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Term 1 Newsletter 2025

Principal's Report

Welcome all to 2025

Our thoughts are with all families affected by the recent weather events. We are here to support you right now.

I am thrilled to announce our Dux recipient for 2024 is Amelia Reynolds. We connected with Amelia and her family this week to share her great success. In recognising Amelia’s outstanding achievement, I acknowledge her family who rally around her learning.

At Cairns SDE, we believe student engagement is the cornerstone of effective learning. Our innovative approach encourages every student to be actively involved and motivated to own their educational journey. This important work continues to evolve in 2025.

We continue to introduce and utilise interactive tools to make lessons more engaging and enjoyable, whilst providing our home tutors clarity in their critical support role to every student. Our dedicated team are trained to foster a supportive and inclusive online environment, encouraging students to participate and collaborate with peers. Of course, this is not always easy to achieve with our students being located all around the globe. We offer personalized learning paths tailored to each student's interests and strengths, promoting their investment in their studies. Regular feedback and assessments help students track their progress and stay on course.

Tips for Parents to Support Learning:

Create a Dedicated Study Space: Ensure your child has a quiet, comfortable area for studying.
Establish Predictable Routine: Set a consistent schedule for study time and breaks.
Stay Involved: Regularly check in on your child's progress and communicate with their instructors.
Encourage Breaks: Short breaks can help maintain focus and prevent burnout.
Provide Positive Reinforcement: Celebrate achievements and provide encouragement to keep your child motivated.
Join the P&C: Get involved with the Parents and Citizens (P&C) association to stay connected with the school community and contribute to your child's educational experience.

In 2025, join us in shaping our community's future! We invite families and community members to participate in upcoming strategic planning opportunities. Share your thoughts and voice, and help us enhance our authentic, connected and distinctive community. Your input is invaluable.

Warm regards
Peter Linnehan

From the Years 10 - 12 Deputy Principal

Senior Secondary and Connect:

Thank you to our presenters for Orientation Day for Year 10, 11 and 12: Ms Barb Prentis (Youth Support Coordinator), Ms Samantha Preston (Senior Secondary Student Engagement HoD) and Ms Jennifer Harburn-Vicig (VET and Year 10 Student Engagement HoD), who covered a variety of topics to assist continuing and new students to be ready for 2025.

Student and Parent Information Sessions

Parents of Years 10, 11 and 12 were invited to attend an online information session to assist parents understanding of documents and processes relating to Senior Secondary including: Cairns SDE Assessment Policy, AARA conditions and processes, Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), and Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR). We had over 50 parents attend the online session and ask questions. A recording of the session is available for parents to view: https://youtu.be/_4fL433SAvM

Assessment Policy

The Cairns SDE Year 10, 11 and 12 Assessment Policy is located on our school website: school assessment policies This webpage includes the forms for request for extension. Please note that situations that are of the student’s or parent/carer’s own choosing e.g. sporting & performance competitions trials/auditions & training, religious activities/reasons, holidays, are not eligible for consideration as per the QCAA guidelines. Students should negotiate to submit their work before the due date. A reminder that the submission time for all assessments was updated last year to a 2:30pm AEST. This deadline allows teachers to check for student submissions during the school day and provide any support if the student is experiencing difficulties with the submission. It is important to communicate early with your teacher if you are experiencing difficulties – do not leave it to the last minute!

Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL)

Cairns SDE is a Positive Behaviour for Learning school. Our three foci for Cairns SDE are identified in our Matrix for Expected Behaviours: Responsible, Respectful, Resilient. CSDE PBL Matrix A3.pdf Teachers and Home Tutors are encouraged to identify and acknowledge our students when they demonstrated these behaviours.

Presentation Awards

Whilst our Presentation Ceremony is not held until Term 4, it’s a good time to raise awareness of the types of awards that students are eligible for. Student data will contribute to determine the recipients for the following awards for full-time students:

Positive Behaviour Learning (PBL) Awards (Prep – Year 12):

Responsible Award - 5 or more OneSchool Positive Behaviour records for being responsible
Respectful Award - 5 or more OneSchool Positive Behaviour records for being respectful
Resilient Award - 5 or more OneSchool Positive Behaviour records for being a resilient
Global Learner Award – 5 or more OneSchool Positive Behaviour records each for being responsible, respectful and resilient
Mid-year enrolments – 3 or more as above

Commitment Awards (Year 1-12):

Grade Point Average (GPA) of Effort results 4.5-5.0 for Semester 1/Term 3 reporting

Academic Award of Merit (Year 1-12):

GPA score of 4.0–4.49 for Semester 1/Term 3 reporting with no N’s, E’s or D’s for any subject

Academic Award of Excellence (Year 1-12):

GPA score of 4.5-5.0 for Semester 1/Term 3 reporting with no N’s, E’s or D’s for any subject

Top of Subject Award (Year 4-12):

Student who has achieved the highest result in each subject for Semester 1/Term 3 reporting

The following Awards and Bursaries will be available for student nomination later in the year:

Parent Liaison Officer News

Clare Macpherson
**Parent Liaison Officer**

Bom dia Parents and Home Tutors,

It was lovely to meet some of you via our online Orientation sessions during Week 1 of the term. Hopefully I will get to meet you in person at one of our Mini School events at the end of the term too.

I’m always an email, phone call, or Microsoft Teams meeting away, however being the start of the year, I especially wanted to reach out to all of our new families. I offer one on one inductions via MS Teams and invitations have been trickling out to families recently. If you haven’t heard from me yet and would like to go through a few things online that will assist you in your role as Home Tutor, then please reach out so I can set aside some time. Lots of people ask me if it is necessary for their student to be present. The answer is no; however, they are always welcome if you wish to have them there. Being more familiar with what is expected and how to support your student can sometimes ease some of those early challenges that can crop up as you’re settling in. It won’t take them away all together, but it may just help or reassure you.

In addition to inductions, I also do Home Tutors Connect Online Sessions in Weeks 3 and 7 of each term. Each session I go through a topic, or few, about the dynamics of your important role and some considerations to contemplate, or adopt, along your student’s learning journey with Cairns SDE. The sessions are also an opportunity for you to connect with other Home Tutors and parents. I hope to see you there one day.

All the best for Term 1 and beyond.

Clare Macpherson
Parent Liaison Officer

Email: PLO@cairnssde.eq.edu.au Ph: 07 4080 9208

2025 Student Leader Camp & GRIP Conference

From Tuesday 11 to Thursday 13 February, we welcomed to Cairns the 2025 Student Leaders for the Student Leader Camp and GRIP Conference.

Day 1 was all about coming together. Our Student Leaders arrived from different parts of the country; others attended online. They met each other, connected with staff, and kicked off the camp with exciting introductions and team-building activities. Principal Peter Linnehan did the official welcome as he and Deputy Principal Laura Mazzolini presented each Student Leader with their badge and gift bag. The afternoon was time for meal prep with Mrs Preston where they helped make pizza dough and sticky date pudding! Yum! Food shortages aside, she must have waved her magic wand because there was an abundance of fresh food to enjoy over the three days.

The GRIP Student Leadership conference was the focus of Day 2. The conference brought together students from schools across the region to develop leadership skills through interactive presentations, discussions, and activities. Our Cairns SDE students shared ideas of how to make a difference with student leaders form other schools. Our online student leaders also enjoyed these sessions via our MS TEAMs link. This year's focus was on the idea that "Leadership is about people, not position or power," covering topics like developing personal character, contributing to a team, making a difference in school culture, and advancing a cause. Our Student Leaders gained valuable skills and insights beneficial for their future leadership responsibilities.

At the end of Day 2, students learnt how to play pickle ball with Mr Agnew with our online students cheering from the side lines. Afterwards they all enjoyed another delicious meal and movie night watching Inside Out 2.

On the final day of the camp, our students brainstormed ideas for school events, clubs, marketing and how they can further support the school in their role as Student Leaders. These planning sessions were productive, and everyone left feeling excited to put their ideas into action. Look out for the Photograph Challenge: 'Be Passionate, Be Yourself'

The past three days were a resounding success for both staff and student leaders. We’re excited to see the innovative ideas they’ll bring to life this year!

A huge thank you to our Student Leader Co-ordinator Ms Stoetzel and her many helpers: Mr Fara, Mrs Preston, Mr Agnew, Ms Sugden. Mrs Morellini, Ms Hadijah, Ms Theron, Mrs Jones, Mrs Quirk, Mrs Findlay, Mr Findlay, Ms Mazzolini, Mr Linnehan, Mrs Hodge, Mrs Howser, Ms Campbell, Mrs Rankine-Anderson, Ms Jo, Ms Candlish, Sarah, Clare, Kylie, Deb, Leesa, Dee, Laurie, Mr Ngati, Fred, Jackson and Michele. Your support is much appreciated!

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We are so very proud to announce the Cairns SDE 2024 DUX Award recipient is...... Amelia Reynolds!

A huge congratulations Amelia from everyone here at Cairns School of Distance Education! Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence have truly paid off. We're really excited to see where this achievement takes you!

Thank you to our DUX award sponsor CQUniversity Australia for supporting this award for 2024.

Term 1 Mini Schools - Save the Date

Save the date for our first big event of the year, Term 1 Mini Schools!

Three great locations over 3 packed days, this face-to-face gathering is the perfect chance for students, staff and Home Tutors to bond, build skills, and boost learning outcomes.

📅 1-3 April 2025
📍 Cairns (CSDE campus), Tablelands (Malanda) and SEQ (Brisbane)

Want to know what Mini Schools is all about? Watch our video at the link here! 🔗 https://bit.ly/42Pngbg

Full details of the event, and registration information will be sent to families soon.

Empowering Educators: Enhancing Literacy

Our dedicated primary educators recently participated in professional learning enhancing literacy instruction across all subject areas with a focus on literacy circles. The session explored the importance of deep diving into texts, helping students develop critical thinking, oral language and deeper comprehension skills.

By strengthening our approach to reading and text analysis, we are ensuring better learning outcomes for all students.

A big thank you to our primary educators for their commitment to continuous learning and excellence in education!

QLearn and Microsoft Teams at Cairns SDE

Welcome to the Future: Microsoft Teams at Cairns SDE!

A new year, a new way to learn! Cairns SDE has officially made the leap to Microsoft Teams, and we’re already hearing great things from students. Many of you have told us that you’re enjoying the interactive features and smooth online experience—and that’s exactly what we were hoping for!

We know that any big change comes with a few bumps in the road, so we want to say a huge THANK YOU for your patience as we all get used to the new system. As the year progresses, expect even more cool ways to connect with your teachers and classmates in the virtual classroom. Stay tuned!

Having Tech Troubles? We’ve Got You Covered!

Let’s be real technology isn’t always perfect. If you’re having issues with Microsoft Teams, don’t panic! We’ve put together a handy troubleshooting guide that might just have the answers you need. You can find it here: Student Information or at the link below. 👇

Remember, fixing tech issues is often a process of elimination. Work through the steps in the guide, and if you're still stuck, reach out to your Connect or Subject teacher. We’re here to help!

Online Behaviour: Respect Still Matters

Just because we’re in a digital classroom doesn’t mean the rules disappear! At Cairns SDE, we follow the values of Responsibility, Respect, and Resilience—and yes, that applies to online spaces too. Microsoft Teams gives you more freedom, but all interactions are monitored, and inappropriate behaviour won’t be tolerated. Let’s keep it positive and make the virtual classroom a great place to learn!

Wait... What’s QLearn and Canvas?

If you’ve heard your teachers mentioning ‘QLearn’ and ‘Canvas’ but aren’t quite sure what they mean, here’s a quick explainer:

QLearn is the big digital learning ecosystem that brings everything together. Think of it as the hub where all your learning materials live. With its Microsoft 365 integration, you can collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations—just like in a real classroom, but online!
Canvas is the engine that powers it all. This is where your online courses are hosted, where you submit assessments, and where you get your grades. It’s the digital classroom at the heart of your learning experience.

So next time you hear ‘QLearn’ or ‘Canvas,’ you’ll know exactly what’s going on!

Why Microsoft Teams?

For years, Blackboard Collaborate has been a reliable tool for virtual lessons and collaboration. However, as technology evolves, so do our needs. Microsoft Teams offers more features, easier navigation, and a smoother connection with tools already used in classrooms across the state.

All-in-One Learning with Microsoft 365

One of the biggest perks of Microsoft Teams is its deep integration with Microsoft 365. This means that students and teachers can easily access Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote, and Outlook—all in one place! No more juggling multiple logins or platforms—everything you need is at your fingertips. Plus, students can work together on documents in real time, making collaboration easier than ever.

Stronger Security & Greater Accessibility

Online safety is a top priority, and Microsoft Teams offers top-tier security to protect student data. It also includes built-in accessibility features like live captions, an immersive reader, and translation tools, ensuring that every student has the support they need to succeed.

What This Means for Students and Teachers

The move to Microsoft Teams creates a more connected and engaging classroom experience. Teachers can deliver lessons more efficiently, while students benefit from a platform designed for teamwork and collaboration. Plus, by using Microsoft 365 tools daily, students are building valuable digital skills that will be essential in future studies and careers.

With Microsoft Teams now in place, Queensland schools are embracing a smarter, more efficient future in digital learning. Get ready for a more connected and innovative classroom experience!

We’re excited to see how Microsoft Teams transforms learning at Cairns SDE this year. Keep exploring, keep connecting, and most importantly—keep learning!

MS Teams Troubleshooting guide for students

Cairns SDE P&C AGM & General Meeting

Please join us online for the Cairns SDE P&C Association AGM and General Meeting on Wednesday 26 March.

A Microsoft TEAMS meeting link and 2025 Membership form will be shared soon.

All enquiries can be directed to the P&C executive at pandcexec@cairnssde.eq.edu.au

Student Achievement - Let us know

If your child has an achievement or you would like to share a story about your child with our school community, please send us an email with information and photos regarding your child’s achievement and it will be shared in our newsletter and on social media. Email: marketing@cairnssde.eq.edu.au

SchoolTV

Have you seen SchoolTV?

You will find a range of topics published monthly with comprehensive videos from leading specialists and organisations. You will find fact sheets, suggested books, apps, websites and much more. Because SchoolTV is independent, they’ve pulled in some great content from organisations such as Beyond Blue, ReachOut, HeadSpace and others.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact our school for further information or seek medical or professional help.
We trust you get great value from every edition and happy, safe parenting!

Link: https://cairnssde.eq.schooltv.me/category-latest-newsletter

Here's our top picks for the start of 2025:

School Transitions: https://cairnssde.eq.schooltv.me/newsletter/school-transitions
Confidence & Motivation: https://cairnssde.eq.schooltv.me/newsletter/confidence-motivation-au
Managing Screen Time: https://cairnssde.eq.schooltv.me/newsletter/managing-screen-time
Friendship & Belonging: https://cairnssde.eq.schooltv.me/newsletter/friendship-belonging

QParents

Attention Parents & Carers!

If you haven't yet downloaded the QParents app, now is the perfect time! The QParents portal will provide secure online access to your child’s student information in one place, anywhere, anytime.

Here’s how to register:

Have your QParents invitation email ready. If you haven't received it, please contact us at: QParents@cairnssde.eq.edu.au
Gather documents for identity verification
Your child/children’s EQID (Education Queensland Identification number)

Check out the attached QParents guide for detailed registration steps. For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/3Weol5b.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to stay connected with your child's learning!

Support Organisations

Did you know that Lifeline has the option of text support counselling?

2025 EQ School Calendar

Start planning with the 2025 school calendar now available on the Education Queensland website.

The calendar features school term dates, school holiday dates, public holidays and staff development/student free days.

If you’re looking for more room to write, check out the 2025 school planner which is now bigger and better at A3 size per term and notes each term week.

Did you know we have a Facebook and Instagram page?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cairnssde

Instagram: #cairnssde