13 February 2017

Newsletter Articles

Executive Principals Report

It was great to meet our Year 7 parents at the Information evening this week. I do hope that parents walked away with a good knowledge of what will be happening in classrooms this year and how we are transitioning our year 7 students into the high school environment. I know our teachers really enjoyed meeting parents and discussing their programs. Our Head of Year 7 Mr Troy Olsen will be emailing all parents copies of the slides and the information as promised from the evening.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact the school - either Troy Olsen, Jake Gallagher or myself. We can always organise individual parent teacher interviews should you wish to discuss any curriculum issues with a particular teacher at a time that is convenient. Please continue to maintain contact with us as we want to ensure that we are all working together to support our students and their success at high school.

Semester Overviews

All students should have a copy of Semester Overviews in each of their subjects. We ask that students have these pasted in their workbooks for ease of reference. A copy of all Semester Overviews are being emailed to parents as well and I encourage you to keep these as a reference point to monitor homework and assessment.

A Good News Story

This week we were informed of some really positive news from the office of Andrew Laming MP, Member for Bowman, Chair of the Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training.

An analysis from NAPLAN 2012 and OP bands three years later, showed that our 2015 senior teaching staff converted more students from bands 8 – 10 NAPLAN into High OP than nine out of ten schools, public, Catholic or Independent. They informed us that our 2015 seniors have recorded one of the highest school gains in south-east Queensland. This reinforces the relentless work we undertake with our students around Numeracy and Literacy and confirms that the goal to ensure our students are successful at high school is at the centre of our priorities.

Under the methodology undertaken, NAPLAN results for numeracy and reading were equally weighted and adjusted for attendance and used as baseline. The OP bands three years later were ICSEA-adjusted to account for varying OP ratios which distort band percentages. Lastly, the researchers performed significance and sensitivity analysis.

The results of top performing schools like Corinda will be provided to the media and the Director-General of Queensland Education.

More importantly, 2016 senior results will be analysed later this month, with all gain data publicly available shortly after. We look forward to seeing these results as well as our staff are keen to know about the value add of their work with their students.

I am so very proud of this news and it is worth celebrating with our community. This is confirmation for what I strongly believe in and will continue to ensure is at the forefront of our agenda. We will continue to strive to Exceed Your Expectations!

Helen Jamieson
Executive Principal

Tuckshop Renovations are Complete

Our Tuckshop renovations are now complete. We now have a state of the art self-serve cafe’. Thank you to all those involved in the planning and execution of this project. Thanks must also go to the tuckshop staff and volunteers for their patience with having to work out of the demountable kitchen during the renovation. To place an online order students or parents can go to the Flexischools website (this is linked on our school website). A full menu is available and this will enable students to collect their lunch at the designated time without having to endure a long queue.

Coming Events

Languages News

Welcome to 2017

2017 is going to be a huge year in the Language Department. We have more students than ever before studying one of our five languages. This year all students will accessing Language Perfect. Language Perfect is an online, interactive program where students can practise and refine all of their vocabulary and grammar.

The Language Department has once again grown this year. Diana Schwenke is our new Spanish teacher. Diana was a missionary in Arizona where she began her Spanish language journey and was an exchange student in Chile where she was able to refine her Spanish language.

Jane Muil will be teaching French. Jane has studied at Lyon University and has worked in Nice in hospitality. Recently Jane has worked as a Community liaison officer and is looking forward to meeting our language students at Corinda. We would like to welcome Jane and Diana to our vibrant language team.

Science and Agriculture News

A trip to the year 8 science laboratories this week. The year 8 cohort has been getting stuck into their chemistry work. After revising the laboratory safety, recalling the major scientific equipment and lighting Bunsen burners in week 1, they moved promptly on to the particle model and changes of state. Expansion, contraction and pressure were explored through the demonstration of a model thermometer. The students photographed were investigating the relationship between time and temperature when water is heated.

Please check your email address for the Science Semester overview that was emailed out last week. This will have topics of study each week, and the issue and due dates of upcoming assessment. Please engage in discussions with your student around this. They were all emailed a copy to their school email address too.

Amy Scott-Preimonas
Heads of Department – Junior Secondary Science

Literacy News

Accelerated Reader 2017

We are pleased to introduce Accelerated Reader into our Wide Reading program for 2017. All year 7 and 8 Students will be part of this program.

Reading for pleasure is important for teenagers and is a strong predictor of success in life. It will help students:

• Improve their memory and vocabulary
• Increase their cognitive stamina
• Improve achievement in all Learning Areas
• Develop empathy
• Decrease stress levels

Accelerated Reader is a program to support the wide reading students do at school and at home. It will allow all students to find and choose books that are appropriate to their reading level. And it will help improve their reading!

This term, all Year 7 and 8 students will undertake the STAR testing to determine their reading range. They will then be able to borrow books from the library marked with their reading range.

Students will need to:

• Borrow books from the library that are part of Accelerated Reader (more will be added throughout the year)
• Read every day for at least 15 – 30 minutes
• Complete the quiz for their book within 24 hours of finishing
• Choose another book and do it all again

Students will have some opportunities to read at school in Literacy Café (Friday mornings fortnightly), in their RAR lesson (Year 8s only), and in their form or subject classes. It is important that students are bringing a book to read to school every day.

It is also important that students are given opportunities to read at home. As a parent you can help support your students wide reading by:

• Being a model – read and show an interest in reading
• Find out what your child likes to read
• Talk about books at home
• Put aside time at home for reading books
• Provide access to paper books not just electronic
• Ensure students are reading books and not just comics or webpages

To support Accelerated Reader please regularly ask your child to share their reading goal with you, encourage them to always take a book to school and to read at home, remind them to complete the quiz online after reading each book, and celebrate their successes!

For more information please contact me at mwild39@eq.edu.au

Melanie Wild
Head of Curriculum – Literacy

Safe Parking and Driving in School Zones

Student safety and illegal parking around school zones remains a concern for parents, children, local residents and schools alike, particularly during peak pick up and drop off times. Parking spaces during pick up and set down times are at a premium and subsequently, competition for these spaces can lead to poor driver behaviour and potentially dangerous parking practices.

Council is committed to providing education and awareness, as well as a presence at schools to conduct enforcement of parking laws, with a view to promoting safe parking and deterring dangerous parking practices.

They have asked that we encourage parents, guardians and visitors of the school to visit Council’s website at the link below to learn more about parking legally in Brisbane.

While it is certainly not Council’s intention to make parking near schools an overly onerous task, regulating parking activities is necessary to promote safe driving practices during pick up and drop off times. Over the next school term, Council officers will be attending school zones to ensure safe parking practices. Parking fines may be issued in cases where illegal parking practices are observed.

Parents are also reminded that parking and driving on the school grounds is not permitted without prior arrangement with the school office. Student drop off and pick up zones are located in Pratten Street (outside the Student Services/Sick Bay area, but not in the bus zone) and in Lynne Grove Avenue adjoining the dentist. Double parking is illegal as are the unsafe U-turns being performed by many drivers. Parents should note that the Lynne Grove Avenue area outside the office is not a pick up and drop off zone. Below is a map provided to us by the Brisbane City Council Parking Compliance office.

Tennis Excellence News

In a great start to the tennis year, Corinda Tennis Excellence Student Olivia Brown spent the first week of the school year competing in the 2017 Geelong Junior Grass Court Gold Tournament. Played on natural grass, the tournament attracted some of Australia's best players in their respective age groups. Olivia went into the competition unseeded as the 11th highest ranked player in a field of 33 players. Finishing 7th overall, Olivia was the only unseeded quarter finalist, with good wins against the tournament’s 6th and 8th seed and hard fought loses to the top seed (and eventual winner) and the 3rd highest ranked player.

She then backed up this performance by qualifying for the 13 - 19 year Metropolitan West Regional Team at the trials held at the Queensland Tennis Centre last Tuesday. She will now travels to Townsville to compete at the State Championships for a place in the Queensland Team. At only 13, Olivia is one of the youngest players in the State to qualify and we wish her well. Together with gutsy performances from other players, such as Andrej Jovanovic (first reserve for the boy’s team and also only 13 years old) and Sean Pacey, the Corinda Tennis Excellence Program is off to a flying start to 2017.

Thomas Rynne played in the 2016 12/u Australian Championships, part of the December Showdown at Melbourne Park. Thomas won 2 matches out of 5 and competed at a high level. He received the runner up medal in the draw that he competed, the South-East Compass draw.

Applied Studies News

Launch of Food Lab

Corinda SHS attended the launch of Food Lab hosted by University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Høj. Produced in partnership with The University of Queensland, Food Lab by Ben Milbourne is a thirteen episode television series that explores the principles of science through gastronomy. The TV show will be accompanied by an online series that supports Australia’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Strategy 2025 initiative.

Food Lab by Ben Milbourne airs at 3pm Saturday on Channel Ten.

News from the Youth Health Nurse

Hello, I am Karin the school based youth health nurse at Corinda SHS. Young people often self-refer when they may want to explore, discuss health issues such as relationships, sexual health, growth and development, smoking other drugs, feeling stressed, overwhelmed or unhappy. All conversations are confidential.

What is bullying?

Bullying is any repeated action against a person that is done on purpose to hurt, offend or upset them.

1. It can be verbal such as name calling and spreading nasty or untrue rumors.
2. It can also be through text messages and over the internet, which is known as cyber bullying. Some examples where it occurs are through Facebook.
3. Physical bullying is pushing, shoving, kicking, hitting or throwing things at the person

People can also get picked on due to cultural background, sexuality or physical appearance. Other examples of bullying are being excluded from friendship groups and even staring and giving dirty looks at someone, in order to intimidate them. Others find their personal belongings taken from them and hidden.

Bullying can happen anywhere but it is totally unacceptable. If you are on the receiving end it can really affect one’s mental health.

Some signs of bullying are:

• loss of confidence
• changes in eating or sleeping habits
• headaches or stomach aches
• unhappiness or mood swings
• reluctance to go to school
• drop in grades at school

Bully is the fourth most common reason young people seek assistance from a children’s help service.

In the following newsletters I will discuss why bullies behave like this and what you can do.

This information is from: The Bullying No Way website -

To further discuss this topic you can contact me as below

Karin Rissel
Youth Health Nurse, Corinda State High school

Wednesday & Thursdays and alternate Mondays ph: 3379 0207 Or email: karin.rissel@health.qld.gov.au

Boer War Commemorations

Two Sherwood district soldiers who died in the Battle on the Onverwacht Hills during the Boer War (1899/1902) were remembered at a service at the Anglican Cemetery, Sherwood on February 2.Sgt Robert Berry and A/Cpl John Macfarlane were two of 13 Australians killed in the battle and a memorial to the men and the battle stands in the cemetery.

In addition the battle has created a bond between the Ermelo High School in South Africa and Brisbane's Corinda State High School. Each year Corinda and Ermelo school students are invited to write an essay relating to the war and in particular Onverwacht. The Sherwood Indooroopilly RSL Sub-Branch has struck a medallion and presents $100 to the essay winners from both schools. The schools also exchange goodwill messages.

This year's Corinda winner was Maria Kilipati.

James Bedogni presents the medallion to essay winner Maria Kilipati.

She received her medal from Lieutenant James Bedogni from the 2nd 14th Light Horse Regiment. He also made an address. More than 80 attended the service including several direct descendants of Australian Boer War veterans, civic leaders, veterans and family members.

During the service riders Jed Millen and John Stewart wearing the uniform of an Australian Boer war trooper, guarded the memorial. Morning tea followed at the sub-branch's rooms.

Riders (left to right) Jed Millen and John Stewart guard the Boer memorial in the Sherwood Anglican Cemetery.

Story and pics for Queensland RSL News from Graham Davis

Community Notices

Benarrawa Community Development Association

Sherwood AFL Club

Chelmer Station Community Kindergarten

West Brisbane Region Asperger Support meeting

Details for our meeting this month are:

Date: Thursday February 23rd
Time: 7pm - 9pm (Please arrive ready to start the meeting at 7pm)
Venue: St Matthew’s Church Hall (cnr. Oxley and Sherwood Rds. Sherwood)
Speaker: Ms Angela Stevenson - Advisory Visiting Teacher
Topic: “Navigating the School System”
Cost: $5 per person/couple

Angela established and ran our support group for 12 years and has a wealth of experience with regards to children on the ASD spectrum.

As an AVT, Angela has insight into getting the best out of our primary schools and transition into high school.

We look forward to hearing the latest developments with regards to helping our children within the school system.

We look forward to seeing you.

Kind regards
Jane Leonforte
ASA Group Coordinator
0448 909 863

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