4 August 2022

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report.

Dear Friends of Emerald High,

It has been a huge few weeks at Emerald High with CH Sports, Western 7s, Tree Planting, the Elder's Luncheon, Golf Day fundraiser and a staff versus student giant soccer-ball match to top it all off. The excitement never stops at Emerald High!

A reminder to everyone that Subject Selection Evening is on next Tuesday night from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. This is a great opportunity to find out about Year 10 and 11/12 elective subjects, how the selection process works and a chance to ask questions of our school staff.

A huge well done to Lucy Ferrara, Charmain McKeon-Parlett, Malyce McKeon-Parlett and our indigenous students on their conduct of an amazing Elder's Luncheon for our local indigenous elders. I was so proud of our young people who represented themselves and our school with distinction. Great work everyone!

Our volleyball students head of to the Gold Coast this week for the 2022 State Schools Volleyball Cup, with some very tight COVID planning in place. They are truly performing at an exceptional level and I'm confident they will go well. Good luck volleyballers!

We witnessed more sport excellence over the weekend, with a number of our students playing in the Western 7s Rugby competition. All teams did well, with our Under 13 girls winning their competition, the Under 15 girls and Under 18 Girls gaining second place in theirs and our two Under 18 boys sides achieving third and fourth places respectively.

Another huge well done to our Student Representative Council, who participated in a tree planting ceremony at the gardens on the weekend - a great change to do something positive and proactive for our community and our environment. Thank you to Jess Whybird and Leanne Ross for making this opportunity available and well done to everyone on the SRC!

On the weekend our senior Year 12 students conducted a Golf Day Fundraiser to raise funds for their Senior Formal. From all reports it was an outstanding success and significant funds were raised. A huge well done to Jaksen Brose and his team for all of the hard work they did behind the scenes to make the event happen!

The next fortnight's PBL expectation will be “Use respectful language”. We will be doing some special activities with students next week on ‘Bystander Behaviour’ and the importance of resolving conflicts without use of violence or abuse.

This week we will also be welcoming Susan McLean to our school to conduct workshops with our students on cybersafety. Susan is recognised as one of Australia's foremost experts on cybersafety and was a member of the Victoria Police for 27 years. Her website is linked below. It has some useful resources for parents to use as well!

A reminder that we are obliged by the Department of Education to have signed parental notes for all off-campus activities and that we must have received these before students can embark on any off-campus activity. Confirmation by phone or email is not acceptable and students will not be permitted to attend any activity without the signed parental note having been received.

Thank you again everyone for your ongoing support of our amazing school!

Have a fantastic fortnight
Mr. Sean Maher
Principal

From the Deputy Principal – Middle School.

MSP School photographs are back. If your student was absent the day they were given out, you are able to collect them at the office. These do need to be signed for when collected.

Our Year 10 Immunisation day was conducted in Week 2. There were a lot of students absent on that particular day for a variety of reasons. There will be a catch-up day in October, where Ozcare will come in and provide immunisations for anyone who was missed at an earlier clinic. At this stage the date for that is Tuesday the 25th October.

Assessment Planners were emailed earlier this week. These are emailed to student email accounts and are available on Q Parents. Please print them and add all dates to the student diary. I encourage you to contact your child’s teacher if you feel they are going to have trouble meeting the deadline for assessments. Homework club operates every Monday and Wednesday afternoon and is a great way to get help before the assessment is due, or squeeze in that last bit of revision before an exam.

Subject Selection Night

On Tuesday the 9th August, from 5pm – 7pm, we will be having a subject information evening. This is for students currently in Year 9 to find out about the subjects they can choose for Year 10 in 2023, and for the current Year 10 students to investigate subject offerings for Years 11 and 12. Come along and talk to the teachers of those subjects to help you make informed decisions when completing your subject selections in the coming weeks. Subject information booklets will also be made available on our website.

PBL Focus of the Week

This week’s PBL focus is to “Use Respectful Language.” The focus is to use language appropriately at school and in the community. By using respectful language students are demonstrating that they are willing to building good and lasting relationships with others. They are developing the skills that will help them when they enter the workforce.

We are reminding students to use language that:

• Suits the context - What is acceptable on the sporting field is not ok in a Doctor’s surgery.
• Is appropriate to the person you are addressing - we speak to our mates differently to our boss.
• Does not offend – we need to consider not just the person we are talking to but anyone around us also.
• Is Kind – if you can’t be kind, stay quiet.
• Is Constructive - Want to have a great day? Compliment 10 people today and see how everything positively shifts in your life.

Keeping our language polite and respectful, helps to keep the classroom safe and happy. By using respectful language at school, we learn how to speak to others appropriately in real world situations. Every interaction we have with others develops our reputation and how others see us.

Contact with Students During the Day

All personal technology devices (mobile phones, MP3 player, Bluetooth headphones, and all similar devices) are not to be used, seen or heard during the entire school day, either inside or outside the classroom. This includes before school, during all breaks, on excursions and until the end of the school day.

If a parent needs to contact their child during school hours, this must only be done through the school office. Should a student need to go home due to illness or any other reason during the school day, the school will contact parents to coordinate arrangements. In urgent circumstances, students can ask permission to contact parents/carers and use the phone in the administration office. Every attempt will be made to contact students should parents/carers need to get an urgent message to students. At no time is a student to use a personal mobile device to call a parent and arrange to be collected. We ask our parents to support us with this. We need to know where our students are. Recently, arrangements have been made to collect a student, without signing them out, and we then spend the time searching the school, looking for the student. All students leaving early or arriving late need to see Kim at the attendance window and sign in and out correctly.

Regards
Mrs. Deanne Lucht
Deputy Principal – Middle School

From the Head of Year 7.

Welcome back for Term 3 – It is crazy to think that the Year 7s have now been at high school for more than 20 weeks. I have seen our students truly settle in and flourish into high school life.

This term has already seen our Year 7s have the opportunity to try out some awesome new experiences. All classes have now flipped over to their second humanities subject for the year (either History or Geography) and in Week 7, they will move on to their third elective subject. There has also been a huge number of students engaging in the extra-curricula aspects of school life – I was delighted to see a number of Year 7s at the National Tree Planting Day in the Botanical Gardens, and have been very impressed with the students participating in our numerous school sports.

At the end of last term, parents and caregivers received a semester report, which showed their student’s academic, behaviour and effort grade. It was fantastic to see students performing so well across all of those areas – as Mr Maher keeps reminding our Year 7s, they are the best semester results we have on record at Emerald SHS! I am also very impressed with the attendance of the Year 7 cohort and I was delighted to see so many students eligible for the 100% attendance certificate for Term 2!

I would like to draw attention to one of our 3Ps – “Prepared”. It is the expectation that our students are bringing a book and pencil case to each class, which has all of the necessary equipment (pens, pencils, ruler, glue, scissors, etc). As winter is still upon us, it is important that our Year 7 students are wearing the correct uniform, meaning the correct jumper. If a student is wearing the incorrect uniform, it is the expectation that they will follow the school process by going to the uniform room.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s welfare please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards
Miss. Michelle Watkin
HOY – Year 7

From the Head of Year 10.

I hope you all had an enjoyable break. It has certainly been a cool start to Term 3, but it has been great to catch up with students and hear about their holiday break. It was great to see a number of parents and carers at the recent parent teacher interview session. These sessions are a great opportunity for parents and carers to check-in with teachers and get an update in relation to how their child is tracking at school. The PBL focus for the Weeks 3 and 4 is around using respectful language in class. I also want to remind parents and carers about notifying the school if your child is absent for any reason and the ongoing health advice from the Department; if your child is displaying any symptoms, please keep them home. RAT tests are available from the school and if your child contracts COVID-19, please notify the school.

A reminder that subject selection evening will be held on Tuesday the 9th of August from 5-7pm in the UCA. This is a great opportunity for parents and carers to discuss subject choices in preparation for senior school and SET plans which will occur later in the term. Teachers will be available throughout the evening to discuss what students will study in each subject and what is expected of students in each respective subject.

Please reach out to me if you have any questions, or concerns.

Regards
Mr. Peter Sanson
HOY – Year 10

From the Maths team.

“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”

While I don’t agree with this quote, it certainly highlights the power of statistics to influence decisions. Over the course of the pandemic, people have been exposed to more statistics that ever before. With all the talk of ‘flattening the curve’, case numbers and R0 values, never has it been more important for students to be able to understand and interpret statistics. As such, the current statistics unit that most students are engaging in, aims to give students the ability to answer questions using statistics.

Year 7

When Leonardo Da Vinci drew his Vitruvian Man, he made the arm span equal to the height. Is this true in general for all humans?

Year 8

How much screen time do Australian’s use on average? Asking everyone in Australia this question would both take a long time and cost a lot of money. Instead we take samples and infer the answer from that data. Can the sample averages get close to the population average?

Year 9

Are males taller than females in Year 9? This question requires us to compare groups using statistics. How do we do this?

Year 10

Here, the students are factorising quadratics.

Year 11

Students in Year 11 taking General, Methods and Specialist will be working through Unit 2 towards their exam at the end of the term. Students in Essential Mathematics will be working towards their third formative assessment (FA3).

Year 12

This is a busy time for Year 12s. Students in General, Methods and Specialist are currently sitting their final internal assessment (IA3), which contributes 15% towards their final mark for the subject. After this, it is the external exam, which contributes 50% towards their final mark.

Regards
Mr. Raj Bhar
Teacher

From the Arts team.

Visual Art

As mentioned previously, some of our talented Visual Art students from across Years 7-12 were selected for the Central Highlands Regional Council Annual Art Youth Awards. From this, ESHS took out 9 of the 19 awards. Well done to all those who placed! Be sure to keep an eye out for the next Central Highlands Regional Council Annual Art Awards, featuring a number of our students. The exhibition will be running from the 8th August – 16th September.

The Years 7 and 8 Visual Art students have just completed their artwork critique of Vincent Namatjira’s, ‘Stand Strong For Who You Are’. They are now planning their designs for their lino prints. The Year 9 students are developing a range of experimental work for their folio, which surround Artist Books and Year 10 students are conducting an investigating task.

The Year 11 and 12 Visual Arts in Practice students are getting stuck into their Jewellery unit, where they are experimenting using paper, found objects and polymer clay to create wearable art. The Year 11 students are finalising their artworks that reflect the concept Art as Code. The Year 12 General Visual Art students are resolving their final internal assessment that responds to the concept of Art as Alternate.

Drama

In Years 7 and 8 Drama, students are performing their scripts from the play ‘10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse’, before starting the script writing task. Years 9 and 10 Drama are investigating the nature of Verbatim Theatre through unpacking verbatim scriptwriting and practising interview skills.

Years 11 and 12 Drama have just received draft feedback for their IA3's - Directorial Vision. Year 11s are using the text, 'A Streetcar Named Desire' and Year 12s, Euripides 'Medea' and transforming these for contemporary audiences.

Regards
Miss. Kate Myer
Teacher

From the LOTE team.

Konnichiwa minna-san! Welcome back to Term 3!

This term, Languages classes are back as per usual, and our focus for Weeks 3 and 4 is ‘Use respectful language’, so make sure that you follow the process and continue to display positive attitude and well-mannered language like you always does. The Languages program this term has students studying a variety of topics across Years 7 – 11. These include:

Year 7 – “What is school life?”

In this unit, students will learn to talk about school life such as routines, transportation to school and after-school activities. Students will also learn the appropriate language to use in Japanese classroom routines, as well as comparing information about school events. At the end of the unit, students are expected to compare the cultural practices, values and language use in the classroom between Australia versus Japan.

Year 8 – “Hobbies and free time”

In this unit, students will discuss free time activities and things that you are currently, or are interested in, doing. We also compare the availability of activities that we have in Australia versus Japan, as well as giving their opinions on healthy habits/hobbies and more! Students are also expected to create bilingual poster about themselves for assessment.

Year 9 and 10 – “How big is the generation gap?”

Students will discuss and analyse different perspectives on the generation gap, this is in terms of gender roles and responsibilities over time. They will also view a variety of texts that present different perspectives on generational expectations in both Japan and Australia. At the end of the unit, students will be able to understand the contrast and similarity between the generation gap between Australia versus Japan.

At this stage, assessments for LOTE are given within the start of Week 7 and is due in Week 9 of this term.

The best way to improve achievement is short but regular review of vocabulary. Particularly, it is recommended that you also use your spare time to learn Japanese writing symbols and new vocabulary, by regularly using Quizlet. Additionally, book work is important as always! Neat handwriting and well organised notes are the greatest way to best achieve a desirable outcome.

Have a great term – we look forward to seeing everyone back in class!

Regards
Mr. Huu Nguyen
Teacher

From the Humanities team.

Term 3 is off to a flying start, with all classes beginning their new units of work. In the junior side of Humanities, all classes have transitions from either Geography to History or vice-versa for the start of Unit 1. Students have begun learning about their new topics and from all reports, loving the new change of topics.

Year 7 Geography classes have begun their new unit of ‘Water in the world’, which will culminate in an end of term examination which will occur in Week 8. Over the course of the term, we will be looking at how water is used in Australia and globally, along with the social, economic and environmental impacts of water and various water hazards, such as flooding, drought, storms and cyclones. Within the Year 8 Geography classrooms students are focusing on ‘Changing Nations’ which will look at the causes and consequences of ‘Urbanisation’. Within the Year 9 Geography classroom students will be learning about ‘Biomes and food security’ focusing on investigating the role of the biotic environment and its role in food and fibre production.

Within the Year 7 History classes students are looking at ‘Ancient Egypt’, which will be assessed through a portfolio handed out in Week 6. Year 8 classes are examining the Polynesian and Viking era, which is a very engaging unit. Students will be immersing themselves into the life of a Viking by simulating Viking life. Year 9 students will be investigating the ‘Industrial Revolution’ which will culminate in an exam. Year 10 are examining world globalisation, more directly, how Popular Culture has changed throughout the years.

With the current rise in Covid cases, the Senior Humanities Tour unfortunately had to be cancelled. However, Geography students conducted a field report in replacement. Ancient History classes are beginning their studies on Egyptian Pharaohs. Modern History is examining Little Rock. Legal Studies are deep into their study of Civil Law and Human Rights.

With so much occurring in our world today, Humanities subjects are certainly enriching and extending students to understand the ‘big picture’ of world movements and appreciate the smallest actions that can make a big difference in the future.

Regards
Mr. Mathew Sweetnam
Teacher

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 3 and 4 of this term.

Behaviour Focus

Our current behaviour focus is “Use respectful language.”

Student of the Week

Week 3

Year 7: Addisyn Johnson For being a diligent learner and consistently applying herself to all learning tasks.
Year 8: Matthew Laws For always being helpful and lending a hand in all subjects.
Year 9: Joshua Kucks For consistently following the 3P’s and giving learning activities 100%.
Year 10: Noah Cody For his enthusiastic attitude towards completing curriculum tasks and respectful attitude towards staff.
Year 11: Madison Powell For awesome application to her studies at all times. She is a driven student who shows exceptional self-responsibility.
Year 12: Xavier Samson For being a mature and helpful student leader.

Week 4

Year 7: Kelsey Allen For consistently working hard in class and always doing her best. She always achieved the 3Ps.
Year 8: Imogen Grey For engaging positively in every lesson, every day.
Year 9: Students of 9F For demonstrating the 3P’s and giving 100% when a supervising teacher was looking after the class.
Year 10: Elias Cooper For working collaboratively with peers in class. Keep up the good work.
Year 11: Bridget Barber For awesome application to their studies at all times. Very driven students who show exceptional self-responsibility.
Year 12: Rian Pout For being an exemplary role model.

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