17 March 2017

Newsletter Articles

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

Lions’ Youth of the Year

Since last newsletter, we learned that Rosie Martin (Year 12) won the public speaking component of the Lions’ Youth of the Year competition. Esmi Doonan (Year 12) won the overall competition, based upon consideration of her application, interview, response to impromptu questions and prepared speech. Esmi has since gone on to represent the school at the district finals. Over the course of the competition it has been amazing to see just how much Esmi has developed her skills and confidence. All contestants have represented our school, community and their families beautifully. Congratulations to Esmi for all of the time and effort that she has put into this competition.

Stymie

‘Stymie’ has been introduced to Maleny State High School as a tool to help assist students in reporting bullying and other ‘at risk’ behaviours in an anonymous way. On Monday, 13 March students attended a 20-30 minute presentation on ‘Stymie’ where the co-founder of this program showed students how the system works and the benefits of looking out for each other. Stymie allows students and bystanders, who may feel unsafe or be victims themselves, to report bullying and anything that they see/hear/receive that is worrying.

Many of our Junior students, in particular, have found themselves caught up in the digital online world. Some of our young people have been suspended or reported to child protection as a result of their online behaviours. I would strongly encourage as many parents as possible to keep Thursday, 4 May free for a parent presentation. This will commence at 6pm and be held in the Activities Centre (hall). Many parents would be frightened by the behaviours of some of our teenagers, and just how quickly they become involved in dangerous situations. Together the school and parents can make a difference in the lives of our young people.

Senior Assessment and Tertiary Entrance

The new senior assessment system may start as early as Semester 2 of 2018 for our Year 10 students. This will bring in a new era of internal and external assessment procedures that schools will need to learn, and be on top of, if we want to see a continuation of the excellent results this school is known for. Parents of Year 9 and Year 7 students are invited to an information session on Tuesday 16 May, from 6pm, in H01 and H02. During this evening session, we will be seeking parental input into the subjects that the school might offer, and discuss the future direction of Senior Schooling. Information is becoming available from the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA), however serious planning is required to ensure that smooth and efficient procedures are in place.

Be Brave and Shave, Say No to Bullying, and Harmony Day

Our students have the opportunity to participate in a number of worthwhile causes that encourage greater understanding of, and empathy towards, the world and people around them. Six students, will take the plunge this year and shave their heads to raise awareness and funds for leukaemia research. ‘Say No to Bullying’ is a public voice where many people come together to stand up to bullying and send the message that it is not acceptable in our society. Harmony Day is held to celebrate the multi-cultural diversity that we experience as Australians. It is this diversity that will continue to strengthen our school and local community. Funds raised will go towards purchasing phone cards for refugees so they can call their families and remain connected.

The school is allowing free dress days for Be Brave and Shave and for Harmony day. Students have been reminded to dress appropriately as they still have to attend classes outside, and in laboratories, workshops, kitchens and studios. Students have also been asked to contribute a gold coin that will go towards the various charities. The slogan is: ‘If someone can see up it, down it, or through it, then it is not appropriate for school wear’.

Chaplain Update

The school is ready to shortlist and interview suitable candidates for the Chaplaincy position at Maleny State High School. Members from the Chaplaincy Committee and a student will make up the selection panel. Fingers crossed that we will have a Chaplain in place for the start of Term 2.

Until the next edition, take care.

Regards,
Deb Stewart

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Absence Line: Ph: 5499 8101

Please leave a message before 8am if your student will be absent from school on that day.

Collection of Students during school hours:

If you wish to collect your student(s) during school hours, please ensure that all arrangements are made prior to the student attending school, as we do not have phones in classrooms. Please provide a note or a phone call to the school detailing/outlining the departure time, reason and who will be collecting the student.

Office Hours

TEMPORARY CLEANING POSITION

MSHS has a temporary position for a school cleaner for the period 18/4/2017 – 13/10/2017. See details below.

FROM THE GUIDANCE OFFICER

WOMEN IN THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE

On Thursday 9th March four Year 11 students took the opportunity to attend a High Tea at the Mantra Mooloolaba with our Guidance Officer, Ms Lyn Stevens.

During the morning a range of women from a variety of roles presented motivational talks to a gathering of senior female students from Sunshine Coast high schools.

Brianna, Cloey, Mikaylah and Nicole stated that it was an inspirational morning which provided the opportunity to connect with ADF staff who could mentor their journeys. The students listened to the service personnel who outlined: their journey to the ADF; the lifestyle and opportunities in the ADF; and roles from Intelligence to Marine Technician to Logistics and Procurement.

Mikaylah, Cloey and Nicole are photographed with Major Sharon Cord; Leading Seaman Liv Brown; Squadron Leader Doherty and Captain Sarah Bawden.

The ADF are holding a FEMALE ONLY YOU session in Maroochydore on Thursday 6th April.

RSVP to wid@dfr.com.au.

Please also look at the information evening flyers attached for Submariner and GAP year opportunities.

The Defence also offers a work experience program and would encourage all to look at these opportunities on the Defence Force Work Experience website.

Regards

Ms Lyn Stevens
Guidance Officer

2017 NEXT STEP SURVEY

The Queensland Government is conducting its annual statewide survey of all students who completed Year 12 in 2016. The Next Step survey is a brief, confidential survey that gains a comprehensive picture of the employment, study and life choices made by Queensland school completers in the year after they finish Year 12.

Between March and June, all our students who completed Year 12 last year can expect to receive instructions to complete a web-based survey or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office to complete the survey. Please take part. If your contact details have changed, please assist the interviewer with updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate.

Thank you for your support of the Next Step survey in 2017.

Further information on Next Step is available online at the link below or: on toll free telephone 1800 068 587.

ENGLISH NEWS

ENGLISH COMMUNICATION

This term in our Year 12 English Communication class we have been studying mental illnesses and how they affect the lives of Australian people. On Wednesday, 8th March, we had two guest speakers: one who came from down the coast, Jacinta from Headspace, and a Maleny music legend, Col Finley. Headspace is a national youth mental health foundation and Jacinta gave us an insight on how it is run, what it aims to achieve, and how to have a healthy mind set. Jacinta made us aware of what mental illnesses are and how they can affect your life while also providing strategies on how to manage them, such as participating in physical activity, having a healthy diet and setting realistic goals. Jacinta also mentioned that there are many Headspace centres across Australia and there’s more to come. Our local Headspace centres are located in Maroochydore and Caboolture. Headspace can also be accessed online through the Headspace website which is a private and anonymous service.

Col Finley’s journey started with him playing high school football which he continued playing for part of his 20s. He then moved on to join the air force before he found himself in the music industry. The music industry opened up opportunities for Col to travel the world and record albums. As his music career blossomed, with successes including top Aria charting songs and albums, it wasn’t until he started abusing drugs and alcohol that he realised that he was suffering from anxiety and depression. With help from his wife, his rock, he was able to get clean, focus on his music and start to help others. Col’s album sales from “Above the Blue,” and local concert generated over $30,000 in fundraising of which $18,000 was donated to beyondblue nationally and $12,000 intended for local charities that help people with mental illness. At the end of Col’s session he played us one of the songs from his album. The music and the lyrics from the song were extremely personal, touching and moving, and left an impact on us all. Before Col left he gave us all a generous gift of his “Above the Blue” album and even offered to sign them.

We would like to thank both Jacinta and Col for the eye-opening experience they have given us.

This term we have learnt that if you are ever feeling as though you can’t cope and need to talk, find someone you can reach out to whether it be a friend, a family member or a place like Headspace.

By Megan Campbell, Tamara Forsdike and Maddison Janke- Murtagh.

FROM THE P & C

UNIFORM UPDATE

Parents are reminded that the older style grey polo shirt is no longer considered part of the Maleny State High School uniform. The navy shirt (below) was introduced two years ago and families were given this time as a transition period. We ask for parent support in ensuring that your child is correctly, and safely, attired in the full school uniform. The uniform has been carefully chosen for its durability and safety in varied environments (workshops, studios, kitchens, laboratories…). Uniforms are available from the Uniform Shop (located near the canteen).

Note: uniforms can be ordered and paid for at any time via Flexi Schools online, and collected from the Uniform Shop/Canteen.

2017
UNIFORM SHOP OPENING HOURS

TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY
8.30AM – 9.30AM

Why not register for ‘Flexischools’ to purchase your school uniforms online, 24 hours, 7 days a week! Pick up is available 5 days a week.

Once registered, you can purchase uniforms OR pre-order your tuckshop!

Flexischools

Online ordering is a convenient way to place orders, providing a 24/7 payment and ordering system that can be accessed from home, work or a mobile device.

Online ordering is faster and more accurate, giving parents peace of mind that their order and payment is received accurately at the school.

This service is available for canteen and uniform orders for Maleny State High School.

Registration Instructions:

Free, easy, online registration.

Step 1: Click the REGISTER button below.
Step 2: Enter your email.
Step 3: You will be emailed a link to an online form - follow the link.
Step 4: Choose a username and password and complete the form.
Step 5: Add each student and their class.
Step 6: Top-up the account - VISA, Mastercard or Direct Deposit.

SCHOOL CAPTAINS’ REPORT

Welcome to the second edition of our newly introduced School Captains’ Report. The past few weeks have slowed down since the start of the year; however, we still have plenty of things to keep us busy!

As some of you may know, the Lions Club runs its annual Youth of the Year Quest. The first level is the club judging. This year we had four participants: Esmi Doonan, Corey May, and two of our school captains; Rosie Martin, and Chantelle Bozicevic. After filling out an application about our community, cultural, leadership, and sporting activities, we each attended an individual interview on Sunday, 19th of February with members of the Lions Club and a panel of esteemed judges. This was followed by a formal dinner on the 21st, where each participant was to answer two impromptu questions, followed by a 5 minute prepared speech. Each participant answered their impromptu questions eloquently and every answer was different. The prepared speeches covered a wide range of topics, and left the audience with a lot to think about. At the end of the night, Rosie Martin was awarded the Public Speaking award, and Esmi Doonan was announced the overall winner. We would like to congratulate Esmi and Rosie on their achievements, as well as thank the Maleny and Blackall Range Lions Club for giving each of us the opportunity to participate in such an esteemed event. We wish Esmi the best of luck at the district level, to be held at the school library on the 12th of March.

On Wednesday, 1st March, our school ran the ‘Year 7 Awesome Day’ program. This is a day of fun games and activities to get the Year 7s to work as a cohort and get to know each other, as well as teach them a few things about high school. The first session of the day was a performance of ‘Terrortorial’ by Shake’n’Stir’s travelling theatre company. The performance was great and the year 7s left it a little less nervous about their new school! After the performance, all the house captains and school captains came to join the year 7s and help run some of the fun activities planned for the rest of the day, including a ‘toilet paper and garbage bag fashion show’, and an inter-house dance competition. It was great for the school leaders to get to know our newest students, as well as get them all working together and encouraging each other!

On the 16th February Kai and Sascha attended the first P & C meeting of the year. It was an enjoyable experience as we discovered many things that the P & C do for our school community that may not be recognised or known by the student body. We wanted to share our ideas, as the School Captain leadership team, for the 30 year celebrations. We wanted to gauge their opinions and think of other possible ideas. Overall, it was a valuable experience which allowed us to connect with more of the school community.

On the 20th February Sascha attended the district swimming carnival at Cotton tree. She spent the day timing swimmers, and getting splashed. Maleny did very well and she was happy to represent Maleny High and show our schools team spirit. Overall, it was a fun day and she was very proud to be a part of such an amazing school.

We wish everyone good luck entering the heavy exam and assignment period, and can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings our way.

Yours sincerely,

The Maleny High Leadership Team
Written by Sascha Rexa and Chantelle Bozicevic

SCIENCE NEWS

What’s Been Happening In Junior Science

Year 7

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink. The Year 7s have been looking at natural resources, mainly water. They have investigated the water cycle and various ways to separate mixtures. Filtration, evaporation and distillation pracs have been conducted by the year 7s and fun learning has happened.

Year 8

It’s all about the chemistry in Year 8. The differences between physical and chemical changes, the state of matter – solids, liquids and gases, the periodic table and chemical reactions. Some memorable pracs for the Year 8s were experimenting with dry ice, creating a black snake and making elephant’s toothpaste.

Year 9

Year 9 have been investigating the physics behind heat, sound and light. The experiment below simulated convection currents and explained how hot air/liquids rise while cold air/liquids sink. They have also learnt how the human ear works and why their teacher can’t hear the same range that they can. Check out the following website to see how your hearing compares to your students.

Mrs Sandie Lewis

SPORT NEWS

DISTRICT SWIMMING TEAM

Recently, a team of 25 swimmers, parent and student helpers, and teachers travelled to the Cotton Tree pool to participate in the District Swimming Carnival. The weather was fantastic but the swimmers were even better. I was so proud of the effort put in by Maleny State High students, plus their behaviour was outstanding.

We may not have won any age champions or school trophies, but as far as I am concerned all of our students were winners.

A personal thank you to Jacqui Hensel and Stephen Weyman (parent helpers), Sascha Rexa (student helper) and Brad Williams (teacher) for your day spent on the stopwatches.

Sandie Lewis

YEAR LEVEL COORDINATORS’ NEWS

As part of our Positive Behaviour Plan, our Year Level Coordinators make a concerted effort to reward our students who continually make great choices. For the past three terms our YLCs have rewarded students who have achieved exceptional outcomes on their Effort and Behaviour ratings. As part of our continual improvement agenda, our teachers recently moderated how we award these ratings.

The Maleny Effort and Behaviour Matrix is our guide to describing the behaviours we expect to see to award different ratings. It is aligned with our Statement of Purpose. This matrix will allow teachers to make consistent judgements across classes and describes what we want to see in our students on their journey to become lifelong learners.

Please see the attached PDF document for the matrix.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

LIONS YOUTH OF THE YEAR 2017

Once again, a group of our Year 12 students have demonstrated their outstanding leadership, motivation and commitment by participating in this year’s Lions’ Youth of the Year competition. The competition started in 1964, in Brisbane, and seeks to recognise and foster academic achievement, leadership, personality, sporting and cultural interests, community involvement and public speaking in young people.

Late last year our senior students were offered the opportunity to enter the quest. At the start of this year they began working on their applications in earnest and on Sunday, 19 February, Chantelle Bozicevic, Esmi Doonan, Rosie Martin and Corey May completed their interviews with members of the Maleny and Blackall Range Lions Club. On Tuesday, 21 February the students presented their prepared five minute speeches to 98 audience members (consisting of community and Lions Club members, and their family and friends). They also had to respond to two impromptu questions, each requiring a response of up to two minutes.

The first question asked the students which social media they used and why. The second question asked them to expand upon the benefits of phasing out plastic shopping bags. Two minutes of public speaking, on the spot, with no preparation is a very daunting task indeed. I’m convinced that many of the audience members could not have achieved what our four students did on that night.

After this component of the quest the students presented their prepared speeches. Rosie spoke passionately about the need to increase adoption rates in Australia. Chantelle took us on a moving journey entitled ‘Trading Playgrounds for Pistols’ as she described life as a child soldier. Esmi’s speech, entitled ‘Killer Entertainment’ implored us to give thought to the killer whales imprisoned in water parks around the world simply for human entertainment. Corey reminded us of the importance of ‘Drs ABCD’ and just how essential an immediate and accurate response is during an emergency first-aid situation.

The judging panel on the evening consisted of Dr Jenny Clarke (recently retired Principal of Mapleton State School and a teacher of 45 years’ experience), Dr Noni Keys (lecturer in Communication and Sustainability from the School of Communications at Sunshine Coast University) and Mr Tim Bagshaw (local businessperson and recipient of the Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship for dedication to Apex and the Maleny community). They described our students as ‘fine ambassadors for the Maleny community’ and remarked that the judging was ‘exceptionally close’.

Our congratulations are extended to all four of our entrants. Rosie Martin was the winner of the public speaking section and received a $200 bursary that she can use towards her personal development expenses. Esmi Doonan was announced as the overall club winner. She is the recipient of a $1000 bursary that is to be put towards her own personal development such as academic studies, courses/workshops, a possible Youth Exchange to an overseas country, sporting memberships or trade tools.

Esmi will now represent Maleny High at the regional competition which is to be held on Sunday, 12 March at Maleny High. We wish her all the very best in her preparations.

Our thanks are extended to the members of the Maleny and Blackall Range Lions Club for their support and encouragement of both our students and our school.

If you’re a Year 11 student this year, think about entering the quest next year. Talk to Chantelle, Corey, Esmi and Rosie about their experiences this year. If you see Lachlan White (2016 Maleny High Vice-Captain and 2016 Lions’ Youth of the Year club winner), ask him about his journey and how this took him all the way to New Zealand.

Peta Fredericks
Head of English/Languages

SUNSHINE COAST LIBRARY INFORMATION

“Sunshine Coast Libraries encourages children to use the resources and facilities on offer. Supervision of children in the library is the responsibility of their parents or guardian.

Sunshine Coast Libraries staff do not have the required qualifications, nor the legal responsibility to care for children who are left unattended.

Parents and guardians are responsible for information or materials children may access through the Library Service including websites and online information.

If a child, under the age of 12 is found to be unattended, the library may take action to resolve this situation.”

Many thanks and kind regards,

Amanda Kennedy | Maleny Library supervisor
Library Services | Community Relations
Community Services | Sunshine Coast Council
Phone: 07 5435 3125
Email: amanda.kennedy@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
Website: www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
Mail: Locked Bag 72, Sunshine Coast Mail Centre Qld 4560

WRITING AND ART FUN WORKSHOPS

Please see attached flyer about workshops being held by Gondor Writers’ Centre at Landsborough during the school holidays

AFL

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