17 February 2017

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Comments

Welcome back to an exciting year in our great school!

Like all years there will be a lot of hard work by parents/caregivers and tutors, and even emotional low points as the reality of teaching your own children ‘bites’ at times. However, when all that clears away or diminishes when the world is going well for you, there is an image and wonderful set of experiences involved in extending your influence over your child’s growth and development. Over the years, many tutors have indicated to me that even with the daily challenges, it was a unique privilege for them to extend their time, through schooling in the home with their children.

Now to remember that on the ‘bad’ days, when nothing goes right you feel your children hate you and you just cannot get all the work done!

With the start of school now receding, our next major event at school is the annual tutor school; an opportunity for tutors to gather, share their knowledge and experiences and learn together in a supportive environment. In 2017, we are taking a different approach and structuring the five day event more in the line of a conference rather than a serious of small workshops. Our guest presenters are world class and will not only be entertaining but also insightful and provide benefit to our tutor participants. A full overview of the 2017 tutor school is in this newsletter.

Remember, the education of your child/young person occurs through a partnership between you, the parent, and the school. Please share concerns or issues if there appear to be imparting on your success as a tutor.

Regards
John Clark
PRINCIPAL

Teacher Absence Policy

This year in an effort to provide greater service, the school will re-introduce coverage of teacher absences.

Where a teacher has missed 3 lessons within a subject in a term then further absences will be covered by teachers at the school taking up additional duties. Teachers will be rostered to undertake this additional role so as to share the responsibility, it will remain the responsibility of the class teacher to prepare and have available lesson resources.

This program commences immediately.

Same Day Notification of Student Absence from Lesson

The Department of Education and Training has instigated in all states schools a requirement whereby parents/guardians are notified on the same day that their child/student is absent from school or classes.

This policy also applies to Schools of Distance Education.

Our school acknowledges that the flexibility of lesson attendance is a valued characteristic of our school. We also however value each student attending lessons; lesson attendance does lead to enhanced outcomes and higher levels of achievement.

In order to keep faith with the new government policy and to support families, parents in our school will be able to register their anticipated level of involvement in offered lessons. This will then carry with it, a request for notification or no notification of lessons absences.

• The choices a family may make are:
• A student will attend all offered lessons and provide notice/explanation to the teacher when attendance is not possible.
• A student may attend lessons when they can; the parent/guardian does not wish to be notified of student’s absence from lessons.
• Student uses the ‘recorded’ lessons regularly and does not routinely attend the offered lessons in real time; the parent/guardian does not wish to be notified of student’s absence from lessons.

Parent/caregivers have had the opportunity to register their intention in receiving such notifications through an on-line form. This process has now closed. Parents who have not yet registered their intention in this matter will automatically receive daily text messages to their personal mobile telephones indicating when their student/s are absent from web lessons.

To register your intent in this implementation time, you must now complete a hard copy form available from the Parent Liaison officer at the school. Please contact Lesley via her email lgrif38@eq.edu.au

Deputy Principal’s Comments

At the start of any school year, one of the most important things a home tutor can do is to establish routines. While lesson schedules are provided, this is only a relatively small part of what students need to succeed at our school.

Routines assist students in establishing work habits and ensure that students remain on task and engaged with learning throughout the year. While the school can provide tips and advice, it is the home tutor that has the greatest responsibility for establishing an appropriate learning culture in the home classroom.

Time and again teachers see the results of lack of routine through work not completed, students disengaged from learning and unfortunately all too often, families engaged in the truancy process. This is perhaps one of the most frustrating aspects of the teacher’s role and one that takes teachers away from their core role of teaching as they try to re-establish contact and engagement with the student.

Early in the year, tutors need to establish clear routines, schedules and timetables for student learning. This might mean creating a weekly schedule that shows lesson times, times that students should allocate to English, Mathematics, Science and so on.

A visual representation of this in the longer term could be in the form of a wall calendar with exams, school activities such as Mini-Schools and Outreaches clearly marked.

The importance of providing this level of organisation cannot be stressed enough. This is one of the critical success factors in a distance learning environment that applies regardless of the age of the student. Routines are vital to successful outcomes.

The other aspect of course is the need to check that routines are followed. Do not assume that just because routines have been established, that students will automatically follow them. Check student progress and have a look for yourself at what they have done.

Teachers are here to support you. They cannot control what happens at your end but they can provide advice and assistance. Do not be afraid to contact them.

Regards,

Andrew Smith
Deputy Principal

A Note From Your Parent Liaison Officer

Volunteers for Isolated Students Education (V.I.S.E.)

VISE is a program that originated in the Northern Territory. Assistance is provided to families in areas that will help home tutors in the schoolroom.

VISE tutors are dedicated retired teachers who find teaching a passion and wish to continue and to contribute to the education of our isolated students. They are able to stay with a family for up to six weeks and help out in the schoolroom with teaching. Some of the skills the tutors can bring to the schoolroom are: setting up the schoolroom to accommodate multi grade families and a number of things that will help with the education of your children.

There are also Angels and these people are non-teachers who do light house duties – they may prepare meals, get washing done, answer phones and watch younger children so that the parents can concentrate on the schoolroom.

This program is available to all families and doesn’t have to be just for emergency situations. If you know a time when you are going to be very busy and may need that extra assistance eg. mustering time, tourist season etc…. Then you can put in a request for a VISE teacher or Angel.

Each family is responsible for the cost of travel for these tutors and angels and then they are kept for a period of time that they are at your place.

The procedure for applying for a VISE is as follows: Obtain an application form from Lesley, Parent Liaison Officer on 4754 6843 or email lgrif38@eq.edu.au

New Coordinator for VISE

Maxine Sharpe has kindly offered to fill the voluntary position of CTSDE VISE Coordinator.

The outgoing Coordinator Robyn Brown has spent 10+ years helping our isolated families find needed relief in their classroom. Robyn educated her children through CTSDE and continued in the position for many years after. We thank Robyn sincerely for the time, energy and dedication to isolated families that she has given over so many years.

Thank you to Maxine Sharpe for offering to take on this role.

Lesley Griffin
Parent Liaison Officer

Introducing our new teachers

Junior Secondary news

An excellent start to the school year

Students have made a great start to 2017. We have had increased attendance at online lessons compared with 2016, and almost all students have submitted their send in sheets on time, without the need for reminders to do so! The teachers are very pleased with this excellent start to the year.

We are particularly impressed with the increase in lesson attendance as we firmly believe there is a positive correlation between lesson attendance and student achievement.

New students to Junior Secondary

So far this year we have welcomed 18 new students to our school across Years 7 to 9. We hope they are enjoying their new school. We have also welcomed 10 students who have moved within our school from Primary to Junior Secondary. Teachers believe they have adjusted well and we are impressed with their enthusiasm so far. We are confident that will continue.

Staff changes in Junior Secondary

We have welcomed a new staff member, Miss Jesse Reilly, to our school and Junior Secondary teaching team. Please read below to find out a bit more about Miss Reilly. Four teachers have joined our team from other areas within the school. Ms Allyson Fuller, Miss Stacey Johnson and Mr Alan Watts are now teaching full time within Junior Secondary while Mrs Janita Reardon is delivering the Literacy Program to students across the school.

Introducing Miss Jesse Reilly

My name is Jesse Reilly and I am the new Junior Secondary Teacher here at Distance Ed. I grew up on a farm in the Riverland in country South Australia before relocating to Adelaide to study at university. During my time in Adelaide I completed a Bachelor Degree in Visual Art and went on to complete a Masters in Secondary Education. Late last year I relocated to Charters Towers where I worked as a teacher aide at a local high school while completing the remainder of my degree online.

I am thoroughly enjoying living in the friendly (and hot!) town that is Charters Towers. I am also very excited about teaching through distance education, learning valuable news skills and overcoming the challenges that come with this. While the year has only just started I have already been highly impressed with the level of engagement, motivation and kindness that the students of CTSDE display. I look forward to the remainder of the year and to getting to know each student further as we work together.

Miss Jesse Reilly

Home Tutor School

Both teachers and students are looking forward to Home Tutor School next week. While students will be attending lessons between 8.30am to 3pm, there will be some fun activities to enjoy after the school work is completed. A reminder to students who are not attending Home Tutor School that there are some lessons to complete at home during this week. Please check your Work Completion Planners for all your subjects to see what work you need to complete.

Year 7 Vaccinations

Our school is participating in Queensland Health’s annual School Immunisation Program. All Year 7 students will be offered free vaccinations as recommended on the National Immunisation Program schedule to protect against human papillomavirus (HPV) and diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (whooping cough).

The first round of vaccination will occur at Home Tutor School (if your child is attending). For those families who are unable to come into Home Tutor School, you may have these vaccinations done with your GP or with your closest Immunisation Clinic which may be a Community Health centre, the Council or the RFDS depending on where you live.

All the best for your 2017 school year.

Barb Stower
HOD, Junior Secondary

QUEENSLAND SCHOOL IMMUNISATION PROGRAM

What is the School Immunisation Program?

Queensland Health’s School Immunisation Program, offers Year 7 students in state and non-state schools free nationally recommended immunisations to protect against human papillomavirus and diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough). Similar programs are offered in other States and Territories across Australia.

How does it operate?

The School Immunisation Program commenced as a statewide program in Queensland in 2007 and is the most efficient and effective way to immunise adolescents. Queensland Health authorises school immunisation providers to visit schools and immunise students. To be immunised students must return a consent card signed by their parent/legal guardian. If a consent card is not returned, the student is not vaccinated.

What are the legislative changes relating to student and parent/legal guardian information?

The change to legislation requires the school Principal to provide student and parent/legal guardian information to approved school immunisation providers for the purposes of following up parents/ legal guardians of students who have not returned a consent card. This includes:

• the name and date of birth of a student
• the name, telephone number, email address and postal address of a parent or guardian of a student, and
• any other information prescribed by regulation about a student. This may include the sex of the student and which class or group they are attached to.

How will the changes be beneficial for the school immunisation program?

The changes were needed because a large number of immunisation consent cards were not being returned to school. This meant parents/legal guardians may not have been receiving information about the program and been given the opportunity for their child to be immunised.

The changes mean that the school immunisation providers will be able to determine those who have and have not consented, and directly follow-up with parents of students who have not returned a consent card. This direct follow-up ensures all parents are offered the opportunity for their child to participate in this important school health program and protect their child against human papillomavirus and diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough). It may also assist parents in making decisions about their child’s immunisation needs.

If my child returns a consent card to school, will I be contacted?

No. If your child returns a consent card to school, you will not be contacted. However, if you consented to vaccination you may be contacted if the information you provided on the consent card is not clear or incomplete.

As a parent/legal guardian can I decline consent for my child to participate in the school immunisation program?

Yes. You will need to complete the consent card to record your refusal in the ‘No to vaccination’ section and return the consent card to your child’s school. This will ensure you are not contacted by the school immunisation provider.

Is the Principal required to pass on student and parent/legal guardian information to a school immunisation provider?

Yes, unless the Principal determines that it is not in the best interest of the student to pass on the information. An example of this may be a child under a protection order.

How will the information be protected?

All school immunisation providers are bound to comply with the Queensland Information Privacy Act 2009. This Act stipulates the requirements for the secure collection, use, storage and disposal of personal information to be followed by school health program providers.

How will information be transferred, used and stored?

Student and parent information will be given to the school immunisation provider in a secure format agreed to by the Principal and the school immunisation provider early in the school year. The information will be securely stored and only accessed by authorised staff. School immunisation providers must store and dispose of disclosed student information in accordance with the Queensland State Archive guidelines.

How long will the information be retained?

The information will be retained by the school immunisation provider for the school year that your child is eligible for vaccination. The information will be deleted from any electronic system and hard copies of the information will not be retained.

Where can I get more information?

• Call 13 HEALTH (13432584)
• Visit Queensland Health’s Immunisation website:

The DIRT on Year 3

This year in 2017, Year 3 have Music as one of their subjects through CTSDE. Our students have been enjoying this subject as they get to make their own musical instruments and then play compositions. Just look at all the fun they are having!

“It is my favourite subject”
- Ben

Ben with the shakers and wood block he made.

Mackinley is really enjoying music. She especially liked the Japanese and Australian parts. She loved watching the Australian dancing and seeing how the instruments were used.

“I am enjoying the music lessons because I have a Keyboard packed away in a container. At the end of this month our house is getting built and the container will be emptied. I then will be able to use my knowledge from my music lessons to play my keyboard, very excited.”
- Bridie

Year 3 students will also be learning HPE and Design and Technologies as new subjects this year and we look forward to seeing what they can learn and do by the end of all of these great new subjects.

The Year 3 teachers are very excited about Home Tutor School in Week 5 and we hope the Year 3 students are just as excited! Stay tuned to learn more about Miss Nelson’s infamous art lessons from Home Tutor School.

Mrs Colleen Purdie and Miss Kym Nelson
Year 3 Teachers

Languages

Impressive Improvements in Languages!

Our Languages department is one of the largest in our school, servicing almost 700 students in 29 schools across Queensland last year, and continued growth anticipated this year. Our team has worked very hard over the 2016 year in delivering a high quality Languages program to students in years 5-12.

Over the past year, students in our primary years (Years 5 and 6) in particular have shown some tremendous gains in results. The Japanese department has worked particularly hard in differentiating their teaching to meet the needs of these students and the outcomes for students speak for themselves. In Year 5, the Semester 2 pass rate for overall results (percentage of students who received a C or better on their report card) was 91%, with 70% of our 304 Year 5 students receiving an A or B on their report card. As you can see from the graph below, this represents an improvement in A and B ratings of 8%! Well done to all our students and Teachers in Year 5!

Year 6 also recorded improvements, with a 5% increase in A and B ratings and an 11% increase in the overall pass rate for Japanese! This brought the pass rate to 90% out of the 179 students undertaking our Year 6 curriculum! This outcome is especially impressive as this was the very first time that students undertook the Year 6 program.

One of our school-based Year 10 students, who is now continuing into Year 11 with our program, Scarlett of Mirani State High School, also had an incredible year with Japanese. Under Ms Yukari Doi’s leadership, she won a scholarship to Japan as part of a department combined STEM/Languages program, and won our academic award for Japanese! Great news for our school based students.

Well done to all our students and teachers in Japanese for a sensational, and always improving year!

Jade Wager
Head of Department - Languages

Prep News

Prep Teachers Mrs Luxton and Mrs Shepherd are looking forward to meeting the 2017 Prep students during Tutor School week. We have a wonderful week planned filled with many exciting activities and learning experiences. These include - All About Me activities, a visit from the Qld Museum, a visit from a local Music teacher and a visit from Bunnings for craft activities. We are expecting 18 Prep families to attend over the five days.

The children can expect to have a wonderful time, making friends and learning about each other. Tutor School gives us a fantastic opportunity to work with each of the children and get to know them all. The Prep students have made a wonderful start to the year with our web sessions and we look forward to the year ahead.

Di Luxton and Leean Shepherd
PREP Teachers

NBN’s Interim Satellite Service is closing

As you would be aware, nbn’s Interim Satellite Service is closing on February 27, so if you haven’t yet arranged to transition across to Sky Muster you should do so as soon as possible to retain a service.

To assist with a smooth transition, nbn has set up a 1800 call back number so that we can capture any ISS migration issues.

The number is 1800 726 434.

People experiencing issues are asked to leave as much detail as possible, including:

• their contact and road address details
• Best method to contact them and best time to call back for an appointment
• current ISS RSP
• ISS ID (if known)
• If they have Telstra mobile coverage at their location (For the potential of a dongle)
• Have they placed an order and if so with which RSP

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