3 December 2021

Newsletter Articles

For more info please see

From the Principal

Dear Helensvale State High School Community

As per my previous newsletter, there are so many aspects of our school to celebrate as ‘One Community’.

This term we engaged the Australasian Schools Accreditation Agency (ASAA) to undertake an independent review of every aspect of our school, inclusive of our vision, purpose and values, teaching and learning, governance, management and leadership. This process included a comprehensive self-study using the ASAA accreditation tool, a Team Visit by five trained ASAA reviewers and a written report including commendations, affirmations and recommendations.

Since the visit, the ASAA Board has determined that our school is to be accredited as an ASAA school. So what does it mean to be an accredited ASAA school? ASAA accreditation is evidence of the school’s effectiveness and high performing status to the staff, school community and the Department. It informs our strategic planning for the next four years. It provides certification that attests the school’s high-quality educational performance through a transparent, rigorous, research-based school evaluation, accreditation and improvement process.

Our report contains 25 commendations, 33 affirmations and 25 recommendations, all of which I will share with you at an appropriate time.

The ASAA Accreditation Panel identified a number of areas the of school’s current practices that it commends. These are set out in the ASAA Accreditation Status report, however, ASAA particularly wished to encapsulate the following areas of school practice as demonstrating high levels of performance.

1. The school is held in high regard by parents, students, and the wider community with a reputation for quality teaching and for providing a safe environment for students.
2. The school’s purpose statement of One Student, One Community, Many Futures drives strategic decision-making including highly productive, and extensive, community partnerships which extend and enrich student learning and pathways.
3. The school has a clearly articulated focus on improving student outcomes through the Three Levels of Planning and effective management processes which are clearly outlined and documented.
4. The school provides for a wide range of curriculum offerings and quality programs for the diverse range of students through on-site provision and external partnerships.
5. The school is committed to providing teachers with significant and relevant professional development opportunities to collaborate, reflect on, and improve their pedagogical practice.

Attendance Expectations

We are committed to ensuring that students are productive and engaged in learning up until the end of the school year.

During the last week of term, students will be engaged in an alternative program. We are planning some engaging and fun learning activities during this time, including activities that will support both the learning and the wellbeing of students.

As per our attendance procedure, if your child is going to be absent from school, you must let the school know why the absence has occurred as soon as possible. If you have supplied medical certificates for your child's absence from school, we thank you as this is one way of ensuring your child's absences are explained and approved.

As this is the last newsletter of the year, on behalf of the Helensvale State High School staff I wish you all a safe, restful and happy holiday. Start-up procedures will be communicated to families prior to the commencement of Term 1, 2022.

Kind Regards

Yours truly

Karen Lindsay
Executive Principal
Helensvale State High School

YEAR 9 EXCITE EXCURSION

On Tuesday 23 November, our Year 9 Excite Academy students participated in their end of year leadership excursion. It took place at the Runaway Bay Sport & Leadership Excellence Centre and despite the morning rain being a concern, the day turned out to be clear and pleasant.

Students were engaged in a variety of activities that allowed them to demonstrate essential leadership skills such as communication, teamwork and positive support. Every student performed outstandingly and there were smiles on faces all day long. The support staff from the venue made a point of commenting on the outstanding effort and attitudes of our students and Helensvale staff were extremely proud of these outstanding Excite students.

This year will be the end of their Excite journey, but I am certain that all of them are just beginning their own exciting future. All the best in your Senior schooling! Mr Middleton.

Instrumental Music

The Instrumental Music Program ended the year with Twilight Tunes on Monday 15th November. The concert featured our twelve ensembles and was well attended by parents and family and SER staff. The students were excited to perform and the feedback was amazing. The evening concluded with all the students performing together in one large ensemble, playing Take on Me.

Eight of our instrumental music students (Emma Frankis ,Cameron Howe ,Grace Larmor, Anthony Marshall, Leo Matsuzaki, Taj Nankervis, Elise Ruevers, Alex Bloomfiled) were chosen to participate in the State Honours Ensemble Program at Griffith University, Conservatorium of Music, during the holidays. We congratulate them on being chosen to represent the school at state level.

Three of the IM Students auditioned for the Qld Youth Orchestra in Brisbane. The QYO organisation has many ensembles which rehearse in Brisbane each week. The ensembles cater for various levels, with the QYS being the top Orchestra who have toured internationally. Congratulations to Edison Richard who was accepted into the Qld Youth Symphony Orchestra (QYS) on violin and to Emma Frankis, playing double bass, who was accepted into QYO III and Cameron Howe who is reserve for QYO III on violin.

Marine Aquatics Excursion

Year 11 Marine Science students are at Keppel Island putting their learning into practice. Day 2 was spent outrigging, conducting some citizen science, cleaning up Corroboree Island and checking out the underwater wildlife.

Australian Business Week

Congratulations to all participants for a successful 2021 Northern Collegiate Australian Business Week (ABW). Sponsors, business, teachers and students collaborated to produce an amazing event.

Some of the activities the students produced during the week consisted of; building a website, filming a 30-second TV advertisement, business simulation and Trade Display.

Another outcome of the week was that students from the various school developed new friendships, that will endure in the future.

The opening event was held at Big4 Gold Coast Holiday Park, where the students came together to form their teams for the week, the students hail from from various Northern Collegiate schools, to run a simulated business.

The Gala Dinner, held at Southport Sharks, showcased some of the students successful achieved throughout the week. The dinner was a huge success and was attended by sponsors, businesses from the wider community, parents, teachers and students.

Broadwater Sports 2022

Finance Office and Uniform Shop hours 2021-2022

Vacation Holiday Programs

GIPSA 2022

Swimming Carnival 2022

News from Industry Pathways:

School based traineeships available:

There are still new traineeship opportunities available for current Year 10/11 students.

Get paid while gaining a qualification when doing a school-based traineeship and earn up to 8 QCE points!!

Email on lbell138@eq.edu.au for more information on these positions are to discuss if you are eligible for a traineeship

School based vacancies links:

Ignite Education: https://www.ignite.edu.au/job-vacancies/
Aurora Training Institute: http://www.aurora.edu.au/schools-program/
Prestige Staffing Solution vacancies: https://prestigestaffingsolutions.org.au/job-board/

Year 12 School Leavers should check the following links for full time/part time employment opportunities:

Looking for a Trade?

Tracy from Gold Coast Trades college has many opportunities available for Year 12 school leavers looking for a trade eg: metal roofer, painting/decorating, carpentry, tiling, Automotive & plastering. Please email your resume and industry of interest to Tracey Egan tracy@peopleperformance.com.au

Casual Work:

If any students are seeking casual work please contact me by email as I have quite a few employers contacting me regularly looking for staff. Also check your emails regularly as I email these adverts to students/parents.

Current Year 10/11 students – TAFE etc:

If you would like to enrol into an external course for next year contact ASAP. Some TAFE courses are already full and you don’t want to be disappointed if you cannot get into the course you were hoping to.

Have a great holiday and I look forward to working with the students in 2022.

Ms Bellamy
Industry Liaison Officer

Helensvale SHS Farmers Markets

Don’t forget to support our local farmers.

Parentline

Parentline is here for you.

Sometimes you just need to talk to someone. Sometimes you need guidance.

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.