7 March 2025

From the Administration Team

The Principal – Mr Will Curthoys

QParents

Welcome to mid Term 1!  Recently you would have received an invitation to register for QParents. The QParents initiative represents a truly exciting innovation for parents of Queensland State School students, providing secure, real-time access to essential information about their student, activities and performance. QParents also offers a new streamlined communications channel for parents and schools, allowing parents to be better informed about their student’s education and allow the school to conduct administrative activities more efficiently.

A quick overview of the functions or tabs available reveals a system which is easy to use and delivers a new level of real-time information for parents of Queensland State School students.

• The Academic Reports tab provides an excellent tool for viewing an archive of reports for the student. Reports can be selected from different semesters and a performance summary provides easily understood results. Reports can also be downloaded and printed if desired. The Interim Report for Term 1 2025 will only be available through QParents. 
• The Timetable tab allows parents to easily view student timetables. All student structured educational activities can easily be accessed or printed when required.
• The Assessment Planner tab provides dates for all assessments for the subjects they are scheduled in.

In Term 2 Payments and Consent Forms will be managed through QParents. 

• The Consent Management enables parents to access, populate and submit digital consent forms requested by the student’s school for Excursion Consent. When a new consent request has been created for the student, you will receive a notification email.  A notification will also display in your QParents account on the consent requests tile.  It will be the student’s responsibility to ask the teacher for a paper copy of the consent and return to the office for each excursion.
• The Attendance tab allows parents to notify the school of an upcoming absence and includes a summary of days recorded as absent from the school and other important statistical information. You can also provide a reason for a previous or unexplained absence, so that teachers and school staff know why a student didn't attend school and can update their records. A detailed log of absence is available, including the reasons provided for the absence.
• The Payments tab provides access to a complete transactions record. A payment history is available, and payments due include an invoice (which can be downloaded and printed if desired). Parents can also make an online payment against any outstanding invoice. The payment is processed securely through the Commonwealth Bank's BPoint facility.

In QParents, parents can view a student's enrolment history and see the details of their child's current and previous schools.

Important details for the student can be easily updated using the Manage student details link. Parents can also update information such as medical conditions, addresses to ensure the school has the latest information in real time.

Built on the latest technology and offering an easy-to-use and simple design, QParents provides an additional way for parents to communicate and stay informed in regard to their student's education, anytime from their smartphone, tablet or computer anywhere in Australia or overseas.

A valuable application that provides a new level of access to important information for parents of Queensland State School students.

Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to call the school – 4666 9222.

Deputy Principal – Mr Dan Finn

Good afternoon Parents and Carers,

As we approach the mid-point of the term, students are beginning to prepare for their upcoming assessments. This period can be challenging, but with the right support, students can manage their workload effectively and approach assessments with confidence.

We are committed to supporting students throughout the assessment period. I encourage students to take advantage of the following resources:

• Teacher Feedback: Encouraging students to seek feedback from teachers can strengthen their assessment responses and support overall academic progress.
• Tutorials: Targeted sessions in Science and Mathematics focused on revision of lesson material and effective exam strategies, these occurring each Tuesday afternoon in S block.
• Wellbeing Support: Our dedicated wellbeing team is available for conversations and support if your child feels overwhelmed or anxious.
• Peer Study Groups: Collaborative study groups provide students with the opportunity to review material together, share ideas, and deepen understanding.
• Library Access: The library remains open before school and during lunch times, offering a quiet space for focused study and access to valuable learning resources.

To assist your child during this time, students may find benefit from:

• Study Schedules: a realistic study plan, breaking revision into manageable chunks to reduce stress and boost productivity.
• Positive Study Environment: a quiet, comfortable space to study, free from distractions.
• Healthy Habits: balanced meals, regular breaks, physical activity, and enough sleep are key to maintaining energy and focus.
• Positive Mindset: assessments are opportunities to measure progress—not just tests of knowledge.

Students remember, assessments are opportunities for you to demonstrate your learning and growth. While it's important to strive for good grades, the ultimate goal is to give your very best effort in what you do. Wishing all the students best of luck in their term assessments.

Deputy Principal – Mrs Michelle Ferdinand

Positive School Culture – PSC

The Positive School Culture (PSC) Points system is back for a second year! After a successful launch, we’re excited to continue promoting Respect, Responsibility, Positive Relationships, and Focus on the Fortnightly Theme—with students earning up to four points per lesson from their teachers.

Just like last year, PSC Points can be redeemed for special Reward Days, celebrating our collective achievements.

Leading the way are Zane (Year 12) and Lucas (Year 9), bringing experience and fresh ideas to make this year even better.

Let’s build on last year’s success—earn PSC Points, strengthen our school community, and celebrate positivity together!

Upcoming reward days:
Week 6 - pancakes
Week 8 - prize wheel
Week 9 - sausage sizzle

School-Based Youth Health Nurse News

Food and Your Mood

When you think of improving your mental health, you may not think about changing the food you eat, but there is a strong link between what we eat and how we feel!  We know an unhealthy diet can be associated with increased symptoms of depression and anxiety, but now we are seeing a healthy diet (with a variety of fruit, vegetables, nuts and whole grains) can actually improve mental health.

This is a pretty new and exciting area of research. In fact, two recent studies investigated whether healthy food could reduce depression symptoms. And the results were clear. People who ate a healthier diet improved their depression symptoms more than people who focused on only social support.

Here’s how eating well can improve your headspace:

• help you get a better night’s sleep
• give you more energy
• improve your concentration
• make you less likely to crave foods with high sugar, salt or fat.

When you’re feeling low and struggling with life it’s important to put healthy habits in place – to give yourself a better chance of coping with life’s challenges. Eating well is one of these healthy habits, but it’s not the only one. Things like exercise, sleeping well, and spending time with people you love also play an important role in good mental health.

Immunisation Reminder

Our school is participating in Queensland Health’s annual School Immunisation Program. All Year 7 and Year 10 students will be offered free vaccinations to protect against vaccine preventable diseases.

Year 7 students will be offered a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and a combined diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine. Year 10 students will be offered vaccines against meningococcal disease.

OZcare is the provider for Warwick State High School free immunisation program. In 2025 the paper forms are being replaced by a digital online program (Vitavo). Only students with a signed and completed consent, indicating ‘Yes to Vaccination’ will be vaccinated. If you would like your child to be vaccinated, please complete the consent form online.

Attached is a guide for parents and detailed instructions sheet on how you can provide consent for your student to receive the free vaccinations on March 31 and or June 3. Below is the link to access the online booking system:

Kindness Club

Our Kindness Club is excited to announce this year's theme: "Be the Heart of Change." During Valentine's Week, our students showcased their creativity by crafting a vibrant banner to accompany a giant heart decoration, symbolizing our commitment to spreading love and kindness throughout the school. This collaborative effort not only brightened our school but also showcased how coming together with kindness can make a big difference.

Looking ahead, the Youth Support Coordinators have developed a series of monthly themes to guide our activities and inspire continuous acts of kindness. These themes will provide a structured yet flexible framework, encouraging students from all grades to participate and contribute. We believe that by focusing on specific aspects of kindness each month, we can grow a more respectful and positive school community. Stay tuned for more details on upcoming events – thanks from Travis and Tanya (Youth Support Coordinators).

Tanya and Travis

“The Grounded Warrior Project”

Over the next couple of months, a number of students have been selected to take part in “The Grounded Warrior Project”

The Grounded Warrior Project is an empowerment program designed to cater for the needs of young men. The project assists young men in connecting to their true value and worth as an active worth-while member of society. It achieves this through challenging the participants to go above and beyond what they thought they were capable of. The motto of the project tells its story, and that is, “Fight the Battles Inside Like a Warrior”. To create a real connection with the students involved in the project the facilitator is Harley Attard an ex-Warwick High School student.

Guidance Officer Wellbeing

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself; My name is Anna.  I have the privilege of being the Warwick State High Guidance Officer-Wellbeing.

As a Guidance Officer-Wellbeing, my role encompasses a variety of responsibilities, all aimed at supporting the social and emotional development of students. I provide wellbeing support and counselling to students, and where appropriate their families, with a focus on prevention and early intervention.

My key responsibilities include:

• Offering direct support to students with mild to moderate mental health needs
• Conducting evidence-based early therapeutic intervention sessions
• Identifying students who require additional external mental health support and referring them to appropriate agencies.

I provide individual and small group counselling on a range of issues, including:

• Mental health concerns
• Educational challenges
• Peer relationships
• Family dynamics
• Career planning

My goal is to ensure that students have the support and tools they need to thrive both personally and academically.

Deputy Principal – Mr Daryl Thompson

Free internet for students

The Australian Government has established the School Student Broadband Initiative External link (SSBI) to provide free home internet until 30 June 2028 for up to 30,000 unconnected families across Australia with school aged students. The National Referral Centre (NRC) has been established to allow families to self-nominate for the SSBI and can also provide families assistance with nomination details and contacting and arranging a service provider if required.

To be eligible for the SSBI, a family must:

• have a child living at home that is enrolled in a Queensland school (Prep to Year 12)
• have no active broadband service over the NBN network—having a mobile internet service does not affect eligibility
• live in a premises that can access a standard NBN service
• not have had an active NBN connection during the previous 14 days
• have their suitability determined via an assessment conducted by the NRC.

To apply, families can directly contact the NRC or be referred by a participating nominating organisation. Nominations will remain open until the 30,000 national cap is reached.

How to apply:

Families should be encouraged to contact the NRC on 1800 954 610 (Monday to Friday, 10am–6pm AEDT). Call-back and webchat functions are also available via the NRC website. The NRC team will assess a family’s eligibility by checking their residential address and asking some questions to determine if they meet the government’s eligibility criteria.

If eligible, families will be issued a voucher which can be redeemed at any of the participating SSBI retail service providers. The NRC will also be available to assist with contacting a family’s SSBI internet service provider of choice or providing follow-up support.

Deputy Principal – Mrs Tanya Wright

Relational Pedagogy

At Warwick State High School, the development of quality relationships are at the centre of everything we do. Modern classrooms, facilities and resources provide an environment for our students that fosters positive attitudes, which allows teachers to teach effectively, and students to be engaged and receptive to learning. We have a relentless focus on Excellence through Effort and building our Positive School Culture. Our school values of Respect, Relationships and Responsibility are based upon high expectations for all, and guide our daily actions and interactions. In 2025, we are working on our second year of implementation of Relational Pedagogy.

Our staff do this by developing relationships with the Curriculum, the Learning and the Learner to increase student engagement and outcomes. This approach is supported by a range of practices and strategies to continue to build a supportive, inclusive and stimulating learning environment where teachers motivate and empower students to manage their own learning. If you would like to find out more about Relational Pedagogy, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Senior Secondary News

Head of Department – Mr Cory Wren

School-Based Traineeship and Apprenticeship News

The start to 2025 has seen several students sign up for school-based traineeships and apprenticeships, marking the start of their exciting journey toward hands-on learning and career success. These programs offer students the invaluable opportunity to gain real-world experience, build professional skills, and prepare for their future careers, all while completing their school education.

For many students, these traineeships and apprenticeships are a chance to explore potential career pathways in fields such as construction, hospitality, engineering, healthcare, and more. Through these programs, they will not only engage in classroom learning but also spend valuable time in the workplace, learning directly from industry professionals.

This dual approach to education—combining formal studies with practical, on-the-job training—ensures students are well-prepared to step into the workforce upon graduation. The experience gained will also enhance their resumes, giving them a competitive edge in the job market. Furthermore, traineeships and apprenticeships often lead to full-time employment opportunities once students complete their programs.

Local businesses have been eager to welcome this new wave of trainees and apprentices, recognising the potential of these young individuals to contribute to their organisations. These partnerships are mutually beneficial, with students gaining real-world experience while businesses help shape the future workforce.

We are excited to follow the progress of these students as they take the first steps toward successful careers and wish them all the best in their journeys.

Ana Naoum
Industry Liaison Officer

The Arts News

Head of Department - Mr Ian Follett

Term One has provided many exciting events for the Arts Faculty!

Here is what has already occurred:

Drama Performance ‘Animal Farm’ – by Shake and Stir Theatre Co.

On Monday February 17, senior students in Drama and Arts in Practice classes had the experience of viewing a performance of George Orwell’s Animal Farm; adapted by Shake and Stir Theatre Co in a stunning epic theatre styled production. This was first professional production to be staged in our wonderful facility at TPAC (The Performing Arts Centre). Drama students are exploring contemporary methods of performance and this production was an excellent source of inspiration for our emerging artists. Our Arts in Practice students are learning about work within the Arts industry including the myriad of roles that exist within this sector, making this performance a valuable opportunity to learn about and experience live arts. We thank Shake and Stir for an outstanding afternoon of theatre.

Leisa Ford
Drama Teacher.

Instrumental Music Program

The Instrumental Music program for 2025 has begun at Warwick State High School. Students who enrol in the Instrumental Music Program have a choice of instruction on a broad range of instruments including Brass, String, Woodwind and Percussion instruments. A ‘sign-on’ for 2025 has been held and lessons have begun. The student’s lesson timetables are displayed on The Arts notice board in C-Block. Mrs Andersen is taking care of the string instruments on Thursdays, and Mr Waples is handling woodwind, brass, and percussion on Wednesdays and Fridays. However, if you are a new student to Warwick State High School, and would like the opportunity to learn an instrument, there are still places available. These students should see Mr Follett (HOD – The Arts), in the lower C-Block staff room as soon as possible.

Students also have the opportunity to play in one or more of the various ensembles and bands operating within the school.  These groups enjoy a high profile within the community of Warwick State High School and the wider Warwick community through their many and varied public performances. Students for 2025 have been organised into ensembles and bands, and have already started rehearsing. The Wind Symphony have given their first public school performance at the School Leaders Investiture Assembly on Friday February 21.

In 2025 there will be four ensemble groups rehearsing and performing, ranging from smaller ensembles such as the String Ensemble, to the larger Wind Symphony, and Stage Band groups (other small Chamber size groups may be added as the year progresses).  With this variety of performance and musical opportunities, students can develop their skills in a broad musical sphere ranging from classical to contemporary genres.  The Instrumental Music program’s main aim is to instill in students an appreciation and love of music through participation.

For more information, please contact the Head of Department The Arts – Ian Follett on 4666 9225.

School Singing Group

The Warwick State High School Singing Group contains about 20 - 25 students covering Year 7 - 12. The group rehearses as required and performs at many school ceremonies, Assemblies, and the annual Awards Night. The Singing Group is open for all students to join. Participation in the Singing Group counts as a point towards Gold, Silver, Bronze Reward Levels and Principal Awards and Cultural Awards at the end of the year. The Singing Groups next performance will be for the schools ANZAC Day Ceremony.

School Musical 2025

This year Warwick State High will be staging the musical Disco Inferno.

Here we go again… on another, much anticipated musical adventure.

Disco Inferno, is set in London in the summer of 1976. Outside, the weather is as hot as the fashion and passion are on the dance floor. The classic story Faust is brought to life an explosion of hit 70’s songs, high energy dance routines and glitter-ball spinning action. Get ready to hit the floor and burn, baby, burn.

Of course, there’s a love story.

Auditions have been completed and the cast and chorus have been announced. Once again, the number of students signing up to be involved in musical, either as cast or crew, has been phenomenal and the excitement is amazing. This year’s production, will be Directed by Jen Rogers with Ian Follett as the Musical Director and Kylie Wright as choreographer.

So, put on those platform shoes and on June 5, June 6 and June 7,our Musical production this year will be our first one on stage in our fantastic Performing Arts Facility, TPAC at Warwick State High School. Mark it on your calendar.

Ian Follett
Music Director

Coming up soon: Music Excursion to “Sister Act – The Divine Musical Comedy’’

Students who study music in Year 9-12 in Semester One, have the opportunity to attend an excursion to a matinee performance of the West End and Broadway hit production “Sister Act – The Divine Musical Comedy”. The award-winning musical, based on the film, which quickly became a global phenomenon, features original music by Tony® and 8-time Oscar® award-winner Alan Menken (Disney’s Aladdin, Enchanted, The Little Mermaid) and is inspired by Motown and fuelled with soul and disco.

The excursion will be held on March 12 at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), at Southbank, Brisbane and students will be required to wear their formal uniform. Permission forms have already been distributed in class to eligible students. Payment is to be made at the Main Office and the permission and medical note returned to school. Payments can be made in instalments to secure a student’s place on the excursion.

Students in Year 9-12, study ‘Musical Theatre’ styles as part of their curriculum course and this is an excellent opportunity to see an example of a contemporary musical live on stage. Similar excursions have been undertaken in previous years and have been successful and popular. For more information, please contact Mr Ian Follett (HOD – The ARTS).

Ian Follett
HOD – The Arts.

English and Humanities News

Acting Head of Department – Mrs Kirsty Caterson

Exciting Times in English: A Look at What Students Are Studying

Students across all year levels are diving into engaging and thought-provoking texts this term, each culminating in a unique creative or analytical task. Here’s what’s happening in English classrooms:

• Year 7 – Holes
  Our Year 7 students are uncovering the layers of Louis Sachar’s Holes, exploring themes of fate, friendship, and justice. Their learning will culminate in a narrative intervention, where they will rewrite a key moment in the novel from a fresh perspective.
• Year 8 – Wonder
  Year 8 students are exploring the film Wonder, examining themes of kindness, resilience, and acceptance. Their study will lead to a spoken monologue, where they will step into the shoes of a character and bring their voice to life.
• Year 9 – Speculative Fiction
  The world of speculative fiction is challenging Year 9 students to think beyond reality, engaging with texts that imagine different futures, alternate histories, or supernatural twists. Their creativity will shine as they craft their own short stories within this genre.
• Year 10 – Transforming Literature
  Year 10 students are reading a variety of novels and focusing on the power of transformation. They will showcase their analytical and creative skills by producing an imaginative transformation, reinterpreting a story in a new and compelling way.
• Year 11 – Youth in the Media
  How are young people represented in the media? Year 11 students are tackling this question through a study of various non-literary texts, critically analysing how youth are portrayed in the news.
• Year 12 – The Great Gatsby and Park Avenue
  Year 12 students are about to dive into F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, exploring themes of ambition, wealth, and the American Dream. Alongside this, they will analyse the documentary Park Avenue: Money, Power and the American Dream, drawing connections between literature and real-world social issues.

Exploring the World Through Humanities

Beyond English, students across Years 7–12 are engaging with a diverse range of topics in Humanities subjects, including History, Geography, Legal Studies, Economics and Business, Tourism, Business Studies, and Social and Community Studies. These subjects provide students with a deeper understanding of the world around them—its past, present, and future—while developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and research skills.

Languages: Japanese

Students learning Japanese are developing valuable language skills while gaining cultural understanding:

• Year 8 Japanese – Students are learning the basics of Japanese food, money, and self-introductions, giving them essential vocabulary and communication skills.
• Year 9 Japanese – This year level is focusing on self-introductions and family, allowing students to talk about themselves and their loved ones in Japanese.
• Year 10 Japanese – Students are consolidating prior knowledge while expanding their ability to express likes, dislikes, and comparisons, adding depth to their language skills.

With such a wide variety of learning experiences across English, Humanities, and Languages, students are developing skills that will serve them well in both their studies and the wider world. We look forward to seeing their progress throughout the term!

Year 7 Vocabulary Groups

Year 7 started Vocabulary Groups this week. Here are 7D, E and F working collaboratively in our Reading Room space. 

This learning session allows students to work with other classmates, teachers, and spaces in the school to develop their spelling and grammar skills. This runs alongside our Reading Groups held every week for our Year 7 students. 

7B have had an amazing start to 2025! 7B have upheld, through their behaviour, attitude and efforts, exactly what Positive School Culture stands for at Warwick State High. Our Book Reviews are fantastic and all our students are enjoying their first taste of Warwick State High School. We look forward to completing more excellent work on our next novel, “Holes” by Louis Sachar.

Mr Fowler- Proud WSHS Teacher.

In Year 8 Japanese we have been talking about Setsubun – a festival to chase away bad luck and welcome good luck.

Pictured below are:

• Jack F
• Harrison B
• Joshua F
• Tony S
• Mereki

We are also learning about Japanese food. We made onigiri – Japanese rice balls.

Pictured below are:

• Jack F
• Christian Rendells

Technology News

Head of Department – Mr Bradley Hutchinson

Beautiful Breakfasts

For growing adolescents, a healthy breakfast is vitally important but many students are choosing not to eat this meal. 

So…. why should growing adolescents eat a healthy breakfast????

• To grow to their full potential
• To be healthier
• To feel alert, not sleepy
• To be happier and easier to get on with
• To keep the mid-morning munchies under control
• To make school work easier
• To be better at sport and HPE
• To make demonstrating positive school culture easier

In Year 8 Home Economics, we have been investigating how to use the 3-out-of-5 healthy breakfast model by preparing and eating quick and easy breakfast foods that meet the guideline.  The recipes we’ve prepared so far include:  Almond Butter Toast with Yoghurt & Fruit, Choc Banana Up-&-Go, Overnight Oats, Scrambled Eggs in a Mug and Home-made Baked Beans with Egg. In coming lessons, we will also be preparing Omelette Tortilla Breakfast Wrap and Green Eggs with Ham.  Each of these recipes include not 3 food groups, but 4 and definitely achieve the requirement for a healthy balanced breakfast. 

Our hope is that the breakfast skippers become dedicated breakfast eaters!

Refining Food Hygiene Practices

The Year 10 Food Technology course has two aims:  for students to understand how Food Technologists work in the real world and for students to become savvy food consumers.

One of the critical skills for a Food Technologist to possess is meticulous attention to detail with regard to food hygiene. What better way to refine hygiene practices than to prepare food for customers? 

The Year 10 students made food hygiene their number one priority as they prepared lamingtons for staff morning tea.  Hands were washed more thoroughly than ever; bandannas were worn and unconscious habits that involved touching the face were picked up by Ms Norgaard and hands were re-washed.  Though the many chocolatey fingers were begging to be licked, not a one was! 

Mathematics and Science News

Head of Department – Mr Brian Amedee

The Mathematics and Science Faculty has had an exciting start to the year, with numerous activities showcasing our students’ enthusiasm and dedication.

The Agriculture Show Team, in particular, has enjoyed a successful beginning, with a large turnout of students volunteering their weekends to attend local show days. We invite anyone interested in joining this lively group to come along at first break to the agriculture block or on Tuesday mornings before school to learn more and get involved.

Meanwhile, our science classes have been working with hands-on experiments in Q Block. Students have been putting their theoretical knowledge into practice by creating engaging demonstrations, which highlight both their creativity and understanding. It has been wonderful to be involved with their developing curiosity and problem-solving skills as they collaborate on these projects.

For those seeking additional support in Mathematics, we offer tutorials every Tuesday afternoon from 3:10 to 4:10pm in S Block. We encourage students to make the most of these sessions by arriving prepared with questions or areas of difficulty, ensuring they get the targeted assistance they need.

Finally, we are delighted to announce our upcoming STEM Event in the TPAC on Wednesday, March 5, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm This event will feature the talent and ingenuity of our visiting primary school students, who will be tackling STEM challenges and vying for top scores. We look forward to celebrating their achievements and applauding the innovative work they produce.

Coming Up Soon – World Science Festival Brisbane Excursion

Students will get to experience some epic engineering, the Discovering Ancient Egypt Exhibit and many more of the wonders of the Queensland Museum.

When: 26^th March 2025. Leaving school at 7.00 am and returning by 5.00 pm
Who: Year 7 – 10 (total of 50 students)
Meals: students to provide their own morning tea, lunch and snacks.
Dress Code: Formal Uniform (Wellbeing can help support the student’s wardrobe)

Permission forms can be collected from Mrs Lee in S Block. Forms and payments are due to the office by March 14.

Due to limited spaces available, those students who return their form and make payment first will attend the event.

Physical Education, Teaching and Learning News

Head of Department – Mrs Tanya Wright

This year the Year 10 students are undertaking a course that prepares them for Senior PE, Certificate II in Sports Coaching and Certificate III in Fitness. Students receive a snapshot of these subjects to better educate them to make informed choices during SET planning. Currently students are learning about Sport Coaching and have already completed their first assessment piece of teaching a specific volleyball skill to their classmates. 

Special Education Program News

Acting Head of Department – Ms Jacinta Boland

Healthy Eating

As part of a module of study in their ASDAN program, the some of the senior students have been investigating healthy eating. One of their tasks involved identifying foods that are good for you and foods that are less good for you. They then had to plan and prepare a healthy snack. The students chose to prepare fruit kebabs. The delicious kebabs were shared amongst their peers.

Submitted by Deb Follett

NAPLAN 2025

Warwick State High School NAPLAN testing dates:

• Wednesday March 12: Year 7 and Year 9 Writing Test
• Thursday March 13: Year 9 Reading Test and Writing catch up test sessions.
• Friday March 14: Year 7 Reading Test, Year 9 Conventions of Language Test and catch-up test sessions
• Monday March 17: Year 7 Conventions of language and catch-up test sessions
• Tuesday March 18: Year 7 Numeracy Test and catch-up test sessions
• Wednesday March 19: Year 9 Numeracy Test and catch-up test sessions.

For more information regarding NAPLAN tests see the link below:

If you do not wish for your child to participate in NAPLAN tests, please collect a “NAPLAN Withdrawal” from the office and return it by March 3.

If you have any questions regarding NAPLAN, please email Erica Wolf at ewolf6@eq.edu.au.

What’s cookin’ at WSHS

Sporting News

Mr Nathan Rogers

The 2025 Inter-House Swimming Carnival has been run (swum) and won with Hamilton taking out the Reason Cup as Aggregate Points winners. Final scores on the day were:

        🔴Hamilton - 702
        🔵Leslie - 455
        🟡Cunningham - 272
        🟢Barnes - 177

Individual honours went to School Captain Will Day, who was awarded the Gordon Affleck Memorial Trophy for Champion Swimmer of the Meet with 45 points and three records across the day.

The inaugural Warwick State High School “Skins” Handicap Race was taken out by dark horse School Based Youth Health Nurse, Tay Broomhall in a close-run event.

With the introduction of Beach Volleyball, Bocce and Finska for all students, we saw a considerable increase in attendance and participation at our Swimming Carnival with great Positive School Culture on display.

Border District Summer trials in Goondiwindi was a success with a number of students being selected in Border teams for both junior and senior Cricket.  Congratulations to Damien Boal, Leo Griffiths and Liam Wren.

Border District swimming was held in Stanthorpe this year with fifteen students from Warwick High representing the school in the pool.  Our strongest swimmers noted for the day was Harry Dangerfield and Alicia Benz.

Border District winter trials were held last week across a number of sporting fields around Warwick.  We had a strong contingent of students that made selections in Border teams to represent the school in the up-coming Darling Downs trials over the next term.

Parents are urged to remind their children to check the sports noticeboard and check the school calendar for upcoming dates.  Students selecting to or attending Darling Downs trials are reminded that payment for trials must be made electronically on the darling downs website and this is always well before the trial date.  Failure to pay for trials by the deadline will mean students will be ineligible to participate.  The website link can be found here  

I would also like to introduce our Senior and Junior Sports Captains for 2025.

Junior – Liam Wren and Jackson Dwan
Senior – Barnes                 Belinda Paroz
               Hamilton            Patrick Fitzgerald
               Cunningham      Yazelle Van Dyk
               Leslie                  Kenai Rose-Green

Student Council News

The 2025 Student Council were officially presented with their badges at the annual Student Leadership Investiture and the School Captains were excited to conduct the first Student Council meeting on Friday February 28.  During this meeting the leaders outlined their goals for 2025 and began planning for the Committee Fair on Friday March 11. 

Here is what the School Captains are looking forward to this year:

“Hey, I’m Will and I am excited to work alongside Piper as this year’s School Captains. Before being elected I had set 3 goals:

• Inspire our students
• Build our community image
• Improve life within the school gates.

 I am determined to achieve each of these with the assistance from the Student Representative Council and we’ve already built the foundation.”

Thanks, Will

“I am excited to be a 2025 School Leader and have the chance to make a positive impact in our school community. I look forward to collaborating with my fellow council members to create fun events, build school spirit, and listen to ideas from our peers so we can make Warwick High an even better place!"

 Piper

Office News

Contact Details

Keeping parent and emergency contact details up-to-date is very important so that we can contact you if your student is unwell or requires urgent medical attention. Attached is a “Change of Details” form for your convenience so that, if necessary, this can be completed and returned to the school.

Leave Passes

In summary:

• All students leaving the school during the day, MUST be signed out of the school by a parent/caregiver, this must be done via the Main Office. After showing their Student ID card, they will be issued with a Leave Pass.
• Students are NOT permitted to sign out of the school unless a parent/caregiver (or another adult nominated by the parent in writing) is present. Students must present this Leave Pass, as requested, to teachers or police officers when outside the school grounds.
• All students returning to school must do so via the Main Office with a parent/caregiver present. After showing their Student ID card, they will receive a Returning Pass, which must be shown to their class teacher.
• Students who are registered to drive to school do not need a parent/caregiver to be present to sign out. However, parental permission to leave must be obtained by the school in writing from parent/caregiver.

Messages to Students

Messages to students will be taken and delivered only in an emergency.  Whilst every effort is made to deliver these messages, please note that classrooms do not have telephones.

Student Resource Scheme

The Student Resource Scheme fee for 2025 is $195.00.   To ensure your student is able to participate in extra-curricular activities now is the time to start discussing your payment options with us.

We have options available for payment: Cash, Cheque, Eftpos, Payment Plans and Centrepay.

If you are currently receiving Centrelink payments, we can set up Centrepay or if not, we can set up a Payment Plan where you can make direct deposits into our bank account to make regular payments for your fees.

Please contact Paula in the Main Office on 4666 9232 for assistance.

Community Events