12 June 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents,

As a die-hard sports fan I have been following the Cricket World Cup with great interest over the last few weeks. The athleticism of the cricketers, their passion and solidarity as a team and the excitement of watching two sides pitch against each other in a battle of skill and tactics is simply fantastic. From the comfort of our lounge rooms or even sitting in a stadium, watching these athletes go about the business of world class cricket, it’s easy for us to become complacent about just how much time, resources and effort goes into working toward this kind of excellence. Pure talent would take these individuals and teams so far, but it is the training, the belief in their ability and the desire to achieve that truly determine their success. The lesson here for our students is not hard to see.

Excellence is something every Coolum State High School student is working toward on a daily basis and it cannot be achieved purely through natural talent. In fact, the very nature of education is to develop, improve and hone skills, ability and knowledge. Each and every student has their individual strengths within a range of areas whether that be in their character, academics, physical skills or musical ability. Our job as educators, parents and the Coolum community is not just to improve upon on these, but to show that we believe in their strengths, that we are on their team and barracking from the sidelines as they develop and work toward excellence and therefore success. Supporting students and impressing upon them that hard work and continual effort will always lead to that success is part and parcel of preparing them for life beyond school.

As a school principal, my goal is to ensure that every student graduating from Coolum SHS has not only received the best education possible, but that they achieved excellence within their abilities and have a clear and unobstructed pathway into further education, training or employment. But just as a world class cricketing team doesn’t simply ‘turn up’ to the World Cup with some half-hearted training sessions and hope to win, our students must understand that every day and every lesson counts towards achieving their personal goals. A student who is talented in mathematics or woodwork must also give their best effort in English, just as a cricketer whose strength is in bowling needs to be able to stare down the ball coming at him at 150 kms/hr and hit it with a bat. In this way, working toward excellence is about giving their best effort in everything they do.

Excellence is all around us here at Coolum, with students succeeding on the field, on stage, in academia and as ambassadors for our community. In particular, I’d like to congratulate the school choir, the Coolum Voices, on their excellent efforts at the Choral Fanfare. As one of only two state schools who competed from across the Sunshine Coast and in their first public competition, they achieved a Silver Award: what a fantastic result! We also have students currently competing with the Regional Cross Country Teams, others campaigning across our community for cleaner oceans and students in lessons every day extending their knowledge and skills across the curriculum. Coolum kids really are outstanding, reaching beyond their potential on a daily basis.

Our teachers and staff have been working hard to ensure our senior students are also experiencing success with the new ATAR system. This is a steep learning curve for our entire Senior School, and I would like to commend them on their mature and dedicated approach to the changeover.

Finally, keeping warm at this time of the year is important in keeping the winter sniffles at bay and I have been very pleased to see the majority of students wearing their full school uniform with pride over the past weeks. With the next few months promising to be quite cool, I would strongly urge parents whose children are without a winter uniform to visit The School Locker in Maroochydore; they stock our full range of uniforms and are open seven days a week.

Troy Ascott
Principal

Deputy Principal - Junior Secondary Year 7

General Year 7 Enrolments 2020

It is vitally important that enrolment applications for 2020 have been submitted. If you have not submitted your forms, please do so immediately as this will effect students involved in the transition program at Coolum State High School.

Academy Applications 2020

Applications are now due for our fantastic 2020 Academies. If you have not submitted your application and still wish to be considered, please contact the school immediately.

Anthony Swan
Deputy Principal

Deputy Principal - Junior Secondary Year 8 & 9

Our Vision: That students have the confidence, desire and belief to succeed through strong foundations in literacy and numeracy.

Adolescent Learners

It is always good to be mindful of some of changes and challenges that occur through adolescence. Our school has a very positive relationship with Associate Professor Dr Mike Nagel from USC, who is a regular contributor to our newsletter this year.

Dr Nagel has presented at our school a number of times over the last two years, and I find it valuable to reflect on some of the key points I have picked up from Dr Nagel’s presentations.

• Above all else, teaching is a relational job – and adolescents who have positive relationships in their lives with parents, peers and teachers are better off. We are all social beings – the evidence is irrefutable.
• Communication gaps can be common – adolescents are more likely to misinterpret facial expressions of emotion; e.g. they often can see anger when there isn’t anger.
• Fewer choices can mean better choices – fewer subjects and fewer teachers. Particularly in Years 7 and 8 – to increase their sense of belonging and minimise the sheer volume of curriculum at any one time.
• Extreme structure with little disruption and limited movement – this reduces stress for early adolescents which then reduces a whole range of potential problems.
• Parent-student-teacher interactions need to be at the forefront of technology use. Technology is most beneficial for learning when coupled with quality relationships between all involved, otherwise its value can be quite questionable.

Every Day Counts

Excellent attendance for every student is a very high priority at Coolum High. We all know the benefits of regular, uninterrupted blocks of learning time for students. This is only achieved when students come to school every single day.

Whilst having days off for long weekend trips, family visits or to extend holidays may not seem like much of an issue, it all adds up. Even a student with 90% attendance will actually have 20 days (4 weeks) absent over the course of the full year!

At Coolum High, we expect students to come to every single day, barring illness or emergency, and have attendance no lower than 92%.

School jumpers for winter

As the cooler weather approaches, a reminder that the only jumper students can wear is the school jumper. As with other uniform processes, students are not to be out of uniform at school and will have the opportunity to change into a school jumper from Student Services if they are cold.

I would like to thank parents and students for their excellent support of our school uniform this year.

Terry Proctor
Deputy Principal Junior Secondary

Deputy Principal –Senior Secondary Year 10

Excellence in everything we do

Over the course of the year school staff have noticed an increase in the number of students leaving school without following to correct procedures.

It is a requirement that students attend all scheduled classes. Any reason for absence must be communicated to the school by the child’s parents/guardians. During school hours, the school is responsible for our young people and as such we need your help as parents and caregivers in the communication of student absences. Please follow the guidelines below as part of the school attendance policy.

All parents/caregivers are required to explain absences through at least one of the following options:

• QParents
• Phone call to the student absence number (5471 5360) from a parent/carer
• Email to the student absence email address- StudentAbsence@coolumshs.eq.edu.au

Students who arrive late to school, at any part of the day, must sign in at the Student Services Office on arrival or they will be marked absent for the whole day. Students are required to bring a note or have a phone call from their parent/caregiver to explain the late arrival.

If a student is required to leave school prior to 2.45pm they must bring a note from their parent, giving a reason for the early departure. Text messages are not an acceptable form of parental permission for early departure.

The student is to show the note to the appropriate class teacher. The student is to then come to the office to officially sign out. Should the above procedure not be followed, office staff cannot guarantee students can be located in time to meet unplanned requests for early departure.

We understand sometimes an emergency will occur and we will be more than happy to assist parents and students in these situations.

Students who will be absent for more than ten consecutive school days must apply for an Exemption from Compulsory Schooling or Participation. This must be completed and approved prior to the absence.

Medical Certificates are required where a student misses an assessment deadline, as per the school’s Assessment Policy. This includes submission of written work, in class submission, practical assessment and examinations. Medical certificates are also required to justify illness related absences.

Thank you for your support in following these very important school processes.

Emma Clarke
Deputy Principal Senior Secondary Year 10

Deputy Principal - Senior Secondary Year 11 & 12

Senior Block Exams

In Week 9 the Year 12 cohort will be completing assessments/exams in an external block exam period.  Year 12 students will be given an exam timetable next week to assist in this process and this will also be available on Q Parents. The master exam timetable will be placed in student services so that students can refer to it.

It is extremely important that all senior students attend school right up to the last day of term to ensure they have completed all of the required assessment tasks for their subjects. If a student is sick on the day an exam they must follow the assessment policy and notify the school of the absence and provide a medical certificate on their return to school. A suitable time to complete the assessment piece will be negotiated with the student.

QCS practice test

On Monday and Tuesday the Year 12 OP students will complete their last Queensland core skills practice test (QCS) in preparation for the real test in Term 3. The QCS test is used in the calculation of their overall position (OP). Students and staff have been working extremely hard in preparation for the QCS test and from our early practice marks expect our best ever QCS results.

Lee Merrett
Deputy Principal Senior Secondary

Business Services News

Student Resource Scheme – Fees Due Now

In the coming weeks you will receive a reminder to have full payment of your SRS by Week 10 of this term. The fee is $300 and means a lot to the students and the school. With this money, we can do so much more for your students, please support the scheme and pay your fees on time.

The Midwinter Ball for Year 12 is fast approaching. For your child to receive an invitation they must have paid SRS fees in full, this includes all previous years and any other outstanding fees. Please contact me to discuss how we can help you.

Academy Programs & Subject Fees

These fees are due now. We will be sending final reminders for the outstanding Academy fees. Without full payment, your child will be removed from an Academy Program. We cannot successfully operate Academy Programs without full payment from all participants.

Subject Fees

These fees are due now. We will be sending final reminders for the outstanding subject fees. Without full payment, your student may be placed into a non-fee paying subject. Please ensure you are up to date with these fees.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me to discuss any financial issues you may have. I don’t want your student to miss out, please speak with me about your options.

QParents information

QParents is an Education Queensland Portal that allows parents to access their student’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. Please refer to the flyer below for more information.

Nolly Griffiths
Business Manager

P&C News

TRIVIA NIGHT full of COLOUR, BIG HAIR and BIG PRIZES

On Friday 7 June the P & C hosted the second Annual Trivia Night. With a record number of donations, there were many opportunities to win a prize, from best dressed, to lucky door prizes and raffles. Thank you to everyone that came and those who embraced the opportunity to dress up. We would especially like to thank Kerryn Vincart, Manager, Bendigo Bank and Dan Purdie, local member for Ninderry, for supporting us on the night. Also, many thanks to the Townsend family for sourcing lots of prizes and helping us set up the room. Our friends from Taps Mooloolaba were also a great addition this year. The P&C would like to take this opportunity to thank the generosity of the businesses that donated prizes for the night. Please support these businesses, as they have supported us to raise funds for our wonderful school.

A BIG THANK you for donating - Coolum Surf Club, Coolum Beach Hotel, Bendigo Bank, Marcoola, Woolworths Coolum Beach, Coolum Tattoos, Australian Open Tennis, The Spirit House, Spero Mooloolaba, Rice Boi Mooloolaba, Pizzami Gourmet Pizza Peregian Beach, Raw Energy Peregian Beach, Stellar Driver Training, Coolum Beach Holidays- Cassia Couple’s Cottage.

Monica Kutt
Vice President

Dr Mike Nagel

Dr Mike Nagel is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Dr Nagel presented to parents early in Term 1 and the session was both informative and entertaining.

We are very privileged that Dr Nagel will write an article for our newsletter twice a term in 2019.

Below is the second article for Term 2, ‘Teenagers Are High on Emotion’

Many years ago when I decided to become an educator I also decided that working with tweens and teens would be one of the most challenging and yet rewarding areas to work. That time in my professional career was guided by interest in what motivates young people to learn and do the things they do. And now, some thirty years later, I have grown even more intrigued by the workings of the teenage brain. Moreover, like many parents and teachers I find the complex set of emotions displayed by all children as one of the most beguiling and challenging aspects of educating and raising young minds. For those truly interested in understanding the young people around them, I would like to suggest that tapping into and working proactively with the emotional milieu surrounding teens offers advantages that go beyond any curriculum or parenting book. For example, it is plainly clear that learning is a process whereby cognition (thinking) and emotion (feeling) are inextricably intertwined; contemporary neuro-scientific research has identified what many of us have intuitively known, thinking and feeling do not exist without each other.

In some ways, we have always known that emotions often drive teen behaviour. However, science, and in particular neuroscience, has provided interesting insights into how the teen brain works, or doesn’t depending on your perspective. One of the most significant findings into how the teen brain ‘works’ focuses on making sense of the links between the teen brain and decision making. Two regions of the brain help us to understand why this is so important.

Regardless of age, the region of the brain responsible for basic survival needs (hunger, thirst fight-or-flight) is a structure known as the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is powerful, influential and ready to function right from birth. If not, then biologically speaking we wouldn’t survive for long. One of the frustrations for parents with teens and the teachers teaching them is that hormonal changes, relationships, the environment, and learning make this survival region a ‘hot area’ in teen brain. In addition, the basic survival drives of the hypothalamus don't always agree with the social structure, morals and safety of society. For more ‘civilized’ behaviours we need to involve higher regions of the brain including the cerebral cortex and cerebrum, which can over-ride the hypothalamus.

The cerebrum consists of regions comprising the ‘logical’ parts of the brain. These areas are responsible for deciding when basic hypothalamus drives may not be in our best long-term interest. Perhaps the most important region in this area of the brain is the pre-frontal cortex which quickly sizes up a situation and makes a determination which then drives our behaviour. It is the pre-frontal cortex that tells us when to act on our anger, or curtail it, have a second helping of dessert or go without it, seek immediate gratification or hold off for the long term. Unfortunately, this area of the brain undergoes incredible restructuring during the teenage years making it very difficult for young people to predict the outcomes of their decisions, act what we might describe as logically and make the types of decisions we would assume are easily made. For teenagers, the more primitive regions of their brains are strong and tend to drive behaviours while the immature region responsible for the logic of long-term benefits does not always supersede the impulsive, survival-oriented hypothalamus. Quite simply stated the logical part of the brain will not completely mature until adulthood and appears to go ‘missing in action’ during the teenage years To that end, the neurobiology of the brain reminds us that teens still need strong adult guidance and help with decision making throughout their school years and as such we must constantly remind ourselves that the teen brain is in a state of transition and adolescents are not just a smaller version of adults. Johnny may be bigger than dad but his brain is far more immature and such it is important to keep in mind (pun intended) that:

• A teenager’s frontal lobes are under construction and as a result, they are short on forethought, planning, consideration, impulse control and more likely to engage in ‘risky business’. Educators and parents alike would do well to act as the prefrontal lobes of the young people around them by tempering any teenage desire for independence with consistent boundaries and guidelines.
• For teachers it is important to remember that teens need to be guided and motivated by their emotions. If you want them to learn, if you want to communicate with them, if you want to enhance their school experiences and simultaneously diminish behaviour problems make sure what you say and teach is emotionally relevant to them. Do your homework and find out what makes your students tick.
• For parents and teachers, never underestimate your influence. Teenagers may be stubborn and oppose those adults around them but they also need mentors around who they will often imitate and emulate. Boundaries and the guidelines adults can offer from experience will often act as a beacon for many teens. Perhaps the most influential determinant in building a teenager’s success in school and in life parallels the relationships that are built with the adults around them; positive relationships equal positive outcomes, empathy equals respect while recognising that teenagers are often ‘high on emotion’ equals better opportunities for educators and parents to be proactive and positive.

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

At Coolum High, we are committed to every student transitioning into further education, training or employment. Our vocational programs play a huge role in making this achievable and offer a range of pathways that see every student succeeding.

Year 10 Work Trade Taster Program Term 3 in-take

Due to the overwhelming success of the first Trade Taster Program with TAFE, a further in-take will be offered for Term 3. Across a 9-week fee free program, students will have the opportunity to see if a trade is the right option for them or test out a potential career path that they are considering following in the future. Electrical, Engineering, Furniture Making and Plumbing are featured in the program.

Further information will be communicated as it becomes available around the enrolment process. Please contact me if you have any questions about this program.

TAFE at School Courses – Semester 2, 2019 Mid-Year intake (Years 10 and 11).

TAFE are offering a select number of programs across our TAFE campuses for a midyear intake. Please note due to the courses extending into 2020 or beyond the QCE crediting deadline, these are unsuitable for current Year 12s.

Courses now open for applications through the website below. Please use code 'TQEC1902' to access the application form.

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 in DBA.

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.

By completing a Vocational Pathways Expression of Interest (EOI) form students will be registered to receive further information and support.

Defence Force Work Experience Program

Defence is committed to providing a national work experience program designed to:

• demonstrate the wide variety of interesting careers available within Defence;
• ease the transition of students into the workplace; and
• contribute to the development of the skills of young people.
• Please Note: The Defence Work Experience Program offers unpaid work experience for students residing in Australia.

See the exciting work experience placements that are on offer.

Full details can be found online at:

Please contact me on pwald9@eq.edu.au or 5471 5321 to discuss matters relating to Vocational Education and Training at Coolum State High School.

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

Science News

I was grateful for the opportunity to spend three days at QIMR. I was fortunate to participate in routine lab techniques, performing a DNA allele zygosity in the education lab, spend time in PC2 labs observing the techniques used to conduct research, the methods of obtaining data and the impact that data can have. I learnt the impact that hard work can have, the life-altering results that can be produced. We were lucky enough to be taught the inner workings of medical research, the how’s and the why’s that provided us a realistic snapshot of an intriguing career. The experience taught me more about who I am and what I’m passionate about and I am incredibly grateful for the conversations I had. I enjoyed the experience, I took a lot away and I am inspired by the efforts of the people I met, and for that, I am truly grateful.

Mika Joyce-Mangshou

I was extremely thankful to be 1 of the 30 Senior High School students chosen to attend work experience at QIMR Berghofer for many reasons. It allowed me to witness and understand the difficult and demanding research behind medical science. I was allocated to Neuroscience research and was able to learn all about the field of research and the applications it has to the real world, for example I witnessed my own electrical activity of my brain with an EEG scan. Over-all the experience allowed me to appreciate the hard work put into scientific and medical research. Brilliant experience!

Chase Davis

Tutorials – Term 2

Sports News

Interschool Sport

Our Year 8 Interschool Sport teams are 3 rounds in. Having played against Nambour and Sunshine Beach in the last two weeks respectively. Tomorrow we will play Noosa, at Noosa in the last round before finals day.

Results against Nambour and Sunshine are as follows:

The draw is below:

• Week 8 – Away to Noosa
• Week 9 – Finals day at Burnside 10 am to 2 pm

Year 7 Interschool Sport

Year 7 Interschool Sport trials have been completed. Teams are posted on the HPE notice board in the Hall and parents will be invoiced this week. To secure your child’s spot in Interschool Sport, please return the permission form, uniform hire form and pay by the due date.

U12 Noosa District Athletics Carnival

Last Monday, 13 of our year 7 students competed at the Noosa District Athletics carnival. Students enjoyed strong competition against other U12 students from our local high and primary schools. Congratulations to Roxanna – long jump, Ahme – discus and shot put and Ronan – discus who all made the Noosa District team.

Sporting Success

Congratulations to our 5 Surfers and 6 Cross Country runners who competed at Sunshine Coast trials recently. Results are below:

Surfing

Rhiannon Bown – U19 Girls – heats
Liana Walsh – U19 Girls – 6th overall
Finn Walsh – U16 Boys – 3rd in heat
Ashton Pignat – U16 Boys – 1st overall – Qualified for Sunshine Coast team
Kai Barraclough – U16 Boys – 3rd in heat

Cross Country

Zac, Luan, Lola, Ashby, Jack, Cain

Coolum SHS Athletics Carnival

Our school athletics carnival is being held on 25 and 26 July. Nominations are now closed. We are looking forward to two fantastic days of Athletics competition next term.

Girls Rugby

Girls Rugby 10s starts in Week 2 next term. We are reigning U14 undefeated premiers from last year and looking to extend on our success. If your daughter is interested in playing, please see Mr Smyth in the HPE staffroom. All age girls are welcome to sign up.

AFLX

The Senior AFLX Girls have completed two rounds of competition so far. Tough conditions and no substitutes in round one saw the girls narrowly go down to Sienna Catholic College by 1 goal 2 in a nail biter of a game. Results from round 1: Sienna 5.7.37 to Coolum 4.5.29

Round two at home, saw the girls dominate over St Johns scoring 113 points against St Johns. The girls lifted their game this week with some magnificent marks, and solid tackling keeping St Johns to just 23 points. Results from round 2: Coolum 15.23.113 to St Johns 1.2.1.23

Players Game 1: Lauren Hoffmann, Lottie Hayes, Tyla Lardner, Ebony Otto, Piper Dunne, Cherise Kern and Gretta Boehm

Players Game 2: Megan Prinsloo, Joey Behrens, , Hannah Kramph, Piper Dunne, Cherise Kern, Gretta Boehm, Lauren Hoffmann, Lottie Hayes and Tyla Lardner

The girls take on Mountain Creek next to round.

Eric Smyth and Christina Fiducioso
Sport Teachers

Kokoda Challenge – Brisbane 15km

This year Coolum State High School has added a new event to their Kokoda Challenge Program providing an opportunity for our Years 7 – 9 students. On Saturday June 1st, five teams headed to Brookfield in Brisbane to take on gruelling hills of the 15km course in the Schools Event.

Congratulations to the following students and their supporting teacher for accepting and completing the challenge:

• Mr Dixon with Jude Foxover and Jordan Dodd finishing 4th overall in the School Event with a time of 2:02:23
• Mr Butler competing with Colm Dancer, Aoife Dancer and Logan Pieters, crossed the line at 3:22:14
• Ms Lobb competing with Lani Hutcheson, Roxy Stagg, Zeeta Innis and Savanah Mahony, finishing in 3:34:11
• Ms Elley competing with Sophie Armstrong-Wearne, Skye-Lilly Cattanach and Amber Barling, coming across the line in 3:52:27
• Ms Puncheon competing with Taylah Mahony, Jemima Bainbridge, Kobi Higgins and Jazmin-Lea Rice wrapping up the event in 4:14:15

It is a credit to the students and teachers involved to sign-up for a difficult physical challenge like this and to persevere to cross the finish line. Whether you run the entire 15km course in 2 hours like the boys or take 4 hours enjoying the walk with your friends, it is certainly a memorable milestone. Coolum State High School is proud of your achievements; and we are looking forward to registering more teams in 2020.

Additionally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish the four 48km Teams and three 96km Kokoda Challenge Teams the best of luck for their respective events at the Gold Coast in July.

International Student Program

Our school community is expanding their international friendships and engaging in cultural exchanges in Term 3. As well as welcoming students from Germany, Brazil, Japan, Luxembourg and Austria, we will be welcoming students from Chile, Denmark, Taiwan and South Korea.

In July and August, we are pleased to welcome two study tour groups from South Korea and Taiwan. The students are aged between 13-17 years old. We present the opportunity for families in our community, to host one or two of these students. Host families and the visiting students find the cultural exchange opportunity very enjoyable.

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. Host families receive remuneration (hosting fees).

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

Student Contribution - Jye Parkinson

GREEN STUFF

Welcome to the inaugural edition of “Green Stuff” in our school newsletter. It will be a regular feature to share environmental news and provide easy but legitimate ways of being part of the solution to the environmental challenges we face. Thanks to programs like “Blue Planet 2” and the ABC’s “War on Waste” the awareness of plastic pollution and waste has never been higher. Now we need to turn that awareness into action.

Throughout the year there’ll be some initiatives introduced to the school that everyone can be part of. It really doesn’t take much to effect a positive change, but the collective benefit of even small changes made by you, your family and friends can be the difference in ensuring our environment and home remains healthy. Why bother?

• An Australian produces more waste than any individual from other countries in the world.
• Australians discard up to 20% of the food they purchase, 4 000 000 tonnes each year or $8 billion worth of edible food.
• Around 376 000 tonnes of plastic packaging are used by Australians every year.
• About a million sea creatures die each year because of the plastics disposed into the ocean.
• Oceans will be empty of fish in 2048.
• 50% of our oxygen comes from phytoplankton in endangered oceans.
• 75% of insects have disappeared in 30 years.
• Without insects, 80% of fruits and vegetables would disappear.
• Reducing the amount of waste you produce is the best way to help the environment.
• Recycling reduces pollution, lowers energy usage, reduces landfill and protects animals and their habitats.
• Recycling one aluminium can saves enough energy to run a TV for 3 hours.
• The energy saved by recycling one plastic drink bottle is enough to power a computer for 25mins.
• For every tonne of paper recycled, 13 trees are saved.

Looking forward to being part of the change.

Jye Parkinson
Student

Bus Pass Information 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

General News

“Coolum Toastmasters is holding a FREE workshop on the Art of Public Speaking on Wednesday 12 June. It will be held at the Paradise Room, North Shore Community Centre 701 David Low Way Mudjimba, 6.30 pm for a 7pm start, supper provided, finish at 9 pm.

This workshop is designed to help attendees learn how to;

• Control their nerves and anxiety when speaking to a group or audience.
• Be articulate when responding to impromptu questions such as interviews.
• Stand up and speak with purpose and passion.
• Speak with impact, using vocal variety, tonality and gestures.

The evening is free but please register by sending a text to Marilyn: 0411 249 253 or Christian: 0401 090 517 marked ‘Art of Speaking’.

Toastmasters is a not-for-profit organisation. Membership is open to adults 18+. It is dedicated to helping people grow their speaking and leadership skills which invariably leads to greater self-confidence and personal growth.”

Dates for your Diary