2 February 2022

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report.

Dear Friends of Emerald High,

Well, we are underway again in another unusual year and we are very excited to be welcoming everyone back next week, including a record number of Year 7 students. The school has felt very lonely and empty over the past two weeks.

Our focus again 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.

We have welcomed a number of new staff to the school this year and I am pleased to say that we are fully staffed for the start of the year. Our new staff are Stephanie Begg (Inclusion), Lisa Eagles (Art/English), Alisa Finn (Learning Support/English), Linda Fry (English), Jake Gamer (Computer Technician), Oliver Lamb (Japanese/Maths), Pierce Leahy (Music/History/HPE), Michael Lemura (Maths/Business), Abbi McLean (Humanities/Japanese), Ed Nott (Science/Maths), Kelly Obst (Teacher Aide), Lynn Paap (Acting HoD HPE/Languages), Janelle Smith (School Cleaner), Peter Wieland (Maths/Business), Jordie Zahner (Drama/English).

I was delighted with how well our senior students went in their studies, despite the disruptions of the year. 100% of our students achieved a QCE or QCIA! This is outstanding!

Particular congratulations to our Dux, Jasmine Simmonds, with an ATAR of 99.05 and Dux Proximus Joseph Stoneman with an ATAR of 98.40. Congratulations also to the following students who have also attained an ATAR above 90 – Mai-Ly Duroux, Paxton Hayes, Ella Ramm, Maddison Iles, Paige Butcher, Zara Smith and Kate Mcleod.

Overall 60% of our ATAR students received an ATAR above 80!

Academic results across the school were the highest we have seen in recent years and the proportion of As and Bs was the highest since 2017. These are very pleasing results that were achieved despite the disruptions of the past two years. Great work students, staff and parents!!

I was also absolutely delighted to see the awards that our students, staff and school received during the Australia Day awards. They were:

• Young Citizen of the Year (Emerald) - Madison Iles (former 2021 School Captain)
• Community Event of the Year (Emerald) - Grease Musical, Emerald State High School
• Junior Sportsperson (Emerald) - Gabi Williams
• Junior Sportsperson (Capella) - Ainsley Tasker (incoming Year 7 student)
• Citizen of the Year nominee - Kate Hume

Our thanks to the Central Highlands Regional Council for their work in coordinating this important event.

We are now preparing to welcome all students back next week. As we will not be holding assemblies or large group meetings for at least the first four weeks of school, all students in Years 8 - 12 will be emailed with details about the classroom they are to go to for their very first class. This information will also be displayed on walls around the school. At this first class they will receive their timetables.

Year 7 students will meet initially on the basketball courts in widely spread out, small primary school groups and will proceed from there with their class groups to their first classes, where they will also receive their timetables. More details about how this will work will be emailed out shortly.

Our new Year 7s will then commence a two-day induction program, to make sure they are well versed with the ins and outs of high school, have a chance to get to know their teachers and classmates and to start building friendships, some of which will last a lifetime.

A wide range of COVID safe procedures will be in place, including distancing in classrooms as much as possible, hand sanitiser in classrooms and at stations in the schools, the encouragement of frequent hand-washing, the provision of additional cleaning of key areas and touch-points and through the provision of as much ventilation in classroom as possible.

Masks are to be worn by all staff and students unless an exemption applies and all excursions, assemblies and large group meetings are cancelled until at least Monday 7 March.

This year we are also doing something different to help keep parents informed and involved in schooling. All teachers in all classes will be sending a welcome email to parents each term advising them of the topic their children will be studying, the assessment they will be completing and invited open communication, so that we can work together to support our young people to achieve their dreams.

In terms of facilities, the bus zone construction is well underway and should be completed by April. Additional shade shelters have been constructed between A and B Blocks, K Block has been re-carpeted and we will see some internal paints and re-carpeting of some other blocks to help lift the learning environments of some of our classrooms that are looking, let's face it, a bit tired and ugly. We have also submitted the funding application to finish off the second half of the basketball court overhead cover, we'll see how we go!

All and all, we are very excited about 2022. We have sensational students, amazing staff and the best community around. It will be a great year!!

Have a fantastic fortnight and a super 2022!
Mr. Sean Maher
Principal

From the Deputy Principal – Junior School.

Welcome back to 2022, we have had an interesting start to the year. We have lots of new faces in the teaching staff this year. In the Junior School, we are going to start the year with a strong focus on our Year 7 induction. This will feature lessons planned by our Deputies, HODs and HOYs, presenting a range of information including: Positive Behaviour for Learning orientation, Library orientation/Bookwork policy, Diary and Timetable information, ICT orientation, and Classroom Routines and Expectations.

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 get the large 5 subject books; these are not suitable as teachers need to collect student books. Through the year 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.

Emerald State High School – Junior Secondary Bookwork Expectations

All students will be issued a School Diary; they 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 first 20 pages of the school diary are specific to Emerald SHS and cover the following; school rules, list of banned items, where to go for help, bookwork expectations, 3P Matrix (Polite, Prepared and Participate), uniform requirements and more. These pages are important for both students and parents.

I look forward to meeting all the Year 7 students and new Year 8 students and also welcoming back the returning Year 8 students.

If you are seeking any information about Years 7 and 8, please contact myself on 49882222 or rcomo3@eq.edu.au (until the 18th February) or bvanh2@eq.edu.au.

Regards
Mrs. Rebekah Pillay
Deputy Principal – Junior School

From the Deputy Principal – Middle School.

Welcome back to a new school year. While we are not beginning in quite the way we expected, 2022 promises to be an exciting year, filled with opportunities for our students and families.

At the end of each year, we sadly say goodbye to some of our school family. However, with the beginning of the school year we are blessed with new staff and new opportunities. Our 2022 team of teachers and support staff are getting ready to meet the students when they return on Monday the 7th February. This year, you will notice an increase in the communication between class teachers and families. Look out for emails from your child’s teachers, as they introduce themselves to you and introduce you to the topics and themes that will be covered during the semester. We welcome communication with you through email and phone contact. If you have questions, we would love to hear about them before they become concerns. Keeping open lines of communication between families and classroom teachers will help everyone stay more informed and on-track for a great year.

With the delayed start to the school year, we have had to postpone our school photo day which traditionally has been in the first few weeks of the year. The new date for school photos is Friday the 13th May, in Term 2. We have also decided to postpone the Year 10 Work Placement Experience from late in Term 1 to early in Term 2. More information will be shared about this during the term. While we may have to do a few things differently at the moment, the students will not miss out on these opportunities.

Student Timetables will be distributed to all students on the first day back. Some people have been looking for timetables on the Q Parents App, and noticing some omissions or errors. Once school begins, and the students have a timetable for the year, we will be able to make any adjustments needed to elective subjects. Changes are not made based on teacher preference or wanting to be with particular friends. Also handed out on the first day of school, is the ESHS 2022 student diary. Ask your child to show you their diary. It contains lots of information on the routines and expectations at ESHS. All students must have their diary with them every lesson and will use it as an organisational tool. Please also use the diary as a means of communication with teachers if you choose.

I look forward to sharing the 2022 school year with you and encourage you to maintain regular contact with myself and your child’s teachers.

Regards
Mrs. Deanne Lucht
Deputy Principal – Middle School

From the Deputy Principal – Senior School.

Welcome back to the start of a new year, it is unfortunate that we have had to start with remote learning. I would like to welcome the families of our new students to our school. I look forward to working with each student to ensure they have success in achieving a QCE and an ATAR score that is representative of their ability. I know that each student has their own unique talents and aspirations and we will work to find the pathway that best suits them.

In Years 11 and 12, students are in the compulsory participation phase of learning. This means a young person must be either in approved education or training, paid employment or a combination of both. As a student of Emerald State High School, we expect all senior students to follow our 3Ps:

Polite – Be honest and courteous in their interactions with others. Value diversity and treat all members of the school community respectfully. Use positive and appropriate language. Seek to resolve problems in a proactive manner, in a non-abusive and non-violent manner. Promote a positive school image and act as a positive role model for all.

Prepared – Take pride in their personal appearance and wear the school uniform correctly. Ensure they have all necessary equipment for each lesson and plan to be ready for every lesson. Follow directions/routines of the school.

Participate – Regular attendance at school significantly enhances a student’s ability to achieve his or her academic potential. Have at least 92% attendance in all classes – with the exception of valid and approved absences (medical certificate). Not leave the school grounds during the day without approval. Be punctual to all scheduled lessons and events. Adhere to the assessment policy. Actively and positively participate in their learning by completing all classwork, homework and assessment items.

Students who fail to meet attendance and assessment requirements, and refuse to follow school policies and procedures, may jeopardise their opportunity to be eligible for a Senior Shirt/Jersey and/or their invitation to formal. They are also at risk of having their enrolment cancelled.

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 (Mr Brose Yr 12 and Mrs Jarvis Yr 11), our Guidance Officer (Mrs Fitzgerald), 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 2021, who achieved academic excellence. All students received a QCE or a QCIA. It is with pleasure that I can now announce the 2021 Dux and Dux Proximus. Jasmin Simmons received an ATAR of 99.05 and Joseph Stone received an ATAR of 98.40. 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 2022.

Student Leadership

At this stage we are unsure when we will be able to induct our Senior Student Leaders into the School. We are holding off so we can have a service that includes the school community and families.

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.

Senior School Subject Changes

Due to the unusual start to the year, our Year 11s will have until the end of Week 4 (18th February 2022) to make any changes to their subjects. Students wanting to change subjects should either see me in their lunch breaks or send me an email. 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

It is an expectation that all students study six subjects in Years 11 and 12, unless they have circumstances that impact on their ability to study six. These impacts may include – school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, external study with another organisation, parenting responsibilities and health issues. Only students who have passed all subjects, each term, will be given a permission form to be allowed to study in their flex times at home. In Year 11, this means students will not be given this opportunity until the start of Term 2. For our students in Year 12, this means a review of their Term 4 report cards.

Students driving to school

Many of our students in Year 11 and 12 obtain their P class licence whilst at school. It is an expectation that students who drive themselves to school park in the car park on Racecourse Road. For their own safety, students are discouraged from driving to and from school with others in their vehicles.

Students leaving the grounds at lunch times, with approved lunch passes, can only have siblings in their cars. Lunch passes are for students to have lunch at their own homes – not homes of friends or local shops.

Assessment

Assessment Items must be submitted by the due date. If circumstances occur during the period over which the assignment runs, preventing the student from working on an assignment, then an extension can be requested. Extensions are granted for the following reasons:

1. Extended illness
2. Bereavement
3. Accident or family circumstances causing prolonged absence during assessment preparation
4. Unforeseen circumstances

When considering the success of the extension application, consideration will be given to the student’s submission of work at the “check date” stage. All relevant documentation (medical certificate, etc) supporting an application for extension must be included.

Please be aware - problems with computers/printers are not an excuse for late submission – students should have backup copies and printed or hand-written drafts. Students who are on “holidays” or participating in sporting activities are also not eligible for an extension.

Communication

The main way we communicate to our parents is through the school’s newsletter and via email. We also post messages on the school’s Facebook page. I encourage all students to regularly check their school email account, as we often send them through opportunities when known i.e. university deadlines or information, industry days.

Regards
Mrs. Tanya Shaw
Deputy Principal – Senior School

From the Head of Year 7.

To our brand-new families to the school, welcome, and to our returning families, welcome back! My name is Michelle Watkin and I would like to introduce myself as the Year 7 Head of Year for 2022. I have to say, this is not the start of high school that I envisioned for our new Year 7 cohort!

My primary role in 2022 will be to monitor attendance, uniform and student wellbeing for the Year 7s. I will work closely with PC teachers, class teachers, HODs, and our Deputy Principal, to ensure that every Year 7 student is known, cared for and respected.

During 2021, I was fortunate to have met majority of the Year 7 cohort during visits to the local primary schools. I worked with Ben Van Hees (Deputy Principal) and Sarah Somerville (HOSES), as well as Emerald’s Year 6 teachers, to design our transition program, set our Year 7 class lists and to organise our enrolment nights. The feedback from our transition days shows that students greatly enjoyed these opportunities and are excited to come to High School!

While we do have a delayed start to the year, our kids aren’t just going to be thrown into the world of High School when they enter the school gates on February 7th. All Year 7 students will complete an induction program during their first two days of school, before commencing normal classes. During these lessons, they will be exposed to numerous school procedures and policies around their bookwork, the use of ICT and the Library. Students will also be shown how to use their diaries and read their timetables.

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: mwatk32@eq.edu.au

Regards
Miss. Michelle Watkin
HOY – Year 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.

For those that do not know, I am fortunate enough to be your Head of Year this year and I hope to do as good a job as Miss Prior has been. I have worked with most of you over the years and look forward to seeing you grow and improve in 2022. There will be a number of challenges and events that I will need your support in, such as sporting events and fundraisers, as well as our formal and graduation. I expect that you will all step up and become role models in our school.

The first event as Seniors is usually an induction into Year 12, held in Week 3. This induction has parents, family members and teachers present to welcome our Seniors into their final year of schooling. As per the current government guidelines, this will not be possible at that time. It is the school’s goal to still conduct this event if an appropriate date can be confirmed.

If students ordered Senior polos in 2021, they will receive these early this term. The school jerseys will arrive later in the term (possibly next) as they are produced separately. If your child wishes to purchase a Senior jersey this term, there will be another order occurring early in the term. Please note that they will need to have completed the particular attendance and behaviour criteria.

Regards
Mr. Jaksen Brose
HOY – Year 12

From the Guidance Officer.

Tips to help school teens with COVID-19 get through isolation.

For the past two years, Emerald students have been relatively unaffected by the pandemic in comparison to students in South East Queensland and southern states like New South Wales and Victoria. Our regional location and precautionary measures taken following public health advice has assisted us. As the return of face to face schooling commences, many of us will be exposed to the virus and it is likely some will have to isolate, due to getting a positive COVID -19 test result or being a close contact.

If you have COVID-19 and while you are recovering, ReachOut, the online mental health website for young people and parents, has a few tips to help you get through it. Some of their tips are summarised below. Check out their site for extra details below;

• Don’t spend all your time scrolling – you may end up feeling jealous or sad - follow recommended advice from your GP or other medical professionals.
• Focus on your most meaningful social connections- too many messages and questions regarding your health and well-being can be overwhelming.
• Think about the way you communicate online – messaging on group chats you already participate in can reduce the need for individual responses.
• Remember to recover at a natural pace – health and well-being is the first priority, so don’t put pressure on yourself to complete tasks that are much harder if you are feeling unwell.
• Try to find some balance – stick to a routine where you are balancing giving time for school, mild exercise, connection with family/friends, hobbies and relaxation.
• Ask for help if you need it, as things are going to be challenging and extra help may be required for food, medicine and support. You may need to be the support person for family/friends once you have recovered.

Apart from support at school from teachers and ESHS Support Works staff, if you are feeling distressed and need more help, phone or click on the following links (available 24 hours):

• Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800)
• Lifeline (13 11 14)

Further information on looking after yourself and asking for help is available on the fact sheet from the Qld Department of Education website:

Regards
ESHS Guidance Officer

From SBA/SBT/Work team.

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.

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

Did you know Emerald State High School has its own careers page with lots of information for parents and students. Our aim is to provide you with all the latest information that can assist with making decisions about your future career. The site can be used to locate University, TAFE and any other type of course across Australia, as well as information about apprenticeships and traineeships.

Regards
Mrs. Alarna Wills
Traineeship Coordinator

From the SRC.

2022 has not started as we would have expected or hoped, but this doesn’t mean that the Student Representative Council (SRC) has been idle. We have an amazing group of Senior and Junior leaders this year and a calendar full of events that support not only the student body, but local, national and international charities. The first event will be held during the first week students return is Valentine’s Day. This year, due to COVID, only songs will be sold during the first week for $2. All recipients will receive a card letting them know that a song was purchased for them and the SRC will be singing to them on Monday in Week 4. Students can purchase the song cards from the Tuckshop Courtyard and Sails area both lunches during Week 3.

The Student Representative Council plays an important role in the school by running fundraisers, as well as student activities, including the Colour Smash for Mental Health Week and the talent competition Shines. The SRC also runs house competitions such the CQ Pet Rescue Challenge in Term 2 and the Neighbourhood Centre’s Alms Appeal at Christmas.

The SRC also introduced a new award system last year; the Ripple Effect. Ripple Effect awards are nominated by students, for students who have shown to be following a PBL focus during the term. Nomination forms are now available in the library and students can post them in the letterbox on the main desk, which the Art Club decorated for us at the end of last year.

The students in the Council run the meetings each week and coordinate all the events and financial quotes when necessary. This is a huge responsibility and provides students with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills. All students, from all year levels, can attend these meetings and raise any issues that they feel are important, as the SRC helps create a link between staff and student concerns. It would great to see as many students as possible coming to a meeting at some time during the year.

This year Jess Whybird is coordinating the Junior SRC, while I am continuing to work with the Senior SRC executives, who include:

SRC President

• Senior Meisha Greentree   Junior Michael Ross

SRC Vice-President

• Senior Sophie McKenzie   Junior Felicity Pethers

SRC Treasurer

• Senior Will Challacombe   Junior Menisch De Beer

SRC Secretary

• Senior Claudia Firth   Junior Audree Biddle

SRC Publicity Officer

• Senior Sophie McKenzie   Junior Alarna Heathwood

Regards
Mrs. Leanne Ross
SRC Coordinator

From the P&C.

From the Positive Behaviour for Learning Team

At Emerald State High School we are:

• Polite,
• Prepared, and we
• Participate.

Community Notices