9 December 2020

Newsletter Articles

Executive Principal’s Report

Dear Parents and Friends

It is so hard to believe this is the final newsletter of the year and I do not really know what to think about that. What a year it has been and it is so hard to reflect on what has just taken place. I can only hope that we can pack up 2020 and put it away, never to be experienced again!

Despite all the setbacks this year, I must congratulate our staff and students for maintaining their momentum and not letting anything get in their way. There are significant learnings from our experiences this year and two very important skills – resilience and adaptability have definitely shone through with everyone. We survived and still managed to achieve success in every aspect of schooling.

This would not have been possible without the ongoing support and encourage from our Parents and community members. For this, I am truly grateful and cannot thank you enough. I remain very proud to be a part of this community and I am energised by the inspiration you all provide. A very sincere thank you.

Vale John Callaghan

Unfortunately our year is ending on a very sad note. On Friday 27th November a long term staff member – John Callaghan passed away. John had been unwell for the past eighteen months and unfortunately his treatments did not work. He tried to return to work at the beginning of this year, but his illness returned. Our thoughts are with John’s family – his wife and two children at this very difficult time as they come to terms with their loss. John was able to see his eldest son graduate this year, which was very special for him.

John was a teacher who was highly respected by both staff and students. He was instrumental in leading the annual Heron Island research program and gave freely of his time for so many school events and activities. Quietly spoken, always there to help his students, and despite his challenges continued to assume his glass was half full.

This past week has been a difficult one for our staff, particularly those who supported John and his family through his illness, delivering meals, meeting with him to keep his spirits up and fundraising to support his treatments. They are feeling a great sense of loss – a colleague, mentor, friend and true professional. John has been at Corinda for 16 years and his passing is a tremendous loss to our school community. He will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by all.

Best wishes for the Festive Season

Time to farewell the 2020 school year. I do wish you all a very safe and happy festive season and remind ourselves how lucky we are to live in this country where we can move freely and gather with our families at this very special time of year.

Thank you once again for your ongoing support and I look forward to meeting you all again in 2021 for a fresh start and a new chapter. We have so much to look forward to.

Stay safe and best wishes,

Helen Jamieson
Executive Principal

Coming Events

Some of our best

Year 11 Social – Sit Down Comedy Club

On Monday the 30th of November the Year 11 Social Event was held at the Sit Down Comedy Club in Paddington. After all of the ups and downs this year, it was great for the students to be able to celebrate the end of Year 11 with such an entertaining evening. Apart from the comedy acts, the students also enjoyed the opportunity to hit the dance floor.

A couple of lessons learnt by the students on the night included: do not go to the toilet and draw attention to yourself when a comedy act is on stage; make sure that you have at least two or three lines of comebacks if you put your hand up during a comedy show; and clear the dance floor to make way for the staff when the Nutbush comes on! Thank you to Mr Noble for planning and organising this year’s event, it was an enjoyable night for all.

Year 7 Orientation Day

Last week we met our 2021 Year 7s at our Orientation Day. There were some nervous faces as parents said goodbye but by the end of the day students were feeling more confident and there were plenty of smiles.

Among the many new faces for the year 6 students, they were introduced to teachers including their new Principal, Deputy Principal, Dean and House Masters. They started the day being allocated to their House and participated in team building activities run by the 2021 House Masters.

The students spent the day with their core class competing in an Amazing Race tour of the school and experiencing high school subject mini-lessons with activities including cooking, making key chains and friendship bracelets and visiting the farm. The student helpers did a fantastic job of ensuring nobody got lost and answered the many questions the year 6 students had about high school life.

Before farewelling the year 6 students, Ms Priest reminded them that they were now Corinda State High School students and with that comes pride in their uniform and expectations regarding their behaviour. We welcome all of our new students and look forward to watching them grow at Corinda State High School.

Junior Percussion Ensemble Performance

Our ever-growing Junior Percussion Ensemble is rocking out at Corinda! The students recorded, directed, and performed a video clip to showcase their talents and performance skills with the help of their teacher Mr Hicks.

School News

Corinda Art in the Community

Visual Art Excellence students in year 7 recently produced a DNA/Cell inspired painting. This painting depicted an altered environment, coupled with an indigenous influence. This combination of elements has resulted in a stunning array of designs, which are visually inspiring, and capture the design elements in glorious variety. A sample of these paintings are now proudly on display at Corinda Council Library on Oxley Road during December and January. Congratulations to these talented students on their original and creative outcomes.

Attention 2020 Graduates

This year we filmed the Corinda Graduation Ceremony to allow family members who were unable to attend to experience this very special milestone in their young person’s life.

If you would like a copy of the Graduation Ceremony, please feel free to drop a USB into Admin this week and we will upload a copy of the video for you. USB’s must be collected by 2pm Friday 11 December.

Uniform Shop Hours

The Uniform Shop will be open for trading in January 2021 in preparation for back to school.

January Trading Hours at Corinda State High School Uniform Shop

After 29th of January Trading Hours at the School Locker Oxley Store

Absences Beginning of Term 1 2021

If your student will be absent from school at the beginning of the 2021 school year, please email info@corindashs.eq.edu.au to advise of this as soon as possible. 

School Transport Assistance Scheme (STAS)

The Department of Transport and Main Roads provides assistance under the School Transport Assistance Scheme (STAS) in situations where access to education is impeded by distance, income or isolation.

STAS assistance requires that a student:

• Have parents/guardians who reside in Queensland
• Attend an approved school
• Are 18 or younger
• Require transport assistance to and from one home address only
• Make 2 or more trips per week by the same mode of transport.

P&C’s Queensland

P&C’s Queensland have released their latest edition of ‘Parent talk’

Community News

Christmas Lights Maps & Lists for Families

Families Magazine have just updated their Christmas lights lists & maps for 2020 showing all the best lights in local Brisbane suburbs.

They have made it super easy for families, by sorting the best lights into the easiest driving order.

St Cats Sign On Day

St Catherine's United Football Club (St Cats) aims to provide children and adults with the opportunity to enjoy playing football and to develop their abilities as a player. They have teams to suit all age groups from under 6’s right through to over 40’s.

When: Saturday 30th of January and Saturday 6th of February 2021
Where: Park Village {Metro Middle Park Shopping Centre}
Time: 8.30am - 3.00pm

Choose how to add this event to your calendar:

Apple Calendar iPhone, iPad, Mac - Download .ics file

Outlook Desktop Outlook - Download .ics file

Android Calendar Android devices - Download .ics file

Other Calendar Google Calendar, Yahoo, etc. - Download .ics file

Download Event