Head of Year 9 & 10 News

Year 9–10 Newsletter Update

As we approach the midway point of the term, there are plenty of exciting things happening across the school!

On Friday 23rd May, we will be celebrating the success of our Level 2 students. To recognise their achievements, we’re heading to Toowoomba for a day of shopping and relaxation. It’s a well-deserved break and a great way to reward their effort and commitment.

We place a strong emphasis on recognising students who go above and beyond—especially when it comes to effort and behaviour. Receiving a ‘Very Good’ or ‘Excellent’ in these areas is an outstanding achievement, reflecting a student’s commitment to being a responsible learner. These qualities are just as important as academic results, and we are incredibly proud of the students who continue to demonstrate them. Celebrating these efforts reinforces the importance of positive attitudes, respectful behaviour and strong work ethic values we want all students to embrace.

This term, many of our students are also preparing for involvement in both the Esk and Toogoolawah Shows. Even with some disruptions to school routines, it's fantastic to see our students staying engaged and making the most of these opportunities.

Year 9 Rite Journey students will soon receive their information letters for the upcoming 2-day camp in August. We’re excited to be heading to a new site at Mount Tamborine. The camp will be heavily subsidised, making it an affordable experience for all families. It will also provide students with challenging opportunities to work together, build resilience and strengthen peer connections in a supportive environment.

In our Year 10 Mentoring Program, it’s been fantastic to see students volunteering to support and guide Year 9 students. This mentoring focuses on helping Year 9s understand the expectations, responsibilities and behaviours required to reach Level 2 status. Peer mentoring not only provides encouragement and role modelling, but also helps build strong, supportive relationships. We believe this will have a powerful impact on motivation and engagement across both year levels. We'll be meeting again in Week 5 (Thursday) to set specific goals and identify practical strategies to help more Year 9 students succeed.

A special opportunity currently open to Year 10 students is the UQ Young Achievers Program, offered by the University of Queensland. This program supports motivated students particularly those who face financial or personal challenges in achieving their goal of attending university. It provides mentoring, leadership development and financial assistance, including a $1,000 bursary each year during university study. Students recently met with Mr Moloney to go over the application process and eligibility criteria.

We encourage families to have conversations about this fantastic opportunity. 

To find out more or apply, visit: https://study.uq.edu.au/information-resources/high-school-students/young-achievers-program/how-apply

Let’s keep the positive momentum going for the rest of Term 2!