26 November 2021

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Dear Parents and Caregivers – Term 4, Week 8

Recently we have seen the arrival of some new banners in the school that showcase our values, why our values are important and how we can demonstrate these values. These are proudly on display in our foyer and I think they look fantastic!

Success for all

Our transition programs for supporting Year 6s as they move into Beerwah SHS have seen over 130 enthusiastic Year 6 students attend a variety of engaging learning activities. It is interesting to observe the students come together on these days and also observe how our students react to them. The feedback from the students and the primary schools has been very positive. Thank you to the teachers who gave up their valuable time to prepare and deliver these fantastic lessons. If you have any feedback on our transitions program, please let us know.

Congratulations to our teaching staff for a wonderful day of Spanish Immersion. It was a fantastic cultural experience highlighting some of Spain's practices and traditions. The students were very engaged and these experiences make learning much more interesting.

Congratulations also to the Year 10 basketball team who won their semi-final 43-41 and then competed against Matthew Flinders in the Grand Final last week. They played in the spirit of sportsmanship and even though they didn’t have the success they wanted on this occasion, they made us very proud! Well done to the cheer squad of Year 10 students who provided wonderful support.

Our Year 12s have reached a wonderful milestone and they have made us so proud of the manner in which they have conducted themselves. I know many of the staff are so sad to see them leave but we wish them all the best for their futures . I would like to say thank you to all of the staff who have supported these fine young adults in the past six years. Thank you, in particular, to Mr Lancaster, Mr Kratzmann and Ms Young who have steered this group of Year 12s to success.

Thank you to all of our parents/carers who have sent us warm wishes and thanks. Please know that each message of thanks we receive from you is highly appreciated.

Link and launch

Beerwah SHS will be benefitting from a link and launch service which will operate out of Meridan College and will provide support and assistance to our Beerwah graduates as they navigate pathways into employment, training or further study. A recruitment process is underway to select a suitable person for the role. More info to come.

School Opinion Survey for 2021 – summary of positives

The school opinion survey collects data from parents, students and staff and provides valuable feedback to our school. The surveys are now distributed via email from central office. A good sample size for both parents and staff completed the survey; however, only a small sample size of students completed the survey. The 2021 survey has some fantastic positive results which are worth celebrating and sharing with our community.

Below are the areas for us to reflect on to consider if we need to change any of our practices. I would be keen to hear your opinion. The key theme across both the parent and staff survey is the belief that a number of our students are NOT interested in their school work. Engaging students behaviourally, emotionally and cognitively is our key duty and our key challenge.

Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment is any unwanted or unwelcome sexual behaviour where a reasonable person would have anticipated the possibility that the person harassed would feel offended, humiliated or intimidated.

Examples of sexual harassment include:

• suggestive comments or jokes
• intrusive questions about a person's private life or body
• displaying images of a sexual nature around the workplace

Sexual harassment is unlawful under the Sex Discrimination Act in different areas of public life, including education and schools.

Employers and Principals have a responsibility to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment, such as implementing a sexual harassment policy and providing training or information on sexual harassment.

We’ve had a few instances of this lately with students and while this is an uncomfortable topic for some people, it must be raised to ensure everyone is clear about what is acceptable and what is not. We will be raising this issue with students in our PBL lessons. I would encourage all parents/caregivers to have this conversation with their children to ensure they are aware of appropriate language and behaviour.

Student Centre roof is being replaced!

Our facilities refresh is continuing and construction on the student centre roof is starting soon, which means the centre will be unavailable for a few weeks. We are happy that, as of next year, no more leaky roof!

Thank you for your support this year; please take care and enjoy your holiday break,

See you in 2022.

Kind regards
Lyn
Lyn McDonald
B. Bus, M. of Ed. Research

Whole School News

Mathematics Department

Maths Tutoring

Maths tutoring is in the library every Tuesday from 3:00-4:00 pm. Students from any year level can attend. Students are asked to bring work that they would like to review.

Kayla Monk
Acting Head of Department Mathematics

Science Department

Year 7 Science Engineering Team Challenge Success

Our year 7 Science students were awarded prizes for our engineering team challenges. Each class competed in two challenges:

1. Build a model car that could travel using alternative energy.
2. Build a bridge using a set number of paddle pop sticks to hold the most weight.

Both winning teams came from 7J:

Car: Levi, Georgia, Katie and Lily built a car that travelled 12.6 metres using a balloon.

Bridge: Levi, Brianna, Shelby, Declan and Brydie built a bridge that held 34kg.

Well done to everyone for your participation!

Insect Investigators program

We are pleased to announce that Beerwah SHS has been one of 50 schools in Australia chosen to participate in the Insect Investigators program in 2022. Some of our science classes will be working closely with scientists from the University of Adelaide and the University of the Sunshine Coast to collect specimens of invertebrates in the local area. We will send these specimens to the University to be identified and if we find a new species, we will be able to help name it. We look forward to this exciting program.

Paul Schneider
Head of Department of Science

Sports Department

Throughout Week 3-6 all Grade8 students were lucky to have 5 specialised basketball coaches from USC Rip City Basketball coach them during HPE lessons. Students all students were highly engaged and was fantastic to see their skills improve over the weeks.

2021 Awards Day Success for all

A number of students were recognised for their academic, sporting and cultural success as part of our Junior and Senior Awards Day Celebrations for 2021. Well done to all of our award recipients. We are very proud of your efforts!

Beerwah High Struck Gold!

This year, Beerwah High entered two pieces of theatre (directed by Mrs Holland and Mrs Stephenson) into the Sunshine Coast Schools’ Drama Festival. Both entries achieved fabulous results. Our solo performance by Ella Eade, taken from this year’s school production, “Living with Lady Macbeth” was awarded Gold. “Fire Station”, a fast-paced comedy piece, was our group entry starring Ella Eade, Gracie Ulrick, Macey Searle and Trinity Gibson. This entertaining performance showcased the students’ clowning skills and also achieved Gold. Congratulations to all involved!

Environmental Group

National Recycling Week Activities

A mixture of students and teachers recently participated in activities to recognise and discuss the importance of ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’. Some came dressed in green to ‘keep it clean’ on Wednesday. Others created posters, wrote poetry and tried their luck at guessing the correct number of Mrs Grant’s bottle tops, with the awardees receiving tuckshop voucher prizes.

Donna Grant
ST:LaN (Learning Support)
Teacher 7 Spanish / 7 & 8 LEC

Trivia Triumph!

Our 2021 trivia tournament faced many Covid-related obstacles but, finally, we were able to play some finals this week. The 11/12 final did not go ahead and not enough teams nominated in Years 8 and 9 to have any heats. However, the Year 7 and Year 10 finals were thrilling with the buzzer round the definitive decider.

The Miketee team, ably led by Lachlan Osborne, defeated the Budla team, equally ably led by Kirsten Proud, 10 – 4. Both teams were successful in blocking points during the first round and went into the buzzer round on four points each. When it came to the crunch, the Miketee boys were faster on the buzzer and left the Budla girls behind. Well done to all of you. A great tussle!

Budla 1 entered the Year 10 competition as the defending titleholders. They have won the trivia tournament every year since Year 7 and they did it again in 2021. Led by captain Tyla Paterson, the team (Indy, Kameli and Sophie) defeated Budla 4 led by captain Riley Ferguson (Poppy, Oisin, and Taya) 10 – 4. Budla 4 fought back from despair in the buzzer round but were no match for the mighty Budla 1. They have two more years. Will they hold on to the title in 2022?

Hopefully, 2022 will also see all year levels back participating in the trivia tournament.

Spanish Immersion Day Success

Our Year 8, 9 and 10 Spanish students experienced half a day of Spanish cultural activities to appreciate and experience the culture behind the language they learn in class. Students learnt some salsa moves (which they all picked up so quickly!). They also made some traditional Mexican tortillas using harina de maiz and they painted their faces like La Catrina-Día de los Muertos. The day finished with a scavenger hunt-solving clues around the school to ultimately crack a code to uncover the “treasure.”

It was so fantastic to see all students having a great time as they enthusiastically embraced all the activities, whilst working together with students from different grades. Thank you to all the students involved for demonstrating respect, responsibility and safety.

Remembrance Day Service

Ms McDonald, Mr Siddell and our student leaders attended the Remembrance Day Service at Turner Park Cenotaph in Beerwah to pay tribute to the fallen. We will remember them.

IT Department

BYOD and Laptop Hire

Students who have a hire device currently will be required to return this in good order by the end of Week 9. Parents and carers will be contacted by our IT Department to confirm that devices have been returned in good order and intentions for continued hire into 2022.

With the end of the year upon us, I know a lot of families will be starting to think about BYOD and Device Hire Options for 2022 to ensure that your child is able to remain connected at Beerwah.

There is no fee charged for students who bring their own device to connect via our BYOD network. If you are purchasing a device, it is strongly recommended that you refer to provide a copy of our purchasing letter to your preferred retailer to ensure that any device purchased will be compatible with the school network environment.

This document is available here

We also have a range of Laptop Hire Options where we can supply a device to your child for a fee. These options include

At Beerwah, students are expected to bring their own devices, fully charged ready for learning each day. Having students connected to our network with access to a device to support their learning in all classroom settings means that they can access digital content including electronic textbooks, virtual classrooms via Daymap, Microsoft Teams and OneNote. They can access content and collaborate easily to support and enhance their learning.

Students are encouraged to on-board their own devices at home by following the instructions available on our website. Alternatively, our IT Technician is available to assist at the following times in the Resource Centre:

Please visit our website to learn more about options currently available to support you in getting your student Connected @ Beerwah..

If you wish to discuss your BYOD needs further, please contact our IT Department via itsupport@beerwahshs.eq.edu.au or encourage your student to pop in and see us at the Resource Centre. We will work with you to ensure that your child can be connected @ Beerwah.

Should you have any other queries about our programs, please do not hesitate to contact me directly via pwald9@eq.edu.au or 5436 5326. I look forward to connecting with you.

Patrick Walden
Head of Department – Digital Technologies & Humanities

School Fee Payments

As we approach the end of the year and begin to make plans for 2022 subjects and events it is timely to remind families of the varied and flexible options Beerwah SHS are able to offer families for payment of school fees. Please access our Payment Option Fact Sheet to identify the most convenient method of payment to suit your circumstances.

All families are encouraged to register for QParents. Please email admin@beerwahshs.eq.edu.au to request an invitation and access code. When you receive the invitation, download the QParents app then complete the verification details.

Beerwah State High School is excited to offer QKR! in 2022. QKR! is an app which allows secure and immediate payment of schools fees and events. QKR! is available for both parents and students to utilise. Please download the QKR! app now in readiness for our ‘go-live” in January.

Please reach out to our Accounts Receivable Officer or the Business Manager if you are experiencing financial difficulties.

Supporting Our Students

Year 12 Results

Year 12 results will be released into Student Learning Accounts on Friday 17 December from 9.00am. Students can access their Learning Account through the Student Portal on the myQCE website.

Students will be issued with their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and their Senior Statement of Results via the Senior Education Profile Tab in their Learning Account.

The following website has frequently asked questions regarding assess to student results and official documents.

ATARs

ATARs will be released on the same day via students ATAR PORTAL account. The 2021 ATAR will be released between 8am – 9am on 17 December 2021

Ms Leanne Young
HOD Senior Schooling

Future Pathways

Future Pathways 2021

Final week for Year 12s is always a busy and exciting time and it has been no different this year. Congratulations to all of our graduates who have worked hard to secure results in subjects and complete VET courses, all of which contribute to a successful QCE.

Special mention to our Year 12 school-based trainees and apprentices who have successfully combined school with paid work and a qualification study. Some trainees are completing and moving on while others are continuing with their employers in part time or full-time capacities. Our school-based apprentices convert to full-time first years and will continue with their studies. Feedback from employers has been that students have worked diligently, improved their work skills and become valuable staff members, effectively contributing to business operations.

Congratulations to:

Keiarna Brooks, Cert III Business, Spicers Tamarind Retreat
Willow Sawyer, Cert II Horticulture, Waterworth’s Nursery
Trainee, Cert III Hospitality, Subway Beerwah
Georgia Wilson, Cert II Retail, Expressions in Nailz
Nick Moore, Cert III Engineering Mechanical, Coleman Hydraulics & Engineering
Kane O’Brien, Cert II Engineering, Bell Stainless
Kirby Payton, Cert III Engineering Mechanical Trade
Ana, Cert III Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology

Seven Year 12 students completed Trade Training Centre programs in 2021, combining theory study, workshop practical and structured workplace learning. Students hope to take their skills into full time apprenticeships and many have made valuable connections with trades during their time at the TTC. Well done students and best wishes for your future pathways.

Seniors completed their program through the Kawana Waters Health Education Unit earlier in the term and hold dual Certificate II in Health Support Services/Certificate II in Community Services and a Certificate III in Health Service Assistance. Many have completed placement hours to secure an Assistant in Nursing qualification and are about to embark on their health careers. These students are to be congratulated on completing the two-year program and balancing all of their commitments. For many, this included General Subjects.

Other studies which our seniors have participated in and successfully completed include Certificate IV in Justice Studies, TAFE at School, Certificate II Health Support Services and Distance Education.

Awards Day

At our annual awards day held in Week 7, two senior students were the recipients of awards relating to VET Senior Schooling.

Willow Sawyer was awarded School Based Trainee of 2021 for effectively developing workplace skills, knowledge and confidence in her chosen industry. Willow has been employed by Waterworth’s Nursery, Glass House Mountains since February 2020 and has successfully completed a Certificate II in Horticulture. The employer has been very impressed with Willow, who has improved her efficiency and is extremely competent in all aspects of plant propagation and general horticulture tasks. She works very well as part of a small team and is an extremely effective communicator with a great work ethic. Willow has been a great asset to the business and has been offered extended work hours on graduation. Congratulations, Willow, and best wishes on your career pathway.

The 2021 VET Student of the Year was awarded to Ana who has completed a combination of VET qualifications including a Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation at the Sunshine Coast Technical Trade Training Centre in 2020. This included 80 hours of structured workplace learning which she completed with Ultra Tune Currimundi. Impressing the employer with her motivation and skills, she was then offered a school-based apprenticeship in Certificate III Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology. In addition, Ana has completed a Certificate II in Engineering Pathways and Certificate II in Skills for Work & Vocational Pathways. The feedback from her workplace supervisor, teachers and trainers has always been positive. Her performance in both on and off the job training has been excellent and she has been diligent in completing theory modules in a thorough and timely manner. Well done, Ana, and best wishes as you continue with your work and studies.

2022 VET choices

Current Year 10 and eligible 11 students should continue to follow up on any “6th subject” choices 2022. There are places available in the following programs:

AUR20716 Certificate II Automotive Vocational Preparation

• Fridays, Semester 1 2022 (commencing Week 3, Term 1)
• Trainer with resources, equipment and vehicle on BSHS campus
• VETiS funded
• 4 QCE credits
• Mix of online theory and practical

AHC20416 Certificate II in Horticulture

• Fridays, Semester 1 and 2
• Trainer on BSHS campus, plant nursery
• VETiS funded
• 4 QCE credits
• Mix of theory and practical

Distance Education subjects

Enrolment pack and Brisbane School of Distance Education 2022 timetable now available.

TAFE at School programs

See Mrs Forrest for course guides. Register online through the TAFE Pathways. Many use VETiS funding.

Sunshine Coast Technical Trade Training Centre

Third round places still available though there is a wait list for electro technology. Students should see Mrs Forrest ASAP if wanting to apply. All use VETiS funding.

Fulton Hogan Try a Skill Day

Recently a group of Years 10 and 11 students were fortunate to attend a Construction Skills Qld Try a Skill day hosted by Fulton Hogan. The objective of the day was to raise awareness of the range of technical jobs in the construction industry beyond the traditional trades. These are called paraprofessional roles and include areas such as civil engineering, estimating, surveying and enviro science.

Following a safety and site induction, our students - accompanied by Mr Forrest and Ms Young - were guided through activities by Fulton Hogan staff. Students learnt how to prepare, place and test a concrete pour; were shown demonstrations of traditional survey equipment and learnt about the transformations brought on by the digital age; and used an Inspections App to carry out safety inspections and participated in site water testing.

This was a unique experience which the group found extremely interesting and valuable. Many are already considering pathways into this exciting industry.

As a Construction Gateway school, we hope to be able to offer more of these valuable experiences to students in 2022.

Helen Forrest
Industry and VET Training Officer

TAFE Get Ready for Wet Trades Opportunity

Attention Graduates: TAFE Skills Tech are taking enrolments for the Get Ready for Wet Trades short, introductory intensive programs. Each program is two weeks in duration - one week at a TAFE Brisbane campus & one week of work experience with industry employers seeking apprentices. Programs are customised to each specific trade and cover competent use of basic industry tools, work site preparation skills and on site safety. The Get Read for Wet Trades programs include:

Get Ready for Bricklaying (NONAC04080)
Get Ready for Painting
Get Ready for Tiling
Get Ready for Plastering
Get Ready for Wall and Ceiling Lining
Get Ready for Roofing

To be eligible individuals must be 15 years or over and no longer at school. A car and licence are recommended. Scan the QR code of your preferred trade area or go to TAFE Qld and search “Get Ready for Wet Trades”.

Aspiring Teacher Grants 2022

Opportunity for Graduating Students

Aspiring Teacher Grants of up to $5,000 are available for Year 12 students who:

• are graduating this year
• expect to obtain an ATAR of 88.75 or higher
• will start or continue studying to become a teacher in 2022.

Applications close 10 December 2021.

Headspace

What's on at Headspace?

There are some great events supported by Headspace to connect and support young people in our community across the remainder of November and into December.

TAFE Job Trainer

Year 12 graduates are reminded that TAFE Job Trainer funded/free courses are open for enrolment. Go to https://tafeqld.edu.au/jobtrainer for offerings. Many courses commence in January 2022.

Career Information

At Beerwah SHS, it is important for all our students to explore and transition to rewarding post-school destinations. Myfuture is a free career information service that helps students to discover a variety of occupations that align to their interests and skills that they may not have considered or known about. Learn more at

From the Office

QParents

What is QParents

QParents is an online portal that provides parents with secure access to their child's student details and can be accessed on your smartphone, tablet, laptop or PC.

From the comfort of home, parents can:

• update student's details such as change of address or phone number
• notify the school of their child’s absence
• view their child's attendance details and provide reasons for unexplained absences.
• view daily or weekly timetables
• view assessment details
• view major school event dates
• print out recent and archived report cards
• view and pay school invoices online

How to Register

You will receive an email from the school providing an invitation code to register for QParents. To register for the first time, you should use a computer or a laptop, not a phone or tablet.

If you don't have enough points to finalise your registration, then we can help you out. A QLD driver’s licence is enough to get you started in QParents and we will contact you from our end to verify the next steps.

Later you will receive an email instructing you to register your student using their EQ ID number, which can be found on their timetable.

Then all you have to do is explore the app to see how easy it is!

Get Started

Click here QParents Login to get started and follow the step by step instruction on the QParents quick reference guide.

Any Questions

If you haven’t received an invitation code or would like it resent please email your request to the school via qparents@beerwahshs.eq.edu.au

Payment Methods

The preferred payment method is BPOINT and additional payment methods include QPARENTS, EFTPOS, CHEQUE and CASH.

Direct debit options for bank account/credit and debit cards are available via BPOINT which can be set up through the Payment Office and telephone payments for credit and debit cards can be made using BPOINT by phoning 1300 631 073.

You can also use Centrepay to arrange regular deductions from your Centrelink payments. Centrepay is a voluntary payment option available to Centrelink customers.

If you are not currently receiving invoices and statements via email, please make your request by email to admin@beerwahshs.eq.edu.au

Questions relating to student accounts can be made by contacting the Payment Office each Monday, Wednesday and Friday between the hours of 8:00am and 12:00pm or by emailing accounts@beerwahshs.eq.edu.au

Attendance

All parents and carers are responsible for providing explanations for their students’ absences.

To report student absences parents/carers can notify the school via:

QParents App

SMS: 0476 850 614 [text messages only - no voicemail, symbols, emojis or attachments]
Telephone Attendance Line: (07) 5436 5360 [leave a voicemail message]
Email: studentabsences@beerwahshs.eq.edu.au
Letter or Medical Certificate provided to the school office

Please ensure the following details are provided:

Student name
Date of absence
Reason for absence

Facebook

Beerwah State High School is highly active on Facebook. Please “like” us to stay informed regarding date claimers and other important information and events. Please invite your friends to like us as well to assist building a strong community of parents.

Health and Safety Advice for our students

Our school will continue to ensure physical distancing and high standards of health and hygiene are practised on site in accordance with Queensland Health advice .

Please take note of the information shared below and keep your students at home if they are experiencing any of the symptoms listed:

We thank you for your co-operation in helping to keep us all well.

Parents and Citizens Association

P and C meetings are held in the Conference Room on the second Tuesday of every month during term time at 6pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Executive Committe for 2021