SCHOOL St Clare’s Primary School Tully had a week of giving ST Clare’s gathered as a school for Ash Wednesday mass. This marks the beginning of Lent for 2019. The Lenten practice of almsgiving is traditionally done in the Catholic Church through contributing to the Project Compassion appeal, is a key focus for us at school. This practice was taken up in the early centuries of the Church’s history and is still encouraged today. We can give money to Caritas (Project Compassion), who use the money we give to help those in need. When we help those in need, we do a selfless act- and that is what Lent is all about! St Clare’s hosted a Pancake fundraiser for Shrove Tuesday. The Stewardship Team hosted the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Day fundraiser for Project Compassion, and they raised $128! St Clare’s would like to thank you to Mrs Vipiana and Mrs Wilkinson who kindly offered their help with pikelet making Monday March 4 and to thank the many families in our school community who supported the fundraiser. Ash Wednesday was a Combined Parish/ School Mass celebrating the start of Lent. Were parents, grandparents and carers were invited to join St Clare’s for their six-week preparation for Easter
THE Senior schooling curriculum in Queensland has changed to help students acquire 21st century skills to support them as lifelong learners, valued employees, innovators and engaged global citizens. Tully State High School has 120 Year 11 students who are engaged with the new system. The Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and tertiary entrance systems include a model that uses school-based assessment and external assessment; processes that strengthen the quality and comparability of school-based assessment and the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) was commissioned by the Queensland Government in 2014 to review the Senior assessment and tertiary process. ACER recommended changes to achieve greater rigour and simplicity. Principal, Mr Richard
Graham, said that he was confident that teachers were ready for the new system as Tully State High School had been preparing for the change for some time. Students have the opportunity to study new curriculum offerings. Tully State High School is delivering new subjects such as Legal Studies and Psychology for the first time. There are some differences in the new system that students and parents will need to become acquainted with. Students being required to undertake an online academic integrity course, the calculation of QCE points, and reasonable adjustments for assessment are a few differences in the new system. The current Year 11 cohort is familiar with firsts in education. In 2008 they were the first group of compulsory Prep (preparatory) students, and in 2015, this group of students were the first Year 7s to start at high school.
Stem Club St Clare’s Primary School THIS is the third year that students at St Clare’s have been enjoying the challenges and experiences of STEM Club. Term One is focussed on design challenges this year. STEM Club have completed their first challenge of the Great Desert Island Stem Challenge. Students had to help the lone survivor of a ship wreck design
a cozy hut that would withstand a fierce storm (Mrs Andrews’ hair dryer). Students came up with some very creative ideas that were very strong and robust. Each term the focus changes so students have different opportunities to enhance their understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Ella, Lacey and Tori participants in STEM at St Clare’s Primary School.
Hannah, Emily and Kaitlin participants in STEM at St Clare’s Primary School.
Liam, Dean and Cooper participants in STEM at St Clare’s Primary School.
Year 11 students are pioneers in new curriculum
An Invitation
All Year 10/11 parents / caregivers and other interested community members are warmly invited to QCE (Queensland Certificate of Education) Information Evening
Tully State High School Room – AP04 Wednesday 20 March 2019 – 5.30 pm refreshments and 5.45 pm Presentation
Topics will include: QCE requirements
ATAR requirements Academic integrity
Assessment – reasonable adjustments process
PH: 4068 4555 • EMAIL: info@tullyshs.eq.edu.au Cassowary Coast Independent News, Thursday, March 7, 2019 Page 19
AROUND THE SCHOOLS
Flying Fish Point State School St John’s Catholic School, do their bit for environment for Silkwood look forward to bright Clean Up Australia Day school year MARIA GIRGENTI
FLOTSAM and jetsam were collected along the beach front by staff and students of Flying Fish Point State School who contributed to creating a better environment as part of Clean Up Australia Day last Friday. The school has registered for this annual event for a number of years and received a free starter pack of gloves and bags and through a range of internet resources, students from Prep to Year 6 learned about the responsible disposal of rubbish,
resource recovery, as well as the consequences of rubbish disposed irresponsibly in the local environment. Students were split into two groups and started in the school grounds before they combed the northern and southern end of the foreshore for rubbish; after their clean-up efforts, they cooled down with frozen cups. The bags collected by Flying Fish Point State School were picked up by Bernard Holden and will be sorted and collated at Johnstone River Community Garden as part of the Tangaroa
Blue/Clean up Australia community activity held over the weekend. Clean Up Australia Day, which is now in its 30th year, was founded by solo sailor Ian Kiernan AO and has become the nation’s largest community based environmental event. The movement aims to educate and create awareness among individuals and groups, as well as empower communities, schools and businesses to take positive action in environmental conservation through the removal of rubbish.
Teachers Emily Pilgrim, Jason Bawden and a family member joined with Flying Fish Point State School students who took part in Clean Up Australia Day last Friday collecting rubbish along the foreshore.
MARIA GIRGENTI
SEVENTY-TWO students and 12 new Preps at St John’s School, Silkwood had a positive start to the school year with students having settled in well to school routines and studiously working towards achieving their learning goals. Principal Peta Bryan said she was thrilled to say the school has seen record enrolments since Year 7s moved to secondary education in 2015. St John’s prides itself on fostering a sense of family and community. “A good quality Catholic education is centred on the teachings of Jesus Christ and spreading the good news. It focuses on the development of the whole student: spiritually, academically, socially, physically and emotionally which best prepares them for the challenges of the 21st century, allowing each student to reach their full potential,” said Mrs Bryan. In keeping up with the latest in technology, each student in
Year 5 and 6 now have access to a two-in-one Dell laptop and iPad after the school purchased 25 new devices. The school also offers specialist programs in Physical Education, digital learning, writing and Instrumental Music. The school has high quality intervention programs with a strong focus on numeracy and literacy. The School Annual Improvement Plan (SAIP) which all Catholic schools have, will focus on improving writing across all year levels and ensuring St John’s is an authentic and modern Catholic school. The school opened in 1948 after it was founded by Parish Priest, Father Alfred Natalia and the Missionary Franciscan Sisters and the school is very much a part of the annual Feast of the Three Saints religious celebration held on the first Sunday in May. ‘Always Reaching for New Heights’ is the school motto which inspires all St John’s students to do their very best and strive for greatness in learning
and in caring for one another. St John’s has a very strong focus on social-emotional learning and well-being of all students. The school programs are delivered to build emotional resilience, a positive mindset for achievement, getting along and social responsibility that will assist students to become productive and contributing members of society. Buses service the Mission Beach, El Arish, Kurrimine Beach, Silkwood and Japoonvale areas and the onsite community kindergarten at St John’s provides quality Catholic Early Learning Education and Care. The school also offers a gifted and talented program which challenges motivated students who have demonstrated a genuine passion for learning and are always striving to achieve their potential best with their studies. New enrolments in all years are welcome and further enquiries can be directed to the school on 4065 2193 or via email: principal.silkwood@cns. catholic.edu.au.
Teacher aide Dianne Dodson reaches 40 years of dedicated service at South Johnstone State School MARIA GIRGENTI
A LOVE and passion of working with children has seen Dianne Dodson reach 40 years of dedicated service as a teacher aide at South Johnstone State School. Mrs Dodson (nee Stephenson) who lived on a farm in Cowley completed her primary schooling at Moresby State School and secondary years at Innisfail State High School. After high school she worked in Innisfail for six years at a small newsagent and lived in South Johnstone before moving to Kurrimine Beach where she has lived for close to 30 years. Her time with South Johnstone State School working
with preschool and Prep students has spanned four decades and during this time she completed a Diploma in Early Childhood through correspondence at Brisbane TAFE. “The old saying ‘time flies when you’re having fun’ must be true as it certainly doesn’t seem like 40 years ago when I successfully applied for the position of teacher aide for the new preschool in 1979.” Mrs Dodson worked at the preschool from 1979 to 2006 before moving over to South Johnstone State School. “Every day brings new children, a share of challenges and there’s nothing more rewarding than a student celebrating a learnt skill.”
Over the years, Mrs Dodson has seen the biggest changes in technology with the introduction of computers, internet, photocopiers, printers and also when it changed to the Australian Curriculum in 2010. “Cyclone Larry in 2006 was a big challenge as we had to deal with cleaning up water damage at the school, as well as our own homes, however we were lucky to have good support during this difficult time.” “We are all learners for life and there is nothing that comes close to working with children to help them become the best learners they can be.” “South Johnstone is a small school with a very caring, supportive staff and I’m one mem-
Dianne Dodson who has clocked up 40 years of dedicated service as a teacher aide at South Johnstone State School will have a permanent legacy at the school after she was bestowed the honour of having the library named after her in 2016.
Page 18 Cassowary Coast Independent News, Thursday, March 7, 2019
Linda Gaia Assistant Principal Religious Education (APRE) and class teacher, Year 6 teacher Penelope Irvine and St John’s School Principal Peta Bryan with Year 6 school leaders. Absent: Shelby Nixon. ber of a team who support each other that strives to give each child they work with, the very best every day.” “Every day I hope to make a difference in a student’s life by helping with their learning, being a good listener and looking out for those children who may be struggling.” “I’ve always loved working with children, so I enjoy coming to work every day as it’s very rewarding, especially celebrating student’s successes and being part of a great team and community that is valued and respected by staff and students.” “Every Principal has brought different things to the school and if there is any areas of personal development you have the opportunity to complete relevant courses relating to changes in curriculum and other programs and we receive great support from the Canecutter Cluster schools network.” “Our motto is ‘Effort Equals Outcome’ which is true because if you put in the effort then you will be rewarded with success-
es.” Mrs Dodson said there had been many highlights in her time at South Johnstone, such as organising the Harvest Festival parades which South Johnstone State School won many times, volunteer morning teas and show displays. “I was humbled to be presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for Special Contributions and Outstanding Service to Education in the Peninsula Region during Education Week by Principal Rod Jackson in 1996.” “It was also a great honour to be presented with a 25 year service medallion by Principal Narinder Singh at the school’s 90th birthday celebrations in 2006. This was our final year of preschool and with the introduction of Preps in 2007, I began working in the Junior room.” At the school’s centenary in 2016, Principal Christine Pascoe presented Mrs Dodson with a plaque the size of a billboard naming the library after her
which she said was truly amazing and a great honour. “I have worked in the library for the past 25 years. It’s lovely when out of the blue a former student drops in to have a look through the school they once attended to see if its changed and discover I’m still here.” “Many former students have gone on to become teachers, chemists etc and Natarsha Williams, elite BMX rider also attended South Johnstone State School. I am proud to have also worked with students who are the next generation of past students,” said Mrs Dodson. Her husband Richard has been very understanding and supportive of her role helping for many years with the Harvest Festival floats and still assists at the school by covering books for the juniors. Whilst she still loves her job, Mrs Dodson is looking forward to taking long service leave after Easter, caravanning and taking a month long holiday in Europe later this year.