1 April 2021

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Term 1 Wrap up!

It has been a very busy term and has gone by quickly. Every day, I am fortunate to witness the wonderful achievements of our students across all areas of the school. From the first summative results of our Year 12 students, to outstanding success in instrumental music, the arts and sport, we are leading our region.

Farewells and Staff Changes from Term 2

We are farewelling a number of staff members at the end of this term.

I would like to personally thank and congratulate the following staff members on an outstanding career with the Department of Education and wish them all the very best in their retirement:

• Gordon Quakawoot, our long serving Community Education Counsellor (who has been with the Department since 1995!)
• Lindsay Hains, our Guidance Officer
• Marilyn Johnson, our teacher librarian
• Mary Senini, our librarian teacher aide

We are also farewelling the following staff at the end of this term who have been on contract with us:

• Donna Sumpter (Food Technology)
• Catriona McGuire (Learning Support)
• Brooke Wallace (Special Education)

Finally, we have two wonderful staff members about to welcome beautiful babies and will be taking maternity leave from the end of this term. Congratulations to:

• Hannah Koko
• Emma Johnston

With every farewell, brings new welcomes to our school.

I would like to start by welcoming back Mrs Lisa Veney, who is returning to us as our long-standing Deputy Principal. Mrs Veney will be leading a range of portfolios and will directly manage our Year 7 and 8 students.

We will also be welcoming back Mrs Jenny Johnson to our Inclusive Education Department. She will be taking back classes from Ms Wallace, who has been on contract with us throughout Term 1.

I would like to welcome the following new staff members:

• Jacinta Bobongie – our new Community Education Cousellor (CEC)
• Megan Geoghegan – our new Youth Worker
• Sam Johnstone – replacing Mrs Koko
• Melissa Larsen – replacing Mrs McGuire in Learning Support

Students will be issued with new timetables via email prior to the start of Term 2.

Parent-Teacher Interviews – DATE CLAIMER

As discussed at our first P&C Meeting, the Department of Education and Queensland Teacher’s Union have developed a joint statement regarding workload reduction for teachers. This statement, along with the P-12 Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Framework has outlined the requirement for schools to report to parents twice yearly. Mackay State High School will be sending report cards to parents at the end of each semester (June and staggered throughout Term 4 depending on your child’s year level).

We still believe it is important for parents and caregivers to have an opportunity to meet with their child’s teachers early next term as a touch point / check in on their progress heading towards the semester report card. Parent-teacher interviews will be held on Tuesday 4th May (Week 3, Term 2) from 3:30pm – 7pm. Some teachers will be sending emails to parents, if an interview is required. All parents are welcome to attend. Bookings for interviews will open on the first day we return in Term 2 and information on how to book interviews will be emailed home.

2022 Enrolments will commence in Term 2

A quick notice to families who have siblings entering Year 7 in 2022. We are starting 2022 enrolment processes early next term with information packs going to all feeder primary schools in Week 3, Term 2.

GREASE tickets on sale soon!

It is time to start getting your family and friends together to plan a night out to see the amazing Mackay High talent on stage. Grease musical tickets are on sale.. Watch our Facebook page for more information.

Finally, I would like to wish everyone a very safe and happy Easter break. School will recommence on Monday 19th April. We look forward to seeing you then.

We Believe … We Achieve
Yours in Education

Felicity Roberts - Principal
#mackayhighpride

“GREASE THE MUSICAL”

We are extremely excited to announce that tickets are now available through trybooking online.

Follow the link to purchase your tickets - $22 per seat.

For the last 9 weeks, students and staff have worked extremely hard to polish their acting, dancing and singing skills.

With Mackay State High School not performing a School Musical for many years, this is definitely not a show to be missed.

Over the holidays, the sets will be getting built in the hall ready for rehearsals next term. If you are available at any time over the holidays and able to assist, please contact Cicely Baira cbair24@eq.edu.au – and I will contact you with times that we will be completing this.

This could involve painting, sewing curtains, banging nails, creating a hand rail or lifting steps. Thank you in advance to those parents and staff that have put your hand up to help out.

A massive thank you to parents that have been getting their children to school at 7am every Tuesday morning, and assisting with the singing of all Grease songs… only 9 weeks to go till we hit the stage.

SENIOR SCHOOLING

VET NEWS – Year 10

Year 10 - Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways

Students have now completed their first unit of work in CSW and if successfully complete, will have completed three units of competency towards their certificate. The students worked on a Workplace Health and Safety unit where they assessed risks in their work areas and reported these risks during multiple Workplace Health and Safety meetings with Mrs McLennon, a representative of our Workplace Health and Safety Committee. Some of the hazards that students have identified have already been enacted by our committee and students made a very valuable contribution to our school.

Our next unit is focussed on Calculating and Measuring for industry focussed activities. Students in the Business stream will be creating a Careers display for their peers in week four of next term. Furnishing students will begin constructing a wooden jewellery box that they will later customise. Hospitality students will prepare a couple of different recipes throughout the unit and Sport and Recreation will plan for the school Athletics Carnival. Students will need to ensure that they have the correct PPE (footwear, hats, etc.) to engage in their practical activities.

Next term students will set up their Learning Accounts in QCAA so that they can keep track of their progress in this course. Once students achieve four units of competency they will see one point attained towards a Queensland Certificate of Education. Students who successfully complete the course this year will attain four points in total, setting them up for success in Senior Schooling.

Short Course in Career Education

This year we introduced the Short Course in Career Education into our Year 10 Curriculum. All students in year ten will undertake this course will the aim of developing self-awareness, career development skills and an understanding of the world of work. Students have been completing weekly Learning Journal entries that contribute to their assessment at the end of next term. Early next term students will interview Employers or Employees about the world of work and present this to their peers in either a face-to-face presentation or a pod-cast style presentation. We look forward to seeing what the students learn throughout this process.

Year 10 Work Experience

Work Experience will take place from 26 – 30 July 2021 (Week 3 of Term 2).

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.

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 Friday 23 April 2021.

There is no fee for students who find their own placement. The Pre-arranged Placement section of the application form is to be completed with the details of the business and the form handed to Mrs Esau in E6 by 23 April 2021

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 have been given to year 10 students numerous times during their CSW lesson . 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.

The Next Step Survey

Next Step is a statewide post-school destination survey of all students who completed Year 12 last year in Queensland.

Insights gained from Next Step assist schools to review and plan their services for students, and school system personnel to evaluate education policies as they affect the transition from school to further study and employment.

I would like to thank you for your support in helping to ensure the success of Next Step in previous years. This year’s survey of 2020 Year 12 completers will commence in April 2021 and I seek your support in once again promoting participation in the survey.

Some suggested text that you might consider incorporating in a school newsletter, Facebook post or other publication to inform parents and siblings of former students in your school community about the survey is included below.

Further information about Next Step is available at the link below Should you have any queries about the survey, please contact the Department of Education’s Next Step team by email at nextstep@qed.qld.gov.au or on (07) 3055 2845.

SPORTS CORNER

Students of MSHS should be so proud of their sporting efforts this term. After a challenging 2020 it has been so exciting to see many of our students represent our school with Pride at Southern Suburbs, MDSS, Capricornia and state levels. Congratulations to everyone involved.

We have also seen our interschool competitions resume with Rugby League, Fustal and Netball being played on Wednesday afternoons. Our Girls Rugby League team has also had a fantastic start to the season with the 7/8 and 9/10 teams winning the Karen Murphy Cup. Our school also has an interschool equestrian team operating this year where riders represent our school in competitions throughout the region.

We have also had our swimming carnival, whole-school Pride Cup challenges and HPE week take place this term where all students have had the opportunity to get outside, be active and build house culture with their peers. We at MSHS are very lucky to have such an amazing student leadership team leading these events and are looking forward to the terms ahead.

THE ARTS

I have some very exciting news about our talented instrumental students receiving confirmation that they have been successful in their auditions for the Education Queensland's Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Instrumental Music (MOST) and Creative Generation (CGEN) Symphony Orchestra and James Morrison Big Band!

Cristina Taylor-Brell (on her instrument, the Euphonium) was accepted into the MOST - A biennial Brisbane-based 10-day residential camp where students participate in rigorous ensemble rehearsals and individual tuition which culminates in a Gala Concert held on the 30th June, 2021.

Sora Nishimura (Trumpet) was accepted into MOST, the CGEN Symphony Orchestra AND the CGEN James Morrison Big Band. This is especially exciting as Sora is only year 10 and will be one of about 4 other trumpet players in the Big Band - Out of all the students who auditioned across Queensland! Amazing!

The CGEN Symphony Orchestra will feature in the Creative Generation State Schools Onstage 2021 (the largest annual performing arts showcase including the symphony orchestra, dancing, singing, acting and digital media) that will be televised on Network 10. Show week is Tuesday 13th July to Saturday 17th July. The filming of the performance will take place during that time.

We have had a handful of students from MSHS over the past 10 years (1 percussionist, 2 cellists, 1 violin and a few vocalists) accepted into MOST and CGEN. This is a very exciting time for Cristina and Sora and I can't wait to hear all about their experiences playing with other musically outstanding students from across the State.

Mr Matt Johnston(IM Teacher), Sora Nishimura, Mrs Felicity Roberts (Principal) and Cristina Taylor-Brell

Mrs Emma Johnston
Acting Arts HOD

BIOLOGY

Year 12 Cape Hillsborough Field Trip

On a very wet Monday in March our intrepid biologists braved the weather to collect data at Cape Hillsborough. We visited the biodiversity boardwalk where we attempted to classify ecosystems according to Specht’s classification scheme and were successful despite persistent rainfall. The mangroves and Melaleucas looked iridescent in the wet weather although the fauna was well hidden to avoid the downfall. Fortunately, the weather lifted for our second activity where we compared two mangrove communities by collecting transect and quadrat data. Although the weather was now on our side, the sand flies made a concerted effort to drive us from our task but we stood resilient and persisted until the job was complete. Third time lucky, the final activity yielded fine weather on the beach as we compared rocky shore communities using Simpson’s Biodiversity Index. Thank you to the wonderful students and staff who made the day such a success.

ENGLISH

MATHS

DEADLY CHOICES

QLD Health, Mackay Hospital and Health Service, Deadly Choices enjoy teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students how to make healthy lifestyle choices for themselves and their families.

Community guest speakers contributing to the lessons, sharing their cultural and health knowledge with the students are very much appreciated and respected by the students.

Term 1 with Year 7 students participating in the 8 week program of theory and physical activity games will be completed this week and presented with a Deadly Choices Education shirt and Certificate.

Year 7’s , Deadly Choices – Jodie and Chris, with special community guest speaker Liz from Job Trail

YEAR 9 COORDINATOR

Year 9 Cohort Update

Welcome to the end of Term 1 for our students and families of the Year 9 cohort.

This term has been eventful and on full of change for our Junior Secondary leaders and peers, and an exciting shift with our House Spirit and Pride Culture emerging across the year level!

The beginning of term saw our Junior School Prefects and Representatives inducted into their positions and the end of the term has bought about the appointment of foundation members into our Student Representative Council. I congratulate our Year 9’s, Holly Giumelli, Olivia Bradford, Brooke Clarkson, Kaylani Gorrion, Tahlya Kennedy, and Timofey Craig for stepping into this committee with enthusiasm.

We have welcomed many new students into our cohorts and seen all students settle into their newly chosen electives and core subjects for the year. Building values and relationships has been a focus for our junior cohorts, and I am proud to write about our student’s achievements and engagement in school this Term. They have been active members of our school participating in fundraisers, anti-bullying campaigns, Harmony Day celebrations and more informally, cohort competitions. Lunchtimes has seen our Year 9’s busy with Chess Club, weekly Dodgeball Competitions and outdoor activities.

While you won’t receive a report card for your Year 9’s Term 1 progress, I certainly encourage families to be vigilant in communication from our Year 9 teachers, to remain informed about each child’s achievement, behaviour and effort. I thank all families for their continued support of our Year 9 students and their journey at school.

As always, I wish the Year 9’s a safe and happy holiday and can’t wait to see what our new school Term brings for these students.

Michelle Hoffman
Year 9 Coordinator

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL

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

The next P & C meeting is on Monday 24th May 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