23 March 2018
Newsletter Articles
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
Principal’s Newsletter – March
Just one more week and we are on our Easter vacation already! This year is certainly flying by. The school is in full swing: students in the Cattle Show Team have already completed their first show, swimmers have competed in the district and regional finals, sports stars have trialled for regional sports teams, and our musical is rehearsing every lunch hour. I stopped by to watch a couple of dances and, let me tell you all that, this is going to be a production you will want to see more than once.
Lions’ Youth of the Year
Three of our students represented Maleny State High School at the District competition that was held at the Orangery Restaurant on Tuesday, 27 February. I was very proud of how Elisha Biggs, Mikki Doonan and Taylor Swanson presented themselves throughout the evening. My thanks go to all of the parents for their ongoing support. Unfortunately, only one winner could go on to the Regional finals so Mikki, as the winner of both the public speaking and overall competition, was our representative. On Saturday, 10 March Mikki continued her quest and, again, won the public speaking section, but did not win overall. I whole-heartedly congratulate Mikki on this achievement, as no one can tell me the last student from Maleny High to win this section of the competition at Regional level.
International Women’s Day Breakfast
On Thursday, 8 March, students, parents and teachers gathered to enjoy a breakfast to recognise International Women’s Day. Auntie Lynn Chapman spoke about her life and her journey thus far. Lynn is a proud Indigenous woman and shared her experiences of growing up in Cherbourg in what they called the ‘prison’. She spoke about how her mother and father had to apply to get married and drew our attention to their marriage licence. She outlined the opportunities that came her way, how she has brought up her own children, and her love of watching her grandchildren grow.
Karen Law was our second speaker and took us all on a journey from England through rural Australia and, ultimately, to the Sunshine Coast. She has made Australia her home even with a dislike of heat, snakes and airline travel. Karen told us about the changes that needed to be made to her pathway when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Meditation and a healthy mind have helped her cope with the disease, and made her an author along the way. Karen is also a talented musician and songwriter, and shared some of her work with us. She had the whole room singing at 8.15am in the morning. I’m not sure what the passing students thought, but everyone inside was enjoying a magical start to the day.
Interact
Yet again, our Maleny High Interact club has been awarded the Phillip Blakey Shield for being the best Interact club in South-East Queensland at an event on Sunday, 11 March. The Rotarians hosted a very enjoyable day where our staff and students had the opportunity to mingle with representatives from other schools. Thank you to Fran Tickle and Kerry Hindle who give up so much of their time to provide our students with opportunities to develop their skills and give back to their community.
Another way that Maleny High is giving back to its community is through the ‘Shave for a Cure’ cancer research fundraiser. Mr O’Shea (finally) shaved off his beard at a school parade where over $800 was raised. Hannah P (Year 8) shaved off her glorious locks at the Maleny Pool on Sunday, 18 March. What a fabulous student and what an amazing cause! Thank you to all who participated and donated.
Night Markets
Our recent Night Markets were an amazing success with nearly $2000 raised to support the orphanages in Nepal that our students and teachers will visit, and work with, during the Easter holidays. Thank you to those who came and purchased, those who donated goods to be sold at the markets, and those who performed and enthralled our guests. Our team of intrepid student organisers worked hard and certainly learned valuable lessons about how to coordinate such a big event.
Digital Revolution
This is quietly happening around the school and you will increasingly see teachers using One Note to provide their students with resources and interactive opportunities. Ms Penney’s Senior Maths B and C students are using One Note to collaborate and form study groups. They are submitting their homework and assessment online, and exploring just what this kind of learning experience can offer.
I love seeing students using technology in positive and powerful ways to increase their understanding and interaction with their learning material. However, as with any new device, we must teach our young people how to use technology wisely and kindly. Much has been said in the media about cyber bullying but, as adults, we need to work together to teach our young people how to use technology correctly. I am asking parents to actively engage with their children about what they do, where they go and who they meet online. We wouldn’t let our young people behind the wheel of a car without talking to them about road rules and providing them with guidance and lessons, so this same philosophy must be applied to any device we give our young people. Adults should be setting the ‘rules’ and parameters about how technology is used. Please, become involved in your child’s online engagement. Begin conversations about what they’re doing, who they’re ‘meeting up’ with, the sites they’re visiting and what they’re learning. Please set positive examples about appropriate usage. Please support my teachers by talking with your students at home and becoming involved in their ‘online’ lives. Together we can make a difference and keep our young people safe.
Uniforms
As the cold weather starts to set in I encourage all parents to buy plain, dark blue/navy jumpers for their children. Students will be asked to change into school jumpers if they are consistently out of uniform. At the moment there is no rule as to what style or what material jumpers need to be, but if more and more students are out of uniform, then the school will have to introduce a school jumper that every student will be required to wear.
Another issue about uniforms that has come to my attention is the rumour that all parents will be asked to purchase uniforms with the new Maleny High logo. Let me be very clear, this is not the case. At P&C meetings in 2017, when the new logo was being discussed, I said that the old logo was still an official school logo and it would not be discarded. Naturally, as we sell out of old stock and new stock has to be ordered, this will feature the new logo. All students can purchase a uniform item with the new logo now, but no one will be made to get rid of their current uniforms. The only uniform item that is no longer acceptable is the grey polo shirt from some years ago. This is no longer to be worn as it is not part of the school uniform. I hope this has dismissed the rumours that are circulating.
Reporting
During last month’s school P&C meeting I presented parents with a new framework for reporting called Track Ed. This format provides considerably more information about student progress. So, on the last day of this term the report cards that you’re familiar with will be emailed to parents. Yes, you read correctly - report cards will be issued before the holidays start. The new format (Track Ed) will be emailed to parents during Week One of Term Two. The Administration team would be very interested in parent feedback on the new format, so please pass on your thoughts during the parent/teacher interviews that will be held on Tuesday, 24 April. For our new parents, there will be no classes held on this day so that, from 12.00pm to 6.00pm, we can conduct our interviews. This time frame provides parents with more opportunities to book an interview, and also greater flexibility with the timing. More information on how to book interviews with your child’s teachers will come out with the report cards. All interviews will be held in the school’s Activities Centre.
As I said in my introductory paragraph, the school is in full swing and many exciting things are happening. I regularly say to the students that they reap what they sow, so I encourage you all to put time and effort into your child’s learning at Maleny State High School as you will receive opportunities that bring you joy and happiness. Until our next edition, remember not to eat too much chocolate over the break. Happy Easter!
Regards
Deborah 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
FROM THE ARTS DEPARTMENT
The stars shine bright at Maleny High School
It’s no surprise that Maleny High School receives 4.5 out of 5 from ratemyteacher.com. From the Principal handing out icy poles on hot days to teachers donating their free time to after school activities, the staff go many extra miles for their students. Dedicated Drama teacher Robyn Jones, described as a “pillar” of inspiration by one of her students, invited the Noosa Film Academy to deliver a filmmaking workshop.
Greg Huglin, Academy Award Winning Cinematographer for his work on “The Cove”, founded the Noosa Film Academy with the idea of inspiring young Australian filmmakers. He was delighted with “the talent, focus and commitment these young people brought to the experience. It’s a real credit to the type of progressive and engaged teaching staff Maleny SHS should be really proud of.”
Three afterschool sessions gave the students insight into pre-production, filming and editing processes. Using a scripted story board, the students created a short film which will be entered into a film festival encouraging the community to become more aware of the ability of people with a disability. The students stand to win a $10,000 prize for their school, just rewards for this multi-talented group. Those extra miles from the teachers are certainly propelling their students to new heights while turning the spotlight onto a socially conscious message. No wonder these Maleny SHS stars shine so bright.
COUNTDOWN TO NEPAL
Over the past 12 months a group of Maleny High students, teachers and parents have been preparing a humanitarian trip to Kathmandu, Nepal. We depart for Volunteer Nepal headquarters on the 1st of April at 10 a.m. Following 19 hours of travel we will arrive at Kathmandu airport and be greeted by our hosts for the following 12 days of volunteering in charity projects. A group of 14 students, 4 teachers and 6 parents will undertake placement in a variety of Volunteer Nepal projects:
- Bal Mandir, Nepal’s largest government-run orphanage.
- The elderly ashram at Pashupati, one of the few resources available to impoverished people nearing the ends of their lives in Kathmandu.
- The Way of Happiness Centre, a non-profit movement to develop individual health, career, relationship and spirituality.
- OCPF, a struggling nearby orphanage.
We attend the individual projects through the day and then in the late afternoon we will form activity workshop groups and conduct four educational programs as part of The Chelsea Centre summer camp for their students who are on a break from their regular classes. All our participants are looking forward to the challenges that await them and are in the midst of planning for their workshop lessons and sourcing materials to take with them to donate and use as a part of their activity.
One group will be working with Nepali children on a mural design based on the theme of connection. Another is going to be creating a Drama and Dance performance on the same theme. We will be conducting literacy and writing workshop with the intention of creating personal recount and some autobiographical writing. And finally there will be a selection of guest speeches conducted by some of our parents on topics related to health, (we have a nurse and a dentist with us) to trade and construction work.
In the lead up to traveling to Volunteer Nepal we organised a night market fundraiser to raise money for our other charity interest ‘Shed the Light’, a local group who raise money for the education of children in Nepal. We asked local businesses, parents and some of our school departments to purchase a stall or donate profits from the night to contribute to the ‘Shed the Light’ program in Nepal, establishing a school and funding education for children in Chepung village, a remote rural community approx. seven hours drive from Kathmandu. There were performances of music, dance and trapeze, food stalls, essential oils, candles, jewellery and clothing and our biggest seller on the night, a second hand book stand.
We were pleased to raise $2200 that will be able to provide all the necessary equipment and resources for about 50 of the 138 students needing assistance. Upon our return we hope to continue fundraising in order to help more children. The Nepali shop in town would be more than happy to accept any donation that you may wish to add to our efforts.
Our market was covered in The Hinterland Gazette recently and the article is included for you here if you missed it.
One of our Year 12 students, Ellen Sanderson, also approached Andrew Powell for a grant and we were successful. We received $250 from Andrew’s Round 1 Local Heroes Grants.
If you feel that you can help our endeavour, please feel free to email myself or come to the school and contribute a donation through the student services desk to the P & C who will pass it on to our charity. Forty dollars enables a child to attend school for a year, ninety dollars provides them with a teacher.
Thanks to all those who have helped us to get this far with this remarkable opportunity. Stay tuned for our report when we get back from our adventure.
This photo is of the humanitarian trip team. We are missing Neive Vinall, Isabella Gray, Max Sullivan Hogberg and Keira Hoschke.
Robyn Jones
Rjone122@eq.edu.au
B.A.Dip. Ed. Drama / English
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
Clean Up Australia Day Newsletter Article
On Friday, 2nd of March, Maleny State High School students and staff pulled up their sleeves and put on their gloves for Clean Up Australia Day. The event was organised and run by our Environment Committee, with the help of the house captains and house leaders.
Our houses Mellum, Obi and Bunya took to their allocated clean-up areas and spent the afternoon scouring the school grounds for rubbish, battling it out for the title of ‘Clean Up Australia Day’ champion. At the end of the day, Bunya took home the win, having collected an entire wheelie bin of waste as well as bags of bonus point items. Obi came in a close second with the biggest collection of recycling, with Mellum not far behind. Overall, an enormous amount of effort was made by everyone to make sure our small part of the planet is kept litter-free.
By Aislinn Murray
EARTH HOUR
Join the largest global movement for the environment. The fight for our planet’s future is on!
Australia is home to some of the world’s most iconic and breathtaking natural landscapes and wildlife. But, just like many of the natural wonders across our blue-green planet, we’re facing massive threats to our biodiversity due to climate change. That’s why millions of people in over 180 countries are switching off their lights for Earth Hour as a symbolic gesture to show the need for stronger climate action. Are you ready to join the movement, Australia? It’s time to switch off and #Connect2Earth.
Don’t forget to switch your lights off this Saturday 24th March for Earth Hour between 8:30pm-9:30pm
Sign up to switch off for Earth Hour and you could #Connect2Earth with an unforgettable trip to the Great Barrier Reef:
https://www.earthhour.org.au/
HUMANITIES NEWS
This term, our Year 10 History students began their year studying World War II. In this unit students investigated the causes, effects and impacts of the conflict, international relationships, and Australia's involvement in the war. Students also examined significant events during the war such as the Holocaust, the Kokoda Campaign and the atomic bomb.
As part of their studies, students joined together across classes to work collaboratively on a project where they analysed sources to create a map of the Kokoda Track.
The Year 10 students now begin their second unit of study, "Rights and Freedoms".
INTERACT
CONGRATULATIONS MALENY HIGH SCHOOL INTERACT CLUB
On Sunday, 11th March, seven of our Interact students: Mikki Doonan, Rosie Skull, Sarah Hindle, Luca Curiale, Max Doonan, Sam Hamilton-Barry and Nathaniel Audley set out with Ms Kerry Hindle, John and Bernice McLennan from Maleny Rotary and Ms Fran Tickle, to attend the Annual Interact Conference at St. Columban’s College, Caboolture. We attended our first Conference in 2006, and have attended every one since then.
The Conference brings together Interact Clubs (high school students) and Earlyact Clubs (primary school students) from throughout Rotary District 9600. District 9600 encompasses parts of South-East Queensland from the north side of Brisbane as far out as Kingaroy and Murgon. It also includes Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Nauru.
These are wonderful days where young people can get together and share their stories of how they work together within their school, their local community, and on an International level, to make a difference. When you listen to their stories, and watch their presentations, you can’t help but be inspired. I am certain that our future is in good hands. It is also a great opportunity to glean new ideas from other clubs.
It was a fun-filled day, and I would say it was the best Interact Conference I have attended. There were two brilliant guest speakers, and a couple of break-out sessions where the students did getting to know you activities. It was very well attended, which was great to see, and our students acquitted themselves beautifully. The day is sponsored by Rotary, and we must say a huge ‘Thank You’ to our local Rotary Club for their unwavering support over the last 12 years. They have been there every step of the way.
I would like to congratulate the members of the Maleny High School Interact Club on winning the ‘Phillip Blakey’ shield for being the best Interact Club in Rotary District 9600. I would also like to include in this our Year 12 Interact members from 2017 who contributed so much to our success. I am so very proud of each and every one of you. Well done!
Thank you,
Fran Tickle
INTERSCHOOL SPORT
Year 7 Sport
We are over half way through the term and students have started the competition phase of interschool sport. We’ve had some great results from our youngest members of the Maleny High community. Unfortunately one week was a ‘wash out’ due to the heavy rain we’ve experienced lately. Students will be competing on a Thursday afternoon right up until the last Thursday of term. Please ensure your student is prepared for sport these days. Students have been reminded to bring a packed lunch on Thursdays, as they won’t be able to access the tuckshop during second lunch on these days. Good luck to all teams for the remainder of the season.
Year 8 Sport
Students have selected and/or trialled for teams and all teams have now been finalised. Students will continue to train on a Wednesday afternoon during the allocated sport period. This gives students the time to develop and build on the skills that are necessary to participate in the interschool competition that starts at the beginning of Term 2. Please ensure your student has their school hat and a water bottle for training on a Wednesday afternoon. The competition draw will be distributed to all students at the beginning of Term 2 once the competition begins. Keep up the great training and teamwork Year Eights!
If you have any further questions, please contact the HPE Department on 5499 8129.
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 website 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.
COMMUNITY NOTICES
Maleny Young Women’s Place
Lions’ Recycle for Sight Australia
The Maleny Blackall Range Lions’ Club has been a keen contributor to this program for many years. Every year, Recycle 4 Sight Australia collects thousands of pairs of used spectacles and sunglasses. The program distributes regraded spectacles to many parts of the world for distribution to poor people in need.
Lions Clubs have provided a collection box for your school, and would appreciate the support of residents in donating glasses no longer needed – for “a second life” in Africa, Europe, Middle East, and other countries in need.
Over the 15 years that the Australian program has existed, the program has delivered 2.5 million pairs of glasses.
We would appreciate donations of your unneeded glasses by taking them to the Lions box at the admin office. Thank you!
REAL ART
Empowering young people to be the change in their own lives through creativity.