BNSHS Newsletter May 26th

From the Principal's office

Last week our Year 7 & 9 students completed the NAPLAN testing.  This was the first year that our school has participated in NAPLAN online.  Students accessed our school computers to complete the testing over a 2 week period.  

As mentioned in the previous newsletter, Athletics Day will be held on 25th June, the final Friday of Term 2.  Please note that there is an online consent form to completed by 4pm, Thursday, 24th June.  Students will be transported by bus to and from the Athletics grounds and there will be no classes operating at school.  Students will be required to stay all day until 3.00pm.  Friday 5 organisation will not operate on 25^th June.  We hope that many students will participate in the Athletic events – either competitive or social and enjoy the great day.

We are currently working with our Indigenous community to codesign an Indigenous support program that will begin in Term 4.  Thank you to those who have already provided feedback.

Work has begun on the redevelopment of the landscaped area between B&C blocks.  This will be a 12 week project and will provide new seating with trees planted for future shade.   The Administration carpark will also begin redevelopment shortly to provide a disabled parking bay and improve access to the bus area.

Last week students were given the opportunity to attend the Bundaberg Career Expo held at the Multiplex.  Students from Year 10 and 11 enjoyed having access to a variety of employment, training and service providers and were excited to return to school with information brochures and answers to their many and varied questions.

Year 10 students are currently preparing for the development of the Senior Education and Training Plan (SETPlan).  Students will be learning about the Year 11 subject choices and pathway opportunities and will be encouraged to attend the Subject Selection evening on July 27^th.   While this date seems many weeks away, it is now time for the students to begin planning and exploring options.

This week students from Year 7-12 will take part in the Maths Team Challenge to be held on Wednesday 26^th at the Multiplex.  We wish all our teams well as they challenge the other high schools.  Go North!

Do you have a little spare time to give?

CAN YOU VOLUNTEER IN OUR TUCKSHOP?

The P&C is urgently seeking parent help in the tuckshop. We are looking for volunteers who can assist for part day or 1 day a week while we are temporarily short staffed. We are also looking for parents to act as ‘back-up’ volunteers in case one of our staff/volunteers are absent from work. If you think you could help us prepare & serve food, we would love to talk with you. Please email npwil0@eq.edu.au. If you need a blue card, we can help you with this process.

2021 Queensland Engagement and Wellbeing Survey

Later this term, Year 7, 9 and 11 students will be asked to take part in the Queensland Engagement and Wellbeing (QEW) Survey.

We know that wellbeing and engagement are important parts of your child’s life at school. The department and your school are looking at ways to collect information on these important areas so we can support our students in the best way possible.

The QEW Survey is designed to measure how state school students view their wellbeing and engagement.

Results from this survey will tell us about students’ levels of wellbeing and engagement. This information will allow us to better support our students and meet their needs.

In 2021, the QEW Survey will take place between these dates:

An information letter will be sent out to parents and carers very soon. If you have any questions or would prefer that your student does not take the survey, please contact Mrs Hellmuth on 4130 0222.  

Try a Trade day

On 11 May, 5 students from Year 10 attended the 2021 Try a Trade Day at Bundaberg TAFE. The day was hosted by Construction Skills Queensland and featured a hands-on exposure to plumbing, fitting & turning, bricklaying and electrical trades. The students had the opportunity to try out various skills under the direction of qualified tradespersons. As a result, the exposure to trades allowed students to think about a career path to future employment.

Mr Laughlin, Technology Teacher

Business at Alowishus

It was wonderful to have former student Peter Locke visit North High last week to talk to the Year 11 Business class about local café 'Alowishus'. Peter has been employed by 'Alowishus' for the past 3 years so it was great to have him share important information with students about what is involved in setting up and running a Café from a business perspective. The Year 11 Business class will be able to transfer this knowledge now to their upcoming assessment piece.

Mrs Jensen, Business Teacher

Shave for a cure - Colour for a cause

Worlds Greatest Shave is on Thursday 17th June!!

NORTH HIGH ROCKS – Virtual ‘Shave for Cure / Colour for a Cause’

Student can join ‘NORTH HIGH ROCKS’ and have their head shaved, cut or coloured! All with parents permission of course.  You can register and fundraise ahead of the event by clicking the link

https://secure.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/registrant/TeamFundraisingPage.aspx?TeamID=122791

Click on the ‘join our team’ tag just under the big green sponsor button.

We ask that you fundraise within your family and through your social media platforms. Due to social isolation restrictions we ask that you do not go seeking sponsors by ‘knocking on doors’.

We cannot stress this enough. NO door to door canvassing for sponsorship!!

You will find the parent info letter below along with the Under 18 consent form.  We ask that parents make it very clear what they are consenting for you to take part in, either colouring your hair or shaving your head.  

Let's work together to make a difference.  Please see Mr Hogan if you have any questions.  

More than just muscle gains at the gym

 The Year 11 Sport & Recreation class have been busy this term visiting different gyms and learning about different types of training, as part of their Training for Fitness unit. The students so far have enjoyed visiting Jetts Fitness, United Crossfit, City Fit and the YMCA, with more experiences to come. They have been busy this week physically working hard completing their sessions. Some great sessions have been completed & it is always good to hear how sore they are the next day, proving that they are pushing their bodies.  

Recreation Coordinator – Teressa Tibbey

Careers Expo

On Thursday, 20^th of May, a group of year 10 and year 11 students attended the Careers Expo that was held at the Bundaberg Multiplex. There was an abundance of opportunities to gain information on helpful topics, not only for those hoping to attend university after school but also for people wanting to go to TAFE. We had a blast walking around to every stall gaining valuable knowledge about possible careers and possible university choices. The people at each stall provided us with insightful information and answered all of our questions. Overall, the Careers Expo was an amazing opportunity and experience that made us a little more prepared for the years to come.  Thank you to everyone involved in preparing that excursion.  It it was so much fun! If given the chance, everyone should attend the next one.

Ebony, Year 10 student

Young Achievers Program with UQ

On the 19^th May, representatives from North High attended the Young Achievers Program Information Evening where they learnt about the QTAC application process, scholarships, and accommodation services at the University of Queensland. Cindy Morris (the head co-ordinator of the program) along with past students Nathan Richardson and Rachel Hill gave our year 12 students some vital information on how to make the most of leaving home and transitioning to Uni life.  By giving our students their personal stories surrounding their application process, they gained the knowledge of getting into their preferred subjects and how to survive the financial rollercoaster that is Uni. Being a part of the YAP Scholarship provides students with the inside knowledge of the whole process of transitioning to university and whilst also providing an amazing way to meet like-minded students from all around Queensland at the student residential camps. Our year 12 representatives Abbie and Braydan both believe that their experience with YAP so far has been invaluable and cannot wait to experience the Uni life at UQ.

Abbie and Braydan, Year 12 Students

Year 10 Work Experience

Year 10 compulsory work experience will commence on 13^th September to 17^th September 2021 - last week of 3^rd term.

Work Experience is an informal program that enables students to explore an idea of a career they’re interested in and hopefully be inspired to work to achieve it. Employers who take work experience students have the opportunity to encourage young people about their industry and the education and training pathways available.

Work experience helps students to

• Test their chosen career choice.
• Engage with the wider community.
• Practice course work in a relevant setting.
• Learn about what is required from a worker in the workplace.
• Build general work skills like good communication, team work, critical thinking.
• Gain confidence, maturity, and self- management skills through participation in an adult works environment.
• Make informed decisions when planning their transition from school and to further education, training, and work.
• Demonstrate reliability, motivation, work ethics and good personal presentation.

Students will need to locate their own placement with the support from the school, parents and carers. These placements will then need to be approved by the school.  Some of our local businesses are very popular work experience choices and students will need to book their work experience dates well in advance.  Students within their SETP class will be guided on how to approach a business for their placement.

If any student needs assistance to find a placement they can come and see Mrs Prince (Lower B Block), their SETP teacher or email aprin52@eq.edu.au .     

Head of the river

On the weekend the North High Rowing team competed at the Bundaberg All Schools Head of the River competing in 13 of 40 events. The regatta started at 7 on Sunday with Sarah taking out the grade 8 singles heat, a favourite contender to win. The day cruised on with Richard, Fionn and Piper making the single finals for their age groups, and Jayne and Kaitlyn taking out first and second in the year 11 singles respectively. The team also entered 6 composite boats, racing with members from Gin Gin and Bundy High, earning another 2 gold medals. The day ended with a spectacular effort from the Open Mixed Quad, the pinnacle event to decide the winning team. After a boat malfunction during the race the crew managed to hold on to second with only 3 rowers being able to row, the North quad was overtaken in the last hundred meters by the Shalom crew placing third by 3 seconds. It was a massive effort with all rowers rowing up in age groups to fill the boat, Jayne, Kaitlyn and Richard from grade 11 and Fionn from grade 9. The team placed in 10 events, winning 6 gold medals, the most of any school by percentage. Congratulations North Rowing Team!

Senior rower, Jayne Wake

Union college

Interested senior students met with the Deputy Head of Union College, Bernadette Yates during lunch time on the 13th of May.  

Union College is an independent, co-educational residential college located on the St Lucia campus of The University of Queensland, (UQ) Brisbane, Australia. Staying at a residential college is extremely beneficial, especially to those entering their first year of studies and eases the transition into university life - some of North's past students have stayed at Union. 

From the Sports desk

COOPER CUP

Open Girls Rugby 7’s

The girls have been training twice a week for the last three weeks.  They have been practicing their tackling technique and learning the finer things about rugby (compared to league) such as ‘narrowing the gate’, ‘rolling away’ after the tackle and always being in support in both attack and defence.

Unfortunately the Cooper Cup day was postponed for all girls rugby 7’s as there were insufficient teams to create a draw.  However, all is not lost!  The girls (all teams) will be playing three games in June on a Wednesday afternoon (after school). The dates are 2^nd June, 9^th June and 16^th June.  The girls will be playing against local schools.

Further details to follow.

Yr 7/8 Girls Futsal

The girls have been training twice a week for the last three weeks.  In only their second training session they played against the Year 9 boys and were very competitive.  The team has been practicing their skills of controlling the ball, quick touches and ‘finding space’.  They have a practice game against the boys teams both sessions this week.

Mr Hogan, Cooper Cup 

Athletics Day permission form

Check mate

The 4th Children's Sunday Junior Chess Tournament run by the Bundaberg Chess Club is on 30/05/2021. All enquiries about Bundaberg Chess Club Junior Chess should be sent to mobile:- 0418686497 or email presidentjohn@live.com.au. 

Cost is $8.00/child. A maximum cost of $16.00/family for 3 or more players. The cost includes 6 rounds of competitive chess plus a chess lesson from Mr John Harris who is a top-rated chess player in Bundaberg.

1st round commences promptly at 9.00 am at the U3A building (upstairs) next to Improvements Gym on Woongarra St, Bundaberg.

Could players please arrive 15 mins early to register for the tournament. The session should finish approximately 12.00-12.20 pm. All children need to bring a water bottle and sufficient morning tea.

Prizes are given on each Sunday for 1st to 3rd place, with 2 lucky door prizes and 2 prizes for most interesting game. Children can accrue points through regular attendance at the Sunday Tournaments towards Grand Prix prizes at the end of the year.

Mr Kimber, Chess Coordinator

P&C News

The next P&C meeting will be held tomorrow, Thursday 10th June.  We would love you to join us: 6pm at the Administration block.  

North High school back packs are still availabe for purchase through the school canteen.  These bags are large, tough and have a lifetime guarantee.  They are a great buy for just $70. 

Have you thought of using the QKR app to pay for your students tuckshop orders?  You can order and pay in advance, or even order for a whole week ahead.  

Important dates

TALKING FAMILIES:Are you having one of those weeks where you feel like you haven’t quite got this whole parenting thing figured out? Don’t worry, you’re far from alone. Check out some practical ways to reframe our thinking and realise we’re all in this together.  Click on the link below for more information.

Breakthrough for families

The team at Bridges offers:

• Session One –  Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) information on Tuesday 1^st June 2021 (10.30am to 12.30noon)
• Session Two – Support to Families information on Monday 7^th June 2021  (10.30am – 12.00noon)

Both sessions are being delivered at the Bridges Health and Community Care DARTS Office, Bundaberg, Junction of O’Connell Street & River Terrace, Millbank.

We encourage you to attend both sessions. Everyone is welcome to attend!

See attached flyer for details. For more information on the program go to the webpage https://www.bridgeshcc.org.au/breakthrough-for-families Thank you

RSVP REQUIRED: Because of space and COVID restrictions, we do need you to RSVP to reserve your places. For enquiries or to reserve your place call Bridges on 1300 707 655.

Please provide your RSVP by Wednesday 31^st   May, 2021 to Coordinator Alannah O’Brien - email: AlannahO@bas.org.au.