15 August 2025
- Our School Values
- From the Principal
- Kokoda Challenge
- Many Futures Expo
- Celebration of Success Awards
- Parent’s Guide for supporting Respectful Relationships Education
- Southern Cross Open Day
- Gold Coast North Sport
- Bullying No Way: National week of action
- Next Steps Survey
- Empowering Parents & Carers to support teen mental health
- Link and Launch
- Qparents
- Support Staff
- We Would Like to Thank Our Sponsors
- Acknowledgment of Country
Our School Values
Our School Values –
I am RESPECTFUL
I am RESPONSIBLE
I am RESILIENT
From the Principal
Dear Helensvale State High School Community
I would like to welcome Head of School, Mr Tom Sullivan, who joined us this term. Mr Sullivan replaces Mrs Keavney, who was appointed as Principal of Tamborine Mountain State High School last term.
In the words of Mr Sullivan:
“I am excited to introduce myself as the new permanent Head of School at Helensvale State High School. I officially joined the Helensvale community in Week 10 of Term 2, and in that short time, I have already been impressed by the strong sense of belonging, pride, and commitment to excellence that defines this school.
I bring with me extensive experience in educational leadership across the Gold Coast. My career has included roles as Dean of Students at Varsity College, Deputy Principal of Senior School at Southport State High School, Deputy Principal for Senior Preparation, Wellbeing and Inclusion at Pacific Pines State High School, and Acting Principal and Head of School roles over the past two years. Most recently, I served as Acting Principal for the secondary campus at Upper Coomera State College. These experiences have strengthened my belief that schools thrive when we combine high expectations with strong relationships and shared purpose.
As both an educator and a parent of two young children, I understand the vital partnership between schools and families in shaping positive, future-focused learning experiences. I firmly believe that schools are about people – our students, staff, families, and the wider community. My commitment is to ensure every student at Helensvale State High School feels valued, supported, and challenged to achieve their personal best in an environment of care and high standards.
Helensvale’s vision of “One Student, One Community, Many Futures” resonates deeply with me, and I am committed to working collaboratively with staff and families to make this vision a reality every day.
I look forward to connecting with you at school events, in classrooms, and around the campus. Please don’t hesitate to say hello if you see me; I value hearing your ideas and perspectives as we work together to continue building on the proud traditions and outstanding reputation of Helensvale State High School.”
I look forward to working with Mr Sullivan and the broader leadership team to continue to drive our school improvement journey.
Support your child’s learning
In the previous newsletter I introduced a new resource that has been developed by the Department of Education that shares how schools can partner with families to support your child – our student, to build a positive school culture. The topic of the previous newsletter was how to support positive communication between schools and families. This newsletter shares 8 simple ideas on how to you can partner with our school staff to support your child’s learning.
- Set your child up for success—when your child has nutritious food, enough sleep, a quiet place to do homework and rules around screen time—they're able to concentrate on learning and reaching their potential.
- Be on time—make sure your child arrives and leaves school safely, on time, every day.
- Know what's expected—help your child to understand and follow the school’s Student Code of Conduct. The Code supports your child's school as a safe and comfortable place for everyone. The Code is located on our school website.
- Be proactive—ask your child's teachers for practical ways you can support your child's learning when they're not at school.
- Attend parent–teacher interviews—before you arrive, think about what you want to ask the teacher, what you hope for your child's future and what your child likes to do and learn. These conversations let you partner with your child’s teacher to build a rich learning environment for your child.
- Read communication from our school—read emails and newsletters, and regularly check the school's website, calendar and Facebook page.
- Let us know when your child is absent—if your child needs to be away from school, let us know and the reason why.
- Keep us in the loop when things change—if circumstances at home change that might impact your child's learning or wellbeing, let us know as soon as you can so we can support them.
Kind regards
Karen Lindsay
Principal, Helensvale State High School
Kokoda Challenge
On 19 July, 32 of our amazing students from across all year levels proudly represented our school in the Kokoda Challenge. 🥾💪
We had teams competing in all events – the 96km, 48km, and 30km courses. Collectively, our students raised $7,857 for the Kokoda Youth Foundation. We would like to acknowledge the generous support of Azure Realty and Coomera Connector Central, with our efforts.
Each event pushed our students to their limits, showcasing incredible teamwork, determination, and resilience.
A huge congratulations to every student who took on the challenge – you’ve made our school community proud!
Many Futures Expo
Celebrating the Success of “Many Futures” at Helensvale SHS
What an incredible turnout for our Many Futures event! Last Thursday 31st July
It was inspiring to see so many students and their families actively exploring future pathways, asking questions, and making informed decisions about what lies ahead.
At Helensvale SHS, we are committed to supporting every student on their chosen journey—whether it leads to university, trades, TAFE, employment, or something entirely unique.
We truly believe it takes a village to raise and guide a young person, and that’s exactly what Helensvale SHS is all about—working alongside families to support our students in every way we can.
We can’t wait to do it all again in 2026!
If you’d like to learn more about school pathways or need support exploring options, reach out to Mrs. Milne, our HSHS Industry Liaison Officer, at amiln91@eq.edu.au or visit her in KS10.
Celebration of Success Awards
Parent’s Guide for supporting Respectful Relationships Education
The Primary English Teaching Association Australia (PETAA) has published a Parents Guide for supporting Respectful Relationships Education. The guide helps parents and carers to use storytelling to explore the importance of empathy and communication skills for healthy and positive relationships.
Southern Cross Open Day
Gold Coast North Sport
Bullying No Way: National week of action
Bullying No Way Week is returning 11–15 August 2025.
Bullying No Way Week is Australia's key bullying prevention initiative for schools. It provides an opportunity for schools to create a shared understanding about bullying behaviours and share their bullying prevention policies and strategies.
The national week of action unites government, Catholic and independent schools and their communities across the country. Together, we can foster practical approaches to prevent bullying in Australian schools.
2025 theme
The theme for 2025 is 'Be bold. Be kind. Speak up.'
It takes courage to spark change.
Bullying is everyone's responsibility. It takes a community to be brave and address bullying behaviours, within and beyond the school gate.
Students can be bold, kind and take a stand to support others being bullied. While parents and teachers are there to support children and young people learn how to behave in a positive way.
In our community and in our school, we want a place where everyone can belong, a place that celebrates everyone, and where bullying is never accepted.
This Bullying No Way Week, we're asking students, schools, families and communities to be bold and say something, be kind and support someone, and be proud to take a stand against bullying.
That's why we're inviting parents and carers to attend our upcoming free mental health webinars, designed to provide practical tools, strategies, and insights to help them support the young people in their lives.
Next Steps Survey
The Department of Education is keen to hear from Year 10, 11 and 12 students who left school during 2024, before completing Year 12.
Eligible students will shortly receive a letter with a personalised link to complete a 5-minute survey. Students may also be contacted by email or phone and have the chance to win an iPad Air for participating.
The results will help us improve learning experiences and supports for future students. We ask that parents and carers please encourage them to take part.
For more information, visit www.qld.gov.au/nextstep/ or telephone toll free on 1800 068 587.
Empowering Parents & Carers to support teen mental health
Co-delivered by a clinical psychologist and a youth lived experience advisor, these webinars will explore:
Understanding mental health in adolescence, including insights from the Future Proofing Study
What is mental health, and when to be concerned
Key strategies to support adolescents
Having the conversation – what to say and how to create a supportive environment
Getting help – health professionals, online and digital support for parents and adolescents
Promoting healthy habits – including building connections, sleep, and screen use
See here for further details:
Link and Launch
It’s an exciting time of the year for our Grade 12’s here at Helensvale State High School!
It’s Link and Launch time!
Our Link and Launch co-ordinator Elaine Braniff will be organising face to face interviews with our Grade 12’s very soon to discuss their plans for leaving school – whether that’s getting a job – part time whilst they’re studying or full-time, commencing an apprenticeship or traineeship or engaging in further study pathways. We recognise that for some students leaving school can be quite daunting and its sometimes difficult to take that ‘next step’.
Some students, after 13 years of making their way through school, might not have any idea what that ‘next step’ can look like for them. And guess what? That’s totally ok and that’s why this program was developed by the Department of Education/Queensland Government to assist graduating Grade 12 students – and it’s free.
- Career planning/guidance
- Career assessments
- Skilling Queenslanders for Work and Trade Taster programs
- Assistance with job applications, resume writing and interview preparation
- Alternative entry to university
- Additional support with further training via TAFE or other accredited training providers
- Whatever the individual requires……………….
Where can you access Link and Launch?
Elaine can be contacted on:
Mobile: 0401 127 905
Email: ebran61@eq.edu.au
2nd Floor, Karangbah
Qparents
Enjoy convenient and streamlined engagement with your child's school.
QParents offers a convenient, safe and private app to help parents & caregivers manage important details of their children's journey.
Support Staff
As part of our Learning and Well-being framework, we have created a Well-being Hub for students and parents, which can be accessed through the Helensvale State High School webpage. The hub includes links to other websites and apps which can help to support student well-being, as well as provide information on career pathways. To access these ‘well-being hubs’ c go to the HSHS website
We Would Like to Thank Our Sponsors
Acknowledgment of Country
Helensvale State High School as one community, acknowledges the Kombumerri Peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our school is built. We respect their long history, ancestry and culture. We pay our respects to the Elders, past, present and emerging for they carry the memories and traditions of past times.
We would also like to extend our acknowledgment to other First Nations Peoples: those hailing from the Torres Strait Islands and those belonging to other Aboriginal Language Groups.
We acknowledge the strength and resilience of Kombumerri peoples. We respect their enduring connection to the local wetlands and the cultural responsibility they uphold to preserve wildlife. Together, we go forward, learning in the spirit of these values.
Newsletter Sponsors
