18 August 2016

Newsletter Articles

Principal's Comments….

Welcome to our new digital DIRT!

As the world changes so must the way we communicate within our community. This new format for DIRT (Deliberation, Information, Revelations and Tales) enables our community to access information about our school through images, videos and text with conventional computer, tablet and now smart phones. Additionally we are endeavouring to move to a fortnightly issue.

Our school is currently in a planning mode as we prepare our next four year strategic plan. This week as part of that preparation we engaged in a review of school operations using an external review team. The outcomes of this review will feature in future DIRTs.

If you know of some reason to celebrate the achievements of our students, please share this with the DIRT team so that it may be included in the DIRT.

Our reformed School Council meets on its first meeting on 26 August.

The council consists of:

• Stacey Kirkwood - P & C President
• Caralyn Caspani - Parent representative
• Diane Luxton - Staff representative
• John Clark - Principal
• With two further appointments to come after the first meeting

Council meeting agenda and outcomes will also appear in future DIRTS.

Well enough of the 'dry' messages, I will sign off so you may explore this new form of school communication.

Regards,

John Clark
Principal

UNSW Global Australia - Educational Assessment Australia Competitions

Congratulations to the following students who participated in the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools were awarded the following certificates:

Deputy Principal's Comments….

Welcome to this edition of our new and improved school newsletter. Like all things in our school, time and technology marches on. Technology plays such a big part in the lives of our community that this shift was inevitable and allows us to reach our students and tutors regardless of whether they are next door, hundreds of kilometres away, in another state or for that matter, another country.

As our school continues its growth and change, there are some things in our school community that remain constant. While the faces of our teacher may change, students and their tutors have come and gone on a myriad of pathways and life journeys, that one thing that remains absolutely constant is the role that tutors play in their children's education.

The role of a tutor is a critical role in student success. The usual family and nurture aside, the role of a tutor is perhaps the single greatest factor in students achieving success in our school community. The role of the tutor is not one of teacher; although, this does get a little blurred at times.

The role of tutor is one where the relationship with the teacher/s is crucial to student success. Every day as teachers, we see the successes and the not so successful outcome of quality tutoring or the lack thereof.

Tutoring is not about every student achieving an 'A'. It is about keeping students engaged with the curriculum. It is to ensure that they are not playing computer games when they are meant to be doing school work. It is to check that they have completed their work and are on track with their assessment tasks. It is about calling the teacher when your child is reluctant to do so. It is about maintaining regular contact with the teacher to see how your child is progressing.

As parents, we all want our children to be successful. Distance education is a unique form of learning. While a highly self-motivated student may be fine on their own, the reality is that few students are that self-motivated. As a tutor, if you do not monitor your child's learning, then do not expect success.

Too often we see the result of tutors not monitoring their child's learning. Imagine their surprise when little Johnny gets a D, E or an N on their report card. It is a sad reality that there are tutors in our community who do not check their email, do not respond to phone calls from teachers and do not make any attempt to contact the school to check on their child's progress.

As a tutor, there is no excuse for not taking an active role in your children's education. This is the standard expectation of every tutor in our school community. An active role leads to a successful outcome and children who are engaged in learning.

It would be no surprise to most of you that one of the key contributing factors to prosperity is education. As a parent, it still comes as a surprise when tutors show no interest in their child's education. Surely as a parent, we all want to see our children experience success.

While the majority of our tutors do a fantastic job, I would encourage everyone to take an active role in ensuring that students are completing their school work, that they are on task with their assessment and are maintaining regular contact with their child's teacher or teachers. Without the tutor, it is a bit like going into a prize fight with our arms tied behind our back.

Please take a moment each and every day to check your child's work completion for the day. Likewise, check when their assessments are due and that these are on track and are submitted. Lastly, contact the school regularly to see how your child is progressing.

By following these simple steps, you will be contributing to your child's success. A big thankyou to those tutors who contribute so much to your child's learning. Keep up the good work and as a community, encourage others to do the same.

Andrew Smith
Deputy Principal

A Note From Your Parent Liaison Officer

Hello Everyone,

I hope you enjoy this first edition of the new DIRT. We would love to receive articles, photos, stories from you so that everyone can be part of it. Send them in at any time. Please remember that if you are coming into school, please call into my office to say hello and have a chat - my door is always open. Have a great week.

Cheers,

Lesley Griffin
Parent Liaison Officer

Please enjoy the following recipe found in our "Another Helping of Generations of Bush Cooking" Cookbook:

Life Without Barriers

Life Without Barriers is a not for profit organisation that offers support to people of all ages with a disability.

Life Without Barriers are willing to provide support to families with NDIS Pre-Planning services and assistance with the NDIS process. This is a complimentary service to ensure that you get the best outcomes of your NDIS planning, future funding and future goals. We also offer a school holiday program for young adults with a disability.

This is a funded program for eligible students which means the families aren't out of pocket.

New law helps clear the air

In the coming months, anyone attending an under-18 sporting event will notice a change in the air.

From 1 September 2016, smoking will be banned within 10 metres of viewing and playing areas during an organised under-18 sporting event in Queensland. This includes training or practice sessions and any breaks or intervals.

This new legislation offers further protection to the Queensland public—and in particular, children and young adults—from exposure to harmful environmental tobacco smoke.

Children's health is particularly affected by environmental tobacco smoke, with exposure increasing the risk of ear infections, respiratory illness and asthma.

Banning smoking in areas used by children and young people also helps to make smoking less visible and discourages young people from taking up smoking.

Fact sheets are available for sporting organisations, parents and visitors to provide further detailed information about the new law and how it applies to organised under-age sporting events.

Sporting organisations can help spread the smoke-free message by displaying no-smoking signage and other promotional resources that is available through our local office. We have A3 "This is where we play" posters and "NO SMOKING" corflute signs (dimensions 500mm x 350mm are available for collection, see below image). If you would like these please email northernsportrec@npsr.qld.gov.au or you can also access free no-smoking signage by calling 13QGOV (13 74 68).

Electronic versions of no-smoking signs, factsheets and resources about the changes to the tobacco laws can be downloaded and printed here.

Charters Towers Show

Primary School Handwriting Results

Sam Hancock Year 6 – 1st Place
Charlie Pemble Year 6 – 2nd Place
Hannah Myles Year 4 – 1st Place
Libby Moller Year 3 – 1st Place
Will Watts Year 3 – 2nd Place
Lochie Appleton Year 2 – 1st Place and Champion Handwriting

Primary School Poster Results

Grace O'Brien Year 6 – Highly Commended
Erin Wilkinson Year 4 - 1st Place and Champion Poster
Maddison Knuth Year 4 – 2nd Place
Will Watts Year 3 – 2nd Place
Lochie Appleton Year 2 – 1st Place
Madison McClymont Year 1 – 1st Place
Louise Birchmore Prep – 1st Place
Mitchell Clark Prep – 2nd Place

School display at the show

Ribbons and champion awards won by CTSDE students at the show

Secondary School Art Results

Nomi Sheslow Year 10 - Abstract 1st Place
Nomi Sheslow Year 10 - Painting 1st Place
Nomi Sheslow Year 10 - Drawing 1st Place
Charlee Ray Year 10 - Print 1st Place and Champion Secondary Art

Thank you to Nomi Sheslow in Year 10 who donated her prize winnings to our library.

Sheree Heath
Art Teacher – Senior School

Nomi's 1st Prize

Charlee's 1st Prize and Champion Secondary Art

Student Council

The Student Council have organised a Father's Day Raffle as their fundraising for Term 3. It is a wheelbarrow full of goodies which is now set up in the foyer outside Lesley Griffin's office. Many of the items have been kindly donated to the Student Council by local businesses. Tickets are being sold at all Outreaches and at the school for $2. Raffle will be drawn on Friday 2 September.

Out and about @ Outreaches

Hughenden Outreach

eKindy Activity days at Hughenden Outreach.

We were very pleased to welcome 9 children to the eKindy Activity days at Hughenden Outreach. It was great to observe how the children settled quickly and were ready to take on new experiences and challenges.

Inside and outside, the children showed mastery over materials and equipment that promote small muscle control, such as cotton bud painting, cutting, playdough, construction, small manipulatives, hammering, gluing and much more.

Outside, the obstacle course gave the children opportunities to develop their large movement skills and it was wonderful to join in with the RAFS playgroup during our outdoor time on Wednesday.

The children had the opportunity to experiment with programming Bee Bot individually and in small groups. The children really had to do some high level thinking and problem solving to program Bee Bot to move around the fairy tale mat using only the arrow keys on his shell. Ozobot was also introduced to the children. Ozobot is a small robot that follows the path children draw. There was lots of conversation around why Ozobot would stop and the path soon became the town and there was a bakery and police station and so on. Small stones, matchsticks, bamboo and animals at the playdough table lead to some amazing worlds being created! Cardboard and box construction became an extreme stunt course for the matchbox cars with ramps, tunnels and jumps.

Reading Wombat Stew led to imaginative play of recreating the story and feeding the stew to the dingo. At group time the children shared ideas of what they might add to the stew to make it even more disgusting. The children outdid each other with their suggestions! Group times encouraged children to participate in collaborative activities, such as movement, games, stories, discussions and songs.

Cath Priaulx - eKindy Teacher
Cathy O'Connor - eKindy Manager

Clermont Outreach

eKindy days at the Clermont Outreach

It was exciting to come together for our first ever eKindy days at the Clermont Outreach. The eKindy children and teachers were provided with support and assistance from the Charters Towers School of Distance Education community, whose warm welcome enabled us to feel safe, accepted and confident in this environment. Throughout these eKindy activity days the children demonstrated high levels of enthusiasm, curiosity, creativity and motivation to learn and interact with others. They displayed a high level of confidence about participating in all areas of the program and approached familiar and new experiences positively.

The broad range of interesting 'natural' items that the children brought in from their homes provoked a great deal of discussion and wondering about what the items were, how they had been made, where they had been found, etc. A range of items from nature, some that we collected on our walk around the showgrounds and others brought to Clermont by the teachers, were also made available for the children to explore and use in their play.

Threading, stitchery, puzzles, using scissors and tape dispensers, manipulating playdough and construction sets and experimenting with painting and drawing tools are some of the ways that the children engaged in experiences that supported their development of fine motor skills. Large movement challenges and coordination skills were explored through the chalk drawn obstacle course, during music and movement sessions and through the use of hula-hoops, stilts, ribbon sticks and beanbags.

Megan Duigan - eKindy Teacher
Kerry Denman - eKindy Teacher

Rounding up Clermont Outreach

It was an action packed three days at the Clermont Showgrounds for our term 3 outreach with all our classes extremely busy with their teachers and then participating in after school activities which included an NRL session the first afternoon and a Mexican inspired art activity using animal shapes the second afternoon. The children had before school physical exercises and games to have us all warmed up and ready for our day.

Year 2 at Clermont Outreach presented the theme: 2016 Rio Olympics!:

The Year 2 students created their own Country, costumes, flags and Aussie-style game to teach their mates! We had a terrific time! Do look at our photos!

The outreach also saw it as the last for three of our year six students: Mykenzie Moller, Charlize Appleton and Riley Kohler. A special presentation for these students was conducted at our final parade and we wish these students the very best as they enter the next phase in their educational journey.

A special thanks to the parents and home tutors for the lovely lunches and the scrumptious Mexican dinner we enjoyed on the Tuesday evening.

Karen Smith
Outreach teacher coordinator

Primary Interschool Athletics Carnival

Primary Interschool Athletics

Proudly representing Charters Towers School of Distance Education were some excellent primary school competitors at the Mt Carmel ovals on Friday 5th August 2016. Our students showed great sportsmanship and skill at the Primary Interschool Athletics hosted by Columba Catholic College.

The CTSDE team included athletes from Prep to Year 6 who all gave it their all and participated from running events to the field events. CTSDE did very well in the Aggregate Shield, which was won by Richmond Hill State School, placing 6th with 215 points ahead of BTC and the Dalrymple Cluster Schools. We then placed 7th in the Average shield on 1.35points which was won by ASSG on 5.93 points.

CTSDE students managed some excellent achievements: Dempsie Moller placed 1st in the 11yrs girls 800m; Charlize Appleton placed 1st in the 12yrs girls 800m, 2nd in the 12yrs girls High Jump, 3rd in the 12yrs girls 100m, 3rd in the 12yrs girls Long jump and 4th in the 12yrs girls 200m; Miranda Jonsson placed 2nd in the 9yrs girls High jump; Charlotte McLean placed 3rd in the 7yrs girls 60m; Logan Scott placed 3rd in the 10yrs boys Shotput; Ryan Grant placed 3rd in the 10yrs boys Long jump; Mac Broad placed 3rd in the 12yrs boys High jump; Chelsea Collins placed 4th in the 5yrs girls 60m; Tom Kirkwood placed 4th in the 9yrs boys 800m and 4th in the 9yrs boys Shotput; Chloe McLean placed 4th in the 9yrs girls 200m; Sally Broad placed 4th in the 9yrs girls 800m; Corbett O'Brien placed 4th in the 9yrs boys Long jump; and Jimmy McClelland placed 4th in the 11yrs boys 800m.

Congratulations to all our competitors, with many making the final heats in the races and top 8 in field events which is quite a feat in itself. Our relay teams worked hard and made the relays an event worth watching.

The CT District Athletics Team to compete in the NQ Primary School Athletics trials was named from the carnival (except for the 12 year olds who have to wait until after the Secondary Interschool Carnival). The CTSDE students selected were: Miranda Jonsson for 9yrs girls High jump, Logan Scott for 10yrs boys Shotput, Ryan Grant for 10yrs boys Long jump and Dempsie Moller for 11yrs girls 800m. We wish the competitors all the best at the trials in Townsville.

All the athletes deserve to be congratulated and commended for their fantastic efforts and CTSDE can't wait to see what our competitors will achieve next year.

Miss Colleen Bredden
Primary Teacher

CTSDE closing the gap

Prep News

Term 3 has seen the Prep students working very hard on their first English Retell. Students were asked to choose their own story to retell, they then created props such as puppets, storyboard, costume or masks to use for the sharing of their retell. Students then organised a special family celebration to share their retell with their families. A huge effort was made by all and Mrs Luxton and Mrs Larson have thoroughly enjoying watching all the recordings.

Outreach is always a favourite time of year for our prep students, with the opportunity to catch up with friends and spend some time with their teachers. Term 3 Outreaches have seen the prep students learning about what materials would be suitable to use to create a Wind Chime that will hang outdoors. Here are just a few of the wind chimes created at Hughenden, Clermont, Ewan and Cape River outreaches.

Di Luxton
Prep Teacher

Year 4

Term 3 has been another action packed term. The main event of this term has been our Outreaches.

All of our students showed a lot of interest in the Health and Physical Education Unit covering The Respiratory System. We learnt about how we get air to our lungs and back out again. The students also came up with splendid ideas about how to keep our lungs healthy. We conducted some very interesting experiments to show how our amazing bodies are able to breathe. We are always amazed at how much learning the students are able to take on, in the short time that we have on Outreach. Their enthusiasm and interest level is very encouraging.

Members of the Year 4 class have also been involved in the 2016 ICAS testing. Results so far are as follows:

Digital Technologies – Erin Wilkinson : Participation Award and Morgan Duckett: Distinction Award.

Science – Morgan Duckett: Credit Award

Congratulations for your efforts and wonderful achievements.

To date, students have yet to complete the Maths and English testing but I am very confident in their abilities.

Cindy Milanovic
Year 4 Teacher

Year 3 and 4's showing off their artistic skill

Junior Secondary

Townsville outreach for Junior Secondary is back in full swing! The students were kept busy during the day completing their scheduled lessons. Although Term Three has been hectic already, there is always time for some fun.

As the slightly cooler weather kicked in, so too did the beginning of Term two. Students were in a frenzy; completing Science experiments, Maths assignments and Art projects just to name a few. Amongst the many send it in tasks and exam submissions were days of NAPLAN tests, which focused on both literacy and numeracy.

Rachel Quigley
Junior Secondary Teacher

Languages

Language students find a new career path as architects!

Year 6 students of Japanese language in Term 3 suddenly found themselves drawing house plans and labelling rooms in Japanese. This topic has brought out budding architects in many students.

As well, the comparison between Japanese homes and Australian homes and the concept of space has caused a great deal of interest. The Year 6 students have had the opportunity to learn about traditional Japanese homes. Homes as varied as those in World Heritage Listed regions such as Shirakawa, with thatched roofs, to the modern high-rise Danchi apartment blocks in the big cities have given rise to many questions from the students.

An interesting aspect has been the concept of a multi-purpose room within a Japanese home. This room, covered in tatami matting and having sliding doors, can be a bedroom, a lounge room, or a dining room depending on necessity.

Although some of the sentences involved have proven to be a new kind of tongue-twister, most students have loved learning the vocabulary needed to speak about homes.

Turning Japanese in Townsville!

A number of students from CTSDE and other schools involved in the Languages program travelled to Townsville recently to participate in the Townsville Japanese Speaking Competition. In total, 8 students from CTSDE, Millchester State School, Airville State School, and Scottville State School participated in the Primary division. They spoke about themselves, their pets and their likes and dislikes in front of a large crowd of people. The students from CTSDE who participated were:

• Samantha Connelly – Year 5
• Charlize Appleton – Year 6
• Mackenzie Broad – Year 6

We had one student travel all the way from Scottville (4 hours south of Charters Towers) to participate which was wonderful! According to the CTSDE staff who travelled down (Kaori Waerea, Fan Zeng and Jade McKay), "It was an absolutely wonderful day for all our students who participated, their parents and staff members. All the students tried their best and they were exposed to such an eye opening environment."

Thank you to the parents for taking the time to travel into Townsville to give your students a great opportunity to showcase their growing Japanese skills.

Sandy Bogilevu – Langange Teacher
Jade McKay – Languages Head of Department

e-Kindy

Up Coming Events

21 – 26 August - Clermont ICPA Sports Clinic Years 4 - 7
30 – 31 August - QCS Test
4 – 10 September - Year 6 Brisbane Trip
6 – 7 September - ICPA Conference
12 – 16 September - Work Placement Years 10 - 12
19 – 3 October - P & C Meeting teleconference 3:30

YOUR EDUCATION – THE TUTOR IN THE CLOUD

Who we are:

Caine Wager, an experienced music teacher who started his career in Charters Towers teaching music and instrumental music, came up with an idea to help students connect with other teachers to access tutoring and help them succeed, regardless of where they are. He is a Conservatorium graduate who is very focused on creating opportunities for all students to access high quality experiences that expand their horizons beyond the classroom. He wanted a way to enable children to access instrumental music in a way that simulated the face-to-face experience.

To discuss how our service can help you, contact Caine on 0433 829 235 or via email at caine.wager@outlook.com . Caine offers instrumental and AMEB music theory tuition in a range of areas from $40 per hour.

What we do:

One of the areas that we are excited to provide high quality, individualised tutoring at a competitive price is instrumental music. Instrumental tutoring can be accessed through our service from $40 per hour. We are very keen to offer students who may not otherwise have access to a trained, qualified instrumental music teacher the opportunity to access this enriching area right in the comfort of their home. We currently have qualified teachers in the following areas:

• Instrumental music
  - Brass
  - Percussion
  - Strings
  - Guitar
  - Basic woodwind
• Music theory
• English
• Primary education
• Maths
• Science

We use an online classroom that simulates the face-to-face experience. It includes VOIP, webcam and an interactive whiteboard, so your child can talk to, see and draw with their teacher.

How it works:

Sign up at our website, and then browse our teachers for the type of teacher your child needs. Book a lesson using the teacher's calendar. Pay in advance via our secure online payment system, and then log in at the selected time to the teacher's classroom for a one-to-one lesson that will give your child what they need with regard to either enrichment, or academic help.

The TUH 2016 'Big Thank You' Giveaway!

How does the 'Big Thank You' Giveaway work?

As the proud principal partner of the 2016 Premier's Reading Challenge, we thought it would be a great idea for teaching staff to hear firsthand just how much they inspire a love of reading in our children. Students (or parents of very young students) can tell us in 50 words or less how their teacher or librarian helps inspire a love of reading. For further information go to:

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