18 July 2017

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Welcome to Term 3 2017! We have enjoyed a smooth return to school following a very busy Semester One. Although some activities of Semester Two are repeats of Term One e.g. parent teacher night, there are many more, new and essential activities for parents and students to be engaged in, especially our targeted information and subject selection evenings. We continue to foster our partnerships with parents and carers for the long secondary schooling journey ahead.

In our continuous effort to improve communication with our parents and the wider community, we are overhauling our website and Facebook page. These complement our other communication techniques to ensure families are aware of the opportunities available to their student and upcoming events. I strongly encourage you to access these resources.

We continue our focus on high expectations, quality teaching and learning and tracking students for success. Staff continue to reinforce expectations in the classroom and use our buddy system as a behaviour management tool. This ensures students know and understand what is expected of them and ensures a calm learning environment. Staff have been actively working collegially including sharing of strategies through observation and feedback. This has been an enlightening opportunity for staff and continues to ensure consistent and engaging teacher practices are supporting your child’s learning here at Wynnum SHS. Data continues to inform teaching practice and supports students in setting goals.

Currently the school is monitoring attendance of students to ensure they are maximising their learning opportunities and to work with families to support an improved attendance for some students. Attendance is critical to students accessing the content of their subjects. Here at Wynnum we are targeting 95% attendance with 100% of all absences explained. What does this mean? This is the equivalent of no more than 10 days off in a school year or no more than 2.5 days per term. In senior school failure to attend to this level can mean you put your course credit at risk. Those times that it can’t be avoided, to have time off, we expect that a parent or guardian contacts the school by phone, email, note or in person to acknowledge the student’s absence. At times where a student has unexplained absences you will be contacted by letter or phone as a courtesy follow up. I appreciate your support in this matter.

The annual School Opinion Survey for 2017 will be conducted from 31 July to 25 August. Every parent is encouraged to participate as this information helps inform planning for improvements. Please be aware that information with regards to this will be provided directly through your children and through text, email, Facebook and our website.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we work towards the best outcomes for the students of Wynnum SHS.

We’re Wynnum and we’re PROUD

Cath

2017 Early School Leavers survey

The Queensland Government is conducting its annual statewide survey of students who left school in Years 10, 11 and prior to completing Year 12 during 2016. The Early School Leavers survey is a short, confidential survey that collects information about what young people are doing the year after leaving school.

Between July and August, students who left school in Years 10, 11 and prior to completing Year 12 last year can expect to receive an invitation to complete a web-based survey or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office to complete the survey. Please encourage them to take part.

For more information, visit the link below or telephone toll free on 1800 068 587.

75th Anniversary Date Claimer

News from the Senior School

Congratulations to the following six Year 12 students who successfully combined their study of school subjects with the study of an introductory university subject throughout Semester One. Each of these committed students achieved well in their study at school and university and we are extremely proud of their achievements.

Mrs Kim Hutchinson
Deputy Principal

Kennedy House Film Festival

On Friday 2nd June, Kennedy House held a film festival during second lunch. The competition required students to create a short 2min film with a theme of ‘culture’. The competition received a large number of entries from students across all year levels. This made for some very tough decisions when they were judged by the Kennedy House Leaders. The leaders scored each film based on theme, originality, filming quality, audio and editing. All Wynnum SHS students and staff were invited to a screening of the finalists’ videos. This event was well attended packing out the Imperial Playhouse as students enjoyed free bags of popcorn and the entertainment of the finalists’ films. The humour of an entry which depicted ‘Australian Stereotypes’ by Likiki Millett, Austin O’Leary, Cheyenne Harris and Maddison Helm was definitely a crowd favourite. As was the overall winner with an entry that showcased the culture associated with ‘Young Romance’ submitted by Annabelle Oxtoby and Alicia Young. Well done to all students who submitted entries and congratulations to all prize winners.

Junior Prize Winners

Highly Commended – Olivia Schafer (Single movie voucher)
Highly Commended – Tamzyn McMullan (Single movie voucher)
Runner Up – Daina Furness and Alina Seidel ($20 movie voucher)
Winner - Chelsea Shaw ($20 movie voucher)

Senior Prize Winners

Highly Commended – Brianna Fox (Single movie voucher)
Highly Commended – Jacob Scott (Single movie voucher)
Highly Commended – Likiki Millett, Austin O’Leary, Cheyenne Harris and Maddison Helm (Single movie voucher)
Joint Runner up – Jobell Lobo ($20 movie voucher)
Joint Runner up – Moni Krone and Isabelle Guild ($20 movie voucher)
Winner - Annabelle Oxtoby and Alicia Young ($20 movie voucher)

Students enjoying the film festival

2017 Readers Cup Yr7/8 Bayside Champions!!
WSHS Team A (The Fellowship)

On Thursday 8th June, two teams of Years 7 and 8 students Amy Wilson, Maya Harding, Katie Lane, Lucy Marriage, Zali Booth, Henry Love, Tamzyn McMullan, Alarni Scrutton, and Shiran Singh participated in the annual regional Readers Cup Challenge. Each of them, over a period of two months, read and studied five assigned books in preparation for the challenge, often giving up lunch breaks and free time.

Upon arriving at Ormiston College on the day, the students split off into their two groups. Team A, consisting of Amy, Maya, Katie, and Lucy, were placed on one side of the room while Team B, Zali, Henry, Tamzyn, Alarni, and Shiran, were on the other. The morning was filled with five intensive rounds of questions. It was only due to their deep study of the books and attention to detail that our teams were able to answer.

But their hard work paid off. For the first time since 2011, Wynnum State High School won the district competition and are on their way to the states. Team A led the competition, ending up with a winning score of 49.25 points, right above Moreton Bay Boys’ College, whose two teams came second and third. Our Team B gave it a valiant effort and concluded the competition with a respectable 25.75 points.

Amy, Maya, Katie and Lucy now have two months to read five new books in preparation for the State competition. This will be held at SLQ, The Edge on September 6th from 6:30 pm. We would love to have some more Wynnum support if you can make it there to cheer us on! The team will be up against tough competition, facing all the other schools that won their own regional competitions. The team will have to work even harder than before to be successful in their next competition, but we have the utmost faith in them.

Congratulations to Amy, Maya, Katie and Lucy and we wish them good luck in the State competition.

By Georgia Bonamy and Joseph Watson
Year 10 students, Readers Cup Coaches

WE’RE WYNNUM, WE’RE PROUD!

Cybersafety Information Session for PARENTS

WynnumSHS parents and caregivers are invited to RSVP for the upcoming PARENT Cybersafety Session (details below). Those who have not registered are still welcome to attend, however, as minimum numbers are required for the event to proceed, RSVP is preferable.

Each year, Wynnum SHS welcomes the Department of Education and Training’s (DET) Cybersafety and Reputation Management team (CSRM) to facilitate cybersafety sessions for all students in Years 7-12. So far this year, Years 10-12 have already participated on 12th May. Sessions for Years 7-9 will take place on 21st July. This specialised team advises, investigates and supports schools to manage online behaviours and digital reputation issues. Within this scope, the team draws on their diverse experience, including police investigation, policy, social media marketing, and recruitment, to deliver up-to-date informative sessions about positive social media use. You can read more about this team through the links below.

DET are now offering cybersafety sessions for parents and caregivers free of charge and we have been fortunate enough to secure a timeslot this year. The parent session is an overview of cybersafety, trending platforms, online dos and don’ts, and useful settings to be aware of. Parents will be able to ask questions throughout. Secondary school sometimes opens up a new landscape of online challenges for students and their families to navigate positively and responsibly and a proactive approach can avoid potential pitfalls.

Session focus: Practical information and advice for parents of secondary school students regarding positive and responsible technology use.

Date: Thur 24th August 2017
Time: 5:30 – 6:30pm
Venue: Star Theatre, Wynnum SHS (Entry through the top gate under the electronic sign)
Hosted by: DET Cybersafety Team
RSVP: By 12th August via either Facebook or Survey Monkey:

Staying updated: Any changes or updates to the event will be advertised through the Wynnum SHS Facebook page (accessible via the school website). Be sure to subscribe!

Can’t make it but want to know more?

Here are some helpful links for further information:

• iParent (Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner):
  https://esafety.gov.au/education-resources/iparent
• Cybersafety – Parents (DET):
  http://behaviour.education.qld.gov.au/cybersafety/Pages/parents.aspx
• DET Cybersafety Advice Facebook page (DET):
  https://www.facebook.com/DETCybersafetyAdvice
• Cybersafety in Queensland state schools (Queensland Government):
  https://www.qld.gov.au/education/schools/health/cybersafety/pages/cybersafety-qss.html

Any questions or concerns?

If you require any further information, please contact the Wynnum SHS cybersafety coordinator:

Rella Taylor-Byrne
Senior Teacher / Teacher Librarian
rtayl210@eq.edu.au | (07) 3906 7333

Understanding the power of a positive digital footprint:

The internet has so much to offer and is a very exciting place for today's secondary school students.

They spend hours chatting with friends and family, researching school assignments, playing online games and interacting on social media sites. While there are so many great things to see and do online, it's important they are a responsible and respected online citizen, just like in the real-world.

What they post online, they post to the world. This is known as their digital footprint. Future partners, employers, workmates and landlords may view what they believe they're just sharing with their friends. Once it's online, it could be there forever!

To keep their footprint positive, work with your teens and ensure they understand the following steps:

The 7 steps to a positive digital footprint:

1. Google yourself - Check your name and online usernames to make sure you're happy with what is out there. If you find any negative content, delete it or report to the website where it is hosted. If you find an old social media account, take steps to remove it. If you have lost access to these accounts, contact the social media provider and request it be deleted.
2. Privacy overhaul - Stay on top of your privacy settings, social media platforms change these frequently. Set accounts to 'private' or 'friends only' to limit who sees your stuff. The less people who see it, the less chance there is for something to go wrong.
3. Un-tag yourself - Have you been tagged in an embarrassing photo or video? Ask the person to delete it. If they won't, report the post and un-tag it yourself. Never share or tag photos and videos of others without their permission.
4. Unfriend/unfollow - Have you added a 'random'? If you don't know and trust them in your real world, delete or block them. Don't be fooled by fake profiles or mutual friend suggestions. Unfriend your randoms today!
5. Make positive choices - Stay in control of your online world. If you make poor choices while on social media or online games there may be social or legal consequences. Remember, anything can be screen captured. Keep your online interactions positive, useful and true.
6. Build your brand - What you say and post could affect your future. Use the power of social media to brand yourself and connect to professional networks. Share your achievements, talents and passions online. Your social media accounts should portray you in a positive way.
7. Remember… Treat others the way you would like to be treated. If you or a friend are experiencing a difficult time online, reach out for some offline support.

Payment News

2017 Student Resource Scheme and Laptop Program Term 3 fees are due for payment no later than 21 July 2017.

Thank you to all those parents/caregivers who have paid their 2017 Student Resource Scheme and Laptop Program Fees, or who have contacted the school to negotiate a payment plan. If your student’s account has outstanding fees from 2016 or previous years, please be aware that this will result in your student’s non-participation in optional school activities i.e. optional sporting and cultural activities, school camps, Year 10 Dinner Dance, senior jersey and the Year 12 Formal. Please refer to our website for further information regarding the 2017 Student Resource Scheme.

We are aware that sometimes payments can be difficult for some families, and as such we offer individual Payment Plans. We also offer regular fortnightly deductions from your Centrelink payment via our arrangement with Centrepay. Deductions can be deposited into the school’s account to be credited against your student’s fees. If you are interested in accessing either of these options, please contact Student Services.

BPOINT is now available for parents to make card payments from the comfort of their home or from their smartphones and is our preferred method of payment. All the information required to make a BPOINT payment is available on our invoices. Parents can visit the link below and enter the details and make payments online. When making these payments via theBPOINT website you need to ensure that you enter the Customer Reference Number, Invoice Number and amount to pay. It is imperative with BPOINT that the invoice number is

Payments can be still be made to the school via cash or cheque at Student Services, or Credit Card details via telephone. If you have any queries regarding invoices or payment plans, please do not hesitate to contact Student Services (Payments) on 3906 7312.

Creative Arts News

Creative Generations on Stage

We are very proud to have had Stephanie Keay in Year 8 represent Wynnum SHS in this year’s Creative Generations On Stage. Stephanie auditioned late last year and was accepted into the massed choir. She has been rehearsing for the past five months and performed at the Brisbane Convention Centre on the 14 – 15 July singing in four performances to sell-out crowds. Congratulations Stephanie on a great job. A star in the making!

Bush Dance

The IMPS Committee hosted a very successful Bush Dance at the end of last term with over 80 students and their families coming along to join in the festivities. This is a fund raising activity for the IMPS Committee and they would like to thank you for your continued support of the students in the Instrumental Music Program.

SHEP

We have had a number of students who were accepted into the Queensland Conservatorium’s State Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP). Laura Hall, Meeka Ireland and Bernard Morgan were successful in achieving a position and Lily Amos, Ashley Cook and James Donoghue are on the reserve list. Congratulations to all students for achieving this excellent result as these positions are filled by instrumental music students from throughout the greater Brisbane area.

Mother’s Day in the Park

The Big Band performed at the Mother’s Day in the Park concert as part of their community performance program. It was a fantastic performance that featured many of our outstanding musicians. Thanks to Mrs Anderson for preparing the Band. It was yet another PROUD musical moment for Wynnum SHS.

Artist in Residence Program

We have come to the end of our Artist in Residence program and we would like to thank Simone Eisler who worked with the Year 10 Visual Arts students, Mrs Georgiev and Ms Buchan to design and paint the entrance wall at the front of the school. The art work has been entitled Life Journey.

Life Journey celebrates the stages of growth and development in a student’s life. The four birds represent the four school houses – Cunningham, Kennedy, Mitchell and Oxley. The birds trace a student’s ‘life journey’ though a metaphorical garden of Pandanus and Moreton Bay Fig trees, as seen in the grounds of our school and local Wynnum community. The ‘life journey’ begins as a small bird, which, nurtured and cared for, grows and matures until it is ready to fly away.

Junior and Senior Showcases

At the end of last term, we celebrated the Arts learning of students from Years 7 – 12 through performances at Junior and Senior Showcases. Students from Music, Dance and Drama presented performances they had been working on for the term to family and friends. Thanks to all the parents and friends who came along to support their child’s creative journey.

Staffing update

As many of you would be aware Mrs Anderson has taken long service leave this term. She is being replaced by the wonderful Mrs Shelley Harvie. Mrs Harvie will be taking lessons on Tuesday and Wednesday as usual. She is also conducting the Big Band. Mr Cosic will be conducting the Concert Band for this term while Mrs Anderson is away.

Instrumental Music Program activities for Term 3

Careers News

Please find the attached information on Apprenticeship and Traineeships, University and Course News, Career Exploration, Employment, QTAC and Study Tips.

Special Education Program (SEP) update

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability

Our school will participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data this year. The only data being collected at the school level to be reported nationally is the:

• number of students in the school who are provided with an adjustment to address a disability
• level of adjustments provided for those students
• broad category of disability

Only data that cannot identify your child will be submitted outside of the Department. If you do not wish for your child’s details to be included, please contact Alicia Black on 3906 7309.

From the School Nurse

Reachout and Twitter Team Up To Support Young People Affected By Bad World News

In an age of digital communications, young people are increasingly affected by huge amounts of content and news that is shared online – which sometimes can be upsetting and confusing, or the debates very polarising.

ReachOut CEO Jono Nicholas said, “We’re more connected than ever, which has so many positives; however, sometimes it feels like we are bombarded with negative world news like natural disasters or terrorist attacks every time we look at our phones.

“ReachOut has been a trusted service of young people for over 18 years for things that are going in their life like exam stress, relationship issues, bullying or trouble at home. In recent years however we’ve noticed that negative world news, as well as the divisive and often polarising conversations online and on social media, can be distressing for young people even though they may not have a personal connection with the event or conversation.

“It’s important that we empower young people with the skills to navigate these issues; understand why they are affected; recognise when they need to switch off; and generate positive outlets for any feelings of anger or sadness.

“It’s also a way that we can deliver support to young people in the settings they are already comfortable using, such as social media, rather than relying on them having to come to a service for help.”

It can sometimes feel like bad news follows us around. Phones, social media and WiFi make news spread like wildfire, and when something bad breaks, it’s tough to unplug. It’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed by the news, especially when good news stories often seem hard to come by. So, if you’re feeling down about the world, we’ve got some tips for you.

This might help if:

• You've been feeling overwhelmed by the news
• You don’t know how to react to bad world news
• You’re finding it hard to disconnect from the media

Reacting to bad world news

There are endless kinds of news stories that can make you feel really down. Some common reactions to bad world news include feeling:

• Anxious and worried
• Depressed and sad
• Helpless
• Confused
• Angry

Why does bad world news affect us?

On a planet with about seven billion people, it’s really easy to feel disconnected. But when a world tragedy strikes, feelings of worry, sadness and grief are more common than you’d think.

A part of this effect has to do with how easily accessible information is today. Even if you try to avoid bad world news, it can be almost impossible when you factor in how dependent we are on being online.

Our personal reactions to bad world news are also based on biology. When we see upsetting information, our bodies react by releasing stress hormones to deal with the negative emotions.

How can I cope with bad world news?

There are a few things you can do to help.

1. Learn to switch off

It’s easier said than done, of course, but taking a break from social media can do a lot to help tackle the effects of bad world news. Nearly 80% of Facebook users will see shared news articles on their Facebook feeds, and with the media’s emphasis on negative news, it’s very easy to be overwhelmed by your time on social media.

Take breaks from time to time, especially if you notice yourself feeling down because of the things you’re seeing on social media. Replace the time you’d normally spend online with something offline, such as reading books or magazines, talking to your friends or playing video games.

2. Try to understand why it’s upsetting you

Sometimes world news can hit close to home. Whether it’s a tragedy in your family’s country of origin, or the death of a person you really admired, world news can sometime feel very personal. If what you’re feeling is more than just a sense of empathy for those affected by a tragedy, it’s worth speaking about it to someone you trust. Chat to your friends, family or even a counsellor about how the news is affecting you. The simple act of talking can sometimes make you feel a whole lot better.

3. Accept your level of control

One of the biggest things about bad world news is that the scale of a tragedy and the distance we observe it from can make us feel helpless. When something bad happens, our immediate response may be to ask ourselves what we can do to help, and how we can put an end to it.

While there are usually things, big and small, that a person can do to help a situation, we can’t stop it entirely on our own. Learning to understand how much influence we can have over something is a very important step in reducing the stress we might feel on hearing bad news.

We’re not saying that you shouldn’t try to help. In fact, helping out can often make us feel better while doing something positive for the world. But we need to understand what the most helpful way to contribute to a cause is, and learn to accept the limits.

Gabrielle Nolan, Youth Health Nurse