26 March 2021

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Only a few more days to go in a big and busy term! I would like to sincerely thank our entire school community for their efforts in ensuring the best possible teaching and learning environment and outcomes for our students.

I look forward to reading our term 1 reports, to be issued early next term. You will soon receive information regarding our parent-teacher interviews on 12 May 2021.

Parents are reminded that they may pay at the front office counter and do not need to queue at the cash collection window.

On behalf of us all, I wish you a safe and happy Easter break!

Kind regards

Kirsten Dwyer
Principal

Important Dates

Officer Marshall Visits Legal Studies Students

Year 11 Legal Studies students recently enjoyed a visit from our School-based Police Office, Senior Constable Natasha Marshall. Officer Marshall was invited to assist with student learning about police powers and responsibilities under the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 (Qld). This information is relevant to their understanding of Unit 1 of the Legal Studies syllabus – Beyond Reasonable Doubt.

As well as sharing her extensive policing experience, Officer Marshall explained the procedures to conduct street checks, property searches (with and without warrants), search of persons and also questioning processes. The students now have a clear understanding of these everyday police processes.

The class sincerely appreciates Officer Marshall for giving up her time and looks forward to the next class visit.

Trudy Crow
HOD – Senior Schooling

Harvest Ed

Five Year 10 Rockhampton State High School students are part of a Queensland first program called HarvestEd, an Agricultural focused online extension program. Sean, Madison, Megan, Chelsea and Charlie are joining students from Aramac State School, Blackall State School and Capella State High School to work through activities focused around Agriculture in the 21st century. Students meet once per week virtually, with two face-to-face meet ups planned over the next 18 weeks. The culmination of their project will occur on August 27th at CQUniversity where they will present their future-focused agriculture projects to the team from the Asia Education Foundation, CQUniversity lecturers and researchers and invited industry representatives.

Breeha Sinnamon
QVSA Central Queensland Coordinator
EXCEL Coordinator and Science Teacher

Sports Report

The Interhouse Swimming Carnival is always a highly anticipated, hotly contested event, and this year’s event was no different. Trialling a slightly different format, whereby participation events were run at the start of the day, energy was high and the atmosphere in the pool was pumping, as most students and plenty of teachers entered the first event, earning valuable points for their respective houses. After toiling away all day, the TUCKER KANGAROOS claimed their interhouse victory since the renaming of the houses, a massive congratulations to all students who contributed. We are now looking forward to the Cross Country, to be held on campus during sessions 1 and 2 on Thursday 1 April. This is the last day of school for the term, and, weather permitting, should be an excellent way to finish the term. Just a reminder that attendance on this day is compulsory, and participation in the event (whether competitive or not) for students in Year 7 and 8 will be expected.

With minimal nominations in term 1 sports, many of our students have been busy competing against the best in the district at Rockhampton and District School Sport trials. Many of our students have successfully gone on to represent the district at Capricornia trials against the best athletes from our region which encompasses the Mackay, Port Curtis and Central Highlands Districts. Well done to those students who have been successful and good luck at your upcoming State Titles. Sadly, due to the restrictions imposed by School Sport Australia, no National Schools Events will be taking place this year (for the second year running). We are hopeful that we will see a return of these events in 2022, as they provide wonderful sporting opportunities for students across Queensland to aspire towards.

That being said, we look forward to the upcoming interschool sporting schedule for term 2, with opportunities in Boys Basketball, Girls Netball and Football (Soccer). If students are interested in representing Rockhampton State High School in any of these sports, are financial with the school and on a behaviour level of 4 or better, they can see the following staff members during lunch times at school for more information:

• Boys Basketball – Miss Stevens – Science Staffroom (S Block)
• Girls Netball – Mrs Taylor – Thompson – Maths Staffroom (Upstairs D Block)
• Girls Soccer – Mrs Findlater – Upstairs F Block Staffroom

Damien Kelso
Head of HPE and Sport

Defence Force Possibilities Explored

The Australian Defence Force recruitment team visited Rockhampton State High School to provide students with information on their trade, gap year and the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) programs. Army Sergeant James Faulkes and Army Seageant Erin Taylor gave an insight into their specific career pathways which include careers as an operator and diesel fitter.The presentation highlighted the specific jobs available across the Navy, Army and Air Force, the recruiting process and the lifestyle and benefits enjoyed by serving members.

The students now have a good understanding of process to apply - right through from the You Session to enlistment and the Appointment Ceremony.

Students who would like more information about defence force recruiting should visit the link below or visit the FEET First program team in the Senior Learning Centre.

Trudy Crow
HOD – Senior Schooling

Early departure from school

Parents are reminded that the procedure for releasing your student early is as follows:

• Send a note with your student requesting an early departure from school.
• In an emergency a student can be located but depending on the whereabouts of your students this cannot always be achieved in a short time.

If your student has an unexpected appointment that arises during the day, please advise the school at least an hour before the appointment.

Link and Launch – Supporting school leavers

Link and Launch is a program that is designed to connect with young people who have completed Year 12 but not yet transitioned to further study, training or work. Link and Launch officers can assist young people to navigate a range of post-school study, training and work options in line with their individual goals, aspirations, skills and strengths.

Young people who are not in education, employment or training, and also completed Year 12 in the previous four years are eligible to join the program. All eligible young people who have completed their senior studies can join the program irrespective of where they went to school. Participation in the program is voluntary.

Current Year 12 students will learn more about this program early in Term 3.

For more information about the Link and Launch program read the attached flyer or contact Debbie Heron on 0448 332 143 or dhero18@eq.edu.au. Or visit the link below.

Trudy Crow
HOD – Senior Schooling

Accounting for everyone!

Year 11 Accounting students are reaping the rewards of a four-week partnership with CQU where Jessica Hunt has been working with students at RSHS.

Mrs Hunt has a Bachelor of Accounting with Distinction, Diploma of Business, Cert IV in Youth Work, Cert 111 in Children’s Services and is currently studying a Master of Teaching. She is employing strategies to enthuse students in gaining financial knowledge and skills for their personal use, for business activity and for future careers.

During this time, students have become thoroughly engaged with the diverse activities that have been interactive and aligned perfectly with the curriculum.

Guest speaker, Sarah Fox, joined the Year 11 & 12 students to explain that a career in Accounting is usually much more interesting than many people imagine. She outlined that good communication skills and a desire to help people are foremost in the role of an accountant. Students were amazed that she spent so much time out of the office doing interesting tasks at other locations. Kennas also offer paid work experience during school holidays so students have an opportunity to find out more about careers in the different fields of Accounting.

Shirley Buchholz
HOD Business & Digital Technologies

VET in Schools – Fee Payment Reminder

Students at Rockhampton State High School are fortunate to access vocational education and training courses through external RTOs under the Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) Program. These include CQUniversity, All About Training, Binnacle, College Australia, Electrogroup and SDS Training.

Students undertaking VETiS, which is funded by the VET investment budget, are studying qualifications that have been identified in consultation with industry as leading to employment outcomes and are based on skills shortages and Queensland Government priorities. The VET investment budget will only fund ONE (1) qualification in a skills shortage area per student enrolled in a secondary school. This funding restriction does not impact school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs) or courses on the school’s scope of registration.

If your student is enrolled in two VETiS funded courses, parents/carers must pay the training fee for one of these courses. Parents/carers have been invoiced for the most cost-effective option. Payment can be made via the Cash Collection Window (cash/EFTPOS), direct deposit, BPAY or a payment plan.

The VETiS program was explained in the Senior Curriculum Guide issued to students in Year 10 when senior subjects were chosen.

Trudy Crow
HOD – Senior Schooling

We would like to welcome all new and continuing students to the 2021 EXCEL Program. The EXCEL Program includes more than 130 students from year 7 – 10.

The 2021 staff for EXCEL are:

Year 7:

English– Miss Bielenberg
Maths – Miss Davey
Science – Miss Stevens
Humanities – Mr McGrath

Year 8:

English – Miss Blanch
Maths – Mr Kilpatrick-Brazier
Science – Mr Holloway
Humanities – Miss Bielenberg

Year 9:

English – Mrs Jacobs + Miss Handsaker
Maths – Miss Milde
Science – Mrs Dolgner
Humanities – Mr McGrath

Year 10:

English – Ms Brazier
Maths – Mrs Taylor-Thompson
Science – Mrs Von Doom

Deputy Principal in charge of EXCEL:

Mr James Zimmer

There will be two camps this year for students in the EXCEL Program. One for Year7/8 students and one for Year 9/10 students, along with their subject-specific excursions that occur periodically throughout the four terms. Keep an eye out on our Facebook page and for notes home regarding the camps – both of which will occur in August.

Breeha Sinnamon
EXCEL Coordinator

Japanese

Year 7 Japanese students have spent the term learning how to describe animals. They have spent the last few lessons working hard on their assessment – to create a poster which describes their dream pet.

Year 9 and 10 Japanese students have also been creating posters for their unit on celebrations and festivals. They chose an Australian celebration to advertise to a Japanese-speaking audience.

Japan is home to six of the largest car companies in the world (Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Suzuki, Mazda and Subaru).

3. The Education Perfect Languages Championships ended Tuesday. Congratulations to Sophia White and Jayden Te Kahu who earned silver awards, Aeryon Schuh, Sanne Greenhalgh and Alkirah on Bronze, and Savannah Gunton and Jalyzza Arellano who earned Credit awards. A wonderful effort.

Jordan Meiers
Year 11 Co-ordinator |Japanese and Art teacher

Queensland Virtual STEM Academy at Central Queensland

The Queensland Virtual STEM Academy at Central Queensland is a unique partnership between the Department of Education (DoE) and CQUniversity, with the vision and drive to achieve improvements in education outcomes and workforce participation in Central Queensland.

Rockhampton State High School leads the collaboration with CQUniversity and aims to boost engagement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for Years 5 to 9 students across the Central Queensland region. The project enables like-minded students to connect, collaborate and explore their STEM interest and passion through a range of enriching and challenging learning opportunities.

Students engaged with the QVSA project are collectively known as the QVSA Young Scholars. With the goal of developing 21st century skills (problem solving, inquiry, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration), the Young Scholars build their STEM portfolio through a blended model of delivery via virtual and face to face learning that incorporates emerging sciences and current global STEM problems.

Queensland Virtual STEM Academy at Central Queensland

Rockhampton State High School is the delivery site of the Queensland Virtual STEM Academy at Central Queensland (QVSA at CQ) online courses. Using an innovative, real time, virtual platform, students connect with other students from across Queensland and STEM professionals to solve current global STEM problems while developing their 21st century skills. QVSA courses take three forms: Skill Builders, Grand Challenges and Challenge Your Thinking sessions.

A Skill Builder focuses on a specific learning approach or skill that is core to navigating and exploring the fields of STEM (for example Scientific Inquiry, or, Raptors, Rhinos and Reimagining the Past).

Grand Challenges are ambitious but achievable goals that harness science, technology, and innovation to solve important national or global problems. The key outcome of a Grand Challenge is to develop connections for students between their understanding and the real world and culminate with student generated solutions to 21st Century STEM problems.

The Challenge Your Thinking (CYT) sessions provide opportunities to engage and interact with researchers and industry leaders from across the globe to explore answers to current STEM questions.

Course Overview – Round 1, 2021

All Round 1 programs are 10 weeks in duration and are scheduled for one 70min lesson per week. The 10-week program is split across the holidays (5 weeks at the end of term one and 5 weeks at the beginning of the term two).

Breeha Sinnamon
QVSA Central Queensland Coordinator | EXCEL Coordinator and Science Teacher

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