1 September 2022
Newsletter Articles
Principal’s Report
Dear Friends of Emerald High,
End of term is approaching and our Years 12s have started their 'Mock Exams'. These exams are very similar to the external exams that they will be doing in Term 4 and help provide them and their teachers with quality, current feedback on how well they are prepared for the externals. Good luck Year 12s!
Our Year 9 Civics and Citizenship students recently attended an excursion to the Emerald Courthouse and Police Station to get a first-hand look at how our justice system works. Many of our Science students also had the opportunity to participate in a special 'forensic science' workshop, where they had to use a wide variety of forensic clues to determine who the murderer was. There is lots of exciting learning happening at Emerald High!
Our students have now played two rounds of basketball against Marist and have won every game they have played. Thank you Pierce Leahy for your work in coordinating this amazing opportunity!
Our band students have just returned from a camp to Longreach via Blackall, where they performed with their usual high standard at Blackall State School and at Longreach High alongside their band. From all reports it was an enjoyable, productive and eventful camp. Well done to Dana Jones and Jacinda Stefaniuk for making this camp a reality.
'Bookweek' was on last week and many staff and students took the opportunity on Friday to dress up as their favourite book character. It was lots of fun and a good reminder about the importance (and joy) of reading!
SET Plans are on next week, at which our Years 10s map out a career pathway for the future, in consultation with the school and their parents. This is an exciting process, as our young people plan possible pathways into the future. It is a great time of life for young people with all their adventures ahead of them!
A reminder that our school website has a link to our very special 'careers' website that gives students (and parents) access to a huge range of resources to help guide career selection and post-school study options. It is well worth a look!
A huge thank you to the P&C who have upgraded our COVID safe practices, with the provision of brand-new, industrial-quality hand sanitiser units available outside the tuckshop.
Our Student Representative Council (SRC) have also been very active, upgrading our BBQ area next to the Under-Cover Area (UCA), with a brand new BBQ and fridges. This will be a great resource for our students and will support lots of social events. The SRC also conducted a 'zooper-dooper' clean-up day this week to promote a litter-free environment. Great work SRC!
Thank you again everyone for your ongoing support of our amazing school! In case you have missed the message, a reminder that we have a Student Free Day on Friday!
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Have a fantastic fortnight
Mr. Sean Maher
Principal
From the Head of Year 7
Once again, I have nothing but positive things to say about the Year 7 cohort at Emerald SHS. They are working hard every day to be polite, prepared and to participate in all elements of high school life. I have been keeping an eye on the positive acknowledgement of students and encouraging teachers to contact home when they see students doing the right thing – which seems to be almost all of them, all the time!
Assessment and Absences
As we approach the end of Term 3, the Year 7 Cohort have been working on completing exams and assessment for most subjects. From speaking with their classroom teachers, they are doing well to stay on top of deadlines and working hard to produce their best work.
There have been a number of students away over the past few weeks with illness and extra-curricular activities – I strongly recommend that these students are logging into the Student Portal to look over the tasks they have missed. I’d also like to remind parents that Emerald SHS run Homework Club each Monday and Wednesday afternoon in the Resource Centre. Students should be contacting their teacher ahead of time, to ensure they can be available to attend.
Year 7 Camp Update
I realise many of you have been waiting for further information about Year 7 camp for some time. We have made the unfortunate decision to postpone this camp until 2023 due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on our staff and students. I look forward to working with everyone on our Year 8 camp in 2023.
As always, if you ever have any concerns regarding the Year 7 cohort, please feel free to contact me either via email or by calling the school. The sooner I know about issues impacting on students, the sooner I can work to ensure that school is continuing to be a happy and safe place for them to be.
Regards
Miss. Michelle Watkin
HOY – Year 7
From the Head of Year 8.
In Week 10 of this term, we will be engaging an external company to assist our Year 8s with their self-efficacy. Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their capacity to execute behaviours necessary to produce specific performance attainments. Self-efficacy reflects confidence in the ability to exert control over one's own motivation, behaviour, and social environment. These cognitive self-evaluations influence all manner of human experience, including the goals for which people strive, the amount of energy expended toward goal achievement, and likelihood of attaining particular levels of behavioural performance. Unlike traditional psychological constructs, self-efficacy beliefs are hypothesized to vary depending on the domain of functioning and circumstances surrounding the occurrence of behaviour.
Next term, we will begin the process of selecting our Junior School Leaders for 2023. I hope to see a large number of students engaging with the process, as I know how many capable and talented students we have in the cohort!
Over the past couple of weeks, I have had a few discussions with students regarding uniform. A quick reminder that jumpers must be plain black, with no hoods or writing. As we head into the warmer months, the school polo with either the school shorts or mid-thigh length black shorts are acceptable.
Regards
Mr. Leon Coromandel
HOY – Year 8
From the HPE team
Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen a series of events occurring within the HPE Department.
Congratulations to Mr Leahy and his Basketball teams, who hosted Marist College last week for a round of games. ESHS students proved to be strong contenders, winning most games during the evening.
Last week, the Cowboys Development Officers attended ESHS to build capacity of our students within the game. Students were run through a series of skill drills and participated in game play at the end of the session, engaging with our local NRL and Cowboys Development Officers and Ex NRL players.
Next term, during Week 2, will see our Sports Awards evening conducted. Please ensure you are following Ms Johnson’s instructions to follow the process to nominate as necessary for awards. If you have any further questions about this please go and speak to her in D Block staffroom.
Regards
Ms. Lynn Paap
HOD
From the Humanities team
It has been busy term in the Humanities department, with assessment and excursions in full swing.
On the 28th of July the Year 11 Geography students went to the Botanic Gardens to examine the park, to identify areas of concern or improvement. The overall purpose is to look at the liveability and sustainability of the park itself. We had a great day and were very lucky to talk to the Council about the proposed locations for a new pedestrian bridge in the park.
Our Civics classes have also been out and about at the Emerald Police Station and Court House. These excursions have been a very valuable part of the learning process, providing our students with a firsthand understanding our judicial system at work.
In our senior space, the Year 12 Humanities students have all completed their last ever internal assessments and are now focussed on their external exams. The students will also sit mock exams in Week 8 and 9 and this is a great opportunity for the students to experience the testing conditions and also, these tests prove invaluable in identifying areas of concern to be focussed on before the external exams begin. All our Year 12 students should be revising regularly from now until the exams.
In the junior school, all our Term 3 exams and assessment will be occurring in the next two weeks, so it is vitally important students are handing in completed drafts for written assignments, as this allows their teachers to provide them with feedback to improve their assessment items. Students who fail to do this may receive detentions until their work is to a satisfactory standard and parental contact will be made. For exams, all students should be receiving revision sheets and are expected to be revising for their exams.
If you have any questions or concerns leading into our assessment period, please make contact with your child’s classroom teacher or myself.
Regards
Mrs. Kerrie-Anne Van Hees
HOD
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 7 and 8 of this term.
Behaviour Focus
Our current behaviour focus is “Respect the rights of others to participate, express their opinions and be heard.”
Student of the Week
Week 7
Year 7: Jorja Gladman For
always being a polite and prepared student and participating in all
curriculum activities.
Year 8: Eden Catip For being a positive role
model for the school and the community.
Year 9: Coby Harris For being an awesome student
who always puts in 100% effort.
Year 10: Brant Wills For his dedication to all
curriculum tasks. Brant is a positive role model for the school.
Year 11: Riley James For always showing a
positive attitude in the classroom and giving 100% effort.
Year 12: Cheyanne Pese For always showing a
positive attitude in the classroom and giving 100% effort.
Week 8
Year 7: Eva Maloney For being
an active member of our school community and always being polite, prepared
and participating in her learning.
Year 8: Jacob Sullivan For being a responsible
student and is always giving 100% in class.
Year 10: Salome Taungahihifo For her positive
spirit around the school and making all students feel welcome.
Year 11: Georgia Barnes For being a diligent
student who follows the 3Ps at all times.
Year 12: Eli Lohse For being reliable and genuine
whenever it is needed.
Community Notices
From the Emerald RSL
Hi All,
The following concert is free and is coordinated by the Emerald Lions Club & the 1RAR band.
It is just a matter of attending however there will be a gold coin donation collection for those who wish to contribute.
The concert commences at 6pm on Wednesday 21st of September 2022 and has a short intermission where tea, coffee (2 biscuits) and water can be purchased. It will probably finish at 9-9.30pm.
So, no need to book- just turn up. This date is during the school holidays.
NOTE: Venue is the Emerald Town Hall.
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