23 February 2016

Newsletter Articles

Principal's Message

Many thanks to the Longreach Uniting Church and the Hand Heart Pocket Foundation. Their incredible donation of $50 to each student in the school was greatly appreciated. This $50 has been credited to each student's account thus reducing the amount that parents need to pay.

Lesley Andrews
Principal

Deputy Principal's Message

Investiture

Our annual Investiture Ceremony was held on Tuesday 16 February. This was the first formal parade led by our School Leaders and gave them the opportunity to take their oath in front of the school community. They did a fantastic job throughout the ceremony and we look forward to their input into the school during the year.

Investiture is also a great opportunity to welcome our new Year 7 students into the school and formally recognise our Senior Students as they commence their final year of schooling.

Thank you to Acting Senior Sergeant Brett Hampson from taking time away from his job to speak with our students as our guest speaker and also to Year 11 student Renee Heslin for singing the National Anthem. We welcome all new families to our school community and thank everyone who was able to attend Investiture.

MPS

After some early delays the MPS has been resurfaced. The court area is now a blue non-slip surface. This is a fantastic resource that we have in our school and we need to ensure that we take care of it. If your child plays basketball at school on the weekend, please remind them that bikes should not be ridden in the school grounds.

Assessment Planner

The Assessment Planner is attached to this newsletter. This should allow students and parents to organise a study plan. If you have any questions regarding the Assessment Planner please don't hesitate to contact us.

Nick Stead

Deputy Principal

Longreach State High School 50 Year Celebrations

Longreach State High celebrates 50 Years in 2016. These celebrations will be held on the first weekend of the September school holidays, 18 and 19 September 2016.

If you would like to be a part of the organisation of this event please contact Brenda Eyre or Lisa Clarke at the High School on 4652 8333 or email Brenda on beyre4@eq.edu.au and you will be informed when the next meeting is scheduled.

Sport

Central West Rugby League, Netball and Touch Football Trials

On Friday afternoon 25 students from Longreach SHS travelled to Blackall to trial for a spot in the Central West Rugby League, Netball or Touch Football team. All students arrived with an attitude to play hard but fair and to try their best. This was exemplified on Friday night with all of the four boys who trialled for Rugby League making the Central West team.

The netballers also trialled extremely well with many juniors and seniors making the Central West team. Teachers and students then camped at Blackall State School in order to be ready for Touch Football on Saturday morning. It was very impressive to see all students who trialled on Friday night back up on Saturday to trial for Touch football. Again students performed extremely well with many students making the Central West team.

Students who made the Netball Central West team:

U15: Ellazae Hokianga, Chloe Hutchinson, Amy Dicinoski, Natalya Lashford
Open Girls: Khalli Rowlands, Jontti Arnold, Paige Williams, Sophie Goodman

Students who made the Rugby League Central West team:

U15: Matt Worland, Lachlan Rose, Brock McCoy, Sam Card

Students who made the Touch Football Central West team:

U15 Boys: Kalab Madden U15 Girls: Genevieve Madden, Chloe Hutchinson, Daniella Mudu, Amy Dicinoski.
Open Girls: Shannon Cossor, Chrisne Jacobie, Kaitlyn Horne, Paige Williams, Jontti Arnold.

Paul deVries
Sports Coordinator

Curriculum Head of Department's Message

White Gloves Exhibition

On Wednesday morning, students in Years 7 to 9 were given the fabulous opportunity to view the White Gloves Exhibition of World War 1 memorabilia set up by the staff of the Brisbane State Library. The selection of items from the curator's collection comprised of diaries, letters, photographs and medals from the First World War. Donning white gloves to keep the precious items clean, the students enthusiastically interacted with this hands-on learning experience. This opportunity was greatly appreciated by staff and students.

QCS Preparations

QCS preparations are well underway for our senior students. Year 11 and 12 students who are OP eligible are participating in weekly coaching sessions focussed on the Core Curriculum Elements underpinning the QCS exam. The QCS exam will be conducted on August 30 and 31 for our Year 12 students. Our seniors are also fortunate to be receiving explicit instruction from a well respected Literacy Coach, Matthew Rigby. Mr Rigby will work with our students in March 7 and 8 and he will continue to support the school as we offer our students every opportunity to be successful in their preparations for this exam.

Kym Webb
Curriculum HOD

P & C President Message:

The AGM was held on Tuesday 16 February and the following were elected as the 2016 P&C executives.

President: Christo Jacobie
Vice President: Tony Tanks
Treasurer: Dave Perry
Secretary: Karen Perry

I would like to congratulate our new committee for 2016. We want to encourage parents to become members of the association. The P&C is a voice that can share ideas with the school and all to the benefit of our kids.

Christo Jacobie
P & C President

Outgoing P&C President's Report, Longreach High School P & C

Prepared for AGM 16 February 2016

The Longreach High School P&C has a proud history of having a positive, active and effective role in the way our school, Longreach High, provides the highest standard of education for all our students. I would like to acknowledge and thank the staff of Longreach State High School for a truly successful 2015. Your commitment to our children is exceptional and it is why education is leading the way in Longreach.

The P&C could not function properly without a strong, respectful and friendly relationship with every staff member at Longreach High School. We will work to grow this wonderful relationship.

The P&C functioned as a forum for the communication between the school principal, staff and parents/caregivers. This communication is and must always continue to be a two-way flow. Parents who attend our meetings are able to gain a greater understanding of the operation and management of the school, as the reasoning behind policy can be clarified and explained. In turn, the staff are able to use the input and feedback from parents/caregivers when formulating school policies.

One of the things you learn through the involvement in the P&C is what a mammoth job it is to manage a school, how limited the funding is and how dedicated the teaching staff is.

I would like to thank the small but dedicated crew who turned up at every P&C meeting come fair weather or foul to discuss what was going on at the school and brainstormed about how we could help, because it is the P&C's aim to support the students, staff and families of the school.

We do this by giving support to the whole range of activities and endeavours that our children undertake at Longreach High School. This includes classroom equipment, teaching aids, cultural experiences, music, drama, arts, public speaking, sports (both in-house and representative), tertiary education awareness and scholarships.

The support we offer is not just financial but also through volunteering. We would like to acknowledge and thank the family members who help run our school canteen and volunteer for other duties throughout the year.

We would like to thank our canteen manager, Mrs Di Daniels, who does a sterling job.

It was a massive year for our new initiatives and projects, (Under cover area upgrades, playground improvements and supply of white boards etc.) Due to the expanding nature of the school community we also focused on establishing processes. The committee members did an outstanding job, as always, to ensure the smooth running of their respective areas.

I look forward to the continuing great partnership between the P&C and the school in 2016.

Christo Jacobie
15 February 2016

Finance News

Invoices for school fees have been emailed to all families. All outstanding debt must be paid in full before students receive their Student Card or attend school camp and senior formal. Centrelink payment paperwork is available from the school office if you are eligible. Payment plans are also encouraged if financial hardship is being experienced, please contact the office to discuss this option if needed.

Coming Events

P & C Meetings

The next P & C meeting will be held on Tuesday 22 March at 7 pm in the Library. Everyone is welcome to come along.

Please note that the March and April meetings will both be held on a Tuesday evenings due to public holidays.

Important Notices:

Student Insurance

The school does not endorse this insurance but is providing the information for your perusal and consideration.