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

16 November 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear friends of Emerald High,

Only four weeks to go! Our Year 12s have just completed their external exams and are now entering their very last week of school. Friday 20 Nov will be a huge day for them as they attend their Graduation Ceremony at school and then travel by bus to the Town Hall to participate in a second ceremony with a parent. We will miss them heaps as they embark on life's adventure!

Most other students are now entering a key phase of their studies as they prepare for end of year assessments. Good luck students as you work hard to finish the year on a high!

As usual, I have some exciting student news to announce. One of our super Year 11s, Joseph Stoneman, has been selected as one of only 20 Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) Student Ambassadors in the state. This is an amazing achievement - well done Joseph!

This week is also Awards Week and, as with many things this year, we are having to make significant changes to the way in which the ceremony is held to comply with COVID expectations. Awards will be presented throughout the day at school in three separate assemblies, the first for Years 7-8, the second for Years 9-10 and the third for Years 11-12. Unfortunately we are unable to have parents in attendance other than for a very small number of the parents of awardees of the major prizes. We will, however be taking individual photos of all award winners with the photos available to be emailed on request at no charge.

There are a significant number of students eligible for an award this year with almost 40% of the school receiving an award. Whether receiving an award or not, all of our students are amazing young people with many talents and all very capable of making worthwhile contribution to our community. I encourage all of them to be proud of who they are and to celebrate all that makes them unique and valuable members of our community - I continue to be delighted every day at the quality of our young people.

Despite all of the disruptions this year, our students have continued to do well in their studies and achieve highly. This is a credit to them and to the staff of our school who support them so well and to their parents and families who provide the environment in which they can excel. A great team effort all round!

Remembrance Day was commemorated at the school at 11:00am on Wednesday. I thank Paxton Hayes for his playing of the bugle, to the 'Glee Club' for their sensational singing and to Leanne Ross for her organisation.

A number of our staff attended training last week in 'Restorative Practice', an approach that is used to support us to reflect on our behaviours, acknowledge the effect that our actions can have on others and to make a commitment to better decisions in the future. It is a very powerful way to support and promote positive behaviour in a non-punitive way. You will hear a lot more about it next year as it is further embedded in how we do things at Emerald High.

I thank everyone yet again for your support of our amazing school.

The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.

  • Arthur C. Clarke

Have a fantastic fortnight
Mr. Sean Maher
Principal

From the Head of Year 8

What a busy start to the term, it has flown by! There are a number of key events happening in Year 8 at the moment. The Junior Leadership process is currently being conducted and it has been encouraging to see a number of students applying for positions of leadership within the school. Our PBL focus for the fortnight is ‘report any inappropriate behaviour’, an important focus which encourages students to set an example and be the change they want to see in the school and the wider community.

Please ensure you are checking in with your child in relation to assessment and check the assessment calendar for important assessment dates. Encourage your child to attend Homework Club every Wednesday from 3-4pm to get assistance from teachers with assessment. But remember, your child needs to ask their teacher to attend the club too.

A number of support programs including RAGE continue to run to support student engagement. If you would like any more information about the various support programs run within the school or through partnership with community agencies, please contact me on 4988 2222 or psans0@eq.edu.au

Regards
Mr. Peter Sanson
HOY – 8

From the SEP team

Term 4 in the SEP has been a very busy term, which is going quickly! In a few weeks we say goodbye to our Year 12 students and we wish them well for their futures. In the SEP, the students have been kept busy with English, Maths, Art, Independent Living, Outdoor Activities, Science and Humanities.

In Art with Ms Vought, we have been working on choosing different colour schemes to suit our subject and working with different mediums. Students have created a series of lifelike bee drawings and also a series of water colour paintings that represent the bees’ honeycomb. We have also created a series of 3 dimensional bird sculptures, with the theme ‘Reinventing Objects’. Students used objects that they found in their environment to represent the different elements of a bird's body.

During English in Ms Vought’s class this term, the students have been working on the theme of ‘Imaginary Worlds’ and creating their own short texts and visual representations of what it means to be unique. We have begun a classroom display called ‘We are like Snowflakes, all different, all special’ where students will use printed snowflake design templates to add to the wall over the next couple of weeks.

In Mrs Sommerville’s English class, students have enjoyed looking at stories about journeys. The class is now learning about narrative structures before having to write their own. Each week, students have also continued to work on their spelling and reading skills.

In Living Independently lessons with Mrs Sommerville, the students have continued to build on their Auslan skills by learning new words each week and practicing the alphabet. Students have enjoyed making (and eating!) snacks and meals on Fridays. So far the class has made pizza, nachos and bangers and mash. Towards the end of the term, the class is looking forward to making Christmas themed cooking.

In Science lessons with Mrs Buckton, the students have been exploring how objects move. They have liked looking at movement in water and how object float or sink. The class is now exploring falling and flying of objects.

In Outdoor Activities with Mrs Buckton the students have completed fun activities outside, to work on improving their hand-eye and foot-eye coordination. As the days warm up, we will move towards some Pilates and stretching inside the classroom.

In History with Mrs Te Amo students have been exploring significant events and places. Next week the class will focus on war and make poppies to commemorate Remembrance Day. We will discuss the significance of the event.

In Maths with Mrs Johnson we have been learning about clocks. Students have completed some fun activities where we made and decorated clocks to hang in the classroom. They have learnt how to tell the o’clock times and are now working on how to tell half past times on a clock. Students will then learn how to read digital clocks.

Regards
Mrs. Jemima Johnson
Teacher – SEP

From the English team

With Term 4 well underway, students across all year levels have been working towards their next assessment goals. Our Year 12 students recently completed their external assessment on Macbeth. We wish them well after a challenging year and having to adjust their study methods in Term 2.

Year 11 have started working towards writing a speech for Unit 3 called “Representations in the Media”. This will not be assessed until next year. Year 10 students are creating short stories in response to Australian poetry. They will complete their stories in controlled, class conditions.

Year 9 are producing feature articles based on the play “12 Angry Men”, impressing their readers with the ongoing relevance of its themes to the present day. Year 8 and 7 are producing engaging editorials. Year 8’s is in response to the novel “Trash” and movie “Wall-E” with themes of poverty, corruption and sustainability running throughout both. Year 7 are persuading readers to take their side in believing the heroism or otherwise of Ned Kelly, placing him centre stage as one of our most iconic figures. Their drafts are well under way with final copies due in Week 8.

Regards
Mr. Vicki Hawkins
Teacher – English

From the ITD team

We’re nearing the finish line and things are heating up in the Technology department.

Our Year 9 Design and Tech classes are still hard at work on their jewellery boxes, and some learners have really impressed with their design. In the Year 10 ITD class, our bedside tables are coming along nicely and the majority of the class is busy assembling. They had an opportunity to use the router this term and really enjoyed the new experience. Year 11 is basically finished, with a few learners finishing their dart cases. This links nicely to the dart boards they built during Terms 1 and 2. The dart case is just a finish off, to a really good and productive year. Congratulations to our Year 12 learners who produced some stunning work this term. They are putting some finishing touches to their coffee tables, and some of the tables are up to industry standards.

Year 10 Engineering are busy with a small footstool and Mr. Hansen is confident he’ll get some solid work from his learners. In Year 11 the engineering learners are producing tool boxes that should come in handy once finished. The project is really turning out to be a favourite amongst students.

Regards
Mr. Bennie Olivier
Teacher – ITD

From the Gym Club

It has been great to see students of all year levels coming in on Thursdays during 1st break to work on their fitness goals.

For any students looking to join the gym, they need to come and see Miss Pembroke or Mr Taylor at the gym on Thursdays to receive a medical note. Once it is signed and handed back in, they will then be allowed to enter and use the gym equipment under teacher supervision.

It is recommended, that students bring a towel, however we do have disinfectant wipes available for students to use to wipe down all the equipment after use.

We look forward to seeing more students sign up in the future.

Regards
Mr. Simon Taylor
Club Supervisor

From the Chess Club

Good morning all, and happy Week 6! I just wanted to send out a quick reminder to the staff, parents, friends and students of Emerald State High School, that the ESHS Chess Club will resume practice meets in the Library from Week 7, once the Senior External Exams have been completed. Our sessions will be run in Second Break on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, each week for the remainder of the term.

Chess is a fantastic way to build problem solving skills, strategic planning and reflexes in a fun setting. It is also a great way to meet fellow Chess heads, so please come on down to the Library from next week if you are interested in learning to play, or would like to test your skills in combat. All are welcome, no matter the skill level, from first time players, to the pros!

Regards
Mr. Graham Fandrich
Club Supervisor

Unique Student Identifier

Documents for Students and Parents

From the Positive Behaviour for Learning Team

Behaviour Focus

Our current behaviour focus is “Look out for others by reporting any inappropriate behaviour.”

Student of the Week

Week 5

7G Ella O’Connor For consistently arriving to class prepared and ready to learn. Ella is a pleasure to have in the classroom.

8D Daniel Hayne For his punctuality to class and the enthusiastic attitude he displays towards his learning.

9A Taylor Dockerty For consistently being polite and completing all work to the best of her ability.

10 Daley Catip For always coming to class with a positive attitude and working independently in class.

11B Cole Sutherland For being a positive member in class and showing a great work ethic.

Week 6

7B Ben Huynh For consistently arriving to class prepared. He completes set tasks whilst encouraging others to complete their tasks as well.

8C Raven Banta For his courteous attitude towards staff and resilience in every aspect of his schooling.

9E Lora Connolly For consistently being on time and completing work to the best of her ability.

10F Sophie McKenzie For always coming to class with a smile on her face ready to complete work to the best of her ability.

11B Emma Howard For consistently being prepared and participating to the best of her ability.

Community Notices