FROM THE ACTING HEAD OF SECONDARY

Emerging Leaders: Year 11 Step Forward

As our Year 12 students near the conclusion of their final year, the transition to a new cohort of school leaders is already underway. In preparation for these important responsibilities, our Year 11 students recently attended camp, where they engaged in meaningful leadership development activities and built stronger connections with one another.

Following this milestone experience, the selection process for the 2026 Student Leadership Team has now been finalised. We are proud to announce the appointment of our new School Captains and Prefects, who will play a vital role in championing student voice and shaping the future of our school community.  We also congratulate students who will be inducted as House Leaders, who play a vital role in building school spirit.

2026 School Captains – Caitlin Gillatt and Mikael Slatch

2026 Vice Captains – Beatrix Wigan and Clark Dunstan

2026 House Leaders

We congratulate all student leaders and look forward to the formal Prefect and Leaders Induction in Term 4.

2026 Prefects

The Joy and Importance of Reading

Today’s Book Week assembly was a vibrant celebration—bursting with colour, creativity, and a welcome departure from the usual school routine. For many high school students, it offered a nostalgic glimpse into their primary school years, rekindling the playful spirit of childhood through costumes and storytelling.

In an age where students carry laptops daily, own smartphones in high numbers, and engage with streaming platforms for over 20 hours a week on average, one might ask: Do books still hold relevance?

The answer is a resounding yes. Research consistently highlights the profound benefits of reading for young minds. It enhances vocabulary, concentration, and memory, while also nurturing emotional intelligence—building empathy and encouraging self-reflection. From a career perspective, strong communication skills remain a key differentiator, and there is a clear link between confident communicators and regular readers.

Choosing what to read is wonderfully open-ended. Anything that sparks interest is valuable. To support this, our Senior Resource Centre offers a diverse selection of personal interest and lifestyle magazines, freely available for students to borrow. Our friendly library staff are always happy to guide students toward deeper or more engaging reads.

As Book Week draws to a close, we encourage families to foster reading-friendly environments at home. Share what you enjoy reading, suggest a library visit before the holidays, and help students connect with books that align with their passions. For those short on time, e-readers and audiobooks offer flexible, accessible alternatives.

Reading expands the boundaries of imagination and offers a quiet refuge in a busy world. As Mason Cooley beautifully put it:

“Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.”

Mr Scott Mayall
Acting Head of Secondary

Year 12 Visual Art Farewell Exhibition

We were proud to open our 2025 Year 12 Farewell Visual Art Exhibition last week to celebrate artistic excellence and the essential role that visual art plays in shaping society.

In a world marked by rapid change and complexity, these young artists remind us of the power of creativity, reflection, connection and imagination. Through three key themes, students explored ideas that extend far beyond the classroom.

Congratulations to our award winners:

• Principal's Choice: Lizzie O – Doppelgänger
• People's Choice: Chloe L – Becoming, Despite (First), Lizzie O – Doppelgänger (Second), Ben E – Mother Nature (Third)
• Highly Commended: Maddie S, India C, Amelia B, Jemima H, Sofia C, and Lizzie O

Well done to all artists! Thank you to everyone who joined us for this inspiring evening. Families can view more photos from the evening on GECO Galleries. 

Read more about the exhibition below:

Year_12_Visual_Art_Farewell_Exhibition.pdf

Year_12_Visual_Art_Farewell_Exhibition _pdf 326.98 KB

Bianca Crawford
Coordinator of Secondary Art


Year 11 Excursions

This term, Year 11 students travelled to Brisbane for subject-specific excursions that enriched their classroom learning through real-world experiences.

Geography students travelled to Fortitude Valley, where they met with teachers from the Brisbane Urban Environmental Education Centre for a day of urban fieldwork. Students collected data and made observations to assess how well Brunswick Street Mall meets the needs of residents and users from social, economic, and environmental perspectives. Students have been working on field reports using the data gathered, which will contribute to their Unit 2 result. The excursion was both educational and engaging, offering students a meaningful opportunity to apply their learning in a practical setting.

Meanwhile, Ancient History students visited the Queensland Museum to explore the Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition. The exhibition featured artefacts, interactive displays, and reconstructions that brought ancient Egyptian society to life. Students examined aspects such as religion, daily life, and funerary practices, deepening their understanding of the civilisation studied in class. 

Both groups returned with new insights and a renewed enthusiasm for their subjects, making the day a valuable and memorable learning experience.

Mrs Gemma Cardillo
Head of Learning Area – Humanities