Newsletter 22nd August 2025

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents and Carers

As we reach the midpoint of Term 3, I want to express my appreciation to our students, staff, and families for their ongoing commitment and support. The first half of the term has been filled with opportunities for our students to shine, and our school community continues to demonstrate pride, respect, responsibility, and engagement in all aspects of school life.

SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

CONSTRUCT HER FUTURE

During the first week of school holidays, ISHS had 2 of our female Year 12 five-day trade students complete a one week - Construct her Future course through our Construction skill Queensland Pathways partnership. The girls had to apply to attend and only 20 girls were selected in total.  During the week they got to experience a range of different roles and were part of a team. Both students have also been offered a mentorship with one of partnering organisations involved in the program.

NERIMA STUDY TOUR

The term began with great energy as we welcomed 16 students, 2 chaperones, and 5 delegates from Nerima for the annual Study Tour and Sister-City visit. Throughout the week, our guests immersed themselves in classroom learning, cultural exchanges, and extra-curricular activities alongside ISHS students and staff. The tour culminated in a memorable Closing Ceremony and Dinner hosted by ISHS, celebrating the friendships formed and the strong connection between Ipswich and Nerima.

NAIDOC WEEK

In Week 2, our school proudly celebrated NAIDOC Week with a series of activities honouring the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Students and staff engaged in cultural performances, art, and storytelling, fostering respect, understanding, and connection across our school community.

QUEENSLAND STATE PUZZLE CHAMPIONS

On Sunday 3 August 4 ISHS students, Sarah, Erobes, Mikayla and Bianca attended the Queensland State Jigsaw Puzzle Competition held at Brisbane SHS, supported by our Library Teacher Aide, Mrs Hayley Hedges.  Our students won the Schools Division of the competition and are now the Queensland State Champions.  They have earned the right to attend the National Titles in Melbourne.  The competition was extremely close with only 1 minute dividing the top three schools. 

SCHOOL MUSICAL – REWIND:PLAYBACK

Our 2025 school musical, Rewind: Playback, was a powerful, student-written and student-performed production that explored themes of identity, connection, and the stories we inherit. Audiences were treated to an uplifting and thought-provoking performance that truly showcased the creativity, talent, and dedication of our students. Congratulations to the cast, crew, and staff who supported the production—you should be incredibly proud of what you achieved.

FACILITIES UPDATE

New Toilets – The newly constructed toilets in A and B Blocks are now open, providing modern facilities with improved visibility to enhance safety. Toilets in A, B, and O Blocks will be open throughout the school day, while H and L Block toilets will be opened only as needed.

Staffroom Upgrade – Over the holidays, the upgrade to the L Block Staffroom was completed as part of our ongoing commitment to improving facilities for our staff. The refreshed space provides a more comfortable and functional environment to support staff wellbeing and collaboration.

Anti-slip Paint – Over the holidays the walkways between the Resource Centre and D Block were painted with anti-slip paint to improve safety.

Volleyball Courts - We are excited to announce the completion of our new volleyball courts, providing students with high-quality facilities to support both curriculum programs and extra-curricular sport. These courts will create more opportunities for participation, skill development, and competition, while also strengthening our school’s capacity to host sporting events. We look forward to seeing our students make the most of these fantastic new spaces.

STAFF UPDATE

VALE CATE McCAULEY

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Ipswich SHS staff member, Cate McCauley. Cate served as Head of Department at Ipswich SHS from 2007 until taking leave in August 2023 due to illness.  Cate also spent time as Acting Head of Special Education at ISHS.

Cate began her teaching career in 1994 and dedicated her professional life to making a difference for her students and our school community. Her contributions to Ipswich SHS over many years have been immense, and she will be deeply missed.

WELCOME NEW STAFF

Deputy Principals:

• Mark Waugh – DP Year 8
• Jane Daley - DP Year 12

Teachers:

• Bree Marlay – Humanities teacher returning from Maternity Leave
• Henrika Ambrutyte – English, Humanities, Art, and Yr 10 Case manager
• Reilly Sehmish – Mathematics
• Alex Hay – English & Humanities
• Ainsley Barns – Humanities & HPE                       

Non-Teaching Staff:

• Caitlyn Yarrow, Brittany Else – Teacher Aides
• Shreeya Andem, Brianna Snowdon - Science Technicians
• Kayla Lawson - Defence Transition Mentor
• Lisa Snell – Office Admin Officer
• Liam Anderson – Marketing Officer

Kathryn Todd,
Principal

IMPORTANT DATES TERM 3 2025

** please note the dates are subject to change**

P&C NEWS

2025 ISHS SCHOOL MUSICAL

When it came time to choose our 2025 musical, we hit a wall. Nothing out there felt quite right — we had so much talent, but not enough roles to let everyone shine.

So… we decided to do something bold.

We wrote our own show.

From brainstorming and improvising to writing, rewriting (and rewriting again), it’s been a wonderfully creative, sometimes chaotic journey. Then the students took it and ran — spending hours learning tricky dances, perfecting harmonies, memorising lines, and polishing every single moment.

It all came together in two incredible performances. The talent on stage was exceptional, and the rave reviews from audiences say it all. The purchase of 20 min head set microphone help out on the night. 

I’m so proud of every single one of them — they’ve created something truly special.

Musical 2025

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ISHS 2025 BOOKWEEK

From Anime to Shakespear, the Book Week celebrations on Friday were something to be remembered. So many dressed to impress and those that participated in the fashion show strutted their stuff with flair and grace. Our Group winners killed it in their reenactment of Macbeth, the Grinch and Cindy Lou made our hearts grow as our best duo and Heavens Official, Hua Cheng blessed us as our solo winner.

ISHS UNIFORM REMINDERS

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

As we move further into Term 3 and the weather continues to cool, we have noticed an increase in students wearing non-approved jumpers. We would like to take this opportunity to remind families of our uniform policy and the importance of students wearing the correct Ipswich State High School jumper.

Please note that wearing non-approved jumpers is a breach of our uniform policy and may result in a detention being issued.

To help reduce negative interactions and maintain positive relationships between staff and students, we kindly ask that you check your child’s uniform is complete and accessible each day.

Wearing the correct uniform fosters a sense of pride, belonging, and a consistent school identity. Approved school jumpers also provide students with a standard level of warmth and comfort during the colder months.

Students in speciality subject must also wear approved uniforms. Hair fashion and styling student are allowed to wear black work pants – No tights or Lorna Jane pants. Dance students are allowed to wear tights only on their eisteddfod days.

To support families, Ipswich State High School jumpers are available for purchase from the Uniform Shop during the following hours:

Uniform Shop Operating Hours
• Monday Tuesday: 8:15 am – 8:45 am
• Friday: 8:00 am – 9:00 am

Orders on QKR

Returning Borrowed Uniform Items
If your child has borrowed a uniform item (such as a jumper) from Uniform Exchange, we ask that it be returned that day or the next morning. These items are limited and are provided on a short-term basis to support students in need. Prompt return ensures other students can also access this support when required.

We appreciate your ongoing support in ensuring students wear the correct uniform each day. If you have any questions regarding uniform requirements, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

Thank you for your cooperation in upholding our school expectations.

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Curabitur

ISHS REMINDER SCHOOL DROP OFF’S

A reminder that for the safety of our students and staff, there are no before and after school drop-offs or pick-ups permitted within the school grounds, via the Hunter Street entrance or the back gate, unless there is an approved exemption is in place.

Students can be dropped off or picked up in the designated drop off zones in front of the school on either Hunter Street or Vogel Road. Parents visiting the school for an appointment are able to park in the designated visitor parking spots near the administration building.

Please DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH THE CARPARK to drop students off in front of the office.

We thank you for your assistance with this.

ISHS REMINDER EARLY DEPARTURES

GET TO KNOW OUR 2025 SCHOOL CAPTAINS

SCHOOL CAPTAIN: ROCCO H.

I'm Rocco and I'm one of the school captains here at ISHS! My role as school captain (and as part of the Student Representative Council for the last few years) has allowed me to amplify my impact on the community by organising events such as Relay for Life, partaking and advertising for push-up challenge and bringing to life the up-coming ISHS Drama & Theatresports showcase. I've also been a voice for our student body, liaising with staff to advocate on behalf of the students for events such as the year twelve 100 day breakfast.

In my free time I'm passionate about music and the performing arts! This year I've been honing my musicianship by producing and releasing original music, performing at open-mic nights, and spending approximately all of my time that isn't studying on practicing the piano. If you want to follow me along on my music journey you can find me @Rocktholemuel on most platforms and streaming services :)

It has been an absolute pleasure thus far to be School Captain of Ipswich State High School, contributing to the school community and I'm not done yet!

SCHOOL CAPTAIN : ELIZABETH H.

I had always wanted to be a school leader because I wanted to make school more enjoyable for my peers and be a voice for my cohort. One thing I aim to do before the end of the year is bring back some of the art that was lost around the school because of the reconstructions. Outside of school, I am a proud girl guide. Through girl guides, I have learnt all the skills I use as a leader at school. Leadership, communication, teamwork, and problem solving are all key things that I developed from being a girl guide. I have also been able to fundraise and donate to different organisations such as signal flare and share the dignity.

VICE-CAPTAIN & FIRST NATION PREFECT: ZAKERY S.

Hi name is Zakery S your School Vice-Captain and First Nation Prefect of Ipswich State High School 2025. When I first started my years at Ipswich State High School, I wasn’t always so sure that I would be running for any positions in my final years. after meeting many new people along the way. My perspective of how I always wanted to finish school has always had some changes so I decided for myself I should run for a leader ship role and help make a change around our school. When I first heard that I would be both dual role of first nation and School Vice-Captain I was overjoyed yet even a little scared I couldn’t wait to make a change in something. Most the time that I do in my free time is I like to help out at my local rugby league club from younger grade to even helping out with the opens men’s and woman’s team when possible.

VICE-CAPTAIN: MATILDA M

I am Matilda M, a current year 12 student and one of two School Vice-Captains at Ipswich State High School.

I am a very busy student as the end of my senior year draws closer; however, I still try my best to make time for my extra-curricular activities and hobbies outside of school. As of currently, I am rehearsing for the school musical, practice piano for an upcoming AMEB exam later this year, and continue training although my schedule doesn’t have much room for competitions anymore.

I was extremely excited to receive the role of School Vice-Captain, as many of my SRC peers are close friends or good acquaintances of mine, meaning that I have a wonderful group of people to work with. I would love to leave the legacy that Vice-Captains are equal to school captains in terms of importance – I do this by volunteering to help out and speak at any events I can, and always try my best to help in the organization of these events. I cannot wait to see what the rest of my senior year, and my last year representing Ipswich State High School, will have in store for me.

TAIWANESE EXCHANGE STUDENTS

Excited to welcome our Taiwanese friends to Ipswich State High School! A week of cultural exchange, learning, and building new connections from August 13-19.

TAIWANESE EXCHANGE STUDENTS

NERIMA STUDY TOUR AT ISHS

ISHS welcomes the 29th Nerima Study Tour! Students from Tokyo will be joining our students until Friday.

ISHS STUDENTS QLD STATE CHAMPION IN JIGSAW PUZZLE COMPETITIONS.

Exciting News!

On Sunday 3 August, four of our talented students — Sarah, Erobes, Mikayla and Bianca — competed in the Queensland State Jigsaw Puzzle Competition at Brisbane SHS, proudly supported by Mrs Hedges.

We are thrilled to announce that they WON the Schools Division and are now officially Queensland State Champions!

In an incredibly close competition, with just one minute separating the top three teams, our puzzle pros held their nerve and came out on top. Their victory earns them a place at the National Titles in Melbourne later this year!

Congratulations to the team and thank you to Mrs Hedges for her support

2025 ISHS HAIR & BEAUTY SHOWCASE

Book your tickets today for the 2025 Hair and Beauty Showcase. Tickets are FREE!! Don't miss out on supporting our students and marvelling at their amazing creations. Book using

YEAR 7 ATTENDANCE

During our Week 2 Year 7 Parade we were so excited to celebrate a large number of Year 7 students who achieved 95% or higher attendance in Semester 1. Congratulations and keep up the great work!!

YEAR 8 JAPANESE STUDENTS

Ever thought of learning some Karate? Join GKR who train at ISHS.

YEAR 8 HPE

Mr Jones and Mr Rengifo’s Year 8s are learning about fitness components. In this lesson, the students are applying their speed and agility while working on their team-building abilities and communication.

YEAR 9 HPE

Year 9 HPE students have been putting the refurbished basketball courts to good use to start the term.

Towards the end of 2024, the two outdoor courts were updated with the courts resurfaced, fresh fencing, basketball and netball hoops installed, to make the area more student-friendly.

YEAR 11 HOSPITALITY STUDENTS

Year 11 Hospitality have started their coffee unit this term, along with making some delicious blueberry muffins to go alongside the coffee’s.

YEAR 12 EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDIES

Yr12 ECS students heard of the unusual birth of this precious little boy! Thank you Katie for your insights and Parenting tips when going from one to two children!

YEAR 12 ART STUDENTS

Year 12 students proudly showcased their IA3 artworks in a curated ISHS gallery exhibition, offering a glimpse into their creativity, technical skill, and personal expression. The space was transformed into a vibrant and thought-provoking environment, where each piece told a unique story—reflecting the students’ individual journeys, cultural influences, and conceptual explorations. Visitors were captivated by the diversity of mediums, from painting and sculpture to digital installations, as well as the depth of meaning behind each work. This exhibition not only celebrated the culmination of their Visual Art studies but also highlighted the students' ability to engage critically with contemporary issues and communicate visually with confidence and maturity. Special thanks goes to the Hospitality department who catered for the event with a sophisticated spread of delicious food packaged win a contemporary vibe.

YEAR 12 ART STUDENTS

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ISHS SENIOR DANCE STUDENTS

A group of our Senior Dance students gave up some of their weekend to travel into Brisbane and see Bangarra Dance Company’s performance of Illume at QPAC. They saw first hand the dedication and professionalism of First Nations artists to tell important stories through movement.

YOUR TURN CHOREOGRAPHY COMPETION

Your Turn permission forms are up on Q Parents or ready for collection from X Block staffroom for those student performing next Thursday!
Everyone is welcome to watch, so come and support our incredibly talented creators  Only a gold coin donation for entry. See you there 

BOYS RUGBY LEAGUE 2026 TRIALS

The Ipswich State High School Rugby League Excellence Program will be holding rugby league trials for students interested in joining the program. Please use the QR code to register.

ISHS STUDENTS WHO REPRESENTED AT THE ASSRL 15 YEAR BOYS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Congratulations to Ipswich State High School Rugby League Program students who participated at the ASSRL 15 Year Boys National Championship that were held in Townsville at the start of July  Townsville.

A special shout out goes to the Maroons players who won the grand final today 18-12 against NSW CCC and to Malachi Kirk who was named MVP for his team. Well done boys!

Queensland Maroons
Joey S.
Kyanu S.
Blake T.

Queensland White
Leo H.
Kayden L.

First Nations Goannas
Malachi K.

.

ISHS RUGBY LEAGUE PROGRAM STUDENTS AND MR BRETHERTON WHO REPRESENTED AT THE ASSRL UNDER 18 BOYS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Congratulations to Ipswich State High School Rugby League Program students and Mr Bretherton who participated at the ASSRL Under 18 Boys National Championship this week in Coffs Harbour.

Queensland won the grand final today 22-10 against NSW CCC. Well done boys!

Queensland U18
Mel N.
Neyon T.
Xzavier T.

Mr Josh Bretherton (Head Coach)

A special congratulations goes to Xzavier Timoteo who was also named in the Australian Schoolboy team.

ISHS GIRLS RUGBY STAFF & STUDENTS WHO REPRESENTED THE 17-18’S QUEENSLAND SCHOOLGIRLS RUGBY LEAGUE.

Congratulations to Ipswich State High School students and staff Orianna C, Pauline T, Ella O and Mrs Nikki Cox who represented the 17-18’s Queensland Schoolgirls in the National rugby league championships that was held in Coffs Harbour.

Special mention to ISHS staff member Nikki Cox who after her service to the game, earnt her place as the official trainer of the 17-18’s Australian Schoolgirls Squad.

The girls represented their state in exceptional fashion and played their way into the grand final.

Congrats ladies!

ISHS STUDENTS REPRESENT IN THE U18’S RUBY UNION NATIONAL SCHOOL BOYS’ TITLES.

Congratulations to Opens Rugby League Excellence Program students Malachi and Micha who represented the Queensland U18s Rugby Union side at the National School Boys titles over the holidays.

ISHS STUDENTS REPRESENT IN QLD STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR TOUCH FOOTBALL

Congratulations to ISHS rugby league students Emily J and Goretti P who over the holidays participated in the Queensland state championships for touch football. They were rivals throughout the tournament as representatives of South West and Met West.

Additionally, Emily also represented the Combined Eastern Rugby 7’s team where she was leading try scorer.

GP’S IN SCHOOL PROGRAM

Welcome to our GP Rooms 😊

Our Nurse Practitioner, Shane Hourihan, will continue to assist our students with their health in Term 3! NP Shane is passionate about removing barriers youth may have in accessing timely health care. All student appointments are Bulk Billed through Medicare.

Visits with NP Shane can be for any physical health, oral health, mental health, sexual health or reproductive health concerns a student may have.  There is nothing too big or small that NP Shane can’t help with.

Students can book themselves an appointment through their Student Intranet by clicking on the NP Appointment button and filling out the form.

Our clinic is open each Wednesday during the school term, from 9am – 3pm. Miss Felicity is available in Admin from 8:30am. Admin is located in the GP rooms, CS02.

SAVE THE DATE

ISHS POOL REFURBISHMENT

Refurbishment of the school pool is well underway ready for Term 4 when swimming recommences.

We have had he original tiling removed, pool top re-levelled, scum gutters re-levelled and retiling to refresh our pool.

ISHS - NEW VOLLEYBALL COURT

Our new volleyball courts have been met with much excitement. The courts are being well used with student using them before school, and at both break times. 

ISHS BYOX LAPTOPS -YEARS 10 – YEAR 12

If your student is in Year 10, 11 or 12  they need to supply their own laptop? See the attached minimum specifications that your student's digital device needs in order to support your student's learning for 2025.

ASSIGNED ISHS DEVICES

The following information outlines key responsibilities for students in Year and details of the parent-student agreement regarding the use of school laptops and chargers.

• Use of School-Issued Laptop Chargers at Home
  Please note that school-provided laptop chargers are used at home at the family's own responsibility. ISHS does not assume liability for their use outside school premises.
  It is generally accepted that devices connected via a Residual Current Device (RCD) are not required to be tagged and tested. However, if a student is using a charger at home without an RCD, it is strongly recommended that parents arrange for the charger to be tagged and tested by a qualified electrician on a regular basis, following their advice.
• Damage to School Devices
  A reminder that all damage to school-issued laptops or accessories must be reported to the school as soon as possible, in line with the Student Laptop Loan Agreement signed at enrolment.
  If assistance is needed, please contact Business Manager at the school.
• Daily Device Requirement for Years 7, 8, and 9
  All students in Years 7, 8, and 9 are required to bring their school-issued and owned devices to school every day. Devices must be ready for use to support learning, as teachers incorporate their use into daily lesson plans.

Q PARENTS

QParents can be used to provide excursion consent in a highly secure App on your phone. It can also be used see how much money is sitting on your student’s finance account. And it will be required for all students in 2025.

Register for QParents today. If you need your invitation code resent emailQparents@ipswichshs.eq.edu.au with your student’s name and we will reissue your code.

FINANCE NEWS AUGUST 2025

 2026 Specialist Subject Fees

Subject fees will be invoiced in term 4 but you are free to make payment at any time.  As you don’t have an invoice yet, your payment options will not include BPoint or QParents.  To secure enrolment into a 2026 specialist subject with attached fees, please see the following

• All outstanding SRS fees from previous years of enrolment at ISHS, or a payment plan is in place. If you are starting a payment plan, at least three payments must be made prior to 14^th November 2025.
• 2026 SRS first instalment, $100 paid by 14^th November 2025
• Full payment of the 2026 specialist subject by 14^th November 2025
• Meet any additional subject/program specific prerequisites

2026 Specialist Subject Fee Schedule

*Fees correct at time of printing but may be subject to change

2025 Student Resource Scheme

Just a reminder the final instalment of the 2025 school fees was due at the end of June.  Please see below payment options if you need to make a payment.  You can refer to your monthly statement which is issued at the beginning of every month or via the QParents app.  If you have not registered for QParents and would like information or instructions, please visit our website for details.

Payment Plans

The Student Resource Scheme for 2026 will be invoiced at the end of this term so this would be a great time to start a payment plan.  There are also some end of year events coming up that require fees to be up to date or participating in a payment plan eg year 12 senior formal, , year 11’s 2026 senior jersey, specialist subjects.  We can help you work out a weekly or fortnightly deduction amount that will fit your family’s budget.

Finance Contact Options

Email is the preferred form of contact for the finance team.  Please email your query to finance@ipswichshs.eq.edu.au

Finance Payment Options

• BPoint:  Use the link on your invoice
• QParents: Choose the invoice/s, enter your card details
• QKR:  Download the app on your mobile device
• Direct Deposit:  BSB 064-460  Account 10021215
• In Person:00am-8.50am Tuesdays and Thursdays
• Excursion Permissions and Payments: Finance window is open Monday-Friday 8.00am-8.50am

FACILITY HIRE AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY USE

Sharing our Facilities with our Community

The Ipswich SHS has a number of facilities available for hire for Community Use, either regular weekly use or one-off events.

Our facilities include a hall, ovals, performance and dance spaces, pool, meeting rooms and general classroom space.

We have disabled access to most areas and external lighting and parking for afterhours events.

Coming into swim season, we are seeking Learn to swim, Aqua aerobics or squad swim hirers to use our Solar Heated school pool. Please email us with your hire proposal.

Please contact facilities_hire@ipswichshs.eq.edu.au if you have any queries.

BANS ON MOBILE PHONE USE IN SCHOOL “AWAY FOR THE DAY”

Ipswich State High School has established an “Away for the Day” policy for mobile phones and other devices following decisions made by the Queensland Government, and supported by the Department of Education. 

‘Away for the Day’ aims to:

• provide optimal learning and teaching environments, free from the distractions caused by personal use of mobile phones and wearable devices
• support schools to create safe and supportive learning environments that prioritise student engagement and wellbeing
• encourage increased face-to-face social interactions between students
• promote the health and wellbeing of students by providing opportunities for social interaction and physical activity during break times, and
• reduce the potential for students to be exposed to the negative impacts of the digital world, resulting from unsafe or inappropriate use of technology, such as cyberbullying, distributing and/or accessing harmful content, or breaches of personal privacy.

At Ipswich State High School students need to put their phones away as soon as they enter the gates. It must remain away until they leave at the end of the day.

Exemptions

We acknowledge there are some circumstances where a student may require their devices during school time due to a medical condition that is monitored or supported using their device

• Parents or carers may apply on behalf of the student for an exemption to the “away for the day” policy and the student must only use their mobile phone or wearable device for the intended, Principal approved, purpose.

Please contact your year level deputy to discuss a potential exemption.

The full “ Away for the day” policy is published in the Ipswich State High School Student Code of Conduct.

https://ipswichshs.eq.edu.au/supportandresources/formsanddocuments/documents/2024%20ishs%20student%20code%20of%20conduct%20v2.2july.pdf

ISHS – SCHOOL BUS SERVICES REMINDERS

A reminder for all students who catch a school bus to and from school:
- All students who catch the school bus service need to have a valid pass
- No food or drink is to be consumed on buses
- Conduct should be respectful and responsible towards the driver and all other students who catch the bus at all times

UQ LEGAL VOCABULARY KNOWLEDGE IN YOUNG PEOPLE

BLUE LIGHT - DANCE NIGHT