Emerald State High School
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Old Airport Drive, P.O. Box 419
Emerald QLD 4720
Subscribe: https://emeraldshs.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe

Email: the.principal@emeraldshs.eq.edu.au
Phone: 07 4988 2222
Fax: 07 4988 2200

5 February 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report


Welcome to our first newsletter for 2019. I wish to welcome the following staff on board to ESHS: Mr Mitchel Pearce (Maths /Science), Ms Michelle Watkin (Humanities), Mr Noel Cavanagh (HOD Technology), Mrs Lucia Ferraro (HOD Arts), Mr Leon Coromandel (Maths/Science), and Mrs Cresta Richardson (Learning support). I trust they have enjoyed their introduction to our good school.

Our first week has been enjoyable thanks to staff being well prepared for day one. It seems our students have appreciated it. As I write this, I believe we will come in at slightly larger numbers than last year (at almost 770 students).

We did have one hiccup as BYOD was not working, however it was rectified by last Friday afternoon. Speaking of technology devices, I am pleased to announce we have upgraded our wireless connections around the campus for faster speeds and better accessibility. Our policy is to employ ICT into the classroom wherever possible. We encourage the use of small inexpensive Windows laptops for students to bring to school.

Our Honours classes and Year 11s and 12s will be using BYODs as part of their daily lessons. We also have 5 class computer laboratories available for class bookings. There is no rule that says a student cannot bring a laptop to school, in fact it is the opposite; and we encourage students to bring a laptop and link up to our school network to assist them with their study.

A special mention to all parents, that 2019 celebrates ESHS proudly offering public education for 50 years. We have a huge Jubilee celebration occurring at the end of Semester 1, and there will be events throughout the year to celebrate this milestone, just follow our Facebook page.

Special Mentions

  • Congratulations to Rhianna Morris who was selected for the QRC Girls in Resources Mentoring Program. Rhianna will attend the International Women’s Day breakfast (Brisbane), Mentee training workshop and Program finale event in Brisbane.
  • Welcome to Ruth our new tuckshop convenor and thank you for the new menu and breakfast options The P&C have brought to the school.
  • Thank you to Mr Sanson who has almost finalised our Year 7 Camp that will commence in week 4 this term.

Launch of DoE Instagram

The Department of Education (DoE) is now on Instagram. It is a way for us to engage with more members of the community as one in three Australians are already on the platform. Instagram is a social networking app made for sharing photos and videos from a smartphone. Follow us @qldeducation to see the great things happening in Queensland state schools.

“I object to violence because, when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.” Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948)

All the best
Ray Clarke
Principal

From the Deputy Principal – Junior School

Hi all, welcome back to 2019.

Our new cohort of year 7 students have settled in well and reports from teachers say that the classes we developed during transition are getting along. If your child has any concerns about the class they are in please advise the class teacher or myself and we can work on a solution.

Year 7 parents should have received a camp permission note - it is only a couple of weeks away. We have structured camp so that numbers are not limited and every student has the opportunity to go. If you have any concerns about your child attending camp please advise Peter Sanson (Year 7 HOY). If your child has not attended an overnight camp with school before it would be advisable to contact Peter to discuss a plan.

The year 8 classes have also had a good start. I discussed with them in our weekly parade that we should see some development in social and emotional wellbeing as we are no longer the youngest in the school. We now take on a role to assist those younger students in settling in by demonstrating mature attitudes and behaviours.

I would like to invite you all to make contact with your child’s teachers to ensure they have started the year well. Please remind students in year 7 and year 8 that if they have any concerns about bullying in school that they need to be reporting this to classroom teachers, HOYs or myself.

Have a great year.

Ben Van Hees
Deputy Principal – Junior School

From the Deputy Principal – Middle School

Welcome to 2019

Contact Details

At Emerald State High School we have 3 Deputy Principals, and I primarily manage students in Years 9 and 10. The best way to contact is either by phoning the office staff on 4988 2222 (who have access to my calendar and know my whereabouts) or by emailing me gsaun25@eq.edu.au

I have welfare meetings with the Head of Year (HOY), Guidance Officer (Miss Kelly Lawton klawt27@eq.edu.au) and Absentee Officer (Mrs Harrison) each week. During this meeting we discuss matters that we have been informed about that may impact on the individual student’s learning. Primarily this is attendance as research shows the greater the attendance, the better the learning takes place. However if parents or the student have shared medical or family circumstances we discuss how best to support the student.

Head of Year 9
Mrs Caitlin Ross
cjros3@eq.edu.au

Head of Year 10
Miss Jacinda Fehlhaber
jfehl8@eq.edu.aun

Timetables

All students are able to access their own timetables via their MIS login.

To do this type mis.eq into a google search and it is the first one to come up. Once selected this is what you will see:

Students type in:

Their User MIS ID (eg mine is gsaun25)
Their password that they use at school
They must tick the privacy statement and then click on the SIGN IN button.

CHANGING CLASSES

Students in years 8 -12 have the first 3 weeks of term 1 to change elective classes. This involves them seeing their Deputy Principal to collect a form who will outline options available and costs that may apply.

Students will then need to collect signatures from teachers and HODs affected by the change. Student and Parent’s signatures are also required. Once all signatures are complete the form needs to be returned to the Deputy Principal who will make the changes and issue student with a new timetable.

INVOICES

Invoices for 2019 will be issued to parents at the beginning of week 4. Thank you to the many parents who have sorted out payment plans for this year or paid in full at this stage.

CURRICULUM

This year we welcome Mrs Cresta Richardson (crich1@eq.edu.au) as our Learning Support Coordinator. She will be managing ICPs (Individual Curriculum Plans) for students who require them as well as teaching some classes.

If you have any concerns regarding learning in subjects please contact the teacher directly (email is best) in the first instance. Heads of Department (HOD) who manage discrete curriculum areas are listed in the following table. Please keep this as a reference for the year.

HOD

Contact

Subjects Managed

Mrs Gabby Hunt

ghunt55@eq.edu.au

English

Mr Nahroon Nazim

nnazi1@eq.edu.au

Maths

Mr Aneel Dewan

adew13@eq.edu.au

Science & junior robotics

Mrs Kaz Van Hees

kvanh4@eq.edu.au

Humanities (history, geography, legal studies)

Mrs Annette Carter

acart163@eq.edu.au

VET ( work experience, hospitality, business, childcare studies, externally offered Certificate courses)

Ms Rebekah Comollatti

rcomo3@eq.edu.au

HPE & Japanese (including Rec Studies and Fitness in years 10,11,12)

Ms Lucy Ferrara

lferrlferr62@eq.edu.au

The ARTS, (Music, Drama, Art, Indigenous Education)

Mr Noel Cavanagh

ncava8@eq.edu.au

Technology ( including ITD, furnishing, engineering, Industrial Graphics, Design, Digital Solutions, ICT)

Ms Deanne Lucht

dluch4@eq.edu.au

HOSES (Head of Special Education Services), teacher aides

POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR LEARNING (PBL)

Another of my roles is leader of PBL at Emerald State High School.

Each fortnight we roll out a “behaviour lesson” which is in response to data collected. On Tuesday’s full school parade each week, I also present the behaviour lesson.

Our first lesson was on Tuesday 29 January during lesson 1 which focused on our Key Values – that at ESHS we are POSITIVE, PREPARED and we PARTICIPATE.

Week 3’s lesson will be explaining our positive reward system which includes VIVOs. We have sourced vouchers from local businesses such as Emerald Town Pool and soon to come on board is Subway on Edgerton Street. Emerald Cinemas kindly donated vouchers to start us off.

Q PARENTS

If you do not have this app yet, I would strongly encourage you to do so. You do require 100points of ID to register (just like getting a bank account).

There are many reasons for registering:

Access to each of your child’s

  1. timetable,
  2. assessment calendar (from week 4),
  3. report cards,
  4. Exam timetable for students in yr 11 & 12
  5. Excursion details
  6. behaviour record,
  7. absences,
  8. invoicing and payment

QParents is the portal that directly links to OneSchool which is the database that all Queensland Government Schools use. For more information just google QParents and register. You will need to know your child’s PC class.

SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS

Students were provided with envelopes to order School Photographs on Tuesday 29 January. Our set date for photos will take place at school on Wednesday 6 February 2019. All ordering is to be done directly with the photographer, MSP Photography. They can be contacted by phone 07 4921 3355 or email: schoolphotos.cq@msp.com.au or via their website below.

http://www.msp.com.au/

Every student will be photographed regardless of whether you are purchasing or not. Opportunity for sibling/friend group photos will be available at first break. These photos must be ordered online at least 24 hours in advance.

Gaye Saunders
Deputy Principal – Middle School

From the Deputy Principal – Senior School

Welcome

I would like to welcome our new families to the Senior School and welcome back to those who have had students in the senior school previously. 2019 will be a big year for us as we introduce the New QCE system with our year 11s.

Following is a list of the Heads of Year assigned to each year level in the Senior School. The Head of Year will work closely with the Pastoral Care teacher to oversee student wellbeing and attendance. Each week we meet to discuss any welfare issues of the cohort. If you have any concerns please contact either myself or the Head of Year.

Head of Year

Year 12

Mr Adam Heath

Year 11

Mrs Mel Prior

Along with these key people, a number of other staff may be of assistance to your child; namely the Guidance Officer, Miss Kelly Lawton (term 1)/Mrs Valda Fitzgerald; the Youth Support Coordinator, Mrs Janene Vale; and the school Chaplains, Ross and Cole. The contact details for each of these people can be found on the website or contacting the office.

Congratulations

I would like to congratulate our Year 12 Students of 2018 who achieved excellent academic results in their Overall Positions (OPs) and the Core Skills Test last year. 100% of our students received a Queensland Certificate of Education/QCIA, an outcome of their strong academic commitment, fine scholarship and successful working partnerships with the School’s exceptional teaching staff. Nearly 90% of our OP cohort have received an OP from 1 to 15.

Student Leadership

In Week 3 we formally acknowledge and induct our Student Leaders into the School.

Student leadership is a role of great importance at Emerald State High School, as students accept responsibility for representing their peers in all aspects of school life, and embrace the duties and challenges their roles expected of them. Leadership is about giving service to the school, being role models, setting standards for others to emulate, and providing inspiration for their fellow students to work together as a team. Student leaders also provide a bridge between staff and the student body.

Please join us for the Leadership Induction Ceremony on Tuesday 12th February at 8.45am.

Senior School Subject Changes

Any student in Years 11 or 12 wishing to make an application to change subjects must submit their application before the end of Week 3, Friday 15 February. After this date, no general changes to students’ academic programs will be considered until the end of Semester 1.

Senior School expectations

As our year 11 and 12 students are now in their “Compulsory Participation Phase” of their learning the expectations are a little different. Students in the Senior School are expected to:

  1. Attend 92% of all classes/school days – attendance under this puts the student at risk of not achieving their best results. Students with attendance under 92% are also in jeopardy on not attending formal or being able to purchase a senior jersey. It is important to remember that signing in late or leaving early (other than for approved flexi-times) counts as a ½ day absence.
  2. Participate in all classroom activities, complete and submit assessment on time. Students are to attend all exam as per their exam timetable.
  3. Follow the behaviour expectations of the 3Ps; Polite, Prepare and Participate. Students must wear the approved school uniform each day.

Students who are unable to fulfil these expectations are at risk of having their enrolment cancelled.

Students with licenses

Students with licenses are required to park in the carpark allocated on Racecourse Road. They are also not permitted to have students in their cars during school hours.

Year 12 students with Flexi-timetables

Students in the Workforce Pathways classes or those with approved study periods have received a yellow permission note in week 1.

Regards
Tanya Shaw
Deputy Principal – Senior School

From the Attendance Officer

QPARENT

To receive your QParent invitation, just email: 2122_Qparent@eq.edu.au State your student’s name and you would like to request an Invitation Code.

After you receive your code, click on the link below and register.

https://qparents.qld.edu.au/

Registration for QParents must be completed using a personal computer and not a mobile device. To access QParents from a smartphone or tablet, users can download the QParents app available on the iTunes App Store or from the Google Play Store. Note that you can only use the app after you have completed the registration process using a personal computer.

We would like to encourage all our parents to register for QParents. This will allow you access to your students details, absences, timetable, finances, photos and report cards online.

ARE YOUR DETAILS CORRECT?

We often use email or mobile SMS messaging to send out vital reminders or information to parents. If you are a QParent we ask that you check your student’s details and ensure they are up to date. NEED A COPY OF YOUR STUDENTS REPORT CARD? If you have registered for QParents you can view and print your student’s report cards. If you haven’t registered for QParents please check your emails for the invitation and unique access code and register today. If you have not received your access code, please email us on 2122_Qparent@eq.edu.au providing us with your student’s name and requesting an access code.

MEDICATION AT SCHOOL

Reminder to parents that any medication that your student takes at school must come through the office or First Aid. A letter from your GP needs to be provided along with the chemist labelled medication. Each time a student takes the medication it is recorded. Ventolin is the only medication a student is allowed to administer and carry them self.

School Contact Information

SOBS

Over the holidays the SOBS link for parents access has changed.

https://eq.sobs.com.au/pt/parent.php?schoolid=70275

Every Day Counts

Education Queensland is continuing the push of Everyday counts and have asked that all principals share the following messages with their parent communities.

  • It is important that your children attend school every day. Taking a day off because the fish are biting, or you want to go shopping on your birthday, is not an acceptable reason to miss a day of school.
  • If your child is sick you should contact the school as soon as possible with an estimation of how long your child will be away from school.
  • If your family has to travel away for family or cultural reasons, and expect to be away for more than 10 days you will have to apply for an exemption from Compulsory Schooling. Exemptions should be applied for and approved by the Principal of your child’s school BEFORE you travel away. (The school does not have to provide school work for children with an exemption).
  • It is not acceptable to take your children out of school for holidays. Families should plan their holidays to coincide with school holidays. You can find more information about exemptions:

https://education.qld.gov.au/parents-and-carers/school-information/school-operations

Regular school attendance will mean that your child has a better chance in life. Your child will achieve better results when they go to school all day, every school day.

  • they learn better
  • they make friends
  • they are happier
  • they have a brighter future.

Why must I send my child to school?

Under Queensland law, you must make sure your child of school age is enrolled and attends school all day, every school day unless they have an acceptable reason for absence.

Emerald State High School 50th Jubilee News

It was 50 years ago that Year 8 students walked from Emerald State School to Old Airport Drive and through the gates of the new Emerald State High School. They were then numbered off and split into the first three classes. Only a small number of buildings had been completed. Throughout that year, as more building were finished, more grades were sent to the school to complete their education in the new Emerald State High School.

LAST CHANCE FOR A PAVER

In the lead up to the jubilee, we have been selling personalised, engraved pavers for past and present students and staff to leave their mark at the school. The paver order is going in shortly however we wanted to give our new families one last chance to place an order by the 8th of February. If you are interested, please complete the attached form.

STUDENT COMMEMMORATIVE BADGES

At this year’s student leader induction, we are excited to have some special guests that attended the school in 1969 present leaders with a special jubilee badge. Leaders will then present these commemorative badges to every student in every grade attending the school at their own year level parades.

LAST CALL FOR HISTORY BOOK SUBMISSIONS

The history book committee are still collecting photos and memories from staff and students. If you would like to send through any information or images to emeraldshsjubilee@gmail.com by the 15th of February, we will be able to include it. Video footage is also welcome as we hope to put together a news reel for the jubilee evening.

JUBILEE EVENING 28-29th JUNE 2019

The jubilee committee are finalising details for our big jubilee weekend in June. We would love for as many past and present staff and students to join us in celebrating 50 years and to reconnect with old friends. Tickets will go on sale soon for the Friday night evening at the Town Hall. Everyone is welcome to come to the open day on Saturday the 29th of June.

Please share this information with anyone you know who may have attended the school. We would hate for them to miss out.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

The small committee would love some help with plans for this year. We will be having another meeting very soon. If you would like to contribute, please contact the group via email emeraldshsjubilee@gmail.com or call Sam Elsden 0417715663

Keep an eye out for updates in this newsletter and on our Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/eshsjubilee2019

Community Notices