11 September 2020

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Dear Parents / Guardians / Caregivers,

Welcome to Week 9 and the final newsletter for Term 3! The year is certainly going by quickly and your child has been busy in assessment this week.

Report Cards:

At the end of this term, our teachers will be preparing an interim report card for students in years 7 to 10. This interim report card will provide a progress check on your child’s performance through the first part of Semester 2. For students in Years 11 and 12, you will receive an updated TrackEd profile from our school (rather than a report card). The reason for this is:

1. Year 12 student assessment to date (that is, Internal Assessment 1 and Internal Assessment 2) for General Subjects, will have had confirmed results from the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA). Confirmed results mean that assessment items have gone through a state-wide quality assurance process. The TrackEd profile will show students and families, their confirmed results out of 100. From here, you will have a good indication of where you are placed moving into the External Exams (which commence in Week 4, Term 4 – Monday 26th October).
2. Year 11 students are still working through Unit 2, under our new QCE system. In many instances, assessment hasn’t occurred across the range of subjects and the report card would remain the same as end of Semester 1. The TrackEd profile however, will show predicted QCE points and achievement in VET courses.

Finally, due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, student absence data will not be included on any report cards throughout semester 2. However, if you would like to know your child’s attendance percentage or view an attendance report, you can contact us at any stage to provide this.

New Student Code of Conduct:

Every school in Queensland, under new policies and guidelines, is writing a new Student Code of Conduct, which will replace existing Responsible Behaviour Plans. Our school has been undertaking professional development on the new guidelines and a team has drafted a Code of Conduct for consultation with staff and students. We are wanting feedback from our parent community and will be taking our draft to the first P&C Meeting next term. If you would like input into the Code of Conduct, please come along to the P&C meetings, or, get in contact with me and we can organise a time to meet.

Finally, congratulations to all of our students for their hard work this term. I am looking forward to seeing some outstanding results and sharing this success with you early next term.

Yours in Education

Felicity Roberts – Principal
#mackayhighpride

STYMIE

SENIOR SCHOOLING

SPORTS REPORT

Certificate III in Fitness

Our Certificate III in Fitness students are busy in both Year 11 & 12. The Year 11 students are currently under taking peer coaching. Students are currently taking their peers through circuits or cardio session. Students have recently completed modules on the systems of the body and legislations in the Fitness industry. Next term the students look into making personalised 1 on 1 strength program. The Year 12 students are finishing up their last Term in Binnacle which means they will be qualified Group Instructors by the time they leave in Term 4. Students have worked with older clients with mobility exercises. Students have looked a nutritional advice for clients over the past Term. We look forward to seeing group fitness instructors out in a Mackay community soon.

Sport and Recreation

Year 12

Over the last seven weeks our Year 12 Sport and Recreation students have developed their knowledge of career pathways within the industry and looked at how the promotion of sport can have a positive impact on the community. Practically, students have demonstrated skills within the sport of Badminton. They have learnt the basics of serving, forehand shots, backhand shots and general game play tactics. Assessment is due Week 10 and then students will move on to their next practical module of Lawn Bowls.

Year 11

Students’ have developed knowledge and skills required to officiate sporting games and/or competitions as a referee or linesman, particularly in the completion of the Community Officiating General Principles course. Students will demonstrate physical performance and refereeing skills in Volleyball contexts. Students have learnt the basics of serving, dig, set, spike, block and general game play tactics. Assessment was due Week 8. The Year 11’s will move onto their next practical assessment of Training for Fitness which will be mostly conducted in the gymnasium.

Athletics Carnival

Athletics Carnival is on Friday 18th September with bell times running like normal. The theme for this year is ‘Sport Swap’. Basically, students are asked to dress up in a sporting costume that they usually wouldn’t wear. Please make sure that your students costume is school appropriate and that they are sun safe. If students don’t have a costume then please urge your student to dress up in their house colours.

This year the day has been condensed from two days into one and therefore we have had to run events prior to the day. This week we’ve had our under 12s to under 16s participate in the events of 800m, 1500m, Discus and Javelin. Our under 17s and opens will get the opportunity to take place in these events when they return back to school in week 10.

Rugby Union 7s

Queensland Rugby Union ran a Rugby Union 7s tournament last Friday and we took four teams along to represent our school. The students that went had a fun day and showed exceptional sportsmanship, talent and pride in our school.

The Open Boys team took out the competition and played some outstanding footy. A special mention went to Henri Stocks who came away with one for the players of the tournament.

Our under 13 and under 15 Boys teams had small numbers but played like well-oiled machines and both came out with second place in their pools. Well done boys!

The Open Girls team won one, drew one and lost one. The teams for and against unfortunately went against them and they went down in their final for 3rd and 4th. An outstanding effort considering they had one training session prior to the event and only a hand full of girls had played before.

Special thanks to Michelle Radunz and Kevin Blakey for helping out and coaching and well done to all of those students who participated.

Thursday Touch

Week 8 saw the last week of Thursday Touch rounds being played. The competition had a break this week and finals for 1st and 2nd will take place during first break in week 10.

Our junior finalists are: All Blacks Vs DK’s Troops

Our senior finalists are: Bala Boys Vs Barney’s Barn Owls

Good luck!

Thank you to all of those students and staff who have played their hearts out over the last ten weeks. We had a mixed bag of teams enter but overall the level of competition has been outstanding. There have been some close games and this only highlights the exceptional talent that we have the Mackay State High school.

#mackayhighpride

HPE DAY

Last Wednesday was HPE day and to get the students active we ran a staff V student Dodgeball game. Our students had an enormous amount of fun being active and a lot of sweaty faces by the end of it.

Junior Netball Gala Day

Year 8 Vixens

Sportsmanship, teamwork and high quality netball skills were all put on display yesterday when our MSHS Vixens took on the Mercy Meerkats, the HSC Angels and Moranbah Blue. The first game against the Mercy Meerkats did not produce a win but showed the girls’ gritty tenacity. Their next game was played against the HSC angels where they were able to come away with a fantastic win showcasing their resilience and determination. In the third game the girls came up against the Mercy Meerkats for the second time, they kept them on their toes and made them work hard for their win. The Vixens final game of the day was by far the most exciting against Moranbah Blue. The girls started strong and kept pace with the Moranbah girls, keeping goal for goal, in a nail biting game until the very last second where they went down by one goal. Overall, the girls represented our colours with great pride, commitment, determination and resilience, both on and off the court. It was a fantastic day of netball and it was an absolute pleasure to spend the day coaching this beautiful bunch of girls.

Year 8 Swifts

The year 8 girls were missing a few players when they started and had another fall ill early in the piece leaving them with only four players. Despite this they showed unreal sportsmanship -not once quitting or letting anything discourage their game. They were extremely grateful to the year 7’s who stepped up to fill the team. They lost three of their four games but despite their hardships managed to win one round 22-0. It was a great learning experience as often our best lessons about who we are come from when we are down. The score fails to detail the hundreds of moments they got the game right and the efforts put it. So impressed with their behaviour and attitude throughout the entirety of the day.

Year 7 Thunderbirds

The year 7 girls had a hugely successful day made up of undeniably wonderful team-work, attitude and dedication. These girls, with only 9 players, were filling in for the year 8’s all day whilst dominating the competition in their own division. They managed to win all of their games with an easy ride to the finals where they were victorious and were able to take home the medal. The work ethic and passion demonstrated by these girls was surreal to see and it was wonderful to hear comments from spectators about how talented the girls were which was lovely with a few very new to the sport. It was awe-inspiring to see how well they pulled it together despite the challenges they have faced this year. Fantastic effort girls congratulations once again!

A huge thanks to all the girls who offered to referee and play as well as Libby Hood who spent most of the day as a referee. Without these volunteers they day would fail to run so thank you very much ladies.

BEE VISIT

Year 9 and 10 Agriculture students inspect the Bee Hive at the School Farm.

On the second day of Spring all Year 10 Ag students were extremely lucky to have the very knowledgeable and experienced Bee Apiarist – Mr Paul Marsh from Bee2U visit them. Paul gave a motivating talk with students – imparting some of the basics of bee keeping and his love of Bees and the Bee Industry.

Some students in 10A Ag were even able to look inside the hive – where workers and drones were busy doing all the work, but the Queen eluded us all. Paul is going to return after the holidays to share some more information and give other students the opportunity to hopefully locate the elusive Queen bee.

Thanks very much to Paul and Wendy from Bee2U for this terrific experience. Photos show some Year 9D Ag students suited up to inspect the hive as well.

CONGRATULATIONS

HERO Program - Health – Explore the Realm of Opportunity

The HERO program is open to students in Year 11 and 12 in Mackay and the surrounding regions (Bowen, Sarina, Proserpine, Middlemount, Dysart and Moranbah). A spokesperson from JCU said “It was a difficult process, as we received so many excellent applications that it was almost impossible to select only 20 from the Mackay/Isaac/Whitsunday region”. HERO program is run in partnership by JCU and the Mater Hospital Mackay.

Congratulation on your selection:

ENGLISH TUTORING

MATHS TUTORING

SCHOLARSHIPS ON OFFER

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.

SCHOOL BASED YOUTH HEALTH NURSE

Your Health Matters

MACKAY STATE HIGH SCHOOL P & C

Next P and C meeting is on Monday 26th October 5pm.

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