30 August 2024

Principal

Term 3 has been exceptionally busy for students and staff. Students have had the opportunity to participate in Roadcraft (Yrs11+12); Port Curtis and Capricornia Athletics Trails (congratulations to all students who participated and moved through to the varying levels); Information Nights for our Year 11 and future Year 7 students; Instrumental Music students have participated in workshops and concerts with the visiting North Rockhampton SHS band; Year 10 SETPlan Interviews to set them up for their future pathways; Students attended Dorrie Day in Gladstone; NAIDOC celebrations and workshops; science week activities for our students as well as visits to Biloela SS; a Year 6 ACE Experience Day; visit to the Rural Health Career Expo and the Love Bytes program. Students have also had the opportunity to participate in Dress-Up days for Jeans for Genes Day, Green and Gold Day, Book Week and Flanno for a Farmer Year 7 2025 Information Evening and Enrolment Interviews

We have welcomed Miss Ashlyn Hill and Mr Jacob Pyper to our staff this term. Mr Jeremy Lonsdale and Ms Jan Chew will be joining us for Weeks 9 and 10 of Term 3. A big thank-you to Mr Chris Thomas for his time spent at Biloela SHS this year.

Term 4 Week 11

This year there is an additional week to Term 4: Monday 9^th – 13^th December. In this time there will be no structured learning taking place. This will look like students in 7-9 being together to work with different faculties on alternate activities. Thursday 12^th will be Break-Up Day and Friday 13^th will be Clean-Up Day.

Swimming Carnival Date Change

Due to work being completed at the pool we have had to move our swimming carnival date to November 22^nd. The Year 12 students will have their own pool day / carnival on Wednesday 13^th November.

Leadership Investiture

Earlier this term we celebrated the ushering in of our 2024/25 school leaders. Congratulations to our incoming team:

School Captains: Amy and Libby;
Vice Captains: Brooke and Te Amokura
Jnr Captains: Grace and Zara
Jnr Vice Captains: Asta and Charlotte
Burnett House Captains: Tohuranga, Adam and Nathan
Flinders House Captains: Hayley and Charlotte
Lavarack House Captains: Erin and Bronte
Paterson House Captains: Chloe and Timothy

We have 39 mentors across 7-12, and 29 members of the Interact committee.

I would like to extend much thanks and appreciation to our outgoing School and Vice Captains – John, Annabella, Cooper and Mackinlay – they worked tirelessly throughout the year promoting our school at various events, and will all go on to do amazing things next year.

Important Dates

Term 4

Friday October 11^th – Red Food Day
Thursday October 17^th – Leavers Ceremony
Monday October 21^st – Tuesday November 12^th Year 12 Exam Block
Tuesday 29^th October – Year 11 Biology Field Trip
Friday November 8^th – Red Food Day
Monday November 11^th - Awards Night
Tuesday November 12^th – Alternate day
Friday November 14^th – Last Day Year 12s
Friday November 22nd – Last Day Year 10 and 11
Tuesday November 26^th – Friday 29^th – Year 11 Uni Trip 
Friday December 13^th – Last Day of the Year
* Please note these dates are subject to change without consultation.

Deputy Principal Years 7 and 8

Assessment Schedules

All student assessment dates are available via the Assessment Schedule which is accessed via OneSchool.  If your child is unsure how to access this, their Care Group or classroom teacher are their first point of call to seek assistance. 

Both students and families/ carers need to ensure that students are able to be organised and prepared for in their learning.  Accessing the Assessment Schedule will support this process. It also allows families to be able to establish early on when students need to be a school to engage with assessment.

Whilst information regarding assessment tasks is available for some subjects via Compass, OneSchool has all dates for all subjects.

Year 7 2025 Enrolment Interviews and Information Evening

This term we have had our first Information Evening for our 2025 cohort of Year 7 students.   It was wonderful to welcome students and their families/carers to Biloela State High School to begin their transition into high school.

We have also welcomed the incoming cohort to the Biloela State High School via our first Transition Day on Wednesday, 31^st July.   We welcomed students from our local feeder schools to come along for the day for their very first experience of high school life.

Enrolment interviews occurred on Wednesday 21^st August and Monday 26^h August. Students wishing to attend the final Transition Day on Tuesday 26^th November must have their interviews completed by Friday 8^th November.  Please ring our friendly office team to book your appointment.

Leadership Investiture

Monday 22^nd July saw the investiture of our 2024/2025 school leaders. This was an important recognition of both our incoming leaders and of the work and effort of the students leaving their leadership roles from 2023/2024. We are excited to support our Year 7 and 8 mentors and school leaders.

Parent Teacher Interviews

These are coming up across the final week of school this term.  Please follow school communications to book your appointment to discuss the progress of your child with their learning.

Thankyou to families who have been in touch with your concerns for your child.   We welcome your communications so that we can work together to support your child.

Biloela Netball Association Interschool Netball Carnival

Information regarding this event has been communicated via Compass.   Students were given the opportunity to Express Their Interest in participating.

As this is extra-curricular activity, students must meet the relevant criteria outlined in the Extra and Co-Curricular policy.  

Teams will be nominated in the U14 division and over 15 division.   Team composition will be determined by Biloela State High School.

I am the teacher in charge of this event and queries need to be communicated directly to me.

We would like to acknowledged the fantastic work from the Biloela Netball Association in providing this opportunity for our students.

Deputy Principal Years 9 and 10

Holiday Work Experience (End of Term 4)

Many of our students in Year 10 are approaching the age of 16 (or have 6 months to go until the completion of their Prep to Year 10 journey of schooling). Some students will be looking at pathways to transition to the workforce, either as full-time employees or by working in an apprenticeship. The school partners with the local business community to provide opportunities for our Year 10 students to experience possible pathways.

The September/October window has now closed.

Students can apply for two blocks of work experience at the end of the year, in November and December. To apply, students need to collect an application form from the Library or speak to Miss Constable for extra help.

Year 10 SET PLANNING

SET planning took place on Wednesday the 31of July. These meetings involved students and parents/carers selecting subjects for Year 11 in 2025.

If you and your child missed this meeting please contact the school office and ask to speak with Mr David Hall to discuss catch-up options.

We also need USI training numbers for all our Year 10 students. If you have not provided this please do so as soon as possible. Please refer to attached information to support the application process.

Subject Selection for 2025

Year 10 students completed subject selection for 2025 at SET planning meeting.

Year 8 and 9 students have been supported at school to complete their elective choices for 2025.

If your child wished to make changes to these choices they needed to make contact with me to update their selections.

Electives School Fee Reminder

Students in Year 9 and 10 that may have outstanding balances on their school fees may be unable to select subjects for 2025 that attract additional user pay fees. These subjects have an additional cost, as all the materials used in that subject are consumed or taken home by the students. Students with outstanding balances may be unable to select the following subjects for Year 10 or 11 until the balance is settled:

• Building and Construction
• Engineering Principles
• Hospitality
• Food and Nutrition
• Visual Art
• CERT III Fitness

Invoices for Semester 2 Year 10 Electives 2025 have been sent home to families.

Family accessing students during school hours

All contact with students must occur through the school office. This included any delivery of food for lunch. Students are not to be provided KFC while at school and this is not to be delivered across the fence line to students.

Deputy Principal Years 11 and 12

Year 11 Transition

Year 10 Students have completed their subject selections for Year 11 & 12 subjects during their SET plan interview on Wednesday 31^st July. Students chose their subjects from lines with their Parent/Carer during the interview.

Information was provided for parents/carers regarding QCE and ATAR at an information session on Wednesday 24^th July.  If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Compulsory Participation Phase of Schooling

Student Leadership Process

It was great to see so many of our students stepping into leadership positions in the school.  Our Senior Leadership Investiture parade, held on Monday 22^nd July, was a time for us to reflect on how these children have grown and to acknowledge the previous leaders.  I would like to thank our Year 12 students who stepped up to become leaders over the past year.  They have done a superb job and were a pleasure to work with.

Assessment calendars

Year 11 & 12 assessment calendars are on Compass and have been available all year.  If you have any concerns about assessment, please contact either the class teacher or the curriculum HOD.

Please remember that the process for extensions or alternative assessment is a little more complex in Year 11 & 12 with the requirement of AARA applications.  Where students are absent due to illness, a medical certificate is required as supporting evidence. Telehealth providers are able to provide this service quickly and efficiently where you are unable to get a doctor’s appointment locally.

Schools make decisions about AARA for Units 1 and 2. They ensure that for Applied, Applied (Essential) and General subjects the AARA implemented for an eligible student for Unit 1 and 2 assessments are aligned to those that are available for summative assessments in Units 3 and 4.

In approving AARA, a principal or principal’s delegate must:

• be reasonably satisfied that the need for the AARA exists based on the functional impact on that individual student
• be able to provide evidence to justify the decision.

Evidence of AARA being enacted for a student in Unit 1 or 2 will be considered as part of an application for the same AARA in Units 3 and 4.

Principal-reported AARA are specific practical arrangements and adjustments authorised by the principal or principal’s delegate for an eligible student, for example, approving an extension, changing the due date and/or providing a comparable assessment if necessary.

In approving AARA, a principal or principal’s delegate must:

• be reasonably satisfied that the need for the AARA exists, based on the functional impact on that individual student
• be able to provide evidence to justify the decision.

Schools must notify the QCAA, via the QCAA Portal, of principal-reported AARA for students undertaking summative internal assessment in Units 3 and 4 of Applied, Applied (Essential), General and General (Extension) subjects, and for summative external assessment in General, General (Extension) and General (Senior External Examination) subjects.

Schools retain supporting documentation for principal-reported AARA. Schools may be required to supply a copy of supporting documentation as part of the quality assurance processes for AARA or as part of a review process.

Report cards and QCE progress

Report cards were emailed home to Parents/Carers on the last day of last term.  Please make sure you share this with your child.  Year 11 and 12 students need to be tracking their progress towards receiving their QCE (Queensland Certificate of Education).  There is a page in each student’s diary to assist them with this.  I will be meeting with students who are not on track and communicating with their parents to assist with focussing on improving subject results so that students get back on track to receive their QCE.  All students should understand the requirements of the QCE.  When there are concerns, it is important that parents are aware and are able to support their child in improving their results and getting themselves back on track.  This relies heavily on students being at school every day and attending all of their classes.  If help is required, they need to ask their class teacher or see the curriculum HOD.

Attendance

It is crucial that Year 11 & 12 students are attending school every day.

Lately some Year 11 & 12 students are becoming tardy and not signing in when they arrive at school after or during care group. This means that our attendance records are incorrect and Parents/Carers are getting text messages and worrying unnecessarily. Please ensure that your child understands that if they arrive at school after care group, they will have been marked absent for the day. They must sign in at the office for these records to be adjusted. 

Missing care group each day contributes to percentage attendance and means that important messages are missed. Student notices is a key method for our distribution of messages to students.

SPARQ-ed Program

Over the school holidays, Erin travelled to Brisbane to participate in the SPARQ-ed program, a biomedical research immersion program for students held at the Translational Research Institute (TRI). This program is delivered through a collaboration between the TRI and the Department of Education.

The SPARQ-ed program aims to provide students interested in STEM-based careers insight into researching and solving real-world problems, and inspires students to consider STEM subjects and careers.

Erin had the opportunity to work on a project co-designed by Professor Brian Gabrielli (Mater Research Institute) and Dr Mathew Jones (The University of Queensland, Frazer Institute). 

The project involved exposing cancer cells to a combination of treatments, and using immunofluorescence microscopy to determine the effect of the treatments on the cells. This project is genuine research and attempted to answer a question the researchers are currently investigating!

During her time at the TRI, Erin also toured the microscopy facilities, and had the opportunity to interact with scientists who work at the facility.

Well done, Erin! 

Sport

Biloela State High School annual swimming carnival has been postponed due to major works in the 50m pool.  The new date is 22^nd of November, which is unfortunately after the Year 12s have finished school. 

Nominations for Swimming Carnival took place in weeks 7 and 8 this term.  If your child missed these nominations or for new students to the school please contact the carnival conveners at Michael Cooper mtcoo0@eq.edu.au or Lani Madill amard0@eq.edu.au

Yarning from the CEC

My name is Kris and I am a proud Kamilaroi woman born on Yuggera country.

Today I acknowledge the tribal lands of the Gangulu people, the lands on which our school stands. Our town Biloela which means White Cockatoo, with its wide-open spaces where our Elders past, present and emerging call home. I pay my respects to our past Elders for the struggles they faced, to our present Elders who are keeping our traditions alive and to our emerging Elders who will carry on our traditions and culture.

The country on which we stands is unique from its waterways to its mountains and offers the people of our town the opportunity to come together as a community. This can be seen within our school community through our learning.

This term the First Nations students have been involved in the Deadly Choices Program. Students from years 7 to 9 participated in the Tobacco Education Program. The program informed students about the dangers and effects of Tobacco and Vaping. As part of the program students had to complete a project, our students decided to create Artworks to help inform their peers about the effects of Tobacco and Vaping.

Student Support

Year 12 Career Pathway Sessions

Every year we offer our Year 12 students a session with the Guidance Officer to discuss the transition from high school to work, study or Vocational Training.  Students usually attend this appointment in one of their breaks or an appropriate time during class.  Students are provided with a wide range of resources to support them to manage this transition time.  Parents can also access resources by visiting the Your Career Website - 

QTAC for Year 12 Students

Students interested in applying for university in 2025 should start to consider what courses they would like to preference.  QTAC applications open on 1st August, 2024.  We will offer QTAC support sessions before school during Terms 3 and 4 so students can get assistance with their application.

James Cook University – Health Careers Expo

Students in Years 10, 11 and 12, who were interested in a career in health, were invited to attend the expo at Biloela Civic Centre on Tuesday 20^th August.  This was an excellent opportunity for these students to explore their future pathways.

Specialist Assessments and Screeners

If your child is working with a health professional such as a psychologist, psychiatrist or paediatrician, please ensure you send any required assessments or screeners to the Guidance Officer, not the classroom teacher.  You can contact our Guidance Officer, Mrs Hawkins, by phoning the office on 4992 8666.

Year 9 Love Bites Program

Each year we offer a specialised program to our students that teaches healthy and respectful relationships.  This term, Year 9 students participated in this program on Thursday 22^nd August. 

R U Ok Day

This term on Thursday 12^th September we will be offering activities to promote R U Ok? Day.  You can find out more information by visiting their website - 

Marketing Officer

Investiture Ceremony

Congratulations to all of our incoming leaders for 2024/2025. I am looking forward to working with the incoming Interact and Student Council Committees.

Interact Committee at Biloela State High School, supported by Biloela Rotary Club, have some exciting events on the horizon. We are looking forward to being out and about in the community volunteering in various spaces, keep an eye out!

Student Council have had the opportunity to have our first meeting and are looking forward to bringing some big ideas to life over the 2024/2025.

Ski Trip

On behalf of Mrs Holman, Miss Charles and myself we would love to give a shout out the 29 Students who attended Ski Trip 2024. We had a marvellous time, thank you for your exemplary behaviour and hilarious stories.

ROADCRAFT

We had 22 students attend and participate in the ROADCRAFT Driver Education Program on Thursday 11^th and Friday 12^th July. By attending this program our students gain valuable experience to enable them to enhance their driving skill set. We would like to thank JBOYS for their continual funding support towards this program.

We would also like to acknowledge Rotary Biloela for the donation received, which will further enhance our financial support for future Driver Education programs.

Share the Dignity Machine 

Our school and students have access to a Share the Dignity Machine to help eradicate period poverty.

This machine has been relocated from the student toilets to the sickbay in our Administration Office. This is a free service and is available for all our female students.

Stymie

Biloela State High School is proud to be working with ‘Stymie’ to foster and empower students to further our school’s culture of care. Any student can make a notification about someone they believe is being bullied or harmed via the link below. This notification is automatically forwarded to the school, and managed by the appropriate, nominated members of staff.

We share the weekly Stymie focus each week, with teachers often referring to this in their lessons.

Tuckshop

Natasha Nelson
Tuckshop Convenor