Week 2

Monday 21st July - Friday 25th July - NAIDOC Week celebrations

Monday 21st July - Tuesday 29th July - Lunchtime Athletics

Wednesday 23rd July - NQ Girls Rugby League Trials 13-14 Years Old, First Nations Cultural Eco Barge Clean Up excursion, P&C Meeting

Thursday 24th July - Year 9/10 Subject Selection Expo and Evening

Friday 25th July - Year 10 RYDA Road Safety Workshop, Alumni Talks

Saturday 26th July - Tuesday 29th July - Australian Junior Beach Volleyball Schools Cup

Week 3

Monday 28th July - Lunchtime Athletics, PISA National Assessment Event, Year 10 Industry Talks, Year 11 Hospitality Cafe excursion

Tuesday 29th July - Lunchtime Athletics, Year 9 Deadly Choices Program, Year 11 Hospitality Cafe excursion, Student Leadership Interviews, Parent/Teacher Interviews

Wednesday 30th July - Athletics Carnival

Thursday 31st July - Student Leadership Interviews, Asaka Nishi High exchange students arrive

Friday 1st August - PPEP Talk

Saturday 2nd August - Great Barrier Reef Festival Street Parade

Week 4

Monday 4th August - Gold Behaviour and Effort Certificates presented on parade

Tuesday 5th August - Year 9 Deadly Choices Program, Year 12 Hospitality Formal Dining Event, Newsletter due out

Wednesday 6th August - Senior School Parade, Hummingbird House Crazy Hat Day, Year 6 Into Year 7 Family Information Evening, Year 12 Uni Life & Application Information Evening

Thursday 7th August - Year 12 Hospitality Formal Dining Event, Mackay Careers Expo excursion

Friday 8th August - Early Childhood Studies First Aid Day

Welcome back to Term 3!

I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable school holiday break. After what was a busy Term 2, we now look forward to an exciting new term, which has already started with a flurry of activities for our students - including the Mackay Gala Cricket Days, our WWI Front Trench Incursion, Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival, JCU Uni Experience, the Australian Festival of Chamber Music Pathways Outreach Tour, and our NAIDOC AFL House Challenge.

A Positive Start to Term 3

Semester 2 commenced with Positive Culture Day in Care Groups, and it was fantastic to see students engaged in activities designed to strengthen peer connections and enhance House spirit. I commend our students on their positive start and contributions to Care Group culture.

We also took this opportunity to celebrate students who have achieved highly in our attendance benchmarks. Those reaching 95% attendance received recognition, along with the recipients of our 100% attendance draw, proudly sponsored by the P&C Association.

2025 NAIDOC Week Celebrations

Our NAIDOC Week celebrations kicked off last Friday with our AFL House Challenge on the oval. It was wonderful to see strong participation from both junior and senior students, as well as enthusiastic support from spectators.

Special thanks to Joel Newman (Gold Coast Suns Academy Lead) and Brett Baldwin (Mackay Game Development Officer) for running skills sessions and games. Thank you to Chris Viti from Mackay Hospital and Health Service for hosting the Deadly Choices tent, and to Mr Kapitz for organising the event. A big thank you to all staff and students who contributed to making the day such a success.

This year marks 50 years of NAIDOC celebrations with the theme: “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy.”

Our First Nations staff, Mr Arthur Gabey and Mrs Kelli McDonald, have prepared a fantastic calendar of events. This week began with a traditional smoking ceremony and cultural welcome by Mr Robert Congoo during assembly, followed by our First Nations Student Forum in the Resource Centre. Other NAIDOC activities include cultural art workshops, an Eco Barge Clean Seas excursion, a daily "Hunting and Gathering" Care Group challenge, yarning circles, and health talks.

A full gallery of images from the week's events will be featured in our next newsletter.

Senior Student Opportunities

This Friday, former students will return to speak with our senior students about their journeys into tertiary study and employment. These insights will no doubt be valuable, and I encourage students to ask questions and seek advice. We sincerely thank these graduates for reconnecting with our school community and look forward to welcoming them back.

• Imogen Tulk
• Jack Handley
• Grace McDonald
• Sam Rogers

Subject Expo and Information Evening this Thursday

We’re excited for our upcoming Year 9 into 10 and Year 10 into 11 Subject Expo and Information Evening. This is a great opportunity for students and families to speak with the Leadership Team and Heads of Department about senior subject offerings and future career pathways.

Students will explore the displays during Period 4 on Thursday, 24 July, in the Multi-Purpose Hall. Families are welcome to join from 5:00pm. We look forward to seeing you there!

We encourage all families to book interviews and connect with teachers. For assistance, please reach out to your child’s teacher. Interviews will be held on Tuesday, 29 July, from 3:30pm to 5:40pm in our Multi Purpose Hall. Please click the following link to book your interviews. 

Extra-Curricular Excursions

Last Friday, two exciting excursions took place: a group attended the Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival in Mackay, while our Year 11 students travelled to Townsville for the James Cook University Open Day. Staff reported outstanding behaviour and respectful conduct from our students - well done to all! Thank you to our staff who supported and facilitated these valuable experiences. Student voice from both events has been shared below in our Outside the Classroom section of this newsletter.

Push For Better Wrap-Up

Thank you to our school community for supporting our 2025 Push For Better campaign. This year, 77 students, staff, and community members participated, raising an impressive $3,038.

Together, we completed 222,631 push-ups during the month of June! These efforts help fund the vital work of our local Mackay/Whitsunday Lifeline Service.

Thank you to our Year 11 and 12 student ambassadors, Tyler Hicks and Savannah Lamont, for their leadership and commitment to this important cause.

Law School Dr shares valuable real-world advice

At the end of Term 2, our Year 12 Legal Studies students engaged in a face-to-face zoom presentation from Griffith University Law School’s Dr Robyn Blewer, who is also a Director of the Griffith University’s Innocence Program.

Dr Blewer spoke about the issue of wrongful convictions in Australia, and about the Innocence Program’s work in advocating for reviews of claims of wrongful convictions by innocent victims.

Our Senior Legal Studies students are currently investigating Australian cases of wrongful convictions, to complete their final internal assessment in recommending law reform in this area. Students appreciated this real-world exposure from a widely recognised public advocate for victims of miscarriages of justice, which has given them unique insights and valuable targeted information to assist them with their senior assessments.

Year 9s in the Trenches at Living History Incursion

Join us for the Reef Festival street parade

We'd love to see as many of our students as possible join our school float at this year's Great Barrier Reef Festival Rotary Street Parade. Each year the main street of Airlie Beach comes alive in celebration of the reef, with this year's event taking place on Saturday 2nd August. The theme is 'Coral Kingdom' and we encourage our students to dress in bright and colourful sun smart clothing. Students are to meet at the Broadwater Avenue carpark near the lagoon at 4:30pm for a 5pm start.

Year 6 Into Year 7 Family Info Night coming up

Is your child heading to high school next year? Join us for our upcoming Year 6 Into Year 7 Family Information Evening on Wednesday 6th August. Explore our dedicated Year 7 precinct and hear about policies, procedures and expectations that will make your child's journey into high school an enjoyable experience. For more information about enrolling your child at Proserpine State High School, please click the following website link.

2025 Year 6 Into Year 7 Family Information Evening Flyer

2025 Year 6 Into Year 7 Family Information Evening Flyer 3.12 MB

Applications open for Year 12 exam invigilators 

Applications are now open for invigilator roles during the Year 12 external assessment period, which runs from Monday 27 October to Tuesday 18 November 2025. Invigilators play an important role in promoting public confidence in the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) system and ensuring that proper and fair administrative procedures are implemented.

The QCAA appoints members of the Queensland community as invigilators to observe and report on the administration of assessments. The invigilator role is independent; they are appointed to supervise proper administration of the assessments, not to supervise students or assist with any administration or assessment set-up tasks.

Applications for 2025 invigilator positions are open from 30 June to 25 July 2025. External assessments will be administered between Monday 27 October to Tuesday 18 November 2025.

To apply, please visit the QCAA website, and for more information email invigilation@qcaa.qld.edu.au or call 1300 239 227. You will receive a system confirmation email acknowledging that you have submitted your application.

If you are appointed to an invigilator position, the QCAA will email you appointment information in August/September 2025. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email.

Will makes a hat trick at Mackay Cricket Gala Day

Our Senior Boys team headed to Mackay on the first day of Term 3 to take part in the Senior Boys Cricket Gala Day. It was a fantastic event filled with exciting performances, great sportsmanship, and strong team spirit. Our boys represented Proserpine State High School with pride and determination across all three games, finishing with two impressive wins from three matches.

In Game 1 we versed St Pat’s and opened the day with a solid team win as they couldn’t chase down our score of 95 runs thanks to a strong all-round effort. Will Marshall anchored the innings with 23, while Emerson Baker added a valuable 20 runs. With the ball, Max Pomeroy starred, taking 3 wickets for just 5 runs. Jacob Williams (2-11) and Will Marshall (2-15) also played key roles in restricting the opposition. 

In Game 2 we competed against Whitsunday Anglican School in a nail-biter match chasing 96. We fought hard all game but fell just short at 88. Despite the result, our

boys showed great character. Matthew Logan was outstanding with the bat, scoring 53 runs, well supported by Jordan Lawn with 16. Will Marshall delivered a brilliant spell, finishing with 4-16, which included a hat trick! At one stage, he had figures of 4-2 from just two overs – an incredible effort.

In our final game we bounced back strongly, posting 87 in reply, with Holy Spirit making 57. Matthew Logan once again led from the front with an unbeaten 55, and Jacob Williams chipped in with 20 runs. In the field, Corben Leo (3-5) and Jorden Lawn (2-7) were the pick of the bowlers, helping us to a convincing win.

Overall it was a great day for all involved. Winning two out of three games was a fantastic result, but more importantly, our boys displayed outstanding behaviour, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the day. We’re incredibly proud of their efforts and look forward to taking this talented group back next year!

Shailee qualifies for National Cross Country event

A huge congratulations to our Year 7 student Shailee Mewha who placed second at the Queensland Athletics Cross Country Championships northwest of Brisbane in the school holidays.

Shailee closely shadowed the first-place getter throughout the very hilly 3km course at the Toogoolawah Golf Club. The event was a qualifier for the National Championships, which Shailee will compete at in August in Ballart, Victoria.

Queensland School Cross Country Championships

Well done to our four students who represented North Queensland at the Queensland School Cross Country Championships last weekend at Nudgee College in Brisbane. Our Year 8 student Jack Oberg was the first Northern runner across the line and placed 29th in the Under-13 Division.

Peppa Geisel placed 13th in the 15-Years girls division. Fellow peer Millie Groom well and truely beat her goal of placing in the top 20 in her 15-Years Girls Division finishing third and receiving a bronze medal.

Year 7 student Shailee Mewha competed in the 13-years 3km event. It was a fast race against state and national medalists, with Shailee placing fourth making her first Queensland representative school sport team. Millie and Shailee go on to compete at the School Sport Australia National Cross Country Championships in September at the Gold Coast. Well done to you all on your achievements! 

Duo represent the north at Touch Football Cup

Congratulations to our students Lanie Hazeltine and Jai Dennison who played at the Queensland Touch Football Junior State Cup in Rockhampton during the school holidays. The State Cup is the biggest junior touch football carnival in Queensland with teams travelling from as far north as Cairns all the way down to Caboolture. 

Lanie represented the Mackay Thunder 14-Years Girls Team with her younger sister Isla, while Jai represented the Townsville Saints 16-Years Boys Team. This is the second year Lanie and Jai have competed at the cup after being selected at the North Queensland Cup earlier in the year. Well done to you all!

Real-life experiences offered at JCU Open Day

A group of our Year 11 students headed north on Friday to visit the James Cook University Open Day. They heard from lecturers about subject offerings and enjoyed exploring the campus and lecture theatres. 

Year 11 student Eve Wallis is interested in pursuing a career in midwifery and said everyone at JCU was welcoming and knoweldgeable about courses on offer. Fellow peer Jayla Glindemann is interested in the same career path and said she wanted to stay longer and enjoyed learning about the technology side of the studies.

Year 11 student Aisling Barrett is interested in vet science and enjoyed meeting lecturers and the simulator experience preg testing cattle and horses. 

Thank you to our Year 11 Coordinator Scott Casey and Guidance Officer Karen O'Keefe for providing this opportunity for our students.

Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival

A bus load of our students enjoyed attending the annual Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival in Mackay on Friday. Our students loved the variety of inspiration provided whether they have a love of creative writing, editing, reading books, or writing poetry.

Year 12 student Georgia Whitton's highlight was meeting author Amie Kaufman and her signing two books for her.

"It was truly a memorable moment and something I am very grateful to have experienced," Georgia said.

Fellow peer Allegra Bradley was inspired by keynote speaker Ned Brockmann, who talked to students about important life skills such as commitment and perseverance in achieving goals and how they have impacted his life. Ned is pictured with Year 11 student Jai Dennison at the event.

"Once again Whitsunday Voices was no disappointment, there were several wonderful workshops and recitations for students to engage in. It was a well-planned and interesting event that all who attended immensely enjoyed," said Year 10 student Mackenzie Cantamessa.

Thank you to our Head of Department - English Corinne Raiteri and Teacher Nathan Sainsbury for accompanying our students on the day.

James Cook University Winter School Program

Our Year 11 student Miley Thomson attended the James Cook University Winter School Program in the recent school holidays. Miley commented that the best part of the experience was understanding how connected you become with a patient and learning the benefits of nursing and how to assist someone in need.

Tiarne inspired at JCU Heroes in Science

Our Year 11 student Tiarne Watson attended the James Cook University Heroes in Science Program over the school holidays. The dynamic, hands-on STEM experience was aimed at students passionate about the environment and scientific research. The program was delivered at JCU's Ideas Lab in Cairns, with students also travelling to the Daintree Rainforest Observatory. Over two days, Tiarne participated in ecological fieldwork, biodiversity surveys, and rainforest research alongside JCU scientists.

A key highlight was being lifted high above the rainforest canopy in a crane—offering breathtaking views, including whales splashing in the ocean kilometres away. At night, she went on guided spotlighting walks to learn about bats and insects, followed by time relaxing around the campfire. These moments created the perfect setting to form unforgettable connections with new friends from across the state.

Tiarne said the Heroes in Science Program was an incredible experience that strengthened her passion for science.

"I can see myself studying at JCU and working in the labs. I got so much out of the experience," she said.

Four students' perspectives about QUT Summit

We had four students attend the QUT Future You Summit over the June/July school holidays. Each has written a small excerpt below of their experience.

My Dad went to QUT and studied Engineering so it has been a goal of mine to go there too. It was a good experience meeting kids from other schools and the lecturers too. The tech they had was interesting and they could tell us about the real-world benefits of our course. I would recommend the Summit to other students because the QUT facilities were world class. 

- Written by Year 11 student Zepp Henry

I was fortunate to take part in the Health Pioneers part of the QUT Future You Summit experience. A highlight was hearing from industry professionals such as psychologists, dieticians, and paramedics about the different career paths available. We also took part in an entrepreneurship opportunity where we came up with an invention and had to pitch it to mock investors. Our idea was a women's app about how to care for their baby. I am hoping to study at university next year and pursue a career in the Science Industry.

- Written by Year 12 student Ruhveer Kaur

The absolute best part of the QUT Future You Summit was the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals. Meeting other students who are just as passionate and curious about exploring future possibilities was incredibly inspiring and made the whole experience even more rewarding.

Two significant things I took away from the Summit were a deeper understanding of the flexibility of the courses offered at QUT, and the strong sense of community. I learned that I have the ability to explore various fields of study and combine different interests before deciding on a specific career path. The supportive atmosphere and the genuine connections I made with fellow students and faculty members really highlighted the value of community at QUT.

My advice to younger students who are thinking about applying is this: don't be scared if you don't have it all figured out yet. The QUT Future You Summit is designed to help you discover your passions and explore different options. There truly is something for everyone, and the Summit is definitely worth it. You'll gain valuable insights, make heaps of close friends, and realise that you're not alone in your journey of self-discovery.

- Written by Year 12 student Ivy Thompson

Alexa enjoys insight at Future Doctors Program

Griffith Musical Theatre Audition Workshop

During the first week of the school holidays, our students Blake Hanks, Ivy Thompson and Hayden Hudak attended the Griffith University Queensland Academy of Excellence in Musical Theatre Audition Workshop.

It was a one-week, full-time intensive workshop focused on two hours of singing, two hours of dancing, and two hours of acting each day, providing a comprehensive overview of the skills required for success in this field. 

On the final day, the students participated in a mock audition and received individual feedback across all areas. This experience was incredibly valuable in preparing our students for the real-world pressures of university auditions.

The workshop was very competitive—students had to audition to secure a place, so it really was a case of survival of the fittest!

The Bachelor of Musical Theatre Degree at Grifith University only takes 20 students per year and we wish our students the best of luck with their auditions.

Seniors complete PADI open water accrediation

UQ Winter School – Shakespeare’s Macbeth

The University of Queensland’s Centre for Western Civilisation hosted an immersive three-day Winter School during the school holidays focused on Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Our Year 11 student Tiarne Watson was successful in her application to attend the 4-day event staying on campus at The Women’s College, where she attended academic lectures, dramatic performances, and small-group seminars across UQ’s St Lucia campus.

Highlights included a live performance of Express Macbeth by the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, interactive workshops with the actors, and close reading sessions of key scenes. Tiarne said a highlight was exploring rare literary texts in the Fryer Library’s “White Gloves” activity and participated in a sonnet-writing workshop.

"Throughout the program, I made some great friends with students who share my interest in literature and history," she said.