Term 2, 23rd June, 2023

Principal's Welcome

Dear students, parents and community members, I trust this newsletter update finds you well.  What an amazing term 2 we have had at this extraordinary school, so many wonderful things have happened, it is so magnificent to celebrate these here.

Transition Day – We had the pleasure of hosting 160 of our local primary school students recently.  The day was magnificent, we were so thrilled to welcome these wonderful students to our school.  Our dedicated staff presented a day of activities to introduce these students to a day in the life of high school.  This day was again facilitated by our Transition Head of Department, Adrienne Telford and Deputy Principal, Chris Keating.  My favourite part of the day was cooking up a storm for our visitors and talking to them about the highlights of their day, the student feedback was excellent, many saying they can’t wait to be at Atherton High! Thank you to our local primary schools for supporting this day and supporting the smooth transition of the students into high school.

Elders Morning Tea – This morning tea was a true celebration of the Indigenous elders of our school and community.  It was such a privilege to host this monumental event that bought many of our local cultural experts into our school to share their stories with our students.  Thank you so very much to Sharon Caulfield and Lisa Combe who organised this amazing celebration and to the many staff and students who made this an extraordinary event so very special, we are certainly planning to make this an annual event!

Celebrating Joyce Cahill – 38 Years of Service – Friday 16^th June marked 38 years of service to our school by Joyce.  We honoured Joyce with a special morning tea and presented her with a plaque acknowledging her tremendous service.  Our school community also created Joyce’s jar of joy – hundreds of our students and staff wrote notes of gratitude to Joyce for her care and service spanning such a long time.  Joyce we are honoured to have you as a vital member of our team and thank you so very much for your service!!

Careers Showcase – Our career showcase was spectacular as we had so many local businesses and organisations come together to share with our Year 10 students possible future career options.  We sincerely thank our local community, the support you provide to our school is sensational through events such as this and to the many, many businesses who employ our students through apprenticeships and part time work, we are so very grateful for your support! It was wonderful to see some of our past students representing their employers at the showcase.  A huge thank you to Ms Cheyenne Trevor for organising this highly successful event.

Eisteddfod – I had the pleasure of watching our amazing concert band compete at the JCU Eisteddfod in Cairns this week.  Our students under the expert guidance of conductor, Mr Lachlan Szery were magnificent and were awarded a highly commended for their performance.  Our instrumental program is extraordinary and to each and every student involved in the program I thank you for representing our school, yourselves and your families so very well, another incredibly proud Principal moment for me!

Celebrating our Support Staff – This school has truly magnificent support staff who work tirelessly to make this school extraordinary for our students and teaching staff.  It was wonderful to celebrate their efforts and acknowledge their dedication to their job and our school, on behalf of our entire school community I thank you and appreciate all that you do, all day, every day!!!

Atherton Car, Bike Show and Swap meet – Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending my first car show, it was so wonderful, there were over 400 bikes and cars on display and I had to try and pick a winner!  The event was so well organised by the Scripture Union and the fund raising helps to support the Chaplaincy in school programs.  We are so very fortunate to have a wonderful Chappy, Ms Belinda Fowler who not only provides nourishment for our students through Breakfast club but equally as important nourishes the souls of our students through her care and guidance.

Athletics Carnival – What a spectacular finish to our school term with our carnival.  Hundreds of our students competed in events and it was wonderful to see many very fine athletes in action. This combined with the incredible house and school spirit on display, again makes me brim with pride!  Despite being a little rusty on my moves, my favourite part was joining in with our kids and dancing to the Macarena, Nutbush and Chicken dance!  A massive thank you to our staff led by our sports co-ordinator, Mr Harry Simpson for creating an awesome event that was thoroughly enjoyed by all!

We value your feedback – We have had a wonderful term 2 at our amazing school and would love to gain some feedback from you as to how you think our school is going on our improvement journey.  Your feedback is vital and truly appreciated, please tell us what is working well and where you think further improvements can be made.  The pulse survey again contains an area for your comments, please take the time to share what you think is great and give further clarification in regards to any areas for improvement.  I am so thrilled and grateful to be the permanent Principal of this school, we have now also bought a beautiful property here and intend on making this home for many years to come.  Have a wonderful holiday period with your children!

Please use this link to access the survey, the survey will be open until the end of the June-July holidays.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TVZ9829

Leanne Knight-Smith

Principal

From the Deputy's Desk - Senior School

What a fabulous end to the term we’ve has with our Athletics Carnival over the last two days. For our Year 12s, this is their last opportunity to participate in this event and to share the rewards of joining in and having fun, even if they are not serious competitors. We’ve had great participation across the school and both our Year 11 and 12s have been encouraging our younger year levels to just give it a go and have fun.

Second semester is a busy time for both our senior year levels. For the 12s, there are only 13 weeks of timetabled classes left, so the this is the time to knuckle down. We have been having some serious conversations with students about making sure that they are not just handing in assessments, but engaging in the classroom-based learning conversations and activities. Students need to remember that for Applied and General subjects, results are calculated from both units 3 and 4 combined, so it’s really important to keep focus all the way through to the end of the year. This means being in every lesson, including care classes and the wellbeing and values lesson, and returning from off campus lessons on time.

Our message for the Year 11s is the same. Put in the effort now, build the habits and routines now, do the learning now to make it easier for you now and next year.

Good luck to all of our students involved in the shows over the holidays, and those involved in sporting, music and other activities. Make the most of the holiday time with family and friends, and make sure you really do have a break from thinking about school.

See you after the break!

Cathy Campbell

Deputy Principal Senior Secondary

From the Deputy's Desk - Middle School

What a whirl wind this term has been. So many things happening in our school that include our wonderful Year 9 and 10 students.

Well done to all of our Year 9 and 10 students who have completed and submitted so many pieces of assessment to finish of Semester 1 learning in style. Report cards will be issued early in Term 3 and will help you to reflect on where you are and where you want to be in regards to your learning. If you are considering changing your elective for Semester 2 you should be having these conversations with your parents and then Ms Whybird (Year 10) or Ms Bolton (Year 9) early next term.

Well done to those of you who have actively sought some type of work or work experience or are engaged already in a School Based Apprenticeship or traineeship or have started some Vocational Education Training in the form of a Certificate II. Hoping to increase these numbers further as the year goes on.

Well done to the Year 10’s for actively engaging in the Careers Showcase held at school last Tuesday. This is a vital first step towards your subject selections and pathway discussions next term. A big thank you to Ms Trevor for organising this wonderful event and to our amazing local community members who volunteered their time to help students learn about their industry.

Well done to those of you who have been involved in sports, the arts, student leadership, agricultural, fundraising and any other events during Term 3. These are the opportunities that lead to development of skills such as teamwork and communication. They also develop independence and a sense of purpose. All valuable skills indeed.

Good Luck to those Year 9 and 10 students who are looking to participate in or excel at the Athletics Carnival. These days are the ‘other’ important part of education where the whole school gets to enjoy time together outside of curriculum. If you are in year 10 and considering being a Year 11 prefect in 2024 or a house leader in 2025, this is a great place to start volunteering time and see what the leaders do. The leadership application process will happen next term. Keep an eye out if you are interested in being a Year 10 leader or Year 11 Prefect in 2024.

Finally, it is important that you take time to rest, recuperate and refresh during the school holidays. This brain break is important so that you are able to come back fresh and refocus ready for the start of Term 3. Looking forward to working with you all again then. Take care.

Ann Grimshaw

Deputy Principal Middle Secondary

From the Deputy's Desk - Junior School

It has been an absolute pleasure to work at Atherton State High School in Semester 1. I am immensely proud of not only our junior school students but all students at Atherton High who strive every day to succeed in their chosen endeavour. It was great to finish the semester off watching house spirit grow amongst staff and students at the Athletics carnival and I look forward to celebrating student success in second semester.

Transition Day

It was wonderful to welcome around 160 year 6 students to Atherton State High School on Wednesday June 14. Students experienced a day at high school and participated in elective subjects and finished on the oval with HPE. We look forward to helping our future students transition to High School at our end of year transition day on Wednesday November 29.

Enrolment at Atherton State High School

If you are wanting to enrol a student at Atherton State High School for 2024 then please complete an enrolment pack. These were handed to all students who attended the transition day. Alternatively, they are on our school website or a copy can be arranged via our school office.

 Once your enrolment paperwork is filled in, you will need to complete an enrolment session at the school. We are conducting these throughout term 3. Please contact the school office to book into one of these sessions or to book an appointment outside of these times.

PBL Update

The Positive Behaviour for Learning Team continue to meet every fortnight. The past fortnight they have determined that the following values be a whole school focus:

Wk 9-  Thank you for- We are Safe- Looking out for others and seeking help 

PBL Focus- We are responsible- Take ownership of every behaviour and accept consequences/outcomes.  

Wk 10- PBL Focus - We are successful- Complete all required tasks and seek help if unsure.  

As members of our school community, we encourage you to have a conversation about what these values look like.

Chris Keating

Deputy Principal Junior Secondary

From the Deputy's Desk - Inclusion

My name is Coralie Gunn. I am Atherton State High School’s Deputy Principal: Inclusion. I have moved from Tully SHS where I was Head of Special Education, interrupted only by 5 terms as Acting Deputy Principal: Inclusion out at Charters Towers SHS.  I am looking forward to working with Atherton SHS students, families and staff to facilitate inclusion for all in our students. We need to have a strong partnership with families from Transition into year 7 through to the farewell at the end of year 12, so I plan to build on the existing relationship and make it stronger. I want to build on and develop further the relationship between students, families and staff. Using student voice to build this relationship.

Supporting all students to experience inclusive education is my main role. I will support students to access and fully participate in learning, alongside their similar-aged peers, supported by reasonable adjustments and teaching strategies tailored to meet their individual needs. Inclusion is embedded in all aspects of school life and is supported by culture, policies and every day practices. All students can learn if they can, so knowing our students and how they learn is the basis of my philosophy. I will strive to support teachers to develop their planning for inclusion, strategies and teaching practice.

I strongly believe that all behaviour is communication and we need to analyse and address behaviour as a communication first, often students are struggling in class and do not have the skills to communicate their need. By addressing students needs in class increases student engagement.

I look forward to meeting as many families as possible to discuss how we can support students.        

Coralie Gunn

Deputy Principal Inclusion

Finance update

Dear Parents/Carers/Guardians,

Outstanding Accounts Reminder:

As the school year is fast drawing to a close.  We ask that you please finalise, or make a plan to finalise your child’s account as soon as possible.

Statements are sent home on a monthly basis.

If you would like to make a payment plan or re-instate a previous payment plan, please feel free to contact L Block Reception on 4030 5248 – we would be only too happy to assist.

If you have recently made payment, thank you and please disregard this message.

For further information email bsm@athertonshs.eq.edu.au

Paying School Fees:

You can pay your child’s school fees in one of the following ways:

• BPOINT to pay by credit and debit card
• BPOINT IVR (Over the Phone Payment) Call - 1300 631 073
• Direct Deposit into the school Bank Account BSB: 064-800 Account: 00090137
• EFTPOS at L Block Reception.
• Arrange payment plans and centrepay payments at Reception
• Payment can also be accessed online via your QParents account.

We are currently transitioning to a Cashless School and would prefer payments be made by one of the above methods

Facilities Update

IMPORTANT MESSAGE:

We are finally having 2 of our old T block buildings removed. The contractors will start work at the end of this week. We are therefore asking our community NOT TO ENTER THE SCHOOL in the school holidays from Saturday 24^th June to Sunday July 9th. The asbestos removal part may only take the first week but could to take longer – this is the time when no staff or community should access our school. When asbestos removal is completed and we are given clearance, I will inform staff who can then resume activities at the school.

Keep a watch on our school these holidays

SCHOOL WATCH Call 13 17 88

Year 12 Music in Practice

As a part of the year 12 Music in Practice curriculum, students are taught to use evaluative language to review live concerts. Students were asked to watch the annual Spirit of Youth concert at the school and provide an evaluative review. Sienna Pritchard provided an excellent response to this piece of assessment, which can be enjoyed below:

Ryder's SBA at G&C Twidale Engineering

At the end of Year 9 Ryder did work experience with G & C Twidale Engineering and impressed them so much that they offered him a School Based Apprenticeship.

He now works there every Wednesday allowing him to get a head start on his chosen career while still being successful at School.

Careers Showcase

As part of the Year 10 Careers Pathway Program in WAV, the 2023 Careers Showcase was held in the Community Hall on Tuesday, June 13. Over 150 of our own students, and over 60 Mareeba State High School students, participated in this annual event. Over 25 local businesses and employment services set up stalls and provided more information about their career pathway or service in a one-minute speech. Students were then invited to visit stall holders to find out more about any career that piqued their curiosity.

It was great to see some former students who have found their career pathway share their story.

We thank the following businesses and services that supported this worthwhile event:

Defence Force Australia

Disability Matters

Vocational Pathway Group

James Cook University

Central Queensland University

Queensland Police

Queensland Ambulance Service

Great Beginnings Childcare

Early Childhood Certificate

Tropic Vets

MiHaven Training

My Pathways

TAFE Cairns

Aviation Australia

Dept of Children,

Atherton Community Health

Fresh Market IGA

Department of Employment, Small Business and Training

Mangoesmapping

Atherton Wholelife Pharmacy and Healthfoods

Oral Health

FNQ Yr. 7 & 8 Reader’s Cup Competition

Atherton State High students did us proud at the annual Yr. 7 & 8 Reader’s Cup Competition held at Smithfield SHS in Cairns this week (Wednesday 7^th June 2023). 

Over 25 teams from various schools across the Far North Queensland region participated in the highly prestigious Children’s Book Council of Australia Yr. 7 & 8 Readers Cup competition.  

Students, Mark Gould, April Lawrence, Evie Bakker, Ben Comino, Stasia Adams, Neveah Bowman, Beth and Alice united together in two teams of four and competed with other schools to answer quiz questions from various books. 

We congratulate our teams in their hard work and commitment throughout the year. Their success is a reflection of the reading culture at Atherton SHS and the ability of our students to rise up to personal challenges and teamwork.  The competition was tough with only single questions separating the board.  

A big thank you goes out to staff members, Mrs Saime Stevens, Ms Georgia Toner and Mrs Meg Stansfield who gave up their lunchtimes to help read with the students and facilitate cup meetings.   

However, with every ending, provides an opportunity for a new beginning. We are excited to announce that our star readers are continuing their reading journey together by starting their very own book club!  Starting next term Book Club will be an opportunity for all staff and students to share their love of reading.  Stay posted for updates. 

Congratulations again to Mark, April, Beth, Evie, Ben, Stasia, Alice and Neveah.  To learn more about Readers Cup visit the website. https://www.readerscup.org.au/ 

URGENT - Looking for Homestay Families - 1 or 2 students

Community Access at The Slotted Spoon

Every week our students from the HUB visit The Slotted Spoon as part of our Community Access Program. Every week, we receive the same great service with a smile and amazing food. We want to thank Shane and Lisa and the team for making us feel so welcome, for supporting and encouraging us with communication and financial skills, and for providing us with wonderful home-baked food. We always look forward to our lunch at The Slotted Spoon and it’s always great to see Lisa and Shane and the crew!

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Student Contact details

To ensure effective communication and maintaining accurate records, we kindly request your assistance in updating your contact details.

It is crucial for us to have the most up-to-date information to keep you informed about important school announcements, upcoming events, and any emergencies that may arise.

If you have recently moved to a new address, have a new email address or have changed your phone number, please take a few moments to update your information by following the instructions below:

1. Email principal@athertonshs.eq.edu.au with your new details

or

1. Update on QParents

Alternatively, there is a contact update form  available from the front office.

Ensuring we have the correct contact information helps us better serve you and your child, allowing us to quickly reach you in case of emergencies and keep you informed about all school-related matters.

Amazing gift from Daradgee Environmental Education Centre!

Recently Atherton State High School Goat Club hosted a visit from Daradgee Environmental Education Centre (DEEC) staff to offer some tips on goat husbandry and keeping goats. 
Caitlin, Shelby and Madeleine, our Goat Club Leaders, educated the DEEC staff on various aspects of fencing and providing secure enclosures; feeding (types of pellets and lick blocks); and husbandry procedures such as hoof trimming and drenching.  
The DEEC has kindly made and donated some snazzy bespoke leads and a collar for the Goat club to bedazzle the grounds at the upcoming Atherton show! Atherton State High School would like to acknowledge and thank DEEC staff, Amanda and Joe for this thoughtful donation and providing an opportunity for our Goat Club to pass on our knowledge. 
After the Atherton show, two of our Aussie Mini goats will be moving to their new home at DEEC near Innisfail to become part of their educational program. We wish them all the very best!

Amber's SBT at McAuliffe's Mensland

Amber was fortunate at the beginning of Year 11 to secure a School Based Traineeship with McAuliffe’s Mensland, where she is currently pursuing a Certificate III in Retail.  She works on Mondays and attends school for the remaining four days of the week.  McAuliffe’s’ team has been a longstanding supporter of our School Based Apprenticeship & Traineeship program , and we thank them for their ongoing support.  Ambers Certificate contributes to her QCE (Queensland Certificate of Education), and she is taking full advantage of the vocational education and training opportunities offered at Atherton State High School by also studying a Certificate III in Early Childhood as part of her curriculum.

Looking for homestay parents

Visit to John Cole Toyota Atherton

Students from ASHS HUB visited John Cole Toyota as part of our Community Access Program. Guest Experience and Marketing Manager, Toni, welcomed us to the Showroom. Toni and Sales Manager, Alex, gave us a tour of the New Car Showroom, Used Cars, Spare Parts, Mechanics Workshop and Car Detailing area. We enjoyed speaking to the employees and learning about some of the jobs they do. Students saw some impressive cars and had fun designing their dream car on a large computer screen. We were treated to a lunch and some gift bags! Thank you to Toni and Alex for making our visit so informative and enjoyable. Oh! What a Feeling!

Chris’ Spot on Health

As we head for holidays and have some well-deserved time away from the routines of school our focus is probably about enjoying our holidays, having some fun and feeling good. And why not!!! Here is a simple and guaranteed way to make that happen. Practise a little gratitude every day. Make an effort. Make it a habit. It’s not difficult!!

Notice the Good Things in Your Life: Think of 3 things you are grateful for every day.  Things like having a comfy bed to sleep in or having a great best friend! Take notice of the good things you might sometimes take for granted.

Start a gratitude journal: Making a commitment to writing down good things each day can change your mindset from down and dreary to enthusiastic and energised. And getting into the habit makes it more likely that you will notice good things as they happen.

Express Gratitude: Expressing gratitude is more than courtesy, manners, or being polite. It's about showing your genuine appreciation by thanking someone when they have done something nice. Say: "It was really kind of you to…," or "It really helped me out when you…," or "Thank you for listening when…". I’m sure you get the idea.

Do something kind: Hold the door open for the person behind you. Wash up when it isn’t your turn. Pick some flowers from the garden and give them to your Mum. Carry your friend’s bag.  Notice how you feel afterwards when you practise kindness to others.

True gratitude is all about feeling good and creating a cycle of good.

Here’s what practising gratitude can do for you:

• you feel good
• you’re healthier
• strengthens your emotions
• you are more optimistic
• increases your self-esteem
• improves your sleep
• increases your lifespan
• gives you more energy
• helps you bounce back from challenges
• helps you relax
• improves your decision making
• increases your productivity

With such an expansive list of benefits it makes perfect sense to make gratitude a part of your every day

Visit to Tolga Museum

Junior students from ASHS Hub visited the Tolga Museum as part of our Community Access Program. Students were welcomed by wonderful Museum volunteers and really enjoyed learning about the past and looking at the displays. Students compared technology from the past to the technology of today and were very grateful for the help from the fantastic volunteers. 

Year 10 DAT Class learns about engineering principles

This term, Mr Alford`s year 10 DAT class was learning all about engineering principles. The class had to design and test a wooden bridge which had to span 900mm.
After the designing process the students got to test their bridge designs by adding weight until the bridges failed. This is an important phase of the design process as students can learn what makes bridges strong when under load.
The winning design is determined by the ratio: Load ÷ weight of bridge.
The students also learned important engineering concepts like tension and compression in terms of bridge designing.
Well done students.

Amy at work with Atherton Juniors

Amy’s last training session with Sian from First Impressions Resources took place on Wednesday.  In the photo, Amy is seen with her employer, Chloe, and Sian.  Amy only needs to complete a few minor tasks before successfully finishing her Certificate III in Business.  She has been pursuing an ATAR Pathway and has been studying four General Subjects alongside this Certificate and a Certificate III in Fitness.  We would like to extend our gratitude to Chloe from Atherton Juniors for supporting Amy and our School Based Apprenticeship & Traineeship program.  Lastly, we congratulate Amy and send her best wishes as she transitions from Year 12 to her chosen pathway.

P&C Association - All welcome

The P&C meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month at 5.30pm.  These are held in the school library.  Everyone and encouraged to attend! If you have any questions please contact the P&C directly on pandc@athertonshs.eq.edu.au

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE FOR THE JULY MEETING TO 18TH - DUE TO PUBLIC SHOW HOLIDAY

You can find a membership form  here

White Card Course

Upcoming Events - For 2023

Year 10 TFF Cafe

This term Year 10 TFF classes have been investigating how to run successful (and more importantly, profitable!) food fundraisers.  Both classes had to run café style events to prove that their ideas would be financially viable.  Students were responsible for running all areas of the cafes, from developing menus, preparing drinks and food, taking orders and serving customers.  Each café was a huge success, with milkshakes, hot chocolates, brownies and nachos proving to be the top selling items.  Well done Year 10 TFF  (and even though it wasn’t really a competition,  10A would like it known that they raised the most funds!!).

Visit to John Cole Toyota

Students from ASHS HUB visited John Cole Toyota as part of our Community Access Program. Guest Experience and Marketing Manager, Toni, welcomed us to the Showroom. Toni and Sales Manager, Alex, gave us a tour of the New Car Showroom, Used Cars, Spare Parts, Mechanics Workshop and Car Detailing area. We enjoyed speaking to the employees and learning about some of the jobs they do. Students saw some impressive cars and had fun designing their dream car on a large computer screen. We were treated to a lunch and some gift bags! Thank you to Toni and Alex for making our visit so informative and enjoyable. Oh! What a Feeling!

Support Staff Week

Words to be put in here

Lindsie takes out Australian Overall Junior Girls Barefoot Champion for 2023

In May Lindsie Jack competed in the 62^nd National Barefoot Waterski Titles in Canungra, Qld, in the Junior Girls division.

Lindsie achieved Gold in Slalom, Gold in Tricks and Silver in Jump, therefore awarded Overall Junior Girls Barfoot Champion of 2023.

She had a tough and technical competition competing in Slalom, Tricks and Jump, whilst dealing with very cold mornings, delays due to rough water and schedule changes.  

The competition was very close with another skier, hinging on performance and points, but experience, skill and sheer grit saw her ski successfully.

Lindsie’s amazing achievement of National Champion has been the pinnacle for her ski career. Since the start of 2023, this year has been jammed packed with competitions. February was the World Barefoot Championships in Mulwala NSW, Lindsie was 1 of 4 Juniors (2 girls, 2 boys) selected to ski in the Australian team, competing against high level skiers from Australia, America, and New Zealand. Lindsie achieved 3rd Overall.

April was Qld State Titles in Canungra, Lindsie represented Northern Region Barefoot Club to achieve 1^st in all events, and got Overall Junior Girl State Champion. Then in May she competed at the Nationals. 

Due to her success and talent, Lindsie has been selected in the Australian Open Team, to compete in the 2024 World Championships, a huge privilege!

All her early morning training at Tinaroo with Katina Davis and the Northern Region Club members has created many amazing moments, experiences and friendships across Australia and the World.

Awesome work Lindsie!! Good Luck at teh World Championships in 2024, we can't wait to follow your progress!

Library News

A Close Encounter at The Bat Hospital

Students from ASHS HUB ventured further afield for our Community Access visit recently. Jenny welcomed us to The Bat Hospital in Carrington Road and explained that it was run entirely by volunteers who are committed to the conservation of bats and their habitat. We were given a tour of the Visitor Centre and told about the wonderful work she and her team are doing to raise awareness and help all kinds of bats. We learned about both insect-eating and fruit-eating bats. Jenny took us into an enclosure where there were some little insect-eating bats which had been rescued and nursed back to health. Many had been caught on barbed wire fences or in nets. Jenny carefully held the little bats for us to get a close up look, which was fascinating. We were shown into the large Flying Fox enclosure and saw the fruit bats hanging above us! Jenny held a young Flying Fox so that we could see it up close. We want to thank Jenny for allowing us the opportunity to see and learn about these beautiful creatures. Members of the public can visit The Bat Hospital in Carrington Road, and for a small fee, can also learn about the great work being done by Jenny and her team..

Japanese Study Tours are coming!

Winter Carnival

Certificate III in Early Childhood

If you would like to join our Playgroup please come along!

This playgroup happens during the school term only.

Bring your little one to join in the fun at our Atherton SHS Playgroup. Contact Ms Collins if you have any questions on 4030 5222

Register your interest: Year 12 exam invigilators

The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) welcomes early registrations of interest from community members who would like to work as invigilators at Year 12 exams being held in schools throughout Queensland in October and November. These are paid positions. Invigilators must be over 18 years old, eligible to work in Australia and hold a current paid blue card, or exemption card, or a Queensland College of Teachers registration.

Register your interest now and get notified when applications open in early June. By organising your documentation early, you'll be ready to apply straight away. Visit the QCAA website to find out more and register your interest.

Healthwise Physio Flyer

Have you thought about joining Army Cadets?

Don’t miss the Tinaroo Falls Dam Open Day!

There’ll be live music, activities for the kids, displays from our emergency services, community stalls, a free BBQ, and lots more.

The friendly team from Sunwater will be there to provide information about how Tinaroo Falls Dam works, and how you can prepare for local weather events. They’ll also be running bus tours of the dam itself.

Tinaroo Falls Dam Open Day is proudly brought to you by Sunwater and Tablelands Regional Council.

Date: Saturday 24 June 2023

Time: 9:00am-2:00pm 

Location:  Lake Tinaroo Recreational Playground, Tinaroo Falls Dam Road, Tinaroo 4872 (opposite Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park) 

Cost: Free 

FairPlay parent, carer or guardian

What is the FairPlay program?

• The program provides vouchers up to $150 to support children to get active.
• The vouchers can be used for sport and active recreation membership, registration or participation fees with registered activity providers.
• ​There is a limit of one voucher per child per calendar year.

Visit the website: https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/sports/funding/fairplay
Give us a call: 13 QGOV (13 74 68)
Send us an email: fairplayvouchers@dtis.qld.gov.au 

Finding the right learning pathway for your child

Every young person is unique and success looks different for everyone. By looking at the way we think about school and success, we can help our teens find their own learning pathway through school and beyond. Did you know the human brain doesn’t fully mature until the third decade in life? Hear Dr Nagel explain how being at school helps develop the teenage brain. During these years it’s a critical time for young people to be around other young people. The Spark their Future website has tips and resources to help you support your teen during their learning pathway.

Stay Flu free in 2023

Influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial viruses, can result in significant disruption to schools. There are things you can do to help protect yourself and your children:
Get vaccinated is the most effective way to prevent children and adults from getting flu, becoming seriously ill with flu or passing it on to others.Stay at home when sick Practice good hand hygiene wash hands regularly with soap and water or use alcohol-based cleanserPractice good respiratory hygiene cough or sneeze into a tissue or your arm, throw tissues away and clean handsClean surfaces regularlyEnsure good ventilation.

Teen Triple P- Positive Parenting Program

The Teen Triple P- Positive Parenting Program provides families with children aged between 10 to 16 years, free, expert parenting advice. Learn how to raise confident, capable teens by managing and encouraging behaviour, supporting wellbeing and helping to improve social skills.  👨

Are you looking at buying a second hand car?

If your young person has their licence and you’re looking to buy a second-hand car, before you hand over any money, it’s wise to check the car’s history. 🚗

A $2 Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) search can check if the car is: 

• debt free – if there’s finance owing on the car, it’s possible it may be repossessed
• written off – the car may have been in an accident or affected by natural disasters. 
• recorded as stolen – police may seize the car. 

For more information or to complete a PPSR search, visit www.ppsr.gov.au/firstcar

Guitar Lessons

Tablelands University Centre - VPG

Link and Launch

Research tells us that every year a number of young people who complete Year 12 are not engaged in education, employment or training in the year after they leave school.  While there are numerous programs and services available to students completing Year 12 to help them transition from school, data indicates that some of the young people who need this help the most, do not access it. 

The Queensland Government is funding Link and Launch to support these young people to navigate their post-school options and to choose a pathway that will equip them to make a successful transition to study, training or work.

How the program works

Link and Launch officers are based at participating schools to connect with young people who have completed Year 12 but not yet transitioned to further study, training or work. These officers can assist young people to navigate a range of post-school study, training and work options in line with their individual goals, aspirations, skills and strengths and support them to make independent choices that will equip them to make a successful transition.

Participating schools

In 2023, the Link and Launch Program will be delivered in 36 schools located in areas where there are high numbers of school leavers who are not in education, employment or training. I am pleased to announce that the Atherton Tablelands now has a Link and Launch service.

            Link and Launch Officer:        Kim Bannister

            Phone:                                             0492 156 374

            Email:                                               kbann8@eq.edu.au

Eligible young people

Young people who are not in education, employment or training and also completed Year 12 in the previous two years are eligible to join the program. All young people who have completed their senior studies can join the program irrespective of where they went to school. Participation in the program is voluntary. Young people enrolled at school are not eligible to join the program as career guidance and planning support is already provided by schools.

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