21 October 2022

Newsletter Articles

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From the Principal

Welcome to Term 4. We have a very exciting term ahead as we come together as a community to celebrate the achievements of our students and staff. This term will see us celebrate sporting, cultural and academic achievements, in addition to our end of year senior celebrations that include the formal and graduation.

Last week we announced our 2023 School Captains, Vice Captains and Prefects. It was a lovely ceremony and we have a wonderful group of students leading our school next year. I would like to thank our 2022 captains for the extensive work they have done in the school community. They certainly will leave a lasting legacy.

Term 4 is the final opportunity for students to demonstrate their improvement and growth over the course of the year. It is important for students to be in attendance, stay focussed and work hard right until the last day of class for every subject.

Over the recent holidays there were many improvements and works conducted around the school grounds. We had more artificial turf installed in student lunch areas to brighten the area and have a more comfortable space for our students during their break times. We also created a courtyard for our Flexispace so that teachers can extend the learning into the fresh air for students timetabled in those classes. The original Foundation Square toilets are being completely rebuilt and the basketball courts resurfaced! Our repainting continued, and maintenance of the guttering also occurred over the break. A very busy September holiday for HSHS.

I am very proud of all of the work we have achieved in the beautification of our school grounds. Seeing students enjoy these spaces both during class and at lunch is such a reward. We look forward to continuing our work in this space.

The resurfacing of the basketball courts.

Foundation Square toilets.

I hope to see many of you at our events over coming weeks as we come together to celebrate.

Yours truly
Karen Lindsay
Executive Principal
Helensvale State High School

From the Executive Team

The Executive Team look forward to celebrating with you the many events that come with this time of year. Our Year 12 students are about to embark on their external exams and finalising 13 years of study ready to set themselves up for their next steps in either further study or employment. Over the coming weeks we will be celebrating this milestone with them through our final parade, graduation and formal.

Last week was Queensland Mental Health Week, where our lunch times came to life with exciting initiatives led by our Wellbeing Team. We created awareness for mental health and gave students and staff the opportunity to engage in strategies they can use to improve their wellbeing through connectedness, a sense of belonging and physical activity – all key components of keeping well.

Friday this week will be our Carnival of Colour – weather depending! Hopefully our Year 12s can continue with this event as planned. This event is the first of its kind for HSHS so we hope it will be successful and the students are able to continue with their leadership of this, in years to come.

Our staff and students joined their Northern Collegiate peers to walk laps around the Griffith University Oval last weekend. Students were fundraising for the Cancer Council in their annual event, Relay for Life. Congratulations and thank you to all staff and students involved.

Our Junior Secondary Team are working closely with our feeder schools preparing for the next group of Year 7s in 2023, and enrolment interviews start in next week. We are very proud of our commitment to every incoming student having a personal enrolment interview to ensure that their nerves are settled and any big questions are answered.

Our Positive Behaviour for Learning focus over the past couple of weeks has been wearing our uniform with pride. The deans and deputies have been supporting teachers throughout the day to ensure students are always representing our school with pride and following the expectations around jewellery and uniform. Students need to wear full black leather footwear to school every day, they also need to wear their Helensvale socks and their Helensvale bag, and leave jewellery at home.

Students were reminded on assembly this week of the importance of road safety. There have been several incidents in the community over recent weeks involving young people and cars. Students have been reminded of dismounting from bikes before crossing the road, always wearing a helmet, only crossing the road when there is clear vision of both sides to check for oncoming traffic, and using crossings where ever possible.

HSHS Sport Awards

Sea World Convention Centre

Seaworld Drive, Main Beach
Thursday 3 November 2022
6.00pm for 6.30pm start
$30.00 per ticket award recipient
$40.00 per ticket non-award recipient
Includes 2 course meal and soft drinks
With Special Guest speaker Jessica Cashman Qld Champion Boxer
RSVP: Mona Williams at mwill477@eq.edu.au or 55738523
by Thursday 21 October 2022

Gold Coast Schools Legal Essay Awards

On the evening of 10 October 2022, SPG Lawyers were proud to co-sponsor the Gold Coast Schools Legal Essay Awards in conjunction with Griffith University Law School. SPG and Griffith University have been engaged in this undertaking since 1996. Legal Studies students from schools across the Gold Coast are invited to submit legal essays dealing with topical national and international legal issues

SPG congratulates all participants in this year’s Legal Essay competition and pays credit to the award recipients.

First Place: Adrian Townsend, Kings Christian College
Runner-up: Joshua Gomes-Luis, Kings Christian College
Runner-up: Jane Yao, Helensvale State High School

Dr Kate van Doore, Tony O’Connor and Professor Therese Wilson with Runner-up, Jane Yao of Helensvale State High School.

International – Friends for Life

Konnichi wa! International Study Tours are back in 2023! Helensvale SHS is excited to host a Japanese Study Tour from 11 to 22 February 2023. We are seeking wonderful families to host students for 11 nights. In exchange for providing the student with a room to stay in, 3 meals per day and transport to school – you will enjoy learning about a different culture and receive a payment to cover these costs. Interested? Please contact Megan on mfmar0@eq.edu.au or 55 738 587, for further information and to register your details.

Prefer to host a student for a longer period of time? We also have students who require 3, 6 or 12month placements. Please feel free to call Megan to discuss these homestay opportunities!

Honours Program

On Tuesday evening we had our first Honours Celebration Ceremony.

Helensvale State High School Honours Program began in 2019 – and our graduating Year 12 students were the first students in the Honours Program. With the aim of providing the opportunity, support and environment where our very high achieving and committed senior students can aspire to their desired goals and prepare for their Tertiary and career pathways in the 21st Century. With the vision of Honours being “One Mind Sparks, Together We Glow” – this collective belief that when our high academic students connect, collaborate, critically think and creatively problem solve together that success is inevitable.

Congratulations Honours

Speed Camera Technology in School Zones

In a world-first road safety initiative, new speed camera technology will soon target speeding drivers at selected school zones across Queensland.

Everyone has a role in keeping our roads safe. It is imperative drivers reduce their speed to the signed 40 km/h speed limit and be aware of activity by students on or near the road.

Speed cameras will only operate during school zone times at the selected schools.

Parents, and carers dropping off or picking up students are urged to comply with school zone speed limits. Those who slow down will not be penalised.

2023 Laptop Program information evening

We are conducting our 2023 Laptop Program information evening on Wednesday 2 November.

WHERE: Performing Arts Centre (entrance off Helensvale Road)

DETAILS:

4:30pm to 5:00pm* - Speak to HP and Dell reps and browse laptops available on our BYOD Vendor Portal
5:00pm to 5:30pm - School information session – details for 2023
5:30pm to 6:00pm* - Speak to HP and Dell reps and browse laptops available on our BYOD Vendor Portal

*Attend one or the other of these sessions – whatever is convenient.

PLEASE RSVP by return email to scarr25@eq.edu.au if you intend to attend this information session, indicating how many will be attending (including students).

From the Guidance Officers

P&C Meeting

Our next General Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 6pm 25 October, 2022.

At present this meeting will be held in CB07.

If anyone has any agenda items they wish to bring up at this meeting, please advise by email by no later than Thursday, 20th October, 2022.

pandc@helensvaleshs.eq.edu.au

From the Finance Office

Helensvale State High School is introducing Qkr!. Qkr! is an easy to use mobile app for iPhones and Android smartphones that makes paying for non-invoiced items easy. There are no fees if you choose to pay using Qkr!.

Parents and cares will have the flexibility to pay at a time and place that suits them. The money is transferred securely to the Schools bank account the following day.

For more information contact the friendly Finance Office staff on 5573-8569 or via email 2184_finance@eq.edu.au.

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 (https://helensvaleshs.eq.edu.au/), 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.