1 April 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

As this term draws to a close it is timely to remind all families of the need to keep your contact details up to date. Interim Reports will be emailed to all families on the last day of this term, April 5. Please contact the office if you wish to change your contact details.

Friday, March 15 saw a number of significant events happening in the school aside from exams, assignments and reporting. The annual Shave for a Cure day was held and I would like to note the efforts of year ten student, Declan who individually raised over $800 for the cause. As well as this, student legs were waxed and some had their hair coloured to raise funds. It was great to see the commitment to continue the fight against Leukemia in the school.

Friday, March 15 was also the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. Earlier in the week, during our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) lesson, senior students visited the year seven classrooms and spoke to the younger students about “What is Bullying”, “What can you do about Bullying in an appropriate way?

The clear message that came from these discussions was that violence is not acceptable and that the students themselves are the key. As witnesses and by standers, they need to “STAND UP” and “SPEAK UP” to ensure that our school is safe and enjoyable for all. As such all students in years eight to twelve were reminded of the pledge they signed last year. They were asked to sign a pledge board to act against Bullying and Violence.

Can I thank all those parents and students supporting the school’s dress code. Unfortunately, there are a number of students who are not adhering to the agreed standards. Key areas that parents can follow up with their children are around black socks, high cut boots and nose rings. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Feedback

As part of the process for gathering feedback, we will be asking parents to respond to one or two questions in newsletters at various times throughout the year to gain information about various areas of the school. Responses are anonymous and will be similar to the School Opinion Survey completed later in the year. Again please take the opportunity to respond to these questions so that we are able to identify areas of school improvement.

This month’s statement that we are seeking comment on is -

In the 2018 School Opinion Survey, parents indicated that they would like more input into the school. Please briefly outline how you believe this could improve and in what areas would parents like to have greater input.

Use of Educational Websites for Learning

The use of web based educational resources has risen steadily over the last decade and are increasingly being used by teachers across Queensland to improve student learning outcomes. Our school and teachers make decisions about the best technology to meet the needs of our students. Sometimes it is beneficial for students to utilise services provided by third party web based providers. Beerwah State High School has compiled a list of third party web based service providers to aid students learning. The most current list of third party web based service providers can be found on our school website. We need your permission for the registration and use of these services by your student. Please complete the consent form and return to the front office. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the school.

Finally, the end of term one is also the date that the school asks that all families to have either paid or have established a payment plan for the School Resource Scheme and Subject fees. Letters have been sent to all families outlining the procedures for the payment of these fees and we ask that you commit to these as soon as possible. Without these funds the school and subject areas can become restricted in what can be offered to students. Unfortunately, where subject fees are not paid, alternative learning opportunities may be offered to students. If you have concerns or any questions please contact the school administration.

We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable vacation and remind everyone that school resumes on Tuesday, April 23.

Glen Robinson
Principal

Reboot

Applications for positions of Junior and Senior Student Leaders

At the end of the term interested year eight and year eleven students are able to collect a nomination package so they can start the process of nominating for official school leadership positions. A large number of year eight and eleven students have already expressed an interest in leadership and they attended a workshop on March 5 led by Darren Pereira from Success Integrated. The workshop focused on identifying leadership traits and getting students to identify which traits they felt they had already and what areas they might like to develop. Students also discussed the importance of leading a team and how they would be able to get fellow students on board so that all were working to make Beerwah State High School the best place it could be. Feedback from students indicated they thought the workshop was both interesting and very helpful. Interview skills were also discussed along with the importance of having a plan and having the means and ability to put it into action.

The following table indicates what leadership positions may be on offer for 2019-2020.

I would encourage students to think about nominating for a school leadership positon. It is a great way to develop your communication and teamwork skills and to make a difference within the school community. Application packages will be made available to students in the last week of this term.

Tanya Hayden
Deputy Principal

Parent – Student – Teacher meetings

Term 1 interim report cards will be emailed home to parents during the last week of Term 1 or where necessary they will be posted. These reports provide information on student achievement, classroom effort and behaviour. It is an important time to reflect on student progress and assess how we can work together to achieve better outcomes for our students.

To book a parent – student - teacher meeting please log on to the link below and enter the Beerwah SHS event code t9egb (all letters are lower case) in the green box. Enter your details and your student details and click GO. Select the subjects and teacher you wish to meet with and click GO. Please only make a booking with your child’s teacher/s. Select times that suit with each teacher and click GO. Print your timetable or just click finish and you will have an email sent to you confirming your times. Parent teacher meetings are 10 minutes in length and it is essential that the student be present for the meeting.

Bookings will open on Friday 5th April and will be closed at 12 noon on Wednesday 1st May. As teachers get booked for the evening it may become difficult to get your desired booking times, so please log on at your earliest convenience to select your bookings.

Unfortunately we have some staff absent due to leave and other commitments. If you wish to make contact with any of the teachers not listed on the website via the link below, you may call the school administration office after the 23rd April to organise a time to discuss any issues.

If you are unable to access the internet and would like to make a booking please contact the school Administration office on 5436 5333 and our staff will assist in making a booking for you.

Regards

Tanya Hayden
Deputy Principal

Glen Robinson
Principal

Camp Borneo Jungle School Expedition

Borneo here we come – Easter 2020

“The opportunity to travel overseas is here! We have teamed up with Camps International to give our students an amazing experience on the wonderful island of Borneo, in South East Asia.

Camps International operates across four continents and shares a common goal: solving global problems on a local scale. They have embedded themselves at the heart of local communities. They are part of their culture, and as a result, get to work with some of the most interesting, exciting and innovative people, cultures and environments. Above all, they are impact. With Camps International, you can rest assure that a school trip benefits more than just your child. Join us and together we can be part of the solution, in Borneo.

This will be an amazing experience for you combining travel with meaningful impact, volunteering project work and cultural exchange. Whilst on expedition, you’ll take an impressive commute to life-changing project work as you jump on board a boat and set off down the Kinabatangan River, spotting wildlife along the banks, assist at local schools, reading books or playing sports and simply getting involved with the local communities. It’s not just project work either, an adventure awaits!

You’ll embark on a 4-5 day trek through the jungle, surrounded by exotic wildlife, sleeping in hammocks beneath a jungle canopy, sleeping in one of the world’s most stunning natural gardens. An expedition to Borneo wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the world-renowned Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary where you’ll be introduced to orphaned and injured Orangutans before they’re released back into the wild. This will certainly be an experience you will never forget.

We welcomed Queensland representative, Sheriece, from Camps International who presented this amazing opportunity to families at the Parents Presentation Evening on Thursday, March 28.

School Fees

A reminder that subject/elective fees are due in full by end of term one (Friday, April 5). Student Resource Scheme should by now have been paid in full unless an arrangement has been made and signed off by Administration for a payment plan.

Families who are experiencing financial difficulties in making payments connected with this scheme are invited to telephone the school and speak to the Deputy Principal so that an appropriate response to the difficulty can be addressed.

Those on existing administration approved payment plans are required to abide by the agreement and ensure regular payments are made and the agreement adhered to.

Parents/carers who do not wish to participate in the Student Resource Scheme must contact the school and make an appointment with the school Principal as soon as possible to discuss student requirements.

Linda Alberts
Teacher Aide Cash Collection

Senior School News

“My QCE” QCAA – Student Website

Students in year eleven will have access to the QCE tracking application and their results on the “My QCE” website from term three, 2019. This section will require a login and password to access their Learning Account. This application replaces the Student Connect website. (Current year twelve students will continue to use Student Connect.)

At present the “My QCE” website is the students (and caregivers) gateway to the new QCE system. It contains information tabs including “Your QCE pathway”, “Subjects and courses”, “Assessment and results” and “Study tips”

Please check it out at the link below:

Academic Integrity

The QCAA (Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority) has developed an Academic Integrity Course to assist students in identifying possible behaviours and actions that could lead to academic misconduct on assessment tasks. Students in years eleven and twelve have been given the opportunity to complete this course during Life Skills lessons at the beginning of term.

The QCAA also recommends that parents and caregivers become familiar with the contents of the course so as to better support their children’s understanding of Academic Integrity.

The course can be found on the “MyQCE” website located at the link below:

Academic integrity is applying the principles of integrity to academic responsibilities and approaching them in an honest, moral and ethical way.

General, Applied Essential and Applied Subjects

Senior School courses of study for the categories of subjects listed above are based on syllabi written by the QCAA. The syllabi are available to the public and can be viewed at the link below:

The subjects that are offered at Beerwah State High School for 2019 are found in the Senior Curriculum Book located at the link below:

The information supplied in both of the above resources should provide you with useful information when discussing subject choices, subject changes and career pathways.

USI (Unique Student Identifier)

Year ten and eleven students should now possess a USI and this Vocational Education and Training (VET) identifier should now be provided to the school.

Creating a USI is easy. Simply go to the link below and follow the prompts. You will need to use a form of ID with the student’s name on it like a Medicare Card or a Birth Certificate. It is advisable to use a personal email account and not the student’s school email account due to it becoming inactive once they graduate or leave school.

Student Council

The Student Council held a Youth Clean Up Day on Wednesday, March 6. This event saw over thirty students participate and collect rubbish from all areas of the school grounds. It was great to see so many students involved.

On Friday, March 15, a World’s Greatest Shave event was hosted by the Student Council. Heads were shaved and coloured and legs were waxed to fundraise money for the Leukaemia Foundation.

Leanne Young
Head of Senior School

Future Pathways

It has been an extremely busy start to the term with many students starting alternative programs, putting together resumes and seeking information about pathway options including school based traineeships and apprenticeships, Distance Education, TAFE courses and other certificate studies.

School based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs)

A number of students from year ten, eleven and twelve have applied for SATs, progressed through interviews and work experience and have been offered traineeship or apprenticeship positions. Some students, like one of our newest trainees, have been able to turn existing part time positions into school based traineeships or seek out their own prospects by networking with family and friends. If you would like to take up a great opportunity allowing you to combine training with paid work in a real job; gain QCE points and continue full time school studies while earning a part time wage, then see me for further information.

Congratulations to new trainee –

Bronte – Certificate III Companion Animal Services

Four other students in year ten and eleven have received offers of school based traineeships or apprenticeships. Nearly all of these have been sourced by the students themselves which shows great initiative and motivation – two qualities that employers like to see.

New SAT opportunities for senior students are advertised via school notices, on year level parades and on the noticeboards. Recent opportunities include retail and hospitality traineeships with local Beerwah employers.

New clarification of paid work hours

As from February 11, 2019 the department has confirmed that a trainee must have completed a minimum of three hundred and seventy five hours (fifty days) of paid employment for each twelve months of the full-time equivalent nominal term before the traineeship can be completed. This means that a two year nominal term traineeship such as Certificate III Hospitality now requires one hundred days or seven hundred and fifty hours of paid work before it can be deemed eligible for completion. The implications of this are that a student who commences a traineeship at the beginning of year twelve would need to complete the qualification and one hundred days of paid work before graduation. This clarification only applies to traineeships.

CERTIFICATE COURSES

Dual Cert II Salon assistant & Cert II Retail Cosmetics

The dual course commenced on Thursday, March 14 and saw our trainees complete two theory units. Our trainees were punctual, respectful and mature in their approach to studies and they also looked professional in their salon wear. The coming weeks will see the fifteen trainees complete a mix of theory and practical tasks. This is the third year we have offered this program which provides students with the foundation skills and knowledge in hairdressing tasks, communication techniques and product knowledge. Potential career outcomes include salon assistant, sales person, make-up artist and a lead into apprenticeships.

Note on funding:

Like other Certificate II offerings, this is a VETiS funded course – that is no cost to eligible students. To be eligible for VETiS courses students are not currently enrolled in another VETiS course or have not previously accessed VETiS funding through certificate course study. Cert II Hospitality and Cert II Sport & Recreation/Cert III Fitness are examples of VETIS courses offered at Beerwah High.

School to Work Transition Programs – GenR8 and AllevE8

Two year twelve students, Banjo and Marissa have commenced training in their programs (Cert II Logistics and Cert II Health Support Services). Marissa’s training component is delivered by TAFE Qld at the facilities at the Sunshine Coast Health Institute. Both students will be participating in work placement later in the year.

Here’s what Marissa has to say about the program:

The 2019 AllevE8 Program is an outside of school experience that prepares students, such as myself to develop useful skills that sets you up for future employment. The program that I am currently taking part in includes formal training and practical work of approximately fourteen days. I travel every Thursday to the Kawana Hospital to join a class of other students who have a passion for helping others. The allevE8 Program is a Certificate II in Health Support Services. It is an excellent way to meet new people and join in on fun activities that not only gives you a maximum of six QCE points. This course allows you to learn how to make beds for patients, shower patients, help them in and out of beds, and learn the stages of infection control and many other health related conditions such as mental illnesses, surgeries and emergency procedures. Many students are extremely grateful for this program and the skills it is providing for us. My fellow classmates say they are learning so many new life skills and that there are no regrets whatsoever in joining the 2019 AllevE8 Program.

WHITE CARD INDUCTION DAY

From February 2019, training for the white card must be undertaken face to face in Queensland. This means that on line training is no longer available to students wanting to gain their general construction induction card. The White Card is an industry requirement for entering work sites for work experience or paid work.

To assist students who are considering a trade pathway and/or work experience we are holding an induction training day on April 4, 2019. This is for non-construction students in year ten, eleven and twelve. Students will be instructed by Senior Construction teachers in the unit of competency CPCCWHS1001 Prepare to Work Safely in the Building & Construction Industry. Places for the day filled quickly as students have recognised the importance of this training.

Group Interview experience

Recently twelve students in year eleven and twelve took part in a group interview experience conducted by the manager and assistant manager of Target Beerwah. The session was run on a Thursday afternoon (the student’s flexible learning day) and all the applicants arrived on time and in appropriate interview attire.

This was a very worthwhile experience for students, many of whom had never be through an interview before. The session included group activities such as introductions, selling products, scenario challenges and setting up displays as well as a five minute one on one interview. Students were able to display communication skills, problem solving and team work. Several students were successful in securing positions with the employer.

Congratulations to all involved.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Work experience is a great opportunity for students to learn about a job or industry first hand where they can participate in on the job tasks and develop some valuable skills. It allows experience to be gained in a variety of work areas and can build on existing capabilities. It is often a great way to obtain references as well as enhance employability by showing motivation, reliability and a positive attitude.

School students are able to participate in up to thirty days work experience or structured workplace learning in any twelve months and a simple work placement agreement can be completed through the school for insurance cover. Employers may have special requirements, for example a dress code or WHS requirements. In construction and trades a Construction White Card is an industry requirement.

Work experience is student initiated and a good way to seek a placement is to put together a resume and start networking. Talking to family, friends and neighbours is a good place to start as is speaking to people met through sporting clubs and gyms.

Future programs and events:

TAFE Qld – Skills Tech Open Day – Acacia Ridge campus. Tuesday, June 6 2019 10am – 2pm

What you can expect on the day:

• Try'a Trade activities*
• Speed career counsellor sessions
• Apprenticeship and course information
• Automotive Show and Shine
• Trade workshop tours
• Free food stalls, entertainment and prizes
• Tool stalls and demonstrations.

Register on line

Mainfreight logistics industry career morning – Wednesday 21st August 2019 9am – 12pm

20 Distribution Street, Larapinta 4110

Mainfreight are one of the largest transport and logistic companies in the world. Year 10 -12 students invited to attend a career day which will include a site tour, guest speakers and questions and answer session. Find out more about transport and logistics as a pathway.

Register online at the link below

Helen Forrest
Industry Liason Officer

Academic & Cultural Cup

Beerwah High 2019 Spelling Bee

‘Year seven have their first taste of how Beerwah High does things a little differently, with a Spelling Bee that’s like no other!’

As this newsletter goes to print, the MU06 court is being swept, the chairs are being stacked, the spelling word generator has been restrung and the lines have been re-whitened in preparation for the final three year level spelling bee tennis tournaments that are now on our doorstep. This year the Beerwah State High School Spelling Bee Tennis Championships have been brought forward, taking place in the beautiful autumn months, freeing up some space for some exciting new competitions that are in the pipeline for later in the year.

The fifth annual Beerwah State High School Spelling Bee Tennis Championships started with a hugely successful tournament with more than 20% of the year seven cohort accepting the challenge to venture into the unknown this year. They embraced the opportunity to play in an alternative take on the more traditionally-styled spelling bee. Some were a little concerned that they may need their tennis racket and sweat bands before the tournament started, but their fears dissolved upon entering the MU06 court.

Emphasis is placed on fun and friendly competition, rather than the usual Spelling Bee stress of striving for perfection individually where one mistake can spell disaster. In our revolutionary competition, a misspelled word merely drops one point in a tennis rally. Students battle in teams of three to five, spelling their way through the best of three-game tennis matches in a knockout tournament until the eventual champions of each grade are crowned. Some hard fought matches can last more than an hour!

Tactics play a large part in each game, with teams agonising over the appropriate time to use their tactical cards. The speller can use a ‘team play’ card which allows teammates to assist the speller with a troublesome word. A ‘reserve’ card provides the speller with an alternative word at the same difficulty level and a ‘count-me-in’ card advises the speller of the number of letters within the word. These cards add a level of strategy and excitement that Beerwah High students have come to love in our annual tournament.

The excitement and thrill of competition resulted in a very boisterous and enthusiastic centre court on the March 13 when thirty-two wide-eyed and enthusiastic year seven students rocked up to MU06. The tournament was a heart-warming display of fair play, complete engagement and all-round sportsmanship. The collage of groans, giggles, laughter, screams of delight, excited banter and roars of success were testament to the flourishing academic culture that is widely evident at Beerwah High. It was heart-warming to see so many smiling students shaking hands without prompting after completed matches, congratulating each other on a well-played and very exciting match. Several students who had their tournament ended early with a loss in the knockout competition were heard lamenting over the sudden ending of the exciting experience. This is a significant sign that we have something very special at Beerwah High with our one-of-a-kind spelling bee format. There are exciting times ahead for the lucky Beerwah High students who are embracing opportunities - that may be slightly outside their comfort zones - leading to unexpected enjoyment and memorable experiences.

Dates for the upcoming tournaments are listed below. There is also a link to the Year 7 playoff tree with accompanying photos. Subsequent tournament playoff trees and photos will be provided in upcoming monthly newsletters.

BSHS 2019 Year 7 Spelling Bee Grand Champions

For more photos and the tournament results for year 7, please click on the below button.

Peter Voight
Academic and Cultural Cup Coordinator/Teacher Aide –Learning Support

Year 12 Biology

This term in year twelve Biology, the students have been learning about the nervous and endocrine systems, and how these systems control functions within the body to maintain homeostasis. A few of the students volunteered to dissect a kidney and were fascinated by the structures that the dissection revealed. All of the students present increased their knowledge and understanding of the structures contained within the kidney, and their role in maintaining water balance within the body.

Emma Liesegang
Science Teacher