3 September 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear friends of Emerald High

Over the halfway mark of the term - the year is flying by.

We have seen a number of fantastic activities and events occur in our school over the past few weeks. So much has happened, in fact, that I am struggling to fit it all in, but here we go…

This week we celebrated 'Support Staff Recognition Week' and thanked the many non-teaching staff in our school whose dedication and professionalism support the work of our teachers in the classroom and the outcomes of our students. They are a sensational group of people who are making a real difference in the lives of our young people. Thank you again for all that you do.

This week we held our Subject Selection Evening, preparing our Year 9s and Year 10s for their move into the next phase of their learning. Parents and the students had the opportunity to hear the latest about the new QCE system, talk with many of our staff and to get online and select their subjects. Thank you to everyone involved for their participation in this important event.

This week we have also been involved in our 'School Review'. Every four years, all schools in Queensland undergo this process whereby a team of reviewers, who are usually current or former school principals, spend a period of time in schools, looking at what happens and speaking with a wide range of people in the school community in order to form a picture of the quality things that are happening in the school. They summarise their findings in a report along with their recommendations for the school's next steps forwards in the improvement journey. We will receive our report in a few weeks' time and it will be published on our website and shared through P&C.

Individual student NAPLAN reports are now on their way out to us and will be shortly be sent home with students. I will have more information out to everyone about NAPLAN once we have had an opportunity to analyse the data as a school.

Last week was, of course, 'Bookweek' and it was truly a delight to see so many students and staff dressed up as their favourite book character. The characters wandering the school ranged from Warrior Princesses, to 'Thing 1 and Thing 2', Tinkerbell, representatives of all houses of Hogwarts, Greek Gods, witches, Batman and Bat Girl, Mary Poppins and a very large Elmo. My sincere thanks to Karen Galea for coordinating this wonderful event! It was lots of fun!

Our Hospitality teachers, Annette Carter, Angela Gilbert and Kaitlyn Aubury coordinated a sensational activity for our students with Celebrity Chef Matt Golinski visiting to work with our students to create an absolutely outstanding luncheon. The food was sensational, it was presented very professionally and the service was top rate. Thank you to the Hospitality teachers for leading this unique opportunity for our kids and thank you also to Stacey Cook for her coordination work behind the scenes.

Leanne Ross, Leon Coromandel and Rajiv Bahr have also lead an exciting opportunity for our students, taking a group of our talented singers to Capella to sing alongside Troy Cassar-Daley. This was something very special and something our kids (and grown-ups) will remember for a long time. Thank you!

And finally, Simon Taylor took a group of our cricketers to play a match against Marist, a game that they won convincingly. I am now expecting a call from London with some of our batsmen to be called up to bolster the batting in our Ashes Squad. Well done cricketers!!

As I said last time, it is evident every day that we have a sensational school and I continue to be impressed by the dedication and professionalism of our staff, the fine qualities of our students and the support and proactivity of our community. We are very lucky!

The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be.

Horace Bushnell

Have a fantastic fortnight
Sean Maher
Principal

From the Deputy Principal – Middle School

Congratulations to yet another successful BOOK WEEK parade, when students and staff got the opportunity to dress up as a book character with super powers.

Tuesday 27 August was another successful Subject Information Evening. Parents and students were able to talk to teachers about

• Subject choices for 2020.
• Career pre-requisites with our Guidance officer.
• Process for school based apprenticeships with Alarna Wills.

• VET offerings at ESHS with Mrs Carter
• Year 9 students selected first round of subjects for 2020 with Mrs Saunders.

Since this evening, year 9 students who were unable to attend have selected subjects online under the watchful eye of Mrs Saunders. They were instructed to then go home and show their parents (and that they have until Friday 30 August) to edit or make changes.

Year 10 students have completed an online survey during their VFS class on Thursday 29 August to help with subject selection preparation.

NAPLAN reports will be issued by the school shortly, please ask your children to see these results.

Regards
Gaye Saunders
Deputy Principal – Middle School

From the Student Representative Council

Mrs. Debbie Cognet
Head of SRC

From the Head of Department - Technology

It’s Week 7 and time is flying by. Term 3 seems to be always the busiest time at a school. This term at Emerald’s Technology Department, staff and students have seen:

• E block shut down for the starting two weeks for refurbishment and air-con installation.
• The creation of a Maker Space area in E3 with 3D printers, CNC router and Label Cutter available, alongside other ICT resources.
• Student lockers used for storing engineering clothing moved from E3 to the E block annex (cut off room).
• The school’s senior and junior Human Powered Vehicle teams competed at the 16 hour Emerald event.
• Year 10 ICT students moving from the vocational course to the Digital Technologies area.
• Purchasing of a Metal Craft steel bending jig for engineering courses.
• Year 7 ICT starting coding using the program Kudo.

Subject Selection

With subject selection for Year 9 and 10 coming up it is important for students to fully understand the importance of selecting subjects that will place them on their chosen future pathway. Within the Technology Department students benefit from learning about and working with traditional and emerging technologies. They realise solutions by using tools and machinery for production processes on selected materials.

Digital technologies is a growing field at Emerald SHS with the emphasis on problem solving through web development, game and application creation and coding. Students have the opportunity to discover emerging technologies and get creative with our Maker Space area using a variety of tools and materials.

Highlights for the various subjects in Technology include…

Design and Technology:

Year 7 Design and Technology students creating a lit Logo stand.
Year 8 Design and Technology students creating a 9V powered item.
Year 9 Design and Technology students creating a solar powered vehicle.
Year 10 Engineering fabricating stools and Furnishing constructing frames.

Digital Technology:

Year 7 ICT students creating using the Kudo program.
Year 10 ICT students creating web pages.
Year 11 ICJ students creating a magazine.

ICT Use

A reminder to students and parents about Emerald State High School’s ICT Acceptable Use Contract signed at student enrolment. Emerald SHS has terrific technology resources available for all but solely for educational purposes, and copying games onto the ‘Userhome’ folder is not allowed.

Use of ICT at Emerald State High School is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate actions will have students’ ICT access restricted. This could range from no internet/server access to seating plans.

Please feel free to contact me on ncava8@eq.edu.au or the school’s phone 07 49882222

Kind regards,
Mr. Noel Cavanagh
HOD Technology

From the SEP team.

Congratulations to the students who have recently completed and passed their learner driving tests.

Secret Agent Society, Rock and Water and RAGE programs have commenced this term. These programs support students in their development of social skills and emotional regulation.

Community Access lessons have also started, which help support students to develop their skills in accessing their local community through planned outings.

Autism Queensland is a provider of specialised education, therapy and support services for individuals living on the Autism Spectrum and their families. They have been visiting our area this week and meeting with some of our families.

Special education coordinators and teachers from the UK have visited Emerald and spent some time in our special education department. Their visit was coordinated through Rotary International and they delivered professional development to teachers at the Centre of Learning and Wellbeing.

Sarah Somerville
SEP Department

Tips for adjusting to tertiary study

The transition from Year 12 to tertiary study can be both daunting and exciting, bringing with it new struggles and opportunities.

The Good Universities Guide has some excellent tips on adjusting to study and the differences between high school and tertiary study .

Valda Fitzgerald
Guidance Officer

SOBS

The SOBS link for parents access has changed.

The URL to access SOBS as a parent is now:

From the Positive Behaviour for Learning Team

Behaviour Focus

Our current behaviour focus is “Ask Permission To Leave The Classroom”

Ask for permission to leave the classroomwk78.pptx

Title:

Student of the Week

Week 6

Jorjia Wendt 7F For being inclusive of others.
Kelly 8E For continuously participating and improving in class and bringing up the people around her.
Mia Gigante 9A For representing the school with pride and being a role model for her peers.
Lilly Walters 10E Lilly’s a quiet achiever who always looks out for others at school and on the sporting fields.
Cody Donnelly 11D For consistently applying and displaying exceptional work ethic in class.
Noah Jansen 12D For always applying himself to the best of his ability.

Week 7

Tuliena Tu'ihalangingie 7C For attending homework club and being a role model for her peers.
Ethan Hilder 8C For doing his best in every lesson, and for striving to achieve the best results possible.
Mitchell Brewer 9C For always being polite, prepared and for participating in the classroom.
Emma Lamb 10B For always being ready to learn and for perfect behaviour. Well done.
No Media Permissions 11D For being dedicated and making learning enjoyable for all involved by bringing humour in the classroom.
No Media Permissions 12B For always displaying role model behaviour.

Community Notices