13 December 2018
Newsletter Articles
Principal’s Report
End of Year
It is that time of the year when students are able to put their books aside, parents and tutors give a sigh of relief and suddenly find time to do other things, the school closes for a few weeks, and somehow in this time, we all endeavour to celebrate this special time of the year each in our unique way.
Our school year has been successful on many fronts. Students continue to grow academically and socially, with the patience and assistance of tutors and teachers; recognition of the schools’ endeavours have arrived in a range of ways; and, families continue to come to the school through the quiet and powerful ‘word of mouth’ recommendations. The celebration of our students’ success occurred at our recent Celebration/Awards event – a time to recognise the outstanding efforts of our students. Full details of those ‘recognitions’ are contained in this DIRT.
As we enter the vacation period, thank you to all who have contributed to the success of our students throughout the year. The positive efforts of the vast majority of people provide a clear and affirmation that our community lives its values and beliefs.
On behalf of our staff here at school may I wish you all a festive and healthy Christmas season. Take some time to relax (if possible), enjoy life with those close to you and stay safe.
Thank you for a great year
Start of 2019 School Year
The school office opens on Tuesday, 22 January, 2019.
The principal, John Clark, will be on leave from 24 January until 4 April (Term 1); Kaylene Mladenovicwill be in the principal role at this time.
A tutor training program will run from Tuesday, 29 January, 2019 until Friday, 1 February, 2019 (4 days).
The program of these events are below:
Home Tutor School
Home Tutor Seminar Booklet
The Regional Investment Corporation (RIC)
The Regional Investment Corporation (RIC) is a new government agency that encourages growth, investment and resilience in Australia’s regional communities. They provide solutions for Australian farmers, who due to circumstances outside their control, are in financial need.
Please see the below flyer which has dates and locations for information sessions in Queensland.
You can also find out more information through the link below:
http://www.ric.gov.au/events
Mr Clark
Principal
Deputy Principal’s Report
It is with tinges of relief, excitement and a little trepidation that we approach the end of the year. Some of our students will move on to other schools, jobs and perhaps, an as yet undecided future. Others, who are continuing with our school in 2019, will be moving into another year of hard work and a climate of change and evolution.
For those who are leaving us whether you be a student, parent, tutor or teacher, I would like to wish you all the best for whatever the future may bring. I hope that you will take away fond memories of your time at our school and will remember those who have helped in shaping your past, present and future.
The one common goal for all of us is that we all want the best for children and through another year, as our students are one year older, their education brings them one step closer to achieving their hopes and dreams. For now though, it is time to relax, take a deep breath, spend time with family and friends and make the most of the festive season.
I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Stay safe, travel well and take care.
Mr Burke
Deputy Principal
CQ University Study Hub
Lesley Griffin
School Calendar
ICPA Sports Camp
Celebration Day Programme
Student Council
Before we focus on the holidays and the year that is yet to be, let us have a brief look back at the busy year that was for our students and their Student Council.
Swimming Carnival
In March, there was a lot of fun in the sun at the Swimming Carnival. Thursday the 29th, saw many of our students making the trip in to Charters Towers to compete in the carnival. Many students from both Shelton and Traeger turned up dressed in green and red to represent their house. War cries loudly and proudly kicked off the event, which saw students competing in many swimming styles including freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly. Our students gave their all for their houses and richly deserved our congratulations for displaying great sportsmanship throughout the day. After endless cheering and many records broken, Shelton took home the win with 476 points closely followed by Traeger on 406 points.
ANZAC Day
On April 24th, our school leaders, with help from Miss Cheng and Mr Taylor, presented the ANZAC Collaborate session for all students; thanks to everyone who attended. On ANZAC Day, we saw Charters Towers School of Distance Education well represented in the Charters Towers ceremonies. We would like to extend our thanks to the students and teachers who attended the Dawn Ceremony and the town march. For those who did not get the chance to attend this year, put it in your diaries for next year, come, and help us pay our respects in 2019.
Student Representatives at the Dawn Service in Charters Towers and the wreath placed by students at the cenotaph
Country Music Parade
Friday the 4th of May, on the eve of the 41st annual Charters Towers Country Music Festival, the town was alive with country music. Staff and students alike rode the float and roasted marshmallows around a fire as part of a droving scene on the school’s float. Our festivalgoers sang a long and got into the spirit of things with the sounds of Lee Kernaghan’s Outback Club. Unfortunately, our school did not place in the best school float competition however thanks to the wonderful artistic talents of our school staff and the outfits of students and staff, Coleman’s truck certainly was looking the part.
Athletics Carnival
From June 26th to the 27th many C.T.S.D.E. students made the trip into our town to compete in the annual Athletics Carnival. Shelton and Traeger house sporting their house colours gave their personal best in two days of track and field events. Students, teachers and parents were not shy of dressing it up in green and red to support their houses, while the Student Council in a new school tradition rewarded their efforts by handing out prizes for the best dressed. After two days of fierce competition and endless cheering House Shelton took the win with 767.50 points. Our heartiest congratulations to all those who received age champion and runner up medals.
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day this year was of significant importance marking the 100th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended the First World War. Both teachers and students felt in order to better pay our respects and honour the service and sacrifices made throughout the last century that each branch of the armed forces and where they served would all in some way need to be acknowledged and worked into the ceremony. With a completely rewritten script and PowerPoint presentation, our students with the aid of Miss Cheng, Mr. Taylor and Mr. Smith delivered a very moving ceremony in honour of one hundred years of service given and one hundred years of sacrifice honoured. After the students closed the ceremony, numerous positive comments from parents, students and staff were passed on to the Student Council.
Agricultural Camp
For one week in August we saw student’s confidence increase and watch friendships grow. As much fun as Ag Camp was, there was a lot of work behind the scenes to make sure things run as smoothly as they did, a debt of gratitude is owed to Mr. Peckett and Mr. Jenkins for giving so much of their time to work with and share their vast knowledge with our students. Equally, properties were put at the disposal of our students to facilitate this learning. Teachers gave up the comfort of their own beds to supervise students overnight and to accompany students out to the properties. It cannot be stressed enough too, that we would not have had such a great camp if it were not for the parent’s who drove their children into Charters Towers. Ag Camp was a huge success due to good teamwork all across the board.
Mini School
Wow what a Mini School we had this year! Along with our regular awesome fun filled activities for our students to enjoy this year we had a strong Asian flavour to add to our student’s experiential education. Students’ had the opportunity to see and perform in a traditional Chinese dragon dance, experience and perform a traditional Japanese tea ceremony and rattle the hides of some Japanese taiko drums to boot. There was a huge effort put into making Mini School such a success from so many teachers, who amongst other things provided daily flights to classes and produced a library that was out of this world, well done everyone.
Celebration Day
Celebration Day is of course when we get to shine a spotlight on the real stars of the show for their many successes, our students; many of whom are now quite busy embarking on new and exciting chapters in their lives with the skills and knowledge that they have mastered over the past few years with us at C.T.S.D.E. I’m sure I speak for us all when I say that there is nothing more rewarding as a teacher than seeing our students become the navigators of their own lifelong education and direction in life.
As always with such collaborative ventures, behind the scenes there was a tremendous amount of hours put in by our teaching staff, not to mention the long drive into town for many of the parents, all of which came together nicely to help celebrate our students’ achievements. As a newcomer to our school, apart from the flat battery in Deputy Principle Andrew Smith’s microphone, which caused a moment mirth rather than mayhem, I thought everything ran rather smoothly; a real credit to the effort and teamwork of all parties involved.
For myself two points, which I cannot emphasise enough, came from our Principal Mr. John Clarkes’ speech. First, graduation is not the point in one’s life where we feel that we have made the grade and that we can turn off our brains and coast through life on autopilot from here on in. Rather that life is the ongoing exploration of new situations and challenges and the necessity to gain new skills and knowledge to get the best from an ever-changing word. In addition to this, that one of the goals of this journey is to ensure that we can take up a more meaningful and rewarding position in the communities that we will invest our lives in. With this in mind and our best wishes for those that leave us to discover the future, we offer our sincere congratulations to all of our achievers of 2018.
Council Gifts
To bring to a close what an excellent year it has been for the Student Council, along with all the many things that have been done, by so many for so many, I will leave you with some photographs of the gifts the Student Council has provided for the school this year.
Our Prep to year 2 students will be having a lot more fun in the sun with these portable soccer goals. Netball has never looked so good with these court sized columns of cool to go into the oval along with an indispensable carry all bag full of netballs. And to top this all off, quite literally, we have a portable gazeebo to keep us cool till after school or whatever venture we take it to.
Thanks to the parents, the students and all the teachers who have supported the Students Council this year. Have a great break and we will see you all again next year.
P&C
As another school year draws to a close we can be thankful we have all survived another year in our home classrooms. Good afternoon students, ladies and gentlemen.
The year started with Home Tutor School and as usual the P & C held the Meet N Greet BBQ at the Big 4 Aussie Outback Oasis. Thanks to Cathy & Paul for hosting the P & C again this year. Next year, we have been invited by the new owners at the Big 4 to enjoy another evening under the stars. Registration forms have been included in this newsletter.
The Schools of Distance Education Alliance (SODEA) continues to voice concerns that impacts our children’s learning and have meet via teleconference and face to face meetings in Brisbane. Although I haven’t been able to attend face to face meetings in Brisbane this year, SODEA have continued to meet with principals from the seven SDE schools across QLD, the IT branch and the Assistant Director General of Rural and Remote Schools to continue trying to improve education and services provided to children enrolled in distance education.
The P & C celebrated World Teachers Day at the end of minischool this year by gifting all staff a bag of chocolates. Your hard work and dedication in the education of our children is much appreciated. Due to distance, the P & C would not be able to function effectively without the assistance of the staff at Charters Towers School of Distance Education and especially Lesley Griffin. Thank-you for the work you do.
Our two cookbooks, “Generations of Bush Cooking Hints and Remedies” and “Another Helping of Generations of Bush Cooking” have continue to sell. Considering the original yellow cookbook was first published to commemorate the bi-centenial year and I was just finishing secondary school (I am revealing my age now) it is amazing that this cookbook has continued to sell for the past 30 years.
Thank-you to the original cookbook committee who devoted their time and energy to make this small idea a reality. Who would have thought that 30 years down the track some of the original committee members’ grandchildren are reaping the benefits. Thank-you to Jenny Currin for assisting P & C in coordinating cookbook sales and all of the outlets that continue to promote these cookbooks.
The P & C were bequeathed money from Ms Norma Harding’s estate in 2017. Ms Harding worked at schools of distance education in the early years and left funds to the regional distance education schools. The P & C will again be presenting two bursaries to support geographically isolated students with their education. The first bursary, the Norma Harding Year 6 Bursary for dedication and engagement in learning will be awarded to a Year 6 student. The second bursary, the Norma Harding Primary Bursary for service to, and engagement in the broader school community will be awarded to a primary school student. Both P & C bursary recipients have been chosen by the primary teaching staff. These two bursaries will continue to be awarded each year and assist students with their future educational needs.
The P & C were delighted to assist Georgie Spurdle to represent QLD at the National High Jump Championships in Melbourne. Georgie, you have done us all proud. What an amazing acheievment from jumping logs to steel pickets and rope to the Nationals and placing 8th in Australia. Best of luck for your future dreams.
All the best to the year 6 cohort who are have finished their primary school journey and the Year 12s who have graduated. To quote Dr Suess, You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself any direction you choose.
Well done to all Home Tutors who have completed their journey with our school this year. We wish you all the very best of luck in your future endeavours. Your children have been lucky enough to have you as their Home Tutor or very closely involved in their education. Providing education to children that enables them to achieve their full potential is a major challenge. Although your journey has finished with SDE remember fondly the good times, forget the trying times and enjoy the future as your children move into the next phase of their education.
The tutor reunion that was planned at the end of minischool this year didn’t go ahead due to the dry conditions. The P & C are hoping to organising something for next year.
To conclude our fundraising this year the P & C have joined with Oasis Mangoes in Bowen to hold a mango drive. Thank-you to John & Kate Ashton for generously supporting the P & C.
To the 2018 P & C Executive - Julia Broad, Caralyn Caspani, Mel Knuth, Christy Moller, Sonia Spurdle and Michelle Lyons. Thank-you for your endless support this year.
If you are thinking of joining the P & C executive, 2019 would be a great time to come on board. All positions will be vacant at the AGM next year at Home Tutor School. We are all working towards building a stronger school community for the benefit of ALL the students of CTSDE. One of the greatest gift you can give is your time. Volunteers are not paid – not because they are worthless but because they are priceless.
I look forward to seeing you all tonight at the BBQ back at school to celebrate our successes from the year. The Clermont Outreach will be running the bar tonight, thank-you. There will also be a jumping castle funded by the P & C and live entertainment late into the evening. I am sure Ron Sellars will enjoy our bad singing and dance moves once again this year. Please enjoy our end of year celebrations and take time to reflect on yet another year of educating your children through distance education.
I wish everyone a relaxing break over the holidays and a Merry Christmas. I hope Santa has the boat ready and he has to cross flooded creeks this year. May green grass be in abundance and an extended wet season to all. See you all next year at Home Tutor School in 2019.
Amanda Clark
P&C
National Championships
On the 26th of November, Georgie competed in the National Championships in Melbourne. Georgie had already progressed from school, to local, to regional, to state, and now to the national track and field competition for high jump. On the day, Georgie jumped an impressive 1.25m and displayed excellent sportsmanship. Out of 16 competitors, Georgie placed 8th. She should be very proud of her achievement and all the effort she has put into making it to this level of the competition.
We wish Georgie all the best for her future sporting endeavours!
Miss O’Brien
Sports Committee
Year 4 Mini School
Miss O’Brien and Mrs McLauchlan really enjoyed getting to spend Week 4 with the students who were able to attend mini school. What a jam packed week it was!
Students participated in a variety of out of class activities during the week. The week started with Ella Collins celebrating her birthday and LaLuna Circus from Townsville teaching the students circus skills. Peyton was very impressive in her ability to participate even with a broken leg! Everyone enjoyed a yummy smorgasbord lunch at a local Chinese Restaurant on Tuesday and even learnt how to make the perfect dumplings. Come Wednesday, students had a visit from RACQ and participated in some fun games to learn about road safety. Later in the week students participated in cultural activities such as a Japanese Tea Ceremony, Chinese Lion dancing, Taiko Drumming and playing Kendama (Japanese wooden skill toy). Everyone loved the activities and especially enjoying testing out the Chinese lions and learning about how to control them. As always, students also had two much needed afternoons swimming at the Columba Pool.
Of course, students did lots of learning within the classroom as well. In English, students reviewed language features, did general English skill rotations and focused on creative writing. Each day students used images to spark their imaginations and create stories that took us on all sorts of different adventures. As for Maths, students collected data and created graphs in small groups, put decimals and fractions on a giant number line, and sang and danced to timetables songs. Most afternoons then finished with mindfulness activities and Science. Students are learning about forces this term, which meant it was the perfect time for students to participate in their very own version of ‘Minute to Win it!’ Students braved the challenge and worked through a variety of different activities, trying to complete each activity in 60 seconds or less. Following this, students created force diagrams to match the activities and of course created games that could be used in a second version of ‘Minute to Win it!’
All teachers and students were in agreeance that this was one of the best Mini Schools yet! Although by the end of it, I am sure everyone was looking forward to getting back to sleeping in their cosy beds.
Year 4 Teachers
Miss O’Brien & Mrs McLauchlan
Year 6
Year 6’s transformations of informative texts into junior literary texts about sustainability.
Abbey
Brianna
Chloe
Grace
Matt
Miranda
Morgan
Sophia
Taylor
Thomas
Year 12
Senior Graduation Dinner
On the 5 December, we had families travel from across Australia to attend our annual Senior Graduation Dinner. Not only did our students bring their family to celebrate their achievement with, they may have also brought the rain with them (some of us in town got 2 inches!!). Thank you rain gods!
We celebrated in true country style, with our venue being transformed into a rustic country wonderland. The lovely ladies from the Civic Club cooked our dinner to perfection and no guest went hungry with the array of desserts on offer. The graduation cake really was the icing on the cake… (sorry, I had to…) for the night. The storm managed to knock out the power, but we must have known something, as our evening continued with the battery powered fairy lights, which ended up making the evening super magical.
The Senior Graduation Dinner committee would sincerely like to extend our thanks to all the families who attended the night. We really appreciate the time (and distance) that you took out of your busy lives to celebrate such a milestone in your child’s educational journey. We are as proud of them as you are.
A massive thank you to the businesses and individuals who helped us put together an amazing night through the begging, borrowing and stealing* of various props and goods. A big shout out to the staff that gave their time to assist in the setting up, smooth running of, and take down of the night. Muchas gracias.
*OK, so no stealing technically took place… Does taking old wood count as stealing? ‘Cause I’m pretty sure the tree didn’t need it anymore…
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Invictus
When we get to this time of year, it is an opportunity to look back and reflect on the path we have walked. There may be meandering cow tracks as we ambled with no direction or a highway we raced down trying to get to the destination the fastest way possible. But now we are here, standing at the precipice and not sure where to leap next. Our seniors have finished their assessments. Have finished their exams. Have set down their pens a final time and looked up to see that they are at the end of their schooling journey. For some, further study is waiting. For others, work. But for all, the endlessness of opportunities awaits. This is your time. This is when you can decide your fate, your destination. This is when you plan out and chase your dreams. This is also the time when you fly with the net removed. You will fall and it will hurt. BUT this is where your strength comes in. This is where you get up and try again. And again. And again. Until you get it right. Until you reach the very stars you dreamed of.
Be bold. Be independent. Be kind. Be encouraging. Be determined. Be polite. Be confident. Be unstoppable. Be.
We are so lucky to have had the privilege of a wonderful cohort of students in Senior school. Be proud of your achievements.
For those who have had me for English, you all know how much I love the poem, Invictus, by William Earnest Henley.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
Weather the storms, keep your head held high and steer your own path. We wish you all the very best for the future.
Miss Mroz
Secondary Teacher
Towers Taiko Drumming
Celebration Dinner Drumming
New Drums!
Finally…! Taiko drums arrived in Charters Towers!!
Towers Taiko group would like to thank Charters Towers Regional Arts Development Fund Committee and Charters Towers School of Distance Education for your constant help and support this year. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Some of our members are performing at the Christmas Fair this Thursday on Gill Street (near the police station) at 6:30pm & 7:30pm.
Please come and join us to support our local event & celebrate an early Xmas together!
FLIQ (Flexible Learning Initiatives Queensland)
Big journeys begin with small steps…
As we approach the end of the school year, we asked our FLIQ students to share their thoughts on how the FLIQ program has supported them on their educational journeys.
Here are two of their responses…
“My short term goals were to attend the program and complete work. I haven’t been here for long but during my time at the HUB working on FLIQ assessment I have gained confidence again that I can complete work at school. I am less stressed at school and enjoy working independently and at my own pace. I like that the work is broken down into smaller steps which makes the work seem more achievable”
“My short term and long term goal was to actually attend, because I didn’t attend school at all at the start of the year. What I like about the FLIQ program is that you can see what work you have done and what you still need to do. It’s good to be able to see the work I’ve completed get crossed off. I prefer the work because it’s broken down into smaller units unlike mainstream school”
“The FLIQ program has supported me with my one and only goal of re-entering high school. The program allowed me to work online at my own pace although I find it hard to concentrate. The work provided for me in maths was awesome. Unfortunately I never got to attend a Collaborate lesson as I was not here on the days they were available”
Centre Staff: “The FLIQ program has assisted my student in developing a routine around education. He is punctual and has developed greater concentration through the flexibility of the program. He will be returning to mainstream high school next year, which was his main goal when initially enrolling in the program”
There have been many successes throughout the year with FLIQ students finishing their courses and moving into further education, apprenticeships, traineeships, casual and fulltime employment. For many, the FLIQ program offers an alternative approach to education and is supportive in guiding them towards a positive and successful life. The FLIQ team are proud of their students and their achievements and we wish them all the best in their future endeavours.
Mrs Burke
FLIQ Teacher