Life Skills

Looking after the Land and Sea in the Torres Strait

The Life Skills group has enjoyed an exciting and engaging second half of Term 2, continuing our theme of caring for the environment and promoting sustainability. Over the past five weeks, students have taken part in a variety of hands-on experiences and learned from local experts about how we can protect and preserve our natural resources.

In Week 6, we reflected on our beach clean-up at Sadies Beach and explored the potential impact of marine debris on coastal and ocean ecosystems. We also compared traditional fishing and hunting practices with modern methods, discussing their effects on sustainability and the environment.

Our visit to Pearl Island Seafoods was a highlight, where owners Jake and Mel explained the sustainable harvesting of kaiar (rock lobster). The students particularly enjoyed the opportunity to handle some of the large lobsters from the tanks.

James Mills from Malu Ventures also visited to share insights into the environmental research and marine protection work carried out aboard his boat, Nekana II. The students were fascinated to learn about the invasive Crown of Thorns Starfish and the methods used to control its population to protect our coral reefs.

A team of Rangers gave a presentation on the important work they do to protect local flora and fauna, as well as their efforts to preserve traditional knowledge. This includes planting native trees and safeguarding seagrass habitats—essential for dhangal (dugong).

We also spent time at the Gully Community Garden, where curator Alfred Mitchell taught us about sustainable gardening and which plants thrive in our local conditions. The students enjoyed planting a flower bed with blue flower mix, sunrise mix, and butterfly field seeds. We’re looking forward to returning next term to check on their growth!

It has been a rich and rewarding term of learning about our natural environment and how living things interact within it. Through expert talks and hands-on activities, all students have been actively involved and have deepened their understanding of how to care for the environment. They now have a greater appreciation of their role in protecting our land and sea for future generations.

The Hub

What’s Happening in The Hub?
There’s always something happening in The Hub!

Each morning begins with our Learning to Learn session for junior students, helping them get ready for a successful day. At the same time, a small senior group follows a regular routine to prepare for their day back in the classroom.

We also run a multi-grade literacy session every day, which is a fast-paced and intensive lesson focusing on the foundational building blocks of spelling and reading. Students from Years 3 to 6 attend these daily sessions, working through a structured program that supports them at every stage of their literacy journey. For those already proficient in literacy, we offer extension programs to further challenge and engage them.

In addition, we provide targeted intervention sessions in both literacy and maths for small groups of students who need extra support to reach their year-level goals. The Hub is also where we implement specialist intervention programs designed by our Occupational Therapists (OTs) and Speech Pathologists (Speechies). These programs run three to four times a week and are focused on building the skills students need to participate more independently and confidently in their classroom environments.

We also run enrichment groups for our high-potential learners. These students take part in self-directed learning projects—choosing their topics, researching, and exploring areas of personal interest.

The Life Skills group also uses The Hub for their learning activities.

It’s a vibrant and busy space, full of activity, support, and opportunity—helping our students grow into the best version of themselves.

Best Regards,
Mr. Jonathan Beales