5 September 2025

Principal

We have seen both our Year 7 and Year 10 Geography students take part on excursions to strengthen their understanding of our local community and its surrounds.

Our Year 12 Certificate III in Fitness students have taken part in an excursion to Rockhampton, Yeppoon and Emu Park to better understand what is required in working with older clients, and watching this in action. They have also been having ‘clients’ come to the school to complete workouts in the gym as a part of their assessment.

This week our friends from the Noosa Film Festival are onsite working with students across year levels. This an annual event on our school calendar, and is always a great day of learning and enjoyment for our students.

Congratulations to the following students on their selection into the Capricornia Team for:

Track & Field: Matilda, Jennifer, Emaya, Hayley, Clae and Eli
Cricket: Aiden, Arienna
Futsal: Dylan

Friday 5^th September is a Staff Professional Development Day – students will not be in attendance on this day. Our staff are completing workshops on 4Dimensions and Explicit Instruction, two key pedagogies utilised by our staff across the school. Our teacher aides will also be completing a 4Dimensions workshop.

Our Student Council has started a Reading Buddies initiative with Biloela State School two mornings a week.

Student Council will also be running a free dress day (Wear Yellow) on the 11^th September to support RUOK? Day. This will be gold coin donation, and those students participating will need to be in appropriate attire, and ensure sun safety also.

We are excited that our Swimming Carnival will be taking place on the 16^th September. It will be happening in the 25m pool, and therefore we will run a short course program. Students have already nominated for events, and staffing is being finalised. Mrs Allen and Mrs Brosnan have been working very hard to make this day happen for our students.

On this day, the school will run as a split campus.

Only students who have completed their nomination forms are able to attend the Swimming Carnival. All other students are to attend school. Students who are included in the Swimming Carnival event are not able to change are not able to change their mind. Our staffing is allocated on where Students are attending that day.

This week is Teacher Aide Appreciation Week. We cannot thank our teacher aides enough for the work they do in supporting students and staff throughout the school day. Much thanks to:

Tim Boyd                                       Hannah Gordon                Taini Brown      
Sharon Grimsey                             Deb Johnston                   Tammy Maguire
Mel Miller                                      Dorothy Ragas                  Deb Voss 
Alison Walsh                                  Marcia Wilson                   Nan Zhao

Students were notified on Monday’s parade about Service and Cultural Awards. Applications can be collected from the school office, and are to be returned to the office by Wednesday 17^th September, 12pm, Late applications will not be accepted.

Student Code of Conduct

This term we have seen an increase in the instances of fighting and physical aggression, as well as abusive language directed at students and staff to incite a response. Unfortunately, other students are then recording these incidents and sharing them to social media.

It is clearly outlined in our Student Code of Conduct (page 23) that these behaviours are considered as a Major behaviour, and have suspension and / or exclusion outlined as a possible consequence.

As a school, we do not condone violence, nor abusive language towards students or staff, and as such we will put consequences in place for these behaviours.

We have anonymous reporting measures in place, via Stymie, for students to make the Principal and Deputy Principal’s aware of any concerns around these types of behaviours. Alternatively, students can report to the Deputy Principal’s or the Support Hub in person.

Students who bully / harass over social media, and then bring the fallout of these online behaviours to school may also have serious consequences, such as suspension or exclusion from school, for engaging in behaviour that adversely affects, or is likely to adversely affect, other students or the good order and management of the school. These incidents may also be directed to the Office of the e-Safety Commissioner or the Queensland Police Service – and we advise families to do the same. We do advise that if your child receives threats over the weekend they are reported directly to the Queensland Police Service.

Parents or other stakeholders who engage in inappropriate online behaviour towards students, staff or other parents may be referred to the Office of the e-Safety Commissioner and/or the Queensland Police Service.

All students have the opportunity to be recognised for their service and cultural involvement at school. Eligible activities may have taken place in Term 4 of 2024 or in Terms 1, 2, and 3 of 2025.

Students wishing to apply should:

• Collect an application form from the front office
• Record the relevant events and activities
• Have the form signed by the supervising staff member

Completed forms must be submitted to the office by 12:00pm, Wednesday 17 September. Late applications cannot be accepted.

All applications will be reviewed by the Principal and Deputy Principals, with successful students to be recognised at the Term 4 Awards Night.

On Thursday 18th September, we will be holding Parent Teacher Interviews from 330pm – 6pm. Please make bookings through COMPASS or the front office. This is a good opportunity to chat with your child / children’s teacher/s about their class engagement and how they are progressing academically.

Natasha Bunn
Principal

Important Dates

* Please note these dates are subject to change without consultation.

Deputy Principal Years 7 and 8

Year 7 2026 Transition Update

Our Enrolment Interview blocks have now concluded.   I urge prospective families and carers who have not yet had their enrolment interview to contact our office team without delay so we can assist you with this process.   Our final Transition Day is on Tuesday 2nd December and only students who have completed their enrolment interview are able to attend.   The last date that enrolment interviews are able to be done for students to attend this day is Friday 21st November.

Our next significant event is the second Transition Information Evening on Thursday 23rd October.

Assessment

The final weeks of term are always busy with assessment for our students.  Just a reminder that student assessment dates can be viewed via Compass and I urge families and students to work together to know when assessments are due.  If your child is absent for assessment, need to apply for Special Provisions.   Their classroom teacher is the first person that your child needs to work with in regards to this process.

I am on Long Service Leave for the final two weeks of this term and Mr CJ Aaron will be working with the Year 7 & 8 students and families in my absence.  

Year 8 into 9 Subject Selection for 2026

The current Year 8s are being supported through information sessions at school to guide them in choosing their elective subjects for 2026.

Students will have the opportunity to continue to explore and study a total of five electives, from the Technology, The Arts, or Humanities strands.

Our students have been provided with a copy of their 2026 Subject Selection book to help them make their decision.

An electronic version of the document will also be available on the school Website.

Students will be supported by their Deputy Principal to make subject selections during Week 8, in class time.

Linda Holman
Deputy Principal Years 7 and 8

Deputy Principal Years 9 and 10

Year 9 and 10 Subject Selection for 2026

The Year 9 students are currently being supported through information sessions at school to guide them in choosing their elective subjects for 2026.

In 2026, students will have the opportunity to continue to explore and study a total of four electives, from the Technology, Arts, or Humanities strands.

All Year 9 students have been provided with a copy of the 2026 Subject Selection book to help them make their decision.

An electronic version of the document will also be available on the School Website.

Students will be supported to make subject selections during Week 8, in class time.

David Hall
Deputy Principal Years 9 and 10

Deputy Principal Years 11 and 12

Assessment

Now is a very busy time for both Year 11 and Year 12 students are working on their final assessment pieces for either Unit 2 or Unit 4 respectively.  We are beginning to see the stress showing on these students.  Please talk to your child to check in on how they are feeling and to help them to cope with the workload.  It may be time to reduce the amount of hours being worked in part-time jobs to provide more time to spread the study workload and ensure that some downtime is also built into each week.

Reach Out is Australia’s leading online metal health organisation for young people and their parents.  They provide practical support, tools and tips to help young people get through anything from everyday issues to tough times.  The information they offer parents makes it easier for you to help your teenagers too.

For Parents:  https://parents.au.reachout.com/
For Young People:  https://au.reachout.com/

Year 12 Mock Exams

Mock Exams began in Week 9 and will conclude on Monday 15^th September.  Students have been emailed details.  Hopefully students find this exercise helpful to focus their study efforts for the external exams. 

Some feedback that I will give students, and would appreciate parent/carer assistance with is:

• Students need to attend each session with the required equipment.
• Students need to make sure that they attend each session on time.
• Students need to read all instructions on the exam papers.
• Students should utilise all of the time provided to check or edit their work.

Year 12 General Subjects External Exams

The first day of this block will be Monday 27^th October and will conclude on Tuesday 18^th November.  Students have received the timetable and resources to help them prepare via Compass notices.  Please continue to check your emails as I will update you through this avenue in the weeks to come.

Year 12 Applied/Essential Subjects Exam Block

This exam block will begin on Monday 27^th October and finish on Tuesday 18^th November.  All Year 12 students will attend school for their assessment sessions only.  Where they do not have assessment scheduled, they are expected to be at home studying for their next session.  More information will be provided soon,.

Year 12 Transition Program

Following both of these exam blocks, Year 12 students will attend school on Wednesday 19^th November and Thursday 20^th November for the Year 12 Transition Program.

Thursday will begin with a celebratory breakfast for all Year 12 students.  Students will then move into transition activities before we practice the Leaver’s Ceremony in Period 4.  Leaver’s Ceremony will begin at 5pm in the Spaceframe.  All guests are welcome to attend to celebrate this occasion with our Year 12 cohort.

Tania Roach
Deputy Principal Years 11 and 12

House Spirit Update

House Spirit Update – Term 3 Week 8

We have 3 weeks remaining in both the Term 3 house points collection as well as the final opportunity to contribute points to the 2024/2025 overall House Champion. The House Champion will be announced at the school’s Academic Award’s night in Term 4.

Ways students can contribute to house points this Term:

• Receiving a Positive Post Card from a teacher
• Attendance at or above 92% at the end of the Term 3
• Taking part in school competitions (Student Voice)
• Participating in sporting events (such as the Swimming Carnival and Friday Lunch sports)
• Fortnightly KAHOOT general knowledge quizzes held in Care Group
• Contribution to school service events (such as Clean Up Crew, Interact etc)
• Recycling Containers. Each container contributes a point to the house total.
• Volunteering and helping in the tuckshop or with the daily wellbeing breakfast.
• Each student that achieves 100% attendance for the week contributes points to their house.

Student Support

R U OK day is Thursday 11^th September 

Biloela State High School students can wear RUOK Free Dress (YELLOW) for a gold coin donation. Please support this cause.

The Student Support Team will be hosting some fun lunch time games to get students interacting with each other, and to promote the R U OK Day resources.  We will also have some presentations for students about how to assist a friend who may be showing signs of going through a rough time.  For more information about the day, you can visit the website - 

 Queensland Child Protection Week (7-13 September 2025) reminds us that child protection is everyone's business and all adults need to play a part in ensuring children are safe and nurtured so they can reach their full potential. 

Visit the Queensland Education website for the department’s child and student protection policy and procedure.   

CYBERBULLYING 

The most important thing to remember if you are being cyberbullied is that you’re not alone and there are adults who can help you. 

Keep evidence of the bullying (save emails, take screenshots of messages or posts), delete and block the bully and report the problem to the Safety Centre of the platform or app (you can find a full list here).  And most importantly tell an adult you trust. And keep telling adults until someone does something to help you.  

Office of the eSafety Commissioner  

How To Take A Screenshot On Any Device  

Report Cyberbullying: Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner 

Legal Aid Queensland: Laws surrounding cyber-bullying and what to do about it.  

The National Children’s and Youth Law Centre, can provide free legal advice for anyone under 18, or anyone acting on their behalf. 

Bullying No Way website for kids, teens, parents and teachers 

Youth Support Coordinator

Breakfast Club 

In Week 9, the Breakfast Club will be hosting a special R U OK Day Pancake Breakfast to bring our school community together and support an important cause. Encouraging conversations around mental health and checking in with one another. Come along, enjoy some pancakes, and help spread kindness and connection throughout our school.  

Thanks to the continuous generosity of weekly financial and local support that continues from the YMCA, Rise Bakery Biloela, Woolworths Biloela, and OzHarvest their weekly support is very much appreciated and goes along with in the school everyday. 

Job skills and Training.  

Inscope Training is a trusted Australian registered training organisation delivering both trade apprenticeship programs and short courses—such as first aid, safety, asbestos, and White Card training. Serving Central Queensland, offering a hands-on approach in practical training, with industry-experienced educators providing relevant, engaging learning that meets real-world workplace and compliance needs. Check out their website for more information at www.inscope.edu.au  

Apprentices and Trainees Queensland a well-established, not-for-profit Group Training Organisation, with a dedicated office in Biloela. Apprentices and Trainees Queensland offer a comprehensive range of training programs designed to equip individuals with practical skills and qualifications across various industries. These programs cater to both school-based and adult learners, providing pathways to meaningful employment and career advancement. Contact them on 1300 242 425 or check out the website below.

My Skills Institute is a leading Registered Training Organisation operating in Biloela, Queensland, as part of Apprentices and Trainees Queensland. Offering nationally recognised training across various industries, including construction, civil operations, mining, and workplace safety. Contact them on 07 4883 8380 or check the website below.

Dylan Burmester 
Youth Support Coordinator 

Chaplain

On Tuesday, I along with the other Callide Valley chaplains held an information night for the community. We spoke on the impact that chaplains have in the school environment, and ways that people can help by supporting the local chaplaincy team.  

James Blair
Chaplain

Industry Liaison Officer

Holiday Work Experience

Applications for term Term Four experience are due 3pm, Thursday 9^th October 2025. Students are able to complete work experience during the following blocks.

Week One: 1^st December – 5^th December
Week Two: 8^th December – 12^th December
Week Three: 15^th December – 19^th December

Students who have applied for work experience for Term Three should have their agreements and be working on seeking the relevant authorisations. This will be the last opportunity for Year 12 students to complete work experience through the school Year 12 students will have completed a total of 754 cumulative days of school work experience during their time at Biloela State High School, in addition to countless hours placement for certificates and school-based traineeships.

We have several students who have been fortunate to have received offers of fulltime apprenticeships commencing in 2026 as a result of their outstanding performance during school work experience. Congratulations to these students. Thank you to our local host businesses, without their ongoing support these opportunities would not exist.

School-Based Apprenticeships

Congratulations to Clae who has commenced a school-based traineeship at Anytime Fitness Biloela. Clae will be completing a Certificate III in Fitness.

Year 11 and 12  students passionate about pursuing a career in energy can apply for an exciting, hands-on training opportunity with the Ergon Energy Network, Energex, and TAFE Queensland pre-apprenticeship program. This industry-aligned program offers eligible Year 11 and 12 students the opportunity to complete a school-based Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start) (UEE22020) cadetship and power-up a promising career in Queensland's transformative energy sector. More information is available https://tafeqld.edu.au/energex. Applications open 9:00 am  Monday 1st September and will close 9:00 am Monday 22nd September.

Training

Unfortunately, the scheduled First Aid and White Card courses were cancelled due to insufficient applications. Students requiring their White Card for work experience, are able to complete the course privately through any Recognised Training Organisation. These courses will be rescheduled in 2026.

Congratulations to Coen who has completed a Certificate II in Applied Digital Technologies through Distance Education.

Our Automotive Class are getting ready to complete their last practical block during the September school holidays. Successful completion of this course will see the students achieve a Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation, a gateway to an apprenticeship in mechanical or auto electrical.

Peta Constable
Industry Liaison Officer

Marketing Officer

Interact

Interact have been busy this term! Our team has been out and about, hosting our termly arts and crafts activities at the shopping centre. Over the weekend, we also assisted Prospect Creek State Primary School with their Ladies on the Lawn event. The Interact crew had such a great time working alongside Gabbi from Graze by Gabbi. Thank you, Prospect Creek, for hosting such a well-run and enjoyable event!

80s Trivia Night Success!

Our 80s Trivia Night was a massive success, and we’d like to thank the entire Biloela State High School community for your wonderful support. A huge shout-out goes to our amazing student organisers, especially Emily and Olivia who led the event. All Interacter’s put in an incredible effort to bring the night together.

The vibes were high, the questions were very 80s, and the energy in the room was rad! We hope everyone who joined us had a fun-filled evening.

Student Council

The Student Council are in full swing with their banner competition. If your child is interested in entering, we encourage them to get involved — it’s a fantastic opportunity to leave behind a lasting legacy at Biloela State High School.

We’ve also kicked off our Buddies Program, joining our little buddies across the road at Biloela State School. Our high schoolers — affectionately known as “the big kids” — are enjoying a beautiful start to their Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning the day by reading with their little friends. Thank you to Biloela State Primary for welcoming us into your mornings!

Out and About

We are having the best time getting out and about in our community — strengthening our connections with our feeder  schools and building even stronger ties across Biloela.

Volleyball Competition

A big congratulations to the 12 students who have been running the lunchtime volleyball competition! It has created such a fun and positive atmosphere around the school. The Narina Committee and I have been so impressed with the organisational efforts of Mrs Green’s Sport and Recreation class.

Narina

The Narina is now on sale! Please click the link to purchase through our online platform. This wonderful magazine captures all of the memories and highlights from across the year at Biloela State High School — a keepsake not to be missed.

https://www.myyearbook.com.au/shop/p/biloela-state-high-school-annual-magazine-2025

Uniforms

It’s been great to see the transition across our campus as students begin wearing the new school shorts! We’ve received so much positive feedback and are excited to share that there will be pop-up shops held on upcoming Saturdays (dates to be confirmed). These will give parents and carers the opportunity to come along, try on the new pants, and ensure the right fit.

In the meantime, uniforms continue to be available for purchase through the Administration Office. Stay tuned for more details!

Tamara Moretti
Marketing Officer

Art Department

Creative Highlights from the Art Department

The Art Department has been alive with creativity this term, with students from Year 8 to Year 12 tackling exciting projects that showcase their skills and imagination.

Seniors – Sculptural Projects
Our senior Visual Arts in Practice students transformed social issues into bold, site-specific sculptures. Using materials like wire, papier-mâché, and assemblage, they created powerful works that speak to both personal and global themes.

Year 10 – Graffiti Tags
Year 10 explored the vibrant world of graffiti, designing unique tags that balance self-expression with design discipline. Their finished works are bold, colourful, and full of energy.

Year 9 – Portraiture
Year 9 focused on portraiture, experimenting with ways to capture not just likeness but also mood and personality. The results show growing technical skill and confidence.

Year 8 – Art History Portraits
Year 8 journeyed through art history, from Renaissance portraiture to Post-Impressionism, Cubism, Surrealism, Pop Art and Postmodernism. Their portraits reflect each style while adding a creative twist of their own.

De De Shan
Art Teacher

Noosa Film Academy workshop

Students from grades 8-12 with an interest in The Arts, were both actors and directors last Tuesday when Greg Huglin, Oscar winning Cinematographer, showed them some of the tricks of the trade in filming and editing.  Huglin, and producer wife Andrea, demonstrated how to plan, capture, frame and edit the students own short film during the day using the state-of-the-art RED Epic 5K Ultra High-Definition camera worth around $70,000. 

Students overwhelming enjoyed the experience and learnt a great deal for their future film making endeavours stating the most interesting aspects were: “I love this workshop from the two times I have done it… I want to be an actress, and I don’t get many opportunities out here so it makes me appreciate acting a lot” and “What I found most useful was editing as it shows how small things can make a big difference in filmmaking.”

Students involved in the workshop can use the film they created in their future portfolios to help with career aspirations. Biloela State High School would like to thank the Banana Shire Council, in conjunction with Makers STEM grant for the funding to provide this film workshop free of charge for our students.

Kath Zischke
Drama and VET Teacher
RTO Manager
Head of Department (The Arts, Snr HPE and VET)

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