2 August 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Leaders Investiture

Last Monday, the school community had the opportunity to welcome it’s leaders for 2019/20. The student body heard that leadership is not always something that comes naturally to individuals but it is the desire to make our school, our community, our world a better place that encourages some students to take on the challenge. That is the challenge ahead our leadership team, a challenge I am sure they are up to.

Congratulations goes to School Captains for 2019/20 – Breanne Howden, Amelia Robinson and James Poole.

Congratulations must also go to our newly elected Junior School Leaders - Captains Lexie Appelman, Poppy Taylor, Tara Weston and Riley Ferguson.

And congratulations to our House Captains, Indigenous Leaders, Dance Captains and Music Captain.

Could you please ensure that the highlighted names in the above table drop down to line up with Junior/Senior School

We look forward to working with all members of the leadership team in the coming year.

Thanks must go to the outgoing student leaders who have been positive role models to the rest of the student body. Well done.

SEMESTER 1 REPORT CARD

All families should have received the Semester One report cards by email on the last day of Term Two. If you have not received your child’s report card, please check with the office to ensure your contact details are correct.

There are a number of key measures that schools can use to gauge their progress throughout the year. Two areas that continue to be a focus for Beerwah SHS in 2019 are Student Achievement levels (including Academic, Effort and Behaviour) and Student attendance.

Whilst these results are pleasing there is always room for improvement.

Student Detentions

Unfortunately some students have not been following up on their allocated lunch time/ afterschool detentions and as such have a number of detentions outstanding. Students who do not complete these on the allocated day will be allocated an afterschool detention. Continued non-compliance will revert to the school discipline policy.

School Uniform

Parents and students are reminded that Beerwah SHS is a uniform school and unfortunately there are a number of students wearing incorrect uniform items in particular jumpers. Where students are not able to wear the correct uniform they are requested to bring a note from home explaining the reason or non – compliance with the schools Dress Code that was agreed to at enrolment.

Calling Students During Class Time

Students cannot use their mobile phones whilst in class, so we ask all parents to refrain from calling/texting students during class times. The breaks during the day (11.20 and 1:10) can be used for student contact and we ask parents to use these times. Please see our Daily Routine for class and break times. If you need to contact your child urgently or need to pick them up without notice please contact the office staff who will be able to contact your child with the least disruption to the class, other students and the teacher.

Glen Robinson
Principal

2019 School Review

Beerwah State High School was involved in a whole school review last week. School Reviews occur every four years and are conducted by the Department of Educations “School Improvement Unit (SIU)” who look at the strategies and programs the school has in place. They investigate the value and effectiveness of these programs as well as providing schools with recommendations for the future.

The photo below includes a couple of Beerwah State High Schools Senior and Junior Captains for 2019/20. They are Breanne Howden, James Poole, Mr Peter Grant from the School Improvement unit, Tara Weston and Riley Ferguson.

Glen Robinson
Principal

Deputy Principal’s Update

I would like to welcome everyone back to Term Three and I hope that you all had a safe and relaxing school break. Term Three is always a very busy term and we are already well underway with many school events.

2019/2020 Student Leaders

On Monday, July 22 Beerwah SHS inducted its new student leaders for 2019/2020. Students from Years Eight and Eleven pledged that they would uphold and build on the spirit of Beerwah SHS and encourage, enthuse and empower fellow students to make a positive contribution to both the school and the wider community. These students have been elected to their positions of office by their fellow students and staff as they have demonstrated they possess the qualities of good leaders. They have a desire and are motivated to making Beerwah SHS an even better place for us all. Our student leaders have many ideas and are planning and dedicating time to being the best that they can be.

I am extremely confident that our incoming 2019/2020 team of school leaders will rise to the challenge and build on the strong legacy that the previous year’s student leadership team has left.

I congratulate you all and I hope you are excited by the responsibilities bestowed upon you and the challenges that lie ahead of you. I look forward to working with you all over the next twelve months and I have every confidence that you will all rise to the challenge and be excellent school leaders.

At this time we must also acknowledge the outgoing leaders from 2019/2020. Together you participated in decision making about whole school organization, identified problems that needed attention, raised awareness of school priorities to enhance student well-being, led specific programs and represented student ideas and opinions. You willingly gave of your own time and the school community thanks you for your work in helping to create the vision of student leadership at Beerwah High. You have set the bar high for best practice in student leadership.

Positive Behaviour for learning

Our current focus for PBL is: I can be an effective listener.

We have reviewed our school behaviour data for Term Two. In Term Three we will be focusing on

• Being on time and prepared for class.
• Following the correct procedures for class and using the computer labs and digital equipment with respect.

We invited our senior school captains to our positive behaviour for learning meeting and invited them to give us feedback with a student voice.

We ask that parents, families and carers support us to ensure that all students can have access to an optimum learning environment. Please ensure that students have all the materials that they need to access the curriculum.

Senior Students

Term Three is a very important time for our Year Twelve students. Major assessment items contribute to their final exit results and we will be checking very carefully that students are actively engaged in their program of study and meeting the requirements for their QCE. Additionally those students who are OP eligible will be sitting the QCS test in early September. It is important that all students are effectively managing their time and are staying on top of all their assessment requirements. We will be moving into a second round of Academic coaching for all Year Twelve students early this term.

GOLD CARD

Congratulations to our gold card recipients! We are very proud of you all. Students have been and will be receiving their gold cards on parade. Well done to you all and enjoy the discounts in our community.

Samantha Burchall
Acting Deputy Principal

School Car Park Changes

The following changes have been implemented by the council for our school car park -

• A new Stop-Drop-Go zone will allow parents and carers to quickly and efficiently pick up children without having to go into the parking area. Maximum efficiency will be obtained if drivers adhere to the short time frame provided for stopping in this area between 7-9am and 2-4pm.
• Installation of No Stopping areas via yellow line marking will improve the traffic flow into and out of the school car park and bus areas and improve road safety in the area.

The two minute pick-up and drop-off site will be monitored. The section may be lengthened in the future if drivers utilise it well and obey the signs.

Vanessa Bond
Administration Officer

2020 Enrolments

Enrolments for 2020 are now open. Proof of address will be required before the enrolment application is accepted. Parents/carers with a child continuing their enrolment at Beerwah SHS will not need to provide proof of address.

The enrolment process is listed below -

1. Complete an application for student enrolment. Parents/carers can collect a package from the school administration. Please complete, sign and attach all required documentation before returning to the school for processing.
2. Ensure you are familiar with the student resource scheme.
3. Schedule an enrolment interview (for year 8-12) by contacting the school administration. A parent or care giver must be the adult enrolling the student. The interview process lasts approximately thirty minutes.

Students enrolling for year seven are not required for an interview unless they are moving into the school throughout the year.

Additional documentation required for enrolment -

• Proof of residency: Parents or legal guardians who wish to enrol their child at the school are required to provide evidence of the student’s principal place of residence. Current proof of residency at the address indicated can be provided as follows:

  o  One primary source – a current lease agreement, rates notice, or unconditional contract of sale, and

  o   One secondary source – a utility bill (e.g. electricity, gas) showing this same address and parent’s/legal guardian’s name

• Schools are required to sight a child's birth certificate. An alternative to a birth certificate will be considered where it is not possible to obtain a birth certificate (passport or visa documents will suffice).
• Relevant legal guardianship documentation, if required.
• Special needs information for a child being placed into our special education unit. Reports from specialists or medical practitioners and health workers help us to meet the needs of your child.

Vanessa Bond
Administration Officer

Senior School Update

Senior Formal

The Senior Formal will be held on Monday, November 11 at the Caloundra Events Centre. Year Twelve students can ask for their invitations from the Head of Year, Mr Mark Cavanaugh. Formal tickets can only be purchased if there are no outstanding school fees or detentions held by the students. Tickets cost $110 and can be purchased once your child is in possession of their invitation. Students are asked to see Mr Cavanaugh to discuss their Formal invitation.

Unique Student Identifier (USI)

All Year Ten, Eleven and Twelve students should have their Unique Student Identifier (USI) and this should now be on school records. If you receive a text message requesting a USI for your child, it means the computer system has no record of it either due to human or technical error. Please assist us and supply/resupply if requested.

Variation to Assessment:

A new assignment extension form called, “Variation to Assessment” is being introduced this semester for Year Ten and Eleven students. This form covers more than an assignment extension and should be used for all variations to assessment including AARAs (Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments) as outlined on the QCAA website from now on.

Final Semester for Year 12 Students

Year Twelve students are in their final semester of senior schooling. They are to keep up their Senior Schooling Agreement right up to their last day. Attendance, completing classwork, acceptable behaviour and 100% effort on all assessment tasks are required to complete their final semester at Beerwah SHS

Outgoing Student Leaders/New Student Leaders

I wish to thank the outgoing school leaders for their efforts during their leadership tenure during 2018/2019 and look forward to working with the newly invested 2019/2020 student leaders.

Leanne Young
Senior School HOD

Dance Team Update

Corpus Linea, which is Latin for Body Language, came out of a curiosity to explore the effects and psychology behind body language in all of its forms and how much it informs our perception of people, places and emotions.

Melissa began with seven forms of awareness of body language – sight, touch, facial expressions, personal awareness, physical sensations, posture and tone of voice and began to develop a movement language around these forms of stimuli with the dancers. What has developed is a rounded exploration of what our minds eye see’s at any given moment. The cast consists of seven Sunshine Coast and Brisbane Schools – seventy dancers and six actors in a performance ‘in the round’ and under the stars.

With Lighting Design by Travis Macfarlane, Produced by Mia Hollingworth and assisted Choreography by Chloe Lanham Corpus Linea is kindly supported by Regional Arts Development Fund, Arts Queensland and the Creative Alliance.

Ms Michelle Peters
Dance Teacher

Science Update

Science in Practice Wine awards:

Our Year Twelve Science in Practice students have been completing a unit on wine and cheese making. The students distilled their own wine and entered samples in some of the local shows as well as the RNA. I am pleased to announce all groups have received awards:

Thanks to Mr Muchow and our Scientific Operations officer Amber for organising this activity.

Science Week:

In Week Five we will be celebrating Science week. Students need to listen to notices for exciting activities and competitions that will be happening at lunch times. This year we will link this to the anniversary of the first Moon landing.

Paul Schneider
Science HOD

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 ten 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)

Are you Teaching Someone to Drive?

Are you teaching someone how to drive? Want some advice on how best to prepare your learner and keep them safe on the road?

If you’re interested in learning the important first steps in how to teach your learner driver and ensure they are safe and proficient drivers, book into the next workshop (details provided below) or contact Helenea for more information on 0417 733 906.

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