Term 3 - Week 8 - September 2025

From The Principal

Dear Parent and Carers,

For the past two weeks, I have stepped into the Principal role while Helen Carne is on Long Service Leave.  Since the beginning of this term, I have been working with staff to consolidate processes and policies across the school.  Next week I will return to this work as my priority.  Just 50 years ago, I was in Year 8 at this great school and am in awe of the students and staff who are welcoming, caring and genuinely focused on achieving their best work. Be assured your students are in great hands for their learning in this fantastic school.

Instrumental Music Concert

Tully SHS Instrumental Music students, together with the Cluster schools (Tully SS, Mission Beach SS and Feluga SS), presented the annual Tutti Frutti Concert on Tuesday night. So many proud young musicians showcasing their talent and enthusiasm for this performance. The MPC was nearly full to capacity with family and friends witnessing this event.  A huge thank you to Karen Stewart, Kym Hall and Keryn Turner who have spent countless hours of preparation and rehearsals to ensure a wonderful event.  The evening commenced with the audience sitting in the dark, about to be captivated by music into a deep dark and mysterious tropical rainforest experience.

Year 9 Subject Selection

The Year 9 students had a ‘taster day’ of subjects last week to assist them with their choices for next year.  This week, they selected their preferences; this assists with the timetable preparation for 2026.  May I suggest you have a conversation with your student to know which subjects they are considering, and, more importantly, what they have learnt through this process.

Teacher Aide Appreciation Week

This week we celebrate and acknowledge the exceptional contribution by our teacher aides to learning in our school.  A special morning breakfast meeting for all twelve teacher aides was organised, with a ‘little gift’ and a special video message to them all from teaching staff and students, which brought big smiles and much laughter.  Tully High is so proud of our teacher aides and appreciates the special assistance they give to our students’ learning each and every day.

Moderation Day

Once again, a massive thank-you to our school community for providing the opportunity for teachers to undertake the ‘before’ phase of moderation planning.  Tully SHS staff are extremely grateful to our community for supporting them with this vital planning day. 

Year 12 Formal

The Year 12 Formal is so close! The students are getting really excited, and before we know it, Thursday 18 September will be here.  Arrivals are scheduled from 5.30pm, with the reception commencing at 6.45pm.  We encourage our school community to come along and cheer on our arrivals. The Week 10 Newsletter will be featuring all of the Year 12 Formal photos and arrivals.

Assessment

With only two weeks to the end of term, students should be busily preparing for their exams and finishing assessment tasks.  Making every day count is critical!  If students are having trouble or are concerned about an assessment, they must seek help from their class teacher.

Have your details changed?

Could I remind all parents/carers that if you have changed address, phone number and/or email address please update your details with our office staff.

We thank our staff, students and parents for ensuring we are focussed on safe, respectful relationships at all times.  Please keep up to date with the school website and social media pages as there is so much going on at this time of the year.

Yours in learning,
Ms Susan McQuillan
Acting Principal

Year 12 General English

Year 12 General English students going from strength to strength

Last week, the Year 12 cohort attended an after school seminar.   This was run by their teachers Nancy Grainger and Bernadette Dash, in conjunction with online resources purchased from ETAQ (the English Teachers Association of Queensland).  Students indulged in hot chips, refreshments and some chocolate before knuckling down to several hours of concentrated work.  

This clearly paid off as students did a reasonable job in their mock exam on Friday.  The teachers and I marked their exams over the weekend, and compiled a comprehensive analysis of results and feedback session for their fist lesson this week. 

All three teachers who marked the mock exam, also mark the state-wide external exam on an annual basis.  Ms Dash marked the knowledge application criteria, Ms Grainger marked the organisation and development criteria, and Ms Macdonald (Head of English) marked the textual features criteria.   

Students now have a very clear idea of their specific goals for improvement between now and the external exam in October.  Key elements for study are to re-read the play weekly, view the resources on the Digital Media Platform, and to practice the elements that they need to improve.

National Youth Science Forum (NYSF)

Congratulations to Year 11 Students Emily, Kaya, and Holly, who have been selected to participate in the prestigious National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) in Brisbane in January 2026.

This incredible achievement is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and passion for science. At the Forum, they will connect with other students similarly passionate about science, and engage with activities designed to open up the diverse science and technology pathways and futures.

Transformed!

As you can see from these photos, the outside walls of the Undercover Area (UCA) have been transformed! Once bare and bleak, they are now radiating with, on one side, vibrant marine life that seems to be leaping towards us, and on the other, an explosion of tropical images and familiar Tully High students. The artist, Lavinia, is widely celebrated for her joyful, oversized depictions of the natural elements and activities that communities around the North identify with. Here at school, she worked with groups of art students to bring her vision alive. Walking towards the walls in the course of a busy school day, one gets a shot of delight and uplift, caffeine-free!  

Tully Cluster Tutti Frutti Concert

The Tully Cluster Tutti Frutti concert was a hit last night! The instrumental music students performed superbly for a huge and enthusiastic audience. Congratulations to all instrumental music students involved.

Mrs Stewart is very proud of you all ! 

Cert II & Cert III in Health Support Services

Our Year 11 and 12 Cert II and Cert III in Health Support Services visited Bentley Park State College Health Precinct and Spinal Life Healthy Living Centre in Cairns. The students engaged in hands on learning opportunities and saw first hand the innovations designed to enhance spinal patients' lives. Thank you to Bentley Park SC and Spinal Life Cairns.

Tully SHS Year 11 Hospitality: Teamwork in Action!

On Friday, our Year 11 Hospitality students took their skills to the next level with a hands-on activity focused on the competency Working Effectively with Others.

The challenge? Students had to identify individual and team tasks, resolve routine problems and work with individual differences to build Lego.

Well done to everyone for their creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities!

Council Careers Day

Councillor Trudy Tschui came to Year 9 assembly to present an award from the Council Careers Day to the Year 9s today. The lucky winner was Monica. 

EQuIPT

Tully SHS Sports News

FUNDING FOR REPRESENTATIVE SPORT 

Funding is available for students who are selected in Peninsula and Queensland School Sport teams.  Funding is usually available from $50 to upwards of $200 (State) and $500 (National) and is often available up to six months after the championships.  Please check eligibility criteria and information on applying at the links below: 

Cassowary Coast Council Community Grants 

Emerging Athlete Pathways Funding 

Local Sporting Champions Sport Australia 

TSHS P&C – Letter required to request support pandc@tullyshs.eq.edu.au  

Hearing Screening Clinic - School Holidays

Queensland Sport and Recreation

 Play on! Vouchers:                                              

The Play On! Sports Vouchers program is now OPEN for applications.

Queensland sporting organisations, this is your chance to grow.

• More sign-ups
• More members
• More kids getting active

The Play On! Sports Vouchers are more inclusive, so now’s the time to check your eligibility and apply.

If you're a registered provider of previous Queensland Government voucher programs, you’ll need to log in, confirm your details, and accept the new Play On! terms and conditions to keep redeeming vouchers.

Check your details here: https://sr-cp.sr-enquire.cloud/login

Let’s get more Queensland kids into sport and active recreation!

www.qld.gov.au/playon #PlayOnQld

Tully SHS Student Absences:

                                      Tully SHS Absence Reminders 

A friendly reminder to please notify the school if your student will be late, absent, or requires an early leave pass.

You can contact us via:

Text: 0429 043 650

Call: (07) 40 684 555 (Press 1)

QParents: Log in and submit your student’s absence online

When notifying us, please include:

Student’s full name

Year level

Reason for the absence/early leave/late arrival

Thank you for helping us keep accurate records and support student safety and wellbeing.

QParents - How to register

Creating a QParents account requires you to complete a 4-step registration process.

    1.Enter the invitation code

You must receive an invitation letter or email with your unique invitation code before you can complete this step. If you have not received an invitation letter or email, please contact the school via phone on (07) 4068 4555 or via email at info@tullyshs.eq.edu.au. To enter your code and get started, click register your interest at https://qparents.qld.edu.au/#/landing.

    2. Verify your identity

Select next and after accepting the terms and conditions of use of QParents, you will be required to verify your identity by completing an online 100 point identification check using documents including Australian Passport, drivers license, birth or marriage certificate or Medicare card.

    3. Create a QParents account

You will be required to create a QParents account using an email address as your account name. That email address will need to be confirmed before your account will be activated. You may, optionally, also provide a mobile number which will be used by QParents to verify your identity (e.g. send you an SMS code to enter into QParents).

    4. Add your child

Step four, can be done either online or using the QParents app. You will need to request access to view your child's information. You will need to know your child's EQID to do this. You can find the EQ ID on your child’s ID card, report cards, OneSchool or school invoices. It consists of 10 numbers and one letter. The school can also provide this number if needed. After completing these steps, your request to create a QParents account will be sent to your child's school for final approval. 

Why do you need a QParents Account?

 QParents allows parents to connect instantly with their child’s school to access and manage their child’s student information, including:

• Attendance and absence details, as well as the ability to notify the school of an absence
• Behaviour information
• Academic report cards
• Providing consent for excursions and online services
• Viewing unpaid invoice details, payment history, and making payments online
• Viewing and updating student details, including medical conditions and address
• Enrolment details  
• Parents can view or update their child’s details without having to contact the school
• Available anytime, anywhere!                                                                                                                                                

Tully SHS P&C

🧥 Uniform Shop Reminder
Just a reminder that the uniform shop is only open on Wednesdays 8am – 9am.
The new hooded jumper is now available for just $35 – get yours while stock lasts!

P&C Announcement

We have had to make some changes to up-coming meetings due to clashes with other school events.

Please note the new dates:               

Term 4           Wednesday 15 October                  5.30 Grandstand meeting Room

If you have students needing to travel for representative activities both Local or State the P&C is available to provide some financial support, if requested.

The student will need to send a letter of request to panc@tullyshs.eq.edu.au.

T.S.H.S. Tuckshop Menu - Banny Bites

Apprenticeships @ Tully Sugar

Tropical Art Deco Festival

Supagas - Yes We Can

T.S.H.S Dress Code

Uniforms Wanted!