It’s hard to believe that I am writing the final newsletter article for 2018. It has been an exciting year, jam packed full of events, learning and many success stories for our students. This was most evident at our recent Awards Night and Year 12 Graduation Ceremony. I would like to thank parents for their support of Spinifex State College throughout the year and wish everyone a safe and joyful Christmas break.

Staff Christmas Decoration Competition

U P C O M I N G E V E N T S

3 0 N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 8 Last Day for Years 10 & 11

4 & 5 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 Tools for Change

7 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 Last Day of School

2 2 - 2 5 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 College Offices Re-open

2 3 - 2 5 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 Tuckshops Open for Uniform Sales

2 8 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 Australia Day Public Holiday

2 9 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 First Day of Term 1

P&C M E E T I N G Our next P&C meeting will be held in

the Junior Campus Library at:

7pm on Wednesday the 20th of February, 2019.

All parents and community members are welcome and encouraged to

attend.

Principal Mr Philip Sweeney

Head of Senior Campus Mr Chris Pocock

Head of Residential Campus Mrs Cath McGrath-Jeffrey

From the Principal

CampusLink Wednesday 28 t h November, 2018

Volume 16, Issue 19

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Year 12 Graduation

The Year 12 graduation ceremony was a time of celebration, shared memories, motivational messages and performances from our highly talented year 12 students. The pride for our amazing students was shared by parents, family members and teaching staff, as we paid tribute to the graduating class of 2018. 108 students graduated this year. I am very pleased to say that every graduate has achieved their Queensland Certificate of Education. Congratulations Spinifex State College – 3 years running 100% QCE.

Graduation is one of those times that define what we do at Spinifex State College. I am so very proud of our dedicated teachers who, alongside student families, ensured that our graduates have the best opportunity to succeed with their next step in life.

The Show Must Go On

A significant downpour of rain at the Spinifex State College’s Senior Visual, Media and Performing Arts evening could not dampen the audience’s enthusiasm for the many quality student performances and artistic talent displayed on the night.

Over 400 people attended, including City Council officials, students, families and staff to witness the Broadway spectacular which was catered for by our very own hospitality students under the guidance of Mrs Sara Cherian. The event was a tribute to the hard work of the creative arts department and the many talented students and staff in our school.

Please read on for more pictures and a full report later in this newsletter.

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Congratulations Mr Horskins and Ms O’Brien

It is my pleasure to inform the Spinifex State College community that two outstanding educators have been awarded promotional positions at our school. Mr Daniel Horskins has been awarded the position Year 9 Deputy Principal, and Ms Tara O’Brien the position Head of Department Physical Education and the Arts.

I am very pleased to have two committed and dedicated educators join our leadership team.

Last Week of School - Reports and School Magazine

This Friday is the final day for our Year 10 and 11 students. School magazines will be issued to Year 10 and 11 students (who have paid their fees) this week, and their report cards will be posted home next Tuesday. A very busy program is planned for students in Years 7 to 9 next week. These students will attend regular classes on Monday and then go to the Senior Campus from Tuesday to Thursday to participate in our Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Week activities. Students will need to be dropped off and picked up from the Senior Campus. Report cards will be posted home to all Junior Campus students this year. The school magazine will be issued to Years 7 to 9 students (who have paid their fees) on Thursday of the last week at the Senior Campus. While HOT activities are happening at Senior Campus, we will welcome the Year 6 students to the Junior Campus for Tools for Change on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

On Friday, Junior Campus students return to the Junior Campus for the final day of activities, including movies and other group activities.

Uniforms 2019

The P&C will be opening the Senior and Junior Campus Tuckshops from the 23rd to the 25th January 2019 (opening hours will be from 9am to 2pm) to cater for the sale of student uniforms.

Parents may need to purchase school bucket hats if your child does not currently have a school hat, and purchase the new winter uniform. Please take advantage of this opportunity to ensure that your child is ready to start school on Tuesday the 29th of January, 2019.

Mr Dan Horksins Ms Tara O’Brien

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School textbooks

Can I ask parents to assist us at school by looking for any school textbooks or library books that might be lying around at home? We ask that all school resources be returned to school this week. Payment for lost resources can be made at the school offices.

P&C Meeting

Our first P&C meeting for 2019 will be held in the Junior Campus Library on Wednesday, the 20th of February 2019, at 7pm. All parents and community members are invited and encouraged to attend.

Visit our school website

Regards,

Mr Philip Sweeney Principal

Find us on Facebook

In and Around Our School

The Scene Project

Recently, the Year 10 Drama classes spent the day at the Civic Centre partaking in Queensland Theatre’s “The Scene Project”. The Scene Project is a participatory style project that involves schools in the creative process of performance, from rehearsal through to production. In Term 3, students were given the script “Good Grief” by Merlynn Tong, and were asked to interpret it and the associated myths to create their interpretation of the play. It was a fun day where students were able to work with actors from Queensland Theatre and watch how students from Good Shepherd Catholic College and the other Year 10 class interpreted the work. Students saw how professional actors from Queensland Theatre interpreted Good Grief. This is the first time that The Scene Project has been to Mount Isa, and we would like to thank Laurel, Travis, the Queensland Theatre and the generous sponsors for bringing it out here to us.

Miss Katie Hoffman

Teacher and Rifle House Master Senior Campus

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Spinifex State College Residential Students Continue Community Service

Over the past two weekends, students from the Spinifex State College Residential Campus have been providing help to the Mount Isa Special School to construct a trampoline and a swing set for students to play on during break times. Putting together the mat on the trampoline required a lot of effort, so our residential students combined forces and used team work to complete both tasks. We have received reports back that the construction of the new equipment has been appreciated.

As a final gesture of goodwill, residential students have pooled together all of their change so they can buy two Christmas presents to put under the K Mart Christmas Tree. I am incredibly proud of each student who has contributed to the local community throughout 2018. Our Residential

students are really making a difference to people in the Mount Isa Community.

Mrs Cath Jeffrey

Head of Residential Campus

Year 12 Visual Art Students

All Year 12 Visual Art and Visual Arts in Practice students please collect your artwork from Senior Campus before Thursday the 30th of November or risk it being recycled or put on display as there is no space available to store it.

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School Fees

A reminder to all families that 2018 fees are now overdue and need to be paid to the office no later than Friday the 30th of November. Students who have neither paid their school fees nor returned any outstanding library or textbooks will not be eligible to receive their school magazine. Advance payments for 2019 fees can be paid today, particularly the $150 Student Resource Scheme (SRS) fee.

Mathematics B Students

It has been a wonderful experience teaching Mathematics B to these amazing students. Congratulations to every one of you on your excellent results.

Mr Ben Robson Head of Department Maths and Science Senior Campus

Position Vacant

Attention All School Leavers

Auto Electrical Apprenticeship available in Mount Isa. For further information please contact:

Karen Kretschmann

Industry Training Consultant, Busy at Work

PH: 0458 084 112

2018 Spinifex State Colleges

Senior Broadway Themed Arts Evening

Pictured (from left): Rebecca Nicholson (Senior Art Teacher), Michelle Rigby (Senior Film and TV, Drama and Music Teacher), Phil Barwick (Mount Isa Deputy Mayor), Aimee Pierce (Senior Drama Teacher), Joyce McCulloch (Mount Isa Mayor), Katie

Hoffmann (Senior Drama Teacher) and Lachlan Fietz (Year 8 Spinifex Student).

Senior Arts Night was a massive hit on Wednesday 14th November at Spinifex State College – Senior Campus; raising $176 for the 2019 Spinifex Stage College Rock Pop Mime entry. Spinifex Senior Campus’s Multi Media Centre was at its capacity on the night, with both Spinifex and the Mount Isa Community supporting the Broadway themed evening in their best Broadway or movie-themed inspired costumes.

Lachlan Fietz (Year 8 Spinifex Student) and Amity Fietz (Year 6 Student) was the winner of the best costume; dressing as Scar from The Lion King and the Wicked Witch of Oz. Their costuming won over the judges Carla Patch (Year 10 Deputy) and Kristen Curd (Year 11 Deputy) for their wow factor, DIY Skills, Iconic Styling and Method Acting.

The evening celebrated the talents of the Arts students and teachers with the guests having the opportunity to; peruse the art gallery, applaud the talents of the school filmmakers, witness the amazing dramatic and musical live performances and indulge in the foodie delights prepared by the hospitality students.

The iconic teacher film also blew the audience away with the talented storytelling and video editing skills of Michelle Rigby (Film and TV Teacher). Matt Ward (Science Teacher) starred as the lead role Dorothy who followed the yellow brick road, across musicals with a massive ensemble of Spinifex staff members. The journey concluded as he found the ruby slippers and discovered there’s no place like home!

To conclude the evening, special guests Mount Isa Mayor Joyce McCulloch, Deputy Mayor Phil Barwick, PE Arts Head of Department John Cronin and Spinifex State College Principal Phil Sweeney handed out awards to the best pieces of art, films and compositions as voted by the audience. The talented winners of the evening included:

Best Silent Film Naomi Spitzner-Lewis & Jessica Lewis

Best Advertisement Naomi Spitzner-Lewis

Best Composition Chloe McLean

People’s Choice 2D Artwork Shantelle Sammon

People’s Choice 3D Artwork Karen John Ranjit-Kumar

Rebecca Nicholson & Kristy Nelson Spinifex State College Teachers

Danny Zuko & his Pink Ladies

Pictured (from left): Pauline McLeod, Anna Ferguson, John Cronin and

Emily Craven

‘A Team’ by Ed Sheeran Musical Performance

Pictured (from left): Cody Burnett and Amy Cobden

2018 Advertisement Winner

Pictured (from left): Phil Sweeney & Naomi Spitzner-

Lewis

Arts Evening Performers

Thank you to everyone for your support of the SBYHN role. Really looking forward to working alongside everyone in 2019

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

From the SBYHN desk Movember, I mean November has turned into a very busy month. We started week 6 off with Rodeo Queen Kate Lovette and Headspace reminding us about the importance of men’s mental Health. Kate is fundraising for North West Remote Mental health and Headspace supported her by letting the student know about the great service they provide. Movember however is not just aimed at mental health but believe that all aspects of men’s health are lacking and that there is a great need for awareness and men needing to reach out.

Mr Farnsworth Blokes Discussion Group for Year 7-9 boys have been going really well and boys where encouraged to come along during lunch times to escape the heat and chat in a male only setting about what it means to be a man in modern society. Topics such as mental health and suicide, issues facing men, showing respect for women, what life is like after school, alcohol and substance abuse, self-respect and bullying have been discussed. Episodes of the ABC's Man Up were also watched - a great show that tackles the issue of Male suicide. Thanks you mr Farnsworth

“Move for Movember” started very slowly but our aim of reaching 60km is slowly being achieved. With the help of some amazing students especially James Jury, Shivash Chand,

Tryone Charman and Kyeisha Derick the km are slowly adding up. Great job guys and girl!! Free ice block are now up for grabs and

we will still walk Monday, Wednesday and Friday of week 8. Remember that all sponsorship donations should now be returned to school or donations can be made directly to https://au.movember.com/team/2338196. More walkers will be greatly appreciated next week!! Our “Mo” Competition is underway, I hope. Best Mo grown by teacher or best MADE Mo by any student will be judged by Rodeo queen, Tony “Tonka” Toholke on Friday the 30th of November at 2nd break in the hall. Hope to see some cool ones around school on Friday. Finally we “Owned our tone” by supporting skin cancer action week and realising that there is no such thing as a healthy tan. Any kind of sunburn no matters how minor are damage being done to our skin and this could lead to melanoma. Melanoma is the 2nd highest cancer in young people, which is scary but can be prevented. Terri Grosser who is surviving melanoma at the moment engaged with the student about her journey since diagnosed in 2016. She also supported the basic prevention strategies than can be done to protect our skins:

slip on sun-protective clothing

slop on SPF30 (or higher) broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen

slap on a broad-brimmed hat

seek shade

slide on sunglasses.

regularly checking your skin