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Coombabah
State High School
A Community – Building Productive Partnerships & Pathways
PO Box 146
Runaway Bay QLD 4216
Phone: 07 5552 3888
Fax:
07 5552 3800
Email:
[email protected]
Web:
www.coombabashs.eq.edu.au
20th March , 2015
2015 Volume 15
15, No. 3
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
QParents
Year 7 – 9 parents should have received an email inviting them to register for QParents. We are a pilot school for this software that allows parents to
access data from our OneSchool system. Attendance, behaviour, invoices and reporting information is all available on your smartphone, tablet or
computer. If you did not receive the email invite then you will receive a paper copy in the mail next week. Full information about QParents is available on
our school website [email protected]
Writers Festival
Our inaugural Junior Writer’s Festival will be held on Tuesday March 31. We have two visiting Authors who will surely inspire all in attendance as well as
a series of workshops planned. Invitations have been sent to all of the schools in our cluster and the high schools of the Northern Collegiate to participate
and, to date, eight schools have taken up the offer - accounting for approximately 200 students. This year is a controlled trial for us, as in 2016 we plan to
open the invitation to the entire Gold Coast.
Bullying No Way
Today is ‘National Day against Bullying’. Unfortunately bullying occurs in all parts of society including schools.
The best thing you can do as a parent is let us know if it occurs to your child. That can be a tough decision as you think “I don’t want to make it worse”.
The alternative is that it won’t stop if you don’t act.
Admin Changes
With Paul Bevan’s retirement, Kristine Sleeth has been acting in this position. The position will be filled permanently by Mr Lourens Oberholzer who has
transferred from Marsden SHS. Lou is an experienced DP and will start at Coombabah after the Easter holidays.
Deputy Principal Peter Hughes is currently on leave, with Mal Attree acting in this position until Peter’s return in early May.
Chris Kern,
Principal
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Plan your work and work your plan.
Noman Vincent Peale (1898- 1993)
American writer & minister
WHAT’S ON
Tuesday
24/03/15
Parent Morning Tea 10.00am
Parent Afternoon Tea 2.00pm
Administration Common Room
Tuesday
31/03/15
School Sport Cluster 2
Wednesday
1/04/15
Yr 12 QCS Mighty Minds 8am – 1.25pm
WHAT’S ON
Thursday
2/04/15
Yr 12 QCS Mighty Minds 8am – 1.25pm
Last Day Term 1
Monday
20/04/15
First Day Term 2
Tuesday
21/04/15
School Sport Cluster 3
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SPECIAL EVENTS
VANUATU APPEAL
In the very early hours of Saturday 14th March, a very destructive Cyclone Pam hit the Pacific archipelago of our neighbouring country, Vanuatu. The
death toll continues to rise and the number of displaced persons is numbered in the thousands.
I have visited Vanuatu a number of times now – it is one of my favourite places in the world. I can honestly say I have never met such a happy bunch of
people. Two of our teachers, Matt Barber and Chris Brown, also visited Vanuatu last year. They took over boxes full of footy boots and balls, all donated
by students from our school to help support the local AFL program that is being set up by one of our ex-students. They also visited a local primary school,
handing over surf board-shaped chalk boards made by our manual arts students
Although the people of Vanuatu are very humble, surviving on just the basic necessities, they never fail to smile and appreciate the simplest of things. As
you have probably seen on the news, the country is in complete devastation.
Coombabah SHS has already formed a bond with some of the locals – it’s time to show we care again. How can we help?
Over the next week we will be collecting goods to send over to Vanuatu. Any goods collected will be dropped off at a collection point in Southport that has
been set up by a charity called ‘Give to Vanuatu’. Donations can be dropped off at the school, or you can take the goods directly to the central collection
point. Details below:
International Interiors
106-110 Queen Street, Southport.
Please contact Dominic Tam on 0434 638 88 (Drop offs only during business hours. It is advisable to phone ahead)
Here is a list of items that are urgently required:
Tarps
Ropes
Tools
School supplies
Buckets and cleaning supplies
Tinned and boxed pet food
Linen (in good condition)
Clothing
Insect repellents (non-aerosol)
Torches
Batteries
Garbage bags
Canned and non-perishable goods
Toiletries
Crockery (plastic) and utensils
Garbage bags
Supplies for babies
All items must be clean and in good working order. Please deliver the goods to N Block Staffroom to either Mrs De Roos or Ms Hingston asap
We will be accepting goods at the school up until Wednesday 25th March
Thank you so much for your support.
Mrs De Roos and Ms Hingston
Chess@Coombabah
Chess is off to a great start at Coombabah with our After School Chess gatherings proving to be very successful with
lots of students attending and learning new skills.
Students have been enjoying playing transfer chess, tournaments galore with prizes delicious afternoon teas, great fun
and learning - all in a safe, friendly environment.
We often have younger visitors, and their parents, from our local affiliated schools join us for a challenge .
If you are interested in your child attending After School Chess Club here are the details you need to know:
Where: Library
When: Mondays afterschool
Time: 3pm to 5pm
Beginners are also very welcome to join us ☺
Chess@Coombabah
Sue Kimura
Tel: 55523888
skimu4eq.edu.au
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SENIOR SECONDARY
WIN A DRIVING SCHOLARSHIP FOR YOUR TEENAGER!!
The most dangerous period for young drivers is when they get their ‘P’ plate. Young people aged 17-25 years represent 12% of the
population yet account for some 27% of motorists killed or seriously injured in road accidents.
Griffith University, Total Driver and Gold Coast schools are about to embark on a research program aimed
at trying to reduce this statistic.
We are holding a Parent information evening at Coombabah State High School and we hope that all
parents who are currently teaching, or planning to teach their teenagers to drive, will attend. We will be
outlining the 10 steps required to guide parents through the challenges of teaching teenagers!
Come along and you will be in the draw to win a driving scholarship to teach your teenager to drive.
WHEN ? :
Tuesday March 24 5.30pm-6.30pm
WHERE ? :
Coombabah SHS Library
WHO ? :
Parents of Year 11 and 12 students who are in the process of obtaining their Learner’s Licence or already learning to
drive.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
MOBILE BLOOD VAN RETURNS TO COOMBABAH
This year the Year 12 cohort aims to make links and valuable contributions to the wider community and an easy way do this was to give blood when the
mobile blood van parked outside our school again this year.
One in three Australians will need blood at some time in their lives yet only one in thirty donates, so it is hoped that students who give blood in their school
years will go on to make regular donations as adults.
Most of the students donated for the first time and although some found the idea daunting, one student said that the process ‘wasn’t as scary as she had
thought’ and that she felt ‘quite calm and chilled lying there’ as her blood was taken!
The student s are to be commended for their thoughtful act and hopefully their decision will inspire more of their peers to donate blood in the future. Well
done also the staff members who gave up their time between classes to participate.
Kylie Dickinson
Year 12 Coordinator
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MOBILE BLOOD VAN RETURNS TO COOMBABAH
JUNIOR SECONDARY
As we approach the end of Term 1, this is certainly an extremely hectic time for both students and staff. Students have been engaged in various forms of
assessment in their subjects, and teachers have been furiously marking these assessments.
Mid-Semester Reports and Parent-Teacher Interviews
Teachers are currently completing mid-semester reports, which will be issued in Week 10. These reports will indicate progress grades for
achievement, effort and behaviour, but will not include teacher comments. A more detailed report on students’ achievement will be provided in
end of semester reports. Formal parent-teacher interviews will take place in the second week of Term 2, providing a valuable opportunity for
teachers, parents and students to discuss the child’s progress, identify strengths, and develop strategies for improvement. I strongly
encourage parents (and students) to make whatever arrangements are possible to attend these meetings with teachers, even if interviews are
not specifically requested.
It is highly recognised that parent engagement is a key factor in the enhancement of student achievement and well-being. Student achievement improves
when parents play an active role in their child's education, and that good schools become even better schools when parents are more involved. Mums and
Dads don’t have to know everything about the curriculum; simply showing an active interest in what children are doing at school and asking them
questions about how things are going can make a big difference.
Visit the Australian Government Department of Education’s new Parent Engagement in Learning webpage for more tips and information to help you get
involved in your child’s learning.
Habits for Success
Following on from my previous references to attendance, time management, effort and persistence as key factors influencing student success, this time I
will focus on two other qualities/strategies which are also very important – motivation and goal-setting. The following excerpt from an article by Dr Andrew
Martin and Dr Danielle Tracey, summarises the concept of motivation very well:
“A motivated student is one who has the energy and drive to learn, work effectively and achieve at school. Motivation plays a key role in a
student’s interest, engagement and enjoyment in school and associated tasks such as homework and study. Motivation also underpins a
student’s achievement. As they move through their school years, very few students can succeed on sheer talent alone. Success also takes
drive and commitment. When students are motivated they tend to get better marks at school, work more effectively on difficult schoolwork,
make the most of their abilities, behave well and enjoy school. On the other hand, if a student is not motivated to learn, they may become
disruptive, apply minimal effort and as a result are more likely to perform poorly. In more extreme cases a lack of interest and achievement
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may lead to truancy and dropping out of school. Moreover, the journey through school may not be a particularly happy one”.
http://www.learninglinks.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/LLIS-19_Motivating.pdf
Closely associated with being motivated to achieve, is the need to have some goals. Reflecting on previous performances by thinking about the reasons
for success or failure, then setting goals/targets for improved performance, is an important thing to do for anyone who wants to achieve, whether it be in
business, sports or education. Students need to be realistic about what is achievable in terms of achieving higher academic results, and then put in place
some strategies to help them on the path to success.
Bullying No Way!
Throughout this week we have been focussing on providing students with anti-bullying messages in morning notices and showing video clips on year level
assemblies. Our activities culminated with a morning tea and student role play on Friday, which was the 5th Annual National Day of Action against Bullying
and Violence. We frequently remind students that bullying, harassment and violence towards others is not okay, and encourage them to take a stand by
speaking out against such antisocial behaviours. A big thanks to Ms Sue Kimura (Year 9 Coordinator) and some of the Year 9 students, for their initiative
in putting up posters around the school, and for organising the morning tea and role play presentation.
More information about what bullying is, and what sorts of strategies work to deal with it, can be found on the Bullying No Way! website.
Please Join us for
Morning or Afternoon Tea
We would like to extend an invitation to Morning or Afternoon Tea on Tuesday 24 March to parents, guardians and carers of Year 7 and Year 8 students.
This is an opportunity to share with us how your child’s transition to high school is going from your perspective, and for us to share with you how the new
Year 7s and Year 8s are settling in. It is also an opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
Morning tea will be held at 10.00am and afternoon tea at 2.00pm in the Administration Common Room. It is quite informal, however an RSVP to
[email protected] will help us with catering for the event. We hope to see you on Tuesday.
Mal Attree
Director of Junior Secondary
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FROM THE P & C
Annual General Meeting 9th March 2015
Our Annual General Meeting (A.G.M.) was held immediately after the General Meeting, I am pleased to advise you that the positions for the Coombabah
State High School P & C Executive for 2015 are as follows:
President - Pania Crawford
Vice-Presidents – Patricia Campbell & Vicky Albert
Secretary - Shirley Nichol
Treasurer - Gale Hillier
Please feel free to come along to our next meeting on Monday the 27th of April 2015 in the Administration Common Room at 4.00pm.
If you are interested in finding out what happens at Coombabah High please feel free to attend our monthly meetings. One of the interesting items at our
meetings is when Mr Kern, the Principal, updates us on what’s happening at our school through his Principal’s Report. This includes events, news
items/updates, facilities & what’s coming up within the school as well as a ‘to do list in the next 4 weeks’.
For any questions regarding P & C activities please email [email protected] or call myself, Monday – Friday, on 5552 3888, 8.30am 3.00pm.
Cheers,
☺
Patricia Campbell,
P & C Vice President.
ADMINISTRATION
ABSENCES – SMS MESSAGING
Parents are required to notify the school by SMS message to advise us of student absences.
•
•
•
SMS Messages can be sent to 0428 431 926 either by replying to the Attendance Alert or direct to the
number.
Messages should be sent by 8.15 am on the day of the absence.
In your message please include the date, student name, form class and reason for absence.
SMS Attendance Alerts go out daily after attendance has been marked in the morning roll class and entries
entered into the system. Please continue to query the message if you believe there may be an error, or
advise us if you believe your student should be at school.
If you have not received any SMS messages (and your student has had absences), please contact the
office so that we can check your mobile phone details to ensure we have a correct number for you in our
records.
The 24 hour absence hotline will no longer be used.
If you do not have a mobile phone, please call the school office after 8.00 am.
If you need to speak to us regarding a lengthy absence from school, please call the school office.
Your ongoing assistance with notifying us of your child’s absence is appreciated.
Coombabah State High
School
Student Absentee SMS
0428 431 926
by 8.15 daily
Include Student Name, Year,
Form class and reason for
absence.
E.g. Sam Jones Yr 8A
sick today
Jim Kenny,
Business Services Manager.
USING INTERNET BANKING TO PAY SCHOOL FEES
Please remember to use only your student name and reason for payment. PLEASE DO NOT USE PARENT NAME or STUDENT EQ NUMBER
It is extremely important that payments match the correct student.
If paying for an excursion, please state which excursion or the Department responsible ie. Art, Humanities, Science etc.
Bank details are as follows:
COMMONWEALTH BANK
BSB: 064 430
A/C No: 0009 1203
The Cashier Office remains open for all EFTPOS, cash & cheque transactions as usual. Hours are; Mon-Thurs 8.00am-12.00noon
Please note:
The Cashiers office is closed for collections on Fridays.
Payments can be made at anytime through internet banking
Jim Kenny,
Business Services Manager.
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CHANGE OF ADDRESS / PHONE NUMBER.
Have you moved house or changed jobs recently?
Do you have a new phone number as a result?
Are you new to the school or need to update your details?
If you answered ‘Yes’ to any of the above questions we would appreciate either a phone call, email to [email protected] or a note dropped
into the office with your current details.
It is really important that we have up-to-date information in case of emergency situations, sick children or the staff need to contact you.
Mrs. Campbell, Mrs Bowen & Mrs. Schmidt,
Administration.
STUDENT SUPPORT HUB
STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM
Guidance Counsellor:
Glenda Musgrave – Mon-Fri Ph:55523858 Email: [email protected]
Industry Liaison Officer:
Louise Peters – Mon-Thurs Ph: 55523815 Email: [email protected]
Indigenous Support Officer:
Vicki Campbell – Wed-Thurs & every 2nd Fri Ph: 55523818 Email:
[email protected]
School Based Youth Health Nurse:
Suzie Koenig – Mon-Tues Ph: 55523818 Email: [email protected]
School Chaplin:
John Catterall – Wed-Fri Ph: 55523853 Email: [email protected]
Youth Support Co-ordinator
Mandy Pickett – Wed-Frid Ph:5552 3853 Email: [email protected]
FROM THE GUIDANCE OFFICER
FAMILY SQUABBLES
Parents often worry about brothers and sisters quarrelling. A certain amount of quarrelling is normal for children in families. It is one of the ways that they
learn how to get on with other people. Quarrelling can be positive. Sometimes, however, you will need to step in when tempers
become frayed and you can see that things are getting out of control.
What causes quarrelling?
Learning to get on with others
Arguments between brothers and sisters are one of the ways that children learn to respect other people’s belongings and
feelings. It is one of the ways children learn to solve problems. Learning to argue fairly and without hurting each other will
help them get on with others.
Parents’ attention
Children in families also fight about parents’ love and attention. To children love means time and attention. Young children do require more attention, but
allocating time to an older child is just as important and will make for better relationships all round.
Health
When feeling unwell, resistance can be low for coping with adversity. We may be more sensitive to comments and less able to manage our own emotions.
What parents can do
Here are some steps you can take to help lessen quarrels.
•
Protect the needs of each child, for example prevent older children’s activities from being interfered with by younger children and vice versa.
•
Spend special time with each child on a regular basis.
•
Allow each child to own some special things of their own that they don’t have to share. For younger children, see that there are more than one
of the same toys, such as matchbox cars, so that they can play together without having to share. Two second hand bicycles are often better fun
than one new one that has to be shared. If you have three children make sure that the same one is not left out every time.
•
Invite other children over – children learn social skills through exposure and practise
•
Children need their own bit of space which will not be interfered with by others, even if it is only a drawer.
•
Try not to compare children with each other - this always leads to bad feelings.
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Be generous with hugs and affection to all your children –even the teenager that appears to pull away – deep down they love the contact.
•
Make ground rules. Get your children to help you make some rules about what behaviour is not allowed in your home, for example name
calling or hitting = being respectful. Then if you have to step in, you do so because someone has broken a rule, not to take sides.
•
When you can see that children are feeling upset, help them to find ways to express their feelings by talking about feelings. For young children
play that helps with feelings includes water play, painting and playdough. For older children and adolescents it may be something like going for
a run or playing their music, and especially opportunity to talk and problem solve themselves.
•
Maintain good health - Healthy, active children may exhibit greater tolerance / resilience and manage their emotions more appropriately when
needed
Children need adults to teach them how to solve problems, and while squabbles may be annoying and stressful they also may
be the means of teaching resilience as well as developing skills for managing relationships throughout our lives.
Adapted from `Parenting SA’,
Government of South Australia
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FROM THE DEPARTMENTS
ENTERPRISE
Liz Bailey,
Head of Department – Enterprise.
Coombabah State High School
Little Munchkins Playgroup
Wednesdays 8.45am – 10.45am
Every 2nd Wednesday, except school Holidays
Contact: Mrs Bailey (HOD Enterprise Department)
PH: (07) 55523835
Email: [email protected]
(Please call the day before if you wish for your child to attend)
HPE & SPORT
SPORT & EXERCISE SCIENCE CAMP
Student’s in the Year 7, 8 and 9 Sport and Exercise Science classes participated in a
three day camp at the Runaway Bay Super Sports Centre last week.
The students were able to apply exercise science principles to a range of challenging
activities including spin classes, self-defence, sailing, stand up paddle boarding, just to
name a few.
Students were able to use state of the art testing equipment and not only had access to
the great facilities at the super centre, but also the professional staff. As well as
lectures on nutrition and expectations of elite performers, students were also able to
rub shoulders with athletes such as the PNG national boxing team and the German
national triathlon team that were sharing the campus.
Whilst all students showed exemplary effort and behaviour, special mentions go to
Mitchell Pryor, Emma Hashfield, Jake Schofield, Aria O’Brien, Jade Dickfos and Aidan
Dobosch who were Campers Of The Week.
TOP TIP FROM THE CAMP - Put some colour on your plate.
Mick Halsall
Head of Department - HPE
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INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY & DESIGN
NEW LASER!
Staff and students are very excited with the latest purchase of
emerging technology for our ITD department – a LASER
cutter/engraver!
This is quite a large machine that allows students to take designs
from a computer and engrave or cut them out on a variety of
materials such as plastics, glass and timber.
The Year 8 ITD classes will be using both our CNC router and laser to develop their understanding of CAD (computer aided design) / CAM (computer
aided manufacturing) process, while constructing an edge-lit sign. Graphics classes will soon begin designing their own unique clocks which will then be
laser cut/engraved and our other ITD workshop classes will investigate other ways to incorporate this technology through cutting timber veneer inlays and
engraving on their projects.
Construction classes have been very busy:Mr. Brown’s classes building a new office in the Staff Common room after dismantling an existing kitchen and are now looking into ripping out and
replacing the HPE staff kitchen next
Mr. Hunt’s classes have put the final touches on their landscaping project outside the Art block
Mr. Mackey’s classes have been trying their hands at plastering and tiling and are now designing pergola’s with a prototype going up in the
construction compound in the coming months
My class have been preparing for a large concrete pour which is joining two existing slabs together to form a large outdoor area to allow future
classes to work on flat ground and to also provide more working spaces in general. The concrete should be poured in the next few weeks and the
boys can’t wait!
Mika Heinemann
Head of Department – Industrial Technology & Design.
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MATHS
FUN WITH MATHS
Last week, students from Years 7,8 and 9 enjoyed participating in a 'Fun with Maths' guided discovery lesson. Thirty highly interactive, hands on activities
were set up in the library for students to select from.
The activities posed open ended questions encouraging students to creatively and logically think, and to apply mathematics to the physical world.
Students worked enthusiastically and collaboratively to solve each problem. The library was filled with excited discussion and the expectation of the next
activity. Maths is definitely lots of fun.
Zoe Schalch
Director of Teaching & Learning
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