Making noise at school - in all the right ways......The walls of Cairns State Special School were alive with rhythm last Wednesday as students took part in their very first drumming session!
What started as a collection of enthusiastic beats soon turned into some impressive rhythm-making, with students becoming experts at keeping the beat by the end of the session. 🎵👏
The fun didn't stop with the drums. Students also played interactive games using their names and took turns choosing actions for everyone to follow. There were plenty of laughs, smiles and opportunities to work together while building confidence and communication skills.
A huge thank you to Velvet Eldred from Tough Love Coach for leading the session. As a qualified music therapist and counsellor, Velvet brought energy, encouragement and a whole lot of fun to our morning.
The good news? This was only session one!🎉
We're already counting down the days until this Wednesday when the drums return and our budding percussionists can continue their rhythmic adventures.
Watch this space... the Cairns State Special School Drum Squad is just getting started🥁⭐
Cairns State Special School
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Our motto - Achieve the extraordinary! We provide programs and services for students with severe disability.
Cairns State Special School is a co-educational state school facility providing excellence in education in a friendly and supportive environment. Acceptable Use Guidelines:https://intranet.qed.qld.gov.au/Services/CommunicationMarketing/social-media/Documents/acceptable-use-guidelines.pdf
15/06/2026
Looking for school holiday care or just a day of fun for your teenager? This is what Inner Aura have going on. Call Amy on 0481 991 940
15/06/2026
Staff who competed in Ironman this weekend were: Hilary Fay, Fraser Greenwood and Sam Parker. Their stories and photos will follow over the coming days as they recover and are able to submit them! Well done guys and hope you are not hurting too much today. Teacher Kirsty Patterson worked a full day as a course volunteer. Here is a photo from today's Cairns Post (page 5 and in the online photo gallery) showing two of our Teacher Aides, Kerry and Janine with student Callum, who were there to cheer on our staff. Callum laid all his support on Mr Sam we can see!
15/06/2026
Our focus this week is the Yellow Zone — when emotions and energy start to rise. Students are learning to recognise early signs of frustration, worry, silliness, excitement, or anxiety before feelings become too overwhelming.
At school, students are practising:
💨 Deep breathing
✋ Taking a break
🎧 Using calming sensory tools
🔢 Counting strategies
🚶 Walking away and resetting
Ways to Help at Home
Families can support this learning by:
• Helping children notice body clues (“Your body looks wiggly/upset”)
• Encouraging breaks before frustration builds
• Creating a calm-down space at home
• Using visuals or reminders of calming tools
• Practising coping strategies during calm times
Recognising Yellow Zone feelings early helps students develop confidence and self-awareness. 💛
Last week, students in MS3 presented their learning about the Green Zone — the zone where we feel calm, focused, happy, and ready to learn.
See these clever students share the tools and strategies in their regulation toolboxes that help them stay in the Green Zone throughout the day.
We are so proud of how these students confidently explain the strategies that work best for them and support their wellbeing. 💚👏
We hope you enjoy viewing the presentation by MS3 and seeing the pride students have taken in their learning.
13/06/2026
Wednesday of last week of term. Dig out your craziest of crazy socks to celebrate every student's PBL efforts (Positive Behaviour for Learning).
13/06/2026
Feel like everything is working against you right now? Remember........When life closes a door, open it again. It's a door. That's how they work.
13/06/2026
12/06/2026
Spread the word through your networks. We are looking to find all our past staff and students to join us for our school's 10 Year Anniversary Celebration. Encourage people to contact Community Liaison Officer Lisa Doyle on [email protected] as we don't want to miss anyone (plus a rough hint of numbers expected on the day would be fantastic). If you know a builder that worked on the construction 10 years ago, a landscaper, decorator.......... let the world know that we are celebrating and they are invited.
11/06/2026
Look how our new build classrooms and facilities are coming along. The path is being laid linking our existing buildings to the new area. This is such exiting stuff and means that we are getting ever closer to moving in ready for the 2027 school year.
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Address
Windarra Street
Cairns City, QLD