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133 -153 Warwick Road
Ipswich Qld 4305
Website: https://bremershs.eq.edu.au
Email: info@bremershs.eq.edu.au
Phone: (07) 3810 9333
Fax: (07) 3812 9950
Subscribe to Online Newsletter! http://bremershs.schoolzinenewsletters.com/subscribe
31 March 2015
Principal’s Report
Our unrelenting focus in 2015 is on Literacy and Numeracy
but we still value and promote the other key features of a
comprehensive and inclusive Bremer State High School
education. It’s our people and how we relate to each other that
makes this such a special school.
Harmony Day – 2015
We all enjoyed an amazingly positive celebration of our diversity
on Friday, March 20 which was Harmony Day. A day of
multi-cultural activities was highlighted by a magnificent concert
in the Sports Centre which featured vocal and dance
performances by the Tahitian Girls, Indigenous students,
School Choir and Polynesian students and a wonderful march
in by students from the 29 countries from which Bremer State
High School students and staff originate.
Student Leadership – Induction Ceremony
Our school’s Student Leaders were inducted at a special
ceremony on Friday, March 13. For the first time this year, Year
7 students were part of the team of Student Leaders receiving
their badges. We are fortunate to reap the rewards of having
so many students who are willing and able to demonstrate
leadership in our school.
We truly are a wonderful melting pot of culture and race at
our school and the respect and enjoyment which students
demonstrated towards each other was a credit to our school,
our families and our students.
Attendance – every single day counts
World’s Greatest Shave
One of the biggest influences on student success is
attendance. Students who attend 100% of the time are
connected to their teachers, their learning, their friends and their
school in general. In 2014, 57% of our students were absent
one or more days every fortnight. Imagine having a boss at
work, or a co-worker who was away at least one day every
two weeks. Impossible. In 2015, we are pushing very hard to
encourage everyone to be here every single day.
Our school participated in this fundraiser for the Leukaemia
Foundation on March 13. Year 12 Co-ordinator, Ms Tiffanie
Hales organised a range of events including of course, the
traditional shave off. A range of our people emerged with an
entirely new look and the Leukaemia Foundation benefited from
our school donation of $2,100.00. Nice job Bremer State High
School!
Our target is across all students to have 90%
attendance.
How are we progressing so far on this?
Student Attendance Data
2015 to date
2014 to this date
Year 7
94.39%
94.37%
Year 8
93.62%
94.98%
Year 9
92.35%
90.80%
Year 10
89.64%
90.20%
Student Attendance Data
Year 11
89.89%
94.09%
Year 12
93.02%
86.00%
Total
92.15%
91.74%
So far this year, we are travelling well but we need your total
support on this please parents/carers.
Thank you to everyone for your strong support of Bremer State
High School in Term 1, 2015.
Richard Morrison
Principal
Daniel Pym
Dean Yr 10
Ben Ward
Dean Yr 11
Ashley Richters
Acting Dean Yr 12
Michael Seiler
HoD Literacy
Lisa Kelly
HoD Numeracy
Lorelle Scott
HoD English
Who is Who at Bremer State High School
Duncan Mackintosh
Craig Daniells
HoD HPE
HoD IT, Bus, H Ec,
Library
Richard Morrison
Principal
Graeme Goodger
Deputy Principal
Steve Henderson
Deputy Principal
Peter Lund
HoD Maths
Melissa Winks
Deputy Principal
Chris Owen
Acting Deputy
Principal
Paul Lowe
HoD Manual Arts
Jesse Paul-Brent
HoD Science
Nell Briggs
HoD Social Science
Kelly Ling
HoD Success Coach
Kelly Houston
HoD Special
Education Unit
Sally Campbell
Head of Special
Education
Dr Trish Barnett
HoD The Arts
Sandra Latter
Dean Yr 8
Ryan Du Toit
Dean Yr 7
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Keri Church
Dean Yr 9
Drama
11 Drama students attended a live theatre performance of
Away performed by Heartbeast Boutique Theatre. A great night
was enjoyed by all. Great Bremer pride was shown by all the
students.
Emma Scotney Grant Kirk-Lauriston
Kate Palmer
Yr 7 Co-Ordinator Yr 8 Co-Ordinator Yr 9 Co-Ordinator
Emily Prenzler
Allistair Smith
Tiffanie Hales
Yr 10 Co-Ordinator Yr 11 Co-Ordinator Yr 12 Co-Ordinator
Performing Arts News
Dance
Bremer Dance Troupe News…
Dance Troupe members Rachel Fountain, Cassidy Ninkie,
Ariane Belardo, Keycee Silang and Brianna Norris strike a pose
following their performance at USQ’s Phoenix Carnival on
Saturday 14th February. The girls showcased their new work
“Salute” a fusion of hip hop, funk and Afro Jazz.
It was back to the 70s disco era for Year 11 Dance students
who took the stage on Assembly recently performing for a
massive crowd of students, teachers and parents.
ABOUT…
Bremer Dance Troupe caused a stir with their latest work, a
slick street dance, when they performed on assembly recently
for the leadership ceremony.
Bremer Dance Troupe
Rehearsals- weekly, 30 minute sessions
Tuesday 8am
Thursday 11.20am
Audition only
Next round of auditions Term 2.
http://vimeo.com/123382432
Vet News - Unique Student Identifier (USI)
From 1 January 2015, all students undertaking nationally
recognised training at school, TAFE or with a private training
organisation, completing a traineeship/apprenticeship or
certificate course must have created a USI in order to obtain
their certificate or qualification.
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Students in years 10, 11 and 12 will have already received
a letter detailing how to go about this at home. If they have
not please see the attachments for details and visit
www.usi.gov.au. Once created the USI needs to be provided
to our Dean of Students and Head of Vocational Pathways, Mr
Ben Ward.
If you have difficulties in creating the USI at home, students may
complete the attached Information Request for USI form, which
will help them to gather the required identification information
and then they will be assisted to create the USI at school. Again
students should see Mr Ward in this regard.
very popular, especially on those very hot days we have had.
We also have students who like to work on drawing and making
things with paper.
Harmony Day
On Friday, 20th March, the library hosted some activities for
harmony day. Ms. Clancy did an imaginative activity where
students had to design a new world, and the students left that
room very fired up and talkative about it. Ms. Le Roy supervised
an origami activity, which is always popular with our students.
Please note there is no cost to students in obtaining a USI.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRYaaF-B7Ho
Library News
2015 has kicked off to a great start in the library here at Bremer
State High School. We have more students than ever borrowing
books this year. This is terrific, as reading is a good habit to
get into, and the more you read, the better at reading you will
become. It is wonderful to see so many students who are new
to Bremer State High School this year and who are excited to
check out our collection of books.
Manga Book Fair
Because of the growing popularity of graphic novels, we have
added quite a few to our collection this year. One of our
suppliers brought up a collection, and students were able to
vote on the ones they most wanted to have in the library. They
couldn’t wait for them to be catalogued and processed so they
could borrow them! (But we cruelly made them do just that.)
Bremer State High School Reading Challenge
The book challenge has begun for students in Year 7, 8 & 9.
Students can still register if they wish. The challenge is to read
at least 10 book before the end of October, for year 7, and 12
books for Years 8 and 9. Registered students have book club
type meetings where they discuss the books they have read.
There are book prizes for students who do well.
Activities in the Library
As well as being open for students who are doing school
work, and for students wishing to read books and magazines,
the library also has jigsaws on the go for students who enjoy
that activity. We also open computer rooms at lunchtimes for
students who wish to play educational games. This has been
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How Parents can Help
Reading is a great habit. Once people can read fluently, they
can go anywhere in their imagination, and they can become
well informed on any number of topics. English expression
improves as you become more familiar with written texts and
you are exposed to a wide range of vocabulary.
Parents can help students by encouraging them to read on a
regular basis, for at least 15mins four times a week. Encourage
student to borrow and return books, and talk to them about
what they are reading. It is a great start for a life of learning.
Youth Support Co-Ordinator News
Feedback for Term 1
Hello, my name is Kim Cornish and I am the Youth Support
Co-Ordinator (YSC) at Bremer State High School. I have had
the privilege of being here since the beginning of last year and
hope to provide long term ongoing support to the students
of Bremer State High School. The YSC role provides holistic
support for students who are disengaged or at risk of
disengaging from learning. The YSC aims to identify barriers
for young people and work with them to try and eliminate
or decrease these barriers. This may involve individual case
management, group work, work with families, non-government
organisations and communities as well as proactive work with
staff within the school. I would like to share with you some of
the great things that have been happening at Bremer State High
School this term.
Mentor Program
This year, the Guidance Officer (Jashu Vekariya) and I have
commenced a Mentoring program for the Year 7 and 8
students at Bremer State High School. It has been so
encouraging to have been able to get the ball rolling for this
program and we hope to have this program running indefinitely.
The objective of the program has been to provide additional
support to the Year 7 and 8 students. At the beginning of term,
we selected 26 Mentors from Years 11 and 12 and split them
between two year levels. The Mentors have been proactive with
spending lunch times with the 7’s and 8’s, playing activities with
them and helping them problem solve. They have also been
attending their form classes once a week to read out notices
and mark the roll. We have had great feedback for this program
thus far and the support it has provided has been valuable.
or forward the survey to their new address so they can
participate.
Girls Group
Thank you for your support of the Next Step survey in 2015.
This term, I selected 9 girls to commence working with me
in a Girls Group. Our focus was to set goals and improve
the girls’ behaviour and attendance. We worked through a
number of topics throughout the term including: learning styles,
communication skills, self- esteem, identity, goals, cybersafety, sexual health, domestic violence and personal safety,
drugs and alcohol and bullying (perpetrators and victims). I have
monitored the girls’ weekly attendance and behaviour since
the commenced working in my group. Each session I have
discussed teacher feedback for the girls who were present. I
have found that they have been proactive in wanting to hear
their feedback as well as openly share with me their pitfalls.
Each girl has shown progress with their goals and I have been
proud to say that they all have been respectful and engaging
with me in each session they attended. The most improved girl
in terms of attendance had 36 less attendances since last term.
Congratulations to the Year 9 and 10 girls who participated in
the program.
Further information on Next Step is available online at
www.education.qld.gov.au/nextstep/ or on toll free telephone
1800 068 587.
Spotlight
Bookings open Monday 27 April at 9:00am and close on
Monday, 4 May at 2:00 pm.
Year 11 students (Jodey Brand and Sarah Hobson) became
members of Ipswich Headspace Youth Advisory Group. These
students get to meet on a regular basis with the Advisory Group
and discuss youth mental health as well as proactive strategies
for the community. Well Done!
Parent Teacher Interviews
Interviews will be held on Tuesday, 5 May, between 3:10 and
7:30pm.
There are three options to book an interview:
1. Book School Interviews Online:
www.schoolinterviews.com.au
2. Book Interviews by Telephone if you do not have
internet access.
3. If you are unable to book online or by telephone
complete the form on the letter with the report and
return to the Student Counter in Administration.
These sessions are limited to 10 minutes per teacher.
Detailed information, including Event Code, will be included with
your child’s report.
Textbooks, Blazers and Sport Jerseys
Parents and students are reminded to return textbooks,
Blazers, Athletic Singlets and Jerseys borrowed from
Bremer Resources to the RESOURCE ROOM (N1), not the
library or office. The Resource Room is open at 8:30am, Major
and Minor Break each day.
DEFENCE NEWS
WELCOME HOME PARADE - OPERATION
SLIPPER
2015 NEXT STEP SURVEY
The Queensland Government is conducting its annual
state-wide survey of all students who completed Year 12 in
2014. The Next Step survey is a brief, confidential survey that
gains a comprehensive picture of the employment, study and
life choices made by Queensland school completers in the year
after they finish Year 12.
On Saturday 21st March, 2015 Brisbane welcomed
approximately 4000 Australian Defence Force (ADF), Public
Service and Federal Police veterans from Operation Slipper,
Australia’s contribution to the conflict in Afghanistan. The
parade saw thousands of families, friends and locals line the
streets of Brisbane to honour all those who served and to
commemorate the 41 ADF personnel who did not return.
The Afghanistan conflict saw over 33,000 members deployed
to both Afghanistan and the Middle East, and marked
Australia’s longest active contribution to a conflict (2001 –
2014).
Between March and June, all our students who completed Year
12 last year can expect to receive instructions to complete a
web-based survey or a telephone call from the Queensland
Government Statistician’s Office to complete the survey. Please
encourage them to take part. If their contact details have
changed, please assist the interviewer with their updated details
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Uniform Shop
We now have the New Bremer Jumpers for sale at $66.00.
There is limited stock at this time in 11 various sizes. During the
colder periods students are required to wear either the Bremer
Jacket or the Bremer Jumper. They may wear both if they like.
Please remember that we have a Bremer Scarf for $11.00.
Canteen
RAAF Puppy Visit - Harmony Day
Bremer State High School students were privileged to be visited
on Harmony Day by six adorable RAAF Puppies, along with
their dedicated handlers, SGT Diffy, SGT Schlenka, LAC Luck
and LAC Nash. Puppies and handlers were a popular edition to
major break, soaking up many admiring pats and cuddles.
We have a Breakfast meal deal every Tuesday and Thursday
mornings for $5.50. This consists of a Bacon, egg and cheese
muffin, a hash brown and a small flavoured milk or a 350ml
juice.
The canteen opens at 8.00am every morning.
Next Term every Tuesday we will have a $6.00 lunch meal deal.
This meal deal will change weekly.
Shirts sent to Vanuatu
Approximately 103 old Bremer Gold and Grey Polo shirts (stock
from the uniform cage) are being sent to Vanuatu to assist
children affected by the recent cyclone.
Zonta International Women’s Day
Breakfast
SAVE THE DATE: Amberley RAAF Museum and
Heritage Centre
The next opening of the Amberley RAAF Museum and Heritage
Centre is on the 19th April 2015. Entry is free.
There are plenty of interactive and static displays for any
aviation enthusiast! Additionally for April, the RAAF F/A 18
Simulator is making a welcome return for the day, with simulator
rides available with pre booking for $40/20minutes of
exhilarating fun and excitement!
Ten Bremer State High School female leaders, Christina
Donald, Samantha Nolan, Taylor Cora-Davidson, Taylah
Timperley, Tamika Herbst, Indiana Hart, Francine Tanielu,
Monique Tanielu, Rachel Austen-Wilkins, Ashleigh Payne along
with Ms Chris Owen, Ms Tiffanie Hales and Ms Kate Palmer
attended the Zonta International Women’s Day Breakfast on
March 6 at the North Ipswich RSL where they enjoyed a cooked
breakfast and heard some inspirational speeches. Ex-Bremer
State High School student Emily Hunt spoke on Domestic
Violence and also the history of Women in Uniform in Australia
from the RAAF.
Bremer State High School teachers and students joined
Ipswich members of the Zonta Club, politicians and other
school students from across Ipswich. All students were a credit
to their school.
Location:
RAAF Base Amberley
South Amberley Road
Amberley QLD 4306
Phone Number: (07) 5361 1245
Please note that a valid ID (licence) is needed to be able to
attend and more details can be found on the website:
www.raafamberleyheritage.gov.au.
Parents’ and Citizens Association @
Bremer State High School
Due to the holidays there will not be a meeting in April. Our
next meeting will be Tuesday 19 May in the library. This meeting
will start with a “Special Meeting” so that we can adopt the
new constitution. This meeting will start at 7.20pm and will be
immediately followed by the General Meeting.
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Class off to see “Wicked”
Thirty-three excited Year 7 Literacy students and three teachers
recently saw the musical “Wicked” at QPAC in Brisbane after
winning a Courier Mail competition valued at $7,000. A big
thank you to Ms Chris Owen for entering the promotion
featured in Headst@rt.
Thank you, Robbo’s Bakery
Bremer SHS would like to thank Robbo’s Bakery at Karalee
for their kind donations of bread and buns to support the
Indigenous Education Breakfast every Friday morning at the
Boulevard Café. It is very much appreciated.
Volunteer Host Families Wanted
Enrichment, Education, Excitement - Become a
Volunteer Host Family!
World Education Program (WEP) is inviting you to experience
another culture in your own home by becoming a volunteer
host family to an international student arriving in July 2015. Our
students from Canada, Denmark, Ecuador, Italy, Belgium, the
USA, and France are looking forward to experiencing life in
Australia, making new friends and becoming a member of an
Australian family soon.
"Wonderful - joyous - heartfelt. An absolutely wonderful idea
and so beneficial for all involved, from family to school friends.
We truly feel Enrico is another member of our family."
- Marie - host mother of Enrico (Italy)
Hosting Is Fun! Find Out more!
Getting to know your student before he or she arrives brings fun
and joy to everyone involved. To help you make this important
decision, contact WEP today to receive a full information pack
for your family.
Enquiries to :
Sylvia Kelly
Manager – Inbound Exchange Programs
Phone: 1300 884 733
Email: info@wep.org.au
Online: http://www.wep.org.au
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