2 September 2016

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

The preparation for 2017 is busily underway, with many of our 2017 Year 7 students interviewed with their parents. The enthusiasm and interest has been very energising, with very strong interest in enrolments from across Mackay. There are many students seeking to continue in the Instrumental Music program, successfully led by Mr J, Ms Boyd and Mrs Bell, to join and further grow their talents. There is great interest in the Academic Excellence Academy, with strong competition to take the entry test on 1st September. As well as these programs, there has also been interest from students both in our Enrolment catchment and outside, to enrol and participate in our Sporting Academies in Rugby League, Netball and Football.

For the families who are still seeking to complete an enrolment interview for 2017, they should contact the Office to register their interest and they will be contacted when the catch-up interviews are arranged.

Our Year 12 students seeking a pathway to University in coming years, sit the QCS test. This test is used to create scaling comparisons for students across the State. The students' ratings on their school subjects then provide the other key information for the calculation of the Overall Position (OP score). OP scores give the various Universities the entry guide for students. Students who sit the QCS test receive a rating of A – E on the final school certificate.

Science Week was celebrated at our school in Week 6 of Term 3, with a range of activities. At the week's end, the Titrations Competition, inviting Year 11/12 students in teams of three to compete in this test of their Chemistry skills. Students came from most of the High schools both State and Private across Mackay and Mackay State High entered a Year 11 team and a Year 12 team. Our Year 12 Team of Praise Chabata, Telena Hona and Caitlyn Mittelstadt were successful, holding the trophy at Mackay State High School for another year. They now compete in the national finals to be held early next Term.

As we approach the end of Term 3, students in Year 7 – 10 will be required to complete their subject selections for 2017. This process is very important to ensure that every student is enrolled in subjects that suit their pathway, their capability and will challenge them to develop as a learner. Subject Information talks were held for parents of students in all year levels required to complete Subject Selection forms by the first week of Term 4 (all Year 7 – Year 10 students). Students have been provided with Information booklets for the available curriculum offerings, mainly subjects, however for Year 9 and 10 students, they are able to choose some Certificate 1 or 2 course in 2017. Some courses have financial contributions and for students to be eligible to select these courses, they must have all current fees paid or under a payment plan. If you want your son or daughter to have a full selection of subjects, ensure that these costs are paid or in plan by checking with our Office staff, who can assist you.

Optiminds is an activity that allows our students to engage in personal and team challenges in a range of contexts. This year, the competition was held at Holy Spirit College, with our students with their support staff competing in the Science Challenge. Mr Klein reported that the teams performed very well and gained from the experience. We look forward to building on this Science Challenge experience for 2017.

Mr Steve Paulger
Principal

JUNIOR SECONDARY NEWS

General News

I don't like to start on too serious a note, but year 7 has just received a timely and very serious reminder from the police regarding very antisocial and illegal activities revolving around cyberbullying and the misuse of electronic devices. It occurred to me during the presentation, that more serious than the inappropriate use of phones, computers and social media, is the thought by a significant number of students (and adults) in our society that taunting others in to be nasty to them or for some "fun" is an OK thing to do.

Students, wherever they are in the world, need to stand up and always demonstrate the behaviours we know to be correct, and praise the right choices being made by friends and peers.

Detective Sam Bliss from the Queensland Police addressing year 7.

Lastly, a big thankyou to all the year 6 students and families we interviewed last week as part of our enrolment process for 2017. I met some fantastic, friendly, and committed students who will bring lots of quality attitudes to year 7 next year. Don't forget to say hello to me when you next visit school (probably orientation day).

What's On Soon

Students in Years 7 and 8 should by now be aware of the upcoming RUOK day and the fantastic paper airplane competition available to enter. Chappy Phil is coordinating this. Join in and have some fun. Genuine prizes to be won.

Also on offer is an art competition for years 7, 8 and 9 to be run in week 9. Information flyers are being distributed to form classes, and Junior Secondary leaders will be visiting form classes to further promote it. Again, great prizes to be won!!

TERM 3 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

Going to school every day is the single most important part of a child's education. Students learn new things at school every day – missing school puts them behind.

We all want our students to get a great education, and the building blocks for a great education begin with students coming to school each and every day. Students develop good habits by going to school every day – habits that are necessary to succeed after school, whether in the workplace or in further study. Missing school can have a big impact on students academically and socially.

This is why the school has organised a Transition Day for Year 8 & 9, Friday the 16th September 2016. The day is a cost free day where students will be invited to wear their house colours and participate in novelty events winning points for their house groups whilst learning important wellbeing skills such as problem solving, working as a team, trust, encouraging others and trusting in themselves.

Students will then share in a sausage sizzle and drinks followed by a DVD – The Jungle Book. There will be a prize for best dressed.

Good News Stories

A big congratulations to all Year 8 classes on the standard of work that has been handed in for assessment this term- it has been of a very high quality. In English, students have been working on persuasive speeches in relation to teen issues and in Geography, they have completed an exam on tectonic plates, looking at how volcanoes and earthquakes shape our society.

Student News

A new group has been created under the guidance of Mrs Gibson. We practise on a Monday and a Wednesday during first break in the hall. Consisting of 20 Year 7 and Year 8 girls in the group, some have never done cheer or dance before. The group have been working on a couple of routines one for jazz and one for cheerleading. Some of the moves get difficult especially the flips and stunts, however it has been a lot of fun and I think everyone has learnt a thing or two. After 6 weeks we will have a routine that we will be able to showcase to the school.

By Maddison Davidson 7F1

Thoughts of the Newsletter

Happiness

Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.

Benjamin Disraeli

Resilience

"‎Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to yourself-and be lenient to everybody else."

Henry Ward Beecher

Did you know?

42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.

General

Enjoy some current photos:

Always remember:

Mr Matt Skinner
HOD Junior Secondary

ICT NEWS

Mackay State High School has a strong tradition in the use of technology to support educational instruction and student learning. In 2017, we will operate a BYOx eLearning Program allowing students to bring their own personal device and connect to the school network.

For any parent wanting to purchase technology for their student to use, specifically Year 6 students transitioning to Mackay State High School in 2017 and Year 10 students in 2017, we cordially invite you to a Parent Information Evening.

BYOx eLearning Parent Information Evening

When: Tuesday, 5 October 2016
Time: 6.00-7.00 pm
Where: Mackay State High School Auditorium, Evan Street side.

Topics to be discussed will include:

• What is BYOx? (Bring Your Own device and/or software)
• How does the BYOx eLearning Program operate?
• BYOx Specifications for devices
• Purchasing your device – MSHS Portals, local retailers, etc
• Warranty and Accidental Damage Insurance
• Demonstration of MSHS Portals
• How to access free and low-cost software

We encourage parents to come along and get advice on purchasing devices and software. See our improved MSHS Portals which offer devices built for educational purposes (some products available for view), competitively-priced devices, finance, Accidental Damage Insurance, on-site repair, and loan laptop for your student while repairs are taking place. This offers your student uninterrupted learning and speeds up turnaround of repairs. Mackay State High School has chosen the devices on our Portal for our environment.

Christine Adams
HOD – Business and Information Technology

2016 ONLINE NUMERACY FESTIVAL

Between 15th of August and 7th of September the 2016 Infinite Ideas Online Numeracy Festival, (organised by Master Teacher Dianne Watt) is taking place online. This professional development opportunity has been utilised by most of our maths teachers, who have been staying before and after school to access the sessions. The festival includes more than 20 hours of high quality professional development, bringing together leading educators, best practice examples, innovative pedagogy and practical ideas from educators across the world. From there our teachers are then able to put into practice the interesting strategies and skills that they have learned.

Just a reminder also, for senior students to be fully into their studies to give themselves the best chance to succeed during the senior exam block, which starts Tuesday 6 September. Eat well, sleep well, study hard!

Mr Clayton Campbell
HOD Mathematics

SPORTS REPORT

Term 3 Week 8

Year 7 Sports Day

This Year, the Year 7 Sports Day will be held on Thursday 15th September. The teams will be travelling to the venues from Mackay SHS at 9am and returning to Mackay SHS at 2:45pm. Depending on the sport your child has been selected in, they will be travelling to the venues by bus or on foot. Students are required to wear school uniform. As this is a rewards day, any students that have been suspended or on continuous conduct / attendance cards will be unable to go and will be at school doing school work.

Students are required to bring:

• A packed lunch some canteen facilities may be available at the venues
• Hat, water bottle and equipment relevant to their chosen sport: E.g.

Please ensure your child returns their medical form by Monday 5th of September so further planning and organisation can be made adjusted in relations to buses and final numbers participating in this fulfilled day.

Under 12 News

Congratulations to Ryleigh Wotherspoon who was part of the U12 Girls Football QLD team that just played at Nationals in Perth. After a three day camp on the Gold Coast the team flew to Perth for the championships. They played teams from WA, SA, VIC, NSW, and ACT where they won five out of six games. This put the team on top of the ladder where they finished 1st (National Champions) out of 7 states/territories. This is an outstanding level of achievement for your team and yourself Ryleigh. We commend your success in this chosen sport.

Ryleigh Wotherspoon and Ella Anderson were selected to represent the state in the Capricornia Softball U12 team, held last week in Brisbane. Ella holds the 3rd base position and Ryleigh plays in the short stop position. This team were very successful winning multiple games and they finished second overall to Metropolitan East. Both girls have represented Mackay SHS and the region with pride, congratulations to you both on these achievements.

Jimmy Butlin and Zak Springer have been selected in the Capricornia Track & Field 10-12yrs Boys team to compete in the QSS Track & Field 10-12yrs State Championship at QSAC on the 18-19th October 2016. Both boys will be competing in the field events; Zak will be representing in the Long Jump, while Jimmy will be competing in the Shotput. This is a fantastic effort boys, well done and good luck at the State Championships.

The following students have been selected in the Capricornia Track & Field 13-19yrs Boys & Girls teams to compete in the QSS Track & Field 13-19yrs State Championship at QSAC on the 20-23rd October 2016. Good luck, we know you will all represent our school well.

Lauren Morgan -1500m
Shannen Donnelly - 800m
Taine Hona - Long Jump
Will Morgan - High Jump / 800m / 1500m
Rhys Neale - 100m / 200m

Gabrielle Wotherspoon, Lauren Anderson and Tayla Mittelstadt, have been selected to attend the Capricornia trials for the U15 Girls Cricket trials held on the 6th of September. Good luck girls.

ARTS NEWS

Year 10 Visual Art students, accompanied by Ms Hodby and Ms Dorey worked in collaboration with Central State School students to install a commemorative mural during Week 7 on Central's Sports Hall wall.

The full day saw the culmination of several months of workshopping, researching, planning and developing by the Year 10 class as part of their Cartography and Memory unit. The work has been developed in memory of Central S.S. student Jean Mateo. It depicts both Year 10 and Year 3 and 4 designs developed from studies of butterfly wings, a motif that has come to represent Jean within the school community.

Our students worked with their junior helpers in both sun and rain to complete the mural over the course of the day, adding junior works painted onto recycled CDs as the finishing touch.

Mrs Glenda Hobdell
HOD The Arts

HIGH TEA SUCCESS 2016

A big applause to both our Year11 Hospitality classes of 2016 for putting on two fantastic events. The two individual High Teas as part of our assessment took place on the 18th and 22nd of August 2016. A total of 60 guests had a feast at our tables. The two function themes were the "Mad Hatter's" high tea and the "Under the Sea" high tea. With the feedback given by guests, both functions were concluded to be a unanimous success. These functions were made possible with the help of Mrs Chambers, Ms Pritchard, Louise Sorenson and Donna Seymour. On behalf of both our Yr 11 Hospitality classes and all the students involved, we would like to thank the staff, parents and everyone for their attendance to our High Teas. The students hope that you enjoyed the dining experience and we look forward to similar events with the same energy and atmosphere which was shown during the High Tea functions, in the near future.

By Mikaela Fair and Carissa Walker
Maitre d for both functions

GEOGRAPHY

Year 9

On Wednesday 31st of August students in Ms Freeman, Ms Wood, Mr Pozza's 9 Geography classes attended the Mackay Whitsunday Farmers Market as part of their studies of biomes and food security. The students had the opportunity to speak one on one with the stall holders/primary producers who generously gave up their time on a trading day for us. As well as listening and asking questions, students had the opportunity to taste test local fresh fruit and vegetables at the market. Learning directly from the farmers, market gardeners, butchers, fishmongers, hydroponic farmers and beekeepers about agriculture, the land and their business is an experience only possible on excursions such as these. The students conducted themselves impeccably and were a credit to the school. A sincere thanks must go to the stall holders and management committee of the Mackay Whitsunday Farmers Market who so generously accommodated us. The Greater Whitsunday Farmers Market is held every Wednesday from 2pm to 6pm in the park next to the old Pioneer Council offices in Wood Street.

ESL LEARNERS CLASS

On Wednesday 24th August, year 12 English for ESL Learners class were privileged to be visited by Yuwibara Elder, Val Wright. The students have been studying Indigenous Poetry, and Val shared one of her own poems which she has written about connection to land. Whilst seated in a Yarning Circle, she also shared stories of her life. The students were able to ask her questions and much was learnt about the Yuwibara people and their journey in the Mackay area. Many thanks for visiting us Val, you have given us a greater insight into the Indigenous history of Mackay.

Students listened as Indigenous elder Val Wright reads one of her own poems

Catriona McGuire
EALD Coordinator/ Teacher English for ESL Learners

A MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE

2016 MAGAZINE

Cut off to pay is end of this term. Payment plan students MUST advise NOW to ensure a magazine is ordered for you.

The annual magazine is a wonderful keepsake

KEEPING IN TOUCH

If any of your details change: address, contact names and numbers etc please let us now ASAP.

Should you wish to query anything please, phone 4957 9179, email admin@mackayshs.eq.edu.au or drop in for a visit (8am – 3.45pm) Monday to Friday.

2017 SUBJECT SELECTION

Some subjects for 2017 will be difficult for your student to choose if you still have outstanding fees. We understand that some families are experiencing financial hardship so please advise the office if you wish to discuss a payment plan.

Yr11 LEADERSHIP CAMP

Yr11 students – if you wish to attend the Leadership Camp at the end of this year – you must have your 2016 fees fully paid.

STATEMENTS

Are you receiving your statement? – usually emailed 15th of each month

If you are NOT receiving invoices/credit adjustments and statements via email please contact us at admin@mackayshs.eq.edu.au – we would prefer to provide you with up to date information. By the time we print and post statements to you it is quite often out of date

REFUNDS/CREDITS

If/when you request the reversal (credit adjustment) of an invoice please be aware that we require a written request (we do have a standard form) and then the approval of the appropriate Head of Department or Excursion Coordinator. Quite often there is a non-refundable deposit because the school is required to pay a deposit to guarantee our booking which is non-refundable to us!

Thanks everyone.
Regards
Mrs Marg Brown
Business Services Manager

ENGLISH TUTORING

Tutoring

Every Monday 3- 4pm in A08

Students can get help with assignments, exam preparation, oral presentations etc.

EALD

ARE YOU AN EALD – Is English and additional language or dialect for you??

Student Who Needs Some Extra Help with Assignments? You are eligible for:

What: Extra FREE tutoring for EALD students
WHEN: Every Wednesday 3pm to 4pm
WHERE: D05 classroom
WHO with: Mrs McGuire and Mrs Baxter

Bring along your assignments or homework for help with grammar and vocabulary; or to understand the task requirements.

LIBRARY NEWS

Book Week

Staff celebrated the end of book week last Friday with a dress up day

Geraldine Moylan
Teacher Librarian

MIND MATTERS ACTION TEAM

Suggestion boxes have been placed in the library, support services and reception areas of the school. Parents, staff and students are welcome to place any suggestions they may have as to how we can improve our school and make it a better place for everyone. We value all comments from the school community so if you have any suggestions please drop them into one of the boxes and they will be considered by the action team.

STUDENT VACCINATIONS

If your child has been away from school and missed any School Immunisation so far from 1st round 16th March Year 7 & 23rd March Year 8 HPV dose 1 & Boostrix. We have also visited on the 25th May for Year 7 & 8th June for Year 8 for HPV dose 2 & Chickenpox. If your child has only had 1st round or have had none so far please, contact School Immunisation Program for an appointment on 30963310, we are now located at 40 Carlyle Street across from the MET Hotel.

Trixie Mills
School Based Youth Health Nurse

SCHOOL DENTAL

Message from the School Nurse

Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a curve of the spine. It usually develops during adolescence (10-13 years) when growth is rapid. The cause is unknown and is more common in girls. Three girls per 1000 will require treatment and the earlier it is undertaken the better the long-term result. The early stages of scoliosis usually produces no symptoms and the only way to detect it is to look for it. I would recommend that parents/guardians visit the link below to view a brochure which explains the Forward Bend Test to screen their daughters for scoliosis. If after reading the brochure you think your child may have scoliosis please consult your family doctor.

If scoliosis is not detected and treated the curve may worsen in adult life and cause pain, physical deformity or arthritis.

Trixie Mills
School Based Youth Health Nurse

MESSAGE FROM THE NURSE & YOUTH SUPPORT COORDINATOR

RUOK ? DAY is Thursday 8th September. It is a national day of action and a reminder to regularly connect with the people around you. It is important to support anyone who is struggling with life's problems.

The key message for 2016 is: We're stronger together and to make time for the people who matter to you, family, friends and workmates. Ask, listen without judgement, encourage action to seek help and check back. If someone brushes off your concerns, don't be scared to dig a little deeper.

Headspace will be visiting the school at 1st break on the 8th of September. The lunch time theme will be: Better together, A Festival of Friends. There will be a chance for students to speak with workers from Headspace or participate with friends in a range of games and activities.

Trixie Mills /Jenny Hocking
School Based Youth Health Nurse/Youth Support Co-Ordinator

COMMUNITY NOTICES