FROM THE PRINCIPAL · Junior Woodwind Ensemble – Highly Commended Instrumental Trio/Quartet (Secondary) Instrumental Duet (Grade 7-9) – 2nd Joseph Reid Clarinet Wind Symphony

97-113 Towers StreetCharters Towers QLD 4820Subscribe:Subscribe: https://chartowersshs.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe

Email:Email: [email protected]:Phone: 07 4754 6555

Fax:Fax: 07 4754 6500

(Mrs) Kaye Corcoran,(Mrs) Kaye Corcoran,PrincipalPrincipal

16 September 201916 September 2019

FROM THE PRINCIPALThe 2019 year is travelling quickly withour school working through Week 9 ofTerm 3. I would like to take thisopportunity to state the importance ofstudents making every day count withregards to learning and achievement.The opportunity to attend school andparticipate in learning opportunitiesshould always be embraced andnever be taken for granted. Ourschool’s focus on Successful

Learners is about every student succeeding so that they arebest positioned for their futures, and to ensure our much valuedAustralian way of life, school attendance is not only compulsorybut positive engagement in learning is critical. If for any reasonyour family is experiencing difficulties meeting this commitment,I strongly encourage to reach out and please talk with us so thattogether we can consider strategies to improve studentattendance and student engagement.

This is obviously very important for our Year 12 students whoare on a countdown until the final date for attendance – Friday15 November. I would like to congratulate our Year 12s ontheir completion and participation in the last ever sitting of theQueensland Core Skills Test this week. The QCS Test hasbeen a focal point of our schooling calendar for many years,an event involving coordinated preparation and practising. Ourteachers have shepherded our students through this important

process and testing system for years with a diligence andcalming reassurance that has, I am certain, allowed ChartersTowers SHS students to flourish within the QCS Tests andreceive their best possible OP. In particular, I would like to thankMrs Rachael Jackson and Mrs Kelly Kuhz for their coordinationof the QCS this year; I am sure they have let out a huge sighof relief after the final test! With our change over to the newQCE Senior External Examination model, it is as important asever to ensure our children are equipped with the organisationalskills necessary to help them along the road to success. Fromthe very small things such as having the correct books andequipment for each school day, to the larger events such asmeeting evidence checkpoints (ECPs) for assessment,submitting summative assessments by the due date and etc.

As parents, it is imperative that we help our children understandwhat it is to be organised, teach them how to achieveorganisation and then monitor this as they grow older. Ourchildren have busy lives! Sometimes I think they have morecommitments than parents do, with part time jobs, sportpractices, music performances, competitions andextra-curricular activities: where on earth does the start,completion and handing in of assessment fit? Where do theyfit in eight hours of sleep as well? And then there is the socialaspect of being an adolescent, which is of course a necessarypart of growing up, but also a much more amusing way tospend time than perhaps completing an English assignmentthat is due in two days. Being organised is having a clear pictureof when all these aspects of life are occurring and how bestto ensure we keep our commitment to them without missingimportant deadlines or falling into a frazzled, exhausted andoverwhelmed heap.

At Charters Towers SHS, our Learning Journal system is inplace not only as a source of communication between homeand school, but as the basis of organisation for each individualchild and their various assessment, extracurricular and part

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time job commitments. It is expected that every student shouldhave each and every one of their commitments jotted downin his or her Student Learning Journal and handy enough topull out at a moment’s notice. I also know of many parentswho have a calendar stuck on their fridge detailing each child’sscheduled sports and music practices, other extra-curricularcommitments, shifts at work and assessment as a brilliant wayof understanding just how much ‘free’ time those studentshave. This also helps parents to become familiar with theirchild’s assessment calendar, enabling them to help work outwhen those important assignments should be started in relationto the myriad of other events happening in that student’s busylife. In this way, students do not ‘run out of time’ to completethings, helping to keep anxiety levels low. I would stronglyencourage every parent to familiarise themselves with theirchild’s complete schedule, including the school day, travel,assessment, extra-curricular activities and events and familycommitments as a way of supporting them to be organisedand do their very best. Remember: “Success is the residue ofplanning.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

It is common that your child may need your encouragementto be proactive and prepared for learning and assessment atschool. Having proactive awareness of upcoming assessmentin each subject is simply good planning and practice forstudents. Practising this in the junior secondary years helpsprepare students for the more rigorous senior secondary whereassessments are longer and require more time commitment.This year, we have introduced the Academic Success AuditProcess from Year 7 through to Year 12 with a focus on‘everyone plays a part in every student succeeding’. Iencourage you and your child take the time to discuss theirassessment results, not as a letter, an A, B or C, but asfeedback on learning. Students need feedback on their learningto know what their next step towards improvement and furthersuccess is. At minimum, I suggest reviewing with your childtheir Learning Journal (pages 41 – 75) after Week 3 each termas your part in supporting our Academic Success process.Students will be provided with an update on their progress ineach subject and individualised assessment feedback by Week3 each term.

As I often remind students, having a growth mindset andbelieving they can improve and grow as a learner is veryimportant at high school. It is a critical part of our positivelearning culture at State High. We know that as our societychanges and this impacts the world of work, young people will

be called upon more often in their careers beyond school to belife-long learners. Committing to life-long learning and having agrowth mindset goes hand-in-hand. If you want to read moreon growth mindsets for your student, visit the link below.

Outside the classrooms, students have been engaged inperformance workshops, Project Rock it! presentations,athletics carnivals, interschool sporting competitions, debatingand many other excursions. I urge you to have a conversationwith your child to encourage them to see what opportunitiesthey are taking up. I know the list of possibilities at our schoolis extensive both within, and additional to, the curriculum. Keepan eye on our Facebook and our website pages as well asreading this newsletter to keep up to date with what hashappened and what is coming up.

Please note the Date Claimer for Awards Night is Wednesday30 October in week 4 of next term. This is a tremendousnight of celebration and I look forward to acknowledging thewonderful achievements of our students.

I hope you all have a lovely few weeks with your family.

Mrs Kaye CorcoranPrincipal

POSITIVE EDUCATION

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QUALITY ASSURANCEBy the time you read this, the 2019 QCS Test will be finishedand my fingers are crossed for our students. I wish to thankthe students who sat the practice sessions, tests and attendedthe QCS targeted workshops. All of these events providedour students the chance to maximise their QCS success. Theworkshops with Mighty Minds gave the students valuablefeedback and tips to be used during the actual QCS Test. A bigthank you to Mrs Jackson for preparing our students for testthroughout the year.

Year 10 SET Planning -

All Year 10 students have begun the SET planning (SeniorEducation and Training Plan) process. The SET Plan helpsstudents structure their learning around their abilities, interestsand ambitions and outlines the individual student’s aspirationsand desired learning pathway. In the SET plan, students identifywhether they will pursue a technical (traineeship,apprenticeship, or employment) or a tertiary (ATAR) pathwayduring or after high school. To assist students in mappingout their future, students have started completing a Set Planbooklet to investigate and learn more about the optionsavailable and make steps towards completing a draft SET plan.By the end of Week 8, students will be in a position to makea more informed choice about subject selection for Year 11 orlearning and earning with an employer. SET Plan interviews willbe held on Wednesday 4 September (Week 8) and Wednesday11 September (Week 9) in conjunction with Student AcademicSuccess conferences. SET Plan interviews involve arepresentative of the school, Year 10 Parents/Carer and thestudent. I look forward to planning your child’s pathways withyou.

Distance Education Students

Students who are studying a subject through DistanceEducation have classes that start by 8.00am in the morning.The expectation is that students are in the Library and areset up on the computers BEFORE their lesson starts. Thisis part of the agreement students undertake they choose tostudy a subject through Distance Education. Please ensurethat students are attending their classes (they must followprocedures for absences if away) and are on time so not todisrupt the lessons.

Attendance

For students to achieve the best possible outcomes in thesenior school, regular school attendance is imperative.Research consistently highlights the relationship betweenschool attendance and academic achievement. Our attendancetarget in the senior school is 95%. Please help us by makingsure your child is at school every day.

A 95% attendance rate means a student is away from schoolapproximately 2.5 days per term or two weeks per year. A90% attendance rate means the students is away one day perfortnight or four weeks per school year and this is likely to havea clear effect on results.

Students need to be present at every opportunity at school.This includes being on time to school and each lesson. No

student should be leaving school without following the correctprocedures of parents/guardians notifying the school andsigning the student out via the school office.

Assessment Policy

Tests / Exams / Practical Assessments

When a student is unable to sit for a test due to illness orcircumstances beyond the student’s control, for examplebereavement:

Extensions (including missed exams)

An extension will only be granted in cases of genuine illnessor exceptional circumstances. An application for extension formmust be handed to the Head of Department BEFORE thedue date. The application must be supported by appropriatedocumentary evidence – a medical certificate, note fromparents with legitimate reason etc.

Students are expected to plan for assessment tasks.Excursions, camps, sporting activities etc. are not legitimatereasons for applying for extensions.

TAFE for Year 12 Graduates

To support Year 12 graduates into work, the QueenslandGovernment offers FREE TAFE in high priority areas. Studentswho are looking to graduate in 2019 or finished school in2018 are eligible for the program. Click on the link below forinformation.

https://tafeqld.edu.au/information-for/school-students/year-12-fee-free.html

1. Student is required to contact the school – (07) 47546500 to advise of non-attendance.

2. Upon return to school, the student provides amedical certificate (Year 11 & 12) or note fromparents (Year 7 to Year 10) detailing reason forabsence and presents it to the Head of Department.

3. The Head of Department will arrange for test to becompleted in the next available lesson. Students inYear 11 and 12 will sit a comparable exam uponreturn to school.

4. When a student is unable to sit for a test due to aknown acceptable absence, the student is to notifyHead of Department prior to leave of absenceutilising the CTSHS Application for extension exam/assignment form.

5. If a student is absent from the examination and doesnot provide any reasonable documentation then a NR(Not Rated) rating is given for this assessment item,and the criteria sheet will indicate an NR standard.

6. The Principal, Deputy Principal or Head ofDepartment can grant this deferred test in specialcircumstances.

7. Marks awarded by the school are not finalised untilapproved by the QCAA.

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BUSINESS SERVICES

FACULTY REPORTS

ENGLISH, HUMANITIES AND LANGUAGES

Charters Towers SHS has recently taken place in theinter-school debating competition over four Tuesday eveningsin August. We had three teams debate against the otherschools, junior, intermediate and senior. The students had reallytough competition and all efforts go to them preparing andpresenting their debates against All Souls Saint Gabriels,Columba Catholic College and Blackheath & Thornburgh.

Students who participated in the debates were: Mita Asquith,Amy Brooks, Mikayla Vickery, Ashlyn Isaacs, Leilani Mains,Steven Pianta, Hollie Pianta, Georgia Brier, Matthew Smith,Kaden Ramm, Ava Pacey, Amanda Ford, Carolyn Saunders,Amanda Ford, and Daniel Brooks. The students were given animpromptu question and they were allowed 60 minutes in whichto prepare their arguments either affirmative or negative. Theteams then debated with time limits enforced.

Tuesday 27/8 saw SHS host the finals and a great deal ofthanks goes to all the student helpers who acted astimekeepers and chair persons on the evening.

HEALTH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT

Earlier this term, the Charters State High School Athletics teamcompeted at the Charters Towers Secondary School’sInter-School Athletics Carnival which was held at ColumbaCatholic College. With a small but strong team, State Highfinished fourth for the combined school champion with a totalof 404 points; only 60 points behind BTC. Despite finishingfourth in the race for combined school champion, State Highwalked away from the day with a number of individual and teamvictories; including four Champions, two runner-ups and eightrecords.

State High took out a double victory in the 12 years boy’s agegroup, with Chase Glenwright placing second and Archie Millerplacing first. Not only did Archie Miller take out top spot on the

podium but he also broke the record for High Jump by 1cm tojump 1.39m. A terrific effort!

Nathan Barron was the champion boy for the 13 years agegroup. Among his many achievements on the day, hisimpressive 800m time saw him being nominated for the NQtrials in September. Stephanie Lowe (Year 12) came runnerup to All Souls competitor Luka Hall. Despite missing out onchampion girl, Stephanie’s terrific performance on the day sawher nominated for a total of four events at the upcoming NQtrials. Accompanying Nathan Barron and Stephanie Lowe to theNQ trials will be Teneal Baker (competing in javelin), ThomasSticklen (discus), Matthew Hanton and Michael Kitt (both for800m).

Our multi-class athletes Archie Capewell and Elton were notonly the champion boys for the 16 years and open age groups,but they also broke a combined 7 records between them.Archie Capewell broke the record for the 16 years javelin(15.33m), discus (16.61m), high jump (1.5m), long jump (4.23m)and 200m (28.89s). In the open age group, Elton broke boththe 100m and 200m record with a run of 16.17s and 35.55s.Well done to both boys.

To conclude, our athletes represented our school with bothpride and class, with a number of staff members from the otherschools commenting on our student’s terrific sportsmanshipand behaviour. A special mention must be made to the staffmembers that accompanied myself and our students to thecarnival - Mr Frazer, Mr Ferguson and Ms Franks, and to all ofthe parents who came and supported our athletes. As with anyextra-curricular activity offered by the school, we depend onthe commitment of our students, staff and parents to make thispossible. On behalf of the Charters Towers State High SchoolHealth and Physical Education team we thank you all for yourundoubted support and commitment to sport at our school.

Mr WilsonTeacher of HPE and Sports Leader

TECHNOLOGY AND THE ARTS

Eisteddfod

Drama – Night One

It was another clean sweep in the senior Monologue section ofthe Eisteddfod. Matthew Smith 1st Place, Aleisha Langburnetook 2nd place, Hollie Pianta rounded out the podium with3rd place and Analyce Hamilton did a fantastic job at her firstEisteddfod with a highly accomplishment. Hollie Pianta alsotook home 2nd place in the set verse category. Great resultsfrom our senior Drama students, but the highlight was seeingthe passion and talent on stage from all the students and theirsupport for each other. Amazing work State High Drama andour fantastically dedicated Drama Teacher Ms Thomas!

Drama - Night Two

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Another amazing night of success for Charter Towers StateHigh students at the Drama & Speech Eisteddfod.

The stars of State High Drama walked away with another cleansweep on night two, with 3 sensational performances.

First up was Georgia Brier who took first place with herhumorous verse, being told her performance was the bestrendition of Banjo Patterson’s A Bush Christening theadjudicator has ever seen.

Up next was the duologues where Aleisha Langburne andDayle Asquith were a spectacular team on stage and wereawarded second place for their duologue.

Hollie Pianta and Georgia Brier took home first in the duologuesection for their excellent comic timing and theircharacterisation of Juliet and Ophelia after their deaths.

Another big well done to all Drama students for their effortsthroughout the 2019 Eisteddfod, your talent, enthusiasm, andpassion was wonderful to see shine on stage. Great work!

Music

Saw yet another series of fantastic performances by ourtalented students supported by our fantastically dedicatedInstrumental Music Teachers Elaine Hueber and MegMackenzie

Name Instrument Competed in:

RyanMatthews

Bass Guitar Wind Symphony - 2nd

Big Band – 1st

AngusReid

Clarinet Wind Symphony - 2nd

Junior Woodwind Ensemble –Highly Commended

BriannaHill-Warner



Instrumental Trio/Quartet(Secondary)

Instrumental Duet (Grade 7-9)– 2nd

MalleeNiemi




Instrumental Duet (Grade 7-9)– 2nd

JosephReid


Senior Woodwind Ensemble –2nd

MakaylaKillick



Woodwind Solo (Grade 11 &12)


Instrumental Duet (Grade 10 &Over)

Instrumental Trio/Quartet(Secondary) – 2nd

HolliePianta

Bass Clarinet Wind Symphony - 2nd

Big Band – 1st


Woodwind Solo (Grade 11 &12)


AnnalieseKoch

Euphonium Wind Symphony - 2nd

Big Band – 1st

DanielBrooks

Euphonium Wind Symphony - 2nd

Big Band – 1st

Brass Solo (Secondary) – 3rd


Instrumental Trio/Quartet(Secondary) – 3rd

RileyCarrington

Tuba Wind Symphony - 2nd

Brass Solo (Secondary)

Instrumental Duet (Grade 7-9)

Mallee Hill Flute Wind Symphony - 2nd


MakenzeeHansen

Flute Wind Symphony - 2nd



AdamSmith

Percussion Wind Symphony - 2nd

NoahNiemi


Big Band – 1st

Instrumental Duet (Grade 10 &Over) – Highly Commended

Percussion Solo (Secondary) –1st

MathewSmith


Big Band – 1st

Instrumental Duet (Grade 10 &Over) – Highly Commended

LukeNetterville

Guitar Big Band – 1st

KamekaWaerea

Saxophone(Alto)

Wind Symphony – 2nd

Big Band – 1st

Instrumental Duet (Grade 7-9)– Highly Commended

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Woodwind Solo (Grade 7-8)

CodySmith

Wind Symphony – 2nd

Big Band – 1st

Woodwind Solo (Grade 7-8) –3rd

EmilyPankhurst

Saxophone(Alto)

Wind Symphony - 2nd

Big Band – 1st



GeorgiaRichards

Saxophone(Alto)

Wind Symphony - 2nd

Big Band – 1st


Woodwind Solo (Grade 11 &12) – Highly Commended

Instrumental Duet (Grade 10 &Over) – 3rd


ColbyCoffison

Saxophone(Alto)

Wind Symphony - 2nd

Big Band – 1st


Woodwind Solo (Grade 11 &12) – 3rd

Instrumental Duet (Grade 10 &Over) – 3rd


AmyBrooks

Saxophone(Tenor)

Wind Symphony - 2nd

Big Band – 1st


Instrumental Duet (Grade 7-9)– Highly Commended

Woodwind Solo (Grade 7-8) –1st

LaraKleem

Trumpet Wind Symphony - 2nd

Big Band – 1st

Instrumental Duet (Grade 7-9)

GeorgiaBrier


Big Band – 1st

Brass Solo (Secondary) – 2nd


LachlanDietrich


Big Band – 1st

Brass Solo (Secondary) – 1st




WilliamScott


Big Band – 1st

Trae Ross Percussion Wind Symphony - 2nd

From the Drama Department

On the 15th of August 2019 Charters Towers State High Schoolhosted QLD Theatre’s Scene Project!

We were joined by students from BTC and All Souls for afull day of Drama. The Scene Project is Queensland Theatre’slargest Education project, encouraging drama studentsthroughout the state to engage in the creative process ofperformance, from rehearsal through to presentation. Each yeara playwright pens a new work and the participating dramagroups are tasked with the challenge of creating their ownunique 15 minute version of the play.

During the rehearsal phase, Queensland Theatre artists visit theparticipating schools to facilitate workshops. At the end of theproject, local schools come together in a professional theatrevenue to share their performance. This year CTSHS was oneof 60 schools that created our own unique performance of TheShot by Angela Betzien.

The students had an amazing time working on theirperformance and engaging with other Drama students in ourcommunity. The day was topped off with a spectacularperformance by QLD Theatre and their rendition of The Shotwhich the students absolutely loved. Thank you again QLDTheatre for visiting Charters Towers State High School and wewill see you next year.

WELLBEING

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INCLUSIVE PRACTICES

There has been some interesting conversation about InclusiveEducation recently. Inclusive Education is about taking awaythe barriers and supporting the needs of our students to learnand be the best they can be. Education Queensland hasintroduced an Inclusive Education Policy which may contributeto how people interpret and implement. Every schools Inclusionjourney is different. More information about this policy can befound by following this link below:

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https://education.qld.gov.au/students/inclusive-education

Universal Design for Learning is one of the ways in which wecan start to remove some of those barriers. Universal Designfor Learning (UDL) is a research-based set of principles toguide the design of learning environments that are accessibleand effective for all. Now endorsed by federal policy and thatof many states and districts, UDL informs all of our work ineducational research and design, professional learning,workforce development, and publishing.

Challenge Games

We recently attended The Challenge Games in Townsvillewhere were able to join in a range of sport and fun activities. Wehad fun, developed friendships and participated in a wide rangeof activities for school students who have a disability. Theseactivities include running, jumping, throwing and team eventsplus many other fun/novelty activities. Students participated inas many or few events as they wished, according to their ownlevel of interest and ability.

The Amazing Race

As part of our Celebration Day we created a CTSHS AmazingRace where students participated in teams to completechallenges around Charters Towers and in the school grounds.We had so much fun and we were able to accumulate points togo towards our sports house.

In the classroom

Science for Life – In Science we have been making a batterycell, we will measure the voltage generated by the battery celland then we are going to calculate the correct amount ofvoltage to charge a mobile phone.

Life Skills – In Life Skills we are learning how to be moreindependent. We have been looking at what a budget is, howto set out a budget and follow it. We have also investigatedhow much it costs to live, including renting a place and what weneed to purchase to live in a place ourselves. We have all doneour own PowerPoint presentation to share.

PATHWAYS AND DTTC

Careers Day was held at DTTC on Thursday 1st August. Allschools and the community were able to attend this event.Our students who visited the centre were able to learn aboutdifferent industries including Fitness, Military and Aviation.Students were given the opportunity to see what courses arecurrently being offered through the DTTC. Many local industries

participated in the event, including Charters Towers RegionalCouncil, WILMAR, Qld Police, PCYC, TAFE, TownsvilleHelicopters, Milestones Employment, Workways, TECHNQ.James Cook University and Central Qld University informationwas also on offer. The students who attended gained usefulinformation to help guide them into their future careers.

EVENTS CALENDAR

Mon 7Oct

Public Holiday – Queens Birthday

Tues8th Oct

First Day of Term 4

Fri 11thOct

Year 7 Geography Excursion

14 –18thOct

Mental Health Week

17thOct

Festival of Bands – 6pm The World Theatre

21stOct

Student Free Day

22ndOct

STAR Awards Yrs 10, 11, 12

22ndOct

Year 7A & 7 B Science Excursion – Reef HQ

23rdOct

Year 7C & 7D Science Excursion – Reef HQ

24 Oct STAR Awards Yrs 7, 8, 9

28 Oct Instrumental Music 2020 Parent Info Session,6pm CTSHS Community Hall

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COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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Documents

FROM THE PRINCIPAL · Junior Woodwind Ensemble – Highly Commended Instrumental Trio/Quartet (Secondary) Instrumental Duet (Grade 7-9) – 2nd Joseph Reid Clarinet Wind Symphony