Newsletter

As we are rapidly approaching the end of the term, students will be completing assessments at school and home along with revision for in-class assessment that have been scheduled.

Supporting Your Childs Growth Mindset

Avoidance of tasks is not uncommon for all of us. However, unfortunately with avoidance comes self-talk that convinces us we can’t or won’t put in the effort or time to complete a task or even have a go! Words like “This is boring”, “I cannot do this”, “I don’t know what to do”,” I’m stupid “are just a few that we can echoed to both ourselves and others.

One of the best approaches to decreasing this negative self-talk that invariable appears when students feel the increase in responsibilities during assessment periods is discussions with your child that lends itself to a Growth Mindset.

 ‘When in a growth mindset, people know that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for accomplishments not just with school work but in all life’s challenges.” (Dweck, 2015). 

Week 8 and the weather has turned quickly towards a cold winter.  Thank you to parent and carers ensuring their child is wearing the correct uniform.  There remains a large number of students failing to meet our uniform expectations and that is certainly disappointing considering it is a requirement as part of their enrolment at our school.

If you are struggling to purchase the navy tracksuit and jumper from Abraham’s, you could simply purchase a navy jumper and pants from ‘Big W’ or ‘Kmart’ at $10 to $15 each.  We want your child to be warm, but we will not accept your child refusing to change into our approved school clothing.

In Week 10, we have our sports carnival occurring half day Monday and a full day on Tuesday.  The students will not be required to wear the formal on the Monday.

This week, we had a number of students choosing to make poor choices which impacted others.  If some students continue to harass or antagonise younger students for their own entertainment, parents will be notified and consequences will be put into place. 

Once again, thank you to the parents who have supported leadership by allowing them to conduct investigations into inappropriate behaviour and then supported the school with the consequences given.  We can only achieve a safe environment, if our partnership with families and students are aligned. 

Keep warm until our next newsletter.

Raelene Bates

Once again, the term and semester is drawing to a close. Exams are being completed and assignments are being handed in. As a school at this time, we start to really reflect on the term and what we can take away as learnings for next term. One of the great positives that is being taken away from this term is the introduction of the fundamental lessons at the start of the week. The process has enabled both student and teachers to learn and teach the most important skills that will be used during the week. By following this process time has been saved as students are pre-taught the skills that are needed and are primed for the learning that has occurred. This was highlighted in the comment that was made “the fundamental lessons have meant that I have not needed to start each knowledge lesson from the most basic skills. Rather we have been able to get straight into the knowledge that is needed to be taught.”

Another conversation that was had on a few occasions during the school term was around homework. This week on assembly with the students we talked about there being no such thing as no homework. See the image in this section for full details. It was highlighted to students that there is a wide array of things that you are able to do for homework. At home students have a few different tools that they can use to practice their work:

1.       JacPlus – This is an online textbook. In here students are able to access questions and examples that will give them a chance to practice their work. To access this, students go to https://www.jacplus.com.au/login and use their school email address (username@eq.edu.au) and the password that was set (they are able to rest this by following the forgot your password prompts and they will be emailed a link to their school account). Once in, the textbooks that they are using are on their bookshelf and they need to click on the textbook they want to use, then select the chapter or topic that they want to practice. There are also supporting videos to help students complete their work.

2.       Education Perfect – This is an online lesson database. Students are able to access lessons from a wide array of subjects. In this database, students are able to access lessons for subjects of their own interest not just what they are learning at school. To log into this resource, students go to https://www.educationperfect.com/ and the click the login button on the top right-hand corner. Here they will need to use their school email and their set password to gain access (they can reset this password by the forgot password at the bottom of the page). Once in students can complete the work set by their teacher or access the library (play icon in the bar on the left). When going through the library students select the subject they want, students will need to use the folder ACv9.0 Year (their year).

Students have many other ways that they can practice their work as well. Other good examples are: complete unfinished work from class, use worksheets, watch instructional videos or asking a knowledgeable person. The process of completing homework is about establishing good study habits so that when they are struggling, they know what they should do to help themselves.

Good luck to students finishing of final pieces of assessment.    

Caleb Kuhl

Miles State High Wellbeing Day Friday June 27th. I am very pleased to announce that Aunty Delmae Barton will be our guest of honour for our 2025 Wellbeing Day. Aunty Delmae was born in Emerald, Central Queensland and is a descendant of the Bidjara tribe on her mother's side. Aunty Delmae has a had a long life-journey of performance and a vast array of collaborative projects in regional Australia, at national arts centres in our capital cities as well as representing Australia on the international stage from Canada to UK, Italy, France and China. Delmae is also proud mother of William who is an Australia’s leading didgeridoo player and composer, Queensland’s 2023 Australian of the Year.

Widely recognised as Australia's Dreamtime Opera Diva, Aunty Delmae's career highlights include:

• The 2011 YouTube Symphony Orchestra "Jam Session concert" at the Basement in Sydney,
• Special guest at the Una Notte Australiana (An Australian Night) held at the Vatican in Rome as a celebration of the Canonisation of Mary Mckillop and the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art works in the Vatican Museum.
• Delmae recited a special poem and cultural and spiritual blessing in a private concert at the Conservatorium of Sydney in NSW in a special performance for Queen Sofia of Spain in 2009.
• Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in China.
• Performance at the inauguration of Lady Quentin Bryce as Governor General of Australia (Sept 2008)
• Special guest at the Victorian University Wellington, New Zealand as part of a social science conference and in the latter half of 2007 Delmae performed at the Maori Ministry and the World Indigenous Higher Education Conference held in Waikato Hawaii as a delegate from Griffith University.
• Guest artist at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music and Culture Centre in Townsville, and she also appeared as a special guest for son William Barton on the Australian Story ABC TV in 2007
• Featured as a guest artist at the Pompidou Centre in Paris 2006 and in 2005 she was a resident at the International multimedia facility, Fabrica Musica in Treviso, Italy, collaborating with William and other musicians to present the Songlines project at the Naples Music Festival. Delmae's artwork was also used as a feature in the project with the music.

Delmae has been involved with a number of education faculties over the years and in 2005 was appointed Elder in Residence at Griffith University in Brisbane as cultural advisor for students and members of Griffith University. We are very honoured to have Delmae join us to celebrate NAIDOC 2025.

As mentioned in our last newsletter we are really looking forward to having Seamus Evans as our keynote speaker. He is one of Australia’s most sought-after motivational speaker in Educational settings and the Corporate world. Seamus’ Keynote address will be worth attending and we are extending an invitation to parents and carers to come and join us 2pm for this exciting session.   

Simon Wilson

Head of Engagement

NAIDOC Engagement Day at MSHS – Celebrating Strength, Vision & Legacy

Miles State High School is proud to be hosting a very special NAIDOC Engagement Day in celebration of the 2025 NAIDOC Week theme: "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy." This theme honours the power and potential of our youth to lead with purpose, draw on the strength of culture, and build a legacy for future generations.

We are excited to welcome students from Miles State High School, along with our cluster schools – Miles, Dulacca, Drillham and Condamine Primary Schools – for a full day of meaningful cultural connection and celebration.

The day will begin with a Welcome Ceremony at 8:45am, and we warmly invite parents and carers to join us for this special opening event.

Throughout the day, students will take part in a variety of engaging activities, including:

• Torres Strait Islander Dancers – showcasing traditional music, movement and storytelling
• Seamus Evans – guest speaker sharing his inspiring journey of resilience and advocacy
• Craig Kemp – demonstrating boomerang throwing techniques, with students invited to participate
• First Nations Tastes with Miss Turner – discovering the flavours and cultural stories of bush foods
• Podcasting with Mr Smith – capturing student voices and reflections from the day
• Indigenous Art Mural with Birra Warner – contributing to a collaborative mural as a lasting symbol of connection and culture

To keep everyone fuelled and energised, a sausage sizzle and fresh fruit will be provided, and the tuckshop will also be open during both breaks.

Students are reminded to bring:

• A hat
• Water bottle
• Lunch

We look forward to a day filled with learning, celebration and cultural pride as we honour the past and empower the next generation to lead with strength, vision and legacy.

Sarah Perry

Well done Summa! Summa took part in the QLD School Sport 10 - 11 Years Netball Championships in Curriumundi. She represented South West as a Student Official for the Championships. 

Homework Centre is up and running, 3pm to 4.30pm every Monday and Wednesday afternoon.  Parents will need to complete a permission form from the Main Office and book on Sobs.  If unable to book on SOBS, please ring the office to confirm student attendance.

https://eq.sobs.com.au/pt3/parent.php?schoolid=70139