Another year has passed for Foxwell State Secondary College. Our college story is a story of growth...

The most visibly obvious growth for us are our facilities. At the beginning of this year, we opened stage 2 of our campus. Boasting our Performing Arts Centre, Senior Lecture Theatre with views of Surfers Parardise, Senior Workshops and Kitchens, our Senior Gym and Kaizen Café, we continue to be thankful that we have the facilities to offer our students opportunities that far exceed a traditional education. Our physical growth is also noticed in our population. With over 800 enrolled students in 2022, we look forward to welcoming just short of 1100 students in 2023. Our staff will grow to over 120 personnel. I value the diversity a large staff body provide for student education and this is no more obvious than in the extensive curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities on offer for our students. Thank you to our staff that go above any beyond every day in providing these, to our students committed to the programs and to our parents and carers for all of your late nights and early mornings, your driving, sewing, sitting, watching and general lack of time to yourself.

It's hard to believe that it has only been 10 months since these amazing young people I have had the pleasure of working with this year first joined us here at Foxwell.  Their growth, physically, emotionally and developmentally in such a short period of time has been remarkable.  

I would like to take the time to acknowledge the following students who were recognised last night at our Celebration of Success Ceremony.  Congratulations to;

Top of Subject Award Winners:

Special Award Winners:

Well done to you all.

I'd also like to acknowledge the growth and development we have seen in all our Year 7 students.  It has been an honour to watch them flourish at Foxwell.

We look forward to celebrating the year at Movieworld on Monday and wish you all a happy and healthy break over the summer.

Deputy Principal

Di Russell

Wow, we made it!  What an incredible year of many achievements for our first year of high school.  As I look back over the year I am so incredibly proud of the young people I see before me and the journey they have travelled this year.  It has at times been bumpy and rough but there has also been many great triumphs and celebrations along the way.  The Foxwell SPIRIT values have been evident in abundance as we have perservered, shown integrity and team work and been respectful and responsible for ourselves and our actions.

While the year draws to a close there are still some big events to get through.  We have our Celebration Day at Movie World on Monday.  Students who have returned permission notes and paid will be enjoying a day of thrill rides and shows.  Some things to remember;

* Students must be in their full sports uniform with their sports hat.  Students who are not in the correct uniform with their hat will not be boarding the bus or entering the park.  This includes correct shoes.

* Students who have indicated that they have passes must have these with them on Monday ready to show at the gate.

* Parents who have indicated that they are picking their student up from the venue must be there at 2.30pm.  We cannot release a child without you signing them out.

We cannot wait to spend this day celebrating with your child.  

Another exciting event to pop in your calendar is our school camp for early in term 2, 2023.  Students will be travelling to Maranatha Recreation Camp on the Sunshine Coast.  Our current year 8 cohort went this year and absolutely enjoyed all of the activities on offer.  More information about cost and specific dates will be released early next year.

I am really looking forward to seeing some of our incredible students travel across the stage tonight whilst being rewarded for their many achievments this year. However, I know from spending the year with your students, some of our students biggest successes are not academic or sporting or even cultural.  They are the personal achievements that can only be measured by our students growth as humans, and that has by far been the most rewarding part of my job this year.  Seeing your students flourish and grow in times of pressure and stress has made me one very proud Head of Year 7.

I hope you all have a restful holiday period - you have deserved it!

Who can believe that we have almost reached the end of the 2022 school year?

Once again it has been a year of COVID, a year of challenge and a year of celebrating who we are and what it means to be successful.

Last night we recognised many of our Year 8 students' success at our annual Celebration of Success Evening.

Congratulations to the 2022 Year 8 Top of Subject Award Winners:

The Foxwell State Secondary College Award for Significant Contribution is awarded to students who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to the life of the college in one or more endeavour.

This year we recognise: Vicky Rowe, Emerson Smith, Taiga Hosono, Skyla Davies, Ainslie Ryan and Zayda Leota-Manson for the contribution.

The Foxwell State Secondary College Award for Significant Achievement recognises the success of students who have excelled in their chosen field or school endeavour.

This year we congratulate: Addison Newlan; Vicky Rowe; Kai Jesaudason; Zac Tunstall; Jelena Uzelac; Amritha Ravipati; Jaqueline Beaumont and Yena Jung 

We also recognise the commitment, dedication and achievements of our:  

• Strings Ensemble;
• Lyrical and Jazz Dance Troupe;
• Starbound Dance Troupes;
• Musical Theatre Troupe; 
• Hip Hop Troupe.

Last night was all about formal acknolwedgement of the more traditional forms of success, however, we must remember that success at Foxwell can be something different for each student. For some it is staying in class for a full lesson, for others, arriving  on time or speaking respectfully or being a better friend or being kind, to name just some examples of success I have witnessed our students demonstrate over the course of this year.

So I would like to congratulate all of our Year 8 students for acheving success, in some form this year. Life is a journey, one of growth and development and I believe that it is more important for us to teach our children, that it is in fact, the journey, rather than the destination that is most important.

It is progress and not perfection which ought to be celebrated!

So to all our Year 8 students, you have all made progress this year and for this you should be proud. I am proud of you. I wish you, my heartfelt congratulations. You have shown Foxwell SPIRIT, you have persevered and been rewarded with progress. Keep up the good work as you leave the Wonder Year and embark on your two year Compass Years course at Foxwell State Secondary College!

I would like to take this opportunity to publically acknolwdge my amazing Year 8 Team of 2022. A massive thank you to Year 8, Head of Year, Mr Bryce Berrell and Year Level Assistant, Ms Sharni Hughes. You have both gone above and beyond to support our Year 8 students this year. It has been a privilege to work alongside you. Thank you for your support of me and of our Year 8 students.

So it is time for me to sign off as the Year 8 Deputy for 2022 and wish all of our families a happy and healthy Summer holiday. Thank you for your support and your contribution, as we build our Foxwell State Secondary College Community in the likeness that reflects our SPIRIT Values.

Service

Perseverence

Integrity

Respect and Responsibility

Inclusivity

Teamwork

Please stay safe and I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.

Zana Schroeder

Deputy Principal

Dear Year 8 Families,

I would like to begin my final message of the year by saying a massive thank you. Without your consistent support, trust and communication, we would not have made it through the year. I am extremely proud and honoured to have worked with the Year 8 cohort in 2022. They have grown and succeeded in their own individual ways and I am thrilled to have seen this take place. I think it is timely and appropriate to inform you that in 2023, I will be taking on a new role within the Head of Year team as Head of Year 7. While I still will be around and involved with the cohort, it definitely won’t be in the same capacity as this year. I look forward to meeting some younger siblings, new students and continuing to strengthen and develop relationships with new and current families.

In the last week of the 2022 school year, our Year 8 students will participate in our Alternative Program. On Monday 5^th of December, students will begin their transition to H Block – the Year 9 space. Students will experience four sessions throughout the day centred around the theme of Rewind to Unwind:

• Session 1: Guest Presenter Cooper Chapman – Mental Health Advocate from Good Human Factory
• Session 2: Grit & Growth by Deputy Principals Zana Schroeder & Di Nicolas
• Session 3: Personal Narrative (student-selected activities)
• Session 4: Leading & Succeeding – Amazing Race Competition

At lunch, we have organised a cohort picnic with music and activities on our oval. Students are to bring lunch with them (lunch will not be provided by the school or canteen) and are encouraged to sit, laugh and have some fun with their friends as we celebrate the 2022 school year.

Finally, and before the year is out, please ensure that your child cleans out and empties their locker to ensure a fresh start occurs next year. If any student has any work left at school, please take this home before it is taken out by our cleaners over the holidays. We do ask that all families are prepared with the correct uniform, stationary and learning apps for the beginning of next year. To our families that are not returning, we wish you the best and we do ask that you let the school know to ensure that our records are correct.

I hope that our local community and families enjoy a well-earned and restful break. We look forward to welcoming you back to Foxwell State Secondary College in 2023 for another busy year.

Best wishes,

Bryce Berrell

2022 has certainly been one to remember! It seems like it was only yesterday when we met in the courtyard of our beautiful new Senior Precinct, everyone abuzz with excitement about the new year, new courses and amazing new facilities. It feels like we have been on fast-forward, landing at the end of the year after a fast and fun ride!

It has been so rewarding to work with our Year 9s in the Compass Years Program. When we developed the vision for our Year 9 and 10 Program, it was always intended that all students would have every opportunity to develop their passions, skills and talents in the courses they selected. Last night, this vision was realised when so many of our Year 9 students received a subject award for achieving the top result across the courses studied. A number of students were also recognised by receiving awards for Significant Contribution and/or Significant Achievement, again realising our vision that success is not just measured by academic achievement. 

I couldn't be more proud of what our students have achieved this year across their academic studies, arts and sports pursuits, the Cafe Program and the myriad of other opportunities they have grasped along the way. Shortly, I will be asking all Year 9s to complete form which will form the basis of their COMPASS - Certificate of Mastery, Personal Accomplishment, Skills and Strengths, to be presented in the new year. 

Congratulations to the 2022 Year 9 Top of Subject Award Winners:

I look forward to celebrating the end of our extraordinary year with students at Dreamworld on Monday and across the week as we head into the holidays. Of course, expectations remain the same regarding effort, behaviour and conduct until we finish the year strongly at 3pm next Friday.

I wanted to thank all students and their families for their dedication, support and patience as we worked through our first year of Year 9 at Foxwell. It has been a busy and rewarding year and, when I look back over the last 10 or so months, I am grateful for the opportunity to lead our talented and spirited young people through the first of our Compass Years. None of this would have been possible without the hard work, dedication and care of Mrs Holly Arndt, who has been the absolute backbone of our work with the Year 9s this year in terms of Student Wellbeing, Engagement and Learning. Ms Arndt, along with our Year Level Assistant, Mr Junior Afu have worked tirelessly to support out students, and I am so grateful to have worked alongside them this year.

I wish all students and their families a safe, relaxing and fun-filled holiday break.

Ms Dianne Nicolas, Deputy Principal, The Compass Years

Hi everyone,

A huge congratulations to our Year 9 cohort for all of their hard work this year. I can't believe we are at the end of Week 9 of Term 4! I would like to say a huge thank you to our students, families and entire Foxwell State Secondary College community for supporting me as the Head of Year 9 this year, and for welcoming and supporting our Year Level Assistant, Junior Afu, in Semester 2. I am incredibly proud of the kind, hard working and confident young adults that they are becoming, and I look forward to seeing all that they continue to achieve in the years to come. I also look forward to our Celebration Day on Monday at Dreamworld, and to finishing 2022 strong. 

A few reminders for those students attending our celebration day at Dreamworld:

• Please do not bring any valuables or electronic devices such as mobile phones
• If your Dreamworld pass is on your mobile phone, please print this out prior to the day to bring with you or email it to me (hfbra0@eq.edu.au). 
• Please be aware that if you do not purchase a locker, you are responsible for all items that you bring with you on the day
• Please wear full sports uniform with the correct bucket hat and shoes
• If you have not paid or returned your form, this needs to be done ASAP or you will not be able to enter the Park/get on the bus

Once again, thank you so much to the Year 9 cohort and their families for the incredible year that has been 2023. I wish you all a wonderful Week 10 and a safe holiday break. 

Mrs Arndt

How to Stay Healthy Over the School Holidays

Holidays can be challenging. Without routine, it's still important to stay healthy and look after yourself.

For some young people, this time of year can be challenging. It can feel as though you've been taken away from your usual routine of studies or work and you may not get to see your friends, teachers or workmates as often as you would like to. This can leave you feeling bored, unsupported, upset and sometimes anxious. It’s important to stay healthy and look after yourself. Some ways to help you do this are:

Organise and explore
List places you want to visit and things you want to do. 

Creative projects
Get your creative juices flowing! Revamp your bedroom or create an art piece. Invite a friend over or ask a parent to help.

Get active
Get out on a local oval and kick a footy with mates, check out the local skate park or go for walks.

Volunteer
Give back to the community and gain some great experience

Busy kids are happy kids!

The Gold Coast Youth Hubs offer a range of free school holiday activities for young people aged 12-17 years.

The programs provide a safe space to enjoy the school holidays and meet new friends, while giving parents peace of mind that their child is being looked after in a supported environment.

All programs are device-free in favour of hands-on activities.

Activities include:

• cooking classes
• art workshops
• sporting games including dodge ball, swimming, soccer
• movies
• craft activities.

The purpose of these activities is to help young people:

• Create friendships and meet new people
• Spend time in a safe and supported space
• Provide an opportunity to learn new skills
• Create a memorable and enjoyable holiday experience

Please see below for activity schedule.

What a year it has been for Gen STEM. Our students have continued to stretch their conceptual understanding, adopt new skills, and test their limits. All while making life-long friendships with like-minded students. We are excited to share with you what has been an exciting few weeks, finishing the year on a high.

On Saturday the 12th of November, Foxwell State Secondary College hosted the first ever annual First Lego League Coomera Regional Competition. Year 7 and 8 Gen STEM students competed against 10 other teams from Flagstone State Community College, Upper Coomera State School, Upper Coomera State College and Jongxing Chinese School, to demonstrate problem-solving, coding, robotics and engineering skills and to propose an innovative renewable energy solution to a panel of judges. Our Gen STEM students received the top award for Robot Design! The inception of this Northern Gold Coast hub has not only provided our own students with access to this experience, but has bridged the gap between Southern Gold Coast and Brisbane regions, as there has never been a hub in our Northern Gold Coast region. We plan on continuing this event for many years to come, bringing many other schools on board to build capacity in students right across our region.

The Wonder of Science State Finals took place at UQ on the 25th of November, where 3 of our Gen STEM teams presented their science inquiry projects to other state representative schools across Queensland and an expert judging team. Students showed the SPIRIT values and STEM knowledge as they interacted with peers, expert scientists, and community members. We are proud to announce that our Year 8 Gen STEM team walked away with 2nd place statewide for their presentation, an enormous accomplishment considering these students competed against 27 schools at a State level.

We are so excited for 2023, and cannot wait to see our students continue to thrive in all aspects of STEM. 

What a way to end the wonderful year that has been 2022! Our exceptional Creative Voices students across Years 7, 8 and 9 worked tirelessly this term with their classroom teachers to produce a musical theatre item specific to their strengths. The students wowed a live audience of parents, friends and other Excellence classes on Wednesday 23rd November in the Performing Arts Centre with singing, dancing, acting and lots of smiles. The audience was treated to a range of talent and songs from musicals such as 'Rent', 'Bring it On', 'Hairspray' and 'Legally Blonde' as the students demonstrated grit and tenacity learning new skills and improving others. We can't wait to see what these wonderful students create in 2023!

As we move into another fabulous year, please note that our class times will be shifting. The morning class will now be on a Friday morning from 7.45am until 8.45am with the Year 7 and 8 students in the E block rooms and our Year 9 and 10 students in the PAC. We hope you and your families have a restful break and we look forward to creating more magic with you next year.

Dear Foxwell families,

Congratulations to all students who received an award last night, well done to you all. The P&C are proud to be the sponsor of the community service award, it is an honour to present this to the deserving student.

As the year draws to a close I reflect on what a great year it’s been for our P&C. We ran a tuck shop at the school’s first production of Matilda the musical, and have had several smaller successful tuck shops since. The students had a wonderful time at the Colour explosion.

The Bunnings BBQ aimed to kick start the student support program in 2023 for students representing school at national level. As we grow we hope to extend this to state representation. This can only happen by fundraising, so please show your support at future fundraising events and help us to help you.

The pride and joy for us this year was the purchase of our new popcorn maker, thanks to a grant from the Gold Coast council.

A special mention is to go to Debbie Barnes, who a lot of students will recognise as one of Foxwell’s amazing cleaners. For the past two years Debbie has been collecting recycling from the school grounds, including pulling containers out of the rubbish bins which have then been taken to the recycling depot and funds raised for the P&C. To date Debbie’s commitment has raised us in excess of over $1,500. Thank you so much Debbie, we are grateful for your support. In 2023 a new scheme will start at school whereby recycling bins will be placed throughout the school for students to place their recycling directly into so Debbie will no longer have to rummage through rubbish, the students themselves will be contributing to raising funds as well as helping to save the environment.

Warm wishes

Roz Rowe

P&C President