Whether it is reaching an attendance milestone, celebrating progress with classmates or sharing breakfast and a book with family on Friday morning, Palm Island students are finding more reasons to engage in school through Try for 5!.
A new partnership between Cowboys Community Foundation and Waratah Education Foundation is supporting the program at St Michael’s Catholic School and Bwgcolman Community School, helping students build positive attendance habits through regular engagement, mentoring and recognition.
The partnership came into focus during a recent Cowboys Community Foundation visit to Palm Island, where students and educators connected to celebrate the attendance progress achieved across both schools in 2026.
In Semester 1, St Michael’s Catholic School recorded a 10.63 percentage point improvement in whole-school attendance compared to its 2025 average, while Bwgcolman Community School also saw progress across its primary and secondary cohorts.
For students, that progress means more time learning, connecting with classmates and building confidence in the classroom. Educators have also reported stronger motivation, engagement and participation, with Try for 5! creating opportunities for students to celebrate each other’s achievements.
Waratah Education Foundation’s support is helping create more of these opportunities through ongoing Try for 5! delivery across both schools. This includes working closely with MVC classes to set and work towards attendance goals, recognise individual and class progress and encourage students to support their classmates, complemented by Cowboys Ambassador visits throughout the year.
Individual results also show the progress being made. At St Michael’s, one student increased their attendance from 30 per cent to 53 per cent, another improved by 21 percentage points and two students recorded improvements of 15 percentage points. At Bwgcolman, one MVC student increased from an average attendance of 19 per cent in 2025 to 52 per cent in Semester 1, while another increased from 80 per cent to 98 per cent.
The partnership is also helping each school shape Try for 5! around its students and families.
At Bwgcolman Community School, Read & Feed Fridays bring students, parents and families together for a barbecue breakfast and shared reading before classes begin. The initiative has strengthened family engagement while helping Friday become the school’s second-highest attending day. At St Michael’s Catholic School, regular check-ins, attendance celebrations and classroom activities encourage students to work towards individual and shared goals.
Together, these experiences are helping build a positive culture around attendance, where every step forward is recognised.
Cowboys Community Foundation CEO Fiona Pelling said the partnership would build on the commitment already shown by students, families and educators across Palm Island.
“Every day at school gives young people another opportunity to learn, connect and work towards their goals,” Ms Pelling said.
“The progress across both schools reflects the commitment of students and the encouragement surrounding them from their families, educators and classmates.
“Support from Waratah Education Foundation allows us to continue working alongside both schools, strengthen these relationships and create positive experiences that help students build confidence through their schooling.
“We welcome Waratah Education Foundation as the funding partner for Try for 5! on Palm Island and look forward to making every day count together.”
With Waratah Education Foundation alongside the program, Cowboys Community Foundation will continue working with both schools to help Palm Island students make the most of every opportunity to learn and grow.
