AROUND THE SCHOOLS
Flying Fish Point State School Ends Term One on a Positive Note MARIA GIRGENTI FLYING Fish Point State School finished the first term strongly with 53 students, including six Preps, two new teachers and Principal Karen Spannagle. Spannagle, who returned to her hometown of Innisfail to take up the role of Principal last year, previously taught at Goondi and Innisfail State Schools and has 33 years of experience with Education Queensland. She was the former Principal of East Palmerston State School and in central Queensland, having taught in Minnesota, USA for four years. Spannagle’s teaching career started in Early Childhood at Woree and since then she has been a Teaching and Learning Reviewer in 2011 and taught students from Prep to Year 12. Last term, the school community welcomed new upper school teacher, Emily Pilgrim from Brisbane, who previously taught at Gumdale State School, one of Brisbane’s high performing schools and
brings with her a wealth of great ideas and strategies especially her skills in written technology programs. New teacher Fran Valadian who previously taught for a number of years at Goondi State School was also a Learning Support teacher. She has come out of retirement and returned to her hometown to teach Preps for three days per week while Spannagle will teach Preps for two days. Jason Bawden from Innisfail State School attends the school once a week on Fridays as HPE teacher. He is responsible for the HPE section of Australian curriculum, involved in all of the school’s sporting events and the introduction of a boys’ club. The school’s core focus is reading across all grades through Explicit Improvement Agenda (EIA), as well as maintaining the target attendance level of 95%. This year a new daily breakfast club has been introduced which has been made
Senior Students at Innisfail State College to Gain Skills in New ‘Design’ Subject
MARIA GIRGENTI A NEW ‘Design’ subject for senior students has been introduced this year at Innisfail State College which is made up of four different units and will see students learn about all aspects of design styles. In the first unit, students learned about and experience the context of design in practice, which is based on the principle that design is a purposeful process undertaken by professionals in response to identified needs, wants and opportunities. Currently, the Year 11s have been undertaking their assessment task which focuses on design styles. Their task is to design a product, service or environment with a design style in mind and they have been developing ideas which will promote the Cassowary Coast Region as the Art Deco capital of Australia. So far, students have collected research about the local region, its Art Deco heritage, as well as the needs and wants of the Cassowary Coast Regional Council. Students have then used this information to identify design opportunities in order to draw up some initial ideas. Council members were then invited to review students’ ideas and provide feedback on how to further develop designs, thus, providing students with a professional learning experience between designer and client. Innisfail State College wished to thank Councillors Wayne Kimberley and Ben Heath, as well as Planning Officer Isabella Newman who recently visited Miss Lawther and senior design students, and all look forward to welcoming them back for a return visit where they will view the students’ final design concepts.
Page 20 Cassowary Coast Independent News, Thursday, May 23, 2019
possible through Coles Innisfail. In 2019, all classes are participating in Healthy Eats program, an initiative of Life Education in partnership with North Queensland Primary Health Network. Julie Schirmer and Sheryn Jackson are running a girls’ club which will involve pamper sessions and jewellery making while Rose Spann will continue with a chaplaincy service for a full day on Tuesdays and half day on Wednesdays. Arts teacher Tara Clowes visits the school on Tuesdays where students will participate in music, drama, visual and digital arts, while on Wednesdays, Instrumental Music teacher Anita Berry offers specialised teaching for students who play stringed instruments.
Last year a learning support program was introduced and this year Students With Disability (SWD) teacher Tracy O’Driscoll is working with students every Wednesday, while guidance officer Kathy Lizzio is at the school twice during the term. Students and staff strive to live by the school’s motto ‘We Care - quality teaching, learning and relationships.’ Upcoming events on the school calendar include: a second visit by firemen, athletics carnival, Innisfail Young Performers competition, Reconciliation Day and World Expo Day. Enrolments are welcomed from Prep to Year 6 and for further information please contact the school on 4063 5111.
North Queensland Cowboys Development Officers visited St Clare’s THE North Queensland Cowboys Development Officers Liam and Gavin visited St Clare’s School, Tully! Our Year 4-6 classes enjoyed an informative discussion about cyber-safety and then getting active with some awesome games and prizes! Go Cowboys!!