27 March 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Attendance

Attendance Goal: 95-100% attendance in the school year. Why is attendance on every school day so important?

As you can see from the table above being as little as ten minutes late in the morning or for a class really does make a difference to a student’s education.

If you know that your child is not meeting our minimum 95% goal for attendance and would like to speak to someone about their attendance, please contact the school to speak to one of our staff.

Once it was the case that students only missed school when they were genuinely ill, but now that has changed. Students are being allowed to stay away from school for an ever increasing number of reasons including:

• A day off for their birthday
• A day off because relatives are visiting
• A day off to be with parents at home
• A day off to look after younger brothers and sisters
• A day off to go shopping

The thought of an argument with children to get them to school often is too great to bear for some parents. Every day a student is away, they are losing a learning experience. Over time, their knowledge base will be full of holes like Swiss cheese. Learning is sequential and attending three out of four lessons leaves gaping holes.

More information on the importance of regular school attendance is available via the link below:

Electronic Devices

Electronic Devices can be an asset in class to take notes, research or do assignments. However, they can also be a distraction. Parents and students are reminded that phones and electronic devices not used for curriculum purposes are required to be turned off and out of sight at all times whilst in class. I also suggest that students have a phone free zone at home whilst they complete homework and assignments to minimise distractions that can be caused by constant social media contacts.

Uniform

Our school uniform identifies our students, takes into consideration health and safety requirements for subjects taught at our school and is consistent with our school community standards and expectations. We expect that students wear our uniform with pride during school hours and whilst travelling to and from school and when engaged in school activities such as excursions and sporting activities. The school uniform policy can be found in student diaries and on the school website. I would encourage parents and students to make themselves familiar with the policy and strive to uphold its intent.

News from the Deputy Principals

Term One Reports

Term One Reports will be emailed home at the end of this week. We hope that this feedback can provide you and your child with information that can be used to confirm areas of strength as well as areas for further improvement. The report provides parents and students with information on classroom performance in the following areas:

• Achievement
• Effort
• Behaviour
• Homework

Please read the legend on the report carefully to understand what the letter ratings mean. We ask also that you discuss the details of the report with your child.

The primary purpose of academic reporting is to improve student learning. The reporting process should develop students’ capacity to reflect on their learning, their successes and areas for further learning, allowing them to develop as responsible, independent, life-long learners.

We encourage all parents and carers to take the opportunity to meet with their child’s teachers for a Parent Teacher Student Interview on Thursday, 19 April for students in Years 7 and 8. The parent teacher interviews for students in Years 9 – 12 will be held on Thursday, 26 April. During these meetings, teachers and students will provide parents with details of their child’s progress and may also offer guidelines and strategies which students should consider in order to improve throughout the remainder of the school year.

The first interview slot will commence at 3.30 pm and the last appointment will be taken at 7.30 pm. There is no capacity to be flexible and extend beyond the allocated 10 minute slots and we advise parents to arrive a little early to ensure that they do not miss their allotted time.

We are using an online booking system for the interviews. Instructions on how to make a booking will be emailed with your student’s report. Should you need any assistance with this or are unable to access the online booking system, please contact the school office on 3906 7333 to make your appointments.

Use of Personal Technology Devices at School Policy

We have been having some issues with students not complying with the school rule regarding the use of personal technology devices. We therefore take this opportunity to ask for your support in ensuring your child understands and is compliant with the school policy.

Some important points to remember:

• While students may bring personal devices to school, they must be used in accordance to school policy.
• Students take full responsibility for any personal devices brought to school.
• Devices are to be turn off/to silent and out of sight during classes and assemblies unless the teacher has given direct instruction that they can be used as part of the learning process.
• Students are not to be walking around the school carrying mobile phones in their hands. Female students are to store their mobile phone in their skirt pocket rather than their shirt pocket. (This is a new addition to the school policy and will come into effect Term 2, 2018.)
• Personal technology devices may be used at first and second break and before and after school.
• If a student is found using a device contrary to the school policy the device will be confiscated. It can be collected from the school office at the end of the day unless required to be kept for purposes of disciplinary investigation, when it will only be returned in the presence of a parent/guardian.
• Devices potentially containing evidence of criminal offences may be reported to the police.
• No individual, student nor staff member, is able to be recorded without their knowledge or consent. Even where consent is obtained for such recording, the school will not tolerate images or sound captured by personal technology devices on the school premises or elsewhere being disseminated to others. If it is done for the purpose of causing embarrassment to individuals or the school, for the purpose of bullying, including racial and sexual harassment, or where without such intent a reasonable person would conclude that such outcomes may have or will occur, there will be disciplinary consequences.
• Students using personal technology devices to record inappropriate behaviours or incidents (such as vandalism, fighting, bullying, staged fighting or pranks etc) to disseminate to others (including distribution by any form of social media) can expect disciplinary consequences.
• Students must not record images anywhere that recording would not reasonably be considered appropriate (eg. in change rooms, toilets or any other place where a reasonable person would expect to be afforded privacy).

Headphones and Speakers

During classes, students wearing headphones either around their neck, or in their ears, will be asked to remove the headphones. Headphones are not to be worn in classrooms unless directed to do so by the teacher.

Speakers which can be controlled from mobile phones are not to be brought to school.

Cybersafety Session

The CSRM team will be visiting Wynnum SHS on Thursday 19th April to conduct a parent and caregiver information session at 5:30pm. The parent session is an overview of cybersafety, trending platforms, online dos and don’ts, and useful settings to be aware of. This session goes for about 45 minutes, and will allow parents to ask questions throughout. If you plan to attend the session, please pre-register your attendance by clicking on the link below. You can read more about the department’s cybersafety program and resources on their Facebook page.

The Department of Education's Cybersafety and Reputation Management team (CSRM) 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.

Cooler Weather is on the way!

As we move closer to winter, please note that only the items listed on the school Uniform Policy may be worn to school. These include:

• WSHS jumper
• WSHS zip-up jacket
• WSHS tracksuit top and/or track pants
• and for Yr 12 students only, the Yr 12 jersey.

To all families of Wynnum State High we wish you a happy holiday and we hope that you are proud of your child’s achievements this term. Term 2 commences for students on Tuesday, 17 April.

Kind regards
Kim, Liz and Greg

Chaplaincy News

Want a new-look wardrobe for only $10? Come along to Swap 'Til You Drop, a clothes-swapping event raising funds for chaplaincy at Manly State School and Wynnum High. Starting at 6.45 pm on Saturday April 28th the night will be a chance to clear out the clothes you no longer wear and get a fresh new look. It’s being held at Wynnum High and light refreshments will be available. Find us on Facebook or purchase your ticket in the link below.

Oxley Colour Fun Run

Coming up on the last day of school is the Oxley Colour Fun Run. Come and end the term with an awesome touch of colour and some fun!

Remember:

You only have to raise $10 to participate!
Make sure your house group has picked a tribute!
Prepare some strategies to win!!

2017 School Magazine

If you ordered and paid for a 2017 School Magazine, these have now arrived and be collected from the School Office.

Camera Club

May the force(d perspective) be with you …..

Camera Club members continue to explore the opportunities of learning a camera’s full functions. Recently the students learned more about a camera’s aperture. This controls the amount of light entering the sensor which is important in low light situations such as indoor photography and also controlling the depth of field (DoF).

DoF is the amount of subject material that is in focus. A low aperture setting say 2.4 lets a lot of light into the camera but has a shallow DoF. A high value up to 32, has everything in focus and works well for landscapes ….. but also lets less light in. Somewhere in between is used for portraits as the subject’s entire head needs to be sharp, not just the nose but cheeks and ears as well.

Looking ahead, shutter speed and ISO – essentially a measure of the sensor’s sensitivity to light – will be demonstrated.

The club is open to all students and meets each Thursday morning at 8.00 am in B01.

An example of forced perspective. How to do this …… align subjects, change the Av (aperture value) to the highest number possible. This will focus both subjects, and take the shot. Other parameters such as ISO and shutter speed may need to be changed to give the correct exposure. Forced perspective is very difficult to achieve in Auto mode as the camera will only focus on one subject.

Mr Ashley Dickson
Senior Teacher

Sport News

Interhouse Cross Country

Our annual Interhouse Cross Country will be held on Thursday 29 March. The course map can be found on all student noticeboards. Every student has option of either being a runner, walker or student helper but they must nominate for one of these. Students wishing to sign up as helpers can do so at the Sports Hall.

Year 7 students will be introduced to the course in their core PE lessons and training will be on Thursday afternoons from 3.00 – 4.00 pm.

On the day students may wear their sports uniform or their house colours but all students must run in sports shoes – no bare feet.

Cunningham House – Light Blue
Kennedy House – Yellow
Mitchell House – Red
Oxley House - Purple

Please see Mr Bekiros in the Sports Hall for more information.

Creative Arts News

IMPS Welcome Evening

Thanks to all the families that came along to the Instrumental Music Parent Support group welcome evening on Tuesday 20th March. It was a great evening of music making with all of our ensembles performing for families and friends. The Concert Band, Big Band and Symphonic Band performed as well as a dynamic performance from our combined Concert and Symphonic bands. Meeka Ireland, Bailey Gordon and Jade McManus were soloists for the Big Band performance of Golden Wedding which had everyone’s toe tapping.

It was also an exciting evening for the Year 12 students who received their Instrumental Music Band leader badges. The Year 12s receive this badge as an acknowledgment of their dedication and commitment to the IM program over their secondary schooling. Our recipients this year were Kane Jansen, Meeka Ireland, Aoife Brose, Ebony Hall and Laura Hall. All of these students have made a great contribution to the music program here at Wynnum and their congratulations are well deserved.

State Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP)

Congratulations to the following students who were accepted into the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University State Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP) Middle School:

• Andrew Cook
• Georgia Harvie
• Annika Louie
• Mia McLardy
• Tamzyn McMullan
• Brianna Russell

These students will attend a holiday workshop program with students from schools throughout Brisbane.

Variety Night

Variety Night this year is on over two nights, Thursday 31st May and Friday 1st June in the Star Theatre. Tickets are $5. Please book your ticket at Student Services. Seats will be allocated.

Year 7 Dance

Year 7 Dance students are studying the Unit ‘Around the World’ this semester. They learn about other cultures and their forms of social and cultural dance. Throughout the semester students learn the Greek Zorba, Japanese Kabuki, traditional Aboriginal dance, Bollywood and African, just to name a few. Below are a few pictures of students performing their self-choreographed Bollywood Routines.

Live Theatre Performance in April

Year 7 Dance, Drama and Music and Year 9 and 10 Drama students will be attending a performance of The Stones at school on Tuesday 24 April. This incursion is a great opportunity for the students to see a live performance up close and personal. At the end of the performance students will have an opportunity to ask the actors questions about the acting profession, performing, touring and theatre craft.

Save the Date – Instrumental Music

Maths Department News

Scientific Calculators

The tuckshop sells the latest brand Abacus Calculators for $25. These can be used in Mathematics and other subjects in class and in some pieces of assessment.

Mathletics

All students in Years 7-9 Mathematics have received a Mathletics login and password. Mathletics is designed to assist in solving a wide range of mathematics problems and can be used in class and at home.

Be an engineer, not just watch engineers!

Senior school students will actively participate in two days of intensive engineering projects designed to showcase the career as it really is!

Students work in teams with real engineers in disciplines such as:

• Electrical & Communications
• Robotics
• Civil & Structural
• Environmental
• Mechanical
• Aeronautical (including Defence Force Engineering)

Students will experience a taste of real university life as an engineering student. For more information please see Mr Wilson in the Maths staffroom (G08).

QUT, Gardens Point, Brisbane
July 12 & 13

CQ University, Rockhampton
Accommodation available
July 2 & 3

James Cook University Cairns Campus
July 16 & 17
Accommodation available

James Cook University, Townsville Campus
July 19 & 20
Accommodation available

Special Education Program (SEP) Update

NDIS Info Session

On 12 March, the Special Education Program hosted a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Info session. The intimate gathering, of staff and parents, was held in the Library of Wynnum High. The session was an opportunity to hear, in person, what the NDIS will mean for young people with disability.

Dr Nicole Grant and Ashleigh Patterson, from a local provider, presented on the evening. Having had experience in the rollout of the NDIS, in other regions, it was informative to hear real-life stories of families who had gone through the application process. There was plenty of opportunity to ask lots of questions, and this was most valuable.

The NDIS will roll out in the Brisbane region on 1 July. But, families can begin the application process now. For more information go to the link below.

Career News

Apprenticeships and Traineeships

Can I start an apprenticeship or traineeship at school?

Starting an apprenticeship or traineeship while still at school is a real option.  It’s important that you have a strong sense of what you want to do when you leave school. You might like to undertake some work experience in the area before you make the commitment.  It’s important that you talk to your parents and people at your school, like your Workplacement Coordinator, HOD Senior Schooling, Guidance Officer teachers or support staff to gain a good understanding of your options.  If you are interested in an apprenticeship or traineeship while you are still at school, you would start a school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs).

The major advantage of a SAT is getting a head start on the training you will require for the job you want when you leave school, while still being eligible to complete your secondary education. Normally, when you have a SAT, you spend one or two days with your employer and the rest of the week at school. You will also be required to do a formal course through TAFE or another registered training organisation in addition to your on-the-job-training.

It is possible to complete a traineeship while you are still at school. Apprenticeships, however, normally take longer. School-based apprenticeships are usually converted to full-time apprenticeships when you leave school. Find out more about SATs on the following websites:

• Queensland Government website
• Queensland Government Apprenticeships Info website

Organise an interview with your school’s Workplacement Coordinator and/or HOD Senior Schooling to talk about SATs.

Having a driving licence may give you an edge when applying for an apprenticeship

In some trade areas employers are more likely to take on an apprentice who has a driver’s licence. This is especially true in the construction industry where there are multiple and changing worksites. Having to depend on parents and/or public transport to get to the worksite may not be practical or even possible.

If you are interested in applying for an apprenticeship, especially in the construction industry, consider applying for your Learner’s Licence when you become eligible (16 years of age). Once you turn 17, have 100 hours or more of supervised driving experience and pass the practical driving test, you will be issued a provisional licence. This licence allows you to drive unsupervised. Visit the Department of Transport and Main Roads website to find out more about obtaining a driver’s licence.

Employment Information

Robots are becoming our colleagues and we should realise how great this is - we have been told repeatedly that automation is going to take over our jobs. However, this article suggests that we are entering a world of wonderful opportunity and not one of digital doom and gloom. In the future, robots will perform more and more jobs, which will make our enterprising (and ultimately human) skills, more sought after than ever. Computers will likely continue to become extensions of our ideas and processes, not a force to be competed with. Read the full article on the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) website.

Non-cognitive skills are also important for getting future jobs - According to a recent article from the World Economic Forum , cognitive skills (e.g. your results in academic subjects) have been used in the past to measure the calibre of a job candidate. However, a report by the Hamilton Project, an economic think-tank, suggests that non-cognitive skills are becoming increasingly important. Non-cognitive skills are often called ‘soft skills’. They are the skills we need to effectively interact and communicate with others and to take leadership and collaborative roles in team activities. They also include critical thinking, problem solving, and attributes such as initiative, attention to detail and self-motivation. The Hamilton Project argues that these skills are crucial for success in today’s labour market for the following reasons:

• Today’s jobs demand more non-cognitive skills than they did in the past.
• The labour market increasingly rewards those with non-cognitive skills.
• Those with effective non-cognitive skills are more likely to be in full time employment.
• Those with fewer non-cognitive skills are being left behind.

Read the article to learn about the research data on which these reasons are based.

What are the most in–demand job skills for the future? A recent article (January 2018) published in the Herald Sun highlights the most valuable skill in 2020 and beyond. The article raises the notion that the ‘ability to learn’ will be your most valuable asset if you want to have currency in the new world. It goes further to state, “flexibility, agility, adaptability, creative problem solving; these are all important skills for the future,” ... but you can’t sit someone down and say, ‘learn agility’”. The article identifies advice for staying relevant in the future including:

1. Focus on the stuff that humans are good at
2. Study something you enjoy
3. Learn how to learn
4. Take the emotion out of it
5. Embrace automation
6. Learn how to be resilient

An interesting article for those interested in how we can prepare the next generation for the workforce of the future. You can read the full article on the Sun Herald’s website.

TERTIARY ENTRY

How do OPs compare with ATARs?

All states in Australia, except Queensland, call their Year 12 tertiary entry score an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR). The ATAR is a number between 0 and 99.95 (highest) with increments of 0.05. The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) currently provides all Tertiary Entrance data (OP/FPs and ATAR) to QTAC. In the future QTAC will calculate the ATAR not QCAA. If you are applying for interstate courses, the relevant tertiary admissions centre can obtain your ATAR directly from QTAC. Tables converting OPs to QTAC selection ranks and QTAC selection ranks to ATARs can be accessed from the QTAC website . Note that these tables are based on 2017 Year 12 results so can be used as a guide only. You can learn more about ATARs and how to obtain an ATAR statement from the Student Connect website.

I’m not eligible for an OP. Can I still apply for courses through QTAC?

Yes, when you apply to QTAC, you will be given an OP ineligible rank based on your best 20 semester units of Authority subjects, Authority-registered subjects and Vocational Education and Training (VET) from your Learning Account. Sitting for the QCS Test could improve your OP ineligible rank if this is to your advantage. Use the OP Ineligible Estimator on the QTAC website (scroll down to the Year 12 students section) or talk to your school Guidance Officer to get an idea of how QTAC will calculate your OP ineligible rank.

You may receive additional ranks if you complete other qualifications that can be included in your Learning Account (e.g. Certificate III, Certificate IV, Diploma or acceptable music/speech and drama qualifications). If you receive more than one rank, the rules of the institutions you apply for will determine which of these ranks becomes your first order rank (the rank you are usually selected on). Note that you must still meet the subject prerequisites and any other entry requirements of the courses you apply for.

Study Skills

Are you an expert procrastinator?

Do you regularly and voluntarily delay or postpone something until a later date? You are probably aware by now that procrastination can be counterproductive as it can cause stress and guilt and make life more difficult in the long term. So, why not do something about this unhelpful habit. Seek Learning offers the following procrastination tips.

• Set goals and schedules - Your first step is to understand exactly how much study you need to do each week and make yourself accountable by setting specific, achievable goals and making a schedule. You’re far less likely to procrastinate if you tell yourself that you’ve allocated study for a specific part of the day than if you just promise to study sometime today.
• Eat the frog - As the author of dozens of novels, short stories, non-fiction works and essays, Mark Twain knew a thing or two about productivity, and famously advised people to “eat a live frog” first thing in the morning - figuratively, of course. The live frog is the biggest and most important task of the day, and it’s often the most unpleasant. Your ‘live frog’ is the task most likely to lead to procrastination if you don’t tackle it straight away. By eating the frog first, you can get on with your day knowing the toughest job has already been achieved.
• Dangle a carrot - Is there something else you’d rather be doing? Think of that more enjoyable activity as a carrot you can dangle in front of yourself. Promising yourself a reward after you’ve completed your study session can be a wonderful motivator to get it done.
• Eliminate temptation - What temptations usually lure you into procrastination mode? Figure out what they are and then eliminate them so you can focus on your study goals. For example, if you find it hard to sit down and study when you know household chores need to be done, take your books or laptop to the local library, where laundry and dishes can be put out of sight and mind. If you find yourself checking emails or browsing Facebook, download a productivity app that blocks certain websites on your computer for a set period of time.
• Forget perfection - Many of us procrastinate because we fear failure, we’re intimidated by a task, or because we put ourselves under pressure to do something perfectly. Instead of aiming for perfection or feeling overwhelmed, focus on just getting started. Simply read the first page of your text book, or begin jotting down notes for your essay. Getting something done is far better than doing nothing at all and you’ll often find that once you get the ball rolling, your motivation to continue will increase.

Community News

Plan your Brisbane online game and community engagement