BNSHS Newsletter 15th March 2023

From the Principal's office

This week is the start of NAPLAN testing.  All Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students across Australia will be completing the NAPLAN testing online in the areas of literacy and numeracy.  Students at North will be scheduled into computer labs over the next 2 weeks to complete the testing.  They will be accompanied by the classroom teacher and all students are encouraged to complete all tests required.   Having a good night’s sleep and eating a healthy breakfast is a good start for students.   They should complete every question to the best of their ability and follow the instructions given.  We wish all the year 7 and 9 students well as they embark on their NAPLAN journey this year.

Term 1 reports will be issued in Week 10.  Students are currently completing assessment across a number of subjects.  Reports will be available on QParents and issued by email.  Parents/carers will be invited to attend Student Progress Conferences on April 27^th to meet with teachers of individual subjects to discuss their students term 1 progress.  Please mark this date in your diary.  We will be sending out information about how to request interviews shortly.  I encourage all parents to attend the Student Progress Conferences to discuss their child/children’s progress.

This term has been busy with a variety of sporting opportunities.  Students are currently involved in Wednesday afternoon interschool sport for football, volleyball and ten pin bowling.  Some students have also trialled for Bundaberg and Wide Bay sporting teams.  In Week 10 students will have opportunity to participate in the interschool sport Gala Day on Friday 31^st March and in our school Swimming carnival.  This year due to changes in risk assessments and the previous numbers of students who attend the carnival but not participate in any of the swimming events, we have changed the format and students attending the carnival must participate in the structured swimming activities.  We encourage all students to nominate for events as per usual and enjoy the day.  Students not wishing to participate in the swimming carnival will attend normal classes at school.  We will be reviewing the changes to the format to plan for 2024.  We encourage all students to attend the carnival.  Those attending will need parental consent and information about how to register your child will be explained and available on our website and via email.  We wish all teams and individual students the best of luck for the busy sporting calendar ahead.

Robyn Kent, Principal

Friday 5 - Students remaining at school until 3pm Term 1, 2023

The Watson Report

At Bundaberg North SHS we have FlexiSpace. FlexiSpace is a bespoke learning experience within our school providing students with curriculum opportunities and supports for engagement and pathways. This year there is a focus on year 10, with a class of 22 students participating in the RAP program. Within the RAP program the students work on core subjects completing Australian Curriculum using QLearn, an online learning platform. They can also be involved with completing a certificate course, work experience and community/school projects. So far this eight students have started a certificate course.

Another part of FlexiSpace is support for year 11 and 12 students working towards their QCIA. These students attend several lessons a week at FlexiSpace, receiving case management and academic support.

The FlexiSpace building (Q Block) is also where ten year 10 students have started an exciting new certificate. With the support of Snr Constable Mark Cartner (Queensland Police Service) we have been able to offer year 10 students a Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation. This certificate covers navigation, bushwalking, environmental impacts, rock climbing, fitness and recreation sessions, paddle boarding, food handling and cultural knowledge. Part of the course is a week long practical on the Gold Coast and a culminating trip to Cape York! Last week the students worked in the kitchen to cook and dehydrate food for their trip.

As the year progresses we aim to expand opportunities in FlexiSpace for year 9 students. If you would like to learn more about our flexible learning at North, please feel free to contact me by email rwats34@eq.edu.au or by phone 4130 0222.

Flexispace

Listening to student feedback we will be adding new rewards for Gotchas! From today students can ‘cash in’ their Gotchas for a Slushie from the tuckshop.

• 10 x Gotchas = Zooper Dooper
• 50 Gotchas = Ice Cream voucher (Dixie Cup or Paddle Pop)             
• 100 Gotchas = Slushie

Next term vouchers will be available for sausage rolls and garlic bread. We are open to new suggestions, so please share your ideas.

Our first Reward Day will be Thursday 30 March (date change due to Gala Day). Students who have qualified will be notified by the end of this week, so they can choose their reward. Students who choose the trip, will receive  permission note (emailed to parents/carers). The criteria to attend:

• 95% actual attendance at school with no unexplained absences (medical absences will be considered on individual circumstances)
• No suspensions.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact me by phone or email rwats34@eq.edu.au

Mrs Watson, Deputy Principal

Third Party Website Consent

Our school uses tools and resources to support student learning, including some third party (non-departmental) online services managed outside of the Department.  These services can be used to support curriculum delivery, complete learning activities and assessment, facilitate class collaboration and create and publish class work.  Online services, including websites, web apps and mobile apps require connectivity and some require your child's information which may be recorded, used, disclosed and published to the services.  We require all parents to complete the THIRD PARTY WEBSITE CONSENT to indicate their consent, or non-consent for each of the websites nominated.  We thank the families who have already completed the form and returned it to the school.  We have recorded your consent choices on your student's school file.

You are encouraged to read the THIRD PARTY WEBSITE CONSENT document at the link below.  You can download and print the document, complete it and return it to BNSHS office.  Or you can complete and submit the electronic version (below).  

First Nations festival

From the excited look on the students’ faces, it was obvious that they enjoyed the day of activities concerning Australia’s First Nations people. It was fun to touch the different artefacts – who knew you could make a noise like a male emu by hitting the end of the hollowed stick. While it was surprising the difference between kangaroo and croc meat, both were delicious. Weaving and face painting provided the artistic element to the day. Boomerang throwing and Indigenous games pointed out how important skill development was for people’s survival in the past. Sadly we also learnt about our local tragedy of the Paddy Island Massacre.

Our Year 7s will be able to use the knowledge that they gained during the First Nations Festival in their upcoming history exam which involves analysing artefacts and other primary sources to do with First Nations.

Mrs Rayner, Head of Department

Swimming Carnival

The 2023 Bundaberg North SHS swimming carnival will be held at the Norville Pool on Tuesday, 28^th March.

This year, only the following students will be taken to the pool for the inter-house carnival:

• Year 12 students
• Students who have nominated to compete in swimming events, (nominations were open on Tuesday, 14^th March at House meetings)
• Year 11 Certificate II in Sport and Recreation class
• House Captains

All other students, who choose not to swim will come to school as normal for regular timetabled classes.

Please visit our website for more information  https://bundabergnorthshs.eq.edu.au/extra-curricular/sports

Students will travel by bus, and are asked to pay $2 for the bus as they board.  If your student is in one of the groups above, you will be sent an electronic consent form to complete and submit.  Alternatively you can complete the consent at the link below – parental consent must be provided for students to attend the swimming carnival. 

Sunstate sand mine field trip

On Thursday, February 23rd, our Earth and environmental science students combined with Kepnock State High School's Earth and environmental science students to visit Sunstate Sands sand mine and processing plant at Coonarr. The students learnt a lot about the products made from the different grades of sand from Coonarr, including phone screens and the chips inside your phone! We got a tour of the mine, seeing the areas where mining has finished that are being rehabilitated, viewing areas where strip mining is taking place, and getting to walk through the wet processing plant, where the sand is sorted into its different sizes before being packaged and distributed to customers. Thank you to Matt and the team at Sunstate Sands for another quality experience for our students and to Kepnock State High School for joining us.

Mrs Roberts, Science teacher

School immunisation program

As part of Queensland Health's annual School Immunisation Program, Ozcare is administering vaccinations to Year 7 and Year 10 students in March, 2023.  All Year 7 and Year 10 students can be vaccinated against preventable diseases.  Year 7 students will be offered human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and a combined diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination.  Year 10 stuents will be offered meningacoccal ACWY vaccination.  

Year 7 vaccinations are being held today, Wednesday, 15th March.

Year 10 vaccinations will be held on Friday, 17th March.

Clean up Australia day

On Sunday March 5th, three of our students attended our community Clean Up Australia Day event at North Lions Park. With a free concert in the park, we got to pick up rubbish to the sound of 80s and 90s rock music. In the one hour we were there, with three students and two staff, we picked up two full fertiliser bags of rubbish. Most of the rubbish was plastic, which would likely end up in the river and being washed out to the ocean and the reef. This is a big threat to our marine ecosystems. The most interesting items included a packet of Tim Tams, a pair of shorts and a dog bed. Please help to reduce rubbish in our environment by selecting items that have reduced plastic packaging, recycling things that can be recycled, repairing broken items where it is practical, and putting rubbish in waste bins.

Mrs Roberts, Planeteers Coordinator

GP bookings now open!

Appointments are now available to visit the GP each Tuesday at North High.  Students can make bookings by scanning the QR code above, which takes them to the school webpage, where they click on the MAKE A BOOKING box.  Alternatively appointments can be made simply by emailing GP@bundabergnorthshs.eq.edu.au.  

Bookings are completely confidential, as are all emails sent to this address.  So, if you would like to provide feedback you can also do this by emailing GP@bundabergnorthshs.eq.edu.au

QParents in 2025 at BNSHS

QParents is all about making parents’ lives easier. QParents is a safe, private app to help parents and caregivers manage important details about their child’s education. Once you are registered, you can sign in securely and- Make payments online- Check your student’s timetable, assessment calendar and report cards- Inform the school of your student’s past or future absence- See upcoming events- View enrolment details- Update your contact details.

From 2025, the school will be asking all parents to submit their consent for excursions through QParents. Click the link below for more information or contact the school to arrange for your unique invitation code to start your registration process.

You can watch the introductory video at the link below to learn more about QParents and how it can work for you.

QPARENTS INTRODUCTORY VIDEO

NAPLAN

NAPLAN testing takes place for Year 7 and Year 9 students and runs from Wednesday, 15th March through to Friday 24th March.  If your student is feeling unsettled about NAPLAN the following link might provide some helpful information.

Year 11 Social and Community Studies

On Friday 3 March the year 11 Social and Community Studies class were privileged to have a presentation by Bethany Williams-Holthouse, Senior Strategic Planner with the Bundaberg Regional Council.  Bethany spoke to the students about designing a recreational precinct.  She spoke about town planning and how recreation fits into a town plan and the liveability of a local area.  Bethany provided the students with valuable information for their assignment where they have to plan a recreational precinct for Bundaberg and then create a presentation to convince the Bundaberg Regional Council of its value for the region.  The class would like to thank Bethany and the Bundaberg Regional Council for the time that was taken to present to the class and prepare the presentation.

Mrs Burrell, Teacher

From the sports desk

It is great to see so many students nominate for events at the North High Swimming Carnival on March 28th.  If students were absent or did not get the opportunity to nominate to swim in the carnival they can do a late nomination at the main Office in A block.  This needs to be done by Friday 17th March.  

Please see the Cluster 3 trial schedule below for information about upcoming trial dates.

2023 Next Step Year 12 Completers Survey

All our students who completed Year 12 last year will soon receive an invitation to do the Next Step survey. The short five-minute survey asks graduates about the study and work they have been doing since finishing school. The results from the survey help our school improve our senior programs and prepare students for work and further study.

We ask parents, siblings and friends to encourage our graduates to complete the survey. If their contact details have changed, please assist survey interviewers with their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate. Graduates may receive an invitation by mail, email or phone. The survey can be completed online or by phone.

For more information about Next Step, including previous results, visit www.qld.gov.au/nextstep.

Check mate

The 2nd Sunday Children's Chess Tournament for 2023 is on 26/03/2023. All enquiries about Bundaberg Chess Club Junior Chess should be sent to mobile:- 0418686497 or email presidentjohn@live.com.au. The Junior chess competitions are usually held on the last Sunday of the month. This year we are holding 7 Junior Chess Tournaments.

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) 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 awarded at the end of the year.

John and Elizabeth Harris

Bundaberg Chess Club Junior Chess Coordinators

Career and course opportunities

TAFE Trade Tasters 2023

TAFE Queensland Bundaberg Campus gives year 10 students the opportunity each year to attend TAFE 1 day a week for approximately 8 weeks to explore different trades such as

• Community Services.
• Kitchen operations (working in a kitchen or cookery environment)
• Salon Assistant (hairdressing)
• Traditional Trades (construction, Furnishing, Engineering and different trade areas)

These positions fill quickly.  Application Open 15^th March 2023.

For more information please contact  Mrs Prince or Mrs Mant . 

P&C News

Our tuckshop is looking for volunteers. Please email Jacky our convenor if you are able to offer any help jburt144@eq.edu.au 

We are always looking for new Committee members. The P&C meets once each month to discuss matters of concern to the school and the school community.  If you would like to connect to the P&C but are not able to attend meetings in person, we are happy to have you join the meeting via Teams or phone.  Meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month in the conference room in A Block and commence at 6:00pm.  You will find meeting dates on the school websites event calendar. 

www.facebook.com/bundabergnorthhighpandc

pandc@bundabergnorthshs.eq.edu.au

Mrs Shelley Hansen, P&C President 

Containers for Change program

Bundaberg North SHS supports the Containers for Change program and raises money for student resources.  If you have empty bottles or cans and would like to donate them to North High we would be very grateful.   You can either bring them to school office and staff will give them to the Tuckshop or you can take them to one of the recycling depots and quote our school code – C10002160.  

Thank you for helping our school and the environment.

Stymie - #saysomething

What does Stymie do for young people?

Of every 30 young people in Australia seven will be dealing with a mental health issue, yet only two will reach out for support. Stymie works with you to give the young people you are working with, the power to say something or ask for help. We are an early intervention initiative that changes and saves lives.

Stymie empowers young people to ask for help when they need support, or if they are seeing or experiencing harm.

Stymie provides online reporting for schools. Encrypted, anonymous notifications are delivered within seconds to authorised recipients, who respond according to their wellbeing framework. The notification provides the option to include screenshots or images that validate the notification.

Being able to anonymously report, relieves feelings of helplessness for those who want to help their peers but don’t quite know how. Our purpose is to support you in creating an environment where harm can be minimised and effective action can be maximised.

Stymie can be used by anybody. It does not have to be a student at our school. The link to make a notification is on the school website front page

Important dates