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I want to commence this newsletter by sending a big thank you to our staff, students and families for the positive way that everyone has returned to school post cyclone. I understand it’s been a challenging time for the community, but our return was made easier through the cooperation and communication of all parties helping to get our students back to learning. Our school sustained some damage from the weather and we are continuing to work within our school system to get all our classrooms back online. It will still be some time before all outdoor areas are open and all the classrooms in our school are accessible again. Over recent years, schools have become increasingly agile and responsive to unexpected events such as cyclones and floods, so a big thank you to all students and families who stayed connected to our communication channels throughout this time.The silver lining for all students during this time is a chance to practice and learn how to navigate things when they don’t go to plan. To date, we’ve made arrangements for all learning and assessment changes required due to the missed learning time and have communicated these with our students and families. If students have any concerns about this, they should talk directly to their classroom teachers for advice.
On Wednesday 26 March we have some high profile guests coming to visit our school to talk to a small selection of students about the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane. We have advertised this opportunity to interested students and are very much looking forward to this event which we will share with our community in the coming weeks. If your student is excited about the Olympics, or is a budding athlete and isn’t already set to attend this event, please contact the main administration as soon as possible.
Another postponement related to the cyclone is our P&C Annual General Meeting. This meeting will now occur at 6pm on Thursday 27 March 2025 in the school Library. The meeting time and venue will also be shared as a reminder on our school’s social media in the days prior.
Kind regards,
Sandra Quinn
Principal
Science
Year 9 students recently took part in a rat dissection to observe and study the reproductive organs, gaining a deeper understanding of mammalian anatomy.
Meanwhile, Year 11 Biology students explored the excretory system through a kidney dissection, examining its structures and functions in detail. Both dissections provided valuable hands-on learning experiences, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge and enhance their understanding of biology through real-world observation.
These practical activities are a key part of their studies, helping to foster curiosity and a deeper appreciation for the complexity of the human body and other organisms.
PBL Focus Week 9
Harmony Day at Wynnum State High School
On Friday 21 March, Wynnum State High School came alive with the spirit of inclusion, belonging and celebration as we recognised Harmony Day — a time to reflect on the importance of respecting and embracing the cultural diversity within our school community.
The colour of Harmony Day is orange, symbolising social communication and meaningful conversations. To kick off the day, we served over 500 orange pancakes to students at breakfast. This simple but vibrant act was aimed at bringing students together and starting the day with a sense of unity and connection.
At first break, the celebrations continued with a range of interactive activities designed to promote harmony and celebrate the unique identities of our students. A photo frame activity encouraged students to capture moments with friends, highlighting the friendships and connections that span across cultures. Other activities explored the many languages spoken by students at Wynnum, and students were invited to contribute to a display showing where in the world they and their families come from. The result was a powerful visual representation of the incredible diversity that makes up our school community.
Musical performances by students also added a festive and uplifting atmosphere, showcasing the talents that unite us across cultures and backgrounds.
The aim of Harmony Day at Wynnum was simple but powerful: to bring our school community together, promote understanding, and celebrate the things that make each of us unique. Through food, music, shared stories and conversation, our students and staff were reminded that everyone belongs — and that it is our differences that make us stronger together.
Thank you to all students and staff who participated and helped make the day a memorable and meaningful success. A special thank you to all of the Student Council members involved in organising and planning this year's celebration.
Band Camp
From Friday 14 to Sunday 16 March, over 50 Symphonic Band and big Band students along with Mr Cosic, Mrs Anderson, Ms Prior and Mr Cooper, went away to Alexandra Headlands on the Sunshine Coast for our biannual Band Camp. Nestled in a peaceful bush setting, the camp involved many rehearsals where the bands worked hard on progressing as an ensemble and getting repertoire ready for the year ahead. On Saturday morning we had a two-hour workshop with a special visiting conductor, Sharelle Guest, who worked on ensemble skills and repertoire.
It wasn’t all work, however! On Friday evening the Year 12s hosted a great Trivia night which was followed up by a YouTube karaoke session. Highlights of the night were the daggy t-shirts/PJs, Mr Cosic’s mullet wig and Mr Cooper being ‘forced’ to sing Defying Gravity at Karaoke. Because St Patrick’s Day was just two days away, Saturday night was Irish/green night featuring a guest Celtic band, Buckley’s Chance, who performed for us and also taught us some bush dancing; there were many sore muscles the day after!
Thank you to all the students for your work over the weekend, and also the assistance of Mr Cooper, Ms Prior and Mrs Anderson for your sterling efforts over the weekend.
Debating
On Wednesday 26 February, our Year 10 Debating team competed in their first debate of the year against Mt Gravatt State High School. Arguing the negative side of the topic, "That military leaders should be directly elected by citizens (whilst remaining subject to the authority of elected civilian leaders)," our team delivered a compelling and well-structured argument.
In what was described as an ‘exceptional’ debate from both sides, Wynnum State High School secured a hard-fought victory, winning by just one point.
Congratulations to our speakers—Arlo, Xavier, and Annabel—who represented the school with confidence and skill, and to timekeeper Mars for their vital support. Well done, team!
The Science Experience
In the January school break, Mars (Year 10) and Eve (Year 11) took part in The Science Experience, a program designed to provide students interested in science with the opportunity to practice real world science with real world scientists. This amazing opportunity was made possible through the full sponsorship of Mars and Eve by the Rotary Club of Wynnum and Manly.
During this three-day program, students from around Queensland visited QUT, Griffith, and the University of Queensland and were able to use their cutting-edge facilities. Eve and Mars worked with other like-minded students to investigate scientific problems on topics from strong triangles to spectroscopy to blue frogs.
In Term 1, Eve and Mars were accompanied by their parents and our Head of Science, Ms Natalie Quinn to a presentation evening hosted by Rotary. Both students shared their learning and enjoyment of The Science Experience program and their gratitude for Rotary’s sponsorship. Eve and Mars have been able to share their experiences with teachers and fellow students upon returning to school this year.
QATSIF Scholarships
Year 11 students, Makhiyah (pictured) and Mellyla, have been awarded a QATSIF Scholarship for their senior years of schooling. This scholarship is awarded to First Nations students across the state who have demonstrated 85% attendance and A-C achievement, effort and behaviour for Year 10 subjects. Students must also participate in the cultural activities of the school and be a worthy role model for other students.
Congratulations to both students on this achievement!
Met East Swimming
Congratualtions to Ella in Year 10 who has qualified in the 50m and 100m Breaststroke for the Met East Swimming team and will now compete at the Swimming State Championships on Wednesday 26 March.
Athletic Championships
Congratulations to Ezra in Year 9 who competed in the QA State Championships on March 15 & 16. Ezra came 1st in the U15 boys 100m and 4th in the U15 boys 200m. Ezra has qualified for the Australian Athletic Championships to held in Perth from April 14 to April 18 and will compete in the 100m and 200m.
Career Development Principles
Career development focuses on enabling people to understand and develop self-awareness and skills in order to make good decisions about their working lives.
The High Five Principles of Career development play an important part in self-awareness. They represent valuable concepts to consider when exploring career opportunities and making post school decisions. Please see the below breakdown of each principle.
1. Change is constant - The world of work is always changing. You also change as you develop personally and experience life. Don’t be afraid of change; accept it and use it as an opportunity.
2. Know yourself and follow your heart - A most important skill in career management is self-awareness – knowing your interests, abilities, values, aspirations, and the things/people that influence you. Start your job ideas list with jobs you would most like (dream jobs) even if they are currently unrealistic. This can get you started and lead to other jobs you hadn’t thought of.
3. Focus on the journey - It's good to have goals, both short and long term. However, you should not be so focused on them that you miss opportunities that may emerge along the way.
4. Learning is ongoing - Learning doesn’t stop just because you finish your course and get a job. Just as change is constant so is the need to keep up to speed with new technologies, new methods of practice and emerging trends in your career field.
5. Access your allies - These are the people who can help and support you during your career journey, your school guidance officer/counsellor, teachers, your family and friends, sport coaches and others within your social network. You can learn much from other people’s experiences.
Redlands Campus Opening Day
