14 November 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report.

Dear Friends of Emerald High,

It is mid-term already and we have come to that very sad time of year, when we farewell our fantastic Year 12s as they head out into the next exciting phase of their lives. It has been a joy working with this group of sensational young people and I wish them all the very best in the future.

As usual, the past few weeks have seen some exciting student successes.

In the State Final of the QAMT Year 7/8 Maths Quiz, our team came 10th out of 22 teams on the night, competing against groups from all over Queensland. Teams came from as far away as Cooktown and Chinchilla. This is a truly fantastic result - well done to Ella, Jacob and Lucca for this outstanding achievement and thank you again to Mr Bahr for his support of this event.

Our girls Western Sevens are also celebrating victory with a huge win at the Western Sevens Touch Carnival. Well done girls - another super achievement!

At our Awards Night, we celebrated the very many fine academic and cultural achievements of our students and it was a joy to see the large numbers of our students receiving awards in acknowledgement of their hard work and dedication. My very sincere thanks to Tanya Shaw and the very many staff and students who worked together to make the evening such a huge success.

During Week 5, our students (and staff) were treated to some of the latest innovations in the world of technology with robots, holographic walls, robotic arms and simulated welding trainers all featuring in our 'Technology Expo' sponsored by the CQ Advanced Manufacturing Technology Schools and Industry Tour. My thanks to Noel Cavanagh for his work in making this opportunity a reality.

The staff conducting the Expo told me that they were delighted with the conduct and engagement of our students, saying they were the best that they had seen in their travels. Well done students!

On 11th November, we acknowledged Remembrance Day, with Paxton sounding the 'Last Post' and 'Reveille' across the school. Our school community stood for a minute in respectful silence. Thank you to Paxton, Jacinda Fehlhaber and Leanne Ross for coordinating this commemoration.

A reminder to everyone that, although the year is winding down, learning is occurring right to the end, and we need to maintain focus to ensure that we finish the year with the very best results that we can.

Have a fantastic fortnight
Mr. Sean Maher
Principal

We can do anything we want to do if we stick to it long enough.

Helen Keller

From the Deputy Principal – Junior School.

Hi all, as the end of year slowly draws near, it is time to look at class compositions for Years 7 and 8. If your child would like to change their class and you are in favour of this move because you think it will benefit their learning, then please email me before the 6/12/19. I will do my best to action all requests for class changes.

Also coming up soon are our final transition days for Year 6 students. These days will take place on the 2nd and 3rd of December. The students will be participating in the class groups that will likely stay together into 2020.

I would also like to remind parents that your children are permitted to drop off their phone in the morning to the office and pick it up after school. This process helps with self-regulation and makes sure that children are focussed on learning throughout the day.

If you have any questions regarding Year 6, 7 or 8 students please don’t hesitate to contact me at bvanh2@eq.edu.au

Regards
Mr. Ben Van Hees
Deputy Principal – Junior School

From the Head of Year 7.

It has been a busy, but positive term for Year 7. I was incredibly proud of all students in Year 7 who received an academic award at our recent Awards Night ceremony. It is inspiring to see a cohort of focused individuals that are seeing the efforts of their hard work in class. There have been a host of activities running in Year 7 during Week 5. A reading partnership program between Emerald State High School and Emerald North State School has started with students from Year 7 working with students to improve literacy outcomes. The first group of students involved all thoroughly enjoyed working with, and mentoring students in Years 1 and 4, at Emerald North State School.

In addition, a transition day was held at Emerald State School. Previous Emerald State School students travelled back to their old stomping ground for a Q&A session with current Emerald State School Year 6 students to discuss high school. With almost one year of high school under their belt, the student panel were able share their insights into high school life, busting some classic schoolyard myths.

Finally, with the end of the year approaching, a friendly reminder to collect any lost property from the school. This includes jumpers or other items of uniform that may have been left at school.

Wishing you all a safe and happy festive season and a big thank you to all parents and carers for your ongoing support throughout the year.

Regards
Mr. Peter Sanson
HOY – 7

From the Head of Department – VET.

As Year 12 students are looking forward to life beyond school, it is great to see all the opportunities and experiences made available to students this term. Year 12 Certificate II Hospitality students catered Our Rainbow House Melbourne Cup Function:

Year 11 Certificate II Hospitality students served at Formal and prepared the dessert. Year 11 and 12 Early Childhood Studies students have presented their play-based learning activities to children at Borilla Kindy and Emerald North State School.

Year 10 Skills for Work students had the opportunity to participate in the CQ School Technology in Manufacturing presentations, where there was a robotic arm and holographic display.

As we prepare for 2020, every Year 9 student needs a USI number and here’s why… The USI (unique student identifier) is a reference number made up of ten numbers and letters that:

• Creates a secure online record of your recognised training and qualifications gained in Australia, from all training providers with whom you undertake recognised training.
• Will give you access to your training records and transcripts.
• Can be accessed online, anytime and anywhere.• Is free and easy to create.
• Stays with you for life.

In 2020, every Year 10 student at Emerald State High School will complete FSK20113 Certificate II skills for Work and Vocational Pathways. If a student does not have a USI they will not receive their qualification or statement of attainment.

To create a USI go to the link below complete the attached Unique Student Identifier collection, verification and privacy form, and return to the office.

Regards
Mrs. Annette Carter
HOD – VET

From the Head of Department – Humanities.

Humanities News

Humanities has had a very busy and successful year, with a multitude of excursions and learning opportunities across all grades. Of particular note this year, is the success of Year 7 excursions in our local area to examine issues that affect the overall liveability of the town. Our Year 10 Geography students also participated in an excursion in the local area, also looking at liveability and land use. Here, they were able to trial some pretty cool digital apps on this excursion, to enhance our data collection techniques. A big thank you to Mr Fandrich for trialling these apps and then sharing them with our department. Lastly, in Geography news, our Year 11 and 12 students went to Brisbane and worked with the wonderful staff from the Brisbane Outdoor Education Centre to examine issues of sustainability and liveability in the city. We also combined this trip with our senior Legal Studies students’ class, who attended a session with a judge and got to sit in on some very interesting trials at the Supreme Court.

We also saw our Year 10 students head to Townsville to complete their World War II history tour. Once again, their participation and conduct was exemplary and it was a very enriching experience for our Year 10 students. This trip is a wonderful extension for our students, many of whom are actively involved in assisting Mrs Ross in our very well resourced museum.

Honours News

The honours testing for 2020 has been finalised and all successful applicants have received their letters. A huge thank you to our 2020 Year 7 Head of Year, Miss Pembroke for organising such a fun day for these students. Her activities were the highlight of the day. Our current junior honours students have all trialled Literacy Planet and Mathletics this year. These programs are designed to be individualised to each students’ learning requirements, with the goal of extending our students.

Our junior honours students also participated in the Authorship in Residence Program in Term 3. During this program, students were walked through the process of effective story writing by the very talented and award winning author Aleesah Darlison. This year, our anthology collection is the biggest it has ever been, with the majority or our students having their stories published. We anticipate the arrival of these books in the next two weeks.

Regards
Mrs. Kerrie-Ann Van Hees
HOD – Humanities

From the Maths team.

With the end of the school year in sight, students should be reminded of the upcoming exams and assignments. Please find below the assessment schedule for junior Maths at ESHS.

Upcoming Junior Assessment:

Year 7: Statistics and Geometry exam, Week 9.
Year 8: Apply algebra, geometry and measurement understandings exam, Week 8.
Year 9: Probability and time scales exam, Week 8.
Year 10: Exam, Week 7.

Please email your child’s teacher if you wish to have further details about the upcoming assessment or revision suggestions.

Upcoming Senior Assessment:

Year 11: Our Year 11 cohort is working diligently to prepare for Units 3 and 4. They are encouraged to take their extended holiday period as an opportunity to review their maths concepts covered so far.

Year 12: With all their marks finalised and submitted to QCAA, we would like to take the opportunity to wish our seniors all the best for their future endeavours.

Regards
Mrs. Jessica Ralley
Teacher – Maths

From the Arts team.

The Arts department had a wonderful year, with the musical in Term 3. The Year 7s were keen to join in, and we were pleasantly surprised with their enthusiasm and ability!

Our showcase night was a huge success and the hospitality students served refreshments and ‘Mocktails’ for free. All of the students’ talents were a joy to see. Our subject night seemed to draw a big interest, especially in Film and Photography.

The band achieved Platinum rewards on band camp and we are so proud of Dana Jones, our Instrumental Music teacher. Our seniors completed their final assessments and Years 8 and 9 will hand their assessments in during Week 7. To all our parents, we want to thank you for your support throughout this year, it helps us to achieve our goals and further your child’s development.

May I also take the opportunity to farewell our Arts department who I have worked with over the last five and a half years. I will miss the bond we formed and the support from my colleagues. I also want to wish Caitlin Ross all the best with her new appointment at Capella State High school as Head of Junior Secondary.

Regards
Mrs. Vivien Blignaut
Teacher – Arts.

From the Guidance Officer.

There’s Life After Year 12 Exams
(Adapted from an article by the mental health organisation ReachOut Australia)

Thousands of Year 12 students are nearing the end of high school, and there is life after Year 12 exams. Exams may be stressful and can be overwhelming, especially if you feel your whole life depends on the results. Your marks do not define you. There are many different options, opportunities and career paths.

Stress around exam time may impact a teenager’s mental health, physical health and general wellbeing. Knowing how to help teenagers manage their stress in the lead-up to exams, may help them to study and reduce the tension at home.

Reachout’s Top Exam Stress Tips For Students

Take care of yourself: sleep lots, eat good food and keep moving. It is normal to feel a whole range of things before or after you get your exam results, but there are ways you can deal with the pressure of expectations. No exam result is so important that it will stop you achieving your goals in the long term. Make the effort to balance study with relaxation. This is not only important for your state of mind, but for the quality of your study as well. Exams are stressful, but there is a range of strategies you can use to manage your stress.

Reachout’s Tips To Help Parents, Help Their Teenagers Through Exams

Talk about symptoms of stress with your teenager. Understanding what makes them stressed enables them to build the skills to cope better, and reduce stress in the future. Help them set up a quiet and comfortable place to study. Help them get organised and write a study timetable that includes breaks and time to relax and socialise. Give them some time off household chores during their exam period and schedule family time around their study timetable. Be responsive to their needs and do not ask them to stop studying for something that is not urgent. Help them write a list of things they can do to relax. Making time to relax can help to reduce stress and calm their nerves.

Encourage them to be active, eat well and sleep well. Go for walks or be active as a whole family and make healthy meals (limiting caffeine and sugar). Look after yourself. Take care of yourself and you will be in a better place to support your teenager through this stressful time.

For more information, stories and fact sheets for students going through exams, visit the link below.

Regards
Emerald SHS’s Guidance Officer

From the Preservice Teachers

Soloman Khan

My name is Soloman, and together with the other preservice teachers currently undertaking practicum this term, I drove 10 hours to get here from Brisbane and the University of Queensland. My teaching areas are Psychology and Sociology, with Psychotherapies as my biggest interest. I am an avid reader and love mindfulness and fitness!

Laura Booth

Hi I'm Laura! I am studying to be a Japanese and English teacher and am so excited to be doing my first teaching placement at a rural school. I have been to Japan five times, lived in Japan for 6 months and am currently a Japanese speaking tour guide in Brisbane, so please contact me for any Japan travel recommendations!

Ashley-Hope Walker

My name is Ashley-Hope Walker and I am an English and Psychology pre-service teacher from the University of Queensland in Brisbane. Before coming to teaching, I spent time studying and working in the legal industry. My desire for my teaching career is to inspire young people to be proactive members in society who achieve the best they can, in areas they love. I look forward to continuing in this practicum at Emerald State High School and learning as much as I can.

Taylor Ferguson

My name is Taylor Ferguson, and I am a third year teaching student from UQ in Brisbane. I am passionate about my teaching areas, which are English and Psychology, and I’m loving being involved at Emerald State High School.

Regards
Preservice Teachers at ESHS.

From the Positive Behaviour for Learning Team

Behaviour Focus

Our current behaviour focus is “Set realistic goals to improve learning.”

Student of the Week

Week 5

Elias Cooper 7C For his polite and courteous manner towards staff and peers.
Cody Taylor 8B For always being willing to share your knowledge.
Harrison O’Hara 9D For consistently applying himself in class.
Olivia Cave 10A For putting in 100% effort into all of her studies and showing initiative.
Kirsen Gowlett 11F For consistently contributing to lessons in a meaningful way.

Week 6

Haley Berthun 7A For always striving to achieve her best and being consistent.
Lora Connolly 8E For always being polite and participating in all her subjects.
Francine 9C For putting 100% effort into her work and being an enthusiastic member of class.
Jasmin Simmonds 10C For always working and completing classwork to a high standard.
Hunter Gribble 11F For consistently being polite, always saying hello and getting on with his work.
Hendy Raynes 12B For working hard to achieve a high standard throughout the year.

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