4 March 2021

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Friends of Emerald High,

A very exciting week for our school, as the roof goes onto our Basketball Courts! We are hopeful to have the entire project complete by late April. This will be a huge bonus for our students! The roof was lifted into position on Wednesday and a number of students had the chance to see this happening - take a drive past and have a look.

Some great things have happened recently. A number of our students assisted Rotary sorting cans on the weekend and more students will be assisting with Clean Up Australia Day this weekend. My sincere thanks to Mrs Ross and Ms Johnson for their amazing work in coordinating these activities and a huge 'Well done" to all involved!

Last week was HPE Week, with lots of fantastic sporting activities occurring during the breaks to get our young people involved in health and fitness. Well done to Maggie Pembroke and her team for a super week.

HPE Week culminated with the Fun Run on the weekend at the Emerald Gardens. It was great to see so many people there to participate or support the participants.

Also occurring last weekend, one of our super School Captains, Madi Iles, participated in the Lions Youth of the Year competition and won! She is an amazing young lady!

And some more good news – we have a new classroom building on the way, due to our increased numbers. It should be in place for the start of Term 2 and will look something like this.

Attendance is slipping a bit in the latter half of the term. Years 7s and 12s are leading, with the Year 8s not far behind!

A reminder that regular attendance is particularly important with the following attendance rates providing a guide to the impact on academic success:

• 95% attendance = 1 day a month (minimal impact)
• <90% attendance = 1 day a fortnight (noticeable impact)
• <85% attendance = 1.5 days a fortnight (very significant impact)
• <80% attendance = 1 day a week (critical impact)

“Happiness is inward and not outward; and so it does not depend on what we have but on what we are."
Henry Van Dyke

Have a fantastic fortnight
Mr. Sean Maher
Principal

From the Head of Year 11

Hello! My name is Chloe Prior and I am the Year 11 Head of Year. My role is to track student attendance and also to support student wellbeing. This is a big year for our students transitioning into senior schooling and also entering their final years of study. This year, the Year 11 students begin their journey towards attaining their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). Teachers will be working closely with all students to support them in receiving their QCE and also any other qualifications or achievements they are working towards.

Our PBL focus for the fortnight is around, ‘building respectful relationships with others’. This PBL focus is put in place to encourage students to build relationships with people around the school. Whether it be teachers, administration staff, cleaners, groundsmen or younger students. Year 11 students should be engaging in positive conversations and need to be aware they are role models to our younger students. Later in the year, students will have an opportunity to attend a leadership camp and also to apply for positions in 2022. Building respectful relationships is a quality required to be an effective leader.

The Year 11 Welfare team meet weekly to discuss attendance and wellbeing for Year 11 students and how we can offer support where it is needed. It is crucial that if a student is sick or unable to attend school for a period of time, that contact is made with the school.

I look forward to working with the Year 11 students this year, and should you have any questions, myself (cprio0@eq.edu.au) or Tanya Shaw (tshaw20@eq.edu.au) can be contacted via email or by phoning the school on 4988 2222.

Regards
Miss. Chloe Prior
HOY – 11

Student Messages & Perspectives

Hello everyone! I am one of Emerald State High School’s 2021 School Captains. I am so proud to be a part of such an amazing leadership team at this wonderful school. My fellow captains and I have many events, activities and big ideas planned for the year and we hope to see you all there when we announce their details. Recently, we held our Valentine’s Day fundraiser for the Heart Foundation, which was a massive success thanks to each and every one of you. We all had heaps of fun singing special songs, with Vice-Captain Joseph Stoneman dressed as Cupid. Coming up on our list: Clean Up Australia Day!

Please don’t hesitate to come up and speak to any member of the leadership team if you ever have any concerns, questions or just want someone to talk to. I swear, we don’t bite!

Thank you everyone for all your support. And here’s to 2021, a year full of fun!

Regards
Miss. Madison Iles
School Student 2021

Student work samples

At Emerald State High School, our students are continuously embracing challenging, innovative and experimental learning tasks across all subjects we offer. In Civics and Citizenship, the Year 8 students are currently investigating the creation of, and reforms to, Federal and State laws. Here the students have examined a variety of creation and reform topics, including the most recent example from Queensland; youth crime. Below are a sample of some of the students’ exceptional work on informing the public about this issue, via posters for public consumption.

Mr. Sebastian McHugh

Miss. Katie Stoneman

Miss. Brooke Shannen

Miss. Bree McDowall

Regards
Mr. Graham Fandrich
Teacher

From the Cooee Corner team

This year has started with a name change for our Special Education Program (SEP). Our role here at ESHS is to support the inclusion of all students within our school community. While this encompasses students with a verified disability, it also includes any student who may require additional support at different times.

Welcome to the Cooee Corner, where we are dedicated to creating opportunities and outcomes for exceptional education. The word ‘cooee’ is derived from the Aboriginal word ‘gawi’ meaning ‘come here!’ It is also used in the wider Australian community as a call to attract attention or seek help.

The purpose of the Cooee Corner and its staff is to identify and respond to ‘calls for help’, and to encourage students to ‘come here’ so they can receive the support they need.

Reminders

EAP forms have been emailed home for applicable students. Please return these as soon as possible or contact your student’s Case Manager to arrange for a copy to be sent home. These can be returned via email or front office.

Regards
Mrs. Sarah Somerville
Teacher

From the English team

Welcome back to another school year! In English, all students are currently busy with drafting their persuasive and analytical assessment pieces.

Year 9 English students are well underway with planning their ‘Olympic Opening Ceremony’ multimodal presentation. Their artistic program will make references to a number of Australian texts, which are effective in conveying Australia’s people, histories and cultures to an international audience.

Year 10 English students have been engaging in an in-depth study of ‘bias in the media’. We have been identifying and analysing techniques that directors use to influence an audience.

In Year 11 General English, we are studying the iconic 20th Century play ‘The Crucible’, which explores mass hysteria by comparing it to modern day events in society. While our Year 11 Literature students are deep in their analysis of mode and medium, via the Pulitzer Prize winning graphic novel, Maus.

Year 12 Essential English students are continuing to investigate community, local and global issues presented in the media. In addition to this, students will also be expanding on their knowledge of the influence of social media in preparation for the Common Internal Assessment.

Regards
Miss. Crystal Brunetto
Teacher

From the Hospitality & VET team

Exciting things are happening in Early Childhood Studies! Our Year 11 and 12 students are visiting the kindies this term. It has been great for them to experience firsthand what happens at an early childhood centre and see some of the theory we have learned, in a practical setting.

When we visit the kindies, the students interact with children in their outdoor play. It has been evident that many of our ESHS students are a magnet for the young children!

Our Year 10 students taking Early Childhood Class this year, have been given the amazing opportunity of completing a Certificate III in Early Childhood Studies. By the end of Year 12, these students will be eligible to enter straight into a paid position in the early childhood industry. The girls taking this class have vision and purpose and are working really hard to fulfil all the requirements of the course. Well done Year 10s!

Regards
Mrs. Debbie Gellatly
Teacher

From the ITD team

Welcome to all students undertaking a Technologies subject in 2021.

There have been some name changes for our junior suite of subjects this year. Home Economics is now Food Specialisations (TFD), Industrial Technology and Design is now Material and Technologies Specialisations (TMT), Information and Computer Technology is now Digital Technology, and Graphics is now Design and Technologies (DAT). Come reporting time, these are the names you will see on report cards. Plus, we have included Engineering Principles and Systems (TES) to our junior program.

As a faculty, we have improved upon, or created new and exciting, units of work for Years 7 to 10. For example, in Years 7 and 8 Core DAT students are designing and producing a secure container for valuables. Year 9 DAT are designing and producing drawings using line types and sectional drawings. In all of our technology subjects, students implement the Design Process. This allows them to investigate ideas and designs, create their own version, produce their product and then evaluate its effectiveness. Throughout the process students collaborate with others and learn to manage their time.

Technologies welcomes Mr Brent Leaver this year. He is teaching in the Furnishing, and Material and Technologies Specialisations subjects.

Regards
Miss. Kathleen Weis
Teacher

From the Sports Master

Geez – what a crazy term of sport it has been already! It has been awesome to see so many students nominating to participate in CH sporting trials and excelling on the field and court again. Thank you to everyone for asking questions, nominating and handing in payment and permissions on time. Please watch Facebook and ask students to listen on assemblies and in PC for notices, as this is when sporting nominations are announced. We will be finishing the term strong with a few key events.

Week 6: HPE week program

Throughout the week, we have been running activities at 1st break in the UCA to celebrate all things health and movement. We will wrap up the week by taking over the volunteer roles at Emerald Park Run. Students wishing to help need to grab a permission form from Miss Pembroke in J Block Staffroom. We would like to see as many members of the ESHS community attending and getting in their 30 minutes of movement as well! Kick-off is 7am, next to the big playground in the Botanical Gardens. Entry is free with a positive attitude and smile!

UCA Activities – 1st break:

• Monday: Fitness Testing
• Tuesday: Volleyball come and try
• Wednesday: Dance off and skipping
• Thursday: House v House Dodgeball
• Friday: Staff v Student Touch game
• Saturday: Emerald Park Run takeover

Week 7: Inter-house Cross Country

Monday the 8th of March is our annual Inter-house Cross Country. This year, we have opted for a change of scenery and we will be running at the Botanical Gardens. Students will meet for the bus in PC and will return to school ahead of Period 3. Students who excel on the day, will progress to the CH trials, which take place in the first week of Term 2. Interested students will need to have nominated with Miss Pembroke in J Block staffroom by 03/03/21 in order to secure a seat on the bus. A great opportunity for students to get outdoors and move!

Week 10: Inter-house Swimming Carnival

Thursday the 1st of April is ESHS Inter-house Swimming Carnival. Another great opportunity for students to show their talents in the pool. The day will consist of a variety of competitive and novelty events in order to give everyone the opportunity to jump in the pool, despite their swimming ability. There is no need to nominate ahead of time, as students will be able to choose the events they wish to participate in on the day!

2021 School Sporting Achievements:

Finally, I would like to recognise students who have excelled in their chosen sport this year. Their representative honours are a token of their hard work, commitment and perseverance to excel in their sport.

Selected to represent Capricornia at the State Titles:

Selected to represent Central Highlands at the Regionals:

Regards
Miss. Maggie Pembroke
ESHS Sports Coordinator

From the Indigenous Education team

It has been a great start to the year, with our NAIDOC Club running on Mondays at First Break in G002 (art room) with Miss Whybird and myself. We have had some students attend, taking part in sharing ideas regarding this year’s NAIDOC 2021 Celebrations at ESHS, as well as creating designs for posters. If you would like to join this club, please come to G002 on a Monday at First Break.

Please congratulate the following Year 12 QATSIF (QCE scholarship recipient) Leaders for 2021:

• Kate McLeod – Indigenous Leader
• Dimity Turner – SRC Publicity Officer

They were presented with their QATSIF (QCE scholarship recipients) Certificate and Leadership Badge on their Senior Assembly a couple of weeks ago.

Congratulations also to the following successful QATSIF (QCE scholarship recipient) students as of this year:

• Dimity Turner – Year 12
• Chloe Uren – Year 11

Both students received their certificates on their Year Level Assemblies a couple of weeks ago.

Have a great week.

Regards
Ms. Lucy Ferrara
Head of Department

From the ESHS Bites team

Quick lunch - pay & collect

1st & 2nd Lunch pre-orders are welcome due to the shorter lunch breaks (30mins each). Students can place their order & pay before school, collect at their preferred lunch (or collect pre-paid orders for both lunches if desired).

The P&C have installed an additional cashier station to accommodate the extra volume of students during the shorter lunches, so as to enable quick service / collection.

Paid pre-orders are collected from the new station at the side sliding door facing the Court Yard / C Block. Our lunch menu is attached below for your reference.

Catering menu

Fancy a night off from cooking or an alternate takeaway option for the family? Do you have a party or work function coming up? Please review ESHS Bites catering menu below for more information. ESHS Bites is kept very busy annually catering for CHRC, local businesses, inhouse and external schools.

Welcome

In 2021 the ESHS Bites tuckshop welcomes School Based Trainee Koen Weir, from Blackwater State High School to the team. Koen works in the tuckshop each Friday, as part of his traineeship in Kitchen Operations.

Also, Liarna Rucci who completed her School Based Traineeship in 2020, is now in the Tuckshop full time completing her Certificate 3 in Commercial Cookery.

The Friday Bites Team

Koen (School Based Trainee) & Liarna (Cert III Commercial Cookery)

Regards
ESHS Bites

From the Administration team

Reminder to all parents

Please fill in the attached ESHS Change of Details Form and return to ESHS Admin Office, if you have:

• moved house
• changed your email address
• new place of work
• new mobile number
• new or modified emergency contact/s

Emergency Contacts

If your child/ren are to be collected from ESHS and the person/s are not listed as an Emergency Contact on our system, they must have Parent Permission. This means the Admin Office require their FULL NAME. The nominated person has to produce their drivers licence to the admin staff before collecting your child/ren.

This includes older siblings. If your child/ren are being supervised by alternate carers please make sure you have notified the school. Examples where this applies: Parents are going away on holidays without the child/ren, medical emergency, death in the family etc alternate care is arranged to look after your child/ren in Emerald.

Regards
ESHS Administration Staff

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 5 and 6 of this term.

Behaviour Focus

Our current behaviour focus is “Building respectful relationships with others”.

Student of the Week

Week 2

Benjamin Noon 7E or starting off the year with a positive attitude and always completing work to the best of his ability.

Elizabeth Hooper 8C For consistently arriving to class on time, prepared and with a positive attitude.

Lily-Rose Latham 9C For her enthusiasm towards curriculum tasks and encouraging her peers to participate.

Samantha Dudman 10F For consistently being polite and participating to the best of her ability.

Libby Archer 11C For coming to class with a positive attitude and always offering to help others.

Maddison Devlin 12E For participating in all class activities and assisting others in the class.

Week 3

Matthew Laws 7G Matthew has exceptional manners and tries his best in all lesson.

Hannah Rogerson 8D Consistently demonstrates the 3P’s to an exceptional standard. Hannah is a pleasure to teach.

Briannah Kelley 9E For her diligence to completing all class work to a high standard. Briannah has settled into the routines of ESHS and is a role model for her peers.

Reeve Corbett 10E For applying himself to his learning and assisting other students.

Dylan Obst 11D Always a willing volunteer when called up and provides excellent peer support.

Hannah Iona 12C For consistently applying herself to her school studies.

Week 4

Sienna Edwards 7B For consistently participating in all class activities with a positive attitude and completing work to a high standard.

Saphron Davis 8G For being a willing participant in class and encouraging others to achieve their best.

Jackie Tabley 9D For her enthusiastic and positive attitude to start the term.

Halle Toms 10C For consistently being polite and commitment to her studies.

Brandon Allen 11F For being a positive ambassador for the school and always putting 100% into the lesson.

Netnapha Sangjan 12D For the effort she puts into all of her subjects.

Week 5

Addison Offord 7D For her fantastic attitude towards her learning, engaging in all classroom activities and arriving at every lesson prepared.

Ava Smith 8F For completing all of her work to an exceptional standard.

Raven Banta 9D For building respectful relationships with staff and peers, he is a role model for students.

Izaac Martin 10A For always being a willing participant in every activity set and showing dedication to his studies.

Hayden Vearncombe 11A For always being polite and respectful and consistently putting 100% into his classwork.

Connor Mathies 12B For going above and beyond in the woodwork workshop and offering assistance where required.

Week 6

Ella McKenzie 8D For outstanding effort & participation. Ella is always prepared & takes pride in her work, as can be seen from her impeccable bookwork.

Tayne Vowless 10C For consistently following teacher instruction and completing all set work to the best of his ability.

James Kelly For applying his knowledge, trying his best and being an all-round polite and kind person.

Lucy Klan 12B For being considerate to others and completing set tasks.

Community Notices