Term 22nd November 2023

From the Princapal's Desk

Newsletter item

Good afternoon parents and community members, I hope this newsletter finds you well!  What an incredible week 7 our amazing school community has had, we have so much to celebrate!

Presentation Evening – Our Presentation Evening was truly spectacular; it was the premiere event on the school calendar for one extremely proud Principal.  The Evening honoured so many of our students and hundreds of parents, staff, family members and community supporters came along to celebrate and support our extraordinary students. I would like to share with those who couldn’t attend, my speech from the evening as I believe it captures the incredible significance and importance of celebrating outstanding student achievement and the achievements of Atherton State High School this year!

Principal’s Address

Presentation Night – Atherton State High

14^th November 2023

Leanne Knight-Smith

Good Evening,

Parents, Friends, Special Guests, Staff and most importantly welcome to our wonderful students.

It is such a pleasure to speak to you on this night of happiness and celebration.  We are here to celebrate the many successes which the students and the school have achieved this year.  It makes me so proud to be honouring 350+ students this evening.  These students will be celebrated as they have demonstrated their personal best both within and beyond the classroom.

I have been truly blessed with earning the position of Principal of this extraordinary school.  This year has been challenging but incredibly rewarding.  When my husband and I moved to this beautiful part of the world in January this year, we fell in love with the Tablelands instantly. The thing I treasure most is being so close to beautiful rainforests. As I walk regularly through our extraordinary local rainforests I think of my school and my tremendous students I think of you! 

The rainforest, with its vast diversity of plant and animal life, is a symbol of the rich variety of knowledge and experiences available to you in your educational journey. As you delve into your studies, your mind became a fertile ground for learning, much like the fertile soil of the rainforest floor. Your curiosity sprouted, much like the delicate shoots and seedlings that break through the forest's canopy.

As we recognize the achievements of our students, we are not just celebrating isolated moments of success but the flourishing rainforests of knowledge, potential, and opportunity that they have cultivated. Each student, when they first walked through our school's doors, was like a seed, full of potential and ready to embark on a unique journey.

As we celebrate our students this evening, it's essential to acknowledge the pivotal role parents and carers play in their growth. We honour not only the accomplishments of our students but also the commitment and guidance provided by their parents. In the same way a healthy rainforest sustains diverse life forms, parents provide their children with the nourishment and sustenance of love, encouragement, and life skills. They teach resilience, empathy, and problem-solving, allowing their children to adapt and thrive in the face of life's challenges.

Much like a rainforest thrives with the cooperation of various species and elements, a student's growth and success depend also on the guidance and support of their teachers and our support staff. In the intricate ecosystem of education, teachers are akin to the caretakers of the rainforest, fostering an environment where potential can flourish.

The interconnected branches of the rainforest resemble the network of support that our staff provide. They offer stability, guidance, and direction to students, much like the interconnected branches provide stability to the rainforest's inhabitants. Our staff help students find their path, navigate challenges, and adapt to the complexities of their educational journey.

Tonight, I wish to start what I hope will be a new tradition whereby we highlight 2 staff members who have provided exceptional service over many years to our school.  This has been so difficult as we have so, so many extremely dedicated staff members in fact, I am proud and honoured to be able to reiterate that I am fortunate to be working with some of the best educators that I have the privilege to work alongside.  The drive, passion and determination, underpinned by skill knowledge and empathy has seen teaching and learning continue to raise progress and student achievement this year.

Wonderful schools are built on strong foundations, the first amazing staff member that I would like to acknowledge is a can-do man! He works tirelessly to create the best environment for our staff and students.  His humour, incredible work ethic and positivity define his amazing character!

Geoff Stansfield your service to our school is seriously amazing – what stands out most for me is how you help shape and mentor our young people, all day every day. You Geoff are an outstanding role model for us all!  

So, Geoff on behalf of our school community I would like you to come up on stage and accept our inaugural Outstanding Service to the Atherton State High School community award. 

Our second staff member this evening is a gentleman whose amazing service has spanned many decades!  This teacher began their teaching career here as a first-year teacher apparently as the Kilpatrick’s house child. Watching you work is so inspiring as your passion for your craft is so evident and it is so very obvious that our kids adore you, hence the many mini me’s on dress up as your favourite teacher day. Our animals adore you too sir, Cameron Harris you are an amazing educator, we thank you and honour your outstanding service to our school community, please accept this award on behalf of our school.

We as a school community have much to celebrate, we are on a continuous improvement journey and it thrills me to share some of the wonderful things we have achieved this year.  First and foremost, our student outcomes are continuously improving as we have a sharp focus on teaching and learning, we have privileged staff development by working on building staff capability with curriculum, pedagogy and positive behaviour management. Wellbeing is a priority for both our students and staff, we have recently applied for a substantial grant to refurbish A Block into a wellbeing centre focussed upon student support. Fingers crossed we have some great news to share with you early next year.  We have also been pushing hard for a new General classroom block and have escalated this work with the facility team at Central office.  We are driven to transform the school and keep refreshing each and every one of our buildings, enhancing the learning environment for all. The long-awaited facilities upgrade for our students will begin work this weekend! The administration building renovation will also begin early next year, providing a beautiful and operational face to our school.  I am driven to give our wonderful students and dedicated staff the outstanding facilities that they so deserve!

To conclude, the rainforest metaphor reminds us that our educational journey is a dynamic and interconnected ecosystem of learning, where each role and contribution is vital to our success. Just as the health of a rainforest depends on its biodiversity and interdependence, our community's vitality and achievement depend on the diverse talents and collaborative efforts of all its members, our staff, our parents, our supporters and particularly our students!

So, to you our students, the best of the best we honour you!

To you the Atherton State High School Community it has been a pleasure and a privilege to serve you!

Year 12 Formal and Graduation Ceremony – To our graduates and their families, I am so very grateful to you, what an exceptional group of young adults we had the pleasure of celebrating last week.  The formal celebrations were enjoyed by our graduating students and their special guests, this night was just beautiful, perfect in fact!  A huge team of our staff worked tirelessly to create this spectacular evening!  The beautiful traditions of the evening just took my breath away, to witness such an amazing rite of passage was just unbelievable! Then the following day we hosted a luncheon and graduation ceremony for our year 12 students and their extended families, this was also just beautiful, culminating in a full school guard of honour!  Please check out our Facebook page to see photos of these wonderful events!

Year 11 Camp – I had the privilege of visiting our year 11 students on their Leadership camp last night! It was wonderful to visit our students and staff at the Tinaroo Environmental Education Centre.  The students had finished their first activity rotation and thoroughly enjoyed the Giant Swing, Crate Activity and Leap of faith.  I would like to thank our team of extremely dedicated staff who have organised this wonderful experience for our students. 

From the Deputy's Desk-Senior Schooling

Term 4 Senior Schooling

Wow! What a term it has been in our senior school.  Our year 12s have headed off to new adventures, and our Year 11s are preparing for a bit of downtime before they embark on their final year of schooling. A huge thank you to all the staff, parents and students who supported our Year 11 and 12 students to complete 2023 so determinedly. 

During weeks 4 to 7 we hosted the successful completion of twenty-eight external exams for Year 12 General subjects.  The students were well prepared by their teachers and generally approached their exams with confidence.

The formal and graduation events in Week 7 were a wonderful celebration of our Year 12s. These events really highlight the important foundation of community, identity and mutual respect that our school has built for these young adults as they take their next step into independence. It was wonderful to see the fantastic support from parents, friends, staff and students for the graduating class of 2023.

This is the final week for Year 11 and sixty of our students took the opportunity to go on leadership camp at the Environmental Education Centre in Tinaroo. While many students have been to this location before, this camp provides new opportunities to create new relationships, shared experiences, skills and attitudes that will help these students towards success next year.

Over the last few weeks and months, there have been many positive conversations with Year 11 and 12 students about their aspirations and pathways plans to make sure they are on track for the outcomes they have identified that are important to them. It has been great to see so many students utilising the flexibility of the QCE in combining general and applied subjects, vocational subjects and courses and school based training and apprenticeship options in designing their pathways. The support of parents and local businesses is critical in accessing these opportunities.

A final thank you to the senior schooling team, Kirstie Whybird and Cheyenne Trevor, and to the teachers of our senior students who have all worked tirelessly to ensure that our students achieved every skerrick of success they could to set them on their next path. We look forward to continuing this support, with the help of parents and the community, in 2024.

From the Deputy's Desk-Middle Schooling

It was so wonderful to celebrate the achievements of so many Years 9 and 10 students at the annual Presentation Evening. Congratulations to all the deserving winners.

The term is moving along quickly and our Year 10 cohort is busy completing their final assessments in the compulsory phase of their education. It has been a pleasure to watch this cohort grow as a group as well as individually and commend you all for the thoughtful conversations you have had in regards to returning to school next year and the program of study in which you wish to engage. Some of these wonderful young people have chosen to move to the work force in 2024 and we wish them all the very best in their chosen vocation. For those Year 10’s who are looking to do some work experience over the school holidays, please make sure you organise this through Ms Coleman our Vocational Education Coordinator kcole128@eq.edu.au or via the school phone number 40305222 before you leave.  Year 10 students will be exiting the school on Friday 24 November.

Year 9 students are also starting to complete assessment and doing revision for upcoming exams. Some Year 9 students are busy finalising their work experience options for Week 10 as offered by Jesse Bolton, Head of Junior Secondary jbolt54@eq.edu.au or via the school phone number 4030 5222 . Emails have been sent to all year 9 parents and students with the details of how to arrange this experience. A wonderful opportunity for young people to experience the world of work. Year 9 students finish school on Friday 8 December.

Atherton State High School runs a laptop program, whereby the majority of students participate in the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) option. In 2024 we are looking to increase the use of digital technology in the classroom in various ways across all year levels. The goal is to help students see the use of technology as more than just entertainment. We will be introducing lessons that focus on using 21^st Century skills that can be transferred into the world of work in the future.

A 21st century education is about giving students the skills they need to succeed in this new world, and helping them grow the confidence to practice those skills. With so much information readily available to them, 21st century skills focus more on making sense of that information, sharing, and using it in smart ways.

Our ‘School Owned Long-Term Laptop Hire Scheme’ has been popular with parents and students across all year levels who wish to look at alternatives to buying a new computer outright for the start of 2024. Atherton State High School offer a number of FUJITSU Notebook LIFEBOOK E5411/A available for annual hire through the school. The following link gives further detail of the device available

https://www.fujitsu.com/hk/products/computing/pc/ap/notebooks/lifebook-e5411a/

Please note: Provision for financial hardship for families can be requested via the School Owned Long-Term Student Laptop Hire process. Any financial support requests are determined on an individual basis, and may include a payment plan option.

If you are interested in more information, please email Ann Grimshaw, Deputy Principal Middle Secondary  agrim14@eq.edu.au . For parent of students entering Year 7 next year, you are able to apply at the start of 2024.

From the Deputy's Desk-Junior Schooling

Words from the Deputy Desk Junior

The year is winding down and assessment is ramping up in the junior school. It is important that students and carers stay on top of assessment due dates, revision timelines and achieve to the best of their ability. It is also important to take care of your student’s mental and physical health at this time and ensure that we take time to look after ourselves and each other.

With the end of year in mind, it is important to note that Week 10 is an alternate activities week for years 7, 8 (most on camp) and 9. This means that normal curriculum instruction has ceased and students will engage in other activities. Students will still be actively supervised and the school day remains the same in terms of start and finish times.  Each faculty in our school will take turns in engaging with the students this week, with the last day being a rotational basis.

Year 8 Camp

As we wind down for the end of the year, there are still many rich learning experiences occurring. The Year 8 cohort will embark on their Camp journey to Daradgee Environmental Camp in week 10. There are many learning opportunities that align with our current ACARA Curriculum standards; empowering students through a change of environment. Thank you to all the parents and caregivers who have already returned consent/ permission forms and payment. This enables our staff to be organised and accurate with their planning of the event. If you have not returned these items, please contact the school at your earliest convenience to complete these tasks.  A massive thank you to the staff who have volunteered for camp this year. Our students would not have these positive learning experiences if our staff are not willing to supervise students while on camp.

Year 6 into 7 Transition Day November 29

Year 7 students for 2024, who have completed an enrolment interview, will have an orientation experience on November 29 (Wednesday Week 9). On this day student’s will be placed in their 2024 class groupings, have a tour of the school and engage in real classroom lessons taught by high school teachers. The day will operate as a normal school day beginning at 8.50 am and concluding at 3.00 pm. Students are to wear their Primary School uniform and bring a hat, writing equipment, their lunch or tuckshop money and a water bottle.

All students need to have completed their enrolment paperwork and interview to be able to participate in this term 4 transition day on November 29. To make an enrolment interview time, please call the school office.

Finance Update

ASHS Fee Structure

At ASHS we strive to keep fees in line with quality education, so you can invest in your child's future. The fee structure is as follows:

SRS Resource Fee:

This covers the majority of school expenses including, but not limited to our core subjects; Mathematics, English, Science, and Humanities. Billed each year at the beginning of the school year, usually within the first 2 weeks of school commencing. Due by the end of Term 1.

Subject Resource Fee:

Dependant on year level and subjects studied. This covers the cost of student expenses such as classroom consumables, etc and the cost of physically delivering the subject to our students. Billed each year, separately from the SRS Resource Fee, mid Term 1 to allow for finalisation of classes.  You can expect these invoices approximately at the beginning of March. Due by the end of Term 1.

Extra-Curricular Fees:

Extra-curricular fees are for activities such as camps, Music lessons and sporting levies. These are determined by your child/s activities within the Atherton SHS community. Billed intermittently throughout the year as they arise. Due before participation and dependant on finalisation of existing account prior. Not to be covered by payment plans

Payment of School Fees

ASHS conveniently offers a wide range of payment options as follows:

BPOINT:

The school’s preferred method of payment is via BPOINT. Please follow the link at the bottom left hand corner of any invoice or statement.

EFTPOS:

ASHS accepts; Visa, Mastercard, credit, cheque or savings account in person, alternatively you can make payment over the phone by using the IVR system 1300 631 073.

Please note that the ASHS is a cashless school. Circumstantial payment via cash and valid cheque, by prior arrangement only.

Payment Plans:

The following payment plans are available to our families:

• A single payment in full by the end of Term 1.
• Three equal instalments throughout the year, to be finalised by the end of Term 3.
• Instalment payments.

• eDDR (Electronic Direct Debit). The school will provide parents with a link to register for a payment plan via email, parents then click on the link and enter their payment details, parents will get a reminder each time they are about to be charged.
• Centrepay/BasicsCard. Parents provide CRN and DOB to the school to register payment plan from the school’s online Centrelink account, or the school provided its CRN to parents to complete set-up via their own Centrelink online account.
• Self-managed. The school provides parents with its BSB and account number for parents to set up direct debit from their own online bank account.

Queries relating to accounts can be directed to 4030 5248.

Chris' Spot on Health

Exams again!!! Use these science-backed tips to help you maximise your study power

1. Study when sleepy

Try studying for a few minutes right before hitting the hay. During sleep, your brain strengthens new memories and puts them into long-term storage, so there’s a good chance you’ll remember whatever you review right before dozing off.

1. Space it out

“Spaced repetition” involves breaking up information into small chunks and reviewing them consistently over a long period of time. Don’t try to memorize the entire periodic table in one sitting. Instead, learn a few rows each day and review each lesson before starting anything new.

1. Create a mnemonic device

Turn the details you need to remember into an easy-to-recite acronym. For example, remember the order of maths operations PEMDAS (parenthesis, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, subtraction) with a catchy mnemonic device: Please (P) excuse (E) my (M) dear (D) Aunt (A) Sally (S).

1. Write it down

Research suggests that we store information more securely when we write it by hand than when we type it on a computer keyboard. Start by recopying the most important notes from the semester onto a new sheet of paper.

1. Put yourself to the test

Quizzing yourself may be one of the best ways to prepare for the real deal. Get into the routine of practicing with a cheat sheet (notes) and then without it. Use a stopwatch to simulate the test time limit.

1. Shout it out

The dual action of seeing and hearing information at the same time helps seal it into your memory. So, shout those notes out loud!

1. Come together

Group work doesn’t fly with everyone, but for those who benefit from a little team effort, a study group is the way to go.

1. Walk backward

It might sound strange, but a backward walk is like hitting your brain’s rewind button. In one study, people who walked backward were better able to remember a video they’d watched than those who walked forward or stood still.

1. Switch it up

Don’t stick to one topic. Instead, study a bunch of different material in one sitting. For example, if you do several division problems in a row, you’ll know when you begin each problem that it’ll require some division. But doing a series of problems that could require multiplication, division, or addition means you have to stop and think about which strategy is best.

1. Treat yourself!

A healthy holiday cookie, a walk around the block, 5 minutes on Snapchat — whatever floats your boat. Knowing there’s a little reward waiting at the end of a few more pages makes it easier to beat procrastination.

1. Take a time-out

Take the time to plan. Don’t just start the week with the vague goal of studying for a history exam. Instead, break up that goal into smaller tasks. Pencil it in on the calendar like a regular class. For example, allot 1 to 3 p.m. each day to review.

1. Work it out

Research has shown that just a half hour of aerobic exercise may improve your brain-processing speed and other important mental abilities. Go for a jog or run up the stairs!

1. Gimme a break

Taking breaks — say, every 75 to 90 minutes — can boost productivity and improve your ability to focus on a single task. For a real productivity charge, step away from the screen and break a sweat with a midday gym session.

1. Doze off

All-nighters rarely lead to an automatic A. In fact, burning the midnight oil can backfire, leading to more forgetfulness and greater sensitivity to stress. In the days leading up to a big exam, aim to get those 7 to 9 hours a night. Research has shown that a solid night of sleep improves declarative memory, also known as the ability to remember facts on that big exam.

1. Feel free to inhale

In one study, catching a whiff of lavender improved participants’ memory test scores after they were exposed to stress. So, skip the frantic last-minute review and try a few minutes of aromatherapy instead.

Technology faculty update

Future Engineers:

This term Year 10 Design and Technology has been learning about bridge design. This is an engineering unit intended to introduce students to the compressive and tensive forces that act on a bridge.

Students had to design a bridge to span a distance of 900mm. With limited materials, students had to research bridge designs and learn how to overcome applied forces on their bridge through creative construction processes.

Once completed, the bridges were weighed and a load was applied until the bridge failed. Students then had to evaluate their bridge and explain where the weakest point was. The winning design was calculated by the weight held divided by the weight of the bridge. The winning bridge design held 63 times its own weight.

The pictures show a load on the bridge and then just before breaking point.

Mobile Women's Health Clinic

Culture and Connection Experience

Last week Sharon Anning-Caulfield, Community Education Counsellor and Lisa Combe, Community Liaison Officer hosted a Culture & Connection Experience at Hallorans Hill, Atherton.   The event provided our Indigenous students a safe space to connect, yarn and listen to stories from Elders, community members, service providers and their fellow students.

Our students were culturally educated about how important and relevant the core values of their Indigenous Culture is to them in todays’ society and what it means to have Elder advice and guidance. They also received encouragement in obtaining school education, achieving their goals and standing firm and strong in their identities as descendants of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Students also were able to learn cultural and traditional perspectives about Country, its importance, why it means so much to their Indigenous Elders who came before them.

Both staff and students partook and learnt the benefits and art of basket weaving, a craft that traditionally both male and female shared in. The Yarning Circle after lunch produced a time of sharing of Elder experiences and history, knowledge and the importance of respect in all forms. All who sat, listened and spoke felt safe, comfortable and were fully engaged. Students, Elders and Staff thoroughly enjoyed the days’ experience.

We would like to thank the following participants who took time out to provide our students with a sense of community, offer their life experiences, advice and knowledge and most of all encouragement:

• Elders Mary Walker & Lois Nehow
• Jitta Art – Freda Masina & Aileen Brooks
• Wadjanbarra Tableland Yidinji Aboriginal Corporation – Ruth Wright
• Darren Caulfield
• Ngoonbi Home and Community Care– Elaine Blohm
• Tableland Youth Justice Group – Margaret Freeman & Iesha Freeman

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International News

Hub Therapy News

It's easy to assume most kids learn to ride a bike.  However, many people with disabilities don't have the same opportunities for exercise and sport as able bodied peers and this means they often have poorer health outcomes.

Schools have been identified as excellent places for students with disabilities to meet the physical activity guidelines. 

Did you know that to be healthy and ensure peak bone health, teenagers need 60 minutes of physical activity every day.  That is moving hard enough to work up a sweat?

We are kicking that goal in the Hub with our Therapy classes.  We do lots of activities like tennis, gym circuits and dancing but one of teacher Catherine Titasey’s focus is riding a two-wheeler bike independently.

Research has shown that children who learn to ride bikes enjoy better health throughout life than those who don’t.

Our goal in Hub Therapy is to support as many students as possible to ride a two-wheeler bike and we’ve had some amazing successes so far.

Our latest student to ride independently for the first time is Milano Perry.  Last week she nailed her first ride.  

You could not tell who was more excited, Milano or Ms Catherine.

Community Access

Students from ASHS Hub visited the Old Primary School to have pottery classes with Linda Bates as part of our Community Access Program. Linda welcomed us and showed everyone how to make a cup out of soft clay. Students then designed their cups with various stamps and painted their cups during our second visit. We would like to thank Linda for her kindness and wonderful pottery classes. We really enjoyed it and are very appreciative.

Mobile phones are "away for the day" in 2024

From the beginning of 2024, all Queensland state school students will have their mobile phones switched off and ‘away for the day’.  We will send out more information over the coming weeks.  Please ensure your children have an eftpos card that they can use for tuckshop purchases as students will not be able to use their phone or cards stored on their phone to make purchases.  

'Away for the day' will support our school to maintain a strong focus on educational achievement, and student wellbeing and engagement by:

• providing optimal learning and teaching environments
• encouraging increased face-to-face social interactions between students
• promoting the health and wellbeing of students through increased physical activity at break times
• reducing the potential for students to be exposed to the negative impacts of the digital world, resulting from unsafe or inappropriate technology use.

For more information and frequently asked questions, visit the department’s website [link to: https://tinyurl.com/329kup6u]