O-News 1 December 2023

From the Principal's Desk

Dear Families,

As we draw near to the end of the 2023 school year, I would like to express my gratitude for your unwavering support of our exceptional school and its students. This year, we have witnessed our students achieve the most remarkable academic results since 2018. Ormeau Woods State High School has garnered praise for our four-year school improvement journey, as highlighted in an outstanding school review report. This report has served as a guiding force in shaping our strategic planning process and priorities for the years 2024-2027. I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the staff, students, parents, and key stakeholders who have contributed to the development of our strategic plan.

In my role as the school principal, I am thrilled by the array of programs and opportunities our students have to foster their learning and pave the way for their inspiring career paths. This year, with the dedication of our staff and families, we have revitalized our international education program, attracting numerous school visits to OWSHS and increasing the number of full-time international students studying at our esteemed institution. Currently, a number of our Year 8 and Year 9 students studying Japanese are immersing themselves in the country’s rich culture and utilizing their knowledge to partake in extraordinary experiences during their stay in Japan, until the end of the term.

Looking ahead, we eagerly anticipate welcoming the entire cohort of new Year 7 students in 2024. It was truly gratifying to witness the participation of our new students in an exceptional three-day transition program this week. Additionally, we extend a warm welcome to the many new students joining us in other year levels, as well as the new staff members who will be joining the OWSHS family. However, it is with a tinge of sadness that we bid farewell to some of our families and staff. To those departing, I wish you the very best. I hope that your time at OWSHS has been enjoyable, and that you will carry with you lasting fond memories of the school, its people, and the events that have shaped your experience.

As we approach the Christmas holiday season, I wish you all a safe and joyous time. I eagerly look forward to seeing you back at OWSHS in the new year.

Warmest Regards,
Dan Murtas
Principal 

Head of School Update

I hope this message finds you well.

As we close the 2023 academic year, we finalise preparations for 2024, and begin our next phase of development and growth through the implementation of the 2024 to 2027 School Strategic Plan.

Our journey over the next four years aims to “Inspire Minds to Shape a Better Future,” by “Linking Learning with Life.” We continue to build on our traditional school values, promoting Respect for Teaching & Learning, Respect for Self & Others and Respect for Property.

In continuing to lead progress, we are focusing on FOUR Strategic Priorities. Below is a summary of the Strategic Priorities, an explanation to clarify meaning, and a commitment promised by the school.

SAFE, SUPPORTIVE AND COLLABORATIVE CULTURE

Our school is driven by a deep belief that every student is capable of successful learning.

• We ensure opportunities for all students to succeed. We cater for various abilities and complexities, addressing individual student needs through efficient use of resources, enacting intervention through a multi-tiered support system.
• We invest in Professional Learning Communities to facilitate intentional collaboration among teaching teams. This approach addresses common issues related to curriculum, assessment, instruction, and student achievement.

HIGH IMPACT TEACHING

We recognise that a teacher's pedagogical practices directly impact student outcomes.

• We are committed to empowering teachers with evidence-based strategies in their classrooms, maximising student success.
• We are dedicated to enhancing our staff's capabilities through targeted, high-quality professional learning.

LIFELONG LEARNING

Our curriculum and assessment supports all students to realise their potential.

• We aim to provide a responsive and diverse curriculum that is relevant and meaningful to our local context, student learning needs, interests and backgrounds.
• We employ a variety of school-wide quality assurance and moderation practices to ensure high-quality assessment and accurate judgments about student learning.
• We are committed to enhancing teachers' confidence and capability to employ effective differentiation strategies, enabling all students to access and progress through the curriculum.

SUSTAINABILITY AND GROWTH

Our innovative use of partnerships and resources supports our current objectives and sustains future growth.

• We value partnerships at local, community, and international levels.
• We aim to maximise resources, including the timetable, to creatively meet the evolving needs of both staff and students, leading to enhanced outcomes

By implementing the above-mentioned Strategic Priorities, we aim to further enhance student learning and wellbeing outcomes through the transitions of schooling: primary to junior secondary to senior secondary.

2024 Student Outcomes:

• 90% (A-C Grades) as seen on termly Student Report Cards
• 50% (A-B Grades) as seen on termly Student Report Cards
• 100% Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) Attainment
• 20% of ATAR students eligible receiving an ATAR ≥90.00
• 100% students in either University, Training or Employment post-school
• 90% Attendance

Next year, I look forward to reporting on our progress against those targets.

In closing this year, I thank you for your support and wish you a Happy Christmas and New Year.

Regards,
Matt Silcock
Head of School

Academic Reports

Semester Two reports for students in years 7-10 will be emailed out on the afternoon of Friday 8 December 2023.

Report cards will be sent to the nominated email address we have on file. If your details have changed recently, please contact the school to update them as soon as possible.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the school.  Phone (07) 5540 9222 or email info@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au

Year 11 Road Safety Innovation

The Year 11 Health class had the opportunity to present their Road Safety Innovation to their cohort.  The presentation reinforced the messages recently shared with students by Melissa from the 'You Choose Program' who spoke about her experiences, and emphasised the crucial importance of road safety for both drivers and passengers while on the road.

The students went above and beyond, creating a great short film that drives home the significance of responsible choices on the road. But that's not all – they also crafted unique keyrings for their fellow Year 11 students, posing a thought-provoking question: Do you want to "Show off" or do you want to "Show up"?

Let's applaud the efforts of these young innovators for promoting road safety awareness. May their impactful message resonate and serve as a daily reminder for everyone to prioritise safety on our roads.

Thank you to Gina for also joining us today to share her story as part of the 'You Choose Program'.

Flexischools

We are excited to announce our new online ordering platform Flexischools is now available.  Be ready for 2024 and setup your account today!

O-Week

O-Week, Year 6 transitions program was an absolute blast! We were thrilled to see the mix of new, excited, and maybe a little nervous faces diving into this incredible journey.

Throughout the program, the Year 6 students dove deep into the ins and outs of high school life, getting a taste of the fantastic experiences that await them.

We can't wait to welcome you all next year for more exciting adventures in the Woods, blending fun and learning seamlessly.

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Congratulations!

The following Year 6 students have received a 2024 Bursary (aligning with our Four Pillars):

Wil – Academic Bursary

Blake – Academic Bursary

Eliahte – Community Bursary

Tyreece – Community & Leadership Bursary

Stella – Sporting Bursary

Saanvi – Cultural & Creative Bursary

WELL DONE EVERYONE!

Administration Office - Close/Open

The Administration Office will close for the holiday break next Friday 8 December 2023 at 12.00pm (noon). 

The Office will re-open Tuesday 16 January 2024:  

To stay up to date with all your back to school information please visit the latest news section of the school website - https://ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au/ or follow us on our facebook and instagram pages.

Important Start Date Information 2024

Monday 22 January 2024

Year 7 and Year 12 Students Only

A staggered start day benefits new students by fostering a more intimate and focused environment and supports the year 7 students as they start High School. The reduced crowd minimizes overwhelming stimuli, allowing new students to navigate the school, and resources with ease. Networking becomes more accessible, enabling meaningful connections among students and with staff. Specialised orientation activities can be tailored effectively, addressing the unique needs of our new cohort. Overall, this intentional pause in regular activities enhances the welcoming atmosphere, easing the acclimation process and promoting a positive start to their academic journey.

Year 7 students will meet in the MPC (Multi-Purpose Centre).

Year 12 students will meet in the Resource Centre.

Tuesday 23 January 2024

All Students Years 7-12 to Attend

All students will attend an extended Futures lesson on Tuesday 23 January. Any new students are to go to the Resource Centre to collect their timetables. All returning students will receive their timetable via email on Friday 19 January.  Ensure that you have access to your school email to receive your timetable.

New students are to meet in the Resource Centre to receive a copy of their timetable.

Splashfest Theme is Carnival!!

Ormeau Woods Swimming Carnival - Friday 9 February 2024

Consent forms in 2024

SIGN UP BEFORE THE START OF 2024

In 2024, we will be starting the 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, all families must register with QParents to receive communications.  The benefits are convenience and time saving for parents, greater transparency of information and improved efficiencies at school, making QParents a worthwhile app to have at your disposal.

Register now!  In the recent past 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 before the end of term 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).

Health Hub

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.

Additional support

Crisis support:

Lifeline Crisis Support - Ph: 13 11 14

Kids Helpline - Ph: 1800 551 800

Beyond Blue - Ph: 1300224636

Mental Health support:

Your local General Practitioner (GP)

Headspace – Ph: 56001999 (Coomera)

eheadspace - https://headspace.org.au

Eating disorders:

Butterfly organisation – Ph: 1800 334673

Finance News

The Finance Office has now closed for Education Queensland’s end of year settlement.

Thank you to all those families who have finalised accounts for 2023.  Payments for outstanding invoices can still be deposited to the school bank account, and will be receipted early in 2024.

A reminder that the 2024 iPad Purchase Program paperwork is up on the school website, so if you are wanting to acquire a device through the school, the form can be completed and returned to finance@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au for invoicing in the new year.

Important 2024 Finance Dates to Remember:

For any finance queries, please contact us on finance@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au (or 07 5540 9222 option 4 in term time).

2024 School Photos

Dates to be confirmed

IT Department

For more information on the iPad Purchase program please visit:

https://ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au/curriculum/bring-your-own-device

...where you will find the 2024 iPad Purchase Program paperwork available to download. 

2024 Bus Information

From the Kinetic's Team

Please be advised of this important notification in preparation for Term 1, 2024.

School Bus Pass Notification – Term 1, 2024

Who should apply / reapply?

• All students transitioning from Primary School to High School / Year 6 to Year 7

• Students with a 2023 bus pass who need to update or change any of their details

• Students without a bus pass wishing to travel on a bus.

Who doesn’t need to apply / reapply?

• Students who currently have a bus pass for 2023 which do not fall into the above categories

• Students without a bus pass not wishing to travel on the bus

Please visit the below links for more information on applying for a School Bus Pass through the School Transport Assistance Scheme (STAS).

https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/public/school/school-transport-assistance/apply-for-school-transport-assistance

https://stas.forms.tmr.qld.gov.au/content/forms/af/TranslinkForms/STASApplication/STASApplication.html

Useful links to follow and keep up to date on travel and road conditions:

To view the latest updates from Transport and Main roads please visit https://qldtraffic.qld.gov.au/

To view Translink service updates, please visit https://translink.com.au/service-updates

For all travel options, to and from school refer to the TransLink Journey Planner by visiting https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/journey-planner  or phone Translink on 13 12 30.

Ormeau Links - Community Business Alliance

Free School Holiday Programs

Gold Coast Health

FREE COMMUNITY IMMUNISATION CLINIC