2025 Term 2 Week 9 Newsletter

Principal’s Report

As we near the end of Term 2, I’m thrilled to share some of the outstanding achievements and special moments that have taken place across our school in recent weeks.

One of the true highlights of the term was our Year 12 Midwinter Ball – a hugely memorable evening that began on campus and continued with elegance and joy at the Maroochy RSL. Our seniors looked absolutely stunning, and it was wonderful to see them come together to celebrate this milestone. The students conducted themselves in an exemplary fashion at the Maroochy RSL, mixing their excitement with respect and gratitude. Thank you to the families and staff who supported the event, and to the students for the pride and maturity they showed throughout the evening. From Prep lunchboxes to P-plates, you’ve come a long way, and our community is right behind you. What a brilliant evening!

Congratulations must go out to our Intermediate A Netball team, who were crowned champions at the recent district finals. Their teamwork, commitment and grit on the court were an absolute credit to the school and to their coach, Mrs Olsen.  Coolum State High School students are achieving on all fronts, including the heavily contested sport of netball. Similarly, our Brahminy Kite girls rugby league team went undefeated in their recent competition, showing strength, spirit and sportsmanship in every match. What a powerhouse group of athletes!

A huge shoutout goes to Flynn Skipper, who recently competed at the Men’s Open Australian Swimming Titles that were showcased on Channel 9. To reach this level is an incredible feat and a testament to Flynn’s hard work, training and dedication. We’re immensely proud to see a Coolum High student performing among the nation's best. Flynn is an inspiration to all our students and deserves recognition for years of 4.30am starts and his commitment to excellence not only in his chosen sport, but in his respectful and cooperative conduct around school at all times.

We also celebrate two of our own being selected in Queensland AFL representative teams – Sebastian Kleinschmidt and Izaak Ives. Making a state team is a major achievement, and it reflects the talent and perseverance these students bring to both their sport and studies. Selection in a state team is an extraordinary acknowledgement of skill, dedication and perseverance and we are immensely proud of any Coolum High student who achieves state honours.

As we enter the assessment period, a reminder to all students: consistency is key. At Coolum State High School we aren’t afraid of excellence, and we are deeply committed to doing ‘whatever it takes’ to achieve at the highest possible levels. One powerful study technique that I have stumbled across recently, the ‘Pomodoro Technique’, has been shown to considerably improve student outcomes and is one I would strongly encourage in preparing for exams. Please find below a brief overview of the Pomodoro Technique:

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that helps improve focus and productivity by breaking study into intervals. Typically, you study for 25 minutes — called a "Pomodoro" — followed by a short 5-minute break. After completing four Pomodoros, you take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes to recharge. This technique encourages sustained concentration while reducing mental fatigue and procrastination.

Coolum State High School is an outstanding school with our students achieving highly in everything they do. I am excited to see what the rest of the year brings as more students achieve their goals in more areas – Coolum High is truly a wonderful place to be!

Troy Ascott
EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL

Deputy Principal – Year 7

It was wonderful to see so many of you at the Parent-Teacher Interviews in Week 4. Building strong connections between families and teachers helps to keep communication open and greatly enhances student learning outcomes. At home, encouraging your child to persist - even when they don’t get the correct answer immediately - is a powerful part of fostering resilience. It’s also an essential aspect of the learning process. As we approach the final assessment and reporting period for the term, it is vital that students come prepared for every lesson. Bringing a charged laptop to school each day is a simple but important part of that preparation. Establishing positive routines around charging devices at night ensures students are ready to learn each morning. Being organised with the right equipment helps reduce stress and maximises engagement in the classroom. Your continued support in maintaining a home environment that prioritises learning - free from the distractions of social media and gaming - makes a genuine difference. Thank you for all you do to promote these healthy habits.

Professor Mike Nagel - Parent Information Session

We are excited to welcome Professor Mike Nagel on Tuesday 22 July, who will present on a timely and relevant topic: “Digital Disruption: What Technology Is Doing to Your Child’s Brain and Behaviour”.

This event is not to be missed and will provide valuable insights for families navigating the digital world with their children, especially during the early teen phase.

Wellbeing Update: Push-Up Challenge & Day for Dolly

In June, our Year 7 students have enthusiastically been taking part in the Push-Up Challenge to raise awareness for mental health - and not to be competitive, but the Year 7s are definitely leading the way! A special shout-out to Class 7B1, who completed an incredible 2,915 push-ups in just one week! Our original school-wide goal was 3,214 push-ups across 23 days - and we've well and truly smashed that target. If you'd like to donate to this wonderful cause, please visit https://www.thepushupchallenge.com.au/fundraisers/coolumstatehighschool. Well done to all involved!

Meanwhile, our Senior Leaders are also leading an awareness campaign for Day for Dolly, promoting kindness and creating safer spaces for all students. Students are invited to wear blue accessories and purchase blue ribbons for a gold coin donation before school or during first break near the canteen. All proceeds will go directly to supporting this important cause.

Thank you once again for your ongoing support in making Coolum State High School a place where students thrive - both academically and personally.

I wish you all a safe and happy Winter break.

Lisa Fowler
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL – YEAR 7

Deputy Principal – Years 8 and 9

A quality uniform in all conditions

Maintaining high uniform standards at Coolum High plays a vital role in fostering a sense of pride, equality, and school identity among students. Uniforms help to create a professional learning environment, reducing distractions and reinforcing the idea that school is a place for focus, respect, and responsibility. For many students, wearing a uniform encourages a sense of belonging and shared purpose, helping to build positive school culture and connectedness.

High uniform standards also promote equity. When all students wear the same attire, it minimises visible socio-economic differences, helping to reduce bullying or judgement based on clothing choices. This supports a safe and inclusive environment where students are recognised for their character and contribution rather than appearance.

From a safety perspective, consistent uniforms assist staff in identifying students on campus and during excursions, enhancing security and student welfare. Furthermore, uniform compliance prepares students for workplace expectations, where dress codes and presentation often matter.

At Coolum State High School, we uphold a strong uniform policy that reflects a commitment to high standards and values. As such, it is not acceptable for students to wear any uniform item that belongs to another school or fashion items that are not part of our agreed uniform policy. A well-presented uniform communicates to the wider community that the school is united, disciplined, and focused on creating an environment where every student can succeed.

We appreciate that parents and carers support their child to wear the correct school uniform of our wonderful school.

Safety Online

As teenagers grow more active online, it’s enormously important for parents to support safe social media use. It’s important to keep communication open, and for teens and parents to talk regularly about their online experiences. There is nothing more powerful than when clear boundaries are set around screen time and privacy.

It’s important to encourage your teenager to only connect with people they know and to never share personal information. All the research tells us that it is critical to stay informed about the platforms they use and model positive digital behaviour. Use parental controls as support, not surveillance. Most importantly, teach them about their digital footprint and the lasting impact of what they post. Your involvement helps them stay safe, respectful, and responsible online.

Rebecca McCann
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL - YEARS 8 AND 9

Deputy Principal – Years 10 and 11

Year 11 2026

Thank you to all families who were able to attend the information session for Year 11 2026.  The information presented during the session has been sent out to all families.

Year 10 students will now begin working on their Senior Education and Training (SET) Plan

The SET Plan outlines students’ goals and career interests, as well as courses, qualifications or degrees related to those careers.  Please ask your child about this and get them to log in to show you what they have included.

Senior Subject Information Books for 2026 are planned to be available at the end of this term in Week 10 – just in time to have a look over during the holidays. This is a great opportunity to continue discussions about the best pathways to success for your child and what subjects are necessary to achieve those goals.

SET Plan meetings with families are occurring next term on 13 and 14 August (Week 5). Further information about SET Planning and booking a meeting time will come out early in Term 3.

Year 10 and 11 Attendance

A reminder that it is the school’s expectation that all students attend school up to and including the last day of term. Having excellent attendance means students are in a regular routine and never have the added stress and anxiety of catching up on missed work due to absences.

Year 10 attendance is currently 88.3% and Year 11 is currently 89.4%. 

Our target is for every student to have 92% or better attendance. It is up to parents and schools to work together to get young people to school every single day.

Greater attendance every day at school gives students more opportunities to be successful in their learning, and their future destinations.

Terry Proctor
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL – YEARS 10 AND 11

Deputy Principal – Year 12

Midwinter Ball Wrap-up

What a night!

On Thursday 12 June, Coolum High held its annual Year 12 Midwinter Ball. It was a perfect winter evening as the students arrived in all forms of transport, looking their absolute finest. The red carpet arrivals sparkled and students were greeted by a massive crowd of family, friends and staff. Students then went on to the Maroochy RSL Ballroom to feast in a three course meal, reflect on the year to date, and listen to some inspiring speeches from their Head of Year, and school captains. Attendees were also privileged to hear Alice Dwight perform a song to the cohort. Students danced the night away and took some mementos in the photo booth. Thank you to everyone who was involved in the set-up of the night and contributed in some way to make it a very special event in our school calendar. We'd also like to offer a special thank you to our wonderful school P&C Association who donated the delicious cake - the students loved it!

100 Days to go!

Can you believe that our Year 12 students now have less than 100 days to go! Our student leaders celebrated this milestone by donning the piggy tails and ribbons (reminiscent of their primary school days), creating a ‘Graduation Countdown’ and feasting on the Pancake Breakfast. It has been a great way for the group to connect and think about how far they have come. Head of Year, Mr Musson, has been doing a wonderful job in uniting the group, whether it is through pancakes, netball or basketball in the hall during break times, or celebrating the small wins along the way. We know the remainder of the year will be busy with a lot of important assessment yet to complete. It is vital that students remain engaged, attending every day and trying their best in all subjects.

Punctuality and Effort = QCE

As we approach the final semester of school, it is important that students attend each and every day, are ON time, and put 100% effort into all school work. We aim to support all students to achieve their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and are having conversations with students who are currently struggling in certain areas. Students can track their own QCE by logging into the QCAA ‘MyQCE’ page. This can be accessed at www.myqce.qcaa.qld.edu.au.

Students will need to create an account, if they haven’t already, to view their QCE tracking. Results show on the QCE page after it has been 'Confirmed', or if they have satisfactorily passed the subject.

All students need to be on time to school, and aiming for an 8:20am arrival will ensure this happens. Punctuality is also important for every class – students need to be on time to maximise their learning. This will be monitored by the Year 12 team. If you or your child has any questions or concerns, please make sure you contact a member of the Year 12 team.

KEY DATES FOR 2025

Monday 8 September - Tuesday 16 September

Trial Exams

Attendance is expected for all scheduled exams and VET catch up sessions.                    

Wednesday 17 September

Celebration of Excellence event

Coolum State School Hall

Friday 17 October

Hawaiian Celebration Day

Monday 20 October - Friday 24 October

Swotvac Week

Student attendance not expected unless attending for study/finalisation of assessment/Certificates. 

Monday 27 October - Monday 17 November

External Exams

Students must attend all scheduled exams. All absences must be documented with medical documentation using an official QCAA Medical form. There are NO re-sits for any missed assessment.

Tuesday 18 November

Cap and Gown Graduation Ceremony

Coolum State School Hall

Thursday 20 November

Guard of Honour Ceremony

Coolum State High School

Friday 21 November

Final 'official' calendar day for Year 12 students

Attendance not expected.

If you would like further information or would like to contact a member of the Year 12 Team, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Emma Curnow
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL - SENIOR SECONDARY YEAR 12

Business Manager

P&C Association Meeting

The community is invited to attend the next Parents & Citizens (P&C) Association meeting on Monday 21 July at 6pm, here at Coolum High.

This meeting will examine and discuss the Student Resource Scheme (SRS) endorsement.

All are welcome to attend - we hope to see you there.

Facilities Works

With the school holidays coming up, it is always a perfect time for contractors to be onsite making improvements to our school. Some of the works that are scheduled for the Winter school holidays are:

• Roof repairs to the Wandama, Graphics & Visual Arts Buildings
• Invisible infrastructure works
• Concrete gurney
• Painting of toilets
• Fence repairs, and
• Garden rejuvenation

Thank you to our wonderful cleaning staff

On Monday 16 June, we celebrated and recognised the incredible work of our cleaning staff on 'School Cleaners Day'. These dedicated individuals play a vital role in keeping our school clean, safe, and welcoming every day. Their efforts often happen behind the scenes, but they are essential to the smooth running of our school community.

Whether it’s early in the morning or late in the afternoon, our cleaners work tirelessly to maintain a healthy and hygienic environment for students, staff, and visitors. Their commitment, attention to detail, and care do not go unnoticed.

We are truly grateful for everything they do, and we encourage everyone in our school community to take a moment to acknowledge their contribution. If you see one of our cleaners around the school, please give them a smile and say a simple but heartfelt “thank you.” It really means a lot.

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.

Subject Fees

Please be advised that if you wish your child to remain in their fee-paying subjects, all invoices are required to be paid by no later than the due date or have an active payment plan in place. Failure to make payment may result in your child being removed from these subjects.

Academy Programs

Please ensure that payment to participate is made by the due date on the invoice for your child to remain in the academy program of their choice.

Please note payment plans are not available for Academy Programs.

Coolum State High School encourages all parents to register for, and actively use QParents

Each Friday, a QParents invitation is sent to your email address. To register, simply follow the 9-step process outlined in the registration flyer.

QParents allows you to view all your child’s school information in one convenient location. Later in the year, it will also be used to provide consent for school activities your child may wish to join. This digital process makes it easy to give consent by the due date and even make payments for activities - all within the same app - eliminating the need for paper forms to be returned to the office.

To stay up-to-date with invoices and payments, we strongly recommend setting up your QParents account if you haven’t done so already. QParents is a secure online portal that helps you stay connected with your child’s education and with our school. The web and mobile app offer a more convenient and efficient way to manage school-related tasks.

Following registration, parents can access: 

• 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

Should you require any assistance when registering for QParents, please do not hesitate to email admin@coolumshs.eq.edu.au or visit https://qparents.qld.edu.au/#/help.

Thank you for your support of our great school.

Sharyn O'Brien
BUSINESS MANAGER

QCIA News

QCIA Students Making a Difference at ARCARE

Throughout this term, our senior QCIA students have been actively participating in a community engagement program at ARCARE, a local aged care facility. Each week, students visited ARCARE to connect with residents, lending a hand and sharing meaningful moments with members of our wider community.

These visits have provided an incredible opportunity for students to develop valuable interpersonal and life skills. By assisting with a range of hands-on support tasks - including cooking, cleaning, playing games, and serving morning tea - students have learned the importance of empathy, patience, and teamwork.

In addition to their work at ARCARE, students have also practiced independent travel by catching public transport to and from the facility. This real-world experience has helped build their confidence and autonomy in navigating the local area.

Looking ahead to next term, students are excited to continue their community engagement journey at the Coolum Bowls Club. There, they will have the opportunity to meet a new group of community members, enhance their leisure and recreation skills, and participate in lawn bowls coaching sessions.

We’re incredibly proud of our students’ commitment to community service and look forward to seeing their continued growth and positive impact.

Ms Bec Gould
DIVERSE LEARNERS HOD

Robotics Academy News

Coolum High students gear up for Robot Rumble

Coolum Robotics students have been busy this year mastering new and exciting skills in the fields of coding and 3D printing. With curiosity and creativity at the forefront, students have spent the term designing and building custom ramps for their MBots — and the final touches are being added this week.

In Week 9, anticipation has been building for an in-house robotics competition, where students will put their engineering and programming skills to the test. It's set to be a thrilling event — may the best robot win!

The Robotics Academy program is proudly facilitated by Robotics in Paradise, a local business dedicated to inspiring young minds through hands-on learning in robotics and coding.

Our junior students are especially excited for the upcoming Robot Rumble, a high-energy showdown that promises to be a highlight of the term.

Stay tuned for more robotic action as Coolum High's future tech leaders take centre stage.

Ms Sonya Abbott
ROBOTICS ACADEMY DIRECTOR

Athletics Carnival

This year’s Athletics Carnival is fast approaching! The nomination only carnival will be held on Tuesday, Week 1 of Term 3 (15 July), and the whole school event on Wednesday (16 July). This year we are hoping for record attendance numbers, unreal house spirit and an all-round vibe as students are given the opportunity to sprint, run, jump, leap and run through our two 30-meter inflatable courses.

Students are encouraged to wear their best 80s and 90s outfits that tie in with their House colours - we can't wait to see some amazing outfits! 

Ms Tamika Megawatt
HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION HOD

Library News

Last week, Years 7 students Iluka, Ella, and Ivy, and Year 8 student Rafferty, competed in the 2025 Readers Cup Competition at Baringa State Secondary College. These students should be very proud of their efforts, as they came 11^th out of 20 private and public schools from the Sunshine Coast Region. A big shout out to our awesome Coolum parents for supporting the students with transport to and from the event. Year 7 students will have another chance to win at the Year 7-only competition in Term 3 - details to be announced.

In August, CBCA Book Week is celebrating their 80^th Anniversary with a 'Book an Adventure' theme. In the Library we will be supporting this wonderful tradition with trivia quizzes, a cake competition (decorate a cake with a literary theme!) and more! 

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 3, 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.