Principal’s Piece — Justin Harrison
Gold Award Presentation Term 2 2021
Each term, Toolooa recognises students who have strived to achieve outstanding academic results in each of their subjects they are studying. This week we held recognition parades to celebrate the academic success of our students for Term Two of 2021.
To all gold award winners, congratulations on a very successful term two. We are looking forward to seeing you maintain these great results and recognise others who strive to achieve at a consistently high standard.
Year 7
Faisal Agha, Lachlan Coward, Arshiya Imran, Tiana Keenan, Flynn Kelso, Emily Masters, Khyati Mehta, Isaac Neilsen, Charley Ryan, Tobias Owen, Kiralee Penno, Kate Russell, Kionah Senius, Melia Sorrenson, Yukie Sorrensen and Tairui Zang
Year 8
Ava Aylmer, Mia Bye, Casey Fraser, Dakota Glindon. Marianne Golding, Ava Hetherington. Emily Hill, Amalia Kalantary, Hayley Norgard, Isabelle Pearce, Oscar Penno. Belle Rowlinson, Fynn Sawtell, Sophie Slack. Sarah Smith, Riley Thomas, Riley Townsend. Tristan Warry and Fatima Zehra.
Year 9
Tobi Arandale, Jie Xi Zang, Benjamin Campbell, Tehya Hekman, Taliah D’Arcy, Maddyson La Cioppa, Amanda Evans, Hayah Khalid, Reagan Khalu, Zoe McDonald, Hifza Naveed, Darcy Ogden, Harry Orton, Morgan Pender, Tanveer Salaria, Shriyanshi Sharma, Matt Torre and Tiah Vogler.
Year 10
Jack Bramall, Tage Bergstrom, Callum Dickenson, Jasmine Hall, Aleia Golding, Jesse Hayden, Aria Heiland, Elle Hetherington, Boden Jinnette, Katelin King, Kody Kent-Ford, Alanah Mayo, Calli Nelson, Kaye NG, Jake Patillo, Alyssa Pease, Aisling Potts, Annika Petrie, Deenah Quadri and Shiny Safa.
Year 11
Jacinta Anger, Cy Findlay, Chelsea Luders, Ella Casey, Charli Harrison, Darcy Ryan, Raghav Chawla, Lucy Hudson, Thomas Staines, Logan Crosby and Jannali Laing.
Year 12
Becky Battaglene, Ally Bryce, Drishti, Lynel Egtapen, Clara Furness, Maddyson Graham, Lydia Gray, Todd Longden, Ben McMullen, Isabel Nolke, Georgia Staines and Brooke Stone.
COVID-19
The health, safety and welfare of your children, our students, continues to be our priority. I am writing to provide you with updated information regarding COVID-19.
Fortunately, we do not have any confirmed cases in Gladstone. Should this change, I will update the school community as soon as possible.
I understand, however there may be some concern over the latest health alerts and the potential impact on our school community. Please be assured that our school will continue to take all appropriate precautions regarding health and hygiene and we will continue to take the advice of Queensland Health. We are working closely with the public health authorities and our own Department of Education to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.
We all have a role to play to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community. If you or any members of your household develop symptoms or feel unwell, please isolate and get tested. I encourage you to stay informed at the latest health developments relating to COVID-19 by regularly visiting the Queensland Government Website. Thank you for your continued support.
Parent and Community Engagement
Quality partnerships between school and home are integral to the success of the student. They require a reciprocal commitment from staff and parents to work together to improve student learning and wellbeing. Effective partnerships can help to raise parents’ awareness of their ability to improve their children’s learning and wellbeing. Understanding the school, home and community contribution to student learning helps cultivate a holistic learning environment.
While involving parents in school activities (e.g. attending school events) is important, it is engagement through learning partnerships which has shown to have much greater impact on student outcomes. I thank all parents/carers who continually try and engage in their child’s education, a process which can be very difficult during this phase of their life.
Consequently, I thought I would take this opportunity to remind everyone of ways that we as parents/carers can do to support our loved ones:
1) Keep up-to-date by reading information from the school
2) Maintain a positive dialogue with your child about what they are learning
3) Establish appropriate study arrangements
4) Ask your child about their learning and school day
5) Access local services including local community health services, parenting programs and libraries that can support your child’s learning and development
6) Monitor screen time and sleep
7) Promote a healthy lifestyle
8) Talk with your child about goals and aspirations
9) Be approachable and supportive
10) Support good relationships with peers
Road Safety—Student Drop Off and Pick Up
The safety of our students is of paramount importance and we thank our parents/carer for their support in the area of student drop off and pick up.
To help reduce the traffic congestion down the front of the school in the afternoons, I am asking all drivers not to sit in the que waiting for a space which blocks the entrance to the stop drop and go. Not only is this stopping our buses from entering the bus lane and transporting students home on time, it is dangerously backing up the traffic onto Philip Street and the roundabout on Benaraby Road. I urge all parents/family members to adhere to the road safety rules, especially around schools.
Finally, staff supervision of this area can be challenging, especially when their primary role is to monitor approximately 900 students exiting the school out the front gate and ensuring their safety in a very complex environment. As you can appreciate, it is a difficult job; one that I believe my staff do exceptionally well. There are going to be times whereby parents/carers feel frustrated, please do not take it out on my staff. If you have any concerns regarding pick up, please contact me. To help limit the congestion, please consider picking your child up15 minutes later each day or organising an alternate location nearby to be picked up.
School Opinion Survey
Thank you to the 197 parents/caregivers who completed the school opinion survey. It was greatly appreciated. As soon as the school receives the results of the survey, they will be shared with our community. More importantly, this data will be used to celebrate successes, identify areas that need to be improved and help guide the school when formulating the strategic direction for next year.