Welcome to week 7 of term 1.We are now well and truly over the half way mark in the term. The sun is slowly coming out as the storm is residing and the school is back on track. Thanks to all, for your prompt responses on the closure last week and the understanding to keep everyone safe.  It is important to keep up to date email addresses and telephone numbers on record at school for this kind of emergencies. Please let the office know of any changes. I would like to thank all of the staff and students for their hard work and commitment to teaching and learning so far this term and getting back on track this week.

Naplan is taking place this week for all year 9 and year 7 students and we wish them all the best in applying their efforts so that we can be informed on how to support each student according to their level in Maths and English. 

I always say education is a triangle between student, teacher and parent and with 6 weeks already completed in 2025, now is the time to support students in attending school. Wilsonton SHS strive to have a goal of 92% attendance in every year level. At the moment we have a lot of students away every day or coming late after the bell and this has seen the attendance drop to 86.7 % for the year so far – Not ideal.

The Importance of Daily Attendance at School

In Queensland, daily attendance is vital for student success.  The mantra “Every day counts” highlights the significant impact regular attendance has on education.

Academic Success

Consistent attendance is crucial for academic achievement. Students who attend regularly are better able to understand lessons and perform well in assessments. Missing even one day can create gaps in knowledge, hindering overall progress.

Social and Emotional Development

School is key for developing social and emotional skills. Regular attendance allows students to build relationships with peers and teachers, fostering a sense of community and belonging.  These interactions develop essential life skills like communication and teamwork.

Establishing Routine and Discipline

Daily school attendance helps students establish a routine and build discipline, habits beneficial for future educational pursuits and career success. The structured environment of school teaches punctuality, responsibility, and time management.

Long-term Benefits

Regular attendance leads to higher chances of graduating, pursuing higher education, and securing stable employment. Conversely, frequent absenteeism can result in lower academic performance and reduced future opportunities.

Support and Community Involvement

Queensland State Schools provide support to address challenges affecting attendance, such as health issues or family circumstances. Engaging with families and the community is crucial to highlight the importance of regular attendance and resolve any barriers.

In conclusion, daily attendance at school is essential for students’ academic, social, and emotional development, setting the foundation for lifelong success.  Every day truly counts.

Enjoy the rest of the articles.

Lou Oberholzer
Principal

WCE and QCE Parent Evening

Thank you to parents who attended the WCE and QCE parent evening last week.  As I mentioned on the evening it is our expectation that 100% of students graduating from Wilsonton SHS attain a QCE or QCIA.  We are very proud that every single student graduating from our great school in the last four years has left with one of these qualifications and look forward to working with you this year and in the future to continue meeting this expectation.

As many of you would be aware, at Wilsonton State High School all students are required to complete all course and assessment requirements for every subject studied. This includes exams and assignments.

The Unit 3 Assessment Week will be held from Monday 31^st March to Friday 4^th April.  The timetable for this week will be provided to students later this week.

It is an expectation that all students attend their required exams.  Please note the following important information.

Students are expected to

• Wear full School Uniform
• Arrive to each applicable exam session at least 20 minutes prior to the scheduled start time
• Be prepared for their exam session with the appropriate equipment and resources

During this Exam Block, it would be an expectation that when students are not completing assessment, including catch-up sessions, that they are studying and completing assessments at home.  Where this is not possible, individual circumstances need to be discussed with the Deputy Principal for Senior Schooling, Jacinta Alexander.

Students whose ability to attend or participate in an exam is adversely affected by illness or an unexpected event may be eligible for consideration to reschedule the exam, without penalty, on grounds of illness and/or misadventure. 

The following principles apply:

• The situation cannot be of the student’s own choosing or that of their parents/carers, such as a family holiday.
• The illness or event is unforeseen and beyond the student’s control.
• The student has informed the school as soon as practical. It is preferable that this occur on, or before, the date(s) of the exam session.
• Provide a medical certificate to justify being absent from an exam.

In the case of all exams, students who have provided the necessary contact and/or documentation will sit the exam in the next scheduled exam session without penalty. Students, who have not provided the necessary contact and/or documentation, will be issued a Not Rated (NR) grade and will still be required to complete the exam at the next available opportunity. Please note this will place their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) in jeopardy.

Performance Interviews

Wilsonton State High School is all about Success Pathways and providing opportunities for students to succeed.

To ensure success, once the first round of Unit grades are available for review, students in years 11 & 12 whose academic attainment has been unsuccessful, will be interviewed about options moving forward.

In some cases, this will entail subject changes (Year 11 only) and possible course restructures. For others, particularly those at risk of not attaining a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), there will be some hard conversations as to exactly what they need to do to improve their performance.  This will allow students to reclaim the opportunity to graduate with a QCE.

Unfortunately for some students success doesn’t always mean being at school.  Therefore, for those students struggling with attendance, engagement and assessment completion of their course, we will offer transitional opportunities into a more successful pathway.

Jacinta Alexander
Deputy Principal - Year 10, 11 & 12

Cyber Safety

The year 10 students will attend a cyber safety talk on Thursday 20^th March in period 2. This session will cover topics such as consent, rights & responsibilities and lawful use of carrier devices.

Year 10 Maths PSMT

The year 10 Introduction to Essential Maths students are currently working on a PSMT (Problem Solving and Modelling Task) assignment based on data and graphing. The students have 5 lessons in class to work on the PSMT, but will also need to utilise time at home to complete it. The three classes have currently completed 3 of the 5 lessons. The 4^th lesson is today and the first submission is due this Friday. It is extremely important that the students have their iPad for each of these lessons and that it is fully charged for the lesson.

Uniform

The year 10 cohort have had a good start to the year in terms of wearing the formal uniform on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If students are out of uniform, they need to get a note from their parents and see Mr Webb or Miss Lee at the MADD block staffroom to get a uniform pass. A reminder that if students have four unauthorised uniform violations they will be issued with an afterschool detention.

Mr Leighton Webb
Year 10 Co-odinator

We are pleased to be a part of the Gateway to Industry Schools Program for the Building and Construction Industry again in 2025.  This program provides amazing opportunities for our students to participate in Virtual Reality Try a Trade, Construction site visits, Try a Trade events and Trade Ready Program.

The construction industry is a major employer in our region and provides many different job opportunities and career pathways for our students.  Below is a snapshot of the regional data showing the huge amount of construction works happening locally.  It is clear from this, that there are many entry level and apprenticeship jobs, but also all the associated positions including administration, workplace health and safety and transport. 

For more information you can access the website https://www.csq.org.au  We look forward to working with Construction Skills Queensland this year and helping raise awareness of the many and varied pathways we provide our students into the industry. 

Various products were entered into the Clifton Show on 15 February 2025 by our Ag Centre.  We had a lot to live up to, after winning the best exhibitor for Horticulture and Agriculture last year.

A re-invigorated Clifton State High School Ag Centre pipped us at the post this year winning with eight entries over our seven wins.  But we did get the highly commended exhibitor award for our honey and honeycomb display again.

Results:

Winner – Giant Pumpkin

Winner – Aubigne (Egg Plant)

Winner – Bunch of Leeks

Winner – 3 Cobs Pop Corn (coloured)

Winner – Bunch of Parsley

Winner – Jar of Honey

Winner - Ginger

Plus Highly Commended for the display of Honeycomb

Surge Dance Day

Recently, Year 12 Dance and Dance in Practice students participated in the Toowoomba Empire Theatre’s Surge Dance Day. Surge Dance Day is a one-day intensive workshop designed for senior dance students to gain practical experience that directly links to the curriculum. This experience enhanced students learning and exposed them to different styles and techniques of dance and choreography. The students were able to collaborate with other schools through various activities as well as gain first-hand experience from a range of dance professionals. From this opportunity students have used the skills and techniques they learnt at this workshop for their own choreography assessment this term. Such a great experience

Shake & Stir ‘Burn Out’ Performance

On Friday the 28^th February the Shake & Stir Theatre Company visited our PAC with their new production Burn Out. Our year 10, 11 and 12 Drama and Drama in Practice students were fortunate enough to be some of the first audiences to see this show. It was a great opportunity to see live theatre and find out more about performing and career pathways from the cast.  

Year 11 VAP Brisbane Excursion

Earlier this term, Miss Lancaster’s year 11 VAP class headed to Brisbane to visit the State Library of Queensland and the Asia Pacific Triennial Exhibition at GOMA. This was an awesome experience for the students to see both special artefacts at the library and inspirational new works at GOMA. They have used this experience to inspire their class work.

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 the 17^th to 21^st of March is Harmony Week, and we get to celebrate multiculturalism in Australia. Harmony Week is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background.

As a vibrant and multicultural country, we are lucky to have our First Nations Australians, who are from the oldest continuous culture, to the newest arrivals from around the world.

The colour orange represents Harmony Week. It traditionally signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect.

Everyone of us has a unique story to tell of how we are Australian. If you aren’t sure of your cultural history, it’s a great time to talk about it with your family or guardian.

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 that 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.

A reminder to be SUNSAFE, wear a hat, put on sunscreen and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Angela Kain
School Based Youth Health Nurse
Working Mon, Tues, Wed & every 2^nd Thursday (odd weeks). Based in the Support Hub.

We have 4 remaining dog kennels for sale at the reduced price of $200

Contact Dan Foulds on dfoul0@eq.edu.au or 07 4639 0444 for more information.

Good sleep is essential for the health, wellbeing, and academic success of our children. This year, World Sleep Day on March 14th provides an important reminder for parents, carers, and students to prioritize good sleep habits. Sleep affects everything from our children's mood and concentration to their memory and overall performance at school.

Establishing a consistent bedtime routine can greatly improve the quality of sleep your child receives. Encouraging activities such as reading or quiet conversation before bed, limiting screen time at least an hour before sleep, and ensuring their bedroom environment is calm and comfortable can make a significant difference. Good sleep hygiene helps children wake up refreshed, alert, and ready for a day of learning.

Research shows that children who regularly get sufficient sleep perform better academically and emotionally. Lack of sleep can lead to difficulties with attention, increased irritability, and challenges in managing emotions. By discussing the benefits of good sleep with your children and modelling healthy sleep habits yourself, you contribute positively to their development and wellbeing.

On World Sleep Day, let's take the opportunity to reflect on our family's sleep habits and make adjustments where needed. Together, we can ensure our children have the rest they need to thrive both at home and school. Sweet dreams!

Guidance Officer -  Rick Masters

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 18^th March, 2025 commencing at 5.00pm in the Auditorium Foyer.             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: 46 390408) 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

All Year 12 completers from last year will soon receive an invitation to participate in the Next Step survey. This is their chance to help our school to understand the different pathways of the 2024 Year 12 students and to improve our senior programs and supports for future students. The survey only takes five minutes and asks graduates about their study and work activities since finishing school.

As a thank you for participating, Year 12 completers who complete the survey will be entered into a draw to win a MacBook Air.

We ask parents, siblings and friends to encourage our graduates to complete the survey. If their contact details have changed, please assist survey interviewers by providing their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate. Graduates may receive an invitation by mail, email or phone. The survey can be completed online or by phone.

For more information about Next Step, including previous results, visit http://www.qld.gov.au/nextstep.