7 March 2025

PRINCIPAL’S ADDRESS

Full School Parade

The full school parade this week provided the perfect opportunity to work through some key messaging; many from a positive, celebratory perspective and a few about required improvement or awareness. I will include many of the topics from the parade in this newsletter today.

Swimming Carnival

What a wonderful day the swimming carnival turned out to be; although the mighty Parnka house didn’t quite walk away with the shield, they did come in a respectable fourth. Congratulations to Kougari on a tight win, with Tyalan close on their heels! The weather turned it on, with blue skies and sunshine setting the scene for a wonderful carnival. The expected strong winds didn’t quite eventuate but a few short rain downpours did help to cool off all involved. We were very proud of the way that our students participated in the swimming events as well as the novelty events on offer. Additionally, the general behaviour of our students was excellent, with the feedback from the staff at the pool highlighting just how respectful and courteous the students in attendance were. We need to thank our Sports Coordinator, Mrs Trudy Sheppard and her team of staff and students for the outstanding planning and running of this event as it ran very smoothly. It is also important to recognise and thank our staff in attendance for the day; they have been instrumental in the success of the carnival.

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) reward events

Who wouldn’t want to be involved in Laser Tag or an Escape Room Challenge; to watch a movie or access a free sausage sizzle and dessert bar?! Last Friday night saw over 170 students attend the school to participate in these events, with Laser Tag for the seniors and Escape Room for the Juniors. Simply amazing to see so many students involved but even more impressive is that we had over 20 teachers give up their Friday night to provide these opportunities for our kids! I would also like to point out that the numbers of students eligible for these reward events are growing fast, with over 700 students eligible this time around. Special thanks to our PBL and Wellbeing teams for everything they do for our students, with events like this being just one example.

Mid-term academic reminders

We encourage, and honestly expect, our students to do their best. We challenge them to be proud of their effort and their behaviour. With four weeks left of the term, it is crucial that our students make the most of this time. Attending class on time, ensuring all required equipment is there, focussing on learning in the classroom, asking clarifying questions if unsure of something, seeking feedback from the teacher etc are all crucial for students to achieve their best. I would encourage our parents to work with their kids to find out how they are travelling and to encourage teacher contact if needed. For students with assignments this term, working through the feedback from the teacher on the draft is a fantastic starting point.

International Women’s Day 8 March

I feel very fortunate to have strong women in my life, from my wife to my three sisters and a truly impressive mother. These women all work hard, are all successful and have managed to raise a family through very difficult circumstances at times. I feel that my daughter, who will grow up with the influence of these women, has a genuine opportunity to chase her dreams, her path and her chosen direction due to the ever-improving opportunities for women.

This being said, the battle for women to receive equality across our society continues and whilst there has been improvement, there is still a long way to go. Education is an area where we may be more ‘equal’ than other professions however there is still some distance to travel. The women who work at Gladstone State High School; our teachers, our cleaners, our admin staff, our leadership team, our scientific officers, our teacher aides, all do an amazing job and impact the lives of our students every day. I thank you for the commitment you continue to make for our students and our school!

Expectation Reminders:

Interactions with staff

Our expectations in this area are clear, all interactions are to be respectful and courteous. I will point out that the vast majority of our students are nothing short of fantastic in this area. Unfortunately, we have seen a relatively small number of students fail to apply this standard in recent weeks. It is disappointing to see the impact that these disrespectful interactions have on our staff. We will continue to work with our students to reinforce this and if the situation requires, we will apply appropriate consequences. There will not be a point where we will accept a student making offensive or inappropriate comments to our staff.

Additionally, we have this same expectation for any interactions between parents and staff. This is regardless of whether the interaction is over the phone, in person or through email communication. We strongly support communication between parents and staff but reaffirm that this needs to be done in appropriate ways.

Road Safety

Unfortunately, our ongoing discussions with our students in relation to Road Safety aren’t making a difference to all students. We are still receiving calls from our community about students making poor decisions about their safety on the roads. Student not wearing helmets when riding bicycles and scooters seems to be the biggest concern at the moment. This is closely followed by students on bikes and scooters going too fast and zipping into traffic or crossing roads randomly, rather than at traffic lights. I do not want to make the difficult phone call to parents to let them know that their child has been injured on the roads. I would ask parents of students that ride bicycles and scooters to discuss this issue with them. Thank you for your support.

Uniform

Gladstone State High is a uniform school and for the most part our students are doing a wonderful job wearing it with pride. We are, however, seeing a couple of areas starting to slip:

• Shorts – versions of basketball shorts have appeared in the last couple of weeks. These are not our uniform and are not acceptable at our school. We have redirected a number of these students to our Wellbeing Hub where we have provided appropriate shorts for the day.
• Jewellery – bracelets and anklets are not part of our uniform. Medi-alert bracelets are definitely supported for students with significant medical situations however outside of these, other forms of bracelets or anklets are not to be worn to school. Additionally, our policy supports one fine gold or silver necklace and one flat ring.

We thank our parents for their ongoing support of these expectations. If there is a concern about being able to provide the appropriate uniform, please contact the year coordinator for your child’s year level so that we can look at what supports we can offer.

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) Focus

Each fortnight we adopt a Behaviour Focus across our school community. This fortnight our focus, “Follow all class rules”, reminds our students of the expectations within our classrooms. This enables a positive learning environment for all students.

PBL NEWS

FLEXI SPACE NEWS

Flexi-Space - Literacy

Our work in our new Flexible Learning Space continues at full speed this term, with students engaging in a range of activities to improve their literacy skills. Students this fortnight have focused on building their literacy techniques to improve their story telling.  Students participated in chalk mapping alternative stories based on a single starting idea to show how stories can be unique and take unexpected directions. They also focused on their reading skills, punctuation and spelling, and use of descriptive language to create some really interesting stories. We continue to be impressed by the effort and engagement of our small group.

ROBOTICS NEWS

GSHS Robotics Club will be back after the Easter Holidays – Every Wednesday afternoon after school!!

The GSHS Robotics Club will begin after the Easter holidays and will meet every Wednesday afternoon after school until 4:30 pm. Students will engage with LEGO EV3 robots, LEGO SPIKE Prime robots, and Micro Bits while exploring various coding languages to address real-world challenges. As well as investigating new technologies to prepare for the Young ICT Explorers competition in partnership with the Smith Family. If you're interested in acquiring new skills or have a passion for STEM, the GSHS Robotics Club might be perfect for you! Contact Ms. Hunt at jhunt309@eq.edu.au  or call GSHS on 4976 6174.

Messages from our past club members:
"I've learned new coding skills with Micro Bits alongside my peers."
"I am a TECH genius – I love to code!"
"Learning new things is exciting!"
"I've made new friends who share my interests."
"Computational Thinking – interesting problem solving."
"Robotics is not just a field of science; it’s a canvas for art, innovation, and progress."
"I get to hang out and have fun with my peers!"
"We are the ultimate example of FUN!!!"
"Robotics brings out the best in everyone!"
"The best way for students to predict the future is to invent it!"
"Code or be coded…"

H2GP NEWS

H2GP Race Teams ‘Sharks’ and ‘Fast Fins’ Hit the Ground Running!

Our H2GP Race Teams, Sharks and Fast Fins, are back in action, diving into preparations for the 2025 Horizon Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP) season. It’s been fantastic to see our students working together as a cohesive unit, much like professional supercar crews, with each member contributing to the design, build, and testing of their hydrogen-powered race cars.

This season, our teams are focused on significant upgrades to enhance the performance and style of their vehicles. The students are redesigning the cars with new motors, refined gearing, and improved servos, all of which contribute to better speed and handling. One of the most exciting aspects is the creation of a brand-new car body, featuring a sleek design that proudly displays our school’s colours. The design process has involved thoughtful planning and creativity, with the goal of delivering a vehicle that looks as good as it performs.

We are incredibly grateful for the support of Stanwell and their talented engineers, who have been instrumental in guiding our students through this process. Their expertise and mentorship have provided valuable insights into automotive design and engineering, helping students understand the intricacies of vehicle dynamics and the importance of precision in every component. The partnership with Stanwell not only enhances the technical quality of our cars but also gives students a real-world perspective on teamwork and engineering processes.

During our Thursday afternoon workshops and Sunday driving practices, students are demonstrating exceptional collaboration and problem-solving skills. They are applying STEM concepts and working together with the focus and discipline of professional racing teams. Whether it’s fine-tuning the gear ratios, testing new components, or brainstorming innovative solutions, every student is contributing to the success of the teams.

We’re incredibly proud of our Sharks and Fast Fins teams and can’t wait to see them hit the track. Stay tuned for updates as we race toward an exciting season!

Mark McMullin, Lead Teacher

LITERACY COMPETITION

NAPLAN

Hello parents and carers of year 7 and 9 students,

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) test is just around the corner and will start on Wednesday the 12th of March and will conclude on Tuesday the 18th of March. Catch up exams will run from Wednesday the 19th until Monday the 24th. NAPLAN will only be one period a day for each cohort. At Gladstone SHS we want students to just do their best on the test, attempt every question, and be proud of their efforts. This is the same approach we have taken for the past 3 years. It has been successful with an average of 97-99% of students completing NAPLAN.

If you are unfamiliar with NAPLAN test, it is designed to assess the literacy and numeracy skills of students in grades 3, 5, 7, and 9 across Australia. It provides schools with valuable point-in-time information about areas of strengths for cohorts and areas for improvement that we as a school should focus on.

We acknowledge that some students may feel anxious about taking NAPLAN from past experiences in year 3 and 5, however please be reassured that at Gladstone SHS we try to make it a positive event and supportive test environment. We have displayed posters around the school to remind students that we are looking for them to do their best, attempt every question, and have a positive attitude as we just want them to be proud of their efforts on the days. I'm hoping we can work together to support the above notions, so students feel less anxious going in on those days.

 Just like the past 3 years it will be online. As NAPLAN is online, we would like students to bring their iPads for it. That way they can feel more comfortable using their own device. Students can also bring their own corded headphones to listen to sections of the test too. If students do not have corded headphones, that’s okay, I have a supply for them. More information around iPads and headphones for NAPLAN has been sent to emails of Parent and Carers. If your child's iPad is being repaired or currently not working, that’s also okay, I will have spares on the day. 

We will be supplying students with headphones for the four tests. The headphones they are given will be only theirs to use. No other students will be using them for health and safety purposes.  However, if your child would like to bring their own headphones, they can do that. The headphones need to be corded. So that means no wireless headphones. Wireless headphones cannot be used under the NAPLAN rules. If your child’s iPad does not have a headphone jack anymore because it is a newer model. That is okay, I have purchased some adapters so students can use those during NAPLAN.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mr Pett via email on bpett45@eq.edu.au.

Thank you for your time and support.
Mr Beau Pett

SENIOR SCHOOLING NEWS

2025 Next Step Year 12 Completers Survey

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.

SPORT NEWS

TONKA NEWS

2025 ROTARY LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE OPPORTUNITY

For more information about this amazing opportunity, click on this link

GUIDANCE OFFICER NEWS

This is article 2 in a series of 2 we are running on the topic of Bullying, utilising information from Emerging Minds.

Note: Article 1 covered the definition of bullying and what to do if your child is experiencing or engaged in bullying.

Understanding your child’s experience of bullying

If your child has told you they’re experiencing bullying, or you’ve noticed signs of bullying and think they might be, it’s important to talk about it with them as soon as possible. Link to signs of bullying Here

Before you do: take a moment to check your own reactions and feelings – it’s important that you’re calm and ready to support your child before talking with them about their bullying experience. You may want to read the guidance in Finding out your child is experiencing or engaging in bullying if you haven’t already.

Resist the temptation to leap into problem-solving mode – that’s the next step. In this first conversation with your child your aim is to find out:

• exactly what happened or is going on; and
• what your child is thinking and feeling.

To do this you will need to:

• Understand what children who have experienced bullying need from the adults in their life
• Get the facts – use open-ended questions and actively listen
• Confirm you understand and validate your child’s feelings; and
• Help your child understand bullying behaviour and make sense of their experience.

How to talk about bullying

If you notice any of these signs of bullying, it’s important to talk to your child.

It can be hard to know how to start a conversation about bullying. Some tips include:

• Find a time when you’re both calm and not rushed, in a place you know your child will feel relaxed. With younger children, you might talk while doing something else together, like colouring or having a snack. Older children and teenagers often open up when you’re in the car together and there’s no eye contact.
• Asking direct questions often doesn’t work – so avoid questions like ‘Are you being bullied?’ or ‘What did you do to that kid?’ Instead, be curious and ready to listen.
• Try asking casually about how things are going at school. If you’ve noticed friendships changing, you could say something like: ‘Hey, I haven’t heard you mention (friend’s name) recently – have they been away from school?’
• Children, especially teenagers, are more likely to be open with you if they don’t feel pressured. A casual comment about someone or something that happened could be their way of reaching out. If you show you’re interested – but not prying – your child is more likely to keep talking.
• Keep trying. You might have to gently bring up the topic a few times before your child opens up to you.

Have you noticed any changes in your child’s behaviour, friendship circles or routines?

If you think your child is involved in bullying but they can’t or won’t talk to you about it, don’t push too hard. Remind them they can talk to you about anything and you’ll take it seriously, but that if they can’t tell you they should talk to somebody – ideally an adult they trust who can help them work out what to do such as a favourite teacher, educator or sports coach, or maybe an aunt or uncle.

If your child has experienced bullying look at the following resources in order:

Understanding Your Child's Experience of Bullying

Making a Plan With Your Child to Address Bullying

Taking Action to Stop Your Child From Being Bullied

Protecting Your Child From Bullying Harm

If your child has engaged in Bullying Behaviour look at these resources:

Understanding and Addressing Your Child's Bullying Behaviour

Helping Your Child to Stop Their Bullying Behaviour

Further Information and resources can be found at http://emergingminds.com.au  

SBYHN NEWS

The month of March shines a spotlight on the debilitating chronic condition of Endometriosis.

Endometriosis is common

Endometriosis is a condition that affects 1 in every 7 women or 14% of reproductive age women in Australia. 

Endometriosis is a condition where cells similar to those found in the lining of the uterus are found in other parts of the body.  One of the most debilitating symptoms of Endometriosis is pain and heavy periods.  Adolescent females are often overlooked for this condition and it appears many are suffering from painful periods and early signs of endometriosis in silence.

Symptoms that need investigation

• Pelvic pain around your period (that doesn’t settle with Paracetamol or Ibuprofen)
• Heavy Periods/Irregular Periods
• Fatigue
• Back pain
• Bowel and bladder problems

Helpful Resources

https://www.qendo.org.au/
http://www.pelvicpain.org.au/
https://endometriosisaustralia.org/
https://www.canberrahealthservices.act.gov.au/services-and-clinics/services/canberra-endometriosis-centre/period-impact-and-pain-assessment-pippa

Useful Apps for Women

Charli – Free Cycle tracking                 Qendo -  Endo tracking

If your young person is suffering from any of the symptoms listed above, please make contact with your School Based Health Nurse or your GP for a chat.

Yours in Health

Susan Buckeridge
Sbuck168@eq.edu.au
4976 6171

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION EVENT

Walking4Warriors is a community-focused group comprised of individuals with strong military connections who are dedicated to improving the well-being of their community. Their primary aim is to address mental health challenges and lower suicide rates by encouraging outdoor activities that promote personal growth and resilience. Operated entirely by volunteers, Walking4Warriors fosters a supportive environment rooted in camaraderie and respect, drawing inspiration from the Warrior Mindset to help individuals navigate life's difficulties.

The Walking4Warriors Endurance Challenge is a distinctive fundraising event designed to honour Veterans in a meaningful way. It highlights the mental fortitude and dedication of service members who persevere through physical and emotional hardships. This challenge not only allows participants to push their limits but also serves as a demonstration of appreciation for the sacrifices made by Veterans and First Responders. Many involved in this initiative are parents of teenagers facing mental health struggles, emphasizing the organization's commitment to supporting all members of the community.

GLADSTONE ROAD RUNNERS EVENT

METEORS HOCKEY CLUB

QPARENTS

NURSE PRACTITIONER NEWS

BREAKFAST CLUB

UNIFORM SHOP

Uniform Shop Hours

GSHS Calendar Term 1 2025