22 Aug 2025

A Message from Our Principal

3C Priority Update: Culture – Safe, Supportive, Collaborative

Celebrating Success

Twice a term we continue to celebrate our students who demonstrate our Four Rs on a regular basis in our Values Awards. Not only do students receive a canteen voucher and their house badge, but their efforts also contribute to valuable house points.

Term three saw the inaugural Academic Honours Principal’s Morning Tea celebrating our students who achieved academic excellence in their semester one reporting. These students represent the top 10% in the school. It was wonderful to see so many parents join us in celebrating this wonderful achievement. These students earn bonus points for their house.

We have also continued to celebrate our students who have exhibited excellence in the way they go about their academics. Our top students who demonstrated outstanding results in their Effort and Behaviour in semester one reporting were treated to a Hot Dog treat, just the thing on a warm winter’s day. We look forward to continuing celebrating our students who continue to work hard. These students also add bonus points for their houses.

House Points Update

All competition will cease at the end of week 7 and the winner will be clear. This year, the winning house will be treated to a day out at Wet n Wild on the final day of term three as part of our House Spirit Day celebrations. All other houses will be able to participate in range of fun activities at school. Current points are…….

3C Priority Update: Classrooms – Effective Teaching and Learning

Celebrating the Success of our Education and Careers Planning (ECP) Day

Shailer Park State High School recently held an exceptional Education and Careers Planning (ECP) Day, and we are thrilled to celebrate the incredible success of this important event. It was a true reflection of our school’s dedication to inspiring lifelong learners and supporting our students to confidently plan for their futures.

Our Year 7 & 8 students arrived ready and enthusiastic to take the lead in their education planning conversations with teachers, demonstrating impressive confidence and preparation. Throughout the day, they set clear and purposeful SMARTO goals to guide their learning journey, supported by the care and expertise of our RISE teachers and their parents / carers.

A standout feature of ECP Day was the vibrant Career Fair, which provided students with a unique opportunity to explore a wide range of career pathways. Industry representatives and community partners engaged directly with students, sparking curiosity and helping them envision future possibilities. Complementing the fair were the detailed Subject Displays, allowing students to ask questions and gather valuable information to assist with subject selection for the upcoming year.

For our Year 9 and 10 students, ECP Day held particular significance as they navigated key decisions about their future subject selections through the JET and SET plans. Engaging thoughtfully in these discussions empowered them to take ownership of their educational pathways, aligning their choices with both personal interests and long-term aspirations. These moments of reflection and dialogue provided a crucial foundation for informed decision-making, helping students understand the relevance of their studies and the possibilities that lie ahead. The maturity with which they approached this process was commendable and marks an important step on their learning journey.

Our Year 11 and 12 students approached their academic coaching sessions and exit interviews with a strong sense of purpose and maturity. These personalised conversations allowed them to reflect on their progress, refine their study strategies, and set targeted goals as they move closer to their final assessments and post-school pathways. The support and guidance offered during these sessions reinforced their readiness to take the next steps with confidence and clarity.

The rigour and quality of these conversations were evident, with parents sharing heartfelt praise for the meaningful outcomes. Comments from parents included, “I wish I had this when I was at school,” “The career fair is excellent,” and “This is great job interview practice – it’s confidence building.” Such feedback highlights the real impact of the day on students and families alike.

Adding to the positive atmosphere, the school grounds were buzzing with the delightful aroma of a free BBQ and the welcoming presence of a Coffee Van. These thoughtful touches not only fuelled the day but also encouraged informal connections between students, families, and staff, reinforcing our strong sense of community.

The success of ECP Day was no accident—it was the result of meticulous planning and teamwork. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who played a part in making ECP Day so memorable. Together, we demonstrated the incredible impact that careful planning, teamwork, and shared commitment can have. Let’s celebrate this fantastic achievement and look forward to even greater success in the years to come.

THANK YOU to Families and Students for Your SET-P Participation!

We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all parents, carers, and Year 10 students who participated in the 2025 Senior Education and Training (SET‑P) planning process. Your involvement has been invaluable in guiding our students toward a successful senior pathway.

What is SET-P?
SET Planning is the process that ensures students work with the school and their families to develop a personalised roadmap for Years 11 and 12 and beyond. It’s a key part of our career education program - helping students plan effectively for post-school opportunities such as ATAR, vocational training, apprenticeships, or employment.

Why it matters:

• It empowers students to take ownership of their future by matching their passions, strengths, and goals with suitable pathways 
• It supports a well-informed decision-making process for subject selection, training, and further study options.

Your role made a difference:
Thank you for engaging so thoughtfully in conversations with teachers and your child. Your guidance helps ensure each student’s plan is realistic, inspiring, and supported at home.

What’s next?
We’ll continue to facilitate and refine SET Plans throughout Years 11 and 12 - reviewing and adjusting as needed to keep every student on track. Students will be notified in term 4 on the confirmed timetable, classes and changes that might be actioned.  

Steam into STEM 2025

The Year 7, 8 and 9 Nexus students once again delighted us with their innovative ideas and passion at our annual SPSHS Science Fair. Students independently chose a topic, researched that idea over several weeks, prepared poster boards and then shared their ideas with visiting students and staff. So many comments were made about how the students had “stepped up” this year, in their choice of topic, use of 3D printed models and wonderfully enthusiastic presentations. Congratulations to every student involved, particularly the members of “Earth Experts,” “Aurora,” “Terrapods” and “ReCoil,” who were selected to present our school at an upcoming regional competition.

3C Priority Update: Curriculum - Guaranteed and Viable, Data and Differentiation

Definitions

Truancy: Unexplained or secretive absences where the student skips school without parent/guardian knowledge.

School Avoidance:  A student exhibits a pattern of behaviours characterized by attempts to avoid attending school or certain aspects of school. Unlike truancy, school avoidance is often accompanied by observable distress and occurs with the knowledge of parents or carers and can occur is singularity or short bursts, sometimes progressing into School Refusal.

School Refusal: A student experiences significant emotional distress about attending school. Unlike truancy, the student doesn’t attempt to hide their absence, and parents are typically aware and trying to support attendance. High level of regularity.

School Withdrawal: Student is kept at home due to lack of parental enforcement of school attendance or for family-related reasons.

Chronic Absenteeism: students with 20% or higher penalty absenteeism for the current year to date as well as those with a pattern or trend of absences e.g. more than 3 consecutive days of unexplained/unauthorised absences, or with more than 40% of school days with late arrival or early departure.

Core Functions of School Refusal

What Next?

1. Talk: Talk to your child and try to understand the barriers currently impacting their attendance
2. Book: Book an appointment with your Childs’ Head of House or Deputy Principal.
3. Meet: Attend a meeting with the school and your child, unpack the barriers as a team and create an Attendance Support Plan
4. Track and Monitor: Monitor progress towards the goal set in the Attendance Support Plan
5. Celebrate and Recognise: Behaviour change is hard! Celebrate the little wins and recognise progress.

Additional Resources

Headspace: https://headspace.org.au

Raising Children Network: https://raisingchildren.net.au

School Refusal Australia: https://schoolrefusalaustralia.com

Finance

School Fees

A friendly reminder that school fees are now overdue and payable. If you have not yet received your statement, please check your junk or spam email folders.

For any questions or if you require assistance, contact our Finance team at finance@shailerparkshs.eq.edu.au

Bright Spots - The Shailer Way in Practice

We love to acknowledge and celebrate achievement at Shailer Park State High School, particularly when our students “make their mark!” Some wonderful Bright Spots in 2025 are seen below. Follow our Facebook and Instagram pages for regular celebrations of our staff and students.

Student Spotlight

P&C Update

Term 3 is traditionally the busiest Term of the Shailer Park High School Year, and 2025 is proving to be no different to past years! The P&C met in week 3 of this term to address the students request and need for cold water bubblers to be installed at the school. The P&C is pleased to announce that it has agreed to fund two bays of three sets of cold-water bubbler bays as part of the Shailer Park High School’s Canteen refurbishment project!

The student cohort, led by the Year 7 students, pledged their need 9 months ago, to the P&C, for new cold-water bubblers to be installed at the school. The demand for cold water bubblers has increased over the past 12 months due to the expanding Sporting and Performing Arts Academies, increasing the students need for cool and effective hydration. Follow the school’s Facebook page, to watch the developments to the Canteen Refurbishment project, including the installation of the new cold-water bubblers at the school!

Bunnings BBQ Fundraiser!

On the 9^th August the P&C, together with the school community volunteers, hosted a Bunnings Loganholme Fundraiser BBQ to raise funds towards the cost of supplying and installing the two bays of three sets of cold-water bubblers, the P&C has committed to the students of the school. Australian Piping Solutions, a local mechanical piping contractor donated the supplies, and the P&C was able to raise $1,270.00 to contribute towards the cost of installing the new cold water bubbler bays.

The P&C would like to thank our volunteers, including Councillor Miriam Stemp, who took the time out of their busy schedules, to kindly support the school community. Thank you all, we cannot achieve these results for the students at the school, without your volunteered time and donating to our fundraising BBQs and activities.

Upcoming Father's Day Lucky Number Draw!

We will be celebrating Father’s Day this year with a Lucky Numbers Draw. Please look out for this being advertised on the schools and P&C’s Facebook pages in the coming weeks leading up to Father’s Day. All proceeds raised will be contributed towards the current infrastructure upgrade projects at the school and the Teacher’s Wellness Fund.

SPSHS Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/share/14HwrcuXkQR/?mibextid=wwXIfr

P&C Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CVcbRYkta/?mibextid=wwXIfr

As a proud Climate Action School, we are committed to sustainability and reducing waste!

From January to December 2024, our community has successfully:

• ✅ Diverted 4,224 containers from landfill
• ✅ Raised $422.40 through recycling
• ✅ Saved 4.4 wheelie bins worth of landfill space
• ✅ Reduced greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and water consumption

Let's keep the momentum going! We encourage parents to drop off appropriate containers in the designated bins at the front of the school to support our recycling efforts. Every container counts!! Thank you for your Support of the School Community.

C10628129 is our Containers for change ID – be sure to use this when cashing in your containers at a Containers for Change outlet. It is on display next to the label printer at the Containers for Change Loganholme facility, 18 Chetwynd St, Loganholme. The P&C appreciates your support of the School Community.

New members are welcome to join us in our mission to support the school in delivering Excellence in Learning and Life for the students of SPSHS. We run virtual meetings in the third and ninth week of each school term. The meeting link is emailed to all members and pending members prior to each meeting. Please email us on: PandC@shailerparkshs.eq.edu.au if you are interested in becoming a member. 

The next P&C Meeting is being held in Week 9 – 9^th September 2025 and we look forward to connecting with our community then.

Resources for Parents & Families

Emotional Intelligence (EI)

Mandy Ross | Guidance Officer, Wellbeing Workforce

During adolescence, our secondary students are developing emotional intelligence (EI) through experiences with family, in school and in community. Learning EI is individual, personal and lifelong. Mastery is not achieved as new experiences, opportunities and interactions test us in the five components of emotional intelligence every day.

Reflection is the process of thinking deeply about experiences, actions and thinking to learn and is key to students developing their emotional intelligence. Reflection goes beyond a recount of what happened and what was said. Reflection is thinking about why it happened, how it affected you and others and what could be done differently in the future for a different result. In the home environment, talking through problems experienced at school, within peer groups, and social groups supports reflection and the growth of emotional intelligence. As a School Guidance Officer, I provide narrative or talk therapy to students experiencing intense emotions in response to stress situations, to promote the five components and continual growth of EI.  

𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝟒 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟓 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

Shailer Park State High School is excited to welcome your child to our 4-week outreach program starting in Term 4. The program includes fun, hands-on activities in the afternoon (or morning for Instrumental Music) that give students a taste of the great opportunities our award-winning school has to offer.

Register now – details in the flyer attached. We can’t wait to see your child here! https://forms.office.com/r/mrtDb2ep5u

How to Get in Touch

At Shailer Park State High School, we believe in the power of partnerships with our community to achieve "Excellence in Learning and Life." Collaborating with parents and families is vital to enhancing educational outcomes for our students. We recognise that each family has unique needs, and our approach to engagement is flexible and responsive to individual circumstances.

General Enquires - Phone (07) 3451 2777 or email office@shailerparkshs.eq.edu.au

Absences, Late Arrivals & Early Departures - Phone (07) 3451 2745 or email studentabsences@shailerparkshs.eq.edu.au

Finance Enquires - Phone (07) 3451 2703 or email finance@shailerparkshs.eq.edu.au

Enrolment Enquires - Phone (07) 3451 2720 or email enrolments@shailerparkshs.eq.edu.au