10 February 2023

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Wow!! What an absolute pleasure it has been to come back to Coolum SHS in 2023, especially with our students arriving on Day 1 looking simply magnificent, ready to learn and positioned for success.

Our current Year 12s have received some healthy inspiration from their predecessors to start the year, with the 2022 Seniors producing Coolum High’s outstanding results. Cooper Hinton achieved the school’s top ATAR score of 99.50 with Jemima Bainbridge achieving 99.25, and Colm Dancer - 99.15. In total, 16 2022 Year 12 students have set themselves up for amazing careers with ATAR scores of over 90.

With a strong focus on learning and a culture of striving for greatness, our students now believe that they belong to one of the best schools on the coast and this is being translated into better results and improved achievement.

With just under 1500 students walking through the gates on Day 1, there was an incredible buzz of excitement, and perhaps for our Year 7 students and new students in Years 8 – 12, just a few nerves and trepidation. Our Heads of Year, in particular, have worked extremely hard to make sure that all of our new students have settled in to their new environment.

The Education Department’s Day 8 enrolment collection requirements saw Coolum High’s largest ever enrolment figure of 1494. These are exciting times as our community’s confidence in our school continues to grow, as our committed and passionate staff provide our students with every opportunity for them to succeed.

The Interhouse Swimming Carnival was attended by a huge contingent of very enthusiastic students, all dressed in House colours, yelling their War Cries very loudly and often throughout day, supporting their competing team mates. At the end of the day, Warringa House was triumphant, congratulations Blue Team!! A massive thank you to the Carnival Coordinator, Ms Christina Fiducioso, with the support of her HPE colleagues, for fantastic organisation and a fun day for our students and teachers.

Information was recently sent to parents outlining the process for our Meet the Teacher Evening which is scheduled for Tuesday 21 February from 3:00pm to 6.30pm. We encourage all of our parents to come along, hear important information about the year to come for their child and meet teachers for informal discussions. This is the perfect opportunity for parents to put names to faces of their child’s teachers. Our wonderful P&C will also be providing a free sausage sizzle at the end of the evening.

Formal Parent-Teacher interviews, where you can book interview times with specific teachers, will be held Term 2 Week 4 (Tuesday 9 May) from 3.00pm to 6.30pm. More information regarding the event and the booking process will be emailed to parents closer to the date.

We cannot wait to see where 2023 leads our students and our school; these are very exciting times.

Troy Ascott
Principal

Deputy Principal - Year 7

Junior Secondary News

A warm welcome to all our new Year 7 students. It has been a smooth start to high school life with students quickly in routines and clearly demonstrating a commitment to achieving success. The first few weeks of high school life will focus on the routines that underpin students’ wellbeing and academic achievement. This includes setting classroom expectations, rules and procedures such as uniform, laptops and YONDR pouches. Our dedicated staff have taken time with classes to become familiar with teachers’ names, subjects, classmates and rooms. Students have relished the challenge. The Head of Year, Mr Billy Toll, has been working tirelessly to assist students in need of assistance. We truly appreciate the efforts of all parents in supporting learners being prepared for school each and every day.

In particular, laptops or devices are an integral part of high school learning. Students are required to bring their device charged and ready to use every day. Your support of this at home goes a long way in building routines for successful learning. With NAPLAN this year now brought forward to week 8 of this term, we are encouraging all parents check that devices have the NAPLAN browser downloaded and installed. The school has a team of highly qualified technicians ready to support students with any technical issues and our team has been visiting every class to ensure all students can access resources and the NAPLAN browser.

The “Meet the Teacher” event is on Tuesday 21 February. It will be a wonderful opportunity to say hello to your child’s new teachers and fellow parents while taking in some of the school facilities. Information about this event was forwarded to parents and carers this week.

Lastly, the swimming carnival participation was impressive with Year 7 students showing outstanding school spirit and a determination to get involved, despite (or perhaps because of) the heat and humidity. House spirit has been established, with students’ colourful costumes and exemplary co-operation providing an exciting insight into the potential of this cohort.

Lisa Fowler
Deputy Principal - Year 7

Deputy Principal - Years 8 and 9

I would like to extend a warm welcome to all parents, carers, and students of Year 8 and Year 9 to the start of 2023. Whilst we have started the year in blazing outdoor temperatures, our Year 8 and Year 9 students have maintained a cool and steady start with high levels of attendance, and are busy forging new relationships steeped in care and respect with their teachers and classmates. I am enormously proud to work with both Tara Gundry (HOY Year 8) and Scott McDonough (HOY Year 9) in supporting our Year 8 and Year 9 students to continue to build on the solid start that they have made in the first weeks of the school year.

NAPLAN 2023

The countdown is on… Only 5 weeks until NAPLAN 2023 is upon us.

As parents, carers and students of Year 7 and 9 will be aware, NAPLAN in 2023 will take place from Wednesday 15 March until Monday 27 March

The sequence of testing is as follows:

So why do students do NAPLAN?

• NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national standards and over time
• NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy

Participation in NAPLAN?

• NAPLAN is for everyone. ACARA supports inclusive testing so all students have the opportunity to participate in the national assessment program.
• Adjustments are available for students with disability who have diverse functional abilities and needs.

What can you do to support your child?

• Please ensure that your student where possible has access to a device
• Please ensure that the NAPLAN locked down browser is downloaded onto their device.
• Please reassure your student that NAPLAN is part of their school program and we really just want everyone to do their very best.

Rebecca McCann
Acting Deputy Principal - Years 8 and 9

Deputy Principal - Years 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 10s and 11s have made 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 (13-17 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. In 2023, Year 10 Work Experience will occur during Week 8 (13-17 March). Coolum State High School is fortunate that so many local and community businesses provide such wonderful opportunities for our students.

This is an important process as each student will be soon 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, traineeships 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 and has already communicated with all Year 10 families regarding the completion of the required work experience paperwork.

I am looking forward to hearing the students share their work experience stories when they return to school in Week 9.

Terry Proctor
Deputy Principal - Years 10 and 11

Deputy Principal – Year 12

Welcome to the most exciting year of your schooling life! We have started the year off with a bang and hopefully a start that will set students up for a very successful year. With this year’s theme, ‘The Year to Inspire’, the Year 12s engaged with the Senior Team and Home Group Teachers at the annual Retreat to set a positive tone for the year. There was an opportunity for the group to hear from recently graduated Coolum State High School students, and to think about how they will inspire others, and themselves, to be the best version of themselves. The group went off site to have some fun, grab a sausage sizzle and enjoy each other’s company. Despite the relentless humidity on the day the students got involved and a little bit silly in order to get to know the group. Thank you to our amazing Home Group teachers, Mr Reck and Mr Sweeney for their organisation and involvement.

Senior Investiture Ceremony

Wednesday 15 February
9.00am – 10.00am
Coolum State High School Hall

Coolum State High School will be hosting the annual Senior Investiture Ceremony. This acknowledges the seniors of 2023 with a badge and a lot of responsibility heading into the year. Our appointed leaders, including Student Executive team and House Leaders, will also be presented with their badges. Parents and carers and invited to attend, with a light morning tea for appointed leaders and their family. Details will be available via a Schoolzine memo. Students who would normally attend an apprenticeship, traineeship, TAFE or have prior commitments are encouraged to honour these commitments. Students will be able to receive their badge when they return to school.

We are so proud of our students and the leadership group in their proactive approach in building school culture. The creation of a House War Cry has been amazing in building house spirit and a sense of belonging. Well done to all of our seniors for being role models by getting involved and leading by example.

Hello World

Later in Term 1, Wednesday 29 March, we will have our first Hello World experience of 2023. Your student will bring home a permission form for you to sign if they are to attend. Please return all forms by the due date otherwise students will face themselves in a situation where they are not permitted to attend.

Non-ATAR students will have an opportunity to visit TAFE Brisbane, and ATAR students will experience the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Stay tuned for more information.

Emma Curnow
Deputy Principal - Year 12

Finance Updates

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 2023 SRS invoice that is due by April 1 2023.

Year 9 & 10 2023 Subject Fees

Year 9 & 10 subject fees will be invoiced in Week 3. 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 17 March 2023. Failure to make payment may result in your child being removed from these subjects.

Academy Programs

Academy programs are starting for 2023. Some programs are still going through trials, while some have already commenced. Please ensure that payment to participate is made by the due date on the invoice 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 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 the link below.

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 the electronic sign on David Low Way. Without the P&C contributing to the school these projects would not happen – thank you.

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.

Administration Building Extension

Our administration building has now been completed. It is a refreshing new entrance to the school.

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.

New Two-Storey Building

With a mid-2023 completion the new two-storey building is taking shape – we are truly excited about this 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 mid-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!

Positions Vacant

Schools across the Sunshine Coast are always in need of ancillary staff. In particular at Coolum State High School, 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 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

Music

Co-Curricular Music 2023

This week we recommence our instrumental music and vocal lessons at Coolum State High School for all students in years 7-12 for 2023.

Instrumental Music and Vocal Program Staff 2023

Lesson timetables are available for students on the PA4 and PA5 window for all instrumental music and vocal lessons for the reminder of the term.

This year our staff are as follows:

Ms Guest (Woodwind) – Monday and Thursday
Ms Anderson (Strings) – Wednesday
Mr Hardy (Woodwind and Rock Band) – Monday
Ms Bradshaw (Vocal) – Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (Ms Bradshaw)

Ensemble Rehearsal Schedule

This week we also recommence our ensemble rehearsals alongside our lesson program, as follows:

Monday (3:00 - 5:00pm) - Wind Symphony (PA Theatre)
Tuesday (7:30 - 8:30am) - Coolum Voices (PA6)
Wednesday (7:00 - 8:30am) - String Orchestra (PA Theatre)
Wednesday (7:45 - 8:30am) – Big Band (Jazz Ensemble) (PA5)
Thursday (7:00 - 8:30am) - Concert Band (all students in woodwind, brass and percussion) (PA Theatre)

Events this year

Our first event for 2023 is our annual movie themed concert in the multi-purpose hall at our school on Monday 27 March. Keep the date free as we will send through more information to families in the coming weeks.

This year we are also looking forward to performances at the Sunshine Coast Junior Eisteddfod, Choral Fanfare, Music Fest in Brisbane and to our local primary schools Coolum and Peregian Springs State Schools.

We have a Band Tour to Yeppoon planned for week 9 of term 2 (June 12 - 16). All students enrolled in the vocal, strings, wind, brass and percussion programs will receive an Expression of Interest form for this trip over the next week. This trip is optional and will be the most fun you will have all year!

SongSpark and Rock Band

We are recommencing our SongSpark and Rock Band programs in Week 5 this term. More information about these two extra-curricular programs will be shared with the school community shortly.

New Music Building

We are very excited to move into our new music building later this year. The new facility will offer us several new music classrooms, instrumental and vocal teaching studios, larger storage space and specially designed band rehearsal rooms. We are most excited about the potential this building has to offer our students a diverse and immersive class music education opportunities and are very grateful for our school community for making this a reality in 2023.

Keeping Informed

I encourage all families to visit our school website for further information about the co-curricular music programs for 2023. This includes information about uniforms,

If you have any questions or queries, please email the HOD Arts: Music, Rohan Hardy at rohan.hardy@eq.edu.au.

We’ve been so excited to get started again this year and we’re looking forward to seeing all of our students making music!

Rohan Hardy
Head of Department Creative Arts

Sporting Success

Welcome back! 2023 is sure to be jam packed with school, district, regional and state sporting opportunities for students, as we move past COVID lockdowns and cancellations! We’re off to a great start with the successful completion of the Swimming Carnival on Friday 3 February 2023.

Let me introduce myself, particularly to the new 2023 cohort of year 7’s, students new to Coolum State High School this year, and those that may just not know me yet.

I am Miss Fiducioso, the current Sports coordinator at Coolum High. I reside in the Health and Physical Education (HPE) staffroom situated inside the Multipurpose Hall.

In my role as sports coordinator, I advertise opportunities for students to trial for District and Regional Teams, as well as organising interschool sport, and school teams travelling to swimming, cross country and athletics district carnivals.

There are a number of district and regional trials currently open for nomination.

District:

12 years Boys & Girls AFL
13-16 Boys & Girls Basketball
14-15 & 16-18 Boys Rugby League

Regional:

10-19 Golf
10-12 Girls Cricket
13-19 Water Polo
16-19 Girls Football (soccer)
14-15 & 16-18 Girls Rugby League
17-19 Basketball

If your student would like to nominate/trial for any of the above events, they are to come and see me in the HPE staffroom during break times. These are also to be advertised on the student notices. Students have already been receiving emails about these. Trial information can also be found on the Sunshine Coast School Sport Website:

Noosa District (12 Years)

North District (13-19 Years)

Students that want to nominate for trials will receive:

• a trial notice with a QR code
• Medical & Consent form (13-19 years)

Nomination process:

1. Students collect paperwork from me

2. Students take home paperwork and use the QR Code to nominate.
   a. 12 Years district participants will have an online medical and consent form
   b. 13-19 / Regional have a hard copy medical and consent to fill out and signed by a parent/guardian.

3. 13-19 Students take paperwork with them to the trial. NO PAPERWORK = NO TRIAL

4. Student makes own way to trial.

Looking forward to providing many sporting opportunities for your students in 2023!

Swimming Carnival

The 2023 Swimming carnival was a huge success despite the heat wave conditions. House spirit was at an all-time HIGH, with house captains leading their teams throughout the day. The war cries did NOT disappoint, there was definitely a lot of passion exploding from each house on Friday. Unfortunately, there can only be one ‘Points’ winner on the day, and this year the 2023 Inter-house swimming carnival champions are: WARRINGA

1. Warringa 1,338.75 points
2. Binyama 1,187.00 points
3. Yuroka 1,031.75 points
4. Carcoola 575.50 points

All teams put in a gallant effort and had extraordinarily high spirits irrespective of their placing. Great job by all!

Our Age Champions and Runners up for 2023 are:

There were also a staggering number of standout performances on the day with a number of records falling to the 2023 talent!

Christina Fiducioso
Health & Physical Education Teacher and Sports Coordinator

Queensland School Sport
Triathlon State Championship

Congratulations to Year 8 student Taylah Tomkins who represented the Sunshine Coast in the Queensland School Sport Triathlon State Championships in Hervey Bay last week.

Taylah had a great race in her individual junior triathlon event on Friday, with her exceptional swim leg gaining her a spot as the swimmer in the Sunshine Coast Junior Girls relay team on Saturday morning. Well done Taylah!

Coolum State High School represented at Queensland School Sport- Triathlon

Justin Dixon
Mathematics and Science Teacher
Sunshine Coast Triathlon Manager for the Schools State Championships

The Duke of Edinburgh Award

Do you like an adventure? Would you consider doing volunteer work?

Our HPE department has launched a new award program at Coolum SHS. All students interested please have a chat with Mrs Goodacre.

Contact Ms Goodacre for more information

Courtney Goodacre
Teacher - Heath and Physical Education & Aquatic Practices

International Students

2023 Term 1

At the start of this term, we extended a warm welcome to students from Germany, Chile, Italy, Denmark, Norway and Vietnam. There are five students in Year 10 and twenty-three students in Year 11.

Our International Student 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.

Our Homestay families are really excited to host the international students and walk them through their journey of living the Australian way of life. The students have had an introduction to BBQs, our beach lifestyle, local sporting and recreational activities.

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 – Term 1/2023

Bus Pass Information 2023

Coolum State High School - Bus Routes

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

Our transport partner, CDC Queensland, has advised that there are significant service changes within the school bus network which will affect Coolum State High School in 2023.

Please view the network map map for your information, and below are the summarised details of the 2023 changes:

• First wave of PM bus departures is at 2:41PM
  Includes routes 5811, 5813, 5825, 5841 and 5849.
• Second wave of PM bus departures is at 2:44PM
  Includes routes 5847, 5851 and 5852.
• After that:
  3:12PM – 5811.
  3:22PM – 5812.
  3:25PM – 5818.

For network maps, route information and links to detailed timetables, please visit the following web page: Coolum State High School

If you have any queries regarding the above timetable changes, please contact Emily Meek, School Liaison and Customer Service Coordinator, CDC Queensland, Kunda Park on 07 5476 6622 or email info.sunshinecoast@cdcbus.com.au

Do you need to apply for a school bus pass?

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

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.

What are my school bus options?

To view school services including network maps and detailed route information, please visit cdcqueensland.com.au. 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).

For more information visit the School Transport Assistance Scheme page at

cdcqueensland.com.au/bus-services

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 translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/go-card.