30 January 2019

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

What a wonderful experience it was to meet all the students as we begin the new school year!

As you can see by the images attached, we started the day with a full school parade. This will be part of our weekly routine each Monday where we begin the week with a celebration of the week just gone and to remind students of the focus for the week ahead.

On this parade I introduced students to the meaning of the school motto “Together We Achieve” and the high expectations we have around attending school, participating in learning and striving to be our best at all times.

It was wonderful to see so many students wearing their school sports uniform with pride and I thank all families for making such an effort to ensure their children are ready for the school year.

We have a number of new staff to the school for 2019 who I introduced to the student body. They are:

• Ms Daylight (who replaces Mr Johnson) as a Humanities, Drama teacher;
• Mr Fisher who is a Maths, Science teacher;
• Ms Hair is a new Teacher-aide;
• Mrs Hyland who returns from leave to work in the learning support area;
• Ms Kelly who is one of our new District Relieving teaches;
• Mr Kuhanandan who also works in the Maths and Science faculties;
• Ms Neven takes up the position of teacher-aide replacing Mr Mark Morris who is on leave for Term One
• Ms Twidale has also taken a full time positon as a teacher aide at the school for 2019
• Mr Ward (who replaces Mr Leadbetter) in the HPE faculty
• Mr Wilson (who replaces Ms Teffer) in the Agriculture arears

Mrs Annette Woodrow has taken up the position as a Senior Guidance Officer based at the State School and will be replaced as soon as the position can be advertised and filled. I wish Mrs Woodrow all the best in her new position.

Mr Chris Smith will be continuing in his position as Acting Deputy Principal for Semester One this year.

I am very confident that all these new staff will make a wonderful contribution to the education of your child over the year ahead and I welcome them all to the school.

I have reminded all students who may have had a change of address or their contact details over the holidays that they need to have their parents contact the school office and notify us of these changes so we can ensure that all our details are as up-to-date as possible. This is particularly important when it comes to being able to contact parents and caregivers in the case of any emergency. Can I ask all parents who have changed any of these details to contact the office, on 4620 8222, so we can update our records sometime this week?

There has been an important change to school sport that I needed to mention to the assembly today. Mouthguards are now required to be worn by all students participating in all contact sports (AFL, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Hockey, Water Polo and European Handball). I ask all parents to support this important safety notice by ensuring that their participating students have this required and mandated piece of equipment.

In 2019 we have developed new positions to further support staff and students at the school. These new positions impact on student welfare and curriculum development and are new positions of Year Level Coordinators and Subject Area Coordinators.

I am proud to announce that for this year the following staff has taken up these jobs:

Year level Coordinators

Subject Area Coordinators

Finally, Luke Basile has taken up the position of Sports Coordinator for 2019.

I encourage all parents to contact these staff members when they have questions or concerns that relate to their chosen area of coordination.

Finally, it was important to welcome three year levels to our school for 2019:

Year 7s for continuing their learning journey here at St George State High School; the Year 11 cohort who are the first year to begin the new QCE process and the Year 12s who will be the last group to study in the OP/non-Op program of study.

Mr York McFadzean, Principal

From the Acting Deputy Principal

Welcome back to Term 1, 2019. I am very excited to continue in the role as Acting Deputy Principal for Semester One and working with staff, students and the community to make this another great school year.

At this time of year I like to reflect upon my personal motto, which is, ‘The Standard You Walk Past is the Standard You Accept!’ This means lifting our expectations. Not only do I strive to live by this but I also encourage the staff and students at St George State High School to do the same. I expect students to be prepared for school and want to learn. I expect staff to deliver engaging lessons and provide the support necessary to help our students grow and succeed. To achieve this will take time, but it starts with lifting our expectations.

I will have several focuses throughout the year but they can all be connected to the unrelenting goal of lifting expectations.

Respect to staff and students

I want everyone that walks through the gates of school in the morning to feel safe and secure. This is a basic expectation but an incredibly important one. It all starts here. The language used in and around the school is my initial focus. I expect polite and respectful language in the classroom and at lunch times. Polite language is something that everyone needs to learn and is a crucial skill for the work place. Foul language is not welcome here.

Attendance and Being Prepared

I want students to expect the best out of their education. The two basic ways students and the community can lift expectations here is to make sure every day counts and that when students are at school they are prepared to learn. The first is the easier of the two. Make sure that your student is at school, on time and in class. Being prepared often requires an attitudinal change. Students have to want to be here and want to learn and bring with them their equipment and materials every day. Attending school and ‘Being Prepared’ is a must.

Uniform

Finally, I want everyone that has a relationship with this school to be proud that they are connected to St George State High School. A way in which pride can be shown in the school is through how students wear their uniform. Monday and Wednesday is the formal uniform day and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday is the sport uniform day. I will be expecting that students wear their correct uniform and that their families support them to do this each and every day.

I look forward to 2019 being a fantastic year! I hope you will join with me in lifting our expectations and proudly exclaim ‘I go to St George State High School!’

Mr Chris Smith, Acting Deputy Principal

From HoD Senior Secondary

Welcome back to all students for 2019.

I am excited for my second year here at St George SHS. I learnt so much about the town, school and students last year and I am looking forward to continuing my journey as HOD Senior Schooling.

This year marks the first year of the New QCE system and our Year 11s have a lot of knowledge of what the New QCE means for them. At the end of next year they will sit external exams with the rest of Queensland. This is the biggest change in our education system for over 20 years and everyone has been working hard to make sure that students will gain the outcomes they deserve.

All senior students are expected to uphold our school values and one of my focuses this year will be to ensure that attendance is above 85%. I will be working with the Year Level Coordinators to track students and reward great attendance.

I look forward to working with you and your students and hope that they enjoy coming to school every day.

Mrs Deborah Addison, HoD Senior Secondary

From HoD Teaching and Learning

Welcome to 2019 and another school year. My name is Amy McKenna and I have been acting in the position of Head of Department: Teaching and Learning for the last two years, and it is my sixth year of teaching in St George. I am pleased to have secured another year in my role and it is my goal to continue to support teachers to ensure that quality teaching and learning is happening in all classrooms across St George SHS every day.

Some of the initiatives that I will be driving this year in my role include improving reading outcomes for students, supporting beginning and returning teachers, and embedding our school pedagogical framework, Explicit Instruction.

2018 saw significant reading gains in our students across Years 7 and 8, with regular diagnostic testing to determine improvement, and intervention programs delivered to students who needed extra support in reading. Teachers were upskilled in implementing elements of reading in all curriculum areas across Years 7-12. In 2019, reading rotations will be implemented in Year 7, and diagnostic testing and intervention support will continue across Years 7-9 and some Year 10 students. Thank you to the wonderful Learning Support team, including teachers, teacher aides and reading volunteers, who are passionate about lifting student outcomes in reading and work tirelessly to do their very best for our students.

2019 will also see an emphasis on working within the pedagogical framework of our school, in particular Archer & Hughes Explicit Instruction model. Research shows that when delivered well, this model has been proven to lift student engagement and thus achievement.

I am excited to be working with the wonderful teachers we have here at St George State High School this year to improve student outcomes.

Amy McKenna, Acting Head of Department: Teaching and Learning

New Staff

This year we welcome back Mrs Jodi Hyland who has been on leave and also some new faces to the staff at St George State High School. Please make them welcome to our school and community if you happen to see them around town.

Mrs Jodi Hyland

My name is Jodi Hyland. I have been a teacher at St George SHS for a number of years and have just returned from having my second child. This year I will be working as part of the Learning Support team. I am looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and meeting all of the new students that have joined our school since I have been on leave.

Mr Seren Kuhanandan

Hi, my name is Mr Seren Kuhanandan, but it’s OK to call me Mr. K. I am from England and I teach Maths, Science and Digital Technology. I studied Engineering in London and have worked in schools in three countries. I am really looking forward to life in St George and my classes for the 2019 year.

Miss Tiffany Kelly

Hello, I'm Miss Kelly and I am the district relief teacher. I have previously taught on the Gold Coast and in Cairns. I have a background in special needs, psychology and drama. I'm looking forward to being a part of the community and getting to know everyone.

Shelley Daylight

My name is Shelley Daylight. I'm a Drama, English and Humanities teacher. I have being teaching for 18 years and this is my first time in St George. I'm looking forward to working with the students at St George State High school and being part of the community.

Mr Peter Wilson

My name is Mr Peter Wilson and I grew up in Wellington NZ. I left school in Year 10 and started a plumbing apprenticeship. When I finished I met my current partner and moved to Brisbane. I completed a Batchelor of Technology degree in 1996 and began teaching. I have taught Design and Technology covering engineering, furnishing, construction graphics, and science. I have moved here from Mt Morgan in Central Queensland. I have only just arrived in St George and am enjoying the experience. My hobbies include fishing, gardening, dry stone wall construction, cooking and reading. I have four children who have all grown up and left home to pursue their own careers. I am looking forward to indulging in some of the local pastimes, pigging, water skiing and fishing. I am excited about my new position and am looking forward to meeting more locals whilst here.

Mrs Louise Dowling-Manns

Hi! My name is Louise Dowling-Manns often referred to as Mrs DM. My teaching background is extensive spanning some 30+ years working in primary and secondary schools from Victoria, NT, NSW, and QLD including ten years spent at Quilpie State School. This year, I am teaching Year 8 Science and Maths as well as Senior Early Childhood. I am already familiar with the school and St George community, as I have been commuting from St George to my previous principal and teaching positions in NSW and Brisbane for the last three years. At the end of 2018, I was the district relief teacher in the St George cluster so many of the students are already familiar with me. I am very pleased to be working in St George, as I prefer the rural lifestyle, including the hot temperatures, due to a childhood spent on a sheep property in rural NSW and I am looking forward to meeting all my students’ families over the coming weeks.

Max Fisher

My name is Max Fisher and I am starting as a teacher at St George State High School this year. I spent some time working in the school last year and am very excited to be back working with new and current students. This year I will be one of the core Year 7 teachers and am looking forward to helping them settle in and welcoming them to the school, and helping any of them out wherever I can. I hope to work with all my students, their parents and the community to provide to the best of my ability a great experience at St George High School.

P&C News

Welcome everyone to the 2019 school year. I am confident the year ahead will be a rewarding and successful one.

We welcome York and all new teaching and non-teaching staff. A warm welcome to all Year 7s and any new students to our school. We hope you find your feet and settle into school life well.

The school swimming carnival is being held Monday 11 February. The P&C are running the BBQ for the day. We are asking for volunteers to help. Anytime is appreciated and needed. Please contact Michelle in the tuckshop or myself (email nickelle@bigpond.com).

Stay tuned for many exciting upcoming events and projects.

Our first P&C meeting including the AGM is being held on Monday 11 February starting at 6.30pm in the school library. We welcome everyone and would love to see some new faces.

Thank you all for your support.

Warm regards,
Rochelle Ferguson, P&C President

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