Balmoral Bulletin

Principal Update

Message from the Principal

Principal’s Update – Week 8, Term 3

 

Wear It Purple Day

 

Balmoral State High School is proud to be an inclusive community — one that values global mindedness, tolerance, acceptance, and above all, belonging. Wear It Purple Day is more than a celebration; it is a reminder of the importance of creating a school where every student feels seen, recognised, and valued.

As Principal, I am privileged to hear directly from our students about how they want to be acknowledged as individuals and as members of our Balmoral community. Events like Wear It Purple creates space for learning, for open and honest conversations, and for a deeper culture of acceptance.

 

As a proud state school graduate myself, I want every Balmoral student to stand tall in who they are — connected to a community that values diversity and committed to becoming globally competent learners. These are the young people who will make a genuine difference to our communities in the years ahead.

This week I also had the opportunity to reconnect with some of our passionate alumni. Our 1999 School Captain reached out, eager to support the next generation of learners. And, of course, our past student Liam Bakker, now with Boeing Defence and who has been working with our students in Years 8–11 through our Boeing Program for the past two years. 

 

Liam and his team always continue to challenge our students to refine and pitch solutions to authentic industry problems — a highlight each year that showcases innovation and the strength of our partnerships.

Staff Professional Development Day

 

Next Friday, 5 September, is our annual pupil-free day. Senior teachers will be engaged in QCAA assessment validation to ensure consistency of internal assessment across the state. 

 

At school, other staff will participate in:

 

  • Global Competence training sessions,
  • Extension workshops on authentic mixed-method assessment, and

  • Refinement of our Compass communication platform.

     

These sessions will sharpen our collective practice and ensure that our students benefit from the very best learning opportunities.

Leadership Changes

 

We are pleased to announce several important staffing updates:

 

  • Bridie Doyle has been appointed to support the Humanities and Languages Faculty during Emma Hart’s maternity leave. We congratulate Bridie and look forward to the energy and innovative approaches she brings to her new role. Bride will commence this role for the start of term 3.
  • Mitchell Johnson has been appointed as our Head of Special Education Services (Inclusion Head of Department). Mitchell was a highly meritorious candidate, and his appointment will become permanent after 12 months as Shirley transitions into a senior leadership role in North Queensland.
  • Lisa Callaghan has secured a position as Senior Education Officer – Mentoring Project with Metro South, supporting beginning teachers across the region. Lisa’s final week with us is next week, and we sincerely thank her for her dedication and impact at Balmoral.
  • Duncan Short will step into the role of Acting Head of Department – HPE and Sport for the remainder of the year. We are confident he will provide strong leadership in this portfolio.
  • Alyce Goodacre will return as Head of Department – Technologies in Term 4. My thanks to David Witt for his excellent leadership in this faculty across the past three terms. David’s work has driven significant curriculum transformation, and we wish him well as he takes up his new role at Mansfield State High School in Term 4.

Enrolments

 

Thank you to the families who have already completed enrolment interviews with our Enrolment Officer. We are currently finalising staffing for 2026 and encourage families to submit enrolment applications as early as possible.

 

Applications are welcome from families both within and just outside our catchment. Applying for enrolment does not incur any cost and provides certainty for future planning. Principal Tours continue with the next one scheduled for early next term. These tours are held during class time so parents can see learning in action. Please refer to the enrolments section of our website for further details.

 

Week 8 has been another wonderful demonstration of what makes Balmoral special — a school where agency, belonging and innovation are lived every day. Thank you for your continued support of our students and community.

 

Regards,

 

Timothy Barraud

Principal – Balmoral State High School