Palmwoods State School is located in Queensland's Sunshine Coast hinterland and services the community of Palmwoods and surrounding rural areas. The school has a co-educational enrolment of about 470 students from Prep to Year 7. There are 57 staff members. In addition many parent and community volunteers work in the school supporting students and the school with a variety of learning experiences. The Palmwoods community is now a mix of semi rural living on acreage blocks, with small business and self-employment and some remaining farming families. Increasingly, the community is attracting families who wish to reside in the country, with employment on the coast or in the city where some workers commute to Brisbane by train. The school is set in spacious grounds with many gardens in beautiful rainforest settings. There are three large playing fields, multipurpose sports courts and a central courtyard area with our 'Spirit of the Community Tree', which was carved with assistance from the students and the community. The school was awarded the 2008 Queensland Arbor Day award for this project. In addition, the school employs permaculture and water efficiency techniques with its gardens and other facilities. Community volunteers and students can be found working during lunchtimes in our large permaculture vegetable garden. Our School Motto and Statement of Purpose are central to our culture and enacted through and between our students, staff and community. We are committed to our Core Values and Graduate Qualities and promote this in all school activities. School Motto: Learning and Growing Together. Statement of Purpose: Harness the Collective Capacity of our school community to ignite the potential of every student. Graduate Qualities: multi-literate, skilled and knowledgeable; compassionate, honest, respectful and socially adept; confident, organised and independent learners reaching their full personal potential; enthusiastic, open minded, creative and positive in attitude; and healthy in mind, body and spirit...