4 August 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

It is my pleasure to announce that Ms Samantha Burchall has been officially appointed to the role of Deputy Principal at Baringa State Secondary College. We congratulate her on this position and thank her for all the work that she has done for Beerwah State High School during her time here from the start of 2009. Ms Burchall was farewelled by staff and students at the end of the first week this term and, ironically, it was twenty years to the day since her entry into the teaching profession. With the recent departure of our Business Manager to the new school at Palmview, we now welcome Ms Kylie Bland to Beerwah for the remainder of the year. Previously, I had mentioned the process of appointing our new principal, and the department is in the middle of this selection process. As soon as we are notified of the official decision, I will notify the Beerwah Community.

This term has started off at a fast pace for all, but staff and students have settled in really well and are back into the ways of learning. There have been some staff and subject changes for some students but this is a normal process that happens at the beginning of any semester. Last week, Semester One report cards were emailed out to all families to show the results that students achieved. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, we are not conducting interviews for parents and teachers but we invite parents to contact staff if they have any queries regarding Semester One results.

This term we have reintroduced year level parades for students; some students have begun participating in some organised sports; some excursion have started again; some feeder primary school students will have the opportunity to participate in CEEP Days; and some organised special events have had parents/carers invited with COVID-19 control measures in place.

Student Investiture Ceremony

Last week we held our Student Investiture Ceremony on Friday 31 July, in line with the latest COVID-19 restrictions. I would like to thank those outgoing leaders for their efforts over the last 12 months and congratulate them on the outstanding role models that they have been for their fellow peers. We look forward to working with our newly-inducted leaders and have faith that they will do themselves and their families proud during their time in the position.

Student Investiture Ceremony

Thank you also to the students from Education Services for assisting the Schools Officer in clearing the Student Centre after the ceremony.

Student Education and Training (SET) Plan Interviews

Over the last couple of weeks, Year Ten students have been working on their career aspirations and will participate in their SET Plan interviews on Thursday, 6 August. This will plan their subjects/course of study for next year to ensure this aligns with future career aspirations. Other year levels will shortly be given information about subjects for next year to prepare them to make decisions for 2021.

Thank You to Parents

Thanks those parents who are supporting the uniform policy and endeavouring to ensure that their child is in correct uniform, particularly during the cooler periods that we are experiencing at present. I would also like to thank parents who are ensuring that outstanding fees have been paid and ask those that still need to address this to contact the school and speak to the Accounts Receivable Officer.

Year Seven 2021 Enrolment Sessions

This week we also began meeting with future Year Seven students and their parents/carers to share information about the operation of Beerwah SHS. It has been great to see the enthusiasm, nervousness and excitement on their faces as they prepare for the transition into high school. We look forward to those that still are waiting for their meeting to visit the school.

As I have mentioned before, please do not hesitate to contact the school if there is anything that we may be able to do to support your child during these times.

Wayne Lancaster
Acting Principal

Deputy Principals Report

Welcome to Term Three. It is the time of year where the Year Twelve students are on the home run and the Year Ten students are starting to prepare for the subjects they are selecting for their final years of high school. Either way, I hope your child has settled well into Semester Two and ready to continue their learning.

Assessment policy

We have been speaking with students about the requirements of our assessment policy and the importance of adhering to draft and due dates. The aim of the Beerwah State High School Assessment Policy is to maximise student accountability, and to ensure students have the opportunity to demonstrate what they know and can do. We have outlined the draft is a requirement of the assessment process. It allows students the opportunity to reflect on their progress and review their work. It’s imperative that if students wish to submit an application for an extension, special provision or (as a senior student) an AARA (Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments), they follow the timelines outlined in the policy. Students should communicate with their teachers if they are having any concerns, prior to the dates outlined on the assessment task. Please refer to the Assessment Policy on our website for further details.

Assessment calendars

Beerwah State High School publishes assessment calendars at the beginning of each semester, to allow students and parents ease of access to relevant assessment timelines and subject information. The planners are designed to help students and parents manage the school workload and inform parents of upcoming assessment and test dates. Every student will have access to an assessment planner, via Daymap, which outlines upcoming assessments. Helping your child work out when they have to start, reach a certain point, or even finish their assessments, is a really powerful way of keeping them on track. Get your child motivated and prepared early to avoid the 'night before' rush.

Student Academic Success Coaching

On Wednesday 29 July, all Year Twelve students had a one-on-one academic success coaching session for approximately twenty minutes. The students had the opportunity to reflect and plan for success to help ensure a smooth transition to further learning (at university or TAFE) or employment. Students received clear and concise feedback on their academic tracking towards attaining a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), as well as guidance and support in preparing for their pathway beyond school.

Year Eleven students will also participate in one-on-one academic success coaching interviews. This is an important juncture in their senior schooling journey. We recognise there have been many challenges along the way this year, but as long as students try their best and work with their teachers, I am sure they will be happy with themselves and their results.

Year 10 Senior Education and Training (SET) Plan

Year Ten students are now starting to prepare for their SET Plans which will occur on Thursday, 6 August. The final part of this journey is selecting subjects that students are passionate about. Over the last month, students have explored subject offerings for Years Eleven and Twelve. The Senior Curriculum Handbook is available on our school website for students and parents to view. It contains all of the relevant information they need to make these informed choices.

Making great decisions can be difficult, so the SET Plan process requires each Year Ten student, and their parents/carers, to meet with a member of the school’s leadership team to develop the student’s SET Plan. Interviews will run for thirty minutes, in the Resource Centre, between 9.00am and 7.00pm. Parents have been emailed information on how to book their interview time.

Marni Bradley
Deputy Principal

Senior Secondary

External Assessments

Year Twelve external assessments will be held annually in Term 4, starting in 2020. The 2020 external assessments for General and General (Extension) subjects will be held from Monday 26 October to Tuesday 17 November.

External Examinations are:

• common to all schools
• administered under the same conditions, at the same time and on the same day

• developed and marked by the QCAA(Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority) according to a commonly applied marking scheme.

In General Mathematics and Science subjects, a student’s external assessment result contributes 50% to their final subject result. In all other General subjects, it contributes 25%.

External Examination Timetable

The 2020 external assessment timetable has been designed to:

• minimise clashes for students across the 17 days of external assessments. Where there is a clash within a morning or afternoon session, students will be allocated to the alternative session on the same day
• ensure students sit no more than two external assessments on one day
• provide sufficient breaks between external assessments for popular courses and frequently combined courses
• enable all external assessments to be marked in time for students to receive their final Year 12 results.

Streetsmart Handbook

Since 2002, the Streetsmart Handbook has been delivered to teenagers at secondary schools with the aim of helping to educate our youth on important topics relevant to them as they transition into adult life.

Neighbourhood Watch Australasia's (NHWA) partnership with the Streetsmart Handbook assists teenagers with subjects such as cyber bullying, depression, social behaviour in the community, dangers of drugs/alcohol and much more, as well as engaging the NHWA brand and goals in creating a safe, connected and inclusive community, where people feel empowered, informed and engaged with one another and with local police.

The Streetsmart Handbook will not only benefit teenagers but will also give their families guidance towards various places, organisations and contacts whenever they need assistance.

Leanne Young
Head of Senior Secondary

Health and Physical Education

Year Ten Recreation Studies students will be taking part in a Tournament Planning unit this term. Students will be planning, advertising and running their own tournaments later in the term. Tournaments will range from Touch Football to "Rock, Paper, Scissors" and will provide the students with an opportunity to experience the level of planning and organisation necessary to run a successful tournament.

Students will be taking part in practice tournaments in class to prepare for the planning process. Our first tournament was a two-on-two basketball tournament using a bracket draw. Joey and Ryan (Pictured) were the winners of the main draw, while Bailey and Flynn were the winners of the feed in draw.

James Kratzmann
Recreation Studies Teacher

Information Technologies

Attention All Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Users

Beerwah State High School is transitioning to a new BYOD network connection for all student BYO devices next Thursday August 6. This new and improved network is called BYOxLink. This will make access for students to the school Wi-Fi quicker and more secure.

We are asking Parents/Carers of students currently connected to our BYOD network to lend their support to this changeover and have students get their devices ready before the changeover on Thursday. Instructions are provided in short video form for iPads, MacBooks, and Windows devices. Written instructions have also been uploaded to our website.

Instructions for students to connect to this new network are available in the Student SharePoint and on the school website. It is important to ensure BYO devices are fully updated with any Windows or Apple updates prior to following the connection instructions.

This connection is quite straightforward can be done at home. Please contact our IT support should you have any problems.

Recent Book Donation to the School Library Collection.

The President, Sue, and Vice President, Pam, of the Friends of Mary Cairncross Association visited our school recently to donate their beautiful book “The Magic of Mary Cairncross” to the school as part of a grant funded by the Sunshine Coast Council. This extroadinary book captures the magic of the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve through the eyes of artists and naturalists.

This book celebrates the beauty and significance of the Reserve with a fantastic collection of art, nature, science and storytelling told in an easy to understand way.

There are over one hundred original artworks of watercolours, acrylics, oils and carvings all done by local artists.  The book is available in the library and is well worth a look.

Barb Mullins
Head of Department

Numeracy

Numeracy Update

Knowing number facts is the foundation of various mathematic concepts. If student know their 'one to ten' multiplications they can use that knowledge to multiply numbers greater than ten together. There are many strategies for multiplying larger numbers together. The grid method breaks up large numbers into smaller more manageable parts.

A lot of key numeracy skills rely on students knowing their multiplication facts. It is essential for students to understand the foundational skills that numeracy is built upon to ensure success in applying mathematical concepts to everyday situations in a variety of contexts.

Numeracy Puzzle

Answer to last month’s puzzle:

= 5

Maths Tutoring

Maths tutoring is on Term 3: Tuesday afternoons from 3:00 to 4:00 pm, in the Resource Centre. Students are asked to bring the maths work that they would like to go over. There are textbook in the library for all year levels for students to refer to.

Kayla Monk
Numeracy Coach

Environmental Group

What do you get when ten inspirational and planet caring students work together? An environmental group!

These ten students began planning their first activity, by meeting with a Sunshine Coast Regional Council representative, who visited this week to discuss implementation of a Council program to improve waste management systems within our campus. Over time, the group will lead a variety of ‘best practice’ environmental initiatives to support our school and local community.

Donna Grant
Teacher

Education Services

Letter to Mr Searle, from former student, Kyle McMurtrie

Education Services Art Program
During Term Two, our Education Services art program has been creating some amazing pieces of work. Our students have been working on decorative masks, with the process involving some research of traditional tribal masks for some colour and design inspiration, along with some elements of abstract design for artistic flair and creativity.

The students then had to draw their individual designs on paper, to use as a guide for creating the same patterns on their masks.

We used acrylic paints and various textures to complete these pieces, with the students choosing their colours to create the desired outcome.

Michelle Tuck
Head of Special Education Services

Future Pathways

Term three, 2020, has kicked off to a flying start. It has been great to see that a number of opportunities for school based traineeships are becoming available. Work experience placements are also slowly resuming and a number of students (particularly in Year Ten) are being very proactive in finding opportunities.

New course enrolments and expressions of interest for 2021 programs have opened and there are many varied and exciting offerings for students to consider.

School based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs)

Congratulations to Year Ten students Amergin and Abbygayle who have both secured school-based traineeships with Domino’s Pizza, Beerwah. As new trainees these students will be completing a minimum of 7.5 hours of paid work release each week and enrolling in a Certificate III in Business (Food Speciality).

Mooloolah Valley Hair has also offered a vacancy for a school based hairdressing apprentice. This is an excellent opportunity for a young person who is committed to a hairdressing career pathway. Students are currently applying and completing work trials with a view to successfully securing this position.

The support of local business is vitally important in ensuring our SAT program continues to grow and we thank Domino’s Beerwah and Mooloolah Valley Hair for providing these opportunities.

Other Sunshine Coast vacancies recently advertised include school based traineeships at City Beach, the Night Quarter, Birtinya and Popcorn Lovers, Maleny.

The Sunshine Coast Technical Trade Training Centre (TTC) have also listed two construction vacancies to 2020 TTC Construction students and TTC Construction graduates:

• A school based carpentry apprenticeship with an employer who works both locally and in North Brisbane.
• A full time apprentice Joiner/Cabinet Maker with a family owned Sunshine Coast business.

On Tuesday, 21 July, interested Year Ten students were invited to an information presentation from Metro North Hospital & Health. Applications for 2021 school-based health traineeships (at either Caboolture, Kilcoy or Redcliffe hospitals) in Nursing, Business Administration, Aged Care, Allied Health and Dental Assisting are now open. Undertaking a traineeship provides a hands on experience working in a real world environment one day a week; completion of a Certificate III qualification; banking of QCE points and real job opportunities at the end of the traineeship. Application packs are available from Mrs Forrest.

As COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease, and business operations return to normal, we hope to see more opportunities become available to students. Please keep informed of any new SAT vacancies via the school Facebook page, student notices and noticeboard displays.

CERTIFICATE COURSES

Dual Cert II Salon assistant & Cert II Retail Cosmetics

In term 3 our trainees will be attending salon placement hosted again by Beerwah Hair & Beauty. This is a valuable component of this course with students being able to train and hone their practical skills in a real working salon. A number of our trainees are extremely focussed on a hairdressing/salon industry pathway and are making the most of the placement and taking up opportunities as they arise.

We thank Vicki and the team at Beerwah Hair and Beauty for their continuing support of this worthwhile program and providing a hands on experience for our young people.

Students who might be interested in this VETiS funded program can see information on the online Career Pathways Expo (Certificate Courses & Training > Courses to study at school) or see Mrs Forrest for information and to register their name for the 2021 program.

Kawana Waters State College Health Program

A mid-year intake for Year 11 students into the collaborative Health Program was recently advertised to students and saw Year 11 student, Tammin take up an opportunity to commence study. The Health Program combines VETiS funded dual HLT23215 Certificate II in Health Support Services and CHC22015 Certificate II in Community Services in Year 11 with HLT33115 Certificate III in Health Services Assistant (fee for service) completed in Year 12.

Current Year 10 students interested in this program for 2021 can see information on the online Career Pathways Expo (Certificate Courses & Training > Courses to study at school) and are welcome to see Mrs Forrest for further information and to submit an expression of interest.

SC Technical Trade Training Centre

Centre Manager, Deb McPherson presented to the Year 10 cohort in week 2 outlining course offerings for 2021. These include

• Cert II Automotive Servicing Technology (AUR20716) - TAFE
• Cert I Construction (CPC10111) - Australian Trade Training College
• Cert II Electrotechnology (Career Start) (UEE22011) - Australian Trade Training College
• Cert II Plumbing (52700WA) – TAFE
• DUAL Cert II Retail Cosmetics (SHB20116) & Cert II Salon Assistant (SHB20216) - Elysian
• Cert II Salon Assistant (Hairdressing/Barbering—SHB20216) - Elysian
• Cert III Beauty Services— SHB30115—Elysian Institute
• Cert III Aviation (Remote Pilot) (AVI30419) – Specialised Career Solutions
• Aviation Start University Now (SUN) Studies – CQ University
• Built Environment & Design Program (SUN) – CQ University

Expressions of Interest are open for 2021 and interested current Year 10 and 11 students can access information on TTC programs for on the online Career Pathways Expo (Certificate Courses & Training > Courses to study at school) or collect a course guide and expression of interest from Mrs Forrest.

Students intending to study at the TTC in 2021 should be able to commit to attending Caloundra one day a week, participate in structured workplace learning (80 hours) and balance school study with TTC attendance and travel. These programs are VETiS funded – remembering that students are only allocated one VETiS funded course – and that TTC administration fees also apply.

Certificate II Automotive Pathways (Bicycle Mechanic)

We have been liaising with the training organisation, Tactile Learning Centre, over the past weeks in an effort to deliver AUR20716 Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation (Bicycle Mechanic) on Thursdays, at Beerwah SHS, to VETiS eligible year 10, 11 and 12 students.

The program combines online theory units (first two lessons of the day) with hands on practical (lessons 3 and 4) and banks four QCE points. The trainer provides all tools, equipment and learning materials and students may work on their own bikes or those provided.

The course commenced last Thursday, 30 July, running from 8.50am to 2.50pm. Please contact Mrs Forrest urgently if you are interested in this program.

TAFE Qld Year 10 Trade Taster Program

Term 3 saw the commencement of the Year 10 TAFE East Coast Trade Taster Programs. Students are attending TAFE one day a week for 9 weeks to complete White Card training and induction and three accredited units from three trades. A service Trade Taster is also running offering a program of four accredited units (two from hairdressing and two from cookery). The Trade Taster Programs are a great way for our Year 10 students to sample skills in these areas, get an insight into TAFE/VET training and to begin thinking about program selection and pathway options.

The program will be offered to Year 10 students again in Term 4.  Students are invited to register their names with Mrs Forrest. If required we will assist students with the online registration at school from 8.45am, Tuesday 28 July, or alternatively parents are able to register their student from home.

Helen Forrest
Industry & Vocational Training Officer