7 February 2018
Newsletter Articles
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
2018 - Bring it on! This year is shaping up to be a fun and important year preparing for the new senior system.
Welcome to all of our Maleny High families, both new and old. The school normally only sends out two newsletters each team. However, this edition is a special one to welcome new staff and to provide information about how our school works.
At our Student Free Days we welcomed the following staff to Maleny High:
NAOMI POOLE
My name is Naomi Poole and I have spent the last 3.5 years teaching at Caloundra State High School. Prior to that I was a Head Teacher of Student Welfare down in Sydney, where I taught for 11 years.
I am located in the Activities Centre staffroom. This year I am teaching both HPE and Science as well as taking a Year 7 and 8 inter school sports team.
LISA WILSON
I'm a teacher at the beginning of my career. I have previously worked in oil & gas exploration/production and in the coal mining industry for >10 years. During this time I performed a variety of advisory roles.
My teaching areas are Maths (junior) and Science. I can be found in the H block staff room.
CALLUM REYNOLDS
I'm Cal, the new ICT technician, and you can usually find me here at Maleny SHS in the library on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
I'm still finishing off the last of my Bachelor of IT/Creative Industries at QUT whilst working between multiple schools in the region.
I look forward to working with all of the staff and students during the coming year.
ANN NEWBORN
My name is Ann Newborn and I am a very experienced English and Humanities teacher, having worked in both Queensland and Northern Territory high schools.
I live in Maleny, but have recently moved from Mountain Creek to Maleny State High School and have appreciated the warm welcome from both staff and students in my first year here.
You can find me in D block staffroom.
LYDIA JAHNKE
My name is Lydia Jahnke and I’m a first time teacher at Maleny SHS.
I am teaching Dance, PE and Science and can be found in G Block staffroom.
ALLYSON WILLIAMS
As a recent teaching graduate from the University of the Sunshine Coast, I am extremely excited and humbled to be teaching Humanities and Maths at Maleny High.
From my previous profession as a climatologist, I bring a wealth of experience to share with my students. I live in D Block Staffroom and look forward to getting to know you.
TESS ATHERTON
Hi, my name is Tess Atherton and I’m a first time teacher at Maleny SHS. After more than 12 years’ industry experience, I chose to follow my life-long dream and become a teacher because I am passionate about education and the opportunities it affords young people.
I currently teach English and Humanities, and can be found in the D Block staffroom.
HAYDEN GREATHEAD
Greetings students and parents. My name is Hayden and I have the privilege of being the Chaplain at Maleny State High School. My passion to serve people, especially the younger generation, in a relational way through the ups and downs of life, has led me to pursue this role.
These are some of the things I do as a School Chaplain: mentor students, provide various support for staff, students and parents, run a free school breakfast and work with local community groups/services and within school activities. I liaise with the school guidance team and if you would like to get in touch with me, I am at the school Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9-3, and contactable by calling the school number and asking for my extension.
We also welcome back Jemma Pollari from her maternity leave, and Chris Rand from extended leave.
Natasha Collis and Brendan Lutze continue on contract.
Deb Price will continue to replace Lyn Stevens as the school’s Guidance Office during Term One.
As you can see, we have many new faces that bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our school.
We welcome the new staff members and hope they find Maleny a great place to work.
SATE Update
Staff spent their student free days preparing for their 2018 classes. The whole teaching staff joined other teachers from Meridan and Nambour State Colleges to hear the latest information regarding the new senior assessment system that starts in 2019. Teachers from all three schools broke up into curriculum areas and spent a few hours talking and discussing how each group would be preparing their students for 2019.
I had the privilege of sitting in on a few of the groups and it was very heartening to listen to professionals talking passionately about their subject areas. Here are two examples of what came from these fruitful discussions:
- Drama teachers across the three schools are all going to study the same script in term one and write an unseen assessment task for each school. As our current year 10s will be the first students to sit external exams, opportunities for our students to sit tasks such as these will help to prepare them for the new system.
- Over 50 Mathematics teachers wrote and shared more than 50 questions that each school can use in order to prepare students.
This is exciting work and I would like to thank Glenn McIntosh, our Senior School Deputy Principal, and our Heads of Department who organised and led this special collaborative professional development.
Maleny High House Structure
Maleny has three houses: Bunya (Green), Mellum (Red) and Obi (Blue). These houses provide the perfect structure to grow school culture, promote leadership and share achievements and experiences.
For students the houses offer a means of providing personal care and mentoring.
Teachers benefit through opportunities to develop meaningful relationships with their students across year levels and over multiple years (as staff will stay with their Roll Mark group for their time at Maleny High, where possible). Houses also allow an ongoing relationship to form between staff and families.
The house structure extends beyond the school gates as relationships between teachers and families are built. House teachers are the ‘go to’ person for parents and care givers who have any questions or concerns regarding their children.
Care Class Groups
Care Classes are made up of students from the same house and year level. These classes meet on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.
On Mondays roll classes will either meet as a whole school assembly or House Group. On Tuesdays and Fridays a support program will be run. Topics may include: well-being, career education and study techniques.
Students and teachers will remain in the same house for their time at Maleny High, where possible. Students will also be placed into the same house as their siblings, where possible.
Until our next edition, take care of yourself and your loved ones
Regards
Deborah Stewart
Welcome Year 7s
We would like to welcome our freshest cohort to the Maleny State High School family. They have made a seamless start to their secondary education and need to be congratulated on their courage, patience and sense of adventure demonstrated during the first two weeks. Many teachers have already commented on the high calibre of students in this year level. On Monday 22nd of January, approximately 125 students walked through the Maleny SHS gates to begin their high school journey. The Year 7 cohort has come from over 20 different primary schools, which means that there have been many new friendships developed over the past 6 days.
During the next few weeks the Year 7 transition program continues with the Year 7 Parent Welcome afternoon, intra-school Care Class sports competition and ‘Year 7 is Awesome Day’. Our 2018 theme for the Year 7s is “I Belong” and many of these events and activities will foster a sense of belonging within the students’ classes, year level, house and school.
Vaccinations permission envelopes are due this Friday to access free on-site vaccinations provided by Ozcare.
Our Year 7 House Leaders for 2018 are Ms Natasha Collis (Bunya), Ms Anita Curley (Mellum) and Ms Kate Masson (Obi). This team’s focus is student wellbeing, behaviour expectations and the individualised case management of each student in Year 7.
We are all impressed by the start this cohort has made and look forward to a great 2018 with our youngest students. We’re also excited about meeting many of our Year 7 parents/carers at next Tuesday’s (06/02/2018) Parent Night beginning at 5:00pm at the school.
Mr David O’Shea
Deputy Principal
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
BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE NEWS
BYOD connections have started with the Year 11 & 12 students being invited to connect their devices from the 29th of January to the 2nd of February. It is good to see that parents & students are recognising the importance of having their own device for school.
We will be letting the other grades know when they can connect their devices via school notices. To guarantee a quick on-boarding process, please ensure the following has been completed prior to connection:
- The student SRS has been paid, or a payment plan has been organised.
- The student must be an administrator on the device.
- Make sure the latest operating system update has been downloaded and installed.
- Ensure software that requires an internet connection is turned off or shut down. Programs such as Spotify, Steam and Skype can interfere with the connection process.
- If you have made adjustments on your device to utilise VPNs, this many interfere with the connection process. Please don’t do this. These devices are for education and learning.
- Ensure you have two internet browsers on your device. Some examples are Chrome or Firefox.
- Ensure your device is fully charged. Remember that the device is not allowed to be charged at school.
- Make sure you have downloaded and installed the free Microsoft Office program. This enables you to be ready to go as soon as you connect. You can find instructions about how to download Microsoft Office at the website below:
https://malenyshs.eq.edu.au/Facilities/Computersandtechnology/Pages/Student-Advantage.aspx
If you have any questions about the BYOD program, please contact Mr. Simon Kranz via skran6@eq.edu.au or (07) 5499 8128.
Mr. Simon Kranz
Digital Pedagogies Head of Curriculum
INTERSCHOOL SPORT
Year 7 Sport
Our youngest members of Maleny High have now chosen a sport for their up and coming interschool competition. Hopefully you have received, from your student, an information letter about this, as these were given to students at sport selections on the first Thursday of term. The students will have a couple of weeks to train and learn the necessary skills for their sport before the first round of competition in week 5. Once the draw has been finalised, coaches will distribute these to all students. Please ensure your student is wearing their sports uniform (polo shirt & shorts/skorts) to school on Thursday. Students need to ensure they have their school hat and a full water bottle ready for Sport at the end of lunch. Good luck to all teams!
Year 8 Sport
Our Year Eight students have just entered their second year of interschool sport at Maleny High. The competition in Year 8 encompasses a greater range of schools on the coast and culminates with a Finals Day at the end of both the Summer and Winter competitions. All students received information letters about Year 8 Sport on the first Wednesday of term. Students will continue to trial and/or train for the remainder of the term before the interschool competition kicks off in Term 2. Please ensure your student is prepared for Sport on a Wednesday afternoon.
If you have any further questions, please contact the HPE Department on 5499 8129.
We look forward to a great year of sport at Maleny High!
FROM THE P & C
Please note that the uniform shop is open during the following hours only:
TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY - 8am till 11am
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.
Visit the below website to register.
http://www.flexischools.com.au/
Once registered, you can purchase uniforms OR pre-order from 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.
Go to the below website:
http://www.flexischools.com.au/
- Click the REGISTER button below.
- Enter your email.
- You will be emailed a link to an online form - follow the link.
- Choose a username and password and complete the form.
- Add each student and their class.
- Top-up the account - VISA, Mastercard or Direct Deposit.
COMMUNITY NOTICES
Maleny Rangers Football Club
Sunshine Coast Football
