25 July 2019

Newsletter Articles

Our School Values

Reminder what’s coming up

July

• 26 GIPSA
• 26 Mighty Minds
• 31 Vicki Wilson Cup – Senior Netball
• 31 Parent Teacher Interviews
• 31 P&C Meeting

August

• 7 Year 11 Aquatics
• 7 Storm Boy Live Theatre
• 7 Subject Selections – Year 8 to 9, Year 9 to 10
• 8 Principal’s Reference Group meeting
• 8-10 Gold Coast Secondary Schools Drama Festival
• 10-4 Lady Elliot Camp – Year 12

13 Semester 2 ACE Parade –

• 5.00 - 6.00pm for Juniors
• 6.15 - 7.15pm for Seniors

For more info please see

From the Principal

Dear Helensvale State High School Community

Welcome Back

It has been a very positive start to Term 3 as the students and staff arrived back re-energised for another term of learning at the ‘Vale.

As the students moved through the school, they soon discovered that there had been more enhancements to the grounds, with new seating, shade sails and artificial grass laid in areas where grass would not grow.

On behalf of the students, I would like to thank the Parents and Citizens Association for allocating funding for these enhancements.

The P & C have also allocated funding to provide a storage facility to house the furniture required to set up the restaurant at Karangbah. The Karangbah kitchen is now also air-conditioned, thanks to the P & C.

It is great to see how excited the students are with these new enhancements in the school.

The seating outside of the Marine Studies Shed provides an outdoor learning environment for the students, as well as providing additional seating at break times.

The Karangbah storage area is near completion and the Karangbah kitchen is now air-conditioned.

Additional seating in shaded areas, widened pathways and artificial turf really do enhance the outdoor environment for the students. Students enjoy sitting on the artificial grass as much as the seats provided!

Key Assembly Messages: Respect and Responsibility

Below are the key messages and concepts that were discussed at the first assembly of the term.

If you were born between 1995 and 2009 you are known as Generation Z, the tech savvy generation. As we know, there have been so many positive advances due to technology, but unfortunately technology is also mis-used by some.

You have the right to be treated with safety and respect everywhere you go – and you have the responsibility to act safely and respectfully towards yourself and others.

Common online behaviours causing issues include posting photos without permission, posting inappropriate / defamatory content, creating fake accounts and cyber-bullying.

Once it is online, it is there forever.

The law – what are the consequences are of inappropriate on-line behaviour?

School disciplinary action: If a student’s online behaviours negatively affect the ‘good order and management’ of the school, the Principal can take certain disciplinary actions which may include suspension, and /or loss of privileges or exclusion. This is regardless of the behaviour happening outside of school hours.

Generation Z or Generation Hope? There are so many respectful, caring teenagers in our school that are making a difference in some small or significant way. If you are one of these students who is making a positive difference in our world please let me know so I can share your stories.

PB4L message for the week: Being respectful and responsible in the local community.

Yours respectfully
Karen Lindsay
Executive Principal
Helensvale State High School

PB4L FOCUS, WEEKS 1 & 2

As a Positive Behaviour for Learning School (PB4L), Helensvale SHS students focus on a weekly skill/topic. In week one, our focus was, ‘Positive Behaviours during External Activities’. So many of our students represent our school in a variety of genres including (but not limited to); team and individual sports, the arts, politics, and academics. To ensure our students represent our school with pride, we shared the following expectations.

• Following the school dress code or directions given in an excursion letter
• Displaying behaviours that are respectful, responsible and resilient
• Using appropriate and respectful language at all times
• Being responsible and following directions without debate
• Only using mobile phones if appropriate, or you are asked to do so
• Helping out others who need assistance

Our focus in week two is ‘Appropriate Conversations at Appropriate Times’. In the Futures lesson, students engaged with a variety of activities to help them understand how classroom distractions can affect their learning. One activity saw students listening to song mash-ups and they had to try and name the songs. The students then discussed how it was hard to decipher each song due to the overlap in sounds and noises.

STAFF MEMBER OF THE WEEK

Each week, students are encouraged to nominate a staff member for being a positive role-model. Our most recent winners include;

Carly Joyce for “If we ever need help, she is there. She gives us so much respect and is one of the greatest teachers ever!”

Wendy Chambers for “Being an amazing drama teacher and always teaching us new skills every lesson.”

PB4L Focus – Appropriate Conversations at Appropriate Times

International Visit

Helensvale State High is hosting a group of 20 students and 3 staff for 2 weeks from Taiwan. (Wufu and Zhong Zheng High Schools)

The group arrived last week and have spent time with their “Buddies” in class and some specialised classes.

They went to Paradise Country where they came up close with many Australian animals and enjoyed the “Aussie” culture.

They will also be going to Movie World on the weekend and spending time with their host families.

We have been hosting students from Taiwan for 8 years and each year it is a pleasure to have them as part of our school even for a short time.

We hope they enjoy their stay and make many friends and memories to last a lifetime.

Parent Teacher Interviews

The End Semester 1, 2019 reports have been emailed to all parents/carers. Parent Teacher Interviews will be held in the SAC and the PAC between 3:30pm – 7:30pm on Wednesday 31st July. An email with instructions on how to book will be sent to all parents/carers this week. The PTO system opens for bookings at 7:30am this Friday 26th July, and closes at 5pm on Tuesday 30th July.

ACE Parade

We have a new format and time for the ACE Parades this semester, please mark it in your diary:

ACE ASSEMBLIES DATE CLAIMER:

In an attempt to minimise disruptions to class learning time, our ACE Assemblies will be held after school next term on TUESDAY 13th August.

• Junior ACE Assembly (Years 7-9) – 5.00pm till 6.00pm
• Senior ACE Assembly (Years 10-12) – 6.15pm till 7.15pm

Our ACE assemblies are a wonderful way to celebrate the success of our students so we are hoping that you will be able to join us.

The following is an explanation behind the awards:

Resilient Learner:

• Increase in GPA by .5%
• Includes all classes that are rated A to E excluding Futures and Instrumental Music
• Students must achieve a minimum C’s across all subjects in both semesters to achieve this award

Respectful Learner:

This includes all classes including Futures and Instrumental Music

• Students must receive all Excellent for combined behaviour/effort ratings, but may have only one Very Good rating in either behaviour or effort

Responsible Learner:

• 99.5% and above attendance for the Semester

Gold Academic:

• Includes all classes that are rated A to E excluding Futures and Instrumental Music
• Students must achieve all A’s

Academic Achievement:

• Includes all classes that are rated A to E excluding Futures and Instrumental Music
• Students must achieve a combination of all A’s and 1 B

Work Experience

Just a reminder that the remaining work experience days are:

• Fri 26 July
• Fri 16 August
• Fri 23 August

If you are going to be away sick from your work experience placement please make sure you notify the employer that morning and also Ms Bellamy on lbell138@eq.edu.au

Please remember to sign off on your log book each work experience day.

Dental Van at Helensvale

School Opinion Survey

The annual suite of School Opinion Surveys will be conducted from 29 July to 23 August 2019. 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 our school does well, and how we can improve.

Access details for the Parent/Caregiver Survey will be sent home with students this week. The survey can be completed via computers, tablets or smart phones with internet connection.

Technology and teenagers

How and why teenagers use technology

Understanding teenagers and technology can seem a little overwhelming. It sometimes seems like teenagers’ lives revolve around their phones and technology. From the internet and social media, to phones, apps, games, television and other types of technology, technology is increasingly becoming an essential part of our lives. Many young people – often referred to as ‘digital natives’ – haven’t known it any other way.

Potential benefits of technology for teens

Research shows that the things that help young people have a positive experience online are:

• having a good understanding of the internet and how online media work (including things like privacy settings)
• having the skills to critically understand, analyse and create content that adds value for themselves and others.

If young people understand what it means to be a good ‘digital citizen’, you have every reason to trust them with managing their own internet use, just as you trust them to act responsibly when they’re at school and out with friends.

Potential risks for teenagers

It’s important to remember that, just as teenagers need to have good boundaries and rules for offline behaviour, and the guidance and morals to make good decisions, they also need these things to protect them when online.

Some risks associated with being online are:

• Cyberbullying: This is when people use technology to embarrass, harass or bully someone. Cyberbullying can include posting mean or untrue statements, making fake online profiles intended to embarrass people, sharing embarrassing photos, and more.
• Trolling: This is when people deliberately try to start arguments or to upset people on the internet, often causing considerable distress.
• Isolation: Too much time spent online and using technology is time not spent face-to-face with family and friends, which can create barriers and contribute to a sense of isolation.
• Inappropriate material: Teenagers posting inappropriate pictures or content online, or sharing such material with friends, may humiliate themselves or others.
• Inappropriate relationships: Strangers or others may try to form inappropriate relationships with young people.

How much time are young people spending on screen-based activity?

• A 2017 study by The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne found that young people aged 13 to 18 spend on average, 43.6 hours a week on screen-based activity at home (6.2 hours a day). The vast majority of Australian teenagers aged 13 to 18 were reported to own a smartphone and/or tablet.
• A strong relationship was found between parental screen time and that of their children - parents who reported high levels of screen-based use themselves were more likely to report having children with high levels of screen-based use. Undertaking a screen audit for the whole family can be a useful way to figure out everyone's technology use.

What is a healthy limit to set for my teenager?

Two hours used to be the golden rule for the amount of screen time young people should be allowed per day. That’s now being revised because it just isn’t realistic in the modern world where technology is used for education and social networking, as well as for entertainment. It’s more important to set limits on recreational screen time, and to focus on the quality of what your children are doing on their devices.

Ask questions like:

• Where is my child looking for information? How do they know if it’s good quality?
• What kind of games and apps is my child using?
• Are they using their screen time for distraction or procrastination?

These sorts of questions will help you find the line between healthy and unhealthy use of technology for your family.

Parent Tools for Cyberbullying

Please see the Australia Government eSafety Commissioner website for tips and tools to assist your child.

From the Guidance Officers

Information for parents about student mental health

Parents play a crucial role in developing resilient children who enjoy positive mental health and wellbeing. It is important that parents have access to accurate information and feel confident about managing the emotional and social wellbeing of their children.

The following links provide practical information for how families can promote positive mental health and wellbeing, factual information about mental health conditions and community agencies that can provide support.

BeyondBlue is a National Depression Initiative that gives a range of information on depression and supports available to people suffering depression and their family.

CYMHS (Child Youth Mental Health Services) provides information about referral requirements and includes opening times and contact information.

Headspace provides helpful information for parents about boys and girls, adolescents, emotional development, parenting practices and how best to support children and young people.

RAP-P (Resourceful Adolescent Program-Parent Program) is designed to help parents promote the optimal family environment for healthy adolescent development.

KidsMatter is the national initiative for mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention in primary schools. It provides a comprehensive whole-school framework designed to build schools' capacities for supporting student mental health and wellbeing, focussing on four areas: A positive school community, Social and emotional learning for students, Parenting support and education and Early intervention for students experiencing mental health difficulties.

MindMatters is a national mental health and wellbeing initiative that includes a resource, website and professional development calendar. MindMatters aims to:

• embed promotion, prevention and early intervention activities for mental health and wellbeing in Australian secondary schools
• enhance the development of school environments where young people feel safe, valued, engaged and purposeful
• develop the social and emotional skills required to meet life's challenges
• help school communities create a climate of positive mental health and wellbeing
• develop strategies to enable a continuum of support for students with additional needs in relation to mental health and wellbeing
• enable schools to better collaborate with families and the health sector.

Excerpt is from Department of Education website. More information can be found here:

Support Staff

As part of our Learning and Well-being framework, we have created a Well-being Hub for students and parents, which can 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’, click on the icons below, or, go to the HSHS website below and scroll down the page and click on the relevant icon.