The first two weeks of Term 3 have already been jampacked with students engaged in learning and extra curricular activities.
Miles State High school is very much committed to providing students with experiences that shape their thoughts and minds.
We continue to be committed to Every Student Every Day engaging in the Miles SHS Experience.
Term 3, Week 3 Events and Activities
Experience Sporting Excellence – Miles and District Track and Field
Experience a Supportive Community - Breakfast Club
Experience Academic Success - Student Parent Teacher Interviews and Teacher participation in statewide quality assurance for senior applied subjects
Experience your Future- Subject information and Career Evening and Cluster Primary School Visits (Year 6 to 7 and Year 10-11)
This newsletter clearly attests to the many curricular and extracurricular events and activities that fall under these essential experiences in your child’s education.
Community recognition for the learning opportunities or a job well done provides not only our school but our whole school community with feedback on the work - staff, students and our school community undertake.
Josette Moffatt
I wish to share a recent email the school received from Marie Cameron Social Performance Specialist-
‘Congratulations firstly on the outstanding NAIDOC celebrations which were organised by Miles State High School. The professional and respectful way the celebrations were managed is really a testament to a sincere commitment to cultural connection and understanding’-
Pathways at Miles SHS
At Miles State High School, we are committed to supporting the goals of our students by offering a variety of opportunities to explore future pathways. From Years 9 to 12, students work closely with their Care Teachers, Youth Pathways Officer, and Guidance Officer to explore career options and aspire toward meaningful futures.
Term 3 is always a busy time as students participate in local and regional Career Expos, gaining insights into both academic and trade-related fields. This term, our students attended the Toowoomba Careers Expo in Week 1 and the Chinchilla Careers Expo in Week 2—broadening their understanding of what’s possible beyond school.
Looking ahead, Week 3 features key transition events:
In Week 4, we begin SET Plan interviews for our current Year 10 students. This compulsory meeting is required for any student intending to continue their senior studies at Miles SHS. These meetings are essential for mapping out senior subject selections and reinforcing the importance of attendance, behaviour, and commitment to achieving a QCE by the end of Year 12 in 2027. Parents can now book their SET Plan interview via SOBS with either Ms Bates (Deputy Principal) or Mrs Perry (Guidance Officer).
Also in Week 3, we will be visiting our Cluster Primary Schools to begin the enrolment process for our 2026 Year 7 cohort. Enrolment interviews will be held in Week 5.
If you have any questions regarding career pathways or the transition process, please don’t hesitate to contact the school to arrange an appointment.
Raelene Bates
Deputy Principal
Welcome back to term 3! This term sees the start to semester 2 which is a fresh start for all students in year 7 to 11. It is an opportunity for students to really bring up their marks without other pieces of assessment holding them back. Students have just completed their goal setting activity for the term and will be looking at now putting their plans for improvement into place. Please discuss this with your student so that you know what you can be doing to support them through this term and semester.
Parent teacher interviews are on Wednesday 30 July which is next week starting from 3:30pm to 6:30pm. This is a great opportunity for parents and guardians to meet with teachers to discuss the progress of your student and develop an understanding of how they could improve. Students are also encouraged to be in attendance as well as this gives them a great chance to talk directly about their own learning rather than getting this through the lens of an entire class. I would encourage you to be involved if you are able. Please note that bookings will close Monday, 28 July at 3:00pm. This will give teachers an opportunity to prepare for their meetings.
Directly after the parent teacher interviews, we will be holding our subject selection information session. This will start from 6:30pm parents/guardians and students in year 10 will be attending an information session aimed at informing them about senior school processes and the subjects from which they will be able to select. Also, at this time parents/guardians and students of year 8 will also be able to ask questions directly to elective teachers as to what each elective will contain. At 7:00pm the activities will swap over. Parents/guardians and students in year 8 will be attending the information session on middle school processes and then the electives from which they will pick. The year 10 students, parents and guardians will then be able to ask questions directly to the teachers of each subject.
Looking forward to seeing you at these events.
Caleb Kuhl
Miles SHS Toilet Procedures
During adolescence students are learning to, not only develop their own identity but understand how to have the strength to make good choices despite peer pressure.
We are aware of an increasing trend of a number of students grouping up and going to the school toilets during both first and second break and some exiting class-time to meet up in the toilets. As you are aware this behaviour chosen by a few impacts not only the students who are participating in these behaviours but also their peers who have the right to go to the toilet as needed and in an appropriate manner.
Grouping up, to go to the toilet though not uncommon in adolescence is however a behaviour that needs education and processes to dimmish. As per school policy Parent/Carers of students engaging in this behaviour have been notified and consequence have been put in place.
School staff targeted actions to mitigate and reduce this behaviour though vigilance and consequences has not been as successful as we would have hoped and does not go far enough to provide a safe supportive environment for all students.
We have contacted other schools to discuss their student use of toilet and the procedures they have put in place to educate and make the toilets a safe place.
Miles State High School from Monday 28 July will be trialling the implementation of a new procedure. This procedure will in no way impact a child’s fundamental right to access and use the toilet.
*Please note before school and lunch times are the times for students to go to the toilets not as soon as lessons start. We recognise that some students do not go at these times however we continue to education students so as not to need to go during class. However, if required to go students can follow the new procedure designed to make this a safe space for everyone.
Simon Wilson
HOD of Teaching and Learning.
Careers Education Update: Planning for the Future
Week 3 is a key week in our school calendar as we focus on future planning for students and families. We will be holding Parent-Teacher Interviews, followed by the Year 8 into 9 and Year 10 into 11 Parent Information Evenings. These important sessions provide an opportunity to share information about subject offerings, explain the structure of senior schooling—including the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)—and outline the range of academic and vocational pathways available to students at MSHS.
We will explore how students can shape their senior studies around their interests, strengths, and future goals, whether those goals involve university, TAFE, apprenticeships, employment, or other training opportunities. At MSHS, we are committed to working in partnership with families and the community to ensure every student is well prepared for life beyond school. These evenings are a key part of that process.
In Week 1, students from Years 10 to 12 attended the Toowoomba Careers Expo, which featured a strong focus on university pathways, with a large number of tertiary institutions represented. However, the expo offered more than just university options. One of the standout displays was from the Australian Defence Force (ADF)—a truly impressive and engaging showcase of the many exciting career options available across the Navy, Army and Air Force. Students had the chance to explore a wide variety of roles and training pathways within the ADF, broadening their understanding of post-school possibilities.
In Week 2, our focus shifted to practical career options at the Chinchilla Local Careers Expo, where students connected with local industries, training organisations, and employers. There was a strong presence from the local resources sector, including representatives from CUBE, Ancol, MiGas, and many more. These organisations highlighted a range of traineeship and apprenticeship opportunities, giving students a valuable insight into hands-on career pathways and the employment possibilities available within our own region.
During the Chinchilla expo, a number of local industry partners—including the Western Downs Regional Council—expressed strong interest in supporting students through work experience placements. These opportunities provide students with meaningful, real-world exposure to the workforce and help inform their future career decisions. MSHS fully supports students undertaking up to a week of work experience at a time that complements their learning. More information about organising work experience will be shared in the next fortnight’s newsletter.
Looking ahead, SET Planning meetings for all Year 10 students will begin in Week 4. These meetings are compulsory and play a crucial role in guiding students’ senior subject selections and preparing them for their QCE and post-school transition. Families will receive further information on how to book these meetings in the next week.
Sarah Perry
At the recent NAIDOC celebrations in Chinchilla, Mattise was awarded the Rising Star Certificate for her achievement in her Certificate III in Business school based traineeship with Miles Accommodation Services.
Students in Sport and Recreation have started to plan for their intra-school sports tournament. In groups, they are running a sports tournament of their chosen sport over two lunchtimes in weeks 3, 4 or 5. I am looking forward to seeing their skills in event management over the next few weeks.
Miss Fowkes
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.
Miles State High School is proud to be part of a community that embraces PARTNERS IN LEARNING together our students, their families, our wider community and our staff are committed to working together to ensure that every student succeeds.
Respect | Integrity | Safety | Engagement
