6 May 2021
Volume 23 Number 3

NEWSLETTER ARTICLES

PRINCIPAL

News from the Principal

Welcome back to Term 2 and I trust all members of the Centenary Community enjoyed a relaxing break and are ready for the challenges of Term 2. We face a busy commencement to the term with plenty of events filling the school calendar as we continue to navigate within the COVID Safe Guidelines.

The parent teacher interviews on Wednesday 28 April provide the opportunity for teachers and caregivers to have genuine conversations around the academic progression and wellbeing of your students. I often speak about the importance of the home school partnership in respect to student success. More than ever learning is time fluid and with an increasing push towards greater use of technology, it is essential that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of expectations and delivery modes to best support students in their learning. I encourage all parents to follow up with any concerns or questions you may have regarding your child’s education with staff through email, telephone call or a further interview.

We are currently reviewing our Senior School offerings for next year. In particular we would like to expand our Health programs with the provision of a Certificate lll course. We are working with an external provider and hope to finalise an offering later this this term.

The Year 7 Camp which was planned for Week 10 of Term 1 was postponed due to the COVID lockdown. The camp will now run in the first week of Term 3.

Unfortunately, due to staff movements we have had to make a number of timetable changes in recent weeks. Whilst we try to minimise class and teacher changes across a semester often unforeseen events such as unplanned staff leave and promotions will force change.

Staff Appointments

We welcome Belinda Walker, an experienced Secondary School Deputy Principal, to the school’s administration for Term 2. Belinda’s responsibilities include the leadership of the Year 9 Cohort.

Angela McKay will act as Deputy Principal for the balance of the year. Angela will have chief responsibility for Years 7 and 8.

Angela Raven continues to act as Deputy Principal whilst Adam Richter is on extended leave. Angela will lead the Year 11 Cohort.

Amiee Nolan from Pimpama SSC will replace Angela Raven as Senior School HOD. Amiee will teach in the Science Department.

In teaching positions, we welcome Nikki Wouters to the staff as an English Humanities Teacher.

We also farewelled at the end of Term 1 Carolyn Brodie, who has taken an Acting HOSE role in Longreach for the rest of the year. Congratulations to Carolyn on this appointment.

Uniform

Like the vast majority of high demand and performing public schools in Brisbane, Centenary State High School is a full uniform school. The formal uniform sets the tone for the school as a learning environment based on self-discipline as well as fostering school pride and spirit. The formal uniform forms the core of the school’s public image and has been strongly supported by the majority of parents for many years. Many of our families cite our uniform standards as a significant reason in their choice of Centenary as a school.

We continue to move with the times. In recent years we have introduced the jacket, tracksuit pants, school tie for seniors and unisex uniform. Decisions around uniform are made through discussion at the school’s P&C.

Assessment Policy

We are currently revising aspects of our Assessment Policy. Amongst the proposed changes - we are making it mandatory rather than simply advisable, that parents are informed when draft work is not submitted in the Senior School. Whilst the majority of students have performed well across Term 1 we need to identify as quickly as possible the students who are at risk or who are not meeting their course requirements to enable appropriate intervention.

Communications Strategy

The 24/7 nature of email has been the catalyst for a review of the school’s communication policy. Whilst we welcome frequent communication with parents, to support teacher wellbeing and workload we need to clarify expectations around response times. Recently we have witnessed an increase over weekends in parent emails to staff querying results, some expecting immediate responses. Whilst many teachers work over weekends and outside of school hours, there needs to be a clear demarcation around expectations in responses.

NAPLAN

Due to COVID, NAPLAN did not run in 2020 but it is back on in 2021. The school is fine-tuning its preparation for the tests which is set for the 11th-13th May. Although the content of the testing aligns with the Australian Curriculum, students generally need greater exposure to the regimen of writing under exam conditions. Exposure to this examination mode is good preparation for the new assessment regimen in the Senior School.

Traditionally our NAPLAN Numeracy results have been very strong using the proportion of students above National Minimum Standard as a barometer. Our challenge in the Numeracy domain is to continue to improve the proportion of students performing in the top bands.

In respect to reading comprehension, initial data indicates that our students are competent in recalling information from texts but are challenged with making inferential meaning. Our focus across the curriculum has been to identify cues. As a school we have invested much time into student extended writing. Hopefully our NAPLAN performance vindicates our strategies.

Co-Curricular

Great to see students getting involved in the school’s Co-Curricular program. With increasing relaxation of the COVID Safe Guidelines, we are beginning to return to normality in respect to student activities. Both our Junior and Senior Instrumental Groups have recently been on camp and performed for family on their respective returns. Many of the Instrumental students also performed at the school and community ANZAC ceremonies.

We have filled every available sporting team in the recent Summer Cluster Days and enjoyed a good share of success across these days. Congratulations to the following teams who have won District Premierships:

Junior Summer Gala Day

• Year 9 Girls Basketball
• Year 9 Boys Volleyball
• Year 9 Girls Touch
• Year 9 Boys Touch
• Year 8 Girls Touch
• Year 8 Boys Touch
• Year 7 Boys Volleyball
• Year 7 Boys Touch

Senior Summer Gala Day

• Open Girls Touch
• Open Girls Tennis
• Year 10 Girls Touch
• Year 10 Girls Badminton
• Year 10 Girls Basketball

In addition, we have debating teams up and running in Years 8, 9, 10 and 11. Another great opportunity for our students.

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

Parent Teacher Interviews

Thank you to all the parents and guardians who were able to attend our Parent Teacher Evening on Wednesday night. It was great to finally be able to meet with parents face to face to talk about the great work students are doing and how we can work together to support the progress of your children moving forward. If you were unable to attend the interviews but would like further feedback on your child’s progress, we encourage you to contact your child’s teacher via phone or email. We look forward to meeting with you again in person for another night of Parent Teacher interviews in Semester 2.

Year 10

Date Claimers

Our next parent forum will be held on Wednesday 5th May at 6:00pm via Blackboard Ultra. Please refer to the letter sent home by Amiee Nolan outlining the processes. A key feature of this evening will be the key features of the senior QCE system.

On Wednesday 21st July the school is hosting a “Future Options Evening” for all Year 10 students and their parents. Career and subject advice will be provided by speakers from Brisbane TAFE, Skillstech TAFE and major Brisbane Universities. Ms Juanita Oberle will provide an overview of the QTAC process. This will be an important and key event in the lead-up to SET Planning in August.

Work Experience

Please read carefully the work experience information sheets sent home early last term. Students need to return “Form A”, providing details of their placement as soon as possible. If you require new paper work, or need to speak with a member of staff, please ask your student to visit the senior schooling office in SL01 or SL15. All forms are due back to Benita Belsham in SL01 or at bbels2@eq.edu.au.

Years 11 & 12

To improve academically, it is important to have a plan. This includes:

• Current IA1 or IA2 result for each subject
• Goal IA2 or IA3 result for each subject
• At least 3 practical strategies (discussed with your teacher) to reach the goal
• Know the criteria you are weakest in for each subject (find out in your class who is strong in this area and ask to work with them)
• Use Atomi Study Skills program to utilise and develop effective study habits

Techniques that assist academic progress:

• Form an after-school class – share better techniques to learn or address problems together
• Ask teachers for appropriate and relevant websites, books etc to help your learning and address weaknesses
• Ask teachers for the format, criteria, test structure and topics for your next assessment in every subject
• Use Atomi program to deepen and extend knowledge and skills in general subjects
• If your subject is problem based (like maths), aim to complete at least 200 difficult questions prior to the actual test. Ask you teacher or use the Atomi program for practice tests to deepen and extend knowledge to create automaticity and fluency.

Career Options Bulletin

Please ensure you are checking the Careers Options Bulletin for upcoming events and Open Days. School access code is: cent2021

School based Traineeships/Apprenticeships

Please continue to check for opportunities across a variety of industries such as Business Administration, Trade Retail (Reece Plumbing) and Hospitality. These positions are advertised on school notices and on the windows in SL01. Please contact our school’s Industry Liaison Officer, Maria Chadburn, for support (mchad34@eq.edu.au).

Subject Changes

Students have received reports based upon formative internal assessment in Term 1 (FIA1). Those students who are considering subject changes should see the Year 11 Deputy Principal (Acting) to make these changes. In many circumstances, students may change subjects after FIA1 to meet the learning and assessment objectives of the entire unit.

To remain QCE eligible, students must gain 12 Core Credits, usually gained by successfully undertaking at least three subjects across the full four units of study.

Matt McDonald, Deputy Principal (Year 10, Timetable)
Email: mmcdo156@eq.edu.au

Angela Raven, Acting Deputy Principal (Year 11, International)
Email: arave7@eq.edu.au

Deb McIntyre, Deputy Principal (Inclusion, ATSI/EALD)
Email: dmcin49@eq.edu.au

Angela McKay, Acting Deputy Principal (Years 7 & 8)
Email: amcka18@eq.edu.au

Belinda Walker, Deputy Principal (Year 9)
Email: bwalk53@eq.edu.au

Kelsey Oakes, Deputy Principal (Year 12 & Strategic Projects)
Email: koake10@eq.edu.au

BUSINESS MANAGER

News from the Business Manager

Statements

Statements will be generated and emailed (or posted) this week. 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 2021 calendar year are due by 31 July 2021. An overview of all fees and charges can be located on our website. 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.

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 (07) 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.

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

ANZAC Spirit at Centenary

On the 25th of April each year, we pause to remember and honour the brave men and women who have served our country. Those who laid down their lives defending our land – protecting us and fighting for our freedom – and those who are still defending us today. This year, Mrs Spicer, Mitchell, Rahul, Abbey, and I attended the ANZAC Commemoration Ceremony which took place on the 22nd of April in ANZAC Square, Brisbane City. This was a very moving experience for all of us, with heartfelt speeches from His Excellency, Governor General Paul de Jersey, and Deputy Premier Steven Miles. It was incredible to see so many Queensland schools attending the ceremony along with us, paying their respects, and pausing to remember the gallant heroes who made such great sacrifices. The ceremony was a timely reminder for us to reflect on how history has shaped our national character, and pay tribute to the fallen. Personally, this was an opportunity for me to remember my Great Uncle Geoff, Lancaster Bomber Aircraft Tail Gunner - 467 Squadron, who served in World War II. He rests in Durnbarch War Cemetery, with thousands of other soldiers who bravely sacrificed themselves. His memory lives on through his family and future generations. Overall, this was an unforgettable experience for all of us, and I am honoured to have attended such a beautiful Ceremony. Lest We Forget.

Written by: Sienna Morena, Student Forum Year 10 Leader.

Vicki Spicer, Student Leadership Coordinator
Email: vspic1@eq.edu.au

GUIDANCE

News from the Guidance Officers

The Importance of Self-Compassion

I was once teaching class about self-compassion, which as self-compassion guru Dr Kristin Neff defines it, involves “being caring and compassionate towards oneself in the face of hardship and perceived inadequacy”. We had progressed about three-quarters of the way through the lesson and I thought I was being really persuasive, so I decided to take a straw poll to check. I asked students to raise their hands if they believed that practising self-compassion would be beneficial overall to them, keep them down if they disagreed, and shake their hands in a so-so gesture if their view was somewhere in between. I was dismayed to see that about half the class kept their hands in their laps. I asked them why they felt this way, and the overwhelming response was this: I need to be hard on myself to succeed. Yet self-compassion is not about letting oneself off the hook, as hopefully you will see by the end of this article

WHAT IS SELF-COMPASSION?

Self-compassion is extending compassion to oneself in instances of perceived inadequacy, failure, or general suffering. According to Dr Kristin Neff, self-compassion is composed of three elements: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. Self-kindness involves being kind, gentle and understanding with yourself when you’re suffering. Common humanity refers to the recognition that you are not alone in your struggles, and that struggles such as yours are common across humanity. Mindfulness is the practice of observing life as it is, without being judgemental or suppressing your thoughts and feelings.

WHAT SELF-COMPASSION IS NOT

Self-compassion is not:

• Self-pity: this involves getting so immersed in your own problems that you forget others have similar problems, and it de-values objectivity. This is the antithesis of self-compassion.
• Self-indulgence: eating a tub of ice cream when you feel sad is NOT taking care of yourself, even if it makes you feel better temporarily. Self-compassion is gently encouraging the actions that are needed for optimal functioning and health.
• Self-esteem: this fluctuates according to our successes or failures, whereas we should strive to always show self-compassion, even when we have not put our best foot forward or achieved the success we wanted.
• Passivity: While having self-compassion requires that one does not harshly criticise the self for failing to meet their standards, it does not mean that one’s failings go unrecognised and unrectified. Rather, it means honestly but gently reflecting on what actions would be most useful in improving outcomes for oneself. It’s about taking away self-flagellation and replacing it with gentle, constructive advice to self.

SELF-COMPASSION IN ACTION

Mindfulness is the key element of self-compassion for young people, as it allows people the mental distance from negative experiences necessary for feelings of kindness and common humanity to arise. Looking at a set of circumstances from a non-judgemental, detached stance lessens the impulse for self-criticism and increases self-understanding. In the same way that we are able to be more objective, understanding, and constructive when a friend experiences failure, we can train ourselves to be mindful and therefore more rational and kind about our own perceived shortcomings. When we take a step back mentally, we can also see that the problems we have are common to many, and we reduce the feelings of isolation and separateness from the rest of humanity that can accompany stress and failure. Self-compassion has been repeatedly linked to reduced rates of anxiety and depression, and to a large extent it is hypothesised that this is due to getting the distance from one’s own struggles to see them for what they are, and to calmly and gently formulate a functional solution.

WHERE TO FROM HERE?

Many useful resources have been developed for people wanting to cultivate self-compassion, either in themselves or in their children. Here is a selection:

• A test of your current level of self-compassion
  http://self-compassion.org/test-how-self-compassionate-you-are/
• Some exercises to try for building self-compassion
  http://self-compassion.org/category/exercises/
• A selection of videos explaining self-compassion:
  http://self-compassion.org/videos/

As a last thought, please consider this: researchers at Radboud University collected data from 901 Dutch families, using questionnaires to measure adolescents’ depression and anxiety, as well as parents’ well-being and approach to parenting. The researchers found that the only facet of mindful parenting that seemed to increase an adolescent’s well-being is non-judgmentally accepting one’s parenting skills. In other words, parents who reported less self-blame—and were less self-critical of their own parenting—had adolescents with fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. The researchers speculate that when parents model a non-judgmental attitude toward themselves, adolescents imitate their example. That’s something worth reflecting upon.

Juanita Oberle, Guidance Officer Years 9, 11 and 12
Email: jober13@eq.edu.au

Janet Ingram, Guidance Officer Years 7, 8 and 10
Email: jingr34@eq.edu.au

CHAPLAIN

News from the Chaplain

Food for Thought

Conflict – why is there so much of it? As long as humans have existed, it seems that there have always been those who respond with anger. It is all too easy for us to criticise the violence that we hear about in our television news programs – wars, assaults and sometimes even murders, but we need to ask ourselves if we too are part of the problem.

All of us have the potential for either conflict or peace living within us. In every situation we find ourselves in, we have to choose to do deal with others in either a hostile or peace-making manner.

What about you? How do you react when someone disagrees with you? What about when someone accidently bumps into you in a crowd or holds you up in traffic? Being around angry people is never pleasant, so please take a truthful look at your behaviour and make the commitment to choose peaceful solutions from now on. If you are an angry person, I can guarantee that you are not a happy person, so if you need to make changes, realise that you too will benefit from your efforts. Try being a peace maker as you deal with conflict.

A message from Chappy Bernie

BUILDING A RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIP

Parents need to makes sure their relationships grow at the same pace as the kids themselves. Here are six strategies that will help you create a relationship with your teens build on mutual respect:

1. DON'T BE A DOORMAT

If we allow kids to get away with appalling behaviour, it rewards them. Eventually they'll keep treating us that way all the time. As a parent, start off by treating yourself with respect. Value your time and serve your kids out of love, not slavery.

2. CREATE A CULTURE OF CONVERSATION

As kids move through the teen years, there needs to be a sense of conversation, not "telling and doing". Young people need to see that their parents don't actually know everything. That they have different strategies to work out what to do when they face a problem. Ask teenagers what they think about different topics in the news. Include them in family decisions to let them practice using these strategies. It also shows that you value their thoughts and opinions.

3. RECOGNISE THEIR GROWING MATURITY

There are so many little things you can do each day to respect young people. Negotiating when they'll do something, letting them make decisions, giving them privacy...sometimes parents can forget in the busy-ness of life that their little person is growing up. Once that first birthday with a "teen" in it comes along, you need to be looking for ways to show them respect as often as you can.

4. WALK AWAY FROM DISRESPECT

It's a fact of life that teenagers tend to want more than they can have. More freedom, more money, more fun, more adventure. At some point all parents will find themselves in a position where they have to say "no". That's not a bad thing, but if it doesn't go down well, don't get drawn into an argument. If you've done a good job of creating a culture of conversation, you can explain your reasons for saying no and they should accept that, even if they're not happy about it. If they rail and start arguing, then tell them you're not going to talk about it now and walk away. The only goal they can have in drawing you into an argument is to make you change your mind. That's not respecting you, it's a power play.

5. OFFER A COURT OF APPEAL

If teens feel that they have a process to be able to put forward their case for a change of decision, they'll usually feel respected. And that should result in less arguments. Where possible, use an alternative method of communication. Get them to send you an email or text of their reasons that they think you've made the wrong decision. They could write it down, or make a video too. Taking it away from a face-to-face conversation means they have to think through their arguments more and they can't use your body language cues to sway the conversation.

6. HAND OVER CONTROL

As parents, we start out organising everything for our kids and making all the decisions. But as they move through high school, they should be taking more and more responsibility. The more control you keep, the harder it is to earn their respect. Let go of things like how they wear their hair and what they spend their money on. Then move on to bigger things like what subjects they do in their senior years, what they do on the weekends and who their friends are. The more space you give them to make their own decisions, the more you'll find they come and ask for your advice anyway.

The beauty of respectful relationships is that they'll too stay with you for decades to come. See it as an investment in those later years. By moving from a relationship based on authority to one of mutual respect, you're going to find you have less issues to argue about as the years go on too.

Reference © 2017 Rachel Doherty (The Gen Z Handbook), pages 30-32.

If you need more information, please feel free to contact me on my email bmcmu27@eq.edu.au or contact me through the front office of the school.

Your Chaplain

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

SPORTS DIRECTOR

Sports Director Report

CROSS COUNTRY

In Week 9 of Term 1, we held our annual Cross Country carnival. This year’s event was an interesting one, with wet weather damaging our regular course, resulting in the cancellation of our Fun Run, and the creation of a new course for our competitive runners.

Despite the last minute changes to the course, the day ran incredibly well, with a great turn out of nominated runners. Competitors ran fiercely and spectators showed great spirit in cheering on all of their peers – both housemates and otherwise. The success of the day was strongly influenced by the help of our exceptional Year 12 Recreation students who were responsible for assisting the HPE staff in running the event.

Congratulations to all of our Age Champions (listed below) for taking out first place in their respective age groups. The Champion House will be announced on whole school assembly in Week 4.

We look forward to seeing our top runners compete at Districts on Wed 5th May.

MET WEST SELECTION

Congratulations to Aailyah Taylor who was selected in the 16 – 18 years Girls Met West touch football team.

Congratulations to Teelah Lole and Kya Horridge who were selected in the 13 – 15 Years Girls Met West touch football team.

Congratulations to Jacob Richter and Kealan Chadburn who were selected in 13 – 15 Years Boys Met West touch football team.

All players will compete later in the year at the State Championships.

YEARS 7, 8 & 9 SUMMER SPORTS GALA DAY

Recently, over 200 Centenary students participated in the Junior Gala Day. The students represented Centenary proudly and it was a fantastic display of hard work and sportsmanship from everyone involved.

Across the sports, it was an extremely competitive day, played under some challenging conditions.

Centenary filled all teams and also came away with a number of Premierships:

• Year 7 Boys Volleyball
• Year 7 Boys Touch Football
• Year 8 Boys Touch Football
• Year 8 Girls Touch Football
• Year 9 Girls Basketball
• Year 9 Boys Volleyball
• Year 9 Boys Touch Football
• Year 9 Girls Touch Football

Apart from premiership winners, many other teams earned finals places and acquitted themselves well on the day.

Special mention also to the Year 7s, who had their first taste of competitive sport for Centenary!

YEAR 10 AND OPEN SUMMER SPORTS GALA DAY

The Senior Gala day occurred last week and again with the support of parents and coaches Centenary students represented the school proudly. Centenary also won some premierships, evident below:

• Open Girls Touch
• Open Girls Tennis
• Year 10 Girls Touch
• Year 10 Girls Badminton
• Year 10 Girls basketball

The Open Boys Touch and Open Girls Basketball teams both went down in a very close final, only losing by one point. A great effort from all competing students!

As Centenary SHS is the reigning Champion School of the West Brisbane District Sporting Association, it was a great start to the sporting year on the road to the ultimate goal of retaining the trophy.

Thank you also to all the sport coaches of these teams who supported engagement, hard work and spirit in all students.

TRACK AND FIELD

A number of Centenary SHS students competed at the recent Queensland Athletics Championships. From results to hand, there were some outstanding results with Olivia (Bronze – 800m) and Kya (4th – Long Jump) earning selection for the Queensland Team to compete at Nationals.

Apart from the 800m, Olivia also qualified for the 1500m and Steeplechase at Nationals. In addition, Sophie finished 7th in the Shot Put.

At Nationals, Olivia finished an amazing 4th place in the Steeplechase, and narrowly missed out on a finals berth in the 800m. Kya finished a creditable 11th place in the LJ (4.83m),

The school Track and Field season is fast approaching and the training schedule will be released in the coming weeks.

Well done!

SKI TRIP

COVID has impacted the planning of this year’s trip in the fact that no resorts are having school groups for the June/July holidays (our normal booking spot).

However, at this point, the September holidays are potentially now an option. The school will source some quotes for a potential trip during this time. Interested students will be provided details when they come to hand.

Richard Haines
Ski Trip Co-ordinator

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. Students can see me in Staffroom 4 or results can be emailed to: tnasa1@eq.edu.au

Yours in sport,

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

Matalena Daniells, West Brisbane Sports Director
Email: mxdan5@eq.edu.au

STEP

News from STEP

Recycling Boost - CSHS GREEN TEAM’s Containers for Change Project

Already more than 1000 drink containers have been collected and sent for recycling since the first blue ‘Containers for Change’ bins were positioned around the school (2 weeks before the end of Term 1). We now have a total of 35 blue bins located next to the red, general rubbish bins in a big push to further reduce our environmental footprint. Centenary SHS already recycles cardboard and batteries and has solar panelling.

We have had a terrific start with very low levels of ‘contamination’ of the blue bins so far. Students have been made aware that only drink containers (plastic, cardboard – including all drink boxes minus straws – and milk cartons and glass bottles) can be put into the blue bins. Any other rubbish ‘contaminates’ the bin and will result in the project failing because it becomes too hard to manage collection and sorting. We hope that this very positive start continues.

In addition, the whole school was given the opportunity to provide input into a list of green project ideas that could be funded by the money raised from the project. From a list of great ideas, the standout winner of the school community vote was ‘student seating made from recycled materials’.

This term, the new STEP GREEN TEAM will be focussing on sourcing recycled materials and expertise (starting with our manual arts department) to build the student seating. They will also be promoting the key messages of ‘Please put your drink containers in the blue bins’, ‘Please put drink containers ONLY in the blue bins – no other rubbish’ and ‘No bin juice please - empty your containers before placing in the blue bins’.

If parents wish to assist, reinforcing the key messages above with your children and donating containers from home would be most welcome. The GREEN TEAM can be contacted by emailing dgbam0@eq.edu.au for input into the student seating project.

Stephanie Corless, STEP Coordinator
Email: scorl10@eq.edu.au

ENGLISH

Curriculum update:

The English faculty is working hard to consolidate the new senior SATE curriculum. Our first cohort of English and Literature Extension students are working closely with Ms Gummow each Wednesday afternoon. Our Year 12 Essential English students will sit their Common Internal Assessment in the next couple of weeks. Later this term, 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.

Debating and Public Speaking update:

All four of our debating teams have now competed in the second round of the QDU competition, with our Year 9 and Year 11 teams about to embark on Round 3 this week. The teams have had mixed success, with our Year 8 and Year 10 teams so far undefeated. The Year 11s have had one win, while the Year 9s are yet to chalk up a win. 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.

Ms Long, with the support of Mr Levey, is working hard with our public speakers, preparing students for two competitions: the English Speaking Union (ESU) competition, and also the Australian Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships (AIDPSC) to be held in Canberra during the September school holidays. We are very excited to be involved in these prestigious competitions.

Congratulations to Lachlan Ramsay for his powerful speech during our ANZAC Day ceremony last Friday morning.

Our Centenary debaters and public speakers consistently do us proud with their intelligence, good humour, impeccable conduct and sportsmanship.

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

THE ARTS

Welcome back to Term 2. We have been very busy in the Arts since the last edition of the newsletter! I hope you enjoy reading about what our Centenary Arts students have been up to over the last few weeks.

Previous Student Success Acknowledgement

In 2020, we had great success in our results of students studying in general subjects. In particular, two of our students and subjects have been recognised as state exemplar work. Alisha Vo, for Visual Art, and Isabelle Lightbody, for Drama, have had their assessment tasks requested by the QCAA to be used as part of a publication highlighting exemplary student responses. In addition to being a celebration of high-quality student achievements, this will become a valued resource for teachers and senior students for many years to come. A huge congratulations goes to their teachers, Mrs Duschka and Mrs Masters for their expert curriculum knowledge.

In addition to this, Alisha Vo (Year 12 2020), has got her Creative Generation Excellence in Visual Art award winning artwork on display now at the Gallery of Modern art at Southbank. This is a huge accomplishment! You can read more about the artwork and hear Alisha speak here.

Instrumental Music

It has been a very busy few weeks in Instrumental Music! We’ve had both our Junior and Senior Music Camps, taking away over 200 students across 6 days, with about 40 hours of rehearsing, followed by 2 camps. A huge thank you must go to Mr Watkins for his organisation and planning of the camps, and to Mrs Harvey, Mr Lougheed, Mr Hoey and Mr Johnstone for their commitment to providing students with the best possible learning opportunities. The concerts were very well attended by our parents and friends; especially being the first live concerts we’ve been able to hold since early 2020. The students thoroughly impressed with their outstanding performances. The music camps provide us with a very solid foundation for the rest of the year, with lots of repertoire started and learnt for the busy year ahead.

Continuing our busy few weeks, the Chamber Strings students, with Mr Hoey, performed at Seasons Aged Care for the residents and staff as part of their Friday Happy Hour. The Symphonic Band, with Mrs Harvey, performed at two Anzac Day ceremonies; at the school on Friday, as well as on Anzac Day itself down at the Centenary Suburbs service. At both of these ceremonies, Year 12 students Paris and Kimmi performed the national anthems with respect. In addition to this, Year 12 music students Bethany and Grace performed the national anthems at the Pinjarra Hills Fairview RSL Home Anzac service. Special mention also goes to Cole, who performed The Last Post wonderfully for the school ceremony.

Classroom News

Year 8 Performance Plus students have had the privilege of working with Sam Valentine, a teaching artist associated with La Boite theatre. They are undergoing a series of workshops on physical theatre that will springboard them into the unit of work for Term 2. In the photos, the students are manipulating tempo and repetition within a short-choreographed sequence of movements in readiness to perform.

Years 11 and 12 Music and 12 Music Extension students have had Mark Scholtes, an ARIA nominate and APRA award-winning composer, recording artist and lecturer in Music at USQ, visit to share his immense knowledge of composing with the students. As they are both working currently on their composing tasks, this was perfect timing to get some expert advice for their assessment items!

Year 11 Visual Arts in Practice students have got their work currently displayed in the school library. The assemblage sculptures explore sustainability and disposability in Australian society and are made from found objects and materials associated with waste. The students, under the guidance of Mrs Teh and Mrs Goodwin, have chosen endangered birds or insects from around the world to highlight the impact of human waste on our fragile eco systems and wildlife.

Years 8 and 9 Music Plus students attended a performance by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. The performance of ‘Lights, Camera, Action?’ presented an evocative mix of music from the movies in addition to some classical repertoire, providing the students with a professional music experience to take back to their classroom learning.

Year 10 Visual Art students have completed unit 1, and their self-portrait canvas paintings are now exhibited in the foyer of CPAC. Thank you to Mrs Goodwin for her expert teaching of these students.

Production News

After hosting auditions for over 60 students, the leads have been selected for the 2021 school production of Shrek. Rehearsals commenced last week for the leads, with junior students starting work on the chorus choreography. Senior students will be asked to join rehearsals as part of the chorus in the next few weeks. Congratulations to Matthew (Shrek), Kimmi (Princess Fiona), Michael (Donkey) and Liam (Lord Farquaad).

Extra-Curricular Activities

We’re taking over the radio! Centenary SHS has joined with Switch Brisbane in an inaugural schools partnership and taking over the airwaves. Students will be in charge of choosing the music, introducing the content as well as telling stories and undertaking interviews. You can listen online at the link below or tune in to 1197AM on your radio. This project has been spearheaded by a Years 7-10 STEP group led by Mr Terry Oberg, with input from Senior Film students.

Finally, an updated version of the 2021 Date Claimer is below, we look forward to seeing you at our next event.

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

YEAR LEVEL COORDINATORS

Year 12 Report

With one term down already, the Year 12s are well on their way to graduation!

It has been a busy start to Term 2 for our Year 12 cohort, with Senior Jerseys being distributed and QUT visiting to discuss tertiary life, all on the first day of term. The students look very mature in their jerseys and it is fantastic, after several delays, to finally see them on show.

Other key events for this term include:

• 100 Days to Go celebration (Term 2 Week 5)
• Tertiary and other post-schooling talks (Terms 2 and 3)
• Completion of Unit 3 and commencement of Unit 4

By the end of this term, students will be part way through their fourth and final unit of work. The next six months will pass in a flash for the Year 12 cohort, and I encourage them all to embrace their last year in school by getting involved in the school community as much possible.

Should you have any questions regarding your student’s schooling, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Matt Redman, Year 12 Coordinator
Email: mredm23@eq.edu.au

Year 10 Report

Year 10s have been busy since the start of the year. We have started our Trade Tasters program, with 15 students currently attending one day a week. Our Year 10 mentors kicked off the new term with a ‘Back to School’ party for the Year 7 students, and by all accounts, it was a great way to welcome our youngest cohort back to CSHS. Claire I, our representative on the Lord Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, has been invited to a council meeting on May 12th, which will be an incredible experience for her to network with like-minded leaders in the wider community. We wish her all the best, and look forward to hearing her insights into how we can better serve our community.

At the end of last term we celebrated the students in each year level who was awarded the most PERMAH points – points given to those who demonstrate the meaning of our positive education program. Congratulations to Lily R, Lilly D, Zoe T, Kyle B, Raquel G, Antony L, Matthew P, Jessica A, Jacinta B and Sophie G for being our top scorers in Year 10.

We are continuing our PERMAH program in Home Group, this week learning about negative mind chatter, and how to use targeted coping strategies when the feeling of self-doubt and concerns take over. Next week’s topic – the Power of Connection.

Lastly, there will be a virtual parent night next Wednesday evening, full of information about the transition to senior school, SET Planning processes and other amazing topics that relate to our cohort. More information on this virtual session will be sent via email leading up to the event so keep an eye out for that email in your inbox!

Claire Masters, Year 10 Coordinator
Email: ctuto3@eq.edu.au

Year 9 Report

The Year 9s had a great Term 1, with many students getting involved and achieving success in many areas. As usual, students should be keeping an eye on morning notices so that they don’t miss out on any opportunity to get involved.

In our House Group program, our Year 9’s have been exploring all aspects of PERMAH through focussed classes with their HG teacher. We also began to develop healthy habits by focussing on meditation and other mindful activities; teachers have found that repeated practice of these activities can help Year 9s find a calm moment in their frantic day.

This term we have our Team Building Day. It is a great day where students participate in a series of activities designed to help students connect and build positive peer culture. Please be sure to return the permission form and payment to the office as soon as possible.

Elizabeth Long, Year 9 Coordinator
Email: ejlon1@eq.edu.au

Year 8 Report

It is great to see the Year 8 cohort back from holidays full of enthusiasm for Term 2. A huge congratulations to the Debating team, who won their debate last week, and to all students who competed in Gala day at the end of last term. Some outstanding results and lots of stories of great teamwork and enthusiasm.

This term we have an exciting event to look forward to with the Team Building Day occurring in Week 8. This is an excellent day where students get to head to the Jindalee Jags oval with their peers for a full day of team building fun. The event is run by an external provider and is designed to build relationships within home groups and with the home group teacher, as well as teach students problem solving skills and the value of effective teamwork. The students will be spending some of their home group time in coming weeks planning their team theme for the day. This will be extra valuable for these students after COVID-19 took away their camp opportunity last year. You will receive a permission form with more details shortly.

Jo Moon, Year 8 Coordinator
Email: jmmoo3@eq.edu.au

P&C

News from our P&C

The P&C supports the Student Welfare, Sponsorships and looking to potentially build extra shelter for students. In order to provide financial assistance to our students, we need to fundraise. We would appreciate support from parents to help with events. If you have the skills to organise, market, sponsor or would like to be involved in the event on the day, we would love to hear from you.

Our first fundraising event for the year will be a Bunning BBQ at Oxley on Sunday, 13th June. We require 5 people to be on the stall at all times. If you can give an hour or two between the hours of 7:00am to 4:00pm we would be greatly appreciative. All money raised will be put back to the welfare of our students. Please contact us via email on pandc@centenaryshs.eq.edu.au.

Please help us continue with the Entertainment Book Fundraiser with the proceeds going to the Student Welfare fund. There is still plenty of savings to gain from the Entertainment Book. All books are now digital. Should you wish to purchase a book, please visit:

The next P&C meeting will be held on Wednesday, 19th May 2021 commencing at 7:00pm in the Resource Centre.

We encourage as many families to get involved. It is a great way to see what is going on behind the scenes and hear from our Principal. There are no fetes, no OSHC to run, only the Uniform shop, so please come along and have a chat!

Look forward to seeing you soon.

Sarah McDermott, P&C President Centenary SHS
Email: pandc@centenaryshs.eq.edu.au