O-News 30 May 2025

In the Woods - from our socials

𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗡 𝗦𝗨𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦!

On Saturday 17 May, four of our incredible Year 12 Philosophy and Reason students, Tayla, Lily, Brighton, and Summer, attended the Philosothon at the University of Queensland.

They participated in multiple rounds of philosophical discussion on thought-provoking topics such as the morality of art, using AI as companionship, and whether or not we should de-extinct animals.

A huge congratulations to our first-ever participants representing Ormeau Woods SHS. We’re so proud to share that Tayla was awarded Runner-Up Most Promising Philosopher, what an outstanding achievement! And as a team, OWSHS came within just 0.3 points of placing third overall!

We’re excited to see this subject grow and inspire even more minds in the years to come.

𝗕𝗨𝗡𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗕𝗕𝗤 𝗦𝗨𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦!

A huge shoutout to our amazing Senior Student Leaders and the awesome Mr Thomas who braved the grill at Pimpama Bunnings last Sunday to raise funds for their 2025 legacy projects!

From sizzling sausages to smiling service, our students did a fantastic job representing Ormeau Woods SHS and raising valuable funds to leave their mark on our school community.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, grabbed a snag, and supported our student leaders. Your generosity helps turn their legacy ideas into reality!

𝗞𝗼𝗸𝗼𝗱𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 – 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗮𝘆!

Our students are deep in preparation for the Kokoda Challenge 2025, an event that pushes physical and mental limits across distances of 30km, 48km, and 96km. The challenge not only tests endurance but also highlights the values of teamwork, resilience, and mateship. Qualities inspired by the soldiers of the Kokoda Campaign in WWII.

With the weather on their side, students, staff, and parents took to the tracks to clock some serious training kilometres, with many others out making the most of a perfect day as well.

The event takes place on 19 July, stay tuned for more updates as the team continues their journey!

Coaching Masterclass with Besart Berisha! ⚽️

Our Academy of Football Excellence students had the incredible opportunity to train under 4x A-League Champion and UEFA A License Coach, Besart Berisha!

Our players brought their best, soaking up what it takes to train like true professionals.

We’re excited to welcome Besart back later this year for more elite-level coaching. Thank you, Besart, for inspiring our Academy athletes!

𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 – 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝟭𝟬 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

Year 10 students recently attended the Gold Coast Careers Festival and had a fantastic time exploring a wide range of future pathway opportunities. From university and TAFE options to apprenticeships and employment pathways, students engaged with industry experts and gathered valuable information to support their upcoming SET Plan decisions. It was a positive and inspiring experience that left many students feeling more confident and excited about their futures.

𝗙𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗪𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗨𝟭𝟰 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀!

A huge congratulations to our U14 Girls team who claimed a strong victory over A.B. Paterson College in the ISSA Cup!

Our girls showed great determination, matching their opponents’ physicality, defending as a unit, and creating some slick midfield combinations.

A brilliant free kick from Inndee and some outstanding saves by Eva helped secure the 3 points and keep our hopes alive for the next round!

Well done, team, we’re so proud of your performance!

Go Eagles!!

𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦!

A massive congratulations to our U13 Girls Futsal Team who were crowned Gold Coast Futsal Title Winners last week!

The girls went undefeated in the group stage, then powered through the semi-finals and finals with incredible teamwork, determination, and skill. This is a huge milestone for our program in its very first year, a credit to the dedication of both our players and coaches. We’re so proud of this incredible achievement… and we’re sure it’s the first of many trophies to come!

Our U13 Boys also had a fantastic run, matching their best-ever performance by making it to the quarter finals. They gave it everything against some strong competition and should be proud of how they represented our school.

Well done to all involved! Go Eagles!

𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝟭𝟮 𝗥𝗘𝗖 – 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

Our Year 12 Recreation Studies students recently laced up their boots and took on the stunning trails of Springbrook National Park, completing hikes at both Purling Brook Falls and Twin Falls Circuits.

But it wasn’t just about the scenery.  Students were putting their learning into action by applying the 'Leave No Trace Principles', developing a strong understanding of how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly and sustainably. From staying on designated paths to respecting the natural environment, they demonstrated ethical practices in outdoor recreation.

Well done to our future leaders in sustainable adventure and outdoor education!

PRIMARY SCHOOL GALA DAY

Ormeau Woods SHS hosted it's very first inter-primary school Gala Day for both Football and Rugby League, and what a fantastic day it was!

A big congratulations to Norfolk Village State School, who came away victorious in both codes after a tight and competitive day of matches.

We’re incredibly proud of our Excellence Academy students who stepped up to coach, referee, and support the younger players throughout the event. Their encouragement, and sportsmanship made the day a memorable experience for everyone involved.

Thank you to all participating schools, staff, and students who made the day such a success, we can't wait to do it all again!

YEAR 9 & 10 BOYS BASKETBALL – CBSQ Wildcard Challenge

Last week, Year 9 & 10 Boys Basketball team hit the court at the CBSQ Wildcard Challenge, delivering a stellar performance across three intense games.

With 2 wins and just 1 narrow loss, the boys came heartbreakingly close to qualifying for the All-Schools Competition. While they just missed out, their efforts did not go unnoticed.  They played with skill, determination, and incredible sportsmanship every step of the way.

The team proudly represented Ormeau Woods SHS, showing what it truly means to be part of a team, on and off the court.

A huge congratulations to all the players on an amazing effort. The future of OWSHS basketball is looking bright!

Go Eagles!!!

Principal's Honours Breakfast

Last week, we proudly recognised the outstanding academic achievement of our students who received all A’s across all subjects in Term 1 at our Principal’s Honours Breakfast.

These students have shown commitment and a strong work ethic to achieve these results, a fantastic example of our school values in action.

A heartfelt thank you to Bendigo Community Bank Gold Coast North, for their continued support of this event and for helping us celebrate the excellence of our students. Without the support of our sponsors, these events wouldn't be possible.

Choral Fanfare Success

Two of our amazing school choirs took to the stage at the Choral Fanfare Regional Heats, a biennial competition where schools showcase their vocal talents.

We’re so proud to announce the results:

School Choir – Silver Award

Tu Tangata Choir – Platinum Award (the highest accolade!)

This is an incredible achievement and a reflection of the hard work, dedication, and talent of our students and staff. Both choirs now await the final results from all regional heats to see if they will progress to the state finals in their respective divisions.

A huge congratulations to everyone involved, we are so proud of you!

Pacific District Cross Country

Students from the Ormeau Woods SHS Cross Country Team proudly represented our school at the Pacific District Cross Country Event, giving it their all in an effort to secure a place on the District Team.

We’re incredibly proud of all our runners for their determination, sportsmanship and school spirit. A huge congratulations to the following students who qualified for the District Team: Aveline P, Lyla E, Lauren G, Olivia P, Makayla L, Charlotte N, Koji S, Spencer B, Henko V, and Jacob F.

An extra special shout-out to Jacob F, who now celebrates his 6th consecutive win at the Pacific District Cross Country Event, what an incredible effort!

Best of luck to all athletes heading to Regional Trials next week, we’re cheering you on!

Year 9 - Head of Year Update

Term 1 Update – A Strong and Positive Start 

Dear Parents and Carers, 

My name is Chris Thomas and I am proud to lead this talented Year 9 cohort. I am delighted to report that Year 9 has had a fantastic start to the academic year. The Term 1 data is not only very encouraging — it shows that all performance data is currently above school benchmarks. This is a clear reflection of the hard work, focus, and positive attitude shown by the vast majority of our students. 

It was also lovely to celebrate student success during our recent Aspire assembly. It was a great opportunity to acknowledge the achievements and progress made by our students, and we look forward to continuing to celebrate their successes throughout the year.

As we approach further assessments in Term 2, it is vital that students act upon the feedback provided by their teachers. Research consistently shows that when students reflect on and respond to feedback — particularly when it is linked to assessment criteria — their outcomes improve significantly. Please support your child in making time to review and apply this feedback as part of their revision and preparation.

The Assessment Calendar can be accessed via the following link:

School Benchmarks:  A= 20%        A-B = 55%       A-C= 92%

https://ormeauwshs.schoolzineplus.com/calendar/9

The Year 9 theme for this academic year is "Be the best you can be", and we are using this message to guide and inspire our students in their day-to-day learning. It's been wonderful to see so many embracing this challenge and setting high standards for themselves. I look forward to all that they will continue to achieve as we move into Term 2.

Finance News

Curriculum Invoices:

*SRS/Student Resource Scheme – Overdue

*Academy Program Fees – Overdue

*Subject Levies – Overdue

Important Note: If Curriculum invoices are not paid or on a current registered payment plan with the Finance Office, your student is not yet eligible to pay and attend non-curriculum excursions/events such as sport, Year 12 Formal, Senior Jersey or Year 10 Soiree.

Curriculum invoices are to be paid or on a registered payment plan with the Finance Office, prior to eligibility being given for Extra-Curricular activities. 

Upcoming Extra-Curricular Events:

Overseas Trips:

Further queries regarding Finance?  Struggling to pay those school invoices?  Need a payment plan?   Please make contact via finance@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au

With all invoice payments, preferred method is BPOINT, using the individual Invoice Number and Parent CRN Number – www.bpoint.com.au/payments/dete.  For easy access, you can click on the link at the bottom left of all Invoices and Statements.

IT Department Update

IT Department - Important Message: Student VPN Usage

A reminder to all students that VPN usage is NOT ALLOWED on the school network. As per the ICT/BYOD 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 a VPN 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 may receive additional disciplinary action.

We are constantly monitoring the school network regarding the online security and safety of students and the learning environment.

Health Hub

Chaplaincy Week – Celebrating Chappie Rachael! 

Next week is Chaplaincy Week, and it’s the perfect time to show our appreciation for the incredible work of our school Chaplain, Rachael Kyte.

Chappie Rachael plays a vital role in the Ormeau Woods SHS community, offering compassionate support, a listening ear, and a reliable presence to students, staff, and families. Whether it's through a kind conversation, helpful guidance, or simply being there when someone needs it most, – her impact is truly felt throughout the school.

We encourage everyone to take a moment this week to say thank you to Chappie Rachael for all that she does.

And don’t forget, Chappie Rachael runs our free breakfast program every Tuesday and Thursday mornings outside the PAC (facing the drop-off zone/carpark). Come grab some breakfast and say Hi!

Introducing Marty - part of the Health Hub Team

Hey I'm Marty from the Reconnect Program with Mission Australia. I'm from England and passionate about soccer and music. I'm here to work together on finding stable housing, improving family relationships, and staying connected with school and the community.

Did you know….the Health Hub can help families in need. We have a school chaplain, Rachael, who can assist families with food vouchers and hampers as well as referrals to support agencies. We can also help with uniform items, iPad loans and help with other costs for struggling families. If you would like to know more, please contact the school Chaplain Rachael or one of the Guidance officers: Ruby Farley (Years 7, 9, 11) & Phillippa Proctor (Years 8, 10, 12).

National Reconciliation Week

𝟮𝟳 𝗠𝗮𝘆 – 𝟯 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 | 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲: "𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁"

National Reconciliation Week is a significant time in Australia’s calendar to celebrate the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

It’s also a time to reflect on the ongoing journey towards reconciliation, and to strengthen relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

As part of our commitment to fostering understanding and respect for Australia’s diverse cultures, our students will participate in a special lesson during RLM on Wednesday. Activities will include:

Raising awareness about the significance of Reconciliation Week

Exploring the cultural heritage and stories of Indigenous peoples

Promoting empathy, respect, and inclusion in our school community

Our goal is to provide students with a meaningful and respectful learning experience that supports greater understanding, unity, and action.

Northern Collegiate

𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗨𝗥𝗣𝗟𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧

Our Ormeau Woods SHS Northern Collegiate representatives are proudly collecting donations for one of their chosen charities, Hearts of Purple. This incredible organisation supports victims of domestic violence through emergency assistance, advocacy, and safety solutions.

We’re asking our school community to donate items that will help provide vital support to those in need. Every contribution makes a difference.

Donations can be dropped off to Mrs Stevens in the R2N building

Please deliver all items before Wednesday 4 June 2025

Your generosity is truly appreciated by our Northern Collegiate Leaders. Let’s come together to make a positive impact

P&C News

Hello from the P&C

As we are well into another busy and exciting term, the P&C Committee would like to thank all students, families and school community members for your continued support and involvement. Whether you’ve volunteered your time, attended a meeting, or simply cheered from the sidelines at a school event, your contributions help create a supportive, connected and inspiring school community.

At the heart of everything we do is a shared commitment to supporting our students. Recent proposals to the school's P&C have led to support and/or funding for:

• The 2025 Yr 7 camp (to be held in Term 3) - Helping foster connection, belonging and inclusivity for all year 7 students
• Uniforms for the school music program - Helping foster school pride, unity and professionalism alongside enhancing how our school is represented at performances (and supporting the program’s continued growth!)
• 2 red food days - a popular decision amongst students! 
• Team registrations for the 2025 Kokoda Challenge - Fostering teamwork, resilience and school pride and the program’s continued growth within the school alongside an understanding of Australia’s military history 

We’re always looking for new voices and fresh ideas, so if you’ve ever thought about getting involved, now is a great time to join us! Come along to our P&C meetings—it's a great way to stay connected, share ideas, and support our school community. Meetings are every third Monday of the month. You can check out these dates here:  https://ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au/our-community/pandc

Our next meeting is Monday 16 June 5.30pm - in the Admin Block. We hope to see you there! 

Another reminder about the P&C Sports Travel support program. The P&C offers support for students who participate in state level sport. Opportunities are limited. Please see the form HERE and arrange to get the form into Mr Murtas for review.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Afra Durance

OWSHS - P&C Secretary

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

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

Follow the link and get your membership

https://subscribe.entertainment.com.au/fundraiser/1474s47

Every Day Counts

Please take a moment to review our Attendance Policy within the Student Code of Conduct and follow the correct procedures at all times, including when arriving late to school.

If a student will be absent or late for any reason, a parent or guardian must notify the school using one of the following methods:

📞 Call the Absence Line: (07) 5540 9266
📲 Send a Text Message: 0427 248 087
📧 Email: absences@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au

If a student is absent without prior notification, a text message will be sent to parents/guardians. If you receive this message, please respond directly with the student’s name, and reason for the absence.

Your cooperation helps us maintain accurate attendance records.

https://ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au/our-school/policies

Key Contacts

QParents

QParents, download it now!

As well as tracking payments, absences, report cards and timetables we will be introducing online consent forms via QParents.  Please make sure you sign up so you don't miss any excursions information or other consent forms when we make the change to digital consent forms only.

If you require an invitation to be sent with your unique access code, please email qparents@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au to have it sent.

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

*Please note - If you would prefer not to upload documents for identification when setting up your account, simply visit our friendly staff in the Administration Building where they can verify your documents and confirm your account without the need to upload.

Early pick up Process

If you know you will be collecting your student/s up early, please arrange a Leave Request, or phone ahead to advise you are on your way to collect a student. This saves on waiting times and interruptions on class learning.

Leave Requests can be arranged at the office by both students and parents. Information needed is; the reason for the early pickup, and the time the student/s is/are needed at the office for collection.

We can then issue a 'Leave Request' pass.

(Note: if parents call or email, please remind your child to come to the Student Window to collect their Leave Request).

Students can then show their teacher the Leave Request, and at the nominated time come and wait at the office for your arrival.

Parents MUST still come to the office (Student Counter/Window at the back of Administration) and sign students out before they leave school grounds.

Please call (07) 5540 9222 or email absences@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au if you have any questions

Tutorials

iPad Purchase Program

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

Second Hand Uniform Donation

Do you have old uniforms that are just collecting dust? We're on the lookout for generous donations of uniforms to assist families and also to stock up our school's uniform room. Your support can make a significant impact!

Whether your children have outgrown their uniform, or perhaps finished their schooling journey, we'd be immensely grateful for your contribution.

We simply ask that you drop off any donations to the main Administration Office.

Let's come together as a community and ensure every student has access to the uniforms they need. Thank you for making a difference!

Ormeau Links - Community Business Alliance

Ormeau Links has undergone an exciting revamp throughout 2024, and we are looking forward to building even stronger connections with local businesses in 2025.

If you are a business owner seeking opportunities to grow your brand, engage with local families, and build meaningful connections within the Ormeau community, we invite you to explore a partnership with us.

Together, we can create a mutually beneficial sponsorship arrangement that supports your business goals while enhancing educational outcomes for students at Ormeau Woods State High School.

Our Sponsorship Invitation outlines the impactful role our school plays in the community, our standout excellence programs, and how sponsors can integrate their brand with ours. This is an opportunity to grow your business and make a lasting connection with our students, their families, and the wider community.

For sponsorship enquiries please email ormeaulinks@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au to arrange a meeting.

2025 School Calendar

QTMP Ormeau rail facility update

Bulk Billed Urgent Care Clinic - Southport