19 August 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Note

Welcome to week 6 of Term 3. The past couple of weeks have been very busy as we prepared for assessments in a range of subjects as well as upcoming events such as the Athletics Carnival (Friday, August 21), Colour run (Friday, September 11) and of course the Formal on Thursday, September 17th. For many of these activities Covid-19 has made organisational requirements significantly more complex. As a school we remain very committed to ensuring they go ahead and that parents and guests are able to access the events, we also must abide by government requirements and very much appreciate your understanding and support as we navigate this situation.

Stories of Success

In week 5 the school was visited by the Assistant Regional Director (Reid Thompson) and Stephen Bobby (Education Improvement Branch) as part of the 6 month check in for our school review process. Both Stephen and Reid very much enjoyed the opportunity to visit our school and interacted with a range of staff and students to gauge our progress since Term 1.

The feedback was very positive regarding our work so far on improving student engagement and provision of quality teaching and learning with a key aspect of this focusing on the high level of engagement of staff in supporting and caring for our students. I am very proud of my team and the work they are doing and we will continue to focus on our journey of continual improvement to support student learning outcomes.

A quick snapshot of some feedback that supports our growth thus far:

• Every year level improved the percentage of students achieving an A, B or C in English, Maths and Science in Years 7 – 10 from Term 1 to Term 2
• Across all subjects from Years 7 – 12, 74% improved their results from Term 1 to Term 2 and around 19% maintained their results. Less than 8% of subjects had a drop in performance
• Student attendance for the school remains above 86% which is on track to be our best result for the last three years
• Information gathered through formal class room observations indicated high levels of engagement in the majority of classes with nearly 70% of classes noted as very high to excellent in their engagement with the activity

In closing

As a school we are working very diligently on our journey of improvement. A large part of this process revolves around the connections and interactions with parents and caregivers as well as the broader community. Your support in ensuring our students are arriving to school on time and prepared is vital as are the opportunities created through work experience, part time employment, attendance at events and engagement in the P&C or ATSI Community Partnerships meetings. Together we will continue the journey of providing all our children with the best possible opportunities and to graduate as literate, socially capable young adults.

All the best,

Barry Wallett

Senior School

Attendance

As we continue throughout what has been a disrupted year, it is important to remember that attendance is linked to student success at school. It is also a valuable life skill when transitioning to work as employers also look for consistent and reliable workers. The target for attendance at school across the state is 92%. At a minimum, Charleville expects senior students to attend 85% of the time. Semester 2 has gotten off to a rough start with some students, so now is the time to start improving attendance and really focus in on school and assessment for the year.

Current Attendance Rate for Semester 2:

• Year 10 Students: 83%
• Year 11 Students: 89%
• Year 12 Students: 87%

This does not include students in year 11 and 12 who are signing in late or leaving early due to study lessons as these are approved absences. It also does not include students who are absent with medical certificates. If students are sick, they need to stay home until they are feeling better. Should they miss assessment, they need a medical certificate.

Year 12 Students

Some students in year 12 are beginning to realise how close they are to the end of their journey here at Charleville State High School. While for some they are looking forward to the new adventure, others are beginning to feel a little unsure about what the future holds.

For those planning to transition to work or traineeships and apprenticeships, the changes that have occurred during 2020 due to Covid-19 have radically changed the opportunities available.

For our year 12’s planning to transition into University or TAFE the application processes are well and truly underway and other considerations such as accommodation and transport are becoming more pertinent.

All year 12 students are able to make appointments to speak with the Industry Liaison Officer (Brittany Pawley), the Guidance Officer (Sharon Grosskopf) or the Deputy for Senior School (Cassandra Kohli) to discuss their transition at the end of the year and to look at what options they have. If parents wish to be involved in these discussions they are also welcome to book an appointment with their student by contacting the front desk at the school (4656 8888).

Year 10 Students

Work experience plans are well underway with the majority of students having met with the Industry Liaison Officer and businesses around town being contacted. The work experience block will occur during week 5 of term 4.

Students who know someone who owns or runs a business and is willing to take on a student should let the school know or have them contact the school.

Also, if students are wanting to complete work experience outside of Charleville and are able to organise a business who will take them on, please let Brittany (the ILO) know so that the necessary paper work can be completed.

Cassandra Kohli
Deputy Principal

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL JUNIOR SCHOOLING AND STUDENT SERVICES NEWS

Junior School

Welcome to week 6.

2021 Year seven students

In the near future, Ms Roughan and myself will give a presentation to the parents of potential year seven students in 2021. There will be another presentation in term 4 for parents with advice on preparation for the first week in 2021.

Timetable

The 2021 timetable is underway. Year 8 & 9 students will have the opportunity to choose their electives for 2021. Year 10 students are currently choosing their 2021 subjects.

Contact Details

Are your contact details up to date at the school? Please call the office or send a note if you have had a change in address or phone number. It is important that we are able to contact you at all times.

Uniforms

Students are still wearing jumpers, coats and hoodies to school which do not abide by the school uniform guidelines as written and supported by the CSHS P&C. Please refer to the back page of the student diary for details on the correct school uniform. Please support the P&C and us by ensuring your student has correct uniform every day.

Student Services

Mobile Phones at Charleville SHS

We would like to remind everyone that students are not allowed to use their mobile phones at school. Year seven, eight and nine students are not allowed to have a phone at school.

If a senior student uses their phone at school then they are requested to hand their phone in to the office to be collected by a parent/carer. The inappropriate use of a mobile phone is occasionally 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 will be prevented from bringing their phone to school. It is the parents’ and carers’ responsibility to ensure that the student is receiving and sending legal and only age appropriate material.

Please note that if a student uses a mobile device to film another student or staff member at school then serious consequences may occur. It is illegal to film anyone without their consent.

Outside of School Hours on School Grounds

Dedicated staff are often at school outside of school hours. It is concerning the number of students on school grounds out of school hours. It is essential that children be adequately supervised at all times.

Immunisation Clinic

An Immunisation Clinic will be held soon for the year seven students and for those students who are not up to date. We are very fortunate to have an excellent working relationship with Queensland Health to have the students have their immunisation up to date by holding clinics at the school.

Until next time,

Narelle Webb
Deputy Principal
Junior Schooling/Student Services

Student Illness and School Attendance

I would like to remind all families about the requirements in relation to school attendance if students are unwell. If a student is feeling unwell, no matter how mild the symptoms, they must stay home and not attend school.

This is a health directive that all schools (and workplaces) are required to follow. This includes (but not restricted to) runny/stuffy noses, sore/scratchy throats, coughs, fever, nausea, ongoing lethargy, etc.

The Chief Health Officer (who issues the health directives) has also explained that this includes if someone is having any type of asthma/hayfever symptoms.

If a student arrives at school unwell, or becomes unwell during the day, the school is legally obligated to contact the student’s parents/carers to arrange for them to go home.

The school acknowledges that these directions may be stressful at this time of the year, especially when assessment is due, but the directions are there to help ensure your student’s wellbeing as well as the wellbeing of others at the school.

If your student is unwell and has assessment due, they cannot come to school to ‘do what is required’ and then go home. For students undertaking Year 11 & 12 assessment, the school and the QCAA has processes in place to support students in this situation.

If your student is unwell on a day that an exam/assignment is due:

• The student needs to remain home
• A parent/carer needs to contact the school and inform us of the situation
• If your student is in Year 11 or 12, obtain a medical certificate
• The student can return to school when well or has a doctor’s clearance
• If the task is an assignment – can the student email it?
• If the task is an exam, the school will arrange for the student to sit the exam, or a comparable task, at a later time after they return to school.

Thank you to those parents/carers that have already been following these directions. The safety and welfare of our students and staff will always be our first priority.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

What’s Happening in the Ag Plot?

Nearly ready to pick...

Athletics Carnival – so far…

To ensure the safety of all attending the day, the following measures have been put in place. These measures must be strictly followed by all people attending on the day.

These include:

• Sign in Sheets – at the office. All visitors must sign in through here. Departure will be through the red gate on Parry Street. Departure times will be recorded. These details will be stored at school and passed over to Qld Health if requested.
• All other entrances will be closed.
• Spectator viewing area for physical distancing – please keep 1.5m distance as required.
• Toilet facilities – Visitors are to use separate toilets to students & staff. The amenities in the Office will be designated for visitor use.
• Hand sanitiser – available at Office, exit gate and at various events for use.
• Tuckshop – service will be separated. Students to use line closest to oval, all visitors will use the other line.

We appreciate your ongoing support to have a successful carnival.

Students participating in 800m.

Year 11 Fundraising – Sponge Throwing

Enthusiastic Fundraisers!

Having Difficult Conversations with Teenagers

Raising teenagers is a challenging task and these years certainly come with many new challenges. As teenagers begin to develop an increasing level of independence, self-awareness and social and emotional growth, they test out the boundaries of rules and societal norms. They often turn to their peers for support and information rather than their families. It is normal for both parents and teenagers to find some topics embarrassing, upsetting or controversial to talk about. However, being prepared can help you feel more confident and comfortable to tackle difficult conversations. Here are some tips to help you manage difficult conversations:

First reactions:

• Try to stay calm. Be honest if you are shocked by the topic, but reassure your child that you do want to discuss the issue. This can help your child feel he can talk to you about anything.
• Make sure the first thing you say to your child is something that lets her know you are happy that she wants to talk to you.
• Listen to your child. This means giving your child a chance to talk through what is going on, without you trying to fix the situation.
• Avoid being critical or judgmental, or getting emotional. If you need to let off steam, choose another adult to talk to when your child is not around.

For more tips please visit:

Multicultural Connect Line

A Queensland-wide service for people from multicultural backgrounds whose live have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic

Rural Aid’s – On the Couch

Rural Aid’s next “On the Couch” webinar will be discussing “The agony of anxiety: How to cope with the heebie jeebies”.

These webinars are free, presented by one of Rural Aid’s Counsellors, and are about assisting farmers and rural based communities to build resilience.

If you’d like to register for the upcoming webinars, or view recordings of previous webinars, visit: the link below.

Not Now Not Ever Deadly Choices Football Challenge