6 June 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents,

Good news travels fast and at the moment, Coolum State High School is travelling at light speed! The news of our transformation into an educational force to be reckoned with here on the Sunshine Coast has begun to spread far and wide. Our students have the potential to shine so brightly and that’s just what they’ve been doing over the past term. Not only have we continued to look the part in neat and tidy uniforms, but our attendance numbers have also continued to improve and students are striving for excellence on a daily basis.

Some of this excellence was on display to the wider community when our Year 10s went out on their week of work experience. The amazing feedback from businesses who provided our students with a taste of their aspirational occupation continues to roll in and is a testament to the strong work ethic instilled in these young people both at home and at school. Not only this, but their neat appearance, polite manners and respect to others has also been at the forefront of these wonderful comments. Congratulations Year 10 on a job well done!

In the younger year levels, we have also had some truly outstanding achievements with our Wind Symphony ensemble, whose performance at Fanfare earnt them a silver award! What a magnificent accomplishment for an ensemble mostly made up of Year 7, 8 and 9 students! I’m told no other middle school band on the Sunshine Coast has reached this level and am astounded by their growing professionalism and skill every time I hear them perform. I’d like to congratulate each and every student for their dedication, diligence and commitment not only to honing their craft, but to their team mates within each ensemble: this is what success looks like. Turning up to every practice, respecting each other and working as a team! Special congratulations must go to their teacher and coordinator Sharelle Guest who is a wonderful example of the calibre of teaching staff here at Coolum SHS. With our Instrumental Music Academy students making up the majority of members in our school bands and groups, there is no doubt that we are generating some of the best musicians on the coast here at Coolum. I’m sure this is just the start of a long line of achievements for our excellent Instrumental Music Academy students and ensembles!

With our transformations and accomplishments starting to filter through to the wider community, Coolum SHS is beginning to assert itself as a group of students and teachers ready to take their place amongst the best on the coast. Our enrolment numbers have steadily increased because of this and coupled with the growing popularity of our coastal lifestyle, the school’s population spiked this year to over 1100 students. This trend is set to continue. Our new classrooms and the Smart Futures Centre have ensured that our campus has grown with this expansion of students, but there are other facets of Coolum SHS requiring further development.

For our Uniform Shop, economic and supply factors coupled with increasing student numbers have meant that the sheer volume of stock and the processes required to move it to the right student at the right time, have become enormous. The dedicated volunteer team staffing the Uniform Shop have done a remarkable job servicing the needs of Coolum families in the past, yet sadly we have outgrown the current structure of this essential service. As such, the Uniform shop will be put out to tender as a separate business entity in the coming weeks.

The on-site Uniform Shop will continue to trade this year until our transition to an off-site trading venue, most likely one that can open 7-days per week, is complete. We will continue to communicate with our school community with as much information as possible and all possible care will be taken to ensure that we have the best options available in regards to both the quality and affordability of uniforms for parents and students.

I would sincerely like to thank every parent and community member who has been involved with the running and staffing of the Uniform Shop. We belong to a special community, where people support each other and pride themselves in providing help and services to everyone in Coolum. Our growth as a high school is inevitable from both a coastal population perspective and our growing reputation as a school where excellence is expected and maintained. However, this growth does not signal the end of that precious schooling community nor our connections to wider Coolum: we are robust and supported with our Year 10 work experience success a great example of this! Opportunities where parents can remain involved in their children’s schooling and community include attending and becoming a member of the P&C, volunteering at the canteen, attending student performances and events and participating in information nights, parent teacher interviews, tours and seminars. Through this participation our very special Coolum SHS community will not only remain strong, but thrive just as our students are!

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.

A User’s Guide to the Brain: Understanding Neuroscience to Nurture Young Minds!

We are very excited to announce that our school has arranged Associate Professor Michael Nagel to present a parent information evening around adolescent brain development. This will occur on Wednesday 27 June from 6pm-7pm in our new Smart Futures Centre.

A synopsis of the presentation:

• What are the most important things you can do to foster healthy development in your child’s developing brain?
• How do you support the mind of a child transitioning into high school and those already in the midst of a sea of adolescent energy?
• What does technology do to a young brain?
• What are the keys to developing emotional regulation in children?

Scientists know! This presentation shares what the latest science has to say about the developing brain and how to nurture that development. The presentation also debunks a number of myths related to brain development and explores the merits behind products and programs, suggesting that they can hyper-stimulate learning. The overall aim is to develop an understanding of how the brain develops, how to help young minds and explore works the key factors involved with nurturing a young mind.

Dr Michael Nagel is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of the Sunshine Coast where he teaches and researches in the areas of cognition, human development, behaviour and learning. He is the author of thirteen books on child development and learning used by teachers and parents in over twenty countries and has delivered over 300 workshops and seminars for parents and teachers nationally and internationally. Nominated as Australian Lecturer of the Year each year since 2010, Dr Nagel has been an invited guest on ‘TV New Zealand Breakfast’, ‘Canada AM’, ‘Sunrise’, ‘A Current Affair’ and ‘The Project’. Dr Nagel is also the Queensland Director of the Australian Council on Children and the Media, is a member of the prestigious International Neuropsychological Society, and is a feature writer for ‘Jigsaw’ and the ‘Child’ series of magazines which collectively offers parenting advice to more than one million Australian readers.

This is a presentation that no parent can afford to miss! Parents from our local primary schools are also welcomed to attend. Lock it in to your diaries – see you there.

Terry Proctor
Deputy Principal Junior Secondary

Deputy Principal - Middle Secondary

Academic excellence is linked to attendance

The three pillars of our school are Care, Respect and Excellence. In an academic setting, excellence is rarely achieved without excellent attendance. At Coolum SHS we have an attendance goal of 95%. Currently our school attendance rate is 91.3%. This means that on average, every student is missing 17 days of school a year, or missing out on 3.5 weeks of their education every year!

The Queensland Government provides excellent information to parents about the importance of attendance through its “Every Day Counts” campaign including the fact that regular attendance at school means students learn better, make better friends and have a brighter future.

If you are having problems getting your child to school, you could try to create a routine in your household to assist them. Ideas include:

• Have a set time for them to go to bed
• Remove all devices after a set time and disallow them from students’ bedrooms
• Set a time for daily activities and homework
• Speak positively about school with your child
• Help them to have their uniform and bag ready to go the night before
• Be firm in your insistence that your child attend school every day
• Schedule holidays in school holiday time.
• Where possible, schedule appointments after school

If you are still having difficulty getting your child to go to school, you should contact the school as soon as possible for advice and support.

Being at school is fundamental to your child’s success at school and in life.

Wendy McDermott
Deputy Principal Middle Secondary

Deputy Principal - Senior Secondary

Throughout Term 2 we have held Year 10 Parent Information Sessions that outline the current information for the NEW QCE being introduced in 2019. It has been stressed to parents that students need to select an ATAR or Non ATAR pathway first before selecting appropriate subjects. In addition to ATAR and NON ATAR information, we have outlined the new eligibility rules for the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).

A student’s first priority is to identify their intended pathway: either an ATAR pathway (university bound) or NON ATAR pathway (trade or employment). To support this process, students have been undertaking career guidance with the Guidance Officers to ensure they have the appropriate information to select their ideal career pathway. We are in the process of finalising the subject line structure for 2019, though it is important to remember that subjects will only run in 2019 if enough students select them.

Lee Merrett
Deputy Principal Senior Secondary

Wind Symphony success!

A Silver Honourable Award in Division 2 at Fanfare might seem like a decent achievement for any school. But for our Wind Symphony Academy Program, it is a strong indicator that the school’s investment in Music is paying off. In the first six months of the Wind Symphony Program, students have experienced double the contact time in specialist lessons and rehearsals with their Instrumental Music teachers as well as the opportunity to work with leading Australian practitioners Greg Aitken and Dr Rob McWilliams.

The increased program intensity enables conductor and multi-instrumental specialist, Sharelle Guest, to develop the technique of her young students, the majority of which are from years 7, 8 and 9. The result at Fanfare demonstrates the groups’ potential for future success, noted by the adjudicator, who commented on the progression of the Wind Symphony.

Emma Clarke
Head of Department – Creative Arts

Technology Faculty News

I have recently taken over as the Head of Department for Technology and have been delighted with outcomes that are being achieved. Below are two of the recent activities students have been involved in.

Industry Breakfast – The Hospitality students recently catered for the Industry Breakfast. Guided by their teacher Miss Murray, they spent several days ordering and preparing an amazing selection of food. On the day of the breakfast, the students along with a selection of Home Economic teachers arrived at 6.00am and started preparing and heating the food. By 7.15am they had it all prepared and presented it beautifully. Somehow they also found time to decorate the room! Below are some images of their exceptional work.

Design projects from waste

Year 8 Sustainable Design and Management students have been working on designing a project from waste products. They have used the design process to come up with some very innovative ideas. They could choose what they wanted to make as long as it was useful. They have chosen a wide variety of products from hand planes to skate decks and even a pair of shoes!

Tracy Ford
Head of Department – Technology

Debating

During a very successful debating practice on Wednesday afternoon, four teams of Year 9 students versed each other to debate the topic that “Homework is a waste of time”. Students brainstormed in teams of three, to develop their arguments, then versed each other, delivering some very convincing speeches. The afternoon highlighted the fact that we have some real talent here at Coolum State High School and many students demonstrated their strong potential as debaters, which all bodes well for an exciting tournament in Term 3. Special thanks to Callum White, who helped organise the practice, coached furiously for an hour and then adjudicated both debates professionally. Thanks also to Eli Bucknall for his help and coaching expertise. These two students worked selflessly to make the practice such a success. Thanks to everyone for being there. You’re all amazing! Keep a look out in notices and emails for details of the next practice.

Colette Webber
Debating Coach

Getting the best out of Tutorials

Tutorials are designed to complement classroom lessons. In classes, content, skills and activities are presented by a teacher to a large number of students (i.e. up to 28 students). During lessons (70 minutes) teachers try to maximise opportunities to discuss and question the content and skills being taught. Mathematically, students can access a maximum of 2.5 minutes of individual or one on one time. Tutorials (‘tutes’) are less formal than classes and are conducted in smaller groups, and are also one on one.

Why attend Tutorials?

Tutorials give you the opportunity to actively engage with the course content and get to know other students and teachers, in a relaxed and conducive environment. You can ask questions about the information presented in the classes and clarify issues related to the course, for example, how best to approach an assessment task. As a result, tutes can improve:

1. academic performance
2. attitude towards learning and school
3. self-esteem and confidence (overcoming learning obstacles)
4. work and study habits
5. independence (manage own learning) and responsibility
6. relationships with teachers.

You can learn from a variety of other teachers (i.e. different perspectives) and you can utilise other students’ knowledge, also known as peer tutoring. This means that tutorials can save you study time (& money as all teachers attend voluntarily) and help you to prepare for assignments and exams.

Your role in Tutorials

Tutorials can be stimulating and also a lot of fun. However, their success depends on the participation of the students. You will get more out of a tutorial if you:

• actively participate in tutorials (i.e. go with a goal), be constructive
• ask questions to clarify your understanding of the topic with which you require help
• work as a team – study group
• bring your required resources to tutes (HW Sheets) including assessment tasks
• be respectful and patient.

Preparing effectively for Tutorials

You need to be prepared to participate actively in your tutorials. The more preparation you do, the more valuable the tutorial will be for you. Consider:

1. pre-discussing with your classroom teacher that you are attending tutorials and would appreciate help
2. knowing what you need help with (be specific)
3. having a go yourself, get feedback (we learn best this way

Frequently asked questions

Q. Where are tutorials held?
A. The Smart Futures building which is G block

Q. When are Tutorials on?
A. Tutorials on Wednesdays, starting at 3pm and finishing at 4.15pm.

Q. Are students supervised?
A. Absolutely, students are fully supervised whilst in tutorials and students are required to be on their best behaviour.

Q. Are students given snacks at tutorials?
A. Yes, students are given healthy food (fruit – donated by Whites IGA).

Q. Are Tutorials for Maths and Science only?
A. No. All subject areas are covered and a variety of teachers from all curriculum areas attend.

Consider forming a study group with other students to tackle studies, homework, understanding classwork and assessment tasks.

Paul Olsen
Head of Department - Science

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Industry Reference Group and Mock Interviews

Our Term 2 Industry Reference Group (IRG) Breakfast was a great success with over 50 attendees representing a range of industries from the local Sunshine Coast Community.

We had two guest speakers from John Holland Group who talked about their role in the Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion project and the opportunities that this may present for our students going forward.

Several of our IRG members also assisted with our Mock Interview event for Year 11 Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways (FSK20113) students. This event is a valuable opportunity for students to experience an interview situation and gain some feedback from an industry representative around future career plans.

Thank you to Subway at Coolum Beach who kindly donated lunch for our IRG volunteers. Your support of our school is appreciated.

Certificate III in Aviation (Remote Pilot - Visual Line of Sight)

Coolum SHS is excited to be able to offer current Year 11 Vocational Pathway students an opportunity to undertake a Certificate III in Aviation (Remote Pilot – Visual Line of Sight)

This qualification provides students the opportunity to operate drones and they will gain the following:

• A CASA Remote Pilot licence – RePL
• A CASA licence to operate an aeronautical radio – AROC
• A CASA English Language Proficiency Test Certification – ELP
• A nationally recognised qualification to give you the skills to operate as a commercial pilot of a UA
• You will be able to operate a UAV in day VFR condition
• Understanding of Navigation, Meteorology, Human Factors, Regulations and Policies, Situational Awareness
• Experience in operation and management of remote aircraft in normal and abnormal situations

The course will begin in Semester 2 and continue into Year 12. Fees are fully funded for those students who have access to VETiS Funding.

Interested Year 11 Vocational Pathway students should contact the VET office in DBA or email Mr Walden to register interest and discuss eligibility. The course will only be offered if we have sufficient student interest.

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

SIT30616 Certificate III Hospitality – Goodness Gracious Café, Yandina
SIT30616 Certificate III Hospitality – The Coffee Training Co, Noosaville
SIT30616 Certificate III Hospitality – Aromas, Noosa
SIT30616 Certificate III Hospitality – Pizza Capers, Noosa Junction
SIT30616 Certificate III Hospitality – Zabe Espresso Bar, Tewantin
SIT30616 Certificate III Hospitality – Laughing Lobster, Marcoola

If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please contact the VET office and complete an EOI form.

Full-Time Opportunity for 2019

Hastings Deering has announced that apprenticeship applications open on 28 May. There are 52 placements on offer throughout Queensland. Placements for apprenticeships are offered for diesel fitters, boilermaker fitter machinists, auto electricians, engine re-conditioners and mechanical fitters. Further information about these opportunities is available on the Hastings Deering website.

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)

Health and Physical Education News

It is always busy in the PE faculty and recent weeks have been no exception with a variety of classes moving through their units of work and working towards upcoming assessment. Our senior Sport and Recreation students have been doing a great job in learning how to conduct activities to younger groups. This is an invaluable skill to be able to organize others and is a highly sought after skill by future employers. Our Outdoor Recreation students are also working hard leading up to their assessment camp early in Term 3. Year 11 students will be doing an extended bushwalk in the mountains around Maroon Outdoor Education Centre whilst the Year 12 students will be working on achieving their competencies in abseiling and belaying others. These are specialised qualifications that are rare to come by which put our students at a significant advantage when trying to gain employment in the booming Outdoor Recreation industry. Students always come away from this camp with a real insight in to how far they can really push themselves outside their comfort zone and they are able to transfer this knowledge in to a great deal of applications.

The year 8 Interschool Sport students played their third round of games against Nambour SHS last week. Both Boys and Girls touch, soccer, and basketball teams all managed to record wins this week. Teams are looking good for the finals. In the next round students with travel to take on Sunshine Beach.

Several students recently participated in the regional surfing trials. There were some great results with six students successfully gaining selection into the regional team. It is very rare for one school to have so many students selected in to the regional team for an individual sport, this is a real testament to the exceptional level of performance that the Coolum SHS surfers are consistently displaying.

Students selected to compete in the Regional Surfing Titles are:

U/16 Girls

3rd Ellia Smith

U/16 Boys

1st Brae Edgerton
2nd Ashton Pignat
5th Kai Barraclough

U/16 Girls

3rd Kara Petersen
5th Kelly Pocock

Liana Walsh also made her way through a very tough quarter final heat to finish in seventh position in the U/19 Girls and may receive a call up for the Presidents team with such a fantastic performance.

A special mention must go to the U/16 Boys for earning the right to contest the MR shield at the State Titles. Coolum has a big reputation in this event having won the Australian title twice in recent years, we hope the boys will be able to continue with that tradition.

We wish all our surfers the best of luck at the upcoming State Titles on the Gold Coast.

Christina Fiducioso
Sports Coordinator

Sunshine Coast School Girls Netball competition

Our Senior and Intermediate girls unfortunately didn’t make finals, however our Junior team ranked 5th overall. We were very pleased considering the Juniors have never played with each other before. All girls in the competition showed great sportsmanship, enthusiasm and determination in each game!

Rachel Denning
Health & Physical Education Teacher