I wish everyone an engaging and productive term two. Mrs Kylie Price Head of Department - Junior Secondary

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1 Welcome back to all students and their families as we settle into the second term of the 2018 school year. We have definitely hit the ground running. Our junior students have come back refreshed and eager to learn. It was wonderful to see so many students participating in our annual cross country and embracing the theme by wearing house colours or dressing up in safari attire. Congratulations to all our students and we wish all district competitors the best of luck competing on Monday 14 May at Kedron High School. As we start the new term, it s a great opportunity for students to reflect on their study habits during Term 1 and the results their efforts earned them, and to identify where there is room for improvement. In class, all students should have been given time to reflect on this and set new learning goals for this term (in each subject). We encourage you to view these overviews and discuss them with your student. Effective communication between staff and home is fundamental to promoting and achieving good student outcomes in all facets of education. On Tuesday evening we held the first of our parent and teacher interviews. It was wonderful to see so many parents and students present and to see so many students engaging in conversations about their education. These interviews are an opportunity for you to meet and get to know your student s teachers and to foster a positive relationship with our BRSHS community. These interviews also enable students to discuss and share their progress to date with you, allowing them to articulate the areas in which they have achieved success, and to focus on those areas that they believe they need to work on. If you were unable to attend the interviews, and would like information about your student s work and progress in a subject, you are encouraged to contact the subject teacher. This can be done via their or by contacting the school office. This week we remembered all of those brave Australian women and men who served and have sacrificed their lives in the service of our country in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. On Anzac Day and throughout the year, we should say thanks in recognition of what they have done for us. Our school commemorative assembly honoured the traditions and remembered the spirit, courage and mateship of the Anzacs and all servicemen and women. There was a large number of students and staff who attended and marched at the Sandgate RSL Sub Branch service on Anzac Day. I wish everyone an engaging and productive term two. Mrs Kylie Price Head of Department - Junior Secondary

2 From the Deputy Principal What an incredibly busy start we have had to term two! With our first full week coming up I expect that our young people may be needing a good rest come the end of week three (and teachers too). I hope that parents/carers and students have taken the opportunity to review Term One Reports and goals have been set for term two. When the Semester One Report is issued at the end of this term it will reflect half a year of work and students need to ensure that this report is an accurate reflection of their capabilities, attitude and behaviour. I encourage all students to follow our school motto and Strive to Accomplish their best. Thank you to all parents/carers who took the time to join us for parent interviews this week approximately 500 interviews took place that evening and it was wonderful to see the connectedness between home and school that was evident that night. I look forward to this partnership continuing throughout the year. Regards Mrs Regina Garrick, Deputy Principal Junior Secondary Ways to keep in touch Directly with teachers As part of developing effective communication between parents and teachers, we have developed some processes to assist in directing the communication to the correct person. In general, if you are seeking information about your students work and progress in a subject, the best person to contact in the first instance is the subject/class teacher. Facebook Our dedicated Bracken Ridge SHS page is a great way to stay up-to-date with the day to day happenings of our school community. Junior Secondary and School Newsletters The Junior Secondary newsletter is published twice a term and the school newsletter is published fortnightly. Website Our school website has information concerning our school, curriculum, extra-curricular activities, our school facilities and P & C information. Enrolment details are also outlined on our webpage.

3 School Uniform Just a reminder with the cooler weather approaching students must be in the correct winter uniform. The alternative winter uniform consists of: Girls: Boys: Taslon zipped jacket (navy and sky blue no emblem) Navy track pants sky blue inner pocket V-neck fleecy pullover with emblem Stockings navy or flesh ( knee-hi stockings are not permitted). Taslon zipped jacket (navy and sky blue no emblem) Navy track pants sky blue inner pocket V-neck fleecy pullover with emblem Tailored navy trousers. Junior students are required to wear formal uniform on Monday, special occasions and when representing the school (except for sporting events). They are also strongly encouraged to wear the formal uniform on days other than when they have Health and Physical Education lessons and Tuesday sport. If for any reason, students are in the incorrect uniform they must go to the school office and receive a uniform slip. Uniforms will be checked daily in classes, especially during form. When issued with a uniform infringement slip, students will also receive a detention slip. This slip will display the date and time of the detention. For the first uniform infringement, students will receive a warning/reminder of the correct uniform. The second and subsequence infringements, detentions will be issued. If students fail to attend the detention, another will be reassigned and this could lead to an afterschool detention. Your assistance with this is valued and we thank you in advance for your support. NAPLAN Last week our Year 7 and 9 students sat a practice NAPLAN test in the MPSC. For our Year 7 students this was the first time they have engaged in a test where two year levels were together in an open space (MPSC) under test conditions. This practice test was invaluable as it familiarised our students with the procedures and rules for the official NPALAN test and provided support and guidance to students. I was extremely proud of how our junior students engaged with the process.

4 NAPLAN is scheduled for Tuesday 15, Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 May Students in years 7 and 9 will sit the compulsory NAPLAN Tests. These tests will occur in periods 1 and 2 on each day. The NAPLAN test provides one indicator of students ability against a national benchmark and are designed to assess the skills of Australian students in literacy and numeracy (which our students are already learning through the school curriculum). NAPLAN tests are constructed to give students an opportunity to demonstrate skills they have learned over time through the school curriculum, and the NAPLAN test days should be treated as just another day at school. The best way to assist your student prepare for NAPLAN is to reassure them that NAPLAN tests are just one part of their school curriculum. A good night s sleep and a healthy dinner, breakfast and lunch will help to keep them focused and to urge them to simply do the best they can on the day. On these three days, the school will provide additional breakfasts for students. On Tuesday students will be offered heated scrolls (students have already selected from three alternatives). On Wednesday the Chappy breakfast will be available and on Thursday, Bracken Ridge McDonalds has kindy donated breakfast for all students. All students will be required to bring the following equipment in a clear plastic case or container (clear plastic zip lock bags are acceptable): minimum of two (2) 2B or HB pencils (mechanical pencils, such as a pacer, are not permitted) eraser and pencil sharpener blue or black biro (for the writing task) calculator (for the Numeracy test on Thursday) - you are able to purchase calculators from the school office prior to the test.

5 Does Attendance Really Matter 1 or 2 days a week doesn`t seem much but If your child misses. That equals. Which is.. and over 13 years of schooling that s... Which means the best your child might perform is... 1 day per fortnight 20 Days per year 4 weeks per year Nearly 1.5 years Equal to finishing in grade 11 1 day per week 40 Days per year 8 weeks per year Over 2.5 years Equal to finishing in grade 10 2 days per week 80 Days per year 16 weeks per year Over 5 years 3 days per week 120 Days per year 24 weeks per year Nearly 8 years Equal to finishing in grade 7 Equal to finishing at grade 4 How about 10 minutes late a day. He/ She is only missing just. That equals. Which is.. & over 13 yrs of schooling that s mins per day 50 mins per week Nearly 1.5 weeks per year Nearly ½ year 20 mins per day 1hr 40 mins per week Over 2.5 weeks per year Nearly 1 year Half hr per day Half a day per week 4 weeks per year Nearly 1½ years 1hr per day 1 day per week 8 weeks per year Over 2½ years While it may be tempting to let your child stay home for a day, the last day or even the last week of term, our school expects to see every child on every school day up to 2.50pm. We strongly believe students need to attend school every day to receive the most benefits from their education as we want your child to be successful in their educational journey.

6 E-learning Digital technology has over the last few years infiltrated all aspects of our lives. Our wi-fi enabled gadgets have changed the way we operate in classrooms. Schools today would be unrecognisable to students of the past thanks to the use of digital devices and the internet. Schools must keep up with technology to cater for the digital learners in our classrooms. In addition many students are now engaged in learning off campus in a range of environments. We must therefore provide all students with 24/7 access to learning resources at a time that is convenient to them. This increased access also allows parents, in partnership with their student, to be more engaged and informed in the learning that is being undertaken in their classes. About BRSHS Online Portal To facilitate student access to learning resources and assessment tasks at home, BRSHS has created an online learning environment through Blackboard in the Learning Place [a Content Management System (CMS) that is supported by Education Queensland]. How to Access BRSHS Online Portal Step 1. Open your web browser. Step 2. Visit the school website at and click on the elearn Blackboard link on the right hand side or enter the address: Step 3 You will be asked to enter your school username and password IMPORTANT: When accessing elearn at home you will need to enter your school login and password before you get to step 3. At school this step is skipped.

7 Step 4 lick on the BRSHS Online Portal 2017 course link Step 5 Choose your year level then click on the relevant subject folder. Step 6 Congratulations. You have successfully navigated to the BRSHs online portal.

8 Term 2 Important Dates These dates are subject to change: May Wednesday 2 May Thursday 3 May Monday 7 May Tuesday 8 May Friday 11 May Monday 14 May Tuesday 15 May Wednesday 16 May Thursday 17 May Friday 18 May Tuesday 22 May Friday 25 May Monday 28 May Expo Evening Year 7 in school Planetarium visit: class time Labour Day Murrumba Maths Competition Year 7 Social Science Liveability Excursion Bill Turner Cup Chappy Week District Cross Country Year 7 and 9 NAPLAN Year 7 and 9 NAPLAN Year 8 Social Science Excursion Year 7 and 9 NAPLAN Open Mic NAPLAN Catch-up day Chappy Trivia Night Junior Interschool Sport Winter competitions begins Year 9 Science Field Trip Sorry Day Junior Drama Performance (in school) June Friday 1 June Tuesday 5 June Friday 7 June Tuesday 12 June Friday 15 June Tuesday 19 June Monday 25 June Friday 29 June Year 9 Author visit DC Green Regional Cross Country Year 9 Verbal Combat presentation Junior Band Blitz Day Junior pre-athletic events Junior half day Leadership Development Program Music Performance Evening Year 9 Drama Excursion Junior pre-athletic events NAIDOC Day celebrations Day of Difference End of Term 2