Snapshots from the week
R U OK? Day Wrap-Up
Today our Balmoral community came together to check in, connect, and celebrate the importance of looking out for one another.
We started the morning with a warm welcome at the gate, followed by a powerful Resilience Program in the Sports Hall with special guests — the NRLW Broncos players — who spoke with students about strength, mindset, and support.
At lunch, students baked and shared cupcakes with the help of Ms Thederan, spreading kindness (and a little bit of sugar!) at iBlock.
From activities to conversations, the day was filled with moments reminding us that a simple “Are you OK?” can make all the difference.
Year 7 Music Academy Showcase
Our talented Year 7 Music Academy students are proud to present their first showcase of the year! This special performance highlights the dedication, teamwork, and growing musicianship of our young performers as they share what they have been working on in class. Thank you to all families for attending to celebrate a big term of achievements!
Shoutout to Ms Thederan and her student team!
💛 A big shoutout to Ms Thederan and her amazing students who brought colour and kindness to R U OK? Day today. 🎨✨
From painting faces to helping with bands, they not only made the day brighter for everyone at Balmoral but also gave back to their community in a meaningful way.
We’re so proud to see their generosity continue, with some of these students also volunteering at Lourdes Hill during the September holidays for Di Farmer. 🌟👏
Live music made R U OK? Day even more special!
Our Rock Band students celebrated R U Ok Day by putting on a Rock Concert at lunch time. We had 5 acts perform from grades 7-11. The students have loved preparing empowering songs to perform for everyone. The set list was:
The PopRocks - I'm Still Standing
Year 9 Duo - Count on Me
Trial & Error - Walking on Sunshine
Wait...That's not a Rock Song - The Middle
Awesome Sauce - Feelin' Good (Muse version) *The Band's debut performance.
There was an amazing atmosphere in the Arts Hall, so thank you to all of our brave and talented performers, and to our wonderful audience.
Balmoral SHS welcomes Kyle Ryan Bekue, proud Yuggera Ugarapul traditional owner.
Kyle Ryan Bekue is a proud Yuggera Ugarapul traditional owner of the Brisbane and Ipswich Regions and was raised in Inala, Queensland. He has stepped away from his Doctor of Medicine to follow a deeper calling into education. Guided by ancestral wisdom and community affirmation, his move to Balmoral State High School is a ceremonial return to purpose, where he will walk alongside First Nations youth to create spaces of belonging, visibility, and voice.
Relational-cultural-spiritual leadership, as Kyle practices it, centres presence over authority. It means holding space for story, land, spirit, and relationship through deep listening, humility, and an unwavering spiritual compass. At the heart of his approach lies sacred coherence: the threads that connect many traditions, reminding us that every perspective holds validity, every story carries wisdom, and our differences are bridges rather than barriers.
Kyle invites students and staff (Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike) to practice this leadership together: to listen with spirit, honour one another’s stories, and embrace a shared journey toward understanding, alignment and relational truth. His role is not to have all the answers but to culturally facilitate deeper questions, weaving story, spirit, and sacred alignment into every corner of Balmoral State High School.
Staff Awards Term 3
Once a term, our Balmoral team comes together to celebrate the incredible staff who go above and beyond for our students, colleagues, and community.
Staff are invited to nominate and vote for the colleagues who inspire them most — and this afternoon, we proudly announced our Term 3 Staff Award winners.
These awards celebrate our school values of Agency, Belonging & Innovation.
Empowered Leadership Award – Phil Bremner
(AGENCY)
For leading with heart, listening deeply, and bringing out the best in others. Phil creates agency, lifts voices, and shows what true leadership through connection looks like.
Champion of Belonging and Culture – Jodie Walker
(BELONGING)
For shaping a culture where every student and staff member feels safe, seen, and celebrated. Jodie builds trust and belonging in ways that make our school stronger every day.
Innovation in Action Award – Nick Howard
(INNOVATION)
For daring to imagine new possibilities and turning creativity into real impact. Nick inspires others to see what’s possible and helps our community grow, adapt, and thrive.
Congratulations to Phil, Jodie, and Nick — thank you for the energy, care, and leadership you bring to Balmoral State High School
BBB Episode 3 - Esteban Murray
Esteban Murray in Year 11 joined us for a very lively episode of BBB, our first student guest (but not the last). Books, how to be a 'cool reader', politics, public schools - we covered it all. Enjoy!
Expand Your Library exploring Global Competence
Balmoral State High School hosted a powerful session last week with Expand Your Library exploring Global Competence — the ability to navigate global issues and intercultural contexts with knowledge, skills, values, and action.
We reflected on student perspectives, enabling agency and impact, and the role of allyship in building trust and meaningful change. Global competence isn’t an add-on — it’s essential for preparing young people to thrive as active, informed, and responsive citizens to an interconnected world.
All young people need to:
- Investigate the world with curiosity
- Recognise and respect diverse perspectives
- Communicate ideas effectively
- Take informed action on complex challenges
