18 October 2019

Newsletter Articles

Our School Values –

Reminder what’s coming up

October

21 Pupil Free Day
23 AFL School Cup Vs Parkdale
23 AIME Program Day 3
23 Degustation Dinner
23 Art Exhibition
25 HSHS AFL Girls Vs Diversity Allstars
26-27 Relay for Life
29 Academic Awards Night
31 Principal’s Reference Group Meeting

November

1 - 7 Year 12 Block Exams
5 - 6 Year 7 2020 Enrolment Interviews

For more info please see this link:

From the Principal

One Student. One Community. Many Futures.

Dear Helensvale State High School community

Helensvale State High School is committed to our learning purpose of ‘One Student. One Community. Many Futures’. Our ‘Vale Learning Alliance is one way that we come together as ‘One Community’ to support student learning and well-being. So what is our ‘Vale Learning Alliance?

The Alliance is a group of like-minded businesses who collaborate with our school, providing a community voice and input into the school’s improvement agenda. So how was the Alliance formed?

In 2014 the ‘Vale Learning Alliance was formed with 15 members of our local community and continues to grow in membership each year. The Alliance is committed to creating opportunities for business promotion and networking, enriching curriculum through local business support, providing opportunities for student employment, apprenticeships, traineeships and work placements, and capturing additional resources for school advancement.

Many Alliance members continue to partner, sponsor and support our student learning and celebrations, enhancing the ‘One Community’ philosophy.

Our school welcomes new businesses and members of the wider community who wish to become a member of our Alliance. Being a member of the Alliance will connect your business with a network of like-minded business people, parents and friends and the wider community. Alliance members look forward to attending the events held each term throughout the year, which highlight the many talents and achievements of our students.

The Alliance is a great opportunity to collaborate and build relationships, with the ultimate vision of ensuring successful futures for our students. If you would like to be a part of this very successful Alliance or would like more information, please contact Lisa Campbell on lcamp36@eq.edu.au

Next year is Helensvale State High School’s 30th anniversary and we would like to celebrate this milestone by involving the Helensvale Community, including parents and friends, local businesses, sponsors, partners and members of our wider community. We thank our Alliance businesses for your on-going support this year and look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership with you in 2020.

On behalf of Helensvale State High School, I would like to thank the following Alliance members for your ongoing support of our students and community:

Yours truly, Karen Lindsay, Executive Principal

Reporting Mid-Semester 2

Mid semester 2 interim reports for years 7-10 and year 12 will be emailed home to parents/carers during week 2 this term. For these year levels, the result that students receive will reflect the assessment done in that subject this year to date.

For year 11, the unit 2 final senior report will be emailed to parents/carers during week 3, and this will be the final report distributed for Year 11 until the unit 3 report is distributed in 2020. There will be no parent teacher interview process for this reporting period, however, parents/carers are encouraged to contact individual teachers via email if they have any questions about their student’s progress in a subject.

Ski Trip 2019

Pictures are worth a thousand words… so I guess the vibe was epic!

Helensvale descended on Perisher for the Annual Senior Ski Trip for what felt like another season returning to our holiday home at Peer Gynt, welcomed with open arms by Bart and Jen.

2019 saw the spring season hit with endless snow falls and blue bird days! The 5 days saw all elements hit the Snowy Mountains from rain and snow to brilliant sunshine with warm skiing conditions with a 2 meter base. All mountains were open for students to learn, explore and shred. Fabulous company, amazing students, and incredible fun - It doesn’t get any better!

How did you spend your spring vacay? …Till next year!

Encore

Weekly Student Trivia!

During Bullying No Way! Week activities, Miss Lawrance and Mrs Weston organised a game of student trivia (to include wellbeing questions). It was so popular, that it was offered again… and again! It has now been running all year with a steady 20-40 students per game. Each game consists of 2 rounds of 20 questions, with a general theme. This year, themes have included; General Knowledge, Geography, Sport, Music, Movies, Games, Mythical/Marvel/Sci-Fi and more.

Other staff have also contributed, with the Science and Maths staff providing a game of STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Maths) questions. Nurse Joy organised a game for RU OK? Day and the Indigenous Committee provided Australiana/Indigenous questions. The winning team usually wins a packet of lollies, with the 2nd prize being offered randomly.

In the lead-up to Halloween, students have requested the spooky theme of Horror. Staff are always welcome, and it is lots of fun.

Trivia runs every Thursday, 1st break, in CG01.

One Straw at a Time – Already Making a Difference!

The school’s new Environmental Club is already making a difference! Only meeting a few times, they have already narrowed their focus on a few projects – and making gains!

The group is made up of a mix of students of all ages, teachers and admin staff, and regularly meet to discuss their progress and future moves.

Students have already met with the school’s lovely Tuckshop Convenor and Business Manager to work on a plan to replace plastic packaging with more environmentally friendly products.

Some very clever art students have been working hard on developing a school Environmental Mascot. They have passed on their design to the Environmental Club who has created a back-story and are developing particular messages that they want the character to convey to the students.

WATCH THIS SPACE – Very exciting news is to come about a collaboration with an international organisation. A HUGE thank you to Miss Lindsay who has been the driving force behind this project.

If you have any particular special interests, skills or knowledge in reducing our school’s carbon footprint, and would like to provide your advice or support, please contact Miss Lawrance at elawr29@eq.edu.au

Mental Health Week Mobile Makerspace

The very clever staff of the SWELL went venturing out to Discovery Place to bring craft to the masses on the Thursday of the first week of term. There were stress balls, memory jars, and glitter shooters to be made. A lot of fun and relaxation was had by the students, as the staff were run off their feet. Such a successful day that we plan to hold many more in the future.

We often have so many fun and productive activities in SWELL, and we would love to increase the involvement, and this is a really fun way to do it. Hopefully the glitter didn’t make too much of a mess at home as students spread the wellness.

Japan Trip 2020

Helensvale State High School would like to make available to students of Years 10, 11 and 12 the opportunity to visit Japan. This optional cultural experience is offered on an annual basis at Helensvale High. The tour includes a home stay experience with our sister school as well as a week of travel visiting many places of interest including famous temples and shrines, as well as Disneyland and Universal Studios.

It is estimated that the trip will cost each student approximately $3000, not including spending money, which is generally about $600 to cover the cost of meals while travelling, incidental travel tickets and some souvenirs. Students who wish to purchase more expensive souvenirs will need to bring more and budget accordingly.

The trip will depart within the 2020 September holidays on Monday 21st September, returning during the second week of the holidays on the morning of Sunday 4th October.

If you are interested in signing up for the 2020 trip, please contact Mr Middleton by email ASAP. There will be a meeting held at the school this term to present more detailed plans for the trip and to allow interested families a chance to ask questions in an open forum.

Vale Alum

Congratulations to Japanese Academy Alumni, Catherine Strassburg who has recently moved to Japan as part of a scholarship exchange program with Griffith University.

Catherine began her studies in Japanese Academy at HSHS in Grade 8, consistently achieving excellent results. She graduated in 2017 as one of our top Japanese students and has gone on to study a Bachelor of Languages and Linguistics at Griffith University’s Gold Coast Campus.

Now in her second year at university, Catherine has been successful in obtaining a scholarship into an exchange program at Seikei University in Tokyo, Japan for the next 10 months. She is now living in college accommodation with other university students, and is immersed in rich linguistic and cultural experiences.

Congratulations to Catherine – we wish you all the best and look forward to hearing more about your success.

Sports Awards Night

2020 Senior Jersey

Grade 11s can now order their 2020 senior jersey.

To order a senior jersey please ensure your 2019 SRS fees, subject levies and excursions are paid in full. Payment can be made at finance during opening hours the cost for the jersey is $75.00. Once payment has been paid please proceed to the uniform shop for sizing. Last day for payment will be November the 14th 2019. There will be an opportunity to place in the second order however they will not be expected until late May.

If you have any questions please ask at the uniform shop.

Uniform Shop News

With Back to School 2020 fast approaching it is a hectic time for parents and carers.

To make this easier for everyone we have flexischools online ordering in place. Flexischools also provides updates on what stock is available and stock we are waiting on. The link to flexischools is:

Flexischools is a convenient way of ordering uniforms without having to come into the school.

To help you with your order your child is welcome to come into the Uniform Shop and be fitted by our friendly staff. We will then provide your child with a slip detailing the required sizes you need to place an order with flexischools. The order can be collected from the Uniform Shop 2 working days after it has been placed.

We can exchange sizes however, packaging and tags must be in place and the receipt must be presented.

We look forward to helping you with your uniform requirements for next year.

If you have any questions please contact the uniform shop on 5573 8571.

Finance and Uniform Shop Extended Trading hours

Would your child like a keepsake of their 2019 year at Helensvale High?

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 extra-curricular 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/further action required!
• The cost for students in all other year levels is $15.00
• The deadline for Year Book orders and payments MUST be finalised by close of business Wednesday 23 October!
• 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.

BANKING DETAILS:

BSB: 064430
Account Number: 00091174
Account Name: Helensvale State High School

THERE IS ONLY 1 PRINT RUN – so please make the deadline!

(More than happy for you to drop in and I can show you or your child our 2018 Year Book to help your decision making).

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