5th April 2019 Issue 5

NORTH HIGH NEWS

What’s in this issue

Performing Arts News

Anzac Day March

Ag– Round Up Term 1

Sports at North

Important Dates

Year 12 Block Exams 1-5 April

Term 1 Ends 5 April

Term 2 Commences 23 April

Labour Day Public Holiday 6 May

Parent Teacher Interviews 7 May

FROM THE PRINCIPAL TERM 1 - Key strategic focuses for the year are QUALITY

CURRICULUM (the new senior curriculum), QUALITY

TEACHING & LEARNING and WELLBEING. We maintain

our focus on attendance – the target is 91%, currently we are on

91.9%. It is worth noting that only 54.8% of all students have

an attendance rate of 95-100% - congratulations to those

students and their families; but as we strive for the best, we can

do better!

There is a direct relationship between attendance, academic achievement and future options – EVERY DAY DOES COUNT -

support your child by having them at school and learning.

ACTIVITIES & STAFF WHO HELPED MAKE THEM

HAPPEN:

MDSS Sporting Trials – Mr Smith + HPE Team, Colour Run –

P&C, Mr Jenner, Mr Smith & Team, Senior Information Night

+ Study Information Session – Mr Condren, Mr Beanland &

Mrs Woods, Year 7 Meet & Greet – Ms Rogers + Year 7

Teachers + P&C, GRIP Leadership – Mrs Cridland, Valentine

Day activity – student council, Swimming Carnivals – Mr

Smith + HPE team, International Women’s Day events – Mrs

Costigan + Student Council Teams, IWD Breakfast – Mrs

Wallace + Team, School Football & Netball Teams – Ms

Grimwood, Mr Batty, Mr Sanders, Mrs Holmes, Mr Smith, Mr

Virgo, and Mr Wilson, Cross Country – Mr Smith + Everyone,

F1 Team – Mr Cahill, Z Club – Mrs Costigan, Choir – Mrs

Horton, School Photos – Mr Apelt, NDIS Service Provider Fair

– Mrs Shannon + Team, Lions Youth of the Year – Mr

Goodwin, Chess Competition – Mr McCann, HeadSpace

Sessions – Mrs Nixon, Mocktails – Mrs Cridland, STEM Girls

in Programming – Mrs Austin, Indigenous Gathering – Mrs

Dodd, KMEIA – Mrs Horton, ANZAC Marching Band prep –

Mrs George, Mr Bayliss, Mrs Powers & Mrs Horton, EQI Film-

ing – Mrs Egorov & Mrs Wise, Disability Rugby League – Mrs

Shannon + Team, Stymie Sessions – Mrs Nixon, Japan Trip

meetings – Mrs Presley & Dicinoski, Gallipoli Trip Meetings –

Mr Goodwin, and Cambodia Trip meetings – Mrs McMurtrie;

and so much more.

Remember to thank your teachers –

delivery on many of these programs is

above and beyond; taking time from

teacher’s personal lives. They do what

they do – because they care about your

children.

FIRST WEEK TERM 2 + ANZAC

DAY ARRANGEMENTS

School resumes TUESDAY 23rd April. Wednesday 24th April we

will have our school ANZAC ceremony in the morning.

Wednesday Week 1, students are to wear SPORTS uniform; as

they will need formal for the town march on the Thursday. I

will send reminders. Below is the summary for the Town

March – more details from Mr Goodwin contained within this

newsletter.

ANZAC TOWN MARCH

When: Thursday 25th April (public holiday)

Time: 8am – 9:15am

Where: Dome Carpark (cnr River & Gregory St – across from St Pats)

Who: All North High Students (as many as can make it)

Uniform: Complete Formal preferred.

F1 TEAM – will now be heading

off to the World competition in

Abu Dhabi in November!

Expect some fundraising to be

part of our future!

MAY FAIR – rapidly approaching. Add it to your calendars –

Friday 24th May.

Work at the School – you may have noticed the mess that is

happening out the front of the school. The construction is part

of the ongoing work of the fire hydrant upgrades. They are in

the process of building a pump shed and the slab for two water

tanks.

As always – if you have any questions or concerns, please

contact us here at school.

Regards Catherine Rolfe

FROM THE PRINCIPAL - Continued

Issue 5

Almost half (46%) of Australians over 15 lack the literacy skills they need to meet the demands of everyday life and work. Literacy is one of the most important foundations for success in school and life. It is well documented that an individual’s literacy levels affect their opportunities in life for education, employment, income and wellbeing

1. Expose Yourself to New Things - Through reading, you expose yourself to new things, new information, new ways to solve a problem, and new ways to achieve one thing.

2. Self Improvement - Through reading, you begin to understand the world more. Through reading, you begin to have a greater understanding on a topic that interest you.

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. -Charles W. Elio-

3. Improve Understanding - Reading increases the understanding of the rules of life, in order for you to adapt, adopt and accommodate into the society better. To play well in a game, you first need to understand the rules well.

4. Preparation to Action - In today’s world, getting reviews and feedback from other people can make a big impact on your next decision, and the pros and cons of each choice.

Reading is a starting step of many things, which build a more solid stairs for you to climb up achieving something big out there.

5. Gain Experience from Other People - When you are reading, you are actually gaining the knowledge and experience of someone. It can hasten your success towards a goal, as you don’t need to repeat the same mistake while focusing on the right path in achieving one thing.

The art of reading is in great part that of acquiring a better understanding of life from one’s encounter with it in a book. | André Maurois

6. Tools of Communicating - Communication is the most important tool which can be transmitted through reading. As you communicate through reading, you understand more, and thus you can communicate better with people.

7. Connecting Your Brain - When reading, you’re in full silence because reading connects directly to your brain. You seek for more; in silence, your brain is clear and focuses.

8. Boost Imagination and Creativity - Reading exposes you to a world of imagination, showing you nothing is impossible in this world. From: http://www.inspirationboost.com/8-reasons-why-reading-is-so-important

READING - IT IS NEVER TOO LATE FOR A STUDENT

TO IMPROVE

PERFORMING ARTS NEWS

Issue 5

24 - 25 March - KMEIA Choral Festival 27 July - Lions Sugartime Rock Pop Mime 30 October - Awards Night

23 - 28 April - Marching Band Trip - Brisbane

(Trip leaves 8.00pm April 23 / returns 7.00am

April 28)

2-4 August - Australian Pinnacle Challenge 6 November - Year 6 String Orientation

(Ice-cream Party)

24 May (TBC) - Fair

(Junior Secondary Concert & Stage Band)

20 August - Showcase Concert 12 November - Junior Production

11 June - Twilight Concert 30-1 August/September - State Honours

Program

22-23 June - Aussie Gold Cheer Competition 7-27 October - Eisteddfod

MARCHING BAND TRIP TO THE STATE ANZAC PARADE The excitement levels are rising as the time nears for the ninety-two members of our marching band to leave for their trip to the State ANZAC Parade in Brisbane. It is great to see that the trip is totally full and that so many parents and families are also travelling to Brisbane to watch us in the parade. Everything is shaping up extremely well for the performances in Brisbane and there is now only one rehearsal remaining on the Tuesday afternoon before we go (until 4.00pm).

We have received the draft band order for the parade – we are the third band at the start; then we are marching with the airforce on our second circuit and finally with the state marshals at the end of the parade. To be selected to march with the state marshals is a very special honour, as they can choose any band in the parade to lead them – and there are over thirty to choose from! We are the only band requested by the state committee to march three times and the only state school outside Brisbane to be invited.

The staff are very impressed with the effort being put into the rehearsals by all of the Brisbane band members and are looking forward to a really wonderful, memorable trip. Mrs Rolfe is flying down specially to march with us – very exciting!

Students are reminded that they need to bring their suitcase (with their cultural uniform shoes in it) plus their cultural uniform in a named suit bag on the Tuesday morning after the holidays, so they can be loaded into the coaches during the day.

Please note that all flautists and clarinettists need to pack their instruments in their suitcase – all other

instruments will be transported in the truck and will be loaded at the end of the rehearsal on the Tuesday afternoon. On the Tuesday evening we leave, students will need to be in the hall at 7.15pm for final briefings before we board the coaches.

KMEIA CHORAL FESTIVAL A big congratulations to all fifty members of our vocal ensemble who represented our school so wonderfully at the annual KMEIA Choral Festival last Monday evening. There were well over a hundred vocalists in the Community Choir segments and what a great source of pride it was to see the sea of North Mackay High blue vests in the impressive ensemble.

Not only were the students’ performances outstanding, but their presentation and behaviour were exemplary. They were an absolute credit to our school and their families! It was also extremely pleasing to see the large number of our parents who supported this major cultural event – many thanks! In total, there were almost six hundred primary and secondary students performing. Sincere thanks to Mrs Horton for all her hard work preparing our ensemble for this big night.

On the Monday afternoon, our vocal group members were privileged to participate in the special workshop at our school run by one of the eminent guest choral conductors from the Choral Festival – Dr Anthony Young (who is the Director of Music at St Lawrence’s College, Brisbane). This was greatly enjoyed by the students and was an extremely valuable experience for them. Sincere thanks to Dr Young for his kindness. Kathy GEORGE HOD – Performing Arts

Anzac Day March

Issue 5

Once again North High students and staff will be marching as part of the school section in this year’s Mackay Anzac

Day March. It is a great opportunity for the whole school to show the Mackay community just how much we support

the ideals of remembrance and respect for our armed forces.

Details are very similar to recent years:

Meet at the Dome carpark on the corner of River and Gregory St (across the road from St Pats) by 8 am.

Please refer to www.connectingmackay.com.au and/or our Facebook page for more information. Note that

there will be no parking allowed in River St on the morning before the march.

We would like students to wear their full formal uniform.

The march will end at approximately 9.15 in the grounds of Central State School, where we will take a group

photo.

In related news, congratulations to School Captain, Emma Cameron and Student Council Leader, Shae Robinson who will both be presenting community speeches on Anzac Day. Emma will be delivering the main Mackay Dawn Service speech and Shae will be delivering the Dawn Service speech at the Marian service. This is a great honour for each student and we are sure they will do our school proud.

Year 11 Visual Arts in Practice

Issue 5

Year 11 VAP’s very special students beautiful Major Drawings A3 Size created with the wonderful assistance of Mrs Danastas.

Kodie Jones - “Horses” in black pen and coloured pencil

Tegan O’Hallorahan – ‘Flowers” in coloured pencil, paint, pen & collage

Jacob Pomfrett – “Black Dogs at the Door” in coloured pencil

Year 8 History students became time travellers this term. They had the

important job of creating a "Guide to Surviving the Black Death" and sharing

it with a European community in the year 1350.

Their survival guides included information about the Black Death; its causes,

cures and how it spread.

We think they did well with their task and potentially saved someone's life!

Year 8 Humanities

Issue 4 Page 2

Issue 5

Compost and Worms

Although ‘mucking’ out of the chook pen is

not the most desirable job, the students do get

stuck in and transfer it the compost.

Hot compost heaps and worm farms have been

established by the students, using straw and

manure from the chooks, and scraps from the

tuckshop and café.

It is hoped to increase the amount of compost

produced to improve the soil quality around

the shed for future cropping.

The theory the students are currently studying

is centred on the science of composting and

vermiculture (worm farming).

Ag Round-Up for Term 1 The Year 9 and 10 Agriculture classes have had a busy term setting up a number of projects at the new

Agricultural Centre. Their work through the some very hot and trying conditions is to be commended.

The Vege Gardens

Establishment of the vege beds has been a

labour of love by a number of the students.

We have tried to repurpose some raised garden

beds by turning them into ‘wicking’ beds.

Many thanks to Mr. Ian Harrison for bringing

in a Kanga to help fill up the beds a bit quicker

than the students could with shovels.

Student have tested the soil pH and are in the

process of adjusting it. Hopefully all beds will

be ready for planting in the first weeks of next

term.

Also a number of posts have been erected with

the intention of erecting shade cover for the

hotter times of the year.

A range of herbs and vegetables will be

grown, many of which will be used in the

school café. If they aren’t snacked on by the

Ag students first!

The Chooks

A huge thank you must go out to Mr Richard

Sambell and the Growing Futures students from

last year for the construction of MNSHS’s chook

palace.

Mid-term, students took responsibility for 20

point of lay chickens.

The students have really taken to the care of the

chickens. Feeding, watering and egg collection

are sort after jobs. All chooks have names!

Wood shavings from Manual Arts are used to

provide something to scratching in when penned

up and the students have made an outside

enclosure for them to graze in daily.

Eggs are available to the café and teaching staff

for a kind donation. The eggs are proving to be

highly sought after.

Students get a lot of satisfaction from being able

to ‘sell’ what they produce.

Hydroponics and Greenhouses

The hydroponic igloo is just starting to take

shape.

The very long, hot summer delayed it start,

however a range of lettuces will be placed in the

unit in the first weeks of next term.

Lettuce seedlings, which are struck in the school

greenhouses and transferred to the hydroponics

unit to grow to maturity.

Students will be responsible for monitoring and

adjusting nutrient and pH levels and

maintenance during the growing periods.

Future Focuses

Apart from ramping up vege production; the aim

is for the Year 10 students to establish an

orchard and for both cohorts to establish a

cropping facility for larger crops such as sweet

corn or sunflowers.

These areas will provide a great outdoor lab for

soil and plant sciences.

If You Can Help?

Desperately wanting some virgin ground

worked up! If you have equipment that could

do the job, and some means of getting it to the

school, it would be very gratefully appreciated.

Issue 4 Page 2

Issue 5

Sports at North

NORTHERN SUBURBS SPORT

On Monday, 4 of our Year 7 students attended the Cross

Country trials at Whitsunday Anglican School.

Congratulations to Saskia Allan (3rd) and Ella Chappell

(5th) for their efforts in the 12yrs Girls race, and also to

Luke Reedman (8th) and Tristan Dhu (13th) in the 12yrs

Boys race. Saskia & Ella will now attend the Mackay

District trials on Tuesday 30th April – best of luck girls!

The next event on the Northern Suburbs calendar is the

Track & Field. Students have nominated for their chosen

events, and based on the nominations received, trials will

be held for those events (for those students only) that

have more nominations than the school is able to send to

the trials. Forms will be given to those students selected

once this process has been finalised.

CROSS COUNTRY UPDATE

Unfortunately due to the weather last week, there is no

results to publish at this time for the Interhouse Cross

Country. These will be published on the school’s

Facebook page, and will also be in the 1st newsletter in

Term 2.

For those students who received notes to attend the

Mackay District Cross Country, the completed notes

(after payment has been made to the office) must be

returned to Mr Smith before the end of 2nd break Friday

26th April. Forms/payments received after this time will

not be accepted.

Daniel Smith

Sports Coordinator

Mindfulness & Wellbeing

Issue 5

Congratulations Cael Goff 7F1

who guessed 131 Easter Eggs

Each Wednesday, 1st break, 807 has been abuzz with activities from our ‘old’ and ‘new’ members of Z Club. We are very excited to have a room full of enthusiastic and motivated students who are keen to help fundraise for various charities through the club. This term the club has already raised funds through International Womens’ Day Breakfast, sausage sizzle at the Year 7 Meet and Greet afternoon and finally the selling of tickets for the staff Easter Egg raffle and a whole school, “Guess the number of Easter Eggs’ competition.

We would like to say a very huge thank you to Kyra from Aspire Performing Arts Studio, who kindly donated the Easter Egg raffle prizes, so that the entire fundraising money could go directly to Z Club. We appreciate your generosity, Kyra.

Students have also been very busy knitting squares that are sewn together to form blankets that are donated to the Women’s Shelter in Mackay. We know that many of our members have involved their ‘nannies’ and ‘grandmas’ in this worthwhile activity. A massive thank you for giving your own time to help us with the knitting.

Finally, Mrs Cooper and I would like to express our amazement at the fantastic response we have had with our Z Club this term. As you read this article, as parents and carers, you should all feel very proud of the contribution that your child has made to the ongoing commitment to the club.

Looking forward to Term 2.

Z Club News

Career Pathways

Issue 5

Register at: https://www.defencejobs.gov.au/events/events-detail/963q3f8

Issue 5

2019 UQ Science Ambassador

Congratulations to Ella Herring, UQ Science Ambassador for 2019.

Each year The University of Queensland runs the UQ Science Ambassador program where schools get to nominate a Year 11 student passionate about science to become part of the program.

Work Experience

Work experience gives students the opportunity to gain real life insight into possible future job and career

options and enhance the skills, experience and confidence they need to gain employment.

If your child is in year 10 to 12 and interested in exploring what work experience options may be available,

please contact Mrs Robyn Iorio on 49631 741 or email riori1@eq.edu.au for further information.

* Subject to approval

Congratulations Adrian Barbat for your hard work during your recent Work Placement with Barcam Electrical.

You set a high standard and were a credit to yourself and North High. Well done!

Ella Herring was nominated and accepted into the program for 2019, well done! Ella has been actively seeking and participating in various Science and STEM activities available to her over the last few years and is a perfect candidate for the role. She will be promoting science activities (such as the various Science Competitions, Science Week etc.) to her student community over this year.

Once again, congratulations to a very worthy Ambassador!

NORTH HIGH NEWS

57 Valley Street North Mackay QLD 4740

PO Box 8333 Mount Pleasant QLD 4740

Phone: 07 4963 1666

Fax: 07 49631 600

E-mail: principal@mackaynorthshs.eq.edu.au

Website:

www.mackaynorthshs.eq.edu.au

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Mackay.North.SHS

Twitter: @MackayNorthSHS

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