29 October 2024

From the Principal's Desk

Dear Atherton State High School Community,

As we step into Term 4, it’s remarkable to reflect on the tremendous growth, achievements, and milestones our school community has reached this year. Our students have demonstrated outstanding resilience, enthusiasm, and commitment across academic, extracurricular, and community activities. With the final term underway, I am excited to share some highlights, updates, and important upcoming events.

Academic Progress and End-of-Year Goals

This term, our focus is on consolidating learning and preparing students for their end-of-year assessments. Year 12 students are completing their final exams and preparing for graduation, a significant milestone we’re thrilled to celebrate together. Year 11 students are beginning to step into leadership roles, and other year levels are working hard to meet their academic targets. Our teachers are committed to ensuring each student receives the support they need to finish the year strong.

Celebrating Our Year 12 Graduate's

In just a few weeks, we will gather to celebrate the Class of 2024 with a formal Graduation Ceremony. This ceremony will be held on Friday 15^th November from 1.20pm in our Community Hall. Our Year 12 students have been instrumental in shaping the culture and spirit of our school, and we look forward to recognising their contributions, hard work, and achievements. Parents and families are warmly invited to join us in honouring our Year 12s as they move on to the next exciting chapters of their lives.

School Opinion Survey results

We have the results from our 2024 School opinion survey and I have great pleasure and pride in sharing the results with you. Over the past 2 years our school has been on a significant improvement journey and it is wonderful to see that all members of our school community, our students, our parents and our staff have acknowledged the hard work and efforts to improve this amazing school!  We truly value feedback and I would like to thank all who participated in the survey this year. The following components are common items on all 3 surveys, parent, student and staff, here I have captured some of the areas of vast improvement.  This improvement journey continues as we all work together to make this school even greater!

Most Improved Student Awards

This term, we were thrilled to host our Most Improved Student Celebration.  We held a Pizza party to recognise students who have demonstrated remarkable progress and commitment throughout the year. Nominated by their classroom teachers, these students have displayed resilience, perseverance, and a strong dedication to their personal and academic growth. This celebration is a testament to their hard work and an encouragement for all students to strive for continuous improvement.

Unbelievable Arts Open Night

Earlier this term, we hosted our annual Arts Open Night, showcasing the incredible talents within our Arts department. It was a fantastic evening filled with inspiring performances and exhibitions in Music, Art, Film and TV, Drama and a wonderful performance by our extraordinary band. The evening was magnificent, thank you so very much to our amazing students and dedicated staff.

We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Parents and Citizens (P&C) Association, who generously supported the event by running the bar and providing delicious food for attendees. Their contributions helped make the evening even more enjoyable, and we appreciate their ongoing support for our school community.

Facilities Update

We are pleased to report progress on our sports facility.  The impressive structure is advancing quickly and is a very exciting opportunity for our school and local sporting clubs.  The facility features 2 undercover multi use courts and a club room for Atherton Netball Association. We look forward to sharing this amazing facility with our local community, we are on track for the project to be completed early in 2025.

Additionally, we are excited about the rebranding of our school, which reflects our commitment to innovation and excellence. The rebranding initiative has been launched with new signage, updated school colours, and a refreshed logo that embodies the spirit and vision of Atherton State High School. We believe these changes will help foster a strong sense of identity and pride within our school community.

Presentation Evening

We are excited to announce that our Presentation Evening will take place on Tuesday, 12th November. This is the premiere event on our school calendar, where we will acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of our students across various domains. Parents and families are encouraged to attend and share in this special occasion, recognising the hard work and dedication of our students throughout the year.  The Presentation evening will be held in our Community Hall, doors open at 5.30pm for a 6.00pm start, we look forward to sharing this very special night with our community.

World Teachers' Day Breakfast

In celebration of World Teachers' Day, we recently hosted a special breakfast to honour our dedicated teaching staff. This event was a wonderful opportunity to express our gratitude for their unwavering commitment to our students' success. Additionally, local businesses generously donated prizes for draws, adding excitement to the morning and recognising our teachers’ hard work. Thank you to everyone involved for making this event a memorable occasion! 

Ulysses Coffee, Roseburra Flower Farm, McAuliffes Mensland, Woolworths Atherton, Big W Atherton, Whistlestop Cafe, Petals and Pinecones, The Carrington Hotel, Gallo Dairyland, Yungaburra Butchery, Fresh St. Market IGA, and Marg's Macarons.

From the Deputy's Desk-Middle Schooling

The Jacaranda trees are in bloom and tell us that summer is here. Time flying and we are almost halfway through Term 4 already.  We have some big events coming up in the next few weeks. Year 12 External Exams are currently on, ASHS Presentation evening, Year 12 Formal and Graduation all in a single week, but how does this impact year 9 and 10 students. Imagine yourself in their position in a short couple of years. Think about how you want to feel on your graduation. It’s an exciting thought for sure.

We recently farewelled our Year 10 Year Level Coordinator, Ms Ellen McGuigan who is now on maternity leave. On behalf of the year 10 cohort, I would like to thank Ms McGuigan for the organisation and care she took when working with the Year 10 students. Your energy and attention to providing quality support and lessons in the WAV program have been greatly appreciated. Thank you for everything.

Year 10, you are currently starting your assessment period and will have due dates scheduled over the next couple of weeks. You will finish school for the year at the end of week 8 with a Culmination Day. The activities will be organised by your care class teachers and Mr Lyndon. Watch your emails and the morning notices for further information.

Year 9, you will finish assessment by the end of week 9. Further information will be published to you to let you know of arrangements for weeks 10 and 11 as the time comes closer.

The weather has changed, and the heat is starting to increase. Please make sure you keep hydrated by bringing a water bottle, stay in the shade and wear a hat whenever in the sun. Find time to enjoy the beautiful environment we live in.

So many year 9 and 10 students continue to take advantage of the opportunity to complete work experience. Well done! Please see Ms Coleman in upper L block if you want more information.

Remember to use your school diary or outlook calendar to keep your assessment scheduled and include reminders. Talk to your teachers if you are unsure of any of the assessment tasks and hand in drafts on time so you can use the feedback to improve your final piece.

From the Deputy's Desk-Inclusion

The Australian Government Department of Education has released new resources for students with disability and their parents and caregivers. The resources provide practical information about the rights of students with disability and the obligations of education providers under the Disability Standards for Education 2005. The resources were co-designed by people with disability, with help from Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA).

Find out more at: www.education.gov.au/students-with-disability-resources

Consultation

Education providers must make adjustments (changes) that help students with disability to join in. But first they must discuss this with the student and their caregiver. The Disability Standards for Education 2005 (DSE) call this consultation.

 This could include a conversation about:

• Does the student’s disability affect their ability to join in?
• Do they need an adjustment to help them join in?
• What could this adjustment be?
• Is this adjustment reasonable?
•  Whether another adjustment should be made instead. There may be a few different options. Some may be easier to implement than others. If a different one is used, it should be equally (or more) helpful for the student.

 These conversations must happen before the provider makes any decisions about adjustments. Consultation should also happen regularly during a student’s time at school, such as at the start of every school year. This ensures that the student’s changing needs are met over time.

Reasonable Adjustments

Reasonable adjustments are actions that support students with disability to take part in education in a similar way to their peers. 

 They can be: 

• People (e.g., support staff) 
• Materials (e.g., screen reader) 
• Changes in how things are done (e.g., rest breaks). 

 The Disability Standards for Education 2005 (DSE) explain the rights of students with disability and what education providers must do to support students with disability. Reasonable adjustments are a key part of making sure students get these rights. For example, a reasonable adjustment could be a student who is sensitive to sound uses a pair of ear protectors in class to focus on an activity.

Discuss reasonable adjustments with your child's teachers. 

Senior Schooling

YEAR 12 GRADUATION PREPARATION INFORMATION 2024

• Completion of all curriculum assessments and Certificate courses. - Any student who has outstanding learning and assessment will be required to continue to attend school until all outstanding items have been submitted.
• External Exams - Commenced Monday 21^st October  and continues through to Tuesday 12^th November 2024.   All students have a copy of the external timetable.
• Wish list tickets for Formal - All parents and carers have been notified of wish list ticket availability via email.  All requests to be emailed directly to Ms Kelly Heidenrich 
• Outstanding School Finances - arrangements should be in place with the finance department to finalise these accounts. Please contact the finance department in the school Reception or phone 40305222 if you have any questions.
• The school Presentation Evening is scheduled for Tuesday 12 November – more information will come out from the organising committee in a separate email about this event.
• Year 12 Culmination day is on Wednesday 13 November and includes preparation for formal.
• The Senior Formal on Thursday 14 November
  • Formal Dancing practice opportunities are included in the External Exam schedule. Please check for practice sessions and times. You should come even if your partner cannot make it. We will also have the Year 10 and 11 dance partners there to learn the dances as well.
  • Formal Tickets - should be paid and can be collected from the school Reception in L block.
  • Tables and seating – Please see Ms Heidenreich to confirm your tables and seating arrangements. At the hall on the night of the formal you will be shown to your table by an attendant. Please present your ticket (which includes your name and address on the back) to an attendant as you enter the hall on the night of the formal. To avoid confusion and embarrassment please do not decide to change seats as you will be asked to return to your allocated seating position.
  • Arrivals Timetable - for the evening has been finalised. If you do not know your arrival time, please see Ms De Looze to confirm ASAP. You MUST stick to this arrival time.  If you are late you will have to wait.
  • Refreshments for sale - During the night students from our school Student Council will be selling refreshments.  The first drinks are included in your ticket price. Extras may be purchased during the evening at your expense. Payment by card is preferred.
  • Photography/Formal Photos - Please note that private photographers are not allowed in the arrivals area – there will be a designated ‘snap and go’ space set up on the oval side of the internal school road for family and friends to take photos as each of you arrive.  The school will take arrival photos.

• The formal is a private ticketed event.
• Family Photo booth - An area will be available for you to access in the hall during the formal. 
• The evening will be completed by 11.30pm. Parents - helpers for pack up would be appreciated.

• All school textbooks or resources to be returned by the end of Week 7, Friday 15 November.
• Any donations of uniforms to the school via the Student Services counter are always greatly appreciated.

The school is proud to support these opportunities to celebrate the success of the Graduating class of 2024.

Year 12 students and their parents are asked to please review the schedule that follows so you are all aware of the program for Week 7.

CULMINATION DAY:

Year 12 Culmination day is planned for Wednesday 13 November, 2024. The program includes the following.

YEAR 12 2024 FORMAL

GRADUATION DAY

The Atherton State High School fully supports these school organised activities to celebrate your graduation. We do ask that our Year 12 students consider the needs of the rest of the school who will be starting their assessment at this time and require the same conditions as the Year 12s  enjoyed to achieve academic success.

Atherton State High School would like to acknowledge the high calibre students in this cohort and commend you on taking the initiative to exit your schooling journey with pride and dignity. Thank you for showing respect for your school environment and the staff who have supported you. If you feel it is necessary, a kind word or a quick note to school staff who have helped you to enjoy your high school experience is always appreciated.

Finance Update

Dear Parents/Carers/Guardians,

The end of the school year is fast approaching.

Please ensure all fees are paid in full as soon as possible.

Should you require a payment agreement please contact the school promptly to ensure completion before the end of the school year.

Thank you to all those who have paid and to those who have arranged payment plans earlier in the year.

Paying School Fees:

You can pay your child’s school fees in one of the following ways :

• BPOINT to pay by credit and debit card
• BPOINT IVR (Over the Phone Payment) Call - 1300 631 073
• Direct Deposit into the school Bank Account BSB: 064-800 Account: 00090137
• EFTPOS at L Block Reception.
• Arrange payment plans and centrepay payments at Reception
• Payment can also be accessed online via your QParents account.

We are currently transitioning to a Cashless School and would prefer payments be made by one of the above methods.

Design and Technology Class

Our year 9, 10, and 12 Design and Technology classes entered into the Ravenshoe Torimba festival with Kade Cummings getting grand champion for schools. I was lucky enough to judge at this year's event along with 2 other judges. They said that the projects were a very high standard.

News from Sonia Muller - Wellbeing Social Worker

Wellbeing with Ms Sonia

Exploring Moods and Emotions – go deeper!

Research has shown that the bigger our ‘emotional vocabulary’, the more likely we are to manage our emotions effectively. In practical terms, this means the more precisely we can identify our emotions, the better. For example, when children say they are ‘angry’, do they mean rage, frustration, annoyance, or something else? Does ‘worried’ mean mildly anxious or terrified? When they use the word sad, do they mean a bit disappointed or in the depths of despair? Good emotional literacy enables children to better articulate what is going on for them, both in the words they use to describe their feelings, and also the sensations in their body – how they ‘feel’ that emotion (what it looks, like, feels like, the thoughts that go with it, and what they might ‘do’ when they feel that way).

Teenagers face a range of situations that lead to an emotional reaction: academic pressures, social dynamics and self-esteem and confidence. Teens who understand their own emotional states are better able to self-regulate when they feel stressed, upset or overwhelmed and are also more likely to ‘read’ others’ emotions, with more empathetic responses as a result.

Also, a 2014 study found that emotional intelligence predicted academic performance over established personality traits and cognitive ability – and the good news? These skills can be developed and improved.

Of course, you’ll need to adapt your approach to the age of your child, but some ways to do this are:

1. Ask questions, and listen actively – Don’t leave it at “How was school today”. Specifically ask if they can identify a feeling, but don’t even stop there! Ask them how they know it’s that feeling and not something else. What is their body doing/telling them? If you ask how they are feeling and they answer with a one word “happy” “sad” “angry”, explore it a little by asking some more questions: how big is this feeling, what colour is it? Is it loud or soft, hot or cold, hard or soft? Where is it located in your body? Younger teens might appreciate a mood or emotion chart where they can pick a picture/emoji and then explain their choice.
2. Role model your own understanding of your emotions by talking about your own emotions and moods – describe them in the same way. Despite the rolled eyes and exasperated sounds that sometimes come out of our teens, our experiences are important and they will soak up what you say like a sponge.
3. Explain the link between negative feelings and negative thoughts through a downward spiral: bad thing happens → we feel bad → we engage in negative self-talk → we feel worse →we react based on our negative feelings → more bad things happen. Sometimes it is only when we consciously stop and think about our negative self-talk that we notice it, especially when overwhelmed with distractions. A good question to ask is “Is this thinking helping or not helping me be the person I want to be, and get where I want to go”. It’s not about positivity at all costs, or ignoring the negatives.  it’s about practicality – “What will help in this situation?” I particularly love the principles of Solution Focussed Therapy for their practicality (see box below).
4. Encourage mindfulness. This is not about meditation (although it could be), rather it is a way to support your mind to take care of yourself. Mindfulness can take many forms…mindful eating (rather than scoffing down food in front of the TV or computer), noticing the details of your surroundings, thinking specifically about the link between your mood, thoughts and physical sensations. Try one of the meditations online (e.g. Smiling Mind, Headspace, Beyond Blue). There is something for everybody!

Consider how your family can encourage emotional literacy and develop emotional intelligence in your household. Unlike lots of health activities, this one is free, effective and can build better relationships!

Deadly Choices Program

Deadly Choices program has commenced for the final term of 2024. Year 7 students are participating in the Good Quick Tukka unit of the program each Tuesday with Deadly Choices facilitators Natuna, Ely & Warome from Mulungu Medical Service. The program will continue for the next 7 weeks, students will experience a hands-on approach to educate and upskill in preparing and cooking healthy meals that they can share with their families and friends. In their first lesson students made a healthy zucchini slice! The results were amazing. We are looking forward to see what other healthy creations students will make under the guidance of the Deadly Choices team.

ARTIE Academy

Friday 4^th October, students of Atherton State High School were invited to attend a NBL game at the Cairns Convention Centre with the ARTIE FOG Academy team and Atherton State High School staff. The students watched the home team the Cairns Taipans compete against the Tasmania Jack Jumpers. Participating students and staff enjoyed the field trip. The field trip was a challenge reward given by the ARTIE Academy to acknowledge the participating program students that attended school 90% of the time or higher and modelled positive behaviour throughout term 3.

Participating students: Rebekah Anning, Chad, Chelsea, Lerai, Malachi Anning, Meda-Hope, Keira Jensen, Logan Jensen, Verity, Finlay Payne, Kayden Payne, Kahleah Rosas. 

2023 Rise Global Winner

Last year, I was selected as a 2023 Rise Global Winner, sponsored by Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust. I was very fortunate to have been selected as 1 of 100 successful applicants worldwide, and just returned from spending a week in Oxford (UK) representing Australia at the Rise Residential Summit; a week-long, fully funded “holiday”, full of sightseeing, making new friends and networking (LOTS of networking).

While over there, I stayed at Frewin College, which was a set of dorms located in the heart of Oxford. We travelled in groups to Rhodes House for meals which were served Hogwarts feasts –three course meals, three times a day, stretched across the lengths of the tables!

During my visit, I was able to connect with some incredible people and participated in numerous workshops which revolved around leveraging our stories for impact, systems change and entrepreneurship. This meant I worked alongside doctors, founders, CEO’s, editors, filmmakers, etc. including Dr John Redd (internist and epidemiologist), Brian Greene (prof. for physics and mathematics, known for his discoveries in superstring theory) and Leo Richards (young wildlife filmmaker). These were only 3 of 50 guest speakers I networked with over my trip, so I was busy and peopled-out to say the least. But gosh, the experience was worth it.

I think the most important connections I made were the ones with my fellow winners. It was amazing being able to befriend so many like-minded people. Talking about our international projects and bouncing ideas off each other came with what I’m confident will be long-lasting friendships... so much so that I’m confident in saying I now have a home in almost every country.

Despite only lasting for a week, the Rise Residential Summit was an experience of a lifetime and I’m so grateful for the connections I made and will continue to make in the years to come. It was inspiring to see how much change I’m able to make as a young person, but also comforting knowing how much support I have to turn my ideas into reality.

I encourage everyone to put yourself out there, even if the odds aren’t in your favour. Everyone has potential and it’s up to you to make full use of it.

~ Hannah Smith

Women's Health Clinic

These clinics are available to Medicare eligible clients

Service includes Cervical Screening Tests (Pap Smears), Sexual Health Screening, Breast Awareness, also info on Contraception, Continence, Menopause, Lifestyle Issues, Bowel Health, etc.

All services are provided by a specially trained Women’s Health Nurse.

Malanda Primary Health Centre    Wednesday 4^th September      Ph:  4096 5339

Atherton Primary Health Centre    Tuesday 17^th September         Ph:  4091 0263

School Savvy

School Savvy provides access to school supplies for children in families struggling financially.  In 2023, Atherton School Savvy helped over 70 families access pre-loved school uniforms, lunch boxes and pencil cases.  The start of each new school year can be a very expensive time for families, especially those on low incomes.

 Donate pre-loved uniform:  You can get involved by donating any pre-loved and new uniforms and school supplies that are in good condition.  Donate at the School or drop to VPG Atherton.  

 We’re calling out for donations!:

•    School Uniforms
•    School Shoes
•    Backpacks
•    Lunch Boxes

Pop-up Shop

Tue, 14th Jan 2025, 10:30am-2:30pm at VPG Atherton office.