CSDE Weekly eNewsletter, Week 8, Term 3, 2023

Wowan Show

The Wowan Show took place yesterday. Artwork crafted by the children at the Dululu cluster was used to  construct an impressive CSDE exhibit for the event. A big thank you to Mrs Raine for your efforts in putting together the display

The canvas portraying a cow, seen alongside Lily, Lachie, and Hugh, was skillfully painted by these students for their participation in the nearby schools' competition. They went up against schools from Wowan, Jambin, Westwood, and Gogango.

This year's theme centered around canvas decoration, and their creation, "Capricorn" the cow, was an impressive hand-painted piece. Their artwork secured the second prize in the competition, subsequently being auctioned off on show night. The winning bid amounted to $400, which was then generously donated to the CSDE P&C.

Message from your P&C

SPDD (Staff Professional Development Day) means no online lessons will be scheduled for this Friday.

What's happening in Primary?

Year Four Newsletter – Term 3 Week 8

Here we are in Term 3 already with another busy term. We welcome Mrs Power to our awesome Year Four teaching team. Working Wednesdays, you will find her on with the HIT041E reading group and in the Maths classrooms.

Congratulations to all students that have extended themselves to attend the many extra-curricular opportunities offered this term  - from the Whitsunday Voices Literature Festival in Mackay; to a variety of sporting events and competitions held across the districts. These events are a great way to get out of the classroom and experience different learning occasions.

Keep up the great work managing to manage these commitments alongside your online attendances, weekly work returns and the submission of the latest eTeach (Drama) unit.  We acknowledge these units take considerable time to complete to the high standards that we see submitted to us to mark – thankyou Home Tutors for all the work you do behind the scenes keeping those (learning) fires burning!

The final eTeach (H&PE) unit is due next term (October 21) and I cannot wait to see our students balance and juggle their way through the unit.

Maths news –

During Term 3 we developed an understanding about fractions and how to locate fractions on a number line. This understanding will continue into Term 4 as we look to transfer that knowledge into decimals. We are now looking at comparing areas and using measurements. Then, to finish the term off, we are analysing data on some graphs. Don’t forget to keep practicing your Numeracy Passport goals and your Multiplication and Division facts.

Mrs Goodman

English news-

This term, in English, Year 4s are reading a quest novel called Rowan of Rin. In our classes at home, we have created Learning Walls where students have recreated the map of Rin and each week, we are adding our learning, of each chapter, to the wall. Enjoy seeing some of the fantastic creations! During Emerald mini-school students had to solve riddles to find the next clue which led them to a box of treasure. The students had a great time deciphering the clues as a team and enjoying their treats.

Mrs Cheal and Mrs Rix

HASS news-

This term we have been enjoying studying the geography of our world. We are closely examining Tanzania, within the continent of Africa; and Brazil, on the South American continent. These studies will continue into next term, with assessment being a conducted at many short junctures along the way. Students are reminded to keep their assessments in the large white envelopes, tucked into their atlases, close by for each HASS lesson please. Keep the photos of your daily adventures coming into my email, Year Four, because I love seeing all the amazing destinations you all travel to – even if it’s just down to the front gate to check the mail!  Cheers from Miss Grace.

Science news-

Did you know that ochre has been used for thousands of years by the first nations peoples of Australia? Ochre is created when rocks are ground to a fine powder and ranges in colour from yellow to red or brown. Different coloured ochres have different purposes and that is often decided by the material properties they have when mixed with different liquids. The year 4 students have been focussing on using scientific words to explain the properties of the ochre mixtures as well as their use. If you have any examples of ochre in use, please send it to Mrs Matthews and it can be added to our class display along with the word wall.

UPDATE: Term 2 Emerald mini school plant progress.

Rocky Mini school –

The Year 4 students participated in a variety of activities during Mini-school. We especially loved making a cereal box marble run and creating Aboriginal artwork using scratch art. On Tuesday we visited the Rockhampton Museum of Art where we learnt that the number of seasons can vary across many First Nation groups across Australia. The exhibition we saw was based on four Kuuku Ya’u seasons. We had lots of fun creating jewellery, headpieces and fashion items based on the seasons. Students worked with the Japanese teachers and were able to attend excursions on Tuesday and Thursday.

On Tuesday they visited the Rockhampton Museum of Art, in the very historic Quay Street precinct. They learnt about the Darumbal connection to country, the story of Tunuba (the Fitzroy), participated drawing and craft workshops, and enjoyed a lovely play on the Riverside playground.

On Thursday students attended the Victoria Park Gymnastics and Trampoline club. They rolled, jumped, tumbled and balanced their way through and massive course the instructors developed for them. Students also visited Kershaw Gardens for lunch and a play with all their friends on that enormous and exciting playground.

Emerald Mini-school

All in all, a busy term and the fun keeps coming with many more events planned for Term 4!

Mrs Goodman, Mrs Cheal, Mrs Rix, Miss Grace, Mrs Power and Mrs Matthews.

Secondary Scoop

Chat GPT -why is it so bad at mathematics?

In recent weeks, we have noticed some students using ChatGPT in their math classes. It’s not going so well for them. Besides the obvious (if Artificial Intelligence is doing your schoolwork for you, you won’t be learning), ChatGPT just isn’t very good at math! Here’s what it said when I asked ChatGPT why it wasn’t very good at math…

ChatGPT is a language model designed for natural language understanding and generation. While it can perform some basic mathematical calculations, its main focus is on processing and generating human-like text based on the input it receives. ChatGPT currently focuses on using language as its training data, so it is optimized for processing and generating natural language.

Some students have been trying to use ChatGPT to improve their work by copying and pasting their own answers to questions that do rely on language. The only problem is, now their answer, instead of being in their own words (which is what we want), has amazing adjectives added to it! For example, when I asked it to enhance my answer: "Sarah can save $30 dollars," it responded with, "Sarah has successfully accumulated savings of $30." There have been some very amusing answers popping up in students' work!

Is AI all bad? Not at all. ChatGPT (among other AI generators) can be used for:

1. Explaining concepts: ChatGPT can help explain complex concepts in a simplified manner, making it easier for students to grasp difficult topics. It can provide explanations and examples that resonate with students' learning styles.
2. Practice and Review: ChatGPT can generate practice questions, quizzes, and review materials to reinforce learning. Students can use it as a tool to test their knowledge and receive instant feedback.
3. Research Assistance: ChatGPT can help students gather preliminary information for research projects or essays. It can provide summaries, suggest sources, and offer ideas for further exploration.
4. Brainstorming: Students can use ChatGPT for generating ideas for creative projects, presentations, or essays. It can provide fresh perspectives and innovative concepts.
5. Accessibility: ChatGPT can provide educational support for students with different learning needs. It can adapt its responses based on individual preferences and requirements.

It’s important to note that while ChatGPT has educational potential, it should complement traditional learning methods. Its responses should be critically evaluated (I’ve found several times that it is wrong or gave me sources that don’t exist). Students should continue to seek guidance from their teachers and home tutors.

Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers Annual Conference

Our very own Mrs Lillian Jia recently won a bursary to attend the QAMT’s annual state conference in Brisbane.  Mrs Jia participated in many sessions including Building Mathematical Knowledge and Fostering Student Engagement: Exploring the Power of Games in Mathematics Education.  The valuable information that Mrs Jia gained from her time at the conference will now be shared with other staff in the mathematics faculty to increase the engagement of all students.

Celebrating Growth in Year 7 & 8

Congratulations to our exceptional Year 7 and 8 students who are demonstrating remarkable progress in the realm of mathematics.  Their dedication and effort are on track to master more than one year of content.  We encourage you to continue your fantastic journey in mathematics!

Year 8

5 Stars - Paityn

4 Stars - Rianna, Josiah, Jackson & Cooper

3 Stars - Brodie & Lilly

2 Stars - Maya, Rory, Shannon, Ciara, Skyla, Bailey, Harry, Sunny

1 Star -   Jackson, Lily, Sapphire, Angel, Kaiden, Elijah, Chelsey, Kobi, Indy, Kalea, Stella, Sofia, Mac,                              Rosalea, Diharna, Jorja, Adargio, Sienna, Cheyenne, Sienna, Alicia, Dominyk, Tim

Field Services – Site visit to Moura State High School

Within our vibrant CSDE learning community, we are proud to include our dedicated school-based students. These individuals are concurrently enrolled at their respective local schools, utilising the opportunities offered by CSDE to explore subjects that may not be available within their home schools.

Recently, we had the privilege of sending Mrs. Jessica Hunt to connect with our students at Moura State High School. This visit exemplifies our commitment to fostering meaningful connections and expanding educational horizons.

At CSDE, it's quite common to see students starting their academic journey with Extension Mathematics in Year 10, which often leads them to pursue challenging subjects like Mathematical Methods and Specialist Mathematics during their senior years.

What are valid exam conditions?

Reminder

Home Tutors are required to ensure valid examination conditions for exams for all year 7-10 students:

1. Exam supervisors are responsible for providing students with the opportunity to demonstrate their academic competence under fair and uniform testing conditions and to ensure the integrity of the examination process.

2. If you are unable to provide suitable examination conditions for your student during class time, you can:

• arrange for an alternative adult to supervise
• arrange for your student to go to another location to complete the assessment, or
• agree with the class teacher an allocated day/time after school that the student will be supervised to complete the exam.

3. Exam supervision includes ensuring the timeframe allocated for the examination is enforced unless students have pre-approved adjusted exam conditions for ‘extra time’.

4. Once the examination has been completed, scan the exam or take photos of each page and email it to the classroom teacher, or, if the examination is being conducted online, ensure that the student submits their final response and logs out of the assessment

5. Exam Conditions Checklist:

• Ensure room has good lighting
• Ensure room is in a noise free area
• Ensure the student does not have access to their phone or any notes during the examination
• If the examination is being conducted online, ensure that the student does not access their online resources, google, chatGPT or other artificial intelligence software during the examination
• If the examination is being conducted online, ensure that there is a reliable internet connection

If you are unable to provide suitable exam conditions you must advise the classroom teacher prior to the examination.

If you have any questions regarding the requirements and responsibilities of ensuring exam conditions are met, please contact the school. 

ATTENTION: Year 12 ATAR eligible Students

Year 12 Students,

If you are applying for an ATAR this year via QTAC, you are invited to attend the following information sessions:

ATAR session 1:

When: Tuesday 22^nd August

Time: 8.00am

Where: Secondary Cohort Dashboard – “ATAR session 1”

ATAR session 2:

When: Tuesday 29^th August

Time: 8.00am

Where: Secondary Cohort Dashboard – “ATAR session 2”

Following the two sessions, students will be invited to book a one-on-one session with Mrs Benfer regarding your individual ATAR application.

Looking forward to meeting with you for our first session.

For questions please be sure to make contact before Session 1. Email: jbenf8@eq.edu.au 

Save The Dates, September - December

Job Opportunities and Positions Available

Career idea!

English teacher Ms Rodney is back from a week in Darwin where she attended the 2023 Northern Beef Research Update Conference.  Prior to teaching Ms Rodney has worked in several fields where a love of English is essential. Two of these were science communication and news media. Here’s her recap of the event…

Last Wednesday and Thursday I sat in on a wide array of three- and ten-minute Beef Bites, data packed presentations that distilled months and even years of work into specific insights that will drive up profitability, resilience, and sustainability in the northern Australia beef cattle industry.

Researchers across a diverse array of sciences - including genetics, It, climate and ecology - linked up with beef producers, extension officers, industry advisers and agribusiness representatives to deliver nearly one hundred presentations across six concurrent sessions with delegates likening the experience to a series of enlightening and enjoyable ‘speed dates.’

Here’s an example of a what a team of science writers, website and graphic designers and can do with that information to make it publicly accessible…

First, you need a catchy title to attract an audience!

Finally, data is distilled into a series of eye-catching graphics and animations.  Video interviews are filmed and edited to create engaging short stories.  A social media marketing campaign is created with easy to remember hashtags so distribution can be tracked.  In this case, #RedMeatGreenFacts

Look at the end result: Resources | Red Meat Green Facts

Stay tuned for another career idea next week!

Ms Rodney

Guidance 'Go-2'

Sourced from: BrainPower Neurodevelopmental Center – Via Create Edu

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=833830154816831&id=100045695612688&set=pb.100045695612688.-2207520000.&eav=AfZW-yaq7-QBcCjxubZV8uSl6JlktbtoFmuvSuna2MzjgAMvpGYsCMg3ewZRRYopKS8&paipv=0&source=43

Cultural Snapshot

SCHOOL HOLIDAY BROLGA PROGRAM

17 years First Nation students, the program aims to help protect and preserve Country and Sea Country from a Traditional Owners point of view. All interested parties to contact Program Coordinator, Antonio Mann by 13 September 2023. Don't miss out on this fantastic program to learn and grow!

Opportunities and 'Goings-on' in your Community

One Foot Forward - the walk for mental health

Join in the inspiring journey of the One Foot Forward program! Let's take a step towards better mental health together. Every stride we make, every mile we conquer, contributes to a brighter and healthier mindset. Your participation not only energizes your own well-being but also creates a ripple effect of positivity for our entire community. Embrace the power of movement as we walk, run, and move together towards stronger mental resilience. Together, we can make a real difference—one foot at a time. Lace up, step out, and let's move forward hand in hand for the sake of our mental wellness!

The event is organized by the Black Dog Institute: https://www.onefootforward.org.au/

Your Health Link National Photographic Competition School Category Flyer

Thursday, 14 September Online AgCareers Expo 2023

Catch up with Australia's top Ag companies to learn about study options and career opportunities in Agriculture. ❤ YOUR CAREER IN AG

Sports Person of the year award 2023

CSDE 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 acheivement. Do not place all acheivements 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 CSDE 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 school sport and so would not apply for Sportsperson of the year.

We welcome your feedback