Term 1 Week 10 April 2021

From The Principal

As the term draws to an end, I wish all our parents/carers the best for the upcoming Easter break. This has been another term containing a rich array of positive classroom, sporting and cultural activities, involving many of our students and the wider school community.  I look forward to another positive term after the Easter holidays.

Student Leadership Team

The Student Leadership Team (SLT) is the voice of students at Tully SHS, with representatives from all year levels.  The team also includes the various elected leaders across the school while also having its own leadership structure. The SLT in Term 1 has been very busy, garnering ideas and issues that affect students and discussing these at their regular meetings.  Bigger student issues have resulted in a range of committees being formed to develop strategies and consultation with stakeholders such as the P&C, and school executive staff.  While the SLT continues to conduct a range of fund raising and awareness activities, they are to be congratulated on their effective consultative processes.

Assessment and Reporting

Although a larger amount of assessment occurs at the end of each term, there is significant assessment that occurs throughout the term.  Checking the assessment calendar, developed and sent to homes at the start the year, is an excellent way of keeping tabs on upcoming assessment. Any subsequent issues regarding assessment or any issues regarding classroom learning content should be directed to either classroom teachers or to the Head of Department.  

End of term reports, which highlight student behaviour and work effort along with current achievement levels, will be sent electronically to parents in the first week of Term 2. A Parent-Teacher evening will be held in the MPC on Wednesday 5 May.

P&C 2021

The AGM for the P&C was held recently, where office bearers for the year were elected. Congratulations to the 2021 team:

President – Wendy Finlayson                      V-President – Helen Lauridsen

Treasurer – Tammy Sloan                             Secretary – Trish Ryan

Note that meetings will occur on the third Thursday each month, commencing at 3:30pm and be held in the Millside Café.

Staff Wellbeing

While the wellbeing of our students is at the foremost of our thinking, Tully SHS is also passionate about looking after the wellbeing of their own staff. Recently they participated in a range of wellbeing sessions held at the school.  Badminton, yoga, cake making and lure making were some of the choices available to staff.  Everyone agreed that this innovation should become a regular event!

Lions Youth of the Year

On Saturday 13 March I competed in the second round of Lions Youth of the Year.

This competition incorporates an application, interview, impromptu speaking and a five-minute prepared speech. There are many rounds throughout Australia to determine which candidates compete on a national level. The Zone Final for this region was held in Ingham, with four other participants competing alongside me. In the morning I met with the three judges: they asked me questions linked to my application and spent time getting to know me. From there, we all returned in the evening for the speaking portion. This began with the two impromptu questions; What opportunities have been made because of COVID? and How can we better manage our waste?. These questions remained unseen until each of us was ready to begin our two-minute answer. This part of the competition was the most nerve-racking as I could not prepare anything and did not know if I was able to answer the questions. However, once hearing the first question, I was a lot more comfortable and answered both questions well.

A buffet dinner followed the impromptus as we prepared for our speeches, mine being on anxiety in teenagers and breaking the stigma around mental health. Delivering this speech was the highlight and the easiest thing for me as I am passionate about my topic and was able to deliver it with great success. I was lucky enough to win the public speaking award of the night – a great honour. Overall, I placed a very close second, with 0.2 of a point between myself and the winner.

Completing this whole process taught me a lot. It enabled my interview and public-speaking skills to develop; I met amazing people and gained a valuable friendship. Through this whole process, I was sponsored by the Mission Beach Lioness club, so I am very thankful for their support as well as from the Tully Lions. I am glad I competed in this competition and would encourage many others to do the same.

ISABELLA PAPADIMITRIOU

Tully High Band stops traffic in Innisfail for the QSO!

Luke Takes the Only Spot in James Morrison’s Big Band

Luke Takes the Only Spot in James Morrison’s Big Band 

Year ten student, Luke O’Neil, has been successful in gaining a position in the Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Instrumental Music (MOST) and the James Morrison Creative Generation Big Band 2021. He will to travel to Brisbane twice this year. The first trip will be for intensive rehearsals and workshops at the MOST camp. This is where industry professionals will put him through his paces, and then again for the Creative Generation week when he will rehearse with the James Morrison Big Band and perform at the Brisbane Convention Centre in front of thousands - and he will get to rub shoulders with the amazingly talented jazz trumpeter James Morrison!  

This spectacular performance, showcasing the most talented students from state schools across Queensland, will also be aired on Network Ten. Luke was selected from thousands of entrants across the state and has been given that one spot in the big band. 

Well done, Luke! We can’t wait to see you up there under the stage lights! 

English in Term 2

Year 7s will be learning about motivational and persuasive speaking this term, culminating in individual presentations.  Poetry and place is the focus for Year 8 students.  Each Year 9 class is reading a different novel, though most students will have the opportunity to read two or three of the following:  Waterhole, Bridge to Wiseman’s Cove, Lockie Leonard Human Torpedo, Worldshaker, and/ or Somewhere Round the Corner. Their culminating task in Term 2 is a reflective written piece.

In the Senior school, the Short Course in Literacy will be moving onto a more extended task.  The Year 10s are all working on current news and  issues in the media, so it will be important for them to be regularly accessing news and current affairs programs online, in print, or on TV.  It is also helpful for family discussions about current events to occur regularly.  Year 11 students in Essentials are exploring the influence of inspirational people, and Year 12 Essential students are preparing for their CIA – Common Internal Assessment item.  Kate Grenville’s   The Secret River is the text that 11 General English are studying in preparation for an analytical exam.  Finally, the Year 12 students are well into their creation of a public text exploring the insights that The Crucible and The Year of Wonder can offer our modern world. 

Any queries can be directed to me kmacd15@eq.edu.au

Kathleen Macdonald

Head of English

Senior Health

Year 11 and 12 students participated in the Road Attitudes and Action Planning (RAAP) program this term.  Delivered by local firefighters, the RAAP program forms part of an action-strategy developed by the Year 12 Health class.  The aim of the action-strategy is to improve the road safety knowledge and behaviours of our young novice rural drivers at Tully State High School. 

The RAAP program will become an annual event for Year 11 students during Term 1.  Students learnt that while learner drivers are among the safest drivers on the road, P plate drivers are among the least safe.  Young novice drivers are overrepresented in road safety statistics, with those in rural areas even more so. Two key messages from the program are planning ahead and speaking out to peers, with the aim of reducing the number of injuries and deaths in road crashes in the 17-24 age groups.  Thank you to the Tully firefighters for delivering the program. 

International Women’s Day

Celebrated throughout the world on March 8, it is a day in a week where women raise their profile to highlight the issues that affect their lives. These are mostly endemic political, social and economic concerns that centre on the ongoing disparity between the experience of being a female in society and that of being a male.

Here at Tully High School the emphasis is mostly on celebration, with the emphasis on the opportunities available for girls, sharing and building on strengths and skills. This year the designated theme was Choose to Challenge: we transformed an internal wall in the UCA with images of powerful and successful women, inspiring messages, and offered the girls the opportunity to nominate which particular concern they would chose to challenge, such as inequality, gender stereotyping or one of their own formulation.

Two Girl Talk Morning Teas were hosted by a group of Year 12 girls, one with the Year 7 girls, and the other for the Year 8 girls. The sessions were very lively, and for both groups the chats were enlightening and bonding, enhanced by milo and chocolate biscuits.

The highlight of the week was the Women’s Panel, where three of our new teachers each shared the ‘journey’ that had brought her to this school. Mrs Mason is a former student who has had varied experiences since she left; Ms Watt transformed her existence by breaking free of confining relationship; and Ms Ryan, the youngest changed her studies mid-stride without regret. Our girls felt privileged to be given such frank insights and advice.

Whatever the status–quo for females in the wider world, here at Tully High they thrive.

Good Start Program

The Good Start Program is designed for Maori and Pacific Islander students from Prep to Year 9. It aims to support students to learn about health, nutrition and physical activity through culturally-tailored workshops. It is a free 12-month program that is delivered during school hours. Workshops are run once a week for eight weeks of each school term. At Good Start, we aim to connect Maori and Pacific Islander students together to lead and live a healthier lifestyle.

Term 1 - Healthy Kai, Healthy Life:  

This term our students have launched their own journey to living a healthier lifestyle through healthy eating, and the benefits of the five food groups have been displayed on a taro leaf rather on the conventional pyramid.

Term 2 – Veggie Champs:

Next term, students will learn about the importance of eating vegetables and the benefits they have on our bodies, as well as some practical tips to eating more vegetables.

Term 3 – Make Our Move:

In Term 3, we aim to support students to live active lives through learning about the benefits of physical activity and spending less time on screens.

Term 4 – Water Is Life:

During Term 4, students will learn about the benefits of drinking water rather than sugary drinks and receive practical tips to help them do this every day. 

NAPLAN at Tully State High School

From 11 to 21 May, 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.

During those days, our students will participate in a total of four tests; Numeracy, Writing, Reading and Conventions of Language (grammar, punctuation and spelling). Tully students will complete NAPLAN online, on computers rather than paper tests. A major benefit of this mode is that the testing is tailored to each student, automatically adapting to their performance in real time, giving easier or harder questions depending on the student’s answers at juncture points. In questions where reading is not being tested, such as those of the Numeracy test, students 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 aquired throughout their school curriculum journey across their years of schooling, and are considered to be just another routine assessment in our school 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; on daily writing activities, and the explicit maths lessons occurring every day 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.

Towards the end of this term, our Year 7 students will participate in a 40 minute practice test to enable us to ensure our computers and systems at school are ready for the test in May. This practice test is not scored or marked and students are encouraged to play with the functions and the other assistive options in the testing platform which will be available in the test in May.

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/resources/naplan-online-information-brochure-for-parents-and-carers.pdf and information regarding the privacy of student data is available at https://nap.edu.au/docs/default-source/resources/naplan-privacy-notice.pdf

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

Student Leadership Team – a Snapshot

This year the SLT has adopted and adapted key features of the Pete Stebbin’s High Performance Teams model, including the concept of Hot Topics, with aligned Working Committees to investigate, consult, and problem-solve.

Two Hot Topics that the team identified as currently resonating with the student body concern the Tuckshop (most importantly the length and pace of serving lines) and the need for more shaded seating areas. The Tuckshop Committee identified the perceived problems, consulted with Convenor Nancy Vecchio, and compiled a list of potential solutions. Similarly, the Seating Committee mapped possible sites for new shaded seating, consulted with Mr Graham, and identified those that would work the best. Leaders of both committees – Lola Zamora and Stella Berge – presented their findings to the P&C at their Recent AGM. Both Hot Topics are firmly in the action phase.

The news of Year 10 student Tomika Reed’s sudden illness and the subsequent relocation of her family to Brisbane, where she remains in hospital, stirred members of our SLT into fund-raising. A Sausage Sizzle on the sidelines of a Just Dance, and the sale of SnoCones and cupcakes (donated by Sharlene Morton) realised $750, which has been transferred to her GoFundMe page today.

In the first few weeks of next term we will be busy with rallying support for our World’s Greatest Shave event. Already we have four students who have pledged to have their heads shaved and collect donations. Last year was enormously successful. We live in a generous, open-hearted community and our students reflect those values.

Thierrine Bromley

Sports News

The past 10 weeks have been very busy on the TSHS sporting scene.  Students were provided with several opportunities to represent the school and district at sporting events and trials.  Thank you to all of the staff who made these opportunities possible.  We look forward to finishing off the term with the TSHS swimming carnival on Thursday April 1. 

Last week the Southern Zone 10-12 years Touch Football Carnival took place with the TSHS girls’ team undefeated, finishing 1^st on the day and the boys’ team finishing 2^nd overall.  Congratulations to Fynn Hawkins, Kaedyn Ketchell, & Jayden Wilson, selected in the boys’ SZ team, and to Kassidy Dore, Layla Jenkins, Maya Jensen, Molly Morice, Bailey Neville-Sewell, Brydie O’Kane & Alyssa Williamson, selected in the girls’ SZ team.

Congratulations to the following students selected in the Peninsula touch teams:
Open Boys: Matthew Langdon & Ben Smith (shadows)
Open Girls: Chloe Johnston
15s Boys: Cohen Emmi, Marley Helion & Billy Helion (shadow)
15s Girls: Hayley Johnston, Brooke Johnston, Ellie Jenkins, Sasha-May Flegler, Bonnie Dore, Maeve Lowe & Eve Zonta (shadow)

Congratulations to Charlize Liddle and Patricia Hart on their selection in the AFL Girls’ Peninsula Team. 

Congratulations to Maddison Apap who representing the region for the Peninsula Team at the State Swimming titles.  Madison finished 8^th overall in the 50m Freestyle and achieved 4 PBs.

Peninsula Baseball Representative

Sasha Flegler participated in the Queensland School Sport Baseball Championships held in Brisbane from the 11 to 14 March as a member of the Peninsula Baseball 14-18 years team.  Baseball is a combined sport; Sasha was the only girl in her team.  The six teams competing were Peninsula, Metropolitan North, Metropolitan East, Metropolitan West, Sunshine Coast and South Coast. The team finished with the wooden spoon but enjoyed the competition.

Cassowary Coast Rugby League Series

In Week 8, the inaugural Cassowary Coast Rugby League Series kicked off in Tully. The three round competition involves Year 7/8 and Year 9/10 teams from Tully State High School, Babinda State School, Innisfail State College and Good Counsel College.  The Tully SHS teams had been training during lunchtimes at school and both teams were very keen to get on the field.  During the first round, both teams dominated and were undefeated against ISC and BSS. 

Teams travelled by bus to the second round of the competition in Babinda during Week 9.  Opposing teams fought back in the second round, with the Year 7/8 team winning one of two games and the 9/10 team losing both.  Coaches, Mr Smith and Mr Townson, recognised handling errors had let the teams down and are keen to work on these during training this week. 

The final round will be held in Innisfail this Wednesday, where the overall winners will be crowned.  The winners of the Year 9/10 competition will have the opportunity to progress to the next round of the state-wide NRL trophy competition next term. 

Thank you to the students, teachers, parents and community members who have supported the teams and competition.  We hope the competition will return in 2022 and become a regular fixture on the school sporting calendar.

QSS Softball Postponed

 On Tuesday afternoon March 23 Zoe Waters, Chelsea Zonta and Sasha Flegler were informed the Queensland School Sport Softball Championships due to start on March 25 were postponed until a date in September because of the heavy rain in the South East.  The girls were due to fly to Brisbane on Wednesday morning, so this late notice caused great disappointment.  They have been training hard as members of the Peninsula team since selection on the 9 November 2020.  Hopefully, the tournament will go ahead in September.

MATHS HOMEWORK CLASSES

Maths homework classes have been a very popular activity this term. Each Thursday afternoon both dedicated teachers and students meet at the library to work together at developing mathematical understanding. For some students, this allows them the opportunity to obtain one-on-one attention or a different view of how to tackle a problem. For other students, this time allows them to practice their class content under the guidance of an experienced teacher. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the teachers and students for their commitment towards producing positive student outcomes. Homework classes resume Week 3 in Term 2.

Garden Magic in ILP

The students who participate in Garden Magic have been very busy this term, creating their very own fairy garden. They have learnt how to use a combination of sustainable materials and air-drying clay to create their own small fairy houses. Furthermore, they developed the social skills of working as a group to create and paint a large coral piece at the top. I would also like to thank our school gardener, Bob, and our wonderful teacher aide, Jenny, for their assistance and contributions. 

myQCE Student Reference Group

Nominations are open for the myQCE Student Reference Group.
The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) is calling for
students to nominate for the new myQCE Student Reference Group.
The group gives students the chance to have their say about the QCE system
processes and Senior Schooling.
All Queensland students in Years 10, 11 and 12 are eligible to apply.
The group will meet up to six times per year and membership will be ongoing until
students graduate from Year 12.
Nominations are open until Monday 19 April, and all students who enter will go in the
draw to win a $100 JB Hi-Fi voucher.
For more information and to nominate, visit the myQCE website at:

Inclusive Learning Precinct News

Challenge Games: 2021

This year the Challenge Games will be held from June 26 to June 30. It is an annual event which is open to students in Years 7 to 12 (except QCE students). Students will need to complete an expression of interest and pay a deposit to confirm their spot in the team by the end of Week 2, Term 2.

Besides participating in the Games, we plan to visit the museum; go to the home of the Cowboys; watch a movie in a cinema; play Ten Pin Bowls, and complete the sculpture walk along the Strand.

Sponsorship is yet to be finalised, so a full costing is not available. However, families should budget between $120 and $185. This includes the Challenge Games T-shirt, accommodation and all meals (except for our evening out).

Contact Ms Gunn if you have questions.

YR 12 Cert 11 in Kitchen Operations

The YR 12 Certificate II in Kitchen Operation cohort has been producing a staff luncheon throughout this term. The most recent effort involved the production of a pan-seared sirloin, served with beetroot and zucchini crisps, grilled asparagus and pea puree. This opportunity has allowed students to engage with more difficult tasks, and developing relevant work industry skills.

DEADLY CHOICES YOUTH CAMP

2021 Next Step Survey

The Queensland Government is conducting its annual statewide survey of all students who completed Year 12 in 2020. The Next Step survey is a brief, confidential survey that gains a comprehensive picture of the employment, study and life choices made by Queensland school completers in the year after they finish Year 12.

Between April and June, all our students who completed Year 12 last year can expect to receive instructions to complete a web-based survey or a telephone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. Please encourage them to take part. If their contact details have changed, please assist the interviewer with their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate.

Thank you for your support of the Next Step survey in 2021.

Further information on Next Step, including results from previous years, is available online at www.qld.gov.au/nextstep or on toll free telephone 1800 068 587.

MINE CRAFT ROAD TRIP!

RASN Roadtrip Workshop

Would you like to spend a weekend in Cairns, take part in a Minecraft workshop and go to the Cairns Children’s Festival, all for free?

Cairns Minecraft would like to bring ten players from our neighbouring councils to Cairns to share their skills and passion for Minecraft. With the help of the Regional Arts Services Network an initiative of the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, we can now offer free accommodation for ten players and their families, and cover fuel costs.

When is the workshop?

Saturday afternoon 15 May at the Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre. Participants are invited to watch the Cairns Minecraft live build battle held at the Cairns Children’s Festival at the same venue on the following day, Sunday 16 May as part of the Cairns Children’s Festival. Accommodation is paid for Saturday night in the Cairns CBD.

Who can take part?

Minecrafters from Cassowary Coast, Douglas, Etheridge and Tablelands council areas are invited to take part.

How do I get involved?

First of all, you need to become a member of Cairns Minecraft, its free and easy to do. Once you have access to the servers, head to the spawn point on the Creative server and find the portal to the RASN ROADSHOW REGIONAL WORKSHOP COMP. Grab yourself a plot and build something amazing, that’s all you need to do. Impress the judges with your creativity and you could be joining us at the workshop. Only ten places at the workshop are available. You can build as many entries as you like.

How do I know if I’m successful?

We will email all winners as well as posting their usernames on www.cairnsminecraft.com and on our Discord channel.

For more information head to www.cairnsminecraft.com or phone Mark Edwards at Cairns Regional Council on 4044 3266 or email m.edwards4@cairns.qld.gov.au.

Flame.Roadtrip:https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/facilities-sport-leisure/arts-culture/flame.arts/flame-roadtrip

                 Well Women’s Clinics 

 (these clinics are available to Medicare eligible clients)

Service includes Cervical Screening Tests (Pap Smears), Sexual Health Screening, Breast Awareness, also info on Contraception, Continence, Menopause, Lifestyle Issues, Domestic Violence, etc.  All services are provided by a specially trained Women’s Health Nurse.

Tully Hospital:  Thursday 15 April                 Ph 4226 4812

Mission Beach CHC:  Tuesday 20^ April        Ph 4016 1447

Tully Catholic Debutante Ball 2021

WALTYKIMA 2020 Magazine

Tully State High 2020 school magazine is now available for purchase at the Office for $25.00 each