21 September 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

It seems amazing that we are already three quarters through the school year, and the Year 12 students are talking about Formal and Graduation already and plans for 2019 are already starting to be formulated. There is, however a substantial amount of work to be done before the Christmas vacation comes around. I would also like to remind all families and our soon to graduate Year 12’s that the school rules that were in place at the start of the year are the same now.

Next term you will be asked to support a fundraising venture run by our Chaplaincy committee. The funds raised will be used to maintain the services provided by our wonderful Chaplain, Mike Turner. The raffle prize will be a six day family pass and accommodation for the Woodford Folk Festival. All families will receive a letter early next term explaining the raffle and ticketing process. More details can also be found in this newsletter edition.

We have had some wonderful sporting results this term with the most notable being the selection of Amali Kinsella in the Queensland U/12 Soccer team and Indy Munro in the Queensland U/12 Softball team.

Also successful at a State level were our bowling pairs team of Everett Evans and Chloe Runge who competed in the Queensland Secondary Schools competition and won a silver medal.

Only last week we had seven students selected in the Sunshine Coast Regional Athletics team to contest the State Championships early next term. We wish them all the best and look forward to hearing their results.

Congratulations must also go to the Open Girls Soccer team who won the Grand Final of the Sunshine Coast Senior Girls Football competition against Unity College with a score 2-1. This great result comes after the Open Boys team made the top 4 in the same competition.

We recently received the NAPLAN results and it is interesting to see the level of debate nationally about the purpose and usefulness of this test. We use the collated data to inform our planning, to improve the Literacy and Numeracy skills of our students. However, we believe that our students are not defined as to who they are by one test and we look for their strengths and ways they positively contribute to the school community in a wide range of areas available to them.

The school results have shown an improvement from 2017 in a number of areas, in particular Year 9 where there was an improvement in 11 out of the 15 measured. Individual student reports will be mailed to families before the end of term.

We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable vacation with school resuming on Monday October 8.

Glen Robinson
Principal

Parent and Community Engagement

Nine Digital Technology Guidelines for Parents

Technology is everywhere now, in our homes, in our pockets, and perhaps worryingly for many parents, in our children's hands. Every family is different, and will have their own ideas around what’s considered ‘normal’ or acceptable use of our beloved devices, which means there’s no universal answer.

However, there are some suggestions that can help you build some rules of your own and bring some order to the way your children use digital devices at home.

Student Council News

Student Council has been very busy in Term 3 assisting with the bar-b-que breakfasts for the Year 12 students sitting the Core Skills Test as well as getting behind Book Week and other school events.

Recently they held a fundraising sausage sizzle and dress up day for Fiver for a Farmer and raised almost $1000 for this very worthy cause. Great to see these students leading the way and showing such fantastic community spirit.

On Wednesday, September 19 the Student Council also supported the Jeans for Jeans day foundation and collected donations from the many students who took the opportunity to wear their jeans to school.

Staff also jumped on board this fundraiser and donated to this cause.

In Term 4 the Student Council will be looking at projects and ways to improve the school environment as well as investigating other fund raising options with money going to support the school.

Tanya Hayden
Deputy Principal

Reboot

Senior School News

Congratulations to the Year 12 students who sat the Queensland Core Skills Test in September. This is a very important test for those students seeking an OP and looking to apply for university entrance into a variety of courses. Thank you to our staff and Vice-Captain Mitchell Trimmer-Rowan who fired up the bar-b-que on both days to ensure that the students had a hearty breakfast before sitting the test. Thank you also to Mrs Lyn Hansen and Mr Dan Leftwich for all of the lead up work they have done with students throughout their Life Skills tutorials to ensure they are well prepared to sit the test. I am sure that the students will be anxiously awaiting their results which are released in December.

Term 3 has been a very busy time for Year 12 students with much of their major assessment being completed in order for VERIFICATION processes. All Year 12 students do need to understand that the final six weeks of Term 4 are extremely important in either consolidating the good result they already have or in using the opportunity to really make a great effort on their final piece of assessment and thereby boost their exit result. I also need to remind all Year 12 students about maintaining good behaviour during Term 4 in order to remain eligible for the important end of year functions such as Formal and Graduation.

For Year 11 students it is very important to consider the subjects they are enrolled in and to ensure they are passing all subjects in order to maximise points for their QCE. Term 4 is very important, as is the final end of semester result. If a student is not in the right subject and not passing the subject by the end of Year 11 a subject change is recommended.

Year 11 students will also have the opportunity to purchase a senior jersey during Term 4. A letter outlining the cost and the conditions for purchase has been posted home to all Year 11 parent/carers. The senior jersey is appropriate as a winter uniform and many of our seniors take up the opportunity to purchase this item. It is an optional item and no jersey is able to be ordered until all school fees are paid in full.

I will be taking up the position of acting Principal in Term 4 at Beerwah State School, but I intend to keep in touch with Head of Year Karen Sharp as I am very invested in all of our senior students making the most of their educational opportunities and I certainly look forward to attending the Year 12 Formal and Clap Out ceremony.

Tanya Hayden
Deputy Principal Senior School

Every Day Counts

At Beerwah State High School, we believe each and every student can be successful when students, parents and the school work together to increase students’ school attendance. We are committed to improving attendance and achieving the target of a 90% average attendance rate for students.

Parents are asked to work with the school to make attendance a priority by not arranging appointments, study days, birthday celebrations and family holidays for during school hours. There will be times where there are extenuating circumstances (eg prolonged sickness, sporting or cultural opportunities overseas, family emergencies) and absences cannot be helped. During these times the school is always happy to make specific arrangements with parents in relation to their child’s education.

If students are going to be absent for more than ten consecutive school days a parent/guardian must apply to the Principal for an exemption from schooling. Application forms are available from the office.

We will update you on your child’s attendance periodically. This is done through emailing a message showing your child’s attendance rate as a percentage.

It can be difficult to get teenagers to attend school. There are resources available to parents to assist in getting students to attend school including:

• Department of Education, Training and Employment website www.education.qld.gov.au/everydaycounts
• Contact the school office to arrange contact with a Head of Year

We would like to work together to improve your student’s attendance patterns from this point in the year. Please contact the Head of Year to discuss possible strategies to enhance their attendance.

Future Pathways

Term 3

School based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs)

All current vacancies for school based traineeships and apprenticeships have continued to be advertised on school noticeboards, at parades and notices and via our school’s Facebook page. It is great to see the interest and enthusiaism of many students who are striving to take up these opportunities.

Traineeships are a way of combining school studies with paid work and qualification studies. Students must be prepared to manage and balance their commitments, remembering the school comes first. Application processes may include submission of a resume, an interview and a work trial. If a traineeship is offered then students, along with the parent and the employer, sign a training contract which is a legally binding document outlining all responsibilities and obligations. Students also enrol with a registered training organisation who deliver the qualification training.

Metro North Hospital & Health

Following round one interviews one of our Year 10 students has successfully progressed to the next round. Rose Maynard has applied for one of thirty 2019 traineeship positions in health and is looking forward to her next interview early in Term 4. If successful and offered a traineeship, Rose will be studying a Certificate III Health Services Assistance qualification and participating in paid work at Caboolture Hospital. Regardless of the long term outcome, the opportunity of applying, preparing and attending an interview has been invaluable experience for all students.

CERTIFICATE COURSES

Dual Salon Assistant/Retail Cosmetics

Our salon trainees completed their practical days hosted by Vicky and the team at Beerwah Hair and Beauty. They are continuing to practice and develop their salon skills with a focus now on the retail cosmetics modules of the course. This week students were able to carry out beauty services on each other and volunteer staff models as part of their assessment.

Our trainees at Beerwah Hair & Beauty

Sunshine Coast Technical Trade Training Centre

Around 14 students have submitted expressions of interest for places at the Trade Training Centre in 2019. All applications are due by Friday, September 21 and students have been working toward completing the application questions and gathering the supporting documentation. The next stage will be first round interviews early in Term 4. Good luck to all applicants.

YEAR 10 SET PLAN FOLLOW UP

Follow up has been made with all students who indicated interest in particular courses or pathways including the Trade Training Centre, Distance Education, Certificate IV Justice Studies, TAFE at School or other programs. A number of students have also registered their interest in Kawana Waters State College’s Health Program in 2019. Students are encouraged to see Ms Skerman or Ms Runge as soon as possible to follow up on any important information relating to expressions of interest and applications.

Helen Skerman
Industry Liaison Officer

Academic & Cultural Cup

Monthly Riddle

Beerwah High recently resembled a hinterland pineapple farm when teachers and students dressed like farmers and raised some much needed funds to assist struggling farmers. You will once again have to wear your farmer’s hat with pride in order to solve this month’s riddle! As per usual the first 20 correct answers will be awarded 8 Vivo points, 2 Academic & Cultural Cup points and an entry into the monthly tuckshop voucher draw. Good luck!

Email your answer through to academiccup@beerwahshs.eq.edu.au

Answer to last month’s riddle – It is followed by a bee!

A farmer can see nine sheep if he looks out any of his four windows. He is happy! Meaning well, his wife buys him a new sheep and turns the poor farmer’s life into chaos! The farmer is only happy when exactly nine sheep are visible from each of the four windows. Can you help the farmer out and tell him which paddock he can put the new sheep?

The Cup

The final points are being allocated and tallied, as we draw near to the ceremony for the 2018 Academic & Cultural Cup. Will Tunbubudla go back to back and thwart the attempts of Ngungun, Miketeebumulgrai and Tibberoowuccum to place their mortar board on top of the coveted cup? Many of Beerwah High’s outstanding performance groups are feverishly polishing their acts which will entertain and impress at the ceremony being held on Friday, October 12.

Once again we are blessed to have the support of many local businesses that have sponsored the year level male and female age champions who will be announced at the ceremony. A huge thankyou to Australia Zoo, Aussie World, Hinterland Sports, Vianta Espresso & Exotics Coffee Shop, Beerwah Flowers & Gifts, Beerwah Newsagency, The Coffee Club and Laserzone who have provided some wonderful prizes. The pen is freshly inked and ready for our 2018 champions to add their signatures to the Beerwah High Scholastic Almanac. Good luck to all of our talented students!

Peter Voight
Teacher Aide

HPE NEWS

A huge congratulations to the following awesome individuals who made the Regional Athletics team last week. We wish them well in their preparations for the upcoming State Athletics Championship to be held at QSAC Brisbane on October 25.

Congratulations to Indy! Indy recently made the Queensland U/12 girls softball team. She is reportedly the only girl ever to play in this age group for the Queensland team three years in a row. What an outstanding achievement. It is fantastic to see some of our talented young students such as Indy continue to achieve success while at Beerwah High.

Steve Jeffery
Health & Physical Education HOD

Chaplaincy Fundraiser

In Term four this year the school will be holding a huge raffle to raise some much needed funds for our school chaplain Mike Turner.

Thanks to a very generous donor we have a fantastic prize:

A Woodford Folk Festival Family Season Pass for two adults and two children (under eighteen) including camping and parking from December 27, 2018 – January 1, 2019 (six days). This absolutely amazing prize is valued at over $2,000 which we know loads of people will want to win.

After the holidays, ticket books will be handed to the eldest child from each family. We hope that everyone will be able to get behind this awesome raffle so that we can raise as much as we can to boost our chaplaincy service funds. The winning ticket will be drawn at Beerwah High School on Monday November 12, 2018.

Thank you to Minuteman Press in Maroochydore for their sponsorship.

Mike Turner
Chaplain