21st August 2020 Issue 6

NORTH HIGH NEWS

Important Dates

Year 7 (2021) Enrolment & Technology Info Session 26 August

Year 10 SETP Interviews 1-2 August

Scholarships Applications Close 28 August

Student Free Day 4 September

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

The year has progressed slowly, yet quickly. Again, it is a year unlike any we have experienced. We continue to plan and adjust to our new rules. We thank everyone for their ongoing support and understanding. This edition from me covers a few agenda items that are impacted by COVID including our awards ceremony and the year 12 formal.

REMINDER - COVID - Be Aware – if attending any school event you will be required to sign in and provide your contact details. By attending and providing those details you are agreeing to those details being shared with Queensland Health if there is a COVID case identified. The sign-in registers will be kept for a term (10 weeks), before then being destroyed. It is essential that visitors / adults coming into school premises practice social distancing.

AWARDS NIGHT BECOMES AWARDS DAY 2020

This year, due to COVID restrictions, our annual awards event will be a day ceremony. The ceremony will start at 9am on Wednesday 21st October, in our school hall. It will be a closed ceremony. This means that parents of students in Years 7 – 11 will not be able to attend.

WHY A CLOSED CEREMONY: It is not feasible to meet social distancing requirements in our hall with all award recipients and parents. Year 12 parents of award recipients are invited to attend, as this is their last opportunity for their students. Parents from other year levels will have other years to attend.

WHY A DAY CEREMONY: The thought is, it is easier for parents. If held during the day, parents do not have the additional pressure of dropping off and picking up in the evening. We want to avoid traffic congestion and congregation of parents external to the school.

RECORDING THE CEREMONY: We intend to record the ceremony to share with our community. If licencing requirements can be met, we will also attempt to do a live stream.

PHOTOS OF RECIPIENTS: We will have a professional photographer taking photos of all recipients, to then make available to parents.

SCIENCE WEEK – range of activities occurred this week. Our amazing science ambassadors ran a trivia competition throughout the week, culminating in a challenge between the winning junior team, the winning senior team and a willing group of teachers. It was close, and whilst we don’t want to brag, the teachers took the day. Well done to the competitors, it was a fun lunch time.

From the Principal - Continued

Issue 6

YEAR 12 – trying to keep everyone up to date with what is happening:

FORMAL UPDATE – planning is progressing with formal. Please note the following:

1. It will be a closed event ie parents / family members will not be able to attend for group photos at the venue, due to COVID restrictions. We suggest photos are done privately beforehand.

2. We anticipate a cost of approximately $100 per ticket.

3. There can be NO dancing; however a range of other activities are planned.

4. Times – 6:30pm – 10:00pm

IMPORTANT DATES: for planning purposes:

Alternate program Monday 14th – Friday 18th – students will only attend according to the schedule that will be issued. This will allow external exam preparation, competency catch-ups, completion of practical aspects of some subjects, and industry placement.

External Exam Block – Monday 26th October – Tuesday 12th November

Valedictory – Thursday 19th November @ 2pm

Graduation – Friday 20th November @ 9am

Formal – Friday 20th November @ 6:30pm

REMINDER - TUTORING SESSIONS AVAILABLE – YEARS 7 & 8 ENGLISH & MATHS FOCUS – commenced this week. The tutors were not overwhelmed with the Year 7s & 8s. These sessions are being offered by high achieving and highly motivated students from Years 10 and 11 and are FREE. Junior students simply need to come to the library, first break Tuesday or Thursday, with the work they want support with.

WHEN: Tuesdays & Thursdays first break WHO: Years 7 & 8 WHAT: Maths & English support

YEAR 10 – reminder that bookings need to be completed for SETP interviews. Subject selections for 2021 have now been completed, we want to progress smoothly into the interviews. Reminder to book your appointments, with details contained within the emails sent (on-line booking process).

YEAR 11 and 12 – I cannot encourage parents enough to be discussing options for their students in relation to apprenticeships, traineeships or part time work. Students are receiving information via their school emails, and via student notices. ‘We can lead them to water, but we cannot make them drink’

Encouraging students to consider a teaching career - Teaching a great career, with high

levels of demand and job security. Is your student an aspiring teachers or demonstrate the right

characteristics to be a great teacher? Future Teachers Initiatives support schools to foster and support

student interest in teaching as a career. To learn more about the Future Teachers Program and Future Teachers Club please make contact with our guidance officers.

Regards Catherine Rolfe

QCAA - Requiring Invigilators

Issue 6

Applications are open for members of the community for QCAA invigilator roles. The QCAA employs eligible members of the community as casual employees to fill this role. External assessments will be administered from October to November 2020. ROLE SUMMARY Invigilators are required to:

Attend allocated assessment session at assessment venues

Observe and report on the administration of assessments and the collection, counting and packing of materials at the end of assessments.

ELIGIBIILITY REQUIREMENTS To be eligible to be an invigilator, you must:

hold a blue card or an exemption card

be at least 18 years of age

be eligible to work in Australia

have photographic identification

have a personal email address

have a mobile phone

have access to a computer, the internet and a printer To apply to be a QCAA invigilator: read the Position description: Invigilators (PDF, 161.6 KB) and Invigilator frequently asked questions (PDF, 176.7 KB) to ensure you understand the role and its requirements

complete the application form in the Assessor jobs application in the QCAA Portal. If you have a QCAA Portal account (or are unsure if you have an account), email eainvigilators@qcaa.qld.edu.au. Once you have access: log in to the QCAA Portal using your account

navigate to the Assessor jobs tile

complete the invigilator application form

the QCAA will email a form for you to complete and return your referee and blue card details. If you have never had a QCAA Portal account: create a QCAA Portal account

log in to the QCAA Portal using your account

navigate to the Assessor jobs tile

complete the invigilator application form

the QCAA will email a form for you to complete and return your referee and blue card details. The QCAA will email provisional appointment information to you in August/September. You must complete the relevant blue card forms and submit them to the QCAA within one week of receiving that information. For any further information, please email eainvigilators@qcaa.qld.edu.au or phone (07) 3074 7574, or alternatively phone Tim Condren at Mackay North State High School (07) 49631 666.

Issue 6

Universal Design for Learning - UDL

When you look at your own children, you will be very aware of how different each one is.

Their personality, the music they listen to or even the food they like. They may have very similar backgrounds and you know them well. Now imagine, if you will, that you have 28

children, all from different backgrounds and you only see them for three times for 70 minutes per week.

The universal design movement in architecture strived to make spaces accessible and useful to all people, without having to adapt the space later. Having a design process

where the entire structure should be accessible to the greatest number of people. This does not just increase accessibility for those with disabilities or those out of the main-

stream, but increase ease of use by people who do not experience disabilities.

The equivalent in education is the Universal Design for Learning. UDL provides a framework for creating lessons and

units. This means that the teachers provide multiple means of Engagement, Representation and Action and Expression. These are the three principles of UDL and deal with the what, why and how of learning. Within the planning process using

UDL the teacher endeavours to provide a flexible classroom using these principles.

“UDL assumes that every learner's brain is different. The goal is for every student—whether they have

missing skills, special needs, are typical or advanced—to learn in a way that meets their needs.” Universal

Design Learning in Schools by Lisa Linnell-Olsen (03/02/2020) So, as a parent you can see that UDL is an effective way for teachers to teach to a wide group of students and you can feel

confident that your child is getting their needs met when a teacher uses UDL in their classroom. UDL provides flexibility

in teaching and learning.

2020 Subject Selection The subject selection process is now in full swing for all students in years 8, 9 and 10, in preparation for 2020. Multiple emails have been emailed to all students parents over the past few weeks. Year Eight & Nine students worked through a Home Group lesson, where they explored vignettes that describe the elective subjects on offer and what they might involve. The vignettes are located on the junior secondary page of the school’s website for families to access also. Students will complete a trial subject selection process this week, to provide feedback to the school about their intentions for 2021, before finalising their subject selections by the 7th of September. Both year levels are required to;

Select two electives in addition to Health and Physical Education.

Selections must occur on OneSchool. Students have been shown how to do this and “How to Guides” are on the schools website and posted around the school.

Once complete, students are required to print the selection report and have it signed by a parent or guardian before submitting it to the school office.

Selections for year Eight and Nine close on the 7th of September. Year Ten students have been working on their Senior Education and Training Plan (SETP) since last term . We are in the final stages of this 5 lesson process. Lesson 1 – Students worked through vignettes that detailed the requirements and differences between all subjects and their classifications at school. The learnt about QCE, ATAR and pathways. Lesson 2 – Students learnt about themselves, discovering possible pathways and requirements using the MyFutures government website. Lesson 3 – Students heard from guest speakers from CQU&TAFE, further detailing possible pathway options and the details required for each. Lesson 4 – Students linked together the previous three lessons, drafting their Senior Education & Training (SET) Plans and completed a trial subject selection. Lesson 5 – Students finalise their SETP and complete formal subject selection. By the end of this week (Week 6 of term 3), students will have completed all 5 lessons. The next step;

All students are required to book a SETP meeting with a parent and member of staff on either the 1st or 2nd of September, to finalise their SETP including subject selections. It is im portant to note that subject selections are not finalised until this interview is completed and families are encouraged to continue developing and refining their plans.

Bookings for these interviews are currently open and an email with instructions on how to book was emailed last week.

Issue 6

Performing Arts News

STATE HONOURS ENSEMBLE PROGRAM

We are very excited to be hosting the prestigious State Honours Ensemble Program next weekend at our school. Over

30 of our Year 7 – 9 instrumental students have been selected to participate in this high profile program, from over

250 students who nominated. The program will run from Friday afternoon, August 28 – Sunday afternoon, August

30 in our hall and music facilities. It will be a truly wonderful weekend of music making with students from 18

regional schools involved.

It is particularly important that SHEP students bring their OWN music stand with their name on it. This year, with

all the COVID restrictions, it is NOT possible for students to share the music stands with other participants.

Unfortunately in this COVID year, there are tight restrictions on the number of parents who are allowed to attend the

culminating Grand Finale Concert on the Sunday afternoon. Parents who wish to attend must register beforehand by

following the instructions emailed to them from the Queensland Conservatorium.

We look forward to welcoming everybody to this exciting event later in the month!

CULTURAL AWARD NOMINATIONS

It is very pleasing to see the number of cultural award nomination forms being submitted by our talented performing

arts students. Cultural awards are presented at the Awards Ceremony in October and the deadline for submitting the

nomination forms is Friday, September 11. If students have been in at least TW O cultural groups,

they will probably qualify for an award – performing arts teachers are only too happy to help students with any

queries about cultural awards.

MARCHING BAND TRIP TO THE 2021 STATE ANZAC PARADE

I received a very exciting email last week from the organiser of the State ANZAC Parade in Brisbane. The planning

committee is already looking at the possibility of a parade next year, although probably on a reduced scale. The

wonderful news is that the committee is only looking to include two civilian bands in the 2021 state

parade, and our band is one of the two selected. This is a fantastic achievem ent for our students and

an indication of the esteem in which our marching band is held in Brisbane. We will keep our fingers crossed that it

will all come to fruition!

Kathy GEORGE Performing Arts HOD

QUEENSLAND ROAD SAFETY

WEEK 24th - 28th August

Go Slow in School Zones

Slow Down keep our kids safe

Keep our school safe: put road

safety first

Regularly check your speed

Help keep our region safe

If it’s flooded forget it

Road Safety is everyone's

responsibility

Issue 6

Expression of Interest TEMPORARY YOUTH SUPPORT CO-ORDINATOR

TO START BEGINNING TERM 4 2020

An opportunity exists for someone to join the student services team at Mackay North State High School as a part

time temporary Youth Support Co-ordinator. The days/hours for this position will be:

Monday 4 hrs 10.00am to 2.00pm

Tuesday 4 hrs 10.00am to 2.00pm

Wednesday 5 hrs 10.00am to 3.00pm

Thursday 3 hrs + 1hr ado 10.00am to 2.00pm

Friday 3 hrs 10.00am to 1.00pm

As the Youth Support Co-ordinator you will support at risk students by:

1. Referring them to appropriate agencies and support services for assistance with education and overcoming

barriers

2. Providing individual support and case management

3. Working with groups where appropriate

4. Working with the student services team to achieve the best outcomes for students

If you wish to express interest in this role please:

a. Email the business manager bsm@mackaynorthshs.eq.edu.au to request a copy of the role description.

b. Email your resume and no more than one page answering the two selection criteria below to princi-

pal@mackaynorthshs.eq.edu.au by 10.00am on Friday 28 August. If you have any questions please do not

hesitate to contact Tanya Fatnowna on 49631610.

1. Supports strategic direction

Knowledge of, and experience in, working with young people at risk of disengaging with education, and

training and contemporary practices.

2. Communicates with influence

Well-developed interpersonal, negotiation and communication skills to liaise effectively with a diverse

range of persons, including students in Year 10 - 12 and their families.

Healthy snack hacks: getting more fruit and veg

between meals

Keen to boost your snack game with foods that are both tasty and

good for you? Fruit and veg-based snacks are perfect for a

grumbling belly because they keep us full for longer and give us an

all-important boost of nutrition. It’s recommended that most adults

aim for five serves of veggie and two serves of fruit every day, but

very few are meeting theses targets. Snacking on fruit and

veggie between main meals can edge you closer – and every serve

counts. (Open hyperlinks for simple recipe idea’s and more info

about healthy snacking).

From the School Nurse

Savoury snack ideas2

Sweet snack ideas3

Top tips for healthy snacking habits4

https://www.health.qld.gov.au/news-events/news/healthy-snack-hacks-getting-more-fruit-and-veg-between-meals#savourysnacks

Issue 6

2020 Health Care Careers Evening Cancelled

Year 11 Essential English

Mater Health would like to advise with the current environment with the Coronavirus our Executive Officer has decided not hold the Careers in Health Care Information Evening this year.

Year 11 Essential English students are viewing the film, Lion, about a young Indian boy who is lost to his family for 25 years.

In the film, he tells his brother before he becomes lost that he would like to have one thousand jalebies one day.

We were curious and put our money together and asked Roshni Indian to make these especially for us! Students enjoyed trying the sweet treats and shared them with Mr Brandon’s Year 11 Essential English class too.

Penny Zhang and Athalia Garcia worked hard to submit their Japanese Speech for the Matsuura Mackay Japanese Speech Contest.

Due to Covid 19, the girls had to pre-record their speech and send it in to be judged by a panel in Matsuura, Japan. The topic of their speech was ‘My Favourite Season’.

They were awarded a 2nd and 3rd placing for the Year 10 division and were presented with their awards at a Ceremony in the Art Space Foyer. A proud moment!

Matsuura Mackay Japanese Speech Contest

Physical Education - Term 4 Swimming

Issue 6

As part of the Physical Education program at North Mackay High, classes in grade 9 and 10 will be doing aquatics / outdoor pursuits in term 4. This article is to inform both parents and students of the procedures and expectations to enable a smooth start to next term.

Participation

Physical Education is a core subject at North High and participation in the Aquatics unit is a requirement of the subject.

Equipment

Classes will be swimming straight after the September holidays so please ensure that your son / daughter has a pair of swimmers ready for Week 1 of Term 4. Forgetting to bring swimming gear is the same as failing to bring equipment to any other class and an appropriate consequence will be given. Please ensure your son / daughter knows which day they are required to bring their gear. Goggles are not compulsory but if your son/daughter has sensitive eyes they would be a good idea. The school now has shade over the shallow end of the pool and sunscreen will be made available to all students. There will be times though when students will be uncovered, deep end of the pool and a sun shirt / t shirt may be beneficial for students with fair skin.

Temporary Sickness / Injury

If your son / daughter is unable to participate on a particular day because of sickness or injury a note from home is required. This note should include the date, the reason the student cannot swim and a daytime telephone number. Failing to bring a note is again failing to bring the requirements for the lesson and an appropriate consequence will be given.

Permanent Condition

If your son / daughter has a permanent condition that stops them from being able to participate could you please fill out and send back the form at the bottom of the information sent home and attach a medical certificate. Alternative theory work that relates to aquatics will be arranged. This theory will be used as the assessment for these students in aquatics. These details will also be passed through to year Level Co-ordinators and Administration to ensure students are kept safe and take no part in any other aquatic activities.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me on 4963 1687.

Jim Wilson Head of Department HPE

Congratulations to Joshua Hall on his successful entry in the Whitsunday

Voices Youth Literature Festival Short Story Competition for 2020!

Josh was awarded Highly Commended in the Grade 9-10 category for his story

The People Planet, written for his English, Speculative Fiction assessment in

Term 2.

The People Planet will be edited, illustrated, and published into the

Whitsunday Voices 2020 Short Story Book. The published book will be

presented to Josh later this year, and copies will be distributed to schools

around the region, as well as the Mackay City Council libraries. Josh has

chosen his sister Mia (Year 12) to illustrate the story for him, so we will have

two “Hall success stories” to celebrate at North High. Well done, Joshua!

Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival

2020 Early School Leavers Survey

Issue 6

The Queensland Government is seeking the support of the school community for the annual survey of Year 10, 11 and 12 students who left school in 2019, before completing Year 12. This short, confidential survey collects information about what young people are doing the year after leaving school. The results of the survey help provide valuable information to improve services available to school leavers in the future.

Between August and September, these school leavers can expect to receive instructions to complete a web-based survey or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. Please encourage them to take part. If their contact details have changed, please assist the interviewer with their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate.

Thank you for your support of Next Step post-school destination surveys in 2020.

For more information, visit www.qld.gov.au/nextstep/ or telephone toll free on 1800 068 587.

From the Art Department

A selection of Lino Block prints, created by the year 9 Fine Arts Class

Fairplay Vouchers

Issue 6

Vouchers available to help students return

to play

To support the return to play, Sport and

Recreation have a new round of Fairplay

vouchers.

They provide vouchers of up to $150 to eligible

Queensland kids towards sport and active

recreation membership, registration and

participation fees. Find out if you are eligible at

the Fairplay website

Parentline Cyberbullying support training has been designed for use by all adults who care for older children and teens at risk of, or already have experiences with cyberbullying. To view the landing page and access the training resources: CLICK HERE This training is FREE and available 24/7 via any internet enabled device. The training program is specifically designed to be a pocket ready resource which can be easily accessed via any smart phone or tablet, with easy navigation and practical, support-ive information. The Parentline Cyberbullying training will be helpful to parents, carers and grandparents who are:

Nervous or fearful of using the internet or new devices

Anxious about their young ones using the internet

Concerned cyberbullying may be impacting their child

Concerned their child may be engaging in cyberbullying behaviours

Would like to learn how to identify when cyberbullying may be impacting their family unit

Would like supportive, practical information around starting uncomfortable conversations

Parentline Cyberbullying Training for Parents

NORTH HIGH NEWS

57 Valley Street North Mackay QLD 4740 PO

Box 8333 Mount Pleasant QLD 4740

Phone: 07 4963 1666 Fax: 07 49631 600 E-mail: principal@mackaynorthshs.eq.edu.au

Website: www.mackaynorthshs.eq.edu.au Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Mackay.North.SHS Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mackaynorthshs/

Community Notices