22 August 2019 Volume 21 Number 8

NEWSLETTER ARTICLES

PRINCIPAL

News from the Principal

The school has enjoyed a busy first 5 weeks of the Semester with plenty of student activity and achievement across a range of curricular and co-curricular pursuits. It is rewarding to witness so many students pursuing opportunities across the school and in the process connecting to the Centenary SHS community and developing their capabilities.

The recent Year 10 Camp to Maranatha was a great success with the change in learning environment, allowing students to experience a whole range of outdoor activities. Student behaviour was exemplary with plenty of positive feedback from the camp operators.

The upcoming school production of Beyond the BigTop provides another opportunity for students to showcase their talents.

Facility Update

The three level new build continues to progress well and we expect handover at the end of the 2019 School Year. The building, which will contain general classrooms in addition to specialised Science laboratories, will be a dedicated learning space for our Senior Students. The school is using its discretional funding to have the rooms airconditioned.

P&C

I urge parents and caregivers to consider being involved in the school community through having a voice on the P&C. The school has enjoyed a long history of active parent involvement though the P&C. Meetings have now been moved to the first Wednesday of each month.

Digital Technology

Digital learning is an essential component of contemporary schooling. Increasingly learning activities and resources are more readily accessible to students in the digital form. As such, the school currently operates a Bring Your Own Device [BOYD] program to enable students to engage in digital learning in Years 7, 8 and 11. In 2020 we intend on expanding this program across all six cohorts. This roll out has been supported through improvements to school infrastructure and service provision. The school recommends window devices. Whilst non-window devices can be used on the school system, they have presented some problems this year.

SATE/New QCE

The implementation of the new SATE system in the Senior School represents the most significant curriculum change in Queensland in 40 years. We have worked closely with local high schools to ensure we have a high standard and consistent delivery across our schools. A number of Centenary staff have been selected as endorsers of assessment pieces in this new system. This expertise will be invaluable to the school moving forward.

Students in Year 11 will be completing the formative Unit 2 at the end of this term. The all important Unit 3 will commence in Term 4.

Students and Cars

As the year progresses we are witnessing an increasing number of senior students driving to school. Whilst we appreciate the convenience of car travel for many families, there is a need for drivers to accept the responsibilities and school requirements of student driving.

• All student drivers need to register their car at the office
• Other students are not to travel with student drivers unless parent/caregiver permission is received in writing at the office. Permission will not be granted to students who need to attend Genesis Gym or other local providers unless a reasonable medical reason is supplied
• Students are to park in the lower car park and not in the streets adjoining the school. The local police are aware of this issue
• Road rules are to be followed at all times

Please discuss these responsibilities with your children.

Student Success

Congratulations to all the students who participated in debating this year. Public speaking is gaining momentum in the school on the back of some committed staff.

Congratulations to School Captain David Dau who recently won the English Speakers Union competition. David gave an excellent impromptu speech described by the two judges as "one of the best impromptu speeches we have heard".

John Brew, Principal
Email: admin@centenaryshs.eq.edu.au

To read newsletter in full view, please click on the “Newsletter Print Version” button on the top left-hand corner of the screen.

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

News from the Deputy Principals

Preparing students for external assessment in 2020

The introduction of external assessment in General subjects is a key feature of the new QCE system. To give school communities a sense of what external assessment will be like, the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) has published sample papers on its website at the link below. They're located in the Assessment tab on each syllabus page.

We will incorporate these sample resources in our teaching and learning program to help our students prepare for next year. In the meantime, students and parents are encouraged to view the sample papers.

An information sheet for parents and students is also available on the QCAA website.

Attendance Procedures

A reminder to all parents that it is very important that all students attend every class, every day. Absences from school can have a significant impact on student learning. Make sure that you follow the correct procedures by informing the school of any student absences. This may be for any length of time, including extended absences for various different reasons. It is important that all absences are accounted for. If your son/daughter arrives late to school, they must sign in at the front administration office.

If any student is required to leave school early, they must provide a written note or parents contact the front administration staff. Students will then be issued with a leave request and they must then present this leave request at the office when they are due to leave, so they can be officially signed out of the school. It is not permitted that students just leave the school if their parents contact them via their personal mobile phone. All arrivals and departures must go through the front administration and the correct staff notified. This is a clear workplace health and safety practice and ensures that we know the whereabouts of all students at all times.

Year 11 Processes

Year 11 students will receive their last academic report at the completion of Unit 2 in early Term 4. This next report will be delivered around week 3 or 4 of Term 4 and will indicate the achievement and result for Unit 2. At this point, student results’ will be tracked and monitored, and may result in the adjustment of subject selections before students embark on the summative phase of their learning in Unit 3 and 4. This is significantly different to the old OP system and will ensure that both we as a school and parents provide plenty of support for students.

Year 10 SET Planning

All Year 10 students will be involved in the development of their SET (Student Education and Training) Plan over the next few weeks. This will involve individual meetings with students, parents and key staff at Centenary SHS where each student will develop their pathway plan for the completion of Year 11 and 12. Ultimately, this process will lead to the selection of subjects for next year. If you have any questions or concerns about this process please contact Mr. Richter.

QParents is available to all parents

The QParents web and mobile application provides a more convenient, easier way for parents and legal guardians of Queensland state school students to interact with their child’s school. Parents have secure, online access to their child’s student information, anytime, anywhere, through a smartphone, tablet or computer.

QParents allows parents to connect instantly with their child’s school to access and manage their child’s student information, including:

• Attendance and absence details, as well as the ability to notify the school of an absence
• Academic report cards
• Class timetables
• Viewing unpaid invoice details, payment history, and making payments online
• Viewing and updating personal student details, including medical conditions and address
• Enrolment details

QParents assists both staff and parents in sharing and responding to information in an efficient and effective way. It doesn’t replace the traditional ways you communicate with our school, but it does provide another way to communicate with us.

More information about QParents can be found at the link below. This link contains an extensive question and answer section with plenty of detailed information.

Matt McDonald, Deputy Principal (Years 9 & 12)
Email: mmcdo156@eq.edu.au

Adam Richter, Deputy Principal (Years 10, 11 & International)
Email: arich60@eq.edu.au

Kristin Lynch, Deputy Principal (Year 8, ATSI & EALD)
Email: klync54@eq.edu.au

Angela McKay, Deputy Principal (Year 7)
Email: amcka18@eq.edu.au

BUSINESS MANAGER

News from the Business Manager

2019 Fees are now due

Thank you to the families who have paid the 2019 school fees. Your payments are greatly appreciated and go directly to enhancing the learning of your child/children.

For those families who have not yet paid, a “Debtor Statement” for school fees will be processed, and parents/carers will receive these either by email or by post shortly. This statement is an overview of previous single invoices that have already been forwarded.

Please note that no action is required for a credit adjustment, this will appear as a negative amount on a statement. If you have not received a statement this indicates that there are no outstanding fees.

All fees relating to the 2019 calendar year are due. An overview of all fees and charges can be located on our website below. These documents provide a detailed explanation (by subject) of Curriculum Charges and Student Resource Scheme fees and what the school provides for each of these charges.

Please note that some subjects are only timetabled each term or semester. For these subjects, invoices will be generated as required with an email advising parents/carers of the fee. For invoices generated after the due date, a 30-day account will operate.

For more detailed information please contact the individual Head of Department or Business Manager by emailing admin@centenaryshs.eq.edu.au.

Changes to the Payment of Excursion

This year excursion/camps/activities are no longer included in payment plans. These are a user pay activity and will need to be paid in full prior to attending the event.

Parent/Carer Experiencing Financial Difficulties

A parent/carer wishing to participate in the Student Resource Scheme and experiencing financial hardship is encouraged to contact the Business Manager to discuss how their financial obligations can be met throughout the school year, or to negotiate alternative arrangements that may be available to accommodate their individual circumstances. All discussions will be held in the strictest confidence.

How to make a payment

Payments can be made over the counter by cash or EFTPOS (Debit Card, MasterCard or Visa) or by BPOINT or QParents. BPOINT and QParents options allow parents/carers the convenience of making payments from home and alleviates the need to pay over the counter transactions in person. For more information about QParents, please refer to the school’s website.

BPOINT Option

BPOINT is an online payment system and is the preferred payment method for the Department.

This option is accessed through an internet weblink which appears on all invoices and statements. This link can also be located in the Quicklinks section of our school’s website homepage. You will need the Customer Reference Number (CRN) which is printed on the bottom of your invoice/statement before payment can be processed.

When accessing the BPOINT weblink on individual invoices all relevant information will prepopulate. Parents/Carers will only be required to enter their credit or debit card details.

INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE (IVR) BPOINT is also available by dialling the 1300 number provided on individual invoices. This option will only accept credit cards.

ELECTRONIC DIRECT DEBIT REGISTRATION (eDDR) BPOINT is the approved payment plan option. To set up a payment plan parents/carers will be required to firstly contact the school office.

For more information on BPOINT please refer to the school’s website.

PHONE OR COUNTER payments Options

Payments can be made at the school office, Monday to Friday between 8.00am and 4.00pm. Payment options include credit and debit cards (EFTPOS); cheque and cash. Money orders are also accepted.

For payments over the phone, call the school on 3373 4555, Monday to Friday between 8.00am and 4.00pm and we will transfer you to the IVR BPOINT 1300 dedicated phone number. Only VISA or MasterCard can be used for this process. From 2018 schools are no longer able to accept credit card payments over the phone.

Lost Property

Students should check the school office for any property they believe they have lost. If property is marked with the student’s name, every effort will be made to return the property to the student as soon as possible. Parents/Carers are most welcome to visit the school and check the lost property section for items that their student may have lost.

Items of school uniform which remain unclaimed after one month will be placed in the “spare uniform” collection kept at the school for emergency situations or will be sent to the school uniform shop for sale as ‘second-hand’ uniforms. Other unclaimed items will be donated to charities.

Charmaine Macaulay, Business Manager
Email: cmaca5@eq.edu.au

STUDENT LEADERSHIP COORDINATOR

News from the Student Leadership Coordinator

The student forum have been reflecting on what it means to be an elected student leader, and how to fulfil the role of student representative. I anticipate some interesting actions coming from this ongoing discussion. The big event focus has been preparing for the RSPCA Cupcake Day, which is set to be a riotous day of colour, sugar and sprinkles! The forum have been working hard to make sure that all aspects are considered and we are able to create a fun and cupcake-full event.

Elizabeth Long, Student Leadership Coordinator
Email: ejlon1@eq.edu.au

INCLUSIVE PRACTICES

News from Inclusive Practices

Transition Program

The Inclusive Practices Department will be soon running their annual transition program for the 2020 Year 7 students with verified disabilities or significant learning difficulties. This program, which is held in Term 4 from weeks 4 to 7, is an important event for our students to gain confidence to make the big step from Primary to High School. To this end students will gain some knowledge of Centenary State High School, as well as the practices and standards that we set here as a school and as a community. These include the understanding the different components of the school diary, student timetables, orientation around the school and some ‘taster’ lessons in HPE, Science, Manual Arts and Home Economics.

They will run once a week for a couple of hours in the morning (including morning tea), and will culminate with a morning tea in week 7 for parents and future students to meet the staff of the Inclusive Practices Department. Furthermore, each student will receive a transition booklet that will be packed full of handy information, including important contacts, frequently asked questions and fun facts. This booklet will also be available on the students’ One Note, for a quick reference when they begin school in 2020.

If you have any more questions about this program, please contact Dr Deborah McIntyre on dmcin49@eq.edu.au

CLASS (Centenary Learning Alliance of State Schools) Professional Development

On Wednesday 28 August after school, we are fortunate to have Speech Language Pathologist Fiona Ormiston talking to teachers and teacher aides about the benefits of new, easy-to-learn technologies, which can assist students with reading and writing difficulties. These sessions are vital to help us as a staff ensure that we are able to make necessary adjustments for students who may experience difficulties reading and/or writing.

Deborah McIntyre, Head of Inclusive Practices
Email: dmcin49@eq.edu.au

GUIDANCE

News from the Guidance Officers

Life constantly throws up challenges and difficulties. Resilience is the ability to manage and cope with these. It is believed that having enough sleep is an important factor in our ability to deal with adversity and the demands of a busy life. Sleep in many respects is a built in biological source of resilience and the ability to bounce back. Although the relationship between sleep and mental health is not clearly understood, we believe that a good night's sleep helps foster both mental and emotional resilience. Chronic sleep disruptions set the stage for negative thinking, depression, anxiety and emotional vulnerability.

During the day, we are bombarded with new information. Sleep gives the brain some ‘down time’ to process all of this information and store it in our memory banks. This way, it is available and accessible when it is needed. Having enough sleep improves concentration, creativity and assists with learning.

An extreme example of a difficult and stressful situation is being in a Prisoner of War camp. In a study that followed repatriated prisoners of war for 37 years, sleep was the strongest predictor of mental resilience. Whatever is happening during sleep for traumatised people, it appears to assist with the recovery from these stressful experiences. Whilst thankfully few people will have had the experiences of a POW, all of us experience the ups and downs of life and would benefit from accessing quality sleep in times of stress.

Poor sleep and depression are very closely linked; treating one condition will often improve the other. Given that research suggests that 60-90% of patients with depression have insomnia (and approximately 20% of people with depression have sleep apnoea), looking after our sleep to promote good mental health seems imperative. The Harvard Mental Health Newsletter states that “Once viewed only as symptoms, sleep problems may actually contribute to psychiatric disorders”. People who sleep poorly are much more likely to develop significant mental illness, including depression and anxiety, than those who sleep well.

There are many simple ways to improve sleep. The first step for many people is:

• To improve their sleep habits. A regular bedtime and waking time are essential, as are avoiding stimulants before going to bed (cigarettes and caffeine)
• Having enough exercise during the day (not too close to bedtime)
• eating well and healthy
• Ensuring that the bedroom is quiet and dark and the bed is comfortable
• Removing all electronic screens from the bedroom is difficult for some people, but mobile phones, computers and televisions in the bedroom are a major cause of sleep disruption
• Some people may need to seek the assistance of a sleep psychologist or sleep clinic and very occasionally the short term use of medication may be helpful.

Adapted from Sleep Foundation, Cathryn Curtin, Psychologist, People Diagnostix

Juanita Oberle, Guidance Officer
Email: jober13@eq.edu.au

Janet Ingram, Guidance Officer
Email: jingr34@eq.edu.au

CHAPLAIN

News from the Chaplain

Food for Thought

Over the years, I have spoken with several students, staff members and parents who have had to face the very frightening situation of being diagnosed as having a life threatening illness.

How do you think you would cope if you had to face a similar crisis?

At first you might feel bitter and even angry, but once the initial feelings of shock have passed, there is a good chance that you would discover an inner strength that you never knew existed, as well as a greatly increased awareness of what really matters in life.

You might have heard of people who have gone through this type of situation and who have actually come to a point where they have admitted that a part of them is almost glad that they went through this trial because it taught them to not take life for granted, the way they used to do.

Isn’t it a sad fact that some of us have to face the possibility of losing our lives before we actually start to appreciate the many good aspects that our lives are filled with?

Please don’t take your life for granted. Take the time to consider the blessings that your days are filled with. If there are people in your life that mean a lot to you, then let them know that and treat them well. If there are problems in your life that need fixing, make an effort to sort out those difficulties, instead of just allowing them to continue. Look after your health and treat your body wisely. Take control of the quality of your life and enjoy it to the fullest.

A message from Chappy Bernie.

Building emotional intelligence: 4 Key Skills to increasing your EI

The key skills for building your EQ and improving your ability to manage emotions and connect with others are:

1. Self-awareness
2. Self-management
3. Social awareness
4. Relationship management

Building emotional intelligence Key Skill 1: Self-Awareness

The science of attachment teaches that present day emotional experience is a reflection of early life emotional experience. Your ability to experience core feelings like anger, sadness, fear, and joy most likely depends on the quality and consistency of your early life emotional experiences. If your emotions were understood and valued, your emotions became valuable assets later in life. But, if you’re emotional experiences were confusing, threatening or painful, you most likely did your best to distance yourself from them.

Being able to connect to your emotions—having a moment-to-moment connection with your changing emotional experience—is the key to understanding how emotion influences your thoughts and actions.

What kind of a relationship do you have with your emotions?

Do you experience feelings that flow, encountering one emotion after another as your experiences change from moment to moment?

Are your emotions accompanied by physical sensations that you experience in places like your stomach, throat, or chest?

Do you experience individual feelings and emotions, such as anger, sadness, fear, joy, each of which is evident in subtle facial expressions?

Can you experience intense feelings that are strong enough to capture both your attention and that of others?

Do you pay attention to your emotions? Do they factor into your decision making?

If any of these experiences are unfamiliar, your emotions may be turned down or turned off. In order to be emotionally healthy and emotionally intelligent, you must reconnect to your core emotions, accept them, and become comfortable with them.

Mindfulness practice builds self-awareness as it reduces stress

Mindfulness is the practice of purposely focusing your attention on the present moment—and without judgment. The cultivation of mindfulness has roots in Buddhism, but most religions include some type of similar prayer or meditation technique. Mindfulness helps shift your preoccupation with thought toward an appreciation of the moment, physical and emotional sensations, and brings a larger perspective on life. Mindfulness calms and focuses you, making you more self-aware in the process.

Developing emotional awareness

If you haven’t learned how to manage stress, it’s important to do so first. When you can manage stress, you’ll feel more comfortable reconnecting to strong or unpleasant emotions and changing the way you experience and respond to your feelings. You can develop your emotional awareness by learning the mindfulness meditation in Help guide’s free Emotional Intelligence Toolkit that helps you to get in touch with difficult emotions and manage uncomfortable feelings.

Key Skill 2: Self-Management

Being emotionally aware is just the first step to emotional management. In order for you to engage your emotional intelligence, you must also be able use your emotions to make constructive decisions about your behaviour. When you become overly stressed, you can lose control of your emotions and the ability to act thoughtfully and appropriately.

Think about a time when you have been overwhelmed by stress. Was it easy to think clearly or make a rational decision? Probably not. This is because while your brain can manage feeling and thinking at the same time, when we become overly stressed, our ability to both think clearly and accurately assess emotions—our own and other people's—becomes compromised.

Emotions are important pieces of information that tell us about ourselves and others but in the face of stress that takes us out of our comfort zone, we can become overwhelmed and lose control of ourselves. With the ability to manage stress, and stay emotionally present you can learn to receive disturbing pieces of information without letting this information override your thoughts and self-control. You will be able to make choices that allow you to control impulsive feelings and behaviours, manage your emotions in healthy ways, take initiative, follow through on commitments, and adapt to changing circumstances.

Key Skill 3: Social Awareness

Social awareness is the skill needed to pick up on the largely nonverbal cues others constantly send. These cues speak to the emotions others are experiencing and give you a more precise idea of their experience what is truly important to them. When groups of people send out similar nonverbal cues, you are able to read and understand shared joint experiences. In order to do these things, you will have to know how to suspend your thoughts in order to experience nonverbal cues that change from one moment to the next. Ironically, not thinking about goals and objectives when with other people is what you need to further those objectives.

Mindfulness is an ally of emotional and social awareness

Social awareness is a moment-to-moment experience that can’t take place while we are thinking about something else. When we are in our heads, planning the future or analysing the past we cannot be present in the moment. This makes it especially difficult to pick up on subtle nonverbal cues. The myth of multitasking must be ignored. Although we can switch subjects very quickly, when we do so, we miss the subtle emotional shift—taking place in other people—that help us to understand them.

We are actually more likely to further our social goals and objectives by setting our thoughts, intentions, and goals aside in social situations and instead, focusing on the interaction itself. Moment-to-moment social awareness is an empowering personal process.

Following the flow of another person's emotional responses is a give-and-take process that requires us to also pay attention to the flow of our own emotional experience.

A common fear is that by paying attention to others we diminish self-awareness but the opposite is really true. We gain self-awareness by taking the time and putting in the effort to pay attention to others.

Paying attention to what you experience emotionally as you listen to others also illuminates your own beliefs and values. It's easy to mouth popular ideas and values that may not really be a good fit for you. But, when you feel discomfort hearing others express these views, you have learned something important about yourself.

Key Skill 4: Relationship Management

Working well with others is a process that begins with emotional awareness and your ability to recognize and understand what other people are experiencing. Once emotional awareness is in play, you can effectively develop additional social/emotional skills that will make your relationships more effective, fruitful and fulfilling.

Become aware of how effectively you use nonverbal communication

Nonverbal Communication

It's impossible to avoid sending nonverbal messages to others about what we think and feel. The many muscles in the face surrounding the eyes, nose, mouth and forehead—none of which are weight-bearing like other muscle—help us to wordlessly convey our own emotions as well as read other peoples’ emotional intent.

The emotional part of our brain is always on—and even if we ignore its messages—others won't. Recognizing the kinds of nonverbal messages that we send to others can be a huge part improving our relationships. See Nonverbal Communication.

Use humour and play to relieve stress

Humour, laughter and play are natural antidotes stress. They lessen your burdens and help you keep things in perspective. Laughter brings your nervous system into balance, reducing stress, calming you down, sharpening your mind and making you more empathic. See Laughter is the Best Medicine.

Learn to see conflict as an opportunity to grow closer to others

Conflict and disagreements are inevitable in relationships. Two people can’t possibly have the same needs, opinions, and expectations at all times. However, that needn’t be a bad thing. Resolving conflict in healthy, constructive ways can strengthen trust between people. When conflict isn’t perceived as threatening or punishing, it fosters freedom, creativity, and safety in relationships. See Conflict Resolution Skills.

If I can help you or you need to talk about anything, contact me through email: bmcmu27@eq.edu.au or Phone: 07 33734531.

Thanking You

Bernie McMullen, Chaplain
Email: bmcmu27@eq.edu.au

SPORTS DIRECTOR

Sports Director Report

Centenary SHS has achieved outstanding success in sport in 2019. History and New District Athletics Records have been made, and District Premierships have been won. The hard work and dedication of our students at Centenary SHS has paid off. Centenary SHS staffs’ commitment and dedication to the sporting program and the students, is outstanding and very much appreciated.

Interhouse Lunchtime Sporting Competition

House Captains are working together to help promote physical activity and to engage students during Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday AM breaks. Yallambee won the Year 7 and the Year 11 basketball interhouse challenge in the first week. Different sports will be offered over the remainder of Term 3 and 4. Basketball challenge will continue in Week 5 and then the students will compete in a volleyball competition. The winning house will be earning points towards the 2019 House of the Year, which will be presented at Sports Awards in Term 4.

Year 10 and Open Gala Day

The senior winter GALA day was held on Tuesday 6th August where Centenary was well represented in all sporting competitions. The seniors had the opportunity to compete in soccer, basketball, AFL and netball. Over 110 students excitedly boarded the buses ready for the action to begin at various venues across southwest Brisbane. Competition was fierce, with the winning teams gaining entry into the metropolitan finals. Congratulations to the Open Boys Basketball team who beat Yeronga SHS in the final to be crowned champions. There were also strong second place performances from many teams.

Congratulations to all the coaches who have been training their squads for many weeks; Mr Redman, Mr Webber, Mr Haines, Mrs Chamberlain, Ms Tesch, Ms Tuton, Ms Daniells and Mr Foster. Met Finals will commence on the 21 August and Centenary SHS has had 4 successful teams qualify to compete at this next level. More news to come as the Met Finals unfold.

Student Success

I just wanted to take the opportunity to update you on the State School Australia National Netball Championships 2019, which took place in Caloundra last week. Miranda attended as a representative of Centenary State High School and Queensland as an umpire. The championships provided some excellent umpiring opportunities, there was a pool of only 11 umpires from across Australia. Miranda was selected to umpire the grand final which is the top selection in this field. The final was between SA and VIC. SA won the grand final and maintained the premiership. Her co-umpire and reserve umpire were also from Queensland which shows a real depth of talent in our state.

Leah Siertsema

Leah Siertsema was selected to represent QLD in the National Titles. Leah competed in Launceston Tasmania from Saturday 27 July until Saturday 3 August. Leah was in the top 6 players for 2 of the 5 games and played some fantastic football.

Ten Pin Bowling

On Sunday the 11 of August three Centenary SHS students participated in the Interschool Challenge; a Tenpin Bowling competition for schools across south east Queensland. Jamie Robinson (Year 12), Jamie Ngo (Year 12) and Jacques Hallam (Year 8) performed exceptionally well and shone as ambassadors within the community. The competition took place at Zone Bowling Richlands, where all three players participated in four consecutive games. The scores were tallied up and the results have yet to be finalised. A huge highlight was watching League bowler Jamie Robinson complete eight strikes in a row to amass an incredible 260 in one game. Congratulations boys. Well done!

Sports Awards

The sports awards for 2019 will be held in Term 4. Students that have achieved a gold or silver medal in sport will be recognised on this night for their sporting achievements. In Week 9 and 10 of this term students will need to check the HPE noticeboard to confirm if they achieved a silver or gold and that all their achievements are listed. This is the responsibility of all students to ensure that all of their achievements are listed and the point allocation is correct.

Dates:

Yours in Sport

Tamara Nasalio, Sports Director
Email: tnasa1@eq.edu.au

CULTURAL DIRECTOR

Cultural Director Report

Excursion: School of Rock

On 31 July 140 students from Year 7-9 Music Plus and Performance Plus got to experience the full spectacle of a large school musical with a visit to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre to see School of Rock. The show based on the hit film with new music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, was enjoyed greatly by all of the students, and even had some of the staff rocking out on the day!

Upcoming Events

Beyond the Big Top

Beyond the Big Top is almost here!!!

Tickets are available through the Try Booking link below for Friday 23 August at 7pm and Saturday 24 August at 2pm and 7pm.

Come and see what 120 of our talented students have been working so hard to put together for the past two terms.

City Hall

The Stage Band has been invited to perform at Brisbane City Hall on Tuesday 3 September as part of the Lord Mayor’s Lunchtime Concert Series. They will perform with groups from Pullenvale State School.

AUSACA National Finals

On Friday 6 September the Vocal Ensemble will be travelling to Melbourne with a group of supporters to compete in the final of the national A Capella Finals. We wish the group all the best with their performance, and hope that the extended group has a great short tour down to Melbourne.

Music Extension

Our extremely talented music extension students will be delivering their final recitals on Wednesday 18 September in CPAC. There will be a wide range of musical styles and genres on display, with something for everyone.

Article

Finally, below is a link to a Forbes article from a couple of months ago about students doing better in school if they also take music lessons. Enjoy.

Upcoming Performances

Til next time

Mark Watkins, Cultural Director
Email: mwatk16@eq.edu.au

JUNIOR SECONDARY

Junior Secondary News

It’s been a busy time for the Junior School – focusing on 2019 and looking ahead to 2020.

In recent weeks, High Resolves have been out to work with our Year 8s and Year 9s on a program geared towards shaping their empathy for others within our immediate community, as well as globally. This provided them with a fresh perspective regarding the quality of life some people endure on a daily basis – from quality of housing and bedding, access to water and even whether they have a toothbrush of their own. It was fantastic to see the students work as teams to devise solutions and promote ideas for our school community to embrace.

Several graduates from our four main feeder schools escorted me back to their old stomping grounds in the past few weeks to discuss enrolments for 2020. Hearing them address the Year 6 cohorts was terrific, with their beaming smiles, confidence and articulation in explaining the processes of high school. Just a reminder, all students coming to CSHS next year require their paperwork to be submitted a.s.a.p.

We are also about to embark on Transition Days with our Feeder Schools, welcoming them along to sample the Arts and Technology faculties.

Our Year 7 student leaders have announced a new initiative – a gratitude wall to acknowledge others and recognise people in our school who make a difference in some way.

It was also fantastic to recognise academic successes recently on assemblies and congratulations to all who received outstanding results for their effort and behaviour.

Brock Germain, HOD Junior Secondary
Email: bgerm1@eq.edu.au

FACULTIES

APPLIED TECHNOLOGY

Staffing Arrangements

Applied Technology staffing remains challenging as the year progresses.

The issue is compounded by the critical shortage of qualified supply staff for both Industrial Technology and Design (ITD) and Home Economics.

Arrangements to date.

Home Economics

Shanti Reddy has been absent with health related issues. Her vacancy has been filled with a variety of contract teachers. Rachael Mc Millen was unable to commit to a lengthy contract due to the arrival of her first child. Rachael was subsequently replaced by Asha Nagle. Asha has a young family and a husband who is in the armed services. Lengthy overseas deployments made it difficult for Asha to combine family life and the requirements of a full-time teacher. Consequently, she was unable to continue the Home Economics contract for Term 3. Liz Wright has been secured to teach Shanti’s classes until the end of the year.

Shanti is participating in a “gradual return to work” program. Essentially, she has currently been assigned one class. Depending on her health, this will progressively increase over a period of time. The aim would be to redeploy Shanti on a full-time basis.

Industrial Technology and Design

Peter Winn has been absent with health related issues. His vacancy has been filled by Rob Brown who has been contracted to Centenary State High School for the remainder of 2019.

Dan Patch has been on five weeks paternity leave due to the birth of his twins. During this time, the school has attempted to secure qualified ITD teachers. Ashley Beruldsen was only employed for the first two weeks, due to his commitment to a contract at another school, prior to his arrival at CSHS. A supply teacher was employed for the third week of Dan’s leave. Classes in Week 4 and Week 5 will be taught by Martin Ficici.

Dan’s return will be coincide with Adrian Homer’s long service leave. Adrian will be absent for two weeks and it is anticipated that Martin will teach Adrian’s classes during his absence.

Tony Oliver has returned from his appointment to the Murri School and provides an option should any unexpected ITD absences arise.

I appreciate that the regularity of these changes is not ideal, however the reasons for the absences are out of my control. The school endeavours to minimise the impact of the changes on the effected classes and on some occasions adjusts the timetable to accommodate the needs of the senior students.

Contact me, should you require further clarification.

Subject Selection

Students in Year 10 have received presentations from the various faculty HODs to inform them of the subjects on offer for Year 11 in 2020.

I appreciate that they have been inundated with information and it might prove a little difficult to process.

Students will receive a subject handbook which lists the subjects offered for selection. Additionally, important information relating to prerequisites, course content and types of assessment is included.

The handbook is a fantastic reference document and I would strongly encourage students and parents to refer to the content, because it does provide responses to many of the concerns initially encountered by the students.

Students in Year 9 are scheduled to receive a similar presentation from the respective HODs before the end of the term.

Endorsement

Teachers of Year 11 Design and Year 11 Food and Nutrition are currently involved in the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) internal assessment endorsement process. This requires the teachers to write the first two assessment pieces for Year 12, ensuring they comply with strict QCAA guidelines. The assessment pieces will be forwarded to the QCAA for scrutiny by an approved endorser. Instruments with identified concerns will be returned to the school for review and subsequent amendment. Essentially, all Year 12 assessment instruments will be approved by the QCAA prior to them being administered. The process has been initiated to ensure that all assessment instruments display the attributes of quality assessment viz. validity, accessibility and reliability.

Michael Tobin, Applied Technology HOD
Email: mtobi6@eq.edu.au

BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY

Business in the Real World

This term in Year 11 Business students are studying marketing strategies utilised by businesses. To build their understanding, we visited the highly competitive environment at South Bank.

“On Friday of week 2 Year 11 Business student attended an excursion to South Bank, where we were immersed in the heart of the city’s commercial hub. We are currently learning about a variety of marketing techniques and strategies to gain a competitive edge in the world of business. The excursion was extremely beneficial to understand marketing as we were exposed to a diverse set of real life marketing skills and techniques applied by successful businesses, something we can take away and apply in our upcoming studies.” Ross Shepherd

“Throughout the day we toured several different areas such as Grey Street, Little Stanley Street, South Bank and the cultural precinct. The tours were headed by our Business teachers Mrs Berenice Furlong and Mr David Foster. We also had to interview the general public. The excursion was an exemplary success and provided us with realistic experience on the impacts of marketing in Business.” Isaac Girvan

The Year 11 Business students will use the information gathered from the excursion to complete an investigation research report on competitive environments in Business.

Berenice Furlong, Experience Senior Business Teacher
Email: bfurl1@eq.edu.au

Janelle Kerridge, Business Technology HOD
Email: jkerr172@eq.edu.au

ELEARNING

Bring Your Own Device expanding to all year levels in 2020

Our Bring Your Own Device program, currently encompassing Years 7, 8 and 11, continues to go from strength to strength. Every day teachers and students are using technology to share content; give and receive feedback; collaborate and deepen their learning with creative uses of ICT.

In 2020 the program will expand to all year levels. This will mean students currently in Years 9 and 10 (and our incoming Year 7s) will be required to have a device (preferably a Windows laptop) every school day.

More information about the BYO program can be found on our website:

Example of creative uses of technology: Geography students created interactive maps like this using ArcGIS.

Student notices, links and documents now available anywhere

We recently upgraded our student homepage, making it accessible from outside the school. Students can use this link to access notices, ICT help guides and as a one-stop shop for commonly used online tools such as OneNote, OneDrive and email.

James Whittle, eLearning HOD
Email: jwhit732@eq.edu.au

SCIENCE

National Science Week

National Science week went from 10-18 August this year and celebrated 50 years of the first landing on the moon. Hence the theme, “Destination Moon: More missions, More Science”. Our UQ Science ambassadors – Dru Callaghan, Amy Lightbody, Josh Ahmad, Jade Preston and Diana Tawil have demonstrated strong leadership in organising and coordinating a very successful National Science Week Program

Year 5 Science day

The Science faculty is proud to support young students at our feeder primary schools. This year the program involved four activities that each of the schools were rotated throughout the day. It was pleasing to observe enthusiastic engagement in all of the activities.

ICAS Science competition

ICAS Science is conducted across Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands and International schools. The test is designed to assess students' ability to apply classroom learning in new contexts, using higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills. The details of the competition are as follows:

Date 5 September, Cost is $14.00 and the Format is an Online Test

To enter, students need to make payment to the front office by Wednesday 21 August 2019.

Allen Moodley, Science HOD
Email: amood23@eq.edu.au

YEAR LEVEL COORDINATORS

Year 9 Report

Recently the Year 9’s had the great opportunity to participate in the ‘High Resolves- Social Progress Program'. These sessions introduced the students to the concept of social justice and equality in the world. It was fantastic to see the students working together and completing the various activities throughout the sessions. It was also great to see them getting frustrated at the lack of equality in the world but also seeing them realise that they can be a driving force for change in the world. I was very proud of the level of maturity the students demonstrated over the two days of sessions. These sessions are a valuable aspect of our HG program here at Centenary. It’s a great opportunity for the students to engage in topics about the world we live in.

I had the pleasure of attending the Year 10 camp recently. The Year 10’s were engaged in a number of activities that tested their strength both mentally and physically. I am so excited to see the Year 9’s in action next year. The Year 10 camp is held at the Maranatha Recreational Camp up at Yandina. The camp goes for three days, two nights and will be held next year on Wednesday 29 July – Friday 31 July 2020. More information will be sent out later this year.

The focus for the rest of the term is on career pathways and subject selection for Year 10. The students will be hearing from Heads of Departments on what the different subjects are that are on offer in Year 10. The students will also be hearing from key members of staff on career planning. While in HG classes, students will be engaging in activities and discussions that focus on their strengths and weaknesses, and what interests them as a possible future career.

There will be a parent information night on Monday 26 August. The night will commence at 6pm in the Performing Arts Hall. All current Year 9 parents are welcome to come along and hear from key members of staff on the procedures for subject selection for Year 10 2020.

Kate George, Year 9 Coordinator
Email: Kgeor38@eq.edu.au

Year 8 Report

In Week 2, our Year 8 students participated in the Just Society experience as part of the High Resolves Citizenship Program. Our students explored the central idea that not everyone in the world has fair access to resources, opportunities and human rights. They took part in a simulation, played games, and discussed contributing factors to this injustice, as well as ways they could act as young social advocates to make a difference and create a fairer world.

Students first used the concept of the Veil of Ignorance to explore the idea of fairness, justice, and power, before taking part in the first simulated activity. This activity required students to act as alien researchers and study the behaviour of humans and the different types of resources, for example water or toilets, we have access to around the world. Each group had to decide which types of resources they thought were fair and draw the line at which resources they thought were unacceptable for any human being. They then explored the amount of people that currently live below their line and some advantages, barriers and root causes that exist in society which contribute to that injustice. Our students then explored the concept of justice versus charity and brainstormed a range of actions they could take as young leaders to have a long-term impact on a range of social issues they think are important. At the end of the module, each student was asked to complete their own ‘I resolve to’ card, making a specific commitment to take a citizenship type action in the following days or weeks. Please see below for some examples – I am so proud of the students in this cohort!

What the students had to say:

“I really loved the high resolves program that I experienced on Thursday. It was actually really enjoyable and although the oomans and EAR-th, were a little cheesy and cringy, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Talking about all the global issues in the world, that are causing serious problems, inspired me to start making a change. I have NO idea how to yet, but I know I will. I’ve made it one of my goals.”

“I always thought that I am a kid so I cannot help to stop the social problems in the world. But due to you and your wonderful team, I was proved incorrect. I learnt all the ways that I can contribute to stop the world’s problems.”

“Thank you for our high resolve’s session! I appreciate the effort and work you put towards the day and it was fantastic. Thank you for giving up your time and coming to our school and making us aware of the problems going on around us, and how one small thing can change a large thing. I feel that I now know and understand the world we live in better and that is all thanks to you. The activities were amazing, and I loved the interactive parts when we made the posters or worked as a team. I resolve to only use animal cruelty free products (NO ANIMAL TESTING) to hopefully reduce animal abuse and create more awareness around this topic. Once again thank you very much and I cannot wait to see you again!”

“High resolves was fun and taught a lot of things such as how much of the population is actually living in poverty. It was also a fun experience and it helped me work and interact with other students that I don't usually talk to.”

High Resolves is a not-for-profit, non-religious, non-partisan, educational program that motivates high school students to be purposeful global citizens and to develop the mindsets and skills they need to lead their communities, and the world, to a brighter future. We have enjoyed High Resolves for many years at Centenary, and based on the student feedback, the year 8 cohort LOVED it! If you would like to know more about this wonderful program, details can be found at the link below.

Claire Tuton, Year 8 Coordinator
Email: ctuto3@eq.edu.au

Year 7 Report

Term 3 of Year 7 is the time when we focus on staying safe online. Regardless of whether your child is currently using social media apps, it is important that we are open in our expectations and communication with our young people about the internet. After all, the internet is an incredible tool. It provides an opportunity to communicate, learn, play and be entertained! And while it provides so many positives, it can be a risky place. Cyberbullying, inappropriate contact, identity theft, scams and exposure to adult content can occur at the click of a button.

As we have these conversations with your young people here at school, use it as an opportunity to have conversations at home. Establish rules about the types of content or information your child should report to an adult. Encourage your child to use the same manners and communication they would use offline, and remind them it is okay to report others who are not being nice. Stay involved and support their time online positively, by being aware of how your child uses the internet and explore it with them.

Whether it is posting public pictures, social statuses, or personal messages, cyber bullying takes many forms. Bullying and other inappropriate online behaviour can be distressing and may be difficult for children to talk about. Please, take some time and teach your child how to take a screen shot on their device, so they can capture evidence of cyberbullying. It is important to contact school if your child is being bullied through school ICT resources, or if another student from school has published inappropriate content. Always remember, if you have concerns for your child’s safety, report the incident to the police.

I have really appreciated the messages I have received from parents who have shared conversations that the online safety lessons have generated at home. Keep them coming! It is great to know that what your child’s HG teacher is teaching is making a difference!

As always, yours from Junior Secondary,

Karyn Abraham, Year 7 Coordinator
Email: kabra21@eq.edu.au