1 May 2019

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

WELCOME

Welcome back to the start of term 2 2019. Week 1 was certainly a different start to the term, with Easter Monday and Anzac Day holidays making it a very short first week. At our first school parade of the term, it was explained to the students that public holidays make every other school day even more important, as teachers have the same amount of work to teach them and they have the same amount of learning to achieve. Thank you to every parent that ensured that their student was at school on the first day, with their equipment, in full school uniform, ready to learn.

REPORTING

Students will have received their mid-term report cards home over the holidays. There were certainly some very pleasing results across the school, with a number of students showing a marked improvement across a number of their subjects.

The challenge for all students is to now reflect upon these results and set new goals for the end of the semester.

Teachers will be providing feedback to students and suggestions as to what students can do to reach these goals.

Parents have also been given information with report cards regarding the parent teacher interviews on Thursday 2 May and how to book for these. These are excellent opportunities for parents and teachers to discuss and work together to ensure positive outcomes moving forward for each student. Unfortunately, if you have not booked with a teacher for the evening then you will not be able to speak with that teacher that evening and will have to book an alternative time to discuss your student’s results. This is to allow staff to have the relevant information and assessment examples available to effectively and fully discuss your student’s progress.

STAFF NEWS

We welcome two new teachers to the school this term, Mr Mullen, who will be joining us as the acting Head of Department of Maths/Science and Ms Donovan who will be teaching this term in the area of English and Humanities. We wish you all the best for your time here at Charleville State High School.

As of Tuesday 7 May, Mrs Narelle Webb will be setting off on three weeks of well-deserved long service leave. In her absence, Mrs Cassandra Kohli will be filling in as Acting Deputy Principal, while Ms Sue McDermott will be taking over as Acting Head of Department of English, Humanities and LOTE.

ANZAC DAY CEREMONY

On Wednesday 24 April, the school recognised ANZAC Day through our memorial ceremony. The ceremony was a very emotional event with many vivid visual and musical tributes to the ANZACS. Our special guest for the event was Corporal Tyler Washington, a past student of Charleville State High School, who now serves with the Australian armed services. Tyler gave an amazing speech about his life and what being part of the armed services means to him. The students were certainly captivated by what he had to say to them and I am sure that he will have inspired many of the students who listened to his words.

We were also joined by members of the 28th squadron, who acted as the members of the catafalque party and they made an excellent impression decked out in their military uniforms, marching as the guard of honour for the ceremony.

Thanks also to the members of the community including members of the local police and RSL members for their attendance at the event.

Students and staff of Charleville State High School were also involved in the community march on ANZAC day. Thank you to all of the parents who encouraged their students to be involved in this event – it is certainly a privilege to be able to march in honour of those that have served to protect us.

Several of our students were also involved in the official community ceremony on the day. Thank you to Harry Springall, Caitie Baker, Ella Bartulis, Lucy Frousheger, Sam Frousheger and Indie Everitt for assisting at the ceremony on the day.

A number of our year 9 students also assisted the Charleville Lions Club in serving at the official lunch at the RSL after the ceremony. These students did an amazing job at the event, while also being able to witness the emotion that was felt by so many of the attendees, particularly the returned service vets. I believe that through this, each of the eight students present, would have attained a greater understanding of just how important ANZAC day is to both past and current members of our armed services.

“I was lucky enough to attend the luncheon on Anzac Day that is held each year for the diggers, friends of the Diggers and people associated with the Anzac Day. I would just like to complement the students of the Charleville State High School for the way they conducted and presented themselves while helping at the luncheon. Your families and the CSHS should be very proud of the young adults that you are growing to be. Well done!” Glenda Murphy

NAPLAN

This term, students in years 7 and 9 will be involved in NAPLAN testing. This year for the first time, students of Charleville State High School will be completing these tests Online. Students have had practice tests online and all are prepared and ready to go for these tests.

To enable all students to have access to computers for the tests, NAPLAN Online is spread out over two weeks, when previously this had only been over one week.

The dates for NAPLAN Online are Monday 13 May until Friday 24 May. Our show holiday also falls on Friday 17 May, at the end of the first NAPLAN week. Currently, our proposed program for running the tests at this time will be:

Tuesday 14 May – Year 7 writing test and Year 9 writing test
Wednesday 15 May – Year 7 reading test and Year 9 Reading test
Thursday 16 May – Year 7 Language test and Year 7 Numeracy test
Monday 20 May – Catch up tests (for students who have been absent)
Tuesday 21 May – Year 9 Language test and Year 9 Numeracy test
Wednesday 22 May – Catch up tests (for students who have been absent)
Thursday 23 May - Catch up tests (for students who have been absent)

Letters with information regarding the tests did go out with report cards over the last holidays, but if you require any further information or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Friday 3 May – School Colour Run
• Wednesday 8 May – P&C Meeting 5.30pm
• Thursday 9 May - Indigenous Education Community Meeting
• Monday 13 May to Friday 24 May – NAPLAN Online
• Friday 17 May – Show holiday

Matt Samson
Principal

Deputy Principal Senior Schooling Report

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.

QCE Tracking

Mr Wastie 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

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 10). 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 24th June to Friday 28th June, please contact Deborah Robinson at the school on 4656 8888.

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 Deborah Robinson 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 Deborah Robinson on 4656 8888.

Cheers
Vanessa Moller

Deputy Principal Junior Schooling

I would like to welcome everyone back to Term 2. This is going to be another busy term but there are many great things to look forward to. We have NAPLAN, Anzac Day ceremonies, Cross Country Colour Run, many curriculum-based excursions, and much more.

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

If you have a student in Year 7 or 9 they will be preparing to sit the NAPLAN tests coming up in May. This year, our students will be sitting for NAPLAN ONLINE. NAPLAN ONLINE is conducted over a two week period beginning on Tuesday May 14. The students have had a number of practice sessions and appear to be quite comfortable with the process. Parents/Carers were sent information pages with the students’ report card at the end of last term. Also, there will be a PowerPoint presentation available for you to view at the parent/teacher interviews on Thursday 2nd 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.

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 2019 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. The students will sit for NAPLAN online in the Computer rooms using the desktop computers in the Trade Training centre or in the Professional library in the Administration building using Laptop computers. Both year levels have been preparing across Term 1. For further information about NAPLAN and the tests please do not hesitate to contact the school or go to the links below.

Student Welfare

IMMUNISATION

Tackle Flu. Senior Indigenous students take part in the Tackle Flu initiative. All eligible students will receive a consent form soon. Please have these forms returned as soon as possible. Any questions please contact me or our CEC, Jolene Russell.

We have been very fortunate to have been granted the opportunity for all students to receive their flu shots. Information will be given as soon as it is available.

Q Fever. We are working with the HOPE foundation to investigate whether the Q fever vaccinations will be made available to our students through the school at minimal cost.

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)

Also a study/homework group meets on a Thursday 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.

Kind Regards,

Narelle Webb
Deputy Principal
Junior School and Student Welfare

Junior Secondary Update

NAPLAN

Term 2 continues to be busy for our junior students with NAPLAN occurring in Week 4 and Week 5 this term, from the 14th May to the 24th May. NAPLAN is not a content based exam, but is a diagnostic tool, that assesses the literacy and numeracy skills of our students.

This year Charleville State High School is lucky to be participating in the new online version of NAPLAN. NAPLAN Online will provide better assessment, more precise results and faster turnaround of information as it is a tailored test which adapts to student responses, presenting students with questions that may be more or less difficult – resulting in better assessment and more precise results. Students have two weeks to complete all the tests, as opposed to the previous paper based tests which only allow one week.

This year students in Year 7 and 9 will complete the following four exams – reading, writing, language conventions, and numeracy across the following schedule.

Students will not be required to bring any equipment for the online testing, as all equipment will be supplied.

We will have a brief information session available at our parent teacher interviews this week, or alternatively for further information on NAPLAN online please check the following website

If you have any concerns or questions in regards to your student participating in NAPLAN please contact Sabrina Goodingham on 4656 8888. We are looking forward to seeing the 24 months of growth that each student has made.

Year 9 Camp

Our Year 9 students are all madly fundraising for their camp to the Sunshine Coast in Term 4. This year as usual we will be holding a stall at the Charleville Show where will have some items to raffle. If you have any item you would like to donate please contact Kate Jackson or Sabrina Goodingham on 4656 8888. In addition, if you can spare some time to assist in manning the raffle table, please contact Kate Jackson. Many hands make light work, and all proceeds go to our students to make their camp more affordable. We cannot wait to serve you all at the Show!

Junior Certificate of Education

Congratulations to all our junior students on their awesome academic results. Students in Year 8 and Year 9 are all currently working towards achieving their Junior Certificate of Education. Students must complete the following:

Students who did not pass all assessment this Term, still have the opportunity to gain their JCE provided they pass this semester overall. Students at risk of not achieving their JCE will complete an interview with Mrs Goodingham or an administration leader in the coming weeks to develop a plan to support students to achieve their JCE.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact Sabrina Goodingham for further information.

Sabrina Goodingham
HOD – Junior Secondary

Senior Science

Last term Year 11 Chemistry begun their learning for the new syllabus by exploring the chemical fundamentals. The students took their understanding from the units work and applied it to a range of practical experiments, testing both their science understanding and their data collection skills. The data collected was useful in helping the students to make connections between the theoretical and the practical to create a deeper understanding of their content. Year 10 Science also studied the world of Chemistry last term through their Chemistry and Periodicity unit. Over the term, the class explored the Periodic Table and chemical reactions through a range of activities. For their final task the students completed the Clock Reaction, where they investigated the effect of temperature on the speed of the reaction, watching carefully as the sometimes very fast reaction changes from clear to opaque.

SOUTH WEST REGIONAL TOUCH CARNIVAL

Charleville State High School hosted the South West Regional Touch Football carnival on Friday April 26th. The Trials were a huge success with teams travelling from Chinchilla, Miles, Tara & Roma districts to compete for selections in the U/15 boys and girls or 16-18 years boys and girls South West teams.

Congratulations to all players from Charleville SHS who competed extremely well on the day with your positive attitudes and determination throughout the carnival.

Our school representatives were:

U/15 Boys- Jaycob O’Toole, Oliver Rowland, Kipp Singleton, Sam Brooks, Alex Barker, Christian Clover & Jake Collins

U/15 Girls- Jasmine Steer, Jorja Delforce, Lucy Watts, Tahlia Stewart, Maddie King, Emily McDonald and Chloe Fisher

16-18 Boys- Harry Aspinall, Nash Kennedy, Cody Brayley

16-18 Girls- Sara Frazer, Matilda Vaggs, Caitie Baker and Sophie Heinemann

Congratulations to Jasmine Steer who was selected as shadow player for the SW team and to Nash Kennedy, Sara Frazer, Matilda Vaggs, Caitie Baker and Sophie Heinemann who were selected to represent the SW team at the QLD Carnival at Whites Hill, Brisbane from 30 May – 02 June. Good Luck!

CSHS Representatives

Absent: Jacob O’Toole, Sam Brooks, Alex Barker, Christian Clover, Harry Aspinall, Jorja Delforce, Lucy Watts, Maddie King, Chloe Fisher, Sophie Heinemann.

AMEB Online Orchestra

The AMEB Online Orchestra is coming to town, well digitally that is… 2019 will see the forming of our own Charleville Community Orchestra rehearsing and performing an arrangement of ‘I Am Australian’ for strings/ brass/woodwind and percussion instruments.  Students over 10 years old and parents are invited to rehearse this piece and perform for our own upload where we will be joining schools such as Charleville State High School and Quilpie State College who will also be uploading the piece for their assessments. The orchestra rehearses at the Cultural Centre 96 Alfred St on the first Thursday of the month during school terms at 5.45pm and will perform at the Sunday markets on the 28th July. Hope to see you at our first rehearsal on the 2nd May, for more information contact David Pullen on dxpul1@eq.edu.au or via the Cultural Centre.

David Pullen
Multi- Instrumental Music Teacher
(Woodwind, Brass, Bass Guitar and Percussion)
Charleville, Cunnamulla and Quilpie Circuit.

Performing Arts Festival

This year the performing arts festival will be from the 29th August- 31st August. If you have any questions of inquiries, please contact charlevilleperformingarts@gmail.com

Further information will follow in regards to entry soon.