September 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principals Ponderings Term 3 2020

We did not know as we commenced term 2 that we would be farewelling our courageous, kind, dedicated Tippy. Such a beautiful mother, wife, friend and colleague. Our memories are many and our hearts are heavy, and we move on in the knowledge we are better for having known and worked with Tippy.

2020 what a year…There are many memes about 2020 that give us a chuckle, are based on an element of truth and are reminders for us to not take “things” too seriously!

Congratulations to our team who have taken us through a term of Virtual activities to help us remain connected and who are now planning for Minischool and Multischool early in term 4. I am looking forward to catching up with everyone as we gather.

School Review

Every Queensland state school is reviewed by the Education Improvement Branch at least once every four years. The reviews are an important part of how the department supports and monitors schools. The reviews provide schools with independent feedback, tailored to their context and needs. Principals use the review findings to work with their school community and assistant regional director (or principal supervisor) to develop clear actions to move the school forward.

Our review is on the 28th, 29th and 30th October. Some of you will be contacted to speak with a member of the review team. The findings (commendations and recommendations) will be shared with the school community.

Thank you to all Home Tutors, Parents and staff who have completed a survey to help us to plan for our next four years. This will inform our strategic plan 2021-2024.

Showcase

Western Alliance: Congratulations to our secondary team of students, teachers and parents who make up the Western Alliance. Our submission took us through to the State Finals where the dedication, effort and initiative was recognised. We are strong; we are always improving on what we can do for our students in overcoming the barriers to learning in rural and remote areas. Thank you for your support.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday and a fantastic Term 4,

Jenny

From the Deputy’s Desk

Year 3-6 Camp to Noosa North Shore

Noosa North Shore was a huge hit amongst our students and teachers with many memories to treasure from the week of action packed fun. Many thanks to our teachers who travelled on camp this year. Enjoy the photos that give a very brief snapshot of the fabulous week!

Year 3-6 Camp to Noosa North Shore

Cluster Muster

Our teachers and students travelled to Mitchell, Charleville, St George and Thargomindah this term to join in the Cluster Muster fun. The students participated in a range of learning opportunities that focused on a range of countries and continents. Our parents and home tutors shared their valuable feedback for our school review later this year. We are proud to say that our school is always working on improving outcomes for our students and we value all input. Many thanks to the families who attended Cluster Muster this term.

Student Leadership Program

All Year 5 and Year 9 students have been invited to self-nominate for the student leadership program next term. If you have a student in Year 5 or Year 9, please encourage them to complete the self-nomination form and return to Mrs Dunne (kdunn92@eq.edu.au) as soon as possible. The program will commence on Friday 9th October. This program forms an important part of the 2021 school and house captain’s election process. We look forward to seeing more nominations in the coming weeks.

Have a wonderful break
Katrina Dunne
(Acting Deputy Principal)

Head of Department Teaching and Learning

Term Three

Professional Development

We have had an extremely productive term three and we would like to thank all of the teachers for their continued commitment to ensuring they continue to improve student learning and achievement. We have been very fortunate to participate in many professional development workshops delivered virtually. Some of these included:

• The Centre for Learning and Wellbeing | Developing a Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Plan
  o 10 Module Workshop specifying the curriculum, assessment, reporting requirements, and developing a plan for CSDE.
• The Centre for Learning and Wellbeing | Creating a Reading Framework
  o School leaders and literacy teams worked on creating a one page reading framework and accompanying policy document
• QASSP | Amplify your Impact with Andrew Horsefield
  o Equips leaders with a new suite of skills that enables us to be resilient while delivering results in a demanding context.
• QASSP | Phonemic Awareness Training
  o Provides daily teacher led oral activities to help students develop the decoding skills essential to becoming proficient readers.
• QELi | Darling Downs South West High Performing Middle Leaders Program
  o Identification and undertaking of a leadership learning challenge for participants in their school in relation to a leadership behaviour.
• 2020 Online Numeracy Festival
  o Leading educators, best practice examples, innovative pedagogy and practical ideas from educators across Australia and NZ.

Teachers are continuing to participate in professional development identified through their Annual Performance Development Plans. This process promotes a constructive and supportive workplace culture where employees and supervisors have regular and meaningful (informal and formal) performance exchanges about standards of conduct, performance expectations and opportunities for developing capability.

Version 8 Independent Learning Materials

Middle Leaders from CSDE, Mt Isa School of the Air and Longreach Distance Education met in Brisbane to discuss –

• eTeach updates being produced by Capricornia Distance Education
• eLearn Migration
• HASS P-6 Development of Independent Learning Materials
• Creation of USBs to support Version 8 ILMs
• Quality assurance procedures for Version 8 ILMs we are creating
• Upcoming School Reviews

The opportunity to meet face to face with our colleagues has proved an invaluable experience and we will meet again mid Term 4. Version 8 updates are continuing as we have secured a full time desktop publisher.

Primary and Secondary

Primary planning days have allowed teachers the time to intentionally collaborate and have robust discussion around:

• Reading Data Walls – analyse data and identify intervention requirements.
• Three levels of planning including differentiated teaching and learning and student assessment.

External moderation with secondary CSDE and CSHS teachers have occurred and as a result, teachers have been able to engage in professional conversations that include:

• Using marking guides for making judgments
• Appropriate feedback throughout units of work
• Opportunities to practice skills and develop content knowledge within units
• Resourcing for subjects and units

The Australian Curriculum

Download The Australian Curriculum: an overview for parents to learn about how the Australian Curriculum is organised, including information about the learning areas, general capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities. There is also information about how schools can use the Australian Curriculum to support students' needs and interests, and links to further information.

PLO Prattle

Term 3 has given us lots of challenges as did Term 2, with little or no contact face to face with students and families. However as a school community we have pulled together to support each other and that is what being part of a community is, supporting each other during the tough times and the good times.

How Parents Can Build Self-Esteem in Children. (kidshealth.org)

1. Help your child learn to do things. At every age, there are new things for kids to learn.
2. When teaching kids how to do things, show and help them at first.
3. Praise your child, but do it wisely.
4. Be a good role model.
5. Ban harsh criticism.
6. Focus on strengths.
7. Let kids help and give.

Fingers crossed we will be able to catch up in Term 4 for Minischool, Multischool, Swim Muster, Speech and Awards, End of year Concert and Yr 6 & Yr 10 Celebration Dinner. Wow what a term we have ahead.

Enjoy the break and stay safe in these un-knowing times, or you can sit back and blow bubbles.

Cheers
Helen Cook
Parent Liaison Officer.

Digital Discoveries

iPad App of the Month: Snap Type Pro for iPad

Snap Type Pro allows students to take a photograph of work on the board or a worksheet and type their responses onto the image instead of needing to handwrite them:

• Particularly effective for students with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia or fine motor control issues that affect handwriting
• Supports fatigue as students who struggle with handwriting often tire easily and this in turn effects their behaviour and engagement later in the day.

Download from the link below.

What is VoIP on Blackboard Collaborate Ultra?

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol – a protocol used to allow voice communications over the internet (talking through the computer). While the phone line is the preferred communication methods for accessing audio for our on-air lessons, Blackboard Collaborate Ultra does have a VoIP option for those times when the phone is not working.

To set up students need to ensure they are using Google Chrome to access their on-air lesson and have a microphone and/or headset plugged into the computer. (Note that many laptops have a built in microphone). Upon entering the on-air lesson students need to ensure the Audio and Video test is completed and working.

During the lesson, when the student wishes to speak, he/she needs to click on the microphone button at the bottom of the Ultra screen that will go green when audio is being transmitted.

eBooks

The eBooks Digital Library will be bigger and better than ever! This year, along with the OverDrive website and app, there is an eBooks interface for students, called Sora.

Sora is a reading app designed for students. The eResource Services team is now updating and curating new eBook collections in Sora, rather than OverDrive. Both still work, however, so use the one that best suits you. To get started, install the Sora or OverDrive app on your device. Search for 'Education Queensland' and log in with your MIS ID.

Spotlight on Cybersafety: Instagram

Instagram is a popular social networking app, but should your child be using it? Read the safety guide below to find out more about Instagram.

How Computers Track Your Internet History

A computer keeps track of your internet browsing by using "cookies". Find out some of the good and bad ways your internet history can be used, and learn about "cookie" stories and how they work?

Student Work: Year 9 Coding

Congratulations to our Year 9 DDT students who have worked hard to complete their planning and development of apps that teach others about cyber safety. Check out some of their coding and screenshots below:

New Water Safety App: Something Eerie

Royal Life Saving Australia has unveiled a new app to teach vital water safety skills to kids, called ‘Something Eerie’. The fun and educational app is aimed at children aged 8-12 years and can be played at home, at school or in the car on the way to swimming lessons!

Something Eerie follows a group of five friends who live in the town of Eerie Creek, and the adventures they get up to. As the temperatures begin to rise and children look to cool off in whatever water they can find – it is timely to remind them of some safety around water.

From the Technician’s Table: Need More Help?

If you are having trouble with log on details, access problems, computer or headset issues or just want some advice we are here to help you. . .

School Technician – Bill Grant: wjgra0@eq.edu.au or 07 4656 8909

For all phone and headset issues and problems with computers.

Digital Learning Facilitator – Sam Owczarek: sowcz1@eq.edu.au or 07 4656 8915

For advice or help with using programs or tools on the Learning Place (including eLearn, Microsoft Office and Collaborate Ultra).

Give us a call or send an email.

Girl Guides

Each year Queensland Girl Guides complete a ‘State Good Turn’: a project identified to help out in the community. This year the State Good Turn is based around Habitat Stepping Stones. The girls in 2nd Charleville Lone have spent the first five weeks of Term 3 working towards the Australian Wildlife Recovery Badge.

The girls’ challenge was to make a shelter design which native wildlife can use. We decided to take a technology process approach to complete this badge. This involved:

1. Investigating native Australian animals;
2. Generating a shelter idea;
3. Producing a shelter;
4. And, evaluating our designs.

The girls thought innovatively, creatively and realistically about a useful product that could be used around their home to support Australian native wildlife.

All girls took on the challenge and have succeeded. They should be congratulated on their designs. Well done!

Email Mrs Sam O on sowcz1@eq.edu.au if you would like to join our fabulous Girl Guide unit and application forms and information will be forwarded to you.

Virtual Sport Muster – Friday 24th July

When faced with COVID-19 restrictions our amazing staff had to think outside the box to ensure our students were able to participate in our annual Sports Muster, although it looked very different this year.

The Sports Muster committee put their thinking caps on and came up with events that students could complete. Optional activities that earnt extra points for their teams included:

• Boot Bunt
• Dirt and Dust Duathlon
• Genius Juggling
• Hauling Hay
• High Flying Headstands
• Hobby Horse Hustle
• Leaping Loo Paper

It was wonderful to see numerous entries from students and their families. Leaping Loo Paper was a very hotly contested event where we saw children, parents, home tutors, dogs, sheep, horses and even guinea pigs having a go. It was humbling to see so many excited faces and the talent displayed. Thank you to the parents that had to get boots off the roof whilst participating in the Boot Bunt challenge.

During our “live” event, we were overwhelmed with the engagement shown by the students, with some families spending the day with their neighbours.

Overall results

RFDS Winning House Shield: Kanyanna
Rotary Runner-up House Shield: Narungi
Toowoomba Grammar Spirit Award: Emma Hirsch
Best War Cry: Narungi
Sports Quiz: Kanyanna

Thank you to our incredible students, families and teachers for ensuring we were able to deliver a very successful event.

Virtual Sports Muster

Families coming together

“The Rains family at Caldervale hosted the day so that a few surrounding Augathella /Tambo area families could get together.

Photos are of Stanley, Artie and Isabelle Rains and Jaylee and Chett Smith from Kanyanna and Jimmy, Sid and Ardie Moloney, Lachie Delforce and Bryce Pampling from Narungi enjoying the day participating in some of the optional activities as well as some more traditional sports events.

A great day was had by all and we thank the Rains Family for hosting.”

Natalie Pampling

Western Alliance Virtual Camp

The Western Alliance held its inaugural virtual camp in August as a means to maintain connections between our students and teachers that have been impacted by Covid-19.

The virtual camp, organised by Mrs Bates (Western Alliance- HOD of Operation), was designed as a direct response to Covid-19 and the subsequent cancellation of our planned physical cultural camp to Rockhampton.

Secondary students were treated to a variety of educational sessions ranging from Japanese culture to dog trapping. It was a great opportunity to put curriculum aside for a couple of days and have some fun with peers and teachers. There were a number of highlights over the days including Mount Isa’s Jacqui Bakhash and Sharon Selling, from Channel 7’s My Kitchen Rules 2015, guest judging the cooking session.

Although this was an amazing two days, we are very excited to see teacher and students face-to-face next term.

Western Alliance Virtual Camp

Arts & Crafts – Friday 24th July

Virtual has been the popular word this year with COVID-19 affecting us all in very unusual ways. However, at CSDE we put that aside with the staff and families continuing to celebrate our annual Arts & Crafts competition.

This year’s theme was Mother Nature’s Power and we saw some amazing entries. The students and their families put their thinking caps on and came up with some fantastic ideas, from welded sculptures to some animals as models for their photography shots.

Special thanks goes to our wonderful judges, who this year faced the challenge of judging our baking section without that final taste test.

Overall results

Prep – Year 3 Overall Winner – May Iseppi
Prep – Year 3 Outstanding Effort – George Bryant
Year 4 – Year 6 Overall Winner – Phoebe Bryant
Year 4 – Year 6 Outstanding Effort – Cooper Campbell
Year 7 – Year 10 Overall Winner – Katelyn Wornsop
Year 7 – Year 10 Outstanding Effort – Lara Hay

Thank you to our incredible students, families and teachers for ensuring we were able to deliver a very successful event.

Arts & Crafts

Cluster Muster – Term Three

St George, Thargomindah, Mitchell and Charleville

We were relieved that we could offer Cluster Muster events this term under current restrictions. Teachers and students travelled to St George and Thargomindah on Tuesday 1st September and Charleville and Mitchell on Thursday 3rd September.

Prior to the event, our incredible teachers intentionally collaborated and planned activities for the students. Our theme this term was Around the World in a Day! To start the day we created individual passports and decorated biscuits to represent flags. We were then ready for our adventure; some events included travelling to -

South America, where we investigated The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro making masks and maracas. Europe, delving into our artistic side and producing Picasso drawings using oil pastels. Africa, exploring the art of weaving and how it has evolved over the course of thousands of years, through discovery and experimentation. Asia, participating in very intense games of Janken (じゃん拳) this is the Japanese equivalent of Rock Paper Scissors. Our final destination was North America. Did you know that Bush Dances (Australian) are similar to American line dances or American Square dances? We enjoyed teaching our parents and home tutors a Bush Dance by the Bushwackers! More than 240 million people around the world play soccer according to the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), it was so much fun joining in a friendly game of soccer with our friends.

Whilst the students were participating in the engaging activities, parents and home tutors spent time with a member or the leadership team to discuss our upcoming School Review. We revised the review process and the State Schools Improvement Strategy 2020 – 2024. Discussion around the School Strategic Plan was incredibly valuable as we continue to collaborate about what the school wants to achieve in the future and how we plan to get there.

It was wonderful to see 65 students and 46 parents/home tutors attend our events. We appreciate your support and any further feedback you have to offer.

Cluster Muster