17 October 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to Term 4 after what was a much needed break following the freneticism of Term 3. I enjoyed some time on the beach with my family in between the inclement weather and have returned feeling much more refreshed. I hope all of our Coolum families managed some time together in a relaxed way as well, enjoying everything our amazing coast has to offer.

The holidays are a great time for reflection, including on our growth and development as a school and what more we can offer for our students. During this reflection, it dawned on me that there’s a conversation we need to have about the Coolum kids that we need to keep having – and that is about their post-school destinations. In other words, the pathways, courses, careers and opportunities our students pass onto after school.

Coolum kids are talented. That has been established! Whether it’s the wind symphony, our surfing superstars, the girls’ rugby team, the undefeated debaters or our science leaders, our students can achieve. However, at times some of the information that flows back to Coolum High shows that our students are reluctant to leave the paradise we live in to further themselves at that most crucial time in life – when they have just graduated from school.

The University of the Sunshine Coast has research that shows that 25-30% of Sunshine Coast students go to university. University participation rises to 50% in Greater Brisbane and 75% in Central Brisbane. I believe it’s important that we consider the wider world in our globalised society in planning for the futures of our amazing students.

While University is one of a number of successful pathways for students to pass into post-school, it is important that all of our students pass onto further education, training or direct employment after school. These are vital years! To do this, we all need to work with them, as a school and as parents, to ensure they have a clear plan for their future. I can’t say how important I think it is for them to have a clear plan for their post-school success. A plan that has high ambitions for a long and successful life.

We are so lucky here, now, to have the University of the Sunshine Coast which has risen to be an outstanding option for our students. These days, our students can pass onto the University of the Sunshine Coast without leaving home. I would encourage all students and parents, whatever they eventually decide, to have considered studying at the University of the Sunshine Coast, especially in their immediate post-school year, even if students ultimately choose trades, traineeships or direct employment. These days, there are a wide variety of options available for students’ futures. The conversation regarding every student’s post school destination is one I will never tire of having, and I am hoping that over the coming term and the coming years that we continue to have this conversation and that every Coolum High student leaves with a clear plan for their success after school.

On another note, we have had a fantastic return to school with students and staff refreshed, revitalised and ready for the term ahead. We are looking forward to our Awards Night where we celebrate high achievement, and also to sharing the last term of school with our graduating Year 12s. Coolum High is a special place to be. I am looking forward to the term ahead.

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.

Year 7 and 8 Attendance

Welcome back to Term 4. This is going to be a very exciting term at Coolum State High School. To capitalise on all the great opportunities available at school, students need to attend every single day.

The year-to-date attendance for Year 7 is 91% and Year 8 is 90%. I believe there are many improvements we can make to increase this attendance to reach our school-wide target of 92+%.

Junior Secondary – end of year assessments

Before we know it, it will be the time that end-of-year assessment tasks are rolling in. For most students in Years 7-9 these assessments will be due in Week 9 – these may be exams, assignments, projects or oral presentations.

To ensure that students achieve their best results, I expect them to be very focussed in class and to also organise their time to prepare for assessment. Anything that schools and families can do to help students organise their time will be beneficial. Carefully working on tasks over time often produces much better results than scrambling to put something together the night before it is due.

I strongly encourage students to attend our excellent Wednesday afternoon tutorials (3.00-4.00pm) or our catch-up club that runs before school (Monday-Thursday) at 8.00am. Here students can receive extra help from staff to support them to achieve their personal excellence.

Improved results will come from improved effort!

Year 9 Inter-school Sport

This term Year 9 students are on inter-school sport each Thursday. We have had great success with Year 7s and Year 8s this year – I am sure the Year 9s will also be great.

Thanks to Miss Fiducioso for her working in organising this and the many teachers who coach the teams and support our students.

Terry Proctor
Deputy Principal Junior Secondary

Deputy Principal – Middle Secondary

Excellence in everything we do

Welcome back to Term 4! I trust that you all had a safe and restful holiday.

As we head into the last term of the school year we are focussed on consolidating routines and procedures with the students in order to prepare them for successful transition into 2019. It is important for students and parents to be aware that all students are expected to complete all assessment items by their last day of school.

Students in Year 10 who fail to complete course assessment will be required to come back in the last two weeks of the school year to complete any outstanding tasks.

To avoid this, ensure that you have a clear understanding of assessment deadlines and are in communication with your teachers to resolve any issues well in advance.

For Year 8 and 9 students who have not yet completed their subject preference process, we ask that they log onto OneSchool to complete their preference selection.

This is a smorgasbord process whereby students select the relevant number of elective choices for their year level and one alternate choice plus the core subjects. Families should refer to the emailed instructions when working through this process.

Students have received their Student Resource Scheme (SRS) form during Home Group at the end of last term. Once your child has completed the online process, return a signed copy of the OneSchool form, along with the completed Student Resource Scheme (SRS) form, to the school administration building. Please be aware that we cannot accept the OneSchool preference form without the SRS form. Please ensure that both forms are submitted at the same time.

We look forward to a productive term 4!

Emma Clarke
Deputy Principal Middle Secondary

Deputy Principal - Senior Secondary

Welcome back to Term 4, a very important time for our Year 12 students as they transition from High school into the big wide world. Friday November 16, Week 6, is the official last day for Year 12 students an exciting time to reflect on 12 years of schooling. Over the remaining weeks the senior schooling team will be working with the Year 12 cohort to ensure they all have clear destinations and pathways for 2019. It is so important to engage with further education, training or meaningful employment before the end of Year 12. While historically some students like the idea of a gap year, research has identified that it makes the transition back into an education setting a more difficult proposition.

In Week 4 we have the opportunity to celebrate the academic and sporting excellence demonstrated in 2018 by Coolum SHS students at our annual awards evening. Information has been sent home to parents of those students that will be receiving an award. To ensure that the night is a massive success we have made several changes to eligibility requirements to receiving an award. One change has been that students must attend the event in order to qualify for an award. Again please refer to the information that has been emailed home to parents.

Research has clearly identified that academic success has close links to student attendance. Student attendance is an area that we can continually improve on particularly senior schooling. Coolum SHS places great emphasis on student attendance and we have set a target of 95% to reflect this. At the end of Term 3, senior students achieved the following attendance rate below. It is important that Year 11 and 12 students attend each and every day until they finish later in the year.

Lee Merrett
Deputy Principal Senior Secondary

Business Services News

Welcome back to Term 4. This is a very important time, particularly financially because we require all accounts are brought up to date and payments are finalised for 2018. Of particular significance is Year 10 subject selections and Year 12 final payments. Without payment, it may affect your child’s eligibility for that subject and/or participation in end of school events and activities.

In Week 2 and every fortnight until the end of term, a Statement of Account is emailed to you. 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.

Year 10 Set Planning

Thank you to all the families that made a 50% payment towards the subject fees during our Week 5 Year 10 Set Planning process and subject selection. The balance of the amount is now due by 30 November for all the subjects unless a payment plan has been arranged with the school. If you have not made full payment by this time, your child may be moved out of that subject and enrolled into a non-fee paying subject.

As we head into the busyness of Term 4 and all that is involved in preparing for the end of year and for the start of next year, we appreciate your cooperation with making on-time payments. Let’s 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. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding your student’s account.

On another note, during the spring break our cleaners worked tirelessly to ensure the school was cleaned from top to bottom as per our usual term clean. We also continued with our Maintenance Program, replacing leaking roofs, broken gutters, painting various parts of the school and generally keeping the school in good working order. I am sure you will agree with me that the ancillary staff at Coolum State High School care about the school and in turn provide a safe, orderly and clean environment for our students to come to school every day.

Nolly Griffiths
Business Manager

P & C Executive

COLOR RUN - GET ON BOARD!!

The P&C executive are really excited that everything is on track for our first annual COLOUR RUN here at COOLUM HIGH on Friday afternoon, 2 November. We just need all this rain to run its course before we can set up ours!

Tickets to the event will be $10.00 per entry which includes a raffle ticket for EVERY participant, to go into the draw to win a number of great prizes!! These include vouchers for the movies, the Coolum Blast Aqua Park and the Burrito Bar, just to name a few.

To purchase tickets please use the link below or tickets will be available at the school administration office.

We still require volunteers to help on the day. Just an hour of your time would be fabulous, especially at the start from about 2.45 pm when we need to check in all participants in year levels, and hand out the wristbands. Then you can stand back and watch the fun begin, including our own Principal Mr Troy Ascot and local LNP member Dan Purdie taking each other on in a race around the course. The local fire brigade will be there with a truck, to ensure that everyone stays cool with some strategic water hose downs.

A sausage sizzle, drinks and snacks will be on sale and again anyone willing to volunteer their time would be welcome.

If you do not have the time, a small donation to promote your business and reward our students as they have some fun would be appreciated.

Please contact us via email pandcexecutive@coolumshs.eq.edu.au if you would like to volunteer on the day or to make a donation.

Thank you to everyone who has donated equipment, prizes or is volunteering to help at the event.

It is going to be an awesome community event!!

Monica Kutt
Vice President

Wind Symphony Academy news

Our school Jazz band will be performing at the Coolum Hearts ‘Sing Out’ on Sunday 4 November. Please click on the link for further details.

Sharelle Guest
Wind Symphony teacher

Home Economics News

Students in Senior Home Economics have been studying sustainable food and ways to reduce waste from becoming toxic landfill for a healthy environment in the future. International students, Maria and Matilde enjoyed Mrs Pilkington's Bee's Wax Wraps workshop. They made a set of Bee's Wax Wraps to take home to Italy as a momento of their time studying at Coolum High.

Linda Pilkington
Home Economics Teacher

Tutorials – Homework Club

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Course Completion – Year 12 students

With only weeks remaining until our Year 12s reach the end of their time at Coolum State High School, it is important that students are making sure that they have met all the requirements to be awarded their VET qualifications upon graduation. Please ensure that the school is aware of your child’s USI number as this is a legislative requirement to enable a qualification to be issued.

Well done to our students who have recently completed all requirements for their school-based traineeships. The feedback from employers around commitment and dedication to your workplace responsibilities has been outstanding.

“Hello World” – Southbank TAFE

In Week 10, our Year 11 vocational pathways students participated in their final “Hello World” experience for 2018. We visited Southbank TAFE to explore potential course offerings available as plans are made around transitioning into further education, training or employment.

Students enjoying seeing the first class training facilities available and were impressed by the practical nature of the courses and industry partnerships they are able to take advantage of when undertaking a course with TAFE.

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

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.

Current Vacancies

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.

New Trade Courses 2019

In 2019 TAFE Queensland is running a new Certificate II in Plumbing program in Nambour and will be continuing the Certificate I in Construction program. These programs are both specifically designed to kick start careers in plumbing and construction

Contact: Mark Robertson, Team Leader, Construction and Resources
p: 5457 1407 e: Mark.Robertson@tafe.qld.edu.au

Free TAFE for Year 12 Graduates

To support Year 12 graduates into work, the Queensland Government offers free TAFE in high priority areas. If you are getting ready to graduate Year 12 in 2018 or finished school in 2017, you can kick-start your career by getting the skills employers want without the fees.

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)

Staff in Focus

School Bus Pass information for 2019

Q: What is a Buslink Bus Pass?

A: The Queensland Government’s School Transport Assistance Scheme (STAS) provides assistance to enable eligible school students to attend education facilities. The Buslink Bus pass is distributed if you are eligible for such assistance

Q: Will I need to apply for a new bus pass for 2019?

A: If the below circumstances have changed for you and/or your student then you will need to apply for a new Buslink Bus Pass:

• your child is moving from primary school to secondary school
• you have changed address
• you have changed travel days
• you have enrolled them at a different school

Q: What happens if I currently have a Buslink Bus Pass and my circumstances haven’t changed?

A: Buslink will automatically print off a 2019 Buslink Bus pass for you and you will need to collect it from either your AM Buslink Bus Driver or at published pick up points at your school.

Q: How do I apply for a Buslink school travel pass?

A: Your child may be eligible for free bus travel. To download an application form head to your bus service Sunshine Coast. You can email your completed application to info.sunshinecoast@buslink.com.au or post to 11 Page St, Kunda Park Qld 4556.

If you don’t have access to a printer you’re welcome to ask one of our friendly Buslink drivers or come in to our office for an application.

Q: If my student is ineligible for a full Buslink Bus Pass travel, and only eligible for a Part Buslink Bus Pass, how do I pay the top up fare?

Students with a Buslink part pass (part payment) can purchase single, daily or weekly tickets from the bus driver using cash. If your student is travelling Monday to Friday in both morning and afternoons, it is cheaper to purchase a weekly ticket as you’ll receive a day free travel. Please do not pay your top up with a Go Card or you will be paying the full fare.

Q: If I’m not eligible for a Buslink Bus Pass, can I still travel on a Buslink Bus and how do I pay a fare?

If a student doesn’t qualify for a Buslink pass they will be required to pay the full cash fare or purchase a Go Card to save up to 30% off the full fare.

Q: If I or my child need a reminder of the Code of Conduct where do we find this information?

Buslink Buses are governed by the Code of Conduct. Similar to schools we have an expectation of behaviour that is acceptable on each bus and if that behaviour is breached then students will receive consequences for their behaviour. To view the code please go to: Code of conduct

Dates for your Diary