Positive attendance and behaviour at school came with a big reward for a group of Cowboys Try for 5! students from remote Doomadgee State School, who enjoyed a special week sightseeing and relaxing in Townsville after a 1,200-kilometre journey.
Doomadgee State School’s P-10 cohort are part of the club’s intra-school attendance challenge designed to address the impact of students missing foundation learning through poor school attendance, supported by Minister Coralee O’Rourke’s Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors.
The group of eight students, accompanied by support staff, last week took in the local sights including Magnetic Island, walked Castle Hill and went to the movies, and also showcased their dance skills with a special performance at NRL Cowboys House.
The Year 5-6 students performed a number of traditional dances, including one dedicated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service, created at the time when the first single-engine planes visited the Doomadgee area.
Cowboys Chief Community and Government Relations Officer Fiona Pelling said the visit was a wonderful learning opportunity for everyone involved.
“Our visiting students by all accounts had a fantastic week experiencing some of the awesome attractions our region has to offer, and for most it’s the first time they’ve been to the city.
“Doomadgee State School is a very proactive and committed partner in our school attendance challenge, and we love their initiative in rewarding their students for good behaviour and attendance this way.
“We have a strong connection with the school and it was great to play host to our special visitors and see them perform.”
With the Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors’ support, the club visits Doomadgee for Try for 5! once a term, with Ms Pelling and ambassador Matthew Bowen recently returning from a visit that involved NAIDOC celebrations and classroom visits.
Minister for Communities, Coralee O’Rourke MP said Try for 5! was a fantastic program to ensure children have more opportunities through education that could be missed without the incentives and mentoring.
“Our contribution to the program has proven to be an important educational step for many students throughout schools involved in the program, such as Doomadgee State School.
"I thank the Cowboys community team for their dedication towards improving children’s educational outcomes," she said.
Try for 5! has been operating since 2016 to address short and long-term impacts of students missing foundation learning in their primary years through poor school attendance.
The program motivates and rewards individual classes and schools for their attendance record during the challenge period, and engages students and families with prizes, incentives and visits from club ambassadors.
Doomadgee State School is part of the 2020 Try for 5! family of 18 Queensland schools and government and corporate partners comprising the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors, Aon, M&J Chickens and Regional Express.
