24 February 2022

Newsletter Articles

For more info please see the below website:

From the Principal

Dear Helensvale State High School Community

Welcome to our first newsletter of the 2022 school year. With the delay to the start of the year, together with the weekly correspondence sent to families to date, we deliberately delayed the publishing of our first newsletter to help manage information overload.

At Helensvale State High School, we aspire for each and every student to succeed. Our learning purpose is ‘One Student, One Community, Many Futures’. We believe in putting the interests of students first in all we do as we create our school for one, providing a personal learning experience for your child – our student.

I would like to thank you for your efforts to support a positive albeit unusual start to the new school year as we implement the Department of Education’s Back to School Plan (7 Feb to 4 March). I would like to share with you some of the messages that I have delivered to students on their return to school.

HOME OF THE HAWKS

As a school, we see the hawk as a powerful symbol for our students. This remarkable bird represents many of the attributes we aspire to nurture in our students. Like the hawk our students show: strength, courage, stamina, self-belief, broad nuanced perspectives, independence, and of course our three Rs. Hawks are respected for their intelligence and power; hawks take their responsibilities seriously; hawks are resilient and determined in the face of adversity.

OUR UNIVERSAL EXPECTATIONS (I am accountable to my learning community)

Whilst there are 33 universal behaviours, each of which represents one of our three learning values of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience, the 6 universals that I reminded students of are those universals that will support students re-establish their school routines and their wellbeing. I encourage parents and carers to discuss these universal behaviours with their children.

I am RESPECTFUL

• I engage with all school routines, policies and procedures
• I respect others in conversations and interations with the entire school

I am RESPONSIBLE

• I wear my uniform with pride
• I use technology responsibly

I am RESILIENT

• I seek help when I need it and know how to engage support
• I persist through difficult situations

THIS YEAR’S THEME – GO BEYOND

For the last few years we have introduced a theme selected by representatives of the student body. In 2020 the theme was ‘Be Extraordinary’ and in 2021 the theme was ‘Be Courageous’. This year the theme is ‘Go Beyond’.

‘Go Beyond’ encourages students to be confident, curious, open-minded and humble. It’s about tackling challenges with a growth mindset and doing those little extra things to make sure that you have given yourself every opportunity to succeed.

As One Community, our focus remains on the learning and wellbeing of each and every child so that they may succeed.

Yours truly
Karen Lindsay
Executive Principal
Helensvale State High School

Communication Channels Explained

As we continue to better utilise our communications we have included a short explanation of our methodology behind the different communication channels here at Helensvale SHS, and hope that it will be helpful in locating information and assistance.

Helensvale SHS Website – Is to be the main source of information. It is for whole school information, we ask that you search here as your first point of call.
All our enrolment information, various policies, contacts, permission forms are here.
There is a calendar which we endeavor to keep current, and news.

Emails – parents and students may receive important information through this channel, from administration and teaching staff. Parents are advised to regularly check their junk email if they are not receiving school emails. It is important that the school is advised when email addresses are changed, so vital information is received.

Facebook is for small celebratory information, and announcements, at short notice. This information is available to parents, students and community. If you have any queries please be sure to check the website in the first instance as this is where we communicate much of our information.

Instagram is student specific, celebrating successes, or highlighting work/ ability. This is not an information source.

Broadwater School Sport trials late February - End of March 2022.

The following Broadwater School Sport trials are happening from late February to the end of March term one 2022. Please make sure your student comes to the Sports Office / SAC staffroom to sign up and nominate;

• Touch Football Girls 13-15 years
• Touch Football Girls 16-18 years
• Touch Football Boys 13-15 years
• Touch Football Boys 16-18 years
• Golf Girls & Boys 10-18 years
• Hockey Boys 13-19 years
• Hockey Girls 13-19 years
• Basketball Girls 10-12 years
• Basketball Boys 10-12 years
• Netball Girls 10-12 years
• Netball Girls 10-11 years (Invitational)
• Basketball Girls 16-18 years
• Basketball Boys 16-18 years
• Basketball Girls 10-12 years
• Basketball Boys 10-12 years
• Aust Football Girls 10-12 years
• Aust Football Boys 10-12 years
• Aust Football Boys 13-15 years
• Aust Football Girls 13-15 years
• Volleyball Girls 12-15 years
• Volleyball Boys 12-15 years
• Volleyball Girls 16-19 years
• Volleyball Boys 16-19 years
• Rugby Union Boys 17-18 years
• Rugby League Boys 10-11 years (2nd trial)
• Hockey Girls 10-12 years
• Hockey Boys 10-12 years
• Rugby Union Boys 14-15 years
• Touch Football Girls 10-12 years
• Touch Football Boys 10-12 years.

Community Partnerships Update

Helensvale State High School is proud to announce the partnership of two businesses from our wider community.

The ongoing support of our businesses allows for huge contributions in creating diverse opportunities for our students. We have a very strong Vale Business Alliance, that come together every term to network and follow the strategic plan of Helensvale State High School, with the ultimate aim of increasing community connections to enhance business pathway opportunities for our students.

Membership is available to individuals or businesses interested in joining the Vale Community Alliance. Members are entitled to 12 months listing in the Vale Community Alliance Network Directory, invitations to all Alliance functions (3 Networking Breakfasts and an end of Year Networking Celebration).

Members have the opportunities to:

Create opportunities for business promotion and networking
Enrich curriculum through local business support
Attract work, apprenticeships and traineeships.
For more information contact lcamp36@eq.edu.au

Beyond the School Gates

Learning about Learning

Support your student to create a space dedicated to study! Research shows that having a designated study space can ensure students complete set work and can improve their productivity!

STUDENT INFORMATION

LATE ARRIVALS

Parents/guardians should advise the school if their child is going to be late, prior to their arrival, by sending an SMS to 0457 478 277 or by giving them a note. The students MUST sign in at the Student Hub upon arrival at school or they will be marked absent. If accompanied by a parent/carer they must sign in at Administration.

Please note: If the student does not have a note, or we have not received notification of their late arrival, they will automatically receive a lunch time detention.

EARLY DEPARTURES

Students should not leave school grounds without first signing out through the Administration office. In the case of an emergency, we need to know the whereabouts of ALL students.

• Please be advised that there are no phones in classrooms to contact teachers and/or students so the only way a student will be permitted to leave class early is by prior arrangement with the Student Hub.
• If you know your child has an appointment, please send him/her to school with a note. This should be brought to the Student Hub before school or during break times to receive a leave request. Students will not be allowed to leave class, without a leave request
• Students are unable to leave class, unless previously organised, due to the impact these interruptions have on individual and class learning time. If unforeseen circumstances occur, we are happy to attempt to contact students during break times to issue a pass, enabling them to be released from class.
• The student must be collected from the Administration office by a parent/carer or someone listed as an emergency contact.

Please note we are unable to do “call outs” for students when Block Exams are taking place.

STUDENTS UNWELL AT SCHOOL

• If a student feels unwell during lesson time, they MUST NOT contact their parent/guardian directly. They must report it to their teacher who will then send them to Sick Bay in Student Hub
• If a student feels unwell during break time they must go to Sick Bay in Student Hub.
• The student will be assessed and if necessary, the parent/carer will be contacted to collect their child or nominate another adult to collect them
• It is vitally important that your contact details are up to date and you check your phone for messages.
• If a parent/carer is asked to collect their student that is unwell they must be collected from the Administration office.

Helensvale SHS Farmers Markets

Don’t forget to support our local farmers.

Every Day Counts!

Cyberbullying Help

What would you do if your child was being cyberbullied?

According to research by the eSafety Commissioner , 1 in 5 young people experience cyberbullying and online abuse and 55% seek help from their parents/carers.

Our free training is available online and has been designed to be completed on a range of internet ready devices, including smart phones.

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.