AROUND THE SCHOOLS
Innisfail State College Leading The Way As Environmental Warriors MARIA GIRGENTI INNISFAIL State College was the first state high school to be named a Guardian of the Reef and the only school in the world to be a custodian of an island national park - Russell Island. As a result, their Student Council body was approached by Marine Science students to do something to reduce the amount of plastic that
is ending up in our waterways and oceans and threatening our marine life. It was decided the student council would buy every student their own water bottle and install chilled water troughs throughout the school to fill these bottles which would eliminate the need for bottled water to be sold at the tuckshop. The cost to buy the bottles and install chilled water troughs was over $13,000, so it
has taken a lot of raffles, discos and hard work by the student council members to raise the money needed. This environmental project would not have been made possible without the financial support and commitment of their Parents and Citizens’ Association. All the bottles have been distributed, much to the delight of the student council and Innisfail State College students.
Innisfail State College student council Back row: Libby Spannagle, Caitlin Watson, Lakhveer Kaur, Maninder Kaur and Amber Anastasi. Front row: Reuben Sharpe, Chris Finitsis and Tanveer Singh with the water bottles that were distributed to all students.
Tully State Primary School Indonesian lessons
During their last week of the first school term for 2019 Tully State School students from Years five and six enjoyed some end of term fun during their Indonesian lessons. The students played an Indonesian children’s game called Congklak and dressing up in Indonesian school uniforms.
A busy first term for Innisfail East State School MARIA GIRGENTI
INNISFAIL East State School has had a positive start to the school year with steady enrolment numbers and also welcomed three new staff members and 28 Preps. After a year in the role, Mrs Tanveer said she was pleased to announce Carolyn Teixeira has been permanently appointed Head of Curriculum. Previously, Ms Teixeira was a teacher and Principal at Flying Fish Point State School for nine years, had a teaching job in London in 2017 and with three years at Innisfail State School and brings 30 years of experience to the role. Ms Teixeira is a great asset to staff and has been leading some great initiatives with students and staff. New Year 3/4 teacher Bonnie Molineux hails from Brisbane and will start her first year of teaching at Innisfail East.
Niek Jansen from Mount Gambier in South Australia is the new Year 5/6 teacher who brings 25 years of experience to the role having taught in a number of schools in South Australia. The school also welcomes Prep teacher Stasia Abraham who has been teaching at schools in the region since 1990. Principal Bek Tanveer said it had been a great start to the year with very settled classes and sizes and an enthusiastic team of teaching staff. “In 2019, we will be focusing on explicit instructions and age-appropriate pedagogies in junior primary to support improved attendance, while the middle and upper primary classes will see an expansion into the IT world with the introduction of I-pads throughout all classes. Last year we had a successful trial of STEM in upper primary so this will be expanded this year. “We will also be aiming to uphold the school culture and pledge,
Prep teacher, Stasia Abraham and teacher aide Leah McIlwain with Innisfail East State School Prep students.
Page 16 Cassowary Coast Independent News, Thursday, April 11, 2019
‘I will be safe, respectful, strong and I will be the best learner I can be.’ This means taking the time to ensure high expectations, commitment to learning and that children have friends at school.” “One of the focus areas of our annual improvement plan is reading and we have just developed a new handbook ‘I-Read’ to support reading improvement which will be developed over time with staff,” said Mrs Tanveer. It has been a busy first term with Prep to Year 4 students taking part in a swimming program, inter-house athletics carnival, free dress days, rugby league and netball gala days, visit by winter Olympian Jackie Narracott and GRIP leadership conference. Enrolments are welcomed in all classes and for further information please contact the school on 4078 0111 or via email: principal@innieeastss.eq.edu.au.
Principal Bek Tanveer with Innisfail East State School captains: Front row - Callum, Chris, Dilraj, Jye (vice captain) and Ben (school captain); Back row: Simona, Lilly-Jo, Cameron, Keilani (vice captain) and Zali (school captain).