News from the Principal - Centenary State High School

They are seen by students as an adult who is not a part of theschool’s authority structure.What do school chaplains do?SU QLD chaplains provide spiritual and emotional support to schoolcommunities. They are in the prevention and support business:helping students find a better way to deal with issues rangingfrom family breakdown and loneliness to drug abuse, depressionand suicide. They provide a listening ear and a caring presence forkids in crisis and those who just need a friend. They also providesupport for staff and parents in school communities.Schools overwhelmingly approve schoolchaplaincyStudents see them as different from other school staff, as ‘neutral’or ‘non-aligned’, partly because they do not have a teaching ordisciplinary role. Chaplains approach welfare holistically, workingwith families and communities as well as individual students.You can contact me through the school guidance office on 33734551 on Mondays, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, or by otherarrangement and via email: bmcmu27@eq.edu.au or bernie.mcmullen@gmail.comWarm regardsBernie McMullen, ChaplainEmail: bmcmu27@eq.edu.auAussie App to Fight Two of theNation’s Biggest KillersA revolutionary iPhone app launched today will empower Australianshoppers to bmcmu27@eq.edu.au make healthier food choicesand reduce their risk of dying early from two of the nation’sbiggest killers – heart attack and stroke.In three easy steps, Australian consumers can reduce excessivelyhigh levels of fat, salt and sugar in their families’ diets and shareshopping lists with friends via social media.Developed in Australia, and tailored for Australian shoppers,FoodSwitch allows users to scan the barcode of packaged foodsusing their iPhone camera and receive immediate, easy tounderstand nutritional advice and see healthier choices.Importantly, the app displays healthier choices based on thenutritional value of more than 20,000 packaged food productsfound in Australian supermarkets - the result of three years ofresearch by pre-eminent food and health policy experts fromThe George Institute for Global Health, and launched thanks to anew partnership with Bupa, one of Australia’s leading healthcareorganisations.“FoodSwitch’s three step approach marries the latest technologywith cutting edge research. Australians can now scan barcodes,see what’s in a food, and switch to a healthier choice in an instant,”Professor Bruce Neal, Senior Director at The George Institute,said.Bupa’s Head of Clinical Advisory, Dr Stan Goldstein, said FoodSwitchputs Bupa and The George Institute at the forefront of improvingAustralian families’ diets with a simple, practical tool.“FoodSwitch comes at a pivotal time in the food labelling debate,with the Federal Government still considering changes towardsfood labelling systems for Australia,” Dr Goldstein said.“While the food labelling debate is ongoing, this app uses thebest available science to deliver immediate, easy-to-understandnutritional information so users can switch to healthier optionsnow.”Professor Neal said heart disease, stroke and other diseasescaused mostly by a poor diet are the biggest killers in Australia.“Choosing a healthier diet has to be made easier, because goodeating habits are one of the best and most cost-effective ways toprevent disease,” Professor Neal said.“For too long, people have grappled with confusing food labels. Andwith FoodSwitch there is no reason why this should continue.”FoodSwitch ambassador, Olympic swimmer and television hostNicole Livingstone agrees that current food labelling – includingfront of pack claims and nutrition information panels – makes itincredibly difficult for parents to buy healthier foods.“As parents, we all want our kids to eat well. However, up untilnow, it hasn’t been easy to get help in a simple way that letsyou make informed food choices for your family,” Ms Livingstonesaid.“The best part of the FoodSwitch app is that it takes the guessworkout of shopping by arming consumers with options for healthierproducts to purchase.”FoodSwitch is available as a free, Australian-only download fromthe App Store for iPhone 3GS/4/4S and iPad 2 devices. Updateswill include versions for Android based devices.For more information, or to download the app, go to www.bupa.com.au/foodswitchDyanne Moxham, School Based Youth Health Nurse(Monday and Friday)Email: admin@centenaryshs.eq.edu.auSports News UpdateSwimmingCongratulations to Moolanda House who won the 2012 schoolswimming carnival. It was a wonderful day with plenty of tightcompetition, war cry challenges and novelty races. Well done toall of our swimmers and age champions who competed on the dayand qualified to join the school swimming team for the DistrictCarnival.2012 Swimming Age Champions:• 13 Years Girls: Jemma Fleming• 13 Years Boys: Morgan Elmes• 14 Years Girls: Emma Roberts• 14 Years Boys: Fletcher Findlay• 15 Years Girls: Sophia Forbes• 15 Years Boys: Lachlan Cramond and Max James• 16 Years Girls: Olivia Miller• 16 Years Boys: Graham Leach• Open Girls: Eloise Schultz• Open Boys: Ryan Major and Liam ZanchettaThe District Swimming Carnival is being held at the Valley Pool onFriday February 17th. We will be taking our CTSHS Swim Team tocompete against other schools in the district. Good luck to all ofour swimmers who qualified to compete at this competition.Good luck to all team members!!Metropolitan West Regional Swimming Trials will be held onWednesday, 29th February, at the Sleeman Aquatic Centre,Chandler. All the information about this carnival can be found onthe Met West Regional sport website www.metwestsport.qld.edu.au, by clicking on Sports, then swimming and following the links.Centenary State High School Newsletter 5

I will report Centenary SHS student results of this event in thenext newsletter.Year 10 & Open District Finals Day –Interschool Sport Day 1Tuesday 21st of February will see our school involved in the Year10 & Open District Finals Day played against the other schools inour District. Our school has entered teams in Touch, Volleyballand Cricket and Futsal. I would like to wish all the students goodluck in their games and thank you to the coaches for all your hardwork in training. I will have a detailed report on results in thenext edition.Upcoming EventsFEBRUARY17 District Swimming Carnival21 Year 10/Open District Day 127 15 Years Boys Volleyball District Trial27 19 Years Boys Baseball District Trial28 15/19 Years Boys And Girls Touch Football Trial29 19 Years Girls Softball District Trial29 Regional Swimming TrialsMARCH1 SEQ Futsal Round 13 15 Years Girls Netball District Trial8 Year 10/Open District Day 213 Open Boys Brisbane Lions Cup Round 1Any students needing further information and permission formsfor district trials, please report to Miss Porter in staffroom 4.Reporting ResultsTo enable me to report on student results and to keep accuraterecords for sports awards, I need to know how participants went intheir competitions. I encourage all students and parents to adviseme of their results immediately after they have competed.Students can see me in Staffroom 4 or results can be emailedto: jport106@eq.edu.auSports CalendarCentenary SHS Sport Calendar can now be downloaded from thedownload section of the school website. It contains all the latestsporting events and dates.Jess PorterSports DirectorEmail: jport106@eq.edu.auNews from SCRAMWelcome all to a new year of SCRAM. The SCRAM format for2012 has undergone a committee review and certain changeshave been approved. These changes give students greater accessto a variety of cross curricular activities. As a result activitieshave been separated into three groups: Interschool Sport, SchoolProduction and Subject Based Electives. In addition, certain yearlevels will be completing year level activities during Wednesdaylesson 4 throughout the year.A huge congratulations and thank you, goes to all students whofollowed procedures during sign-on for activities. To date moststudents have chosen one of these activities, however with thenew system this year small changes are still being made. I wouldlike to thank both parents and students for their patience and cooperationduring this time.We are well and truly underway with a big term ahead of us withlots of new and exciting activities such as Media Animation, Year8 Robotics, Years 9-10 Photoshop and Spacial Technology. Offsiteactivities were issued with permission forms in week 4; thesemust be completed and returned to the student’s SCRAM teacher.May I remind students that they must remain in their chosenactivity for the term and re-selection for next terms activities willbe towards the end of Term 1.Hope everyone has a great first term!Sharen TurveySCRAM CoordinatorEmail: swarr75@eq.edu.auNews from our Cultural DirectorInstrumental Music ProgramThe year is off to a flying start with the Instrumental MusicProgram. All of our ensembles are up and running again withrenewed zeal and enthusiasm. Parents with any questionsregarding the program are free to email me any time atmwatk16@eq.edu.auEmail AlertsAnd speaking of emails, I have instigated a system of sendinga message to parents when students have missed an ensemblerehearsal or music lesson without explanation. Emails are only sentout after checking if the student is absent from school on the day,has another engagement such as an excursion, or either myselfor the relevant instrumental music teacher has been previouslyadvised. I decided to start this procedure after feedback fromparents indicated that they were not aware that their child hadnot been attending rehearsals or missed lessons until report cardscame out. These messages are not intended to be like ‘naughtyslips’ or anything, just to make you aware of the situation. If youknow of an absence prior to a rehearsal feel free to email me andlet me know and I will pass it on.Investiture CeremonyFebruary 13 saw the investiture of school student leaders for2012 held on assembly. The Chamber Strings again ably providedthe National Anthem and a beautiful musical item, and are tobe congratulated for their performance. The ceremony also sawthe Arts Captains and Leaders presented with their certificatesand badges, as well as the other leadership positions across theschool. I was thrilled to see so many of the general leadershippositions filled by students who are also very active in the arts.Congratulations to all of the following students from the culturalfamily:• Kell Andersen – School Captain, Choir Captain, Year 12Council• Alexandra Van den Broek – School Captain, ChoirCaptain, Year 12 Council• Liam Zanchetta – School Vice-Captain, Year 12 Council• Eloise Schulz – House Captain, Band Captain, Year 12Council• Emma Dywer – Performance Captain, ForumRepresentative, Year 11 Mentor• Rheanna Serrano – Performance Captain, Year 12 Council• Sanjana Dutta – Forum Representative, Year 12 Council• Karmyn Stallard – Forum Representative, Year 12 Council• Adam Danziger – Forum Representative, Year 12 Council• Amy Moore – Strings Captain, Year 12 Council• Sophie Cooke – Visual Art Ambassador, House CaptainCentenary State High School Newsletter 6

• Graham Leach – Forum Representative, Year 11 MentorForum Representatives• Lachlan Sands• Mikala Crawley• Brooke Gehrke• Cameron Spencer• Stephanie Burchard• Heather TownerYear 11 Student Mentors• Mollie Moore• Robert Hislop• Rachel Olsen• Alexandra Parrott• Harry McGinn• Caitlin Harvey• Kara Headrick• Emily Smith• House Captains• Georgia-Rae Swain• Luke Nerdal-BussellYear 12 Council• Kelly Dickson• Jennifer YuCPAC Monitors• Amy Byron-Ross• Angel Plummer• Jamaica Fry• Petra KentYear 8 Scholarship Winners• Charlotte McKay• Sarah Olsen• Anna Robertson• Alana Witherington• Zoya SarapaVisual Arts Ambassadors• Lizzie Brown• Janani Ganesathurai• Morgan PowerBackstage Captain• Chris Ashford• Ashlee BirminghamStrings Captaintime getting this fun adventure ready for the performances inearly May. Keep an eye out for when tickets go on sale.Mark WatkinsCultural DirectorEmail: mwatk16@eq.edu.auNews from ITD and HomeEconomicsYear 8I’m pleased to report that the Year 8 students have settledquickly into the New Year and have demonstrated a genuineinterest in both ITD and Home Economics. It’s fantastic to visitthe workshops, kitchens and classrooms and experience theexcitement and enthusiasm expressed by the students, who areenjoying the practical tasks associated with each faculty.Additionally, I thank the parents who attended the recentlyconvened “Meet the Teacher Evening” and spoke with the variousApplied Technology teachers. It was nice to be able to place aface to a name and make the subsequent connecting betweenthe student and their parent. The Applied Technology staff lookforward to a productive year.Parent AssistanceStudents are required to wear leather shoes in the kitchen orworkshop to comply with Occupational Health and SafetyRequirements, therefore I ask that you ensure that your son/daughter brings them to school on the necessary days. Studentswho fail to wear basic safety equipment are ineligible to participatein practical classes and are supplied alternative theoretical tasksto complete.Prompt payment of subject charges is appreciated because thefunds are used to subsidise the purchase of various consumablematerials for the practical projects fabricated by the students.White CardA White Card course, which provides the participant with anationally recognised safety qualification to enter a constructionsite, is to be conducted on Tuesday, 28 February, commencing9.00am.The course is mandatory for Year 11 students enrolled in CertificateI – Furnishings and is optionally for Year 12 Manufacturingstudents. The payment of $35.00 (concessional rate) is to belodged at the school office.Home Economics NewsYear 12 Home Economics’ students have been studying Food andNutrition from an individual and family perspective and establishingtheir respective nutritional needs. Crepes with an orange saucewere produced to demonstrate a healthy heart dessert.Michael TobinApplied Technology HODEmail: mtobi6@eq.edu.au• Amy SpeckBand Captain• Dean BennettRomy and Michele’s High School ReunionAlmost 200 students from across all grades are well into rehearsalsfor the school musical this year, Romy and Michele’s High SchoolReunion. Based on the hit movie of the 90’s we are having a greatCentenary State High School Newsletter 7

News from HumanitiesThis year, 2012, earmarks an important time for us in theHumanities as we trial the new Year 8 History Curriculum beforeits eventual release in 2013.Our new Year 8s will be using ebooks on their laptops to engage with exciting studies of Vikings,Japanese Samurai as well as the Spanish conquest of the Incaand Aztecs . This means that in 2013 when they begin the Year9 curriculum, they will not be in the situation of other schools ofhaving to learn a new type of terminology, which will hopefullylead to greater success.Welcome to 2012! To most, welcome back and an especiallywarm welcome to our new parents. As a result of our largerstudent numbers, I`d like to welcome Miss Alison Spencer, MissDanielle Ringrose and Miss Brooke Hardwick as new Year 8 Historyteachers, as well as Karen Holmes and Stacey Mallet. Humanitiesis introducing a new subject, Certificate III in Active Volunteering,run by Stacey Mallet, which is designed for our senior students towork collaboratively to improve our school and local community,a truly humanitarian goal! These teachers are passionate abouttheir classes and will only further improve the fantastic quality ofteaching we have in our department.in this direction. Students in Year 8 have been working with theSPARK Pasco data logging technology. They have downloaded thesoftware to their laptops in order to use the digital thermometerprobes to gather data for their experiments.Welcome to Year 8sConnor Stevens, Olivia Wright, Maria Vargus and Rhys Smith areinvestigating whether the addition of salt changes the boilingpoint of water.Our faculty in 2012 also embarks on educational, worthwhile andengaging excursions. In this term the senior History students willvisit UQ library and Year 10 will dig up a mummy. Legal studentswill visit the police museum and law courts while the Geographerswill study Numinbah valley. All Year 9 students will participatein a day out studying Australia`s War History, and will visit theState Library, the Barracks Museum, the PNG museum as well asmeeting and talking with the local RSL members.There are a variety of opportunities this year for our studentsranging from participating in the Australian Geography and Historycompetitions, RSL essay competitions and bursaries to taking partin the share market game. I`d encourage all students to accessas many of these as possible and achieve more than they thoughtwas possible.JorgiaStrach KosanovicHumanities/LOTE HODEmail: skosa1@eq.edu.auNews from Science2012 marks the introduction of the national science curriculum toCentenary SHS. The science knowledge and understanding strandsrevert back to the clearly identifiable and traditional branches ofscience: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Earth Science. For eachyear level there will be two units or one term of each of thesebranches. Embedded in the science understandings will be theconcept that “science is a human endeavour”. It will help studentsunderstand how scientific knowledge has changed over theyears. Australian Nobel Prize winner, Barry Marshall provides anexcellent example of how knowledge has changed. Prior to 1980,doctors believed that stomach ulcers were caused by excessiveacid production in the stomach. Ulcers were treated with “antacidtablets” Marshall was able to show that bacteria caused the ulcers.So now antibiotics are used.Lala Brimble-BaylesScience is not just a body of knowledge but a way of knowing. Theprocess of investigating is critical to the development of a goodscientist and as such these skills are developed in the lessons.Students will be engaged in questioning, developing hypotheses,designing, conducting, analysing and making conclusions frominvestigations. The experiences gained from completing extendedexperimental investigations in Years 8 and 9 will be motivating,challenging and provide a solid foundation for continuing sciencestudies in senior years.The new curriculum includes a strong focus on using digitaltechnologies. The school lap top program clearly supports the moveAlex Gu and Tammy HaThirty two of our finest Year 10 science students have been invitedto compete against other schools at the Science and EngineeringChallenge to be held at the University of Queensland on Wednesday28 February. The students will be required to be creative, work inteams and be effective problems solvers to succeed in the arrayof challenging tasks. Some will be developing the most efficientelectricity grids, others designing and flying helium balloon crafts,a few will be literally building bridges while still others constructeffective catapults – all in the name of science. Good luck to allCentenary State High School Newsletter 8

these Year 10s and thanks to Mr Rossouw for organising andaccompanying the Centenary SHS team.During week 4 Centenary SHS hosted science professionaldevelopment for Year 7 teachers from Darra, Jamboree Heights,Jindalee and Middle Park State Schools. These teachers workedwith some of the current Year 8 teachers to develop a betterunderstanding of how to effectively implement the new nationalcurriculum.This term students will be participating during Monday’s HSGlesson and during Wednesday’s Scram session in the nationallyacclaimed program ‘Putting Youth in the Picture’. A letter outliningthe content of the course was recently sent home with your childfor your information. This program will engage, challenge andenlighten our students on important topics affecting youth oftoday. The author of this program Adair Donaldson last week inservicedstaff of CSHS and addressed the Year 11 cohort on oneof the topics. The program’s intent is to encourage discussion andbuild preventative action plans in the event if they were ever in asimilar situation.Congratulations to our Year 11 Student Leaders who were recentlyinvested into their positions, I look forward to working closelywith them and indeed all students in Year 11. Year 11 StudentLeaders for 2012 are Emma Dwyer, Rhiannon Matheson-Peut,Alex Greaves and Graham Leach.Mrs Furlong the Year 8 Co-Ordinator cannot speak more highly ofour 32 Year 11 Mentors. They have been very supportive of ournew Year 8 students, well done to all concerned.Kirsten Marshall Mary English Nola Pietrala (Middle Park StateSchool) and Wendy Foxcroft (Jindalee State School) working onwater filters for the Science National curriculum implementation.FORMAL UNIFORMIt is my understanding the Formal Uniform is now available forpurchase, if your child still requires one. The wearing of thecorrect uniform is school policy, and if for some reason this is notpossible a note is required.DIARYYour child will have noticed the workload for Senior Schoolinghas increased markedly. The school diary is an essential tool forthem to be organised, noting homework, revision and due datesfor assessment tasks. I encourage you to monitor your child’s useof this valuable tool. I look forward to working with you and yourchild in their journey through their Senior Schooling years.Heather Chester and Chris Forman (Jamboree Heights StateSchool)Adrian HomerYear 11 CoordinatorEmail: ahome5@eq.edu.auNews from Year 9Welcome parents and care-givers of our Year 9 students! I wouldlike to give a special welcome to the families of the many newYear 9 students who have joined us at Centenary. I hope yourstudents settle in quickly, and become involved in the many greatopportunities that the school offers. My name is Angela McKayand I am the Year Level Coordinator for your students. I amlooking forward to a fantastic year, working with this wonderfulbunch of young people!Heather Chester (Jamboree Heights State School) Peter Orford(Darra SS) and Chris Forman (Jamboree Heights State School).Sue MonteathScience HODEmail: smont3@eq.edu.auYear 11 NewsHello Parents of our Year 11 students for 2012. In the blink ofan eye we are in week 5 already and students are immersingthemselves in their subjects. I am Adrian Homer the Year 11Coordinator and I look forward to working with you supportingyour child through their Senior Phase of Learning.Should you have any concerns regarding your child’s progress, Ican be contacted on 33734507 or by email at ahome5@eq.edu.auYou are probably aware that changes have been made to the HSGclasses for this year. All of the HSG teachers have made positivecomments as to how quickly most of the students have settledinto these new classes. It has been a great start to the year!During the first few weeks I have been getting to know as manyYear 9 students as possible. With over 230 students in the cohort,this may take a couple more weeks! During my visits to HSGclasses, and through the questionnaires the students completed,I have learnt a lot about the cohort as well as individual students.I have also been impressed with the Year 9s behaviour on YearLevel Assemblies and whole School Assemblies. Again, it hasbeen a great start to the year.Congratulations to our Year 9 Student Leaders, Mikala Crawley,Fletcher Findlay, Brooke Gherke and Lachlan Sands, who werepresented to the school community during the recent StudentLeaders’ Investiture Ceremony. I know these leaders will do anamazing job throughout 2012! I was pleased to see so manyYear 9 students apply for these leadership positions. It takes anenormous amount of courage for a young person to put themselvesCentenary State High School Newsletter 9

forward and undergo the selection process. I admire the strengthof character of all of the applicants.Recently the Year 9 students were entertained by a guest to theschool – Lorin Nicholson. Thank you to the parents who alsoattended on the day. Lorin is a motivational speaker for youngpeople. Despite his blindness, he is a successful guitarist. Notonly did he entertain the students with many songs on the day,but he also delivered some powerful messages about overcomingobstacles in life to find your inner strength and succeed. It wasamazing to see the reaction of the students to Lorin. The Year9s were a fantastic audience and are to be congratulated ontheir behaviour, attentiveness and involvement in the hour-longsession.Finally, please don’t hesitate to contact me either by phone oremail if you have any concerns with your student. I am lookingforward to getting to know not only the Year 9 students, but alsotheir parents and caregivers.Angela McKayYear 9 CoordinatorEmail: amcka18@eq.edu.auCatch Up with Year 8The Year 8s have had an impressive start to the year consideringthe hurdles associated with starting a new school. I am verypleased with how well the majority of students have handledcomplying with the uniform policy, understanding their timetables,finding all their different classrooms on time and managing to “fitin” with life at Centenary SHS.Protective Behaviours Program duringHSGDuring HSG, on Monday 5 March 2012 Brainstorm Productions willbe presenting “The Hurting Game” to the Year 8 students; a playabout friendship. The play is a dramatic way of highlighting thepressures placed on students and provides strategies for dealingwith such behaviours.This is an entertaining way to promote discussion about friendship,body image, teasing, alienation, and destructive behaviours. Thisshow will assist students to recognise and resist peer pressureand help create a more positive school environment.The performance also makes it clear to students that certainbehaviour (such as excluding people, spreading rumours andsending unwanted text messages or emails) is in fact bullying andwill not be tolerated at our school. This is exemplified in the antibullyingand harassment policy on page19 of the student diary.Brainstorm Productions has won the Frater Award for bestfeedback from schools for 10 consecutive years. This productionis being funded by the school at no cost to students. We hope youwill support this important program to assist in creating a safe,harmonious environment for students and staff. If you would likeany further information about this program, please contact me.Student Leaders for Year 8The process of applying to be a Year 8 student leader will beginlater this term (Week 7). There are 4 positions available and I amlooking forward to working with the Year 8s student leaders thisyear. Students will be required to:• Complete written application (forms available at officeWeek 7 – 5th March)• Recommendation from a Teacher / s• Speech to Year 8 cohort on Year 8 assembly• Shortlisted and Interview with Year 8 Coordinator andYear 8 Deputy PrincipalIt is a rewarding position and I encourage students to apply forthe position. Students need to meet the following requirements:• Model and demonstrate appropriate school behaviours,school spirit and adherence to school policy• Actively promote the school within the school itself andthe broader school community• Foster leadership within the student body• Represent the school positively at events in the broaderschool community• Chair and/or actively participate in committees• Feed back to School Leadership forum on committeeinitiatives and issues• If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contactme.Parent ContactIt was wonderful to meet so many families at the Year 8Information evening. Thank you also to a number of parents whohave contacted me via phone or email. Please do not hesitate tocontact me regarding any issue.Berenice FurlongYear 8 CoordinatorEmail: bfurl1@eq.edu.auNews from our P&CNext month the P&C is holding its Annual General Meeting or AGMon 21 March 2012 at 7pm at the Resource Centre.This is your chance to sign up as a member and become informedand involved for this school year. You will be amazed how muchyou learn about the school your student is attending at the P&Cmeetings.Also this is your only chance to sign up as a member withoutactually having to be at the meeting.We look forward to seeing you there!Geertje ParrottP&C President CSHSEmail: pandc@centenaryshs.eq.edu.auNews from our CanteenCanteen VolunteersThank you to those parents/carers who are volunteering at theschool canteen. Your help is invaluable. If you have any sparetime and would like to help, please complete the attached formand send it in to us. We would greatly appreciate any time thatyou could give.Kylie GillingCanteen ConvenorBus Route 776 UpdateThe route 776 which operates between Windermere and CentenarySHS/Jindalee SS will be departing 5 minutes earlier at 8:20amfrom 20 February 2012. There is no change to the afternoonservice.Centenary State High School Newsletter 10