Term 3, Week 2

News from the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to another term. Already we have had many events even with the term being so new, I even find myself wondering if we really did have holidays at all!

In the sporting arena we shout out to Khy, Indiana, Erika and Olivia for making the peninsula cross country team and travelling south for this competition last week. However, it is with immense pride I congratulate Erika who was crowned state champion! Well done Erika, we look forward to seeing what your achievements are in further rounds of competition. I also send well wishes and congratulations to the girls who attended the recent Tablelands Rugby League team: April, Taylor, Makaylie, Rachel and Shiloh.

At this time of the year we also celebrate all our ‘Beefies’, ‘Chookies’ and artistic and creative kids who submitted entries into the local shows which occurred over the holidays, as well as the staff who support them in their pursuits. I was blown away with the talent and support that was displayed throughout all events and categories and the exceptional standard of behaviour and respect our students displayed when representing our school. I also want to ensure I acknowledge the hard work and dedication of one student in particular, Henry Pearce. Henry took on the task to fundraise for our agricultural department via organising and selling tickets for a raffle which was drawn at the show. Thank you also to our wonderful P&C for supporting Henry, as they made sure this fundraiser could occur. Overall the initiative from Henry and the P&C has meant the school has received a donation of $1700! We sincerely thank Northern Livestock Supplies for donating goods for the raffle and congratulations to Andy E who was the winner of the prize. Thanks also to the wider community for supporting Henry’s pursuit of raising funds and who bought tickets, these funds are now going towards a feeder for agricultural department.

Aside from the sporting and local arenas, we have had one of our Malanda SHS students, Freya, showcase her dancing talents at Creative Generation. This is the statewide performance in Brisbane which showcases students’ talents in all aspects of performing arts. Freya reports it was an excellent experience and we are so glad that we could support her application, and was accepted, to attend. Well done Freya!

Last week we also acknowledged the traditional owners through our NAIDOC parade and activities that occurred on site. This year NAIDOC Week marked a powerful milestone: 50 years of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience. The 2025 theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy," celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors. This year’s theme is very important in a school setting as it serves as a reminder of the strength, resilience, and richness of Indigenous cultures that have existed for over 65,000 years on this land, whilst empowering our young people in our place, to continue the legacy into the future. Once more our students represented us proudly throughout these activities and all students are commended on their respectful behaviours and engagement on the day.

Looking forward there are a few events that I need to draw our community’s attention to. Within the next week, some parents will receive an email with links to complete the School Opinion Survey. The suite of School Opinion Surveys is undertaken each year by the Department of Education to obtain opinions about our school from families, school staff and students in target year levels (5, 6, 8 and 11). The surveys will help identify what we are doing well and understand where we can improve. The survey invitation will be emailed in the week beginning 21 July and is titled School Opinion Survey for parents and caregivers, 2025.

Each school family will receive one email invitation from the Department of Education to complete the Parent/Caregiver Survey. The survey is anonymous, and the results are not reported in ways that an individual’s response can be identified by the school. Parents/Caregivers are encouraged to complete the survey, and it’s important that as many parents/caregivers as possible complete the survey so we get an accurate indication of areas for improvement.

Aside from this, this term all schools will undertake a review process on collation of information on some students who may require additional supports at school. This is known as the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD), and as part of this process some parents may be contacted outlining that their child will be included in our school’s count. A letter with information is further in the newsletter, and parents can contact the Diverse Learning team at the school should they want further information.

On a side note, I wish to advise that I am on leave from 31^st August and will return on Monday 8^th August as I will be taking some time to travel and participate (not compete!) in the Sunshine Coast half marathon as well as spending some time with my Brisbane based family. In my absence Mr Adam Catalano will be Principal, and you will hear from him for the next edition of the newsletter.

Wishing everyone well for the next four weeks, looking forward to catching up with students, staff and the community upon my return.

Yours in learning,

Natasha Lyndon

Principal

Term 3 Key dates

School Opinion Survey

The suite of School Opinion Surveys is undertaken each year by the Schools and Student Support Division to obtain opinions about schools from parents/caregivers, students and school staff. The surveys are designed to help schools identify what they do well and find areas which may need improvement.

Opinions on the school, student learning and student wellbeing are sought from a parent/caregiver in all families and students in selected year levels from each state school.

Opinions on the school as a workplace are sought from all state school staff and principals with additional questions for teaching staff on their confidence to teach and improve student outcomes. Principals are also asked for their perceptions about how well the department supports them to lead their school and manage their health and wellbeing.

KEY DATES
21 July – 25 July    Invitations emailed to Parents / Caregivers, Students and Staff
28 July                   SOS 2025 - Survey period opens
22 August              SOS 2025 - Survey period closes

P&C News

Science Week

🔬 Science Cinema Lights Up Lunchtimes During Science Week! 🍿🌌

As part of this year’s Science Week celebrations in Week 5, students are invited to take a break from the ordinary and step into the extraordinary with Science Cinema — a daily documentary screening held in A08 during first lunch.

Aligning with the 2025 Science Week theme, “Decoding the Universe – Exploring the Unknown with Nature’s Hidden Language”, the curated selection of documentaries aims to inspire curiosity, spark conversations, and showcase the awe-inspiring mysteries of our universe.

Each day, students can bring their lunch and settle in for a new documentary experience:

• Monday: UFOs: Investigating the Unknown – a deep dive into the science and speculation around extraterrestrial life.
• Tuesday: Hostile Planet – a breathtaking look at how life endures in Earth’s harshest environments.
• Wednesday: Mission to the Sun – an exploration of humanity’s quest to understand our closest star.
• Thursday: Genius by Stephen Hawking – everyday people tackle big scientific questions with the help of Hawking’s brilliance.
• Friday: Mission Pluto – the incredible journey of NASA’s New Horizons mission to the distant dwarf planet.

The Science Department is excited to offer this lunchtime series as an engaging way to connect students with science beyond the classroom. Whether you're fascinated by aliens, the power of the sun, or the genius of Stephen Hawking, Science Cinema has something for every curious mind.

Come along, bring a friend, and enjoy the wonders of the universe—one documentary at a time!

Readers Cup Year 7 & 8

Exciting Opportunity!

🚨 We're Hiring! 🚨
Malanda State High School is on the lookout for passionate and dedicated staff to join our dynamic and supportive team. Whether you're an experienced educator or looking for a rewarding role in a school environment, this could be your next opportunity!

🌱 Come and be part of A Place to Excel.
🔗 Scan the QR code or visit our website for more information.

#MalandaSHS #EducationJobs #JoinOurTeam #FNQJobs #CareersInEducation #APlaceToExcel

Year 11 Business Excursion

On Tuesday, 22^nd July, the Yr 11 Business Studies class travelled to the Tablelands Regional Council Local Disaster Management Centre to learn about the how our local council responds to natural disasters. They will use the information they’ve learned to complete their assessment task. Students will create a multimodal presentation in the form of a News room interview to inform the community of the actions taken to create a natural disaster recovery plan, in response to Cyclone Larry. We would like to thank Sarah and Nadine from the TRC for their partnership and support in providing meaningful, real-world learning experiences for our students.

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 12

Next

News from the Agriculture Department

Thank You – Northern Livestock Supplies

A heartfelt thank you to Northern Livestock Supplies for their incredible support of our Agriculture Department. Their generosity in donating and coordinating a raffle has made a real difference.

Thanks to the funds raised, we’ll soon be purchasing a much-needed hay feeder to support our ag program.

A special shoutout to Youri and Sharni, the wonderful owners of Northern Livestock Supplies, for their continued support—and a massive congratulations to Andy for winning the raffle!

Finally, thank you to everyone who purchased tickets—your support helps keep our ag program thriving!

News from the Support Staff

eSafety Commissioner

Queensland Department of Education

 Staying informed is the first step to staying safe.

As technology evolves, so do the challenges our students face. Deepfake tools and AI-generated content are becoming more accessible - and while the risks are real, so are the resources available to help.

Check out eSafety Commissioner's practical tips and guidance for parents, students and schools below. Learn more at: https://bit.ly/4ky8dI8.

Parents/Guardians/Staff/Student additional information

Community Notices

The ABC Australia Heywire Competition is open to all young storytellers aged 16–22 living in regional, rural and remote Australia. If your students have a true story about living in a remote, regional and rural area, now is their chance to be heard!

They can share their stories through:

writing

audio recording

short video

photos

Winners will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have their personal story featured on the ABC, and an all-expenses-paid trip to the ABC Heywire Regional Youth Innovation Summit in Canberra next year.

Entries close Monday, 1 September 2025. Find out more here www.abc.net.au/heywire