Term 3, Week 4

News from the Acting Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

In the first few weeks of this term, we have already had an action-packed start with our students excelling in the Academia, Sporting, Cultural and Community aspects of our school.

Last week we held our first full school parade for Term 3 where we celebrated our students from 7-12 that were awarded the “Principal Award” for their outstanding Academic results, in Semester 1. In the upcoming weeks we will celebrate more achievements in our Junior and Senior Secondary Parades, including our Behaviour and Effort Awards.  Several of our Senior students also participated in a JCU excursion which was a great opportunity for them to look at further pathway options. I would like to congratulate one of Senior students Ayesha, who has been selected for the inaugural JCU Heroes in Engineering Program for 2025. 

On the sporting field we have had a busy few weeks, with students representing the school in a number of sports. Our netball and cricket teams travelled to Cairns last week for their respective carnivals. A huge congratulations to our Senior Girls cricket team that took out the win at the Cairns Carnival on Friday v St Andrew’s, they are now off to the NQ Finals. 

Lastly, on Thursday 7^th and 8^th August, we had approximately 100 students competing at the District Athletics Carnival in Mareeba. We look forward to hearing all their success stories.

In the last couple of weeks we have had a number of visiting schools from Japan including Matsuyama Higashi High School, students from Kaminokawa and the Banora Agricultural Exchange. Thank you to Ms Arnold, Mrs O’Shea, Mr Kilpatrick, Mr Mallyon, the student buddies and all the staff involved in the Japanese Visits they are wonderful experience for both sets of students and a great way to showcase our wonderful school and community here at Malanda State High School.

On Monday August 11^th we welcome back our Principal Natahsa Lyndon who has been on Long Service Leave that included her achieving her goal of completing the Sunshine Coast Half Marathon. 

Yours in learning,

Adam Catalano

Acting Principal 

Term 3 Key dates

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!

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

News from the Japanese Department

Cultural Connections: Visit from Matsuyama Higashi SHS

In Week 3, Malanda State High School had the pleasure of hosting staff and students from Matsuyama Higashi Senior High School in Japan. It was a fun-filled, action-packed two days of cultural exchange and friendship.

On Thursday, our visitors joined Year 9 and 10 students in classes, shared presentations about their hometown, and even learned how to make the Aussie favourite — fairy bread! After school, they joined in with our Japanese Club, where more language and laughter were shared.

Friday saw both Malanda and Matsuyama students head off on an excursion to Herberton Historical Village. Mixed-language teams took on a collaborative scavenger hunt, using both Japanese and English to solve clues while exploring the village. The weather was kind, and the day was a great success, full of teamwork, learning, and new connections.

This visit marks the fourth time Malanda SHS has welcomed students from Matsuyama Higashi SHS — and the excitement is already building for our return visit during the Japan Trip in July 2025. Many of the student buddies are looking forward to reuniting with their new friends on the other side of the world.

Thank you for visiting us, Matsuyama Higashi SHS — we can't wait to see you again 

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News from the Arts Department

Celebrating Year 12 Excellence: Student of the Week Award Sponsored by Marano’s Fuels

We are excited to introduce a new initiative recognising the outstanding efforts and character of our Year 12 students – the Student of the Week Award, proudly sponsored by Marano’s Fuels. Thanks to their generous support, each fortnight, one exceptional student will receive a $20 fuel voucher as a token of appreciation for their contribution to our school community.

Students are nominated by their peers for demonstrating any of the following values:

• Displaying leadership or school spirit
• Acts of kindness or support for others
• Contribution to the school community
• Resilience or overcoming challenges
• Achieving outstanding results or producing exceptional work

All nominated students are entered into a draw, and one recipient is selected each fortnight.

We are pleased to announce our first two award recipients:

1st Winner – Amara Grey
Recognised for Acts of kindness: “She made me and all of her friend’s cheesecake and brought it to school out of the kindness of her heart.”

2nd Winner – Lauren Dickson
Resilience and overcoming challenges: “The last few weeks of school have been very stressful, especially with teacher changes and lots of deadlines. Lauren has been absolutely smashing it despite these challenges. “

Congratulations to Amara and Lauren on the well-deserved recognition! We look forward to celebrating more Year 12 students who continue to lead, inspire, and contribute to our school community.

Once again, a heartfelt thank you to Marano’s Fuels for supporting this initiative and helping us shine a light on the achievements of our senior students.

News from the Technology Department

Year 9 Design and Technology Students Giving Back to the Community

Malanda State High School’s Year 9 Design and Technology students are making a real difference this term, one meal at a time. Each week throughout Term 3, students have been working hard in the kitchen to prepare wholesome, nutritious meals for ECHO Malanda, supporting the centre’s weekly community lunch and providing extra meals for emergency aid.

This hands-on project not only builds valuable cooking and teamwork skills, but also fosters a strong sense of social responsibility and community connection.

The students are looking forward to putting their hospitality skills into practice in Week 9, when they’ll have the opportunity to attend the ECHO Malanda, serve the meals they’ve prepared, and connect with the people they’ve been supporting all term.

News from the Support Staff

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

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

In August edition of the JCU School Newsletter, we want to share some important information with you about JCU’s Early Offer Program. 

Check it out, it's packed full of information!