Head of Year 9 & 10 News

With two articles each term, we certainly have a lot to fit in!

Welcome to Our Community

Firstly, I’d like to warmly welcome all new families to our school community. Toogoolawah State High School is a great place to learn and grow, and we are very proud of the positive culture we continue to build across Year 9 and 10.

Our school is guided by three core values: Respectful, Responsible and Committed to Achievement. These values shape how our students treat each other, how they approach their learning, and how they respond when things get challenging. We work hard to reinforce these every day, and we really appreciate the support families give us in backing these expectations at home.

Positive Learning Environments

I’d like to congratulate the large majority of our Year 9 and 10 students who have settled in well and stayed focused in class. This has helped create calm, positive, and productive classrooms.

A calm classroom makes a big difference. It helps with:

• Better focus and learning
• More confidence to ask questions and get involved
• Stronger relationships with teachers
• Less stress and fewer disruptions
• More time for quality teaching and feedback

When classrooms are settled, everyone benefits. Students learn better, and teachers can do what they do best.

Attendance – 93% and Going Strong

It’s great to see such strong attendance across Year 9 and 10. At the moment, we are sitting at a combined average of 93% attendance, which is a fantastic result.

Being at school regularly really matters. Students who attend consistently benefit through:

• Better academic progress
• Stronger friendships and social connections
• Greater confidence and engagement with school

Even missing small amounts of school can add up over time, so thank you to families who continue to prioritise attendance and keep us informed when issues arise.

Feedback Week

It’s been great to see so many students taking Feedback Week seriously. This gives students a clear picture of how they are going across effort and behaviour in each subject.

Feedback Week is valuable because students have real, mature conversations with their teachers about what’s going well and what they can improve.

Some key benefits include:

• Understanding strengths and areas to work on
• Setting goals for improvement
• Building stronger relationships with teachers

Students who engage well in these conversations usually see the biggest improvements.

Level 2 Recognition

Students can apply for Level 2 at the end of each term report.

To achieve Level 2, students need Very Good or Excellent ratings for effort and behaviour in all subjects. This shows consistent commitment, positive attitudes, and strong learning habits.

Students who reach Level 2 are rewarded with some great experiences, including:

• A shopping trip to Grand Central in Toowoomba
• Term 3: Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm
• Term 4: Gold Coast theme park trip

Taking part in Feedback Week helps students understand what they need to do to reach and maintain this level.

Year 9 Rite Journey Sleepover

Our Year 9 students are getting ready for their annual Rite Journey Sleepover, which is an important part of their personal development journey.

During the evening, students take part in the Calling Ceremony, where they reflect on their past experiences and commit to letting go of “childish things” as they embrace the challenges and opportunities ahead. It is a powerful opportunity for students to publicly acknowledge their readiness to grow, face challenges, and move forward with purpose.

The following morning, students wake at sunrise for a reflective activity focused on goal setting, gratitude, and personal responsibility.

Students also participate in the Departure Ceremony, which acknowledges the importance of childhood and the strong bond between students and their families. This ceremony provides a meaningful moment for parents and carers to share reflections from the night before and recognise the commitments students make as they begin the next stage of their journey.

We warmly invite families to join us:

• Male students’ families: Thursday breakfast at 7:30am, followed by a short presentation at 8:00am
• Female students’ families: Friday breakfast at 7:30am

These mornings are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate student growth and connect with staff.

Final Thoughts

While this update covers a lot, every section reflects the positive work happening across Year 9 and 10. We are really proud of the way our students are approaching their learning, behaviour, and personal growth.

Thank you for your continued support it makes a huge difference.

If you ever have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at: wmolo2@eq.edu.au

Kind regards, 

William Moloney 

Head of Year 9–10