Term 4 Week 9

From The Principal

After what only seems a couple of weeks since we commenced Term 4, we find ourselves at the end of the year! Since our last newsletter, things have not slowed down, and it is wonderful seeing students attending school and being happy.

Subject Selections

All subject selection processes have now been completed: students will receive their timetables on the first day of school when they return in 2021.  If all things go well, we will make these available for students on their OneSchool page some days earlier.  The OneSchool link can be found on the front page of the website under Quicklinks.

External Assessment

Our year 12 students were, of course, our first ever group of students to undertake external exams. On 19 December, students will have their ATAR results (if applicable), Senior Statements and QCE/QCIA available on the myQCE website. University placements have already commenced and these will continue to roll out through December and January. Congratulations to our year 12 students who were patient and committed to the new process.  I have recently commenced a review process involving our students and staff to inform our practices in 2021.

Student Reporting

Student report cards will be sent out electronically Wednesday of Week 10. While these are being collated at this moment, we have commenced the process of identifying trends in results and behaviour to support our start-of-the-year planning.  This trend identification is worked through at both the faculty level with common subjects and across the whole school with cross-faculty teams.

2020 Business Liaison Awards

Congratulations must go to three of our students who were recipients of awards at the recent 2020 Annual Aspire Awards function supported by the Business Liaison Association. The Awards are very competitive and highly regarded in the community.  They are open to students right across the region and award winners came from as far north as Weipa. The three award recipients were:

Tasmyn Rigato: Winner of the Agricultural Futures Award; Winner of the Australian Institute of Office Professionals Awards & Encouragement Award for the Keith Goodwin Memorial Scholarship in Accounting and Business.

Kate Noack: Encouragement Award for the Australian Institute of Office Professionals Awards.

Grace Van Niekerk: Encouragement Award for the Department of Education Junior Literary Awards.

Summer Vacation

On a final note, I wish you all the best over the upcoming vacation. Ensure you spend time with family (as best as you can in this current COVID climate), and take time to enjoy the festive season. I look forward to catching up again in the new year.

Speech Night

Our annual Speech Night took place in the Multi-Purpose Centre with huge numbers of students receiving awards.  This year, subject awards were handed out in all year levels, recognising the top student achiever in each of these subjects. On top of that, we had many students receiving Merit and Excellence Academic Awards in recognition of outstanding results achieved in all of their subjects for the year.  At Tully SHS, we set high expectations and the criteria for merit and excellence are at a very high standard, so congratulations must go to those students successfully receiving these.

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With CoVID restrictions easing at 4:00pm that day, many parents were on hand to witness students also receive Special Awards and Bursaries generously donated by supporters of our school.  The night culminated in the exciting announcement of our School Leaders for 2020 – congratulations Haylee Brown, Rhys Davies, David Toaitiiti and Stella Berge. The winners of the prestigious Junior and Senior Dux awards were also announced.  This year, there was a high calibre of Year 9 students to choose from, however, Maeve Lowe received Junior Dux, with Logan McDermott taking out Senior Dux. 

Congratulations to all students receiving awards, and a huge thankyou to those who have supported us through a difficult year. Recognition must  go to the teachers and families of these students, as their success is also a product of your hard work and perseverance.

Some Science Fun

Throughout the year, students have learnt several programming languages in the lead up to the final Term 4 project. This term, students have been getting experience planning and implementing an Internet of Things and Data Science project working with Arduino circuit boards. This project required students to wire and encode a temperature and humidity sensor on the Arduino circuit board and use this sensor in a scientific experiment. The picture below of Henna, Rebecca Irwin and Onkar Bains displays these students using the Arduino Circuits for the Year 9 hot cars physics experiment where students are required to investigate the effect of heat absorption of different colours. This project, however, is less about the science behind the heat absorbtion of various colours than about automating the experimental data collection, storing results in a SQL database and finally displaying these results using the programming languages PHP and HTML to create interactive graphs in an online report. Overall, this style of assessment prepares student for Years 11 and 12 Digital Solutions whilst also emulating a collaborative style of project that students would be engaged with in various careers in STEM. 

World Teacher’s Day

Many days on the official World Calendar of Notable Days – surely that’s what it is called – pass by unnoticed and uncelebrated. I’m thinking of World Buttercup Day – I would love to contemplate that one – and World Migratory Birds Day, and World  Day of Living Together in Peace...

But there is one day that never misses us –

World Teachers’ Day

We know precisely which day we’re in from the time the school day starts. This year, helium balloons weighted down with chocolates were personally delivered to each teacher, courtesy of Aides Lyn Macdonald and Jeanelle Snyman, who also organized a delicious lunch of barbequed steak and salad with everyone’s favourite cheesecake or fruit salad to walk away with if time was pressing. As if that wasn’t enough, the P & C offered us all a tuckshop voucher.It’s a privilege to teach these teenagers, but also intense and demanding at times, so such genuine appreciation gives teachers a fillip of joy.

SLT in Action

Last Friday was declared a Crazy Hair Day, which is...well, just that, with chocolate prizes thrown in. Quite a few students took up the challenge by donning wigs of unnatural origin; ‘pigtails’ that sprang from multiple spots on the scalp like surprises; elaborate bows and even a pseudo Mohawk from the lone male contender. Mrs Goodman returned to her thirteen year old self with two outsized curly pigtails framing her face, while Mrs Smith appeared to be having a fantastically bad hair day.

With the end of Term 4 fast approaching, students always experience a mix of emotions. There is the anticipation of freedom around the corner, but this excitement is dampened by the thought of the hurdles still to be jumped before the final bell clangs. So to keep spirits up and attitudes positive, the Student Leadership Team planned a series of energizing events and surprises.

 We sprang a Just Dance at a recent lunch break – think loud music, imagine rows of students from all year levels mimicking the moves of dancers on the elevated flat screen in front of them, sometimes solo, sometimes in pairs, and all of them either mouthing the words or belting them out. It’s an uplifting sight, for sure.

Last Friday was declared a Crazy Hair Day, which is...well, just that, with chocolate prizes thrown in. Quite a few students took up the challenge by donning wigs of unnatural origin; ‘pigtails’ that sprang from multiple spots on the scalp like surprises; elaborate bows and even a pseudo Mohawk from the lone male contender. Mrs Goodman returned to her thirteen year old self with two outsized curly pigtails framing her face, while Mrs Smith appeared to be having a fantastically ‘bad hair day’.

This Friday we catered to the sweet-toothed, selling Sno-Cones for $2.00. Red was the all-time favourite, which surprised no-one.

Now the Years 11s and 10s are days away from their final exams. When they have departed, the Juniors will briefly have more room to move until it is their turn to mark the milestone of the end of a very interesting school year. The SLT already has plans for making 2021 productive and enjoyable.

EARTH ART EXCURSION

Earth Art uses the landscape as a site for ephemeral sculptures made by manipulating the earth as material. It was conceived in the 1960s when little consideration was given to the impact on the land. This was not the case with our students and their art; in fact, they immersed themselves in the landscape at school and the beach making sure to touch the earth lightly. Through their studies of Jill Chism, a Far North Queensland artist and environmentalist, issues of conservation and preservation arose.

The photos are of some of the work produced on our excursion where students enhanced their site.

Aquatic Practices' Reef Magic Excursion

In October, Year 11 Aquatic Practices students were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go on a snorkelling excursion to Moore Reef with Reef Magic Cruises. The Marine World Education pontoon at Moore Reef was the base for all of the snorkelling and environmental education activities.

The weather was stunning and when entering the water, students were greeted by Wally the resident Maori Wrasse, among many other marine species including trevally, wrasses and coral trout.

This excursion is the pinnacle of the Aquatic Practices course and the culmination of their Snorkelling Unit of work. As Moore Reef is a Green Zone, many interesting marine species were encountered and the awesome biodiversity of the marine environment observed and studied. Students left with a greater understanding and appreciation of the marine environment.

GOOD LUCK SENIORS OF 2020 - with love from 7B

We planned and made a banner during our Wellbeing classes. The purpose of the banner was to encourage the Year 12s through their final exams.

 Everyone in the class of 7B contributed and the banner was placed on the fence at the front of the school to encourage the Year 12s as they walked into the school each day for their exams.

Year Level Coordinator Up-dates

Year 10 Coordinator

Ms Walker

Subject selection and timetables for Year 11 were the focus as Term 4 drew to a close. Some students refined their choices as part of the important SET Plan process. We look forward to students engaging with their Senior Education to support their future pathways. Year 11 offers new possibilities and challenges for students.

Year 11 Coordinator 

Mr Ambrum

Towards the end of the term a number of processes were actioned to prepare for the final year of Senior Secondary Education for this cohort.

Jerseys

The jersey order has been processed with the expectation that they will arrive well before the weather cools down.

Formal

A committee has been formed, which will meet to discuss components of the planning involved. The theme will be chosen early in 2021.

Snowies

With restrictions recently lifted to southern states, options for the traditional Snowies trip will be investigated early Term 1 2021. The trip is proposed for the June vacation and will cost approximately $2 500 - $3 000.  Information will be provided early next year.

Year 12 Coordinator

Ms Maunder

Year 12 students were the first to complete the new curriculum structure. They studiously embraced the external exam process that was held over 17 school days. The cohort came together to celebrate their graduation on Wednesday November 18.

Goodbye Graduates

On Wednesday 18November, Tully State High School said goodbye to the class of 2020. It was a smaller affair with the Years 7-10 students watching in their classroom via Microsoft Teams: the Year 11s attended in person. It was lovely to see the MPC full of the family members who supported the Year 12s throughout their lives and schooling. During the ceremony, the Year 12s were treated to a video of themselves during their years at Tully High, sang their chosen song Life is a Highway and received the 2020 edition of the WALTYKIMA as a gift. Most felt that the highlight of the ceremony was a video of Year 12 teachers providing advice for the students alongside photos of themselves in High School.

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The ceremony ended with the traditional guard of honour created by the Year 11 students. Once outside, the firetruck was there to hose the shaving cream and flour away.

Tully High would like to thank the Year 12s for their work as leaders within the school this year. It was not a typical year, but they did well in the face of unprecedented events and change. It is with hope and pride that we send them off into the world.

Wishing you all the best, Year 12s.

Remembrance Day

November 11 is Remembrance Day.  It is a day when we remember the sacrifices made by soldiers who fought in wars to secure the rights and freedoms that we are fortunate enough to enjoy in our lives today. 

At the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month in 1918, hostilities ceased in World War I, often referred to as the Great War and the War to End All Wars.  As a solemn mark of respect since that time, people have paused in their daily lives for one minute to silently remember and honour the fallen of World War I and subsequent conflicts.

The symbol of Remembrance Day is the poppy, which is proudly worn by ex-servicemen and citizens alike as a mark of respect, remembrance and gratitude for the sacrifices of so many.  The poppy was the flower which grew on the battlefields after the end of World War I and is immortalised in the John McCrae’s poem – In Flanders Fields:

                                                         In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below

We are the Dead, short days ago

We lived, felt down, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, now we lie,

In Flanders fields

Wear the poppy with pride today.  Lest We Forget

I now would like you all to stand for a minute’s silence.  The minute’s silence will take place after the Last Post; following the minute’s silence - the Reveille.

NAIDOC at surrounding schools

This year’s NAIDOC theme, Always Was, Always Will Be recognises that First Nations’ people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. We are spiritually and culturally connected to this country.

 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rich and continuous history, culture and traditions are interwoven through ceremonies, stories, artwork, songs and dances.

In celebration of this, November was a very busy month for our Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander students as they celebrated NAIDOC week around the district. Our students kicked off NAIDOC here at Tully State High School on day one of Term 4 by entertaining staff and students with Aboriginal & Torres Strait dancing.

Students were also invited to Goondi State Primary School, Tully Kindergarten, Tully Primary School and Lower Tully State School to perform their traditional dances.  I was a very proud aunt, mother and teacher as these students gave up a lot of their holiday time to practice their dances. 

Unfortunately, due to COVID, we were unable to have our traditional feasting at school this year.

Congratulations to all who were involved - your pride for your culture and traditions shone through.

A Friendly against Innisfail

On a balmy afternoon, deep into Term 4, staff from Tully and Innisfail downed their pens in the midst of reporting season and picked up their racquets. Some friendly games of social tennis were just what we needed to unhunch from over our desks, roll back our shoulders and say 'my serve.'

As the clouds built up, so did the points and tension. '30! Love! 59!' Hardly any of the spectators knew the correct terminology to use, and certainly not in the right places but that didn't stop them shouting it enthusiastically and confusing those trying to keep score. Clearly some came for the tennis, and some came for the social. 
The final round was sadly rained out, and due to an absence of towels to mop up the courts we called it early. Perhaps for the best as unfortunately Tully was running at a loss. Were the raindrops hiding a few tears? 

By the end of the afternoon, the only way we could tell we weren't at Wimbledon was the absence of strawberries and cream. 

Why It Rains In Tully

Once upon a time there were two sisters who lived on the  plain of Gaja, near where Tully is now, and each had a son; Burrma and her son Gudami, and Yungalingja and her son Damubarra.

One day, Gundami and Damubarra said to their mothers, “Today we want to go down to the sea. We will take our raft out to sea and catch lots of big fish that we will eat for our dinner.”

The boys gathered their fishing spears and made their way to the Tully River. They rode their raft through the country of the Djirru people and then out into the sea, ready to catch some large fish.

Once the raft reached the sea, the boys began spearing fish. They caught many big fish and loaded them into the raft. But before the boys could return to land, a whirlpool formed which began to spin the raft around. They boys called out for help, but no-one was around to hear them. Even if people had been at the beach, the boys were far out to sea. No-one heard them. No-one came to help them. Eventually, the raft span too fast and capsized, and the boys fell into the sea and drowned.

All the time this was going on, Burrma and Yungalingja were waiting patiently for their sons to return, laden with fish. But, of course, the boys never came.

The Djirru people found the bodies of Gudami and Damubarra. They knew the boys and that their mothers must be waiting for them. So they sent a message to Burrma and Yungalingja: “Burrma and Yungalingja, your two boys took their raft to sea. While catching fish, a whirlpool spun the raft and capsized it. Your two boys are drowned; wait for them no longer.”

On hearing this news, the mothers were devastated. They shut themselves in their midjas (shelters) and cried and cried. Their midjas were on opposite sides of the plain of Gaja.

The crying went on and on. The women wailed in their grief so that it was all anyone could hear. Eventually, they made so much noise that Yamini, the Rainbow Serpent, came down and turned the mothers and their midjas into hard stone mountains. The rock on Mount Mackay is called Gudami, and the rock on Mount Tyson is called Damubarra after the sisters’ two lost sons.

Yamini stopped the noise of the two mothers, but he could not stop their tears. Gaja plain still sees lots more rain than the surrounding lands, for the two mothers are still crying over their lost sons.

And that is why it rains so much in Tully.

Created by the Year 9 ASDAN class of 2020:

• Latifah Cronin
• Sean Dwyer
• Miranda Gutchen
• Cameron Nelson
• Teacher: Mr Roberts

The class would like to gratefully acknowledge:

 Mrs Tonya Grant for sharing the story of her people with us, and for her assistance in the planning and creation of this artwork;the generosity of the Tully State High School P and C committee, whose generous funding made this artwork possible.

Before the project 

During the project

After the project

Year 7 History Essentials

Miss Turner’s Year 7 History Essentials class have been studying a unit on Ancient Egypt. As part of their studies they have researched Egyptian ways of life, their society and how the geography of Egypt has influenced their success as an Ancient society.

The students learnt about the arduous journey of dedicated archelogist Howard Carter, his five year long search, and the eventual 1922 discovery of the untouched tomb of the famous Pharoah Tutenkhamun.

After we had learnt about this, students researched Egyptian belief in the afterlife and the process of mummifcation. The students then had the chance to make their own mummy and sarcophagus, using a range of materials. As they made their mummy and sarcophagus students took photos of the process they followed, simultaneously creating a photo story of their process of mummy-making.

This has been an excellent learning opportunity for the students, and they are very pleased with the final results.

JAZZ SAVES THE DAY at Tully SHS!

Instrumental music students from Tully SHS and Innisfail State College joined forces last Friday to create a combined big band and work with guest jazz muso Lachlan Mackenzie.

Lachlan is a jazz trumpeter from JMI in Brisbane and we were very fortunate to have him come visit for the day and offer some tips and inspiration for our young musicians.

Students played a range of rock, pop, swing and latin styles throughout the session, with a final performance for some very excited parents who were keen to catch the band perform for the first time in many months.

Huge thanks to everyone involved with helping to make this rare opportunity such a great day for all.

Yours in jazz!

Reproductive Technologies for the Tully State High School Droughtmaster Stud

Recently, the Agricultural students at the High School were involved in an In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and Embryo Transfer (ET) program with the school cattle. The School’s Droughtmaster Stud is always looking to expose students to real world experiences, and this is yet another example of agricultural technology we are using to improve educational outcomes and ensure the long-term sustainability of the stud. The school accessed superior genetics from highly reputable studs in Queensland and Bovine expert, Ced Wise, performed the embryo transplants on ten of our recipient females.

From Years 9 to 12, the Agricultural students study reproductive anatomy and physiology, and the Senior students are well versed in reproductive endocrinology and its utilisation in artificial breeding programs. This was a most valuable learning experience for our students, and it was wonderful to see their level of interest in the process. Many of the students examined live cattle embryos under a microscope, a rare and enlightening opportunity.

The implanted females have now been joined to the school stud bulls and in 2021, we will be using DNA parentage testing to determine the sires of the calves. We eagerly await the results of this year’s artificial breeding program.

WALTYKIMA 2020 Magazine

Our 2020 school magazine is now available for purchase at the Office for $25.00 each