11 June 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents,

I am so proud of Coolum State High School. As things return to normal after the coronavirus layoff, it has been wonderful to see students returning to school looking amazing in their uniforms; the sounds of the regular school day returning, with even the sight of workmen on top of G-block installing solar panels in anticipation of our school being air-conditioned a reminder of a school going about its usual business. Teachers have missed their students and are delighted to have them back. The world of school is slowly but surely getting back to what we all know.

As school gets back to normal it has reminded me of the value of school and, within that, the value of attendance at school. I can’t say how much education means to me or I’d be here for hours, nor how much value I place, personally, on attendance at school. I know from watching what happens, year in and year out, that there can be no doubt that the students who attend school the most are invariably the ones who achieve to their highest potential. They are also more likely to become involved in the richness of school life, in things like music, sport, drama and the other clubs and societies that make school life fun and enjoyable. It was wonderful to see some bleary-eyed students turning up at an early hour last week to attend Mr Dixon’s running club – now that showed serious commitment!

Attendance at school is what gives the student the chance to make the most of their start in life. High levels of attendance give the student the maximum chance to achieve highly. Every day of school missed is a missed opportunity to learn. Subjects like Maths, in particular, are sequential and require sustained, regular attendance to succeed.

Like many people around the world, I have been moved by the story of Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, who was shot for wanting to attend school. In her world, attending school as a girl was dangerous and yet she courageously confronted that risk. What a hero; and what a role model to us all; what a reminder that school matters and sometimes we don’t understand what we really have until we don’t have it at all.

As we return to normal, let’s set our sights not on good school attendance, but on great school attendance. Let’s aim to set the benchmark on school attendance so that our students, Coolum State High students, have the best possible chance of success. This year, we have already lost too many school days. Let’s make attendance, every school day, a top priority as we set ourselves to make the most of the opportunities that we have this school year.

Troy Ascott
Principal

Deputy Principal - Junior Secondary Year 7

CAST

Clubs, Academies, Sports and Tutorials have restarted at Coolum SHS. The posters regarding the CAST program have been displayed around the school, which show when each activity is on. We strongly encourage all students to take advantage of this program, as it is a great way for them to have an entertaining lunch break with like-minded students. The clubs and sports components of the program offers a diverse range of activities to ensure we cater for all student’s needs.

General Year 7 Enrolments 2021

For parents intending to enrol their child to our school for Year 7 2021, it is important to deliver your completed enrolment application by Thursday 25 June to our school office. Our awareness of future student numbers greatly assist with our planning for 2021 and a smooth transition for the Year 6 students.

2021 ALPHA Program

All applications for the 2021 Year 7 ALPHA program are due. All applicants will receive an email by the Thursday 25 June advising the dates and times of the next stage of the selection process. If you have applied and have not received an email by this date, please ensure you contact our school office.

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.

Semester 1 Reporting

We have certainly had a semester like no other! I am very grateful that we have such wonderful staff, students and parents who have together navigated Coolum High through the change and uncertainty of the preceding weeks and months. Despite teaching and learning being very different to what we were all used to, it seems like we are back on track with more familiar arrangements again.

As we get closer to the end of the term, students will be undertaking some assessment that will contribute to their Semester 1 Reports. Our teaching teams, led by Heads of Department, have been very carefully considering how assessment will look in their subject areas this term, particularly for Years 7-10. In some cases, assessment tasks or conditions will be modified to take into account the significant changes and interruptions we have had to teaching and learning.

Despite all of these changes, one message remains the same – students who put their best efforts into their classroom learning and behaviour will always be better placed to do well in assessment. Effectively planning their time to complete some key school tasks or assessments will always aid students to achieve their best.

Semester 1 Report Cards are due to be issued at the end of the first week back after the winter holidays.

Terry Proctor
Deputy Principal Junior Secondary

Deputy Principal –Senior Secondary Year 10

Excellence in everything we do

It has been a busy time for students in year 10 as they head into assessment mode in what has been a truly unique time in education.

In preparation for term 3 students will begin to work through a series of career education activities to support choices for their senior learning pathway.

In lieu of the opportunity to run an information evening I have included some key information points for parents below.

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. 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 a series of activities in a specially created One Note and have reviewed subject choice through the list of academic benchmarks to ensure students are able to be successful in their pathway of choice.

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.

Students will have access to the student One Note by the end of the term and will be emailed the link to access the document. Students can then complete the activities independently or in CVP time on Wednesday.

We look forward to working with the students throughout this exciting time in their schooling lives

Emma Clarke
Deputy Principal Senior Secondary Year 10

Deputy Principal - Senior Secondary Year 11 & 12

It is extremely pleasing to see our senior student’s transition back to normal schooling over the last month. While the far reaching negative effects of COVID19 are still being felt across the community, there has been some positive outcomes identified for students. One positive is the transition to digital offsite learning which has allowed senior students to experience firsthand university style of learning.

Year 12 students undertaking general subjects will be moving into a heavy assessment phase over the last few weeks of term 2 and early term 3. Students undertaking VET and applied subjects will continue to have significant assessment but in a more traditional time frame. Assessment calendars have been developed and communicated to support students and parents to enable success in their subjects. It is important that students are working hard and preparing themselves to do the best in these pieces.

Coolum SHS is looking to reinvigorate the QParents application for parents. Information regarding this has been emailed home. I have taken a snap shot from the email below

Did you know that QParents is available to you as a parent? QParents is a secure and convenient online parent portal where you may access your child’s student information and stay connected to our school. The QParents web and mobile app provides an easy way for parents to interact with the school. It provides a wealth of useful information and resources readily available at your fingertips.

• Live attendance and absence details, as well as the ability to notify the school of an absence
• Academic report cards
• Class timetables
• Viewing unpaid invoice details, payment history and making payments online
• Viewing and updating personal student details, including medical conditions and address
• Enrolment details

Should you require any assistance when using QParents, please do not hesitate to email us at admin@coolumshs.eq.edu.au or visit the QParents Help website -

Lee Merrett
Deputy Principal Senior Secondary

Business Services News

As always, the school is working hard to ensure our staff and students are safe, clean and healthy. We have increased our signage across the school to remind all our staff and students of washing their hands and exercising hygienic practices. We are also putting in place measures to ensure that our supply of recommended cleaning products are available. Our cleaners are, as always, working hard to maintain a high standard of cleaning and are meeting all required obligations around cleaning practices during these unprecedented times.

Facilities News

We are very excited about the progress our new building is making. The expected completion date is early August this year. This wonderful new addition to the school will mean so much for our students in science, health, design and technology, allowing them to flourish in a purpose-built space.

The final touches were made to the Performing Arts block refurbishment and the students are thoroughly enjoying this renewed space. The small stage that we built into the corner of one of the classrooms is proving very popular with our music students as they have been having a lot of fun simulating a stage performance!

I am also pleased that we have been able to install extra cupboards for some much-needed storage to the science labs and the science preparation area. The students’ access to science equipment is now stored and maintained more effectively. These small but very significant facilities additions can make a big difference to the functionality of our spaces.

Road Safety

Attention: our school, we are committed to students and staff safety in all areas. One of those areas is how we think and act around road safety. With large enrolment numbers, the importance of how we enter and exit the school is paramount and observing all the road rules and parking appropriately and in legal areas is very important, to ensure our students and staff are safe. This also means not using the staff carpark as a pick-up and drop-off zone; parking in the bus zone; or parking in non-designated spaces. We have attached some safety tips from the Department of Transport and Main Roads that will help us all stay safe.

Fees

We understand that this may be a difficult time for many families as they face the uncertainty of job losses under Covid-19. Please make a time to speak with me if you are experiencing financial difficulties with SRS fees, subject fees or uniforms. We will do our best to support you.

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

The P and C executive have been working hard behind the scenes, to get the canteen through this unusual Term 2. We have had to restructure the canteen and have opened for 1st break only, to ensure that we stay financially viable whilst looking after the stomachs of our school community. As we try new food items and tweak our processes, we anticipate that things will get back to a "more normal" when Term 3 begins, including online ordering and opening for both breaks.

We would like to try and get as many volunteers in to help out, especially during break times, when service needs to be efficient and get through a large number of students in a short time. Please feel free to email us via pandcexecutive@coolumshs.eq.edu.au if you can spare any time to help out. We have COVID 19 safe practices in place to ensure all our staff and volunteers are properly looked after. We are so lucky to live in such a safe part of the world and to be looking forward to Term 3 and business as usual.

A reminder that when you go and buy any items from The School Locker in Maroochydore, that the school gets a quarterly donation back into the P and C funds from these sales , to use for the benefit of our students and the school. So even if you are not buying uniform items, make sure you let them know that you are part of the COOLUM HIGH school community when you are at the cash register. It all goes in to help build/ update resources for our students.

Monica Kutt
Secretary P&C Executive

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Tracy Ford and I am the Head of Department for VET (Vocational Education and Training). I look after work experience, school based traineeship and apprenticeships, TAFE@School and VET courses. I have been teaching at Coolum SHS since the end of 2005 but I have just taken on this role at the beginning of the year. As you can imagine it has been very eventful.

Fortunately, most of our school based trainees and apprentices have been able to continue working through the Covid-19 period. I would really like to thank the employers who have been working with these students for the kindness and consideration they have shown them and the support they have shown the school.

Unfortunately, a number of events have had to be cancelled. Work Experience for Year 10 students was scheduled for Week 4 this term and had to be postponed. At present, we are determining if work experience can be rescheduled but we are thinking employers are already under enough pressure and it is unlikely that it will go ahead. Mock interviews were usually conducted with Year 10 students by members of the public but these also had to be cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

One of my main aims is to strengthen connections with the Peregian/Coolum community to offer more opportunities for students. Many students are keen for traineeships/apprenticeship in trades, retail, hospitality, childcare and health. I cannot speak highly enough about the ability of our students and feel very confident that they will make employers happy. If you think you could offer assistance in this area, please feel free to contact:

Tracy tford42@eq.edu.au or the Transition Officer Maria mblac127@eq.edu.au.

Tracy Ford
Head of Department - Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Teaching and Learning news

As teaching staff, we have been working really hard on shaping our curriculum to make sure it aligns with the Australian Curriculum. Under the leadership of our Deputy Principal, Emma Clarke, we’ve been working hard to make sure our students have the same opportunities that any other student in Australia would have.

The way that students access this curriculum is through effective pedagogy. Here at Coolum we are committed to making sure that our students are able to access the vastness of curriculum with the best possible, evidence-based teaching practice. That is the journey we are on at Coolum and we do it to ensure our ultimate goal can happen – the success of our students as measured by their post-schooling destination.

Our signature Pedagogy is a program called Reading to Learn. Reading to Learn simply means students access the curriculum through reading. This program was the brainchild of Dr David Rose, who comes to us from the University of Sydney from the faculty of Linguistics. This program is also used at schools in Brisbane Metro, NSW, Victoria, and internationally including countries ranging from Uganda to Sweden with transformative results. Students will succeed in High School with proficiency in text. They have to be able to read, comprehend, and replicate text and writing in every discipline from Science to English to Technology to the Arts. We are honoured to take your children on their learning journey and as teachers we are proud to work at a school that is always striving for best practice.

Jeanette Samson
Head of Department Teaching and Learning

Creative Arts News

Instrumental Music and Vocal Program Commencement – Term 2

Over the last two weeks we have recommenced our instrumental music and vocal lessons at Coolum State High School for all students in Years 7-12.

We have provisioned the following measures in line with departmental health and hygiene protocols on the advice of QLD heath authorities.

• Instrumental and vocal lessons will take place in ventilated PA classrooms, PA4, PA5 and PA6.
• Lesson venues will be noted on timetables and in correspondence from the relevant teacher.
• Our dressing room sinks in PA4 are available for students to clean and sanitise instruments and will be stocked appropriately with equipment as required.
• Specially employed full time cleaning staff have been instructed to clean music stands, keyboards and other equipment as recommended by the health and hygiene protocols and will continue to do so until advice changes.

Lesson timetables are available for students on the PA4 window for all music lessons for the reminder of the term.

Last week we also recommenced our ensemble rehearsals alongside our lesson program, as follows:

Monday (3-5pm) - Wind Symphony
Tuesday (7:30 - 8:30am) - Coolum Voices
Wednesday (7:30 - 8:30am) - String Orchestra
Wednesday (3 - 4pm) - SongSpark
Thursday (2:45 - 4pm) - Concert Band

Coming up in Term 3 will we have a newly updated website with all information regarding our SongSpark program, Instrumental Music and Vocal Programs as well as uniform, event and policy information for parents and prospective parents. We will make an announcement shortly regarding the new look music wing of our website.

We have been so excited to start again and we’re looking forward to seeing all of our students making music again!

Visual Art Extension – Semester Two 2020

Do you love art? Are you drawing at home? Do you want to learn more and hone your skills but not taking the subject?

If you a current student enrolled in Visual Art and would like the opportunity to extend your techniques and conceptualisation Visual Art Extension is for you.

In Semester Two we are running an after school Visual Art Extension (VAE) program on Thursdays from 3.00pm to 4.30pm in A3.

To express an interest in participating, students need to collect an application form from the Art teachers in PA staffroom. Students are asked to complete the form, photocopy your best six artworks, tell us why you want to join the program (in 200 words) and hand it into PA staffroom or email to Mr Hardy (rohan.hardy@eq.edu.au)

Applications close on the 19 June 2020.

Rohan Hardy
Head of Department Creative Arts

Tutorials – Homework Club

Tutorials – Term 2

Sports News

School Sport Australia has cancelled all national representative sport carnivals. All other school, district, regional and state representative sport have also been cancelled until further notice. QLD School Sport has made the decision to cancel all Term 2 state carnivals.

Inter School Sport for the Year 8s next term has been cancelled in line with this. Year 7 inter school sport in Term 3 and Year 9s inTterm 4 are currently cancelled as well, however, it is expected that they will go ahead if/when the Department of Education advises that is safe to do so.

Eric Smyth
Sport Co-ordinator

Bus Pass Information 2020

Q: What is a Buslink Bus Pass?

Attention:: 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 2020?

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 2020 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:

In times of such uncertainty it is nice to know that there is still support out there for the environment and our community. Last week The Sunshine Coast Environmental Council posted the following announcement.

Patagonia supports Save Yaroomba!

For years our passionate community has been working hard to protect our beloved Yaroomba from the Sekisui development.

In late 2018 the Sunshine Coast Environment Council (SCEC) and local community group Development Watch commenced proceedings in the Planning and Environment Court to appeal the Sunshine Coast Council's decision to approve Sekisui’s inappropriate proposal for intensive residential and hotel development on the sensitive beachfront. After a year of court action, a three week-long trial concluded on December 6th 2019.

After exceptional community mobilisation for this precious coastal environment and amazing generosity of the community in raising the considerable funds needed to run the court case, we have some wonderful news!

We are incredibly excited to announce the support of Patagonia in our fight to Save Yaroomba and its critical coastal environment for the endangered loggerhead turtle! We have been awarded an environmental grant through the ‘1% for the Planet’ initiative. This is a phenomenal show of support and recognition of strength and importance of community activism in protecting our irreplaceable natural environment. These are vital funds needed for the campaign for which we are deeply grateful. As we await the court judgement, our community spirit continues to shine with Friends of Yaroomba still fundraising for this monumental court case. As some public events have unfortunately needed to be curtailed for the foreseeable future due to the health crisis, you can still support the cause by getting yourself some fab merchandise online.

As we and the planet face growing and complex challenges, we are reminded of the true power of community. Our sincerest thanks to everyone for your ongoing and inspiring support.

Jye Parkinson
Student Year 11

General News

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