Quality educational outcomes for all students
SINCE its inception in 1985, Woree State High School has provided leading educational opportunities to students of southern Cairns, with a tradition of excellence in academic achievement, vocational training, sport, the arts and community engagement.
Principal Bruce Houghton says STEM Education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and Digital Technologies are a major priority for the school.
“Students have the opportunity to engage in the new technologies and this has opened up major learning opportunities,” he says.
“Our primary school partners — Woree State School and White Rock State School — have students from Years 4-6 participating in STEM programs on the primary and secondary campuses. Our students continue to do well in local STEM competitions.”
Mr Houghton says the key to a great school is great teaching.
“At Woree State High School we are committed to continual improvement and the professional development of our staff,” he says.
“Our signature pedagogy is explicit teaching and this is a research-based, proven teaching methodology where teachers explicitly teach skills and concepts.”
Mr Houghton says all Woree State High staff are dedicated to helping students achieve to their potential.
“They dedicate their lives to creating an excellent learning environment,” he says.
A signature program of the school is its SchoolTech Program of Excellence.
In partnership with TAFE Queensland North and Skill360 Australia, the SchoolTech program caters for students from across Far North Queensland.
Operating since 2008, it prepares students to transition into the world of apprenticeships and work.
Earlier this year, the school’s five science labs were refurbished and a new STEM hub completed, while the school tuckshop also benefitted from a $270,000 redevelopment.
A major initiative of this year has also been the introduction of the Junior Certificate of Education for students in Year 9.
“A major success in 2017 has been our school’s process of providing regular academic feedback to every student,” says Mr Houghton. “Level of Achievement data is provided for each subject studied, with teachers then feeding forward on how individual students can work to gain improvement.
“The new process has enabled students across the school to reflect on their learning and then make personal commitments and goals for the future.”
“Recording all this in the student diary has enabled parents and teachers alike to regularly check and track student progress.”
He says another major initiative in 2017 has been the introduction of the Clontarf Academy. “The Clontarf Academy exists to provide a service for Indigenous boys across more than 80 schools nationwide and focuses on the areas of Education, Employment, Healthy Lifestyles, Life Skills and Leadership.”
Woree State High School is located on Rigg Street, Woree. This campus also includes the school’s Special Education Program facility.
The school’s Year 11 and 12 SchoolTech students study at the TAFE Queensland North Cairns campus in Manunda, and its MarineTech students at the Great Barrier Reef International Marine College at Portsmith.
On behalf of the Far North region, Woree State High School also operates the Cairns Hospital School, located in the Children’s Ward, which caters for students who require extended stays in hospital.
Additionally, school-based apprentices and trainees are located in various work placements across Cairns. For more information on Woree State High School’s facilities and enrolments, please call 4081 5222 or visit www.woreeshs.eq.edu.au.