10 March 2025

Principal’s Report

Hello and welcome to our latest newsletter. At this point we are in to the second half of our term with a focus on preparation for assessment in the coming weeks. As I write this the department has announced the closure of schools in South East Queensland in preparation for Cyclone Alfred crossing the coast. My thoughts are with the many friends, family and colleagues that are in the path of the cyclone and hope they remain safe over the next three to four days. By the time this is published I am hoping the worst will be over and we can concentrate on cleaning up and getting back to normal. Personally, I am looking forward to a time when we can call into the shops at any time and buy bread and eggs.

Investiture

On 27^th February we held our annual Investiture of Student Leaders Ceremony to recognise the newly elected leaders of our school. It was a very smoothly run event with students all taking their pledge of office in front of the school and wider community. My thanks to the many parents who have attended this event to support our leaders in the very special occasion.

Swimming Carnival

14^th February saw the running of our annual swimming carnival. This year the weather was particularly hot and humid with a storm arriving after we had finished the carnival. The day ran very smoothly with our senior Recreation students taking on many of the organisational tasks as part of their Rec Studies requirement. It was also a day where the teachers were victorious over the students in the Teacher v Student Relay. Our attendance for the day finished at 73% which was well above the previous years of high 60’s. It was a very well supported event with many parents also taking the time to come and share the highlights of the day with their children. My congratulations to the Baranga team who were victorious on the day. House Coordinator, Ms Bechly, has done a magnificent job of preparing the team for the event.  My thanks to all staff who were involved in setting up, running and cleaning up of the event.

NAPLAN

Preparations are currently underway to be ready for the next NAPLAN tests. These tests are a very useful data set for schools to measure the effectiveness of their programs and curriculum delivery. We often compare our curriculum results with achievements in NAPLAN to ensure we are enacting the curriculum consistently. Additionally, NAPLAN can give very specific feedback to schools and parents about the areas of strength and weakness in a child’s learning. I would encourage all parents to ensure your child participates in NAPLAN testing to ensure the school has the information to inform and modify our programs to suit individual needs.

If you have any questions with regard to NAPLAN, please contact Deputy Principal Sally Christensen during school hours.

Dental Health Information

On 3^rd February we were visited by Lee Clarke from Barolin Dental, who spoke with students from Years 7 to 10 about the importance of good oral health and the importance of cleaning your teeth correctly. Barolin Dental also donated 150 packs for students to take home which contained a toothbrush, floss, toothpaste and information on the use of products. This was a very generous gesture from them and we are very grateful for their support of our students.

All the best for the remainder of the term.

Regards
Paul Stehbens

Coming Events

Investiture of Student Leaders Ceremony

Our annual Investiture Ceremony on 27 February was well attended. It was wonderful to see many parents and guardians supporting their children by attending.

Our new leaders of the school received their badges and took their pledge of office. As well, every Year 12 student who had signed the Senior Commitment received their Senior Badge and committed to responsible leadership within Gin Gin State High School.

It was wonderful to listen to the inspirational speeches from our principal Mr Stehbens and the newly elected School Captains, David and Lawson as well as the Student Council President Ivy.

Our School Leaders for 2025 are:

We look forward to the leadership team of 2025 working together to make sure it is a great year for Gin Gin State High School. 

Liz Walker – Deputy Principal

Bully Proof Australia

On 11^th February we were lucky enough to have a visit from Bully Proof Australia Representative’s, Jeff Horn (former WBO welterweight title holder) and Frank Mechler (CEO). They spoke to parents about the program they are introducing at our school which aims to improve conflict resolution skills and build resilience.

Frank gave us some interesting insights into bullying and his work across 200 QLD schools so far. He identified that the term bullying is often misused and in fact a large portion of “bullying” that is present in schools is conflict and that most cases of bullying actually start with a conflict that goes unresolved.

Jeff Horn spoke about why he is a passionate advocate of the program and spoke about incidents of conflict and bullying he went through at school. He told us about how he built his resilience and the difference that made in his life.

Students in Years 7-10 have been participating in fortnightly lessons designed by Bullyproof Australia. Our staff have been trained and have some common language to use when helping resolve conflict. Bullyproof Australia have equipped us with the 4A’s.

Students have so far also devised what they would like classroom culture to be and what they don’t want it to be. We are adopting their ideas because they have used their voices to say what classrooms should be like. This is

what they came up with.

Things we want to see more of in our classrooms

Things we want to see less of (or eliminate) in our classrooms

We look forward to more positive steps towards improving our ability to resolve conflict, building our resilience and building positive cultures in our classrooms.

Sally Christensen – Deputy Principal

Swimming Carnival

The 2025 Swimming Carnival was an absolute hit this year. Our Senior Sport and Recreation students took a major role in organising and officiating the event with students leading novelties, announcing, timing races and taking on many other roles on the day. This led to our highest student attendance yet with students battling it out on the blocks and in the novelty games.

It was anybody’s guess who would win throughout the day as scores were fairly close, however Baranga secured their first-place win with lots of students in later races earning 1^st , 2^nd  and 3^rd  places in their competitions. Corang demonstrated enthusiasm and participation throughout the event earning them second place overall and winning them the House Spirit Trophy. Congratulations to all athletes who participated on the day.

Caitlyn Taylor – Teacher

Year 7 Camp: Adventure, Leadership and Lifelong Memories

Year 7 Camp at Hervey Bay was an action-packed three days filled with fun, teamwork, and new experiences. From beach swims to rocket launches, students embraced every challenge and made unforgettable memories.

Day One – Beach, Park Activities & Find the Leader

After arriving at Camp Pialba, students settled into their cabins before heading straight to the beach for a high-tide swim. With perfect weather and plenty of splashing around, it was a great way to start camp. The fun continued with activities at the park, where students made the most of the playground equipment and open spaces.

That evening, the much-anticipated “Find the Leader” game took over the campsite. With staff members cleverly hidden, students had to use their problem-solving and teamwork skills to track them down—resulting in plenty of laughs and some impressive detective work.

Day Two – Wetside, Student Services Rotations & Rocket Building

Day two started with morning exercise (well at least an intense game of handball) before heading off to Wetside Water Park. The slides and splash zones were a huge hit, with students cooling off, racing down slides, and making the most of the water play areas.

After returning to camp, students rotated through sessions with our Student Services team, where they took part in interactive activities focused on teamwork, resilience, healthy choices and problem-solving. The day wrapped up with a hands-on rocket-building challenge, where teams worked together to design and launch their own rockets—some reaching impressive distances!

Day Three – Leadership & Reflections

The final day focused on leadership and reflection. Those interested in leadership positions took part in interviews with staff, answering creative questions like, “If your leadership style were a fruit, what fruit would it be and why?” This gave everyone a chance to see a different side of their peers and learn more about their potential future leaders.

Before heading home, students participated in Year 7 leader speeches and voting, followed by a final clean-up of the cabins and campgrounds.

A massive thank you to the staff who made this experience possible and to our Year 7 students for their enthusiasm and teamwork. It was an incredible few days, and we can’t wait to see the friendships and leadership skills developed at camp continue throughout the year!

Stuart Napier – Teacher

Success in the STEM Girl Power Initiative

Sreypich, Year 10, was selected from a very competitive field of outstanding young female students to represent our region as one of the 2025 STEM Girl Power Ambassadors. This is a 12-month program that encourages girls to participate in STEM by engaging in a range of exciting STEM experiences and inviting them to inspire other students, by being a STEM ambassador in their school and community.

Throughout the 12-month program students explore STEM pathways, participate in a variety of innovative STEM workshops, engage with researchers and STEM professionals, and act as STEM ambassadors in their schools and local communities.

Congratulations Pich!

Karyn Goodman  – Teacher

University of Queensland Science Ambassadors selected for 2025

The UQ Science Ambassador program champions science at Gin Gin State High School by developing and delivering events, including National Science Week activities, and encouraging other senior science students to share their experiences with students in all years. Over the past 20 years, thousands of students from schools across Queensland have participated in the program, and Gin Gin has fielded a team of budding scientists since the beginning. This year we had more applicants than available positions for the highly recognised Science Ambassador program run by the University of Queensland. Congratulation to the following successful applicants: Lawson, Jade, Jillian, Luke, Tallis, Matilda and Maddison.

Congratulations - we look forward to seeing you showcase science!

Karyn Goodman - Teacher

Transition to the Student Laptop Hire to Buy Program

We are pleased to inform you that Gin Gin State High School has transitioned our Student Laptop Hire Scheme to the new Student Laptop Hire to Buy Program. For students currently enrolled in the existing laptop hire scheme, we would like to offer the opportunity to participate in this updated program.

Below you will find the Student Laptop Hire to Buy Charter and Agreement Form. Should you wish to opt into this program, please complete and return the form to the front office.

For families who have previously participated in the scheme, past payments will be taken into consideration.

Eligibility:

• Year 7: Students are eligible to participate in the Student Laptop Hire Scheme
• Years 8-10: If your student has participated in the Student Laptop Hire Scheme previously, you are eligible to join the new Student Laptop Hire to Buy Program.
• New Participants (Current Year): If your student has only recently begun participating in the current Student Laptop Hire Scheme (this year) and has not been part of the scheme in the past, you may still join the Student Laptop Hire to Buy Program. However, you will need to discuss available options with the Business Manager. Please email BSM@ginginshs.eq.edu.au to express your interest.
• Years 11-12: If your student is currently enrolled in the Student Laptop Hire Scheme and would like the option to purchase the device they are renting, please contact the Business Manager via email at BSM@ginginshs.eq.edu.au for further information.

For new applications for Years 8 and above, due to limited availability, we cannot guarantee that we will have devices to Hire or Hire to Buy.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to phone the school on 4133 2111.

Diann Cross – Business Manager

International Women’s Day Breakfast

The International Women’s Day Breakfast on 7^th March was well attended by the Gin Gin Community.  Gin Gin State High School was represented by Ivy Suendermann our Student Council President, Sharissa McKewin who gave the Welcome to Country and Molly Jensen, our Junior School Captain who was a special guest speaker. 

The theme for this year is March Forward and it was wonderful to see our younger generation “marching forward” to a future of hope and equality through their attendance at the breakfast. Many thanks to the Bundaberg Regional Council and the Gin Gin Bowls Club for this event.

Liz Walker – Deputy Principal

School Forms

If you have not returned your school forms, please return them by the end of this week. The implications of not returning your student’s form/s are as follows:

Student Resource Scheme: Students will have limited access to the school resources and will not be able to attend extra-curricular activities. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please contact the school to discuss arrangements.

Information and Communication Technologies Student Use Agreement: Students will not have access to the school network. This will greatly impact student learning by not being able to access important information required for learning.

Sporting Activity Consent: Students will not be able to participate in sports. This will impact their ability to participate in curriculum activities.

Media Consent: Students will not be acknowledged for their efforts at school through our newsletter, Facebook or other media types.

Online Consent Form: Students will not be able to access important online programs that Education Queensland has provided for students to assist their education.

This week your student will bringing home a copy of any forms that have not been returned. Could you please fill the forms in and return them to the school as soon as possible.

Diann Cross – Business Manager

Barolin Dental Supporting Our Students

On Monday we were visited by Lee Clark to provide our students with important information about the need for everyone to effectively clean their teeth. Surprisingly many students were not aware of the correct way to effectively clean their teeth and gums.

This was an excellent presentation by Lee and I would like to acknowledge Barolin Dental who provided students with a take home pack with some basic dental products.

Paul Stehbens - Principal

Fundraising Non Uniform Day

On 26^th February, the student council held a Non Uniform Day fundraiser with a ‘Farmers’ theme. Students and staff embraced the theme, dressing in boots, flannel shirts, and hats while generously donating to the Royal Flying Doctor’s Service. Just over $600 was raised because of everyone’s generosity! An amazing effort!

Adding to the success, hundreds of blue and red ribbons were sold out very quickly, with many students going above and beyond to donate extra money for their 50c ribbon. This once again just highlights the incredible generosity of our community. Well-done students!

The funds were donated on 5^th March for “Double Up for the Doc Day" which is a special fundraising event held by the RFDS where every donation made on the 5^th is doubled by matching funds from sponsors. This year the money from “Double Up for the Doc Day” went towards fitting out a new medical aircraft to ensure more availability and access to essential healthcare.

A huge thank you to everyone who participated and contributed—your support always makes a difference.

The next Fundraising Non Uniform Day will be on the 26^th March to support Jeans4Genes. The theme will be… yep, you guessed it… Denim!

You're part of our life-saving team, Indy.

Dear Indy,

Thank you so much for making a kind choice to support the health of Queenslanders with your generous donation of $604.00.

I am writing to let you know that your life-saving gift will help deliver the finest care to the furthest corners of our state.

Our aeromedical crews work around the clock to provide quality healthcare to outback communities who count on us. We are so grateful you are part of our life-saving team - we couldn't serve people in remote, rural and regional Queensland without you.

On behalf of the 90,000 Queenslanders each year who rely on the Flying Doctor to be their lifeline, thank you.

Warmest regards,

Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section)

Indyanna Prisk – Teacher

Administering Medication at School

1. Does your child need medication during school hours?

If your child needs to take medication at school, please provide the office staff with:

• a completed and signed Consent to administer medication form;
• the medication in its original container; and
• medical authorisation (e.g. the pharmacy label, or a letter from the doctor, or a completed and signed health action plan).

For further information, please refer to the Information for parents/carers and health practitioners.

If you have any queries, please contact the office on 4133 2111.

2. If my child has to take medication at school, how will the doctor know what paperwork the school needs?

When you next visit your child’s doctor (or other health practitioner), you could give them a copy of the Administration of medications in Queensland state schools: Information for parents/carers and health practitioners.

This document explains what advice they need to provide to help the school to safely administer medication to your child.

3. Easy medication packaging

If your child takes tablets or capsules each day, you can ask the pharmacist to pack them individually in sachets, blister packs or bubble packs.

This packaging is known as a ‘dose administration aid’ (or DAA) and has the pharmacy label instructions as part of the packaging.

When medication is packaged in a DAA it can make it easier for the school to safely store and administer it.

Please note: A pill case (e.g. a weekly medication organiser) filled by yourself is not a DAA and is not something the school is approved to use.

4. Medication safety at school

If your child requires medication at school, there are some things you can do to help.

• Only provide medication that has been medically authorised.
• Check that the medication hasn’t expired.
• Provide medication in the pharmacy packaging.
• Hand medication to the school in person.
• Collect unused medication in person.
• Provide a pill-cutter if tablets need to be halved or quartered, or arrange for the pharmacist to package the medication using a dose administration aid.

Diann Cross – Business Manager

Change of Student Details

We all have changes in our circumstances, and we can overlook important things such as updating emergency details for your student.

Details can be updated via an email to admin@ginginshs.eq.edu.au, or via written correspondence.  Please keep in mind that emergency contacts are to be over 18 years of age.

Diann Cross – Business Manager

Infectious Disease Containment

Some medical conditions require children to be excluded from school or childcare to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among other children and staff, as well as the community.

Contagious conditions

Contagious conditions are infectious diseases that can spread from person to person through:

• the air by breathing in infectious droplets
• contact with germs from faeces passed via the hand to the mouth
• germs on hands transferred to broken skin, eyes, nose or mouth
• contact with germs in blood or other body secretions (such as urine, saliva, nasal secretions) onto broken skin, eyes, nose or mouth.

Some conditions may require a child to receive a medical clearance from a local doctor or local public health physician before returning to school or childcare. If any infectious disease is suspected or confirmed in your service, contact your public health unit for advice.

Please see attached flyer for exclusion periods.

Diann Cross – Business Manager

Expression of interest in hosting a Japanese or Taiwanese exchange student

Thank you very much to the families that have already expressed interest in hosting a Japanese or Taiwanese student. More information will be handed out soon.

We are in need of some more families to host Japanese (and possibly up to two Taiwanese) students for three weeks in August. These students will be attending school at Gin Gin State High School.

Hosting an exchange student is an excellent opportunity for your family to learn more about another culture and to potentially make a lifelong friend. The exchange students want to improve their English skills and learn more about the everyday Australian way of life.

Dates: Friday August 1st to 22nd (TBC)

What you supply: a bed, transport to school, three meals per day

Benefits: Learn more about another culture, enjoy sharing Australian culture and make a new friend

Host families will be provided with a stipend of $90 per week per student. This assists with food, possible bus fares, etc.

At this stage, we are collecting expressions of interest from potential host families. More information will be supplied to potential host families in the coming months.

If you have any questions, please contact Miss Dinham by phone on 4133 2111 or by email at skdin0@eq.edu.au.

Expression of interest forms are available from Miss Dinham in B-block staffroom.

Sarah Dinham - Teacher

BPoint

BPOINT is a secure online payment system provided by the Commonwealth Bank. BPOINT® allows customers full control to nominate what day their payment will be deducted from their bank account, how much and the frequency in which their account will be deducted (ie, weekly, fortnightly, monthly). All you need is the invoice. Please see link below for further information regarding how to use BPOINT.

Parent BPOINT pamphlet for pre-population of invoice details

Please remember to pay one invoice at a time and remember to put in the invoice number. Doing this will ensure payments go to the correct customer, the correct invoice instantly.

BPOINT eDDR is a payment solution that enables parents/guardians to set up payment plans on invoices to pay them off through the school year (For example : SRS Fees)

For more information regarding this please click on the link below.

Diann Cross – Business Manager

Gin Gin State High School P&C

The 2025 AGM will be held 24^th March at 5:30pm in the Conference Room of the Administration Building.

All positions will become vacant at this meeting. Positions are - President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary.  Please consider being a part of our P&C. 

The AGM will be followed by a general meeting.

For further information contact pandc@ginginshs.eq.edu.au

Meetings for 2025:
March 17^th  - AGM
May 19^th
June 23^rd
July 21^st
August 18^th
September 15^th
October 20^th
November 17^th

Monique Armstrong – Acting Secretary, GGSHS P&C

Position Vacant - Agricultural Assistant

As the Agricultural Assistant, you will:

Contribute to the efficient and effective operation of the school by providing a high level of agricultural systems support to the nominated school staff.

Ensure that the agricultural field study sites, animals, crops, machinery and equipment used by the school are maintained in a functional, secure and safe manner. For more information and application see link:
https://smartjobs.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-NCR624771-25P

Trivia Night

Gin Gin State High School 2025 graduation fundraiser.  Get a team together and Treat Yourself to a great night out.

Venue: Gin Gin Golf Clubhouse
Date: Friday 14th March 2024|6pm for 6.30 start
Entry fee: $60 per team (max. 6 per team) or $10 per person
Entry includes ticket for lucky door prize.
Sausage Sizzle, raffle, music bingo for sale.
Buy your tickets at Gin Gin State High School office.

Flourish Family Fun Day

The Family and baby Network under the Bundaberg neighbourhood Centre are now leading the communities beloved Flourish family Fun Day, with this year’s theme ‘Teddy Bears Picnic’!

Please see the 2025 Flourish Family Fun Day flyer attached for your information and sharing.

If your service or organisation is keen to come along,  Stallholder sites are now OPEN for registration.

Steven Van Lierop – Community Development, Bundaberg Regional Council

Kickstart your accounting career

Ulton’s Vacation Program - Applications for April now open. Apply for either placement date via our careers page.

Are you a Year 11 or 12 student considering a career in accounting and business?

Want to see what a career in accounting is really like? Ulton’s Paid Vacation Program gives you real-world experience while still in  school. It’s a chance to explore your future, gain confidence, and get a head start in the world of business!

Application open now for April and September
April placement: 7th - 17th April
Application due: 18th March
September placement: 22nd September - 3rd October
Application due: 31st August

Apply now

Apply for either placement date via our careers page. https://www.ulton.net/vacation-program

BUGK (Bringing Up Great Kids)

BUGK (Bringing Up Great Kids)

A 7-week Program to support parents & caregivers. It focuses on building positive and nurturing relationships between parents and their children. The program aims to support parents to review and enhance their patterns of communication with their children, to promote more respectful interactions and encourage the development of children’s positive self-identity.

BUGK (Bringing Up Great Kids- Parenting after family Violence)

A 7-week Program. Bringing Up Great Kids Parenting After Family Violence provides a friendly and safe environment for parents to learn from each other and begin a journey of understanding and healing themselves and their children from the impact of family violence.

For more information see flyers below.

Ange Mitchell – Guidance Officer

Bundaberg Central Rotary Polio Afternoon Tea

Join Bundaberg Central Rotary for a fundraising afternoon to raise funds to end Polio.

See flyer for more information.

Bundaberg Table Tennis Club

Bundaberg Table Tennis Club invites students to their upcoming 2025 Bundaberg Junior Holiday Camp, an exciting and engaging opportunity for children to stay active during the school holidays while learning new skills and making new friends.

See flyer for more information.

Ha Bui – Club Manager/Head Coach, Bundaberg & District Table Tennis Association Inc

Bundaberg Table Tennis Club – Andro Team Cup

offering a fun and friendly team competition with no membership required. Players can register directly via the website: https://events.humanitix.com/andro-team-cup-series-2025

Date: Saturday, 8 March 2025
Location: Maroochydore State High School, Sunshine Coast

Ha Bui – Club Manager/Head Coach, Bundaberg & District Table Tennis Association Inc

AEC Temporary Jobs in Flynn

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has up to 100,000 paid temporary jobs available to help deliver the next federal election.  Jobs are available all around Australia, in metro, regional, rural and remote areas, these roles require no prior experience, making them ideal for people looking to gain paid work and contribute to their community.  These opportunities are on Election Day (1 day) but some roles are for several weeks before and/or after the event, making it a great prospect to earn extra money.  Although the date for the election is yet to be announced, we are working hard to have the temporary workforce ready to deliver the election.