11 November 2016

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPALS REPORT

Mackay State High School celebrated the students and their achievements for 2016 at their Annual Awards evening held at the MECC. Past student Mr Greg Williamson, Mayor of Mackay Regional Council, was our guest speaker and he challenged the students to "Make the Change" as they choose the pathway beyond the school gate.

Mrs Rae-Lee Cox and Mr Len Fehlhaber, Principals at West Mackay and Mackay Central State Schools assisted in presenting awards and they really enjoyed seeing many award winner who had passed through their hands, receiving awards. Mrs Tania Williams, President of our P&C Association also presented several awards recognising the great contribution her team makes to our school.

Many students received Awards for Academic Excellence and School Leadership, Cultural and Citizenship across all year levels. Igor Seleznev was announced as our 2016 School Dux, resulting from his commitment and passion for learning. The competition for this honour was very close between several students in Year 12. Chloe Healion received the Principal's Award for her all round excellence in Academic, Leadership and Music pursuits across her final years of secondary education.

During the evening we were entertained by our Concert Band and Strings Ensemble, showcasing the outstanding skills that our students possess.

At the conclusion of the evening, School Captains Hannah Vella and Harrison Arnold delivered their Valedictory address, before announcing their successors as School Captains for 2017, to receive their Blazers. Congratulations to Thrisha Bajamundi and Haard Shah (Captains) and Kathryn Brown and Mitchell Wells (Vice Captains).

On assembly students successful in the RACI Titration competition as Regional winners were awarded their individual Trophies. Gold Award – Caitlyn Mittelstadt (0.01% Accuracy) Silver – Telena Hona and Praise Chabata (0.05% Accuracy). There were also several students successful in the Australian Maths Competition with certificates presented to

On the evening following Awards Night, the Visual Arts students in Years 10, 11 & 12 setup an Art Show at the Paxton Markets Gallery area, which opened to the Public at 6pm. The students with guidance from their teachers had been preparing the range of items on display including sketches, painting, digitally modified photos as well as a number of video clips of students' creations. Like many of the parents and community members who walked through the gallery, I was impressed by the quality of the items, but also the diversity and skills possessed by the young artists. Sincere thanks to Lyn and Rob from Paxtons for allowing the students to show the display in their facility.

As busy as the week was here in Mackay, a couple of our Year 7 girls were participating in the State 10-12 Years Girls Cricket trials. Ella Anderson & Ryleigh Wotherspoon were key players in the CAP side which placed 2nd in Queensland, but even more importantly their performances earned them both selection in the State team. This is an outstanding achievement for both young ladies, who will represent Qld in Canberra in January.

Over the next two weeks our senior groups will complete their final assessments for 2016. Year 12 Exam block is 9 – 11th November, while the Year 11 Exam block is 15-18th November. Students must plan carefully and ensure they are on time and equipped for their exams. Several students will be required to attend if they do not have scheduled exams, to complete projects or modules for VET Certificate course.

Mr Steve Paulger
Principal

2016 AWARDS NIGHT

Our Annual awards night which was held on 2 November was a great success and a credit to the Students and Staff involved. On behalf of the organising committee a huge Thank you must go to the following sponsors for their contributions to the night.

JUNIOR SECONDARY NEWS

General News

A big congratulations to all students receiving recognition for outstanding effort at our recent awards night. It's always a great reminder about the vast number of students we have who achieve at high standards. This is reinforced during the terms when we recognise the vast number of students who achieve all A/B standards for both effort and behaviour (and may/may not receive A's for subject achievement).

What's On Soon

Coming up in the last week is our Rewards/Activity day on Monday 5th December. Students have the opportunity to attend a movie and the Blue Water Lagoon, and receive a free lunch.

A note went home to most students regards this. PLEASE NOTE that students who are not allowed to participate due to poor behaviour have been notified and not provided a note as have students with outstanding school fees. It is school policy that such activities only occur if fees are paid. PLEASE ask your son/daughter to check with the office staff regards outstanding fees as most students owe a very small amount of money, some families are on a payment plan and their students may therefore attend, and some students may have fees outstanding for items that are not required (this is an issue which is easily rectified).

We would love to see all eligible students enjoying this fun day.

A reminder to families of year 7 students to place a deposit for next year's "Year 8 Teamwork and Leadership Camp". Spaces are filling fast already. Details are on the information letter sent home recently.

Year 9 students will similarly have the chance to participate in a fun night being organised to recognise the completion of the "Junior Secondary Years". The cost of this will be $10 - for food and entertainment, but too is dependent upon school fees being paid. Please keep an eye out for regular updates on this celebratory event.

Thought of the Newsletter

Give thanks for what you are now, and keep fighting for what you want to be tomorrow. ~Fernanda Miramontes-Landeros

Matt Skinner
HOD Junior Secondary

FROM THE DESK OF A DEPUTY

Semester 2 Report Cards

Semester 2 Report cards will be distributed to students ahead of them leaving for summer vacation. This is a little different from our past procedures – especially for students in Years 10 & 11. Students should be at school to collect their Reports according to the following list:

• Year 10 & 11 Reports will be distributed on Friday 25th November.
• Year 7, 8 & 9 Reports will be distributed on Thursday 8th December.

Students absent from school at these times will be able to collect them in 2017 from the Administration Office.

Should you desire your student's Report Card to be posted home then please provide a stamped, self-addressed A4 envelope to the Administration Office ahead of the relevant date.

Mrs Tania Cheers
Deputy Principal

AUSTRALIAN TITRATION COMP

Due to our year 12 senior chemistry titration team last term in August winning the Regional Titration competition they were invited to compete in the Nationals at the start of this term. Even though they did not place at the National level they did exceptionally well to be regional winners. Our year 12 team consisted of Praise Chabata, Telena Hona and Caitlyn Mittlestadt.

A big congratulations to our year 12 chemistry titration team for an amazing result.

Well done!

Titration is a quantitative analytical laboratory method used to determine the unknown concentration of an unknown solution. Also called volumetric analysis, it requires persistence and determination to obtain accurate volumes of a solution of known concentration to chemically calculate the unknown concentration.

Kylie Anthes-Cole
HOD Science

SPORTS REPORT

Congratulations to Ryleigh Wotherspoon and Ella Anderson who were away two weeks ago, representing the Capricornia Region at the school U12 girls Cricket State Championships, in Bundaberg. The team played 7 games in the tournament and were extremely competitive winning 6. Unfortunately losing the final game, resulting in a second place overall which is a considerable improvement to the teams achievements from last year. Ryleigh made her 1st 50 and both of the girls formed an incredible partnership to make 80 runs in total. Ella and Ryleigh have been selected to represent Queensland as the state championships in January. This is a fantastic achievement girls and you are both commended on your outstanding sporting achievement.

Over the past three weeks our Year 9 cohort of students have had a wonderful opportunity with AFL QLD. External provider Matthew Bateman, Development Coordinator for Mackay, worked with our current school captain Harrison Arnold to deliver a range of sessions that enabled the students to gain new skills in AFL. Students learnt the fundamental skills of how to hold an AFL ball, kick an accurate drop punt, mark the ball on their chest and overhead then handball over a range of distances. Some students were able to transfer previous skills from other spots codes to enable them to be fluent across all skills. The majority of students found it challenging to run and bounce the ball. It was pleasing to see all students improve considerably over the three weeks. We would like to thank Mathew and Harrison for delivering this opportunity to our students.

CERTIFICATE III FITNESS

Congratulations to Siobhan Healy and Ryan and Molloy winners of the Certificate III Fitness Excellence Awards.

These awards are given to the top two all-rounders in terms of their theoretical knowledge & aptitude, their effort and ability in practical training sessions, their potential as a personal trainer as well as their conduct and behaviour throughout the year. Students were presented with $50 vouchers and merchandise from Mass Nutrition as well as signed shirts from Odell Manuel – Australia's Strongest Powerlifter/ ex NZ warriors player. Well done – two deserving students.

MATHS DEPARTMENT

Australian Mathematics Competition – Results are Back!

Well done to the academy students in Year 7 and 8 who competed in the Australian Mathematics Competition in July. The results are back and we are delighted with the high level of achievement attained by our students. Congratulations to our award winners!

Year 7

High Distinction (top 3%) : Awarded to Emma Keeler
Distinction (top 20%) : Awarded to Dan Asuncion, Amity Bugeja, Hyram Oliver, Kalel Pada, Pushti Shah and Isaac Wix
Credit (top 55%) : Awarded to Ella Anderson, Cameron Archer, Jessica Austin, Sofia Bulaong, Grace Clarkson, Jye Hinks, Lee Hore, Holly Keates, Cristina Taylor-Brell and Erin Westcott

Year 8

Distinction (top 20%) : Awarded to Kara Boys
Credit (top 55%) : Awarded to James Arellano, Kiean Bauden, Christopher Caldo, Thomas Camp, Dana Del Rosario, Georgia Vella and Darcy Whibley

Clayton Campbell
HOD Mathematics

ACADEMIC ACADEMY

This term in maths and science, the Year 7 and 8 academic excellence academies have designed a project based on their interests and have been working through scientific procedures to obtain their findings and discuss their results. Students are exploring a number of different sciences including physics, chemistry, biochemistry, sport science and biology. These projects will be presented at the inaugural STEM Fair on the 22nd of November.

SENIOR SCHOOLING

Full Time Traineeships & Apprenticeships - available -2017

• Business Traineeship – Asset Management.
  Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Pty Ltd (DBCT P/L) and MRAEL Group are working in partnership to seek motivated individuals interested in undertaking a full time Business Traineeship to achieve a Certificate III in Business
• MRAEL are currently recruiting for an apprentice boilermaker for a Mackay business
• Apprentice Fitter Machinist

School Based Traineeships - available now

• Kookaburra Child Care Centre in Andergrove is seeking two highly motivated students with an interest for working in child care to join their team as school based trainee. The qualification will be a nationally recognised Certificate III in Children's Services.
• Certificate II in Kitchen Operations
• 2 x school based Business Administration traineeships
• Cert II in Warehousing Operations TLI21616 - The role is a combination of Warehousing and Retail skills

MEC 2017 - Applications still open

• Certificate II in Engineering Pathways
• Certificate II in Electrotechnology

GENR8 2017

Expression of Interest forms are available in E02 for any current year 11 students interested in completing a Certificate II in Logistics.

This program includes 20 days of work placement plus theory.

Some of the local business that support and place our students for the GENR8 program include:

• Komatsu
• Hitachi
• Blackwoods
• Aurizon
• Mackay Sugar

ANDREA DEARDEN
Senior Phase Officer
Ph 49579152

INTERACT CLUB NEWS

The Interact Club of Mackay State High School and the Rotary Club of Mackay have a long association that goes back over 60 years. On Monday 7th of November Mackay Rotary Club Treasurer and multiple Paul Harris Fellow Norman Henry presented certificates to the departing Year 12 Interactors at Mackay SHS. In 2016 the students in the Interact Club have been active in many community service and charity fundraising projects, including most recently organising graduation caps for seniors. A big thankyou to Norman (much to the surprise to the students, an octogenarian come January!) for speaking to the students, presenting their certificates and being an embodiment and example to our youth of 'service above self'.

STEM FAIR

ENGLISH TUTORING

It's that time of the year again, we are tying up loose end before the end of the school year. If your students have any novels lurking at home please return to the A06 English staffroom, novels may include Holes, Maze Runner, The Book Thief plus many more

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.

CHAPLAIN UPDATE

It's beginning to look a bit like Christmas at MSHS.

Well done to everyone who have been so generous in giving for the Salvos Christmas Appeal.

We will be presenting all the food and gift items on Wed Parade tomorrow to the Salvation Army.

Mr Skinner will also be announcing the winning form classes for most items donated.

Any more items can be placed on stage before parade tomorrow.

Thanks to all those involved.

Message from the School Nurse

Parenting is hard work and most of us need help at some stage. The Queensland government is funding the Triple P Positive Parenting Program for the next two years. This means that anyone with a child under 16 years of age can access the program free of charge.

The program helps parents to:

• Manage their child's behaviour
• Set family routines and rules
• Develop positive relationships with their children
• Raise happy, healthy confident children

To access the free program you can simply phone Child Youth and Family Health in Mackay ph 48857750 or register for a course by contacting the Triple P Queensland website:

Triple P also have an on line course for those who are not able to attend a course in the community.

Trixie Mills
School Based Youth Health Nurse