2025 Kingaroy Highlights #15

Principal's Message - From Japan!!

Hello everyone, David Thomson, the very proud principal of Kingaroy State High School.
And we're here in beautiful Japan, in Tokyo. Here’s our ambassadors from Kingaroy State High School in Japan.
We're going off to Fudooka today. We're going to experience school for the next week.
But in the meantime, we're in Japan, we're in Tokyo, and we're just seeing the sights.
We're having a wonderful time. We're going to see sumo, we're going to Disneyland.
But most importantly, we're going to make connections with our Fudooka sister school.
Have a great holiday, everyone, and we'll see you in Term 4.

Senior School News

Year 12
Year 12 students have been completing mock external exams these last two weeks, and these will continue into the first week of next term. This is a great opportunity for students to gauge how they are going, receive feedback and experience the process of the exams. The students have taken this opportunity in their stride, and I am sure they are looking forward to the holidays.

Students completing Applied subjects and VET have been working on assessment, leading to everything being finished and finalised by the Friday 10 October, (third week of Term 4), in preparation for the external exams beginning in Week 4.
It is timely to remind students to continue their focus and commitment to their schoolwork - the light is at the end of the tunnel.

Year 11
Subject Changes 
Students are able to change subjects between Units 2 and 3 and have two weeks to complete these changes. After this, no more changes can occur as the QCAA consider Unit 3 and 4 a pair.  Students can see myself or Mrs Walker to arrange any subject changes.
Moving into Unit 3 next term, students will start to cover summative work which means that it counts towards their ATAR score or their final result for their Senior Statement. It is vitally important that students submit every piece of work because an 'N' result for one-piece results in an 'N' result overall (QCAA policy).

If you have any questions regarding senior schooling, please contact a member of the team:

Andrew Maddern - Deputy Principal Educational Achievement - Senior Secondary
Alysha Walker - Head of Department Senior Schooling
Rob Turner - Head of Department Health and Physical Education
Robyn Hourn - Senior Schooling Administration
Helen Beresford/Cath Glenny - Deputy Principal Culture and Inclusion
Bec Zischke - Guidance Officer 
Sean Wicks - Guidance Officer
Krysty Connelly - QCE team member
Mel Kempson - QCE team member
Alex Fredricks – QCE team member

Corella is the department's generative AI tool for schools

Corella is a generative AI (genAI) tool designed to support staff and students in Queensland state schools.

It is custom-built for teaching and learning, operating under the same departmental conditions and expectations surrounding the use of other digital tools.

Corella is also grounded in the Australian Curriculum V9.0, enabling teachers to leverage genAI to support planning that aligns with curriculum requirements.

Corella is available to students in Year 10 for the remainder of 2025.

Ongoing monitoring ensures Corella continues to evolve with safety and educational integrity at its core.

Students can use Corella to:

• brainstorm ideas
• research topics
• draft and proofread
• check for understanding
• create revision questions
• paraphrase and summarise.

More information will be available in early Term 4 about how Year 10 students can be given access to Corella via QParents.

Mr Andrew Maddern
Deputy Principal, Educational Achievement - Senior Secondary

Year 7

Term 3 has been an exciting and engaging time for our Year 7 students! They explored different rotations and curriculum areas, challenging themselves and showcasing amazing effort and creativity in their learning. Students also enjoyed fun and interactive lunchtime events, connecting, collaborating, and trying something new. A special congratulations to those who received their KMPs, with Year 7 achieving an outstanding 85% - the best in the school! Their enthusiasm, resilience, and curiosity have been inspiring, and it’s been wonderful to see them grow academically, socially, and personally throughout the term.

Mrs Amy Stevens
A/HOD Year 7 Student Engagement

Kingaroy SHS Touch Football Teams Shine at Wide Bay Championships

Kingaroy State High School’s Touch Football program continues to go from strength to strength, showcasing outstanding performances at the Wide Bay All Schools Carnival.

In 2024, the Open Mixed Team claimed victory at the Wide Bay All Schools Carnival, finishing the tournament undefeated. Building on that success, the team once again impressed in 2025, remaining unbeaten throughout the carnival - highlighted by a hard-fought 7–4 win against Bundaberg SHS.

The highlight of the school’s season comes each October at the Gold Coast Titans All Schools (GCTAS) tournament - the largest touch football event in the world. With more than 600 teams competing from across Australia and overseas, the five-day event features over 2,000 games and attracts up to 10,000 spectators.

Last year, Kingaroy’s Open Mixed Team achieved an outstanding semi-final finish at GCTAS, bowing out in extra time to place 3rd overall out of 70 teams in the mixed division. The experience has only strengthened their determination, with the squad now preparing to return from October 10–12, eager to push even further this year.

Kingaroy SHS’s depth of talent extends beyond the Open Mixed Team. The Under 15 Girls, coached by Miss Murphy, recorded five wins from six matches at Wide Bay, falling only to Shalom College in the Final. The Under 15 Boys also impressed, securing four victories from five games.

With consistent success at regional level and the opportunity to showcase their skills on the world stage, Kingaroy SHS Touch Football is building a proud legacy of achievement, determination, and teamwork.

Mr John Bunyoung
Coach

From the PBL Team

A Sweet Thank You to Donut Stop!

A huge thank you to Donut Stop for providing delicious donuts to help us celebrate and recognise students who consistently demonstrate our core values of Respect, Resilience, and Responsibility.

77% of KSHS students — that’s 731 individuals — earned 135 KMPs this term by living out these values. Your support adds a little extra joy to our day and helps us continue fostering a positive, values-driven school community.

Thank You to Windmill Bakery!

A big thank you to Windmill Bakery for generously supporting our lunchtime program by providing fresh loaves of bread each week. Your contribution helps nourish our community and makes a meaningful difference in the lives of our students.

Year 7 Immunisations

School Immunisation Program – Now Digital

The Year 7 HPV(1) and dTpa (5) Immunisation Clinic at Kingaroy State High School will be held on Monday 20 October 2025.

This year, Ozcare (the provider for the School Immunisation Program) is moving to a digital consent system called Vitavo. This replaces the paper consent forms used in previous years.

Complete the online consent form by Monday 6 October using the link below:
👉 Kingaroy SHS Consent Link

Paper consent forms are still available upon request from the school office if required.

If you would like your child to participate in this year’s program, please ensure the consent form is completed by the due date.

Kingaroy State High School – Off to Japan!

Our students are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime! The 2025 Japan Tour will take them from the bustling streets of Tokyo to the historic temples of Kazo, with unforgettable experiences at the Fudooka High School. A highlight of the trip will be the homestay with Fudooka students, giving our students a chance to experience everyday life in Japan, learn about local customs, and make lifelong friendships. From tea ceremonies, calligraphy and Sumo Wrestling to exploring Japanese culture firsthand, this journey promises excitement, learning, and memories that will last forever. Safe travels to our incredible group!

Blue Card Changes from Term 4, 2025

Blue card changes are coming from 20 September.

These changes include:

• parent volunteers will require blue cards if:
  • services or activities do not include their own child
  • they attend overnight excursions or camps
  • close personal contact may occur with another child (such as assisting with toileting, bathing or dressing).
• external businesses providing services in schools or to children will need a blue card.

For more information about the upcoming changes, visit the Queensland Government website: https://www.qld.gov.au/law/laws-regulated-industries-and-accountability/queensland-laws-and-regulations/regulated-industries-and-licensing/blue-card-system-changes  

Year 9 Market Day Success – $1521 Raised for Cancer Council QLD!

We’re thrilled to share the incredible success of our Year 9 Economics and Business Market Day! Thanks to the overwhelming support from students, staff, and volunteers, we raised an impressive $1521 for Cancer Council Queensland. These funds will go directly towards supporting cancer patients and their families, as well as continuing vital cancer research.

A huge shout-out to our amazing Year 9 students who showed outstanding initiative, creativity, and teamwork. Despite having fewer students than the Semester 1 class, they managed to beat the previous total – an achievement we’re truly proud of!

We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the volunteers who helped make the day run smoothly. Your time and effort were invaluable, and the event couldn’t have happened without you.

Well done to everyone involved – what a fantastic way to combine learning with making a real-world impact!

Mrs Jade Cluff
A/Head of Department, Humanities and Business

From the School Nurse

Dental health

Our first tooth appears at about 6 months of age with a full set of baby teeth (also known as deciduous, primary or milk teeth) by age three.  From about six or seven years old, some of our baby teeth begin to fall out and are slowly replaced by adult teeth (also known as secondary or permanent).  By around 21 years old most people have about 32 adult teeth.

With permanent teeth making an appearance in the average person at such a young age, it is important to look after your teeth and develop good dental hygiene habits early, so they last your lifetime.  If you are not looking after your teeth, you risk developing tooth decay, gum disease, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, lung disease and oral cancer. 

Simple steps to healthy teeth include:

• Brushing your teeth twice a day with a small soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss your teeth once a day, prior to brushing.
• Eating and drinking healthy food choices which are low in sugar.
• Drink plenty of water, preferably with fluoride in it.
• Having regular dental check-ups.
• Quit smoking and vaping.
• Protect your teeth with a mouthguard during contact sport.
• Replace your toothbrush every 3 months and sooner if the bristles are worn and sit outside the base of the brush.

For more information, go to:

https://www.qld.gov.au/health/staying-healthy/oral-health/good-oral-health/oral-health-and-general-health

https://www.qld.gov.au/health/staying-healthy/oral-health/good-oral-health/brushing-and-flossing

https://teeth.org.au/brushing-teeth

Selena Stevens
School Based Youth Health Nurse

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