20 June 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents,

Don’t you just love this time of year?! State of Origin time I mean, when the best of the Maroons take on the best of the Blues, when the Wallabies play a visiting international team and the Socceroos take on the world in their bid to win the FIFA World Cup. Don’t you just love the contest, the passion, the hype and the tradition?? Yes, I do have to confess that I’m a sports tragic though State of Origin takes a particular pride of place in the family sporting calendar. This dual-team competition appeals to me on a number of different levels but mostly because every player is giving everything they have for their team: there isn’t a spare ounce of energy left in any player at the end of the game. Through this annual contest, we can take many lessons about how to do well in a chosen field by showing total commitment, courage and an overwhelming sense of teamwork. Even as I watched Rafael Nadal win at Roland Garros in the tennis last week, I reflected that this individual, standing alone on the podium, is supported by a dedicated team of coaches, physicians and family members who act as a team to ensure he is at his best. Back here at Coolum State High School, we may not be wrangling our way through competitions transmitted to audiences around the world, but each and every one of us is on a quest to succeed with the support of a dedicated crew of team mates standing with us.

Year 11 student, Chloe Brunker, made State of Origin day extra special at Coolum High last week when she wore her father Adrian Brunker’s Queensland jersey to school. Adrian was a Queensland State of Origin star during the early 1990s and wore this jersey with great distinction. What a proud moment for Chloe, what a great example of team work and support years after the fact and what an extraordinary piece of Brunker family history for everyone here at Coolum High to be a part of, team work transcending the years is alive and well!

We’ve had amazing results and displays of teamwork recently at Coolum High too. You may have seen that our Cheerleaders won both the first and second division in their very first competition! Due to the acrobatic and aerobic nature of cheerleading, our students need total trust in their teammates, a commitment to working towards perfection and a huge amount of determination and dedication. Our Cheerleaders displayed these kinds of character traits by the bucketful during this recent competition; qualities which will reside within them well into their adult lives and careers. Our Cheerleading team did us proud and I have no doubt this is just the start of great things to come.

Added to this, our Year 7&8 rugby league team won the Broncos North Division Challenge, playing throughout the entire competition undefeated. These boys showed the commitment, teamwork and courage that it takes to succeed and played the game in a way that our whole community can be proud of. These students, the youngest amongst our entire schooling population, have shown how successful everyone attending Coolum High can be at anything they put their mind to achieving. And what about Ezekiel Hawkins making the Queensland soccer team – what a talented young man! Excellence is achievable for each and every student!

Combined with the recent success of our Wind Symphony, Coolum High students are proving to our entire community just what heights they are capable of. They are proving, across a wide range of disciplines, that with effective coaching and steadfast commitment we can achieve anything. They are proving that they are made of a substance of which we can all be proud; that they are worthy of our cheers and encouragement. After all, isn’t that one of the great foundations of a fantastic and successful team: a tenacious support crew? As parents, teachers and the community surrounding these Coolum High students, we are that support team standing to the side whilst they take their rightful place on the podium. And we’d all better get used to the idea: these kids are going places!

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 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

Excellence in everything we do

We said goodbye last week to the extraordinary Ms Crang, our Head of Faculty for Diverse Learners. Ms Crang is leaving to start her family and we wish her the very best. We are saying goodbye, for now, to someone who strives for excellence in everything she does, who cares for every student and their family under her care and who is always respectful in her dealings with people and resources. Ms Crang truly upholds the values of the school.

The school’s motto is care, respect and excellence and our staff and students are committed to living these values every day. We see excellence in the garden created by our Diverse Learners and Mr John Stewart as a safe space for students to be themselves; we see excellence on parade every week when our brilliant musicians perform for us; we see excellence in our Student Leaders who create opportunities for community connections and for promoting school spirit. Coolum State High School is a place where excellence thrives.

As we come to the end of the term and the pressure seems to be building, particularly for our year 10s whose results will potentially open doors for them in years 11 And 12, let’s remember to strive for excellence in our assessment. Success can be achieved through good study habits and a plan for success. Best of luck students as you complete your assessments. I urge you to be excellent.

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.

Senior students are undertaking their end of semester exams this week. They have been given a hard copy and digital copy of their exam timetable. Students only need to attend school when they have exams, they have the option to leave or stay at school and study once their exams are finished.

Reports will emailed out to parents on Friday 29 June.

Lee Merrett
Deputy Principal Senior Secondary

Business Services News

This is an important time on the school financial calendar as we are now at the end of Term 2 and all outstanding fees are now due including the Student Resource Scheme (SRS). The SRS is a very important part of the school’s financial health and I can’t stress enough the importance of this scheme and what it means to the school and our students. With income from the SRS fees, the school’s other funding would be directed in areas such as more seating for our students; replace old and rusted furniture in classrooms; improve our grounds and gardens; prioritise maintenance jobs such as leaking roofs, toilets and gutters; freshly paint our buildings and amenities inside and out and so much more. One of the many challenges we face is constantly trying to balance the budget with what is needed to ensure your child gets the best from their time at Coolum SHS.

What has the SRS allowed the school to purchase this year?

• New textbooks at a cost of approximately $20,000
• Resources for the Reading to Learn (R2L) program such as whiteboard markers, highlighters, and show-me boards
• $40 photocopying credit for your child
• Student Diary with plenty of useful information for your child to track their personal goals, track and record their academic success and jot down useful class notes
• We are also able to offer a Student ID Card as part of the scheme
• Ingredients for home economics and sewing classes
• Equipment and resources for manual arts and industrial design and technology classes
• Software licences
• Workbooks

And so much more…

Year 10 SET Planning

As we start the process next term for Year 10 SET Planning and subject selection, a 50% payment of the subject fee upon selection is required. Without this, your child will not be enrolled into the subject. The balance of the amount due for all the subjects is Week 5 of Term 3. If you have not made full payment by this time, your child will be transferred into a non-fee paying subject.

I would like to thank all families that have contributed to SRS this year and previous years, your contribution is very much valued by the school and without your participation we would not be able to support our students. Please support the scheme and help Coolum State High School be the best it can be.

I wish you all a safe and enjoyable term break and look forward to working with you in support of our students for the rest of the year. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s account.

Nolly Griffiths
Business Manager

P & C Executive

The P&C Executive have a number of key events scheduled this year, mostly for fundraising and a few for building goodwill in the school community and supporting our students. We really hope you jump on board and help make each event a success. From donating time, to donating prizes and ideas, we encourage you to get involved. If you see us around the school, pull us up for a chat.

On Monday 18 June and Wednesday 20 June we cooked and served egg and bacon rolls for the senior students as they sat their Semester 1 exams. This helped to ensure that all students faced their exams with energy and focus in order to help them do their best. We plan to do it again in Semester 2, in early November.

On Friday 22 June we are holding a ‘Scarf and Beanie Day’. A gold coin donation will permit students to wear a scarf and beanie to celebrate winter on the shortest day of the year. A great excuse to rug-up with their favourite pieces.

We are hosting a Trivia Night on Friday 3 August. We hope to make this a signature event in the annual school fundraising calendar. Further details will follow at a later date, we hope you will organise tables to join in the fun. We guarantee a great night, full of hilarity and laughs whilst raising money for the many school projects and special academic programs that are blossoming at Coolum SHS.

In November we will host a Spring Racing Carnival event as an excuse to frock up and suit up and wear a fascinator or hat and socialise over a glass of bubbles (or two).

Keep your eyes and ears out for all the promotional posters and emails and make sure you put the important dates in your diary and join in. It’s all about community and supporting each other as well as the school.

Monica Kutt
Vice President

ENGLISH at COOLUM SHS

This year students have been working extremely hard in their classrooms and their teachers have been singing their praises. Students have been engaging in Writing on Demand on a weekly basis across Years 7-9. This involves students responding to stimulus and completing writing under exam conditions. The aim of Writing on Demand is to improve their ‘writing stamina’, their ability to write in both persuasive and narrative genres, and to track student progress across the year.

Our students have also been learning their curriculum using the Reading to Learn (R2L) methodology of David Rose. Students deconstruct texts to understand concepts, vocabulary and structure, then reconstruct a text using an exemplar to support them. Students who often find English challenging have commented about how it has improved their understanding, and teachers have found this way of teaching the curriculum to be beneficial.

Changes to Year 10 English

From Semester 2, students will be prepared for the New 2019 Senior English curriculum. It is extremely important for our Year 10 cohort to be well prepared for the new senior course which means students will be placed in one of the following courses: Prep General English, Prep Literature, or Prep Essential English. Their Semester 1 results will play a significant role in where students are placed. Students will receive a new timetable at the beginning of Term 3. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me via email ecurn1@eq.edu.au .

In 2019, students will have to select from one of two strands of English – General English (ATAR) or Essential English. In addition to this, we are excited to be able to offer Literature as an Elective choice. This will appeal to those students who have a love of literature and enjoy studying English.

Continue to encourage your child to read wherever and whenever they can. There is nothing more powerful than connecting with characters in a text and learning through literature.

Mrs Emma Curnow
English Head of Department

Cheerleading Academy news

The Cheerleading Academy have smashed it at their first ever competition, Rock N Cheer. The event held on Sunday 10 June was hosted by Cheerleading United Australia. Entering teams into level 1 and level 2, they both came away with 1st place! If that wasn’t enough, Coolum High’s Kobi Higgins took Best Tumbler! Amazing! To top off an already fantastic day, Coolum High were awarded Best Cheer School.

The academy only commenced in January this year; despite this short time of working together these amazing results are a testament to each member’s commitment to regular practice as well as a clear display of their great team spirit. Special thanks must go to coaches Hayley Green and Jada Green, they have gone the extra mile in providing quality tuition as well as exceptional opportunities for our students to develop confidence and strength.

Tracy Ford
Cheerleading coordinator

Wind Symphony Academy news

On Thursday 7 June, our Wind Symphony percussion students travelled to The Gap State High School to participate in workshops and performances. The activity was a follow up for students who had an intensive percussion lesson with Instrumental Music teacher, Mr Jeff Jarrott, in Week 1. Students worked on instrument specific technique and rhythm studies using a variety of instruments including marimba, vibraphone, glockenspiel and drums of all shapes and sizes. Our percussion ensemble are now working on presenting one of the pieces they have studied this term at the upcoming Sunshine Coast Junior Eisteddfod in August.

Sharelle Guest
Wind Symphony teacher

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Hello World Trips – Week 11

In Week 11, all Year 11 and 12 students will be involved in our “Hello World” Trips. This term, Year 11 vocational students will be visiting both Sunshine Coast TAFE campuses and our Year 12 students will take a trip to Southbank TAFE campus.

The purpose of these experiences is for students to explore options available to them as they continue to make plans around a pathway of further education, training or employment.

Please ensure that permission slips are returned to the school as a matter of priority. These trips are compulsory and provided at no cost to students.

TAFE @ School Program

Applications for Semester 2 TAFE at School courses are now open and will be closing shortly. Any Year 11 students who are interested in finding out more about this program and the courses on offer should come to the VET office as soon as possible to discuss further.

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. Those students who have already expressed interest will be contacted this week to discuss next steps.

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.

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)

Canteen News

Here is our updated menu which commences in Term 3