14 September 2022

Newsletter Articles

Principal Report

It’s hard to believe that term three is now almost behind us. With time seeming to move faster and faster it is important that we take time to stop for reflection and to plan our way purposely forward.

Attendance:

After a significant drop in the attendance rate due to COVID and other illness at the start of the term, attendance has risen slightly and has continued to sit around 80%. When we look at this in terms of attendance during a week it would reflect students attending only four of the five school days a week. With the speed at which the year passes us by it is vital that all students attend school every day to maximise their chances for academic success.

Reporting:

Interim student reports will be issued to families early next term. Congratulations in advance to those students who took on the challenge to extend and push themselves to maximise their learning opportunities this term. I encourage all students to read their report card and to reflect on what worked well for them and areas they need to improve.

Uniform:

As we return to warmer weather and approach the holiday period I encourage all families to ensure that students have the correct items of school uniform ready for term four. Should you need assistance in acquiring full school uniform I encourage you to contact the school office. Wearing the full school uniform appropriately helps students get into the mindset for school and learning and promotes a sense of connection and pride.

Year 12:

Congratulations to year 12 students who have achieved strong results in internal assessment items to date. Next term brings with it the external exam block for students studying general subjects. It is an important time for all year 12 students as they ensure all assessment, including VET work, is completed to ensure successful attainment of their QCE/QCIA.

Staffing:

It is pleasing to note that we shouldn’t see any major changes to staffing for term four. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff for your flexibility, resilience, commitment and dedication this term.

Transition Program:

Next term the transition program for year 6 students will continue as they prepare to enter year 7 in 2023. This transition program is vital to assist students to prepare for the changes that secondary school present. I look forward to meeting our future year 7 students throughout this term.

P&C:

Thank you to the members of the P&C for your support of the school throughout the term. I know the wider school community appreciates you giving up and volunteering your time to ensure we continue to have excellent opportunities for our students. The next P&C meeting will be held on Wednesday 5th October and I encourage as many parents/carers to attend as possible.

Celebrations:

Term four is full of opportunities to celebrate student success. I look forward to celebrating with the wider school community at the annual awards evening, the year 12 graduation ceremony and the year 12 formal.

Free Dress Day:

This term students wore free dress to raise money for the Men of League foundation. Congratulations to the students who participated as we raised $90 for this worthy cause.

In closing I would like to wish you all a safe and restful holiday break. I hope that you all have the opportunity to stop for a while, spend time with family and friends and to take stock on all that you have achieved so far this year.

Dan Norris

Senior Schooling

And here we are – the final week of term 3 and what a term it has been for our seniors. As a senior schooling team, term 4 is one of our busiest times of year where we move into final year block exams for year 10’s, internal assessment and exams for year 11’s and external examinations and the completion of final assessment and certificates for year 12’s. On top of this, we have senior formal, awards night and year 12 graduation just to name a few of our bigger events.

Below is a list of key dates below within the senior school for your records. More information regarding all of these events will be distributed to families in the first week of term 4, so please watch this space.

Term 4: Senior schooling key dates:

• Week 3: Awards Night – Wednesday 19 October

Year 10:

• Week 4: Block exams - Commencing Monday 24 October
• Week 5: Special timetable (Yr. 10s commence senior subjects): Monday 31 October
• Week 8: Last day of term - Friday 25 November

Year 11:

• Week 4: Block exams - Commencing Monday 24 October
• Week 8: Last day of term - Friday 25 November

Year 12:

• Weeks 4 – 6: External Exams - From Monday 24 October
• Week 7: Alternative week program
• Week 7: Formal – Wednesday 16 November
• Week 7: Graduation & Final day of school - Friday 18 November

Wishing you all a relaxing and safe break and looking forward to working with you all in our final schooling term for 2023. If I can be of any assistance to you or your student within the senior school space, I encourage you to make contact with me.

Stefanie Andriolo

JUNIOR NEWS

As we come to the end of term 3, I would like to thank the vast majority of junior students who go about the business of learning and being productive members of our school community, every day. I commend you for your cooperation with staff and peers, for your work ethic and desire to be the best you can be. I recognise that you sometimes have to contend with difficult circumstances and that this can taint your experience of an event or a person. Please know that you are noticed, your resilience and perseverance is a credit to you, and you should be extremely proud of yourselves. Keep doing what you are doing – it will reap rewards for you, no matter your direction in life.

SOME IMPORTANT REMINDERS

Students are reminded of the following:

• Fully closed in shoes must be worn at all times at school. Students who are wearing inappropriate footwear (thongs/slides/socks/etc) will be required to sit in the office during all break times, and they will not be permitted to participate in practical classes, such as science experiments/sports/cooking/woodwork/metalwork. These students will be given alternative theory work, which may need to be completed in the office if it is unsafe to do so in the classroom. Students who refuse to complete this alternative work will be required to complete it during lunch breaks with their teacher.
• Soft drinks and energy drinks, such as Mother/Red Bull/V/etc are BANNED at the school. These beverages are NOT for sale through the school canteen, but students are purchasing them at other venues and bringing them onto school grounds. Students who choose to bring these to school will be instructed to hand them in to the office (collection to occur after 3pm). Please note: the drinks will not be stored in the refrigerator.
• Mobile phones are banned at school for students in years 7, 8 and 9. Students are reminded that they must hand their mobiles in to the office upon arrival at school. If students are seen using their phones during school time, they will be required to take their device to the office, where it can be collected by parents after 3pm.
• Swearing and threatening others, including teachers, is not acceptable. Students who threaten others or use inappropriate language can anticipate consequences for this behaviour, including possible suspension from school.
• The most important reason for students to be at school is to be in class, participating and learning. Students who choose to avoid classes, or whose poor behaviour means that they can no longer be in the room, still need to gain new knowledge and develop new skills. For this reason, students who truant or who are exited from class will be expected to complete their class work during break times under supervision of their classroom teacher/HOD or Deputy Principal.

Sue McDermott

R U OK?

Thursday 8th September Charleville State High School recognised R U OK day, which included making cupcakes from a few of our students and support staff. Hampers were made from our support staff in C Block with goodies for staffrooms to share amongst themselves. Banners and signs were also showcased throughout the school supporting this day.

Charleville Performing Arts Festival Placings:

Instrumental Music

Vocal

Dance

Verse Speaking / Drama

Creative Writing / Film

Special Awards and Trophies