29 April 2020

Newsletter Articles

Newsletter – Principal’s Note

Term 2 Week 2 April 28 2020

Welcome back to a very unusual Term 2! The first point I would like to make is to express my and the staff’s gratitude for your support as we work through this period. It has certainly been challenging and the messages of encouragement and understanding that have been received have made it so much easier as we work together to ensure continuity of learning for the students.

As we continue to follow the departmental guidelines for learning at home I urge parents to encourage the children to contact their teachers regularly to support the learning process and to enable timely feedback and support to be provided. The simplest form of communication is usually via email and many students have been making good use of this medium to have meaningful interactions with teachers. An increasing number of staff are also working through approved online platforms such as iSee and Microsoft Teams so they can connect in real time with their students and we are receiving very positive feedback about this approach as well.

Students of essential workers are welcome at school and we have been providing supervision through a combination of relieving teachers and teacher aides to ensure they are able to access the same learning that is available for children learning at home.

If you have any concerns regarding your personal circumstances around the current learning strategies or perhaps require support in terms of devices such as laptops please contact the school and ask to speak with me so we can map out the best way forward for continuity of learning.

Collection of hard copy materials for weeks 3, 4 and 5 of learning at home

The next drive through to collect hard copy materials for learning at home will be undertaken on Tuesday, May 5 (Week 3) following the same protocols as the highly successful process from Monday of week 1. Reminders and updates will be sent out via Facebook and email the week prior to ensure the latest information is included.

Congratulations to Matt Samson

Matt, who was the previous Principal of Charleville SHS, has been appointed permanently as the Principal of a new school on the Sunshine Coast (Baringa SHS) and on behalf of the school community I thank and congratulate Matt for his efforts over the past few years. A process to select the new permanent Principal for Charleville SHS will now be undertaken and I anticipate this will be resolved during Term 2 to provide the school community with an outcome as soon as possible.

Adjusted bell times and timetable

A reminder that, as outlined in the previous newsletter, we have slightly adjusted bell times for Term 2. The timetable and bell times will now be:

Basically this means we start 5 minutes later each day and finish 5 minutes earlier while still maintaining four 70 minute lessons each day along with form classes.

In closing

The current situation with Covid-19 continues to evolve and new information is provided daily to all of us. At this point we are planning for learning at home to continue until the end of week 5 and look forward to the government’s review on May 15 regarding the approach to schooling for the remainder of Term 2.

Until then the staff are all working hard, as you most certainly are as well, to provide the best education we possibly can for our students. By continuing to work together we will achieve this and be well placed when things do return to a more normal learning environment.

All the best,

Barry Wallett

Social Distancing in Practice

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL SENIOR SCHOOLING

A Different Start for Term 2

I’m sure we’re all aware the start of term 2, with the majority of students studying remotely, has been a bit of a different experience. There have been a range of challenges with the move to remote learning however our senior students seem to be rising to the challenge with most students making contact with teachers and submitting work online for feedback.

It is very important that our year 11 and 12 students remain on track for their QCE during this time and are ensuring they are completing work for their classes. However, they also have an opportunity at the moment to ensure they are catching up on work for their certificate courses or any work for their traineeships that they are undertaking.

If students are finding working at home to be challenging they need to ask for help:

1. Contact their class teacher via email or call the school and organise a time for the teacher to call them to consult about the work.
2. Contact the HOD for the subject if they are struggling with assessment work to discuss what support they can access. If they don’t know which HOD is responsible, call the school and ask to speak with the HOD of the subject.
3. Contact Courtney if they are struggling with work related to an apprenticeship or traineeship.

Working Towards a QCE

The QCE is Queensland's senior school qualification, which is awarded to eligible students usually at the end of Year 12. To be eligible, students need to accumulate 20 points during their senior schooling. Points come from passing their General, Essential or Applied subjects or completing certificate courses or similar study.

It is expected that all Senior Students are working toward their QCE. This means it is expected all students are completing and submitting work for their timetabled classes and that the work is being completed to a satisfactory standard. It is very important that students remain organised and focused during their remote learning so that they are making good progress in their classes and setting themselves up to be successful.

Parents are encouraged to talk to their student about their progress in senior and if they are concerned with the term 1 report to contact the school to discuss strategies to support their student.

Year 10 Laptops

The year 10 student laptops have finally arrived and students have been coming in to swap their old laptop for a new one to assist with their remote learning. While it has taken a long time for the order to arrive, the arrival is definitely welcome.

If you have a year 10 student and they have yet to collect their new laptop, please contact the school to organise a time when Mr Lines will be available to help them log onto their new device. Students should ensure they have backed up all of their files on a USB or external drive prior to changing devices.

Cassandra Kohli
Deputy Principal

Junior Schooling

I would like to welcome everyone back to Term 2. This is going to be another busy and yet somewhat unique term.

Remote Learning/ Home Based Schooling:

1. Study Packs

Every student will receive a second study pack on Tuesday 5th May. These packs will include information regarding:

• The Remote Learning process unique to Charleville SHS with responsibilities for Parents/Carers, Students and teachers. The back page is a tracking sheet that will guide students and parents/carers to complete work each day.
• A document indicating which classes will have work accessible online with the email addresses of all relevant staff.
• If the resources are not accessible online then the pack will include three weeks work for each subject.
• The plastic bag is labelled with the student’s name. Return work to the school in a labelled plastic bag.

2. Collection of Study Packs

• Families can collect the study packs on Tuesday 5th May. To address the social distance issues, families are to drive through the school grounds from the Parry St entrance. No one is to leave their car. Staff will be handing the individual study packs at the Administration office entrance. To exit the school, depart through the Hunter Street Gate.

• To avoid congestion the following arrangements have been made.
• Please stop at the entrance where you will be met by a staff member, who will call ahead to ensure your pack is ready. Drive past the Admin building to collect the pack/s.
  - Families whose last name begins with A to J are to collect their study packs at 10:30 am
  - Families whose last name begin with K to T are to collect at 10:45 am
  - Families whose last name begin with U to Z are to collect at 11:00am
• Alternative arrangements will be made with the few families who are unable to come to the school at the designated times.

3. Students whose parents are essential workers

• Students who parents are essential workers and must come to school will be supervised in J block. They will be accessing their education exactly the same way as the students who are home based schooled.
• They will not be supervised by their class teachers. The only way they can access their teachers is via email or phone call the same as students who are home based.
• Students who are attending school will have their study packs delivered to J block.
• Breaks will be supervised in a restricted area and all social distancing will be respected.

4. Taking attendance

Attendance will be taken daily. Students are to send an email each morning by 9:30 am depending on the year level:
- Year 7 - LAH7@charlevilleshs.eq.edu.au
- Year 8 - LAH8@charlevilleshs.eq.edu.au
- Year 9 - LAH9@charlevilleshs.eq.edu.au
- Year 10 - LAH10@charlevilleshs.eq.edu.au
- Year 11 - LAH11@charlevilleshs.eq.edu.au
- Year 12 - LAH12@charlevilleshs.eq.edu.au

• If students cannot access email and will still be attending home based schooling may send a text message before 9:30 am
• Please text : 0428 220 673
• If students do not contact the school by 9:30 am, parents/ carers will be contacted by text as the normal process for absent students.
• If there is a pattern of non-attendance – normal processes will occur including the possible prosecution process.

5. Returning work to school

Students are expected to return work to school each week (by Friday 12 noon).

• Teachers will review and give feedback to the students. This submitted work will be considered formative assessment.
• The returned work can be emailed, mailed or dropped at the school at the designated drop box located on the eastern side of the administration block.

6. Contacting the school

If there are issues/concerns/questions with a particular subject students/parents/carers may contact the teacher. Emails are the best form of communication.

• Phone calls can be made to teachers at any time, however, they may not always be available. Staff have been advised to be free for contacts from students at the timetabled times for each subject. Eg Year 9 Ag could call their teacher during period 3 on Tuesdays or Thursdays, period 1. As these are the timetabled times for year Nine Ag.

7. In regards to school format after week 5, as soon as the school is updated by the Queensland Government, families will be contacted via email.

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

Due to the restrictions caused by the Corona Virus, NAPLAN has been cancelled for this year. We will update you on future tests when we are informed. Meanwhile, Charleville SHS conducts another form of diagnostic testing for all students in years 7, 8, 9 & 10 in term 4. It is called Pat testing. These diagnostic tests are useful in analysing what skills the students have gained during the year of learning. It also assists in directed support structures for the students in the future as well as extension, for example, the MESH program.

Student Welfare

IMMUNISATION

Tackle Flu. Senior Indigenous students took part in the Tackle Flu initiative on Friday 24th April. All eligible students were given the opportunity to take part in this initiative. Any questions please contact me or our CEC, Jolene Russell.

We have been very fortunate to have been granted the opportunity for all students over the age of 15 to receive their flu shots. Information will be given out as soon as it is available.

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)

Homework Club

When school returns to normal format, 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

Year 7 Home Economics - Deadly Choice program of Good Quick Tukka

The students did a wonderful job throughout the whole term. Their dedication and enthusiasm made teaching them how to cook and eat in a safe and healthy manner a delight, and I am so very proud of them all. Here are some images of the yummy food they cooked up in the last week of school.

Parents and guardians should have been invited to come along and share this food with us at the end of term. This didn’t happen due to our change in the school term, however I can share the images. Well done year 7 Home Economics Class B.

Elizabeth Ramsdale

Youth Support Coordinator

Sometimes we all feel completely overwhelmed and inundated with information - brochures, websites, emails, and advertisements; seemingly endless offers of help, support networks, programs and assistance can at times just become too much. Sometimes we end up just pressing delete, throwing it out, or ignoring an offer of help that could actually be of benefit to our mental health, or that of our child, family member or friend. Wouldn’t it be nice to find everything in one place when seeking mental health support – either for ourselves, or a loved one? Well - look no further! If you are thinking of improving your own mental health, or supporting someone else with mental health issues – try here:

This website is a collaboration between the Australian Department of Health, community, and mental health sectors, and provides a ‘one-stop shop’ to point you in the right direction. It provides online and phone support, information, resources and links with service providers for mental health supports for individuals, families, organisations, and health professionals alike.

Thank you!

Katie McLeod
Youth Support Coordinator