31 July 2020

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Dear Parents / Guardians / Caregivers and Welcome to Week 3,

This week you should have received your child’s semester 1 report card via email. I would like to congratulate students for the tremendous effort that they put in throughout Semester 1, despite the unusual time with our school closure. Overall, our school performance was higher than state targets in all categories – our academic results showing 82% at C or better; behaviour results at 95% C or better and Effort at 90% C or better. We are a great school and as a community should be proud of our students.

The next step in our work to improve, is to spend time talking to every student in our school about their achievement and future goals. We have organised approximately 1200 appointments to occur in Week 4 and 5 so that every child has an opportunity to reflect on their journey at Mackay High, and to talk to us about what else we can do to support their learning and achievement. ‘Pathways’ planning is something that I greatly value and I am keen to have conversations with our students over the coming weeks. Listening to their needs, helps a school plan future subject offerings and human resource requirements. We welcome every parent / guardian to these Education and Career Pathways Interviews but understand that many parents are working. We are happy to connect parents over the phone for the 15 -20 minute conversation. This is an exciting process that we have implemented at the school this year and I am sure students will gain a lot from these conversations.

In order for our ECP interviews to operate smoothly, within COVID-19 guidelines, there are a couple of processes that need to be followed if parents are attending:

• The entry point to the school is via the front gate (near the bus zone)
• All interviews will be held in the Resource Centre and there will be arrows directing you from the entry point
• All parents / guardians will need to sign in
• Social distancing is important and we will have interviews spaced through the Centre
• Interviews will need to remain on time to ensure the numbers in the Resource Centre does not exceed 100 people at any one time.
• We will have hand sanitiser available at the sign in point

The other exciting work currently underway is our Primary Schools transition program. We are out on the road visiting schools in Week 5 to promote our school and commence enrolments for 2021. We will be hosting a parent information evening and school tour on Thursday 20th August, where parents will have the opportunity to make enrolment appointments at convenient times. If you have a child currently in Year 6, or know of someone who does, can you please let them know about the Information Evening and School Tour on this night? Parents / Community will need to purchase tickets to the event (as part of our COVID Safe plan) and more information will be posted to all of our Primary School’s Facebook page and newsletters in the coming weeks.

I would like to thank you for your continued support and hope to meet many of you at our ECP interviews in Week 4/5.

Yours in Education

Felicity Roberts – Principal
#mackayhighpride

STYMIE

SENIOR SCHOOLING

Work Experience

Year 10 & 12 Work Experience will take place from
26 – 30 October 2020 (Week 4 of Term 4).

These work placements allow students to experience the use of new and different equipment and technologies, and to develop a positive work ethic for future employment. Structured Workplace Learning also gives the student the opportunity to put into practice skills learned in the classroom. We have had many success stories from students participating in work experience with placements leading to part time work or school based apprenticeships and traineeships.

Students have been advised of the dates for Work Experience and application forms were handed to interested students. Application forms can still be collected from Mrs Esau in E6.

KP Placements will arrange the location for the students in their preferred field. The cost for this service is $40.00 which is to be paid in cash to the school office prior to the application being accepted. To allow time for these placements to be made, the application and receipt of payment are to be handed to Mrs Esau in E6 no later than Wednesday 5 August.

Vocational Education and Training Update

Year 10 2021

We are very excited to have added FSK20119 Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways to our scope for 2021. The difference in this course to our current year ten course will be the contexts that we offer it in. Students will have the opportunity to choose from four industry contexts for their learning and will complete different projects in each depending on their choice. The industry choices will be:

• Business
• Furnishing (Construction)
• Sport and Recreation
• Hospitality

This course gives our students a great head start for both employability and in contributing to a Queensland Certificate of Education. We received some very interesting and informative Industry Feedback to help develop the course. We really appreciate the time and consideration of Sammy from PrimeFit and PrimeCheer Sarina, Nathan from GPS and Sheryl from Mark’s Auto Airconditioning. We look forward to seeing what the students produce in these new classes next year!

Year 11 2021

Students in year 11 in 2021 have the opportunity to engage a few new Vocational Education and Training Courses at school as well as continue the highly successful courses we already have on offer. Some of these courses will be highly subsidised through the Queensland Government’s VET in Schools (VETiS) initiative. Certificate II courses that are listed on the Government’s Skills Priority List can be offered to students fee free or if they are completed with a Certificate III qualification, can be highly subsidised. More information about the subsidies has been provided to the students to help inform their SET Planning.

Courses on offer in 2021 at school:

• Certificate II in Business
• Certificate II in Hospitality (in partnership with BluePrint)
• Certificate II in Community Services/Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (in partnership with Connect ‘n’ Grow)
• Certificate III in Fitness (in partnership with Binnacle)
• Certificate II/III in Sport and Recreation (in partnership with Binnacle)

VET in Schools (VETiS) - Frequently Asked Questions

Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) is a program that enable students in years, 10, 11 and 12 to gain nationally recognised qualifications whilst at school and can count towards your QCE.

How is it funded? … Which VEtiS qualifications can you undertake?...

Check out the FAQs page to find out more about Vocational Education and Training (VETiS) courses.

For more information phone the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training on 1800 210 210.

As well as these courses students have been provided the CQU Start TAFE Now guide as well as the Mackay Engineering College (MEC) courses on offer in 2021.

Please note that some of the details of these courses have changed from the Senior Student Handbook. Changes are listed below:

• Certificate II in Engineering: 1 day per week (no flexi-program) – Cost $335 p/year
• Certificate II in Electrotechnology: Cost $300
• Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation: Cost $195

If students or parents have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the school or email me directly kstan83@eq.edu.au.

VSW Block

Current year 10 students completing the Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways will have 4 days of classes dedicated to completing units that they have received training in up to the end of the term. It is hoped that this will allow students to address any gaps in training due to interruptions during the home schooling phase of learning. Students who have already successfully completed all units to date will have the opportunity to engage with their final unit during this time. Students in this course are reminded that a laptop is required to complete the assessment of this course.

JAMES COOK UNIVERSITY COURSE

JCU Pharmacy in Cairns, Mackay and Townsville in 2021

JCU has successfully run its four-year undergraduate pharmacy degree as an internally-delivered full time program from our Townsville campus since 1999. From next year, we will expand the program to offer the course to students in Cairns* and Mackay*, with a mix of online and on campus classes.

School Meet and Greet

Our College Dean Professor Richard Murray will be in Mackay on the 11th of August and in Cairns on the 13th of August to host a meet and greet with school guidance officers and teachers to discuss the course and career opportunities. If you are interested in attending the on campus meet and greet sessions in Cairns or Mackay, please register your interest here.

Flexible study

Under the changes we will deliver flexible study options for students across Townsville, Cairns and Mackay, giving them the ability to learn through a mix of online and on campus classes. This will enable full and part-time students to complete the course and achieve a better balance of work, life and study. This will also allow us to support students who wish to remain in their home cities, or closer to home, as well as those seeking to combine work with their studies.

A career with adventure, skills and impact

A degree in pharmacy opens more doors than many students might imagine, with a variety of exciting and rewarding careers to choose from including; retail and community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, Defence, research and development, pharmaceutical consultancy, aged and primary care and government just to name a few.

JCU Pharmacy: A five star degree^

The Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) course at JCU is independently rated five stars for overall student experience, learner engagement, teaching quality and student support. It is also the number one ranked pharmacy course in Queensland for full time graduate employment. JCU Pharmacy graduates are in high demand for their strong clinical skills and breadth of experience.

At JCU we recognise the invaluable contribution pharmacists make in our regional, rural and remote communities and also the shortage of pharmacists in these locations. In bringing our course to your students in your community, we aim to continue to deliver on our mandate to produce graduates who make a difference to the health of those in our region.

Join us for a webinar

We will run a webinar session for students, schools and industry professionals keen to find out more about the new program on the 25th of August 2020. Please register here.

GROUNDSPERSON POSITION VACANT

Applications will NOT be accepted through Facebook. You must click on the link below to apply.

In this role, you will contribute to the efficient and effective operation and environment of the school by providing a high level of facilities and grounds care and support to the Principal, Business Manager or nominated delegate. You will perform a range of activities to ensure that the school is maintained to a high standard, follow set instructions and have independence to perform a variety of day to day services that work to enhance the physical environment of our school.

Please click on the link below to put in application to join our team.

ACCESS support for Diverse Learners

Self-Defence Program

A number of boys in year 7and 8 completed last term a Self-Defence Program under the instruction of Master Brett Anderson from Freestyle MMA Training Academy. The boys went on a journey over 10 weeks to develop skills in defence from attacks, learning a number of different sequences and techniques that will enable them to protect themselves. The key focus was posture and the first position of ‘Stop, I don’t wish to fight you’ open hands up high to step back on guard. Chappy Phil, myself and Brett were very impressed with their maturity and progress throughout the program. Students had to show their skills of each sequence before issued with a certificate, the Deputy Principal’s and Principal attended this last session to congratulate them on their empowering new skills.

Please contact Brett for group or individual sessions – NDIS provider

Master Brett Anderson
admin@freestylemmamackay.com.au
0457 068 141
Freestylemmamackay.com.au
NDIS Provider

SPORTS REPORT

Year 7 HPE

This term our Year 7s are continuing to focus on building team skills, communication and sportsmanship. For our theory lessons, students have begun their new unit about approaching adolescence. We have begun this unit with a focus on our identity, creating our own personal shields that represent who we are. For our practical lessons, students are engaging in minor games such as Newcomb ball, kick ball and multisport. They are absolutely loving being back out on the oval this term.

Year 8 HPE

This term the year 8’s are looking at food for life for their theory component. This includes looking into healthy choices and what they should be eating according to the Australian guide to healthy eating. Students also look into sustainability and what they can be doing to create zero waste in the environment. Some of the tasks include looking into what they eat at school for lunch and categorising the types of food into the several food groups. For practical the year 8’s are doing five weeks of basketball and five weeks of European handball. This includes challenging the students with identifying what techniques and skills to use to help them improve their overall performance in a game situation.

Grade 9 HPE

Year 9 HPE students are off to a fantastic start in semester two! This term sees students participating in Volleyball for practical and undertaking a Research Report focusing on Lifestyle Diseases in Australia for theory. As part of student’s research, they will explore the cause of lifestyle disease and what action can be taken to prevent/minimise risk of acquiring a lifestyle disease. As this is a research report, all students are required to have their laptops in class. Please remember to bring your hats and water bottles, as some of our volleyball session will be held on the outside courts.

Thursday Touch Competition

Term 3 kicked off our inaugural Thursday Touch Football competition. The competition will run for the duration of the term and teams that win will gain points towards the House Cup. So far, it has been a great success and has provided students will the opportunity to have fun with their peers, get outdoors and more importantly, be active!

HPE staff profile
Rebecca Doueal

Your position / role(s) at MSHS: Teacher

Nickname: Bec

How Long you have been employed at MSHS: 2 years

Hobbies: Trivia nights, swimming, fishing and the beach.

Interests: AFL, I enjoy exploring local areas

Favourite travel destination OR where you would like to travel:

Favourite current destination is Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road. Place I would love to go is Las Vegas.

Highlight at MSHS: I love the swimming carnivals

Passion in relation to MSHS / why you do what you do:

I think that teaching is my passion because I can contribute to students lives in a positive way. With all the negativity in the world it is important to provide a safe and nurturing place for students.

An animal that best represents you and why:

Probably a cat because I Iove to lay outside and enjoy the sun

Favourite Quote: “When something bad happens you have three choices. You can either let it define you, let it destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you.” Dr Suess

VOLLEYBALL

Good news! Volleyball training is back on this term.

Time: Wednesday 1st breaks

Where: Hall

What to bring: water bottle, stretchy sports shorts, non-marking sports shoes, optional: spare sports shirt if you don’t want a sweaty uniform.

See you there!

Miss Bailey

ENGLISH TUTORING

MATHS TUTORING

BREAKFAST CLUB

We desperately NEED volunteers to help in our Brekky Club, Brekky club operates Monday to Thursday 8am to 8.30am. There are no prerequisites required to help only that volunteers need a Blue card.

Every day: “Fresh Fruit, Cereals, Toast and spreads”

Students can take a piece of fruit (Apples, Oranges), make their own toast (fresh Brumbies bread) with a full range of spreads. Also enjoy a glass of milk with the option of making a takeaway sandwich for lunch later.

Monday: “Milo Monday”

Students can make a cool refreshing drink with one scoop of Milo and fresh Milk.

Tuesday: “Toasty Tuesday”

Hot yummy cheesy Toasty’s served up by our lovely volunteers.

Wednesday: “Pancake Wednesday”

We are serving up hot soft delicious Pancakes with syrup, fruit, cream, berries and all things yummy

Thursday: “Smoothie Thursday”

The “Smoothie Bar” serves up blended “Chilly Chock Berry Banana Smoothies”. A real hit and a cool start to a big day.

MACKAY STATE HIGH SCHOOL P & C

Next P and C meeting is on Monday 24th August 5pm, we will be discussing the Student Resource Scheme for 2021. Meetings are held in the staff learning lounge.

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

Would you like your child to be more active? Would they like to join an activity or sport?

They may be eligible to receive $150 towards the fees if you have a Health Care Card or are a Pensioner Concession Card holder and are a resident of QLD. For more information:

Email fairplayvouchers@npsr.qld.gov.au
Call 13 QGOV (13 74 68)
Get help using QGrants