GSHS Newsletter Term 4 Week 10 2020
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85 Sheppards Street Email: [email protected] Gordonvale QLD 4865 Phone: 4043 3222 Subscribe: https://gordonvaleshs.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe Week 9 Term 4 2020 We learnt the importance of connectedness and the value of education. I am not referring to the connectedness we have through a mobile phone screen and social media but the connectedness we have through interacting face-to face in real Principal's News conversations with each other. When it was announced that students would not attend school for five weeks, initially students cheered; but the novelty soon 2020 Wrap Up wore off. After not too long, students were begging to come Normally at this time I would talk about how wonderful this year back to school. Not only because they missed their friends but was and all of the memorable moments that we had. But, the they also realised just how important a teacher is in developing truth is, 2020 will be remembered for one thing, and that is their knowledge and understanding of the world around us, the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. This has been extremely motivating them to do their best and looking out for their challenging for our community, school and individuals. I could wellbeing. talk about the negatives but, instead, I am going to focus not 2020 has been an interesting year to start at a new school as on what we lost this year but on what we learnt. a Principal but, I would not change a thing. I could not be more We learnt to be resilient and make the best of what we had, proud of our community, school staff and students. even if we didn’t like it at the time. Many times this year, I would like to take this opportunity to wish our staff, students, decisions that we normally make each and every day were parents/carers and community a Merry Christmas and Happy taken completely out of our hands and the goalposts constantly New Year. Please take the time to celebrate with your loved moved. It was disappointing and frustrating for everyone. Each ones and stay safe. and every time this happened, we had to make a decision about how we, as a community, school and individuals were Day 8 Enrolment Collection going to react. We could have thrown in the towel and given up. If your child/ren is not returning to school prior to Friday 5th We could have stomped up and down and thrown a tantrum. February, please contact the school to immediately complete a Instead, we acknowledged that the situation was not what we ‘Day 8 Student Absence Form’. It is extremely important that had hoped for, picked ourselves up, dusted ourselves off and this form is completed to ensure your child/ren is counted in our asked ourselves … How can we make the best of what we enrolment numbers for staffing allocations. have? We did just that; made the best of each and every opportunity that we had. We learnt to be innovative and that learning is a lifelong 2021 Day One Procedures process. This year, for the first time in history, education was th delivered remotely. As a school, we tried many things to ensure Next year school commence on Wednesday 27 January. All students were receiving the best education we could possibly year levels are expected to return to school on this day. deliver under the circumstances. We learnt new things. We Year 7 students are required to meet at the school hall. learnt how to do things differently. Some of them worked and some of them did not work. Some things were easy and some Years 8 to 12 students are required to attend House Groups. things were hard. The point is we kept learning and we kept House Group teachers, rolls and rooms will be published on the innovating. noticeboard under B Block. Student timetables will be distributed in House Group. 1 Wednesday 3rd March until Friday 5th March - Year 7 Camp to 2021 OFFICE HOURS Quinola Lakes th The school office is open Monday to Friday from 8:00am to Tuesday 16 March - Year 7 Immunisation (Dose 1) and 2020 4:00pm. Catch-Ups At the start of next year, office hours will vary due to staff training requirements. 2021 Student Leaders Please see below for opening hours: I would like to congratulate all students who were successful • Monday 18th January – 8:00am to 4:00pm in being elected to student leadership positions in 2020. I look forward to working with them all in 2021 to continue to promote th • Tuesday 19 January – Closed positive school culture and provide opportunities for student • Wednesday 20th January – 8:00am to 4:00pm voice. The Student Leadership Policy can be found in full on our school website here https://gordonvalehigh.eq.edu.au/ st • Thursday 21 January – 8:00am to 2:30pm our-school/rules-and-policies. nd • Friday 22 January – 12:45pm to 2:15pm https://gordonvaleshs.schoolzineplus.com/_file/media/727/ • Monday 25th January – Closed 2021_student_leaders_without_media_clearance.pdf 2021 Electronic Devices Policy 2021 Enrolment Interviews This year, we reviewed the Electronic Devices Policy with staff, students and the P&C. The policy can be found in full on The school will be open for enrolment interviews by our school website here https://gordonvalehigh.eq.edu.au/ appointment only at the following times: our-school/rules-and-policies. In preparation for next year, I • Monday 18th January from 1:00pm to 3:30pm would like to highlight some key information for student and parents/carers. • Wednesday 20th January from 8:00am to 2:00pm Electronic devices not approved by the school are: • Thursday 21st January from 4:30pm to 5:00pm • Mobile phones • Friday 22nd January from 11:00am to 1:30pm • Smart watchs • Cameras 2021 Uniform Shop • IPods The P&C are the sole provider of the Gordonvale State High • Bluetooth devices School uniform. • Laptops/IPads/Tablets that do not meet the BYOD The uniform shop is located at the school’s tuck shop. requirement Opening hours for the start of next year are as follows: Devices that are not approved by the school are to be turned off and placed out of sight between the hours of 8:35am (first th th • Monday 11 to Friday 15 January bell of the day) and 2:50pm (last bell of the day) and during all ◦ 7:00am to 12:00pm school events. ◦ 3:00pm to 6:00pm Where a personal electronic device not approved by the school is found to have been used, the following consequences may • Monday 18th to Friday 22nd January apply: ◦ 7:00am to 3:00pm • Teacher temporarily removes student property; • Teacher records the misbehaviour in One School and 2021 Term One Important Dates refers it to the appropriate member of the School Leadership Team; Tuesday 26th January - Australia Day Public Holiday • School Leadership Team issues an appropriate Wednesday 27th January - First day of school for all students consequence in accordance with the school’s Student Code of Conduct. Wednesday 3rd February - Recognition Parade for 2020 Year 12 Award Recipients and to acknowledge Future Pathways ◦ 1st offence – phone call home. nd Thursday 4th February - School Photos (Order forms/ ◦ 2 offence – detention. information will be sent home in the new year) ◦ 3rd offence – extended withdrawal. Thursday 11th February - Full School Meet & Greet • 4th offence onwards – suspension. Tuesday 23rd February - GSHS Swimming Carnival • Consequences reset every term. 2 • School Leadership Team contacts parent/carer to The P&C have generously agreed to provide every student with inform them of the misbehaviour and consequence. a school hat/cap. They will continue to provide this as new students enrol. Failure to hand in an electronic device when asked will be treated as failure to follow instructions of staff and an extended On the first day of school next year, a note will be sent home withdrawal or suspension will be issued as a consequence with students for parents/cares to select which hat they would according to the school’s Student Code of Conduct. like for their child/ren. Parents/carers will have a choice between a plain black broad brimmed hat or the black If parents/carers need to convey a simple message to their Gordonvale Gladiators cap. child, a text message/voicemail can be sent. To collect a hat, students need to return the note signed by a Students are permitted to have their personal electronic device parent/carer to the tuckshop. on and check for messages before 8:35am and after 2:50pm. For the purposes of this policy, a simple message includes but is not limited to: 2021 Recognition Parade • 'Catch the bus home'. Under the new senior system and the requirement of external • 'Your brother/sister has gone home sick'. exams, we were unable to finalise Year 12 academic awards for General subjects and award the School Dux for 2020. If parents/carers need to convey an urgent message to their child, they need to contact the school office. On Wednesday 3rd February we will welcome back some of our 2020 Year 12 students to celebrate their academic If students need to convey a message to their parent/carer, achievements and future pathways in a Recognition Parade. they need to utilise the school phone in the office. Welcome 2021 Dress Code I would like to welcome the following staff to Gordonvale State This year, we reviewed the Student Dress Code with staff, High School. students and the P&C. The policy can be found in full on our school website here https://gordonvalehigh.eq.edu.au/ Renee Krause – Deputy Principal our-school/rules-and-policies.