18 February 2022

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the 2022 school year and our first newsletter for the year. After an extended holiday period and remote learning, it was with great excitement that we welcomed new and returning students, families and staff back to school this week.

For all of our new families to Mackay State High School, my name is Felicity Roberts and I am very pleased to be your Principal. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of working in a range positions and schools across Queensland and know that the work happening at Mackay State High School is exceptional.

The academic achievement of our graduating class of 2021 highlights the incredible work that occurs at our school. Every student graduated with a Queensland Certificate of Education or Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement – a result higher than the state measure. We had 24% of our ATAR students achieve a score of 90 or higher (almost a quarter of our students) – placing them in some of the highest-ranking students across the state. Our Dux Award recipient Ella Anderson achieved an outstanding score of 98.15 and we were so proud to Award her of this honour in a small ceremony prior to her heading off to University. A short film of Ella’s Dux presentation will be played at the upcoming Senior Investiture.

In the last weeks of 2021, I had the pleasure of working with our new Senior Student Leadership team planning some special events for the year. As a team, we proudly delivered our first virtual parade for the year with School Captains Graciella Davidson and William Gething doing a fantastic job. I am truly looking forward to working with them throughout this year.

Annual Implementation Plan

The Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) identifies key areas in which the school is aiming to develop and continue to improve throughout the year. The 2022 AIP includes key priorities to support the areas of wellbeing and learning. In implementing these strategies, we aim to improve specific outcomes identified in our targets. A copy of our School’s AIP can be found on our website.

Student and Parent Code of Conduct – Respect, Responsibility and Resilience

Themed through the 2022 AIP is a focus on consistent implementation of school policies by all staff in our school. It is timely at the commencement of the school year, to revisit and remind all students and parents of our Code of Conduct and in particular, the expected behaviours, written through the lens of our school’s core values – Respect, Responsibility and Resilience. A full copy of the Matrix of School Wide Expectations for Students and Parents is provided below.

I would like to address a snip of the Student Matrix and highlight some areas we are focussing on as a school from the start of this year:

The first is RESPECT –We expect that students are respectful towards adults in our school and towards each other. Respecting one another means that we welcome new students, are mindful of the language we use and tone, and are accepting and value diversity. We want our school to be inclusive and safe for all staff and students who attend everyday.

RESPONSIBILITY – Your child may have told you about an additional warning bell now being played during our recess period. This warning bell is to signal to students to get drinks and go to the toilet to ensure that all students are attending their next class on time. Lateness and Truancy are focus areas for improvement and a range of consequences are being put in place for students who are consistency late without explanation or are truanting classes. Further, our first Focus of the Fortnight has focussed on being safe in all environments, as are mask mandate continues and we are inducting students into practical work spaces.

And finally, RESILIENCE is about continually having a growth mindset. We are explicating teaching resilience skills (Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfullness) through our compulsory TPR (“The Resilience Project) lessons in Health and Physical Education.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the following new teaching and non-teaching staff to our school.

Teaching Staff

Non-Teaching Staff

Inevitably throughout the year, you will have questions regarding curriculum, behaviour and assessment, so we have provided you with a full list of teacher email addresses:

Link to staff email addresses

Thank you for your ongoing support as we work together to respond to the evolving COVID-19 situation.

I encourage you to stay informed of the latest developments relating to COVID-19 by regularly visiting the  Queensland Government website .

The Department of Education will continue to keep all schools up-to-date with any further changes to schooling over the coming weeks and I will continue to provide the community with this information as it becomes available.

Thank you for your understanding as we continue to work together during this difficult and unprecedented time.

We Believe … We Achieve
Yours in Education

Felicity Roberts - Principal
#mackayhighpride

SAVE THE DATE

CREATIVE ARTS ACADEMY

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

Just a reminder that our instrumental program starts back up this week, only rehearsals for week 4. Lessons and rehearsals start week 5. Any questions can go to the instrumental music coordinator, Mr Carpenter at ajcar3@eq.edu.au. If you haven’t received an email from him and you/your child is learning an instrument, please let him know via email as a schedule has been emailed out.

SCHOOL PHOTO CATCH UP DAY

NDIS QUESTIONS

Geri McDermott will be visiting the school on Tuesday 22nd March from 2:00pm – 3:00pm. Any parents wishing to discuss NDIS can arrange an appointment through the ACCESS Centre

Finding Work: Getting Started in Years 11 and 12
Online, Monday 21st February 2022, 1:00PM to 2:30PM
Finding Work: The Next Steps in Years 11 and 12
Online, Monday 28thth February 2022, 1:00PM to 2:30PM

Details:

The Finding Work webinars will cover:

• Learnings from work experience - where to next?
• Developing a resume and getting your 'pitch' right
• Creating your own work - customised employment and micro-enterprise.

Click on the following text for more information and to register for Finding Work – Getting Started in Years 11 and 12:

Click on the following text for more information and to register for Finding Work – The Next Steps in Years 11 and 12:

YEAR 10 IMMUNISATIONS

Consent forms were distributed this week to all year 10 students in Form class, for the meningococcal vaccination.

The vaccination date is scheduled for the 6th of May and will take place in our school library.

All consent forms must be returned by the 28th of Feb at the latest to the Form teachers or to the admin office.

Additional forms are available on request.

If you have any questions please contact lonei76@eq.edu.au directly.

POSITION VACANT

ENGLISH

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Breakfast Club

Brekky is served each morning 8am to 8:40am

Monday to Thursday in the Hall Kitchen

Friday’s outside Clontarf

A huge Thankyou goes to Brumby’s Sydney Street for donating bread for the past 10 years to our Brekky club

Community Education Councellor

QATSIF Round 13 Scholarship Recipients Morning Tea Celebrations

Thursday 10th March
First Break 11:20-12:10
Auditorium

School Based Youth Health Nurse

The beginning of the school year is a great time to get vision and hearing checked to ensure the best start possible. Vision and hearing loss can affect all age groups. Some options are listed below to assist with this.

Hearing screening:
Carlyle Community Health Centre

40 Carlyle Street,
Mackay 4740
Phone: 48857750

Free screening for 4 to 18 years of age, please phone to make an appointment.

Australian Hearing also provides provides government-funded hearing services for children and young adults under 26 years of age, as well as for Indigenous adults over 50 and adults with complex hearing needs. Services include community clinics and mobile hearing services, as well as assessment, fitting and rehabilitation programs.

Call 1300 412 512 or visit the Australian Hearing website for more information

Vision screening:

Most optometrists in Mackay will bulk bill a vision test if you have a Medicare card, please check when you phone to book an appointment.

Optical Superstore in Canelands, Mackay. Participates in the spectacle supply scheme if you have a health care card or pension. (Discounted or free glasses). Phone:49576066 to make an appointment.

MACKAY STATE HIGH SCHOOL P & C

The next P & C meeting will be held on Monday 21st February 5pm.

The Annual General Meeting will take place 28th March 5.00pm

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

Job Match is the online meeting place for Community Services Industry employers and job seekers.

If you’re looking for a job in community services, jump on the Job Match platform and create a job seeker profile.

Find your perfect job match today

Email: jobmatch@csialtd.com.au if you have any questions or need support to be job matched.

Mackay Rangers Football Club will be holding a free keeper clinic on the 7th of March 5.30pm-7.30pm at our home fields Eric Homan Park,

Riverside Drive, for any interested 14yo and over females.

It will be a one afternoon event with coaches helping attendees gain skills and form confidence in an area of sport that is commonly missed.

All that attendees will need to bring is water bottles, football shoes and gloves.

If possible could u please pass this along to your schools year 9-12 with my information if interested.

I have attached a flyer for convenience to hand out to students or attach to newsletters.

If interested please respond to:

Maree Borg: Manager of Mackay Rangers Football Club Women’s Division

Email: secretary.rangersfc@gmail.com

Phone: 0408731742