23 June 2021

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Note

Welcome to week 10 of Term 2, the end of another busy and productive Semester of teaching and learning. Students have now completed the majority of their assessment and teachers are busily marking, moderating and completing reporting requirements. I am very pleased with the work that I have been seeing during my regular class room visits as well as our formal walk-throughs and also through discussions with the leadership team. The effort put in by staff and so many students across a broad range of subjects is clearly evident and I am very much looking forward to reviewing our Semester 1 results.

As a Principal I strive to be data informed, not data driven. For me this means we design and enact strategies based on learning outcomes and continuously reflect on how our students are progressing to ensure we are delivering the best possible opportunities for success. Good results are to be celebrated and also analysed to work out why they were successful. Areas for improvement are also reviewed closely to ensure our response is well considered and delivered with fidelity.

Report cards

Report cards will be emailed home on Friday 25th of June. For parents and caregivers that do not have an active email address we prepare hard copies and mail this home. Should you not receive your child’s report card please contact the office and we will have a printed copy available for collection or post them home depending on your preference.

As previously mentioned I strongly encourage discussing your child’s achievements as reflected on their report card and consider starting with the positives. One of my constant themes with students is around being the best version of yourself as often as possible because your best is absolutely good enough. When I discuss results with children they so often start with a negative and then when I inquire a little more deeply they can identify a range of successes. From here we focus on what worked well for them and how this could transfer to other areas, a great starting point to encourage positive outcomes.

Attendance

Attendance is a critical aspect of success in learning and the one data set displaying a negative trend. It is continuing to hover around 83% and I urge all students to aim for attendance above 87% to ensure they are given themselves the best opportunity for success.

Even though assessments are generally finished by week 10 the learning continues with many classes already starting on the next unit of work, your support in encouraging continued attendance with your child is greatly appreciated!

In closing

As we finish Semester One I would like to congratulate staff and students for the successes achieved and the foundation being built for continued positive outcomes. Across this Term alone there have been many highlights including positive feedback received during visits from the Regional Director and Assistant General Director, completing our School Review support plan as an “Option A School”, strong performance in a variety of performance indicators, great outcomes from events such as ANZAC ceremony, Parent-teacher Interviews, Art workshops, Outback Senior Games, Bangara dance workshops, Regional Deadly Tracker Yarns, Shearing Camp, Deadly Recruits and Year 10 work experience to name just some of the fantastic opportunities and outcomes achieved.

Activities happening in our great school!

These achievements do not just happen, they are built on a foundation of effort and care for and from our students. The role played by parents, caregivers and extended family is so important and builds the sense of community that makes up Charleville SHS.

I wish all families and students the very best for a safe and restful Winter vacation and look forward to school resumption on Monday, July 12th.

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 a former student who has shared some of his experiences as he transitioned into university and answered questions from the students. In term 3, students will have a range of presentations and hopefully all students will be able to participate in the careers market to find out more information about possible pathways.

Parents seeking additional information about the ATAR can access this from the link below which provides key dates and explains what information the student will need to provide.

Year 11 and Year 12 Students

All senior students are reminded to access their learning account on the link below:

so that they can track their progress toward their QCE. Students should be able to check any completed certificate courses as well their subject enrolments. Any completed units of work should also be visible (though semester one results will not be uploaded until term 3). Students are encouraged to keep track of their progress and to double check that any learning they complete has been added to their account.

Year 11 Students

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.

Students are also reminded that they will not be able to change subjects once units 3 and 4 (year 12 work) begins as they need to complete both units in order to receive any points for the subject. Students will be able to discuss a subject change in weeks 3 and 4 of term 4 before their year 12 subjects will be set.

Year 10 Students

Year 10 students are in the process of completing a week of work experience. This is a very valuable experience for students as it gives them the opportunity to try some work in different industries as well as to build connections and contacts in town. Hopefully students learn a lot from the experience and for those considering a school based traineeship or apprenticeship it may give them the opportunity to speak directly with a potential employer.

Year 10 students are reminded that they will be making their final subject selection for year 11 during semester 2 and that if they are considering an academic pathway (General Subjects) they should be meeting the prerequisites for those subjects. For many of these classes, that means students should be working at an A or B standard in Maths, English or Science in year 10.

All prerequisite information can be found in the subject handbook that students were given during semester one.

Cassandra Kohli
Deputy Principal

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL JUNIOR SCHOOLING AND STUDENT SERVICES NEWS

WELCOME TO WEEK 10

It is amazing how quickly term 2 has passed. Your junior student would no doubt be looking forward to the two week break.

Junior School

Reporting

Reports cards will be emailed this week with Parent / Teacher interviews in week 3 of Term 3.

How can you help your student use the Semester One report to improve their learning?

As a parent:

• Carefully read the report and pay initial attention to the Behaviour and Effort grade before focusing on the academic.
• Praise the positive aspects of the report. If your student is getting A’s and B’s in Behaviour and Effort this indicates that they are working to the best of their ability.
• If the student has a disappointing report and tries to blame others for their poor result, try to focus on what the student can do to improve in the future.
• Consider: Homework Club, Speaking to the teacher or the Head of Department.
• Work collaboratively with your student and the school to focus on improvement. Learning is a team effort: Student / Parents / Teachers / School.
• Attend the parent/teacher interviews. You will gain valuable information on your child as a learner.
• Contact the school if you have any concerns

Timetable

Your student will receive a new timetable at the beginning of term 3. There will be a number of significant changes to the timetable for students in years seven to ten.

Year seven students will be having one semester of Art and one semester of Home Economics in 2021. Year seven students will study Humanities as well as Japanese in Semester 2. There will be a few exceptions for those students enrolled in the intensive reading program.

Year eight students will be having one semester of ITD and one semester of The Arts (which will be focused on Drama) in 2021. Year eight students will study HPE in Semester 2.

Year nine students will study Humanities in Semester 2 and year ten students will study HPE.

All students will be handed a copy of their new timetable on Monday 12 July. The timetable will also be emailed to each student over the break.

Reading Program

In term three we will continue 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 Ms Sue McDermott at the school.

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. The Semester two timetable has now been structured in a manner that students participating in the valuable reading program will no longer miss any curriculum time.

Mobile Phones at Charleville SHS

A large number of students have mobile phones at school. Remember, that students in years 7, 8 and 9 are not allowed to have a phone at school. 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 should 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. Staff are rostered on Bus Duty until 3:15 pm every afternoon. If you are unable to collect your child please make other arrangements for their supervision.

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. 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.

Uniforms

There has been a marked improvement in the standard of uniform in the past 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 kept the cost of all uniform items to a minimum. There are some school hoodies now available at the uniform shop. The uniform shop is open every Tuesday before school.

Deadly Recruits Camp

Four excited students departed Charleville on Sunday morning headed for Tinnenburra Station to participate in the Deadly Recruits program. This program is supported by the HOPE program and TRYP. It is a wonderful opportunity which supports students who are hoping to be involved in the services in the future. We look forward to hearing the wonderful stories the girls will have on their return.

Deadly Recruits in action

Until next time, have a very safe and well-deserved break.

Narelle Webb
Deputy Principal
Junior Schooling/Student Services