Welcome to our Term 2, Week 6 newsletter. This week we recognise Reconciliation Week until 3 June.

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 2025 theme, Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future.

Here at Wilsonton SHS we are committed to support and engage in the future of every student's pathway, no matter the culture or history, we are a community for the future in building better pathways for all.

As always, I ask that parents support the school in making sure that students attend school every day and actively engage in the classroom. Wilsonton SHS is running on the system of students in class and is not a system for online or distance education or home schooling with support from our teachers. Our combined school attendance target is 92% and we are falling behind at 85%. Three year levels attained 90% for week 5 attendance. It would be great if all year levels attain this every week.

At the end of Term 1, 2025, the Minister for Education and the Arts committed to releasing a set of consistent state-wide expectations for communication between parents/carers and their child’s school. Specifically, the Communicating with your child’s school guideline outlines clear, consistent expectations for how parents/carers can engage with their child’s school, including appropriate contact channels, response timelines, and processes for raising concerns respectfully. Please see official department document below.

Please enjoy the rest of the articles.

Lou Oberholzer
Principal

Unit 1 Review – Year 11

Year 11 Report Cards will be issued in Week 7 which indicates the end of Unit 1 for all Year 11 students.  This is a critical juncture to determine whether a student is on a successful pathway or not.  At this juncture, every report card will be reviewed and selected individual students and their parents will be interviewed according to their results. 

Report Card results may determine any or a combination of the following things…

1. The student is on the correct Success Pathway and continues in the subjects they are in.
2. The student has perhaps underestimated the requirements of a subject and may need to make a subject change.
3. Attendance has impacted on student results and a support plan may be required to ensure an increased chance of success.
4. Poor Effort and Behaviour results indicate the student is not willing to engage in either the subject or combination of subjects and therefore a re-engagement plan may be required.

Success can mean a whole variety of things to a range of students and these junctures are critical to ensure that every student has the chance of attaining a Queensland Certificate of Education.

Year 10 Certificate II in Active Volunteering

Year 10 students have been out and about in the community as part of completing hours within the Certificate II in Active Volunteering. This is an integral part to our overall Senior Pathways Model and firstly ensures students bank 4 QCE points prior to starting Year 11 and secondly, allows us as a school community give back to local organisations. We’re excited about this opportunity for our students!

Year 12 First Aid

As part of preparing for life after school Year 12 students are completing their first aid qualifications.  Students have finalised their online theory modules and will complete their practical training and assessment on Wednesday, June 4^th.  It is essential that Year 12’s are at school and on time on this day, as the training is provided by an external company there are no catch up sessions.

Certificate II in Sampling & Measurement

Also during Week 7 a number of Year 11 & 12 students will be completing the Certificate II in Sampling and Measurement conducted through Leichardt Education & Training.

This course offers entry level technical training in skills applied to scientific sampling and measurement in a field situation. It has been developed with the support of the scientists and large mining companies to suit the needs of the mining and infrastructure sector.

This course will prepare participants to take water, soil and sediment samples for environmental monitoring purposes. Topics include:

• The process of sampling
• Sample design
• Sampling in the field
• Organisational paperwork
• Safety in the field
• GPS basics
• Calibration
• Sustainability
• Recording and presenting data
• Sample bias
• Sampling techniques
• Sample preservation
• Storage and despatch

This course is designed to walk participants through the accepted practices of taking unbiased field samples, and the scientific theory surrounding sampling. Courses are highly practical (60% practical work) and prepare samplers for fieldwork. Course topics reflect this.

Jacinta Alexander - Deputy Principal

This week, the Year 10 cohort were addressed by Adair Donalson regarding their roles and responsibilities in the digital environment.  Students were captivated by his message, and many continued the discussion throughout the day, with a new understanding of the things they didn’t know they didn’t know.

It is past the middle of term 2 and heading into the end of semester 1 already! This is an important time for students to reflect on their term 1 interim report card and consider where the improvements are needed to boost that C to B or B to A. There is a real sense of self satisfaction in being self-reliant and achieving something you aimed for. Subject selections for Year 10 will take place next term and these current results will impact on the choices students can make.

There are plenty of activities to get involved with at school during break times.

Monday: Craft Club, Gym, Retreat Room

Tuesday: Tea Tuesday, Forensic Science and Chess Club

Wednesday: Cards, Art and Language Clubs, Gym, SRC meetings, Retreat Room

Thursday: Drama and Anime Clubs, Retreat Room

Friday: Nintendo Switch, Dance Troupe

As well, everyday there is a game of touch on the oval with staff.

Year 9 Wellbeing Incursion

On May 16, Year 9 students were involved in a day long team and leadership skill building session run by staff from Camp Cooby.

What is National Reconciliation Week?

National Reconciliation Week takes place between May 27 and June 3 every year in Australia. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey: the successful 1967 Referendum and the High Court Mabo decision, respectively.

"This year's theme 'Bridging now to next' and the ongoing connection between past, present and future, is reflected in these banners, and I thank all those who have shown their support of reconciliation through this initiative."

Since the beginning of term, I have been looking after the Year 8’s and will continue to do so for the remainder of the term in the role of Deputy Principal.

We have had a great term so far with the Year 8’s currently working towards completing assessment.  During week 5, the Year 8’s completed a half-day wellbeing incursion where they explored key themes of gratitude, boundaries, expectations and handling change. Everyone engaged so wonderfully on the day and I really do hope that all students got something out of the morning.

At the start of my tenure, I spoke to the Year 8 cohort about school being their full time job. As a student enrolled at high school, it is their job to be at school, engaging and learning each and every day. While I fully understand that there may be illness or other events come up and students are not able to come to school, it is so important that students are at school every day they possibly can to achieve the greatest success possible for them.  If students are sick or away for a genuine reason, ensure you’re letting the school know why they’re absent by responding to texts sent every morning or phoning the office. Currently, Year 8 attendance is at 84.4%, meaning that on average, a Year 8 student is missing ¾ of a day every single week which would be the same as missing 30 days or 6 weeks across the year, missing out on key learning time.

I challenged the Year 8 students to reflect on this and make an effort to be at school when they are able as well as encourage their peers to come along and ensure they are receiving all the teaching and learning they possibly can. Please work with your students to support them to be at school every day they can and let us know if they can’t.

I look forward to continuing to work with the Year 8’s throughout the rest of the term and wish them luck as they begin to complete their assessment. If your student requires support or you have any concerns, please reach out to the school and speak to the Year Coordinators Ms Fudge and Ms Yamasita or other members of the support team including Mr Masters, the Guidance Officer looking after Year 8 or myself.

Brayden Insley - Deputy Principal 

As we reach the halfway point of Term 2, it's a great time to reflect on how our Year 7 students are growing – not only in their academic learning but also in their emotional and social development.

Congratulations go out to all our weekly award/reward recipients. You are all wonderful students and deserve the accolades you receive. Keep up to date on Facebook with acknowledgement of student successes.

Thanks must go out to our wonderful Year Level Co-ordinators, Mr Johansen and Mrs Nelmes for their organisation of the Year 7 Camp to Lake Perseverance. Along with Ms Dennis, Ms Lancaster, Ms Prior and Chappy Howard. The students had a blast.

The middle of the year often brings new challenges: increased workload, friendship shifts, and greater personal expectations. It’s also when some of the initial excitement of starting high school gives way to more complex social dynamics. That’s why building resilience, learning healthy conflict resolution skills, and showing respect across all settings are more important than ever. We need to reflect to the school values, Respect, Resilience, Responsibility and Commitment.

Resilience: Bouncing Back Stronger

Resilience is the ability to adapt in the face of challenges, setbacks, or stress. For Year 7 students, resilience means:

• Not giving up when a subject is hard or when feedback feels tough.
• Learning from mistakes rather than fearing them.
• Staying calm when things don’t go to plan – whether it’s a group project or a sporting game.

We encourage students to:

• Focus on what they can control, rather than what they can’t.
• Talk about their feelings with trusted adults or friends.
• Practice positive self-talk, like: “I can handle this” or “I’ll try again tomorrow.”

Commitment: Keeping the Drama Low

We need our students to commit to “Being Better”, a mantra Mr Johansen introduced to our students and continues to explore. We need to be better at conflict resolution. A reminder to our families that in a scenario of conflict, we request our students to stop, walk away and seek assistance from an adult., At this age, misunderstandings and disagreements are part of learning how to relate to others, yet when handled poorly, small issues can quickly turn into drama that affects everyone. To help prevent this, we’re teaching and reinforcing strategies like:

• Pause before reacting: Take a breath, walk away, and cool down before responding.
• Use “I” statements: Instead of blaming (e.g., “You always ignore me”), say, “I felt left out when…”
• Listen to understand, not just to reply.
• Seek help early: If students feel stuck in a situation, they should talk to a teacher, Year Advisor, or wellbeing staff – before it escalates.

We also remind students that social media is not the place to solve problems. Encouraging face-to-face conversations mediated by adults, and limiting online conflict, is crucial in reducing unnecessary stress.

Respect: Especially When Things Change

Respect is a cornerstone of a safe and supportive school environment. One area we are reinforcing is how students respond when their regular teacher is away, and a replacement teacher steps in.

We understand that students are most comfortable with their usual teachers – but it's important they maintain the same standards of behaviour, listening, and effort, regardless of who is delivering the lesson.

A respectful student:

• Follows instructions the first time – even if the teacher is unfamiliar.
• Supports a calm classroom so everyone can learn.
• Takes responsibility for their actions, even when routines are disrupted.

Replacement teachers are here to ensure learning continues, and they deserve the same respect, courtesy and cooperation as our full-time staff. It's an important opportunity for students to show maturity, adaptability, and kindness.

Responsibility: Working Together

Parents and carers play a vital role in reinforcing these messages at home. We encourage you to talk regularly with your child about how they’re managing school life, friendships, and classroom behaviour. A calm conversation and a listening ear can make all the difference.

Let’s continue to support our Year 7s in becoming confident, kind, and capable young people. With resilience, respect, and good communication skills, they can navigate this term with maturity and positivity.

Mick Jarroush
Deputy Principal – Year 7

Please ensure we have your most up to date contact details.

In times of an emergency, we want to be certain we can contact you as soon as possbile. 

Please advise in writing any new information regarding contact details. Email us at admin@wilsontonshs.eq.edu.au or alternatively your child can collect a change of details form from the office.

During Week 3 and 4, our core value focus was Resilience with a behaviour focus of showing persistence, self-control and diligence.

Students showing Resilience demonstrate staying strong and persistent during challenges. This can be demonstrated by continuing to study and improve after a difficult lesson or assessment. Instead of giving up, resilient students learn from mistakes and keep trying to reach their goals. It is great to see students showing persistence and diligence when seeking assistance to improve on their work in the classroom.

Each fortnight, students are nominated by teachers for displaying Wilsonton State High School's core value and behaviour of the fortnight. For that fortnight, we received 44 nominations! Congratulations to those students who showed Resilience at WSHS or demonstrated persistence, self-control and diligence.

For Week 5 and 6, our core value focus will be Commitment with a behaviour focus of seeking assistance. This is particularly important during assessment time during the term. We look forward to seeing students reaching out and seeking assistance.

Mrs Liz Szumowski
Behaviour Support Teacher

TVA Volleyball Competition

The junior girls volleyball team have had a fantastic start to their first season in the TVA volleyball competition. They have played four games so far and have won all games. The girls have served consistently, worked hard on their structure and scrambled very well to stay in points. They beat Fairholme College in the first week two sets to one, Glennie 3 in the second week three sets to nil, Glennie 2 in the third week two sets to one and Glennie 4 in the fourth week three sets to nil. Poppi has been dominating with her powerful overarm serves and Nicchia has been passing well in the back court. Amity single handedly won the second set in week three with her accurate underhand serving and Sophie has been scrambling very well to keep the team in rallies. Amber has been very versatile playing as a pass/hitter and learning how to set on the run, while Alexa has had strings of good serving and some great passes. Will has also passed well in the back court and Angelina has set very well and lead well as the team captain. The team has another game against Fairholme next week, good luck girls!

Senior Girls Volley Ball 

The Senior Girls Volleyball Green Team are currently competing in the term two Tuesday night volleyball competition and continue to show impressive improvement each week. With each match, their teamwork, communication, and overall performance grows stronger. The players are gaining confidence on the court, learning from each game, and improving on following games. Their hard work and dedication are starting to pay off. If you’re looking for a WSHS team to support, the Senior Girls Volleyball might just be the one.

The Senior Girls’ Purple Team have shown their determination and commitment to remain very competitive against some strong opponents. Overhand serving from Abby, Bridie, and Alana, plus an increase in attacking spike shots, have seen the team remain very competitive. Back court passing plays from Sienna, Freja and Sarah-Joy have been useful in gaining critical points. Although the team has been narrowly defeated in the two recent games, all girls have shown incredible levels of camaraderie and positivity, often being the loudest and most encouraging team on the courts

Junior Girls

Our Junior girls team is currently undefeated through 5 games. Their serving consistency and ability to scramble has been a standout feature in their play. The team continues to improve each week, and the high team spirit has been noticed as well. Well done to our girls!

Junior and Intermediate Boys

The Junior and Intermediate boys have enjoyed their first seasons of competitive volleyball, playing against each in a combined age group. Although the intermediate boys have had better results, both groups have improved significantly across their first month of games, raising their consistency and learning new structures. There is great optimism around what they can achieve moving forward.

Results from 10 May 2025

Wilsonton Ag Centre entered several exhibits into the Crows Nest Show on 10 May 2025—and had fantastic results – what a great day!

First Prize

• Heaviest Cattle Pumpkin – 68 kg
• Infused Chilli Creamed Honey
• Jar of Liquid Honey – Amber
• Jar of Liquid Honey – Dark
• Jar of Creamed Honey
• 1kg Beeswax
• Frame of Capped Honey
• Plate of 12 Strawberries
• 1kg Popcorn
• 4 Leeks
• Bunch of Green Parsley

The Parsley also won us:

• Grand Champion Produce
• Champion Vegetable
• Memorial Trophy Supreme Champion Exhibit of Home Grown Produce

(Blanch Stark Memorial Trophy)

Second Prize

• Infused Vanilla / Ginger Creamed Honey
• Jar of Creamed Honey
• 1 kg Beeswax
• Jar of Liquid Honey - Light
• Four Citrus Kumquats

Visual Art in Practice

The senior VAP classes have been exploring indigenous art in class for Reconciliation Week.

Lunch Time Concerts  

Last week we began our lunchtime concert series. Our instrumental music band played for our audience, practicing the items they will perform for eisteddfod in July.

As the School Based Youth Health Nurse, I work with the school community to promote health and wellbeing, create a supportive, healthy school environment and connect people with other support services. From 25^th – 31^st May is Food Allergy Week.  It is estimated that 1 in 20 children have a food allergy. A food allergy is an immune system response to a food protein that the body (mistakenly) believes is harmful. This response can trigger potentially life-threatening symptoms.

Symptoms include:

Mild to Moderate

• Swelling of the face, lips and eyes
• Hives or welts
• Tingling mouth
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting

Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)

• Difficult/noisy breathing
• Swelling of the tongue
• Swelling/tightness of the throat
• Difficulty talking and/or a hoarse voice
• Wheeze or persistent cough
• Persistent dizziness or collapse
• Pale and floppy (young children)

We can all do our bit to help anyone with food allergies by:

• Always take food allergies seriously.
• Wash our hands before and after eating.
• Don’t share food with someone who has a food allergy.
• Know what friends are allergic to.
• Get help straight away if someone gets sick.

If someone is showing signs of a severe allergic reaction:

• Lay the person flat don’t allow them to stand or walk.
• Follow their ASCIA action plan if they have one.
• Administer their adrenaline (epinephrine) injector if available.
• Call an ambulance on 000

More information is available at the Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, you can call them on 1300 728 00 or on their website - www.allergyfacts.org.au

Pathways to Cessation

The Pathways to Cessation program is delivered by health professionals at the Queensland Quitline service and combines information and counselling support with a free 12-week supply of nicotine replacement products such as patches, gum, and lozenges. A reminder here at Wilsonton SHS we are working in partnership with Queensland Health, so members of our school community can access a free quit support program for parents, carers, siblings.

If you’d like to find out ‘what to expect from Quitline’ or request a call visit the QuitHQ website at https://www.quithq.initiatives.qld.gov.au/how-to-quit/get-help-from-quitline. Students can access the program by contacting Quitline directly.

Angela Kain
School Based Youth Health Nurse
Working Mon, Tues, Wed & every second Thursday based in the Support Hub

WSHS P&C Executive:

President – Janelle Collins                                                 Secretary – Brenda Steger     

Vice President – Brenda Steger                                        Treasurer – Sonya Trim

Contact for the WSHS P&C Association

Operations Manager – Narelle Maynard   email: nmayn12@eq.edu.au

Notice of AGM & General Meeting

The next P&C General Meeting, will be held on Tuesday 19^th August, 2025 commencing at 5.00pm in the Auditorium (AU11 Classroom).             New members are very welcome!

Uniform Shop

All Uniform Items can be purchased from the School Uniform Shop which is opened each school day 7.30am until 8.45am.  For all enquiries after 8.45am is by request of appointment time ONLY, please contact the Uniform Shop (Ph: 4639 0408) to book a time.  Second-Hand uniform items are also available (selected stock only). 

By supporting the P&C Uniform Shop, assists the P&C to make contributions back to the school and supporting Students.  Hannas is also an outlet for the school uniform items.  The Uniform Price list can be found on the school website by clicking on the following link:

Uniform Price List

Canteen Volunteers Needed!

If you can spare a couple of hours a week, fortnight or month, please consider volunteering in our school canteen. The School is growing. The canteen is getting busier. We are looking for and welcome new volunteers – all help is appreciated.  If you would like to “give it a go”, please call in to see Kim at the Canteen or phone 46390408 or email nmayn12@eq.edu.au

Canteen

Pre-ordering of lunches can be made by completing an order request form at the Canteen prior to school day commencing (ordering available 7.30am up to 8.45am each school day).

The Canteen Menu can be found on the school website by clicking on the following link:

Canteen menu

Both Cash and EFTPOS facilities are available at the Canteen and Uniform Shop.

Flexischools

Online ordering for the Canteen and Uniform shop is possible through Flexischools.

Go to www.flexishools.com.au  to register for Wilsonton State High School!!!

The daily cut-off time for canteen orders is 8.30am.

Canteen items can be ordered for 1st and/or 2nd Break.

Uniform items ordered can be collected by students at the end of 2nd Break the following day.

P&C’s QLD

If you would like any general information about P&C Associations please go to: www.pandcsqld.com.au