2 September 2019

Principal’s Reflection

Principal’s Reflection

I got a really nice email last week from an older gentleman around town after an article I wrote was published in the Parish Newsletter. As a Catholic, he reflected, with a bit of sorrow, that despite all the years his kids happily attended Catholic schools that they don’t often go to Church. He went on to say what good kids they were and how proud of them he was. Shortly after, I read something from Benedicten Nun, Sr Joan Chittister who was writing about how desperately we need prophets. She wrote,

Everywhere there are people who, despite finding themselves mired in periods of national darkness or personal marginalization refuse to give up the thought of a better future. They never lose hope that the values learned in the best of times or the courage it takes to reclaim their world from the worst of times are worth the commitment of their lives.

It is to these average
but courageous people
who forever seek the truth,
defend the weak,
bring the peace,
and always, always, always, stand up
to protest injustice – (that are the hope of the world).

I think my friend who emailed me would recognize that in his kids. I hope that I will always see it in my kids. Faith, spirituality, goodness, religion are all best found in how we live and respond to the needs in front of us on any given day.

Final QCS Test will be Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Every best wish to all of our Year 12 students who will be sitting this. Given the changes being brought in with the ATAR system, the QCS papers will be resigned to history following 2019.

Year 9 & 10 Reflection Days will be held this week. These are really important parts of our curriculum at Shalom and I would ask that parents ensure that every student attends – barring emergency. The information the students receive on these days is really valuable in the process of them becoming young adults.

David Kobler will be offering a presentation for parents on Wednesday night at 6.30pm. We have had David present before and I really cannot recommend this talk to parents more highly. I wish I could make it compulsory to attend!!

Mr Dan McMahon
Principal
McmahonD@shalomcollege.com

Newsletter Articles

Student Welfare & Information

National Child Protection Week

Sunday, 1 September marks the start of National Child Protection Week, coordinated by the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN). The aim of the week is to engage members of the community in supporting families and protecting children. We can help to support and safeguard young people by being active listeners when children communicate with us, ensuring they feel heard and respected. NAPCAN provides the following information on listening to young people.

Understanding young people

Being a teenager or young adult is a challenging time. Young people are trying to make sense of the world around them and find their own place in it. They are becoming more independent and less reliant on their parents. They may seem confident and grown-up on the outside, but they are often very self-conscious, and unsure of themselves inside. Hormonal changes can upset young people’s emotional balance and judgement, leading to impulsive and risky behaviour. Science now tells us that a young person’s brain isn’t fully developed until the late twenties. So, throughout their teenage years, young people still need our support and encouragement. We can give them this by being patient, checking in on how they are going and listening when they want us to.

Why listening is important

Young people need to be able to express their ideas and values without feeling they are being judged. They want to fit in with their friends and may not speak up about how they really feel, especially if this means not going along with risky behaviour, or expressing unpopular views. They may also feel they can’t talk to their parents or carers because the adults won’t understand. When young people seem stand-offish and dismissive, it’s tempting to take it personally, however, this is often just part of ‘normal’ adolescent behaviour. It’s important to be patient, stop what we are doing and listen to them seriously.

How to be a good listener for a young person:

Show interest

Ask open-ended questions that begin with ‘How’, ‘Why’ or ‘What do you think / feel about…’ This might encourage longer answers than ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

Show respect

Show respect by listening to young people’s ideas thoughtfully and respecting their need for space and time alone. We can feel privileged when a young person shares a problem with us. Offer ideas but help them to come up with their own solutions.

Avoid being bossy

It is tempting to ask a question, then jump in with what we think or want to be the right answer! Offer young people your opinion, guidance and support but also respect their ideas.

Allow for silences

If young people don’t reply immediately, just leave the conversation open. They may come back to you later.

Be patient and find the right moment

Notice when a young person is more likely to talk. Suggest going out for coffee to get some one-on-one time together.

Encourage family discussions

Encourage family discussions where everybody’s views are invited and respected, however different.

Build in family get-together times

BBQ’s, picnics, nature walks or once-a-week family dinners are good opportunities for relaxed talk.

Other adults can help too

If you think your young person has a problem they would rather discuss with another adult, try not to be offended. Ask them who else could help or suggest another adult that both of you respect.

Get to know their friends

Suggest they bring friends home and spend some time chatting with them. Friends are often happy to talk to other people’s parents. It might encourage your young person to open up more with you.

Let the young person know you are there

No matter how independent they may seem, young people need to know you are there for them, even if you don’t always agree. Remember… Sometimes parents or carers need to over-rule a young person, particularly if it comes to their safety. If you have shown in the past that you respect their opinions, young people will be more likely to accept your decisions on matters needing an adult’s judgement.

Get help if you need it

Being a parent or carer of a teenager or young adult can be very confusing. If you are worried your young person has a problem with work, schools, addiction, relationships or cultural issues, seems too withdrawn, or is acting strangely, then speak to a professional. As the College Counsellor, I am available to provide support, alternatively, the following organisations may also provide information and support:

Parent line QLD – 1300 30 1300

Telephone service providing parenting support and information

NAPCAN – in the link below

Online support for all members of the community in safeguarding children and young people.

Reach Out – in the link below

Online support for parents, teachers and young people about wellbeing and mental health.

Mrs Elizabeth Austin-Campbell
Deputy Principal
Elizabeth_AustinCampbell@shalomcollege.com

Mission

Reflection Days

Year 10 Students will attend single sex sessions with Katie and David Kobler on 4 September, and Year 9 on 5 September. These sessions are explained in the information sheets that can be found in the links. These are very important days for our students and we recommend you discuss with your child what they learned on these days.

A Must for All Parents! Wednesday 4 September at 6:30pm in the Shalom Performing Arts Precinct.

This year David and Katie Kobler will present a program called “Screenagers”. This program has received rave reviews and is intended for parents and their children. It is strongly recommended that parents attend and you are welcome to bring along your teenagers. Here are some reviews.

"Screenagers is a very balanced, sympathetic and sane look at the way millions of teens are struggling with phones and games and technology in general. In part by letting the teens themselves speak about their own concerns and solutions, Screenagers is deeply affecting, too." Dave Eggers, Best-Selling Author, Publisher and Education Activist

"My 13 year old son and I watched the film Screenagers together. The impact of the film was so great, that all on his own, when the movie ended, my son announced that he would voluntarily be relinquishing his computer for a week. In the end, he was off completely for 10 days, and when he did get back on he started setting a timer and sticking to his own self-imposed time limits." Nancy B., PTA, Chair of Parent-Education MVMS PTSA

Mrs Mary Taylor
Assistant Principal – Mission
Mary_Taylor@shalomcollege.com

Curriculum

For Year 12 students and parents/guardians

All OP-eligible Year 12 students, and OP-ineligible students who have not returned a Memorandum of Understanding indicating non-participation, will sit the QCS Test on Tuesday, 3 and Wednesday, 4 September 2019.

The program for the QCS Test at Shalom College will be:

Students not sitting the test have signed an understanding indicating that they will complete work experience or VET tasks on the two days they do not attend school.

Students must have signed a Calculator Declaration indicating an understanding of calculator requirements/compliance.

Students have been told to bring to school all equipment needed for the day’s tasks, but only take in to the test the specified equipment for each particular sub-test.

There will be a QCS Test briefing in Period 4 on Monday 2 September, followed by early dismissal of students.

Any OP-eligible student who is sick on one or both of the test days must obtain a medical certificate that provides details of the condition (not simply ‘a medical condition’) and seek me as soon as possible to complete an Application for absentee exemption. If approved, the application allows an OP to be issued to the student.

Students have been emailed ‘Instructions to Students’ published by QCAA which details equipment and processes that students should know. The document may also be accessed via the following link:

For Year 8, 9 and 10 students and parents

Subject selection submissions were due on 30 August. Timetable work will begin this week, using the particular combinations of subjects submitted online.

The combinations of subjects in late submissions may not be able to be accommodated because lines are set according to choices lodged. Therefore, if any student still has to register choices online, they are advised to do so immediately because the portal will close on 4 September.

All students must submit a signed online preference slip: Year 8 and 9 students are to drop these at Student Reception; Year 10 students must attach to the SETPlan form and return to their SETPLan interviewer.

Ms Katherine Nelson
Assistant Principal – Curriculum
nelsonk@shalomcollege.com

Administration

YEAR 12 END OF TERM 3 EXAMS 9/9/19 – 13/9/19

The exam timetable for the Year 12 End of Term 3 exams is attached. Please note that Year 12 will have home study during the exam block. If you know you will be absent for your exam, you must see your classroom teacher as soon as possible with appropriate documentation (ie medical certificate or statuary declaration) to organise an alternative exam time.

Mr Brendan Maher
Assistant Principal – Administration
maherb@shalomcollege.com

Absentees

FOR ALL ABSENTEES

Preferred option is Email absentees@shalomcollege.com or Phone Absentee line 41558181

ALL student absentees should be notified to the office by 9am each day. If no notification has been received, an absentee text message will be sent out to parents to advise of the student’s absence.

Information Technology

2020 Year 10 Laptop Program

Thank you to our Year 9 parents who have responded to us quickly so we can organise the amount of laptops to order. As our 2020 Year 7 group are also moving to laptops, we have a very large order to place. All replies are now in, your decision is now locked in for the next three years.

For our BYO (Bring Your Own) Laptop students, please make sure you monitor the below URL for any software changes. As we are now forward planning for 2020, I will be working with our Learning Area Coordinators to confirm software packages for 2020.

BYO (Bring Your Own) iPads Year 7-9

Just a reminder to our parents and students about the iPad expectations. The iPad must last until the end of Year 9 at Shalom. Our curriculum in Middle School is based around iPads and certain iPad apps. Please remember that if something happens to your device, Shalom does not provide spares for BYO iPads or Laptops.

The next version of Apple’s iPad operating system (OS) will be coming out soon and it’s called iPadOS. We have advised students to not update their device when the operating system is released so the IT Unit has a chance to test and make sure the operating system is compatible with our network. To see more about iPad OS and what iPads are compatible, please check the following URL below.

Mr Matthew Mills
IT Manager
millsm@shalomcollege.com

Ocean to Plate – Year 12 Aquatic Practices

Year 12 Aquatic Practices students have just completed their unit ‘Ocean to Plate’ where they investigated how seafood in Queensland is caught or produced. As part of the unit, students went on an excursion to Grunskes by the River. Many thanks to Sian from Grunskes for showing us around the business and providing excellent information on supplying seafood – from trawler to retail store, including practical elements of catching and handling seafood, as well as the regulations involved.

As part of their assessment, students investigated how a particular type of seafood is caught / produced in Queensland, then chose a seafood dish to cook. As part of this element, students also investigated quality, hygiene and safety aspects in choosing, storing, preparing and cooking of their chosen seafood. There were varying degrees of challenges in the actual cook-up, but the end result was some delicious seafood dishes.

Summer Brooks and a red emperor at Grunskes by the River

The massive freezers at Grunskes.

Summer Brooks and Tiah Surmon with their fish, chips and salad

Shane Paulsen and Thomas McDougall with their salt and pepper calamari and chips

Sarah Smart and Max Giovannoni preparing their honeyed prawns

Mr Troy Braund
Teacher – Aquatic Practices
Troy_Braund@shalomcollege.com

Pathways

TAFE Bundaberg School Holiday Short Courses

The TAFE Bundaberg Campus will be running short courses during the upcoming holidays. These courses are designed specifically to give current Year 12 students valuable skills in assisting them to gain employment in the hospitality sector over the Christmas holiday period/part time work/fulltime work or while they attend further education next year.

Short courses available during the school holidays

Learn to make the perfect coffee and develop valuable skills that will make you industry-ready, with this fun, hands-on introductory short course for the budding barista. Under the guidance of TAFE Queensland Bundaberg campus’s expert trainers, you will learn the technical aspects of making the perfect coffee, from the extraction of coffee, to the texturing of milk, right through to latte art. You will also learn the history of coffee, how to use espresso equipment and maintain a coffee machine, and what options are available on a coffee menu, as well as how to make them. Whether you are looking to make a career in hospitality or want the skills to get a job in the industry while you study, this short course will get you job-ready and confident at creating coffee.

If you are planning to work in hospitality and would like to strengthen your resume and expand your options, TAFE Queensland is offering the Provide Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certificate at its Bundaberg campus. If you intend to seek work serving drinks in a licensed venue, such as a pub, hotel, bar, bottle shop, restaurant, nightclub, cruise ship or plane, an RSA is a mandatory requirement you’ll need to have before you can start. You will learn how to responsibly sell and serve alcohol, explore ways to assist customers to drink within appropriate limits, recognise and respect the laws regarding the sale and consumption of alcohol, and develop the skills required to refuse the sale or service of alcohol.

Extra sessions of these courses may be held on Monday, 30 September and/or Friday 4 October depending on expressions of interest.

Please note that the TAFE campus canteen is closed during the holidays, so students will need to bring their own lunch if attending these courses.

Spaces are limited. Contact Jeff Messitt at the TAFE Bundaberg campus for further information on 4150 5833 or email at Jeff.Messitt@tafe.qld.edu.au

Iglu Academic Excellence Scholarship

We are pleased to announce the inaugural Iglu Academic Excellence Scholarship (IAES) that will be awarded to ONE graduating student who will study in Brisbane in 2020. Iglu is a purpose-built student accommodation provider with two properties; Kelvin Grove and Brisbane City located in close proximity to QUT Kelvin Grove and Gardens Point as well as UQ.

The scholarship recognises great school community involvement and academic success and covers 50% of a student’s first year of accommodation at Iglu in Brisbane. This would mean the potential to save up to $7000 on university accommodation in the first year. Opportunities of the scholarship include the potential to come back to Shalom College to award the scholarship to the following year’s recipient, and to become a paid Resident Leader at Iglu.

The Scholarship flyer as well as the Application Form. If you would like to apply for the scholarship, please complete and submit the application by Friday 14 September.

If you would like to find more information about Iglu, visit their website here:

If you require any assistance with your application, please see the Pathways Office.

Construction White Card Training

Students considering undertaking work experience in the construction industry must hold a General Construction White card. This is a requirement under Queensland’s workplace health and safety legislation. As per government legislation, courses are no longer delivered online and can only be completed via a one-day workshop.

On Friday, 13 September, Blue Dog Training will be holding a one-day White Card training course at Shalom for interested students in Years 10, 11 and 12. The cost will be $69. Please see the Pathways Office to register your interest with urgency as numbers are limited and registration paperwork will need to be completed.

CQU QTAC Session

Year 12 students are invited to attend the QTAC Information Session – A Student’s Perspective on Monday, 16 September at 11.25am in Loyola. Following on from the QTAC Information Session last month, this information session is particularly valuable because students will have the opportunity to hear from a CQU student ambassador and gain information from a student’s perspective. Student Ambassadors have very recently traversed the QTAC journey and have the ability to share their tips and answer student’s questions.

The Pathways Team
Mrs Liza O’Donnell & Mrs Kathy Laing
Liza_ODonnell@shalomcollege.com
LaingK@shalomcollege.com

Quiet Achiever

Chelsea Brooks is one of our MacKillop PC4 seniors. Chelsea is certainly a quiet achiever, recently being awarded one of only four regional prizes for her artwork at the Emerge Exhibition of Bundaberg Regional High School student artwork. Chelsea is also a very talented netballer; she was selected in the Shalom QISSN team this year, contributing to their 12th placing out of 64 teams. Chelsea is currently a member of the successful Vicki Wilson Cup Shalom College Team, which has qualified for the State Finals by progressing through to the top 20 teams in the state. Chelsea is also a reliable role model within MacKillop, always well presented, friendly and considerate of those around her.

Mrs Michelle Moller
MacKillop House Coordinator
MollerM@shalomcollege.com

Instrumental Music

China Strings Tour

We would like to congratulate and recognise Year 11 student, Ella Marschke, who was recently selected to represent our school playing her double bass in a music group that will visit Bundaberg’s sister city Nanning in China on a cultural exchange. The group comprises 12 students from high schools across our region including representatives from Gin Gin SHS and Isis SHS. Organisers of this trip have spoken very highly of Ella saying that she is contributing at an excellent standard musically and that she has a great attitude to learning and being part of the team. The group will leave Australia on 15 September and will perform a selection of Australiana music for their Chinese audiences. Well done, Ella.

Ella Marschke

You Raise Me Up

This was a concert organised by Suellen Cusack-Greensill and staged in the Holy Rosary Church on Friday, 23 August with profits going to the ‘Love Your Sister’ charity. The Shalom College Vocal Ensemble were invited to join with local youth vocal group, Vocal Affinity to sing at the event. The venture was extremely successful and the ‘full house’ audience received the combined vocal groups very well. The church looked amazing with lights and smoke machine all of which added to the ambience of the performances. Thank you to all students who sang beautifully.

Terms 3 and 4

A reminder that there are many more concerts to come during the remainder of this term and the final term.

Major dates include

Please do not hesitate to contact me for any query in relation to the Instrumental Music Department.

Mrs Robyn Edgar
Instrumental Music Coordinator
edgarr@shalomcollege.com

Sustainable Garden Report

Over the last few weeks, in the garden, we’ve been focusing on setting up the compost bin, planting and keeping on top of the weeds; especially the dreaded nutgrass, the bane of all gardeners’ lives. As we are trying to always take the organic approach our main strategy has been to dig out all the roots, ensuring removal of all the bulbs or nuts from under the soil surface. If you’ve ever had to do this task you will know the process can be tedious. We will be trying a new organic approach, suggested by one of our Garden Club members, using a mixture of sugar and water to spray the nutgrass with. Some further research on this method revealed that it was indeed a possible strategy for reducing this weed. So along with the old digging method and experimentation with the sugar method, we will persist.

Nutgrass can be extremely invasive

Another project up and running is our compost bin. Garden Club has collaborated with the catering department to gather green waste for composting. This project has been made possible by some members of our Shalom community. Coffee grinds from a local café and most recently the donation of two bales of straw, another great resource that will be used for mulching and composting in the garden. Thanks to Mr Gahan for the kind donation of the bales of straw.

The composting project is a great way for the students to learn about lowering their carbon footprint. As methane is one of the greenhouse gases released when food scraps decompose in land fill, composting is an excellent way of reducing methane levels. The students are now aware of the small ways we can all contribute towards the war on waste and caring for our environment.

Maybe we can’t do everything, but we can all work towards caring for our world, one small step at a time.

Mrs Kay Bishop
Teacher Assistant
bishopk@shalomcollege.com

Gym Closed Wednesday Afternoons - Term 3

The gym will be closed to students of a Wednesday afternoon for the duration of Term 3. This is due to Oztag, All Schools Touch and Winter Sport commitments for coaches and supervisors. We do encourage students wishing to be active of a Wednesday afternoon to participate in the myriad of sports being offered at Shalom College. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Mrs Kim O’Shea-Hard
Assistant Principal Administration – Staff
hardk@shalomcollege.com

Surf Life Saving Queensland Awards of Excellence

Several current and former Shalom students were Wide Bay Capricorn Branch Nominees for SLSQ Awards of Excellence on Saturday evening, at the Greek Club in Brisbane; they were against other nominees from 4 other branches within Queensland.

Owen Nash of Moore Park SLSC for Breaka U14 Surf Lifesaver of the year
Katie Gray of Moore Park SLSC for U21 Young Surf Lifesaver of the year
Sandi Davis of Moore Park SLSC Award for services to Junior Activities
Ky Woods of Bundaberg SLSC for Youth Athlete of the year
Liam Heads of Bundaberg SLSC for Lifeguard of the year
Sandi Davis Moore Park SLSC for Volunteer of the year

Katie Gray and Owen Nash

Mr John Davis
Laboratory Assistant
davisj@shalomcollege.com

Winter Sport

Basketball

Year 7/8 Boys

Bundaberg SHS 32 defeated Shalom 20

A rough day at the office for the boys on Wednesday. In our first loss for the season, nothing seemed to fall Shalom’s way – the ball just did not want to go in the basket, while it seemed Bundaberg SHS couldn’t miss! A gritty but fair game. Full credit to Bundy High for their win. The boys will no doubt bounce back next week.

Mr Troy Braund
Coach

Football

Year 7/8

Boys (Team 1) Shalom 1 VS Shalom 2, 2-3, Shalom 1 LOSS
Boys (Team 2) Shalom 2 VS Shalom 1, 2-3, Shalom 2 WIN
Girls - BYE

Year 9/10

Boys - Shalom VS Bundaberg SHS, 4-1, Shalom WIN

Year 11/12

Boys - Shalom VS Kepnock SHS, 2-1 , Shalom WIN
Girls - BYE

Netball

Open Red

Shalom Open Red Netball team played against KSHS on Wednesday afternoon. The game started close with 1 goal difference in the first quarter but with an amazing shooting effort by Sarah Nash in the second quarter, we began to extend our lead to 6 goals at half time. From there we continued to excel eventually winning the game 21-13.

Mrs Julia Fox
Coach

Uniform Shop

Appointments are now open for Year 9 girls to be fitted for their Senior Formal Uniform, please book online via the link below.

A limited supply of Shalom Umbrellas are available for purchase at $35 each.

Boys belts are now available in all sizes at $20 each.

Payment options include: - Cash, Eftpos or Credit Card via phone.

Students will be emailed when their uniform is available for collection.

All enquiries please call Leanne on 41 558 121 at the Uniform Shop.

Mrs Leanne Barker
Uniform Shop Manager
barkerl@shalomcollege.com

Date Claimers

Term Dates for 2019

Breakfast

Breakfast is now available in the tuckshop for purchase each morning 8:00am – 8:30am.

Items include

Bacon & Egg Muffins - $3.50
Ham & Cheese Croissant - $3.50

Porridge & Cereal - $3 (self-service option with milk and bowl & cutlery are supplied)
Fresh Fruit - $1 (seasonal fruits such as; Bananas, Apples, Mandarins etc.)

Plus, the already available items of Yoghurt Pots, Up n Go drinks & Flavoured Milk

Students who train before school need to consider utilising the breakfast menu to replenish energy lost during their training sessions, however must be dressed appropriately before entering the tuckshop and must not be late for class.

Tuckshop Roster

Shalom Sunday Markets

New Stallholders Welcome – Please contact Peter Barone 0438 446 269

Markets Tuckshop Roster

We are in need of more volunteers for the Markets Tuckshop, if you are available to help out please contact Leanne via email – barkerl@shalomcollege.com

Markets BBQ Roster

Community Notice Board

Breast Screen Queensland

The State Government is funding free access to Triple P, which is the world’s most evidence-based parenting program and has helped more than four million children and their parents around the world develop closer, more positive relationships.

Please click on this link, which will take you to the website where you can access information relevant to your situation.

This link will remain in our Newsletter with Triple P sending us regular updates and helpful tips.