2024 Kingaroy Highlights #4
Principal's Message
Senior School News
Block Exams
With Block Exams for Year 11 and 12 students at the end of Week 9 / Week 10, it is important that students are well prepared both academically and physically. Follow your study plan, eat well, drink plenty of water and get eight hours sleep a night.
To achieve their very best, students need to attend every day, hand in complete, quality drafts and complete assessment tasks to the best of their ability.
A reminder to both Year 11 and 12 students that two of the requirements to receive an invitation to formal are attendance of at least 90% over Years 11 and 12, and for Year 12s, no 'N's in Units 3 and 4. For Year 11s, because of the new Applied Subject Syllabuses, no 'N's or 'E's in Units 3 and 4.
Absence during an exam
If your Year 11 or 12 student is ill/injured during the exam block, please complete the following steps:
1. Contact the school office before the exam
2. Arrange the completion of an Illness and Misadventure document by a medical professional (please let your doctor know you are a Senior student at KSHS and require documentation completed). Please note that “Unfit for Duty” is not enough. These documents are on the school website under the Senior School tab in Curriculum.
A reminder that absences of the student/parent/caregiver's own choosing, e.g., family holiday do not qualify for an AARA.
Ms Leanne Krosch
A/Deputy Principal, Educational Achievement - Senior Secondary
Middle School
Year 10
The Year 10 students continue to impress in their first year of senior schooling. Forty-three students enrolled in the TAFE Trade Taster and Skill Taster programs. This is an impressive number and a great opportunity to explore the world of trades before committing to a career path. Twenty-five students are already enrolled in TAFE through the School to Work Program. These figures indicate that a third of the students in Year 10 are investigating opportunities in the trade pathway. Nineteen students attended TAFE Trade Taster last Thursday. Their behaviour was, of course, perfect.
With only a couple of weeks left of term, it is important that students are studying hard on assessments.
Peer Skills students met together on Monday. This has been an excellent opportunity for these students to display their senior leadership skills.
Year 9
The Year 9 students continue to excel in their assessments. There have been a number of staff comments on their diligent attitude. Year 9 is doing very well as they progress toward their 120 Kingaroy Merit Points to earn their end-of-term Tuckshop Voucher.
Junior End-of-Year Reward Trips Criteria
As these trips are intended to celebrate consistent and appropriate standards of attendance, effort, and behaviour, a range of criteria related to these three areas apply. Students generally need to meet all criteria to be eligible for an invitation. These criteria are outlined below:
- Attendance rate of 90% - start date will be Week 1 of Term 2 (Monday, April 15, 2024).
- No more than one suspension throughout the year.
- All required assessments submitted by the end of Term 3. This includes Certificate modules (VET) in Year 10.
- School fees should be up to date.
Steve Perrett
Deputy Principal, Wellbeing and Engagement
QParents
We have sent out invitations to create a QParents account to families that have not already registered.
We are working towards using QParents for Electronic Excursion Permission Notes: No more paper forms to sign and return! With QParents, you can provide permission for school excursions electronically, ensuring quick and efficient communication between home and school. The sooner we get families registered, the sooner we can move to electronic consent forms.
Other great features of QParents include:
Effortless Payment of School Invoices: Say goodbye to the hassle of coming in to the school or searching for invoices in your email. QParents allows you to conveniently pay school invoices online, saving you time and effort.
Notification of Student Absences: Easily notify the school of your student's absence.
Access to Student Timetables and Assessment Planners: Keep track of your child's schedule and stay informed about upcoming assessments with easy access to their timetable and assessment planner.
First Access to Report Cards: Be the first to receive your child's report cards electronically through QParents, giving you timely insights into their academic progress.
We understand the importance of effective communication between home and school, and QParents is here to make that connection seamless and efficient. By using QParents, you'll have everything you need to stay informed and engaged in your child's education, all in one convenient location.
If you haven't already, be sure to check your email for your invitation to create your QParents account. If you did not receive one, please get in touch with the school on 4160 0666 or enquiries@kingaroyshs.eq.edu.au We encourage you to take advantage of this valuable resource and join us in embracing technology to enhance the educational experience for your child.
Thank you for your continued support.
Hospitality News
The last fortnight has been a busy time for the senior Hospitality students as they volunteered at two community functions, held lunches at school, and completed a muffin-selling venture. Students from both Certificate II in Hospitality and Hospitality Functions were invited to volunteer at Coolabunia P&C 2024 Reef & Beef and HerKind International Women’s Day Gala Event. At Coolabunia State School, students were able to sell raffle tickets, greet and seat patrons, deliver cheese platters, help serve behind the buffet table, clear tables, and work behind the bar. HerKind Gala allowed students to experience making cocktails and mocktails, serve patrons a variety of other drinks including the welcome glass of bubbles, sell drink and raffle tickets, serve and clear sliders, salad bowls, and cupcakes. All students were a credit to the school in the courteous and professional manner in which they took part in these activities. Thank you to these community groups for giving the students these worthwhile opportunities.
Back at school, the Year 11 Certificate students have completed their first hospitality venture, making and selling muffins to the teaching staff, while the Year 12s have held two-course lunches. At the second of these lunches, they had the opportunity to serve lunch to some of the ladies from the local branch of the CWA who continue to support the hospitality program.
Lisa Hutton
Hospitality Teacher
Clontarf Update
More than one hundred Year 7 Clontarf boys from around the Darling Downs descended on Toowoomba for their annual Induction Camp.
A range of topics were explored, including leadership, the art of effective teamwork and the foundation of what it means to be a Clontarf boy. The boys also enjoyed hands on activities such as swag rolling and touch footy.
New friendships were formed during shared experiences, and the boys walked away with a deeper understanding of their role within the Clontarf community.
Michael Brown
Director, Kingaroy Clontarf Academy
Connecting young people to energy futures in state-first
In a state-first, high school students from the South Burnett region are part of a new regional, rural and remote cadetship program in the transformative energy industry, through a partnership between Ergon Energy Network and Energex and TAFE Queensland.
This year, eighteen students from across South West Queensland have been selected to participate in the program offered at five TAFE Queensland campuses. Students will also attend work experience placements at Ergon Energy Network and Energex depots located in Kingaroy, Murgon and Yarraman, north to Kilkivan, as far west as Charleville, and east to Boonah.
Kingaroy State High School student, Lochlan Burrows, has been accepted into the inaugural program delivered across south western Queensland, including depots in Stanthorpe, Kilkivan, Millmerran and Charleville.
Lochlan would like to undertake an electrical apprenticeship after high school, and will gain practical work experience at Ergon Energy Network’s Kingaroy depot, through in-community placements during the program.
“I’m hoping this course would lead me to an electrical apprenticeship, opening the door to start my electrical training in a varied workplace offering a lot of different workplace situations to learn in,” Lochlan said.
“This industry could provide me with the opportunity to grow as a young person and provide me with financial stability to help me reach my goals and dreams.”
The cadetship participants complete a Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start) (UEE2201) over four terms, with a combination of weekly online workshops, on-campus practical days led by TAFE Queensland teachers, and depot work experience guided by Ergon Energy Network and Energex experts.
Ergon Energy Network and Energex spokesperson, Dan McGaw said: “It’s great to partner with TAFE Queensland and spark interest in career opportunities in the industry.”
“This program will provide foundational electrotechnology skills and a clear pathway towards an energy sector-related apprenticeship for young people.”
TAFE Queensland General Manager of the South West Region, Jenni Butler, said that the organisation was proud to work together with Australia’s largest electricity company to help equip the next generation of energy tradespeople.
“Working with Ergon Energy Network and Energex ensures our training programs are tailored to the specific needs of the industry,” said Ms Butler.
“The program participants will gain the confidence, the capabilities, and are ready to help drive a bright future for the industry and their communities.”
Find out more about TAFE at School and pre-apprenticeship courses at tafeqld.edu.au/tafe-at-school
Health News
Personal Hygiene
Good personal hygiene, keeping your body clean, leads to a healthier and more confident young person while also reducing the chance of spreading disease.
As the young person becomes older and begins puberty, their hygiene needs change. Puberty causes a new type of sweat gland to become active in your armpits and groin areas. When skin bacteria interact with this sweat gland, body odour is produced.
Good personal hygiene practices, such as showering daily, changing clothes daily and applying deodorant can reduce body odour by reducing or removing the bacteria on the skin. Deodorants help to mask the body odour, whereas antiperspirants reduce the amount the person is sweating and as a result reduces body odour.
Clean clothes that are regularly washed also help with reducing body odour. Skin bacteria thrive in moist areas leading to more body odour. Breathable, natural fabrics which help to keep the skin drier, such as cotton, silk and wool, should be worn more frequently.
Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing helps to reduce bad breath and tooth decay. Regular visits to the dentist will reduce the amount of gum disease and dental problems. Brushing your teeth twice each day, with a pea sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste, preferably in the morning after breakfast and before going to bed at night can reduce your risk of tooth decay. Ideally, wait around 30 minutes after eating and drinking to brush your teeth.
Personal hygiene also incorporates washing your hands with soap and water or hand gel to assist with reducing the spread of disease. There are many instances where handwashing should occur, including:
- when they are obviously dirty
- after touching rubbish, dirty surfaces or objects
- before and after preparing or eating food
- after blowing your nose
- after handling pets or animals
- after changing a baby's nappy
- before and after visiting someone who is sick
- after cleaning up vomit or body fluids
- before and after treating cuts or wounds
Teenagers may take longer in the bathroom as they learn how to incorporate these personal hygiene activities into their daily routine.
For more information:
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/personal-hygiene
Selena Stevens
School Based Youth Health Nurse
Coeliac Awareness Week
Coeliac Awareness Week: 13-20 March 2024
This Coeliac Awareness Week, join us in a nationwide movement to rethink coeliac disease. It’s time to look beyond traditional symptoms and consider a broader perspective by highlighting the diverse symptoms of coeliac disease, many of which go beyond gut health.
It is estimated that 1 in 70 Australians live with coeliac disease, yet concerningly approximately 80% of these individuals remain undiagnosed. This gap in diagnosis highlights the need for increased awareness and understanding of the wide-ranging symptoms of the disease, extending beyond the conventional gastrointestinal signs.
Symptoms can include the following – if you have any of these, you should be screened for coeliac disease:
- Persistent gastrointestinal symptoms e.g. diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, flatulence/gas, cramping, bloating, abdominal pain, steatorrhea (fatty, floaty poo)
- Prolonged fatigue, weakness and lethargy
- Iron deficiency anaemia and/or other vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- Failure to thrive or delayed puberty in children
- Unexplained weight loss
- Severe or recurrent mouth ulcers
- Skin rashes such as dermatitis herpetiformis
Untreated coeliac disease can cause lots of different symptoms; some obvious, some more subtle. It can also present differently in each person, ranging from severe symptoms all the way through to ‘asymptomatic’ (having no obvious symptoms).
Importantly, there is no correlation between symptom severity and the level of damage that occurs inside the body. Even if you have no obvious symptoms, your health is still at risk if your coeliac disease remains untreated. Everybody with coeliac disease, no matter their symptoms, needs to follow a gluten-free diet.
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