28 November 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents,

As the end of year proceedings continue with our Seniors finishing for the year, the rest of the school finalising assessment and beginning to recognise their roles and responsibilities in the next level up, it is a pertinent time to cast forward to the standards and expectations Coolum State High School students will be required to accept in 2019. These requirements will function as part of the continuing improvement of Coolum High as we seek to become the best place of learning we possibly can be. To assist this, two areas we will focus on with renewed vigour will be uniform and attendance, with the following expectations effective as of Day 1 in 2019. Please note that the uniform changes have been approved by the P&C Association that has the legislative delegation to set uniform policy. All parents are encouraged to attend P&C meetings if they have strong opinions regarding school uniforms. Key improvements for 2019 include:

• All senior students will be required to wear the school tie with their formal uniform. As the leaders of our school, this addition to the uniform creates a sense of responsibility and maturity and prepares students for the world of work beyond school.
• Facial piercings will no longer be tolerated. This applies to ALL students. In keeping with Workplace Health and Safety practices and the school’s uniform policy, “Students may wear a watch and small, plain coloured, matching studs or sleepers in ears only.” This standard begins to prepare students for the standards of many workplaces and creates consistency across our school.
• All formal skirts and shorts must be at or below the knee in a corporate/professional manner.
• Setting a target for all students to maintain their attendance level above 92%. Attendance has been shown, time and again, to be fundamental to a student’s success. In 2019, with the support of our community, we will determinedly be pursuing policies to ensure all our students maintain attendance rates above 92% to ensure their long-term success.

These measures, effective from the beginning of 2019, are aimed at positioning our students for success, allowing them to fulfil the magnificent potential our Coolum kids have by the bucketful. The response from the community to improvements in areas such as uniform over the past 12 months has been very positive, with many different members and organisations coming out in support of Coolum SHS. The students at this school are fantastic: let’s get behind them and help them be the best they can be!

Our professional and dedicated staff will continue to offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities through CAST (Clubs, Academies, Societies and Tutorials) in 2019. There are so many areas where our students can engage their passions and, in doing so, develop a love of learning, experience success and aspire to excellence. Extra support in subjects and areas they find challenging through these tutorials is also another way in which staff are helping students reach their goals.

With our Year 11 and 10s finishing up for the year and all our remaining students readying themselves for their increased roles and responsibilities in 2019, I would encourage all our families to continue to have those conversations with their children about their plan for post-school destinations in a relaxed manner during the upcoming break. The more we plant the seeds about having a plan, the more tangible that plan will grow. To our remaining seniors and their families: enjoy your holiday! I look forward to your return in January with those faces smiling, looking the part and ready to learn!

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.

2019 Junior Secondary Leaders

We are very excited to announce that Taylah Mahony and Jake Land will be our Junior Secondary Captains for 2019. Many students went through a rigourous selection process which included both written application and interview. It was very pleasing to have such high quality candidates apply for these positions. With approximately 700 students in Junior Secondary in 2019, it is going to be a great year.

Terry Proctor
Deputy Principal Junior Secondary

Deputy Principal – Middle Secondary

Excellence in everything we do

2018 has been a year of incredible success for many students at Coolum High. Over the weekend that success continued with our Touch Academy teams winning their grand final games.

As we near the end of the academic year and a much-anticipated holiday break, it is important to ensure that students finish their academic year with their best effort. Ensuring students have all of their assessment requirements planned out, with draft and due dates and using time wisely to complete set tasks and seek feedback from teachers will allow students to achieve to the best of their ability. Consistent work ethic is the key for improvement. Leaving work to the last minute is a recipe for poor performance and often increased levels of anxiety.

As always we expect our students to strive towards improving their attendance percentage by coming to school. Our requirements for effort and behaviour remain unchanged as does our commitment to ensuring all of our students achieve the highest levels of success possible.

Emma Clarke
Deputy Principal Middle Secondary

Deputy Principal - Senior Secondary

Year 12 students have been invited back this week to attend a student forum. This forum will allow us to hear from students and the information gained will guide our planning in senior schooling for 2019. Year 10 and 11 students are now in the middle of their external block exam and will finish the 2018 school year this Friday 30 November.

Year 11 at risk interviews will be held in the last two weeks of school with students being identified from their academic performance, attendance and behaviour data and their progress towards achieving the Queensland Certificate of Education QCE. These at risk interviews are vital for ensuring student success in 2019.

Finally I would like to wish all of the senior students a safe and enjoyable Christmas break and look forward to working with them in 2019.

Lee Merrett
Deputy Principal Senior Secondary

Business Services News

Finalising your 2018 account

We are near the end of the school year and it is a very important time, particularly financially because we require all accounts to be brought up to date and payments are finalised for 2018 so that your account is current for 2019. Please note that if a negative amount appears on your statement this indicates that you are in credit OR we have provided an adjustment to your account. If there is no negative, it means you owe the amount.

Student Resource Scheme 2019

We are busy preparing for both end of year and for the start of next year. Thank you for returning your signed Student Resource Scheme forms for 2019, we have started invoicing the $300.00 fee. If you have not returned your SRS 2019 fees form please do so as soon as possible. Without your contribution and payment, it makes the purchase of much-needed resources more difficult. We also appreciate your cooperation with making on-time payments.

Let us work together to provide the best teaching and learning resources, equipment and facilities for our students. Paying your fees on time and in full is one of the ways that you can contribute to making their school experience even better. I look forward to receiving your payments over the coming weeks so that we can start the year in a positive financial position. Your contribution is very valuable and we thank you for your participation in the SRS. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding your student’s account.

Year 10 Set Planning

Thank you to all the families that have finalised their student’s subject fees. Final payments are now due. If you have not made full payment by this time, your child may be removed from that subject and enrolled into a non-fee paying subject.

QParents information

QParents is an Education Queensland Portal that allows parents to access their child’s financial invoices/payments, reports, absences/attendance and timetable all in one place. You are also able to make payments directly from this portal for outstanding invoices and is Education Queensland’s preferred method of payment.

Nolly Griffiths
Business Manager

School Council

Our School Council plays a vital role in the future of Coolum State High School.

It is comprised of a group of nominated and elected students, staff, community representatives, and parents, along with the Principal. All volunteer their time, energy enthusiasm and expertise to the betterment of our school.

The role of the School Council is to help set the short, medium, and longer term strategic direction of our school.

Our goal has always been to create a better place for our students, a place where they can achieve their best possible outcomes.

It has been my absolute honour and privilege to be the Chairman of our School Council since its inauguration nearly 5 years ago. In that time we have seen our School grow from 760 students to the nearly 1200 we have today. We have had 4 Principals, and numerous Deputies. We have welcomed the Year 7 cohort into High School, in their brand new building, and welcomed the magnificent G block, amongst many other achievements and changes.

During that time I have worked with many fantastic parents who have dedicated their time to our school, in addition to often time consuming day jobs. Invariably they wore more than one hat, with crucial roles in our P and C, as well as the School Council. We all owe these parents who have volunteered their most precious commodity, their time, a huge debt of gratitude. I would like to personally thank them all for their counsel, their time and their dedication to our school.

Personally, I have had the privilege of working with, and learning from, 2 amazing leaders.

Lee Goossens had the unshakeable belief that Coolum High could one day be a great school when many around him didn’t. He made huge inroads on that journey of improvement.

And Troy Ascott has taken that foundation and re-set the expectations for an even more exciting and aspirational trajectory, to ensure a future full of possibilities for our children.

After 8 years as a Coolum High parent , and 8 years as a parent volunteer, I feel very proud of what we have achieved, and feel incredibly confident and excited that we are on a trajectory toward a really amazing future for our students, our children.

I’m supremely confident that I leave the Council in an exciting position, and in highly talented hands.

Coolum State High is a great place and is ready for that fantastic future.

Greg Swadling
Proud Parent
School Council Chairman

Mathematics News

7 Maths classes have been exploring how we can use our knowledge of data and statistics to better understand real-life problems. STEM students have been collecting data related to litter in our environment. This has allowed them to better understand the makeup of our environment and the challenges related to creating solutions that will benefit our future community.

Students in Year 8 have been looking at the applications of measurement, angles and time this term. Mr Hose’s class examined the impact of time changes when travelling the world. Bali is a favourite travel stop for Queenslanders so the class decided to take a hypothetical holiday requiring the management of flight schedules, world time conversions and elapsed travel time. Parents should feel at ease knowing that students can now plan their family’s next worldly adventure!

Students moving into Year 10, 2019 are placed into Senior Preparation Mathematics classes with reference to each student’s journey towards mathematical mastery. To cater for the introduction of the New QCE, students are placed in the appropriate preparation class allowing them to have increased success in Years 11 and 12. Students who have mastered curriculum at Year 9 Level move into Methods and General preparation classes. Those who are continuing their mastery journey move into Essential preparation classes to ensure they have the skills required to meet the numeracy component of their Senior QCE. Parents are encouraged to contact the Head of Mathematics, Dean Hose, regarding questions about student placement in Year 10 mathematics preparation courses.

Matt, Mia and Tara working with international time zones.

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeship (SATs) Vacancies

Under a SAT arrangement, a senior school student is released from school time to undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship in their chosen field. For further information, please speak to a staff member at the VET office.

Full Time Apprenticeship Vacancies

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

2019 Apprentice Program - Department of Housing and Public Works

An exciting opportunity exists for students who may be interested in undertaking an apprenticeship in the construction industry.

The Department of Housing and Public Works are offering 20 positions across the state in the areas of carpentry, electrical, painting, plumbing and refrigeration mechanical. Click here for further information including eligibility and instructions on how to apply.

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.

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

International Students Program

It is coming to the time of the year that we have to say ‘goodbye’ to some of our international friends. Last week, we bade a farewell to Giulia De Luca, who graduated from Year 12. Giulia completed Year 11 and 12 with us and she has now returned to Italy and will apply for University studies there.

Completing Year 10 at the end this term are Esperanza (Chile), Antonia (Chile), Sebastian (Chile), Jose (Chile), Vicente (Chile), Louise (Germany), Laura (Germany), Anastasija (Germany), Haruka (Japan), Haruki (Japan) and Miriam (Austria). Completing Year 11 are Julia (Brazil), Isabaella (Brazil), Sophie (Germany), Jose (Chile), and Sofia (Italy).

From everyone in the International Student Program, we take this opportunity to say a special ‘thank you’ to our host families, teachers and school support staff, who have assisted the international students during their stay with us. The support offered to the students, have ensured that their time with us was enjoyable and memorable.

The ISP Program offers our students, families and community an opportunity for cultural exchange with students from other countries and developing global connections and friendships. Of course, we also have the privilege of showing off our wonderful part of the world.

Our Homestay families are really excited to host the international students and walk them through their journey of living the Australian way of life. For more information regarding the homestay experience, please contact Ms Terri Shine on 5471 5303 or 0418 185 809, or email tshin0@eq.edu.au

Sports News

On Saturday our Touch Football Academy boys played in 2 Grand Finals at Noosa Touch.

The first of the afternoon was in the 3.30pm heat and they were up against Noosa District SHS U15 boys. Our Coolum team started the match very strongly, scoring 3 tries in quick succession before conceding one just before half time. Going into the halftime break up 3-1, the boys scored 2 more tries to extend to a 5-1 lead before conceding 2 late tries to finish the game as 5-3 winners.

The second Grand Final was the Men’s C Grade which the boys have played in all season alongside Mr Smyth and Mr Stewart. In what was a hard fought tussle from beginning to end our Coolum team held a narrow lead the entire game and finished winners 11-9.

I’d like to thank Miss Goodacre (Touch Academy Coordinator) and Mr Stewart for all their hard work this year in promoting Touch Football.

Eric Smyth
Touch Football Academy Coach

Dates for your Calendar