2 May 2025

Sports House Captains

From The Principal

Dear Parents, Caregivers, and Community,

Welcome to Term 2 at St George State High School!

Reading and Literacy

We are excited to begin another busy term full of opportunity and growth. With reading continuing as our major focus in 2025, we are proud to announce that the Premier’s Reading Challenge is now underway. We encourage all students to participate — whether they are avid readers or just beginning their journey. Together, we can foster a lifelong love of reading across our entire school community.

As part of our commitment to improving literacy outcomes, Deb Addison (Deputy Principal Junior Secondary), Jess Murray (Head of Department – English and Humanities) and Alex Pronk (Senior Learning Partner) have launched a reading intervention trial with our Year 7 students. This program is designed to strengthen foundational reading skills and, if successful, will be adapted for a whole-school rollout.

In addition, we have begun a collaborative partnership with St George State School to align our reading programs, ensuring a seamless transition for students moving into high school. We are also working together around Scholastic book purchases, ensuring students across both schools have access to engaging and high-quality texts.

Further enhancing our focus on literacy, Nikki in the Library is taking student and staff book recommendations for our newly developed library and resource centre. In collaboration with Regional Office and world-renowned library consultant Kevin Hennah (kevinhennah.com.au), we are creating a modernised learning hub that celebrates traditional books while embracing the digital shift, including access to the SORA app for free online reading.

Curriculum and Learning

Beyond reading, we are currently reviewing our academic snapshot from Term 1. From this data, we are building a marker-student process — an initiative to help teachers identify high-impact teaching strategies that will lift academic outcomes across the school.

The Leadership Team has been busy planning for the future. We have already begun curriculum and operational planning for 2026, ensuring that we maintain a future-focused mindset that meets the changing needs of our students and workforce.

Some key areas of planning for 2026 include:

• Timetable structures
• Class offerings
• Staffing models

This early work will allow curriculum development and teacher planning to continue smoothly for the remainder of the year, ensuring a strong start to 2026.

Other Updates

• Bus stop upgrade: Delayed until the next school holidays.
• R & L Block upgrades: Completion dates are set for 30 June for L Block and Monday 9 June for R Block.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we work together to provide the best opportunities for our students.

Thomas J. McKenna

From HOD English & Humanities

English News: Shake and Stir Theatre Company Visit

Shake & Stir is one of the country’s leading contemporary theatre companies. Shake & Stir offer in-school travelling theatre productions. St George State High School students are very much looking forward to their visit on Wednesday May 7.

For many of our Year 10, 11 and 12 students, this upcoming Shake & Stir performance will be their first encounter with live theatre, an experience that we hope sparks the beginning of an enthusiasm towards the live arts and offers a unique way to enrich student understanding, engagement and learning in English.

Year 11 General English & All Year 12 Students:

MACBETH @ 12:05PM-1:15PM.

This will support student engagement, understanding and curriculum delivery during the Year 12 General English unit on Macbeth.

YEAR 10A ENGLISH STUDENTS:

ROMEO & JULIET @ 1:15PM-2:55PM

This will support student engagement, understanding and curriculum delivery during the Year 10 English unit on Romeo & Juliet.

Please visit the Shake & Stir website to find more information about the theatres company and upcoming performances. Our English faculty are very much looking forward to students having this opportunity!

Jessica Murray

From HOD Student Services

Premier’s Reading Challenge is Coming to St George State High School!

The Premier’s Reading Challenge is launching soon, and St George State High School is proud to be a part of this exciting statewide initiative that promotes a love of reading in students of all ages.

Reading is one of the most powerful tools for learning. It improves vocabulary, boosts imagination, strengthens comprehension, and helps students build confidence across all subjects. That’s why our school proudly supports reading through our DEAR program – Drop Everything And Read. Each week, students take time to pause their regular learning and simply enjoy a good book. DEAR helps foster a positive reading culture and reminds us all that reading is not just important – it’s enjoyable too!

The Premier’s Reading Challenge takes this commitment a step further by encouraging students to read a set number of books over a specific period. All kinds of reading counts – novels, non-fiction, graphic novels, and even class readers. Once completed, students will receive an official certificate of achievement signed by the Premier of Queensland.

At home, families can support their child’s progress by encouraging daily reading, talking about the stories they’re exploring, and helping to log completed books. Just 15 minutes of reading a day can make a lifelong impact!

Registrations are now open and students can collect their Reading Registration Form from the front office.

We’re looking forward to seeing our students take on the challenge and experience the joy and power of reading.

NCCD – Working together for our Students

A big thank you to all the parents and carers who took the time to attend our recent Parent Teacher Interviews. Your ongoing support and engagement makes a real difference in your child’s learning journey. These conversations strengthen the connection between home and school, and we truly value the opportunity to work together to support student success.

Supporting Student Growth Through the NCCD

As part of our commitment to inclusive education, St George State High School continues to engage in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). This process helps schools to better understand and support the diverse learning needs of our students.

The NCCD relies on collaboration between staff, students, and families to ensure appropriate adjustments are in place to help all learners succeed. Through open communication and shared planning, we aim to foster an environment where every student can achieve their best and feel supported in their educational journey.

Together, we are building a stronger, more inclusive learning community.

Peter Chandler

Guidance Officer News

Guidance officers play an invaluable role in supporting students and school communities across Queensland.

This Guidance Officer Week (Monday 28 April to Friday 9 May) we celebrate their contribution in providing counselling, advice and leadership across the areas of educational, behavioural, vocational, personal, social, family, mental health and wellbeing.

School staff play a vital role in recognising the early signs of students' stress or struggles. We work closely with support staff and teachers to assist in providing support for learning and wellbeing.

If you think a student may benefit from support, reach out to your school’s guidance officer.

The role of the Guidance Officer is varied, one of the ways Guidance Officers can support is by providing information to students and families in career exploration and planning – I will be available to provide information leading up to Year 10 SET Planning and will be assisting with career pathways during Senior STRIVE lessons.

Please feel welcome to contact us with any queries.

Year 11 & 12 Physics

The photos show Year 11 and 12 physics students completing the practical component of their Student Experiment assessment in Lesson 1 of Week 2.

Previously, they had completed an experiment that involved dropping a tennis ball from five different heights and measuring the time for it to reach the ground using a stopwatch. By graphing time squared against height, they were able to use the gradient of the line to determine a value for the acceleration due to gravity. The results were not very accurate, so they modified the method by using a newly acquired device called a Newton’s G-Ball which automatically measures the time from release to when it hits the ground. The improvement in their results was amazing.

After gathering their data, they will analyse it using Excel and then complete a report for assessment.

Karen McKechnie

Year 11 & 12 Biology

This semester, students in our Biology class have been diving into the fascinating world of Cells and Multicellular Organisms.  As part of their exploration, they had the opportunity to participate in a hands-on dissection of a heart and lungs.

The experience brought textbook concepts to life, giving students a tangible understanding of organ structure and function.  Many were amazed by the distinct textures and features of the organs, and the activity sparked curiosity and meaningful discussion.

It was a memorable and educational experience that helped reinforce key biological principles in an engaging and interactive way.

Karla Small

Past Student Story

No past student story this week.  If you know of a past student who would be willing to write their story, please contact Nichole Taylor ntayl253@eq.edu.au

Homework Club

GP’s In School

Dental Van

 Final Days for School Dental Services at St George High School

The South West Oral Health team would like to thank the St George High School community for the warm welcome during our recent visit. As our time at the school draws to a close, we’re pleased to have offered dental services to all students, with all parents contacted.

If you haven’t yet accessed our services and would still like to, please call us as soon as possible on 1300 215 659 or 0437 412 841 to book an appointment before we depart.

Remember, South West Oral Health services are available throughout the year—we’re always here to support your family’s dental health.  

Jan Dimond

School Calendar Term 2

Community Notices