23 February 2018
Newsletter Articles
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
We are half-way through the term already and a lot has happened since our last newsletter. Just a little while ago we had the chance to welcome and meet many of our Year 7 parents during our ‘Welcome to Year 7’ evening. Our newest cohort seems to be settling into secondary school well. Thank you to all of the parents who came to school to meet staff, ask questions and get to know more about Maleny High.
We finalised our school enrolment numbers at the end of week two with 680 students from Years 7 to 12. Maintaining our population at around 700 students allows us to continue to provide a wide breadth of subjects and experiences.
We are currently focussing on three priority areas:
1. Well-being and building School Culture
- By the end of Term 1, almost 20 staff will be trained in a well-being program called Reboot. Reboot strategies will be delivered by Care Teachers on Tuesday and Friday mornings. This program was discussed at a P&C meeting where parents supported the introduction of this program.
- In the last newsletter I explained how the school had been altered to support our school House Structure. Our House Leaders have been getting to know their 40-60 students. Future activities that students will see themselves involved in include signing up to be a “Big Brother or Sister” to a younger year level. Also, the discussion of House Mascots will also be taking place.
2. Senior Schooling
- Our target for Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) attainment will remain at 100%. In 2017, we reached 99.1% so there is still just a little bit of room for improvement!
- Preparing for the introduction of the new Senior School system known as SATE. The school is exploring Certificate III courses that we will be able to offer our students. We are looking at Events Management, Agriculture, Business and Outdoor Recreation. The introduction of Certificate III courses will allow our students to have these results used as calculations towards their ATAR.
3. Junior Secondary
- The school continues to focus on Reading to Learn (R2L), Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRoR) and New Pedagogies for Deep Learning (NPDL) as our signature pedagogies. These strategies are helping to increase student engagement, understanding and performance. Teachers who have implemented these frameworks have commented positively on how their students approach their learning and also how their application has improved.
- Embedding digital pedagogies within the Junior curriculum is also important. Our youngest students will graduate into a world where the use of devices, software programs and communication using a number of digital means will be common place. Our young people need to be taught in the home, and at school, how to use digital devices safely and productively.
Positive School News
Maleny High’s Year 12 results from 2017 have been outstanding. Every year each school’s results are published in various newspapers across the state. This year our results are reported as 100% QCE, VET and SAT attainment combined; 99.1% QCE attainment; and 98% QTAC offers (this means that 98% of our Year 12 students received either their first or second tertiary study preference). These are outstanding results and I offer my congratulations to all of our 2017 graduates. Quite a number of last year’s graduates have started their tertiary courses, are completing a Gap Year, are travelling or have entered the work place. We wish them all the very best.
The second piece of wonderful news for the school is that Maleny High has been invited to present at a state conference, outlining the work that we are doing to prepare our students and school community for the new senior assessment system. We are honoured to think that our colleagues are looking to our small school and the big differences that we are making, and wanting to know more about what we’re doing.
High School Musical
This year our Creative Arts staff are presenting High School Musical as a major whole school performance. Following the success of the staff performance in 2017, Mystery on the Maleny Express, our talented students are more than willing to show everyone that they are far more impressive than the staff! Our performances will be in Week 11 of Term 2. Please set aside some time to come and support our wonderful students and staff.
The P&C is aiming to raise $8,000 through tax deductable donations to help pay for new stage curtains, and will provide more information about this in the near future. If you are able to help, then this might be a way to assist the school and also claim some tax deductions.
Phew! Until our next edition, take care of yourself and your loved ones.
Regards
Deborah Stewart
WELCOME TO NEW STAFF
We welcome 2 new staff members to Maleny High.
My name is Ricky Ballantyne and I have moved down from teaching in North Queensland to a place where the weather is more palatable.
I am teaching Year 8, 9 and 10 Science and Junior Maths and you can find me in the H block staff room.
My name is Karl Jahnigen, and I am a new teacher that has joined your diverse community this year. I teach the unusual combination of Mathematics and English, and while some believe these two disciplines are mutually exclusive, I am passionate about both of them. I love the logic and problem solving involved in Mathematics, as well as the creativity and expression within the domain of English. In my time off, I like to watch the cricket, read, practise my saxophone and play computer games. All in all, I am enjoying my time at Maleny High School, and look forward to getting to know everyone in this wonderful community.
STUDENT IMMUNISATION
Queensland School Immunisation Program
Disclosure of student and parent information
Frequently asked questions for parents/legal guardians
What is the School Immunisation Program?
Queensland Health's School Immunisation Program offers Year 7 students in state and non–state schools free nationally recommended immunisations to protect against human papillomavirus, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough). Similar programs are offered in other states and territories across Australia.
How does it operate?
The School Immunisation Program commenced as a statewide program in Queensland in 2007 and is the most efficient and effective way to immunise adolescents. Queensland Health authorises school immunisation providers to visit schools and immunise students. To be immunised students must return a consent card signed by their parent/legal guardian. If a consent card is not returned, the student is not vaccinated.
What are the legislative changes relating to student and parent/legal guardian information?
The change to legislation requires the school Principal to provide student and parent/legal guardian information to approved school immunisation providers for the purposes of following up parents/ legal guardians of students who have not returned a consent card. This includes:
- the name and date of birth of a student
- the name, telephone number, email address and postal address of a parent or guardian of a student, and
- any other information prescribed by regulation about a student. This may include the sex of the student and which class or group they are attached to.
How will the changes be beneficial for the school immunisation program?
The changes were needed because a large number of immunisation consent cards were not being returned to school. This meant parents/legal guardians may not have been receiving information about the program and been given the opportunity for their child to be immunised.
The changes mean that the school immunisation providers will be able to determine those who have and have not consented, and directly follow-up with the parents of students who have not returned a consent card. This direct follow-up ensures all parents are offered the opportunity for their child to participate in this important school health program and protect their child against human papillomavirus, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough). It may also assist parents in making decisions about their child's immunisation needs.
If my child returns a consent card to school, will I be contacted?
No. If your child returns a consent card to school, you will not be contacted. However, if you consented to vaccination you may be contacted if the information you provided on the consent card is not clear or incomplete.
As a parent/legal guardian can I decline consent for my child to participate in the school immunisation program?
Yes. You will need to complete the consent card to record your refusal in the 'No to vaccination' section and return the consent card to your child's school. This will ensure you are not contacted by the school immunisation provider.
Is the Principal required to pass on student and parent/legal guardian information to a school immunisation provider?
Yes, unless the Principal determines that it is not in the best interest of the student to pass on the information. An example of this may be a child under a protection order.
How will the information be protected?
All school immunisation providers are bound to comply with the Queensland Information Privacy Act 2009. This Act stipulates the requirements for the secure collection, use, storage and disposal of personal information to be followed by school health program providers.
How will information be transferred, used and stored?
Student and parent information will be given to the school immunisation provider in a secure format agreed to by the Principal and the school immunisation provider early in the school year. The information will be securely stored and only accessed by authorised staff. School immunisation providers must store and dispose of disclosed student information in accordance with the Queensland State Archive guidelines.
How long will the information be retained?
The information will only be retained by the school immunisation provider for the school year that your child is eligible for vaccination. The information will be deleted from any electronic system and hard copies of the information will not be retained.
Where can I get more information?
- Call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)
- Visit Queensland Health's Immunisation website
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/immunisation
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
ASSESSMENT PLANNERS
This year, the school will be making our Assessment Planners more accessible to students and families via One School. These individual planners will enable students to clearly see the assessment tasks due for each subject that they are completing. The planners will also be available for families to access at home to allow parents/guardians to support their learner.
This is just one form of communication as students have been provided with dates in class, and reminded of these as they progress through their subjects.
One School also enables the printing of student timetables from home. Please be aware that assignment due dates are week beginning and that individual class teachers will notify their students of specific submission dates.
To access your student’s planner, please follow the instructions below:
- Click on the link below or select the One School icon on the student desktop when they login.
- Both methods will require the student to have their Username and Password
- Go to Available Reports/Letters (drop down box)
- Select Student Course Planner
- Check that the Timetable Period states: 2018, Semester 1
- Select Assessment
- Select Generate Report
https://oslp.eq.edu.au
Please contact your Care Teacher or Kate Masson (HOD-Teaching and Learning), if you require support.
NEPAL FUNDRAISING
Maleny State High School is taking its first ever humanitarian trip to Kathmandu in the April holidays to volunteer in a school, a home for the aged and an orphanage.
Come along and enjoy a fabulous night market to support Maleny High school students’ efforts to raise funds for the children of Nepal. Food, entertainment, massage, a silent auction, face painting and henna design will be on offer. Market stalls from local businesses and our own school subject departments will be on offer. Be part of the change you want to see in the world, and support our leaders in their endeavours to help others less fortunate.
Also, donations from local businesses and beautiful signed items directly from ex-senator and founder of The Greens, Bob Brown, will be offered at a silent auction. Buskers are on board and there will be a coffee shop with trained baristas. With circus acts and dance items, a children’s tent for face painting, henna art and magic tricks.... it’s going to be so much fun. Come and get a bargain and help raise funds for children in Nepal. A proportion of funds raised will go toward supporting the local Maleny charity efforts of Shed the Light.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PROGRAM
Maleny High recently hosted its first group of students from China. Sixteen students, aged 12-14, arrived feeling very unsure and nervous but soon settled into our Aussie lifestyle.
They participated in many fun activities during their week with us. The students visited the school’s Ag section and had a great time handling chickens and milking cows. They also participated in dancing with our Senior Dance students, cooking vegemite scrolls with a year 9 Home Ec. class and learning about Indigenous Australian history and art. Huge thanks to Ms Duffy, Ms Ebenezer, Ms Biggs and Ms Fox for taking the time out of their usual routine to create fun and exciting experiences for the students. Thanks go also to the students who assisted in these classes. You really helped make the Chinese kids feel welcome and willing to engage in the activities.
The students also had the opportunity to visit Maleny State School, where they interacted with the Languages students, and toured Maleny Dairies.
In between all this action, our Maleny High “buddies” escorted the students to some of their own classes, so that they could see how classes operated differently to China. The amazing Ms Druitt, who conveniently speaks fluent Mandarin, stepped up to the plate along with our International Coordinator, Ms Presnell, to deliver some fun but very beneficial intensive English lessons. The students’ English definitely improved over the week … along with their dingo howls!
Lastly, many thanks to our host families for providing such quality care for these students. Without you, there is no International Program! The kids got to do some amazing things outside of school in the short week they were with us, and a special thanks goes to Michelle Buchanan for coordinating a BBQ dinner mid-week. The kids had a ball just relaxing and enjoying nature.
Our long-term students have integrated well and have certainly become part of the mainstream school. Thanks to host families, staff and students who welcome these kids so openly and assist by showing them around and helping them to settle in. It’s a huge step to leave behind all that’s familiar and fly “down under” to experience a totally different lifestyle!
As always, if you have ever considered hosting a student, please feel free to contact me on 0417738699 for more information.
Karen Price
Homestay Coordinator
International Student Program
YEAR 7 PARENT INFORMATION EVENING
On the afternoon of Tuesday 6 February, Maleny State High School welcomed over 50 parents to the school for a sausage sizzle, meet and greet and information session. The initial meet and greet and BBQ was held on the beautiful front lawn of the school (see picture). Our principal, Ms Deborah Stewart, welcomed our newest parents and gave sound advice about the experiences a teenage child/student may have, as well as recognising those parents starting the secondary school journey for the last time. Ms Tia Law represented the P & C, as the current President, and outlined the role and relationship the P & C has within the school community. Our Chaplain, Mr Hayden Greathead, also briefly outlined his role within the school and introduced himself.
Following a short walk through the school, parents and staff congregated in a classroom for an information session, focussing on the early transition to secondary school and academic pathways. Heads of Departments, Year 7 House Leaders, Administration and Digital Pedagogy/Engagement staff represented their faculties and offerings within the school and answered questions related to Maleny students’ education. A few new apps were added to parent and students’ phones to access the Maleny SHS social media and communicative platforms. It was a great evening and we look forward to the exciting educational journey that awaits our newest cohort at Maleny High.
David O’Shea
Deputy Principal
FROM THE P & C
Please note 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 link below 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.
http://www.flexischools.com.au
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.
