19 August 2022

Newsletter Articles

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From the Principal

Dear Helensvale State High School Community

I would like to devote this article to student wellbeing and our universal expectation – Resilience.

Supporting students’ wellbeing and mental health has never been more important as our community continues to navigate challenges associated with the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and various other illnesses. I see daily how we as ‘One Community’ work together in partnership so students feel safe and supported and can reach out for help when they need it.

All young people will face hardships of one form or another, but the support and guidance they are given during these times can make a world of difference. Children aren’t born with the knowledge to face and overcome hard times, but each time they do, they are building important life skills. As a parent, carer and educator we can help give them the tools and understanding to cope.

Your relationship with your child is unique to you, and there are many ways you can give support and help them to build resilience, from talking, spending time together, sharing stories from your own experiences, reminding them of how well they are doing in other areas, or looking at the bigger picture. These simple strategies provide a safe space for your child to share with you their thoughts and feelings.

From a school perspective, we explicitly teach our students skills which will support them to be resilient and to cope with those challenges and hurdles that come our way throughout life. Such skills directly relate to our universal learning value of resilience. To help build resilience, we teach our students how to set realistic goals and support them to achieve these goals. We encourage our students to believe in themselves, persist through difficult situations, and to reflect on and learn from their decisions.

We also encourage our students to seek help when needed and who to go to for help whilst at school. Sometimes parents and carers are not available to talk to. Sometimes students may not be ready to share with their parents and carers, and that is OK.

Who can your child seek support from whilst at school? Your child may have a strong respect for and rapport with one or more of their classroom teachers or their Year Level Dean. This year we have introduced new staff and resources that add to and complement the support already available to our students. We now have a General Practitioner based at the school every Wednesday. We have two social workers new to the school this year, and we have two part time Health Nurses available daily. If you or your child is unsure how to seek support, or which service to access, please contact your child’s Year Level Dean or Guidance Officer in the first instance.

Remember help is only one phone call or one conversation away.

As ‘One Community’ our school and our families continue to partner together in the best interests of your child – our student.

Kind regards

Karen Lindsay
Principal
Helensvale State High School

QTIC 2022 – SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Congratulations to Ethan Alborn, a Year 12 Hospitality student who was a finalist for the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) 2022 Salute to Excellence Awards. Ethan entered the ‘cookery section’ and had to complete a theory test, an online interview and video his own practical cookery performance, which he filmed in the Karangbah commercial kitchen at Helensvale State High School, with specific recipes to follow. In this competition Ethan was competing against students across the state, from private and public high schools, and was judged by professional chefs. The standard of work was acknowledged as being very high, was celebrated at The Salute to Excellence Awards Dinner, which was held in the main ballroom at the Victoria Park Golf Complex in Brisbane.

The Excellence Awards in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry was recognised by the Honourable Di Farmer – Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development.

Helensvale State High School can be very proud of Ethan’s achievement as a rising young chef of the future. Ethan is also a school-based apprentice at the Star Casino and they are very supportive of him and are pleased for his involvement and success.

Ethan enjoyed this QTIC Salute to Excellence Competition and proudly received his award in front of parents, family and teacher. Well done Ethan!

Stephanie Wright
HOD Design
Helensvale State High School

Vale Community Alliance Breakfast

Helensvale SHS hosted The Vale Community Alliance breakfast last Friday morning. It was an extremely successfully morning celebrating the return of International Students to Helensvale State High School. Both International and Homestay Parents were in attendance. The guest speaker for the breakfast was the “CEO” from Study Gold Coast, Mr Alfred Slogrove.

National Science Week

National Science Week 2022!

This year, National Science Week was held across Week 6. The theme: Glass. Tricky you say? Very. Our STEM Ambassadors got to thinking and came up with some activities that they could do with other students across the week. They extrapolated the theme to incorporate reflection, refraction and the colour spectrum.

We’ve had students using magnifying glasses on balloons to see what would happen. I’m sure you can imagine: BANG! When the light focusses to a point.

Other students tried their skills with the Mirror Maze Challenge. They had to get their laser to a bullseye at the end of a maze using nothing but mirrors.

Meanwhile the Science Labs have been getting their windows transformed into “stained glass” windows courtesy of our participating students. Together, the STEM Ambassadors also used the idea of “stained glass” for props for students to see coloured light reflected in the sun.

Pinhole cameras were also in use. The students could see how light reflected around an area to create an inverted image. Combined with some photographic paper, you can actually develop these images! Definitely something to try.

National Science Week ends on a high as some of our Excite students join virtually with students in Singapore to think critically and engage in STEM activities together.

All in all, National Science Week has been enjoyable for students and teachers alike. Don’t wait for Science Week next year, stay curious!

Year 12 Literature Success

Breanna Bunker, a student in Year 12 Literature, has come second in a prestigious poetry competition.

The competition is run by the English Teachers Association and draws entries from across the state.

Breanna’s poem is titled The Fall of Icarus.

Ms Brown reflects ‘Breanna often weaves her impressive knowledge of Greek and Roman mythology with her passion for poetry to reimagine past ideologies.

While she has natural writing talent in abundance, it her steadfast work ethic throughout the drafting and feedback process that impresses me most.

Her poems provide a truly immersive experience for the reader, provoking intellectual reflection and emotional reactions. Congratulations Breanna!’.

Media Arts

Please enjoy some of the fabulous work produced by Year 9 Media Arts students this semester.

From the Guidance Officers

2022 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 2021, 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 2022.

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

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.