“ N a v i g a t i n g Y U M I t o a s u c c e s s f u l f u t u r e ”

T A G A I S T A T E C O L L E G ECelebrating 10 Years as Tagai State College

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ATTENDANCE REPORT90% and above attendance

Week 7 Badu 92% Dauan 99%

Erub 90% Iama 90% Kadhego 96%

Mabuygiw 95% Masig 99% Mer 94%

Poruma 93% St Pauls 92% Ugar 93%

Dauan Ngurpay Lag: butterfly paradiseby Liz PhillipsHead of CampusDauan Ngurpay Lag

The students of Dauan Ngurpay Lag had a very interesting start to school.

Four members of the Queensland Entomological Society, Dr Steve Brown, Mr Cliff Meyer, Dr Grant Miller and Mr Richard Weir came to Dauan in the last week of January to conduct a butterfly survey.

They have been conducting surveys throughout Torres Strait over the past 16 years at different times during the year to document the butterfly fauna on the island.

Dauan is a popular destination for collectors because they often find new and interesting types of butterflies. Several new records were made during this trip.

Four hundred and forty one species of butterfly have been recorded in Australia. Approximately one hundred species of butterfly have been recorded on Dauan and there are a more records for the island to be published.

The really exciting news is that the men discovered a brand new butterfly for Australia on Friday 22 January 2016, with the first specimen being collected on Saibai while they were waiting for the banana boat to bring them across to Dauan Island.

Further records were collected from Dauan, particularly around the school grounds where the butterfly was seen coming to the blossoms of the fiddlewood and mango trees in the school grounds.

Dauan has interesting moths as well. During the first week of February, Mr Dave Lane, Dr Max Moulds and Mr Jim Tuttle came to visit. Their particular interest is the Hawkmoth.

A total of 28 species of Hawkmoths were found on Dauan. This number included three species new to Australia, plus one species new to science. They also found was a new species of emperor moth (silk moth) that is new to science.

Dr Max, Mr Dave and Mr Jim liked the Kala Kawaw Ya name given to moths, pusal paykaw. They liked it because it translates in English to ‘hairy butterfly’.

The students were lucky enough to have both groups of entomologists speak to them and show them some specimens.

The students would join the butterfly men and moth men after school and help

find interesting things.Mr Jim found a butterfly chrysalis.

Vincent Mau and John Mooka, two of our Year 6 boys, made a butterfly enclosure,

using an old fish tank and some shade cloth. The whole class is excitedly waiting for the chrysalis to hatch to see what type of butterfly it will be.

Isaiah Gaidan catching butterflies with his homemade net.

Ballington’s drawing of a moth.

Comparing butterflies and moths by Ethel Babia.

Dr Steve Brown showing Joel, Billy and Natara a caterpillar.

Tagai State College31 Hargrave Street | PO Box 1000Thursday Island QLD 4875

Web www.tagaisc.eq.edu.auPhone 07 4030 6308 | Fax 07 4030 6303Email contact@tagaisc.eq.edu.au

T A G A I S T A T E C O L L E G ECelebrating 10 Years as Tagai State College

by Selena CottleHead of Department, Early Years

Above left: Hospitality students catered for the workshop dinner at TI Bowls Club. Above right: Selwyn Button (Department of Education and Training), Yolanda Coutts and Gaye Lovelock (Northen Peninsula Area), Sandy Cathcart (Tagai State College), Jo Murfet (Ugar Eruer Uteb) and Dan Dalziel (Tagai State College).

Pre-Prep Professional Development Workshop

The recent Pre-Prep Professional Development Workshop was held on 16-18 March on Thursday Island at Tagai TAFE.

Early years educators and representatives from community organisations came together to broaden their skills and

understandings to improve outcomes for children through the delivery of quality early years educational programs.

The three-day workshop attracted experts in education, technology and health from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

Participants were left wanting more after listening to the keynote speakers each day.

Amongst the presenters was Dr Kate Highfield, demonstrating how technology can be used to extend and enrich children’s play and learning; Andrew Plastow and Marilyn Hayward, sharing inspiring learning environments for multi-age classes; and Dr Kathryn Wemyss, engaging everyone in the

benefits of music.Participants were able to choose from a

wide range of workshop sessions, including presentations on curriculum, language development, cultural practices, play, technology for learning, infectious diseases and immunisation, supporting children with additional needs, and regulations relevant to early childhood education and care services.

Highlights included a poignant Welcome to Country by Mr Milton Savage, inspirational traditional dancing by the Canon Boggo Pilot Dancers, a moving tribute to the late Caroline Modee, captivating presentations by keynote speakers, and a beautifully sung hymn led by Pastor May Pearson to close the workshop.

A big eso to the group of students from Waybeni Koey Ngurpay Mudh who did a magnificent job of sharing the role of MC with Mr Dan Dalziel.

A big eso also to the Hospitality students from Waybeni Koey Ngurpay Mudh and their dedicated teachers, Mr Robin Branch and Ms Pepita Bennett, who ensured workshop participants were well fed with delicious meals every day, as well as catering for the workshop dinner on the Wednesday evening at TI Bowls Club.

Tagai State College in conjunction with the Department of Education and Training would like to thank all those involved in making this event such a success.

Marilyn Hayward and Andrew Pastow (Alberton Primary School), with Selena Cottle.

Pre-Prep teachers Karla Turvey (Mer Eruer Uteb), Nicola Jardine (Erub Erwer Uteb), Erin Hannon (Poruma Ngurpay Lag) and Anne Bani (Waybeni Buway Ngurpay Mudh).

Learning through music.

Yarning Circle.Canon Boggo Pilot Dance Group.