and what had changed over the years. Of particular interest was the computer labs (which used to be the only classrooms), the gym, the newly renovated hall as well as the hospitality and industrial skills rooms. The group also had a private performance from the school symphonic band, something that was not yet available in 1969.

The guests reminisced about the subjects that were on offer when they were at school which included an academic stream of mostly science subjects, a commercial stream that included short-hand, typing and home-economics or a manual arts stream that included woodwork, metal work and tech drawing. They were impressed that the range now includes more technology, physical education and creative arts options.

Finally, the group viewed the area set aside for the jubilee paving area. This will provide a unique opportunity for individuals or families to have their name engraved onto a paver to be placed in the school. Individuals and families also have an opportunity to contribute stories and pictures to the history book that is being created. Please email emeraldshsjubilee@gmail.com with anything you may have.

The jubilee committee have been putting plans in place for a weekend of catching up and remembering the times at Emerald State High School. An evening reunion event will be held on the 28th of June. Tickets will be on sale early in the new year. An open day at the school for past and present students, staff and the whole community will be held on Saturday the 29th of June. Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses and more information can be found on the Facebook page:

Community Events