17 March 2023

Newsletter Articles

Executive Principal’s Report

Dear Parents and Carers,

It is hard to believe we are nearly at the end of term 1.  Our students are deeply engrossed in end of term assessment while juggling the many and varied sporting and cultural programs on offer.  Our calendar seems to be very full and no doubt our students are developing some very good organisational and planning skills while they manage their very busy schedules.

I encourage all students and their families to remain focused during these last two weeks, while ensuring healthy routines are in place to ensure self-care is also a priority at this busy time.

We have had some very reputable speakers provide helpful advice on healthy routines this term and while it can be hard work requiring disciplined routines, I can assure you that it is worth it in the long term.  I really do see these routines (diet, sleep, screen time and family debrief time) as pre-conditions for navigating adolescence.  The rewards are worth the effort.

Lockers

Who ever thought this could be so hard – but this was in response to many years of parent requests.  We listened, and were hesitant, but also understand the need.  The requirement for lockers became more apparent as we experienced damage to student devices in backpacks in the playground, while on the ground and in port racks.  This is very stressful for parents and students and certainly impacts on many factors.

Why lockers?

• Damage to devices and personal belongings – across the whole day – being stood on in the playground, bags thrown down.
• Port racks are not weatherproof and backpacks and belongings were being damaged.
• Students carrying backpacks around all day problematic in toilets, outside the canteen, during HPE practical lessons and during school events / assemblies.
• Carrying backpack around all day did not support the development of organisational skills where students continually going to their bags outside classrooms.
• Bags being taken from playground and port racks as a joke and dumped and also theft of bags and belongings while unsupervised.
• Storage for HPE / extracurricular items on a weekly basis to lighten the weight of backpacks to and from school.
• Trip hazards outside classrooms where there was insufficient space.

I would like to put things in context to help people understand our ‘why’ with our systems since introducing the lockers.

As you know we are a large school and, with this, comes the need to have systems that cater for the competing needs of all students.  Our school buildings are not purpose built for lockers and physically placing the lockers across the school was a significant challenge.

In order to accommodate the lockers we have installed them in the port racks and on verandas where there is ample supervision and easy access.  This was a major undertaking for the Facilities staff and was considered the only practical option.

The purpose of the lockers is to limit the need for students to carry everything around all day.  Therefore, they are only required to take what they need for the lesson/s.  Normally this would be their device, a notebook, pencil case and YONDR.  Some practical classes such as Visual Art may require additional equipment.  It is not unreasonable to ask students to carry this with them.  Many schools have this system and it works effectively. The school booklist recommends students have a protective case for their device.

The school made the decision to provide the satchels to support the students in carrying their lesson requirements to class (lesson to locker).  This was not designed to replace the school backpack as this has a very different function and supports students’ backs and shoulders.  We acknowledge that the satchels are of poor quality and we are following up on this.  School backpacks are a compulsory part of the school uniform.

Students have brought in alternative bags and are now using them as a replacement to the backpack.  This does not reflect our school expectations or the values of our local community.  More importantly it does not support back, neck and shoulder health for our young people.

The other problem is that students are treating the satchels and other bags as the alternative to the backpacks and are carrying all their belongings around with them all day – including prohibited items such as aerosols, makeup and food.  This defeats the purpose of the lockers and our classrooms do not have enough space for students to bring such large bags.

We cannot accommodate backpacks outside of classrooms as this is a trip hazard, causes obstruction and blocks the walkways.  This has resulted in our expectation that backpacks need to be placed in the lockers.  We can only have one system.  This is not a decision that was taken lightly and a lot of factors were taken into consideration with these procedures.  Most importantly we want our students to be able to learn how to utilise their lockers to assist with organisation and management of their school resources.

We do understand that this is change and sometimes it takes time to adjust to a change in habits.  We also believe that this will teach our students important organisational skills.

Your support with our uniform expectations and processes would be very much appreciated as we work with our students through this change process.

Helen Jamieson

Executive Principal

Helen Jamieson
Executive Principal

Coming Events

Some of our best

Aspiring cricket star meets coaching legend

Elite Corinda athlete and Year 11 student Alex recently represented Metropolitan West at the QSS 16 - 19 Years Cricket State Championships. Alex, who is both a wicket keeper and batter, had a very successful performance with 12 dismissals and a batting average of 20 runs.

In preparation for the championships, he had the privilege of talking with Andy Richards, who you may know as the former Coach of the Brisbane Heat Women's team and Assistant Coach and Batting Coach for the Pakistan Women’s Cricket team, who provided some great advice in preparation for the championships. Thank you Andy for your wisdom and congratulations Alex!

Talented young artists nail the brief

Each year when we host our Golden Opportunity Days, we are astounded by the high calibre of talented students walking through our doors. For example, our Visual Art session hosted a number of keen Year 6 students who were tasked with creating mixed media collages in response to the work of artist Nicola Moss. The finished artworks speak for themselves. Well done to these young artists, Ariela, Tahlia, and Isabel. We certainly hope to see these students (and many others) again in our Excellence Programs! Term 2 GO Day dates will be announced soon. Watch this space!

Badges bestowed on 2023 School Leaders

Congratulations to all our 2023 captains and leaders who were honoured with their respective badges during last week’s badging ceremony. Students were encouraged to exceed expectations in all their endeavours and become an inspiration for others.

Corinda swimmer makes waves

Congratulations to Year 9 student Thomas for making waves both in the pool and the classroom. The high-performance athlete has recently been accepted into our Elite Athlete Program, and will represent the school as part of the Metropolitan West swimming team, who will perform at the State Championships at the end of March. April will also see him compete at the 2023 Australian Age Championships and Water Polo Queensland State Titles. With such significant sporting commitments while navigating high school, Thomas’ mum Monica commended the efforts and support of his teachers, including English teacher Ms Billiau.

“What an amazing person, she was on top of his learning from day one…she is absolutely a great teacher making a difference into her students’ lives,” Monica said. She had similarly kind words for Maths teacher Ms Wang, who she said has been on board and supporting Thomas with a “fantastic approach”.

“It is an absolute honour that my son goes to Corinda State High School, you are simply amazing!”

We think you are equally amazing Thomas. Keep on aiming high!

School News

Teacher Aide | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support

We are currently seeking expressions of interest in a Teacher Aide (Identified) to assist with the pastoral care and educational outcomes of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students during Term 2 (with the possibility of extension). The position has temporary hours of 5 hours per week.

For this position, it is a genuine occupational requirement that it be filled by an Aboriginal person or a Torres Strait Islander person as set out in Section 7 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 for the purposes contained in Section 25 of that Act.

Please apply by addressing your experience and suitability for this role; and include two referees, one of whom is your current supervisor. Enquiries, and the full job description, can be addressed to Erinn Cooper at bsm@corindashs.eq.edu.au.

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.

Breakfast tradition for Year 12 cohort

Our Year 12 students parted the palm fronds and stepped into a jungle oasis in the Assembly Hall last week to enjoy a delicious breakfast together. A Corinda tradition, the Year 12 Breakfast is an important opportunity for students to build positive peer relationships as part of their final school year. Special guest speaker, Mac Millar, Founder of the Football - Play it Forward project inspired students with his story of how he used soccer balls as an instrument to facilitate peace and provide humanitarian relief globally for disadvantaged children. The special morning was capped off with students receiving their Senior badges and performing a rousing, jungle-worthy rendition of the Corinda school song!

International Women’s Day celebrated with special visit

Last week, the school community came together to celebrate International Women’s Day. Both Junior and Senior students filled an affirmation wall honouring their female heroes, supported a cupcake fundraiser and were treated to a special appearance by Queensland Reds’ player Alapeta Ngauamo. Alapeta shared her inspiring journey from schoolgirl to elite athlete while addressing the inequality and injustice she has faced as a woman in sport.

She urged students to challenge gender stereotypes. “Hear it, don’t believe it, rise above it,” she said. She also encouraged students to take every opportunity no matter how big or small. “…you never know what’s going to be behind the next door.” Thank you for inspiring our students Alapeta and thank you to Kabul House and the Student Council for hosting IWD 2023.

Students have sights set on Olympics

The Queensland Academy of Sport is seeking the next Olympic superstars for Brisbane 2032. Through testing sessions, they aim to identify raw athletic talent that can be harnessed and focussed into specific Olympic or Paralympic sports in the lead up to the Games.

Their 2023 testing sessions kicked off at Corinda State High School last week, where students were given the opportunity to engage in physical athletic testing (e.g. agility, sprinting, endurance) as well as non-physical components facilitated by QAS Talent Coaches and Advisors. Another round will be held at our school from 2 - 4 June. These sessions are open to all Corinda students as well as aspiring athletes from across the local community. All students who missed out on the March date are encouraged to register for the June sessions.

Our school review — an opportunity to have your say

Our school is scheduled for a review this year. The Department of Education regularly reviews the curriculum, teaching and learning practices of Queensland state schools.

Our school has been selected to undertake a school-led review which will harness our school’s drive for continuous improvement through collaborative inquiry and empower our staff and school community to lead aspects of the review process.

A school-led review consists of two phases:

• Evaluation conducted by the school
• Validation conducted by School and Region Reviews (SRR).

Firstly, across Term 2, we will be conducting our own evaluation. This will include speaking with staff, parents and key stakeholders. The school will produce a report framed by the National School Improvement Tool.

Following the school-led evaluation, the department’s SRR branch will validate the school’s evaluation. Members of the branch will visit our school during Week One of Term Three to engage in conversations with a cross-section of staff, students, parents and community members. They will also analyse key data sets and peruse a range of key documents to produce a report for our school community.

Key findings from the review will be made available to parents and the community on our school website.

We would like to hear from our community throughout both phases of the review. We will be providing information via our socials regarding upcoming forums to provide feedback shaped around the 9 Domains and our School Priorities. I encourage anyone who is interested to have their say. Your feedback is important and will help us continue to deliver a great education for our students.

Feedback can be provided by phone or in person. All feedback remains confidential. Please contact the school office if you are interested in participating.

More information about the review process is available from the department’s website at www.schoolreviews.education.qld.gov.au .

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 that align with our Corinda values are very welcome to contact the school about having a stall at our open day. If this is something of interest, please get in touch with us at marketing@corindashs.eq.edu.au

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

Parent Resources

ParentTV: Online Discussion TikTok The Good, Bad and Ugly

Details: Thursday 23 March at 8pm ADST

Considering 47% of TikTok users are between ages 10-29, there is a good chance your child has or has been exposed to TikTok.

The problem is, Tik Tok is a foreign platform to most parents, compared to Facebook or Instagram, and many parents are wary and concerned.

At ParentTV, we’ve had numerous phone calls and discussions about the validity of TikTok.

The main questions parents and care givers ask are:

• What are they really watching on TikTok?
• How do I get my child to not be addicted?
• How can I protect my child from seeing illegal, immoral or self-sabotaging videos?

It is important to understand the good and the bad (hint: it is not all bad), which is why ParentTV has created the online webinar.

To guide you through the world of TikTok, we have:

Nat Alise, a Tik Tok influencer with over 2.5 million followers, Nat’s comedic relatable videos, poke fun at everyday domestic activities and the joy of raising kids. This insight attracts the younger audience as they catch a glimpse into everyday parental life.

Rachel Downie, Qld Australian of the Year 2020 and founder of Stymie (an anonymous reporting tool for school students that receives over 150,000 notifications of harm each year), who works with school communities on a global scale, to empower students to change the culture of care in their school.

This dynamic duo aims to to bring you an informative conversation that covers all things Tik Tok.

Join us for a lively online discussion on how to deal with the messy middle of technology, which includes practical tools and strategies for you and your child or teen.

Happy Families: Raising Resilient Kids Summit

Details: Thursday 30 March 2023

Life is hard for our kids. And if it’s not yet, it’s going to be.

That means our kids need to be strong in all kinds of weather, so they can weather every kind of storm.

And what parent doesn’t want their child to be able to get through life’s many challenges and come out the other side – dare we say it – stronger and better?

That means raising resilient kids.

I am so proud to be joining a wonderful panel of experts and speakers at the Raising Resilient Kids Summit on Thursday 30 March. Together we’ll give you the guidance and confidence to start building resilience in your kids from the moment you step away from the summit. – Dr Justin Coulson

Community News

Tour Brisbane with family bike rides

The Australian Unity Tour de Brisbane has recently launched a free family program for Sunday 2 April 2023. Based from the Brisbane Showgrounds, the Big Family Ride Program welcomes local families to come along and have some fun on the bike.

With events for ages 3 and over, Kids can enjoy obstacle courses, rides through the Showgrounds or the 10km Free Story Bridge Ride, exploring the City on fully closed roads.

It is important for us to have as many local families as possible! The morning is completely free, including a breakfast and medal for all families who come along.

AFL club seeks new team members

The Jindalee Jaguars AFL Club is looking for girls, of any skill level, to come and play at the Jags! They are one of the largest female participation clubs in Brisbane and have been supporting female footy for more than 10 years! Currently, they are seeking more players to join the under 17s girls team and would love for you to come down and try your hand at footy.

"It's such an amazing club! I'm so glad I get to play here, I've made so many friendships, connections and have had many laughs over the years. I love it,” said Tahlia Butcher, Under 17's player and Year 12 student at Corinda State High School.

For more information, please email femalefootball@Jindaleejags.com.au

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