O-News 11 November 2024

From the Principal's Desk

Hello Everyone,

On Wednesday evening, our school is hosting an amazing event that will showcase our student talents, achievements and quality in teaching, learning and school culture. Our Annual Night of Excellence ensures the opportunity for our students to be celebrated for their outstanding efforts and achievements aligned to our 4 Excellence Pillars: Community, Academic, Cultural and Sport. Students who will be receiving awards have been given an invitation for them to attend. I’m looking forward to congratulating our wonderful students for their efforts, and welcoming proud parents and family on the night. 

Our Year 12 students have finished their final exams! These fine students will be celebrating the end of their high school education by participating in their graduation ceremony this week, on Thursday evening. I wish all of our year 12 students the very best and look forward to their special and final event as students of Ormeau Woods State High School.

Today, Monday 11 November, Australians paused at 11.00am for one minute’s silence to honour those who have died or suffered in all wars, armed conflicts, and operational service. Our school participated in remembrance within our school gates, and by attending and participating in local community run Remembrance Day services.

Finally, our school has been in the spotlight for showcasing best practice relating to teaching and learning in our region. Evidenced by our improving outcomes, our Head of School Mr Silcock and I, have had the pleasure of showcasing our school improvement work to other schools in our region and across the state. Thank you for your continued support of Ormeau Woods State High School and for your valuable feedback contributing towards further improvement.

Dan Murtas

Principal

Head of School Update

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we move into the final stretch of Term 4, I would like to share our school’s recent achievements, goals, and ongoing efforts to support each student’s success. We are committed to fostering a learning environment where students feel empowered to excel and take charge of their academic journey.

Academic Achievement Goals and Progress

Our whole-school academic targets for this year are ambitious, aiming for 92% of students to achieve grades within the A-C range, with 55% in the A-B range, and 20% achieving an A. I’m pleased to report that our Term 3 results for Years 7-12 show us on track to meet these goals, with an impressive 92% of students in the A-C range, 60.5% in the A-B range, and 25.8% achieving an A. With five weeks remaining in the term, our teaching staff are working diligently to maintain and even improve on these results as we approach the end of Semester 2.

Daily Learning Walks and Student Empowerment

Our executive team conducts daily Learning Walks, inspired by the work of Lynn Sharratt, to stay connected with students and ensure a high-quality learning environment across the school. During these walks, we ask students five key questions to gauge their engagement and understanding:

• What are you learning?
• Why is this important?
• How are you doing?
• How do you know how you’re doing?
• Where do you go for help if you need it?

These questions encourage students to reflect on their learning, making them active participants in their education. Following our walks, we provide immediate, constructive feedback to teachers, equipping them with insights to support their students effectively. This feedback cycle is designed to empower students by fostering a classroom environment that encourages ownership of their learning.

Third Teacher Space: Visual Support for Learning

Another strategy we are implementing is the concept of "Third Teacher Space," which utilises the classroom’s physical environment as a visual support tool to enhance student learning. By carefully curating our classroom spaces, we aim to create an atmosphere that inspires curiosity, supports engagement, and visually reinforces key concepts. This approach ensures that students have access to a learning environment that is supportive, inspiring, and conducive to success.

Supporting Student Progress

With just a few weeks to go in the term, our teachers are actively tracking each student’s progress. If additional support is needed, teachers will be reaching out to families to discuss ways we can work together to ensure the best outcomes. Please keep an eye out for any updates and feel free to reach out to us if you have questions or concerns.

We are determined to assist every student and teacher in reaching their goals, and we look forward to celebrating the hard work and achievements of our community as we close out the semester.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Kind Regards

Matt Silcock

Roxinho do it again!!!

After an incredible year of house spirit, carnival participation, pillar challenges, and more, we’re thrilled to announce Roxinho as the winner of this year's prestigious Ross Wallace Shield! Named after Ormeau Woods SHS’s founding Principal, this award recognises exceptional dedication and pride within our school community.

A huge congratulations to Roxinho House and its outstanding leaders, Olivia and Erick, for bringing home this honour for the fourth consecutive year! Well done, everyone!

2025 Enrolments

𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗢𝗟 𝗡𝗢𝗪!

O-Week is on again 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 but Friday 15 November. 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.

More information on O-Week can be found at: https://ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au/calendar-and-news/news/o-week-2024 

In the Woods

𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝟭𝟭 𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡

Earlier this week, our Year 11 students had a fantastic day immersing themselves in the legal world at the Brisbane Supreme, District, and Magistrates Courts! They started with an exploration of the 'Criminal Law: Then, Now, Tomorrow' exhibition, gaining insight into how laws evolve over time.

Students experienced a hands-on tour of the courtroom and even participated in a mini trial role-play! The highlight of the day was observing real cases in session, a sentencing hearing in the District Court, part of a hearing in the Supreme Court, and another case in the Magistrates Court.

It was an eye-opening experience, bringing classroom lessons to life and giving them a firsthand look at our justice system in action. Linking Learning with Life.

𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝟭𝟭 𝗔𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗦

Our Year 11 Aquatics students were required to practice and demonstrate their snorkelling skills ahead of their exciting snorkelling excursion to Tallebudgera Creek later on in this week! We’re thrilled for them to explore the underwater world, and can’t wait to hear all about their discoveries. Enjoy the adventure, everyone!

𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝟭𝟬 𝗖𝗣𝗥 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚

It’s that time of year again! Last week, our Year 10 students took part in CPR training, filling the MPC with the steady beat of 'Staying Alive' by the Bee Gees. The song served as the perfect rhythm to practice life-saving skills and keep those compressions on track!

Well done Year 10!

𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗦

On Wednesday, our Seniors Woods Crew had the incredible opportunity to workshop with Kaea Pearce for their 2025 crew routine. What an experience for our students, with Kaea bringing her wealth of knowledge and flair to create them something magic. We can’t wait to see them hit the stages next year with this phenomenal routine.

We extend our sincere thanks to Julian Woehrle Remax-United for sponsoring this exceptional workshop. This opportunity has been invaluable, and our Dance students are deeply grateful for the support and inspiration your sponsorship has provided. Thank you for helping them grow through this experience.

𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝟭𝟬 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 | 𝗝𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗟𝗘𝗬 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 (𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗞𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲)

This year, Bailey M and Alyssa J, both in Year 10, participated in the Northern Collegiate Leadership Program, joining students from seven surrounding schools on the Gold Coast. As part of the program, they connected with the Jack Beasley Foundation, with a primary goal of raising awareness about its important work.

The girls invited Belinda Beasley (Jack’s mother) and Senior Sergeant Brad Rix from the Surfers Paradise Police Department, to speak to the Year 10 cohort last week. They shared powerful stories and essential information on the issue of knife violence and the laws surrounding it. Students were engaged throughout the presentation, and we hope they took away the critical messages conveyed about knife violence.

Well done Bailey and Alyssa, for bringing this invaluable information to our students.

Jack Beasley Foundation - www.jackbeasleyfoundation.org

𝗩𝗘𝗧𝗢 𝗙𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗟

The U12/13s Ormeau Woods SHS Futsal team showed incredible determination across three VETO Sports Futsal gala days, competing against older teams and still performing exceptionally well. With each event, they improved their skills and teamwork, gaining confidence along the way. Despite the age gap, they played with heart, resilience, and sportsmanship, representing the school with pride. Their progress sets a strong foundation for future success.

Well done team!!!

𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝟭𝟭 𝗕𝗜𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗬 𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗣 

After a bit of rain on the first day, the rest of the trip was filled with fantastic weather that allowed students to engage in lots of different activities. Students sampled and compared the percentage cover of vegetation on two different sand dune systems through the use of transect lines, and also visited two different rocky shores to compare the abundance of various marine organisms. There was a great deal of fun had across the three days to complete the ecosystem sampling for their year 12 student experiment assignment.

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𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗨𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦

Congratulations to Bianca Sleeman (Class of 2023) on her upcoming solo show at Logan Art Gallery, beginning Saturday October 26 through to Saturday November 30.

Each year, Logan Art Gallery selects one outstanding young artist from the 'Artwaves: Logan and Adjacent Areas Secondary Schools' Art Exhibition' to mentor and guide through the process of developing their very own solo show in the Young Peoples Gallery.

For all the details on the exhibition and how you can attend, head to the Logan Art Gallery Website

We are so proud of Bianca and can’t wait to see her talent on full display!

𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗦 – 𝗔 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥!

Ormeau Woods came alive with creativity at the incredible Arts in the Woods festival! The event was a spectacular showcase of talent, celebrating all forms of art. From breathtaking performances to stunning exhibitions, it was a night filled with inspiration and artistic brilliance.

A special shoutout to everyone who participated, supported, and helped make the night such a success. Your hard work truly shone through! We’re so proud of the passion and creativity within our school community, and we can’t wait to see what you create next!

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Key Contacts

Finance News

The Finance Office will be closed after final trading on Friday 29 November (week 9) 2024.  Now is the time to make sure all outstanding curriculum and iPad invoices are finalised, via BPoint, Direct Deposit, Qkr! or card/cash at the Finance Window.

Thank you to all those families who have settled accounts for 2024.

2025 iPad Purchase Program paperwork is now up on the school website, so if you are wanting to acquire a device through the school, we urge you to complete and return now for invoicing in the new year.

Important Dates to Remember:

Friday 29 November 2024 – Final trading day for Finance Window.

Tuesday 21 January 2025 – Invoices generated to families for Curriculum SRS & iPads (Due 28 February 2025).

Wednesday 22 & Thursday 23 January 2025 – Finance Window trading 8am – 2pm.

Monday 27 January 2025 – School Closed for Australia Day Public Holiday.

From Wednesday 29 January 2025 – Finance Window Regular Opening Times – Mon/Wed/Fri 8am – 11am.

Friday 21 February 2025 – Invoices generated for Subject Levies - Year levels 9, 10, 11, 12 (Due 28 March 2025).

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

P&C Update

Hi Everyone!

Term 4 is going so quickly!

A very big term for Mel and the Canteen Team. Two Red Food Days already plus a huge number of exchange students visiting this team, plus primary school children coming to see 'High School'!  Thank you Canteen Team - I know students, parents and staff appreciate the effort you put in to delivering awesome service.

We congratulate our local member, Mr Michael Crandon, in retaining his seat in the recent election. Mr Crandon gave several commitments for project funding at Ormeau Woods. We look forward to the delivery of those promises soon. When we have more news on that front, we will let you know.

We take this time to wish our Year 10 and 11 students a great summer holiday. Be safe and try not to forget 2024 learnings. You will need it for 2025!

Thank you to all the students putting on a huge variety of performances. What a great show case for all your hard work and skill development throughout 2024.

Lastly, our final meeting for the year will be 5.30pm Tuesday 19 November.  It's a bring-a-plate night to celebrate the close of a big 2024.

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

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 towards utilising QParents for all permission notes, and in order for this process to run smoothly, 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.

𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗤𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟𝗦 𝗔𝗣𝗣 (𝘕𝘖𝘛 𝘛𝘖 𝘉𝘌 𝘊𝘖𝘕𝘍𝘜𝘚𝘌𝘋 𝘞𝘐𝘛𝘏 𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘘𝘗𝘈𝘙𝘌𝘕𝘛𝘚 𝘈𝘗𝘗)

The QSchools App is no longer supported by the Department of Education, and its information is now outdated. We recommend you remove it from your devices to avoid confusion.  Please install QParents in it's place.

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 available to you.

• 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.

Please visit our website for more helpful links: https://ormeauwoodsshs.eq.edu.au/support-and-resources/guidance-officer 

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:

1. Visit www.stymie.com.au or search for “Stymie” online.
2. Fill out the form with the necessary details.
3. 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.

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 ask if you can drop off any donations to the main Administration Office during office hours.

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

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.

Every Day Counts

Tutorials

International Homestays

Ormeau Links - Community Business Alliance

Are you a business owner looking to grow your brand, engage with local families, and build meaningful connections in the Ormeau area? We're not asking for donations, instead, we're excited to explore a mutually beneficial sponsorship opportunity that supports your business while improving outcomes for students at our 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 set up a meeting.

Wheels in the Woods