21 March 2025

Executive Principal News

Cyclone Alfred was a reminder of the importance of our SPIRIT values.  What did we learn from this severe weather event?

In the wake of Cyclone Alfred, which resulted in the closure of schools for four days, we were once again reminded of the strength and resilience within our College community. I cannot recall a time when schools had such advance notice of closure, even during Covid, and this advance notice surely helped us better manage the event.  Of course, severe weather events bring not only physical challenges but also emotional and logistical difficulties for students, parents and staff alike. During these times, cooperation and understanding are key to ensuring everyone’s safety and well-being.

Supporting one another as a strong united college community, we certainly recognize the disruptions that school closures can cause for families. Parents and guardians have had to juggle work, childcare,  feeding a family at home with limited resources, and looking for those coveted supplies of eggs and milk.  Our staff at Stretton have worked tirelessly throughout to make sure our classrooms were safe, clean and dry for students to return to last week. We are still undergoing maintenance in some classrooms which were damaged and this may take some time.  However, it was wonderful to welcome back our students last Wednesday.  Through patience and mutual support, we have demonstrated the power of working together.

The recent weather event outlined the critical importance of clear and open communication. Our school has strived to keep families informed with timely updates on closures, safety measures, and available resources. We encouraged everyone to continue checking school emails, official social media channels, and local emergency updates so that we could all stay well-informed and prepared.

Cyclone Alfred has also shown us the importance of resilience and adaptability. Students have realized the importance of being connected to their school; parents have adapted to unexpected changes, and our staff have gone above and beyond to make changes to assessment, curriculum and NAPLAN dates. These efforts also highlight the remarkable strength of our school community.

As we look ahead and recover from the impact of the cyclone, let us continue to extend kindness, patience, and support to one another. If any family requires additional assistance, whether academic, emotional, or logistical, please do not hesitate to reach out to the school. We are here to help and will navigate these challenges together.

We sincerely thank all students, parents, and staff for their cooperation and understanding during this time. By standing together, we reinforce the SPIRIT values that make our College community strong and resilient.

Stay safe and take care.
Until next time,

Jan Maresca
Executive Principal

Illaweena Campus Principal News

In my last newsletter, I wrote about school attendance, which has academic benefits, and also increases life skills and personal development. Consistent attendance allows students to stay on top of coursework, participate in class discussions, and receive timely instruction for teachers. We also know that missing school, even for a few days, can create gaps in understanding and make it harder for students to catch up.

Attending school every day instils a sense of discipline, punctuality, and accountability, which are valuable life skills. Regular attendance also helps students develop good time management skills by adhering to a structured schedule.

This term it has been very pleasing to see students demonstrating high attendance rates with all year levels over 90%. I want to make particular mention of our year 7 cohort who have an excellent year to date attendance rate of 93.29%.

One of the things that I often write about in my newsletter article is the way in which students navigate technology. For many students, they have ready access to mobile phones, but more importantly they have ready access to online content, whether this is through social media platforms, or simply through web browsing.

Parents often have many questions about navigating technology with their child. The eSafety Commissioner website has some excellent resources for parents. This can be accessed through the following link: 

One of the topics that this website deals with is screen time. Last year in a casual conversation, I asked a group of students to check their screentime usage. For many of these students, they averaged in excess of 6 hours of screen time on a mobile device per day.

We also know that as students move through their high school years, access to social media platforms becomes increasingly important to maintain social connection with peers. We also know that many students have access to not just one social media platforms, but in many cases multiple social media platforms. Of course, these platforms also provide messaging services, which can be for between individuals, but can also be for the purpose of a group chat. What can also come with messaging services is cyberbullying. Again, the eSafety website has a range of resources for both parents and students.

Parents – https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/cyberbullying
Students – https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people/cyberbullying

Stretton State College also uses the Stymie platform for students on the Illaweena Campus. Stymie is an online platform where students can anonymously report bullying or cyberbullying. The link for Stymie is: https://stymie.com.au/

Next term we will be having our first round of parent teacher interviews, which is a great opportunity for parents to connect with teachers. More information will be provided via email in the coming week about how parents can book these interviews. As we head towards the holiday period in two short weeks, I would like to wish all of our Stretton families a safe holiday period and look forward to a great term 2.

Brad Stewart
Illaweena Campus Principal

Yr 12 Deputy Principal

Harmony Week Begins with Excitement and Culture!

Harmony Week has started off strong this week, bringing students and staff together to celebrate diversity, culture, and inclusion. The week began with an action-packed Kung Fu demonstration, wowing the audience with its precision and strength.

Adding to the excitement, dance performances showcased the vibrant traditions of different cultures, filling the space with rhythm and energy. Students also had the chance to experience Indigenous face painting, a meaningful way to acknowledge and celebrate First Nations culture.

With more activities planned throughout the week, Harmony Week is already proving to be a fantastic celebration of unity and respect in our school community.

Kirrily Gillies
Deputy Principal Year 12

Year 10/11 Deputy Principal

The future is an exciting place, full of endless opportunities, and the best part? It’s yours to shape! As you start making decisions that will influence your future career and education, remember that there’s no one "right" path – there are many pathways to success.

There are countless career paths out there, and they aren't limited to the traditional choices you might be familiar with. From working in technology and medicine to exploring fields like sustainability, social innovation, and the arts, you have the power to create your own unique journey. Even within a single field, there are multiple roles you can explore.

What’s most important is to remain curious and open-minded. Explore different subjects, talk to people in various careers, and seek out experiences that help you understand your strengths and passions. It’s okay not to have all the answers now. What matters is that you take the time to learn and grow.

Pathway and career education is essential in helping students navigate the many opportunities available within various fields, particularly in industries like healthcare. By understanding the wide range of career options and the educational pathways that lead to them, individuals can make more informed decisions about their futures. Being well-informed about these opportunities allows individuals to align their passions and skills with the right career, ensuring both personal fulfillment and professional success.

This week we have some great information about some of the careers in healthcare.

Career opportunities in medicine beyond being a doctor

If you’re passionate about health and helping others, becoming a doctor is an incredible and rewarding career choice. But what if you don’t get in on your first try? Or perhaps, you discover along the way that being a doctor isn’t quite the path for you after all?

The good news is that the world of medicine and health is full of exciting career opportunities beyond the traditional doctor role. There are countless ways to get involved in healthcare and make a meaningful difference. In this blog, we’ll highlight just a few of the alternative career pathways in medicine that you might want to consider.

Nursing

Nurses are at the heart of healthcare, providing direct care to patients, assisting with treatments, and being advocates for health and well-being. Whether you’re interested in working in hospitals, clinics, or in the community, there are various specialties within nursing, including midwifery, paediatric, emergency, mental health, NICU, oncology, and surgical nursing – just to name a few.

With the flexibility of nursing, you can work in diverse settings and have plenty of career development opportunities, such as becoming a nurse practitioner or a clinical nurse specialist.

Physical Therapy

If you’re interested in helping people recover from injuries, manage pain, or improve mobility, physiotherapy or occupational therapy could be the path for you. Physiotherapists work with patients to restore movement and function, often through exercise, massage, or other treatments. Occupational therapists focus on helping people develop or regain the skills needed for daily activities, using adaptive techniques, exercises, and assistive devices.

Both careers offer the opportunity to work directly with people and make a meaningful impact on their quality of life without pursuing a full medical degree.

Pharmacy

Pharmacists play a vital role in healthcare by ensuring patients receive the correct medications and advising them on how to use them safely. This is an excellent choice if you have an interest in drugs, their effects on the body, and providing personalised health advice.

Pharmacists work in hospitals, retail pharmacies, and even research settings, contributing to public health in many ways.

Paramedicine (Emergency Medical Services)

For those who thrive in fast-paced environments and enjoy helping people in urgent situations, paramedicine can be a fulfilling career. Paramedics respond to emergencies, provide medical care on the spot, and transport patients to healthcare facilities when needed.

This is a hands-on role with a significant impact on saving lives and providing immediate support.

Medical Laboratory Science

Medical Laboratory technicians and scientists are essential in diagnosing and treating illnesses by analysing laboratory samples. If you enjoy working behind the scenes but still want to play a crucial role in patient care, this could be an ideal career. You’ll work with cutting-edge technology to analyse blood, urine, and tissue samples, helping doctors diagnose conditions and track patients’ progress.

Health Administration and Management

Health administrators manage hospitals, clinics, or public health organisations, ensuring that everything runs smoothly. This role might appeal to you if you’re interested in healthcare but are more drawn to organisational, leadership, and business tasks rather than direct patient care.

Health administrators help streamline healthcare systems and improve patient outcomes by managing resources, budgets, and staff.

Speech Therapy

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work with patients who have speech, language, or swallowing disorders. If you have an interest in communication and enjoy working closely with individuals to make a significant difference in their lives, this could be a great option.

You’ll help people regain their ability to speak or swallow, often after an illness or injury.

Public Health and Epidemiology

Public health professionals focus on improving health on a larger scale. If you’re passionate about preventing illness and improving health outcomes for entire populations, a career in public health might be right for you.

This could involve roles in epidemiology, health policy, environmental health, or health education. Epidemiologists, for example, study disease patterns and help control outbreaks.

Biomedical Science and Research

Biomedical scientists and researchers work in labs to understand diseases, develop new treatments, and advance medical knowledge. If you’re more interested in discovering the science behind health conditions and exploring new ways to treat them, biomedical research is an exciting field with plenty of opportunities to make a real difference in medicine.

Examples of careers in this field Computational Biology and Data Science.

Radiography and Medical Imaging

Radiographer or medical imaging technologists use imaging technology, like X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, to help doctors diagnose and monitor illnesses. If you have an interest in technology and enjoy working in a healthcare environment, this can be an exciting role that combines technical skills with patient care.

Dietetics and Nutrition

Dietetics and nutritionists work with patients to develop healthy eating plans, manage diet-related health conditions, and promote overall well-being. If you have a passion for food and health and want to help others improve their lives through nutrition, this could be a career for you.

There are plenty of specialties within dietetics, including sports nutrition, paediatric nutrition, and clinical nutrition.

Alternative Therapies and Complementary Medicine

While traditional medicine plays a big role in healthcare, many people also look to alternative therapies, like acupuncture, massage therapy, or naturopathy, to support their well-being. If you’re interested in holistic health practices, this could be a pathway for you to explore. Many practitioners work in private settings or as part of integrated healthcare teams.
Studyworkgrow.com

Heather Boreland
Deputy Principal – Year 10/11

Year 9 Deputy Principal

Celebrating Diversity: Embracing Acceptance and Other Cultures

As we continue our journey through the school year, it's important to remember that our community is made richer and more vibrant by the different backgrounds, experiences, and cultures that each of us brings. Harmony Week celebrates that diversity and creates a stronger community as we learn from each other.

Celebrating Other Cultures

One of the best ways to embrace diversity is by actively celebrating other cultures. This can be through learning about different holidays, trying new foods, or participating in cultural events. Our differences should be seen as an opportunity for growth, not something to fear or shy away from. By showing curiosity and respect for cultures different from our own, we can build bridges of understanding and foster friendships that last a lifetime.

Consider how much we can learn from the diverse traditions and histories of our peers. From the colourful festivals to the unique songs and dances, every culture has something valuable to offer. It has been a real pleasure to watch the dedication that the performers contribute to their display of their culture this week.

How You Can Contribute

• Ask Questions: Be curious about your peers’ backgrounds and traditions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions—most people love to share their culture and experiences!
• Join Cultural Events: Whether it’s a multicultural day at school, a local cultural celebration, or a cooking class focused on international dishes, these events are a great way to learn and show appreciation.
• Be Kind and Inclusive: Always make sure that everyone feels included in conversations and activities, no matter where they come from. Small acts of kindness and inclusivity can go a long way.

The Power of Unity in Diversity

In a world that’s constantly changing, our ability to accept and celebrate diversity is more important than ever. By embracing each other’s differences, we not only make our school community a better place, but we also help shape a future that values and respects people from all walks of life.

Let’s celebrate what makes us unique and celebrate our diversity!

Josh Holliday
Deputy Principal Year 9

Year 8 Deputy Principal News

Building a Bully-Free Culture

At Stretton State College, we consider our parents to play an essential role in supporting your child’s well-being, and that includes helping us create a school environment where every student feels safe, respected, and valued. We know that bullying can have a profound impact on a child’s mental health, self-esteem, and school engagement. With this in mind, we ask that our parent community work alongside us to deliver a strong anti-bullying message, and support a culture of kindness for the benefit of our whole school community.

Here are some practical ways you can support your child at home, and partner with the school in combating bullying:

1. Encourage Open Communication

One of the most effective ways to prevent bullying is through open, honest conversations. Regularly check in with your child about their school day and ask if they’ve witnessed or experienced bullying. Make it clear that they can always approach you, or a trusted adult at school, if they feel uncomfortable, threatened, or if they witness bullying. If your child is hesitant to speak up, try discussing how they can report bullying confidentially through our Stymie platform.

2. Promote Empathy and Respect

Help your child understand the importance of kindness, empathy, and respect. Discuss the impact of bullying on others and encourage them to treat all students with dignity, regardless of differences in appearance, background, or interests. Encourage your child to stand up for others who may be bullied, teaching them how to do so respectfully and safely.

3. Monitor and Support Your Child’s Online Presence

In the digital age, bullying is not confined to school grounds—cyberbullying is a real concern. Talk to your child about responsible online behaviour and the importance of treating others with respect in digital spaces. Help them understand the risks of online interactions, including the potential for bullying via social media, texts, or gaming platforms. Set clear boundaries about appropriate online conduct and establish regular check-ins to monitor their social media activity.

4. Teach Conflict Resolution and Coping Strategies

Bullying often stems from misunderstandings or conflicts. Help your child develop skills for resolving conflicts in a constructive way. Encourage them to use “I” statements, express their feelings calmly, and seek help from trusted adults when necessary. Suggest techniques for managing difficult emotions like frustration or anger, which can help prevent situations from escalating.

5. Collaborate with the School

Report any concerns to us promptly via email or phone call, or you might even request a meeting with our Year 8 team. Reach out to your child’s teachers if you have any questions or concerns about interactions involving your child. When parents and schools work together, the overall impact of anti-bullying messages becomes stronger, creating a safer and more supportive environment for all students.

By taking these steps and working with us, you can help foster an environment where bullying is not tolerated, and every student feels safe, respected, and a sense of belonging. Your ongoing support makes a difference in creating a positive, inclusive community for our school.

Here are some useful links to resources for parents and students, to support your discussions about bullying at home:

• No Way!
  A comprehensive resource for parents and students, offering practical advice and strategies to help stop bullying: https://bullyingnoway.gov.au/
• ReachOut
  Offers information on strategies to support young people with bullying: https://parents.au.reachout.com/friendships-and-dating/bullying
  
  
• eSafety Commissioner - Cyberbullying Resources
  Provides valuable guidance for parents on how to address and prevent cyberbullying, including tools for managing online safety: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents

If there’s anything that we can do to support your child, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Year 8 Team at any time.

Sasha McDonald
Deputy Principal – Year 8

Year 7 Deputy Principal News

NAPLAN

A big congratulations and thank you to all students in Year 7 and 9 for their focus, concentration and perseverance for undertaking the 2025 NAPLAN tests over the last week. While many students can feel stress and anxiety with these tests, especially given the context with cyclone Alfred and having to re-schedule them, it is important to remember that students are not judged for their performance on these tests. A very sincere thank you to students and staff for completing NAPLAN.

Social Media 

As you would have no doubt noticed, the use of social media is becoming more and more prevalent with each passing year. As our students have greater access to technology that supports the use of social media, access to platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook has never been easier, and our young adults of today are able to connect in ways that didn’t even exist when they were born. 

While there can be many benefits to students interacting on social media (staying connected, developing friendships, sharing interests), there is also the possibility that our young adults can be exposed to content, comments and/or behaviour that is unwanted. What is becoming apparent is that teens often don’t have the skills necessary to deal with this unwanted attention and this is largely due to their lack of social and emotional maturity. 

Adolescents are displaying more than ever a need to be accepted by not only their immediate friends, but also by friends of friends and others they have never met or have only met online. This constant need for approval and acceptance by their online peer groups may encourage students to take risks in the online world that they wouldn’t otherwise take in the ‘real’ world. These types of risks can be as simple as making a negative or derogatory comment towards another student, right up to sharing images of themselves in questionable circumstances. It is sometimes quite concerning to see what behaviour is considered normal on an adolescence’s social media channels all in the name of getting attention. 

What is also becoming increasingly common is for teens to create multiple profiles. Often, a profile that is shared with their family is created – usually as part of an agreement to be allowed to have social media – but they then go on to create other accounts under different names that allow them to operate covertly without parents being able to see what is going on. It is not uncommon these days for students to have a number of different accounts with each of them used for communicating with different groups of people or individuals. Students have also reported that in some instances, they are sharing accounts with other students and this opens up a number of issues around identity and accountability. 

On some platforms, group chats are a popular way to connect with a large number of people where all participants can read and see a student’s posts. While this idea is wonderful if everyone is polite and respectful, it can very quickly become a place for toxic comments that are often screenshotted and shared with others. These public forums can lead to further issues with many of them becoming bigger problems when students confront each other at school. The age-old expression of “if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say it” is unfortunately regularly overlooked in these forums. 

While it is not my place to question a student’s need to have social media, I would certainly recommend that students only have one account on whichever platform they use, ensure it is a private account (not public) and that they have the highest security settings in place. I would also strongly encourage students to not share their account password with other students and to never create shared accounts.  

As parents, I would strongly encourage you to at the very least have a discussion with your child regarding their use of social media, and to create some ground rules for the way that they use it. As I mentioned earlier, there can be many benefits to these online platforms but there can also be hidden dangers. And above all else, we encourage students to use it safely, wisely, and positively. 

Adam Hornagold
Deputy Principal – Year 7

A Message to Year 7 students

After our interruption from Cyclone Alfred – I thought I’d check in as we head into assessments and final assignments.

This can be a very busy and overwhelming time of the term.  Organising your time and your MIND are key!  Let’s talk about organising your mindset to be exam ready!

What positive thoughts do you have? 

“I will give this a go even though I find it hard?” OR do you say, “It’s too hard.  I give up?”

“I have too much to get done this week!” OR do you say, “I’ll start by making a list and prioritise my time this week.”

If you FLIP your mindset to more positive thoughts, you’ll find you can tackle the hard stuff.  By changing your thoughts and attitude, you stay on track and have more time to study, complete your tasks and even have some free time.  Don’t forget the tips I shared in the last newsletter.

Set yourself a challenge.  How can you flip your thoughts this week?  Have you made a daily study schedule to organise when big assignments or tasks are due?  Check your task sheets carefully. Highlight key words or criteria.  If you have questions, make an appointment to see your teacher or ask a friend for help. Don’t forget to review your homework sheets to feel more prepared going into your exams.

Remember:  It always seems impossible until it is done!  You’ve got this!!!

Stella Peters 11J

Gowan Principal News

Celebrating and Building Community Connections

Harmony Week

This week we were excited to celebrate Harmony Week (https://www.harmony.gov.au/), a celebration that acts as a vehicle for us to recognise our diversity as a Nation and a College. We are privileged at Stretton State College to have a truly multicultural community. This makes for a fabulous Harmony Week, however most importantly, provide our students with an everyday opportunity to learn alongside both shared and differing cultural beliefs, perspectives and ways of being supporting an authentic understanding of what it means to live in a global community.  Alongside our Stretton SPIRIT values of Respect, Inclusivity and Thoughtfulness, this fosters our students and staff feeling accepted for who we are as individuals.

This week, we have enjoyed our students and parents proudly sharing their traditional dances and songs at playtimes. We also watched with awe as our Chinese Lion dancers performed on our Prep-Year 3 assembly. We thank our EALD Team and Student Council for organising this week’s activities for us. Classes have celebrated Harmony Week with various activities across the week. We are very proud of our multicultural school community and look forward to celebrating our cultural diversity with our students, staff and families each and every day!

Parent-Teacher Interviews

Our Gowan Parent-Teacher Interviews are fast approaching. We have always valued our Term 1 interviews as a time to further build connections with our 2025 class parents with teachers having had time to get to know their students for this year in terms of their academic and social-emotional needs. This is a great time for parents and teachers to share initial reflections, celebrate successes thus far, discuss any concerns and plan collaboratively for the year ahead to ensure that our students, your children, have every opportunity for a success.

As emailed to parents last week, interviews will be held on Wednesday 2 April from 3:00pm-7:00pm.

Bookings for parents will open at 7pm on 21 March. To make a booking please login into SOBS (our online booking system) here: https://eq.sobs.com.au/pt3/parent.php?schoolid=70340

Instructions for this system can be found here: https://sobs.com.au/docs/sobs-pt3-parents.pdf

Specialist Teacher interviews and Year 1, 2 and 3 interviews will take place in the Gowan Hall, the rest will be hosted in adjacent classrooms, please refer to emailed map.

A summary of your bookings will be emailed to you on the day. Please be sure to check your emails prior to the event in case of teacher absences, leading to class interviews needing to be rescheduled.

We are looking forward to the opportunity provided by parent-teacher interviews to exchange important information about how your child is progressing. We sincerely thank you all in advance for your support on the evening to engage in these important conversations.

Sun Safety – Hats Everyday

As Queenslanders we know better than most of the importance of being sun safe throughout the year. We ask your support in ensuring that your child has their school hat at school every day. This ensures they are able to fully engage in their outdoor lessons, in particular Physical Education, school events like excursions, camps and Gala Sports, along with Playtimes each day while staying sun safe.

Please ensure your child’s hat is clearly labelled with their full name and 2024 class. I have reminded our students of the need for them to be responsible and return their hats to their bags after each use to minimise the chance of it becoming lost.

Judy Rose-Cooper
Gowan Campus Principal

Year 6 Deputy Principal News

Data Detectives in Year 6

This term in Maths, our Year 6 students are learning to interpret and compare data displays to make decisions. In 6C, students participated in a hands-on, collaborative activity where they measured each other’s heights and collected data. They had the opportunity to decide how to present their findings, resulting in the creation of column graphs complete with essential elements such as titles, x and y axes, labels and scales.

Supported by their teacher, Toni van Dyk, these budding mathematicians then applied their data to a real-world scenario—grouping heights to determine the required shirt sizes for a school senior uniform order. With a minimum order of five shirts per size, students analysed the data and advised on how many boxes of shirts would be needed for their class. This practical application helped students understand the importance of data in everyday decision-making.

Gowan Student Council

Over the past few weeks our Gowan Student Council have been actively engaging in team-building activities and setting goals to make a positive impact this year. The 2025 council consists of 38 dedicated students from Years 3-6, who will be supported by Mrs Katrina Medill, Miss Natasha Abela and Mrs Priscilla Cain. We are excited to see the leadership, creativity, and enthusiasm they bring to our Gowan campus.

This year our Student Council will be led by our Gowan School Captains: Luca, Kunal, Yani and Erin. They will play an integral role in leading our student council this year and have an active part in running events, programs and new initiatives around the school. Here’s what our Gowan Captains are looking forward to achieving in their leadership journey:

Luca - Enhancing community engagement through fundraising events like our upcoming Crazy Hair Day, supporting Act for Kids.
Kunal - Creating more interactive events and activities across various year levels on Gowan.
Yani - Embracing our Spirit values and producing videos to showcase what they look like within our school community.
Erin - Promoting inclusivity by fostering buddy programs across different year groups.

On Thursday 27 March, our Gowan Student Council will be running their first fundraiser for the year in support of Act for Kids. Students in Prep-Year 6 are encouraged to wear their hair in a colourful and creative way and bring a gold coin donation for the charity.

Please ensure all hair creations are temporary, as students must wear their regular school uniform on the day. Student Council members will be at the front gate in the morning to collect donations.

Emma Webber
Deputy Principal – Years 6

Year 4-5 Deputy Principal News

Year 5 Gold Rush Excursion

Year 5 students had a fantastic day of learning and adventure at the Goldrush excursion in Weeks 5 and 6. They learnt what life was like for early white settlers in Australia, including what a goldrush camp looked like, how to make damper and how to pan for gold. Students were engaged in the real-life conditions and activities of an early Australian settler, some taking on a variety of roles within their colony. This was a wonderful and immersive way to learn more about the history of our country.

5A Lighthouse Excursion

On Tuesday, our Year 5 Lighthouse class travelled to Toohey Forest Environmental Education Centre to learn about animal adaptations. They were given the opportunity to explore the forest environment to examine how adaptations support the survival of and interrelationships between organisms. Students enjoyed a guided walk through Toohey Forest to collect specimens and time in the lab exploring their adaptations and determining which adaptations were useful for different living things.

Lauren Highman
Deputy Principal- Year 4/5

Year 2-3 Deputy Principal News

Year 3 Toohey Forest Excursion

In Week 5 and 6 our Year 3 students visited Toohey Forest Environmental Education Centre. Students participated in a range of scientific and sensory activities to support their current English and Science units of work. Students developed an appreciation of the importance of living and non-living things in the forest environment and were able to get up close and personal with some creatures they collected themselves, looking at them under the microscope. Staff from Toohey Forest EEC assisted students to gather data, observe features of invertebrates, classify living and non-living things and reflect on the importance of these organisms as part of their ecosystem. Students were also faced with an environmental challenge, which they needed to use their scientific knowledge to provide information and suggestions to create a solution.

Our Year 2 students have been exploring counting patterns and skip counting and have been finding inspiration in the great outdoors. 2A and 2D students have joined together to play games to been showing their understanding of numbers beyond 100 in a variety of settings. The students worked in small groups to choose a counting pattern, 2s, 3s, 5s or 10s, and created a game of hopscotch for their friends. It was lovely to see students developing confidence with more complex counting patterns and explaining their thinking to their friends as they played.

In Science, we have begun an exploration of Earth's sky and the broader universe. As part of this learning journey, we have engaged in discussions about celestial objects visible in both the day and night sky, observed shadows within our Environmental Learning Area, and started investigating the phases of the moon. In classes 2C and 2D, students enjoyed using Oreos to model the eight phases of the moon. They made valuable connections between their observations recorded in the moon diary and the patterns they have noticed at home.

Bump it Up Walls

You may have heard your child speak about the ‘Bump It Up Wall’ in their classrooms. Each classroom at Stretton has a ‘Bump It Up Wall’ where teachers and students unpack tasks and co create samples of work. This ensure that all students are aware of what success looks like in their writing and how to improve. Seeking and acting on feedback is a key part of the process. During our weekly Learning Walks, Mrs Singh and I ask students 5 Questions about their learning and discuss a piece of work that they have been working on.

Bec Solomon
Deputy Principal – Years 2 and 3

Prep/Year 1 Deputy Principal News

Each fortnight, we award students a Stretton Star and Spirit Awards.  This award is presented at our P-3 Assembly and recognises students’ efforts in demonstrating the Stretton SPIRIT.  Staff members may make a nomination at any point in the fortnight to the Deputy Principal.  From this list students are selected and presented with certificates, Stretton Star capes and a book.

Although there are many nominations, Mrs Peters can only pick four Stretton Stars from each year level.  So how can you be nominated?  How do you demonstrate the Stretton SPIRIT and strong values?

Have you:

• Worked together honestly and maintained a genuine strong bond with your peers? This is Sincerity – the spirit of honesty and working as a team
• Practiced a sense of determination and strength of character in all that you do? This is Perseverance - the spirit of self-determination and never giving up
• Demonstrated loyalty and are you dependable in all interactions? This is Integrity- the spirit of being truthful and reliable
• Owed your actions and behaviours? Are you respectful to others?  Do you follow rules and work hard following expectations? Are you responsible for the choices you have made? This is Responsibility and Respect- the spirit of owning our own actions and being admirable in our behaviours
• Embraced all people regardless of race, religion, personal limitations, gender and socioeconomic status? This is Inclusivity – the spirit of including others and accepting difference.
• Treated others in a manner in which you wish to be treated? All community members must strive to help those in need.  This is Thoughtfulness - the spirit of being considerate

SPOTLIGHT ON YEAR 1D

This week, our 1D students took their learning outdoors to practice positional and directional language in a fun and engaging way! The class participated in 3 exciting activities.  They became detectives in a treasure hunt, following clues to find the position of the next stamp. They hid a toy animal from their friend and then described the position of it so they could find it. They also worked in pairs to direct each other through a challenging obstacle course. They worked on using terms such as "forwards," "over," "left," and "around." They learned how to describe positions and movements accurately while having a great time in the fresh air.

Year 1D

Encourage your child to reflect on how they may demonstrate the Stretton Spirit each and every day!

Our Prep Easter Bonnet Parade will be held on Monday, March 31st following the P3 Fun Run.  Students will be designing and creating their Easter Bonnets during class time.  Parents will be invited to watch our Parade as the students march through our Early Learning Centre outdoor areas.

Details can be found in your child’s class newsletters.

Terra-Lee Peters
Deputy Principal – Prep & Year 1

Absence Reporting Information

Daily attendance and active participation in each class and subject are critical parts of the learning process.  However, we understand that on occasions your child is sick or absent from school due to appointments, family reasons or other reasons. 

Parents/Carers must notify the school and provide an explanation of a student absence by 9.00am on the day of the absence.

The priority for notification is:

• Text Message (0429 396 836)

Please be sure to include the date of absence and a brief reason for absence eg: sick, family, holiday. Please do not send any attachments with the text as our system does not accept any photos or certificates. If you are unable to send a Text Message, or need to attach a Medical Certificate, please send an Email to:

• absence@strettonsc.eq.edu.au

Please ensure you provide the students name, date/s of absence and a reason for the absence.

Parents/Carers may also register a students’ absence through QParents.

If the school has not received notification of the students’ absence, you will receive a text message by 10.00am asking for a reason for the absence.  Please ensure you reply to the text message so we can update the reason for the absence.

Melissa Wakerley-Palmer
Data Management and Analysis Officer

Senior Schooling

Senior Schooling

What a time we are having in Senior schooling! We are on the downhill side of term 1 and year 11 and 12 are well and truly into assessment mode. Year 10s have had an introduction to being a senior student and we have seen an increase in the number of students going off campus for both work experience and traineeships and apprenticeships.

We start the year with a number of students going off campus and undertaking their post schooling pathways. Students are reminded that they are required to meet all College expectations in order to be eligible to go off campus and maintain exemplary behaviour while off campus. Students who receive a study line are reminded that they must be working quietly on their work in the study room. From term 2 students may be eligible for the flexible learning in period 1 and period 4 with their study lines. Students must have returned the consent form through QLearn so that their attendance is not impacted. These forms will be released through QLearn before the end of term.

Year 12

Year 12s have been undertaking their assessment with some delays have been occurred due to the recent weather event. It is hard to believe that students are half way through their assessment for the year. It is important that ALL students are working towards their QCE attainment and staying up to date with their assessment. Catch up sessions are being held on a Wednesday afternoon in period 4 for students who need support for this, including being up to date with their VET modules. Students will be required to stay during this time until they are caught up. The year 12s have started completing their Destination surveys designed to inform our students’ pathways post schooling. This will then evolve into Destination and QTAC interviews with the Guidance Officer and Head of Senior Schooling from term 2 to ensure all students are supported and have a meaningful pathway post schooling. Students are required to complete the survey in QLearn.

Year 11

The year 11s have started to get their first taste of what is expected of them and it has been pleasing to be able to talk to many students who have been confident regarding their completed assessment. A reminder to all senior students to make sure that you are meeting submission deadlines for both your drafts and final assessment tasks. For year 11’s subject changes will not happen until the end of Unit 1 (unless needing to change into a VET subject). Many year 11 students have already made appointments to discuss their pathways and are starting to take up the opportunity of going off campus. I encourage year 11 students to start to look for work experience to support your possible pathway choices and come and discuss these through Senior schooling.

Year 10

Year 10 students have had their welcome to Senior Schooling and SET Plan Introduction session for students as year 10 is a part of the senior framework. The upcoming SET Plan process is mandatory for all year 10 students to undertake moving into year 11 and 12 or even if they are intending to leave school. His program will begin this program as of term 2. It was great to be able to talk to students and outline the expectations for them and the opportunities that are available to them at this time. Students are encouraged to be engaged in their learning process in year 10 so that they are making great choices for their year 11 and 12 pathways as well as opportunities for post school. A copy the PowerPoint has been sent to all year 10 parents as a PDF. It has been wonderful to have so many year 10 students book appointments with me so far to talk about their options for this year and next! A reminder that the TAFE Trade Taster and Nursing work Experience has been sent out for students to apply for these opportunities.

It has been wonderful to see so many students taking advantage of the senior study room in IS13 at lunch breaks. This room is open to all year 10, 11 and 12 students as a quite study space. It is important that students are focussed and engaged in their learning. If you have any questions or queries regarding any aspects of Senior Schooling, feel free to contact us.

Thank you for ongoing support and look forward to working with our amazing staff and students. 

Vanessa Garvie
HOD Senior Schooling

Gowan Music

Gowan Music

CHOIR REHEARSALS – REHEARSAL DAYS

Choirs

Our Year 3, Year 4 and Senior Choirs have all begun rehearsals, with upcoming performances at assemblies. Thank you to those students who have joined choir again this year! We have record numbers in our choirs again, and we are looking forward to seeing what the choirs can achieve throughout the year. A friendly reminder about attending choir rehearsals every week, except if you are absent from school or if choir is cancelled (this will be communicated directly with teachers and students).

This year, the choirs are:

Year 2 Choir, conducted by Mrs Hornagold. This choir will start rehearsing in Term 2
Year 3 Choir, conducted by Miss Sandilands. They will rehearse on Fridays
Year 4 Choir, conducted by Miss Sandilands. They will rehearse on Thursdays
Senior Choir (Years 5-6), conducted by Mrs Hornagold. They will rehearse on Wednesdays

If your child is in Year 3-6, you should have received information about the choirs including when rehearsals start. If you have any questions about choir, please contact the relevant choir teacher via email – chorn63@eq.edu.au for Mrs Claire Hornagold, and tsand162@eq.edu.au for Miss Tia Sandilands.

Yours in music,
Mrs Claire Hornagold and Miss Tia Sandilands

Business

Getting down to BUSINESS at Stretton in 2025

Term 1 has been an exciting time for our business students! From Year 12 General Business, to the hands-on learning in Certificate III Business, and Year 7 Humanities, students have been diving into the world of Business through a dynamic incursion, excursion, and interactive activities.  Our students have been actively exploring practical and creative business principles, with these experiences not only enriching their understanding of the business world, but also fostering innovation and teamwork. Here's a closer look at the highlights!

Year 12 General Business Students:

“In this activity we had tables set up with 6 plates of food - chips, biscuits, and chocolates. This activity had 3 private brand labels/knock off foods and then 3 popular brands that are well known by the students. We had a chance to taste both the “fake” and the popular branded food and we had to determine which one was the real brand, which one a tested better and which one looked better. A lot of the students struggled deciphering the difference between the foods, this really emphasised the power of brand awareness and what a label means to the customers. I personally really enjoyed the activity as well as learning a lot about certain popular businesses. There was an atmosphere of joy through the classroom that showed everyone else felt the same way”. 

Year 12 Business student

General Business and Certificate III Business IKEA excursion with Springboard Education:

The purpose for this excursion was to provide the students with a real-life example of a business that they can use for their IA2 assessment. The students particularly enjoyed the flatpack activity in class as well as dining at IKEA. Students were able to use the marketing and operations strategies identified within IKEA’s strategic development for other similar businesses in such a hostile competitive environment. Students will build their skills as they apply these real-world concepts to their chosen business investigation.

Year 7 Humanities (Business):

In order to support our Year 7 Humanities students and their Term 1 Business unit, we invited Janelle Payne from Springboard Education to speak to our students about all things Business, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability.  Students were engaged in a 1-hour workshop where they learnt about Ingvar Kamprad, IKEA’s founder who started by selling matchsticks as a boy and grew his business with a focus on affordable, sustainable furniture to help people and the planet. 

Tina Barnes
A/Head of Department – Humanities, Business and Languages

Digital Technology and eLearning

Robotics Club Prepares for SumoBot Showdown!

The Stretton State College Robotics Club is gearing up for an exciting challenge as they prepare to compete in an upcoming SumoBot competition in Week 8 and 9! Our talented students have been hard at work designing, building, and programming their own battle-ready robots to take on the competition.

SumoBot is a thrilling event where two autonomous robots face off in a head-to-head battle, trying to push each other out of the ring—just like traditional sumo wrestling! This competition puts students’ skills to the test, requiring them to apply engineering principles, coding expertise, and strategic thinking to create the ultimate SumoBot.

Over the past few weeks, our Robotics Club members have been refining their designs, testing different sensors, and improving their coding to make their bots smarter and stronger. Along the way, they’ve been developing problem-solving skills, teamwork, and resilience—essential qualities for future innovators.

We wish our students the best of luck in the competition and can’t wait to see their hard work in action!

Year 8 Digital Technology: Building Smart Farms of the Future

Our Year 8 Digital Technology students are diving into the world of innovation as they design and develop their own smart farms in the classroom! As part of their studies, students are exploring how technology can be used to monitor and protect plant life, just like in real-world indoor farming systems.

Throughout this project, students are collecting data from prototype farm setups, using sensors and programming to automate essential farming tasks such as watering and measuring lighting. They are also designing the ‘front end’ of an app that could monitor these systems remotely, giving them hands-on experience with coding, digital design, and problem-solving.

This unit not only builds technical skills but also encourages students to think critically about sustainable farming and food security—key challenges in our rapidly changing world.

Courtney Underwood
HOD of Department Digital Technology and eLearning

2026 Enrolments

Enrolling at our school 

Families wishing to enroll at Stretton State College are required to complete the enrolment application. Families can download, print and complete an enrolment application (PDF) the email back to enrolments@strettonsc.eq.edu.au

Please note, we only accept in catchment enrolments. Our catchment map is located on the following link: https://strettonsc.eq.edu.au/enrolments/catchment-area Siblings who now reside outside of our catchment area will be placed on a waiting list depending on capacity.

We do not accept any shared living applications.

Kelly Mooney
Enrolment Officer

Sport News – Prep – Year 3 Cross Country

We would like to invite you to Stretton’s Prep to Year 3 Cross Country to be held on Monday 31^st March on the Gowan top oval. 

Students will participate in their year level groups split into boys and girls.  Students in Prep and Year 1 will do one lap of the top oval cross-country course and students in Year 2-3 will do two laps of the cross-country course. 

Students will participate at the following times on the day:

• Prep and Year 1 - first group 9.00-9.30am
• Year 2 and Year 3 - second group 9.45-10.45am

Students are encouraged to wear their house-coloured shirts on the day (Hollows Hawks – Yellow, Paterson Panthers – Red, Cowan Crocs – Green, Bradman Bulls – Blue). Students can check with their teacher to see which sporting house they are in.  It is also important that all students and parents have the following on the day:

• Hat
• Full Water bottle/s
• Sunscreen (applied at school or home).

PLEASE ENSURE ALL OF YOUR CHILD’S BELONGINGS ARE MARKED CLEARLY.

All students who participate on the day will receive a special token for participating, showing good sportsmanship and overall having fun.

Rachel Noble  
HPE Teacher

Sport News

Met West Representatives

Congratulations to the following students who were successful in gaining selection into the Metropolitan West Swimming Team. We wish these students all the best at the upcoming State Championships!

• Ethan Freckelton
• Patrick Hao
• Xamae Kangleon
• Isabella Zhang

Illaweena Interschool Sport

The Karawatha Interschool Sport Gala Days will take place in week 9 of this term. Congratulations to all students who were successful in gaining selection into teams to represent Stretton SC. Consent Forms and Invoices will be sent home to selected students in the coming days.

Sports News – Football Academy

Football Academy Camp

The Illaweena Academy members travelled to the Gold Coast Performance Centre for their annual training camp. On the way, they faced off against Helensvale State High School— one of the top football schools competing in the highest tier of school football. Despite the challenge, all teams delivered strong performances, proving they can compete at an elite level and showcasing the academy's strength.

During the camp, players dedicated themselves to improving every aspect of their game. They took part in tactical field sessions, gym workouts, recovery programs, and valuable team bonding activities. The coaching staff were thoroughly impressed by the students' dedication, effort, and commitment throughout the camp

Academy Captains

On the first night of camp, we were proud to announce the Football Academy Captains for 2025. Congratulations to Jayden Hansen (Year 12) and Izabela Pemaj (Year 11), who will lead the academy this year.

An academy captain is more than just a title—it’s a responsibility. They are senior players who lead by example, demonstrating commitment, sportsmanship, and unwavering support for their teammates both on and off the field. With so many players embodying these qualities, we are fortunate to have a strong and inspiring group within our academy

Australian Futsal Association

The Gowan Academy members travelled to Nissan Arena for their first competition of the year—the AFA Metro Futsal Titles. It was a busy day filled with hard work, and all teams performed exceptionally well, successfully qualifying for the next round. What a fantastic achievement!

Queensland Football Schools League (QFSL) Round 1.

the Illaweena Football Academy travelled to Pimpama Secondary College for the rescheduled first round of the QFSL. Our teams put in outstanding performances, and the results were as follows:

Junior Girls - W
Junior Boys – W
 Intermediate Boys – W
Senior Boys –W
Senior Girls – W

A fantastic start to the season, with all five teams securing victories! Well done to all players and coaches.

Douglas Neill
Head Coach – Football

Sports News - Rugby League Academy

Rugby League Academy News

What a couple of months of school it has been for the Rugby League Academy! Camp, Tonie Carroll Cup, District trials and trial games.

Rugby League Camp

The Stretton State College Rugby League Camp was an unforgettable experience for students, offering the perfect blend of skill development, teamwork, and personal growth. Held as part of the Sports Academy Excellence Program, the camp provided students with high-quality coaching, engaging training sessions, and opportunities to compete in local, state, and interstate competitions. Participants not only enhanced their rugby league skills but also developed resilience, discipline, and strong team bonds. A highlight of the camp was the visit to the BLK Performance Centre at Runaway Bay, where students trained in a professional environment, gaining valuable insights into elite sports preparation. The camp was not just about improving on the field—it was a chance to build friendships, embrace challenges, and grow both as athletes and individuals.

Tonie Carroll Cup

Congratulations to our Year 7 boys who qualified for the prestigious Brisbane Broncos Old Boys competition in 2025 with an outstanding performance at the 2025 Tonie Carroll Cup. The Boys had a tough draw with games against Wavell SHS, Marsden SHS, Mabel Park SHS, Caloundra SHS & Forest Lake SHS. The Boys finished the day with 2 wins, 2 losses and a draw which qualified us as one of eight schools in South East Queensland in the competition.

Our Girls had a fantastic hit out as well coming up against Mabel Park, Keebra, Ipswich SHS, PBC to name a few. The Girls finished the day with three narrow losses, one draw and a win!

Dan Graham Head Coach - Rugby League

District Representatives

Congratulations to the following students who were selected in the Southern Scorpions District Team for Rugby League.

Sports News – Volleyball Academy

Volleyball Academy Representative Success 

Stretton Volleyball Academy players continue to impress in the Volleyball community. Firstly, congratulations to Breanna Carrington (Year 11) who was named in the U18 Beach Volleyball State Team late last year. Breanna was also named on her 2nd Development Tour with Volleyball Australia and will travel to Japan from March the 30th - 12th April. We wish her all the best with this opportunity. In other good news, several students were recently selected in the 13-15 Years Met West teams to compete at the QRSS State Championships at Caloundra in April:

Girls: Amelia Alsop, Paige Ferrer-Bucal, Shadows - Milena Webb, Peyton Zammit
Boys: Ethan Nguyen, Devansh Kumar, Edwin Mathews, Shadows - Leo Zischke, Albert Mathew, Agozie Ezeajughi

We also join in congratulating and celebrating the success of the following students in being selected into the 16-19 Years Met West teams who will complete at QRSS State Titles at Boondall in May.

Girls - Breanna Carrington, Annie Ryan, Lydia Simkiss, Kodah-Lei Stowers, Shadows – Momoka Soo
Boys - Nonso Ezeajughi, Anurag Ghalsasi, Shadows - Mitchell Grigg

Well done to all our students on their successes in representative sport pathways. You continue to make us proud.

Yr 9 and 10 Volleyball Academy Camp

 In Week 6, we also were fortunate to complete our Year 9/10 Academy camp unaffected by Cyclone Alfred. The camp was a great opportunity for these year levels to develop their team skills, team spirit and work on some psychological techniques to improve their mental toughness. Players were challenged physically with fitness and ice baths/pool recovery sessions, and we were able to put all that we had learned into practice with some games against Benowa SHS. This was a great chance to put our processes into play and see the impacts of our hard work. A heartfelt thanks to all the staff who came to camp (Ms Schulz, Mr Chant, Mr Holliday, Mr Aguiar) and gave up their time to make the experience for students an enjoyable and memorable one.

Domnic Aguiar
Head Coach - Volleyball

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