CDSHS Newsletter - Issue 3 - May, 2024

From the Executive Principal's Desk

Dear Families

Our school’s improvement journey is over-seen by our School Council and enacted through the four-year Strategic Plan and our Annual Improvement Plan. These processes have allowed Cleveland District State High School to continue our KAIZEN approach to continuous improvement.

On Thursday 16 May, our school hosted a half-day session for external school leaders to evaluate our improvement performance which comprised of two school supervisors, ten regional system leaders and seven school principals. Visitors heard presentations from Esther Alexander (Associate Principal), Shane Mason (Deputy Principal), Kelli Hutton (Deputy Principal), Martin Hampson (Year 7 Dean) and myself on our improvement agenda, strategy, processes, accountability measures and outcomes. Visitors then questioned the team to gain further understanding. Feedback from all visitors demonstrated the quality of our school’s programs and processes as well as very strong improvement in student outcomes.

In Term 3 of this year, the Department of Education will conduct a School Review. These are completed every four years in all schools in Queensland. Cleveland District has been selected as a School-Led Review. This is an honour as only 5% of schools in the State achieve this status and it is recognition of our school’s outcomes. We will continue to work at improvements through our School Council, P and C and other community forums.

This newsletter highlights a section of great events that showcases our school’s culture and values during the first half of Term 2.

Leonard McKeown
DipT BEd GradDipMgt MEd(Res) MBA MACEL MAICD
Executive Principal

Honour the Fallen - ANZAC Day

On Monday 22 of April, Cleveland High Senior and Junior Leaders, Student Council Representatives, Redlands RSL Sub branch members: Mr Ian Gray, Mr John Butler and Mr Marty Rabjohns attended the Honour the Fallen ceremony at the Cleveland Cemetery. This year we were very lucky to have students and teachers from Ecole College Sainte Marie Rouen join us. We had the honour and privilege to place an Australian Flag on the resting place of every veteran at the Cleveland Cemetery.

Cleveland District State High School would like to thank all past and present veterans for their service.

Lest We Forget

Joni Edwards - Student Council Coordinator

ANZAC Day - Dawn Service

As part of the ANZAC Day commemorations, school captains Noah, Jackson and I got up very early to represent Cleveland District State High School at the Dawn Service. In what was a beautiful ceremony, it was very touching to see so many people, young and old, giving up their own time to pay their respects to the Diggers who fought for the Australia we know and live in today.

What an honour it was for me, to see my grandfather marching with the other veterans and I was immensely proud to lay the wreath with his miniatures over my chest. It was an extremely moving occasion and I have to admit that a few tears were shed as I paused, along with hundreds around me, to remember those who have served and sacrificed protecting our land.

Sam P - CDSHS School Captain

Student Leaders Impressions of Anzac Day

Parliament House Excursion

On the 2^nd of May, the 2024 Senior School Captains Jackson, Sam, Mehedi, and I had the honor of visiting Parliament House in Brisbane along with Mr McKeown, Mr Cam and Ms Nobel. We had the pleasure of having a tour around Parliament House with Dr Mark Robinson. During the tour, Dr Robinson shared his insightful knowledge and the history behind the Parliament House. We were all amazed and captivated by the architecture and history behind the Parliament House. We were then allowed to sit in the Legislative Assembly Chamber while in session. This was very interesting for us all. We then had a 3-course lunch in the Strangers Dining Room with Dr Mark Robinson. During lunch, we all listened to Dr Robinson's stories and advice about leadership. We would all like to thank Parliament House for allowing us to visit and Dr Mark Robinson as well for the tour and the lunch.

Noah M - School Captain 2024

Student Council Update

Term 2 started out a busy one for the Student Council. After holding a successful BBQ on the last term of Term 1, we again had all hands on deck for the BBQ at the Cross Country. Everyone enjoyed the Aussie BBQ sausages!! (see pictures below)

The winners of our Easter egg raffle were happy to receive the good news!  And their Easter Eggs.

First prize :  Marius Weisse

Second prize : Holly Taylor

Third prize: Joni Edwards

Anzac day was week 2 of this term, and our Student Council members and Student Leaders had a large input into activities leading up to Anzac Day. Our school leaders set up the Poppy display in the library, out the front of the school, and the Poppy garden near the Paul Bancroft Centre.  30 Student Council students took part in ‘Honour the Fallen’. We went up to the Cleveland Cemetery and placed an Australian flag on all Australian soldier's graves. This year we also had a French school from Rouen, Normandy join us in this reflective day. (see pictures below)

Term Two Gold Coin day is coming up and we are supporting the ‘Biggest Morning Tea’ a Cancer Council fundraiser and ‘Mates for Mates’ which supports our returned veterans. Students can either wear red/pink or their own clothes for a cost of a Gold Coin. Enclosed shoes must be worn. Prizes will be given for the best dressed.

In Term 3 we will be holding ‘Shave for a Cure’ and we are looking for any staff or students who would be willing to take part in this fundraiser.  If you are interested, please come to the F block staffroom to collect a permission form. At Cleveland, participants will only have their head shaved to a number 2 blade and there is an expectation that all shavers will raise a minimum of $200 for the Leukaemia Foundation. If you are interested, collect a permission form from Mrs Noble in F Block staffroom.

Upcoming events

22 May – Junior Student Council Meeting

23 May – Senior Student Council Meeting

23 May – Gold Coin Day supporting Biggest Morning Tea and Mates for Mates

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Interhouse Cross Country Report

The CDSHS interhouse Cross Country Carnival was postponed at the end of Term 1 due to the wet weather. This event was instead run in the first week of Term 2, under somewhat overcast skies.  Every race across all age groups and genders had high participation rates and the rain held off, allowing for fast running conditions. The course included running around our oval and the surrounding fields provided by Redlands United Football Club and Redlands Touch Association. Once again, we thank RUFC and RTA for their ongoing support of our school events. Congratulations to the following students who were crowned Age Champions:

These students will make up the core of the CDSHS Cross Country team who will compete at the Bayside District Cross Country Carnival at the start of May. We wish these students, and all students who are selected in the school Cross country team, all the best at the District trials.

The final House Points were as follows:

1. Macleay - 1083
2. Russell - 1017
3. Morten - 824
4. Peel – 584

Congratulations to the House Leaders who did a mighty job in decorating their house zones and creating a competitive and fun atmosphere. Our next, and final carnival for the year, is the CDSHS Track and Field Carnival, which is on the last day of Term 2.

Comedy Gala 15 June in the Paul Bancroft Centre

Looking for an amazing night out?  Come to the Cleveland Comedy Gala being held on Saturday 15 June in the Paul Bancroft Centre.  The line-up includes four awesome comedians from the national and international touring circuit with impressive resumes and performances.  Tickets are just $35 and proceeds will support the 2024 USA Academic Tour. Food, drinks and live music from 5.30pm with the show starting at 7pm. Grab a bite at the Aussie BBQ, enjoy a drink or snacks from the kiosk and buy some tickets in our MEGA raffle.  Prizes include holiday packages to North Stradbroke Island as well as restaurant vouchers and so much more from our generous Redlands business partners. Don’t miss out!!  Secure your tickets by going to the following link:

Creative Arts

Instrumental Music News: Fanfare Competition and SHEP

On May 31^st we are proud to be hosting Fanfare for our region at the Paul Bancroft Centre.  All of our Instrumental Ensembles will be competing, with our performances commencing at 12.30pm.  Please check emails for specific information about ensemble performance times.  Our ensembles have been working hard in rehearsals all year and we wish them well in this prestigious biennial competition.  Parents and friends are welcome to attend to support our students.

We would also like to congratulate the following Junior Instrumental Music students who have been accepted into the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University State Honours Ensemble Program (SHEP) this year: Leilani Altinay, Hudson Arnold, Ethan Brock, Audrey Colquhoun, Alexander Dumitru, Adam Farrow, Isaac Gibson, Abrielle Holland, Alexander Holland, Astra Lester-Linning, Perrin Ngatoko, Lillyanna Sayward, Daufi Spitler, Lauren Waitai and Florence Walker.   Well done to these young musicians – we are confident you will represent our school with pride.

Creative Generations – State Schools on Stage

Our C-Gen students are now busily immersed in rehearsals with other Performing Arts students from around Queensland as they prepare for this spectacular show at the Convention Centre in July.  Tickets are selling fast so if you wish to secure a seat for this great show follow the link below:

ANZAC Ceremony

Congratulations to the music students who made a poignant contribution to our ANZAC Ceremony in April.  Our Combined Choirs and Chamber String Ensemble provided a moving musical tribute in remembrance of fallen soldiers with their renditions of “Abide with Me”, “Little Red Poppy” and the National Anthems.  Thank you to all the students and teachers involved.  Congratulations also to the following students who represented our school by performing the powerful “Last Post” at local school ceremonies:

• Emi Davies – Cleveland DSHS and Thornlands SS
• Noah Margetts – Bayview SS
• Isaac Gibson - Ormiston and Cleveland SS

Dance Eisteddfod

Congratulations to Hannah Clive and Cody O’Toole who were entered in the Open Duo/Trio Contemporary Dance section at the Wynnum-Manly Eisteddfod last month and won!  The judge praised their technical skill, unison, strength and musicality, as well as commending their choreography as powerful and interesting (great work Mrs Murray!).  Congratulations to our awesome Dancers and teachers on this fabulous result!

Creative Arts in the Classroom

Year 12 Dance

In Dance our students are working on choreography tasks this term.  Our Year 12 Dance students have been choreographing and preparing their IA2 assessment.  The students had to choose a person of significance who has made an impact on a social, political or cultural issue, and develop a choreographic work that communicates this issue with a purpose of challenging and provoking thought and action in an audience!  It is great to see their beautiful and thoughtful work develop.

Our Year 9 Dance students are busy working on developing a Musical Theatre Choreography task.  They are focusing on communicating the story through a blend of dance and characterisation.  Keep up the great work students!

Year 11 Film, Television and New Media

Our Year 11 Film students have been working on creating music videos in class.  After studying a range of conventions and film techniques the students have been challenged to capture the message and meaning of their chosen song in video form.  The results of their work have been great to watch and the students really enjoyed the creative process. We look forward to sharing some of their videos at our FAMED exhibition in Term 3 - for new members of our school community, FAMED is an annual event which showcases the fabulous work of our Film, Art, Media and Drama students.  We hope to see you there!

Student Point of View, by Kobi Strand – Senior Creative Arts Ambassador

Hello! My name is Kobi and I am one of your very own Creative Arts Ambassadors. This term in my elective subjects there is a focus on creativity, with Music and Music Extension having me create songs inspired by pictures and themes such as video games and heavy metal. I just handed in my 4-minute composition for Year 12 Music, called 'The Song of Life' based on video games like Terraria and Undertail.

In Year 12 Film I am about to start filming my documentary piece on Australian car culture - if you couldn't tell I like cars and video games! It’s great that in Creative Arts subjects I am able to explore my own interests in a creative and expressive way. 

In Year 12 Drama we are currently creating our own drama project based on a dramatic element seen in the play Animal Farm, which we saw performed live by Shake and Stir Theatre Company. My dramatic piece is an Epic Theatre piece with social commentary on war and global warming. I am greatly looking forward to this term and what it holds. I hope you all have an amazing rest of the term!

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander News

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students had the opportunity to visit the University of Queensland St Lucia Campus and learn about careers in Early Childhood and Health with visits to the Alexandra Hills Campus of TAFE and Bayside Kindergarten and Childcare through the Minjerribah Morgumpin Elders in Council School to Work Transition Program. 

The recent Culture and Careers Day was also well received. Students heard from first nations leaders and gained some great tips and guidance about applying for jobs and more. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student Ambassador, Anika Anderson said, "On Wednesday 8^th May, we went to Victoria Point High School to listen to Elders talk about their career journeys. It was interesting to hear what the Elders experienced as they grew up and entered the workforce. I received some valuable information and advice".

The Homework Centre, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in the library, continues to be well attended. Jason Kitchener and the Beyond Broncos Student Support Officer, Kelsey Ladbrook Parkin are available to provide homework and assessment support.

We are looking forward to celebrating National Reconciliation Week and exploring this year’s theme.

Wendy Ingram - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Support Coordinator

Deadly Start for Beyond the Broncos Students

Three Year 12 Beyond the Broncos students have jumped at the chance to undertake a school-based traineeship and kick start their health career. The Deadly Start Program with the Institute of Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) gives students the opportunity to study one day within their school week to complete a certificate II in Health Support Services. The program is a great introduction into careers such as nursing, midwifery, oral health, dental assisting, food services, and allied health, with a direct focus on First Nations patient care. KC Campbell is looking to move into paramedicine, saying “I am passionate about helping people and it will be great to get some experience before I go to university.”

Library News

Writing Workshops and Winning entries!

Our students had the pleasure of attending a fantastic writing workshop with author and writing teacher extraordinaire, Josh Donellan. The students dove into the craft of writing compelling characters and vivid settings. With engaging exercises and expert guidance, our students learned firsthand how to bring stories to life on the page. A huge thank you to Josh Donellan for sharing his passion and expertise with us.

We would like to congratulate Yr 7 student Liri Elson who has won the Highly Commended prize in the Queensland Schools Library Association writing competition for Love Your Library Week. Her story about a library, told from the viewpoint of a book, was a highly creative and enjoyable read. Well done, Liri.

Our entry into the Queensland Premier’s Reading Challenge is up and running. The Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) is an annual statewide initiative for Queensland state and non-state schools which encourages reading for pleasure and aims to improve literacy. Students need to read a minimum of 15 books from 7^th May to 23^rd August 2024. Forms can be found at the school library. Please encourage your student to join in the challenge.

Last year’s Book Week visiting author, Brian Falkner, is running writing and art workshops during the July school holidays, starting on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 and running until Thursday, July 4, 2024 at Sheldon College. Please see attached flyers for further information.

LOST PROPERTY: If your student has lost property, please advise them to come to the library.

P & C News

Term 2 is flying by and already we’re halfway through. The amazing Tuckshop team as well as the Uniform Shop’s Rachel and Kym have been as busy as ever helping students daily. A special mention to praise the students who are always polite and well-mannered towards them whenever they are in the Uniform Shop and Tuckshop. It is a pleasure to help them.

The next general P&C Meeting will be held in the Innovation Centre F9 - F10 located behind the language block on 21^st May 2024 at 7pm. Entry is via Russell Street. New members always welcome.

Tuckshop

The Tuckshop has introduced a ‘winter’ menu with some new items on offer. Breakfast is becoming popular now with many students (and teachers) enjoying bacon and egg muffins, ham and cheese croissants, cheese grills as well as the usual toasties. First break and second break see the introduction of such items as pulled pork rolls, vegetarian Dim Sims, pork dumplings, and hot dogs. Of course, the burger selection remains as popular as ever also (7 different options of burger on certain days).

Remember that when you order through Flexischools, it means that your student will always get what they want and won’t miss out and they won’t have to wait long to pick up their order. Order before 8.30am on the day to make sure the order is received.

Uniform Shop

Open Hours during term time only are:

Students (and caregivers) are always welcome to come in during opening hours, we are here to help.

Winter Uniforms – V-Neck Sweaters, Sport Jackets and Track pants are in stock now. All sizes currently available – don’t miss out!

Grey Socks ALL SIZES IN STOCK – Orders can be placed via Flexischools or just pop into the shop during our opening hours.

Slim leg Sports Shorts – Sizes Small, Medium, Large and X-Large back in stock. Orders can be placed on Flexischools or come in store.

Flexi School Orders not collected – We have quite few unclaimed Flexi School 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.

Large $$ Notes – Please don’t send large notes with students if possible. We carry a very small float and giving change can be difficult if we get several $50 or $100 notes.

Refunds and Exchanges – Please make sure that when orders are collected or purchased and taken home, we are happy to exchange sizes, however please make sure that the labels are not pulled off and items are not worn or washed.  We adhere to QLD fair trade laws regarding refunds.

Message from School Based Youth Health Nurse - Paula

Sexuality 
Talking to your teenager about sexuality  
 Sexuality develops and changes throughout your teenager’s life. Feeling comfortable with their sexuality and sexual identity is essential to your child’s healthy development. Sexuality isn’t just about sex. It’s also about how your teenager: 
•    feels about their developing body 
•    makes healthy decisions and choices about their own body 
•    understands and expresses feelings of intimacy, attraction, and affection for others 
•    develops and maintains respectful relationships. 

Here are some ideas and ways that parents can talk with their young person about sexuality. 

Start conversations early 

Start with the basics in Year 7 and 8 and make the focus on their own body and how it changes, everyday consent, and what the reproductive systems are and how babies are made.  

This is also a good time to chat about the relationships your young person is having with their friends and peers: Do they feel equal to their peers? Do they feel as though they can speak up for themselves?  

Peer relationships became the foundations for the romantic and sexual relationships your child will go on to have. Year 9 and 10 is a great age to explore topics such as sexual consent, safe sex – including STI prevention, contraception, emotional and physical safety.  It is also a great time to talk about romantic and sexual relationships including healthy and unhealthy characteristics, how to speak up for yourself and where to get help when they feel they might need it. 

Read the Signs  

Don’t be surprised if your young person feels uncomfortable talking to you about these topics. Do your best to read their signs and signals and pick a time that is right for both of you. 

If you start and it isn’t going well, you can always take a break and say, “I don’t feel like this is coming across right, you/I look/feel tired, let’s have a chat another day”.

If your young person has additional needs these conversations are just as important, you may want to talk to them in a way they understand.  

When talking about relationships consider their decision-making skills, ability to think through outcomes of actions, knowledge of boundaries, privacy, and intimate relationships. 

Be prepared 

It may help to have a think about your own values and beliefs and be prepared for the possibility they may be challenged. Consider your feelings if they ask about same-sex attraction, responding in a positive and non-judgmental way is a good first step.

There are some great resources to support preparation and these conversations from:

In addition: 

School-Based Youth Health Nurses are in schools to help young people access support, education and to provide assistance with navigating the healthcare system, including referrals to specialised support groups and resources. 

Students can email for an appointment: Nurse.cleveland@health.qld.gov.au We operate in a safe, understanding, and confidential space.  

Head Lice Article

Message from School Based Youth Health Nurse

Periodically students or families discover Head lice in hair. The first signs can be a tickling feeling, frequent scalp itchiness or sores from scratching. It is generally transferred from head to head contact, although rare, they can be transferred through a hair brush or hat. Although very small, a single adult lice or egg can be seen and is about the size of a sesame seed.

There are two methods of treatment:

1. Conditioner and combing technique (non-insecticidal treatment)
2. Treatment with synthetic or natural insecticides or other chemicals

Please see the attached link for further information:

Headspace Capalaba - Art Expo

Family & Friends - Talking about Mental Health

Young Entrepeneurs Bootcamp

University of New Castle Youth Vaping Prevention Project

Are you concerned about your child vaping? 
Take part in our research study which aims to prevent vaping in adolescents aged 12-15.  
This study is run by researchers at the University of Newcastle and will test how effective text messages are at stopping vaping in adolescents.  

Want to take part with your child? Sign up here: 

Saver Plus

Brisbane Tertiary Studies and Careers Expo