18 July 2025

From the Principal

Acknowledgement to Country

Townsville State High School acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we learn, work and play, the Wulgurukaba peoples and the Bindal people.  We recognise the continuing connections to lands, waters and communities.

We pay our respects to the Elders, past, present and emerging for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and the hopes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Coming Events

Message from our Deputy Principals

As we move through Term 3, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on an important focus for us at Townsville State High School: Attendance Matters.

Every single day a student attends school is a valuable opportunity for learning, connection and growth. Whether it’s mastering a new concept, engaging in discussion, or simply being part of our school community, every day counts. We know that consistent attendance is one of the most significant contributors to student success, both academically and socially.

This term, we are encouraging every student to give each day their best shot; to arrive on time, in full school uniform, ready to participate and make the most of every moment. Our staff are committed to providing engaging, meaningful learning, and we ask that families continue to support regular attendance as a top priority.

In support of this, we’ve made some updates to our uniform expectations, designed to make it simpler and clearer for all families to comply. From Term 3, students may wear plain navy blue or black jumpers, with no visible branding or logos larger than 10cm x 10cm. This change allows a little more flexibility while still maintaining our standards and a sense of unity.

We’ve also restocked many items of our school uniform. If your child needs to exchange or replace shirts, shorts or skirts, we encourage them to visit the school office, we’re here to help. A reminder that Crocs, slides or similar footwear are not permitted at school. Appropriate footwear not only supports safety but reflects our shared commitment to readiness for learning and respect for our environment.

We know that school isn’t always easy, and that some days are harder than others. But turning up, giving your best, and asking for help when it’s needed, those small daily efforts build big outcomes over time.

Let’s keep encouraging our young people to show up, dress with pride, and strive for their best.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support in helping every student at Town High thrive.

From the Rolls Office

Student absences are to be explained by a parent/caregiver to the Administration Staff stating the reason and dates of absence.  This may be done by phoning the school on 4721 8777 or by emailing absencesadmin@townsvilleshs.eq.edu.au

Student absences of three or more days due to illness require a medical certificate.  Medical certificates should be emailed to the above email address or hand delivered to the Administration Office.  Your prompt assistance with explanation of absences will be greatly appreciated.

Townsville State High School Facebook Page

Our Facebook page has been active since 2015 and it is terrific to see the amount of content about our students and school programs appearing on the site and being updated on a daily basis. To view the page and post a message, please access via this link and once on the page, hit ‘like’

We are following a clear and strict set of guidelines related to Facebook usage by schools and our ‘gatekeepers’ do a fantastic job of monitoring content!

Legal Studies News

LEGAL STUDIES CONFERENCE AT JCU

On Thursday 12 June 2025, a group of enthusiastic Year 11 and 12 Legal Studies students participated in the annual Legal Studies Conference hosted by James Cook University, Townsville. This exciting event provided students with a valuable opportunity to extend their knowledge of Australia’s legal system beyond the classroom and engage with legal professionals and academics.

Throughout the day, students attended a series of thought-provoking sessions covering topics such as criminal law reform, human rights in Australia, Indigenous legal issues, juvenile crime & human rights. Guest speakers included local magistrates, defence and prosecution lawyers, and lecturers from JCU’s School of Law, who shared their real-world experiences and insights into the justice system.

One of the highlights was a lively Q&A session, where students asked questions about new legislation and current legal challenges in Queensland, and the recent legislative changes impacting juvenile crime with a focus on “Adult time for adult crime”. These discussions sparked critical thinking and inspired students to consider the complex relationship between human rights, law, society, and ethical decision-making.

STEM Academy News

Space Camp:

During the July school holidays, Charlie Ashfield, Kaia Scholl and Mr Dyer received scholarships from the Northrop Grumman Foundation to attend the US Space and Rocket Centre Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, as part of the Aerospace Gateway to Industry Schools Program. They travelled over 16,000km first to Sydney, then Dallas and finally on to Huntsville, Alabama to attend the weeklong camp alongside other educators and students from across the world. 

Students stayed in the custom-built habitat, designed to replicate living in orbit, whilst Mr Dyer stayed with other educators at the University of Alabama, Huntsville. Each day, students and educators worked within their teams to complete a range of astronaut training techniques using specialised equipment adapted from NASA’s astronaut training program. Charlie was in team Ganymede and Kaia was in team Europa, named after two of Jupiter’s moons, whilst Mr Dyer was in team Acaba, named after former Educator and NASA astronaut Joseph Acaba.                                    

Australian Northrop Grumman Scholarship recipients

Activities included;

• Astronaut training including a 1/6^th gravity chair to simulate walking on the Moon, a five-degrees of freedom simulator to simulate working in space and a multi-axis trainer to simulate a tumble spin that an astronaut might experience during a spacecraft malfunction
• Training for and participating in detailed simulations of working both on past space shuttle missions and future deployments to Mars, including real-time trouble-shooting to solve anomalies and ensure safety of all crew
• Building and launching gun-powder powered model rockets, including an explosive charge that deployed a parachute for safe landing
• Exploring the US Space and Rocket Centre museum and exhibitions, including amusements rides Moon Shot which simulated a rocket launch, G-force accelerator, that accelerated up to 3 times the force of gravity, and learning about the history of rocketry and NASA
• Water activities including constructing equipment under water to simulate working in space, escaping from a sinking helicopter in water, ziplining into water away from a shuttle and being rescued from the water using a helicopter basket
• Constructing an ablative shield from a range of materials, able to protect an egg from a butane torch for 3 minutes
• Immersive Planetarium shows about the James Webb Space Telescope and a guided tour of our solar system
• Learning about cyber-security and applications of RADAR
• An extensive range of Seminars from leaders in the field, including an update on the Artemis mission and lessons from Skylab that can inform future travel to Mars
• Perhaps best of all, meeting Charles Duke, Apollo 16 Astronaut who walked on the Moon in 1972 and was Capsule Communicator for mission control during the Apollo 11 Moon landing, Homer Hickam Jnr, author or Rocket Boys (made into the movie October Skies) and NASA engineer who trained the first Japanese astronauts and Robert ‘Hoot’ Gibson, US Navy test pilot and NASA astronaut who flew the Space Shuttle.

Mr Dyer as PAYCOM in mission control during Mars exhibition    Kaia behind the Pathfinder Shuttle Stack

Apollo 16 astronaut Charles Duke and Mr Dyer with Robert ‘Hoot’ Gibson

Mr Dyer (left) completing a simulated Space Walk to repair a Space Shuttle wing and in the multi-axis trainer

At graduation, Mr Dyer was awarded the “Right Stuff” Award, named from the Tom Wolfe novel of the same name, the award is given to the trainee who best exemplifies the courage, integrity and excellence of the early space explorers and test pilots.

Mr Dyer receiving the Right Stuff Award

Kaia and Charlie graduating with Robert ‘Hoot’ Gibson

Landing in Melbourne on the way home to Townsville, Charlie, Kaia and Mr Dyer were welcomed into the cockpit by Quantas pilots, after an 18-hour direct flight.

Charlie and Kaia at Melbourne Airport

We are grateful to the Northrop Grumman Foundation and Aerospace Gateway to Industry Schools Program for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. We look forward to building on the experience into our STEM Academy. 

NAIDOC Celebrations

Townsville State High School will be celebrating our NAIDOC Week from Monday 21^st to Friday 25^th July.

We will start with a whole school parade to open our NAIDOC Week Celebration. Throughout the week we’ll be running a variety of cultural and interactive activities during first break each day.  Activities will be in the sitting areas between Tuckshop and D block and B Block and C Block.

• Cast net throwing - oval with Mr Lachy
• Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander weaving and story telling
• Grass skirt making
• Burney bean keyrings (representing traditional shakers used by Torres Strait Islander dancers)
• Cultural symbol art - draw your totem
• Etha/Edor game on the oval
• Language activity: Learn and speak sessions
• NAIDOC Banner/Rag Flag

As part of the celebrations, we’ll also be presenting NAIDOC Awards to students who embody the spirit and values of this year’s theme:

“The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.”

Wednesday we will have external organisations coming in such as Community Gro, Services Australia - Centrelink, Deadly Choices, Townsville Health Services. We will still have the activities above out too for those who miss out.

Thursday is food prep. If Students would like to participate in prepping the food for Friday cook up, they can come and join us at the breakfast club area.  Friday cooking, setting up, feasting.  Community will be in to do the kupmauri if boys would like to join in behind the hall. 

To finish the week, we’ll be hosting a Feast and Cultural Dance Celebration on Friday from second break through until 3pm. This extended time will allow for the amai/kupmauri to be properly prepared and served.

We look forward to seeing everyone there to celebrate the 50^th Year of NAIDOC and to share in the culture and history of our country.

Clontarf News

Town High’s Dante Hayes Represents QLD in Clontarf State of Origin

Townsville State High School Year 12 student Dante Hayes has earned the honour of representing Queensland in the prestigious Clontarf State of Origin match, recently held on the Gold Coast.

Dante’s selection is a testament to his dedication, leadership, and commitment both in the classroom and within the Townsville Clontarf Academy. Throughout his senior years, he has been a consistent role model for younger students, always leading by example and demonstrating the values of respect, resilience, and hard work.

The Clontarf State of Origin brings together the top students from across Queensland and New South Wales, showcasing not only football talent but also character and leadership off the field. Dante’s inclusion in the Queensland side is a well-deserved reward for the effort he’s put in over the years.

We are incredibly proud of Dante and all that he has achieved so far. As he prepares to graduate later this year, we look forward to following his next steps - on and off the field - with great excitement.

Well done, Dante!

Primary School Engagement

Townsville State High School students recently helped our local primary schools conduct their athletics carnivals.  Everyone had a great time helping and working with the little kids, making sure their day ran smoothly and was full of fun and excitement.  Thank you to the following primary school for allowing our Town High students be part of their day: Townsville South SS, Townsville West SS, Magnetic Island SS, Belgian Gardens SS, Railway Estate SS, Oonoonba SS and Hermit Park SS.

ARTZEXPO News

SAVE THE DATE!!

In term 3 Townsville State High School will be holding our ARTZEXPO!  Students will get to showcase their talent in all the arts including drama, music and visual arts.  Keep an eye out on Facebook and our upcoming newsletters for more information.

Smells Like Reef Spirit!

Inter-Reef Athletics Carnival

On Friday in week 3, Townsville State High School will be holding our Inter-Reef Athletics Carnival at The Townsville Sports Precinct (Red Track) in North Ward.  Students will catch the bus from school or make their own way there.  The kids will get to wear their Reef colours or silly costumes but most of all get to enjoy a fun day with friends.  Whether students are competitive or just there to have fun, it is important to be sun safe and stay hydrated.  The canteen will be selling food and drinks at the venue. So don’t forget your hat, sunscreen and your Reef spirit!

P&C News

THANK YOU: A Record-Breaking Success at the 2025 Supercars Event!

Townsville State High School P&C would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the incredible community of volunteers who made the 2025 Supercars car parking fundraiser such a phenomenal success.

This year marked a historic milestone—our first ever sell-out event, with over $40,000 raised through car parking! This achievement would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of our dedicated team of students, staff, parents, siblings, and even past students who gave up their time to support the school.

From managing traffic to directing cars, smiling through long shifts, and representing Townsville State High with pride, every single person involved played a crucial part. Your teamwork and enthusiasm created a seamless and welcoming experience for visitors and helped showcase the strong community spirit that our school is known for.

A special shout-out goes to Lynn from the canteen, who kept everyone fuelled and happy with her delicious meals throughout the event. Her dedication and energy behind the scenes kept our volunteers going strong. Huge thanks also to Karen, Shane & Senghor for their incredible work setting up the oval and preparing the space—your early mornings and attention to detail helped everything run smoothly from start to finish.

With over $40,000 raised, we now have an exciting opportunity to invest in projects that will make a real impact for our students and school. We’d love to hear your ideas! If you have suggestions on how the funds could best be used—whether for facilities, equipment, programs, or student support—please reach out to the P&C or attend our next meeting. Your input matters!

This result is not just a fundraising win—it’s a reflection of the amazing people that make up our school community. The funds raised will go a long way in supporting programs and resources that directly benefit our students.

Once again, thank you to everyone who played a part. You’ve helped us make history—and more importantly, a real difference.

Warm regards,
Townsville State High School P&C Association

Congratulations to our Volunteer prize draw winners and thank you once again to our sponsors - Mr Adam Baillie MP Townsville, Graduate School of Motoring, NQ Cowboys and Pitstop Karting.

50" Smart TV - Jason Ellis (past TSHS student)
$250 VISA Gift card - Nick Lane
$100 cash - Allison Harris
3hrs driving lesson package - Elizabeth Nelson
3hrs driving lesson package - Rufina Cunningham
NQ Cowboys prize pack - Alexa Ireland (past TSHS student)
NQ Cowboys prize pack - Makelesi Qaniua
$100 Pitstop Karting voucher - Jove Zanotto

Additionally, students who volunteered will receive their 25 GOTCHAS per shift from the P&C within the next month. The Yr 12 students who opted in for a $25 contribution towards formal tickets (per shift, rather than GOTCHAS) this will be arranged shortly for you.

Cowboys Community Foundation (NRL Cowboys House)

The Cowboys community foundation have supported the P&C (prizepack donation for our Supercar volunteer prize raffle).  We are proud to support the Cowboys Community Foundation and our students from the NRL Cowboys House.

At the Cowboys Community Foundation (NRL Cowboys House), we have a brand-new Car Raffle just launched.

Prize: $60,027.00 - 2025 RAV4 Cruiser Hybrid (leather, paint protection & tinted windows) with Personalised Plates and a $500 fuel voucher
Only 12,000 tickets available $25 each
Drawn at Cowboys Leagues Club Wednesday 3rd September at 7pm.
COWBOYS FOR THE NORTH RAFFLE 2025
Open to QLD and NSW residents over 18 – tickets $25 each

Support the students of NRL Cowboys House and the Cowboys Community Foundation’s life-changing programs with a ticket in the Cowboys For the North Raffle!
This is a major fundraiser for the Cowboys Community Foundation, the charity arm of the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys, and every ticket makes a difference.
Get your tickets now:  

Inclusive Education News

What an incredible term it has been for our EALD students and our entire school community. We've heard inspiring journeys of personal growth, celebrated the power of connection, and capped it all off with an unforgettable, amazing and heartwarming Refugee Week that showcased the vibrancy of our diverse school.

Ms Bennet: COACT

This term 20 of our Year 11 & 12 EALD students participated in the Community Outreach, Adaption Connection and Together (COACT) Project. This was facilitated by Associate Professor Wendy Li and Hyacinth Udah from JCU. This project aims to improve wellbeing and settlement outcomes through the development of resilience, coping strategies, social connections and improved wellbeing. Students participated for 8 weekly session of mindfulness training and fun activities and monthly community events. In Term 3 year 9 & 10 students will have the opportunity to participate.

Milperra Reading Program Concluded

This term the Milperra Reading Program concluded. Twenty-one of our EALD students participated in language-focused support, targeted and explicit teaching and exposure to English. They also developed their technology skills as the course was online and as a result they all improved their reading, writing and listening skills. A Special thanks goes to our IEC teacher aides Ms, Kate, Ms Mi Mi, Ms Thez, Ms Va Va who assisted the students throughout this program.

A Week of Celebrating our Refugees and Cultural Diversity

The week began with a Refugee Week whole-school assembly on Monday. We had 30 special guests attend from the Department of Education and organisations that work with our students to provide a range of community services and positive experiences. We proudly showcased some of the inspiring stories of our current and past refugee students, Methoussella Bisimwa wowed the audience with his rendition of ‘I have a dream’ singing on piano. The cultural dances performances were memorable and keep their audience captivated from start to finish. (see our school Facebook page for more images)

On Tuesday, the staff enjoyed some spectacular food.  A whopping 31 international dishes made it a feast and brought everyone together to share. It was great to have some of our special guests also joined us for this occasion, truly experiencing the diverse flavours and rich culinary heritage of other cultures.

During the Thursday lunchtime activities 900 sausages were consumed by students and an African band entertained the dancers. The energetic music created a fantastic vibe even continuing into the next break with the encouragement of Mr James. The trade stall as well as competitions and chalk art made the day memorable.

Football Match

The week of celebrations ended with a thrilling football match between the Congolese and Central African versus the Sudanese students. It was a close game with the Congolese/Central African team narrowly winning 2-1. Lots of fun was had by all and many thanks to the expert coaching of Mr Osman and Mr Jurkuch. Next year, the Clontarf team will be challenged if they dare to take on the African Team!

A heart felt thank you to all

A HUGE thank you to the staff, the students, and everyone who contributed to making Refugee Week such a meaningful and memorable event. A special thank you goes to Mr James and Mr Gallagher for their invaluable support. The week could not have been such a great success without the dedication and hard work from teachers, student leaders, our maintenance man and even our cleaners who assisted with the BBQ. They all helped behind the scenes and throughout all the events and we couldn’t have done it without you. Your participation and enthusiasm truly highlighted the strength and richness that diversity brings to our school community!

Lisa Bennet
Head of the Intensive English Centre

Keep Reading to Children Beyond Primary School.  

When parents ask me, ‘What can my son or daughter do to improve their writing, spelling, or grammar?’ my first question is always, ‘Do they read every day?’ The answer is generally no, and when I ask do you still read to them, parents often say they stopped in primary school. Parents often stop reading with their children once they can read independently. However, reading together isn’t just about the story—it’s about the connection, shared experiences and the continuation of numerous of Literacy skills.

There is no denying that by the time children reach the middle years, they may no longer want to be read to, or they might feel they don’t need it. By this time parents and teens may value their independence in this area and reading out aloud can be perceived as being childish. In order to continually develop critical thinking, creativity and numerous literacy skills for academic success, we must seek creative ways to sustain regular reading.

When our nightly routine ended, we replaced bedtime reading with book discussions. I either shared what I was reading or read their books to discuss and support their comprehension. Receiving a book for birthdays or Christmas is an established tradition and actually, finding books to interest my teens was luckily not too difficult. For years it was vampire books for my daughter and dystopian for my son. They stuck to the same genre, but I was happy they kept reading.

So, when your children are heading to or currently at secondary school establish or continue the daily routine, and mine that gold for as long as possible!

Lisa Bennet
Literacy Leader

Community News

Learn to Sail!

Townsville Sailing has been a part of the Townsville sporting community for generations and is one of the oldest sailing clubs in Queensland being established in 1895.

Townsville Sailings term 3 learn to sail courses will begin on 2 August!

• The next Tackers course (7-12 years old)
• Teen and Adult Discover Sailing course

Go the website at www.townsvillesailing.com.au for more information.

The Townsville Triathlon and Multisport Festival

The Townsville Triathlon and Multisport Festival is coming up on Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 August 2025.

Held on the stunning Strand Townsville, Tri Fest is the PERFECT opportunity for the community to come join the atmosphere and experience the excitement of National Championship competitors and first time participants alike.

It is important for us to have as many local families as possible! The Discover Aquathlon and Triathlon events are open for 5-12 year olds and all Kids will receive a free gift and a medal. 

Over 20 years we've welcomed many local families to come and have a crack at the event, which is designed for absolute beginners as well as regular competitors. No matter someone's fitness level, the distances are achievable and the goal for those who come along is to finish and have a great time.