SCHOOL NEWS
MAKING PAYMENTS ON COMPASS (‘CASHLESS FINANCE OFFICE’)
The College continues to head in the direction of ‘going cashless’ with regards to receiving payments from parents for any school related events.
We have continuously encouraged parents to make payments for subject contributions, camps, excursions and any event via Compass. In order for parents to do this, a credit card is required.
For those parents who do not have a credit card, a ‘Load & Go Reloadable Visa Prepaid Card’ could be a good option to consider. These cards can be purchased at a Post Office. Please visit the link below for further information.
Jennie Kim-Ross
Business Manager
LEGAL STUDIES EXCURSION
On Tuesday 15 May Ms D’Ambrosio’s Legal Studies class experienced an excursion to the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.
We got to see how a court hearing plays out and heard a variety of cases in many different courtrooms, some of which involved repeated offenders driving under a suspended license and using drugs like cannabis.
We also were able to hear the type of sentences that a Magistrate could possibly give a defendant based on the crime he/she had committed. For example, being under curfew (having to be home during 9pm -10am) unless in the accompaniment of a parent or in another case, where a defence lawyer went above and beyond for their client when the Magistrate was ready to give them 6 months - 2 years in prison. The defence lawyer managed to reduce it to a measly 3 days with 250 hours worth of volunteer work!!!
Overall, it was a very new and interesting experience and felt that we all took something valuable away from this experience.
Thanks to Ms D’Ambrosio for organising this trip and giving us the opportunity to experience a live court hearing.
Anthea Dimas
Year 11 Student
WEIGHT OF SCHOOL BAGS
The topic of the weight of school bags and their contents has been discussed in newsletters previously however, it is always relevant to for us to revisit this information and for those families new to McKinnon.
The findings of many studies are now confirming that there is a definite link between carrying heavy school bags and long term back and neck pain. If we carry more than 10% of our total body weight regularly, we are at risk. This is unless we distribute the weight correctly. Laptops are now required so this adds to the weight.
It is a battle to get our students to wear their backpack properly but according to the Queensland Department of Education, ‘Backpacks, rather than traditional school bags or sports bags with handles, allow the load to be carried more evenly over both shoulders’.
Many of our students choose to carry too much home on a daily basis. Often they carry unnecessary items such as a textbook when it has an e-link.
Here are a few tips that can help lighten the load:
- If students carry a lunch box, use a soft lunchbox as it is much lighter;
- Carry empty water bottles and then fill them on arrival at school;
- Pack the heavier items, closer to the body;
- Clean out school bags regularly as many unnecessary items are often found in the bottom of them. (As it is nearing the end of semester, it may be time to look inside the school bag and remove unnecessary items.);
- If the textbook has an ‘e-link’ be smarter with its use.
If you want further information please click on the link to the article from Queensland Department of Education.
http://education.qld.gov.au/health/pdfs/healthsafety/factsheet_hevbags.pdf
Susan Wilken
Health Liaison