29 May 2020

Newsletter Articles

Our School Values –

From the Principal

Dear Helensvale State High School Community

As our school community takes steps towards returning to ‘normal’, I am overwhelmed with a sense of pride of how we have all responded to these unprecedented and ever evolving times.

We have missed the students so much, and having all students return has definitely been a highlight this term. We become educators because we have a passion for students, their learning and wellbeing. The intrinsic rewards of being a teacher far out way those challenging moments we face from time to time.

Never before has our ‘One Community’ philosophy of families partnering with the school in the delivery of a quality education for your children, our students, been so significant. I can only begin to imagine the challenge for parents and carers, educating students while self-isolation meant working from home or loss of work. To show our gratitude, the staff and students put together a short thank you video. Please view this video by clicking on the link below.

The newsletter has certainly taken on a different look since the end of term 1, when all activities were cancelled. The students took over the newsletter and kept us entertained with their stories and inspirational messages from their study areas at home.

As we are no longer able to have assemblies, we have created Vale Voice, where staff and students use film to deliver key messages. If you have watched a Vale Voice video, I am sure you will agree that our students are very talented and creative. Mr Burnim is the person behind the camera and the editor, and does such a brilliant job. Vale Voice is shown to students either Monday morning during first lesson or Friday lesson 2 during Futures. Our most recent Vale Voice can be accessed by clicking on the link below.

All of our Vale Voice and school videos are also available on the school’s website. From the home page navigate to our ‘Latest news’ section and click on ‘The Vale Voice videos’. I encourage you to make time to view the videos.

Continue to take care and do not hesitate to contact the school if you are concerned about your child’s learning or wellbeing.

Kind regards,
Karen Lindsay
Executive Principal
Helensvale State High School

Helensvale SHS P & C Association

Hello all,

We wish to advise that the next meeting of the Helensvale State High School P & C Association will be held on Wednesday, 10th June, starting at 6pm. This will be a virtual meeting.

An item has been placed on the agenda for that meeting - 2021 Student Resource Scheme and Subject Levies. Notice is given that this item will be discussed at the meeting on 10th June; more information will be advised closer to the meeting.

Regards
HSHS P&C Association
pandc@helensvaleshs.eq.edu.au

Online Learning - Student Perspective!

Rylee Jacobsen

Hi my name is Rylee,

I’ve been working from home. I find it pretty distracting because my sister has to work from home too, I have to do things around the house and it’s pretty stressful because I’m not really good with computers. But on my breaks I can watch a movie. I want to go back to school because I think it is way easier to work there.

Erica Rowlinson

For the past 2 and a half weeks, I have been learning from home like many other people at Helensvale State High School. It has been challenging but enjoyable, not just because I get to work from home but because I get to pretend that I am at school with my usual timetable. Although I do really miss my friends, teachers and just school in general, I have learnt so much from this once in a lifetime experience. I have learnt to be resilient and cope with sudden changes that may occur, I have also learnt to keep my workspace tidy as it is a very necessary area for learning. I am looking forward to going back to school and asking people what they have learnt over the past weeks.

Jordan Hartigan

While at home it has been a different experience since we haven’t been at school. But also being at home it is harder because when going to school you have a schedule and get up and do what you have to do at certain time not sleep in then do your work late or not do it at all. While at school you have the teachers to help with work and have your uniform nice and ironed to represent the school. Being a part of Helensvale SHS is like another family because you have friends and teachers that look after you and care for you.

Mason Fungavaka

During the corona crisis everyone has been dealing with rough situations and dealing with problems. Schools are closed down for good and we need to be isolated in our homes, luckily we have our teachers in the house and the teachers are our parents that can home school us for a while. Every student made their rooms into classrooms and their parents represented teachers that can help us to learn. Feeling worried that you can't see your friends or your favourite teachers, well now you can. You can go email them and don't forget to check your ediary if your teachers have given you homework to do.

Kamron Oakley

It’s been tough to study with all the internet servers being used at the same time it makes for slow progress.

Adam Scholes

My experience of working from home is actually really boring, there is no one to talk to and not much can be done. I love being home but doing school work away from school doesn’t feel right, I love the atmosphere of being at school as I have great teachers, lovely friends and so much support. I’m extremely keen to come back to school as I absolutely love school and honestly I can’t live without school, HSHS is the best school I’ve ever been too and being at the school grounds is way better than being at my house by far. School is where I love to interact with friends and peers and the great staff, I am glad school is coming back.

Lily Elms

For the past couple of weeks, I have been learning from home. It isn’t as good as being at school where I can play handball with my friends and family, however, it has been fun experiencing a new way of learning. It was interesting trying to figure out how everything works, but once I got the hang of it, it wasn’t that bad. As much as I miss going to school and seeing all my friends, online learning has been really fun, and it has taught me so much. It has taught me to be more resilient and that keeping my desk clean is important. I really like online learning and I can’t wait to get back to school.

Senior Schooling

Academy – ARTS

Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast LTD

Do you know anyone who would benefit from friendly chats in their language?

MCCGC has received additional support from the Queensland Government to reach more Queenslanders with our I Speak Your Languag e program. COVID-19 has been challenging for many multicultural community members who have had to deal with social isolation and uncertainty while far away from family and friends. I Speak Your Language is a FREE Queensland-wide telephone support program that connects participants with friendly volunteers for a weekly phone call so they can have a social chat in their own language and feel more connected and supported.

Who is I Speak Your Language for?

Anyone in Queensland who is in need of a friendly chat in their original language. If we do not have a volunteer who speaks a requested language, we’ll find one!

How does it work?

We match participants with volunteers based on language and they agree upon a time each week for a regular phone call.

Participants sign up by calling 1800 95 40 40 or emailing ispeak@mccgc.com.au. We’ll ask for their name, phone number and language.

Volunteers register through our website and complete training and a police check before they are matched with participants.

How does it help?

Making a new friend and having a regular social phone call in their original language can help both participants and volunteers feel more connected in their community. Our volunteers are not only engaging, but are trained to inform us immediately if participants need more information on COVID-19 in their language or referrals to other services.

How can you help?

We'd love your support in spreading the word to communities across Queensland so that we can reach more people. The I Speak Your Language webpage includes more information along with flyers and videos in different languages. Please share with your networks and communities! 

Online and Email Help

A lot of services like Lifeline, Headspace and Kids Helpline offer online chat or email counselling to make it easy for kids to talk to someone.

Kids Help Line

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 scroll down the page and click on the relevant icon.