9 August 2019

Newsletter Articles

Our School Values –

Reminder what’s coming up

August

• 8-10 Gold Coast Secondary Schools Drama Festival
• 10-14 Lady Elliot Camp Year 12
• 13 Semester 2 ACE Parades
• 5.00pm-6.00pm for Juniors
• 6.15pm-7.15pm for Seniors
• 13 Griffith Trivia Comp
• 15 Gold Coast Dance Eisteddfod
• 16 Ekka Excursion
• 16 GIPSA
• 20 Year 10 – 11 Subject Selection Evening
• 22 GC Secondary Schools Drama Festival
• 22 Eisteddfod for students with Disabilities – Go team!!
• 23 GIPSA
• 22 Mighty Minds – Year 12

For more info please see

From the Principal

Helensvale State High School’s learning vision is for ‘each and every student to succeed’. To ensure success, we need to prepare our students for a very different world from the one we currently know. Employers are now looking for people who are critical and creative thinkers, great communicators and team players, with the necessary technological skills to navigate the digital world. So how is Helensvale State High School preparing our students for future success?

Helensvale State High School has over 50 teaching staff who engage in ongoing professional learning through Aspiring Thinkers. Aspiring Thinkers is a network of teachers and school leaders across Queensland who prioritise teaching for thinking and developing students who are critical, creative and agile thinkers.

Our Aspiring Thinkers not only work in their own classrooms but also with their peers to strengthen teaching for thinking in our school.

As part of the Aspiring Thinkers program our staff have been working with the University of Queensland’s Critical Thinking Project. We are continuing to strengthen our relationship with the university and deepen our work in teaching our students how to think critically and creatively. This is exciting work that we know enriches the learning experience for each and every student at Helensvale State High School.

One Student. One Community. Many Futures.

Yours truly

Karen Lindsay
Executive Principal

School Opinion Survey

Parents/Caregivers, school staff and a random sample of students are encouraged to have their say in this year’s suite of School Opinion Surveys by providing their opinions about what our school does well and how we can improve. Each of the online surveys will be open until Friday, 23 August 2019.

Access details for the Parent/Caregiver Survey have been sent home in a letter with students. The survey can be completed via computers, tablets or smart phones with internet connection.

If you haven’t received any survey access details by the end of this week or if your access details have been misplaced, please contact Cindy via email chahn13.eq.edu.au

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:

I

n an attempt to minimise disruptions to class learning time, our ACE Assemblies will be held after school next week 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 Grade Point Average by .5%
• Includes all classes that are rated A to E excluding Futures and Instrumental Music
• Students must achieve a minimum of 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

Instrumental Music Program

We have had a busy start to Term 3, with week one commencing with Creative Generations rehearsals in Brisbane each day. The Drum Line students performed as part of the Featured and Massed Drum Line four times to packed audiences at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. They certainly were a highlight of the show and had a fantastic time.

Week two saw the “Little Shop of Horrors” Musical Band bump into HOTA for rehearsals and two performances on Tuesday and Wednesday evening. The feedback was awesome and the band did a fantastic job, many people thinking it was a backing track and not a real band. Congratulations to all the Instrumental Music students involved in these two productions.

QTIC – Salute to Excellence Awards 2019

Congratulations to Ethan Hobbs, Michael Bae and Mackenzie Treloar who are Year 11 and Year 12 Hospitality students who nominated and were chosen to represent Helensvale State High in the QTIC Salute to Excellence Awards. This Queensland competition was held at Southbank TAFE in the first week of the June school holidays and students participated in a written theory test, a practical skills test and an interview. Ethan, Michael and Mackenzie entered the ‘Hot Cookery’ section and had to demonstrate their practical skills to produce a two course meal. This competition was judged by professional chefs from Hospitality Staffing Solutions and The Star, Gold Coast and they were extremely impressed by the students’ high standard of skills and their commitment to the Hospitality Industry.

At the end of July, Helensvale State High Hospitality students attended the QTIC Salute Excellence Awards Dinner at Rydges Hotel, Brisbane. Congratulations is extended to Michael Bae (Year 12) who received a Finalist Award and to Ethan Hobbs (Year 12) who won ‘runner-up’ in the Cookery Section in this Queensland Competition. Ethan also won two Furi chef knives and received a week’s work experience at The Star, Gold Coast. Congratulations to Mackenzie Treloar (Year 11) who was the ‘winner’ of the Cookery Section. Mackenzie won three Furi chef knives and also received a week’s work experience at The Star, Gold Coast. Helensvale State High won the entire Cookery Section of the QTIC Salute to Excellence and competed against students from Pacific Pines SHS, Marist College in Emerald and Kirwan SHS in Townsville.

The future career of these Hospitality students is indeed very promising and it is with excitement they strive toward their aspirations. All parents, family members and teachers who attended this evening enjoyed themselves, along with special guests, Daniel Gschwind (Chef Executive of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council, and Shannon Fentiman (Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development) who presented the Awards.

The QTIC Salute to Excellence was certainly an occasion for ‘celebrating and challenging the next generation of chefs, tourism and hospitality professionals’. Well done to all students involved and you can be very proud of your achievements in this Queensland Schools Competition.

Stephanie Wright,
HOD Design

Michael Bae, Mackenzie Treloar and Ethan Hobbs

Michael Bae, Stephanie Wright (HOD Design), Mackenzie Treloar and Ethan Hobbs

Ethan Hobbs and Mackenzie Treloar

Ethan Hobbs and Mackenzie Treloar

Judges for the QTIC Competition with students

Stephanie Wright HOD Design with students

Daniel Gschwind – QTIC Chief Executive with students

Year 8 Drama Academy

Recently the Year 8 Drama Academy students had the opportunity to participate in a special workshop with the Dead Puppet Society.

This workshop focused on various sculptural and mechanical techniques for the creation of puppet characters using simple materials and visual theatre. Students learnt about character design, the importance of the biomechanics of the puppet, the function and fabrication of different joints. Then in small groups, the students designed and realised their own puppet character and scenes.

Our students were focused and engaged throughout the entire workshop. Next they get the opportunity to view the Queensland Theatre Company performance of Storm Boy at QPAC to enhance their experience.

Miss Chambers

From our School-Based Nurse

How is your oral health tracking?

That’s the question being asked this Dental Health Week (5-11 August ), an annual event run by the Australian Dental Association which aims to make everyone aware of the key things they need to do to keep their teeth and gums healthy.

You might think it doesn't really matter if you miss a bit of flossing, skimp on the thoroughness of your brushing, live on a diet of burgers and fries or tell your dentist "thanks but no thanks, I'll see you in 2022". But of course, like anything that's necessary and good for you, it does matter and it's definitely worth adding to your list of daily To Do’s.

Now, before you groan inwardly, it’s actually pretty easy and straightforward to making dental hygiene a key part of your day.

Brushing

If you're like most people, there’s not a whole lot of brushing going on. In fact, only 50% of Australians brush twice a day. The reality is that a quick, occasional dash along your teeth with a hope and a prayer is not going to cut it. As your dentist will tell you, you need to brush for at least two minutes twice a day, taking care to use a soft-bristled toothbrush (they're less damaging to your teeth and gums than their harder counterparts) to clean your teeth systematically along all surfaces, always brushing in small, circular motions.

Flossing

Flossing (or using an interdental brush) once a day is important because it removes plaque from between your teeth which goes a long way in helping to prevent gum disease, tooth decay and halitosis (bad breath). It's not something that should be rushed either. Take your time, using a gentle side-to-side motion with about 45cm wound around your middle fingers and thumb. If you're not sure about the right technique, have a chat to your dentist who can show you all the right flossing moves.

Say "Hello!" To your dentist

If you have a regular dentist, and it is a good idea to have one since it means your teeth will get the consistent care they need, you should be seeing them more often than you probably are, with one survey revealing that 65% of Australians have not seen a dentist in the last two years. Yup, that’s right – two whole years. Sure, that’s extra time for catching on Game of Thrones but is it good for your teeth, and the health of your whole mouth? Not really. You should really be seeing your dentist every 6 to 12 months or as needed to keep on top of your dental health.

Don’t have a regular dentist? We can help with that! The ADA’s Find a Dentist and Choosing a Dentist make it easy!

Eat and drink well

We all love junk food, but alas, it does not love us back. In fact, not only does it make fitting into those jeans you love a struggle, but it’s not good for our mouth at all. You’re much better drinking water, limiting sugar intake (watch out for hidden sugars in drinks and foods), avoid snacking between meals, instead sticking to three meals a day and concentrating on the good stuff like vegetables and dairy products. Of course, before you make any major dietary changes, first check with a healthcare professional.

How do we know the average Aussie isn’t giving their dental health the required amount of attention? Australia’s Oral Health Tracker, launched last year, is a national report card on the health of our mouths and how this impacts how healthy we are overall. You can find out more about how healthy we are and how healthy we’d like to be at the link below.

Red Cross

Nerang Red Cross at 38 Ferry Street are having an Op shop sale till the middle of August.

Clothing $2, Children’s Clothes $1

Also we have Mobility Equipment for Hire and Hall for Hire. (conditions apply)

J.P. available Friday between 10.00am till 12.00am, Call 55966873 for an appointment.

Volunteers are most welcome.

Little Athletics

Work Experience

Just a reminder that the remaining work experience days are:

• Friday 16 August
• Friday 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.

Parent Tools for Cyberbullying

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

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 in the link below, scroll down the page and click on the relevant icon.