BNSHS Newsletter August 5th 2020

From the Principal's office

Do you have your Progress Conference booked?
On Friday 31 July, Semester 1 reports were emailed home. I hope that you have discussed report results with your son/daughter.  This term we are conducting Progress conferences on Thursday 6th August from 3.30-6.00pm.  I would like to encourage all parents and students to take the opportunity to meet with teachers about their progress.  This year has brought many challenges and we want to be able to provide feedback to you in order to develop improvement strategies.  Appointments can be made by using the SOBS (School Online Booking System) or by ringing the school on 41 300 222.   Interviews are 15 minutes and will be conducted in classrooms to allow for social distancing to occur.  As you arrive, there will be staff ready to welcome you at the front of the school between A and G block.  Please check in with the staff when you arrive and they will direct you to your interview rooms.  
This week interschool sport has commenced.  I should remind you that due to the COVID restrictions students need to be dropped off and collected from sporting venues promptly and that there can be NO SPECTATORS in grounds or venues as we have limited numbers able to attend.  Good luck to all the North students participating in the winter sport competition.     
Given the current climate in Victoria and NSW with COVID 19, we continue to observe the necessary COVID restrictions.  We will at all times keep you informed of any changes that may have to occur.  Remember if your child is unwell they should not attend school.  Any student that becomes unwell during the school day needs to be collected and taken home.  We continue to provide hand sanitiser to students in class and students are encouraged to wash their hands regularly. 
At present, we are planning to hold a Subject Selection evening for all Year 10 students and parents in the hall on Monday August 17th August at 6.00pm – 8.00pm.  We are following the current COVID 19 event planning guidelines in order to be able to provide students and parents with this valuable information session.  It is an important decision-making time for year 10s as they plan their Senior Education Training Plan (SETP) and this evening provides opportunity for parents and students to ask questions and gain information about future pathways.  Please place the date in your calendar and stay tuned for further details.
Thanking you,

Robyn Kent     

Year 10 Subject Selection Survey

This term year 10 students have been preparing their Senior Education Training Plan (SETP). As a part of this, students are to attend the Subject Selection Evening on Monday 17th August. Prior to this evening students take part in a Subject Selection Survey to gauge the subjects that they would need and like to take to fulfil their employment, training and tertiary pathways beyond high school.
This week students will receive the survey form that must be completed at school during their SETP lesson on Tuesday 11th August. A copy of this form will also be emailed to parents.  Please help your student to make preliminary subject selections on the subject selection survey form.
2021 subject lines are created in Year 11/12 based on the preferences that students submit via the Subject Selection Survey and school resourcing. It is very important that every student thinks carefully about their selections. 
When choosing subjects in Year 11/12, students should consider subjects which meet the following criteria: 
• Subjects which may be prerequisites for further study; 
• Subjects which will help a student reach a chosen career or keep a wide range of options open;
• Subjects which will develop skills, knowledge and attitudes useful throughout the student’s life;
• Subjects which a student enjoys;
• Subjects in which a student has already experienced some success;
• Subjects which provide an appropriate challenge to the student.
Students need to decide about a combination of subjects that suits them. It is important to remember that all students are individuals, and that their needs and requirements in subject selection will be quite different from those of other students.  This means that it is unwise to either take or avoid a subject because:
• Someone told them that they will like or dislike it;
• Their friends are or are not taking it;
• They like or dislike the teacher.
Students need to be honest about their abilities and realistic with their career goals.  There is little to be gained by continuing with or taking subjects that have proven difficult, even after students have put in their best efforts.  Similarly, if career goals require the study of certain subjects, students must consider if they have the ability and determination to work hard enough to achieve the necessary level of results in those subjects. It is the expectation that all Year 12s gain a QCE  (Queensland Certificate of Education) and therefore students need to select subjects that they can succeed in to be able to gain a QCE (for further guidance on the QCE and ATAR attainment please refer to the Senior Subject Selection Booklet 2021 on our website and at the link below).
It is important to note that this Subject Selection Survey is NOT the finalised 2021 subject lines and is only one method of gaining student preferences for subject for consideration. The final subject lines for Year 11 2021 will be presented to students and parents at the Subject Selection Evening. 

CQUniversity - Campus connect

On the 18th of August, CQUniversity is inviting all Year 10 students from Bundaberg North State High School to participate in a Campus Connect program. This program is designed to provide students with an insight into university and TAFE life, plus explain the benefits of obtaining a further qualification through fun and interactive sessions. All students are expected to attend as there will be no regular classes for Year 10 at school that day. 
The day program will be held on Tuesday, the 18th of August during school hours at the CQUniversity Bundaberg campus. This is a FREE program, transport to and from the campus will be arranged and paid for by the University and full school uniform is to be worn. Permission slips have been distributed to all students, and are also available at the link below.  Please return these to the school Office by 12th August.  

Planeteers active for National Tree Day

The future of all life on Earth, including our own, is inextricably linked with the fate of the world’s trees. They supply the air that we breathe, help to keep our climate stable and form the backbone of the world’s forests, providing habitat, food and shelter for millions of other species.
Safeguarding the world’s forests has long been one of Fauna & Flora International’s (FFI) key priorities, and we have a proven track record in protecting these ecologically, culturally and economically vital habitats.
While the importance of forest ecosystems as a whole is well known, the fundamental and often irreplaceable role played by individual types of tree is all too often forgotten. From apple trees and baobabs to yew trees and zebrawoods, different tree species provide humanity with a range of food, medicines and timbers.
From https://www.fauna-flora.org/approaches/partnership/global-trees-campaign

The Planeteers is a group of environmentally concerned students and teachers at North High who meet every Tuesday in the library at 2nd break.  This group is co-ordinated by Mrs Roberts and Ms Hall and all age groups are welcome!  North High is also proud to be a Reef Guardian school, concerned with the education and action required to safeguard the national treasure that is our Great Barrier Reef.
The Planeteers have co-ordinated various projects in the past and attended conferences and activity days that enhanced their knowledge and gave them the opportunity to mingle with groups from other primary and high schools with similar goals and aspirations.
Each year we contribute to tree planting in our school grounds, and this year we were very pleased to welcome quite a large group of interested students as well as our usual Planeteers members.  Thanks to our two groundsmen, Mr Studholme and Mr Best for providing the trees and tools!

QAMT Math Quiz

The Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers (QAMT) conduct a Year 7/8 quiz where teams of 3 students from the two year levels (at least one Year 7 student per team) compete to solve estimation, speed, problem solving and general maths knowledge questions.  Due to the COVID19 situation, in 2020 this was run in school and we entered 17 teams of 3 students.

The students had a great time in a competitive but friendly environment and we celebrate our first and second place getters:
First Place: Emilia (Year 8), Bree (Year 8) and Isobel (Year 7)
Second Place: Meika (Year 7), George (Year 7) and Sage (Year 7)

Special thanks go to Mrs Whitelum for being the compére and Mr Spanks for keeping the score.

Mr Duncan, Mathematics HOD

This term in ICT

Great things have been happening in ICT this term. The students are learning 21st-century skills and developing their ICT capability and ICT literacy.
Year 7 - students are currently learning all about robots and how to program their Lego robots. Their task is to make an autonomous vehicle – a vehicle that can drive itself around a track and dodging obstacles as it goes. Did you know that it is estimated that by 2050 all cars will be autonomous!
Year 8 - they have been gathering data on the favourite meals of their classmates. They put their recipes into a spreadsheet, which they then put into a database where the data can be analysed and reports prepared. They are going to make an app which could be used by young people to find some yummy food recipes. Did you know that Google Play has over 2.56 million apps available?
Year 9 – students are learning all about computer networks. They will use this knowledge and incorporate it in a website they will create. Did you know that if the internet goes down for a day, approximately 200 billion emails and 3 billion Google searches would have to wait.
Year 11/12 – Our senior ICT students have just finished creating a web site for a business and are currently using Adobe to make and edit a 360-degree movie. Video footage will be taken with our GoPro 360 degree cameras. A student is also making a 3D game using Unity. The students can view and play their creations using our virtual reality technology to get an immersive experience. Did you know that Fortnite (a computer game) makes about $1.9 million in daily revenue, with Candy Crush Saga in second place at $1.3 million per day through in-app purchases! 
We are all learning about the new technology and it is great to see students collaborating and sharing their knowledge with me and with each other.

Mr Newell
ICT Teacher

Chillin' with Headspace

The awesome team at Headspace are once again visiting our school on a Monday @ 2nd Break.
Some great chalk messages around Self Care were written today by our students as a result:  Be kind to your mind; Sleep 8 hrs a night; Breathe; Go to the Beach; Listen to Music; Meditate; Dance; Draw to keep Calm; Furry Friends; Hug your Horse; Tell yourself you are worth something; Do what you Love; Take Time for YOURSELF 

Cutural program underway

We are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to commence a Cultural Program at Bundaberg North State High School. Throughout the term all of our Indigenous students will have the chance to be involved in a number of different activities, such as throwing boomerangs, playing didgeridoos, weaving, art and Indigenous programs.
Last Wednesday, we started off with our junior Indigenous students who had the opportunity to learn about bullroarers, boomerangs and how the different artefacts are used. They also engaged in weaving, traditional games and imprinting their hands onto shirts.
Each fortnight, we will continue to display our Cultural Program in the newsletter by explaining the activities that were completed and sharing photos of the different activities.

Mr Jayden Alberts

C.E.C

Cultural program

Year 6 into 7 transition visits

Last week, the Junior Year Level Coordinators (YLC) had the pleasure of visiting our feeder schools around the region to talk to students about what life is like at high school. Students engaged in a number of activities, from looking at the Reboot 'five faces', to talking about the learning zone and challenging themselves to build a cup tower using string and a rubber band. Not too sure who had more fun on these visits, the students or the YLC’s.   Miss Grogan, Mr Monsen, and Ms O’Kelly were very impressed with the students' manners and behaviour and we are very much looking forward to seeing the Year 6 students for our parent information afternoon (18th August) and orientation day (2nd December). 

Miss Grogan, Year Level Coordinator

Enrolling Year 7 students for 2021

EXPRESS Enrolment - Year 7 in 2021

Important dates

Chill with headspace - All welcome