School Newsletter - Issue 5 - August 2023

From the Executive Principal's Desk

Dear Families

Since our last newsletter, I’ve had time to review our school’s National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) results. I am very proud to report to you that our school has done really well. In all the domains for each test in Reading, Writing and Numeracy, in both Years 7 and 9, we performed above the state mean. This is an exceptional result that provides evidence of our high-quality programs, the professional dedication of staff and the engagement and commitment of our students. Individual reports were sent home to families earlier this term and staff are evaluating student results to determine strategies for further support and extension.

This newsletter highlights a selection of great events that showcases our school’s culture and values.

Leonard McKeown

DipT BEd GradDipMgt MEd(Res) MBA MACEL MAICD

Executive Principal

The Cleveland High Show Team

The CDSHS Show Team has been hard at work over the last two weekends. With their first competition at Mt. Gravatt, they brought home 4 ribbons! This was a tough show, competing up against professional breeders, but a job well done. Their second show at Pine Rivers, the CDSHS Show Team was able to bring home 9 ribbons! Two of these ribbons were for supreme categories (best sheep of the show).

The students were also given a great opportunity to highlight their sheep handling skills in the handler’s competition at Pine Rivers. Heath Miller won 1^st place for the senior handler’s competition, and Will Mason won 3^rd place for the junior handler’s competition. This was a big win for both boys, especially considering that this was their first time in this type of competition. Well, done to the boys and the rest of the team! A big thank you to all the parents that were able to help out, and a big shout out to Stewart Miller for helping out and transporting the animals to and from the show.

We couldn’t have done it without you! Next will be competing against all of QLD for the young judge’s competition at EKKA August 18^th! Good luck to everyone that attends! 

Debating News

We are thrilled to share the remarkable progress and achievements of our debaters in this year's Queensland Debating Union (QDU) competition.

This year, the debating teams at Cleveland District State High School have once again proven their talent by securing an impressive feat in the Queensland Debating Union competition. Out of the eight teams that participated, a staggering six earned a place in the finals, reflecting the exceptional abilities and preparation invested by our students.

While the road to victory can sometimes be challenging, it's essential to acknowledge the perseverance and tenacity showcased by our Year 9 and 10 teams. Though they faced defeat in the first round of the finals, their unwavering spirit and dedication are undeniable testaments to their growth as debaters.

The progress made by our Year 11 and 12 teams is indeed worth celebrating. Using their exceptional skills, these teams managed to advance to the third round of the finals, demonstrating their ability to construct well-reasoned arguments and deliver them with flair and conviction. A special round of applause goes to our Year 11.2 team, who have achieved a remarkable feat by securing a spot in the quarter-finals.

The year 7 team has also made us proud. While the year 7 competition does not include a final round, our students have won the majority of their debates. This is especially remarkable, considering that this is the year 7 team’s first year debating. Our year 8 team, while not progressing to the finals, were victorious in one of their debates, and impressed the adjudicators with their confidence.

Our debating teams had the privilege of participating in a workshop led by Harry from the Queensland Debating Union. This unique opportunity allowed our students to receive guidance from an experienced debater, learning valuable techniques and strategies that will undoubtedly shape their future performances.

As we reflect on the outstanding achievements of our debating teams this year, it is evident that Cleveland District State High School is fostering an environment where critical thinking, effective communication, and teamwork thrive. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the coaches, teachers, parents, and supporters who have played an integral role in nurturing and guiding our debaters towards success.

National Science Week

10-12 Pathways and QCE Information Evening

Students and families are warmly invited to attend our 10-12 Pathways and QCE Information Evening presented by the Senior Engagement Team.

This session will provide information on all things related to QCE attainment as well as explore career and study pathways for our students while they are at school as well as for students about to graduate or exit school.

Joining us on the night will be a wide range of Universities, TAFE, Defence and Police Recruiting, Registered Training Organisations, Apprenticeship Centres and Employment Agencies.  Time will be set aside for students and families to speak directly with these providers to help our young people work out the right pathway for them.

Our Link and Launch Officer, Gemma, will also be there to talk about her role and how she can help our Year 12 students at the end of the year.

If you would like to attend this informative event, please rsvp by scanning the QR  code:

Event code: ff9a8

or hitting the link below

https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/ff9a8

International Student Program News

We are delighted to announce that this term, Cleveland District State High School's International Department welcomed a group of 23 new inbound students from various countries across the globe including, Italy, Switzerland, India, Iran, Germany, China, and Brazil. We hope our new Study Abroad and Graduate Program students have a fantastic time staying in our country and embarking on their educational journey here at CDSHS.

In addition to this exciting news, we would like to take a moment to celebrate and congratulate one of our outstanding international students, Vanessa Feng, for receiving the esteemed Peter Doherty Award. The Peter Doherty Award is a prestigious accolade for exceptional STEM students and is highly sought after. Vanessa's dedication and hard work over the years as a STEM student have certainly paid off. She has secured a well-deserved $5000 grant towards her future studies, a tremendous achievement. Congratulations, Vanessa!

Further expanding our international presence, we recently welcomed a Study Tour from Sheng Kung Girls’ High School, Taiwan. These students have been with us for the past two weeks, staying with our fantastic homestay families. They have had the incredible opportunity to immerse themselves in integrated classroom lessons and explore the University of Queensland and the Redlands museums. We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to all the students, staff, and homestay families who have made this enriching experience possible.

Looking ahead, as the end of the term approaches, we are excited to share with you our plans for our annual September international student trip. This year, our destination is Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. Our students will not only have the chance to explore these remarkable natural wonders but also engage in valuable learning experiences outside the classroom. We anticipate this trip to be an unforgettable experience for all participants.

As always, we are committed to providing the best educational opportunities and experiences for our international students. We strive to create a welcoming and nurturing environment that fosters growth, learning, and cultural exchange. With the support of our dedicated staff, homestay families, and the wider school community, we are confident that our international students will have a successful and rewarding time here at Cleveland High School.

Vietnam Veterans Day

Vietnam Veterans Day, commemorated on the 18th August, marks 50 years since the end of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War. We would like to acknowledge any Vietnam Veteran from our community. We would like to honour their service, with a display in our library. Cleveland DSHS are asking for any photos of family members who have served in the Vietnam War with a name so that they can be on display in our library and honoured.

More than 60,000 Australians served in Vietnam, over 3,000 wounded and 523 gave their lives. Australia's participation in the war was formally declared at an end when the Governor-General issued a proclamation on 11 January 1973.

 - Australian War Memorial 

If you would like to participate, please email Ms Edwards jedwa94@eq.edu.au a picture of the service member and their name or you can leave a photocopy with their name and service in the front Office for Ms Joni Edwards by Tuesday 15 August. Please no original photos.

Malakai & Tom
School Captain

Library News

Book Week is rapidly approaching and this year’s theme ‘Read, Grow, Inspire’ offers our students a chance to think about the ways in which they can read more, grow their mind and inspire their dreams. We will be welcoming Australian author Brian Falkner to help celebrate Book Week, share his stories and engage our students in a writing workshop. Alongside our author visit, we will also celebrate Book Week with our annual dress up day. This year we are running a Gold Coin Day in conjunction with our Student Council, and encourage students to dress up in their favourite character outfit. This is always a fun day, with activities and a book fair in the library. The Book Week dress up gold coin day is Thursday 24^th August.

Readers Cup - Congratulations to our Readers Cup teams who performed exceptionally well at the Bayside Regional competition. In Term 2, our Year 7s competed against a large number of schools in the area. They had a great day and represented our school with pride. In Term 3, our Year 9 and Year 10 teams competed against 17 other teams from Bayside schools. The students read the books, quizzed each other and were ready to win, and that they did. Our Year 10 team took out top honours and will now go on to compete in the Readers Cup State Finals in September at Moreton Bay College. Our Year 9 team was also outstanding and placed 6^th. Well done to our CDSHS students who continue to make our school a stand out in the community.

New reads - Our Library has a large range of new reads from both Australian and International authors. We encourage our students to drop in to the library to borrow books, chat to the library staff for recommendations and enjoy our library space. Many of our new reads are on the CBCA Shortlist for Book Week and are fantastic choices for our Young Adult Fiction readers.

Senior Study Space - Our Senior Study Space continues to be a place for our students in Years 10, 11 and 12 to utilise for their study purposes. It is a quiet, carpeted, relaxing space where we support our Seniors to catch up on assessment, complete some revision or work with a study buddy or staff member. We have a strict no phone and no food policy. Please encourage your student to use this space when they need to.

Lost and Found – We have a large amount of hats, jumpers and jackets in our lost and found tubs. The tubs can be found outside the library doors in four tubs. Students can search through these tubs to find their missing uniform item. If your student loses their phone, jewellery, watches and other expensive items, they will need to come into the library and check with staff. Thank you.

Student Council News

Late last term we held our famous Aussie BBQ at the Athletics Carnival. A huge thank you for the student council team for all their efforts with this fundraiser.

On August 18 Senior and Students Leaders are representing the school at the Redlands RSL sub branch at Vietnam Veterans Day. Tom and Malakai are creating a display in the library to recognise our veterans. Please see the article below if you like to participate.  Zoe is organising Share the Dignity. For the month of August we are collecting sanitary items on behalf of share the dignity. website - https://www.sharethedignity.org.au/ . Last year we collected just under 200 items, and our aim is 250. There are two collections boxes in the library.

On the 24th of August we are holding our Term 3 Gold Coin Day. We are working with Book week – Read, Grow and Inspire, students can wear

• Something inspired by the theme
• Favourite character from a book
• Own clothes all the cost of a gold coin.

Upcoming events

August

9 – Junior Student Council Meeting

10 – Senior Student Council Meeting

18 – Vietnam’s Veterans Day

24 – Gold Coin Day – Working with Book Week

September

6 – Junior Student Council Meeting

7- Senior Student Council Meeting

15 – MCD – Aussie BBQ

Share the Dignity

It is that time again, to support Share the Dignity Drive. For the month of August Student Council on behalf of Share the Dignity are collecting Sanitary items. We have two large collection boxes in the library.

Last year we collected 192 and our aim is 250. So, we asking if you can please donate one sanitary item to this worthwhile cause.

Zara
Student Council Public Relations Officer

News from our P & C

The new Tuckshop is open for business and what a success it has been so far on so many levels. The P&C Executive and staff as well as the school staff and students are all very happy with the transition, which has exceeded all expectations.

Our next P&C meeting is on Tuesday, August 22^nd , will be held in T4 lecture room located in the Language block. Entry is via Russell Street.

Tuckshop

A massive ‘thank you’ to Tina, Caroline, Lisa, Andrea, Leia, Cat, Chris, Jan & Donna for your dedication and passion in getting the new Tuckshop up and running and coping with the increased demand from the very satisfied students and teachers.

This Tuckshop team have done an incredible job lead by Tuckshop Manager, Tina Hauser, in creating effective processes to ensure the students have many more food options available to them on time and the flow of students as they come through the cafeteria style venue has been better than expected. Service times are excellent with most students having to wait no more than 5 minutes regardless of how long the queues are.

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Uniform Shop

Opening hours during term time only are:

Term three already? Term three started off busy with many international students joining us as well as a number new students. Once again, we would like to thank all the parents/caregivers and students for their patience during our busy moments.

Flexischools orders not collected – We have quite few unclaimed online Flexischools orders waiting for someone to take them home. If you have placed an order over the past few terms, please double check whether they have been collected.

Refunds and Exchanges – We are happy to exchange sizes for orders that have been collected or when items are purchased instore and taken home, however we can do this only when labels are not pulled off and items are not worn or washed.  We adhere to QLD fair trade laws regarding refunds.

Layby – always available instore, regular payments can be made over the phone, you do not need to come in– initial 20% deposit. 8–10-week term. Come and see us in the shop for further information.

Second hand clothing – We will purchase current school uniform items no longer required for $5, $10 or $15 amounts only (depending on condition-no stains or rips etc) and these are the amounts they will be sold for in the shop. A 30% administration fee charged goes back to help our students and school via our P&C Association.

We look forward to another great term.
Kind regards
Tersha, Kym and Rachel

School Student Broadband Initiative – Australian Government

To boost educational opportunities and narrow the digital divide, families without home internet are encouraged to apply for the School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI). Access to internet at home can support children to build their digital skills and participate in a world that is more reliant on digital technology.

The Australian Government is supporting the National Broadband Network (NBN) to implement the SSBI to provide free home internet for one year for up to 30,000 unconnected families across Australia with school aged students.

To be eligible for SSBI, a family must:

• Have a child living at home that is enrolled in a Queensland state school in 2023.
• Not have an active internet service at home. Having a mobile internet service does not affect eligibility.
• Be referred by a nominating organisation such as the Department of Education (the department).
• Agree their child has access to a device and has the digital skills to use the internet safely or will be supervised.
• Live in a premises that can access the NBN via a standard connection – this will be checked by NBN.

Referral through the department

The department is pleased to support the nomination of families for the SSBI. If you would like to apply for the SSBI please use the link below.

Applications must be submitted by 8 September 2023.

Online application:          SSBI Family application form   

First Aid Certificate

On Friday 4^th August, 56 senior students took part in the practical component of the first aid certificate.  These students had already completed the theory modules and are now fully qualified first aiders.  Congratulations students on walking away with a valuable life skill as well as 2 additional QCE points.

Families for Inclusive Education workshop

Inclusion and belonging at the local school:
The parent advocacy tool-kit”

Thursday 24th August 2023

9.15AM – 2.30PM

SUNNYBANK

Sunnybank Community & Sports Club,

470 McCullough Street, Sunnybank QLD 4109

Presented by Community Resource Unit LTD

About the Workshop:

Inclusion in the regular local school has been possible for decades. It is a human right; supported by evidence and now also supported by Queensland’s inclusive education policy. But achieving inclusion for all children is still not simple and straightforward!

Come along to this FREE workshop to hear stories of the benefits of inclusion, and of overcoming barriers to success in the regular classroom. Learn about inclusion to be clearer on your goals and develop skills to help promote inclusion for your child.

This workshop will cover:

• Knowing your child’s gifts and setting a vision for inclusion success
• Embracing your role as an advocate
• What authentic inclusion in the regular class looks like,
• Education laws, policies and supports.
• Speaking positively and confidently to work collaboratively with the school.
• Advocacy tips to stay strong and effective.

Note: This is a NEW workshop but draws on content presented in previous CRU workshops.

Who is CRU?

For more than 30 years Community Resource Unit Ltd. (CRU) has worked to promote positive change so that people with disabilities can belong to and participate in community life.

CRU's Families for Inclusive Education workshops assist families of students with disability to be clear, informed, confident and connected. You will meet other families, gain knowledge, and develop skills to work with your child's school. Event and Venue Details

Date and Time

• Thursday 24th August 2023
• Please arrive by 8.45AM for a 9.15AM start. Morning tea and lunch provided.
• Concludes at 2.30PM.

Venue details

• Sunnybank Community & Sports Club
• 470 McCullough Street, Sunnybank QLD 4109
• For additional venue details you can call directly on (07) 5413 1400

Cost

• Attendance is FREE, but bookings are essential.
• Morning tea and lunch will be provided.

Book Tickets

• Please book your tickets through the following link: https://events.humanitix.com/sunnybank-inclusion-and-belonging-24aug
• RSVP and Registrations close 14 August

Supported Attendance 

Please note that financial support for regional attendees is available to enable travel to this workshop.  This includes travel support (petrol/airfares) and accommodation.  To apply families should call 3844 2211, contact EducationProject@cru.org.au or fill in the attached application form.

Cancellations

• CRU's cancellation policy is on our website. Please use the following link: http://cru.org.au/about/policies/#cancellation 

For more information call CRU on 07 3844 2211 or email: educationproject@cru.org.au

Proudly supported by the Queensland Government through the Department of Education.

Contact Community Resource Unit LTD.

Phone:  07 3844 2211Email:  cru@cru.org.au

Website:  www.cru.org.au

Address: Level 2, 43 Peel Street. South Brisbane. Queensland.

ABN:16 143 460 250  ACN: 617 860 009

Early School Leavers Survey

2023 Early School Leavers survey

The Queensland Government is seeking the support of the school community for the annual follow up of Year 10, 11 and 12 students who left a state school in 2022, before completing Year 12. This short questionnaire collects information about what young people are doing the year after leaving state school. The results inform strategies for improving the learning experience and transition supports available to future school leavers.

Between August and September, early leavers from 2022 can expect to receive instructions to complete a few web-based questions 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 instructions to their new address so they can participate.

Thank you for your support in 2023.

For more information, please visit www.qld.gov.au/nextstep/ or telephone toll free on 1800 068 587.

Trivia Night - We need your help

The Cleveland High Vanuatu Team would like to invite all staff, parents and students to attend The Library Project Vanuatu’s fantastic Trivia Night on Saturday 26 August.

For over 15 years Cleveland High has been sending groups to Vanuatu during which time a Sister School agreement was signed between our school and Pango Centre School. Over time, our teams have become strongly involved with The Library Project Vanuatu, and we have made a significant impact in education for rural children by installing four libraries in schools with no previous access to books.

This year’s Trivia Night has the aim of raising sufficient funds to send another container of books to help us create 12 more libraries in impoverished schools.

Request #1: Please could you donate a voucher or item from your business or skill. The success of the night depends on having many, many items on our Silent Auction. Every $10 we raise sees another 40 books placed in a library, every $1000 places a whole library in a school! To make donations of money, prizes or vouchers, please email Chappy Neale at neale.collier@suchaplaincy.org.au or call the school.

Request #2: Join in the fun! If you are game for a fun night out in support of a life-changing cause, why not come along. Even better, book a table and invite your friends to join you. If you are not a massive trivia buff, have no fear, there are plenty of ways to keep yourself in the games, and everyone will have lots of chances to win on the night. To book please use the following link: https://www.libraryproject.com.au/event-details/trivia-night-2023 or the QR code on the flyer.

We really need you! Your support of this event through donations or attendance will help to change the future of hundreds of children who get their first access to a wide selection of books, improving their educational prospects.

Epic Beach Break Spring Camp

Put away your jumpers and dust off your togs! It is time to hit the beach! The spring holidays are fast approaching, and that means it is time for Redlands Epic Beach Break – the annual 5-day camp organised for Redland’s High School students by the school chappies and local youth group leaders.

Students are invited to enjoy 5 days packed with the best the Sunny Coast has to offer. Other than daily sessions of games, swimming and chilling on the beach, the program includes awesome times of tubing, ice-skating and a Laser-zone lock-in. At campsite there will be lots of activities as well as plenty of time to hang out with other campers, play games, enjoy the craziness of the night time program and the live music.

The youth leaders are fully trained by SU Australia. Scripture Union have been organising camps for over 100 years, so parents can be sure their children will have a safe and enjoyable camp with an amazing supportive atmosphere. There will even be time to talk about life, God, faith, friendship, goals and about what is ‘REAL’.

The camp is close to half full, so if you are keen to come, please book early to avoid disappointment. Chappy Neale and Bella are very happy to announce that we have a number of sponsorships for Cleveland High students which will take $100 of the cost of the week. Please use the link below to book, or chat to one of the school chaplains for a flyer or to inquire about the discount.

https://brushfire.com/sua/camp/551737

Sport Report

There have been many outstanding sport performances from students, past and present, over the last few weeks.

2018 CDSHS Alumni and Australian diver - Cassiel Rousseau has claimed gold at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka after triumphing in the men's 10-metre platform final. It is Australia's first victory in the event in world championships history.

Our Sport Aerobics teams recently competed at the Federation of International Sport Aerobics & Fitness (FISAF) State Championships receiving excellent results:

RAGE – finished in 3rd place – this means that they have qualified for the National Championships in September 

There was strong Cleveland representation at the Queensland Secondary School Sport Football Championships for 13-16 and 17-19 years boys last weekend.

Congratulations to Bostyn (Year 10) on his selection in the 13-16 years Queensland team! 

SPL FOOTBALL RESULTS⚽️

• Some strong results in recent fixtures have positioned our SPL teams well going into their last round.
• The Senior Boys team have already locked in a Grand Final spot with some of our other teams still in contention!

•             Best of luck to all teams in their last round vs Helensvale SHS that will take place in next week!

Cleveland Classic Basketball – Boys

• In Week 1 and 2 of Term 3, the CDSHS Basketball Program hosted 10 different schools in the Cleveland Classic. For the second year running the Year 8 boys dominated the rounds and breezed into the semis. After two close games in the semi and final the Cleveland team hoisted the trophy for a second year running.
• The Year 10s team put on a dominate display with some exceptional highlights. After falling short in the final last year, Cleveland came back fired up and ready to claim their first Cleveland Classic tournament. They went through the tournament winning every game by an average of 35 points.
• Congratulations to both team in their well earnt wins and a huge thank you to all the students that help facilitate and run this successful competition.

Cleveland Classic Basketball - Girls

• At the same time, Cleveland Girls basketball teams competed in the Cleveland Classic, hosted by Redlands College. Our year 10s and 8s teams played exceptionally well and went through the rounds on top of their pools.
• In a close year 10 semifinal against Redlands College, our girls fell short by a few points. They finished the last game strong to take out the bronze. The grade 8s team cruised through to the final but were met by a tough Alex Hills. The girls gave away a big lead early and fought hard to come back, but eventually fell short by 10 points.

Indoor Cricket:

Congratulations to Year 12 Student, and Moreton House Captain, Kyla Hanson, who has been selected in the Australia n U/18 Indoor Cricket Team, who will compete at the World Junior Series in Dubai in September. Kyla represented Queensland at the recent National Championships and contributed significantly to the team's success.

Kyla's abilities on the sporting field in indoor cricket and football are matched by her wonderful attitude and her extremely respectful nature off the field. We are extremely proud of Kyla's achievements and wish her all the very best for the World Junior Series in Dubai!

AFL NEWS

On Wednesday in Week 10, our Junior Male and Female sides competed in the AFLQ Schools Cup. Both sides competed strongly all day before both narrowly going down in their respective finals. A huge congratulations to Breeze (Year 8 ) who was awarded the medal for Player of the Day, as voted by the umpires.

All of these sport success stories have come from opportunities outside of our normal interschool sport competitions. We are very lucky to have such dedicated staff and coaches who sacrifice their own time to provide opportunities for us. Term 3 will provide many opportunities for students involved in our main four sports – Basketball, Volleyball, Football and Touch – and we look forward to hearing about their successes in the future.

Year 9 Outdoor Education Camp

The two classes of year 9 Outdoor Education classes participated in an overnight camping experience at Karingal Scout Camp in Mount Cotton. Students formed groups to plan the camp, setting up their campsites, plan and cook meals together over gas stoves, walked to the top of Mt Cotton for sunset, and had activities around the fire cooking marshmallows and damper. Students were assessed on their meals, their participation and the condition of the camp grounds after breaking camp.

Outdoor Education students are currently learning basic first aid, making their own first aid kits, and learning hiking and wilderness survival skills.

Students will next undertake an overnight 18 kilometre hike where they must work together be self-sufficient and carry all their gear in a hiking pack.  

James McGregor
Experienced Senior Teacher

Join the Cleveland High Vanuatu Mission in 2024

The first Cleveland High team to travel to Vanuatu in 5 years returned last month after and amazing visit. Three staff and 9 students travelled to a remote school, Aulua Centre School, in South East Malekula. We were very well looked after, and enjoyed a lot of time playing sport and getting to know the students and staff at the school. Located on a sheltered beach, with a small river running along the one boundary, the school was in a true tropical paradise. Everyone enjoyed the snorkelling, waterfalls, fire-show and turtles, but the real joy was completing the new school libraries. Giving a library to three schools that had almost no access to books before caused so much joy, excitement and thanks.

The whole trip is a wonderful, life-changing experience. If you are successful in joining our trip in 2024, you will change lives by greatly improving the educational outcomes of village children. Of course, you will also enjoy some of the best tropical island locations Vanuatu has to offer including waterfalls, blue lagoons and coral reefs. Vanuatu prides itself as being one of the happiest, most welcoming places on earth, and you would experience real village hospitality.

2024 Trip Overview

If you will be in Year 9-12 next year, you are invited to apply to be a member of our team. You would camp in a Vanuatu village school for a week, befriending the local children, reading books, and playing soccer and volleyball with them. You will also visit at our Sister School, Pango Centre School, building on the years of relationships forged by Cleveland High teams since 2005.

Parent Information

Our first Parent and Student Information Evening will be held on Monday 4 September from 6:30-8pm in T4. It is essential that parents and students attend this information evening before their position can be finally considered. We will outline the plans for this trip, including dates, costs, planned itinerary, pre-trip functions, fundraisers and other team commitments. Staff, students and parents are warmly invited to attend.

Application

If you are keen to join the team, complete an application form which will be available on the school website to be considered for this trip. Space is strictly limited so there is a selection process. The first round applications need to be returned by 30 October 2023.

Contact

For further details please email the Chappies or visit the Drop-in Centre during lunch.

Chappy Neale at ncoll47@eq.edu.au or neale.collier@suchaplaincy.org.au

Creative Arts Newsletter

It is the season of subject selection, and the Creative Arts team are looking forward to supporting our students in their selection of Arts electives!  We are enthusiastic advocates of the research which says that studying the arts helps to develop creative thinking, language and communication skills, memory, confidence and fine motor skills, and that studying the arts is linked to student well-being and an improvement in academic results generally.  As a faculty, we have been very pleased to hear of many students across Queensland who chose to do an Arts subject (or three!) through to Senior and finished with fantastic results – ATARs of 99.85, 96.20 and other great results!  This is evidence that students can succeed by choosing subjects they are passionate about, which make them happy, and that they have a talent for!  To help our students with their decision-making, our Creative Arts Ambassadors and Senior students have created a video for our Junior students to show them how awesome it is to study Arts electives at CDSHS.  Please watch it using the following link: https://youtu.be/GzyUDJIIz2M

If you have any questions with regards to Subject Selection please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Head of Department, Simon Watson: swats176@eq.edu.au.

Creative Generations

Our Creative Arts students have had a fabulous start to the semester, with many students involved in the spectacular Creative Generations performance at the Convention Centre in the 1^st week of term.  Along with 1500 other auditioned students from around Queensland, our students rehearsed for C-GEN for months, involved as singers, dancers, actors or musicians, and all their hard work culminated in 5 awesome performances!  Congratulations and well done to the students and staff who were involved in Creative Generations this year!

Instrumental Music News

Our Instrumental ensembles have enjoyed participating in a range of performance opportunities so far this term.  In July we hosted a music tour from Perth’s Guildford Grammar and, after an afternoon of workshops, our Senior ensembles presented a collaborative performance in the PBC enjoyed by all.  The grand finale was our tribute to the late Tina Turner – “Simply the Best” as a 100 piece combined ensemble.  Awesome work students – and great to see some enthusiastic dance moves by our musicians as well!

Jazz Collective then performed with Queensland Youth Orchestra Big Band and St Peter’s Lutheran Big Band last month at the Old Museum as part of a Youth Jazz extravaganza. It was excellent to see a diverse range of Jazz styles presented, and the audiences appreciated the talent on display. 

Photo: Jazz Collective performing at the Old Museum

Our Junior performers have also enjoyed some performance opportunities, with our Symphonic Band providing a wonderful performance at Bay View State School’s Spooktacular. They were fantastic ambassadors for our school and such a great example for the younger musicians performing at the concert, showing where persistence with lessons, rehearsals and practice can take you.  Well done students!

Photo: Symphonic Band performing at the Bay View SS Spooktacular

Finally, our Instrumental and Choral students have had a busy last two weeks competing at the Redlands Eisteddfod, with some fantastic results.  Congratulations to Jazz Orchestra, Senior Percussion Ensemble and Year 8 Music Extension Orchestra who were awarded 3^rd place, Chamber Strings, Concert Band, Jazz Collective, Year 7 Music Extension Orchestra and Senior Vocal Ensemble who came 2nd, and to Wind Ensemble and Junior Choir who came first in their respective sections!  Symphonic Band and Junior Percussion Ensemble were also awarded Highly Commended for their performances in very competitive sections.  Well done to all of our Instrumental and Choral ensembles on your awesome performances – you are a credit to our school! Great work students!

Photos: Junior Choir, Senior Vocal Ensemble and Concert Band at Eisteddfod

Dance Eisteddfod

Our dancers had a very successful day at the QUOTA Beenleigh Eisteddfod last week.  They performed 4 dance routines and received a place for each one!  They placed 2^nd and 3^rd in the Year 12 and Under Jazz section, 3^rd in the Year 12 and Under Contemporary section and 1^st in the Year 12 and Under Lyrical section.  The adjudicator commented on our students’ strong technique, high energy and their ability to deliver the appropriate emotion for each style of dance.  The students thoroughly enjoyed competing and brought their absolute best to the stage. Congratulations to our fabulous dance students and their amazing teachers, Mrs Ainslie Murray and Mrs Claire Hunter!

Creative Arts in the Classroom

Arts Immersion Week

In week 3 of this semester, we were excited to host our inaugural Arts Immersion week, in which selected Year 8 and 9 students were invited to participate in a range of Arts workshops by renowned industry professionals.  These workshops were designed to provide extension opportunities for our Creative Arts students, and it was great to see the student engagement and enjoyment as they participated in these activities! Our Drama students were introduced to the heritage Drama style of Commedia Dell’ Arte by Homunculus Theatre Co. who delivered a comical performance with an array of over-exaggerated characters and simple but effective sets.  The hilarious audience involvement left our students and teachers alike in stitches.  Our Music students explored body and bucket percussion with Grant Collins, and looping with our very own Head of Department, Mr Simon Watson, and both of these experiences opened our students’ eyes to new musical opportunities!  Our Dance students enjoyed Hip Hop workshops with a guest choreographer, our Visual Art students explored art techniques under the guidance of celebrated local artist, Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, and our Media Arts students explored a light-painting and photography workshop. All-in-all it was a great week of Arts Immersion and a wonderful example of the many exciting opportunities provided by the Creative Arts team at Cleveland District State High School.

Year 12 Music and Music Extension

All of our Year 12 ATAR Creative Arts students have now completed their final internal assessments (IA3s), much to their great relief!  The Year 12 Music students have been working on a “Narratives” unit, and some of their musical story-telling has been truly compelling. This week these students presented their final performances to appreciative audiences of peers, friends and family, with our Music Extension students performing in concert as this newsletter is published!  What an impressive and talented bunch of musicians these students are – it has been wonderful to watch your musical performance skills develop over the years of your study. Congratulations on your great work students – we will miss hearing your beautiful music-making!

Photos: Some of our Year 12 Music students in action!

Student Point of View

Hello everyone, my name is Katie McDuff and I am one of the 2023 Junior Creative Arts Ambassadors, and I could not be more excited for what’s coming up this semester! Whether it’s our Music showcase, Dance Fusion night, or the long-anticipated Addams Family Showcase – we are all working very hard to make these nights special for everyone involved.

In Year 9 Drama, we have been exploring the world of ‘Commedia Dell’Arte’, a style of Italian theatre. This unit has been especially enjoyable as in the modern world, you never get to see or learn about ancient types of theatre, and truly discover how the techniques applied back then are still an integral part of Drama and Film today! I have learnt many things, such as stock characters, improvisation, identifying traits of a character, and mostly importantly, speaking spaghetti! We were very lucky to have a performance in our Arts Immersion week, from a theatre company called ‘Homunculus’- two actors put on an entertaining and interactive show for both my class, and selected students from grade 8. My highlight of the show had to be when the actors put on their Commedia masks – it was almost like they were entirely different people! We were very grateful to be able to have a theatre workshop with them after the show.

In Year 9 Music, my class has been looking at Rock music, and we have been given a task to perform a Rock song and we will be soon composing our own Rock piece! My group has been rehearsing very hard the last few weeks, and we all can’t wait to perform for the Year 8 Extension Music class! In Arts Immersion week, Mr Watson taught us how to use a loop pedal and create our own song! It was so fun to be able to participate with everyone and hear all the amazing music that was being created in a matter of minutes. Our music class also were able to try out bucket drumming, which was led by a fantastic drummer, Grant Collins. I can’t wait to apply the techniques I learnt to my own composing task, later this term!

Our very own Junior Choir came first place in the Redlands Eisteddfod, singing the songs ‘Pure Imagination’ from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and ‘Speechless’ from Aladdin. Seeing other choirs perform was also a highlight of my night – especially seeing all the community choirs. I love how they continued to pursue their passions in music, even after school, and you could see their enthusiasm on stage. Wind Ensemble has been working extremely hard for our Eisteddfod next week, and we hope to make Cleveland proud.

As Creative Arts Ambassadors we also contributed to our school’s NAIDOC celebrations this term. We encouraged fellow students to get involved in painting a NAIDOC banner – with a theme ‘For Our Elders’. We created a totem pole of animals, each one standing for each letter of the word ‘ELDERS’ – Emu, Lorikeet, Dingo, Echidna, Roo, and Snake. We had many participants who helped to paint these animals, and I am so happy that our school is so involved and invested in respecting traditional Indigenous culture!

These are just a few of the extraordinary things our Creative Arts Program has been getting up to – our teachers always know how to make their students flourish, whether it’s in Dance, Drama, Film, Art or Music!

Photos: Our Junior Creative Arts Ambassadors, Katie and Zoe, with Visual Art teacher, Ms Tammy Leeuwendal, contributing to our school’s NAIDOC celebrations with a collaborative banner:

Date Claimers:

Coming soon, we are pleased and proud to present our major showcases for the year.  We hope to see you there!

FAMED: Film, Art, Media and Drama Exhibition – Monday September 11, 5-8pm

Dance Fusion: Wednesday, September 13, 6.30pm, https://www.trybooking.com/CKLVZ

Music Showcase: Thursday, September 14, 6.30pm, https://www.trybooking.com/CKLWF

Addams Family: Friday October 13 and Saturday October 14, https://www.trybooking.com/CKLWK

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander News

We were honoured to have our community Elders and special guests to help celebrate NAIDOC with our school.    We are so proud so many of our students helped to create such a wonderful occasion for our families, staff and students. Events included many cultural activities such as bush tukka, traditional dance, jewellery and card making, art activities and a weaving circle.

This year’s theme was ‘For Our Elders’ and what a deadly presentation of respect and pride our students and community displayed for our Elders. A special Year 7 parade showcased several traditional dances performed by our students and music by Uncle Nunka Walker and Jahlow Walker. Taryn Ruska-Fisher assisted with the smoking ceremony. Thank you to Aunty Mary Burgess for our beautiful Welcome to Country. Throughout our parade we heard tributes from some our students, who shared moving and personal stories about elders who had influenced their lives. It was wonderful to see so many students acknowledge the respect and connection they are so fortunate to have with their elders. Our school thanks the elders for their support of our Jandai program, which continues to grow and evolve because of their collaboration and support. Students were able to enjoy the song written and recorded by some of our students, who attended the Yuuingan Dhilla Yari First languages Symposium, earlier this year. Undoubtedly the highlight of the parade was seeing the strength and pride our students had in sharing their culture with our school. This could be seen, felt and heard throughout their dance, song and stories.

Thanks also goes to Dunwich State School and Community for hosting NAIDOC celebrations in July. Some of our students and staff had a delightful day on Minjerribah participating in the many activities available. The informative talk Matt Burns and the Quandamooka Country dancing were just some of the highlights.

Congratulations to Brianna Morrison, who has won the Regional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Vocational and Education Training Award. Bree has successfully completed a VET Marine Placement Program called "Healing Sea Country" offered through Envirotech Education. The course, especially the fieldwork ,components, deepened her passion and understanding of marine ecosystems, and she achieved her Certificate II in Marine Habitat Conservation and Restoration. Brianna is also one of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ambassadors and her leadership has influenced positive outcomes for our school. Her recent speech, at our NAIDOC parade, was heartfelt and highlighted the important place Elders hold in our community. We wish Brianna well for the State Award announcements in September and with her aspiration to work in coral reef restoration.

We look forward to welcoming former Broncos NRL Player Albert Kelly, who will join Beyond the Broncos Mentoring Program that is dedicated to improving education outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Saver Plus Program

School camps are an amazing opportunity for your students.

But they can be financially stressful for some parents.

Saver Plus will assist with their saving & budgeting for next year’s camp.

Saver Plus encourages parents to save $50 a month (for 10 months). Their savings is then matched - a free $500 for education costs, making $1,000 available for the school camp.

Families that start saving in July, will have their savings ready to pay their school camp fees in May 2024.

Saver Plus will chat with your families about eligibility:

• Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card
• Payment from Centrelink and
• Earning an income (employment, carer’s payment, or child support).

Saver Plus helps parents with budgeting for the cost to attend next year’s school camp.

Cath Sweeney (she/her)
Community Liaison, Saver Plus

The Smith Family
Mobile 0466 474 584
www.thesmithfamily.com.au

Please note: I don’t work Friday

QUT Research Project - Survey

Why is the study being conducted?

This research project is being undertaken as part of an Honours study for Anahita Mardani.

The purpose of this research project is to explore how test anxiety impacts the performance of young novice drivers within the context of the practical driving test. This study aims to investigate the relationship between how different dimensions of test anxiety (i.e. social concerns, cognitive interference, worry, physiological hyperarousal, task irrelevant behaviours, facilitating anxiety, and tension) impact a young novice driver’s performance on the practical driving test.

You are invited to participate in this research project if you meet all the following:

• You are between 16 and 24 years of age,
• You hold a current Queensland licence of Learner (L) class, and
• You have booked in to complete your practical driving test.

• What if I have questions about the research project?

  If you have any questions or require further information, please contact one of the listed researchers:

  Dr Natalie Watson-Brown                natalie.watsonbrown@qut.edu.au                      07 3138 4885

  Dr Sherrie-Anne Kaye                      s1.kaye@qut.edu.au                                           07 3138 7697

  Anahita Mardani                              anahita.mardani@connect.qut.edu.au

Dental Health Week

August 7-13^th, 2023, is Australia’s national Dental Health Week, which is an oral health awareness week promoted by the Australian Dental Association.

Maintaining good dental health is not just about having pearly whites and nice smile. Dental health includes keeping our whole body healthy as there are major links between diseases of the mouth and diseases in the body.

Did you know that bacteria in the mouth can travel to different sites in the body through the bloodstream causing inflammation and infection to other bodily tissues and organs? Six health conditions have known links to oral health:

1. Heart Disease
2. Diabetes
3. Alzheimer’s Disease
4. Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
5. Lung Conditions
6. Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Despite almost half of all Australians having one or more chronic diseases, 70% of people are not aware of these links between oral health and chronic disease conditions. That is why Dental Health Week want to spread awareness with this year’s 2023 oral health message:

“Mind, body, mouth - It’s all connected”.

Want to improve your oral health? Then follow these steps

1. Brush your teeth twice a day using fluoride toothpaste (for at least 2 minutes)
2. Clean between your teeth every day using floss or interdental brushes (floss before brushing)
3. Eat a healthy, balanced diet and limit added sugar intake
4. Visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and preventative care.

Limiting sugar intake for good oral health

Did you know that sugar is the main culprit of tooth decay and erosion? Choosing to drink tap water over sugary drinks and fruit juice can help to keep both our teeth, gums, and overall bodies healthy. It is important to learn how much sugar is present on drink labels by reading the Nutrition Information Panel. Sports drinks, Energy Drinks, and Sodas often have lots of sugar in them as seen on the diagram below, which is important for teenagers to be aware of as these are often popular drinks for this age group. However, don’t be fooled by sugar free drinks either as they also contain acids that can lead to tooth erosion. If you do choose to drink acidic or sugary drinks, to prevent tooth erosion opt for a reusable straw to reduce exposure to teeth or try to drink at the same time as meals as the increased saliva in your mouth helps to neutralise acids. Choosing to drink water is always the healthiest option! 

For more information on Dental Health Week including educational resources visit https://www.teeth.org.au/dental-health-week

References:

Dental Health Week 2023 https://www.teeth.org.au/dental-health-week

Dental Health Week 2023 PowerPoint Presentation – found in Dental Health Week Resource Kit

Health Direct (2019), ‘Healthy’ juices might not be so good for your teeth https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/blog/juices-and-acid-erosion-in-teeth#:~:text=This%20is%20often%20called%20%27acid,the%20risk%20of%20tooth%20decay.

Qld Health, 2023 https://www.healthier.qld.gov.au/healthy-families/eating-and-drinking-well/sugary-drink-facts/

Image from Metro South Health  https://metrosouth.health.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/poster-healthy.pdf

Resourceful Adolescent Program

Brisbane

One Day RAP-A (Adolescents)
17^th October 2023
8.30am to 4.30pm Kelvin Grove, Brisbane

The Resourceful Adolescent Program (RAP) was developed to build resilience and promote positive mental health in teenagers. The program specifically aims to prevent teenage depression and related difficulties.

Approximately one in five teenagers will develop depression during the course of their teenage years which could severely hamper their development and future prospects. RAP aims to increase the psychological resilience or resourcefulness of young people and draws on research of successful treatments for adolescent depression and the known psychosocial risk and protective factors at the individual, family and school level.

The RAP-A program for adolescents is a school–based program for 12 to 15-year-olds that aims to improve the coping skills of teenagers.

If you are not in the Brisbane region and are interested in RAP training, please consult our web training calendar for other training locations. http://www.rap.qut.edu.au/training.jsp

Email  rap@qut.edu.au

Website www.rap.qut.edu.au

Crime Prevention Corner

The Prime Minister's Spelling Bee

Dear school community

I’m writing today from Senator Murray Watt’s office, to make sure your school community is aware of the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee.  We’d love it if you might include this information in your next staff bulletin and school newsletter.

School rounds have been underway since 24 July, but it’s not too late to register.  Registrations close at 5.00pm (AEST) on Friday, 18 August 2023 with the finals taking place after this date.

The PM’s Spelling Bee is a free online competition for Australian school students in Years 3 to 8, across all states and territories.

The competition has great prizes, for students and schools – you can find out all the details, including links to register, on the website:  www.spelling-bee.com.au

Peter Kington
He/Him
Office of the Hon Senator Murray Watt
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Minister for Emergency Management

Mobile 0410 669 825 |Electorate (07) 5531 1033 |
Parliament (02) 6277 7190

G04, Kay House, 35 Scarborough Street, Southport QLD 4215
PO Box 310 Southport Business Centre QLD 4215

2024 Young Endeavour Circumnavigation Voyage Announced

2024 Young Endeavour voyage dates have been announced. These voyages will be taking place across Australia and are a great chance for students over 16 to meet new people and be surrounded in an adult learning environment.  The Navy provides a high level of support for these trips.

Young Endeavour Youth Scheme

CONTACT US

PO Box 1661, 1335, Potts Point

ambassador@youngendeavour.gov.au

1800 020 444