9 March 2022

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

As the first newsletter of the year we certainly have a lot to discuss, with the school’s official opening with students delayed for two weeks due to COVID, and then disrupted for two days due to the flooding event in our region. What a way to start the year! I can only say I couldn’t be prouder of our community, our students, our staff and the way everyone has worked together. I have every faith in our students and their ability to be resilient in the face of challenges, which I believe is so important in life. The start to this year is different, but it will instil a greater sense of perseverance amongst our students and build the character that leads to success.

Most in the community would know of the success of Coolum High’s 2021 graduates, including school dux Kai Weith who has been named as being amongst the top 35 students in Queensland and one of Noosa’s ‘Most Influential People Under 30’ as named by the Courier Mail. Kai headlines a list of great achievers from the graduates of 2021, who all received their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) or Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement (QCIA). These students now set a benchmark for others to follow, and showcase the self-belief that is so critical to our students’ success. We now cast forward to this year’s students, as we do the hard work that will lay the platform to these students succeeding and taking up their place in the world.

After the lifting of COVID restrictions, a Meet the Teacher event has been planned for Tuesday 15 March. More details about this event will be emailed to parents in the coming days. This event will give parents the opportunity to meet their child’s teachers, and ask questions. We look forward to seeing many parents and students at this event.

With the disrupted start to the school year, we are now hopefully in a position to have an uninterrupted stretch of in-class learning. At Coolum High we pride ourselves in the outcomes of our students. These are borne from hard work and commitment. All students, in all year levels, are strongly encouraged to complement classroom learning with regular and consistent study at home. The reinforcing of concepts learned at school, repeated practice and constant exposure to complex processes helps to build strong neural connections in the brain that are then relied on in exams and assignments. By committing to their studies at home, students build the foundations of their success at school that then becomes a launching pad for their early adult lives.

Troy Ascott
Principal

Deputy Principal - Junior Secondary Year 7 and 8

Welcoming our Year 7s

Though we have had an unavoidable and unusual start to the year, our Year 7 students have made a seamless transition. It is excellent to see almost 300 new students making new friends and starting their secondary academic journey. As always our fabulous head of year Ms Edgar has been assisting these students in their transition. Please do not hesitate to make contact with our school and Ms Edgar should you have any concerns.

Student Laptops

It is essential that all students bring their laptop to school every day. In English, we have invested in a program called Writer’s Toolbox that will be used by our students throughout the week. Writer’s Toolbox will compliment our existing successful Writing on Demand program. Our students will also need to have access to their device in mathematic classes. Please ensure you child has their device fully charged and in their bag each day.

Yondr mobile phone pouches

We have noticed in the last few week a massive increase in positive socialisation of our students at lunchtime and a near elimination of negative behaviours that used to occur. Please ensure your child brings their pouch to school each day even if they do not have a phone with them.

CAST

Organised lunchtime activities are occurring each and every day. The range of activities covers all interests from organised sport to indoor games, dance, drama, robotics and art and craft. This is a great way for students to meet other students who share a similar interest. CAST post are on display around the school and on our school website.

Homework Centre

Registration for the 2022 homework centre and information regarding tutorials will be emailed home next week. Senior tutorials have already commence both under the tutorage of students own teachers and group sessions at lunch time. To attend the homework centre, please complete the registration next week.

Anthony Swan
Deputy Principal Junior Secondary Year 7 and 8

Deputy Principal - Junior Secondary Year 9

While the start of the 2022 school year has been unprecedented, the year 9 cohort has transitioned back to school brilliantly. Though the COVID disruptions and recent poor weather has made it difficult for everyone to generate consistency across the school day and week, from my observations, the year 9 cohort has taken on this challenge and are working well in their last year of junior schooling.

The introduction of the YONDR pouches has been an excellent addition to our school with teachers observing greater engagement in the classroom and students connecting more with each other during the lunch breaks. In addition to this, we have noticed numerous students not bringing their mobile phone to school which is totally acceptable. It is important that students continue to bring the YONDR pouch even though the phone is at home.

Having a laptop is now well ingrained as an integral resource that a student needs for the school day. It is extremely important that students are bringing a fully charged laptop each and every day to school regardless of the perceived need. This year our year 7 and 9 students will be doing NAPLAN via the online portal. We will be running NAPLAN online familiarisation activities with the students later in the term to increase their understanding of this new platform.

Once again, the year 9 cohort have had a fantastic start to the school year and I’m sure they will continue to grow and adapt to the challenges that are thrown their way in these unpredictable times.

Lee Merrett
Deputy Principal Junior Secondary Year 9

Deputy Principal - Senior Secondary Year 10 and 11

Year 10 and 11 Attendance

As the Deputy Principal who works with Year 10 and 11 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 absences.

Year 10 students have had a great start to the year and currently have an attendance rate of almost 93% - with an amazing 151 students with 100% attendance.

Year 11 attendance is currently over 95% - this is a wonderful effort! It is also fantastic that 143 students are on 100% attendance.

This is a great start – but attendance is a long grind of almost 200 school days. 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.

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

Year 11 Exam Block

In Week 8 this term (14-18 March), Year 11 students will be on Exam Block. This is an important time for Year 11 students as a strong start in their first assessment tasks can really set them up for a successful year of results.

During Exam Blocks, students only attend school to complete their scheduled assessment. More information about this will come out closer to the time.

Year 10 Work Experience

Each year, all Year 10 students undertake a week of Work Experience instead of attending school. This is an important process as each student will be writing their Senior Education and Training (SET) Plan in Term 2.

The SET Plan clearly outlines what pathways students are wanting to follow once they finish Year 10. These pathways could include university study after Year 12, TAFE courses, apprenticeships, traineeship or entering the workforce. Individual SET Plan meetings happen with parents, students and staff at the start of Term 3.

Mr Winning (Head of Vocational Education) leads the Work Experience process for Year 10 students and will communicate with all Year 10 families soon. Work experience is scheduled to occur in Term 2, Week 4 (09-13 May).

Terry Proctor
Deputy Principal Junior Secondary Year 10 and 11

Deputy Principal – Senior Secondary Year 12

Year 12

The year is well under way for our Year 12 cohort, and despite not starting as planned, there has been an exciting buzz within the group. We unfortunately were not able to host our annual Year 12 Retreat; however, our Year 12 Team is currently working on planning for events to take place over the coming weeks. This will include team building activities and creating a united focus for the year. We have a very strong and committed team working with the Year 12 group. Please stay in contact if you need to discuss anything with us or need us to clarify information:

Emma Curnow – Year 12 Deputy Principal
Sean Sweeney – Senior School Head of Department
Matt Winning – VET Head of Department
Patti Williams – Head of Year
Dan Palmer – Head of Year
Liz Mortimer – Senior Guidance Officer

Year 12 Investiture – Save the Date!

We are delighted to be able to host the Investiture Ceremony on Thursday 10 March. We have capacity for students to invite two guests per student, as COVID restrictions will have eased by this date. This ceremony recognises all of our Year 12 cohort as leaders of our school, as well as presenting our appointed leaders with their badges. Please be seated in the Hall by 8:50am to commence the ceremony at 9:00am. This ceremony will end at approximately 9:30am.

Uniform

As a senior student, all students are expected to wear their full formal uniform every day. This includes full black shoes and white socks, formal shorts, slacks or skirt – sports skorts are not permitted to be worn with the formal blouse and students may be asked to change into a correct item of uniform for the day. Students have been presenting themselves in a very respectful way and we appreciate your support in adhering to the uniform policy.

The Coolum SHS uniform policy as stated below:

Senior Secondary Girls (Years 10, 11 and 12)

• Years 10, 11 and 12 students must wear the School Uniform each school day.
• Ink navy skirt/shorts and white blouse (piping on sleeve) with school emblem, as available from The School Locker. Skirts are to reach the knee and not be rolled at the waist or re‐hemmed. Skirts/shorts are not to be altered in any way.
• White ankle socks (no coloured tops) above the ankle with black leather, fully enclosed, all‐purpose, lace‐up shoes below the ankle. No other design is acceptable.
• A correctly worn school tie.

Senior Secondary Boys (Years 10, 11 and 12)

• Years 10, 11 and 12 must wear the School Uniform each school day.
• Ink navy school shorts and white shirt (piping on sleeve) with school emblem on pocket, as available from The School Locker.
• White ankle socks (no coloured tops) above the ankle with black leather, fully enclosed, all‐purpose, lace‐up shoes below the ankle. No other design is acceptable.
• A correctly worn school tie.

Facial piercings and jewellery

Jewellery needs to be small, singular and discreet. Students will be asked to remove excessive items of jewellery, including facial piercings, or will need to cover them with a small band aid. Students are permitted to wear clear piercings in place of other facial piercings.

Exam Block

Our seniors have already started very important Internal Assessment as part of their Unit 3 and Unit 4 course work. Students have been very well prepared with exam skills and are arriving with the materials and necessary study under their belt ready to attack assessment. We continually discuss with students about ‘their best effort, all of the time’ and know that there is a lot of support provided to our seniors.

Classrooms have been opened in E03 and E04 every morning to provide a space for students to work individually/silently, or in a collaborative space with peers. This also extends to lunch breaks. Wednesday afternoon tutorials will begin soon, and I know individual faculties also offer additional tutoring during lunch breaks or after school. Touch base with your child’s teacher if you require more specific subject information.

All Year 12 students have been provided with the full 2022 Assessment Calendar – this will assist you and your child to plan for assignments and exams.

The first exam block will take place from Monday 7 March until Wednesday 9 March. Attendance at all assessment/exams is compulsory.

In the instance of any absence, please contact the school to discuss this with a member of the Year 12 team. A medical certificate will need to be provided for a medical absence.

Wellbeing

If your child is needing support whilst at school or outside of school, please refer to some of the contacts on the ‘Student Wellbeing’ poster. These will be put on display in all student toilet facilities.

Our Heads of Year are available to support student wellbeing and are working on engaging their year level on CAST activities.

Please make contact with your child’s Head of Year if you wish to discuss any concerns:

Year 7 Carla Edgar ( cedga2@eq.edu.au )
Year 8 Scott McDonough ( smcdo384@eq.edu.au )
Year 9 Ryan Stewart ( rstew165@eq.edu.au )
Year 10 Linda Pilkington ( lpilk2@eq.edu.au )
Year 11 Lyell Reck ( ltrec0@eq.edu.au )
Year 12 Patti Williams & Dan Palmer ( pwill97@eq.edu.au or dtpal0@eq.edu.au )

We also have two very experienced Guidance Officers on site full time and are able to meet with students.

Year 7-9 Guidance Officer – Pamela Hulsman
Year 10-12 Guidance Officer – Liz Mortimer

Emma Curnow
Deputy Principal Junior Secondary Year 12

Business Services News

Statement of Accounts

Statements are issued multiple times throughout the school term. It is important to note that if your statement has a negative amount on it this is an indication that you are in credit. Credits can be applied to any future invoice that you may be issued. If you receive your statement and you are unsure of anything that is on it, please email admin@coolumshs.eq.edu.au

Student Resource Scheme

Thank you to all the families that have, and continue to support Coolum State High School. Without your support we would not be able to continue to provide the quality resources to support the learning environment, providing necessary textbooks and associated learning materials at considerable savings to parents, through the school’s bulk purchasing processes. All families have now received the 2022 SRS invoice that is due by April 1 2022.

Year 9 & 10 2022 Subject Fees

Year 9 & 10 subject fees have now been invoiced. Please be advised that if you wish your child to remain in their fee-paying subjects all invoices are required to be paid or a payment plan in place by 25 March 2022. Failure to make payment may result in your child being removed from these subjects.

Academy Programs

Academy programs are starting for 2022. Some programs are still going through trials, while some have already commenced. Please ensure that payment to participate is made by the due date of 25 March 2022 for your child to remain in the academy program of their choice.

Financial Difficulty

If you are experiencing any difficulty in making payment now, the following options are available to assist you:

• BPOINT - allows for automatic payments to the school from your nominated bank account over 30 payments
• Centrepay Plan - allows deductions from any Centrelink payments (if eligible) or
• A negotiated payment plan with the school, where you are responsible for ensuring payments are made as per the negotiated plan.

If you would like to discuss financial support options or have any other enquiries around this, please contact before the due date on 5471 5333.

Qparents Finance Portal

To Whom It May Concern: keep up to date with invoices and payments, we recommend that you register for a QParents account, if you have not already done so. QParents is a secure 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 a more convenient way for parents to interact with the school.

Following registration, parents can access:

• 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 registering for QParents, please do not hesitate to email admin@coolumshs.eq.edu.au or visit - https://qparents.qld.edu.au/#/help

Facility Updates

The P&C have actively been raising funds to improve and maintain school facilities. We have been very fortunate that the P&C have recently funded upgrades to the area outside of Performing Arts. The area has had artificial turf installed with a roof structure and seating still to come. Without the P&C contributing to the school these projects would not happen – thank you.

Facility Updates

There are so many wonderful things happening in all areas of our school and one of those areas is the improvements and additions to our facilities. We have been very fortunate that Education Queensland have recognised the rapid pace at which our school has increased in enrolment numbers and as a result, our school has been the recipient of funding for additional classrooms and other assets, in recent times. Here are some of the major building upgrades and additions being scheduled for the coming weeks and months.

Exciting Development – New Two-Storey Building

We are truly excited about the latest development for our school – a new two-storey, modern, multi-functional building that will have up 10 new classrooms and purpose-built spaces, along with an open under croft for additional shaded play. This is a wonderful addition to our school, where the focus will be music rooms, practice areas, instrument storage and much more. We will also have additional general classrooms and outdoor learning spaces The building will be constructed on the site near the current outdoor courts, so as a result, we will also get new courts that will see our basketball and netball academies benefit from this addition.

This building is ear-marked for a 2023 opening and although construction brings with it many challenges, we know that the long-term gain will be worth it. How amazing for our school and our community to have such facilities!

Artistic impression of new building

Wandama - Additional Labs and General Classrooms

It feels like we have just completed Wandama Centre, but the builders are back now to add two more science laboratories, a science preparation room and three more general classrooms on the ground floor. This is testament to the growing focus on science and technology and our school is definitely equipped for this now and into the future.

Administration Building Extension

As the school continues to grow, our staff numbers also continue to grow with it. This means the available office and meeting spaces we have is constantly being challenged. I am very pleased to announce that the Department has approved funding for an extension to our administration building, where an additional spaces are being constructed to make room for our corporate and financial services, and executive team members. I know this will provide much relief for our staff who have been working from cramped, non-functional spaces!

We have always believed in our students and staff and the addition of these facilities further confirms that we are on the right track, ensuring all students go onto post school life with meaningful destinations and leading a life of choice. Coupled with our continued drive towards excellence in all areas of our school, we have no doubt we will be the premier benchmark of education on the Sunshine Coast.

Positions Vacant

Schools across the Sunshine Coast are always in need of ancillary staff. In particular at Coolum SHS we would like to increase our relief list for cleaners.

If you are available either 5.00-8.00am and/or 2.30-5.30pm, meet the mandatory COVID vaccination requirements and are able to obtain a Blue Card (working with children) please contact me on 5471 5333.

Thank you for your support of our school.

Sharyn O’Brien
Business Manager

Student Services

Managing Behaviour at Coolum SHS

Here at Coolum State High School, we set very high expectations around all aspects of behaviour. This includes our uniform policy, mobile phone policy and behaviour in classes. We believe having high expectations is a crucial factor in achieving our exceptional senior schooling outcomes we are so proud of. An important resource in ensuring every class is on task and not disrupted by student behaviour is our Rethink Room.

The Rethink room is located in the centre of the student’s services building. Students who are disrupting the learning of other students in classrooms will be given a chance to improve their behaviour. If they are unable to improve their behaviour, they will be sent to complete their work in the rethink room. Once in the rethink room, they will work in silence at a desk. They will also have the opportunity to discuss any issues that are affecting their learning with the student services teacher.

We consider the rethink room a very valuable resource. No student has the right to disrupt the learning of other students and the rethink room enables very high standards of behaviour to be achieved. This in turn provides our students with endless opportunities when they leave school and hopefully a career of choice.

Tracy Ford
Head of Student Services

Sporting Success

Well done to Britney Murray who competed at State Triathlon in Hervey Bay recently. Britney smashed the swim leg, leaving the water in 10th place, and finishing the race overall in 29th position. A fantastic achievement!

Britney’s performance on the first day led her to be chosen for the swim leg for the Sunshine Coast Junior Relay “A” team which competed on Saturday. Britney was fifth out of the water, with her team finishing seventh in the State. Supporting Britney at State champs was our own teacher and ‘run club’ coordinator Justin Dixon who was manager of the Aquathlon. Justin inspires triathletes by telling them stories of gruelling Zwift sessions and that one time he held 550 watts for an hour.

Britney Murray and Mr Justin Dixon (teacher)

Sunshine Coast reps

• Connor Buxton – Baseball, Softball

North District reps

• Touch Football – Sam Morgan, Max McDonald, Valentine Trevor
• Swimming – Amelia Rahui, Hazel Rahui, Imogen Johnstone, Regan Johnstone, Jakob O’Sullivan, Hailee O’Sullivan, Holly Ward, Robert Andronico, Flynn Skipper, Josh O’Neill, Taylah Tompkins, Britney Murray
• 16-19 Years Netball – Lili Naudin-Dovey

*I know that other students have made teams because I’ve talked to them. They will be celebrated next newsletter once their ‘official’ paperwork comes through to me.

Boatie girls

Well done to Elodee and Ayva-Maree who competed in surfboat rowing in NSW recently. Their crew Coolum crew competed in the U19 Female division and were knocked out in the quarters.

Representative Sport Calendar

See below the rep sport calendar, this was emailed out to all parents and students at the start of the year. See also a simplified version of this where I update to the student’s which sports are currently open.

Please keep encouraging your kids to come see me to get trial information! I would prefer that students nag me a couple times a week rather than see me too late and miss out. Some sports have a very small timeframe in which it is open for nomination due to factors out of my control. One recent sport had a nomination window of only 4 school days!! I update rep sport trial information regularly to students in three ways: 1) Through home group notices. 2) Every Monday I email all students. 3) It is posted on the HPE noticeboard.

What’s going on this Term?

• AFLX – Games of AFL 9s played weekly.
• Justin Hodges 9s Rugby League – Boys have nominated to play in the 1 day gala competition on 8 March.
• Rugby Union term 2 – Boys have been asked to sign up for the Term 2 Rugby competition. We are aiming at getting an U13 and U15/U16 teams.
• Kokoda – Sign ups have been conducted for Kokoda. Still available are a limited number of places for this great event which will be held Saturday 28 May.
• Netball academy – The girls have commenced the year training and will play weekly games in the Maroochydore competition.
• Basketball academy – All players are due to start trials in week 8.

We’d love to share outside of school achievements as well! Got something good to share? Let me know esmyt15@eq.edu.au. Include photos if you can – we love action shots. Although, they have to ONLY include your child as we do not have media permission to use other children’s images.

Eric Smyth
HPE Teacher and Sport Co-ordinator

International Student Program

Our school community is very excited to welcome back international students, in line with the national borders opening. International students provide our students and community the opportunity to expand their international friendships and engage in cultural exchanges and international opportunities. As well as welcoming students from Germany, Brazil, Japan, Luxembourg and Austria, we will be welcoming students from Chile, Denmark, Taiwan and South Korea.

Vacancies exist in our Homestay Program. Homestay provides international students with a secure and welcoming place to live and practise their English language skills in a real home setting. Host families receive remuneration (hosting fees) but the benefits for host families continue long after the student has left.

Our Homestay families contribute to the positive memories our international students have of their time in our area. 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

Terri Shine, ISP Homestay Coordinator

Dates for your Diary

Bus Pass Information 2022

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 visit the link below:

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.

What are my school bus options?

To view school services including network maps and detailed route information, please visit the link below. We strongly recommend that you check the website for any service changes prior to the beginning of term.

What are my fare options?

You will need a valid student bus pass, issued annually, or TransLink go card to travel on all services.

Due to COVID restrictions we cannot take cash fares. All bus fares are determined by the Queensland

Government and fares collected belong to TransLink (Department of Transport and Main Roads).

How do I apply for a student 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

For more information visit the School Transport Assistance Scheme below

I’m not eligible for a bus pass so how do I get a go card for my student?

For more information on how to buy and top up a go card or find your local retailer visit the link below

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 5476 6622 or email info.sunshinecoast@cdcbus.com.au