Principal: Craig Whittred Deputy Principals: Kerry Flynn, Anna D'llario Business Manager: Priscilla Viero Issue No 1 Newsletter of Ayr State High School Friday 8 February 2019 Ayr State High School PO Box 961 AYR QLD 4807 Phone: 07 4790 4333 Fax: 07 4790 4300 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ayrshs.eq.edu.au Facebook: facebook.com/ayrshs “HELLOWORLD AWARDED AUSTRALIA’S BEST TRAVEL AGENCY GROUP 2016” 4783 2122 [email protected] Ayr High Students Recognised at Burdekin Shire Australia Day Awards Ceremony by Mrs Saskia Vollema-Creek, Humanities Teacher A t the 2019 Burdekin Shire Australia Day Awards Ceremony, three Ayr High students received recognition for their contributions to the local community. 2018 graduate, Caitlin Holmes, was awarded Young Citizen of the Year. Caitlin was heavily involved in many events with the Ayr High Interact committee in her role as Community Service Vice Captain. She reignited community partnerships with the Ayr Rotary Club and helped organise and volunteered at many Interact events as well as community events such as the Norm Perry Duck Race. Year 11 student, Sarah McDonnell, was also nominated for this award. Brendan Kolb, current Year 12 student and 2019 Community Service Vice Captain, was awarded Junior Cultural Award. Brendan is a member of the Burdekin Singers and is greatly involved in the cultural department at school. He has performed in many drama festivals and school musicals. Year 10 student, Lauren Raitelli received Junior Cultural Achievement Award for her efforts in the cultural department at Ayr High, in particular writing last year’s junior drama festival script as well as her involvement in the Burdekin Singers. LtoR: Caitlin Holmes, Brendan Kolb, Lauren Raitelli Keagan Returns Energised by the 2019 NYSF by Keagan Flynn, Year 12 Student O ver the Christmas holidays I had the great pleasure of attending an event that students from Ayr High have attended for 20 years. This event, which defied expectations in every conceivable way, had me pleasantly surprised and excited to get up every morning. The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) was so much more than a Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) camp. I met people my age who shared my passion for science, in particular engineering and physics. I was able to talk to renowned scientists, such as Dr Megan Clarke AC, who is the Director and founder of the Australian Space Agency. I had the chance to ask a question to a member of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) while he was standing behind one part of the enormous Large Hadron Collider. However, it wasn’t just the lectures and STEM visits that I will always remember, it is the people and down time. Such as the science disco which saw us run around a Canberra shopping centre trying to get matching group outfits. Well...that was until we got asked to leave for singing ‘Country Road’ too loudly. It was the great discussions at the dinner table which ranged from how to make the best cup of tea to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity and how you could make 4D chess if you moved the pieces faster than light. Therefore, this opportunity was not just to attend lectures, it was to interact, mingle and develop friendships and networks which will last a lifetime. I encourage all Year 11 students to apply this year and to experience this truly once in a life time experience.
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PrincipalCraig Whittred
Deputy PrincipalsKerry FlynnAnna Dllario
Business ManagerPriscilla Viero
Issue No 1 Newsletter of Ayr State High School Friday 8 February 2019
Ayr State High SchoolPO Box 961
AYR QLD 4807Phone 07 4790 4333Fax 07 4790 4300
Email adminayrshseqeduauWebsite wwwayrshseqeduauFacebook facebookcomayrshs
Ayring
Call us now on 4783 2122 or email ayrhelloworldcomau
ldquoHELLOWORLD AWARDED AUSTRALIArsquoS BEST TRAVEL AGENCY GROUP 2016rdquo 4783 2122 ayrhelloworldcomau
Ayr High Students Recognised at Burdekin Shire Australia Day Awards Ceremony
by Mrs Saskia Vollema-Creek Humanities Teacher
At the 2019 Burdekin Shire Australia Day Awards Ceremony three Ayr High students received recognition
for their contributions to the local community 2018 graduate Caitlin Holmes was awarded Young Citizen of the Year Caitlin was heavily involved in many events with the Ayr High Interact committee in her role as Community Service Vice Captain She reignited community partnerships with the Ayr Rotary Club and helped organise and volunteered at many Interact events as well as community events such as the Norm Perry Duck Race Year 11 student Sarah McDonnell was also nominated for this awardBrendan Kolb current Year 12 student and 2019 Community Service Vice Captain was awarded Junior Cultural Award Brendan is a member of the Burdekin Singers and is greatly involved in the cultural department at school He has performed in many drama festivals and school musicals Year 10 student Lauren Raitelli received Junior Cultural Achievement Award for her efforts in the cultural department at Ayr High in particular writing last yearrsquos junior drama festival script as well as her involvement in the Burdekin Singers LtoR Caitlin Holmes Brendan Kolb Lauren Raitelli
Keagan Returns Energised by the 2019 NYSF
by Keagan Flynn Year 12 Student
Over the Christmas holidays I had the great pleasure of attending an event that students from Ayr High have attended for 20
years This event which defied expectations in every conceivable way had me pleasantly surprised and excited to get up every morning The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) was so much more than a Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) camp I met people my age who shared my passion for science in particular engineering and physics I was able to talk to renowned scientists such as Dr Megan Clarke AC who is the Director and founder of the Australian Space Agency I had the chance to ask a question to a member of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) while he was standing behind one part of the
enormous Large Hadron Collider However it wasnrsquot just the lectures and STEM visits that I will always remember it is the people and down time Such as the science disco which saw us run around a Canberra shopping centre trying to get matching group outfits Wellthat was until we got asked to leave for singing lsquoCountry Roadrsquo too loudly It was the great discussions at the dinner table which ranged from how to make the best cup of tea to Einsteinrsquos Theory of Relativity and how you could make 4D chess if you moved the pieces faster than light Therefore this opportunity was not just to attend lectures it was to interact mingle and develop friendships and networks which will last a lifetime I encourage all Year 11 students to apply this year and to experience this truly once in a life time experience
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Ayring - keeping you informed
by Mr Craig Whittred Principal Editorial - Newsletter No 1 080219
From the Principal Welcome to Ayr State High SchoolOur school acknowledges the Traditional Owners of this land Today they are still the custodians of the cultural heritage of this land Further to this our school acknowledges there are other Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Island people who have lived worked and contributed to the cultural heritage of our community
PampC MeetingMonday 11 February 2019530 pm Resource Centre
All welcomeAGM - 4 March 2019
SUCCESSEvery Student Every Day
Whole School Photographs
Thursday14 February 2019
Well what a soggy start to the 2019 school year I am feeling for
all our families who have been affected by flood waters Whilst the rain stays around and into the clean-up phase letrsquos make sure we all stay safe and wellWe welcome 95 new Year 7 students into the school which is a fantastic outcome for our school We are very excited about what they bring to our school and how we can support them on their journey through high schoolWe also welcome some new and returning staff to our school Mrs Sarah Matthews our Guidance Officer has returned Mrs Corin Widderick returns to teach ArtHistory Ms Camilla Robson our Year 9 Co-ordinator is teaching MathsScience and IT Mr Simon Vickers is teaching MathsScience and IT Ms Catriona Gillespie is our new Drama teacher Mr Taylor Jermolajew (or Mr J) is teaching EnglishHistory and Ms Anna DrsquoIlario returns to our school as Acting Deputy PrincipalThe weather has been very disruptive
with many of our parentcarer evenings postponed to ensure everyone is able to attend Please keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates to when these events will happenAgain this year we have a focus on high levels of attendance for every student (the rain hasnrsquot helped) Our benchmark is 95 attendance We strive for this because we understand that high levels of attendance are directly linked to success at school We are focused on creating success for every student and coming to school each day is the best possible way to help achieve thatI am looking forward to 2019 and I am excited what both the school and our students will be able to achieve So letrsquos continue to work together to create the best outcomes for the students of Ayr HighYours in education
Craig WhittredPrincipal
Welcome to Ayr High
Ms Anna DIlario
Mrs Sarah Matthews
Mrs CorinWidderick
Mr SimonVickers
Ms CatrionaGillispie
Mr TaylorJermolajew
STEM Success at Ayr Highby Mr Jason Tye AHOD - Mathematics amp Science
Congratulations to Paris Poli in Year 12 who was accepted into the Queensland Resources Council - Girls in Resources Mentoring Program for 2019 The aim of the program is to provide encouragement
and mentoring support for girls intending to transition into education and training for vocational and professional careers in the resources sector Mentors will provide the girls with the benefit of their own experiences and smooth the way as they tackle the transition to university life or trade training Paris
was successful in being 1 of 20 students selected to be part of this program and will be flying down to Brisbane for the launch of the program on International Womenrsquos Day later in MarchCongratulations also goes to Giselle Le Feuvre in Year 10 who was accepted into the 2019 STEM Girl Power Camp The STEM Girl Power Initiative aims to provide students with experiences in science technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) and to encourage students to participate in STEM at school and consider it as a future career option Giselle will be travelling to Brisbane in March to attend the camp where she will join other Year 10 girls from around Queensland to experience the World Science Festival meet STEM role models undertake STEM activities and visit STEM researchers
Paris Poli
Giselle Le Feuvre
Absent Ms Camilla Robson
Music Support Meeting
Tuesday 19 February 2019500 pm A14
New parentscarers welcome
Student Investiture15 February 2019
1230 pm MPS
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 3
Welcome back to 2019by Ms Anna DIlario ADeputy Principal
What a great start to the year we have had Despite the inclement weather our junior school students have been keen to get on with the business of
learning On my visits throughout classrooms I have observed students positively engaging with the learning opportunities provided A special thank you to parents and carers for ensuring our students are coming to school prepared and ready to learnIt has also been heartening to see so many of our junior school students consistently attending school despite the wet weather Attendance at school has an enormous impact upon student performance and learning outcomes Did you know that missing one day of school per week in a school year will result in that student missing almost an entire termrsquos worth of education Itrsquos important that we give our students the best opportunity to succeed which is why we will be focusing on every childrsquos attendance - because every day counts and every student mattersOver the next few weeks we have several events organised for students parents and carers I encourage all Year 7 parents and carers to attend our Year 7 Meet and Greet afternoon come along and meet our Year 7 teachers and our wonderful support staff This is also a great opportunity to meet members of the PampC and get involved in our school We are also hosting a BYO device information evening in week 4 for interested parents and studentsFinally I would like to thank the Ayr community for the warm welcome I have received As many of you know I am filling in for Ms Aleksic whilst she is on leave Despite a few years passing since I was last at the school the reception from staff students parents and carers has been very welcoming Thank you SUCCESS Every student Every day
Wednesday Afternoon(315 - 415 pm)
Thursday Afternoon(315 - 415 pm)D1 and D3 Labs
All year levels welcomeDo you want help with homeworkDo you need help with studying for a test
Mathsamp
Science Tutoring
Instrumental Music
Instrumental Music has commenced on Monday and Fridayrsquos
Check A Block notice board for times
by Bernice Zaro Youth Support Co-ordinator
Communication in 2019Mr Kerry Flynn ADeputy Principal
There are a number of ways that you can communicate with staff at Ayr High this year
bull General Enquiries - phone calls to the office (4790 4333) or in person (800 am - 330 pm)
bull Absences - phone call or text message to the Absentee Hotline (4790 4353)bull Emails - to staff regarding your child and their progressThe school has a range of ways of communicating with families about school events and celebrationsbull Facebook - facebookcomayrshsbull School Website - wwwayrshseqeduaubull School Newsletter ldquoAyringrdquo - is distributed electronically and in paper formbull Postcards - various staff send postcards from time to time to celebrate student
successbull Year Level Newsletters - some year levels have specific newsletters sent
electronically bull Emails - staff from time to time will contact families using this methodWe actively encourage families to make contact and look forward to working cooperatively with you to ensure that every student is being successful
Absentee Hotline
4790 4353If your child is away eitherbull phone the hotline - if unanswered
please leave a message with reason for childrsquos absence
bull respond to school text message or
bull hand in a note on return to Mrs Slattery at the office
Download the free QSchool App to stay
connected to news andevents
Like our Ayr State High
School pagefacebookcomayrshs
Issue No 9 - 2018 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 8Phone 4783 1566 - Fax 4783 4219East End Centre AYRDELTA ELECTRIX
EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL from AIRCONDITIONERSand COMPUTERS to VIDEOS and WASHING MACHINES
YOUR DISCOUNT ELECTRICAL STORESALES - SERVICE - SPARE PARTS
Layout and Design - Victoria Augostis
HAWKS Fitnessby Ms Courtney Carrigan HOD - HPE Practical Technologies LOTE amp Sport
This year Ayr State High School is continuing the Running Club It is being rebranded as HAWKS Fitness HAWKS Fitness allows students the opportunity to develop their health
and fitness in a supportive and inclusive environment - all students are welcome for some of or all sessions each week All sessions are supervised by staff - Ms Smith Mr Lacey Ms Scott Ms Dorsett or Ms CarriganSessions available arebull Tuesdayrsquos 730 - 815 am bull Thursdayrsquos 800 - 830 am bull Fridayrsquos 2nd breakTuesday Sessions - fitness activities and will often link to practice for our Interhouse Carnivals (swimming cross country and athletics) Term 1 weeks 3-6 will focus on swimming at the Ayr Swimming Pool - meet staff (Ms Scott and Ms Dorsett) at the Ayr Swimming Pool students can either walk back to school (supervised by a teacher) or be privately picked up The following weeks will mostly focus on running and other fitness activities at ASHSThursday Sessions - various sports or modified games at ASHSFriday Sessions - school gym (A Block) with Ms SmithStudents must return a permission form to participate in out of school fitness activities (ie swimming sessions) - these can be collected from I Block Staffroom (see Ms Smith or Ms Carrigan)Specific information regarding each weekrsquos focus and activities will be communicated to students via Student Notices and Assemblies For further information please contact Ms Smith Mr Lacey or Ms Carrigan at the school
Year 10 Information Evening for Families
Date Tuesday 12 February 2019Place SMC1 (Auditorium)Time 600 pmTopics bull ldquoQCE10rdquo - preparing for Year 11bull Events on the school calendar this year for Year 10bull SET Planning and Case Management
Year 11 Information Evening for Families
Date Tuesday 12 February 2019Place SMC1 (Auditorium)Time 700 pmTopics bull Events on the school calendar this year for Year 11bull Course of study options the QCE and case
management processesbull How the ATAR will be determined and results
reported on Report Cardsbull School Processes related to the new senior system
implementation
Year 12 ParentCarer Information Evening
Monday 18 February 2019630 pm Resource Centre
Information will include bull Options for future pathwaysbull Whatrsquos on in 2019bull Our Careers Websitebull ApprenticeshipJob Pathwaybull University Pathwaybull Factors that can affect Student OPrsquosbull About the QCS Testbull QTAC - University Applicationsbull Study CostsAccommodationbull How families can assist their teens
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 5
Interhouse Swimming Carnival
Friday 22 February 2019Week 4
More information in 2019
Interschool Swimming Carnival
12 - 19 Yrs
Thursday 7 March 2019Week 6
Ayr Swimming Pool
Students will be selected based on performance at our
Interhouse Carnival
Interhouse Swimming Carnivalweek 4by Ms Courtney Carrigan HOD - HPE Practical Technologies LOTE amp Sport
Friday 22 February will see a carnival atmosphere prevail as the four sporting houses vie for honours in the Interhouse Swimming Carnival
This year Tuesday 19 February will be lsquoSpirit Dayrsquo Students can dress in their House colours or their theme In session 4 students will attend House meetings then assemble at the MPS for the traditional skits and war-criesFriday 22 February will begin with an assembly at school (at 850 am) followed by standard events and presentations at the pool The Carnival will finish at 300 pm from the Ayr Swimming Pool (not from Ayr SHS) - please make arrangements for the safe departure of your child at 300 pm Arrangements have been made for those students who catch the bus - they will walk back to the school with staff supervision to catch the normal bus schedulesStudents are encouraged to dress in their House theme or their House colour for the Swimming Carnival Students who are not competing will enjoy the carnival atmosphere cheering and supporting their friends Good luck to allNOTE Footwear for the day must meet safety requirements for the walk to the pool (ie normal enclosed shoes are required)
Interschool Sportby Ms Courtney Carrigan HOD - HPE Practical Technologies
LOTE amp Sport
The 2019 season of interschool sporting competition commences on Wednesday 20 February (week 4) with
U15 and U19 Netball and Rugby League Interschool Volleyball (U14 and U19 mixed teams) will be the next sport on the calendar Selection trials and training will begin shortly with the first games scheduled for Thursday 14 March (week 7)The following North Queensland trials are scheduled for Term 1Cluster 1 (0503) - Netball (15 amp 19 Yrs) Rugby League (15 amp 18 Yrs) Volleyball (19 Yrs)Cluster 2 (1203) - AFL (15 Yrs) Basketball (18 Yrs) Football (15 amp 19 Yrs) Rugby Union (18 Yrs) Cluster 3 (1903) - Hockey (19 Yrs) Touch (15 amp 18 Yrs) Squash (19 Yrs)Students should keep an eye on the notices for further information closer to the trial dates or alternatively contact Mr Lacey in H Block Staffroom
BSS Interschool Sport Challenge Cup
by Mr Jake Lacey Sports Co-ordinator - Interschool Sport amp NQ Trials
Interschool sport in the Burdekin is set to get bigger and better in 2019 with the introduction of the BSS Interschool
Sport Challenge Cup One of the major benefits of the Challenge Cup is that it will provide more students with the opportunity to represent Ayr SHS in competitive sportThe Challenge Cup will be based on a points system tallied throughout the year For each sport and age group schools will be placed in order from first to fourth with first place receiving four points second receiving three and so on At the end of the year the school with the most points will be crowned the BSS Interschool Sport Challenge Cup Champion The 2019 Interschool Sport season is fast approaching with Rugby League and Netball to commence shortly The U15 and open season will start in week 4 and
the U13 season starting in week seven The final for all age groups will be held in week nine More information about Interschool Sport will be posted on student notices throughout the year so make sure you are reading them 2019 promises to be an exciting year in sport at Ayr SHS and the BSS Interschool Sport Challenge Cup will certainly add to that excitement LETS GO HAWKS
EnglishTutoring
Year 8-12 StudentsTuesdays - beginning
Week 3315 - 415 pm A4
Year 7 StudentsTuesdays - beginning
Week 3315 - 415 pm I Blockwith Mrs Kastner and
Mr CookYour friendly English teachers are available to help you with homework and assessments
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 6
From the Guidance Officehellipby Mrs Sarah Matthews Guidance Officer
Welcome to 2019 I hope you are all as excited to be back as I am I have been off for 18 months on maternity leave and I canrsquot wait to hear what you have all been up to I will be here full-time again
working as a part of our amazing Student Support Team Throughout the year students may want or need to visit the Guidance Officer for a variety of reasons that affect students learning The three main areas of the Guidance service arebull Social and emotional supportbull Assessing students with significant learning difficulties andbull Career education Students can seek personal (short-term) counselling or career advice As a Guidance Officer I can facilitate your decisions around subject selection study skills time management and goal setting I can complete assessments to investigate on-going and significant learning difficulties for students making minimal progress at school to help facilitate better outcomes at school I can also advise around seeking support from outside agencies within the community and provide ongoing case management and planning for success The Guidance Office is currently located in the Resource Centre Students are able to self-refer by making an appointment through the lovely ladies in the office Teachers and parentscarers may also contact the Guidance Officer through the school office if they have an enquiry or they want to make an appointment
Careers WebsiteAyr High has its very own careers website It can be found at the following web address httpwwwayrshscareerscom or simply Google Ayr SHS Career Tools The website is a ONE-STOP SHOP for everything you need to know about Senior Schooling and beyond It is a helpful and interactive tool that can be accessed by parentscarers students and wider community members both at school or at home Students can create a unique login and partake in interest tests research millions of jobs upload and develop resumes and an online career portfolio define career goals and develop a step by step plan on how to reach them and get the job and life that they want On the website you will find a range of information required for Senior Schooling including TAFEUniversity options details on the Queensland Certificate of Education OPrsquos QTAC Youth Allowance and much much more It is also a place to find important messages about Career eventsexpos and job vacancies within the area The school invites parentscarersemployers to access the website to find out more If you have any questions about the site or require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the Guidance Officer on 4790 4333
Set yourself up for a Great Year in 2019 Abridged version - originally written by Andrew Fuller 2016Make this the year that you will remember for the rest of your life as the time you really set yourself on the pathway to success There are several sure-fire ways to make this the best year so far1 Make friends with everyone you know - Parentscarers teachers friends everyone One of the ways of reducing your stress
levels is to set out to have as many positive friendships this year as you can2 Acknowledge your inner genius - You are much much smarter than you know If you practice doing your best in life you will
succeed because very few people ever practice doing their best To do your best you have to get out of the habit of predicting that things wonrsquot go well for you If you look for whatrsquos going to go
wrong you will always find it If you look for what works life just gets a lot easier Aim to develop at least one positive aspect of yourself this year The easiest way to start this is to appreciate the quality you want
to develop in yourself 3 Know that geniuses make mistakes - People who achieve a lot know that you have to make mistakes to learn In fact learning
often involves making a mistake and then figuring out what went wrong If you get too scared to make a mistake you will not do anything different or new in your life and that would be well a mistake
4 Prepare yourself for learning - Thinking positively isnrsquot enough for successfully achieving goals You have to focus and do things differently Concentration is hard to achieve and very easy to lose Find ways to reduce distractions at least while studying
Not everyone in your life will be a well-wisher in your self-improvement and learning plans They may discourage you from your goal Surround yourself with people who encourage you Take time to be an encourager of other people rather than being a critic
5 Liven up your life and get enough sleep - Sleep helps you to manage stress stay happy and also increases your marks The best way to protect yourself from being stressed or depressed is to get enough sleep You need at least eight hours and sometimes as much as nine and a quarter hours a night If we donrsquot get enough sleep we often become tired moody bored and boring
6 Do the most important things first - Get into the habit of being effective Write a to-do list each week - using your student planner Ask yourself the question ldquoWhat is the one thing I could do this week in each subject area that would improve my resultsrdquo Then do it
7 From little things big things grow - Do a little bit often Succeeding at school can be easy if you do a little bit each day The best learning occurs when you do spaced interval training This means do a little bit of practice every day Interval training is especially powerful in subjects like maths and the sciences
9 Focus and immerse yourself for at least some time every day switch all forms of technology off and focus on whatever yoursquore studying Donrsquot try to watch TV listen to music or gaze at a screen at the same time as learning something Technology is not going to be there in exam rooms so you need to be practiced at performing without it
10 Play more - Be active break out into a sweat now and then Lack of blood flow is a common reason for lack of concentration If yoursquove been sitting in one place for a while stand up and stretch or bounce one of your legs for a minute or two It gets your blood flowing and sharpens both concentration and recall Even if you are really busy three 20 minute bursts of exercise a week makes a massive difference to your stress levels happiness and sleeping
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 7
Download the free QParents App to follow your studentrsquos progress
Year 12 Students Have a Good Start to 2019
Mrs Claire Brock Year 12 Co-ordinator
Our small Year 12 cohort were excited about starting the school
year in general However they were particularly enthused about receiving their new Senior Shirts and Senior Jerseys on day one of Year 12
Supporting Your Child After a Floodby Mrs Sarah Matthews Guidance Officer
The recent floods in the Burdekin and Townsville have affected a number of our students and their extended families It is important to be aware that whilst not all of us have been
affected directly we can still be vicariously affected by the trauma of the floods especially as it is all over the news Below is some information sourced from the Australian Psychological Association about how to help your children cope through this time Impact of trauma on childrenPeople cope with trauma in different ways and there is no one standard pattern of reaction to the stress of traumatic experiences Children are not always able to express complex feelings in the same direct way that adults do and therefore do not often show the same reactions to stress as adults It is therefore very important to look out for changes in childrenrsquos behaviour that suggest they are unsettled or distressedReactions to the floods may result in changes to childrenrsquos normal behaviour such asbull Nightmares bull Irritability or anger bull Problems concentrating at school bull Anxiety about sleeping alone bull Wanting to stay close to a parent bull Fussy eatingbull Tantrums bull Withdrawing bull Trouble getting to sleepbull Changes in their play drawing dreams or spontaneous conversationsbull Regressive behaviour - children behaving younger than they normally doChildren are usually very resilient and for most children these reactions will gradually reduce over time with the support of familiesHow you can help your children recoverAfter a traumatic event children need comfort reassurance and support and to know that they are safe and are being looked after Try to spend more time with your children and provide them with plenty of affection through cuddles and hugs Let them be more dependent on you for a while and try to re-establish daily routines for example routines around mealtimes bedtimes or returning to school where possibleFind out what your children know in case they have mistaken ideas or facts about the floods and correct any misconceptions Listen to your childrenrsquos concerns Listen closely to what they are asking or saying and think about whether they are looking for factual information or if the questions are expressing anxiety about the floods Try to keep your own feelings to yourself when talking about their feelings Let them know that you understand how they feel Monitor how much your children are being exposed to media stories of the floods Children can become re-traumatised by watching repeated images on the television and it is best to try to shield them from the mediaSeeking further helpWhile most children will bounce back after a traumatic event some children may show prolonged distress and could benefit from professional assistance Children who are at risk of developing more lasting problems are those who have experienced significant disruption and losses and those who have previously developed problems in response to other traumasWarning signs of more significant and lasting distress in children includebull Continual and aggressive emotional outbursts bull Serious problems at schoolbull Preoccupation with the floods bull Intense anxiety or emotional difficultiesIf you have concerns about your child please take them to see your GP The school support team can also help with these concerns Please donrsquot hesitate to contact the school
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 8
Upcoming Events11 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival - Whole School
Nominations (230 pm) PampC Meeting (530 pm Resource Centre)12 Feb Yr 7 Meet amp Greet (530 pm I Block) Yr 10 QCE Information Evening (600 pm SMC) Yr 11 QCE Information Evening (700 pm SMC)13 Feb Yr 12 GRIP Leadership (900 am-400 pm)14 Feb Sweet Hearts Day School Photos (MPS) Investiture Rehearsal (S4-150 pm)15 Feb Student Investiture (1200-110 pm MPS)18 Feb BYOx Induction (530 pm Resource Centre) Yr 12 ParentCarer Information Evening (630-
730 pm Resource Centre)19 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival - Spirit Day -
House Spirit Session (150-300 pm MPS) Music Support Meeting (500 pm A14)20 Feb Interschool Sport - 1519 Yrs Rugby League amp
Netball 21 Feb Interact Meeting (2nd Break I Block) Yr 12 Party Program 850 am-305 pm Townsville
Hospital)22 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival (850 am-300 pm
Ayr Swimming Pool)
Ayr High Shows Its Heart for HeartKids
by Ms Deanne Ruge Interact Co-ordinator
Our Interact club is busy organising its first event for 2019 - Sweetheart Day A group of students from Year 7-12 are working with Community
Service Vice Captain Brendan Kolb to host a Sweetheart Stall to raise funds for HeartKids Australia It is a little-known fact that childhood heart disease is the greatest killer of children under 1 in Australia HeartKids provides ongoing support for children with heart defects and their families all across Australia as well as funding life-saving research into childhood heart disease To help support this worthy cause students can purchase a gift from the stall which will be delivered in House Family on Thursday 14 February Gifts range in price from $1-$15 and can be purchased for friends teachers buddies or anyone you want to give a little joy to On this day serenades will also be performed by our talented Ayr SHS students for lucky recipients Sweetheart Day is a day to remember with Ayr High wearing its heart on its sleeve and spreading some joy Stay tuned to the Facebook page for pictures of this awesome community event
Construction Work Continues this Year
by Mr Kerry Flynn ADeputy Principal
The air conditioning contractors are nearing the end of their massive job to replace all the air conditioners in the
school Currently they are working on the school office and will then turn their attention to I Block We are expecting them to be finished in the next month subject to weatherThe E Block toilets are having a complete lsquomake overrsquo There is substantial work to do here and we are not expecting this to be finished for a couple of months (weather permitting) In the meantime students have access to the two other sets of student toilets in the school When the air conditioning team has finished work will commence on F2 F3 and F4 These rooms will be completely refurbished to a similar standard as B Block and F1 - windows carpeting re-positioning room layout furniture and paintingLast year students were very understanding and cooperative with all the room changes and again this year it has been a similar case While it is not the start to the year we would like the long term goal of updating the school will be well worth it for students learning and the general feel of the school
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Ayring - keeping you informed
by Mr Craig Whittred Principal Editorial - Newsletter No 1 080219
From the Principal Welcome to Ayr State High SchoolOur school acknowledges the Traditional Owners of this land Today they are still the custodians of the cultural heritage of this land Further to this our school acknowledges there are other Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Island people who have lived worked and contributed to the cultural heritage of our community
PampC MeetingMonday 11 February 2019530 pm Resource Centre
All welcomeAGM - 4 March 2019
SUCCESSEvery Student Every Day
Whole School Photographs
Thursday14 February 2019
Well what a soggy start to the 2019 school year I am feeling for
all our families who have been affected by flood waters Whilst the rain stays around and into the clean-up phase letrsquos make sure we all stay safe and wellWe welcome 95 new Year 7 students into the school which is a fantastic outcome for our school We are very excited about what they bring to our school and how we can support them on their journey through high schoolWe also welcome some new and returning staff to our school Mrs Sarah Matthews our Guidance Officer has returned Mrs Corin Widderick returns to teach ArtHistory Ms Camilla Robson our Year 9 Co-ordinator is teaching MathsScience and IT Mr Simon Vickers is teaching MathsScience and IT Ms Catriona Gillespie is our new Drama teacher Mr Taylor Jermolajew (or Mr J) is teaching EnglishHistory and Ms Anna DrsquoIlario returns to our school as Acting Deputy PrincipalThe weather has been very disruptive
with many of our parentcarer evenings postponed to ensure everyone is able to attend Please keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates to when these events will happenAgain this year we have a focus on high levels of attendance for every student (the rain hasnrsquot helped) Our benchmark is 95 attendance We strive for this because we understand that high levels of attendance are directly linked to success at school We are focused on creating success for every student and coming to school each day is the best possible way to help achieve thatI am looking forward to 2019 and I am excited what both the school and our students will be able to achieve So letrsquos continue to work together to create the best outcomes for the students of Ayr HighYours in education
Craig WhittredPrincipal
Welcome to Ayr High
Ms Anna DIlario
Mrs Sarah Matthews
Mrs CorinWidderick
Mr SimonVickers
Ms CatrionaGillispie
Mr TaylorJermolajew
STEM Success at Ayr Highby Mr Jason Tye AHOD - Mathematics amp Science
Congratulations to Paris Poli in Year 12 who was accepted into the Queensland Resources Council - Girls in Resources Mentoring Program for 2019 The aim of the program is to provide encouragement
and mentoring support for girls intending to transition into education and training for vocational and professional careers in the resources sector Mentors will provide the girls with the benefit of their own experiences and smooth the way as they tackle the transition to university life or trade training Paris
was successful in being 1 of 20 students selected to be part of this program and will be flying down to Brisbane for the launch of the program on International Womenrsquos Day later in MarchCongratulations also goes to Giselle Le Feuvre in Year 10 who was accepted into the 2019 STEM Girl Power Camp The STEM Girl Power Initiative aims to provide students with experiences in science technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) and to encourage students to participate in STEM at school and consider it as a future career option Giselle will be travelling to Brisbane in March to attend the camp where she will join other Year 10 girls from around Queensland to experience the World Science Festival meet STEM role models undertake STEM activities and visit STEM researchers
Paris Poli
Giselle Le Feuvre
Absent Ms Camilla Robson
Music Support Meeting
Tuesday 19 February 2019500 pm A14
New parentscarers welcome
Student Investiture15 February 2019
1230 pm MPS
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 3
Welcome back to 2019by Ms Anna DIlario ADeputy Principal
What a great start to the year we have had Despite the inclement weather our junior school students have been keen to get on with the business of
learning On my visits throughout classrooms I have observed students positively engaging with the learning opportunities provided A special thank you to parents and carers for ensuring our students are coming to school prepared and ready to learnIt has also been heartening to see so many of our junior school students consistently attending school despite the wet weather Attendance at school has an enormous impact upon student performance and learning outcomes Did you know that missing one day of school per week in a school year will result in that student missing almost an entire termrsquos worth of education Itrsquos important that we give our students the best opportunity to succeed which is why we will be focusing on every childrsquos attendance - because every day counts and every student mattersOver the next few weeks we have several events organised for students parents and carers I encourage all Year 7 parents and carers to attend our Year 7 Meet and Greet afternoon come along and meet our Year 7 teachers and our wonderful support staff This is also a great opportunity to meet members of the PampC and get involved in our school We are also hosting a BYO device information evening in week 4 for interested parents and studentsFinally I would like to thank the Ayr community for the warm welcome I have received As many of you know I am filling in for Ms Aleksic whilst she is on leave Despite a few years passing since I was last at the school the reception from staff students parents and carers has been very welcoming Thank you SUCCESS Every student Every day
Wednesday Afternoon(315 - 415 pm)
Thursday Afternoon(315 - 415 pm)D1 and D3 Labs
All year levels welcomeDo you want help with homeworkDo you need help with studying for a test
Mathsamp
Science Tutoring
Instrumental Music
Instrumental Music has commenced on Monday and Fridayrsquos
Check A Block notice board for times
by Bernice Zaro Youth Support Co-ordinator
Communication in 2019Mr Kerry Flynn ADeputy Principal
There are a number of ways that you can communicate with staff at Ayr High this year
bull General Enquiries - phone calls to the office (4790 4333) or in person (800 am - 330 pm)
bull Absences - phone call or text message to the Absentee Hotline (4790 4353)bull Emails - to staff regarding your child and their progressThe school has a range of ways of communicating with families about school events and celebrationsbull Facebook - facebookcomayrshsbull School Website - wwwayrshseqeduaubull School Newsletter ldquoAyringrdquo - is distributed electronically and in paper formbull Postcards - various staff send postcards from time to time to celebrate student
successbull Year Level Newsletters - some year levels have specific newsletters sent
electronically bull Emails - staff from time to time will contact families using this methodWe actively encourage families to make contact and look forward to working cooperatively with you to ensure that every student is being successful
Absentee Hotline
4790 4353If your child is away eitherbull phone the hotline - if unanswered
please leave a message with reason for childrsquos absence
bull respond to school text message or
bull hand in a note on return to Mrs Slattery at the office
Download the free QSchool App to stay
connected to news andevents
Like our Ayr State High
School pagefacebookcomayrshs
Issue No 9 - 2018 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 8Phone 4783 1566 - Fax 4783 4219East End Centre AYRDELTA ELECTRIX
EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL from AIRCONDITIONERSand COMPUTERS to VIDEOS and WASHING MACHINES
YOUR DISCOUNT ELECTRICAL STORESALES - SERVICE - SPARE PARTS
Layout and Design - Victoria Augostis
HAWKS Fitnessby Ms Courtney Carrigan HOD - HPE Practical Technologies LOTE amp Sport
This year Ayr State High School is continuing the Running Club It is being rebranded as HAWKS Fitness HAWKS Fitness allows students the opportunity to develop their health
and fitness in a supportive and inclusive environment - all students are welcome for some of or all sessions each week All sessions are supervised by staff - Ms Smith Mr Lacey Ms Scott Ms Dorsett or Ms CarriganSessions available arebull Tuesdayrsquos 730 - 815 am bull Thursdayrsquos 800 - 830 am bull Fridayrsquos 2nd breakTuesday Sessions - fitness activities and will often link to practice for our Interhouse Carnivals (swimming cross country and athletics) Term 1 weeks 3-6 will focus on swimming at the Ayr Swimming Pool - meet staff (Ms Scott and Ms Dorsett) at the Ayr Swimming Pool students can either walk back to school (supervised by a teacher) or be privately picked up The following weeks will mostly focus on running and other fitness activities at ASHSThursday Sessions - various sports or modified games at ASHSFriday Sessions - school gym (A Block) with Ms SmithStudents must return a permission form to participate in out of school fitness activities (ie swimming sessions) - these can be collected from I Block Staffroom (see Ms Smith or Ms Carrigan)Specific information regarding each weekrsquos focus and activities will be communicated to students via Student Notices and Assemblies For further information please contact Ms Smith Mr Lacey or Ms Carrigan at the school
Year 10 Information Evening for Families
Date Tuesday 12 February 2019Place SMC1 (Auditorium)Time 600 pmTopics bull ldquoQCE10rdquo - preparing for Year 11bull Events on the school calendar this year for Year 10bull SET Planning and Case Management
Year 11 Information Evening for Families
Date Tuesday 12 February 2019Place SMC1 (Auditorium)Time 700 pmTopics bull Events on the school calendar this year for Year 11bull Course of study options the QCE and case
management processesbull How the ATAR will be determined and results
reported on Report Cardsbull School Processes related to the new senior system
implementation
Year 12 ParentCarer Information Evening
Monday 18 February 2019630 pm Resource Centre
Information will include bull Options for future pathwaysbull Whatrsquos on in 2019bull Our Careers Websitebull ApprenticeshipJob Pathwaybull University Pathwaybull Factors that can affect Student OPrsquosbull About the QCS Testbull QTAC - University Applicationsbull Study CostsAccommodationbull How families can assist their teens
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 5
Interhouse Swimming Carnival
Friday 22 February 2019Week 4
More information in 2019
Interschool Swimming Carnival
12 - 19 Yrs
Thursday 7 March 2019Week 6
Ayr Swimming Pool
Students will be selected based on performance at our
Interhouse Carnival
Interhouse Swimming Carnivalweek 4by Ms Courtney Carrigan HOD - HPE Practical Technologies LOTE amp Sport
Friday 22 February will see a carnival atmosphere prevail as the four sporting houses vie for honours in the Interhouse Swimming Carnival
This year Tuesday 19 February will be lsquoSpirit Dayrsquo Students can dress in their House colours or their theme In session 4 students will attend House meetings then assemble at the MPS for the traditional skits and war-criesFriday 22 February will begin with an assembly at school (at 850 am) followed by standard events and presentations at the pool The Carnival will finish at 300 pm from the Ayr Swimming Pool (not from Ayr SHS) - please make arrangements for the safe departure of your child at 300 pm Arrangements have been made for those students who catch the bus - they will walk back to the school with staff supervision to catch the normal bus schedulesStudents are encouraged to dress in their House theme or their House colour for the Swimming Carnival Students who are not competing will enjoy the carnival atmosphere cheering and supporting their friends Good luck to allNOTE Footwear for the day must meet safety requirements for the walk to the pool (ie normal enclosed shoes are required)
Interschool Sportby Ms Courtney Carrigan HOD - HPE Practical Technologies
LOTE amp Sport
The 2019 season of interschool sporting competition commences on Wednesday 20 February (week 4) with
U15 and U19 Netball and Rugby League Interschool Volleyball (U14 and U19 mixed teams) will be the next sport on the calendar Selection trials and training will begin shortly with the first games scheduled for Thursday 14 March (week 7)The following North Queensland trials are scheduled for Term 1Cluster 1 (0503) - Netball (15 amp 19 Yrs) Rugby League (15 amp 18 Yrs) Volleyball (19 Yrs)Cluster 2 (1203) - AFL (15 Yrs) Basketball (18 Yrs) Football (15 amp 19 Yrs) Rugby Union (18 Yrs) Cluster 3 (1903) - Hockey (19 Yrs) Touch (15 amp 18 Yrs) Squash (19 Yrs)Students should keep an eye on the notices for further information closer to the trial dates or alternatively contact Mr Lacey in H Block Staffroom
BSS Interschool Sport Challenge Cup
by Mr Jake Lacey Sports Co-ordinator - Interschool Sport amp NQ Trials
Interschool sport in the Burdekin is set to get bigger and better in 2019 with the introduction of the BSS Interschool
Sport Challenge Cup One of the major benefits of the Challenge Cup is that it will provide more students with the opportunity to represent Ayr SHS in competitive sportThe Challenge Cup will be based on a points system tallied throughout the year For each sport and age group schools will be placed in order from first to fourth with first place receiving four points second receiving three and so on At the end of the year the school with the most points will be crowned the BSS Interschool Sport Challenge Cup Champion The 2019 Interschool Sport season is fast approaching with Rugby League and Netball to commence shortly The U15 and open season will start in week 4 and
the U13 season starting in week seven The final for all age groups will be held in week nine More information about Interschool Sport will be posted on student notices throughout the year so make sure you are reading them 2019 promises to be an exciting year in sport at Ayr SHS and the BSS Interschool Sport Challenge Cup will certainly add to that excitement LETS GO HAWKS
EnglishTutoring
Year 8-12 StudentsTuesdays - beginning
Week 3315 - 415 pm A4
Year 7 StudentsTuesdays - beginning
Week 3315 - 415 pm I Blockwith Mrs Kastner and
Mr CookYour friendly English teachers are available to help you with homework and assessments
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 6
From the Guidance Officehellipby Mrs Sarah Matthews Guidance Officer
Welcome to 2019 I hope you are all as excited to be back as I am I have been off for 18 months on maternity leave and I canrsquot wait to hear what you have all been up to I will be here full-time again
working as a part of our amazing Student Support Team Throughout the year students may want or need to visit the Guidance Officer for a variety of reasons that affect students learning The three main areas of the Guidance service arebull Social and emotional supportbull Assessing students with significant learning difficulties andbull Career education Students can seek personal (short-term) counselling or career advice As a Guidance Officer I can facilitate your decisions around subject selection study skills time management and goal setting I can complete assessments to investigate on-going and significant learning difficulties for students making minimal progress at school to help facilitate better outcomes at school I can also advise around seeking support from outside agencies within the community and provide ongoing case management and planning for success The Guidance Office is currently located in the Resource Centre Students are able to self-refer by making an appointment through the lovely ladies in the office Teachers and parentscarers may also contact the Guidance Officer through the school office if they have an enquiry or they want to make an appointment
Careers WebsiteAyr High has its very own careers website It can be found at the following web address httpwwwayrshscareerscom or simply Google Ayr SHS Career Tools The website is a ONE-STOP SHOP for everything you need to know about Senior Schooling and beyond It is a helpful and interactive tool that can be accessed by parentscarers students and wider community members both at school or at home Students can create a unique login and partake in interest tests research millions of jobs upload and develop resumes and an online career portfolio define career goals and develop a step by step plan on how to reach them and get the job and life that they want On the website you will find a range of information required for Senior Schooling including TAFEUniversity options details on the Queensland Certificate of Education OPrsquos QTAC Youth Allowance and much much more It is also a place to find important messages about Career eventsexpos and job vacancies within the area The school invites parentscarersemployers to access the website to find out more If you have any questions about the site or require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the Guidance Officer on 4790 4333
Set yourself up for a Great Year in 2019 Abridged version - originally written by Andrew Fuller 2016Make this the year that you will remember for the rest of your life as the time you really set yourself on the pathway to success There are several sure-fire ways to make this the best year so far1 Make friends with everyone you know - Parentscarers teachers friends everyone One of the ways of reducing your stress
levels is to set out to have as many positive friendships this year as you can2 Acknowledge your inner genius - You are much much smarter than you know If you practice doing your best in life you will
succeed because very few people ever practice doing their best To do your best you have to get out of the habit of predicting that things wonrsquot go well for you If you look for whatrsquos going to go
wrong you will always find it If you look for what works life just gets a lot easier Aim to develop at least one positive aspect of yourself this year The easiest way to start this is to appreciate the quality you want
to develop in yourself 3 Know that geniuses make mistakes - People who achieve a lot know that you have to make mistakes to learn In fact learning
often involves making a mistake and then figuring out what went wrong If you get too scared to make a mistake you will not do anything different or new in your life and that would be well a mistake
4 Prepare yourself for learning - Thinking positively isnrsquot enough for successfully achieving goals You have to focus and do things differently Concentration is hard to achieve and very easy to lose Find ways to reduce distractions at least while studying
Not everyone in your life will be a well-wisher in your self-improvement and learning plans They may discourage you from your goal Surround yourself with people who encourage you Take time to be an encourager of other people rather than being a critic
5 Liven up your life and get enough sleep - Sleep helps you to manage stress stay happy and also increases your marks The best way to protect yourself from being stressed or depressed is to get enough sleep You need at least eight hours and sometimes as much as nine and a quarter hours a night If we donrsquot get enough sleep we often become tired moody bored and boring
6 Do the most important things first - Get into the habit of being effective Write a to-do list each week - using your student planner Ask yourself the question ldquoWhat is the one thing I could do this week in each subject area that would improve my resultsrdquo Then do it
7 From little things big things grow - Do a little bit often Succeeding at school can be easy if you do a little bit each day The best learning occurs when you do spaced interval training This means do a little bit of practice every day Interval training is especially powerful in subjects like maths and the sciences
9 Focus and immerse yourself for at least some time every day switch all forms of technology off and focus on whatever yoursquore studying Donrsquot try to watch TV listen to music or gaze at a screen at the same time as learning something Technology is not going to be there in exam rooms so you need to be practiced at performing without it
10 Play more - Be active break out into a sweat now and then Lack of blood flow is a common reason for lack of concentration If yoursquove been sitting in one place for a while stand up and stretch or bounce one of your legs for a minute or two It gets your blood flowing and sharpens both concentration and recall Even if you are really busy three 20 minute bursts of exercise a week makes a massive difference to your stress levels happiness and sleeping
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 7
Download the free QParents App to follow your studentrsquos progress
Year 12 Students Have a Good Start to 2019
Mrs Claire Brock Year 12 Co-ordinator
Our small Year 12 cohort were excited about starting the school
year in general However they were particularly enthused about receiving their new Senior Shirts and Senior Jerseys on day one of Year 12
Supporting Your Child After a Floodby Mrs Sarah Matthews Guidance Officer
The recent floods in the Burdekin and Townsville have affected a number of our students and their extended families It is important to be aware that whilst not all of us have been
affected directly we can still be vicariously affected by the trauma of the floods especially as it is all over the news Below is some information sourced from the Australian Psychological Association about how to help your children cope through this time Impact of trauma on childrenPeople cope with trauma in different ways and there is no one standard pattern of reaction to the stress of traumatic experiences Children are not always able to express complex feelings in the same direct way that adults do and therefore do not often show the same reactions to stress as adults It is therefore very important to look out for changes in childrenrsquos behaviour that suggest they are unsettled or distressedReactions to the floods may result in changes to childrenrsquos normal behaviour such asbull Nightmares bull Irritability or anger bull Problems concentrating at school bull Anxiety about sleeping alone bull Wanting to stay close to a parent bull Fussy eatingbull Tantrums bull Withdrawing bull Trouble getting to sleepbull Changes in their play drawing dreams or spontaneous conversationsbull Regressive behaviour - children behaving younger than they normally doChildren are usually very resilient and for most children these reactions will gradually reduce over time with the support of familiesHow you can help your children recoverAfter a traumatic event children need comfort reassurance and support and to know that they are safe and are being looked after Try to spend more time with your children and provide them with plenty of affection through cuddles and hugs Let them be more dependent on you for a while and try to re-establish daily routines for example routines around mealtimes bedtimes or returning to school where possibleFind out what your children know in case they have mistaken ideas or facts about the floods and correct any misconceptions Listen to your childrenrsquos concerns Listen closely to what they are asking or saying and think about whether they are looking for factual information or if the questions are expressing anxiety about the floods Try to keep your own feelings to yourself when talking about their feelings Let them know that you understand how they feel Monitor how much your children are being exposed to media stories of the floods Children can become re-traumatised by watching repeated images on the television and it is best to try to shield them from the mediaSeeking further helpWhile most children will bounce back after a traumatic event some children may show prolonged distress and could benefit from professional assistance Children who are at risk of developing more lasting problems are those who have experienced significant disruption and losses and those who have previously developed problems in response to other traumasWarning signs of more significant and lasting distress in children includebull Continual and aggressive emotional outbursts bull Serious problems at schoolbull Preoccupation with the floods bull Intense anxiety or emotional difficultiesIf you have concerns about your child please take them to see your GP The school support team can also help with these concerns Please donrsquot hesitate to contact the school
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 8
Upcoming Events11 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival - Whole School
Nominations (230 pm) PampC Meeting (530 pm Resource Centre)12 Feb Yr 7 Meet amp Greet (530 pm I Block) Yr 10 QCE Information Evening (600 pm SMC) Yr 11 QCE Information Evening (700 pm SMC)13 Feb Yr 12 GRIP Leadership (900 am-400 pm)14 Feb Sweet Hearts Day School Photos (MPS) Investiture Rehearsal (S4-150 pm)15 Feb Student Investiture (1200-110 pm MPS)18 Feb BYOx Induction (530 pm Resource Centre) Yr 12 ParentCarer Information Evening (630-
730 pm Resource Centre)19 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival - Spirit Day -
House Spirit Session (150-300 pm MPS) Music Support Meeting (500 pm A14)20 Feb Interschool Sport - 1519 Yrs Rugby League amp
Netball 21 Feb Interact Meeting (2nd Break I Block) Yr 12 Party Program 850 am-305 pm Townsville
Hospital)22 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival (850 am-300 pm
Ayr Swimming Pool)
Ayr High Shows Its Heart for HeartKids
by Ms Deanne Ruge Interact Co-ordinator
Our Interact club is busy organising its first event for 2019 - Sweetheart Day A group of students from Year 7-12 are working with Community
Service Vice Captain Brendan Kolb to host a Sweetheart Stall to raise funds for HeartKids Australia It is a little-known fact that childhood heart disease is the greatest killer of children under 1 in Australia HeartKids provides ongoing support for children with heart defects and their families all across Australia as well as funding life-saving research into childhood heart disease To help support this worthy cause students can purchase a gift from the stall which will be delivered in House Family on Thursday 14 February Gifts range in price from $1-$15 and can be purchased for friends teachers buddies or anyone you want to give a little joy to On this day serenades will also be performed by our talented Ayr SHS students for lucky recipients Sweetheart Day is a day to remember with Ayr High wearing its heart on its sleeve and spreading some joy Stay tuned to the Facebook page for pictures of this awesome community event
Construction Work Continues this Year
by Mr Kerry Flynn ADeputy Principal
The air conditioning contractors are nearing the end of their massive job to replace all the air conditioners in the
school Currently they are working on the school office and will then turn their attention to I Block We are expecting them to be finished in the next month subject to weatherThe E Block toilets are having a complete lsquomake overrsquo There is substantial work to do here and we are not expecting this to be finished for a couple of months (weather permitting) In the meantime students have access to the two other sets of student toilets in the school When the air conditioning team has finished work will commence on F2 F3 and F4 These rooms will be completely refurbished to a similar standard as B Block and F1 - windows carpeting re-positioning room layout furniture and paintingLast year students were very understanding and cooperative with all the room changes and again this year it has been a similar case While it is not the start to the year we would like the long term goal of updating the school will be well worth it for students learning and the general feel of the school
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 3
Welcome back to 2019by Ms Anna DIlario ADeputy Principal
What a great start to the year we have had Despite the inclement weather our junior school students have been keen to get on with the business of
learning On my visits throughout classrooms I have observed students positively engaging with the learning opportunities provided A special thank you to parents and carers for ensuring our students are coming to school prepared and ready to learnIt has also been heartening to see so many of our junior school students consistently attending school despite the wet weather Attendance at school has an enormous impact upon student performance and learning outcomes Did you know that missing one day of school per week in a school year will result in that student missing almost an entire termrsquos worth of education Itrsquos important that we give our students the best opportunity to succeed which is why we will be focusing on every childrsquos attendance - because every day counts and every student mattersOver the next few weeks we have several events organised for students parents and carers I encourage all Year 7 parents and carers to attend our Year 7 Meet and Greet afternoon come along and meet our Year 7 teachers and our wonderful support staff This is also a great opportunity to meet members of the PampC and get involved in our school We are also hosting a BYO device information evening in week 4 for interested parents and studentsFinally I would like to thank the Ayr community for the warm welcome I have received As many of you know I am filling in for Ms Aleksic whilst she is on leave Despite a few years passing since I was last at the school the reception from staff students parents and carers has been very welcoming Thank you SUCCESS Every student Every day
Wednesday Afternoon(315 - 415 pm)
Thursday Afternoon(315 - 415 pm)D1 and D3 Labs
All year levels welcomeDo you want help with homeworkDo you need help with studying for a test
Mathsamp
Science Tutoring
Instrumental Music
Instrumental Music has commenced on Monday and Fridayrsquos
Check A Block notice board for times
by Bernice Zaro Youth Support Co-ordinator
Communication in 2019Mr Kerry Flynn ADeputy Principal
There are a number of ways that you can communicate with staff at Ayr High this year
bull General Enquiries - phone calls to the office (4790 4333) or in person (800 am - 330 pm)
bull Absences - phone call or text message to the Absentee Hotline (4790 4353)bull Emails - to staff regarding your child and their progressThe school has a range of ways of communicating with families about school events and celebrationsbull Facebook - facebookcomayrshsbull School Website - wwwayrshseqeduaubull School Newsletter ldquoAyringrdquo - is distributed electronically and in paper formbull Postcards - various staff send postcards from time to time to celebrate student
successbull Year Level Newsletters - some year levels have specific newsletters sent
electronically bull Emails - staff from time to time will contact families using this methodWe actively encourage families to make contact and look forward to working cooperatively with you to ensure that every student is being successful
Absentee Hotline
4790 4353If your child is away eitherbull phone the hotline - if unanswered
please leave a message with reason for childrsquos absence
bull respond to school text message or
bull hand in a note on return to Mrs Slattery at the office
Download the free QSchool App to stay
connected to news andevents
Like our Ayr State High
School pagefacebookcomayrshs
Issue No 9 - 2018 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 8Phone 4783 1566 - Fax 4783 4219East End Centre AYRDELTA ELECTRIX
EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL from AIRCONDITIONERSand COMPUTERS to VIDEOS and WASHING MACHINES
YOUR DISCOUNT ELECTRICAL STORESALES - SERVICE - SPARE PARTS
Layout and Design - Victoria Augostis
HAWKS Fitnessby Ms Courtney Carrigan HOD - HPE Practical Technologies LOTE amp Sport
This year Ayr State High School is continuing the Running Club It is being rebranded as HAWKS Fitness HAWKS Fitness allows students the opportunity to develop their health
and fitness in a supportive and inclusive environment - all students are welcome for some of or all sessions each week All sessions are supervised by staff - Ms Smith Mr Lacey Ms Scott Ms Dorsett or Ms CarriganSessions available arebull Tuesdayrsquos 730 - 815 am bull Thursdayrsquos 800 - 830 am bull Fridayrsquos 2nd breakTuesday Sessions - fitness activities and will often link to practice for our Interhouse Carnivals (swimming cross country and athletics) Term 1 weeks 3-6 will focus on swimming at the Ayr Swimming Pool - meet staff (Ms Scott and Ms Dorsett) at the Ayr Swimming Pool students can either walk back to school (supervised by a teacher) or be privately picked up The following weeks will mostly focus on running and other fitness activities at ASHSThursday Sessions - various sports or modified games at ASHSFriday Sessions - school gym (A Block) with Ms SmithStudents must return a permission form to participate in out of school fitness activities (ie swimming sessions) - these can be collected from I Block Staffroom (see Ms Smith or Ms Carrigan)Specific information regarding each weekrsquos focus and activities will be communicated to students via Student Notices and Assemblies For further information please contact Ms Smith Mr Lacey or Ms Carrigan at the school
Year 10 Information Evening for Families
Date Tuesday 12 February 2019Place SMC1 (Auditorium)Time 600 pmTopics bull ldquoQCE10rdquo - preparing for Year 11bull Events on the school calendar this year for Year 10bull SET Planning and Case Management
Year 11 Information Evening for Families
Date Tuesday 12 February 2019Place SMC1 (Auditorium)Time 700 pmTopics bull Events on the school calendar this year for Year 11bull Course of study options the QCE and case
management processesbull How the ATAR will be determined and results
reported on Report Cardsbull School Processes related to the new senior system
implementation
Year 12 ParentCarer Information Evening
Monday 18 February 2019630 pm Resource Centre
Information will include bull Options for future pathwaysbull Whatrsquos on in 2019bull Our Careers Websitebull ApprenticeshipJob Pathwaybull University Pathwaybull Factors that can affect Student OPrsquosbull About the QCS Testbull QTAC - University Applicationsbull Study CostsAccommodationbull How families can assist their teens
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 5
Interhouse Swimming Carnival
Friday 22 February 2019Week 4
More information in 2019
Interschool Swimming Carnival
12 - 19 Yrs
Thursday 7 March 2019Week 6
Ayr Swimming Pool
Students will be selected based on performance at our
Interhouse Carnival
Interhouse Swimming Carnivalweek 4by Ms Courtney Carrigan HOD - HPE Practical Technologies LOTE amp Sport
Friday 22 February will see a carnival atmosphere prevail as the four sporting houses vie for honours in the Interhouse Swimming Carnival
This year Tuesday 19 February will be lsquoSpirit Dayrsquo Students can dress in their House colours or their theme In session 4 students will attend House meetings then assemble at the MPS for the traditional skits and war-criesFriday 22 February will begin with an assembly at school (at 850 am) followed by standard events and presentations at the pool The Carnival will finish at 300 pm from the Ayr Swimming Pool (not from Ayr SHS) - please make arrangements for the safe departure of your child at 300 pm Arrangements have been made for those students who catch the bus - they will walk back to the school with staff supervision to catch the normal bus schedulesStudents are encouraged to dress in their House theme or their House colour for the Swimming Carnival Students who are not competing will enjoy the carnival atmosphere cheering and supporting their friends Good luck to allNOTE Footwear for the day must meet safety requirements for the walk to the pool (ie normal enclosed shoes are required)
Interschool Sportby Ms Courtney Carrigan HOD - HPE Practical Technologies
LOTE amp Sport
The 2019 season of interschool sporting competition commences on Wednesday 20 February (week 4) with
U15 and U19 Netball and Rugby League Interschool Volleyball (U14 and U19 mixed teams) will be the next sport on the calendar Selection trials and training will begin shortly with the first games scheduled for Thursday 14 March (week 7)The following North Queensland trials are scheduled for Term 1Cluster 1 (0503) - Netball (15 amp 19 Yrs) Rugby League (15 amp 18 Yrs) Volleyball (19 Yrs)Cluster 2 (1203) - AFL (15 Yrs) Basketball (18 Yrs) Football (15 amp 19 Yrs) Rugby Union (18 Yrs) Cluster 3 (1903) - Hockey (19 Yrs) Touch (15 amp 18 Yrs) Squash (19 Yrs)Students should keep an eye on the notices for further information closer to the trial dates or alternatively contact Mr Lacey in H Block Staffroom
BSS Interschool Sport Challenge Cup
by Mr Jake Lacey Sports Co-ordinator - Interschool Sport amp NQ Trials
Interschool sport in the Burdekin is set to get bigger and better in 2019 with the introduction of the BSS Interschool
Sport Challenge Cup One of the major benefits of the Challenge Cup is that it will provide more students with the opportunity to represent Ayr SHS in competitive sportThe Challenge Cup will be based on a points system tallied throughout the year For each sport and age group schools will be placed in order from first to fourth with first place receiving four points second receiving three and so on At the end of the year the school with the most points will be crowned the BSS Interschool Sport Challenge Cup Champion The 2019 Interschool Sport season is fast approaching with Rugby League and Netball to commence shortly The U15 and open season will start in week 4 and
the U13 season starting in week seven The final for all age groups will be held in week nine More information about Interschool Sport will be posted on student notices throughout the year so make sure you are reading them 2019 promises to be an exciting year in sport at Ayr SHS and the BSS Interschool Sport Challenge Cup will certainly add to that excitement LETS GO HAWKS
EnglishTutoring
Year 8-12 StudentsTuesdays - beginning
Week 3315 - 415 pm A4
Year 7 StudentsTuesdays - beginning
Week 3315 - 415 pm I Blockwith Mrs Kastner and
Mr CookYour friendly English teachers are available to help you with homework and assessments
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 6
From the Guidance Officehellipby Mrs Sarah Matthews Guidance Officer
Welcome to 2019 I hope you are all as excited to be back as I am I have been off for 18 months on maternity leave and I canrsquot wait to hear what you have all been up to I will be here full-time again
working as a part of our amazing Student Support Team Throughout the year students may want or need to visit the Guidance Officer for a variety of reasons that affect students learning The three main areas of the Guidance service arebull Social and emotional supportbull Assessing students with significant learning difficulties andbull Career education Students can seek personal (short-term) counselling or career advice As a Guidance Officer I can facilitate your decisions around subject selection study skills time management and goal setting I can complete assessments to investigate on-going and significant learning difficulties for students making minimal progress at school to help facilitate better outcomes at school I can also advise around seeking support from outside agencies within the community and provide ongoing case management and planning for success The Guidance Office is currently located in the Resource Centre Students are able to self-refer by making an appointment through the lovely ladies in the office Teachers and parentscarers may also contact the Guidance Officer through the school office if they have an enquiry or they want to make an appointment
Careers WebsiteAyr High has its very own careers website It can be found at the following web address httpwwwayrshscareerscom or simply Google Ayr SHS Career Tools The website is a ONE-STOP SHOP for everything you need to know about Senior Schooling and beyond It is a helpful and interactive tool that can be accessed by parentscarers students and wider community members both at school or at home Students can create a unique login and partake in interest tests research millions of jobs upload and develop resumes and an online career portfolio define career goals and develop a step by step plan on how to reach them and get the job and life that they want On the website you will find a range of information required for Senior Schooling including TAFEUniversity options details on the Queensland Certificate of Education OPrsquos QTAC Youth Allowance and much much more It is also a place to find important messages about Career eventsexpos and job vacancies within the area The school invites parentscarersemployers to access the website to find out more If you have any questions about the site or require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the Guidance Officer on 4790 4333
Set yourself up for a Great Year in 2019 Abridged version - originally written by Andrew Fuller 2016Make this the year that you will remember for the rest of your life as the time you really set yourself on the pathway to success There are several sure-fire ways to make this the best year so far1 Make friends with everyone you know - Parentscarers teachers friends everyone One of the ways of reducing your stress
levels is to set out to have as many positive friendships this year as you can2 Acknowledge your inner genius - You are much much smarter than you know If you practice doing your best in life you will
succeed because very few people ever practice doing their best To do your best you have to get out of the habit of predicting that things wonrsquot go well for you If you look for whatrsquos going to go
wrong you will always find it If you look for what works life just gets a lot easier Aim to develop at least one positive aspect of yourself this year The easiest way to start this is to appreciate the quality you want
to develop in yourself 3 Know that geniuses make mistakes - People who achieve a lot know that you have to make mistakes to learn In fact learning
often involves making a mistake and then figuring out what went wrong If you get too scared to make a mistake you will not do anything different or new in your life and that would be well a mistake
4 Prepare yourself for learning - Thinking positively isnrsquot enough for successfully achieving goals You have to focus and do things differently Concentration is hard to achieve and very easy to lose Find ways to reduce distractions at least while studying
Not everyone in your life will be a well-wisher in your self-improvement and learning plans They may discourage you from your goal Surround yourself with people who encourage you Take time to be an encourager of other people rather than being a critic
5 Liven up your life and get enough sleep - Sleep helps you to manage stress stay happy and also increases your marks The best way to protect yourself from being stressed or depressed is to get enough sleep You need at least eight hours and sometimes as much as nine and a quarter hours a night If we donrsquot get enough sleep we often become tired moody bored and boring
6 Do the most important things first - Get into the habit of being effective Write a to-do list each week - using your student planner Ask yourself the question ldquoWhat is the one thing I could do this week in each subject area that would improve my resultsrdquo Then do it
7 From little things big things grow - Do a little bit often Succeeding at school can be easy if you do a little bit each day The best learning occurs when you do spaced interval training This means do a little bit of practice every day Interval training is especially powerful in subjects like maths and the sciences
9 Focus and immerse yourself for at least some time every day switch all forms of technology off and focus on whatever yoursquore studying Donrsquot try to watch TV listen to music or gaze at a screen at the same time as learning something Technology is not going to be there in exam rooms so you need to be practiced at performing without it
10 Play more - Be active break out into a sweat now and then Lack of blood flow is a common reason for lack of concentration If yoursquove been sitting in one place for a while stand up and stretch or bounce one of your legs for a minute or two It gets your blood flowing and sharpens both concentration and recall Even if you are really busy three 20 minute bursts of exercise a week makes a massive difference to your stress levels happiness and sleeping
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 7
Download the free QParents App to follow your studentrsquos progress
Year 12 Students Have a Good Start to 2019
Mrs Claire Brock Year 12 Co-ordinator
Our small Year 12 cohort were excited about starting the school
year in general However they were particularly enthused about receiving their new Senior Shirts and Senior Jerseys on day one of Year 12
Supporting Your Child After a Floodby Mrs Sarah Matthews Guidance Officer
The recent floods in the Burdekin and Townsville have affected a number of our students and their extended families It is important to be aware that whilst not all of us have been
affected directly we can still be vicariously affected by the trauma of the floods especially as it is all over the news Below is some information sourced from the Australian Psychological Association about how to help your children cope through this time Impact of trauma on childrenPeople cope with trauma in different ways and there is no one standard pattern of reaction to the stress of traumatic experiences Children are not always able to express complex feelings in the same direct way that adults do and therefore do not often show the same reactions to stress as adults It is therefore very important to look out for changes in childrenrsquos behaviour that suggest they are unsettled or distressedReactions to the floods may result in changes to childrenrsquos normal behaviour such asbull Nightmares bull Irritability or anger bull Problems concentrating at school bull Anxiety about sleeping alone bull Wanting to stay close to a parent bull Fussy eatingbull Tantrums bull Withdrawing bull Trouble getting to sleepbull Changes in their play drawing dreams or spontaneous conversationsbull Regressive behaviour - children behaving younger than they normally doChildren are usually very resilient and for most children these reactions will gradually reduce over time with the support of familiesHow you can help your children recoverAfter a traumatic event children need comfort reassurance and support and to know that they are safe and are being looked after Try to spend more time with your children and provide them with plenty of affection through cuddles and hugs Let them be more dependent on you for a while and try to re-establish daily routines for example routines around mealtimes bedtimes or returning to school where possibleFind out what your children know in case they have mistaken ideas or facts about the floods and correct any misconceptions Listen to your childrenrsquos concerns Listen closely to what they are asking or saying and think about whether they are looking for factual information or if the questions are expressing anxiety about the floods Try to keep your own feelings to yourself when talking about their feelings Let them know that you understand how they feel Monitor how much your children are being exposed to media stories of the floods Children can become re-traumatised by watching repeated images on the television and it is best to try to shield them from the mediaSeeking further helpWhile most children will bounce back after a traumatic event some children may show prolonged distress and could benefit from professional assistance Children who are at risk of developing more lasting problems are those who have experienced significant disruption and losses and those who have previously developed problems in response to other traumasWarning signs of more significant and lasting distress in children includebull Continual and aggressive emotional outbursts bull Serious problems at schoolbull Preoccupation with the floods bull Intense anxiety or emotional difficultiesIf you have concerns about your child please take them to see your GP The school support team can also help with these concerns Please donrsquot hesitate to contact the school
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 8
Upcoming Events11 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival - Whole School
Nominations (230 pm) PampC Meeting (530 pm Resource Centre)12 Feb Yr 7 Meet amp Greet (530 pm I Block) Yr 10 QCE Information Evening (600 pm SMC) Yr 11 QCE Information Evening (700 pm SMC)13 Feb Yr 12 GRIP Leadership (900 am-400 pm)14 Feb Sweet Hearts Day School Photos (MPS) Investiture Rehearsal (S4-150 pm)15 Feb Student Investiture (1200-110 pm MPS)18 Feb BYOx Induction (530 pm Resource Centre) Yr 12 ParentCarer Information Evening (630-
730 pm Resource Centre)19 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival - Spirit Day -
House Spirit Session (150-300 pm MPS) Music Support Meeting (500 pm A14)20 Feb Interschool Sport - 1519 Yrs Rugby League amp
Netball 21 Feb Interact Meeting (2nd Break I Block) Yr 12 Party Program 850 am-305 pm Townsville
Hospital)22 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival (850 am-300 pm
Ayr Swimming Pool)
Ayr High Shows Its Heart for HeartKids
by Ms Deanne Ruge Interact Co-ordinator
Our Interact club is busy organising its first event for 2019 - Sweetheart Day A group of students from Year 7-12 are working with Community
Service Vice Captain Brendan Kolb to host a Sweetheart Stall to raise funds for HeartKids Australia It is a little-known fact that childhood heart disease is the greatest killer of children under 1 in Australia HeartKids provides ongoing support for children with heart defects and their families all across Australia as well as funding life-saving research into childhood heart disease To help support this worthy cause students can purchase a gift from the stall which will be delivered in House Family on Thursday 14 February Gifts range in price from $1-$15 and can be purchased for friends teachers buddies or anyone you want to give a little joy to On this day serenades will also be performed by our talented Ayr SHS students for lucky recipients Sweetheart Day is a day to remember with Ayr High wearing its heart on its sleeve and spreading some joy Stay tuned to the Facebook page for pictures of this awesome community event
Construction Work Continues this Year
by Mr Kerry Flynn ADeputy Principal
The air conditioning contractors are nearing the end of their massive job to replace all the air conditioners in the
school Currently they are working on the school office and will then turn their attention to I Block We are expecting them to be finished in the next month subject to weatherThe E Block toilets are having a complete lsquomake overrsquo There is substantial work to do here and we are not expecting this to be finished for a couple of months (weather permitting) In the meantime students have access to the two other sets of student toilets in the school When the air conditioning team has finished work will commence on F2 F3 and F4 These rooms will be completely refurbished to a similar standard as B Block and F1 - windows carpeting re-positioning room layout furniture and paintingLast year students were very understanding and cooperative with all the room changes and again this year it has been a similar case While it is not the start to the year we would like the long term goal of updating the school will be well worth it for students learning and the general feel of the school
Issue No 9 - 2018 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 8Phone 4783 1566 - Fax 4783 4219East End Centre AYRDELTA ELECTRIX
EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL from AIRCONDITIONERSand COMPUTERS to VIDEOS and WASHING MACHINES
YOUR DISCOUNT ELECTRICAL STORESALES - SERVICE - SPARE PARTS
Layout and Design - Victoria Augostis
HAWKS Fitnessby Ms Courtney Carrigan HOD - HPE Practical Technologies LOTE amp Sport
This year Ayr State High School is continuing the Running Club It is being rebranded as HAWKS Fitness HAWKS Fitness allows students the opportunity to develop their health
and fitness in a supportive and inclusive environment - all students are welcome for some of or all sessions each week All sessions are supervised by staff - Ms Smith Mr Lacey Ms Scott Ms Dorsett or Ms CarriganSessions available arebull Tuesdayrsquos 730 - 815 am bull Thursdayrsquos 800 - 830 am bull Fridayrsquos 2nd breakTuesday Sessions - fitness activities and will often link to practice for our Interhouse Carnivals (swimming cross country and athletics) Term 1 weeks 3-6 will focus on swimming at the Ayr Swimming Pool - meet staff (Ms Scott and Ms Dorsett) at the Ayr Swimming Pool students can either walk back to school (supervised by a teacher) or be privately picked up The following weeks will mostly focus on running and other fitness activities at ASHSThursday Sessions - various sports or modified games at ASHSFriday Sessions - school gym (A Block) with Ms SmithStudents must return a permission form to participate in out of school fitness activities (ie swimming sessions) - these can be collected from I Block Staffroom (see Ms Smith or Ms Carrigan)Specific information regarding each weekrsquos focus and activities will be communicated to students via Student Notices and Assemblies For further information please contact Ms Smith Mr Lacey or Ms Carrigan at the school
Year 10 Information Evening for Families
Date Tuesday 12 February 2019Place SMC1 (Auditorium)Time 600 pmTopics bull ldquoQCE10rdquo - preparing for Year 11bull Events on the school calendar this year for Year 10bull SET Planning and Case Management
Year 11 Information Evening for Families
Date Tuesday 12 February 2019Place SMC1 (Auditorium)Time 700 pmTopics bull Events on the school calendar this year for Year 11bull Course of study options the QCE and case
management processesbull How the ATAR will be determined and results
reported on Report Cardsbull School Processes related to the new senior system
implementation
Year 12 ParentCarer Information Evening
Monday 18 February 2019630 pm Resource Centre
Information will include bull Options for future pathwaysbull Whatrsquos on in 2019bull Our Careers Websitebull ApprenticeshipJob Pathwaybull University Pathwaybull Factors that can affect Student OPrsquosbull About the QCS Testbull QTAC - University Applicationsbull Study CostsAccommodationbull How families can assist their teens
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 5
Interhouse Swimming Carnival
Friday 22 February 2019Week 4
More information in 2019
Interschool Swimming Carnival
12 - 19 Yrs
Thursday 7 March 2019Week 6
Ayr Swimming Pool
Students will be selected based on performance at our
Interhouse Carnival
Interhouse Swimming Carnivalweek 4by Ms Courtney Carrigan HOD - HPE Practical Technologies LOTE amp Sport
Friday 22 February will see a carnival atmosphere prevail as the four sporting houses vie for honours in the Interhouse Swimming Carnival
This year Tuesday 19 February will be lsquoSpirit Dayrsquo Students can dress in their House colours or their theme In session 4 students will attend House meetings then assemble at the MPS for the traditional skits and war-criesFriday 22 February will begin with an assembly at school (at 850 am) followed by standard events and presentations at the pool The Carnival will finish at 300 pm from the Ayr Swimming Pool (not from Ayr SHS) - please make arrangements for the safe departure of your child at 300 pm Arrangements have been made for those students who catch the bus - they will walk back to the school with staff supervision to catch the normal bus schedulesStudents are encouraged to dress in their House theme or their House colour for the Swimming Carnival Students who are not competing will enjoy the carnival atmosphere cheering and supporting their friends Good luck to allNOTE Footwear for the day must meet safety requirements for the walk to the pool (ie normal enclosed shoes are required)
Interschool Sportby Ms Courtney Carrigan HOD - HPE Practical Technologies
LOTE amp Sport
The 2019 season of interschool sporting competition commences on Wednesday 20 February (week 4) with
U15 and U19 Netball and Rugby League Interschool Volleyball (U14 and U19 mixed teams) will be the next sport on the calendar Selection trials and training will begin shortly with the first games scheduled for Thursday 14 March (week 7)The following North Queensland trials are scheduled for Term 1Cluster 1 (0503) - Netball (15 amp 19 Yrs) Rugby League (15 amp 18 Yrs) Volleyball (19 Yrs)Cluster 2 (1203) - AFL (15 Yrs) Basketball (18 Yrs) Football (15 amp 19 Yrs) Rugby Union (18 Yrs) Cluster 3 (1903) - Hockey (19 Yrs) Touch (15 amp 18 Yrs) Squash (19 Yrs)Students should keep an eye on the notices for further information closer to the trial dates or alternatively contact Mr Lacey in H Block Staffroom
BSS Interschool Sport Challenge Cup
by Mr Jake Lacey Sports Co-ordinator - Interschool Sport amp NQ Trials
Interschool sport in the Burdekin is set to get bigger and better in 2019 with the introduction of the BSS Interschool
Sport Challenge Cup One of the major benefits of the Challenge Cup is that it will provide more students with the opportunity to represent Ayr SHS in competitive sportThe Challenge Cup will be based on a points system tallied throughout the year For each sport and age group schools will be placed in order from first to fourth with first place receiving four points second receiving three and so on At the end of the year the school with the most points will be crowned the BSS Interschool Sport Challenge Cup Champion The 2019 Interschool Sport season is fast approaching with Rugby League and Netball to commence shortly The U15 and open season will start in week 4 and
the U13 season starting in week seven The final for all age groups will be held in week nine More information about Interschool Sport will be posted on student notices throughout the year so make sure you are reading them 2019 promises to be an exciting year in sport at Ayr SHS and the BSS Interschool Sport Challenge Cup will certainly add to that excitement LETS GO HAWKS
EnglishTutoring
Year 8-12 StudentsTuesdays - beginning
Week 3315 - 415 pm A4
Year 7 StudentsTuesdays - beginning
Week 3315 - 415 pm I Blockwith Mrs Kastner and
Mr CookYour friendly English teachers are available to help you with homework and assessments
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 6
From the Guidance Officehellipby Mrs Sarah Matthews Guidance Officer
Welcome to 2019 I hope you are all as excited to be back as I am I have been off for 18 months on maternity leave and I canrsquot wait to hear what you have all been up to I will be here full-time again
working as a part of our amazing Student Support Team Throughout the year students may want or need to visit the Guidance Officer for a variety of reasons that affect students learning The three main areas of the Guidance service arebull Social and emotional supportbull Assessing students with significant learning difficulties andbull Career education Students can seek personal (short-term) counselling or career advice As a Guidance Officer I can facilitate your decisions around subject selection study skills time management and goal setting I can complete assessments to investigate on-going and significant learning difficulties for students making minimal progress at school to help facilitate better outcomes at school I can also advise around seeking support from outside agencies within the community and provide ongoing case management and planning for success The Guidance Office is currently located in the Resource Centre Students are able to self-refer by making an appointment through the lovely ladies in the office Teachers and parentscarers may also contact the Guidance Officer through the school office if they have an enquiry or they want to make an appointment
Careers WebsiteAyr High has its very own careers website It can be found at the following web address httpwwwayrshscareerscom or simply Google Ayr SHS Career Tools The website is a ONE-STOP SHOP for everything you need to know about Senior Schooling and beyond It is a helpful and interactive tool that can be accessed by parentscarers students and wider community members both at school or at home Students can create a unique login and partake in interest tests research millions of jobs upload and develop resumes and an online career portfolio define career goals and develop a step by step plan on how to reach them and get the job and life that they want On the website you will find a range of information required for Senior Schooling including TAFEUniversity options details on the Queensland Certificate of Education OPrsquos QTAC Youth Allowance and much much more It is also a place to find important messages about Career eventsexpos and job vacancies within the area The school invites parentscarersemployers to access the website to find out more If you have any questions about the site or require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the Guidance Officer on 4790 4333
Set yourself up for a Great Year in 2019 Abridged version - originally written by Andrew Fuller 2016Make this the year that you will remember for the rest of your life as the time you really set yourself on the pathway to success There are several sure-fire ways to make this the best year so far1 Make friends with everyone you know - Parentscarers teachers friends everyone One of the ways of reducing your stress
levels is to set out to have as many positive friendships this year as you can2 Acknowledge your inner genius - You are much much smarter than you know If you practice doing your best in life you will
succeed because very few people ever practice doing their best To do your best you have to get out of the habit of predicting that things wonrsquot go well for you If you look for whatrsquos going to go
wrong you will always find it If you look for what works life just gets a lot easier Aim to develop at least one positive aspect of yourself this year The easiest way to start this is to appreciate the quality you want
to develop in yourself 3 Know that geniuses make mistakes - People who achieve a lot know that you have to make mistakes to learn In fact learning
often involves making a mistake and then figuring out what went wrong If you get too scared to make a mistake you will not do anything different or new in your life and that would be well a mistake
4 Prepare yourself for learning - Thinking positively isnrsquot enough for successfully achieving goals You have to focus and do things differently Concentration is hard to achieve and very easy to lose Find ways to reduce distractions at least while studying
Not everyone in your life will be a well-wisher in your self-improvement and learning plans They may discourage you from your goal Surround yourself with people who encourage you Take time to be an encourager of other people rather than being a critic
5 Liven up your life and get enough sleep - Sleep helps you to manage stress stay happy and also increases your marks The best way to protect yourself from being stressed or depressed is to get enough sleep You need at least eight hours and sometimes as much as nine and a quarter hours a night If we donrsquot get enough sleep we often become tired moody bored and boring
6 Do the most important things first - Get into the habit of being effective Write a to-do list each week - using your student planner Ask yourself the question ldquoWhat is the one thing I could do this week in each subject area that would improve my resultsrdquo Then do it
7 From little things big things grow - Do a little bit often Succeeding at school can be easy if you do a little bit each day The best learning occurs when you do spaced interval training This means do a little bit of practice every day Interval training is especially powerful in subjects like maths and the sciences
9 Focus and immerse yourself for at least some time every day switch all forms of technology off and focus on whatever yoursquore studying Donrsquot try to watch TV listen to music or gaze at a screen at the same time as learning something Technology is not going to be there in exam rooms so you need to be practiced at performing without it
10 Play more - Be active break out into a sweat now and then Lack of blood flow is a common reason for lack of concentration If yoursquove been sitting in one place for a while stand up and stretch or bounce one of your legs for a minute or two It gets your blood flowing and sharpens both concentration and recall Even if you are really busy three 20 minute bursts of exercise a week makes a massive difference to your stress levels happiness and sleeping
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 7
Download the free QParents App to follow your studentrsquos progress
Year 12 Students Have a Good Start to 2019
Mrs Claire Brock Year 12 Co-ordinator
Our small Year 12 cohort were excited about starting the school
year in general However they were particularly enthused about receiving their new Senior Shirts and Senior Jerseys on day one of Year 12
Supporting Your Child After a Floodby Mrs Sarah Matthews Guidance Officer
The recent floods in the Burdekin and Townsville have affected a number of our students and their extended families It is important to be aware that whilst not all of us have been
affected directly we can still be vicariously affected by the trauma of the floods especially as it is all over the news Below is some information sourced from the Australian Psychological Association about how to help your children cope through this time Impact of trauma on childrenPeople cope with trauma in different ways and there is no one standard pattern of reaction to the stress of traumatic experiences Children are not always able to express complex feelings in the same direct way that adults do and therefore do not often show the same reactions to stress as adults It is therefore very important to look out for changes in childrenrsquos behaviour that suggest they are unsettled or distressedReactions to the floods may result in changes to childrenrsquos normal behaviour such asbull Nightmares bull Irritability or anger bull Problems concentrating at school bull Anxiety about sleeping alone bull Wanting to stay close to a parent bull Fussy eatingbull Tantrums bull Withdrawing bull Trouble getting to sleepbull Changes in their play drawing dreams or spontaneous conversationsbull Regressive behaviour - children behaving younger than they normally doChildren are usually very resilient and for most children these reactions will gradually reduce over time with the support of familiesHow you can help your children recoverAfter a traumatic event children need comfort reassurance and support and to know that they are safe and are being looked after Try to spend more time with your children and provide them with plenty of affection through cuddles and hugs Let them be more dependent on you for a while and try to re-establish daily routines for example routines around mealtimes bedtimes or returning to school where possibleFind out what your children know in case they have mistaken ideas or facts about the floods and correct any misconceptions Listen to your childrenrsquos concerns Listen closely to what they are asking or saying and think about whether they are looking for factual information or if the questions are expressing anxiety about the floods Try to keep your own feelings to yourself when talking about their feelings Let them know that you understand how they feel Monitor how much your children are being exposed to media stories of the floods Children can become re-traumatised by watching repeated images on the television and it is best to try to shield them from the mediaSeeking further helpWhile most children will bounce back after a traumatic event some children may show prolonged distress and could benefit from professional assistance Children who are at risk of developing more lasting problems are those who have experienced significant disruption and losses and those who have previously developed problems in response to other traumasWarning signs of more significant and lasting distress in children includebull Continual and aggressive emotional outbursts bull Serious problems at schoolbull Preoccupation with the floods bull Intense anxiety or emotional difficultiesIf you have concerns about your child please take them to see your GP The school support team can also help with these concerns Please donrsquot hesitate to contact the school
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 8
Upcoming Events11 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival - Whole School
Nominations (230 pm) PampC Meeting (530 pm Resource Centre)12 Feb Yr 7 Meet amp Greet (530 pm I Block) Yr 10 QCE Information Evening (600 pm SMC) Yr 11 QCE Information Evening (700 pm SMC)13 Feb Yr 12 GRIP Leadership (900 am-400 pm)14 Feb Sweet Hearts Day School Photos (MPS) Investiture Rehearsal (S4-150 pm)15 Feb Student Investiture (1200-110 pm MPS)18 Feb BYOx Induction (530 pm Resource Centre) Yr 12 ParentCarer Information Evening (630-
730 pm Resource Centre)19 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival - Spirit Day -
House Spirit Session (150-300 pm MPS) Music Support Meeting (500 pm A14)20 Feb Interschool Sport - 1519 Yrs Rugby League amp
Netball 21 Feb Interact Meeting (2nd Break I Block) Yr 12 Party Program 850 am-305 pm Townsville
Hospital)22 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival (850 am-300 pm
Ayr Swimming Pool)
Ayr High Shows Its Heart for HeartKids
by Ms Deanne Ruge Interact Co-ordinator
Our Interact club is busy organising its first event for 2019 - Sweetheart Day A group of students from Year 7-12 are working with Community
Service Vice Captain Brendan Kolb to host a Sweetheart Stall to raise funds for HeartKids Australia It is a little-known fact that childhood heart disease is the greatest killer of children under 1 in Australia HeartKids provides ongoing support for children with heart defects and their families all across Australia as well as funding life-saving research into childhood heart disease To help support this worthy cause students can purchase a gift from the stall which will be delivered in House Family on Thursday 14 February Gifts range in price from $1-$15 and can be purchased for friends teachers buddies or anyone you want to give a little joy to On this day serenades will also be performed by our talented Ayr SHS students for lucky recipients Sweetheart Day is a day to remember with Ayr High wearing its heart on its sleeve and spreading some joy Stay tuned to the Facebook page for pictures of this awesome community event
Construction Work Continues this Year
by Mr Kerry Flynn ADeputy Principal
The air conditioning contractors are nearing the end of their massive job to replace all the air conditioners in the
school Currently they are working on the school office and will then turn their attention to I Block We are expecting them to be finished in the next month subject to weatherThe E Block toilets are having a complete lsquomake overrsquo There is substantial work to do here and we are not expecting this to be finished for a couple of months (weather permitting) In the meantime students have access to the two other sets of student toilets in the school When the air conditioning team has finished work will commence on F2 F3 and F4 These rooms will be completely refurbished to a similar standard as B Block and F1 - windows carpeting re-positioning room layout furniture and paintingLast year students were very understanding and cooperative with all the room changes and again this year it has been a similar case While it is not the start to the year we would like the long term goal of updating the school will be well worth it for students learning and the general feel of the school
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 5
Interhouse Swimming Carnival
Friday 22 February 2019Week 4
More information in 2019
Interschool Swimming Carnival
12 - 19 Yrs
Thursday 7 March 2019Week 6
Ayr Swimming Pool
Students will be selected based on performance at our
Interhouse Carnival
Interhouse Swimming Carnivalweek 4by Ms Courtney Carrigan HOD - HPE Practical Technologies LOTE amp Sport
Friday 22 February will see a carnival atmosphere prevail as the four sporting houses vie for honours in the Interhouse Swimming Carnival
This year Tuesday 19 February will be lsquoSpirit Dayrsquo Students can dress in their House colours or their theme In session 4 students will attend House meetings then assemble at the MPS for the traditional skits and war-criesFriday 22 February will begin with an assembly at school (at 850 am) followed by standard events and presentations at the pool The Carnival will finish at 300 pm from the Ayr Swimming Pool (not from Ayr SHS) - please make arrangements for the safe departure of your child at 300 pm Arrangements have been made for those students who catch the bus - they will walk back to the school with staff supervision to catch the normal bus schedulesStudents are encouraged to dress in their House theme or their House colour for the Swimming Carnival Students who are not competing will enjoy the carnival atmosphere cheering and supporting their friends Good luck to allNOTE Footwear for the day must meet safety requirements for the walk to the pool (ie normal enclosed shoes are required)
Interschool Sportby Ms Courtney Carrigan HOD - HPE Practical Technologies
LOTE amp Sport
The 2019 season of interschool sporting competition commences on Wednesday 20 February (week 4) with
U15 and U19 Netball and Rugby League Interschool Volleyball (U14 and U19 mixed teams) will be the next sport on the calendar Selection trials and training will begin shortly with the first games scheduled for Thursday 14 March (week 7)The following North Queensland trials are scheduled for Term 1Cluster 1 (0503) - Netball (15 amp 19 Yrs) Rugby League (15 amp 18 Yrs) Volleyball (19 Yrs)Cluster 2 (1203) - AFL (15 Yrs) Basketball (18 Yrs) Football (15 amp 19 Yrs) Rugby Union (18 Yrs) Cluster 3 (1903) - Hockey (19 Yrs) Touch (15 amp 18 Yrs) Squash (19 Yrs)Students should keep an eye on the notices for further information closer to the trial dates or alternatively contact Mr Lacey in H Block Staffroom
BSS Interschool Sport Challenge Cup
by Mr Jake Lacey Sports Co-ordinator - Interschool Sport amp NQ Trials
Interschool sport in the Burdekin is set to get bigger and better in 2019 with the introduction of the BSS Interschool
Sport Challenge Cup One of the major benefits of the Challenge Cup is that it will provide more students with the opportunity to represent Ayr SHS in competitive sportThe Challenge Cup will be based on a points system tallied throughout the year For each sport and age group schools will be placed in order from first to fourth with first place receiving four points second receiving three and so on At the end of the year the school with the most points will be crowned the BSS Interschool Sport Challenge Cup Champion The 2019 Interschool Sport season is fast approaching with Rugby League and Netball to commence shortly The U15 and open season will start in week 4 and
the U13 season starting in week seven The final for all age groups will be held in week nine More information about Interschool Sport will be posted on student notices throughout the year so make sure you are reading them 2019 promises to be an exciting year in sport at Ayr SHS and the BSS Interschool Sport Challenge Cup will certainly add to that excitement LETS GO HAWKS
EnglishTutoring
Year 8-12 StudentsTuesdays - beginning
Week 3315 - 415 pm A4
Year 7 StudentsTuesdays - beginning
Week 3315 - 415 pm I Blockwith Mrs Kastner and
Mr CookYour friendly English teachers are available to help you with homework and assessments
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 6
From the Guidance Officehellipby Mrs Sarah Matthews Guidance Officer
Welcome to 2019 I hope you are all as excited to be back as I am I have been off for 18 months on maternity leave and I canrsquot wait to hear what you have all been up to I will be here full-time again
working as a part of our amazing Student Support Team Throughout the year students may want or need to visit the Guidance Officer for a variety of reasons that affect students learning The three main areas of the Guidance service arebull Social and emotional supportbull Assessing students with significant learning difficulties andbull Career education Students can seek personal (short-term) counselling or career advice As a Guidance Officer I can facilitate your decisions around subject selection study skills time management and goal setting I can complete assessments to investigate on-going and significant learning difficulties for students making minimal progress at school to help facilitate better outcomes at school I can also advise around seeking support from outside agencies within the community and provide ongoing case management and planning for success The Guidance Office is currently located in the Resource Centre Students are able to self-refer by making an appointment through the lovely ladies in the office Teachers and parentscarers may also contact the Guidance Officer through the school office if they have an enquiry or they want to make an appointment
Careers WebsiteAyr High has its very own careers website It can be found at the following web address httpwwwayrshscareerscom or simply Google Ayr SHS Career Tools The website is a ONE-STOP SHOP for everything you need to know about Senior Schooling and beyond It is a helpful and interactive tool that can be accessed by parentscarers students and wider community members both at school or at home Students can create a unique login and partake in interest tests research millions of jobs upload and develop resumes and an online career portfolio define career goals and develop a step by step plan on how to reach them and get the job and life that they want On the website you will find a range of information required for Senior Schooling including TAFEUniversity options details on the Queensland Certificate of Education OPrsquos QTAC Youth Allowance and much much more It is also a place to find important messages about Career eventsexpos and job vacancies within the area The school invites parentscarersemployers to access the website to find out more If you have any questions about the site or require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the Guidance Officer on 4790 4333
Set yourself up for a Great Year in 2019 Abridged version - originally written by Andrew Fuller 2016Make this the year that you will remember for the rest of your life as the time you really set yourself on the pathway to success There are several sure-fire ways to make this the best year so far1 Make friends with everyone you know - Parentscarers teachers friends everyone One of the ways of reducing your stress
levels is to set out to have as many positive friendships this year as you can2 Acknowledge your inner genius - You are much much smarter than you know If you practice doing your best in life you will
succeed because very few people ever practice doing their best To do your best you have to get out of the habit of predicting that things wonrsquot go well for you If you look for whatrsquos going to go
wrong you will always find it If you look for what works life just gets a lot easier Aim to develop at least one positive aspect of yourself this year The easiest way to start this is to appreciate the quality you want
to develop in yourself 3 Know that geniuses make mistakes - People who achieve a lot know that you have to make mistakes to learn In fact learning
often involves making a mistake and then figuring out what went wrong If you get too scared to make a mistake you will not do anything different or new in your life and that would be well a mistake
4 Prepare yourself for learning - Thinking positively isnrsquot enough for successfully achieving goals You have to focus and do things differently Concentration is hard to achieve and very easy to lose Find ways to reduce distractions at least while studying
Not everyone in your life will be a well-wisher in your self-improvement and learning plans They may discourage you from your goal Surround yourself with people who encourage you Take time to be an encourager of other people rather than being a critic
5 Liven up your life and get enough sleep - Sleep helps you to manage stress stay happy and also increases your marks The best way to protect yourself from being stressed or depressed is to get enough sleep You need at least eight hours and sometimes as much as nine and a quarter hours a night If we donrsquot get enough sleep we often become tired moody bored and boring
6 Do the most important things first - Get into the habit of being effective Write a to-do list each week - using your student planner Ask yourself the question ldquoWhat is the one thing I could do this week in each subject area that would improve my resultsrdquo Then do it
7 From little things big things grow - Do a little bit often Succeeding at school can be easy if you do a little bit each day The best learning occurs when you do spaced interval training This means do a little bit of practice every day Interval training is especially powerful in subjects like maths and the sciences
9 Focus and immerse yourself for at least some time every day switch all forms of technology off and focus on whatever yoursquore studying Donrsquot try to watch TV listen to music or gaze at a screen at the same time as learning something Technology is not going to be there in exam rooms so you need to be practiced at performing without it
10 Play more - Be active break out into a sweat now and then Lack of blood flow is a common reason for lack of concentration If yoursquove been sitting in one place for a while stand up and stretch or bounce one of your legs for a minute or two It gets your blood flowing and sharpens both concentration and recall Even if you are really busy three 20 minute bursts of exercise a week makes a massive difference to your stress levels happiness and sleeping
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 7
Download the free QParents App to follow your studentrsquos progress
Year 12 Students Have a Good Start to 2019
Mrs Claire Brock Year 12 Co-ordinator
Our small Year 12 cohort were excited about starting the school
year in general However they were particularly enthused about receiving their new Senior Shirts and Senior Jerseys on day one of Year 12
Supporting Your Child After a Floodby Mrs Sarah Matthews Guidance Officer
The recent floods in the Burdekin and Townsville have affected a number of our students and their extended families It is important to be aware that whilst not all of us have been
affected directly we can still be vicariously affected by the trauma of the floods especially as it is all over the news Below is some information sourced from the Australian Psychological Association about how to help your children cope through this time Impact of trauma on childrenPeople cope with trauma in different ways and there is no one standard pattern of reaction to the stress of traumatic experiences Children are not always able to express complex feelings in the same direct way that adults do and therefore do not often show the same reactions to stress as adults It is therefore very important to look out for changes in childrenrsquos behaviour that suggest they are unsettled or distressedReactions to the floods may result in changes to childrenrsquos normal behaviour such asbull Nightmares bull Irritability or anger bull Problems concentrating at school bull Anxiety about sleeping alone bull Wanting to stay close to a parent bull Fussy eatingbull Tantrums bull Withdrawing bull Trouble getting to sleepbull Changes in their play drawing dreams or spontaneous conversationsbull Regressive behaviour - children behaving younger than they normally doChildren are usually very resilient and for most children these reactions will gradually reduce over time with the support of familiesHow you can help your children recoverAfter a traumatic event children need comfort reassurance and support and to know that they are safe and are being looked after Try to spend more time with your children and provide them with plenty of affection through cuddles and hugs Let them be more dependent on you for a while and try to re-establish daily routines for example routines around mealtimes bedtimes or returning to school where possibleFind out what your children know in case they have mistaken ideas or facts about the floods and correct any misconceptions Listen to your childrenrsquos concerns Listen closely to what they are asking or saying and think about whether they are looking for factual information or if the questions are expressing anxiety about the floods Try to keep your own feelings to yourself when talking about their feelings Let them know that you understand how they feel Monitor how much your children are being exposed to media stories of the floods Children can become re-traumatised by watching repeated images on the television and it is best to try to shield them from the mediaSeeking further helpWhile most children will bounce back after a traumatic event some children may show prolonged distress and could benefit from professional assistance Children who are at risk of developing more lasting problems are those who have experienced significant disruption and losses and those who have previously developed problems in response to other traumasWarning signs of more significant and lasting distress in children includebull Continual and aggressive emotional outbursts bull Serious problems at schoolbull Preoccupation with the floods bull Intense anxiety or emotional difficultiesIf you have concerns about your child please take them to see your GP The school support team can also help with these concerns Please donrsquot hesitate to contact the school
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 8
Upcoming Events11 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival - Whole School
Nominations (230 pm) PampC Meeting (530 pm Resource Centre)12 Feb Yr 7 Meet amp Greet (530 pm I Block) Yr 10 QCE Information Evening (600 pm SMC) Yr 11 QCE Information Evening (700 pm SMC)13 Feb Yr 12 GRIP Leadership (900 am-400 pm)14 Feb Sweet Hearts Day School Photos (MPS) Investiture Rehearsal (S4-150 pm)15 Feb Student Investiture (1200-110 pm MPS)18 Feb BYOx Induction (530 pm Resource Centre) Yr 12 ParentCarer Information Evening (630-
730 pm Resource Centre)19 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival - Spirit Day -
House Spirit Session (150-300 pm MPS) Music Support Meeting (500 pm A14)20 Feb Interschool Sport - 1519 Yrs Rugby League amp
Netball 21 Feb Interact Meeting (2nd Break I Block) Yr 12 Party Program 850 am-305 pm Townsville
Hospital)22 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival (850 am-300 pm
Ayr Swimming Pool)
Ayr High Shows Its Heart for HeartKids
by Ms Deanne Ruge Interact Co-ordinator
Our Interact club is busy organising its first event for 2019 - Sweetheart Day A group of students from Year 7-12 are working with Community
Service Vice Captain Brendan Kolb to host a Sweetheart Stall to raise funds for HeartKids Australia It is a little-known fact that childhood heart disease is the greatest killer of children under 1 in Australia HeartKids provides ongoing support for children with heart defects and their families all across Australia as well as funding life-saving research into childhood heart disease To help support this worthy cause students can purchase a gift from the stall which will be delivered in House Family on Thursday 14 February Gifts range in price from $1-$15 and can be purchased for friends teachers buddies or anyone you want to give a little joy to On this day serenades will also be performed by our talented Ayr SHS students for lucky recipients Sweetheart Day is a day to remember with Ayr High wearing its heart on its sleeve and spreading some joy Stay tuned to the Facebook page for pictures of this awesome community event
Construction Work Continues this Year
by Mr Kerry Flynn ADeputy Principal
The air conditioning contractors are nearing the end of their massive job to replace all the air conditioners in the
school Currently they are working on the school office and will then turn their attention to I Block We are expecting them to be finished in the next month subject to weatherThe E Block toilets are having a complete lsquomake overrsquo There is substantial work to do here and we are not expecting this to be finished for a couple of months (weather permitting) In the meantime students have access to the two other sets of student toilets in the school When the air conditioning team has finished work will commence on F2 F3 and F4 These rooms will be completely refurbished to a similar standard as B Block and F1 - windows carpeting re-positioning room layout furniture and paintingLast year students were very understanding and cooperative with all the room changes and again this year it has been a similar case While it is not the start to the year we would like the long term goal of updating the school will be well worth it for students learning and the general feel of the school
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 6
From the Guidance Officehellipby Mrs Sarah Matthews Guidance Officer
Welcome to 2019 I hope you are all as excited to be back as I am I have been off for 18 months on maternity leave and I canrsquot wait to hear what you have all been up to I will be here full-time again
working as a part of our amazing Student Support Team Throughout the year students may want or need to visit the Guidance Officer for a variety of reasons that affect students learning The three main areas of the Guidance service arebull Social and emotional supportbull Assessing students with significant learning difficulties andbull Career education Students can seek personal (short-term) counselling or career advice As a Guidance Officer I can facilitate your decisions around subject selection study skills time management and goal setting I can complete assessments to investigate on-going and significant learning difficulties for students making minimal progress at school to help facilitate better outcomes at school I can also advise around seeking support from outside agencies within the community and provide ongoing case management and planning for success The Guidance Office is currently located in the Resource Centre Students are able to self-refer by making an appointment through the lovely ladies in the office Teachers and parentscarers may also contact the Guidance Officer through the school office if they have an enquiry or they want to make an appointment
Careers WebsiteAyr High has its very own careers website It can be found at the following web address httpwwwayrshscareerscom or simply Google Ayr SHS Career Tools The website is a ONE-STOP SHOP for everything you need to know about Senior Schooling and beyond It is a helpful and interactive tool that can be accessed by parentscarers students and wider community members both at school or at home Students can create a unique login and partake in interest tests research millions of jobs upload and develop resumes and an online career portfolio define career goals and develop a step by step plan on how to reach them and get the job and life that they want On the website you will find a range of information required for Senior Schooling including TAFEUniversity options details on the Queensland Certificate of Education OPrsquos QTAC Youth Allowance and much much more It is also a place to find important messages about Career eventsexpos and job vacancies within the area The school invites parentscarersemployers to access the website to find out more If you have any questions about the site or require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the Guidance Officer on 4790 4333
Set yourself up for a Great Year in 2019 Abridged version - originally written by Andrew Fuller 2016Make this the year that you will remember for the rest of your life as the time you really set yourself on the pathway to success There are several sure-fire ways to make this the best year so far1 Make friends with everyone you know - Parentscarers teachers friends everyone One of the ways of reducing your stress
levels is to set out to have as many positive friendships this year as you can2 Acknowledge your inner genius - You are much much smarter than you know If you practice doing your best in life you will
succeed because very few people ever practice doing their best To do your best you have to get out of the habit of predicting that things wonrsquot go well for you If you look for whatrsquos going to go
wrong you will always find it If you look for what works life just gets a lot easier Aim to develop at least one positive aspect of yourself this year The easiest way to start this is to appreciate the quality you want
to develop in yourself 3 Know that geniuses make mistakes - People who achieve a lot know that you have to make mistakes to learn In fact learning
often involves making a mistake and then figuring out what went wrong If you get too scared to make a mistake you will not do anything different or new in your life and that would be well a mistake
4 Prepare yourself for learning - Thinking positively isnrsquot enough for successfully achieving goals You have to focus and do things differently Concentration is hard to achieve and very easy to lose Find ways to reduce distractions at least while studying
Not everyone in your life will be a well-wisher in your self-improvement and learning plans They may discourage you from your goal Surround yourself with people who encourage you Take time to be an encourager of other people rather than being a critic
5 Liven up your life and get enough sleep - Sleep helps you to manage stress stay happy and also increases your marks The best way to protect yourself from being stressed or depressed is to get enough sleep You need at least eight hours and sometimes as much as nine and a quarter hours a night If we donrsquot get enough sleep we often become tired moody bored and boring
6 Do the most important things first - Get into the habit of being effective Write a to-do list each week - using your student planner Ask yourself the question ldquoWhat is the one thing I could do this week in each subject area that would improve my resultsrdquo Then do it
7 From little things big things grow - Do a little bit often Succeeding at school can be easy if you do a little bit each day The best learning occurs when you do spaced interval training This means do a little bit of practice every day Interval training is especially powerful in subjects like maths and the sciences
9 Focus and immerse yourself for at least some time every day switch all forms of technology off and focus on whatever yoursquore studying Donrsquot try to watch TV listen to music or gaze at a screen at the same time as learning something Technology is not going to be there in exam rooms so you need to be practiced at performing without it
10 Play more - Be active break out into a sweat now and then Lack of blood flow is a common reason for lack of concentration If yoursquove been sitting in one place for a while stand up and stretch or bounce one of your legs for a minute or two It gets your blood flowing and sharpens both concentration and recall Even if you are really busy three 20 minute bursts of exercise a week makes a massive difference to your stress levels happiness and sleeping
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 7
Download the free QParents App to follow your studentrsquos progress
Year 12 Students Have a Good Start to 2019
Mrs Claire Brock Year 12 Co-ordinator
Our small Year 12 cohort were excited about starting the school
year in general However they were particularly enthused about receiving their new Senior Shirts and Senior Jerseys on day one of Year 12
Supporting Your Child After a Floodby Mrs Sarah Matthews Guidance Officer
The recent floods in the Burdekin and Townsville have affected a number of our students and their extended families It is important to be aware that whilst not all of us have been
affected directly we can still be vicariously affected by the trauma of the floods especially as it is all over the news Below is some information sourced from the Australian Psychological Association about how to help your children cope through this time Impact of trauma on childrenPeople cope with trauma in different ways and there is no one standard pattern of reaction to the stress of traumatic experiences Children are not always able to express complex feelings in the same direct way that adults do and therefore do not often show the same reactions to stress as adults It is therefore very important to look out for changes in childrenrsquos behaviour that suggest they are unsettled or distressedReactions to the floods may result in changes to childrenrsquos normal behaviour such asbull Nightmares bull Irritability or anger bull Problems concentrating at school bull Anxiety about sleeping alone bull Wanting to stay close to a parent bull Fussy eatingbull Tantrums bull Withdrawing bull Trouble getting to sleepbull Changes in their play drawing dreams or spontaneous conversationsbull Regressive behaviour - children behaving younger than they normally doChildren are usually very resilient and for most children these reactions will gradually reduce over time with the support of familiesHow you can help your children recoverAfter a traumatic event children need comfort reassurance and support and to know that they are safe and are being looked after Try to spend more time with your children and provide them with plenty of affection through cuddles and hugs Let them be more dependent on you for a while and try to re-establish daily routines for example routines around mealtimes bedtimes or returning to school where possibleFind out what your children know in case they have mistaken ideas or facts about the floods and correct any misconceptions Listen to your childrenrsquos concerns Listen closely to what they are asking or saying and think about whether they are looking for factual information or if the questions are expressing anxiety about the floods Try to keep your own feelings to yourself when talking about their feelings Let them know that you understand how they feel Monitor how much your children are being exposed to media stories of the floods Children can become re-traumatised by watching repeated images on the television and it is best to try to shield them from the mediaSeeking further helpWhile most children will bounce back after a traumatic event some children may show prolonged distress and could benefit from professional assistance Children who are at risk of developing more lasting problems are those who have experienced significant disruption and losses and those who have previously developed problems in response to other traumasWarning signs of more significant and lasting distress in children includebull Continual and aggressive emotional outbursts bull Serious problems at schoolbull Preoccupation with the floods bull Intense anxiety or emotional difficultiesIf you have concerns about your child please take them to see your GP The school support team can also help with these concerns Please donrsquot hesitate to contact the school
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 8
Upcoming Events11 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival - Whole School
Nominations (230 pm) PampC Meeting (530 pm Resource Centre)12 Feb Yr 7 Meet amp Greet (530 pm I Block) Yr 10 QCE Information Evening (600 pm SMC) Yr 11 QCE Information Evening (700 pm SMC)13 Feb Yr 12 GRIP Leadership (900 am-400 pm)14 Feb Sweet Hearts Day School Photos (MPS) Investiture Rehearsal (S4-150 pm)15 Feb Student Investiture (1200-110 pm MPS)18 Feb BYOx Induction (530 pm Resource Centre) Yr 12 ParentCarer Information Evening (630-
730 pm Resource Centre)19 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival - Spirit Day -
House Spirit Session (150-300 pm MPS) Music Support Meeting (500 pm A14)20 Feb Interschool Sport - 1519 Yrs Rugby League amp
Netball 21 Feb Interact Meeting (2nd Break I Block) Yr 12 Party Program 850 am-305 pm Townsville
Hospital)22 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival (850 am-300 pm
Ayr Swimming Pool)
Ayr High Shows Its Heart for HeartKids
by Ms Deanne Ruge Interact Co-ordinator
Our Interact club is busy organising its first event for 2019 - Sweetheart Day A group of students from Year 7-12 are working with Community
Service Vice Captain Brendan Kolb to host a Sweetheart Stall to raise funds for HeartKids Australia It is a little-known fact that childhood heart disease is the greatest killer of children under 1 in Australia HeartKids provides ongoing support for children with heart defects and their families all across Australia as well as funding life-saving research into childhood heart disease To help support this worthy cause students can purchase a gift from the stall which will be delivered in House Family on Thursday 14 February Gifts range in price from $1-$15 and can be purchased for friends teachers buddies or anyone you want to give a little joy to On this day serenades will also be performed by our talented Ayr SHS students for lucky recipients Sweetheart Day is a day to remember with Ayr High wearing its heart on its sleeve and spreading some joy Stay tuned to the Facebook page for pictures of this awesome community event
Construction Work Continues this Year
by Mr Kerry Flynn ADeputy Principal
The air conditioning contractors are nearing the end of their massive job to replace all the air conditioners in the
school Currently they are working on the school office and will then turn their attention to I Block We are expecting them to be finished in the next month subject to weatherThe E Block toilets are having a complete lsquomake overrsquo There is substantial work to do here and we are not expecting this to be finished for a couple of months (weather permitting) In the meantime students have access to the two other sets of student toilets in the school When the air conditioning team has finished work will commence on F2 F3 and F4 These rooms will be completely refurbished to a similar standard as B Block and F1 - windows carpeting re-positioning room layout furniture and paintingLast year students were very understanding and cooperative with all the room changes and again this year it has been a similar case While it is not the start to the year we would like the long term goal of updating the school will be well worth it for students learning and the general feel of the school
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 7
Download the free QParents App to follow your studentrsquos progress
Year 12 Students Have a Good Start to 2019
Mrs Claire Brock Year 12 Co-ordinator
Our small Year 12 cohort were excited about starting the school
year in general However they were particularly enthused about receiving their new Senior Shirts and Senior Jerseys on day one of Year 12
Supporting Your Child After a Floodby Mrs Sarah Matthews Guidance Officer
The recent floods in the Burdekin and Townsville have affected a number of our students and their extended families It is important to be aware that whilst not all of us have been
affected directly we can still be vicariously affected by the trauma of the floods especially as it is all over the news Below is some information sourced from the Australian Psychological Association about how to help your children cope through this time Impact of trauma on childrenPeople cope with trauma in different ways and there is no one standard pattern of reaction to the stress of traumatic experiences Children are not always able to express complex feelings in the same direct way that adults do and therefore do not often show the same reactions to stress as adults It is therefore very important to look out for changes in childrenrsquos behaviour that suggest they are unsettled or distressedReactions to the floods may result in changes to childrenrsquos normal behaviour such asbull Nightmares bull Irritability or anger bull Problems concentrating at school bull Anxiety about sleeping alone bull Wanting to stay close to a parent bull Fussy eatingbull Tantrums bull Withdrawing bull Trouble getting to sleepbull Changes in their play drawing dreams or spontaneous conversationsbull Regressive behaviour - children behaving younger than they normally doChildren are usually very resilient and for most children these reactions will gradually reduce over time with the support of familiesHow you can help your children recoverAfter a traumatic event children need comfort reassurance and support and to know that they are safe and are being looked after Try to spend more time with your children and provide them with plenty of affection through cuddles and hugs Let them be more dependent on you for a while and try to re-establish daily routines for example routines around mealtimes bedtimes or returning to school where possibleFind out what your children know in case they have mistaken ideas or facts about the floods and correct any misconceptions Listen to your childrenrsquos concerns Listen closely to what they are asking or saying and think about whether they are looking for factual information or if the questions are expressing anxiety about the floods Try to keep your own feelings to yourself when talking about their feelings Let them know that you understand how they feel Monitor how much your children are being exposed to media stories of the floods Children can become re-traumatised by watching repeated images on the television and it is best to try to shield them from the mediaSeeking further helpWhile most children will bounce back after a traumatic event some children may show prolonged distress and could benefit from professional assistance Children who are at risk of developing more lasting problems are those who have experienced significant disruption and losses and those who have previously developed problems in response to other traumasWarning signs of more significant and lasting distress in children includebull Continual and aggressive emotional outbursts bull Serious problems at schoolbull Preoccupation with the floods bull Intense anxiety or emotional difficultiesIf you have concerns about your child please take them to see your GP The school support team can also help with these concerns Please donrsquot hesitate to contact the school
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 8
Upcoming Events11 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival - Whole School
Nominations (230 pm) PampC Meeting (530 pm Resource Centre)12 Feb Yr 7 Meet amp Greet (530 pm I Block) Yr 10 QCE Information Evening (600 pm SMC) Yr 11 QCE Information Evening (700 pm SMC)13 Feb Yr 12 GRIP Leadership (900 am-400 pm)14 Feb Sweet Hearts Day School Photos (MPS) Investiture Rehearsal (S4-150 pm)15 Feb Student Investiture (1200-110 pm MPS)18 Feb BYOx Induction (530 pm Resource Centre) Yr 12 ParentCarer Information Evening (630-
730 pm Resource Centre)19 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival - Spirit Day -
House Spirit Session (150-300 pm MPS) Music Support Meeting (500 pm A14)20 Feb Interschool Sport - 1519 Yrs Rugby League amp
Netball 21 Feb Interact Meeting (2nd Break I Block) Yr 12 Party Program 850 am-305 pm Townsville
Hospital)22 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival (850 am-300 pm
Ayr Swimming Pool)
Ayr High Shows Its Heart for HeartKids
by Ms Deanne Ruge Interact Co-ordinator
Our Interact club is busy organising its first event for 2019 - Sweetheart Day A group of students from Year 7-12 are working with Community
Service Vice Captain Brendan Kolb to host a Sweetheart Stall to raise funds for HeartKids Australia It is a little-known fact that childhood heart disease is the greatest killer of children under 1 in Australia HeartKids provides ongoing support for children with heart defects and their families all across Australia as well as funding life-saving research into childhood heart disease To help support this worthy cause students can purchase a gift from the stall which will be delivered in House Family on Thursday 14 February Gifts range in price from $1-$15 and can be purchased for friends teachers buddies or anyone you want to give a little joy to On this day serenades will also be performed by our talented Ayr SHS students for lucky recipients Sweetheart Day is a day to remember with Ayr High wearing its heart on its sleeve and spreading some joy Stay tuned to the Facebook page for pictures of this awesome community event
Construction Work Continues this Year
by Mr Kerry Flynn ADeputy Principal
The air conditioning contractors are nearing the end of their massive job to replace all the air conditioners in the
school Currently they are working on the school office and will then turn their attention to I Block We are expecting them to be finished in the next month subject to weatherThe E Block toilets are having a complete lsquomake overrsquo There is substantial work to do here and we are not expecting this to be finished for a couple of months (weather permitting) In the meantime students have access to the two other sets of student toilets in the school When the air conditioning team has finished work will commence on F2 F3 and F4 These rooms will be completely refurbished to a similar standard as B Block and F1 - windows carpeting re-positioning room layout furniture and paintingLast year students were very understanding and cooperative with all the room changes and again this year it has been a similar case While it is not the start to the year we would like the long term goal of updating the school will be well worth it for students learning and the general feel of the school
Issue No 1 - 2019 SUCCESS Every Student Every Day Page 8
Upcoming Events11 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival - Whole School
Nominations (230 pm) PampC Meeting (530 pm Resource Centre)12 Feb Yr 7 Meet amp Greet (530 pm I Block) Yr 10 QCE Information Evening (600 pm SMC) Yr 11 QCE Information Evening (700 pm SMC)13 Feb Yr 12 GRIP Leadership (900 am-400 pm)14 Feb Sweet Hearts Day School Photos (MPS) Investiture Rehearsal (S4-150 pm)15 Feb Student Investiture (1200-110 pm MPS)18 Feb BYOx Induction (530 pm Resource Centre) Yr 12 ParentCarer Information Evening (630-
730 pm Resource Centre)19 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival - Spirit Day -
House Spirit Session (150-300 pm MPS) Music Support Meeting (500 pm A14)20 Feb Interschool Sport - 1519 Yrs Rugby League amp
Netball 21 Feb Interact Meeting (2nd Break I Block) Yr 12 Party Program 850 am-305 pm Townsville
Hospital)22 Feb Interhouse Swimming Carnival (850 am-300 pm
Ayr Swimming Pool)
Ayr High Shows Its Heart for HeartKids
by Ms Deanne Ruge Interact Co-ordinator
Our Interact club is busy organising its first event for 2019 - Sweetheart Day A group of students from Year 7-12 are working with Community
Service Vice Captain Brendan Kolb to host a Sweetheart Stall to raise funds for HeartKids Australia It is a little-known fact that childhood heart disease is the greatest killer of children under 1 in Australia HeartKids provides ongoing support for children with heart defects and their families all across Australia as well as funding life-saving research into childhood heart disease To help support this worthy cause students can purchase a gift from the stall which will be delivered in House Family on Thursday 14 February Gifts range in price from $1-$15 and can be purchased for friends teachers buddies or anyone you want to give a little joy to On this day serenades will also be performed by our talented Ayr SHS students for lucky recipients Sweetheart Day is a day to remember with Ayr High wearing its heart on its sleeve and spreading some joy Stay tuned to the Facebook page for pictures of this awesome community event
Construction Work Continues this Year
by Mr Kerry Flynn ADeputy Principal
The air conditioning contractors are nearing the end of their massive job to replace all the air conditioners in the
school Currently they are working on the school office and will then turn their attention to I Block We are expecting them to be finished in the next month subject to weatherThe E Block toilets are having a complete lsquomake overrsquo There is substantial work to do here and we are not expecting this to be finished for a couple of months (weather permitting) In the meantime students have access to the two other sets of student toilets in the school When the air conditioning team has finished work will commence on F2 F3 and F4 These rooms will be completely refurbished to a similar standard as B Block and F1 - windows carpeting re-positioning room layout furniture and paintingLast year students were very understanding and cooperative with all the room changes and again this year it has been a similar case While it is not the start to the year we would like the long term goal of updating the school will be well worth it for students learning and the general feel of the school
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