O-News 4 August 2023

From the Principal's Desk

Hello everyone,

Term 3 is such an important term of schooling for all students at Ormeau Woods State High School. Students have had the opportunity to reflect on their achievement and learning progress from Semester 1 and supportively set achievable learning goals and improvement strategies for this term.  This process, along with our parent and teacher interview evening held last week is a powerful opportunity for students, teachers and parents to work together to support the learning improvement of your child. Thank you to all parents who were able to take the time to attend the interviews last Wednesday. In this issue of O News, our Head of School, Mr Silcock will highlight the outstanding academic progress our students are making across the school which evidences the impact of the strong focus on student learning growth we have set as a school.

Along with high priority learning, Term 3 offers many opportunities for students to flourish through extra curricula activities aligned to our four pillars of Academic, Sport, Cultural and Community excellence. Thank you and congratulations to those students who have represented our school proudly this term with sport, eisteddfods and excursions. I would also like to mention the amazing achievement of all our students and staff who participated in the Kokoda Challenge. Nearly all of our staff and students finished the challenge and demonstrated strong leadership, resilience, support and determination along the way. Thank you to all parents who supported the students through training and being part of a support crew, and of course Mr Morrison who went above and beyond to ensure the challenge was a great success for all involved.

Our school has very recently undertaken the four-year school review process. I would like to thank all students, staff, parents, and community partners who participated in this review process. I am proud to communicate that the review findings were extremely positive and highlights our improvement journey over the past four years. The school review report will be released to our school community later this term. This report will be communicated to our school community and all stakeholders will have the opportunity to take part in consultation sessions to set the strategic agenda for our school for the next four years.

Finally, all parents have been emailed a link to complete the annual school opinion survey to provide feedback about the school and your child’s experience at Ormeau Woods as a whole over the last 12 months. The survey closes soon, so if you haven’t already, please share your voice through this survey.

Have a great week everyone.

Dan Murtas - Principal

Head of School update

Hello and welcome to the Head of School section of O-News,

For this edition, I will be sharing Semester 1, 2023 student achievement results, analysing our current whole school performance and comparing it with previous years (2019-23)

How is School Performance Measured?

Information seen below is from Semester 1 Reporting and representative of the whole school, years 7-12.

Priority Measures

• Academic performance is measured through A-E reporting for all subjects with close attention to A-C% and A-B%.
• Effort and Behaviour % is measured through Satisfactory – Excellent.

What is our Current Performance Reality and how do we Compare with School and EQ Benchmarks?

When comparing our progress against school set targets for 2023 and benchmarks, we are making pleasing progress.

Recognition should be given to the volume of students achieving the highest grades (A), setting the foundation for high ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Ranking). This and our historical trend of 100% QCE makes us very competitive against local private schools and affirms a growing excellence in Queensland State Schools. We believe we are increasingly demonstrating value for money. Our student results are starting to back that belief up.

How does 2023 Semester 1 Compare with Previous Years?

In comparison to previous Semester 1 achievements, we have continued to sustain our whole school improvement, as seen below depicting 5-year trends since 2019.

For semester 2, we aim to build on our great start to the year. Historically, we have predominantly done better in the second half of the year, as evidenced below.

Predictions for 2023 Semester 2 reporting have been forecast and as Head of School, I will challenge school leaders, teachers and students to meet high standards in teaching and learning performance.

In my next edition, Week 6, I will share further outcomes by year level and an update of how each year are progressing.

Matt Silcock - Head of School

Subject & Careers Expo

𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧 & 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗢 | 𝗧𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟴 𝗔𝗨𝗚𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 | 𝟱.𝟬𝟬𝗽𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝟳.𝟬𝟬𝗽𝗺

The OWSHS Subject and Careers Expo is a great opportunity for students and families from years 8 to 12 to explore the vast array of pathways that lie beyond high school as well as assist with subject choices and opportunities while at school. There will be a number of External Agencies, Universities, and TAFE available to speak with on the night as well as our very own OWSHS staff. Come along earlier to the various information sessions covering topics such as SET Planning, ATAR, and QCE. These sessions will start at 4.30pm in the Lecture Theatre. You can download a copy of the information session timetable at: https://ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au/calendar-and-news/news/subject-and-careers-expo 

While you are there you are welcome to purchase a sausage sizzle and drink from our student fundraiser, located outside the MPC. We look forward to seeing you all there on the night.

Finance News

Student Resource Scheme

Thank you to all families who have paid their SRS, we can continue to supply required and necessary resources for your student/s.  If there is still outstanding SRS amounts on your account, settlement of these would be appreciated as soon as possible.

Subject Levies

Thank you to all families who have paid their subject levies.  Settlement of any outstanding subject levy amounts would be appreciated as soon as possible.

iPad Purchase Program

Thank you to all families who are up to date with their iPad payments. Settlement of any outstanding iPad amounts would be appreciated as soon as possible.  

Upcoming extra-curricular events

HoTA Archie 100 - 8 August - $33 due by Friday 4 August

STEM Physics Dreamworld excursion - 10 August - $40 due by Friday 4 August

Winter State Futsal Titles - 17 & 21 August - $28 due by Wednesday 9 August

Shake & Stir: Macbeth (Year 12 General English) - 30 August - $25 due by Wednesday 23 August

Mama Mia! (Music excursion) - 6 September - $65 due by Friday 1 September

Junior Japan Tour - 28 November to 10 December - Final balance due by Friday 1 September 

Any finance queries, including overdue accounts/invoices and lodging of payment plans, please contact the school finance team: finance@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au

The Arts

BEENLEIGH EISTEDDFOD

Our school bands and ensembles competed at the Quota Beenleigh Eisteddfod held at the Logan Entertainment Centre. Our students did exceptionally well and our placings were:

Vocal Ensemble: 2nd place

String Ensemble: 2nd place

Concert Band: 2nd place

Drumline: 1st place

Stage Band: 1st place

While our Choir and Rock Bands did not place, they faced some very tough competition, and are eager to apply the feedback received from the adjudicator in rehearsals over the coming weeks before Gold Coast Eisteddfod later this term. 

Next to take the stage at the Quota Beenleigh Eisteddfod were our OWSHS Dancers. They certainly made an impact and came away with some incredible results!

Junior Performance Team Jazz - Highly Commended

Junior Performance Team Lyrical - First

Senior Performance Team Contemporary - Highly Commended

Senior Performance Team Jazz - First

Woods Crew - First

Senior Heals - Second

Our dancers were also awarded the Best Secondary School Group Grade 12 & Under

As always, a huge thank you to our amazing Teachers who spend their mornings, afternoons and lunch breaks with students rehearsing in preparation for these events!

Principal Honours Breakfast

Ormeau Woods SHS parents, staff and students came together to celebrate students that achieved A grades across all subjects in the semester one reporting period. It was wonderful to come together as a school community to celebrate their phenomenal accomplishments!

To all the students who were invited to attend, congratulations! Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence has paid off. You truly deserve this recognition, and we hope you feel an immense sense of pride in what you have achieved.

To the parents and families of these exceptional students, we thank you for your unwavering support and encouragement. Your role in their success cannot be overstated, and we are grateful for the strong partnership between home and school.

Let's continue to nurture a culture of academic excellence, positivity, and growth within our school community. Together, we can achieve incredible things!

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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.

Driver training day - Norwell Motorplex

The first interaction with an emergency service vehicle can be confusing and intimidating; especially for young drivers who are more likely to experience this when they are by themselves and don’t know what to do. Our program, which is aimed at Learner and Provisional licence holders, is designed to provide them with experience around these interactions with emergency service vehicles, making it a safer environment for everyone involved.

The next event is being held on Sunday 20 August 2023 at the Norwell Motorplex at 75 Norwell Road Norwell. There are five one-hour long sessions being run on the day; these sessions consist of a 15-minute road safety briefing and 45 minutes of on track driving in a safe and controlled environment. While the participants are driving around the track, several police vehicles will join them; the officers will drive around with lights and sirens on to simulate giving way to an emergency vehicle, they will also perform mobile intercepts and at the end, a static breath testing site.

There is a small booking fee of $25 and bookings can be made through the Norwell Motorplex website (norwellmotorplex.com.au). Participants (especially learners) must have a supervisor (over the age of 25) in the car with them while on track. The speeds are kept low so there is no requirement for helmets or protective clothing.

If parents or students have questions please contact Norwell Motorplex on (07) 5546 1366.

Andrew Harper

Acting SergeantRoad

Policing Task Force

Queensland Train Manufacturing Program

Winter Uniforms

With the weather being cooler, this is a friendly reminder of our Winter Uniform policy. All school uniform items can be purchased at School Locker either instore or via their website.

Any student in incorrect uniform are to report before school to the Student Advisor’s office in Innovate building.

3878 Pacific Highway, Loganholme Qld
Phone: 07 3440 9710
www.theschoollocker.com.au

Tutorials

Ormeau Links - Community Business Alliance

Key Contacts

QParents

As new features become available within the QParents app, OWSHS are asking families to please signup to the app if you are yet to do so.

To start the process you will require a school generated invitation. This would have been sent to you when you first enrolled at Ormeau Woods SHS. 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 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴)

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.

General School Information

EARLY PICKUP REMINDER

Please ensure that if you know in advance you need to pick your child up early, that you send notice through so we can issue a leave request to your child to minimise interruptions and delays. 

Leave Request’s 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 are needed at the office for collection. We can then issue a ‘Leave Request’ pass. Students can then show their teacher the pass, and at the nominated time come and wait at the office for your arrival.  

If the pick up is unplanned we ask if you can please phone ahead so we can have your child ready and waiting for your arrival.

You are still required to sign your child out before they can leave school grounds. 

Please call (07) 5540 9222 or 
Email info@ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au

STUDENT DRIVERS

Any student of legal driving age that holds a current drivers licence who intends to drive to school, either on a regular basis or occasionally must comply with school policy, read and complete the Student Driver Agreement Form including parent/caregiver permission and return to the school Administration Office.

CARPARK REMINDER

Please use the designated drop off and pick up areas and parent car parking zones for the safety of all staff and students.  
Please be reminded to follow road rules at all times.  Do not enter the bus lane at any time, perform illegal    U-turn’s at the bus lane entry, or unsafe U-turn’s in Minka Lane.  We appreciate your support in making our roads and school safe for everyone.

Safety is more important than convenience.

QUEENSLAND SCHOOL CALENDAR

Stay up to date with all the term dates, public holidays and student free days across the year by printing a copy of the 2023 Department of Educations State School Calendar.