Konnichiwa Foxwell families and welcome back to Term 2 Japanese.

This term, our Japanese team is providing a range of opportunities for students to engage in Japanese outside of their classrooms.

EP Language World Championships

Congratulations to the following students who will be receiving awards for their efforts in last term’s EP Language World Championships:

Over the 10 days of the competition, Foxwell students answered 66, 872 questions, earned 22, 669 points and spent 158 hours on EP! Well done Foxwell Mariners!

Anime Club

This term, Yoshino Sensei will be running the popular Anime Club on Thursdays. The first film viewing is Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop and started last week. All year levels are welcome to attend and share future anime ideas. See below for details:

When: Thursdays from 11:40am

Where: H3.33 – Senior Games Room

Who: All year levels welcome

Japanese Tutorials

Students of all year levels will be able to access support and assistance in their Japanese studies during WIN (What I Need) time and the long lunch break on Fridays. During these sessions, students can receive help with their Japanese class work, assessment or a quiet space to study for Japanese with the help of one of our Japanese teachers.. Times and locations are below:

WIN time: Friday 7:45am – 8:35am in the Junior Learning Hub

Lunch break: Friday 11:30am – 12:20pm in E2.17

EP/ MLTAQ Online Speech Contest

An exciting opportunity for students to showcase their spoken language skills in a digital format is coming with the 2022 EP MLTAQ Online Speech Contest to be held soon in Term 2. While we are currently waiting on confirmation of the final details from the event convenors, all interested students are encouraged to contact Ms Vickers via email (rvick20@eq.edu.au) to express their interest. Further details will be shared via Student Notices in the coming weeks.

Kodomo no Hi

In Japan, Kodomo no Hi, or Children’s Day, is celebrated every year on May 5. On this day, children are respected and honoured for their individual strengths, and happiness is wished upon them. Koinobori (cloth carp streamers) are flown on poles outside of public buildings and private houses to bring luck and good fortune to the children inside. The carp is a symbol for strength, determination and perseverance. This week, some of our classes have been creating their own koinobori or making origami kabuto (samurai helmets) to symbolise our SPIRIT value of perseverance and decorate our Japanese classrooms.

Finally, we would like to share a sample of some Year 8 work from Term 1. Featured this week is the yurukyara jikoshoukai (self-introduction) created by Aneta-Rose in Year 8. A fantastic and creative effort – well done Aneta-Rose!

Curiosity – the desire to know something

Curiosity makes your mind active instead of passive, making it stronger. This term in Enrich, we want to encourage and inspire our students to be curious!

As part of the inquiry-based learning in Enrich for this term, students have started exploring mistakes made by humans. This will prompt them to consider an area of interest that they would like to advocate for and communicate their knowledge about.

Some classes will explore an area of interest chosen by their teacher and learn together as a group, whereas others may explore more individualised topics. Some topics we have seen selected so far include:

• NAIDOC Week
• World Environment Day
• Life Below the Line

Students will also focus on:

• Reflecting on Term 1 achievements and revisiting their P4PA (Planning for Personal Achievement) to set goals for Term 2;
• Familiarising Year 7 students with strategies in numeracy, literacy and test-readiness in preparation for NAPLAN in Weeks 4 and 5;
• Exploring inquiry-based learning;
• Critical thinking and communication skills;
• Maintaining positive relationships;
• Building House Spirit for our Athletics Carnival in Week 10.

Ms Sihvola, Ms Schroeder and I look forward to continue seeing students engaged in their learning, as well as being curious learners and during Enrich in Term 2.

Ms Vickers

Head of Department – Teaching and Learning

With tickets now on sale and selling faster than you can say ‘Trunchbull sent me to Chokey’, our musical ‘Matilda’ is in full technical and production mode this term. With only 4 weeks to go, our students and staff are buzzing with the final touches of costumes, painted props, lighting and microphones being added to the mix. We have also enjoyed welcoming Mr Power and the film crew last week who have been documenting this experience through photos and filming segments. This team of incredible people cannot wait to open the doors of the new Performing Arts Centre to the community and show them the magic that we have been creating. If you haven’t already, make sure you secure a seat to this amazing spectacle before it sells out.

 Link to tickets below:

Thursday night - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/306091677447

Friday night - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/325283219867

NAPLAN UPDATE

Just a reminder that Year 7 students will be completing NAPLAN over the next two weeks.

Please see schedule below:

• Tuesday 10th May - Reading Test 
• Wednesday 11th May - Writing Test
• Friday 13th May - Conventions of Language Test
• Monday 16th May - Numeracy Test

The benefit of NAPLAN Online is that if students miss any of these sessions, they will be able to complete the missed test in a series of catch up sessions that will be held over the next two weeks.

Each student is required to bring:

• a fully charged iPad with a keyboard
• corded headphones (no AirPods or similar)

Please ensure that your child still has the NAPLAN Locked Down Browser downloaded on their iPad and the most recent update has been installed.

Urgent Reminder EOI for 2022 Camp Marantha

Preparations are well under way for our Year 8 adventure camp. As mentioned in the last newsletter, we will be attending Marantha Recreation Camp at Yandina. https://www.maranatha-camp.com

If you wish for your child to attend, we have extended the date for you to complete the EOI form until 9am on Monday the 9th of May.

For those families who complete the form, an invoice will be sent during week 4 and once the invoice is paid, you will have secured a place on camp for your child, pending the return of permission forms and full payment by the due date. The date for payment of the deposit will be indicated when the invoice is sent to you. Please ensure that your email details are up to date and that deadlines are adhered to, to ensure your child can attend camp. Unfortunately, if the deposit is not paid on time and full payment made by the deadline, your child will be unable to attend camp.

A letter outlining full details of the camp, the payment process and a permission form will be distributed to those families who complete the EOI form and pay the $30 deposit.

We reserve the right to deny attendance at camp to any student who demonstrates a pattern of unacceptable attendance or behaviour at school which places their own, or others' safety at risk.

The details of the camp are:

When:     Monday 17^th- Wednesday 19^th of October 2022.

Where:    Marantha Camp, Boulder Creek

              281 Hill Rd

              Mothar Mountain

              Qld 4570

Cost:      $280

Whilst at Camp Marantha, students will participate in some exciting activities which will  include a selection from the following:

Giant Swing: Students are pulled 13 metres in the air by their peers and then pull a rip cord to go for a thrilling swing! A daring activity, the Giant Swing pushes participants out of their comfort zones and requires full team participation.

Jacob's Ladder: Jacob's Ladder is a 10 metre high climbing activity. Students will work in a small team to pull themselves up a suspended ladder with the goal that and no person gets left behind. A fantastic activity for encouraging team work. It gets harder, the higher it gets!

River Rafting: A great activity for a group to work together planning, designing, communication and constructing a raft from scratch. Students will grab some pontoon floats, ropes and planks and build a 'river worthy' raft to race against the other teams. What better setting than the beautiful and private stretch of Maroochy River.

Bridge Building: This is an engaging activity and draws on the lost art of knot tying. The bridge building teams learn square and diagonal lashing and how to tension ropes and follow a briefing on how to construct a Burma Bridge strong enough for the whole group to climb across. The group discusses structural principles. Building materials include big bamboo poles and ropes.

Leap of Faith: A classic outdoor ed activity, Leap of Faith tests a student's nerves as well as their self-belief. Participants scale a 7m ladder and then take a leap into the void - like a miniature bungee jump! With the option to challenge themselves further by leaping for a buoy, Leap of Faith is a dynamic activity suitable for a wide range of students. 

Bush walks/hikes

I look forward to sharing the camp experience with your children. Please ensure you keep up to date with all the communication which will be sent through email and hard copy permission letters.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding anything Year 8, please feel free to contact myself, Deputy Principal, Zana Schroeder zschr2@eq.edu.au or our             Head of Yr 8, Bryce Berrell bdber0@eq.edu.au

Student-Led Conferences

The Sports Performance Centre was abuzz with enthusiastic conversation last Wednesday night when students, families and teachers joined together to explore students' learning from the year so far. It was wonderful to hear the positive feedback on work well done, strategies for improvement and goals set for accomplishment as students led conversations about their progress. Families are encouraged to continue their conversations with teachers and to maintain those lines of communication as the year progresses. If you were unable to meet with a particular teacher on the night, please do not hesitate to contact them via email. 

Cafe Program and Career Experiences

Our incredible Industry Liaison Officer continues to build worthwhile partnerships with our local industry and source meaningful experiences for our students. Year 9 students are encouraged to continue to keep checking the Student SharePoint for notices regarding opportunities relating to careers and to express their interest in activities, including our volunteer Cafe Program, which compliments the program currently undertaken by our Year 9s. 

The Compass Years - Year 10

Over the next few weeks, we will begin asking students and families for their input into our planning for Year 10 in 2023. Please continue checking notices and bulletins/newsletters for your opportunity to have your say. 

NAPLAN 

Just a reminder that Year 9 students will be completing NAPLAN over the next two weeks.

Please see schedule below:

• Tuesday 10th May - Reading Test 
• Wednesday 11th May - Writing Test
• Friday 13th May - Conventions of Language Test
• Monday 16th May - Numeracy Test

The benefit of NAPLAN Online is that if students miss any of these sessions, they will be able to complete the missed test in a series of catch up sessions that will be held over the next two weeks.

Each student is required to bring:

• a fully charged iPad with a keyboard
• corded headphones (no AirPods or similar)

Please ensure that your child still has the NAPLAN Locked Down Browser downloaded on their iPad and the most recent update has been installed.

Across classes, over the last few weeks students have received their assessment results from last term. There can be lots of pressure on our junior high-schoolers as they transition from primary and now must juggle expectations across multiple classes and multiple teachers. At the end of a term and the start of a new term one of the most valuable actions to take is to review the completed assessment tasks with your student, look over and discuss the final feedback and set short term goals with them for the coming weeks.

Students will also engage in Planning for Personal Accomplishment during classes whereby they will develop a plan for their next stage in learning. Please ask your child to share this information with you. With Semester reports to be isssued at the end of this term, for students who may be feeling disappointed with their results, now is the time to dig in and work towards their goals!

Student Leadership at Foxwell

To follow on from our own Anzac Ceremony, nine of our student leadership group, and their families, came together at the Anzac Day dawn service at Helensvale to pay our respects to those who have fought to protect our freedoms. As the sun came up, the rain came down, but our students understood that morning represented something far greater than our comfort. Lest we forget.

Last Tuesday night, our ten Year 9 student leaders were invited to attend the Gold Coast Principal’s Alliance Leadership Celebration where they heard from Lord Mayor Tom Tate and received their leadership certificates. Students were recognised alongside the senior leadership teams from State high schools throughout the Gold Coast as our current school leaders and, potentially, future community leaders. We look forward to seeing and experiencing the accomplishments and leadership of our team as 2022 continues to unfold. 

Stay tuned for details later this term, regarding our Leadership Induction Ceremony where we will celebrate our 2022 Student Leadership team!

SPIRIT Card Re-Launch

Your child will have received a new SPIRIT card this term. This is a system we have at school to celebrate positive student behaviour. It is much like a café loyalty card program, where students will have their card signed by a member of staff if they are seen displaying our SPIRIT values.

The updated system works as follows:

1. A member of staff will sign your child’s spirit card when they see them showing one or more of the SPIRIT values;
2. When your child has either one entire row or one entire column signed, they will hand in their card to their Head of Year and receive a small prize;
3. At assemblies this term, a completed spirit card will be drawn out for Year 7, 8 and 9. The winning students will win a gift voucher (for use at food, entertainment, stores etc.)
4. On the final assembly of the term, a completed spirit card will be drawn out for one student of the entire school. The winning student will win a gift voucher of a higher value.

A  video has been released to explain this new system in more detail to all students. Ask your child about how it will work?

We can’t wait to celebrate our amazing students demonstrating our SPIRIT values!

The month of May is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and is an opportunity for us to stop and reflect on how we can lead for good within our school and our community. 

The purpose of Domestic Violence Awareness Month is to promote a clear message that we do not tolerate inequality and/or domestic and family violence. 

We are not going to shy away from the fact that there are people in our community who have been, are, or will be affected by domestic and family violence. Instead, we take a stand against family and domestic violence. Not now, not ever. Together. Domestic and family violence is never okay!

As parents, and as influencers of young people, we want the best for kids. We want them to have positive experiences, healthy relationships and opportunities to learn. We want them to understand right and wrong. We want them to respect others and respect themselves.

We do our best to set a good example, but sometimes, without meaning to, we might say things that excuse disrespectful behaviour in young people.

It’s important we understand the cycle of violence. Not all disrespect towards women and men results in violence. But all violence starts with disrespectful behaviour. We can all help stop it at the start.

For information on services and support, please visit the link.

https://www.qld.gov.au/community/getting-support-health-social-issue/support-victims-abuse/domestic-family-violence

Here are some important contacts to share within the community to help raise awareness and support those affected by family and domestic violence.

DVConnect Womensline
Phone 1800 811 811 (24 hours, 7 days)

DVConnect Mensline
Phone 1800 600 636 (9am to 12 midnight, 7 days)

1800RESPECT
Phone 1800 737 732 (24 hours, 7 days)

Kids Helpline
Phone 1800 551 800 (24 hours, 7 days)

Elder Abuse Helpline
Queensland phone 1300 651 192, rest of Australia phone (07) 3867 2525 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)

State-wide Sexual Assault Helpline (Queensland)
Phone 1800 010 120 (7.30am to 11.30pm, 7 days)

If you would like support, please email Pascale Street (Guidance Officer) to arrange an appointment – ppier6@eq.edu.au or contact 5555 3333.

Upcoming Career Events

Gold Coast Careers Fair - Saturday 7 May 2022

It is never too early to start the conversation with your child about their career opportunities and interests. Saturday the 7^th of May from 9am to 3pm, Study Gold Coast is holding their annual Careers Fair. This is a free event that allows students to talk with local universities and VET providers.

Construction Skills Queensland Virtual Try-a-Trade - Wednesday 18 May 2022

Virtual reality is a great way to get a taste for a particular industry from the comfort of your chair. Our Year 9 students who have selected ‘Build It and They Will Come’ as a Personal Endeavour Course (PEC) this year, will have the opportunity to virtually try-a-trade with Construction Skills Queensland. This activity will give them insight into the immense opportunities and careers within the construction industry.

An expression of interest form will be located on the student’s SharePoint where they can sign up to be part of this fantastic opportunity.

Sanctuary Cove Boat Show - 19 May 2022

Does your student have a passion for the marine industry? Would they like a career working for some of the largest boating manufactures?

Our students have been invited to attend this year’s Sanctuary Cove Boat Show on Thursday 19 May 2022 from 9am to 11am.

An expression of interest form has been shared with our Year 9 students on SharePoint. We can take 20 students this year. Year 9 students who are interested must complete the SharePoint Form immediately to secure their spot.

Year 9 Café Program

Another successful week with the Year 9 Café Program. The students have been working hard on their barista skills and their customer service. Providing students with practical hands-on experience is a great opportunity for them to develop their skills to assist them in obtaining employment.

This term Year 7-9 are looking at how maths can be used to view the world's economic growth and the concept of decent and fair work.  

Students will look at the relationships between variables, fractions, decimals, percentages and ratios and study various concepts of financial mathematics and apply these to real world concepts in their learning.  

Thank you to those families that have ensured students are prepared for success in maths by ensuring they have an exercise book, stocked pencil case and calculator. These items are essential for learning in maths.  

Assessment will be a small quiz in the coming weeks followed by an assignment due towards the end of term.  

Remember practise makes perfect in any skill based activity such as sport, music, or a language. Maths is also a skill based subject and practise is essential!!!!

Year 7 and 8 Physical World

Students in Year 7 Physical World are beginning to explore Chemistry and the separation of substances, while students in Year 8 Physical World are exploring Physics and energy. This week, Year 7 students will separate greywater using techniques such as filtration, decantation and magnetism, and the Year 8s will be burning different foods to determine the kilojoules contained within using a mathematical formula.

Both Year 7 and 8 students have begun preparation for the annual Night at the Museum event, which will be held on Wednesday 25^th May (Week 6) from 5-6:30pm. Permission forms will go home shortly via email; as attendance is expected, we ask that you inform the Head of Physical World, Nahdia McClymont of student absence prior to the night, via email at nmccl31@eq.edu.au or by contacting the College on 5555 3333.

Year 9 Science

Students in Year 9 are exploring how chemical processes in the food industry inform our responsible decisions about consumption and production. They will design and conduct an experiment to test this question, culminating in a scientific report to OzHarvest’s FEAST, a program that teaches students the science behind preparing sustainable food.

A reminder that all students in Years 7-9 must have completed the OnGuard mandatory training module ‘General Laboratory Safety’ to be able to complete experiments in the science lab. Students must also wear full black leather shoes to enter a Science Lab.