5 March 2021

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome to Week 6! 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 fast but focussed. Every day I am seeing students shining and making positive progress in many and varied ways.

It was wonderful to see so many new faces at our first P&C Meeting a fortnight ago. There was excitement in the room and some great ideas for improvements for our school. Our AGM is scheduled for Monday 22nd March – we would love to see you there.

Assessment Period

Students in all year levels have now commenced 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 have reviewed our assessment policy to meet new guidelines and expectations outlined by the Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority (QCAA) – a copy of our assessment policy is published in your child’s diary. It is very clear that students must submit final copies of assessment by their due date (in hard copy) and failure to do so, will result in student drafts being used as final grades. Where a student is absent due to illness, documentation must be provided (and special forms from QCAA for Year 11 and 12 students must be used). We want to support students in meeting deadlines and I would encourage you to contact your child’s teacher if they are struggling and need support with assessment (prior to the due date).

Reporting

In 2020, we reported on student achievement to parents at the end of each term. The Department of Education however, requires schools to formally report to parents only twice yearly. Therefore, in 2021, parents will receive report cards for their child at the end of Semester 1 (June) and end of Semester 2 (as each cohort finishes). We will still be offering parent-teacher interviews early next term, as an opportunity for parents to meet teachers and get an indication as to how their child is travelling. We will send out information regarding booking interviews before the end of this term.

Attendance

The greatest indicator of student success at school is regular attendance. The target at Mackay SHS is 90% or above and no unexplained absences. After 6 weeks, we are sitting at 89.9% (just short of our target), with Year 7 (91.5%), Year 11 (90%) and Year 12 (91.8%) the three-year levels meeting target. With assessment occurring in classrooms, it is imperative that students are attending every day to access the support and assistance they need to gain the best results possible.

World Compliment Day – Wednesday 3rd March

We took a moment on Wednesday to consider World Compliment Day and took to the walls with chalk to write inspirational quotes and positive messages to one another. It was a wonderful activity lead by our Student Services Support Team and we were impressed with the large volumes of students who got involved and the kind words shared.

Cerebral Palsy Day Charity Fundraiser – Thursday 25th March

Our Year 12s are fundraising and raising awareness for Cerebral Palsy on Thursday 25th March. Cerebral Palsy is a group of neurological disorders that appear before birth or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination. The month of March is dedicated to Cerebral Palsy awareness, and on Thursday 25th March, students will be allowed to wear GREEN with a gold coin donation. All funds raised will go to the Cerebral Palsy Alliance. Please join in and support our Year 12s in fundraising for this great cause.

Grease Musical

We got to see the first glimpse of our Musical on parade this week, with a Summer Lovin performance. We have great talent at the school and I hope you will come along to support them. Tickets will be going on sale really soon – stay tuned to our school Facebook and Instagram pages.

And finally, we have four very long serving members of the Mackay High Staff retiring this term – our CEC Gordon Quakawoot, Lindsay Hains, our Guidance Officer, Marilyn Johnson, our teacher-librarian, and Mary Senini, our library teacher aide. I would like to say thank you to these staff for their outstanding service to our school and wish them all of the very best in their retirement.

Thank you again for your continued support. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at frobe24@eq.edu.au

We Believe … We Achieve

Yours in Education

Felicity Roberts - Principal
#mackayhighpride

POSITION VACANT

Community Education Counsellor

Youth Worker

STAFF EMAIL LIST

IMMUNISATIONS

Immunisation program for Year 7 and Year 10 students

Our school is participating in Queensland Health’s annual School Immunisation Program. All Year 7 and Year 10 students will be offered free vaccinations as recommended on the National Immunisation Program schedule to protect against vaccine preventable diseases. Year 7 students will be offered human papillomavirus (HPV) and diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough). Year 10 students will be offered meningococcal ACWY vaccination.

It is important that you read the information booklet contained in the consent pack which will be sent home with your child in term 1.

Only students with a signed and completed consent card, indicating ‘Yes to Vaccination’ will be vaccinated. If you would like your child to be vaccinated, please fill in the consent card and return it to the school within one week.

SPORTS CORNER

Swimming Carnival

Friday 12th February we held our Interhouse swimming carnival .

What a fantastic day it was with many records broken, new friendships made, house Pride was evident with lots of

The winner was Denniss House with 835 points.

Congratulations to the following students who should very proud of their efforts for the day:

Record breakers:

12 Year girls

50m Freestyle Anneka O'Donnell 34.37
50m Breaststroke Anneka O'Donnell 42.30
50m Backstroke Anneka O'Donnell 38.17
50m Butterfly Anneka O'Donnell 39.57

12 Year boys

50m Freestyle John Thomas 39.62
50m Backstroke John Thomas 52.14

18 Girls

50m Freestyle Maddison Davidson 36.18
50m Back Stroke Maddison Davidson 46.64
50m Butterfly Maddison Davidson 49.55

18 Boys

50m Freestyle Will Morgan 30.34

Age Champions:

Interschool Competition

Futsal has been running for the last couple of weeks with teams in the 7/8 division and 9/10 division improving each week and displaying their #mackayhighpride

Netball and Rugby League interschool competition starts next Wednesday 17th March, we are sure all our players will do Mackay High proud and have fun at the same time.

Cross Country

This year the Cross Country will be run for competitive runners only, this will take place on Thursday of Week 10. If any students want to participate an expression of interest form will be available from the HPE Staffroom next week, keep an eye out on the noticeboard outside the staffroom

“GREASE THE MUSICAL”

INFORMATION NIGHT

SENIOR SCHOOLING

What information do Year 11 and 12 students need to provide if they are sick and miss an assessment?

Students must sit scheduled assessment if they are able. If they are sick on the day of an exam, or when an assessment is due, medical evidence must be provided to enable them to sit the exam (teachers have to write a different exam) or submit their assessment after the due date.

A generic medical certificate that states the student ‘is unfit for duty’ is not sufficient to enable them to sit/submit assessment after the due date.

The medical report that includes the following information must be provided:

• the illness, condition or event (including details of a diagnosis, where applicable)
• date of diagnosis, onset or occurrence
• symptoms, treatment or course of action related to the condition or event
• explanation of the probable effect of the illness, condition or event on the student’s participation in the assessment

We understand that a lot of doctors don’t like to provide this information, however, all information regarding extensions need to be provided to the QCAA (Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority). If a student wants some adjustment to assessment, this information must be provided.

Students must also complete an AARA form (Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustment) and submit to Mrs Barnard along with the medical report. These can be collect from the Senior Schooling room in E06.

If you have any questions about this information, please contact Sharon Barnard on 4957 9134.

What if it is for another reason that a student misses an assessment?

Unfortunately, other situations do arise and students are not able to meet assessment requirements. Supporting documentation could include police reports, official notices eg a funeral notice.

Examples of absences that would be school-approved

If a student will miss an assessment for the following reason, then assessment can be rescheduled:

• school excursions that cannot be scheduled at another time e.g. performances being viewed as part of the assessment program
• school, district, regional, state or national representation for school-supported sport
• school, district, regional, state or national representation for artistic endeavours
• student exchange programs
• audition or entrance exams (state, interstate or international)

What if the family is travelling away for a holiday or a non-approved event when assessment is due?

Unfortunately, students will not be eligible for any sort of adjustment to their assessment if the absence is of the student’s own choosing or that of their parents/carers, such as a family holiday. Students cannot sit exams before/after the date of the exam. Although written assessments could be submitted early. Presentations could also be provided early at the Curriculum HOD’s discretion.

White Card

Students in Years 10, 11 & 12 who are wishing to do work experience in the construction area, e.g. Carpenter, Plumber, Cabinet Maker, Electrician, Refrigeration Mechanic, Concreter etc are now required to have a White Card before they can go onto a work site.

The school has arranged for a White Card course (Prepare to work safely in the construction industry) to be delivered at the school on Tuesday 30 March 2021.

The cost for the course is $69.

Students can collect an application form from Mrs Esau in E6.

Numbers for the course are limited so students need to return their permission slip as soon as possible and no later than 10 March 2021. Students will then be given a payment request form. Payment should be made at the school office and the receipt along with three forms of ID (one being photo ID) given to Mrs Esau in E6 by 16 March 2021.

Supporting your child’s career development: tips and tools from myfuture webinar

Wednesday, 24 March 2021, 1–2 pm AEDT

The earliest and often the most powerful learning about careers is shaped by the adults in a child's life. myfuture, the National Career Information Service, has tools and resources available to help parents guide and support their child as they explore career options and occupations of interest. In this webinar Michelle Maes, Careers Manager, will demonstrate the career development resources that are freely available on the myfuture website to assist the career development process.

Register now

ACCESS CENTRE

Kinchant Dam

Excursion to Kinchant Dam was once again a huge success! Even though it was on the hottest day of the year, we all survived! That is what it is about: building Resilience and that is certainly what each and every 55 students did! From three activities ALL students participated in the High Ropes, the Possum Glider and building Catapults. Each group supported each other and made friends, they worked as a team and conquered their fears or attempted too. Thank you to Kinchant Dam staff for a great day!

The next “Resilience Day Trip’ will be in Term 4 – this time it will be water activities out on our beautiful Kinchant Dam.

Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of food

Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of food 5 week Program. Organised through the PCYC, free of cost for students that have diverse learning or dis-engaged from learning. The first session was fabulous with students learning to cook healthy and use alternative options in their cooking to keep healthy. They learnt how to cook pancakes and an egg omelette. Students enjoyed their first week cooking at their own stations with limited supports.

ENGLISH

MATHS

Maths News

In the first few weeks of this year, Mackay State High School Maths department enrolled every year 7 to 10 student in the Maths Online program. Students received their login and password details during week 3 and will need this to access the great resources that this package offers. If your student has misplaced these details, they can see their teacher to get them.

In other news, Maths tutoring for 2021 has begun. This is taking place on Wednesday afternoons. Junior students are in P16 and our seniors in P19. Please encourage your students to pop along to these free sessions if they require additional maths help.

Jim Laidlaw
Head of Department Mathematics

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 22nd February 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

105 SQUADRON

Australian Air Force Cadets

has vacancies for new members wanting to join in 2021. If you like all things aviation and enjoy being challenged, come along to one of the information sessions being held on each of the Friday nights in February/March at the Squadron headquarters.

You can find us at 100 Bridge Rd (beside the basketball stadium). Sessions will start at 6.30pm. For further information, please contact the Administration Officer via email admino.105sqn@airforcecadets.gov.au or the Commanding Officer on 0402 969 831 prior to your planned visit.