Ormeau Woods State High School eNewsletter

Head of School Update

Academic Update for Parents

As we enter Term 4, I would like to share an overview of the progress and achievements of our Year 8 cohort, as well as outline our goals for continued improvement.

At the beginning of 2024, we identified specific areas for enhancement within the Year 8 cohort. As a school, we are committed to providing students with the best opportunities to succeed in their education. This year, our goal for junior cohorts has been for 92% of students to achieve a 'C' grade or better (A-C) across all subjects. I am thrilled to announce that our Year 8 students have exceeded this target, with 95.1% achieving A-C results across all subjects in Term 3!

Term 3 Year 8 Reporting Results:

Academic (A-C%): 95.1%
Academic A-B%: 68.2%
Academic A’s%: 33.4%
Effort: 92.8%
Behaviour: 96%

Year-to-date Reporting Progress:

Academic (A-C%): Term 1: 86.9%, Term 2: 89.6% (+2.7%), Term 3: 95.1% (+5.5%), Total Gain: +8.2%
Effort (Satisfactory-Excellent): Term 1: 88.7%, Term 2: 91.2% (+2.5%), Term 3: 92.8% (+1.6%), Total Gain: +4.1%
Behaviour (Satisfactory-Excellent): Term 1: 94.1%, Term 2: 95.6% (+1.5%), Term 3: 96% (+0.4%), Total Gain: +1.9%

These results mark the highest achievement ever recorded by a Year 8 cohort at our school!

Key Actions Leading to Success:

Clear communication of goals and high expectations with students, teachers, and families.
Regular monitoring of student effort and engagement.
Classroom visits to observe learning and teaching, providing feedback to enhance the learning experience.
Individualized feedback and recognition for students who meet high expectations.
Emphasis on timely assessment submissions and utilizing feedback for improvement.
Increased classroom support for both students and teachers from the Year 8 team.

Given this success, we are setting our Term 4 goal of maintaining 95% A-C academic achievement.

As we continue to focus on this goal, it is crucial to recognise the unique challenges faced during the transition from Year 7 into Year 8. Research indicates that this period often sees a decline in academic performance, a phenomenon recognised globally. Studies highlight that many students experience a significant academic dip in their second year of high school. This trend can stem from increased pressure and a shift in learning expectations, which can lead to disengagement and lower achievement levels if not addressed promptly.

To counter this, we emphasise two key areas where students can take control: their effort and their behaviour.

Effort:

Actively participating and engaging in learning
Completing learning activities
Submitting quality assessments on time
Using feedback to improve

Behaviour:

Arriving at school and class on time
Being prepared for learning (devices, books, pens)
Following staff instructions
Respecting others’ right to learn

I want to take a moment to thank those responsible for these outstanding results:

Students: Congratulations on taking responsibility for your learning and making the most of the opportunities provided.
Parents and Guardians: your ongoing support of our school, our teachers, and most importantly, our students has made a significant difference.
Teachers & Teacher Aide teams: your dedication and support have been invaluable in helping our Year 8 students achieve these fantastic results.
Louise Ferguson (Deputy Principal for Curriculum), Heads of Curriculum & Year 8 Subject Coordinators: Thank you for your dedication in working with teachers to review curriculum and assessments, ensuring necessary changes are made to increase student accessibility and engagement across all learning areas.
Libby Graves (Deputy Principal for Pedagogy) and Heads of Curriculum: Your continued observation and support of our Year 8 teaching team have been instrumental in meeting students' individual needs through targeted differentiation.
James Ulcoq (Head of Year 8) and the wider Year 8 coaching team: Thank you for working tirelessly each day to support our Year 8 students.

As you can see, there are a lot of people working together to support the young ones to achieve their personal best!

I look forward to sharing further progress throughout the term.

Kind Regards

Matt Silcock

Key Contacts

In the Woods

𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗟𝗨𝗖𝗞, 𝗝𝗔𝗖𝗢𝗕! | 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗔 𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗨𝟭𝟵 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣𝗦

One of our very own, Jacob F (Year 11), has finished school for the year, to embark on an incredible journey as he represents Australia at the U19 World Championships for Boxing! Jacob will head to the AIS in Canberra for a 5-day pre-departure camp, before flying out to Colorado USA, where he'll take on the world. We're incredibly proud and wish him the very best as he competes on the global stage! Good luck Jacob, you've got the entire Ormeau Woods SHS community behind you!

Staff proudly wore Jacob’s supporter shirts on his last day to cheer him on before he embarks on his exciting adventure to the USA. It was amazing to see so many staff rallying behind him and celebrating this incredible achievement.

𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝟭𝟮 𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞

Across four big days our Year 12's celebrated their final week of learning at Ormeau Woods State High School with a dress up week

First up, PJ day...

𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗚𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗣𝗦 | 𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗞𝗔𝗘 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗜 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟

At the start of term we had a massive week for our international team, welcoming 3 groups across 3 days containing an impressive 284 students plus their chaperones, from Sakae Higashi High School.

A huge thank you to our amazing student buddies, who went above and beyond to make our international guests feel at home. Your warm welcome and enthusiasm truly embody the spirit of Ormeau Woods SHS. Also, a special shout-out to our dedicated staff for planning engaging, hands-on classes that gave our visitors a real taste of life at our school!

With more international groups arriving before the year wraps up, let's continue to make our guests feel welcomed, and showcase the best of Ormeau Woods SHS.

𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗨 𝗪𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗦 | 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗬 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘

Today, Saturday 12 October, our amazing Year 10, 11, and 12 Health students participated in this year’s Relay for Life, walking to make a difference in the fight against cancer.

Unfortunately, due to the storms rolling through across the coast, the relay was cut short after 5 hours of walking. We are incredibly proud of these students and their dedication and commitment to such an important cause.

A massive shout-out to Miss Clearwater for supporting the students today. Well done, team!

𝗔𝗼𝗗𝗜 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗙𝗨𝗡 𝗔𝗧 𝗔𝗗𝗙 𝗦𝗬𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗬

During the recent school holidays our Academy of Dance Industry students jetted off to Sydney to compete and participate in the 2024 Australian Dance Festival.

It was three jam-packed days of workshops with industry artists, and representing our school in the Resonate Schools Competition. Please head to the link below to see their sensational performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo7QF0T1c70

𝗥𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗻'𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘁 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟭 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁

Rohan in Year 8 has been training with the 11 Australian Cadet Unit in Logan for the past few months now, inspired by his older brother's involvement and his passion for the Army. Each Wednesday, he joins fellow cadets for training in drills, marching, and manoeuvres. His time so far with the Cadets has taught him discipline, teamwork, and resilience.

Rohan recently took part in a bush camp at AFX, where he completed a 10km hike, cooked his own meals, and faced the challenges of the outdoors. He also tackled a tough obstacle course at Inogra Army Base, navigating through an 8-meter wall and various other challenges.

Rohan has also trained at Greenbank Military Range, gaining firsthand insight into military life. His dedication and growing skills reflect his ambition to pursue a future in the Army.

Curious about joining the Cadets? Catch up with Rohan around school and hear firsthand how you can get involved!

Thank you for sharing your Cadet Journey with us Rohan. If you have a story you would like to share with the Ormeau Woods Community, please sent to media@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au

C𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹!

Over the recent school holidays, Marcos and Mitchell competed in the 3-day National Futsal Championships after earning their spots through school competitions this year. They achieved an impressive 4th place finish in the U12’s competition, just missing a podium spot - an incredible effort!

A big thank you to Marcos’s mum for sharing this exciting achievement with us. If you have any student successes you’d like to celebrate with our community, please send them to us. We love hearing and sharing these moments of pride!

media@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au

𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗨𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦 | 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝟭𝟮 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗨𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗪𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗘

We had the privilege of celebrating two talented and inspiring dancers at their Year 12 Graduate Showcase. The evening was a reflection of six incredible years of growth and dedication as part of the Academy of Dance Industries program at Ormeau Woods SHS.

As a remarkable part of their journey, Sienna and Montannah chose to complete their Certificate IV in Dance while at school, which they were proudly awarded at the end of the night. What an outstanding achievement!

We are so excited for what the future holds for these two rising stars. Congratulations, Sienna and Montannah, you both have bright and successful paths ahead!

𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝟭𝟭 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗨𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗦 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡

Yesterday, our Year 11 Visual Arts students embarked on an exciting journey to Burleigh Heads to gather inspiration for their upcoming project, "A Sense of Place."

The day kicked off with a guided tour of the headland by the Jellurgal Aboriginal Centre, immersing students in the rich cultural history of the area. In the afternoon, they visited HOTA for an inspiring tour of the Energies Exhibition and Landscape Artist Collection, followed by a landscape perspectives workshop.

It was a packed and inspiring day, with students representing the school exceptionally well!

𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗖 𝗕𝗨𝗦 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥

A friendly reminder from Kinetic Bus Services for all students to arrive at their bus stop at least 5 minutes early in the mornings. Buses run on a tight schedule, and drivers are unable to wait if no one is present at the stop.

Next Step Year 12 Completers Survey

Finishing Year 12?

Help your school improve services for future students. The Next Step Year 12 Completers survey, opening in March 2025, will ask about your activities after graduating. Please check your contact details are correct in the student portal, https://myqce.qcaa.qld.edu.au/, to receive your invitation.

For more info visit www.qld.gov.au/nextstep.

P&C Update

Hi Everyone,

Our October meeting was fantastic!

We had awesome presentations from:

Josh Kelly, Business Manager, regarding the Student Resource Scheme – good news for families, no increases and some savings for senior students.
Jordan Ludowici, Sports Coordinator regarding the annual Australian Volleyball Schools Cup – supported by the P&C.
Tanya Capra, HOD (Languages, International, Excellence) regarding the planned 2025 Japan Trip – endorsed by the P&C.
Tanya Capra, regarding the Soccer Excellence Programs and some equipment funding – supported by the P&C
Joel McCarthy, Deputy Principal, regarding updated Support and Intervention policies – great to hear the initiatives in this area.
Matt Silcock, Head of School, presenting Mr Murtas Principal report – wonderful to see how awesome Ormeau Woods is going for 2024.

For all students involved in activities at state or higher level, the P&C can provide travel support for you.

You may have seen on Facebook (and earlier in this newsletter) that Jacob is heading off to America to represent in boxing at an international level. The P&C has supported Jacob for this journey.

The P&C just updated its policy on this and we are keen to provide support to more students in this area. If you are interested, please see your sports teachers or the P&C page on the OWSHS website to get a form. You will need to submit to the School Office for Principal approval, then the application will be passed to the P&C. See link here: LINK

We are planning to look at installing chilled water fountains at the school, hopefully in time for start of school in 2025.

We approved an electrical upgrade for the Canteen to take care of current loads and be ready for growth of services in 2025.

You may recall that we held a Why Workshop back in Week 10 of Term 3. The P&C is proud to announce that we have confirmed our purpose, as follows:

The OWSHS P&C cares about the students of OWSHS and seeks to provide
opportunities that enable each student to develop individually to be better humans
and therefore to take their place in bettering our Australian community.

From here, the Executive will be using this to update our strategic plan and budget for 2025. We would love to have your input as we move forward.

And how is our Canteen Team!?!

Mel and the Team are kicking goals every day, with additional international students visits and big function nights.

We also see our trainee, Ollie, completing his training shortly. This has been a great initiative, and the P&C will be continuing to support this program into 2025.

Thank you to Mel and the Team for all of these great outcomes.

Our last meeting of the year will be 5:30pm Tuesday 19 November. We are having a 'bring a plate' end of year celebration.

I hope to see you there.

Have an Awesome Day!

Rob Newton

OWSHS - P&C Secretary

𝗣&𝗖 𝗙𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗦𝗘𝗥

Did you know that the Ormeau Woods SHS P&C supports our school by selling Entertainment Memberships?

Right now, Entertainment is offering a Bonus Multi-City Upgrade for 12 months when you join.

Support our school and give a gift that keeps on giving!

Follow the link and get your membership today https://subscribe.entertainment.com.au/fundraiser/1474s47

2025 Enrolments

𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗢𝗟 𝗡𝗢𝗪!

O-Week is just around the corner, happening in Week 9 of this term! This is the perfect opportunity for Year 6 students to get a head start on their high school journey before the summer break.

To participate in O-Week, students must be enrolled. Important information will be sent out soon to enrolled families, so make sure your paperwork is submitted to stay in the loop on O-Week details and other key information for our future Year 7 students.

Enrolment packs are available at our Administration Office, as well as the offices at Norfolk Village State School, Ormeau State School, and Woongoolba State School. You can also download the paperwork online from our website: https://ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au/enrolments.

Finance News

Thank you to the many families who have finalised payment of their student’s school accounts for 2024. If your child’s account is not up to date, please ensure this is addressed as a matter of urgency.

A reminder that school fees based on Curriculum requirements (SRS/Subject Levies/iPad) must be finalised or on a registered payment plan prior to eligibility for extra-curricular activities.

Upcoming Extra-Curricular activity:

Year 10 Soiree | Event on Thursday 21 November | Arrivals from 5.30pm

$40 due by Wednesday 6 November

Any outstanding invoices can be finalised using the preferred method of BPoint, or Qkr!, Direct Deposit or at the Finance Window.

For any finance queries, please make contact via finance@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au

QParents

Have you set up your QParents app yet?

If you haven't already, download it now! It's a game changer for managing all your students school information. Invitations have been sent to families who still need to set up their account with their unique access code.

The school is moving toward using QParents for all permission forms so all families will need access to QParents as soon as possible.

For more information about QParents and how it can save you time please visit HERE

If you'd prefer not to upload documents for identification when setting up your account, simply visit our friendly staff in the Administration Building. They can verify your documents and confirm your account for you.

Health Hub

The school’s Health Hub is located in the Resource Centre. We have a 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 families are struggling financially, there is help out there.

Organisations who help families include: Night Light; The Salvation Army; Destiny Storehouse and Uniting Church

If you are renting, you could be eligible for a rent subsidy through the Department of Housing for short-term financial hardship:

Rental Security Subsidy | Homes and housing | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)

There is also support for payment of energy bills to ease the burden:

Home Energy Emergency Assistance Scheme | energy.gov.au

The school can also help with uniforms and other items; please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the members of the schools’ Health Hub team.

𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗛 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞 | 𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗠𝗔𝗖𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗗'𝗦 𝗙𝗔𝗥𝗠 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗧

STYMIE

When you notice something troubling but feel hesitant to speak up, Stymie can help. Stymie is an online reporting system designed for students and bystanders to report concerns anonymously. It empowers those who are afraid or unsure about how to voice their worries, helping them overcome fears and social pressures.

Example Scenario: You might notice that a friend, Johnny Smith, has been very sad and has started talking about not wanting to be here anymore. This is something you can report through Stymie or you could speak to the School Guidance Officer.

How to Report:

Visit www.stymie.com.au or search for “Stymie” online.
Fill out the form with the necessary details.
Submit the form.

Your report will be sent directly to designated school personnel who can take appropriate action and provide help.

Important Note: Submitting false or deliberate fake reports is illegal and against Stymie’s policy.

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.

Phillippa Proctor \| Guidance Officer (Year 7 / 9 / 12)	Alan Fraser \| Guidance Officer (Year 8 / 10 / 11)
Simon Pyle \| School Support Officer	Shannon Solomona \| Indigenous Support Officer
Evan da Costa \| Health Hub Teacher Aide	Sally Young \| Health Hub Administration Officer
Rad Pamiloza \| School Based Youth Health Nurse	Nathania Wingett \| Mission Australia – Youth Worker

Contact information can be found on the school website - https://ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au/our-school/contact-us

Every Day Counts

Tutorials

International Homestays

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.

Phillippa Proctor \| Guidance Officer (Year 7 / 9 / 12)	Alan Fraser \| Guidance Officer (Year 8 / 10 / 11)
Simon Pyle \| School Support Officer	Shannon Solomona \| Indigenous Support Officer
Evan da Costa \| Health Hub Teacher Aide	Sally Young \| Health Hub Administration Officer
Rad Pamiloza \| School Based Youth Health Nurse	Nathania Wingett \| Mission Australia – Youth Worker

O-News 18 October 2024