10 June 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Note

Week 8 has arrived already and I am delighted with the progress made by staff and students over the past couple of weeks since all year levels returned to at school learning. It has been most satisfying to see the quality of learning occurring in a range of class rooms as I conduct my daily learning walks and talks.

This includes observing a range of fantastic strategies to engage students with their learning. I regularly see examples such as peer review where students analyse each other’s work and provide feedback, use of real world examples to encourage student’s in linking concepts together and the specific support provided in lessons such as LLI, Multi-Lit and Intensive support classes where the focus is very much on literacy and reading in particular. Together with positive student-teacher learning relationships these approaches align to provide an excellent foundation to maximise student learning outcomes, always the key goal for us as a school!

One of the most important indicators of success in achieving this goal is attendance. We are currently on track for our best result in this aspect for a number of years with overall attendance at approximately 87%. This is still not quite where we are aiming for, the Regional target is 89% for Secondary schools and I absolutely believe we can achieve this. Your support in encouraging the children to attend each and every day they possibly can is vital, and very much appreciated, as we seek to achieve, perhaps exceed, this target.

Assessment time

As we move into assessment time students will benefit from being as organised as possible, the use of their diary can often be a great help with this. Once children map out the time lines for assessment items they can plan to manage their approach with far greater clarity and in the process minimise any stress or anxiety they may be feeling. As always it is a very good idea for them to discuss any concerns with their teachers as soon as possible so we can best cater for their learning and we also have an amazing student support team to provide a little extra care when needed. Homework club is running again and already I have seen quite a number of students access this, again it is very much about supporting student learning outcomes by doing everything we can.

In Closing

The progress made despite the impact of Covid-19 and the disruption to at school learning has been remarkable. I continue to be incredibly proud of the work that my staff undertake each and every day and the great partnerships we have with the school parents and caregivers and the broader community. Please remember to contact us if you have any feedback or queries so we can continue to work together to achieve our goals.

All the best,

Barry Wallett

Senior School

Year 12 Students

Our year 12 students are now halfway through their final year and starting to have to seriously consider their future. Recently they had a visit from Ann Leahy to discuss their options after school and students intending on a university pathway were given a booklet containing many scholarships that they might consider applying for to support them as they transition to university. Hopefully they have brought these home to discuss with parents as there are many opportunities for our students to access.

Parents seeking additional information about students considering tertiary education can access the link below which provides some helpful guides about the next steps.

Year 11 Students

Over the last week, many of our year 11 students have been encouraged to access their learning account on myqce.qcaa.qld.edu.au so that they can begin tracking their progress toward their QCE. While semester 1 results are not yet available, students should be able to check any completed certificate courses as well their subject enrolments. Students are encouraged to keep track of their progress and to double check that any learning they complete has been added to their account.

Students are also reminded that now is the time to reflect on their progress in semester one and to make subject changes for semester two. Many students have been proactive about this process and have collected subject change forms from their HODs or the office and returned them. Subject changes for year 11’s will close in week 10 as all subjects will have started semester two work. Students should consider a subject change if they are currently enrolled in a General Subject but are finding it too challenging (even after putting in more effort and seeking teacher assistance) or if they have reconsidered their pathway after school and need to alter their course of study.

Year 10 Students

Parents should have received information regarding the Senior Education and Training Plan (SETP) process and will hopefully soon be contacted to book an interview time. Year 10 students have had a brief introduction into the process and should be considering what they are wanting to do over the next few years and after school. We are very excited to begin this process with year 10 students and look forward to meeting with parents over the coming weeks.

Cassandra Kohli
Deputy Principal

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL JUNIOR SCHOOLING AND STUDENT SERVICES NEWS

WELCOME TO WEEK 8

It is amazing how quickly term 2 has passed. It has certainly been a unique time and I am amazed at the resilience the students have shown in the past ten weeks.

Currently, your junior student would no doubt be under pressure to complete formal assessment in the next few weeks.

Assessment

How can you help your student through the school year, learning and assessment?

As a parent:

• Know when their assessment due dates are and help plan
• Ensure they are getting quality sleep
• Ensure they are eating well
• Ensure they have some ‘down time’ – some weeks may have more than others
• Discuss the four learning objectives they have written for the four lessons they have each day
• Ensure that homework is attempted –e.g. going over class notes and ideas each day
• Ensure they are asking staff for help if they are struggling at home and
• Contact the school if you have any concerns.

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/Technology – Amy Roughan
HPE/Humanities/LOTE/VET– Brad Lines
English/The Arts/Reading – Sue McDermott
Diverse Learning (including HOSES) – Katherine Neucom

Year Level Coordinators

Yr 9/10 – Tammie Rose
Yr 11/12 – Nathan Bailey
Yr 7- Sarah O’Brien
Yr 8- Amiee Dolman

Guidance Officer – Sharon Grosskopf

Youth Support Coordinator - Katie McLeod

CEC – Jolene Russell

School Based Youth Health Nurse – Jen Frazer

Chaplain - Les Penrose (Chappy)

Deputy Principals

Senior Schooling – Cassandra Kohli
Junior Schooling – Narelle Webb

Principal - Barry Wallett

Reading Program

Attention: Charleville State High school one of our priorities is delivering the LLI program at the school. We are focusing on students significantly under the Regional reading benchmark. 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 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.

Term 3’s timetable will change significantly for students participating in any specialist reading program. They no longer will be partially withdrawn from curriculum classes. LLI students will be timetabled for 3 lessons x 70 minutes per week. Year seven instead of Japanese, year eight instead of Humanities and year nine instead of one elective. Students will not be disadvantaged by missing curriculum time to participate in this valuable program.

Timetable for Term 3

Term 3 will see significant changes to the timetable for many students. The senior students will find that the days will alter for most of their classes.

The junior students will find that that all core lessons: English, Maths, Science, Humanities and HPE will now have three, 70 minutes lessons each week. Year Nine students will have completed the humanities component required for year nine in 2020. Year Ten students will have completed the HPE component required for year ten in 2020. Both years nine and ten will be placed in two elective subjects. Years seven and eight students will participate in a cyclic elective program alternating in terms 3 and 4.

Exit and Mediation Process

Charleville State High School believes that every student has the right to learn in a non-disruptive environment. On the occasion when a student is disturbing the learning of others they will be exited from the classroom.

When behaviour strategies (ESCM) outlined in the staff’s classroom behaviour plan have failed to bring about a positive change in a student’s behaviour, then a student may be exited from a teacher’s classroom to an Exit classroom. An Exit form (with a reflection page on the back) and work for the student to complete must be given to the student to take to the Exit class. The student must go to the Exit class and remain there until the end of the lesson. At the end of the lesson the supervising teacher collects the exit form (including completed reflection sheet) and returns it to the relevant Year Level Coordinator (YLC).

The classroom teacher liaises with the YLC to assign a relevant mediation time, which must occur before the next timetabled lesson. This should be communicated clearly to the student and recorded on a paper slip with the date, time and location of the mediation.

Any exit is deemed a major behaviour and the classroom teacher must contact home. When contacting home, the teacher will give the parent/carer details of when the mediation will occur.

Uniforms

Charleville State High School and the Parents and Citizens’ association is very understanding when it comes to students out of uniform especially in this term when it has been difficult to access certain uniform items.

The uniform standard is set out clearly on the back page of the student planner (diary)

Uniform Standards

• School shirt
• Black hoodie/jacket
• Black pants (shorts and long pants)

Please note:

• No blue jeans in term 3 (must be black pants)

The school has agreed that families will have the next three weeks (then two weeks of holidays) to obtain the correct uniform for students. Term 3 the school will accept no excuses for students who do not follow the correct procedure. The school understands that there are times when it is impossible to be in full uniform. If this occurs then the student is to obtain a uniform pass before school. Detentions will automatically be given to students during form class if a student does not obtain a uniform pass.

YLC’s will run weekly uniform reports and contact home for those showing a pattern of out of uniform.

Student Services

Mobile Phones at Charleville SHS

The inappropriate use of a mobile phone at times is reported to the school, however the majority of times the mobile phone is used outside of school hours. If there is evidence that a student has used their phone inappropriately at school, then the student is not to have their phone at school. It is the parents and carers’ responsibility to ensure that the student is receiving and sending legal and only age appropriate material.

Recently, it has been brought to our attention that the use of social media apps have been used as a form of targeting students. Apps such as “SNAPCHAT” are used with the participants believing that their comments are private and will disappear. However, some individuals are screen-shotting conversations and adjusting the comments to appear that the other participants is “out of line”. This has been reported to the school on many different occasions with students from a wide range of year levels. Once again I urge all parents to know what your student is sending and receiving on their mobile phone. It is not an invasion of privacy. It is good parenting. Until the student is legal age, the parent is responsible for all content on mobile phones.

STYMIE

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. I would also like to remind our school community that students are available to make anonymous reports via the stymie website (www.stymie.com.au ) to report any such issues.

Racist actions and comments will also not be tolerated. Please ensure that you have conversations with your student on treating every human with respect. Young people at times do not realise that their actions and or words may be viewed as offensive. Recently, I was encouraged to hear that students in the junior school made it very clear to a peer when inappropriate language was used towards a friend. I will build on their actions to address the rest of the junior school.

It is an evolving world with technology changes almost daily. Teenagers are amazing at how they are accepting the advancements. It is essential that parents are well informed of what they need to do as parents in ensuring that their child is safe at all times. This includes that they are safe from the dangers and influences that technology presents.

Immunisation Clinics for Years 7

Our School Based Youth Health Nurse, Jen Sellin does an excellent job in organising this essential service for our students. The next round of immunisations for year seven will occur in term 3.

Until next time,

Narelle Webb
Deputy Principal
Junior Schooling/Student Services