Curricular Support

Middle and Senior Phase curricula are delivered by the teaching staff of the school.  As well as the Principal and two Deputy Principals, learning areas are managed by a Head of Department.  Apart from them, there are approximately 40 teachers employed at Keebra Park SHS.  This includes a Guidance Counsellor, the equivalent of two teachers in the Development and Extension Centre (DEC) who cater for students with learning difficulties and impairments, a Teacher Librarian and two ESL teachers.  Part time teachers provide Instrumental Music lessons and operate as Teacher Advisor Education Adjustment. All teachers employed at Keebra Park State High School are professionally registered with the Queensland College of Teachers.

HEADS OF DEPARTMENT           

ENGLISH, LOTE                             MS. E. BOYLE
AND SOCIAL SCIENCE

MATHEMATICS                               MR. A. MCKERCHER

HEALTH & PHYSICAL
EDUCATION AND MIDDLE
PHASE OF LEARNING                  Ms. S. PRICE           

MANUAL ARTS                                MR. N. LISTER
& HOME ECONOMICS

SENIOR SCHOOLING                     MR. G. HOWE

THE ARTS                                          MS. A. PIKE

Information Technology,               Mr. N. KATRA
BUSINESS & SCIENCE

HEAD OF SPECIAL EDUCATION  MS J. HARDY
SERVICES (ESL)

STUDENT SUPPORT

GUIDANCE OFFICER
Mr Mark Siddle is available for appointments regarding school issues, career guidance, subject selection/changes and confidential personal counselling . Parents and students are encouraged to make appointments through the school office.

YOUTH SUPPORT COORDINATOR
Mr Matthew Bentley is available for appointments for students and their families who may be experiencing difficulties at home, with friends or other parts of their lives. Appointments may be made through the school office.

YOUTH PATHWAYS OFFICER
Ms Tina Adams works with young people enrolled at school to assist them to complete Year 12 or its equivalent by assisting them with developing vocational pathways.

COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICER
The Community Liaison Officerworks with the Senior Schooling HOD to support students who wish to undertake school based traineeships and apprenticeships. Appointments with Ms Kershaw and/or Mr Howe can be made through the school office.

INTERNATIONAL CO-ORDINATOR
The International Co-ordinator supports International students in the following areas: curriculum, home stays and general welfare. Appointments with Mrs Kershaw may be made through the school office.

SCHOOL BASED YOUTH HEALTH NURSE
Ms Sue Koenig is available for appointments regarding personal health issues, nutrition advice, sight and hearing tests.

INDIGENOUS YOUTH SUPPORT OFFICER
Ms Bev Anderson works at the school to assist students indigenous descent to support their attendance and achievemnet at school. Appointments may be made via the school office.

DEC
The Development and Extension Centre is led by Resource teacher, Ms Melissa Betts. DEC provides learning support for students who experience learning difficulty. Appointments may be made via the school office.

YTEACHER ADVISORY EDUCATION ADJUSTMENT
Ms Majella Lynch visits the school two days per week to assist students with a disability(as identified through the Educational Adjustment Process). Appointments with her may be made through the school office.

HOME GROUP TEACHER
Each student has a home group teacher according to Surname and House allocation. Home Group Teachers meet with students each morning to register attendance, communicate daily routine information and generally monitor student welfare.

YEAR CO-ORDINATOR
Each Year level has a Year Co-ordinator who has broad student monitoring responsibilities. Year Co-ordinators monitor attendance, standards of uniform and behaviour and generally provide for the welfare of the students of that year level.

INDIGENOUS YOUTH SUPPORT OFFICER
Ms Bev Anderson works at the school to assist students of indigenous descent to support their attendance and achievement at school. Appoints with Aunty Bev may be made through the school office.

School Uniform

The Parents’ and Citizens’ Association and community of Keebra Park State High School resolve that we support a Student Dress Code Policy for Keebra Park State High School because we believe that it promotes the objectives of the Education (General Provisions) Act 1989, and in particular that it:
* Promotes a safe learning environment by enabling ready identification of students and non-students of the school;
* Promotes an effective teaching and learning environment by eliminating the distraction of competition in dress and fashion at the school;
* Promotes a supportive environment at the school by fostering a sense of belonging; and
* Fosters mutual respect among individuals at the school by minimising visible evidence of economic, class or social differences and promotes a supportive environment at the school by fostering a sense of belonging.

A pool of clean clothing has been provided to the Uniform Shop by the P & C to assist students and parents/ carers to observe the Student Dress Code.
Parents/ Carers and students who wish to access the uniform pool or are experiencing financial difficulty may approach the Principal of Keebra Park State High School to request access to the uniform pool, negotiate a payment plan or to request financial assistance.

The Student Dress Code is intended to be observed in the following manner:
Students will wear a school uniform. The Dress Uniform will be worn on Fridays, on school excursions and to formal and special occasions. The Sports Uniform must be worn on Wednesdays for Sport. On the other 3 days: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, students may wear either their dress uniform or their sports uniform and it is to be worn in its entirety.

 

Communication

We believe that communication from school to home and home to school is of the highest importance.

To ensure that the channels of communication are open, a range of methods have been established.

We believe ongoing communication formally and informally, promotes the best interest of the total school community.

1. The Keebra newsletter is published once a month and is available online through this website after the P and C Meeting held on the last Tuesday of each month. Please provide your email address to the office staff to be added to our electronic mail distribution list. Printed copies of the newsletter is also available from Administration Office.

2. Parent/Teacher interviews are organised after Term 1 exams. This ensures early intervention in the school year for students who may be experiencing difficulty. Parents may, however make arrangements to see teacher/s at any time during the school year. Please contact the School Office or Year Co-ordinator to make the arrangements.

3. Student Organiser communication. Each student will annually receive a student organiser as part of the Curriculum Resources Scheme. Parents and teachers may communicate with each other via this means.

4. Information and Celebration Evenings for a range of specific activities. Parents are regularly invited to the school to facilitate their involvement in decision making for student options, subject and career choices, pathways information and celebration of student achievement.

5. Parental contact. Close communication between parents/carers and school personnel assists students who may be experiencing difficulty in any number of areas. Please refer to the personnel pages of this booklet for assistance. By telephoning the school office, an appointment may be made with the most appropriate person to assist you.

 

Student Drivers

All student drivers must register their vehicle with Administration. Ample parking for students is available in Anne Street. The policy relating to leaving the school grounds applies equally to student drivers.

Under no circumstances are student drivers to offer "lifts" to other students, in school time, without the knowledge of parents and this information must be confirmed by the school administration.

 

Illness and Accidents

Occasionally, students will become ill at school or will suffer an accident.  Students in this situation who are mobile are to come to the school office where a judgement will be made by school staff regarding necessary action.
This may be:

• minor First Aid before returning to class

• a period in sick bay

• contacting a parent to collect the child

• calling an ambulance in appropriate circumstances.  There is no charge for ambulance services.

Accurate contact names and phone numbers are essential in cases of emergencies.

Should a home situation change at any time it is important that the new information be communicated to the school.

 

Guidance Officer

Parents are welcome to make an appointment to see the Guidance Officer/School Counsellor should they be concerned about their student's progress. The Guidance Officer is at the school five days per week and appointments can be made through the office. The Guidance Officer is especially concerned with the students' well being in the school. Discussions with parents and students often revolve around career decisions and educational issues, but may involve such matters as relationships with others, adjustment to school and personal problems.

All students advancing from Year 10 to Year 11 and all students in Year 12 will be given the opportunity to discuss courses of study and career opportunities with the Guidance Officer before deciding about their future.

 

Behaviour Management

The school operates a Behaviour Management Policy in support of students, teachers, and parents. A brochure, which outlines our policy, is available on request or downloaded from the link below.

The Keebra Park State High School Behaviour Management Policy operates on the assumption that all school community members have RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILITIES.

Keebra Park State High School will demonstrate zero tolerance of any unlawful act/s committed within the school community.

Rights
* To be respected and appreciated as an individual in an environment which recognises and values success
* To express ideas, and to ask questions at the correct time and place, and in an appropriate manner
* To be treated without prejudice, intimidation or harassment (both sexual and non sexual) in a just environment
* To teach and learn in a physically, socially and emotionally secure environment
* To teach and learn in a supportive environment which offers opportunities and facilities for individuals to develop their potential.

Responsibilties - “Do the right thing”
Follow correct procedures
Show commitment
Be responsible for your own actions
Dress correctly
Acknowledge authority
Respect the rights of others
Be prepared
Be on time
Complete set tasks to the best of your ability and on time
Use correct and appropriate language
Be in the right place

It is the responsibility of parents to make suitable travel arrangements for students to attend school. There are some types of assistance are available to students who meet eligibility guidelines. Full details about the school transport policy are contained in the Guide to the School Transport Assistance Scheme. This information may be accessed on the Net at:
www.transport.qld.gov.au/qt/PubTrans.nsf/index/assisthome
Application Forms for school transport assistance may also be accessed at this site. Should you not have access to the Internet, please ask Office Staff for assistance.

Education Queensland also operates a School Transport Assistance Scheme for Students with Disabilities. There are conditions attached to successful access to this program. Please ask the Principal for assistance with this.

For access to general transport, Surfside Buslines services the Gold Coast area from Oxenford to Coolangatta. For further information on bus routes and times contact Surfside Buslines on 55 716 555.

At the start of the school year, all school bus drivers distribute applications for bus passes for regular users. Students who enrol later in the year will need to ask the bus driver or contact Surfside.

Dress Uniform:
Girls: Maroon box and knife-pleated skirt with aqua over-blouse and monogrammed pocket.
Long black tailored trousers may be worn from May and during Term 3.

Boys: Aqua shirt with monogrammed pocket worn with grey shorts for Years 8-12. For formal and special occasions Year 11 and 12 boys may wear long black trousers.

All: Covered shoes are to be worn with (preferably) white socks. Thongs and scuffs are not appropriate for Workplace, Health and Safety reasons.

Sports Uniform:
The Sports Uniform is not to be worn on excursions or to formal or special occasions.
It may be worn for field work.

All: Aqua polo-shirt, with embroidered badge, worn by both girls and boys.
Maroon sports shorts for boys and girls or maroon pleated skirt for girls.

Other Elements:
Warmth: For warmth, students may wear the school sports jacket and maroon track pants, maroon sweatshirt or hooded pullover and maroon track pants. Girls may wear tailored black trousers from May and in Term 3 only.

Sun Smart: A hat should be worn while outdoors. It is inappropriate for hats to be worn indoors.

Jewellery: A minimum of jewellery should be worn, with an emphasis on safety.
One pair of earrings (studs or sleepers) may be worn. No other visible body piercings are appropriate.
Excessive jewellery and shoes such as thongs and scuffs are inappropriate and do not meet Workplace, Health and Safety requirements.

Safety: Some items required for safe operation of machinery and equipment are provided in class. Students will be shown how to use these items and are expected to use them in the intended manner. Personal safety items such as shin pads, shoulder pads, mouth guards are to be provided by the student’s family. It is the responsibility of the student and parent / carer to ensure such items are provided and worn.

All items of the School Uniform are available for sale at the Keebra Park Bookshop at the school (except shoes).

Student Organisers

Every student who is part of the Curriculum Resources Scheme is issued with a Student Organiser at the commencement of the school year. The main purpose of the organiser is to assist students to adopt optimal personal organisation.

While Senior Phase students are expected to be independent learners and self motivated, parents might peruse the Organiser on a regular basis.

The Organiser can also be used as a means of communication between the parent to the teacher or the teacher to the parent.

Students who need another organiser for any reason including loss may purchase one from the Bookshop for $6.