From Our Heads of Department
eLearning - CYOD orders close soon
Our next CYOD order will close on Friday 2nd May (Term 2, Week 2). A 60% deposit or full payment is required, and the order form must be submitted to our Administration Office by this date. Order information, along with the order form, can be found on our school website under the Curriculum/eLearning tab.
The final CYOD order for 2025 will close on Friday, 6 June (Term 2, Week 7). More information regarding the eLearning program for 2026 will be released soon.
A reminder that students are expected to bring their fully charged laptop to school every day. The school has a limited number of devices available for loan, which are only accessible to students not in an eLearning program. Students must return their BYOD agreement form to be connected to the school network, internet, and printers. Forms can be collected from the Resource Centre or accessed via the school website.
Humanities Faculty Update
Getting to the heart of Humanities
It’s been a busy time in the Humanities faculty with students taking part in a range of excursions, incursions and competitions that both support and extend their classroom learning. Connecting students with humanity helps them examine the influences that shape our world, it fosters critical thinking and it encourages active citizenship.
On top of the experiences showcased below, we also have students preparing for upcoming national geography and history competitions, the Queensland State Library Young Researcher’s Program and the Queensland Parliament Minecraft Competition.
A Glimpse into Justice: Year 12 Students Experience the Heart of Law and Governance in Brisbane
In a powerful first for our school, a group of our Year 12 students travelled to Brisbane for an unforgettable, jam-packed Law and Justice tour. Students got to experience the buzz of a parliament sitting where politicians debated key issues surrounding youth crime and public health, and we also enjoyed an engaging discussion with the Honourable Amanda Camm, Member of Parliament for the Whitsundays. At the Courts, students observed an attempted murder case and also saw Australia’s first Indigenous Court Judge, Justice Lincoln Crowley in action. Students also visited the grandeur of Government House and learnt more about its historical significance to Queensland. Students also had a tour of QUT and engaged in a Mock Trial workshop.
Our Year 12s would like to extend their deepest gratitude to their teacher Mrs Jacqui Watson for creating such an enriching and memorable experience for them. Have a read of some of the powerful words of our Year 12 students who attended:
“It was a surreal experience to see Supreme Criminal Courts in action. Being able to experience real cases really put a sense to reality of how the justice system works. Definitely the highlight of the trip." - Leon Henderson
“The legal trip was such a blast. Visiting Parliament House in Queensland and getting to watch Question Time was thrilling - we even heard them discussing the Adult Crime, Adult Time law that has been in the news a lot. Every activity was really interesting and when touring the Supreme Court I got to see lawyers and barristers in action which was cool because that is what I would like to do. It was probably the best school trip I have ever been on and I hope future Year 12s will get to experience it as well.” - Madison McAliece
“State Parliament was really quite amazing. Something about watching question time between the government and the opposition was surprisingly interesting. I actually didn't really want to leave, because it was just that good to watch.” - Callum Henry
“The Law and Justice Tour was an unreal experience. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in going into the legal field after school, as you get to see all aspects of the different careers you could pursue whether it be something to do with politics or the justice system.” - Lily Harvey
Mooting Team Prepares for National Competition
Our school’s newly formed Mooting Team recently took part in an intensive training session with Bond University to prepare for the upcoming National High School Mooting Competition in May. Mooting is a simulated court hearing where students present legal arguments before a panel of judges, building real-world advocacy skills.
During the workshop, students developed key legal skills such as constructing persuasive arguments, interpreting case law, and applying legal reasoning under pressure. They also practiced courtroom etiquette, public speaking, and responding to questions from the bench—valuable preparation for anyone considering a career in law.
The experience gave our team a unique insight into the legal profession and boosted their confidence ahead of the competition. We’re incredibly proud of their commitment and look forward to seeing their progress in the coming weeks. Best of luck to their first round which is occurring on Wednesday 21st May.
Honouring History: A Journey Through the Western Front
Allegra Bradley, who is studying Modern History, had the honour of participating in the prestigious 2025 Premier’s Anzac Prize tour over the last two weeks. During her travels across Europe, some of the sites she visited included the Imperial War Museum, Sir John Monash Centre, Churchill War Rooms, Hall of Mirrors and Harefield Park, which was used as an Australian military hospital. Allegra also walked the footsteps of Australian solders at Fromelles and visited the impressive underground tunnels at Naours where many Australian’s left their mark with graffiti. Her tour culminated with her attendance at the poignant Anzac Dawn Service near Villers-Bretonneux, France – a site where so much was sacrificed in WW1.
Leading up to the tour, Allegra has been heavily involved in the community - fundraising for our veterans, working with local schools to educate them about the ANZAC spirit, undergoing historical research projects with the Queensland State Library and encouraging local primary schools to decorate crosses which she has laid overseas during her tour.
A big thank you to Mr Scott Casey who was influential in shaping Allegra’s application for the Premier’s Anzac Prize. Applications for the 2026 Anzac Prize are now open, please contact Mrs Foot if you would like more information on the application process.
Geographers Investigates Sustainability and Liveability at Hamilton Island
Our Year 11 and Year 12 Geography class recently swapped the classroom for a field trip to Hamilton Island which allowed them to explore the island in a way most visitors don’t get to see – a behind the scenes look at the resort island. They are currently studying a unit on “Planning Sustainable Places” and this field trip allowed them to explore the island in a way most visitors don’t get to see. They heard from experts on the island who operate the tourism and service facilities including the wildlife park, resort, refuse station, power plant, water treatment plant, ferry terminal, airport and restaurants.
Students made connections with tourist fluctuations and the demand on essential services like water, electricity and waste, as well as the varying demand on the resort facilities during peak times. Maintenance and logistics on the island were hot topics and the students have lots to reflect on back at school. They will use these insights to prepare a geographic report detailing what they discovered and make some recommendation that reflects improving the sustainability and liveability on the island.
