1. education
2. school

VOL 3 FRIDAY 6 MARCH 2015
Dear Students and Parents
frequent writing.
If you would like more ideas on how
to support your child’s writing, please
do not hesitate to contact your child’s
English teacher.
This week our
newsletter
outlines
the
many exciting,
challenging and
ACHIEVE
educational
As many of you are aware, this year
opportunities
we are offering an ACHIEVE program
that
our
for our students in Years 7 to 10.
students have
This program is an exciting
already
had
opportunity for students designed to
contact with in the first month at accelerate their learning, develop
Blackwater State High School.
critical and creative thinking skills,
and ultimately help your child
WRITING
As you are aware, our Explicit ACHIEVE their best possible results
all
educational
endeavours
Improvement Agenda has a focus on in
throughout
the
program.
Students
improving our students writing skills
have
been
selected
for
their
abovefrom Years 7-12. As parents we ask
average
academic
abilities
and
more
you to become engaged and support
importantly
their
attitude
to
learning
this improvement agenda. Students
are being asked to write in every and attendance.
subject at the start of each lesson,
we call this a “do now”. We ask you
to become an active participant in
your child’s education as a writer,
some simple ways to do this
includes:
1. Ask to see your child’s writing
that they have been doing at
school or at home.
2. Praise the child's efforts at
writing. Forget what happened to
you in school and resist the
tendency to focus on errors of
spelling, punctuation, and other
mechanical aspects of writing.
Emphasize the child's successes.
For every error the child makes,
there are dozens of things he or
she has done well.
3. Encourage (but do not demand)
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
Over the next two weeks we will also
be reviewing your child’s progress in
their subjects. Follow up will include
discussion with students about
strategies to address concerns and
possible change of subjects if
necessary.
Parents will also be
contacted to discuss these concerns.
If you have concerns about your
student, now is the time to contact
the school to discuss these and to
make appointments to meet with
teaching staff if necessary. Tutoring
is running this year on Monday
(English) and Thursday (Maths)
afternoons in the Library.
Linda Galloway,
Principal
BMA proudly supporting
Blackwater State High School
DATES TO REMEMBER
Monday 9/3 - Thursday 12/3
Year 7 Camp
Monday 16/3
Blackwater High P&C AGM - 5.00pm
Monday 16/3 & Tuesday 17/3
Healthy Relationship Talks
Wednesday 18/3
Writing Workshops Year 7 & 9
Thursday 19/3
Year 5 & 6 Information Night
Wednesday 25/3
Year 6 Curriculum Taster Day
Tuesday 31/3
Junior Secondary Celebration Night
Thursday 2/4
Last Day Term One
DATE CLAIMER
Friday 22nd- Sunday 24th May
39th Annual Art Show
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
Talking to Teenagers
We all know that the teenage years are a difficult time. Hormones, body changes, trying to work out
what to do in life, exams, assignments, homework, peer pressure….the list goes on! I have had the
opportunity to talk to many parents over the last few weeks. Many parents are feeling helpless and
are struggling to have their child open up to them. The school has a number of support services in
place for students. The Student Welfare Team includes Mr Kronk (HOD Student Welfare), Ms
Gibson (Junior Coordinator), Mr Tu’whangai (Senior Coordinator), Mrs Anita Linke (School
Chaplain), Mrs Suzanne Russell (School Nurse) and Mrs Beth Dyer (Community Education Counsellor). The
Student Welfare Team is located in C Block, and should be the first port of call for all students who need someone
to talk to at school. If your child is experiencing issues at school, or any teenage issues and don’t want to open up
to you at home, please encourage them to make contact with one of our support staff.
At home, you can get your child to offer more information by changing the way you ask your questions. Rather than
asking “How was your day?” which can be answered with a one word response of good, ok (or possibly even a
grunt!), ask questions requiring them to give you information. I was once given a list of questions to ask a child
every night:
1. What was the most interesting thing you learnt today?
2. What was the tastiest thing you ate today?
3. What was the funniest thing you saw or heard today?
4. Who did you sit with at lunch?
5. What was the best thing someone did for you today?
6. What was the best thing you did for someone else today?
Whilst they are simple questions, they often lead to more discussion, or even quick answers can give insight about
what is going on at school.
Attendance
TARGET: 90%
Overall Attendance: 91.6%
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Year 11
Year 12
93.8%
95.4%
90.5%
89.3%
89.1%
92.6%
Well done to Years 9, 10 and 11 who have all increased their attendance! We are close to all year levels being
above our target attendance.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Over the years, graduating students of Blackwater State High School have gone on to success in a range of jobs.
In every newsletter, I would like to showcase a past student to find out what they are doing now, and their
memories of Blackwater SHS! If you are a past student who would like to volunteer to be showcased, or wish to
volunteer someone else, please contact the high school.
Our first past student featured is Amanda Fernie. Thank you for your contribution! Amanda is an excellent role
model for our students. She shows incredible passion for her job and has always strived hard to reach her goals.
Her job has taken her across the world and given her the opportunity to meet some amazing people. Please read
about Amanda’s journey later in this newsletter.
Rebecca Godfrey,
A/Deputy Principal.
EVERY DAY MATTERS
When your child misses a day, they fall further behind, which reduces
their chance of success. Ensure they are away only when they are sick.
Always encourage them to see their teacher for any work missed.
Junior Secondary
received a tuckshop voucher for their
outstanding behaviour and effort.
Year 7
Caitlyn Doyle - For consistent
excellent behaviour and effort.
Jayden Sims – For always being
mature
about
his
behaviour,
completing all work to the best of his
abilities, sharing his ideas with the
class readily and his outstanding
effort on the Writing day.
Girls, Science and
the Environment
Congratulations
to
Laura Newman Year
9,
Mali
Glasson
Green
(Year
8
Scholarship Student)
and Lauren Collocott (Year 8
Scholarship Student) for being
successful applicants for the Science
Environment (S.E.A) Technology
Camp being held at Boyne Island on
Monday 9th – Thursday 12th March.
This is a prestigious opportunity for
our successful applicants to join
students from all over Queensland.
Students will experience taking part
in team building, problem solving and
high and low ropes courses at the
Boyne Island EEC. In addition to
jumping off a ten metre high pole,
students will be attached to a
number of data probes, to collect and
later
analyse,
including
an
accelerometer, a video camera, a
heart rate monitor and microphone.
This, amongst other opportunities
such as Technoteering and working
with real scientists are just some of
the
exciting
and
challenging
experiences the girls can look
forward to.
These students were chosen to apply
for the positions available because of
their ongoing dedication to school
work, excellent behaviour and
academic achievements. All of these
girls have demonstrated a strong
ability to lead by example, model
best practice, work collaboratively
and meet high expectations in all
areas of their learning and school life.
We can look forward to hearing all
about the wonderful adventures
Laura, Mali and Lauren have
experienced at S.E.A. camp in the
future weeks.
Have fun girls!
Lisa Jefferis, HOD Junior Schooling
Outstanding Students
Last week the following students
Year 8
Elissa Russell – For working hard
towards all the classroom tasks and
activities and engaging in studying.
Shamahla Washington - is always
prompt and prepared, her book work
is immaculate, and she also
completes all work to the best of her
ability.
Year 9
Taylah Glover - She always does as
she is told without question, is always
polite and courteous, friendly and is a
nice young lady that achieves well in
all aspects of schooling.
Keisha Byrne - for excellent effort
and behaviour in the Writing day.
Georgia Gibson
Junior Secondary Coordinator
Senior Secondary
Free Live Online Information Session For Blackwater State High School Students
and Scholarships Available in 2015
Student Exchange Australia New Zealand is a not-for-profit organisation that is registered with all state and territory
Departments of Education around Australia and with the Ministry of Education in NZ. We are the first and only
secondary exchange organisation in Australia and New Zealand to be certified to ISO 9001 (Quality Management
System) and we ensure the highest standards of care and support to our participants.
We would like to invite your students and families to our next FREE Live Online Session on Wednesday, 18th
March - 5.30pm. The LIVE Online session gives students and families the opportunity to learn more about becoming
an exchange student and the various scholarship options that are available. Students can find out more about our
exchange programs to over 25 countries, listen to former exchange students share their experience and learn about
our scholarships and discounts on offer in 2015.We offer scholarships and discounts worth over $100,000 to
students each year. These include 5 x Language, 2 x International Affairs, 2 x Indigenous and 3 x Digital Video
Scholarships.
"You come back a different person, with so much more confidence & you feel that you can conquer the
world" Jessica, Semester Program to Italy. For more information please see me in the Library.
Julie Beak
A/HOD Senior
Schooling
CH Netball Trials
On Monday 2nd March, girls from
grades 7-11 attended the netball
trials in Emerald for a potential
selection in the Central Highlands
Netball Team for their age group.
The students who attended were:
Under 15s
Elissa Russell, Jasmine PitchforkKelly, Hayley West, Cheyenne Pinch,
Tara Wilson
Open Girls
Tasma Vesey, Shenae Grant,
Shanae Mundt, Demi Brown,
Kirrilee Lancaster
All girls played extremely well and
demonstrated our school values
throughout the entire day, making me
proud to be their teacher at
Blackwater State High School.
Special mention must go to Tasma
Vesey and Shenae Grant for
obtaining a position in the Central
Highlands representative team that
will play in the CAP trials later on this
week. Congratulations girls, game
well played!
Mrs Sharpe
Interschool Chess
Competition
Two students from Blackwater State
High School travelled to Rockhampton
on Thursday 19th February to compete
in an interschool chess competition.
The tournament was run by Gardiner
Chess & hosted by The Cathedral
College. This event is an opportunity
for students in the Central Queensland
Region to come together to learn more
about the game of chess and to have
an opportunity to play against students
from other high schools. The students
were split up into a round robin format
to compete against other high schools
during the event. The other schools in
attendance included Heights College,
Emerald
Christian
College,
Rockhampton
Grammar
School,
Rockhampton State High School and
Central Queensland Christian College.
Both Mali Glasson Green & Harry
O’Brien-Smith played extremely well
with at least two round wins each.
Miss Kellie Wardle
Uniform Policy
Our students are certainly looking
great in their uniform, however some
students are being reminded about
the school dress code. All students
are required to wear the Blackwater
State High School Uniform. When
enrolling at Blackwater State High
School, students and parents are
accepting the school’s dress code.
The school community, led by the
BSHS P&C Association supports a
student dress code and has
endorsed a compulsory uniform.
The following is an extract from the
policy which outlines the day dress
required of all students. Please note
that the school sports uniform is
complete with both the BSHS shirt
and shorts. Short black shorts styles
are not part of the uniform and
students will be required to collect a
uniform note if they continue to wear
these to school. A detention will also
be issued as per our policy.
DAY UNIFORM
Blackwater State High School has
high standards regarding school
uniform. Students in all year levels
are required to wear the complete
school DAY UNIFORM in a manner
which promotes a positive image of
the school to the community.
Specifically, all students are required
to wear the Day uniform;
• to and from school;
• at school;
• at school events; and on
excursions
• Sports uniform can be worn by
Junior Secondary Students (Year
7-9) on timetabled Sport days,
Senior students who study both
Recreation Studies and Physical
Education may wear the Sport
uniform all day.
Any student unable to wear a
particular part of the uniform on any
day, needs to carry a note of
explanation from parents. Students
who turn up to school out of correct
uniform and without a note from
home will be given the chance to
either a) borrow the correct piece of
uniform from the school bank, or b)
return home to collect the correct
uniform. Students who refuse these
options will face consequences as
per our “Responsible Behaviour
Plan for Students”.
2015 Next Step survey
The Queensland Government is
conducting its annual statewide
survey of all students who
completed Year 12 in 2014. The
Next Step survey is a brief,
confidential survey that gains a
comprehensive picture of the
employment, study and life choices
made by Queensland school
completers in the year after they
finish Year 12.
Between March and June, all our
students who completed Year 12
last year can expect to receive
instructions to complete a webbased survey or a telephone call
from the Queensland Government
Statistician’s Office to complete the
survey. Please encourage them to
take part. If their contact details
have changed, please assist the
interviewer with their updated details
or forward the survey to their new
address so they can participate.
Thank you for your support of the
Next Step survey in 2015.
Further information on Next Step is
available
online
at
www.education.qld.gov.au/nextstep/
or on toll free telephone 1800 068
587.
Blackwater State High
School
P&C Annual
General Meeting
Monday 16 March, 2015
Blackwater SHS
Administration Building
5.00pm
Everyone welcome
AMANDA FERNIE
Community Notices
Years Attended: 1996 - 2000
Job: Research Ethics Policy Officer, Griffith University
Where I live now: Brisbane
What I did after finishing school: After graduating
Year 12, I went on to study a Bachelor of Applied
Science, Animal Studies, majoring in Wildlife Biology at
the University of Queensland. My undergraduate degree
was followed by an Honours year where I assessed the usefulness of an
enrichment technique for various primate species held in captivity. I then
completed my PhD in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, also at the University
of Queensland, where I created and implemented a Great Ape Welfare
Index. After completing my PhD I went on to work as the Orangutan
Development and Training Specialist for the Frankfurt Zoological Society in
Sumatra, Indonesia where I developed the skills of local staff in orangutan
care and tracking procedures, designed and implemented an environmental
enrichment program for rehabilitant orangutans, as well as assessed and
monitored the progress of released orangutans.
Before commencing my current role at Griffith University, I assisted the Jane
Goodall Institute’s Tchimpounga Sanctuary in the Republic of Congo by
caring for young orphaned chimpanzees, comparing the behaviour of the
older chimpanzees still receiving care at the Sanctuary with their wild
conspecifics and developing wildlife research ethics documents.
Favourite class at school: Biology and Art
Favourite memory of BSHS: I have many fond memories from BSHS, even
though the annual camp at Shoalwater Bay meant sleeping under a hoochie
in the freezing cold. Being involved in Cadets was a lot of fun and helped
develop my leadership skills.
Advice for current students:
•
Pay attention and work hard during school. If there is something you
don’t understand, ask for help.
•
•
Read and write as much as possible.
Get involved in activities outside of school and pursue your own special
interests.
• Create a 5 year plan for after high school – for every aspect of your life.
• Find a mentor!
Lemba was rescued
from the illegal pet
trade and sent to
Tchimpounga
Sanctuary
for
rehabilitation. It is
unlikely she will
ever be released
into the wild as she
caught polio from
humans and has
limited sensation in
her legs.
Blackwater
Tennis
Hot Shots will start next term from
the 29th April 2015, this is for all
juniors aged 5 – 12 years and will
run
for
6
weeks.
To register your child or for more
information
please
contact
0419785781
or
email
[email protected]
Sister City Kite Flying
Day
Sunday 15th March, 10.30 am
Hunter Street, Sporting Complex
Blackwater
Gold Coin Sausage Sizzle
In remembrance of the 2011
Japanese Tsunami Disaster.
Pathways to Resilience
Building Resilience in Families
seminar
Learn as a family how to develop
strengths and gather supports that
build resilience. Life for any family
includes ups and downs, challenges
and unexpected twists and turns in
the road. A family’s ability to
negotiate this journey and keep
going depends on the skills they are
working on along the way.
There are certain skills and
strategies that have been identified
as important for the development of
resilience. Some are internal skills
we can build and develop, whilst
others are external - which
encompass the relationships in
children’s lives.
Presentation
Topics:
Self
regulation, Thinking skills, Knowing
your strengths, Positive outlook,
Participation
in
family
life,
Relationships, Role models, Support
people.
Cost: Free of charge
Date: Thursday 12th March
6.30 pm - 8.00pm
Venue: Bushkids, 5 Clermont
Street, Emerald
PRINCIPAL
Mrs Linda Galloway
TUCKSHOP CONVENOR
Melissa Barnes (49869521)
PARENTS & CITIZENS
President: Position Vacant
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL
Mrs Rebecca Godfrey
SCHOOL CAPTAINS
Senior School Captains - Tayla Ludlow-Tobane & Reece Williams
Senior Vice Captains - Linden Leishman & Gacinta Nelson-Bamford
Junior School Captains - Abby Holden & Harry O’Brien-Smith
P&C ASSOCIATION MEETINGS
Meetings are held on the 2nd
Monday of every month at 5.00p.m in the Common Room.
All welcome!
SPORTS HOUSES
Bedford - Blue « Eden - Yellow « Tartrus - Red
SCHOOL WATCH
Please report any unusual activity within the school grounds
(131 788)
COMMUNITY EDUCATION COUNSELLOR
Ms Beth Dyer (49869501)
GUIDANCE OFFICER
(49869506)