Charleville State High School
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Corner of Partridge and Hunter Streets
Charleville QLD 4470
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Email: admin@charlevilleshs.eq.edu.au
Phone: 07 4656 8888
Fax: 07 4656 8800

4 August 2021

Newsletter Articles

Newsletter

Welcome to Week 4 of Term 3 with another busy start underway. In only three weeks we have embraced NAIDOC Week, Parent-Teacher interviews, P&C Meeting, Beyond Broncos visit, QLD Ballet workshop and our Athletics carnival.

It is a great credit to staff and students that during all of these important activities we have maintained our focus on teaching and learning, which is absolutely our core purpose and always at the front of our thinking and planning. I continue to be very pleased with the work I am seeing in classrooms every day and am particularly enjoying seeing the work around learning walls, one of our top 5 pedagogical strategies.

Parent-teacher interviews

A big thanks to all the parents and caregivers who came along on Wednesday 28th of July for Parent-Teacher interviews. They provide a fantastic opportunity to connect with teachers and to gain valuable insights into how your child is progressing with their learning. I observed many positive conversations and also received some lovely feedback from parents complimenting the teachers of their child. The relationship between student, school and home is so important and I encourage all parents to contact their child’s teacher with any questions or to stay informed about learning progress.

Athletics Carnival

Another great and thoroughly enjoyable carnival took place on Friday, 30th of July, with the Charleville SHS Athletics held at school. Congratulations to Tobruk for their victory, hard fought and well deserved. It was awesome to see so many parents and relatives come along, really provided a strong sense of community to the event.

A special thanks to Brad Lines and his team for the organisation and running of the events, there is a lot of work behind the scenes to prepare for these days that often goes unnoticed. From setting up equipment to marking out the ovals (thanks Chatta and Jay) as well as providing the BBQ and opening the canteen, all efforts are very valued and definitely contribute so much to the day.

Upcoming visit to the school

Last week I was contacted by Regional Office to advise that we would be hosting some special guests at the school on Monday, August 9. Leanne Wright (Regional Director Darling Downs and South West Region) and Tony Cook (Director-General of Education) will be visiting the school to observe some classes and speak with staff.

I am very excited at the opportunity to show off our beautiful school and celebrate some of the many successes that students and staff are achieving. Opportunities such as these are few and far between and give a great platform to confirm that amazing things are being achieved across the state schooling system.

Potential change to break times for 2022

Currently we have three break times each day for students, 10.10am – 10.40am, 11.50am – 12.20pm and 1.30pm – 1.45pm. After initial consultation with the P&C and staff we are considering adjusting this in 2022 to two breaks a day with school start and finish times remaining the same as 2021. The reason behind this is to maximise the learning time available in the morning, often this is a highly valued time for teaching as the students are fresher and more actively engaged.

The actual amount of break times would not change in terms of the minutes allocated, students would still receive 75 minutes per day, and we would need to take additional factors into consideration such as the amount of time between arriving at school and having an opportunity for a snack or accessing toilets. At this stage we are seeking any feedback from parents regarding this proposal and also any suggestions around the timing of breaks to support student learning and wellbeing.

Each day consists of four 70-minute periods and 10 minutes for Form (roll marking and notices). The basic idea is to have Period 1 and 2 before first break (35 minutes) then Period 3 followed by second break (35 minutes) and finally Period 4. The placement of Form class is one way we can provide a break between Period 1 and 2 and we can also allow 5 minutes to move between classes. Some possible structures include:

Example A

Example B

  • Form
  • Period 1
  • 5-minute interval to move between classes
  • Period 2
  • Break 1 (35 minutes)
  • Period 3
  • Break 2 (35 minutes)
  • Period 4
  • Period 1
  • Form – 15 minutes (could include snack break for younger students)
  • Period 2
  • Break 1 (35 minutes)
  • Period 3
  • Break 2 (35 minutes)
  • Period 4

Please feel free to contact me via email or by calling the school if you have any questions, feedback or suggestions. Another great way to give input is through the P&C either by attending or chatting with one of the P&C Executive members. We will continue to seek feedback throughout Term 3 before making any decisions on this consideration and I will work closely with the P&C to ensure we have a considered decision if any changes are to be made.

Parents & Citizens and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Partnership Meetings

The next meetings for these two very important forums are coming up soon. Our P&C will be held on Wednesday the 11th of August starting at 5.00pm. The ATSI Community Partnership meeting is scheduled for Thursday the 12th of August with the location for both groups being the school administration building.

Please consider coming along to share your thoughts and point of view on school operations and future directions. These groups provide a voice for important feedback to ensure we are being responsive to our school community by considering a range of views as we plan together to promote success.

In Closing

The School Opinion Survey for staff, students and parents closed on Friday 30th of July and the information is now collated state-wide and results released later in Term 3. I look forward to reviewing this information to identify what we are doing well as well as areas for attention and will then share key aspects with the school community.

Your thoughts on how we are progressing are very important to me and I very much encourage Parents and Caregivers to make contact whenever you may have a question or concern; it is also very nice to hear positive feedback!

All the best,

Barry Wallett

Senior School

Year 12 Students – ATAR Registration

All year 12 students who have identified as being on an ATAR pathway have received the 2022 QTAC Guide which includes instructions for how to register for access to their ATAR.

As part of their ATAR pathways class, students have had a presentation that explains the steps and where they can get additional information. Students must use a personal email (not their school email address) to sign up.

For parents please be aware that students can register for access to their ATAR from August 3, 2021. Information is available for students and parents from the link below and the following video explains the steps to complete:

https://qtac.edu.au/atar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZt7Zot0gZc

I strongly encourage students select the option that allows their school to view their ATAR as this allows us to offer support to students with their QTAC preferences after the ATAR’s are released.

The ATAR portal will only give students their ATAR score. Students wanting their QCE statement need to go to the link below and ensure they have access to their learning account.

https://myqce.qcaa.qld.edu.au/

Students are able to seek help from the Deputy (Cassandra Kohli), HOD of Senior Schooling (Stefanie Andriolo), the Guidance Officer (Sharon Grosskopf) or the Industry Liaison Officer (Brittany Pawley) if they are having trouble with any of these steps.

Year 12 Students – QTAC Applications

Equally important, students who are wishing to apply for university in 2022 (even if they may wish to defer a year) need to begin considering their QTAC application. Information on how to apply is included in the 2022 QTAC Guide and students were given a presentation on the process.

Students are strongly encouraged to make an appointment to speak with the Deputy (Cassandra Kohli), HOD of Senior Schooling (Stefanie Andriolo) or the Guidance Officer (Sharon Grosskopf) around their preferences.

Students can change their preferences three times as part of the initial application fee, however if they need to change preferences again they will incur an additional fee.

Students should be checking offer rounds and closing dates for their choices to ensure they have completed the application process in time (these are different depending on the course students are applying for and some closing dates are in September, while the majority are later in the year).

If students or parents need additional help or guidance, please contact Cassandra Kohli (Deputy Principal for Senior School).

Year 11 Students - Leadership

Students will receive their leadership nomination form during week 6. Students who are considering being a student leader in 2022 should think about what they have done for the school and what contribution they would like to make before they leave.

Students are reminded they do need to have their nomination form endorsed by 3 staff members and will be required to present a short speech on senior parade as part of the application process.

Year 11 Students – QCE Points

By now all year 11 students should have accessed the MyQCE website

https://myqce.qcaa.qld.edu.au/

Students are able to track their QCE points through this and should speak with Mrs Kohli if there are any concerns (such as incorrect subjects, points not received for completing a course, etc).

Students need to be aware that they should be aiming to have a minimum of 10 QCE points by the end of year 11 to ensure they are on track for year 12. These points can come from passing a semester of study in one of their timetabled classes or through completing one of their certificate courses.

If students are concerned about their QCE progress, they should make a time to see Cassandra Kohli (Deputy Principal for Senior School) to discuss options.

Cassandra Kohli
Deputy Principal

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL JUNIOR SCHOOLING AND STUDENT SERVICES NEWS

Junior School

Welcome to week 4. Once again, the weeks seem to be moving very quickly.

Junior Certificate of Education

It is a tradition of Charleville State High School that year nine students are officially acknowledged of their transition into year ten by receiving their Junior certificate of education in the final week of term 4. Due to the disruptions of Covid – 19 the school has modified the eligibility for year nine students. All year nine students will receive a copy of the brochure outlining the details. A copy of the brochure will be attached to the school website.

Contact Details

Are your contact details up to date at the school? Please call Sue or Dee at 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 any time.

Year 6 Transition to High School - Parent Information Sessions

This semester parents will be invited to attend a Parent Information session. This presentation will be directed for parents of students entering year 7 in 2022. However, all parents and community members are invited.

There will be two official transition days allocated for all year six students. One in term 3 and one in term 4. There will be additional “mini” transitions for targeted students.

Key Dates:

Student Information sessions:

At Charleville State School 16/8/2021 at 2pm
At St Mary’s School 18/8 at 2pm

Parent Information sessions:

At Charleville State School 11/10/2021 at 5:30pm
At St Mary’s School 14/10/2021 at 5:30pm

Full transition days for all students attending Charleville State High School in 2022:

Day 1 - 24/08/2021
Day 2 - 5/11/2021

The second transition day will be followed by a BBQ/Afternoon tea for all 2022 year 7 parents and students to meet the Principal and staff.

Uniforms

It is wonderful to see the majority of students are in correct uniform almost every day. Please refer to the back page of the student diary for details on the correct school uniform. As we are now in the month of August, students have had plenty of time to access a school jacket or a Black jumper / hoodie. Please support us and the P&C by ensuring your student has correct uniform every day.

If there is an occasional day that your student is not in uniform, the student merely needs to present at the office before the first bell with a note from home for a uniform pass. There are no further consequences. However, if there is a specific reason for consistently not having the correct uniform for your student, please contact me at the school to discuss options. Year Level Coordinators will be contacting home for students who are habitually out of uniform to ascertain if the school can further support families.

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, refer to website, or ring the school to have a chat or organise a meeting.

IMPORTANT – Please Read

Mobile Phones at Charleville SHS

There is a disturbing increase in the amount of inappropriate use of mobile phones among teenagers. I would like to emphasise to parents/carers of students under the age of eighteen that you are responsible for what is stored on their phone and how the teenager uses their phone. As a responsible parent/carer you should be checking phones 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.

I have spoken to the students of years 7, 8 and 9 about this topic many times and have made it very clear that every parent/carer has the right and obligation to check their teenagers’ phone on a regular basis. The adopt–a–cops, Year Level Coordinators, staff and I have spoken to the students that once a picture and/or comment is posted on any social media site is never disappears. Many students appear to think that Apps such as SNAPCHAT are safe to use as it disappears after a certain amount of time. Sadly, this is not always the case. Please have responsible conversations with your teenagers on the correct use of mobile phones and social media.

On occasion inappropriate use of a mobile phone 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 senior student has used their phone inappropriately at school, then the student will be prevented from bringing their phone to school.

Stymie

Please be aware that any STYMIE notification referred to our school is acted upon swiftly and confidentially. Adults as well as students are able to make a STYMIE report.

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. Please note that students are not to arrive to school before 8:00am.

Queensland Ballet

Twelve wonderful young ladies had the opportunity to take part in a Queensland ballet work shop on the History of Ballet and Techniques of Ballet. The teacher from Queensland ballet, Hannah was inspiring and the students who took the opportunity to participate had a unique and wonderful experience. Watch this space for the professional photos which have been promised to me by Queensland Ballet.

Until next time,

Narelle Webb

Deputy Principal
Junior Schooling/Student Services

Athletics Carnival

2021 Winners

2021 Students Enjoying & Participating…

SCIENCE/ MATHS and JUNIOR SCHOOLING

Year 6 Transition Upcoming Dates

We are approaching the time of year where we prepare to have our incoming Year 6 students begin their transition to high school. We are hosting two transitions days this year along with a number of other important events for both parents and students.

Coming up this term:

  • First Transition Day – Tuesday 24th of August, 8:45am to 2:55pm, arrival at school hall.
  • Student Information Session at Charleville State School – Monday 16th of August.
  • Student Information Session at St Mary’s – Wednesday 18th of August.
  • First Round of Enrolment Interviews – Monday the 23rd of August until Friday 27th of August, please phone 07 4656 8888 for bookings from 9th of August.

Keep updated with our Newsletter and Facebook page for more information and events in Term 4.

Junior Certificate of Education

We are fast approaching the end of 2021 and along with it comes recognising our Year 9 students for their completion of Junior Schooling with their Junior Certificate of Education. Over the next few weeks students and parents will receive information regarding their progress towards the obtaining their JCE and support opportunities available to students who may need some extra assistance. Modifications have been made to the JCE to acknowledge the effects of interrupted learning during 2020. We look forward to celebrating our students’ success with our JCE Ceremony in Term 4!

Year 8 Science

Week 10 activities in science helped build on students’ ability to work collaboratively and think scientifically. The students in Year 8 Science were engaged in their Spaghetti and Marshmallow tower challenge as well as a Balloon Race. It’s a fantastic to way to finish a Term and ensure students are still building on fundamental inquiry skills that will help them further their Science learning.

Amy Roughan
Head of Department
Junior Schooling/Maths/Science/Technologies

Queensland Ballet

The most wonderful opportunity for our students on Thursday with a two hour workshop conducted by the Queensland Ballet. So proud of our girls who took the opportunity to participate in the history of ballet and techniques of ballet.

CLEANER – CASUAL

If you are interested in casual cleaning please contact Jillian Bussell on 4656 8888. You must have a current Suitability Card for Working with Children (Queensland’s Blue Card system).

KEY DUTIES: Contribute to the efficient and effective operation and environment of the school by providing a high level of cleaning support.