Term 4 Friday, 9 December 2021

Principal's Welcome

It is my pleasure to advise you that Natasha (Tash) Glover will join Atherton High as Acting Principal for Term 1 2022, and  Chris Keating and Christina Uhlik as Deputy Principals for Semester 1 2022. 

Atherton State High School new Executive Team for 2022 will be as follows:

• Tash Glover, Principal
• Chris Keating, Deputy Principal
• Natasha Lyndon, Deputy Principal
• Charlene Reedman, HOSES
• Margaret Selby, Business Manager
• Christina Uhlik, Deputy Principal

I would like to thank the Atherton community for being so welcoming over the past six months. 

Term 4 Reports

Term 4 reports will be emailed out to parents and caregivers on Thursday 9 December.

Student start 2022

The school office will be open on Monday 17 January.

Year 7, Year 11 and Yera 12 students commence school on Monday 24 January.

Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 students commence school on Tuesday 25 January.

Congratulations Year 12 Graduates

Awards season culminated this term with the Year 12 Graduation and Formal. On Friday 19 November, our school community farewelled over 120 Year 12 students as they completed their secondary schooling in spectacular fashion. From the Red Carpet arrivals through to the Formal Dinner, the students celebrated after a year of hard work.

2022 Student Executive

Our 2022 School Leaders were announced at our Presentation Evening.

Congratulations to our outgoing Captains and Vice-Captains and we wish our new Student Leaders well in their leadership roles in 2022.

2021 Outgoing leaders handing blazers over to 2022 Incoming leaders

Staff Changes for 2022

I would like to extend my thanks and best wishes to these staff for their service:

• Mark Brophy, Grounds Officer
• Michael Jones, English/Humanities Teacher
• Moira Landford, English Teacher
• John Mattisson, Science/ITD Teacher
• Sandy Mattison, Executive Services Officer
• Suzanne Marwick, International Coordinator
• Miho Quinn, Library Assistant

Term 1 2022 Master Schedule

Please note the following key dates during Term 1 of 2022.

2021 Highlights

View the gallery below for a snapshot of key events and student achievements at State High in the year that was 2021. 

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This is our final newsletter for 2021. I wish all our students and staff a safe and happy holiday.  I’d like to extend my thanks to everyone in our community for your support, feedback, input, ideas, volunteering, financial support and encouragement. It was all greatly appreciated.

Michele Kirkland

Principal

Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning

Firstly, thank you to all our students and their families for the productive year. I cannot believe that we are yet again at the end of another school year and completing all the final work that typically occurs at this time of the year – time flies when you’re having fun!

There have been many accomplishments by Atherton SHS students this year.  Special mention goes to students who have been recognised at our annual Presentation Evening held in week 3 this term, which was live streamed for the first time. The evening showcased our student achievements and I want to congratulate all who received awards for their dedication in the academic, cultural, service and sporting arenas of school life.

In addition, Shi-Anne Wallace, our 2021 school vice-captain, was presented with the Business Liaison Association and the Alive Pharmacy and JCU Pharmacy awards for the Excellence in Pharmacy Program. This includes a $2500 scholarship and a position in a pharmacy to support the career aspirations of the winner.

 At the same ceremony we celebrated the outstanding achievement of one of our junior students, Piper Leinster in year 8, who won the Business Association Young Writers' Award for the second year in a row.

2022 Timetables

Current ASHS students will be emailed a copy of their 2022 timetable in the third week of December. In the week starting 17 January 2022 students will get a second emailed timetable in case there are late changes to staffing and class compositions. Each student will receive a hard copy of their timetable on their first day of school. 

Year 7 students will receive their timetables on the first day of school in 2022. Year 7 parents are reminded that they are welcome to drop their children at the Hall on this day, but must leave school grounds once the first bell of the day sounds.

Resource List

The links to the 2022 Junior and Senior Student Resource lists are found below.  The lists will also be published on the school’s website.

Deputy Principal Student Services

2022 will see the introduction of the House Cup. This aims to create and sustain stable, nurturing relationships between students and staff by promoting school and house spirit.

We will be implementing changes to our current RTC space so that students are supported to reflect and plan for their success while maximising learning in their classes.  These new systems will be important elements of Positive Behaviour for Learning, promoting positive behaviour and helping to develop safe and supportive learning environments across our school.

Year 11's

All Year 11's have completed a SET plan, reviewing their pathways for the next 12 months and beyond, and setting goals to ensure their success.

They have also finalised the design and orders for their senior shirts, jumpers and jerseys. this will ensure that our 2022 seniors will stand out proudly in the school and community.

ARTIE

Indigenous students involved in the Artie Attendance program started the term with some fun at  at Sugarworld for their rewards day. The day was a celebration for students who have maintained a high attendance rate throughout the year, and set and met personal goals around school attendance and engagement.

Attendance

Atherton State High School students are expected to maintain an attendance rate of 90%.

What to do when:

Your child is absent from school:

• SMS the student absence line 0426 305 138
• Phone the student absence line on 4030 5222 (press 1)
• Send a note with your child when they return to school

Your child needs to leave school early:

• Phone the school office on 4030 5222 before school or at least 2 hours before the student's departure time
• Send a note with your child with the time of departure
• Your child is to bring the note to the school office before school starts to receive a 'green slip'
• Your child needs to show this 'green slip' to their teacher at the time of departure and collect a 'leave slip' from the office before leaving the school grounds

Your child will arrive late to school:

• SMS the student absence line 0426 305 138 or phone the school office on 4030 5222 with time of arrival
• Your child must present to the office when they arrive to school to have their attendance recorded.  The student will then be issued with a 'sign in' slip and be given to the teacher on arrival to class.

All student absences need to have a reason; if no reason is provided, you will receive a phone call.

HOD of Senior Secondary

So much has happened in Term 4 in the senior school. We held 29 External Exams for Year 12 General Subjects during weeks 4 to 7.  The students were well prepared by their teachers and in the majority sat their exams with a sense of confidence. Thank you to everyone who supported our Year 10, 11 and 12 students to complete 2021 successfully.  We trust that these students are prepared for 2022, whether they are continuing at school or moving out into the workforce.

Formal and Graduation

The Formal and Graduation events in week 7 were well attended by our staff, students, their families and the larger community.  It was wonderful to see the support for the graduating class of 2021.

Formal

Graduation

A number of presentations were made to our senior students to support their transition out of school, including Post Schooling Pathways, advising on options for further training and employment for those who may not yet be sure of their final career, and Driving Home the Message, which gave reminders of the need to be safe in social situations and while driving.

Helping Friends Program

On Moderation day, the Year 10 and 11 2022 Student Leaders attended the Helping Friends Program to help them develop their roles and prepare them to support their peers throughout next year.

Year 10 and 11 students have positive aspirations and pathway plans to ensure that they achieve the outcomes that they have identified for themselves at school. Every student we have spoken with wants to achieve the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) successfully.  Some will also have achieved an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), and others will have Vocational Education and Training certification, or all three. There has been an increase in the uptake of Vocational Education opportunities that compliment the academic learning offered through school subjects this year. We appreciate the support from our local and wider community to be able to offer these opportunities to our students.

Release of Year 12 results and ATARs

2021 Year 12 results and ATARS will be released a day earlier than in previous years. QCAA will release students' final subject results and Senior Education Profiles via the Student Portal on the myQCE website on Friday 17 December 2021. QTAC will release students’ ATARs via the ATAR Portal on the same day. All Year 12 students were encouraged to register for the Student Portal and ATAR Portal before their last school day on Friday 19 November.

HOD of Junior Secondary

The 2021 school year comes to an end this term with 90 Year 8 students attending a three day camp at Tinaroo in Week 10. Students will be challenged with canoeing, raft building, wall climbing and rogaining as part of the program.  In the evening the activities are designed to be fun and engaging, whilst developing teamwork. The excitement has been building and students have been completing  assessments in readiness for fun and adventure.  Please check the School Facebook page regularly during the camp for photos and updates.

Transitions for prospective Year 7 students

The last transition day for Year 6 students took place on Tuesday 30 November.  Students had opportunities throughout the day to meet core teachers and some of our specialist elective staff  in readiness for 2022.  The program engaged students in activities focussing on orientation to the school, and getting to know each other and establishing new friendships.  All students participated in a final team building activity at the end of the day. 

Grade 7 students start on Monday 24 January 2022 at 8-45am in the school hall.

Sports Update

Sports Stars of the Year

We congratulate Kasey McCahon and Conor Stevenson for winning Senior Sports Stars of the Year, and Brooke Trentin for winning Junior Sport Star of the Year

Age Champions

Age Champions

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Age Champion Photos left to right
Row 1:  Dayne Ross Claire Wojskowicz, Billie Arbouin, Lucas Kattenberg 
Row 2: Madison Marshall, Alyssa Scheu, Shaun Darr, Zara Wojskowicz
Row 3:  Alan Kilpatrick, Jordan Cox, Bella Trentin, Baxter Hastie
Row 4:  Angus Goetze, Amy Hunter, Kadee Clemesha, Jayden Fox
Row 5:  Cooper Mickan, Carter Stacey, Annabel Goetze and Ethan Burnett
Row 6: Toby Blooranta, Amy Le’Gear, Kasey McCahon, Andrew Earl

Congratulations to all sports award winners for 2021. This year has provided ASHS and our students with many sporting opportunities.  Atherton SHS has maintained its high standards across a range of sporting achievements, even after a reduced sporting schedule in 2020. 

Many students showed that they still had significant sporting prowess after being allowed back into the sporting arenas this year, performing very well at various levels across a range of sports.  Several of these students were acknowledged at the ASHS Presentation Evening.    To every student who participated in school sport this year – well done!  We hope to see some amazing performances from you again in 2022.

Secondary Schools Cup Lawn Bowls

Adam Keevers and Harry Lawrence represented Atherton SHS at the State final of the Secondary Schools Cup lawn bowls competition recently.  They had an excellent tournament, winning 7 out of 9 games, including 4 from 4 on the final day.  They were second overall, and were invited to compete in Toowoomba early next year.  They were featured on TV!  Thank you to Mal Mackney from the Atherton bowls club has been sharing his wisdom as coach. 

Swimming Carnival

Atherton SHS held a successful swimming carnival at the end of Term 3, with some great swimming from students and staff.   The ASHS staff were victorious in the staff- student relay race and celebrated modestly (they have only mentioned the win a few times).   The level of student behaviour and support for their sporting Houses was exceptional this year. The participation in the novelty events was wonderful to see, and House spirit and enthusiasm were the deciding factors in those events.  Eacham was the winning house at the swimming carnival, which completed a year of sporting supremacy for them.  

2022 will start at full speed in the realms of sport, so we will look forward to a new year, great achievements and many more celebrations of efforts to come.

Science

Donation of Telescope

Community members Jim Fitzgerald and Susanne Andres have kindly donated an 80 mm refracting telescope to the school’s Astronomy & Astrophysics department.  The telescope and associated tracking equipment are valued at well over $2 000.  This welcome and very much appreciated addition to the school’s astronomy field equipment comes with a white-light solar filter for viewing, imaging and studying Sunspots.  With the Sun now coming into an active phase, it won’t be long before it is in use. 

A warm and sincere thank you to Jim and Susanne for their kind and generous donation to expand the education offerings to our students. 

English

What if Dr Seuss wrote our ENGLISH YEAR IN REVIEW
“Think left and think right and think low and think high.
Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!”

And just like that, we are at the end of another school year! So much to celebrate and nothing to fear.

Thank you to all our learners who have participated in classes with enthusiasm, interest and engagement.  Our English courses for term 4 have been rich and diverse, from rousing debates about the importance of songs to make a point of protest in Year 7, to exploring the world of speculative fiction in Year 9 with texts like The Hunger Games and Divergent, and our seniors considering the road less travelled.

“From there to here,  From here to there, Funny things are everywhere.”

There have been some wonderful achievements from individuals and classes during term 4.

• Congratulations to Piper Leinster in year 8 who, for a second year, has been recognised for her writing in the BLA and Education Queensland Junior Literary Competition.  

• Well done too, to Mieashah (year 8) and Megan (year 7) who also submitted wonderful stories.  

• We congratulate Chloe Robertson in Year 11. Chloe represented our school at the Aspirations Day held at Cairns State School earlier this term.  Co-ordinator Patrice Honnef wrote: “Chloe was an outstanding delegate and she spoke confidently and eloquently. Her delivery was engaging and I genuinely applaud and commend her thought-provoking sentiments.”  Chloe’s topic was addressing the need to have a new narrative around challenging our taken for granted behaviours as Australians when it comes to sexism and abuse.
• Finally, we recognise Angus Condon who submitted his gothic literature story into the 2021 Roly Sussex Short Story Competition. 

“And when they played they really PLAYED. And when they worked they really WORKED.”

Our teaching team has also been working hard to grow and learn during 2021.

• We welcomed Ms Geo Toner to our English team for Semester two.  
• Mrs Paula De Kroon and Mrs Cheyenne Trevor were recipients of Bell Shakespeare Regional Mentorships this year, that included intensive learning down in Sydney, then support to integrate the Bard’s work back into our worlds.  
• Miss Ellen McGuigan wrote an article on scaffolds and literacy for the national publication Literacy Learning in the Middle Years, and also co-convened an Early Careers Conference for English teachers in Brisbane in term 4.  
• Our teachers also used their mid year break to participate at the English educators National Conference, with sessions on imbedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island voices in authentic ways, the importance of supportive scaffolds for learning, and the need for strong teacher professional learning to support agency.  
• Term 4  saw our team working hard as external markers so we can know and support our own students with their external exams – thank you Mrs Jaelene Durrand, Mrs Christine Lagneau, Mrs Cheyenne Trevor and Mrs Ellen McGuigan for your many hours of work in this area. 

“The more that you read, the more things you will know.
The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. “

We wish our graduating seniors the very best as they head out for this next exciting chapter in their stories.  You have made a difference to our lives, and we hope you go forward with courage.
We also wish our own Mrs Moira Landford a wonderful year of leave for 2022. 

“There are so many things you can learn about, but
You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut.”

TIGER – SHORT STORY
Student: Megan Year 8 (Junior – year 7)

Russet
That is the colour of his fur. His bold black stripes blend him neatly into the background, making him appear no more than a shadow in beautiful ferns of the Indian jungle.  A deadly shadow.  He is quick. And smart. Unmistakably stealthy. One of nature’s deadly forces.   But Tiger knows that there are still creatures that want to hurt him. There are hunters. 

Running
He is running through the dark forests, stripy pelt refusing to betray him. Jumping over logs, he feels fear and growls with frustration as hidden roots trip him. Hunters love his fur; they think it beautiful.  Tiger can hear the hunters approaching.  Images of his loved ones flash through his mind.  He may never see his cubs again. His mouth has the memory of warm prey. He knows he might never taste it again.

Snared!
He runs further, feet pounding.  Unwarily, he has stepped in the cruel steel snare hidden deep in leaf litter.  Pain, struggles become harder and the trap flashes in the moon light.  He struggles more.  Teeth of metal dig deeper, sending flashes of pain through his leg. He roars in frustration. He wants to live. But the poachers are too powerful. 

Bullets!  Loud noise and gunpower are in the air.  Tiger doges nimbly but he cannot run. But he might be able to survive.  The snare digs deeper. Pain comes in shockwaves through his shoulder; a painting of red streaks across his fur.  There is no hope. He is ready to succumb. 

Dying
His struggles stop and he is laying down. All good memories flow back through his mind: His cubs; first prey; swimming; his mother and sisters; the thrill of the hunt.  He will never see these things again. Never feel these things again. 
A gunshot rings out and Tiger is dead.

Needlessly
Killed by poachers. 

Therapy Chickens

We had support chickens, which are used as therapy pets, in the English Department staffroom.   The little chickens are professionals :) They are lice free and wormed (but, yep, they do poop) and they are well rehearsed in being held, which they adore as evidenced by the photos. 

The Arts

The Arts have had another fantastic year in 2021. We began the year with an ATIM Music Reading Camp for years 7-12 way back in March, and ended the year with our wonderful ATIM Music Showcase. This featured students from our enthusiastic Year 4's all the way through to our talented graduating Year 12’s. In between we have had a huge number of extracurricular events including: The Brass and Concert Band Spectacular, The Arts Open Night, the Spirit of Youth performances, the SNAP exhibition and so many others. In the Arts classrooms, students have created some fantastic music and evocative drama performances, amazing art works and the filming and editing of some truly inspirational movies. As teachers of the Arts we are very proud of the efforts of all of our students who have put so much time and effort into producing so many wonderful works this year. 

John Greatrex Bursary Winner: Tai Ah Gee

Tai Ah Gee, one of our very own music students, recently applied for and was successfully awarded the John Greatrex Bursary. The bursary was established in honour of John Greatrex, a passionate local music teacher who sadly passed away in 2017. The aim of this bursary is to assist aspiring musicians (Years 7-10) in accessing learning opportunities to extend their musical talent.

Tai received a beautiful steel string Guild guitar so that he can develop his performance skills and continue his solo career. Thank you to Louisa Greatrex for organising this bursary, and for her ongoing support of our music students. Congratulations to Tai, and we wish him all of the best with his future musical endeavours.

The Atherton Tablelands Instrumental Music (ATIM)

The ATIM program celebrated the end of a huge year of music-making with their annual end of year Showcase Concert on Thursday 25 November. Under the direction of Mr. Lachlan Szery, the concert featured performances from both the Atherton State High School Concert Band and the combined ATIM Primary Concert Band, which includes students from Atherton, Tolga, Kairi, and Yungaburra State Schools. After an intensive whole-day workshop, the Primary Concert Band performed three pieces to a large and supportive audience of parents and families. The concert ended with three pieces by the High School Concert Band and a brief preview of their recent recording project. It was a fantastic evening of music, and all staff and students involved should be incredibly proud of their achievements this year.

Jonathan Platz

Year 8 student Jonathan Platz has capped off a busy year of composing with his Jazz piece ‘C’mon Show Me The Good Times’, which is  planned to be played by the Queensland Youth Orchestra Big Band at the end of the term.

Other 2021 highlights for Jonathan have included:

• Receiving 3^rd place in the Gold Coast QMTA’s Composers’ Competition - open Junior (17 years and under) category. This is a competition open to national and international composers. Jonathan also received the ‘Open Junior Remote/Regional Award’ and the ‘Vocal/Choral Award’.
• Selected as one of the finalists in Artology’s 2021 Fanfare Competition – a national competition which culminated in Jonathan’s piece ‘Proclamation’ being performed in Brisbane by the Queensland Youth Orchestra (QYO).
• Jonathan’s ‘Wind Symphony in A minor’ has recently been accepted and rehearsed by the QYO Wind Symphony.
• Shortlisted in the 2021 ACMF National Songwriting Competition.
• Highly Commended Award in the ASME Queensland Young Composers’ Competition
• In September, Jonathan’s string quartet ‘The Pursued’ was played by the NQ Chamber Orchestra at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre.
• 2021 Ailsa Moyle Trophy for the most memorable performance at the Innisfail Young Performer’s Competition.

Jonathan would like to thank everyone who has supported and encouraged him throughout the year.

Humanities

Much of the junior curriculum was reworked this year to create more opportunities for community engagement and student participation, and we celebrated many successes including

• Year 7 - excursions to investigate the liveability of Atherton,
• Year 8 - an investigation of volcanic features of the Tablelands, a cross schools’ investigation of Cairns under threat from a natural hazard.
• Year 8 - mock medieval warrior weapons were displayed in the library
• Year 8 - developed self-drive tour brochures of Tableland’s volcanic features displayed at TRC and the Malanda Visitor Centre to name a few venues.
• Year 9 - student work was presented at the Anzac parade,
• Years 7-10 - the students studying Japanese attended a weekend camp, speaking competition, and Ikebana classes to complement their cultural activities in class.
• Our senior programs – Certificate III Business, Social Community Studies, Ancient History, Legal Studies, Modern History - have demonstrated their achievements with high success rates.

As Vidal Sassoon states: The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.

Health

Ms Davis reaches a milestone

We congratulate Ms Katina Davis, one of our wonderful teachers, who has been recognised by Binnacle Training, our Certificate III in Fitness provider,  for her 10 year contribution to VET training .  

Junior Health subjects

Our Year 7, 8 and 9 students are busy completing their final theoretical and practical assessments, and we look forward to seeing some great results from both the core and elective classes this term.

The highlight of term 4 is always the Year 8 HPE Movement and Dance unit, with our Year 8’s busting out some seriously good moves as they complete their assessment.

Senior Physical Education

Well done to our Year 12 senior PE students who have completed their studies with us, including the external exam.  We hope your external exam results are as good as your previous assessment results which were all recently endorsed by QCAA.

Year 11 Physical Education students have submitted their final assessment for 2021, and we look forward to what they can achieve as Year 12’s in 2022.

Senior Health subjects

We farewell our Year 12 Certificate III in Fitness students. We know that they are well equipped to tackle the next chapter of their lives having gained five separate qualifications whilst with us.   Students who completed the full course have attained a Certificate II in Sport and Certificate III in Fitness, as well as First Aid, CPR and Level 1 Coaching General Principles qualifications.  The students put a great effort into their final practical assessment, during which they were required to train an ‘older adult’ – mainly teachers and parents.  Thank you to those staff and family members who assisted the students by offering their services as a client, and well done to the Year 12 students.

Year 11 Fitness students have been training their peers in order to develop their skills working with real life clients in a controlled manner.  Well done to Ms Davis and the Year 11’s who have been designing some excellent training sessions.

Thank you to FNQ Health and Fitness, especially trainer Shana Backshall, who hosted some of our staff in order for them to complete their industry currency update.  We really appreciate the opportunity to work with practicing fitness industry professionals, and will be sure to share this valuable knowledge with our students.

Technology

The Technology Department includes a number of learning areas including:

• Food and Fibre Technology
• Digital Technology
• Industrial Design and Technology.

These learning areas offer our students the ability to explore the world with 21^st Century skills in mind.

Food and Fibre Technology

Year 8 students recently showcased their talents at our Eat Street extravaganza.  Congratulations to Mr Stratford and Ms Kirkland who were the 2022 winners of the Eat Street Cookoff!  I am pleased to announce that a Certificate II course in Hospitality will be offered in 2022 to students wanting to build skills in this highly sought-after employment area.

Digital Technology

Mrs Stevens and Mr Gray have provided students with opportunities to explore the digital world, to express themselves and to build the skills necessary to navigate our ever-changing world. Students have coded robots and drones, and created digital games, webpages and spreadsheets and developed skills that are necessary in tomorow`s world.

Industrial Technology and Design 

Mr Alford, Mr Pitt, Mr Mattisson and Mr Dane led this curriculum area. Students designed, made and evaluated their concepts, and used machines, tools and practices that may one day be a necessity. Students also  used digital tools to develop ideas and concepts with the use of Computer Assisted Design software and 3D printing technology.  

Year 9 ITD

Year 9 ITD classes made a garden fork in term 4.  The emphasis was on designing an ergonomic handle to suit a person who may have some disability.

Atherton SHS was fortunate this year to have the new and improved multi-million dollar Trade Training Centre opened and available to students. High-level trade skills can now be taught in  real-world settings. We will be offering two new courses in 2022,  Certificate II in Engineering and Certificate I in Construction. We are looking forward to assisting students to achieve real-world skills and experiences that we expect will lead to future careers and life-long interests and skills.

The Hub

HUB Graduation Dinner

Bonadio's RV and Nature Park

On Friday 12 November we visited Bonadio’s RV and Nature Park.  When we arrived Ron took us for a walk along the Barron river, and explained how over the past 9 years they had revegetated some of their paddocks back to rainforest. This has improved water quality and provided a food source for native animals returning to his property. He showed us bush tucker and we saw a platypus.  Miss Linda showed how to make bracelets while others went fishing, and Marianna and Anthony  caught fish. We really appreciated Ron for taking the time to spend the day with us. 

Hub Gardening

Students have been involved in planting, taking care of and harvesting a variety of produce. Sweet potatoes, corn, strawberries, beans, sunflower seeds and sage have been carefully nurtured and enjoyed. Students have also maintained worm farms and collected “worm wee”, which they’ve used to fertilise crops and distribute to Atherton High Staff.

Shaylee Strawberry Farm

Students from the HUB visited Shaylee Strawberry Farm as part of our Community Access Program. We were given a guided tour of the facility by Alice and allowed time to wander through the strawberry fields. Alice explained the process of jam making and we saw the boiling and bottling kitchen. Afterwards, we enjoyed a delicious Strawberry Gelato sitting out on the deck looking out over the beautiful strawberry fields.  We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Shaylee’s - thank you to Alice and her staff who made us feel very welcome.

Student Services

#doiknowu 

#doiknowu aims to educate young people, parents, carers and educators about the behaviours which recognise, prevent and respond to online grooming. There are several resources available to inform young people and parents about the sophisticated tactics that predators use to engage young people online. Families are encouraged to visit the link below for more information and to view the resources.

For young people

Do you really know your online friends? Find out how you can stay safe online. Visit the link below: #doiknowu

For parents

Do you really know who your children are talking to online? Predators use sophisticated and compelling tactics to engage young people. Find out how you can help protect your children online. Visit the link below: #doiknowu

Guidance Officer

SCHOOL HOLIDAY DIGITAL DETOX 

(adapted from Life Education.org)

In our fast-paced modern world we so rarely get to unplug. With school holidays approaching it is a perfect opportunity to take some genuine time-out from our technology-based lives. No need to worry about emails or homework - it’s the perfect time to down tech-tools.

Let’s remind our teenagers that there is life outside the digital world - a fact that is often forgotten. I guarantee that nobody has ever got sick by spending less time on technology. As a matter-of-fact, there is reams of evidence to prove that a digital detox can lead to an improvement in our mental and our physical health.

Three steps to a successful digital detox:

1. Make a commitment and agree on the rules
   Make sure you have a commitment from all team (family) members. Perhaps a reward might help get some across the line! Agree on the timeframe and the rules. A 3-day detox from all devices is recommended except for calls on smartphones and an hour of TV time per day.
2. Find something interesting to do
   When was the last time you went camping as a family? If you’re not campers, perhaps some day trips around our local area. We are so lucky in Atherton that we are not locked down (fingers crossed) like much of the nation and there is plenty to get out and about to celebrate whilst the weather is still pleasant. When you are at home, dust off the board games, get out the trusty pack of cards or cook up a storm in the kitchen.
3. Debrief and change the way you do tech
   Sit down with your family post detox and work out a plan for how to continue to reduce the time spent on technology in your household. Brainstorm ways that you can be better connected without using technology. Why not schedule in some tech-free time as part of your normal weekly routine?

A digital detox might seem like an impossible thing to achieve with our teens (or even for ourselves) but I guarantee everyone involved will feel better for it!

Chappy Chat 

I have been the Chaplain at Atherton State High for over a year now. It amazes me just how invested you can become in a community in such a short time. School communities are little hubs of society with a range of people and roles, all working for the success of students.

One of the highlights of my role is to see how our wonderful Atherton community support the students of this school.  Volunteers from our community give up time in their morning each Thursday and Friday to come in and cook breakfast for our students. The Mabel St Bakery donates 6 loaves of bread each week to the Breakfast Club.  A Volunteers Morning Tea was hosted in the conference room at the end of Term 3 for community members, staff and students who make up the volunteer team that keeps the Breakfast Club running.  Bill and Gwen Thomas were presented with a special gift to recognise their service to the ASHS community for 10 years, which is a sacrifice of love.

Breakfast Club will recommence in Term 1 2022.

I wish all families and staff a safe and happy Christmas filled with meaning and purpose.

Postive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)

On 25 November 89 Year 10 and 11 students were invited to the PBL Rewards excursion to NQ Tenpin.  Those who attended were treated to 3 games of tenpin and enough hot chips and gravy to feed an army.

Thank you to Mrs Huth for organising the excursion and to Mr Harris, Ms Mainey and Mrs Grimshaw for supervision and their involvement. 

Here is what attendees had to say:

“Simply the best” – Mr Harris

“It was lovely to finish the year in such a fun way” - Marni

“Mrs Huth and Mrs Grimshaw were great competition, but we’re still the best” - Hayley, Amber and Amy.

“It was really fun and I liked the snacks” – Marianne

“Enjoyable walk, everyone was a good sport and good behaviour showing the Atherton High core values” – Ms Mainey.

“We wish we were as good as Amy’s team” – Blake, Kamran, Adam.

Thank you for NQ Ten Pin for hosting our first ever Year End Reward, and we look forward to bringing our Junior Secondary reward students back in Week 10.

Year 8 Reward Students - Regretfully Ten Pin was fully booked after you return from camp, so instead you will be treated to a free lunch on Thursday 9^th December.

From the Business Manager

Student Resource Scheme 2022 

Atherton State High School operates a Student Resource Scheme (SRS) in 2022 to provide parents with a cost-effective alternative to purchasing textbooks and/or resources elsewhere.

The scheme ensures that students have the resources required to engage with the curriculum for their education, and saves parents time and money in sourcing the prescribed materials. Savings are gained through the School’s bulk purchasing practices and hiring arrangements. The scheme is not used to raise funds for other purposes, and revenue collected through the scheme is applied only to the resources and operation of the scheme.

The scheme’s operation, resource inclusions and participation fees have been approved by the Atherton SHS P&C Association. 

SRS Participation

• The objective of the scheme is to provide a convenient and cost-effective way for students to access the educational resources necessary to enhance their learning experience at school.
• The Department encourages parents to participate in the scheme.
• Participation in the SRS is optional, and no obligation is placed on parents to participate.
• Participation is for the duration of your child’s enrolment at the school.
• Participation Agreement Forms have been sent out to those parents of continuing students where there is no indication of their participation status in the Student Resource Scheme or where forms have not been filled out correctly.  Please return these as soon as possible.
• Incoming 2022 Year 7 students have been issued with forms.
• If you have received a form, please return them before the end of the 2021 school year.

Further detailed information regarding SRS Inclusions and fees are being placed on the School website. Please ensure that all previous fees are paid up to date to enable students to receive resources when they return to school in 2022.  Parents who choose not to participate in the scheme will be responsible for providing their student with all items that would otherwise be provided by the scheme.  

Payment Arrangement

• Please make use of the payment arrangement included in the SRS. 
• If you prefer to make instalment payments of SRS fees, please contact the school to  arrange a  BPOINT Electronic Direct Debit or make a Centrelink agreement.
• Email  bsm@athertonshs.eq.edu.au or phone the school on 40305222.

Certificate Courses  in 2022

• A letter and Fact Sheet will be provided to students who wish to enrol in certificate courses.
• Up-front payment must be made to the external providers of these courses by Friday 4 February 2022, in order for those courses to attract VETIS funding. 
• If payment is not made, VETIS funds will be used on another course.
• The documents will explain this further.

Important

• Please ensure that we have the latest name and address of the person responsible for payment of fees for correct invoicing, and bank details for any possible future refunds from the school.
• All 2021 Student Resource Scheme levies, including subject fees, are due to be paid at the end of Term 1, 2022 - if they are unpaid, they are outstanding.
• Statements are sent out at the end of each month.
• In order for students to continue to receive resources, please ensure all fees are paid in full, or that there is a payment agreement in place with the school
  

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.
• 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.

Do you receive Family Tax Benefit A or B from Centrelink? If so, you can nominate a fixed amount to be paid from your Family Tax Benefit directly to the school to cover your child's education costs. Please contact us via email to set up your payment plan:  mselb4@eq.edu.au.

If you are currently experiencing financial difficulty, please contact Margaret Selby, our Business Manager, via email  mselb4@eq.edu.au, to organise a payment arrangement

QParents

What is QParents?
QParents is a user-friendly portal accessible via app or web browser, providing parents with secure online access to information about their child’s schooling.

How will QParents assist me?
QParents enables you to access and manage information about your child online.

What information is available in QParents?
You can access information about: 

• attendance details 
• timetables and upcoming events
• report cards and assessments
• invoices and payment history.

What are the benefits of using QParents?
You will benefit from:

• greater transparency with online access to your child’s information
  
• ease of viewing and updating your child’s details including address and medical conditions
  
• anytime, anywhere access on a smart phone, tablet or computer
  
• access to the latest information in one centralised place
  
• improved administration efficiencies and reduced printing and mail outs.

School Watch

School holidays are almost upon us

During this period empty schools provide an opportunity for criminal activity, becoming targets for unlawful entry, arson, stealing, graffiti and property damage – all of which become a cost to the community.

The School Watch Program is a partnership between Education Queensland, the Queensland Police Service and the State Government Protective Security Service.  It aims to reduce criminal activity in Queensland schools and encourages everyone to look out for after-hours crime in our schools.  If you see anything suspicious, please don’t attempt to intervene. Call the School Watch number – 13 17 88

Let’s work together to help create safer school communities.

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