Hat = Safe play

Oval open: Hats on!

The oval has been re-opened for student play now that the rain and heat have eased up - and being out of the shade increases the risk of skin cancer developing later in life.

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australia. About two in three Australians will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer before the age of 70.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) starts in the basal cells of the epidermis. It makes up about 70% of non-melanoma skin cancers. BCC can develop in young people, but it is more common in people over 40. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) starts in the squamous cells of the epidermis. It makes up about 30% of non-melanoma skin cancers. SCC occurs mostly in people over 50.

In Queensland melanoma is the second most common cancer diagnosed in men and women. Every year more than 4180 people are estimated to be diagnosed with melanoma in Queensland.

For more information about the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma please check out the Cancer Council's Melanoma page.

Risk factors

Anyone can develop skin cancer, but it’s more common in older people. The risk is also higher in people who have:

• Fair or freckled skin, especially if it burns easily and doesn’t tan.
• Red or fair hair and light-coloured eyes (blue or green).
• Had short, intense periods of exposure to UV radiation, e.g. on weekends or holidays or when playing sport, especially if it caused sunburn.
• Actively tanned or used solariums.
• Worked outdoors or been exposed to arsenic.
• A weakened immune system, which could be caused by taking certain medications after an organ transplant (immunosuppressants) or ongoing blood conditions such as chronic leukaemia.
• Lots of moles on their body or moles with an irregular shape and uneven colour (dysplastic naevi).
• A previous skin cancer or family history of skin cancer.
• Certain skin conditions such as sunspots.

People with olive or very dark skin have more protection against UV radiation because their skin has produces more melanin than fair skin does. However, they can still develop skin cancer.

2026 enrolment for Programs of Excellence

The Expression of Interest (EOI) for Year 7 access to our Programs of Excellence closes next week. We have around 800 people attending the information night and participate in the tours. If anyone missed out, all the information is on the school website.

Marker students signposting success

Cairns State High students are performing at very high levels. Our achievement data is amongst the best in the state - yet this does not mean that we relax and coast along. We continue to look for ways to be 'the best we can be'.

Our chosen way forward is to focus on a number of different students whose performance, circumstance or needs can possibly be better met. By improving support for them, the way something new is taught, or using some research-based strategy in class, the quality of learning improves for several, if not all pupils. These are our 'Marker students'.

We very much want to see every student succeed and achieve their potential. It is because we believe that every student can learn and we can all do better - even just a little bit - that we are directing our professional learning, observations and feedback in this direction. Improving our A & B achievement, and A, B & C achievement is critical to us getting to even higher level of schooling success.

Marker students are not published, or told that they are a teacher's focus. This is a technique that improves achievement for many/all by focusing on a few specifically. Would you like your child to be a marker student? They can be. They can be YOUR marker student and by investing more time with them, you are taking a big step in helping them reach their dreams.

Semester 2 Year 7-11 Performance Summaries

Regards

Christopher Zilm