14 March 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents,

With our students and campus looking fantastic, Coolum High is in great shape. And whilst ‘looking the part’ goes a long way toward developing a culture of belonging and respect amongst our students and staff, as a school we must also be completely focussed on relentlessly pursuing excellence in both teaching and learning. Concurrently, we have been examining the policies and procedural bones of Coolum SHS in an effort to confirm the strength and integrity of the education delivered to your child, whilst consistently progressing towards excellence. Our School Data Plan is one such way the School Council and Administration can ensure we are meticulously and transparently improving at Coolum SHS.

Make no mistake, we intend to be a great school and ensure that all of our student achievement outcomes are the best they possibly can be!

Our most important method in gauging how successful we are is in the measurement of several key areas. We have identified eight areas for measurement, with the four most important being:

1. Literacy
2. Numeracy
3. Levels of Achievement (Report Card Information)
4. Attendance

We can measure these through external methods such as NAPLAN and the Queensland Core Skills (QCS) test, as well as internal assessment procedures conducted by Coolum SHS staff and administrators. The final four areas cover Year 12 data gleaned from the QCE, OPs, VET completion rates and post-school destinations of those graduating students. The measurement and comparison of each field from year to year enables the school to pinpoint areas of distinction or concern so that we might modify and therefore improve the way education is delivered to each Coolum SHS student.

To aid and inform the attainment of excellence in education, we have identified certain targets to be achieved within these measurements during 2018 and 2019. These include:

• Graduate destinations
  Each and every student will have a clear and seamless pathway from our gates into employment, further training or higher education. Targets for our Year 12s include every individual graduating with a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and the completion of all VET Certificates, 85% of the cohort achieving OP 1-15s and improved Queensland Core Skills (QCS) results overall.
• NAPLAN
  Whilst NAPLAN can never be the sum total of our students’ achievements, or your child’s worth, the data collected cannot be overlooked. As such, our targets for the 2018 NAPLAN test are to aim to be at or above the national average, a goal our students, under the care and guidance of our teachers, are more than capable of achieving.
• Levels of Achievement
  At least 90% of students across all year groups will obtain levels of achievement within the A-C range, with those achieving under this range given every opportunity and aid to improve.
• Attendance
  Attending school each and every day is central to every student’s success. In 2018, our target is to have an attendance rate of greater than 92%.

The leadership team will review, in consultation with teachers, students and parents, all collated data and targets in the areas identified above. From here, we will suggest and implement ways in that we can improve in areas that need attention, and maintain or excel further in fields experiencing success.

As we strive to be the great school we all wish to be, we will pay careful and special attention to the outcomes of all our students. At Coolum High, we are prepared to do “Whatever it Takes” to ensure that each and every one of our students is successful, in partnership with our engaged and determined parents.

The School Data Plan acts as a map and checklist which allows the School Council and administrators to gain an unobstructed view of our students’, and our school’s, performance. It is an important step in charting the best course of action to achieve excellence for us all. Coolum State High School has the potential to be one of the best schools in Queensland on any measure. This School Data Plan will help us get there and most importantly, serves to improve your child’s educational outcomes.

Troy Ascott
Principal

Deputy Principal - Junior Secondary

Our Vision: That students have the confidence, desire and belief to succeed through strong foundations in literacy and numeracy.

Term 1 Assessment

Over these next couple of weeks students will be completing a number of assessment tasks for their subjects. This may range from assignments and exams, to presentations, or completing practical tasks. This is a particularly important time for Junior Secondary students as they are still learning the behaviours and skills to be successful across a range of high school assessments.

One important skill that all students will benefit from is being organised. Setting in place a number of routines at school and at home will support Junior Secondary students to achieve this. Such routines could be:

• Regular and consistent use of their school diary – writing in key dates and keeping track of homework and other tasks;
• A small, but consistent, amount of time each afternoon or evening to put aside for school work. This can be for homework, assignments or exam revision (committing information to memory);
• A consistent time for going to bed each night;
• Firm but fair rules around access to devices (phones, tablets etc) in the evenings.

Developing good routines and habits will definitely support all Junior Secondary students to be organised. Personal organisation is a skill which can be learned. Remember, students who are organised often produce work of a higher standard than those who are not.

Our Literacy Actions

As I visit Junior Secondary classrooms regularly each day, I have been very impressed with our teachers and students who are working so well on this key school improvement priority. You may have already seen your child’s notebooks with many and varied highlighted pages and be interested in what we’re doing.

The Reading-to-Learn methodology is currently being implemented across our school as part of our approach to improving literacy outcomes for every student. This is being led by Mr Robinson, Deputy Principal, and Mr Brown, Head of Department – Teaching and Learning. This methodology places a focus on all students being able to understand their grade-level texts, with highlighting key information together as a class, a key strategy. This then supports note-taking and, in turn, improves students’ ability to plan and craft their writing to a higher level.

This is a critical part of our Junior Secondary vision and our students are showing a real enthusiasm and engagement towards this.

Terry Proctor
Deputy Principal Junior Secondary

Deputy Principal - Middle Secondary

As we edge closer towards the Easter holidays, the tone in our classrooms is becoming gradually more focussed on assessment. In Years 9 and 10, the results students attain at the end of the year have the power to open up pathways in senior subjects, leading to exciting possibilities post-school. At this time of term, students need to be focussed on their classwork and working consistently towards the best possible results for their assessments. Equally important is that students are at school every day. There is a direct correlation between student attendance and results: every day counts. Congratulations to our students for continuing to work hard in the lead up to assessment; keep up the good work.

Wendy McDermott
Acting Deputy Principal Middle Secondary

Deputy Principal - Senior Secondary

As we move into the final few weeks of Term 1, it is important that our senior students are focussing and applying themselves as they prepare for the rigors of the assessment period.

It is extremely important for senior students to ensure they have left no stone unturned to achieving great results in Term 1. This will position them well for the remaining terms, and ensure they are on track and moving towards attaining their QCE. Students who miss assessment or an exam, and especially for our senior students, must produce a medical certificate in accordance with QCAA guidelines for senior assessment.

In Week 10, teachers will be asked to submit data for students’ Term 1 Report Cards which will be emailed to parents on Thursday, 29 March. This interim report will be used with other data sets to monitor student performance. Please ensure the email address on the school’s database is correct to ensure you receive your child’s Report Card.

After the Easter break, students may be interviewed regarding their performance and how they are coping with the work load of senior schooling. Year 11 students will have the opportunity to reflect on their performance and consider possible subject changes if they have not performed well in Term 1. These conversations are designed to give strategies to students on how to move their data to ensure success at the next reporting phase at the close of Semester 1 in June.

Lee Merrett
Deputy Principal Senior Secondary

Business Services News

Thank you to the families that have returned the Student Resource Scheme (SRS) form for 2018. If you have not received a form please visit the school website at the link below to download one and return as soon as possible.

The cost of the SRS fee equates to $7.50 a week, less than 2 cups of coffee. By joining the Scheme, your student will have access to essential resources for their education.

To ensure that senior students do not miss out on various upcoming events, all fees must be paid.

Dates for your Diary

P&C

Our P&C Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Monday 19 March at 6pm following our General Meeting. At this meeting, all P&C Executive positions, being President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, will become vacant and nominations are accepted and voted in. If you would like to join our P&C, including taking up one of these Executive positions in support of the school, we would love to see you at the meeting. We’re planning on a very exciting calendar of events and fundraising which will support many areas of the school, in what promises to be an exciting year in the life of Coolum State High School.

If you would like to make a nomination, please complete the attached form and bring it to the meeting. Nominations may also be made during the meeting.

The form is also available via our website:

P&C Executive

Character, Citizenship and Careers @ COOLUM HIGH

In 2018, Coolum High has implemented a whole school program which is focussed on developing students social and emotional learning, to complement student learning across all traditional subject areas (Maths, Science and English). As we are all aware, the social and emotional status of all students entering our classrooms is a huge indicator of success. This program is therefore an excellent opportunity to improve our overall student wellbeing to ensure student success in all curriculum areas at Coolum High.

The purpose of CCC@C is… to develop student character through local and global citizenship in preparing for future careers.

Care – cyber-safety, drug education, bullying, mental health, personal health and safety.
Respect – community service, active citizenship, positive behaviour, respectful relationships, education and character strengths.
Excellence – study skills, thinking skills/tools, goal setting, employability, career education and academic tracking.

In Term 1 we have had a focus on identifying character strengths, internet safety and coming up next week, bullying.

Internet Safe Education – workshops…students, staff and parents

Thank you to all parents who attended the Coolum High Internet Safe Workshop recently. Throughout the day over 800 students, 100 staff and parents reflected on their current internet practice and were asked to identify their digital footprint. Please take the opportunity to look at the excellent parent resource attached

For further information check out the link below;

Bullying. NO WAY!

National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence - Friday 16 March

Bullying is an ongoing misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour which causes physical and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power over one or more persons. Bullying can happen in person or online, and it can be obvious (overt) or hidden (covert).

As part of the National Day of Action, all students at Coolum High will participate in targeted lessons and discussions promoting the misuse of power, ongoing and repeated behaviours which cause harm. Please use the opportunity this week to provide clarity for your family relating to bullying behaviours in our community. Check out the website below for information and resources;

Robbie Koch
Head of Department - Student Services

Year 7 Camp

What a great camp! The activities were excellent; the food was delicious and plentiful and the students were amazing.

It all began on the 26 February when we boarded buses and headed towards Noosa North Shore. We faced our first stumbling block at the barge. Because it had rained so much the tide was too full and the bus couldn’t go on the barge. Students had to unload, find their luggage and walk as foot passengers onto a second barge which was provided just for them. While the teachers were complaining, the students took it in their stride, some were even excited as they had never been on a boat before. On the other side, we were met by mini buses from the camp ground.

When we arrived, the students were split into cabin groups and had a few minutes to sort themselves out before heading to lunch. After lunch, the activities began. The students rotated through archery, obstacle courses, team building activities, giant swing, night hike, mountain biking and my personal favourite, laser tag. The activities continued after dinner and concluded at about 9pm. The first night’s sleep was a little interrupted by talking students however, by the second night they were so worn out they slept soundly from 9.45pm until 6am.

Whilst the students’ behaviour was excellent, the way they treated each other was simply outstanding.The students worked together so well and if anyone was struggling with an activity, the rest of the students supported and encouraged them continuously. It was beautiful to watch. If your child was one of the students who attend camp, you should feel very proud of them.

Tracy Ford
Head of Year 7

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

As we are now into Week 8 of Term 1, it is important that students are working hard towards completing their required units of competency for this term. Please take some time this week to check in and make sure that your child is on track with their VET course work. Our Year 11 and 12 Certificate II Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways students have been busy exploring different employment industries, and preparing polished resume and cover letter documentation to assist them into the future.

School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeship Opportunities (SATs)

Under a SAT arrangement, a senior school student is released from school time to undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship in their chosen field. Current opportunities are shown below:

Current Vacancies

SIT301616 Certificate III Hospitality - Bao Down Restaurant, Mount Coolum
SIT30616 Certificate III Hospitality – Goodness Gracious Café, Yandina
SIT30616 Certificate III Hospitality – Aromas, Noosa
SIT30616 Certificate III Hospitality – Gloria Jeans, Tewantin
SIT30616 Certificate III Hospitality - Pitchfork Restaurant, Peregian
SIT30616 Certificate III Hospitality - Pizza Capers, Noosa Junction
SIT30616 Certificate III Hospitality - Sumo Salad, Maroochydore
TLI21610 Certificate II Warehousing Operations – Reece Plumbing, Coolum Beach

Certificate III Manufactured Mineral Products

There are job opportunities for people seeking to gain a Certificate III Manufactured Mineral Products qualification.

A Certificate III Manufactured Mineral Products covers the skills and knowledge required to perform a range of advanced operations within the manufactured mineral products industries.

The qualification provides the skills and knowledge relevant to the following sectors:

• cement production
• precast concrete
• pre-mixed concrete
• asphalt production
• ground minerals

By completing this qualification, you will have a good understanding of quality control, problem solving and maintaining consistent product output.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

BSB20115 Certificate II Business – ANZ Sunshine Plaza, Maroochydore

Uniting Care, various locations – Qualifications available in Business Administration, Community Services, Customer Service, Health Services, Food Services and Individual Support (Aged Care, Disabilities and Home and Community Care) fields.

If a student has a job, it may be possible to convert this employment into a SAT Agreement.

Please contact me at pwald9@eq.edu.au or 5471 5333, to discuss matters relating to Vocational Education and Training within the school.

Patrick Walden
Head of Department - Vocational Education and Training (VET)