13 December 2016

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

What a terrific year we have had! At Rockhampton State High School, we have achieved major successes in 2016, for example in the following:

• Introduced Science Technology, Engineering Maths (STEM) Excellence classes introduced in Year 7 & 8 for 2017.
• School of Excellence in Creative Writing further developed
• New student Wellness Program developed for implementation in 2017
• Community mentor program with our past student alumni (Go Get ‘Em) initiated for Year 12s in 2017.

• Implementing stage 3 of our outdoor gallery and a further $120,000 in grounds improvements.
• Very positive VET and QCE performance; 96% of all students received a QCE, 91% of Year 12 sitting the QCS this year passed, while 50% of students received and A or B.

During the year our students have achieved notable successes in public speaking, performances, citizenship activities, academic competitions and sports. We are very proud of their achievements, which are too numerous to mention here.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our extremely hard-working staff for their time and commitment to our students, and to congratulate all our deserving students on their accomplishments 2016.

On behalf of our school community, I would like to wish students, their families, our supporters and our staff a safe, fun and relaxing end to the year!

Best wishes

Kirsten Dwyer
Principal

Important Dates

School Leaders for 2017 are as follows

School Captains: Sasha Dobbs and Lachlan Peterson
School Vice Captains: Jesse Burkhardt, Jess Beanland, Ashlee Jaques, Josephine Carroll and Thomas Byrne (there was a tie)
Music Captains: Ashlee Jaques and Josephine Carroll
Indigenous Leaders: Tennachiah Richards and Jimmy Smith
Cook Captains: Mariah Bramham and Caitlyn Bellamy
Griffith Captains: Jameson Hawe and Simon Hope
Phillip Captains: Michelle Noonan and Monique McLeod
Wentworth Captains: Latisha Willie and Jimmy Smith

School Uniform Shop

Our Uniform Shop will also be open the last week of the January school holidays for 2017 BACK-TO-SCHOOL trading as follows –

UNIFORM SHOP – PRICE LIST

UNISEX

Polo Shirt - $30.00
Shorts - $25.00
Hat - $10.00
School Socks - $7.00
Winter spray jacket - $55.00
Pullover Jumper - $55.00
Matching Track Pants - $30.00

Formal Uniform

Girls

Formal Blouse - $40.00
Skirt - $30.00
Tie - $10.00

Boys

Formal Shirt - $40.00
Formal long Socks - $10.00
Tie - $20.00

Wellbeing Program

Mastering Behaviour is a wellbeing program to be introduced in 2017 aimed at developing sustained and successful teacher and student relationships.

The program aims to:

• give students the tools to be able to develop and sustain personal and working relationships with peers, teachers, staff, family and other community members
• develop a common language that underpins Rockhampton State High School’s vision, values and expectations through ROCKS (Respect Opportunity Challenge Knowledge Success)
• enhance and sustain positive behaviour
• improve restorative practices of students and teachers

The Mastering Behaviour program is embedded throughout our Student Planner. This program is based on student wellbeing that develops and supports student behaviour, social and emotional development.

The key focus areas of the Mastering Behaviour Program that align with our ROCKS school values are:

Respect – having a respectful attitude to self and others
Opportunity – to enhance wellbeing
Challenge – to make the best choices
Knowledge – of safety and cyberbullying
Success – positive values have positive outcomes.

Students will undertake a weekly activity during RICH Study, based on the key focus area. This activity introduces students to a value which they can then embrace and demonstrate to enhance their relationships with peers, teachers, family and community members.

For more information please contact:

Marty Krehlik
Deputy Principal

Changes to the implementation of the new Queensland senior assessment system.

On 18 October, the Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism and Major Events, The Honourable Kate Jones, released a statement outlining the extension of 12 months to the commencement of the new senior assessment system in Queensland. Students currently in Year 8 will now be the first to move through the new system when they enter Year 11 in 2019. To prepare for the new system, Rockhampton State High School staff are currently involved in the trial of external assessment, pre-endorsed assessment and “Critical Friends” to the syllabus writing teams.

We will continue to prepare for this change and will provide updates and information as they become available.

The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority have provided information about the changes on their website including Frequently Asked Questions:

Furthermore, the Queensland Department of Education and Training have provided information on their website including a guide for parents and students:

Mrs Trudy Crow
HOD – Senior Schooling

World Science Festival Brisbane is coming to Gladstone!

The World Science Festival Brisbane is producing a regional program in Gladstone 3 – 4 March 2017 and the Queensland Museum would like to extend an invitation for you to be part of the hunt for new species of spiders.

Dr Robert Raven, Head of Terrestrial Biodiversity & Senior Curator at the Queensland Museum is a leading arachnologist and is seeking the community’s help to collect spiders using collection repositories positioned on resident’s properties in late January 2017, to catch spiders the lead up to the festival – with the hope of discovering new species that habitat the Gladstone region.

Spiders will be collected prior to the event, and identified by Dr Raven at the World Science Festival regional program in Gladstone. This project is a safe way for your students to get involved in a local science project and we invite you to share this opportunity with your school community.

Should you be interested in participating in this community project, or have any further questions about this project, please reach out to our team at the email address below.

regional@worldsciencefestival.com.au

Marty Krehlik
Deputy Principal

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