5 June 2020

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Dear Parents / Guardians / Caregivers,

Welcome to Week 7! We are well and truly past the half way point of the term and the pace of school life at Mackay State High School is starting to return to normal, post COVID-19, with students focussed on their work. Every day I am seeing students shining and making positive progress. Some highlights for me this week have been our students participating in the Virtual STEM Academy exploring a “Mission to Mars”, our Sporting Academy students returning to training, our Access Centre students working in our Ugly Duckling Café and in every classroom, students working on projects and assessment. We are a vibrant place and one we can be truly proud of as a community.

Mackay State High School

“We Believe …. We Achieve”

#Mackay High Pride

Assessment Period

As we move into Week 8, students in all year levels begin to work on assessment. I would encourage parents to attach your child’s assessment planners to your kitchen fridge, so that you can assist them in their organisation and preparation for exams and assignments. If your child doesn’t have an assessment planner, please contact the office and we will organise a copy to be emailed home.

We are improving with C.L.A.S.S

17 weeks have now gone in the school year and it is important to stop and reflect on the progress made so far. At Mackay SHS, we are improving with “C.L.A.S.S” – our 5 strategic areas are:

C – Curriculum
L – Leadership and Learning
A – Achievement
S – Student and Staff Wellbeing
S – School Operations.

Curriculum - Our staff have been working on redesigning curriculum across all of our Years 7-10 subjects to create greater alignment to the Australian Curriculum. In the Senior School, we have seen some fantastic results coming back from the QCAA Confirmation process which reviews the quality of teacher judgements in marking Year 12 work. We had only two minor changes out of the 15 General Subjects offered, evidence of the understanding our teachers have in our new Senior curriculum.

Achievement – Students (in Week 6) were given their individual Student Profile and asked to undertake goal setting for the remainder of this term. Their profiles were stapled into their student diaries and shared with you (hopefully). Each term we will be conducting this activity with students and focussing on the next steps in learning to improve individual results

Student Wellbeing – The Department of Education has released a new Student Code of Conduct that will replace all school’s existing Responsible Behaviour Plans. We have a team upskilling in the new policy and guidelines and are working towards the development of the 2021 Mackay SHS Student Code of Conduct. One of the changes is the explicit teaching of student behaviour. As a school we will be adopting the Positive Behaviour for Learning framework and have reworked the school’s core values to our 3 R’s – Respect, Responsibility and Resilience. These three words will guide all behaviour conversations in our school.

And finally, School Operations – it has been our goal this year to commence an upgrade of student classrooms and facilities, to create a school environment we take PRIDE in. Our teachers now all have their own classrooms and we are slowly progressing towards painting each block and replacing student furniture. We have employed an additional facilities officer to assist us in this and we are certainly seeing the benefits with 1 whole block already complete.

Thank you again for your welcome and support. As our School Captain Henri Stocks described on our virtual parade this week, we are moving out of the dip of the COVID-19 rollercoaster, and starting to climb back to normality and great success. This is a truly amazing place!

Yours in Education

Felicity Roberts - Principal
#mackayhighpride

JUNIOR SECONDARY DATE CLAIMERS

STYMIE

COOK’S CORNER

During Semester 1, students have been whipping up a storm in the kitchens, thanks to the Great Ocean Road – Careers Made Here – Cheese Your Own Creation Programme.

The programme involves students in a uniquely creative way, designing their own imaginative dairy creation to bring to life. The student chefs then develop and make the recipe and submit a photo of the creation to be judged. Twelve lucky recipes will be selected for inclusion in the 2021 Great Ocean Road Calendar

National winners are announced on 6 November 2020.

ITALIAN

ATTENDANCE

Communication is the key. We have an email address for you to inform us if your child is going to be absent. Please email attendance@mackayshs.eq.edu.au to notify us of your child’s absence and any further details.

QParents

The Qparents app is free and secure online portal that has been created by the Department of Education to provide parents of Queensland state school students with 24-hour access to their child's information.

The portal allows you to securely access information about your child and communicate directly with your child's school eg. Access Timetables, attendance details, payment of invoices, report cards and assessment dates plus more.

Find out more about QParents and download the app today.

WINTER UNIFORM

The Uniform Shop has been extremely busy with the cooler weather upon us. To make life easier you can purchase uniforms through our online store in the link below, the order can be collected from the General Office.

Students can wear the school jacket/track pant or a plain navy jacket/ trackpant during winter. Year 10, 11 & 12 students only may wear the nominated senior jersey. Girls can wear plain flesh coloured stockings. Hooded sweatshirts are NOT acceptable. Uniform passes will not be given for incorrect jackets.

The Uniform shop hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8am to 11am

FARM SAFETY CALENDAR COMPETITION

ACCESS CENTRE FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS

Ugly Duckling Cafe

The Ugly duckling are BUSY,BUSY,BUSY!!!

Did you know…. The story of the ugly duckling is known by all (most) and it has many messages embedded within it but wholly the most important is the message of HOPE. Hope that our kids can find a way in this world, they can find their place in it and find their power. “Just because you don’t fit in with the ducks doesn’t mean that you don’t have a place in the world” The message speaks of guidance and support and a journey in which they will find their meaning and beauty. I also feel the name within itself is effective in making people think and making people pause and wonder what this is all about. It also can mean perseverance and determination…If you really try you may be able to spin it negatively but that goes for any such story or message…Again the message has meaning, this program has meaning…We believe….We achieve!

Words of Josh Hood – Past Teacher and creator of the UDC

Ugly Duckling Café is up and running again after being closed with COVID-19 restrictions. Students have been busy serving staff with nice warm beverages and a sweet treat which in this cooler weather is much needed. Savoury and sweet platters are also on the menu keeping the students very busy in the school café.

Personalised Bags

Our wonderful Teacher Aide – Rowena had made gorgeous little personalised bags for our students to carry their noise cancelling head phone with them to class. These help the students focus and cut out unnecessary sounds in the classroom and help them focus on doing their best!

Thank you

Students in the Access Department say a HUGE thank you to all their teachers and teacher aides for welcoming them back, they were VERY excited to be back at school! I would like to acknowledge the support and work that these people do every day in our school, I am very privileged to be working alongside them. They are greatly appreciated by the students and myself!

Majella Hoffmann
HOSES
Access Centre for Diverse Learners

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Guidance Officer

Graduating high school and starting university is an exciting time for Year 12 students and we understand there is a lot of information needed to navigate this transition. That's why we're here to help at our Year 12 Parent webinar Tuesday, 16 June from 4 to 5 pm.

Parents, students and teachers are encouraged to attend as we guide guests through each step of the transition and arm you with the information and resources you need.

The webinar will include information on:

• Opportunities for students after high school
• Making career choices
• Where to find course information including entry requirements
• How to apply
• Alternate pathways
• Course fees
• Scholarships, and
• What comes after application

Please encourage students and parents to register and attend.

SCHOOL BASED YOUTH HEALTH NURSE

Bowel Cancer Australia recommends participating in screening appropriate to your personal level of risk.

Bowel cancer screening is safe and easy and can be done at home.

For people at average or near average risk* of bowel cancer, Australian medical guidelines recommend screening using a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) every 2 years between ages 50-74.

For more information on risk factors, reducing risk and much more information go to:

Breakfast Club

Yay!! We are finally open. Breakfast club is open on a Thursday morning only from 8am – 8.30am. Breakfast club is running a little differently at the moment. Students will served through the window to the hall kitchen. Hopefully soon we will be back to normal.

MACKAY STATE HIGH SCHOOL P & C

Next P and C meeting is on Monday 22nd June 6pm, in the staff common room.

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