O-News 26 July 2024

From the Principal's Desk

Dear Ormeau Woods Community,

Our school has had a solid start to Semester Two. Student achievement reports were sent out last week and the overall results from students have been very pleasing. Our students across the school from grades 7 to 12 have demonstrated an improvement in all key standards according to our school benchmarks, the state school benchmarks and in comparison, to Term One data. The table below showcases our students’ overall improvement:

This improvement is evident due to the intentional focus we are placing on student academic improvement and aligning targeted teaching and intervention strategies to support our students to succeed in their learning. This is fantastic to see more and more students improving in their learning and I look forward to seeing further improvements over this semester.

I look forward to seeing you at our Parent-Teacher interviews next week, where you will have a valuable opportunity to discuss your child’s learning progress with your child’s teachers.

Warm Regards,

Dan Murtas

Principal

Meet the Staff

Introducing Our New Head of Department: Mr Graham Stevenson

We are thrilled to welcome Mr Graham Stevenson as the newest addition to the Ormeau Woods SHS team. Mr Stevenson will serve as the Head of Department for Mathematics and Science, focusing on our Year 11 and 12 students.

This term, we’ve restructured our Maths and Science Departments to enhance our support for all students. With Mr Stevenson concentrating on Years 11 and 12, Mr Prahaladh (fondly known as Mr P to our students) will oversee the Year 7 to 10 cohorts.

For contact details of all our Heads of Department and staff members, please visit the Contact Us page on our website. You can also refer to the Key Contacts quick guide below.

Welcome aboard, Mr Stevenson, and here’s to a successful term ahead!

Mr Graham Stevenson - HOD Mathematics/Science Years 11 and 12

I dedicated the past 14 years of teaching at Marsden State High School, with the last 6 years as the Head of Department for Mathematics and am so lucky to have joined the Ormeau Woods State High School team as the Head of Department for Mathematics and Science for Years 11 and 12 at the start of this term. My teaching areas include Specialist Mathematics, Mathematical Methods, and Physics.

In my spare time, I'm a passionate supporter of the North Queensland Cowboys and enjoy following most sports. I make it a point to attend as many live matches as I can. Additionally, I enjoy playing squash and pool/snooker.

Mr Hemant Prahaladh – HOD Mathematics/Science Years 7 and 10

I have dedicated the past 41 years to education, having held various management positions in both private and public sectors. I have been the Head of Mathematics at Ormeau Woods State High School since 2012. During this time, I have interacted with many families and come to know them well.

One of the aspects of my work has been linking Maths to real-world scenarios, showing students the relevance and importance of what they are learning. In this way they do not only grasp abstract concepts more readily but also develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for their future endeavours. By showing the practical applications of Maths and Science, I aim to inspire the next generation of innovators and problem solvers who can contribute meaningfully to society. The most rewarding part of my job is to see students being successful in the pathway they choose.

The Maths and Science faculty has a strong foundation, with dedicated and passionate teachers. My vision is to transform the faculty into a leader in innovation. I aim to increase student engagement through 24/7 access to resources.

In the Woods

KOKODA CHALLENGE

Each year OWSHS presents the opportunity for students and teachers to challenge themselves to a physically grueling trail walk/run in the Gold Coast Hinterland. Each year we are inundated with requests to be part of the Kokoda Challenge, derived from the efforts of Australian soldiers in Papua New Guinea in World War 2.

This year during the first weekend of term 3, a total of 55 students and a combination of teacher and parent team leaders departed the start location in the Numinbah valley. The fastest of our teams would see the finish line at Nerang velodrome in just over 8 hours, the slowest after 18 hours. Regardless, each team experienced their fair share of setbacks and moments of “why am I doing this”. 

This event is a showcase of individual determination, resilience, and teamwork. As well as an exhibition of community like mindedness as parents and family work together to ensure every team is catered for and looked after emotionally and physically along the way. In this regard The “team” extends well beyond those in the groups out in the track.

Unable to participate this year I had the amazing opportunity to witness the support of the OWSHS community toward our participants. It is extremely humbling to see the extent to which our families will go to ensure everyone has the best possible chance of proving they can dig deep and push themselves beyond their own expectations.

Thank you to the P & C committee for yet again supporting our cause financially, to the teachers that took up the invitation from students to lend a hand as group leaders, to the numerous admin staff involved in all the background work leading up to event day, and to the parents and families present on the day/night to make the experience possible. I look forward to doing it all again next year.

With Gratitude,

Jayden Dyer

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𝗡𝗔𝗜𝗗𝗢𝗖 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞

During NAIDOC week we had activities each day to acknowledge our first nations people.  Jellurgal Dance Group joined us in the Resource Centre where they performed traditional dances and held a Q&A session, sharing their rich cultural heritage and the traditions passed down through generations.  There was a bracelet-making session, a wonderful painting session and finally a cupcake decorating session.  A heartfelt thank you to Ms Griffiths for organising these incredible activities, allowing us to come together and celebrate NAIDOC Week.

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𝗧𝗨 𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗔 𝗖𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗔𝗬

On the last day of Term 2, Tu Tangata extended their cultural outreach to Norfolk Village State School. Our students led an enriching day of Māori and Samoan cultural immersion, focusing on traditional dance. They not only choreographed and performed these dances but also taught them to the primary school students. This student-led initiative will culminate in a performance at our end-of-year showcase, celebrating the vibrant cultures within our community.

𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝟭𝟭 𝗕𝗜𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗬

Year 11 biology have been working through unit 2, which focusses on infectious disease.

Students conducted an experiment to investigate how bacterial diseases spread and how their spread can be reduced. Students plated a couple of types of bacteria on agar plates and placed discs dipped in various disinfectants onto the plates.

After incubation, students were able to determine the effectiveness of the disinfectants by recording the zones of inhibition and how much the bacterial growth was prevented around each disc. Students enjoyed practicing microbiology techniques and observing the bacterial growth over time.

𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧

The Ormeau Woods esports Gamer Girl team competed at the 2024 Gold Coast region tournament last Wednesday. The event was held at Emmanuel College with 6 schools in attendance from around the Gold Coast. The teams competed in Just Dance, where players dance along to popular songs and are scored based on their movements, timing, and accuracy. Madison and Claire competed well, making it through to the quarterfinals before being eliminated. Madison was named as the tournament MVP for her good sportsmanship and integrity. 

𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗨𝗟𝗬𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗦 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰

Our annual sports carnival, fondly known as Ormeaulympics, took place on Friday. The sun was shining, the costumes were outstanding, and the competition was fierce. It was an amazing day filled with fun and excitement. A huge thank you to the organising staff for putting together such a fantastic event. Your hard work made the day unforgettable!

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𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗞𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗘 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟

Ormeau Woods State High School had the privilege of hosting Whakatane High School from New Zealand during their school sports tour of the Gold Coast. Our Basketball, Netball, and Soccer teams had the wonderful opportunity to compete and socialise with athletes from their school.

Our Year 9/10 and Senior Male Basketball teams faced off against strong competitors. The younger team fought bravely but ultimately fell short, while our Seniors experienced a nail-biting overtime thriller, narrowly losing 52-51.

In a closely contested match, Ormeau Woods' newly formed Female Soccer team showcased their skills against Whakatane High School. Despite a valiant effort, our girls lost the game, but their resilience and teamwork shone through, providing a great competitive experience.

Our Year 9 Netball girls had the pleasure of playing against Whakatane's Year 10/11/12 team in a friendly match filled with laughs and great competition. Despite their determination, our girls went down to the stronger team.

Each Whakatane team nominated an MVP from our Ormeau Woods teams. Congratulations to Manny P from the 9/10 Basketball, Daniel P from the Senior Basketball, Makayla L for Soccer, and Rylee M for Netball. Each MVP received a beautiful plaque recognising their contribution to the game.

A special thank you to Mason P and his family for presenting this opportunity to our school and helping organise this event. It wouldn’t have happened without your support.

We look forward to welcoming our friends from New Zealand again for possible rematches next year!

𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗨𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦

Over the recent holidays, we had two students travel to Perth for the 2024 Australian Schools Boxing Championships.

Jacob F, in Year 11, had an impressive run earning the title of Youth Men's 55kg Australian Champion. This is his third Australian Title, and he now awaits confirmation of his place on the Australian Team for the World Youth Championships in Colorado USA, this October.

Sienna M, in Year 9, has been training diligently for 3 years and has now become the Junior 52kg Female Australian Champion, what an achievement!

Both students have put in countless hours of training to be fight-ready, and their dedication has paid off with these remarkable results. Congratulations to Jacob and Sienna on their incredible success!

𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝟳 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗣

Students had a wonderful time this week at Camp Tallebudgera.  They fully immersed themselves in a variety of exciting activities, from team-building exercises to adventurous outdoor challenges.  The weather was perfect for them to enjoy everything on offer.

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P&C Update

To the Parents, Staff and Students of OWSHS,

I would like to take the time to update you on the comings and goings of the P&C.

Our P&C meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month, and we encourage any interested community members to come and see what we get up to.

The main fundraising avenue for the P&C is the school Canteen, with all profits going back into either the students or the school. The types of funding we have done in the past include air-conditioning; the school was one of the first schools to be air-conditioned in our area, fully funded by the P&C.

One of the more recent projects we have been involved with is upgrading the canteen to the value of $500,000, which was completed to enable more students to access the canteen, which increased by in excess of 30%.

We have just recently assisted the arts department by providing them with a set of digital SLR cameras for the media classes at a cost of $20,000 giving the students access to the latest technology.

Always at the top of our list is assisting with funds for outdoor and sports activities such as sponsorship for the Kokoda challenge, registration fees paid.

The P&C has always endeavoured to assist parents in getting our students involved in activities outside of the school curriculum, assisting with funding for the Northern Collegiate Group, Australian Business Week, various trips and camps such as the opportunity to go to Japan, and paying for some of their activities. The list goes on with more than $2m being donated back to the school and families.

The big one we are all waiting on is the announcement of the Go for Gold funding.  Your P&C has invested substantially in an application for funding of upgrade to the MPC doubling the capacity and making this facility one of the biggest venues in the area. We will find out the result of this application by mid-August.

Another offer to parents is if your child goes on to represent our school in state titles, national or international events we are able to offer a small amount of help financially to get to these events.  This funding is subject to conditions and availability of funds. Applications for this can be obtained by emailing pandc@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au 

Another source of fund raising the P&C does is raise funds through the sale of entertainment books, if you are interested in a book, please send us an email and we can assist with this ordering.

Lastly, I would like to say a special thanks to Mel and her team (the P&C staff operating the canteen), the food they make is not only healthy but great to eat, and through their hard work, they make a significant contribution to not only the funding of the school but also the atmosphere in and around the school.

I hope to give you all a regular update as to the P&C happenings but if you need more information or would like to help out come and see us at one of our meetings held every third Tuesday of the month with notifications out on social media.

Regards,

Neil Keen

P&C President

pandc@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au

Finance News

Invoices from OWSHS

The annual $250 for 2024 Student Resource Scheme is now overdue - if SRS invoices are still outstanding on your account, settlement of these would be appreciated as soon as possible.

Various subjects in Years 9 to 12 have Subject Levy costs to cover subject-specific resources - if still outstanding, settlement of these invoices would be appreciated as soon as possible.

Overdue iPad invoices are also required to be settled as soon as possible. 

Debtor Statements will be emailed out to families with any outstanding amounts on Friday 2 August: 

• If you DO NOT receive a Statement, this means the balance is zero, you are paid in full and nothing owing.  *Thank you, no further action is required.

• If you DO receive a Statement, negative amounts mean a credit on the account, and positive amounts are amounts owing to the school.  

• All curriculum invoices can be placed on a payment plan if required - please make contact via Option 4 when ringing the school, or reach out via finance@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au

• If you have already negotiated a payment plan with the Finance Office (such as CentrePay or Direct Deposit or Direct Debit), payments will be receipted when they come in.  *Thank you, no further action is required.

For any queries regarding your account or statement, please don’t hesitate to email the Finance Office on finance@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au

QParents

Want to keep up to date with your student’s school financial account?? Join up to QParents!!   If you haven’t already, I would strongly encourage families to sign up, to be well informed of invoices, credits, due dates and more.

Qkr!

This payment app can be downloaded to your phone and is a simple and easy way to pay for invoices and activities at any time.

Struggling to pay those school invoices? Need a payment plan? Please reach out via: finance@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au 

Health Hub

The school’s Health Hub is located in the Resource Centre. We have a School Chaplain, School Support Officer,  Indigenous Support Officer, two Guidance Officers, visiting School Based Youth Health Nurse, Service from Mission Australia, Health Hub Teacher Aide, and Administrative Officer.

Part of the service offered to students include:

• Conversations about concerns or issues.
• Subject discussion and career counselling
• Support and development of Personalised Learning Plans
• Support if feeling anxious about attending school
• Exploration of other supports if needed
• Adjustments and extensions for senior students

If you are unsure or in doubt about something, please contact the main office and ask for the Health Hub.

Intervention and support programs are currently being facilitated through the Health Hub for students identified as needing additional support. Programs aim to help students build resilience, wellbeing, problem solving, communication and collaboration skills just to name a few. If you believe your child needs additional support then please contact your Year level Guidance officer in the Health Hub or speak to your child’s Head of Year.

If you find yourself in need of extra support, there are lots of places you can contact for assistance.  Please also reach out for support from the Health Hub team here at Ormeau Woods SHS at any time.

Share the Dignity

We at Ormeau Woods State High School foster positive educational outcomes and alleviate emotional distress for students in need, by allowing them to focus on their education rather than on accessing supplies to manage their period. The Share the Dignity in Queensland schools initiative is proudly sponsored by the Queensland Government to help end period poverty.

The Dignity Vending Machine is a world-first innovation that dispenses a free period pack, with six tampons and two pads, at the push of a button. It is located where the bathrooms are in the Resource Centre.

IT Department

Are you thinking about getting a new iPad? Consider taking advantage of our School's iPad Purchase Program! This fantastic opportunity allows you to pay off your iPad over three years, making it an affordable option for families. Hurry, as this offer is only available while stocks last. Don't miss out, secure your iPad today!

For more information on the iPad Purchase program please visit:

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

or email the IT Department at Ormeau Woods SHS - IT@ormeauwoodsshs@eq.edu.au

Important Message: Student VPN Usage

We have detected a large number of students using an app called “SkyVPN” that bypasses the Department of Education’s website filtering and security systems. Students are currently using this app on their iPads to access blocked apps and websites during school hours. This is a breach of the OWSHS ICT/BYOD Agreement and the Education Department’s secure operating environment as the network is for educational use only.

VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) route all of a user’s online activity through to their servers to bypass any firewalls or filters. In this instance, SkyVPN offers a free service in exchange for data being collected for real-time analysis as well as being stored. This software is created by an overseas company and any data collected will be stored overseas and subject to the rules and regulations of the country where it is stored. It is also been reviewed as untrustworthy as it logs your IP address and fails to encrypt web traffic. This is a major security and privacy risk to students as their personal data is being processed by a third party while using this app.  It is possible that this app may also be used by students to circumvent parental controls and filters. 

As per the ICT Agreement, seeking access to any blocked applications or attempting to bypass websites by bypassing the Department of Education’s Proxy Filtering system by using hotspots or VPNs is prohibited. As a result of this, any students detected using SkyVPN on the school network will lose access to all ICT resources, including school emails, WiFi, and computer logons. The incident will be logged on their OneSchool record, and the student and a parent/carer must complete and return the ICT Agreement again to regain access to the school network and ICT resources. 

We are constantly monitoring the school network to ensure the security and safety of students and the learning environment. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us at IT@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au.  Thank you for your co-operation.

International Homestays

Every Day Counts

Tutorials

Ormeau Links - Community Business Alliance

This term, we are thrilled to welcome Logan Lightning to the Ormeau Links family. Logan Lightning has partnered with Ormeau Woods SHS's Academy of Soccer Excellence, bringing invaluable knowledge, support, and connections to our program. We look forward to collaborating with Logan Lightning and other local clubs to provide the best opportunities for all our students.

If you're interested in joining the Ormeau Links family, please email us at ormeaulinks@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au to set up a meeting.

Community Noticeboard

𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱

Free breast screening at Pimpama. The BreastScreen Queensland mobile is at Pimpama City Shopping Centre 15 July to 5 September 2024, offering breast cancer screening to eligible clients. Women are eligible from age 40 with those aged 50 – 74 strongly encouraged to attend, as this is the age where the evidence of screening is strongest. Permanent clinics are also available at Burleigh Waters, Helensvale, Robina and Southport. Find your nearest location and book now by calling 132 050 or visiting www.breastscreen.qld.gov.au 

𝗣𝗪𝗥 𝗝𝗢𝗕 𝗙𝗔𝗜𝗥

PWR will be hosting a Job Fair on August 3, open to those interested in careers within Manufacturing on the Gold Coast. PWR will be actively recruiting on the day for apprentices and employees. Event Details:Date: Saturday, 3 August 2024, Time: 8AM – 12PM, Location: 103 Lahrs Rd, Ormeau, Gold Coast.

𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗨𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰 | 𝗢𝘅𝗲𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱

The northern end of the Gold Coast has a new option for when you need urgent care – the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic at Oxenford. Open every day from 8am to 10pm, including public holidays, the clinic provides walk-in, bulk-billed medical care for non-life-threatening conditions when people can’t wait for a regular appointment with their usual GP.

The Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is the place to be seen for minor illnesses or infections, and minor injuries such as broken bones (simple fractures), sprains and cuts when you need same-day medical attention.

Find the Urgent Care Clinic on level 1, 2 Leo Graham Way, Oxenford (take exit 57 off the M1).

Visit www.gcphn.org.au/urgent-care-clinic to learn more.