Great state. Great opportunity.

TERM 2 30th APRIL 2021 NEWSLETTER 5

NANANGO STATE HIGH SCHOOL Newsletter

Darryl Early Linda Stern Jade Wager

Principal Deputy Principal Deputy Principal

Phone (07) 4171 6444 Fax (07) 4171 6400 Student Absence Line (07) 4171 6460

Address 54 Elk Street Nanango Q 4615 PO Box 441 Nanango Q 4615 SMS 0427 932 656

Email the.principal@nanangoshs.eq.edu.au www.nanangoshs.eq.edu.au

PRINCIPAL’S COMMENT

Start of Term

The start of term has been smooth going compared to the disruptions from COVID in the last term. Thank you to Mrs

Wager, Mr Kok and Mrs De Weers for backfilling while I was on leave. I also welcome back Mr Wilshaw, Mrs Early, Ms

Mahoney, Mrs Auld and Ms Kerrison back from leave and other roles.

COVID

While we are at Covid—Normal Stage at the moment, I still encourage the use of good hygiene. As always, if students are

ill the best advice is for them to stay at home.

Sports Teams

Congratulations to Paige O’Connor who was successful in making the Queesland White Merit Team for Triathlon.

Unfortunately there is no National event this year. Congratulations also to Matthew Springate who was successful in

making the Wide Bay Rugby League and Touch Football and also to Montana Preston for volleyball, Sarah Kidman for

netball and Lilly Railton Thompson for girls Rugby League.

Creative Writing Course

I am looking forward to seeing the great outcomes we always get from this course. It involves a great partnership with

Sunshine Coast University and is a great opportunity for our Year 8 and 9 students.

ANZAC Day

Last Friday we had our ANZAC parade that was coordinated by Mrs Arbon. The School Captains did an excellent job of

compering. The school band performed two hymns, Abide with Me and O God our Help. Our three cadets, Taran

Trevanion-Cuthbert, Brendan Nicholls and Jaxson Scrimshaw were impressive. Thank you to our guest speakers,

Cassandra Wetherspoon and Shaun Wood and to Mrs Harch and the Year 12 Hospitality students for providing a delicious

morning tea. Finally, I wish to congratulate the school for the respectful way that they behaved on the day. ‘Lest We

Forget’

Thank you to the many students and staff who also participated in many ways at the ANZAC Day March on Sunday. Many

students represented the school in the school march but also with other organisations and groups. It is also

acknowledged that students attended events in Blackbutt, Maidenwell and Yarraman.

Great state. Great opportunity.

PRINCIPAL’S COMMENT (cont)

Well done to our two captains Jack Perrett and Olivia Maynard for the reading of two service records. Once again I am

proud of the school embracing the Anzac Spirit.

Cross Country

This event was a casualty of the COVID rules before the holidays but was held last Friday with a number of students

participating - some even running seriously. It was a great afternoon showing house spirit. Thank you to the many

staff who acted as officials on the day.

Date Claimer

Report Cards will be issued shortly. A reminder that the parent-teacher interviews will be on Monday, May 10th.

Booking information will be provided with the reports. Please book early.

Jewellery

A reminder of our jewellery policy that is contained in the school diary. We have strict policies mainly to help with

Workplace Health and Safety considerations. I ask for parent support with this please.

Timetable Changes

Instead of a long parade on a Tuesday, we will now hold 2 shorter whole school parades on Tuesdays & Thursdays

during the normal Form class time.

You Choose Road Safety Presentation

On Tuesday our Year 11 and 12 students attended a powerful performance by Melissa McGuinness. It was a raw and

sensitive story about her son and a tragic accident. Her simple message:

YOU CHOOSE - OWN THE CHOICE - OWN THE OUTCOME

This message, I would like all, especially our senior students to take away.

Melissa’s Website: www.youchooseyrs.org.au has more information.

P & C Meeting

A date change for the P & C Meeting. It will now be on the 17th May at 1.30pm in the school Boardroom. All parents

are very welcome.

Darryl Early

Principal

Great state. Great opportunity.

CROSS COUNTRY

Firstly, a huge thank you to all staff who assisted in the set up and running of our cross country it was greatly

appreciated. All students who participated in the cross country also deserve a massive thank you, for without your

efforts we wouldn’t have had an event at all.

This year was an incredibly close contest. Manumbar continue to rise up the points totals each carnival, however, for

2021 it was the might of Taromeo that came through victorious. In the end it is the consistent participation across

year levels that won on the day. Third placed Tarong actually had the most age champions.

Below is a full list of Age Champions

Age Name House

Boys 12 Jesse Scarabelli Manumbar

Girls 12 Mia De Jong Manumbar

Boys 13 Cooper Weil Taromeo

Girls 13 Jasmine Young Taromeo

Boys 14 Will Esen Tarong

Girls 14 Rhiannon Snow Tarong

Boys 15 Sheawyn Whitta Tarong

Girls 15 Gabby Duncombe Tarong

Boys 16 Taran Trevanion-Cuthbert Tarong

Girls 16 Paige O'Connor Taromeo

Boys 17 and Open Kyle Snow Tarong Girls 17 and Open Jhavana Perren Taromeo

Nathan Trace

Sportsmaster

Great state. Great opportunity.

WRITE 4 FUN POETRY COMPETITION

Greetings Poetry connoisseurs! 2021 is the year that Nanango SHS

‘Made Poetry Great Again’.

The Twentieth year that Nanango has entered the Write 4 Fun Poetry

Competition saw an unbelievable submission of 315 poems entered

across all year levels. Special thanks to Mr McKee, who helped

promote poetry on parade as my Padawan Poetry Apprentice.

Students certainly enjoyed his reading of the poem he wrote when he

was in Year 12.

The rules of the competition require all entrants to write a poem on

any theme, in any style they wished, such as free verse, cinquain,

acrostic, limerick, diamante or a haiku. They then have a chance to win

prizes in this nation-wide competition. The only restriction is that it

cannot exceed sixteen lines. Our talented students wrote on a variety

of subjects and themes such as War, Social Media, Maths, Love, Tim

Curry, Economics, The Great Gatsby, Pets and Ancient Egypt. I was

astonished with the range and quality of all the poems.

I look forward to reading more poems that are just as impressive in

2022.

Please read a sampling of poems from our promising poets:

Echidna

Spikes are like pointy toothpicks.

They like to wobble when they are

walking around.

Their nose is very pointy.

They are cute when they are sleeping.

Heaven Davis, Year 12

Maths

Add, subtract, times and divide,

Maths comes in many a size,

I can count up,

I can count down,

Maths is full all around

Tegan Johns, Year 7

You

Gracious winds blow true

Nothing can compare to this

And I…I love You.

Jack Taylor, Year 12

Cat on the Brick Wall

The city is flooding with lots of loud sounds

From honking cars to the neighbour’s dachshunds

And in the city lays a quiet place

with a huge brick wall and a cat with a pure white face

The cat sits still watching over the street

With flashing green lights and the neat

Buildings that tower above.

Jordyn Maguire, Year 9

The Day

The sky is grey,

The clouds are dark,

The rain is here to soak

The day.

Taran Trevanion-Cuthbert, Year 11

Mr Kerr

The Poet President

Great state. Great opportunity.

WRITE 4 FUN POETRY COMPETITION (Cont)

The Human Heart

You are red

You can break

You stop when you are dead

You can love

You can hate

You can become soft

Then you see a light

And become lost

For you have been removed

And one million was the cost

Belinda Scherger, Year 12

The Silence of War

The overwhelming scent of rot consumes you,

The metallic taste of gunpowder and blood burns,

As you hear the earthshattering roar of everlasting gunfire and

thousands of desperate cries

Suddenly, falling silent and unheard…

You pray among the millions of others who fear today may be their last,

But as you look over and glance at those lost, you realise your hopes will be forever in vain.

Aiden Eagles, Year 10

Indifference of War

The catalyst of bells heard, and warnings not heeded

A quick and sharp decline into darkness, like the swift drawing of curtains

Once laughing children, war turned them into the damned young of their nations, forever lost

Sent to narrow, dark, murky abysses and voids

Which reeked of blood and tears, never acknowledged

Visions of the sloping hills, turned to burnt fields of wire, fire and only a demented choir

The softness of one’s bed, stripped to the touch of hard dirt and the proximity of death

The sounds of crumbling dreams, silenced by a corrupted anthem

The indifference of war, silent but loud, shrouded but clear

Happiness and joy turned to nothing but an overbearing, sickening fear.

Buddy Reader, Year 10

The Green Light

He blames the war

For pulling him away from his one true love

But how was he meant to be more

When it would always be Daisy when push came to shove

Wealth, parties and enchantment in the air

But still he’d never seen a woman so fair

Daisy, Daisy he keeps calling out

He reaches for the green light, unable to see her, unable to touch her

But with the certainty they’d be together with a doubt.

Nikayla Barnett, Year 12

Red Was Her Favourite Colour

Her hands went cold

Her lips went grey

I still remembered the one thing she told

Red was her favourite colour

Red was what she said

So why was she in pain?

Why did she cry for help when her dress soon was stained?

Red was her favourite colour wasn’t it?

Red was what she said

So why did she leave?

Without noticing the beauty I spread.

Mahli Fitzpatrick, Year 8

Great state. Great opportunity.

HEALTH NEWS

Kidney Health Week

Last term we had a display in our library

for Kidney Health Week.

There were 71 entries in the competition

to guess the number of kidney beans in

one can. The exact number of kidney

beans was 178.5. The winning guess was

180 from James (8D).

Find out more information at the Kidney Health Australia website and Take the test to find out more about your risk

factors. If you have any concerns, see your GP for a Kidney Health check.

Immunisation Week

World Immunisation Week happens in the last week of April every year. The theme this year is ‘Vaccines Bring Us

Closer.’ Vaccination is currently in progress for COVID-19.

For more information or to check eligibility see www.health.gov.au/covid-19-vaccines.

Information about the recommended vaccinations for adolescents under the National Immunisation Schedule is

available below. Young people are also eligible for free catch-up vaccinations up to age 19.

Kayla Waugh SCHOOL BASED YOUTH HEALTH NURSE

EQ Email: kwaug23@eq.edu.au Confidential Email: Kayla.Waugh@health.qld.gov.au Phone: 0456 721 583

Age Vaccine Disease Why?

12-13 Boostrix Diphtheria

Tetanus

Pertussis

(Whooping Cough)

Vaccination has eliminated up to 99.9% of cases in Australia. However, Australians re-

main at risk due to the number of cases still present in other countries. Risk of death is

approximately 8%.

People who are involved in farming, gardening and camping are at higher risk of getting

tetanus as the bacteria is found in soil, dust and animal waste. Prolonged stays in an

ICU are often required and one in ten people die. Protection reduces over time so

booster doses are required.

Whooping cough is highly contagious and can cause pneumonia, a distressing cough for

up to 3 months and death. Babies are most at risk of serious complications. Pregnant

women can also get free vaccination.

12-13 Gardasil Human Papilloma

Virus (HPV) - 2 doses

Almost all cases of Cervical Cancer are caused by HPV. HPV can also cause other types

of cancer and genital warts. Males can pass the virus on to females.

14-16 Nimenrix Meningococcal ACWY Meningococcal disease is a rare, but serious and life-threatening, infection. Symptoms

can appear suddenly and people can die very quickly without medical help. People aged

15-25 are at a higher risk. Up to 10% of people can die and up to 20% can experience

long-term health problems.

Great state. Great opportunity.

PEER PRESSURE AND TEENAGERS

It’s normal for young people to worry about fitting in. Peer groups play an important role in young people’s lives, particularly during adolescence. ‘Peer pressure’ refers to the influence that these groups can have on how an individual thinks and acts. You can often find out who your child’s peers are by paying attention to who they socialise with and speak about. Supporting your child to recognise teen peer pressure, when it helps and hinders them, and how they can develop their own individuality, is an important role for parents.

This can help if:

• your child is acting out of character • your child is constantly worried about ‘missing out’ or not fitting in • you’re concerned about the influence of your child’s friends • your child tends to always copy others and be a bit of a follower or easily influenced.

How peer pressure works

A young person can experience peer pressure in varying degrees. Sometimes their peers may proactively influence them to behave in certain ways and at other times they may be just following along. Both of these situations are based on seeking approval, but it is also possible for peer pressure to be a result of bullying. This is when your child fears being teased or physically hurt for not conforming.

Who are my child’s peers?

Your child’s peers are those they admire and consider to play an important role in their life. Depending on your child’s lifestyle, they may have several different peer groups. They generally come from places where your child spends their time – at school, in sport or hobby groups and in the local neighbourhood. If your child uses the internet, their peers can also include people they meet online through forums and social media platforms.

How does peer pressure affect teenagers?

You may associate peer pressure with negative outcomes such as your child trying alcohol, smoking or drugs. However, peer pressure can also allow certain groups to have positive influences on your child. There’s no way of knowing exactly how your child will be affected. Peer pressure can influence any area of your child’s life, from their taste in music to their choice of school subjects. Positive effects of peer pressure include:

• a sense of belonging and support • increased self-confidence • introduction to positive hobbies and interests • reinforcement of positive habits and attitudes

Negative effects of peer pressure include:

• pressure to use alcohol, cigarettes or drugs • pressure to engage in risk taking behaviours • distraction from schoolwork • distance between family and existing friends • drastic changes in behaviour and attitudes

Self-esteem and mental health issues

It’s important to remember that peer influence and pressure is a normal part of adolescence. As your child starts moving away from the parent-child relationship and seeking their own independence and identity, their peers will become more important to them. However, if you’re concerned about the effects of peer pressure on your child and think that it’s negatively impacting on their life, there are things that you can try to support them.

Great state. Great opportunity.

GUIDANCE OFFICE NEWS

Parent and Student Information Webinar This event is designed to provide clarity and advice about the transition to university. We'll cover the opportunities,

experiences and support available to Griffith students, while a QTAC representative will guide attendees through the

application process and preferencing. Our expert study advisers will also be on hand to answer questions.

Students in Year 11 and 12 and their families are invited to attend.

Date: Thursday 29 April

Time: 5.30 – 7 pm

Location: Online https://www.griffith.edu.au/study?query=parent-student-info-webinar&location=dom

Great state. Great opportunity.

Great state. Great opportunity.

Great state. Great opportunity.

10th Parent - Teacher Interviews

7th Eisteddfod - Band

12th - 13th Year 7 - 9 NAPLAN

14th Year 7 - 9 NAPLAN

17th - 21st Year 11 Exam Block

17th P & C Meeting - Boardroom

19th Year 7 - 9 NAPLAN

26th Science & Engineering Yr 8,9,10

28th Vicki Wilson Cup Netball

MAY 2021

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