BNSHS Newsletter 22nd November

From the Principal's office

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2023.  Last week we farewelled our year 12s and held a Graduation Ceremony on Wednesday and the Prom on Thursday evening.  Thank you to the many parents and family members who attended the farewell events.  'It takes a village to raise a child’ Parents, families and school have played a significant role in preparing our year 12s for their next steps in life. We wish all our Year 12s all the best.

Our Year 10 and 11 students are completing assessment and will have their final day this week on Friday 24^th November.  We have selected new Student Council leaders for next year and they will be involved in a training activity this week.  Congratulations to our new senior leaders.

Year 7 – 9 students will continue their schooling until Friday December 8 and will have assessment to complete.  End of Semester reports will be issued in the last week of school.  Normal classes will be conducted in week 9 and an end of year activity program will be held in week 10.

Mobile Phone ban in Queensland schools in 2024

Reminder that from January 2024, students will be unable to use their mobile phone during school time from the first bell to the last bell (including lunch breaks).  Phones, wearable devices such as earpods/airpods and smart watches must be off and ‘away for the day’.   All government schools will be implementing the mobile phone ban.

Please work with your child/children to prepare for this change.  It is preferable that phones are left at home to assist the students with this as we know that many of them will find it difficult and challenging not to have access to their phone throughout the day.  We understand that for a variety of reasons, students will want to bring their phones to school.  With this in mind, we are putting in place a supportive measure to assist students to resist the temptation of using their phone during school hours.  All students at the start of the year will be issued with a lockable pouch.  Students will turn their phone off and place it in the pouch and lock it at the start of each day.  At the end of the day, students will unlock their pouch at stations around the school and be able to access their phone.  Phones will remain in the care of the student at all times unless they do not follow the procedures. Clear procedures will be explained to students at the beginning of next year.

Information has been emailed to parents and students this week providing more detail and you can also find these documents at the links below.  We ask for your support and assistance in preparing your child/children for this new government directive.  If you have any queries please contact us. 

Robyn Kent,
Principal

The Watson Report

TURNITIN for Years 10 – 12 in 2024

Supporting and improving student learning is a priority at Bundaberg North SHS. To support this, in 2024, all students in years 10 – 12 will have access to and submit assessment through Turnitin. This ensures the academic integrity of student work, that all students are submitting their own work.

Turnitin is a text matching software that identifies passages in students’ work that matches passages in other sources. Turnitin does this by comparing a student submission against an archive of Internet documents, Internet data, a repository of previously submitted papers, and a repository of periodicals, journals, and publications. Turnitin then generates a Similarity Report which highlights passages of matching text.

Using Turnitin encourages students to take ownership of their work and educate them on what they can and cannot do, as well as support their writing and researching skills. The Similarity Report that is generated supports students to reference their work by appropriately acknowledging the ideas, work or interpretation of others. Turnitin also has an AI (Artificial Intelligence) detection component. For more information about Turnitin: https://help.turnitin.com/integrity/student/canvas.htm

For students to be ready for Turnitin, all they need is their Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). If your student does not have a laptop or tablet already it is important to start organising this now. Having their own laptop or tablet allows students to access school WiFi and online resources. This is essential because from the start of next year, students will not have access to their phones through the day. If you require further information about BYOD, please visit the school website: https://bundabergnorthshs.eq.edu.au/facilities/computers-and-technology

If you would like further information, please contact Paul Burrell (pjbur0@eq.edu.au) or Rebecca Watson (rwats34@eq.edu.au) via email or on 4130 0222.

Reward Day

This week is Reward Day for years 10 and 11, with students watching ‘The Marvels’ at Reading Cinemas on Friday. On Tuesday 5 December students in years 7 – 9 who qualify for the Reward Day will be able to visit the Norville Pool or choose a $5 tuckshop voucher. Students in years 7 – 9 who qualify will be notified this week during RAS. See the Reward Day posters below for more information.

Just a reminder that all 2023 tuckshop vouchers must be used this year. And all 2023 Gotchas must be ‘cashed in’ this year. NEXT YEAR we have new and improved Gotchas coming!

Happy Holiday

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all year 10 and 11 students, and their parents and carers, a safe and happy holiday. These students are our school leaders next year and I look forward to watching them continue to engage and grow as senior students to achieve their goals.

Mrs Watson, Deputy Principal

Senior Schooling News

Class of 2023 Farewelled 

Last week was the Class of 2023’s last days of high school. On their last day of school, Wednesday the 15 November, students experienced their final school parade highlighted by the traditions of the Senior Dance and the Staff Band belting out two tunes to delight all in attendance. Later, we met with students to refine details for the formal prior to the Queensland Police Service giving some timely reminders about safe partying and making good choices over these coming weeks.

The Graduation Ceremony was extremely well attended at 5:30pm in the school hall. Students, dressed in their formal uniforms were introduced one last time as they crossed the stage. The audience enjoyed seeing the visual highlights of the students’ time here at Bundaberg North SHS prior to the final Senior Dance.

The 2023 Prom was a fabulous night at the Brothers Sports Club on Thursday, 16 November with an enchanted garden theme.

Year 12 Results: Final subject results and their Senior Education Profile (SEP) Release of results

From 9 am on Friday 15 December, final subject results for Year 12 students will be available in learning accounts in the Student Portal, accessed via the myQCE website at https://myqce.qcaa.qld.edu.au.

Students can also access their SEP in their learning account. Depending on students’ individual circumstances, their SEP will comprise one or more of the following documents:

• Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)
• Senior Statement
• Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA).

The electronic versions of SEP documents in students’ learning accounts are official — they contain a unique validation code and digital signature to confirm they are authentic.

Students are able to download the documents as PDFs to provide to a third party in electronic or print format, and print their own copy.

Access to the Student Portal

Students should have already registered for the Student Portal in My QCE. They can log in with their email address and nominated password.

If you can’t get your My QCE account to work eg you have forgotten the email you used / lost the password etc, here are the contact details for QCAA to gain assistance. We can’t help you with your access from school.

For students and parents — all enquiries

Email  ClientServices@qcaa.qld.edu.au or phone (07) 3864 0299

Access to ATARs

Students are reminded that ATARs will be available via the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) at www.qtac.edu.au/atar also on Friday 15 December. Students should have signed up to the ATAR Portal to enable access their ATAR and need to use their name (as shown in their QCAA learning account), date of birth, LUI and email address. Students were asked to sign up for their ATAR during this semester and reminded via emails in an effort to ensure all eligible students are registered.

Year 13 – Link & Launch Officer available to help

Students and families are reminded they have access to Kylie Sauer, our Link and Launch Officer across 2024 to assist them into employment or further training should the need arise. All students were given a ‘goodies bag’ last Wednesday with contact details for Kylie. However Kylie will be making contact with all our year 12s to ensure they are travelling okay early in the new year.

Kylie Sauer mobile: 0460 034760 email: ksaue14@eq.edu.au

Senior Students in 2024

At the commencement of 2024, all students in years 11 and 12 will be asked to read and sign their Senior Agreement – Attached below. This agreement outlines the expectations of students in these post-compulsory years of school including the requirements:

• Attendance of at least 90%
• Good work ethic (shown as “Satisfactory” or better for effort in all subjects on report cards)
• Acceptable standard of behaviour and cooperation (shown by “Satisfactory” or better for behaviour in all subjects)
• Compliance with school policies and procedures including Student Dress Code and Mobile Phone policy

Whilst the agreement outlines the implications if a student is not upholding the expectations, it should be noted, BNSHS is extremely good at supporting students to engage in their schooling. Specifically in these senior years, working towards every student having a meaningful and accessible pathway for their future. We will work with students to ensure they are exposed to a range of career and employment pathways whether that be further study, a trade or employment and to have an accurate understanding of work expectations and requirements.Happy and safe holidays for Year 10 and 11 students

I look forward to working with the senior students and the Senior Schooling Team of Mr Shield (HOD), Mrs Prince (Industry Liaison Officer and VET Officer) and Mrs Mant (Youth Support Coordinator) in 2024. I wish all Year 10 and 11 students all the best for their holidays commencing this Friday and look forward to welcoming them back on Monday 22 January.

Mrs Natalie Brandon, Deputy Principal - Senior

Transition Day - Yr 6 into Yr 7, 2024

Our second transition day will occur on Wednesday 29^th November 2023.  This is an opportunity for students joining us for Year 7 in 2024 to experience a day at high school, to assist with their transition from primary school.  The day will commence at 8.30am and conclude at 2.50pm. Students need to find their own way to and from school as transport is not arranged by North High. Students need to bring a hat, water bottle and afternoon tea. Lunch will be provided on the day.

Please remember that students need to be fully enrolled to attend on the day. Parents are asked to complete the enrolment for their student by Friday, 24th November, this can be done at the school office or  by contacting our enrolments officer on 4130 0222. 

The day will provide students with the opportunity to experience life at high school with students participating in lessons in subject specific classrooms on the day.  Students will meet their RAS teacher and RAS class on the day. This will provide all students the opportunity to have a familiar face to connect with on their first day of high school.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Shelley Thornton (HOD – Junior School) on 4130 0222.

Food technology with Mrs Austin

Our year 9 Food Technology students have been working on a design brief task this term as part of their assessment portfolio. 

 The design brief required them to develop and produce a new lunch meal for the tuckshop that met the Smart Food Choices Policy and was prepared, cooked and presented in a sustainable manner within 70mins.

Students demonstrated hygiene and safety, a variety of cookery techniques and presentation skills whilst preparing the dish that they designed.  Next they will prepare a marketing campaign to get the 'students choice' vote for their dishes.

These students did an incredible job both in the design and production of their meals and I think you will agree the food looks amazing! Students should be congratulated for their efforts.  Well done 9A!!

Mrs Austin

9 A Food Technology

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 20

Next

Year 12 Prom

We said goodbye and good luck to the 2023 Bundaberg North State High School Year 12 cohort last week as we watched them graduate, then celebrate the end of their schooling in style by attending the Prom.  Proud parents attended the graduation ceremony in our school hall on Wednesday evening to see 13 years of their childs education come to an end. On Thursday, all the glitz and glamour of the red carpet was on show at Bundaberg North State High School's 2023 Prom hosted by Brothers Sports Club.

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 56

Next

2024 Relay for Life

Bundaberg North State High has registered a team for the 2024 Relay for Life.  Relay For Life brings communities together to celebrate cancer survivorship, remember loved ones lost and empower teams of families, friends and colleagues to raise money to fight back against cancer.  This year the event will be held on Saturday 20th July from 12pm to 9pm.  We are looking for some students to come on board and lead our team as well as make up our relay team.  Early bird registration costs only $5 (this will end early next year)! Students, Parents, Carers and Families can join our team!  If you are interested in joining our team the link to register is below and for more information  you can contact Mrs Hearn on 4130 0222. 

School Student Broadband Initiative

To boost education opportunities and narrow the digital divide, the Australian Government is providing up to 30,000 eligible families with no internet at home a free National Broadband Network (NBN) service.

Federal Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland has announced an extension of the Program. This means the nomination period will remain open until 31 December 2024 with free nbn broadband services for all new and existing families continuing until 31 December 2025.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the SSBI, a family must: 

Have a child living at home that is enrolled in an Australian school. 

Not have an active nbn® network internet service at home. Having a mobile internet service does not affect eligibility. 

Not have had an active nbn connection during the previous 14 days.  

Live in a premises that can access the nbn network through a standard connection.

National Referral Centre

Families can directly contact the SSBI National Referral Centre (NRC) to check their eligibility for the Initiative. After a family contacts the NRC, an operator will check their eligibility and support the family to get connected through a participating internet provider.  

Contact the National Referral Centre on 1800 954 610 (Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm AEDT), www.anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet. Callback and webchat functions are also available via the website. SSBI promotional materials are also available via the weblink – scroll down to find resources materials.

Nbn is implementing the SSBI on behalf of the Federal Government and is currently working with more than 55 Nominating Organisations in the community services, non profit and education sectors to identify and support eligible families to get connected.

Further information is available at School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

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

Friday 5 for Term 4, 2023

If you would like to register for your student's Friday 5 attendace for TERM 4, please use the link below. You are able to re-use this link throughout the term and update it as required.

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 

P&C News

P&C ask for your uniform donations

My name is Shelly Hansen.  I am the President of the BNSHS P&C Association and I am seeking your help.  Sadly, there are students at our school whose families are not able to provide them with a uniform.  I would like to ask for your assistance by donating any items of North High uniform that your children no longer need.  The P&C try to support all requests for assistance but with your help we may be able to extend that support further.  

All uniform donations are greatly appreciated, and we thank you for the continued support of our school.  

Thank you for your help, Shelly Hansen, P&C President

Callout for volunteers

Can you volunteer some time either at home or in tuckshop?

We have some jobs for the tuckshop that could be completed at home such as cutting foil into squares, cutting burger paper (baking paper), putting labels on bags and more.

We also need assistance in our tuckshop. This can be a background position (not student facing). The jobs could include washing up, stocking fridges/ice cream freezer/spoons and helping with food preparation (cutting salads/fruit).

The main days needed are Tuesday and Thursday from 8am-12noon, but any amount of time from 1 to 4 hours would be extremely helpful.

We can also sign off on your Centrelink, work/volunteer forms.

If you think you could spare some time, please contact us via email – pandc@bundabergnorthshs.eq.edu.au

Shelly Hansen, P&C President 

2024 planning - uniform and books

As we approach the end of the year, thoughts turn to requirements for the 2024 school year.  Booklists are now available on our school website and can be accessed at the link below. 

Please check your student's uniform requirements for 2024.  Students in Years 7, 8, and 9 wear Junior Sports uniform which has a purple front and back with black arms.  Students in Years 10, 11 and 12 wear Senior Sports uniform which has a black front and back and purple arms.  Students in Year 11 and 12 also require a Formal uniform to be worn for formal school occassions, school photographs and when representing BNSHS.   All uniform items can be bought at Shawline Embroidery in Walker Street.

Thank you for supporting the North High uniform policy.  

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.

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

Important dates