Principal Update
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
With the curtain now closed on our musical, this week our Year 12 students marked another milestone — their “100 Days Left of School” celebration. This special event was entirely organised and led by our student leadership team, showcasing this initiative with purpose, intent and collaborative spirit.
We were honoured to welcome guest speaker and Federal Member, Renee Coffey. Our School Captain, Brian, hosted an engaging Q&A with Renee, exploring her role in Parliament and life after school. Renee also shared her deep connection to Balmoral and the proud legacy of the Coffee House — a tradition her family has been part of for many years.
With the midweek break for the Ekka show holiday now behind us, we’re looking forward to returning to a full week of consistent learning across all classes next week.
This week also brought an exciting opportunity for our innovative and entrepreneurial students through the Tech Tempest workshop. This session challenged our students to explore the role of artificial intelligence in business, economics, and policy development — with a particular focus on the banking sector and the enduring value of human involvement alongside emerging technologies.
Through a simulated learning platform, students were tasked with applying essential skills and adaptive capabilities needed in fast-evolving industries, prioritising customer needs while balancing profit margins and impact. Another group will take on this challenge soon, as we compete with a cluster of schools across Queensland and Australia with this simulated experience.
We also welcomed families to our first Principal Tour of the year on Thursday. These tours provide prospective parents with a firsthand look at how we deliver inspiring excellence in every classroom. Student tour guides were on hand to answer questions and share their experiences of life at Balmoral, providing that all-important student voice.
Two further morning tours will run later this term, with dates available on our school website.
Year 6 students considering joining us in 2026 are also encouraged to apply for our Year 7 Innovative Academy. This academy is designed for academically motivated students and offers extension opportunities in core subjects, along with a tailored curriculum to challenge and extend individual skills and capabilities.
Applications will close at the end of this term, with limited places available for students in this academy.
A reminder about leaving school grounds:
If students need to leave during the day, they must present to the office and officially sign out at the Student Services counter. This ensures our attendance records remain accurate and reflect the exact time spent in class.
Maintaining accurate records helps us support all students to achieve our attendance goal of 95% and make the most of each of their four live lessons every day.
Finally, for those parents who missed this update last edition, I just wanted to share news of Parentline — a free, confidential service for Queensland parents whose children attend state schools.
Parentline provides support and coaching on topics such as bullying, relationships, peer pressure, anxiety, and depression. Counsellors are available daily from 6 am until midnight.
📞Call: 1300 30 1300
💬Webchat: www.parentline.com.au
At Balmoral State High School, we continue to grow a culture where Agency, Belonging, and Innovation for our community these values support all of our learning partners including staff and parents.
These are not just words on a page — they are lived every day by our students, staff, and community.
Regards,
Timothy Barraud
Principal – Balmoral State High School