5 March 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents,

With our students and campus looking fantastic, Coolum High is in great shape. And whilst ‘looking the part’ goes a long way toward developing a culture of belonging and respect amongst our students and staff, as a school we must also be completely focussed on relentlessly pursuing excellence in both teaching and learning. Concurrently, we have been examining the policies and procedural aspects of Coolum SHS to confirm the strength and integrity of the education delivered to your child, whilst consistently progressing towards excellence. Our School Data Plan is one such way we can ensure we are meticulously and transparently improving at Coolum SHS.

It is our intention to ensure that all of our student achievement outcomes are the best they possibly can be! This year, Coolum High has also invested heavily in making the wellbeing of all members of our school community a key priority. In engaging gratitude and relationships expert, Toni Powell, Coolum High is working towards creating the happy, health school community that we know underpins success. This is an exciting piece of work that will continue to receive our attention in the months and years to come.

Our most important method in gauging how successful we are is in the measurement of several key areas. We have identified a number of areas for checking, with the four most important being:

1. Literacy
2. Numeracy
3. Levels of Achievement (Report Card Information)
4. Attendance

We can measure these through external methods such as NAPLAN and the new senior external exams, as well as internal assessment procedures conducted by Coolum SHS staff and administrators. The final four areas cover all aspects of Year 12 data. The measurement and comparison of each field from year to year enables the school to pinpoint areas of distinction or concern so that we might modify and therefore improve the way education is delivered to each Coolum SHS student.

To aid and inform the attainment of excellence in education, we have identified certain targets to be achieved within these measurements. These include:

• Graduate destinations
  Each and every student will have a clear and seamless pathway from our gates into employment, further training or higher education. Targets for our Year 12s will continue to include every individual graduating with a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), which has been achieved over the past two years, the completion of all VET Certificates, and students performing with distinction in the new ATAR system.
• NAPLAN
  Whilst NAPLAN can never be the sum total of our students’ achievements, or your child’s worth, the data collected cannot be overlooked. As such, our targets for the 2020 NAPLAN test are to improve on the excellent results achieved in 2019 which were at or above the national average, a goal our students, under the care and guidance of our teachers, are more than capable of achieving.
• Levels of Achievement
  At least 90% of students across all year groups will obtain levels of achievement within the A-C range, with those achieving under this range given every opportunity and aid to improve.
• Attendance
  Attending school each and every day is central to every student’s success. In 2020, our target is to have an attendance rate of greater than 92%.

In consultation with teachers, students and parents, we will review all collated data and targets. We will suggest and implement ways in which we can improve in areas that need attention, and maintain or excel further in fields experiencing success.

Troy Ascott
Principal

Deputy Principal - Junior Secondary Year 7

I would like to start a conversation regarding the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) that will occur in Term 2. This is an annual assessment for students in Years 7 and 9 and is a regular part of the school calendar. NAPLAN tests the skills that are essential for every student to progress through school and life, such as reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy. It is important to remember that NAPLAN is not about passing or failing, but about assessing learning progress. At the classroom level it is one of a number of important tools used by teachers to measure student progress so that support can be planned to assist each individual student needs.

The program has drawn some criticism from a number of different quarters since its inception 2008. You’ve probably heard a number of different viewpoints expressed in the media and the local community over the years. An argument commonly put forward is that the NAPLAN tests put excessive pressure on students to perform in test situations. If so, then perhaps the best approach for parents and teachers is to help them handle the pressure rather than avoid it. The most resilient young people are those who rise to meet rather than retreat from the challenges presented to them.

Perhaps it’s best to view the NAPLAN test as good learning experiences rather than dreaded pressure tests. It also must be noted that this test is the only other time where by our students will have the opportunity to gain confidence to partake in a nationally leveled assessments prior to their external exams in the new senior schooling.

All students in Years 7 and 9 are expected to participate in NAPLAN tests. NAPLAN tests give us information on how our students are progressing against national standards. This information allows for additional intervention if necessary to ensure our students progresses at a rate where they can fully participate in all aspects of the curriculum and excel in the senior school years. NAPLAN does not replace, but rather complements, assessments run by our teachers throughout the year.

Adjustments can be provided for students with disability to enable them to access the tests on an equivalent basis as students without disability. Some students with significant intellectual disability and/or those with significant co-existing conditions which severely limit their capacity to participate in the tests may be exempted from sitting the tests.

Parents or carers may withdraw their child from the tests to address issues such as religious beliefs and philosophical objections to testing. It is recommended that withdrawal be considered in consultation with our school. Formal notification must be received by our school prior to testing. Please contact our school should you wish to withdraw your child for these reasons.

It must be noted that students take their cues from their parents about how to handle many situations. Optimistic parents beget optimistic students, just as anxious parents can beget anxious students. As a parent it can greatly assist your child if you take an optimistic view to the NAPLAN tests. It is better to see them as learning opportunities for our students as well as opportunities for them to overcome any anxieties or nerves that these tests may bring on. It’s also worth remembering that many students don’t stress over these tests. The vast majority take them in their stride, wondering what all the fuss is about.

Whether your child stresses or takes it in his stride here are some tips to help prepare for the NAPLAN tests:

1. Take your cues from your child: If your child doesn’t worry about them then neither should you. Be careful not to create a problem that doesn’t exist by incessantly talking about, or worse, worrying about the test.
2. Focus on doing their best and trying hard: Choose your words carefully when you speak with your child. As with all their learning activities place your focus squarely on effort rather than results. The only pressure on the students should be to try hard rather than to do well. This will then ensure that we as educators have the realistic results that can help us plan for their senior schooling success.
3. Listen to any concerns they have: If your child confesses to some nerves then validate his feelings, rather than shut them down with a ‘get over it’ response. “Yes, sometimes tests can be a little scary, but they get easier every time you take them.” Use this as an opportunity to develop your child, which starts with recognising how your child feels.
4. Give them some relaxation ideas: Anxious or nervous students will benefit from some simple relaxation strategies. Taking some deep breaths, changing their thinking and exercising the morning of the test are some simple ways to help students get some feeling of control.
5. Help them retain their perspective: One way to help students who become excessively anxious about an event is to ask what’s the worst thing that could happen? Okay, they may not do as well as they would like but the sun will still rise tomorrow. Keeping perspective is a life skill that we all need to practice.

Encouraging your child to try their best when they are apprehensive or nervous will give them their best result and support us as educators to assist your child to a successful destination after Coolum State High School.

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.

Year 9 Attendance

As the Deputy Principal who works with Year 9 students, I am very interested in their attendance at school. Having excellent attendance means students are in a regular routine and never have the added stress and anxiety of catching up on missed work due to absence.

Year 9 students have had a great start to the year with their learning and behaviour and I am looking forward to seeing their report card results at the start of Term 2.

What I can update you with is their attendance so far this year. Year 9 attendance is currently at 90.7%. This is a solid start – but we have so much room for improvement in this area. Our goal as a school is to have attendance at 92% or higher. It is up to parents and schools to work together to get young people to school every single day.

What is fantastic is that we have an amazing 95 Year 9 students on 100% attendance so far this year! This has been very encouraging and I am looking forward to seeing the overall attendance improve as the term progresses.

Greater attendance every day at school gives students more opportunities to be successful in their learning, and their future destinations.

Terry Proctor
Deputy Principal Junior Secondary

Deputy Principal –Senior Secondary Year 10

Excellence in everything we do

2020 is an exciting year for Year 10 student’s as they prepare for their Senior pathways. Coming up in Term 2, 11-15 May, students from Year 10 will have the opportunity to access a week of work experience. In previous years, students have found this process to be extremely informative in preparing for Senior pathway choices and subject selection for Years 11 and 12.

We encourage all students in Year 10 to collect a work experience form from Ms Tracy Ford, Head of Department – Vocational Education, as soon as possible and organise a placement.

Thank you to all the Year 10 parents and students who attended the Meet the Teacher event last week. It was a lovely opportunity to meet you and to share some of the pre-senior information with you all.

Some key information for parents and students to consider as we start the information process includes:

• What is a QCE?
• What are the requirements for QCE eligibility?
• What is an ATAR?
• SET planning 2020

Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) remains as Queensland’s Senior Secondary qualification. QCE requirements include:

Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) is a rank order from 99.95-0.00 that will determine higher education offers for students seeking placement in a University course.

ATAR replaces the Overall Position (OP) system from 2020.

Senior Education Training (SET) Planning is a process that supports students in choosing subjects towards a program of learning in the senior phase of education. In term 3, dates to be confirmed, 2020, students are required to attend an interview, with a parent, to select subjects for 2021.

Prior to this interview, students will be required to complete the SET Planning and Career module on One School and have filtered subject choice through the list of pre-requisites to ensure appropriate choices agreed to in the interview.

It is important for students and parents to be aware that academic results are reviewed consistently throughout the Year 10. At the end of 2020 all Year 10 student results will be reviewed and ratified against the student’s SET plan to ensure pre-requisites have been met and, if required, relevant changes are made prior to commencement of the 2021 academic year.

We will be running a dedicated information session for Year 10 parents early in Term 2 to go over this critical information

Emma Clarke
Deputy Principal Senior Secondary Year 10

Deputy Principal - Senior Secondary Year 11 & 12

It was pleasing to see our senior student leaders and students receive their badges at the 2020 investiture ceremony last week. The Year 12 cohort conducted themselves magnificently and demonstrated pride in themselves, their family and the school. This is the first of many formal ceremonies and it will be exciting to see their growth and development as we move towards graduation at the end of the year.

As we move into a heavy assessment period, it is important that all senior students are focusing and applying themselves as they prepare for the rigors of the upcoming assessment. It is critical that senior students ensure they leave no stone unturned in their preparation thus achieving great results. This focused dedication will position them well for the remaining terms and ensure they are on track and moving towards attaining their QCE. Students that miss assessment or exams, especially for our senior students, must produce a medical certificate explaining their absence. This is a part of our assessment policy and a QCAA guideline for senior assessment.

Year 11 block exam will start Monday 16 March and conclude on Monday 23 March Week 9 and Year 12 block exams are all of Week 6. Students have been given their exam timetables and are only expected to attend school for their allocated exams. All senior students should be actively studying when not required on campus.

Bring Your Own Laptop program (BYOD)

Now that we have started the 2020 school year, it is important to reiterate the message that at Coolum SHS all students in Years 7-12 need to bring their own laptops fully charged and ready to use.

We have over the last few years been decommissioning and removing computer labs as hardware goes past its life cycle as more students bring their own laptops. Subject areas are ensuring that lesson content is delivered using technology where possible and appropriate. This change will better support students to develop higher levels of proficiency using ICT’s. As the Australian Curriculum states:

Students develop capability in using ICT for tasks associated with information access and management, information creation and presentation, problem-solving, decision-making, communication, creative expression and empirical reasoning. This includes conducting research, creating multimedia information products, analysing data, designing solutions to problems, controlling processes and devices, and supporting computation while working independently and in collaboration with others.

It is has always been our philosophy that we want to ensure every students get a first class education at Coolum SHS and the use of the students laptop will help ensure students stay abreast to the ever changing technology landscape. If you would like to discuss in more detail the technology requirements of students, please don’t hesitate to contact the school and speak with the appropriate year level Deputy Principal.

Lee Merrett
Deputy Principal Senior Secondary

Business Services News

Thank you to all the families that have made a substantial contribution towards their child’s subject fees.

The subject selections have now been finalised for Years 9 and 10. These students are required to have these elective subject fees paid by the end of Term 1 2020.

Certificate Courses and Fee paying subjects for Year 11 are now overdue.

If you are unable to pay these fees by this deadline, we do offer payment plans via Centrelink or BPoint Payment Plans.

If students in these subjects who have not had a contribution or entered into a payment plan through the school, students may be moved to non-fee paying subjects.

We are dedicated to providing your child with the necessary learning resources and career pathways to ensure their success and the subject and certificate fees are essential to achieve this goal. Thank you for our support.

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

University of the Sunshine Coast

Welcome to the USC Parent Lounge

In the first Parent Lounge for 2020, USC researcher Dr Larisa McLoughlin shares her findings on what occurs in the brains of young adults who witness cyberbullying. Regular contributor Dr Janet Lee provides some tips on how you can help your child during their first semester of university, and we update you on what's new at USC.

What's new in 2020?

2020 has kicked off with a flying start as we saw a record number of students receive offers to begin degrees at USC in Semester 1 following a major expansion of the University in Moreton Bay. Opening a brand-new campus in Petrie is just the beginning, as we have lots of exciting new things in

2020 at USC.

How cyberbullying affects the brain

Cyberbullying has a measurable impact on the brain even if you’re just witnessing it, according to world-first research from USC’s Mind and Neuroscience - Thompson Institute. USC’s Dr Larisa McLoughlin shares her findings on this new study, which captures what occurs in the brains of young adults who

witness cyberbullying.

Does your child want a Headstart at uni?

Has your child ever thought about starting university while still in high school? USC’s Headstart program allows Year 11 and 12 students to get a taste of university life by studying first-year uni subjects on campus and gaining credit towards a future degree.

Off on a new adventure: How you can help your child

Starting university can be just as nerve-racking as starting school for both parents and their children, just because it is something new. Dr Janet Lee, a regular contributor to USC’s Parent Lounge discusses how you can help your child through their new adventure at university.

Hear from a graduate: Samantha Guy, Civil Engineer

We chatted to USC Civil Engineering graduate Samantha Guy to find out how her USC degree prepared her for her role as a Project Engineer with Unity Water.

Bear, the koala detection dog

It may be because of his bright blue eyes and little leather boots – but the world cannot get enough of the USC Detection Dogs for Conservation team's top koala detection dog, Bear. USC researchers Dr Celine Frere and Dr Romane Cristescu, along with Bear, continue to be featured in the media around the world for their work in assisting to locate injured and displaced koalas affected by

Australian bushfires.

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Tutorials – Term 1

Sports News

North District Swimming

Recently 34 of our best swimmers competed at the North District Swimming Carnival. The day got off to a cracking start with our boys relay team placing 2nd and our girls relay team placing 3rd. As the day continued our swimmers competed brilliantly with the following students achieving places in their respective Age Champion groups:

• 2nd Hailee O’Sullivan – 14 years girls
• 2nd Austin Andrews – 14 years boys
• 3rd Locki Rahui – 14 years boys
• 2nd Jakob O’Sullivan – 15 years boys
• Age Champion – Beau Pattison – 16 years boys
• Age Champion – Fyn Sharpley – Open girls
• 3rd Keisser Dela Torre – Open boys

Final placings for schools as follows:

Sunshine Beach – 709
St John’s – 685.5
St Teresa’s – 595.5
Coolum SHS – 483.5
Noosa – 173.5
Coolum Beach CC – 164
Good Samaritan – 161
Nambour SC – 151
Burnside - 122

Congratulations to the following students who have made North District teams:

U12 Boys Basketball – Blake Sewell
U16 Boys Soccer – Zane Pederson, Harrison Renzulli, Jordan Dodd, Zac Sands, Zac Savage
U15 Boys Rugby League – Brendan Matthewman, Taij Roberts, Jack Coombes, Nye Florence
U18 Boys Rugby League – Jesse Page, Ricky Pettinger, Mason Johnson, Lachlan Turner
U19 Boys Soccer – Kai Hale, Elijah Taylor, Conor Savage, Marlon Hawkins
U19 Girls Soccer – Jade Barraclough, Brea Polkinghorne
U18 Boys Rugby Union – Rubin Smyth, Kade Daly
U12 Boys AFL – Cooper Harkness, Mitchell Guildford, Jai Fallu

Representative Sport calendar

See below the Rep Sport Calendar for 2020. It is recommended that you or your child mark down important dates so that they don’t miss out on their sport of choice. However, sports get postponed and venues and dates changed all the time so be aware of that. Notices about upcoming trials are conveyed to students on parade each Monday, in home group notices as well as being displayed on the HPE notice board outside the HPE Staffoom.

Some students and parents get confused as to the difference between school sport offerings and rep sport trials. We field many teams where students have the opportunity to play as part of a team on a weekly basis. Examples include Basketball academy, Touch Academy, Justin Hodges 9s, Term 3 Girls Rugby Union, Term 4 Boys Rugby Union and many others. The goal of rep sport is to be selected in representative teams like the students listed above. They are not ‘come and try’ days and students trialling for rep sport teams should be of above average skill level in their chosen sport.

An important part of trialling for teams is that I sign your child’s form. They need school permission, from me to trial for their sport. I also need to sign their form for school approval if they get selected in the Noosa District/North District team. No signed form = no trial.

Year 8 inter school sport

Trials for year 8 inter school sport will be next Friday. Students have the opportunity to trial for Boys and Girls teams in Basketball, Volleyball, Touch Football and Soccer.

Eric Smyth
Teacher/Sports Co-ordinator

International Student Program

The new international students recently enjoyed their first surfing lesson. Guided by the awesome coaches at Coolum Surf School, they were standing up and riding the waves, quite fast!

The International Student Program is very pleased to offer these lessons as part of their Coolum study experience, and they also receive vital water and beach safety information.

March 8-19 2020, we are pleased to welcome the Fujishiro High School (Japan) study tour group into school life. The students are aged between 15-17 years old (boys and girls). 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

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

Student Contribution

GREEN STUFF: What are the benefits of cleaning up your local beach?

Over the weekend, Clean Up Australia Day celebrated 30 years of people coming together on the first Sunday of March to clean up their local areas. If you’ve ever thought about getting involved in a beach clean up, here’s some reasons to give it a go.

Who doesn’t want to save some marine animals:

We’ve all woken up to the headlines about sea life that has died due to consuming or being trapped by the waste we throw in the oceans. When our rubbish washes up on coastlines, it gives us an opportunity to remove it before the tide washes it back out.

You’ll keep toxic chemicals out of the water:

Cigarette butts are the most frequently littered item on Earth and one of the most commonly found bits of rubbish in the ocean. Cigarette butts make a big impact on clean water. After just one hour of exposure, a cigarette butt can contaminate almost 8 litres of water with unhealthy and dangerous chemicals. If you picked just 10 cigarette butts up off the ground, you’re saving nearly 800 litres of water from contamination!

You’ll make seafood better:

They say what goes in the ocean ends up inside of you, and according to one study, the average seafood eater is consuming 11,000 tiny fragments of plastic every year. The chemicals in these plastics can accumulate in our bodies over time and eventually cause health problems. So, cleaning up your local beach means creating a healthier world.

You’ll get some time outdoors:

Sand between your toes, sunshine beaming down on you, and a fresh sea breeze – what’s not to like? One of the best things about beach clean ups is that you get to be outside, see all the natural beauty of the sea and the beaches near you, and spend a part of your day doing something wonderful in nature!

You’ll help to preserve our natural treasures:

Beaches are diverse, beautiful, natural treasures that we all have the benefit of enjoying. Unfortunately, the amount of rubbish making its way to the ocean jeopardises those natural treasures. By cleaning up the beach, you can help to ensure that current visitors and those who come after us will be able to enjoy it too.

Jye Parkinson
Student

General News

Dates for your Diary