2 February 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Thoughts

Dear Helensvale State High Community

I trust that you and your students had a smooth start to the school year. It was great to see the students returning from holiday and to welcome our new students to the school. If your child is finding it difficult to settle into the school environment, please contact our deans or guidance officers who are always on hand to provide individual support to our students.

I would like to introduce our new staff members:

Liz Benson – Head of Department Humanities
David Bimrose – Head of Department Health and Physical Education
Robert Lockyer, Jo Ewin and Stacey Guymer – Mathematics teachers
Kylie Young and Jordan Vincent – Science teachers
Emma Liggett – Special Education teacher
Sam Caughley – Japanese teacher
Shari Ward – Music teacher
Samantha Knight – History teacher
Jake Allen – English and History teacher

Welcome also to our new Chaplain, Samantha Bond, who is with us two days each week. Long Bradley continues to be with us three days a week, so now we have the great fortune of having a Chaplain on our campus every day of the week. Thank you to Scripture Union for facilitating this and supporting the well-being of our Helensvale State High community.

One Student, One Community, Many Futures

Our school is an innovative learning community with an unrelenting focus on, and a commitment to, the learning of each student. We actively encourage our community, which includes our parents, carers, staff, students, local businesses and organisations, to engage as partners to improve student wellbeing and learning.

Membership on the School Council or Parents and Citizens Association is one way you can partner with the school.

School Council

Having a School Council is a positive addition to our school. A School Council guides the broad strategic direction of the school to improve the learning outcomes of our students. The School Council meets a minimum of four times throughout the year, monitoring the strategic direction of the school, approving plans and documents of a strategic nature and advises the Principal about strategic matters.

The School Council Constitution outlines the required membership of a School Council

To gain broader representation from the community, the School Council wishes to seek further membership. Welcome to Nav Pasricha, appointed to our School Council at the end of last year. An additional student member from Year 11 will be elected this year. The number of elected staff members and parent members must be equal. This year we are seeking to elect two staff members and two parent members. If you are a parent and are interested in perhaps becoming an elected parent member, please contact the school and I will provide you with further information.

I wish to thank Rachel Duncan for her commitment and contribution to the School Council as a parent member over the past year. Due to other commitments, Rachel is relinquishing this position. However, Rachel has kindly volunteered to continue to be an elected parent member until we have a replacement. Thank you once again Rachel for your continued support of our school.

Parents and Citizens Association

The first P & C meeting of the year is Tuesday 6 February 2018 at 7pm in SWeLL. We are looking forward to seeing our existing P & C members and welcoming new faces. The P & C meetings are a great way to learn more about the school and what it has to offer your child. Attending P & C meetings also provides an opportunity for input and feedback. One of the agenda items for our first meeting is the determination of the Student Resource Scheme fees for 2019. This ensures families are aware of fees prior to applying for positions in the Academy programs. We look forward to meeting you.

Changes to Afternoon Bus Procedures from Helensvale SHS

Our first priority is always the safety of our students and those in our community. With the large number of students catching buses after school combined with the heavy traffic flow on Helensvale Road after school we have felt it necessary to change bus procedures to ensure the safety of our school community (staff, students, parents and community). We have made the following changes to procedures for students who catch afternoon buses:

1. All students who catch buses on Helensvale Road (school and public), must move directly to the Student Activity Centre (SAC) at the end of the school day.
2. Students who catch buses are NOT permitted to leave the school grounds prior to moving to the SAC. They must move immediately to the SAC.
3. Students are to sit in a line behind their bus number and wait until their bus arrives.
4. When their bus arrives, the duty teacher will call their bus number out on the microphone and inform students which gate their bus is waiting at.
5. Students then walk to their bus.

We have been using this procedure for the last three days and have found that the students responded in a calm, respectful and responsible manner. Students have left the SAC by 3:30pm at the latest.

If you have any concerns or feedback regarding this, please contact Mrs Heidi Booth, Deputy Principal on hboot21@eq.edu.au

Get Set for the Commonwealth Games

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will be the largest sporting event Australia will see this decade and the biggest sporting spectacular the Gold Coast has ever seen. As the first regional Australian city to ever host a Commonwealth Games the Gold Coast will celebrate a great Games in a great city leaving great memories and great benefits for all.

So what do we know?

On 4 April 2018, over 6600 athletes and team officials from 70 nations and territories will converge on the Gold Coast for an 11 day sporting and cultural event.

We can expect impacts from 12 March 2018.

Travel will be considerably longer, with a possibility of up to three-hour travel delays in a number of areas on the Gold Coast.

Suburbs that will be highly affected due to venue locations:

• Broadbeach / Broadbeach Waters / Florida Gardens
• Labrador / Parkwood
• Carrara
• Nerang
• Coolangatta
• Oxenford
• Coomera
• Robina
• Currumbin / Currumbin Valley
• Elanora
• Palm Beach
• Tallebudgera

What do we need to do?

• Start preparing now, if you have not already done so. Familiarise yourself with the Commonwealth Games website to ensure you are aware of transport implications for students getting to and from school.

• There will be no offsite student activities for weeks 8, 9 and 10 of this term, or during the first week of term 2, unless they are in very close proximity to the school.
• The Monday of term 2 (16 April 2018) is a student free day.
• Make alternative arrangements if your child’s attendance at school may be compromised due to traffic delays.

We will keep you posted as updates come our way throughout the term.

We have had a great start to the new school year, another year of innovation, creativity and possibility.

Yours truly,
Karen Lindsay.
Executive Principal.

Welcome to our International Students

We have welcomed back 14 of our continuing International Students and welcomed 13 new International Students for 2018.

We have students from many different countries and it has been wonderful to see them all immersing themselves in English and making new friendships. It is going to be a very exciting year for all our students and we wish them well as they settle into life at Helensvale State High.

Jenny – Vietnam – Year 7
Daisy – Vietnam – Year 10
Mayu – Japan – Year 10
Sae – Japan – Year 10
Ian – China – Year 11
Evie – China – Year 11
Deven – Sri Lanka – Year 11
Philipp – Germany – Year 11
Johnathan -- Vietnam – Year 11
Leticia – Brazil – Year 11
Eva – Maria – Austria – Year 11
Nami – Thailand – Year 11
Jennie – Korea – Year 11

Action over the holidays

There is no rest for the ambitious! Thanks to the parents and staff that have kept us 2 of all student accomplishments that occurred over the holidays. Well done to all our staff and students that participated in such awesome activities in their time off.

Art

Senior students Holly and Ngapuarata taking part in a visual arts program at Sydney University over the holidays. Well done guys!!

Griffith University Rock School

Three of our very talented instrumental music students from the Sydney Rae and the Maples band won a scholarship to attend Griffith University’s “Rock School” this week. The students worked with industry professionals and lecturers from the Conservatorium of Music contemporary course learning about writing, recording and performing music with like-minded musicians. Each band wrote a song in 3 days and recorded it and then performed it today on their last day of the course. It was certainly a wonderful experience for Sydney Maple, Sam Croaker and Aaron Hamilton.

NRL Youth Leaders Summit

Well done Zayden and Ngapua! Your hard work has paid off! Both will be going to Sydney in February for the NRL youth leaders’ summit! Zayden has also recently completed the tough interview process for the Study Gold Coast Mayors Student Ambassador Program (results will be in soon) and Ngapua is currently in Sydney attending a visual arts program at Sydney University. Helensvale High provides such diverse opportunities, it is great to see so many kids making the most of it!

Netball

Leah Pue, Reilley Batcheldor and Kirstyn Lole have been selected in the Final 16 of the Queensland under 17s squad. Amazing effort considering two are 15 years old. The final team of 12 will be selected in the next month.

Reilley Batcheldor was selected into the Australian Under 15 team after the conclusion of the Nationals in Adelaide in December. Reilley will play for Australia in May. Reilley is our first Australian schoolgirls Netball representative at Helensvale.

Leah Pue represented the OPEN, yes Open age Cook Island Team which competed at the Nations Cup in Hong Kong in December also, resulting in the Cook Islands winning the Championship. Leah is now preparing to represent Cook Islands at the Open Age World Cup in 2019, the same competition that our own Australian Diamonds and the Silver Ferns compete in.

International Sport Karate Association Australian Titles

Thomas Isakson competed in the ISKA Australian Titles on 26th November 2017 and won his 4th Australian Title in traditional form and 2nd Australian Title in Sword Combat. He was also awarded runner up Grand champion in both divisions against the adults.

Golf

Three junior golfers from Helensvale High have been busy over the break. Billy Dowling (Southport GC), Jacob Green and Taylor Barr (Surfers Paradise GC) are currently involved in the Gold Coast interclub competition.

Billy recently contested the junior masters, the state of origin and also won the 13yrs Gold Coast district championship. Taylor has brought his handicap down to 2 and recently contested the Greg Norman Classic. Jacob is a relative newcomer to the game and has dropped his handicap by over 3 shots in the last 2 weeks. Good luck and keep working hard boys.

Australia Youth Touch

Congratulations to Helensvale SHS Students Sharni Vilila and Izaya Leota on making the Australian Youth Touch Football Squads. Both students will head to camp in May for a chance to make the either U/17 or U/19 teams for the Youth World Cup in Malaysia in August this year.

Tae Kwon Do

Congratulations to James Foster who achieved his probationary Adult Tae Kwon Do Blackbelt at his last grading before the summer school break. James and other HHS students achieved Probationary Black Belt and Black Belt 1st degree status.

A great feat for youngsters aged only 13 & 15 years old.

Golden Palm Awards

9th Gold Palm Awards Presentation Night

Throughout 2017, participants from numerous Gold Coast high schools and colleges, and theatre groups from Redcliffe in the north to Ballina in the south, were nominated for the 9th Gold Pam Awards where the community celebrates excellence in all areas of performing arts! As first time entrants, Helensvale State High were winners in 10 categories including Best Musical Direction, Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Production of a School/Youth Musical. Helensvale SH is known for their wonderful musical productions which are held bi-annually.

Best Set Design

(Sponsored by Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society (ADFAS) Gold Coast Inc.)

Helensvale State High School
BEAUTY & THE BEAST
GARY KARSTEN

Best Costumes

(Sponsored by Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society (ADFAS) Gold Coast Inc.)

Helensvale State High School
BEAUTY & THE BEAST
SHARYN STUBBS and TEAM

Best Technical Achievement or Effect

(excluding Lighting and Sound)

Helensvale State High School
BEAUTY & THE BEAST
COLIN BURNIM
for Projection used in the show

The Jock and Beverly McIlwain Special Encouragement Award

(Sponsored by Mrs Beverly McIlwain)

Helensvale State High School
BEAUTY & THE BEAST
LIAM CHAPMAN

Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a School / Youth Musical

Helensvale State High School
BEAUTY & THE BEAST
THALIA DOHERTY

Best Actor in a Leading Role in a School / Youth Musical

Helensvale State High School
BEAUTY & THE BEAST
LIAM CHAPMAN

Best Production of a School / Youth Musical

(Sponsored by the Gold Coast Bulletin)

Helensvale State High School
BEAUTY & THE BEAST

Best Vocal Director

Helensvale State High School
BEAUTY & THE BEAST
A.J. HAWKINS

Best Musical Director

Helensvale State High School
BEAUTY & THE BEAST
CINDY ASHTON

Gold Palm Award

(Sponsored by the Arts Centre Gold Coast)

Helensvale State High School
BEAUTY & THE BEAST

Awarded to the Most Nominated Production across all categories

From the Physical Education Department

Swimming Carnival

The School Swimming Carnival is scheduled for Thursday February 8 in Week 3. This event is compulsory for all students in Year 7, 8, and 9 and information and permission forms will be distributed in Week 2. The carnival is optional for Year 10, 11 and 12 students and those who want to be involved must come and nominate for events in the Sport Office.

Permission note can be found on the school website:

Broadwater Trials

There are a number of Broadwater Trials coming up and these will be advertised through notices in Week 2. Making a Broadwater team is the first step in our school sporting representative pathway. The first trials of the year are as follows.

Under 18 Boys and Girls Water Polo
Under 19 Boys Cricket
Under 19 Boys and Girls Tennis
Under 19 Girls Softball
Under 14 and Under 18 Boys Baseball
Under 18 Boys Rugby Union

If you are interested in trialling for any of these teams watch the notices closely next week and trial information and permission forms will be available from the Sport Office.

Excursion permission notes

Parents remember that if that excursion permission note goes AWOL, you can download a copy from the school website. See the highlighted link:

Uniform Update

We now have the majority of sizes available in sport and formal wear.
Currently we are waiting on socks sized 2-7 and sized 12-14 ankle socks.
Please keep an eye on Facebook for further updates in the coming weeks.

From the School-Based Nurse

Safer Internet Day (SID) is an annual, worldwide event held on Tuesday 6 February 2018 to help encourage a better internet, with this year’s theme ‘Create, connect and share respect: A better internet starts with you’. Safer Internet Day aims to create a safer internet where everyone is empowered to use technology safely and respectfully.

Below is some information on empowering young people to be respectful and responsible digital citizen, while still having fun.

Be respectful – and expect respect

Respect for yourself and other people is important in all relationships, and it’s no different when you’re online.

You can encourage your child to treat online friends with as much respect as those they meets face to face. Part of this is not creating or forwarding nasty or humiliating emails, photos or text messages about someone else.

You can also encourage your child to tell you or another trusted adult if she sees someone being bullied or attacked online. Young people often try to sort things out for themselves, but it’s good to get your child into the habit of telling you if she’s worried about something that’s happening online. It might help your child to know that things are easier to sort out when other people help.

If your child gets any nasty or bullying comments on their profile pages, they should block or unfriend people who don’t treat him with respect online. This sends the message that it’s not OK to mistreat or bully someone online.

Protect your reputation

Make sure your child understands the consequences of posting photos and video, and uploading other personal content. Once this content is online, it’s very hard to get rid of and can become part of your child’s permanent online reputation. For example, you might say, ‘Some photos and videos might seem OK to you now, but you might feel differently about them in the future and not want people to see them’.

Protect your privacy

There are several ways your child can protect their privacy:

Share only as much personal information as necessary – for example, it’s not compulsory to enter your year of birth, mobile number, email address or city on all online forms.

Keep privacy settings up to date on social media sites, so your child’s profile isn’t publicly available.

Keep passwords private.

Check the location settings and services on smartphones, tablets and apps. You can usually do this by going into Settings or checking the instructions for the device or app. Turn off the location services your child doesn’t need.

Watch your tone

It’s often hard to ‘read’ emotion in emails, and jokes can easily be misinterpreted. You can encourage your child to ‘stop, think, review’ before she sends an electronic message or posts an online comment. Using emoticons or emojis like smiley faces can help.

Be sceptical

There are lots of dodgy people, places and offers online.

Not everyone online is who they say they are. It’s important for your child to be careful about what he shares with people he doesn’t know.

If something seems too good to be true, it probably isn’t true. If your child isn’t sure about a site’s credibility, she can ask herself, ‘Whose interest is this in?’. The answer can help her work out what sites and offers are dodgy. Your child should also be careful about clicking pop-ups on websites.

From Education Queensland

Do you want to learn how to keep your kids safer online? The iParent resource link below has lots of tips and info for managing your child’s interaction with digital technology at home!

Advertising

The newsletter also has a sponsorship section which provides a great opportunity for local businesses to engage with our parent community. If you would like to be a part of this, please contact Schoolzine.

Phone Jude 07 5414 2363
jude.dawson@schoolzine.com.au