Edition 11—6 August 2019

We were fortunate enough to be two of the 144 young scientists from all around Australia and the world who were chosen to attend the all-expense paid International Science School camp run by the University of Sydney.

What an amazing experience – two weeks of lectures, activities and social events with like-minded students from Thailand, China, India, Japan, USA, UK, New Zealand and every state and territory of Australia. Our accommodation was in Rose Bay, overlooking the beautiful Sydney Harbour and the camp gave us the opportunity to network with current University of Sydney students and alumni. We learnt about potential career pathways and received invaluable advice from the likes of the vice-chancellor of the university and members of the Physics Foundation.

The social events included discos, movies, harbour cruise, observatory tour and Taronga Park Zoo to name a few, so it wasn’t all work and no play. Our advice to future students considering applying for this camp is definitely “do it!” In fact, grab every opportunity offered to you while you are at school, as such occasions will not be as plentiful once you leave school and every opportunity is a chance to learn and experience something new.

Maninder Kaur and Lakhveer Kaur—ISC Vice-Captains (Yr12)

From the principal

We are focused on consultation at present, with parent and student meetings top of the agenda. Last week, the senior schooling team met with parents of year 11 students to plan some of the new year 12 experiences for 2020, based on the new program for senior schooling. A forum with year 11 students this week brought student voice to the table and we will now work with our wonderful staff to plan the best possible program for the end of year 11, the formal and graduation ceremonies, and the examination period at the end of year 12. As each new consideration arises for our pioneering year 11s, we will continue to consult with you to determine our path forwards. We are grateful for your feedback and ideas.

This Thursday we will meet with parents of year 12 students who plan to head to university study after graduation. There are tips and tricks that may make the transition a little easier, or least a little less stressful, and we are pleased to share with you our collective experiences.

Next week, on Thursday 15th August, parents of current year 10 students are invited to attend a meeting from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, to learn about what senior studies will be like, and how we will tailor a senior schooling pathway for each individual student transitioning into year 11 in 2020.

Our junior secondary team has also conducted enrolment interviews with almost 180 families over the past few weeks. If you know a family with a student in year 6 transitioning to high school next year, please encourage them to contact our office to make an enrolment interview appointment. The more we learn about our students and families, the better we are able to support not only the transition to a new environment, but the ongoing learning throughout high school.

Sincere thanks to all parents and carers who attended parent-teacher interviews on Monday 5 August. We appreciate your partnership. If you were unable to attend a parent-teacher meeting, I encourage you to make contact with teachers via email. Teacher email addresses are listed on the school website, in the “quick links” section on the front page. Keeping in contact with teachers enables the family to work together with the school to support student learning progression.

YEAR 11 2020 PARENT INFORMATION MEETING Year 11 2020 parent information meeting will provide parents/guardians with information about the new senior system and

our school processes for choosing a senior pathway. Presenters: Mrs Medley, Ms Martin, Mrs MacDonald

When: Thursday 15 August Where: ISC Library

Time: 5:30pm to 6:30pm

YEAR 12 QTAC PARENT NIGHT QTAC PARENT NIGHT is an information session for parents and students regarding the process of applying for Universities and/

or TAFE for students graduating in 2019. Presenter: Ms Lynn Gardiner (Guidance Officer)

When: Thursday 8 August Where: ISC Library

Time: 5:30pm to 6:30pm

International Science School camp

Challenge Games

A team of seventeen students from the 7-12 Special Education Program and nine students from Diverse Learning Centre participated in

two days of sports fun and friendship at the Townsville Challenge games last week. These games consist of sporting activities, athletics,

fun and games for school children who have a disability, regardless of their type of disability. Included are wheelchair assisted track

events, frisbee throw, shot put, vortex throw and loads of other games, that are tailored to the abilities of all children to ensure

engagement and social interaction for all those involved. A special congratulations to Luke Bathe who participated in the 100m, 200m,

400m and long jump invitational events as trials for the State Titles. We wish him all the best with his future sporting ventures.

It wasn’t all about the sport though! On the Wednesday night the students attended ‘The Glamour and Glitz Disco’ and danced the

night away. The students also participated in other fun activities such as dodgems, swimming, ten pin bowls, a visit to Castle Hill and

much more.Our students made lots of new friends, came home with big smiles and lots of ribbons. They were exceptional

ambassadors for ISC with their exemplary behaviour and sportsmanship. A special thanks to all the staff and families who supported

our students at this amazing event.

Innisfail State College acknowledges the Mamu People, Traditional Custodians of the country in which this College is located, and pays respect to their Elders past and present and emerging.

Wed 7 - Fri 9 August Orpheus Island camp for year 11 Thursday 8 August QTAC Parent night 5:30-6:30pm library Saturday 10 August Mundoo State School fete Monday 12 August P&C Meeting 7pm - A block Thursday 15 August Yr 10 parent night 5:30 to 6:30pm library Friday 16 August Peppertree Restaurant Saturday 17 August South Johnstone State School fere Monday 19 August Yr 8 GEG excursion week 20-21 August Cert III Health students work placement Wed 21 August Shake & Stir Drama Yr 12 Car crash scenario Friday 23 August Peppertree Restaurant

Upcoming events

Last week ISC celebrated NAIDOC with a weeklong celebration of cultural activities, performances and Indigenous-focused curriculum. Monday’s parade opened the week with a concert which featured rich student performances including the ISC Dance Troupe, Torres Strait Islander traditional dances, the Treaty dance and “I am Australian” girls’ song. The focus of the parade was “student voice”, with our sen-ior leaders delivering the NAIDOC focus of Voice Treaty Truth. Other activities during the week included the student basketball tournament, with the winners set to challenge the teachers’ team in week 5, boomerang and spear throwing, as well as painting and art. The week culminated in our annual Kup Murri lunch with over 300 students, staff and guests experiencing an amazing traditional lunch prepared by our students and community volunteers. NAIDOC @ ISC this year also delivered many Indigenous focused lessons across all curriculum areas, including The Uluru Statement and Treaty in Humanities, Indigenous land management and fire in Science, Indigenous poetry in English, Growth Mindset Voice Treaty Truth plus many more. ISC would like to thank all the parents and families who supported our NAIDOC celebrations as well as the Indigenous student leaders for making it such a great week.

Come along and hear our ISC concert band and jazz ensemble playing from 5pm!

31 senior students recently participated in a Queensland Health initiative at the Cairns Base Hospital called the PARTY program. PARTY is an acronym for Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth and is a dynamic, interactive program that aims to enable students to recognise potential injury-producing situations and adopt behaviour that minimises unnecessary risk. Presenters included medical staff from Accident and Emergency, Intensive Care nurses,

Physiotherapists, Speech Therapists, Occupational Therapists and extraordinary citizens affected

personally by alcohol-related trauma. Perhaps the highlight of the day was when small groups of

students were able to assist in a life-like resuscitation scenario of a young trauma victim within the

Emergency Department.

PARTY Program

Innisfail district youth will be the beneficiaries of a health and well-being initiative being supported by Innisfail District Police and the

Australian Anti-Ice Campaign, and sponsored by our local Rotary Club together with other generous contributors including the Innisfail

State College Parents & Citizens Association, the Good Counsel College Parents & Friends Association, the Inner Wheel Club of Innisfail,

and other local community organisations. These wonderful community-minded groups are providing generous sponsorship to allow

students at Innisfail State College and Good Counsel College to participate in a free Anti-Ice Education presentation which will be

delivered by a presenter from AAIC (Australian Anti-Ice Campaign).

Further information on the AAIC including news reports can found on their website: https://www.australianantiicecampaign.org.au/

I urge you to visit the website and view the short video of the presentation so you can make an informed decision as to whether your

child will participate. The presentation is very informative and also emotionally powerful and may not be suitable for every student.

The AAIC presentation goes for the duration of a normal class lesson. Students in years 10, 11 and 12 will be timetabled to attend an Anti

-Ice session with their class on Monday 12 or Tuesday 13 August.

If you have any questions or concerns please phone Guidance Officer Lyn Gardiner or School Nurse Jenny Hall at school on 4078 0222.

Anti-Ice drug education for our youth

The presentation also provides participants with strategies for:

Saying "no" if Ice is ever offered to them;

Communicating the risks of Ice use to their peers;

Acting to prevent Ice use by their peers;

Seeking help if one of their peers is using Ice or considering

using Ice.

The presentation content includes:

The short and long term effects of Ice use;

The danger and toxicity of the ingredients in Ice

The mechanism of Ice addiction;

The effects on the brain, body, relationships and community;

The risks of trying Ice, even once.

All Queensland State Schools participate in an annual survey program, during which we seek to learn from our staff, parents and students

more about what we are doing well in our school, and what we might focus on improving in the year ahead. In high schools, year 9 and

year 11 students are surveyed (about 60 students randomly selected from each year level). All staff are invited to contribute and all

parents are also welcome to provide this important feedback.

The survey is completely anonymous. We seek to hear both praise for our great work and also constructive criticism about what is not

yet meeting your needs.

The survey is conducted online and can be completed on any computer, tablet or smart phone with internet access. If you’d like to

complete a survey and don’t have internet access, you are most welcome to come into the school and use a computer here.

Survey access codes are available from both senior and junior student services and also the main office. Please collect a form anytime

during August or ask your son/daughter to bring one home for you. Your opinion counts!

We need your feedback—annual school opinion survey