24 July 2018

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

It is hard to believe that term 3 is already here. As I explained to the students on assembly last week, this is probably the most important term of the year. This is the term where students can consolidate on the good work they have done in Semester 1, or reflect and work harder to ensure that they succeed and achieve their educational goals. In sporting terms, term 3 is the “championship quarter”, where the effort at this time sets students up for success at the end of the year.

This is especially true for the year 12 students, who will have their assessment sent away for verification of their results at the end of this term. For them, term 3 is crucial to their final results. We wish all of them the best of luck as they commence the last semester of their secondary schooling.

STAFFING NEWS

Over the holidays, we received the very exciting news that Mrs Kristyanna Creedon, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Ella Joy Creedon. Both Mother and baby are doing well.

We also welcomed two new staff members to Charleville State High School; Ms Emma Cameron, who is teaching in the areas of English and Humanities, and Ms Amy Roughan, who is teaching in the areas of Maths and Science. We warmly welcome both ladies to the Charleville State High School Community, and know they will enjoy their time in Charleville and at Charleville State High School.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

Even over the holidays, our students were doing amazing things. Harry Springall, one of our wonderful Year 10 students, travelled to Brisbane on the last weekend of the holidays to receive the very prestigious “Pierre de Coubertin Award”. This is awarded to students who are nominated by the school who meet criteria around sportsmanship, as well as submitting a written piece on the topic of sportsmanship and the Olympic spirit. Harry was presented the award by the Governor of Queensland and Major of Brisbane, while also having the opportunity to meet a number of commonwealth and Olympic Games champions.

Three of our students were also involved in a netball camp on the holidays that saw them develop their netball skills while having the opportunity to work with and meet the players of the Queensland Firebirds team. Peta Russell, Marni Briggs and Jasmine Steer, travelled to Brisbane for the camp and also watched a firebirds game from courtside seats, then spent an hour with the players after the game – an experience they will never forget. Thanks to Mrs Jolene Russell who accompanied the girls on this camp.

During the last week of school in term 2, all of the year 10 students were involved in work experience. The students were placed in all different types of work places, both in and out of town. The response from the students regarding their experiences has been fantastic, with all of them really enjoying the week and very appreciative for the opportunity given to them by the businesses that had them for the week. Feedback from the businesses and workplaces I have spoken to have also been very positive regarding the student’s work ethic and attitudes over the week.

A special thanks to Mrs Ange Vetter for her amazing organisation of the week, and also to all of the wonderful work places throughout town who gave the students the opportunity over the week-without your support this week would not have been possible.

This week within Charleville, NAIDOC week is celebrated. Charleville State High School held a ceremony at the school on Tuesday morning, which included the Bangarra student dancers. They did a wonderful job in helping to celebrate the NAIDOC week theme, “Because of her, we can”.

The students will also participated in the community NAIDOC march on Friday morning. This year, students will meet at school and will be bused down to the start of the march, will march to Charleville State School, and then will be bused back to school in time for period 2.

At the end of term 2, black school hoodies were organised and purchased by the P&C. They have now arrived and seem to be a big hit, particularly with the very cold weather we have been having. Thank you to those involved in organising this for the students, and thanks to the parents who supported the P&C with the purchase of one of these jumpers.

Can I remind all parents that if students are not wearing a school jumper or jacket, then the alternative is a plain black jumper only – please do not send your student to school with other coloured jumpers.

UPCOMING EVENTS

NAIDOC WEEK MARCH – FRIDAY 20 JULY
\REWARDS TRIP – THURSDAY 26 TO SATURDAY 29 JULY
YEAR 10 SET PLAN INTERVIEWS – TUESDAY 31 JULY
YEAR 11 CAMP – SUNDAY 30 JULY TO FRIDAY 3 AUGUST
KARYN MURPHY CUP – TUESDAY 31 JULY TO THURSDAY 2 AUGUST
ALL SCHOOLS VOLLEYBALL COMP – THURSDAY 9 TO MONDAY 13 AUGUST
SCHOOL ATHLETICS CARNIVAL – FRIDAY 10 AUGUST
YEAR 10 PISA TESTING – MONDAY 6 AUGUST

Matt Samson
Principal

Deputy Principal Senior Schooling Report

Diamond Spirit Netball Camp

Over the July School Holidays, three of our students travelled to eh Gold Coast to attend the Diamond Spirit Netball Camp. Our three students were part of a group of 16 students from around the state. The students who represented us were Jasmine Steer, Marnie Briggs and Peta Russell, and were accompanied by Jolene Russell. The students got to attend the Indigenous Round for netball, met some of their netball hero’s and all round, had a great time.

Deadly Recruits Camp

On Sunday 24th June 2018, we had 8 young people travel to Tinnenburra Station for the week long Deadly Recruits Camp. Tinnenburra Station is about an hour and a half south of Cunnamulla and the students were driven down on the CASE Bus by Barry Wastie, accompanied by Jolene Russell, Christina Roos and Amiee Dolman. The Bus rolled out of town on this Sunday at 8:30am, to meet the rest of the campers at Cunnamulla State School. 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.

Jolene Russell camped with our students for the week, which concluded on Friday 29th June. These students spent a week camping at Tinnenburra and undertaking various army activities, such as using night vision, orienteering hikes and standing and marching military style. What an amazing adventure!

PISA Test and Survey

On Monday 6th August 2018, selected year 9, 10 and 11 students will participate in the PISA Test and Survey. Students and schools are randomly selected and forms part of the National Assessment Plan. Information has been sent home last week for those students who have been selected to participate from our school. All other Year 10 students will participate in an alternate program.

School Opinion Survey

The School Opinion Surveys are undertaken each year by the Department of Education and Training to obtain opinion information from parents/caregivers, students and school staff. The surveys are designed to help schools identify what they do well and how they can improve. The School Opinion Survey suite is comprised of five individual surveys:

• Parent/Caregiver Survey
• Student Survey
• Student Survey for Special Schools
• Staff Survey
• Principal Survey.

Opinions on the school, student learning and student well-being are sought from a parent/caregiver in all families and a sample of students from each state school.

All of the information you provide will be treated confidentially. Randomly selected families will be posted an information and instruction sheet within the next week. The School Opinion Surveys will close 5pm Friday, 24th August 2017.

Indigenous Education Community Meetings

Charleville State High School holds an Indigenous Education Community Meeting once a month. This Committee provides a link for our indigenous community/family to share knowledge, celebrate and be involved in the education of the children enrolled at Charleville State High School. If you have a child/grandchild attending Charleville State High School who identifies as ATSI or you are interested in the education of ATSI children in our community then we welcome and encourage you to attend our meetings.

In 2018, these meetings will be held in the school Professional Library, situated in the school office, and will occur on the second Thursday of each month. If you wish to discuss a particular topic please forward your agenda item to jruss336@eq.edu.au prior to meeting day.

Year 10 Work Experience

Nearly all Year 10 students completed Work Experience in Week 11 last term. All reports have been extremely positive and a few of our Year 10’s may even get offers of part-time employment and traineeships. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our local businesses for supporting our students. It was an amazing community effort to get all of our students linked with an employer. A huge thanks must also go to Angelique Vetter, who worked tirelessly for 6 months toward making this program a huge success.

Queensland Core Skills (QCS) Test

Each year, the QCAA conducts a common statewide test designed for Year 12 students. The test is also available to other eligible candidates.

The QCS Test contributes information for the calculation of Overall Positions (OPs) and Field Positions (FPs), which are used to select students for tertiary entrance.

A student's individual QCS Test result is not used on its own in the calculation of their OP — instead, group results are used as part of the statistical scaling processes. A student's individual result on the QCS Test (from A to E) is reported on the student's Senior Statement or Statement of Results.

The QCS Test does not test particular knowledge of specific Year 12 subjects. It tests the Common Curriculum Elements (CCEs), a set of generic skills identified in the Queensland senior curriculum.

The test assumes that candidates have basic levels of general knowledge and vocabulary and a Year 10 knowledge of mathematical operations.

The QCS Test consists of 4 papers — a Writing Task (of 600 words), a Short Response paper and two Multiple Choice papers. The results achieved for each of the 4 test papers are combined into one grade, ranging from A (the highest grade) to E (the lowest).

Those sitting the test are asked to respond to a variety of stimulus materials, such as prose passages, poetry, graphs, tables, maps, mathematical and scientific data, cartoons and artistic works.

QTAC

The Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) operates a centralised tertiary application service for:

• publicly-funded Queensland universities
• Bond University Medicine
• TAFE Queensland
• Australian Maritime College
• some courses at publicly-funded universities in Northern New South Wales
• some private tertiary education providers.

These institutions have complete control in determining their own entry requirements.

QTAC assess applications using these entry requirements and then make offers to successful applicants during the offer rounds.

As well as managing applications for the above institutions, QTAC publish course information for some institutions that accept their own applications directly.

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. 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.

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.

Thank you to all the businesses that support our students and our school. If you have an opportunity within your business to employ a school based trainee or apprentice, please contact Ange Vetter on 4656 8888.

Cheers
Vanessa Moller

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL JUNIOR SCHOOLING AND STUDENT SERVICES NEWS

WELCOME TO Term 3

Junior School
Timetable

Your student will have received a new timetable at the beginning of Term 3. Except for a few teacher changes there are minimal changes in times and subjects for Years 11 and 12. However, Year Seven students have a new timetable structure to accommodate the new electives being offered. Occasionally, parents contact me asking to change subjects for their student. The correct process is for parents/carers to contact the relevant Head of Department to discuss the best for their child’s education.

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.

Class Teachers

Have a list of emails to be able to contact staff or ring the school to have a chat or organise a meeting.

Head of Departments

Science/ Maths/Ag/Senior Secondary – Mr Sebastian Kohli
HPE/Junior Secondary/Art – Mrs Sabrina Goodingham
Technology/ VET – Mr Barry Wastie
English/ Humanities/LOTE/Reading - Mrs Cassandra Kohli
Diverse Learning – Mrs Katherine Neucom

Year Level Coordinators

Yr 10-12 – Miss Nancy McKinnon and Miss Lauren Butler
Yr 7-9 – Mr Daniel Baeck and Mrs Kate Jackson

Guidance Officer – Mr John Anderssen
Youth Support Coordinator - Mrs Jenny Peacock
CEC – Jolene Russell
School Based Youth Health Nurse – Jen Frazer
Chaplain - Mr Les Penrose (Chappy)

Deputy Principals

Senior Schooling – Ms Vanessa Moller
Junior Schooling and Students Services – Mrs Narelle Webb

Principal -Mr Matt Samson

NAIDOC March

On Friday 27, students from Charleville State High School will be marching as part of the NAIDOC March. Arrangements are slightly different this year. Students will meet at the school in the morning and transported by bus to and from the venues during the first lesson. Classes will be as normal for Block 2, 3 and 4. A note will be sent out on Tuesday with details.

Reading Program

Reading is the focus for Charleville State High School. We are focusing on students significantly under the regional reading benchmark. We are very successful with our reading program. It is essential that if your child is part of this program that they fulfil all the criteria of the program- otherwise their 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 Stirton or Ms Sue McDermott 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.

The third level of intervention is another commercial program known as MultiLit (Making Up for Lost Time in Literacy). If your child is part of LLI and/or MultiLit you will be notified.

New Junior Form class

With an increase in enrolments in the junior school we have created a new form class in the junior school called FMJ1(J stands for Junior). Students in this form class were carefully considered for extra support that they may require. All students in this form class have been given a letter with details. A huge thank you goes to the Junior school team, Mrs Kate Jackson, Mr Daniel Baeck along with Mrs Sabrina Goodingham for this initiative. Of course, the fabulous staff in the student support centre continue to do an outstanding job in supporting our students. Jenny Peacock, Jolene Russell, Courtney Burns and Jen Frazer. The official Form teachers for FMJ1 are Mrs Ashleigh Pezet and Mrs Liz Moore.

Student Services

Mobile Phones at Charleville SHS

A large number of students have mobile phones at school. I would like to emphasise that at no time from 8:40 am to 3:00pm does a student require to use a phone at school. If urgent phone calls are needed to be made, students are allowed to call from the office. Rarely a school subject requires the student to use their phone. Phones, in general, are not allowed in a classroom. If students use their phone they will be directed to hand their phone into the office and home will be notified to arrange collection. If a student posts images taken at school on social media the consequences include possible suspension and then that student will be banned form having a phone at school for the rest of the year.

It has been brought to our attention from the Police that there is an increased amount of inappropriate use of data being used and received by young people in Charleville. I would like to bring to the attention of parents/carers of students under the age of sixteen that you are responsible for what is stored on their phone. As a responsible parent/carer you should be checking the phone for what is being received and what is being sent via their phone. Should your child receive inappropriate material via their phone, it must be reported to the police immediately.

Outside of School Hours on School Grounds

Unless supervised, children including students of Charleville State High School are not allowed on the school grounds outside of school hours. Dedicated staff are often at school outside of school hours and are concerned that these children are not adequately supervised.

PBL Rewards Trip

Term 3, students who reach the criteria for positive behaviour have been offered a subsidised trip to a Movie World this week. Criteria for students participating include, Starbucks cards, attendance and behaviour.

Bullying

Bullying in any form is not tolerated at school. However, it can be difficult to monitor as at times it is not reported until the “victim”, has retaliated. Please urge your student to talk to a teacher, Year level coordinator or Head of Department should they feel they are being bullied in any form at school. I would also like to remind our school community that students are available to make anonymous reports via the stymie website to report any such issues.

Stymie Visit

On Wednesday 8th August, Rachel Downie from STYMIE will be at Charleville SHS. During the day she will be addressing all students on anti social behaviour and bullying and how we can use Stymie effectively. During the early evening, Rachel will be addressing parents and the community. Please see the information below.

Uniforms

There has been a marked improvement in the standard of uniform in the first week. Thank you to all families who send their students in correct uniform. To ensure that all students can access the correct uniform and keep warm, the P&C have reduced the cost of the school jersey from $45 to $35. The hoodies with the school emblem have been delivered to the school. If you ordered and paid for a hoodie, please collect from the uniform shop before school on Tuesday.

Visit from Cromwell College

In week five staff will visit us from the University of Queensland residential college, Cromwell college. It is never too early to start planning for your students’ continuing tertiary education. Students from all year levels will have the opportunity to speak to the Principal of the college as well as parents who will be invited to a community meeting one evening.

Year Nine Camp

Students, parents and teachers are working towards the organizing and fund raising for the Year Nine Camp that takes place in Term 4. I am sure that the students will have the most amazing experience.

Until next time,

Narelle Webb
Deputy Principal
Junior Schooling/Student Services

A way through to a lambs heart!

Many loved it, some developed the gross/horrified facial expressions and some just had to leave the room. Last term the year 9 science students got to test and implement their dissection skills on a lambs heart. As part of their unit on ‘Body Systems’, students were involved in dissecting a lambs heart to investigate and identify the structure and components of a heart they have been studying with the circulatory system. Many students were interested and fascinated in what the heart felt like and where the 4 main chambers are located to see how blood is circulated through.

Through participation in dissections, students gained knowledge on how our main organs work in our body as a picture will not do it justice. Overall, many loved the experience and some saved a few dollars at lunch time due to their weak stomachs after the dissection.

Jenna Andreatta – Science teacher

Charleville State High Volleyballers are heading to the Gold Coast!

In week 4 of this term, eight very talented and skilled volleyballers are heading down the Gold Coast to compete in a three day state-wide tournament. This year, over 2,000 athletes are expected to attend the tournament. The girls may even have the opportunity to play at the 2018 Commonwealth Games facilities at Carrara and Coomera. Aaliyah, Destiny, Erin, Heidi, Logan, Nicole, Ryley and Tarlie have been training 3 times a week leading up to this tournament and are very excited to be attending. Their coach, Miss Lauren Butler has been very impressed with their commitment and dedication to training, as well as ensuring their assessment is up-to-date before departing on the trip. A huge thank you also goes to the parents for braving the early morning cold to ensure the girls attend 7am training! We wish the team all the best.

House Point Update

A big congratulations to the winning house of Term 2, Kokoda! Last term Kokoda came out on top of the House Competition with 1065 points, closely followed by Tobruk on 990 points and Alamein on 915 points. The house competitions last term included a photography competition, cross country, and a house Oz Tag competition.

Congratulations to Bailee Melano on her fantastic photograph of Charleville which won 1st place, bringing her house an extra 40 points!

The term finalised with a House Oz Tag competition, where Alamein annihilated all the opposition, winning all their games, except for their final game against the teachers. All students and staff were kept on track with the strict refereeing by Mackenzie Ross, leaving the teachers with a 3-1 win.

Congratulations to all our participants in the Cross Country. It was great to see so many people participating, and winning points for their house. This term our major event is the Athletics Day, which will be held Friday 10th August, with a number of activities throughout the term. Students are encouraged to come dressed in the theme of “the first letter of your house” eg: A, K, T. There will be a prize (and extra house points) for the best dressed. We hope to see as many students and parents on the day.

This term, along with the Athletics Day we will also be holding a house netball competition and an elimination tag competition. Places are still open for students to participate in the Word Mania competition which is open to Years 7 to 9 only.

Keep up the great work, with earning all your points. Remember if you enter a competition and win a prize, complete a traineeship, or do anything else academically or for the community, please let your house mentor know asap (with evidence) of your achievements so we can award your house the relevant points.

A massive thank you must go to Eileen Lindsay and Wendy Porter who are taking over the reigns as Alamein mentors for the remainder of the year with Mrs Creedon going on maternity leave.

Let’s see who will be the overall champions of Term 3. Remember there are only 15 more weeks to earn points to be the House Champion of 2018.