24 July 2020

Newsletter Articles

Our School Values –

For more info please see the link below:

From the Principal

Dear Helensvale State High School Community

It has been great to welcome our students back from the school holidays and see a much more ‘normal’ start to term 3 than we did to term 2. While we are still experiencing some restrictions and changes to our ways of working, we continue to focus on student learning and wellbeing as our priority.

Teaching for Thinking at Helensvale State High School

“Knowledge and learning are humanity’s greatest renewable resources for responding to challenges and inventing alternatives. Yet, education does more than respond to a changing world. Education transforms the world.”[i]

There are certainly many exciting learning experiences happening around the school.

All of our year 8 students participate in our Year Eight Thinkers program once a week during their 70 minute literacy lesson. The focus of the program is to support thinking skills in the process of reading and writing through the context of critical thinking for classroom and improved everyday thinking.

This program has been developed by our key teachers Ms Kara Vaughan and Ms Melanie Garibaldi who taught critical thinking online for the IMPACT centre 2017-2019. The program was contextually developed to meet the needs of students and teachers to develop expertise for teaching thinking at Helensvale State high school.

In addition, a group of our year 10 Honours students will be participating in a brand new course offered through the IMPACT centre, Youth In Queensland. The goal of this program is to empower young Queenslanders to tell important, local stories through a professional, high-profile digital news service. This initiative will see a state-wide network of youth correspondents develop local, relevant news content. Their content is published via inqld.com.au/youth and reaches local and global audiences. We are very excited to offer this opportunity to our students.

Both of these opportunities for our students focus on teaching students to be critical and creative thinkers and consider how they interact with, and indeed transform, the world around them. These experiences certainly encourage students to think as individuals, to consider their role in our community and to be futures-thinking. They embody our school purpose of One Student – One Community – Many Futures.

Senior Students

Our year 12 students who are studying General subjects have now commenced Unit 4. This is the final unit of learning which will contribute to their ATAR at the end of the year. At the end of the year all General subjects will have external exams for the first time. Staff and students continue to work hard to ensure students are well prepared for this exam period which commences at the end of the October. We will continue to communicate with our families about how you can support your students in the lead up to, and during, the external exam period.

The QCAA website has frequently asked questions (FAQs) for parents and students about the removal of an internal assessment including clarification that this will not impact the calculation of students’ ATARs. These FAQs can be found at the link below:

Our Senior Schooling Team has developed a one-stop shop for everything Senior Schooling for students to access via the Student Shared Drive. Students can access the Senior Schooling Connect-Ed site via website below and will need their Education Queensland username and password to log-in.

COVID-19 Updates

As you know, advice and guidelines from the Chief Health Officer, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and the Department of Education continue to be updated. As guidelines are updated we will continue to communicate these with our community.

There have been recent changes regarding guidelines relating to excursions. Whilst we are now able to consider excursions, there are strict guidelines and protocols, including all venues to have approved COVID Safe Industry Plans and schools to undertake detailed risk assessments. Given the disruption to learning that occurred in semester 1, student attendance at school will also be carefully considered.

Planning for our Year 12 Formal and Year 12 Graduation continue and further information will be available in the near future.

Thank you to all of our parents for your continued support. Look after yourselves and each other.

Kind regards,

Karen Lindsay
Executive Principal
Helensvale State High School

Arts Department

Congratulations to some of our very talented Instrumental Music students who have been successful in Qld Orchestra and Big Band auditions recently. Arnav Prabhu was selected as one of the only two clarinet players from Qld for the CGEN Orchestra and Edison Richard auditioned on violin and was one chosen from many Qld students to be a part of the Qld State Honours Ensemble Symphony Orchestra. Finally our talented trombone player, Zach Keegan was chosen as one of four trombone players from Qld for the James Morrison Big Band for CGEN 2020. Well done on your dedication and commitment to being an outstanding musician.

Literature

In Semester 1 the English Department introduced Literature as an elective subject. Mrs Brown has taught the class and the students have enjoyed it immensely. Literature will be offered in 2020 to Y11 students on an ATAR pathway.

The last semester in literature was an amazing learning experience and honestly one of my favourite subjects. Being encouraged to dig deeper into works of literature and being to further my writing skills has really helped me find more interest in literature. I’m really thankful to have been able to be with other likeminded peers and such an inspiring teacher!

Sincerely,
Alisha Hemmings

Taking English Literature has been an amazing point of my life. Not only the curriculum is engaging and thought provoking but the atmosphere throughout the classroom is incredible.

Kind regards,
Holly Scott

English Literature revolutionised my writing and analysis. The class was thought-provoking and fun in equal measures. I can't wait to do it again next year.

Breanna Bunker

Literature is truly a special and unique subject where everyone is extremely supportive and caring. Here, you are introduced to a Brave New World of different writing styles and techniques which re-ignited my passion to write.

Jane Yao

English Literature is engaging, creative and encourages your best work within a class of talented literates. It’s not your words that define you, but the ideas they hold.

Arabella Rivera

English literature is a loving team environment that makes everyone feel confident and connected.

The English Literature class was impressive with how engaging and creative it was, further encouraging you to be confident with work they have created and strive to go above and beyond. You learn to think outside the box in an extraordinary way.

Emma Frankis

English literature provides students with a fun and carefree environment, with a curriculum that requires you to use your creative comprehension skills. The class has improved areas across all my subjects, and the support and genuine passion from our teacher Mrs Brown was only an added bonus.

Ella Healey

Literature is a wonderful subject full of students willing to learn and write and helping each other. I could go on and on about how much this subject has improved both my writing and my confidence. Not only the curriculum, but the atmosphere both push myself and my class mates to improve our used of words to turn them into works of art.

Emma Freame

Academy Applications

Helensvale Mascot

Helensvale State High School has embarked on a journey to identify a school mascot.

What better way to build up school spirit than with a school mascot?

A mascot represents school pride and represents what the school stands for.

The mascot chosen will become part of the school culture and will have a presence at most school events, creating enthusiasm with those who are attending.

Each day we will present one of the shortlisted, these have been nominated by student.

When reading through the short list of mascots, continue to ask yourself the following questions…

1. Will this mascot promote school pride?
2. As an individual, will you be proud of this mascot?
3. Does the mascot reinforce the school identity? (Who we are and what we stand for)
4. Which mascot most effectively represents our three core values of RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY and RESILIENCE?

Please see Facebook where we will conduct a Poll to gauge the wider community’s thoughts. This is separate to the staff and student vote.

Hammerheads!

Hammerheads represent the values of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience.

If you watch a hammerhead shark in action, they never stay still. They are RESILIENT, extremely driven and constantly moving forward to create opportunities for themselves.

Sharks are the apex predators, so other creatures show RESPECT at all times. In some cultures, there is so much RESPECT for sharks that they are considered to be the gods of the sea.

The hammerhead shark has a few unique attributes. Their odd shaped head improves their vision so they are better equipped to see opportunities around them and while they are not associated with attacking humans, it does not mean that we can take them for granted.

Hammerheads demonstrate the core value of RESPONSIBILITY. While most sharks tend to be solitary, hammerheads will often live and work together in schools during the day, but at night, will work independently to achieve their goals. They have an amazing sense of smell, which allows them to sniff out what they need the most. This is what we expect of our students at Helensvale State High.

Sharks represent those who survive and despite the challenges they face, they continue to move forward. They are born with all the skills and power they need to chase what they truly desire. If that’s not RESILIENCE, I don’t know what is.

Helensvale Raptors

Raptors are built for speed, agility and sleekness making it RESILIENT and one of the top predators of its time.

Raptors were known to show RESPECT toward others to achieve a common goal.

The raptor had one of the largest brains when compared to its body size and was often RESPONSIBLE for protecting smaller group members.

Raptors played a large role in the Jurassic Park movies!

The NBA basketball team based in Toronto, Canada, are known as the Toronto Raptors. Both their team name and logo are based on the popular dinosaur.

Helensvale Hawks

Hawks are extremely intelligent birds that have an incredible sense of eyesight.

Hawks are also often known for their speed and are RESPONSIBLE for looking after their chicks and relentlessly protecting their nest.

The hawk spiritually symbolises the ability to be RESILIENT by using intuition and high vision in order to complete tasks or make important decisions.

In some cultures, viewing a hawk in flight means the universe wants you to learn powerful lessons, or expand your knowledge and wisdom.

Bird experts have observed that hawks travelling in a flock have a greater chance of survival than travelling alone. Hawks are RESPECTFUL to one another and often work together rather than alone to achieve a common goal.

Helensvale Hunters

Hunters are self-assured and always have confidence. They approach every task with a RESPONSIBLE ‘can do’ attitude which always required careful and precise preparation.

Hunters are RESILIENT and prepared to wait and work for success. The effort put in will match the reward!

When pursuing their goals, hunters are RESPECTFUL of the prey but must think like a predator to achieve the task at hand!

Detail oriented – Come prepared for the job at hand…make sure you have all equipment and knowledge to complete the task successfully.

Hunting constitutes one of the most ancient and important practices in the history of mankind, impacting the various aspects of human life.

Vale Vipers

Snakes are extremely RESILIENT and have been around for approximately 100 million years, they have evolved from prehistoric lizards. Snakes are found on all continents of the world, except Antarctica.

While often feared, vipers are also shown tremendous RESPECT in many cultures. In some societies snakes are often viewed as good fortune and in others, the snake created the world!

Snakes form a key link in the food chain. They act as predators, and as prey. They are often RESPONSIBLE for maintaining a healthy ecosystem and environment.

Point to consider! Nobody—that’s nobody—on a trek in the outback of Australia, hours from the nearest doctor and without antivenin, survives the bite of some of the deadliest snakes in the world. As locals say, a snake often delivers the “kiss of death.”

From the Guidance Officers

Brain Fuel

Your brain runs best when you give it the best fuel.

Brains need breakfast.

Breakfast eaters get 40 % higher marks in maths, are less likely to be absent and are less likely to be late to school. Studies indicate that non-breakfast eaters are twice as likely to be depressed, four times as likely to suffer anxiety and 30 % more likely to be hyperactive.

Having a higher protein- lower carbohydrate mix for breakfast enhances concentration and memory. So avoid lots of sugary cereals, juices and heaps of toast and get some eggs, milk and porridge or bacon in.

Sugary drinks give you the wrong sort of buzz.

Firstly they make you sick. Just two soft drinks (75 grams of glucose) results in the free radical production of damaged fatty acids called isoprostanes to rise by 34% in just 90 minutes after consumption, Secondly, they make you stressed. One study at Yale University gave 25 healthy children the same amount of sugar found in one soft drink and found that their adrenaline levels were boosted to more than 5 times normal levels for up to 5 hours later.

Neuro-nutrition

You don’t need to reach for the medicine cabinet every time you want to feel better. Often making sure you get some exercise, sleep well and eat well can make an amazing difference to how switched on you feel.

Foods that improve your mood, sleep and calm

These are foods that have relatively high levels of the amino acid, L- tryptophan. L- tryptophan synthesises in your brain into serotonin the most powerful anti-depressant known to humankind. It also makes you sweeter, calmer and helps you to sleep better. The foods that are rich in L-tryptophan include: Turkey, Lean Beef, Almonds, Milk, Whole wheat, Pumpkin seeds, Cottage Cheese, Omega 3 fatty acids and Soybeans.

Food that improve happiness, concentration and motivation.

Tyrosine is the amino acid that synthesises in your brain to create dopamine. Dopamine is the neuro-chemical related to motivation and concentration. It helps you to feel pumped and raring to go. The foods that are rich in tyrosine include: Fish, Oats, Dairy, Chicken, Yoghurt, and Milk.

It don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got that zing!

Give yourself an energy boost by eating foods that are rich in the amino acid, L-phenaline. This amino acid synthesises into noreprinephrine and dopamine. Not only will having more of these neuro-chemicals improve your get up and go, it will also be good for your memory.

Food that are rich in L-phenaline include: Lima beans, Sesame seeds, Peanuts, Chicken, Yoghurt and Milk.

Keep your sunny side up!

Foods that decrease irritability and tension are high in L-glutamine. L-glutamine synthesises in the brain into GABA or Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid. Foods that are rich sources of L-glutamine include: Eggs, Peaches, Grape Juice, Avocado, Sunflower seeds, Granola and Peas.

Help your brain to learn

Choline synthesises in the brain into acetylcholine. When you learn something new, your brain forms a new link or circuit between brain cells. These new links use acetylcholine to form and they are then re-inforced by dopamine. Acetylcholine not only helps us to learn it also protects our cells and our memory. Foods that are rich in choline include: Egg yolk, Beef, Liver, Cauliflower, Navy beans, Tofu, Almonds.

Use your pantry to keep yourself well.

While we are considering what foods help us to perform at our best we should also discuss anti-angiogenic foods. These are foods that seem to play a role in limiting the pathologic formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) associated with many human illnesses. Anti-angiogenic foods you should consider having more of in your diet include: Almonds, Apples, Artichokes, Blackberries, Blueberries, Bok Choy, Cherries, Chocolate (dark), Garlic, Ginseng, Grapefruit, Green tea, Kale, Lemons, Mushrooms, Nutmeg, Olive Oil, Oranges, Parsley, Pineapple, Pumpkin, Raspberries, Red grapes, Salmon, Sea Cucumber, Soy beans, Strawberries, Tomato, Tuna, Turmeric, Walnuts

Eating a balanced healthy diet makes an enormous difference to how well people do at school.

If you want to hear a fascinating lecture about anti-angiogenic foods go to the link below:

Note:

The food suggestions in this newsletter are general in nature. If you or your child has food allergies or illnesses, it is recommended that you seek the opinion of a health profession before altering your diet.

Tutorials at School

Do you know that Helensvale SHS offers after school tutorials?

Science- Tuesday 3-4pm CB04 please RSVP in advance 2184_mathstutorials@eq.edu.au
English - Wednesday 3-4pm SWELL
Maths - Thursday 3-4pm S306 & S307

We also offer:

Chat & Chill (homework club), run by school staff, Mon, - Thurs 3-4pm, in SWELL

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.