Mr Justin Kuskie Principal	Mrs Chandell Pole Deputy Principal Senior School	Mr Daniel Ward Deputy Principal Junior School

It feels like this time every term as we pause to reflect and write our piece for the newsletter it becomes very clear how jam packed the school term is. With every week something happening whether it be a school event, year level activity or a specific group excursion. Additional to our school activities, weather events and distractions outside of our control further challenge us.

Even with a concerted focus on what occurs in the classroom and structuring events to minimise disruptions, students will at times miss classes to participate in activities. As we are now in the second half of the term, all year levels will begin completing the bulk of their assessments and other academic requirements. Please feel free to contact your child’s Teacher, Year Level Co-ordinator, Head of Department or Admin member for support with any matter.

Throughout 2025 we will continue to use our Schoolzine App, email and Facebook to keep our school community informed. Facebook is a method to casually be aware of our ‘goings on’ with the Schoolzine App and email used for official commination. I encourage all families to access the ‘App’ along with ensuring we have correct contact details, mobile number and email address.

Senior Exams & Assessment

Students of selected General Subjects will be completing exams during Week 7. Any student who misses an exam due to illness must submit an AARA to Mrs Ensoll or Mrs Pole. Documentation must be provided for the AARA to be processed. All students will be completing their assessment in the coming weeks and will need to know the AARA procedure.

Year 10 students will be completing assessment during these next few weeks and can contact the HOD for their subject area should they need an extension.

Year 11 & 12 students who have returned notes will be completing their Responsible Service of Alcohol course on Friday of Week 7. Students are reminded to check the note to ensure they are prepared to complete this course.

Mrs Tanya Hamilton - Year 7

A great 3 days was held at Camp Cooby last week. Students were engaged in a structured outdoor educational leadership program which included giant climbing ladders, archery, zipline challenges, raft building and mindfulness activities. Students gained motivation, confidence, resilience skills as well as develop healthy relationships and connections. Students’ talent was on display at night with ‘Camp Cooby has Talent’. Mrs Hamilton and teachers had the opportunity to judge and reward the winners as well as award the Camp Cooby REP Champions. It was a wonderful, exciting 3 days and it was a pleasure to be the Year 7 Co-Ordinator of this cohort.

Students that didn’t attend camp attended Year 7 Incursion, these students were also engaged in a variety of activities including communication sessions, resilience and problem-solving activities as well as our Stanthorpe State High School Support staff delivered programs about growing empathy, healthy boundaries and consequential thinking.

We hold our Year 7 Assembly on Tuesdays and on Thursdays, our wellbeing lessons, we will be continuing focusing on respectful relationships, being kind, inclusive and conducting ourselves respectfully online. At length we will be discussing how we can respect others and ourselves and promote healthy relationships at school. It has been great to see and hear respectful conversations, observe culture of inclusion within classrooms, clean C block corridors and students being in the right place at the right time – Keep it up, Year 7!

Finally, I have inherited a few towels and clothing pieces after camp. All items have been washed, if you think your student may own these items, I have dropped these items for collection to the library. Year 7 Lost and Found areas are located either Library or C Block outside staff room. If you child is missing items please ask them to go to either one of these locations to check.

If you have any concerns, questions please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Thanks 

Tanya Hamilton Email: thami105@eq.edu.au

Stephanie Stevens Email: sstev255@eq.edu.au

Ph: 4681 5888

Ms Leigh Cusack - Year 8

email: lcusa9@eq.edu.au    ph: 4681 5888 

Mr James Killer - Year 9

Peer Power

This past Friday (28/02) we hosted an incursion day which saw the Year 9 cohort split into males and females. In the morning the boys worked with the external organisation Peer Power on developing an understanding on healthy masculinity and what it means to become a man, and the girls worked on a community art project. Then, in the afternoon the girls worked with Peer Power on considering how they view and value what it is to be a healthy, authentic female in today’s society, and the boys worked on their part of the community art project.

NAPLAN

Looking towards the future we have NAPLAN coming up over Week 7 and Week 8. It is important students bring their iPad fully charged each day, and if possible, a set of wired headphones (headphones will be provided if needed). If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please direct them towards jmain24@eq.edu.au. I have attached the schedule below.

If you have any issues or concerns please make contact

Ms Kate Dearden - Year 10

We've made it past halfway for Term 1 and Year 10s are busily tackling assignments and formative exams in preparation for final submission later in the term.

School has been a neverending parade of events and activities this term, most recently the Investiture, where we saw our Student Councillors firstly act as ushers and then step up to receive their badges. I congratulate  these students on their willingness and enthusiasm to be involved in making the school a better place and contribute to building school culture. These students will speak at a Year 10 assembly next Thursday about their plans for 2025

Student Councillors: Mianka Diederiks, Thane Hills, Ashley Jackson, Connor McKay, Jacqueline Wood

Student Councillors and Southern Downs Youth Council Representatives: Bailey Cosmo, Ava Hobba.

Year 10s have had a focus on attendance after the first half of the term. They were provided with their percentage attendance for 2025 to date and asked to consider reasons for their absences then develop a SMART goal that would help them to lift or maintain their attendance rate. Right now, Year 10s are sitting at an 82% attendance average which is already below the school's target of 90%. The school is keen to support parents to ensure their attendance is as high as possible.

As the term winds down, it is essential that Year 10s are treating each other and the their teachers well. If your student is having any issues, please advise the school that we can make their time as productive and enjoyable as possible.

If you have any issues or concerns please make contact

email: kdear13@eq.edu.au Ph: 07 4681 5888

Mrs Josephine Rogers - Year 11

Academic Skills

Year 11 students are busy with assessment and other activities and events. Recent form lessons have focussed on organisational skills and strategies to cope with stress. For more information and assistance, your student can speak with me, the Guidance Officer and other school support staff, as well as their teachers.

It has been pleasing to see so many Year 11 students submitting drafts on time and many are studying for exams. Students are reminded that acting on teacher feedback does improve performance!

Investiture Ceremony

It was pleasing to see many Year 11 students be invested into their leadership positions at the recent full school assembly. Many students wore the correct uniform and showed their support with respectful behaviours during the ceremony.

I extend my congratulations to all Year 11 leaders and wish them well for a productive and positive year. 

RSA

A Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) qualification is required by staff working in venues that serve alcohol. The RSA course develops understanding about the fines and penalties imposed on staff and workplaces if they do not follow liquor laws.

The RSA course for Stanthorpe State High School students is being sponsored by the Stanthorpe RSL Service Club; therefore, there is no cost. The course will be held at school on Friday 14 March 2025, during the school day.

The RSA course is being offered to 50 students that return the permission form to the school office.

Respectful Relationships

Year 11 students will be participating in a series of Respectful Relationship Lessons, presented by the School Based Youth Health Nurse. Topics include consent, respectful communication, contraception, sexually transmitted infections and pornography. 

Year 11 Future Pathways Excursion to Brisbane

Year 11 students will be offered the opportunity to attend the Future Pathways Excursion to Brisbane. The excursion will be held in Term 3, Week 10 (15-17 September).

During the excursion, students will use public transport and visit universities, Southbank TAFE and various workplaces and industries to develop their understanding of future career opportunities. The Amazing Race activity will improve student understanding of Brisbane city highlights, while accommodation will be at the Queensland Conference and Camping Centres Brookfield.

I encourage students to begin saving up (Qeensland University of Technology is subsidising travel costs) and all are reminded that as the excursion is an extra-curricular activity, students must ensure they meet the eligibility criteria for participation.

email: jroge3@eq.edu.au  ph: 4681 5888

Miss Meghann Wear - Year 12

Senior Investiture

Congratulations to all of our senior leaders who were invested in to their roles last week. It is always a pleasure to see so many of the Year 12s begin their leadership journies at Stanthorpe State High School and I look forward to seeing all the great things they will do in our school and wider communities this year. 

GRIP Leadership

Our Year 12 student leaders attended the GRIP Leadership Conference in Toowoomba last week. Students took part in a range of activities and listened to a range of speakers about how to lead school projects and change, at a student level. 

Lion's Youth of the Year 

Ewan Keith and Fitzroy Pascoe took part in Lion's Youth of the Year. As School Captains, public speaking is an important part of their roles both in and out of school. Despite not taking home the prize, both boys presented wonderful speeches and represented Stanthorpe State High School with pride. Congratulations Ewan and Fitzroy.

There will be a meeting for those students and their parents/guardians who are interested in attending Ski Trip. This information session is an essential event for anyone considering attending. The 2025 Ski Trip is secheduled for Saturday 13th Sepetmber to Saturday 20th September (Term 3, Week 10). A representative from our tour company, Crisps Coaches and the school coordinators will be available for any questions you might have. 

When: Monday 10th March 

Where: R Block Stanthorpe State High School 

Time: 5:30pm

If you have any queries please don't hesitate to get in contact via email: mwear8@eq.edu.au

Mrs Jenny McCarthy - Behaviour Support Teacher (Learning and Engagement)

2025 Student Council

Last Wednesday Student Council met to discuss areas that students would like improved in the school.  Student Council Representatives will return to their year levels to ask for other student ideas to bring to our Week 8 meeting.  

REP Card Swap

Week 7 - POPCORN MANIA - Thursday 13th March

This term students have the opportunity to swap  REP cards for a colourful, sweet or salty bag of popcorn.  Student Council and Kitchen Op students are helping to prepare and serve.  We are looking forward to seeing students enjoy the rewards of their hard work in class and demonstrating expected behaviours.

REP Behaviour Focus:

Each week we explicitly discuss and teach a behaviour focus to highlight our expectations at Stanthorpe State High School. At last week's Behaviour Expectations Analysis Team (BEAT) meeting, behaviour data was reviewed and the next 4 week focusses are:

Week 6: Prepared - Arrive with a learning mind set  

Week 7: Respect - Respect others’ personal space, rights and property 

Week 8 - Engaged - Meet all assessment checkpoints.

email:  jmcca398@eq.edu.au Phone: 4681 5888

Mrs Sonia Ensoll - Guidance Officer

Dear Parents, Carers, and members of our School Community,

We have had an extremely busy start to the year. Our students are working hard to be here, to be engaged and to grow – academically and socially.

For some students, as we come to the end of Week 6, school-refusal may be starting to occur.

This can be hard on families and carers especially, but also hard for students themselves, as it can very often stem from anxiety, which is an internalised mental health difficulty. Other times it can be related to a fear of something (real or otherwise), or an avoidance of an experience/class that your student participates in, as per their timetable.

Some early warning signs at home may include:

The good news is that working together and seeking support from school staff can really improve the chances of your student getting back to school. Acting early is vital.

To make a referral to our Student Support Team for school refusal, please email myself, the School Guidance Officer and the GO-Wellbeing at the following email: GuidanceOfficer@stanthorpeshs.eq.edu.au , or ring the school office to make an appointment on 07 4681 5888. Alternatively, a trip to your local GP to talk about what is going on for your student (when you notice a pattern of early warning signs) would be extremely useful and could assist school and home to work together wonderfully.

Take care of yourselves and please reach out if you need to talk.

Sonia Ensoll – Guidance Officer – smain0@eq.edu.au