1 February 2018

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

WELCOME BACK

Welcome back all of the CSHS families, students and staff to Charleville State High School for 2018. A special welcome to the 59 year 7’s who have joined us this year, our largest cohort for some time, and also to the number of new students and families in other year levels joining us at Charleville State High School. We look forward to working closely with all of you to bring about the best educational outcomes for each of your children.

STAFF NEWS

As happens every year, there are a few changes to key positions in the school this year. Ms Vanessa Moller returns to the school to continue the great work that she commenced last year as Deputy Principal of the Senior students.

Ms Katherine Goult returns to the school this year as Mrs Katherine Neucom, after her marriage to Johnathon late last year. Mrs Neucom will also take on the role of HOD of Diverse Learning for 2018 in the absence of Mrs Grant, who has taken the whole of 2018 off to travel around Australia with her husband. Mrs Neucom has already been hard at work determining the best ways to support our students and help them achieve success in 2018.

We welcome five new teachers to the school this year, all of them bringing with them experience and knowledge that will undoubtedly assist all of our Charleville State High School students in achieving the best results they can. Our new teachers this year are Mrs Kate Jackson, Mr Paul Hunter, Mrs Wendy Porter, Ms Sue McDermott and Mr Matt Jackson. They join us this year from a variety of schools in the south east corner of Queensland and are all very excited to be at Charleville State High School for 2018 and beyond.

PIC NEW TEACHERS, PIC of SUE McDERMOTT

This year will also see two of our staff members taking on the role of Junior Year level Co-ordinator for the first time. Thank you to Mr Daniel Baeck and Mrs Kate Jackson for taking on this very important role in the school for 2018. Ms Lauren Butler and Mr Leighton Webb will continue their great work in the roles of Senior Year level co-ordinators again this year as well.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

Our 2017 Year 12’s achieved some outstanding results, with a number of students receiving fantastic OP scores that have enabled them to receive offers for the University courses of their choice. A very special mention must go to Zoe Aspinall, who achieved the incredible result of an OP 1, the top score you can achieve through the OP system. This score opens the door for Zoe to engage in virtually any university course in any University she desires – we look forward to hearing what Zoe decides to do with this incredible achievement.

Other students who achieved excellent results included:

Milly Smith – OP 5, Ian Mackie – OP 6, Michaela Walker – OP 7. There were also 6 other students achieving OP’S of 11 or under, which will give them numerous tertiary options if this is the pathway they choose to take in the future.

The other very pleasing result was that every Year 12 student received their QCE, their Queensland Certificate of Education. This signifies their successful completion of Year 12 and is important for many of our past students as they search for employment in 2018. We wish all of the year 12 students of 2017 all the best for their futures.

The year has only just started, but already our incredible students are doing amazing things.

Two of our outstanding Year 11 students, spent last week at Queensland University instead of school, as they participated in a camp for the commencement of the UQ Young Achievers Program. They will be involved in this prestigious program for the next two years, while completing their senior program here at school, to help prepare for their tertiary education choices after school. Congratulations to both of these students, who I am sure have gained so much from this experience, and are now even more motivated to achieve great things this year!

NEW JUNIOR AREA

The new junior precinct area is now open and being used by the students. Turf has been laid and once it has had a chance to establish itself, the rest of the area will be able to be used by the year 7, 8 and 9 students. Over the next couple of weeks, students will be giving us feedback as to how they would like handball courts set up in the area, and these will be added for the enjoyment of the students during breaks.

Year 7 parents joined us in the area on Thursday afternoon for our regular “Meet and Greet” with the students, their parents and the teachers.

ATTENDANCE

Our target and goal for attendance is a minimum of 92% for every single student in the school. Every day missed by a student is information, skills and knowledge that is missed, making it harder for that student to reach their full potential.

Week 1 saw 6 of our 12 Form classes reach attendance levels above 90%. I spoke to the students on Tuesday’s assembly about “hitting the ground running” – being prepared, organised and getting off to a great start. Many have done this, and it will certainly give them a great launching pad to success in 2018.

Teachers have also spent the start of their classes working with students to help them set goals for 2018. These will be re-visited on a regular basis over 2018 to help keep students focused and giving them the best chance of reaching their goals this year.

The P&C is continuing its support of attendance awards this year, with the best attending form classes awarded a certificate for the Form and students presented with a free slushy voucher each week. The winners for Week 1 for the Junior school was A2 with 95% attendance, while for the Senior school the victor was T4 with 94%.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Year 7 Parents – Meet and Greet – Thursday 1st February
• Leaders Investiture - Tuesday 6th Febrauary 10am, School Hall.
• Swimming Carnival – Friday 9th February, Charleville Swimming Pool

Please remember, we are here to work with you to make your students time here at school as enjoyable, fulfilling and successful as it can possibly be. Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time if there is something you wish to discuss regarding your child.

All the best for 2018 everyone,

Matt Samson
Principal

Deputy Principal Senior Schooling Report

Welcome back to another year at Charleville State High School.

Congratulations Michaela

A big congratulations to Mikayla Walker (Year 12, 2017), who received an early offer to study Nursing at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba. Michaela also found out recently that she has been awarded the USQ Future Community Leader Scholarship, worth $6000. Michaela is returning to Charleville next month to carry the Commonwealth Games Queens Baton. We cannot wait to see her and look forward to congratulating her in person.

Subject Changes

Any student who is wishing to change subjects must get a subject change from the office and have this returned by the end of Week 2. This form needs to be signed by all the appropriate teachers and parents.

Please consider that subject changes in Year 11 and Year 12 can affect a student’s OP eligibility and their QCE achievement. Discuss this with your student, if they are electing to change their subjects.

School Photo’s

School Photo’s will occur on Tuesday 27th February. Senior students are required to wear their formal shirts, with black long pants or black skirts. Photo order packs will be sent out prior to this date.

QCE Tracking

Mr Kohli and I are busy closely monitoring our senior students, to ensure they are on a pathway to successfully gain their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). If any students need to change subjects to help them toward getting their QCE, they need to see me before the end of Week 2. We will also be organising parent/student interviews with those students who are ‘at risk’ of not gaining their QCE, so we can form an action plan.

Year 10 Work Experience

Beginning in 2018, all Year 10 students will be completing a week of Work Experience, to align with their Certificate II in Foundation Skills for Work (CERT II FSK), which they complete during their Pastoral Care classes. This course teaches students basic literacy and numeracy skills, as well as the skills required to study certificate courses. The course will also give students points toward their QCE.

Work Experience will occur in the last week of school in Term 2 (Week 11). It would involve sourcing over 50 positions for students for 5 days straight, for 6 hours each day. Working hours/times will be negotiated with the employer. These positions do not have to be in this town. Through negotiations with us, students could go anywhere in QLD. They might have relatives in Brisbane or a family property in Emerald, that they could go to for a week of work experience.

Students will be allocated a prospective employer, according to their preferences and then be able to ‘apply’ for this job. They will have to write a letter of introduction and a resume (all done through the Cert II FSK in Pastoral Care), which will be sent to the business. Student will have to present to the business before the work experience for an interview, giving the employer an opportunity to outline their expectations.

If there are any employers who are interested in having a work experience student for a week, from Monday 25th June to Friday 29th June, please contact Ange Vetter at the school on 4656 8888.

The New QCE and ATAR – Parent Evening

On the 5th March, Ms Moller and Mr Kohli will be presenting information to Parents and Students about the New QCE and ATAR. The information session will begin at 5:30pm in the Professional Library inside the Administration Building.

VET News

We have a number of traineeships and apprenticeship opportunities coming up. If your student is looking for the opportunity to be involved, please contact Ange Vetter at the school on 4656 8888.

Have and amazing Term 1 and I hope we all have a successful year.

Cheers
Vanessa Moller

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL JUNIOR SCHOOLING AND STUDENT SERVICES NEWS

WELCOME TO 2018

I would like to extend to you a very warm welcome to the Junior Schooling and Student Services page for 2018. My name is Narelle Webb. I first started at Charleville State High School in 1995 as a Head of Department. I left to raise my family for several years during which time I worked at a Band Five School near my home. I returned to Charleville State High School in 2011 and since then have had a range of positions including Behaviour Support Teacher and Master Teacher. In 2017, I was very pleased to have taken on the role of Deputy Principal, Junior Schooling which includes Student Welfare and services.

Timetable

The timetable for 2018 is finalized and most students in Years 8, 9 and 10 all were placed in their first choice elective classes. From time to time students request to change their electives. This can only be done in the first 2 weeks of term and only with written permission from home. Unfortunately, some of the elective classes are full such as ITD.

STUDENT SERVICES Team - 2018

The Student Services team will oversee the following areas:

• Medical Needs and Plans
• Students with a Disability(SWD) and QCIA(Senior Schooling)
• EAL/D students
• Indigenous students
• Students with additional needs e.g. dyslexia, ADHD, Auditory Processing, mental health
• Positive Behaviour for Learning
• Behaviour Support including support plans and flexible arrangements

STUDENT SERVICES- VISITING SPECIALISTS FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF

Student services have a number of specialist individuals and organisations visit the school. Most of these services are for students with a disability and/ or medical condition. If you wish for your child to access a specialist through the school please contact Mrs. Narelle Webb.

The following specialists are have been/ are expected in our school over the next few weeks:

• Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) - Natalya Kajewski- based at Charleville State School. Natalya will be visiting CSHS in the very near future and if she needs to see your student she will contact you. Natalya, at CSHS, works mainly with students verified with a Speech Language Impairment (SLI) or an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis either directly with the student or to produce programs to support the student. Natalya will also work with students potentially needing an SLI verification.
• PBL Regional coordinator and Behaviour Support - Marc and Alison Davis- based in Toowoomba. They will visit us every two weeks.
• Autism Queensland- a variety of specialty staff- based in Brisbane. Autism Queensland will hopefully be visiting Charleville in Term one. All families that this visit effects will receive a letter and consent form to be completed and sent back to school. Please direct any questions about the Autism Qld visit to your case manager.
• EAL/D Support - Anna Batsone works in this area to ensure our students who have English as a second language are well supported at our school.
• Immunisation Clinics for Years 7 and senior students - These will commence in March and there will be two more clinics over the year. Year 7 and 10 students received on Tuesday an envelope with information and forms to complete for their first vaccinations. Please return the envelope to the office as soon as possible. If your child missed the vaccination, please make sure you visit the community clinic held at the Town Hall on Thursdays to catch them up.

READING PROGRAMS SET TO COMMENCE- LEVELLED LITERACY INTERVENTION (LLI) and MULTILIT

At CSHS we teach reading through a multi-tiered approach. The teaching of reading is for all students and is expected of all teachers. For student who have been tested and fall below the Regional Benchmarks, they may be included in our second level of intervention- Levelled Literacy Intervention (LLI). This is a commercial program we have purchased and will be run by Ange Stirton and Wendy Porter. The third level of intervention is another commercial program known as MultiLit (Making Up for Lost Time in Literacy). Some parents may be familiar with this program as it is run at many Primary Schools.

If your child is going to be a part of LLI and/or MultiLit you will be notified. There will be a parent information session that will be held here at the school for parents in the near future.

CWAATSICH HEALTH MUSTERS

This term we expect the first of three Health checkups for our students run by CWAATSICH will commence. All students are encouraged to attend and receive a checkup ranging from hearing screeners, eye tests, dietician support, speech language pathology and occupational therapy just to name a few. The consent forms must be returned and the clinics will be held here at school in the hall. Please contact me, Narelle Webb for further information.

STUDENTS WITH MEDICAL NEEDS

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

If you receive a referral form from the school with regard to your child’s medical needs please return them as soon as possible.

SWD STUDENTS

SWD students will have be contacted by their 2018 case manager. If you have not received contact by the end of week three please contact the school.

INDIGENOUS STUDENTS

We are very fortunate to have a dedicated CEC at Charleville State High School. Jolene Russell supports our Indigenous students academically, socially and emotionally as well as ensures that they are engaged at school following the 4 B’s and 4 V’s. Jolene is very proactive and often will make home visits to ensure our students can reach their potential at Charleville State High School.

This year again, our goal is to ensure we close the gap further for all of our Indigenous Students. My aim is to ensure every student is valued and feels valued at school and I want to work closely with CWAATSICH, Community Partnership staff and parents so we can have happy, enthusiastic young adults at Charleville State High School.

Mobile Phone Policy

A huge thank you to all the families who have been positive in their support of the new mobile phone policy. Already we have noticed a difference in the students and their social interactions during break time.

I want to ensure all parents that they are very welcome at the school and feel free to contact me at any time if you have concerns regarding your child and their learning. Together we will make a difference!

Until next time,

Narelle Webb
Deputy Principal

Junior Secondary Welcome

A warm welcome back to all our students, and in particular our new Year 7’s – welcome to Charleville State High School. 2018 has started fantastically with all our students seemingly eager to be back hard at work, and following our 4 B’s and V’s. It is great to see so many smiling faces eager to learn, and wearing their uniforms with pride.

This week was an orientating stage for our students reminding them of the processes required at high school and introducing them to their teachers for 2018. It is amazing to see the number of Starbucks earnt in just one week!

2018 has plenty in store for our Junior students, with camps, sporting opportunities, NAPLAN, and of course the opening of the new Junior Area. Year 7 students will be off to Emu Gully, early in Term 2, while our Year 9’s will travel to Moreton Bay for their Camp in Term 4. Fundraising by our junior students for camp will commence in the next week. If you have any fundraising ideas, or would like to contribute to our fundraising endeavours, please feel free to contact me on sgood192@eq.edu.au or via the school number.

This Thursday, 1st February from 3:15pm we are holding a Junior Meet and Greet for the Year 7 parents and families in our new Junior Area. It would be wonderful to meet as many parents as possible and discuss with your child’s teacher the progress your student is making already this year, over a free sausage sizzle. We look forward to seeing you all.

Until next time,

Sabrina Goodingham
HOD – Junior Secondary

House Point Update

Welcome back to our students. This year Charleville State High School will continue to build on the House Program we implemented last year, recognising the achievements of our students both at school, and in the wider community. We know that many of you have been busy over the holidays – making many accomplishments. Please let your house mentor know ASAP with evidence of your achievements so we can award your house the relevant points.

Our first major event will occur Friday 9th February (Week 3), with the annual Swimming Carnival. It would be wonderful to see as many students and parents there in their house colours to build up house spirit and pride. There will be extra points awarded for the best dressed, and the best decorated house area.

Our second event for Term 1, will be a trivia competition to be run Wednesday of Week 6. Start thinking now students to get your teams together.

Our House Mentors for 2018 are:

Alamein – Kristyanna Creedon
Kokoda – Fiona Day
Tobruk – Jenna Andreatta

Please keep your eyes and ears pealed to see what the House program will bring in 2018, and who will be the overall winner!

New Elective Subject in the Junior School

In 2018, students have the opportunity to study a new elective subject known as Physical Activity and Sports Studies (PASS). This is an exciting new subject that many students in years 8 and 9 chose to study in addition to the compulsory HPE subject. In PASS, students are exposed to sports and physical activities that they would not normally participate in such as lacrosse, frisbee golf and orienteering just to name a few. This subject aims to enhance students’ capacity to participate effectively in physical activity and sport, leading to improved quality of life for themselves and others. Students engage in a wide range of physical activities in order to develop key understandings about how and why we move and how to enhance quality and enjoyment of movement. This term, year 8 students are studying the sport of AFL whilst year 9 are studying the importance of fitness and are participating in a wide range of different fitness circuits. All students are engaged and excited to see what the subject of PASS brings in 2018.

FROM THE GUIDANCE OFFICER

Social Skills for Resilience

People with good social skills are better equipped to handle the everyday issues and challenges of life. Feeling confident that we can manage our social relationships effectively is a key factor in good mental health. It also has

This year our school is embarking on weekly social skill lessons throughout the school. Each week there will be a different focus and it would be very beneficial if families were to take an interest in these lessons by having a family discussion about them.

The focus in week one was self-awareness and the building of self-esteem through affirmations. In week two we will focus on taking responsibility for our own feelings in our relationships by using “I” messages.

In future weeks, we will explore topics such as Building Self Respect, Keeping Safe, Respecting Others, Responsible Relationships, Resilience, Learning about yourself, Maintaining Control under pressure and Managing Stressful situations.

John Anderssen