“ 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

”“

Pre-Prep shines at Warraber

Miss Taylor Kennedy Mrs Erin Hannon

Poruma welcomesMiss Taylor and Mrs Hannon

Pre-Prep Professional Development Workshop

A professional learning opportunity for early years educators, focussing on delivering quality Pre-Prep and Kindergarten programs across Cape York and the Torres Strait.

For more information:Selena Cottle, Head of Department, Early YearsPh: (07) 4030 6337 E: sjcot0@eq.edu.au

ATTENDANCE REPORT90% and above attendance

WEEK 4 Badu 92%

Dauan 93% Erub 95% Iama 95%

Kadhego 90% Mabuygiw 97% Malu Kiyay 96%

Masig 92% Mer 96% Narupay 92%

St Paul’s 90% Ugar 100% Waybeni Buway 90%

by Michael WeaverHead of CampusPoruma Ngurpay Lag

It has been an excellent start for the new year here at Poruma Ngurpay Lag.

We warmly welcome back all our families and are very happy to have new students and teachers.

The new senior class teacher is Miss

Taylor Kennedy. Miss Taylor comes from the Sunshine Coast and is loving her time with the talented students of Poruma Island.

The senior class are already preparing and watering their garden area! We expect to harvest some delicious vegetables over the coming months.

In the junior class, we welcome Mrs Erin Hannon. Mrs Hannon also comes to us from the Sunshine Coast and was already good friends with Miss Taylor before they came to Poruma Island.

Our junior class has settled into an exciting daily program and it is always a pleasure to see the happy, smiling faces in Mrs Hannon’s class.

by Salli-Anne HartExecutive Services Manager

Every kindergarten, Pre-Prep and child care service around the country is subject to audits against seven

areas under the National Quality Standard. In October 2015, the Pre-Prep service

at Warraber Ngurpay Lag went through the national assessment and rating process.

What is truly remarkable is that Warraber achieved the highest possible rating, Exceeding National Quality Standard.

Very few services in Australia achieve such a high rating in the audit process.

An auditor spent two days at Warraber Ngurpay Lag and thoroughly assessed the Pre-Prep service by observing facilities, children and discussions with staff.

Areas audited include the quality of education, details of the physical classroom and outdoor space, children’s health and safety, and connectedness between staff,

community and children.Pre-Prep teacher at the time, Dr Kathryn

Wemyss, said, “It was a team effort. Our highly skilled Teacher Aides in Pre-Prep, Ms Michaellyn David and Mrs May Pearson, worked tirelessly with myself and Ms Janet Lane to prepare the campus for the audit. All of the staff on the campus got involved to meet this challenge.”

Former Head of Campus, Ms Lane, said, “This rating indicates that our children are prepared and supported to take the next step into more formal schooling and begin Prep when the time comes.

“It confirms what we already knew – that our children feel relaxed, safe and secure in this learning environment, and that we have some of the best educators directing and supporting their growth.”

Dr Kathryn Wemyss added, “This kind of detailed audit made us look at every single aspect of our process. The planning, reflection and feedback has really enhanced our practice. Since the audit, children are even more confident as learners and they are motivated to explore other areas.”

Dr Kathryn Wemyss, former Pre-Prep/Prep/Year 1 teacher and Ms Janet Lane, last year’s Head of Campus at Warraber Ngurpay Lag.

Growing Our Future:Pedagogy and practicein the early years

16–18 March 2016Thursday Island

Pre-Prep students explore theirletters at Warraber Ngurpay Lag.

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

Debe Idim Wabim, my name is Rasantey Blanco. I live at Korog Village Mer Island.

Before I start I would like to give honour and thanks to our great leader papa God for giving me this opportunity to speak and to the traditional owners past, present and emerging on their land which I stand on.

Today I will be asking you to vote for me as a school captain.

I will be the best at this captaincy because my leadership qualities are to be a good role model for my fellow students.

It is vital that to be a good leader, I will make sure to teach my fellow students to be safe in our classrooms by not throwing objects to others and walking on the wood.

I strongly believe that I will be a proud leader representing our school in any particular occasions such as Mabo Day, and Sports Day, just to name a few.

I also know to be a proud leader I will wear my school uniform with pride every day.

I clearly believe that I will be a responsible leader in our school to guide our students with responsible manner and working alongside our teachers and non-teaching staff reminding students about our school four expectations which is Proud, Safe, Responsible and Respectful learner.

I promise to be a respectful leader.I will absolutely lead my school in a

respectful manner and strive to be a best leader in our school.

Au Esoau and thank you for listening.

By Rasantey Blanco, Year 6 studentMer Eruer Uteb

Student speech for school captain

Research tells us that there are many benefits to multi-age classes.

In February, four early childhood educators represented Tagai State College to see this first hand when they visited a school in South Australia.

Educators May Pearson and Taylor Kimberley from Warraber Island, together with Michelle Martin and myself from Thursday Island made the trip to Adelaide with Vicki Hall from the Department of Education and Training in Brisbane.

Our purpose was to learn more about how the staff and community at Alberton Primary School have redesigned their approach to learning.

With 366 students, Alberton

Primary School could easily group their students in straight year levels but made the decision 10 years ago to introduce multi-age classes and haven’t looked back.

The school is structured with a combined Preschool Reception (Prep) group, known as “The Nest”.

The six classes, known as Magpie Groups, include students from years 1 to 7 in each class.

The Nest uses a project approach and all students belong to a home group, with a teacher and co-educator to ensure that students’ specific needs are met.

There are three home groups within the Nest and a large outdoor

learning environment for children to explore.

Older students, primarily but not exclusively, bring leadership and mentoring to each group and our younger students bring wonderment and enthusiasm.

There are times throughout the day that students of similar ages will come together to work, just as there are other times that students of similar interests will have time to work with one another.

There has been a significant growth in students’ awareness of others, empathy, tolerance, care and respect between students since establishing these groupings.

Alberton Primary School Principal Andrew Plastow and Early Years Educational Leader Marilyn Hayward will present to Tagai Pre-Prep educators.

The presentation will be about their school’s journey in creating an effective learning environment for a multi-age class at the upcoming Pre-Prep Professional Development Workshop on Thursday Island later this month.

We sincerely thank the Office of Early Childhood, Education and Care within the Department of Education and Training for supporting this professional exchange, and the staff and students at Alberton Primary School for hosting our visit.

Early years educators visit ‘The Nest’

Pictured left: The Nest (Yellow) classroom. Pictured right: Michelle Martin, Taylor Kimberly and May Pearson with Alberton Primary staff member and Vicki Hall, DET.

by Selena CottleEarly Years Support Teacher

Family Tree Day connectionsOn Thursday 25 February, Yangu Pawaw Ngurpay Mudh hosted an event called Family Tree Day.

Students, parents, guardians, community members and staff were encouraged to bring in their family tree to share and have up for display.

Each family tree were sorted into the 5 clusters of the Torres Strait: Kemer Kemur Meriam, Kulkalgal, Kaywalagal, Guda Maluylgal, Maluylgal.

The campus lunch break saw students spending their own time browsing and reading other family trees so they could find other connections.

They were surprised to see how closely related they were to each other.

We have received a great deal of positive feedback from parents and community members who said that it was a wonderful idea and would like

to see it continue. Therefore, we have arranged for

the displays to stay up for a few more weeks.

Please feel free to bring in your family tree to Yangu Pawaw Ngurpay Mudh and we can add it to the display.

Koeyma Eso to staff, students and families for your support and family tree contributions.

by Stephanie SavageAssociate Principal

Many students from Waybeni Koey Ngurpay Mudh participated in Family Tree Day.

Mr Mark McLoughlin and Ms Taum Nona at Family Tree Day.