3 February 2021

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report.

Dear Friends of Emerald High,

2021 is now well underway and much has happened already. We have been enrolling lots of students recently and we now have around 880 students (as compared to 790 two years ago). This gives us extra staff, extra funds, one extra Head of Department and (hopefully) some extra buildings as well.

Our Year 12s finished last year with some fantastic results, with Bridget Mackay's ATAR being the highest in the town and our students performing at levels that exceeded many large city schools. Behaviour and Effort results in Term 4 were also amongst the highest we have seen in recent years.

Our focus this year as a school is on 'Engaging, Inclusive and Challenging Learning'. Teachers will be working to deliver learning that is interesting, involves everyone and aims to ensure that every student is challenged with work that 'stretches' them to learn without being out of their reach. It will be a great year!

We have welcomed a number of new staff to the school this year - Ms Booth (English / Japanese), Mr Brown (HPE/Maths), Ms Crosby (Physics/Maths), Mr Leaver (ITD), Ms Paget (Maths/HPE/Science), Mr Sweetnam (Maths/Geography) and Mrs Harrold (CH Sports Coordinator). They join an amazing team of dedicated and professional staff and I warmly welcome them to our school.

At the Australia Day Awards last week I was privileged to see some of our amazing students walk across stage as nominees for Young Sportsperson of the Year (in fact all nominees were from Emerald High)! Congratulations to Tegan Sprought and Tommy Green for their nominations and a particular well done to Logan who was chosen as Emerald District's Young Sportsperson of the Year! Super work Logan!

It was also a delight to see out school Glee Club perform at the Australia Day Awards. They sounded fantastic and represented themselves and the school with distinction. Thanks to Leanne Ross and Leon Coromandel for their work in leading this opportunity.

Our Student Leaders have already been involved in some leadership workshops to support them in their roles and to build their leadership skills. Thank you to Mrs Stephaniuk (formerly Ms Fehlhaber) and Mr Van Hees for making these opportunities possible.

This week also saw students participate in the 'Elevate' program that supports our young people with the development of effective study habits and skills.

Next week sees our Leadership Induction Ceremony during which time we formally induct our new leaders into their roles. We are looking forward to welcoming their families to this very special event.

Over the holidays the boys' toilets were painted and murals again painted throughout to brighten them up and make them a little less 'dungeon-like'. Both sets of toilets in J Block were also painted with bright and cheerful murals. My thanks to the P&C for their great work in arranging for this to happen!

This year will also see the construction of our Basketball Court covered area and the new bus interchange on Moody Street. Over the holidays we had our cricket pitch re-covered and cricket nets are now being constructed (thanks again for the amazing work of our super P&C in securing the funds for these projects).

This year shade and seating will be a priority and we have already commenced talks with Infrastructure Branch to construct extra shade which will complement yet another P&C project, a paved courtyard area between A and B Blocks.

This year is also special as it is a Musical year and rehearsals for 'Grease' are well underway. It will be something special indeed with lots of talent on stage. 'Grease' is the word!

To start the year on a high I would ask parents to ensure that kids are bringing the correct equipment to school to help maximise their chances of success in their classes. When students do not have the correct gear, valuable learning time is lost.

“Be a good listener – your ears will never get you in trouble.”

- Frank Tyger

Have a fantastic fortnight
Mr. Sean Maher
Principal

From the Deputy Principal – Junior School.

Welcome back to 2021, we have had a great start to the year. We had six new teachers start this year and only had one transfer out. What this means for our school is that we have very consistent practices in place. In the Junior School we started the year with a strong focus on our Year 7 induction. This featured lessons with our Deputies and HODs and HOYs presenting a range of information including: Outdoor group activities, Thinking preference activity, Positive Behaviour for Learning orientation, Library orientation/Bookwork policy, Diary and Timetable information/ ICT orientation, PAT testing for Literacy and PAT testing for Numeracy.

I have included a copy of our bookwork expectations below, please assist our teachers by checking your child has a book for each subject and that they are following the bookwork expectations. Some students have large 5 subject books; these are not suitable as teachers need to collect student books. You will also be able to find some feedback from teachers in each of their books. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any concerns.

All students have been issued a School Diary, and are expected to bring it every day to every lesson. This will assist them to develop good study skills and will help you to assist them in their studies.

The PAT testing will help us gain a good understanding of current student ability and will assist us to determine support needs in classes.

I was very impressed with the behaviour, effort and enthusiasm of our Year 7 classes. I taught each of the classes a full session about thinking preferences. This session was aimed at supporting students to develop positive relationships with other members of their class.

If you are seeking any information about Yea s7 and 8 please contact myself on 49882222 or bvanh2@eq.edu.au

Regards

Mr. Ben Van Hees
Deputy Principal – Junior School

From the Deputy Principal – Middle School.

PBL Focus

Week 1 & 2: Follow correct routines, processes and procedures.

As busy people, I ask that you ensure your child comes prepared to school. That they have their Student Diary, pencil case and separate books for each subject. The requirements are listed on page 13 of the Student Diary that all students have been issued with.

Week 3 & 4: Be on Time

The new lesson times have built in changeover times to give students adequate time to get from one side of the school to the other (5 minutes). These new times are also in the student diary on page 1.

Please ensure that your child is at school by 8:45am, ready for the 8:50am start. Students will have PC on the days that they don’t have an assembly. Assemblies are all held in the UCA and the times are as follows:

• Mondays – Junior school assembly (Year 7 -9)
• Tuesdays – Senior School assembly (Year 10 – 12)
• Wednesdays – Year 10 Assembly
• Thursdays - Year 12 Assembly
• Friday – Year 11 Assembly

Year 10 News

Students have been issued with Work Experience paperwork and this is due by Monday 22 February. Work Experience will be held during Week 9 of this term (22-26 March). Contact Mrs Alarna Wills if you have any questions or concerns.

Subject Changes

All students in Years 9 and 10 should have seen me by Wednesday 10 February if they are wishing to change any of their elective classes.

School Photos

All students should have an envelope from MSP photography, who will be taking our school photos on Wednesday 10 February (spare envelopes for NEW students can be collected from the office).

Sibling Photos will be taken at second break and if you wish to order one of these - special envelopes are at the office and need to be collected before 10 February.

ALL school leaders (Junior and Senior positions) are to meet in the Sails area between B & C Blocks at first break.

Even if you don't wish to order a photo – please ensure your child brings back the envelope to assist the photographers in understanding what their name is.

These school photos are used for creating Student ID cards. These are useful for students wishing to open their own bank account and for travel and student concessions.

Headspace is coming to Emerald

At the community meeting I attended on Wednesday 3 February, Anglicare who are the lead agency for Emerald headspace, would like to gather as much information from our young people as possible with regards to where youth of Emerald would ideally see this facility located. Headspace provides support in the following 4 areas:

1. Mental health and well-being
2. Physical and sexual health
3. Alcohol and other drugs
4. Vocational and educational

Please see the attached QR code or the PDF document which can be dropped at the office. All responses are de-identified and anonymous.

Regards

Mrs. Gaye Saunders
Deputy Principal – Middle School

From the Deputy Principal – Senior School.

Welcome

Welcome back to the start of a new year, I would like to particularly welcome the new students to our school. The start of a new year is always exciting, looking at the previous Year 11s in their new roles as school leaders and welcoming the Year 11s to the start of their senior schooling journey.

Senior Welfare Teams

At Emerald State High School we have great support for students to be successful in their schooling. In Years 11 and 12, a welfare team meets each week to discuss any issues students in those years may be having. The team consists of the Heads of Year (Mrs Stefaniuk Yr 12 and Ms Prior Yr 11), our Guidance Officer, and our Youth Support Coordinator (Mrs Vale). If you have any concerns about your child, please contact any member of our team through the school.

Congratulations

I would like to congratulate our Year 12 students of 2020 who achieved excellent academic last year through difficult times. It is with pleasure that I can now announce the 2020 Dux and Dux Proximus. Bridget Mackay received an ATAR of 99.65 (an equivalent of OP1) and Lachlan Obst received an ATAR of 98.10 (an equivalent of OP 2). We had 6 other students receive an ATAR above 90. At present, Mrs Vale is contacting all graduating Year 12s to find out their plans for 2021. From this, we are hearing a number are going to university, but the vast majority are in employment.

Student Leadership

Next week we formally acknowledge and induct our Senior 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 expect 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.

Our Senior Leaders for 2021 are:

• School Captains – Madison Iles and Paxton Hayes
• Vice Captains – Zara Smith and Joseph Stoneman
• SRC President – Charli Ryan
• SRC Vice President – Felicity Jorgensen
• SRC Treasurer – Logan Stanton
• SRC Secretary – Chloe Gray
• SRC Publicity Officer – Dimity Turner
• Garnet House Captains – Darci Ryan and Makayla Morgan
• Topaz House Captains – Ella Ramm and Curtis Bennett
• Sapphire House Captains – Angela Enciso and Nateisha Keller
• Zircon House Captains – Lillie Walters and Jhy Gilliland
• Indigenous Leader – Kate McLeod
• Senior Leaders – Emma Howard, Megan Schofield, RJ Vanderpool and Jhai Albert

Senior School Subject Changes

Any student in Year 11 wishing to make a subject change, must submit their forms to do so before the end of Week 3, Friday 12th February. After this date, no changes to students’ academic programs will be considered until the end of Unit 1. There are no subject changes for Year 12 students as they are now locked into Units 3 and 4.

Flexible Timetables

Many of our senior students have a scheduled flexible class on their timetable, due to a variety of reasons. This time is given to students to catch up on work missed due to absences from school due to apprenticeships and traineeships, TAFE, hairdressing, drones, etc. or due to other commitments. All students with a flexible lesson are scheduled into a class with teacher supervision.

Last week, Year 12 students who had achieved “C” or better in every subject on their last report card were issued with a flexible agreement form. Please remember that this is reviewed when reports are issued.

Many students in Year 11 have already asked if they can sign out for these lessons. They have all been told that the privilege of signing in late or out early does NOT happen until after they receive their 1st report card at the end of Term 1. To be eligible for this students must receive a “C” or better on all subjects they study.

QCE/ATARs

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions at the time, we were unable to hold our regular parent information sessions for the Year 10s going into Year 11. In the coming weeks, I will be going through the QCE and ATAR system with the Year 11s on their year level parades. I have attached for you some general information regarding these systems. If you have any questions please let me know.

Regards

Mrs. Tanya Shaw
Deputy Principal – Senior School

From the Head of Year 7.

My night on Tuesday the 26th of January was spent much like I imagine our Year 7 students’ were; interrupted sleep which consisted of me tossing and turning. My mind turning over and over, full of excitement, but also overwhelmed with nerves of the unknown. But, once I stepped through the school gates and saw the Year 7 cohort sitting proudly in the amphitheatre sporting their ESHS uniforms, I no longer felt, tired, worried or nervous. Just excited!

My name is Bridget Ryan and I would like to introduce myself as the Year 7 Head of Year for 2021. This is my second year at ESHS after have done my first few years of teaching further north in the Mackay region.

Last week, all Year 7 students completed an induction program for first two days of school, before commencing normal classes on Friday. During these lessons, they were exposed to numerous school procedures and policies around their bookwork, the use of ICT and the Library. Students were also shown how to use their diaries and read their timetables. The students also participated in team building activities, which focused on skills such as listening and communicating with your peers. On the Friday, the cohort followed their normal timetable and we observed them adjusting well to the routines of high school. There has been positive feedback from teachers regarding the students in Year 7 embracing our Positive Behaviour for Learning framework and following our three key values of being polite, prepared and participating.

This week clubs will be on offer for students to sign up and attend during lunchbreaks. We have a number of clubs on offer for our students that will suit all interests. There is art club, book club, glee club, maths club, movie club, NAIDOC, chess club, science club, HPV, technology club, gaming club and even gym. I encourage all Year 7 students to give the clubs a go and sign up to those that interest them.

Camp is also currently being organised for our students for Week 2 of Term 2. This will enable students to build rapport with their teachers and peers and work together through a range of activities. Permission notes and more information will be distributed in the coming weeks.

I look forward to supporting the cohort through their transition from Primary School as they adjust to the differing demands of High School. Should you have any concerns regarding the welfare of your child please do not hesitate to email me: bxrya7@eq.edu.au

Regards

Miss. Bridget Ryan
HOY – 7

From the Head of Year 12.

Welcome back to all students and families, I hope that everyone had a lovely break. What a busy start to the year it has been already, the last year of school for our Year 12 students. This year is a massive one for our Year 12 students before they transition into the real world. Along with curriculum being a strong focus, various opportunities will arise throughout the year for the students.

To assist students in gaining success, there are a number of strategies in place within the school environment. Students participate in fortnightly Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) focuses. Our current focus is ‘Follow correct routines, processes and procedures’. It is a requirement for students to come prepared to all classes with their required equipment (pens, books, etc.), however, if a student is struggling to come prepared, please do not hesitate to contact me and I will make arrangements for them. When students are displaying the correct behaviours in and outside the classroom, they can receive VIVO rewards, positive postcards and nominations for Student of the Week. Students can accumulate their VIVO points to buy items from the online shop, including discounts on their school formal ticket.

I am looking for Year 11 or 12 students to join the Lions Youth of the Year Program. This program was established more than 50 years ago with the objective of developing and honing participants’ skills associated with interview technique, personal interaction, networking, public speaking and ‘thinking-on-your-feet’. As students leave school and enter employment or further education, such skills will be invaluable tools in establishing their career path on a positive trajectory. If students are interested in finding out more information about the program, please get them to come and see me by Friday 5th February.

If students ordered senior jerseys in 2020, they will receive these at the end of Week 3 or early Week 4 of this term. If students have not had the chance to purchase a jersey or they would like to purchase another one, a second order will be placed later in Term 1. Further details will be released in the next few weeks (attendance conditions apply).

On Monday 1st February, the Year 9 and 12 student leaders attended a team building activity at Camp Fairbairn before returning to school to plan out fundraising and events for the year. It was fantastic to see all students working together and supporting each other while participating in the high ropes course.

I look forward to working with the Year 12 students this year, and should you have any questions, myself (jfehl8@eq.edu.au) or Tanya Shaw (tshaw20@eq.edu.au) can be contacted via email or by phoning the school on 4988 2222.

Regards

Mrs. Jacinda Stefaniuk
HOY – 12

From the Guidance Officer.

The Support Works team at Emerald State High School are glad to be back providing support to assist our students’ well-being. This may include helping them engage with learning and the school community, attend to learning tasks, develop additional resilience skills or plan for future careers.

We are fortunate to retain our current staff that includes a full time Guidance Officer, part time School Nurse (Tuesday to Thursday), Youth Support Coordinator (Monday to Thursday) and two part-time Chaplains, who work on separate days except for Wednesday.

The Queensland Department of Education recommends the following tips to support your child’s return to secondary school.

1. Stay connected

• Let your child talk about how they are feeling. Guide the conversation to what they will enjoy about being back at school.

2. Talk about their friends

• Remind your child that returning to school means reconnecting with their mates. A quick call or text to close friends ahead of time might help them reconnect.

3. Speak to their teachers

• You don’t have to do this alone. The teachers at school can help make the transition as smooth as possible.

4. Identify learning gaps

• If you know your child struggles with a particular subject, let their teacher/s know so they can work with them on it.

5. Organise stuff

• Help your child organise their school books and equipment so they have what they need.

6. Be positive

• Focus on what your child enjoys about being at school such as having lunch with their friends or the fun of learning in a group.

7. Re-establish a routine

• Let your child come up with a plan for their morning routine and encourage them to write it down so you can talk about it together.

8. Encourage sleep and exercise

• Make sure your child gets enough sleep and exercise to help them feel calm and relaxed about their return to school.

9. Be reassuring

• Remind them that they are not the only one returning to school and that their friends will be there to share the experience with them.

10. Mark the transition

• Do something fun together, have a family movie night or bake some treats for your child to take for lunches.

11. Make a deal

• Talk about how every day at school counts and encourage your child to return to school. Also agree what you will do to support them and recognise their effort.

12. Ask for help

• The school can answer any questions you have so give them a call and have a chat.

Regards

ESHS Guidance Officer

From the P&C.

CRICKET PITCH/NETS

As a result of assistance from the CHRC and a Community Infrastructure Grant our P&C has achieved the resurface of our old cricket pitch and foundations have been prepared for practice nets to be installed next!

The pitch is ready to go now and the nets are not far off, due to more support recently awarded to the P&C by the Gambling Community Benefit Fund.

The P&C has had on their strategic plan for a while now various refurbishments around the School for the students enjoyment and with Cricket becoming increasingly popular with both male and female students at the school, especially as a socially distant, non-contact sport for all ages it is great to see some top quality facilities now available for our students and also community groups around the region to enjoy.

Many thanks to our P&C volunteers, the Central Highlands Regional Council and the Gambling Community Benefit Fund for making these improvements possible!

Total cost for two full set of nets and cricket pitch $62,832. This will be partially funded by the $20,000 CHCR grant and possibly with assistance from the $35,000 gambling grant applied for. This would still leave a shortfall which would need to be supported by the P&C $15,000.

If the gambling grant is not successful we will still have a functional part finished project that can be continued to fund-raise for. This project will not allow for three nets which does have impacts for club carnivals. CHRC Council grants can be reapplied for after February 2021.

OUTDOOR CAFÉ STAGE 1 (BETWEEN A BLOCK AND THE TUCKSHOP)

Pavers will be laid over the holidays this is the first stage of beautification to enhance shade, seating, eating and social aspects for your students wellbeing.

CONTAINERS FOR CHANGE

Please help support ESHS to raise funds for an outdoor ping pong table. All your Chrissy bottles and cans can help meet this challenge. See Poster for info.

COLOUR SMASH 2021

SOS Convenor required + assistant committee members. This is a fantastic event for the Emerald Community and ESHS Students love participating. Sadly unless we have an injection of new volunteers and parent support this event will not happen.

ESHS BITES 2020

QAST (Qld Association of School Tuckshops) highly commended Recipe of the Year for Bites Vegan Pattie

SCHOOL BASED TRAINING

• 2020 & 2021 = traineeship + apprentice chef (school based)

CATERING

• ESHS Year 12 Graduation
• St Patrick’s Year 6 Graduation
• Emerald NSS Year 6 Graduation
• In house at ESHS, CHRC and various Local Business.

The ESHS Bites Team would like to thank the ESHS Community for their support during 2020.

SAVE THE DATE:

General Meeting 11 February 2021 / AGM Meeting 11 March 2021. Find out more at Emerald SHS P&C Info and Events.

We would love more members currently we only have 120 members. ESHS 2021 880 Students and 551 plus families, if you want to know what’s happening go to Facebook and check it out!

Regards

Mrs. Michelle Harrison
P&C Member

From SBA/SBT/Work.

Emerald State High School would like to congratulate the following students on their achievements in securing a school based apprenticeship or traineeship over the Christmas holidays.

Sam Gersbach

Ethyn Grimshaw

Lincoln McClymont

Follow the Emerald State High School Facebook page for all school based apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities.

Regards

Mrs. Alarna Wills
Traineeship Coordinator

From the SRC.

2021 has begun and what a year it will be! Emerald State High School’s Student Representative Council are eagerly organising this year’s calendar of events and charities we would like to support. Thanks to the growing population of the school, there is now a junior and senior council who will be working together during the year to support so many charities both locally, nationally and internationally.

Students in the past have sold flowers for Valentine’s Day, organised a talent week, picked up rubbish for Clean Up Australia Day, dressed in red for Day for Daniel and challenged the houses for the Neighbourhood Centre and CQ Pet Rescue. The SRC also sponsors students of Rainbow House and when the need arises, our own students who are suffering personal crisis.

Students take on an important leadership role in making sure that Emerald State High School supports our local community and beyond. The Emerald SHS Student Representative Council fulfils an important function and one that our senior and junior leaders take seriously. Emerald High plays an important part in our wider community and the leaders are honoured to be given the responsibility of spearheading this with the help of our parents and carers.

Stay tuned, as the first event of the year is coming up. They will be advertised on Facebook and in the newsletter, so please continue to support us so we can continue to support our community.

Regards

Mrs. Leanne Ross
SRC Coordinator

From the Interact Club.

In 2016, Emerald State High School formed the ESHS Interact Club. Interact is Rotary International’s service club for people aged 12 to 18. Since 2016, the student members of our Interact Club have run an annual haunted house, talent show, participated in Anzac Day commemorations and run premier fundraisers at the local cinema in order to raise awareness and funds for community projects. They have also personally attended camps and district conferences throughout the region.

Last year they participated in the R100 Baton Relay which has been held across New Zealand and Australia in order to celebrate Rotary working in our communities. It has been passed throughout Australia and states by the over 1000 clubs in Australia. Emerald has three clubs and ESHS Interact is linked with one of those clubs, Sunrise, who are based at the BMX track. Our members were lucky to receive the Baton from our school Adopt-a-cop and pass it on to our Chaplain Ross.

The motto of Rotary is that it “isn’t about making a donation, it’s about making a difference.” That is definitely the case with our Interact group. The members last year, despite COVID-19, ran a “drive though” low contact sausage sizzle in order to donate money to Greenspace who work with the children in our district. Interact holds meetings in C8 every even week on a Monday at Second Break. If you are interested in doing something for your community, adding a worthwhile organisation to your CVs in order to show prospective employers that you can work in a team and take on leadership roles then please come and join us.

Regards

Club Supervisor

From the Glee Club.

ESHS glee club, 'Euphonix' was invited to perform at the Central Highlands Australia Day ceremony. We were initially to sing the anthem, but we ended up singing popular Australian songs for an hour during the seated breakfast and then more powerful tunes during the ceremony itself, before finishing the ceremony with Geronimo. It was a great honour to be asked to perform at such a public performance and has really given the group a boost.

Glee is different from a choir, as students are responsible for choosing the music that is played and what events they wish to participate in. We spent the first meeting brainstorming songs that we would like to sing during the year. The club are planning on developing our voice further this year and will be meeting twice a week to work together, but also as sectionals. This will be a change from last year, as we were trying to find our feet.

This year we will be participating in the Eisteddfod, as well as Creative Generations so it will be a great opportunity for us to really showcase the skill of Emerald State High School.

New and old members are encouraged to come to the meetings K1 during First Break on Mondays and Wednesdays and it doesn’t really matter if you can sing or not, as the good thing about a glee club is that enthusiasm is more important.

Regards

Mr. Leon Coromandel
Club Supervisor

From the Positive Behaviour for Learning Team

At Emerald State High School we are:

• Polite,
• Prepared, and we
• Participate.

Please see the attached power point of the lesson taught on parade and throughout Weeks 1 and 2 of this term.

Behaviour Focus

Our current behaviour focus is “Follow correct routines, processes and procedures.”

Community Notices

MICHAEL CARR-GREGG VISIT: Emerald Tuesday 23 February 6.30 – 8pm.

A session for parents and support people - 'Building Resilience in Children and Young People' presented by acclaimed Australian Psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg.

Michael will discuss what the science of Psychology tells us about building the resilience of young people and what parents and families can do to incorporate these evidence based strategies into their parenting practices.

Michael is one of Australia's highest profile psychologists working in all forms of media. He works in private practice at in Melbourne. He is a successful author, speaker, broadcaster and mental health advocate. He is the current Program Psychologist for Sunrise on Channel 7, and is a highly regarded within the industry.

This a fantastic opportunity available to all community members. There is no cost to attend however you must register your attendance by Friday 19 February as tickets are limited. This event is funded through the Joint Commonwealth and State Disaster Relief Funding. To secure your spot please visit: the link below.