This year we introduced new assessment calendars for all students, parents and carers in our school. Comunication was sent earlier this year around accessing these so parents and carers could supprt students in planning and preparation. We have updated parents and carers via email as any changes occured.

A few practices that can support students to be present and learning at school every day in their program of study are:

• ensuring students have adequate sleep and nutrition;
• encouraging physical activity and energisation through hobbies or activities;
• encouraging students to seek support through teachers, friends or counsellors when feeling overwhelmed;
• celebrating effort and progress, including acknowledging hard work;
• talking about learning, facilitating students to prioritise and plan their learning efforts away from school.

Next term we will be hosting our school musical, Spamalot.  This is a must see event for our community, with some amazing performances from our very own home grown talents.  Please get on board and buy your tickets now, it promises to be an amazing show.

Get your tickets via the link: https://www.trybooking.com/DBSVU

Kind regards,

Sandra Quinn
Principal

Year 10 SET Planning 

Our Year 10 students are currently engaged in a critical and exciting phase of their schooling journey - the development of their Senior Education and Training (SET) Plan. As part of our PROUD Pathways program this term, students have been exploring their individual strengths, values, and interests to begin shaping a realistic and meaningful pathway for life beyond school.

These lessons have encouraged students to reflect on what matters to them, research future careers, and begin aligning subject choices with post-school aspirations. This process not only helps students understand the opportunities available to them, but also encourages important family conversations about goals, passions, and future possibilities.

The culmination of this work will be the SET Plan Interview - an official student and parent and carer meeting where subjects and senior pathway options are confirmed for Year 11 and Year 12. SET Plan interviews will take place on Thursday August 14.

Booking information and interview times will be shared with families in the coming weeks via Compass. We strongly encourage every family to use this time to discuss goals and options with their child and come prepared for a productive, future-focused conversation.

Careers Showcase: Inspiring Future Pathways for Year 10 Students

On Tuesday June 24, all Year 10 students will take part in our 2025 Careers Showcase -  a highly valuable event designed to support students as they prepare for their senior subject selection and begin shaping their future pathways. This day plays a key role in helping students understand the journey toward attaining a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and exploring a wide range of post-school opportunities.

Students have selected preferences based on their interests and will attend targeted guest speaker sessions and industry talks aligned to those pathways.

Options include:

• Engineering, Construction, and Women in Construction – Hear from Clough Group, CSQ, and Awesome Women in Construction about skills, training, and breaking into the industry.
• STEM, Robotics, and Energy – STEM Punks and the Queensland Resources Council explore science-based careers and trades.
• Health – Mater Education shares insights into nursing and healthcare pathways.
• Tourism and Events – Learn from Young Tourism Leaders about careers in event coordination and digital content.
• Defence – The Australian Defence Force presents a wide range of roles and opportunities.
• Traineeships and Vocational Pathways – TAFE, Busy@Work, and OSMAC offer advice on qualifications and apprenticeships.
• Cyber Security and Aviation – Griffith University and Aviation Australia showcase growing industries in tech and flight.
• Careers in the Arts – Explore how creativity can become a career.

This is an important and exciting step as our Year 10 students begin shaping the pathway that lies ahead in Year 11 and Year 12.

Senior School Information Evening

Following the Careers Showcase day, on Tuesday June 24 from 5:00pm - 6.30pm in the STAR Theatre, Wynnum SHS will host the Senior School Information Night – an information sharing opportunity important for any student or family wanting to know more about the Queensland Certificate of Education, ATAR, TAFE options and our senior school subject selections. This will be an opportunity to hear from our team about ensuring that you and your child are making informed choices about future pathways in Year 11, Year 12 and beyond.

James Brewer
Head of Department Student Services - Middle School

100 Days left for our Year 12 students

On Tuesday, June 3, we celebrated a significant milestone for our Year 12 students—the countdown to just 100 days left of school! To mark this special occasion, students enjoyed a pizza lunch and took time to reflect on their incredible journey from primary school to now with the help of their parents and carers. We wanted to honour their past achievements and memories so our wonderful parents and carers contributed heartfelt items for the celebration, which were beautifully showcased in the “100 Days to Go” presentation and featured in personalized “Happy 100 Days” posters included in each student’s show bag. Contributions ranged from primary school photos, trophies, certificates, artworks, and notes, to pictures of cherished belongings like teddy bears, bikes, toys, favourite music posters, books, hats, and more.

Each student received a personalized show bag containing their poster, thoughtful messages from teachers encouraging them for their final 100 days, their favourite sweets, a 100-day countdown, and special glasses—making the day even more memorable.

The celebration continued with fun activities such as giant jenga, crafting 100-day crowns and bracelets, playing games, and capturing joyful moments with friends in photobooths.

As our Year 12 students move closer to graduation, this milestone serves as a powerful reminder of how far they’ve come—and the exciting journey that lies ahead. We are incredibly proud of their resilience, growth, and achievements, and can’t wait to see all the amazing things they will accomplish in the future.

Year 11 Students Engage in RACQ Driver IQ Learner Program

Year 11 students recently took part in the RACQ Driver IQ Learner Program, an engaging and informative session designed to prepare young people for the challenges of learning to drive. The program focused on practical and realistic strategies to help students diversify their driving experience, establish clear boundaries with supervising drivers, and understand the importance of being a responsible and supportive passenger—or a “good mate” in the car.

Thank you to guest speaker Demae McMahon for visiting our school.

Brisbane Career Expo

On Friday 13th June, a group of our Year 12 students attended the Brisbane Career Expo. They had the chance to connect with industry professionals, explore potential career paths, and discover opportunities they hadn’t considered before. From discussing apprenticeships and university options to diving into emerging fields like technology, healthcare, and sustainable energy, the day offered a wealth of insight and inspiration.

There’s nothing quite like hearing directly from those living their dream careers. A big thank you to all the exhibitors who generously shared their time and experiences to inspire the next generation.

Student Forum – Shaping the future of Wynnum SHS

Last week, a passionate group of students gathered for our Student Leadership Forum - a dynamic and honest conversation about what student leadership at Wynnum SHS looks like now, and how it could evolve in the future. This was a powerful opportunity for students to have their voices heard and directly influence the direction of leadership structures at our school.

Facilitated by our current student leadership team, the forum gave students from all year levels the chance to share ideas, challenges, and suggestions in an open and respectful environment. Topics included how to make leadership roles more accessible, the need to streamline the application process, and how to better promote the benefits of being a leader.

There was a strong call for student council to be more visible and better connected with the broader student body, as well as the need for leadership to reflect diverse skills and interests - not just public speaking ability. Students also emphasised that if you commit to a leadership position, showing up and contributing should be a clear expectation.

Thank you to all the students who took part. Your ideas will help shape a more inclusive, meaningful, and representative leadership program at Wynnum SHS.

Legal Studies

On Tuesday May 27, our Senior Legal Studies students visited Parliament House as part of their studies on law-making and government. The excursion offered a valuable opportunity to witness parliamentary processes firsthand and gain deeper insight into how laws are debated and passed. It was an engaging and educational experience for all involved.

Aquatic Practices

Our Year 12 Aquatic Practices students are diving into their final unit, where they will be exploring the techniques, significance and sustainability of recreational and commercial fishing practices. As an introduction to the unit, students are learning the ropes of tying knots, the parts and maintenance of rods and reels and the art of casting. These foundational skills will help them when they have the opportunity to go fishing with both bait and the custom-made lures they will create next term.

Mrs Quinn didn't want to miss an opportunity to showcase her talent, managing to both hit a window and snag a tree with her very first cast.

Drama Showcase

On Thursday June 12, our talented Year 8 Drama students took to the stage for their end-of-semester showcase, and what a performance it was!

The students presented a series of scenes from the witty and entertaining play ‘The Day the Internet Died’, delighting the audience with their comedic timing, energy, and character work. 

A big congratulations to all the performers — you did yourselves, your peers, and your teacher, Mrs Prior, extremely proud.

Design Technology - Food

Recently our Year 7 Design Technology-Food students created their design cook which they have been developing all term. They were tasked to make a product in their 70 min lesson using the equipment they have available in the kitchens that could be sold at a farmers market. The meal must be a nutritious take away food that could be packaged in an environmentally friendly way. We are very PROUD of how far our students have come in just two terms of learning their design and kitchen skills and turning it into these creations.

Sporting Achievements

Congratulations also go to Year 12 student Madison P, who recently represented Metropolitan East at the Rugby 7’s State Championships.  Madison’s speed and agility was on display as her team won the gold medal.

Madison’s high-level play was recognised by selectors as she earned a position in the Queensland team and will now compete in the inaugural Australian Schools and Juniors Rugby Union (ASJRU) Championships on the Sunshine Coast in July.

Well done Madison.

Well done Violet.

Bayside Oztag Tournament 

On Wednesday, May 28, nearly sixty enthusiastic students from Wynnum State High School proudly represented the school at the Bayside Oztag Tournament. Throughout the day, students participated in a full schedule, each team playing up to six fast-paced and competitive games. The level of skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship on display was impressive, with many standout performances across all year levels. The students maintained a positive attitude and upheld the school's values with excellent behaviour both on and off the field.

Titration Competition

Congratulations to Healey W, Arlo S, Theodore D, Rebecca N, Claude R and Ilke V who competed in QUT’s Titration competition on Saturday May 31. These students diligently attended weekly training before school to prepare for this competition and then gave up their Saturday to compete against 30 other teams on the day. Special mention to Claude who was awarded a High Distinction and Theo, Arlo and Ilke who received Distinctions in the competition.  

Well done.

Big Science Competition

Earlier this term, students from our Year 7–10 Science Extension classes had the opportunity to take part in the Big Science Competition. It challenged students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills and required them to apply their skills to answer questions with real world Science applications.

We’re proud to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of all students who participated, and especially congratulate those who achieved top results. A High Distinction is awarded to the top 5% of students in the year level across Australia, while a Distinction recognises those in the next 10%. Congratulations to the following students on their exceptional results:

Instrumental Music

On Sunday June 8, our Junior Stage Band performed at the annual Rotary Family Fun Day, supporting the fight against Domestic Violence at George Clayton Park.  Our talented junior musicians were a huge hit with the packed crowd — proudly representing our school and sharing the joy of jazz! 

Bravo Juniors!!

Year 7 Debating

For most of our Year 7 debaters this was the first time they had participated in debating. This was a wonderful opportunity to develop more sophisticated speaking and writing skills, and to confront the nerves that come with public speaking! The team displayed outstanding dedication, showing up for regular meetings and learning the art of debate.

The topics this year ranged from ‘That the captains of national sporting teams should be selected by the community’ to ‘Animals should be banned in Sports’. The Year 7 team drew the negative side for this last debate but brought home the win! I would like to thank all of our debaters, plus all the staff and Year 11’s who put aside their time to coach. A big thank you to Cate Wilson,  our coordinator. We are looking forward to seeing this team participate again next year.

Year 8 Debating

The final round of debating for our two Year 8 teams saw students arguing the affirmative side of the topic ‘That toys, books, films, TV, and other media targeted towards a specific gender are harmful to children’. Once again our teams travelled to Jon Paul College to compete, Team 1 taking a win. Both teams have had many changes this season due to the disruption of Cyclone Alfred which caused the reshuffling of topics and dates, often resulting in minimal preparation time.

Congratulations to our Year 8 Debaters for competing in the QDU competition this year. Thank you to our Year 11 coaches who have worked hard with both teams all year, even attending some debates late on Thursday evenings at Daisy Hill. 

From the School-Based Police Officer

Are you concerned about your young people using technology safely? Have you had conversations about staying safe online? Would you know what to say?

Wednesday June 18 from 5.30-7.30pm at the Alexandra Hills Hotel and Conference Centre

Redland City Council’s free Tech Savvy Tech Safe Forum is an opportunity for parents, carers and educators to find out more about signs of online child sexual exploitation, sexual extortion, online grooming, cyberbullying, privacy, consent, self-generated content and inappropriate contact.

Hear from industry experts from the Australian Federal Police – ThinkUKnow, Queensland Police Service, Centre Against Sexual Violence, Kids Helpline and Crime Stoppers Queensland who will share advice and strategies about prevention, taking action and where to seek support.

Free light refreshments on arrival (5pm-5.30pm) and information packs to take home.

PRESENTED BY
Redland City Council, Australian Federal Police - ThinkUKnow, Queensland Police Service, Centre Against Sexual Violence, Kids Helpline and Crime Stoppers Queensland.

Booking essential. Please visit Redland.qld.gov.au/TechSafe or scan the QR code on the poster to book your free ticket.

Headspace Capalaba are excited to invite students to participate in the Art Expo 2025, showcasing the talents of young artists aged 12–25. This event is more than an exhibition; it's a vibrant community gathering celebrating creativity and connection.

Event Details:
Venue: Redlands Museum
Date:  Sunday, June 29 2025
Time: 2pm - 4pm
Admission: Free for all attendees

Opportunities for Young Artists:
We are seeking submissions from young artists who wish to display their work. Participants will have the option to offer their pieces for sale during the expo. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain exposure and connect with art enthusiasts.

For any questions or further information, scan the QR code on the below leaflet.