James Nash State High School eNewsletter

From The Principal's Desk

This week we celebrated the amazing students in our school who are the recipients of Gold and Silver Awards. These awards are presented to students with excellent / very good behaviour and effort. As such they represent the facets of student performance of which we are most proud – that of students doing their best.

Last week was Sports Awards Evening – again an opportunity to celebrate the efforts of students as they engage in their passion. The element of this evening that brings me joy is to see the staff who volunteer their time get to celebrate the performance of those under their guidance. It is a different level of exhilaration to celebrate your effort when you are not being paid to do it. A true measure of the character of our staff.

Early this term we received our feedback from some surveys conducted earlier on in the year. Again, these have provided some strong celebratory highlights for us – but as we would expect there is always an area of two where we can improve.

School Opinion Survey

Highlights:

Our staff have high expectations for our students, and they support them to realise these.
Our facilities provide an excellent learning environment for our students.
Our staff are dynamic and flexible in meeting the needs of students.

Growth areas:

We need to continue our focus on managing student behaviour
We could seek more feedback from staff, students and parents
Peer relationships between students continues to be the challenge for some students.

Next Steps Survey – this provided a real highlight for me as it celebrates the effectiveness of our senior Pathways Program. As a result of our efforts to support students into further education, training or work we have 5.1% of 2023 graduates declaring that they are not in education training or employment. This compares to the state average of 10.1% and the Wide Bay average of 13.0%.

As we head towards the end of the year, I encourage you to continue to support our students to attend every day and to maintain the effort through to the end. That way we all get to enjoy the break when Christmas holidays roll around.

Jackson Dodd,
Principal

Year 7

Exciting things happening as we head to the end of Year 7 2024.

Junior School Captains

Our Junior leadership application process commences Week 4. We have 8 Junior Captains in Year 8. Students can access the forms today and will receive support in applying. The application process is in two parts. One the students make a written application. From there they are shortlisted. Those successful will then be interviewed by HODSS and Deputy Principal. Students and parents will be notified 1 November.
The position of Junior School Captain at James Nash State High School is an important role in our school community. Captains are expected to be outstanding role models who work well with students and staff. Captains demonstrate the school’s values; positive, resilient, hardworking, and respectful. They can help others and have the confidence and respect of students and teachers.
To be eligible to apply, students must have received Excellent and/or Very Good in Behaviour and Effort in every subject in the Term 3 report. They must also have greater than 85% attendance.

Awards Night 2024

James Nash State High School Awards Night will be held on Wednesday the 13th of November at the Pavilion. Keep an eye out for the invitations!

Sports Awards Night

Congratulations to all those who attended the Sports Awards night last Tuesday. We have some very talented sports people in Year 7. A special shout out to Maci Ritchie who competed in the State Championships for track and Field. Not only was she the Wide Bay team captain but also came first in high jump, jumping an incredible 1.59m and came 11^th in the Tetrathon. Now she’s off to Nationals.

Good Standing

Please keep reminding your child of the behaviour expectations that underline our Nash Values – Respectful, Resilient, Hardworking and Positive
By following these your child will receive Good Standing points which make them eligible to attend Aussie World.

YZD – Yellow Zone Detention

These detentions are issued for two reasons; truancy/ late more than 10 minutes or behaviour. If a student “wags” a lesson then they can be expected to complete a YZD. Failure to do so will result in afterschool detentions. Students are expected to attend any detention given to them. Once upon a time, these were used as punishments. Here at Nash, we use these detentions as an opportunity to understand why the student was acting that way. We can also complete restorative conversations with staff or students if it is about unacceptable behaviour in the classroom.

Bullying

There seems to be an increase in online bullying this term. If you have any concerns about what is happening, please help your child make a notification on Stymie. This is the quickest and easiest way to alert me of the issues. The process is designed to empower the student to be able to call out bullying.

https://about.stymie.com.au/

Q Parents

Please register for Q Parents to access report cards and camp permission forms. Please contact the office if you are having any problems accessing this information.

Year 8

Mary Valley Rattler Trip

As a part of their work at the Mary Street Pre Muster Party, our year 8 leaders received the prize of a trip on the Mary Valley Rattler. A great day was had by all!

We are excited to announce that our end-of-year rewards excursions are just around the corner. To qualify for these exciting trips, students must maintain at least 85% attendance and be in good standing with their behaviour. This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our students, so let’s make every day count.

Nat Hyde
HODSS Year 8

Gold and Silver Awards

This week, students were presented with their gold and silver awards at an awards ceremony. Thank you to all the parents and carers that attended to support their children, this was greatly appreciated. Our whole school is extremely proud of these students as they have consistently demonstrated the school’s behaviour values of respect, resilience, hard work and positivity.

The criteria to receive a silver award is that a student must have been awarded at least a ‘Very Good’ in all subjects for Behaviour and Effort on their Interim Report Card. Gold awards are presented to those students who receive Excellent in all subjects for Behaviour and Effort on their Interim Report Card. To achieve a either a gold or silver award is an outstanding achievement. Congratulations to all students involved in the ceremony.

Parents and students are reminded that all school owned technology devices need to be returned to school prior the holiday. The timeline below outlines when each year level must have their device back to computer room in G Block.

Year 7 to 9 must have their computers returned by the 28th November (Thursday of Week 9)
Years 10 and 11 must have their computers returned by the 19th November (Tuesday of Week 8)
Year 12 Students must have their computers returned by the 6th November (Wednesday of Week 6)

If students will have trouble meeting this deadline, please discuss with your year level HOD of Student Services or HOY.

Greg Cooper
Deputy Principal Years 7 & 8

Year 9

Welcome Back, Mr. Green

We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Green back to our school. During his recent visits to classrooms, he was impressed by the effort and enthusiasm displayed by our students. His positive feedback reinforces the hard work everyone has been putting into their studies, and we look forward to his continued support as we finish the year strong.

As we move forward, let’s keep our focus on attendance, punctuality, and the celebration of our achievements. Together, we can create an environment that nurtures growth and success for all students.

Happy learning!

Behavior Focus: Punctuality and Attendance

As we approach the end of the school year, it’s crucial to highlight the importance of being on time and attending school every day. Consistent attendance and punctuality not only help students succeed academically but also foster a positive learning environment for everyone. We encourage all students to strive for excellence by making a concerted effort to arrive on time and attend classes regularly.

End of Year Rewards Excursions

We are excited to announce that our end-of-year rewards excursions are just around the corner. To qualify for these exciting trips, students must maintain at least 85% attendance and be in good standing with their behaviour. This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our students, so let’s make every day count.

Book Week Success

A big congratulations to our Year 9 leaders for their outstanding leadership during Book Week.

White Card

Fifteen students have applied for and will engage with the one day learning necessary for those students to obtain a White Card. This will be the last offering for 2024 but other opportunities will be given for students to obtain a White Card in 2025. All students must be fully financial at James Nash in order to undertake this course.

Zak Green Shelley Gauld HOD HODSS Year 9 Deputy Principal Year 9

Year 10

Year 10 Students enjoy practical learning tasks

During Week 3 of this term, some enthusiastic students from the Year 10 ASDAN class worked together with the facilities officer and their teacher, Mrs H, to build some timber raised garden beds for the ‘Rainforest Retreat’ area near B block.

These students demonstrated patience, team work and communication skills as well as practical building skills to put the garden beds together. They worked well with adults involved and ASDAN teacher Mrs H commented, ‘It’s great to see the students working together and showing perseverance with a task.’ She commented that the students responded very well to hands-on task and enjoyed seeing the project through to completion.

Mr Fox, who manages the B Block Student Support space, commented that the raised garden beds are a practical addition, that add beauty to the space. He is looking forward to seeing the fruit of the students’ labour as the plants grow and develop.

We love seeing our students engaged in their lessons and applying their skills to real-life situations.

Shannon Fox
HODSS Year 10

Senior School

Senior Jerseys 2025

The first order for the 2025 Senior Jersey will be placed on 11 November 2024. The cost of the jersey is $80, and payment should be finalised by 8 November 2024.

Jerseys from the first order will be at the school in week one of the 2025 school year.

Students wanting to purchase a jersey need to inform the Senior Jersey Co-ordinator, Mr Jenkins, of their size (sizing jerseys provided) and the name to be printed on the back of the jersey.

Guidelines for the name permitted on the back are:

Christian name or
Surname or
Christian name and surname or
Initials

Nicknames and shortened or altered surnames are not permitted.

Students with outstanding payments to the school will not be allowed to purchase a senior jersey until all other payments are finalised.

A subsequent order will be placed in late February 2025 but these jerseys do not arrive at the school until after the Easter holidays.

Any queries regarding the senior jerseys should be directed to Mr Jenkins (54806359).

2024 State School Leavers Survey

The Queensland Government is following up on Year 10, 11 and 12 students who left school in 2023, before completing Year 12. Students will receive a letter with a personalised link to complete a 5-minute survey regarding their activities since leaving school. Students may also be contacted by email or phone and have the chance to win an iPad for participating. Please encourage them to take part. If their contact details have changed, please update with the interviewer or forward the instructions so they can participate. For more information, visit www.qld.gov.au/nextstep/ or telephone toll free on 1800 068 587.

Awards Night 2024

The annual James Nash State High School Awards Night is fast approaching. This year's event will be held on Wednesday, the 13th of November from 5.30pm for a 6pm sharp start at the Pavilion. Parents and Carers of students receiving an award will receive an email in the coming weeks with the invitation and instructions on how to RSVP.

First Nations News

Leaders 2025

Applications for leaders for 2025 were given to all students at the Term 3 First Nations parade. Fifteen students are interested in becoming a First Nations leader next year and have completed and submitted their forms for consideration.

Cultural Engagement 2025

Members from the community have been invited to meet with the school to map out a plan for cultural engagement in the school for 2025.

Deadly_Start_Recruitment_flyer.pdf

Science

On Wednesday September 11, a group of enthusiastic year 10 students visited the University of the Sunshine Coast Gympie Campus. The day was designed to engage and inform students about courses and careers in the health industry, including paramedics, nursing, nutrition and dietetics, and psychology. Workshops were run by USC tutors and professionals in the field. Students enjoyed the day (especially the ambulance experience) and returned to school inspired and well informed.

Year 11 biology students are attending an Experience Ecology event on Tuesday October 29. This is an integral part of their Unit 3 Biology subject matter, as they will complete mandatory practicals and learn skills to assist in upcoming assessment tasks. Students are required to bring a hat and plenty of water, as the day is spent mostly outdoors conducting ecological field studies on the UQ campus.

On Tuesday November 12, year 10 students that have selected a senior science subject for 2025 are participating in a Senior Science Skills Day run by UQ academic staff. A series of workshops addressing critical thinking, experimental risk management and science assessment literacy will enhance students’ skills and provide a head start into senior science.

Year 8 and 9 students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) will also travel to St Lucia on November 22 for the Spotlight on STEM Day. Workshops will inspire students to become our next generation of STEM practitioners, as they learn about new and contemporary innovation and enterprise in STEM. This event is available to all STEM enthusiasts, but especially for students from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Students may still register for this excursion by returning a consent form to Mrs Tompkins in the D block staffroom. CALD students are encouraged to attend.

These are awesome opportunities for our students, especially given that James Nash SHS is one of the very few regional public schools to be involved. Thanks goes to the teachers and parents involved for supporting our students to enhance their education.

Hydro STEM Scholarships

Queensland Hydro STEM scholarships are provided by Queensland Hydro to support the development of STEM skills in the local region and in recognition of the important contribution education makes to the STEM industries.

Applications are now open for students entering Year 11 or 12 in 2025 (currently in Year 10 or 11). There are ten $1000 scholarships available for each year level. If you are interested, complete and submit your application forms to Student Services by October 28, 2024.

Scholarship funds will be credited to the school account of the successful applicant and can be used to offset all relevant costs associated with schooling including but not limited to:

• School fees and resource scheme contributions

• Excursions and camps

• Uniforms

• Textbooks

• Stationary

• Digital technology fees

• Tutoring fees

• Transport costs

• Fees associated with study and future pathways

The Arts

Year 11 Visual Art in Practice Completes Part 1 of Mural Project

Last Friday, 18th October, our Year 11 Visual Art in Practice students completed Part 1 of their large-scale mural, a key feature of their curriculum project this term. With the theme “Celebrating Local Native Environments,” the mural is designed to beautify our school and highlight the natural beauty and biodiversity of the Gympie region.

The mural incorporates vibrant images of native Australian plants and animals, chosen to resonate with people of all ages. Through bright colours symbolizing positivity and joy, and elements like the dawn representing new beginnings, the artwork conveys an uplifting message. Human hands in the mural symbolize empowerment, while stars emphasize our deep connection to place.

Students have made fantastic progress, and we’re excited to see the finished mural on the end of C Block. It will stand as a lasting celebration of our local environment and its importance to our community. Stay tuned for more updates as the project continues!

Sports Update

Sports Awards Night

On the 15th of October, we proudly hosted our annual James Nash Sports Awards Night, celebrating the outstanding achievements of our athletes across various sports. The evening was a tremendous success, featuring the exceptional contributions of our House Captains and the presence of special guest, Kevin Cook, who added to the prestige of the event.

We would like to extend congratulations to our MVPs and special award winners, including:

Junior Sportsperson of the Year: Charlotte Reed
Senior Sportsperson of the Year: Oliver Pratt

Open Girls Futsal MVP: Mia Kennedy
U13 Boys Futsal MVP: Mav Kennedy
U15 Boys Futsal MVP: Jayden Geary
U16 Boys Futsal MVP: Henry C
U15 Boys Football MVP: Cooper Hall
U13 Boys Rugby Union - Fraser Coast 7s MVP: Burt Burns
U15 Boys Rugby Union - Fraser Coast 7s MVP: Zeb H
OPEN Boys Rugby Union - Fraser Coast 7s MVP: Lucas McBride
U15 Girls Rugby Union - Fraser Coast 7s MVP: Melina Falk
Open Girls Rugby Union - Fraser Coast 7s MVP: Madison Pomerenke
U14 Boys Rugby Union MVP: Wes Crutcher
U15 Boys Rugby Union MVP: Zeb Holt
U16 Girls Rugby Union MVP: Sarena Manssen
Boys Hockey MVP: Jonathon W
Girls Hockey MVP: Savanah Wallace
Boys Volleyball MVP: Jackson Taylor
Girls Volleyball MVP: Emily Jackson

A special thank you goes out to Miss Salt, Miss Crabtree, Mrs Webster, Mrs Swift and Miss McClintock for the countless hours they dedicated behind the scenes and for organising such a fantastic event. I would also like to highlight a special mention to Mr. Hoy for his remarkable work with The Bench Press Team.

Thank you to everyone who made this night memorable, and congratulations to all our athletes for their dedication and hard work throughout the year.

My New Gallery

Special Recognition

JNSHS is proud to extend a very special recognition to Mr. Jenkins for his outstanding contributions to rugby union and school sports.

Rod’s dedication, spanning from 1995 to 2024, has left a lasting impact at the school, regional, and state levels in Rugby Union. Over the years, Mr. Jenkins has played numerous vital roles, including becoming a Life Member of the Queensland Rugby Football School Union, and serving as Queensland Schoolboys Under 18 Manager and Independent Selector, all of which have been instrumental in developing young athletes across the state.

His commitment to Rugby Union has been extensive, working with various age groups. In 2006, he successfully convened the State Championships in Gympie, highlighting his dedication to growing the sport in the region.

One of Mr. Jenkins' key achievements at James Nash State High School was transitioning the school's rugby team from the Wide Bay competition to the more competitive Sunshine Coast Schools competition. This move provided students with greater opportunities to compete at a higher level, broadening their experiences and growth in the sport.

As a long-time Sunshine Coast School Rugby Union Board Member, including serving as Chair of the Management Group, and as a Board Member of the Sunshine Coast Rugby Union at the club level, Mr. Jenkins has consistently shown unwavering dedication to the rugby community. His legacy with the Gympie Hammers Rugby Club—where he has been Life Member, President, Coach, Captain, and much more—is a testament to his deep and enduring connection to the sport at all levels.

For more than 25 years, Mr. Jenkins has been a pillar of rugby at James Nash SHS, serving as Coach, Manager, Convenor, and Organizer, shaping countless young athletes. His passion, leadership, and commitment to both the school and the wider rugby community are truly exceptional.

It is also our honour to also announce that Mr. Jenkins has been awarded Life Membership of Wide Bay School Sport, in recognition of his extraordinary service and contributions.

On behalf of all the students you have encouraged through rugby union, thank you, and congratulations, Mr Jenkins.

Gympie Trade Training Centre

Spring is in the air!

In 2023, GTTC students in the Construction Cert 1 program built brick flower beds as part of their coursework. Now, these flower beds are being repurposed by Cert 1 Horticulture students to grow vegetables. This collaboration between the construction and horticulture programs showcases the practical application of their skills, turning classroom projects into sustainable gardening initiatives. The horticulture students are gaining hands-on experience in plant care and garden management, bringing fresh produce to life while building on the foundations laid by their peers.

Students Bella and Brooke took on the challenge of building a vegetable trolley for Gympie South State School. The trolley, designed for Year 3 students to sell their homegrown produce, was a brilliant success. Using their hands-on skills, the girls crafted a sturdy and functional trolley, helping younger students engage in entrepreneurial activities while promoting healthy eating and sustainability at the school. Their work is a testament to creativity and teamwork.

Finance News

Student Resource Scheme

James Nash SHS operates a Student Resource Scheme (SRS) to provide parents access to individual student resources not funded by the government. The school develops the SRS based on specific resources needed by students and the programs offered. The SRS fees and inclusions are endorsed annually by the school’s Parents and Citizens’ Association (Thursday 14 November) and parents are provided with this information each year via the website. Participation in the SRS is optional and parents who opt out of the SRS are responsible for supplying the necessary resources for their child.

The Textbook and Resource Allowance (TRA) is a Queensland government initiative that provides financial assistance to parents/carers of eligible secondary school students to help reduce the cost of education resources. For parents/carers or independent students who choose to participate in the Student Resource Scheme (SRS), the TRA is applied as a credit to reduce the annual SRS fee.

Parents who have previously signed a Student Resource Scheme participation form, do not need to sign a new one each year, the agreement remains in place for the duration of the student’s enrolment.

We understand that the cost of living is at an all-time high at the moment and as such we have endeavoured to keep our fees as low as possible whilst still being able to provide students quality resources and learning opportunities. We also offer various payment plan options to support parents in the payment of school fees.

Setting up a payment plan before the start of next year, can alleviate any stress involved in paying fees, ensure fees are paid on time and students remain financial. Payment plans can also be put in place for any upcoming excursions or camps throughout the year.

Payment Plans Options

Centrepay
eDDR Bpoint
Qkr!
Direct Transfer

2025 SRS Fees (TBC)

Years 7-9 $200 per year ($6.65 per week over 30 weeks)

ATAR students $220 per year ($7.35 per week over 30 weeks)

NON-ATAR students $250 per year ($8.35 per week over 30 weeks)

If you would like more information, please contact the Finance desk on 5480 6306 or complete the attached payment plan request form.

srs_participation_agreement_form.pdf

Payment_Plan_2025_72_.pdf

James Nash P&C

2025 Student Resource Scheme

On Thursday 14 November, the P&C will be discussing the 2025 Student Resource Scheme fees. Come along and have your input in 2025 school fees. The meeting will be held at 6pm in the Admin building.

P&C meetings are a great opportunity for you to be involved in your school community and facilitate its development and further improvement, to achieve the best possible outcomes for students. Everyone is welcome to attend.

QParents

Parents, student academic reports for Semester 1 are available now! QParents users will be able to view and download report cards online as soon as they are published. It’s not too late to register for QParents – just contact the school administration to request an invitation.

Community Notices

A friendly hello from Gunyah of Wellness Medical Centre! We're excited to introduce ourselves as your new local healthcare provider, dedicated to strengthening the wellbeing of our community.

At Gunyah of Wellness we believe in healthcare that’s unique. Our practice offers comprehensive and culturally empowering health services, welcoming everyone in our diverse community while specialising in Indigenous care. We're not just another medical centre, we're your partners in health addressing every aspect of your wellbeing - right here in Gympie!

Our extensive range of services includes:

Bulk Billing (all concession card holders, under 16s, and all First Nations people)
Telehealth appointments for our regular patients
715, Healthy Hearts, and all other health checks
Care for the whole family - men's, women's, and children’s health
Vaccinations
Mental and social wellbeing support
Diabetes screening and care
Allied Health referrals
Skilled nursing services
REFOCUS programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait families needing extra support

If you have questions, we've got answers! Reach out to our friendly team:

Call: 1800 REFOCUS (press 1 for Gunyah, then 2 for Gympie)
Email: gunyahgympie@refocus.org.au
Visit: www.refocus.org.au/gunyah-of-wellness/
Or pop in and say hello at 21 Excelsior Road, Gympie

Gympie_Gunyah_Brochure.pdf

headspace_halloween_flyer_.pdf

SSBI_A5_Flyer_V1.pdf

Saver_Plus_Information_Sessions_5_.pdf

Newsletter - Issue 7, 2024