Term 1 - Week 2 - February 2025

From The Principal

Dear Parent and Carers,

Welcome to all parents and carers and a special welcome to new parents and carers who have joined our newsletter list for the first time.  It is with great pleasure that I write my first newsletter article for 2025. 

At Tully SHS, we will work tirelessly with students and staff to ensure every student succeeds whatever their selected pathway. Our school vision is a world of possibilities for everyone, and we value School Community and Success.

This year, we are aiming to publish a school newsletter every fortnight on Fridays in even weeks of the term.  The newsletter outlines events in the coming weeks that are essential for parents and carers to attend or to understand what is happening at school. 

I have extremely high expectations of myself, staff, students and community.  Our school rules are whole of community focused:

• We are safe
• We are respectful
• We are responsible
• We are learners.

Student Congratulations

Congratulations to the following Year 7 students who have been awarded bursaries at Tully SHS for 2025:

• Savannah McK – Mission Beach SS
• Isabelle S – Mission Beach SS
• William R – St Clare’s
• Lacey H – Mourilyan SS
• Mischa WE – Mission Beach SS
• Ruby J – Kennedy SS

Further congratulations to Evie Wilson who has been awarded a 2025 Harding Miller Education Foundation scholarship. 

Severe Weather Events

Thank you to all parents and carers for your understanding and patience throughout the past weeks with the severe weather events.  It has been a very disruptive start to the school year; however, our staff are working tirelessly to ensure consistency and continuity of learning for our students. 

In the event of severe weather, parents and carers have the right to determine what is in the best interests of safety for your child!  The safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and community is the highest priority!

To communicate school events/closures, etc.  parents and carers will be advised in the following ways:

• Facebook post
• Email from Principal or Deputy Principal advising of event
• Local radio 4kz – school closure only
• Text messaging – we are only able to text message parents and carers when we are physically onsite and have working phone lines and internet!

If your child is not able to attend school due to a severe weather event, please advise the school and this absence will be recorded as such and this is an approved absence. 

Facilities Update:

The Tuckshop has relocated to the Multipurpose Centre (MPC) from the beginning of the school year.  We are hoping that the tuckshop upgrade will commence in the next month or so.  The Tuckshop will double in size and will cause disruption to the centre of our school; however, we will work hard to ensure this project gets completed.   

Equity and Excellence – Dept. of Education

The Department of Education is committed to supporting the learning of every child who comes to a Queensland State School. Equity and Excellence remains the State-wide strategy – it brings the Queensland State Schools together as a system.  The children and community of Queensland all benefit from a world class State education system.  High quality State Schools underpin the future of Queensland, and are essential to building a functional and thriving community.

2025 will be a year of clear focus.

What can we stop doing, so that we can maximise the time we have to make a difference for all of our students in their learning?

How do we make best use of the resources and people who are available to us in order to support our school community?

The best schools have an effective relationship with their school community. They have an actively involved community. They work together to support the learning of every child.

Working together means respecting each other, and recognising that we all have the best interests of every child at the centre of all we do.

Student outcomes and experiences of school every day are enriched when the staff and community combine to help every student to realise their potential.

Education is a partnership between student – teacher – parent – community!  Let’s do this together to ensure Tully State High School delivers on outstanding results for ALL our students.

In this newsletter, I have included the Department of Education’s Parent Code of Conduct.  Please review this brief document.  If you ever have any concerns or issues regarding your child’s education, please book an appointment with a member of our team to have a respectful conversation.

Yours in learning,
Ms Helen Carne
Principal

Parent & Community Code of Conduct

NAPLAN at Tully State High School

From the 10 to 18 March, Tully State High School Years 7 and 9 students will participate in NAPLAN (National Assessment Program, Literacy & Numeracy) testing, as will all other Years 7 and 9 students across Australia.  

Across these days, our students will participate in a total of four tests: Numeracy, Writing, Reading and Conventions of Language (grammar, punctuation and spelling). Students will complete NAPLAN online - on computers rather than paper tests. Such testing is tailored to each student; the test automatically adapts to a student’s test performance, delivering easier or more difficult questions depending on the student’s answers at juncture points. In questions where reading is not being tested, such as the Numeracy Test, students also have the option of pressing a speaker button to have the questions read to them.

NAPLAN tests are constructed to give students an opportunity to demonstrate knowledge they have acquired throughout their school curriculum journey across their years of schooling; NAPLAN tests are regarded as just another routine assessment in our school’s Assessment Calendar.  

Students at Tully State High School are well prepared for NAPLAN through the intensive school focus on reading and writing, the teaching of language conventions, our focus on daily writing and the explicit maths lessons occurring daily in their classrooms.  

If you are interested in seeing the types of questions students encounter in NAPLAN, please visit https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site, where you can view sample tests. 

Prior to the testing period, our Years 7 and 9 students will participate in practice tests scenarios to ensure our computers and systems at school are ready for the test period. These practice tests are not scored or marked and students are encouraged to play with the functions and the other assistive options in the testing platform that will be available in the test period.

If you would like further up-to-date information regarding NAPLAN generally, please visit the ACARA (Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority) NAPLAN website at www.nap.edu.au . A parents and carers information brochure is available on this website at https://www.nap.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/naplan-information-brochure-for-parents-and-carers.pdf  . Information regarding the privacy of student data is available at https://nap.edu.au/docs/default-source/resources/naplan-privacy-notice.pdf  

While participation by all students is expected, students may be withdrawn from the testing program by their parent or carer. This is a matter for consideration by individual parents or carers. Withdrawals are intended to address issues such as religious beliefs and philosophical objections to testing. 

Applications for student withdrawal by parents or carers from NAPLAN are to be discussed initially with the Year Level Head of Department: 

• Junior School – Year 7s, Ms Bevan (abeva12@eq.edu.au)
• Middle School – Year 9s, Mrs Paton (rpato17@eq.edu.au) 
• or the Head of Inclusion, Ms Lauren Jarvis (ljarv26@eq.edu.au)

 no later than Friday March 7.

If you have any queries regarding NAPLAN at Tully State High School, please contact me via the school office. 

Kind regards, 
Mark McLoughlin 
Deputy Principal – Junior School 

English Faculty News

2025 begins with the implementation of two new syllabus documents in Senior with Year 11s in General English and Essential English starting well.  The Year 11 Essentials classes are exploring industries, careers, and workplace literacy.  The Year 11 General students are examining ways groups are misrepresented in a wide variety of media platforms.   

The seniors have their teeth into local, national and global issues preparing a TED talk in Essentials; while General students are finding connections between The Crucible and The Great Gatsby. 

Year 10s have started the year in mixed ability classes, exploring techniques that cartoonists and writers in the media use to persuade readers.  During the year, offers will be made for students who need additional support in English, to complete the Short Course in Literacy, to boost their reading, writing and speaking capabilities. 

In Junior land, the Year 7s and 9s are developing their imaginative writing skills, the Year 8s are revisiting explicit strategies for reading and small group discussion. 

If you haven’t already, you’re likely to receive an introductory email from your child’s English teacher.  Remember that reading is a critical skill at every age – what reading are you modelling at home. 

Kathy Macdonald
Head of English
 

School Sport in 2025

Welcome to the 2025 sporting year.  At Tully State High School, we aim to provide as many sporting opportunities as possible and maximise student participation.  The Sports Coordinator is Mrs Bianca Parkes.  Contact details are below should you have any queries or feedback. 

• Mrs Bianca Parkes – 4068 4555 – bpark270@eq.edu.au
  

Sports Messages

• Sport Nominations: Students need to see Mrs Parkes in the HPE staffroom to nominate for District Sports. As trial dates approach for each sport students will be given permission notes with trial details.  Students who cannot attend MUST advise the Sports Coordinator ASAP or risk not being able to nominate for future events.    
• 12 Years Sport (born 2013): Year 7 students who are born in 2013 will compete in the 10-12 years sport activities. The first Southern Zone trials for the year are touch football, netball, rugby league, basketball, AFL, golf and tennis.  Netball, rugby league and touch football trials will be held at gala days in term 1. 
• House Sports – Each Thursday in the MPC at Break 1 students compete in various games for their Houses. All students are welcome to attend. Participation points will go towards the House Spirit Trophy, presented at the annual Sports Awards Night. 
• Sport Trial Dates: The Cassowary Coast trial dates are included in this newsletter. Peninsula dates can be found at https://peninsulaschoolsport.eq.edu.au/calendar-and-news. 
• Students must remember to listen carefully to daily student notices and on assemblies to find out more information about upcoming sports events, nominations and meetings.

Carnivals: Our first sports carnival for 2025 is the Annual Swimming Carnival, scheduled for Friday 4 April - week 10.  Permission notes will be available closer to the date. 

Upcoming Events – District Sport Trials

Venues & times will be communicated in trial information letters. 

Aquaculturist

Overview

Aquaculture Workers perform routine tasks in breeding and raising fish and other aquatic stock. They understand the growth, development, and production of aquatic animals. Aquculturist work to bring a variety healthy fish, lobsters, crabs etc. to our dinner table from aquatic environments.

What responsibilities will I have?

• Assist with all aspects of fish husbandry including feeding, fish grading, fish movement, water quality monitoring and fish inventory control.
• Grow fish and shellfish as cash crops or for release into freshwater or saltwater.
• Supervise and train aquaculture and fish hatchery support workers.
• Collect and record growth, production, and environmental data.
• Conduct and supervise stock examinations to identify diseases or parasites.
• Sort different types of breeding stock in order.
• Handle incubation and short-term rearing of fish in net pens or small ponds.
• Conduct routine maintenance of your facility and equipment.
• Oversee operation and maintenance of freshwater and/or seawater aquaculture systems.
• Provide insight into planning facilities and construction of new aquaculture systems.
• Manage automated building and equipment control systems.
• Provides technical support for various projects with researchers and universities.
• Assist those interested in aquaculture in the development of commercially viable aquaculture systems and processes.
• Design, supervise and implement biological studies on aquatic resources.
• Assess fish population in various bodies of water.
• Compile, analyse and interpret biological data and compile technical reports.
• Identify and treat diseases found in fish populations.
• Manage fish inventory and production in a hatchery.
• Administer and execute policies relating to operations, train, supervise and assist hatchery workers.

• Provide leadership for delivering education, training and information to a variety of audiences that may farmers, educators, agency personnel and citizens.
• Work to find ways to improve spawning, setting, growth rates and disease prevention in hatcheries.

 What subjects do I need to career as an aquaculturist:

It is recommended that you complete subjects in: agriculture and aquaculture, and focus on sciences such as biology, and chemistry.   

What education and training is required?

• Certificate III in Aquaculture
• Certificate IV in Aquaculture
• Diploma of Aquaculture

 Typical Employers

Aquaculturist may be employed by large commercial fisheries who produce and harvest fish as well as biological research companies who study environmental impacts of and on aquatic species.  They may also be employed by state and government environmental agencies or at park or aquariums.

Year 7 Parent Meet & Greet

Natural Disaster Support

Laptop - Minimum Specifications

Senior students are expected to have their own laptop to access digital learning every lesson.  

Minimum Specifications

Windows Laptops/Tablets - Minimum Specs 

• Windows 11
• Pentium (purchased 2017 onwards) or equivalent 
• 5Ghz compatible wireless card
• 4GB RAM
• 256GB SSD

MacBook/Pro/Air - Minimum Specs 

• i3 processor or higher
• 4GB RAM
• 128GB SSD

All BYO devices are expected to have a battery life to last a full school day (6 hours). 

All specialist Graphics / Engineering/ Multimedia/ Digital Technologies/ Film and TV classes are held in specialist school labs. Families of students undertaking specialist subjects (Graphics/Multimedia/Engineering) may wish to purchase laptops with equivalent specification to our computer labs. 

• i5 Processor
• 8GB Ram
• 256 SSD
• Dedicated graphics

Touchscreen and Stylus are optional. 

Microsoft Windows laptops are preferred for students undertaking specialist subjects.  

Software 

Free Microsoft Office  

All state school students from Prep–Year 12 can now download multiple free copies of the Microsoft Office 365 suite to their personal computer. 
To download Microsoft Office 365, click  here 
(You must have an active EQ email address & password) 

NOTE: 

• Dropbox and Google Documents are not accessible at school for students. Please use your EQ OneDrive account.
• Personal OneDrive accounts will not work at school
• iCloud does not work at school

Peninsula School Sport Classification Session

Simo's Boxing

Student Stationery Requirements 2024

Uniforms Wanted!