2 June 2017

Newsletter Articles

Executive Principals Report

Last week we welcomed our Indian teacher Mamta Jain whom Tracey Hall has formed a partnership with during her visit to India earlier in the year. This is an exciting partnership for our students to collaborate across the globe. Mamta really created an impression and it was an excellent opportunity for our students and staff to learn from her education experience.

Last Wednesday we hosted a first for South East Queensland – AEF Youth Forum. Students from 12 public and private schools attend the forum focussed on International relations. This was another rich experience for our students. The aim of the forum was to:

• Deepen their knowledge and understanding of the countries of Southeast Asia and Australia’s relationship with the region;
• Realise the benefits and challenges of regional dialogue, intergovernmental cooperation and conflict resolution;
• Deepen their understanding of regional issues; and
• Develop their general capabilities, including intercultural understanding, personal and social capability, and creative and critical thinking skills.

What an opportunity for our future global leaders! Corinda is leading the way and is committed to future proofing our students through its Actively Global initiatives. We received very positive feedback from AEF. Congratulations and thank you Tracey Hall for embracing this opportunity.

Instructional Rounds & Visits

Last Thursday, we were joined by a team of teachers from a range of primary schools and Regional Coordinator Julie Bliss, visiting over 42 of our classrooms. These observations enabled data to be gathered and were designed to review what is happening across the school and challenge thinking for the next steps of our school improvement journey.

The team were very excited to see the highly effective strategies being used, with learning intentions and pace in classrooms. Harnessing learning intentions are deeply embedded into our practice. Students were engaged in learning, and all classrooms involved demonstrated excellent pace considering the year level. Teachers had presence in the classrooms and used a range of strategies to support students, especially with collaborative learning.

This feedback is very important to our school improvement journey and assists us in identifying areas to work on in our quest to reduce variance across classrooms.

It has certainly been a very busy couple of weeks for our school and our students are well and truly involved in end of semester assessment. I do hope all is calm and that students are in a good place.

Helen Jamieson
Executive Principal

Coming Events

Open Classrooms – After School Tutoring

Students can get expert help for assignments and assessment, every Monday to Thursday 3-4 pm in the air-conditioned comfort of the library. Each day offers a different tutor for each subject area:

Enrolments for 2018

We are now taking enrolments for 2018. Enrolment forms are available from our website and in person from our office. We look forward to receiving these as soon as possible! The closing date for our Excellence programs is 25 August 2017.

Student Services

Author Visit

The Library welcomed author Steph Bowe to Corinda last week. She entertained our Year 9 students and gave them writing tips to help them with their present assignment. Steph was also available to chat with students after school at the Open Library.

Eric Bailey – Motivational Speaker

The year 11s were very privileged to be visited by Eric Bailey, a professional motivational speaker and former NBL Basketball player. Eric drew on his successful career as well as his difficult life growing up in South Central Los Angeles. Eric was premature baby, who was abandoned by his parents because he was unlikely to survive, due to his lungs instantly filling with water after birth. He was then placed in foster care for three years, after being adopted by a couple who lived in South Central Los Angeles. Eric was naturally tall, but never played basketball, until one day he found an abandoned ball and started shooting. He realised he was good at this, and coincidentally met the school coach. He urged Eric to try for the team, and he made it. Eric worked his way up the professional basketball ladder, and reached the NBA after two years. On his first game, Eric played against ‘Magic’ Johnson, one of the most famous basketball players of all time. Although Eric played an outstanding game and secured a win for his team, the coach fired him because he didn’t follow instructions to not shoot the ball. Eric tried out for several teams after, but didn’t succeed, until he was offered a contract to play in the NBL in Australia. He did this for over ten years, and then dedicated his time to inspiring young people. During his time at Corinda, Eric showed us all not to give into failure, and to constantly try regardless of adversities and challenges that life presents. All the year 11 students were inspired by Eric Bailey’s words of empowerment, and are finding ways to change their thinking to future-proof their own success.

Your Digital File-Supporting Students to Drive their Future

21 Learner Drivers signed up.
66 Hours of Supervised Driving.
2 Learner Drivers have already reaching 100 hours!

How good is that? It’s free, and easy to book go to the link below.

Safety on the roads. Safety online.

Your Digital File is working with Corinda State High School, offering a community program Supporting Students to Drive their Future, providing students with access to a brand new vehicle and supervisor to increase their learner driving hours. Tuesday 7 March saw the start of the program and bookings are starting to come in.

Your Digital File is an easy to use, highly secure online file storage that will make you more productive.

• Store & access your files anywhere - desktop or mobile.
• Easily & securely, share your files.
• Effortless file security that you have control over.
• Send & receive files that can be signed with a single click.
• From $1 per month for personal accounts and $5 per month for business accounts.

Humanities

Geography

"A fun day out collecting data as described by many students."

On the 2nd of May this term the two year 12 Senior Geography classes set off collecting data as part of a field research report. The purpose was to analyse the effects of an expanding population in South-East Queensland and its effects on the mountains to mangroves corridor. This study area is situated from the Bunyaville State Forest Park to Nudgee Beach/Boondall wetlands. The senior students were able to collect data using sophisticated surveying equipment as well as primary data such as photos. Being able to learn about the wildlife corridor in class as well as in the field, has highlighted the impacts of the rapidly increasing population of Brisbane and the environmental impacts it is having on our green spaces, parks and reserves. This was an integral study for students, as a major part of the field report involves the analysis of essential flora and fauna species living together in this carefully balanced biome. I know for sure that it was a well enjoyed day by everyone including the teachers and I certainly recommend this subject for any interested junior students who are heading into senior.

Matthew Guevarra-Adams

History

The Year 8 English and Humanities Excellence class had a blast in Term 1, learning about all things medieval, and plan to celebrate their knowledge at the end of term with a Medieval Fair. Despite Cyclone Debbie’s interference, the class came together in Term 2 to share medieval fun, entertainment and food!

Divided into groups, students chose a particular areas of interest to entertain and inform the Fair-goers. Together we enjoyed the egg dance, witnessed a trial for treason, learnt medieval table manners, danced to a Christmas carol and played medieval games.

No fair is complete without food, and while we were unable find four and twenty blackbirds for a pie, students feasted on dates and pottage, an authentic and healthy dish of root vegetables and herbs that was enjoyed by peasants throughout the Middle Ages. There was no red food in this era!

Science

Junior Science

Every week a small group of students meet to observe and study the range of animal and plant biodiversity that exists on our doorstep. The ‘Wildlife Whisperers’ program is based on taking students over to Oxley Creek Common to participate in exciting, hands-on sessions run be a series of guest presenters. These have included Birds Queensland, who taught students about the variety of birdlife that exist in different habitats, Dr Harry Belecombe from the River Institute who guided them in their study of freshwater ecology, Dr Melinda Laidlaw from the Queensland Herbarium who ran a session on plant and weed identification and Matt Cecil from the Queensland Wildlife Preservation Society. This last block involved examining a series of catch and release traps for the study of small mammals. After discussing how best to design wildlife trapping experiment, the students helped set up camera traps on Oxley Creek Common. The results were exciting. Please see Mr Butcher (Agricultural Sciences staffroom) if you would like to join this exciting program.

Year 9 Science and Mathematics Excellence Class

What an exciting week it has been for the Year 9 Science and Mathematics Excellence Class. On Monday 22 May, the class along with their teacher Ms. Rose participating in an enriching experience at QUT’s CUBE.

To begin the day, students were given the opportunity to meet and network with some QUT ambassadors. The students then had a short interactive experience at the cube, virtually digging up dinosaur bones and using the same preservation techniques palaeontologists use.

In groups students learnt more about how fossils are created and how scientists gather evidence from the past.

We then looked to the stars. With an awesome computer program, students created their own solar systems complete with a sun and habitable planets situated in the 'Goldilocks zone'. Students then gave a presentation about their solar system and why we would want to move there once ours became uninhabitable.

Amy Scott-Preimonas
Head of Department – Junior Secondary Science

English

2016 Year 12 Students

If you or a family member completed Year 12 at Corinda last year please be aware that since we have now reached the end of May, the English department will begin disposing of Year 12 2016 assessment folios. If you require any old assessment pieces, now is your last chance to contact the school and get them. Please email smart391@eq.edu.au if you have any questions.

Applied Studies

A class of Taiwanese students have been immersed into the Corinda Culinary Way over the past two weeks. The eighteen students have been visiting a range of practical food preparation classes and undertaken four classes specific to Australian food appreciation. The students made a variety of favourites including Anzac biscuits, pikelets with strawberry jam, vegemite scrolls and pumpkin and macadamia nut salad. The students also tasted a variety of Australian favourites including kangaroo, vegemite Saos, lamingtons, Tim Tams and Milo. Despite their reservations they really seemed to like the vegemite scrolls and enjoyed their time in the Corinda kitchens.

Languages

Language Perfect World Championships

Corinda’s language students have been fanatically competing in a recent online language competition that ran for 10 days from 15 May to 25 May. Our students answered 762 360 questions and earnt 285 547 points. Corinda achieved 86 Credit certificates (500 points or more), 30 Bronze awards (100 points or more) 17 Silver awards (2000 points or more) 21 Gold awards (3000 points or more) and 3 of our students received Elite certificates for gaining 10 000 points or more. The 3 students who achieved this outstanding result were Jessica Bui, Cindy Cao and Tony Nguyen. This was an exceptional outcome. Overall Corinda came 41st in the world but came 1st for Japanese for schools with student numbers 1001 – 2500. We hope every student who spent time on this competition will see their hard work pay off in their upcoming exams. Congratulations it was an outstanding effort.

International

Over the past two weeks, Corinda has hosted 18 Taiwanese students. The students cooked, visited the farm, took English lessons and integrated into a variety of classes. The students had fabulous homestay families from the community. Each student had a Corinda buddy who did an outstanding job of looking out for our visitors and ensuring they had a great experience. Our Corinda students were able to learn more about their new friend’s culture and practise their Chinese. Thank you to everyone involved in the study tour, it was a huge success.

The Arts

Dance

Our tickets for Semester One Dance in Focus concert are for sale from this week! The concert features dance works from our Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 classes as well as the Dance Excellence classes. We also aim to highlight some student devised choreography during the show. CSHS Hall, Thursday 22nd June at 6:30pm. Tickets are $5 per seat, children under 10 are free. Reservations can be made at the link below Get in whilst tickets last!

Sport

Bill Turner Cup U/15 Football

Well done to our U15 Boys Football (Bill Turner Cup) team. After 4 rounds they are unbeaten, defeating The Gap SHS 7-0, St Peter Claver College 3-0, Ambrose Treacy College 5-2 and Redbank Plains SHS 7-0. Even more impressive given most of the boys are only 13 and 14. Their next match will be in the 5th round vs Marsden SHS, on Friday 2nd June. Go Corinda!

Representative News

Well done to David Ishimwe and Christina Amajouyi (both Year 9) who were named in their respective Metropolitan West U/15 Football team. Both David and Christina will now represent Met West at the State Championships in Cairns in late July. Good luck David and Christina!

A big congratulation to Sara Daly (Year 12) who recently represented Metropolitan West at the U/19 Football State Championships. Sara’s team finished 2nd – narrowly losing the Grand Final to South Coast in a penalty shootout – great job Sara!

Good luck to those students representing West Brisbane District at the Metropolitan West Cross Country Carnival on Thursday 1st June – Kieran Rocks (U13 Boys), Amos Naitoko (U13 Boys), Elissa Raya (U14 Girls), Christina Amajouyi (U15 Girls), Gamoradine Hassan (U16 Boys), and Macrine Hadiya (Open Girls).

Upcoming District/Regional Trials

Any students wanting to attend the upcoming West Brisbane District/Metropolitan West trials need to see Mr. Cameron for information and paperwork. It is expected that students are performing at a club/representative level in the sport they wish to trial for…

West Brisbane District U/15 Basketball – Thursday 1 June
Metropolitan West U/12 Girls Softball – Thursday 13 July
Metropolitan West U/12 Boys Softball – Friday 14 July
West Taylor Bridge U/12 Boys Cricket – Wednesday 2 August
Metropolitan West U/12 Girls AFL – Tuesday 22 August
Metropolitan West U/12 Girls Cricket – Wednesday 6 September

Sporting Excellence Applications for 2018

Applications for both the Football and Tennis Excellence Programs continue to be received throughout Term 2 and 3 this year. Students who have applied will be invited to a trial and tour day at the end of Term 3.

For more information or application forms:

• Tennis Excellence Program, Head of Tennis –Kent Linyard
• Football Excellence Program, Head of Football –Ben Cameron

Teacher Spotlight

Louise Burston- Special Ed Teacher

1. What is the best thing about Corinda High? The amazing and talented students!
2. What is your favourite colour? Don’t have a favourite – I like all colours.
3. What TV show do you love? Cooking and travel programs, Louis Theroux documentaries, Kath and Kim and The Big Bang Theory.
4. What is your Junk food of choice? Hot chips and gravy or Spring Rolls.
5. Do you have a Hobby? I have a backyard chicken coup and 11 chickens and I also love to cook.
6. Who is the best band/singer of all time? Florence Welch (Florence and the Machine)
7. What sport do you love to watch? Netball
8. If you could only travel to one more destination in the world, where would you go? Asia. I am obsessed with Vietnamese Pho!
9. What do you love about teaching? The interactions with students and helping them to create future pathways for themselves.
10. What is your favourite life quote? “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid” – Albert Einstein

School

School Parking

A friendly reminder, there is NO parking on the school grounds at any time.

Mobile Phones

The school recognises that there are times when it is genuinely appropriate and useful for students to have access to mobile devices. However, as mobile devices are a target for theft and inappropriate use, particularly bullying, we strongly discourage them from being brought to school. In-phone cameras are not to be used. Devices used inappropriately will be confiscated by school staff and may be collected at the end of the school day from school office. Students may receive disciplinary consequences for bullying or cyber bullying or other inappropriate online behaviour that occurs out of school hours, and affects the good order and management of the school. If a family chooses to allow a student to bring a mobile device to school, then they accept responsibility for its security. Mobiles devices brought to and kept at school are done so at the owner’s risk. The school makes provision for students to leave mobile devices in the safety of the office. Mobile devices brought to school are to be turned off whilst on the school grounds and out of sight. Headphones are not to be seen. Any urgent/important phone calls can be made at the office in the usual manner. Details of the full policy can be found on the school’s website. If your student brings their device to school, it is highly recommended that they take it into the classroom discretely placed in a pencil case each lesson for security purposes.

Community Notices

Centenary Knitting and Crochet Circle

The Centenary Knitting and Crochet circle are holding a ‘Drop in and Knit’ Day on 15 July (see poster for times and location). The aim is to complete as many squares as possible, with the goal set at 500. Squares are assembled into rugs for charity. Drop in and knit/crochet a square. Stay for an hour or stay for the day.

• Browse through the craft display of items made by local artisans.
• Find something special on the stall selling handmade items (not just knit and crochet).
• Hourly raffles (proceeds to purchase wool for rugs)
• Be in with a chance to win one of the 3 major prizes (not necessary to be present at time of draw):
  - Primary School and High School student sections – complete a square and go into the draw. One entry per square completed, and you can start working on them at home: Junior - $20 gift card, High School – I-tune card.
  - Most squares completed on the day (no age limit) – sorry, you can’t start these at home! Prize is a voucher from Just Poppy’s at Riverhills.
• Sausage sizzle lunch and tea and coffee throughout the day.

8 ply yarn, 4mm needles, 30 stitches and knit to make a 15 x 15cm square. Garter stitch (all plain knitting) is fine, but be adventurous if you would like to.

If you crochet, we regularly have squares that need to be crocheted together, please get in touch.

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