30 May 2019 Volume 21 Number 5

NEWSLETTER ARTICLES

PRINCIPAL

News from the Principal

The middle of term already!!! It has been a busy start with the numerous sports carnivals, parent teacher and ANZAC Day. We moved to a single day format for the parent interviews this year - the feedback to date has been overwhelmingly positive and we are likely to maintain this format in the future.

Great to see the good numbers of students subscribing to the afterschool STEAM program. The delivery provides another opportunity for students to engage in learning not normally available through the classroom.

Whilst technology does provide numerous benefits to us all, it also provides some challenges for schools. An issue that has emerged recently is the student use of meal delivery services such as Uber Eats. We do not allow this service at Centenary as we need to control the dropping off of any items on the school fence line.

Saturday June 8th is our Open Day - whilst the day is primarily about showcasing our school to prospective enrolments it also provides the opportunity for our existing community to experience first-hand the programs on offer and to meet our staff.

Interim Report Data

The interim data published earlier in the term provides a good opportunity for students to gauge where they are at in respect to their learning and academic achievement goals. Importantly with the bulk of Semester 1 assessment sitting in Term 2 there is time to rectify shortcomings.

A key target for the school this year is to have 60% of our students achieving at an A or B level in their subject results. At 54.8% we are still short of the target however with further application I am convinced we can “move the middle”.

Additional data sets indicate that the classroom environment in conducive to learning with 84.3% of our students averaging A and Bs in Behaviour. Our Effort data with 76.6% of students averaging A and Bs is commendable but also indicates that a significant number of students could commit more to their learning.

Teaching and Learning

As a staff we value the power of quality feedback to improve performance. Over recent years we have operated a Collegial Feedback program in the school to enhance the quality of our teaching and learning outcomes. We are currently in a collegial feedback window where staff will be frequently visiting each other’s classrooms providing feedback on identified areas of teacher performance. Your child may report back that there were a number of teachers in a particular class on a given day. This is simply part of our commitment to improving teaching practice and ultimately student outcomes.

Student Resource Levy

We have recently made the decision to increase the Student Resource Levy for 2020 to $300. This levy remains one of the cheapest amongst our neighbouring secondary schools. Cost pressures from the enhancements we have made in our Digital Learning program, in particular the text licenses are the main factors in this increase. This year we have committed a digital learning program in Years 7, 8 and 11. In 2020 we will be rolling this program out across all six cohorts.

Facilities

Our new build continues to progress on schedule with an expected handover by the end of the school year. The three level build with three specialised Science Laboratories will be used primarily by our Senior Students from 2020. The new groundsman’s shed is close to completion.

Additionally and due to the generous support of the P&C the canteen has recently been renovated, creating a far safer work environment with vastly improved functionality.

Student Success

With the major carnivals occurring earlier this year we have had plenty of sporting action across the school. Highlights include:

• 8 Gala Day Premierships, teams now progress to Metro Finals
• Outstanding Track and Field Carnival with 35 new records set
• At least 18 students have been selected for Met West teams so far this year
• Anja Nayar in Year 9 continues her success on the tennis court after winning the National Schoolgirls as a member of the Queensland team and being rewarded with national selection.

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 right-hand corner of the screen.

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

News from the Deputy Principals

New Year 11 Processes

Exam Block and Tracking:

Our Year 11 students are well underway with the New QCE Senior System. Students will participate in a 4 day Exam Block from Wednesday 29/5/19 to Monday 3/6/19 inclusive. During this time, Year 11 students will only be required to attend school for scheduled exams or if they have not completed required coursework. Students need to complete their individualised tracking sheet which requires them to have all teachers sign off on course completion. If students still need to submit work for their subjects, they will be required to attend the Exam Block Catch-up room during the Exam Block. Once all work is completed and up to date, students will be allowed to leave school.

Unit 1 Reporting:

At the completion of the Exam Block and Unit 1, all Year 11 students will receive another school report which will indicate their achievement of Unit 1. This will be emailed to all parents around Week 8 and 9 of this term. It is very important that students do as well as they can with their Unit 1 results as they will not have the same ability to regain these QCE credits, if they do not pass the subject, as they would have in the old OP System. Once Unit 1 Reporting data is complete, we will track and monitor all student results and look at any interventions or support plans which may be necessary.

Year 10 Events

Year 10 students are building towards their important SET Plan interviews in Term 3. This involves students receiving valuable information about the various pathways and subjects available to them in Year 11 and 12. Students will receive information talks from the various Heads of Department and key senior teachers.

All Year 10 students should also be busy organising their work experience placements. Students are required to source a work experience provider and inform the school of these details. The necessary paperwork and information has been provided to all Year 10 students.

ANZAC Day

ANZAC Day ceremony, held on Tuesday 23 April, was a significant event where we demonstrated our school value “Community”. We assembled together with other community representatives to remember and respect those who have served in the armed forces. Mr Milton Dick, Federal Member for Oxley, shared his thoughts on the spirit of ANZAC. State Member for Mt Ommaney Ms Jess Pugh, RSL Centenary suburbs sub-branch President Mr Georges Le Fevre, and our feeder school representatives from Jamboree SS, Middle Park SS and Jindalee SS all lay wreaths and paid respects on behalf of their relevant communities. Our Army Cadet, Christian Gordon, and Navy Cadet, Henry Sparkes, did a brilliant job of carrying out the formal cadet aspect of the service. Year 12 students Sam Leckie and Chloe Hacker allowed us to empathise and get a glimpse into their experiences of having family members who are servicemen and women through sharing their heart-felt reflections of what ANZAC Day means to them. Four wreaths were laid by our House Captains on behalf of our school community. It was wonderful to have our students represent all of us through their different roles in the service. Importantly, it allowed us all to appropriately unite and reflect on the significance of ANZAC Day as a school community.

On ANZAC Day morning a group of staff and students also participated in the community ANZAC Day service at the Centenary Suburbs War Memorial Gardens. Our Junior Captains Cole O’Brien and Alisi Pati were invited to speak on behalf of the youth attending the service, and joined our Captains in representing Centenary SHS to lay wreaths at the cenotaph. I was impressed by the number of students who also attended to march on our behalf and attend the morning ceremony. Special mention and thanks goes to the McGrath family who volunteered on the day to help RSL Sub-branch filter the crowd at the Gardens.

Our Symphonic Band cannot be overlooked. Led by Mrs Fiona Harvey, they were exceptional, both at our school service and at the community service. Thank you to the students, parents and teachers who enable such events to happen. Thank you to Mrs Fiona Harvey and Mr Mark Watkins for the work they do to contribute to successful performances at such events.

Third Party Website Consent

Centenary State High School engages a range of third-party websites to support the teaching and learning in the classroom. To facilitate this, the Department of Education requires parents/carers to provide consent for their students to access these services. The reason for obtaining consent is that the registration processes for these websites may ask for personal information about your student such as:

• Name
• Student ID Number
• Age and/or Year Group
• Class Teacher
• EQ Student Email.

Information about the third-party website consent and a list of identified websites used in our curriculum delivery will be sent home via HG classes with your student. We are asking that all students return their website consent to their HG teacher no later than Monday June 24 2019.

Notice of One-Time Change to Uniform Shop Hours

There will be a one-time change to the opening hours of the Uniform Shop this term. This change is given below:

• Monday June 3rd and Tuesday June 4th – the uniform shop will be closed.
• Thursday June 6th and Friday June 7th – the uniform shop will be open.

Usual opening hours will resume on Monday June 10th.

Be Responsible

One of the three key expectations of student behaviour at Centenary is ‘Be Responsible’. This expectation is built upon our students taking a role in their own learning by being prepared for classwork and bringing the appropriate equipment.

For all students this means having the correct materials and uniform to be an active participant in the classroom. For students in Year 7, 8 and 11 this expectation also includes bringing their BYOD device to access their digital textbooks and OneNote Class Notebooks for learning.

By meeting the ‘Be Responsible’ expectations, students across all year-levels will give themselves the best opportunity to succeed in their classes.

Uniform

As the weather starts to cool, it is timely to remind our school community of the school’s uniform code and processes. Centenary is a full uniform school and represents connectedness and pride within the school and our student’s achievements.

Students are expected to wear the correct uniform at all times including travelling to and from school. This also includes the wearing of correct jumpers in the cooler weather. The permitted jumper options for the school are the knitted sweater or the new navy blue school jacket. Students are also permitted to wear the school’s navy blue fleece scarf.

Any variation to the school uniform code is to be negotiated with the school’s Administration usually through the relevant year level Deputy Principal.

Information about the school Uniform Shop is available at:

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

How to make a payment

Payments can be made over the counter by cash or EFTPOS (Debit Card, MasterCard or Visa), 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 contact the school office first.

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.

Changes to the Payment of Excursion

This year excursion/camps/activities will no longer be 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.

Parent/Carer Contact Details

Parent/Carer contact details are very important to us. Up to date and current school records enable us to send you messages, contact you if your student becomes ill or if there is an issue that needs resolving.

Our process for sending home report cards and other correspondence is now by email. By keeping your email address current we can keep you updated and informed.

If you have moved or are moving house, changed jobs, emails or mobile phone numbers, please inform the school office via email to admin@centenaryshs.eq.edu.au.

If you wish to receive the school newsletter, please go to our school website’s Newsletter tab to subscribe, or go directly to the link below. You will need to complete and submit the ‘subscribe’ form on the website.

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

STUDENT LEADERSHIP COORDINATOR

News from the Student Leadership Coordinator

Our Multicultural Day, on Monday May 13, was a wonderful day of celebration. We saw an enormous turnout from our school community! We had lines going around corners for our banquet and henna stalls. We had face-painting going and a well-contested soccer match was run by our sports captains. The wonderful dancers worked all lunchtime, performing and teaching others to perform their beautiful dance.

The forum hugely enjoyed seeing so many students not only participating in such an engaging event. We are continuing to spread good cheer around the school with our positive postcards. In Week 5 students are asked to write a thank-you note to a staff member who has made a difference to them. The forum then act the postman, delivering these messages to the multitude of amazing staff here at Centenary.

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

LITERACY

News from Literacy

Literacy Report

Student showcase! Write That Essay sentence types are being used in almost every faculty across our school, and have helped students create writing that is more sophisticated and demonstrates high thinking skills. Read an excerpt from some writing from a Year 8 HPE student below, and see if you, or your child, can spot the following sentence types!

• W Start
• Explore the Subject
• Adverb Start
• Ing-Start
• Simple Sentence

“When constructing my ‘Better Yesterday,’ I had to consider the limits and restrictions of my medical condition and implement them into my diet. Glutaric Aciduria Type One, (or GA1), means I have a lack of certain enzymes that process some proteins, more specifically lysine and tryptophan. Because of this, I must limit my daily protein intake to 28-30g of protein, from all kinds of foods, not simply meats or dairy. Therefore, in any given day, I may be lacking in the appropriate amount of grains, meats, and dairy, since they all contain protein, which I can’t bulk on in any given meal.

When looking back upon my original diet, I noticed I was lacking in zinc, a vital mineral that assists the body’s functionality in many ways; helping with regular growth and development, a healthy immune system, and the healing of wounds. Zinc is found in many foods usually found in foods rich in protein, such as red meat, shellfish, poultry, whole grains, beans, and nuts. Though this may not be a problem usually, with my condition, finding enough zinc to sustain me can be hard. Zinc deficiency can cause hair loss, diarrhea, eye and skin sores and loss of appetite. In some extreme cases, it can lead to the loss of the ability to taste, weight loss, lower alertness, and problems with healing wounds; all the more reason to fix this issue immediately. To attempt to remedy this issue, I integrated more whole grains into my diet; in wholegrain bread, or in cereals. This also gives a hand in my grains and cereals food group, which I was previously lacking in as well.

Revising my original diet has made me notice I was overindulging in the ‘sometimes foods.’ This could be especially harmful to my health since these foods are known to be rich with saturated fats and high in sugars or salt. The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating recommends only 0-1 servings of these unhealthy foods for this exact reason. With too much sugars or fats, my body would store the extra energy as fat, which would mean that I’d probably put on weight. So, to fix this, I replaced the unhealthy foods with different, nutritious food, like fruit. If I was to change the diet every couple of days for some variation, I’d probably implement veggie sticks and hummus into my diet; some other nutritious substitutes.”

Danielle Ringrose, Literacy Coach
Email: dring3@eq.edu.au

CATSIES COORDINATOR

News from our CATSIES Coordinator

We are pleased to be able to say that we have a new teacher aide starting at Centenary SHS this week to work with some of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Mrs Rose Page will be with us every Monday, based in HU07, and will be working with particular students during lesson time, and available to talk to all Indigenous students and be involved with events at lunchtimes. Hopefully all our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students will take the chance to come up and work with her.

Angela Duncombe, CATSIES Coordinator
Email: adunc62@eq.edu.au

GUIDANCE

News from the Guidance Officers

Helping Kids with the Ups and Downs of Friendships

It is not always easy for adolescents to know how to manage friendships. Problems with friends can affect how adolescents feel about themselves and their enthusiasm for activities that involve others. Parents and carers can help adolescents learn the kinds of friendship skills they will need as they grow and develop.

Learning how to make and keep friends involves a number of skills. Adolescents learn more and more complex social skills from those around them as they develop.

Home life has an effect on the development of social skills. A teenager who has an adoring little sister is likely to have more skills of leadership. A teenager who is the little sister may be more used to fitting in with what others want to do. These adolescents are likely to react differently when they go to school and meet other adolescents with different life experiences and different social skills.

Friendship skills for Adolescents include:

• Cooperation - how to share, how to take turns, how to work together towards a common goal
• Communication - using words to explain what you want and listening to others respectfully; paying attention to body language, e.g. making eye contact, smiling and being able to read others’ nonverbal reactions
• Understanding and managing feelings - being able to express feelings in ways that help others understand you; recognising and responding to others’ feelings
• Tolerance - Accepting and including others - recognising others’ needs for respect and friendship.

How Parents and Carers can help:

Be aware of feelings

Adolescents need to learn that having angry feelings is normal and okay, but that reacting aggressively towards others when you’re angry is not. Adults can help adolescents become aware of feeling annoyed, frustrated, angry or furious by naming feelings. Learning to say, “I’m feeling angry” or “I’m really frustrated” gives adolescents a way to separate feeling angry from how they react.

Time to talk

Talking to Johnny about what has put him in an angry mood will help him see that feelings have causes and that solutions can be found. Once you find out what he was angry about you can help him think up better ways to handle the problem. This kind of conversation doesn’t work while he is really angry. Sometimes it must wait until later.

Adolescents often find it easier to talk in informal situations where they feel less pressure. Find a relaxed time to talk to adolescents about feelings. Asking, “What makes you angry?” can be a good way of starting a conversation about anger.

Find alternatives

Getting adolescents to think through a difficult situation helps them develop problem solving skills. Asking, “Is that what you wanted to happen?” or “What else could you have tried?” encourages an adolescent’s with helpful thinking skills. Thinking of alternative solutions helps adolescents plan different ways of reacting next time. Be sure to praise their efforts.

Have ways to calm down

When emotions are strong, it is easy to act without thinking. Encourage your teenager to take control and allow time for the emotions to subside by trying one of the following: practising breathing, walking away, using a quiet spot to think, riding a bike, listening to music or talking to the family pet.

Try a Problem Solving Approach

When problems arise in friendships it is important not to blame adolescents but to show them how to find a solution. A problem solving approach is often helpful.

1. Encourage your child to describe what has happened
2. Ask about how they felt
3. Ask them how they think the other person might see it and how they might be feeling
4. Get them to think of ways they could do things differently next time
5. Encourage them to try the new approach – get them to practise with you so they feel more confident
6. Check back with your child to see how things turned out

As parents our job is to help our adolescents to develop skills that will, not only serve them well, but also skills that they can pass onto their children.

Adapted from: www.kidsmatter.edu.au

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

Every day brings opportunities to experience and enjoy a productive life, but many people let their lives just slip by, accomplishing little. These are the people who often complain of boredom and disappointment with life, but they are often too lazy to take the time to investigate ways of improving their current situation.

What about you? Are you making the most of each day or are you unhappy and just wishing that things were different? If there are things in your life that you know you could change for the better, stop wishing and start considering your options.

If you need a bit of advice to help you, please understand that you are never alone. There are many wonderful organisations such as Uniting Care Community who can help you with relationship or financial advice. Here within our school community, we have Guidance Officers and other support staff, including myself who are available to you.

Don’t waste one more day. Start making the effort to live life to the full.

A message from Chappy Bernie

As we approach exams, I know a few student are getting stressed. Below are some strategies to help cope with exams.

5 Steps to Study Success

1. Not All Stress Is Bad

While it’s often given a bad rap, the right amount of stress can actually motivate you to get stuff done. The key thing is to recognise when stress has tipped over from being a motivating force to an overwhelming emotion.

2. 20-Minute Study Rule

No one can study for six hours straight and be effective. Break up your time into 20-minute chunks for the most effective use of your brain.

3. Say It Out Loud

The best way to really remember and learn is to talk about what you’re learning out loud, without using any notes.

4. Breaks = Good, Constant Distraction = Bad

Taking planned and timed breaks will help you remain on task, but checking your social every 5 minutes is a sure -fire study fail. Research shows that it can take up to twenty minutes to refocus on your task once you’ve been distracted.

5. Sleep Is Your Friend

If you get a good night’s sleep before your exam, you are scientifically proven to retain more of what you studied the day before than if you stay up crazy late.

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

NURSE

News from the Nurse

Your Health record is in your hands

My Health record is an online summary of your key health information. The aim to provide you safer and more efficient care as your health provider can access all the information from this site.

When you have a My Health Record, your health information can be viewed securely online, from anywhere, at any time – even if you move or travel interstate. You can access your health information from any computer or device that’s connected to the internet.

Whether you’re visiting a GP for a check-up, or in an emergency room following an accident and are unable to talk, healthcare providers involved in your care can access important health information, such as: allergies; medicines you are taking; medical conditions you have been diagnosed with and test results- for example blood tests and x-ray results.

This can help you get the right treatment. You don’t need to be sick to benefit from having a My Health Record. It’s a convenient way to record and track your health information over time.

Once you are 14 years of age you can manage your health record.

Under new My Health Record privacy laws, when a child turns 14, their authorized representatives, usually their parent/s or guardian/s, will automatically be removed from being able to access their child’s record.

If the young person would like a parent or guardian or other trusted person to have access to their record, they can add them as a nominated representative.

It is your decision to allow health professionals access to your My Health Record.

It is your decision to allow them to upload information onto the site.

Can you change your decision- Yes. At any time, you can cancel your My Health record.

Press here to access the commonly asked questions about My Health record

If you would like any further information phone the help line on 1800 723 471 or go to:

Kirsten Anstey, School Based Youth Health Nurse
Centenary SHS Monday/Tuesday
Email: kanst9@eq.edu.au

SPORTS DIRECTOR

Sports Director Report

Australian Team Selection

Congratulations to Anja Nayar (Year 9) who recently competed for Queensland at the U/19 Australian Secondary Schools Tennis Titles in Adelaide. She contributed well to the team who won the title for the first time since 2006! In addition, Anja was selected in the Australian Team, the first ever Centenary student to attain this honour on the School Sport pathway in a team event.

Anja successfully balances her academic, training, and competition workload. On the world stage, she is ranked in the top 800s in the International Tennis Federation u/18 rankings and is off to play some international events again next week.

Well done Anja!!

Met Finals

Congratulations to all the teams that competed in the Summer Gala Day. The teams that won the District Premiership are now competing or have competed in the first round of Met Finals.

Girls Year 7 Basketball team played against Capalaba State College and the Year 8 Boys Volleyball team played against Redlands College. Both games were very close but in the end, Centenary was defeated. Both teams fought hard and trained for their games. This is the next level of competition and this is a great experience for our students.

The Year 7, 8 and 10 boys Touch Football and Year 8 girls will be playing their Met Finals on Wednesday 22 May. This will be a one-day Met Final elimination draw. If Centenary SHS wins round 1 they progress to round 2 and so forth until the grand final. The results from the four Touch Football teams will be in the next newsletter.

Winter Gala Day

Students are currently undergoing trials for the Winter Gala Day. Junior Gala Day is on Wednesday 26 June and the Senior Gala Day is in Term 3 on Wednesday 7 August.

Girls AFL

The Come and Try AFL afternoon with previous student and now Professional AFL player in the Brisbane Lions Jordan Zanchetta was a huge success. 30+ girls attended and as a result, Centenary SHS has entered a Year’s 7, 8 and 9 girls AFL team into the QLD Schools Cup Competition. This is an exciting opportunity and I will post the results in the next newsletter.

Success Stories

Leah Siertsema represented Met West at the recent State Trials and has now been selected to represent QLD in Tasmania later this year. This is a huge achievement and it is a testament to how hard she has worked in order to achieve at this high level in her chosen sport.

District Cross Country

Congratulations to all students who represented the school at Northern District Cross Country Carnival. All of our competitors put in their greatest efforts and were exceptional representatives of Centenary SHS. Congratulations to the following students that were selected in the Northern District Team to compete at the Regional Trial.

Olivia Boyd
Sean Kendrick
Abdel Mohammed

Congratulations to the following students that have made the Regional Cross Country Team to compete at the State Trials.

Sean Kendrick
Abdel Mohammed

Track and Field

What an amazing day of participation, performance and house spirit at the Interschool Track and Field Carnival. Centenary students came out in force and gave their all, in either events, or supporting their teammates through a variety of house activities.

Whilst the inclement weather kept students cool at times, we completed majority of the events in order to determine the Champion House, Spirit Shield and Principal’s Cup. After completing the final events the Age Champions for the day have been announced and awarded their medallions. Congratulations to the following students:

The winners of the Principal Cup and are officially the fastest boy and girl in the school are Olivia Boyd and Samuel Berkeley.

Congratulations to Yallambee House who took about the double win of both Champion House and the Spirit Shield. Followed by Jarrup, Curragundi and Moolanda.

Apart from the team results, this year’s students set an amazing 35 new school records.

Training has already started, and at this stage, the following sessions are offered:

For the sessions, staff will conduct training across the key areas and work on both conditioning and technique. Amendments to the program may be made where applicable and these will be communicated in notices.

Our current guest coaches include:

Des Davis, Level 4 Throws and Australian Coach will also be in attendance on Tuesday Mornings and Thursday AM break.

Northern District Athletics Trials

The final team for the District Trials has been announced and 105 students have now competed at the Northern District Trial over two days. The results from these trials and students that have gained selection into the Northern District team will be announced in the next newsletter.

May

June

Reporting Results

• To enable me to report on student results and to keep accurate records for sports awards, I need to know how participants went in their competitions. I encourage all students and parents to advise me of their results immediately after they have competed.
• Students can see me in Staffroom 4 or results can be emailed to: tnasa1@eq.edu.au

Yours in Sport

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

FACULTIES

BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY

Business comes alive

Year 11 Business students are currently studying the fundamentals of business. A case study in their textbook Business for QCE was brought to life, when the business owner visited our school. Solomon Jia, owner of CJs Café & Pizza on North Stradbroke Island spoke to fifty Year 11 Business students on how a small beach side café has now become a leading business on the island. Mr Jia provided students with insight in establishing a family-owned business and strategies for remaining competitive in the food industry. He also mentioned obstacles that he needed to overcome when operating a business on an island. Mr Jia’s business has become a “must do” in the travel guide on visiting Stradbroke Island. The Year 11s have certainly been given great advice from a successful small business owner.

Yvette, Mr Jia Solomon, Tai

Business students going GLOBAL

On Friday 3 May, Year 10 Business students visited IKEA Logan to investigate the operations of a global business. Students discovered the success story behind this global business through a multi-media presentation in IKEA’s management boardroom. This provided students information about the operational issues of a large international business.

Students were then required to walked through the entire 1.6km store and answer questions about IKEA’s business strategies. Students immersed themselves in the Swedish culture by dining at IKEA’s restaurant and visiting the Swedish market.

The students will use the information gained on this excursion to complete a research report on effective global businesses.

Jared Jordt and Toby Bui

Conor, Holly, Ashlyn, Grace

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

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

ENGLISH

Shake & Stir

On Friday, May 17, our Year 12 English students enjoyed a performance of Bad Lads by the Shake & Stir theatre company. The production posed this question: are Macbeth and Hamlet villains or tragic heroes? Bad Lads included key scenes from these two great plays which will be very valuable for the students in their exam at the end of term. It is a valuable experience for young people to see Shakespeare in performance, as it adds another layer of meaning to the text as studied in the classroom. The Year 10 English classes will have their turn, in a presentation of Romeo & Juliet, on Friday, May 31.

Debating update

All five of our debating teams have now competed in the third round of the QDU competition, with our Year 9 and Year 11 teams about to embark on Round 4 this Wednesday night. The teams have had mixed success, with our Year 9 team so far undefeated. There are two Year 7 teams about to begin their debating journey, with their Round 1 debate on June 12. I am always so impressed to witness the growth in our young people when they become involved in debating: win or lose does not matter – it is the experience, the higher-order thinking, the development in confidence where the real value lies. Our Centenary debaters consistently do us proud with their intelligence, good humour, impeccable conduct and sportsmanship.

Curriculum update

The English faculty is working hard to build and teach the new senior SATE curriculum. Our Year 11 are impressing us with their approach to their studies in their chosen English subject. Next week, Year 10 English classes will be informed about the English offerings in Senior: English, Essential English, English as an Additional Language, and Literature. Classes will be reorganised for Semester 2 based on these four groupings, and students will have the opportunity to select their English strand for the remainder of Year 10. Details about these subjects can be found on the QCAA website.

Learning goals

Students, as you move through your studies this year, please remember that you should be identifying your learning goals and always be thinking of ways to help yourselves to improve. There are some good websites which can help you to work on your problem areas in English. BBC Skillswise is fun and interactive, and pitches literacy activities at a range of age levels. Take a look!

Angela Maguire, English HOD
Email: amagu7@eq.edu.au

HUMANITIES/LOTE

Feria de Abril – The April Fair!

By Keira McCarthy, Year 7C Spanish (Semester 1)

¡Tres, dos, uno (3,2,1) and the gateway was opened!

The Centenary SHS Fería de Abril began on Monday, June 29. The Fería de Abril is the ‘April Fair’ held once a year in Seville, Spain. This year at Centenary, we joined in the celebrations for a week of fun, Spanish cultural activities for all to be involved in.

During lunches, we could make beautiful clavel flowers to wear in our hair or on our shirts. A dancer from Huelva in Spain came in to teach students how to do some Flamenco steps – including how to move our hands like blooming flowers in time with the music. We even had the opportunity to try chicken and chorizo or vegetarian Paella when caterers were invited to cook the traditional rice dish for us. It was awesome!

I would like to thank all of the Spanish teachers, students and greater school staff who made our great Centenary Fería de Abril week happen. I know that I have learnt a lot and I can’t wait to continue learning more of the language and culture of the Spanish-speaking world!

Our travels to Beijing, Xian and Shanghai

By Isabelle Lightbody

The last Wednesday of the term was cold. Even though it was 6:30am in the morning, the Centenary crowd assembled near the check-in counters was bursting with nervous excitement. It was the feeling that people get when they know they ought to be doing something boring, and are worried that somebody will realise, and command them back to endure binomial expansions in lesson 2. All the goodbyes had been said at the airport, the bags were in a disorganised cluster, and all the paperwork had been correctly filled out. Ms Woo, Mr Dinh and Mr Skerritt, our supervisors, were looking as excited as the students for the trip.

Delayed an hour. Delayed two hours. Cancelled.

Sorry, there aren’t any other international flights that can take 23 kids. Come back tomorrow.

Thursday morning was cold too. Even though it was 8:00am, the Centenary crowd was bursting with nervous excitement. It was the kind of feeling people get when they know that they ought to have a done something yesterday, and were now finally doing it, for real! Nobody would dared have stopped us when we clambered onto the international flight to Hong Kong, and by the time we transferred to the domestic flight to Beijing, it was too late for anyone to intervene. We checked into our three-star hotel in the early hours of the morning, and I can safely say that most of us were barely conscious enough to get through the doors of our rooms.

After a week, just as the people of Beijing decided that we had caused enough damage, our group took an overnight, soft sleeper train to Xian, and after a few more days, we moved on to Shanghai. The three cities were so different, it was hard to imagine that they belonged to the same place. Where Beijing was unpredictable in its exciting bustle, Xian was clean and orderly (though the five-star hotel that we stayed in may have been a contributing factor in this conclusion). Despite its dense population, Shanghai surpassed the others in its ability to adapt, with skyrises over two laps of the oval in height- we caught an elevator to the 110th floor of the tallest tower, and my nerves have not felt the same since.

It would be impossible to share every part of this trip, as there were new things to do at every moment. Of course, there were obvious choices. The Great Wall of China was just as great, and just as wall-y, as I had imagined. It had a distinctly manmade feel about it; the steps were at different angles, and the bricks different sizes. Rather than drawing away from its impressiveness, however, this only succeeded in humbling any weary students passing over it. At the end of the walk, we were lucky enough to take the easy way down- a toboggan ride, off the side of the wall! Some of the many other experiences of the trip included the day trip to the Forbidden City, featuring buildings over 600 years old, held together with clever designs, rather than nails or glue. We also attended a duck banquet, and a hot pot dinner, which were standouts in their deliciousness. We were also given a lesson in making ramen noodles, and dumplings (ours looked mostly like pancakes, but it was more about the experience). The terracotta warriors were also a standout in their vast pits (of which there were three). The fact that the unearthed warriors were but a small portion of those originally created was simply awe inspiring. We also had the opportunity to go sightseeing around Xian…. On bikes!

It wasn’t all fun however. There were some elements of China that cost us…

Bargaining was a part of Chinese culture that was very difficult to adjust too. It was expected that each person would negotiate down to a fifth of the original price offered, though for many of us, this proved to be far more difficult than we thought it would be. The squat toilets- yes, they are exactly what they sound like- were also an interesting experience for all. Our group also “spread terror” (Skerritt, 2019) through our walking on the left side of the paths, as the road, and walking, rules in China are the opposite to Australia.

On the second last day of the trip, the students were given a choice- to go shopping down the famous Technology Street, or visit a Jewish museum, and later, another market place. Myself, and two others, opted for the latter, and, with the help of Mr Skerritt’s daring manoeuvres, we were able to catch a taxi to the museum. There we learnt about the incredible role that Shanghai played in accepting Jewish refugees throughout World War II, when no one else who would accept them. Many objects, such as letters, suitcases, and school reports had been preserved, and recordings of individuals played, telling their incredible stories. This feeling of inclusiveness was one that became clear at another point during the trip, when a teacher living in the ‘old hutong’ area invited our group inside her home to share her personal stories of living in near the Summer Palace, the nerve centre of Beijing politics.

By the time I arrived home, I was exhausted from the time I had spent in China- not to mention day I had spent on the plane (having drunk two mochas, I was not able to sleep). Though I was happy to be home, there were still many things that I wish I could have continued to see, in all three of the cities that we visited. I will be eagerly awaiting any news for future trips, and on behalf of all the Centenary travellers, I am grateful for our teachers for having organised it.

Adrian Skerritt, Humanities /LOTE HOD
Email: asker6@eq.edu.au

THE ARTS

Staff News

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our ever enthusiastic percussion teacher Mrs Madison Dedini who has taken up a position with Iona College. We wish her every success in her new position, and she will be will be greatly missed at Centenary. We welcome our new percussion teacher, Mr Josh Johnstone. Mr Johnstone’s lessons continue on Friday’s and the timetable remains the same.

Choral Fanfare

Held biennially, Choral Fanfare is Education Queensland’s premiere vocal competition. The goal of Fanfare is to promote and celebrate school-based choral music. This year, Centenary SHS entered three vocal groups into the Metropolitan Regional heats. From this heat, a small number of choirs will be selected to compete at the regional final, with winners going on to the culminating State Gala Concert. An announcement about the schools and ensembles selected to go onto the regional final will be made in a few weeks time.

We are proud to announce the results of the Metropolitan Regional Heat:

• Centenary SHS Choir – GOLD
• Centenary SHS Jazz Choir – GOLD
• Centenary SHS Vocal Ensemble – GOLD

Congratulations to all of the students involved and to the choirs’ director, Ms Alex Van Den Broek.

Instrumental Music Gala Concert

The major event of this semester is the Gala Concert, to be held on June 12 from 6.30pm. The concert will be held at Riverlife Baptist Church, Jennifer Street, 17 Mile Rocks. The night will feature nine ensembles with students from all year levels. To book a ticket, ($10 plus $1.95 booking fee), please go to the following link:

Students have been emailed information about purchasing tickets and car parking. If you’d like more information, please email Mark Watkins mwatk16@eq.edu.au

Senior Music Camp

The senior music students have returned from their three day music camp. Across four ensembles, we heard music from a diverse range of sources including Beethoven, Huey Lewis, John Williams and Jimi Hendrix! Whilst a huge congratulations goes to the students for their dedication and hard work, the bigger congratulations goes to the staff involved. They give up much of their own time to ensure that Centenary students have the best opportunities – so thank you to Mr Watkins, Mrs Harvey, Mr Hoey, Mr Lougheed and Mr Johnstone.

2019 Year 12 Instrumental Music students

Arts Research

This week, we look into the connections between medicine and music, and how one university has discovered that a musical background is a good predictor of success. You can read the article here:

Open Day

The school is hosting an Open Day on June 8, from 2-5pm. Please come along and check out what the Arts Faculty does on a day-to-day basis in our curriculum classes, plus see our extra-curricular programs in action. We will have staff and students on show in CPAC, in the Art Block and in the Film Block.

Date Claimer

Angela Sleeman, The Arts HOD
Email: aslee4@eq.edu.au

YEAR LEVEL COORDINATORS

Year 12 Report

Career Pathways

The Year 12s are being provided with opportunities to plan their post-schooling options by listening to guest speakers from a range of tertiary and non-tertiary areas. This has included speakers from UQ, QUT, Griffith University, SkillsTech and Apprenticeships Qld. Here are some date claimers for university open days:

• 20-21 July – Tertiary Studies Expo (TSXPO) Brisbane Showgrounds Bowen Hills
• 27 July – USQ (Springfield)
• 28 July – QUT Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove
• 4 August - University of Queensland (St Lucia)
• 11 August – Griffith University (Southbank, Nathan, Gold Coast)
• 11 August – TAFE (Southbank)

Student Leaders and Student Council

Our Year 12 Leaders and Council have been planning and organizing events for our year level. These have included:

• “100 days to go” celebration - 2h May
• Year 12 formal - 13 November
• Year 12 mystery tour – 14 November

I am looking forward to celebrating these events with the Year 12s.

Alternative to Schoolies

As an alternative to heading to “Schoolies”, I organised for a guest speaker from the organisation “Schoolies Unearthed” to provide information to Year 12s. This organisation provides 10-12 day trips to Nepal, Vanuatu, Vietnam or Borneo. Students will help out on a volunteer project, explore a different culture and have the opportunity to make a positive difference in a community overseas. For more information about their program, please visit their website below or email josh@schooliesunearthed.com.au.

Thanks as always for your support, and please contact me if you have any issues or would just like to have a chat.

Berenice Furlong, Year 12 Coordinator
Email: bfurl1@eq.edu.au