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Welcome to our term 3, week 7 newsletter.
Next week will see our schools quadrennial review, where a team will come and talk to all levels in our school to understand how we operate and then give us recommendations for improvement. This will help us to formulate the strategic plan for the next four years at Wilsonton SHS.
As a parent you might also be contacted for your input and say on our great school.
The review team will be here from Tuesday 2nd until Thursday 4th September.
New Operational Structure for Wilsonton State High School
Deputy Principals & Behaviour Referral Responsibilities and Wellbeing
To support our ongoing commitment to strengthening relationships between staff, students, and parents—and to meet the demands of a large and multi-faceted school environment—behaviour referral responsibilities have been strategically allocated across the Deputy Principal team. This structure ensures that each year level receives dedicated support, enabling more consistent follow-up, targeted intervention, and stronger connections within our school community.
- Brayden Insley
Junior Secondary – Year 7 Behaviour Referrals and Wellbeing - Matt Buchanan
Engagement & Wellbeing – Year 9 Behaviour Referrals and Wellbeing - Karen Sheales
Teaching & Learning – Year 10 Behaviour Referrals and Wellbeing - Jacinta Alexander
Senior Secondary – Year 11 & 12 Behaviour Referrals and Wellbeing - Nicole Burns
Inclusion – Year 8 Behaviour Referrals and Wellbeing
By aligning behaviour referral responsibilities across the Deputy Principal team, we aim to provide clear points of contact and more effective support tailored to the developmental needs of each year level. This strategic structure supports our ongoing focus on strengthening relationships with staff, students, and parents in a large and multi-faceted school environment. It is important to note that Deputy Principal involvement is part of the broader support framework and is typically engaged after other key supports have been accessed. The first point of contact for any concern should always be your child’s classroom teacher, followed by the relevant Head of Department for subject-specific matters. For wellbeing or broader support needs, Year level Coordinators play a central role. Our student support team—including the Guidance Officers, School-Based Youth Health Nurse, School Support Worker, and School-Based Police Officer—also provides vital assistance. For our First Nations students and families, additional culturally responsive support is available through our Community Education Counsellor (CEC), Beyond Broncos, and Clontarf programs. Together, this layered network ensures a collaborative and holistic approach to supporting all students.
Attendance and Punctuality
Regular school attendance is crucial to your child's academic success and overall development. When students are in class consistently, they not only keep up with lessons and assignments but also build strong learning habits and social connections that support their growth. Missing even a few days can lead to gaps in understanding that may affect confidence and performance. As parents, your support in ensuring your child attends school daily sends a powerful message about the value of education and commitment. Together, we can help your child reach their full potential by making attendance a top priority. Below is a table which explains the impact of student absence over a period of time.
Punctuality plays a vital role in your child's success — both now and in the future. When students arrive late to school, they miss valuable learning time, disrupt the class, and start their day at a disadvantage. Consistently being on time helps children develop a strong sense of responsibility and discipline, which are essential qualities in both education and the workplace. As parents, encouraging punctuality helps your child build a solid work ethic — one that will serve them well when they become employees, where arriving late can affect job performance, reputation, and career opportunities. Instilling these habits early sets the foundation for lifelong success.
Uniform Policy – A Shared Responsibility
At Wilsonton State High School, every student and family receive a copy of our uniform policy upon enrolment, and it remains readily available on our school website. Students are also reminded weekly during parade about the importance of wearing the correct uniform.
The school uniform is more than just clothing—it represents our shared identity and plays a key role in maintaining safety across the campus, allowing staff to easily identify students who belong to our school. Items such as hoodies are not part of our approved uniform and should not be worn.
Just as uniforms are expected in many workplaces, our school uniform policy helps prepare students to understand and follow expectations they will encounter in their future employment. Wearing the correct uniform is one small but important way students learn about responsibility, standards, and respect for community guidelines.
It is also essential to note that no staff member—regardless of their role—deserves to be spoken to or treated disrespectfully for simply upholding the school’s policies. As parents and carers, we respectfully ask that you revisit the enrolment agreement you signed and continue to support Wilsonton SHS in maintaining a consistent and respectful school culture by ensuring your child complies with our uniform policy.
Lou Oberholzer
Principal
We are delighted to have welcomed the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO), Australia’s national evidence institute to our school last week. AERO has asked our school to help develop video examples of effective teaching practice to help guide other teachers. This is a welcome acknowledgement that our teaching practice is aligned with the evidence of what works for student learning.
AERO attended with videographers to capture some of our teachers and classes in action, and to interview the teachers about teaching and learning. We look forward to seeing the finished videos when they are released and are glad that we can contribute to this important work supporting effective teaching practice in schools.
You can see videos that AERO has already developed on their website.
Classroom Expectations
Consistent classroom practice promotes learning in every lesson. Promoting these consistent messages ensures a positive and supported learning environment.
Parents and Carers can support this by ensuring students attend each day ready for learning.
Contact Details
Do we have your most up to date contact details? If not, please contact the school so we can update our records. These details include parent/carer’s name, address, phone numbers, email address and emergency contact details. Please remember to contact the school if any of these details change.
Karen Sheales
Deputy Principal
Subject Selections
Thank you to all Year 9s and 10s and their families who joined us for Subject Selection evening recently and SETP interview in the last two weeks. It has been great to see so many parents taking a genuine interest into their child’s pathway. Based on your child’s selections, we will take steps towards building our timetable for 2025 and meeting your child’s needs.
If you haven’t been able to attend a SETP interview but still wish to discuss your child’s subject choices for next year, please make contact with your child’s year level Deputy Principal.
Year 11 Unit 2 Assessment Week & Year 12 Week 10 Mock Exam Block
The Year 11 Unit 2 Assessment Week & Year 12 Mock Exam Block will be held from Monday 15th September to Friday 19th September. The timetable for this week will be provided to students at Year Level Assembly and emailed to parents/carers.
It is an expectation that all students attend their required exams and catch up sessions. 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 Assessment Week and Exam Block, it would be an expectation that when students are not completing an exam, 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 or catch-up session 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. Year 11 students who do not complete their required assessment are putting their enrolment at risk of cancellation.
Should you have any questions about the upcoming Assessment Week and Exam Block, please make contact with the Deputy Principal for Senior Schooling, Jacinta Alexander on 46390 444.
External Exams
The first round of Senior External Exams will soon be upon us. The exam block is devised by the QCAA and schedules exams across a four-week period from October 27 to November 18. During these External Exams, all students in Queensland studying a particular subject will sit the same assessment, at the same time, under the same conditions.
To inform students the QCAA has developed a number of publications: External Exam Directions for Students, External Exams equipment list and External Exam timetable.
My QCE
All students in years 10, 11 and 12 are reminded of the importance of activating their myQCE account. This QCAA initiative allows students to plan a pathway for QCE attainment by the end of year 12. It also provides information about:
- Subjects and courses
- VET
- Study Tips
- Assessment & Results
- ATAR & Tertiary entrance
- Jobs & careers
Jacinta Alexander
Deputy Principal
Over the past few weeks we have offered all Year 9 students and their parents information relating to a specific pathway our students are thinking about moving into the start of their senior educational journey. Last week saw some great conversations with both students and their caregivers, so that both parties are aware of what we have to offer in ensuring the right pathway is secured. At Wilsonton, we are really keen to offer a series of opportunities for academic advice, and to give as many students as possible their preferred choices for subjects. If, for some reason you have changed your mind on a pathway or would like to enquire further, please do not hesitate in contacting the school to speak with someone.
Student Senate
On Monday 25th August, around 60 students from year's 7 to 12 actively engaged in our Student Senate.
This round was organised and run by students and gave them a clear say in some matters important to them and provides great feedback to our school on future directions and priorities.
Topics covered include engagement and attendance, cultural, sporting and school infrastructure.
Monday’s session was a lively combination of information gathering, interaction and brain break.
Matt Buchanan
Deputy Principal
Year 12 Biology
The Year 12 Biology students have now completed all internal assessment tasks and are preparing for their external exam next term. We conducted their last practical experiment in class earlier this week to finish off the unit. They are currently looking at infectious diseases and how they are treated and controlled. On Monday they created bacterial lawns on agar plates using an e.coli broth and then placed antibiotic mastrings and filter paper dipped in household products with antimicrobial properties on top of the bacterial lawns. Each of the agar plates were placed in the incubator for two days and we then analysed the results on Wednesday. Some of the antibiotics and some of the household products showed zones of inhibition around them, which meant that the antimicrobial effectively killed the e.coli. We discovered that tee tree oil and eucalyptus oil are effective household antimicrobials for e.coli.
The junior girls volleyball team have continued their good form from the term 2 competition and have won all of their games so far this term. The girls have been well lead by captain Angelina and vice-captain Poppi, and improved their serving to be even more consistent, with four girls now serving overarm and have been scrambling and hitting well. After the bye in week 1, they beat Fairholme College in the second week, two sets to one in a grand final replay from last term. In week 3, they had a forfeit win against Concordia College and then a comfortable three sets to nil win against Glennie Junior Green. In week 4, they had a good three sets to nil, win over Glennie Junior Red and in week 5, they had a three sets to nil, win over St Joseph’s Gold. In week 6, the team will be playing TAS Junior Girls at 5:35 with a duty before hand, good luck girls!
The Senior Girls Volleyball, Green Team competed in the Queensland Volleyball Schools Cup from August 8-10. This was a fantastic opportunity to all girls involved. Starting the competition strong saw the girls placing second in their pool and earning a spot in the bronze medal match. The girls demonstrated good sportsmanship, teamwork, school pride and spirit winning the Division 2 Orange Bronze Medal match and making Wilsonton State High School proud. Well done girls!
The past three weeks have been busy for our Beyond the Broncos girls, filled with exciting opportunities, cultural celebrations, and outstanding student achievements. Here’s a wrap-up of what’s been happening in our program.
Career Hub Sessions – Years 8 & 9
Our Career Hub Sessions officially launched this term with Years 8 and 9. These sessions are designed to help our girls explore career pathways while building confidence and strengthening their cultural identity.
So far, students have taken part in activities about career choices, goal-setting, and cultural learning. The girls especially enjoy interactive games like the Imposter Game, which helps them build communication and teamwork skills in a fun way.
- Year 8 sessions: Wednesdays, Period 2
- Year 9 sessions: Thursdays, Period 3
Tackling Indigenous Smoking – Goolburri Program
For the past three weeks, students have been participating in the Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS) program, delivered by Goolburri Health.
The sessions have focused on understanding the harms of smoking and vaping, and how to support someone who may be struggling with addiction. Students have been learning to change the way they yarn—using empathy and encouragement rather than judgement.
As a final project, the girls will design their own campaigns to educate and inspire mob to make healthier choices.
NAIDOC at UniSQ
A highlight of Week 5 was attending UniSQ’s NAIDOC Celebration with a group of Year 12 girls.
We were especially proud of Jazmyn Keller-Martin, who was invited to speak on a student panel. She answered the question: “How do you connect with your culture and identity during NAIDOC Week?” with confidence and pride, showcasing her leadership and cultural strength.
NRL Indigenous Round – Battle of Brisbane
Indigenous Round is always special, and this year it was extra meaningful for our program.
Kalinda Stewart’s boot design was proudly worn by Corey Paix in the Broncos’ clash with the Dolphins. On top of that, Kalinda was invited onto the field at halftime during the Women’s game – an incredible recognition of her talent and creativity.
Work Experience & Traineeships
We’re proud to celebrate two of our Year 10 girls who are stepping into exciting career opportunities:
- Dakoda Bethune – School-based Traineeship as an Apprentice Chef
- Shakayla Williams – Work Experience at Kulila Kindergarten
Both students are showing courage and commitment as they explore pathways toward their future careers.
Individual Support Plans (ISP)
Each term, we check in with every student to set SMART goals and talk about career pathways.
We are proud to share that we’ve completed 100% of our first ISP check-ins. These conversations help our girls reflect on where they’re at and what steps they need to take next.
Students of the Week
Every week we highlight a student who embodies the Broncos values – Respect, Mateship, Compete, Resilience.
- Week 4–5: Harmonii Turnbull
Despite being unwell, Harmonii has shown remarkable resilience, working hard to catch up on her final Year 12 assessments. She now has only three assignments left before graduation! - Week 6: Bailey Barber
Bailey has truly come out of their shell this term, bringing constant positive energy to the BTB room. Always ready with a dance move and a smile, Bailey has shown sportsmanship, commitment, and confidence, making them a role model for others.
Workshop Reminder
Our next BTB Workshop will be held on Wednesday 3rd September, Period 3 in the PAC. These workshops are a valuable opportunity for students to come together, learn, and connect in a safe space.
Thank You
As always, we’re grateful for the support of our school staff, families, and community. Thank you for everything you do to encourage and uplift our girls – we support you, just as you support us.
Amanda Brady (Proud Mardigan woman)
Jordie McLellan (Proud Bundjalung woman)
Beyond the Broncos – Wilsonton SHS
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 21st October, 2025 commencing at 5.00pm in the Conference Room (Administration Building). 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:
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:
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