8 March 2019

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

At the end of February, all principals from State Schools across Queensland were assembled for the biennial State-wide Principals Conference in Brisbane. Speakers include Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk MP, Minister of Education Grace Grace MP and our Director General Tony Cook. Each recognised the outstanding achievements in Queensland schools over the past 10 years, with noticeable improvements in QCE attainment, growth in NAPLAN student performance especially in Year 9 and the Closing the Gap for our Indigenous students, out-performing all other States in Australia. John Hattie, world renowned Educational speaker said that Queensland was now the most sought after real-estate target for young families seeking positive growth for their children’s education. The theme of the conference was “Thinking Schools – Better World” and the message shared by our new Deputy Director - State Schools, was one of continuing to identify the improved the learning achievements for each student, allowing every child to follow a pathway of their choice.

Following on from our School Review in 2018, one of our improvement focus areas for 2019 is the highlighting of creative and critical thinking for all of our students, incorporated into our Quality Teaching pedagogical model. To drive this, our Leadership Team of all Faculty Leaders was engaged in a professional learning day presented by educator Paul Wood, highlighting the alignment of Thinking skills as part of our Australian Curriculum within the subjects, while also sharing some modern research into brain readiness in adolescents. We are now developing practices to implement the consistent and regular engaging of students in thinking tasks to share and learn new strategies to attack these situations in their learning and life.

Our school values the pathways that our students take and this week, two of our Prefects returned to their primary school at Mackay Central State School to assist in the presentation of the 2019 School leaders at their past school. Danika Belonio was a School Captain and John Ranola formerly a student at Central and they shared some of their experiences for the new Central Leaders.

Many of our new Year 7 parents and students are invited to the Welcome BBQ on Wed 13th March, postponed due to the inclement weather this week. Unfortunately, the Junior Secondary disco did not proceed as there were too few students who had responded, as attending. Most of the Year 7 staff attend the BBQ to meet some of the parents with their children. The partnership and positive communication between parents and a child’s teachers is very important in the success of each student’s education, to clearly understand each student. Thank you to the Buddies, Mr Skinner and Mrs Hardy for their coordination of the afternoon and Ms Veney for the Information Session held at the Auditorium.

Brad Huddleston is a researcher from Canada investigating the influence of adolescents’ engagements with electronic media and cyber-safety. Every two years, working through Sgt Nigel Dalton and Principals, Brad speaks to student groups across Mackay in his tour. Early next Term, our school has been fortunate to book Brad to speak with our Year 7 & 8 students about the hazards to which young people can be exposed, if they are not informed. I am also hopeful that our school can host a Parent session for all schools on the evening of Tuesday 30th April 2019. More details will be shared to promote this evening, once confirmed.

Our school will join many other schools in recognizing the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence on Friday15th March. Students are encouraged to wear an orange accessory on this day and during the lunch breaks there will be a range of activities arranged by our Student Services Team along with Sgt Eggy our School based Police Officer, Headspace and 4CMO.

In the first 5 weeks of the year, several Mackay District Schools Sports Trials have been held, as occurs each year. Many of our students and those from other Mackay School participate seeking to achieve selection into MDSS teams to attend Capricornia Trials later in the semester. This year MD staff have experienced difficulty in sourcing teachers prepared to convene carnivals and fill roles of coach or manager for these teams. I am pleased to report that 18 of our teachers have nominated to ensure that our students from across Mackay District have the opportunity to participate and I express my thanks and congratulations to our staff.

ANZAC Day March 2019 is upon us quickly, being the first week after the Easter vacation. This year we ask our students and staff to assemble from 8am in the carpark behind the library, off River St. The assembly point for students will be signed, for each school and we ask all of our students to be in uniform and bring a water bottle. The March will commence at 8:30am to arrive at Jubilee Park for the ceremony. At the end of the march, students will be dismissed at the Central SS Oval. It is suggested that students be dropped near Blue Water Quay and walk along to the Assembly area, as several of the streets will be closed.

Mr Steve Paulger
Principal

STYMIE

SCHOOL SAFETY

STAFF RECOGNISED

Our staff do amazing work every day in our school. The school’s Administration, in conjunction with the Mackay SHS P&C have gotten together to create a monthly opportunity to acknowledge the great work, happening by our teachers and our Support Staff.

Pictured above are Lynne Hardy (Teacher) and Elisabeth Baldock (Support Staff) who are our first two recipients of these Staff Recognition Awards.

Lynne was nominated by a fellow teacher for demonstrating great support for her fellow teachers, being positive and encouraging in her roles within the school, being an innovative teacher and living our school’s Core Values. Lynne makes time to listen and support other members of staff and she encourages and inspires them to develop their capacities. The efforts she makes to build relationships with all of her students and high expectations set, is highly regarded by colleagues and students.

Lis is one of our very busy Office personnel. She plays a key role in the functional roles required daily in our school but also manages significant amounts of data entry when we transition in our Year 7 students. Lis supports staff in her role as a Rehabilitation Officer, providing much needed support and guidance. She is a quiet achiever and willingly gives of her time to support staff and our school.

Other staff who were nominated include:

Teachers: Alex Burns, Rebecca Doueal, Sharon Barnard and Lorraine McLennan
Support Staff: Maria Mason and Des Patton

Congratulations and thank you to all of our nominees and recipients and a big thank you also to our P&C for their support for our staff in providing the trophies. These trophies will stay with the recipients for the month and then be passed on to the recipients for the following month.

Tania Cheers
DP Performance

GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING

Medication at School

If your student requires medication while at school, there a couple of steps that need to be followed.

Step 1

Complete paperwork:

• Administration of Medication Forms are available from the general office. They must be completed by a doctor and parent/guardian and returned with the medication to the First Aid Officer at the school office.

Step 2

• Medication needs to be obtained from a chemist. Medication must have a Chemist label, with the students name on it and listing the medication and instructions and be dated the current year affixed to the packet/container.

Unwell Students

Please instruct your student that if they are sick they MUST come to the school office and the office staff will phone and make arrangements with you for your child to be collected. Students are NOT to use their own mobile phone to contact parents or they will be issued with an eDevice infringement. This process saves valuable time for office staff as they don’t have the resources to go looking for students who are not in sick bay.

STUDENT MESSAGES

Please arrange with your child PRIOR TO SCHOOL any changes or appointments to their day. Only UNFORSEEN CRITICAL EMERGENT messages will be delivered to students.

Late for School/Leave Pass

The student is required to bring a note if they are late for school or need to leave for an appointment. The note is taken to the Attendance Office and the student is then given either a late pass or a leave request. If the student is leaving school early the request is then taken to the office at the time of departure where a parent/guardian can collect the student from the office.

Second 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.

SENIOR SCHOOLING

iTrack Program

Year 10 students have the opportunity to apply for The Smith Family iTrack Program. All details are on the flyer below. The application forms can be collected from Mrs Esau in E6 and must be returned by Wednesday 13 March. The program will commence on 6 May and students will have a one hour session one day per week for eighteen weeks. If you are needing more information about the program, please contact Annamaria Esau on 4957 9152.

Annamaria Esau
Senior Phase Officer

SPORTS REPORT

What’s happening in Senior Health & Physical Education?

Year 11 Health & Physical Education

In Unit 1, Topic 1 students develop an understanding of the fundamental concepts and principles underpinning their learning of movement sequences. Using the sport of netball students learn different motor learning concepts and principles including rate limiters, types of practice and feedback. Students delve into cognitive and dynamic approaches to learning and more specifically the Fitts and Posner model. Students will undertake their first assessment in week 6 for Unit 1 Topic 1. Students will then begin Unit 1 Topic 2 look at the application of body and movement concepts, specialised movement strategies and movement strategies in Volleyball and how they can enhance movement from a biomechanical perspective.

Year 12 Health & Physical Education

Year 12 Physical Education students have this term been studying Exercise Physiology and Training Programs whilst undertaking the Aquathlon. The Aquathlon is a 3-stage timed event consisting of a 1km run, followed by a 500m swim and finished with a 2km run. Students have been undertaking sessions at the pool that have highlighted the wide range of training principles and training methods that can be applied to training in order to achieve certain fitness goals. Students have been developing their own 4-week training program that they will begin this week. After a disrupted few weeks due to weather, the students have been achieving some impressive times in their initial tests and over the next 4 weeks will work hard on their individual programs to hopefully decrease their time when they re-test in Week 9.

Sports Trials Information

As a reminder, it is the responsibility of the Parents / Guardians to contact the school and explain your child’s absence, when they are representing at all sporting events / trials. As unexpected circumstance may occur resulting in your child not attending a trial. This is also to ensure an accurate attendance is recorded for your child. If you have any queries please contact Miss Russell on 49579024

Staff Profile

The HPE Staff would like to introduce our staff members throughout the year. This is a way for our students and school community to get to know our staff. Introducing Mr Rowan Graham

1. Position/Role: Physical Education Teacher & Rugby League Co-ordinator
2. Nickname: “Chalky” because I’m an old school teacher!
3. How long at MSHS: I’ve been fulltime since 2017 but been around since 2009
4. Hobbies: Mowing
5. Interests: Anything to do with sport and being active
6. Favourite Travel Destination: Fiji
7. Highlights at MSHS: Winning almost all teacher vs student events at sports carnivals
8. Passion for MSHS: Rugby league is my passion so being able to coach students (tackle them & step around them) and be paid for it is a bonus
9. An animal the best represents me: Eagle – strong, graceful, protective and nurturing
10. Favourite Quote: “Whatever it takes”

Help Earn Sports Equipment for your School

If you shop at Rebel Sport, please sign up for free to join Rebel Active.

Then Support our school by linking your membership to Mackay State High School.

Then every time you shop instore or online not only will you receive the best pricing and deals

Rebel Sport is offering but a percentage of what you spend will go towards sports equipment for MSHS.

Together we can make a big difference!

TOURISM EXCURSION

On Thursday 28th of February Year 11 and 12 Tourism students and teachers went on excursion. The Mackay CBD excursion provides an opportunity for students to engage with tourism industry businesses and stakeholders with the topics that form such a big part of the subjects theory. After leaving school, the first item in the itinerary was a visit to Council Chambers for a presentation by His Worship the Mayor of Mackay Regional Council, Cr Greg Williamson. As Mayor and previously in his position as a tourism business owner, Cr Williamson presented a strong case for the economic benefits of the tourism industry to the local economy. In his presentation he shared his knowledge and passion for the region and what Mackay has to offer in terms of tourism potential. Year 12 student Yago Do Nascimento gave the vote of thanks to the mayor on behalf of the students and spoke nearly as well as the Mayor. After lunch at Hogs Breath Café students were treated to the grand tour of the recently refurbished Rydges Suites taking in the executive accommodation, function areas and recreation areas (including the “chill out zone” for a visiting NRL team who were due to arrive shortly). Following the accommodation tour, students examined the Helloworld travel agency in Wood Street and spoke to an owner of the franchised business, Matthew Perre. Mathew, himself a former student of Tourism in high school, inspired many of the students with the many opportunities the industry can offer by way of employment and services. The excursion culminated at the Dudley Denney Library were students completed their assigned activities before heading back to school. The day was only made possible by the generosity of the people and businesses that gave up their valuable time and made us all feel so welcome, so a big thankyou to all of them for having us.

STAFF PROFILES

Chloe Cuskelly

Hello everyone. I have been working as the Guidance Officer at your school for the last six weeks. My partner and I are new to Mackay and are loving it so far. We love taking our dog for walks on the beach, there are so many to choose from here. I have been all around with my teaching career for the last 5 years and since the start of this year am now qualified to be a Guidance Officer. Some of those places I have taught are; Aurukun (in Far North QLD), Japan (teaching English) and Carmila (just down the road). I am excited about the opportunity to support students through a collaborative approach and building connections with the students at this school.

Kimberley Lappin

Hello to the Mackay State High School Community. My name is Kimberley Lappin and I am pleased to have recently joined the teaching staff here at our wonderful school. I have previously taught in Brisbane schools for the past four years, however Mackay is my home town originally. Brisbane was my home for 10 years while I studied a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative and Professional Writing, followed by my Graduate Diploma in Education. My husband and I have recently made the move back to be closer to family. Outside of school, I enjoy time at the beach, camping, netball and hiking. I am also an avid reader who is always open to recommendations for my next book! Primarily I teach English, History and Geography, and am also involved in extracurricular activities such as debating. 2019 is already off to such a great start, and I look forward to getting to know more people from within the school and wider community.

MATHS DEPARTMENT

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

Write4Fun

Students are encouraged to enter the Write4Fun Writing Competition. You can write in any genre or theme on any topic or style. Prize money is up for grabs. Entries close 31st March. See English staffroom for more details or go to this website:

YOUR HEALTH MATTERS

International Womens Day

As International Women’s Day celebrations approach it also highlights an opportunity for a health check-in:

What are the main risk factors for breast cancer?

The biggest known risk factors for developing breast cancer are simply being a woman and getting older.

As 76% of women diagnosed with breast cancer are over 50, a breastscreen is recommended every two years.

What can women do to reduce their risk of breast cancer?

• Reduce alcohol consumption

Having more than one standard alcoholic drink each day can increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer, so rethink what you drink.

• Maintain a healthy body weight

Maintaining a healthy body weight is about getting the right balance between what women eat and how physically active they are.

Overweight or obese post-menopausal women are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer but the good news is, that for most women, a waistline measurement of less than 80cm or a BMI (Body Mass Index) less than 25 decreases their risk of breast cancer.

• Be active every day

Regular physical activity can help reduce the risk of breast cancer. Aim for 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity every day.

For more information:

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

COMMUNITY NOTICES