3 August 2022

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Welcome to Week 4 of our school term.

It has been an extremely busy start to our term with so many wonderful achievements celebrated over the past three weeks. I have been truly amazed by our students and their fantastic Semester 1 results. This week on parade, we celebrated academic success with the recognition of Gold, Silver and Bronze awards (based on the number of A’s on report cards). Special mention goes to Kyal Snell in Year 11, who received the Principal’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement, being awarded all A’s across his 6 General Subjects (English, Mathematical Methods, Specialist Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology). To complement this, Kyal achieved all “Excellent” results for Effort and Behaviour across those subjects, with 100% attendance. A truly exceptional Semester 1 report card.

Overall, our school performance was spot on with state targets in all categories – our academic results showing 81% at A-C; behaviour results at 93% A-C (with 47% of our students receiving A’s) and Effort at 85% A-C. We are a great school and as a community should be proud of our students and their achievements. Students and parents have been emailed Term 3 Assessment Calendars to ensure we are well prepared to continue these outstanding results. If you have not received a copy of your child’s assessment calendar, please contact our front office.

The next step in our work to improve, is to spend time talking to every student in our school about their achievement, future goals or support. We have organised approximately 1200 appointments to occur with every child at our school as an opportunity to reflect on their journey at Mackay High, and to talk about supporting their learning and achievement. ‘Pathways’ planning is something that I value greatly and I am keen to have conversations with our students and their families at our EDUCATION AND CAREER PATHWAYS DAY on Tuesday 16th August. Listening to their needs helps a school plan future subject offerings and human resource requirements. We welcome every parent / guardian to the Education and Career Pathways conversations but understand that many parents are working. We are happy to connect parents over the phone for the 10-15-minute conversation. This is an exciting process that we have implemented at the school and I am sure students will gain a lot from these conversations.

As discussed with students in Extended Form and at parade this week, regular classes will not operate on the day, as all teachers will be involved in ECP conversations. Students must however, attend school for their appointment (this is not optional). Students will have the choice to work from home or at a supervised study hall on the day following their appointment. This flexible day has been endorsed by our P&C Association and I would like to thank them for their ongoing support. I would also like to thank the many parents who attended our Parent Information Nights for Year 8 and 10 students moving into subject selection last week.

As a new addition to our ECP Day, we will be hosting a Careers Fair. We have secured many industry and community representatives to talk to parents and students about their future. The Careers Fair will be set up in the main administration carpark with the entry point for the day through the Milton Street bus terminal. I will be available to talk to parents and students on entry and would love your feedback about our school as we enter our Quadrennial School Review to determine the next steps in our strategic work.

The other exciting work currently underway is our Primary Schools transition program. We already have over 160 Year 6s enrolled at our school, with a second round of enrolment interviews occurring last week. Our Year 6s will be visiting us for the start of their transition to our school on Thursday and Friday, along with our Primary School Cadets doing another visit this week.

Finally, our staff have engaged in consultation regarding around our 2023 timetable structure and ensuring that it is suiting the needs of our school community. We are proposing some changes to lesson times that we would like to discuss with you at your ECP interview.

Have a wonderful week and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our school office.

Thank you again for your 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

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

I am very excited to join the Mackay State High School community. For the past 9 years I have been working at Beaudesert State High School as a teacher and in various leadership positions. I have a passion for ensuring that every student has the opportunity to engage in an individualised pathway, one in which they can feel success. Additionally, I have spent time working within the university sector as an Education tutor.

Outside of my day job I am an avid NRL fan, but as I am a born and bred Queenslander amongst a family of Victorians some AFL sneaks in also. In my spare time I enjoy traveling and exploring different cultures and never turn down the opportunity for a new experience.

Matt Reeves
Year 9 & 10 Deputy Principal

EDUCATION AND CAREER PATHWAYS FAIR

ECP Day will be held on 16th August 2022, interviews have been arranged between 8am and 3.45pm with Teachers. Appointment letters have been distributed to students, if your child hasn’t bought theirs home please contact the Office.

This year we will have a career fair incorporated into the day which will be set up in the main carpark. There will be representatives from JCU, CQU, MEC, QPS Hitachi, Salon Rio, Monadelphous, IDEAL Placements, OSMAC, MRAEL and more. This a great opportunity come and speak to these Industry professionals to give students and employers a chance to meet one another, establish professional relationships, and discuss potential job and/or internship opportunities.

WINTER UNIFORM

We have noticed an increase in the amount of hoodies or coloured jumpers/coats/tights/jeans being worn during this cooler weather. A reminder at Mackay State High School have a Winter Uniform which is MSHS school jacket/ trackpant or knitted pullover (which can be purchased from Uniform Shop), Senior Jersey(Years10-12) or alternatively plain navy or maroon jumper can be worn. Hoodies are not acceptable, uniform detentions will be issued if students wear the incorrect uniform,

OFFICE UPDATE

Appointments

If your child has to attend an appointment during the school day, the preferred process is:

• Write a note
• Your child takes this note to the Attendance Officer and is issued with a leave request
• Your student can then be collected from the school office
• This way your child will be waiting for you for collection with no delays

SENIOR SCHOOL

Job Opportunities

Brown and Bird Accounting Cadetship: closes 15th September 2022

Business Administration Traineeship – BMA Hay Point

Application Closing Date: Sunday 7th August 2022

Mackay Sugar Apprrentice Intake: Closes 15th August 2022

Application Closing Date: Sunday 7th August 2022

Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Apprenticeship Intake 2023 -

Milek Engineering

Apprentice - Heavy Diesel Fitter -

Apprentice Glass & Glazier -

Groundsman and Apprentice Greenskeeper -

Boilermaker Apprenticeship Program - Mackay -

Mechanical Fitter Apprenticeship Program - Mackay -

ENGLISH

ACCESS CENTRE

A very special 13th Birthday to JR!!

Mum was told he would not make it to 5 years old and being the little battler he is, he has just become a teenager. Hats off to mum, Tamara, you have a wonderful son and we love having him as a MSHS family member. We celebrated in Chillax with a cake that was nearly bigger than him!

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. Unfortunately with Brumby’s store indefinitely

School Based Youth Health Nurse

Ask Izzy helps you find support, now and nearby

Ask Izzy is a website that connects people in need with housing, a meal, money help, family violence support, counselling and much more.

It is free and anonymous, with thousands of services listed across Australia.

Your health matters

Ann-Maree Brightman
School Based Youth Health Nurse

MACKAY STATE HIGH SCHOOL P & C

The next P & C Meeting will be held on 22nd August at 6.00pm in the Admin building

2022 Executive Committee

President – Joeffrey Agbayani
Vice President – Majella Hoffmann
Treasurer – Mel Hall
Secretary - Nichole Hood

TUCKSHOP

UNIFORM SHOP

House Polo Shirt

With our Interhouse swimming carnival coming up at the end of the Term, this is a perfect time to get in to the Uniform Shop to purchase your house shirt. All students can purchase a shirt for $40. Get in quick as there is limited stock available at the moment, we will be taking orders to purchase more stock.

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