Newsletter
Biloela State High School acknowledges the traditional Gangulu people on whose land it stands.
Biloela State High School
Issue 6
1 May 2015
ANZAC DAY—100 Years
The 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landing at
Gallipoli was commemorated by our students with
three ceremonies - Wahroonga Retirement
Village, combined schools ceremony and the
annual Biloela ANZAC March.
The combined schools ceremony was well
attended by schools and community members
from the district. It was pleasing to see a very
strong cadet presence from the students of our
school.
The ANZAC March was attended by over 170
students, with our School Captain Belynda Walsh
providing a very moving address.
The ANZAC’S and
the sacrifices they
made for our
country were
respectfully
honoured on this
solemn occasion.
LEST WE
FORGET
Important Dates
4—9 May
5—8 May
12—14 May
14 May
14 May
15 May
18—20 May
19—26 May
1 June
Beef Week Rockhampton
Senior Geography Camp
NAPLAN Year 7 & 9
Red Food Day
Hawaiian Theme School Social 6pm BSS Hall
Callide Valley Show Holiday
Year 8 Camp at Fairbairn Dam
2015 Biloela Eisteddfod
Year 8 Vaccinations (Clinic 2)
HABITS OF MIND
Gathering Data through all Senses
CHARACTER STRENGTH
Prudence and Spirituality
STUDENT DIARY TOPICS
Research & Operational Skills
Biloela State High School - Cnr Gladstone Rd & Scoria St, Biloela Qld 4715 Tel: (07) 4992 8666 Fax: (07) 4992 8600
Website: www.biloelashs.eq.edu.au
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
100 years of Anzac Tradition
It was with a great deal of pride that our school students
and teachers marched in the 100th Anzac Day Parade last
week. The sound of the bugler calling us to remember with
our committed school cadets in the background was a
moving experience and one that will ensure this new
generation of students and community will not only
continue, but will strengthen our resolve to remember the
strength and sacrifice of our valiant armed services
personnel as we move into the second century of
remembrance.
I believe we had a record number of students involved or
participating in some way at the Dawn Service or the
Community Parade. Some students marched, some
enjoyed a family remembrance watching from the side of
the road and others participated with other groups that
marched. Belynda Walsh, our school captain, showed her
respect for the Anzac Tradition with a heartfelt speech to
those who gathered to remember and this topped off a
moving ceremony for our community.
Thank you also to our partner schools who joined use for
a combined ANZAC Ceremony at the Civic Centre. Our
school was very pleased to have led this experience for
our feeder primary schools. The images on the front page
of this newsletter tell the story!
NAPLAN tests in Week 4
These tests that provide a snapshot of our student
progress in literacy and numeracy are coming up. We
continue to work on how we are focussing on quality
reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation and
numeracy skills for our students. This year literacy/
numeracy classes have been introduced to specifically
focus in these areas and we have been looking closely at
reading and writing. We thank our students for the efforts
they have been making and hope they are able to show
the improvement we have seen in class on these tests
coming up. Thank you for showing your best!
Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews
Thank you to the many families that took the opportunity
to discuss the progress of their young people with our
teachers this week. If you missed a teacher because they
were away sick or you have now decided you would like
an interview, please call the school to arrange an
interview. This can be arranged at any time.
Cyber Safety
This is an important topic that we re-visit regularly at
school. Despite this, we continue to see students using
social media and digital communication tools to tease or
make fun of other students. This often happens at home
and late at night but can occur whenever young people
react poorly to a situation. We remind students that their
digital trail follows them. We know that employers can
search for this trail for a prospective employee. It is so
easy when we are upset or angry to fire off a horrible text
message or post something on-line, but the effects of this
for the other person as well as the sender can be long
lasting. Another important safety matter is the importance
of knowing who you are talking to on-line. Students should
only friend people they know. I thank our families for
reinforcing the message that we need to be safe on-line
and use our smart phones wisely.
John Adie
Principal
SENIOR HPE—GOLF
Biloela State High School would like to thank the
people who have provided our school and students
with numerous golf buggies, clubs and balls. Our
students have been fortunate to be given this
opportunity to be able to participate in golf. Due to
the availability of this equipment, it has enabled students to
spend a greater amount of time playing golf.
We would also like to thank Doug for sharing his enthusiasm,
time, expertise and love of the game with our students. This
certainly motivated our students to be involved in golf as some
spent afternoons at home hitting golf balls up the paddock.
I have been teaching Senior HPE and golf at Biloela SHS for the
past 4 years, this would have to be the biggest improvement I
have seen in the ability of our students with golf. Due to the
amount of one on one time and expertise they received from
Doug and also the opportunity for more students to have their
own equipment to use each lesson. This enabled them to get the
maximum practice and participation in class time, thanks to the
resources that were supplied. We are very appreciative of the
kind donations to enhance our school program.
Sammi-Jo Hyland
QCAA Chief/Community Representatives
QCAA invites expressions of interest from community
members to nominate for the position of chief community
representative or community representative for the QCS
test. To maintain the accountability, security and proper
conduct of the test, the QCAA appoints members of the
community to each test centre to complete duties on behalf
of the QCAA. The representatives must be available on all
days required. Applicants must have a valid email address.
Please find attached to this newsletter information about
the role and how to apply for one of these positions or refer
to the website: www.qcaa.qld.edu.au
For further information please contact Jody Clark Deputy
Principal on 49928666.
Application forms can be collected from the front office.
Completed application forms must be received by the
school office no later than 9am Friday May 22.
CHANGE OF ASSESSMENT
12RST— Research Assignment is now on
Monday May 18
12LEG— Short Response Exam is now on
Thursday May 14
12LEG— Multi modal research response in now due
during Senior Exam Block June 15—19
7C HPE— Research Assessment is now due
Thursday May 27
Thursday May 14
Biloela SS Hall
Junior Secondary
Secondary—
—6pm
6pm—
—8pm
Senior Secondary
Secondary—
—7pm
7pm—
—9pm
$5 per person
Come along and hula
Do you have cattle on your farm?
If so, you are able to be the host employer for your student
to allow them to complete a Certificate II in Agriculture
while they study in Year 10, 11 or 12.
This qualification is offered through RITE
(Rural Training and Employment) Contact
Sally Moller for more information on
49928666.
From the Deputies’ Desks
Senior Secondary
Junior Secondary
ANZAC Day—Wahroonga
On Thursday of last week our junior leaders joined with school
cadets at Wahroonga Nursing Home. Alec Ball did a great job
playing the Last Post and Rouse without fault. This opportunity
to honour the ANZACs and reflect on sacrifice with the residents
of Wahroonga gave students the opportunity to fully understand
the impact of war on those that fought and those that looked
after the home front.
Combined School ANZAC Service
Friday brought the inaugural Callide Valley Combined Schools
ANZAC ceremony. It was a great morning in which our students
performed incredibly well. They met the high expectations that
we set in terms of their behaviour and level of respect that
honouring our ANZAC diggers demands. The ceremony last
week brought together nearly 1200 students from the local area
and thanks must go to the school communities of Mt. Murchison,
Prospect Creek, Thangool, Biloela State School and St.
Joseph’s Catholic School for their willingness to mark such a
historical occasion.
The ceremony was made more significant by the presence of a
60+ strong Cadet presence ably led by Captain Brendan
Beahan.
QCS Practice Test
Tuesday and Wednesday of last week saw our OP eligible year
12 students sit 4 exam papers. Students were very well
prepared and worked diligently, having to concentrate for 2 hour
sessions. I was very impressed with their work ethic and
dedication to the exams and we look forward to seeing the
results and receiving the feedback from the external markers in
the near future.
Year 10 Work Experience
Students did a great job in their first taste of the real world.
Some students excelled in their placement and have been
offered part time and casual positions as a result. We would like
to thank the many Biloela and surrounding businesses for
accepting our students into their workplaces for this very
important experience.
Parent- Teacher- Student Interviews
These interviews were held on Wednesday night this week and
it was really pleasing to hear discussions around students doing
well and what they could do to improve. Thanks to parents and
teachers who gave up their time to take part in these valuable
conversations to further develop and encourage students.
Deadly Choices
Deadly Choices will begin for students in Year 7-10 on
Wednesday May13. Notes will be distributed shortly for students
who are invited to attend. Deadly choices is a great program that
seeks to promote the health and well-being of students and
assist them in making better choices.
Specialist Recruiting Indigenous Team
The Defence force recruiting team will be visiting Biloela SHS on
Wednesday May 27. They will be talking to students about
opportunities in the Defence force for Indigenous students.
Who am I?
I am currently Head of Department for Business & IT at Clontarf
Beach State High School where I have been for the last 8 years.
I am also a House Leader and heavily involved with student
welfare. I am passionate about students being the best they can
and having ‘the right’ opportunities to be successful regardless
of where they live. I have an extensive knowledge about VET
(Vocational Education and Training), QCS (Short Response
Marker for the last 7 years), QCE and the
processes of QCAA.
I am very excited to be in Biloela and grateful
for the warm welcome I have received from
school and local community.
Jody Clark
Deputy Principal
A big thank you to all students who participated in the ANZAC Day
Ceremonies within the community. We have received great
feedback on the behaviours and attitudes of all our Junior
Secondary students and we thank you for representing our school
in such a positive manner.
It has been a very busy start to term 2. Students prepared
themselves for the Cross Country on Wednesday this week.
Students from Year 7 & 8 were fortunate enough to have already
familiarised themselves with the course throughout their HPE
lessons in week 1.
The Year 6 to 7 Transition Day was held last Thursday allowing
students from feeder schools to experience a day in the life at high
school. Students were timetabled to elective classes and
experienced two classes each from the Arts and ITD faculties.
Feedback was fantastic and we were overwhelmed with the
response to day with more than expected numbers arriving. Our
Year 9 Mentors showed excellent leadership skills by chaperoning
the students throughout the day.
NAPLAN
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy
(NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7
and 9. It has been an everyday part of the school calendar since
2008 and we are preparing students for the test which will occur on
Tuesday 12th Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th May. Students
have been working towards continual improvement in identified
areas as well as extending their understanding of literacy and
numeracy fundamental concepts.
NAPLAN tests the sorts of skills that are essential for every child to
progress through school and life, such as reading, writing, spelling
and numeracy. NAPLAN is made up of tests in the four areas (or
‘domains’) of:
 reading
 writing
 language conventions (spelling, grammar and
punctuation) numeracy.
NAPLAN tests skills in literacy and numeracy that are developed
over time through the school curriculum and allow us to meet the
needs of our learners and improve their needs according to the
data gathered.
Should you require any further information on the NAPLAN test you
can access a parent/carer information section at
http://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/naplan.html, or please contact me
either via phone or email. Further, some students are able to apply
for exemptions or some parents may withdraw their students under
certain circumstances. Should you require further information on
this, please contact the school.
Lisa Whitworh
Parents Supporting Quality Education
Biloela High P&C
Email: [email protected]
NEXT GENERAL MEETING
May 18 at 7pm
FUNDRAISER in AUGUST
Become involved and volunteer your expertise.
We would welcome your input for this event.
Sub Committee Meeting
Monday May 4 at 7pm
Year 8 School Immunisation
Clinic 2 Date changed from Monday May 18 to
Monday June 1
Clinic 3 Monday 26th October
RESOURCE CENTRE NEWS
INVOICE PAYMENTS
We hope you all enjoyed your time with family over the holidays.
Most classes seem to have hit the term running, with
assessment items coming in, and results from previous items
being contemplated. Pictured are some of our early birds, taken
this week, well before school started.
Before we get too far into the term, now is a great time to remind
your students to return all those text books they no longer
need. If you know they have hunted them down during the
holidays, just ask them whether the resources have actually
found their way to school and the return slot in the Library! I’m
sure you know that overdue books like hiding in bags for weeks,
just like they’ve done in bedrooms.
We have many new resources for our students throughout the
year levels. They include one particularly relevant for the past
week:
At this point of time you would have received your fee invoice from
the school in term 1.
If you have not paid this fee invoice in full, you should have
entered into a payment plan. With this option it is vital that you
strictly adhere to the terms of the agreement. If this does not occur
by Thursday May 14 as per previous correspondence received,
your student will not be able to remain in non curricular activities
and elective senior subjects. If you have any queries please contact
the school office.
There are a number of options for payment:
BPay - if you use this please be aware the amount paid will come
off the oldest invoice on the system and from the oldest sibling. This
is done automatically by the system. If you wish otherwise please
advise the office.
Direct Deposit—if you use this please ensure you put some sort of
identification on the payment so we can deposit this amount to the
correct account and student. If you want it to come off a specific
account you will need to inform the school otherwise it will come off
the oldest invoice on the system.
Cash payment at the school counter. We have eftpos available at
the school or you can fill out paperwork to have your fees taken off
your credit card every month. Paperwork is available at the office to
do this.
You can set up with your bank a fortnightly direct deposit so that
the amount can be taken out and deposited into our account on a
regular basis and helps spread the payments.
Please ensure there is some notification with it to identify who is
paying into our account. Please be aware if you want these
amounts to come off specific students or accounts you need to
notify the office. If not advised, we will take it off the oldest account.
Anzac Girls - An Extraordinary Story
By the end of the Great War, forty-five Australian and New
Zealand nurses had died on overseas service and over two
hundred had been decorated. Their strength and dignity were
remarkable. Using diaries and letters, Peter Rees takes us into
the hospital camps and the wards, and the tent surgeries on the
edge of some of the most horrific battlefronts of human history.
But he also allows the friendships and loves of these courageous
and compassionate women to shine through and to enrich our
experience. Profoundly moving, Anzac Girls, is a story of
extraordinary courage and humanity shown by a group of women
whose contribution to the Anzac legend has barely been
recognised in our history. Peter Rees has changed that
understanding forever.
Matthew Reilly’s new book The Great Zoo of China
It is a secret the Chinese government has been keeping for forty
years. They have found a species of animal no one believed
even existed. It will amaze the world. Now the Chinese are ready
to unveil their astonishing discovery within the greatest zoo ever
constructed. A small group of VIP’s and journalists has been
brought to the zoo deep within China to see its fabulous
creatures for the first time. The visitors are assured by their
Chinese hosts that they will be struck with wonder at these
beasts, that they are perfectly safe, and that nothing can go
wrong. Of course it can’t…
Guinness Book of Records 2015 needs no introduction! These
are always popular…
Welcome back everyone, to another busy term.
Debbie Johnston and Brenda Banks
Resource Centre Staff
Homework Club
Does your student need some extra help or support
finishing their homework or assessment?
Our senior students are trialling a homework club
on Wednesday afternoon from 3:05 until 4:00pm
in the school Resource Centre. A light afternoon
tea will be provided for students.
The Interact Club is always looking for
new members from any year level as
many hands make light work.
Feel free to attend a meeting. They
are held in AV1 every second Monday
at 11:40am. Listen out in the notices
for meeting days.
If you have any queries, please feel free
to ask the current executives: Samuel
Skinner, Sussanna Melville, Emma
Zillman and Liam Kerr.
The Interact club is a school based group that raises money for
local, national and international charities and is related to the
Rotary club. We raise funds and sometimes collect items for a
number of events throughout the year.
DATE CLAIMERS:
Currently we are organising a clothes swap event for next Friday
8th May 5 – 6:60pm in the courtyard where we auction clothes,
shoes and accessories. Many items are sold for a mere $2!
We are currently selling tickets ‘Guess the number of a jelly
beans in jar’ to be drawn on the 14th May.
ARE YOU THINKING OF A LEADERSHIP POSITION IN
SENIOR?
Being in Interact has many positive factors. The Interact leaders
are selected for the yr. 10
members at the end of the first
semester, which helps to form a
gateway into other leadership
positions in yr. 12. All of last
year’s executives are now
leaders of the school and its
student council. Interact also
counts towards awards such as
a service award at awards night,
and as it is a charity, looks great
on a resume.