21 February 2020

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Dear Parents / Guardians / Caregivers,

It has been a calm and productive start to the term with lots to celebrate. Mackay State High School is certainly a place of wonderful opportunity and support.

I believe in clarity, alignment and transparency, so have spent the first few weeks engaging the leadership team in discussions around the improvement journey that our school will take over the next three years. This discussion has involved looking at our school performance data (including academic achievement, behaviour, student, parents and staff School Opinion Survey results, resilience surveys, post-school destination data, along with the external School Review which was undertaken in 2018) to pinpoint what we are doing well and should celebrate; and what we now need to do, to make this an even better school for our students. We have identified 5 keys areas for improvement and will use the mantra that “at Mackay State High School, we are improving with CLASS!” to guide our work. Our 5 key areas are:

This is an exciting journey and the focussed work around the five key priorities will be vital to the continued improvement of the school.

Enhancing communication with parents is one item that I would like to work on under the “School Operations” priority. I have included in this newsletter our list of teaching and support staff with their email addresses should you wish to make contact to discuss how your child is settling into the New Year. I will be encouraging teachers to make contact home to inform you of the work and assessment being undertaken in classrooms and to let you know how your child is progressing. I would also encourage you to make contact with your child’s teacher (and email is usually a great way for this) if you have any concerns about their classwork, effort or behaviour. Connecting to our school’s Facebook page is also a great way for parents to stay connected and receive reminders regarding upcoming events.

Finally, I would like to invite parents first P&C meeting being held on to the Monday 24th February at the School’s Library from 6:00pm. It will be wonderful to meet with parents and to hear your feedback on how the school year has commenced.

Thank you again for your welcome and support.

Mrs Felicity Roberts
Principal

STAFF CONTACT

STYMIE

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.

Facebook

Mackay State High has a Facebook page where lots of information is posted daily. This is where you will find information on any upcoming camps, excursions, sporting trials/carnivals as well as showcasing the amazing students and staff we have at our wonderful school. Remember to like our page and set as a favourite so as not to miss out on all the important things.

EQUITY LAPTOP PROGRAM

The Equity Laptop Program will be operating in 2020 with a limited number of devices. Families who are experiencing hardship can apply for a device by having their student pick up the Equity Information Pack and Application Form from the General Office.

Families and students please be aware that as available devices are limited, applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The devices available are now of some age and as the year goes on replacements may not be available.

SENIOR SCHOOLING

Urgently Required – Year 10 USI (Unique Student Identifier) and Student Enrolment Agreement Form for VSW

All year 10 students are required to have a USI (Unique Student Identifier) and a signed student enrolment form for their VSW subject.

Forms were given to all year 10 students in the first week of school. Thank you to those students who have created a USI and returned both forms. Please check in your child’s bag to see if they need to complete these forms and have them returned as soon as possible.

A quick guide on How to Create a USI was also given to the student. The student will need ID such as a birth certificate, passport or medicare card to be able to create their USI. The USI Collection and Verification form is then completed and returned to Mrs Annamaria Esau in E6. Anyone having trouble creating their USI can bring their ID to Mrs Esau in E6 and help will be given.

CQU Uni Experience Day

SPORTS CORNER

Year 7 Health and Physical Education

This term we welcomed the year 7’s into HPE with some fun introductory games to get to know each other before getting into some athletic events. The students have already been running, jumping and throwing their way through the events in practical lessons whilst learning about the physical and emotional effects of caffeine in theory lessons. Later in the term, students will be assessed on their abilities and efforts in athletics whilst learning about the effects of tobacco and prescription drugs. They will complete an in class assessment for this to help consolidate and extend their knowledge. It is great to see their eagerness to get outside despite the heat – just need to reinforce the need for their hat and to reapply sunscreen at school.

The netball academy students are learning all about mental health and illness as well as where they can seek help from in times of poor mental health and how to work on their self-esteem. Mental illness is very common with one in five (20%) Australians aged 16-85 experiencing a mental illness in any year (ABS, 2009) therefore it is important students are informed and feel comfortable to speak their mind. Practical lessons have seen the girls getting their base fitness scoring for the year before we delve into some netball skills. We also welcomed Janiene a representative from the Mackay Netball Association to run through umpiring calls, signals and rules.

Year 8 Health and Physical Education

Within Health and Physical Education, our year 8 students work through a practical and a theory component. This term our theory unit is mental health where students analyse and research current information on mental health and available services in the community, apply health information, and propose and justify ways to manage mental health. This unit provides students with vital information surrounding mental health and gives practical skills to assist students and their communities to improve mental health.

Our practical unit is ‘implemented sports’ and will include a wide range of sports. This unit allows students to develop ball skills that incorporate running, catching, jumping and throwing skills, as well as hand eye coordination. Through the various games of implemented sports, students will start to develop teamwork and communication skills. Along with these essential skills, the year 8’s are developing their tactical decision making and awareness.

Year 9 Health and Physical Education

During Term 1, the Year 9 students have been working through the different systems that make up our body to help us during exercise. The students cover the skeletal, muscular, respiratory, circulatory and the energy systems. During the course of the unit, students will be able to identify and label the parts of the systems and develop their knowledge of how each system forms to allow the body to function optimally at rest as well as exercising at low and high intensities. Each student will be able to link the use of the systems in the body back to their individual sports whether it be an individual or team sport.

In the practical component of Term 1, Year 9 students will participate in a range of different invasion games. This unit focuses on any sport where a team is invading the territory of another team in the aim or scoring more points. The student will work with classmates in a range of different sports including minor games, touch football, hockey, basketball, netball, ultimate Frisbee etc. in the effort to improve their teamwork skills.

Assessments

Just a reminder to all parents and guardians, all junior HPE subjects are marked equally on both the Practical aspect (consistent demonstration of physical skills) and the Theoretical (the health / well-being unit of study) and for this reason, it is vital that all students apply themselves equally in each element. Quite often students find one aspect of this learning area much easier than the other and therefore not employ the same work habits in the area which they find more difficult. It is vital that this is not the case if success in the subject as a whole is to be achieved. The moral to the story for students in PE is to NEVER GIVE UP and seek assistance from their teachers, throughout the term, to ask questions and learn what is required of them to strive to achieve to the next level. Quite often, they will be surprised by the outcome if they show persistence and seek clarification in both aspects.

Interschool Competition:

Netball and Rugby League’s interschool competition will start on Wednesday 11th March. It is an expectation that all academy students play but those that are not in academy are more the welcome to sign up. Once teams are announced more information will be provided.

Staff Profile: Dallas Chyba

1. Your position / role(s) at MSHS
   HPE, English and History Teacher.
2. Nickname – How you obtained this if appropriate
   I don't really have a nickname.
3. How Long you have been employed at MSHS
   First year at MSHS this year - however was here on placement in 2018.
4. Hobbies / Interests
   Going to the gym, the beach, hiking and eating food.
5. Favourite travel destination OR where you would like to travel
   Canada has been my favourite travel destination so far - I love the snow! However, I am going to Japan very soon so, we shall see which I like best.
6. Highlight at MSHS
   My highlight so far is that some students remember me from when I did my placement for University here.
7. Passion in relation to MSHS / why you do what you do.
   I am excited to be teaching at MSHS because we have such a diverse range of learners that I would love to see reach their full potential and the staff are so lovely and supportive.
8. Favourite Quote
   "There's food at home"

MDSS Trial Paperwork- School Process

Here at Mackay High, we encourage students to participate in trials for Mackay District School sport however, students and parents must be aware of the process in order to submit paperwork.

1. Students will be notified through daily notices when paperwork is available for a particular trial.
2. Students need to come to the HPE staffroom to collect their paperwork.
3. Paperwork needs to be filled out in its entirety and handed into the front office with payment by 3pm on or before the due date.
4. It is the parents responsibility to inform the school/attendance office of your students absence.

Paperwork will NOT be accepted after 3pm on the due date. This due date is clearly stated at the top of all paperwork. At no point should paperwork be sent directly to the manager or convenor of that sport as it must follow the official nomination process.

Capricornia Trial Paperwork Process

If your student is successful in getting into the Mackay District team for their chosen sport, they will receive the Capricornia paperwork on the day. Please follow all instructions on this paperwork as payment does NOT come to the school. Paperwork needs to be filled out and bought back to the general office, signed by the school and then sent off to the team manager.

ACCESS CENTRE

As part of our Partnering with parents commitment under the Every student with disability succeeding plan, the Department of Education has engaged the Community Resource Unit (CRU) to provide support to parents and families of students with disability in Queensland state schools to build self-advocacy skills and work as respected and valued partners in their child’s education. You can find a link to this initiative on the department’s new OnePortal Parent engagement page. Just click on the tab ¬¬– “Supporting parents to engage”.

Families can access the Families for Inclusive Education Project page directly from the CRU website for accessible information about:

• Date claimers and links to register for upcoming parent workshops,
• Inclusive education factsheets,
• Newsletters and resources, and
• Recording of CRU’s Planning successful transitions: Top tips for parents webinar.

2020 workshops, individual consultations and peer support networks

Building on the successful workshops delivered around the State in 2019, the attached flyer provides details of the workshops scheduled for Terms 1 and 2, 2020. These workshops aim to help families learn about how quality inclusive education can provide a foundation for an inclusive life, while developing connections with other families, which will be valuable for their child’s education and for the long-term. As part of this initiative, financial support is available for rural or remote families or for families with specific access requirements to assist with attendance at workshops if required.

In addition families can contact CRU for information, individual consultations or to connect with peer support networks.

Please spread the word about this important project to parents and families of students with disability. Please also consider passing on to your school’s P&C representatives to share with families.

Families can request more information, receive updates on the project or speak with consultants at CRU by contacting them by telephone on (07) 3844 2211 or email EducationProject@cru.org.au.

If school and regional teams require more information about the project, please don’t hesitate to contact the State School Disability and Inclusion team by email at Support.diversity@qed.qld.gov.au.

MATHS DEPARTMENT

FREE maths tutoring will begin on Wednesday’s with our first session beginning in week 3 between 3:00 and 4:00pm. All students are welcome!

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

YOUR HEALTH MATTERS

Sun Safe

Head Lice

School Immunisation Program 2020

Ann-Maree Brightman
School Based Youth Health Nurse

MACKAY STATE HIGH SCHOOL P AND C

Welcome back to all our new and existing parents. For those who don’t know, the P and C play a major role within our school community. We run the school tuckshop and uniform shop, profits from these shops provide well needed funds for different areas around the school. Recently, we provided our new electronic sign out the front of the school. We also helped with funding for a new PA system in the hall, annual blazers for our prefects and excursion assistance to just name a few.

This year we are seeking new members to help us so we can continue our contributions to the school community, without members our P and C can’t run successfully. All we are asking for is a couple of hours of your time each month to attend a P and C meeting or volunteer in our wonderful tuckshop.

This year we are losing valuable committee members as their children have completed their schooling. If you can help in any way, our first meeting for the year is Monday 24th February 2020 at 6pm in the school library, all welcome.

Many Thanks

Toni-Maree Dodd
P and C President

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