CapSDE - Week Five 24 Feb 2025 Newsletter

School Photos

School Photos will be taken during Week 7 Mini-school on the dates indicated below. Please see flyer below for instructions on how to order through the QR code or online link: https://leadingimage.com.au/  

The Access Key is also listed on the flyer. the same access key is to be used for sibling photos as well as individual photos. 

Please note that sibling photo orders will close on the 9 March in order for the photographer to generate the list of siblings to photograph the following day. 

Individual ordering remains open for up to a week after photo day. 

Rockhampton - Monday 10 March

• Sibling photos - CapSDE Farm Street available at 8:00 - 8:30am
• Primary Students - CapSDE Farm Street 9:00am - 10:00am
• Secondary Students - Conference on North 11:30 - 1:00pm

Emerald - Tuesday 11 March

• Sibling Photos - CapSDE Emerald 8:45am
• Primary Students - CapSDE Emerald 9:15 - 10:15am

Parent or family enquiries can be directed to Leading Image directly on info@leadingimage.com.au or P: 1800 750 586

Secondary students having their photo on the day will also receive a student ID card.  

Key Dates Calendar - Updated

P & C AGM & General Meeting - 4th March

Important NAPLAN Information

NAPLAN Withdrawals

Students may be withdrawn from NAPLAN testing by their parent/carer for reasons such as religious beliefs or philosophical objections to testing. This is a matter for consideration by individual parents/carers in consultation with their child’s school.  A formal application is required and must be received and approved by the principal prior to testing on Wednesday 12^th March 2025.

NAPLAN Exemptions

Exemptions may be suitable for some students with disability and for some students with a language background other than English. Students may be exempt from one test (e.g. reading) but still be able to participate in another test (e.g. numeracy).

• English language proficiency:Students with a language background other than English who arrived from overseas and have been attending school for less than a year before the test may be exempted. However, these students are not automatically exempt and should be given the opportunity to participate in testing.
• Students with disability:Adjustments are provided to students with disability to support access to the tests and encourage maximum participation. Students with significant intellectual disability and/or those with significant co-existing conditions which severely limit their capacity to participate in the tests may be exempt from sitting the tests. This is determined after consultation has occurred between the school and the relevant parent/carer, and if it is decided the student is not able to access the tests with adjustments.

Deputy Principal contact details:

• Desolee Cowley dcowl25@eq.edu.au for Years 7 and 9
• Katrina Hawley (Rockhampton Campus) khawl7@eq.edu.au for Years 3 and 5
• Kellie Dobson (Emerald Campus) kdobs4@eq.edu.au for Years 3 and 5

Please use the contact details provided above for the Deputy Principals if you wish to apply for:

• NAPLAN withdrawal or
• NAPLAN exemption

If you have not made contact with your child’s/student’s Year Level Deputy Principal regarding your intent for them to be withdrawn or exempt from NAPLAN testing, please do so prior to Friday 7^th March.

Please Note: NAPLAN withdrawal and NAPLAN exemption forms become available from Monday 17^th, February 2025 and will be emailed directly to families whom have made contact and expressed their intent for their child/student to be withdrawn or exempt from NAPLAN testing in 2025.

Public Demonstration Site Tests

We encourage students and families to explore the Public demonstration site tests for their year level in order to familiarise themselves with the different item types and the features of the tests.  Students with disability, their teachers and families can use the public demonstration site to see some of the adjustments available and check the compatibility of assistive technology.

Public Demonstration Site Links

• Year 3
• Year 5
• Year 7
• Year 9

Further Information Links

Click here to visit the Parent and Carers section of the NAPLAN website.   

Click here to download a NAPLAN 2025 Information for Parents and Carers Brochure.

Thank you for your continued support in making NAPLAN a smooth and positive experience for our students.

Desolee, Katrina and Kellie

Are you having trouble accessing lessons?

View the instructional video below for support.

Languages

Hello, this is Lauren Harvey and I’m going to share a bit about my 2024.

Last year I went on a Rotary International exchange to Okayama, Japan for 12 months. I attended high school there and lived with five unique host families to experience diverse Japanese lifestyles to the fullest. It was a life-changing experience for me and my first time in the role of a student ambassador for my district (9640) and representing Australia in multicultural relationships. I became very proud of Australia. It was very different from just travelling overseas, learning the ins and outs of Okayama and Japan from locals felt very special.  I was sponsored through Rotary and hosted by the kind Okayama Rotary Club. I was able to make many connections with my members and assist with volunteering in the community.

Although the best year of my life has finished, I’m forever equipped with the skills I learnt, including balancing two languages now. Every single person I met on exchange, host families, friends, classmates, teachers, club members, even newly met people- encouraged me with my language learning. I went to Japan the most unconfident I’ve ever been, I couldn’t think for myself other than in English. Even though I was surrounded by Japanese every day, I believed that being able to participate in conversation without a translator was unachievable. It wasn’t until around the 4th month mark, I picked up on the Okayama dialect, Japanese nuances, started thinking in the language, and reacting in conversation. Now, I have passed the N3 JLPT test in Japan and am continuing studies with the wonderful language department of CSDE for Grade 12, and proceeding into the future!

For people studying any language, my advice is that conversations are the best practice. Chatting with other Japanese learners and the local people, I learnt everything from copying what I heard in conversations, which expanded my vocabulary and grammar. Language is only stitching together words in a sentence, grammar and such come naturally!

What's happening in Primary?

Prep - Positional Language and Listening Skills

At CapSDE, we teach positional language in Prep as part of the Australian Curriculum (AC9MFSP02) because it helps children describe and understand the location of objects in relation to themselves and others. These early spatial skills are important for following directions, developing problem-solving abilities, and preparing for concepts in mathematics, reading, and everyday life.

In this activity, students listened carefully to instructions and drew objects inside, next to, underneath, and on top of a square. This practice strengthens their ability to interpret and use positional words accurately. Parents can support this learning at home by using everyday language to describe locations, such as "Put your book on the table" or "Stand next to me."

Year 4 Camp

Our Year 4 Campers and their chosen adult had a blast last week on Year 4 Camp.

For little people, they were big on energy! They've canoed, built rafts, played beach cricket and climbed the high ropes. They explored the zoo, visited Capricorn Caves, hiked, swum, climbed and showed their stealth in laser skirmish!

Thank you to Mrs Cheal, Mrs Goodman and Mrs McIntyre for giving of your time to be our camp teachers. Without teachers offering their own time, our students wouldn't have this opportunity.

Year 4 camp

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Year Two

Year 2 Rockhampton - A Great Start to the Year!

We’ve had a great start, it's been so much fun,
In Year 2 Rockhampton, we’ve just begun!
We painted our portraits, each one unique,
Then stood up tall, looking sharp and sleek.

We asked ourselves, “How much will we grow?”
I guess we’ll find out as the year starts to flow!
We’ve read some great books and explored characters galore,
Room on the Broom, Zog, and There’s No Such Book—and there’s more!

Mrs Clough and Mrs Kime are here with a cheer,
Excited to guide us throughout the whole year!
So here’s to more learning, laughter, and play,
We’re ready for all that comes our way!

Year 2

Secondary Scoop

Kids Helpline Sessions

The school has been working with Kids’ Helpline to provide information sessions to students. These will happen across the year at various times during your Capri Connect classes.

Four sessions have been identified as being of particular interest, and these have been indicated on the form below. 

Please open the document below, complete, and return to administration@caprrocksde.eq.edu.au, if you would prefer your student to opt out of the sessions.

English

Welcome back to another exciting and productive year in the English Department! Whether you're a returning student or new to our community, we’re thrilled to have you all back and ready to dive into a new term of learning.

We are well underway with Term 1 content and have begun the implementation of the new V9 Australian Curriculum. Our teachers are working hard to ensure that lessons are engaging and challenging, setting the stage for a successful year ahead. The enthusiasm and commitment we’ve seen from both students and staff has been fantastic and we look forward to seeing how our students grow throughout the term.

As we progress through the term, we encourage all students to reach out to their teachers whenever they need support. We’re here to help you understand your work better and to guide you toward achieving your full potential. Don't hesitate to ask questions or seek clarification—whether it's about a lesson, homework tasks, or assessment items. The assessment period is just around the corner and it's important to ensure you fully understand any task before diving in. We’re here to help you succeed!

A special reminder to our senior students: Please ensure that you’ve sorted your exam supervisors. The Year 11 Essential English exam takes place in Week 7 and the Year 11 General English exam takes place in Week 9 of this term. We want all students to be well-prepared in advance. If you have any questions about exam arrangements, be sure to reach out to your teachers.

We’re thrilled with how the term has started and look forward to the great things we’ll achieve together over the coming weeks. Here’s to a fantastic year of growth, learning, and success in the English Department!

Warm regards,
 The English Department

Student Spotlight - Abby

Guidance 'Go-2'

Considering a Career in Medicine

ATTENTION: Year 9-12 students and parents whose children are considering a career in medicine

BRISBANE 'Future Doctors Australia' - Enrolments are now open!

The Future Doctors Australia program offers a unique opportunity for school students (ages 14-18) aspiring to pursue a career in medicine. 4-days of high-impact, engaging sessions led by experienced medical specialists, practical learning activities, and insights into the admission process, the program aims to inspire and equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in their medical journey.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to gain valuable insights and guidance from medical professionals who are passionate about shaping the future of healthcare.

Program Details | Fees | Enrolment Form

Gallery of previous programs

If you have any questions or need assistance with the enrolment process, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team. We are here to help!

What's on in your community?

Musical Theatre Workshops

Emerald Careers Expo

Come and Try Softball

CQU Ag Program for Young Females

Watch and learn more about the program

We welcome your feedback

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