23 July 2022

Newsletter Articles

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From the Principal

Dear Helensvale State High School

Congratulations and Farewell Ms Megan Roderick

A huge congratulations to our Head of School, Ms Megan Roderick, who has been appointed as the permanent Principal at Pimpama State Secondary College, commencing this Semester 2. Megan arrived at the ‘Vale in 2016 in the position of Band 9 Head of School, with her major portfolio work in the areas of curriculum, teaching and learning. Her extensive knowledge, together with her high-level leadership, has positioned the school extremely well in these domains.

Megan has been a great support for me personally and I am very grateful for the five years I had leading the school alongside her. Megan has always stepped up, supporting me with the systemic, HR, whole school governance and management, whilst undertaking the daily leadership of the school. Pimpama is extremely lucky to have Megan as their Principal. Her expertise across a number of portfolios, her enthusiasm and passion, her line of sight and integrity will mean that Pimpama will benefit enormously from her leadership.

2023 Student Resource Scheme

At the P and C Association meeting held on 7 June, a number of motions pertaining to the Student Resource Scheme and subject levies were carried. These motions included:

• That Helensvale SHS continues to offer a Student Resource Scheme in 2023.
• That the Student Resource Scheme Terms and Conditions as per Department of Education are adhered to and not amended in any way.
• That there will be no increase in the Student Resource Scheme (SRS) for 2023. The fees will remain at $375 for years 7-9 and $410 for years 10-12.
• That the subject levies presented be approved. There are minimal changes to these levies.

The last time there was an increase in the Student Resource Scheme was in 2020. There weren’t any increases to the SRS in 2021 or 2022 and there isn’t an increase for 2023. Please do not hesitate to contact the finance office if you have any concerns about paying off the 2022 fees. We can only support if we are aware of your situation.

Parents and Citizens Association Meeting

Our next P and C meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 26 July, 6pm to 7pm, CB07. If you are unsure where this room is, please meet at the Administration building and we will escort you. I look forward to seeing you there.

Yours truly
Karen Lindsay
Executive Principal
Helensvale State High School

Honours Program

The Honours program is not just focused on academic behaviours – the Honours program aims to build the whole student; a student capable of leading the future, working with and empathising with others and has a belief in themselves and their abilities. The Honours RAW Challenge was an epic and unforgettable opportunity for our Honours students to challenge themselves as they went about completing the course – not only did they have a fantastic time and make memories, but they also built valuable life skills including:

• Self Confidence
• Problem Solving
• Communication
• Endurance
• Team Work
• Resilience
• Persistence
• Courage

Introducing HSHS FlexiSpace

Helensvale State High School aspires for each and every student to succeed regardless of the challenges they face. We are proud to introduce our in-school flexible learning space which is a deeply considered learning environment to support students at our school.

Our FlexiSpace environment considers the HSHS community and our commitment to see every student learning successfully and working towards their goals. The space is accessible to all students within the school whether it be during class time or break time, we are extremely excited to provide access to all students.

We look forward to inviting the HSHS community in to see the space very soon.

Rebecca Luckett
Deputy Principal

Yr9 Education for Entrepreneurs (E4E) Academy

On Friday 15th May the Yr9 Education for Entrepreneurs (E4E) academy cohort travelled to IKEA Slacks Creek for one of their annual excursions. The focus of the day was to consolidate learning about the strategies that IKEA uses to gain and maintain their competitive advantage. Students begun the day by viewing a presentation from a guest speaker who informed students about IKEA’s history and growth strategies. They then travelled to the store and undertook a scavenger hunt that guided the students through the vast premises. Most students finished the day with the obligatory IKEA lunch of Swedish Meatballs, before returning to school in the afternoon. A great day was had by all.

Welcome Back – International Students

We are very excited to have International students return to Queensland for Term 3 2022! Last week, Helensvale SHS welcomed 6 new International Students from Germany, Italy and Thailand. We are hoping our students from Japan will arrive in the next few weeks.

The students have settled in nicely and are becoming familiar with their new school routines. It is wonderful to see them join in and be part of the school community.

Please make them feel welcome!

If interested in becoming a homestay parent please contact Ms Wengel on mfmar0@eq.edu.au

Support for Assessment

Just a reminder that there a number of support tutorials for students wising to access help for their subjects.

From the Guidance Officers

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 from the link below, 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.