2025 Term 3 Week 9 Newsletter

Principal’s Report

We are so incredibly fortunate at Coolum High to have a huge number of students who are excelling in one or more areas of their school life and I am hoping that a couple of weeks ago, you were lucky enough to see the video of the school’s amazing rock band on Facebook!

With over 60,000 views and almost 100 shares, these talented students took the school and community by storm, owning the stage at Junior Secondary Parade, playing an incredible cover of the Dire Straits classic, 'Sultans of Swing'. The video has gone completely viral and no doubt has inspired a new generation of musicians who now appreciate an era of music that most of us know was the best ever!

The band was so popular, they followed up with an encore performance of another classic, Pink Floyd’s 'Breathe’.

If you haven’t seen the videos yet, do yourself a favour and hop on to the school’s Facebook page – you will be incredibly impressed with these talented young musicians.

Year 12 students are very quickly heading towards the most important time of their schooling when they sit their external exams at the beginning of Term 4. We know these students are working incredibly hard to give themselves every chance of success leading into the exams and we know they will do themselves proud when results are released on 18 December.

With only a couple of weeks left of Term 3, the major event on the school calendar is the Celebration of Excellence on Wednesday 17 September. We are very excited to showcase our wonderful students who have excelled in all areas of their schooling – academic, sporting, community and the arts with the program including musical and dance performances. We look forward to welcoming our parent community at the event in support of these amazing young people.

At Coolum High, attendance up to and including the last day of term is required, other than in exceptional circumstances. 

As we approach the last weeks of the school term, it is vital that all families recognise that attendance is expected from all students until the end of school on Friday 19 September. All other classes will be commencing new work in Week 10.

From all of us at Coolum State High School, we would like to thank you for the support you have given your child and our school during term. We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday, and we are looking forward to seeing all students return to school on Tuesday 7 October.

Troy Ascott
EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL

Deputy Principal – Years 7 and 9

Attendance and Engagement in School in the Junior Secondary Years

Engagement in school every day is vital for all Junior Secondary students as it builds the foundation for future academic success and personal development. These years are a key transition period, where students move from primary learning styles to more independent and critical thinking approaches required in senior schooling.

Daily attendance and active participation help students stay connected with their learning, peers, and teachers. When students are engaged, they’re more likely to understand the material, complete assessments with confidence, and develop skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and communication. These are essential not just for school, but also for life beyond the classroom.

Regular engagement also supports emotional and social wellbeing. Being part of the school community gives students a sense of belonging and helps them build strong friendships and support networks. It also allows teachers to identify and assist students who may be struggling academically or personally.

At Coolum State High School, every school day counts. Missing even a few days can lead to gaps in learning that become harder to close over time. By showing up, getting involved, and making the most of each day, our Junior Secondary students are investing in a brighter and more successful future.

E-bikes and E-scooters in Our Community

Riding E‑bikes and E‑scooters can be a fun, eco-friendly way for Queensland high school students to get around, however it’s crucial to ride safely and within the law. Wearing a certified helmet (complying with Australian standards) isn’t just smart, it’s required.

Students under the age of 16 years are unable to ride E-scooters to school unsupervised by an adult. Non-compliant E-bikes are also not permitted on school grounds.

It is important that families familiarise themselves with the laws around the use of E-Bikes and E-scooters to ensure that students are using them appropriately and safely in the community. Safe riding behaviour such as observing traffic signals, giving way to pedestrians, and signalling turns can reduce accidents and keeps our community safe.

Rebecca McCann
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL - YEARS 7 AND 9

Deputy Principal – Year 8

As we move into the final two weeks of term, I would like to formally introduce myself as the Acting Deputy Principal for Year 8. Rebecca McCann will be overseeing the Year 7 Deputy role until Ms Fowler’s return. It has been a privilege to step into this role and to support our Year 8 students in both their learning and wellbeing.

At this point in the term, I would like to remind students and families of several key priorities:

• Attendance: Maintaining attendance above 90% is essential to ensure continuity of learning and engagement in their learning.
• Academic Effort: Students are expected to continue applying themselves in class and to complete all assessment tasks to the best of their ability.
• Preparedness: Please ensure laptops are brought to school fully charged each day to support classroom learning and students are attending with basic stationary needs to help with engagement up until the conclusion of the term.
• Behaviour and Conduct: We ask all students to uphold the highest standards of behaviour, both inside and outside the classroom, for the remainder of the term.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to ensure a positive and productive finish to the term for all Year 8 students.

Steve Griffin
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL (ACTING) – YEAR 8

Deputy Principal – Years 10 and 11

Senior Leaders 2026

It has been great to see a large number of Year 11 students stepping forward and striving to be School Leaders in 2026. We have now undertaken the speeches, voting and interview processes and I have been very impressed with the leadership qualities of all of the applicants.

I would like to thank Mr Musson (Head of Year 11) for his dedicated work in preparing these students for this process. I am looking forward to seeing our 2026 Student Leadership Team being presented to the whole school community at our annual Celebration of Excellence evening.

Attendance, Uniforms and Mobile Phones

I would like to thank all parents and carers for their support in ensuring that your child is adhering to these three basic school expectations. 

It is expected that all students, especially students in Senior Secondary, are always meeting these requirements. 

Exam Blocks - Term 4

A reminder that Year 11 students will have their Exam Block in Week 3.

Year 10 students will also undertake their first experience of an Exam Block. This will be in Week 8.

More details about the Exam Block arrangements will be provided early in Term 4.

Terry Proctor
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL – YEARS 10 AND 11

Deputy Principal – Year 12

Trial Exams and VET Catch-Up

Monday 8 September - Tuesday 16 September

As we enter the exam block, it's more important than ever for students to manage their time wisely and maintain a healthy balance between study, work, and social commitments. Achieving strong academic results requires consistent effort, but it doesn't mean sacrificing your wellbeing or personal life. The key lies in planning, prioritising, and maintaining focus.

We understand that many students juggle part-time jobs and social responsibilities alongside their schoolwork. These experiences can be valuable in developing independence and time management skills — but they should not come at the cost of academic progress. With Trial Exams underway on Monday, students are expected to attend all scheduled exams and catch-up sessions as required. If illness prevents attendance, medical documentation must be provided in accordance with school policy. Please make contact with the school on the day of an absence to keep us informed.

High Expectations Remain

While the exam block brings a shift in daily routines, school standards and expectations remain unchanged. Students must continue to meet the highest standards in the following areas:

ATTENDANCE

All students must attend their exams and any catch-up sessions promptly. Unexplained absences can significantly impact results.

UNIFORM

Full school uniform is required during the exam block. Wearing the correct uniform reflects a respectful and responsible approach to learning and school culture.      

Celebration of Excellence - Wednesday 17 September

Congratulations to our many award recipients who will be receiving awards at our annual Celebration of Excellence event – Wednesday 17 September.

Students have been given a consent form which was due Wednesday 10 September. Students are permitted to drive to Coolum State School, and they must arrive no later than 2.00pm for rehearsals. Students will be provided with some food after rehearsal, however they are encouraged to bring a water bottle and snacks. They must be in full formal uniform and are not permitted to leave prior to the start of the ceremony (6.00pm). We look forward to a wonderful night and to celebrating with you and your award winners, in their final award’s night.

Weather permitting, parking will be available on the primary school oval with the assistance of the SES. Make sure to arrive from 5.15pm to take your seat.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me or phone administration on 5471 5333.

Emma Curnow
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL - SENIOR SECONDARY YEAR 12

Business Manager

Student Resource Scheme

The Student Resource Scheme (SRS) is a user-charging scheme operated by schools to provide parents access to individual student resources not funded by the government. Schools develop their SRS based on specific resources needed by their students and the programs they offer. The SRS fees and inclusions are endorsed annually by the school’s Parents and Citizens’ Association (P&C), and parents are provided with this information each year. Participation in the SRS is optional. Parents who opt out of the SRS are responsible for supplying the necessary resources for their child. This information is available on the school website.

QParents

As Term 3 will very shortly come to a close, we would like to remind parents that from the beginning of Term 4, Excursion Information and Consent Forms will be going digital through Education Queensland’s preferred method of communication, QParents. 

With more than 85% of families having already signed up for, and utilitising the many aspects of a QParents account, including student absence notifications and the fee payment option, parents are finding the benefits of easy access to many of the day-to-day school operations a bonus in their very busy lives. 

There are many advantages to the QParents system such as student absence notifications, reporting, timetable access, payments and consent forms via QParents. Having all families on QParents is a significant advantage for our school and our community. We are now asking all of our wonderful parents to register for this system, if you do not already have a QParents account, to make major parts of our school operations more streamlined.

What is QParents?

QParents is a secure and convenient online parent portal where you can access your child’s student information and stay connected to our school. We encourage all families to utilise the QParents website and mobile app to communicate with our school. It provides a wealth of useful information and resources readily available at your fingertips such as: 

• Live attendance and absence details, as well as the ability to notify the school of an absence
• Academic report cards
• Class timetables
• Viewing unpaid invoice details, payment history and making payments online
• Viewing and updating personal student details, including medical conditions and address
• Enrolment details

You can log on to QParents at any time of the day to notify us of a current, future, or past absence, a late arrival or early departure for your child, or check their attendance at school.

Parents who have not yet created a QParents account will have received emails which contain their unique invitation code; follow the instructions in that email to complete the QParents account registration process. Initial registration and addition of students to your account must be done on a desktop or laptop computer. Once registered, you will then be able to access QParents using your mobile device (via a web browser or by downloading the iPhone or Android App).

Where does the information about my child come from?

All of the information that is presented in QParents comes from the IT system that is used by all Queensland state schools. Schools will continue to manage student information in this system, and this information will be extracted and presented in QParents.

Will my child’s information be secure?

Yes. QParents is a secure portal that meets strict industry standards. Only people with the right to access information about their child will be given an account; no one else. If you don’t want to register for QParents, your account will not be created and your child’s information will not be made available through QParents.

If you already have a QParents account, we hope you have discovered and use all the benefits of the portal to stay in contact with the school.

Should you require any assistance when using QParents, please do not hesitate to email us at admin@coolumshs.eq.edu.au or visit the QParents Help website at https://qparents.qld.edu.au/#/help

Thank you for your support of our great school.

Sharyn O'Brien
BUSINESS MANAGER

Diverse Learners News

Teacher Aide Appreciation Week

We are fortunate to have almost 30 Teacher Aides here at Coolum High, most in our Diverse Learners areas, where they support students, teachers, and inclusive classrooms.

Our Teacher Aides often perform essential duties that are vital to our school's functioning, and in areas like social-emotional development, personalised learning, and overall student support that has a lasting and significant impact.

We’d like to take this opportunity to celebrate the incredible contributions these superstars make every day, as we recognise their dedication, and highlight the positive impact they make.

Coolum High is a stronger and more connected place because of what they bring to our school community.

QCIA News

Community, Citizenship and the Environment - Learning Through Lawn Bowls

This term, students have been actively engaged in a unit focused on Community, Citizenship & the Environment, and what better way to connect with the local community than through sport? Thanks to the generous support of Coolum Bowls Club, our students had the opportunity to learn the game of lawn bowls in a welcoming and supportive environment.

Each student embraced the challenge, developing new skills and showing great enthusiasm and encouragement toward one another. The experience not only promoted teamwork but also gave students a deeper appreciation for community involvement.

A special thank you to Ray, whose patience, expertise, and encouragement made a lasting impact on the students. His guidance was instrumental in building both skills and confidence on the green.

We're proud to share that some students are now considering joining the Club’s Barefoot Bowls sessions — a fantastic outcome of this meaningful community connection.

Ms Bec Gould
DIVERSE LEARNERS HOD

Mathematics News

In Mathematics, accuracy and efficiency are key. Having your own calculator ensures you can work through problems quickly and reliably without relying on others or wasting time. When you consistently use the same calculator, you learn its functions, shortcuts, and layout, which helps reduce mistakes during exams and assignments.

Owning a calculator also builds independence. You don’t have to wait to borrow one or risk being unprepared in class or tests. It allows you to practise at home with the exact same device you’ll use in assessments, which strengthens your confidence.

Finally, calculators are essential for tackling higher-level maths. Complex operations like trigonometric functions, statistics, and scientific notation are much easier to manage when you have your own device. In short, having your own calculator is not just convenient — it’s an important part of developing good study habits and achieving success in maths.

At Coolum High we recommend Casio Fx AU II. This calculator costs around $40 but it will last for your entire schooling. Please assist your child by ensuring they have a calculator to regularly use.

Ms Tracy Ford
MATHEMATICS HOD (ACTING)

English News

There are many pursuits Coolum High students excel at and English is no exception – in particular, creative writing. This year, many brave, young Coolum High writers entered a story into the Queensland English Teacher’s Association’s statewide Literary Competition. To share creative work is an incredibly courageous act and to all those students who entered – well done.

This year, we’ve had some success with our very own Mahalia Johnson. As you may have seen on Facebook – this is a young lady with many talents in both the sporting and academic fields. Mahalia received a ‘highly commended’ in the competition.

Congratulations Mahalia and keep writing – thank you for inspiring us with your excellence.

Ms Jeanette Samson
ENGLISH HOD

Science News

The Wild at Art Competition

As Year 7 students are heading into their Biology unit in Term 4, we have an opportunity for them to unleash their artistic creativity while learning about Australia's threatened animals and plants, and the threats facing them. 

Wild at Art is Australia's biggest wildlife art competition, and from Sunday 7 September to Friday 24 October, children from across the country are invited to create an original artwork of one of Australia's many threatened native animals or plants, along with a short-written component on their chosen threatened species.

For information and competition entries please visit: https://www.acf.org.au/get-involved/wild-at-art-competition

We can't wait to see their creative works.

Mr Paul Olsen
SCIENCE HOD

STEM News

Sunshine Coast Medical Immersion Program

During the last Christmas holiday break, then-Year 11 student Mikenzie participated in the Sunshine Coast Medical Immersion Program.

This program was developed for Year 10 and Year 11 students interested in medical careers. This three-night camp offers an opportunity to immerse students in real life medical experiences and connect with like-minded students.

While on camp, Mikenzie had the opportunity to visit several universities on the Sunshine Coast and in Brisbane, participating in hands on clinical and research activities and being exposed to the process of preparing for and applying to universities to study medicine.

Mikenzie highly recommends for anyone interested a career in medicine to apply for next year's camp. If you have any questions regarding the immersion camp, please contact Linda Murphy at lmurp34@eq.edu.au.   

Ms Linda Murphy
SENIOR MATHEMATICS TEACHER

Art News

Year 12 Regional Creative Generation Exhibition 2025

These four talented Visual Arts students have their artwork on display at the Butter Factory Gallery in Cooroy, from Saturday 13 September.

They are part of the statewide event hoping to be selected to represent the Sunshine Coast region, in the final exhibition at GOMA in Brisbane.

This converted exhibition selects only 40 from the 600 plus entries from all over Queensland.

We wish the girls all the very best in the upcoming event.

Ms Lynda Kryger
ART TEACHER

Library News

Book Week

What an incredible Book Week we’ve had! A huge congratulations to all students for their enthusiastic participation.

The cake entries were absolutely outstanding — so impressive, in fact, that judging them was a challenge! Special shoutouts to the winners: The Lorax by Team MLG (Year 11), Jaws by Abby (Year 8), and another The Lorax masterpiece by The Thneeds (Year 7). 

Mr Hughes' art project inspired stunning illustrations for Oh the Places You'll Go!, and Costume Day saw our seniors shine, from Paddington Bear to Frankenstein. Finally, a big thank you to staff and parents for their incredible support in helping us celebrate the joy of storytelling — truly unforgettable!

Ms Kerstin Robertson
LIBRARY TEACHER

International Student Program

Homestay Families Needed for International Students

We welcome new host families into the Homestay Program on a regular basis. There are opportunities for short-term stays and long-term stays (3 - 12 months, or longer). Our host families accommodate our students in a safe, welcoming and friendly home situation that supports their personal and educational needs and in return, our International Students are expected to show host families respect, courtesy and consideration. Many of our host families form long-lasting friendships with students and their families all over the world. 

Host families in 2025 will receive $369 per week per student, to cover costs incurred in hosting. Diversity in our program is welcome - grandparents/retirees, families, singles or couples with or without kids are all invited to apply.

If you would like more information or have interested friends or family, please do not hesitate to contact Ruth Walsh on 07 5471 5305 or 0418 185 809, or email international@coolumshs.eq.edu.au.

Ruth Walsh
INTERNATIONAL HOMESTAY COORDINATOR

Dates for your diary: Term 4, 2025

Coolum SHS's Good News

Coolum High uses Instagram as another communication platform, alongside Facebook, newsletters, and school emails, to share good news stories and important information.

Account name: coolumstatehighschool 

If you're an Instagram user, please follow our page, and like and share our posts. We love sharing all the wonderful things happening here at Coolum State High School. 

Sponsorship News