O-News 13 September 2023

From the Principal's Desk

Hello Everyone,

As we near the end of this term, I would like to express my gratitude for your ongoing support and involvement in our school community. Your unwavering commitment to your child's education is truly commendable. This was recently affirmed by our Year 10 SET planning process which was held last week. It was outstanding to see so many parents attend the meetings to support their child's career pathway and senior education plan. Over 260 individual interviews were held by our skilled teachers and leaders to ensure all students heading into year 11 in 2024 choose the right subjects for their chosen pathway.

This term I shared with you our school review report highlighting our key affirmations of what we do really well and the key improvement strategies to implement over the next four years. The report was very positive and is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our exceptional students, talented teachers, and supportive community. It is truly a proud moment for all of us.

In Term 4, we will be embarking on an important journey together. We will be initiating a community consultation process for our new four-year strategic plan. Your input and feedback are invaluable in shaping the future direction of our school. We want to ensure that every stakeholder has a voice and an opportunity to contribute to our continued success. I encourage you all to actively participate and share your thoughts during this crucial phase.

Furthermore, I am pleased to inform you that all Gold Coast state secondary schools are collaborating to develop a consistent approach to the mobile phone ban (phones away for the day) recently announced by the government. This joint effort reflects our commitment to creating a safe and focused learning environment for our students. We believe that by working together, we can establish a consistent policy that best serves our students' needs while maintaining a healthy balance between technology and education. We will keep you updated on the progress and implementation of this initiative.

Wishing you all a wonderful term break. Stay safe and take care.

Dan Murtas - Principal

Head of School update

As we come to the end of Term 3, it's a perfect time to reflect on the progress and achievements our students have made. This term has been a whirlwind of assessments, SET planning, and the eagerly awaited NAPLAN results. We've also been focusing on the significance of strong literacy skills for our students' future employment opportunities.

Assessment Season Wrap-up

This term, our dedicated students have poured their efforts into a range of assessments that will form an essential part of their academic journey. These assessments serve as valuable tools to measure their growth, allowing us to recognise their achievements and identify areas for improvement. We're proud of the commitment and determination our students have demonstrated throughout this assessment period. Their hard work will undoubtedly serve as a strong foundation for their future successes. I look forward to sharing school, cohort and subject successes next term.

SET Planning: Shaping Futures

Many thanks to all parents and students who engaged in open and enriching discussions about their aspirations, interests, and career goals. These conversations are integral to shaping a course that aligns with each student's unique strengths and ambitions. In the past weeks, our Middle and Senior School leaders worked tirelessly to offer tailored guidance and support, ensuring that every SET plan was a true reflection of our students' potential. Together, foundations have been laid for a bright and fulfilling future.

Unpacking NAPLAN Results

The eagerly anticipated NAPLAN results have arrived, providing valuable insights into our students' progress in literacy and numeracy. These results are a testament to their hard work and dedication, and they provide a roadmap for future growth. I encourage parents and guardians to review the results, celebrate achievements and identify areas where extra support may be beneficial. Remember, these results are just one piece of the puzzle. In Term 4, the school will continue to analyse both Level of Achievement results as well as NAPLAN scores to assist in 2024 planning and meeting the needs of all students.

Empowering Through Literacy

Strong literacy skills are the cornerstone of academic success and future employment opportunities. In an ever-evolving job market, the ability to effectively communicate and understand complex information is more important than ever. We're committed to fostering a love for reading and writing in our students, providing them with the tools they need to excel. We continue to emphasise the importance of English in the curriculum and are able to support student’s progress through our afterschool English tutorials.

Warm Regards,

Matt Silcock - Head of School

Tu Tangata Fiafia Night

𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯

𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝟲:𝟬𝟬𝗽𝗺 | 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗔𝗖

𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿: 𝟳:𝟯𝟬𝗽𝗺 | 𝗠𝗣𝗖

Bookings via Trybooking: https://www.trybooking.com/CLGRT

Presenting the Tu Tangata Fiafia Night – a mesmerising display of Pasifika cultures illuminated by the extraordinary talents of our students. Immerse yourself in the vivid and diverse tapestry of the Pacific as our young artists grace the stage, sharing narratives, dances, and customs that pay homage to their heritage. This captivating spectacle is a testament to our students' dedication, as they pour their hearts into every facet, crafting an immersive encounter that will undoubtedly inspire and resonate. Following this extraordinary voyage into Pasifika heritage, we invite you to partake in a joyous feast, a banquet that embodies unity and harmony. A moment to relish the Pacific's flavours and connect with one another, rejoicing in the splendour of diversity and the unbreakable bonds weaving our community together. The Tu Tangata Fiafia Night transcends mere entertainment; it embodies our unwavering dedication to nurturing cultural reverence and comprehension. Join us for this enchanting evening that promises to leave an indelible mark on all who attend!

Doors open at 5:30pm

Cost

13 years and over - $20

5-13 years - $15

0-4 – free(𝘈 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵)

We can't wait to share this magical evening with you all!

IT Department

Your iPad is a tool that empowers your education and creativity. To ensure it stays safe each day, we recommend considering these two essential lines of defence.  If you are in the school's iPad Purchase Program, these can be purchased through the schools IT department, payable through Finance:

A Sturdy Case - $40 - These iPad cases are designed to withstand the rigors of school life. From crowded hallways to bustling classrooms, our cases offer a shield against accidental drops, knocks, and spills.

A Screen Protector - $20 - The screen of your iPad is your window to the digital world. Protect it with a Screen Protector.

Please visit the IT Department, located outside the Resource Centre to chat to the team about how you can protect your device or email: IT@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au 

Celebrating Student Success

We are excited to announce the remarkable achievements of our Year 10 First Nations Students, Jacinqua and Tarah!

Jacinqua was awarded 1st Place in the 2023 QATSIF Creative Arts Competition with her mesmerizing Reconciliation Week Poster Artwork, with Tarah wowing the judges with not one but TWO outstanding poetry submissions, earning her the top spot for one and a fantastic 3rd place for the other.

These two extraordinary young artists have not only made our school proud but have also beautifully represented their culture.

Join us in congratulating Jacinqua and Tarah for their incredible achievements!

Drama Eisteddfod

This week, some of our Drama Club students attended the Quota Beenleigh Eisteddfod for Speech and Drama. Under the direction of Ms Britney Marks and Ms Sharon Rogers, the group has been preparing for the competition and their hard work was definitely worth it. Our results are:

Persuasive Speech 1st place - Grace T

Solo Improvisation - 4th place - Grace T

Group Improvisation - 1st place - Caelyn M, Gabrielle S, Srikari T, Grace T, Noah S, Maddison W

Group Comedy Skit - 1st place - Caelyn M, Gabrielle S, Srikari T, Grace T, Noah S, Maddison W

Congratulations to everyone involved - what an awesome effort!

Dance @ OWSHS

That’s a wrap on the 2023 Dance Eisteddfod season, and what a way for OWSHS to finish! We are so unbelievably proud of the efforts of each of our dancers not only at Gold Coast Eisteddfod but at all eisteddfods this season.  Gold Coast Eisteddfod certainly saw OWSHS bring their A Game, smashing some incredible PB performances and walking away with some amazing recognition as well.

1st - Junior Performance Team Jazz

2nd - Junior Performance Team Lyrical

1st - Senior AoDI Heals

1st - Woods Crew

VHC - Senior Performance Team Contemporary

2nd - Senior AoDI Contemporary

1st - Junior AoDI Jazz

3rd - Senior AoDI Jazz

Senior English

𝗔 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗧 𝗢𝗡 𝗠𝗔𝗖𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗛

The magic of the theatre came alive at Ormeau Woods SHS as the Shake & Stir Theatre Co took our Year 12's on an unforgettable journey through a modern take on Shakespeare's timeless classic - Macbeth!  With their innovative interpretation, the actors breathed new life into the age-old tale, offering our students a fresh perspective on the story.  From the captivating performance to the Q&A session, this theatrical experience left our Year 12's inspired.  A huge round of applause to Shake & Stir Theatre Co for their incredible talent and dedication in bringing this transformative production to our school.

Horticulture

𝗖𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪𝗟𝗘𝗗𝗚𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗!

What an enriching day it was at Ormeau Woods State High School as we welcomed Steve from Jacobs Well Environmental Education Centre!

Our passionate Horticulture students had the incredible opportunity to delve into the world of Native Indigenous Plants, connecting with the roots of our land.

They not only learned about these fascinating plants but also had a taste of various Indigenous foods, experiencing the flavours that have sustained Indigenous communities for generations. It was then time for students to get their hands dirty as they planted their own Indigenous native garden!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Steve for his invaluable visit and for sharing his knowledge of the land with our students.

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QParents - Online Consent forms in 2024

Ormeau Woods State High School has been offering our families access to the convenient online parent portal called QParents for some time now.  This web and mobile application provides an easier way to interact with the school and give registered parents secure, online access to their child’s student information, anytime, anywhere.  To date we have only seen around 33% of invited parents register for QParents.

In 2024, we will be introducing online consent management.  This will provide a streamlined service around permissions for excursions, third party applications and Student Resource Scheme participation and will remove the need for paper forms which have the potential to go missing.  In order for the school to effectively manage and implement this new system, we need as many parents as possible to be registered with QParents by the end of next term (Term 4, 2023).  The benefits of convenience and time saving for parents, greater transparency of information and improved efficiencies at school make QParents a worthwhile app to have at your disposal.

Register now!  In the past few weeks we have sent invitations to those parents and carers that have not registered for QParents as yet.  Please feel free to review the information contained in the QParents Help Portal HERE which has handy information to assist you with completing your registration.  Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need further information or additional support.

If you no longer have access to the invitation you can send an email to qparents@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au and request a new invitation. (𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭, 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦)

Within the QParents app you have quick access at your fingertips to information like -

- student and attendance details,

- behaviour information,

- report cards and assessment planners,

- student timetables and upcoming events,

- invoices and payment history,

- and online consent forms.

QSchools is also a fantastic app to have at your fingertips.  Here you can access school calendar events, newsletters, staff contact and receive important notifications from the school.   You can download QSchools at anytime, this app does not need an invitation to join.

Finance News

We are rapidly approaching the end of 2023, so now is the time to finalise any and all curriculum invoices with the school.  Resources have been supplied to your child/ren through the Student Resource Scheme and Subject Levies, please ensure these invoices are paid in full, or on a payment plan to be finalised within an acceptable timeframe.  iPad Purchase Program hardware invoices should also now be finalised.

BIONIC Annual Dance Showcase - 8&9 September - Video of the concert can still be ordered on Trybooking:  https://www.trybooking.com/CKMHH  -   click on 8 September for access to Video Orders.  Orders will close 5pm, this Friday 15 September 2023. 

For any finance queries, please contact the team on finance@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au

Health Hub

A reminder to all Year 12 students wanting to attend University to complete their QTAC application.  

www.qtac.edu.au

If you find yourself in need of extra support there are lots of places you can contact for assistance, please see the attached document with a list of places that can help.  Please also reach out for support from the Guidance Officers and the Health Hub team here at Ormeau Woods SHS at any time.

Ormeau Links - Community Business Alliance

Tutorials

Key Contacts

General School Information

Free Gold Coast Holiday Programs

All activities are for young people between the ages of 12 and 17 and are free.

For more information email tadams@wmg.org.au or phone 0408 734 061

https://qld.netball.com.au/Camps