Issue No. 276, 2 February 2018

Newsletter Articles

We are looking forward to our School Leaders’ Induction Ceremony held at The South Bank Piazza.

From the Executive Principal

“We extend a warm State High welcome to the new families who have joined us and we look forward to building our work with all of our students over the coming year”

Welcome

A very warm welcome to the 2018 school year and our first newsletter for the year. It has been good to welcome our students, both new and returning. We hope that every family had an enjoyable time through the holiday break. We extend a warm State High welcome to the new families who have joined us and we look forward to building our work with all of our students over the coming year.

Our Parent Information Handbook is available on our website –– and contains information about the organisation of Brisbane State High. Please take the time to read through the handbook and keep it for your reference. In the handbook you will find information about the day-to-day operations of the school, together with contact information for key personnel.

Another handy source of information is the “See the venue and playing times for each sport this week” link on the website under extra-curricular and sport -. This is a good one to bookmark. It is updated by the middle of each week. You may also like to see the streamlined registration process of all extra-curricular activities - - one form for the whole year!

Every student is important to us. We have a few more than last year, with 3,143 counted last week. We have around 513 Year 7 students joining us this year. We have had over 60 new students in other year levels too.

After our strategic planning last year, we have tweaked our three priority areas for the next four years. These refreshed foci have strong links to the developmental work we have done while emphasising a renewed approach. The 2018, priorities are:

We’ve started talking to students about these and will expand on these at the parent information sessions as well as in future newsletters.

Class of 2017

I am very pleased for our graduating students of 2017. There were some very excited students as they received results and news of their offers for this year. We had 100% of students complete the requirements for a QCE, again. We are committed to ensuring that every student achieves this qualification. We had 598 complete vocational qualification attained, including the 46 Diplomas.

In terms of OP results, we had more students in each of the upper results than any other school in Queensland. This gives you an idea of the quality of the work of our students. They worked very hard. We had 59 students achieve an OP1, the highest by any Queensland school this year or in the history of OPs. In addition, we had 66 students achieve an OP2, that’s a total of 125. This is the first of the centuries we celebrate in our results. We had 239 (an amazing 55% of a large group) of our students achieve an OP between 1 and 5. There were 352 (82%) with OPs between 1 and 10. We had 409 (95%) students achieve an OP1-15.

Our students had an exceptional year. These numbers are probably the best we’ve ever had. I’d like to congratulate them on their hard work over an extended period of time, while acknowledging that they had excellent support from classroom teachers and their mentors.

Staff

This year, we have two new Deputy Deans of Teaching and Learning who join our School Executive Team.

Dr Emily Ross will replace Ms Rebecca Nicholas when she takes maternity leave from Week 4. Dr Ross was working with us in Term 4 last year and previously held position at the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA).

Ms Lisa Hawkin will replace Ms Bindi Lodge when she takes maternity leave from Week 7. Ms Hawkin comes to us from a Deputy Principal position at Wynnum High School.

Our very best wishes to Ms Lodge and Ms Nicholas.

We have some new Heads of Department and warmly welcome the following new staff:

Ms Kathryn Emtage – Head of Senior English
Ms Emtage comes to State High from Melbourne and previously Brisbane Grammar School.

Mr Clinton Shield – Head of Junior English & Humanities
Mr Shield comes to us from Windaroo Valley SHS.

Ms Janine Watson – Head of Junior Maths/Science
Ms Watson was Deputy Principal at Elanora SS.

Mr Jeff Woodroffe – Head of Senior Maths
Mr Woodroffe has returned to teaching from the private sector.

We also have a number of teaching and support staff members and welcome to our school the following:

Staff in new positions for 2018:

Welcome back to Mr Michael Graves who spent Semester 2 of last year in the acting role of Senior Guidance Officer for the South Coast region. Mr Graves returns as our Junior School Guidance Officer.

At the very end of 2017, we were advised that our Dean of Students, Ms Jo Bennett, would not be returning in 2018. Ms Bennett has taken up a position at Somerville House. Ms Dianne Goggi (Head of Year 7) has also made the decision to take a new position at Shailer Park State High School. We wish them all the best and thank them both for their work here over the last few years.

Eames Family

In what could possibly be a world record, certainly a State High record, the Eames family has had a very long association with State High. From 1999, there have been no less than 10 family members ¬ – all siblings – who have journeyed through State High.

Following in the footsteps of her sisters and brothers – Joel (1999), Benjamin (2000), Bethany (2002), Hannah (2004), Josiah (2005), Cherith (2007), Jeshanah (2008), Samuel (2011), Matthias (2016) – Gabrielle was the last of the Eames siblings to attend State High, completing Year 12 last year.

Along with their very proud parents, Jacqueline and David, the Eames siblings all attended our Graduation Ceremony last year to celebrate Gabrielle’s final day as a State High student.

We would like to express our appreciation for all the volunteer work done by the Eames family over the years. They have generously contributed to a range of areas and projects. Thank you.

Vale – Luke Remedios

We were saddened to hear of the passing of long-serving English and Mathematics teacher, Mr Luke Remedios, who taught at State High from 1978 to 2011. As well as teaching at State High, he was passionate about cricket and coached our students for many years.

Mr Remedios passed away on 7 December last year after suffering a massive stroke.

Fondly remembered by many staff members, Mr Remedios was a larger than life character whose life journey saw him call Goa (India), Iran, Kenya, England and Brisbane home.

He was a great friend to all who got to be close to him, was full of jokes, stories and tunes; he will be missed.

We send our heartfelt condolences to Mr Remedios’ family and friends.

Key Dates – Semester 1

Please note the following key days during Semester 1. I encourage you to keep checking our website for these details -

Academic Competitions

School Leaders’ Induction Ceremony

We look forward to recognising and awarding our new School Captains, Prefects, House Leaders, Student Representative Council Leaders, Junior School Captains and Leaders at our 2018 School Leaders’ Induction Ceremony on Monday 5 February at the South Bank Piazza. This is a major whole school event celebrated by our students, staff, invited parents, political leaders and school community members.

Mr Wade Haynes, Executive Principal

State High Foundation

Tax Deduction

The State High Foundation welcomes all new and returning families to State High.

For those of you new to the school or new to the concept of school foundations, the role of the State High Foundation is to supplement school funding through tax deductible donations from the school community and private sector for projects that enhance opportunities and support for students.

Together we have the potential to empower.

We would like to thank all of our new families who chose to make a donation to the Foundation upon enrolment. We would also like to thank those existing families who continue to support the Foundation each year. Your support will assist the Foundation in a number of exciting new initiatives in 2018.

It’s not too late to donate!

You can empower State High by completing the donation form located via the link below or directly through the Support State High section of our on-line community website via the link below, State High Connect. All donations are tax deductible and donations of $100 and over are recognised in our School Magazine.

You can also commemorate your support of the Foundation with a diamond shaped plaque to be permanently displayed in the Kurilpa Concourse (ground floor of our Kurilpa Building). Commemorative diamonds are available in a range of sizes to suit individuals, families and corporations and can be secured for a tax deductible donation of as little as $250.

Further information on our diamond plaques can be downloaded from our website.

Mrs Kim Turner, Foundation Development Officer

Corporate Matters

Facility Matters

State High Day 2018

Some parents and staff throughout the school propose to hold a celebratory ‘State High Day 2018’ on Saturday 4 August where all things great about State High are acknowledged and celebrated, namely our students and staff, and their abilities, The Arts, Sport, our Museum, with the finale being our annual Gala Event on the Kurilpa roof terrace overlooking South Bank – (used to be called the Rooftop Ball but no longer).

Due to the particular term in which we wish to hold the event, the sporting fixtures that will feature will be volleyball and netball for our girls, and rugby and basketball for our boys, with St Hilda’s and Gregory Terrace being the opposition on the day. This is for Open and Firsts teams only.

Our Performing Arts students and staff will also feature. The reputation of the performing arts department at State High is well renowned and all manners of performances will feature during the day. Please mark this date in your calendar.

Position Vacant

State High Day Events Manager

Due to the myriad of activities that will be held on the day, we wish to engage the services of an Events Manager. We need someone who has experience in events management, the ability to multi-task, is details orientated, has strong organisational and people skills, has good negotiation, sales and marketing skills with creative approach to problem solving. Do you know anyone with this skillset? Or is this you?

If you do know anyone interested in this paid position, please ask them to please contact Mrs Sue Shield, the P&C’s Executive Officer, on 32914173 or pandc@brisbaneshs.eq.edu.au for further information.

The coordination team for this celebratory day consists of Mr David Gillespie (School Council Chair), Ms Annette Vasey (Rowing Sub-Committee Executive) and Mrs Cherie Egan (P&C Executive) and me. Thank you.

Gymnasium Equipment Upgrade

One of our facility projects for Term 1 is the refurbishment of our gymnasium. Plastering, painting and the installation of mirrors are on the agenda. We are in need of new benches, weights and conditioning equipment. Our HPE teachers and Masters in Charge of various sports have devised a plan of what equipment is needed throughout the gymnasium though all is expensive.

Has anyone any contacts with businesses who supply sporting equipment?

Would you like to contribute financially to this project?

Any assistance would be greatly valued by our students and teachers.

Ms Chris Collins, General Manager

Student Achievements

This fortnight we have a number of outstanding student achievements to celebrate and recognise. We are proud of the diverse range of achievements of our students and are excited to celebrate with them. BLUE- RED- BLUE!

We endeavour to recognise all our students’ achievements. If you are aware of any other student accomplishments that we should celebrate, please do not hesitate to advise us via email — newsletter@brisbaneshs.eq.edu.au — and remember to include photographs with your message.

Mrs Kate Retchford, Communications Officer

Snapshot

In such a unique community here at State High, we believe in encouraging and celebrating each and every individual.

Welcome to some of our most recent appointments to our school family. This newsletter we would like to present to you a quick snapshot of some of our key teaching staff.

Ms Kathryn Emtage, Head of Senior English

I am the newly appointed Head of Senior English and have just relocated to Brisbane after two years ‘enjoying’ the weather in Melbourne! My role involves collaborating with an amazing team of English teachers who all work to help their students develop their capacity to become thoughtful and discerning writers, viewers, creators and users of language and texts. My early impressions of the English classrooms at State High are that these are spaces for audacious thinking where students engage with ideas and viewpoints that often challenge their own. I was excited to see that one of my favourite Australian novels, The Secret River, is studied in Year 11, but also relieved to note that my other favourite reading topic (serial killers) is not on the booklist!

Ms Janine Watson, Head of Junior Mathematics & Science

My previous schools and roles included Palm Beach Currumbin State High School, as Head of Year, Numeracy Coordinator and then Elanora State School as the Deputy Principal focusing on curriculum development.

Something interesting to share about myself includes two times World Champion in Taekwondo, currently ranked number 1 in the World for my division. Additionally, two times Australian Champion for Wheelchair Tennis, recently competing at the Sydney International.

Mr Clinton Sheild, Head of Junior English & Humanities

As the new Head of Junior English and Humanities I’m looking forward to sharing with our students the power of words. Our young men and women will begin to realise that these subjects are the gateways to learning about the past, understanding our world and expanding our horizons. We are preparing a new generation who understand their place in the world, and how best to contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Mr Jeff Woodroffe, Head of Senior Mathematics

My name is Jeff Woodroffe and I am the new Head of Department of Senior Mathematics. Originally from Brisbane, I have worked as a teacher and educational leader in Australia, England and Canada. I am very much looking forward to working with all the wonderful staff and students at State High.

Out and About

Term 1 Extra-Curricular Captains’ Lunch

On Thursday, Mr Haynes hosted a lunch on our Kurilpa Roof Terrace with the Term 1 Extra-Curricular Captains. Attending were representatives from QGSSSA Swimming, Cricket, Senior Softball, Cross Country, Touch Football, Basketball and Football, GPS Rowing, Swimming, Cross Country and Debating, as well as our Dance Troupes, Tech Crew, Instrumental Music, Vocal Ensembles and Drama Club.

This was an opportunity for the students to talk about their chosen activity and enjoy lunch together with their MICs, coaches and staff from our Extra-Curricular Department.

Mr Haynes wished them well for their seasons ahead.

P&C Association

P&C Membership for 2018

If you would like to become a member of the P&C Association - parents, carers, school staff and interested community members are eligible for membership and we welcome new members all year. Membership is accepted at each monthly meeting by attending in person and at the AGM each year by returning a membership form before the AGM. There is no need to attend in person for the AGM, but we welcome you to attend and find out more about how the P&C supports of the school. For returning members, all 2017 memberships lapse at the AGM on 26 February 2018, so you will need to renew your membership by sending a new form to the P&C before the AGM in February. Meetings are held on the fourth Monday of each month, excluding school holidays and public holidays. Meeting dates and membership forms are available on the website below. If you have any questions regarding membership, please contact the P&C office on 3291 4173 or pandc@brisbaneshs.eq.edu.au.

Volunteers Needed for Canteens in 2018

We need volunteer help in our canteens – two canteens, every day of the week, especially Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, as these are our busiest days.

If you are able to assist on any day with one hour or more between 7:00am – 2:00pm, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us on 3291 4173 or email - canteen@brisbaneshs.eq.edu.au. We greatly appreciate those parents who have volunteered in the past and those who are currently helping us by volunteering some of their time.

Without volunteers to support our canteen operations, the P&C Association may have to consider increasing food prices to cover the costs associated with employing staff to operate the canteen service.

We welcome Ms Kellie Hutchison as the acting canteen manager for I Block canteen, on the lower campus. Kellie can be contacted on 3291 4167 between 7:00am – 1:30pm, Monday through to Friday or via email canteen@brisbaneshs.eq.edu.au.

The School Locker – Fundraising Partnership

Are you looking to purchase school equipment such as iPads, sporting equipment or musical instruments for your student? For more information regarding our fundraising partnership with The School Locker, see below. Parents use the Student Advantage Card to purchase school items such as iPads, computers, shoes, bags, stationery, sporting equipment and music requirements. Every purchase from The School Locker gives State High families special pricing. The School Locker then donates 2.5% of all sales to the P&C. This helps improve resources at our school for all students. Please support this partnership when purchasing items for your student.

Motorama Community Partnership Program

If you are considering purchasing a new car or vehicle this year, Motorama are also supporting the BSHS P&C Association with a $300 donation every time a car or vehicle is purchased through the Motorama Group. Please download the voucher at the bottom of this webpage link below - and mention that you are a BSHS parent, grandparent or staff member and Motorama will organise to donate the $300 to the P&C. For more information, please contact the P&C Office on pandc@brisbaneshs.eq.edu.au or 3291 4173 for further information. Your support of this program is most appreciated.

Mr Scott Slade, P&C President

Faculty News

IT Services

Starting the new school year with technology can be challenging as there are often changes to apps, iBooks and processes around the school. To assist students and parents with the return to school, I wanted to give a brief overview of some of the changes to our iPad program and also where to find support.

iOS11

iOS11 was introduced to iPads in 2017 bringing new possibilities to the iPad devices. With the fantastic new tools which iOS11 offer we are recommending that all students update their devices. To perform this update, ensure the iPad is backed up and then go to Settings > General > Software Update.

Apps & iBooks

To ensure students are ready to participate in classes, it is important that the correct books and apps are loaded. The primary apps used by all students are below.

• App4 – Diary app containing homework and school policy information
• Mail – Allows access to daily notices, teacher emails etc
• Goodreader – Allows access to the school network drives and personal home drive

Other apps & iBooks may be necessary for specific year levels or subjects. These can be found in our App & iBook lists via the following link -

App4 Digital Diary

All students have received a personal username and password via email to access their eDiary (App4). This allows students to access and record homework tasks set by their teachers; correspond where required with parents and access key information such as school policies, school dates and the School Writing Guide.

If students have forgotten their password this can be reset via the following link –

School identifier is: brisbaneshs

Genius Bar

The Genius Bar is available for all students before school from 8:15am, lunch breaks and after school until 3:30pm. This resource is powered by students and is intended to assist fellow students with any iPad related issues. Students can access the Genius Bar on the ground level of D Block or by emailing geniusbar@brisbaneshs.eq.edu.au. The IT office is located behind the Genius Bar and can provide IT assistance at times when the Genius Bar is not operating.

School Website

Our school website contains the most information about our BYOD iPad program including App & iBook lists, iPad requirements and support articles. The iPad section of our website can be found under Support and Resources > Student Resources, or via the following link

Mr Mark Gray, IT Manager

The Arts

Classroom Artwork Project

The Art Department has undergone minor renovations over the holidays. Some of our talented students, Sharlene Tran-Le and Ilyaa Nawrozi, both in Year 10, along with two Year 12 students, Shania Singh and Upeka Herath, spent some time after completing their assessment to paint murals in some of the art classrooms.

They were given free rein resulting in spectacular results. The classrooms now feature a beautiful underwater scene, floral landscapes and a madcap animated scene from Popeye!

Special thanks to these students for contributing their time and creativity to make the art classrooms an inspiring learning environment.

Some of the fine examples of the new murals painted in the art classrooms by Year 10 and 12 students at the end of last year.

Ms Madeline Cilento, Teacher – Visual Art
Ms Aimee Gust, Head of The Arts

English

‘Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it’.

Fans of author J.K. Rowling will no doubt recognise this quote as belonging to the fictional Headmaster of Hogwarts, Professor Albus Dumbledore, who uses them to instruct his young pupils (including a wide eyed Harry Potter).

The magic and the power of words is a concept that English students at State High engage with every day. At the start of a new school year, our English classrooms are abuzz with word magic; students can be heard analysing, discovering and experimenting with words as they investigate the capacity for words to shape the world they live in, as well as their ability to both connect and divide us. In Year 11 and 12, our students are investigating how poets use words to give voice to identity and social change, whilst our youngest students, in Year 7, are exploring how important the narrative genre is to our society. It is through stories that we share and uphold our values, goals, customs and beliefs, and as we learn from the narrative of others, we too begin to write our own.

In English, our students are learning that words are more potent and powerful than any form of wizardry or magic!

Over the course of this year, we would like to introduce you to some of the amazing teachers in our faculty. We hope you enjoy this portal into the world of BSHS English teachers.

Teacher Profile

My name is Anna Angel. This is my fifth year of teaching at State High, where I landed my first teaching job. Before that, I was working as a freelance journalist.

At the moment, I teach English Year 9 and 10.

Three words my students would use to describe me would be: weird, supportive, enthusiastic.

What I love about teaching English is that I get to talk about big ideas, promote a love of language and literature, and help young people to advocate for themselves through their communication.

My favourite novel is One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, because it was my introduction to the literary genre of magical realism and I was blown away by the use of symbol and metaphor (nerdy, I know).

I am also passionate about sleeping, reading, art, coffee, great films and comfy cinemas, memes, social justice, kindness, and cats.

Ms Kathryn Emtage , Head of Senior English and
Mr Clinton Shield, Head of Junior English and Humanities

Extra-Curricular

News from the Head of Department

Welcome back to Term One! As usual, there is no rest for our Extra-Curricular program as we are already underway with our swimming program’s annual ‘battle’ and GPS competition fixtures over the Australia Day long weekend. Girls sport started in Week one, with the first round of QGSSSA fixtures and our State High Instrumental Music Program commenced from Week two. Many year-long cultural activities have already commenced, so it’s imperative that students, particularly our new Year 7s, ask at the D Block Extra-Curricular Office if they are unsure of any detail. Details are published on the school website -

Online Registration and Parent/Carer Permission Process

We have revamped the online registration process so it now covers both cultural activities and sport. This includes permission for the BSHS Instrumental Music Program. The registration process must be completed by parents/carers once at the start of each year and include all activities that parents/carers give permission for their student to undertake. There is a separate link for each category of activity: Boys’ Sport, Girls’ Sport, Cultural and Other Activities. Completion of the online permission does not generate an invoice for the activity or guarantee a place in a team, although every effort will be made to maximise participation numbers. Parents must complete the process for all 2018 activities, even if you previously completed this for Term 1 activities at the end of 2017.

Please click on the Extra-Curricular tab of the website or follow the links below to register your child online for each activity in which they wish to participate -

• Boys' sport registration form
• Girls' sport registration form
• Cultural activities registration form
• Other activities registration form

Parents/carers must print, complete and sign the annual general consent form and return it to the Extra-Curricular Office in lower B block. This only needs to be done once (at the start of each year) for all activities.

Team App

Our Extra-Curricular Activities are transitioning to Team App as way of communicating with parents, students and coaches and some sub-committees. This platform will assist with State High Community engagement and ensure immediacy and mobile communication when required. Some activities will initially use both email, notices and Team App to communicate to ensure the transition is smooth. Please check with the MIC if you are unsure. The basic instructions are:

Join up to Team App using a your computer or device:

• Once you have an account, use the search bar to search for the team you wish to join (e.g.; BSHS Instrumental Music)
• When you have found the correct group press ‘membership’ at the top right hand side of the page and choose the access group, which is applicable to you
• Provide a reason for your request (e.g. Mother of A. Aaronson, Year 8) and press ‘join’
• The team administrator will accept you into the group

If your child is under 13, parents should request to be added to the student access group for their child. Parents can then give access to their son/daughter by logging into the app for them on the student’s device. Once the student is 13, they should sign up and request their own access so they can receive direct communication for the activity.

Updates, fixtures and information will be uploaded to Team App for the activity.

Sports Funding Opportunities

There are a number of funding opportunities available that offer financial assistance for children participating in various sports.

Get Started Vouchers

The Get Started Vouchers Program is an initiative of the Queensland Government which provides funding to help children participate.

• A voucher of up to $150 is available for children and young people who can least afford or may otherwise benefit from joining a sport or recreation club.
• Parents can apply for a voucher to help pay for club membership and participation fees.
• Clubs must be registered with the Get Started Vouchers program to accept vouchers.
• Referral agents (such as police officers and school guidance counsellors) can refer eligible children and young people for a voucher. Please contact Ms Jo Duffy, Head of Extra-Curricular Activities if you wish to submit an application.

Important dates are:

• Round 11 opened for applications on 24 January 2018 and will close when all available vouchers are issued. If the voucher allocation is not reached, the round will close on 28 March 2018.
• Vouchers must be presented to a registered club by 11 May 2018 and will not be accepted after this date.
• For more information about this program, please refer to the website below

The Local Sporting Champions program is an Australian Government initiative designed to provide financial assistance for young sportsmen and women aged 12-18.

• Available to athletes, coaches, umpires and referees
• Must complete and submit application prior to the nominated championship commencing.
• Funding of up to $500
• More information is available below

The Young Athletes Travel Subsidy provides financial assistance through three event tiers and supports attendance by athletes and officials up to 18 years old at specific state, national and international events.

• Funding provided:
     –    International $600
     –    National $400
     –    State $200

Young people must travel at least 250km to attend the championship event, with applications only accepted after attending the event. Young people may apply for each tier once every two calendar years.

Logan City Council Sports Development Program – Travel Assistance Grant

• Up to $700 per athlete.
• Further information is available below

Ipswich City Council Sport Excellence Bursary

• up to $300 per athlete.
• Further information is available below

Aspirations 4 Kids in Sport

• Any Queensland School Principal can apply on behalf of a student aged between 10 – 19 that satisfy the following criteria:
• High attendance levels at any Queensland school
• Participation in many facets of school life
• Productive members of society
• Proud of your school as much as your personal performances
• Assistance must be used to attend a school sporting event
• Available funding dependent on participation costs.
• Further information is available below

Our school’s point of contact for progressing funding applications where the school is required to provide information is Ms Jo Duffy, Head of Extra-Curricular Activities. Ms Duffy can be contacted by email – jduff19@eq.edu.au.

Ms Jo Duffy, Head of Extra-Curricular Activities

Cultural Activities

State High’s Cultural Activities – Bigger and Better than Ever!

2018 promises to be a vibrant year of cultural excellence for State High. Our Instrumental Music Program, Vocal Ensemble Program, Drama Club, Shakespeare Ensemble, Dance Troupes Program and Tech Crew are all lining up to for an action packed year of events at school and in the community.

This year, the vocal program will have to the opportunity to collaborate with GPS and UQ to present two massed choral items. Instrumental music will compete in Fanfare and run a series of instrumental music camps, incursions and performances across the year. The dance troupes will engage professional choreographers and compete at a number of eisteddfods. Tech Crew will maintain their high level of skill and professionalism to present organised and polished events. And finally, we introduce an addition to the extra-curricular drama portfolio, with the introduction of the Shakespeare Ensemble, which will run in Semester 1, and be follow by the established Drama Club in Semester 2.

Students are encouraged to go the extra-curricular page on the school’s website and register for any cultural activities that are of interest. Students should also download and complete an annual consent form and return to D Block before commencing activities. Please contact the relevant staff in charge if you have any further queries:

Instrumental Music – Mr Bradley Ruben E: brube1@eq.edu.au
Shakespeare Ensemble – Ms Katrina Hasthorpe E: kmhas0@eq.edu.au
Dance Troupes – Ms Marika Steward E: mstew216@eq.edu.au
Tech Crew – Ms Aimee Gust E: agust6@eq.edu.au
Vocal Ensembles – Ms Bronwyn Postlethwaite E: bpost19@eq.edu.au
Director of cultural activities – Ms Karen Hadfield E: khadf7@eq.edu.au
General enquires regarding cultural activities E: culturalevents@brisbaneshs.eq.edu.au

GPS 100 Years – Music Showcase

On Thursday 22 February, students from the nine GPS schools will present an evening of musical excellence. This year the GPS Orchestra and Choir with join forces to perform Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. The GPS Concert Band will present two contemporary works, one of which features solo lead guitar.

GPS Music has engaged renowned conductors Mr Andrew Mogrelia and Dr Peter Morris to direct the Carmina Burana and Concert Band performances. This year, 100 girls from our school’s Junior and Senior Girls Vocal Ensemble will form the female vocal component of Carmina Burana. Seven boys from the vocal program were selected to sing in the choir, with over 35 boys and girls selected to participate in the Orchestra or Concert Band aspects of the showcase.

The GPS Music Showcase will take place on Thursday 22 February in the Concert Hall of the Queensland Performing Arts Complex.

Junior and Senior Girls vocal ensemble in rehearsal - Singing through Carmina Burana for the first time.

Contemporary Music Program alumnus Matthew Teakle, who is now studying Bachelor of Music (Jazz Performance) at the Queensland Conservatorium.

Instrumental Music Lessons and Ensembles

Instrumental music lessons and ensemble rehearsals commence in Week 2, with all students expected to attend scheduled commitments. Instrumental music lessons and ensemble rehearsals occur in P Block, with all information regarding lessons and ensemble times available on P Block notice boards.

Instrumental Music Attendance

Students participating in the Instrumental Music Program are required to attend a 35 minute lesson once a week with the relevant instructor. Lessons are timetabled during the normal school day and students are withdrawn from classes to attend their lessons. The timetable for Instrumental Music lessons is a rotating one in order to minimise disruption to the ordinary school day. A student will only miss any given 35 minute block every six to eight weeks. Students received a level of achievement and report on progress as part of the semester reporting process at the school and it is therefore essential that students attend weekly lessons and ensembles.

Instrumental Music lessons are only half the length of other school subjects, therefore, a student will never miss an entire lesson from the conventional timetable due to Instrumental Music. It is the responsibility of the student to catch up on the work they miss when attending a lesson. The only acceptable reasons for student non-attendance at a lesson are:

• an absence from school on the day of the lesson
• a school excursion
• an in-class examination during the lesson time
• an approved school event.

Instrumental Music staff are itinerant and attend State High on certain days of the week. If a student is unable to attend a rehearsal, performance or lesson, they should make contact in advance of the absence via email to their relevant ensemble conductor and/or instrumental music teacher.

Ms Karen Hadfield, Director of Cultural Activities

Extra- Curricular Activities

School Activities

Interhouse Swimming Carnival

The annual Interhouse Swimming Carnival will be held on Tuesday 13 February at the Valley Pool, Wickham Sreet, Fortitude Valley. The theme this year is ‘Straya – Australia’; students are encouraged to change into the green and gold once they have arrived at the pool. All Year 7 students will attend this carnival in addition to competitors in other year levels. Students attending the carnival must collect a permission form from D101 and return as soon as possible. Any further queries, please contact Ms Anits Woodward, Director of QGSSSA and Girls’ Activities or phone direct on 3291 4242.

Ms Anita Woodward, Director QGSSSA & Girls’ Activities / MIC Softball

2018 Battle of the Sexes

The swimming season kicked off last Thursday afternoon with the Battle of the Sexes meet. The girls took an early lead with some magnificent war cries and some great freestyle swimming. However, congratulations must go to the boys who had more swimmers in the other three strokes and ending up beating the girls by exactly 100 points. It was fantastic to see everyone screaming the war cries and attempting some of the more challenging strokes. There certainly were a few candid camera moments with some different types of dive entries! On behalf of the students who attended I would like to thank the teachers and volunteers who gave up their time and helped the afternoon run as smoothly as it did.

Connor Mitchell, Boys’ Swimming Co-Captain

Swim Camp 2018

From the 7:00am start on the Wednesday 14 January, through to Saturday 17 January, the annual State High Swim Camp was held at the Runaway Bay Sports Super Centre. This year, we had 127 students, four previous Captains and nine teachers. This camp gave our new Year 7 students and other students who were interested in swimming a fun and warm welcoming into the State High Swim Team and season ahead. It was a great opportunity for our Swim Team to bond before the swimming season in Term 1.

Day 1 was full of fun; the day starting off with team building games in the park followed by some fun at Aquasplash at the Broadwater. After lunch back at the camp venue, we did some trivia before getting into our exercise gear for four exercise classes in a row. Dinner was a welcome sight and then off to the conference room for the movie ‘McFarland’ until the end of the night.

Day 2 started early when the students dove into the pool at 5:30am in the morning. After breakfast it was down to the river for Boot Camp and a swim at the beach. Back to camp for a late lunch followed by some yoga and pilates. Late in the afternoon we were back in the pool again for some more technique focused swimming and some water polo too. The night activities included both indoor and outdoor activities.

Day 3 came all too soon. After a 7am swim session, it was time to do the war cry challenge and choose our Swim Captains. The Swim Captains for 2018 are: Oliver Boucher, Eloise Brieschke, Millie Collier, Lachlan Harris and Connor Mitchell. All packed up and ready to go, we headed to McDonalds for lunch then down to Main Beach for some sandcastle fun and beach flags. Finally, we had some free swim time between the flags before getting back on the bus to come home.

It was great to see everyone giving their all in every aspect of the camp, really demonstrating the strength and determination each and every State High swimmer possesses. Definitely a great start to the year, bringing the State High swim team closer together, ready for a big season ahead. Thank you to the teachers for giving up time on their holidays to run this camp for us.

Lachlan Harris, Boys’ Swimming Captain

Marketing, Events & Communications News

School Leaders’ Induction Ceremony

Our School Leaders’ Induction Ceremony will be held on Monday 5 February at the South Bank Piazza, South Bank.

This prestigious annual school event celebrates and acknowledges our new School Leaders including School Captains, Prefects, House Leaders, Student Representative Council Leaders and Junior School Leaders for 2018.

A reminder that this is a whole school event and students must wear their formal school uniform including hat. Boys are to wear their white shirts and school ties. Year 12 students being inducted must wear their school blazer.

Students have been advised about timetable changes.

Our 2017 School Leaders’ Induction Ceremony held at South Bank Piazza.

Connect with Us via Social Media

Click on the below links to keep up-to-date with the day-to-day happenings at Brisbane State High School by following our social media pages:

Mrs Susan McGinley, Marketing Manager,
& Mrs Kate Retchford, Communications Officer

Community News

Greater Brisbane Junior Tennis Club

Greater Brisbane Junior Tennis Association (GBJT) is a parent run, volunteer community tennis club and has provided school-aged children organised tennis fixtures on a Saturday afternoon for over 50 years.

GBJT’s success is greatly enhanced by the support they receive from State High and we very much value this ongoing relationship.

Greater Brisbane Junior Tennis (GBJT) offers up to and including Year 12 tennis fixtures on a Saturday afternoon at the Queensland Tennis Centre and the University of Queensland during school terms. For more information, please visit our web site below or phone Mrs Peta Davis, Secretary on 3374 0516.

Mr Peter Davis, President GBJT

Tarragindi Tigers Football

If your son or daughter is interested in joining a local Football Club, Tarragindi Tigers at Holland Park recently had a sign on day. It’s not too late to register. Email ttfcdoc@yahoo.com.au or visit their website below

Understanding Your Kids and Their Digital Life

This forum comprises of a two hour session exploring how young people use the internet, provide tips on discussing appropriate behaviour and share ways to support your young people by providing a safe and supportive environment.

Rev Linda Hanson, Faithworks Forum

Planning for Success – L Drivers

Upcoming workshops – To book, contact Kerrie from Road Safety team on 0417 737 107.

Department of Transport and Main Roads