4 August 2017

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Thoughts

Preparing Our Students for the Future

Our world is changing. Up to 47% of current jobs may be automated. 60% of new jobs require skills held by 20% of the workforce. Students of today will have up to 6 careers and 20 jobs. Demand for bilingual and multilingual employees is growing rapidly. And that is what we currently know. So how are we preparing students of tomorrow, today?

Our teachers are ensuring our students are 21st Century learners, having the skills and knowledge to succeed in our rapidly changing world. The skills we are teaching on a daily basis will support our students in becoming critical and creative thinkers, successful communicators and have the necessary Information and Communication Technology skills to thrive in our connected world. Our Positive Behaviour for Learning philosophy is part of our overall well-being framework which teaches students the personal and social skills which will allow them to collaborate and work effectively in teams.

I look forward to seeing our families at the upcoming Subject Selection evenings later in the term where supporting our students’ learning and possible career pathways will be the focus.

Samoa Study Tour

The Samoa Study Tour has been on the radar for a number of years now and it is truly exciting to see it finally coming to fruition.

During the September holidays seven students from Helensvale State High School, two students from Upper Coomera State College and one student from Coombabah SHS will travel to Samoa with four teachers, in conjunction with Rotary Australia, to build a school in Apia, Samoa. Rotary Australia is constructing the building as a flat-pack, which will then be assembled by the students, with support from the Rotarians, in Apia. The school where the building is to be erected is for girls from ages 6 to 12 who have suffered hardship in their lives.

During their visit, students will be submersed in the culture of Samoa through interactions with the local community and participation in a range of cultural activities. The students will also have the honour of meeting the Prime Minister of Samoa.

What an exciting adventure for our students and a great opportunity to contribute to a worthy cause.

Subject Selection Evening for Year 11 2018 students

Helensvale State High is holding a Subject Selection Evening for Year 11 2018 students on Wednesday 9 August. Information regarding individual subjects will be available in the Performing Arts Block from 5.45pm. Important information regarding QCE and pathways offered to Year 11 students will be presented by the Executive Principal and the Senior School team in the SAC from 6.30pm. Parents and students will be able to access the Head of Special Education, the Industry Liaison Officer and some tertiary institutions.

Musical -Beauty and the Beast

Over two nights, Helensvale State High students showcased their production of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ to over thirteen hundred audience members at the Gold Coast Arts Centre. Based on the Academy Award-winning, Disney animated feature, this timeless classic tells the story of Belle, a young woman who dreams of a better life outside the confines of her French provincial town, and a selfish, arrogant Beast, who is trapped under the spell of an evil enchantress for all eternity, if he cannot learn to love and be loved. For over six months of rehearsals, dancers, singers, actors and musicians worked tirelessly to create what was an exceptional show of the talent and commitment. It is a true testament to the depth of talent our school possess with audiences amazed at the professionalism of our students. Of course a showcase of this size would not be possible without the dedication of our teaching staff and the support of our school and broader community. On behalf of the production team – Thank you!

We would like to thank our sponsors – Club Helensvale, Mark Bootham, McDonald’s Helensvale and the Helensvale SHS P&C Association. Thank you for all your support.

School Opinion Survey

The annual School Opinion Surveys will be conducted 31 July to 25 August 2017. All families, school staff and a random sample of students will be invited to participate. We encourage you to take this opportunity to have your say about what this school does well, and how this school can improve.

Access details for the Parent/Caregiver Survey will be sent home with students early next week.

Year 11 Diploma of Events

Year 11 Diploma of Events students are completing a Certificate II in Hospitality as part of their studies through Prestige Services Training (PST). The students were fortunate to go on a Site Tour to compare a variety of event locations around the Gold Coast. The students visited three venues – The Gold Coast Turf Club and Event Centre, The Hilton Hotel and Coolibah Downs Estate. The students thoroughly enjoyed the site tour as it gave them a good insight into the different styles, locations and logistics of planning and organising an event. This was a valuable experience for the students and we thank PST for providing the students with this opportunity.

Industry Pathways News – Queensland Training Awards

The South East Region Queensland Training Awards 2017 were held on Friday 21st July at Sea World Resort. The Queensland Training Awards celebrate the state’s top training achievers. The outstanding achievements of apprentices, trainees, vocational students, teachers, training providers, employers and community-based organisations are recognised across a range of categories. Helensvale State High School were well represented with two finalists: Miss Zy Kelly for VET teacher of the Year and Zoe Bowler for School based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year. A massive congratulations go to both Miss Kelly and Zoe for winning their respective categories for the South East Region.

Miss Kelly was recognised for her work in introducing the Certificate II in Dance at HSHS. Her determination to provide opportunities for students to use their skills outside the classroom and in the community has helped her dancers thrive. She structures her lessons to suit her students’ diverse needs. A 100% graduation rate and the post-school achievements of several students attest to her success.

Zoe was recognised for Certificate III in Business traineeship. This has helped her gain valuable experience, a recognised qualification, prepare her for university and has given her the ability to more easily support herself whilst she studies. She has grown personally and professionally as she has developed a range of important skills including time management, leadership and communication.

Miss Kelly and Zoe will now go to Brisbane for the state finals of the Queensland Training Awards.

Special thanks to Ms Lindsay, Ms Stubbs, Mrs Winters, Ms Brazeau, Mrs Ford, and Ms Brandis for supporting the Finalist on the night.

FROM THE VISUAL ARTS

On Wednesday 18 July, the Cert II Vis Arts (photography) ventured to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and the following gallery of photos has come from that excursion.

Marine Studies Camp to Lady Elliot Island

From the 22nd to 26th of July, the Marine Aquatic students were privileged enough to visit the astonishing Lady Elliot Island, located within the Great Barrier Reef. This environmentally friendly eco resort is a short 45-minute plane trip from Hervey Bay. We experienced a welcoming like no other, a performance displayed by some majestic humpback whales. During this trip we were given the opportunity to snorkel with a variety of wildlife species including manta rays, sea turtles and reef sharks. We also attended education sessions about the species to learn about their expected behaviours around humans to ensure the safety of our own. There was no forgetting the 5am sunrise walks around the island each morning, leading into a day filled with snorkelling, volleyball and the mouth-watering buffets; attended three times a day. Overall, Lady Elliot Island was an unforgettable experience spent with a great group of students and HSHS staff. A final thank you to Adrian Owen, Clint Johnson, Matt Dwyer and Jane Skelton for providing us with this experience of a lifetime.

Written by: Kiara Tupper, Nadia Ritchie, Devon Broodryk, Alysha Gow

House Athletics 2017

Congratulations to all Helensvale students for participating in the House Athletics for 2017. The day was a fantastic showcase of the athletic talent that Helensvale has which saw 2000+ students turn up on the day. The carnival also provided much entertainment for students as well and everyone should be commended for the way they conducted themselves on the day. The overall results were:

1st Osborne 1363 points
2nd Shelley 1292 points
3rd Thompson 1164 points
4th Armitage 1098 points
5th Stosur 1063 points
6th Pearson 1061 points

All students are commended for participating, however, we will also commend the age group champions.

Thanks also goes to all of the staff that were involved – the carnival would not have been so successful without their hard work.

Well done!

Andrew Hayes
Sport Coordinator

VICKI WILSON CUP

2017 YEAR BOOK

We are taking orders for our annual Year Book, Discovery, which is a full colour pictorial and text record of the events that shape this year both within the curriculum and covering all extracurricular events. It also includes year level photos of our students. Here are the details:

• Year 12 graduating students receive a complimentary copy of the year book (providing all outstanding fees are paid and exit requirements met). No payment required!
• The cost for students in all other year levels is $15.00
• The deadline for Year Book orders to be finalised is Friday 13 October (reminders will come closer to time)
• If paying electronically you must put the following in the reference field – your child’s student ID (found on their ID card and school timetable) as well as the letters YB so we know what you are paying for.

Our banking details are: BSB: 064430 – Account Number: 00091174 – Account Name: Helensvale State High School