3 September 2021

Newsletter Articles

For more info please see the school calendar

From the Principal

Dear Helensvale State High School Community

Earlier this year I shared with you our three main priorities for this year which are detailed in our Annual Implementation Plan below and graphically displayed in our 2021 spotlight. The three priorities are:

1. Implementing evidence-based teaching and learning strategies articulated through our pedagogical framework, Vale IMPACT (Inspire, Model, Practise, Apply, Connect, Transform).
2. Building the capability of staff and students by learning together to align our focus.
3. Engaging students as learners in thinking classrooms.

Students as Engaged Learners in Thinking Classrooms

When we talk about students as engaged learners in thinking classrooms, we refer to the social emotional skills that we need to teach, and students need to practise, to be successful in life, as well as the academic skills that we need to teach, and students need to practise, to engage with the learning tasks. Both are as equally important for us to achieve our learning vision of ‘Aspiring for Each and Every Student to Succeed’. One of the actions we have taken this year has been to develop our Universal Expectations which link behaviours and learning to our three learning values of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience.

Each week on assemblies, whether they be face to face or virtual, we unpack one or two of the Universal Expectations with our students.

Please familiarise yourselves with our Universal Expectations and discuss what these may mean with your child. You will also find the Universal Expectations on our school website

Yours truly
Karen Lindsay
Executive Principal

ISC CUP GRAND FINAL – Let’s Go!

Helensvale SHS Open Girls today defeated Kelvin Grove State College 2-1. The girls will now move onto the Grand Final which will be played later in the term. Girls, the Helensvale community are proud of your efforts.

Up the Hawks!

Thank you to Noah and Jackson for being linesman for the game.

Northern Collegiate

Northern Collegiate Badge Ceremony, Term 1

Throughout 2021, we as year ten students at Helensvale have had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the Northern Collegiate Leadership Program. Northern Collegiate is a charity-oriented group of 60 students from six different schools – Pacific Pines, Upper Coomera, Pimpama, Coombabah, Ormeau and Helensvale – there are 6 groups, each raising awareness and contributing to different charities. Over the last two and a half terms, our groups have worked with a variety of different charitable organisations, such as the Animal Welfare League QLD, Australian Conservation Foundation, Homeless Youth, and Soroptimist to name a few. Each group has hosted donation drives, fundraisers and helped out on public volunteer days with our charities to raise money for a good cause.

Last term, the Soroptimist group of all girls managed to raise over $300 from their Easter raffle, surpassing their goal of $150! The money then went towards purchasing a bundle of new pyjama sets to help support homeless women and their children.

The group PUP.COH is raising money and donations for the AWLQ (Animal Welfare League QLD). They have designed logos and posters for their cause and have had many ideas of how to collect donations. These ideas range from Bunnings’ Barbeques to working with the AWLQ on Northern Collegiate meeting days.

The Green Rangers who work with the Australian Conservation Foundation have been to community planting days in Coomera and planted around 500 trees so far this year. Their goal is 1000 by the end of the program. They are also busy building awareness at their respective schools and want to branch further out into the community.

Tree Planting Day with the Coomera Rivers Community Group jpg

These successes are only just the beginning of what the Northern Collegiate group wishes to achieve by the end of their working year. It is a great program that has had a large impact on the lives of many.

By Sean Cottrell and Libby Gannon – Northern Collegiate Leaders 2021

GIPSA results

Well done to the follow teams which won their respective competitions.

• Year 8 Boys Basketball
• Junior Cricket
• Year 8 Girls Netball
• Year 11 and 12 Boys Football
• Junior Chess
• Year 11 and 12 Girls Football

Enrolments

2021 Early School Leavers survey

The Queensland Government is seeking the support of the school community for the annual survey of Year 10, 11 and 12 students who left school in 2020, before completing Year 12. This short, confidential survey collects information about what young people are doing the year after leaving school. The results of the survey help provide valuable information to improve services available to school leavers in the future.

Between August and September, these school leavers can expect to receive instructions to complete a web-based survey or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. Please encourage them to take part. If their contact details have changed, please assist the interviewer with their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate.

Thank you for your support of Next Step post-school destination surveys in 2021.

For more information, visit the link below or telephone toll free on 1800 068 587.

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 traineeship opportunities are always emailed out.

Note: Only students on a Vocational Pathway can apply.

School Based Vacancy links

Aurora Training Institute please visit their vacancy page:

Prestige Staffing Solution vacancies, please visit this link for more opportunities

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.

2021 Year 12 School Leavers Fulltime Employment Opportunities

External Courses – Year 10 and Year 11 Vocational Pathway Students

External courses still have vacancies but you must come and see me as soon as possible to enrol into your preferred course. If you are unsure of what course you might like to do, come and meet with me in KS10 and I can help you decide.

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

Little Athletics

Helensvale SHS Farmers Markets

Don’t forget to support our local farmers.

From the Guidance Officers

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:

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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Support Helensvale State High School and unlock your free upgrade:

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.