Did someone say half way? That's right, we are now half-way through our final school term for 2022. This fortnight was a busy time for our Year 6 Leaders who had the opportunity to participate in the Tinaroo Environmental Education Centre leader's rewards day in Port Douglas with Mrs Nadine Apps our DP 5-6. Our school captains and vice captains spent the day with other school leaders, sharing their learnings as leaders and spending the afternoon at the Big4 Water Park. Our school captains also competed in the Mareeba Rotary Youth Speaking competition with Kahlia taking out the win and Mitchell runner up in this prestigious community event. We are very proud of their efforts and thank Miss Zena Coyle for supporting them to take part. Another special mention to Braith Beattie who showcased his environmental project at the recent Global Gifted Green (GGG) evening at the Tinaroo Environmental Education Centre. Braith did a wonderful job and has now secured himself a meeting with the Mareeba Shire Council to share this project. A big thank you to Mrs Kerry Watson for supporting the GGG students to take part in this great initiative.
As we begin to feel the excitement rise in the air as we edge closer to the end of year, it's very noted that this busyness and closure can raise a significant number of emotions particularly for our Year 6 cohort who will transition to secondary schools, as well as all students who know their time with their class teacher and classmates will soon end. Over the next five weeks we have a number of opportunities for students to engage with as they finish one year and prepare to start another including the whole school Step Up Day and high school transition day on Wednesday 30th September, end of year award ceremonies in weeks 9 & 10 as well as individual class events and additional transition opportunities for those students who require it. Staff and families are asked to remind worried students to use our school-wide pause process and to talk to their teacher.
And while we are supporting our current students to prepare them for next year, we have been working hard to support and transition our newest group of Prep leaners. Every Thursday our 2023 prep students have been coming to Prep-4-Prep sessions, spending time with our current Prep students and meeting the teachers. From the smiles it's been safe to say the students have loved spending time in the classroom and doing lots of great activities.
Each week at Parade I talk to our students about a strong start, a strong middle and a strong finish to the term and challenge our students with a personal challenge to increase their effort, or to try something new, maybe play with new friends and the list goes on. This week my message on parade was very clear, for us to have a strong middle of the term, students are challenged from this week on to follow all staff instructions every day, every time. For the most part our students already do this, but the hot weather, added pressure to get assessments completed and the knowing the year is coming to an end has seen a few learners forget this expectation.