1 April 2019

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

CENTENARY

Bookings now available for our Centenary events through Rockhampton Tickets!

• Sat 8 June – Old Boys Football starting at 2pm
• Sat 8 June – Celebration Evening & Book Launch Brown and Blue Rockhampton Leagues Club 7pm – 11pm
• Sun 9 June – Centenary Open Day 9.30 – 11.30 and BBQ Lunch 11.30
• Sat 6 July - Race Day at Callaghan Park 11.30 – 5pm

Further details about each event is below.

If you would like a memento, please bring cash as some school merchandise will be available for purchase at the school office or at these events. This includes a copy of the Centenary Cookbook ($20) written by Jan Plumb.

Rockhampton State High School History

Centenary celebrations must always include a history of the school.

We have been especially fortunate to have Dr Barbara Webster, a former senior lecturer in History at Central Queensland University and a past Rockhampton State High School student (Barbara Cole, 1964-67) undertake the writing of a narrative history of the school, “Brown and Blue: A Centenary History of Rockhampton State High School”.

Donations

Payments can be made to the school’s Parents and Citizen’s Association as detailed below. Any surplus amount will remain with the P&C for investment in school projects. Individuals or companies contributing $100 or more before 26 April 2019 will be acknowledged by name in ‘Brown and Blue: A Centenary History of Rockhampton State High School’ . Alternatively tax deductible donations ($2 or more) may be made on the SchoolsPlus website:

Thank you for your valued support of Rockhampton State High School’s Centenary Events

• Cheque enclosed – Please make cheque payable to “RSHS Parents and Citizens’ Association”

• Payment by Direct Credit - BSB: 064-710 Account Number: 00902672

ROCKHAMPTON STATE HIGH SCHOOL CENTENARY EVENTS

Important Dates

Rockhampton State High School Expo for Year 7 in 2020

You and your family are invited to the Rockhampton State High School Expo on Saturday, May 11 from 2.00pm to 4.00pm.

The purpose of the Expo is to provide:

• a snapshot of the school’s facilities, curriculum and policies through an information session and organised tours of the school
• an opportunity to meet with staff and students to discuss the year 7 program and the many educational and vocational pathways after year 7
• the 2020 enrolment package to parents as well as enrolment interview times with staff members. We will be having interviews for the enrolments on Tuesday 23 July, 2019 starting from 3.00pm to 5.45pm.

The Expo will commence with short presentations from staff and students in the Assembly Hall at 2.00pm. This will be followed by an opportunity to tour the school and visit a number of informative interesting and entertaining exhibitions.

If you are unable to come to the Expo please ring the school for more information on how to make an enrolment interview for Tuesday 23 July 2019.

School Captain Recognised for Business and Leadership Skills

School Captain, Kate Coleman, was recently nominated for a Central Queensland Women in Business Award. Kate was nominated in the category of “Empowering Young Women” for her extensive work in her family’s sweet potato farming business as well as the school community.

After a short listing and panel judging process, Kate was presented with an Awardee of Merit Certificate at a gala reception at the Gladstone Convention Centre on Friday 22 March. This event highlighted the efforts, talents and successes of Central Queensland's leading businesswomen and community volunteers. Along with her Certificate, Kate also received prizes including a voucher for an "Empowering Young Women's Lead and Learn Series Program" delivered by CQ University to assist her in her career development and leadership skills.

All nominees for the award showed great leadership potential and made significant contributions to their school and community. This was a valuable experience for Kate and wonderful that she was recognised for her hard work in and out of school. We wish her all the best for the future.

Trudy Crow
HOD – Senior Schooling

Year 12 Visual Arts in Practice

The Year 12 VAP students have been hard at work making beautiful lino prints. Students were asked to design and make an edition of two or three colour prints, based on the subject of mandalas. These prints will be on display at the school Expo in May this year. We hope to see everyone at our art exhibition.

Cindy Mills
HOD - The Arts

11 Visual Arts in Practice Art Gallery Excursion

On Friday February 6th, Miss Vernon’s Year 11 Visual Arts in Practice students attended the Rockhampton Art Gallery’s Unearthed: Ceramics from the Collection exhibition.

Students were able to view a great number of ceramic pieces from the RAG collection created by local artists and those from various other parts of the globe. This experience has provided these students with a greater understanding of the place of ceramics, both functional and decorative, within society and culture. It has also given students inspiration for their own artworks. Students in this class are almost finished making their own ceramic cultural vessel as part of their assessment this term. Students may draw upon their own heritage in the design of this piece and/or they may explore a culture/s that interests them.

Year 11 VAP work in progress. These pots are drying out and will soon be bisque fired. They will then be painted and glazed and will be on display, along with many others, at our school Expo on Saturday 11 May.

Cindy Mills
HOD - The Arts

Inter House Cross Country - 2019

The annual inter house Cross Country carnival is being held during session 2 (from 10.10am) on Friday of week 10, April 5th, 2019. Students must return a permission form prior to leaving school grounds and competing in the event. All students are encouraged to participate, however it will be predominantly run as a trial for the Interschool Event that runs early next term. Students are encouraged to change into their house colours at first lunch for the event. The distances for each age group are as follows:

• Boys and girls born in 2007 & 2006 (12 & 13 years) – 3km
• Boys and girls born in 2005 & 2004 (14 & 15 years) – 4km
• Girls born in 2003 & 2002+ (16 years & opens) – 4km
• Boys born in 2003 & 2002+ (16 years & opens) – 6km

Will the Phillip Tigers be strong enough to back up their 2018 solo carnival victory, or will the mighty Wentworth Dragons take a clean sweep of the carnivals as they threatened to do last year? You’ll have to run and support your house and find out on the last day of term…

Damien Kelso
HOD - Health and Physical Education and Sport

Queensland Youth Week 2019 (3-14 April)

Rockhampton State High School Senior mentors, Phoebe Sutton, Jordan Barnett, Kayne Duncan, Emily Bolton, Macie Barker and Hannah North along with SBYHN Loretta Green preparing some of the resources and activities that will be delivered during Queensland Youth Week 2019 (3-14 April)

Loretta’s grant application to the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, supported by the Rockhampton State High School P & C, was successfully approved to deliver an event titled – “Send it… Mindfully, Kind fully, Lawfully Exhibition. This event will help raise awareness throughout the Rockhampton State High school community in regard to issues important to young people such as their health, education and employment opportunities. Digital footprints and reputations can have a lasting effect on student’s physical and mental health, their learning experiences and even their employment opportunities.

Students at Rockhampton State High School will design and create paper planes with cyber safety messages and send them at a lunchtime event which will celebrate the beginning of Youth week along with the last week of term 1.

For more information in supporting your teenager manage their digital footprint visit the following websites:

Lunchtime Legends

Lunchtime Legends has continued through the term with year 7 students getting involved in a vast range of activities, during their lunch breaks.

In the past month students have played traditional sports of AFL, Cricket, Table Tennis, and Oz-Tag, as well as tried some Science challenges, Sock Hockey, Karoke, drumming, and Art Activities.

The term will finish up with a handball competition between form classes, held during the last week.

The activities have supported our year 7 students, in a structured, fun environment, as they make the tradition to high school.

Heath Henwood
HOD Pedagogy and Home Economics

Queensland Virtual STEM Academy at Central Queensland

Hosted by Rockhampton State High School

With the goal of connecting students through innovative STEM programs in 2019, the QVSA in CQ has started the year off with a large number of new schools, new students, and schools who were a part of the QVSA at CQ in the Trial Pilot in 2018. Currently there are 92 students enrolled from 34 schools, from Years 5 to 9. This includes 14 rural and remote schools from around the Central Queensland region.

Round 1 of the Queensland Virtual STEM Academy programs, delivered by Rockhampton State High School, includes seven cohorts of Young Scholars.

The students are working towards completing their iSee Licences where they will learn how to navigate the many functions of the innovative platform and collaborate effectively in a virtual world. The second aspect of their program will be to complete the Scientific Skill Builder where they investigate the scientific inquiry method and use their scientific thinking skills in real world, authentic situations.

Image 1: Students from Middlemount Community School, Biloela State High School, Winton State School and Alpha State School in their first iSee Licence lesson.

Image 2: Students and staff from Clermont State High School, Winton State School, Moura State High School, Longreach State High School and Biloela State High School in their first iSee Licence lesson.

The QVSA program allows students to participate in authentic, real-world STEM-based research through connections with industry professionals and researchers from CQUniversity and around the world.

Image 3: Will Cho and Lachlan Balmain participating in their QVSA Grand Challenge – HydroInnovation

Breeha Sinnamon
QVSA Central Queensland Coordinator

On March 8, QMEA and Hastings Deering hosted a breakfast and tour in honour of International Women’s Day. Seven of our senior girls had the opportunity to experience a tour of the Hastings Deering site where staff were able to showcase the breadth of work that takes place in Rockhampton and showed how they support the resources sector through maintenance, modification and supply of Caterpillar equipment, and the girls were able to participate in the live stream of the International Women’s Day breakfast from Brisbane.

Skype a Scientist is coming to Rockhampton State High School’s EXCEL Program this term! Students in Year 7 and 8 have been linked with renowned shark scientist, Charlotte Birkmanis, who is currently studying sharks, shark behaviour and the impact of shark removal from ecosystems while based in Western Australia. The students have been compiling questions to ask Charlotte during our live link, and we are very excited about the possibilities for STEM-based collaboration from this point forward.

Breeha Sinnamon
EXCEL Coordinator

QATSIF SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Congratulations to Steven Bruce, Alyssa Ross, Tsai Dale, Jeremy Deamon, Victoria Vonhof, Maddison Clarke, Susan Walker, Madison Corino, Maddisen Smith-Birda, Maddison Tobane and Ieisha Chavette Biggs who are the recipients of the 2019 QATSIF Scholarship which is intended to assist students attain the Queensland certificate of Education.

The scholarship provides financial assistance and is funded from The Stolen Wages and administered by the Public Trustee. It enables students to participate in the full range of academic and vocational offerings and to build personal resilience and pride in culture through leadership and cultural activities.

Scholarship recipients have a minimum of 85% attendance and pass all of their subjects. They will be assisted by a Learning Support Teacher and their academic and attendance progress will be monitored on a term basis.

Alanna Waugh
Learning Support Teacher
For Indigenous Students

Principal Mrs Kirsten Dwyer presenting Alyssa Ross, Maddi Tobane and Susan Walker with their QATSIF certificates.

Senior Schooling

Year 11 – The new QCE

The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) has developed an online course to help our students understand the correct way to approach assessment. It includes advice on how to maintain academic integrity and produce their best work.

This course was based on the new QCE/QCIA Handbook, which prescribes the processes schools must follow to deal with academic misconduct. Year 11 students are now aware of the importance of academic honesty. They have completed the four-part course in their Rich Study lesson.

This course is similar to courses used by universities to promote academic integrity to their students. Teachers at Rockhampton State High School have also completed the course to assist them to apply the new policy.

For more information or to view the course content, go to the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority “My QCE” website.

Mechanics in the Making

Seventeen students at Rockhampton State High School have enrolled in VET in Schools (VETiS) courses at CQUniversity. VET is learning which is directly related to work. Nationally recognised qualifications are developed by industry to give people the knowledge and skills they need to work in a particular job. VETiS training is funded by the VET investment budget and eligible qualifications are listed on the Priority Skills List. This list contains qualifications that will assist young people to find work in skill shortage areas.

Year 11 students Summer Irons, Tia McGowan, Brendan Sinnott and Liam Coughlan spend one day per week at the CQUniversity - Canning Street campus expanding their knowledge of the workings of a motor vehicle. They are completing Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation. This course provides a mechanical pathway that provides an introduction to the automotive fields of heavy vehicles (diesel fitting), light vehicles and auto-electrical. They are completing the theory and practical components of this qualification – getting hands on experience while they learn.

For more information on VETiS courses, please contact Alana Knight in the FEET First Program office on 49204391 or aknig170@eq.edu.au.

Students Experience University Life

Year 12 students got a taste of student life during CQUniversity Experience held at the North Rockhampton campus on 8 March.

The one-day event included lectures and interactive activities in study areas chosen by the students to allow them to explore areas of interest that are available at CQUniversity. Students also spoke directly with current students and staff about study options.

A highlight of the day was a campus tour and meeting students from other secondary schools in the area.

CQUniversity will visit Rockhampton State High School in Term 2 to deliver their CQUni Connect Program to Year 11 and 12 students. This program contains aspiration-building and career-focused content and is run by current CQUniversity degree students. For more information, please contact the Senior Schooling office.

Mrs Trudy Crow
HOD – Senior Schooling

Our Past

In 1958 Rockhampton High’s long-awaited move from the city centre to suburban Wandal was finally given the green light. But with the announcement of building plans came an unexpected surprise. The new school was to be given a new name – Capricornia State High School. Reaction to the proposed change was swift. Opposition was led by the RHS Old Boys’ Association. The local MP, Mick Gardner (QLP Rockhampton ), raised the issue in Parliament and the City Council, led by Old Boy Rex Pilbeam, also voiced its opposition. After a sustained campaign to reverse the decision, Education Minister Jack Pizzey announced in January 1959 that the new school would retain the old name.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY BREAKFAST

International Women’s Day is an important date on the calendar at RSHS and this year it was celebrated by five Rockhampton State High School students who were lucky enough to be included in a Breakfast hosted by My State Bank on the 5th of March at Headricks Lane.

The students were invited by Prue Saxby of Indigo Gold –who is also an Alumni of Rockhampton State High School. The guest speaker at the event was six time world surfing champion Layne Beachley. Layne gave and inspiring speech about how she rose to the top of her field though hard work, determination and making sure you surround yourself with positive influences. All of our student were extremely impressed with Layne and her message and were able to express ways they could use Layne’s message in their own lives. They were also fortunate to have the opportunity to talk with lane one on one. Once again our thanks go out to Prue Saxby of Indigo Gold for this wonderful opportunity for our students.

Penny Peers
Youth Support Co-Ordinator

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