Woree Highlights - End of Year Newsletter - December 2023

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

Here we are at the end of another busy year.  There have been many wonderful events throughout the year and our students have experienced success across a range of pursuits including in the Academic, Sports and Arts arenas.

Tuckshop Day

On Friday 1 November we celebrated Tuckshop Day with special gifts for our Canteen and Uniform Shop staff and assisting them in their duties that day.  We are fortunate to have a wonderful Canteen and Uniform shop operating at Woree SHS, providing food and uniforms for our students and staff.

STARS Week

During Week 6, we recognised the invaluable contribution of our Science Technicians, Rhyannon and Karli.  They work in the background to ensure that our science staff and students have everything they need to conduct science experiments and investigations and assist in these experiments to ensure they are conducted in a safely manner.  Having them on staff enhances the learning experiences of our students in science.

Presentation Night 2023

On Wednesday 15 November we celebrated our annual Presentation Night.  The night was a wonderful celebration of the achievements of our students throughout the year.  The more streamlined approach this year meant that the evening was also marginally shorter, allowing busy families to get home earlier which was appreciated by all in attendance.  The feedback from our invited special guests was extremely positive and they were thoroughly impressed by the range of achievements of our students.

Clontarf Presentation Night

Our Clontarf Academy hosted another successful Presentation Night on Thursday 16 November, attended by their Clontarf Academy students and their families.  It was a relaxed and joyful celebration of the achievements of these boys in 2023.

Year 12 Graduation

On Friday 17 November, we farewelled the 2023 Year 12 cohort for a final time.  We are extremely proud of the young men and women these students have become during their years of education at Woree SHS.  They are setting off on a range of future pathways including tertiary study, apprenticeships and traineeships and work.  We look forward to hearing from the students later this month when they receive their QCE and ATAR results.  We are confident there will be some outstanding results this year.

Romeo and Juliet

This week has seen the culmination of months of work and preparation by Ms Claire Williams, Drama Teacher, her Arts Department colleagues, and the students who are members of the cast of Romeo and Juliet.  The students have performed two matinees and three evening performances to a full theatre of enthusiastic viewers.  The quality of the sets, scripting, effects and entire experience is impossible to describe in a way that will do it justice.  It is hard to believe that a show of this quality could be produced in a high school setting.  Ms Williams has outdone herself again and she sets a high bar for our expectations of the 2024 theatre performance.

Thank you to Ms Williams and Ms Sabrina Paterson, Arts TA, who spent hours of their own time creating the sets and costumes for this spectacular performance.

Year 6 into 7 Orientation Day

On Wednesday 6 December we welcomed the Year 6 students who will return in the new year as the Year 7s of 2024.  I have had the fortune of attending graduation ceremonies for Woree SS and White Rock SS so I am aware of the wonderfully talented and caring cohort of students we will gain in 2024.  We look forward to welcoming them back in their new Woree SHS uniforms on Monday 22 January next year.

If you are aware of anyone who is intending to enrol at Woree SHS in 2024 but hasn’t actually completed this process, please encourage them to contact our office as a matter of urgency from Monday 15 January so we can have the enrolment process completed in time for the start of school.

New Mobile Phone Policy – Away for the Day

Thank you to parents and carers for continuing to support and reinforce the expectations that students do not access their phones at school during the school day.  Over the coming holidays you will see advertising on the television and in social media promoting that this is going to be the state wide expectation for all Queensland State Schools from 2024.  We are fortunate that our students are now familiar with and used to this expectation.

School Day 2024

We look forward to welcoming all of our students back to school on Monday 22 January 2022.  All year levels will commence on that day.

Following consultation with staff, students and parents/carers we will be trialling a small change to the school day in Semester 1, 2024.  Our long lunch break which is currently 50 minutes long will be reduced by 10 minutes each day, back to 40 minutes.  This 10-minute time saving will be returned to staff and students via an earlier end to the day.  Our 2024 Bell Times are as follows:

Staff Update

As the year ends, we come to that time of the year when we must farewell some of our staff who are not returning to work at Woree SHS in 2024.

Some of our staff are leaving us to permanently transfer to other areas of the state:

• Heather and Steve Nomani
• Joanne Hoult
• Mark Sperring

Some of our staff members are taking leave for 2024:

• Kylie Storey
• Jason Robertson

Ms Maria Chatfield, will be absent in 2024 whilst she is Acting Deputy Principal at Mareeba SHS.

Each of the staff members who are not returning in 2024 has made an invaluable contribution to the school in their own way and it will not be the same without them next year.  We wish each of them every success in their new ventures for 2024.

Facilities Update

We recently held a ceremony to officially unveil the Traditional Owner Logo 3D sign that has now been permanently attached to the end of C Block.  We thank Mr Jack Thomas for his support and guidance in designing the original concept for our Traditional Owner Logo. Thank you to our local Gimuy Waluaurra Yidinji elders for joining us for this special event and supporting our journey of Reconciliation at Woree SHS.

Over the Christmas holidays we have planned further works to be completed to improve our facilities:

• D Block External Repaint
• B Block and Tuckshop External repaint
• B Block Toilet renovation
• E01 Refurbishment
• M08/9/10 Refurbishment
• Bike/Scooter enclosure build (K Block)
• Signage to Tuckshop walls
• Install of chilled water fountains (Tuckshop, R Block, H Block, M Block)
• Signage to front Entrance

Thank you to all of the parents and carers who have partnered with our school this year to ensure that our students have every opportunity to meet their potential, experience success and have a happy and safe experience of school life.  Our office will close on Friday 8 December and re-open on Monday 15 January 2024.

On behalf of the staff of Woree SHS I wish everyone a safe, relaxing and joyous Christmas and New Year and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2024.

Regards

Kathryn Todd

Principal

School Leaders - 2024

The 2024 School Leaders are looking forward to their first official function for 2023 - the Senior Induction ceremony, to be held in Term 1, Week 3. Although, an annual tradition at Woree is for the School Leaders to come into school to prepare a staff lunch on January's pupil free days.

Deputy Principal Inclusion

Reflecting on a Year of Inclusive Excellence (2023)

As the year draws to a close, it is with great pride that we reflect on the incredible journey we've undertaken at Woree State High School in 2023. This year has been marked by our unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for every student, ensuring that every student is succeeding. From those requiring curriculum support to those with social and emotional needs, from physical access challenges to cultural inclusion and the broader goal of inclusion in all aspects of school life, we've embraced diversity and worked together to make our school a place where every student can thrive.

One of our primary focuses this year has been providing tailored curriculum support to students with diverse learning needs through the use of Universal Design for Learning principles. Our dedicated team of educators has gone above and beyond, implementing innovative teaching strategies and personalized learning plans. By recognizing and accommodating the unique strengths and challenges of each student, we've created an environment where academic success is not limited by differences but is celebrated as a collective achievement.

Understanding that a student's success extends beyond the academic realm, we've placed a strong emphasis on supporting their social and emotional well-being. Our J Space, Engagement and B Block support staff have been instrumental in creating a safe space for students to express themselves, providing guidance and resources to navigate the challenges of adolescence. Through workshops, one-on-one sessions, and various activities, we've fostered resilience and emotional intelligence among our students, especially through using Restorative Practices.

Physical accessibility should never be a barrier to education. In 2023, we've made significant strides in ensuring that our school is welcoming to all students, regardless of physical abilities. Our infrastructure improvements, including ramps and accessible pathways, have not only facilitated ease of movement but have also symbolized our commitment to a truly inclusive learning environment.

Diversity is our strength, and cultural inclusion is at the heart of our mission. This year, we've celebrated the rich tapestry of cultures within our school community through Harmony Day, NAIDOC and the re-design of our school logo to include the cultural significance of the land where this school is located. Our commitment to fostering a culture of respect and appreciation for different backgrounds has made Woree State High School a place where every student's heritage is acknowledged and valued.

True inclusion goes beyond classrooms; it extends into every facet of school life. From extracurricular activities to sports, cultural events to leadership opportunities, we've worked diligently to ensure that every student has the chance to participate and contribute. Our goal is to celebrate the richness that diversity brings to our school community and to cultivate an atmosphere where every student feels valued and heard.

As we look back on the achievements of 2023, we are reminded that the journey towards inclusivity is an ongoing one. Woree State High School remains committed to continuous improvement, listening to the needs of our students, and adapting our practices to create an even more inclusive and supportive environment in the years to come.

Thank you to our students, parents, staff, and the broader community for your unwavering support in making Woree State High School a place where every student's potential is recognized and nurtured.

Alicia Smith

Deputy Principal – Inclusion

Junior Secondary

2023 has been a great year at Woree State High School, many successes to be celebrated as the year comes to an end. So many students achieving great success in their academic studies, lots of junior students representing high level competitions in various sporting areas and even students winning medals and representing their state for their given sport. We have also had many students representing in things like bands, performances and even in the local council.

Throughout the year the students have been rewarded for their hard work by going on rewards events such as laser tag, Woree Wipeout, slip and slide events, iPlay and movie theatres. Some students were also rewarded with tuckshop vouchers, McDonald’s vouchers, movie tickets, JB Hi-Fi vouchers and Rebel Sport vouchers to spend over their holidays.

Throughout the year our junior students also got to participate in workshop events with the local universities, this introduced them to the possibility of studying at university and what that could hold for their futures. Many students even got to go to the universities to participate in activities and tours.

After such a successful year at Woree State High School we are excited to see what 2024 brings, enjoy your Christmas holidays and be safe.

Mr Doug Ryan

Head of Department Junior Secondary

Senior Secondary

Students, Parents and Carers and the wider school community,

It seems like only yesterday the school year started…nope, no that is definitely not the feeling. This has been a loooong year. Lol. Although it has been long, it has been busy, productive and ultimately enjoyable for all 3 grades in the Senior Secondary sector; and for the final article of the year, I would like to reflect on some of those key events.

Firstly, the Valentine’s fairies from the Year 12s are always a hit for the whole school; especially for Mr Stubbs. This is the first fundraiser event for the Year 12s to go towards their legacy project and is also the first event that they run as the leaders of the school. It isn’t the event that I love so much as what this event teaches and gives our students. It teaches them responsibility, time management, organisation, communication, teamwork and adaptability; all of which are great employable skills. Thanks to the Year 12s and Ms D’Arcy for running another great Valentine’s fairies day.

Next up would have to be the Work Experience and SET Plan interviews for the Year 10s with Ms Parsons. Work experience is run through the VET Coordinator Ms Tracey Wilson and the Vocational Partnerships Group (VPG). Students set out and conducted interviews and worked on their resumes and cover letters in their History and Workplace Skills classes. It was also great to see so many positive stories come out of their work experience and some students even earnt part time jobs out of it. I highly recommend it for our current Year 9s (soon to be Year 10s in 2024) for next year. SET Plans is where the students and parents / carers come and meet a senior staff member and discuss future goals and aspirations for senior and post schooling. It was great to have so many students interested in so many industries and fields. We look forward to watching how the next few years progress for you all.

Year 11s didn’t want to be left out with the magnificent Ms Keirle (the Year 11 Coordinator) organising their senior shirts and jerseys a year earlier so they can wear them with pride and get a good full years use out of them…brilliant. They also had their Year 11 camp which helped identify the future leaders of the school (and I believe, for later in life as well so watch this space). I look forward to working with these leaders in 2024.

Next up would have to be the formal. I don’t know how the school does it, but the formal seems to be bigger, brighter and better each and every year. Full credit must go to Ms D’Arcy and her formal committee for a great night that was had by all. It was so good seeing the young children that walked through our gates get dressed up and present as the young men and women that they are today. They looked amazing and as many have said it was a night to remember.

The next big event, would have to be graduation. As I mentioned in my grad speech, the Year 12s and I had a theme of “Year of 95” that related to:

1. To obtain an attendance of 95% including explained absences. 
2. For the cohort to earn 95 VET qualifications
3. For 95% of our students to gain a QCE or QCIA
4. For a student to earn an ATAR of 95.

It is with great pleasure that I can say that we have the following results:

1. The cohort finished the year with 95.04% attendance ü
2. The cohort earnt at least 128 VET qualifications ü
3. Estimates for the cohort are at 96.8% to earn a QCE/QCIA (To be confirmed on the 15 December by QCAA) ü
4. We are awaiting the ATAR results which will be published on 15 December. We wish you all the best.

So, to paraphrase Meatloaf – "3 out of 4 ain’t bad." But honestly, I think we will get the 4^th one, so keep an eye on our socials after 15 December.

Finally, a message to our Year 12s. The school and I wish you all the best for your future and hope you get a chance to follow your dreams and achieve all that you wish and more. I will be eagerly waiting with you for your QCE announcements, university offers and ATAR scores. All the best.

For those leaving our school community, don’t think of it as leaving, because once you are Woree – you will always be part of the Woree family. For those returning, I look forward to seeing you next year. I wish all of you a safe and relaxing break. Thanks for a busy, but great year.

Brad Wright

HOD, Senior Schooling

PBL

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) at Woree State High School, 2023

The Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) committee has the wonderful task of collaboratively working with the staff, students and the community to help create a learning environment at WSHS, that allows students to succeed on and off campus.

It was a big year for WSHS PBL, as the school, with consultation with staff, students and the community, re-invigorated the school-wide set of PBL expectations, with 3 key values.  These include:

We are Safe.

We are Respectful.

We are Learners.

These expectations are visible in rebranded signs located in classrooms and other key areas of the school.  These expectations are explicitly taught to students in varying settings and encourage a consistent approach, in the whole school effort, for all students to succeed every day.

Woree State High School values community input and your support.  As always, please feel free to provide feedback and communicate with school staff.  As a school community we are driven to work together with you, to help your student realise their personal successes. 

Mark Stubbs

PBL Coach

Good News Stories

Teacher Wins Award

Last week Gail Beggs (center) was recognised with a special award from JCU.  Gail received the Outstanding Contributions to Preservice Teacher Learning Award for the support she provided to Kady Canfield during her practicum here at Woree SHS earlier this year. 

Congratulations Gail, this is well deserved recognition of the passion with which Gail approaches supporting and mentoring the next generation of teachers.

Kathryn Todd

Principal, WSHS

SchoolTech Student Receives Top Award

Congratulations Nila - School Based Trainee of the Year Award winner 2023.

Nila has completed Years 11 and 12 at SchoolTech and works for Experience Co., she is dedicated in all aspects of her traineeship and deserves every success. 

Year Coordinators Reports

YEAR 8

Year 8 JCU Visit

On November 30, Year 8 students visited JCU for their annual UniX workshops. Students participated in engineering, nursing, education, dentistry, anthropology and business lessons to get a taste of what studying those subjects at university would be like. Our students found that day really inspiring and lots of them are keen to attend JCU after school.  

Lauren Maxwell

Year 8 Coordinator

YEAR 9

Term 4 has been a busy year for the Year 9s. In Week 3, they were buddies to Japanese visitors from Hanazono Highschool. Students played sport, games, enjoyed some artwork and were entertained by a special performance from the visitors.

In Week 6, Year 9s on Good Standing ventured out to DFO laser where they battled each other in the arena. Not only did the students have a great time, they represented Woree wonderfully with their great manners and respectfulness.

As the Year 9s come to the end of the year and being juniors for the last time, they will be looking to their future subjects and career pathways in preparation for Year 10. Wednesday Week 10, students in the High Achievers group participated in a day long workshop at CQU where they got a taste of university life and what is on offer.

Lyndsey Wray

Year 9 Coordinator

YEAR 10

2023 has been busy for the Year 10s as it included work experience, 10 into 11 program, subject selection, camps and much more. To cap of what proved to be a great year, I ran a form class challenge for the cohort. This included physical and mental challenges like broad jumps, sprints, puzzles, riddles, random acts of kindness and kahoot quizzes. It was great to see most students getting involved (and switching their brains and bodies on before 9am…quite a feat for some of them!!) 10F ended up taking out the challenge and were treated to a lunch of their choice.

1^{st -} 10F (Forest Fairies) – 55

2^{nd -} 10B (Brainy Bunch) – 48

3^rd-  10CL (Curried Sausages) – 46

4^{th -} 10A (Anti-Fun Anythings) – 24

5^{th -} 10D (Diamonds) – 23

6^{th -} 10E (Mr E’s Excellent E’s) – 22

Year 10s have succeeded in their first year as seniors. I wish those who will not be with us in 2024 luck for their future endeavours – some are off to full time apprenticeships and traineeships, while others are enrolled in alternative schooling and training including SchoolTech, Shoreline and Busy Schools.

Year 10s who have nominated to be involved in the 11s-4-7s program returned to school in Week 10 to participate in a day long workshop on the Tuesday, where they got a taste of what it is like to mentor the incoming Year 7 students and organise events and activities for them to run next year. On the Wednesday, the Year 10s assisted staff in ensuring the Year 6 Transition Day rans moothly.

I wish all Year 10 students and their families a great holiday and I look forward to working with you as the Year 11 Coordinator in 2024.

Cody-lee Parsons

Year 10 Coordinator

YEAR 11

Woree Wipeout Celebration Day

On November 22 the Year 11s walked across to the Woree pool to take part in the floating obstacle course called the Woree Wipeout. We had a BBQ lunch, listened to music and relaxed in the pool, while the pool staff put the Wipeout into action.

From 12.30pm until 2.30 pm we had an absolute blast trying to make it to the end of the Woree Wipeout course. The hardest part of the whole day was getting past Riley, Cooper and Harley who were the gate keepers to the slide.

The theme for our Year 11 cohort is sharing the love. So included here are some of our Year 11s sharing the love at the Woree Wipeout.

Events and Special Days

Presentation Evening

Our annual Presentation Evening was held on the 15 November and was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the outstanding achievements of so many of our students.  The night was attended by many special guests and dignitaries who all commented on the excellent accomplishments of our students and school community.

Students were awarded a variety of academic and special awards including Top of Subject, Academic Merit, Academic Excellence, Half and Full Maroon as well as Apex and Ampol All Rounders, Sports and Cultural Awards and Australian Defence Force Awards.  All students who were recognised on the evening were highly deserving award recipients and the school is incredibly proud of what they have achieved.  The evening also saw the induction of our new Student Leaders for 2024 and was a great opportunity to recognise others who have contributed to our school. 

One example of this was the awarding of the Friend of the School Award which recognises someone who has contributed to the growth and development of our school culture.  This year it was an honour to acknowledge Mr Jack Thomas, a local Yidinji Elder who has worked closely with the school over the last few years to assist in building the school’s relationship with the local Yidinji community.  Jack’s work has seen him run workshops for students, speak and perform at school events such as NAIDOC, assist in the design and naming of our new sports house teams, and Jack has also designed the school’s Indigenous logo and naming. His contributions are greatly appreciated.

The Presentation Evening was a resounding success and was a beautiful way to celebrate and acknowledge the outstanding accomplishments of our students and our school community.

Travers Toohey

DP Senior Secondary 

Year 12 Graduation

AND JUST LIKE THAT 13 YEARS OF SCHOOLING IS OVER.

On Friday 17 November, Woree SHS said goodbye one last time to the 2023 Year 12 cohort.  There were many tears shared during that final morning together and also many wonderful stories shared. They were an amazing group of young men and women who had experienced many highs and lows but had shown that by travelling together they can cope with any of life’s challenges and use these challenges to grow stronger and wiser.  We congratulate them all on their efforts, determination, passion and drive to be the best they could be and we wish them all the best in their future endeavours. They were asked to remember two things – to always follow their dreams and to believe in themselves as their future is what they choose to make it – nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it.

Melissa D’Arcy

Year 12 Coordinator

The Arts / Digital Technologies

2023 has been memorable year for the Arts and IT Department of Woree State High School with a number of excellent achievements.

This year was the first year for Woree as a member of the Gateway to IT Industry Schools Program. This collective of Cairns schools have direct access to IT industry, with professionals coming and presenting and workshopping with our IT students. Once again, our PC Builders Club did what they are known for and built another powerful machine with the help and guidance of Mr David Mead, Kelvin Law and Mr Scott Morrison.

Woree’s VR room was put to good use again this year with new modules taught in Mathematics, Digital Technology, Science and Humanities. Students got to explore curriculum aligned activities, that gave them a deeper understanding of the difficult concepts such as plant cells and surface area.

In Visual Art and Digital Media our students have had work displayed in a number of exhibitions and competitions. Receive & Respond featured the photography of one talented student William. Once again, this event drew a large audience, and showcased great talent from across the region.

As is our tradition Woree State High School, we submitted a significant number of paintings and photography into the Cairns Show competitions, with a large number of them winning awards. Special mention to Shantae who’s painting came 2^nd in her section with a beautiful painting of deer in a forest. 

In September the Tanks Art Centre presented Ergon Energy 2024 Exhibition that featured a number of our Senior Art student works. It was a fabulous opening night and the exhibition highlighted the various ways in which students can create great works of art. In addition to having their work displayed in a professional gallery space, one of our students was chosen from this exhibition to participate in ‘FLAME’ mentorship programme, Jasmin. Under this program Jasmin has been matched with a practicing mentor artist and will create an artwork to be exhibited at the Tanks Art Centre for the FLAME Exhibition on International Women’s Day in 2024.

The Arts and IT showcase at the end of term 3 in our art studio and Performing Arts block was a highlight this year with a record number of amazing artwork. Credit to the Art staff and students for the huge effort in hanging the work, the performing Arts and Instrumental Music students and staff for the great performances and lastly the IT students, teachers and technicians who developed the great tech on show. It was a wonderful night.

Success was not only present in our visual arts students but also amongst our talented staff. Ms Heather Crothers was awarded one of the highest awards from Queensland College of Teachers, the TeachX award, for the incredible work she has done for the school as a beginning teacher. Principal Kathryn Todd and Ms Heather Crothers were flown down to the prestigious awards evening to celebrate and receive the award. It was a very proud moment for Woree State High School staff and students.

We had many successes in teaching Music also this year. A special highlight was the performance by the senior music students Dinto, Eymon, and Henry at the Clontarf awards night. They confidently jammed out some great tunes with two guitars and drums and really established the celebratory mood for the evening. The instrumental music program also had some excellent performances this year with the Show Band performing at ANZAC day in Edmonton and Cairns Show as well as a number of in-school events including our spectacular Arts/IT Showcase.

For Drama, the students got to be involved in a number of projects. The first was a full-length feature film production on school grounds written and directed by Garth Edwards called Two girls, a guy and a gun. This took a few weeks with students diligently taking on directions and instructions from a small creative team of professional directors, and producers. This was an experience like no other for Woree’s Drama students and all involved are looking forward to the premiere of the feature length later next year.

This year’s end of year production was Romeo and Juliet with a steam punk twist. The elaborate set, designed by Director Ms Claire Williams took many weeks to build with teacher’s Aide Ms Sabrina Paterson bringing much of it to realisation creating a magical 360-degree theatre experience. Music Teacher Morgan Harrison led a small tech team of students to create the wonderful lighting and sound show with newly installed lighting and sound rig. And Ms Lyndsey Wray kept things on track behind the stage. The three nights of performances were a real success with almost all sold out and the 40 strong cast proved that Shakespeare is as relevant as always.

Robert Davies

HOD, Arts/Digital Technologies 

ART

Art to Wear

Term 4 saw our Visual Arts in Practice class explore the world of graphic design through the development of eye catching imagery for a T-shirt. Year 11 VAP students used screen-printing processes to create an original, innovative artwork onto a t-shirt. These young creatives produced a final resolved design that conveys a student-selected message that is informative, humorous or portrays irony.

Heather Crothers

They/She – Film, TV and New Media Arts Coordinator – Rainbow Club Coordinator

Romeo and Juliet:

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

Yet another year of hard work has come to an end with our fantastic production of Romeo and Juliet - a roaring success! The cast were exceptional in this transformative work, presented in the style of Magical Realism. The costumes and sets were brilliant, glittering under our new lighting rig! Jasmin (Year 11) was extraordinary as Romeo, having only taken on the role in Week 5 of this term. Saki (Year 11) was magnificent in her role as Juliet, a ferocious and gentle-hearted girl.

The Year 8 students enjoyed the performance on Monday, as did the Year 7 and 9 students on Tuesday of Week 10. Hopefully, this work will remain with our young performers, and the audience, for many years to come, inspiring the next generation of performers in our community.

Our evening audiences were moved to tears at the conclusion of the play, as an uplifting soundtrack added emotion to an already emotionally charged scene. The concept of the afterlife, forgiveness, and reconciliation between enemies stirring even the most stoic of hearts with its social commentary.

Sets and props were constructed by Sabrina Paterson. I’m sure that all witnesses will agree that they were rich in storytelling and detail. I could not have wished for a better colleague in this department.

Sound and Lighting was managed by Morgan Harrison. The amount of learning that she did to run this new lighting rig was nothing short of miraculous. I am so grateful for her dedication to excellence.

Rob Davies was appreciated in his role as Producer for this production. All of the paperwork and ticketing was in his capable hands.

Thanks too, to Lyndsay Wray as backstage support and who kept the students calm, costumed and ready for their scenes. 

My thanks go out to all of the performers, technical crew, staff, parents, and the audience, for their commitment to this work and the good that it brings to us all.

See you all next year!

Merry Christmas!

Claire Williams- Director / Drama Coordinator

Classroom Music

Well, another year comes to an end for classroom music!

This year the students have been focussed and have been refining their performance and theoretical skills. It has been another successful year and students are improving with each term. This year the students studied:

Year 7

• Foundations in Music

Year 8

• Performing and Producing Music
• Film Music

Year 9

• Fundamentals of Music
• Blues and Rock Music

Year 10

• Film Music
• Music of the World

Year 11/12

• Film Music
• Music of the World

The students this year participated and completed assessment in Composition, Performances and Musicology as well as just playing instruments and forming groups to complete music activities and figure out who they are as musicians and composers.

As with any end of year activities, we always like to have a little bit of fun. Please enjoy the pictures of the Year 7 and 8 students playing the boomwhackers. It always brings a smile to the students faces and laughter to keep in time and play the correct colour at the right time.

For anyone unfamiliar with boomwhackers, they are plastic tubes of different lengths for different pitches that you hit with your hands to make a song.

Next year we venture into the unknown with new topics and different instruments to learn! Can’t wait to see what 2024 brings out from the Music Department.

Morgan Harrison

Music Teacher

Woree Voices

2023 saw the Woree Voices do their first public performance at the Arts/IT showcase. These students have been working for 18 months on their singing as a group. The students have been working on their listening and Aural skills and working together as a group!

This year they have performed at Induction Ceremony, ANZAC day Ceremonies at school and in the community and Presentation Night. With their main performance at Arts/IT Showcase.

Miss Harrison is very proud of how far they have come this year and looks forward to what they will do next year! Be on the lookout for their performances at the Cairns Show and Art/IT Showcase.

Morgan Harrison

Music Teacher

Instrumental Music

Woree SHS Concert Band

Congratulations to all members of the Woree SHS Concert Band for their excellent performances at Presentation Night, 15 November and the Year 12 Graduation Ceremony, 17 November, many hours of practicing ensured a fine performance.

Sabrina Paterson

TA, The Arts

Diverse Learning Faculty

A Successful Year for Diverse Learners

This year saw an array of academic success, community engagement and personal growth for students supported by the Diverse Learning Faculty.  Woree students with disabilities and diverse learning needs are encouraged to fully participate in all events and opportunities that are available and it has certainly been a busy year!

Students have been cooking, creating, designing, welding and much more, with several students successfully achieving certificates in Hospitality, Engineering, Sport and Recreation and Workplace Skills. Many improvements in reading have also been recorded as well as outstanding achievements at our Annual Presentation Night including multiple Academic Excellence, Full Maroon and Special Awards.

On the sporting fields students made their mark and had fun participating in the Woree Swimming and Athletics carnivals with some students invited to compete at the TCS Track and Field Championships at Barlow Park, coming away with excellent results. Additionally, many other students ventured to Cairns State High School to participate in the All Abilities Sports Day, enjoying a range of Paralympic sports such as sitting volleyball, bocce and goal ball.

Involvement in the Cairns community has continued to be important for our diverse learners with several students successfully undertaking work experience at various locations and businesses across the city. Our Senior Diverse Learning students attended the annual Disability Expo held at Cairns Marina, which gave students the opportunity to engage with a range of local disability support services.  The day also included a BBQ lunch and an esplanade walk.

Throughout the year our teachers and teacher aides have continued our professional development through our collaboration with disability Advisory Teachers and specialist staff who work with Woree to further develop our expert teaching team. This year we farewell teachers Heather Nomani and Kylie Storey and we wish them well at their new schools.

We are all looking forward to an exciting year ahead in 2024. Thank you to all the parents, carers and school staff who have been part of our journey this year.  We wish you a safe and wonderful holiday with your families.

Jodie Ball

HOD, Inclusion

Engagement Programs

The Year in Review

The year that was and what a huge year it has been for the Engagement crew, 13 programs across all grades interacting with over 500 students this year. Highlights of the year - Breakfast 4 days a week with 2 cooked; Pancake Day easily 200+ pancakes eaten every Wednesday, Friday- bacon and eggs, hundreds of kgs of bacon and approx. 300 dozen eggs cooked and enjoyed by the students of Woree. Year 8 EEL’s garden project taking home Grand Champion – Vegetable Exhibit at the Cairns Show plus producing art works and some of the finest cooking.

We also fairwell Mr Andrew Chatfield who was responsible for a great many positives across multiple year levels, however the greatest accomplishment was in Year 10 with Empower (girls) and Man it up (boys), which instilled noble virtues such as Courage. Truth. Honour. Discipline and Perseverance. The School and Engagement team will miss you. The team continued to build support around our First Nations students with the introduction of Back on Track and the support of Building Stronga Sista’s. Our YSC engaged boys and girls across Years 7-10 in wellbeing and case management with improvements in attendance with great success. OnTrek23 finished the year with 18 students achieving 4 QCE points before stepping in the door for Year 11. The Adventure based learning definitely support the students growth throughout the year.

Jordan Massey

HOD, Student Engagement

Year 8 Engage, Empower, Learn  

Earlier this year we renamed the Reset Attendance Program (RAP) to Engage, Empower, Learn (EEL) to reflect the goals of the program. Engage, Empower, Learn helps students to grow in confidence by building upon their personal and social development through various hands-on activities such as art and craft, gardening and cooking.  

Some highlights from this year have been: 

• Winning several horticulture prizes at the Cairns Show 
• Catering for events like the APEX opening, Mental Health Week and R U OK Day 
• Planting fruit trees at the back of the high school 
• Deadly Choices programs  
• Collaborations with Cairns Regional Council and Headspace  
• Assisting with the preparation of the market garden 

All students have made some great contributions to the program and have made many positive changes within themselves. I am looking forward to seeing what goals they can achieve in the future. 

Jodi Shepherd

Engagement, Humanities and English Teacher 

Bringing Good Luck to the School Theatre

This term, students under the guidance of the Engagement Team have been participating in a range of lunchtime activities held in the new J Space facility. Muriel, Year 7 and some friends have been busily making beautiful dream catchers for the drama departments Term 4 play Romeo and Juliet. Thank you to all the wonderful crafters, we think they look fabulous.

Sabrina Paterson

TA, Digital Technologies/The Arts

Market Garden Update 

As the term was coming to an end, I had to ramp up operations in the market garden. Not only both the Year 8 Engage, Empower, Learn and 7UP classes worked on the garden, I had to put a call out on student notices for garden help during lunchtimes. Thankfully, several students came to the rescue! Take a look at the garden transformation below! We cannot wait to grow more produce next year. 

Jodi Shepherd

Engagement, Humanities and English Teacher 

7UP

Over the last 6 weeks of this term, the 7UP program was introduced to a small group of Year 7s. This program provides students with a taster of the Year 8 Engage, Empower, Learn program. Students have had the support of teachers Jordan Massey, Doug Ryan and Jodi Shepherd, School Chaplain Kelly and regular visits from the Student Support Officer, Jeremy Anderson. During these lessons students have been learning about the differences between growth and fixed mindset and completing hands on activities such as gardening, cooking, sport and craft activities. 

Jodi Shepherd

Engagement, Humanities and English Teacher 

Resilience and Well Being

“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming,” is what the Year 9 Expressive Therapies group came up with during their Everyday Resilience session with Kidshelpline.  Here is what Counsellor Shannon from Kidshelpline had to say.

Hi Michelle, 

I wish to express my immense gratitude to both you and the students for the incredibly warm reception in the online classroom earlier today. Meeting the girls and engaging in a conversation with them about the topic of practicing Everyday Resilience was truly a pleasure.

I look forward to working with you and your students again soon. 

Michelle Edwards

Youth Support Coordinator / Wellness Coordinator

Kids Helpline Services can be accessed through the following links.

https://ytn-p-001.sitecorecontenthub.cloud/collections/what-kids-helpline-do-social

https://schools.kidshelpline.com.au/schools/home/resources/mental-health-wellbeing

English

“I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars.”

                                                                                      Walt Whitman

It seems that every year passes by so quickly. We think about where the time went, and wonder what we have really done all these 365 days.

Well like Walt Whitman says, the leaf of grass is a standing miracle of work unseen.

In the English Department, for both students and teachers, the leaf of grass can be buried in the business of producing homework and assessments and struggling to keep our young people sitting in our classrooms, inspired and enthusiastic about Shakespeare (but I think they are warming to him). Your children grapple with the ideas of the human experience through books, films, documentaries as well as the many genres of this subject, which is beyond their ordinary lives of Tik Tok and Snapchat timelines. So, we should always celebrate the journey of learning, the ever-evolving creation of the leaf of grass.

Thank you, caregivers, parents and most of all our students for a fantastic year of learning.

We wish you all a safe and happy holiday and look forward to watching the grass grow in 2024 😊

Year 8 APEX Class

This term in Year 8 English, we learnt about how directors use a range of audio and visual techniques in movies to deliver the underlying meaning of the story. In Week 6 we had a special guest, Year 8 student Claudia, who is an aspiring teacher join our class to do a deep dive into the meaning of the movie we recently watched called 'The Lorax'. Claudia delivered an inspiring lesson which focussed on the themes of the movie such as pollution, greed and loss of environment. Students completed a number of writing tasks and engaged in valuable discussions which helped them to complete the final assessment task. 

Jodi Shepherd

English/Engagement Teacher

A Visit to the Theatre

Chewing Gum Dreams - written by Karina X (Year 11 English student)

About 38 Woree students took a bus to the Bulum-Ja Arts Centre in Abbott Street. We were a wee bit early so we took pics looking like interested English students going to the theatre.

We went into the theatre which is designed like an Ancient Greek amphitheatre where the audience looks down into the stage, where stories are told. It was like we were so close to the actor, it was a bit intense.

The lights darkened and the actress walked into the streamlined light and her story held us captive for a solid hour, all by herself. It was a confronting piece of literature written by the acclaimed British actor and writer Michaela Coe, called Chewing Gum Dreams. The actress Faduma Ali was so electric, so confronting, so funny and so inspiring, I was mesmerised.

After the show, which was the first run in Cairns, we were lucky to have a workshop with the director, a script writer and Faduma herself. We had to stretch our imaginations and pluck up enough courage to do some improvisation to understand what Faduma had to do, switching from one character to another sometime in a split second, every show. My group laughed so much but I could see how much work and energy it takes to perform like that. It was such a good experience.

The theatre is something we don’t usually go to, but this play and talking to people that do this for a living, was so exciting and made me think about all the possibilities that exist out there for creative people like myself.

Comparative Essay

Written by Natalia P (Year 10 English student)

Beyond Creation: The Cinematic Mastery of Blade Runner in Comparison to Victor Frankenstein

In the vast tapestry of cinematic exploration, where the threads of technology, morality, and hubris intertwine, Blade Runner by Ridley Scott (1982) and Frankenstein by Paul McGuigan (2015) emerge as two iconic weavers of narrative complexity. Within the realm of questioning the consequences of humanity's bold strides into God-like territory, Ridley Scott's Blade Runner stands as the preeminent tapestry, deftly depicting the intricate dangers of playing God through the lens of advanced technology. While both films skilfully navigate the ethical minefield surrounding creation and manipulation of life, Blade Runner surpasses its counterpart, Frankenstein, in the discerning portrayal of humanity's audacity and the devastating aftermath. A deep dive into the cinematic realms of both films will unveil the distinct prowess with which Blade Runner captures the nuances of playing God, leaving an indelible mark on the exploration of the human condition in the face of technological advancement.

In Blade Runner, Tyrell, the visionary mastermind of replicants, mirrors the audacity of Victor Von Frankenstein from Frankenstein as they collectively challenge the sanctity of the natural order. Tyrell's creation of replicants, beings designed to mimic humanity, dares to overstep the bounds of nature. Through masterful cinematography, Ridley Scott employs visually striking film techniques to emphasize the audacious act of creating replicants. The towering structures of the Tyrell Corporation, set against a cold, sterile backdrop, symbolize Tyrell's godlike aspirations, creating a stark contrast to the natural world. Lighting and visual effects further enhance the unnatural quality of the replicants' existence, underscoring the theme of technological overreach. His proclamation, "More human than human is our motto," encapsulates the audacious courage to redefine what it means to be human by surpassing the limitations set by the natural world.

This thematic exploration is contrasted with Victor Frankenstein's ventures into forbidden realms, stitching together disparate body parts to create life in defiance of the natural course. However, Blade Runner distinguishes itself in the nuanced portrayal of the consequences that stem from this disruption. The mise-en-scène, carefully crafted by Scott, contributes to the overall atmosphere of despair and existential questioning. Cinematography, marked using shadows and reflections, intensifies the emotional intricacies of playing God. The replicants' existential crises and the palpable tension between creators and creations elevate the narrative, delving deeper into the moral quandaries and emotional intricacies of playing God. While both Tyrell and Victor exhibit courage in their defiance, Blade Runner excels in weaving a more complex and resonant narrative, pushing the boundaries of thematic exploration beyond the mere act of creation to the profound implications that follow.

In the exploration of moral choices and creation, Blade Runner adeptly navigates the treacherous theme of immoral pathways, setting it apart from its Gothic counterpart, Frankenstein. Through meticulous mise-en-scène and impactful cinematography, Blade Runner visually underscores the moral bankruptcy exemplified by Tyrell, the mastermind behind replicants. The dehumanizing perspective is starkly crystallized in the confrontation between Tyrell and Roy, a replicant seeking an extension of life. In this pivotal scene, Tyrell callously dismisses Roy's profound desire for life and self-awareness, reducing it to a mere malfunction. The visual portrayal accentuates Tyrell's capitalistic worldview, where replicants are commodities devoid of intrinsic value, exemplifying the immoral pathways taken in the pursuit of creation. Parallelly, Victor Frankenstein, in his relentless pursuit of scientific glory, also treads an immoral path. Stitching together life from disparate body parts challenges the natural order and delves into the realm of hubris. While both Tyrell and Victor exhibit moral ambiguity in their creations, Blade Runner excels in presenting a nuanced examination of the moral dilemmas embedded in the act of creation. The film skilfully explores the replicants' quest for meaning and autonomy, shedding light on the consequences of immoral pathways. While Frankenstein introduces moral quandaries, Blade Runner transcends by scrutinising not just the creator's actions but also the impact on the created. This exploration sets Blade Runner apart, revealing a depth that extends beyond the surface of creation into the moral fibre of the characters and the worlds they inhabit.

In the intricate dance between creation and consequence, Blade Runner emerges as a cinematic marvel, skilfully unravelling the theme of "Dangerous and Unpredicted." Through expert cinematography and meticulous scene construction, Blade Runner visually captures Tyrell's plunge into perilous realms as his engineered beings, intended for servitude, unexpectedly yearn for autonomy, defying their predefined roles. This unpredictability injects palpable tension, challenging the very foundations of Tyrell's creation. The iconic confrontation between Tyrell and Roy epitomizes the unforeseen danger as Roy, driven by the desperate desire for an extended life, shatters the preconceived notions of his subservient nature. In contrast, Victor Frankenstein's creation unfolds as a force both dangerous and unpredictable. The creature, born from reckless experimentation, becomes a symbol of the unforeseen dangers inherent in playing with the forces of life. However, it is in the nuanced exploration of this theme that Blade Runner surpasses its counterpart. Through evocative storytelling and character development, the replicants' unpredictable yearning for autonomy and rebellion against imposed roles elevate the narrative into a realm of profound complexity. For instance, Roy's monologue during his confrontation with Tyrell showcases a depth of emotion and existential questioning that goes beyond a mere pursuit of survival. Roy's eloquent expressions of his experiences, desires, and the fleeting nature of his existence provide a window into the rich internal lives of the replicants, revealing a level of character exploration that goes beyond the traditional portrayal of created beings. This narrative depth sets Blade Runner apart, transcending exploration of the dangerous and unpredictable into a cinematic masterpiece that challenges and expands the boundaries of thematic exploration.

Blade Runner emerges as a triumph that eclipses Frankenstein. Ridley Scott masterfully unveils Tyrell's capitalistic views and the dehumanising lens through which replicants are perceived, adding a depth that transcends traditional thematic exploration. The film navigates disruptive themes— from challenging the natural order to exploring immoral pathways and the unpredictable consequences of creation—with finesse. The pivotal confrontation between Tyrell and Roy serves as a poignant illustration of the film's ability to unravel the unforeseen complexities and desires of the created, showcasing a depth of character motivation rarely attained. In contrast, while Frankenstein introduces these themes, it falls short in plumbing the profound depths of character motivations and the intricate landscape of moral dilemmas. Blade Runner stands as a cinematic testament, offering a brilliance that elevates the exploration of creation, morality, and the perennial question of playing God to unparalleled heights.

Home Economics/INTAD

2023 in Review

Students across both Design and Technologies and Food Tech have participated in learning experiences that have given them the opportunity to design and produce solutions to real world problems.

Year 12 students achieved qualifications in the following areas: Certificate I in Construction (11), Certificate II Engineering Pathways (10), Certificate I (13), II (12) and III (4) in Hospitality. Well Done to all students and thank you to all teachers who supported them to achieve these certificates. We wish the graduating Year 12 students much success in their future pathways.

Hospitality students in Year 11 and 12 were involved in catering for many functions such as the Senior Leader Induction, ANZAC Day, Canapé Capers, Mocktail Café, Arts Showcase, Year 11 Camp, and Presentation Night. They also participated in structured work placement in hospitality establishments to gain a different perspective on the world of work. We thank all employers that have supported our students through this program.

Food Tech students in Year 9 and 10 developed many skills over the year and held functions including: Market Stall, Breakfast Buffet, High Tea and a Staff Buffet lunch. Students in Year 7 and 8 developed basic kitchen, hygiene and safety skills as well as an understanding of how to choose healthy foods that they can now use in future subjects.

Year 12 Construction students put their acquired skills into action by planning and laying a concrete slab outside the extraction shed at the end of F block. They were assisted in this project by their Blue Dog Assessor, Arnaud Gohier and faculty staff. Students really enjoyed the process of applying their theoretical knowledge in a practical project.

Furnishing students across Year 11 and 12 produced some excellent pieces including coffee tables, designer cabinets, folding stools and bedside tables.  These projects utilised a variety of different timber joining processes and wood types.

In Design and Technology, students in Year 10 honed their skills and produced jewellery boxes, side tables, mirror frames and clocks. Year 9 students designed and produced bread boards, eco lamps, CO2 dragsters and a sheet metal carry all. Students in Year 8 designed and produced pencil boxes, CO2 dragsters, children’s stools and a BBQ flip. Year 7 students were introduced to the workshop and produced a skill toy that developed skills in basic hand tools.

Students across all year levels were able to incorporate the laser cutter into their work by etching designs onto the surfaces of their projects. They take pride in the work they produce and this process allows further creativity and personalised their project.

Foundations in Engineering students in Year 10 began the year working with sheet metal and producing items such as a junior hacksaw and tool box. In the second half of the year, they progressed to welding and using the plasma cutter. The culminating task for Semester 2 was to design and produce a metal art sculpture using recycled metal objects. Their creativity shone through with a large variety of very interesting finished pieces.

Certificate II in Engineering Pathways students, produced quality work such as a toolbox with insert, fishing gaff, folding camp BBQ, meat mallet and worked on a project to refurbish shelving in the metal storeroom.

Chantal Bennet

HOD, INTAD/Home Economics

Year 9 DAT -Eco Lamps 

The Eco Lamp project combines research, design, and production.

Students researched Product Life Cycle Analysis to understand how design decisions affect sustainability and societal needs before, during and after a product is in use.

Next, we created multiple design concepts, then a 2D and 3D drawing of the student’s chosen design.

Lastly students created their unique eco lamp from long lasting materials such as Sycamore timber and aluminium, which are also easily recycled when needed.

Ramon Affleck

Industrial Technology & Design Teacher

Year 10 Engineering - Metal Artworks

Students defined the needs and wants of a ‘client’ to guide the design stage.

Designing included sketching a concept and finding scrap metal to incorporate or alter (thanks to Myers Engineering and Wayne Leonard Motor Cycles for donations).

Students then used a plasma cutter, grinder, hacksaw, file and propane torch to shape components, and threading tools and welders to create their unique art piece.

Ramon Affleck

Industrial Technology & Design Teacher

HPE

Year in Review – 2023

Term 1

HPE started the year with our junior 7 and 8 HPE classes and our Year 12 Sport and Recreation classes completing a water safety and pool lifesaving unit at the pool. This was to familiarise the students with different types of distressed swimmers they may encounter at different types of water locations.  Students then learnt how to complete the safest type of water rescue. This was also a great lead into our all-school swimming carnival held week 5.

Our Year 10 Students learnt how to keep each other safe from harm around peer pressure and party situations while our year 11 Sport and Recreation students implemented their learnings about team cohesion and the importance of this in creating a successful sport team.

Term 2

This term our Year 7,8 and 9 students all practiced and learnt the correct techniques for the many athletic events they would encounter at an athletics carnival. This unit of work is a great lead into the whole school athletics carnival held in Week 6.

The Year 10 Health students developed a health campaign raising the awareness of the importance of organ donation.

The Year 12 Cert III in Health students participated in the PARTY program run at the Cairns Base Hospital and were given an excellent insight to how a hospital works with many opportunities to be involved in mock emergency scenarios. The PARTY program also informs our students around making smart choices when in or around cars to prevent trauma due to accidents. The Year 12 Health students also attended a Careers in Health Breakfast where they discovered the many jobs in the health industry.

The year 11 Sport and Recreation students learnt and practiced outdoor and adventure activities where they demonstrated low impact camping and culminated all their learning into a day excursion to Babinda creek where they were able to demonstrate their low impact camping skills.

The year 12 Sport and Recreation students finalised their coaching unit by coaching Woree State Primary students’ years 2-6. Thank you, Woree SS, for providing our students with this opportunity.

Term 3

The Year 7, 8 and 9 HPE classes all worked on various games and sport with a focus on tactics and team cohesion. This built valuable skills that could be transferred to the inaugural Junior Secondary Sport Competition, where our Year 8 and 9 students play each week against other schools in the Cairns area.

The Year 10 students all participated in different types of training from gym circuits to HIIT sessions. These experiences provided valuable information for students to developed their own training session.

The Year 11 Sport and Recreation students developed and delivered a strength and conditioning training program for their client – a partner in class.

The Year 12 Cert. III in Fitness class developed fitness training circuits and challenges that encouraged full participation by the Year 9 HPE classes. Each class were challenged the other HPE classes for fastest times, most students who completed the course and best overall class completing the course in a set time.

The Year 12 Sport and Recreation students worked in teams to develop some interesting tournaments that the junior HPE students were able to participate in.

The Year 11 and 12 Health students spent a day at the Bentley Park College Medical precinct and completed a module on infection control within a health setting.

Term 4

The Year 7 HPE students developed healthy eating campaigns, The Year 8 HPE students developed new indigenous games, the year 9 HPE students developed a Health initiative for a minority group at Woree SHS to help get them more active.  The Year 10 students developed a new game for those with a physical disability and able bodies players who can play together. The purpose of the game is to create a more inclusive environment for those people with a physical disability.

Year 11 Sport and Recreation students developed a new sport or game which the junior HPE classes were able to learn and play. 

Trish Goodwin

HOD, HPE

SPORT

Sport in Term 4, well in fact the whole year, has been massive for our HPE staff and students, with a brilliant year of many successes both on and off the field. Sports Carnivals, X Country, JSS and CISSA, TCS/PEN/QLD representatives and the many extra-curricular sports – Flagship sports, Rugby League, Volleyball and Netball have kept the HPE staff on fire.

1. The biggest news over the last 5 weeks of Term 4 are our sports award winners. Congratulations to these fine young sports people, you certainly earnt your award and I look forward to seeing great results across all sports in 2024.

Junior Female: Ricki G 

Junior Males: Samu N & Walter E 

Senior Female: Catherina W 

Senior Male: Romeo K

Sam Harreman

Sports Coordinator

NOTE: Please see the TCS/PEN/CISSA calendar for 2024.

Humanities / Business Studies

Business And Economics

This term, Year 8 Business and Economics have been looking at different types of businesses and what it takes to become an entrepreneur. As a class we have watched several episodes of Shark Tank to get our creative juices flowing. Ms Shepherd's APEX class then began working in groups to develop business ideas and a business plan. There were some unique business ideas from the groups. I believe our future is in great hands! 

Jodi Shepherd

Engagement, Humanities and English Teacher 

Library / Resource Centre

Read over the holidays…

All students have access to eBooks and AudioBooks over the holidays via our Wheeler’s book platforms

https://woreeshsp.eplatform.co/ https://woreeshs.eplatform.co/

There is an app to download if you have a mobile device and don’t want to read on your computer.

Students have been emailed their username and passwords.

2024 Book Collection Dates: mark these in your Calendar

Year 11/12: Books can be collected from 8am to 3pm Monday 15^th January to Wednesday 17 January, from the school library.

Year 10: Books will be handed out in maths classes in week 1-2

Year 7-9: Books will be handed out in maths classes in week 3-5

BYOx

Woree State High School now fully supports BYOx Link for students (Bing Your Own Device) .

BYOx Link service allows students to securely access the IT network, school email and mobile learning applications on their own devices. It provides seamless access to digital learning resources between school and home.

Woree State High School has also introduced a Student Device Resource Scheme to provide technology options that are affordable to families.

Student Device Resource Scheme offers families the opportunity to purchase a new device from the school on a payment plan. 

Please see the Woree State High School website for more information including Vendor portals, supported devices and Student Device Resource Scheme options.

https://woreeshs.eq.edu.au/calendar-and-news/news/byox-information

The IT team, David Mead, Lelvin Law and Scott Morrison would like to thank Zane Bennett for all his assistance to the IT Dept in 2023. David  become a valuable member of the team this term whist on work experience and we wish him the best of luck for his future endeavours.

David Mead

HOD, IT

Link and Launch

Graduated Year 12 in the past few weeks and not sure what you want to do or how to make it happen? Our free Link and Launch program may be able to help you. Please call or text Benjamin Holt on 0436684280 or email bholt43@eq.edu.au to discuss how the Link and Launch program can support you. #linkandlaunch 

Mathematics

The Year in Review

2023 was a great year for the maths faculty.  We welcomed new staff members, Mr Narayan and Ms Kasey into the maths faculty, and continued to create a productive learning space in C block for all maths students.  Our newest students, the Year 7s, began the year in a positive manner with teachers creating a welcoming class environment, and also teaching the behaviour expectations required for all to have success and reach their mathematics potential.

All students were engaged in learning opportunities developed using the Australian Curriculum.  It was great to see some classes utilising the maths resources and outdoor areas to learn about trigonometry, area and Venn diagrams! Assessment tasks were developed to allow learners to demonstrate their learning, and the innovated marking guides highlighted the success and achievement of their learning.  The junior secondary assignments are an engaging way for students to show their learning, with the Year 7 NRL data investigation proving to be very popular.

The Year 12 students studying Essential Maths, General Maths and Maths Methods, completed their final year of their course, and we are all proud of their efforts and excited to see their final results.  We wish them all the best!

The maths faculty would like to thank all students for their efforts this year, and working to their academic potential.  We would also like to thank the parents and caregivers for the support you give to your student, and the Woree State High School community.  As a staff, we value your contribution and the communication. 

We look forward to a successful year of learning in 2024. 

Mark Stubbs

HOD, Maths HOD

SchoolTech

A Great Year for SchoolTech

In 2023 the SchoolTech program continued to thrive. Along with general high school and trade studies, all students were also engaged in work experience placements two days a week, with some excellent feedback from employers on their performance. Throughout the year some of these students were offered school-based apprenticeships - well securing a future career.

All students studied to complete certificate qualifications in Electrical and Plumbing, Construction and Plumbing, Engineering and Automotive (Metal Fabrication and Diesel Fitting), Engineering and Maritime, and the Shoreline Program.

As part of their sport and recreation studies, Year 12 students completed vital lifesaving and CPR training at Tobruk Pool and Year 11 students hiked the Douglas track up to Glacier Rock, enjoying a cool swim after the trek. Year 11 students also braved the high ropes course at Holloways Environmental Education Centre. It was great to see many students being encouraged by their classmates to overcome their fear of heights.

Several opportunities arose for our students to market the SchoolTech/Shoreline program. At the Business Liaison Association Career Expo two of our young Shoreline ambassadors shared their experiences of the program with the public.

The much-anticipated annual Paintball event at Babinda was great fun with many using this opportunity for “revenge,” several staff and students came away with quite a few bruises but were very pleased with the activity.

On 25 October schooling finished for our Year 12s. Everyone looked glamourous and polished as they entered the Hilton Hotel for their Graduation Ceremony.

We wish all the Year 12s the best of luck for their future endeavours and a successful 2024 for the new Year 11 and 12 cohort. 

Carmel Iivonen

HOD SchoolTech

Science

2023: A Year in Review

The Science faculty has undergone a few changes throughout the year 2023. We welcomed three new powerhouse teachers; Joel Casey, Kasey Casey and Chris Ransom to our department and also farewelled a pillar of our community, Mark Sperring, whom we all wish the best of luck with this next stage of his teaching journey.

Year 7 Science

The Year 7 cohort arrived to us bright eyed and bushy-tailed and they were keen to learn. We started off with our physics unit where they learned about energy and forces and the unseen role they play in everyday life. We then moved on to our Earth and Space Science unit where the students learned about how the sun and moon, 150 million km (1 Astronomical Unit) and 385, 000 km away respectively, cause changes here on our home planet. These changes include the seasons and the tides. This was followed up with a biology unit, where students covered the classification of organisms and how this occurs. Students were encouraged to investigate what makes organisms different from each other based on structures they have. We rounded out the year with a unit on chemistry, where students were able to explore the physical and chemical nature of substances and how these properties allow the substance to be separated when combined in a mixture.

Year 8 Science

The Year 8 classes returned and we got straight into it, continuing building their chemistry knowledge. We started off with looking at physical and chemical changes of substances and what happens at the atomic level for both of them. Then we moved on to Earth and Space Science, this time taking a keen interest in the rock cycle, different types of rocks and how they can be used in real life. Term 3 saw this application of physics to a fun real world scenario of rollercoasters. Students looked at the relationship that occurs between drop height and energy for a moving body. We then rounded out the year by exploring the human body from its cells up to its systems. This unit saw the kids dissecting a range of bovine body parts and porcine plucks.

Year 9 Science

Year 9 Science began with an electrifying amount of energy, where students investigated heat, light, sound and electricity. We then moved on to Term 2 where disasters were discussed and their impact on humanity and society was explored. Students looked at plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanism and tsunamis and how they impacted everyone that survives these disastrous occurrences. The students then explored the human body and how it is impacted by changes to homeostasis. Students experimented with the effect exercise had on the circulatory and respiratory systems. We finished off the year by investigating chemistry in a more conceptual way, looking at atoms, ions and the reason different chemical reactions occur as well as investigating radioactivity and isotopes.

Year 10 Science

Year 10’s began their school year by exploring the world of genetic modification and GMO’s as part of their biology unit. We looked at how organisms had had their DNA modified to become more resilient, produce their own pesticides, break down phosphorous and even glow in the dark! We then changed gear to explore physics and how energy changes into motion. Term 3 saw the completion of their chemical knowledge by looking at and investigating chemical reactions and the factors that affect them. We finished off the year by investigating how the universe was formed and where the Earth sits in the universe. We also looked at how the Earth’s four spheres work together to keep life sustained on the planet.

Aquatic Practices

Aquatic practices saw students completing many different activities from designing boats, and driving boats to making and testing fishing lures. Students also engaged in the study of aquaculture and tried their hardest to keep 70 yabbies alive across three different tanks. Sadly some of the yabbies became extra territorial and decided that their neighbours were tasty looking snacks. We were ultimately left with Gary the Alpha at a whopping 23cm from tip to tail!

Biology

Biology saw the Year 12s starting out the year with an investigation into biotic and abiotic factors and the relationship between them at Holloway’s Beach Environmental Education Centre. They then hit the books hard to research and investigate the many uses of biotechnology and gene modification in the modern world. The Year 11s worked through foundational biology looking at cells and cellular functions before investigating homeostasis and immune responses.

Chemistry

The Year 12 chemistry class engaged in a range of experiments including measuring the acidity or alkalinity of common household substances. They also had the opportunity to attend JCU for the Royal Australian Chemical Institute Titration Competition. Sadly we were not the winners but did leave knowing some of our students were the most accurate at titration in the whole competition.

Marine Science

The marine science students got the opportunity to collect many, many data points on the reef and at Green Island this year. There were many surveys done throughout the year that have allowed students to look at and investigate species diversity and reef health. They will get to use these points in their studies next year.

Physics

Physics, had a rollercoaster of a year. Literally. This year saw the Year 11 and Year 12 students participating in the biennial physics trip to the Gold Coast so students can investigate the physics of rollercoasters and bodies in wind tunnels. Mr Davies and Ms Collins assure me that it wasn’t all fun and games and the students worked hard every night of the trip, collating, analysing and interpreting data. The students also got the opportunity to engage with QUT and explore what university life was like whilst on this trip.

Ultimately it has been a whirlwind year for the Science faculty and we all cannot wait to do it all again, with all our students again next year.

Alan Bradshaw

Head of Department (Acting) – Science

Aquatics Practices

Year 11 Aquatics Trip to the Reef

As part of the Aquatic Practices syllabus students are required to learn how to conduct an Eye on the Reef rapid monitoring survey. To accomplish this, we spent half a term researching the 12 indicator species that the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority ask citizen scientists to take note of, then we travelled to the reef to put our assessing skills into action.

We travelled on board the wave piercer Evolution to the Outer Barrier Reef and conducted our Eye on the reef surveys at Saxon and North Hastings reefs. It was truly amazing weather and we collected some excellent data. All 37 students that travelled had an excellent day.

Lucas Cowie was my snorkel buddy for the first site, Saxon Reef, and we had the privilege of watching a Moray eel travel 50m across the reef to have its teeth cleaned at a cleaning station. This was amazing to see and a definite highlight for both of us.

Cooper Gall was my snorkelling buddy for Site 2, North Hastings, which is one of my favourite sites off Cairns. We came across a 3m long Tawny Nurse shark laying on the bottom relaxing. She came up off the bottom and swam with us. Tawny Nurse sharks have 2 different types of muscle, which allows them to lay still, whereas other species of sharks have to keep moving to maintain water flow over their gills, or they drown. Cooper was positive that he was going to die, but managed to survive seeing the most beautiful and gentle of all the sharks in the ocean. We have been taught to fear sharks but generally they are one of the most exciting and pleasant animals to be in the water with. Cooper witnessed how graceful they are first hand.

Ms Keirle

Aquatics Practices Teacher and Year 11 Coordinator

Student Council

Sit and Chat New Space

During Term 4, the SRC purchased 6 new bench seats to install around the trees of the oval. The large tree provides beautiful shade on the oval, and the 6 bench seats have been placed around the tree, allowing for conversation and a nice place to sit.

During Week 8, our fantastic grounds crew installed the seats with some lucky Year  7 students enjoying the new seats during Period 4 as a brain break from assessments.

Through the schools Containers for Change Recycling program, we hope to install additional seats throughout 2024.

Brooke Byars

Year 7 Coordinator, Tourism/Humanities Teacher

Student Support Services

The Year that was in J Space

We have had a wonderful year in ‘J Space’! Our student services staff including Guidance Officers, Community Education Counsellor, School-based Youth Health Nurse, Chaplain, Transitions Pathway Officer, Social Worker and Out-of-home-care Teacher Aides have worked tirelessly to support students with their social-emotional needs, relationships, behaviours and emotional regulation, physical and mental health, cultural needs, pathways, and of course making a toastie or two!

In 2023, we had Irna Spigariol join us as Guidance Officer, and more recently Kelly DeVries as our Chaplain. We were also joined by external agency outreach by Lives Lived Well, a fantastic opportunity for students to access external supports whilst at school. This year saw us run another successful Wear it Purple Day, along with Harmony Festival, NAIDOC, RUOK Day and Mental Health Week.

In 2024 we look forward to a school-based Police Officer being based at Woree SHS a couple of days a week, in what is a growing team to support the needs of students so that they can better access learning at school. Our team is looking forward in continuing to inspire, educate and support our young people to thrive.

Phebe Moore

Guidance Officer

A Word from Admin

Important Information

Student Statements are issued on a monthly basis, please contact Administration if you have not received your child’s Statement to ensure your details are correct.

Please ensure your fees are up to date, alternatively if you are having financial difficulties, please contact our Accounts Receivable Officer on 4081 5222 to discuss payment plans and options.

Early Departures – If your student needs to leave school early during the school day for an appointment a note needs to be brought to the school, alternatively you can use the yellow absence note in the back of the student planner. Students must come to the office to sign out before leaving the school grounds.  There is an increasing number of parents/carers ringing the school wanting to sign their student out immediately with no notice.

Student Illness – Students need to advise their class teacher if unwell and present themselves to sick bay so a parent/carer can be notified. Students are not to call parents directly to collect them without first notifying sick bay.

Concerns and Complaints – Parents/carers are encouraged to discuss classroom issues/concerns with the class teacher first. If the issue is unable to be resolved, parents/carers are encouraged to make an appointment with either the subject Head of Department, Year Level Coordinators, Responsible Behaviour Officer or Deputy Principal Student Services to discuss the matter further.

Student Absences

Student absences are monitored regularly. It is the parent/carers responsibility to ensure all student absences are explained. This can be communicated by:

Are your Contact Details Up to date?

Communication between parents/carers and Woree State High School staff relies on your contact details/postal address, home/work/mobile phone numbers and email addresses) being up to date.

If you have changed your postal address, phone number/s, email address or emergency contacts recently, please contact the Administration Office as soon as possible to update your details.

Electronic Sign

Please continue to watch out for important news and messages on our electronic notice board at the front of the school.  The sign is a valuable asset to our school for advertising and communicating a variety of messages to our students, parents/carers and the wider school community. 

Uniform Shop

We are a uniform school as determined by the P&C Association.

The image we present to our community is important to maintain the positive reputation of which we are so proud. At all times, students are required to wear appropriate footwear (closed in shoes). In the event a student is unable to wear their uniform, a note from the parent/guardian is required.

Please note that our school policy is that students are to only wear either a school jersey/jacket or a plain black or maroon jumper ie: no logo or hoodie.

The Uniform Shop is open every Wednesday between 8:00 – 9:00 am.

EFTPOS is available for all purchases.

A limited range of second-hand uniforms are available for purchase. Any donations of good quality used uniforms are welcomed.

Important Times and Dates

PLEASE NOTE: Administration opening hours to the public during the week 15/1/2024-19/1/2024 will be 8am to 3pm Monday to Friday.

Uniform Shop opening hours for this week will be 8am to 2pm Monday  to Friday.

Class Times, Semester 1 - 2024

Useful Information on School Travel

Students have a responsibility in having appropriate behaviour when travelling on bus networks whether that urban or school and need to abide by the Code of Conduct for School Students Travelling on Buses. There are guiding principles which the Queensland Government has outlined and this includes appropriate behaviour, paying the correct fare and safe travel .

Information on the fare and zones of the urban bus network in Cairns, including the network map, is available at www.translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares or by contacting Translink’s 24/7 call centre on 13 12 30.

Should you have any questions regarding school services, please do not hesitate to contact cairnsschools@Sunbus.com.au

Have you Downloaded the QParents App Yet?

Invitations to the App are emailed to the Primary caregiver nominated from the School BSM. Please check your emails and follow the instructions.

Special Interest

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