CapSDE - Week Two 3 Feb 2025 Newsletter

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 & Student Induction Days

Last week we hosted Home Tutor inductions both online and in person for parents and students across our school!

It was fantastic to see both new and returning Home Tutors embracing the chance to learn more about how families and CapSDE work together to help every student reach their highest potential.

Students attending campus sessions also enjoyed catching up with their peers and getting excited about the coming year of learning, activities, events and field services. 

HT Induction Days 2025

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Practical tips...

Looking for practical advice to help support your child’s learning and wellbeing? The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) has worked with clinical psychologist Dr Judith Locke to create a series of short videos offering tips and strategies for parents and carers.

These videos cover key topics such as:

• fostering independence and resilience
• establishing homework routines with your child
• supporting your teen in senior schooling
• encouraging effective study habits
• maintaining balance and wellbeing.

Whether your child is starting prep or tackling senior exams, these videos provide practical guidance for every stage of their schooling journey.

Access the full series on the QCAA website.

Process for accessing lessons when teachers are absent

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. 

What's happening in Primary?

From the Deputy Principal Emerald

Welcome to the 2025 school year. During Student Free Days prior to Induction Week the Rockhampton teachers travelled to Emerald to facilitate a whole of Primary curriculum planning day with their new year level teaching teams. Your students’ teachers met face to face to plan out subject content for the term and year and reviewed our whole school approach to pedagogy. 2025 teaching teams are looking forward to meeting their classes for a successful term and year of learning.

We also welcome Katrina Hawley to our team for this year. Katrina is the DP of Rockhampton campus. We welcome back Fiona Bailey into the DP role of Emerald campus in week 4 where Kellie Dobson – Dingwall will return to her HOD of teaching and learning role with the school.

During Induction week we outlined our year ahead with families and got to see some of our students online and face to face. We look forward to working with you in 2025 and please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can help your family in any way.

Please be reminded classes start in week 2. Please note HIT LIT and Numeracy passport classes will begin in week 3.

Sincere regards,
Kellie Dobson – Dingwall

From the Deputy Principal Rockhampton

Hello, my name is Katrina, and I am excited to introduce myself as the new Acting Deputy Principal at Capricornia Distance Education for Semester 1, 2025. I bring with me twenty-one years of teaching experience, with the last three years spent at Charters Towers School of Distance Education, where I worked in the inclusion field across Prep to Year 12. I am passionate about supporting students, families, and staff in the distance education community and look forward to building strong connections to enhance learning opportunities for all. I am eager to get to know you and work together to create a positive and enriching educational experience. I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can at face-to-face events, field services and on campus.

Kind Regards,
Katrina Hawley

Secondary Scoop

Welcome to the 2025 Senior Schooling Year!

A warm welcome to all Students, Home Tutors, and families as we embark on another exciting Senior Schooling year. It was fantastic to see so many of you attending the Induction Days, engaging in valuable discussions, and preparing for a successful year ahead.

The introduction of Capri-Connect program is very exciting! As part of the Capri-Connect program, Year 10 students will be participating in the Short Course in Career Education. This course is designed to support students in their pathway planning beyond Year 10, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions about their future studies and career opportunities.

For our Year 11 and 12 students, Capri-Connect lessons will introduce Academic Coaching, an initiative that will help students track their academic progress and work towards achieving their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). This targeted support will assist students in setting goals, monitoring their achievements, and staying on track for success in their senior years.

I encourage you to please reach out if you have any questions or require guidance regarding your student's Senior Schooling Pathway. I look forward to working with you all and supporting each student on their journey to success in 2025.

Best wishes for a fantastic year ahead!

Jodie Benfer
HOD Senior Schooling

Guidance 'Go-2'

Natural disaster resources for our affected families

What a week it’s been in Qld! Our families up north have experienced local flooding and we hope that all of CapSDE families are safe during this challenging time.

Natural Disasters not only bring stress and clean up for the adults, but they can also bring trauma for our little people. The link shared below may help our younger CapSDE students to help ease any worries your child may be feeling during this crazy wet season. The link is a wonderful video about how Birdie and his Friends help each other when there are floods.

Birdie and the Flood Link - https://youtu.be/L0pR-nzDwyg

During the video it rains so much, Birdie and Mr Frog must get away from the rising water. Birdie and the flood is a story to help young children: 

• Learn what happens when it rains a lot and causes flooding 
• Learn who can help in a flood 
• Work through sad or scary feelings · understand they will feel safe and happy again. 

For our older students, these resources developed by Emerging Minds may be of real help during this time and for the months after:

https://emergingminds.com.au/families/resources/library/page/2/?subject%5B0%5D=floods

https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/toolkits/community-trauma-toolkit/

For those affected, our thoughts are with you.

Please look after yourselves during this flooding event and beyond, please reach out if we can support you in any way here at CapSDE.

 Stay Safe Everyone!

The Guidance Team – Kate and Sharon

What's on in your community?

UniSC - Best Field Trip in the World

The UniSC award-winning Best Field Trip in the World competition is open again for entry.
Year 11 and 12 students have the chance to WIN an unforgettable four-day adventure exploring world-heritage wonders, scoring VIP behind-the-scenes access, and hanging out with UniSC staff, students and sporting superstars. Winners can each nominate a friend to join them on the adventure!
Enter here: www.usc.edu.au/best-field-trip-in-the-world

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