A Quality Education is an Investment in Yourself
At Miles State High School, we strive each day to provide the best education possible to the students in our care. When families, communities and young people invest in themselves by showing up, working hard and asking for help, we all benefit.
Finishing Year 12 successfully is one of the measures that impacts on greater life outcomes. Longitudinal research by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) outlines the benefits of school engagement in the areas of employment and income, social and financial well-being and health and life satisfaction. If students are engaged in VET (Vocational Education and Training) courses of Certificate III and higher or apprenticeships, the data is similar to those who finish Year 12.
The message around the importance of engaging with school during compulsory and compulsory participation is clear. Invest in yourself and you have a better chance of improved life outcomes. The research shows that the benefits are even better is students engage in further study or course post-school.
To this end, we are working on the Flexi Space refurbishment and the associated programs to engage students in building their skills to be able to enjoy the benefits of a great education. Literacy and Numeracy, attendance percentages and high standards of behaviour are key to ensuring all students at Miles State High School can thrive. I have included a brief description of the Flexi Spaces so we can invite feedback from the community around aspects of the programming and benefits of supporting students with high-yield teaching methods.
As I continue to champion the staff and students at Miles State High School, I am pleased to confirm that the billboard on the road to Miles from Chinchilla is now live. This is our investment in our students, staff and community. Miles is a great place to belong, live and learn.
Year 10 and 11 final day for 2024
Many of the current Year 10 and 11 students have been working on the first piece of assessment in readiness for 2025. Senior teachers have been preparing the ATAR students with the prerequisites in the General subjects for 2024. If your student decides over the holiday break that they may not want to complete a General subject for 2025-26, please ensure they make an appointment to see HOD of Curriculum – Mrs Leigh Williams on their return to school within the first week to complete a subject change form. It is vital the students understand the importance of high attendance and a commitment to complete all work assigned in senior subjects, to gain a promising result.
Enjoy your holiday break and I look forward to your return in 2025.
Year 7 to 9 students
Our Junior Secondary will have three more weeks of school and officially finish Friday 13th December. At the moment, students are completing their final assessment and every day counts. Please ensure your student continues to turn up for school, as we have not officially finished until the end of week 11.
Some students have informed their parent/carer that all assessment is completed for 2024, this is not correct and will be reflected on their Term 4 report card, if they are not here to complete their assessment.
Year 6 transition
The Yr 6 students from our local feeder schools will be spending Tuesday and Wednesday of Week 10 with us to experience two typical days at high school. Thank you to our School Leaders and School Ambassadors that will be supporting the Yr 6 students over the two days. Parents of the Yr 6 students are encouraged to contact the school to confirm their attendance on Wednesday 4th December as part of the afternoon tea event. If you have not enrolled your student for 2025 entering Year 7, please do so, or they will not be able to attend the transition.
Raelene Bates
Even though the end of the year is fast approaching there is still lots happening. First off, the year 12 final week went well. I would like to say a massive thank-you to all the students, parents and community that assisted with this event. Of special note I want to recognise the year 11, 10, 9 and 8 students that made the night run without a hitch. It is a highlight of the year to see our students as the young adults that they have become and to see the skills that our students are developing. Well done to all!
Then we had the graduation ceremony where next year’s school captains stepped out on their own to lead the event by themselves. It was great to see all the students sending off our year 12 students after 13 years of education. At the start of this week, we had the final parade for our year 10 and 11 students. Again, this was masterfully led by next year’s school captains and house captains.
Coming up on Thursday of week 10 we have the QMEA Big Day. This will be an opportunity for the year 7, 8 and 9 students to get a taste of the mineral and energy industries. There will be a rotation of activities for them to complete, competitions to challenge them and prizes up for grabs. This has been a part of our STEM program at Miles State High School for a number of years and I am looking forward to another great year!
Finally, I wanted to talk about attendance and engagement. Students are still learning, completing assessment in normal classes. It is vital that they are at school to get the help that they need to complete their assessment. While at school they are expected to display respect to the school, other people and themselves. This was a clear message from our parade this week and one that has echoed through the week. It is really great to see students in classes with their heads down doing their best. We have three weeks to go and now is not the time to start relaxing. Again, we have some big and exciting weeks ahead of us and students have lots to do!
Caleb Kuhl
Last week we farewelled our Year 12 students who graduated on Friday 15th November. This amazing and talented group of young adults are now on the journey for their future pathways and we cannot wait to see them continue to grow and to hear of their achievements.
Today sees our Year 10 and Year 11 students finish their 2024 learning journey. For our Year 10s, 2025 will see them start on their final sector of high school – senior secondary. For our Year 11s, when they return in 2025, they will be on the final leg of their 13 years of schooling. Exciting times are ahead. School reports will issue in the very near future, and we encourage students to reflect on their results, not just academically, but in terms of effort and behaviour. They key to success in the senior years of schooling is to develop positive study skills, which includes giving their best in every class, and with every task.
Our Years 7, 8 & 9 students have three weeks of learning left in the 2024 school year. Across these year levels, students are preparing for assessment, whether that be exams, or by editing drafts based on teacher feedback to achieve to the best of their ability. While the majority of students are working hard and making positive choices, we are seeing some students refusing to engage with their learning, and at times disrupting the learning of others. Our teaching team will make contact with you if there are concerns, and we encourage you to support your students by checking in with their progress at home, and reminding them of the due dates as per the planners emailed earlier this term. We would also encourage you to support your child to make the most of learning opportunities, either during lunch breaks, or by accessing homework club on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. For some students who have not made the most of these opportunities, they will be provided with catch up time on Friday afternoon instead of support for the remainder of the year. All we ask of any student is that they give every task their best effort by engaging during class time.
As some families with older students are now enjoying holiday mode from today onward, I wish you a safe, restful and enjoyable break and look forward to seeing students back in 2025.
Leigh Williams
As we start to say goodbye to some of our students over the coming weeks, we know the holidays can be a time of both excitement and challenge. Many students look forward to a well-deserved break, while others may find the lack of routine and school support a bit unsettling. Here are some strategies to support self-care over the holidays and guidance on recognising when additional support may be needed.
Encouraging Self-Care During the Holidays
Self-care is essential for maintaining mental and emotional health. Here are a few ways to help your child prioritise self-care:
Signs Your Child May Be Struggling
Sometimes, holiday stressors can affect a young person’s mental health. Keep an eye out for the following signs that may indicate your child is struggling:
Where to Go for Support
If you notice any concerning signs, there are several resources available:
As we prepare to farewell some of our students, let’s also prepare to support them in prioritising their well-being during the holiday break. A little preparation and awareness can go a long way in ensuring a safe, happy, and restful break for everyone.
Sarah Perry
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
