Tully State High School eNewsletter

From The Principal

Dear Parent and Carers,

Welcome to the Term 1, Week 5 Newsletter. The purpose of our school newsletter is to provide parents and carers with an update of the school events in the coming fortnight and to celebrate our student achievements. I will be seeking feedback on the newsletter at the end of term, regarding frequency, contents, etc. If you would like to contribute feedback earlier, please send me an email.

P&C AGM

The Annual General Meeting for the Parent and Citizens Association will be held on 21 March, 2024 (Thursday) at 3.30pm in the Millside Café. We need your support, and would love more parents to become active members of this very important decision-making committee for our wonderful school. I encourage and welcome as many parents as possible to attend this meeting!

At the February meeting, the P&C endorsed the updated Student Use of Personal Devices procedures for Tully State High School. This revised document is included in this newsletter for your information. The document is also published on the school website. Some revised changes to the procedures are:

If a student has a documented medical condition that requires them to carry a phone, an exemption can be provided
Collection of mobile phones – must be by the parent or carer as defined by our OneSchool records
The school is able to temporary remove a mobile phone from a student as part of Student Code of Conduct policy.

Parent and community consultation are critical to the above decisions, and this is the purpose of P&C.

School Bucket Hats

Thank you to the P&C for their donation of a new Tully SHS bucket hat to every Year 7 student. In 2023, our Year 7s were also supplied with a free hat from the P and C! Therefore, the expectation is that all Year 7 and 8 students engaging in sport or outdoor activities at school should be wearing their school hats.

The P&C will continue to provide hats to our new Year 7 students every year. For sun safety, please encourage your child to wear it every day!

Swimming Carnival

Our annual swimming carnival will be held on the last day of this term – Thursday 29 March, at the Tully Swimming pool. The tuckshop will NOT be operating on this day. Students will be able to purchase food at the pool from the canteen.

As the end of term nears, it is vital for students to remain on task, stay focussed in class and complete their assessments. Commitment, resilience and endurance are vital skills in the classroom and in extra-curricular activities!

Have an awesome fortnight!

Yours in learning,

Ms Helen Carne

Principal

From the Deputy Principal - Senior School

Welcome back to the 2024 school year! We are already at the end of Week 5 of Term 1 and students are well on their way to being owners of their own learning and exploring a range of topics across the variety of curriculum choices available at Tully SHS.

Curriculum and Subjects

All subject changes are now closed and students are encouraged to work to the best of their ability and to seek assistance from classroom teachers with any concerns related to the curriculum being taught in class. Assessment dates for students have been sent out via email. If you or your child have not received this information, please contact the school to organise a copy to be sent to you.

Academic Integrity Course

Early in the term, Years 10, 11 and 12 completed an Academic Integrity Course during their tutorial lessons on Wednesday afternoon. This course explores the concept academic integrity and misconduct. There are a range of consequences and processes that can be applied to students who are involved in academic misconduct: these can be found in the Tully SHS Assessment Policy (refer to the school website for a copy). Tully SHS embraces educating students on expectations and the values relating to ethical behaviour, in particular involving student individual work.

Career Education

Year 10s are working steadily through online content, well on their way to gaining a better understanding of the world of work and making informed decisions on possible pathways for the future. On March 5, a preliminary information session will be held for Year 10 parents on the Senior Education and Training (SET) Plan process for this year.

Student Interviews

During Week 6 of this term, all Year 12s will have an interview with either Mrs Sloan-Orlandi, Head of Senior School or Mrs Rebekah Bidois, Deputy Principal - Senior School. The interview will look at attendance rate, subject results, behaviour and Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)/QCIA tracking to ensure all Year 12 students are on track for QCE/QCIA attainment at the end of the year. If there is any concern in regard to QCE/QCIA attainment or effort and behaviour, parents will be contacted to discuss this further.

Attendance

Tully State High School encourages students to attend every day, as every day counts. Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education. Students learn new things at school every day. Attending and participating in school will help your child develop:

Important skills and knowledge to help them learn
Social and emotional skills such as good communication, resilience and team work.

Children who attend school every day and complete Year 12 have:

better health
better job opportunities
higher income across their lives.
There is no safe number of days for missing school. Each day a student misses puts them behind. In particular, Year 12s should note that attendance rate across the year is directly linked to permitted extra-curricular activity (e.g., Formal) attendance.
The current attendance rates (at the time of writing) are:
Year 7 – 93.9%
Year 8 – 85.5%
Year 9 – 89.8%
Year 10 – 83.3%
Year 11 - 87.3%
Year 12 – 88.9%
Our target attendance rate is 95%. Please ensure your child is at school, learning and engaged in the opportunities provided here at Tully SHS.
Rebekah Bidois Deputy Principal Senior Schooling

Senior Investiture

On Monday 5 February, the Senior Investiture was performed in the MPC. It was great to see our Year 12s engaged in this event.

The 2024 Senior leaders were acknowledged, and the diverse group of students that makes up this cohort were inducted into their final year of secondary education. Students made this pledge: As seniors of Tully State High School, we pledge to uphold the school’s values of safety, respect, responsibility and learning. We will act as leaders and role models in our community. We undertake to succeed in Year 12 through consistent effort and attendance and wear our uniform with pride.

It was fantastic to see support from the many parents/carers, families and friends who attended the event. The ever-present volunteer army here at Tully State High School ensured everything ran seamlessly, including a delicious morning tea supplied by Hospitality students and their teachers. A massive thank you to all the staff and students who helped with the Investiture.

TSHS Sports News

Congratulations and good luck!

Congratulations to Kaiden Roberts on his performance at the recent Triathlon State Championships. He finished 24^th in his age group.
Congratulations to the students listed below for being selected in Cassowary Coast teams to compete at Peninsula Selection Trials over the next few weeks:

15 Boys Rugby League: Fynn Hawkins, Kaedyn Ketchell, Jackson Solien, Riley Berge, Alex Greenwood, Blake Scikluna, Case Durighello, Ben Muriata & Joey Banu

18 Boys Rugby League: Shadrach Guglio, Logan Deloryn, Xzavier Carlaw, Jamie Muriata, Louis Carlaw, Riley Congoo, Philip Mow, Sipi Sipi, Nicholas Muriata & Jerry Anau.

16 Girls Rugby League: Shiloh Babsek, Layla Ivey & Annabelle Roberts

18 Girls Rugby League: Alyssa Patch, Nikita Burton & Shiolah Gutchen

15 Girls Netball: Makayla Kleinhans, Mya Tauli, Ruby Wilson & Logan Rigato (shadow)

16 Boys Football: Bradley Bracewell, Jacob Frumento & Samuel Frumento

16 Girls Football: Maddison Apap & Charlize Gee

16 Boys Basketball: Ryley Abrook & Justin Daveson (shadow)

16 Girls Basketball: Santa Fawkes

Sports Messages

Important information about sport trials, training, meetings & collecting trial paperwork will be in Student Notices. Students must ensure they are checking their email regularly and listening to Student Notices so they do not miss any important information.
Students wishing to officiate as referees at the 10-12 Touch Football Gala Day on Friday 8 March (Week 7) at Tully SHS, please see Mrs Parkes in the HPE staffroom this week.
The correct dates for District Touch Football are: Week 7 - Wednesday 6 March 15s & 18s, Friday 8 March 10-12s.
House Sports – Each Monday in the MPC at First Break, students compete in various games for their Houses. Student attendance is recorded by House Captains. Participation points will go towards the House Spirit Trophy, presented at the annual Sports Awards Night.
Sport Trial Dates: The Cassowary Coast trial dates for 10-12 years & 13-19 years sports are included below. A full list of Peninsula dates can be found on the Peninsula website.

SZ_Sport_2024.pdf

13_19_Cass_Coast_Sport_2024.pdf

SPORTS FUNDING

There are a number of funding assistance programs available to assist athletes to attend State and National Championship events.

Please go to https://queenslandschoolsport.education.qld.gov.au/athlete-portal/athlete-assistance to access organisation links to various funding opportunities available to families.

Carnivals: Our first sports carnival for 2023 is the Annual Swimming Carnival, scheduled for Thursday 28 March, Week 10. Permission notes will be available closer to the date. The theme is Characters in Colour!

**Makayla Kleinhans, Logan Rigato and Mya Tauli**

Reading is more important than ever!

In a world where information and opinions are at our fingertips, it is vital that we are readers who can critically assess what is presented to us. Young people need to see us all as readers who question what comes up on our news feeds, who ask, Where did this information come from? and What is the motivation of the creator?

Encourage your child to see you reading. Have discussions about what you’ve read. Take a trip to one of the three local libraries – Cardwell, Mission Beach and Tully. They are free, and they have a huge range of resources for community members.

What are you reading at the moment?

Year 9 Daily writing from a prompt

A grizzly bear meditating in a forest...

Sunlight flowed past pine leaves as the critters of the forest began their daily lives. The tall thick trees coated the mountains and a glistening lake lay below. By the water’s edge, there was a large brown bear. He was different to all the other animals. He was the only one to be raised by humans, and the only one that had tasted human flesh.

By Halle Phipps

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------On planet 878 everything is different. The animals have learnt from the human’s behaviours to do many crazy new things. Penguins skate, beavers own companies and grizzly bears meditate. These activities are very unnatural for wild animals to do, and humans are yet to decide if it is a good or bad result of the humans entering this planet.

By Matilda Gourlay

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There once was a bear that did yoga.

The bear that did yoga tried boba.

They choked on a ball,

To death they did crawl.

No longer a bear that did yoga.

By Campbell Driver

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Winter bear, it’s never your choice to be trapped all alone without a voice. I’m sorry winter bear. As snow falls all year, little bear grows and tries so hard to not shed a tear. Oh, the curse of happiness and being trapped right there. A snow globe is no place to call home winter bear.

By Gabby Wilks

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TAFESEC

TAFE Qld supports the TAFE & Secondary Schools’ (TAFESEC) program by offering students a range of different courses at different campuses. Certificate II in Engineering Pathways is delivered at Tully SHS; this year there are two classes - one on Mondays and another on Tuesdays. Students have a variation to their timetable for the day they work with the TAFE teacher, Shane. Two Tully SHS students are committed to vocational education, travelling to Cairns one day a week for their courses – a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance and a Certificate III in Plumbing Services. Certificate II in Electrotechnology (career start) is offered at the Innisfail campus this year for the first time, with two Tully SHS students enrolled.

Students value the opportunity to engage with vocational education. Tully SHS is proud to be able to support a diverse range of curriculum offerings to suit student need.

Students engaged in Certificate II in Engineering Pathways at Tully SHS

Use of Personal Mobile Devices by Students

All Queensland schools are required to develop school specific procedures for the implementation of the use of personal mobile devices by students.

Rationale

Queensland Government phones away for day mandate
To support students to develop safe, responsible and respectful personal mobile device practices
To reduce the impact that inappropriate personal mobile device usage has on class learning, the development of resilience as well as administration and teaching time
To support students to manage their relationship with technology and develop long term, healthy lifestyles habits, including developing the capacity to engage in developmentally appropriate and healthy activities during school lunch breaks that do not involve technology

Preamble

While we allow personal mobile devices to be brought to the school, research has found they are detrimental to effective learning and teaching if used inappropriately during lesson time or at break times. At Tully State High School, personal mobile devices are considered to be:

mobile phones
wearable technology or sensing devices (i.e., earphones/cords/air buds, smartwatches)

Student Responsibilities

The responsibilities for students using personal mobile devices at school or during school activities, are outlined below:

Students are encouraged to leave personal mobile devices at home.
Students may use mobile phones/smart watches and/or electronic listening devices before and after school (i.e., before 8:45am and after 2:45pm).
At all other times, these devices must be turned off (not on silent/vibration), out of sight (including earphones/cords/air buds) and kept safely in their pocket or bag: phones are away for the day.
Students are responsible for the security, integrity, insurance and maintenance of their personal mobile devices.
Students who bring a personal mobile device to school do so at their own risk and are responsible for its safe keeping: the school will not investigate theft, loss or damage of any personal mobile device brought to school.
Students are to be courteous, considerate and respectful of others when using a personal device.
Students are may use their personal mobile device to pay for tuckshop.
For parent-student contact during the day, students with phones can only check missed calls/messages before and after the school day (i.e., before 8:45am and after 2:45pm): for emergency contact, parents must call the school office.
Principal (or their delegate), may approve an exemption: this allows the student to use their personal mobile device during school hours for specific purposes including for medical, disability and/or wellbeing reasons.

Students in Years 10, 11 & 12

Senior students may use a personal mobile device in learning only for a specific task, for a specific time under staff supervision and at the explicit direction of a staff member. The personal mobile device is not to be accessed for recreational use (e.g., music, social media, videos and more).

Consequences for Misuse of Personal Mobile Device

If a student misuses the device, they will be sent to the office where the device will be handed in and a slip issued. This slip is shown to the instigating staff member as evidence of compliance with the directive. The student’s Parent/Guardian must organise to collect that personal mobile device from the office at the earliest possible time.

Should a student refuse to hand in the personal mobile device to the office, they will be referred to the relevant Head of Department Student Services (Junior School, Middle School, or Senior School) for follow up
Breaches of the law may be referred to the police.

It is unacceptable for students while at Tully State High School to:

use a personal mobile device in an unlawful manner
use a personal mobile device to take photos of others without permission
download, distribute or publish explicit, offensive messages or pictures
use obscene, inflammatory, racist, discriminatory or derogatory language
use language and/or threats of violence that may amount to bullying and/or harassment, or stalking
insult, harass or attack others or use obscene or abusive language
use in-phone cameras anywhere a normal camera would be considered inappropriate, such as in change rooms or toilets
invade someone's privacy by recording personal conversations or daily activities and/or the further distribution (e.g. forwarding, texting, uploading, Bluetooth use etc.) of such material
use a personal mobile device (including those with Bluetooth functionality) to cheat during exams or assessments
take into or use personal mobile devices at exams or during class assessment unless expressly permitted by school staff

Parent Responsibilities

Be aware that:
Students who use personal mobile devices in a manner that is not appropriate may be subject to disciplinary action by the school.
Teachers will always exercise their duty of care, but avoiding or reducing access to harmful information also requires responsible use by the student.
Support the policy by sending messages/calling to mobile phones outside of school hours (i.e., before 8:45am and after 2:45pm).
Contact the school office in the case of an emergency requiring a student to be notified (4068 4555).
Collect their child’s personal mobile device as soon as possible after they have been notified the property is available for collection.
Respect the phone away for the day policy and refrain from handing the personal mobile device back to the student during school hours.

Staff responsibilities

Model the appropriate use of personal mobile devices at school.
Use personal mobile devices to fulfil their duties (e.g., notify emergency services, report safety issues to administration, OneSchool technology violation).

Resources

Student use of mobile phone procedure – Education Department
e-safety commissioner - https://www.esafety.gov.au/
Advice for parents/carers - https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/entertainment-technology
Bullying No Way! - https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/
Kids Helpline - https://kidshelpline.com.au/teens/issues/bullying

Version: 1.1 Implementation Date: 16.02.2024 Review Date: 16.02.2025

Meningococcal B

Dear Parents,

A Current Affair (Channel 10) broadcast a segment on Meningococcal B on February 3.

The vaccine against this disease has been added to the 2024 School Immunisation Program for Year 10 students. The Meningococcal ACWY vaccine will be administered on Monday March 11, Week 8: the Meningococcal B vaccine will be administered during Term 2 after the recommended three-month gap between the vaccines. Both vaccines will be available free for all adolescents 15 to 19 years of age.

You can contact vaccine providers (such as GPs and Child Health Clinics) for any queries, and if you have young people unable to access the school immunisation program.

https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/families-plead-for-a-universallyfree-meningococcal-b-vaccine/8968b397-3e9f-4562-bac6-9b80025c59ad

Queensland Health School Immunisation Program (SIP)

Tully State High School participates in the Queensland Health School Immunisation Program (SIP).

The 2024 SIP consists of the following:

Year 7 - Boostrix (Diptheria, Tetanus & Whooping Cough booster)

- Gardasil 9 (HPV)

Year 10 - Meningococcal ACWY & Meningococcal B (2 doses)

Catch up sessions for other year groups are conducted where required.

Dates

Monday 11 March 2024 – Year 7 Gardasil 9 (hpv) & Boostrix & Year 10 Men ACWY & Men B Dose 1

Monday 22 July 2024 – Year 10 Men B Dose 2 & catchup’s with 3 vaccinators

Immunisation Consent forms are available from the school, and will be handed to year 7 and 10 students over the first couple of weeks of term 1.

Consent forms are to be returned to Tully High School as soon as possible after being received or when remembered – with reply either “yes” or “no”. Immunisation sessions are conducted at your school by Q Health staff. Catch up immunisation sessions are conducted regularly by Q Health staff.

Arrangements can be made for immunisations to be given at the local Community Health Clinic should this be requested by the family please call Jane 0429645666.

For all of your Immunisation questions please contact your local School Immunisation Program Co-Ordinator:

Jane Nolan
School Immunisation Program Co-Ordinator

Cassowary Area Community Health
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service

jane.nolan@health.qld.gov.au
M: 0429645666

Frequently asked questions for parent, legal guardian or authorised person

What is the School Immunisation Program?

The Queensland School Immunisation Program offers Year 7 and Year 10 students in all Queensland

secondary schools free nationally recommended immunisations to protect against vaccine

preventable diseases. Year 7 students are offered vaccination against human papillomavirus and

diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (whooping cough). Year 10 students are offered vaccination against

meningococcal disease.

How does it operate?

The School Immunisation Program commenced as a statewide program in Queensland in 2007

as the most efficient and effective way to immunise adolescents. Queensland Health authorises

school immunisation providers to visit schools and immunise students. To be immunised in the

School Immunisation Program, students must return a consent card signed by their parent, legal

guardian or authorised person. If a consent card is not returned, the student is not vaccinated.

What is the legislation relating to student and parent, legal guardian or authorised person information?

The Public Health Act 2005 requires the school Principal to provide information to approved school

immunisation providers for the purposes of following up the parent, legal guardian or authorised

person of students who have not returned a consent card. This includes:

the name and date of birth of a student
the name, telephone number, email address and postal address of a parent, legal guardian or

authorised person of a student, and

any other information prescribed by regulation about a student. This may include whether the

student is male or female, which class or group they are attached to, the languages spoken at

the student’s home and the student’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status.

How does disclosing student and parent, legal guardian or authorised person information benefit the school immunisation program?

In some schools a large number of immunisation consent cards don’t get returned to school. This

means parents, legal guardians or authorised persons may not be receiving information about the

program and given the opportunity for their child to be immunised.

Disclosing student and parent, legal guardian or authorised person information means that the

school immunisation providers will be able to determine those who have and have not consented,

and directly follow-up with the parents, legal guardians or authorised persons of students who

have not returned a consent card. This direct follow-up ensures all parents, legal guardians or

authorised persons are offered the opportunity for their child to participate in this important

school health program and protect their child against vaccine preventable diseases. It may also

assist in making decisions about their child’s immunisation needs.

If my child returns a consent card to school, will I be contacted?

No. If your child returns a consent card to school, you will not be contacted. However, you may be

contacted if the information you provided on the consent card is not clear or incomplete.

Can I decline consent for my child to participate in the school immunisation program?

Yes. You will need to complete the consent card to record your refusal in the ‘No to vaccination’

section and return the consent card to your child’s school. This will ensure you are not contacted by

the school immunisation provider.

Is the Principal required to pass on student and parent, legal guardian or authorised person information to a school immunisation provider?

Yes, unless the Principal determines it is not in the best interest of the student to pass on the

information. An example of this may be a child under a protection order.

How will the information be protected?

All school immunisation providers are bound to comply with the Queensland Information Privacy

Act 2009. This Act stipulates the requirements for the secure collection, use, storage and disposal

of personal information to be followed by school health program providers.

How will information be transferred, used and stored?

Student and parent, legal guardian or authorised person information will be given to the school

immunisation provider in a secure format agreed to by the Principal and the school immunisation

provider early in the school year. The information will be securely stored and only accessed by

authorised staff. School immunisation providers must store and dispose of disclosed student

information in accordance with the Queensland State Archives guidelines.

Where can I get more information?

Call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)
Visit Queensland Health’s Immunisation website:

https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/immunisation/ adolescent.

How To Build Confidence In Children

Confidence is a superpower for children and young people. It helps them enjoy challenges, take reasonable risks, try new things and adjust well to school life. It can also buffer against social anxiety and school refusal. Parents and carers play a key role in building confidence up. Here are some tips to help.

First, praise their efforts, not just their achievements. Let them know you’re proud of their progress, no matter the outcome. Children also learn a lot by watching how you handle obstacles, so try to set a positive example.

Next, instead of trying to fix every problem for children, try asking questions like What have you tried so far? or What do you think might happen if you try this? Breaking a problem down into smaller steps can also help kids learn to work through it.

In addition, show confidence in their abilities by letting them do things for themselves as soon as they’re ready. Encourage them to set some challenging but realistic goals and praise their progress. Let them know losing or making a mistake doesn’t mean failure, it means they’re learning.

And finally, laughing is a great way for kids to express emotions and feel good about themselves. Enjoy those moments together – it’s all part of building a positive connection where confidence can blossom.

To explore this topic further, read Triple P’s article.

Free online parenting support from the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program® helps you raise happier, more confident kids.

You can achieve your parenting goals with the Triple P’s toolkit of parenting solutions and strategies. The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program^® is the most widely researched parenting program in the world. Over 40 years of scientific testing and re-testing, hundreds of clinical trials and real-world studies prove it works. Feel more confident as a parent, make family life less stressful, develop your child's life skills and help them reach their potential.

Link: www.triplep-parenting.net.au

Any questions? You can contact Sue Skinner the School Based Youth Health Nurse (SBYHN) at Tully State High School on Mondays and Wednesdays.