BNSHS Newsletter 2 October 2024

From the Principal's Office

Welcome back to Term 4

It is hard to believe that we are already into Term 4 of 2024. Whilst it is easy to think that Term 4 is the downhill slide for the year, please remember it is a quarter of the school year and is as important as every other term, therefore attendance and commitment to learning needs to continue right to the end of the academic year.

This week we welcomed Mr Tucker as our IT and Digital Technologies teacher. We are also welcoming a number of student teachers who are commencing their teaching career with their first or second year prac experience with us over the coming weeks. It is great to see young people choosing Teaching as a career and so many of our wonderful teaching team willing to share their expertise and knowledge with these prac students.

Vision and Values Realignment

Newsletter Schedule

This Term we are trialling publication of the newsletter every 3 weeks. Therefore, you can look forward to seeing our next one in Week 4, with weeks 7 and 10 the other weeks for publication. As part of this trial, we will be aiming to increase our Social Media posts on our Facebook and Instagram pages to allow for more timely acknowledgement of student achievement and participation.

Q Parents

Next Year we will be moving to electronic consent forms embedded within the Q Parent app as this will streamline the processes here at school and allow for parents to easily identify events where consent is required (rather than via emails which currently get lost in inboxes or junk mail).  Therefore, if you are not currently using Q Parents, I would encourage you to download the app and respond to the email invitation that has been sent.

To gain access to the app (via the invitation) you will need 100points of identification as the security of your students’ information is paramount thus it is important that you step through those processes. If you are unable to provide the required amount of identification, please come into the office with what ID you have, and the office ladies will be able to assist you.

Quota presentation

On Tuesday’s parade this week, we had the pleasure of hosting Bev and Rose from Quota Club of Bundaberg highlighting our school’s participation in their Student of the Year program in Term 3. Whilst we had 4 Senior female students participate which is an excellent experience, Ruru Y was awarded an Encouragement Award. Well Done Ruru!

CO2 Dragsters

During Term 3, the Year 9 TMT classes designed and constructed CO₂ Dragsters, with a culminating activity in the final week racing each other on a set track at the Stadium. It was great to see students excitedly participating as the cars raced down the track in just over a second each race. Thanks to contract teacher, Mr Harris who supplied some rotatory tools as prizes, we were able to acknowledge on parade on Tuesday the 2 students who’s cars were recorded as the fastest on the track that day. Well Done to Anthony A and Sophie J!

Swimming Carnival

The last day of Term 3 was our Swimming Carnival which was postponed due to weather earlier in the year. It was a fun day at Norville Pool for students and staff alike. Thanks to Mr Thatcher and HPE staff for their organisation of the day. Results from the day will be released on parade next week so check our Facebook page for details next week!

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The Watson Report

FORTNIGHTLY FOCUS

Each fortnight we have a Behaviour focus and a Teaching and Learning focus. This is for students, teachers and parents, so everyone can narrow in on something specific. Students receive positive reinforcement through praise and Gotchas. Look out for the Fortnightly Focus on our Facebook page. Students will also see the Fortnightly Focus on the Student SharePoint page.

PRESENTATION CEREMONIES NEXT WEEK

Congratulations to the many students receiving an award at the Presentation ceremonies next Thursday 10 October. We have two ceremonies, one in the morning, which all students attend, and one in the evening, starting at 7pm, which students, parents and the community can attend. Students can access the link below to see if they are receiving an award. If your child cannot attend, please advise the school office. If you have any queries, about the awards, please feel free to contact me via email: rwats34@eq.edu.au or phone 4130 0222.

REACH FOR THE SKY / REWARD DAYS

Congratulations to the 132 students who will receive a Reach for the Sky award at the upcoming morning Presentation Ceremony on Thursday 10 October. These students have achieved at least four excellent results for both behaviour and effort. These students also qualify for the term 4 Reward Days. Below is the information for our term 4 Reward Days. Students will be asked to give their preference for either attending the event or receiving a tuckshop voucher.

LEAP: Leadership, Enrichment, Aspiration, Passion

This term there are several LEAP opportunities for students. These include:

• English ‘The Pitch’ session for invited year 8 students: Tuesday 22 October
• Science sessions with Professor Derek for selected year 9 and 10 students, and year 11 and 12 Biology students: Tuesday 5 November
• Arts session: focus and date to be determined – more details to be shared in the coming weeks.

Looking for something to do at break time? There are so many LEAP opportunities each day at North. Clubs are a great way to become interested in something new or extend your experiences, while mixing with students who have similar interests.

Rebecca Watson, Deputy Principal 

Senior Schooling News

Year 12 End of School Reminders and Events

As the final school term begins, we would like to remind families of important information to ensure a smooth completion of Year 12 for our students.

Formal Invitations
The Year 12 Formal Dinner is an exciting milestone, but it’s important to note that participation is by invitation only. Students must meet the following criteria to receive an invite:

• Assessment Completion: All assessment tasks, including VET requirements, must be completed.
• Behaviour Standards: High standards of behaviour are expected throughout the year.
• Senior Pledge Compliance: Students are reminded to uphold the values pledged at the Badge Ceremony.

Invited students should check their email for ticket information. If your student is ineligible and wishes to attend, they should arrange an appointment with the Principal as soon as possible.

Finishing Year 12
By the end of Week 3 (18th October), students must:

• Pay any outstanding fees or arrange a meeting with the Principal if this is an issue.
• Return all loaned school property, including laptops and textbooks.

QCAA External Examinations
Exams begin on Monday, 21st October. Regular classes will be suspended, and students should attend school only on exam days. Personalised timetables have been provided, and attendance is crucial for QCE and ATAR eligibility. In case of illness or misadventure, please notify the school immediately.

Additionally, the equipment list and QCAA external assessment timetable PDFs have been included below

Final Days at School
Classes officially finish on Friday, 18th October, but study sessions and opportunities to complete certificates will continue over the next three weeks.

Tuesday, 12th November is a mandatory school day for all Year 12 students. This final full day on campus will include the Whole School Parade, graduation rehearsals, and formal preparation activities.

Graduation and Formal Events

• Graduation Ceremony: Wednesday, 13th November
• Formal Graduation Dinner: Thursday, 14th November

Further details will be provided soon. We look forward to celebrating this special time with our Year 12 students.

Aaron Ross, Deputy Principal

ADF Mobile Career Unit to visit North High

The ADF mobile career team will be at North High on Wednesday 9^th October between 2.30pm and 3.30pm at the school stadium. 

Students in Years 10-12 this is your opportunity to chat to serving members of the ADF in person. Whether you're keen to learn about different roles or career paths, paid training or upskilling opportunities, lifestyle in the ADF or the amazing benefits on offer, drop by to have all your questions answered.

The team can provide career guidance, plus walk you through the application process step-by-step. 

Students will have the opportunity to go at school from 2.30pm and parents/carers are welcome to join them from 3pm. We hope to see many of you there. 

Welcome to our Nurse Practitioner!

My name is Claire, and I am a Nurse Practitioner starting at BNSHS in Term 4.

I am very excited to be available to see the students for medical concerns from week 5. A Nurse Practitioner is a Registered Nurse with advanced practice, meaning I am able to write prescriptions, order blood tests and x-rays and assist with referrals to other medical professionals. 

The students can book an appointment to see me through the office and will need to fill out a consent form with personal details (address, date of birth, next of kin etc), medical history,  and will also need their medicare card (the service is bulk billed). 

I have worked with young people, in different settings, for many years. My work experience includes emergency and urgent care, rural, remote and Indigenous health and most recently, 5 years working with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Cape York. I have 2 grown children and am a proud Mum of a sausage dog called Frank. 

I look forward to meeting the students and working together to improve health outcomes.

Claire Bayliss, Nurse Practitioner

The Red Shoes Project

Content warning: The following content and attached contains references to domestic and family violence.

On Wednesday, the 2^nd of October, we had the pleasure of welcoming Jolene Watson, the Community Arts Development Officer, from the Bundaberg Regional Council.

During lunch time, all students and staff were invited to paint a pair of shoes red. The activity to paint the provided shoes is a mark of respect, but also provides opportunities for conversations about healthy relationships and where to find support. Thank you to all those participated and made the event a success. 

About The Red Shoes is a collaborative art installation designed by Mexican Artist Elina Chauvet in 2009 after her sister was killed by her husband. The installation involves laying out hundreds of pairs of red shoes to represent people around the world affected through domestic and family violence. Bundaberg will become the third Australian location to become part of this international project.

This art installation will be on display in the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens from 25 November to 10 December 2024.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence and needs support, please contact: 1800RESPECT - 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 DV Connect - 24-hour DV Helpline - 1800 811 811 Lifeline - Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention - 13 11 14 13YARN - For Indigenous Australians - 13 92 76 Edon Place Bundaberg - DV Support - 07 4153 6820 Phoenix House Bundaberg - 07 4153 4299 Call 000 if you are in immediate danger.

Helen Coulton, Guidance Officer

Travel Assistance! Getting to school every day!

Our LCEB has partnered to fund the lease of a bus to provide FREE transport assistance to help our First Nations students to get to school. The leased bus will arrive 8-8:30am and will be driven by First Nations staff. To book the bus for each morning, simply complete this form:

First Nations Student Transport

Bundaberg North SHS & the Local Community Education Body (LCEB) are working collaboratively to provide transport assistance for your student.  Funded by the LCEB, the hired bus is driven by school staff who hold the appropriate driving licence.  

• The bus will be operating each school day. It will collect students from their residential address and transport them to school.
• Students will be collected between 8.00am and 8.30am. They will be transported to school, arriving by 8.50am for the beginning of the school day.
• Students must abide by the Student Code of Conduct whilst travelling on the bus

To book your child to travel on the bus, please complete and submit the webform.  If your needs change, please re-submit the webform. A separate form will need to be submitted for each child intending on using this service. 

First_Nations_Bus_pick_up.pdf

First_Nations_Bus_pick_up _pdf 281.93 KB

Student First Name *

Student Surname *

Student Year Level * Please Select789101112

Parent Name *

Parent Mobile

Parent Email *

Residential address Child will be collected from *

I would like my student to be collected and taken to school on the following mornings

Every morning of the week

Monday pick-up between 8.00am - 8.30am

Tuesday pick-up between 8.00am - 8.30am

Wednesday pick-up between 8.00am- 8.30am

Thursday pick-up between 8.00am - 8.30am

Friday pick-up between 8.00am - 8.30am

Parent signature *

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‘Pathways to Cessation’ program

Bundaberg North SHS is participating in a pilot program to support adolescent tobacco and vaping cessation. The ‘Pathways to Cessation’ program is run by Queensland Health and will commence in Term 4, 2024.

Parents and carers of all secondary students are invited to attend a free online webinar about vaping in schools and learn more about the Pathways to Cessation pilot program.

The webinar will include a panel of four speakers:

• Dr John Gerrard, Queensland’s Chief Health Officer
• Mr Mark West, Executive Director, Prevention Strategy Branch, Queensland Health
• Mr Scott Zadravec, Acting Director, Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, Department of Education
• Joanne Isbel, Manager, Preventive Health, Health Contact Centre, Queensland Health

The panel will present information on:

• ​ What is currently known about tobacco and vaping use in Queensland adolescents
• ​The impact of nicotine on adolescent health 
• ​The Australian Government and Queensland Government approach to addressing tobacco smoking and vaping  
• ​An overview of the Pathways to Cessation pilot program
• Understanding how parents and carers can support their adolescent to quit smoking or vaping

The webinar will also include an opportunity to ask the panel questions. 

If you are interested in attending, please register on Humanitix via the link below.

Pathways to Cessation Pilot Program – Introduction Webinar

16 October 2024, 6:30pm – 7:30pm AEST

A link to join the webinar will be provided after you register.

Friday 5, Term 4 2024

Friday 5 - Students remaining at school until 3pm Term 4, 2024

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 

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

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

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.

Important dates