Welcome to Term 2! As you know, we don’t do things by halves at Foxwell State Secondary College, and our first week back is no exception.

On Monday evening we hosted over 350 interested students and parents/carers at our 2022 Enrolment Information Evening. This involved Principal Tours and a more formal Enrolment Information Presentation in our Hall. At the end of our presentaion we opened our Question and Answer session, and can already tell from the high level of questioning that the students joining us in 2022 are confident, inquisitive and bright. We look forward to welcoming them to our College. 

If you have a child entering Year 7 in 2022, please be aware that enrolments are now open. Since enrolments opened Monday morning, we have been indundated with applications, so please complete the forms you will find on our website so we can arrange our Enrolment Interview.

Many students and parents who visited our school on Monday were impressed by the extensive development of our Stage 2 build over the holidays. We are on track for completion at the end of 2021, ready for 2022. Here is an image from this week.

On Tuesday students from our G-STEM and Advanced Learning Program (ALP) visited the University of Queensland to work with Wonder of Science mentors and explore the many offerings of the university. There was great excitement from the students throughout the day and I am positive that we have confirmed the dream of a career in Science Techonology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) for many of our students.

Wednesday was full of important events, the most important being our first ANZAC ceremony held on site at Foxwell State Secondary College. This was a moving tribute to commemorate the men and women who have served our nation in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. We are incredibly proud of our students who presented or performed at this significant event. Our choir and dancers were extraordinary.

We thank the P & C and the Foundation students/families of 2020 for our newly-developed ANZAC memorial which includes a commemorative plaque and a Lone Pine. We look forward to watching as our Lone Pine and the Foxwell ANZAC traditions continue to grow over the years and decades ahead.

The second major event on Wednesday, was the Foxwell State Secondary College Inaugural Cross Country race. All students competed in this event and we are proud of both our competitive and participant runners. The Foxwell SPIRIT was alive and well at the start and finish line, and throughout this race that saw students running across our school site.

On Thursday we welcomed Mr Peter Kelly, the Deputy Director-General of Education, to Foxwell to see our innovative curriculum and pedagogies in action. Our staff and students proudly shared our College with Mr Kelly and spoke about the unique features of our school that they appreciate the most. It was a very positive visit which reinforced the wonderful achievements of our rapidly developing College. Mr Kelly spoke about the quality and expertise of our staff, the high levels of engagement and confidence of our students, and our positive school culture. We are very proud.

A grateful group of students accompanied by Ms Swader and Mr Power were given the opportunity to have a 'Sneak Peak' at the new art exhibition at the amazing new Gold Coast Home of the Arts (HOTA). We will share some more great images once the gallery is open to the pubic. How lucky are our kids with the opportunities our dedicated staff organise for them!

Friday brought more action on the sporting fields as our boys rugby league team competed in a match against Trinity College as a warm up for their Titans Cup competition which will be held in Week 10 of this term. Our students have been training hard and this is certainly paying off. What a great team of young and respectful athletes we have!

I did tell you it was quite a week! This is in addition to the ongoing extra-curricular programs we have running each week and of course the wonderful achievements of students in their learning within their classes everyday.

As a parent at the Enrolment Information evening said to me "I wish I could go back to school - my schooling was nothing like this!"

Vale Andrew Schumacher

It was with great shock and sadness that we learned of the sudden passing of a much-loved Principal. Andrew Schumacher was the Principal of Merrimac State School since 2021 and previously the a/Principal of Picnic Creek State School.

As a school commmunity we extend our sincere sympathies to his family, friends and loved ones at this most difficult time.

As many of you know, Andrew was not just a devoted husband and father, he was also compassionate, caring and a very active member of our community, which makes this news even more heartbreaking.

More than a career teacher and Principal, Andrew will always be remembered for his work in many community associations, including his involvement in the Surf Life Saving Club and the Broadbeach AFL Club.

Andrew was an inspiration to us all and his legacy will continue through the many minds he has helped shape and motivate through the years.

To pay tribute to this exceptional educator some members of staff and students (at the request of their parents) joined me in attending the incredibly moving funeral of Andrew.

Our school has provided appropriate support to students, staff and family of our school and has also reached out to support Merrimac State School and Picnic Creek State School. Should you be concerned with your child's reaction, please contact our school Guidance Officer.

Student Wellbeing

Foxwell State Secondary College is proud of the support we offer students. Our Student Wellbeing Engagment Learning (SWEL) team works with our Heads of Year and Deputy Principals in supporting teachers to best cater for the individual needs of all students. This can include social-emotional support and academic support, and is provided in many and varied ways. Should you feel your child requires additional support, we would recommend making a Parent Teacher Evening appointment with your child's classroom teacher, Head of Year, or the Guidance Officer.

We look forward to seeing many parents and carers (with their child) at the parent teacher evening. This is a critical part of our ongoing partnership with you for the best interests of your child. Together we are better!

I wil be on short period of leave over the next week and will return on Wednesday 5th May. Ms Zana Schroeder will be the acting Principal in my absence. 

Until next time

Kym Amor

• Please follow the marked entry and exit pathways and the relevant directions from the carpark. A waiting area will be available in the Amphitheatre.
• Refreshments will be available for purchase at the Canteen.
• All sessions will be 10 minutes in length, which will include time to transition between conferences. A warning bell will sound after 9 minutes to facilitate efficient movement between conferences.
• Please remember to bring a copy of your booking schedule with you.
• Please ensure that your child attends these conferences with you. We recommend that students bring their iPads to the Parent-Teacher Conferences. This will allow teachers the opportunity to share evidence of student learning and progress during the session. Please also bring a pen.
• The Learning Hub will be open until 4.00pm, as usual, if students are awaiting the arrival of their parents/guardians.

We look forward to seeing you next Tuesday.

Assessment calendars are developed collaboratively by our Heads of Department each term. The purpose of the calendars are to support the organisational skills of students and to ensure that students have adequate time to prepare for assessment and to meet deadlines.

We endeavour to spread due dates across the week(s) of the term for each class. However, this is not always possible and, on some days, there may be more than one assessment task due.

Our Heads of Department are confident that there is ample opportunity in class for students to work on, and in most cases, finalise assessment during class time provided that students are fully engaged each lesson. There will be times when children do need to complete assessment preparation at home but this should not be onerous, provided students have been attending class and are diligent in remaining on task.

We are currently engaging in our planning for Year 9 and beyond at Foxwell. Over the next few weeks, we will be asking students and their families to provide us with their thoughts, ideas, questions and hopes for the next phase of our development. The first opportunity for input from parents will be this Tuesday 27 April during our Parent-Teacher Conferences. There will be two ways in which you can be involved:

1) by scanning the QR Code and completing the online form, and/or

2) by attending our informal forum in E.G.22 at 5.00pm to 5.30pm or 6.00pm to 6.30pm.

We are excited about this next step in our development and will continue to update you regarding further opportunities to work with us as we plan for Year 9 and beyond. 

With our ever-growing student population, we have had to make some changes to accessing our Learning Hub. From next week, Tuesday 27^th April, digital gaming and non-educational video viewing will not be permitted in the Learning Hub at any time. Students who engage in digital gaming or non-educational video viewing in the Hub, will be asked to leave.

The Learning Hub is a location for learning and educational support – with access to teachers and/or Teaching Assistants during WIN time before and after school and for students wishing to engage in quiet study/activities or collaboration with their peers at lunch time, as well as before and after school.  

Students wishing to engage in digital gaming or viewing of non-educational videos will be required to do so elsewhere. Activities which, at the moment will still occur in the Learning Hub, includes board games, colouring, drawing (this can include use of appropriate apps) and other rotating activities which may include lego kits, puzzles etc.

We will provide a supervised space for digital gaming before school from 8.00-8.30am and during lunch time from 11.30-12.20pm. This space will be called the Foxwell Game Zone.

Before School

• The Game Zone will be located in E.1.24 and E.1.25.
• There will be a maximum of 50 student permitted at any one time.

Lunch time

• The Game Zone will be located in E.1.24.
• There will be a maximum 25 students permitted at any one time

Students will be expected, at all times to be kind and respectful in our Game Zone and may be asked to leave if they are not demonstrating kindness or respect to all persons, both students and staff.

After school

• We do not provide a supervised space for students to engage in digital gaming or non-educational video viewing after the end of the school day.
• Activities in the Learning Hub will be restricted to homework support and engagement in quiet study/activities or peer collaboration.

We trust these changes to the Learning Hub will provide greater opportunities for students to focus on their learning needs and support for more positive learning outcomes through access to staff as needed.

We appreciate your support in reminding your child of these changes. If this impacts on your current arrangements, before or after school, please discuss new options with your child.

It is with great excitement that we are able to announce the venue for the Year 8 Camp happening later this year.  The venue is...

Camp Kokoda is a renowned venue specialising in expedition-style camps that provide a range of student-centred outcomes including, and not limited to:

• Reflection and growth
• Challenge and resilience
• Goal setting and leadership

Camp Kokoda offers the flexibility for us to not only have their expertise on hand to deliver a great experience but to also tailor that experience to our students, school, community and reinforce the wonderful culture that we are building here at Foxwell State Secondary College.  Below is the link to both the Camp Kokoda website with information on their programs and activities as well as a link to a video showcasing the camp.

Camp Kokoda

More information will be provided in the coming weeks regarding confirmation of dates, pricing, payment options and permission forms.  We look forward to getting this information out to our College community as soon as possible and can’t wait to attend camp with the Year 8 students later this year.

Dane Anderson - Head of Students - Year 8

Congratulations to our Year 7 Sporting Minds' student, Addison Newlan on her incredible achievement at the C.H.S. Secondary School Sailing Championship held in Lake Macquarie, NSW over the holidays.

Competing against Year 7 to Year 12 students from across the nation, Addison placed as the 2nd highest female competitor and 10th overall from a field of 41 and was awarded the Interstate Trophy!

An amazing achievement – please join us in congratulating Addison!

Choir:

A reminder to all choir students that rehearsal will be on Wednesday mornings in the lecture theatre for Week 2 (28^th April) and Week 3 (5^th May) due to public holidays on the Mondays.

Strings:

Mrs Wyatt will send out an updated schedule that will run for the next two Wednesdays, in lieu of Monday public holidays. Please note that these lesson times will take place in Period 1 and Period 2 and there will be no ensemble rehearsal on these Wednesdays. Students are reminded to continue practising at home and to set reminders for the day change.

We are delighted to announce that we had four teams of debaters compete in Round 1 of the Gold Coast debating Competition. Our teams competed against St Stephen’s College, Trinity Lutheran College, Southport State High School and Tamborine Mountain College. We fielded three Year 7 teams and one Year 8 team.

We are excited to report that all four teams were victorious. Students ably debated the topic, That children under the age of 14 should not have mobile phones. Some teams argued the affirmative case while others argued the negative case.

All students were worthy ambassadors of Foxwell State Secondary College and demonstrated perseverance, integrity and teamwork in their preparation for the event, their behaviour and their performance on the evening.

Our teams were a credit to the teachers who have worked closely with them: Mrs Goddaer, Mrs Arndt and Mrs Sihvola. A heartfelt thanks to the parents/carers who continue to support their child and our teams as they move through the competition.

We are pleased to share that Enrolment Applications for Years 7, 8 and 9 for 2022 are NOW OPEN! Visit our school website, via the link below, for detailed information on how to enrol your child at Foxwell State Secondary College for next year.

https://foxwellssc.eq.edu.au/enrolments/enrolling-at-our-school

It has come to our attention this week that a number of students are not following our College process around mobile phones or ICT. Mobile phones must be switched off and stored securely in a locker at all times during the school day. Phones must not be left in bags or carried by students.

Our Student Code of Conduct is very clear - bringing mobile phones to school is not encouraged because of the potential for theft and distractions. Phones must be stored (and turned off or to silent) in the secure phone or full size lockers that are available to all students. Phones must be secured by 8.45am each day and not be retrieved prior to 3pm. The school accepts no responsibility for lost phones or digital technologies.

If parents need to be contacted due to an emergency, this can be done through Student Services. If parents need to contact students due to an emergency, this is best done through Student Services also.

The research shows that mobile phones in classroom are a distraction to learning and outside the classroom often a hindrance to the development of relationships.

The aim of the College’s mobile phone policy is to provide: 

• a safe environment to learn without inappropriate mobile phone use (including cyberbullying) or distractions 
• greater opportunities for social interaction and physical activity during recess and lunchtimes.

Our Student Code of Conduct states, Students who breach our responsible use policy for their iPad or mobile phone will be required to hand in the item immediately, at the Student Services counter and will receive a receipt for the confiscated item. The item may be made available for collection from Student Services at the end of the school day for a first and second offence, (unless required to be kept for purposes of disciplinary investigation, when it will only be returned in the presence of a parent). Should a third offence occur, the phone/device may only be collected by a parent/guardian from Student Services. Should there be further offences, these will be deemed to be wilful disobedience and dealt with accordingly.

Devices potentially containing evidence of criminal offences may be reported to the police. In such cases police may take possession of such devices for investigation purposes and students and parents will be advised to contact Queensland Police Service.

We seek your support of our mobile phone and ICT policies as we work together to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all of our students.

Full size and Mobile Phone size lockers are available for rental from Foxwell. We cannot accommodate the storage of phones in Student Services. Any student who brings a phone to school must store it in a locker.

Parents are able to pay the rental fee through the Qkr! App. Lockers will not be provided to students until the rental fee has been paid. 

Please see the below instructions on how to download and register your student in the Qkr! App. 

Full size lockers are $80.00 per year.

Mobile Phone size lockers are $40.00 per year.

No payments for lockers will be accepted through the Finance window at the School.