CapSDE Week 4, Term Two 2024 eNewsletter
-
Homestay opportunity for CapSDE Families
-
Beef Week Arrangements and Excursion
-
Athletics Carnival
-
Alpha Anzac Day
-
Maths Team Challenge
-
What's happening in Primary?
-
Year One
-
Rockhampton Eisteddfod Choir
-
Farm Safety Calendar Competition
-
REMINDER QCWA - Children's International Competition 2024
-
Secondary Scoop
-
English
-
Work Experience Opportunity
-
Youth Expo 2024
-
Guidance 'Go-2'
-
What's on in your community?
-
Validation of the Newly Developed Child Self-Regulation Scale
-
Sports Person of the year award 2024
-
We welcome your feedback
Homestay opportunity for CapSDE Families
EXCITING NEWS! 15 HOST FAMILIES WANTED!
Did you know that Cap SDE has our very own Sister School in Japan?
A Sister School agreement was arranged at the end of 2019, with Oshu City, Japan.
We are very excited to announce that we will be hosting our very first student exchange this year.
DETAILS
- Wednesday 31 July – Tuesday August 6 (Week 4/5 of Term 3)
- 15 students (ages 14/15 years)
- 3 representatives from Oshu City Board of Education (these delegates will be hosted by our teaching staff)
Opportunities for Host Families (Please see attached itinerary for more details)
- Such a wonderful opportunity for you and your family to welcome, support and get to know these exchange students during their Australian trip.
- Host families will be invited to join with us for lunch at the Welcoming Ceremony at the Botanical Garden Tea Room (lunch provided)
- ‘Buddy’ students in the host family are able to attend a day excursion with their exchange student on Thursday Aug 1.
- Friday – Sunday, host families will be able to spend time with their Japanese student at their home.
- Host families will be invited to the Farewell Ceremony and tea before the students leave the next day (tea provided)
What you need to know:
- The student will require their own bedroom
- Adults living in the household will need to apply for a Volunteer Blue Card (no cost) (assistance will be provided on how to complete this).
- Provide meals during the 6 night stay (6 x breakfast, 5 x lunch, 5 x dinner)
- Being a host family is voluntary (no payment provided)
- Being a host family is such a rewarding experience. You will make contacts who will become friends for life.
- The students will be arriving into and departing from Rockhampton airport.
- Host families need to have a child (primary or secondary) enrolled with Cap SDE – they do not need to be currently studying Japanese.
- Please see further itinerary details below
If you would like to put in an Expression of Interest to be a host family, please complete the attached form by May 2.
For any further information, please contact Georgina Harch (49314855).
Note: An itinerary will be supplied as soon as it is confirmed
Beef Week Arrangements and Excursion
This week, the school is celebrating Beef Week.
Parents and Home Tutors who are involved in Beef Week at the Rockhampton Showgrounds, are welcome to bring their students to the Rockhampton Campus on Tuesday 7th, Wednesday, 8th, and Thursday 9th May. These students will attend their regular online lessons from the Rockhampton Outstation, supervised by CapSDE staff. Please note, that this is available only to students who are directly involved with Beef Week activities. Students are asked to please bring any equipment they'll need to login, including knowledge of login and passwords, headset and mouse, as well as work to complete during spare lessons (for example, Spelling Mastery and eTeach work).
On Friday 10th May, the school will visit the Rockhampton Showgrounds, as part of the Suncorp Bank Schools Programme. This excursion is open to all students (whether they are involved in Beef Week or not) and the school welcomes RSVPs, to see the beef industry in action, at this fantastic opportunity.
Please RSVP, dependent upon your involvement with Beef Week, and return permission forms as requested.
Athletics Carnival
Tuesday 4th June will see our students in both Primary and Secondary converge on the oval at CQUniversity for our annual CSDE Athletics Carnival in a sea of red and yellow.
Whether you are a Wattle or a Banksia supporter we would love for you to come along; participate and cheer for your team! The Parents and Citizens will be putting on a BBQ for your convenience and there will be a coffee van for the caffeine deprived families!
If your child is wishing to participate in events at the Athletics Carnival, you will need to complete the nomination form below (and attached to the event in the calendar). These will need to be returned to:
Mr Murray Harch by no later than Monday 20th May. Email the completed nomination form to: mharc4@eq.edu.au.
Age Champion will be awarded for ages 9 - 18 boys and girls.
Please RSVP your attendance for Athletics Carnival below
Alpha Anzac Day
Maths Team Challenge
Participating in a Maths Team Challenge is a valuable opportunity for students to showcase their mathematical skills, teamwork, and ability to think critically under pressure. Last week CSDE students in Year 5 - 10 demonstrated incredible dedication and effort in the Qld Association of Maths Teachers (QAMT) – Maths Teams Challenge, along with over 70 other schools. Their performance was nothing short of commendable, with the Year 5/6 team winning the Estimation Competition.
Competitions like these are not just about winning; they are about learning, growing, and pushing boundaries. Our students did exactly that and more, proving their commitment and passion for mathematics. We owe a special word of thanks to Mrs. Douglas, Miss Gordon and Mrs. Hunt, who played pivotal roles in supporting our students during the challenge, navigating the in-person challenge with our technology online. Their dedication to nurturing and guiding our young mathematicians cannot be overstated.
What's happening in Primary?
Year One
This term we have been learning all about crocodiles. We have been learning interesting facts about their bodies and their habitats. We each got a little crocodile and have given them names. They come to lessons with us each day. We are looking forward to our trip to the Crocodile Farm at Mini-School.
This term we have been learning about poetry. We have enjoyed looking at things like rhyming words and alliteration. We are preparing for our poetry recitals during Mini-School week.
Rockhampton Eisteddfod Choir
The CSDE Rockhampton Eisteddfod Choir is looking for singers. We’ll prepare one song, and present it in front of other schools’ students, parents, teachers, and an adjudicator.
Next Practice: This Thursday 9th May – online ‘Primary Cohort’ course on QLearn.
Session Name: ‘Choir Practice – Mr Scheuber – Thursday 3:05-3:45PM’
Please e-mail lrsch0@eq.edu.au if you have any questions.
When: Monday 20th May. 1:30PM.
Who: Anyone in Prep - Year 6 who is enthusiastic and willing to be involved. Mrs Ward and Mr Scheuber will be helping students to prepare.
Where: Pilbeam Theatre – Victoria Parade & Cambridge Street, Rockhampton City, Qld 4700
What to wear: school uniform. Please contact Mr Scheuber if you don’t currently own a school uniform.
What Next? Please e-mail lrsch0@eq.edu.au if you think your student would be able to attend the eisteddfod. But, even if you don’t think they can, and would like to participate in practices, please e-mail to register interest
Farm Safety Calendar Competition
More than 1400 students from all over Queensland entered last year’s Farm safety calendar competition with 12 brilliant artworks selected for the 2024 calendar.
The competition raises awareness among primary school children and their communities of common hazards on farms and other rural properties. Twelve winning drawings will be published in 30,000 copies of the 2025 Farm safety calendar, which is distributed for free throughout Queensland.
Winning students receive a $250 gift card and $500 for their school.
|
|
How To Enter
Entries must be received by, or postmarked on, Friday 21 June 2024.
Entries must be submitted on white paper using the competition template at worksafe.qld.gov.au. For the entry to be valid, all fields on the template must be completed in legible handwriting including the student’s first and last names, grade and school. The entry must have a consent signature from the student’s teacher, parent or guardian.
Post entries to:
Strategic Communications
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland
GPO Box 69
BRISBANE QLD 4001
Winners will be announced in October 2024.
REMINDER QCWA - Children's International Competition 2024
🎨✨ Calling all young artists and creative minds! ✨🎨
Get ready to showcase your talent in our annual competition hosted by the Country Women's Association! 🏆🖌️ Whether you're a colouring connoisseur or a budding Picasso, there's a category for everyone from Prep to Grade 6.
🎉 First prize? A shiny $20 cash prize awaits the winners in each grade level! 💰✨
Entries close on Friday, May 31st, so don't delay! 📅 Grab your colouring page and competition guidelines from the front desk, and start creating your masterpiece today! 🎨✏️
Remember, each entry must include the completed entry form attached. 📝
Let your creativity shine and join the fun! 🌟 #CWACompetition #YoungArtists #CreativityUnleashed 🎉🖼️
Link: QCWA - School Children’s Competition
Each year QCWA studies a different country of the world and in 2024 we are looking at all aspects of life and living in Morocco.
All Queensland primary school and special needs children from prep to Year 6 are eligible to enter.
Please refer to the attached competition schedule and the year 5 and year 6 judging sheets as a guide for year level requirements.
Would you please be so kind as to pass these on to the relevant teachers, or publish in your school newsletter, so that students may enter the competitions at their leisure.
Entries will close on Friday 31st May, and Marion is happy to collect these from the school campus office in Emerald, or they can be posted directly to Marion (see address below),
Marion Edwards, C/- QCWA Emerald Branch, P.O. Box 777, Emerald Qld 4720.
Marion would need to receive any posted entries by the 12th June.
A small prize for 1st place and certificates to 3rd place will be awarded in each year level at the Emerald Branch competition, and winning entries will then progress to Central Highlands Division (comprised of seven Branches) for judging.
Secondary Scoop
English
From the CSDE Secondary English Department Greetings, Students and Parents!
While we eagerly await the release of the 2024 NAPLAN results, we're reflecting on the reading and writing results from 2023 and pondering the factors that contributed to a slight dip in the results across Queensland. Our goal is to continually improve our students’ engagement with reading and writing and develop a lifelong love literacy, especially among our young adults, and we couldn't be prouder of the progress our students are making. Let's dive into some of the strategies which we know contributes to success; and as a little bonus, given that it’s Beef Week in Rockhampton, the English faculty have put together a list of some of their favourite, highly recommended texts which prominently feature stories and voices from the Outback.
Strategies for Improving Engagement with Reading and Writing:
- Diverse Book Selection: Via the EQ digital library (SORA) and the CSDE physical library, we've expanded our library collections to include a wide range of books that reflect the diverse interests and backgrounds of our students. By offering books with characters and stories that resonate with them, we're confident that there’s something for everyone.
- Student Choice: Empowering students to choose their own reading material fosters a sense of ownership and investment in their reading habits. We encourage students to explore different genres and formats, from graphic novels to audiobooks, to find what works best for them.
- Incorporating Technology: Leveraging technology has been instrumental in engaging tech-savvy teens. We've made sure that every student has access to digital reading platforms and interactive storytelling apps to make reading more interactive and accessible.
- Project-Based Learning: Integrating literacy skills into classroom learning activities not only reinforces academic skills but also demonstrates the real-world relevance of literacy in various contexts.
The English Faculty’s Recommended Reading List: Fiction Texts Set in Outback Australia
- Something Wonderful by Raewyn Caisley and Karen Blair: A beautiful picture book about the wonders of a young boy’s imagination and hands on building while helping dad in the shed.
- My Farm by Alison Lester: A snapshot of everyday life for an Australian farming family, beautifully illustrated and narrated by one of Australia’s prominent children’s writers.
- The Drover’s Wife by Leah Purcell: A gripping and powerful contemporary re-imagining of Henry Lawson’s classic short story.
- Catching Teller Crow by Ambelin Kwaymullina and Ezekiel Kwaymullina: Award-winning YA novel which explores grief, personal and community trauma, and Indigenous lore, from a unique narrative point of view.
- The Dry by Jane Harper: Set in a drought-stricken Australian town, this gripping mystery novel follows Federal Agent Aaron Falk as he returns to his hometown to attend a funeral and gets entangled in a decades-old mystery.
- Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey: Set in a small town in Western Australia during the 1960s, Jasper Jones is the coming-of-age novel of two teens, one of whom is the town's outcast, Jasper Jones, who become involved in a dark and complex mystery.
- A Fortunate Life by A.B. Facey: The extraordinary true story of a man who experienced first hand the hardships and challenges of Australia’s earliest year, from the rough frontier to the Depression and both World Wars, It’s a tale not easily forgotten.
- Outback Midwife by Beth McRae: Based on the true story of Beth McRae, a midwife who spent over two decades delivering babies in remote Outback communities, this memoir offers a heart-warming and inspiring glimpse into life in rural Australia.
- That Deadman Dance by Kim Scott: Set in the early days of European settlement in Western Australia, this novel explores the collision of cultures as Indigenous Australians and European settlers struggle to coexist peacefully.
We hope these recommendations inspire you to explore the rich and diverse world of literature, whether it's discovering new genres, connecting with Australian authors, or immersing yourself in the unique landscapes of Outback Queensland. Happy reading!
Work Experience Opportunity
Capricorn Caves once again is inviting students from the local region to apply for work experience at their Ecotourism attraction. Please find more information below, along with an application form.
Youth Expo 2024
Save the Date for our CSDE Youth Expo, 13th May during Mini-school week.
Guidance 'Go-2'
School attendance problems - Types, warning signs, and how you can help
The number of students with school attendance problems has been increasing, with this pattern evident even before the pandemic. The impact of inconsistent or nonattendance can be significant on a young person's wellbeing, mental health, and family, and have a long-term effect on their personal growth, and academic or career prospects.
Types of school attendance problems
There are four general types of school attendance problems:
• Avoidance: Student-initiated nonattendance is generally with the parent's awareness and is often associated with high levels of distress and anxiety. Typically, this occurs when a student is trying to avoid a school-related stimulus such as bullying or peer difficulties, learning difficulties, has test or exam anxiety, is avoiding separation from a caregiver or another situation that evokes distress.
• Withdrawal: Parent-initiated nonattendance, which could be due to many reasons, for example financial or housing insecurity, caregiving responsibilities at home, or dissatisfaction with the school.
• Truancy: Student-initiated nonattendance, often outside the parent's awareness and generally not associated with distress. This can occur when a student is drawn to activities outside of school, such as screen use or gaming, spending time with friends, substance misuse, or criminal behaviour. Truancy can sometimes be secondary to school avoidance.
• Exclusion: School-initiated nonattendance, which could be the result of, or lead to, ongoing attendance problems.
Contributing factors
There are many factors that can contribute to attendance problems, including:
• Anxiety, mental health distress or physical health concerns.
• Learning difficulties or other vulnerabilities that are unable to be accommodated by the school.
• Peer conflict, bullying, or lack of belonging and connectedness to the school community.
• The value that the student and parents place on school attendance.
• Family conflict, stressors or significant changes within the home.
• Previous experiences at school that have been frightening, stressful or shameful.
Early warning signs
• Considerable distress, anxiety, or decline in mental health.
• Physical health complaints without a causation or often presenting to the school sick bay.
• Challenging behaviours at home, attempting to delay getting ready for school in the morning, or difficulty separating at school drop-off.
• Attempts to leave the classroom or school, attempting to leave school early, arriving late, or avoiding certain classes or activities.
• Changes in academic functioning or peer relationships.
Three key points
• Every school day counts. For significant attendance problems, encourage attending at least part of the school day, rather than not at all.
• Look for the pattern of absenteeism. Particularly if the student has a pattern of being absent on Mondays, start of school term, sports days, or other significant days.
• The sooner attendance problems are addressed, the better. It can be challenging to change the future trajectory once absenteeism becomes chronic. It is advised that school staff raise concerns early and are proactive in supporting the student's attendance.
Resources
Orygen have recently released A Guide for Supporting School Attendance for school staff. You can also find more information on the Be You website. You can also find important information and insights about school attendance problems in the National Senate Inquiry released in August 2023.
Parents can access information on the Raising Children Network website or view the Guidelines for Parents of Children and Teenagers with School Reluctance or Refusal Difficulties available on the Parenting Strategies website.
Sourced from: Ed-LinQ, Queensland Health
What's on in your community?
Validation of the Newly Developed Child Self-Regulation Scale
University of Queensland Parenting and Family Support Centre
Self-regulation is known as one of the critical virtues of human functioning. It is associated with better health, social, and educational outcomes. Self-regulation begins to develop in early childhood when parental influence on child’s development is crucial. However, we do not have adequate ways to assess child and parent self-regulation and this study aims to test a new measure which will help us to better understand self-regulation.
Parents with children aged 3 to 12 years old who have resided in the same household with their children in Australia for at least the last 6 months are welcome to participate in the current study. Parents will only be asked to complete a survey which includes the newly developed Child Self-Regulation Scale to reflect on their own parenting behaviours and their child’s self-regulation. This survey will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Parents can access the questionnaires online without the need to travel.
This research project has been approved by the University of Queensland (2023/HE000420)
Sports Person of the year award 2024
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.