Gordonvale State High School is offering for sale by public tender a number of railway posts.

A reserved price will exist and will be sold on an ‘as is’ basis. The present condition is fair but cement footings are still attached. Any delivery charges after the purchase are to be borne by the buyer. No warranties are implied or given. The item can be inspected by appointment by phoning the school on 4043 3222. Tenders close at the school office on Friday 31st of March 2017. Department of Education reserves the right not to accept the tender. All tenders to be in a sealed envelope marked ‘Confidential – Offer for Railway Posts Attention: The Business Services Manager, Gordonvale State High School, PO Box 66, Gordonvale 4865. All tenders are to include the application form which is available on our website: gordonvalehigh.eq.edu.au.

For Sale by Tender

Cairns Rotary Debating Competition

For the past three frantic weeks, eight students have been feverishly constructing and devising clever and witty speeches to present in the Cairns Rotary Interschool Knock Out Debating Competition. Gordonvale was one of only four state high schools in the competition. In the Junior division Grade 8 students Leyhani Bennet, Annalyce Salmon, Chuyee Vang and Indy Kendall competed as the negative team with the topic “Zoos should be abolished.” They were opposed by St Augustine’s and after a thoughtful and well presented debate, Gordonvale lucked out. Each student is to be commended for their bravery and talented delivery and are all eager to continue debating and public speaking in the future. What was amazing to see from these juniors

was that their opposition were 2 years older with more experience. For the Senior division, veterans Charlee Rose Paron and Georgia Buckle were joined by newcomers Liam Tracey and Elizabeth Honnef as the affirmative team for “Is Australia a Nanny State”. Georgia and Elizabeth delivered thought provoking, punchy speeches with Georgia’s rebuttal a highlight. Charlee then summarised in an eloquent and passionate speech ultimately to no avail against a catchy and clever St Augustine’s. Despite this setback Elizabeth and Liam are set to continue for next year. Charlee and Georgia are to be congratulated for an incredible 3 years of hard work, courage and determination and have set the future standard for public speaking quite high. There is no debate about it, as a school Gordonvale State High School is beginning to assert itself in public speaking. Thank you to the students involved, you are to be commended of your efforts and thank you to the parents who supported, without you it wouldn’t be possible.

Mr Troyahn

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. This year two staff members attended the Cairns Council's International Women's Day Breakfast which celebrated women who have made an outstanding contribution to the Cairns community. The event was held at the Hilton Cairns and featured key speakers discussing current topics for women in all walks of life. A special mention must go to our HOD of Maths, Jo Paratore as she was nominated this year for her outstanding contribution for her work in all things STEM. Congratulations!

International Women’s Day

From The Principal

Personal Excellence, Successful Futures Respect...Quality...Honesty...Safety

Issue 4 - 2017

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, 22nd March—Year 7 Camp Forms & Money

Due Wednesday, 28th until

Friday 30th March—Year 7 Camp at Quinola Lakes

Friday 31st March—Last Day of Term 1

Monday, 17th April—Easter Monday

Tuesday, 18th April—Cyber Safety Talks Year 7 & 8

Reminder—Please return Cyber Safety

Permission Forms for all Year 7 & 8

Students & Year 7 Camp forms &

payment

85 Sheppards Street

PO Box 66

Gordonvale Qld

4865

Phone: (07) 4043

3222

Fax: (07) 4056

3990

Email:

admin@gordonvalehigh.eq.edu.au

Web:

www.gordonvalehigh.eq.edu.au

Farewell to long term Staff Member, Veronica Johan

Veronica Johan commenced her role as Community Education

Counsellor with Gordonvale SHS in 2000. She has counselled,

mentored, supported, encouraged and tutored hundreds of our

students during this time. Veronica has a genuine interest in

the welfare of our youth. She spends many hours in and out

of school hours supporting students through difficult times, particularly

students who have faced traumatic events in their short lives. She has given

countless hours to engaging students in leadership opportunities that promote

self-esteem and self-confidence. Veronica ensures that students transition

well into the world of work, spending many a holiday period supporting senior students with written

applications, resume writing and job interviews. She has even sourced the employment opportunities

for students herself. The very fact that her office is jam packed with students during every recess is

testimony to the love and appreciation our students have for her.

Whilst the decision to leave Gordonvale SHS did not come easy, Veronica is looking forward to using

her strong counselling skills with Act for Kids on the Gold Coast. In her farewell speech, last Friday,

she thanked all staff and the local community for making her time at Gordonvale SHS so enjoyable.

She impressed on all who attended her farewell ceremony, that it is her love for her students that

makes the decision to move to the south east the most difficult of all. We wish Veronica all the very

best.

New Meningococcal ACWY vaccination program From Term 2, 2017, the Meningococcal ACWY

vaccination program will be offered to all Year 10 students through the Queensland School

Immunisation Scheme. Vaccinating students is a means of protecting individuals and the community

against the potentially life-threatening meningococcal disease. We will advise all parents/carers of the

immunisation date once a date has been confirmed by the immunisation provider.

Remember that the Public Health Act 2005 now allows schools to disclose specific student and parent

information to approved school immunisation providers.

Free Mental Health Services for Your School Community A Commonwealth Funded Service

(ATAPS – Access to Allied Psychological Services), is now available to all community members. The

Service is facilitated through a not-for-profit, Non-Government Organisation based in Cairns called

Health Reimagined. Health Reimagined manages Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) for

Far North Queensland. Health Reimagined has facilitated and delivered services since 2012.

ATAPS Fast Facts:

Free focussed psychological services funded by the Australian Government

Service available to children and adults

A referral is required from a General Practitioner, Royal Flying Doctor Service, QLD Health or

mental health professional

To access ATAPS services – ask your doctor or health centre about ATAPS (print brochure and

take to your doctor

Patients referred can receive up to 18 sessions with a psychologist/mental health professional

per calendar year

Suicide prevention referrals receive up to 18 sessions in a 2 month timeframe

Delivery via face-to-face, telephone or videolink

Over 45 psychologists/mental health professionals ready to talk and assist the Far North

Queensland, Torres & Cape York community

Jan Carr

Maths Tutoring—Junior &

Senior Tutoring available

for all Maths subjects.

Tuesday afternoon 3-4pm.

Juniors C08 Seniors C09.

Come along and get some

help with homework,

assessment or just improve

your skills.

Farewell Veronica

Health Reimagined- ATAPS Administration Team – Contact Details: Phone (07) 4044 8927 Fax 1800 152 551 Referrals Referrals@healthreimagined.com.au Enquiries ATAPS@healthreimagined.com.au Email info@healthreimagined.com.au Website www.patientopinion.org.au

STUDENT CARS It is now that time of the year when we have an increasing number of our Year 12 students driving to school. I re-

mind all members of our school community about the responsibilities of student driving:

• Students are to register their cars with the school’s administration

• Student cars are to be parked on Sheppards Street

• All passengers must have lodged written permission from parents with administration

• Drivers are to obey road rules at all times.

SCHOOL UNIFORMS Finally, a reminder that in Terms 2 and 3, as the weather cools, students may wear a plain black jumper to

school or purchase the school’s spray jacket. Our school P&C sell our school uniform through our school tuckshop. Please, consider

purchasing school uniforms through our tuckshop when new student uniforms are required. Our supplier of uniforms must provide certi-

fication that our uniforms are not made in overseas sweat shops. In addition, our uniforms are made from a superior fabric therefore

guaranteeing durability. The most important thing to remember is when you purchase a school uniform through our tuckshop, whilst is

may be slightly more expensive than local retailers, any small profit made, goes back into the school.

Thank you for your co-operation with these uniform issues.

The last day for school this term is Friday March 31 and school recommences on Tuesday, April 18. I wish you all a happy and restful

Easter break and I look forward to continuing our learning journey next term.

This year our year 7 and 9 students will be participating in NAPLAN online. This means that students will now do

the four NAPLAN tests (Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language and Numeracy) over nine days online. Previ-

ously the paper tests were run over three days.

The benefits of students taking part in NAPLAN online include:

Better assessment and more precise results - as NAPLAN online uses a tailored test design where the test

automatically adapts to a student’s performance and asks questions that allow students to better demon-

strate their knowledge.

A fast turnaround of results - which provide opportunities for teachers to respond to students’ learning needs sooner.

More engaging – research has shown that students engage well with electronic tests.

In term 2 our year 7 and 9 students will participate in practice NAPLAN online tests to become familiar with the test environment and

procedures as well as to gain some confidence in the types of questions they will be asked in the Writing and Numeracy tests.

The practice tests will occur from Wednesday 26 April until Tuesday 2 May. The actual NAPLAN tests will be run from Tuesday 9 May

until Friday 19 May. A schedule for these tests will be available from next term.

If you want to see what NAPLAN online looks like go to http://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/naplan-online/naplan-online-public-

demonstration-site

NAPLAN Online

In Queensland during 2016, there

was a rise in numbers of meningo-

coccal disease. Whereas most people

fully recover, some who survive can

develop long term health complica-

tions including limb deformity, skin scarring, deafness and possible loss of brain function. Some strains that have been on the rise in

2016 also have a higher death rate.

The Queensland Government is offering free meningococcal ACWY vaccination to all Year 10 students through the School Immunisation

Program. Information and permission forms for these vaccinations will be sent out early in term 2. Year 10 vaccinations is planned for

Thursday 15 June at Gordonvale State High School. Young people aged between 15 and 19 can also get a free vaccination from their

doctor or immunisation provider. While the vaccine is provided free by the Government, the doctor may charge a consultation fee.

For more information on the Menigococcal CWY vaccination program visit:

https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/640147/faq-meningococcal-acwy-program.pdf

Student Leaders—Council Visit On Friday the 10th of March, the student leaders were privileged

to receive a visit from Counsellor Brett Moller, and Cairns

Regional Council member Nikki Williams. The student leaders

were given the opportunity to have our say in the development

of the Kenrick Street Park. We worked through an activity in

small groups, and

throughout this, we

discussed aspects of the

park that were positive,

negative, and also shared

some ideas on what could

be added or changed.

There were brilliant ideas

shared, from adding in

toilets, to more shaded

seating areas. As well as

this, we discussed the

highlights of Cairns

Southside, and many of

us shared similar thoughts. This workshop presented a fantastic opportunity for our leaders, as

locals and as youth, to put forward our ideas and have members of the Council prepared to action

our thoughts if possible. Counsellor Brett Moller, and Nikki Williams will be returning to our school

in the near future to inform us on the progress made in the improvement of Kenrick Street Park.

Nostalgia—School Dance On Friday the 10th of March, the Social Captains held the first school dance of the year. The theme was Nostalgia – take a trip down memory lane and experience your childhood memories all over again. Much fun and laughter was shared by all, as well as some sweet moves during the dance-off with Shayna Lancaster as the winner. Thank you to all the student leaders, volunteers and staff who gave their time to run the dance – it would not have been possible without you.

Caitlan McAnally & Kadla Ellis Gonthier (GSHS Social Captains).

Australian Red Cross Cent

Sale

Come along to the

Gordonvale Branch Red Cross Cent Sale

Venue: Gordonvale State Primary

School

Date: Saturday 25th March 2017

Time: Doors open at 1pm - 2pm

start

Admittance: $3.00

Great prizes, raffles, lucky door, delicious afternoon tea

Remember to ‘like’ and ‘follow’ Gordonvale State

High School’s facebook page for news and

information on all upcoming events.

Don’t forget—Permission form, medical form plus payment must be

received by Wednesday, 22nd March for students to attend camp.

Heya everybody! Already we find ourselves nearing the school holidays. We have once again had a flurry of planning and activities sweep the school… One of which was the visit of the theatre company “PHUNKTIONAL” from Melbourne. They had the honour ( :P ) of performing their play LOVE DRUNK for our Year 12 students. The play grappled with some serious issues centred around the topics of teen drinking, racial tension, sexual assault and domestic violence.

Whilst being confrontational, the play was an excellent way to illustrate the consequences, indeed the long term significant consequences, that our day to day choices can have. It brought the following quote to the forefront of my mind: “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.” My hope is that this will have inspired our students to think, “Is this the person I want to be?” Which I believe, is a question we should all be asking ourselves on a regular basis. Well, that just took a bit of a heavy turn… Ending it on a lighter note, most of our students made me incredibly proud with their level of engagement and excellent behaviour on the day. Until next time, Francesca

Cyber Safety Presentation Gordonvale State High School will be hosting a cyber safety for all of our Year 7 & 8 stu-dents on Tuesday, 18th April 2017. Susan McLean from Cyber Safe-ty Solutions is the presenter and has over 21 years of experience in cyberspace. Topics to be covered include:

The Facts

Digital Reputation

Cyberbullying

Online ‘friends’ that are not really a friend

Sexts

Sites & Apps and

Staying Safe Online Letters with permission forms were handed to all Year 7 & 8 students on parade. Please return the consent form for your child to attend to the main office before Friday, 24th March. Additional per-mission forms are available at the main office or by contacting Lyndal Jones on 40433 246 or ljone318@eq.edu.au. Parents/Carers of all students are invited to attend the parent information session from 6pm until 7.45pm. There is no cost to partici-pate in any of the sessions.

Phunktional—’Love Drunk’

Year 8 Business Venture

Clontarf Academy—Opening We would like to invite all Clontarf Academy Students and their families to attend our Gordonvale Academy Opening on Wednesday 22nd March from 3:00pm - 4:00pm. On the day we will be playing a range of modified sports, presenting students attendance awards and will update everyone on the upcoming "Big Day Out's" occurring in week 10. This will also be a great opportunity to come and mix with other families and check out our new Academy Room. A sausage sizzle and drinks will be provided. Look forward to seeing you there! Cheers Cameron

This term in year 8 business our students are putting their knowledge into practise by running their own business venture. Students worked hard in groups developing their business ideas and then presented their business pitch to the class. As a class we voted on which idea we would like to adopt as a whole class ven-ture. The ideas were so great that we decided to run two business ventures this term. The first venture is called Kids Galore and our students will be running their business at the Mount Sheri-dan markets on Sunday the 26th of March. This group will be selling a variety of show bags and splat balls. The other business venture is called Slimy Business and they are selling homemade slime. This business will be run online using the school facebook page and they will use this medium to advertise and take orders. The slime will be available for pick up after school on the last day of term but students will be taking orders for the next few weeks. It is terrific to see our students excited and engaged in this venture and we look forward to hearing of their success.

Something’s Brewing in the Hospitality Kitchens!

The Year 12s are honing their barista skills, getting ready for our student café that kicks off in Term 2. Meanwhile our Year 11s are gearing up for their first assessment where each student must individually prepare a café quality meal for a panel of tast-ing judges. They just need to decide which meal they will cook: Risotto, Eggs Benedict or Butter Chickpea Curry...

Cultural Perspectives

Destinations Program

Six year 11 students recently conducted an industry tour of various arms of the

Cairns Regional Council (CRC). Working in conjunction with external agencies,

the Cultural Perspectives Department has secured an exclusive relationship

with the CRC, in which 4 students will be offered School-based Traineeships

(SBTs).

This partnership is the envy of other Cairns high schools, as the CRC seeks to

explore new ways to increase Indigenous employment within their organisa-

tion. Gordonvale SHS was selected as the school of choice due to the process-

es that are implemented to support senior students in their post-schooling

goals.

In our strategic model of success, only students with exemplary attendance,

behaviour and work ethic are offered the opportunity to apply. Following their

CRC industry tour, students will engage in competitive work experience for one

week before all candidates are interviewed for positions.

Those successful will commence a SBT in Business Operations or Horticulture, in which they complete one practical day a week in addi-

tion to the assessment modules for their Certificate II. Alongside our Senior Secondary Pathways Officer, the Cultural Perspectives De-

partment will closely monitor student engagement and will be in periodic communication with the CRC, Registered Training Organisation

and parents/caregivers.

The two successful horticulture participants will undertake work at the ‘Sugarworld Parklands’, while the two Business Administration

students will conduct their traineeships at the CRC main office and Cairns

City Library. On the day, Brian Connolly, Tyrez Power, Wesley Hedanek,

Laekyn Thomas, Kanika Miller and Heather Miller represented our school

with distinction.

Indigenous Girls in STEM

On Thursday 23rd of February, our school held the inaugural information

session for our new Indigenous Girls in STEM (I.G.I.S.) initiative. Nine stu-

dents from years 8-10, who have demonstrated an interest and capability

in scientific learning, participated in a lunch-time workshop in the library. In

this time they met with female science staff and were guided though a

multi-modal presentation on the project’s learning goals.

The I.G.I.S. project seeks to provide an additional platform in which young

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls can engage with the exciting

world of STEM research. Our strategy is that this project will grow over the

next three years and have a direct positive impact on student enrolment

within science / higher-order maths subjects in year 11 and 12.

Throughout the year participants will engage in a long-term scientific study of ‘Turtle Conservation’, as well as periodic and highly engag-

ing ‘stimulus workshops’ from the diverse fields of STEM.

Students and staff will meet every second Thursday in the library/science lab and will have the opportunity to participate in out-of-school

field trips. Our first excursion to the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre is scheduled for week 10.

IGIS Participants

Moniqua Lui, Naomi Mundraby, Chelsea Pearmine, Alexia Laws, Haylee Reeves, Centayne Gobus, Destiny Watson, Janali O'Leary, Janae Crathern, Cheryl-Lee Kemp

Indigenous Leaders

The Cultural Perspectives Department has put out an expression of interest for any students of

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent that would like nominate for a FNQ inter-school Indige-

nous Leadership program.

Junior Secondary students (Year 7-9) may nominate as an ‘Indigenous Leader of the Future’, while

Senior Phase students (Year 10-12) can participate in the ‘Indigenous Leaders of Tomorrow’ pro-

gram. Eight ‘ILT’ students will be selected to attend a 3 day camp with peers from all over North

Queensland in May to enhance their leadership skills and cultural knowledge.

For more information students should approach a member of the Cultural Perspectives Department

in B4 or see school vice-captain Shayna Lancaster.

ILT Student Profile Name: Shayna Lancaster