Newsletter

Welcome back to Term 4. This term is full of so many exciting activities both curriculum and extracurricular.

Year 12 Final Assessments and External Exams

Commencing Week 4, for 3 weeks our Year 12’s undertake external exams. Our students and every other Year 12 will be the first in the state to complete the new Queensland Certificate of Education and for many, external exams are undertaken to attain an ATAR score for university entrance. Our students have completed a lengthy preparation and practice period and we know they are prepared, ready and supported by not only Miles State High School but their family, friends and our community. We all wish you well.

Wellbeing - Taking Care of Our Students throughout the Term Assessment Periods

I urge all of us to keep an eye on all our students as they embark on their year level assessment periods throughout the term. For many this is stressful and can be over-whelming. Please ask RUOK and contact our staff if you are concerned or worried about any of student’s well-being.

Experience Your Future

Next week is jam packed with three days of the “World of Opportunity” program which will allow our Year 10, 11 and 12 students to immerse themselves in the many career options available while developing those all-important interview skill. This program is very dear to us as we feel it underpins our schools excellent reputation regarding students’ future pathways. Last week the Department of Education released its “NEXT STEP Post School Destinations. “ Our individualised report for our 2019 Year 12 graduates show again that we have so much to be proud of with over 88.2% of students who graduated either in Education, Training or Employment.  Congratulation to all our past students we continue to wish you well on your future endeavours.

We are excited to share that next week during our career days we will be signing up a further 6 students from Year 10 in School Based Traineeship or Apprenticeship. (SAT) These students will add to our existing Year 11 and 12 students already in SAT training. Along with this our students in Year 10, 11 and 12 in 2020 have an accumulated total of 340 hours of work experience. Many thanks to our local community, business and industries that continue to support our students and to Mr Spain and Ms Cremer for the work they do to support our student experience and embark on their future pathways.

Staff News

As a Principal the arriving and farewelling of staff to our school presents both a joyous and sadness. However every staff member who moves through our gates have a time and in their time their impact on our school community is recognised and truly appreciated.

This is one such time, as I inform our school community that our Deputy Principal Ashley Spain will be relocating to another region at the end of the term.  

Ashley will of course be sorely missed along with Sarah his wife who has also been a member of our staff and a huge contribution to our school and community.  We all look forward to the opportunity to farewell Ashley, Sarah and their young family in the near future.

I am currently commencing the recruitment process for 2021. 

Take care

Josette Moffatt

Greetings Miles SHS and wider community,

Welcome back! Please see the following updates for key events and operations in term 4.

Valedictory Update

We are very pleased to inform everyone that the Year 12 Valedictory for 2020 has been booked and our students will have the night that they deserve. Thank you to the parents and students who came together with us last term explore ways we could make this happen. The Valedictory will be on Wednesday 18 November – same date it was last year. Some suits, dresses, and shoes have been made available for our students. These are on display in our Admin Building – Thank you to those for your generosity.

Uniform Acknowledgement

Term 3 weather is not kind to those who don’t enjoy the cold. Now that we are back to better weather the formal school uniform is the requirement again in Term 4. Uniforms are a large part of employment and growing up. Anyone who needs support on Wednesday’s to meet this expectation will be directed to our Uniform Exchange Room where students can access the correct uniform items for that day. Thank you to everyone for supporting your children in being organised and presented well each day.

There has been some confusion about our expectations regarding piercings and hat. Please read the policy below in relation to piercings and hats that were agreed to at enrolment. Thank you for your support as we continue to uphold our workplace health and safety and P&C endorsed policies. 

Weather and Prohibited Items

During the hotter days it is important for adolescents (and adults) to maintain a standard of personal hygiene whilst at school (students and teacher workplace). It is a common understanding within our school that aerosol cans of any nature cause life threatening health effects to one of our students. Unfortunately we have had some scares already this term with aerosol cans, so please consider the implications of allowing your children to bring these prohibited items to school and remember

NO AEROSOL CANS ARE PERMITTED AT MILES SHS!!!

Subject Selections for 2021

This term almost all year levels will be selecting subjects for 2021. Year 7’s will have the opportunity to choose electives for the first time as they go into Year 8 (Year 8/9 combined junior secondary electives). With our curriculum refinements for 2021, Year 9 students will select electives that are standalone in Year 10 (not combined 9/10) as they prepare for their senior pathways. Parent / student information sessions will be held this term to prepare students as they make these selections. Keep an eye out for invitations coming out soon.

Personal Message

As Josette has mentioned, I have accepted a Deputy Principal position at Moranbah State High School, Central Queensland. This decision has not been an easy one and has occurred sooner than anticipated. My family and I very much enjoy being part of the Miles community and contributing to the educational opportunity that Miles State High School offers students each and every day. With an amazing team that offers more than most other larger high schools I know that Miles State High School will continue strive to achieve.

Regards

Ashley Spain

Follow all staff instructions