| Aldridge Newsletter - Edition 05 - 26 March 2008 |
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From the Principal
I have in the past placed articles about Parenting by Michael Grose in our newsletter. Resilience is a key factor in success at school and life. Our ability to manage situations, grow and continue. Our newsletter will contain an extended series of articles from Michael Grose this year. Here is one to get your interest going!
ED MANLEY
Principal
Managing Emotions
Grr! I’m Angry!
Managing anger is the biggest emotional issue that most children face. Children who can learn to manage their anger have a head start on handling fears and other emotions.
Currently, our community is undecided about how to handle anger. In fact, anger is discouraged as we see no place for it in homes, schools or community. ‘Civilised people don’t get angry seems to be the accepted wisdom so we tend to encourage children to bottle up anger rather than let it out.
There are four ways anger is dealt with and only the fourth one in this list should be considered healthy: These are:
1. Muzzle It—Bury anger deep-down and it will go away is the attitude! This doesn’t work for many children as anger just simmers and doesn’t dissipate.
2. Muscle It—Some children lash out physically so that a friend, sibling or parent literally feels their anger.
3. Mouth It—Verbal abuse is usually hurtful and backfires on the angry person.
4. Manage It—Anger can be expressed in way that are not hurtful to anyone including themselves.
The following five steps can form the basis of an anger management program for children and teenagers:
1. Recognise It—The first step is to help children recognize when they get angry. What are the physical signs? What are they thinking? We are all different but tension, heavy breathing and clenched teeth are common reactions.
2. Name It—Develop a vocabulary with your child around anger. ‘Mad as a snake’, ‘about to lose it’, ‘short fuse’, are some possibilities. Children can probably generate more! Giving the emotion a name is the first step to recognizing anger.
3. Choose It—Help children recognize that they have a choice to stay in control or lose control when they get angry.
4. Say it—Encouraging children to express how they feel verbally is healthy. Yelling at someone when they are angry is not. The use of ‘I’ statements is one way of letting others know how they feel. ‘I feel really mad when you say nasty things to me. I feel like …’ Is one way of being heard and letting the anger out.
5. Let it (out) - Help children find a legitimate physical outlet for their anger. They may go for a run, belt a pillow or play a physical game to let their frustration out. They may even pour their anger into a letter, some work or a productive activity.
The maxim for managing anger in healthy ways should be: ‘There is nothing so bad that we can’t talk about it. However, there are behaviours that we don’t engage in when we are angry.’
What is your child like?
How well does your child manage anger?
Does He/She:
1. Throw a tantrum or act aggressively when things don’t go his/her way? Yes 0 No 2
2. Generally speak to you or someone else when he/she is angry? Yes 2 No 0
3. Bottle things up for long periods and then just explode verbally or physically? Yes 0 No 2
4. Appear to be thick-skinned and not let too many things worry him/her? Yes 2 No 0
5. Generally stand back when he is angry and calm down before acting or speaking? Yes 2 No 0
SCORE
10—Anger well managed. Maybe very little upsets this child.
6-8—On the road to good management. It is difficult to get on top of.
0-4—Needs some work. Start with recognizing the triggers to angers.
TRY THIS . . .
Putting it into Practice
To help children handle their emotions:
1. Build a socially-appropriate vocabulary for their emotions based on their age and stage of development.
2. Help children recognize when they are angry. Physical signs differ for all children but generally muscles tense, teeth clench and fists tighten.
3. Teach kids how to calm down. Deep breathing is one way of relaxing. Encourage them to think of the colour RED when they get mad. Maybe give them a red button, which they are to take out of their pocket when they feel angry. When they have calmed down they can put it back in their pocket and figure out what they may do next.
4. Tell children some of the ways you manage anger and the triggers you use to recognize that you are angry.
ACTION PLAN
First Step . . .
Next Step . . .
QUOTE
‘Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them so much.’
Oscar Wilde
For more ideas about helping children manage emotions visit www.parentingideas.com.au
2008 Funding for School Camps for Children Being Raised by Their Grandparents
Please be advised that the Time for Grandparents Program operated by Seniors Enquiry Line and funded by the Department of Communities will continue to fund school camps during 2008 for Queensland children who are being raised by eligible parents. Grandparents must register with Seniors Enquiry Line prior to camp attendance to ascertain their eligibility for funding.
Grandparents must be the primary carers of their grandchildren and:
Ø Not be receiving the fostering/ kinship allowance.
Ø Not be approved relative or kinship carers with the Department of Child Safety.
If Grandparents are uncertain about their eligibility, you can contact the Seniors Enquiry Line on 1300 135 500.
STAVROS AMARANDOS
Guidance Officer
Pay Your School Fees by Centrelink Deduction
We have negotiated with Centrelink an arrangement to assist families with the payment of their school fees. Centrelink, with your permission, deduct a fortnightly amount from your payment, and forward it to the school. When the amount has been paid in full, the deduction will automatically cease. If you would like more information on this option or would like to sign up, please contact the Business Services Manager (Cynthia Read) on 4120 8444.
Resource Scheme
Invoices have been issued for all students for the 2008 Resource Scheme. The invoices included a form for your completion to indicate whether you wish to participate in the scheme or wish to purchase the textbooks yourself. The form also allows for carers to indicate if they wish to pay in instalments. If you have already paid your account, please disregard these invoices, but could you please complete the purple form that was enclosed and return to the school. Parents are also reminded that we have EFTPOS facilities, so payments can be made at the office or over the phone.
If parents would like more information on the resource scheme, please contact the school to discuss the issue.
Consequence of Non-Payment
Participation in the scheme is voluntary. However, if parents choose to join the scheme a fee will be charged.
Before a student can be considered for activities such as excursions, camps, the Formal, purchase of Senior Jerseys and shirts, a parent who has joined the scheme is expected to have:
¨ Fully paid the resource fees; or
¨ Paid the resource fee up to and including the term in which the school activity takes place; or
¨ Have made regular on-going payments towards the resource fees, as previously arranged with the school principal.
A parent who does not wish to contribute to the scheme is responsible for providing the student with necessary items and covers the cost of activities for engaging in the curriculum.
A student may be refused admission to the scheme if there are payments outstanding by a family from the previous year and debt recovery action may be commenced. Parents of effected students will be required to have an interview with the Principal or Business Services Manager, prior to enrolment in the new year.
Parent/Teacher Interviews
Parent/Teacher interviews will be held on Thursday,17 April 2007, in the school hall. The interviews will commence at 3.30 pm and will be in 10 minute blocks. Parents wishing to obtain an interview with any of their students’ teachers can do so by contacting Perri-Le in the school administration office on 4120 8444. Parents are asked to have a list of their students’ teachers on hand when phoning the school to make interview times
Extracurricula Report
Ben Feldman
We held our annual Market Day in the library for the Grade 8’s and signed up a great many Grade 8’s for our clubs. Thanks very much to those who put on displays and helped out on the aftrernoon.
Chess Report
On Friday, 29 February a team of 20 students competed in the first round of the South Wide Bay Chess Competition. We had a number of new players who did very well on the day and our old hands were able to sweep the field. Congratulations to Aldridge 1 - Duncan Barber-Sperling, Thomas Feldman, Lyall McDonald and Nathanael Tomlinson who won the competition.
Placings are as follows:
1st - Nathanael Tomlinson, 2nd - Lyall McDonald and Duncan Barber-Sperling, 4th - Thomas Feldman and Sam Nagl, 13th - Alex Morrison Craig, 14th - Perry Nelson, 15th - Myles Hinkley, 23rd - Mitchell Emery, 32nd - Darcy Kuilboer, 54th - Paul Hoggard, 55th - Sam Manley, 56th - Ben Sama, 58th - Marcus Barnes, 69th - Jesse Garden, 70th - Courtney Berkery, 73rd - Alex Stephensen, 76th - Emma Biggs, 77th - Heath Selby, 78th - Connor Johnstone 78th.
Thomas Feldman
HPV Report
Aldridge Adorables are in the throws of raising funds to make their own bike. Thank you to all the people who have supported us so far with our Sausage Sizzles, Money Boards and Car Washes. A huge thank you to Cyril Harris on the corner of Walker and John Streets for hosting our car washes. Also a huge thank you to Fairfield Butchers on Walker Street for their donation of sausages for the sausage sizzles.
The Year 10 Mixed Team has started training and they have decided to call themselves Aldridge Annihilators
Cameron Poppi and Trent Sengstock
Debating
Junior Debating has started in the library on Thursday afternoons. We are running a practice debate this week. The topic is ‘That swimming carnivals should be banned.’ Newcomers are welcome and audience members are also welcome. At this time we have four Junior Teams.
One of our past students Krystal Cathcart is also helping to coach and also carrying out her honours thesis on the advantages of Public Speaking for students.
Tayla McGrath
Public Speaking
A big congratulations to Anthony Gott who competed in and won the Local and Zone competition of the Lions Youth of the Year. Anthony also took out the Public Speaking award at Lions as well, He now goes on to the regional finals. Good Luck Anthony!!! There are some more public speaking events coming up in the next few months so if you wish to participate come and see me in the library for information and help. Comps in the near future are Legacy Junior Public Speaking, PISA for Seniors, Rostrum for Junior and Seniors and Quota for Year 12 only. It is a great experience and even participation looks great on a resume.
Luned Higgins
Junior Council
Junior Council held their leadership day on Friday, 29 February at Glendyne where we participated in a number of leadership activities. We had lunch with the Hervey Bay Junior Council and went on a ropes course. We also held council elections. Congratulations to Jackie Whitaker who was elected Deputy Junior Mayor for the 2008 Year. The Junior Council are putting in a team for the ‘Relay for Life’, so if you would like to participate please see one of the Junior Councillors or give your name to Mrs Higgins in the library.
Rowan Collins
 Jackie Whitaker Junior Deputy Mayor
Zenith 2008
By now, your student (provided school fees have been paid) should have received their copy of last year’s school magazine. We were very happy with the way this turned out after much hard work and we hope that this year’s issue of Zenith will be even better. This year, we are running a competition for the cover of Zenith. Students may submit an entry for designing the cover and have the opportunity to win additional prizes. Further details will be given next term. Thank you to those businesses that have supported our magazine in the past and we look forward to your continued sponsorship in the future. Prices for advertising in our magazine are as follows: page sponsorship is $27.50, a business card advertisement costs $48 and half page ads are $125. We are also producing a student newsletter which is to be published once a term. If you would like to advertise in Bring It, an annual front page subscription is $100 and $50 for inside pages. If you are interested in placing an advertisement in Zenith or Bring It, please phone Miss Rachael Keim, Zenith Coordinator on (07) 4120 8435.
Georgina Gott and Erin Brabiner–Zenith committee
Sports News
Wide Bay Summer Sports Trials
On Thursday, 28 February, a number of Aldridge State High School students attended Wide Bay Summer Sports Trials representing Fraser District. Students travelled to Hervey Bay, Bundaberg and Gayndah for softball, volleyball, tennis, squash, cricket and touch trials.
Congratulations to the following students (look at all the volleyballers) who have gained selection in their respective Wide Bay teams:
Alice Williams Girls Softball
Sam Nagl Boys Softball
Alex Beatty Cricket
Alex Barry Cricket
Frank Richmond 15 Boys Volleyball
Tyler McKenna 15 Boys Volleyball
Nathan Brake 15 Boys Volleyball
Alec Higgins 15 Boys Volleyball
Jett Nickson 15 Boys Volleyball
Darren McPhee 15 Boys Volleyball
Sam Manley Open Volleyball
Dan Gillen Open Volleyball
Gavin Soper Open Volleyball
Isaac Sanderson Open Volleyball
Sarah James Open Volleyball
Tessa Burroughs 15 Girls Volleyball
Louisa Brain 15 Girls Volleyball
We wish them all good luck in their state championships.
Interschool Rugby League
The Fraser District interschool rugby league competition started last week with round one (1) against Maryborough State High School in all three (3) grades.
The Year 8 team had a rusty start to the season and were defeated 42–10. The under 15 team were also defeated but it was an extremely close game with Maryborough High scoring two (2) late tries to win 8–0. Success eventually came in the final game with the opens winning 38–16.
In round two (2) the Year 8 team had a bye and the under 15’s played St Marys. In a much improved showing they racked up a massive 62–0 flogging. The opens also had a big win against Glendyne to the tune of 56–8.
Round three (3) is against Hervey Bay State High School, again at Eskdale Park at 4.00 pm, 5.00 pm and 6.00pm.
JAMES McKEE
Sportsmaster
Dates for your Diary
More important dates for your diary:
Ø Monday, 14 April—Pupil Free Day.
Ø Monday, 14 April—Friday, 18 April—Year 11 Industry Placement (General).
Ø Tuesday, 15 April—Reports handed out to students.
Ø Thursday, 17 April— Parent/Teacher Interviews in Hall 3.30 pm—6.30 pm.
Ø Thursday, 24 April—Aldridge Cross Country.
Ø Friday, 25 April—Anzac Day Holiday.
Ø Monday, 05 May—Labour Day Holiday.
Ø Wednesday, 07 May—Fraser District Cross Country.
Ø Thursday, 08 May—Instrumental Music Tour—Departs 8.00 am, return Friday, 09 May at 3.00 pm.
Ø Tuesday, 13 May—Thursday, 15 May—National Literacy Test for all Year 9 Students. 9.00 am—11.00 am.
Tuesday, 20 May—Thursday, 22 May—Year 11 Biology Excursion to Mon Repos, Bundaberg. Depart Tuesday, 20 May at 8.00 am and return Thursday, 22 May at approx 2.30 pm.
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(c)2007 Aldridge State High School
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