13 October 2017

Newsletter Articles

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

As a new face in the Shailer Park SHS organisation, I am impressed with the professional way in which the staff and students have conducted themselves in my first few weeks here. The high expectations in place continue to be adhered to, with students in their classrooms learning effectively and our focus on excellence clearly remaining in the spotlight. The continuation of Shailer Park students on their pathway to realise the big plans and bold ambitions of 2017 is in effect and it is exciting to be a part of it.

Term 4 is traditionally an important and busy period in our school’s calendar with significant traditions and events providing us with the opportunity to reflect and celebrate on the year’s efforts. The diligence and determination of many of our students will be recognised in the coming weeks and it is a wonderful chance to acknowledge the excellence evident in our school. However, it is also easy for a sense of the ‘job’ of education being completed to creep in before the year has actually finished, when in fact, this is the time for a final determined push at realising our goals.

The Year 12 cohort still have their final and incredibly important assessment pieces to complete in the next month, whilst putting into place their ambitions for life post-school. For these students, this is an exciting time of very important deadlines, whether they be in the submission of those last assessments, tertiary or other enrolments or applications for employment. Shailer Park SHS remains committed to making certain every student graduating from this school is moving to either further education, training or employment.

Our Year 10 and 11 cohorts must now look ahead to their responsibilities as student leaders of Shailer Park SHS, demonstrating the mature behaviours and concentration on in-class work that entails. For our middle school students, laying the foundations of effective learning and study habits whilst encouraging their love of learning is essential in reaping the best possible outcomes of the excellent education they are being provided with.

As such, it is essential to have the support and assistance of parents and the Shailer Park SHS community to ensure we finish with this strong focus on excellence. Communication between staff and parents is essential to the realisation of the ‘big plans and bold ambitions’ of 2017, especially at this time of year. As a staff, we will continue to nurture and educate students at an exemplary level, striving to encourage each and every one in the achievement of their goals.

Again, I am incredibly impressed with the way in which Shailer Park SHS students and staff have conducted themselves in carrying on with the job at hand in my time here thus far and look forward to meeting more members of this wonderful community in the coming weeks.

SENIOR SCHOOLING

Term Assessment Calendars and Tutorial Timetables

A reminder to parents that Term Assessment Calendars are distributed to students each term. This information, including Tutorial Timetables, can also be found on our website:

Senior Dashboard on our Website

We also have a dashboard for senior students where you can access information on a range of issues such as

• Courses and Training including university and TAFE courses
• Work Experience
• School Based Traineeships\Apprenticeships
• Careers –including how to write a cover letter or resume
• Indigenous issues
• Post School Options.

Queensland Core Skills Test– Year 12

Students’ individual QCS Test grades will be released prior to senior certification in December.

QCS Test results will be available in student learning accounts from 15 November. Students will be able to access their individual QCS Test grade — from A to E — in their learning account on the Student Connect website:

Students are reminded to activate their account ahead of time.

Students’ QCS Test grades will be confirmed on the Senior Statement they receive as part of their Senior Education Profile sent to them in December.

Release of Year 12 results, Overall Positions and Field Positions – Year 12

From 9 am on 16 December, all results contributing to the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), OPs and FPs will be available in student learning accounts on the Student Connect website:

Students will begin receiving their Senior Education Profiles in the mail following this. Depending on students’ individual circumstances, their profile will comprise one or more of the following documents:

• QCE
• Tertiary Entrance Statement
• Senior Statement
• Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement.

Queensland Core Skills Test– Our New Cohort – Year 11

Our Year 11 students who intend to engage in the QCS test in 2018 will be initiated into the processes and procedures of the tests and some of the nuances in Week 4 this term. SPSHS is fortunate to have a great team of staff available to discuss the rigour of the test, and also to give some invaluable hints and tips about working smarter, not harder!

Students will practice each of the tests – Multiple Choice, Short Response and Writing Task. Their results will help us support them in the areas that most need development in 2018. We know they have great support from these first steps forward.

A MESSAGE FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

JUNIOR SECONDARY (YEARS 7, 8 AND 9)

Join the C.A.S.T (Clubs, Academies, Societies and Tutorials)

At Shailer Park State High School we have a vast array of extra curricula activities for your child to participate in. These activities are offered before school, at lunch times and after school. These activities allow your child to develop 21st Century skills:

• Connectedness: C.A.S.T activities give students a place where they can catch up with friends, build respectful relationships with teachers and meet like-minded individuals in a safe and structured environment
• Collaboration: C.A.S.T activities allow students to work with others, share new knowledge and solve problems in groups.
• Creativity: C.A.S.T activities give students the time and space to let their creative juices flow so that when they are stuck with something they have never seen before they choose to ‘think’ rather than just ‘remember’.

The C.A.S.T activities for Term 4 on offer are:

Uniform

Students look fantastic in their uniforms. Please continue to ensure that your student wears:

• Black leather lace up shoes every day
• Plain white socks (visible over shoes) with no badging (eg: Nike ticks or Adidas symbols)
• Formal uniform must be worn every Monday
• Sports uniform must be worn on the day they have PE practical class
• All other days students can choose to wear either formal or sports uniform, however there is to be no mixing and matching of the uniform
• Minimal jewellery (as per diary only) – under no circumstances will any student have any facial piercings

Attendance: Make Every Moment Count

It is important that your student attends school every day. I would like to commend the year 7 students for reaching and maintaining the schools goal attendance rate over 92%. It is essential that your child attends school every day. Research proves that there is a direct link between attending school and improved academic success and social adjustment.

At Shailer Park State High School, the school day begins at 8.45am. It is important to instil the value of punctuality in your student. Please ensure your student is at school by at least 8.30am to ensure their learning can begin at 8.45am (as per student diary). If your student is late or absent it is ESSENTIAL that you contact the school by phone on 34512766.

We look forward to working together with families to ensure that every student can get access to the best education. You may think that being just a little bit late or having just a few days off every now and then doesn’t make that much difference – but it really does (see the tables below). If you are having trouble getting your child to school consistently on time, please contact the school for assistance.

JUNIOR SECONDARY

Welcome back to what will no doubt be an action packed term 4. I would like to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of our Junior Secondary students throughout term 3 and I wait eagerly to review their academic results. For our Year 9 students, this will be their last term of Junior Secondary before they transition into the senior school and we wish them well in their future endeavours.

Important dates for Junior Secondary Students:

Vocational Education

Huge Congratulations to Kiara

Kiara has been successful in securing a full time apprenticeship as a Diesel Fitter with BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) at their Daunia Mine in Central Queensland. Kiara set herself up well for this by participating in the ACCELR8 program through her senior schooling, gaining a Cert II Automotive Preparation.

BMA is Australia’s largest coal producer and supplier of seaborne metallurgical coal, operating seven Bowen Basin mines, and owning and operating the Hay Point Coal Terminal near Mackay.

This is a massive achievement by Kiara to pass through the interview rounds to secure the apprenticeship.

We wish her the very best for her new career!

Year 12 School Leavers – YMCA Certificate II Automotive Preparation Course starting in February 2018

Did you miss out on your opportunity to train in the automotive industry at school?

YMCA are running a program commencing in February 2018 to build careers in the Automotive Heavy Vehicle Industry.

Contact Jay Harris at YMCA, Kingston Campus for further information on 3440 4333.

YEAR 9 NEWS

Hi everyone! It's great to see the Year 9's looking refreshed after their well-deserved holiday!

In the final week of the Term 3, we all went on a fantastic excursion to UQ, where students were given the opportunity experience different workshops and ask current students all about University life. The UQ representatives said they were thoroughly impressed with the conduct of our students and said they would welcome Shailer Park back at anytime. Many students approached me after the sessions to inform me that they were now considering University, which is a fantastic outcome!

Further to this success, Year 9 girls managed to do what no other year level was able to achieve last term and pulled their overall attendance percentage up 5% (from 88% to 93%!)

The challenge is being put out now for Year 9 to be the best in regards to attendance this term. I ask all Year 9 students and their parents to commit to this goal and maintain it right through to the last day. This is the final term of your Junior School years, so let's start and finish strong!

CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

Art and Media

Year 8’s

Well our cupcake craving has continued! Mrs King’s Year 8 class have created ceramic versions of their cupcakes and they look good enough to eat! Congratulations to all students on a wonderful job.

Ceramic cupcakes by Aisha, Ashley, Caleb, Emily, Jemikah, Micalah, Presley, Teagan and Tirraleigh

Artwaves

Each year the artistic endeavours of talented Visual Art students across the Logan district are showcased in an exhibition titled Artwaves held at Logan Art Gallery. Once again, we had a number of students’ pieces selected for this prestigious event. The official opening was held at the end of last term and was attended by our students who had work featured. Last week we took a number of Visual Art students from years 7 -12 to view this wonderful exhibition in order to inspire them to create individual and exciting pieces. All students need to be congratulated on their excellent achievement of having work selected.

Chloe, Emma and Sophie

Instrumental Music

Hi everyone,

Last Sunday our Performance Strings competed at the B grade Secondary Strings section of the Prestige Music Fest and received a silver award.

On Wednesday night our Symphonic Winds competed in the B grade secondary concert band section and received a gold award.

On Monday evening our Wind Ensemble is competing in the Middle School Concert Band section and our String Ensemble are competing in the C grade Secondary String section on Friday.

Jazz Band are competing on Saturday October 28.

Mrs Alley and I are very proud of our students.

Instrumental Music Timetable

“Being a musician maps the human mind for success: success in all avenues of life.” Tim Lautzenheiser

Showcase

Great News! On Thursday night at the Music Eisteddfod, our Concert Band which has been playing up at ‘A’ grade was awarded a Gold Award. The Instrumental Music Teachers and students are really being “stretched to the max” at the moment with all their performing commitments. We are very proud of our students!

I hope you are able to come to Showcase on Saturday. The Dance, Drama and Music teachers have prepared a fabulous program.

Upcoming Dates