Parents Meet Sta - Atherton State High School€¦ · Parents Meet Sta Thanks to the parents, sta and students who attended ... Recess 1 The Technology Club currently has 38 participants

Parents Meet Sta�

Thanks to the parents, sta� and students who attended the meet

and greet event last Monday. The meeting, organised through the

P&C, allows parents and sta� to meet in an informal setting.

TECHNOLOGY CLUB – Monday to Friday, Recess 1 The Technology Club currently has 38 participants

enrolled who share a passion for all things computer

gaming. Every day in recess 1 students are be able to

participate in Education QLD approved gaming

activities that test their problem-solving and

creativity in a designated space, the new computer

lab in H03. We will begin our team competitions in the

next few weeks for those interested!

A reminder that Education Queensland has strict

guidelines for the use of computer games and we are

ensuring alignment with these policies. Students are

not permitted to participate in games with an M rating or

higher through the Education QLD network and cannot

bring their own games in on USB’s.

Recess Activities – PARTICIPATION!

There are currently a number of awesome activities occurring each recess across the school. Please encourage

your student to participate! Teachers voluntarily put in time to organise and run these activities each week. We

also have students

actively organising

and running the

Technology Club and

Magic Club. We are

also looking at

establishing a regular

Book Club and

Origami Makers

activity in the

Resource Centre in

the next few weeks.

Please email

[email protected] or

see Mrs Sopronick if

you have any queries

or suggestions.

SEEKING FUTURE LIBRARIANS!

Are you mad about books? Are you an aspiring Librarian? Do you want to gain work-place experience to

include on your resume?

We are seeking dedicated, responsible students to undergo training as Student Library Assistants. You must be

reliable and enthusiastic. You will be trained in the appropriate library systems and gain valuable experience

that you can include in future employment and university applications. We have limited spaces

available. Application forms are available at the front

desk.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS

CLUB

A huge shout-out to Mr Lawrence for bringing in his

‘Dungeons & Dragons’ game resources! The game

focuses on the construction of fantasy narratives

where players are represented by heroes who

participate in epic quests. Novices accepted! Every

Thursday Recess 1 & 2 in the Resource Centre.

http://dnd.wizards.com/dungeons-and-dragons/what-

is-dd

HOMEWORK CLUB

Thankyou to the many teachers who have volunteered their time after school to support student learning

through the Homework Club. This service actively begins this week on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons

from 3:00pm-4:00pm. Students must sign in and out to ensure attendance is recorded. If you have any

queries please email [email protected] or see Mrs Sopronick in the Resource Centre.

Student Services Update Welcome back to the new school year! This is the perfect time of the year to con<rm that your family contact

details held on <le at the school are accurate. If your family has changed address, telephone numbers and/or

email address, please contact Student Services so these changes can be kept up to date. Ensuring this

information is current is of primary importance as all sta= use this to stay in contact with our families.

Particularly in cases of emergency and emailing of report cards at the end of each term makes accurate contact

details essential.

Attendance

This year we are aiming to achieve at least 90% attendance from all students at Atherton SHS. So far this year we

are sitting on 92% - well done to all students and their families for achieving this top e=ort! A reminder to please

let the school know if your student is away from school, particularly for any lengthy periods of time.

Uniform

With the beginning of the school year our community is reminded that we are a uniform school and as such

students are required to meet the uniform expectations. Some common issues that we are addressing at the

moment include:

Non-school hats/caps. School hats can be purchased from the Tuckshop and are the only accepted hat at

school. Students will be asked to remove their non-school hats/caps and may be con<scated until the end

of the day.

Socks and shoes – fully enclosed, full black shoes with either white or black socks. If students are out of

uniform they must provide a parental note so they can be issued with a uniform slip for the duration they

will be out of uniform.

Jewellery – Gold or silver plain sleepers or studs in ears (maximum of 2 per ear), a watch, a Eat gold or silver

ring, a chain with religious symbols worn below the collar line. No other visible

piercings are acceptable at school and students will be asked to remove these

items.

Student Services Sta� Spotlight: Mrs Gloria Robinson

Mrs Robinson is our school’s Guidance OFcer and her oFce is in A Block – Student

Services. She is available to support all students at the school concerning any personal

matters or careers guidance. Appointment slips are available from outside her oFce.

Upcoming Events

Last week students in years 7 and 10 were supplied with an immunisation pack. Year 7

students will receive 2 doses of the 9 valent HPV (Human papillomavirus vaccination) and 1 dose of Boostrix

(diphtheria,Tetanus and Pertusis vaccine). The year 10 students will receive 1 dose of Meningococcal ACWY

vaccine. Student immunisation forms are due back to Student Services by the end of next week, ahead of the

clinic which is set to occur on 6th March.

Student Council News The Student Council

members are hard at

work planning how

they will support the

student body in 2018.

The executive have not

only been meeting with

and leading students ,

but are also planning

projects for the year

both at school and also weekends!

Junior and senior

student

councillors and

leaders helped

with the annual

Valentine’s Day

fundraiser. All

money from the

event goes to

purchasing items

for the students

of Atherton SHS

From the English Department

“My name is Ozymandias! King of Kings!”

From Harry Potter through to popular culture, Ramses II to Royal Weddings, poetry turns up in surprising places!

If you know what you are looking for. For our <rst unit, our year 12 Authority English students are exploring the

works of

Romantic

poets. This

week, we

welcomed two

of our school’s

historians –

Cathy Campbell

and Helen

Cahill – to our

classes to share

their historical

knowledge of

the time and

place, to further

explain how

historical context can inform a way of understanding this collection. Thank you Ms Campbell and Ms Cahill – we

really appreciate your time and enthusiasm.

English Teachers Association of Queensland – Break it down!

Here in the English Department, we get excited about a lot of things. Learning is one. Grammar is another. On

the weekend of 10th of February, these two worlds came together as we headed down to Townsville to

participate in the ETAQ

Grammar Days! The

focus was on how

functional grammar can

be used to help support

young people to

understand the power

of language and

structure on conveying

meanings. We look

forward to applying all

we have learnt with

YOU!

HEALTH & SPORT We have had a busy week in the sports and Health department with nominations being <nalised

for the swimming carnival, students signing up for Tablelands and Peninsula sporting trials and

bookwork checks occurring in all HPE classes.

The students have demonstrated a high quality of book work so far this year. I will continue to

check classes for the students demonstrating the importance of writing down the learning

intention and success criteria in each class and following the standard of practice of maintaining

book work.

The compulsory year 9 and 10 Health lesson has been successful so far this term with students

engaged in discussions and scenario activities in regards to respectful relationships, personal

values and decision making processes. If you have any questions in regards to this class, please

contact Miss Porter.

Paperwork for Tableland and Peninsula Trials

This is a reminder to students that they must ensure they collect the correct paperwork from

Miss Porter in the Health sta=room as soon as they hear the noti<cation for sporting trials. The

paperwork must be given to Mr Whybird to be signed and students must remember to collect

this paperwork back from student services in order to take to the trial. This is very important as

no paperwork = no trial.

Atherton SHS Swimming Carnival

We are looking forward to the annual carnival coming up on the 23rd February. The theme for the

big day is Pirates and Sailors, the House Captains will certainly be leading the way having

planned some outrageous costumes!

Also a reminder to parents that this is a whole school event and there will be no normal classes

held at school. For those students who do arrive at school without having handed in their

permission forms to attend the carnival, they will be allocated alternative activities for the day.

We are con<dent that the support from the school community will ensure a great day will take

place for all involved and that the swimming carnival will continue for years to come.

If you have any questions regarding Sport or Health, please contact me.

Thank-you,

Jess Porter.

Parent Class 102 – Supporting Student Assessment

After the success of the <rst parent class in Week 3, focused on

organisation and homework, we will be running another session on

Tuesday 27th February in Week 6 from 6:00pm – 7:0pm in the

Conference Room in A Block. This session will focus on how to

support your student to prepare for supervised exams and the

writing process for take-home assessments. We will share the

teaching and learning process of TAPping Out a task sheet.

Students are welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be

available. Please RSVP your attendance to Carly Sopronick via email

at: [email protected] or on 4030 5258.

Driver Safety

A message to senior students

As the year progresses, more and more of our Senior students reach a milestone and

obtain their drivers licences. Our students and their safety on their way to and from

school are of paramount important to us, particularly on the road. It is important to

us that all students are travelling with a suitably licenced person, in a roadworthy

vehicle and that parents are aware of this arrangement. A Private Transport

Permission form is available from the Student Services counter at Atherton State

High School for parents who agree to the use of alternate arrangements for students

travelling in vehicles driven by licenced drivers other than their immediate family. In

the interest of safety, no student is to travel in a vehicle, other than with a family

member, without written permission from their parent or guardian.

As a licenced student or adult driver you should also complete a Permission to use a

Private Vehicle for Travel form if you are transporting a student other than your

sibling to and/or from school or a school organised event. These are available from

the Student Services oFce.

Paying School Fees You can pay your child’s schooling fees in one of the following ways :

• B Point to pay by credit and debit card. • Direct Deposit into the school Bank Account BSB064-800 Account 00090137

• Cash, cheque or EFTPOS at reception.

Date Claimer

This week’s news in brief: Sports events: Over the next two weeks we will begin our sporting events with

the <rst Tablelands District cluster sporting day for rugby

league and netball being held on Monday and our annual

interhouse swimming carnival scheduled for Friday 23rd. The

following Monday are trials in Basketball. In all events, parental

permission must be granted prior to students participating.

Please ensure that signed permission forms are returned to

school as soon as possible. All students are expected to attend the swimming carnival where they can compete,

cheer on their house, support other competitors and interact with each other in a social setting.

Student Resource Scheme Invoicing, Payments and forms Invoicing for the $200 Student Resource Scheme Fee has been completed and Statements generated. Subject

invoicing has begun from the end of week 4. O=setting of prepaid fees will now occur for subjects and new

statements will be sent out. Thanks to all who have paid the current fees and any outstanding previous year’s fees.

Thanks also to those who have returned the Student Resource Scheme Participation Agreement Forms. If you have

not already done so, please return the form for each student. Please also ensure fees are paid for as agreed and by

the end of term unless a payment agreement has been entered into. For any Financial enquiries please call our

Finance Team at the school on 40305222 or email [email protected].

2018 P&C Executive: At last week’s P&C Annual General Meeting, the following were elected as executive of the Atherton SHS P&C for

2018: President Andrew Dennis; Vice President Jerg Edsen; Secretary Rowena Draper; and Michael Lawrence.

School Council: Last Thursday our school council met for the <rst time this year. The focus of the meeting was to consider the

strategic plan for the next four year cycle. An overview of the budget methodology was also tabled and endorsed.

The school council will meet again next week to <nally endorse the improvement plan for 2018 for both this year

and the next four year strategy. The school council is the peak advisory body for the school and consists of equal

numbers of sta=, parents and students.

Week 5/5: February 19 - 23

District Cluster Sports Day #1 19/02/2018

Local Chaplaincy Committee meeting 21/02/2018

Full School Parade 22/02/2018 12:00

Inter house Swimming Carnival 23/02/2018

Week 6/6: February 26 - March 2

District Cluster Sports Day #2 26/02/2018

Parent master class # 2 27/02/2018

Year 12 gambling awareness workshop 01/03/2018

School Council Meeting 01/03/2018

Introduction to leadership workshop 02/03/2018