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Brisbane State High School is at the midpoint of the term. Overall, our students have settled quickly into classroom routines and have established consistent work habits. Year 12 students successfully completed their first examinations last week. Students in Year 11 have their QCE examinations in Week 8, while our Years 7 and 9 students will sit their NAPLAN exams in Weeks 8 and 9. I wish these students all the very best and share the timely age-old reminder, ‘Fail to prepare, prepare to fail’. Our fantastic teachers will support these students by preparing them in the most effective way through a range of proven learning strategies.
At year level assemblies this week, I thanked the students who have completed my Brisbane State High School Key Stakeholder Survey and I urge everyone to do the same. All key stakeholders (potentially 10,000 plus) are being provided this opportunity, which is particularly timely from my perspective as an incoming principal. Please use this link to submit a response.
By the start of the 2025 school year, Brisbane State High School is required to have completed a four-year strategic plan, i.e. 2025-2028. Your views and recommendations, together with those of other stakeholders, will be thoughtfully considered and will form a key component of our strategic plan. In Term 2, the Department of Education is undertaking a yearly teaching and learning audit which will also provide valuable evidence for further consideration.
Students received a message in assemblies this week about Brisbane State High School's strong performance in Extra-Curricular activities, especially in QGSSSA and GPS competitions, despite competing against schools with much greater resources.
Debating is leading the way, and our Senior team is currently unbeaten. In Rowing, impressive incremental gains are being produced, while students in Years 7 to 10 are dominating in Cricket and Volleyball. Well done to our students who represent the Blue-Red-Blue with pride, commitment and determination.
A range of student peer mentoring consistently occurs throughout the year and many students from all year levels are involved. This is both unique and highly impressive.
The recent P&C Meeting reflected the uniqueness of Brisbane State High School and reinforced the vital role this committee plays in supporting the wider life of the school. I acknowledge this group of high performing individuals who work collectively to create the most effective and holisitc learning environment for our students.
Thank you very much,
Mr Greg Pierce
Executive Principal
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Term 1, 2024 |
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Week 7 |
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Thursday 7 March |
Junior Movie Night |
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Friday 8 March – Saturday 9 March |
Sing Camp |
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Friday 8 March |
International Women's Day Breakfast |
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Saturday 9 March |
GPS Rowing Championships | Head of the River |
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Week 8 |
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Monday 11 March |
GPS & QGSSSA Swimming End of Season Celebration |
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Monday 11 March – Friday 15 March |
Year 11 Exam Block |
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Tuesday 12 March |
Donnelly Dash |
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Thursday 14 March – Friday 15 March |
NAPLAN Tests |
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Thursday 14 March |
GPS Rowing End of Season Celebration |
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Week 9 |
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Monday 18 March – Wednesday 20 March |
NAPLAN Tests |
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Thursday 21 March |
QGSSSA AFL End of Season Celebration |
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Sunday 24 March |
Academic Selective Entry Test for Year 7, 2025 |
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Week 10 |
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Monday 25 March |
P&C AGM and General Meeting |
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Monday 25 March |
Chamber Music Concerts |
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Wednesday 27 March |
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Thursday 28 March |
Last day of Term 1 |
In 2024, NAPLAN Online will take place at Brisbane State High School between Thursday 14 March (Week 8) and Wednesday 20 March (Week 9). Over the coming weeks you will receive communication regarding our BSHS test schedule for students in Years 7 and 9.
Students are supported to achieve at their personal best through exploring a range of targeted strategies in both their curriculum and ARC lessons. NAPLAN allows us to see students’ strengths and areas for development at two key junctures across secondary school. This information allows our teaching teams to support our students with precision.
Below is our one-page support document that we use with students. You may like to use this at home over the coming weeks. We also encourage parents and guardians to familiarise themselves with the NAPLAN Online platform by using the public demonstration site available here.
From the Director of GPS Sports
We congratulate all our athletes for their outstanding performances against The Southport School in Week 5. Their hard work and dedication have truly paid off.
This weekend, we're gearing up to host Anglican Church Grammar School for a series of intense matches. Get ready to show your support as our teams face some tough competition.
Our Rowing team is also preparing for their final regatta before the Head of the River on Saturday 9 March (Week 7) at Lake Wyaralong. After a successful and exhilarating host regatta on Saturday 24 February (Week 5), our Rowers are pumped and ready for tomorrow’s final regatta before the big day.
The highly anticipated GPS Swimming Championships are taking place today (Friday 1 March) at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre. Our Swimmers have been training hard all season in preparation for this moment and we look forward to sharing their results in our next newsletter.
A massive congratulations to Zhexi Teng (Year 11) for his outstanding achievement in being selected as the Captain of the State Debating Team. Well done, Zhexi!
Tennis trials and many other sports are beginning soon, so please keep an eye out on the relevant Team Apps and StudentNet for updates.
GPS Rowing
We had a successful host regatta on Saturday 24 February at Lake Wyaralong. Th day showcased the vibrant spirit of the BSHS Rowing community, with commendable organisation by the P&C Rowing Sub-Committee. Thanks to the efforts of nearly 100 volunteers who helped manage the event, BSHS Rowing successfully raised over $14,000.
Executive Principal Mr Greg Pierce and Director of GPS and Boys’ Sport Mr Keiron Goltz presented our 2024 First VIII crew with their new racing suits. The crowd showed strong support as the crew embarked on their first race in the newly named First VIII boat, the 'Denis Donnelly,' paying homage to a State High Legend. The BSHS First VIII, the fastest team we’ve seen in nearly a decade, secured victory against three-time Head of the River defending champions, Brisbane Boys’ College. This marked the best result for the BSHS First VIII in over 12 years!
Head of the River Supporter Bus
The GPS Rowing Championships, the 'Head of the River', is just around the corner! Thousands of spectators will descend on the Queensland State Rowing Centre for one of the biggest events of the GPS calendar.
On Saturday 9 March, support our GPS Rowers and our First VIII – the strongest we've seen in over a decade. Students can drop by D101 to sign up for the supporter bus. Let's show our Blue-Red-Blue spirit!
– Mr Tom Herborn | BSRA & GPS Rowing MIC
GPS Cross Country
Boys Cross Country training continues as we prepare for the upcoming GPS meets and the Donnelly Dash. Anyone can still join the team, especially students who are concluding their Term 1 sporting commitments.
Below you will find the competition schedule for the term:
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Term 1 Competition Schedule |
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Date |
Event/Meet |
Time |
Venue |
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Tuesday 12 March (Week 8) |
Donnelly Dash (1500m) |
11:35am |
BSHS |
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Friday 15 March (Week 8) |
GPS Meet 1 |
4:15pm – 5:45pm |
Anglican Church Grammar School Campus |
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Friday 22 March (Week 9) |
GPS Meet 2 |
4:15pm – 5:45pm |
The Southport School |
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Tuesday 26 March (Week 10) |
BSHS Interhouse Cross Country |
TBC |
BSHS |
The GPS Season comprises six lead-up meets that prepare students for the GPS Cross Country Championships on Thursday 16 May (Week 5, Term 2).
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GPS Cross Country Training Information |
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Days: Monday, Wednesday and Friday |
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Start Time: 7:15am from F Block (Oval side) |
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Uniform: BSHS HPE Uniform or BSHS Cross Country Uniform |
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Return Time: 8:15am |
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Post-Training Showers: Available in D Block and F Block Bathrooms |
– Mr Matthew Langmack | GPS Cross Country MIC
From the Director of QGSSSA Sports
As we enter a busy period of QGSSSA sports, we encourage all students to remain organised and stay informed with the latest updates by:
- Speaking with your coaches and Masters in Charge (MIC) of your sport during training or competitions.
- Regularly checking your sport-specific Team App for any announcements.
- Visiting the Extra-Curricular (EC) Office in D Block if you have any questions or need assistance. Our dedicated EC staff are always available to provide support, so feel free to reach out if needed.
The final round of QGSSSA Softball was played on Saturday 24 February (Week 5), marking the official end of Softball as a QGSSSA sport. We hope that all the girls, staff and families involved over the years have enjoyed themselves.
The QGSSSA Swimming season has also come to an end with the 89th Annual QGSSSA Swimming Championships being held on Wednesday 28 February. Our girls performed exceptionally, securing 3rd place. This achievement is an improvement to our 4th place finish in 2023. This year's placing is a result of the outstanding culture fostered within our Swimming program, led by Mrs Natasha Adams (QGSSSA Swimming MIC), alongside dedicated staff, captains and the entire team. The emphasis on team culture was evident as our relay swimmers finished on the podium in 10 races throughout the day. We look forward to sharing more detailed results and photos in our next newsletter. Congratulations, girls!
In Week 7, our QGSSSA Senior AFL and Cricket teams will play their final rounds. Additionally, we're gearing up to kick off the Autumn sport season with Basketball, Football and Touch Football starting up in Week 7.
With the busy schedule ahead, prioritising self-care is important. Students can do this by checking the ‘BSHS Strength & Conditioning’ Team App to find information about training, recovery and taking care of yourself away from the court, field or pool.
We would like to express our gratitude to the following staff for their work as Masters in Charge:
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Master in Charge |
QGSSSA Sport |
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Mrs Natasha Adams |
Swimming |
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Ms Jessica Boys Mr Chris Davis Ms Gracie Troy |
Softball |
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Mr Cameron Conlon |
Basketball |
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Mr Mike Edwards |
AFL |
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Mr Damon Giles |
Cross Country |
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Mrs Kimberly Hanley |
Touch Football |
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Mr Glen Kranen |
Cricket |
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Mrs Rachael Slorach |
Rhythmic Gymnastics |
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Mr Jesse Rigsby-Jones |
Football |
Exploring the Screen Industry
On Sunday 11 February, State High's Film, Television and New Media (FTVNM) and Drama students visited the Home of the Arts (HOTA) on the Gold Coast for the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Screen Careers Expo.
Our students received valuable insights from industry experts on skill shortages in the screen industries and the diverse pathways available to enter those roles. They also gained understanding of the various processes involved in creating well-known film, television and YouTube productions. Our students had the opportunity to hear from experts, including:
- YouTubers Mr Danny and Michael Philippou (creators of the hit horror film ‘Talk to Me’)
- Composer Mr David Hirschfelder (renowned for ‘The Dressmaker’, ‘Strictly Ballroom’ and more)
- Stunt Director Mr Guy Norris (known for his work with George Miller, including ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’)
Special thanks to the Essential Screen Skills Gateway to Screen Program for making this enriching day possible.
– Ms Aimee Gust | Head of The Arts
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Visual Arts engages students in finding stimulus for their artistic practice both within and beyond the classroom. Our Year 8 and 11 Visual Art students have explored the ‘Fairy Tales’ exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Arts, while our Year 10 Visual Art students participated in half-day workshops with artist Ms Christina Waterson.
She shared her practice with our students and taught them various techniques to transform found objects into thought-provoking sculptures. Through this experience, students learned to recognise the potential within objects and to approach materials from different perspectives.
Meanwhile, our Year 9 students ventured to the nearby South Bank Parklands, armed with their iPads as cameras, to gather inspiration for their artmaking. They explored Elisa Jane Carmichael’s sculpture 'Water is Life' (2021) (pictured above) and gained insight into how artists respond to natural stimuli in their surroundings.
– Ms Aimee Gust | Head of The Arts
Year 9 Curriculum Dance Explores Bollywood
In Year 9 Curriculum Dance, we are currently rehearsing a Bollywood performance task. Bollywood is a style of dance that originated in India and is a mixture of many classical dance styles such as Bharat Natyam, Kathak, Contemporary Dance and Jazz. It has its own unique range of hand movements, formations and poses. The dance style is very upbeat, colourful and its purpose is to make the dancers and audience feel joy.
Year 9 Dancers are learning a Bollywood routine choreographed by some of our current Bollywood Troupe Senior Dancers. Alongside learning the dance steps, they are also enjoying exploring new styles and gaining insights into Indian culture.
Miss April Williams (Dance Teacher) has even provided us with beautiful Bollywood costumes to wear – featuring bright skirts, colourful sashes and black tops. It has been a wonderful experience for all of us, making the learning process so much fun!
– Dhwani Jaiswal and Dhanvi Chauhan | Year 9 students
Drama Drafting Day
The Year 11 Drama cohort recently participated in a drafting incursion as part of their Unit 1 Assessment, focusing on re-shaped scenes from David Williamson’s seminal text, ‘The Removalists’. This task, known for its complexity, challenges students to take scenes from the realism text and layer it with contemporary theatrical conventions to create new meanings relevant to modern audiences.
Throughout this process, students presented an array of imaginative ideas and insightful interpretations. They skilfully incorporated elements of physical theatre, ensemble work, and both realism and non-realism acting styles. Ms Vassy Cotsiopoulos and I were thoroughly impressed by their nuanced understanding of the play's themes and content, as well as their execution of complex ideas on stage.
Our students are looking forward to sharing their work to an audience comprising their parents and peers.
– Ms Katrina Hasthorpe | Drama Teacher
Polishing Music Performances
Curriculum Music classes have been engaged in performing as part of their preparation for their first assessment piece.
Year 9 Music have been investigating storytelling through music and are in the process of finalising a class performance of Taylor Swift's ‘Love Story’, while also working towards their own choice performance of a work that tells a story either with or without words.
From the Year 9 students on their learning this week:
"I have learnt how musical elements can be manipulated to convey a story through music."
"I have expanded my music vocabulary to describe what I hear in a recording."
"I enjoy collaborating and performing music with my classmates."
Year 10 Accelerated Music and Year 11 Music students are working on performances for their first piece of assessment in Unit 1 of General Music. They have been investigating the design of music through the analysis and performance of works such as ‘Viva La Vida’ by Coldplay and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen.
Meanwhile, our Year 7 students have been busily rehearsing a variety of instruments all over the lower campus to develop their impressive performances.
– Ms Karen Hadfield | Director of Cultural Activities
Read Less
Year 10 Blazer Fittings
Blazer fittings for Year 10 students are available by appointment at the Uniform Shop until Friday 8 March (Week 7).
To schedule a blazer fitting, please make a booking via the button below or click here.
New blazers are priced at $212 and must be paid for following the fitting appointment. Payments can be made by debit card, credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or Student ID Card. Please note that cash payments are not accepted at the Uniform Shop.
For any enquiries, please contact the Uniform Shop via:
- Email: uniform.mgr@bshspandc.org
- Call: (07) 3291 4263 or (07) 3291 4137
BSHS Rowing Raffle
P&C General Meetings
The P&C Association meets at 6:00pm on the fourth Monday of each month (except during school holidays/public holidays) in I Block – Room B2, on the Merivale Street Campus. Parking is available via Gate M2 on Merivale Street (refer to map). All members of the school community are welcome to attend.
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2024 P&C Meetings |
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Date |
Start Time |
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Monday 25 March |
Annual General Meeting – 6:00pm General Meeting – 7:00pm |
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Monday 22 April |
6:00pm |
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Monday 27 May |
6:00pm |
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Monday 22 July |
6:00pm |
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Monday 26 August |
6:00pm |
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Monday 28 October |
6:00pm |
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Monday 25 November |
6:00pm |
Save the Date
Join us for a night of laughter at our Comedy for a Cause on Friday 10 May 2024 (Week 4, Term 2). The event will feature comedians from the Sydney and Melbourne International Comedy Festival. It will be a great opportunity to have a fun night out while supporting State High students. Doors will open at 6:00pm, with the first comedian kicking off at 8:00pm.
Book your tickets at: comedyforacause.net/BSH
Join the P&C Association
The P&C is a volunteer, membership-based organisation that is open to all who support the State High community and the students at State High.
To find out how to join the P&C, or to inquire about what we are all about, please visit the P&C website. We hope that you will find information on this website useful to support you and your child’s journey through secondary school and to maximise your family’s experience.
If you would like to become a P&C member, please complete the P&C Membership Form (download via the button below) and return it via email to admin.officer@bshspandc.org.
Seek calm and balance in tranquil landscapes
Discover the serene connection between mind and nature in a new 15-part video and podcast series, 'Mind/Land'.
Filmed at iconic South-East Queensland locations – including the Noosa Everglades, Maleny Rainforest and Nudgee Beach – each guided meditation and soundscape is designed to help you unwind.
Meditation is a powerful tool for improving your wellbeing. It can reduce your stress, improve your mood and benefit your emotional and physical health. Think of this tranquil series as an icebreaker into the world of mindfulness.
Stream 'Mind/Land' on your favourite podcast app, or watch it paired with beautiful 4K vision on YouTube by clicking on the button below. New episodes drop weekly.
Five ways to reduce your stress
Feeling stressed? Stress is a normal part of life, but it’s important to learn how to manage it.
While a little bit of stress is normal and can actually help you function more effectively during times of pressure, ongoing stress is not good for your physical or mental health.
From causing headaches and sleep loss to affecting hormonal function, blood pressure and relationships, there are many reasons why experts warn of the ill effects the current ‘epidemic of stress’ is having on public health.
Whether you’re building stress-beating habits into your day-to-day routine or you need a strategy to get some calm right now, try one of these activities proven to decrease your stress levels.
Ms Marie Pritchard
School Based Youth Health Nurse
BSHS
BSHS
BSHS
BSHS
Our school newsletters have a sponsorship section which provides great exposure for local businesses to engage with our parent/guardian community. If you would like to be a part of this, please contact Schoolzine for more information.