Aldridge State High School - Aldridge Newsletter - Edition 14

Aldridge Newsletter - Edition 14 - 27 August 2008

From the Principal

Education Queensland has asked that all Parent Groups (eg. P&C) adopt a new Model Constitution. This will be done at out next P&C meeting and all parents, community members and young people over 18 may be involved. This meeting will be held on Tuesday, 09 September at 7.00 pm in the Aldridge Admin block.

Our school, like others in Australia, has been looking at how we will involve ourselves in the Federal Digital Education Revolution.

We have sent staff members to various best practice sites in the state and developed a plan which will:

Ø Develop a series of lighthouse projects in different subject areas around the school - projects will target different year levels, different classes and different types of student needs.

Ø Our staff will form teams to provide exciting computer based classes for students.

Ø We will learn from the successes and issues with these projects.

Ø As time progresses we will try to expand these projects to further classes in the school.

Our next P & C meeting will be an opportunity to hear more and have your say.

I will be taking a short period of leave until the start of Term 4 and during this time:

Ø Mr George McCallan will act as Principal.

Ø Mr Jackson Dodd will act as one Deputy; and

Ø Mr Mark Smith will act as the other Deputy.

All of these highly skilled folk are well known to you and our students, and have worked in these acting roles previously. I look forward to rejoining you at the start of term 4.

ED MANLEY

Principal

Motivating Children to Learn

Children can achieve just about anything if they are motivated enough, yet they will learn very little if motivation is missing.

Some children are internally motivated. They are hard-wired to try their best. The motivation and drive to succeed is high and comes from within. Their self-esteem is dependent on being successful so if they know they have a reasonable chance to achieve they will generally persevere at most things they put their hands to. It is in their nature to try their best.

Parents and teachers need to ensure that activities for self-motivated children are structured and delivered in ways that will help these self-motivated souls experience success. A combination of good teaching strategies, parental recognition and plenty of encouragement generally works wonders with these children.

Many children are not so highly self-motivated and need more than good teaching to get them learning, particularly if they don’t achieve success initially or some extra hard work is needed. Feelings of success alone are not enough. A range of strategies is needed to motivate them to learn or extend themselves.

These include:

1. Establishing short-term goals with children. “You need to learn this song on the guitar so you can play it in the concert in two week’s time.’

2. Making learning enjoyable with fun activities and games. The interactive nature of computers can hold the interest of many hard-to- motivate students.

3. Competition. Many boys just need a little competition to get them working. Getting a higher or even better score can be a prime motivator for some.

4. Activities of high interest or immediate relevance to children’s lives. Many children are motivated to learn when they know that the activity is real and relevant to their lives.

5. The use of tangible rewards. There is a place for offering a small reward as an inducement to get a child to work a little harder BUT rewards need to be given in very small doses otherwise you will need deep pockets.

6. Parental recognition. A pat on the head from a mum or dad can be a huge motivator for some children who will really strive for parental approval.

How can you motivate your child to learn? Sometimes it is just one factor but usually it takes a combination of many to motivate children to really try.

Research suggests that purpose and relevance are essential for many kids to learn. The great challenge for many parents and teachers is to keep children interested in learning until its relevance becomes apparent.

What’s Your Child Like?

Is your child self-motivated?

DOES HE/SHE:

1. Usually works just hard enough to pass a subject and keep parents and teachers off their back?

Yes—0 No—2

2. Usually keep trying when they meet with difficulties rather than give in?

Yes—2 No—0

3. Ask questions in class and seek help if they are struggling or having difficulties?

Yes—2 No—0

4. Work hard even in boring subjects, regardless of whether they like the teacher or not?

Yes—2 No—0

5. Believe that hard work is linked with success?

Yes—2 No—0

Try This . . .

Putting It Into Practice

To help motivate children extend themselves as learners try the following four strategies:

1. Challenge children to set Personal Bests in a whole range of activities. “What’s the most number of problems you got correct in a test? Can you beat that this week?”

2. Help children see the link between learning activities and their areas of interest. For instance, reading non- fiction about their area of interest such as sport can help improve sporting skills.

3. Keep a variety of high interest reading materials available at home. Check the materials that children pick up and read. That will provide you with an indication of the areas of interest that motivate them.

4. Get some game-based learning materials relevant to children’s age and interest levels. Make sure you get guidance from your child’s teacher about suitability and interest level.

Quote

‘Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars.’

Les Brown

Changes to Policy Regarding Student’s Absence

For students to be marked absent with approval we now require a ‘REASONABLE EXCUSE’.

‘Reasonable Excuse’ may include:

Ø Family holidays,

Ø Illness,

Ø Representative Sport (as recognized by the school).

The Principal may deem other excuses as unreasonable and as such the absence would be unauthorized.

Please note that it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that students attend school everyday and that they arrive on time (no later than 8.45 am).

JACKSON DODD

Acting Deputy Principal

Guidance News

University of Queensland Scholarships

The University of Queensland has launched a new merit-based scholarships package for students starting University in 2009. There will be two types of Academic Scholarships awarded—100 x UQ Excellence Scholarshipsvalued at $6000 per year for the normal duration of the program and 175 x UQ Merit Scholarships valued at $6000 for the recipients first year of study.

Application forms are available now at www.uq.au/scholarships with a closing date of 31 October 2008.

Equity Scholarshipsfor those students demonstrating financial hardship will be available online for the first time through the QTAC website (www.qtac.edu.au) from August 2008.

A list of all available scholarships and additional information can be found at www.uq.edu.au/scholarships.

QUT Scholarships

QUT will now be offering 200 Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships for OP1 and OP2 students, each valued between $6000 and $24000 in total across each of QUT’s undergraduate programs. More information is available at scholarships.qut.com. Applications close 28 November 2008.

Equity Scholarships

If you are going to study at one of the following institutions, your equity scholarship application should be made online on the QTAC website:

Central Queensland University, Griffith University, James Cook University, Queensland University of Technology, University of Queensland, University of Southern Queensland and the University of the Sunshine Coast.

James Cook University Accommodation

Students are advised to apply for on campus accommodation online via the Accommodation Service—website: www.jcu.edu.au/accommodation. Students can apply after 01 September 2008, but students are advised to apply early after 01 September to give themselves the best chance of being made an offer.

2009 Brisbane Tertiary Student Accommodation

Raymont Lodge Residential College provides fully furnished accommodation for students undertaking tertiary student in Brisbane. The College is located 4km from the heart of Brisbane and in close proximity to the University of Queensland and the Queensland University of Technology. All public transport is within easy access to the College.

Raymont Lodge provides modern and comfortable single room accommodation for up to 120 students. All meals are provided as well as a number of other services that include: internet access, individual telephones, common room and swimming pool.

Additional information is available on the net at www.raymont.com.au or by contacting (07) 3377 9903 and requesting an information kit. Raymont Lodge is a ministry of the Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod.

STAVROS AMARANDOS

Guidance Officer

QAMT Year 8 Maths Competition

On Tuesday, 05 August, six Year 8 students competed in the Queensland Association of Maths Teachers district maths competition contested by all High Schools in Maryborough and Hervey Bay.

We would like to congratulate our team members:

Boys Team

Kyle McGrath, Matthew Brain, Brodie Smith.

We would especially like to congratulate our Girls team who came third in the competition and now compete in the Wide Bay finals in Bundaberg.

Girls Team

Rylee Hough, Jessica Bates, Becky Wical.

Good luck girls!!

STEVE WHITAKER

Head of Mathematics

Sports News

AFL

The Aldridge Rams had a solid first up win against St Mary’s. The Rams led all game after they jumped away to a three goal lead in the first quarter. They resisted a strong challenge form St Mary’s in the third and finished strongly in the last.

The final scores were:

Aldridge Rams 9-6-60 defeated St Marys 4-5-29.

Best Players

Corey Weis, Chris Schultz, Damian Kauwhata, Ben O’Brien, Curtis McFarlane.

Goal Kickers

Brad Davies (3), Tom Ferguson (3), Year 9 student Alex Barry (2), Dalton Balke (1).

In the second game last Wednesday, the Rams overcame a slow start to defeat Xavier College.

Final scores were:

Aldridge Rams 10-9-69 defeated Xavier College 7-6-48.

Best Players

Anthony Mollee, Chris Schultz, Tom Einam, Brodie Walters, Curtis McFarlane.

Goalkickers

Dalton Balke (3), Curtis McFarlane (2), Brad Davies (2), Ben O’Brien, Dylan Hodges, Justin Crowley.

The Rams won their third game against Urangan State High School on a forfeit.

PETER DUCK

Coach

Dates For Your Diary

More important dates for your dairy.

ØMonday, 08 September—Year 8 into Year 9 Subject Selection evening in Hall at 7.00 pm.

Ø Monday, 08 September—Year 9 into Year 10 Subject Selection evening in Hall at 7.00 pm.

Ø Tuesday, 09 September to Thursday, 11 September—Year 11 and 12 Exams in Hall.

Ø Monday, 15 September to Friday, 19 September—Year 11 Industry Placement (General & ECS).

Ø Thursday, 18 September and Friday, 19 September— Performing Arts Dress Rehearsal.

Ø Thursday, 16 October—Friday, 17 October—Performing Arts Production.

Community Notices

v Maryborough Junior Touch Football sign-on Friday, 12 September and Friday 19 September at Sydney Street Torch football Fields from 5.30 pm—6.30 pm. Cost for season is $55.00 per player.

v Athletics sign-on Sunday, 31 August from 1.00 pm—4.00 pm at Jock Anderson Oval, Gympie Road, Tinana. For more information phone Kevin on 4129 7158 or Diane on 4122 2875.

v Maryborough Futsal Club (5-a-side football). Summer sign-on at Maryborough Showgrounds, Monday, 15 September, Monday, 06 October and Monday, 13 October from 4.30 pm—7.00 pm. For more information contact Lyn on 0407 575 673 or Jenny on 0428 22 670.