CALENDAR OF EVENTS 12th February P & C Meeting

13th February Community Breakfast – 8.00am Badge Presentation – 9.00am

17th February Playgroup 9.00am – 10.30am

18th February Prep Vision Screening

21st February Cluster Sports Trials – Day 1

2nd March SCHOOL PHOTOS

6th March Cluster Sports Trials – Day 2

16TH March Year 7 & 10 Immunizations (forms have been distributed to students)

27th March DSS Cross Country

30th March – 3rd April

Year 10 Work Experience

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WE VALUE LEARNING

WE VALUE RESPECT

WE VALUE SAFETY

WE VALUE CO-OPERATION

Friday 7th February, 2020

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OUR P&C MEETS ON THE

SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH

AT 6.30PM IN THE RESOURCE CENTRE

All parents welcome

CONTACT US: Phone – 4094 5333 Fax – 4093 5109 Email – the.principal@dimbulahss.eq.edu.au

Dimbulah State School acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the country in which this school is located and pays respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Dear parents and caregivers Welcome back to the 2020 school year, and a warm welcome to new families from the Dimbulah State School community. Term 1 is always busy therefore it is pleasing to see students arriving with all the necessary tools for the day’s work and quickly settling in to the daily routine of learning. I would like to extend a warm welcome to Mr Carey, who is joining the Secondary Department this year. He will be replacing Mr Mitchell who received a late transfer. Mrs Angie Berg is also returning to Dimbulah State School this year to work with our Pre-Prep Playgroup and religion. Throughout the week we have been busy electing student leaders. The quality and dedication to which the students approached their speeches was of a very high standard. The leadership speeches where held across the week, and were exemplary. Congratulations to Chelbie Pickering and Alicia Westwood, as Secondary School Captains, and to Harper Brunjes and Jaz Hrkac as Primary School Captains. A full Dimbulah State School leadership report is contained within this newsletter. With the start of the school year only two weeks old, it is appropriate to highlight Dimbulah State School’s expectations regarding behaviour. Students will:

a) be respectful, b) be a learner, c) co-operate (with all members of the school community), and d) be safe.

A quick reminder regarding mobile phones and any other digital sound device; if brought to school they are to be handed in to the office prior to the commencement of the school day and collected at the end of the day. While the start of the year is always busy, there are some changes to school and district sport this year. Due to a very congested term 1 of district sport trials, we have made the decision to hold the annual Dimbulah State School Swimming Carnival early in term 4. Cross Country and Track and Field carnivals will return to normal; end of term 1 and 2 respectively. Across the next few weeks, many district sporting trials are being held across the Tablelands. The following is a list of sporting trials that Dimbulah State School students have expressed an interest in attending: Tuesday 18 February - Rugby League Girls (14-15Yrs) 4.00-7.00pm Wednesday 19 February - Touch Football Boys & Girls (13-15Yrs) 4.00-6.00pm Thursday 20 February - Football (Soccer) Girls (13-15Yrs, 16-19Yrs), Boys (16-19Yrs) Friday 21 February - Cluster Trials Day 1 (10.00am-2.00pm)

Rugby League Boys (14-15Yrs, 16-18Yrs)

Football (Soccer) Boys (13-16Yrs)

Netball Girls (13-15Yrs, 16-19Yrs) Friday 21 February - Basketball Boys & Girls (10-12Yrs) 4.00-6.00pm Friday 6 March - Cluster Trials Day 2 (10.00am-2.00pm)

Netball Girls (10-12Yrs)

Rugby League Boys & Girls (10-12Yrs) 2020 will see Dimbulah State School students participate in NAPLAN online for the first time. Further trials will be run in the lead up to testing, to afford our students, as smooth a transition as possible. All tests will be conducted online, except for Year 3 Writing, which will still be paper based. My door and that of the staff at Dimbulah State School is always open, so if you have any queries or concerns regarding your child/s progress please contact the school or come in for a discussion. Looking forward to positive and productive year. Finally, it was reassuring to read that our students, staff and school community were recognised as “one of the top Tablelands Schools” in our local Express newspaper this week. Our mission is remain in this ranking and we will continue to live up to and achieve this educational expectation.

Tuki Brown Principal

SECOND BEST SCHOOL ON THE TABLELANDS

The Express 05/02/20, Page 6

SCHOOL PHOTOS – MONDAY 2ND MARCH

MEET THE TEACHERS

We asked our teachers at DSS to tell us a little bit about themselves and

this is what they’ve said…

Name: Mrs Cag

Teaching experience: Decades

2020 classes: Mathematics / Wellbeing

Hobbies: Relaxation

Favourite travel destinations: Too many to name!

Favourite snack: Watermelon

Name: Emma Toffanello

Teaching experience: Started in Mareeba in 1983, one year in Ayr and teaching in Dimbulah since 1985!

2020 classes: Year 6 part time on Thursdays and Fridays with my long time partner and friend, Kerry

Balzarolo

Hobbies: Tapestry, cross-stitch and needlework when I have the time (it’s been a while!)

Favourite travel destination: The Balkans, revisiting family culture

Favourite snack: Cheezels

Fun facts about me: English is my second language, I love to dance and I love to bake until all hours of

the night.

Name: Anika Cater

Teaching experience: 7 years teaching, Acting Principal

2020 class: Year 4/5

Hobbies: Planning trips I can’t afford and art

Favourite travel destinations: Chobe in Botswana, Norway, Italy’s Cinque Terre

Favourite snack: Mint ice cream

Fun facts about me: I enjoy renovating and graphic design. Afrikaans is my eerste taal.

Name: Tuki Brown

Teaching experience: 26 year teaching, 7 years as a principal

Hobbies: Coaching outrigger canoeing

Favourite travel destination: Pacific Islands

Favourite snack: Chocolate

Fun facts about me: I’m a huge Patriots fan and have lived in a half dozen countries including

South Africa and Hong Kong

Name: Luisa Anziliero

Teaching experience: 32 years

2020 class: Year 2/3

Hobbies: Boot camp, watching movies

Favourite travel destination: Japan

Favourite snack: BBQ chips

Fun fact about me: As a former student of Dimbulah State School, I’ve been here

for many, many years

Name: Kerry Balzarolo

Teaching experience: 16 years

2020 class: Year 6

Hobbies: Reading, gardening

Favourite travel destination: Vancouver, Canada

Favourite snack: Doritos

Fun facts about me: I was once in an episode of “Harry’s Practice”, I completed a half-

marathon and my first car was a 1974 VW Beetle.

Name: Jason Kurfurst

Teaching experience: Off and on since 1999

2020 classes: Secondary HPE, Yr 8 English Yr 9 English, Yr 10 Geography

Hobbies: Sports, swimming

Favourite travel destinations: Japan and Bali

Favourite snack: Chocolate

Fun facts about me: I attended the 2008 Olympics as a strength and conditioning coach for medal

winning badminton teams and I worked with the Cairns Taipans basketball team for many years.

Name: Jason Carey

Teaching experience: 3 years full time, 15 years relief teaching (much gained life experiences)

2020 classes: Manual Arts, Design Technology, Graphics, Year 7 History

Hobbies: Fishing, motorbike riding

Favourite travel destinations: Anywhere

Favourite snack: Tim Tams

Name: Leigh Page

Teaching experience: 30 years, been at DSS since 1999

2020 classes: 7 EBT, 7 Geography, 7 Maths, 8 Digital Technology, 8 EBT, 8

Geography, 9 Geography, 9/10 Business, 9/10 Digital Technology

Hobbies: Outrigger paddling, training for outrigger paddling, competing in outrigger paddling

Favourite travel destinations: Pacific islands and Canada

Favourite snack: Currently, the white chocolate Lindt Lindor balls

Fun fact about me: My dog says I am a well-trained human

Name: Kathy Colhoun

Teaching experience: Centuries!

2020 classes: Literacy & Numeracy Support, Library and Research Skill Lessons, Civics and

Citizenship, Playgroup

Hobbies: Swimming, Reading, Boardgames, Cinema

Favourite travel destinations: Anywhere with waterfalls, freshwater swimming holes, or

unpolluted sandy beaches.

Favourite snack: Nuts

Fun fact about me: I once won £10 in a knucklebones championship.

DIMBULAH P-10 STATE SCHOOL Kennedy Street DIMBULAH Q 4872 P O Box 44 DIMBULAH Q 4872

Ph (07) 4094 5333 Fax (07) 4093 5109 email: admin@dimbulahss.eq.edu.au website: www.dimbulahss.eq.edu.au

Principal: Tuki Brown Administration Officer: Glenda Khan

Head of Curriculum: Kathy Colhoun Head of Department: Ines Cagnola

2020 LEADERS AT DIMBULAH STATE SCHOOL

Secondary School Captains: Chelbie Pickering & Alicia Westwood Primary School Captains: Harper Brunjes & Jazmika Hrkac Secondary Sports Captains: Leichhardt: Emma McDermott & Douglas Malcolm & Jack Lukins-Shaw

Kennedy: Shontell Challoner & Alicia Westwood

Primary Sports Captains: Leichhardt: Isabella Brunjes, Blayre Boswell Kennedy: Justin Ferguson, Dario Dalla Lana Student Council: President: Alicia Westwood {Mrs. Cater Secretary: Chelbie Pickering Mrs. Murador} Treasurer: Shontell Challoner YR 10 Representatives: Emma McDermott & Jarrod Fuller YR 9 Representatives: Ayden Boswell & Nate Campbell YR 8 Representatives: Tyrone Aliya & Skye Jose YR 7 Representatives: Chloe Pickering & Shayla Jerome YR 6 Representatives: Enya Grima & Sophie Martin & Jasmine Pritchard

YR 5 Representatives: Meika Sheppard & Tyler Carey & Marco Canzian Instrumental Music Captain: Emma McDermott & Alicia Westwood Publicity Officer: Kyan Sheppard

Hundreds of kilometres of dirt, sweat and fun - all in the name of charity.

My name is Amaya Goldsworthy. I am a student at Dimbulah P-10 State School and have just graduated from

primary school. Recently, Dimbulah State School were lucky recipients of a Cairns to Karumba

(C2K) Charity Bike Ride Grant - “Giving bush kids a fair go” which, thanks to the P&C’s successful application,

enabled my entire Year 6 class to spend a day out on the Great Barrier Reef exploring Green

Island and enjoying its many wonders which is something rural children, like

myself, rarely get the opportunity to do.

Last year I was extremely fortunate to ride C2K “Dirty Boys & Girls” and I

have to say, it could only be described as a life changing experience. From

the moment the “DIRTY, DIRTY, DIRTY – Oi, Oi, Oi” chant from our

iconic, legendary pack leader, Llew Davies, went up at the starting line in

Cairns, to the moment we unclipped after crossing the finish line in

Karumba, it was nothing short of a fun-filled, action packed, 7-

day adventure.

I am very much looking forward to the 2020 C2K to do it all over again. I would like to encourage you all to dig

deep and give generously if you know of anyone who is doing the

C2K ride in 2020. A special mention also needs to made to the hard-

working, dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure that

this incredible event goes ahead every year and the educational needs

of rural children can be catered for.

Happy trails…

Amaya Goldsworthy

In Term 1 Weeks 7 & 8

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Kids Helpline has received funding from the Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) to deliver free mental health based educational sessions to Year 7 - 12 students in North QLD. All of the sessions are evidence-informed, curriculum-aligned and delivered by professional Kids Helpline counsellors. The program aims to increase students’ knowledge about a range of mental health and wellbeing topics in order to improve their mental health literacy, coping and resilience skills and promote help-seeking behaviours.

Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free, private and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service specifically for children and young people aged 5 to 25 years. FREE call 1800 55 1800 or www.kidshelpline.com.au

For more information on the program: https://kidshelpline.com.au/highschoolnq

SESSIONS AT YOUR SCHOOL

Your child will be attending the following session:

WHAT WILL THE SESSION COVER?

Information about the 24/7 counselling supports available from Kids Helpline to reduce the stigma of help seeking

Information to help your child look after their mental health and wellbeing

Brainstorm coping strategies for managing stress

Date: QLD Time of Session: Year Level Topic:

12/3 1:50pm – 2:50pm Year 7 About Kids Helpline or Emotional Intelligence

13/3 1:50pm – 2:50pm

Year 9 & 10 About Kids Helpline or Emotional Intelligence

18/3 1:50pm – 2:50pm

Year 8 About Kids Helpline or Emotional Intelligence

A class teacher/school guidance officer will be present in each session and will assist with co-facilitation.

ATTENDANCE

If you DO NOT want your child to attend the session, please contact the staff member Ines Cagnola (Head of Department). Students will be offered the alternate option to attend the library if opting out of the session.

ARE THERE ANY RISKS FOR MY CHILD?

Given the topic is a summary of supports available and ways to look after their wellbeing, it is unlikely to involve any risks for your child. In the unlikely event, that a student is distressed or discloses any risk during or after a session, Kids Helpline and your school will enact a best-practice Risk of Harm Management plan in order to support any affected students.

Any students needing support post session are welcome to connect with their school Guidance Officer or to connect with a Kids Helpline counsellor on 1800 55 1800.

Any parents needing support are welcome to connect with Parentline QLD on 1300 30 1300.

WHO CAN I CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION?

Your main school contact about this event is: Ines Cagnola (Head of Department)

If you would like further information on the Kids Helpline @ High School (North QLD) program, you can contact the Project Officer - Jessica Kane on 07 3867 1334 or email highschoolnq@kidshelpline.com.au

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN OUR LIBRARY?

Ashley and Holly – They did it! – Jigsaw Geniuses

Lego Lovers

Chilling Out!

Reading is a Super Power