Emerald State High School
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Old Airport Drive, P.O. Box 419
Emerald QLD 4720
Subscribe: https://emeraldshs.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe

Email: the.principal@emeraldshs.eq.edu.au
Phone: 07 4988 2222
Fax: 07 4988 2200

12 October 2022

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report.

Dear Friends of Emerald High,

We have had a very positive start to Term 4, with some amazing student and staff achievements. Student Term 3 results have been outstanding, with the highest Term 3 A-B rates on record, second highest A-C rates on record (only 0.1% lower than the record) and the highest Effort and Behaviour on record. This result is a credit to our young people who have absolutely shone this year, to the dedication and quality of our staff and to the support from parents, families, the P&C and our community. Great work everyone!!

Our Year 12 Formal was held in the last week of last term. An amazingly huge well done to everyone involved. It was again something very special and will stay in the memories of our Year 12s forever. It was a magic event - the kids looked fantastic, the hall looked amazing, the event flowed smoothly and the food was, as we have come to expect, divine.

A huge well done to Jaksen Brose, Tanya Shaw, Janene Vale and Alarna Wills who were the guiding lights for the whole event (a HUGE job). You have again produced a miracle!

An equally huge thank you to Ruth, Megan, Raelene, Debbie and Lani from our amazing BITES team, who again produced something really special and to Renee and Karen from our P&C for their practical support on the night and ongoing support throughout the year.

A particular thank you also to Danielle and Lauren Hales for the work they did in turning the hall into a place of magic. You are very talented people!

Thanks also to the very many staff and students who contributed to make the event the spectacle it was - a real team effort.

One of our amazing Year 12 students, Lenard Taylor, was selected to attend the ‘Raise the Bar’ Indigenous athletics program in Brisbane over the last holidays. As expected, Lenard represented our school with distinction at this fantastic event. Well done Lenard!

Many of you are also aware that one of our teachers, Mr Nazim, has been selected as a finalist in The Queensland College of Teachers' 'Excellence in Teaching' awards - one of only 30 teachers in the state to have achieved this! As any of us whose children have been taught by Mr Nazim know only too well, this is a very well deserved award.

More details van be found at the link below:

https://www.qct.edu.au/stories/teacher-story?id=22

Another of our exceptional teachers has also been acknowledged for his outstanding work. Mr Coromadel has been awarded an 'Excellence in Pre-Service Teacher Mentoring' Award from the University of the Sunshine Coast. This is also outstanding and a worthy acknowledgement of the work Mr Coromadel has done supporting pre-service teachers in our school. Great work Leon!

We are very lucky to have the quality of staff at our school that we do!

Laptop Hire Program 2023

In 2023, Emerald State High School will be offering a Laptop Hire Program for our students in Years 7 to 10. Access to technology is increasingly important in a modern education and to support this the school has initiated this new program to enable all students in Years 7 -10 to access a school laptop for one term per year. If the scheme is successful, it is possible that it may be expanded in future years.

Parents who still wish to provide their students with a laptop for use for the full year are still encouraged to do so. We continue to recommend that students studying an academic course of study in Years 11 and 12 are provided with laptops. We are happy to discuss individual circumstances with families of senior students who are experiencing significant financial difficulty.

We appreciate that the costs of living are increasing for families and as such, the school has decided to provide this program at no additional cost to families. Costs will be partially offset by the decreasing requirement to purchase hardcopy textbooks.

Within the Student Resource Scheme, the school is purchasing school-wide access to an online textbook and learning resource, to enable all participating students access to a wide range of online resources, accessible both at home or at school either on school or personal devices. These will be accessible at all times during the year, even during the terms when students do not have the loan laptops.

With the range of teaching and learning resources now available for students and teachers, hardcopy textbooks are infrequently used. Hardcopy textbooks will be phased out of use schoolwide, although copies will still be retained for any students who wish to use them.

There are a limited number of devices in the program and as such will be offered to the following year levels for a term period only:

  • Term 1 (2023): Year 9
  • Term 2 (2023): Year 10
  • Term 3 (2023): Year 8
  • Term 4 (2023): Year 7

The laptop hire program has been designed to complement the current BYOx program. Students who are part of the Honours Program are still required to supply their own laptop for the full school year, and therefore participation in this program will not be suitable for their academic requirements. All laptops used in this program will be set up for each individual student and are not to be used by others and will come standard with the schools Managed Operating Environment (MOEv5 Windows 10 Education Edition), Microsoft Office 2016, filtered internet, access to the school network and access to school software.

Students will be expected to take good care of their loan laptops at all times. Where the laptop is damaged or stolen due to deliberate action or lack of care on behalf of the student, the school may invoice a student’s parent/caregivers for the full cost of repair or replacement and the misuse of school laptops will be dealt with according to the Emerald State High School’s Student Code of Conduct.

We are very excited about this program and the opportunity to support engaging, challenging and inclusive learning for our young people.

A parent information evening will be scheduled later in the term, at which parents can ask questions

Speed Cameras

The Queensland Government have advised that, in a world-first road safety initiative, new speed camera technology will soon target speeding drivers at selected school zones across Queensland.

Everyone has a role in keeping our roads safe. It is imperative drivers reduce their speed to the signed 40 km/h speed limit and be aware of activity by students on or near the road.

Speed cameras will only operate during school zone times at the selected schools.

Parents, and carers dropping off or picking up students are urged to comply with school zone speed limits. Those who slow down will not be penalised.

“There are no regrets in life. Just lessons.”
- Jennifer Aniston

Have a fantastic fortnight
Mr. Sean Maher
Principal

From the Deputy Principal – Middle School.

Welcome to the beginning of Term 4, a term full of celebrations of student success and a chance to reflect on how far we have come in the year. This term always passes quickly, so make every day count.

PBL Focus

Our current PBL focus is to be in class every day, every lesson, to ensure you are:

  • Not falling behind in class
  • Staying up to date with assessment
  • Getting notices, so you do not miss out on extracurricular/curricular information.

This is getting you ready for the future:

  • Holding down a job (as showing up to work each day is an expectation)
  • Not missing out on your pay/wage.

Student Well being

Each week the students complete a survey online called the “student pulse”. We use the data from that survey to see how the students are travelling in regards to 4 key areas. Each week, an area of concern highlighted is that, as a whole group, they feel they are struggling with motivating themselves. If you notice this with your young person, the following tips may assist:

1. Sleep well

We all need refreshing sleep to live and learn well. You need at least eight hours sleep each night to function well. At times of pressure, you may even need more. Sleep resets our hormone levels and protects us against stress and depression.

2. Eat breakfast

Your brain is at its best when you eat a healthy breakfast. A good breakfast will benefit concentration and memory.

3. Forget energy drinks

Just one of these drinks elevates your levels of adrenaline (a stress hormone) to five times the normal level for up to five hours after drinking. These drinks are often high in caffeine, aspartame and sugars, all of which increase your stress levels.

4. Cut back on junk food

Eating a lot of junk food will cause you to have a brain that is not only stressed out, it will also make you feel sludgy and tired.

5. Exercise

Being physically active lowers your stress levels. Exercise increases blood flow to the smart parts of our brains where problems can get solved. When we sit or lie still for too long the more primitive parts of our brain kicks in and our thoughts go around and around. Sitting around doing nothing can be great, but if you are already a bit stressed, it will help the worries to build and circle like vultures.

6. Breathe deeply

When you feel stressed, take a moment to breathe deeply. Put your hand on your belly and take a big breath. Then slowly breathe out as you count to yourself, “one thousand, two thousand, three thousand”. Slowing down your breathing resets your body.

7. Drink water

Drinking water lowers the level of cortisol (a stress hormone) in our bodies.

You are probably thinking this all sounds familiar and a bit old-fashioned. However, it is scientifically proven to motivate and improve wellness. It is also quite easy and cheap to do.

Enjoy Term 4 and make every day count.

Regards
Mrs. Deanne Lucht
Deputy Principal – Middle School

From the Deputy Principal – Senior School.

2022 Year 12 Formal

You may have heard that in the final week of last term the school hosted the Year 12 formal! The night was beautiful and it was great to hear all the positive messages at the end of the night. I would like to thank Jaksen Brose, Janene Vale, Alarna Wills and the administration staff who all work tirelessly to make this happen. I would also like to thank Leanne Ross and Anshu Sharma and their teams of Year 11 helpers for the service they provided on the night.

2022 Year 12 Graduation

The final day for Year 12s is fast approaching. This year we will be holding a service for all students and teachers only to attend, in the under covered basketball courts. This will give the school study body a chance to say farewells to our 12s. At the end of this service, the students will be led through an arch to the UCA where parents and guests will be waiting. The parent ceremony will then start. At the conclusion of this ceremony there will be a morning tea. Invitations, with times, for graduation will be emailed home this week.

2022 School Leaders

During Week 1 of this term I had the pleasure of being part of the panel to interview of 2022 Senior Leaders. We still have a number of students to interview, who I am sure will do just as well. I would like to thank CHRC Councillor Megan Daniels and Lauren Jarvis (Year 11 HOY) for giving their time to be part of the panel. All students represented themselves very well throughout the interviews and it was interesting to hear their ideas for an exciting 2023. From here, students will now present a speech to our Year 9, 10 and 11 students. We are on track to announce our leaders at Awards Night.

2022 External Exams (Year 12s)

Our Year 12 students are currently in the midst of preparing for their external exams. Students should be at home revising and preparing for these exams. My advice to students is to ensure they have eaten well before their exams. Make sure they are getting plenty of sleep and exercise. Don’t study too late. Set an alarm or two and make sure you are at school at least ½ hour before the exam is scheduled to start. I have attached a copy of the exam timetable and equipment list for your information.

Regards
Mrs. Tanya Shaw
Deputy Principal – Senior School

From the Head of Year 7.

We’ve made it to the final term of the school year! Over the past three Terms I have had the fortune of watching the Year 7 cohort develop resilience and leadership, through their participation in school life. I would like to congratulate all students on their enthusiasm in tackling every task that is thrown at them. They have shown exemplary behaviour throughout the year.

In Week 10 of Term 3, those students who without any behaviours recorded for the Term were awarded with a Dominos Pizza voucher. I’m very pleased to say that the Year 7s received the most vouchers of any cohort. Our PBL reward for Term 4 will be a trip to either the movies or the pool (their choice) during the last week of school. Students who have maintained positive behaviour (no incidents recorded) for all of Term 4 will be eligible for this award.

Just a reminder that it is an expectation that all students of Emerald SHS are Polite, Prepared and Participating. From visiting a number of Year 7 classrooms, it appears that some work may be needed around being prepared. Students need to be arriving at school with the correct equipment and uniform. It is the expectation in Year 7 that our students are bringing a book and pencil case to each class that has all of the necessary equipment (pens, pencils, ruler, glue, scissors, etc). Your assistance with this is always appreciated.

The PBL focus for Week 1 and 2 of this term was be in class, on time, every day. This message was presented to the Year 7 and 8 cohorts on a special parade in Week 1. In Week 2, we acknowledged the Year 7 students who have maintained 92% attendance or above on parade. I am very proud to say that over 60 students achieved this, with 13 students maintaining 100% attendance for the entire Term! Just a reminder to contact the office via phone or text if your child is ever away from school unwell.

As always, if you have any concerns or questions regarding anything Year 7, you can contact via email or by phoning the school on 4988 2222.

Regards
Miss. Michelle Watkin
HOY – Year 7

From the Head of Year 11.

Welcome back to the final term of 2022. Unit 3 has started in most subjects for Year 11s, meaning they are heading towards the finish line with lightning speed.

Leadership interviews have occurred and applicants will now be preparing for their speeches. Both Mrs Shaw and I are extremely pleased with the calibre of all applicants. We believe that we will have a strong team to work with in 2023.

Senior jerseys and shirts have now been finalised and ordered. Thanks to those for adhering to these strict timelines.

As we are coming to the end of the year, I know a lot of students are stressed about Units 3 and 4. Please ensure they are studying regularly and encourage them to engage in their learning, especially within the classroom, as this will all help when it comes to assessments.

Should you have any concerns regarding the welfare of your child please do not hesitate to email me on ljarv26@eq.edu.au

Regards
Mrs. Lauren Jarvis
HOY – Year 11

From the Guidance Officer.

Queensland Mental Health Week - Saturday 8th October to Sunday 16th October

The theme of 'Awareness, Belonging, Connection', reflects the important factors that help people maintain positive mental health and wellbeing. When we connect with people in our lives, we can also consider supportive conversations about mental health and wellbeing.

The World Health Organisation – WHO believes that children and adolescents’ well-being and development is shaped by the quality of the environments they grow up in. “Early negative experiences in homes, schools, or digital spaces, such as exposure to violence, the mental illness of a parent or other caregiver, bullying and poverty, increase the risk of mental illness.”

Our personal mental health is likely to vary during our lifetime from positive and healthy, to symptoms or conditions that may impact everyday life in response to different stressors and experiences.

Having a difficult time feels different for all of us, but there are some common signs to look out for that may indicate it’s a good idea to talk them through with someone you trust, a general practitioner or support service.

Signs of lower levels of wellbeing to look out for:

  • Feeling overwhelmed and finding it hard to cope with everyday things and tasks
  • Withdrawing from others and usual activities
  • Using alcohol or drugs to cope with feelings
  • Feeling tearful, wanting to cry all the time
  • Feeling irritable, restless or agitated
  • Lacking energy or feeling tired all the time
  • Feeling angry or short tempered
  • Experiencing 'brain fog', finding it hard to think clearly, loss of concentration
  • Changes to your sleeping or eating patterns
  • Feeling that no one seems to understand you
  • Feeling lonely
  • Having suicidal thoughts.

Smiling Mind is a recommended free, web and app-based program designed for all age groups from seven years. It was designed by psychologists and educators to help develop emotional awareness, emotional regulation, and social awareness skills, using mindfulness meditation techniques. Learning skills to help one relax can also assist to moderate issues like anxiety and depression. Visit the link below:

https://www.smilingmind.com.au/

There are a number of services available if you or someone you know needs support:

  • Lifeline - 13 11 14 | lifeline.org.au
  • Suicide Call Back Service - 1300 659 467 | suicidecallbackservice.org.au
  • SANE Australia - 1800 18 7263 | sane.org
  • Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 | beyondblue.org.au
  • Kids Help Line - 1800 55 1800 | kidshelpline.com.au
  • ADIS (alcohol and drug support) - 1800 177 833
  • Queensland Health - 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)
  • Carers Queensland -07 3900 8100 | carersqld.com.au

If your situation is life-threatening, call Triple 000 immediately for help.

Visit the link below for information on mental wellbeing, as well as activity ideas and inspiration. The above information plus specific detail on Queensland Mental Health Week is available on the following website.

https://mentalwellbeing.initiatives.qld.gov.au/

https://www.qldmentalhealthweek.org.au/

Regards
ESHS Guidance Officer

From the SBA/SBT/Work team.

Now is a great time for students in Years 9, 10 and 11 to start engaging in work experience for possible apprenticeships/traineeships for 2023. Work experience has shown to be the best way for a student to show a potential employer their desire to engage in an apprenticeship or traineeship.

All positions vacant are located on student notices and the jobs board located on the Library window.

Year 11 Certificate II Health Support students participated in their first residential school placement at Emerald Hospital. This program is offered under Vetis funding and is accessible from Year 11. The program is run externally via CQUniversity and based here on campus at Emerald High over 18 months.

The qualification provides a foundation to the health sector, to prepare for career pathways and entry into Higher Education qualifications e.g. nursing and allied health.

Emerald State High School offers a range of external programs under Vetis funding and fee for service.

Regards
Mrs. Alarna Wills
Traineeship Coordinator

From the SRC.

The SRC is running the annual Colour Smash and Obstacle Course on Friday 14th October during Period 4. This is a full-school event, and the final activity during Mental Health Week. As a result, all students have to return their permission notes as soon as possible. These have been distributed in PC and have been emailed home as well. If your child requires a new form, they are available in the office, from the library staffroom and from the desk selling wristbands during both breaks. All students who do not return their forms will be completing literacy and numeracy worksheets in the library under the supervision of teachers.

The obstacle course this Friday involves multiple activities and challenges on the oval; with an optional section for students who wish to participate in the Colour Smash. Last year was our first year and we learnt a lot about how to structure this year’s obstacle course in order to avoid the bottle neck that was created last year. Every lap will earn their House a House Point, so by simply walking around the oval and participating in some of the challenges, students will still earn a point.

This year we have a 20m long slip and slide, which the Fire Department will keep flowing, a hay bale jump, the Gauntlet of Death, a net crawl and skipping rope gamble among other challenges. If your child wishes to participate in the Colour Smash, they will need to purchase a wristband for $2 in the courtyard near the tuckshop at both First and Second Breaks. In order to participate in the Colour Smash, students will also need to bring a spare change of clothes, as they will not be allowed to participate in their uniforms due to the coloured chalk and possible staining.

There will also be a BBQ during First Break, where students will be able to purchase soft drinks and $2 sausages. The SRC with the help of the Technology Department, has also made a dunk tank. For 50c per throw, students will have the opportunity to dunk Miss Whybird. We dare you to try and throw straight.

Thank you for supporting this annual fundraiser for mental health. With our Year 12 students about to start their final exams and all years starting their final units, Period 4 this Friday will be a great opportunity to just let loose.

All money raised will be donated to Mental Health facilities in our community.

Regards
Ms. Leanne Ross
SRC Coordinator

From the Interact Group.

Emerald State High School is the only school in Emerald to still have an Interact Group – in fact our group was formed in 2016. Interact is the teenage branch of Rotary, and this year our club has grown from 9 members to almost 30 students. Any student from any grade can participate, with meetings held when necessary during First Break on Wednesday in C8. Being an internationally recognised organisation, all membership is included on school reports and children are encouraged to include their participation within their resumes.

Members voted this year on running one fundraiser and one social event per term. As a result, the Central Highlands Interact Group (the formal name of our organisation) has experimented with our annual “Christmas in July” light display and Movie Marathon last term – both held in the Sunrise hall at the BMX track. This term we are running the Haunted House at the Sunrise Hall at the BMX track, and our Christmas break-up which will be at the pool.

On the 22nd October, the CH Interact Group is running its annual Haunted House in order to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor’s Service and mental health. It is a Halloween inspired event as it is held the week after Mental Health Week and the weekend before Halloween. As people with mental health issues can often feel trapped in their own metaphorical house of horrors and worries, we want to bring attention to such an important issue in our community. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $5. Emerald Rotary is providing a BBQ and the students have been working hard to create props, collecting costumes and rehearse their roles.

A massive thank you to the following companies and people who have supported Interact’s efforts – without them the 2022 CH Interact Haunted House would not be possible:

  • Mitre 10
  • Brennan’s Welding
  • VIPR Industries Electrical Solutions
  • Trash to Treasure
  • Staff and Volunteers at Emerald Lifeline
  • Staff at Emerald Waste Transfer Station
  • Emerald Rotary Club
  • Sunrise Rotary Club
  • Rockhampton Bunnings
  • Emu Park Men’s Shed
  • Joanne Chambers

Regards
Ms. Leanne Ross
Interact Coordinator

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 “Be in class every day, every lesson.”

Community Notices