25 November 2019

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Farewell Year 12!

On 15 November Rockhampton State High school farewelled the Year 12 cohort. This cohort represents an end of an era, being the last group to start high school in year 8 and the last group to receive an OP score (also our 100th graduands!). Festivities kicked off on Wednesday 13 with the Formal held at Rockhampton Leagues club followed by the Graduation ceremony on Friday morning.

We wish all 94 students all the best as they navigate this transition from high school into the big wide world!

Chaplaincy

At our P&C meeting on 30 October we voted to once again apply for Chaplaincy services. Please find attached information regarding the provision of government funding for this program. The purpose is to assist schools to engage the services of a chaplain or student welfare worker to provide additional social, emotional and spiritual support to students.

Chaplain Damien Clements is an integral member of our school support team and provides important networks and programs for our students.

The AEA is required to provide quarterly reporting to the Department of Education which includes information on:

• schools serviced, including active schools and vacancies
• number of key personnel at each school
• hours per term the arrangement services are provided
• qualifications of key personnel.

For further information please refer to the following links or the contact details below:

• Chaplaincy and student welfare worker services
• Chaplaincy and student welfare worker services funding guidelines (DOC, 422KB).

Every Day Counts

At this time of year many families are planning for 2020. Thank you for being mindful of school holidays and ensure that your child does not miss out on schooling, whether they are in the compulsory years or ensuring completing important senior work.

I would like to wish our students every success in their final assessment for the year.

Kirsten Dwyer
Principal

Important Dates

Year 7 – 2020 Enrolments

Have you made an appointment to enrol your Year 7 2020 student?

Please contact the General office on 49204333 to make a booking as soon as possible.

Queensland Virtual STEM Academy at Central Queensland
Hosted by Rockhampton State High School

Round 3 has finished and a huge congratulations must be issued to our Rockhampton State High School Queensland Virtual STEM Academy Young Scholars for 2019:

• Janny Nguyen
• Arabela Bugna
• Will Cho
• Jared Brandon
• Lachlan Balmain
• Katrina Flesser
• Emma Daley
• Georgia Bray
• William Lawrie

Our students joined 96 other students from across our very large region and just last week presented their final ideations to our experts from CQUniversity and Rockhampton Regional Council.

Will, Lachlan and Jared innovated a solution to the problem of disease spread via mosquitoes. Katrina focused on the problem of smoking-generated disease and a way in which to reduce these in the community. Georgia was part of the Healthy Harbours and Habitats Grand Challenge and her solution focused on the importance of riverbank flora to stabilising the ecosystem while encouraging the wider community to take more responsibility for the future of natural habitats.

Emma worked as part of a team with Darlene from Bajool on creating ‘Habitat Safe Spaces’ for endangered species like the koala. Janny and Arabela were part of the Biomedical engineering course filtered out of North Queensland and presented their Grand Challenge in two separate groups with students from the Townsville region. Arabela’s group designed a ‘walking talking wheelchair’ while Janny’s invented a ‘wheel bed’ which functions a bit like a wheel chair but with the option for horizontal movement to end up like a bed.

William was part of an Arduino coding program run by QUT experts and learned to code using a new program structure with students from across the state.

We are extremely proud of the effort our students have put in to their Grand Challenges and Skill Builders this year.

Mrs Sinnamon and Mr Rutherford

Year 10 students experience the world of work

Year 10 students at Rockhampton State High School had the opportunity to participate in a week of work experience at the end of Term 3. Students undertook a variety of placements in areas such as fitness, health, building and engineering trades, retail, hospitality, child care and hairdressing.

Just one example of the benefit of the program - Jacob Price’s, placement allowed him to work alongside Stuart Higgins, specialising in decks and stairs. This gave Jacob an opportunity to experience the day to day work life as a carpenter. His daily duties included building decks and stairs, painting, concreting and using a wide variety of tools. Stuart Higgins was very impressed with Jacob’s strong work ethic and the way he would give all tasks a go. Jacob enjoyed his time working alongside Stuart and is looking forward to work experience with Stuart in the future.

Rockhampton State High School would like to thank all of the host employers for their generous support of our work experience program. The business that assisted are:

Congratulations must also go to the students who took up this opportunity. The feedback from all host employers was very positive.

For further information about work experience or if your business is able to assist our students with work experience placements please contact the FEET First Program on 49204391.

Alana Knight
FEET First Program Coordinator

Special Children’s Christmas Party

On Saturday 9 November, Rockhampton State High School students volunteered to assist with the face painting at the Special Children’s Christmas Party. Madison, Shakira, Kameryn and Caitlyn did an amazing job, transforming children into Spiderman, Batman, butterflies, tigers and even one unicorn. Thank you girls for continuing a fifteen year tradition at RSHS.

Cindy Mills
HOD - The Arts

Training and Employment Recognition Morning Tea

Rockhampton State High School recently held its annual Training and Employment Recognition Morning Tea on Friday 25 October 2019. This ceremony is an opportunity to publicly recognise the achievements of Year 12 students who have successfully combined Year 11 and 12 with a nationally recognised VET qualification through either a Vocational Education in Schools (VETiS) Program or a school-based traineeship or apprenticeship. The Training and Employment Recognition Morning Tea is also an opportunity to thank the employers who support our students.

During the ceremony, three current year 12 students spoke about their training experiences. Tiarna Wright spoke about the knowledge and skills she gained in the School 2 Work Program run by the Department of Employment Small Business and Training. This program gave her the opportunity to study Certificate II in Health Support Services whilst completing placement at Benevolent Living aged care facility. Tiarna explained how thankful she had been for all the help and guidance she had received along the way and how it has increased her confidence and confirmed that she would like to study a Bachelor of Nursing in 2020. Tiarna has been offered employment at Benevolent Living aged care facility next year and she is excited to take up this opportunity.

Maddison Tobane and Alyssa Ross spoke about the opportunities, skills and knowledge they gained through a school-based traineeship through AFL SportsReady and KMART Rockhampton. Maddison and Alyssa explained how they enjoyed working with customers and learning all the different aspects of a company whilst completing Certificate III in Retail. KMART Rockhampton offered them both ongoing employment after their traineeship had been completed. Maddison and Alyssa were also rewarded for their hard work by attending an official graduation ceremony in Brisbane.

Joel Harris spoke about the many vocational qualifications he completed through the FEET First program. One in particular was Certificate II in Resource and Infrastructure through SDS Training. Joel explained how the class of 20 students spent three one-week blocks at SDS Training. He hopes he has acquired the necessary skills to help with his enrolment into the defence force. Joel believes that the skills of civil construction would be transferable to many defence force roles. In addition to this course, Joel completed a Certificate II in Hospitality and Certificate II in Engineering Pathways, which were timetabled school subjects to give him skills for back up careers. Joel’s career aspiration is to join the defence force as a marine technician and is currently in the recruitment process.

All three students also expressed the importance of accessing assistance and seeking support from teachers and school support staff to identify and access employment and training opportunities. Parents, staff, employers and community members (including Deputy Mayor Cherie Rutherford and Cr Rose Swadling and Cr Tony Williams) attended this event to recognise the students’ achievements.

Parents and students requiring information about the FEET First Program and the opportunities available are encouraged to contact the program coordinator, Alana Knight, on 49 204 391 or aknig170@eq.edu.au.

2020 Vocational Education and Training Courses for Senior Students

Students in Year 11 and 12 have the opportunity to enrol into a vocational education and training course through an external registered training organisation if it aligns with their career goals. These courses fit within the Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) Program and focus on delivering qualifications that will provide students with the skills and knowledge required for specific industries. The VET investment budget funds one fee-free qualification for senior students. This funding restriction does not affect school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs) and courses on our school’s Scope of Registration (Cert II in Engineering Pathways and Cert II in Business).

Enrolments for 2020 are now open for the following external VETiS funded qualifications that are on offer to Rockhampton State High School Students:

CQ University (TAFE) – delivered on campus – Canning Street and via distance mode
Cert II in Tourism (distance)
Cert II in Horticulture
Cert II in Resource and Infrastructure Work Preparation
Cert II in Hospitality (food and beverage)
Cert II in Kitchen Operations (cookery)
Cert II in Automotive Vocational Preparation
Cert I in Construction
Cert II in Electrotechnology (Career Start) - (Year 11 Students only)
Cert II in Engineering Pathways (also offered at RSHS)
Cert II in Health Support Services (Year 11 Students only - Requires industry placement)
Cert II in Salon Assistant
Cert II in Animal Studies (Online)
CSaT – delivered on Campus – Gladstone Road, Rockhampton
Certificate II in Retail Cosmetics & Certificate II Salon Assistant $500 - Dual Qualification
Electrogroup – delivered on campus – Denham Street, Rockhampton
Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start) - (Year 11 Students only)
College Australia – delivered at Rockhampton State High School Senior Learner Centre
Cert II in Health Support Services
Capricornia School of Distance Education – delivered online
Cert II Information, Digital Media and Technology
SDS Training – delivered on campus – Parkhurst
Cert II in Resource and Infrastructure (includes a community project)

Students on a non-ATAR pathway are encouraged to consider these external programs if they align with their SET Plan goals. Please contact the FEET First program staff on 49204391 for further information. We look forward to working with students to help them achieve their career goals.

Alana Knight
FEET First Program Coordinator

Swimming Carnival

On Tuesday 12th November, Rockhampton State High School held their annual Inter-house swimming carnival at the Southside pool. Students arrived wearing their house colours with pride, and eagerly participated in both the competitive and novelty events. It was a great day for both staff and students, with many members of staff jumping in and earning points for their houses.

The Swimming Age Champions for 2019 are

12 years

Girls: Jessie Neale
Boys: Riley Vaughan

13 years

Girls: Tegan Kelly
Boys: Declan James

14 years

Girls: Jaylee McMahon
Boys: Caleb Kelly

15 years

Girls: Emily Smith
Boys: Jonathan James

16 years

Girls: Joanna Elliot
Boys: Tyler Sander

17 years and Over

Girls: Emily Calwell
Boys: Steven Bruce

The final house tally saw victory handed to the Meares Dingoes!

1st – Meares
2nd – Tucker
3rd – Laver
4th – Armstrong

Congratulations to the Meares Dingoes, and to all the Rockhampton State High School students who represented their houses with pride!

Tom Lorette
Health and Physical Education

Optus Digital Thumbprint Visit

Recently the team from the Optus Digital Thumbprint program were in the school with our Year 7-10 students taking them through the fun and interactive workshops that cover a range of important issues such as cybersecurity, cyberbullying, digital discernment, digital balance, and digital identity.

Our ability to support young people to be safe, responsible and positive online is an ongoing responsibility for educators and parents. It is very important to be aware of these topics so that your child is prepared and supported to thrive in the digital world. There is a range of free, downloadable Digital Thumbprint Parent Conversation Guides for parents and care-givers that support you to have effective conversations around what young people should and shouldn’t share online, cyberbullying, and how digital technology can support effective study practices.

Please visit at the link below.

Amanda O’Beirne
A/Deputy Principal

BOP Business Workshop

Year 8 and Year 11 Business students were treated to a fun, educational workshop about emerging business opportunities addressing real-life problems. They examined real case studies, spent time on business ideation and brain-stormed a number of extraordinarily good business ideas.

They worked in teams exploring possibilities and innovative solutions for the rebranding of sport eg cricket or netball to capture a bigger audience, company responsibilities in avoiding jetlag with 24 hour air travel, autonomous vehicles, overcoming water shortages.

BOP founder, Scott Millar, provided inspiration based on his experiences with entrepreneurship and innovation since he was 14 years old. His passion and drive was imparted to our students. Our students readily accepted industry innovation challenges and their active involvement may give them confidence to do the same as Scott.

Shirley Buchholz
HOD Business & Digital Technologies

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