What a great start to Term 2! I am so impressed with how quickly students have settled and are working productively in their classes. Behaviour (so far!) has been excellent and I thank students for their respectful and positive interactions with staff and peers.

There will be a more comprehensive letter coming out this week for Year 9 and 10 parents/carers; however, here are a few general updates about what is happening in the intermediate school:

Elevate Study Skills Sessions

Thank you to Ethan from Elevate who travelled from Brisbane to spend a week with our students coaching them on how to better develop their study skills. Parent, teacher and student resources will be made available to you all soon, and we always welcome feedback to inform planning for future Elevate sessions.

Uniform

It is Term 2 and the weather is (somewhat) cooler. This means that students have the opportunity to wear their formal uniform at least once a week. Thank you to all families who have purchased the uniform. Our recent ANZAC Day ceremony saw the vast majority of students wearing the formal uniform with pride. They looked fantastic! Formal uniform days are Mondays for Year 10 and Fridays for Year 9 (the same as their year level parade days).

Year 10 subject selections for Semester 2

A process is now underway for students to check their subject selections for semester 2, and request changes. Connect teachers, myself and Mrs Coates (DP Operations) are working with students over the next few weeks to lock in their selections. Please look out for the form! Students have been given a hard copy, which parents need to sign. Students then need to return their form to the box outside my office (DP Carney on DP Alley) by 3pm Friday 16^th May 2025 (end of Week 4, Term 2).

Year 9 Camp

We are very excited about our annual trip to Camp Paterson in Week 10, Term 2. Ms Maddy Duncan (Year 9 coordinator) will be communicating with parents and carers regularly about this camp, and we will have an information evening closer to the time. Students must be on Good Standing to attend this camp, which means that their attendance needs to be consistently above 80% and their behaviour needs to align with the Student Code of Conduct.

As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns. It is such a pleasure to work with the wonderful students and families of Cairns SHS.

Year 9 Coordinator

Welcome back to Term 2!

I hope you all had a restful break and are ready for another big term! I’m pleased to share a few important updates and highlights from across the cohort.

Firstly, I’m excited to confirm that our Year 9 Camp will be held at Camp Paterson in Week 10. This will be a fantastic opportunity for students to challenge themselves, strengthen friendships, and build lasting memories. Planning is progressing well, and I know the experience will be a highlight of the year for many students. Invoices for the camp will be sent out shortly, so please keep an eye out. If you have any questions or need to discuss payment options, please contact the school office. 

It’s also been great to see our Connect leaders stepping up this term. They have been working hard behind the scenes to make our weekly Year 9 Parades more engaging, and have now taken on the responsibility of running them. Their initiative and growing confidence have brought a fresh energy to our gatherings, and it’s been wonderful to watch their leadership develop.

A reminder that all students are expected to wear formal uniform each Friday for Parade. Your support in helping students arrive dressed appropriately and proudly representing the school is greatly appreciated. 

Thank you for your continued support. I’m looking forward to a strong finish to the term and an exciting lead-up to camp.

Maddy Duncan | Year 9 Coordinator | 07 4050 3016