BNSHS Newsletter 1 August 2025

From the Principal's Office

We have made a truly positive start to Term 3. Our reporting indicated that in general our students are performing well, academically, culturally and on the sporting field. Our plans for transition to Yr 7 are established and we have implemented a really solid SET Plan and subject selection process which will ensure that Yr 10 students are well positioned for Senior School.

The end of Semester 1 reporting indicated that we had positive results across the entire cohort and one of which we should be proud. The overall school percentages of academic achievement are presented below.

Our Behaviour and Effort data was even more impressive. 

Our Indigenous students have performed well with the following academic results and deserve a real congratulations. See below the Academic Breakdown of results. 

The same cohort of students demonstrated strong effort and behaviour results as well

These results provide the leadership with significant pride as we celebrate a strong culture of learning and commitment to education. I wish to congratulate all students and their families on the focus that has been adopted with our school values, especially that of learning. Well done everyone a great effort.

This week we had students compete at Bundaberg District Athletics. Students demonstrated great sportsmanship but also performed exceptionally well. We placed third in the Senior Division, an effort of which we should be truly proud, we celebrated individual success with two Age Champions and three Runner-Up Age Champions. Congratulations to Davey H and Maddi F, who were named Age Champions in their respective year levels. We also extend our congratulations to Mark R, Hayden W, and Bridie P for achieving Runner-Up Age Champion status.

Students this week also competed in the Bundaberg Eisteddfod with our Band performing exceptionally well, receiving a second place in a very competitive field which contained a number of private schools. Congratulations to all band members and Ms Helbig.

Work Experience was a highlight of this week with Yr 10 students completing work experience as a key element to their subject selection process. This will allow students to have a greater insight to their subject selection evening and then later in the term, the Set Plan process.

Next Year’s Year 7 students have the opportunity to see the great opportunities we provide at Bundaberg North with our enrolment evening happening on Tuesday at 5.00 PM. We invite all prospective students and parents and carers to Tuesday evening's enrolment information session and tour of the school.

We started the term with a GEM day where we celebrated the great things about Bundaberg North, by us singing a song as a collective group. The focus on Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness all contribute to Resilience, a trait we wish to strengthen in our students. Please have a look at our Facebook site to see the clip of the finished product. 

Parents will have received an opportunity to provide feedback to the school via the School Opinion Survey. I ask that you consider the wonderful accomplishments of 2025 and the embedded positive values which are leading to our great results. Please take this opportunity to let us know of things we could do better.

Senior Students are fast nearing the end of their formal education journey and are in the last throws of their Internal Assessment. I encourage everyone to remain committed to their studies. These students are in the home strait and need encouragement in some cases to reach the finish line. At the end of the term we will provide Mock Exams so that our students are well prepared for their external exams and are able to receive feedback from their teachers. I can report that we are well on the way to achieving 100% QCE, a wonderful effort so far.

I wish to recognise the comments we are receiving from the community and supply teachers about our positive manners and values. I would like to stress that when our students leave school to represent us that we need to wear our full school uniform with pride. A comment the other day said that we had represented our school in a far better light than the Private Schools who attended the same event. This recognition by the community leads to a strong reputation and positively impacts employment opportunities and community support for student engagement.

I would like to remind all parents and carers of our indigenous students that Claire our Nurse Practitioner has prioritised Indigenous students for health checks. To support this process, please return the forms which you were provided last term, so that the process can be smooth and quick.

Next week is school support staff week. Without these people on our staff, we wouldn’t gain the same student outcomes. Please let our support staff know how much we value their contribution to our great school.

Lastly, I wish to remind parents and carers that next week QTU members will take strike action on Wednesday. Please be aware that students will not receive the same tuition as they normally would. The school will provide supervision, but the activities provided will be purely supervisory in nature and will be delivered by a skeleton staff.

Craig Martin, Principal

News from Mrs Brandon

Reach for the Sky Parade Celebrating Term 2 Achievements

Tuesday marked our second Reach for the Sky Parade of 2025—a celebration of student achievement and dedication. This term's event shone a spotlight on those who consistently go above and beyond, embodying our school motto, "Realising Your Potential."

From Term 2 reports, more than 250 students across all six year levels were recognised with one, two, or all three awards. These include:

• North Star Award – Honouring academic excellence for students earning As and no lower than Bs.
• Reach for the Sky Award – Celebrating outstanding engagement, effort, and behaviour.
• 100% Attendance Award – Acknowledging students who showed unwavering commitment by attending every day of the term.

As the Year 10s weren’t present for this parade due to their work experience and many of our sporting stars were at Bundaberg District Athletics, their certificates will be issued next week at their Year Parade.

We’re incredibly proud of all our award recipients – Congratulations to all!

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Working towards our motto “Realising your Potential”

To assist students ‘Realise their Potential’, we provide students with summary data on their Academic results, Attendance and Behaviour records in order to reflect and set new goals as well as new Assessment Calendars for this semester.

Track Ed Profiles

All students were provided with their Track Ed learning profile in Week 2. This graphic informs the students of their results as well as the last year’s so they can track their progress, their attendance and behaviour. Students are encouraged to use this to set goals for this term.

Below is a snapshot of the Track Ed profile. I encourage you to discuss this with your student. 

Attendance

As we analyse our Semester 1 data over these past few weeks, it has become evident that student attendance is over 8% lower on Fridays with over 26% of the school population away on an average Friday! Whilst students are able to go home at 1.10pm, I am reinforcing the need to attend each and every Friday which is a normal day for ¾ of the day. We hear many students saying it is only a half day – it is not! There are 3 full curriculum lessons occurring every Friday. Students should be at school each and every day including Friday.

All students were provided with their Track Ed learning profile in week 2. This profile details their attendance each term and a Year-to-Date percentage. The school goal of 90% attendance is only achieved by 41% of our school. There is another 14% or 112 students who are between 85-90% attendance so very close to the school goal. 

Assessment Calendars

On Monday, students will be issued with their individualised Assessment Calendar which outlines the draft and final due dates for assessment between now and end of school in Term 4 for each year level. Below are year level summaries for your convenience, in case you don’t see the paper version next week.

With half of our parents now signed up to Q Parents, those parents will be able to see the assessment due dates live in their app already. They will also always have the correct due dates as it updates any changes which are made here at school. Look below in this newsletter for sign up details to Q Parents if you aren’t already, so you too can be kept informed!

Enrolments for 2026 Now Open

Next Tuesday is the second and final, Enrolment Information evening. We encourage all families with Year 6 students to come along in order to submit their enrolment paperwork. If families are unable to attend, the paperwork can be dropped off to the office. Please ensure this is done by August 8 to ensure inclusion in the draw for a free uniform. As you will see from the flyer below, after feedback from our first Enrolment Information Night we have added a school tour to next Tuesday’s event.

A reminder that our Year 7 2026 Scholarships and the applications for EAGLES Extension Program are open. Both of these applications are due by 29 August 2025 and can be accessed via the following links or the QR codes on the information brochures below.

Online Safety Alert: Protecting Children from Harmful Content

This year, more than any other in my 13 years of school leadership, we are seeing a concerning rise in students—most often boys—accessing inappropriate content. This is happening on personal devices either while travelling to and from school or by using mobile hotspots to bypass school internet security. In each case, the school is responding swiftly and seriously. When such content is shared with others, it often results in suspensions due to the distress and discomfort it causes amongst peers.

We are proud of the students who have come forward to report these incidents. Their courage helps foster the respectful and responsible school culture we strive for—one where students look out for each other and speak up when something isn’t right. We thank sincerely those students have responded positively, for doing the right thing.

Access to pornographic websites and content can be deeply harmful to children aged 12–15. Exposure at this stage of development can distort their understanding of healthy relationships, body image, and consent. It may also lead to emotional distress, increased anxiety, and risky online behaviour. We urge parents to have open conversations with their children about internet safety and to use parental controls to help protect them from harmful content. If your child witnesses or hears about inappropriate content being accessed or shared, please encourage them to report it immediately.

Subject Expo

Students, parents, and carers of Years 7 to 10 are warmly invited to attend our upcoming Subject Expo. on August 12. This is a valuable opportunity to speak with staff from each subject area and explore a range of learning pathways. Guest Training Organisations will also be present to discuss alternative training options.

At 6:00 PM, there will be a dedicated information session for parents and carers of Year 10 students, outlining the expectations and choices available for senior years.

We strongly encourage Year 10 students and their families to attend this session to ensure they are well-informed and confident in making decisions about their future studies.

Staff welcomes for this term

As we begin the second semester of 2025, we’d like to acknowledge a few staffing changes and express our sincere gratitude to those who have recently moved on.

At the end of Semester 1, we farewelled Mrs Sue Jenner, who retired after many years of dedicated service to our school community. We thank her deeply for her unwavering commitment, care, and the positive impact she has had on generations of students. We wish her all the very best in her well-earned retirement.

We also said goodbye to Mr Guy Cooper, Head of Department for ITD and The Arts, who has accepted a promotional position at another school. Mr Cooper’s leadership and dedication have left a lasting legacy, and we thank him for his valuable contributions. We wish him continued success in his new role.

This term, we are pleased to welcome Mr Darren Sharp (Maths/Science), Mrs Genevieve Sharpe (Maths/Humanities), and Miss Jessica Valuch (English/Humanities). All have settled in well and are already making positive contributions to our school community.

We would also like to extend our thanks to Mrs Kim Pohlmann-Vincent, Mr Paul Booth, and Mr Mike Harris for their support in covering short-term contracts and helping ensure continuity of learning for our students. Your flexibility and dedication are greatly appreciated.

Natalie Brandon, Deputy Principal 

Mr Ross Reports: Realising Your Potential in Semester 2

Realising Your Potential: Building Success in Semester 2

As Semester 2 begins at Bundaberg North State High School, students and teachers have had the opportunity to reflect on the achievements and challenges of the first half of the year. With Semester 1 results now available, this is the ideal time for students to reset, refocus, and set new assessment goals that will drive their success throughout Term 3 and beyond.

At the heart of this renewed focus is our school-wide initiative—Realising Your Potential—a commitment to supporting every student to achieve their personal best. Whether aiming to improve academic results, build stronger study habits, or take greater responsibility for their learning, students are encouraged to see Semester 2 as a building block for long-term growth.

Assessment Literacy Placemats: A Fresh Start

To support this fresh start, all students in Years 7 to 10 have been issued new Assessment Literacy Placemats for the semester. These placemats are used in every subject to help students set clear, personalised assessment goals in collaboration with their teachers.

Using their Semester 1 feedback as a foundation, students now can set meaningful targets—whether that’s improving a grade, developing a specific skill, or working toward consistency in a subject. These placemats act as a visible reminder of their goals and track their progress over the term.

Using Feedback to Improve

With teacher feedback and assessment results from last semester in hand, students can make informed decisions about how to improve. The Assessment Placemats also include space to record feedback, helping students reflect on what worked well and where there is room for growth. Teachers will continue to support students by unpacking criteria, discussing success strategies, and guiding students in refining their goals.

Understanding the Language of Learning

Each subject uses key academic terms—such as evaluate, justify, or analyse—that are central to success. These terms are revisited throughout the term and included on the placemat, helping students build confidence in decoding assessment tasks and responding effectively.

Supporting Your Child’s Growth

Parents and carers play a vital role in helping students realise their potential. We encourage families to talk with their child about their Semester 1 report, review the new placemats together, and discuss the goals set for this term. Asking questions like “What are you aiming for in this subject?” or “What feedback are you working on this term?” can help keep students focused and motivated.

Looking Ahead Together

Semester 2 is a fresh opportunity for every student to take the next step in their learning journey. With the guidance of their teachers, the support of their families, and a clear focus on progress, students at Bundaberg North State High School are well positioned to achieve success.

Let’s make this a term of confidence, momentum, and growth—let’s realise our potential, together.

Aaron Ross, Deputy Principal

School Opinion Survey

We are excited to invite parents/carers to participate in the annual School Opinion Survey conducted by the Queensland Department of Education. This survey is a valuable opportunity for you to share your thoughts and opinions about our school and its operations.

What is the School Opinion Survey?

The School Opinion Survey is designed to gather feedback from parents/caregivers, students, and school staff on various aspects of our school. Your input helps us understand what we are doing well and identify areas for improvement.

When is the survey conducted?

The survey will be open from 28 July to 22 August 2025. We encourage you to complete the survey during this period to ensure your feedback is included.

How to participate?

You will receive an email with a link to the online survey. The survey is confidential, and your responses will remain anonymous.

Why is your participation important?

Your feedback is crucial in helping us create a better learning environment for your student. The results of the survey will guide our planning and decision-making processes, ensuring we continue to meet the needs of our school community.

Need more information?

If you have any questions about the survey, please do not hesitate to contact the school office or visit the School Opinion Survey webpage for more details.

Thank you for your time and support.

 Mick Findlay, Deputy Principal 

Friday Bus Travel

Stewart and Sons Bus 676 which departs BNSHS on a Friday at 1.10pm will only be taking students with a bus pass stating that they travel on this service. Students who are on the other Moore Park bus will need to find alternate arrangements or wait for their usual bus after 3pm. If your student does not have a current bus pass, please contact Stewart and Sons Buses on 4153 2646. 

Friday 5, Term 3 2025 Registration

Relay for Life Legends

Recently our incredible Relay for Life team took to the track at the Bundaberg Recreation Grounds, racking up an impressive number of kilometres for this year’s Relay for Life Bundaberg — and they absolutely smashed it.

By 3.00 pm, they had already clocked over 100km, and they kept going strong right through to 9.00 pm. Their energy and commitment were truly inspiring.

A huge thank you to our dedicated students and the amazing staff team — Mrs Hearn, Ms Denham, and Ms McDonald — who gave up their weekend to support this important cause.

We’re so proud of everyone who took part and represented our school with such heart and determination. What a fantastic achievement.

Reef Guardian Eco-Challenge 2025 – A Creative Opportunity for Students

Parents and carers—does your child have a passion for the ocean, wildlife, or creative projects? The Reef Guardian Eco-Challenge 2025 is now open, offering students a chance to explore and celebrate the Great Barrier Reef through a series of engaging activities.

This year’s challenge includes eight optional tasks that students can complete individually or in groups. One of the highlights, Challenge 4, focuses on the “Great 8” iconic species of the reef. Students are invited to research one of these animals and design a colourful A4 brochure to encourage tourists to visit the reef and learn more about its incredible biodiversity.

Earlier this year, we showcased entries from Year 7 students. Today, we’re proud to feature a brochure by Year 12 student Benjamin, one of last year’s winners. His work on whales is a stunning example of how creativity and conservation can come together to inspire action.

Interested students can speak to Mrs Roberts in the Upper C Block staffroom or email her at trobe176@eq.edu.au.
Entries are due by September 23rd.

Let’s support our students in becoming passionate advocates for the reef and its future.

Tracy Roberts, Teacher

National Tree Day at Bundaberg North SHS

Saturday July 26^th was National Tree Day. Each year at Bundaberg North State High School we acknowledge this day by planting trees on our school grounds.

This year the Bundaberg Regional Council donated six native trees for us to plant on the edge of our school oval. Students planted two golden pendas, two ivory curls and two tuckeroos.

We also had people from YourTown come and film some of our students for National Tree Day as part of a bigger Reef Guardian Bundaberg schools project. The project is a video compilation showcasing environmental projects Reef Guardian schools around Bundaberg are doing and will be shown at this year’s OceanFest in August.

Thank you to the students who volunteered to plant trees, and to Beau, our groundsman for preparing the planting site and looking after our trees for us.

Tracy Roberts, Teacher 

Year 11 Agriculture Making a Splash with Aquaponics

Last term, our Year 11 Agriculture students got hands-on with an exciting new project—building their very own aquaponics units! These systems will soon be home to red claw crayfish, as students learn to grow both aquatic animals and plants in a sustainable, closed-loop environment.

To deepen their understanding of modern agricultural practices, students also had the opportunity to watch a fascinating presentation on the use of commercial drones in agriculture—highlighting how technology is transforming farming.  A huge thank you to Wide Bay Drones! 

Aquaponics is already being used around the world, including in large-scale, multi-million dollar facilities in places like Dubai, to help address global food needs. Watch this space as our students take on the challenge of growing food using this innovative method—The North Way!

Tanya Derriman, Teacher 

A Tasty Term of Learning in Hospitality and Food Technology

Last term, our Hospitality and Food Technology students truly impressed with their hard work, creativity, and enthusiasm. Throughout the term, they embraced new flavours, mastered new techniques, and built on their kitchen skills to create a range of delicious, restaurant-quality meals.

From careful preparation to plating with flair, students challenged themselves to go beyond the basics and experiment with ingredients and presentation. Their passion for food was clear, and the results were both impressive and mouth-watering!

Well done to all the students involved—you should be very proud of what you achieved. We look forward to seeing (and tasting) what you cook up next!

Tanya Derriman, Teacher 

Bully Zero Workshop

A valuable opportunity is being provided to parents/carers of our schools within the region, to participate in a free face-to-face 1.5-hour workshop facilitated by Bully Zero, a leading bully prevention organisation.  The workshop Bully Zero, is designed to proactively support parents to understand what bullying is and what parents can do to support their children to be safe both online and when face to face with their peers. 

The attached flyer provides information regarding locations, inclusive of the online option and how to register for the workshops.  Participants must register for the workshops.

GPs in State School Program at North

Did you know that Bundaberg North State High School has a Nurse Practitioner (NP) available 4 days per month? I’m here to provide health advice, medical assessments, and support for students right on campus.

✔️ Need help managing asthma, acne, stress, or sports injuries?

✔️ Want advice on sleep, nutrition, or general wellbeing?

✔️ Have concerns about sexual health, periods, or chronic conditions?

I provide a confidential, supportive space, with no cost to discuss health concerns. Drop in and say hi!

📅 Location: Nurse/GP room (shared with Nurse Robyn)

Claire Bayliss, Nurse Practitioner 

Breaky Club @ North High

Forgot breakfast? Slept in? The school provides toast with an assortment of spreads for students every morning before school. Pop in to grab yourself something to eat to start the day off right.

P&C News

P&C ask for your uniform donations

My name is Shelly Hansen.  I am the President of the BNSHS P&C Association and I am seeking your help.  Sadly, there are students at our school whose families are not able to provide them with a uniform.  I would like to ask for your assistance by donating any items of North High uniform that your children no longer need.  The P&C try to support all requests for assistance but with your help we may be able to extend that support further.  

All uniform donations are greatly appreciated, and we thank you for the continued support of our school.  

Thank you for your help, Shelly Hansen, P&C President

Callout for volunteers

Can you volunteer some time either at home or in tuckshop?

We have some jobs for the tuckshop that could be completed at home such as cutting foil into squares, cutting burger paper (baking paper), putting labels on bags and more.

We also need assistance in our tuckshop. This can be a background position (not student facing). The jobs could include washing up, stocking fridges/ice cream freezer/spoons and helping with food preparation (cutting salads/fruit).

The main days needed are Tuesday and Thursday from 8am-12noon, but any amount of time from 1 to 4 hours would be extremely helpful.

We can also sign off on your Centrelink, work/volunteer forms.

If you think you could spare some time, please contact us via email – pandc@bundabergnorthshs.eq.edu.au

Shelly Hansen, P&C President 

QParents in 2025 at BNSHS

QParents is all about making parents’ lives easier. QParents is a safe, private app to help parents and caregivers manage important details about their child’s education. Once you are registered, you can sign in securely and- Make payments online- Check your student’s timetable, assessment calendar and report cards- Inform the school of your student’s past or future absence- See upcoming events- View enrolment details- Update your contact details.

From 2025, the school will be asking all parents to submit their consent for excursions through QParents. Click the link below for more information or contact the school to arrange for your unique invitation code to start your registration process.

You can watch the introductory video at the link below to learn more about QParents and how it can work for you.

QPARENTS INTRODUCTORY VIDEO

Important dates

Stymie - #saysomething

What does Stymie do for young people?

Of every 30 young people in Australia seven will be dealing with a mental health issue, yet only two will reach out for support. Stymie works with you to give the young people you are working with, the power to say something or ask for help. We are an early intervention initiative that changes and saves lives.

Stymie empowers young people to ask for help when they need support, or if they are seeing or experiencing harm.

Stymie provides online reporting for schools. Encrypted, anonymous notifications are delivered within seconds to authorised recipients, who respond according to their wellbeing framework. The notification provides the option to include screenshots or images that validate the notification.

Being able to anonymously report, relieves feelings of helplessness for those who want to help their peers but don’t quite know how. Our purpose is to support you in creating an environment where harm can be minimised and effective action can be maximised.

Stymie can be used by anybody. It does not have to be a student at our school. The link to make a notification is on the school website front page

Containers for Change program

Bundaberg North SHS supports the Containers for Change program and raises money for student resources.  If you have empty bottles or cans and would like to donate them to North High we would be very grateful.   You can either bring them to school office and staff will give them to the Tuckshop or you can take them to one of the recycling depots and quote our school code – C10002160.  

Thank you for helping our school and the environment.