11 May 2018

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

In a blink of an eye we are at the end of Week 4. Term 2 always seems to be the busiest Term of the Year.

On Wednesday 9th May we held our 2019 Year 11 Subject Information Evening. This was not a Subject Selection Evening but an opportunity for key staff to speak with parents/guardian and students regarding the changes which will occur with the introduction of SATE in 2019. All Year 10 students will receive a Subject Information Booklet. Please take the time to read this document and discuss it with your student. Students will need to have a clear knowledge of the subject content before they engage in the SET planning process scheduled for the week 28th May – 1st June. All Year 10 students are required to complete a SET Plan with a parent/guardian present. Parents will be able to make an appointment through an online booking environment which will be available next week.

On Friday our school had a new Server installed. This required the shutting down of our school network and internet. Where possible we try to do this type of activity during the school holiday periods, however we were unable to have our server delivered prior to Easter.

Next week our Year 7 and 9 students will undertake NAPLAN Testing. NAPLAN occurs around the normal school program and students are expected to be in attendance each day. Students received a letter to take home to parents explaining the NAPLAN procedure. If you have any concerns or questions regarding NAPLAN please contact Deputy Principal Ms Lisa Veney or Mr Matthew Skinner HOD Junior Secondary.

At various times we ask for additional parental support. We are seeking your support around our mobile phone process. Students are not to make or receive texts or calls during the school day. If a parent/guardian needs to contact a student we would request that you contact the office and we can get a message to the student – please do not text them. We have also had a number of student’s texting parents to tell them they are unwell and to arrange to be picked up. Students are told if they are unwell they are to come to the office and the office personnel will contact the parents and make arrangements for them.

As a parent/guardian we understand that there may be times where you are frustrated and possibly angry with something that may have occurred at the school. We are happy to work with parents/guardians at all times but we would appreciate your thoughtfulness in showing Respect to the Office Staff and Administration Team when contacting the school. It is not appropriate to yell, demand, threaten or swear at our staff. We are all working together to provide the best educational opportunities for our students.

Mr Paulger resumes duty as Principal on Monday 14th May after his Long Service Leave. We welcome Steve back and are looking forward to hearing tales of his travels.

Ms Donna Drinkwater
Acting Principal

NAPLAN 2018

NAPLAN is a national test run each year in years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Your student will receive an individual report on their performance and our school will also receive various ratings that represent our students’ performance.

NAPLAN will be conducted on the 15th, 16th and 17th of May, in lessons 1 and/or 2 each day (week 4). A room schedule will come out for students closer to the date.

Should you have any concerns or queries about the testing, or if you choose to withdraw your student from NAPLAN, please contact the school immediately on 4957 9179, or see Mr Skinner or Ms Veney during school hours.

SELF-ESTEEM

By Professor Matt Sanders

Teenagers who have healthy self-esteem are likely to be happy, cooperative, successful at school and make friends easily. They are fun people to be around because they are eager to learn and succeed, and because they cope with stress effectively.

However self-esteem doesn’t come built-in at birth. As parents, it is important that we help our teens develop a true sense of their own strengths and weaknesses.

Teenagers who receive plenty of praise and encouragement feel good about themselves. A teen who believes their parents have confidence in them by allowing them to do certain things by themselves will learn confidence. Telling your teenager you love them and spending time with them will help your teenager feel valued and cared for.

It is important also to encourage teens to follow a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise and good grooming habits help teenager develop a positive image of themselves. And when your teenager achieves at something you can let them know that they should feel good about such accomplishments — it is okay to be different and be good at different things.

Parenting Tip

Laughter really is a great medicine. Teenagers who feel good about themselves laugh spontaneously, develop a sense of humour and learn to tell funny stories. Encourage your teenager to laugh by listening to their stories and having fun together.

Professor Matt Sanders is founder of the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program®.

12 CHEMISTRY DIGS ORGANICS!!!

12 Chemistry is having a hoot of time creating new and exciting organic molecules this term in their study of Organic Chemistry. Students have been studying various hydrocarbons and functional groups. They have been converting and synthesising organic molecules into various forms. Some new products have been really quite smelly, as in the recent creation of a group of compounds called alkyl alkanoates (esters) from primary alkanols and alkanoic acids.

SENIOR DEBATING TEAM

On Tuesday, the 9th of May, Mackay State High School’s senior public debating team, consisting of John Ranola, Julian Beavis and Martin Armstrong went up against the team from Mackay North State High School, at hosting school, St Patrick’s College. Although unsuccessful in their initial attempt at dethroning last year’s former champions, team leader John was gracious in defeat: “See you in the finals,” he stated.

SENIOR SCHOOLING NEWS

Annamaria Esau
Senior Phase Officer
49579152

YOUNG CHEFS COMPETITION

After a lot of preparation, plenty of meetings and practise, practise and more practise, the day of the Young Chefs competition finally arrived. On Wednesday 2 May, 12 eager contestants showed up at the Home Ec. kitchens to take part in the school heats.

Students were given 20 minutes to do their table setting, after which the competition started at 9h00. After a very stressful and busy hour and 15 minutes, serving of the main dishes started.

Mrs Veney, Geoff Nice (Rotary) and Mrs. van Zyl were really impressed with the high standard and level of professionalism that students showed. This made the task of judging really difficult, but very enjoyable. The desserts proved to be just as tasty and well presented.

The end of judging meant that the marks had to be added up to reveal who will go through to the final round where we will compete with all the other schools in the region.

The following three groups will be competing in the final at TAFE on the 19th of May:

• Jordan Plath and Tyshanna Leigen (Junior team)
• Brianna Skinner and Candace Blake (Senior team)
• Jaimee Kiley and Taylor Parmenter (Senior team)

We wish the 6 participants the best of luck!

FROM THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Upcoming events for Term 2

• Instrumental Music Camp- 22nd to 25th May. This camp is for Instrumental Music ensembles. We travel to Yeppoon and participate in intensive rehearsals in preparation for Fanfare the following week.
• Regional Fanfare competition- Tuesday May 29th at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre. We have 4 ensembles entered this year: Senior Concert Band, Middle School Concert Band, String Ensemble and Stage Band.
• Creative Generation- 13th and 14th July at the Brisbane Convention Centre. Two of our senior music students have been selected to perform at this event. Tanya Dator (Violin in the Symphony Orchestra) and Isimeli Uluiviti (Featured vocalist).

Nicole de Brueys
Instrumental Music Coordinator

RUN for MI LIFE

As a school we will be participating in Run for Mi Life again this year, for the last 2 years we have had really good numbers by both staff and students attending this worthy community event, if you would like to attend please see Ms Forster in R Block staffroom

ACCESS CENTRE

Lots happening in the Access Centre for all our diverse learners.

• Reminder to all parents who would like their child to be withdrawn from NAPLAN to have forms signed and handed into the office. Forms can be given to sign from the office if needed
• Radio station visits starting this week – photos to come!
• Ugly Duckling Café is working tirelessly on supplying teachers with a needed coffee throughout the week
• ASDAN Program – All students are working towards completing challenges that goes towards their Bronze certificate
• Kinchant Dam day excursion coming up for years 7 and 8’s
• Senior Buddy Program – 2x a week our year 11 and 12’s buddy with junior year 7 students.
• Year 10’s are knitting!!! Thank you to Rowena for your help and support!

If you have any questions or concerns please come and have a chat on how we can best support your child.

We aim to have: ’Every Student with a Disablity Succeeding’

Mrs Majella Hoffmann
SAC Access Centre

ITEMS FOR TENDER

Industrial Technology & Design are releasing a number of electrical tools and pieces of machinery for sale by tender. Please see attached PDF file for tender document, photos of equipment, finalisation of tender and contact details. To arrange an appointment for an inspection of the equipment please email: bsm@mackayshs.eq.edu.au or phone 07 4957 9179.

HEYWIRE COMPETITION

KINCHANT DAM

On Friday the 24th of April, our year 11 students from both Aquatic Practices classes went out to Kinchant Dam for the day. The trip was eagerly anticipated, as everyone was itching to showcase their canoeing skills and spend the day outdoors. Activities were divided between classes and then switched; where one group got to canoe around the dam, learning different techniques and the other group were able to test themselves to see how long they could hold onto a tube as they were whizzed around the dam behind a boat. Our students explored the ‘Recreational’ aspect of the Aquatics Syllabus by engaging with the aquatic environment. These skills will help develop their knowledge of recreation as an industry and understanding and awareness of personal safety in the water.

INTERACT CLUB

On Saturday morning a committed group of Mackay State High School Interactors joined with Mackay CQU Rotaractors and Rotarians from around Mackay to plant trees at Mackay Harbour. Over 250 trees of various native varieties were planted close to the beach with the help of Mackay Regional Council officers.

Angelika Baclay, Jenica Bautista, Marnie Bugeja, Soren Jocumsen.

2ND HAND UNIFORMS

We are always in need of any 2nd hand uniforms, for students that have the incorrect uniform, we can do a quick fix with a loan uniform through the Year Coordinators room. The loan uniform is then returned to the school in a clean condition. If you have any Senior or Junior shirts and shorts we would be most grateful, just bring into the General office.

MATHS TUTORING

ENGLISH TUTORING

P & C NEWS

How can I get involved?

Volunteering is time willingly given for the common good and without financial gain.

The parents and citizens’ association at Mackay State High School appreciate any volunteer contribution that you can make. Can you help at tuckshop? Do you like planning or assisting at functions and special events? There are so many ways in which you can help our P&C email pandc@mackayshs.eq.edu.au for more information

TUCKSHOP

COMMUNITY NOTICES