17 March 2023

Newsletter Articles

From The Principal

Dear Community,

I want to begin by acknowledging the ongoing disruptions to learning that have been impacting our students. Please know that we are taking a multi-pronged effort to both stop and prevent them from happening in the future. We understand that not having all the information can be frustrating, but we ask for your trust that our team knows what we are doing and we are actively taking steps for sustainable change. We appreciate the family members have been proactively supporting the work we are trying to do in this school. Please see the Deb Addison (DP’s) article below for some of the steps.

On a positive note, I want to share some exciting news with you. We have been having planning work and conversations with teachers, students, leadership, and external stakeholders about how we can make learning more engaging for our students. We believe that engaging students in their learning is key to their success, and we are committed to making this happen. Some work that is already happening is with School Based Youth Health Nurse (SBYHN), Gemma Chew. I would like to personally acknowledge Gemma’s excellent work as she is providing our students with valuable learning opportunities by bringing in relevant experts to provide contextual and relevant learning. We are very grateful for her contributions to our school community.

As always, we appreciate your continued support as we work to improve the learning experience for our students. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns. Feel free to e-mail Principal@stgeorgeshs.eq.edu.au.

Yours in education,

Thomas J. McKenna
Principal

From Acting Deputy Principal Senior School

Week 8 has come to an end and it has been a busy time, with assessment, exams and NAPLAN students have been working well to achieve the best they can.

One element of school that has become an issue across the state and Australia is vaping. We are aware that our school is not immune to this and we are working on ways to eradicate this issue. A way that is proving helpful is having students use Stymie to let the leadership team know who is vaping so that we can assist those students with health programs and inform parent that their student has been seen to be vaping.

Stymie was introduced across both St George SS and SHS at the end of last year and it is easy to use anonymously or not, depending on the issue. Please remind your student that they are able to complete Stymie notifications from any device at any time.

Positive Behaviour for Learning

As a PBL school we are always working to keep positives at the forefront of our teaching and maintaining positive relationships with students and their families.

Parts of PBL to watch out for and talk about with your student.

• Zingers, which can be used to purchase items from our Zinger bank/store on Wednesdays and Fridays.
• Postcards home
• In class rewards systems and certificates
• Positive phone calls home
• Fortnightly focus of school expectations

The last two weeks of school our focus is BE RESPONSIBLE – We cooperate with staff and other students.

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, Acting Deputy Principal

From HOD Agriculture

Last week our staff attended a Professional Development ‘Teach the Teacher’ event hosted by Cotton Australia. This event saw our staff travel out to the Saunders Plantation farm where staff heard from local growers, agronomists and the gin manager to learn more about the major industry in our community. We were treated to a spraying demonstration by Precision Air and got to observe bankless irrigation at work. Staff learnt how cotton education can be implemented into the curriculum across subjects to keep the learning contextually relevant. A massive thank you to Sally Rigney for her work in organising the event and to all the local growers and industry representative that attended the event.

On Tuesday, the show team students travelled up to the Mitchell State School agriculture plot to be involved in a cattle handling clinic hosted by Muckadilla cattle stud owners Matt and Anna Ahern. The students spent the day learning about low stress cattle breaking techniques, grooming, show preparations and how to parade cattle. Our students all got involved and displayed excellent behaviour and effort during the event. Samuel Rollins was recognised by the stud owners for excellent handling skills and was gifted a hat from their stud.

Student Recognition: Congratulations to Hayley McMillan in Year 10 who has displayed excellent behaviour and effort in her first term of Ag at St George State High School. Hayley has jumped straight in to all things Ag signing up for show team and shearing camp.

From Acting HOD Senior Secondary

In Week 10 of Term 1, students in Year 10-12 will have the opportunity to attend the Youth Summit: Inspire and Lead. This event, hosted by the Country University Centre (CUC) and the Balonne Shire Council will be held on Wednesday March 29 2023.

This Youth Summit event includes a presentation from the Keynote Speaker J-MILLA. J-MILLA is a 24-year-old member of the Mak Mak Marranungu people. Music and storytelling was what got him through, and it was this part of his culture that he clung to, when he noticed the power of narrative and its influence on those around him. J-MILLA will tell his story, break down his high impact song My People and do a live performance.

There are other key presentations, such as Karen Browning, discussing Careers Now and into the Future, as well as What is happening now and in the future world of work, and what jobs might suit you?

This year, students have been able to select from numerous sessions that they might like to attend. This ensures that students can select sessions that are relevant to them and that they are engaged in the learning. Some sessions that they have an option to select include: What is being Culturally Capable, Inspire & Lead, Inspired by Chocolates, Where Tourism, Hospitality and Events Can Lead You, Lead the way with your Resume and many more.

This event received very positive feedback from students last year. It is a great opportunity for our students to consider pathways available and what they want their futures to look like. Students received these forms on Monday and are available in the office if your Year 10-12 student was away. Morning tea and lunch will be provided on the day – students with dietaries need to ensure they complete the form detailing this.

We are looking forward to this beneficial and educational day.

Jessica Embrey

From Acting HOD Junior Secondary

Year 7 Update

From Week 9 Year 7 students will be allowed to play in other areas during break times, they will no longer need to remain in the Year 7 area.

The Year 7 area will still be a space for Year 7 students only. If students wish to remain in this area they can and older students won’t be in this area.

Year 7 students have worked hard to settle into high school and have expressed a desire to play in other areas of the school. Students will be allowed to play in other areas of the school, as long as they are following school expectations. If students are not following expectations, this privilege will be taken away.

We are looking forward to having students interacting with older peers and allowing our older peers to model positive behaviour to our Year 7 students.

Laura Sherriff

School News

Home Economics

All classes are well under way with this term’s cookery. Year 7 students have made hot and cold drinks, mango smoothies and toasted sandwiches with pizza scrolls on last week’s menu. Year 8 students have also done smoothies and sandwiches, followed by breakfast eggs and pikelets. Request a nice French toast or pancakes on the weekend parents. Year 9 students have compared drink and snack equipment available at school, learning how to clean properly, use safely and correctly. They have recently studied the nutritional value of meat, vegetables and dairy foods as well as suggested cookery methods. Last week saw many delicious stir fry dishes with rice or noodles and last week there were cobb loaves, quiches and cheese sauce filled bread cases. Thank you to parents and carers for assisting students to organise ingredients for their weekly Tuesday cooking sessions. Year 10 students are envious of the delicious cooking smells as they are studying a Textiles unit looking at sustainable fabrics and fashion and producing an apron that they will use or Terms 2, 3 & 4 with their food units.

If anyone has empty ice cream containers (or similar plastic containers) would you consider dropping them at the office please for students who forget a container to take food home.

Early Childhood Studies

Early Childhood Studies students joining in on the fun at NCC Early Learning Centre this week.

School GP News

This month at the Medical Centre we have been having a focus on melanoma and skin cancer. That might seem like something that a teenager doesn’t have to worry about, but melanomas can occur at any age. So it pays to be aware of any spots or marks on your skin at all ages. In addition, we now know that the most important time for sun damage (actually UV exposure to skin) occurs during the first 18-20 years of a person’s life.

It’s very important then to be sun safe and to try to protect your skin as much as possible, so we can safely enjoy being outdoors. Significant risk factors for developing skin cancers are things like blistering sunburn episodes, having fairer complexions, more time spent in the sun, and a family history of skin cancers.

The best protective measures we have are essentially the old slip slop slap. Wear protective clothing (long sleeved where possible), wear a hat (broad brimmed is ideal) and sunglasses, and use SPF 50+ sunscreen. A lot of people don’t use sunscreen or find it hard to put on sunscreen, but if you make it available and easy to access – such as keeping it near the door and just putting a bit on before you head outside – it becomes a routine. Trying to stay in the shade, particularly on very hot days is also a good idea. Remember to do this sun safety at school too. Sun safety should continue for life, as sun damage and skin cancers can occur at any age.

If you do notice any concerning spots anywhere on your body, it is a good idea to get these checked with a doctor.

Our school’s GP clinic will be open every Thursday during school terms between 0830-1500. There are both male and female doctors available. Appointments will be available during class times, as well as at break times. Appointments to see the school GP can be made by students (and staff) either in person by seeing reception at the Skills Centre, by sending an email to

reception@stgmed.com.au , or by calling the St George Medical Centre on 07 4625 5344. It is always a best for parents/carers to be involved in their children’s health where possible.

Dr Karen Benn and Dr Ben Brimblecombe

Past Student Spotlight
Matthew Langford

I grew up in St George and spent a lot of time in the outdoors fishing and hunting.

I graduated in 1999 and was Vice School Captain and House Captain in my senior year. I loved high school and growing up in St George.

I went to university and studied Bachelor of Technology education and got my degree in 2004 to be a Manual Arts teacher. My Dad, Bill Langford was a manual arts teacher at St George SHS for over 20 years.

I was a manual arts teacher for 10 years up in Central Queensland then moved to Kingaroy and continued teaching for another 6 years when I started fishing Bass tournaments on weekends.

After competing for a while I found that I had a natural talent for lure fishing for Australian bass and decided to step up into the pro circuit.

Since starting my professional career I’ve won 4 national Angler of the year titles won 6 professional tournaments from Victoria, NSW and QLD and competed for Australia in South Korea and the United States.

Because of fishing I’ve had the opportunity to write for fishing magazines, be on fishing DVDs, and television shows. It’s been a great career move for me.

I also started my guiding business, Australian Freshwater Fishing Charters and guide clients from all over the world and teach them how to catch our native freshwater fish all over South East QLD.

My advice to anyone young and old is no matter your passion or hobby you can make it into a fun career if you pursue it with everything you’ve got.

Matthew Langford

School Calendar

Getting To Know…….................Mr Brock

Sport

Balonne Sports information can be found on the Balonne Sports Facebook site.

SW Netball – A junior and senior netball team travelled to Chinchilla last week to try out for the South West netball team. Congratulations to Bella Cubby, Kelsey Weribone and Emalie Hams on their selection in the senior SW team. The girls will now play in Brisbane at the state trials. Well done to Ashanti Thurston (junior team), Bethany Moran, Lillian Stenhouse and Georgie Nelson (senior team) on their selections as shadows.

SW Touch – Students travelled to Chinchilla last week to try out for the SW Touch Football teams. Congratulations to Tyerell Lacey, Cohan Neven, Christopher Neven, Sienna Beardmore, Jacob Hiles, Braxston Beardmore, Cohen Davis, Nate Davis, Kelsey Weribone and Nequwa Collins for being selected. Matilda Holt-Grundon and Adrian Turnbull were selected as shadows.

SW Basketball – Izaiah Weatherall and Rhyder Hooper tried out for the South West Basketball team in Roma last week. Congratulations to Rhyder who was selected in the team and will now go to Toowoomba to try out for the Darling Downs team.

SW Rugby League – On Monday 13 March, a team of 21 boys travelled over to Roma to trials for the South West Rugby League team. The boys all slogged through a very hot, muggy day and soggy fields. The 14-15 years team ran water for our seniors and supported teammates from other regional schools in the downs who combined with St George on the day. Our seniors returned the favour and ran water for our junior team and supported Chinchilla and Roma for subs. All boys put in an excellent effort and should be proud of their performances. Congratulations to Cohan Neven, Christopher Neven, Tyerell Lacey and Riley Tattam who were selected for the 14-15 years team, and congratulations to Dominic Walters, Nate Davis, Amdes Saunders and Jacob Hiles who were selected for the 16-18 years team. These students will go on to represent the South West district in Townsville in late May.

Sports Calendar

P&C News

Next meeting is Monday 20 March 6pm in Library – All Welcome!

Community Notices

Get set for Little Athletics

• St George Little Athletics Club will commence their 2023 season from Monday 17th April - 11th Sept
• MONDAY afternoon from 3:30pm-5pm (St George High School oval)
• Registration
• Tiny Tots (3-5yrs)- $55
• U/6-U/17 - $85
• Day fees (paid each week)- $2 per child or $5 per family
• 2 weeks free trial for all new children
• Please note that children participating will need a parent or guardian present and all parents are required to assist in recording and helping to run the events.
• For further enquires, contact Harry North - 0400 099 640

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