CapSDE - Week One 2025 Newsletter

Principal's Pen

Welcome Back to 2025!

Dear School Community,

Welcome to another exciting year at Capricornia School of Distance Education! As we step into 2025, I want to extend a warm welcome to all returning families and a special greeting to those joining us for the first time.

This week marks the start of our school year with our induction week kicking off online. Tomorrow, we continue with further online sessions, and on Thursday and Friday, we are thrilled to welcome students and home tutors to our face-to-face induction days at both our Emerald and Rockhampton campuses. These sessions are a wonderful opportunity to connect, prepare, and lay the foundation for a successful year.  For information and timetables please refer to our Week 0 Newsletter which has all the details.

Following this week’s inductions, formal lessons for students will commence next Monday, 3 February. We can’t wait to see our students fully engage in their learning journeys as we support every student to reach their highest potential.

As we begin the year, I encourage our school community members to embrace our school values:

• Accountability: Take responsibility for your actions.
• Integrity: Demonstrate honesty and fairness in all you do.
• Resilience: Face challenges with determination and perseverance.
• Respect: Treat others with kindness and value their perspectives.
• Positive Relationships: Build strong connections within our school community.

Effective communication is vital to our shared success. Whether it’s a question about learning, processes, or advice, please remember—no question is a silly question. Our team is here to support you, and we encourage you to reach out whenever you need assistance.

Connection is the cornerstone of our school community. The partnerships between students, home tutors, families and staff create the unique strength of our distance education model. By working together, we ensure every student has the opportunity to achieve their best.

2025 holds incredible potential, and I am excited about the opportunities and achievements this year will bring.

I look forward to connecting with many of you during our induction days and throughout the year. Together, let’s make it a year of growth, learning, and positive relationships.

Warm regards,
Amanda Rynne

Key Dates - 2025

Our Key Dates are available below for families looking to plan for 2025.
Whilst we don't anticipate changes, we are aware that due to unforeseen circumstances at times changes are unavoidable. 

Home Tutor Induction Days 2025

Online Induction Days commenced today for students and Home Tutors.

Please see Week 0 Welcome Newsletter for all Home Tutor Induction Days information and timetables.

Senior Shirts - Year 6 and Year 12

The Second round of orders for 2025 Senior Shirts for Year 6 & Year 12 are now available for families to purchase on Qkr! Please see instructions in Week 0 Newsletter (in the newsletter archive; link above) for purchasing through the Qkr! platform.

Please see Week 0 Welcome email for more information on Qkr and how to purchase from CapSDE.

The cost of the shirts:

• $39.00 – Sublimated Polos (Year 6 & Year 12) 

• $80 – Year 12 Senior Jerseys

The order for this final round of senior shirts is due on 21 March, at which time the item on Qkr will be unavailable and there will be no further opportunities for 2025 to order senior shirts. 

Please ensure that you indicate in the notes section in Qkr! what name your student would like on the back of their shirt. If your student does not wish to have a name, please write 'no name' and the shirt will be printed with the standard '25' on the back. Nicknames are permissible; however, these will be vetted to ensure appropriateness. 

Student Term One Timetables

Week One will see students access sessions according to the Induction Day timetables. 

For the rest of Term, students will need to download their timetable by logging into OneSchool. These will be completed by Wednesday 29th Jan, and while we do not envisage changes, unforeseen circumstances may require tweaking to classes. 

Students are expected to obtain a current and correct version of their timetable at the beginning of each term in case there have been changes over the holiday break.

Information on how to access and download your timetable can be found on the school website, by entering Oneschool into the search bar.

The following link will also take you there: https://capricorniasde.eq.edu.au/curriculum/daily-timetables 

Timetable Breakdown and Information

2025 Primary Timetable Information
Years 3 - 6

• 9.00am - 3.00pm school day with HITLit and five periods per day.
• HITLit will be for 30 minutes, every morning, commencing at 9am.
• Periods 1, 3, 4 & 5 are 55 minutes in duration.
• Period 2 is 40 minutes in duration.
• Students have scheduled online lessons for HITLit, English, Maths, HASS, Science and Languages (Year 5/6). Students may also have intervention lessons timetabled, as required.
• Lunch breaks:
• Rest Pause 10.25-10.35am
• First Lunch 11.15-11.55am
• Second Lunch 1.45-2.05pm

CapSDE will be commencing a new pastoral care program called “Capri-Connect”. Capri-Connect will be on Mondays, Period 5 (during the time previously called Care Group). What this looks like, will vary, depending on year level. Further details will be provided by the Primary team.

Years 1 - 2

• 9.00am - 3.00pm school day with HITLit and six periods per day.
• HITLit will be for 30 minutes, every morning, commencing at 9am.
• Periods 1, 2 & 6 are 55 minutes in duration.
• Periods 3 is 35 minutes and Periods 4 & 5 30 minutes in duration.
• Students have scheduled online lessons for HITLit, English, Maths and Science. Students may also have intervention lessons timetabled, as required.
• Lunch breaks:
• First Lunch 11.20am-12.00pm
• Rest Pause 1.35-1.45pm
• Second Lunch 1.45-2.05pm

Prep

• 9.00am - 3.00pm school day with five periods per day.
• Students have 30 minutes of Phonics during Period 1 (Period 1A or 1B).
• Students have 30 minutes of English during Period 2 (Period 2A or 2B).
• Students have 30 minutes of Maths during Period 3 (Period 3A or 3B).
• Students may also have reading/intervention lessons timetabled, as required.
• Lunch breaks:
• Rest Pause 10.00-10.10am
• First Lunch 11.10-11.50am
• Second Lunch 1.45-2.05pm

2025 Secondary Timetable Information

• 9.00am - 3.00pm school day with four periods per day.
• Lunch break times remain the same – 11.30am - 12.10pm and 1.20 - 1.50pm.
• Care Group will no longer be at the start of each day (previously 9.00 - 9.10am).

CapSDE will be commencing a new pastoral care program called “Capri-Connect”. Capri-Connect will be every Wednesday, Period 4 (1.50-3.00pm). Students will be grouped within their year level, with lessons covering a range of age-appropriate topics focusing on (but not limited to): self-development, wellbeing, study skills and career pathways.

Student attendance at weekly Capri-Connect sessions is compulsory.

Introducing SchoolTV

Because parenting doesn't come with instructions, SchoolTV is a wellbeing resource implemented at our school to help support you in the challenges of modern-day parenting relating to youth mental health and wellbeing. Parenting is a learning journey and SchoolTV supports families by providing credible information from trusted sources with practical strategies to help alleviate some of the challenges being faced by young people today.

Watch video interviews with leading wellbeing specialists and browse a library of resources. Each topic is accompanied by factsheets, podcasts, books, articles, apps and other videos.

This award-winning resource helps families build relationships, foster connections, enable understanding and break down barriers to navigate a pathway towards better mental health and wellbeing for young people. It will assist you in starting those conversations on topics that can sometimes be awkward or difficult to tackle.

Parents and caregivers are the greatest influence on a young person's life and SchoolTV focuses on empowering confident parenting.

Explore SchoolTV today!

CapSDE will be placing a link on the Website and you will find the QR code in the Forms and documents section on the left side of the weekly newsletter to make it easy for families to access the resource. 

Secondary Scoop

Introducing the Capri Connect Program

You may have noticed Capri Connect Session that has been included on all student's timetables. The weekly 70-minute Capri Connect lesson for Years 7 to 12 integrates respectful relationships education and career education, fostering both personal and academic growth. This lesson will also provide the platform for Secondary Assemblies.

The Capri Connect lesson equips students with the social, emotional, and practical skills necessary for building respectful relationships and pursuing successful careers, while also providing opportunities for school-wide engagement and celebration.

Year 11 & 12 Exam Supervisor requirements

From the start of 2025 planning and preparation for Year 11 & 12 exams is underway. With this in mind it is important that you are aware of an important Senior School process and what it means for you and your student/s.

Exams in 11 - 12 are to be completed in person under the direct supervision of an approved exam supervisor, meaning that your student will no longer be able complete all exams online during class time.

Home Tutors will not be able to supervise exams for your student.

Supervision for senior exams can either take place at:

1. a) one of Capricornia School of Distance Education Campuses (Rockhampton or Emerald), or
2. b) at an approved location with a nominated supervisor of your choice.

Examples of who may qualify as your student’s approved supervisor are listed on page 3 of the document below. This list is not exhaustive. Nominating a local school is preferred.

Please Note: Exam supervisors cannot be related to your student, cannot be a close family friend, nor reside with the student. Parents are not able to supervise students at home.

The role of this supervisor is:

• To receive and possibly print your students exam papers; keeping them in a secure location until the assessment
• Ensure that the exam is sat under exam conditions and that the student has the equipment required
• Supervise your student whilst they undertake the exam
• Scan and return the completed exam via email and paper to Capricornia School of Distance Education.
• Sign a declaration stating that the above conditions have been met

Youth Ambassador Group

Expressions of Interest | Youth Ambassador Group
Expressions of interest are now open for Rockhampton Museum of Art (RMOA) Youth Ambassador Group! This opportunity is for young people aged 15-21 who love art and live in Central Queensland. 2025 Youth Ambassador Group will be co-facilitated by Audience Engagement and Learning team members Easton Dunne (they/them) and Dr Melinda Mann (she/her). Applications close 4.00pm Monday 17 February 2025
Expressions of Interest | Youth Ambassador Group Rockhampton Museum of Art

Guidance 'Go-2'

Momentum

Here at CapSDE, we have many families from many different regions. Some are located rurally and access to services are difficult not to mention the long waitlists. A free online mental health platform co-designed by young people, for young people has been launched to tackle the ongoing children’s mental health crisis and lack of accessibility to many.

Momentum is Australia’s most comprehensive self-help digital mental health program that brings vital evidence-informed treatments, tools and techniques to the fingertips of seven to 17-year-olds who are experiencing common mental health issues.

The innovative platform was designed and developed to help hundreds of young people, parents and mental health professionals navigate anxiety, depression and wellbeing.

Momentum offers tailored online treatment programs to help children and adolescents learn new ways to cope with feelings of anxiety and/or unhappiness. Momentum also offers help with sleep difficulties, as well as information on well-being and help-seeking, and tips and information about substance use for adolescents.

Momentum has been designed in collaboration with young people, parents, clinicians and researchers. The program is free to use in Australia and can be worked through at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home.

So, whether you are a young person between the ages of 7 – 17 or a parent/caregiver, jump on and have a look.

Sourced by: https://www.unisq.edu.au/news/2024/04/momentum-platform

https://www.momentumhub.org.au/

What's on in your community?

We welcome your feedback

Support Agency Contacts

Beyond Blue aims to increase awareness of depression and anxiety and reduce stigma. Call 1300 22 4636, 24 hours/7 days a week, chat online or email.

Blue Knot Foundation Helpline is the National Centre of Excellence for Complex Trauma. It provides support, education and resources for the families and communities of adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse. Call 1300 657 380, Monday – Sunday between 9am – 5pm AEST or via email helpline@blueknot.org.au.

Butterfly Foundation's National Helpline is a free, confidential service that provides information, counselling and treatment referral for people with eating disorders, and body image and related issues. Call 1800 33 4673, 8am-midnight AEST / 7 days a week, chat online or email.

eheadspace provides free online and telephone support and counselling to young people 12 – 25 and their families and friends. Call 1800 650 890, 9am – 1am AEST / 7 days a week, chat online or email.

FriendLine supports anyone who's feeling lonely, needs to reconnect or just wants a chat. You can call them 7 days a week on 1800 424 287, or chat online with one of their trained volunteers. All conversations with FriendLine are anonymous.

Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free 24/7 confidential and private counseling service specifically for children and young people aged 5 – 25. Call 1800 55 1800.

Lifeline provides 24-hour crisis counselling, support groups and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14, text on 0477 13 11 14 (12pm to midnight AEST) or chat online.

MensLine Australia is a professional telephone and online counselling service offering support to Australian men. Call 1300 78 99 78, 24 hours/7 days a week, chat online or organise a video chat.

MindSpot is a free telephone and online service for people with anxiety, stress, low mood or depression. It provides online assessment and treatment for anxiety and depression. MindSpot is not an emergency or instant response service. Call 1800 61 44 34.

QLife provides nationwide telephone and web-based services for lesbian peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships. Call 1800 184 527, 3pm – 12am (midnight) AEST/7 days a week.

SANE Australia provides support to anyone in Australia affected by complex mental health issues, as well as their friends, family members and health professionals. Call 1800 18 7263, 10am – 10pm AEST (Mon – Fri), or chat online.

Suicide Call Back Service provides 24/7 support if you or someone you know is feeling suicidal. Call 1300 659 467.

Lifeline  on 13 11 14 — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Source from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-helplines