14 December 2018

Newsletter Articles

Executive Principals Report

Dear Parents and Friends

As the school year draws to a close I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our students on their achievements as individuals, as cohorts and as a student body. We have so much to celebrate with all that has been achieved this year, and I extend my sincere appreciation to our parents and families for your support and loyalty to our school throughout 2018.

We have received preliminary year 12 data from the QCAA and we are quietly confident that our Year 12 OP data will be very strong. Looks like we have increased the number of students receiving OPs 1 – 5. This is very pleasing. While we are still conservatively predicting from this data, we believe our subject scores are looking very strong. Our QCE mean score, which influences subject scores, is the highest we have ever experienced. Our year 12s have made us very proud. We wait now in anticipation for the official release of OP scores on Saturday 16 December.

We also congratulate our year 12s for their QCE attainment. For the eighth consecutive year, our school has achieved 100% QCE attainment. This means our year 12 students have all achieved success in their secondary schooling. We pride ourselves on ensuring all our graduates achieve their QCE on completion of secondary schooling.

Working towards a sustainable future

This term Corinda SHS became the only school in Australia to achieve a Carbon Neutral accreditation. The school can now claim Carbon Neutrality for the running of the campus and the agricultural farm.

To achieve this the school has implemented various strategies to reduce emissions. These strategies include replacing lighting with LED fixtures, running a composting and recycling program, harvesting water for the school oval and farm crops, and expanding the schools market garden – Paddock to Plate.

Kelli Gallagher, Corinda SHS’ Business Manager recognises the impact schools can have on the environment, not only with their facilities, but also with the education of children.

“At Corinda SHS we understand that our local contribution has a global impact so we take measures to implement high standards academically from the stance of environmental stewardship, community engagement, global citizenship, and sustainable futures”, says Gallagher.

This year, as part of the schools sustainability action plan, the Paddock to Plate garden was expanded to ensure all students could be involved in sustainable practices.

“The garden encourages students to grow their own food within their school, home and local community to promote sustainable living. It shows them the value of growing and harvesting food themselves and teaches them how to respect the land”, says Gallagher.

Currently Corinda SHS is producing 960.3 tonnes of C02 and aims to reduce this by 5% over the next few years.

Corinda SHS thanks Kelli Gallagher and all staff who have worked incredibly hard to become the first and only school in Australia to achieve Carbon Neutrality.

We are extremely proud of this achievement and are excited to continue working towards a sustainable future!

School Start Up 2019

Please be aware of the official school start up times for the 2019 school year. The first day back –29 January, will only involve year 7 students and all other students new to the school. We plan to use this time acquainting students with the school, policies and procedures. The remainder of the school will start on day 2 - Wednesday 30 January.

Best wishes for the season

As we approach the end of the academic year, I wish all students well over the forthcoming vacation. After a year’s work, they are ready for time to relax with family and friends. Please accept my sincere thanks for all your support throughout the year, dropping students at rehearsals, taking them to performances, waiting patiently for them following events and for being there for them in those final hours of completing assessment and preparing for exams. You too are probably ready for a break.

I look forward to seeing you all again in the New Year. My best wishes for a very enjoyable festive season and relaxing time with family.

With gratitude
Helen Jamieson, Executive Principal

Speech Night

This year’s Speech Night, Crack the Code, was a celebration of academic achievements, student leadership, artistic talent and sporting excellence. The night was an opportunity for Corinda SHS to showcase every aspect of the school.

We had a record number of students receiving academic awards this year - something that is definitely worth celebrating.

Some of the top awards included:

• Dhruv Singh – Principal’s Award for School Service, Debated of the Year and ADF Long Tan Leadership and Loyalty
• Natalie Ward – Arts Gold, Caltex All Rounder and Leadership and Service to Sport
• Angelica Lam – School Dux

We congratulate all award recipients and those who participated on the night. It is evidence of your hard work and your ability to Exceed Expectations.

Class of 2018

We celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2018, with a ceremony held at the Queensland Tennis Centre. Now part of the Corinda SHS calendar, the Year 12 Graduation brings the whole school together to celebrate. This year’s Pirate theme provided many opportunities to reflect on the treasure and bounty of education that students receive at Corinda SHS.

As the first graduating cohort of our new house structure, our year 12s ventured bravely into the unknown with their House Master at the wheel. Students were presented in Houses for the first time, bringing the year full circle and setting a new tradition for Corinda SHS. The House Champion Cup was also awarded for the first time. The cup is awarded to the house that has accumulated the largest number of house points across the year. Congratulations to our 2018 Champion House, Kabul. To celebrate their achievement, Mr Barnes let the Kabul students perform their war cry.

At the ceremony we acknowledged some outstanding students in front of an audience of approximately 3000 people. These awards included the Top of Subject, Silver Sports Awards, Service to Sport Awards, Silver Arts Awards, Commitment to the Arts Awards, Excellence Attendance Awards, Perfect Attendance Awards, Gold Attendance Awards, and the Academic Achievement Award. Notably, the Gold Attendance Awards were awarded to those students who had 100% attendance record for their whole schooling, from year 8 to 12. The Moreton English Medal was again donated by the office of Graham Perrett MP. Graham is a past teacher, a writer, and is passionate about achievements in literacy and English. This was awarded to Jennifer Bradder-Denning.

We thank all the parents and guardians of these fabulous young people for all your hard work and support. We know we will hear great things about these students in the future. From all the staff at Corinda SHS, we wish you all the best.

Coming Events

Some of our best …

Dux of the school - Angelica Lam

The Dux of the School is the most prestigious academic award in the school. It is awarded to the year 12 student with the most outstanding academic results. This year our Dux is, the very deserving, Angelica Lam.

At the beginning of the year, Angelica set small, realistic goals for herself.

“Being awarded the Dux award represents my growth in the last five years and how a good work ethic and perseverance has allowed me to grow as a character”, says Angelica.

“At the beginning of this year, I had very humble goals and only aimed for small things at a time. My goal was to achieve 4 VHA’s and just try the best I could all year so that I could keep my goals realistic and humble while not laying pressure on myself. I aimed to survive all my assessment and it was as simple as that.”

She says her most rewarding moment at Corinda SHS was the when she received the dux award and was able to bring her mother onstage to celebrate together.

This year, Angelica has also received an Australian Institute of Physics Certificate, an HD in the National Chemistry Quiz and participated in the University of Queensland Enhanced Studies Program.

In the future, Angelica plans to study a Bachelor of Dental Health Science and travel the world.

“I would like to thank all my teachers for their constant support, my friends for easing the pressure and most importantly the school for offering the opportunity, resources and support”

Corinda SHS wishes Angelica success in her future endeavours and cannot wait to see her conquer more!

RSL Senior School Citizenship Award - Josie Christensen

The RSL Senior School Citizenship Award goes to a student who demonstrates active involvement in school activities, is dependable and is reliable.

Josie at the most basic level of citizenship always models and promotes the correct school policies and procedures. She actively strives to inform herself about her local and global communities, while also taking the next step to have a voice about and to actively improve situations for others.

In 2018, Josie was been a Student Ambassador for the One Woman Project. As an Ambassador, Josie gives 4 hours per month to learning about gender equality through online workshops and participates with other Ambassadors to work on global action projects.

“I first came in contact with the One Woman Project at a school presentation on International Women’s Day. Within the program, the ambassadors are taught about social injustices and ways that we can effectively communicate methods to combat these”, says Josie.

Josie was also a school captain in 2018, allowing her the opportunity to represent the school.

“Being a school captain in 2018 gave me the opportunity to be a mentor to many students. I have been able to work closely with students and teachers on many different events within the school. My advice to other students wishing to secure leadership positions within the school is to get involved in as much as possible.”

Next year Josie plans to travel to Germany where she will be an au pair for 12 months and then travel around Europe. Corinda SHS wishes Josie the best in her future and we are certain she will go on to do great things.

Ditching Schoolies for a week of adrenaline - Jack Irwin and yLead

This year, Corinda SHS’ 2018 school captain, Jack Irwin skipped Schoolies and travelled to New Zealand for a week of adrenalin-inducing adventures.

Jack joined sixteen other school-leavers from across Australia as part of yLead’s drug and alcohol free Schoolies alternative, Thrill Out.

yLead, a not-for-profit association that delivers leadership development experiences to thousands of students across Australia, first recognised the need for a Schoolies alternative in 2011.

The organization believes that many young people want the chance to step outside their comfort zone and challenge themselves, rather than spend a week partying.

This adrenaline-fueled alternative offered activities such as jet boating, white water rafting, quad biking and luging as well as a unique glimpse into Maori culture.

CEO of yLead, Belinda Yorston, says, “There is no doubt that these Schoolies alternatives give school leavers a head start in their life post-school. They return with more confidence and a great network of friends, as well as memories that will last a lifetime.”

For more information on yLead Schoolies alternatives visit the link below

Lord Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (LMYAC) – Hannah Hall-Young

Congratulations to our year 10 student Hannah Hall-Young, who participated in the 2018 Lord Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council. In 2018, the LMYAC was very successful and allowed participants to be involved in a range of events. As part of the council, Hannah participated in events such as running donation drives and participating in Homeless Connect, presenting innovative project ideas which contribute in creating a Vibrant and Creative Brisbane, and attending invitation only events such as 100+ Club Morning Tea and the National Flag Day Ceremony. Well done to Hannah on her excellent participation in this program.

Our students in the community

We acknowledge the great work done by our students – Charlotte and Ashlee of year 10, and Abbey of year 12.at my Grand Avenue State School to promote dance.

Staff report that every Thursday afternoon these students teach and choreograph at Grand Avenue State School and are amazing role models for all the dance students. At the end of year Dance Night, these students worked backstage and have played a part in a number of the routines on the night including two of the winning eisteddfod routines.

Well done, Charlotte, Ashlee and Abbey.

Thanks to Khoi of year 7 for this poem

We had the pleasure of having Khoi visit the Administration to share his poem; we just had to share with you.

Community News

Western Magpies

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