7 November 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents,

In under two weeks’ time our Year 12 students will finalise thirteen years of schooling at Coolum State High School’s Inaugural Graduation, a ceremony which promises to be a magnificent end to a formative chapter in the lives of these young adults. This will be the first time Coolum State High School will host an offsite and formalised Graduation Ceremony and signals an intention to give this exciting and important rite of passage the respect and acknowledgement it deserves.

Graduating from high school is a significant event for our students. There are few times in life when the end of one era and the beginning of another are so clearly defined and yet graduation does just that. It marks the shaking off of childhood, lessons and uniforms and heralds entry into the responsibilities of adulthood. At Coolum SHS, we believe that the culmination of thirteen years of education should be recognised and revered and that our students should be welcomed into the adult community in a formal manner. This Graduation Ceremony will become a traditional feature of our school, reinforcing the value of education and the significance of its completion for our entire community.

This is a fantastic cohort of young adults whom I have very much enjoyed getting to know over the past year; I along with all of our teachers, staff and of course, our Coolum parents, will feel very proud as we watch them accept their certificates in their full academic gowns. Outlined in this newsletter are a number of organisational factors for both parents and students to consider and adhere to in the lead up to and on the day of Graduation. As the final and most important formal ceremony they will attend as Coolum SHS students, I look forward to seeing every senior student looking their absolute best and giving their Graduation the care, respect and maturity it deserves.

Troy Ascott
Principal

Deputy Principal - Senior Secondary

Last Wednesday we celebrated the sporting and academic excellence of our Year 11 and 12 students and announced the new school leaders for 2019. The highlight of the evening was, announcement of the 2018 DUX which was awarded to Amber Dawson. Amber has had an amazing year and this is a reward for her hard work and dedication. The 2019 school leaders were announced and presented their leadership blazers at the awards night.

The 2019 leaders are as follow:

Year 12 students are in the middle of their very last assessment block as they count down to Friday Week 6. There has been some outstanding academic achievements this year in Year 12 subjects, with two VHA10s awarded, the highest possible mark a students can receive.

The Year 10 and 11 students will be entering an external block exam period in Week 8, this will require students to only attend school when they have an exam identified on their timetable. The block exam timetables will be communicated to students and parents in Week 7.

Lee Merrett
Deputy Principal Senior Secondary

Business Services News

Subject Fees

Shortly we will be invoicing for Student Resource Scheme (SRS) 2019 and for subjects. Your prompt payment would be appreciated. I understand that it is a difficult time for families as we near the end of the year and the festive season approaches. Please contact the office and discuss your financial options with me if you are experiencing any financial hardship.

Certificate Fees

Senior School is a very important time in the life of your student and on-time payment of Student Resource Scheme, subject fees and certificate fees is very important. Without full payment of fees, your students’s place in the certificate or subject may be affected, including removal from that subject if we do not receive payment by the set dates and times. The fees for certificate courses for 2019 are due now, please ensure you make payment. Payment of all other fees are also due, this will ensure that your student is eligible to participate in the end of year activities, particularly the Year 12 Inaugural Graduation Ceremony to be held on Tuesday 13 November at Calvary Christian Church.

Student Resource Scheme 2019

I want 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.

Fee payment contributes to the ability of the school to purchase much needed resources for that subject. When it comes to certificate courses, full payment is of utmost significance because without payment your student will not receive their certificate and it could affect their potential to graduate.

We have not increased the SRS for the past three years and once again the school and the P&C have endorsed it to remain at $300.00 for 2019 for all year levels. The 2019 SRS is payable now and is due by the end of Term 2, 2019. Please complete and sign the SRS 2019 form and return it to the school as soon as possible.

Nolly Griffiths
Business Manager

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Celebrating Success – Awards Night

In Week 4, we celebrated a number of successes in the area of Vocational Education and Training at our 2018 Awards Night. Congratulations to our two special award winners Findlay Matthews and Abi Williams in Year 12. Findlay was the 2018 VET Student of the Year, an award given to our top vocational student. Findlay has completed a range of vocational courses across her senior schooling, including a Certificate IV in Justice and Certificate III in Early Childhood, Education and Care.

As part of her courses, Findlay has participated in a range of work placements and has displayed exemplary employability skills. She has gained full-time employment for next year when she will be able to continue using the skills she has gained as part of her studies.

Abi Williams was recognised as our school-based trainee of the year. Abi has completed a retail based traineeship where her strong work ethic was constantly noticed. This qualification together with others has assisted her in gaining full-time employment in the tourism industry.

Support from Diggerman Training

A Civil Construction scholarship will be a career head-start for Coolum State High School’s Baxter Harrison, with the opportunity to build skills with one of the Sunshine Coast largest earth moving training organisations.

Diggerman Training, a Sunshine Coast business of 15 years operates a training, earthmoving and linemarking division, which has grown in response to industry need. Their connectedness to industry offers individuals like Baxter, wanting to enter the civil construction industry, a unique opportunity.

The scholarship offers exclusive opportunities by working with some of our key civil industry partners on real construction sites, offering broader pathways into the industry.

Baxter, a current Year 12 student will have the opportunity to gain a nationally recognised Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations. This opportunity is worth over $10,000.

The partnership between Coolum State High School and Diggerman has grown through our Industry Reference Group led by the school. Consisting of business and community organisations, this group meets quarterly to build connections and develop partnerships between Coolum State High School and external stakeholders. These relationships assist students with transition to employment and make effective career choices.

It is our goal for all students at Coolum High to transit into further education, training or employment. Partnering with organisations such as Diggerman and growing our industry connections is key to this.

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:

Full Time Apprenticeships

These opportunities are not school based. They would suit those looking to leave school as a priority and transition into the workforce.

Certificate II Kitchen Operations

Held in the Coastal Cookery Trade Training Centre located at Maroochydore SHS and delivered in partnership with TAFE Queensland. Students attend one day a week and have the opportunity to participate in a range on and off-site functions. This certificate focuses on back-of-house skills in food preparation and cookery. For further information, please speak to a staff member at the VET office.

Certificate II Plumbing & Certificate I Construction

WynMET (RTO #0677) are excited to be offering a Certificate II in Plumbing and a Certificate 1 in Construction, funded by the Queensland Government under the VETiS (VET in Schools) initiative. This course offers graduates the opportunity to gain credit for competencies towards relevant Apprenticeships. Commitment is one day per week for approximately 30 week’s course duration (One school year).

This certificate will be offered at Maroochydore and Noosa locations. Pending interest levels, the school would consider a bus to support students to travel to and from the training facility. In addition, should we have a strong number of enrolments there is a possibility of having this course delivered at Coolum State High School. Please see the VET Office for an enrolment form or to ask any questions.

Please contact me on pwald9@eq.edu.au or 5471 5321 to discuss matters relating to Vocational Education and Training within the school.

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

University Sunshine Coast News

My child has applied for university, what’s next?

Many Year 12 students have already clicked ‘submit’ on their Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) application. But what happens next? And when is my child likely to receive an offer? We’ve got some helpful information for you and your child.

Is it too late to apply if my child hasn’t already?

Some university programs, usually those that are in higher demand or have a special entry requirement such as an audition, have a fixed closing date. However, for most USC programs, there is no set application date. However, we suggest that sooner is always better when it comes to applications, and your child can always change their preferences later if they change their mind. Your child should check QTAC’s key dates on its website for when applications need to be submitted to make them eligible for specific offer rounds.

When will they receive an offer?

When your child receives an offer from QTAC will depend on several things. If your child has successfully applied for USC’s Early Offer Guarantee program; or has applied for our Tertiary Preparation Pathway program; or if they are using another qualification such as a TAFE certificate as an entry pathway, they will receive an offer on the last day of Year 12.

Generally, if your child has applied for USC using their OP as an entry pathway and have met all the eligibility requirements of a program, they will receive an offer just before Christmas.

There are a limited number high-demand programs, such as USC’s Bachelor of Medical Science, where students won’t receive an offer until the January QTAC offer round.

Has your child applied for a Tax File Number?

HECS-HELP is a loan program to help eligible students pay for university. Students can take out a government loan for the full or partial amount of their fees and then pay it back once they are working and earning over a certain amount. To be eligible for the HECS-HELP loan, students need to provide their Tax File Number (TFN) to their tertiary institution. If your child doesn’t already have a TFN, they should apply for one through the Australian Taxation Office before their first semester of university.

Has your child applied for a scholarship or bursary?

Did you know that your child can apply for a scholarship at USC before they even have an offer? USC’s scholarships and bursaries aren’t just for high academic achievers, they can be awarded for community leadership, sporting achievement or to those who might need a financial boost. And it gets better – USC has one online application form to apply for most scholarships and bursaries. So, for an investment of an hour or two, your child could be eligible for anywhere from a few hundred dollars all the way to a full Vice-Chancellor’s Merit Scholarship. Applications are due by 30 November.

Can my child change their QTAC preferences if they change their mind?

Yes. QTAC preferences can be changed up to three times for free (and for a fee after this). Changes can be made by logging into QTAC. Preferences can also be changed after your child has received an offer by conditionally accepting their offer and then changing their preferences. QTAC will then start looking to see whether your child is eligible to receive an offer for the preferences listed higher than the program your child already has an offer for. Your child will need to ensure they change their preferences by the due date for each offer round.

Although the application process might seem a little daunting, it is important to remember that there is help available to support you and your child during this period. Please contact USC’s Student Central team with any questions.

Student Services Year 10

On Saturday 27 October, Mika Joyce-Mangschou competed in the Preliminary Round of the annual UnYouth Voice Public Speaking Competition, which was held at Beerwah Library. Mika was successful in making it through to the State Semi-Finals of the competition and will now compete in Brisbane on Saturday 3 November.

We wish Mika all the best as she represents Coolum State High School on Saturday and verses students from all over Queensland, to compete for a place in the National Grand Finals.

Colette Webber
English and Humanities Teacher

Student Services Year 12

Your Year 12 son/daughter is almost a Coolum State High school graduate! Over the next two weeks there are several events that occur to celebrate and formalise this. Graduating school represents a great achievement and a rite of passage. Our students are no doubt very excited. We share their excitement and at the same time wish to ensure all our students are safe and respectful of all those who have worked closely with them throughout their schooling careers.

Student Expectations

It is very important that all students keep to the high standards they have set throughout the year.

This relates to:

• Attendance – arrive on time each day, attend all classes, exams and school activities
• Behaviour – remain respectful to self and others in these exciting times
• Uniform – full school uniform every day

There are far more important areas for energy to go into at this time of year without having to expend it on areas where the expectations have not changed. It is very important that the decisions made by students in the last weeks (and the last few days!) of term do them justice and ensure a positive and memorable end to their formal schooling.

Year 12 Exam Block

• Monday 5 to Friday 9 November – ALL students are to attend school each day and participate in scheduled exams. Students must remain at school to study for exams or complete Year 12 tasks.

Monday 12 November

• Graduation Ceremony Rehearsal – Calvary Christian Church, 212 Crosby Hill Road, Tanawha
• ALL students bused to and from venue (no cost – depart 9.15am, arrive home 2.30pm). Students to be at school at normal time for final formal school assembly prior.
• Students will not go the Grad rehearsal unless in full formal uniform.

Tuesday 13 November

• Students expected at school periods 1 and 2 and can then depart to prepare for Ceremony
• Graduation Ceremony – Calvary Christian Church, 212 Crosby Hill Road, Tanawha
• 4.15pm Students arrive
• 5.00-5.45pm Arrival of all guests and photos.
• 6.00pm – Graduation Ceremony commences. This is a formal occasion – please dress accordingly.

Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 November

• LAST CLASSES – a chance to say goodbye to all teachers.
• Friday 16 November
• 8.45-10.00am - Final Day - Clap Out Ceremony – Multi-Purpose Hall, Coolum SHS
• 8.15am - Year 12 students must be present at school (in full formal school uniform) and go to PA 1,2 and 3.
• Many students like to have other students sign their dress/shirt on the final day but must either bring a separate dress/shirt or wait until after the Clap Out. No student with signed shirt will be allowed to take part in Clap Out.
• Students will be lead out of the school grounds by guard of honour (Year 7,8,9) at 10am.

We thank you for your patronage of Coolum State High over the past five years or so, and we look forward to seeing you at one or both of our forthcoming graduation celebrations.

Alison Venning
Head of Year 12

Dates for your Diary