Cape York Girl Academy 2021 Semester 2 Newsletter

Newsletter

2021 SEMESTER 2

C A P E YO R K G I R L A C A D E M Y

2021 SEMESTER 2 NEWSLETTER

From the Principal's Desk

Campus Principal - Marnie Parker

I would like to start by thanking the entire Cape York Girl Academy community for your kind and friendly welcome, and my predecessors Baressa Frazer and Claudine Wiesner for the amazing work you did in 2021. In my previous role at Independent Schools Queensland, I worked with and visited Baressa at Girl Academy, and have collaborated with Claudine since starting in Term 4. I understand how challenging it can be for staff, students and families to have staffing changes and extend my gratitude for your support.

Along with everyone who is part of the Girl Academy community, I am proud and honoured to have worked alongside our 2021 graduates, even if for a short time. Congratulations Bon’Naia Hinton, Aaliyah Brim, Estherlita Forbes and Bianca Ganambarr on completing Year 12. If there is one thing I know for certain, it’s that you are strong, proud young women who will go on to achieve great things in life.

The Year 11 and Junior students have engaged in so many activities in addition to their learning program that there is not enough room to list them all. Whether the activities were sport, storytelling, excursions or work experience, the important thing to remember is the many skills that were developed and enhanced, such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving and initiative to name a few. These are the skills employers and 2

Baressa Fraser’s last Day

universities are looking for in today’s world, so never doubt the value or importance of the extra learning activities available at Girl Academy.

In 2022, some new subjects will be available, including vocational qualifications and QCAA Recognised Studies, both of which contribute to the Queensland Certificate of Education and life skills. New offerings have been matched to the careers plan of students. We also hope to introduce a Girl Academy swimming carnival and I look forward to the teachers versus students race!

To the teaching staff and their support team – Madeleine, Catalina, Laurie, Sophia and Nikki – please know how much your work this year is valued and appreciated by all. I offer the same gratitude to our Early Learning Coordinator Rachael; Karen, Jodi and Chaseley from Wellbeing; and Karen, Jody, Chrissy, Viv, Julie and Iseta from Boarding. A special thank you to Uncle Norm for taking such great care of our school, and to Elizabeth who stepped in to fill a huge administrative role in May. Finally, enormous thanks to everyone – staff and students – for your newsletter contributions. My hope is that you enjoy a welldeserved holiday, and to those leaving us in 2021 that you stay in touch, remembering we are always here for you.

Take care and stay well, Marnie.

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Contents From the Principal's Desk............................................... 2 Acknowledgement of Country........................................ 3 Health and Wellbeing...................................................... 4 The power of Culture Circle............................................ 6 Rhythm....................................................................... 8 Kayaking................................................................... 10 Girls just want to have fun........................................11 Graduation T-Shirt Design...................................... 12 Deadly Choices Education...................................... 12 A Special Hockey Visit............................................ 13 NAIDOC Dance.........................................................14 Certificate II in Active Volunteering............................... 15 Careers Expo and CQU Visit........................................ 16 Seniors Numeracy and Hospitality................................17 Visual Arts...................................................................... 18 VPG Program 2021....................................................... 22 Sports and Recreation.................................................. 23 2021 NAIDOC Celebrations.......................................... 24 Junior Science............................................................... 30 Junior HPE & Maths...................................................... 30 Junior HASS.................................................................. 31 English........................................................................... 34 Early Learning................................................................ 35 Girl Academy Celebrates - Four More Graduates....... 39 The new faces of CYGA................................................ 47

Acknowledgement of Country Cape York Girl Academy acknowledges the Yirrijandji (pronounced irrikandji) people, past, present and still to come, as the traditional owners and first custodians of this ancient land upon which we move, live, work, learn and dream at Wangetti.

We also understand that with such an acknowledgement comes a responsibility to the spirit place of its ancestors. Thus, each of us understands that we are never off Country.

No matter where our birth Country may be, the way we enter space, use space and the energy we leave behind affects the ongoing wellbeing of the land and our community.

We also acknowledge that we are on First Nations People’s Country and that Country holds the knowledge and strength of the ancestors which guides our teaching at CYGA and still resides within, growing its people strong. We recognise that the Ancestors are still here – in the trees, in the wind, in the earth and in the hearts of the traditional custodians and they will always be here, as will be the oldest living culture on earth, as the heritage of all Australians.

Please make note of important dates to end 2021 and to be ready to return in 2022.

We can’t wait to see you!

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See Clearly

END DATES

Sit Strongly Listen Deeply

Sit

Student's Last Day

1st December

Travel Day to return home

2nd December

Staff Final Day

8th December

TERM 1 2022

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TERM 4 2021

START DATES

Strongly

Staff Commence PD

20th & 21st January

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Listen Deeply

Student Travel Day

24th January

Public Holiday

26th January

Classes Commence

27th January

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Health and Wellbeing “Dadirri is a quiet meditation. An Indigenous practice that our people use to find out who they really are, their purpose and where they are going.”

– Mirriam Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann

Karen, Jodi and Chase work closely with the staff and students in the Dadirri & Health and Wellbeing Sessions. They provide tools and resources to help strengthen the individual and connect the whole school community through the values of respect, responsibility, reciprocity, family and community. The purpose is always to empower the girls to be strong leaders and role models in their family and community. The morning session is also the time and space to involve the girls in fun team building activities and to provide information important to the girl’s social and emotional wellbeing.

A special guest in our school community this Semester was Uncle Willy Gordon. He said, "When we make the time to listen we are preparing for the future. Deep listening is about time and space."

At the beginning and end of each school day at the Academy the

Special Guest - Shanelle Young - Traditional Weaving Workshop

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students and staff come together to sit in a big circle to take the time to listen deeply to themselves, to each other and to nature.

The daily gratitude practice of being still and quietening the mind is done through the breath. Whether guided through a talking meditation or sitting in silence for 2 minutes in the classroom, on the basketball court or at the beach during the breakfast outings the girls can learn to centre and ground themselves in the present moment. The aim is to acknowledge and accept any obstacles or challenges on their path that can distract or distance them from focusing on their learning.

NAIDOC, Free Dress, Mental Health Week, Bully & Cyberbullying, Traditional Weaving, and team building activities, such as choosing school and house captains, storytelling, language games, conversation cards, musical chairs and volleyball, all took place in the morning. This session is about strengthening the girl’s social and emotional wellbeing and prepares them for the school day. The coming together at the end of each day is to reflect and celebrate our achievements and to let go of anything that the students were carrying through the school day.

Special guest Uncle Willy Gordon talking with the students

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Kerry Savory (Counsellor) - visited for Mental Health Week and a Bullying & Cyber Bullying Session

Aaliyah's mural 'The Dreamer' in Wellbeing Room

Edwina and Lynese

Excursion to Bulmbja to see Rubina, Nikki and Sophia in La Bella Figura

Lynese - Breakfast on the beach

Storytelling with Nikki

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The power of Culture Circle Although still embracing all the qualities and foundations of what Culture Circle means at the Girl Academy, this Semester we introduced several new elements to further leadership qualities in our Senior students, develop deeper student understanding of themselves as individuals, and the importance of community participation.

We began with the introduction of three school houses with selected seniors as House Captains. House Captains were assigned responsibility of their group to ensure involvement and participation.

The achievements were impressive, the confidence and leadership skills extended from our seniors and the response of our younger students without doubt displayed the importance of community and respect that is the underlying value of Culture Circle.

Students came together to plan our forward sessions, brainstorm activities, seek resources needed, allocate time slots, determine a scoring system and more.

These sessions included relay egg racing, three legged racing, blind fold trust activities and round robin team sports.

Further responsibility was taken to collectively come up with a name and design for each house.

Again the students excelled. Discussion and compromises amongst themselves with support of the House Captains resulted in selected designs with house names being – Emeralds, Rubies and Sapphires – we cannot wait to see the final products soon.

Balancing these activities was the introduction of journaling, allowing students quietness and space to enhance their consciousness, inner environment and awareness of being.

Journaling prompts guide the students to notice how they might feel without reactivity, to recognise weakness and strengths without negativity and to develop gratitude. The student response to this was quite incredible, leading to students using their journals at other times outside of the Culture Circle to self-regulate and respond in a productive way.

CAPTAIN NAIDOC SPEECH Thank you guests, families, students, teachers for coming today to celebrate our naidoc celebration.

Hi my name is Naydia Dooley. I am a young 17 year old Wik Mungkan and Wadjigu girl from Pormpuraaw and Woorabinda.

I have been at Cape York Girl Academy since the middle of Term 2. I came to this school because I am young mother wanting to go forward in my life through my education, and my learning experiences. I am also a school captain.

I am the mother to baby Thea Dooley who is eight months old. Thea is definitely my motivation to keep going through life. I love her endlessly.

Heal Country to me means to mend all the hurt and pain that has affected our Country through the past and present. It means to heal all the hurt and destruction that has sadly happened to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It’s moving forward from the past so we can build a better future for our young ones.

THANK YOU for listening and I hope you enjoy today.

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Rubies Design

Emeralds Design

School house designs

School House - Team Building

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Rhythm Never forget what we have learnt! Repetition and practise are the keys to memorising the rhythm patterns and rhyming games.

Good for your co-ordination, good for your brain and most of all… good fun!

The Rhythm class farewell the seniors with an end-of-year fiesta and karaoke afternoon. Maracas! Castanets! Dress-ups and photo fun! Girls are amazing! Just too deadly they are!

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Kayaking The girls cruised down the crystal clear waters at Babinda in their solo kayaks. The whole school excursion at the end of Term 4 was another opportunity for staff and students to enjoy their time in nature and bond together as a community.

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Girls just want to have fun A fun Dadirri session where the girls were pampered with the annual gift from Share the Dignity – it’s just in the bag and graduation dresses.

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Graduation T-Shirt Design

Deadly Choices Education

Congratulations Estherlita for your Heal Country artwork chosen as the graduation t-shirt design for 2021. The graduating students were presented with their individually named t-shirts at the formal.

Deadly Choices delivered a six-week Tobacco Education Program – a health education and capacity development program that gives the students at Cape York Girl Academy an understanding of the long association with tobacco Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have had, which helps them to gain insights into the current use and acceptance of tobacco in community.

The six session program addresses healthy lifestyle topics such as History, Impacts of Smoking, Chemicals and Addiction, Quit Supports and Resources, Passive Smoking, and Deadly Places, Smoke-Free Spaces.

The girls created artworks in the Tobacco Education Program to promote non smoking - quit smoking so we can actually use money for what we need to get!

Estherlita with her graduation t-shirt design

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Keisha (Deadly Choices Program) with the students

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A Special Hockey Visit For the first time at Cape York Girl Academy the team ‘Aspire to be Deadly’ from the Cairns Hockey Association (CHA) delivered a variety of hockey skills and games with a focus on education, wellbeing, employment and leadership. The sport of hockey is the vehicle to meet new people, improve their health and provide a pathway for the girls.

“When the Olympians came it was very exciting.

After they talked about their journey as Olympians and every opportunity they had it made everyone feel inspired.”

“It felt cool to meet athletes who competed in the Olympics. It was exciting to meet Tim and Savannah because they were genuinely nice people who had done so well at their sport. Meeting everyday people who have travelled overseas and competed at the highest level in sport you realise all things that are possible.”

“We felt shame and nervous because the athletes were new to the school and they were famous”.

Wes, Jess and the team from CHA provided lots of laughter on the school oval on Wednesday afternoons as the girls acquire new skills and move outside their comfort zones.

In Term 4, the girls were excited to meet and pose with Savannah Fitzpatrick Australian Hockeyroos and Tim Howard Australian Kookaburras. They were inspired by the athlete’s stories and their time at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Savannah Fitzpatrick Australian Hockeyroos and Tim Howard Australian Kookaburras with some of the students

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NAIDOC Dance Following their empowering performance at this year's NAIDOC, the CYGA Dance Crew continue to explore traditional and contemporary dance styles each week in the professional studio at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre in Cairns.

Under the watchful eye of Aunty Pauline and Aunty Shellie from Miriki Performing Arts the students take it to the next level as they create their own dance sequences with style.

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Certificate II in Active Volunteering Students in Year 11 and 12 have been working towards gaining a Certificate II in Active Volunteering. The qualification requires students to complete seven units of competency and 20 hours of volunteer work in an organisation.

Three Year 12 students completed their study and were awarded their Certificate II in Active Volunteering this Semester.

Congratulations Bon’Naia., Estherlita and Aaliyah – all of your hard work has paid off!

Year 11 student Verona Platt has been volunteering this Semester at Starwin Gallery in Port Douglas where she is learning the ins and outs of running a small business and is greeting customers with her friendly smile.

Estherlita, Aaliyah, Bon'Naia received Active Volunteering Certificate II

Verona is working at Starwin Gallery for her volunteer placement

As part of the Certificate II, students completed a First Aid Course.

Estherlita with Rachael on Patrol at Ellis Beach

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Careers Expo and CQU Visit In Term 3 Girl Academy’s Year 10 and senior students went on a Careers Excursion to gather information and ideas about options for future work and study. They visited two interesting sites – Central Queensland University (CQU) Cairns Campus and the Cairns Youth & Careers Expo.

Every year the Cairns Business Liaison Association hosts the Cairns Youth & Careers Expo. This is the perfect platform for high school students to learn more about careers and education pathways after they finish high school. The expo showcased a wide range of education providers and employers. Students were able to collect information about further education and employment options in a number of fields, including Defence, Health and Education, Business, Community Services and the Police Force.

At CQUniversity, students were given an introduction to the STEPS Program (Skills for Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies).

STEPS is a free enabling course that provides a pathway for people to gain entry to higher education. It is designed to build students’ confidence and help them succeed at university. The bridging course helps students gain entry into a wide range of courses, such as health, nursing and paramedic science, engineering, psychology, teaching, and many more. The Indigenous Student Engagement team also spoke to our students about the support available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students at CQUniversity and our visit ended with a tour of the campus.

CQU media labs

CQU nursing class

Overall, the girls came away feeling inspired and excited about future opportunities.

CQU STEPS program presentation

Careers Expo

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CQU visit

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Seniors Numeracy and Hospitality We use numeracy every day of our lives, and students have been improving their numeracy skills by applying them to real-life situations during the lessons. This term, students created a house blueprint and calculated the cost of different types of flooring, paint and air conditioners by applying their knowledge on geometry.

Additionally, their numeracy kills keep improving during food production. Throughout Semester 2, students enjoyed cooking

casual dining foods from different cuisines worldwide, including Japanese, Mexican, and French. They have the opportunity to practise and demonstrate various cooking techniques to the rest of the staff and junior students. Moreover, Term 4 started with a visit to a local traditional Japanese restaurant called O’cha cha; students enjoyed the atmosphere and courageously tried new flavours and textures. It has been a fantastic year sharing laughs and sometimes frustrations, but we culminate this year with smiles at the end of the day.

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Visual Arts In Term 3 Art, students enjoyed developing their print-making skills, and created some stunning artworks that explored the theme of Heal Country or their own identity. These were put on display in an exhibition for our NAIDOC celebration, a very successful exhibition indeed! We even had some guests who requested to buy artworks, so the students were very pleased!

In some very exciting news, Cape York Partnership selected Naydia Dooley’s art piece titled ‘Aak Min’ (pictured right) and 50 limited edition prints were made for the Our Sisters International Day of the Girl Campaign. Proceeds from each purchase go directly to Naydia and to the campaign, in support of scholarship opportunities for our young women. Naydia wrote a beautiful artist statement to accompany her lino print.

“The meaning behind Aak Min is meeting place in Wik Mungkan language. It is a place that brings out that spiritual connection you would have with the land. It’s a place that you feel emotionally connected to. It allows you to be yourself.

It is not a place to sit down and talk to others, it’s a quiet, peaceful place that allows you to be one with nature, and to see clearly and listen deeply. The mountains are like natures walls protecting you from the outside world, it speaks to you when the wind blows.

The stream is a place you can swim and relax in, and as you get out it refreshes you. All bad thoughts washed away down further into the stream. The meeting place allows you to sit strongly and embrace all the goodness that our land has to offer.” – Naydia Dooley, Year 10, 2021.

Lino print by Naydia Dooley

Senior students attended a pottery workshop this term where they learnt some different pottery techniques

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Bon'Naia with family in front of her artwork NAIDOC guests observing the student works

Thaarah showing her artwork to family

A special guest viewing the artwork

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Heal Country means letting this very traumatised land heal from the blood that was shed and everything that happened, not saying we should put the past behind us, but we should get the respect and acknowledgement, plus the equal rights that we need.

I decided to do the heart with roots growing in and around it, there is a stump growing from the roots. That all represents a tree getting cut down but it grows back eventually, which all together means that our culture has been cut down but there is something that drives us to keep going.

With the theme being ‘Heal Country’ I put the heart in the roots of a cut down tree to represent the livelihood and growth in our whole culture itself. As our people have been through a lot, but still find a way through all of the problems and there is always something there keeping us healthy and strong.

- Aaliyah Brim, Year 12, 2021

Aaliyah's artwork

Students screen printed t-shirts

Bon'Naia's artwork

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Frame within a frame photo of Chaquita taken by Naydia

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Heal Country means caring for Country and the Country is blessed and heals people, just like bush medicine that runs through our skin in our vein and cleans whatever making you sick inside your body.

Heal means the river or springs is a healing place to go and blessed your body or clear your mind to take away old thought.

The design I did is the leaves that heals people. The name is Ngalunga! It comes from a white bark tree. It’s a bush medicine we boil to have shower or drink to gargle it in our mouth to clean bad cough or anything bad in our mouth.

The meaning of my design is the leaf reminds me about the billabong near my community because we collect it every day.

Because it's one of the bush medicine we use to heal sour or bad cough and cold. We collect it to make my little brother have bath to clean whatever sour he has on his skin it will dry it out and kills it.

I want to share this is because I want the non-Aboriginal people to know that bush food and medicine means a lot to Aboriginal people. The reason why I choose this design of the Ngalunga leaf is to represent my billabong and where I belong the land of Alawa people. ~ Estherlita, Year 12, 2021, Bulman and Minyerri, NT

Verona's artwork

Verona's artwork

Thaarah's photoshopped artwork

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VPG Program 2021 In Term 4, Cape York Girl Academy senior students took part in VPG’s work experience program. The program supports and prepares students for post-schooling options, gain real-world experience in the workplace and develop the attitudes and skills employers require. Emma from VPG planned to visit the Academy on August 9 to introduce students to the program. Unfortunately – due to COVID restrictions – Emma could not be on campus and the induction was completed via zoom. Students received the programme application and were required to nominate three different industries of interest. Once students completed their application, they were interviewed to gain a better understanding of what workplace would best suit their career aspirations. During the delivery session, students received paperwork with details about the work placement they would be participating in.

On September 10, VPG visited the Academy to provide a session on workplace requirements and best practice whilst engaging in work experience. All students were very excited with their placements and were looking forward to Term 4. Before students could attend the placement, they were required to introduce themselves to their employers and have paperwork signed. This also provided students the opportunity to ask their employer questions, such as dress code, hours of work and specific tasks they would be required to perform.

As a boarding school, the logistics around student drop off and pick-ups was always going to be challenging. However, with support and help from all staff involved, the students arrived on time for their first day of work experience, October 19.

Placements included: •

Hartley’s Crocodile adventures

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Armadillo Childcare Centre

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Graig Crawford MP Office

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VPG Office

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The Gifting Gnome

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Ten06 Café Yorkey’s

Students successfully completed three days of work placement and came away from the experience with newfound confidence, increased self-understanding, maturity, independence and selfconfidence. Further, students increased their understanding of what it is like to work in a dynamic workplace. Other benefits included the opportunity to explore new tasks, learn new skills, meet new people and explore possible career options. Feedback from students, staff and employers was extremely positive, as was the entire experience for our students.

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Sports and Recreation Year 11 and 12 Sport and Recreation students have had a busy couple of terms! They started with exploring their dance skills across a number of genres, including Hip-Hop, Indigenous Contemporary Dance, and Step. Students also did strength sessions at the gym, and a module on learning to coach table tennis. Girl Academy was fortunate to have Paul Uttley – a Level 2 Nationally Accredited Table Tennis coach – deliver a session on teaching coaching skills. Paul generously volunteered his time each week for the rest of the term and was impressed with

the students’ potential! He taught students many tips and tricks, which the seniors used when delivering their coaching sessions to staff and students. The skills involved in coaching sessions included delivering instructions, communicating clearly, building rapport, demonstrating and modelling table tennis skills, and giving feedback to name a few. Well done girls – Madeleine and Paul were very proud and privileged to witness your growth throughout the module!

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2021 NAIDOC Celebrations Members of our communities came together to Connect, Reflect and Heal as we celebrated NAIDOC 2021 at the Girl Academy on Thursday 9 September. After a very warm Welcome to Country from Uncle Bernard Singleton, Yirrijandji Saltwater Djabugay Elder, our special guests, including Mossman Elders Justice Group, students, families, friends and staff joined together for a day of art, story, song, dance and games – resonating on the theme of Heal Country and what that means to each of us; with hope,

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compassion and conviction. Everybody shared in a delicious Kup Murri feast and guests enjoyed the art exhibition, learning weaving, and being adorned with Henna tattoos. We are so proud of how the girls considered, prepared, rehearsed and performed to make it such a wonderful celebration of culture, respect and togetherness. We thank everyone for their presence, and the GA team that supported the girls in the delivery of their message as we all work toward healing Country.

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Uncle Bernard Singleton TO

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Junior Science During Semester 2, students studied cell biology and physics.

The Year 7 and 8 students created animal and plant cell models, while Year 9 and 10 students investigated how physical traits will pass from generation to generation. At the end of this year, students explored force, energy and power and how it affects every day of our lives. Students designed and created a Golberg’s machine to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding.

Junior HPE & Maths During HPE, students have been learning about nutrition and the importance to understand what it is to have a deliciously healthy diet. They applied their knowledge by cooking healthy pizzas and collaborating in preparing healthy food for senior students and staff for the whole-school kayaking excursion.

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During the preparation and cooking sessions, students have the opportunity to utilise their maths skills by calculating the correct amounts for the different recipes.

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Junior HASS This year, students have been busy in Humanities and Social Sciences! In Term 4, students have been studying rights and freedoms within a democracy, including freedom of speech.

Students have also been learning about empathy. The extension students created their own political party, deciding what issues are important to them and how they will fix those issues. After deciding on a name, logo and slogan for their political party, they designed a campaign poster and wrote an election speech, using persuasive devices learnt in English. They created some inspirational work – we absolutely have some future leaders here at Girl Academy!

In Term 3, students studied a unit on sustainability and looked at different Indigenous perspectives of sustainability. They each wrote a letter to Country, or from Country, which was compiled to create a performance for NAIDOC day. The students spoke their truths on the microphone, whilst music by Gurrumul played in the background. The girls should be very proud of their words and finding the courage to speak in front of a large audience. The performance was POWERFUL! Enjoy a copy of the speech below:

connection to our ancestors past and present.

Alexis: Laws, traditions, language.

Lynese: I am everything. I am Country.

Thaarah: I am running out of strength. You need to protect me. I am suffering.

Ada: My trees are being cut. I am suffering. My ground is being drilled into and my waters are being poisoned.

Edwina: People don’t see that Country has got life, and our next generation need that life and water to live and survive.

Naydia: I ask you to stop, have wisdom, have empathy.

Alexis: I NEED YOUR HELP. I ask you to stop destroying scared sites!

Chaquita: I am the provider; I give you fresh air to breathe, treat me good but do not treat me as if I am a rubbish.

Naydia: Destroying sacred sites, is tearing the native people’s cultural connection away from me!

DEDICATION TO COUNTRY Naydia: Dear Humans, All: Dear Humans!

Alexis: Centuries of stories, dances, language savagely being torn away! This is because of mining, mining for oil and coal!

Alexis: I am the land on which you walk, run and sit.

Chaquita: Digging my body up in large chunks getting oil and coal is affecting the vegetation around you which you need to live.

Naydia: I am the trees that help you breathe and which you lay under for shade.

Taishara: It is weakening land so the land you would play on is now all soft and weak.

Ada: I am the producer of life, the producer of resources and I am the reason you breathe every day.

Thaarah: Help me help you!

Edwina: I am the creation. I am the ceremonies.

Edwina: You can heal me. I ask that you start to speak up for your land and your Country.

Violet: I am the living things. I am Country!

Calista: Country is inherent to our identity.

Skye: It’s our lives in every way – spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially and culturally.

Naydia: I am the ground that gives you stability.

Taishara: Country is family, we’re a part of the land it speaks to us!

Skye: It’s alive, its spirit breathes. And we all are naturally connected like we have a strong

Ada: The things you do on a daily basis are affecting me.

Chaquita: I ask that you start by listening to those who hear my cries.

Naydia: Plant more trees as you take them down.

Fertilise my body so I can keep producing. Only take bits of me.

Ada: I ask you to stop deforestation. Deforestation is killing me. Deforestation affects me and animals!

They’re dying because their habitat is being cut down and they have nowhere else to live if you

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keep cutting down the trees.

Taishara: If you want to stop this or if you want my forgiveness, you can heal me by start planting seeds.

Naydia: I promise to do my part to protect you from further destruction

Violet: I simply ask you to stop hurting me.

Always use less paper.

Edwina: Dear audience

Ada: Use objects that can replenish and you could reuse each time.

Edwina: Our past generation live on our land, we need to protect our Country. Our Country is our spirit and our land.

Lynese: Do not take or eat like a monster, use the foods in a proper way!

Skye: Raise awareness in the community!

Ada: Stand up and take action! Use social media to support environmental issues and speak to the government or politicians!

Naydia: I ask that you start by listening to those who hear my cries!

All: I ask that you start by listening to those who hear my cries!

Thaarah: Dear Country All: Dear Country!

Thaarah: I am a young Indigenous woman I am the girl who speaks for the spirits.

I am the girl who is proud to be Indigenous to have culture dancing and signing.

I am a girl who is bringing my people into the country to help save my land Alexis: Country, We would first like to say thank you. Thank you for the food, culture and the water.

Thank you for the food that we find on trees and in the bushes Calista: Thank you for the dancing, language and the ceremony that our people are proud of. Thank you for keeping us safe from all the bad spirit.

Tharaah: Country, we are so sorry were letting you down, for people logging you, hurting you.

WE NEED CLIMATE ACTION NOW! Edwina: Our Country. Our Land. Our Culture.

Alexis: We are grateful for what you have given us, but many people have also taken it for granted.

Calista: It is important to protect you because

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of the old people, ceremony, traditional dancing, language and the culture that is a part of you.

All: Dear audience!

Alexis: We need to stand up and speak up for our rights!

Ada: Protect our Country. Protect our land.

All: Protect our Country! Protect our land!

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English For the past two terms, Claire and Madeleine have team-taught Junior English.

always lovely to see was how supportive the girls were of each other and how they all had a go regardless of their skill level.

The girls in the Junior English class have been such a joy to teach and spend time with this Semester. We have laughed, talked, played games and worked very hard.

Term 4, junior students have been studying a unit on Fake News, and learning persuasive devices. They have been developing their team work skills, having debates about issues and creating fake news stories together. Our latest topic of “Facts and Opinions” gave us as a class the opportunity to discuss many current topics and to really break down and discuss the difference between the two. The girls enjoyed the games played in these sessions where they had to decide how they felt about certain topics and move around the room to a spot depending on how they voted. As a class they have really worked hard and been brave sharing verbally their opinions about serious current affairs, and lighthearted topics.

Some of our highlights have been our engagement games at the beginning of most sessions and the reflection at the end, where the girls had the chance to share what they liked, would change or wanted more of in the lesson. I was extremely impressed with the way all students participated and shared their thoughts. Both Lucy and Mango (Labradors) have also loved coming each week and being patted, walked and loved by the girls.

Reading the novel “Wonder” was a favourite, which the girls really enjoyed and then engaged in some great conversations about the characters and the emotions felt by them. The students explored themes, such as bullying, marginalisation, privilege and we had some great conversations.

Spelling races always got everyone involved with there being cheering, passion and a lot of great spelling shared. What was

I would also like to acknowledge the great support and fun provided by Nikki and Sophia each week. Thank you, ladies, and girls, it’s been a wonderful Semester.

Claire Perrott

Featured are photos of students practising storytelling using our new iPads! The first photo story (of staff Madeleine, Laurie and Sophia) was captured by all the junior students, and the second story was captured by Alexis. How scary are these photos!?! Don’t let them give your nightmares!

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Early Learning This semester we have ALL been busy growing, learning and playing together. You see, we couldn’t all be at Girl Academy the whole time this Semester, so we were all in Early Learning at different times while our mums went to classes. Even Miss Rachael did study so she can keep up with us, as we learn very quickly. We went on excursions, created art and discovered…

But that’s not all we did. We used lots of traditional language words in our singing and storytelling; lots of grown-ups can’t speak two languages! We created wonderful art with traditional tools, which Miss Rachael described as absolute masterpieces!

The beach and the creek are great places to have adventures, and we find lots of very interesting things on our walks. We’ve looked at things we see in the sky, learned nursery rhymes, made instruments and then music, and had fun with things that go round and round (you should see Miss Rachael try to hula hoop)!

We’ve learned about wild animals, farm animals, as well as colours and counting. Some of us even started crawling and talking – we are so clever! We have looked at how things move (including ourselves) and even done some cooking (not always edible though, but it’s messy fun). We helped celebrate NAIDOC with all of the other students, while we displayed our art and our dancing skills, and our families came too – we loved all the cuddles and attention. We’ve also enjoyed lots of water play as it has been getting hot – splashing is so cool!

Of course we made sure to visit our furry, scaly and toughskinned friends at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures because they would miss us if we didn’t.

So the end of the year has been fantastic. We can’t wait to see what we can do in 2022.

A friendly 'crocodile' at Hartley's

Admiring our artwork

A curious cassowary looking at me

A sleepy Koala, dozing near me

Ari in the mud kitchen

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Colourful Ball Pit Fun

Around Hartley's in the pram

Getting down with the birds of Hartley's

Bringing colour to our world at Early Learning

Building on our skills

But it's tiring growing up!

Cool fun with Mum

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Family fun at NAIDOC

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I LOVE It!

Greetingssss Ssssnake!

It's easier to follow them if I use my tongue!

Hard at work with colours

I love the beach

Reading with Mum

Mmm Mmm This is looking good

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When we went to the beach, we spied a crab!

With Mum on the Beach as part of Culture Circle - how special

Artists at work

Very happy with that!

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Thea's water fun

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Four More Reasons to Celebrate 2021 Graduates Four young Indigenous women have graduated from high school on Thursday 17 November 2021 in Cairns. The four women graduated from a special assistance independent school that caters for Indigenous girls and mothers who need a second chance at education.

The event took place at Palm Cove Surf Club at 6pm. Staff, students and families all attended this special event. The graduates arrived in a vintage limousine as the students awaited and applauded the class of 2021. The driver laid the red carpet onto the pathway as they strutted and greeted the crowd.

Everyone looked stunning and was dressed up for this very special occasion.

The four graduates everyone celebrated were Bon’Naia, a young Kuku Yalanji/Merium Mer woman along with Aaliyah, a Djabugay/ PNG/Fiji woman, Estherlita, an Alawa/Rambarrnga woman and Bianca Ganambarr, a strong Maung woman and a wonderful Mum to Deledio. Unfortunately Bianca was unable to attend the graduation ceremony, however her academic achievements whilst

being a young Mum, were acknowledged, celebrated, and provide inspiration for future students. Each of these students spent two to three years showing resilience and determination to complete their schooling. Their achievement is one to celebrate.

Bon’Naia Hinton delivered a heart-warming and emotional speech as tears of joy were shed among the students. She spoke about her journey and experiences at this school. Aaliyah Brim was second to speak and she spoke about the happy moments during school and boarding. Her speech made everyone laugh and cry at the same time. Estherlita Forbes was the final speaker as she thanked and gave special mention to all the people who helped her during her time at school.

The night ended with enjoyment in dancing, taking photos and singing. Staff and students expressed that the four graduating students and Deledio will be sorely missed.

AUTHORS: A collaboration of Girl Academy students: Verona, Calista, Naydia, Ada, Edwina, Irene, Olivia, and Thaarah.

Aaliyah Brim (left), Estherlita Forbes (middle) and Bon'Naia Hinton (right) getting ready for their graduation night

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AALIYAH’S SPEECH Good evening ladies and gentlemen, staff and students.

Thank you all for coming and celebrating this graduation with us tonight.

My name is Aaliyah Brim and I’d like to share some thoughts with you tonight.

I have been at this school for four years which means I have seen girls come and go, most of the girls that have left I was quite close with.

Each of those girls graduated and I’m glad to say one of those girls is my sister Esther Brim who encouraged me to stay at this school.

Those girls have helped me see the benefit of this school, when I felt like leaving. They showed me what a good role model is and should be for future younger girls who come here seeking education. Because of them I’ve tried being a role model for the younger girls by going to class on time and participating in most activities.

I have shared experiences with others and I have found my journey along the way. Throughout my journey I have met these three lovely ladies, who stand beside me Bon’Naia, Bianca and Estherlita.

They’ve successfully finished the second step to life, which is graduating. You could guess what the first step was.

When I first met these girls I knew they were strong, connected to their culture, sporty and confident but the difference is two of them are way taller than I am and the other one is only 4 inches taller than me. They all are very nice and polite but they scare me, especially Estherlita, I mean I’m not the only one that’s for sure.

Bon’Naia only scares me because I’ve seen her mad before even though she wouldn’t get mad at me but I’d be wary of my surroundings. As for Bianca, I know she has an angry side, she just knows how to control it. Together we’ve grown and they have helped me be more resilient. I will always cherish the memories of the years we’ve shared.

Also, I just want to say that I am very grateful for every girl in this school and I hope you at least try your best at everything you do and don’t give up.

I am also grateful for the staff that have come and gone, especially, you know who you are.

Finally, I want to thank my family for being here tonight and for supporting me on this educational journey.

Thank you and goodnight Love Aaliyah

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BON'NAIA'S SPEECH Good evening staff, students and guests. For the families that don’t know me, my name is Bon’Naia Hinton, I’ve been a student at Girl Academy for the last three years and have taken on the roll of being the big sister that all these girls can rely on for anything. Also a warning I tend to be very emotional when I give speeches at graduations so I will most likely cry.

As we all know we are here tonight to celebrate Aaliyah, Bianca, Estherlita and I’s graduation and I just want to say thanks to all these important people.

First off, I want to thank my big sister Giambra for introducing me to Girl Academy back in 2019 and for encouraging me to finish my schooling. If you hadn’t put life into perspective for me and showed me the good and bad paths that I could fall into I may not have wanted to keep going but you helped me see what I needed to achieve to become the person I am.

A massive thank you to all four of my principals, the six of my teachers, the boarding staff and wellbeing team for supporting me these last three years especially through those times I wanted to give up and go home.

And to the most amazing, caring girls I’ve ever lived with, thank youse for being the best sisters anyone could ever ask for. I know I’ve only known a few of you for a short time and some I’ve known longer but you girls have become my go to people for yarns and laughs, and even for hugs and cries. I appreciate every single one of you for being a part of my journey and making my final years at school well worth it.

Also a thank you to the CYP staff for welcoming me to the team this year through my traineeship and I look forward to coming back to work next year.

The entire office has been so warm and welcoming but my biggest thank you is to my amazing front desk crew Amanda and Vanessa and of course the woman that gave me names for each day I was at work, Mahala.

My final thanks is to my beautiful mother who has been nothing my supportive and encouraging with all my decisions in school. You’ve always been my rock, my shoulder to lean on and my best friend from the day I was born.

Now for these stunning Year 12s: Aaliyah, you and I are so much alike that even our teachers mix us up.

You always put a smile on my face when I feel down and I always try to do the same for you. We’ve always had each other’s backs over the years and we’ve even made plans for our future together. I think we both know we can prove all the haters wrong and can do anything we put our minds to. Thank you so much Aaliyah for being the sister I never had.

Bianca, even though you’re not here, you are an amazing mother that Deledio is blessed to have and even though you were introduced to motherhood at an early age you are doing so well and I admire your

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hard work in the classroom and in the dorms. I wish you all the best sis and hopefully I’ll run into you again sometime soon.

Estherlita, my deadly roomie, you are an amazing athlete and I know that you can make it in anything you put your mind to. I will never forget our karaoke sesh’s after youth group and hearing you jamming in the room. Good luck for your future sissy and I hope you achieve all your dreams.

Thank you all so much and I love you all heaps xx

ESTHERLITA'S SPEECH Good evening CYP staff, Girl Academy staff and students, parents and friends, and guests attending our Year 12 graduation.

First I would like to thank the Girl Academy for having me in this school, I appreciate everything you have done for me.

To my parents, thank you for not giving up on me and sending me back to college and thanks for being there for me, I love you both.

Thank you to Wellbeing for supporting me when I’m in my sad mood or when I’m struggling. Thank you to boarding staff for keeping me safe. Thanks to the teachers that taught me and helped me learn and for always pushing me through my work.

Thank you to Gemma and the kitchen staff who always took care of my health and gave us fresh vegetables. Yummy!

Thank you to the Principals who accepted me into this school.

To the girls in CYGA, I have learnt a lot from you all.

Please don’t give up on your school work, it doesn’t matter if your work is hard, just push through and don’t let yourself down. Keep your head up and be strong.

To my Year 12 classmates, Bon’Naia and Aaliyah, thanks for being there for me, even when I was quiet, you both kept on cheering me up.

Bon’Naia, every morning in the boarding you’re very noisy with the speaker, but I love listening to you when you’re singing, you have an amazing voice.

Aaliyah, when I first came here, I thought that you were the loud person, but then I realised you were the very quiet, confident, strong independent woman.

I have good memories of this school with the girls and staff. I won’t forget that we all played sports together and every laugh we had made my day. I can’t forget how happy everyone was here.

I’m thankful to be in Girl Academy and I’m proud of myself for not giving up on my schooling.

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The new faces of CYGA Marnie Parker - Campus Principal Marnie is a proud Kamilaroi woman who joins the Girl Academy from Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) where she has been an Education Services Advisor for Skills and Training, providing support and guidance around vocational education and training, careers education, and QCE planning to over 200 schools throughout Queensland. “Yaama. It is a great honour for me to be the Campus Principal for the Cape York Girl Academy and have the privilege of walking the journey with the young women at the Academy. My vision is for every young person to be all they want to be through enhancing their unique skills and abilities and providing a learning space where First Nations women feel empowered, supported, and valued. My greatest support was my Pop – a Kamilaroi man from Tingha, NSW. Pop taught me many things, including the importance of education, kindness to others and a love of gardening. I look forward to sharing these learnings at Girl Academy,” she says.

Karen Salam – Head of Boarding I enjoy spending time with family, swimming and BBQs at the beach and creek, fishing, movies, voluntary work for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander NGOs. I am passionate in making constructive and positive contributions to ensure a safe, healthy and inclusive future will exist for our future generations to be strong and proud in both identity and culture.

I am a proud Torres Strait Islander & Aboriginal woman; Torres Strait Islands of Boigu Island, Mabiaug Island, St Paul’s Village of Moa Island, Mer (Murray) Island and Erub (Darnley) Island, with my Aboriginal heritage from Central Qld. I am the eldest adult child of seven children in my family, a mother of five adult children and grandmother of six grandchildren, who have been raised to be proud of their identity and culture, to share, work together, love one another and care for others. Family is everything to me.

Working and achieving tasks that involve improvements for our next generations to live with, is my life commitment.

Elizabeth Tyerman - PA to Campus Principal My name is Elizabeth Tyerman, I grew up in the Sydney northern beaches enjoying lots of time at the beach in my youth. I spent many years working with Telecom/Telstra, mostly doing Secretarial work. After getting married and starting a family, my husband and I settled in the Sutherland Shire (NSW) where I enjoyed working with the local council, bringing up our son and daughter while my husband spent a lot of time away working with the Navy.

I was very fortunate to get employment with Cairns Regional Council where most of my time was spent working with the Community Development team which was both rewarding and enjoyable. Needing a change of work scene I moved into a couple of other areas of work last year, I started at Djarragun College this year and then joined the staff at the Girl Academy in July to help out in the office.

It has certainly been a steep learning curve but it has been made so much easier by the amazing staff here who have been extremely helpful and supportive.

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“

“I was here, I lived, I loved, I was here I did, I've done, everything that I wanted And it was more than I thought it would be I will leave my mark so everyone will know I was here I just want them to know That I gave my all, did my best Brought someone some happiness Left this world a little better just because I was here” 'I Was Here' by Beyoncé Knowles ~ Mahatma Gandhi, Indian activist.

Thank you all for your fantastic efforts this Semester.

What an amazing year of learning, living and growing together. We hope you enjoy your break and we can’t wait to see you all in the New Year.

Your Cape York Girl Academy Family

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