School Holidays - Saturday 5th April - Sunday 20th April

Week 1

Monday 21st April - Easter Monday Public Holiday, Proserpine Cemetery Flag Event

Tuesday 22nd April - Back to school for Term 2, 100% Attendance Draw

Wednesday 23rd April - Mackay District Rugby League Competition

Thursday 24th April - School Anzac Day Ceremonies

Friday 25th April -  Anzac Day Public Holiday

Week 2

Monday 28th April - Student Leadership Interviews, report cards emailled home, Year 11 & 12 Mackay Court House excursion

Tuesday 29th April - Year 7 Deadly Choices Program, Student Leadership Interviews, Year 10 Geography excursion to Dingo Beach, Try a Trade excursion, 95% Attendance BBQ, Newsies workshop (leads and orchestra), Newsletter due out

Wednesday 30th April - Year 7 Camp, Year 12 Bond University Extension Business Program, Student Leadership Interviews, Mackay District Rugby League Competition

Thursday 1st May - Year 7 Camp, House Hustle, Apprenticeship Readiness Evening

Friday 2nd May - Year 7 Camp

Saturday 3rd May - Newsies tech bump in rehearsal

Sunday 4th May - Newsies tech rehearsal

Reflecting on Term 1, it is clear that our school community has had a busy and productive start to the year. Our students have achieved success across a wide range of activities, including STEM, The Arts, Sport, Cultural, and Leadership. We are immensely proud of their dedication and commitment to exploring diverse opportunities and expanding their awareness through life experiences. A heartfelt thank you to our teachers, support staff, and the wider community for your ongoing support in nurturing our students' growth and development.

Introducing our Whitsunday Leos Club!

• President - Amelia Brain
• Vice President - Allegra Bradley
• Secretary - Elizabeth Pascoe
• Treasurer - Marie-Louise Rubio
• Community Service Director - Thalia Foster
• Fundraising Director - Shakiya Hanlon-Thompson
• Membership Director - Ruhveer Kaur

Tickets on sale for school musical 'Newsies'

Our upcoming school musical, ‘Newsies', is a testament to our students’ passion and dedication. More than 100 students from across our school are involved in the production, rehearsing since signing up last year.

From set design to choreography, lighting to costuming, our students have embraced every aspect of the show and are sure to shine on stage come showtime. I have every confidence in their ability to deliver an amazing performance for our community.

Tickets are on sale now—don’t miss out! To book, click the following link.

Kennedy House Term 1 victors

Congratulations to Kennedy House for emerging as the Term 1 House Cup victors! Through an accumulation of points from various categories, including academics, attendance, Care Group activities, participation in the Swimming Carnival, and engagement in our focus charity event - the World’s Greatest Shave, Kennedy House secured the trophy, narrowly edging out Oxley House.

While winning is exciting, the true value lies in positive participation, engagement across all aspects of school life, and displaying House pride. Well done to all students for their efforts! A special mention also to O5 Care Group for winning the Sun Smart Shield.

Learning extended beyond the classroom

The past few weeks have been a hive of activity. Our Year 12 Hospitality students showcased their Hospitality skills, preparing delicious cuisines from around the world for staff and students. Well done to all involved. Students from our Inclusive Education Centre enjoyed an excursion to Little Vintage Café, while our Year 11 and 12 Geography students travelled to Hamilton Island to deepen their understanding of waste management practices as part of their current unit of study.

Our Year 7 students showcased their learning from Term 1 during Culminating Day earlier this week, and a group of Year 12 students flew to Brisbane on Monday for the Law and Justice Tour, broadening their knowledge of Australian law practices. Meanwhile, our Year 11 Aquatic Practices and Marine Science students participated in an Ocean Rafting excursion, focusing on the essential elements of excursion planning.

School Photos

Last week and this week, our school photos took place across Thursday, Friday, and Wednesday in the Resource Centre. We appreciate the patience and cooperation of parents and carers with the scheduling adjustments due to weather. School photos will arrive at school and be sent home mid-Term 2.

Wrapping up Term 1

To close the term, our much anticipated Student Forum for 2025 took place on the last day of term. This forum provides a pivotal leadership opportunity, allowing students in Years 7-12 to offer feedback on school processes and to propose future initiatives. By amplifying student voice, we foster a collaborative environment where ideas are heard, and actionable steps are identified, ensuring continuous improvement within our school community. We deeply appreciate the valuable contributions from our students as we strive for a more inclusive and diverse educational experience.

As we head into the holiday break, we wish all students and families a safe and restful time. A reminder that Term 2 will commence with a short week: Monday 21st April is a public holiday due to Easter, followed by a whole-school Parade on Tuesday to commence the term. Year level parades will take place as usual on Wednesday, leading into our whole school Anzac Day service on Thursday 24th April in our Multi Purpose Hall.

Students are also encouraged to participate in the local Anzac Day commemorations. A special flag ceremony will be held at the Proserpine Cemetery on Monday, 21st April, with Anzac Day services occurring across our region on Friday, 25th April. The timings for these services will be shared in the morning notices during Week 1 and posted on our school Facebook page. We look forward to our students joining us for the community marches and representing our great school.

We hope you all have a wonderful holiday break!

Junior Student Council Representatives announced

Our Year 7, 8 and 9 Student Council Representatives were presented with their badges on Junior School Parade last week. Congratulations to you all on lending your voice to help shape our great school! We look forward to working with you throughout the year.

Year 7 Science 

Our Year 7 Science classes put their Chemistry skills to the test last month separating a mixture containing sand, iron fillings, match sticks and salt using different techniques learned this term. 

Year 7 Culminating Day

Our Year 7 students enjoyed sampling a variety of 21st century subject electives on Monday as part of our annual Culminating Day. Students were treated to showcases of work that had been completed in the first term of high school by their peers. Well done to you all on a busy and productive first term of high school! Thank you to our staff who put together the Culminating Day displays and presentations.

Year 8 Hospitality

This hands-on task not only encouraged creativity but also reinforced the importance of food safety, hygiene, and smart menu planning. The results in the kitchen were both impressive and mouth-watering. Who would ever have thought of a Ramen Burger? This burger was meticulously created from start to finish in this lesson by Emily Wilson. The end result was mind-blowingly good! Well done to both of our Year 8 classes for their ingenuity this term!

New additions to our school farm in time for Easter

We are excited to welcome two sets of twin lambs at our school farm just in time for Easter. Affectionately named by our Agriculture students, the lambs enjoyed lots of cuddles and bottle feeds while keeping dry out of the rain.

Year 12s international cuisines shine in the kitchen

Our Year 12 students recently showcased their culinary skills at the International Market Foods Stall, offering two delicious meal options for just $15. Leading up to the event, students worked hard to trial and perfect their dishes, ensuring top-quality flavours and presentation.

The feedback from customers was positive, with many praising the effort and dedication put into each meal. A huge thank you to our Hospitality teacher-aide, Mrs Green for her behind the scenes assistance in the preparation process and to Mrs Mitchell for her support on the event days.

We also want to extend our gratitude to all the students and staff who purchased and enjoyed meals that supported our students. Your enthusiasm and appetite made the event a great success!

Students enjoy Dr Damien Kee STEM challenge

I am excited to let you know that last month we had Dr Damien Kee visit our school.

Damien is a passionate coding and robotics enthusiast who presented to more than 70 of our Year 7-10 students, building on the skills already taught here at Proserpine State High School and extending our students knowledge into vocational  possibilities beyond school.

Our Year 7 and 8 students explored the world of python coding language and programming micro:bits to run different sequences. Our Year 9 and 10 students built bionic hands using python coding language.

Our students learned a lot throughout the sessions.  It was amazing to be able to engage a passionate content expert to come and work with our students, and build professional networks with our teachers.  This was all made possible through a generous donation from the Proserpine Rotary Club whose support of our students we greatly appreciate.

Senior Science classes take the lead in Term 1

Our Year 12 Biology students have had a busy end to Term 1 completing their student experiments. Students were tasked with modifying a base practical to answer their own research question. They developed a number of intriguing questions including the effect of nitrogen and salinity on early plant growth, and the effect of sugar concentration on the population growth of yeast. Our students will now analyse these results and present their findings as a scientific report.

Our Year 11 Chemistry class spent an engaging lesson using distillation to separate a sample of soft drink. Our students were amazed to see the first liquid they separated and collected was clear but smelt strongly of the soft drink flavour. They then continued the separation to see the various other components of a soft drink mixture, with the caramel sugar solution remaining at the end. Our Year 11 Chemistry will continue to explore mixtures and solutions as part of their unit 1 context.

Ladies represent at State Swimming Championships

Congratulations to our Year 7 student Celeste Orenshaw and Year 9 student Tora Delac who represented our school at the State Swimming Championships at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre last week. 

Both students competed in individual and relay events for the Northern Team, with Tora a State finalist for her age division in the 100m Backstroke. Both students were joined by our Acting Deputy Principal Melanie Garibaldi as the team Manager and Teacher Kate Thomson as Chief Manager.

Students make State Championships across sports

Congratulations to our Year 7 student Paeton Lorraway who was selected to represent the Northern Team at the Netball State Championships later this year.

Congratulations also to Liam Steen for making the North Queensland Basketball Trials, Jaylynn Matheson-Hone, Jamie Henderson and Reef Weller for making the Northern AFL Trials and Sarah Chilton for making the State Football Team.

Wishing you all the best of luck as you represent our school and region at State level.

Join us for our Apprenticeship Readiness Evening

We are looking forward to hosting our second annual Apprenticeship Readiness Evening on Thursday 1st May. This event will be held in our Multi Purpose Hall and is a great opportunity for our Year 10-12 families to seek information about apprenticeships and traineeships. We are excited to welcome guest speakers from Wilmar Sugar Australia Limited, Whitsunday Regional Council and MAS National, who will share insights into what they look for in potential employees.

We are also excited to host business representatives from Alder Constructions, Crear Construction, Deb's Hair and Beauty, Ergon Energy, Glencore, MAS National, Proserpine Electrical, Seam Spatial, TAFE Cannonvale, Theiss, Whitsunday Regional Council and Wilmar Sugar Limited Australia who will be available to chat to and answer any questions you may have about starting an apprenticeship/traineeship in their industry.

If you are interested in attending, please register via the following link. We are also reaching out to local businesses to attend and be available after the formalities for questions with our families about apprenticeship/traineeship opportunities within your business/organisations. For more information, please email myself Bernie Porter at bport82@eq.edu.au.

We're excited to launch our new Career's website dedicated to supporting our students and families with the diverse career pathways available to them. This includes information regarding training, employment, apprenticeships, as well as after school employment. There are links to the 2025 QTAC Guide and information about choosing senior subjects at school.

Our Year 10-12 students were emailed the link to the website and password to access and career planning tools. They are also able to identify their personal strengths and weaknesses that will assist them with building their resumes and job applications.

For parents and carers, the Careers site can be found under the Curriculum, Careers heading on our school website. Click the following link to view our useful Careers resource. 

Our senior students have also received their first Student Opportunities email for the year. This features job and study opportunities and valuable information about upcoming events they might be interested in. There is also information regarding work experience and scholarship and university open day events. Our Student Opportunities are emailled each week to our Year 10-12 students.

Please visit B4 for more information on the positions available, school-based traineeships and apprenticeships, or work experience.

Link & Launch

If you find yourself not knowing how to take the next step into study or work, Link and Launch can help. Call or text Shelley  from Proserpine State High School on 0467 858 781 to get started, or read more at https://proserpineshs.eq.edu.au/curriculum/programs-and-partnerships/link-and-launch  #linkandlaunch

Call or SMS me on 0467 858 781. Email me on ssimp208@eq.edu.au. Or visit me in person at Proserpine State High School

SchoolTV

Special Report - Cybersafety

Young people today are growing up in an increasingly connected world where technology is part of their everyday lives –– for learning, socialising, and entertainment. While the digital world offers enormous benefits, it also comes with serious risks. From cyberbullying and online predators to inappropriate content and screen time concerns, navigating the online environment can be challenging for young people and their families.

Cybersafety is not just about blocking access –– it's about empowering young people with the knowledge and skills they need to use technology responsibly and safely. This includes understanding privacy settings, recognising scams, and developing healthy digital habits. At the same time, it's important for parents and caregivers to stay informed, have open and judgement-free conversations with their children, and lead by example through positive online behaviour.

In today's digital age, safeguarding a child's wellbeing must also include protecting their online life. This edition of SchoolTV will help you better understand the digital landscape your child is navigating and offer practical strategies to help them stay safe, confident and in control online.

Here is the link to your Special Report.

Health Matters

2025 Swimming Carnival

Sun Smart Care Group Shield Points

Congratulations to all those who were Sun Smart at our 2025 Swimming Carnival. As the Mackay Health District, we, unfortunately have one of the highest melanoma statistics in QLD… nothing to be proud of as we can prevent melanoma by being Sun Smart and remembering to SLIP on a Shirt, SLAP on a Hat, SLIDE on some Sunglasses, SLOP on some Sunscreen and Seeking Shade.

Points were close at the Swimming Carnival, as some Care Groups got more involved in Slipping, Slapping, Sliding, Slopping and Seeking Shade than others…

Remember, we have Care Carnival and Athletics Carnival to come so you can ALL get involved in being Sun Smart, looking after your long-term health and get points for your Care Group. Points are added up from all the Carnivals for the Sun Smart Care Group Shield. These points also go towards House Cup points!

Congratulations to these Care Groups!!!

4^th Place on -  46 Points – K10

3^rd Place on - 53 Points – K5

2^nd Place on – 55 Points – K6

1^st Place on – 93 Points – O5

Yarning Circle

Term 1 Deadly Choices Graduation

Congratulations to our groups of Year 8, Year 10 and 11 students who graduated from our Term 1 Deadly Choices Program on Tuesday and Thursday this week. 

 

Thank you to our school's Community Education Counsellor Mr Arthur Gabey and Chris Viti and Jodie Durante from the Mackay Hospital Health Service, and Deadly Choices Program Officers Uriel Pearson, Keeley Elston and Jardine Bobongie for delivering this important program for our students. 

 

We're looking forward to working in partnership again next term to offer the Deadly Choices Program for our students!

Youth Summit EOIs now open!

Expressions of interest are now open to attend the Bandarran Marra’Gu - Gathering Strength Youth Summit.  Hosted by the Queensland Family and Child Commission and First Nations youth advocacy organisation Yoora Maltha, the summit is to be held in Magandjin (Brisbane) from Monday 12 May to Wednesday 14 May 2025.

Bandarran Marra’Gu is a three-day gathering of First Nations young peoples who are passionate about human, children’s and Indigenous rights in Queensland.

Participants will have their say on issues that affect them and their communities while building on their foundational knowledge of these processes.

Requirements:

• aged 16–24
• a First Nations person
• living in Queensland, and
• passionate about human rights for young First Nations people.

All relevant costs (incl. flights, accommodation, meals) will be covered for successful applicants. 

Expressions of interest close Thursday 10 April 2025! 

Teacher Aide First Nations

First Nations Student Opportunities

University of Queensland InspireU Health Science Camp

The University of Queensland’s InspireU Health Science Camp will be held from 29 June to 4 July.  Students will:

• Participate in a week-long on-campus residential camp.
• Attend engaging sessions to further understand health and science.
• Take part in practical, hands-on experiences.
• Explore UQ facilities and services.
• Connect with current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander University students.
• Meet fellow high school students.

Follow this link to apply:- 

InspireU Health Science Camp https://study.uq.edu.au/events/inspireu-health-science-camp?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3Wm-aLtXp7NVRozwRF4UcL3h9LOSIb6oaE49CR6fUJYT5JUDnLGGZZzlU_aem_TGa-YzcJNukpMyugvTPeUw

Applications close 16 May 2025.

The National Indigenous Business School (NIBS)

Applications are now open to First Nations students in Years 11 and 12 to apply for the National Indigenous Business School.  The NIBS will run from Sunday, 29 June – Saturday, 5 July 2025 at Griffith University’s Brisbane and Gold Coast campuses.  All expenses including travel to and from Brisbane, accommodation, meals and activities will be covered.  If you are interested in business, accounting or finance, this is the opportunity for you! Please apply via the link below.

Applications close Thursday, 1 May 2025.

National Indigenous Business School Application https://www.griffith.edu.au/griffith-business-school/engagement/NIBS

JCU Indigenous Winter School

Applications are now open for the JCU Indigenous Winter School which will be held Sunday, 29 June – Friday, 4 July 2025. The School is open to Year 10, 11 or 12 students interested in exploring life at university JCU will cover all costs associated with the program, including travel to and from Townsville, accommodation and catering costs for all participants.  Study areas available:

• Allied Health;
• Indigenous Studies;
• Law;
• Marine;
• Mathematics/Science;
• Medicine/Dentistry;
• Nursing/Midwifery;
• Social Work.

Applications close:  Wednesday, 30 April 2025.

Apply via the QR code on the flyer or via  the link below.

JCU Indigenous Winter School Application https://www.jcu.edu.au/ierc/experience-uni/winter-school

Victorian Indigenous Engineering Winter School

The Victorian Indigenous Engineering Winter School (VIEWS) is on again for 2025! The School will run from 5-12 July, 2025.

VIEWS is a week-long program offered by The University of Melbourne, RMIT University, Swinburne University and Monash University where students experience first-hand the work of engineers, meet Indigenous engineering professionals, discover pathways into engineering and explore four university campuses.

Applications for this program are now open and close on Friday 9 May, 2025 at 5pm.

For more information on the program and a registration form for your students please visit:

Victorian Indigenous Engineering Winter School https://eng.unimelb.edu.au/engage/indigenous/views

University of Queensland InspireU Year 12 Camp

Applications are open for the University of Queensland’s Year 12 Camp which is being held from 30 June to 5 July.

Please follow the link below to apply. Applications close 16 May 2025.

InspireU Year 12 Camp https://study.uq.edu.au/events/inspireu-year-12-camp?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3Wm-aLtXp7NVRozwRF4UcL3h9LOSIb6oaE49CR6fUJYT5JUDnLGGZZzlU_aem_TGa-YzcJNukpMyugvTPeUw 

First Peoples School to Uni Program – Griffith University

GUMURRII Student Success Unit is dedicated to raising aspirations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students across Queensland to reach their full potential.  Year 11 and 12 students are invited to participate in the Griffith University School to Uni program.  This program will provide you with a clear pathway to university and will equip you with the skills you need to successfully complete your studies. 

First Peoples School to Uni Program - Year 11 & 12 https://www.griffith.edu.au/gumurrii/first-peoples-s2u

GUMURRII School to Uni Initiative: Registration Portal https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=q8h8Wtykm0-_YGZxQEmtYs89SJxrMedGpxGjvol157ZURVFXTlBNM0k1TlRKTDA3S0swQVNZSTNKRS4u

Defence Work Experience Programs

Defence currently has a number of work experience opportunities across Army, RAAF and Navy.  The following are specifically for First Nations senior students:-

• Indigenous Youth Program RAAF Careers Overview: RAAF Townsville – 8 May 2025 and 10 June 2025, Townsville QLD.

There are many more work experience opportunities, with Defence if you are interested in applying, please apply via this link:-

Defence Work Experience Program https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/cp/index.cfm?event=jobs.listJobs&JobCategoryID=DDD5F3BD-9D58-898A-F66F-5B3A1AB2800D&jobsresetList=true&CurATC=defenceworkexp&CurBID=EBDFCAA3%2DB025%2DF7B7%2D3BD4%2D6D3FA42B2291&JobListID=83AA67BB%2D5AB1%2D7A5E%2DA521%2D6D3E05DAE980&jobsListKey=16535e2c%2Da824%2D4962%2Dae42%2Db26ed513905a&persistVariables=CurATC,CurBID,JobListID,jobsListKey&lid=73190310010&rmuh=931984FE0EB34191F504DB8665C9294DE2FF81E5

If you would like to speak with me about opportunities that may be available to your young person, please don’t hesitate to contact me on 4945 0162 or email kmcdo302@eq.edu.au