Indooroopilly State High School - Education Queensland

Dates for the last day of term 3 and commencement of term 4 are provided in the calendaron page 1 of this newsletter. It is important to note that, unlike other terms in the school year,the first day of term 4, 4 October, is NOT a student free day and students should be here onthat day. Our term 4 student free day occurs on Monday 18 October.OPEN DAYThanks to all members of our school community who contributed to a really joyous and informativeOpen Day on 19 August. As happens year after year, our staff worked very hard bothin advance and on the day to ensure that prospective students and their families had thechance to appreciate the every day and special events that characterise learning at IndooroopillyHigh. The high levels of support from our students who help in many ways to set up and conductactivities, as well as presenting the quality entertainment that showcases curriculum activities, ensures thatOpen Day is always a celebration of their talents and commitment. Finally, I must acknowledge the dedicationof our Parents & Citizens’ Association members who provide and serve most of the refreshments available andalso offer reassurance and parent perspectives to parents considering joining us, adding immeasurable richnessto this event. It was wonderful to be able to centralise Open Day this year in our new Amphitheatre, ThePeter Doherty Theatre and our new Language Centre. Well done, Indro!PRINCIPAL’S NEWSCONGRATULATIONS TO IRONSIDE STATE SCHOOLWe are fortunate to enjoy very productive and mutually supportive partnerships with our local primary schools.Our teachers sometimes visit these schools and participate in curriculum programs; at other times we are privilegedto have primary students come to our school to learn in our facilities. One such of these activities hasinvolved our Head of Department, Mathematics & Engineering, Mrs Kim Milford, working with Year 7 studentsat Ironside State School. In the recent Showcase Awards for Excellence, Ironside SS was named as a finalistin The QSuper Showcase Award for Academic Excellence category for their program: MATHS – It All ADDSUp at Ironside. We really appreciated Ironside generously acknowledging the contributions of Mrs Milford tothe outstanding Mathematics results being achieved by their students. This is just one example of the excellentcollaboration that occurs between government primary and secondary schools to ensure a quality educationfrom Preschool to Year 12.STUDENT INITIATIVEOne of the characteristics that continues to delight and impress me is the capacity of our students to succeed inmaking a positive difference. On page 4 of this newsletter you will see a story about some of our Year 8 studentswho decided to “get involved”. Fantastic effort, girls.FILM, TV & NEW MEDIA CHAMPIONSI am sure you will enjoy reading about Indro students’ Film, TV & New Media achievements on page 14. Congratulationsmust also go to HOD, The Arts, Derek Weeks, and FTVNM teacher, Rohan McCarthy, and theirstudents on reaching the pinnacle of collective success. At the Queensland New Filmmakers Awards, as wellas the individual awards outlined in the aforementioned article, Indooroopilly State High School was named theSchool which most highly exhibits Creativity, Initiative and Effort. The two previous winners of this award wereAnglican Church Grammar School and the purpose-built Queensland Academy for Creative Industries. Thisreally is an example of the excellence of our Arts Programs and I commend all involved.SENIOR SCHOOL HAPPENINGSBy the time you read this, our Year 12 students will have sat the Queensland Core Skills Test and be one stepcloser to the end of their secondary schooling. A huge thank you to Renee Place for her coordination of thisevent, and to Milena Stephens and Year 12 teachers for your intense efforts to ensure our students were asprepared as possible to achieve their best. It has also been impressive to observe the committed participationand group support students have offered to one another. Staff provide a special breakfast for Year 12 studentson both days of the QCS to ensure they are well-nourished for the day and to allay any last minute nerves.Special thanks to Chaplain Dave for taking charge of this. Year 12s can now afford to reward themselves withthoughts of the Senior Formal to be held at Hillstone, St Lucia on 16 September. At the same time that Year12s are experiencing various “lasts”, our Year 11s are in full flight preparing for the leadership roles that areabout to become their responsibility. This week Year 11 nominees for our various 2011 student leader positionsare busy writing speeches and preparing to present them to students and staff prior to elections beingheld. Huge support is provided to students at this time by Year 12 Coordinator, Monica Wood, and Year 11Coordinator, Sasha Jessop. We look forward to the results.Lois O’ReillyPrincipal2