22 February 2017
Newsletter Articles
Principal’s Thoughts
Acknowledging the Diversity of Student Achievement
It is important to have symbolic events that communicate the great work of our students and the beliefs and values of our school. Our Senior and Junior ACE parades are such events as they acknowledge and celebrate the range of student achievement in our school.
Over 300 students received an award at the Senior ACE parade. Below are just a few examples of the diverse way the event celebrates student achievement.
Kyle in Year 10 received a ‘Learning Responsibility Award’ for his outstanding attendance. Due to his dedication, keenness and discipline Kyle missed only one day of school last year. There is a strong link between attendance and improving academic achievement. Kyle rightly deserves this award.
Chelsea in Year 11 received a ‘Learning Resilience Award’ as she has shown outstanding improvement and moved her results up a whole GPA point average across the semester. Her determination, hard work and courage to push herself to be better makes her a worthy recipient of this award. As a school, we are proud to recognise improvement and hard work.
Sophia in Year 12 received all As for behaviour and effort on her report card and received a ‘Learning Respect Award’. In every lesson, in every subject and on every day Sophia comes prepared and participates to the best of her ability. We can’t ask much more from her and she rightly deserves a Respectful Learner award.
And then we have Reanna in Year 10 who was awarded Academic, Responsible, Respectful and Resilient awards. What an incredible accomplishment to achieve the highest Academic award as well as our other learning value awards. What a great mix of talent, dedication, and positivity.
It was also tremendous to see over 300 parents in attendance as we celebrate as a community. This sends a powerful message to all students that as a community we value achievement, dedication, hard work and a willingness to achieve. These are values that will endure the test of time no matter what the future brings.
Mr Blackshaw with the 2017 School Captains, Nathan Goble, Kimberley Wong, Gabi Cooper, Kyle Dryburgh.
Senior ACE Awards
The Helensvale SHS ACE Parades are held to recognise, acknowledge and celebrate Academic Excellence and our three learning values: Resilient, Respectful and Responsible.
The prestigious Scholarship Award is based on a student achieving at least 12 As in their Core and Elective subjects in 2016. Students have exhibited outstanding application and diligence to personal academic performance throughout the entire year.
The Academic Gold Award is based on a student achieving at least an A level in 6 subjects for Semester Two 2016. They have also exhibited outstanding application and diligence to personal academic performance.
Academic Awards are based on students achieving As & Bs in their subjects for Semester Two 2016. They have worked hard and made every effort to achieve at a high level.
The other 3 Awards centre on our learning values.
Since their last full academic report students receiving the Resilient Learner Award have shown personal drive and motivation to improve their overall academic performance and grade point average.
The Respectful Learner Award is presented to students who have displayed exemplary behaviour and effort during Semester Two.
Students awarded the Responsible Learner Award actively demonstrate “It Is Not OK to be Away” and have fully committed themselves to attending class, participating in Camps, excursions, representative sport performances, School Based Traineeships and a host of other enrichment and leadership programs.
Music Excellence
Adam Brand invites HSHS student to join tour!
Tuesday 7 Feb students in the Year 9 & 10 Music Excellence students were treated to a visit by Australia Country Music great Adam Brand.
Adam spent the lesson chatting to students, answering questions, listening to a performance from students and he played his song “New England Highway” to the students and explaining his song writing process.
Four Year 11 students performed 2 songs for the singer, and received high praise from Adam, with the guitarist even receiving an invite to join him on Tour. Adam spent some quality time chatting to the students and even taking time to take selfies with the students.
Year 7 Excite Camp
Students from the year 7 EXCITE program attended the Leadership & Team Building Camp at Runaway Bay Super Sports Centre in week 4. This gave students the opportunity to participate in a number of activities to test their ability to work as a team, demonstrate leadership and build positive relationships with student across the three EXCITE classes.
Students participated in a number of activities such as stand-up paddle boarding, sailing, archery, theatre sports, initiative games and personality traits.
Personality traits allowed many students to understand which animal best demonstrated the way they operate and learn. It was no surprise that many students found themselves identifying as a Kangaroo! Being a kangaroo means they generally love debates, moving around, experiments, drama and learning by doing.
Sailing allowed students to move out of their comfort zones and work as a small team of 4 to navigate small sailing boats around a circuit. Communication and individual roles were pivotal to the team success in returning to shore in the quickest possible time.
One of the favourite activities of camp was the theatre sports and initiative games, which allowed students to utilise their drama skills in a ‘safe zone.’ Students were able to express themselves through both verbal and non-verbal communication. This allowed all students to work as a team to complete a variety of tasks and solve problems from being blindfolded and matching letters to creating still frames based on sports or games.
We look forward to an EXCITE-ing year with our year 7 EXCITE cohort!
From Our Industry Liaison Officer
The Helensvale SHS Industry Pathways Team provide both current and past student employment and training opportunities. While at school students following Vocational & Personalised Pathways are able to participate in a variety of industry courses, placement and School Based Apprenticeships & Traineeships.
Bree-Arna Bell started in her traineeship early last year with Fighting Fit Physio at Nerang. This has an been invaluable experience for Bree and this qualification of Certificate III Business which will not only assist her with future study pathway. The knowledge she has gained will also assist her to gain future employment in the Allied Health Industry.
Bree-Arna Bell attending her traineeship at Fighting Fit
Riviera and Helensvale SHS have had a long relationship with providing industry experience and employment to our students – past & present. This year HSH signed up 4 Year 12s into School Based Apprenticeships in Marine Mechanical and Boat Building after completing a term of Work Experience in 2016. Riviera also provided opportunities to our 2016 graduates, with Hobie Weston starting his Full Time Apprenticeship in Upholstery in January this year. Markie Eirth was a 2015 Graduate who completed a Certificate III in Childcare and is now working full time in reception at the Riviera Head Office at Coomera. She started as a casual in July and worked her way around the site in a variety of roles. We wish these 2 HSHS students the very best and thank Riviera for their continued and valued support of our students.
Riveria providing Hobie Weston in his Full Time Apprenticeship and Markie Eirth a fulltime placement.
If your Year 11 PP or VP student is interested in gaining a School Based Traineeship or Apprenticeship that aligns with their chosen career or study pathway please ask them to see Paulina Ford or Karissa Benson in CB08.