4 September 2020

Newsletter Articles

Birth Announcement

St George State High School welcomed a new pure bred baby bull Droughtmaster on 25 August 2020. He was part of the embryo transfer. It all started early in 2019 while the Show Team was at Farmfest. While students were showing our own cattle, David McCabe (Breffni Droughtmaster Stud) kindly donated four Droughtmaster embryos to St George SHS. Then the school was also donated eleven Droughtmaster cows from Doug Slack for the embryo transfer process to take place.

From there, the local vet injected the progesterone releasing device and started injections to restart the cow’s ovulation cycle. The Year 10 Agricultural Science class from 2019 helped the local vet glue the heat patch between the hip bones of the cow, while the Year 11 Agricultural Science class from 2019 were involved in observing injections for the cows. After seven days from the injections the cows heat the patch turned from white to red and three of the best cows were used for the embryo transfer process. In late November last year, students from Years 7-12 observed the Ced Wise delegate veterinarian prepare the embryos under a microscope and were able to see the embryo under a microscope. The students received a step-by-step explanation of the embryo transfer process and were able to ask questions about each step of the process. The students assisted the veterinarian to muster the cattle and then observed the transfer of the embryos via a syringe. Out of the four embryos one exploded under the microscope and three were transferred with two taking.

Students were very thankful for the hands on learning experience in their own Agriculture plot, and now are excited after 9 months to meet our new pure bred Droughtmaster! Hopefully another baby announcement will be made next newsletter.

From HOD Senior Secondary

Noosa Film Academy Visit

Our Grade 7 and 10 Media students certainly lived up to our motto of “Together We Achieve” last Friday when they utilised their digital proficiency by immersing themselves in a one-day filmmaking workshop with Academy Award winning Cinematographer, Greg Huglin (The Cove).

Beginning the day with a careers guidance movie montage and pre-production meeting, Greg recruited the students into hands-on roles as his film crew teaching them how to shoot scenes from a storyboard with a state of the art Red Epic Ultra HD Camera.

As a native Californian, with over 50 years experience as a cinematographer, Mr. Huglin has filmed and photographed famous people all over the world. After being invited to Australia on a distinguished talent visa, Greg is committed to giving back by teaching Queensland youth.

“I was inspired by the maturity and engagement of the students,” said Greg, “it’s clear that St George SHS fosters learning through authentic, stimulating vocational activities and Media teacher Deb Addison is building up an incredible program.”

Greg explained that “shooting a film is a team effort, we worked hard and laughed hard too.” After learning the advanced nuances of editing, the short film was uploaded to YouTube – a useful addition to the students’ digital portfolio for career and tertiary pathways.

Greg went on to say “I’m really proud of their “Umbrella” film which we shot and edited in just one day. St George is lucky to have such a progressive Principal who recognises the value of real world experiences.” The students added their own flair of comedy and dynamic action to the short script which will join 80+ other Queensland student films on exhibit at the Story Bank in Maryborough as part of the Mary Poppins Storytelling Festival.

Deborah Addison, HOD Senior Secondary

From HOD Junior Secondary

ATSIAP

This year four students who were identified as high achieving Indigenous students were selected to participate in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives Challenge. These students were Grace Waters, Kaise Mawhinney, Jacob Hiles and Olivia Brown. All students chose to write a persuasive speech on the topic Always Was, Always Will Be, in response to the question, Is Australia a young country? Due to COVID, the students worked on their speeches and then presented them virtually via a video upload. The four students worked on this project for about 8 weeks and all students worked hard to juggle this alongside the other demands of their assessment and classwork.

We are pleased to announce that Grace Waters’ speech was the second place winner for the entire region, which is a wonderful achievement. As the next level is a team challenge, all four students will be continuing through to the state finals, with Grace as their captain. They will receive a new task, and due to COVID this will also be presented via video upload.

Well done to all students for their hard work and commitment to the task. Below is an excerpt from Grace’s speech:

Imagine if modern Australia completely lost our Indigenous population? Well, this is a challenge that we are facing today. Although some of these traditions have continued throughout Australia, there are a significant amount of values and languages that have become lost and forgotten over time. A study showed that over 500 Aboriginal people in Darwin felt pressured to lose their culture and beliefs to be successful in mainstream Australia. It is crucial that we protect our Indigenous culture and values and continue to pass them down to the new generations, as it is such a paramount element of Australian history.

It is clearly evident that Australia is not a young country. This has been demonstrated through the knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lifestyle pre-federation, and the traditions that are practiced and celebrated to this day. However, it is evident that the Indigenous culture is slowly becoming lost, but the importance of respecting and continuing these sacred traditions is extremely invaluable. So, join us in preserving the foundation of this country’s rich and long history.

Amy McKenna, HOD Junior Secondary

Year 12 Chemistry

The Year 12 chemistry kids did an interesting experiment today. I have attached a couple of photos & the accompanying article is below:

Have you ever wondered how lollies get their smell and flavour? Raspberries aren’t flavoured with raspberry juice and there are no chopped up bananas in banana lollies. In fact many flavourings in such confectionery are because of chemical compounds called esters. Esters have a distinctive odour that is often (but not always) sweet & fruity and are made by reacting a carboxylic acid with an alcohol.

As part of their organic chemistry unit, the Year 12 chemistry students synthesised 10 different esters in one of their chemistry lessons this week. The reaction occurred in test tubes heated in a hot water bath and the liquid esters produced were poured into a small volume of water in a beaker. The students were then given the opportunity to smell the odours and try to guess the smell. One of the carboxylic acids used was butanoic acid which is the substance that gives rancid butter its awful smell and yet the esters produced once it reacted with different alcohols smelt like pear, pineapple and apricot. Some odours were easier to place than others, but pretty much everyone identified number 1 as fingernail polish remover and number 5 as the odour of Deep Heat.

Karen McKechnie

Year 11 Chemistry

Plastics are everywhere in our modern world, but have you ever wondered how they are made or what they are made of? Plastics are, in fact, polymers and the Year 11 chemistry students are currently learning about them.

Poly- means many and –mer means units, so a polymer is just a really large molecule made up of many smaller molecules (called monomers) joined together.

One type of polymer is an addition polymer which is made when lots of one type of molecule bond to each other in a long chain. When a small amount of a substance called an initiator is added to the liquid monomer, it activates the small molecules so they will react and bond together.

In a chemistry lesson recently, the Year 11 students made (and decorated) their own addition polymer paper weight (see photo). Some liquid styrene (the monomer) was poured into a plastic cup in the fume cupboard (because it was smelly), a few drops of initiator was added and the mixture was stirred for 2 minutes. The viscous liquid turned a pale yellow for a while and when it started to change to colourless, the students added some small shells and flowers and then covered these with a second layer of a fresh polymer liquid that they mixed up in another cup. Overnight, the mixture solidified as the polymerisation reaction happened. Cutting away the plastic cup, the students removed the now solid transparent polystyrene disc that had formed.

Karen McKechnie

Year 7 Most Valued Student

Week 6 – MVP – Sienna Beardmore

Year 11/12 Industrial Skills & Knowledge

Year 11/12 ISK (Industrial Skills and Knowledge) are working away cutting up the material for a cubby house that they are building for Begonia State School as part of their assessment. This semester will have the students applying their knowledge in construction to build the walls, roof, floor and deck of the cubby house. This will eventually be taken out to Begonia School in sections and assembled in its final location.

From Youth Support Co-Ordinator

There is now a notice board placed outside G block with information on Traineeship/ Apprenticeships available to our students. Should any parent or student have any further questions regarding positions please contact myself.

Many of our students you may see out around town either participating in work experience with our local businesses, starting apprenticeships or traineeships. Photos attached are of students at IGA, Pit Stop Café, Maranoa Mechanical, Case Machinery, Maranoa Meats, Wippells Kitchens & Cabinets, O’Brien Toyota, Pat Webster Building Pty Ltd, Dependables Panel Works, SEB Mechanical and Moonrocks.

Leisa Mulholland, YSC/Transition Officer

Year 9 Home Economics

Year 9s were experimenting with tie-dyeing and spray dyeing techniques in Home Ec this semester.

Down at the Ag Plot

Year 8 Ag students worked hard over the past week hand weeding around the vegetables.

STEM

STEM was an amazing experience for all our Year 9 and 10 female students. It inspired the students to consider new career paths in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The event took place over a zoom chat held from Chinchilla State High School with many schools from around the Western Downs region attending. Five female guest speakers all from a STEM background shared their experiences studying and heading into male dominated work places.

Dr Toni Systma graduated with a Maters of Science in Aero-space Engineering who now works at Gilmour Space Technologies in Australia. Dr Lucy Watt works in animal science after completing her PhD on sheep production. Jeannie Sawka studies a degree in mechanical engineering.

Gabriella Behr works as a contract site administer after graduating university studying a bachelor of construction management. Steph Usher did not go to university but got an apprenticeship doing electrical and instrumentation.

Overall, the students learnt that there are more options for work when you don’t think about gender stereotypical workplaces.

Grace Waters, Christina McKee, Michelle Hams, Maddison Kings, Ellsy Rudd and Ashleigh Ferguson

Lunchtime Handball Competition

Hand ball competition was played over 3 days this week and lots of fun was had with a good roll up of competitors. Lots of cheering and coaching from the side lines did not go astray. Griffin Appleby proved to be too good for Jason Fletcher and was crowned king of the handball court. Congratulations Griff and all the students who played. It was great to see the students having so much fun over the lunch breaks. A big thank you to Nicole Proud for scoring and general assistance.

Leisa Mulholland,YSC / Transition Officer

Out And About Around The School

School Vacancy

Casual Relief Cleaner required.

St George State High School are seeking a casual relief cleaner.

Please contact Jo Withers on 0475974008 for further information.

Calendar

Tuckshop Open – Tuesdays & Thursdays

Joys Breakfast Club – Mondays to Fridays

Volunteers required for Tuesdays and Thursdays Tuckshop – please contact Office to pass on details to Deb.

Community Notices

Colour Run – 12th September

Care Balonne Music

French Lessons

FRENCH LANGUAGE CLUB. Children & Adults. Learn the Basics of French, Francophone countries, people, culture and improve all your grammar. Going on now. Call Salvador 46253021 / 0428304318 or email : salvador.f@rediffmail.com, St George. Bienvenue !

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