19 September 2019

Newsletter Articles

Deputy Principal’s Report

As the term draws to an end it is important we don’t allow our attendance slip, especially those in their final year. While reports have been written, providing you with your child’s progress to date, many assessments are ongoing and time missed now may affect future achievement.

There are, however, still many opportunities for students to relax at school in the final weeks. The lunchtime soccer competition, run by the Student Leaders, is nearing the finals and is once again hotly contested by staff and students alike. The term will also conclude with our annual Fun Run to Bowman Park, giving everybody the opportunity to celebrate the hard work achieved and the break they’ve earnt.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Nicola Wright on her appointment to the school, in the ongoing Agriculture teaching position. She comes from a farming background on the Eyre Peninsula and will be a valuable addition to our school and community.

Finally I would like to wish our students heading to Cambodia, on their service trip with Projects Abroad, the best of luck. Ellen, Shakira, Ella and Jessie leave on Saturday and will spend the next two weeks working with a school doing renovations and teaching the students some basic English. We look forward to hearing about the amazing experience when you return.

Daniel Seidel
Deputy Principal

Spotlight On: Stage 2 Material Products

Adam Jackson designed and built this stunning outdoor table. The top is made from redgum slabs joined with mitre joints so that the live edge can feature on all four sides. A jarrah and ash striped inlay weaves around the top framing the hexagonal patterned lazy susan. The acute angled steel frame takes no focus away from the top, while staying clear of knees. This is an amazing piece of design and engineering.

Well done Adam.

Jake Couzner designed and built this refined hall cabinet. Constructed from oak veneer with jarrah façade, this design will fit in to any house. Mortise and tenon joinery is hidden in all of the joinery for the jarrah making a strong and long-lasting design. The contrasting top of ash and jarrah is finished beautifully, you won’t be able to walk past this piece without running your hand along it.

Well done Jake.

The Royal Show Team Success

This year the school entered a full show team of goats, merino wethers and led steers at the Royal Adelaide Show.

Steers were donated by Andrew Greig from Crystal Brook, Ben and Bronwyn Mumford from Redhill, Anama Red Angus Clare and HB Rural Warnertown. Deb Scammell from Talking Livestock offered her help to devise a feed ration for the goats, sheep and steers.

Barley, lupins and oaten hay were purchased to feed the livestock and Terry mixed the feeds in the NH353 mixer. All animals were fed on an ad lib system.

The school was lucky enough to be awarded a Fourth place in the export class with Mumford’s Tank, an angus from the Mumford family. He weighed in at the show at 710kg’s, with an EMA of 107 and fat scans of 14/9. Unfortunately, none of the other steers placed in the on-hoof section.

Teneal Malycha competed in the school’s handler competition and was successful in the experienced class, receiving 4th place for her efforts.

This year the carcase awards presentation night was held on the Wednesday evening and we were able to attend.

Mumford’s Tank received multiple accolades receiving:

• 1st Export School Steer Carcass
• Reserve Champion Export Carcass
• 2nd Best Angus School Steer on Hoof
• 1st Best Angus Carcass
• 1st Highest scoring Angus Carcass Overall

This was on top of his win at the Crystal Brook Show, where he received Champion Show Steer.

Kim Zohs
Agriculture Teacher

Goat Team

On September 3, a group of Year 9 and 10 students (along with some extras from Jamestown Community School) boarded a bus bound for the Adelaide Showgrounds. Terry followed with the ute, loaded with sheep, goats and a whole array of buckets, bags and boxes. The Year 9 students created a haven for our five Boer goats.

Wednesday began at 5.30am as the goat team needed to wash and prepare the goats for weighing and scanning. Nigel weighed in at an impressive 67.5kg, the heaviest there by 6kg!

After spot washing all five goats, we dressed them in their Mexican-inspired coats ready for the Grand Parade. The route to the Main Arena took us through the crowds and 197 goats (along with students, teachers and banners) made quite an impression! We walked confidently around half the Main Oval, with horses on the other half and a broad range of cattle around the outer edge.

Thursday was the day our training in lessons and lunchtimes would be tested. We spot cleaned the goats, tidied up the pen area and spent time grooming them. Some students found themselves tested on their goat care knowledge as judges went around asking questions and assessing our area for cleanliness. George and Bella were proud of their ability to carry a conversation with a judge!

Judging began with changing into our blue checked shirts, ties and donning the white coats. The leather halters were put on the goats and we secured our spot close to the judging ring. As the goats were judged in weight classes, David Mumford was our first cab off the rank in the 4th class with Walt. Will Crawford was judged in the 9th class with Curry, while our three remaining students were all judged in the 10th class. Bella Zwar led Rueloff, Ben Flowers led Billy and George Klemm led Sir Nigel Wellington III.

We claimed five ribbons in total!

• George Klemm won a first in his class
• Will Crawford won a second in his class AND Heavyweight Reserve Champion
• David Mumford won a second in his class AND equal 5th place in the Handlers Class

Some comments from students

“The best thing was the fact that there was a coffee van right near the goat shed.” George

“I’m proud of our training and our goats were better behaved than many others.” David

“I’m proud of the way I led Curry and winning two ribbons was great.” Will

“Being told that our goats were well behaved, and their dress ups looked great was nice to hear.” Ben

Rachel Wells
Agriculture Teacher

Sheep Team

On Tuesday September 6, six Year 10 students travelled to the Adelaide Show representing Gladstone High School showing the two merino teams. One team from Ashby’s and the other team from Ned Kelly. When we arrived at the show the sheep were unloaded, weighed and then scanned. They were then taken to their pens with our Gladstone High School sign on display.

Wednesday morning was an early start, we arrived at the show grounds at 7.15am. We had 45 minutes to quickly trim the sheep’s fleece with hand shears and be lined up by 8.00am ready for judging to commence. The sheep were judged on their skins and stature. The handlers were judged on how they handled their animal and their professionalism. One team ended in the top 15. The six team members were questioned on their knowledge of the sheep and how they prepared them for the show. The sheep were shorn, and their fleeces were weighed, judged and valued. Later that day the sheep were lined up once again for the presentations, out of 69 teams and 201 sheep we received 8th place for the three most valued fleeces.

Tanisha Wakefield
Sheep Team Member

SAASTA Camp

The Stage 1 SAASTA class were fortunate enough to travel to the Adnyamathanha Land, Nantawarrina. Nantawarrina was the first Australian Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) worldwide. The IPA is like other Australian reserves or national parks but is owned and controlled by the local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community.

Students were given the opportunity to explore the land and share their cultural heritage and knowledge with the local elders. Some students were given the opportunity to share specific dreaming stories of the Adnyamathanha land, on which we were camping. Students were also treated to a once in a lifetime experience, swimming in the Nantawarrina Springs.

Overall, the SAASTA students from Gladstone High School found the experience both educational and exciting. Students were faced with obstacles such as having no phone service and adapting to the camping environment.

Tyler Norton
SAASTA Teacher

Year 12 Child Studies

The Child Studies class has been a hive of activity in 2019 with students being exposed to new topics, concepts, skills and food throughout the year. Mid Term 3 the R/1’s from Laura Primary School visited Gladstone High where the Stage 2 students focused on educating children about Eating Healthy. They planned and organised a number of practical based activities to educate children about healthy lunch box options, paddock to plate and eating a rainbow of foods. The children from Laura Primary School had the opportunity to visit each station similar to the 'Yellow Brick Road" at the Royal Adelaide Show. Students were able to participate in a variety of activities including planting some seeds and cooking a number of yummy tasty treats. The event was a great educational opportunity. The number of planning hours that went into organising this event paid off.

Tamisha Roberts
Child Studies Teacher

Year 12 Update

The end of the school year is fast approaching for the Year 12’s, who are working hard to complete their final assignments and prepare for exams. Classes will officially finish on Thursday of Week 2 in Term 4 and there will be a farewell breakfast at the school for students and staff on the Friday. The first exam (Biology) will be on Monday the 4th of November and these will continue right up until Tuesday the 19th of November. The Gladstone High School Presentation Night will be held on Monday, the 9th of December, where the ‘Class of 2019’ will be presented. More information to follow.

Jacqui Edge
Year 12 Coordinator

MNSEC Showcase

The MNSEC Showcase was on Thursday, September 12, at Orrooroo. A group of GHS students came together to perform Wonderwall by Oasis. The group consisted of Isaac Willsmore, Samantha Brice, Latesha Lloyd-Radcliff and Zephie Neil. The group worked out the lyrics and chords from websites and YouTube and rehearsed for approximately 3 weeks at lunchtimes.

Stephen Bosch

Stage 1 & 2 Biology

Stage 1 and 2 Biology Students recently performed an experiment to test the effect of caffeine on the heartbeat of Daphnia. Daphnia are very small arthropods that can only just be seen with the naked eye. Under the microscope their bodies are translucent and their hearts which are located just behind their heads can be seen. Students counted the heartbeats when they were given various solutions of energy drinks. Students found that the rate of heart beats increased dramatically when the Daphnia were given caffeine.

Stephen Bosch
Biology Teacher

R U OK? Day

On 12 September, students at Gladstone High School commemorated R U OK? Day. During lunch students spent time writing messages of support to each other on the foot path and enjoyed an ice cream in the sunshine.

Here are some tips on how you might go about asking someone R U OK?

1. Ask: consider the where, when and how, and be prepared for the response
2. Listen without Judgement: be patient and encourage to explain
3. Encourage Action: be pro-active and supportive
4. Check in again in a couple of days or weeks

Take part in and follow the four steps so you can have a conversation that could change a life. Click on the link and watch a 1 minute clip on ‘How to be a good mate’.

Student Achievement

Congratulations to all the staff and students who played in Football, Netball and Soccer Grand Finals last week. Special mention to:

Southern Flinders Junior Colts Football Premiers

Congratulations to Ronald Nash for receiving Best on Ground.

Southern Flinders B Grade Football Premiers

Crystal Brook H Grade Netball Premiers

Crystal Brook G Grade Netball Premiers

Crystal Brook E Grade Netball Premiers

Crystal Brook B Grade Netball Premiers

Chelsea Chapman-McInerney, who was awarded Best on Court.

Rangers Soccer Senior High School Division Premiers

Want to know how to help your teenager with career ideas?

Parents As Career Transition Support (PACTS) are running workshops for parents. PACTS is a 2 hour workshop that provides an interactive, informal way to learn about career transition in a setting that has been developed for parents, with parents.

If you wish to be part of a public workshop, registrations can be made via Eventbrite. These will be advertised and can be found by searching for Career and Transition Workshop for Parents on the Eventbrite app.

Public workshops (max 20 participants) will be priced at $50 pp plus booking fee.

Enquiries can be made to chris@careerdesignssa.com.au or 0439 276 383

GHS Canteen Roster Weeks

Please arrive on time to help with preparation from 10.30am. If you are able to volunteer in any of the available spaces please contact the Front Office.

Community News

Gladstone Tennis Club

2019/2020 Gladstone Tennis Club Junior & Seniors Season is just around the corner.

Trainings will be starting on Thursday 19th September. Everyone is welcome, new and old players. Come down and join us for the first training. Register yourself or kids and enjoy a BBQ tea.

4pm D Grade
5pm C Grade
6pm A Grade

Please note HOTSHOTS does not start until 17th October Thursday Night at 4pm.

Gladstone Ramblers

The Annual General Meeting for Gladstone Ramblers Cricket Club will be held on Monday, September 23, commencing at 7.30pm. The meeting will be held at the Gladstone Regional Sporting Complex. All welcome. Apologies and potential agenda items please contact Nathan May 0439 877 445.