Kingaroy State High School eNewsletter

Principal's Message

Hello everyone, David Thomson, the very proud principal of Kingaroy State High School.

What amazing successes we've had recently. We've had our Flair concert at the end of last term. We had our wonderful ambassadors go to our Fudooka sister school over in Japan. We've had the All Schools Touch success, where we were runners-up. Amy getting the Queensland championship in the mountain biking.

But I just want to show you something. We've got at the moment, three universities visiting the school and doing some sessions in our iLibrary and Digital Hub and talk about learning success and our partnership with these universities giving opportunities for learning.

So here our students are doing a robotics workshop. So, they are actually doing a robotics workshop at the moment with a robotic dog and a robotic humanoid, and they're actually doing some programming and driving these things.

The robotic humanoid is $75,000, and they're getting some experience in this from the University of the Sunshine Coast, but also Griffith University and the University of Southern Queensland partnering our school here at Kingaroy State High School.

And that is another Kingaroy highlight.

Senior School News

Year 12

Students were emailed a copy of the External Exam Timetable 2025. All sessions will be in KPAC. They were also sent the directions for students and approved equipment list, so that they can be fully prepared for their upcoming external exams.

When the External Exam period starts, teachers of General subjects will be accessible to students, in person or via email during their current timetabled lesson time until the day of their external exam. I strongly encourage students to access their teacher for revision and tutoring up until their exam.

Students are also working hard on finalising assessment in their Applied subjects and finishing their VET certificates.

Year 11

Students have started working on Unit 3, which is the beginning of their summative assessment. There is no opportunity to change subjects as Unit 3 and 4 are considered a pair. Students will need to get good study practices in place to be able to achieve their best. Unit 3 assessment dates will be out soon so that students can plan their study time effectively.

Congratulations to all the students who have participated in the school leadership process, you have all exemplified our school values of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience. Well done!

Mr Andrew Maddern
Deputy Principal, Educational Achievement - Senior Secondary

Year 9 Work Experience

Year 9 students have been given Work Experience Packages in preparation for Work Experience in Week 10 of this term. Students who have not collected a package can source one from Student Services. Please encourage your child to partake in this worthwhile opportunity.

Students have been completing work experience preparation in form classes. Workplace Health and Safety will be completed next week.

Friday November 21 is the deadline for the school to receive both the Permission Slip and Work Experience Placements for School Students Agreement.

Year 9 classes will not be running in Week 10.

Mr Steve Perrett
Deputy Principal, Wellbeing and Engagement

Outstanding Results at the Wide Bay Hoof and Hook Competition

Our Agricultural students achieved fantastic results at this year’s Wide Bay Hoof and Hook Competition, the largest event of its kind in Queensland. Nineteen schools and nearly 300 students took part, making for a highly competitive few days.

On Tuesday night, the Young Farmers Challenge saw 38 teams compete, with one of our teams finishing an impressive second overall. Congratulations to Charlotte, Caleb, Emily, and Kenzie on their outstanding teamwork and performance.

Individual Achievements

Charlotte – 1st in 17 Years Handlers Class, 6th in 17 Years Junior Judging
Jordin – 1st in 16 Years Novice Judging, 2nd in 16 Years Handlers Class, Reserve Champion Novice Judge Overall
Caleb – 1st in 16 Years Handlers Class
Bree – 5th in 16 Years Handlers Class
Santino – 5th in 15 Years Junior Judging
Darcy – 4th in 15 Years Junior Judging
Kenzie – 6th in 15 Years Handlers Class
Cooper – 4th in 13 Years Handlers Class, 6th in 13 Years Junior Judging

Goose, one of our Speckle Park steers took out the Carcass Champion and our heavyweight steer VB also impressed the judges, placing 2nd in his class, with many of our other steers finishing within the top 10 in very large fields.

This year, the Wide Bay Hoof and Hook Committee introduced a new honour - the Lucy Needer Memorial Trophy - awarded to the student earning the highest points in Junior Judging. The award is a fitting tribute to Lucy’s contribution and passion for the agricultural program.

A huge thank you goes to Mr Hansen and Miss Steinorht for their dedication, guidance, and support in preparing our students and livestock for the competition. Their time, effort, and commitment to the program played a key role in helping our students achieve such outstanding results.

Overall, it was a highly successful event and a wonderful experience for all involved. Every class our students competed in had over 30 participants, making their achievements even more remarkable. Their success reflects the hard work, teamwork, and enthusiasm that define our Agricultural program.

Mr Jamie Shirlaw
Head of Department, Science and Agriculture

Kingaroy SHS Shine at Queensland All Schools Touch Championship

Kingaroy State High School’s Open Mixed Touch team put on a remarkable display at the Queensland All Schools Championships, finishing as runners-up after an intense and thrilling grand final on Sunday. Facing a strong Southport team, our players showed outstanding teamwork, determination, and resilience across three days of competition. Despite going down by just one try in the final, the team can be incredibly proud of their efforts and achievements. After being knocked out in last year’s semi-final, the group were determined to go one step further this year - and they did just that. Across the tournament, the team won nine of their ten games, scoring an impressive 72 touchdowns and conceding only 22. This result caps off an amazing year for the team, who were also winners of the Sunshine Coast All Schools and Wide Bay Schools tournaments before finishing as Queensland runners-up. Congratulations to all players, referees, parents and staff on an outstanding season - a true testament to teamwork, spirit, and hard work.

Mr John Bunyoung
Coach

Year 12 Visual Arts in Practice students are continuing to leave their mark—quite literally—with the collaborative mural taking shape on the caged area at the end of the Visual Arts block.

What began as a bold and colourful concept has now blossomed into a detailed and deeply personal artwork. Each student has contributed their own unique touch, with the latest additions showcasing both creativity and care: thumbprints have been used to build each flower petal, symbolising individual identity and collective growth; bees have been carefully painted on and around the hive, adding life and movement; and the sugar glider—one of the mural’s centrepieces—now features intricate details that bring its character to life. Above it all, the contrasting gradients and vibrant hues of a painted sunset provide a stunning backdrop, capturing a moment of transition as these students prepare to graduate.

The mural is not only transforming the space—it’s becoming a meaningful tribute to the spirit, collaboration, and creativity of the Class of 2025.

Students, staff, and visitors are encouraged to take a closer look as the final touches are added. This is more than a mural—it’s a visual legacy that reflects the journey, connection, and artistry of this year’s graduating cohort.

Mrs Carissa Sempf
Head Of Department, Technology - Design and Digital

Hospitality News

As part of their Certificate II in Hospitality course, the Senior Hospitality students had the opportunity last week to spend two days in Brisbane visiting various Hospitality establishments. Students visited Rydges South Bank on Wednesday to have a back of house tour and spoke with their People and Culture Manager about different job opportunities and the importance of sustainability in the hospitality industry. As part of our tour, we indulged in a two-course lunch with the Brisbane River as our backdrop from our function space. Students then spent some time in the Queen Street Mall, making observations of the different types of hospitality establishments and the services that they offer before returning to Rydges for our overnight stay. The students all enjoyed the view from their balconies of the Brisbane River at night, and after a very comfortable sleep, particularly enjoyed the breakfast buffet at Bacchus. A highlight of breakfast for some was the opportunity to spot and taste the caviar available at the buffet, while for others it was the waffles.

On Thursday, we immersed ourselves in the world of roasting coffee at Wolff Roastery, where students were able to observe the roasting process, learning about where beans are sourced, how they are farmed and experienced a cupping, where three different coffee beans were tasted and their flavours analysed. From coffee to beer, we took part in a tour of the XXXX brewery to learn the beer making process, enjoying a burger in the Alehouse before returning to Kingaroy.

The students are to be commended as they were excellent ambassadors for Kingaroy State High School throughout the two days, involving themselves in the site visit activities and asking questions.

Mrs Lisa Hutton
Teacher

This week, our Year 8 English classes have been visiting the Yarning Circle with our amazing Community Education Counsellor, Toni Phillips-Petersen and Mr Gale. Students have been learning about the importance of connection to Country, culture and community, for First Nations Australians.

These talks will be valuable for the upcoming assessment task, which is an analysis of a text by a First Nations author, to show the importance of these connections.

Hanna Newton
Teacher

FLAIR

This year, FLAIR 2025 invited audiences to “Sail Away” on an unforgettable voyage of creativity, courage, and community spirit. Now in its 29th year, FLAIR continues to be one of Kingaroy State High School’s most cherished traditions, celebrating the incredible talent and teamwork of our students.

More than 100 performers took to the stage across 22 diverse acts, featuring everything from music, dance, and drama to mimes, lip syncs, and even a karate demonstration. The student-designed fashion runway was a standout addition, while the iconic Men’s Choir returned for its 21st consecutive year to thunderous applause.

Behind the scenes, a dedicated technical crew and stage team ensured the show ran seamlessly. Our school captains, Tasleigh Gangemi, Ryder Monteith, Emma Lindholm, and Rory Crumpton, led with creativity and enthusiasm, producing engaging parades and promotions throughout the year.

As the curtain closes on this year’s voyage, excitement is already building for FLAIR 2026; marking 30 years of this iconic school tradition! The date is already set: Thursday, 3rd September 2026. We can’t wait to see how next year’s milestone celebration will set sail!

This week, our Year 10 students took part in eight exciting workshops delivered by visitors of UniSC, UniSQ and Griffith University. Students had the chance to explore a variety of university pathways through eight hands on sessions showcasing different fields of study.

Students explored the world of forensic science, exercise science, digital profiling, nursing (CPR), occupational therapy, engineering, boomerang physics and robotics. In engineering, students went through the design process of building bridges from paddle pop sticks aiming to create the strongest structure capable of holding the most weight.

The nursing workshop provided out students with the opportunity to practice life-saving skills, with students using smart CPR manikins connected to iPads, which provide real time feedback on accuracy.

In the forensic science workshop, students learnt how to dust for fingerprints and analyse evidence from a mock crime scene. This exciting activity allowed students to use observation and problem-solving skills to determine who the fingerprints belonged to.

The robotics workshop was the talk of the day, with our students having the opportunity to explore future AI opportunities. Students were handed the controllers and given the opportunity to control ‘Ben Ben’ and the G1 Humanoid Robot. Watching the robots walk, run and dance was the highlight of the day.

A huge shout out to our Year 10s for their teamwork, enthusiasm and positive engagement throughout the day!

Ms Potter and Miss Stumm
Year 10 Coordinators

The Young Achievers Program (YAP) officially kicked off with a warm and inspiring Welcome Event this term, bringing together new participants, their families, mentors, and UQ staff across the South Burnett.

The event marked the beginning of an exciting journey for our newest Young Achievers-students who demonstrate exceptional potential and commitment to their future pathways. Families had the chance to meet current and past Young Achievers, hear from mentors, and learn more about the incredible opportunities ahead through the program.

Through YAP, students will experience a range of enriching activities including residential camps at UQ’s St Lucia campus, ongoing mentorship from university students, and the Community Venture Project-an initiative empowering participants to make a positive impact in their local communities.

The Welcome Event not only celebrated achievement but also highlighted the strong network of support from parents, schools, and mentors that helps each Young Achiever thrive. With new friendships formed and aspirations set high, the journey has well and truly begun.

Congratulations to our 2025 Young Achievers-your future starts now!

Awards Week

Next week marks one of the most exciting times on our school calendar — Awards Week!
We’ll be celebrating achievement, effort and excellence across our school community at two major events: Speech Night on Tuesday and Sports Night on Thursday.

We’re delighted to welcome two outstanding guest speakers — Shelly Horton, past student, author and TV presenter, who will join us for Speech Night, and Olympian Taylor McKeown, who will inspire our students at Sports Night.

It promises to be an uplifting week celebrating the many successes of our students.

Noorook Yearbook

Capture the Memories – Order Your 2025 Noorook Yearbook Today!

The Noorook has long been a treasured Kingaroy State High School tradition; a snapshot of the year that celebrates our students, our achievements, and the moments that make our school community so special.

From classroom highlights and sporting triumphs to FLAIR, camps, and those unforgettable candid moments, the Noorook 2025 captures it all. Every page tells part of our story, one filled with laughter, learning, and lasting memories.

Copies are $26 each and can be ordered from the school office.
Orders close Tuesday 28 October, so don’t miss your chance to secure your copy.

Once orders close, there will be no additional print runs, so be sure to get in early to avoid missing out!

Whether you’re a graduating student looking to remember your final year, or part of our wider school community wanting to celebrate another fantastic year at KSHS, Noorook 2025 is the perfect keepsake.

📘 $26 per copy
📅 Orders close Tuesday 28 October
📍 Order from the School Office

Media Committee

2026 Next Step Year 12 Completers survey

Year 12 students, please check that your contact details are correct in your learning account with the QCAA student portal. In March 2026, you will receive a letter from the Minister for Education and the Arts inviting you to participate in the Next Step Year 12 Completers survey, following up on your activities after graduating. You may also receive an email or phone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. Your feedback helps our school improve services for future students, and you can win a laptop for participating. For more information visit www.qld.gov.au/nextstep.

Renee Feather - Link and Launch Coordinator

It is coming to the pointy end of the term already for the Year 12s, who will be finished before we (and they) know it! I have been meeting with them throughout Terms 2, 3 and 4 this year to offer support for their big transition into life after school. The Link and Launch program is designed to help young people decide what further study, training or employment might be best for them and to assist them in pursuing their chosen pathway. So, if you or a young person you know is not sure what they would like to do or have some ideas but are not sure how to navigate them, I can assist with a range of post-school study, training, and work options. For those Year 12s that I have not been able to catch up with thus far, there is still time! Please fill out an Expression of Interest form here: https://forms.office.com/r/K8Ky2133Ge and I will be in touch to talk about future plans further.

Link and Launch aims to support young people to make independent choices that will equip them to make a successful transition out of school. You can find more information about Link and Launch, including previous participants’ testimonies online here: https://education.qld.gov.au/students/student-engagement/link-and-launch Or feel free to contact me (Renee Feather) directly on 0460 010 431 or rfeat6@eq.edu.au for further information.

From the School Nurse

Health Promotion

Health promotion assists with preventing disease and reducing ill health, so people remain as healthy as possible for as long as possible while taking responsibility for their own health. Ways to improve your health and wellbeing includes:

Eating a wide range of healthy foods
Drinking plenty of water
Being physically active
Maintaining a healthy weight
Protecting yourself from the sun
Reducing stress
Keeping pelvic muscles strong

Another important part of ensuring your health and wellbeing is to have regular health checks depending on your age. The table below is a guide to good health through the different stages of your life and highlights things you will want to stay on top of as you get older.

Some of these health checks include self examinations which can be done at home, whereas others require a visit to a health professional. All of these health checks assist with the early detection of disease which can assist in providing further treatment and management options.

If you are not up to date with your health checks, make an appointment with the relevant health professional to ensure your health and wellbeing.

	Women	Men
Most ages	Eye test – every 2 years Skin check – at least once a year Dental check – at least once a year with first visit before 2^nd birthday Immunisations - Influenza annually from 6 months old + scheduled immunisations
20’s	Blood pressure check – at least every 2 years Breast self-examination – monthly Cervical screening - from 25 years at least every 5 years	Blood pressure check – at least every 2 years Testicle self-examination - monthly
30’s	Blood pressure check – at least every 2 years Breast self-examination – monthly Cervical screening - at least every 5 years Cholesterol check - from 30 years old for First Nations People at least every 5 years Heart Health check - from 30 years old for First Nations People at least every 2 years	Blood pressure check – at least every 2 years Cholesterol check - from 30 years old for First Nations People at least every 5 years Heart Health check - from 30 years old for First Nations People at least every 2 years Testicle self-examination - monthly
40’s	Blood pressure check – at least every 2 years Bone Health screening – from 45 years old or post menopause at least every 2 years Bowel cancer screening - from 45 years every 2 years Breast cancer screening – at least every 2 years Breast self-examination – monthly Cervical screening – at least every 5 years Cholesterol check - from 45 years old at least every 5 years Diabetes screening – at least every 3 years Heart Health check - every 2 years	Blood pressure check – at least every 2 years Bone Health screening – from 45 years old Bowel cancer screening - from 45 years every 2 years Cholesterol check - from 45 years old at least every 5 years Diabetes screening – at least every 3 years Heart Health check - every 2 years Testicle self-examination - monthly
50’s	Blood pressure check – at least every 2 years Bowel cancer screening – every 2 years Breast cancer screening – at least every 2 years Breast self-examination – monthly Cervical screening – at least every 5 years Cholesterol check - at least every 5 years Heart Health check - every 2 years Immunisations · Pneumococcal if First Nations Person · Shingles if First Nations Person	Blood pressure check – at least every 2 years Bone Health screening – every 2 years Bowel cancer screening – every 2 years Cholesterol check - at least every 5 years Heart Health check - every 2 years Immunisations · Pneumococcal if First Nations Person · Shingles if First Nations Person Prostate test – every 2 years Testicle self-examination – monthly
60’s and beyond	Blood pressure check – at least every 2 years Bowel Cancer screening – at least every 2 years until 75 years old Breast self-examination – monthly Breast cancer screening – at least every 2 years until 75 years old Cervical screening – at least every 5 years stops at 75 years old Cholesterol check - at least every 5 years Heart Health check - every 2 years Hearing test – annually from 65 years old Immunisations · Shingles at 65 years or over for non-First Nations People · Pneumococcal 70 years or over for non-First Nations People	Blood pressure check – at least every 2 years Bowel cancer screening – at least every 2 years until 75 years Cholesterol check - at least every 5 years Heart Health check - every 2 years Hearing test – annually from 65 years old Immunisations · Shingles at 65 years or over for non-First Nations People · Pneumococcal 70 years or over for non-First Nations People Prostate test – every 2 years until 70 years old