31 July 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to Term 3 for our Senior students and parents for what is notoriously a very busy term punctuated with times of stress, frantic periods of work and assessment and on occasions, a little more than usual procrastination.

With the Queensland Core Skills Test a few short weeks away and assessment deadlines becoming closer and tighter, this time of year can be incredibly stressful for the Year 11 and 12s in particular.

When our lives become more than usually demanding and hectic during a short period of time, it is sometimes easy to lose sight of the reasons we embarked on such a stressful journey. In the midst of the maelstrom, we can forget that this short-term pressure is necessary to acquire long-term gain. As a school community and parents, we must remind our Senior students that to arrive at the best possible post-school destination, the hard work they need to put in now is necessary to get through the mountains of assessment and QCS Test.

As a community we can all be incredibly proud of our senior students. As a group, they have exceeded the high expectations set for them at the beginning of the year. This has been shown not only academically through their impressive achievement data, but in their outstanding conduct at events such as the recent Midwinter Ball and recently at the Kokoda Challenge. As role models, they have set a new and improved precedent for the rest of Coolum SHS to follow.

I am absolutely passionate about students achieving excellence, not only because it is one of our school’s core values, but because I believe every single one of our students has the potential to achieve excellence within their chosen areas. During the senior years, those areas of expertise become increasingly apparent and together, as teachers and parents, it is our responsibility and duty to help draw them out so that these students are positioned for success as adults.

As Principal of Coolum SHS, I am absolutely determined to see that every student leaving our school is successful in progressing into further education, training or employment. We cannot sit back and simply wave our students out the gate at the end of Year 12, hoping they will become active and resourceful citizens in our community. We must strive to ensure our students have a pathway in place which enables them to arrive at a suitably ambitious post-school destination. Whether this is into local employment, tertiary education interstate or an apprenticeship in the ‘big city’ of Brisbane, our aim is to build on the potential we see in our students every day so that life beyond Coolum SHS is inspiring, purposeful and practical.

Our students are excellent; they are just as capable, intelligent and talented as any student sitting in any classroom across the country. Our senior students display the skills, ideas and enthusiasm the world needs and is looking for, yet at times they feel that their options and abilities are limited. In this way, the senior years of your child’s high school career are incredibly important as they act as a platform for their future.

Having our students as forearmed as possible and positioned, ready to launch into an appropriate post-school destination is the goal of every teacher and staff member at Coolum SHS. Together, we can ensure it’s one that unlocks the unlimited potential within them!

Troy Ascott
Principal

Deputy Principal – Senior Secondary Year 10

Excellence in everything we do

Year 10 SET Planning

All students in Year 10 will be completing their Senior Education Training (SET) Plan on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 August 2019.

To facilitate the process the following arrangements have been made to allow students, parents and caregivers to meet with a member of the Senior Schooling team and discuss pathways for success and subject choices that support chosen pathways.

It is the expectation of the school that all students attend this interview on either the Wednesday 14 or Thursday 15 of August. To support this all Year 10 classes will be suspended on Wednesday 14 August. The only attendance requirement for the day is to attend a SET Plan Interview.

SET Plan Interview Arrangements:

Students must have logged onto One School and completed the SET planning module prior to the interview. Students will be taken through this process as part of their timetabled Wednesday CVP classes on Wednesday 7 August. They can also complete this process online at home.

The students have had the opportunity to listen to Heads of Department each Wednesday as they deliver their subject talks. We encourage each student to keep reading through the 2020 Subject Information Handbook and having conversations with their families about pathways and choices. The handbook can also be located on the school website using the following pathway; Support and Resources/Forms and documents/documents/2020/2020 Senior Secondary Course and Information Handbook.

On Wednesday 7 August, we are running our annual Subject Expo. This event takes place in the school hall from 3:30-5:30pm and is open to all students. It is a great opportunity for Year 10 students and families to talk to teachers about subject offerings for 2020.

Emma Clarke
Deputy Principal Senior Secondary Year 10

Deputy Principal - Senior Secondary

Term 3 is an extremely important time for our Year 12 students as they strive for academic excellence. In Week 8 of this term, the Year 12 OP students will be sitting the Queensland Core Skills (QCS) exams. These exams help determine the overall position for each student, a number that is generated to gain a university position. From the testing and preparation that we have been undertaking over the last 18 months, we are extremely confident of great results in the QCS exam.

Academically the current Year 12 cohort is well placed to be the best performing group of Year 12’s in the school’s history. This is a direct result of the hard work and dedication shown by these amazing group of students. In Week 9 Year 12 students will be undertaking a block exam period so that we can finalise their summative assessment for the verification process.

During the first few weeks of this term, senior reporting, attendance and behaviour data has been analysed to identify students that are at risk of not receiving a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). QCE at risk interviews with senior students will be taking place to identify the areas of concern and developing improvement strategies to ensure success in the next reporting period.

Research has clearly identified that academic success has close links to student attendance. The Year 12 cohort have been attending school well above the school target of 92% and this has been reflected in their results. The Year 11 cohort has some work to do this term as they have fallen below 90% for the first time. Coolum SHS places great emphasis on student attendance and we have set a target of 92% to reflect this. At the end of Semester 1, senior students achieved the following attendance rate below.

Lee Merrett
Deputy Principal Senior Secondary Year 11 & 12

Business Services News

YEAR 10 SET PLANNING

On August 14 & 15 the Year 10 SET Planning process will take place for subject selection. Please note that we will require a 50% payment on the day of the subject fee selection and without this 50% payment, your child will not be enrolled into the subject. You will also be required to have paid

IN FULL the 2019 SRS fee of $300 before we will accept enrolment into that subject.

SUBJECT FEES POLICY

To be accepted into a fee paying subject:

• All outstanding fees are paid in full; and
• Full payment of the SRS for that year; and
• 50% of the total cost of subject fees paid upon selection; and
• 25% of the remaining balance paid by Term 3, Week 7; and
• 25% of the remaining balance paid by Term 3, Week 9

Please note that the 2020 SRS fee of $300 is due by Week 6, Term 4 2019. If we do not receive the 2020 SRS fee by this date, your child will not be enrolled in the subject and a non-fee paying subject will be their option.

The school accepts Centrelink or BPOINT as payment plan options should you be experiencing financial difficulties and there are slightly different due dates for these families. Please contact me to discuss your options.

We want to be able to provide your child with the necessary teaching and learning resources so they can succeed. Without your fees and on-time payments, this would be a very difficult goal to achieve. Please support the school by paying fees on time.

Nolly Griffiths
Business Manager

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 Trade Taster Program Term 3 in-take

A number of Year 10 students submitted applications for the Term 3 in-take of the Trade Taster Program. Successful applications should have received notification directly from TAFE.

Participants will be expected to attend TAFE Queensland Nambour campus on either a Tuesday or Friday from the week commencing 5th August 2019 for the remainder of Term 3 and into Term 4 (final week of study is Week commencing 14th October).

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)

Certificate 11 Outdoor Recreation

In Week 1 of Term 3, the Year 12 students in the VET Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation went on camp at Maroon Outdoor Education Centre, south-east QLD. The camp gave students the opportunity to demonstrate proficiency with the following:

• Abseiling
• Belaying
• Maintain overnight sites (temperatures often below freezing)
• Minimise environmental impact
• Demonstrate employability skills
• Teamwork
• Ensure safety of themselves and others
• Resilience
• Leadership
• Be pushed out of their comfort zones
• Face fears (heights!)
• Feel a sense of accomplishment outside the classroom

Outdoor Recreation gives the students the opportunity to learn a unique set of skills they carry with them into their working adult life. The strong positive relationships developed throughout the course are essential for the well-being and sustainability of individuals, society and the environment. The Outdoor Recreation students are a resilient, hardworking, positive group of young adults. I look forward to working with them for their final semester to complete their competencies for their Certificates, and ultimately their Year 12 Certificate. Well done crew!

Miss Alana Fawcett
Outdoor Recreation Teacher

Creative Arts

Creative Generations Art Awards 2019

Coolum High has been entering the artwork of our best Visual Art student since 2000 into the Creative Generations Art Awards. This state-wide award selects only 35 works from more than 600 entrants. Coolum High has achieved 13 artworks selected and is hoping this year for more to be added to our impressive tally.

Two of these works will go to the Regional Exhibition at the Butter Factory Cooroy at the end of August. From there they will announce the Sunshine Coast selected artworks that will be on exhibition at the GOMA in Brisbane next year.

We will be exhibiting these and the work of all our seniors early Term 4 in the ARTS SHOWCASE.

Senior Debating

A great start to the Debating Competition this term!

First, our Intermediate team (Cody Bailey, Carmen Bryant and Polly Salsbury) beat Immanuel Lutheran College. The topic was That regular use of lap tops in classrooms is important for literacy skills and we were negative. They worked really well together as a team to achieve their first win.

Then, our Senior team (Sarina Petersen, Mika Joyce-Mangschou and Callum White (standing in for Tyler Mohr)) also won their debate against Immanuel Lutheran College. The topic was that Australian universities should conduct their own entrance exams and we were affirmative. They were pretty happy with the win.

The adjudicator praised the high standard of our debaters and commented on what a great night it was for Coolum State High School.

Coolum High School congratulates these students for the amazing results!

Tafe Queensland

We're halfway through the year already, with just two terms to go. As the academic year heats up TAFE Queensland remains committed to helping your students to get more out of high school.

This newsletter features Jessica Clarke; a Bundaberg local taking advantage of Free TAFE for Year 12 graduates.

We also want to share our free guide to surviving senior school for parents, and a new poster that helps navigate different pathways. Finally, an IVET update including brand new courses on offer in partnership with TAFE Queensland.

 

 

Warm regards,

Ana Rodger
General Manager, East Coast Region
TAFE Queensland

Jessica receives a helping hand

Year 12 graduate and TAFE Queensland student Jessica Clarke is on track to follow in her sister’s footsteps with a rewarding career in early childhood, after receiving a helping hand from the Queensland Government through Free TAFE funding.

Give your school's parents a guide to surviving senior schooling

We appreciate that parenting a high school student can be challenging. If you're constantly getting questions or need an additional resource to help your school's parents and guardians through senior schooling and beyond, we've got the guide for you. You can send your parents and guardians this link to download our Parents' Guide, include it in your newsletters, and more.

Senior pathways to education and employment

Pathways can be confusing, especially with the transition to the Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) system. To help we've created this handy diagram showing some of the most popular outcomes and how your students can get there.

New 2020 course guides are here

Our 2020 TAFE at School course guides are here! They feature a range of information about the TAFE at School program from courses to university pathways and intakes to payment options, as well as information tailored for parents and schools.

TAFE at School online solutions powered by IVET

You may have heard that TAFE Queensland has partnered with IVET to deliver online solutions for schools. The new and dynamic platform is designed to increase student engagement and reduce teacher marking time.

Through Partnerships with Schools you can also access reduced pricing for certificate III courses delivered through the platform powered by IVET, when combined with a VETiS funded certificate II course.*

New courses have also just been added across business, hospitality, health, and sport and recreation.

See where TAFE can take your students.

Dates for your Diary