Week 4 Term Four, 21 October CapSDE newsletter

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents & Guardians, Home Tutors, Staff and Students,

As we find ourselves already in Week 4 of the term, it's hard to believe how quickly time is flying by! With our schedules becoming increasingly busy, it’s essential to keep focused and motivated, while striving to find a healthy balance. Remember, the greatest balance of all is ensuring we take care of ourselves amidst the busyness. Whether it's a moment to "smell the roses," express gratitude, or tap into our inner resilience, these small acts can make a big difference. Take a little time each day to pause, recharge, and appreciate the positives.

A special shout-out to our Year 12 students who are currently in the thick of their final exams. We are incredibly proud of your hard work, dedication, and perseverance. You’ve given your best, and the entire school community is cheering you on. Keep going—you're almost at the finish line!

This week, we also celebrate the outstanding efforts of students who have stepped up to deliver their leadership speeches for both Primary and Secondary positions. To all the nominees, I want to acknowledge your courage and willingness to serve. Leadership is not about leading from the front, but walking beside others, inspiring, and lifting them up. Regardless of the outcome, each of you has demonstrated the qualities of a true leader, and we are proud of you all.

This Friday, 25th October, 2024 we pause to celebrate World Teachers' Day—a time to appreciate and thank our incredible teaching staff. Our teachers do an outstanding job nurturing, guiding, and educating our students, and this is the perfect moment to recognise their efforts. I encourage students, home tutors, and parents to take a moment to share something positive with a teacher—let them know how much they are appreciated.

Lastly, I regret to inform the school community that our 25-year time capsule, buried at the Emerald Campus, has unfortunately been damaged due to a burst water pipe and an invasive tree root. We are working hard to salvage what we can, and while it’s disappointing, we will keep you updated on this situation.

Thank you for your ongoing support.  

Kind regards 
Amanda Rynne

Secondary Swimming Carnival - time to nominate!

Time to nominate!

The Secondary swimming carnival is only weeks away, so we are now asking for nominations for the events.

Step One: Download the nomination form

Step Two: Complete the form 

Step Three: Email the completed form to Mr Murray Harch on mharc4@eq.edu.au 

Nominations due for the Secondary Carnival by Wednesday 30th October

Secondary Carnival Information

Students to be at the Southside Pool Rockhampton by 8:15am for at 8:30 Carnival start.  After the carnival students will be transported by bus back to Conference on North. Parents are welcome to come along to the carnival and cheer for their students!

We would love to see as many students in house colours as possible!
Please ensure your student is wearing sun safe clothing and modest swimwear. Bikinis are not acceptable.

This Year we will be having two more races to add to our swimming carnival program as well as the usual Staff-Student relay race!

'Dress Up' race - Dress up in your craziest outfit and make it to the other end of the pool for a point for your house!

'Kick To The End' partner race - Grab a partner use a floatation mat to lay on as you kick your way to the end. 

P&C End of Year Dinner

Get tickets

About

***Carnival Time***
All are welcome to come and enjoy an evening at the Emerald Campus, Tucker box.
Yummy food provided by The Little Cantina Mexican Van, Ice cream truck and the option of a BBQ Burger.
There will be fun activities, face painting, dunking machine and music.
Meal options are available via the QR Code or Try booking Link. https://www.trybooking.com/CWDIE
Bring a chair or picnic rug. BYO Alcohol.

Date

Tuesday 3 December 2024 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM 

Location

Emerald CSDE - Outstation/Tuckerbox, Gladstone Street, Emerald Queensland 4720

Day for Daniel 2024 - send in your photos!

This October 25 marks 20 years of Australia’s largest child safety education and awareness day.

Child safety is everyone’s responsibility. It’s crucial to educate children on recognising unsafe situations, reacting appropriately, and empowering them to report abuse and seek help. 

Wear red, educate, and donate to show your support! You can get involved by wearing red and raising awareness. For more information and resources visit: https://danielmorcombe.com.au 

Teams 2025

The next stage of the school's transition from Ultra to Teams, commences this week and next. CapSDE’s Trial Champions will have either recently communicated (or be about to communicate) the arrangements for Microsoft Teams Trials. Please make sure you check for e-mails from these teachers, and ensure you are aware of the plan. The purpose of the trial is to build Microsoft Teams competence amongst teachers and students, and to iron out potential issues with the platform, ahead of all lessons being run through Teams, in 2025.  

Home Tutors and students within these trial classes are strongly encouraged to communicate feedback on the platform with their class teacher; doing so will benefit the greater school community. We encourage a growth mindset, open and honest communication, and a willingness to experiment and problem-solve. 

As with all aspects of learning at CapSDE, staff, students, and Home Tutors will be required to work, study, and act in accordance with our Code of Conduct. We draw your attention to Appendix B Online Lesson Expectations and Protocols for Students, and expect all students to maintain excellent behaviour. The school’s core values of Accountability, Integrity, Respect, Positive Relationships, and Resilience remain at the forefront of all we do. 

As released in Week One’s SZine Teams update, Home Tutor sessions will be offered during Term Four Mini-school, and again during the Home Tutor Induction Days in 2025.  

CapSDE extends its gratitude to all Teams Champions, and to the students participating as part of the trials.  

P&C News!

P & C Colour Run

COLOUR RUN

Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you so much for supporting our school to be the best it can be, especially through fundraising. This term we are fundraising to subsidise our upcoming school events and 2025 camps with a Colour Explosion School Run 4 Fun with Australian Fundraising!

The Colour Explosion School Run 4 Fun will be on:

Rockhampton Campus P-12:  Wednesday 13th November 2024 as an after-school activity from 3:30 – 4:15pm.
Emerald Campus P-6: Wednesday 13^th November 2024 as an After School Activity from 2:45pm onwards.

• Please make sure students wear a WHITE shirt and closed in shoes.
• Students will be given free sunglasses and a rainbow headband for the event.
• Students will be covered in non-toxic, biodegradable colour powder from head to toe.
• Colour Powder is made of high-quality corn starch and permitted food colours. Safety data sheet is available upon request.

How Do We Fundraise?

Fundraising for our Colour Explosion School Run 4 Fun is entirely online. Follow the instructions in your child’s sponsorship booklet to create a cybersafe, online profile page at www.australianfundraising.com.au. At the end of the fundraiser either order prizes to receive or donate to a cause – Carbon Neutral (tree planting), Great Barrier Reef Foundation (coral planting or turtle protection), The Smith Family (reading support) or OzHarvest (providing meals).

Please note: all cash donations must be converted to online donations before 8^th November 2024.  We cannot accept any physical cash donations for this fundraiser.

Monty Incentive Prizes!

• Online Golden Coins – complete fun online tasks to redeem an extra $75 towards your prize credit.
• Monty Hatching Egg: Achieve all virtual badges on online platform
• Monty Backpack: Highest fundraising student in each class will go into the draw to win
• Monty Scented Pencil: Every student who creates a profile page in first 7 days
• Monty Pencil Case: Raise $200 or more online
• 30cm Monty Plush + Champions Medallion: Highest fundraising student in each school

For further information, please contact Tanya Lindley via email: pandc@capricorniasde.eq.edu.au or phone: 0428 109 074.

Tanya Lindley
President CSDE P and C Association

Outstation Accommodation - Emerald

This year being an even numbered year, the Primary end of year events and P & C Dinner will be held in Emerald on the following dates.

Monday 2 December

• Year 6 Fun Day
• Year 6 Dinner

Tuesday 3 December

• Primary Swimming Carnival
• Primary Awards Ceremony
• All School P & C Dinner 

Families may like to start considering accommodation for these events if they are travelling from Rockhampton or other areas, as finding accommodation in Emerald at the moment is quite challenging. 

For those that may not be aware, the Emerald campus of CapSDE has an accommodation facility available for families traveling for school related activities, The Outstation. If you would like to consider The Outstation for your trip to Emerald in December, please see the information booklet below that has been put together by The Outstation Committee. 

Please note that the Outstation can accommodate around 100 people, so there will be plenty of space for families wanting to stay 😊

Please email outstationlegends@gmail.com if you are interested in staying there over those few days or if you have any other questions. 

What's happening in Primary?

Year One

The Year 1's have been busy in maths learning how to solve addition and subtraction problems and to tell the time to the hour and half hour.

Term 4 Year 1 Rocky

This term has started on an exciting note.

With students working hard in their lessons and making the most of their learning time. We are looking forward to being together at Mini-School in a few weeks!  And, we are excited about our end of year celebrations in Emerald too.

Brennan making daily writing fun with his summer themed writing prompts.

Jessica working hard in online lessons and on her Spelling Mastery too. 

Macy working hard on her daily writing. 

Rhys completing his at home Maths tasks.

Hugh reading and writing in his schoolroom.  

Sarah working on her HASS unit.

Phoenix enjoying daily reading.

Keira reading her decodable readers in Hit Lit.

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Primary Swimming Nominations Now Open!

Time to nominate for the battle between Wattle and Banksia!

Nominations are now open for the Primary Swimming Carnival which will be held on Tuesday 3 December at the Emerald Aquatic Centre from 11:00am - 2:00pm

Step One:     Download the nomination form below

Step Two:     Complete the form 

Step Three:  Email the completed form to Mr Murray Harch on mharc4@eq.edu.au 

Nominations due for the Primary Swimming Carnival by Friday 22 November.

Year 6 Graduation Dinner - Book your ticket

2024 Year 6 Dinner - Maraboon Tavern Emerald

Book Now

About

Congratulations Year 6 students of CSDE!!
Let's celebrate together...Year 6 Students, Teachers, Parents and Home Tutors, with a roast dinner, buffet style at the Maraboon Tavern. Corner Hospital Road &, Esmond St, Emerald.

We will have our own function room, the lovely staff at the tavern will direct you where to go.

Please note, this is a celebration for the Year 6 cohort.
The Outstation community have volunteered to babysit siblings of Year 6 students with a movie and pizza at the Outstation/Tuckerbox for the duration of the dinner 6-8:30pm at a small cost for pizza.

Contact Megan Philp for more details: jamphil6@outlook.com 

Secondary Scoop

English

Term 4 in the English Department: A Time of Celebration and Achievement

As we step into the final term of 2024, the English Department is buzzing with energy, excitement, and anticipation. Term 4 is always a special time, filled with both hard work and well-deserved celebrations.

This term, students are deeply engaged in exploring a range of texts, refining their writing skills, and developing their critical thinking abilities. It's inspiring to see their creativity flourish as they incorporate complex language features and literary devices into their work.

In addition to academics, this term includes our final Mini School event for the year. Mini School is always a highlight, offering students the chance to come together, learn collaboratively, and enjoy the experience of face-to-face learning. It's a fantastic opportunity for our English students to interact in person, share ideas, and gain feedback on their work in a supportive and fun environment.

For our Year 12 students, this term marks the end of an incredible journey as they close one chapter of their lives, and prepare to embark on their first big adventure as school leavers. The English team feel privileged to have witnessed their growth over the years, and we know that their time here has prepared them well for whatever lies ahead. Their hard work, dedication, and resilience have brought them to this moment, and we couldn’t be prouder of their achievements.

As part of their final stage of students at CSDE, they are also preparing for their External Exams, which play a crucial role in marking the culmination of their senior studies. We know how challenging this period can be, and we commend our Year 12s for their focus and determination as they revise key concepts, practice writing responses, and apply their skills under timed conditions. The English faculty has every confidence that their preparation will pay off, and we are here to support them every step of the way. Good luck to all our students as they approach this milestone with courage and confidence!

Some helpful tips and advice ahead of the External Exams:

1. Give your body what it needs to perform its best – sleep, nourishment, hydration
2. Have an approach in mind. Prioritising ‘easy’ questions first means completing the harder, longer questions when you’re more likely to be tired, consider starting with the questions worth the most marks
3. Stick to routines, the day of a major exam isn’t the day to try coffee for the first time or start a sunrise jog.
4. Access the expert advice and resources – QCAA provide previous papers, sample responses and marking guides via the QCAA website. The people who wrote the exams are the same ones writing the support documents
5. Be familiar with the assessment objectives in the subject syllabus. Your exam responses should demonstrate your skills and knowledge of each objective
6. Make revision meaningful – Prioritise practicing skills and strengthen knowledge where you can make improvements, not the stuff you already know.
7. Manage your time – it’s limited and valuable, use time management strategies during planning, perusal and responding phases to maximise the available working time.
8. Don’t leave early – If you finish with time left, take a break and do nothing for a few minutes to clear your mind. Re-read and reconsider your response with a fresh point of view.
9. READ EVERY QUESTION CAREFULLY!

As we reflect on the year, it’s clear that every student has put in a tremendous amount of effort to reach this point. Whether it’s completing assessments, participating in discussions, or simply giving their best each day, every student has made strides in their learning. We’re proud of each and every one of them and look forward to celebrating their successes as we close out another fantastic year.

2025 Next Step Survey

2025 Next Step Year 12 Completers Survey

Year 12 students will be invited to participate in the Next Step Year 12 Completers survey starting in March 2025, following up on their activities after graduating.

The invitation will arrive via a letter from the Minister for Education, or an email or phone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. Please check your contact details are correct with the school and learning account that your child can access via the student portal at https://myqce.qcaa.qld.edu.au/.

Your child’s feedback helps our school improve services for future students, and they can win a prize for participating. For more info visit www.qld.gov.au/nextstep.

Safer Schoolies

Make sure your teen has a safe and fun Schoolies experience.  

The official Safer Schoolies wristband is your teen's ticket to 7 nights of FREE entertainment at Surfers Paradise Beach.

This gives them access to a dedicated, drug and alcohol-free area (The Schoolies Beach Hub) where they can celebrate with their peers in a safe environment. School leavers must register online to receive a QR code. They’ll need to bring this code, along with their student ID, to the Wristband Centre in Surfers Paradise to collect their wristband.  

Learn more and register here.

Join the myQCE Student Reference Group

Want to have your voice heard?

Apply to become a member of the myQCE Student Reference Group.

We’re recruiting new members for 2025 and applications are now open.

Who can apply?

Queensland students who will be in Year 10, 11 or 12 (in 2025) are eligible to apply — the myQCE Student Reference Group members will reflect the diversity of students from schools across the state.

So, regardless of where you live, the school you attend, or the subjects or courses you're studying, you can apply to become a member.

You will need to be a good communicator (or willing to work on your skills) and actively participate in group meetings and discussions.

You will also have to be dedicated, as your membership will continue until you graduate from Year 12.

What are the benefits?

The myQCE Student Reference Group will let you tell us your thoughts about the QCE system and senior schooling.

Not only will you help us to shape QCE system processes and resources, you'll also:

• hear insights from students around the state
• gain valuable networking skills
• gain 'soft skills' to help you communicate with others and broaden your life experience
• learn how to collaborate and work as a team
• get practical experience within a 'virtual' workplace setting
• be able to list your membership on your resume.

What will I need to do?

The group meets after school four times per year, so you'll need to make yourself available for approximately one hour each term.

Meetings are online, so a good internet connection and a device with a camera and microphone will be essential. We discuss lots of different topics at the meetings and sometimes ask you to do some pre-meeting work, such as completing a survey or collecting feedback from classmates.

And you'll also need to tell us a little bit about yourself, so we can tell others about you (if you're ok with that).

How do I apply?

To apply, complete the myQCE Student Reference Group application form and tell us why you want to be involved.

A couple of things before you start:

• Ask someone at your school (a teacher or other staff member) if they are happy to be your referee. You will need to include their name and email address on the application form.
• Ask your school principal to endorse your application. You will need to include their name and email address on the application form.
• You will need consent from your parent/carer, so you may like to complete the form while you are at home.

Applications close on Friday 25 October 2024.

Guidance 'Go-2'

Do you know what’s influencing your kids?

Can you see the hidden trends of disrespect?

Did you know that social media algorithms are designed to prioritise and favour provocative and polarising content that automatically serves disrespectful content and violence-supportive attitudes to our youth, EVERY DAY.

If you want more info on how to best keep your teen safe, click on the link below that takes you to the new Australian Government campaign created to help parents and caregivers see the hidden trends of disrespect young people are being exposed to and how to help them navigate this world.

Sourced from: https://www.respect.gov.au/

What's happening in our community

Sports Person of the year award 2024

CapSDE annually acknowledges the sporting achievements of a Primary and Secondary Student, who has excelled throughout the year at the end of year awards.

The presentation of the Sports Person of the Year Award goes to the student who has accumulated the most amount of points throughout the year in their various sporting achievements. 

Parents are asked to advise the school throughout the year of the sporting achievements by completing this online form. Scores are based on events, the level of the event (district, regional, state, national etc) and the students placing within those events. You will need to complete the form for each individual achievement. Do not place all achievements on the one form.

At the end of the year, points are collated, and the winner announced.

Information to note: 
* School sports are what counts for CapSDE Sportsperson of the year.  Students are recognised for their achievement in other non-school fields; however, these achievements are not part of the accumulation of points towards the CSDE Sportsperson of the year. 

* You should list the highest level that your student has represented in that sport, noting that the points are only entered if the student represented, and not if they were selected and did not attend. 

*  Unfortunately, camp-drafting, is not a recognised 'regional school sport' and so would not apply for Sportsperson of the year.

Support Agency Contacts

Beyond Blue aims to increase awareness of depression and anxiety and reduce stigma. Call 1300 22 4636, 24 hours/7 days a week, chat online or email.

Blue Knot Foundation Helpline is the National Centre of Excellence for Complex Trauma. It provides support, education and resources for the families and communities of adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse. Call 1300 657 380, Monday – Sunday between 9am – 5pm AEST or via email helpline@blueknot.org.au.

Butterfly Foundation's National Helpline is a free, confidential service that provides information, counselling and treatment referral for people with eating disorders, and body image and related issues. Call 1800 33 4673, 8am-midnight AEST / 7 days a week, chat online or email.

eheadspace provides free online and telephone support and counselling to young people 12 – 25 and their families and friends. Call 1800 650 890, 9am – 1am AEST / 7 days a week, chat online or email.

FriendLine supports anyone who's feeling lonely, needs to reconnect or just wants a chat. You can call them 7 days a week on 1800 424 287, or chat online with one of their trained volunteers. All conversations with FriendLine are anonymous.

Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free 24/7 confidential and private counseling service specifically for children and young people aged 5 – 25. Call 1800 55 1800.

Lifeline provides 24-hour crisis counselling, support groups and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14, text on 0477 13 11 14 (12pm to midnight AEST) or chat online.

MensLine Australia is a professional telephone and online counselling service offering support to Australian men. Call 1300 78 99 78, 24 hours/7 days a week, chat online or organise a video chat.

MindSpot is a free telephone and online service for people with anxiety, stress, low mood or depression. It provides online assessment and treatment for anxiety and depression. MindSpot is not an emergency or instant response service. Call 1800 61 44 34.

QLife provides nationwide telephone and web-based services for lesbian peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships. Call 1800 184 527, 3pm – 12am (midnight) AEST/7 days a week.

SANE Australia provides support to anyone in Australia affected by complex mental health issues, as well as their friends, family members and health professionals. Call 1800 18 7263, 10am – 10pm AEST (Mon – Fri), or chat online.

Suicide Call Back Service provides 24/7 support if you or someone you know is feeling suicidal. Call 1300 659 467.

Lifeline  on 13 11 14 — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Source from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-helplines

We welcome your feedback