13 November 2015

Newsletter Articles

REMINDER P & C Meeting - 24 November at 6.00pm in Administration Block All are welcome

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

What an incredible presentation was the Showcase performance held at the KP Centre on Friday 06 November! The array of talent on show, ranging from dancers to musicians and vocalists was quite extraordinary. The performances are the end result of a great deal of hard work over many years and are a credit to all of the students and staff involved. The professional presentation of the whole evening was a visible demonstration of the constantly improving standards that we, as a school, are striving to achieve. I would like to congratulate all students and staff members involved in putting together this wonderful night of entertainment. I would like to also pay a special tribute to our year 12 performers, most of whom have been part of our performance evenings since year 8, for their incredible contribution to the performing arts at Shailer Park High over many years.

As this newsletter goes to print, we are in the process of working through the processes that farewell and celebrate our year 12 students. The seniors of 2016 have been a standout group at Shailer Park High and possess a wonderful "team" spirit. There are, amongst this group, many talented students in academic, sporting, cultural and work-based pursuits. The 2016 seniors have been very well-led by the elected student leadership, and have well-and-truly embodied our motto – "achieve with dignity." I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our year 12s on the dignified and mature way they have conducted themselves, and on their many achievements. As a school community we can be very proud of our seniors as they embark on the exciting next phase of their lives!

With our seniors in their final weeks, our awards ceremonies, including music and academic awards, as well as senior graduation, are in full swing. Congratulations go out to all award winners who have worked hard to achieve well and lay a platform for their future success. It is very rewarding to see the students who have set benchmarks within the school acknowledged and celebrated. All students who receive awards deserve to be very proud of their achievements.

This is also a time when we can cast a vision into 2016 and explain some key points for parents as our school's re-emergence continues with renewed energy and determination. Key messages for 2016 include:

• The belief that every school minute matters. Students are expected to be fully engaged in all lessons at all times. 100% attendance is the goal of our school!
• Our uniform is an important symbol of who we are as a school and is to be worn correctly. Black, leather, lace-up shoes are a must! All students will be in formal uniforms on Friday.
• Shailer Park High is a homework school. In coming to Shailer Park High, students and parents understand that weekly homework must be completed.
• Bookwork is expected to be kept in a neat and tidy manner, with dates in margins, headings underlined and finished work ruled off. Parents can check bookwork from home.
• We are a supportive and inclusive school, where each student is considered valuable and where the success of all students is our stated goal.

Troy Ascott
Principal

HEAD OF YEAR 11

All students are now very busy completing their final pieces of assessment and exams across all subject areas. Students should be working to their very best in order to achieve their desired outcomes, this will prepare them for what will be a very busy final year of schooling.

Orders for Senior Jackets/Jerseys have now closed. Students will receive these by week four, term one in 2016.

Finally, I would like to congratulate all students receiving academic awards. This is testament to their sustained and continued path to excellence.

Ernst and Young are a very large business corporation in the city who work with the ABCN network to provide real life experiences and opportunities to students. Shailer Park has had the pleasure of working with them for a number of years now. Recently, twenty year ten students completed their four week program, below is a wrap up of their experiences written by one of the students.

Ernst and Young: Overview of the Experience

The Ernst and Young program was a fantastic experience. Our class thoroughly enjoyed working and learning from our mentors' experiences. We learnt several employment skills which will certainly benefit us in the future for our careers and job interviews. Our group particularly enjoyed working together as a team in activities and building a relationship with our mentors. At first, the majority of us students felt as though it would be boring however, it was an enjoyable experience and it was very engaging. Without a doubt, the information gathered will certainly help us in the world and benefit us in pursuing our careers. The program benefited everyone by boosting our confidence and positivity. Overall, the Ernst and Young program was an amazing opportunity and has had a positive impact on all who attended.

Tegan Frei

HEAD OF YEARS 9 &10

Years 9 & 10

Term 4 is in full swing and school is well and truly back to business. It is about this time however that some of our students become more focused on the end goal – the Christmas holidays, and less on the task at hand – keeping on top of assessment and wearing the correct uniform each and every day.

Although the end of the year is in sight, our expectations haven't changed. Students need to arrive on time, and be in attendance each day. Students also need to make sure they are adhering to the school's Uniform Policy. Parents and students are reminded that facial piercings are not permitted. This facet of our Uniform Policy is just as important as wearing the correct socks and shoes.

Year 9

Shortly invitations will be sent home to students who have displayed exemplary behaviour and attendance across the year to attend our annual Wet n Wild excursion. Only students who receive an invitation will be able attend. This is a great way to reward students for their dedication to learning and upholding the school's expectations.

All year 9 students are expected to be at school every day until the end of Week 10 – 11th December 2015.

Year 10

Year 10 students are coming into a very challenging and rewarding time of the year as they start to finalise all their assessment for the year. It is imperative that students stay focused and continue to give 100% in order to achieve the best possible results.

All year 10 students are expected to be at school every day until the end of Week 8 – 27th November 2015.

Melissa Pilcher
Head of Year 9 & 10

HEAD OF YEARS 7 & 8

Junior Secondary Leadership Camp

Congratulations to our students who attended the Leadership camp at Kindilan. They participated in various individual and team challenges which required them to step out of their comfort zones and overcome numerous obstacles and challenges. The students soon realised that they could achieve unparalleled success by supporting each other. It was fabulous to see them collaborating with each other to make more informed decisions, with the Year 9's taking a lead, mentoring, encouraging and nurturing the Year 7's and 8's. The carefully selected activities, roles and jobs helped create a cohesive unit. The students showed remarkable team spirit and resilience.

The staff at Kindilan could not speak highly enough about our students, their exceptional behaviour, respectful manner and their ability to work together irrespective of their differences. Mr Jovel and I could not be more proud of the way the students conducted themselves over the two days, representing Shailer Park State High School in the highest regard.

CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

If you missed "Showcase" you have missed the event of the year! The Audience was enthralled last Friday at this show that celebrated the talents of Shailer High's Dance Squads, Instrumental Musicians, and also a Pianist, our Vocal Group, several young vocalists and the Shailerettes. Teachers: Shae Westerveld, Dianne Alley and Glen Court have to be commended for their dedication and immense effort that they put into preparing the students. Organiser extraordinaire, Shae Westerveld produced a show that left the audience raving. The entire "Creative industry" staff also need to be acknowledged for their continued support of this annual event.

Art in November

Clay work is the word of the month in the Visual Arts with Years 7 and 8 students working on relief tiles, the Year 9 students changing their symmetrical traditional form into an asymmetrical contemporary sculptural object and Year 10 students modelling "infamous" character busts. The images below capture students working on their clay busts.

On Wednesday all instrumental music students are to be at the KP Centre again at 9.00 am. The day will be spent rehearsing for the event, ensuring a smooth flowing program.

The Music Awards night was different this year as it was held at KP Centre in order to ensure a smooth flowing program the awards were announced and presented off stage. The focus this year was on the musical performances and entertainment the audience.

The year is almost over, only a few gigs to go…..dates to come are-

Friday Nov 13 – The String Quintet will be playing at year 12 formal at Dream World
Tuesday Nov 17 – The audience will have the pleasure of hearing all groups perform at our Academic Awards at the KP Centre.
Wednesday Nov 18 – All groups will participate at the Loganholme Twilight Concert. 6.00 pm for 6.30 pm start.
Wednesday Dec 2 – The Jazz Day of Excellence will be held at SPSHS

HUMANITIES/JUNIOR SCHOOLING

HUMANITIES
SPECIFICALLY SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY STUDIES

In the coming weeks we will be farewelling our year 12 graduates, who are the first cohort to finish two years of studying, Social and Community Studies. This subject has prepared students to be active and informed local, national and global citizens. Our dedicated team of teachers, including the wonderful Mrs Trish Scott Head of year 11 Social, encourage students to care about the world they live in, to fulfil their civic responsibilities and to be financially responsible members of society.

Social Science subjects are vital in developing students' research and problem-solving skills. Students conduct research using online databases, websites, journals and library resources. They learn how to present their findings in a variety of genres, from written reports to essays to video clips. Students learn through group work, independent learning and interpretation of a wide range of written and visual sources, including newspaper articles, cartoons, graphs and maps. Social Science subjects prepare students to take an active and informed role in society.

Knowing our place in the world is fundamental. Our year 12's leave us with the skills needed to solve problems and communicate their understanding about the ever-changing world around them.

Congratulations, Year 12 A&B Social and Community Studies Students!

Mrs Shelli Dunbabin

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY/SENIOR SCHOOLING

The last term of 2015 has seen year 10 Information Communication Technology students creating interactive games using Game Maker Studio. Their games have a variety of themes and can be operated using a mouse or keyboard controls. Complex problem solving and programming skills have been demonstrated by the students in these projects. They have also maintained product documentation and conducted beta testing of their games to gather data for making improvements.

In their final assessment for the course, Year 12 Information Technology Systems students have created digital portfolios to demonstrate their broad range of IT knowledge and skills. They have been ably instructed by Pre-Service teacher, Mr Light, and have used Adobe Acrobat Pro to construct their portfolios, as the final product will not only be portable but works across platforms and on a range of different devices.

P & C NEWS

World Teachers and Support Staff Day

On 28th October the P&C celebrated this day by putting on a Morning Tea for the Teachers and Support Staff of the school. The Executive and Members of the P&C want all of our School's Teachers and Support Staff to know how much they are appreciated and valued for their work, dedication, commitment, patience and humour. The Morning Tea was well attended and all enjoyed a huge cake, some nibbles and a chance to connect and celebrate.

Our first fundraiser for a while

The P&C decided to run a short but sweet Cookie Dough Fundraiser through our Junior Secondary students. There's 10 different types of Cookie Dough you can order in 1kg tubs and you simply defrost scoop and bake yourself, filling your home with the delicious smells of freshly baked Cookies. The dough can be refrozen 3 -4 times. There are types to suit all tastes, including a Gluten Free one, Gingerbread and Shortbread (including decorative cutters) for Xmas and even a Doggie Dough for your well-loved pooch! The fundraiser is in its' final week with orders and monies due back by Friday 13th November. Orders will be available for pick up from 2:00pm - 4:30pm on Wednesday 2nd December. These Cookies are delicious so if you haven't already, get your order in. If you don't know someone in Junior Secondary, please contact Annette Lee, P&C Secretary on PandC_Secretary@shaiparkshs.eq.edu.au

Last P&C Meeting for 2015

Our last meeting is to be held at 6:00pm on Tuesday 24th November in the Staff Common Room at the School. All are welcome, please come along and join in.

Andrew Huggins
Chairperson, Music Support Group
andrew.huggins@bigpond.com

Jo Quelch
P & C Assn President

Practical Technology & Business

Certificate 1 in Furnishings students have been busy learning picture framing this Term. They have studied real world procedures, tools and techniques currently used by industry to produce items of quality. The picture framing competencies which form the Elective part of the Certificate are used to develop skills and knowledge in basic framing and furnishing techniques. They include a variety of employment-related skills including participation skills, broad-based induction skills and specific workplace skills. As part of working in a simulated work environment students also develop communication and teamwork skills as they work as a group to organise tasks, schedule duties, share equipment and knowledge to complete their tasks and demonstrate their ability.

John Ahrens
Head of Department

SCIENCE

On the 30th of October, the Science Ambassadors hosted our Spooky Science Day at school. All Ambassadors put a lot of time and effort into this event and the outcome was a huge success where we all had a fantastic time.

Throughout the day we had junior classes come and check out "Halloween and Christmas Town" before entering our darkened Year 12 "Torture Room, Sally's Lab and Oogie Boogie Lair". Upon completion, some students had the opportunity to make slime in the "Recovery Room". Seniors and staff had VIP access at lunchtimes so everybody had a chance to participate.

As a Year 12 Science Ambassador, I was super proud not only to see all the Junior and Senior Science Ambassadors come together to make props but seeing it all take form into such an unforgettable event. We had such a great time both preparing and participating on the day. I would like to thank Ms Ali, Annette, Deb, Mr Pirie and the rest of the Science Department for assisting us throughout the year in the Science Ambassador Program and in our Science classes in general.

Charlotte
Yr 12 Senior Science Ambassador

SCHOOL-BASED YOUTH HEALTH NURSE

A Dramatic Simulation for the Year 12's

"Around 40 percent of deaths in teenagers and young adults aged between 15-25 years in Queensland are caused by road crashes," says a RACQ representative. (http://www.themotorreport.com.au/58582/racq-docudrama-program-aims-to-reduce-road-trauma-for-young-drivers)

At Shailer Park SHS on October 30th a mock car crash scene was witnessed by our Year 12's with 3 of the talented drama students Brigitte Ferguson, Mane Kiwikiwi and Adrian Day acting out the scene. As we walked to a scene behind the tuckshop we saw a car smashed into a tree with 2 bloodied young men unconscious in the car and a young woman lying on the ground with bleeding head wounds from going through the windscreen as she had not worn a seat belt. It was emotionally driven with the sound of the song "Hallelujah" in the background as the scene was played out. There is this time at the crash where the survivors are confused, distressed and alone until the emergency services came which seemed to such a long time.

An ambulance and 2 officers, the local police from Loganlea station and a gentleman from metropolitan funerals were attending to the crash and they simulated how a crash site would be managed when a person passes away. There was also realistic fighting between the boyfriend of the girl that died and the driver who that they barely knew that was fatigued from working back to back shifts, did not make sure the girl had her seatbelt on, had been drinking, was speeding, using a mobile phone at the time. The men were separated by the police and later the driver was charged.

The RACQ education officers then led a debrief about the circumstances leading up to the collision. They highlighted the top 5 reasons for accidents, speed, no seatbelts, fatigue, alcohol or other drugs, distraction with mobile phones. Other issues discussed were having a designated driver, a 'Deso' that is not drinking, to take everyone home and the dangers of accepting lifts from questionable drivers. They warned the students accepting a lift from someone they don't know when the 'Deso' becomes a 'Dero' and has been drinking is unsafe and is not the only solution when they could call a parent or another responsible adult to take them home. Crashing at the party was deemed OK but showed that there was no forward planning. Having enough money set aside or using a key card for a taxi is another great strategy.

The students were then asked to vote anonymously on how they would react in a range of scenarios. This voting exercise allowed the students to see that other young people do not have the same opinion and experiences as themselves. If the students got lots of 'red flags' in this exercise they were encouraged to rethink some of their strategies when going out and partying. But if they got lots of OK green flags than that may indicate that they may not speak up for themselves and end up a victim like Katie in our Docudrama.

Our students were told that they could use strategies such as pretending they are going to be sick in the car to make someone slow down and even to ring the Police if lives are at risk. Most young people found they could not live without their mobile phone and even taking their eyes off the road for a second was so dangerous as they use so many parts of their brains just to drive when they first start to drive and this added complex action makes for a dangerous cause of many car accidents.

There was so much great information. They told the students that being up to 2 – 3 am in the morning is like driving drunk to 0.15 even if not drinking due to fatigue. The hands free is illegal and even having the phone on a seat or near them may make the police suspicious that they have been distracted by it. The latest advertisement on TV addresses this issue and it is a poignant reminder for all of us.

The session ended with a card given to the students asking them to go home and discuss a safe getting home plan with their parents and carers that they can sign and put on the fridge. This contract will outline that they can phone a parent or another designated person anytime of a night if they find themselves in a situation where they cannot get safely home.

The docudrama is ongoing education given to the students through their curriculum on safe driving and responsible use of alcohol and with many of them now on L and P plates we are happy to be working in partnerships with families to ensure these fantastic young people survive these years when socialising and driving is at its peak.

Understanding Eating Disorders?

Some months back we were surprised to see Springwood as a suburb listed in a newspaper to have a higher incidence of eating disorders so we thought that the community may be interested in understanding this illness.

Body Image

Different to an eating disorder, body image is how you perceive, think and feel about your body. 1 in 5 women are dissatisfied with their body weight. A distorted body image can lead to self-destructive behaviour, like dieting or binge eating. There is a lot of pressure, not just for girls but for boys too, to strive for the "ideal image. The advertising industry promotes the idea that we are incomplete and need to purchase a product to be happy. Another influence is the arrival of the digital age, and the general acceptance of social media has increased the amount of 'selfies' being published. How you look and what you are doing is documented online continually. 'Body bullying' is also increasing and has become more harmful, particularly in the new realm of cyber bullying. (http://eda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/EDA-Understanding-Eating-Disorders-1MB.pdf)

What can a parent do?

One way a parent can address poor body image is constantly remind young people that they have strengths, talents and values that are not focused on the physical appearance. Try not to moralise about food, declaring it is 'good' or 'bad', which manifests us judging ourselves on what we eat. It is better to role model eating a healthy balance daily intake with inclusion of less healthy foods sometimes and moderate exercise or sport. It is good to educate our young people on what nutrients are required for a growing adolescent and role of each food group. For example calcium is important to lay down denser bones for later in life to prevent osteoporosis, so young people need 3-4 serves of milk products or alternatives with calcium per day. Also many young people need to know they will continue to grow and put on weight until they are 18 years of age or more.

So what is an eating disorder?

Signs:

• If a young person becomes preoccupied with eating, food, body shape and weight.
• They are feeling anxious and/or irritable around meal times.
• There is an intense fear of gaining weight and refusal to maintain a normal body weight for the person's age and height.
• Slowing down of thinking and an increased difficulty concentrating or rigid thoughts.

Along with:

• rapid weight loss or frequent changes in weight;
• fainting or dizziness;
• feeling cold most of the time, even in warm weather (caused by poor circulation);
• feeling tired, lethargic and not sleeping.

Eating disorders can have serious effects on all aspects of a person's life — physical, emotional and social. They are often very private and hidden problems, coupled with shame, which can exist for a long time before they are recognised; particularly when the early warning signs are similar to the restrictive fad dieting that is so commonplace in western culture. They often coexist with other mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia, mood disorders and obsessive compulsive disorders. ( http://eda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/EDA-Understanding-Eating-Disorders-1MB.pdf )

As a parent or carer it is difficult to move past the thought "Why don't they just eat and things would be better?" but the eating is only a small symptom of these mental health issues and the serious health effects can be overlooked. Getting help early is the best advice. Seeing a doctor the first step to out rule thyroid or endocrine issues and to do a mental health assessment. Ask for a long consult. Further treatment would then be advised with a Psychologist or a Psychiatrist to ensure recovery is quicker. Getting a Mental Health Plan or a Better Health Outcome Plan from your doctor will help these to be more manageable. Headspace and Child and Youth Mental Health Services are free services that you can access.

The Eating Disorder Association is a great place to support families and young people struggling with an eating disorder. It is not a treatment centre but runs support groups and courses for families that are doing this long journey with a family member. There are still places free in the May, June 6 week course for carers and families affected by an eating disorder.

Treatment can involve a range of strategies such as education about nutrition and what different foods do in the growing body; relaxation strategies; journaling; counselling; recovery groups; throwing away the scales; a gratitude and positivity diary; letting go of perfectionism; visualising being well; distractions; having fun and connecting with others; managing difficult emotions; eating regularly and slowly and increasing 'safe' food list slowly; and positive body image and holistic health.

There are lots of supports. If you have a young person with an eating disorder and you cannot get your young person to one, you can go and talk to someone and get the support you need.

Supports:

CYMHS 3290 0500
Headspace 3804 4200
The Eating Disorder Association 3394 3661
Isis 3848 3377
The Butterfly Foundation 1800 33 4673
Zig Zag 3843 1823

Good Health – Michelle the school based youth health nurse

Schoolies

Schoolies is nearly upon us and many young people, most under 18, will be converging on beachside locations (Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Stradbroke Island) to let their hair down and celebrate the end of their schooling years.

The experience of schoolies is different for everyone. For many it is a memorable experience for all the right reasons. For some those memories are not pleasant and may be associated with regret, embarrassment and guilt. Unfortunately for some teenagers and their families and friends, schoolies can mean being a victim of a crime, being arrested for illegal behaviour and may even mean death.

Part of the culture of schoolies in Australia is drinking alcohol - often binge drinking and/or drinking every day for the duration of schoolies. There will be a lot of pressure on parents from their son/daughter and possibly other parents to supply alcohol to their teenagers for reasons of cost as well as them not legally being able to get it themselves. An argument used by teenagers to sway their parents into allowing and supplying their alcohol for schoolies is that "It is better that you know how much we are having and what we are having".

What we know –

• When alcohol is consumed by young people, the risk of sexual assault (and the consequences from this including unwanted pregnancy and STIs as well as the emotional and psychological trauma), accidental injuries (falls), MVAs, and being a victim or perpetrator of violence, increases.
• The damage to the developing brain from alcohol is now widely recognised. The brain does not fully develop until early to mid-20s.
• It is illegal to supply alcohol to a person under the age of 18 unless it is in a private home and a responsible adult is supervising. If you get caught providing alcohol to your underage child for consumption in an unsupervised environment, you will face penalties of up to $9108.

If you supply your teenager with alcohol you are putting them at risk. You are condoning their drinking and you are breaking the law.

Meet with other parents who your son/daughter is staying with to have a united stance on your position on alcohol use. If you do allow your son/daughter to drink ensure they are aware of risks, limits, drink spiking, and the law.

Schoolies puts all young people who attend at risk by the very nature of the event. An unfamiliar place, a lot of young people in one area, very low adult to teenager ratio, alcohol use, high drug use, and an infiltration of 'toolies'.

While the opportunity to be with friends, taking responsibility for accommodation, feeding themselves, and negotiating transport et. are all great skills for young people and developmentally appropriate, please consider that the circumstances are unusual and a lot of maturity and common sense will be necessary.

• Develop a safety plan with them when certain things go wrong and who to call.
• Be prepared to be rung at any hour of the day and night and communicate this to your son/daughter in case they are in trouble.
• Be prepared to pick them up early if they feel unsafe or are just not enjoying their time

Red Frogs volunteers will be on-hand to assist and can be contacted 24/7 during Schoolies on 1300 557 123.

Check out the Queensland Government schoolies website for detailed information on safety plans, activities and events, contact numbers, identification bands, and volunteers. http://www.schoolies.qld.gov.au/schoolies/

Good Health Michelle the School Nurse

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Dear Families

Our School has entered into a partnership with The School Locker, who retails school uniforms, technology, footwear, stationery, sport and musical equipment.

As part of this partnership, all Students are issued with a Student Advantage Card, which when presented with any purchase at the School Locker (in-store or online) generates loyalty reward points for our School.

Card holders are also eligible for discounts and student pricing on certain products.

These points are given back to us each month in the form of a rebate, which can be used towards school projects.

So please remember, when shopping at The School Locker to present your Student Advantage Card so as to build-up our reward points.

If you forget to take the card, just let the sales staff know, as points can be added manually.

Any student, who has not yet received their Student Advantage Card, can do so from the main office, during school hours.