Graduation & Formal 2010

The year 12 formal was held on Friday night and a good time was had by all. Check out these photos to see how smartly dressed and well presented everyone turned out. A huge ESSO and thanks to all the parents, guardians and friends of the students who have supported the students throughout the year, along with another huge thanks to the staff for all their hard work in ensuring students completed their work in order to graduate.

Finally a massive CONGRATULATIONS to all the students who acquired QCE points and completed their subjects and VET courses in 2010.

Student stars of the year - see QCE

The student star of the year goes to the students who have acquired a Queensland Certificate of Education and have lead by example. They are John Gabey, Judith Carney, Koza Coburn, Delita Aruba & Annie Mabo. Students who are almost there and need to complete final work to acquire their QCE are Petale Tima Tai, Jaimee Oberleuter-Addo, Michael Geas and Bernadine Mau. Congratulations to the 9 students who have become role models for the rest of the Senior School students to follow in 2011. From little things big things grow.

Staff Star of the year - senior school!

The Staff Star of the year goes to the entire Senior School staff who have worked so hard and diligently this year to ensure a successful year for the students. In 2009 the Senior School recorded 2 QCE results along & many pleasing VET course completions. It gives us great pleasure to announce that in 2010 the Senior School staff have enabled the QCE results to dramatically improve to a new high of 5 in 2010 with another 4 to be completed by the end of year. The school can look forward to double figures in 2011 from the current year 11 ranks. Thanks to all the senior academic and VET staff who have made this possible over the course of the year; Aisea, Amy, Emma, Georgie, Mathew, Manjit, Richard, Vimal, Tekoa, Aunty Mary, Jade, Liz, Rhonda, Jenny, Brea, Sam, Mapa, Leanne, Linda, Cate, Estelle, Gracie, Harry, Joe, Joe Coco, Mike, Memory, Mbongeleni, Peggy, Reese, Rob McBride, Rob Hodge, Rod, Rosemary, Rudra, Tony Mogan, Tony Epseg, Virgil, Frankie, Monica & Mr Warren!

This has been a super successful year for the senior school that has seen a dramatic increase in stability and is highlighted by the fact that the senior school students recorded a total of almost 300 QCE points from English, Maths & Science alone. 2011 can only get better.

Goodbye Mama G

The bad news is Miss Georgie is going and will be missed by the staff and students alike. The good news is a school in the Tiwi Islands is going to benefit when Miss Georgie goes there next year. A very big thank you and ESSO from everyone at DC and here is some feedback from one of her students Elisa Mara:

There is one teacher who had believed in me right from the beginning, She helped me so much and I would like to thank her for all that she had done, and also because of her kindness, loving, and caring.

She is like are mum to me and I’ll treat her with a lot of respect.

I’ll all ways remember you Ms Georgie!!

YOU’RE THE BEST TEACHER I KNEW…

BY ELISA MARA

Science Update

New students Michael Wees shows how to build a bridge out of spaghetti in Mr Richard's Science class. Michael has come back to school as a mature studen to acquire an education and a QCE over the next two years. He has made a great start and we wish him luck.

Student star of the term is Judith Carney

The student star of the term is Judith Carney who is the first year 12 student to complete all of her work. This comes on the back of being a good mother to Reeko, while setting an outstanding example about how to acquire and education with competing interests. Judith’s greatest asset is her deep reflective thinking and an analytical mind that is complimented by her strong will and determination. It is interesting to note that everyone loves Reeko, and from what I observe, he exudes a great deal of his mother’s delightful and insightful nature. Perhaps this is the start of a new dynasty where children like Reeko follow in their parents footsteps by acquiring an education and a successful career as a result. Judith is seen here wearing the new senior school shirt for 2010.

Everyone in the school loves Reeko and everyone loves what Judith has achieved.

To be or not to be

Miss Emma & Mr Richard our two resident thespians arranged for the senior school to go to the Tanks Art Centre to see the Shakespearian play Measure to Measure on Thursday. While a group of students remained behind to complete assessment tasks the majority of senior school went to the play. Most of the students understood the play and knew what was happening despite ‘old fashioned language’ and were witness to indigenous actors in major roles along with DC staff.

It was interesting to note students like Chris Lei who had never been to a Shakespearian play, laughing, enjoying and understanding a unique cultural aspect that furthers their personal growth and development. At the end of the play a woman from the audience gave a heartfelt thank you to the students just for being there and the Director said it was the best audience they had encountered to date which was due to the level of interaction and response. Warren, the indigenous actor who played Angelo kept scaring Judith Carney and she almost leapt out of her seat on several occasions. The question on the day wasn’t to be or not to be - it simply was.

The Brothers

The Akiba brothers are known for their sporting prowess and success. Mark recently ran and drew the 100 metre race at the All Blacks Carnival in Mann Street Cairns. He won $50. Mark's hero is Usain Bolt and on this day Mark did exactly that.


The boys recently were fitted for their outfits for the graduation and looked very smart indeed. Have a great formal and happy end to Year 12.

Science Update

Wacada showing us that solar panels produce electricity from an artificial light source.
Miss Emma shows Vivian that English is not her only skill as she gets her hands dirty in the science room


Mr Richard

Science & Maths Update

The students have been working well in science and maths. Some of the classes have been building cranes out of spaghetti and working out all kinds of things like stress in a truss member ie forces providing compression and tension in a truss and how we use weak material (spaghetti) to make a strong crane.




Some of the boys from Back on track were asked to design a box and came up with a house! Quite incredible! Well done lads- Science rules!

QCE points for Year 11 & 12B

The following students have successfully completed ALL their Yr12 work for the year to pass 12B English Communication. CONGRATULATIONS! You have all worked hard and it has paid off. We now look forward to the Graduation Formal and celebrating our success.

Aileen Murgha, Delita Aruba, Edward Mau, Lena Wosomo
Michael Geas, Mark Akiba, Stella Dau, Zelma Kynuna
Zipphora Smith, Andrew Akiba, Alton Mathew & Yoshabel Kebisu

Yr 11B have also gained QCE points.

The following students have successfully completed ALL their Yr 11 work for the year to PASS 11B English Communication. CONGRATULATIONS! Now you can focus on preparing for Yr 12 in 2011.

Ali Dau, Carmen Noah, Elisa Mara, Fredson Akiba
James Gaiden, Roselyn Billy, Branxton Dick, Taicee Pearson
Arron Miller, Louarna Kingi, Esmay Deakin & Francis Manas who successfully completed term 3.

The remainder of the students in our class are returning students or new additions and should complete Semester 2 next term. Keep up the effort!

Mama G

QTAC Applications

This week I started QTAC applications for those students who are aspiring to go to Uni. Although we do not have OP scores here as a result of students being able to complete only 3 board subjects, students can still apply to go to Uni through QTAC. This application will give students a tertiary ranking score that can be equated to an OP score. If the students rank is high enough then they can go directly into the course that they have chosen and QTAC will send them their offer over the holidays. Applications will continue next week. The following students are applying- Judith Carney, Jaimee Oberleuter Addo, John Gabey and any other interested students. If they do not get into Uni this way, they still have the Tertiary Access Course Option (John Gabey has already got a place in this course next year if he chooses to go to JCU). Well done and good luck!

Miss Cate

Traineeship for Tala Morseu

Tala Morseu has been offered an indigenous Arts traineeship at Canopy Art Gallery in Grafton Street Cairns which starts this week. The arts department is reinventing itself and looking towards a revival to encourage more students like Tala to succeed. Thanks to Mr Warren for the good work in sourcing Tala’s traineeship. Better buy some of Tala's work before he is famous!

Well done Delita

The senior school star of the week is Delita Aruba for completing her Certificate III in Hospitality and acquiring 8 points towards her QCE. This is on top of her recent good work as a chaperone with 12B during the Loreto school visit. Well done Delita it's great to see you completing your VET courses and doing so well.
Mr Mathew

Community Service

Congratulations go to Branxton who this week received recognition for community service at a local kindergarten. The children were learning about didgeridoos and Branxton kindly agreed to give a talk and demonstration. He even pointed out that it’s okay for little girls to try to play the didg but if more mature females are tempted to indulge they run the risk of falling pregnant. It’s not easy to get up and talk in front of a group of strangers but Branxton did a fantastic job. Well done Branxton, for spreading the good will of Djarragun College.
Mr Gracie

Senior School IT

Senior Students have been experimenting with Photoshop as part of their Certificate I in IT. Here are a few examples of students work. Check these out:
Mr Tony