16 February 2018
Newsletter Articles
Principal’s Comments
Next week is our annual Tutor School and the program is focused on several speakers covering brain development, resilience and growth within young people. It will be an interesting and wide ranging opportunity for tutors to access professional development of a world standard. I look forward to engaging with tutors during the event.
In recent months the issues of cyber-bullying and inappropriate use of social media by both young people and adults have been in the national news. There seems to be a social perspective developing where self-centredness and even a culture of complaint about the world is accepted and perpetuated. There is rising concern that the social media and text messages that have become so integrated into our modern life are promoting anxiety and lowering self-esteem within older children and teenagers. Example: A survey conducted by the Royal Society for Public Health in the United Kingdom asked 14-24 year olds how social media platforms impacted their health and wellbeing. The survey results found that Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram all led to increased feelings of depression, anxiety, poor body image and loneliness. This is coupled to increased verbal aggression, intolerance of others and differing opinions, and a lack of understanding of social courtesy and appropriate behaviour.
So, if this is a rising trend supported by evidence, what can schools (and perhaps more importantly parents) do to ensure that their young people can survive and socially flourish in their world?
The foundational advice for parents must be appropriate parent modelling. One of the best things parents can do to minimize the risks associated with technology is to curtail their own consumption first. Experts believe that it is up to parents to set a good example of what healthy digital social media usage looks like, coupled with modelling appropriate behaviour when using social media. Most people check their mobile telephones, text messages or social media sites too much, out of either real interest or habit. Establishing technology-free zones in the house and times which are technology free are the first steps in modelling what is appropriate.
Of course, adult behaviour must also reflect the values and attitudes parents expect their children to display. If Mum or Dad are ‘flaming’ others on line; diminishing others in public conversations or in their digital communications, do not believe for one minute that the children in the house are not thinking such behaviour is normal – modelling behaviour and values is the first lesson all parents should be engaged in. Children, especially teenagers, need to know that parents love them and are available to help them with their problems, talk about their day, give them a reality check and provide a ‘template’ on how to interact with others.
There is a lot of information available about the positive and negative effects of social media. Bullying, while an issue we must all address, is just one of the areas that parents and schools must be aware of in this digital world. Please take time to reflect on how social media is used in your home; work out what values, behaviours and standards you expect; have the conversation with your children; and, finally, endeavour to model what is appropriate use of what can be great communication tools.
Regards
John Clark
Principal
Deputy Principal’s Comments
As we prepare for Tutor School next week, it is fair to say that the year is well and truly under way. Student and teachers are well into the routine of lessons and tutors are no doubt working to ensure that their children achieve the best possible outcomes with the resources available.
Tutor school is an opportunity to learn from one another and to participate in a range of personal and professional development activities which are designed to support the broad needs of our students and families.
Unlike the tutor sessions run at the beginning of the year where the focus really was on getting started and survival, Tutor School is an opportunity to develop skills which allow each of us to manage and extend our own skills to better support our kids.
Tutor School is also an opportunity to network with others who are in a similar position as yourself. As they say, many heads are better than one.
If you take even one small pearl of wisdom away from next week, then you are already in front. With a range of activities scheduled including building resilience, supporting student needs, first aid and mental health and well-being, we trust that everyone will find something to meet their needs.
Next week too, is an opportunity to socialise and catch up with friends, both new and old, over a meal, coffee or perhaps an after-hours beverage. The P & C Meet and Greet on the Monday evening, is a great opportunity to socialise with other tutors and perhaps share some tales.
Don’t forget that if you are coming to Tutor School and have not yet registered, it’s still not too late. Just contact Lesley Griffin and she will be able to get you sorted.
Looking forward to catching up with everyone next week…
Andrew Smith
Principal
Lesley Griffin – Parent Liaison Officer
St Columba’s Parish
The following letter is an invitation for you to enrol your child in the Sacramental Program for Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Communion.
This program begins with an Information Night on Thursday, 15 February 2018 at 6.00pm in St Columba’s Church. It is essential to attend this information evening if you are interested.
Governesses Attending Home Tutor School
Hi everyone,
We are organising a Govie get together on Tuesday 20th February during Home Tutor School. The plan is to head to the Sovereign for dinner at 7pm. Please RSVP to Holly at duttonriverschool@gmail.com or alternatively check out and reply on our new Facebook page, CTSDE Govies 2018. I need to know numbers by Monday the 19th of February so that I can book us a table.
Charters Towers Scouts
Are you looking for adventure fun?
Charters Towers Scouts are looking for boys and girls ages 6 – 26 with a passion for the outdoors and having fun!
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Flyer |
Voucher for Two Weeks Free Trial |
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More Information
Lesley Griffin
Parent Liaison Officer
Changed Your Address?
If you have moved or are moving please notify Alyson Rainbow at the front desk or Lesley Griffin of your new address.
Contact them on:
Main Office: 0747546888
Lesley Email: lgrif38@eq.edu.au
Alyson Email: awill238@eq.edu.au
Kate Hill
Business Manager
Easter Raffle Donations
The Student Council are again holding an Easter raffle. They are looking for donations to help with this. Please leave your donations in the containers outside Lesley’s door. The raffle will be drawn at the swimming carnival on the 29th of March.
Thanks for your support.
Student Council
P & C Meet N Greet
Come along to welcome new Home Tutors and mingle with old friends at the P & C Meet N Greet.
Library – Paws for Books Display
Paws for Books
Don’t forget to visit the marvellous ‘Paws for Books’ display in the Library. You can get a photo reading with Clifford the Big Red Dog and say hello to all of the many different animals enjoying the fun of reading. The library book fair will be open all week of Home Tutor School where there will be books for sale and hire. The P&C Executives have decided that purchases will be cash only. If you are popping in before Home Tutor School, feel free to have a first glance at this marvellous display by Jenny Currin.
Help Jenny Decorate the Library
Don’t forget to send in photos of you and your pawed friends reading together. We need as many as we can to make the ‘Paws for Books’ display even more spectacular. You can send your photos to Jenny Currin in the Library where she will display them altogether for Home Tutor School.
Email Jenny Currin at: Jcurr72@eq.edu.au
Year 4
Year 4 have an exciting few weeks ahead! In science, they completed some interesting investigations while learning about erosion and weathering. In Math, they are exploring number and place value, fractions and decimals, time and measurement. The students are learning the skills needed to create an engaging “Twits” chapter in English and we are excited about reading the final versions! Home Tutor School begins on the 19th of February and we are busy planning interesting and exciting lessons and activities for that week. We are also looking forward to meeting some of the Year 4’s in person at this inreach.
Tiarna O’Brien & Sharon McLauchlan
Year 4 Teachers
Year 5
Welcome to the start of Year 5!
It has been an exciting and busy start for our Year 5 students, getting to know their new teachers and curriculum. We have started the year with our English, Maths and History units. The students have also been very active within their home life and extra curricula activities.
English has seen the students introduced to a novel by Emily Rodda. They have been asked to explore the text and construct a character analysis of their opinion of the main character. Online students have been engaging in discussions about their own opinions of characters and have been asked to use the novel to support their answers.
The students have been practising mental Maths strategies, using models to solve fractions and are now starting to look at data collection and representation. Online lessons have looked at sorting and presenting data while exploring the assessment tasks of constructing graphs and analysing data.
The students have also been extremely busy outside of school. Zarah attended a resilience program in Clermont and wished to share her experience with her peers:
“In week one, there was an event on called “The Resilience Project”. We went to St Josephs (School in Clermont) to see a man named Martin show us the beauty of empathy, kindness and mindfulness. There were two sessions. The first session was for prep to grade three, and the second was for grade four to six. We learnt about people that were always happy for what they had, what they could do, and what they could be. People that went out and hugged strangers, and helped people in need. It was wonderful.” Zarah
Kessler has had a rather large start to the new year, sharing with his teachers that he has moved from Hobart to Melbourne. We wish Kessler all the very best with his new adventure!
Alanie has been busily engaged in creating a spectacular PowerPoint about herself and her animals, which she shared with her teachers:
Charley competed in a Rodeo on the 10th February in Springsure. His tenacity and skill saw Charley placed 3rd overall for his division. Charley is also competing in further rodeos throughout the year and we wish Charley all the very best!
We are looking forward to meeting most of our cohort next week at our Home Tutor School. Our week will be filled with lots of exciting English, Maths, History & Science activities for the students to explore, as well as team building exercises and games. Please don’t forget to let your teacher know if you are attending!
Ms Flanagan, Ms Larson & Miss Heath.
Year 5 Teachers
Year 6
Welcome to Year 6!
It has been a busy start to the year with preparation already underway for Home Tutor School, the Year 6 shirt, the Combined State Schools Yr6 Brisbane Trip and even planning for October Minischool. It is going to be a fun, but hectic, year.
We welcome several new students in 2018 and are happy to see many returning students attending lessons. We hope many of you will be at Home Tutor School so we can get to know each other better.
This term, Year 6 are studying short stories in English. With humorous examples from Morris Gleitzman, Henry Lawson, Jackie French and others, we aim to create our own funny tales to entertain an audience. Mr Purdie, Miss Skowronski & Miss Ruthenberg are looking forward to hearing what the students come up with. We might even publish some stories in the next Yr6 DIRT.
History is just about finished and students have been working hard learning about the Federation of Australia. You can read about how Henry Parkes became the ‘Father of Federation’ in the articles below.
Year 6 History Articles
Brianna Spurdle’s ‘Father of Freedom’ Article
Sophia Lyons’ ‘Father of Freedom’ Article
Students will be starting their first Science unit soon and can look forward to investigating ‘Change’. With lessons on solidification, evaporation, condensation, decomposition and recycling, everyone is going to love getting their hands dirty as they broaden their scientific minds.
In Maths we started the term by examining fractions, from improper fractions to unit fractions to mixed numbers. We now move onto analysing data displays, where we will look at interpreting pie graphs, picture graphs, bar graphs and dot plots.
Until next time, have fun!
Kate Ruthenberg
Year 6 Teacher
Education Support
Welcome back to a new school year everyone.
I would like to introduce the team members working in Education Support this year.
Stacey Johnston, Emili Skowronski, Jennie Hunt, Deb Oss, Chloe Shaw and myself.
Stacey and Emili are working with students in the primary grades and Jennie, Deb and Chloe with our secondary students.
Education Support Teaching Team
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Karen Smith |
Jennie Hunt |
Stacey Johnson |
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Deborah Oss |
Chloe Shaw |
Emili Skowronski |
The Education Support Program supports students in all areas of the curriculum. Students may be working on an individual curriculum program, a supported/differentiated program or a highly individualised program. The teachers may have students in their own classes or may share students with other teachers which is mostly the case with our secondary students. The Education Support Program teachers will have a specific caseload of students. The team working in this area of the school this year are a very dedicated group of professional teachers and I am looking forward to working with them and you, our home tutors, on our learning journeys with those students who come under our umbrella.
Karen Smith
HOSES
Meningococcal ACWY Vaccination Program
Due to an increase in Meningococcal disease, the Queensland Government is offering free Meningococcal ACWY vaccine to adolescents aged 15 – 19 years.
IT Support
Computer Requirements
The minimum specifications for computing requirements for Distance Education are listed in the PDF document available below. Additional recommendations are also listed to improve your digital learning experience.
Voice Recordings
If you need to create a voice recording to be sent to the teacher or uploaded into Blackboard, you can use the free Hi-Q application. It will record your voice to a .mp3 format file which creates a good quality recording that is small enough to email as an attachment. Additional information on voice recordings will be found in the PDF document below.
Audio Setup
There are two parts to configure for your audio settings to make it work for your best learning experience. First part is setting it up in Windows and then second part is inside of Blackboard Collaborate. For the full audio set up guide, click on the PDF document below.
Internet Security
The internet will open you up to a wealth of great information and learning options, however being connected can also put your computer at risk from malicious people. You must make sure you have internet security / antivirus software installed to protect yourself. The following PDF will highlight the most suited internet protection software for your computer.
Microsoft Office 2016
While enrolled at Distance Education, you can download and install Microsoft Office 2016 on up to 5 devices (Mac or Windows) for free. Microsoft Office 2016 is the most current version and is backwards compatible, meaning it will open office files from a previous version. To find out how this is done, click on the following Microsoft Office PDF.
ICT Technical Support
While enrolled at Distance Ed you will receive an Education Queensland or EQ email address that is paired to your username. Additional information on an EQ email is found in the PDF document below.