30 October 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents,

Once again, our amazing community spirit shone through last week in response to the bushfire which threatened the school and Peregian Beach homes. As always, we were under the guidance and instruction of the fire and emergency services personnel who worked relentlessly on the ground and water bombing from the air keeping us safe. We were at all times safe and secure, and in constant contact with our highly professional first responders.

The students who had arrived at school before the fire took hold, displayed a maturity beyond their years in dealing with the situation. I also sincerely thank parents for their co-operation. Your understanding during this stressful time made our job of keeping everyone safe so much easier.

This term exciting plans are in place for more activities to be available for students to participate in with our CAST Program (Clubs, Academies, Sports and Tutorials) to be launched. More information about the activities on offer in this Program will be communicated shortly.

It is well known that students who participate in extra curricular activities, are more engaged in school life and consequently attend more regularly, leading to achieving higher results. We are very excited about this Program and to seeing our students participating in as many of the activities as they choose.

Tonight, we will be celebrating the achievements of an unprecedented number of talented students at the Celebration of Excellence ceremony. There is always a lot of anticipation leading up to this major event but we are rehearsed and ready to put on a wonderful occasion for our school community, sponsors and guests. We look forward to seeing everyone at The Hall, Coolum State School for the ceremony commencing at 7.00pm sharp.

Troy Ascott
Principal

Deputy Principal - Junior Secondary Year 7

CAST

CAST stands for Clubs, Academies, Sports and Tutorials here at Coolum SHS. This term there are a diverse and exciting range of activities that our students can participate in whilst they are at school. The school day at Coolum SHS starts much earlier than the bell and continues late into most afternoons. The majority of these activities are free of charge and all are facilitated by our wonderful staff, freely in their own time. On the document displayed you will notice that there are 24 activities that are facilitated before or after school and a massive 38 activities that occur during the lunch breaks. We strongly encourage our students to take up the opportunity to participate in these organised events.

The CAST document will change throughout the year as activities change and does not fully display all of our student’s opportunities. Many of our students participate in a wide range of sports and activities that occur throughout the year that are supervised and supported by our staff. Examples of these include: Rugby League, Rugby Union, Debating, Chess and Musical Events. Please take the time to peruse the activities and discuss them with your child.

Reading and Writing

It is always great to celebrate excellent achievements with our students. Our results in writing is just that, excellent. With the latest national testing results confirming our school as the leading State High School on the Sunshine Coast in writing, we are very proud of the students and teachers efforts. Our teaching strategies of ‘Reading to Learn’ and ‘Writing on Demand’ are proving to be highly effective. Lately our staff have been analysing individual students strengths and weaknesses so that tailor made lessons can assist each student to succeed to their full potential. This detailed approach by our staff will continue to aid and develop our students. From a home perspective, the best advice for parents is to encourage their children to read. This simple approach exposes our students to high quality writing and improves their literacy on all levels.

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.

Celebration of Excellence

Congratulations to all of our students who qualified to receive an award at our Celebration of Excellence evening. This event is one of the highlights on our calendar where we get to dedicate the night to celebrating our brilliant students in academic, sporting, citizenship and cultural arenas.

It is very pleasing to see more than 300 high-performing students achieving such wonderful results to be celebrated.

Attendance Every Day

With the end of year assessments getting closer and closer each day, there is no leeway for students to unnecessarily miss any schools days for the rest of the year. Combined with their best effort and behaviour, excellent attendance will give students the chance to achieve their best results yet!

Terry Proctor
Deputy Principal Junior Secondary

Deputy Principal - Senior Secondary Year 11 & 12

Friday November 15, Week 6, is the official last day for Year 12 students and is 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 2020. It is so important to engage with further education, training or meaningful employment before the end of Year 12 to put themselves ahead of the pack.

Year 12 students will be entering their final block exam period in Week 5 and 6, which will be the final pieces of assessment they will ever complete here at Coolum SHS. The Year 11 cohort will also start their block exams in Week 5. The expectation regarding attendance and completion of assessment during the block exams will remain the same. Exam timetables have been issued to students via email and hard copy. We wish our senior students all the best as they work through their final pieces of assessment.

Early next year our graduated class of 2019 will be asked to complete the next step survey, see below. This survey is used to track the destinations of students and help schools better plan for senior pathways and destinations. Students need to ensure their details are correct and upto date prior to leaving in Week 6.

Lee Merrett
Deputy Principal Senior Secondary

Business Services News

FINALISE ALL YOUR FEES

We are fast approaching the end of the year and now is the time to have all outstanding fees finalised. Thank you to the families that are up to date with their fees, it means a lot to the students and the school. I also thank the many families that were able to pay a large portion of their child’s subject fees in preparation for next year. It is wonderful to have your support.

Last week we emailed you a Statement of Account with your account details and what is outstanding. Please look out for this in your email and finalise any outstanding amount.

2020 STUDENT RESOURCE SCHEME

We have begun preparation for 2020 and you will notice the SRS fee on your Statement of Account. Fortunately, we have been able to maintain the fee at $300. This vital income to the school means we can continue to provide quality teaching and learning resources for your student. Early payment of the fee ensures that the resources purchased will benefit your student at the very start of the new school year.

YEAR 12 FEES

To ensure your child can participate in the very exciting and memorable event, the Year 12 ‘Cap and Gown’ Graduation at Novotel Twin Waters Resort we require all outstanding fees to be paid. This is a very special occasion that we don’t want you to miss!

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

What a great year!

This year we’ve been successful with grant funding to the value of $5,000 from the Bendigo Bank at Marcoola. Kerryn Vincart, the Branch Manager is such a wonderful supporter of Coolum State High School and we are very grateful for the bank’s support.

We’ve been able to provide musical equipment for our successful Wind Symphony Academy. We are very proud that the P&C have been able to support this worthwhile program in the school. The grant also went towards a new camera for the Surfing Academy, new AFL balls and sporting equipment.

It has certainly been a rewarding year so far and we are so thankful to our volunteers who give their valuable time to support Coolum State High School. What a wonderful community we live in!

If you have any pre-loved school uniforms with the new school logo that you no longer require, the school’s Student Services hub could certainly use them for those families in need. Thank you in advance for your donations.

In other news, we have postponed the Colour Run which was scheduled to run this term. We decided that it would be best to be held next year due to some minor logistical issues this year. We are working with the school around the details and we look forward to letting you know the details early next year.

We welcome our recently appointed treasurer Alison Armstrong who has put up her hand to be on the P&C Executive Committee – welcome Alison, I am sure you will do a great job!

Our last general meeting for the year will be held on Monday, November 18 at 6pm in the school administration building. We look forward to seeing you there before we head into the festive season.

P&C Association

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

TAFE at School Program Applications for Semester 1, 2020

Applications are now open for a range of TAFE @ Schools Programs for study commencing in Semester 1 2020. Students who will be in Year 10, 11 or 12 next year are able to consider these courses subject to available places and final approval from the Head of Department for Vocational Studies as part of their timetable.

Study options include:

Mooloolaba

Nambour

Online

Sunshine Coast Health Institute

Sunshine Coast Technical Trade Training Centre

For further information, please consult the TAFE @ Schools 2020 course guide available below.

White Card Training

The General Construction Induction card provides new and existing workers with the basic understanding and knowledge needed to start or continue work within the building and construction industry.

Training for this must be undertaken at a registered training organisation via face-to-face delivery. Coolum State High School is pleased to advise that one of our industry partners, Diggerman offers this course as part of their training products.

The training facility is conveniently located in the Coolum Industrial Estate. For more information please contact Diggerman directly on 5351 1811.

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.

QBuild Apprenticeship Program Recruitment

QBuild has now commenced its recruitment campaign and invites applications for 20 apprenticeships across the State.

Please see below information regarding the positions and links to where applicants can apply. Applicants indicate the location they are wanting to apply for within a questionnaire as part of the application.

QBuild, through its apprenticeship program, is training future tradespeople on building projects that build our regions and benefit Queensland’s communities. The apprenticeship positions across the following locations are to commence in March 2020.

Eligibility

All applicants must be eligible to work in Australia, have a minimum of Year 10 with sound/satisfactory or C level pass, or equivalent, in Maths and English and be a minimum of 15 years of age by 30th March 2020.

Can’t find the opportunity you’re looking for?

Did you know that one of the most successful ways to secure a school-based or full-time apprenticeship or traineeship opportunity is for a student to directly approach an employer and ask if they have capacity to take on an apprentice or trainee? If they have further questions about the process or their obligations and entitlements, they can contact the school for further information and support.

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)

Student Services News

Hello again…after introducing our new regular newsletter item last time I would once again like to promote a great resource which is well worth a look -

This week…everyday leadership.

It is that time of the year again when many of our students are putting their hand up for leadership positions across the school. We may say which leadership positions and where, but to me leadership is what we do with what we have. The conversations I have with students on a daily basis reflect this. Leaders are in all walks of life (school, family, sport, community, peer groups). Please take some time to have a read of the article below and commence the conversation with your son or daughter. Aspects of possible leadership for them may include;

• Put others first
• A willingness to step up
• The ability to speak up
• An attitude of inclusiveness

With young people it is so important to continue the conversation at every opportunity. Enjoy the week.

Robbie Koch
Head of Department Student Services

Sports News

Year 9 Interschool Sport

Year 9 Inter school Sport is off to a great start. Students have shown enthusiasm in the first 2 rounds and exemplary sportsmanship as always.

Results for the first 2 rounds are as follows.

Round 1 v. Noosa:

Round 2 v. Sunshine Beach:

Great work to our Girls Basketball team who is still undefeated.

• Week 4 BYE
• Week 5 v. Nambour (H)
• Week 6 v. Burnside (A)
• Week 7. Catch up week (if needed)
• Week 8. Finals day (Sunshine Beach)

Sporting Success

Congratulations to our Junior Boys Rugby League team who competed in the 9s carnival last Friday. We will have a full report next week.

Reef O’Dwyer and Kobi Higgins recently competed in Cairns as members of the Sunshine Coast Athletics team for Qld trials. Reef won U18 boys Long Jump and High Jump whilst Kobi placed 7th in 200m hurdles and 12th in 90m hurdles. A fantastic achievement from 2 very talented athletes.

The U13 Boys Touch team recently travelled to Brisbane to compete in the All Schools Touch tournament. Full squads of 12 to 14 players is the norm for a competition of this calibre, however, due to injury and sickness, we were only able to take 7 players and 6 players for each of our competition days. This meant that the boys were largely playing most of their games with no subs. The team came away winless, although, our closest games – 5-4 loss to Mercy College Mackay and 5-3 loss to Balmoral SHS are still massive achievements from our 6 players vs. their squads of 12.

Boys U14 Rugby Union is underway at Coolum SHS. Our first game, we travelled to Gympie to play James Nash SHS. The boys conceded 3 quick tries on the trot as they adjusted to the style of Rugby Union, as most of our players this was their first game of Rugby Union ever. By the second half they had settled into the rhythm and scored 2 tries to 1 against James Nash. Final score was 5 tries to 1, in favour.

Unfortunately, we had to forfeit our games at Noosa last week due to the fires surrounding our school, however, the boys are ready to rip in this week for our game against Mountain Creek SHS at USC Rugby fields. 4.30 pm kick off today. Support for our team will be much appreciated.

Well done to Ms Fiducioso and her team of AFL gurus! Our 3 team Senior Boys Intra school AFLX is off to a great start with all boys having a great time in the first and second rounds. Many boys being exposed to AFL for the first time in the shortened and quick version of the game.

AFLX article

Monday 14 October saw the first round of the senior boys AFLX competition consisting of 3 teams. The senior boys dusting off their Afl skills lining up to take on each other to see who would get bragging rights, and who will end up with the wooden spoon. It was a great contest with some extreme skill on display.

Results from round one

Game 1 - Spacey’s Kadets went down to Visible Visors by 33 points
Game 2 Spacey’s Kadets went down to Coolum Flyers by 8 points
Game 3 Coolum Flyers went down to Visible Visors by 37 points

This currently sees Visible Visors in the lead with two wins heading into round 2.

A huge thankyou to the staff and students that came and helped out, to Mrs Tatnell and the outdoor rec class for helping me get the fields ready, Mr Nix did a fantastic job as goal umpire and has even requested official flags for next week!!!, Mr Stewart, Mr Barrow, Mr Reck also stepping in to help out behind the goals, with Miss Goodacre getting some fabulous footage and photos enabling us to relive the fantastic afternoon over and over, and of course our umpires Mr McDonough, Ms Stewart and our first aid officer (who definitely earnt the money we didn’t pay him) Mr McHugh!

Looking forward to round 2!

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

Student Contribution - Jye Parkinson

GREEN STUFF: Sunny Coast turtles come home to nest

There’s a lot to love about living on the Sunshine Coast. From the beaches to the hinterland, we are fortunate to enjoy a pristine natural environment. Thankfully we also have community groups who help to preserve and protect that natural beauty, and the regions incredible biodiversity.

One of those amazing groups is Coolum and North Shore Coast Care (C&NSCC), who are a not for profit group of volunteers committed to the care and preservation of the Coasts coastal environment and its flora and fauna. Among other things, C&NSCC monitors turtle nesting and stranding’s on beaches between Mudjimba & Noosa Heads.

Today all sea turtle species are experiencing a range of human-induced impacts that are threatening their survival. Turtle species nesting on the Coast include Green and Loggerhead turtles, which are part of a critically endangered sub-population that only nest in eastern Australia and New Caledonia. Given that Australia's eastern population of nesting Loggerheads comprises only around 500 nesting females, the Sunshine Coast population continues to be a small but important sub-population.

Multiple threats have caused reduced survivorship of turtle hatchlings including pollution and ingestion of plastic debris. November sees the start of the turtle nesting season here on the Coast so it’s the perfect time to help the C&NSCC volunteers who work tirelessly over the season to ensure nests are kept safe from threats, and assist with the survival of hatchlings.

A beach clean-up has been organised at Yaroomba Beach on Sunday 3rd November. If you would like to lend a helping hand in ensuring the beaches are ready for our local nesting turtles, please meet at Birrahl Park at 8am on Sunday.

If you’re interested in finding out more about C&NSCC go to the website (http://www.coolumcoastcare.org.au/) below or get in touch at info@coolumcoastcare.org.au.

Dates for your Diary