Woree Highlights - Mid Term 1 Newsletter - February 2024

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been a very busy start to the 2024 school year.

On 5 February we conducted our Year 12 and Student Leader Induction Ceremony. Mr Zac Ballantine, 2017 Woree SHS Graduate and current Woree SHS HPE teacher, gave an inspirational speech about his own experience of high school and post school life, challenging our students to rise above circumstances that could limit their potential to pursue their ambitions.

I wish all of the elected student leaders and Year 12s a successful year ahead as they accept the challenges of representing their peers and providing our student body a voice in 2024.

At the Induction Ceremony, we also acknowledged our 2024 Senior Dux, Ben Keating. Ben is currently having a Gap Year before pursuing a career in the Defence Force.

Our 2024 Student Leaders have had the opportunity to engage in two leadership development days early this term.  They have identified a number of key priorities for their advocacy and leadership this year and we look forward to supporting them to put their ideas into action.

2024 Senior Student Leadership

The 2024 School Captains are:

• Olivia, Vanya, Amrita and Jesse

 Student Ambassadors are:

• Geena and Xybelle

Leaders of Sports are:

• Leticia and Bulou

The Sports House Captains are:

• Wari Wari: Azaria and Shai
• Ngawuyu: Cooper and Leng
• Dumbul:      Jeorjah and Romeo
• Jinggaa: Harley, Nicole and Adonina

The Arts Captain is:

• Jasmin

Valentine’s Day

Our Student Leaders, supported by their Year 12 peers had to jump into action quickly to run the Valentine’s Day senior fundraiser which saw roses and serenades delivered to students and staff throughout the school.  The Year 12s use the funds raised on Valentine’s Day towards their Legacy Gift.

Year 7 BBQ

It was also wonderful to be able to welcome the parents and carers of our Year 7 students at the Year 7 Meet and Greet BBQ.  The students definitely appeared to enjoy taking their parents and carers on a scavenger hunt to find the codes at various locations around the school. 

Education works best when we work together in a partnership with school and home to meet the needs of our students.

Cairns Regional Council Youth Council

On 21 February, I had the absolute honour of attending the Swearing-In Ceremony for the newly elected CRC Youth Council. 

There are 12 Youth Councillors who represent four divisions in the Cairns Regional Council area. 

Woree SHS has three representatives, Milly, Braydon and Olivia, who are the three representatives for the South Division.

Woree SHS actually has the highest number of representatives on the Youth Council of any school in Cairns.

School Planning 2024

At the end of 2023 school leaders and aspiring leaders came together to review the successes and learnings from our 2023 school year.  This team of approximately 30 staff members represented all faculty areas collaborated in the creation of the 2024 Annual Improvement Plan.

The 2024 AIP Priority says:

We will strive for Equity and Excellence by:

• maximising the opportunity for every student to reach their educational potential
• improving the wellbeing of all students and staff
• ensuring students have the literacy skills to enable them to access the full range of future education and career pathways
• embracing the diverse voices of our community to strengthen our culture of inclusion

The strategies we will use to achieve our AIP Priority are:

Build leader capability to:

• Become an expert team with knowledge of the Science of Reading to lead the implementation of reading and writing within the curriculum, developing teaching routines appropriate to each curriculum area

Build teacher capability to:

• Identify and explicitly teach the personal and social capabilities within their curriculum area
• Identify, explicitly teach and assess the cognitions relevant to their curriculum area
• Utilise data to inform planning and differentiation of lessons and assessments so they meet the learning needs of all students
• Utilise Universal Design for Learning to apply appropriate pedagogical and assessment practices to create an engaging and accessible curriculum
• Effectively plan curriculum (including 3 levels of planning) to implement ACv9 and updated QCAA General Syllabuses
• Trauma Informed Practices to enhance engagement and wellbeing
• 4Dimensions Strategies to create an effective classroom environment
• Restorative Practices to develop positive relationships and resolve conflict
• Positive communication with parents/carers to create a partnership to support their students
• Collegial Engagement opportunities to observe peers in order to reflect on, and improve practice and
• Ensure the Woree SHS Teaching and Learning, Behaviour and Wellbeing procedures and frameworks align to the requirements of the DET Equity and Excellence Strategy

School Leadership 2024

Executive Team

Kathryn Todd- Principal

Michael Starr - DP Junior Secondary

Travers Toohey – DP Senior Secondary

Alicia Smith - DP Inclusion

Renee Krause – DP Education Services

Kelly Metcalf – Business Manager

Head of Departments:

Patricia Goodwin (HPE)

Chantal Bennett (INTAD/HEC)

Robert Davies (Digital Technologies/Arts)

Mark Stubbs (Mathematics)

Melinda Geyle (English)

Alan Bradshaw (Science)

Brooke Byars (Humanities/Business)

Brad Wright (Senior Schooling)

Doug Ryan (Junior Secondary)

Jodie Ball (Inclusion)

Jordon Massey (Engagement)

Harrison Dodd/Carmel Iivonen (SchoolTech)

Guidance Officers:

Phebe Moore

Irna Spigariol

Clontarf Manager

Mark Harland

Facilities Update

Over the summer vacation period we completed extensive refurbishments including:

• 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

NAPLAN Online

Our Year 7 and 9 students are currently practicing for NAPLAN Online.  Our Year 7 and 9 students will complete their NAPLAN online tests during Weeks 8 and 9.

Communications will be sent to Year 7 and 9 parents and carers about NAPLAN online.

P&C - 2024

0n Tuesday 19 March the P&C will hold their 2024 AGM.

At the end of 2023 the P&C Executive requested that the school take over the business operations of the P&C (Canteen and Uniform Shop) as they require full time management that the P&C Executive could not do in their capacity as volunteers.

Declining membership of the P&C now means our P&C is at risk of being placed into hiatus.  If you are keen to see the important work of the P&C in fundraising for the school continue, I encourage you to attend the AGM at 5.30pm on Tuesday 19 March 2024.

Regards

Kathryn Todd

Principal

Mobile Phone Policy

Our first newsletter of the year is a good time to remind everyone of the mobile phone expectations at Woree SHS and we urge you to discuss these responsibilities with your student/s. The following is from the school handbook.  

Good News Stories

Striving for Olympic Glory

Stingrays Swimming Club and Woree SHS Year 11 student Sydney, is working hard towards his goal of representing Australia in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. After qualifying for the Australian team trials, Sydney will fly to Brisbane with the aim of being selected for the 200m backstroke and 400m medley (backstroke, breast stroke, butterfly and freestyle) event/s.

Although Sydney has been swimming since the age of four and trains everyday day at the Woree Aquatic Centre, he says he feels both nervous and happy about competing at the trials - happy to compete and nervous competing against other Olympian racers. Sydney is inspired by Olympian swimmers Brendan Smith (400m medley) and Mitch Larrikin (breaststroke).

Sydney’s parents tell him to “just try your best” which is great advice and all of Woree wishes you well.

Editor

Photo – courtesy of Cairns Post.

Playing her Best for Australia

Massive congratulations to Adonina who played for the Australian Wanderers Rugby League U17 Women’s Team over the summer holidays. She played all over the UK including in -4 degree temperatures! Her best moment was making her first tries while representing her country.

Alicia Smith

DP, Inclusion

Scholarship Recipent

Congratulations to Ava (Year 9) who has been awarded a Harding Miller Education Foundation Scholarship. This is a scholarship that recognises and supports education through the potential achievement of the recipient. This is a fantastic start for Ava’s 2024 school year and her future progress.

Alicia Smith

DP, Inclusion

Cold Water on Tap

Students are full of praise for the new chilled water stations installed aound the school during the summer holidays.  

Editor

Year Coordinators Reports

Year 7

Meet and Greet Barbecue

On Wednesday 7 February, Woree SHS hosted the annual Welcome BBQ for our Year 7 students and their families.

The event saw students take part in a scavenger hunt to locate important places around the school and allow them to show their parents and carers that they were confident in moving around the school to find key people and places. The scavenger hunt saw the students going in the draw to win a free Junior School uniform. Congratulations to Chyna and Elfrida, our winners from this competition.

The delicious BBQ was cooked by our wonderful Hospitality students under the supervision of Mrs Bennett along with volunteers from Mrs Byars’ Tourism students and some of the Year 11 4 7’s students assisting the event. The Seniors cooked up a storm with sausage sizzles and steak burgers with the lot for our students and families.

It was a wonderful opportunity for parents and caregivers to meet teachers and staff members in a fun and relaxed atmosphere and get to put names to faces.

Kasey Casey

Year 7 Coordinator

Year 7s First Day at Woree SHS

Year 12

Year 12 Leadership Development Day

On the 29 January the 2024 Leaders travelled to the Escape Rooms at Smithfield. The 18 leaders were broken into 3 teams and each given a room that they had to escape from within a 60-minute timeframe. Unfortunately, none of the teams were able to solve the clues in time to escape but they all had a lot of fun trying.

We then travelled to Cairns council chambers for lunch and the afternoon. The wonderful Kathy Zeiger was our host at the council chambers. She took the leaders into the beating heart of the chambers and allowed each of them to have a turn at sitting in the Mayor’s chair. We then had a presentation from the CEO of Recreation and Leisure, Destry, who talked to us about his life’s journey. He is a wonderfully positive man with a rich Māori cultural heritage that struggled with school but followed his heart and has become extremely successful. It was a brilliant speech that the students really enjoyed.

The rest of the afternoon was spent brainstorming and planning events and fundraisers for 2024.

It was an excellent day and a big thank you to Mr Wright for organising it.

Mrs Keirle

Year 12 Coordinator

GRIP Leadership

On February 9 the 4 School Captains and the 2 Student Ambassadors attended a Leadership Development conference at the Pullman Casino. The conference was run by GRIP Leadership and the leaders of every school in the region were invited to attend.

The day started with some fun games and welcome strategies. Then the primary school separated from the seniors and attended workshops relevant to the level of their schooling. The workshops were; running events and how to make them matter, how to lead when nobody wants to follow, how to make improvement to school culture and how to make improvements to leadership effectiveness. Our leaders enjoyed the workshops and have come back to school enthusiastic and ready to be the biggest and best Year 12 cohort that they can be.

Thanks to Mr Wright for organising the day. It was very beneficial and our students responded well to the material presented and represented Woree with pride.

Mrs Keirle

Year 12 Coordinator

Events and Special Days

Year 12 Student Induction

Monday February 5

Woree State High School’s 2024 Senior Induction was a memorable morning. It was a day where the Year 12s officially became the Seniors of the school, walking across the stage and receiving our senior badges. It was also the first event where the school leaders chaired the event, looking out over the faces of the Year 12s and their proud friends and families.

The morning flowed through nicely; it began with presenting the award of the 2023 Senior Dux, the guest speakers’ speech, the Principle’s speech, and the Year 12s receiving their badges followed by the senior pledge and lastly the vote of thanks.

Writing the senior pledge for our cohort was an honour and I wanted to write something meaningful to us all. When all the Year 12s stood together and took our oath to our school, it certainly all became very real. We stepped up and become role models for the younger students in the school, as well as upholding our school’s values. To conclude the morning, a vote of thanks was given to show our appreciation to our teachers who have helped us through high school, and our families and friends for always caring for us. And finally, a morning tea was provided by the parents/carers, teachers, special guests and Year 12 students. 

Overall, the morning was special for all of us, as we are now leaders of our school, showing our respect and compassion to those who have helped us reach this far. I feel that the Year 12 students now feel ready for the year to come and will be dedicated to our learning and helping others at our school. 

By Amrita 

School Captain

Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day 2024 was an enormous success. The Year 12s sold roses, serenades, and love letters to raise money for our leaving legacy. As our first fundraising event of the year, it was overwhelming as we sold over 72 serenades, 80 roses, and 30 love letters - delivering to 115 students and 45 teachers. It was so amazing to see all the Year 12s dressed up in their love finery and sharing the love across the school. We hope everyone enjoyed their gifts and special serenades and we are so excited about planning our next big fundraiser, “lose your locks for legacy”.

Olivia 

School Captain

The Arts / Digital Technologies

Virtual Reality Classes

A Visit to the Museum

This year a new interactive module has been added to the VR library, “Welcome to the Ancient China Museum,” where students can wander around, touch and explore a fabulous collection of artefacts from Ancient China including food and wine vessels, weapons and everyday tools; they can also follow the landscape of the Silk Road and learn about the famed terracotta horses and warriors. These items reveal much about the daily lives and environments of those living during this period of time.

Our Year 7 History classes have been the first to discover the history of Ancient China through the world of VR. Read what some of our students in Ms Mayberry’s class had to say.

Sabrina Paterson

TA, Digital Technologies/The Arts

ESports

Woree State High School’s VR room was full on Wednesday afternoon with students training and competing in the new Woree State High School’s Esports extra-curriculum program.

Students have been learning and improving their skills in Rocket League, CTR and Beatsaber while learning how to be safe, respectful team-members and gamers.

Rob Davies

HOD, Arts/Digital Technologies

Engagement Programs

Engage, Empower, Learn

Year 8 Engage, Empower, learn have hit the ground running this term. This class is slightly different from last year with Mr Massey and Ms Shepherd sharing the class. So far this term students have been covering a program called why organic which comprises of 3 parts:

1. Farm to Me 
2. Organic for brain, body and being 
3. Get growing. 

This unit has been designed to provide students with an overview of how produce moves from farm to table and how it benefits our health, and we will begin to look at growing your own food towards the end of the term.

Jodi Shepherd

Engagement Teacher

A Visit from the School Nurse

In Week 4, we had a visit from the school nurse, Nurse Fab. Nurse fab spoke about sugar and the impact sugar can have on the body. Students then played a game where they had to match the sugar to the product. 

Jodi Shepherd

Engagement Teacher

Deadly Choices

This term, Deadly Choices is completing a program called Good Quik Tukka. This program uses a hands-on approach to educating and upskilling participants in preparing and cooking healthy meals.

Jodi Shepherd

Engagement Teacher

Market Garden Update

Over the holidays the market garden has become a home for a few nesting curlews. Currently there is still one family in the garden that the students have named Martha and Arthur, they have had two children, Jake and Kate. Due to this, we have not done a whole lot of gardening. However, we have planted some seedlings in trays and also some turmeric and ginger in two raised beds. It won't be long now before Jake and Kate venture off into bird world and we can begin planting out the market garden!

Jodi Shepherd

Engagement Teacher

Stronger Sistas Program

Stronger Sistas is an engagement program delivered to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls between 13-17 years old who have a challenging time engaging in school.

The Program is designed to assist girls in developing positive relationships, resilience building, exploring solutions, connection to culture; whilst also allowing students opportunities to share and develop sisterhood, solidarity and positive support.

This year, we have kicked off the program with a “My Culture and Me” unit, where we are able to share our identity and connect to culture. Mrs Wone and Ms Ulu are excited to showcase a few events coming up this term that involve cultural dancing and a cultural art exhibition for Harmony Day in Week 9.

We are to see what 2024 has in store for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and we believe the program will inspire, equip and empower this generation and the next.

Ms Ulu and Ms Wone

Youth Support Coordinators

English Faculty

It is not true that we have only one life to live; if we can read, we can live as many more lives and as many kinds of lives as we wish. —S.I. Hayakawa

In English we have started 2024 by shining an enthusiastic light on reading books for pleasure, ultimately building pathways to learning through language, knowledge and the imagination. In the ever-changing world of technology, books and the art of storytelling have been reduced to short sharp Tik Tok or Shorts moments in life.

Nothing wrong with that, but there is a difference to ‘entertainment’ that delivers information, to reading, processing and absorbing information. The overstimulation of information overload is exclusive to our screens, whether is the television or our phones whereas a book, is about exploring other worlds, people and situations. Reading is all about process. When we read, we learn to be still, patient and zone out from the world. According to some neurological studies, reading can help us sleep better, become more empathetic and improves our memory function.

To improve our cardiovascular system, we exercise. To improve our memory and brain function we read. In light of this, all year levels from 7-12 have borrowed a personal reader, to read for pleasure, as well as a class book that is read aloud by their teacher or students across the learning week. The book is discussed and a reading journal is kept so students can practice their writing skills, as they record their thoughts and feelings about the book. Our aim is to read as many books as we can, which is recorded in their reading record, and celebrate our relationship to reading in Book Week.

So, parents and caregivers, please encourage your child to read for pleasure, e-books on our library platform and record everything, including comics, in their reading journals to improve vocabulary, comprehension skills, world knowledge and most importantly to allow their imagination to take flight.

Some highlights from the English classrooms:

In Miss Smith’s Year 7 class the students are engaged in heroes. A hands-on activity, where they all need to work together as a team, think critically and under pressure and organise their time to beat the clock and the other teams. Miss Smith described it as a “beautiful chaos”.

Melinda Geyle

HOD, English

Photos: Year 7A embraces the joys of reading.

The Importance of Reading

This year Ms Shepherd's class has started each lesson with "the 10 minute literacy games". These games include literacy boosters which comprises of 5 multiple choice questions that focus on punctuation and spelling, quick read and retell, sizzling start writing tasks and literacy quizzes via Kahoot and Blookets. The winners of the daily games receive prizes such as mentos, salty plumbs or PBL tickets. 

Jodi Shepherd

English Teacher

Research suggests that students who read widely for pleasure achieve academic success.

In all English classes, a 10 minute “Reading for Pleasure” session enhances fluency and comprehension. Students are encouraged to read at home, they can borrow from the school library, the Cairns regional library branches and their English class novel when appropriate.

English teachers will be providing book recommendation lists for interested students or parents, fostering critical thinking, literacy skills and creativity. Contact your student’s English teacher or the school library for personalised recommendations.

Cody-Lee Parsons

English Teacher/ Year 11 Coordinator

HPE / Sport

Senior Secondary Sport (CISSA)
The Woree Warriors have started their 2024 CISSA campaign with solid performances against T-Bay, Bentley & Redlynch High Schools. The draw for the rest of the term is below. Next week we tackle the Cairns Bulldogs!

Rugby League

Starting in Week 6, our Year 7, 8 and ( boys begin their quad Series surge. They will play 13 a side games against Bentley, T-Bay and Cairns in a 4-way competition where finals will be played in the last week of term. 

In Week 7, all of our girls in every year level begin the Karen Murphy Cup competition. The Wari Wqrriors are entering 3 teams into each age group with a very strong presence and hoping to go all the way in 2024!

TCS District Sport

Term 1 is the busiest time of the year for district sport with over 75% of the TCS trials happening from Weeks 3-10. So far, we have had over 50 students selected in teams to trial for their Peninsula team! Be sure to have your child check the noticeboard and collect the paperwork for their relevant trial.

Swimming Carnival

The Woree Swimming Carnival is fast approaching and will be held at the Woree Pool on Friday 15 March. The theme is SUPERHEROES and SUPERVILLIANS, so start getting those costumes sorted now.

Sam Harreman

Sports Coordinator

Humanities / Business Studies

Escape from the Industrial Revolution

Miss Shepherd's Year 9 history class is currently completing a unit on the Industrial Revolution. Before we began our assessment, students participated in an escape room to review this terms work. The escape room was centred around why the industrial revolution began, different inventions of the time and how those inventions made our life easier today. Students had 4 stations to complete to crack the secret code and escape the room. The Mosby Clan escaped the room the quickest and the agreed prize was a packet of salty plums. Well done boys! 

Ms Jodi Shepherd

Humanities Teacher

VR - Supporting Teachers

At the beginning of Term 1, Mr Davies, HOD The Arts/Digital Technologies, invited all Humanities and Business teaching staff to experience Virtual Reality's Humanities units.

Throughout Term 1, Year 7-10 History lessons have enjoyed a lesson on VR, supported by their teacher and Ms Paterson.

Students and teachers have loved the hands on experience.

Brooke Byars

HOD, Humanities

Library / Resource Centre

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

Link and Launch

Graduated Year 12 in 2023 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 

P&C

SchoolTech

Year 11 SchoolTech Kicks off with Enthusiatic Students

The new school year here at SchoolTech started with a rush. After the first couple of weeks of orientation, where they learnt all about the structures and routines of SchoolTech, they have been unleashed on the world of work with 95% having work experience, one day per week. Whilst tiring, this is an essential and enjoyable part of the SchoolTech week.

All students have settled in well, and are relishing the chance to learn skills which will equip them for the work lives they are aiming for.

Paul Anthony and Raf Cooper

Teachers, SchoolTech

SchoolTech's Year 11s Begin Work Experience 

SchoolTech’s Year 11 students have been out and about on work experience. Our Community Liaison Office, Tracey Bujora snapped a few action shots of the young tradies hard at work and it appears they are all having a blast. These students are able to take the skills they have learnt at work experience and apply them both at Tafe and school, ultimately making them highly qualified and employable young adults. A very exciting time for our Year 11 students here at SchoolTech. We are looking forward to watching them grow and develop their skills further over the next 2 years.

Harrison Dodd

Acting HOD, SchoolTech

Shoreline Students  Board for Work Experience

This week the new Year 11 Shoreline students attended their first day of work experience on the Great Barrier Reef. Shoreline provides senior high school First Nations students with educational and employment pathways. Thank you to Experience.Co, Sunlover and Ocean Freedom for supporting the students for their work placement and delivering on the job training as they begin their journey of training for their Coxswains Licence. Their graduation goal is to obtain their QCE, Certificate II in Engineering Pathways, Certificate II in Maritime Operations, First Aid certificate and a Coxswains Licence. We wish them every success for the future.

Tracey Wilson

Science - Aquatic Practices

Year 10 Marine and Aquatic Practices

Our MAQ students start of the year strong by working through and completing their Knot Boards. The students have been diligently practicing tying a variety of knots and analysing their uses in a marine setting. Keep an eye out in M12 for the completed knot boards, proudly displayed!

Sarah Anning

Science Teacher

Year 11 Aquatic Practices

Our AQP students started the term by getting 7 different aquariums ready for our newest residents, Redclaw Crayfish. Please do not touch or disturb the tanks as they are part of the students’ assessments this term and next. Students will be responsible for managing and cleaning their tanks and caring for the cool critters.

Sarah Anning

Science Teacher

Student Council

Having a Voice

This year, the Student Council and Woree Youth Advisory Council (WYAC) are joining forces to present a united front in initiatives and events at Woree – led by student voice and ambassadors, Geena and Xybelle. Our 4 pillars of culture, community, sustainability and engagement will guide the work we do this year for students and the Woree community. Our Woree Voice activity allowed students to come and place their ideas in a box to share with student ambassadors. Four boxes were placed outside J block collecting ideas for “Sustainability, Community, Culture and Engagement.”

Brooke Byars

HOD, Humanities

Student Support Services

Police News

Several schools within the Cairns region have concerns around the use of E-Scooters, (personal mobility devices (PMD)) their use, safety and rules.

Here is an easy-to-understand dot point of the rules and links to Streetsmarts Qld to support riders and everyone they interact with.

E-scooter rules

Rules for riders of e-scooters, e-skateboards (PMD)

• The speed limits for PMDs are 12km/h on footpaths and shared paths, and 25km/h max elsewhere unless signed otherwise
• Fine for using a mobile phone whilst riding
• It is mandatory to wear a helmet (either bicycle or motorcycle)
• Devices with handlebars require bells
• Age limits:
• Only those aged 16+ can ride e-scooters and e-skateboards
• 12–15 year old’s can only ride with adult supervision. (Adult supervisors must have close direct oversight of the juvenile PMD rider at all times to provide direction, guidance and potential intervention)
• Primary school aged children under 12 years, shouldn't be riding e-scooters or e-skateboards
• No passengers – one person only at a time per scooter
• Where to ride:
• Paths – footpaths, shared paths, separated paths and bike paths
• Local streets (speed limit of 50km/h or less with no dividing centre line)
• On-road bike lanes (where the road speed limit is 50km/h or less, or where the lane is physically separated from the road).

• Visit for more details visit  https://streetsmarts.initiatives.qld.gov.au/initiatives/pmd-rules/.

  Below are a list of helpful numbers and links for contacting Police

  If you are in danger phone: 000

  Hoonline Ph: 134666 (13HOON) to report hooning or traffic complaints. 

  School Watch Ph: 131788 Look out for and report any after hours crime in our schools.

  Police Link Ph: 131 444 Non-emergency Police reporting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

  Crime stoppers Ph:1800 333 000 - anonymously report.

  Cairns Police Station Ph: 4030 7000

  For regular police updates please opt to follow us on social media:

  • MyPolice Greater Cairns Facebook Page for further community and crime updates https://www.facebook.com/myPoliceGreaterCairns/
  • MyPolice Far North NEWS website: https://mypolice.qld.gov.au/farnorth/
  • MyPolice Tablelands https://www.facebook.com/myPoliceTablelands
  • MyPolice Cassowary Coast https://www.facebook.com/myPoliceCassowaryCoast
  • MyPolice Cape York https://www.facebook.com/myPoliceCapeYork
  • MyPolice Torres Strait Islands and NPA

  https://www.facebook.com/myPoliceTorresStraitIslandsandNPA

  Follow us on Twitter:      http://twitter.com/QPSmedia

  Like us on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/QueenslandPolice

  Watch us on YouTube:   http://www.youtube.com/QueenslandPolice

A Word from Admin

2024 School Fees 

Student Resource Scheme and Subject Fees for 2024 have now been invoiced for payment by 31 March 2024. 

Please ensure your fees are up to date to ensure students receive access to all school resources.  Parents and Carers are able to view and pay student accounts via the QParents App, payments options are also on the invoice and or statements emailed to parents.  We also offer payment plans to spread the cost of school fees over the school year.

If you are having financial difficulties we may be able to assist. Please contact Kelly Metcalf, Business Manager on bsm@woreeshs.eq.edu.au to arrange a confidential discussion. 

Student Absences

When a student is absent from school, arrive late or depart early, parents/carers are required to supply information to document the absence and encouraged to contact the school in advance or on the same day via:

General Notices

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 log into QParents App and update or alternatively email enrolments@woreeshs.eq.edu.au with details to be updated. 

Uniforms and Student Dress Code

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). Students are to wear their uniform with pride and present themselves in a neat, clean and tidy manner at all times, whether wearing the uniform in school, on excursion or out in the community. 

In the event a student is unable to wear their uniform, a note from the parent/carer 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.

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.

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. 

Important Times and Dates

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 Business Manager. Please check your emails and follow the instructions. If you have not received an invite of wish to have one resent, please email BSM@woreeshs.eq.edu.au  

Tuckshop and Uniform Shop

WARI JIGUUL TUCKSHOP – PROTOCOLS

ORDERING

• All students and staff are encouraged to order through the Flexischools app with ALL LUNCH ORDERS BEING PLACED BY 8:45am.
• To download the app please search Flexischools and then set up a login profile. You will need to link an eftpos card or set up the wallet where parents can control how much money is attached to their child’s account.
• The tuckshop will be available in the mornings from 8:00am - 8:45am for students to order their lunch via cash or Eftpos.
  

LUNCH

3 windows will be open 1^st and 2^nd  lunch where students will line up to receive their lunch orders

1. Years 7 to 10 Students whom have pre ordered their Lunch 
2. Years 11 & 12 Students and Staff whom have pre ordered their Lunch 
3. All Students and Staff whom have not pre ordered (Cash and Eftpos sales, no phone payments please) 

• It is really important that all students line up in the correct line as the orders will be placed in year group baskets at the corresponding window and will allow for timely service.
• We will be using a traffic light system in that Red lines indicate the boundary lines in which only students purchasing from the tuckshop should enter. Orange lines indicate where students are to line up and green squares are where students pick up or purchase their items. 
• Students MUST line up in single file. If a student who is not lined up and pushes in or asks a friend to purchase an item they will be asked to go to the back of the line. It is important that students do not gather in the tuckshop lines and keep the lines moving quickly and efficiently. STUDENTS NOT PURCHASING ITEMS MUST WAIT OUTSIDE THE RED LINES
• Students who line up in the wrong line they will be asked to go to the back of their correct line.
• Students MUST only pick up their own lunch order. If a student forgets to pick up their order it will be repacked for the 2^nd break, after that if the student still does not pick up their order they will forfeit their lunch order. 
  
• Students are not to walk through the tuckshop area i.e. inside the red lines. Please walk around the outside of the red lines.
  

Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop is open every Monday and Thursday  between 8:00 – 9:30 am.

Pre ordering for collection on these days can be ordered via the Flexi Schools app. 

Cash and Eftpos Facilities are available for purchases during open times. 

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

Special Interest

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