16 March 2016

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Welcome to the final edition of the newsletter for Term one. When I look back over the term, I reflect fondly on the start to the school year. Our students are actively engaged in learning and currently working towards their learning goals for each of their subjects. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our students and their families a very happy and safe Easter. I look forward to welcoming our students back on the 5th of April.

Attendance

During week seven we had our best attendance percentage for the year. I am pleased to announce that in week six we had an average attendance percentage of 94.5% which is 2.5% above our target of 92%. The thing that has been most pleasing is that our students in week seven followed our great attendance from the week prior with an attendance percentage of 95.5% which is a wonderful effort. As you are aware “Every day counts” and if students are attending as often as possible they will give themselves the best opportunity to do well at school and ensure that learning gaps are not developed. I would like to thank the parents, caregivers and school community for your continued support of our desire to have students attend as often as possible. The challenge I gave to the student population on assembly was to repeat this great attendance rate, in particular, I talked to the students about the fact that Friday is as an important day like any other day. Our data shows that Friday is our worst attended day and students need to be at school each and every day to succeed. Well done Charleville State High School on a great start to our attendance for the year. We are currently averaging just under 91% for the term and we are looking forward to averaging 92% attendance across the whole school. The chart below shows the improved attendance for the term and especially our improved effort each Friday.

Facilities Upgrades

I am pleased to let you know that we will soon start to see our facilities upgrades occurring. On the 21st of March, the external painting of A and B block will begin and will be ongoing during the holidays and is due to be completed during term 2. During the holidays, the Library will have some new carpet installed which is well over due, and this will provide a real lift to this facility. I also look forward to the installation of a new roof on B block which is also due for completion over the holidays. As you know, we are continuing to upgrade our facilities to ensure that we can provide the best educational resources for our students.

Anti-bullying Day – Say No to Bullying

Friday March 18 is the National Day of Action Against Bullying. The day celebrates Australia's cultural diversity and is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone, themes that link directly to the anti-bullying focus of the National Day.

Bullying is an ongoing misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that causes physical and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power over one or more persons. Bullying can happen in person or online, and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert).

Bullying of any form or for any reason can have long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders.

Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying. However, these conflicts still need to be addressed and resolved.

Online bullying (sometimes referred to as cyberbullying) is bullying carried out through the internet or mobile devices. Not all online issues are bullying, you can learn more about cybersafety issues, including online bullying .

On Friday we will mark the day by asking students, staff and parents to wear an orange item of clothing. There will be no cost for this; we simply ask that you wear orange, and have a conversation with your children. Staff will be making sure they take the time to discuss Bullying with their students through form class this week.

Most importantly, if you or your child believe they are a victim of discrimination or bullying, it is vital that it is reported.

You can find some great resources on The National Day of Actions against Bullying at

I would like to remind our school community that students are available to make anonymous reports via the stymie website ( www.stymie.com.au ) to report any such issues.

Staff changes

It is with a great sense of sadness that I would like to announce publicly that Micaela Campbell (office staff) will be leaving Charleville State High School at the end of the term to join her partner on the Sunshine Coast. Micaela has been a valuable staff member of our school and is someone that we will certainly miss as part of our administration team. Micaela, as well as Dee, are the public face of our school and provide a great welcome to our school. As a result of Micaela moving on we currently have a temporary position advertised on the Smart Jobs website. This position will close on the March 20th with an expected commencement at the beginning of Term Two. If you would like more information, please click on the link below or contact our BSM Jillian Bussell.

Parents and Citizens Association

A reminder that the P and C Association AGM will be held this evening, at 5.30 pm, in the Administration Building. I look forward to working with the executive and the committee in 2016 to ensure that we continue to strive towards ensuring that we provide our students with continued outcomes that are consistent with the high expectations we as a school and community are striving for.

Next Step Survey

The Next Step survey is a state-wide destination study of all students who completed Year 12 in the previous year.

The 2016 Next Step survey of 2015 Year 12 completers will soon commence, and I seek your support in promoting participation in the survey.

The survey provides a comprehensive picture of the employment, study and life choices made by Queensland school completers, and allows schools to track local trends with statewide and regional trends. Further information about the Next Step survey, including statewide and regional reports from 2015, is available at www.education.qld.gov.au/nextstep/ .

This information is to inform parents and siblings of former students, our school community, and former students, about Next Step and encourage our Year 12 completers from last year to participate.

Thank you for your ongoing support of this important study.

End of term

As we start to come to the end of the term I would like to remind our school community that our students will be involved in meaningful learning up to and including the last day of term. Our teachers will have assessment coming up over the final days of this term and it is important that students attend. Obviously we understand there are situations that are beyond our control, but we appreciate your continued effort to help ensure that we as a school can continue to provide successful learning outcomes for your students.

School Sport

Term One is traditionally a busy one with regards to school sport. Our students have been involved in many school, district and regional trials this term. I must say that I am always proud of our students that participate in these trials, and I continue to encourage students to always ‘have a go’ regardless of whether students are chosen at the next level or not. Congratulations to all of our students that have gained selection in these trials.

On the 4th of March I had the pleasure of accompanying our Under 15 and Open Rugby League teams to St George. It was pleasing to see that our students played very well as a team, and the Opens had a convincing win on the day by defeating St George 48 – 12. Our Under 15 team played well considering the fact that they were only able to play nine-a-side because St George did not have enough players to field a full team. Thank you to Sam Barrow, Josh Jensen and Shaun Radnedge for preparing our teams so ably.

Once again I wish our school community a Happy Easter, and I look forward to term two.

It is important to us that every day, in every classroom, every student is learning and achieving. Charleville State High School thanks you for your support in this partnership.

Marcus

Teaching and Learning @ CSHS

The end is nigh for Term 1

As enter the final two weeks of Term 1 it is a good opportunity to remind all students, particularly those in our senior secondary school (post-compulsory), that every minute, every day and every lesson counts at school.

As they are busily completing assessment for each subject, some students are beginning to see how important missed lessons really are. It is not just about your physical body in class but about how you interact. The importance of students being in classes every day is two-fold: hearing the impromptu conversations about concepts and assessment that takes place in every lesson, as well as students being able to ask for clarification in person. It is for these reasons that every minute, every day and every lesson counts for successful learning by all students at Charleville State High School.

Spotlight on teaching at Charleville State High School

High Order Thinking (HOTS)

As teachers we are always striving to look at ways to help our students. There is no teacher or school leader who is not aware of the importance of teaching high order thinking skills to prepare our students to live successfully in the 21st Century. One area we as school have identified as a key focus for 2016 is the development of higher order thinking skills (HOTS). But what is this? How will it help your student?

Higher Order Thinking skills involves the learning of complex judgemental skills (critical thinking and problem solving), not just learning facts and concepts. HOTS require students to be able to go beyond remembering knowledge and comprehending (understanding) it, to being able to apply ideas and skills taught to analysis, synthesis (evaluate) and be creative to put ideas together in a new way and create something new through problem solving and critical thinking.

Higher OrderThinking Skills

Why are we focused on High Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) at Charleville State High School?

Memory, comprehension and application are fundamental thinking skills we all require to understand and complete simple tasks, pass assessments and hold down a basic job. In a workplace setting especially, Critical or ‘Higher Order’ Thinking skills (analysis, evaluation and creation) are most heavily used in roles given to people charged with the responsibility of making important decisions. For students, assessment tasks are often designed to not only evaluate the breadth of a student’s knowledge, but the depth of their understanding. In fact, assessment questions which carry the heaviest weighted marks are usually those based around analysis, evaluation and creation. To be as successful as possible at school, and throughout life, higher order thinking skills are essential. It is for this reason that we are focused on developing these skills in all students.

How can you help your student at home?

As adults and parents we want to ensure our children arrive at the ‘right conclusion’. It is tempting to explain everything rather than allowing our children to explore their own thoughts about the topic and putting their ‘Thinking Cap’ on. The simplest ways in which parents can assist in developing a child’s Higher Order Thinking skills, and encourage them to put on their ‘Thinking Cap’, can be as simple as encouraging our children to think about ‘why’, ‘how’ and ‘therefore this means that…..’. For many parents who already do this it is important to understand just how vital it really is to have your student put on their ‘Thinking Cap’ regularly.

Assessment

As mentioned above, many of the Higher Order Thinking skills needed for being successful in life are assessed in schools. Students in each year level are in the middle of assessment for the term, working towards developing their higher order thinking skills. This can be stressful. Students have been provided with a copy of their assessment due dates for Semester 1. This includes exam dates, when drafts are due and any other tasks they are required to complete across their courses of study for this year. If you have not sighted a copy of this document please check the school’s website, your student’s diary or ring the school and we can provide another hard copy for you.

Many students often wonder why assessment is needed. The purpose is not to annoy or frustrate anyone but to help educators know where each learner is up to and what they skills and abilities need help with. This is why student must submit drafts of work and complete tasks when required. Quality feedback from staff can’t be provided on part of a draft, or worse still, no draft at all. Ultimately it is about helping students develop the skills they need to function successfully in life once they leave the safe confines of home and school.

Requirements for students and assessment

• Assessment needs to be attempted on or before the due date ( including exams and oral presentations)
• Assessment must be able to marked against all criteria – i.e. a name on a piece of paper is not enough to be given a grade for an assessment piece
• Assessment must be the student’s own work, not that of anyone else – e.g. plagiarised.
• Assessment will be submitted by all students, even if after the due date, to ensure a full range of skills are demonstrated for effective feedback for all students
• Work submitted after the due date may not be able to be given a grade
• Late assessment will incur 15 points per piece as an element of the Senior Student Accountability Program (SSAP)

Expectations for all students:

Students are learning the reality of their choices not to submit work when requested by their teachers. Assessment work can, and should, include drafting of tasks or perhaps a checklist of items required for a much bigger piece of work across a semester. If a due date is missed, without a valid reason or documentation, students will still be expected to submit the late work.

The table below covers many of the reasons given by students for non-submission and some possible options and/or solutions:

It is very important to clearly articulate that excuses, such as those above, are not accepted.

What can students do to help themselves?

• Attend school and classes regularly
  (must be a minimum of 90% - for senior students unexplained absences will incur 2 points per absence as a part of the SSAP, and possibly lead to a cancelation of the enrolment due to a lack of engagement with the educational processes provided and course coverage.)
• Plan ahead - use the assessment dates and planner given out last week to help organise your time for Semester 1 and map out when you will need to work on assessment
• Attempt all work, at school and home, set by staff
• Seek feedback and ask questions about all tasks – see your teachers before or after school, during lunch breaks or in class if there are opportunities to do so
• Submit full drafts when required
• Submit all tasks on time – including sitting exams and presenting oral tasks
• Talk to staff if there are any concerns well before the due date
• Attend study / homework club for further help (need to have submitted a permission form – collect one from Mr Kohli if you want to participate)
• Apply for an extension (at least a week before the due date) if there is evidence to support the application. See the relevant HOD for the subject that the extension applies to, if you need to request this option.

How can you help your student through the school year, learning and assessment?

• Know when their assessment due dates are and help plan
• Ensure they are getting quality sleep
• Ensure they are eating well
• Ensure they have some ‘down time’ – some weeks may have more than others
• Ensure that homework is attempted –e.g. going over class notes and ideas each day
• Ensure they are asking staff for help if they are struggling at home
• Contact the school if you have any concerns

Who can support your student at CSHS?

There are many people who can help your student if they need it. Below is a list of some options should students not know who to see for help.

Recent Events:

Australian Computational and Linguistics Olympiad

Congratulations to the students who participated in the Australian Computational and Linguistics Olympiad. By all accounts there were some very interesting questions posed to students and a great deal of lateral thinking involved. As one of our key priorities this year is student development of high order thinking, this opportunity highlights our commitment to expanding student horizons and skills. Thank you to Mr Kohli and effort in ensuring that such an opportunity could take place.

As always I would to thank you for your continued support of your student, the school and the educational process. I would like to wish everyone a safe and relaxing Easter, ensuring rejuvenation for the start of Term Two on Monday 11 April.

Donna

STUDENT SERVICES NEWS

STUDENT SERVICES- VISITING SPECIALISTS FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF

Thank you to all of the families who returned their Autism Queensland forms. They have all been sent away in preparation for their visit in Week 9.

LEVELLED LITERACY INTERVENTION (LLI) – HOMEWORK IS ESSENTIAL

If your child is part of the LLI program you will have received a letter from the school. At this stage we are focusing on Year 7 and Year 9 students significantly under the Regional reading benchmark. It is essential that if your child is part of this program that they fulfill all the criteria of the program- otherwise there progress will not be reflective of what could be achieved. The criteria include 100% attendance (except for extenuating circumstances) and the completion of the set homework.

If you have any concerns or questions regarding the program please don’t hesitate to contact Mrs Angela Stirton at the school. There is a long waiting list to enter the program and therefore students who fail to meet the criteria will be exited so as to ensure the best results for the students.

CWAATSICH HEALTH MUSTERS

The 2nd Health Muster was to be held on 17th and 18th March however has been postponed. CWAATSICH will advise of a new date as soon as they have one.

If you have not returned your forms and would like your child to be seen by a variety of health care providers please return them to the office as soon as possible. It is not too late to be included regardless of what year level you are in. We will make sure every student who has returned a form has an appointment.

STUDENTS WITH MEDICAL NEEDS

A reminder to parents/carers to notify the school about your child’s health

If you have received a referral form from the school with regard to your child’s medical needs please return them as soon as possible. If you have returned them you should expect some updated plans to be sent home to be checked and signed in the near future.

DIABETES AND EPILEPSY TRAINING FOR STAFF

At our Staff Meeting on March 7th all staff were provided with Diabetes and Epilepsy training delivered by our Registered Nurse, Tamara Saxton. Tamara is responsible for writing the medical plans for our students and also delivers a variety of basic medical training to staff. All staff are now be better equipped for supporting students with these medical conditions, in conjunction with their Individual and Emergency Management health plans.

SWD STUDENTS- SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS AFTER SCHOOL

Please see the attached flyer for parents and educators to attend a workshop outlining My Future: My Life, a ground-breaking initiative which encourages and supports Queensland secondary students with a disability to pursue their vision and goals for life after school.

Who should attend? Parents, disability professionals and educators of secondary school students with disability.

Purpose: these workshops are highly interactive with participants engaging in group exercises in order to think creatively about possible options for a secondary school student with disability for life after school.

The workshop will help participants:

• think creatively about life after school
• identify and capture students’ unique potential and goals
• link to community resources
• identify what it would take to put the student’s plan into action

EAL/D STUDENTS

Over the next few weeks we will start the process of providing additional support to out EAL/D students. All students from non-English speaking backgrounds will produce a piece of written work to be analysed by our specialist EAL/D support worker in Toowoomba, Kath Kelly. There will also be a parent information night for EAL/D students in the coming weeks.

PARTNERSHIP MEETING

On Monday night a Partnership Meeting was held here at the Trade Training Centre, in collaboration with Charleville State School and CWAATSICH. Both school Principals’ outlined their support of Indigenous students and the improvements seen in relation to QCE attainment, NAPLAN Closing the Gap and attendance. Some of the issues discussed were NAIDOC week 2016, the CEC position, parent homework club for next term and the successful use of Indigenous teacher aides.

SPOTLIGHT ON JENNY PEACOCK
Youth Support Co-ordinator (YSC)

How long have you been a teacher aide for? 12 years and YSC for 1 year
What is your favourite food? Thai
What is the best part of your job? Building positive relationships with students and hopefully making a difference in their lives.
What is your greatest achievement? My 2 beautiful children of course!

Until next time,
Jenni
Deputy Principal-
Student Services

Senior Economics

Since Week 6, students in Senior Economics have been developing their decision making skills and learning to justify their choices, key skills in higher order thinking. Along with considering the costs and benefits of choices, and determining their opportunity costs, students have been looking at the satisfaction a good decision can give individuals.

Last week, students used a decision making matrix to determine which BBQ chips were the best for teenagers. Some of the criteria they used included flavour, crunch, nutritional value, price and appearance. While this decision was a simple one, the skills students have developed can now be applied to more involved decisions. Active participation and student engagement at its best.

Cassandra Kohli

Congratulations to our new and continuing School Based Trainees

Congratulations to the Students below, and the generous businesses, that have recently undertaken School Based Traineeship arrangements to support academic outcomes for our students.

Trivia Night

Trivia Night is closing in fast! With a new date, the all-famous Charleville State High School Trivia Night will be here in no time. On Friday May 6th we will get together in the school hall for another great night. This year we are raising money towards both our All Schools Touch Football team and our Under 15’s Rugby League tour. Get some friends together and make a team to help raise money for our kids. Come down to the Charleville SHS office to collect a nomination form. Hope to see you all there!

International Women’s Week

March 7th to 13th saw the celebration of International Women’s Week where we recognised and celebrated the achievements of Queensland women and girls. The theme for the inaugural week was Good for Her. Great for Us. When women achieve, Queensland succeeds.

This theme celebrates women’s achievements as well as acknowledging that supporting and enabling women to take advantage of opportunities to succeed is good for everyone in Queensland.

To acknowledge this occasion all the females in the school collaboratively painted a picture which represented the theme. All the female students and staff then signed the painting to be displayed.

Up Coming Events

Multiple Birth Awareness Week (MBAW)

March 13-20 is Multiple Birth Awareness Week, a national event held annually to celebrate the joy of parenting multiples. It also serves to educate communities and professionals about the unique challenges of parenting twins, triplets and more. At Charleville State High School we have 10 sets of twins amongst our student cohort; we have 2 staff members with twins, and one staff member who is a twin. To celebrate this we would like to invite parents of twins to join us in a shared lunch on Wednesday 16th March at 11.40 during second break at the Trade Training Centre.

The theme for 2016 is “Leave no family behind”.

National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence Friday 18th March

This annual day is Australia’s key anti-bullying event for schools, and encourages all students to ‘take a stand together’ against bullying and violence in schools, the classroom and beyond.

Students are encouraged to wear something orange to bring awareness to the issue and help deliver a powerful message that bullying and violence is never okay. Our Student Representative Council will also be contributing to the cause on Friday March 18th.

Jenny Peacock Youth Support Coordinator

CHARLEVILLE BRANCH
OF THE
ISOLATED CHILDREN’S PARENTS ASSOCIATION

What Is ICPA?

ICPA is a voluntary organisation for parents who live in rural Australia and whose children:

• Attend a preschool or access in-home care
• Attend a small rural school
• Study by distance education
• Travel to school by bus or private vehicle
• Attend a rural high school
• Move away from home to access tertiary education
• Board away from home at a boarding school or hostel, or maintain a second home to access a high school or tertiary education

How does ICPA work?

ICPA seeks to ensure that all rural and remote students have equality in access to an appropriate education, and seeks educational opportunities for students from preschool through to tertiary education. If you live in rural Australia, and are accessing an education for your children, then ICPA is already working for you !

What am I entitled to if I join?

Being a member of ICPA entitles you to “News and Views” and “Pedals” magazines, State & Federal Council updates via email, information on ICPA activities, support with individual educational issues, and access to an educational support network.

As a member of ICPA you can do as little or as much as you like. As a branch we do some fundraising throughout the year in order to send delegates to conferences, make donations to our local schools. Most of all your membership will really count when State and Federal council lobby the government to maintain an appropriate standard of education for all rural and remote students.

How do I join or renew my membership?

Simply complete the membership form below (which covers membership for the family), and send together with the annual membership fee of $40.00 to:

The Treasurer, Charleville Branch ICPA, Angellala Downs, MORVEN QLD 4468

Please ensure that cheques are made out to :

Charleville Branch ICPA or Direct Deposit BSB 034 169 ACC 51-0001

For any enquiries or further information please call –
Louise Winten 0428 549 562 or Robyn Donohoe 46 548 163

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2016 MEMBERSHIP Charleville Branch ICPA

……………………………………… wish to commence / renew our membership to ICPA.

Postal Address………………………………………………

Email Address………………………………………………

Phone Number…………………………………………………