Corinda State High School eNewsletter

18 March 2021

Newsletter Articles

Executive Principal’s Report
Coming Events
Some of our best
School News
Community News

Executive Principal’s Report

Dear Parents and friends

It was wonderful to be able to meet our Year 7 families last week at the Parent welcome evening. I do hope that we have the opportunity to host you and your students again at upcoming school events as we journey together through secondary schooling. High School is a big milestone and it is important that Parents come together as a collective and share the highs and lows of navigating adolescents.

As you are aware there has been a lot in the media of late around teenage parties and consent. Our school delivers explicit programs through the Health and Physical Education curriculum as well as special life skills programs in years 11 and 12 around drug education and parties. Each year Michael Jeh presents a comprehensive program with our year 11 students with real life examples and case studies aimed at preparing students for what they might expect should they be in situations such as those exposed in the media. It is totally unacceptable but a sad reality that our young people are facing complexities such as this and we have to prepare them for possible scenarios that compromise their personal safety.

For some time I have expressed my concerns around teenage parties, adult supervision and provision of alcohol to minors. I always rely on reputable sources for prevention measures and experts such as Michael Carr-Gregg advocate the importance for Parents / Caregivers to set clear boundaries and to be consistent. The research has proven that allowing minors to drink while underage does not work – even under strict supervision. It is important that Parents continue to undertake due diligence before allowing attendance at parties – this is no different to when they attend children’s birthday parties. I have included a link by Michael Carr-Gregg for your reference.

In order to prevent situations like those shared in the media recently there needs to be vigilant adult supervision, parents need to be aware who is attending and whether this is safe for their teenagers (open or closed party – the risk of outsiders coming in with dishonest intentions), what are the parameters around the party? Eg. will there be alcohol and who will have access? It is always advisable to make contact with the host of the party and let your teenager know you are doing this. Consider how they are getting there and home. It is wise for Parents to do this and at the same time witness the climate and make a judgement call if it looks questionable.

Of course, your teenager will tell you that: “no other parent does this and you are the only parent who does this”. That is okay and it is always good to align with other parents who are giving the same messages. This is protective behaviour and it is a good opening to continue conversations with your teenagers about this topic. In addition to this it is important to continue to have open and honest conversations with teenagers around your ‘why’. The main one being because you love them!

We are always here to assist with any issues around these highlighted, so please do not hesitate to contact us should you wish to discuss and access school support services. This is all part of the journey to adulthood for our young people. Together we mould and shape and build on their success.

Helen Jamieson
Executive Principal

Coming Events

Date	Event
17 – 19 March	Year 11 Block Exams continue
24 – 26 March	Instrumental Music camp
Saturday 27 March	Open Day
Thursday 1 April	Last Day of Term 1
Monday 19 April	First Day of Term 2

Some of our best

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2021

On Wednesday last week Corinda State High School hosted three guest speakers to inspire our students with their stories in a Q&A platform. Our speakers were from a range of diverse backgrounds that strengthen our ideas of growth, diversity, change, success and womanhood.

This year’s theme #choosetochallenge was brought forward to our students as we encourage them to use their voice for good. Corinda State High School would like to thank Cr Nicole Johnston, Ms Charlene Onapa and Ms Milly Davenport for giving up their time so generously to share their experiences and inspire our students.

Our International Women’s Day guest speakers offering inspiration to the young women of Corinda State High School.

Golden Opportunities Days – Artists in Action

Corinda State High School’s Visual Art department hosted budding young artists last week at the Golden Opportunity Day for Primary School Students. Our young visitors experimented with watercolour, ink and pen when creating abstract compositions based on organic imagery. We enjoyed their visit and think their works were stunning!

There will be another Visual Art Golden Opportunities Day in May. Please visit our website for more information and to register.

Some of the outstanding artwork produced by Primary School Students at our Golden Opportunity Day for Visual Art.

Dr Chris Perren visits Corinda

Dr Chris Perren (PhD Music Composition), renowned Australian composer and Music Lecturer at the University of Queensland, gave up his time last week to mentor our Instrumental Music - Percussion students with their improvisation skills.

Our students flourished under Dr Perren’s expert tuition and the recordings from the session will now be the foundation for a special composition written by the artist. This unique collaboration will be performed by the Senior Percussion Ensemble later in the year!

Corinda is the only state school in Queensland that has been given this opportunity and our students have enthusiastically risen to the task, taking their skills to new heights. Well done Corinda percussionists!

Dr Perren leads the Corinda percussionists in an improvisation activity.

Visual Art Excellence – Artist in Residence

The year 9 Visual Art Excellence class have been working with artist in residence, Carolyn V Watson, to produce a Body of Work on the theme ‘Hybrid’. Their Body Of Work is composed of drawings, paintings and sculptures.

Students have learnt much from Carolyn’s practice across 2D and 3D media. Resolved imagery will come, but the progress they are making on their paintings shows such promise. They are a truly talented group of students!

Artist in Residence Carolyn V Watson working with year 9 students Meera, Jade, Zoe, Hadis and Mackenzie.

School News

Year 12 celebrate their new space

Last week we opened the brand new dedicated year 12 space in our new Resource and Innovation Centre. The year 12 students were thrilled to gain access to their new area for break times. We are still awaiting several different items of café-style furniture including couches and more kitchen supplies.

The year 12 students have been tasked with maintaining the area and ensuring it is kept in a clean and tidy manner. The foosball tables and the toasters have been a hit with students so far!

Students enjoy tea and toast in their new dedicated year 12 area and compete enthusiastically at the foosball tables.

Open Day – Saturday 27 March between 9.00 am and 1.00 pm

Our school Open Day is fast approaching and we are excited to be able to display our wonderful school to the public. Families will have the opportunity to meet, pat and feed our friendly farm animals! We will also be selling an assortment of plants grown right here at our Corinda Farm on Open Day.

Tuckshop

Please note the FlexiSchools’ system has been experiencing technical difficulties on Friday mornings due to the high volume of users at this time (this has been an issue for the many schools using the system nationally). FlexiSchools are seeking a way to resolve this, but we encourage people to pre-order on Thursday if possible to avoid any issues.

If parents need to contact the tuckshop please email corinda@metrocanteens.com.au. This address may not always be immediately attended during peak service times so please contact the main school office for urgent matters on (07) 3379 0222.

Corinda State High School Council Election

Notice is given to the school community that there is a meeting called for the purpose of electing parent members to the Corinda State High School Council.

An election for three (3) Parent representatives will be held at the P&C meeting:

in the school’s Paradox Room
on Wednesday 28 April 2021 at 7.00pm

Parent representatives should be aware that School Council meetings are generally held once or twice per term, at 5.30pm. To be eligible for election as an elected parent member, a person must:

a) not be an official member;

b) not have been convicted of an indictable offence, unless the Minister gives approval under the Act;

c) be the parent of a child attending the school.

An elected parent member is elected under the Parent and Citizens’ Association’s constitution. The parent member nomination process is outlined in the P&C Constitution and below:

a) any two members of the Association (the Nominating Members) may nominate any parent of a child at the school (the Candidate) to be an elected parent member of the School Council

b) the nomination may be made:
i. in person, by the Nominating Members, at the relevant meeting, or
ii. if the Candidate cannot be present at the relevant meeting, by giving the Secretary, before the meeting, a nomination in writing signed by the Nominating Members and the Candidate

Community News

RSL ANZAC Service Sunday 25 April

The Sherwood-Indooroopilly RSL Sub-Branch will be hosting an Anzac Day service this year. The Graceville Service will be held at 7.30 am at Graceville Memorial Park (march to assemble at 7am at the train station cnr Verney Rd East & Appel St, 7:15am march off to park). All welcome to attend – students to wear their uniform.