AROUND THE SCHOOLS
Silkwood State School make a stand against Bullying
MARIA GIRGENTI
ORANGE was the preferred colour on March 15 as Silkwood State School stood united against bullying and violence and participated in the ninth National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. Students were presented with arm bands and lessons were conducted in the classrooms to educate students about the Bullying No Way! message. Every student in the school wrote a personal message on an orange ribbon which is the official colour theme for Bullying No Way Day! and attached it to the school fence in a display of solidarity and confirming the whole school approach to Bullying No Way! The National Day of Ac-
tion provides schools with the opportunity to take action and empower young people to be part of the solution when addressing bullying in their school community. It also provides the chance to focus on bullying and the changes we can all make to help create safer communities for everyone. The NDA which was first held on March 18, 2011 is an initiative of all Australian education authorities and managed by the Safe and Supportive School Communities Working Group. Silkwood State School was one of 5726 schools who registered for this year’s event and joined with over 2.4 million students around Australia who are driving action in their school communities.
Other schools across the Cassowary Coast who took part were: Lower Tully State School, Innisfail State School, Mission Beach State School, Radiant Life College, South Johnstone State School, St Clare’s Catholic School, Tully, St Rita’s School, South Johnstone, Tully State School, Tully State High School, Kennedy State School, Innisfail East State School, Innisfail State College, Feluga State School, Good Counsel Primary School, Good Counsel College, Goondi State School, El Arish State School, Murray River Upper State School, Cardwell State School, Mundoo State School, Mourilyan State School, Mena Creek State School and Flying Fish Point State School.
Staff and students from Silkwood State School were one of many schools across the region who took part in National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence on March 15.
South Johnstone State School takes firm stand against bullying
On March 15, South Johnstone State School made a united pledge of Bullying! No Way! as part of National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence.
Students wore free dress and participated in anti-bullying activities. The focus was on what bullying is, what can be done to stop it and cyberbullying with
special emphasis placed on resilience and being a buddy, not a bully.
Innisfail State College Head of Science Markus Honnef ’s is recognised with a CSIRO Indigenous STEM Teacher Award MARIA GIRGENTI
INNISFAIL State College Head of Science and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Ambassador Markus Honnef was recently announced the winner of 2018 CSIRO Indigenous STEM Teacher Award at a ceremony held in Areyonga, Northern Territory. The Teacher Award recognises outstanding educators who are engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, community and organisations to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into core STEM programs and lesson plans. Since 1988, Mr Honnef has been engaging with Elders and community to engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in education. He is driven by an unrelenting desire to implement programs that engage and change the paradigm of all students so they can identify themselves as scientists and become aware of varying career options. He has been actively involved in the Inquiry for Indig-
enous Science Students (I2S2) program since 2016, first at Gordonvale State High School and now at Innisfail State College, as well as assisting in implementing the program at Smithfield State High School. He has also engaged with external organisations such as CSIRO, James Cook University, Landcare and other STEM professionals to broaden the view of students. This award follows last year’s success of Innisfail State College students, Angela Barley and Russell Sands when they were jointly named winners of the 2017 CSIRO Maths Student of the Year in these national awards. A partnership between the BHP Foundation and CSIRO, the Indigenous STEM Awards recognise the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander STEM professionals and students as well as schools, teachers and mentors working in Indigenous STEM Education. Each of the winners will have a presentation in their home communities throughout March and April.
The Indigenous STEM Award program is part of the Indigenous STEM Education Project, managed by CSIRO and funded by BHP Foundation. The Indigenous STEM Education Project aims to increase participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in STEM subjects.
A passion for innovation through culture has seen Markus Honnef Head of Science at Innisfail State College recognised with a Teacher Award in the third CSIRO Indigenous STEM Awards.
Cyber bullying and cyber safety
INNISFAIL Senior Police Liaison Officer Stacey Kneubuhler went back to primary school today, not to learn, but to teach. Grade 5 and 6 students at Saint Rita’s Primary School in Babinda, attended a cyber safety presentation known as ‘ThinkUKnow’. The presentation covers a range of issues that many school age children are subjected to and experience online and unfortunately some parents are not aware it is happening or how to report it. The ThinkUKnow presenta-
tion is interactive with teachers and students and covers areas of cyberbullying and internet security and safety. It is also Australia’s only nationally delivered crime prevention program. Our school age children today have easy access to the internet and it’s not only during school hours. Increased use of mobile phones, social networking sites and online gaming increases the risk and opportunity for cyberbullying to occur. Students learn ways to keep
photos and private information secure online and how to report any unwanted communications, cyberbullying and any other suspicious activities. They are shown examples of what is unsafe when sharing and sending photos (most popular being ‘selfies’) and are made aware of ways they can make sure photos and conversations online can be made safe. For more information and great resources (or to even book a presentation) go to https:// www.thinkuknow.org.au or enquire at your local school.
Students and teachers from St Rita’s School, Babinda
Cassowary Coast Independent News, Thursday, March 28, 2019 Page 17