18 September 2020

Newsletter Articles

From The Principal

Year 12 Formal

Just over 100 staff, students and family members will be attending the 2020 Year 12 Formal being held this Friday night. Naturally, events such as these do not simply happen but are the results of countless hours of planning and preparation.

My thanks to the Year 12 coordinator, Miss Alanna Ives and the Business Manager, Ms Jo Withers for all their work in planning for this event.

Our formal has, in years gone by, been held in a number of different venues around town. COVID-19 has meant we have had to look very closely at where we can have this event and how we can manage the regulations that need to be maintained to be able to hold any event.

I am delighted to be able to say that thanks to the generosity of a wide range of organisations and individuals around town, the formal is set to be held at the St George Jockey Club this year.

I also need to acknowledge the great support of the following persons and organisations who have provided equipment and material to make this event happen in 2020.

My thanks to

Queensland Cotton and “Ag N Vet” - for the use of their marquees to accommodate all the guests.

Goondir Health - for the loan of tables, crockery and cutlery.

Kelvin and Claudette Duiker - for the tablecloths, chair covers and napkins.

St George ERGON - For the use of their “boy” to set up the lights in the marquees

Fiona Jones - for the decorations.

Halls Carpets - for the carpet used at the entry for the presentation of the year 12s.

Paula Burke and Maria Olive - for the ingredients and making of the cake.

Ron Irwin and the “boys” from Safeways - for the use of their forklift to unload the marquees on site.

Bec Steers - For catering on the night.

Ben Lawson - for providing lights and sound.

St George State High School P&C - for running the bar

Year 10 and 11 students - For assisting in the meal delivery on the night.

It is something that makes working in the country so worthwhile when you see the willingness of the community to lend a hand to support the students of the school.

So thank you to all involved. I know it will be a great night for all.

COVID plan Social Distancing and Hygiene

Persons attending the formal are reminded to observe social distancing at all times when on site and use the widely available sanitizers on a regular basis. All persons entering the site will be required to compete the relevant health checklist and record of details as per our safety plan.

Refund policy

Persons who have purchased tickets for the evening but fall ill prior to the event will be able to make application for a refund of their ticket cost by contacting the school office after the school holidays. Persons who attend the night but become ill, will likewise, be able to apply for a refund should this occur.

COVID Impact on other events

It would come as no surprise that COVID has meant some real changes to how we conduct any of the end of year events. To that end, the Valedictory ceremony held on the last day for the Year 12 cohort will be an invitation only event and the annual Awards night will be held at the school. Full details of these and other events (like the musical) will be delivered in due course as we finalise all preparations for these important events in the life of the school.

Athletics carnival

One thing we are determined to run this year is the athletics carnival. This will be held on the Friday of week two next term (i.e. 16 October) and will be an event closed to the public.

Assessment for Term 3 not completed

Our focus at the school is primarily on the academic improvement of all students in their chosen course of study. Attendance this year is sitting on 85% for the whole school, which is a tremendous result. Our Review agenda for the past 12 months has been on developing consistent, school-wide practices and policies around student behaviour and engagement. The student Code of Conduct being developed is one of the outcomes of this process.

To assist in all of this, is our commitment for students to have the best chance to complete all their assessment for the term. From time to time students may complete a term’s work but not be able to complete all the assessment associated with this unit of work. I have asked my staff to provide me the details of students where this is the case. These few students will be provided with the opportunity to complete this assessment work when they return to school Term 4.

Hot weather and safety

While the school has been air-conditioned this past year, we still live in a hot environment during Terms 1 and four. To that end, we need to ensure the safety of our students under the Queensland sun. For Term 4, as part of our developing Sun Safe policy, all students will be expected to bring to school and wear an appropriate hat or cap when they are outside the classroom. Please support the school and encourage your student to wear their hat or cap.

Snake Alert

This hot weather will bring out the snakes form their winter hibernation. Students are reminded to alert staff if they see a snake so it can be safely removed from the site. It is important for all students to keep out of garden beds and away from dark, confined areas and to use the bins provided for all scrap food.

Formal Uniform

The new term will see the reintroduction of the formal uniform for all students to wear each Monday and Wednesday. The uniform shop will open first day next term for students who need to purchase new uniforms.

Safe Holidays

As the term draws to a close I want to wish all staff and students of the school a safe and relaxing holiday break. I look forward to seeing you all again next term.

York McFadzean

From Deputy Principal

NAPLAN ONLINE UPDATE FOR ST GEORGE SHS – TERM 4 2020

Many Queensland state schools are currently undertaking training activities in preparation for NAPLAN Online. To help schools prepare for NAPLAN Online, our school will participate in a School Readiness Test (SRT) during term 4, 2020. The SRT is a familiarisation activity to help confirm each school’s technical, student and staff readiness, and will help our school prepare for a transition to NAPLAN Online. It is not an assessment of student ability and there will be no reporting of student test results. The SRT provides two tests that take approximately 45 minutes to complete: a writing test and an omnibus. It is anticipated that the Year 8s will complete these tests. The collective learnings of Queensland schools taking part in the SRT will help transitioning schools to have positive experiences with NAPLAN Online.

The NAPLAN Online SRT is delivered to students using a locked-down browser so that students cannot access the internet or spell checkers whilst testing. Interested families can view the technical requirements on the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority’s (ACARA) assessment platform website:

NAPLAN Online will provide a better assessment for all.

It will:

• Feature tailored testing which gives students questions that are more suited to their ability resulting in better assessment.
• Provide a more engaging test experience for students.
• Provide more precise results so teachers can identify learning priorities and meet individual student needs.

Parents and carers can also familiarise themselves with the NAPLAN Online platform by using the public demonstration site available at:

Further information about NAPLAN Online including frequently asked questions and answers are available at:

We will keep you up-to-date with how the transition to NAPLAN Online is progressing, but if there’s anything you need in the meantime you can contact the Deputy Principal, Nicole Hyland at the school.

Nicole Hyland

From HOD Senior Secondary

The end of Term 3 is always extremely busy as students complete assessments and make plans for their future. The key to giving your students the best start is to make sure they maintain their attendance throughout Term 4.

Year 11

A reminder that any days off will require your student to catch up with the teacher in their own time. All time off can have major influences on student’s ability to stay on top of their studies so please try and organise holidays and appointments for outside school hours. Please schedule appointments and travel outside of school time where possible.

The students will have a block exam in Week 5. The schedule for this will be released Week 1 next term.

Year 12

The formal is tonight and I cannot wait to see these students looking flash and ready to celebrate the conclusion of Term 3 and after a few short weeks in Term 4 the end of their high school career. Next Term holds many adventures for the Year 12s from External Exams to Future planning and QTAC applications.

All Year 12 students will be given a personalised informative pack including study guides, external exam timetable, assessment schedule and other important information.

For any questions or concerns, you may have regarding your Senior Secondary students please email me at daddi4@eq.edu.au or call 4620 8222.

Mrs Deborah Addison

Year 7 Most Valued Student

From Guidance Officer

Term 3, as always has been a big term for all!

On Thursday September 10th our school celebrated R U OK Day. All week students engaged in learning about the day, the purpose and the important message: a conversation can change a life. Students supported the R U OK Foundation by wearing yellow and donating a gold coin to the cause.

For our seniors the end of Term 3 means the end is near! This week I worked with the year 12s on preparing for their external assessments, managing stress levels and looking out for their wellbeing as they come to the pointy end of their schooling careers. I wish the year 12s a relaxing but productive working holiday as they use this time to both take a break and continue their preparation for external exams.

Lastly, next term our school will be introducing the St George State High School Homework Club. All students will receive a permission form for this in their Care classes. This gives them permission to attend Homework Club when they choose; it is not a requirement for students to attend every week. Homework Club will occur every Thursday at 3.05pm – 4.00pm in the Library. This is a great opportunity for students to complete work, ask extra questions of teachers or to simply have a quiet place to study. We look forward to see you all there next term!

Kelly Lawton

Information gathered and written by Anna Moloney (Year 11).

Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australian’s aged between 14-55 years of age. Almost 800,000 people die due to suicide every year which is almost one person every 40 seconds. R U OK Day (founded in 2009) is a suicide prevention charity that supports and inspires Australian communities.

Background:

In 1996, Barry Larkin who was a much loved father, husband and brother, took his own life, despite having a highly successful advertising career. His suicide left both family and friends full of grief and with endless questions.

In 2009, his son Gavin chose to emphasise just one question to honour his father and to try and protect other families who go through the same thing. This question was; “Are you OK?”

After an awareness-raising documentary and national campaign, R U OK was born.

This year, the message for R U OK Day is:

‘There’s more to say after R U OK’

2020 has been a challenging year for everyone in some way. Bushfires, floods, deaths, and most of all, the coronavirus pandemic. These circumstances have made it even more important for everyone to stay connected and be willing to support the people around us.

When someone says they’re not OK, you don’t need to be an expert to keep the conversation going. By asking someone this simple question and knowing what to say after, you can help people feel supported and allow them access to appropriate help before they put their lives in danger. Doing this simple process can have such a positive impact on someone’s life, that you might be saving it.

Asking if someone’s OK and what to say after:

1. Asking: Be friendly, and help them open up by asking simple questions like “How are you.” Mention things that made you worry about them and assure them that you’re there for them and that they can trust you.

IF: They don’t want to talk, don’t criticise them or force them into talking. Tell them you are concerned and reassure them AGAIN that you’re there for them.

2. Listen with an open mind: During this stage, you need to take what they say seriously. The most important part in this process is DO NOT JUDGE THEM. Instead, acknowledge them for what they’re going through and show that you’ve listened by continuing to ask how they are.

3. Encourage action: Ask questions like:

‘How can I help?’
‘What’s something you could do for yourself right now?’

You could tell them about a strategy you used when you were going through a difficult time (without making it about you, remember you’re there for them)

If they are feeling down, with no signs of improvement and you’re still worrying, you have the authority to encourage them to see help professionally. You could do this by saying:

‘It might be helpful to reach out to someone else who can support you more than I can, and I want to help you find the right person to talk to.’

Remind yourself that you’re doing what you believe is the best for this person.

4. Check In: You never really help people unless you constantly check in with them and continue to help until they’re in a better state. To check in, remind yourself maybe once or twice a week to check in on them. You could say:

‘I’ve been thinking of you and I want to know how you’re going since we last spoke.’

Continue to listen to them and stay in touch by being there for them. Not so that it becomes annoying, but to show genuine care and concern for them. This is what makes a real difference.

You never really know how much of a difference this has until someone reaches out to you when you’re going through a difficult time. We hear this saying all the time, but it costs absolutely nothing to be kind. Be considerate of others and give up some of your time to help others, it’s really not that hard.

This process should not just be taken out this week because it’s R U OK Day. This process should be done every time that someone you know is not doing OK. A conversation really can change a life.

Year 10 Science

How much worse is a car crash when the speed of the car is doubled? The students in Science Extension have been working in groups to design and carry out an experiment to investigate this. In the experiment, a dynamics cart was released and accelerated down a ramp, colliding with some plasticine stuck to a wall. To make the cart go faster, some groups gradually increased the mass of the cart while others increased the height of the end of the ramp. The depth of the dent in the plasticine was used measure how severe the crash was and ticker timers allowed them to work out how fast the carts were going when they hit.

Karen McKechnie

Year 9 Home Ec

Our creative Year 9 Home Economics students have been practising tie dye, applique, computer transfers and machine embroidery techniques. They used calico bags which will be donated to the St George Town Library to give away with book borrowings. Student assessment is to make and decorate their own bag using all of the above techniques to decorate a set of four library bags using any of the decorative techniques.

Julie Worboys

Notice to Year 7 Parents/Carers

Parents/Carers of Year 7 Students

Students will have all of their books, textbooks and stationery items that have been left in the classroom sent home with them this week. We generally like to give students the final term of Year 7 to transition to learning to pack their bags with what they need for school each day, which is a skill they will require for the remainder of their high school years. It would also be a good time to check over your child's resources to see what they are missing ready for Term 4.

Year 7 Teachers

Year 7 Science

Year 7 students are conducting a balloon racer investigation for their Term 3 assessment. Last week students had to design and build a balloon race car which will travel the furthest distance possible. They then needed to consider how different forces such as friction would impact on the distance and speed of their vehicle. Last Wednesday students tested the balloon racers and will make modifications to their design in the coming lessons.

Update Cubby Photos

Supporting Our Neighbours Across The Border

September began with a fire ripping through Mungindi, a town already suffering through drought, leaving locals without a supermarket or access to produce. This time of term is hard enough without the additional stress that recent events must have added for those affected. Teachers often take on additional responsibilities when tragedy happens. For this reason the staff at St George State High School wanted to do something special to let Mungindi know we were thinking of them during these tragic events. Morning tea was organised and delivered; hopefully helping to get through the rest of term, keeping heads up high. Staff at Mungindi Central School were grateful and reached out, thanking staff, saying:

“I just wanted to send gratitude on behalf of Mungindi Central School for the exceptional morning tea that you and your staff so kindly organised for us after the fire that struck our local grocers. The morning tea not only blessed us for Friday, but today too! It was extremely generous.”

Miss Jessica Embrey

Birth Announcement – Another Boy!

St George State High School welcomed another pure bred baby bull Droughtmaster on 5 September 2020.

David McCabe and our Year 8 Ag Class had the chance to see our first little bull drought master calf last week. Without David’s generous donation of the embryos we wouldn’t have this little cutie. Thank you David!

Students signed up for Apprenticeships

Congratulations to the following students who have now been signed up to a apprenticeship at the following businesses.

• Max McGee – Diesel Mechanic Apprenticeship Vanderfields
• Jayden Coaker – Spare Parts Apprenticeship Case Machinery Centre
• Haley Rollins – Hairdressing Apprenticeship Ambers Hair Parlour
• Laith Webster – Motor Mechanic Apprenticeship O’Brien Toyota

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

French Lessons

Creative way to enjoy holidays! Learn a new language French français. Learning more than one language is useful, work-oriented and fun. Join anytime. A bientôt ! Contact Salvador 0428304318 / 46253021 / salvador.f@rediffmail.com Bonne Vacances !

Choose how to add this event to your calendar:

Apple Calendar iPhone, iPad, Mac - Download .ics file

Outlook Desktop Outlook - Download .ics file

Android Calendar Android devices - Download .ics file

Other Calendar Google Calendar, Yahoo, etc. - Download .ics file

Download Event