15 October 2020

Newsletter Articles

Executive Principal’s Report

A very warm welcome to term 4. I hope you all found some time for rest and relaxation over the break, ready for what is always a very busy term. No doubt this will be a little different to our usual term 4 filled with celebrations and acknowledgement, but we will take every opportunity to celebrate student successes and special milestones.

Speaking of success – what a great day we had to finish off term 3. I would like to acknowledge and congratulate our year 12 leaders for initiating and organising the Corinda Carnivale day for the school. This event was much needed and both our staff and students had such a great day together. It was good to have some house events and some simple fun. The food vans were a big hit as well. I am so glad we could do something like this as we have missed so many of our special sporting events this year.

This week we will be inducting our new year 12 leaders for 2021. This is a new initiative to coincide with our year 11 students beginning their unit 3 studies. Our year 12 students will be completing their formal classes and moving into block exams. We will use the remainder of this term to give our new leaders time to settle into their roles ready for 2021. While the assembly will be mostly informal we will take time to formally acknowledge our new leaders at the special awards ceremony scheduled for the beginning of 2021.

Unfortunately due to COVID restrictions we made the decision to not proceed with our Annual Speech Night. The awards will now be presented at a special ceremony at the beginning of next year. We will also have the opportunity to acknowledge the Dux of the School following the release of ATAR scores.

Graduation is fast approaching for our Seniors 2020 and their families. This can be filled with mixed emotions for our students as they prepare for their external exams and the end of what has been an epic journey through their formal schooling years. We are looking forward to our Graduation Ball at Movie World – somewhat different, but I am sure it will be very special and unique for them. The red carpet is being prepared for their arrival!

The traditional Graduation Ceremony is planned to be at the Queensland Tennis Centre, however the restrictions and rules around the conduct of this event are very rigid. I ask all families to ensure they are aware of these requirements prior to attending so that we do not have any undue stress at the venue. We are working hard to make this happen and to ensure our students graduate with fond memories of this very special milestone.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish our year 12 students all the very best as they prepare for their external exams in the coming weeks. This is new territory and I am sure they are working hard to ensure they are ready.

Helen Jamieson
Executive Principal

Coming Events

Some of our best

Student Economics Competition Winner

Each year, the Queensland Economics Teachers’ Association (QETA) and the University of Queensland (UQ) conduct a student economics competition for Year 11 and Year 12 students. The competition consists of a 40 item multiple choice test assessing content from the QCAA Economics 2019 General Senior Syllabus. The first 10 questions assess some knowledge of current economic events.

This year, over 1600 students participated in the competition from 33 schools, resulting in an outstanding number of students achieving equal first, second and third place.

We are delighted to announce that year 12 student Jemima Noller placed FIRST in the year 12 category beating out hundreds of other participants! QETA and UQ are unable to host a presentation ceremony this year due to COVID-19 restrictions but have advised that the first-place winners will receive cash prizes as an acknowledgement for their achievements.

Basketball Tournament Success

Due to achieving a great ninth place result last year, Corinda State High School qualified (for the second year in a row) to participate in the Champion Basketball School of Queensland (CBSQ) tournament (open state titles) during the September school holidays. Twelve students were selected to form the Corinda Open Boys Basketball team, and hopes were high to exceed the previous year’s result.

During the tournament, the team showed great discipline and played with intensity and determination. At the end of the tournament, the team topped their pool and overall had a win–loss record of 6 to 1, finishing ranked fifth out of 20 schools in Division 3.

Whilst they played hard and achieved an outstanding result, the team can be most proud of how they represented themselves and their school. Tournament officials and coaches from other teams commended the Corinda boys for the respect shown to the officials and opposition players/coaches. Well done boys!

Results were:

Pool Round:

Game 1: CSHS won 31-26 v Upper Coomera State College
Game 2: CSHS won 32-30 v North Lakes State College
Game 3: CSHS won 41-27 v Cannon Hill Anglican College
Game 4: CSHS won 25-18 v West Moreton Anglican College

Quarterfinal:

Game 5: CSHS lost 26-45 v Coomera Anglican College

Semi-final:

Game 6: CSHS won 44-30 v Citipointe Christian College

Playoff for 5th or 6th:

Game 7: CSHS won 44-29 v Marymount College

After winning the metropolitan finals last year, the Year 7/8 boys’ team will play their first CBSQ state titles this week and over the weekend. We are so excited to see the outcome of their hard work and determination.

School News

Mental Health Week

Queensland Mental Health Week is being celebrated this week at Corinda State High School. During home group, students have been focusing on a different area each day to nurture their mental health. Focus points include: making time for sleep, exercise, meditation and nutrition. At lunch time students have enjoyed sessions in mindfulness, games and dancing. For example, Wednesday break time had students challenging each other in skipping activities and outdoor games. On Friday there will be a Corinda Crunch picnic. Students are encouraged to bring a healthy snack, blanket and sunscreen to enjoy a picnic on the oval.

Book Week

Next week is book week at Corinda, the library will be running some fun activities throughout the week and an exciting competition where students can design a new cover for their favorite book.

Internet Safety - Discord

The app Discord is wildly popular with both primary and secondary students alike. There are considerations though that parents should be aware of that relate to screen time along with undesirable behaviour and content.

Student wellbeing

2020 has been a big year for our Year 12 cohort. The introduction of the new QCE system has seen significant changes to senior schooling and the COVID restrictions have brought a new set of challenges with them. Take a look at the range of resources available at the link below to help support student wellbeing, maximise achievements and make the most of this exciting time in our students' school careers.

Picking up and dropping off students

Student safety is our number one priority during drop off and pick up times and we would like to remind our community of the importance of following the road rules when driving around our school zone.

Please be mindful of the following traffic behaviours:

• Parking or stopping where there is a continuous yellow line painted along the edge of the road is an offence.
• Parking or stopping where there is a ‘no parking’ sign, is an offence, unless:
  - You are dropping off, or picking up, passengers (you can stop for a maximum time of two minutes unless the sign states otherwise)
• There are ‘no parking’ signs adjacent to the school concerning peak drop off and pick up time zones (for example, no parking 2-4pm)
• Pratten Street, on the school side, is a continual bus zone and parking in this zone is an offence. It is important to keep this area clear for easy bus access, safety of our students and to assist the flow of traffic.

Please be mindful of the residents in this area in relation to car noise, engine idling and ensuring resident’s driveways are clear.

The safety of everyone is paramount during these pick up and drop off times. As a community we need to support the traffic measures that have been put in place.

Year 7 2021 Information and Welcome Videos

In lieu of our Parent Information Evening for Year 7 2021, it is our pleasure to offer virtual welcome addresses and information videos to these future Corinda families.

A collection of welcome messages and subject specific information clips can be found on our Corinda YouTube page. We encourage all prospective families to check them out at the link below.

School Assessment Policy

As we begin the final term for the year, it is important we reflect on the school assessment policy and remember the processes we are required to follow. Students will all spend time reflecting on report cards and setting strong goals in the coming week, which includes meeting draft dates, exam prep and handing in assessment tasks on time. It is important to note the policy that exists to ensure your child is not disadvantaged at any stage for not following process.

Below is an excerpt from the school Assessment Policy which is frequently highlighted by Heads of Department and Deputies.

Years 7 to 9 – missed examinations

• Student and caregiver are responsible for being at school for any examinations or assessment submissions that have been scheduled.
• The student must ensure their caregiver has informed the administration office of their absence and the reason for the absence. This information will be passed on to the relevant teacher who will inform the parent of the Assessment Policy and process and cc the relevant Head of Department. The teacher will document the communication in OneSchool and refer the contact to the Engagement Support Teacher.
• The student must engage with the alternate examination time as determined by the school in the make-up exam block.

Years 10 to 11 – missed examinations

• Student and caregiver are responsible for being at school for any examinations or assessment submissions that have been scheduled.
• If the reason for absence is due to illness or misadventure, the student’s caregiver must contact the administration office who will then inform the relevant Head of Department. The Head of Department will inform the parent/caregiver of the Assessment Policy and process.
• The student must engage with the alternate examination time as determined by the school in the make-up exam block. The provision of an approved AARA documentation is required for the exam to be graded.

Please note, catch up examinations are set after school from 3pm – 4pm as per the school engagement officer’s schedule.

Submitting assessment on or before the due date

Students will be responsible to submit assessment by the date and time required. Timely submission of assessments is essential for students to demonstrate mandatory aspects of the course and in order for feedback to be given.

Timely submission of assessment is considered to be by 9am on the due date. Assessment is to be submitted on or before the due date.

Students are to utilise the school’s processes for electronic submission or hard copy submission. Teachers will advise students of the school’s expected software to utilise, supporting students to prevent plagiarism and promote academic integrity. Students are to sign an Authenticity Statement declaring that the work is their own.

The work (even if incomplete) will be marked, commented upon, and credited towards the student’s overall result. For predominately non-written pieces of assessment, e.g. orals, the due date for written support material will be the first day of presentation.

Response to ‘The Social Dilemma’

As a BYOx school, we understand students are engaged with devices both in school and out of school. We try to limit student exposure to online materials through our Yondr policy at Corinda and ensuring students do not have access to social media during school hours. We are aware of recent interest in the Netflix documentary the Social Dilemma and felt it timely to revisit some areas of online safety.

The Social Dilemma is a documentary currently airing on Netflix which explores how the development of Social Media Apps such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc. manipulate and influence human behaviour. It delves into the sophisticated algorithms that developers use to create individual profiles to keep users engaged.

As a school, we have previously addressed concerns around social media and phone use interrupting student’s focus and the links to addiction that have been presented in research over recent years. This documentary shines a harsh light on how social media not only connects us but controls, manipulates and monetises users as a product. We urge families to reflect on their own use of social media and have a family discussion around healthy social media use. For further resources and information to support this you can visit The Social Dilemma Website

Additionally, at home, there are a number of things you can be doing to ensure the safety of your child online, particularly in relation to social media:

• Anyone encountering violent or disturbing content online should report it to the social media platform they have seen it on as well as block the user that is sending it. Alternatively they can report via eSafety at www.esafety.gov.au/report/illegal-harmful-content.
• Engage in your child’s online activities. Ask what apps, sites and games they are using and make sure they are age appropriate.
• Assist them in reporting and blocking content they see on social media sites or apps.
• Limit device time in the privacy of their rooms. It can help to have a location in the house where all devices are placed at a certain time each evening.
• Students can report bullying or harassment via the Stymie anonymous program on their school based laptop as well as via the school website.
• Use parental controls, such as Family Zone, on devices to help limit what your child is exposed to.

Family Zone

Family Zone is a device management system for the family home. The benefit of Family Zone is that it allows adults to manage devices within the home as well as on the go. It limits social media time/device time etc., depending on the parameters that you implement. Devices it can manage include: phones, tablets, laptops, gaming consoles, smart products (tvs google home etc.)

Safety features include being able to block websites you do not want your child visiting, set time limits for online activity, limit the actual time they can be used (e.g. between certain hours only), locate devices and change profiles (meaning you can access devices but children cannot etc.)

A big favourite amongst parents is the ability to limit gaming for your child. With the controls you can disable gaming in a single click from wherever you are, and Family Zone automatically blocks all gaming during designated study and school hours that you set up. At the set sleep time you establish, all access to online content is blocked so your child cannot game or access online materials after hours.

The trial is free for thirty days and then is $149 for 12 months for all devices or $69 for mobile phone and tablets only.

Job Position Available

Corinda State High School P&C Executive Committee are currently recruiting for the role of Uniform Shop Convenor for our School Uniform Shop. The role is 20 hours a week during school term with two additional weeks (full time) per year in the school holidays to cover peak demand periods.

To Apply: Applications are to be addressed to the Corinda State High School P&C Executive Committee and be received by midday on Friday 23rd of October. As part of the application process, please provided a cover letter and resume.

Please direct any enquiries to pandc@corindashs.eq.edu.au, attention Naomi Henry, P&C President.

P&C’s Queensland

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