Welcome to the first newsletter for 2025

Welcome to all new families and students of Year 7, as well as all other year levels. Our numbers are stable between 950 to 980 on our official day 8 student numbers. A testament to our growth is the great work of all staff and the achievements of our students.

A 'Meet the Teacher' evening will be on Tuesday 18^th February between 5pm and 6pm for Year 7, but all are welcome.

Our attendance goal is 92% attendance in all year levels. This is a challenge with already on average between 150 to 190 students away per day. This brings us to an 89.6 % attendance for the year, so unfortunately not tracking too well, so far.   

We are in a process of formulating a updated policy for students late to school and as principal, I will make contact with parents of repeat offenders. School starts every day at 8:45am with the first warning bell and students need to be standing in front of your class on the second bell at 8:50am, ready to step into class. Students missing lesson time will have to make up the time or have a consequence for not following school processes.

We had a very successful start after the three student free days.  The staff are busy teaching and preparing for Naplan through teaching of reading and writing in the classrooms for Year 7 and 9. Naplan will take place at the end this term.

Wilsonton SHS is a school for the community. Reflecting on the achievements of our Senior 2024 cohort shows that our program and curriculum delivery by very passionate and qualified teachers is working. This year, our senior student numbers have also grown.  We welcome new staff members to our school community.

Our 2024 senior cohort were very successful, achieving 100% QCE (Queensland Certificate of Education) attainments. VET course students were successful in achieving competencies resulting in Certificate III and Certificate II qualifications to support them in future pathways.  The ATAR score was on the predicted mark with students doing well in their personal scores. Some student attained a score above 90, showing again that Wilsonton SHS can compete with any other school with the right student attitude towards learning.

Academically, Wilsonton SHS is very much on par with other schools, even those larger than us. At Wilsonton SHS successes are attributed to three factors working in partnership together. The student, teacher and parent have each got a role to play and a vested interest in the student's outcome and future.

An old African proverb says –It takes a village to bring up a child.

Lets work in this three-way partnership, to guarantee our student successes and not work against the corners of the triangle. 

Enjoy the rest of the articles.

Lou Oberholzer
Principal