School Newsletter - Issue 6 - 27 August, 2021
From the Principal's Desk
Dear Families
In the last newsletter, I announced the wonderful news that we had been successful with two grants, one to extend our Homework Centre and the other to build a new tuckshop. I’d like to update you on these projects.
Homework Centre Update
The centre has now expanded with an additional number of teacher aide hours to provide extra support for students. Along with many teachers who volunteer in our centre, students are able to receive quality assistance and personalised teaching on a range of subjects. It is wonderful to see so many students take advantage of this service to improve their learning. I’d also like to acknowledge and thank the many staff who are willing to contribute extra hours, above and beyond their work days, to support students.
New Tuckshop Update
Architectural plans are being progressed based on Brisbane State High School’s state-of-the-art design. Additionally, our tuckshop design will also incorporate an outdoor seated area. I expect this area will also be used extensively during breaks, as well as class time, as a collaboration and learning space. I thank our P and C for their significant contribution to the project.
Timetable Proposal
With the introduction of the new Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), incorporating the ATAR system, along with the much stronger guidelines around the Australian Curriculum, it was timely to investigate ways to ensure that our timetable provided the very best model to allow for quality learning outcomes. All community feedback is welcomed and valued. This will be taken into account for a decision later this year. Deputy Principals are responding to all queries and comments. I will continue to provide updates to the P and C each meeting.
Leonard McKeown
DipT BEd GradDipMgt MEd(Res) MBA MACEL MAICD
Executive Principal
International Student Program News
In this newsletter article, we acknowledge and congratulate Cleveland District State High students; Limkyung Choi – Year 12 IB student from South Korea and, CDSHS International Student Liaison Officer, Olivia Chissell – Year 12 IB student and, CDSHS School Captain and, Gwen Philips and Deagan Rodgerson – Year 11 IB students, who recently participated in a co-design program workshop with Multicultural Australia.
Earlier this year, Multicultural Australia approached CDSHS seeking input from senior students with a diverse range of viewpoints to help develop their new Arts based program expected to be rolled out to Queensland schools in 2022. The program will focus on teaching young people how to have conversations about discrimination and to make communities safer for all people.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the co-design workshop was delivered via virtual forum. The co-design convenors made special mention of the excellent ideas and experiences shared by our CDSHS students. Later this month, it is hopeful that CDSHS will host the official launch of the new Multicultural Australia program.
Pictured below: Limkyung, Olivia, Gwen and Deagan
Year 7 Matters
Hello from the new Year 7 Dean. My name is Clair Doevendans and I have recently transferred to Cleveland DSHS as Dean of Year 7. Previously, I have been Dean of Year 11 and working with students on various pathways. Ms Jackie Yarwood and Ms Alina Ryan remain in the Junior Engagement Hub but will focus on Year 8 and Year 9 respectively. I’m excited for the change at a new school, with a different cohort of students and, look forward to meeting all of them.
I’m told this cohort has settled in well to high school and are well versed in the way that CDSHS operates. I’m keen to build a sense of belonging with the students and encourage them to get involved in the various extra-curricular activities our great school has to offer.
Year 7 can be a tough time to navigate for our young people as they find ways of fitting in and finding their place in the community. I strongly encourage parents to read the article ‘5 Gentle Messages for Our Teens’ by Linda Stade who shares key messages for discussion with teens such as:
- Removing the word ‘should’ from statements about ourselves eg: ‘I should be getting A's’, ‘I should be thin’. Rather, focussing on individual goals and challenging societal expectations that may not be achievable or relevant.
- Being brave to be themselves by allowing others to see who they truly are and not worrying about other people’s opinions.
- Writing your own narrative which reminds young people that they have the opportunity to choose whatever pathway they desire and don’t have to follow traditional pathways.
- Shining light on others by celebrating successes of others and acknowledging people who help us to succeed.
- Using social capital for good by using their circle of friends to be kind to others and include others who may just need to be given a chance.
Read the full article via the link below.
Please contact myself or Mr Jared Kerwin who remains the Assistant Dean for Year 7, if you have any concerns about your child.
Creative Arts News
Lockdown has had an impact on extra-curricular Creative Arts activities over the last few weeks, with rehearsals and concerts being postponed, much to the disappointment of all involved. New dates for Showcase, etc. will be advised. However, in these challenging times the Arts are always an important avenue for stress-relief and our students have continued to enjoy their Creative Art classroom activities, with all of our Year 12 students working hard to finalise their internal assessment for the year.
Our Year 12 Music Extension students presented their final performances in a closed concert to students and staff, performing with awesome musicality and expression in spite of their masks! We hope to soon share these performances with a public audience so, our wider community can enjoy the impressive talent of this group of students who have thrived under the guidance of Mr Simon Watson.
Year 12 Music Extension Students
Our Year 12 Visual Art students have also submitted their final folios, demonstrating creativity and innovation in their thoughtful approach to realising artworks. Throughout this year, the students have developed a body of work focussing on any area of their interest, to deepen their knowledge of the world around them. Students were permitted to develop works exploring through any media, theme, and artistic style. In term 2 and 3, students were challenged to develop works that provided ‘alternate’ views or approaches to their chosen focus, in some cases possibly challenging their own personal views. The works that were created show the vast array of styles, themes, and techniques explored this year.
Year 12 Visual Art student work
From Seniors to Juniors, many of our Year 8 Creative Arts students have also recently finalised their Art folios. The Year 8 students completed a range of Art making tasks, from an exploration of surrealism which creatively envisions the future, to portraiture and the exploration of identity. Our Year 9 students have also been working hard to develop their contour drawing skills, focussing on the creative process of drawing a range of subjects from portraits to still-life. The works of many of these young artists will be displayed at our upcoming FAMED exhibition (Film, Art, Media and Drama) on Monday September 13 in Week 10 of this term.
Year 8 and 9 Artworks
Creative Arts Alumni Reflections 2021
We are proud of the significant contribution Creative Arts makes to the lives of our students, and are always interested to follow the adventures of our alumni. The YouTube clip following this article was recently published and, reflects on the importance of the Creative Arts for many of our past students. Please watch and enjoy!
Subject Selections
Over the next few weeks our Year 8 and 9 students will be choosing their subjects for next year. This is often a challenging time for students and, we would like to take this opportunity to advocate for the importance of the Arts subjects in creating well-rounded, creative and critical citizens for tomorrow’s world. Arts subjects provide students with more than simply skills in a specific Arts field – they provide an opportunity for students to explore historical, social and political issues, as well as developing self-confidence, self-expression, creativity and critical thinking.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” Albert Einstein
“The purpose of Arts education is not to produce more artists, though that is a byproduct. The real purpose of Arts education is to create complete human beings capable of leading successful and productive lives in a free society.” Dana Gioia
“Creativity is critical thinking, and without it how are you going to open up and ask harder questions? The Arts opens up those possibilities to think beyond what we already know.” Catherine Opie
Date Claimers:
FAMED: An Exhibition of Film, Art, Media and Drama student work – Monday, September 13, 3.30 – 6.30pm
Dance Fusion: Wednesday October 13, 6.30pm. Tickets on sale soon via TryBooking.
Instrumental Music Showcase: Friday October 15, 6pm. Tickets on sale soon via TryBooking.
Student Council News
Student Council is working with Share the Dignity during August.
Share the Dignity is a worthy cause we have supported for the last three years. It is where we ask for donations of sanitary items for homeless women and girls. Share the Dignity distribute period products to women and girls who need support. When someone is doing it tough, the last thing on their mind should be dealing with their period. We have two collection boxes in the library, and if lockdowns continue, you can donate at your local Woolworths. Last year we donated over 170 items and our aim at this stage is 200. For more information about the drives, click on the link following this article. If you would like to support this worthy cause, please drop your items to the library. We are collecting until 30th August.
Our next meeting for Junior Student Council is 8th September and for Senior Student Council it is 10th September. We are still running our Aussie BBQ at Multi-Cultural day.
Upcoming Events:
8 September – Junior Student Council Meeting
10 September – Senior Student Council Meeting
17 September – Multi Cultural day – Aussie BBQ
Senior Schooling Update
Exams in General Subjects
Exam season is almost upon us! All Year 10 and 11 students and parents have had an exam schedule emailed to them. Year 10 students in General subjects will begin exams on Monday 30 August through until Tuesday 7 September. These will be held in the middle session (Periods 4 – 7) with students either attending a scheduled exam or in their timetabled classes. Year 11 students in General subjects will begin their exam block on Wednesday 8 September through until Thursday 16 September. If students are absent for a scheduled exam, they must email the Head of Department and supply a medical certificate where possible.
Options Day
Our Senior students have really taken advantage of all of the opportunities open to them for their Options Day to enhance their ATAR, increase University entrance and enhance their resumes.
A record number of students across Years 10, 11 and 12 are accessing courses each Monday such as, Diploma of Business, Cert III Aviation, Cert II Plumbing/Cert I Construction to name just a few. We have also had an increase in the number of students taking on School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships. In total, just over 450 of our students are boosting their career and study options through accessing the partnerships we have with training organisations and employers in the Redlands. Thanks must go to our amazing Industry Liaison Officer (ILO), Deb Mansfield. You can find her in the Senior Engagement Hub.
Year 12 External Exams
Parents and students are aware that the Queensland Government has revised the External Exam timetable and the first day of exams is now Friday 22 October – Music, Health and Economics.
STEM Girls Regional Sustainable Agriculture Tour
On the 20th of July, my fellow STEM Ambassador Vanessa Feng and I attended the STEM Girls Regional Sustainable Agriculture Tour. Travelling along the Scenic Rim, the heart of Queensland’s agricultural industrial precinct, we were exposed to various ideas on the sustainability of farming and agriculture.
We first visited Scenic Rim Robotic Dairy (SRRD), a family-owned farm with ninety years’ experience in dairy farming. Emphasizing on the autonomy of cows, the SRRD pioneered the use of robotic systems when milking in Queensland. The farm uses Lely robots, machinery built around cows that allows them to choose when milked. Robots monitor the health of cows including their eating, amount of milk and the number of times they are milked per day.
On our second stop, we visited camels at the Summerland Camels Farm. The farm possesses a large community of camels and camel enthusiasts passionate about discovering the full potential of Australian Dromedaries. We toured the roaming, milking and laboratory areas of the farm, learning about the history and future of camels in the dairy industry. We were given the opportunity to sample food made from camel milk including cheese and gelato.
Finally, we visited the Kalfresh carrot washing and packing facility and farm. We toured the expansive factory run by both robot and man to prepare carrots for consumers across Australasia. The development of machinery and farming practices and the sustainability of this was explored, calling into question the excessive use of water and plastic in food production.
Throughout the day, we used critical thinking skills to evaluate the facilities we visited, and the products being sold to us. We focused on the sustainability of these farmers and their businesses, our purchasing habits, and the future of sustainable farming. We aim to take our experience and apply it during National Science Week and encourage you to question the sustainability of your food.
Zara Nolan and Vanessa Feng (Year 10)
2021 STEM Ambassadors
Pictured below: Mr Cooper and Mr Ryan found some friends at the camel farm!!
P & C News
The CDSHS P&C Association remains committed to the students, staff and community in these uncertain times. Meetings are held regularly where issues are raised, and resolutions sought on all things related to providing positive support, in various ways, to the students and the school community. Next meeting is on Tuesday 23rd November @7pm in the F9-F10 Innovation Centre. This will be the last meeting for the year.
UNIFORM SHOP
Parents / Caregivers – You are required to sign in on the COVID register on arrival, we have a QLD QR code available on the door and inside the store.
Flexischool orders – There are currently many orders awaiting pickup. Please ask your student to pick these up by the end of term. If you are unsure, feel free to call or email us and we can check if an order has been collected or not.
Online Stock – If an item is showing ‘out of stock’ on Flexischools, this also means it is unavailable instore. Once we have received stock instore it will be made available for purchase online through Flexischools.
Winter Sweaters – Now sold out except for sizes 8, 10, 2XL-4XL. Due to the time it takes to have these made and shipped, Winter sweaters will not be available now until our next Winter order arrives - usually around the end of Term 1, 2022.
Layby – Available in store only. Please come in and talk to us about this service if you require clarification.
Second-hand Clothing – To be accepted for resale, please ensure all items brought in are in good to excellent condition, freshly laundered and dry with no stains, paint marks, rips, broken zips etc. Any items that do not meet our resale criteria will need to be taken away with you. Accepted items will be costed with a 30% fee taken off the total for the P&C and, the remainder refunded either directly to your bank card if the total is under $100 or, direct to your bank account if over $100. You do not have to wait for the items to be sold instore before payment is received.
General – Thank you to everyone for wearing masks instore and abiding by the government guidelines. Remember, we do provide hand sanitiser and would appreciate everyone continuing to use these on entry and exit of the store. No stock is to be handled (except by staff) before it has been purchased. If you need help, please ask a staff member as we are more than happy to help you.
TUCKSHOP
General - The Tuckshop remains focused on providing delicious meals, snacks and drinks to the students and staff although, during these uncertain times, the way we are operating has changed slightly. Supplier orders are now being kept to a minimum as to avoid wastage should another snap lockdown occur and the weekly specials offered in previous terms are not available this term for this reason. Hopefully, next term we will be able to offer specials again but, in the meantime, the students are well catered for with all the popular food options still available.
$50 notes - Please do not send $50 notes with your student to pay for Tuckshop food. Our spare change is limited and it is difficult to provide change when a student presents a $50 note to purchase a $2 food item.
2021 Early School Leavers Survey
The Queensland Government is seeking the support of the school community for the annual survey of Year 10, 11 and 12 students who left school in 2020, before completing Year 12. This short, confidential survey collects information about what young people are doing the year after leaving school. The results of the survey help provide valuable information to improve services available to school leavers in the future.
Between August and September, these school leavers can expect to receive instructions to complete a web-based survey or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. Please encourage them to take part. If their contact details have changed, please assist the interviewer with their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate.
Thank you for your support of Next Step post-school destination surveys in 2021.
For more information, visit the link below or telephone toll free on 1800 068 587
School Based Youth Health Nurse
School Based Youth Health Nurses work in secondary schools across Queensland, with their focus being on preventative healthcare, early detection and brief intervention for all the students in Year 7 to 12.
Message from the SBYHN
Is that energy drink really going to give you wings?
Energy drinks are beverages that have ingredients like caffeine, vitamins and herbs. They claim to give you more energy and make you feel alert. Caffeine is a drug because it has an effect on the body. It acts as a stimulant - that means the brain and nervous system speed up.
The effects of caffeine are typically experienced within 30 minutes after drinking it and can last up to six hours, although it may be different for each person. For example, caffeine stays active in the body for a longer duration in babies, pregnant women and older people.
For further information on caffeine and energy drinks: Caffeine & Energy Drinks: Factsheet - Positive Choices
Confidential Student Appointments
Students can make an appointment with the SBYHN in person, by emailing nurse.cleveland@health.qld.gov.au or via the student counter, to discuss any questions they may have about their health and wellbeing. These appointments are confidential, and the nurse will not share any information without the student’s consent, unless there is a significant risk to the student’s health or safety.
In most cases, the SBYHN encourages students to talk to their parents or carers about their health and wellbeing issues and often the nurse supports students to do this.
Individual health consultations may include:
- Early detection of actual or potential health problems.
- Providing information, options or referrals to relevant health services to provide them with further assessment, treatment and/or support.
- Providing brief interventions and/or referrals to other services as appropriate.
Some of the main issues for which students have accessed the SBYHN this year have been mental health, including social and emotional wellbeing, relationships, family issues, stress, eating issues; sexual and reproductive health; drug use (including tobacco and alcohol) and, growth and development.
Please encourage the young person in your care to contact the nurse if they require any information or support for any health-related issues. The SBYHN can also take referrals from teachers and parents at nurse.cleveland@health.qld.gov.au. Lisa is available Monday, Tuesday, 2nd & 4th Wednesday.
Lisa Davies
School-Based Youth Health Nurse
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
Lifeline 13 11 14
1800 RESPECT
Chaplaincy - Beach Break 2021
