Townsville State High School eNewsletter

From the Principal

It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of our much-loved teacher, Miss Amber Stirling. Amber was a passionate educator, a kind and thoughtful colleague, and a strong role model for our students. Her warmth, energy, and dedication touched many lives, and her loss is deeply felt by all in our school community.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to students, families, and staff for the compassion, support, and care shown during this difficult time. The strength of our community has been a great comfort and continues to reflect the values Amber held so dear. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and colleagues during this time of grief. Support has been provided to staff and students and will continue to be as required. As always, please contact the school if we can help in any way.

As we move into the final five weeks of Term 3, we encourage all students to continue living our school values: to be Kind and Respectful, Curious and Engaged, and Courageous and Resilient. Completing assessment to the highest quality is a priority, and there is no substitute for hard work and commitment to learning as we enter this stage of the term.

Thank you again for your support.

Regards
Murray James
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

Date	Event
15 Aug	Excursion Junior Captains
18- 22 Aug	Book Week
18 Aug	Book Week Costume Day
19-20 Aug	Interschool Athletics
19-20 Aug	FNQ School Futsal State Championships
20-22 Aug	Clontarf Rough Diamonds Camp
21 Aug	SET Plan Interviews
21 Aug	Mock Job Interviews
22 Aug	STEM Challenge Day
27 Aug	CALD Snake Awareness
27 Aug	STEM Punks (all day)
28 Aug	Clontarf Super Trainers (The Strand)
28 Aug	Wear It Purple Day
1-5 Sept	Child Protection Week
1 Sept	Catch Up Immunisations 7-10
2 Sept	Year 7 2026 Enrolment evening
2-4 Sept	Clontarf Year 7/8 Camp
4 Sept	Northern Track and Field event
5 Sept	STUDENT FREE DAY
8 Sept	Student Leadership Nominations Open
9 Sept	YWAM Precinct Excursion (girls group)
9 Sept	CALD Townsville Museum
10 Sept	YWAM Precinct Excursion (disengaged group)
11 Sept	R U OK Day Year 10 Charity High Tea Event (first break)
12 Sept	Aitkenvale State Primary School enrolments (all day)
12 Sept	NRL 9-side Male Comp (yr10 -11)
12 Sept	Year 7 Movie and Games Night (library)

Message from our Deputy Principals

Term 3 at Townsville State High is always busy and always buzzing with energy and enthusiasm. The much-anticipated Annual Athletics Carnival has been run and won. It was a fantastic day filled with friendly competition, school spirit, and lots of fun! Congratulations to Warrior who took home the coveted trophy this year, and who have made a clean sweep of all the trophies this year.

Term 3 is also a busy time for our students around assessment. I urge all students to develop effective study plans, balance their time wisely, and reach out for help whenever needed. Being assessment ready means not just knowing the content, but also managing stress and staying organized. Study workshops, revision sessions, and one-on-one support are available to help students feel confident and ready.

Term 3 is also a time for our Year 10 students to start thinking about subject selection for next year. Choosing the right subjects is a crucial step in shaping their educational journey and future career goals. Students are encouraged to explore their interests, strengths, and long-term aspirations when making their choices. Whether you’re passionate about the arts, sciences, technology, or humanities, there are plenty of options available to tailor your learning experience.

To support students in making informed decisions, the school has hosted a subject information session and Heads of Department will be providing one-on-one career subject selection assistance during SETP interviews. Parents and caregivers are invited to participate in the SETP interviews to help support their children through this important process. Remember, choosing the right subjects now can open doors to exciting opportunities in further education and future careers. Take the time to consider your options carefully and ask questions — we’re here to help!

Let’s make this busy term one full of growth, learning, and positivity and our teachers and staff are here to support you every step of the way.

Remember, challenges are not about perfection but progress. Celebrate your efforts and learn from any setbacks.

David Gallagher
Deputy Principal

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’

Click here to visit the Facebook page

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!

STEM Academy News

On Friday 8th August, Charlotte Dyer and Arabelle Furnell appeared on Chanel 9s Today Show in a segment celebrating the partnership between Qantas and STEM Changemakers, supporting the expansion of the program further into regional areas.

Watch the Clip

The FREE Townsville STEM Faire is back in 2025 at Riverway Amphitheatre and Library on Saturday 30 August 2025, from 8am to 3pm.

Hosted by Townsville Citylibraries and the Townsville STEM Hub, the Townsville STEM Faire aims to celebrate Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, highlight the capability and skills of Townsville STEM organisations and inspire young people to study STEM.

Attendees will experience live science shows, fun challenges, make and take activities, science playtime for kids and talks by leading practitioners and researchers. Our STEM Academy will be presenting with a STEM Racing challenge.

NAIDOC Celebrations

NAIDOC Week at Town High: Celebrating Strength, Vision and Legacy

In Week 2, Townsville State High School proudly celebrated NAIDOC Week, embracing this year’s theme of Strength, Vision and Legacy. The week was filled with powerful moments that brought together culture, community, and celebration.

We recognised and honoured the contributions of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through our NAIDOC Awards Ceremony. Congratulations to the following award recipients:

Dante Hayes – Sportsperson of the year
Monique Weatherall – Creative Talent
Baina Gizar – Country and Culture
Seriana Horope – Female Leadership
Noah Solomon – Male Leadership
Jaydan Minniecon – Commitment to Education
Alice Hill – Indigenous Artist of the Year
Zaynee Stephen – NAIDOC Youth of the Year

Throughout the week, students enjoyed a variety of cultural activities, from weaving and keyring making to cast net throwing. It was wonderful to see staff popping in throughout the week to support, check in on students, and take part in the celebrations.

We were grateful to have Deadly Choices join us bringing energy, laughter, and plenty of prizes. A special shout out to the students who earned themselves the opportunity to attend a Cowboys home game through their participation!

We also welcomed the lovely ladies Dorothy and Naomi from Centrelink, who engaged warmly with our students and offered support and information. It was heartening to see parents and carers join us for our opening assembly and again at the end of the week for our Kupmauri lunch and cultural dance performances to end our celebrations.

A heartfelt thank you to my family for coming in and supporting the cooking on Friday. Your efforts were felt and appreciated by all. We also extend our thanks to Jess Wedrat from DSDATSIP for her ongoing support, and to Majerle Power (CEC from William Ross State High School) for helping facilitate activities for our students.

Thank you to everyone who played a role in making this week so special. From staff to students, families to community members - the spirit, culture, and connection were on point.

Koeyma eso, au esoau, many thanks and well done to everyone involved.

Elsja Mosby – CEC

Year 6 into 7 Transition

Townsville State High School is currently in the thick of Roadshow visits to share and sell our amazing school to our feeder primary schools. If you have younger siblings or know of friends, sending their children to Townsville SHS in 2025, please know about our upcoming transition events:

News from The Arts

Early this term, Music students were lucky enough to have Luke Kennedy from Little Red Company come in and do a performance workshop with students. The aim of the workshop was to challenge students to perform, take on guidance and feedback before employing this feedback to perform again. Many students gained incredible insight from Luke and it has really shone through in their desire to perform at small functions and prepare for ArtzExpo later in the term. Our Year 8 band Reflection was brave enough to perform during a lunch hour which was very exciting for them.

On Tuesday 5^th August, the Year 10 Drama class travelled over to St Patrick’s College to perform as a part of Queensland Theatre Company’s performance project known as The Scene Project. Students have been rehearsing, planning and preparing since the beginning of Term 2 when they took part in a series of workshops with local theatre company TheatreINQ. Students then created their own performance of the show titled, ‘Recalibrate’ by Sam Foster and Hayden Jones from Shock Therapy Theatre Company. On the day, students watch performances from across schools in Townsville, where students have adapted the text to create their own version of the show. Students then are treated to a professional showing of the script by Queensland Theatre Company actors. The day ends with a round robin where students get to share their experience, shout out their positives and celebrate the challenge of performing with like-minded individuals.

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

Town High recently had our Inter Reef Athletics Carnival at Townsville Sport Precinct. It was a beautiful day of fun and competition with Warrior coming out on top!

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: https://bit.ly/ToyotaRAV4-WIN

Inclusive Education News

This Term, our senior IEC students are undertaking the ‘Understanding Music Basics’ unit with their teacher, Mr. Sam MacFory.

Students are learning to understand fundamental music concepts such as beat, rhythm, melody, and dynamics. They'll be listening to different musical pieces, learning to identify these elements, and even using them to create their own short musical compositions.

Throughout the unit, students will explore a variety of instruments and music from around the world. The goal is to not only understand how music is developed but also how to use this knowledge to express their own creative ideas. The final assessment will involve students creating and performing their own music, and then reflecting on their creative process. We're excited to see what our students will compose!

Upcoming Excursion and Enrolment Information

Term 3 IEC Excursions

The students and staff in the Intensive English Centre (IEC) are excited about our upcoming excursions to Magnetic Island and the Queensland Museum Tropics.

Next week, our students are off to Magnetic Island, and they are very excited! This excursion will give them the opportunity to experience the island’s diverse wildlife, geology, and history firsthand. A highlight of the trip will be a visit to the Koala Hospital, where they will get to see some of our cutest native animals up close. Students will also have time to explore the beautiful beaches and bays, observe native animals like koalas and rock wallabies, and take in the stunning scenery.

Following this, in Week 8, we will visit the Queensland Museum Tropics in Townsville. This museum has a number of permanent exhibitions, including galleries that explore the rich biodiversity of tropical Queensland, prehistoric life, and the story of the HMS Pandora.

Keep an eye out for lots of photos from both trips!

Enrolment for 2026 EAL/D Students

As we look ahead to the new school year, we are beginning the enrolment process for our 2026 EAL/D (English as an Additional Language or Dialect) students. We are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment for all students.

We warmly invite all prospective students and their families to attend our EAL/D Transition Evening next week. This is a great opportunity to meet our teachers, learn about our curriculum, and see our dedicated facilities. We will also provide an overview of the enrolment process and answer any questions you may have.

If you are unable to attend or have any questions about the enrolment process, please contact Mr. Osman or myself. We are happy to assist you with any enrolment details you require and look forward to welcoming new families to our community!

QATSIF Graduation 2025

On Tuesday 5 August, our Year 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students proudly attended the QATSIF Graduation Ceremony at James Cook University, joining schools from across the region to celebrate this important milestone.

QATSIF (Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation) supports young First Nations students to complete Year 12 through scholarships that honour culture, resilience, and educational achievement.

A special highlight was seeing our very own Alice Hill take part in the candle-lighting ceremony, where she lit the Aboriginal candle alongside Gabe, who lit the Torres Strait Islander candle, and Aunty Joan, who lit the QATSIF candle. In QATSIF ceremonies, burning candles symbolise honouring Elders, acknowledging cultural heritage, and recognising the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The lighting of the Elders' candle is a central part of these ceremonies, representing the passing down of culture from one generation to the next. Students then use this flame to light their own candles, signifying their commitment to carrying on this legacy.

We are incredibly proud of our graduates and wish them every success in their future endeavours. Thank you to QATSIF, JCU, and all who supported this meaningful event.

Our QATSIF portal is now open for Round 17 Applications, closing Friday 29th August 2025. All First Nation students currently in Year 10, as well as current Year 11 srudents who are not already QATSIF recipients are encouraged to apply.

For more information or help applying, please see Miss Elsja in lower A block.

Link and Launch

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!

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.