97-113 Towers StreetCharters Towers QLD 4820Subscribe:Subscribe: http://chartowersshs.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe

Email:Email: principal@chartoweshs.eq.edu.auPhone:Phone: 07 4754 6555

Fax:Fax: 07 4754 6500

28 October 201628 October 2016

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

News Flash . . .

Congratulations to Nash Lowis who has continued his javelinjourney with a win and record at the Queensland Secondary AllSchools State Athletics Championships in Brisbane last week.

Nash competed in the 17 Years Boys Javelin last Thursdayafternoon and opened the competition with a 71.60m throwsending a strong message to his fellow competitors that he wasthere and ready to throw. After some below-par throws Nashchanged javelins and produced his winning throw of 75.48mwhich broke the record set last year by 35cm. His record throwwas 10.92cm further than the second place getter. A modestNash who had four throws over 70m said “It was close. I onlyjust got the win and record”. All of this was achieved into astrong headwind.

Nash was given the honour as NQ Regions Boys’ Captain toparticipate in the opening ceremony, a first for the Secondarycompetition.

Nash Lowis preparingNash Lowis preparingto launch his javelinto launch his javelin

Nash Lowis at the Medal CeremonyNash Lowis at the Medal Ceremony

Our school’s other representative, Bo Moore-Reid, participatedin both Long and Triple Jump and may have been overwhelmedon the big stage with nerves at his first State competition.

Nevertheless we are proud of you Bo for having gainedselection as the best in the NQ region.

Well done lads! Please get behind Nash and support ourfundraising efforts to send him to the National Titles inNovember.

URGENT: Any students currently in Year 10 who have/had a relative serve in the Australian Defence Force,please see Miss Holcombe urgently.

Year 12 Exit

With less than 3 weeks until Graduation I encourage parents toremind students that their last day of school forever concludesat 3.00pm on Friday 18th November and that all schoolexpectations and consequences will apply until then. They willexperience many Life Lessons in their final week in preparationfor the real world, culminating in last day activities fromFriemann Oval breakfast to fun times in Townsville. TheGraduation Ceremony in our Hall is on Thursday evening 17thNovember with ticket purchases closing on Wednesday 2ndNovember. The Seniors’ final assembly will be Tuesday 15thNovember and all family and friends are invited to attend in ourhall from 9.15am.

Junior Secondary Graduation

Year 9 students and families will shortly receive invitations totheir Graduation on Monday 5th December in our hall wheresuccessful students who have attained the necessary points willreceive their Junior Certificate of Education and a GraduationCertificate.

School Improvement Agenda - Quality Teachingand Learning (QT&L)

We are celebrating the student success already attainedthrough QT&L and parent acknowledgements through theSchool Opinion Survey. Further acknowledgement of oursuccess is the recognition within and beyond the region withvisits from other High Schools and Assistant Directors fromBrisbane attending to see first-hand our best practice and todiscuss the journey travelled. Congratulations to the leadershipteam and their staff who have made a difference to studentoutcomes through their engagement in the process. This is theculmination of 18 months in a journey to embed pedagogicalpractice across all year levels.

To enhance our practices, last week I participated in a SchoolImprovement Unit Review in Brisbane with the experience andknowledge gained being invaluable as we prepare for the 2018Quadrennial School Review and School Improvement UnitReview.

Yours in Education

Moya A Mohr, PrincipalMoya A Mohr, Principal

Happy World Teachers’ Day for today!Happy World Teachers’ Day for today!

Students of the Week

Congratulations to the following Students of theWeek:

Year 7: Kathleen Polsen and Reanna Edgerton

Year 8: Georgia Ape (sorry no photo available)and Nikita Lawn

Year 9: Shakira Majid and Trae Thomas

Year 11: Amelia Richards

JUNIOR SECONDARYIt’s been a great term to date. Our teachers in the junior schoolcame back refreshed from holidays and keen to create someamazing lessons for our students. Some great work ishappening in English whether it is analysing poetic literature,creating persuasive texts or writing short stories. Geographyhas also been well received with Year 7s completing a localexcursion to obtain primary data on Charters Towers todetermine the liveability of our town. Among my visits to allclasses I find students actively engaged and enjoying workingtowards completing their final term.

Iljiaz Memedovski, Head of Department (English andHumanities)

Term 4 is full steam ahead, with all classes participating indifferent activities. For example, Year 7 Science is learninghow to organise and identify animals using scientific reasoning.Year 8 Science is currently learning about different types ofenergy, before building a Hurler Design later in the term. Year 9Science is currently learning about endothermic and exothermicreactions through practical experiments before they design achemical reaction that reacts as a heat source to reheat a meal.

As we near the half way point of Term 4 (a 10 week term),students are beginning to enter assessment mode. It isimportant that students put their best efforts into assignments

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and exams to demonstrate the learning that has taken placethroughout the term.

Jennifer Barkley, Head of Department (Mathematics,Science, HPE, LOTE and the Arts)

Junior Voting Has Closed

It is that exciting time of year again when a brave few put theirhand up as candidates for junior school leadership position.While our leaders’ debate didn’t have the name calling or thescandal of the current US presidential campaign it wasn’twithout passionate candidates. The eight ladies and onegentleman put their points to their peers and teachers at aspecial assembly last week with. Positions as school captain,member of the student representative council and housecaptains were on the line and the debates where hard fought.The results will be announced at Awards Night on 9thNovember, with the new captains being presented their badgesby the outgoing captains.

Those nominated for captain were: Felicity Dimmack, BreeGlenwright, Isabel King, Holly Matthews, Jayde Miller, HolliePianta, Georgia Richards, Matt Smith and Crystal-Lee Walsh.We wish them well.

Louise Halfpenny, Year Level Coordinator, JuniorSecondary

Japanese

For the recent Charters Towers State High School’s ArtsShowcase, the Year 7D students prepared art work usingHiragana and Katakana characters that they have beenlearning.

This is a photo of their work. It was a great to see suchcreativity from these students. (Some students were absent onthe evening but their artwork was still displayed).

Shanara Salisbury, Storm Young, Jasper Dickinson, MarandaShanara Salisbury, Storm Young, Jasper Dickinson, MarandaPugh, Jess Vidal, Emma Ford (absent Clayton Young, BriannaPugh, Jess Vidal, Emma Ford (absent Clayton Young, Brianna

Lawn). Front – Elizabeth CaseyLawn). Front – Elizabeth Casey

Scholarships for University Language VacationPrograms

Applications are open for language students to attendprograms at James Cook University Academy of ModernLanguages vacation program from 9–13 January 2017.Students in Years 7–12 (in 2017) can apply for a scholarship toattend the program by emailing corinne.scholl@det.qld.gov.auno later than 25 November 2016 and request Corinne to sendyou an application form and return to her.

Wendy Sherman-Bryson, Teacher

Science

Last Friday the Year 8 students continued their investigationinto different types of energy. During their experiment they werelooking at elastic energy and how it can be used to slice awatermelon. 8A and 8C were unlucky in the morning as theynot only ran out of rubber bands but they ran out of time. Justlike they will need to do in their assessment the first two classeswere able to come up with modifications so the second classwould have a better chance of seeing the watermelons explode.

The video (link below) shows the final moments before HollyMatthews, Shane Gordon and Ash-Lee Rafferty got coveredin watermelon. Also, special thanks to Mr Aaron Gee, MissRebecca Brooks and Ms Cathie Briner for helping out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv9pHO_-QfQ

Carl Brough and Anthony Cosenza, Teachers

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMOn Thursday 20th October the SEP unit held a parentinformation session for parents of students transitioning fromYear 6 to 7. This session provided information regarding thesetting of the unit, available facilities and resources. Parentswere briefed about the processes undertaken by the SEP staffto accommodate the new students and also how the allocatedresources are used to cater to the diverse needs of our learners.

Prospective students and their parents were given a tour of theschool by the HOSES (Head of Special Education Services),Mrs Lorena Goll, accompanied by the teaching staff. Theinformation session concluded with a question and answersegment. Altogether it was an excellent meeting and we lookforward to getting to know our new Year 7s during the transitiondays near the end of term.

NDIA/NDIS (National Disability InsuranceAgency/Scheme)

Local Engagement Update

In response to queries from stakeholders requestinginformation about the NDIA and their local events, below isa link to the official NDIA events page. It has new eventsscheduled for Townsville and Mackay. The Townsville eventsinclude a session on transition supports and Mackay's sessionsare in preparation for a November 1st rollout.

https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/events/qld.html

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As processes are being streamlined on how local and relevantinformation is issued, it is requested that you update your profilewith your location.

There are 5 options set up for you:

Can you please update your profile:

http://stepscs.us13.list-manage1.com/profile?u=0850c4cb5541456015547d4d0&id=58d82d8079&e=11c78224ae

Your full and correct name ensures that if you're having arough day and you receive an email from the NDIA it'll help toturn that frown upside down. The letter will arrive polite andpersonalised.

Fauzia Ijaz, Teacher

STATE HIGH ARTS SHOWCASEThis event, held last Friday, was a great success, showcasingstudents’ work and performances. Please view the photogallery below.

INDUSTRIAL GRAPHICSStudents in the Industrial Graphics class are currentlycompleting a building and construction unit where they arelearning about architectural drawings. Many interesting designsof a granny flat are being produced by the students using theAutodesk REVIT software. The student folios consist of floorplans, elevation drawings, sectional drawings, ceiling plans andrendered images of the buildings. The following pictures aresome samples of the students’ work.

Jack’s design for a granny flatJack’s design for a granny flat James submits his designJames submits his design

Lance MacKenzie, Teacher

SPORTInterschool sport is finished for another year. Well done to allteams and coaches! The tennis teams (13s, 15s and Opens)have all shown fantastic improvement over the last 6 rounds.The girls’ softball teams are really showing the boys how it’sdone with wins against BTC, CCC and ASSG. The 13s girlshave won their last three games in a row and are gainingmomentum at the right time.

School Rugby Tens was played on Friday 14th and Saturday15th October at the Charters Towers Rugby Union FootballClub. It was a bruising affair and it was wet and cold.

This year we had 4 teams enter the competition. Such greatenthusiasm was shown, and all teams participated andrepresented State High in an admirable fashion.Congratulations to all! The 15s and the Open Girls and OpenBoys did the school proud in hard fought games, however, theywere not able to make the finals on Saturday. The 13s enteredthe finals on Saturday after playing out of their skins on Fridaynight, defeating CCC by 5 tries which, even though they lostto ASSG, these points put them on top of the pool for thefinal on Saturday morning against ASSG. The 13s played theirhearts out and it was a much tighter affair than the previousencounter. Once again, the school community came out innumbers to support our young people. I was amazed by thededication of all participants who played with respect and alsothe supporters, coaches and managers who sat through heavyrain and cold gusty winds.

Special congratulations must go to Charli Schluter for makingNorth QLD at Tennis, and Stephanie Lowe for North QLDSoftball. Well done girls!

On Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd October, Bo Moore- Reidand Nash Lowis represented not only Charters Towers, butour entire Region at the State Championships in Brisbane forAthletics. The results were as follows:

Nash Lowis won GOLD at the All Schools StateAthletics Championships for 17 Years Boys’ Javelin!Nash has also broken the record with a massive 75.48mthrow. Previous record was 75.13m. Bo Moore-Reiddid not place, however, jumped 12.08m in triple jump.

• Cairns & FNQ

• Townsville & District

• Mackay & District

• Mount Isa & West

• Outside of these areas (You will still receive webinarinvites and other state, regional and nationalinformation!)

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We wish Nash well at the upcoming Australian AllSchools Athletics Championships in early December.Well done to both boys for your amazing efforts! Youhave done our school proud.

“We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams comeinto reality, it takes an awful lot of determination,dedication, self-discipline, and effort.”

— Jesse Owens, American track and fieldathlete and four-time gold medallist.

As the year draws to a close, I would like to encourage allstudents to continue to train for their sports. Term 1 in 2017 willsee the interhouse and interschool swimming carnivals and alsoour interhouse cross country.

A reminder that the school has a newly erected gym, whichis supervised by qualified trainers who are tailoring programsspecific to the needs of individuals. So get your gym on andsign up now!

“Nothing can substitute for just plain hard work. I had toput in the time to get back.

And it was a grind. It meant training and sweating everyday. But I was completely committed to working out toprove to myself that I still could do it.”

– Andre Agassi, USA gold medallist in tennis.

Free Professional Tennis Coaching – No StringsAttached

Tennis Training will continue for the next 4 weeks: 31stOctober, 7th November, 14th November and 21st November.

Open to all ages and genders. Commencing on Mondays at7:30am sharp at the State High Tennis Courts. We havecontinued to secure a professional tennis coach to train ourstudents between 7:30am and 8:30am every Monday morningfor the dates above and continuing in Term 1 of 2017, if uptakeis high.

If students are interested, please turn up to the State Highcourts on Monday mornings. Please contact Mr Matt de Brenniif you require any further information. This would be a greatopportunity to begin training for the beginning of the 2017interschool sport year.

Matt de Brenni, Sports Coordinator

GUIDANCE OFFICERIt has been a busy year and our young people at State Highhave been working hard to achieve some fantastic results. Aswe come toward the pointy end of the final term, it is importantfor students to remember to look after themselves and monitorstress levels during this busy time of the year. There are a

lot of things students can do to manage assessment relatedstress. Efficient time management and effective study skillsare essential to ensure you are not wasting valuable timeprocrastinating.

Below are some really good ideas to make sure students arefocussed on the task at hand and are making the most of thetime left. The end of the year is in sight and, to be successful,we need to have good habits. If you would like some help withstress and time management, there is help available. Know whoyour supports are and don’t be afraid to ask. If you need, youcan book an appointment with the Guidance Officer through theschool office and we will get you on the right track.

Good luck with the last few weeks.Brent Nelson, Guidance Officer

How to Increase Your Marks

Andrew Fuller

Getting better marks has a lot to do with how you approachstudying. The twelve most powerful ways to increase yourmarks don’t involve you working harder but they do involve youworking smarter.

1. Study in silence

This is the single most powerful way to increase yourmarks. Spend at least 20 minutes of your study timein silence. No texting, music or computer screens.Outcomes improve when you practice in the sameconditions you want to perform in. In the exam roomthere won’t be music, mobile phones or computerscreens.

2. Organise & transform the information you want to learn

Just reading your notes over and over again doesn’treally work. Your memory stores information best whenyou organise or transform it. This means organising yournotes so that the main idea is highlighted on each page.Then take your notes and turn them into a flow chart or amind map or see if you can fit them to a song you knowwell or make it into a sound recording. The more timesyou can transform and re-organise the information themore firmly it is remembered.

3. Put off pleasurable activities until work is done

This is a painful one but if you play computer gamesbefore you get down to studying, the levels of dopaminein your brain lessen and you will lose the drive andmotivation you need to study effectively. Work first, playlater.

4. Talk yourself through the steps involved

One of the things that highly successful students do isto explain out loud to themselves the steps involved incompleting a task. This applies to every subject area. Bysaying out loud, “First I have to do…. Then I have todo….” and so on, any part that you are uncertain aboutbecomes clear and you can then use this to guide whereyou need to do more.

5. Ask for help

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Teachers want their students to be interested and to dowell. You will be amazed if you ask a question how manyother people don’t understand it either. If you are reallyscared about asking questions in class, have a privatetalk to your teacher about this.

6. Take notes

Just writing down the ideas that you have makes apowerful contribution to your marks -Don’t just writedown what the teacher writes. Make notes of any ideasyou have as well. Never rely only on the worksheetsgiven out by teachers or your own capacity to rememberinformation later.

7. Write & re-write key points

Writing the main points of the area you are learning helpsyou to remember them. If you can add in re-organisingand transforming them into different formats (drawings,flow chats, podcasts etc.) that makes it even morepowerful.

8. Make lists & set priorities

Make a “to-do” list each week. Write down in your diarythe most important things to be done in each subjecteach week. High scoring students do a little bit on eachsubject, a lot rather than doing a lot of work on onesubject every so often.

If you are doing subjects that involve presenting a folio orpreparing a presentation, it is still important to do workon the other subject areas.

9. Prepare for class

Become knowledgeable about the area you are learningabout by doing your own research. If you can learnabout the area before you start not only will you have anadvantage, it will also make more sense to you as youbegin classes on it. Take notes on your own research.If you can, read over your notes before class to re-freshyour memory.

10. Keep a record of how much study you have done

It increases motivation when we can tick things off listsand when we can see how much we have done.

11. Use memory aides

These are tools that help you to remember information.For example, Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit” helppeople remember that EGBDF are the lines of the musicstaff. The rhyme, “thirty days have September, April,June and November” helps us to remember thecalendar. School requires more memory skills than anyjob you can think of. The best way to remembersomething is to transform it. If it’s visual put it into words,if it’s verbal, create a picture or graph of it, use lists,acronyms, tables, graphics, and link new information tothings you already know.

Long-term filing works best if you go right to sleep – theminutes before bedtime are crucial,

12. Set study times

The last method is to decide when you are most alertand to set aside some time at that time of day to study. Ifyou wait until you are in the right mood before beginningto study, you may wait forever.

DAY FOR DANIELToday is ‘Day for Daniel’, a National Day of Action to raiseawareness about child safety and protection. Charters TowersState High School is getting involved today, with a spectaculardisplay of hundreds of red balloons being released together byeach student.

It is fantastic to see so many students and staff being involvedand wearing red. The entire school community has beenencouraged to wear red for a day to raise awareness aboutchild safety and protection to help promote a safer communityfor children.

During lunch, before the balloon release, our School-basedPolice Office, Trish Machin, presented a speech to thestudents, with the objective to help educate students abouttheir own personal safety and to help empower them toRECOGNISE, REACT and REPORT.

This day is also a day to honour the memory of DanielMorcombe.

For more information please log into the link below.

http://www.dayfordaniel.com.au/

Kylie Webber, Youth Support Officer

CHESS CLUBChess Club has started at Charters Towers State High School.It was a great turnout of students last Friday and we hope tosee them all there today.

Aaron Gee and Brent Nelson, Teachers

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