23 November 2018

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Another graduating class were celebrated and farewelled on Friday 16th November 2018. One hundred and fifty Year 12, each qualifying with a QCE or QCIA, commence the next stage in their pathway to a successful future. Several of these young people commenced full-time positions in the workplace this week while others will commence at workplaces in January. Many have QTAC applications to enter TAFE or University to enhance their education. Several joined other Year 12 graduates attending the Schoolies celebrations in Airlie Beach.

The 2018 Senior Formal was a very successful evening held at Mackay Turf Club, with nearly all of the Year 12 class attending with family and friends prior to the start when only students and staff remained. The student organising committee had planned a wonderful evening and their efforts were rewarded. A measure of the student group, was the large number of staff who attended on this final casual event for the class of 2018.

Congratulations to Rebecca Kucks and Hemi Hoffman, who have been selected as our School Sports Captains for 2019. Sports House Captains for 2019 are:

Our students were given a special treat on Wednesday afternoon with some professorial staff accompanied by three post-graduate students who shared their experiences as a student at Australian National University in Canberra. The three students shared their experiences for those students interested in astro-physics and modern astronomy, showing photos of actual stars they had tracked and shared with the students. A selection of 100 students were enthralled by messages from these post-graduate students from ANU.

Over the weekend, advice came through advising that Bill Clift, Chair of the Board of Directors at Castleford Academy school in England, had passed away. Bill has been an integral part of the Rugby League exchange held each year and every two years for our students for our Rugby League exchange. He sadly passed away on Friday morning after attending and speaking at an Academy GSCE Presentation Evening for his beloved Castleford Academy. His influence on the tours every year will be significant, however everyone who knows Bill, will have well drilled expectation that this program he has supported and guided is essential to continue Rest in Peace, Bill and our thoughts and prayers are with Margaret and your children and grandchildren.

Four of our original students in the Academic Excellence Academy gave their AAPP presentations, sharing the research and findings of their Personal Project on Tuesday evening. Our Assistant Regional Director, Angela Collins arranged her busy schedule so that she could attend and hear firsthand the presentations. Congratulations to these students.

Kara Boys – Core Strength development to assist with Netball Skills – Mentor: Sam Nutt

Thanh Huynh – Altering Fruit Fly Genetics from Environmental Conditions – Mentor: Elizabeth Atkins

Lachlan Keats – Efficient House Designs to Survive Cyclone Conditions – Mentor: Jo Slack

Courtney Trace – Cabaret Dance Genre and Evolution – Mentors: Kellie Bryan & Ella Barresi

In the meantime, our younger AEA students in Year 7 – 9 have been preparing their STEM Presentations in recent weeks. These small groups will present their action research materials and findings to peers and the AEA Cadets on Monday and then will give their exhibition to gathered students and staff on Mon/Tue 26/27th Nov. The people from Industry and CQU are always ready to undertake the judging – very hard each year as the quality rises each year,

Mr Steve Paulger
Principal

FROM A DP’S DESK

2018 Semester 2 Report Cards

Report Card Distribution:

Students will also receive Stationery Lists for subjects in 2019, during their final week.

If students are absent on these days then reports will be available through the front Office during the remaining two weeks of the school term (for Year 10 and 11 students) or at the start of the new school year (for Years 7 – 9). It is also an option for students / parents to provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the Office, should they wish to have the report card posted home.

Report card information will also be available through our school’s QParent app, once they have been made available to students.

Attendance Dates for 2019

Just a reminder that students are required to wear shoes that meet the school uniform descriptions. Students without the correct footwear will not be able to participate in classes with practical elements.

Tania Cheers
Deputy Principal (Year 8 & 12)

STYMIE

SENIOR SCHOOLING

Mackay Engineering College held graduation ceremonies for their students who have completed either a Certificate II in Engineering or a Certificate II in Automotive. Parents and teachers were there to see the students receive their Graduation Certificates.

Certificate II in Automotive

From left: Marlon Zabini, Joshua Griffiths, Anthony Afflick, Liam Murphy, Jarez Bickey

Missing from photo: Travis Mumford, Blaize Grant

Certificate II in Engineering

Back row from left: Jason Newberry, Jake Jordan, Jack Taylor, Connor McDermott, Joshua Ash, Sharon Barnard

Front: Zac Hokins, Daniel Austin, Bailey Leggatt

Jack Taylor has also been doing a School Based Apprenticeship as a mechanic at Haynes Mechanical which he obtained after doing work experience from the MEC. He will continue with a full time apprenticeship in 2019.

Jedd Abbott and Earle Faram began the year doing Certificate II in Engineering at the MEC and were offered a School Based Apprenticeship after doing a week of work experience. They decided to concentrate on their School Based Apprenticeships at NB Industries and CQ Field Mining. They will carry on as full time apprentices with these companies next year.

Jack Atkins and James Bassett also started the year attending the Mackay Engineering College and after doing a block of work experience, they were both offered full time apprenticeships. Jack is doing Glazing at B & N Glass and James is at Penske Power Systems completing a Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship.

Students attending the Mackay Engineering College have great opportunities to do work experience with different businesses and many students obtain either a School Based or Full Time Apprenticeship from these blocks of work experience.

Enrolments are still open for any Year 10 students wishing to apply to do a Certificate II in Engineering at the Mackay Engineering College in 2019. Please see Mrs Esau in E6 for an application form.

BYOx 2019

Get your new laptop BYOx connected EARLY!

ICT Services Centre (Evan St side of P Block) at Mackay State High School will be open before school starts, from 21 – 25 January 2019 between 8.30 am – 4.30 pm daily. If you have a new laptop in 2019, visit our school technicians to have your laptop configured correctly for our school’s network, including installing and configuring Microsoft Office 2016, BYOx Connection software, or simply for assistance with technical issues. Parents and students may need to leave their laptop in the morning and pick-up in the afternoon.

SALVOS APPEAL

Families, Students and Staff are being asked to bring along food and grocery items in the next few weeks to Form Class for the Annual Christmas Hamper Appeal.

There has been a long tradition at Mackay State High School to support families in need by collecting food items for distribution by the local Salvation Army

Once each student brings in the items to their Form Class they will then be stored in Chappy Phil's Office in E5.

The Form Class with the most items will win a prize.

All collected items will be presented on Wednesday 5th December Parade to the Salvation Army representative and then given to needy families in Mackay.

Please support and make this a great Christmas for families in Mackay.

Chappy Phil

10,000 Steps Tournament

Mackay State High School has completed the interschool 10,000 Steps Tournament… yes, that’s right, teams from Northern Beaches, Pioneer, Mackay, Mirani, Proserpine, Bowen and Calen have done their best to out-step each other!

Thanks to a grant from Central Queensland University and 10,000 Steps, we actually had prizes up for grabs this year.

The Steps for Schools Tournament run for approximately two weeks, it began on Monday, 29th October with much competition between schools and teams. With over 24 teams and 7 Mackay High teams (70 staff) we did really well to finish third, with North High coming first. Over 37 million steps were achieved by all teams in the two weeks and we have made a great start to increasing our health and fitness.

All staff are winners as we have done something positive for our health and engaged in conversations that have encouraged health promotion.

The goal of the 10,000 Steps program is to help you make movement a part of your everyday life. If you are already regularly active, focus on maintaining your existing habit. If you are not sufficiently activity, now is the time to take the first step to better health and wellbeing by increasing your activity. Here are some tips to get started:

First, set small achievable goals. Set manageable goals that will make you feel better physically and mentally. Make your goal specific and measurable, for example a 10 minute walk every day, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, going for a swim once a week or setting an alarm and getting up from your desk every hour.

Second, increase your activity. Whether you are an elite athlete, or someone who does little physical activity, the principles are the same. You must progressively increase your daily activity levels. Start tracking your steps and make small increases in your normal routine and gradually increase these over time. Your body will respond, no matter you age or fitness and you will feel better, stronger and able to take on more activity.

Third, set a specific time each day to be active. You are trying to establish a new habit, so start off by establishing a routine for yourself. Set a time to be physically active by writing it in your diary, putting on an alarm, sharing your plan with friends and family. Do whatever you need to make sure you stick to it. You don’t need a lot of time, but it does have to be come a priority.

Do activities you like, with people you like! Your body is meant to move, and it has a great ability to do so in many different ways. Find an activity which you enjoy and ask your family and friends to join you, you can increase your physical activity and enjoy it at the same time!

Ann-Maree Brightman
School Based Youth Health Nurse

TUCKSHOP

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

ARTICLE: COMMUNITY NOTICES

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