24 March 2021

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Looking through the school’s Facebook page very clearly brings to light the many and varied achievements of our students.

Hopefully you would have already seen a video of one of our very gifted vocal groups that regularly performs on Monday assemblies. The four senior students who make up the group are incredibly talented and have all of us mesmerised during their performances. The group will most certainly be a part of our Celebration of Excellence on Wednesday 15 September, the last Wednesday during Term 3. Please keep this date available to join with us to celebrate our amazing students.

Nine of our students recently competed in the Sunshine Coast Regional Swimming Trials with extraordinary success. Beau set a new 200 metre backstroke record and also came 2nd in the 200 metre individual medley. Hailee placed 1st in the 200 metre freestyle while Regan blitzed the field and won both the 100 metre and 200 metre breaststroke. Congratulations to all of the competitors from Coolum SHS who competed at the trials and to the three students mentioned and Jakob who have qualified for the Swimming State Championships.

In addition to the swimming success, students also made the Sunshine Coast Regional teams for Hockey, Golf, Water polo, Girls and Boys Rugby League. The commitment and passion they display for their chosen sport is evident in their well-deserved successes. Congratulations!

A number of students recently competed in the annual University of New South Wales Science and Engineering Challenge where they won the innovative project award. An amazing result!

Major congratulations go out to the students who participated in a chess tournament that was recently held at Coolum High. The tournament was attended by more than 70 students from across the coast. Coolum High students acquitted themselves extremely well, finishing third. There’s nothing like participating in a school event on a Sunday to show immense commitment. Congratulations to the students, and to Ms Vellar for coordinating the event.

These are just few of the many events and activities that our students have the opportunity to engage in as part of the school day, and we encourage each and every student to benefit from these activities.

If you haven’t already ‘liked’ the school’s Facebook page, now is a good time to do it. I strongly recommend that you scroll through to keep up to date with all the goings-on, and see the hundreds of students who make the most of each and every day at Coolum High.

With the end of Term 1 coming up very quickly, it is timely once again, to remind parents and their children that students are legally required to attend school up to, and including, the last day of the school term. Consistent attendance at school is a significant factor in achieving better academic and social outcomes.

With all the social and academic opportunities that are available both inside and outside the classroom, Coolum High is a great place for our students to involve themselves each and every day.

Troy Ascott
Principal

Student Road Safety

With the rapid increase in student numbers, it is important that we develop safe practices for how this volume of students can safely exit our school each day. Our SafeST committee has been working with relevant stakeholders to improve student safety on the way to and from school.

This has led to improved infrastructure around our school.

• Construction of a footpath commencing in Term 2 on Havana West Road.
• No Throw / No Drop barricade on the motorway overpass. Construction to commence in the middle of the year.
• Temporary fence on the southern side of Havana East Road.

We are continuing to improve our student practices and we have started a consultation process with our students regarding how they leave school. It is vital that we have a whole community approach to ensure student safety. You can assist by not parking in the bus bays. I understand that the lack of a drop and go zone makes it difficult, but we are asking that all parents use the car spaces on the opposite side of the road to drop off and pick up students. These students can then utilise the pedestrian crossing to access the school. The new 66 space carpark will soon be finished which will provide great space for the collection of students. As we now have over 1400 students, I strongly encourage students to walk, ride or catch a bus to school.

Our students have demonstrated great manners whilst commuting home. We ask that this is always displayed by all students all of the time, especially around the congested area of Perigean Springs State School. Students who are not collecting a younger sibling must avoid this area.

I invite communication from our community as to how we can better improve our safe exit of our school.

NAPLAN

Students will undertake a NAPLAN preparation session in the first week of Term 2. This will assist us in our preparation of facilitating this test with the 21 classes in Years 7 and 9. 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 tests 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.

Anthony Swan
Deputy Principal Junior Secondary

Excellence in Learning

Term 1 is quickly coming to a close, and our students are currently submitting assessment items.

It is vital for students to set clear goals for achievement in their subjects along with a plan for how they will reach these goals.

An important part of being successful in learning is developing strong study and work habits to manage consolidation of learning and preparing for the study load of senior school subjects. We can all support our young people to achieve excellence through encouraging them to set targets, seek support and challenge to move to the next level of understanding and to maintain a growth mindset in all areas.

Please remember that many of our wonderful teachers volunteer their time to support students with their learning on Wednesday afternoons, 3-4pm in the school library. I am looking forward to seeing the great achievements of our students in the term 1 reports.

Nicola Worthington
Deputy Principal Junior Secondary

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

Planning for Excellence

I am a firm believer that excellence is most often reached when someone has a plan to achieve it, and then puts in the required work and effort to get there.

It doesn’t matter whether it is through your performance in a sport or musical instrument, your job or your school work – the principle of achievement through effort and persistence has stood the test of time.

Some people do fluke it, but they can’t do it very often.

Over these remaining few weeks of the term, when the assessment load is increasing, is a critical time for students to be planned be achieve their best. This may be as simple as time management, increased study efforts at home, or putting that extra 10% effort into their class work.

Please have a conversation with your child and ask what they will be doing over these next few weeks to plan for excellence. Simply talking it through can be the first step towards doing it.

Terry Proctor
Deputy Principal Secondary

With only two weeks remaining of Term 1, there is no rest for our Year 12 cohort.

It is full steam ahead, every day of every week between now and their final day in November. Results are coming in from our first exam block and there are many students who have received 100% for their IA tasks. What a wonderful start to the year!

Students will begin working with our Guidance Officers from Term 2 to start very important conversations about future pathways. Students are expected to meet with our GO’s, Liz or Pamela, to ensure their pathway to TAFE, University, apprenticeships or full-time employment are clearly mapped out.

It is important that all students have a destination post school and have a life of choice, not a life of chance. In order to provide our students with knowledge about universities and TAFE courses, our Year 11 and Year 12 students will be going on their first Hello World TAFE/University experience on Wednesday 31 March. This is a compulsory excursion and there is no cost to families. Electronic permission forms were emailed to parents last week. If you have not received one, please contact the school.

Student Leadership Forum

Coolum SHS hosted the inaugural Student Leadership Forum, attended by leaders from Sunshine Beach SHS and Noosa District SHS. Instigated by our very own School Captain, Charlotte Luck, she led the group in a discussion about highlights in their leadership journey so far. It was a wonderful opportunity to share ideas and network with leaders from our neighbouring schools.

Mr Ascott spoke to students about leadership and the importance of believing in themselves and having conviction in their actions. We are very much looking forward to future meetings in Term 2.

2021 Year 12 Student Leadership Forum

Year 12 Mid-Winter Ball

In forward planning to our Mid-Winter Ball on June 17, there has been many conversations about attendance of our Year 12 students. Our expectation of student attendance is 92% (minimum). Our Home Group Teachers and Head of Year have been communicating individual student attendance percentages. Any student who is below 92% attendance by mid-Term 2 will be required to appeal to attend the Ball. Every day at school is vital, especially in Year 12, therefore their attendance is expected every day. Where possible, please make appointments outside of school hours. If you have questions, please feel free contact me.

I wish all of our families a safe and happy Easter break.

Key dates for Year 12 students:

Emma Curnow
Deputy Principal Senior Secondary Year 12

Business Services News

Statement of Accounts

This week we will email your Statement of Account which details what is outstanding on your child’s account. If you see a negative amount, that means that you are in credit OR we have adjusted your account based on non-attendance at excursion or you have received a refund for the relevant valid reason. It is important that your account is up to date and payments are made in a timely manner, to avoid your child missing out on an activity/excursion.

If you have yet to make payment towards the Student Resource Scheme of $300 I urge you to do so as soon as possible, with final payment made by preferably end of Term 2 please. If you would like to discuss your financial options please don’t hesitate to contact me, I am here to help and support you.

Academy Programs

We have started invoicing for these programs and full and final payment is due this week, to secure your child’s place in the Academy. The Young Entrepreneurs Academy and the AFL Academy will start in Term 2, please visit our website with the updated Academy information and schedules. For any Academy matters, please contact me.

Thank you to all our families for supporting our school and paying your fees on time, it really means a lot to me. I hope you enjoy a safe and relaxing April break and I look forward to working with you next term.

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

School Sports Update

North District Swimming

Well done to our 9 swimmers who recently represented us and North District at the Sunny Coast Swimming carnival. All athletes enjoyed a high level of competition with some excellent experience being gained. Special mention to Beau Pattison who set a new record in the 200m Backstroke. Full results are below:

Beau Pattison

• 200m IM – 2nd
• 50m Backstroke – 3rd
• 50m Breaststroke – 3rd
• 50m Fly – 10th
• 100m Back – 3rd
• 200m Back – 1st (new record)
• 200m IM – 2nd

Jake McHale

• 50m Freestyle – 37th

Britney Murray

• 50m Freestyle – 12th

Locki Rahui

• 50m Freestyle – 13th
• 50m Backstroke – 9th

Hailee O’Sullivan

• 50m Freestyle – 7th
• 50m Backstroke – 5th
• 100m Freestyle – 4th
• 200m Freestyle – 1st

Jakob O’Sullivan

• 50m Freestyle – 4th
• 50m Backstroke – 2nd
• 100m Freestyle – 4th
• 50m Butterfly – 3rd
• 200m Freestyle – 2nd

Imogen Johnstone

• 100m Breaststroke – 4th
• 200m Breaststroke – 3rd
• 50m Breaststroke – 7th

Regan Johnstone

• 100m Breaststroke – 1st
• 200m Breaststroke – 1st
• 50m Butterfly – 6th
• 50m Breaststroke – 3rd

Morgan Benati

• 50m Breaststroke – 10th

Sporting Success

Congratulations to students that have made rep teams recently.

Sunshine Coast Representatives

Regan Johnstone – Swimming
Jakob O’Sullivan – Swimming
Hailee O’Sullivan – Swimming
Beau Pattison – Swimming
Marlon Hawkins – Rugby League
Kyrah Pita – Rugby League

District Representatives

13 – 19 Years Girls Hockey – Abbie Hoffmann
16 – 18 Years Boys Basketball – Izaak Sklenars
15 – 16 Years Girls Rugby Union 7s – Bella McKeown, Josie James, Maya Clark, Chloe Irvine
14 – 15 Years Boys Rugby League – Brendan Matthewman, Codie Wilson
13 – 16 Years Boys Soccer – Harrison Renzulli, Zac Savage, Shade Evans

Upcoming trials

CLOSING FRIDAY 26 MARCH

12 Years Touch Football – Boys and Girls

Students are to see me in the Hall for forms to trial for these sports.

Trials coming up in Term 2/3/4

13 – 15 Years Basketball – Boys and Girls
13 – 18 Years Surfing – Boys and Girls
13 – 15 Years Cricket – Boys
13 – 15 Years Cricket – Girls
16 – 19 Years Cricket – Boys
13 – 14 Years Futsal – Boys
13 – 14 Years Futsal – Girls
13 – 19 Years Triathlon – Boys and Girls
12 Years Rugby League – Girls
12 Years Cricket – Boys
12 Years Track and Field – Boys and Girls
12 Years Cricket – Girls

Cross Country

Nominations have now closed for our competitive Cross Country on 1 April. If your child missed nominations for some reason, please get them to see me in the Hall staffroom. An adventure race will be run during period 4 for all students as an alternative to competitive cross country.

Here is the schedule for the day:

Eric Smyth
HPE Teacher and Sport Co-ordinator

Coolum Chess Academy 2021

This year has seen some exciting developments in our chess program at Coolum SHS.

On Sunday 21st March, Coolum SHS hosted the inaugural Gardinar Chess Sunshine Coast One Day Chess Challenge. These events will be held once a term for individual junior competitors. The event saw over 70 players from across the Sunshine Coast competing.

The A-division was very competitive resulting in a four-way tie for first place. When a tie in chess occurs then a player’s score is determined by adding together the score points of the players they have defeated and half of the score points of players they have drawn against.

After the calculations, Noah placed third and Daniel placed fourth and received a merit award. Special mention to Vic Stockwell who was our first girl to participate at a competition and had a successful day with 3 wins and a draw out of 7 games.

Also this year we have started our Coolum Primary School coaching classes on Monday afternoons. This has proved to be a very popular event with the class full and a waiting list for interested participants. Peter Cam, our chess coach, is working with our younger players to develop their skills in the game.

The benefits of chess are numerous and include increased planning skills, fluid intelligence, processing speed and creativity. It has also been associated with increased flow state and mindfulness. We run social chess on Friday morning tea and lunch in the library, so come along and join the fun!

In term 2 we will be commencing our Academy program on Monday afternoons from 3-4pm.

This will be a session with our coach Peter Cam and is for students who are interested in chess at a more competitive level. If your child is interested in participating they can collect a permission form from the office or myself in the library. Alternatively email me directly: svell13@eq.edu.au

Gardinar Chess Sunshine Coast One Day Chess Challenge participants Patrick, Daniel (Merit) and Noah (3rd place)

Sally Vellar
Head of Department
Humanities and Social Sciences

Managing anxiety: helping teenagers

Anxiety is a normal reaction to challenging situations and is very common in the teenage years.

This is because teenagers have new experiences, opportunities and challenges. They want more independence and their brains change.

For example, teenagers might worry about starting high school, looking a particular way, fitting in with friends, sitting exams, reading in front of the class at school or going to school events.

Feeling anxious is part of the normal range of emotions, just like feeling angry or embarrassed. For most teenagers, anxiety doesn’t last and goes away on its own. But for some teenagers it doesn’t go away or is so intense it that it stops them from doing everyday things.

Managing anxiety: helping teenagers

Managing anxiety is an important life skill.

If your teenage child is feeling anxious, the best way to help them manage it is to let them know that it’s normal to feel anxious sometimes. Tell your child the feeling will most likely go away in time, and that it shouldn’t stop them from doing what they need to do, like giving a presentation in class, catching up with friends, or attending school. If the anxiety doesn’t go away, or if it does prevent young people form doing what they need and want to do, it is important to seek help for them.

Here are some other ways you can help your child manage everyday anxiety.

Helping your teenager face anxiety

• Acknowledge your child’s fear – don’t dismiss or ignore it. It’s important for your child to feel that you take them seriously and that you believe they can overcome their fears. Your child also needs to know that you’ll be there to support them.
• Gently encourage your child to do the things they're anxious about.
• Help your child set small goals for things that they feel a little anxious about. Encourage your child to meet the goals, but don’t step in too early or take control. For example, your child might be anxious about performing in front of others. As a first step, you could suggest your child practises their lines in front of the family.
• Enlist the help of our school Guidance Officers, and your GP in supporting you and your child to manage these feelings
• Try to acknowledge all the steps that your child takes, no matter how small those steps are.

Helping your child explore and understand feelings

• Help your child understand that it’s normal to go through a big range of emotions and that sometimes these can be strong emotions. Remind them that lots of other teenagers feel anxious too.
• Talk with your child about their other emotions – for example, ‘You seem really excited about the swimming carnival’. This sends the message that all emotions, positive and negative, come and go.
• Listen actively to your child. By listening, you can help your child identify their thoughts and feelings, which is a good first step to managing them.

Giving your child love and support

• Show your child affection – for example, by hugging and telling them regularly that you love them. Your love lets your child know you’re there to help them cope when they're feeling anxious.
• Avoid labelling your child as ‘shy’ or ‘anxious’.
• Try to be a good role model for your child in the way that you  manage your own stress and deal with your own anxiety.

Thinking about your family life and routine

• Make time in your family routine for things that your child enjoys and finds relaxing. These could be simple things like playing or listening to music, reading books or going for walks.
• Spend time with people your child likes, trusts and feels comfortable around.
• Encourage a healthy lifestyle for your child, with plenty of physical activity, sleep and healthy food and drink. It’s also important for your child to avoid  alcohol and other drugs, as well as unnecessary teenage stress.

Strong parent-teenager relationships are good for young people’s mental health. A sense of belonging to family and friends can help protect teenagers from mental health problems like anxiety disorders. Your support can have a direct and positive impact on your child’s mental health.

Getting help for teenage anxiety

If you think your child needs help dealing with anxiety, ask for professional help as early as possible.

You might feel uncomfortable talking to your child about anxiety or other mental health problems. But by talking about anxiety with your child, you give them permission to talk to you. Your child also needs your help to get professional support.

Options for help and support include:

• school counsellors
• psychologists and counsellors
• your GP – sometimes teenagers are more comfortable talking to a GP who doesn’t also see their parents, or to a younger doctor or a doctor of the same gender
• local mental health services.

You can also find helpful information on our teens mental health links and resources page and at  Youth Beyond Blue – Help someone you know.

If you’re unsure where to go, your GP can guide you to the most appropriate services for your family.

Your child might not want to talk to you about how they're feeling. Your child might even say there’s nothing wrong. If so, you could suggest a confidential telephone counselling service for young people, like Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800. Your child could also go to Kids Helpline – Teens, Youth Beyond Blue or eheadspace.

Liz Mortimer
Guidance Officer

Dates for your Diary

Tutorials – Term 1

Bus Pass Information 2021

Do you need to apply for a school bus pass?

The Queensland Government’s School Transport Assistance Scheme (STAS) provides assistance to enable eligible school students to attend education facilities.

There are two types of assistance available to students travelling on bus services to school:

• Distance based assistance
• Safety-net assistance

Apply for STAS online

Did you know that you can now apply online for STAS?

• One form
• Up to five children
• Any device

For more information:

Need help with your application?

Email STASdigital.Helpdesk@tmr.qld.gov.au or call 1300 119 289 for technical assistance with your online application.

FAQs & handy tips to get you started

Once you are familiar with the application process and steps to get you started, you will find the ‘apply now’ button located towards the bottom of the STAS Apply for school transport assistance page.

After you’ve successfully lodged your application online, information will be generated by the Department of Transport and Main Roads to your local CDC office in Kunda Park, Sunshine Coast or Gladstone for processing.

Please note: it is Department of Transport and Main Roads policy that STAS applications for students placed under a Child Protection Order by the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services must be made using the  paper application form relevant to the transport assistance . This form can be found once you commence your application online.

Bus Routes

A list of bus routes servicing Coolum State High School can be viewed on this page:

Parents can also contact us by phone 07 847 666 22 or email info.sunshinecoast@cdcbus.com.au