9 August 2021

Newsletter Articles

For more info please see the school calendar

From the Principal

Dear Helensvale State High School Community

During these uncertain COVID times, where rapid change is inevitable, it has never been so important to look after ourselves and our children’s health and wellbeing. Whether we are educators, parents/carers, or young people themselves, we all have a role to play as part of our ‘One Community’ approach to supporting the wellbeing and mental health of all of our students.

‘The importance of supporting students’ wellbeing for enhancing learning and social and emotional development is well established. Nurturing students’ wellbeing in safe, supportive and inclusive school and home environments assists children and young people to be resilient, confident and lifelong learners. Resilient and confident students not only perform better academically but are more likely to develop and maintain healthy, positive relationships and make responsible lifestyle choices’. (Department of Education).

Attached is a fact sheet that contains tips to help parents and carers have calm conversations with their children about COVID-19 – ensuring they have accurate information and their mental health and wellbeing is supported.

Please do not hesitate to contact our Guidance Officers and Deans if you are concerned about your child’s wellbeing.

Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teachers if they are struggling with their school work.

Please look after yourselves and seek the support you may need to help you through this pandemic. Let us know if there is anything we can do to support you.

And finally, please enjoy reading the good news stories in this newsletter and on our Facebook page. Our students are amazing as they continue to demonstrate our learning values of respect, responsibility and resilience, whether learning remotely or learning from school. Whilst we may be physically apart from loved ones at times, thanks to technology we can still stay connected.

Take care.

Yours Truly
Karen Lindsay
Executive Principal

Vale Voice

Enjoy our Latest Vale Voice video update

MLTAQ Gold Coast Speech Contest

Last Sunday, six courageous students from our Japanese Academy and Senior Japanese classes competed in the annual MLTAQ Gold Coast Speech Contest. All students represented HSHS superbly and scored very well. Alisha Hemmings (Yr11) finished in second place for her division! Emma Frankis (Yr11), Natarleigh Boyton (Yr9), Erica Rowlinson (Yr9), Alma Schultz (Yr9) and Chloe Stuart (Yr9) were each awarded with a highly commended result. Fantastic outcome for all! Well done!

QTIC 2021 – Salute to Excellence Awards

Congratulations to Year 11 Hospitality students, Ethan Alborn and Liam Wooltorton who were both finalists for the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) 2021 Salute to Excellence Awards. Ethan and Liam entered the ‘cookery section’ and had to complete a theory test, a practical skill-based test and an interview on the skills test day during the June / July holidays. This competition was State wide and students from private and public high schools were judged by professional chefs. The standard of work was acknowledged as being very high and this was celebrated at The Salute to Excellence Awards Dinner which was held last week at the Brisbane Hilton Hotel. The ‘Excellence’ in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry was recognised by the Honourable Di Farmer – Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development. Helensvale State High School can be very proud of Ethan and Liam’s achievement as rising young chefs of the future. Ethan is also a school-based apprentice at the Star Casino and Liam is a school-based apprentice at The Club Parkwood Village. Both workplaces are very supportive of the students and are pleased for their involvement and success.

A Year 12 student from last year, Mackenzie Treloar (Winner 2019 and Runner-up 2020) was invited by QTIC as a special guest speaker to share her culinary experience and to encourage the upcoming chefs to enter the Hospitality Industry. It was great to hear Mackenzie’s passion for being a chef in front of such a large audience with many State Government dignitaries present.

Ethan and Liam both enjoyed this QTIC Salute to Excellence Competition and proudly received their awards in front of parents, family and teacher. Well done students and we look forward to this competition next year.

Stephanie Wright
HOD Design

Digital Arts Media

Certificate III Visual Arts Excursion to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

The year 11 students had a great day at Currumbin Sanctuary last week. They spent the day taking photos of the wildlife that they encountered during the day.

News from Industry Pathways

Traineeship Opportunities

A variety of traineeships are on offer with a focus on business and hospitality. To see if your child is eligible to apply please have them email their resume to lbell138@eq.edu.au stating which position they are interested in.

Students and parents please keep an eye on your emails as some exciting traineeship opportunities will be sent out soon.

Only students on a Vocational Pathway can apply.

School Based Vacancy Links

Aurora Training Institute

Prestige Staffing Solution

Novaskill please see me for their vacancies

Love your current job? Would you like to turn it into a traineeship? See Ms Bellamy in KS10 and let’s see if we can create a traineeship for you in your current role.

School Leavers should check the following links for fulltime employment opportunities

2021 School Leavers - Electrical Industry Employment

Ergon Energy/Energex online applications for full time apprenticeships opened on the 2nd August.

Visit either of the links below to apply:

Please read the prerequisites carefully first. Students have been emailed this information.

2021 School Leavers – Various Apprenticeships

GC Trades College has various employers looking for current year 12 students that are eager to start an apprenticeship once school completes. If you are interested in finding out more please email me your resume with the following clearly stated:

• What trade are you interested in?
• What pre-apprenticeship course have you completed?
• What level of driver’s licence do you have?
• What suburb do you live in?
• Have you completed any work experience?

External Courses - Year 11 Vocational Pathway Students

Some external courses still have vacancies at GC Trades College. If your child is interested in applying please have them come and see me in KS10 or you can email me on lbell138@eq.edu.au

Year 10 Students

Year 10 students will be undertaking their subject selection journey soon which means Year 10 students will be able to start applying for traineeships or apprenticeships towards the end of this Term. More information will be given to you at the subject selection night or if you have any other specific questions about traineeships and apprenticeships please email me lbell138@eq.edu.au

Helensvale SHS Farmers Markets

Don’t forget to support our local farmers.

From the Guidance Officers

Mental Health During Covid

Maintaining kids’ mental health during the coronavirus pandemic

by Michael Grose

While there are concerns about the negative impact of physical isolation is having on children’s learning, we should also be concerned about their mental health. Teachers and health professionals report that the strain of physical isolation is starting to show for many children and young people. Any anxiety and fear they experience is heightened by isolation from friends, lack of access to their usual sports and leisure activities and a lack of certainty about the future.

In these challenging times kids’ mental health needs to be a high priority. The following plan laid out by the experts at Parenting Ideas will show you how to lay a solid foundation for good mental health, and outline key behaviours that will help build the resilience and psychological strength that kids need in these difficult times.

Build the foundations for good health

A healthy diet, plenty of exercise and good sleep patterns are basic to good physical and mental health. Get the foundations right and you establish optimum conditions for your child to flourish even in difficult circumstances.

Eat a healthy diet

The ‘healthy body, healthy mind’ mantra that we grew up with needs to be updated to ‘healthy gut, healthy brain’. Recent research has revealed the links between a child’s gut health and good mental health. Kids who experience anxiety and depression typically have imbalances of adrenaline (which keeps the brain alert) and GABA (which calms the brain down), that can be rectified with good gut health.

A framework for healthy eating includes eating real rather than processed foods, consuming small and regular meals, starting each day with protein and complex carbs, drinking plenty of water and keeping kids away from caffeinated drinks.

Get plenty of exercise

Exercise not only promotes good mental health. It’s also a tool that kids can use to manage their mental states. Exercise and movement send endorphins through their bodies improving mood and relieving tension and stress. Exercise and movement relaxes the muscles and reduces feelings of anxiety that build up over time.

A framework for exercise includes starting the day with some movement, taking regular movement and game breaks, finishing the school day with movement that gets their limbs moving and hearts pumping.

Maintain good sleep patterns

The benefits of good sleep patterns are immense and far-reaching, impacting kids’ learning, memory and emotional stability. Sleep restores the brain to optimum conditions and rejuvenates the body, allowing hormone levels elevated during the day to return to normal. Consequently, sleep-deprived kids experience greater anxiety doing routine tasks and have a propensity for pessimistic thinking, which is associated with anxiety and depression.

A framework for good sleep patterns includes finding an optimum bedtime; creating a regular, relaxing routine, eating and exercising at the right time, creating a sleep sanctuary and getting up at regular times each day.

Add the pillars of good mental health

Mental health is complex and is impacted by many factors including a child’s social and emotional wellbeing. The following four pillars have an insulating effect on your child’s mental health, acting as circuit-breakers when life becomes difficult and complex.

Maintain social connection

As social beings we long for connection to others and a sense of belonging to groups. While time alone can be restorative, sharing experiences, thoughts and stories with others is absolutely essential to your child’s happiness and wellbeing.

A framework for social connection includes one-on-one time with family members and other loved ones, having shared family experiences to confirm a sense of belonging, having shared time and experiences with peers from school and the neighbourhood, and a connection with the broader community through shared experience, cause or goal.

Stay in the present

The human mind is restless, taking us all over the place. It can make us feel happy recalling memories of loved ones or happy times and it can also drive insecurity connecting us to events in the past or future that fill us with dread, and make us feel anxious. Kids’ wandering minds need to take a rest and settle in the present, stopping their mental chatter, giving them the chance to relax. Mindfulness is an essential mental health tool that enables children to keep their minds in the present moment, allowing them to feel safe and secure.

A mindfulness framework includes regular mindfulness exercises, doing one thing at a time, using mindfulness during an anxious moment, practising self-kindness and forgiveness.

Enjoy yourself at play

The term ‘child’s play’ is demeaning to children and dismissive of the place of play in our lives. Play is absolutely critical to our happiness and wellbeing. Borrowing from the work of Dr. Brene Brown, play is defined as any activity that’s fun (therefore highly anticipated), free (that is, self-directed) and involves flow (we don’t want it to stop). Play helps kids manage anxiety and depression as it lifts their mood and is therapeutic by nature.

A play framework includes space and time for play, child-initiated activities, a mix of lone play and group activity, some social or physical risk may be involved.

Spend time in nature

Recent studies highlight what we already knew – that time spent in natural environments benefits our happiness, our sense of wellbeing and reduces stress and tension. The rejuvenating benefits of time spent in the bush or by the sea may be difficult to acquire during times of physical isolation but walks to the park, spending time under a favourite tree or even bringing some green shrubs inside have proven to be just as beneficial to children’s mental health.

A time in nature framework includes management and reduction of screen time, exposure to natural environments in the neighbourhood, bringing the outdoors inside, and spending some time each day outdoors.

Practise protective behaviours

Our daily habits contribute to our wellbeing and mental health. Some habits such as spending too much time in front of a screen may be detrimental. There are a number of behaviours, when practised continuously, build our resilience and resistance to daily difficulties. These include:

Keep foundation behaviours

Routine behaviours such as waking at the same time, having breakfast, exercising, showering and dressing get us ready for the day ahead. They underpin productivity, learning and wellbeing. Remove the structure provided by these foundation behaviours and many children and young people struggle, particularly those who are prone to anxiety and depression.

A foundation behaviour framework includes morning routines and rituals to prepare for the day, after school and evening wind down routines, and routines that prepare children for sleep.

Practise deep breathing

Recognition of the benefits of deep breathing dates back to ancient Roman and Greek times when deep belly breathing was used to rid the body of impurities. Modern science informs us that deep breathing instantly engages our capacity to relax and stay calm. When a child becomes anxious or fearful their breathing becomes shallow. Taking deep, slow breaths when they become overwhelmed by anxiety is the quickest way to return to a calm state.

Deep breathing has great preventative powers helping the mind stay in a state of focus and calm.

A deep breathing framework includes practising deep breathing spontaneously throughout the day, combining deep breathing with mindfulness practice, using deep breathing to restore energy when tired, and breathing deeply during an anxious moment.

Check in on feelings

If children and young people are not tuning into their emotions they are missing a rich vein of information that will assist decision-making, learning and importantly, their wellbeing. It’s relatively easy to tune into behaviour and our thoughts, but much harder to detect our emotions. The skill of emotionally checking in, developed by Prof. Marc Brackett from the Yale Centre for Emotional Intelligence, helps children and young people to identify how they are feeling at any given time. It requires kids to stand still, close their eyes, take some deep breaths, identify and give a name to their feeling. This simple habit of checking, once practised and learned is a wonderful life skill to acquire.

Looking after your child’s mental health may seems like a mystery at times. But there is a great deal we can do. By laying a foundation for good general health and then working at maintaining the pillars of mental health and teaching kids the protective mental health behaviours you provide them with a solid framework for maintenance of good mental health that they can take into adulthood.

Michael Grose

Michael Grose, founder of Parenting Ideas, is one of Australia’s leading parenting educators. He’s an award-winning speaker and the author of 12 books for parents including Spoonfed Generation, and the bestselling Why First Borns Rule the World and Last Borns Want to Change It. Michael is a former teacher with 15 years’ experience, and has 30 years’ experience in parenting education. He also holds a Master of Educational Studies from Monash University specialising in parenting education.

Student Health and Wellbeing

In line with Helensvale State High School’s philosophy of ‘One Student, One Community, Many Futures’, we partner together with the community to improve student learning and wellbeing. As the use of vaping is becoming a growing concern, not only in our school, but in our broader community, it is our collective responsibility to educate and support our students whilst maintaining high standards of behaviour.

E-cigarettes, more commonly known as vapes, are increasing in popularity in our society and disturbingly among our youth. Resembling a USB, ‘e-cigs’ are battery-powered devices that deliver liquid nicotine and other substances (such as propylene glycol and flavourings) as an aerosol that is then inhaled.

Under Australian Law, Nicotine is considered a Schedule 7 poison and therefore it is illegal to: buy, possess or use liquid nicotine for vaping; for children under 18 years to purchase cigarettes and e-cigarettes; and to smoke on school grounds at any time.

Helensvale State High School has a ZERO TOLERANCE policy for the possession and use of all illicit substances including e-cigarettes, with all matters dealt in accordance with our Student Code of Conduct which states: “Inappropriate use, possession, supply of intoxicating substances and/or utensils (including but not limited to illegal drugs or illegal drug implements, alcohol, vape pens, paint, glue, prescription medicine etc) may result in permanent exclusion from Helensvale State High School.”

One proactive measure we are making is to educate our students, providing them with the information so that they can weigh up the pros and cons of certain behaviours, allowing them to make an informed decision.

We are currently negotiating with the Queensland Police Service to provide an educational assembly to students around the legal implication of vaping.

Here is what we know so far:

• Nicotine is highly addictive and can impair adolescent brain development.
• Liquid nicotine solutions vary in concentrations (from 2%-10%). It is rapidly absorbed through the skin, and fatal toxicity can occur from exposure to just one teaspoon.
• Harmful chemicals are found in over 75% of flavoured refill liquids.
• Propylene Glycol is a solvent that reacts with many flavours, specifically vanilla, cherry and cinnamon, to create entirely new chemicals that lead to inflammation, cell death and irreversible lung damage.
• Additional information can be found here: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/staying-healthy/atods/smoking/devices

It’s important to remember that young people may turn to substance use for many different reasons (e.g. stress, family conflict, financial concerns, relationship issues, etc.). We encourage our students to access support if they are going through a challenging time, and some of these support options may include:

• Guidance Officers
• Deputy Principals
• Chaplains
• School Based Youth Health Nurses
• Deans
• Adis (24/7 Alcohol and Drug Support) – 1800 177 833
• Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800

To support the health and wellbeing of all the Helensvale State High School community we ask you to discuss the health and legal implications of vaping with your child.

Thank you for your anticipated support with this and together, let’s continue to prioritise the health and wellbeing of your child.

Helensvale Fundraising

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Humanities Tutorials and Homework Help Club

Do you have an assignment or exam coming up and need a little extra help to understand the content?

Have you been away and would like to catch up on what you missed?

Would you would like to improve your skills in analysing sources or constructing a clear paragraph?

Open to all students who are studying Humanities in year 7 & 8 or History and Geography in year 9 to 12. Our amazing Humanities staff will be available to help and give you extra support.

Come find us in DG33.

Maths Tutorials

Science Tutorials

Chat n Chill

Support Staff

As part of our Learning and Well-being framework, we have created a Well-being Hub for students and parents, which can be 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.

Acknowledgment of Country

Helensvale State High School as one community, acknowledges the Kombumerri Peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our school is built. We respect their long history, ancestry and culture. We pay our respects to the Elders, past, present and emerging for they carry the memories and traditions of past times.

We would also like to extend our acknowledgment to other First Nations Peoples: those hailing from the Torres Strait Islands and those belonging to other Aboriginal Language Groups.

We acknowledge the strength and resilience of Kombumerri peoples. We respect their enduring connection to the local wetlands and the cultural responsibility they uphold to preserve wildlife. Together, we go forward, learning in the spirit of these values.