Welcome back to term 3! It was only a few weeks ago that I mentioned the outstanding opportunities that students and staff at our College had throughout term 2. In looking at our calendar for this term, it will not be different. There are some outstanding events that our students can look forward to this term.  

We have a busy week next week, with our Interschool sports Day on Tuesday and SET Plan Meetings for our Year 10 Students on Wednesday and Thursday. I would like to remind our families that students wear their full sport uniforms for the full day of Interschool Sport, as students will participate  in an alternate program for the day. 

SET Plan meetings occur for all Year 10 students across Queensland. They are essential meetings that assist students to prepare for their future education and career pathways. While we understand that not all students are aware of exactly what they want to study or pathway they would like to choose beyond Year 12, these conversations assist is guiding students on how to explore their interests and make informed decisions when choosing their senior subjects. As senior subjects are 2 year courses, it is important that students choose these correctly. Please contact our Year 10 Deputy Principal, Ms Di Nicolas if you have any questions regarding your SET Plan Interviews. 

As we start this new term after a couple of weeks of holidays, I would like to remind our families of social media and internet safety for our young people. There is a lot of change in the landscape of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersafety, that it difficult to keep up with the constant change. As parents, you have a key role is supporting a positive and safe online experience, and sometimes it is difficult to know where to find information on how we can do this. I have added a link to a great resource for parents and caregivers around online awareness for our young people, as well as the link on where you can report online abuse or harmful content. 

We have a few staffing updates to our College this term and I would like to welcome the following staff members to Foxwell:

Ms Caysha Renton –new SWEL Head of Department for year 9/10

Ms Valissa Bauer 

Ms Katrin Garfoot 

Ms Maya McCabe 

While Mr Bryce Berrell is not a new member of staff, he will join the SWEL team as the Year 7/8 SWEL Head of Department this Semester. 

I would also like to extend congratulations to staff members that have been successful in gaining positions at other schools this Semester:

Ms Elle Bullock

Ms Tania Russell

Mr John Morris

Mr Justin Wise

These staff members will begin at their new schools in week 3, and we wish them all the best in their endeavours. 

Finally, I would also like to remind our families of our upcoming Student Led Conference. This is a wonderful opportunity to discuss your child's learning at Foxwell State Secondary College. Further information will be provided closer to the date on how to make bookings, but please save this date to your calendars. We look foward to seeing you there. 

Kylie Steinhardt 

A big welcome back to Term 3.

I trust the holidays have provided you and your children with some much needed rest, relaxation and family time. I always appreciate the time during the holidays to have a change of routine and to re-connect with important people in my life, be it, family or friends, who I find it difficult to find time for, during the busy school term.

I have some exciting news to share, our Head of Year 7, Mr Berrell has been successful in obtaining a Head of Department position at our College for the remainder of the year. We are currently going through a recruitment process to finalise who the new Year 7 Head of Year will be. Once I have this information, I will share this with you. We are lucky however, that Mr Berrell, as the SWEL [Student Wellbeing Engagement and Learning] HoD will continue to work with our Year 7s, but in a somewhat different capacity. I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate him and to thank him for his outstanding work during Semester 1 as the Head of Year 7.

Our Year 7s have come back and jumped straight into learning. We were lucky to have been able to meet together for assembly on Monday morning. During this time together, we were able to provide some reminders about uniform, behaviour expectations, attendance and engagement in learning.

Our students have commenced new learning in every subject and will, most likley have rotated to an alternate Arts and Technologies subject or in a small number of cases, will have an opportunity to extend their knowledge and skills in last term's Arts and Technologies subjects.

As I mentioned at the end of last term, student timetable changes are to be expected in high school and this week some of our students have found it challenging to cope with change. This has caused some classes and students to be more unsettled than ususual. I trust, as we move into week two and beyond, that classrooms will become hives of activity, with high levels of student engagement.

We would appreciate your support in reminding your child of the importance of being in the right place, at the right time. Student lateness to school and to class means lost learning time. Our students are blessed, in that we have a break after every lesson which is a perfect opportunity to take a walk, get a drink and access the bathroom, thus making it easier for students to be able to remain in class for each 70 minute lesson.

We would also appreciate your support in ensuring that your child is ready to learn each day - bringing to school a fully charged iPad, books and pencil case as per the stationery list. Students do not access their iPad, all lesson, every lesson. Our teachers provide a range of learning experiences and at times, students will be required to write, draw or complete activities in hard copy, in their subject notebooks. It is therefore important that this equipment is brought to school each day.

Part of being ready to learn is also wearing the correct uniform, on the correct day. Students are required to wear their formal uniform, 4 days a week and their sport uniform one day per week. The exception to this rule, is students who are part of an Excellence Program. These students are permitted to to wear their sport uniform on their Healthy World Practical lesson day [as per whole cohort] and their Excellence shirt with their sports shorts on the Excellence, early morning lesson, day. At all times, students should be wearing all-black shoes - leather with the formal uniform and leather or fabric with sports uniform. Students are also required to have either a plain navy back pack - no branding visible or a Foxwell back pack. Non school branded jumpers are not permitted at school and students may be asked to removed these. Oir uniform shop has a plentiful supply of each of our three school jumpers/jackets.

As usual, if myself or Mr Berrell [for a short while only], can be of any assistance, please feel free to contact us.

Until next time, take care and be kind.

Zana Schroeder

Deputy Principal - Year 7

Welcome to Term 3! I hope everyone had a restful break, with some time to relax and recharge before another busy ten weeks of learning. 

This term, we have a new addition to our Year 8 team. In addition to Ms Tiller (Year Level Assistant), Mr Breese (Head of Year) and myself; we welcome Mr Berrell as a Head of Department for Year 7 and 8. Mr Berrell will lead student engagement and wellbeing for our Year 8 cohort, enabling us to enhance our intervention and support. Mr Berrell is an existing Foxwell staff member and is fully committed to our school and our students. We are excited to have him working more closely with our Year 8s this semester.

It's been lovely to chat with our Year 8s this week and hear about their new electives. In The Arts, students will have swapped from Media and Visual Art to Dance and Drama. In Technologies, they will have swapped from Engineering and Business and Economics to Workshop and Food. With timetable changes, there may be instances where your child has been re-enrolled in an elective that they have already studied in Semester 1. In these instances, assessment tasks have been adjusted. If you have any concerns about your child’s timetable, please don’t hesitate to contact me to discuss options.

Numbers have been finalised for Year 8 camp, and we are also working on an alternative program at school for students who are not attending this event. More information will be available regarding both camp and the alternative program in the coming weeks.

For Year 8, our big focus this term is on our SPIRIT value of teamwork. At assembly, students have been reminded of all the staff members who are on their Year 8 team, and we have also reinforced that every class is a team of learners. I posed the challenge of being a good teammate in every class and supporting each other to focus on learning and doing our best. These messages will be reinforced throughout the semester, and it’s been exciting to see the new learning underway in classrooms this week. 

It's been lovely to have students return this week and hear about their holidays and new topics that are underway in their classes. Our Year 8s are enthusiastic and energised for the term ahead, and I’m looking forward to working alongside them again throughout the semester. Please remember to reach out to myself or another member of the Year 8 team if you have any questions, concerns or celebrations – it is through working together that we get great outcomes for our students. Again, welcome back to Term 3!

Term 3! An exciting term and semester ahead for our Year 10s as they plan their journey into Senior Schooling and celebrate their successes across their Compass Years. Please ensure that you continue to access information via email, the newsletters/bulletins, Facebook, and Student SharePoint to avoid missing out on important opportunities and updates. All students were reminded at our assembly this week to ensure that they can access their emails, SharePoint notices and new class notebooks in OneNote. Students must be ready for learning by having their materials ready for every class, including a charged and functioning iPad. 

SEMESTER 1 REPORT CARDS

Please ensure that you have taken the time to check your emails – including your junk folder – to access your child’s Report Card and then discuss it with them. Some good questions to start asking our Year 10s are:

• Is this your best effort?
• Why not?/How did you manage to work so well/successfully?
• What else did you do to achieve your best (attendance, study habits etc.)?
• What do you need to do differentl;y?
• Will there be any positive or negative/challenging impacts on your opportunities for study and pathways in Semester 2 this year/Year 11 and 12?
• What are your goals for next semester?

These conversations are particularly important in preparing for our SET Planning Meetings in Week 2 and Student-led Conferences in Week 5. Learning dialogues with parents, peers and teachers are invaluable!

SENIOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING PLAN MEETINGS AND LOVE BITES PROGRAM

Please note this information sent our via email earlier this week and last term:

We will be conducting our Senior Education and Training Plan Meetings in Week 2 of next term – Wednesday 19 and Thursday 20 July 2023. All students in all Queensland schools must complete a SET Plan regardless of their pathway beyond Year 10. This process, which is being facilitated during our Fusion lessons, allows schools to properly support and coordinate opportunities and programs for students both within and beyond the school. Please read the attached information carefully. 

We will also conduct the “Love Bites” Program (the same program repeated on both days). 

Students will access these opportunities as follows:

Please note the following information regarding the organisation of these two days. All students are required on-site for:

Senior Education and Training Plan (SET-P) Meetings 

Contact is Deputy Principal, Fusion Years (Senior School), Di Nicolas

• Meetings are 30 minutes in duration 
• Please schedule your booking via this link as follows:

• Student Surname beginning A-L (e.g. Allenby, Larsen) are asked to select a time on Wednesday 19 July 2023;
• Student Surname beginning M-Z (e.g. Miller, Zakis) are asked to select a time on Thursday 20 July 2023

• A parent/carer must also attend in order to endorse the SET Plan. 
• Our Industry Liaison Officer, Ms Lynn Davies, will be available for further clarification and consultation across the days.
• PLEASE ARRIVE 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO YOUR INTERVIEW TIME. 
• STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENT/CARER ARE REQUIRD AT SCHOOL FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR MEETING ONLY.
• STUDENTS WHO ARE SCHEDULED TO ATTEND ANOTHER ACTIVITY ON THEIR ALLOCATED DAY (e.g. GenSTEM Excursion) are to book their SET-P meeting on the alternate day, regardless of their surname. 

Love Bites – Either Wednesday or Thursday – ALTERNATE DAY TO A STUDENT’S SETP MEETING. 

Contact is Guidance Office, Pascale Street

• Program runs for the full school day – NO APPOINTMENT OR SIGN UP NEEDED – PLEASE RETURN THE CONSENT FORM ATTACHED;
• Due to the nature of the content/topics explored, only those students for whom we have received signed consent are permitted to attend the session.
• Please Mrs Street's article for more information about the Program.
• Students are expected to attend this session - this is not an optional school day. Where consent is not given, students will be required to complete self-determined classwork and study instead.
• Please see below for more information.

COURSE SELECTIONS – YEAR 10 2023

Thank you to students for their patience as we finalised course selections for this semester. No further changes will be considered unless the relevant application form is completed and returned to Student Services. There will be no more changes after Week 2 (21 July 2023).

STAFFING CHANGES

This week we welcomed Ms Caysha Renton to the role of Head of SWEL - Year 9 and 10. Ms Renton has taken the time to get to know our students this week. Alongside myself, Ms Moller (Head of Year 10) and Ms Benbow (Year Level Assistant - Year 9 and 10), she will support our students in managing their holistic experience and development for the remainder of this year. We are so fortunate to have such a strong and dedicated team for our Year 10 students.  

INDUSTRY LIAISON OFFICER UPDATE

How wonderful that Ms Davies is able to guide our students in accessing opportunities beyond Foxwell so that they may explore their interests and possible future pathways. Some of our current or recent student experiences include:

1) 8 students are enrolled in Certificate Courses   

– 2 in Health

- 1 in Electrotechnology

- 1 in Automotive

- 1 in Salon Assisting (Barbering)

- 2 in Engineering (Marine Focus)

- 1 in Animal Studies

2) 14 students participated in Trade Tasters  

- 1 in Marine

- 3 in construction

- 10 in Health

3) We currently have 2 school-based trainees

4) 6 students have participated in work experience.

5) We held our first Careers Festival for Year 10 students with over 130 students and families in attendance.

6) Over 100 of our Year 10 students attend the Gold Coast Career Expo.

We have lunchtime presentations being held this term by the ADF, The French Beauty Academy, Gold Coast Health, MEGT Apprenticeship Centre and Busy at Work Apprenticeship Centre.

Students are reminded to keep an eye on notices in the Student SharePoint and to check their emails regularly. 

Guidance Officer

Pascale Street

ppier6@eq.edu.au

Bus 3414 to Coomera Sports Park will no longer stop at the Coomera Train Station. 

Bus 3460 to Coomera Springs & The Heights will no longer stop at the Coomera Train Station.

Bus 3361 to Coomera Waters has been renamed to Bus 3443. It will no longer stop at the Coomera Station

Buses 3492 and 3493 to Coomera Train Station have been added to the service and stop ONLY at the Coomera Train Station. 

School Service Change Notification from Kinetic – Effective from Monday 10^th July 2023

Please find attached student and parent notice/s from Kinetic for your information and reference.

If you have concerns regarding your schools’ services or a student on the network, Kinetic can be contacted directly on 07 5552 2700 and select option 5, where you will be directed to the Customer Experience Team.

Useful links to follow and keep up to date on travel and road conditions:

To view the latest updates from Transport and Main roads please visit https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/.

To view TransLink service updates, please visit https://translink.com.au/service-updates.

For all travel options, to and from school, refer to the TransLink Journey Planner by visiting https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/journey-planner  or phone TransLink on 13 12 30.

House Captains

As we kick off Term 3, we are so excited to announce our House Captains at our whole school assembly in Week 2! 

Student Leaders

We have lots of exciting opportunities this semester for our student leaders to further develop their leadership skills. Stay tuned for more details.

Aspiring Leaders

Next week, a group of Year 9 and 10 students will commence the THRIVE Program which will run during Period 1 each Friday, over 8 weeks. THRIVE is designed to help students reach their personal goals by teaching the core values of Talk, Honest Respect, Identity Visualise & Environment through fun engaging activities.

Northern Collegiate 

Our Northern Collegiate team will recommence next week with a visit to Upper Coomera State College to meet with other members of the collegiate community. Mrs McMaster has taken over as Co-ordinator of our Nothern Collegiate group and is excited to support our students this Term. Students will continue preparing for the upcoming Relay for Life charity event happening Sunday, 4th of October.

Last term, the 2023 College Athletics Carnival was a resounding success! This exhilarating event brought together our entire school community in a celebration of athleticism, teamwork, and house spirit. The atmosphere at the carnival was nothing short of electric, with cheering crowds, colourful costumes, and the enthusiastic support of parents and teachers.

Congratulations to Coral on a convincing victory as Champion House on the day, with participation and house spirit securing the win. We are also immensely proud of each student who participated, regardless of their placement on the podium. As we saw on the day, the Athletics Carnival was not just about winning; it was about giving it your best go, supporting your fellow competitors, and embracing house spirit.

Term 3 is a very busy term in the Instrumental Music department, with Strings Eisteddfod in Week 5, Band Eisteddfod in Week 6, and Choir Eisteddfod in Week 7. There will also be an in-school workshop at the end of the term. It is imperative that students are at every rehearsal and their lessons each week so that each ensemble can focus on refinement and work together as a team to reach success. Every student holds an important role in the ensemble and as a reminder, students must be in attendance at rehearsals if they are at school. We are so excited to see these wonderful students perform at the Gold Coast Eisteddfod and make us proud! 

We have had a busy start to the term with all students starting their English courses with a focus on future pathways. Classes have been formulated based on student achievement, interest and planning for Senior School, so please discuss with your child their current class and the work they are completing during lessons.

SET Planning is an important time for all students. Please remember, when attending your child's meeting, that the most relevant and suitable course for your child will be that which firstly, enables your child to experience success, and, secondly, allows for your child to access their preferred pathways post-Year 10. 

Pleae do not hesitate to contact the Head of Department - English, Ms Danielle Goddaer (dgodd2@eq.edu.au) if you have any questions. 

Welcome to Term 3 Mathematics

Years 7-9

Students will be studying Geometry and Measurement through the lens of sustainable communities.  Assessment will be a Problem Solving and Modelling Task assignment due at the end of the term in Week 9.  

Year 10

There are significant changes for students in Year 10 maths.  Please familarise yourself with the following to understand how students have transitioned into their Semester 2 Maths classes and subject offerings.

The workload for ALL classes starts to significantly increase at this point.  Students need to be coming to class with all equipment, and completing all tasks, homework and revision.

1. Core Maths classes are for all students who wish to either choose an ATAR or Non ATAR Maths subject pathway in Years 11/12.  The remainder of the Year 10 curriculum will be accessed and various learning check ins will occur, via exams and assignments, to allow students to reach their best potential heading into their senior years. 

2. Numeracy Short Course - is available for students who have not had success in Semester 1 and significant parts of their compass years.  This course, whilst not using the remainder of the Year 10 curriculum, allows students to build upon numeracy skills and concepts that would allow them to have better success in Essential Maths in Years 11/12, which is considered a rigourous and challenging subject in itself. This course has the added benefit, that if completed successfully, students will earn their Numeracy Tick for their Year 12 QCE ahead of time!

Please note students wishing to study Essential Maths in Year 11/12 do not need to be in the Short Course Program.  They can still be participating in a Core class allowing them to consolidate skills they have successfully completed in Semeser 1. To participate in the Short Course requires parent approval.  If your child has been identified that this course would best meet their needs, a form for your signature will be given to you next week at the SET Plan meeting for your consideration and approval.

3. Extension Maths - is available for students who may be interested in completing either General, Math Methods or Specialist Maths in Year 11/12.  It is highly recommended that if your child wishes to study Math Methods or Specialist Maths they complete the extension program as it contains an extension of the Year 10 Maths curriculum allowing students to delve more deeply into algebraic concepts.  

4. Advanced Maths Compass Course - is available for extension students who may not have done extension Maths in Semester 1 but are for Semester 2 (it is highly recommended students in this scenario enrol in this course) and also for any other extension students wanting to consolidate concepts.  The lessons will be practical and use investigations to make connections.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at txrus5@eq.edu.au

Mrs Russell - Head of Department Mathematics

Students in Term 3 Science are treated to another exciting, inquiry-based unit of learning.

In Year 9, students explain chemical processes and natural radioactivity in terms of atoms and energy transfers and describe examples of important chemical reactions. Their assessment will be a chemical experimental investigation, which they will submit in Week 6. Students will then complete a research investigation on the use of radioactive isotopes to preserve food, which they will submit in Week 10.

In Year 10, students explain the concept of energy conservation and represent energy transfer and transformation within systems. They apply relationships between force, mass and acceleration to predict changes in the motion of objects. Their assessment will be to investigate the different safety features of vehicles, and prepare a report that evaluates whether the government should change its views on its current safety standards in vehicles. This will be submitted in Week 9.

I encourage you to actively monitor your child's OneNote to monitor their progress over the course of the term, and to be in contact with the classroom teacher should you have any questions or concerns. I can also be contacted at nmccl31@eq.edu.au. 

It is a pleasure to share in your child's learning journey.

Nahdia McClymont

Head of 7-8 Physical World and 9-10 Science

Term 3 already, how time flies!

As we the roll over into Term 3, all year levels now engage in new disciplines and subjects. We encourage you to engage your student in conversations about their learning experiences and the amazing opportunities they have here at Foxwell State Secondary College to learn about food, design, engineering, manufacturing workshops, textiles, sketching, CAD, coding, game design and so much more. Here is a broad summary of the courses and what students are likely to experience in the Year 7 and 8 rotations. We will cover the Year 9 and 10 subjects in our next newsletter article.

Year 7

Food & Technologies

Students develop kitchen practices to safely work in a domestic kitchen. They will learn about nutrition, cooking equipment and tools while preparing a series of simple recipes.

Materials Workshop

Students learn about workshop safety and the variety of tools and machinery used to manipulate materials.

Economics and Business

Students learn about consumers and producers with the Australian economy. They develop a simple product using 21^st century machinery (laser cutter or 3D printer) that could be sold a craft market for a selected audience.

Year 8

Food & Technologies

Students refine their kitchen practices to safely work in a domestic kitchen using advanced cooking methods. They refine their understanding of nutrition and explore how food can cater for individual needs preparing a series of simple recipes. 

Materials Workshop

Students demonstrate workshop safety and develop their understanding of materials, tools, machinery, and production processes. They learn to read technical drawings, select tools and project manage their time in the workshop. Students also gain insight into the design process that allows products to be designed and manufactured to suit people’s needs. 

Economics and Business

Students learn about entrepreneurs, economic markets, and the influence the government has on the Australian economy. They investigate the rights and responsibilities of consumers and businesses in relation to consumer products and services. Students learn what it takes to start and operate a business by investigating the development of a food truck business.

We look forward to seeing some fantastic learning and artefacts being produced by students.

Health & Safety Agreements

A friendly reminder for all parents and guardians to assist the college in returning our Health and Safety Agreements back to the college in a timely order. Under the health and safety legislation, we cannot allow students in our workshops and kitchens until the workshop risks are recognised and students have the appropriate footwear. Families will be contacted if forms have not been returned. If you have any concerns with both the agreement or footwear, please do not hesitate to contact Andrew Nicholls, Head of Department – Technologies. 

Subject Fees and Levies

Accompanying the Health and Safety Agreement letters is an overview of subject fees and levies that support the delivery of projects and consumable products used by students in our different subjects. We appreciate the contribution this makes to the college and support it has in meeting the rising cost of materials and maintenance on tools and equipment. The college has tried every effort to keep these affordable wherever possible.  Payment plans can be arranged on an individual basis.

Technologies Staffing

We wish to recognise and congratulate Mr Newton-Smith on gaining a Head of Department position at Glenala State High School. Mr Newton-Smith will return to Foxwell SSC in Term 4. We wish him the very best in his new role and look forward to his return.

Week One of Semester Two in Social World has seen our students across Year 7 and 8 meet with their new teachers.

Social World classes change teachers each semester as students rotate through different Arts areas.  If your student engaged in the Visual Arts in Semester One (Visual Art and Media) they will now have a Performing Arts specialist Social World teacher so that they can engage in Dance and Drama.  While changing teachers can be challenging for some students, the benefit is that they now get to engage with a teacher who is an expert in the Arts area they are studying.  

Over the next week or two you will receive an email from your child's Social World teacher which will outline what your child will be studying and will also give you important contact information if you need to make contact with your student's teacher. Shortly your student's Social World teacher will also be distributing tasks sheets for assessment in English and the Arts through See Saw.  See Saw is an incredibly valuable tool for families to see what is happening in their student's classes.  It will give you insight to assessment that is occuring and will allow you to see feedback from teachers. If you do not have access to your student's See Saw account, please make contact with our I.T Department who can assist you to do this.

Students in Physical World study Humanities and Science as a single subject, finding links between skills and concepts between both core learning areas. 

Year 7:

In Year 7 Physical World this term, students will continue the Civics & Citizenship unit they began halfway through last term. In this unit, students explain features of Australia’s Constitution, including the process for constitutional change. They explain how Australia’s legal system is based on the principle of justice. Students explain the diverse nature of Australian society and identify the importance of shared values in promoting a cohesive society. In Week 5, their Humanities unit will swap to Geography for the remainder of the year. The Science unit of focus over the next 10 weeks will be Biology. In this unit, students predict the effect of human and environmental changes on interactions between organisms and classify and organise diverse organisms based on observable differences.

Students will have two pieces of assessment. The first is a project where students will present their knowledge and solution about a problem in Coomera (or another suburb of their choice). They will propose a solution to the local issue, that takes into consideration different views of the community, legal and political implications and how it will promote a cohesive society in Coomera (or another suburb of their choice). This will be due at the end of Week 4. Their second piece of assessment will be an examination on the effect of human and environmental changes on interactions betweens organisms, and will assess their ability to classify and organise diverse organisms based on observable differences. They will complete this exam in Week 9.

Year 8:

In Year 8 Physical World this term, students will continue the Civics & Citizenship unit they began halfway through last term. In this unit, students analyse features of Australian democracy, and explain features of Australia’s democracy that enable active participation. They recognise different types of law in Australia and explain how laws are made. They identify the diverse belief systems in Australia and analyse issues about national identity and the factors that contribute to people’s sense of belonging. In Week 5, their Humanities unit will swap to Geography for the remainder of the year. The Science unit of focus over the next 10 weeks will be Chemistry. In this unit, students compare physical and chemical changes and use the particle model to explain and predict the properties and behaviours of substances.

Students will have two pieces of assessment. The first is an investigation where students present a solution to a Civics & Citizenship issue of their choice to explain the features of Australia’s democracy that enable active participation for citizens to effect change. This will be due in Week 4. Their second piece of assessment will be an experimental investigation into chemicl reactions that occur in everyday scenarios, which will be due in Week 8.

I encourage you to actively monitor your child's OneNote to monitor their progress over the course of the term, and to be in contact with the classroom teacher should you have any questions or concerns. I can also be contacted at nmccl31@eq.edu.au. 

It is a pleasure to share in your child's learning journey.

Nahdia McClymont

Head of Physical World

NIHONGO NEWS

This term is an exciting one for the Japanese team as there are a range of opportunities for students to experience Japanese culture, as well as practising and sharing their Japanese talents.

2025 Japan Tour

Planning is underway for our much-anticipated Japan Tour scheduled for 2025. This will be the first school tour we will take to Japan and it is hard to tell who is more excited – students or staff!

We are currently exploring itinerary options, possible sister-school relationships and proposed costs, with an expression of interest and information evening to come later in Term 3.

The trip will be open for students currently in Years 8, 9 and 10 (in Years 10, 11 and 12 in 2025). Priority for participating in the tour will be given to students studying Japanese in 2025. It is highly recommended that students continue their Japanese studies if they wish to participate in our future Japan tours.

GCMLTAQ Language Speech Contest

For all year levels, Vickers Sensei is coordinating entries and coaching for the Gold Coast MLTAQ Speech Contest on August 20^th.  Coaching is on Monday and Tuesday lunchtimes from 11:30am in E.2.28. If you are still keen to enter, it is not too late! Please register your interest by coming to our coaching sessions or emailing Ms Vickers on rvick20@eq.edu.au.

Anime Club

Calling all anime fans! Mr Davies is running Anime Club again this term. Keep an eye out for more details in Student Notices so you know where to meet and enjoy watching some anime!

Year 8 Food Tasting

At the end of this term, Year 8 students will have the chance to participate in tasting a range of traditional Japanese foods and condiments. This was the highlight of Japanese studies for many students last year. Permission notes with full details will be sent home in coming weeks and must be returned for students to be able to participate.

2023 Japanese Art Competition

We invite students from all year levels to join in Foxwell State Secondary College's Japanese Art Competition.

To enter, create an artwork inspired by Katsushika Hokusai’s iconic piece The Great Wave off Kanagawa (1831) and share your artwork to your Japanese teacher via Seesaw or email.

Entries close at the end of Term 3. If you have any questions, please email Ms Yoshino (myosh15@eq.edu.au).

Here are our 2022 winners for inspiration.

 Participants and winners for all contests will be celebrated in Term 4.

Term 3 Unit Overviews

For more information about what your child/children will be learning about in Japanese this term, please check Seesaw for learning updates. If you need to be added to the Seesaw class, please email your child’s Japanese teacher for a connection code.

Thank you for being learners of languages. We look forward to an exciting term ahead!

It has been great to see the excitement from students as they engage in their many subjects across The Arts for Semester Two. Year 10 Drama students have begun their study of Shakepeare with Mr Berrell and are having a blast. Mrs Dwyer's Year 9 Art students are already producing some incredible sketches and have started responding to the works of artists.  Year 10 Music and Sound Production were popular choices for students this semester and they are having fun creating music with Mrs Cardno. Miss Wilkie's Year 9 Dance class have been having a great time getting to know each other and discover their strenghts in Dance.  Mr Power and his Year 10 Film Production students are well under way to analysing and creating films.  The buzz around Mrs Riches' Musical Theatre course is super exciting and they were already on their feet singing and dancing in their first lesson.

The Arts provide valuable experiences for our students and help develop and extend on the skills of collaboration, critical thinking and problem solving as well as communication and confidence.  Students within the Arts are able to take these skills into whatever future career path they select.

Welcome back from a restful and active school holidays! We hit the ground running this term with our Healthy World classes engaging in investigation, critical analysis and evaluation through and in physical activity.

7 Healthy World 

An important aspect of Australian culture is our strong connection with sport, and how we connect with the environment around us through active play. In Term 3, Year 7 Healthy World students explore this connection and the benefits of outdoor physical activity and exercise through understanding and participation in Indigenous games and AFL. Students use these activities to explore the Australian sporting culture and the influence sport and the environment has on our physical, emotional, mental and social health.

8 Healthy World

In today’s society, you often become less aware of your invisible footprints impacting the lives of others. To contribute to society in meaningful ways, you must choose to leave footprints which provide a lasting, positive impact on the lives of those around you. This term, students of Year 8 Healthy World will investigate inclusivity by planning and investigating strategies and practices that promote diversity. Students will also evaluate the impact these strategies have on enhancing wellbeing and relationships. Students continue this learning by engaging in a variety of inclusion-based games to explore different ways in which individuals experience diversity in practical environments.

Term 3 Practical Uniform Days:

With changes in timetables this semester, please also be aware of your child/children's practical uniform days and encourage them to be organised for these days to promote their learning:

As always, be sure to reach out to their classroom teacher or myself to support your child/children's learning in Healthy World classes.

Kind regards,

Braiden Ruge

Head of Healthy World & Sporting Minds

It's the second half of learning through and in sport and physical activity as Health and Physical Education classes and Personal Endeavour Course (PEC) electives kick off in Term 3:

9 Health & Physical Education

In sport, where performance, ethics, values, and morals collide on a regular basis, making the ‘right’ decision is not always straightforward. Ethical dilemmas often exist in grey areas where right and wrong may not be so clear. This Term, Year 9 HPE students will reflect on how fair play and ethical behaviour can influence outcomes by participating in games with inherent ethical dilemmas, as well as discuss and promote equitable participation, examine the role of sport tribunals, and consider the impact of performance enhancing drugs. 

9 Train Like a Pro

A study in the 9 PEC elective, Train Like a Pro, allows students to understand training methods and principles and to design and implement effective and efficient training programs. By applying scientifically proven methods, students can optimize the training process and achieve desired outcomes more efficiently. Students will develop this knowledge to structure workouts, set appropriate goals, and select the most suitable exercises, leading to better results and minimizing the risk of injury.

9 Specialist Coaching

Specialist coaching offers a range of personal, social, and professional benefits as an elective course for Year 9 students. A study in Specialist Coaching offers the opportunity to develop strong leadership and communication skills through the context of sport. As a coach, students will be responsible for guiding and instructing team members, motivating their peers to perform their best, and effectively communicating strategies and techniques. These skills are transferable to various aspects of life and can help students to become a more effective communicator and leader in various other settings.

9 First Aid

Learning First Aid as an adolescent increases your awareness of potential hazards and safety concerns in everyday life. Those studying this course will learn how to be more conscious of potential risks, whether it's at home, school, or in public spaces. Students will identify and address dangerous situations, taking necessary precautions to prevent accidents and injuries.  A study in First Aid will equip students with knowledge and skills for use in emergency situations. Whether it's a minor injury or a more serious medical condition, students will learn the ability to respond appropriately, alleviate pain, and prevent further harm until professional help is available.

Year 10 students have now completed Health and Physical Education core classes, with learning continuing in our PEC elective courses aimed as an introduction to the senior phase of learning. Within this transitional phase, students are supported to develop structured study routines and ways of working to ensure success in Years 11 & 12. 

10 Recreation 101

This term in Recreation 101, students will apply decision making and problem-solving skills to plan and facilitate a social sport tournament, providing their class with physical activity opportunities to promote their health and wellbeing. Students will be required to plan for team roles, required space/facilities and field set up, the tournament draw, game rules, safety considerations, equipment required and a result keeping structure. By implementing their planned tournament, students will demonstrate leadership, co-operation and fair play when facilitating.

10 Human Movement

Biomechanics is the study of Human movement, in which students will identify optimal movement patterns to improve sport-specific techniques. In Unit 1 of Human Movement, students will investigate the ways in which we can adjust movement patterns in the body to promote productivity of movement according to biomechanical principles. Students will use theoretical and practical environments to analyse personal specialised movement skills and movement performances and devise a personal biomechanical strategy to enhance their own Volleyball performances.

10 Foundation Health

A wide range of social and interpersonal factors can influence health promotional outcomes and access to health resources is important to achieving personal health. This term, Year 10 Foundation Health students will investigate how societal factors and an individual’s context impacts upon their health status and outcomes. Using this understanding, they will propose a health promotional campaign targeting a health-related issue in the community that advocates for and enables the development of personal health.  

Term 3 Practical Uniform Days:

With changes in timetables this semester, please also be aware of your child/children's practical uniform days and encourage them to be organised for these days to promote their learning:

Please keep up your efforts and support ensuring organisation, time management and consolidation of learning with study from home to ensure our students are achieving at potential. At anytime, reach out to their classroom teacher or myself if further help and support in Health and Physical Education is required.

Kind regards,

Braiden Ruge

Head of Healthy World & Sporting Minds