Newsletter Term 4 2020

Term 1 Date Claimers Principal’s Report Warm greetings to you all,

Term 1 Dates 27/01/21 - 01/04/21 As we end our school year Orientation Week 27/01 – 29/01/21 please pause, take breath, and reflect on 2020. Our students Australia Day Public have proven their resilience and Holiday 26/01/21 fortitude during these difficult times. Our staff, as essential P&C Meeting 08/02/21 workers, have demonstrated 15/03/21 (AGM) their commitment to our students and families during this Let’s Connect challenging piece of history. Tablelands 02/03 – 03/03/21 04/03 – 05/03/21 At the beginning of the year Australia was in the grip of Online 04/03 – 05/03/21 raging bushfires and a number of our families were directly affected. Then came the pandemic and this Music Camp 22/03 – 23/03/21 fundamentally changed our way of life. All of Australia’s students joined the online learning world, some for the STEAM Camp 25/03 – 26/03/21 first time. Parents were also thrust into the role of home tutor. Suddenly people became acutely aware of the Good Friday complexities of teaching their children at home. Public Holiday 02/04/21 Throughout all of this we continued our support and connections as strong as we possible could. We dearly missed seeing our students and families in face-to-face activities. Our Cairns to Karumba bike ride was cancelled. Our P&C Association’s ability to fundraise was curtailed. New ways of raising money were implemented. We provided services to our students, over 140 partner schools and we assisted another 30+ schools who asked for our assistance. We are proud of what our students, families and staff do each and every day.

2020’s major success stories include:  Full implementation of the New QCE/QCIA system  Creating innovative ways to connect our students through online camps  Updating of learning programs to Version 8 of the Australian Curriculum.

I take this opportunity to thank our energetic and I also look forward to collaboratively developing our dedicated P&C. in particular our Executive team of school’s new vision for the next 4-5 years with you. And Judith Eriksen, Juanita Saal and Melissa Fitzgerald for of course we have the Cairns to Karumba Bike ride to their insightful and passionate leadership. I encourage look forward to in June-July next year. Start training now all of you to join this wonderful team. team 

Next year we look forward to improving our work in the Finally I wish you all the very best for the summer following areas: holidays (and if you believe in the fat man wearing the  Implementing quality teaching and learning red suit, I hope he brings you what you wish for!) programs through QLearn, our new Learning My wish, is peace and good health to you all. Management System  Engaging our students through quality Kind regards, feedback  Providing viable pathways to our students Andrew Oliver through QCE, QCIA, ATAR, further training or Principal employment.

Parent Liaison Officer

Welcome Crystal! New Parent Liaison Officer Hello! My name is Crystal Stanley and I have started in the Parent Liaison Office role here at Cairns SDE.

I grew up in Mackay, Cairns and the Tablelands, but was living in Toowoomba for the last 8 years. I have recently moved back to Cairns with my partner and our two crazy, but wonderful kids. Isabella is 6 and will be off to Year 2 next year, and Beau will is 4 and will be starting Prep.

I have a great respect for anyone who gives teaching their kids from home a go and especially those that have been doing it for many years. I have a very interesting background and look forward to getting to know as many parents as possible and helping where I can. Feel free to ask me any questions by contacting me on (07) 4080 9208 for a chat. Take care, talk soon!

Student News

BLA Junior Literary Competition Year 7 Articles A big congratulations to Year 7 students (Tyson and Aidan) give opposing Amber (Year 7) who placed viewpoints on whether Ned Kelly was a hero or a villain. 3rd in the BLA EQ Junior (7- 8) Literary Competition! This Noble Ned by Tyson (Year 7) contest is designed to Ned Kelly is a hero, if you think otherwise you’re wrong! encourage literary The police were always accusing him, and his family, for development for learners crimes. There wasn’t much of a chance for him to be across all high school sectors in the region. Students accepted into society at all. What made this worse, was were required to write a short story. Well done Amber! the fact that the rich were getting richer and the poor were getting poorer. Ned’s dad had already gained a A Boy in a Dress by Amber (Year 7) bad reputation, which shadowed Ned his whole life. The Packing my room I came across my old skating medals. police abused their power to do whatever they wanted Suddenly I was transported back to 2017 when I was a to his poor family; this was shown in the Fitzpatrick 9 year old boy full of anxiety, depression and a dream incident. When his mother was jailed, he’d had enough. to compete in a roller-skating competition as myself. He knew that the way the authorities treated his family, I remember how I thought my heart would explode out and countless other families, was unfair. He was going of my chest when I heard my name announced. I looked to put an end to these injustices… and so he did! towards the rows of seats, long wooden benches, and People think Ned was a bad person because he stole saw my family and friends cheering and clapping yelling and murdered, but that’s just not the truth. Ned stole my name ‘go Nate go Nate!!’ but I also saw some people from the authorities, who were bathing in money, and shake their heads and whisper. I was a boy in a girls gave to the people who needed it most. Ned very rarely dress. stole from the poor, but when he did, he returned it - he knew what it felt like to be in that position. I was used to seeing people whisper, point and laugh at I believe the murder was for self-defence, not to mention me but still I remembered how much it hurt. My free defending his 2 best mates and his brother. Everyone skate music started and I instinctively glided across the blames Ned for the shootout but what about the police? smooth polished wooden floor just as I had been What do you reckon they were coming to do? I’ll give practising for months. My light blue sparkly dress you a hint… capture and execute! Now, I ask you this; twinkled under the lights which were as bright as a full if Ned were trying to kill everyone, why had one of the moon, as I twirled and jumped praying, I wouldn’t officers escaped? He was a sitting duck! The man was stumble. on top of a horse, he wore very little armour and the Kelly’s had impeccable aim from living in the bush for so The music faded as I finished my routine. I couldn’t long, yet he still escaped. One of the men was in such believe I had done it! I had managed to perform without a bad way from the shootout that Ned decided to put vomiting or crying like I thought I would. As it came time him out of his misery. Even after they were coming to for the presentation I skated to the area and nervously murder him, Ned was still kind. I know what you’re sat down. I never dreamed I would place until I heard thinking “he murdered him, that’s not kind!” However, my name for 1st announced over the loudspeaker ‘and the fact is, if Ned had not killed this man, he would have first place goes to Nate Blythe’. I remember feeling slowly perished in the bush. Then while trying to get dumbfounded and amazed that I had won as I stood up back home while badly injured, this man would have to receive my gold medal. Those high-fives and hugs, been thinking of his family losing him, imagining their gripping me tight, from my teammates, coach and family, sadness when they hear the news of his death while he made me feel a million dollars. got torn up by a hungry animal - I know which of these I had won the battle against my anxiety, I felt like I was options I would prefer! on top of the world! It was after Ned’s death that he made the most change! Those awful officers got what they wanted and had Ned A couple of months later I had to leave skating behind hung! They thought they’d won this round, however, but I never forgot how much it meant to me and what I little did they know their wrongdoing was about to come achieved. Today as a 12 year old girl I often think about back and bite them on the bum. The Royal Commission that scared little boy riddled with anxiety and how much soon heard the news of the Police Force killing Ned courage and bravery he showed. I am proud to say that (despite the petition raised by Ned’s 32,000 was me. sympathisers) and thought that was quite wrong. They decided that the police force in Australia needed some changes. Many of the police officers that treated the Kelly’s badly got reprimanded and the law system became fair - when judging people, the police had limits on what they could do to families. This was a proud moment for Australia, and it was exactly what Ned was fighting for. He had succeeded! After all these years Ned is still known for his crimes even though he shouldn’t be. Ned did things that were against the law, but how can you know what’s right and wrong when the law itself is unfair. People still judge him Cleland Solicitors. This competition is judged by a before getting the full story. People hear “robber” and practising solicitor in Cairns. There were many “murderer” and immediately make up their mind. This nominations from across Far North Queensland for this should not be the case. We wouldn’t have the rights and competition. the freedom that we have now if Ned hadn’t stood up for what he thought was right. This wouldn’t have Khadija’s Inquiry Report focused on happened if he hadn’t killed those men and if he hadn’t the legal issue of recognition of robbed those banks. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ned Kelly should be remembered as a hero. As the man peoples through reform of the who said no to those with power. As the man who Australian Constitution. contributed in making Australia the wonderful place it is Khadija’s work analysed the today. Australian Constitution in depth to identify Constitutional reform Ned Kelly: Victim, Villain or Vigilante? By Aidan (Year 7) possibilities, discussed the pros and cons of each and The legend of Ned Kelly has people divided on the true proposed legal solutions designed to create a more just nature of his crimes, whether he was a villain, victim or and equitable Australia. vigilante. In my eyes Ned Kelly was a criminal from a very young age, committing crimes ranging from petty Enviro Club theft to aggravated assault, eventually leading to Prep-6 News – Mr Callaghan murder. Throughout his life he made negative choices What a busy and fun year we have had in our Enviro that lead him down the path of villainy instead of trying Club sessions during 2020. to right the wrongs that he had made. This was our first year of Enviro Club made up of 21 Around the age of 12, Ned chose the life of crime by members from Year 3 to Year 6. The group met with Mr becoming an apprentice to a vile Bush Ranger, Harry Callaghan online every two weeks to participate in Power, and soon served a few deserved weeks in jail. activities linked to sustainability, nature, the local After serving his jail time he was accused of stealing environment and short hands-on projects. horse at the young age of thirteen. Although these are not very serious offences, this was just the beginning of In each school term we had a different theme. Ned’s life of crime. The following is a snap-shot of some of the activities our In his mid-teens he escalated his villainous behaviours P- 6 group was involved in. from simple thievery to violent assault by attacking two hawkers, and rightly served 6 months in jail as a result. In Term One we were ‘Green Thumbs’. Soon after his release he received a further 3 years in  Discussed and identified bio diversity in our jail for receiving a stolen horse, showing that he didn’t local environments care about the consequences of his actions. This  Learnt about animal and plant species that proves that Ned actively made choices to go down the survived the 2020 Bushfires path of crime, as he did nothing to correct the wrongs of  Planted cherry tomato seeds to grow plants and his past. shared tomato based recipe ideas Ned had a violent, vengeful nature. He assaulted the  Considered unusual plant containers (upcycling) hawkers and he organised a boxing match to get  Discuss the usefulness and importance of revenge on Wild Wright soon after leaving jail for the composting third time. After this there was no longer any pretence of a law abiding life when he actively decided to steal In Term Two we were ‘Waste Warriors’. horses and cattle to sell for his own gain. Ned’s  Collected, identified and evaluated the amount temperament took a quick turn after the alleged assault of waste created in our homes (Trash Nest) of his sister by constable Fitzpatrick, shooting the  Learnt about Green turtles and the turtle constable in unprovoked anger, marking the creation of rehabilitation program on Fitzroy Island, North the Kelly Gang. This then lead to a bounty being Queensland (World Turtle Day) awarded to the capture of the Kelly gang causing them  Acknowledged the need for Word Environment to roam the wilds of Australia. During this time Ned’s Day and World Ocean’s Day gang soon move on from petty theft and decided to  Shared some creative upcycling hacks using begin robbing banks and throughout this process Ned every-day items shot and killed 6 police officers in cold-blooded murder.

As you can see, from a young age Ned Kelly had the In Term Three we were ‘Wild Childs’. temperament of a born criminal, and throughout his life  commit many crimes ranging from petty theft to murder. Discussed and identified animal and plant pests Because of these facts I believe that Ned Kelly was not found in our local environment  the Australian hero that some sources claim that he is Considered the benefits of learning outside and instead he is a criminal that deserved the (Nature classroom) punishment that he received.  Shared our outside Happy Places to hang-out, unwind, and de-stress Business Liaison Association (BLA) Legal Studies  Conducted an animal audit of local animals and Essay Competition - Khadija insects in our local environment Khadija has been awarded 3rd place in the Year 12  Learnt about Bird month and participated in the Division – Business Liaison Association (BLA) Legal Aussie Backyard Bird Count Studies Essay Competition sponsored by Gayler

In Term Four we were ‘Sparkys’. - Aiyana, Amber and Summer who competed against  Learnt about Koalas from news stories that had schools from Central to Far survived the 2020 bushfires North Queensland in the  Discussed switch off events such as Earth Hour Wonder of Science  Brainstormed how to be energy efficient Regional Finals. Students  Learnt about new labelling on packaging presented their science (National Recycling Week) class investigations to  Shared some creative upcycling hacks for the Scientists and fellow peers. summer holidays Now for the drum roll please ... our Year 8 students took out 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes followed by 2nd in Year 9. What an achievement. Great work!

EP and MLTAQ Speech Contest We have received great news from the Perfect and Modern Languages Teacher’s Association of QLD (MLTAQ) online speech contest. We congratulate all the students from all over Queensland who participated across several languages. Many school-based students studying languages through Cairns SDE participated with awards going to students from Alexandra Bay State School, Augathella State School, Daintree State School, Brisbane SDE and School of the Air.

Special congratulations go to Mason (Year 7) who Year 7-12 News – Ms Watters received a Silver Award for both Indonesian and Italian. We have had an exciting year of edible gardening, Selamat dan congratulazioni Mason! upcycling, container gardening, composting, bird and animal audits and finally, our Inaugural Cairns SDE Environmental Film Festival in our last session for the year! Our panel of judges, Kaya, Ethan and Vince had to choose from 6 nominated films and TV series (pictured below).

The Enviro Club look forward to more memberships in 2021. To sign up, please email Mr Callaghan [email protected] or Ms Watters [email protected].

Join the eZ Club! Nominations are open for the eZ Club 2021! Please contact Ms Ros Scott ([email protected]) for further information or to sign up.

Wonder of Science Regional Finals Congratulations to our Year 8 Science students - Rohan, Eoin, Danyelle and Cody, and Year 9 Science students Appreciating Chinese Learning thought Spanish and Aboriginal cultures had a lot in This year, we welcome Burnett State College joining common, including an outdoor lifestyle, surrounded by Cairns School of Distance Education as learning the ocean with lots of fresh seafood available and the partners for their students' acquisition of Mandarin use of different, natural wild flavourings in their food. Chinese. Their four classes (two in Year 7 and two in Year 8) are taught by Ms Hall, Dr Rolls, Mr Yang and Gia - Kangyaki. myself, Ms Piotrowski, with approximately 100 students My love of Asian food, in particular Japanese food, has involved. grown in the last year or so. It started when I began to learn Japanese in Year 8. I love how the Japanese Due to COVID-19, Cairns SDE teachers were not able express their culture through their food. The flavours to visit the school to meet with the students and their and presentations are so clean, delicious and supervising teachers, or complete cultural activities with flavoursome. My interest has also developed by way of the students as planned. However, Cairns SDE was my families’ love of Asian food and the fact that we lived able to utilise the funds from the Confucius Institute to in Hong Kong for 3 years. send some "culture" to the students to encourage their A few months ago, I was watching some cooking videos continuous zeal in learning Chinese. on YouTube, and I was inspired to make my own teriyaki sauce from scratch. It is made up of sweet, salty and The Year 7 students were learning about food so each pungent ingredients, and there are many variations of of the students were gifted with a packet of how this sauce can be made. One of the most common Chrysanthemum drink and a panda pencil. The Year 8 ways teriyaki sauce is served is with chicken. It is so students, who were learning about memorable places, delicious and juicy! My family absolutely love it! were each gifted with a panda pencil as well as a Cairns When I received the Grade 9 Food Studies assignment postcard with a brief description about Cairns in both this term, Fusion of Cultures, this teriyaki dish became Chinese and English from their respective CSDE my inspiration. teachers. You can see the students' delight enjoying To complete the assignment I their little gifts in the photos sent from Burnett State substituted the chicken for a College. traditional Aboriginal food, kangaroo. I also considered It has been awesome to witness the continual growth in another Aboriginal food, these students and hopefully see a continuation of the macadamia nuts and I decided to Burnett SC - Cairns SDE relationship for many years to serve a macadamia nut puree come! with the Kangaroo Teriyaki. I have named my infusion of cultural foods Kangyaki. A Japanese sauce, served with Kangaroo and a Macadamia puree. The result was a success and was enjoyed by all my family.

Introducing our 2021 Student Leaders Congratulations to the students below who have been awarded Student Leader positions for 2021.

Fusion of Culture with Ms Steel Year 9 students – Gia and Jasmine – created delicious meals with a ‘fusion of culture’ as part of their assessment for Year 9 Food Studies. Below are their articles.

Jasmine - Barra and Macca Balls with Lemon Myrtle. The assignment “Fusion of School Captains - Lotus & Tiahn Culture” required us to fuse Social Captains Aboriginal food(s) with a Prep – Year 6 - Gemma chosen dish from another Year 7 – 12 - Coby culture. I selected three Cultural Captains indigenous foods, Prep – Year 6 - Belle & Levi barramundi, macadamia Year 7 – 12 - Mason & Tarleeah nuts and lemon myrtle. The STEAM Captains other cultural dish I chose was from Spain, Spanish fish Prep – Year 6 Dakota balls. I used barramundi instead of white fish, Year 7 – 12 Eoin & Danyelle macadamias (ground) instead of breadcrumbs and Sports Captains dried lemon myrtle leaves (ground), instead of bay Prep – Year 6 - Ivy & Amaliya leaves. All the other ingredients stayed the same. I Year 7 – 12 - Anna

Year 11 Essential English Blogs

Year 11 students (Ella and Alice) submitted blogs for their English Assessment and have kindly agreed to share with our school community.

Life Post COVID-19 by Ella

M.E and Me by Alice

Year 9 Sustainable Re-design Projects A gallery walk: Five Year 9 Sustainable Re-design Projects of a product or environment in Year 9 Digital Technology. Thankyou Ms Grimm for showcasing her Year 9 students work. Please see below student submissions.

OLC Community Lunch News from Cody (OLC B Student) In Term 4, our Community Lunch Project focused on café style foods, such as sandwiches and smoothies. Before that, we practise safety for commercial kitchens. Then we learned our knife skills. We honed our knife skills by practising slice, dice, and julienne and chiffonade cuts. Some sandwich styles we did are triangles and ribbons. We also incorporated skills we already had to make a News from Kye (OLC Student): quiche and some cookies. Overall, I think it was a fun On a Wednesday afternoon, as part of the Outdoor project and we look forward to host the final Community Education Program, we have been going to The Lunch for 2020. Northern Outlook for a group activity. Last week we did a challenge named ‘Islands’. It was a hard challenge as we had to get everyone across to the finish line without anything touching the ground or we would have to restart at the beginning. The week before we had a challenging one called ‘Crate stack’ where we had to stack milk crates on top of each other. We had to trust each other and keep our balance going to be able to get higher. It was fun doing this challenge. Recently we did the swing challenge where we had to get on a wood block with everyone on it the hardest one is getting on the small one we had too many people we could only get five people on it but miss give us a matt and we could get eight on the block.

Event Planning and Farewell from Logan (OLC B Student) During the last term of 2020, a few of us engaged in the Event Planning Project. Our main focus this term was preparing café styled food which required no cooking. Our first few lessons consisted of safety requirements and the likes, however after this we were ready to begin working in the Cairns SDE café. As a part of this unit, we were decked out with a chef’s hat and News from Caitlin (OLC Student): apron, and were guided by our lovely hospitality teacher On Wednesday afternoon as part of the Outdoor Wendy Steel. She taught Education program we have been going to The us basic knife skills and Northern Outlook. how to prepare different The crate stack was my favourite because it was fun. drinks and sandwiches. You had to go to as high as you could and hold your Although I had a few cuts balance. You had to trust the others who were holding along the way, I learnt a lot the rope and you had to listen to one other. during this term and am For the Islands activity, we had to use problem solving confident that the and listen to find the best way to the other side. community lunch will go We recently did the swing activity as you can see in the down as a great success. photos. You had to make it to the other side without touching the ground. It was challenging to fit everyone This term is my last at the Open Learning Campus as I on the box so we had to find a way to get everyone on. have reached the end of Year 12. During this term, I have completed my Literacy and Numeracy and have been working towards leaving school. I have made contact with milestones which is an organisation that will help me look for work and secure a job. I feel kind of tell me about where they are from brings great neutral about leaving school; on one hand I feel it’s happiness and joy to me too. That’s why I’ve decided to about time but on the other… adult stuff doesn’t sound apply for the Cultural Captain position. I’m very proud to very appealing. represent my culture. My background is very important to me. I love telling people about the old, rich dream time News from Darren (OLC B Student) stories. I hope for one day to tell them to you too. I sent On Friday the 6th of November was my first day at the in my nomination form and video to Ms Jody Johnstone Open Learning Campus (OLC). Now I am in my third and I have received the news that I have been awarded week there and I am enjoying it. I go to the OLC and the one of the Cultural Captain (Year 7-12) positions for sometimes to Northern Outlook. On Monday, 2021. Wednesday and Friday I do Literacy and Numeracy in the morning. On Monday afternoon I do Animal Care News from Talar and learn all about the facts of animals. Wednesday In OLC B, we do a 1000 after lunch, I go to Northern Outlook for Orienteering piece puzzle each term of where I learn teamwork and today I’m going Indoor the year. In Term 4, the last Rock Climbing. Miss Miranda is my teacher, Ms Fi helps term and last puzzle, we me with my school work and some of my classmates are completed a landscape Logan and Cody. puzzle from the Salvation Army which was based on a News from Tarleeah - Cultural Captain Position picture in Germany. In Term 4, I had the amazing Unfortunately there is a opportunity to apply for the 2021 missing piece. Overall, this Cultural Captain position. This role puzzle was a joy to do as the detail is fantastic. The is about showing great leadership in, puzzle pieces were small and it was a great challenge. and commitment to, planning But with teamwork we all completed before end of term. cultural events such as NAIDOC Day. I think I’d be great for this role. Hearing about other people’s heritage is very important to me. Seeing their happiness when they

Staff News Chappy Chat Outlook’, outdoor education facility in Redlynch, Hi Everyone, I’m Chappy Deb, our School Chaplain focusing on team-building activities and challenges. here at Cairns SDE and my role is to offer social, emotional and spiritual My support for staff this term included delivering support to students, staff and chocolates and words of affirmation for Mental Health families. Hopefully you have Week (I was very popular that week!), as well ‘Toolbox been checking out our Cairns SDE Facebook page? If so, you may have seen some of Tuesday’ contributions to support staff, a fortnightly the ‘Support Team Soapbox’ Wellbeing Newsletter and a Christmas Quiz involving videos I have been making, unusual and little known facts about some of our staff! I sharing some thoughts and also run a weekly prayer meeting for staff and would ideas for enhancing wellbeing, love to support anyone in our school community in this as well as introducing you to way, so feel free to make contact and I am happy to call the Support Team here at you for a chat and a cuppa anytime - Cairns SDE. [email protected].

A highlight for Term 4 for me has been preparing for our I thought I would share some thoughts on ‘slowing down’ Celebration Week Wellbeing sessions where we will from The Good Life Project that I have shared in our finding out ‘What Boosts Happiness’ as well as staff Wellbeing Newsletter. Some timely tips I think for engaging in an orienteering activity using the Cairns this season we find ourselves in! SDE ‘Happy Map’! Have you noticed, things tend to keep speeding up? I’ve also worked on one of our HOPE projects with It’s a natural consequence of life. Compounded in a big students from the Open Learning Campus, focusing on way this year. Our reaction, when that happens, is to outdoor education and adventure based learning. This speed up, ourselves, so we can keep up. term we have had weekly visits to ‘The Northern But, then keeping up becomes the new norm, and the firehose of pace keeps coming. So, we cope by speeding up. Again. And, again. And, again. At some point, we can’t handle it anymore. Keeping up becomes blowing up. We’re brought to our knees, forced to KNOW NOTHING!” about small aeroplanes getting reckon. stuck or lost in the bush. The RFDS crew was amazing; super safe and A thought… extremely friendly. I realised that they don’t like safety What if your reaction to the quickening cycle of life was jokes, so no hiding of flight fear behind humour. The not to speed up, but to slow down? Counterintuitive, I pilot allowed me to sit in the cockpit and was explaining know. But I’ve observed something over the years. everything – absolutely everything in detail. I KNOW The people I’ve met who both accomplish the most and NOTHING, but was silently hoping there is no other live the best lives regardless of circumstance, they’re reason apart from being the friendliest pilot on the planet. not the ones obsessed with pace. They’re the ones Still suspicious, I paid extra attention - just in case. who’ve exited the race. Not in a "head in the sand" way, An hour and a bit later we landed safe and sound on a but in an "I know what matters" way. kilometre-long strip of grass, next to a large house – ONE house in the bush. A station? “I KNOW NOTHING!” They’ve cultivated the practices and skills that allow them to step into stillness, effectively slow the clock I have to admit that I had some “John-Wayne-Wild-West” down, discern what matters (which is often less than 5% pictures in my head of a with cowboys of what begs your attention and reaction), and dance (Hugh Jackman) on horses swinging their lassos. with that. And only that. Instead we were picked up by three blonde angels aged 5 to about 12 years old, their family and friends; the Mindfulness and breath. oldest on a motorbike and the 5 year old in a buggy- Mindfulness and breath. -car. It was only a few hundred meters to the Mindfulness and breath. farm house. These three lovely, bright and well- mannered girls were my students for the day and they So, maybe that’s my invitation today… surprised me with their enormous curiosity and Instead of focusing on practices, skills and tools inquisitive minds. intended to help you speed up to stay on top of a world We had lots of fun building Lego robots and playing and life that seems to perpetually accelerate, what if you games. I was very impressed with their practical abilities focused, instead, on slowing down? What if you and general knowledge. The family and friends were embraced and cultivated the practices and skills that very warm and welcoming. The food was amazing! allowed you to breathe, to see, and to be. To sit with I am looking forward to having more field trips, realising ease, to know what mattered, to discern what is and is “I KNOW NOTHING!” not in your control and worth engaging, then let the rest go? My trip with the Royal Flying Doctor Service – Ms Smith. Have a wonderful, peaceful and safe holidays everyone! During the spring holidays I was fortunate enough to attend Musgrave Station with the RFDS to meet some Love and Blessings, of our more remote students. Chappy Deb And what an adventure it was – when we came into landing the pilot had to circle above the red dusty plain My trip with the Royal Flying Doctor Service – “I a few times to scatter the cattle that were gathered there. KNOW NOTHING!” – Ms Grimm As I walked to the station (a roadside stop on a When I first came to Australia from Europe, about 13 seemingly never ending red strip of road) I felt the sweat years ago, I was mesmerised (sometimes surprised) by dripping slowly down my back. the cultural differences. I realised, that “I KNOW NOTHING!” (Sgt Schulz). Addicted to learning about Nevertheless, I was new lifestyles and different perspectives my daily excited to meet the discovery journey continues to this day. kids and their parents, and was offered This year my lifetime yummy home cooked adventure led me to delights by the latter. Cairns SDE and teaching Kate and her brother students around Derick were very cool Australia, but it was not kids who were as before my trip with the excited as I was to get into it. We sat under a tree in a RFDS to Gregory yarning circle and I asked them to tell me about Springs Station themselves, and what they hoped to do that day. As (somewhere in the no- soon as they spotted the ball they were keen to play where) when I realised once again “I KNOW NOTHING!” soccer and run around on the big oasis of green grass about the way of living of some students or about next to the eating area. We played soccer until the kids travelling in remote regions. were red in the face (even then they didn’t want to stop) and went inside for water and shade. The flight was on Friday 13th of November and the RFDS had already delayed the flight twice due to clouds; After lunch in the heat of the day we made friendship IT’S FRIDAY THE 13TH, but we are not superstitious. I bands and Derick made a friendship band for a new boy packed my toothbrush and a band aid – just in case. “I he had met that day. After that they were very keen to Ms Prentis introduced us to the 1000 Hearts Project and draw and paint with the art material I had bought. members received packs to make these beautiful When it was time to say goodbye I was sad to leave, as heartfelt pocket size hearts to give to acquaintances I had made some special friends that day. The kids and and friends who might need a little positive thought parents stood and waved from the ground as the plane knowing someone cares in their lives. took off up into the sky. Each year we cut A big thank you to all the people that made this a orange paper Zollies memorable experience for me! representing the women and children What has the eZ Club of Cairns SDE been up to in who have sadly lost 2020? their lives to DFV and Early in the year our community project, preparing and pin these in the Cairns SDE Foyer; a gentle reminder to delivering Boarding School Care Packs, was gratefully be community aware and be helpful in stopping violence received by students leaving their remote homes to against women and children. Zonta Club of Cairns Inc. attend Tagai College on Thursday Island; Peace in partnership with Cairns Regional Council is lighting Lutheran College, St Augustine's, and the AFL Girls and Munro Martin Park with orange lights. United Nations AFL Boys Houses in Cairns. A response received uses the colour orange to symbolise a brighter future, said,"Thank you kindly for dropping the care pack off for free of violence. The 16 Days of Activism for No Kaesha. She was incredibly surprised and very grateful! Violence against Women and Children Campaign (16 In the picture you can see her beautiful smile when she Days Campaign) is a United Nations campaign which received it. Thank you kindly for your care and support, takes place annually from 25 November (International it is greatly appreciated. Blessings..." The member’s Day of No Violence against Women) to 10 December efforts were recognised by Zonta International and (International Human Rights Day). congratulated in the Emma L. Conlon Award List for 2020. Fundraising was on hold this year but in the 2021 C2K Bike Ride you will see the eZ Club of Cairns SDE International Women's Day was celebrated in March at members actively preparing and vending Strawberries the Cairns Regional Council IWD Breakfast. Dr D'Aietti, and Cream cups in Ravenshoe, proceeds will support Tia and I attended. One of our members was invited to our new community project. attend Pine Rivers Breakfast, in Brisbane. Alessia said, "I had a great time meeting new people, and listening to In growing our club, we have invited other Schools of speeches of advocates for the empowerment of women. Distance Education to join in our meetings. Membership There were guest speakers and a keynote speaker, is important to our club, we need your ideas and Yasmin Khan, a champion for Women's Rights, strengths to develop your Leadership and our primarily for those experiencing domestic violence. In community obligations of our charter. 2017, she received the QLD Australian of the Year, Local Hero Award. She spoke about the employment of Words from a Member - Tia. women and domestic violence, but the one thing that "In Zonta: stuck with me was when she finished her speech saying,  We volunteer our time and talents to address “Be proud. Be loud. Be Just." women’s issues in our school, local and worldwide community. In our Meetings, awareness is key to achieving goals;  We belong to a strong organisation which the Zonta International goals reflect the UN Sustainable focuses on sustainable changes. Development Goals. 'Ending Child Marriage' is  We develop ourselves while developing our continuing in this biennium. Mestawet Mekuria, a young society. Ethiopian girl, shared her story, of rebellion against her In other words, we empower and become empowered!” parents’ decision for her to marry at age 14. Her parents were jailed for two weeks for violating the law. Mestawet is now able to continue her education. The Australian Federal Police are on board with this campaign.

We have been encouraged by 17 year old, Saanya Subasinghe from Sri Lanka, 'Young Women in Public Affairs Award' recipient who spoke at 2018 ZI Convention about the wonderful achievements of the Z Club of Colombo and her involvement in International Affairs for eliminating DFV, achieving Gender Equality and Empowering Women; implementing strategies to If you would like to know more about: ensure the safety of expectant mothers in Maternity  eZ Club of Cairns SDE contact club coordinator Clinics in her country and developing programs for Dr. Karen D’Aietti: [email protected] eliminating DFV in Sri Lanka delivering these programs  Scholarships contact Zonta Club of Cairns Inc. to students and professors in many countries. Amazing President, Mrs Ros Scott: [email protected] achievements for such a young woman.

The Zonta Club of Cairns Inc. proudly sponsors and Meet our new staff supports the eZ Club of Cairns SDE. Yhin Han Tan I have spent the last four years teaching References: at Mareeba State School. For the last https://www.zonta.org/ two years I was positioned as the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f15aSss1KDo Technology Specialist Teacher. Prior to https://foundation.zonta.org/Our- this, I was based at Whitfield State Programs/Educational-Programs/Young-Women-in- School. My work experience also Public-Affairs-Award includes teaching English in Japan, https://foundation.zonta.org/Our- where I lived in Yokohama for nearly Programs/Educational-Programs/Amelia-Earhart- two years. I now live in Redlynch and am enjoying being Fellowship back in my hometown, Cairns. I am excited about my transfer into Cairns SDE and look forward to working Staff Recognition Awards with staff and students at Cairns SDE. Congratulations to our staff members that received service recognition awards for their time at Education Robyn Smith Queensland. My name is Robyn Smith and I am joining the Enrolments Team in Admin. I have previously worked at Yeppoon SHS and Stonehenge SS. I have only lived in Cairns for 12 months and am looking forward to working with you all here at Cairns SDE.

Tasarla Hobbler Hi Everyone, My name is Tasarla Hobbler. My first name is pronounced Tar-sar-lah or if it’s easier you can call me Sarla. I love to watch Netflix when I’m not busy or just want to chill out. I love to bake cookies, brownies, cakes, muffins and cupcakes but choc chip cookies are my fav also doughnuts! I just can’t choose between the two. I also like going to the markets. I can’t choose between Gordonvale and Palm Cove. They both have two things I love. Palm Cove markets have this lovely Chicken Gryos stand (Greek Food) and Gordonvale Markets have sweet custard cannoli desserts (Italian Dessert) Just In case you don’t know when the markets are and want to attend. Gordonvale Markets are always on the first Saturday of every month and Palm Cove Markets start on the first Sunday of every month. I’m working in accounts in I Block if you would like to meet me. Feel free to come by and have a chat.

Community Engagement

Peninsula Mini School to impress and looked absolutely stunning in their It was great for our teachers, students and families to stylish attire. meet again face-to-face at Peninsula Mini School in Laura. There were various activities including painting The Tropics Restaurant also looked beautiful. The rocks, wellbeing, Lego Challenge, puppet making, tables set formally with party colours aligned with the robotics and science experiments. This was also an Senior Artwork in the Celebration Dinner Banner, opportunity for Home Tutors to say farewell to our created the perfect ambience. This was further wonderful Parent Liaison Officer, Camilla. Camilla has enhanced with live music provided by one of the Tafe built a strong connection with families over her many Music Faculty students, Jessy Lynch. Before formalities years at Cairns SDE so it was great for them to began, graduands and their families enjoyed a mocktail celebrate her last mini school before she went on leave. in the Queenslander Room as they viewed a virtual art display. They were then treated to a delicious meal prepared by the TAFE Certificate IV International Chefs and served by Tafe Diploma and Cert III Hospitality Students.

Going virtual meant a whole new level of collaboration and preparation to ensure success. Every contingency had been considered, every problem predicted. All seemed ready and working well; all tuned in. Then, without notice, the music stopped and the lights were dimmed; the air-con spluttered. The power was out – and not just at Tafe but in the whole suburb!

Book Week In Week 7, we celebrated Book Week! Students, staff, families and pets dressed up on Friday for the Book Week parade. The theme this year was ‘Curious Creatures, Wild Minds.’ Thank you to all that got involved.

"With only the glow of the emergency lighting and the tiny bulbs in the flower arrangements to guide us, our team powered on through this adversity to truly realise the values that we espouse - flexibility, adaptability and some good old-fashioned nous," as Mr Oliver said.

Our Leadership Team rallied and the amazing Tech Team flew into action having all obstacles covered for a 'just in case' scenario. Mr Whitehorn and Mr Rytkonen were truly remarkable in proving anything is possible to keep us connected in 2020. Disappointingly, our Power Point could not be viewed but Ms Johnstone's presentation of Graduands ran to schedule and Graduation 2020 – Farewell & Good luck to our Year congratulations were given by Mr Oliver and P&C 12 Graduands Representative, Mrs Cowe. On Wednesday November 18, TAFE Queensland North hosted the annual Cairns SDE Graduation Celebration Our virtual guests fortunate in their surrounds, and our Dinner to honour twenty of our graduands, some of attending families, less fortunate in the heat and the whom were there in person and some attended virtually. dark were entertained with stories of mini schools, As usual students travelled from near and beyond to camps, challenging times and unforgettable celebrate this very important milestone. They dressed experiences as Jacob L and Chloe M reflected on their years of schooling with Cairns SDE. There were feelings of pride, sadness and relief as our Year 12s and student in the class, I guess. But I was so wrong. From their families celebrated the end of school and the day one any issues I had, I got help with. My teachers beginning of new chapter in life’s adventure. were so far away from me but felt closer to me than any other teacher that has stood directly in front of me. I We wish all of our 2020 graduating students every have to say that I am so so thankful for every teacher I success and happiness in their career pathways and have had at this school over the three years – you guys wonderful experiences in years ahead. got me where I am now. And to my peers – thanks for all the times when I didn’t have an answer and you guys jumped in for me. Thank you for all the times when I just needed to know there were people my age going through the same things. You were there!

2020 hit us a little, but we pushed through it all. We are the strongest Year 12s I know and I’m so proud of all of us for getting here!

So again, a HUGE congratulations to everyone graduating today, and thank you to everyone here who has helped us all achieve so much! Thank you all and enjoy the evening!

Graduation Speech by Chloe Good evening to everyone here today, live and virtually. I’m so glad we are all here for this day! The day where we are all finished! A huge congratulations to all the graduates! (we certainly deserve it after this year!)

I’m sure we all woke up this morning and thought about that fact that school’s over, and we probably were all relieved for a second. I know I was. Until I thought about the fact that I’m never going to have another lesson with my English teacher, I’m never going to get another Friday afternoon call from my care teacher, I’m never going to have to wake my brain up enough to understand what is happening today in math’s. All the things we think we’re excited not to have, we all will miss. Celebration Week And yes some of us might already have Uni plans and Kids ‘R’ Water Smart Swimming Program already know that next year will involve more classes, Prep-12 students got to have some fun in the water at extra-long days of study and more exam stress. But it the Kids ‘R’ Water Smart swimming program held at the won’t be the same. Woree Pool. The swimming program is a great way for teachers to be in the water with students and show them Now that I’ve made everyone sad about leaving, I want how to be ‘water smart’ so that they can safely to talk about all the good times we had. All those times participate in aquatic activities. On the final day, where we loved being here. The times where our students got to conquer the inflatable Wipeout! teachers made jokes that made us choke on our water. That time when we had a virtual camp with the most random activities – but it was fun because our teachers made jokes and had competitions with each other. Those times where we got to correct our teachers and of course those times when we thought we were the worst students and our teachers reminded us that we are what makes them happy to come to work every morning. We had the best times with our teachers and each other and I can’t explain how much I’m going to miss that!

I had a bit of a rough school life. During high school, I bounced through 3 different schools before coming here in 2018. And I can’t thank Cairns SDE enough for everything they have given me! Coming here I thought I would get no help, I thought I would just be another Presentation Day We had a wonderful day celebrating student achievements at the Cairns Colonial Club on Thursday of Celebration Week. Due to COVID-19, our Presentation Night celebrations looked a bit different this year, but we are so glad that we were still able to make it all happen. We celebrated P-6 student achievements in the morning and 7-12 student achievements in the afternoon. A big thankyou to all of the families that travelled to Cairns to attend. Congratulations to Frazer for receiving the Year 12 Dux Award. Well done.

Year 6 Celebration BBQ On Thursday afternoon of Celebration Week, we held a special BBQ and presentation to congratulate our Year 6 students for officially completing ‘primary school’. With a special presentation followed by a BBQ provided by our wonderful P&C, a great afternoon was had by all.

Sugarworld Day The last day of Celebration Week was spent at Sugarworld! This is always a great way to wrap up a fun- filled week. Students were also surprised with a special visit from Santa who handed out some Christmas goodies. We wish our students and families a lovely school holiday break and look forward to 2021.

Parents and Citizens

Hello all in the Cairns SDE Community, Representative nomination forms can be found on the school website at: I always look back on previous P&C reports when I am https://cairnssde.eq.edu.au/Ourcommunity/PandC/Pag writing for an upcoming Newsletter and I was struck by es/PandC.aspx. my words in the 2019 Term 4 Newsletter: “I for one am already looking forward to 2020…” Who would have So reflecting again on my words in last year’s final P&C even imagined back then that a global pandemic would President’s report, I for one am already looking forward hit our shores and our lives would be changed, not to 2021 – our portable P&C Barista coffee machine will forever, but for the foreseeable future? be ready to go for school activities, we will have a Cook Book published, and, who knows what the new year will Luckily, being Distance Ed, schooling has pretty much bring. remained unchanged for most of us, but for the conspicuous absence of our much-anticipated field Have an awesome holiday  events throughout the year. Despite the COVID-caused disruptions our school has gone above and beyond to Kind regards, keep some semblance of a normal year, with our first on-line Annual Camp in May. But sadly, our long- Judith Eriksen awaited Canberra trip was cancelled, Mini schools were P&C President postponed, then cancelled, with only the Peninsula/Cooktown Mini School going ahead earlier this term – and what a blast it was!

Our P&C missed out on the major fundraising event of the year – the C2K Bike Ride – but we bounced back with our first online raffle in Term 2, a Cookbook well underway to be published early 2021, and this Term instead of our traditional Christmas Hamper raffle, you had a chance to win an iPad and Apple Pencil and $200 Gift Card. As this Newsletter is published the raffle will close and the winners drawn. Thank you all who supported the raffle and congratulations to the lucky winners!

I write this P&C report after a 10-hour drive down from Cape York for Celebration Week. We did not know if it would go ahead, but here we are celebrating the year with the Swimming program, Lego challenge, Wellbeing activities, Presentation Day with a difference, our inaugural Year 6 Graduation BBQ, and Sugarworld! Thank you to all for planning and being part of this wonderful week.

I could not write a Term 4 P&C report without thanking our amazing Exec and Cluster Rep team – Juanita, Melissa, Mel, and Emma – thank you for your hard work and dedication this year. We always welcome new ideas and volunteers so I invite you to join the P&C and if you are an existing member, renew! Membership and renewal forms and Office bearer and Cluster

Miscellaneous

Cairns to Karumba Bike Ride 2021 Merry Christmas! Registrations are now open for We hope you have a safe and C2K2021 26 June - 2 July. We happy school holidays. Term 1 are expecting it to be bigger, will commence on the 27th better and a whole lot more fun! January 2021. The school and This is an opportunity for you to mail room will be closed from 9 experience an incredible 7 day December 2020 – 27 January journey with a great team of 2021. people to raise funds for children who live in the remote E & B Block renovations rural areas of the FNQ region. Please visit the C2K On 20 October 2020, renovations started in E Block to website for registrations and further details - develop the new library. https://c2kbikeride.com.au/ 4 rooms have been merged into one and converted into Brain Bee Challenge – Register your interest a Library. In the beginning, back in 1992/1993 when it The 2021 Australian and New Zealand Brain Bee was first built, one room was used for printing and media Challenge is an exciting and free competition for high production. Another room was for the radio school students in Years 10 (Australia). The Australian technician. The Studio was used as a sound proof room Brain Bee Challenge (ABBC) is a competition for high to develop recordings. Last room was a storage room school students in Year 10 to learn about the brain and for all equipment taken out on field and storage of its functions, learn about neuroscience research, and curriculum resources. find out about careers in neuroscience and to dispel misconceptions about neurological and mental illnesses. As the years went by as curriculum and technology If you are interested please email Mr Honnef at changed. The rooms were repurposed as meeting [email protected] and he will register you as a CSDE rooms and the studio was used as a music room where Brain Bee school team. The first round will be on line in the music teacher would conduct lessons over the March 2021 followed by round 2 between June and phone. August 2021 at the Queensland Brain Institute at the University of Queensland. This includes workshops, At the moment, B Block is being repurposed as a latest science projects and laboratory tours. I have teaching space where teachers will be able to deliver attended this event 3 times and found this an amazing lessons to our students. Workstations have been learning experience. Let’s make it four. You can find installed in readiness for 2021. further information at https://www.ans.org.au/meetings- events/australian-brain-bee-challenge/about-the-brain- bee-challenge.