Deputy Principals Update

Message from the Deputy's

Welcome back for 2026!

School resumes on Tuesday 27th January for Year 7, 9 and 11 students. Year 12 student Leaders will also be in attendance on Tuesday to support our new Year 7 students. All students must wear their formal uniform on Tuesday.

Year 7 students will meet at the Arts Hall at 8.45am.
Years 9 and 11 students will meet at the Sports Hall at 8.45am.

These students will receive their timetables and any important information, before heading to their period 1 classes.

All year levels will attend on Wednesday 28 January. Students may wear sports uniform to school as it is a Wednesday.

Students in Years 7, 9 and 11 will report directly to their Period 1 classes at 8.45am.
Year 8 and 10 students will meet at the Sports Hall at 8.45am.
Year 12 students will meet at the Arts Hall at 8.45am.
There will not be a Home Group roll mark on Wednesday.

These students on their first day will receive their timetables and any important information, before heading to their period 1 classes.

Students need to bring their equipment ready to work and learn on Day 1. New students to the school (including year 7 students) will undergo an on-boarding process with their BYOD device during the first two weeks.

All students will receive a copy of their timetable on their first day at school. Please be aware that the timetable continues to be updated due to staffing updates and class allocations. This means that there may be changes to your child’s timetable during the first weeks of the school year. Students will be advised of the timetable change request process on day 1.

Regards,

Shane O'Malley

Deputy Principal

First Day Ready at Balmoral SHS

As we begin the 2026 school year, we’re looking forward to welcoming students back with a strong focus on calm, consistent routines that support learning, wellbeing and belonging. At Balmoral State High School, we lead with connection before content or correction—using predictable routines, compassionate inquiry and restorative practices to build respectful learners and strong partnerships with families.

A reminder that students in Years 7, 9 and 11 will return on Tuesday 27th January and Students in Years 8, 10 and 12 will return on Wednesday 28th January.

Below is a quick guide to the key expectations for uniform, mobile phones and behaviour, so every student can start the year confidently and successfully.

Attendance and Being on Time

A strong start includes arriving on time and being where students need to be, when they need to be there.

Late to school: students must sign in at the Student Services Window.

Uniform

Balmoral SHS is a full-uniform school, and students are expected to be in the correct uniform when travelling to and from school and throughout the day. Neat presentation matters.

Uniform essentials to remember:

Formal uniform: approved Balmoral formal shirt with approved shorts/trousers/skirt/culotte, and tie requirements where applicable
Shoes: fully enclosed, black, polishable, lace-up shoes (WHS requirements apply in practical areas)
Sport uniform: may be worn on Wednesdays and for advised school events; brought to school to change into for timetabled HPE lessons
Hair, accessories and jewellery should be neat, safe and workplace-appropriate

Mobile Phones: “Away for the Day”

To keep learning focused and support student wellbeing, Balmoral SHS follows an “Away for the Day” approach.

What students need to do each day:

All students will be provided with a mobile phone pouch at the start of enrolment.
On entry to the school gates, phones must be turned off and placed away for the day.
Phones can be used after school once students leave the school grounds.
Non-BYOD technology devices are banned, including headphones/AirPods and other Bluetooth devices.

Behaviour Expectations: Calm, Consistent and Respectful

Our Student Code of Conduct sets clear expectations for behaviour and outlines how staff teach, reinforce and respond to behaviour so that every student can learn in a safe and respectful environment.

At Balmoral, we use a school-wide approach that includes:

Clear routines and expectations
Restorative conversations and re-teaching
Consistent follow-through when behaviour impacts learning or safety

Families should also know that staff intentionally look for opportunities to recognise students doing the right thing, using positive behaviour acknowledgements linked to our school values of Agency, Belonging and Innovation.

We’re Here to Support Students

Balmoral SHS provides layered support through a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) across academics, behaviour, attendance and social-emotional learning. This includes universal supports for all students, targeted supports when needed, and intensive personalised supports for a small number of students requiring more assistance.

If you wish to access any additional support your first point of contact should be with our new Heads of Student Engagement.

Years 7 & 8 – Mr Steve Brady sbrad156@eq.edu.au

Years 9 & 10 – Mr Trevor Buckingham tbuck129@eq.edu.au

Years 11 & 12 – Mr Michael Jesberg mjesb3@eq.edu.au

Working Together

Thank you for reinforcing these expectations at home. When students arrive prepared—in correct uniform, with phones away, and ready to learn—it supports a calm start to the year for everyone.

We look forward to a strong and positive first day back for all students and families.

Regards,

Kellie Baumgart

Deputy Principal

Welcome to 2026!

I hope that everyone had an amazing Christmas and New Year and that the students are ready and raring to go!

For those that are new to the School I am the Deputy of Teaching, Learning and Pedagogy, and have the pleasure of being in charge of the Senior School (Year 11 and 12). This year our seniors are going to be exposed to an amazing array of activities in preparation for post Yr12 and beyond.

Next week we welcome our Yr11 students on Tuesday – we ask that they move to the Sport centre at 8:45am to receive their timetable and receive important cohort messaging. They will be required to be in full School uniform.

Our Yr12 leaders are also required to be at School on the Tuesday to assist welcoming the Yr7 students into High School.

On Wednesday the Yr12 cohort will commence their “Last first day of School” We will welcome them at 8:45am in the Arts Hall where they will receive information on the year and complete some last first day activities. They will have a sausage sizzle during morning tea before starting their normal classes period 2.

We look forward to working with you this year

Regards,

Mick Baker

Deputy Principal