3 March 2023

Newsletter Articles

Executive Principal’s Report

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are making good progress through our 2023 Jungle Odyssey as we pass the halfway point of Term 1. Staff and students are well and truly settled into the beat of the jungle as we navigate assessment, extra-curricular commitments and school events.

Balancing academic and extra-curricular activities requires careful planning and organisation to ensure students are maximising the many opportunities available to them, while ensuring their studies are at the forefront of their priorities.

As a parent myself, I always found it to be a marathon to keep the balance while embracing the whole school experience. Being a part of the school culture is an important part of a student’s education and allows them to develop important skills that are valued by employers and universities. Involvement in extra-curricular experiences are most valuable for defining interpersonal skills, teamwork and collaboration, which are all recognised by employers and also when applying for scholarships, and college entry with universities. Apart from this, they are just important skills required as part of adolescent development, sociability and organisational skills.

Parents can support students to embrace these opportunities while ensuring there is a healthy balance by:

• Organisation at home - Establish a consistent routine that includes all aspects of your student’s weekly commitments e.g. academic, sporting, part-time employment, cultural commitments, faith routines, arts commitments, family time, and home responsibilities. By using time blocking, it can provide a visual of the week and assist with ensuring there is balance and ‘downtime’ to prevent undue stress and last-minute anxiety. This also ensures the whole family is committed to supporting the student and their schedule whilst assisting with communication at home.
• A dedicated study environment - Ensure there is a suitable space dedicated to student study requirements – comfortable, quiet, distraction-free and orderly. I would add that when in this space, mobile devices are removed as they can cause a major distraction. If you do not have this space, consider utilising our Resource and Innovation Centre which provides after school tutoring and homework areas to support students. Public libraries are also great space for this each afternoon.
• Calendar / planner - Each term, put up a 10-week block with all due dates, including draft dates, events and commitments so that you and the student are well aware of these and organised to ensure these dates are met without undue stress. This prevents last minute anxiety and reduces stress on the whole family.
• Sleep - I cannot stress enough the importance of getting enough sleep. The Australian Department of Health recommends that children aged 5 – 13 have between nine and 11 hours of sleep per night, while teenagers aged 14 – 17 need between eight and ten hours per night. Sleep routines are always hard to achieve once the body clock is used to different sleeping patterns, so this needs careful attention following a long summer break.
• Check ins and drafting - Ensure you maintain open communication with your student – whether it be at the dinner table, in the car (I always had the rule of no phones in the car as it was great conversation time) or by going for a walk and talk – fresh air, exercise and healthy discussion is quality time with your teenager. Use the calendar to check on progress with assessment and block time to assist in reading their drafts, showing interest and commitment to them succeeding.
• Drafting and editing - This is a great opportunity to get involved and demonstrate interest in what your student is learning. A good strategy is to offer to read their work and when you come across some unclear structures, read it aloud and ask them if this makes sense. Discuss another way to phrase or clarify what they are trying to convey. These are all valuable skills that assist the student with their writing, editing and structures. The more you do this in the early high school years, the more proficient they become at their own editing and drafting by Senior School. This is one of the most valuable strategies a parent can use at home.

NAPLAN testing

This year, NAPLAN testing is occurring in Term 1. We do not place students under pressure with this testing, but we certainly ensure they are skilled with test-taking and approach the testing in a calm and organised manner. For us at Corinda, we value this data to assist us in identifying strategies to value add to each student’s literacy and numeracy proficiency. It is not about comparisons, streaming students or league tables. Our goal is to ensure we provide every opportunity for students to maximise their potential and this data is a point in time guide for us to determine where they are at and where we can take them. I encourage all parents to ensure students approach the testing with a positive frame of mind and fully participate so that we can use this information as a valuable tool, along with a range of other data to support student success at school.

Helen Jamieson
Executive Principal

Coming Events

Some of our best

Excellence students to host twilight event

We are proud to present Sunset Soul, a twilight celebration of soul, RnB, and jazz music on Friday 24 March 2023. The event will feature performances by Music Excellence, and canapes by Culinary Excellence, as well as a P&C Association-run bar. Doors will open at 4:15 PM for a 5:00 PM start. Tickets are $6 each, or $24 for a family of four. Please pay at the door. Thank you to school sponsor, Harcourts Marketplace Oxley for supporting this event.

Chess sensations battle it out at Corinda

Earlier this week, Corinda hosted 350 students from around the city for the interschool Chess Tournament. Our players competed in three divisions and overall performed exceptionally well! This is the first time we have been part of the tournament and it was a great experience.

C DIVISION

Our team came 3rd in C Division – a brilliant result! Well done to Jacob C, Ryder D, Alexander J and Krishaang G. Jacob C also won 3rd place against 68 competitive players.

D DIVISION

Our Seniors won D Division – congrats to Andy B, Denzel B, Phu L and Axel R. Our two other teams also did very well and are well placed for the next tournament.

E DIVISION

We cleaned up in E Division!

1st place went to our team with Angus M, Hugo C, Alexander H and Sonny H. In 2nd place was Benno S, Cade H, Ryan E and Oliver L. Our other teams came 4th and 6th against 18 other teams. A big applause for Benno S who topped E Division and won ALL his games! Well done also to Angus M who came 3rd in E Division.

The next Tournament will be held in term 2 at Churchie. If you would like to participate, please see Miss O’Brien at the Library.

DNX student sets sights on nationals

Congratulations to one of our newest Dance Excellence students Juliette, who is on a very clear path to achieving her lifelong dream of becoming a professional gymnast. The driven Year 7 student has recently qualified for Nationals in Tumbling, which will be held in May.

She is also thoroughly enjoying DNX at Corinda State High School, believing the skills and level of commitment pair together very well. “Dance has really taught me to be confident and persistent,” Juliette said. “No matter how long it takes, the outcome will be amazing!”

We wish you all the very best with your upcoming competition!

Met West success for young tennis stars

Congratulations to students Tristan (Year 11) and Andrea (Year 12) for qualifying for the senior boys Metropolitan West Tennis team. State finals will be played in Townsville from 9 - 12 March, where they will compete for Met West in a team event and then vie for selection in the Queensland team in individual events. We wish the boys the best of luck!

School News

Annual Open Day approaching

Our 2023 Open Day will be held on Saturday 22 April from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. This event is an opportunity for future students and families of Corinda to explore our school’s offerings and grounds for the day. There will be staff available to discuss subjects, the school and any enrolment information.

Corinda State High School prides itself on our wide range of facilities, programs and offerings to students. We showcase all of our faculties and activities on the day including our Smart Farm, sporting activities and our Arts program.

Local businesses in the area are very welcome to have a stall at this event to promote their business. If this is something of interest, please get in touch with us at marketing@corindashs.eq.edu.au

Lunch & Learn launch to attract aspiring engineers

We invite all Year 10 – 12 students to consider our upcoming Lunch & Learn sessions, designed to provide them a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the career paths available across numerous industries. The first session for 2023 will be held in the Quadrangle from 9:50 AM – 10:25 AM on Tuesday 14 March, with the special guest being engineer Annabel Hofstee, who works as a Risk and Sustainability Specialist at Urban Utilities.

Ms Hofstee graduated with a Dual Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree from QUT, and initially started her career in construction, targeting the development of shops, skyscrapers and warehouses, until she realised she wanted more! She then followed her passion for understanding and embracing the environment, and in early 2018 joined Urban Utilities, where she still is today. Working as a Risk and Sustainability Specialist, Ms Hofstee targets all things waterways, liveability, environment, green-blue design, and where we are headed in the future.

If you think your student would be inspired by this story, please encourage them to join us on the morning. The next session will be held a fortnight later on Tuesday 28 March, with special guests joining us from Motorama.

Implementation of new Australian Curriculum

Over the past few weeks, staff from our various faculties have been engaging with QCAA Professional Development on the Australian Curriculum Version 9.0. In line with our school strategic plan of CoAgency, we have commenced the familiarisation phase of the Australian Curriculum and have mapped the roll out for the next three years with a plan to support and upskill our staff for the updated curriculum.

From 2024, we will commence the implementation of the new Australian Curriculum across Queensland. The subjects required to be implemented are mandated in a primary school context, however in high school contexts we are able to choose the order of subjects we deliver. At Corinda we are intending to follow the below implementation plan.

School council seeks new Parent Representative

We are currently calling for a school parent representative to join our School Council. The School Council meets at least once a term (usually twice) and carries out a governance role of:

• monitoring the Strategic direction of the school
• approving strategic plans and policies of the school
• monitoring the implementation of plans and policies
• providing advice to the Principal about Strategic matters

The goal of the Council is to guide the strategic direction of the school with the aim of best learning outcomes for students. This is a volunteer role and to be eligible as an elected parent representative, a person must:

• be a parent of a child at the school
• have not been convicted of an indictable offence, unless the Minister gives approval under the Act (s.93)
• submit a completed nomination on time

If multiple nominations are received, an Election for the Position will be held on Tuesday 28 March 2023. Should you wish to nominate for consideration to this role, please contact Administration on 07 3379 0222 to obtain a nomination form. All Nominations must be received by Tuesday 21 March 2023 to: The Returning Officer – Belinda Retief via email at breti2@eq.du.au or by submitting to the Corinda State High School Administration Office (Attention: Belinda Retief).

Donation drive to support Rosies

Corinda students and families are encouraged to support our upcoming food drive, which will be running at school from 13 – 24 March 2023. Items from the list below will be collected by home groups, before being passed on to Brisbane charity Rosies, who will distribute to those impacted by homelessness in the local area. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Changes to bus timetables

The following timetable changes will take effect from Monday 6 March 2023. Please make note of these amendments if they relate to your student:

• The start time of route 782 has been changed to depart at 3:00 PM (instead of 2:55 PM)
• The start time of route 789 has been changed to depart at 3:05 PM (instead of 3:00 PM)
• A second route 789 has been approved and will depart at 3:10 PM
• The start time of the first route 790 has been changed to depart at 3:00 PM (instead of 2:50 PM).
• The start time of the second route 790 has been changed to depart at 3:05 PM (instead of 2:55 PM)
• The third route 790 will continue to depart at 3:10 PM

For more information about bus network changes, we kindly direct you to the TransLink website from the link below, or phone 13 12 30.

News from the P&C

The P&C Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Wednesday 29 March. As part of this, the current executive will be dissolved, and a new committee elected. The four (4) positions available on the executive are President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary. A minimum of two (2) executive members (the President and one other) are required to allow the P&C to function. Our P&C does not run the Uniform Shop or the Tuckshop and therefore we focus on fundraising and organising events of interest to parents.

All current members will need to renew their membership for 2023 or if you would like to join us - you can download a form and email to pandccorindashs@gmail.com.

If you would like any further information regarding the Executive positions , becoming a member, or you would like to add any points to General Business, please email pandccorindashs@gmail.com.

Stymie platform supports students to speak up

In mid-February, our Year 7 students were fortunate to hear from guest speaker Michael Jeh as he explored the Stymie platform, which is an anonymous online harm reporting tool used in schools. Michael Jeh encouraged students to support their peers and ‘say something’ if they witnessed any kind of harm taking place, including through cyberbullying or the creation and sharing of inappropriate content.

Deputy Principal Michael Goode praised the online platform which is available to all Corinda students. “Stymie is an integral part of the student support systems at Corinda,” he said. “Stymie empowers our students to display integrity, one of our Corinda Learner Values. Students are given the opportunity to do the right thing and look out for themselves, their friends and peers, and the whole school community.”

To find out more, or to make an anonymous report, click the link below.

Lost property

Do you recognise one of the below items? We’d love to reunite it with you! Please get in touch with the Lost Property office located in Sick Bay, or email lostproperty@corindashs.eq.edu.au

Parenting Resources

Supporting your child through their high school transition

We encourage all families to make use of our wide variety of parenting resources, provided by experts to help you navigate through the teenage years with confidence and support. The latest Insights article focuses on the high-school transition and is available on the school website to download now. Happy reading.

The Wellbeing Barometer: Parent survey

Because parenting doesn't come with instructions, SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource implemented at our school to help support you in the challenges of modern-day parenting. Parenting is a learning journey and it's easy to feel stressed and overwhelmed when faced with raising happy, well and resilient young people today.

Every family has experienced some sort of difficulty or adversity in recent times, some more than others. As mental health concerns continue to rise, there have been some alarming statistics reported in relation to the mental health and wellbeing of young people. Unfortunately, the blueprint for parenting is often based on our own experiences, but this is no longer fit for purpose in raising children as citizens of tomorrow. Parents and caregivers play a vital role in providing the guidance needed to support children and adolescents as they reframe their worries and focus more on the things they can control in their life.

In this Special Report, SchoolTV is seeking parent participation through a short survey. The survey is designed to provide a barometer to help gauge the state of student wellbeing within our community. We encourage you to take a few moments to complete the survey as this will help our school know the nature and extent of your concerns and determine how best we can support families in the months ahead. Responses remain anonymous and will only be reported on an aggregated basis. You are asked to base your responses on observations made in the last 12 months.

By working together we can continue to build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers as we navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for all students. Please reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you or your child, please reach out to the school or seek professional medical advice.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Community News

Fundraising event for Melanoma research

Melanoma March, now in its 12th year, is Melanoma Institute Australia’s annual national awareness and fundraising event.

This event brings together melanoma patients, their families, and local communities to raise melanoma awareness and funds for research. Please assist them to achieve a target of $1 million, for Australia’s first clinical trial, focused on identifying and supporting advanced melanoma patients experiencing, recurrence or progression, fear and anxiety.

The Corinda State High School community is invited to support the Brisbane Melanoma March on Sunday 26 March. Please see the below flyer for more information.

Local dance academy welcomes new talent

Step Out Dance Academy is a new dance studio located nearby in Darra. The academy has been providing dance classes for the past 12 years, and while originally located in Redbank, has recently moved to Darra. Their studio offers a wide range of dance classes for individuals of all ages, from as young as three years old through to adults. Experienced instructors provide a supportive and encouraging environment for students to learn and grow in their dance journey. For more information, visit the link below.

Futsal academy seeks players up to 14-years-old

The Australian Futsal Association (AFA) is a not-for-profit organisation, bringing Futsal to as many Australian communities as possible, providing opportunities for players of all levels to enjoy the game they love. Atletico Brisbane Futsal Academy at Oxley Futsal Factory is taking registrations for a Term 1 academy program now. Please see the below flyer for more information.

Resourceful Adolescent Program offers Brisbane training dates

Training in the Resourceful Adolescent Program will be held in Brisbane from 7 - 8 March 2023.

The Resourceful Adolescent Program (RAP) was developed to build resilience and promote positive mental health in teenagers. The program specifically aims to prevent teenage depression and related difficulties.

Approximately one in five teenagers will develop depression during the course of their teenage years which could severely hamper their development and future prospects. RAP aims to increase the psychological resilience or resourcefulness of young people and draws on research of successful treatments for adolescent depression and the known psychosocial risk and protective factors at the individual, family and school level.

The RAP-A program for adolescents is a school–based program for 12 to 15-year-olds that aims to improve the coping skills of teenagers. Please see below flyers for more information.

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