BNSHS Newsletter September 16th 2020

From the Principal's office

This is our last newsletter for Term 3.  We are pleased to have remained open for the full term and free of disruption to learning.  This term we reintroduced interschool sport which culminated on Tuesday at Winter Finals day.  I would like to congratulate all students who participated and special mention to the open girls’ football team and our 3 netball teams who made it to the finals.  I am proud to say that our girls Football team beat Shalom in extra time to make a thrilling end to the season.  Our Netball teams also had success with our three teams placing 1st, 2nd and 3rd in their divisions.  Further details will be available in the next newsletter.

On Thursday October 8^th we will be running an Athletics Activity day for students who want to compete in 100m, 1500m, javelin, shot put and discus.  While we are unable to conduct a full athletics carnival this year we want to provide our athletes with an opportunity to compete in some of the events.  Students who wish to nominate will attend the competition on the oval.  Students not competing will attend normal classes.

We will not be issuing Term 3 interim reports this year as we delayed the Semester 1 reports.  Students will receive a Semester 2 report at the end of the year.  At all times though, parents are able to contact classroom teachers to discuss progress and we welcome parents to do so.

Our year 10 SETP (Senior Education and Training Plan) interviews are in full swing.  Students and parents have been attending personalised interviews with staff to discuss future pathways and subject selections.  Thank you to the many parents who have attended the interviews with their year 10 child.

Our Year 12s have only 3 weeks of teaching and learning after the holidays before they begin the 3 week external exam block. This is the first time Year 12s will be completing external exams under the new QCE system.   It is important that students are fully aware of their exam commitments and attend the assessments at the correct times.  All students in Queensland will be completing the same exams at the same time.  Please ensure that your son/daughter is fully prepared for their assessment and arrive on time.  Students will be receiving a timetable indicating when they are required at school for assessment, tutorials or meetings. 

Presentation Night is on 14 October and will look different with following COVID safe plans.  To be able to meet the quota for the audience we will be changing the format and reducing the number of awards on the night and presenting more awards during the Presentation Parade.  Parents will be invited to the Presentation Night ceremony for the top awards but unfortunately not the Presentation parade.  More details are included in this newsletter. 

Changes also need to be made to the Year 12 Prom and Graduation and we are currently working on plans to conduct these events under COVID safety guidelines.  We want to provide the best experience for the students that we can, as these are such important events and we know that students have looked forward to these ceremonies for many years.  There are restrictions that we do need to adhere to though which will see both events conducted differently to our traditional ways.  Please know that we are working to do the best we can for our Year 12s.

I wish all students and families a safe and enjoyable holiday break.

 Robyn Kent

Presentation Night 2020

It is important to Bundaberg North State High School to acknowledge the achievements of the students each year who commit to excellence in their academic, sporting or cultural pursuits.  Despite COVID-19 and the restrictions placed upon us we will go ahead with plans for our annual Presentation Parade and Presentation Night ceremonies on October 14th, albeit in a different format to normal.  The Presentation Parade will include more of the students certificate awards and there will be no capacity for parents to attend this event.  The evening ceremony will include presentations for Dux and Runner up Dux of each year level, half and full colour awards, and all of our special and major awards.  Lists of the students to receive awards will be published during the holidays and available to all parents via email, newsletter and facebook.   Invitations to attend Presentation Night ceremony 2020 will be limited to parents and families of evening award recipients only, with a maximum of 4 tickets per family group.   You MUST book your tickets through our SOBS booking system and unfortunately no booking will mean no entry on the night.  The SOBS booking system will open on the first day of term 4, Tuesday, 6th October.

Please encourage your students to check the lists when they are published to ensure that they are aware that they are receiving an award, and that the details we have recorded are correct.  Please ask your student to contact Mrs Sellers in the school office if changes need to be made.  

Senior school news from Mr Wright

Year 12 announcements: External exams draft timetable, presentation night, graduation, formal dinner

External exams

External exams will be held for all General Subjects in weeks 4-7 (26^th October – 20^th November) of term 4. Please find below  a link to the student exam timetable. Year 12 students are only required to attend the relevant scheduled events, such as exams and tutorial sessions. There will be no regular classes for year 12s during the external exam block.

On the timetable, you will find:

External exams for General Subjects: student studying these subjects are required to attend on the days and times indicated, with all necessary equipment. Absence will require immediate contact with the school and documented evidence of the reason for absence (such as a medical certificate).

Tutorial sessions for General Subjects: students studying these subjects are required to attend these sessions to allow teachers to monitor their studies, and to provide an opportunity for students to ask questions and clarify content with their teachers. Absence requires contact from a parent to explain the reason (such as illness).

Catch-up sessions for Applied and VET subjects with practical components: students studying these subjects will be required to attend the catch-up sessions until all assessment, including practical components, has been completed. Teachers will advise parents and students if they are no longer required to attend.

 Please note: While this timetable is currently in draft form, the times and dates of external exams will not change. There may be changes to tutorial and catch-up sessions.

 Graduation ceremony -18^th November

In order to run a COVID-safe event, our year 12 graduation ceremony for 2020 will operate slightly differently to past years. We are prioritising the attendance of student’s families and significant others to ensure that students are not unduly restricted in who they can invite to the ceremony.

Therefore, the graduation ceremony will be conducted outdoors on the school oval on the evening of Wednesday 18^th November. The outdoor venue greatly increases the number of attendees we can safely accommodate. Seating will be provided. Further details to follow.

 Formal dinner (prom) – 19^th November

Plans are well underway to ensure that the formal dinner for year 12 students (the prom), can go ahead at the Brother’s Sports Club on the evening of 19^th November. While some restrictions will apply (such as social distancing and no dancing), I know that the students are looking forward to their special evening as much as any other year. Stay tuned for news about events details such as arrival procedures.

Lost property

Once again we have a huge number of items in our lost property area which we would love to reunite with their owners.  Several laptop chargers, shoes, lunchboxes, jumpers and other items are waiting to be collected.  Please encourage your student to visit G Block and pick up their belongings.  All unclaimed items at the end of the term will be donated to charity.  

Seniors

Year 12 students undertaking their Certificate II in Engineering Pathways enjoyed the rewards of their hard work last week.  The four students were presented with their certificates by trainer Garrick Dillon from Blue Dog training, along with a celebratory lunch.  Well done boys!

Their kitchen rules!

Year 8 Lifestyle Technologies students are showing some amazing skills in the kitchen this term.  After just 10 weeks, students were tasked with creating a cultural food item suitable for a lunch truck.   The ideas were their own from which they created a food plan and it all came together as they produced their meals in class with the creative flair of professionals.  They should all be super proud of their efforts.  I am sure their families will enjoy their new skills too.

COVID safe sausage sizzle fundraiser

It is no surprise that this year our students have had limited extra-curricular and service opportunities, however our students always rise to the challenge at every occasion. On Sunday 11 October 2020, our Year 11 & 12 students will be on the front foot helping our community one sausage at a time by running a Bunnings Warehouse BBQ Sausage Sizzle. This BBQ will raise important funds as part of our schools’ contribution to the 2021 Relay for Life & Student Council projects. We will be donning our best aprons, tongs & hand sanitiser to serve the public following Bunnings’ COVID-Safe plan to raise these important funds to support these worthy initiatives. If you are a student or parent available to assist us, please email us at npwil0@eq.edu.au so that we can discuss some important COVIDSafe information with you.

Amba sets sail

Amba, a Bundaberg North State High School year 11 student, was successful in applying to be a part of a Science Under Sail Australia expedition from Cairns to Mackay over the school holidays. Students on this trip will gain experience in scientific methods, data handling as well as novel communication methods of digital story telling through videos. This particular expedition will involve sampling sea grass along the northern Queensland coast while sailing aboard research vessel Velella. We wish Amba all the best on this experience, which will give her an insight into the marine biology field, which is what Amba is interested in for a career after school.

ATSIAP success

Bundaberg North State High School is proud to announce it has achieved a top 2 in the North Coast Region for the annual Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Aspirations Program (ATSIAP). This challenge develops skills in: research, writing, oral tasks, persuasiveness and organising information. Students in the Junior School; Bianca, Kayne, Corey, Indicah, Paige and K’Larni have spent the past few weeks of their RAS & parade lessons conducting research & developing their arguments, and Bianca's presentation received 2^nd place in the North Coast Region.

Students will now complete a challenge in cultural awareness & sustainability by designing & creating a cultural centre that incorporates aspects of Indigenous culture, and reflects the need to be environmentally conscious. Students will also complete a persuasive speech on topical issues at the moment. Students in Years 8 and 9, Bianca, Corey & Paige whom form the State Finals team, will conduct their research, design and justification during RAS & Parade lesson times to ensure they do not lose valuable curriculum lesson time. This is the second year in a row that BNSHS has been invited to attend a State Final. Congratulations, students, on a very successful outcome!

 Mr Williams

ATSIAP Coordinator

North High lifeblood

Rosie Barton from Australian Red Cross Lifeblood presented information remotely on blood and plasma donation to the Year 12 cohort during year parade. Students are aware of the need for blood donation products and that every donation can help up to three lives or can be made to produce 22 different medical treatments. Bundaberg North State High School has given 92 donations this year alone. Enrolment forms for any new donors can be found by following the link below.  Thank you Rosie for your time and 'visiting' us at Bundaberg North.

Chaplaincy News

Within the Bundaberg community we have a number of agencies, companies and community groups that continually and generously support our school community in many ways. Today  I would like to make mention of Bundaberg Quilters and their members who have generously provided some of their "Comfort Quilts" to support our families. On behalf of our school and our families we would like to say thank you for your kindness and generosity.

Chappy Kelly

CQUniversity application webinar

Is your child preparing to apply for university study next year? Take the guesswork out of the application process by attending CQUni’s Apply to CQUni webinar.
During the live webinar CQUni will talk through ordering preferences, offer rounds, conditional offers, changing preferences, enrolling and more!
Make a start on your application during the webinar while CQUni’s team walk through each step of the application process.
Now is the perfect time to talk to your child about their application and take advantage of any discounted TAC application fees available until 30 September 2020.
Register to attend now!
 

CQU Connect with students

Year 7 and 8 classes have welcomed the CQUniversity Connect Team for 3 lessons during this Term. 

 The Year 7 program focussed on the students dreams for the future. The cohort explored their personal strengths, values, resilience and how these will help them realise their dreams and goals. The key message for the Year 8 lessons were planning to work towards their future, employability skills and job clusters as a way of working out what kind of career may interest them. Students also analysed personality types and explored suggested careers based on their personalities. 

SETP Interviews - Year 10 students and parents - last days

This term, year 10 students have been creating their Senior Education and Training Plans (SET Plans). A vital part of the process, is the SETP interview, where parents/guardians and students make final decisions about future pathways, including subject selection for senior school, and parents/guardians sign off on the plan. SETP interviews for all year 10 students will be held unitl 18^th of September. If your student has not had a SETP interview please book now by following the link below, or by calling the school office on 4130 0222.

Assistance for families & students in 2021

St Vincent de Paul Society's Children's Education Fund (CEF).

CEF provides funding for various school materials including (but not limited to):
• Uniforms
• Stationery
• Text books & book lists
• Bags, lunchboxes etc.
• Technology requirements (iPads, laptops etc)
• School resource levies (but not school fees)

Applications are open from 1 August to 30 September 2020 for the 2021 school year (This is open to all families/students can apply on their own behalf).

To apply- An interview is required to determine eligibility.  At the interview an application form will be completed with the Vinnies support staff.   
Parents/Guardians/Students need to telephone and arrange an interview with the SVDP Bundaberg Support Office on 4151 5819  Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings 9am-11:30am. (If you telephone outside of these hours and leave a message one of our staff will be in contact with you) alternatively you can email us on bundaberg.office@svdpqld.org.au 
If eligible and approved, families/students will receive the assistance in January 2021 for their school needs.  

Important dates