29 November 2019

Newsletter Articles

A message from the Principal

As a mum to a small child in grade 3 and the Principal to a large high school, I have to admit that come Week 7 in Term 4, I’m usually starting to feel a little weary. The long holidays of summer loom in the distance, celebrations with my family during December need to be catered for, the last of the learning and assessment is busily being finalised on campus and the planning for Term 1 2020 has begun. Phew! But it is also a time when I feel absolute gratitude for the bright energy of Shailer Park SHS: our celebrations of all the amazing achievements over the past four terms coupled with bittersweet goodbyes to our Year 12s buoy me up, as they should you.

As a community, we have honoured the exceptional students of Shailer Park SHS, your children and our future over a number of presentations which make me so proud to be a part of this school and its families. Particularly, the outstanding achievements of our students were celebrated at our 39th Annual Awards Night, where special awards were presented for academic achievement, leadership, citizenship, sporting and cultural endeavours. For these students and their families, the Awards Night is such a wonderful occasion to acknowledge the incredibly hard work these students have put into their year at school and their success as Resilient, Resourceful, Relational and Reflective learners. What a proud night for our entire community of teachers, students and parents. Please see below our special award winners from our Annual awards evening together.

Special Award Winners

Lifting Aspirations Award:

• Reece Odgaard (Barnes)
• Jesse Neads (Bilin Bilin)
• Mason Bira (Frances)
• Elektra Mercier (Karle)

Academy Awards:

• Jordan Daniels (Sting Volleyball)
• Corey Nyberg (Sting Futsal)
• Emma McDonald (Ignite Dance)
• Jasmine McVeigh (Nexus)

Excellence in Vocational Training:

• Joshua Davidson
• Tyson Morris

Trainee of the Year

• Paige Greenberger-Evans

Instrumental musician of the year

• Kathleen Huggins

Long Tan Leadership Award

• Jai Deahm

Phil Meadows Community Service Award

• Robyn Pitcairn

Mick de Brenni Award

• Kathleen Huggins

University of Queensland Achievement Award

• Kathleen Huggins

University of Queensland's Young Scholars Program

• Mia Tearle

UQ Young Achievers Program

• Keenan Waldron

Quota International of Beenleigh Quiet Achiever

• Morgan Watego

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student

• Paris Thow

Caltex All Rounder

• Sam Fairbrother

Principal’s Award

• Eternity Neemia-Lafaele

Dux- Junior- Year 9

• Felicity McNichol

Dux- Senior- Year 12

• Kathleen Huggins

I would also like to recognise the outstanding achievements of our staff who were recognised at this very same awards event. Our teachers are so much more than simple ‘imparters of knowledge and skills’ but are skilled professionals and mentors who give so much of their time, energy and thought to their students. We all have those teachers we remember from our own days at school, the ones who took the extra time to ensure we understood a concept or subject matter, who inspired us to have big plans and chase after big ambitions or who were simply there to hear us when we needed help or reassurance. Recognising those Shailer Park staff who have gone above and beyond excellence over the past year was an absolute pleasure: congratulations! Please see Katrina Davies Newsletter entry regarding special awards for staff below, and feel free to congratulate all of our award winners if you see them around campus or town!

We concluded our Awards Evening with a nod to the future, announcing our School Captains and Student Leaders who will lead our school in 2020.

I know that the school community is very much looking forward to working with these enthusiastic students next year and would like to sincerely thank the outgoing Captains and Leaders for what has been an amazing 2019 of student leadership.

For those unable to attend, please see this brief excerpt from my address on the night, where I spoke about Greta Thunberg, a fifteen-year-old who has become an international symbol of courage and determination …

… finding someone who is an example of tenacity, who has an unwillingness to give up and the grit and determination to seek out the accomplishment of their goals has never been easier than that of the 15-year-old international activist Greta Thunberg. Her undeniable passion, unrelenting determination and incredible courage in being an upstander, as someone who wants to make a positive change to the world, are simply outstanding. She has become a powerful symbol of today’s youth, of purpose and of bravery. Ms Thunberg’s resolve is something we should all aspire to in improving our world, our country, the lives of everyone in our community and our own, personal dreams and ambitions. But we don’t need to cross the ocean or sit in a meeting of the UN to see these kinds of commendable attributes, they are being cultivated right here in Shailer Park. The students sitting before me here have, with unrelenting determination and pure, simple hard work, displayed the very same kind of tenacious character traits as Greta Thunberg. They have crossed the line of opportunity each and every day, feeding their wild and emotional brains so that their smart brains are switched on and from here, turned up ready to learn, consistently and persistently given their all to achieve their best.

But wait, there’s more! Additionally, we celebrated our Academies with a number of fantastic ceremonies and dinners highlighting the wonderful achievements on the volleyball court, futsal court and dance stage. What an amazingly talented bunch of athletes we have here at Shailer Park, students who understand the value of teamwork, discipline and dedication. Well done to all of our Academy students.

Most poignantly however, we have farewelled our Year 12 students in a series of emotional and inspiring events. Their final assembly was a mixture of excitement and sadness for our graduating class whilst our younger students were given a small glimpse into the not so distant future. Their graduation breakfast was another, more intimate and informal farewell between staff and students. The strong camaraderie built between teachers and their Year 12 students is very special; I know every one of these young men and women will be missed, but as educational professionals, we also know they are ready for the next step into adulthood. I encourage our graduates to continue to practice courage so that they can push themselves into new and exciting challenges, constantly building on the confidence they’ll need for what is a bright future.

Our Facebook page has been a wonderful noticeboard of late, with a number of part time work vacancies and opportunities for students to improve their skills and gain further competencies within their chosen fields. I’d like to thank our partners who continue to provide outstanding opportunities for our students: with your support, our students are lifting their aspirations and achieving their best. What a wonderful community we have!

I’d also like to thank our P&C and IPS Council for their continued support of our school and your children. Countless hours and enormous effort go into the improvements and programs these two bodies implement which directly and positively affect our students. Your work does not go unnoticed and is appreciated beyond measure!

As the end of the year approaches, there are a number of key dates and programs effecting both enrolled and enrolling students:

• We have developed an exciting ‘STEP UP’ Program for the final week of school for Year 7, 8 and 9 students offering a range of experiences designed to prepare them for their next year level as well as celebrate the achievements of 2019. Information for parents will be forthcoming.
• Final day of school for Year 7, 8 and 9 students is Friday Dec 13 (concluding at 1pm).

Most importantly, our school hours for 2020 have changed. Please familiarise yourself with the details below, as Monday’s timetable in particular represents significant personalised learning opportunities for your students.

School Hours 2020:

Monday

On each Monday, school commences at the regular time of 8:50am (students should arrive no later than 8:45am) and finishes at 2.55pm.

The Monday afternoon lesson from 1:50-2:55pm aims to support students to cross the line of opportunity. Some students will be permitted to leave school at 1.20pm to engage in Independent Study on Monday only. These are students who are not required by the school or their parents to remain at school for ‘UPLIFT’ personalised learning as outlined below.

The Monday afternoon lesson from 1:50-2:55pm aims to support students to cross the line of opportunity. The following students will be required to engage in UPLIFT:

1. All Year 7 students will engage in AMAYDA empowerment and anti-bullying program (year-long program).
2. Students in Years 8-12 who have been identified as requiring extra assistance with literacy, numeracy, academic, engagement, positive behaviour development and well-being support (program length will be week 3-9 of each term, with minimum of one weeks’ notice provided).
3. Other academic reasons including completion of exams (minimum of one weeks’ notice will be provided).

Additionally, students can be required to attend an ‘UPLIFT’ personalised learning option at the request of their family. The option to remain at school in an ‘UPLIFT’ personalised learning option is a term long commitment. A list of the ‘UPLIFT’ personalised learning options provided on campus are listed below:

• Independent supervised study (a term commitment)
• Well-being program (a term commitment)
• Career education (a term commitment)

Students who are required to remain on campus to engage in one of the ‘UPLIFT’ personalised learning options will be required to register their attendance by scanning their ID card.

*Please be aware there is no obligation on a school to provide supervision for students permitted to depart at 1:20pm on Monday.

Tuesday to Friday

School commences at the regular time of 8:50am (students should arrive no later than 8:45am) and finishes at 2:55pm.

Calendar

A message from our Senior Schooling Deputy Principal

On Awards Night each year, along with celebrating our students and their outstanding achievements, we take the time to acknowledge the wonderful staff that we have here at Shailer Park State High.

Valuing the high level of professional knowledge, practice and engagement of teachers at Shailer Park State High School is a driving factor towards developing our school values of relationships, resilience, reflection and resourcefulness amongst the students and school community.

We also have a significant and strong team of support staff who work closely with and for our students. These staff members ensure our students have the best support for their learning and pathway choices throughout and beyond school.

Students, staff and our wider school community all had the opportunity to nominate and celebrate staff for the 2019 Staff Excellence Awards.

We had many great nominees this year and in this final newsletter for the year I would like to celebrate the winners of our Five Staff Excellence categories once more.

Excellence in Support Staff

Lynne is the face and voice of Shailer Park SHS for many of our parents, treating everyone in a very respectful and helpful manner. She is the welcoming face of the Student Services team and capably handles everything from lateness to first aide, to emotion and tears. She is kind, patient and deeply invested in our students, their needs and their positive outcomes.

Excellence in Early Careers Teaching

Paul is in his first 2 years of teaching and has demonstrated professional capacity far surpassing his years of experience. He has continually reflected on his practice to ensure that every student feels valued and included. He draws on a wide body of research using the most effective lesson planning and pedagogical practices. He has also developed and led student leadership in 2019 which has led to a stronger culture of student leadership in the school.

Excellence in teaching

Isobel draws on a wide range of professional knowledge to create a classroom environment which promotes learning for all students. She is innovative and collaborative and provides students opportunities to apply knowledge to real world, cognitively complex situations. She is a very strong member of the teaching team who supports colleagues in their planning, developing high quality resources for her colleagues and running professional development. Her passion for teaching and education is very clear for all to see.

Excellence in Leadership of Teaching and Learning

Excellence in Leadership of Teaching and Learning focusses on leading colleagues to develop their teaching and learning, to evaluate their practise and allow for differentiation across a range of abilities. They demonstrate exemplary practice and high expectations of both themselves and the people they lead. They initiate collaboration and support staff development. They work with staff to review, modify and expand their repertoire of teaching strategies and are at the forefront of the latest research and practice to improve the outcomes of our students. Kacie has demonstrated very strong ability in growing and supporting her people and as such has created a highly skilled and loyal department.

Outstanding Contribution to the School Community

The Outstanding Contribution to the School Community award is donated by the P&C and is very important to Shailer Park State High. It is through the development of engagement and support with and for the wider community that Shailer can be the best it can be. John has spent over 28 years dedicating himself to providing young people with practical skills and knowledge that they can use in the real world. He is passionate about creating connections between school, staff, students, parents, employers and the community.

He is heavily involved in creating industry links and was the vision behind the development of our signature vocational packages that set students up with the best opportunities for post schooling traineeships and employment. He believes our students deserve the best possible opportunities and has dedicated his time to helping our students with creating and living a life of choice.

It gives me great pleasure to celebrate these staff, and they are not alone as I have never worked with such a dedicated teaching and non-teaching team before. A team that always puts students at the centre.

A message from our Junior Schooling Deputy Principal

We are reaching the busiest part of the year in relation to our transition into Year 7 in 2020. Thank you to those families who have attended any of our events so far this year including Parent Cafes, Principal Tours, Trials and Auditions, Interviews and our Parent Night last week. Our Facebook page is the most up-to-date way in which to access new information, updates, links to items you may require, letters and forms

Information regarding curriculum and enrolment can also be found here:

Our website is the place to access any forms, documents or information you require regarding enrolments, curriculum, newsletters and anything else related to daily school life.

Orientation Day

Orientation Day is just around the corner! It is hard to believe that we are about to welcome another 200+ students into our wonderful school.

Next Thursday and Friday, 5&6 December, will see us engage in a two-day program featuring a range of activities – academic, extra-curricular, wellbeing and House/House Care Group as well as some student-led lunch time fun. This two-day program aims to provide incoming Year 7 students with the opportunity to experience life at Shailer Park State High School. Students will engage in curriculum, CAST, House and whole school activities across the program.

A message from our Engagement Deputy Principal

What a joyous opportunity it has been for the Student Services Team to share 2019 with Shailer Park SHS students and their families. It has been a huge year, full of new experiences, house spirit and a great deal of learning for all. Our team has worked hard to support our students to feed their wild brain and their emotional brain, so that their smart brain is ready for learning and engagement.

The year has been full of events designed for our students to belong, to get involved and to care – from weekly House Challenges, to whole school events such as Carnivale and to our service projects such as SleepOut and The Lighthouse Project – Shailer Park kids really are our 4Rs – resilient, relational, reflective and resourceful.

There have been several highlights this term alone. Four Year 7 girls, Shantelle, Scarlett, Chloe and Keeley, showed us what resourcefulness can do – they have now raised almost $4000 for cancer research through their participation in The Ponytail Project. Francis 2 were the House Care Group that got most involved – raising $106 to further the cause. Well done all!

As I write this, our school community is readying themselves for competition and participation at the Swimming Carnival. This is an opportunity to really show your House spirit, and staff and students alike are looking forward to the day at the Sleeman Centre.

We are proud of our 2019 Year 12 cohort, the first leaders of our new House system, and we enjoyed many farewells and celebrations with them as they begin a new part of their lives. We also look forward to welcoming our 2020 Year 7s next week and beginning our journey with them. If you are reading this as a parent of one of our incoming Year 7s, please be assured that the Shailer Community is a warm and welcoming one, and that we are very excited to support your child to cross the Line of Opportunity that is secondary education with them next year. As a parent of an excited and nervous Year 6 student myself, I understand the way you are all feeling now. Enjoy the last days of primary school and look forward to next year and all it will bring!

We also celebrate the achievement of our Green Club members, a group of more than 400 students who have achieved our goal of 95%+ attendance. Research shows coming to school on time and staying all day, every day, supports engagement and achievement, as well as mental health and positive future pathways. If you would like support with this, our Heads of House and our Engagement Officer, Mr Johnson, are here to assist. Contact our school for more information.

To finish off our year with a huge bright spot, many of our staff and students had the opportunity to see Paul Kelly, the acclaimed singer-songwriter, when he visited our school to perform last week. Paul is a gifted storyteller renowned for writing songs of uncommon directness about everything from love and land rights to cricket and cooking. Since his first album was released in 1978, he has won 14 ARIA Awards and collaborated with many other songwriters. He has written music for film and theatre and books such as the one he launched at Shailer Park SHS, Love Is Strong as Death.

At Shailer Park SHS, we focus on nurturing our wild and emotional brains so that we can access our smart brain. We know that our wild brain needs sleep, good food and exercise, and our emotional brain needs connection and relationships. When I need to feed my emotional brain, I often turn to words and music that nourish my soul, which remind me of a time, a place, or people that mean the most to me. And for many years, that has meant the music and words of Paul Kelly. I first saw him perform live at the Port Fairy Folk Festival in Victoria, when I was in high school…. a long time ago….and since then I have seen him perform many times, in theatres and concert venues in Melbourne, in London and in Brisbane. I was, needless to say, beyond excited and honoured that he chose to share his love of words and music with the Shailer Park community.

To give your emotional brain some love over the holiday period, I am running a competition over the summer period. Every student enrolled at Shailer Park SHS for 2020 is welcome to enter. There will be a Junior and a Senior winner. The prize is a signed copy of Paul Kelly’s new book ‘Love is as Strong as Death’.

You need to write a short piece (minimum 300 words) suitable for publishing in the school newsletter or Facebook, outlining “How I feed my emotional brain.” You could refer to people, places, books, songs…anything that helps your emotional brain to thrive so that by January, your smart brain is ready for learning. The competition is open until 31 January 2020, and entries should be emailed to me, at kshep4@eq.edu.au

Messages from our Student Services Team

HEADS OF HOUSE REPORT

This term has seen our partnership with Jeff Horn and his AMAYDA program really come to fruition. As previously mentioned, this program aims to support students in focussing on how they want to be and develop their ability to create a life of choice. Through the focus of martial arts and boxing, students have worked on their mental fortitude and self-discipline. Students have definitely shown an improvement in their self-confidence, resilience and most importantly, respect. Not only have our students walked away from this program with improved personal skills, they have also been lucky to obtain their own set of Jeff Horn boxing gloves.

Our Inter House Challenge for this term was Handball. This was a really popular activity for our students as they all love Handball and many of them play it before school and lunchtimes. It was a very heavily contested event with approximately 100 students each Friday ready to play ball!

Students competed in different year levels and groups, ranging from a Year 7 court through to a Year 12 court, a girl’s court and a teacher’s court. They put their house colour sashes on at the start of lunchtime and ready to fight for the title of ‘Handball Champion’ for each round of 5 minutes. It was so wonderful to see the students strategically working together, supporting each other and yelling out positive encouragement for their House!

Leading up until the last round and at the top of the leader board…. Karle was out in front of Francis, Bilin Bilin and then Barnes…. The last round was an exciting battle with many new champions at the end of each 5-minute round. The final standings for our 2019 Inter house Handball competition saw FRANCIS take out the overall win!

At the time of writing this, all houses were preparing and frocking up in their best ‘Hawaiian’ outfits for our 2020 swimming carnival. A change of venue to the Sleeman Centre has been met with anticipated excitement and fuelling fierce house competition. May the best house win!

Another exciting project this term has been our partnership with the Hyperdome in supporting the Lighthouse Organisation with their Christmas Hamper appeal. As a school-wide initiative, each House Care Group has worked collaboratively in collecting items to form a hamper. What a response we had! We would like to congratulate all staff and students who made contributions to this very worthy cause in supporting and building positive relations with our community. These will be donated to the Lighthouse Organisation who will then distribute them to those in need.

All the Heads of House would like to express our thanks for your positive engagement with us in the support of your children. We look forward to continuing on this journey with you into 2020.

Vocational Education

December School Holiday Program | Auto Camp | 11-13 Dec 2019

Opportunities and Vacancies

Access to School Based Traineeships / Apprenticeships, TAFE courses and work experience for Vocational Students in Year 10, 11 and 12 is subject to the Traffic Light System.

The school reserves the right to refuse participation in an activity if any of the criteria falls within the Red Zone. The Student will be given a period of time (evaluated on a case-by-case basis) to adjust the criteria into the Amber or Green Zone.

Please access the Shailer High website for current opportunities and vacancies, including apprenticeships, traineeships, TAFE trades and courses. Visit our Vocational Education page for further information and vacancies.

Assistance is available. Please contact our Industry Liaison Officer, Ms Annette Lee in F5, on 3451 2782 or alee296@eq.edu.au

A message from the Business Manager

Student Resource Scheme 2020

Please note a $20 early bird discount for invoices paid in full before 14 February 2020.

Introducing Qkr

Business Manager

Messages from our Parents and Citizens

Meetings

Thank you to all our P&C community that helped Shailer Park High School support students in 2019.

Thank you to all those who attended our November Meeting. Our executive team can be contacted via email pandc@shailerparkshs.eq.edu.au.

Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month. Our first meeting next year is Tuesday 18 February 2020, at 6pm in the common room. We welcome all new members. Please go to the P&C section of our School website for more information.

Below is our membership form and 2020 meeting dates for your calendar.

18 February
17 March
21 April
19 May
16 June
21 July
18 August
15 September
20 October
17 November

Sumaya Lane
P&C President

Announcements

Bad Apple Hair

Thank you to Bad Apple Hair who opened on their day off to give the Ponytail Project students fresh new cuts!

Support a local business who supported us:

3209 9911 or badapplehair@hotmail.com

QATSIF QCE Scholarship recipient

Congratulations to Benjamin, our Round 11 QATSIF (Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation) QCE Scholarship recipient. We wish Benjamin and his family all the best for his senior years.

For further details about QATSIF visit this website:

Host Families Needed