3 February 2017

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Welcome back to all families, particularly to our new families for what has been a very positive start to the school year.

Congratulations to the 2016 Year 12’s

The end of 2016 saw a number of positive outcomes, none less significant that the results of our year 12 cohort. The results from the Queensland Core Skills test suggested that the OP scores would be very positive. The highlight of the student scores was undoubtedly Jacquie Omnet – OP 1.

With this sensational result Jacqui has selected to undertake a dual degree in completing a Bachelor of Mathematics and Physics at the University of Queensland. Jacquie was also successful in being awarded a scholarship from the Vice Chancellor of the University to the value of $60 000.

Over 80% of our OP eligible students received a score 1-15 which is a significant increase from the 65% in 2015. Over 93% of all the Year 12 received their QCE and all students who applied for tertiary positions received an offer through QTAC.

Many year 12 students also took advantage of the certificate courses and flexible learning pathways on offer with 160 students awarded a Cert 1, 63 awarded a Cert II and 35 awarded a Cert III. We wish Jacquie and all of our 2016 year 12 students the very best in their future endeavours.

Improvement Priorities for 2017

Literacy

2017 will see a continuation of the 2016 key priorities. In the area of Literacy, students will continue to improve their reading comprehension through the use of “Eagle and Wolf” and through strategies from the Tactical Reading program. The use of these strategies in all classes saw significant improvements in our Yr 9 results and we will look for continued improvement in 2017.

Writing will also become more of a “Literacy” focus this year with all faculty areas adopting a whole of school writing strategy throughout the year.

Numeracy

Whilst the results for Numeracy in 2016 were good we are still looking for improvement. A focus on number facts in Junior Secondary will be the main target area, particularly for our Mathematics faculty. The other key strategy in the area of Numeracy will be to embed “Inquiry Warm-Ups” as part of Jnr Maths program to improve problem solving strategies.

Student Management

There are a number of key target areas within this this area of improvement. The first being attendance. Our target for attendance in 2017 is 90%. Last year our attendance rate was 88.7% indicating that on average every student had at least one day off per fortnight.

This year, parents will be contacted regularly if their child’s attendance falls below this target, particularly in Year 11 and 12 where the students are in the COMPULSORY PARTICIPATION phase of their education.

We are also looking to reduce the number of Student Disciplinary Absence’s (suspensions) through the increased presence of our “Positive Behaviour for Learning” program as well as investing significant resources into a student welfare program called “REBOOT”.

Dress Code

I need to remind all parents of the school Dress Code particularly in the area of jewellery.

The link to the dress code is

This semester will also see the opportunity for all parents and students to be part of a Dress Code review. I encourage all parents to take the opportunity to be part of this review.

Glen Robinson
Principal

Jacquie Omnet - OP 1 student set to take on the world.

Beerwah SHS staff and students wish to congratulate Jacquie Omnet on her amazing achievements in her 2016 senior year. Jacquie was awarded top student in year 12 for English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Maths B and Maths C. She received a Pinnacle award that recognised her outstanding effort in achieving an academic award in each year of high school so it was no surprise when she was announced as the Senior DUX.

Jacquie received an OP 1 and has accepted an offer to study a Bachelor of Maths and Physics at University of Queensland, already with intent to complete the Honours program. The University of Queensland has recognised Jacquie’s potential and have awarded her a Chancellor’s scholarship to the value of $60,000 as well as inviting her to be a part of the Advanced Study Program in Science (ASPinS), an exclusive program that is only offered to the very best. Being a part of this program opens up a world of opportunity for Jacquie - access to world class laboratories and research groups, weekly 'Careers in Science Research' seminars from world class research scientists providing opportunities to network with other high achieving students and professional mentors as well as encouraging professional development in the areas of critical thinking, writing and communication - all skills essential for a research career. For Jacquie this is an exciting aspect of her future study –

“Research is where I want to end up but it can be a tough field to break into. Participating in the ASPinS program will give me experience in real-world research before I even finish my degree, meaning I'll have an edge when it comes to competition and will have gained valuable networks. The research component of ASPinS will give me insight into what all the little subject areas within Maths and Physics entail and will guide me to areas I'm truly passionate about. The experience means I'll already know exactly what kind of research I'm interested in by the time I finish my degree.”

The school is also very proud of the outgoing year 12 cohort from 2016 and acknowledges that 80% of students who sat the Core Skills test were in the 1 -15 range and 93% of students received their QCE.

Many year 12 students also took advantage of the certificate courses and flexible learning pathways on offer with 160 students awarded a Cert 1, 63 awarded a Cert II and 35 awarded a Cert III. We wish Jacquie and all of our 2016 year 12 students the very best in their future endeavours.

Tanya Hayden
Senior School Deputy Principal.

Bring Your Own Device Program

Frequently Asked Questions – Information for parents and students

What is BYOx?

BYOx stands for Bring Your Own X (suitable device for school use). It is a scheme designed to allow all students at Beerwah State High School to have access to digital learning.

SMARTPHONES are considered a secondary device. This device is not considered the primary device that meet the minimum specifications required for a BYO device.

Why BYOx?

Previously the federal government funded NSSCF program provided laptops to students. Other schools were charging excess of $150 per year to be a part of these programs. We kept these devices at school to minimise the cost to parents. This program no longer exists but the school needs students to have access to the Australian Curriculum as it is delivered in Queensland State Schools. This requires Beerwah High to be able to deliver the curriculum digitally across all subjects.

Beerwah High is delivering lessons using technology across all year levels and needs to continue this practice to effectively deliver the curriculum and continue to develop students as contemporary learners.

Why do parents need to pay for students to participate in the BYOx program?

There is a $20 annual fee to join the BYOx program. Other schools are charging excess of $60 per year. We have kept the connection fee to a minimum. The charge is to pay for an external party to keep students safe online.

School fees must be paid in full, or an agreed payment plan, before a student can participate. The fee is not pro-rata if the student joins part way through the year.

How will my child be using their device in the classroom?

Technology is a tool in the day-to-day learning of contemporary students, not a special event or something separate from their everyday experiences. Different teachers in different classes will use technology in different ways. Students will not be learning in a paperless or wholly online environment. They will be using technology in classes to support the best possible approaches to rigorous teaching and learning.

How will my student keep their device safe?

Parents are encouraged to purchase a protective case and students are encouraged to use this case for all transportation of the device during the school day. The school does supply some lockers for student usage. Locker allocations are available at the beginning of the year.

Why does my child still have to have a textbook list?

The school is in the process of developing quality electronic resources and students will be provided with access to etexts. However, students will still have textbooks in some subjects where etexts are unavailable. Some publishers have yet to offer their books in an electronic version and it is important to give access to the best resources to support student learning.

Why do the students still have to buy traditional stationery to use in class?

Having a device in class will not make Beerwah High a paperless school. Many aspects of learning will best occur through students experimenting with a pen and paper, or manipulating things in a traditional way for many years to come. When the best way to engage with ideas or concepts is through technology, teachers will use it.

What do I need to do as a parent/carer?

Plan to purchase a device suitable for school needs. The estimated cost is from $250 to $1000. The cost will depend on the device selected. Please do not over invest. Students don’t need an expensive device.

If you already have an iPad or laptop at home, don’t panic. Many of these devices will be suitable for use in the classroom and will save you having to purchase a new device. Check the minimum specifications.

Well done Ashley

In the last week of term 4 last year we were notified Ashley McIntyre was selected to attend the Digit STEM camp in Sydney over the school holidays. This was due to her excellent results in the AMT maths competitions. Ashleigh spent 5 days at Macquarie University participating in many Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths activities. Some of her highlights included "wars" in which they used sphero robots to try to knock the other opponents out of an arena, designing her own Web page, and visiting Google. She made lots of good friends and has a group project she will be working on via Skype to present at the next camp in July. Well done Ashleigh.

Paul Schneider
HOD Mathematics

Theatre Restaurant

On Saturday 25th February 2017 the school’s Chaplaincy Committee is hosting a theatre restaurant at ‘Club Glasshouse’. This is a fundraising event for our school chaplain. The wages of our fulltime chaplain – Mike Turner – come primarily from donations and fundraising.

Here’s a great idea for a fun evening out with friends, and at the same time supporting a great cause. For those who have never been to a theatre restaurant, it is basically a sit-down dinner whilst you watch a stage show - Dinner starts at 6pm and the first act kicks off shortly after. Dessert will be served during intermission and the show will wrap up around 9pm. The bar will serving drinks throughout the evening. The performances consist of a range of acts – music, comedy & illusion – all by very talented locals who are donating their time to support our chaplaincy service. You can pre-purchase tickets by contacting Mike Turner via the school office 5436 5333 or Sharon at ‘Club Glasshouse’ 5436 5000. Tickets are $30 each.

Congratulations Tyler Pearce

A huge congratulations to Tyler Pearce who has set a new Australian Indoor Rowing record in the U14 Boys 500m event. He also won another gold medal for the U16 Boys 1 minute challenge. This outstanding achievement comes from a student who only began rowing last year in June and is currently sweating it out at home training for his next event. I am confident further records will be broken by Tyler later this year. Well done!

Steve Jeffery
HOD HPE

BEERWAH STATE HIGH SCHOOL - YEAR 7 PARENT EVENING

We hope that your child has had a positive start to their first year at high school.

As a school we believe it is most important that the education of your child is a shared partnership between parents/guardians, teachers and the student. To help foster this partnership and to develop positive relationships, we would like to invite you to our Parent Evening to be held on Thursday, February 9th commencing at 4:30pm in the Resource Centre.

4:30 – 5:00 PM: Information for students and parents wishing to participate in the Instrumental Music program
5:00 – 6:00 PM: Presentation around student’s opportunities here at BSHS, introducing key staff and programs, and important information regarding the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program.
6:00 – 7:00 PM: Opportunity to meet your student’s teachers in their form class rooms

The evening will give you the opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and other parents as well as members of the School Leadership Team, including members of Student Services. To help the evening run smoothly please be aware of your child’s House Group/Form class (7A-K). This information can be found on your child’s student timetable.

To assist with planning for this evening please have your child return the RSVP on the bottom of the letter that was sent home with students before Tuesday the 7th of February.

Mathematics update

Hi,

I’m Daniel Leftwich and I am the numeracy coach at Beerwah High. This year in Year 7 Mathematics we are explicitly using the multiplication and division triangle (MAD T) to enhance student success in Mathematics.

The MAD T organises any given multiplication operation into a triangular format as shown below. This allows the viewer to see that every multiplication operation has two associated division operations.

It is critical that students have a good recall of basic multiplication. Multiplicative understanding is core to much of the numeracy and mathematics encountered in secondary schooling.

In year 7 we are revising basic facts and teaching other mathematical concepts that rely on multiplicative thinking using the MAD T graphic organiser.

Year 7 students are currently being assessed on their knowledge of the basic facts of multiplication. Teachers are conducting diagnostics to assess students’ ability to speed recall these facts. Teachers are also asking students to self-assess their knowledge of the 36 unique basic facts shown in the pyramid to the right.

Throughout this term teachers will run activities with the aim of enhancing student automatic recall of the basic facts if improvement is required.

We encourage all parents to initiate conversations with students about their knowledge of the basic fact and assist them in conducting any homework activities that aims to improve basic fact knowledge.

Kind regards,
Daniel Leftwich

School based traineeships/apprenticeships (SATs)

2017 is shaping up to be another successful and busy year with students engaged in many alternative pathway options including school based traineeships and apprenticeships, Distance Education, Sunshine Coast Technical Trade Training Centre, TAFE courses and certificate studies based at school.

SATs

School based traineeships and apprenticeships give students the opportunity to combine training with working in a real job; gain QCE points while learning the practical workplace skills and continue full time school studies while earning a part time wage.

We have trainees in hospitality, retail operations, business, information, digital media and technology, sport and recreation, community pharmacy, horticulture and automotive mechanics. Our apprentices can work in the industries such as hairdressing, plumbing, roof plumbing, electro technology, bricklaying, cabinet making, civil construction, automotive electrical technology and painting and decorating.

New SAT opportunities for senior students are advertised via school notices, on year level parades and on the noticeboard at the ILC. Students are welcome to come to the ILC office before school or at break times for more information in relation to any vacancies.

Current Vacancy:

Cert III Dental Assisting school based traineeship, Beerwah. This employer is looking for a year 11 or 12 student with an interest in dentistry or assisting who is motivated and friendly. Resume required. See Ms Skerman.

Congratulations to the following students who have recently signed up as school based trainees:

Jarryd Cummings – Cert II Horticulture with Second Nature Organics
Brodie Pace – Cert II Auto Servicing Technology with Caboolture Exhaust and Mechanical
Jordan Finneran – Cert III Sport & Recreation with Matt Fiddes Hinterland

SUNSHINE COAST TRADE TRAINING CENTRE

2017 will be an exciting year for the 18 students attending the SCTTTC studying Automotive Servicing, Construction, Electro-technology, Plumbing and Integrated Learning Engineering. Students will be attending the Centre one day a week and during the course of the program will participate in structured workplace learning where they will gain real trade experience and industry exposure.

Current wait list vacancy:

SCTTTC – Cert I Construction (Fridays). See Ms Skerman asap if you are interested in putting your name down for this proposed additional class.

Congratulations to 2017 TTC students:

Iszic Alexander
Dylan Colburn
Oliver Ellis
Ben Field
Jacob Holland
Tyrone Jeffcock
Harrison McConnell
Luke Newing
Sean Nunn Patrick
Darcy Pringle
Jake Sloey
Jordan Pearce
Lleyton McMurtrie
Cameron Shervey
Cooper Simpson
Jye Clifford

CERTIFICATE COURSES

The Cert II Health Support Services course commences Thursday 2/2/17. Students in year 11 and 12 applied late last year and enrolments have continued to be accepted in term 1 2017. Students are required to be VETiS eligible. Training will be delivered by trainers from Axiom College with the day running in the ILC, normal school class times through term 1 and 2. Completion of the course provides 4 QCE points and the foundation skills and knowledge to commence a career in the Health Services industry.

If students are interested in this course please contact Ms Skerman asap.

Update:

The Cert II Salon assistant & Cert II Retail Cosmetics dual course has been postponed until Term 2 to allow students the opportunity to enrol. Training will be provided by 2 Study and will take place in the ILC on Wednesdays for term 2 and 3. This course is for VETiS eligible students and provides 8 QCE points. This is a foundation course giving students skills in basic hairdressing tasks, communication techniques and product knowledge. Potential career outcomes include salon assistant, sales person, mark-up artist and a lead into apprenticeships.

Note on funding:

Both of these courses are VETiS funded – that is no cost to eligible students who have not previously accessed VETiS funding through certificate course study such as Tourism or Hospitality.

There is an option for ‘fee for service’ on both courses for students who are ineligible for VETiS funding. Please see Ms Skerman for more details.

EXTERNAL STUDY

Beerwah High supports students who chose to study extra courses externally. In 2017 students have enrolled in courses through TAFE East Coast and TAFE Brisbane including Cert II Health Support Services, Cert III in Music Industry and Cert III Live Production & Services. Cert IV Crime & Justice is available to be studied through Unity College. Students are also accessing Distance Education courses including Year 12 Chemistry, IPT, Ancient History and French, Year 11 IPT, Economics and Modern History, and Year 8 Japanese.

Congratulations and best wishes in your studies to –

Lachie Timmons
Kody Thomas Roby
Britney Dale
Tayla Codlin
Kahlem Couper
Ryan Butler
Aimee Bull
Thomas Billy
Juliet Stuart
Callum Haig
Bailey Lammeretz
Amy Nicolson

Helen Skerman
Industry Liaison Officer
Beerwah State High School

Year 8 Geography Excursion

There is a Year 8 Geography Excursion planned for Friday the 24th February. All Year 8 Geography classes will travel to Wild Horse Mountain Lookout to observe the local area as part of their unit on ‘Landscapes and Landforms’.

DETAILS OF THE EXCURSION

Date of Excursion: Friday 24th February 2017
Place of Departure: Beerwah SHS
Time of departure: 9:00am
Estimated time of return to school: 12:00
Means of Transport: Bus
Destination: Wild Horse Mountain Lookout
Teachers in Charge: Mrs Richter

Student Requirements:

• Be on time for departure
• Dress Standard: School Uniform

Meal Arrangements: Students will need to bring morning tea or money to purchase something from McDonalds

Materials Necessary: Clipboard, pencil, eraser & pens, hat, water bottle, rain jacket

Behaviour: As per School policy breaches will be dealt with severely and students returned to school

Cost: $5.00 to be paid to cash collection no later than Friday 17th February. Payment after this date will not be accepted unless there are exceptional circumstances. School fees or a payment plan must be made before students are allowed to attend this excursion.

If you have any further questions about this contact Julie Probyn or Danae Richter at the school.