10 May 2017

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

It is hard to believe that by the time this newsletter is published that four weeks of this term will almost be over – the 3 short weeks to start the term have certainly made time fly.

Week 4 was a big week for the Year 7’s and Year 9’s, with most of them sitting the National NAPLAN tests on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Information was given in our previous newsletter regarding these tests by our Junior Secondary Deputy, Mrs Narelle Webb. We are sure that the students gave the tests their very best efforts, so that information received from the results from these tests will help us determine how to best assist the learning of these students as they progress through High School.

CAMPS AND EXCURSIONS

Our amazing Teachers and staff continue to work tirelessly to organise and provide exciting learning experiences for our students. This includes a variety of opportunities for students to participate in excursions and camps where they will experience curriculum activities that they might not have normally had.

BIOLOGY CAMP

Our Senior Biology students recently travelled to Salvatore Rosa National Park to be involved in activities related to their studies, as well as to experience camping and learning about this very valuable life skill. It was a great camp, but unfortunately was cut short when rain settled in over their area. This required a very quick late night exit to ensure that the bus and all students were able to get out of the area before it became impassable. A few very brave students volunteered to stay back with a couple of staff members to pack up equipment in the rain, while the others exited on the bus.

The students who stayed behind were Charlie Aitkin, Blair Shearwin, Brea Frousheger and Cassie Campbell, who worked with our school Chaplain and Mr Huth to pack away the gear, and then get out of the area via 4WD vehicles.

Our thanks to all students for the mature way they handled this change of events, and to our fantastic staff members who did an amazing job of dealing with the situation. Thanks to Jenny Peacock for her excellent driving of the school bus, Ms Jenna Andreatta for her organisation and leadership of the camp, and to Mr Matt Huth and Les Penrose for their excellent work in getting students and equipment out under very adverse conditions.

I am sure that this was an experience and camp that all involved will remember for a very long time!

YEAR 7 CAMP

From May 15-19, our Year 7 students will have the opportunity to participate in a very exciting camp at Emu Gully, situated just east of Toowoomba. This is an exceptional camp, with an ANZAC theme to all of its activities. This will be a great opportunity for Year 7 students to get to know each other better, to work with each other, and to learn how to work with each other to bring about success – something we hope they will do throughout their journey through High School at Charleville State High School.

Thank you to our Junior Secondary team led by Mr Sam Barrow for his organisation of this very exciting event for our Year 7 students.

OTHER CAMPS

Other camps that are already in the planning process include two Agriculture camps, one to the Bundaberg show, the other to the Royal National Show in Brisbane. The Year 11 Leadership camp is also being organised for the Year 11s to travel together to Maroon Dam (6-11 August), while the Year 9 students will have the amazing opportunity to be involved in a camp that takes them to beautiful Moreton Island (10-12 October). Thank you to Mr Sebastian Kohli and Ms Katherine Goult for all of their work in preparing for these events.

SPORTING EXCURSIONS

All Schools Volleyball will be attended by a number of our students this year for the first time. This event is being held in Toowoomba rom 25-28 May. The students have been training very hard and consistently in preparation for this event. Thank you to Ms Butler for all of her work in preparing for this and for having the inspiration, enthusiasm and energy to start this very exciting initiative this year.

All Schools Touch Football will be travelling to Brisbane to compete in this National Touch football competition again later in the year, with this huge event being held from the 4-8 October. Thank you to Mrs Eileen Lindsay for her work in organising this exciting event for our students.

There will be a number of fund raising events happening to assist students to pay for these events, with the biggest being the annual Trivia Night which I am hoping as many parents can support as possible. More information regarding this great evening will be given as we get closer to the event.

As you can see, the staff are doing an amazing job in providing these incredible opportunities for the students of Charleville State High School. They are a wonderful group of professionals who really “go that extra mile” to support and provide exciting and engaging educational experiences for their students.

SCHOOL BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS

The improvements to the Canteen have now been completed, and it looks fantastic. The school now has a modern, clean and efficient canteen for Leith and Chris to work in preparing food for the students of our school. The work included new windows to allow in light, air conditioning for the area, screens for the serving area, as well as a total re-fit of hygienic stainless steel benches. The finished product is very pleasing and will function well in servicing the students of Charleville State High School well into the future.

As mentioned in our previous newsletter, phase two of the new works will be the upgrade of the Junior Secondary area between Blocks A and B in the school. Plans have now been devised for this area by the Project Manager which includes an upgrade to the drainage in the area, a large covered area and a concreted area for handball courts and seating for the students.

I am hoping that by the end of this week we will have information regarding the successful tender for this part of the project, with the intention that work on this part of the upgrade can commence sometime in the June/July holidays.

Thank you to the P & C who have been a great support in assisting in gaining the funding for this project within the school.

I hope everyone continues to have a safe and successful Term 2,

Matt Samson
Principal

Deputy Principal Senior Schooling Report

Senior Schooling Parent Information Evening

You are invited to an information evening to help explain the structures and processes our school works with to support students through their final years of High School.

We will be discussing the:

• Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)
• Queensland Core Skills Test (QCS)
• Changes to Senior Schooling for 2018 – Relevant to our current Year 9 students
• Overall Positions (OP) and Field Positions (FP)
• Vocational Education and Training (VET) Certificate Courses
• School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships
• Student Learner Accounts
• Senior Accountability Program
• Need for Homework and Study

These topics have been discussed with the students, and will continue to be a focus in our Pastoral Care program. It would be great to share some time with you to discuss and explain these topics. If you have any questions about the event, or other topics please contact Sebastian Kohli or Vanessa Moller.

Year 10 SET Plan Interviews

To support our Year 10 student’s transition to Year 11 and 12, on Wednesday the 31st of May we will be conducting Senior Education and Training Plan (SET Plan) interviews.

The aims of the interviews are to ensure that students and parents are aware of the requirements of senior subjects, OP and QCE eligibility, and to answer any questions that parents or students may have about their senior studies. By the end of the interview students will have made an initial subject selection for 2018, which will be reviewed in Pastoral Care during terms 3 and 4.

Activity details:

Year 10 students volunteer helpers at Senior Games

Charleville State High School was once again asked to help out at the Senior Games last Friday. Our amazing CEC, Jolene Russell, organised some of our year 10 students to be on hand for the morning. I would like to acknowledge that our students shone and I received some lovely feedback on the day about our polite and helpful students.

Senior Games is an opportunity for our older citizens to show some competitive spirit along with teams coming from as far away as Ipswich in games including ten pin bowls, darts, bean bag throwing and quoits. This was a wonderful opportunity for our students to show our school spirit and give back to our community. A big thank you goes to our Year 10 students, Jolene Russell and Emma Libke, who helped our community and visitors at the Senior Games. Well done!

2017 Next Step survey

The Queensland Government is conducting its annual state-wide survey of all students who completed Year 12 in 2016. The Next Step survey is a brief, confidential survey that gains a comprehensive picture of the employment, study and life choices made by Queensland school completers in the year after they finish Year 12.

Between March and June, all our students who completed Year 12 last year can expect to receive instructions to complete a web-based survey or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office to complete the survey. Please encourage them to take part. If their contact details have changed, please assist the interviewer with their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate.

Thank you for your support of the Next Step survey in 2017.

Further information on Next Step is available online at the link below, or on toll free telephone 1800 068 587.

Deadly Recruits Camp 2017

The camp is a collaboration between St. George, Cunnamulla and Charleville schools, the HOPE Project, Cunnamulla Council and reflects our community’s genuine desire to provide every opportunity to our young people.

The camp will run this year from Sunday 16th July to Friday 21st July. The camp is open to both males and females, from Year 10 – Year 12. These students will spend a week camping at Tinnenburra and undertaking various army activities, such as using night vision, orienteering hikes and standing and marching military style.

If you are interested in this camp, please see Jenny, Jolene or myself.

VET News

Our Year 10 students and some of our Year 12 students are working toward gaining their Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways, during their Pastoral Care classes. The course covers valuable Literacy and Numeracy skills, as well as preparing students to undergo training in other certificate courses that we offer here at the school. This certificate course will gain the students valuable QCE points, as well as a well-recognised award for their resumes.

Traineeships

We currently have a school based traineeship available for a Certificate III Hospitality. If anyone is interested in this, please see our Careers Advisor, Ange Vetter.

Thank you to all our local businesses that support our students with Work Experience, Traineeships and Apprenticeships. You offer our students valuable time and experiences within the workplace.

Cheers
Vanessa Moller

Junior Schooling

Year 7 and 9 Students: NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy)

If you have a student in Year 7 or 9 they may be getting a little anxious regarding the NAPLAN tests coming up on Tuesday 9 May, Wednesday 10 May and Thursday 11 May.

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests were first implemented in May 2008 when national tests were held in literacy and numeracy for all students in Australia in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.

What is the purpose of NAPLAN?

While it is acknowledged that the NAPLAN tests can cause anxiety for some students, the purpose of NAPLAN is to assess the skills of all Australian students in literacy and numeracy against national minimum standards. I have spoken to all of the students in the junior school and explained to them that NAPLAN is very useful to us at Charleville SHS as we use the information (data) to help us understand every individual and their learning needs. I have told the students that NAPLAN helps us(teachers) to help them (students). Along with other diagnostic tools such as PAT M and PAT R, we are able to better know each student as a learner and plan our programs and lessons around the needs of our students.

What is tested?

A series of (4) Four tests will assess areas of literacy and numeracy.

The following areas of literacy are assessed in three papers:

• Language conventions - spelling, grammar and punctuation
• Writing - knowledge and control of written language
• Reading - comprehension.

In numeracy, students are tested in one paper only in 2017 and the content areas assessed are:

• Number
• Measurement, chance and data
• Space
• Algebra, function and pattern (formal algebra for Year 9 only).

Results from the tests will provide important information about children's progress in literacy and numeracy. Following the tests, schools and students will receive a statement of performance in relation to the national minimum standards.

What do students need to do?

Students need to try their hardest, focus on their own work and turn up to each exam on time. Year 7 students will sit their tests in the Library and Year 9s will be located in A Block. Both year levels have been preparing across Term 1 and have sat a trial exam. These trial exams provide feedback for our staff on student progress and areas to focus on, as well as to familiarise students will the processes that will take place on May 9th, 10th and 11th.

For further information about NAPLAN and the tests please do not hesitate to contact the school or go to the links below.

IMMUNISATION

• The year 10 students have been given consent forms for Immunisation for Meningococcal (Year Ten students). Please return these forms to the office as soon as possible.
• Immunisation Clinics for Years 7. All participating year seven students received information and forms to be signed for the year seven immunisation program which commenced in March. The second round of immunizations will occur this term.
• On Monday 8th May the Tackle Flu program will take place providing influenza vaccinations to senior indigenous students.
• On Monday 15th staff will receive their flu vaccinations.

COGMED

Evidence Based Working Memory Training for Charleville SHS, 2017 - Senior students have been given the option of doing this program voluntarily before school with Mrs Peacock and selected year eight students will be working during period one or two each morning. Miss Sarah O’Brien has been coordinating the program for year eights. The year eight students do have the option of doing their COGMED sessions before school if they are concerned that they are missing valuable curriculum time.

EALD

In early June, Kath Symmons will be visiting Charleville State High School to discuss the needs of our EALD students. If you wish to meet with Kath to discuss your student who has English as a second language, please contact me at the school to arrange a time.

ROTARY COMPETITION

Help celebrate 100 years of the Rotary Foundation doing good in the world.

Rotary Club of Charleville with St Mary's Catholic Primary School Charleville, Charleville State Primary School and Charleville State High School celebrate Rotary helping to eradicate Polio.

The Competition for students (one winner per category per school):

• Preschool—Yr 3 : Colouring Competition (Prize $50.00)
• Yrs 4—6: Biography of Clem Renouf (Prize: $50.00)
• High School: 100 year Timeline of Rotary and Polio Eradication (Prize $100.00)

(High School Entries to be handed to the High School office by 12 May. All entries will be displayed at the Charleville Show)

For more information contact:

Dave Walters, Ph: 0407 022 82
Or
Mrs Webb
Deputy Principal, Office

SCHOOL GROUNDS

For safety reasons, please be aware that unless supervised, students/children are not allowed on school grounds outside of school hours.

POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR FOR LEARNING (PBL)

Charleville State High School is a PBL school.

Positive Behaviour for Learning is:

• The most effective way to develop a safe and supportive learning environment;
• A school community (students, parents and school staff) work together to establish the expectations for behaviour. The expectations are simple, clear and explicit. BE SAFE, BE RESPECTFUL, BE RESPONSIBLE and BE A LEARNER;
• Developed as research shows that students are more likely to respond positively when they know what is expected of them and when responses to behaviour are fair and consistent.

All students are explicitly taught the expected behaviours. Some students will require additional support to learn the expected behaviour. A few students will require intensive support to assist them to learn appropriate ways of behaving.

As part of the PBL process we encourage Expected Behaviours with

Starbucks – rewarding Expected Behaviour

• free and frequent
• medium term (Starbucks accumulate)
• Long term (Rewards trip celebration)

OTHER SUPPORT NETWORKS (APART FROM THE CLASSROOM)

There are many avenues to support students at Charleville State High School including:

Guidance Officer: John Anderssen
Heads of Department - Sebastian Kohli (Maths/ Science)
Cassandra Kohli (English/ Humanities/Arts/LOTE)
Sabrina Goodingham (Junior Secondary/ HPE)
Bernie Matthews (Technology/ VET)
Year level coordinators: Year 7 – 9 Katherine Goult and Sam Barrow
Year 10-12 Leighton Webb and Jemma Day
Careers/ Transition advice: Ange Vetter
Youth Support coordinator: Jenny Peacock
School based Youth Health Nurse: Jen Sellin
Chaplain: Les Penrose

There is also a study/ homework group that meets on a Tuesday afternoon that all students can attend. Students interested in attending this session need to see the office for the parent approval form.

Thank you for your continued support of your student, the school and the educational process. If you would like any further information regarding the topics above please don’t hesitate to contact the school. Together we can make a difference in the lives of our future leaders.

Talking About School with your Junior Secondary Child

‘How was school today?’ ‘OK.’ Every afternoon, parents across Australia get the same frustrating one-word answer. Here are some ideas to get your child talking about school.

Why talking about school is hard

‘How was school?’ is a big question. To answer, your child has to sum up a whole day, and that’s hard for kids (and even grown-ups!) to do.

A child might really want to say, ‘My day was so jam-packed with ideas and classes and social stuff that I don’t know where to start’. So it’s easier just to say, ‘OK’.

Why talking about school is important

Talking with your child about the school day shows you’re interested in what’s going on in their life. This interest boosts his mental health, happiness and wellbeing. It can also have a very positive effect on your child’s behaviour and achievement. It shows your child that you value school and education, which encourages them to value it too.

Talking together about school also helps you get to know more about what’s expected of your child at school, how she learns and how she handles challenges. It can help you understand when they’re feeling less interested in school or experiencing problems.

When you’re in touch with your child’s feelings about school, you’re more likely to see problems when they’re molehills, not mountains. This way you can work on overcoming challenges together.

And talking about school issues – such as school projects or friendship problems – is also a great chance for you to express your family values about things like teamwork, respect for self and others, friendships, relationships, problem-solving and so on.

Ideas for talking about school with secondary school children

As they develop into the teenage years, your child might want more privacy and time to themselves, which can make it harder to talk about school. But this isn’t the end of your warm, close relationship – it’s just that getting some distance from you is how your child becomes a more independent individual.

Another conversation starter with your child would be to ask them about the four WALT’s. Each lesson in the junior school begins with the students writing the WALT (We Are Learning To). The WALT gives the student a clear understanding of what they will be learning in the following 70 minutes. If you are also aware of the WALT you will be able to discuss exactly what the student is learning in class rather than receiving the usual teenage response of “Nothing” or “Not Much”.

Stay connected

Staying connected to your child can help you balance respect for his desire for independence and privacy with your need to keep in touch with their life. It can also help you pick up on the moments when they’re ready to talk.

Ask about links between schoolwork and future plans

At this age, your child might be more open to talking about the links between her schoolwork and what they want to do when they’re finished school.

So rather than asking about your child’s day-to-day activities, you could try focusing on future plans. For example, ‘How’s the webpage you were designing in information technology coming along? Are you still thinking you might want to get into web design after school?’

Look out for signs of problems

Even if you usually have a good relationship with your child, they might not always tell you when they’re having a tough time. If they are upset or nervous about discussing school or refuses to answer a question, there might be a bigger problem.

If you’re worried, you could try talking to other adults who know your child. Contacting the school or other appropriate professionals might help too.

Stay calm around tricky topics

Conversations with your teenage child about school might bring up tricky topics. Try to stay calm – this is a great chance for you to be supportive. If your child doesn’t want to talk to you about a tricky topic, they might chat with someone else – another parent (especially of the same gender, if it’s a personal issue), a trusted relative or friend, or a school counsellor.

Kind Regards,

Narelle Webb
Acting Deputy Principal
Junior School & Student Services

Year 7 Humanities – Ancient Egypt

This term in Humanities the Year 7’s are studying Ancient Egypt. They have been researching the people, the land and the different landscapes of the Ancient Egyptian world and finding it quite fascinating. Even homework is being completed due to their curiosity. Topics such as Cleopatra, the Pyramids of Giza, The Sphinx, Pharaohs and gender equality are just a few topics that the students have been learning about.

Quiz for Parents:

• How many pyramids are in Giza?
• What was the purpose of building The Sphinx?
• Who was the last Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt?

To find out the answers, ask the Year 7 students for assistance.

Biology Camp

The Senior Biology students recently ventured to Salvator Rosa National Park to conduct an environmental study at the Nogoa River north east from Tambo. 24 students, accompanied by Miss Andreatta, Mr Huth, Mrs Peacock and Chappy took the school bus, trailers full of tents and swags and two four wheel drives into the wilderness for three days. After a 5-hour journey, most of which was over rough dirt roads, we arrived at the camp site with the students relieved to get off the bus and take in the beauty of the surroundings. They had little chance to sit down with many dusty tents to raise and the camp kitchen being set up for a comfortable place to sleep and eat for the next few days.

As soon as camp was set up, Mr Huth started the fire, Chappy had the billy boiled and Mrs Peacock was preparing the spag bol for dinner. Miss Andreatta took a group of students to the stream to inspect which area would be best for setting up transect lines to study the following day. Once the sun had set and a beautiful dinner was ready to eat. Students enjoyed sitting around the camp fire eating and mingling while Anastasia ate close to three bowls full of Spaghetti Bolognese to keep her going through the night. Afterwards students quickly settled back in their tents after a long day of travel and setting up camp.

On the Wednesday students woke up nice and early and were treated with bacon and eggs for breakfast. After that it was down to business, students were put in work groups to set up the transect lines along the river for them to collect measurements at five metre intervals along the line, while also constructing a profile diagram of the area and a flora and fauna register. Measurements were taken three times during the day to gauge the change in the environment at different times. Before lunch was ready some students stayed behind to rest while others went for a bush walk with Miss Andreatta to look at the rock formations on the hill next to the camp site. After lunch the students, Miss Andreatta, Mr Huth and Mrs Peacock went for a bushwalk to see a couple of sites at Salvator Rosa. After walking 2km in soft sand we made trek up to the sandstone monolith of Spy Glass Peak, a sandstone mountain with a 10m diameter weather-eroded hole that close to the summit that the sun shines through. We then walked a further kilometre to visit the crystal clear natural springs that adds 10 million litres of water a day to the Nogoa River. The students enjoyed the cool springs and Millee, Zoe and Jewel even tried the natural clay as face masks.

When we got back the students had to complete their final trail of data collection before they could settle down to rest after the long day of walking and data collecting. Mrs Peacock along with the help of Mr Huth and Chappy prepared a delicious beef stew cooked in camp ovens, roast potato and damper for us all to enjoy for dinner. After dinner everyone gathered around the camp fire to sing Hope and Faith a happy birthday and enjoy the taste of roasted marshmallows and hot milo’s. Mr Huth introduced a new game called ‘On a small boat to China’ for people to play around the fire that required a lot of thinking to pick the pattern that people thought of.

The game ended abruptly by rain and everyone retreated to their swags to keep dry, falling asleep to the sweet sounds of rain. Throughout the night the rain progressively got heavier and soon Chappy had to make the call to evacuate the camp site at around 12.30 in the morning, so we could get the students and the bus out before it was too late and had to stay another day or two. With heavy rain still pelting down the students were all woken up by Miss Andreatta shouting to get their belongings together and meet on the bus for further instructions on what to do. Four students Brea, Cass, Charlie and Blair stayed behind at camp to help Chappy and Mr Huth pack the swags and tents that could not be put down that night. By 1.30am Mrs Peacock had the bus back on the muddy slippery road for the slow and unexpected trip back to Charleville.

A big thank you needs to be given to Mr Huth for his knowledge of plants and for all the driving he had to do for us in this unexpected situation, Mrs Peacock for driving the bus, braving the unexpected weather conditions and for her deliciously cooked meals that all students enjoyed eating and to Chappy for his camp equipment, calmness when making decisions, wise words and his many famous stories. It seemed like all students had a good time and I hope they collected as much data as they will need as the hard part is still ahead, writing their reports!

World of Maths Roadshow

Real-world, hands-on, Maths activities

On Thursday the 20th of April the World of Maths Roadshow visited our school. The World of Maths Roadshow was a great opportunity for students to see how maths is applied to some real life situations.

Students gained insight into problem solving, working in teams, and various maths principles which are part of their curriculum, and which can be observed and used in their lives.

It was a highly engaging session which showed the students that Maths can be fun!

Positive Behaviour for Learning

The schools PBL committee is currently in the process of planning our rewards trips for this semester, where the school recognises the student’s efforts in following the school expectations. This year, unfortunately we are not able to do the footy trip to see a Broncos game due to there being no suitable date. The committee has made other suggestions for the students to partake in, including, theme park trip, trip to Toowoomba which may include ten pin bowling, cinemas or go-kart racing. Other sporting trips have been looked into, such as a Firebirds or Reds game. Student leaders are in the process of conducting a survey with the student body to decide which will be most popular, while the committee will make the final judgement based on safety and costing of the event.

Sarah O’Brien

Cogmed

This year for our Year 8 students and some senior students, we are giving them the opportunity to participate in the Cogmed program. Cogmed is a computer based training program, designed to improve working memory, which is the ability for students to be told information and then complete tasks with that information, like remembering the steps on how to complete a task. So far 14 students have completed the training in Term 1, with another group of students starting this term. Most students that have completed the program have seen an improvement in their working memory, the hope of the school is that this improvement in working memory will have a positive effect on students grades and behaviour in classes. Cogmed looks and feels like a computer game, the game is based around a robot and different parts of the robot contains different ‘games’. These ‘games’ are all memory based, where participants need to remember a sequence which they then have to repeat.

Many of the students are enjoying the game feel and setting themselves challenges within the program to better themselves and see how many sequences they can achieve. This motivation towards bettering themselves is fantastic to see.

Sarah O’Brien

TENDER ITEM