24 June 2022

Newsletter Articles

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From the Principal

Dear Helensvale State High School

As I reflect on the first semester of the 2022 school year, I continue to be in awe of the opportunities our school staff and community partners offer our students, as well as our students’ outstanding achievements in the areas of academia, sport and the arts.

With the start of the year being delayed by three weeks, unprecedented flooding and a series of long weekends at the start of term 2, our students have continued to demonstrate how resilient they truly are. As One Community, we continue to work together so our students can be independent, future ready, successful lifelong learners.

I share with you some of the more memorable moments thus far this year.

• Kialla-Skye (year 12) was selected for the Gold Coast Suns U18 Academy Squad.
• Helensvale SHS launched the Brisbane Roar Academy Skills Training Centre
• Kahli (teacher) was named co-captain of the Queensland Reds
• Olivia (year 10), Jessica (year 10), Riley (year 9) and Kaela (year 9) were selected for the 2022 Griffith University Space program
• School choir featured on Channel 9 Christmas carols
• Lilly (year 12, 2021) and Seb (year 12, 2021) were named School’s Premier League All Stars in the boys’ and girls’ teams of the year
• Zac (year 8) was selected for the 13yr Brisbane Roar FC squad for 2022
• Jakob (year 7) achieved the highest individual score in the Australian Problem-solving Mathematical Olympiad
• Netball coach Jo Morgan coached the winning team (Tonga) in the AusPacSports Netball Tournament finals.
• Sam (year 11) and Lilly (year 8) were male and female swimmers of the meet at the QLD School Sport Swimming Championships. Sam won 8 gold and 2 silver medals, and Lilly won 3 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze medal.
• Our School Leaders supported our local ANZAC Dawn Service and school ANZAC parade.
• Our School Leaders attended a combined School Leaders Celebration evening with Mayor Tom Tate as keynote speaker and Leaders received certificates of recognition for their efforts.
• Donation of indoor rowing machines were presented by Olympic rowing bronze medallist Ria Thompson to Helensvale State High School as one of only 9 schools who were launched as part of the Coles Start2Row program.
• Instrumental Music students excelled at the Education Queensland Fanfare competition achieving:
   O One silver: String Ensemble
   O Four gold: Stage Band
             o Percussion Ensemble
             o Symphony Orchestra (Regional Finalist)
             o Wind Symphony (Regional Finalist)
   O One platinum: Big Band (Regional Finalists)
• Our school Shave For A Cure event raised $3500.
• The first boys Netball team qualified for the State Finals.
• Jed, Year 10 was selected to play in the QLD State Ice Hockey Team.
• 14 years boys were Runners Up at the Gold Coast Regional Futsal Titles
• Year 12 students Arnav, Edison and Cameron were selected for the Australian Honours Ensemble Program.
• Our Student Leaders recognised our Cleaners, Facilities Officer and Groundsman at a sausage sizzle held to thank them for their hard work.
• Once again, our students held a barbeque for Election Day at the school.
• Our School Musical, ‘My Fair Lady’, was held at HOTA over the 14th and 15th June.
• We are looking forward to the Education Ball on the 18th June and our School Athletics Carnival on the 24th June.

I wish our students and families a safe, restful holiday and come back to school reinvigorated for another semester of learning opportunities and success.

Yours truly

Karen Lindsay
Executive Principal
Helensvale State High School

Green Day

Holiday programs

GP at School

Helensvale SHS is now a proud participant in the GPs in Schools Program across Education Qld schools.

We have a doctor in SWeLL available for students to make appointments with every Wednesday. This is a free GP service for students with a Medicare card/number.

Please see the attached flyer for booking details. Book ahead now for appointments commencing on 1 June by emailing: gp@helensvaleshs.eq.edu.au

From the Guidance Officers

Anxiety Webinar

After the success of the Anxiety Webinar we have been working with Dr Kate Owen to develop a webinar on School Refusal.

In this 90 minute webinar you will learn:

• What is school refusal
• What drives school refusal behaviour - what is really going on?
• Why you need to take school refusal seriously and act quickly
• Strategies for you as the adult to help
• Strategies you can use with your child and teenager
• Strategies to teach your child and teen for them to use
• Why connecting with school is important
• How to identify resilience and amplify what is already working
• When to seek extra support
• Where to seek extra support

The link is:

And the coupon code to gain free access is HELENSVALE-2022-SCHOOL-REFUSAL Expiry is December 31st 2022.

Wellbeing Podcasts

Podcasts are a great way to pass the time while driving to and from work, and here’s some learning/wellbeing favourites :

Before Breakfast. By Laura Vandercam. Her TED talk on time management is amazing, and her podcast is a 5-minute tip each day on productivity.
Happy Families. He has a daily podcast discussing parenting and other issues relevant to teens. For example, last week he discussed TikTok and how it impacts teens and how to use it for good.
The Very Well Mind Podcast. By author/therapist Amy Morin. The Friday episode is a 10-minute tip on a wellbeing strategy and she also interviews guests (e.g. this week – Brooke Shields).
TED Talks Daily. An easy way to hear TED talks and learn while you drive.
What you will learn. Two guys from Melbourne read a business/self-help book each way then discuss the main points.
Health Hacker. By former NRL player Adam Macdougall. He breaks down the science of nutrition and exercise into easy-to-understand information.
Healthy-ish. From the Sunday Mail Body and Soul section. Daily health tips.
No Filter. By Mia Freedman. She has a unique way of getting interviewees to open up. We learn from others’ experiences.

From the Industry Liaison Officer

News from Industry Pathways:

School based traineeships available:

There are still some wonderful traineeship opportunities available for current Year 10 and 11 students. Year 10 students can also start applying for traineeships now.

You could get paid while gaining a qualification, when doing a school-based traineeship. You are also able to earn up to 8 QCE points!!

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

Only students on a Vocational Pathway can apply for traineeships.

City Venue Management:

Helensvale Aquatic Centre are looking for new school-based trainees, Lifeguarding, customer service, swim teaching… If you would like to be part of their team please apply via the link.

School based vacancies links:

Ignite Education:

Aurora Training Institute:

Prestige Staffing Solution vacancies:

Riviera Australia – Apprenticeships

Riviera Australia will be hosting their Annual Apprentice Program Information Evening on TUESDAY 12th JULY 2022

They would like to extend an invitation to any current Year 11 & 12 Students (plus Parent) who would be interested in becoming a School Based Apprentice / Full Time Apprentice for 2023.

The night is scheduled to start at 5:30pm Sharp

Current trades on Offer:

Cert III in Polymer Processing (Composite)
Cert III in Electrotechnology (Pre-requisite Cert II in Electrotechnology)
Cert III in Timber & Composites Machining
Cert III in Marine Craft Construction
Cert III in Furniture Finishing (French Polishing)
Cert III in Cabinetmaking
Cert III in Engineering – Diesel Fitting
Cert III in Engineering – Fabrication – Welding
Cert III in Engineering – Fabrication - Surface Finishing
Cert III in Upholstery

Village Roadshow School Based Traineeships

Village Roadshow are seeking expressions of interest for their upcoming School Based Traineeship intake that will take place July/August.

Key information:

• The 2023 intake will only include students currently in years 10 or 11.
• Students be required to work one school day a week and one weekend day.
• They will earn a Certificate III in Business once completed.
• Students are required to complete a minimum of 380hrs of worked hours to complete the course.
• Students will be required to complete online and in person training run through Ignite, this is on top of their standard schooling.
• The current roles of offer will include
• Food & Beverage, Retail or Admissions at Sea World, Movie World, Wet‘n’Wild and/or Paradise Country
• Topgolf rotating roles including Food Runner, Caddy, Bayhost and Golf Services
• Sea World Resort which includes Food & Beverage and Room Attendant roles.

If you are interested in finding out more information please scan the QR code

Current Year 11 students – external course enrolments:

If you would like to enrol into an external course, please come and see me. Whilst TAFE enrolments are now closed, GC Trades College is still taking enrolments for Term 3 and Term 4.

Defence Force Work Experience Program

The Defence Work Experience Program (DWEP) is a National Youth Program that provides young Australians with an interest in a Defence career, the opportunity to gain exposure to a range of job roles available within Defence and the Australian Public Service. Defence work experience activities are designed to be hands on and interactive so that young people can make informed career decisions.

Below is the website link for your child to look at what programs are currently taking applicants for work experience:

Year 12s: if you are currently in year 12 and you have a School Based Traineeship please work hard on your traineeship units over the holidays – you don’t have long now to get them submitted. Any problems with your units please email me.

Feel free to contact me regarding traineeships, external programs or to just have a chat about possibilities for your child, Thank you.

Lisa Bellamy
Industry Liaison Officer
55738 545
lbell138@eq.edu.au

Holiday Programs

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.