28 June 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

With the end of term upon us I would like to again take the opportunity to congratulate all the students who have achieved their “Personal Best” this term. Whether that be academic achievements, in Cultural activities or on the sporting fields. Congratulations to you, your family and your teachers. It is through these productive partnerships that high standards are achieved.

SCHOOL LEADERS 2019/20

The process for the selection of our school leaders for 2019/20 has been completed and I am pleased to announce the successful candidates.

Senior School Captains – Breanne Howden, James Poole and Amelia Robinson
Student Council President – Natalie Ross
Student Council Vice President – Ruby Wilkes
School Dance Captains – Ashleigh McIntyre and Gabby Shaw
Senior School Indigenous Leader – Aida Keller-Stonehill
Junior School Captains – Lexie Appelman, Tara Weston, Riley Ferguson and Poppy Taylor
Junior School Indigenous Leader – Aisha Bligh

There are however some positions that have not been finalised. These will be done in the coming days. Congratulations to all. I am looking forward working with all of our leaders to ensure that we provide the best opportunities to all students at Beerwah SHS.

School Review

On July 15-17, we will be undertaking a whole of school review. These reviews take place every four years and are conducted by the School Improvement Unit. They will look at all aspects of the school and provide commendations and recommendations for the development of schools next Strategic Plan.

Reports

End of Semester report cards will be emailed to all families at the end of this week. If you have not receive this email on Friday, please contact the office administration when school commences on July 15 to ensure we have your latest email address. You can also access reports by QParents.

Finance

Parents/ Care givers are reminded that all fees for 2019 need to have been paid or that an active payment plan is in plan. Unfortunately, there is still significant amount outstanding for 2019 and the school has been contacting families

Please assist the school in making timely payments so as to support the educational programs that we offer. If families need support in this area please contact the school administration.

In the coming weeks, students in Years Eight, Nine and Ten will be asked to make some choices around subject selections for 2020. Where there are outstanding accounts, some subject choices may be limited. We will be emailing home statements this week. If you do not receive yours please check your email details with our front office.

Uniform

Unfortunately the arrival of our next shipment for the school jacket has taken longer than we anticipated. It appears as though some students are taking advantage of the delay in the jacket to wear non-uniform jackets.

It is timely then to clarify our Dress Code and our expectations. There should be no students in non-school jumpers without a pass issued through the office. If a student presents at school without the correct uniform or a uniform pass, they will be issued with a detention. Please help us in ensuring that our students are seen by the school community in the best light and this starts with them wearing the correct uniform.

Glen Robinson
Principal

Deputy Principal’s Update

Wow, what a fabulous Term two we have had at Beerwah SHS. Thank you to the students, parents and staff that make Beerwah SHS a great school. We are all looking forward to a busy, productive and exciting term in Term three. Here are some dates to remember.

DATES TO REMEMBER

We thank our students and parents for supporting us with adhering to the uniform policy and specifically the jewellery policy. We do not allow nose rings and students with piercings to the nose are requested to wear nose studs only.

Happy holidays to all our students, staff and parents, we wish you a safe and happy holiday with your families.

Samantha Burchall
Acting Deputy Principal

Hosting of International Students

Have you have ever considered hosting an international student?

Homestay is a valuable opportunity for international students to experience the Australian lifestyle and practise their English language skills in a real home setting. As a homestay host you contribute to the positive memories our international students have of their studies in Queensland. Successful hosts form cultural links and friendships with students and their families all over the world.

Your primary responsibility will be to provide visiting students with a safe, welcoming and friendly home. It is particularly important that you treat students as valued members of your household. In return, they are expected to show you and your family respect, courtesy and consideration.

Host families are remunerated for the cost of hosting a student, and this payment is tax free. It is a rewarding experience, and can form life-long bonds with the student and their family.

We are currently seeking expressions of interest for long-term (three – twelve months) and short term (one – three week Study Tours) home stay. Please contact Tia Law, in the front office, if you would like more information.

Tia Law
Administration Officer

Student Achievement

During the Easter school holidays, Year Nine student Thomas Robins represented Queensland in the The Kevin Coombes Cup, which is the National Under 23’s Wheelchair Basketball Tournament.

There were three teams from Queensland as well as teams from New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. Teams consisted of first time players like Thomas, to International players. This meant that the new players we able to gain valuable knowledge and skills from the experienced players. The Queensland teams placed fifth and sixth and also won a silver medal.

Players worked as a team off the court as well and were involved in various jobs like washing the uniforms. As it was an international competition players were randomly tested for steroids.

Thomas really enjoyed representing Queensland and is looking forward to many more years of playing basketball for his state.

Rumalie Buchanan
Parent

Future Pathways

School based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs)

There have been some new traineeships signed up in recent weeks including one with Mooloolah Valley Country Club. Congratulations to Year Ten student Jordyn who was able to turn her existing part time job into a school based hospitality traineeship. Soon Jordyn will be enrolled with the training organisation Evolution Training and will commence her off the job modules in a Certificate III Hospitality. Jordyn will work both back and front of house and will commit to balancing her schoolwork with study, and paid work. There will be a requirement for one hundred days of paid work and all modules will need to be completed before this traineeship will be eligible for completion. Congratulations Jordyn and best wishes for a successful and enjoyable traineeship.

Other students are encouraged to find out more about school based traineeships with a view to turning existing work into an opportunity to combine a relevant qualification study with paid work.

Congratulations to Year Eleven student James who has recently completed a Sport and Recreation traineeship with All One Fitness Beerwah. James has received excellent feedback from his employer who says James has a great work ethic and is a valued team member. Well done James.

Metro North Hospital & Health traineeships

Application packs are now available for interested students who attend the information session in May. These are due Friday, June 28, 2019. An information night will be held on Tuesday, June 25 from 6pm to 8pm at Caboolture State High school and bookings are essential. Good luck to those Year ten students applying for these health traineeships.

CERTIFICATE COURSES

Dual Cert II Salon assistant & Cert II Retail Cosmetics

Thank you to parents and students for your understanding with the recent cancellation of training days due to sickness. It is vitally important that as we have reached the half way point in training that students continue to work diligently, attend every training session they can and keep up to date with theory modules. The final practical placement day will be Thursday, June 27, 2019.

This week students participated in cosmetics practical, which included consultations, colour matching and application.

Career Pathways Expo and Year Ten presentations

Many Year Ten, Eleven and Twelve students and their families attended Beerwah High’s annual event on Tuesday, June 11. Over twenty displays were set up in the Student Centre offering students the opportunity to meet face to face with representatives from community career organisations, apprenticeship and traineeship providers and registered training organisations. There were many conversations about career pathways and study options and students were able to take information away with them.

Presentations were made to Year Ten students and families in relation to 2020 subject offerings and the new ATAR and QCE. This information will be particularly helpful for students who are preparing for SET planning in July.

Beerwah High again thanks our many supporters and providers of this event who took the time out of their busy schedules to participate.

Year Ten Mock Interviews

Our Year Ten students are currently studying Certificate II Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways and in culmination of assessment for a number of modules, the cohort have participated in mock interviews. These took place on Friday, June 21 and involved the participation of thirteen volunteers who acted as interviewers. In preparation for the day students prepared job applications, resumes and cover letters and had class instruction relating to interview techniques, personal presentation and communication skills. This is a valuable career development experience for students and we are again fortunate to have the support of representatives from our local business community, apprenticeship providers and registered training organisations. Without these individuals, programs such as these would not be possible.

Helen Forrest
Industry Liason Officer

Dance Team Update

Dance Team Performance at Maleny Show

On the frosty morning of May 31, Beerwah Dance Team gave their inaugural performance at the Maleny Show. Dancers from Beerwah SHS performed their two dances – Jungle, a contemporary dance piece choreographed by Ms Peters and “Where They From” their hip-hop routine that was choreographed by both the students and Ms Peters.

Students performed alongside dancers from Maleny High School, the Beerwah SHS and Beerwah SS bands to enthusiastic crowds. Well done Dance Team.

Corpus Linea Project

Ten students from Beerwah Dance Team have been involved in this year’s Youth Dance Project Corpus Linea, choreographed by Melissa Lanham. This year’s work will be about body language and the way we communicate on a physical level. Students have had two rehearsals to learn a three minute routine that they will perform as part of the full-length work. The routine using desks and chairs and have worked hard with Melissa Lanham to devise the work.

Every year Melissa Lanham creates a youth dance work for dance students from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. This year eight schools from the southeast corner will be involved with over 90 students and will culminate in an hour-long performance. The performance will be at The Montesorri Gardens in Forest Glen on August 17. Bookings will be available through TryBooking next term.

Ms Michelle Peters
Dance Teacher

Food Innovation and Design

Market Day Success

Students of Beerwah State High have hosted a very successful Market Day for our school community. Year Ten Food Innovation and Design Students have researched Market Product, made and tasted numerous samples, created Stall advertising and hosted a the Market Day for the school Community. The Market had twenty one stalls all offering different dishes to tantalise your taste buds, allowing all those in attendance to have choice and variety. We look forward to the next venture these budding chiefs host.

Cassandra Clark
Home Economics HOD

Science Update

Year 7 Excursion

On the May 29 the Year Seven students and their teachers travelled to Brisbane as part of their study of Astronomy. The first stop was the NASA display at the QLD Museum. NASA- A Human Adventure is the most comprehensive and extensive touring space flight exhibition in the world. It featured a collection of significant artefacts form the United States and Soviet Union space programs. The objects students viewed included original space flown objects, replicas and scale models. Students and teachers felt very lucky to be able to view such amazing objects that are only in Australia for a short period.

The second stop was the Planetarium at Mt Coo-tha. We were one of the first schools to visit it since its $1 million upgrade. Students viewed the show, which took them on a journey from Earth through the Solar system, then beyond through the Milky Way and the Universe. The visual experience was an exceptional way for students to appreciate the scale and magnitude of the Universe.

Big Science Competition

We recently had sixty seven students participate in the Australian Science Institute competition and twenty four of these students achieved a credit, distinction or high distinction. Certificates will be awarded next term. Particularly pleasing was that we had seven students receive distinctions:

Year Seven: Tabatha, Anastasia, Jaksen
Year Eight: Matthew, Kameli, Fahren
Year Nine: Samuel

One final congratulation to Tara in Year Eight, who received the highest award possible, a High Distinction. This puts Tara in the top percentile of students across Australia.

Paul Schneider
HOD Science

Academic & Cultural Cup

We have had some very busy bees in the first half of the 2019 school year. The points have been flowing in from the myriad of extra-curricular activities available to Beerwah High students.

Congratulations to the team of students involved in the fabulous theatre restaurant production of ‘Rome, Sweet, Rome’. Lotsa pointsa have beena earned for the houses of these wonderful actors, stagehands and hospitality crew.

Beerwah Dance Company has had a huge 2019 so far. We should all gesture with a jeté of applause that flows with legato, form and grounded projection! This hard- working team brought home two first placings, a third, a fourth and a highly commended at the Sunshine Coast Eisteddfod. They then excelled at a very competitive Brisbane Eisteddfod with a second, fifth and two very highly commended placings. The team backed this up with a first, third, very highly commended and highly commended at the Brisbane Performing Arts Challenge. Amazing! Dance Team has also been out and about promoting Beerwah High, most recently performing admirably at the Maleny Show. A huge shout out to Year Eleven students Ashley and Amber who also placed first at the Sunshine Coast Eisteddfod with their duo performance. There is one more eisteddfod and several individual performances to come in the second half of the year, not to mention one of the perennial highlights on the BSHS calendar: ‘Dance Night Showcase’!

Stage Band, Concert Band, Coalition Band and Vocal Group have also had avenues where students have been working hard to perfect their art, and then showcasing their talents and representing Beerwah High in the wider community. All groups are working hard to prepare for a host of performances that are on the calendar in the second half of this year. Well done to Year Eleven student Natalie and Year Twelve student Salem, who were both recently chosen to participate in the North Coast Instrumental Music Excellence Program. Natalie was also one of the super-talented few chosen to play in the Sunshine Coast Mayor’s Invitational Orchestra, performing alongside the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. All musical endeavours of 2019 will of course culminate towards the backend of the year with the ‘Music Night Showcase’. You won’t want to miss it!

Various academic competitions in the fields of Mathematics, English, Science and Geography are taking place in Semester two. Good luck to all students who have nominated to test themselves and represent Beerwah High. Congratulations to Mackenzie who received an Achievement Award for her story entered in the Write 4 Fun Short Story & Poetry competition!

Well done to all students who have represented Beerwah High School admirably at community events including the Anzac Parade Dawn Service, Clean Up Australia Day, World’s Greatest Shave, National Bird Week, Robocoast EV3 Immersion Day, USC STEM Challenge Day, Robotics Invitational Excursion, USC Invitational Business in Action Excursion and National Bird Week.

The recent BSHS Spelling Bee Tennis Tournaments saw students accumulating a total of seven hundred and fifty points for their respective houses. Tunbubudla took home two hundred and forty seven points, with Ngungun attaining one hundred and ninety four points, Tibberoowuccum earning one hundred and eighty points and Miketeebumulgrai scoring one hundred and twenty nine points. With the Beerwah High Water Polo Trivia competition on our doorstep, and the Beerwah High NBA Maths Competition arriving next term, a flood of points will be on offer for students who take up the challenge for each of our four houses.

Don’t forget - achievement results on report cards also contribute a healthy number of points towards house totals. Every A attained by a student is awarded ten points, with a B receiving five points and a C receiving one point.

All Tunbubudla students and teachers are no doubt expecting their house to continue previous successes and take the Academic & Cultural Cup home for a fourth year in what is only the fifth year of this relatively new tradition. It’s up to the students of Miketeebumulgrai, Ngungun and Tibberoowuccum to prove them wrong. Take up the challenge and try something new or demonstrate your skill and ability in an area of competence, and earn some valuable points for your house. Carpe diem! Seize the day!

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

Career Evening – Education Services

On Tuesday, June 11, the Education Services Team enjoyed a great evening with our Year Ten students and their parents at the Careers Evening. Parents and students attended evening with presenters providing information related to future career pathways in various trades and occupations.

Disability employment providers from Mylestones and Compass presented interesting information allowing students to reflect and work on future job seeking skills to achieve their required goals.

We thank representatives David, Sara and Jessica for their time and effort in engaging our students and families in their services.

Suzanne Tennison
Teacher Education Services

Nursery – Education Services

This semester in the nursery we have been focusing on recycling, collecting the scraps from the tuckshop and feeding our worms. The worm liquid is then used on the vegetables we grow and the indoor plants that we have in rooms around the school.

We have also made our own liquid comfrey fertiliser from the comfrey that we grow. With the investment of a tumbler we are now starting to produce our own compost. Students have also made white cabbage moths from plastic containers to protect our broccoli and eggplant from the hungry little caterpillar.

Newspaper pots have also been made and are ready to be used for some of our plants. Many herbs have been propagated on a continuous cycle to be used in hospitality. Many thanks to Sue Keals from Sunshine Coast Council who provided native plants for us to plant as part of International Tree Day on the 26th of July.

Helen DeVries
Teacher Aide

Chaplaincy Update

Mike Turner
School Chaplain

Youth Support Coordinator

Hello, my name is Marie Kelleher. I am the Youth Support Coordinator (YSC) at Beerwah State High School.

I work with students who are either disengaged; or at risk of disengaging. The YSC Initiative aims to: increase participation; support attainment of Year Twelve or an equivalent qualification; improve successful transitions; promote social inclusion; and reduce educational disadvantage.

I am currently working with The Smith Family to support the parents of Beerwah State High School; where you can learn about saving and budgeting. Please see below:

Dear Parents,

Saver Plus is a matched savings program to help you receive $500.

To be eligible you need to tick ALL boxes

• Have a Healthcare Card OR Pension Concession Card
• Have a child at school
• Have some form of employment either you or your partner
• Be receiving a Government payment (e.g. Family Tax benefit)
• Be able to attend two budgeting workshops held at the school

Saver Plus requires you to save $12.50 a week for 10 months; we will then match your savings up to $500!!!! That’s $1000 to spend on school and sporting costs!

You may also be eligible to receive up to $1000 to assist with purchasing a laptop/tablet or computer.

If you would like more information please text your postcode to 1300 610 355 or call 0488 291 563.

Denise Clark
Saver Plus Coordinator | The Smith Family

You will find me in Student Services every Monday and Tuesday. Aside from one-to-one case management; I facilitate a restorative yoga session which runs for three weeks each term. The restorative yoga supports students who experience worry, sadness, and relationship/friendship and family issues. In addition, I run a weekly lunch time drop-in session where students will find board games, Uno, and more.

Marie Kelleher
Youth Support Coordinator (YSC)

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