31 July 2025

Executive Principal News

‘Fall in love with yourself, with life and then with whoever you want.’    Frida Kahlo

At a recent leadership conference, our leaders were asked to identify positive character strengths about each individual.  This recognition and connection became quite emotional when people were given feedback on the wonderful personal qualities and strengths which they bring to learning at Stretton.  It made me ponder about the importance of giving positive feedback to our students, spotting their character strengths, and of the importance of unconditional self-love.

In today’s fast-paced, image-driven world, helping children develop a healthy self-image and a deep sense of self-love is more important than ever. As parents, educators, and caregivers, we play a vital role in laying the emotional groundwork for the adults they will one day become. And contrary to popular concern, teaching children to love and value themselves doesn’t breed narcissism—it builds resilience, empathy, and emotional intelligence.

Of course, I’m not suggesting that we should all fall madly in love with ourselves far from it.  But how often do we all sometimes think too negatively about ourselves?  We should be able to recognize that we are good enough.  We should be encouraging our students to think positively about themselves as well.

Children who are nurtured to feel good about themselves tend to grow into adults who are emotionally resilient, better communicators, empathetic and accepting of others, more likely to seek help when needed and less vulnerable to peer pressure and negative influences.  In contrast, children with poor self-image may struggle with anxiety, depression, academic difficulties, and unhealthy relationships well into adulthood.

Self-love, in its healthiest form, is about respect, kindness, and acceptance of oneself. When children learn to love themselves, they are more likely to set boundaries, advocate for their needs, and avoid harmful relationships. It encourages a mindset where mistakes are seen as part of growth—not a reflection of failure.

I exist, I breathe.  I am here on this planet in this moment.  I belong here just the same as everyone who lives and breathes. I am neither more special nor less special than anyone else and while I am here, I need to look after my mind and body and make the most of my time on this earth.

Maybe with the rising cases of serious mental health issues with our young people in Australia, we need to be focusing on mantras such as this one.  

Let’s encourage our children to place self-care as their top priority, and try hard not to over-extend themselves.  Self-care is of course a precursor to caring for others, making sure we don’t pour from an empty cup.  And of course, our society’s focus on materialism and wealth creation also tends to take us away from our own individual personal growth, whereby we can build meaningful relationships with people in our local communities. 

Raising children with a healthy self-image and a strong foundation of self-love is one of the greatest gifts we can give. It doesn’t mean teaching them they’re perfect—it means helping them see they are worthy and lovable, even when imperfect. When children feel secure in who they are, they are more likely to grow into well-adjusted, compassionate, and confident adults ready to contribute positively to the world around them.

Let’s raise a generation that doesn’t just look confident—but is confident, kind, and embedded in true self-respect.

Until next time,

Jan Maresca
Executive Principal

Illaweena Campus Principal News

Welcome back to term three. And what a great way to start the term with a year 9 and a year 11 camp. As the students returned to school, there were many fantastic stories of camp adventures. Students often say that school camps, and other school activities are the things that remember most about their school life. We also had five of our talented Arts students perform in Creative Generation at the Brisbane Convention centre over the weekend. And lastly, a big congratulation to our year 12 Kokoda students who participated in the 48km Gold Coast event. Not only did these students display the Stretton SPIRIT, but the embodied the Kokoda SPIRIT of courage, endurance, mateship, and sacrifice.

This term, students across the Illaweena Campus will be considering subject selections and possible future pathways. In week 6 of this term, Year 10 students will be engaging in their SET Planning interviews, which is the process of students selecting subjects that will be the course of study over year 11 and 12.

When selecting subjects, there are several considerations for students (and parents). One of the most common is what subjects will give me the highest ATAR. Whilst this is a consideration for some students, it is not always the most relevant. There are many university/post-secondary school courses that require a range of different ATAR results. And therefore, I urge students and parents alike to consider course requirements when thinking about subject selections. Whilst the SET planning process is specific to year 10 students, it is not too early for younger students to start considering what their interests are and what potential career options are available to them.

Selecting subjects is also a time for students to reflect upon their academic progress, which is an opportunity to look at what they are doing well and what needs attention. An important question that students (and parents) can ask themselves when reflecting upon academic progress is – Do I know what I need to focus on?

When students don’t know what to work on, they will often procrastinate and fall back to the temptation easy tasks such as checking Instagram or TikTok.

Here are some ideas to assist students with their academic progress:

• Set concrete goals for yourself – being specific with goals helps students to be accountable. For example, this week I am going to complete the first half of my Humanities assignment.
• Break your tasks into small and manageable steps.For example, if you need to write an essay, you can start with steps such as figuring out the title, creating a rough outline, and finding five appropriate academic sources.
• Set intermediate milestones and deadlines for yourself, which will help students plan ahead, be accountable, and feel more motivated to make continuous progress.
• Identify your productivity cycles.Students vary in terms of when they’re most productive; for example, some work best in the morning, while others are more focused at night. Students should take this into account, and schedule study and work to times of day when they are least likely to procrastinate.

In week 7 of this term, I am looking forward to seeing the cast and crew of over 80 students take the stage to perform Shrek the Musical. I have heard some of the student in rehearsal and they are already sounding fantastic. I encourage our college community to come along and see these talented students perform this light hearted musical comedy based on the well-known movie.

Brad Stewart
Illaweena Campus Principal

Yr 12 Deputy Principal

Upcoming Open Days and information for Year 12s

JCU QTAC Information Webinar
Organisation: James Cook University
Location: Online
Date: July 29, 2025

If you or someone you know is planning to go to university, this webinar is essential viewing. Hear directly from a QTAC representative and get clear, expert advice on how the application process works.

The Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) is responsible for processing applications to Queensland universities, including JCU. In this session, you’ll learn how QTAC assesses applications and facilitates offers to successful applicants.

The session includes a presentation from QTAC plus a live Q&A – a great chance to get your questions answered.

Parent Information Evening

Organisation: University of Queensland

Location: Online

Date: July 30, 2025

Join us for an informative webinar event that will give you all you need to know to help your child transition from high school to university.

• Learn about the application process.
• Understand what financial support is available.
• Hear about accommodation options. 
• Discover the wide range of support services.
• Get tips for successfully transitioning to university.

A panel of students and parents will share their experiences and answer your questions.

TAFE QLD Brisbane Open Day

Organisation: TAFE Queensland
Location: TAFE QLD South Bank Campus
Date: August 2, 2025

Whether you're chasing a dream, changing direction or starting fresh, Open Day is your chance to discover what's possible at TAFE Queensland.

Join us at our South Bank campus for a fun-filled, family-friendly event packed with interactive activities, info sessions, student showcases and behind-the-scenes tours of our industry-grade training facilities. Meet our passionate teachers and industry partners, explore real study pathways, and learn about the wide range of courses delivered right across the Greater Brisbane Region.

ACU Open Day 2025, Brisbane

Organisation: Australian Catholic University
Location: ACU Brisbane Campus
Date: August 2, 2025

Open Day is your chance to find out everything you need to know about studying at ACU before you enrol. You’ll be able to check out the campus, meet staff and students, discuss entry pathways, and talk to experts about your study options and career goals.

UQ Open Day 2025, St Lucia

Organisation: University of Queensland
Location: UQ St Lucia Campus
Date: August 3, 2025

We can't wait to welcome you to Open Day at UQ's St Lucia campus in Brisbane. Explore your interests and study options, immerse yourself in university life and get answers to all your questions.

What to expect:

• Attend sessions to uncover your study area of interest and find out more about the degrees we offer. 
• Enter a competition, grab some freebies, listen to live music, get hands-on in a workshop or come on a tour.
• Get to know UQ. Ask current students and teachers all your questions and find out about student life.

UniSC Open Day 2025, Sunshine Coast

Organisation: University of the Sunshine Coast
Location: UniSC Sunshine Coast Campus
Date: August 3, 2025

UniSC Open Day is all about welcoming community and future students on to campus to check out UniSC's program offerings, meet staff and explore UniSC's world class teaching and learning facilities.

Next Week's Events

Queensland Police Service Recruiting Seminar – Brisbane

Organisation: Queensland Police Service
Location: Queensland Police Headquarters
Date: August 5, 2025

With the Queensland Police Service, you can have one career that has endless possibilities. The Queensland Police Service is recruiting real life experience, to make a real difference.

Not sure:

• If you meet the requirements?
• If you're the right person for the job?
• If you get paid as a police recruit?
• How you progress in the QPS?
• What is expected during the recruiting process and the cost involved?

These and many more questions will be answered during this Recruiting Information Session.

This session will be conducted by experienced, serving Queensland police officers. They will explain the requirements for entry and may also give you an insight into their own experiences.

BiG Day In, Sunshine Coast

Organisation: ACS Foundation
Location: Venue 114 Bokarina
Date: August 5, 2025

Join us for the 2025 BiG Day In Sunshine Coast @ Venue 114 Bokarina. Bring your students to learn where a STEM career can take them & hear from presenters from organisations including ADF Careers, Technology One, Canstar & more.

Shaping Future Educators: Your Path to Primary Education

Organisation: University of Sydney
Location: Online
Date: August 6, 2025

Do you have aspirations of becoming a primary school teacher? Join our faculty experts to discover everything about our Bachelor of Education (Primary) degree. Explore how to study with us, understand the course structure, learn about placements, and much more. Don't miss this opportunity to pave your way towards a rewarding career in primary education.

Pathways into Medicine and Dentistry Live Webinar

Organisation: National Institute of Education
Location: Online
Date: August 6, 2025

This forum is an excellent opportunity for teachers, students and their parents to find out about the UCAT, pathways into medicine, and have all questions answered by an expert teacher who has been working in the field since 1999.

The session is packed with invaluable information during which we will be covering the following topics, and more:

• What is UCAT? UCAT scores? UCAT Sub-tests?
• Year 10, 11 and 12 - things to consider now
• The undergraduate selection criteria
• Application process into universities for medicine and dentistry
• When and who can sit the UCAT?
• GAMSAT
• Can you prepare for the UCAT?
• Undergraduate interview process
• What, how and why about Gap Year?
• Alternative degrees and career choices
• Work experience advice
• Q&A

Health Experience Day Taster

Organisation: Bond University
Location: Bond Brisbane Campus
Date: August 6, 2025

Join us at our upcoming Bond in Brisbane session; Health Experience Day Taster.

Explore what it’s like to manage the care of a real patient from start to finish through this experience. You will take on the fictional role of healthcare advisor, working with the patient to consolidate all their primary and allied health practitioner’s assessments, and will provide the next steps going forward in the management of this patient.

This free event is your opportunity gain an understanding of the different career options available in the health sciences.

College of Science and Medicine Online Drop-in Session

Organisation: Australian National University
Location: Online
Date: August 7, 2025

Are you a prospective student or an offer holder? Do you have questions about studying science, health and medicine application process, scholarships, internships and student experiences at ANU?

These monthly drop-in sessions are designed to provide you with an opportunity to meet and talk to our senior student ambassador and course adviser and have your questions answered live.

Young Achievers Early Offer Information Session

Organisation: University of Notre Dame
Location: Notre Dame Fremantle Campus
Date: August 7, 2025

If you're a Year 12 student, the Young Achievers Early Offer Program could be just what you need to secure a place at a university that values your growth as a person, not just your academic achievements.

You'll hear about Notre Dame's Early Offer program, scholarships and fees, alternate entry pathways and the student experience, plus get a faculty overview of new programs.

Queensland Police Service Recruiting Seminar – Logan

Organisation: Queensland Police Service
Location: PCYC Logan
Date: August 8, 2025

With the Queensland Police Service, you can have one career that has endless possibilities. The Queensland Police Service is recruiting real life experience, to make a real difference.

Not sure:

• If you meet the requirements?
• If you're the right person for the job?
• If you get paid as a police recruit?
• How you progress in the QPS?
• What is expected during the recruiting process and the cost involved?

These and many more questions will be answered during this Recruiting Information Session.

This session will be conducted by experienced, serving Queensland police officers. They will explain the requirements for entry and may also give you an insight into their own experiences.

UniSQ Open Day 2025, Ipswich

Organisation: University of Southern Queensland

Location: UniSQ Ipswich Campus

Date: August 9, 2025

Open Day is the best way to get a feel for the campus, learn more about your study options, student clubs, sports teams, events, as well as finding out what it's really like to study at UniSQ.

• Take a tour around campus and discover our state of the art facilities. Plus, don't forget to explore our indoor rainforest located in our Library. 
• Chat one-on-one with lecturers and current students and learn about the opportunities included in your degree.
• Test your skills as a nurse or paramedic in our nursing wards and emergency training labs, including a simulated ambulance and birthing suite. 
• Step into the shoes of a law student, in our modern court room.
• Explore our state-of-the-art simulated learning experiences in our Skillshare simulation studios for social work and human services.
• Learn how to be a change agent with our psychology experts.
• Get a one-on-one career counselling session to help plan your future. It's free but places are limited so make sure to get there early to secure your spot.
• Sit back and relax to live music while you enjoy lunch from our food trucks.

Griffith Open Day 2025

Organisation: Griffith University
Location: Griffith Nathan & Gold Coast Campuses
Date: August 10, 2025

Spanning across Brisbane South (Nathan) and Gold Coast campuses, Open Day will showcase our world-class facilities, unique student life, and give you direct access to students and academics.

Griffith Tertiary Education Experience

Organisation: Griffith University
Location: Griffith Nathan Campus
Date: August 12, 2025

Our Tertiary Education Experience is a program for high school students in Years 9–12 with disabilities to check out their university options. Our full-day program includes:

• an overview of assistive technology at Griffith
• a panel discussion with current students and staff
• a workshop to help students find a career path based on their strengths and personality
• a tour of Brisbane South (Nathan) campus and its facilities
• an information session for parents, guardians, carers and/or significant others on university life.

Heroes in Business, Brisbane

Organisation: James Cook University
Location: Brisbane
Date: August 12, 2025

JCU, in partnership with Queensland Country Bank, is giving local high school students with a passion and desire to develop a career in business, law or finance the chance to learn from industry experts.

From this one-day program you’ll gain unique insights into the professions that funnel into a business and commerce career. Our experienced Professor in Management will expertly lead you through the process of creating, exploring and pitching a business opportunity, including the marketing and financial implications.

JCU Advisors will be on hand to provide information about courses and university life.

Kirrily Gillies
Deputy Principal Year 12

Year 8 Deputy Principal News

As we begin Semester 2 of this year, I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of our Year 8 students so far, and encourage you to continue to take an active role in reflecting on their learning journey. This midpoint of the year is not only a time to celebrate growth and achievements, but also a valuable chance to set new goals and look ahead with purpose.

In Year 8 our students begin to explore their individual strengths in learning and interests more deeply. As we progress into the term, students will begin discussing future elective subject selections and potential career strands in preparation for Year 9. This process encourages them to think more intentionally about the pathways that excite and inspire them, laying the groundwork for long-term academic and personal development into their senior schooling.

We know that parent and family involvement have a profound impact on student engagement and success as key stakeholders in our learning community. To help spark conversations at home about future pathways, here are five questions you might like to ask your child:

• What is one thing you’ve learned this year that you're really proud of?
• Which subjects do you feel most confident in, and why?
• What has challenged you the most so far, and how have you worked through it?
• Is there anything you’d like to improve or do differently this term?
• What subjects or skills are you interested in exploring more as you prepare for Year 9?

These questions can open up valuable insights—not just about academic performance, but also your child’s mindset, motivation, and evolving aspirations. They are conversation starters that might help you better understand how your child sees themselves as a learner.

We also strongly encourage all families to make online bookings for the upcoming Parent-Teacher Interviews in Week 5 of this term. These sessions provide an opportunity to hear directly from teachers about your child’s progress, strengths, and areas for growth. They are an ideal way to gather detailed, specific information that can support ongoing learning at home and school.

At Stretton, we deeply value and celebrate all forms of progress. While high marks are certainly something to be proud of, we believe that growth—whether it's academic, social, emotional, or in confidence—is worth just as much. Every student develops at their own pace, and every step forward on the journey of learning matters.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to guide our Year 8 learners through this exciting and important stage of their education. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your child’s journey further, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Year 8 support team.

School Opinion Survey

This term, Year 8 students are invited to take part in the annual School Opinion Survey. This anonymous survey is a valuable opportunity for students to share honest feedback about their learning, school environment, and overall experience at our College. Their voices matter, and the insights they provide will help us continue to grow, improve, and create a school culture where every student feels seen, supported, and heard.

Sasha McDonald
Deputy Principal – Year 8

Year 7 Deputy Principal News

Welcome back to all students after the holidays and hopefully everyone is relaxed and recharged for the second half of the year. Our Year 7s have had a fabulous start to high school and overall they have being showing the Stretton Spirit across the campus.

This said, it’s important for our students to remember that no matter how we feel, we must show RESPECT for each other. RESPECT and RESPONSIBILITY form part of our College Spirit values - Be courteous and considerate role models when communicating with others. All individuals should be responsible for the choices they make.

Students should:

• Treat all other students, teachers, visitors and their property in the way they would like themselves and their property to be treated
• Attend, be punctual and prepared for all lessons
• Complete class work, homework, and assessment on time and to the best of their ability
• Understand and follow the Stretton State College rules and policies and accept consequences for their actions
• Seek assistance from a member of staff to help resolve issues which may infringe on their rights

I encourage all families to have an open conversation about respect and how this might look for your child. Ways that our students can show respect to others are:

• Be kind – practice being kind to everyone, even if they haven’t been kind to you
• Stand up for what is right – speak up if someone is doing the wrong thing
• Be reliable – if you make a commitment, stick to it
• Be honest – tell the truth at all times, even if it is hard
• Trust others – showing trust to others helps to build trust and loyalty

It is important to understand that it can be difficult for our students to display these behaviours at all times in all situations. It is up to us (teachers and parents) to encourage students to practice responsibility and also being respectful when interacting with others.

BYOD

It’s always fantastic to see students using and integrating technology into their learning. One of the responsibility of students is to bring their device to school and ready for learning each day.

As you might know, the Illaweena campus has a full-day laptop loan system for all students 7-12 who cannot use their BYOD on any given day. The details are:

1. Bring Your Device: As you are aware, Stretton State College is a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) school. Always bring your laptop/iPad to every lesson, every day.
2. Loan Process:
1. Morning Collection: If you forget your device or it's being repaired, get a loan laptop from the library Tech window before school (from 8:15am).
2. Full-Day Use: Use the loan laptop for the entire day. You can return it during a break if you don't need it later, but you can't check it out again the same day.
3. ID Card Required: Bring your school ID to sign out a device. If you need a new ID, or never collected an ID, please visit student services to sort one out.
4. Longer Loans: If you need a laptop for more than a day (e.g., your is away for repairs), get a short-term loan form from the Tech window.
3. No Class-Time Loans: Laptops will no longer be loaned to students during class time.
4. Care and Return:
1. Take care of the loan laptop and report any damage immediately. You are responsible for any damages due to misuse or misbehaviour.
2. Return the laptop to the library by 3:00pm in good condition. 

Thank you for your cooperation and if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us through the school.

Adam Hornagold
Deputy Principal – Year 7

Gowan Principal News

CURIOSITY - EXPLORE THE WORLD AROUND YOU

Over the last couple of years our National approach to teaching reading has been reviewed and realigned to the Simple View of Reading that is founded on an understanding of the cognitive science behind how students learn to read, and aligning instruction to this understanding to ensure the effective teaching of reading to all students. During our Parent-Teacher Interviews last week, you will likely have received feedback on your child’s reading progress within English and across other learning areas. What we often find as teachers of particularly Year 3 and above is that, as students’ progress towards becoming independent readers in primary school, many students’ reading development slows as the comprehension demands become greater and the variety of texts they are expected to comprehend and compose broadens from Year 3 on. Generally, students of this age-group encounter difficulties in comprehension that requires them to apply their knowledge of the world around them to understand texts, particularly non-fiction texts such as posters, information reports, explanations/flowcharts about how things work and persuasive texts about issues in the world. How can we as teachers and parents assist children to broaden their general knowledge base?

Developing general knowledge takes more than just reading non-fiction texts. The best and most enjoyable way to develop general knowledge is to get out and about in the real-world and engage in a wide variety of experiences and deep conversations with the adults in their lives. Here in the South-East we are lucky enough to have numerous beaches and rainforests within driving distance along with such wonderful locations as the Queensland Museum, SparkLab, Planetarium and Botanical Gardens. We also have Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Currumbin Wildlife Centre and Underwater World.

Why not schedule some family time in the coming months to explore the world around us! Arrange for your child/ren to meander through the museum for a day, challenge them to a bushwalk or broaden their understanding of the plant world with a guided tour of the botanical gardens. Home-based activities like following a recipe to bake a cake, reading the seed packets as they plant a vegetable garden or reading IKEA furniture assembly instructions can be just as educational and fun when done together. Make the most of the world around us and in turn improve your child’s reading ability.

If you would like to know more about the Simple View of Reading, please refer to the link below:

Here are some links and ideas to get you started:

Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre - 

Queensland Museum: current exhibits include Discovering Ancient Egypt 

SparkLab -

GOMA (Gallery of Modern Art)- 

The Workshops Rail Museum – 

Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium - 

Tamborine Mountain - 

NAIDOC Week

Each year during the July school holidays, we celebrate NAIDOC Week across Australia, to celebrate and recognise the history, culture, contributions and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To ensure this important annual event is not missed by our College community we celebrated NAIDOC Week during Week 1 across our College. On Gowan, our students have unpacked the meaning behind this year’s theme of ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy’ while also engaging in a number of activities such as listening to the stories of modern and past Indigenous community leaders and learning from their stories of resilience and strength.

If you would like to learn more about NAIDOC Week, you can access the NAIDOC website at - 

National Science Week – Get Curious!

This term sees the celebration of National Science Week through many events around the country with a focus in 2025 on ‘Decoding the Universe – Exploring the unknown with nature’s hidden language’. On Gowan, we will be dialling up our Character Strength of Curiosity to explore all the wonderful curiosities Science has to offer. Key events we will be held including our annual Year 5 Science Week activities hosted by our Illaweena Science Ambassadors & Mrs Andreea Ryalls, Illaweena Science Head of Department, with many hands-on experiments. This week our Year 6 students are getting ahead of the game with a visit to CSIRO while on their Canberra Trip. Our selected Lighthouse teams will also be heading off this term to represent us in the first round of Wonder of Science. We have always been very successful at this event and I have no doubt we will be once again.

Why not spend some time as a family being curious and exploring Science by taking part in one of the many local events as outlined on the National Science Week website:

New Staff on Gowan

As well as welcoming a number of new students and families to the Stretton State College Community this term, we also welcome the following new and returning staff to the Gowan Campus:

• Mrs Francesca Rodgers (HOD)
• Ms Jenna Lawrence teaching HPE
• Mrs Dominique Harris teaching Prep B
• Mrs Loren Livotto now teaching Year 1/2 Academic Acceleration
• Mrs Katia Rodriguez teaching 1H
• Ms Nicole Thygesen teaching 3D
• Mr Jake Humphrey’s teaching 3J
• Mrs Fiona Dickman teaching P-6 for internal relief

Judy Rose-Cooper
Gowan Campus Principal

Year 6 Deputy Principal News

Year 6 Civics

Our Year 6 students had the pleasure of listening and questioning our State and local members of parliament, James Martin MP and Councillor Emily Kim - Calamvale Ward. They discussed their roles and responsibilities at their different levels of government, highlighting to our students how they work together to support our community.

As part of their learning about Civics and Citizenship this term, our Year 6 cohort will be investigating how a democratic society works, our right to vote and how this has changed since Federation, and how to pass a bill within parliament. We look forward to welcoming James and Emily back at the end of the term to listen to our proposals to solve a local or state issue.

Year 6 Prep Lunchtime Helpers

Our Prep Helper program provides Year 6 students with the opportunity to volunteer their time to engage with our Prep students during playtimes. Activities include playdough, puzzles, construction, card games and imaginative play. Through this program, our Year 6 students support the Prep cohort in developing their fine and gross motor skills, enhancing social and emotional development, understanding the Stretton SPIRIT values and settling into school life.

Student Council - SPIRIT Monitors

Our Gowan Student Council is also proudly supporting Stretton SPIRIT during playtimes by recognising students who bring joy to others and demonstrate our core SPIRIT values in the playground. This initiative is a wonderful opportunity to promote the character strength of kindness across our school community. Students who are seen showing SPIRIT may be rewarded with a Gotcha for their positive actions. We look forward to seeing our playgrounds filled with kindness, encouragement, and strong Stretton SPIRIT!

Emma Webber
Deputy Principal – Year 6

Year 4-5 Deputy Principal News

NAPLAN Student Reports

Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will be receiving their NAPLAN 2025 Student Reports this week.  Proficiency standards provide clear information on student achievement. They are set at a challenging but reasonable level expected for the child at the time of NAPLAN testing, based mainly on what has been taught in previous years of schooling. There are 4 proficiency levels:

• Exceeding: The student’s result exceeds expectations at the time of testing.
• Strong: The student’s result meets challenging but reasonable expectations at the time of testing.
• Developing: The student’s result indicates that they are working towards expectations at the time of testing.
• Needs additional support: The student’s result indicates that they are not achieving the learning outcomes expected at the time of testing. They are likely to need additional support to progress satisfactorily.

Page 4 of the individual student report provides a more detailed summary about what students know and can do within each of the proficiency levels. Further information is available at www.nap.edu.au If you did not receive your child’s NAPLAN report, please touch base with your class teacher or the office.

School Opinion Survey

The School Opinion Survey is open until Friday, 22 August 2025. All families, school staff and students in target year levels (5, 6, 8 and 11) will be invited to participate. We encourage you to take this opportunity to have your say about what our school does well, and how we can improve.

An invitation to complete the Parent/Caregiver Survey was emailed to one parent/caregiver per family in the week beginning 21 July.  The invitation will be sent from the Department of Education, not the school, and it will have the subject line School Opinion Survey for parents and caregivers, 2025.  Check your junk email folders if you can’t find it.  The survey can be completed as soon as the invitation is received and will take approximately 5 minutes using a computer, tablet or smart phone. 

Parents/caregivers who do not have access to the internet at home are welcome to complete their survey online at the school. School computers/tablets will be available.

Can’t find your invitation?  If your family has more than one parent/caregiver, check that they haven’t received the invitation and/or check your junk email folder.

Lauren Highman
Deputy Principal- Year 4/5

Year 2-3 Deputy Principal News

Welcome back to term 3, we hope that everyone enjoyed a wonderful break. Throughout Term 2 and 3, Gowan students wear sports uniform 2 days each week and formal uniform 3 days each week as advised by class teachers. A reminder that winter uniform expectations include correct outerwear; Stretton jacket (formal or sports), knit pullover (formal) and tracksuit (sports). With cooler days please be sure to name all of your child’s belongings with their full name and class so that we can get them back to you.

It was wonderful to see so many families able to join us for our open classroom events held before the holidays. Our team is extremely proud of the learning journey that our students have taken throughout Semester 1. From spending time in our Environmental Learning Area (ELA), student made zoos complete with informative texts and interviews about life in the past, students were so excited to share their learning with you. As we continue to design units of work that are anchored in student interest and real-world contexts. I look forward to hearing what our students design to share with you at our next Open Classroom opportunity. Be sure to keep an eye on emails from your child’s class teacher throughout the term.

Year 3 Science – Community Connections

Throughout Term 2, Year 3 students investigated the growth of three plants in different soil types. Students planted; Creek Mat Rush, Hop Bush and Dune Fan Flower in loam, clay, and sand. Following the conclusion of their scientific experiment, Miss McGrath connected with our friends at Stretton Early Years and Kindergarten to donate our thriving plants to the kindergarten. Students from 3E, F and J visited the Kindy, shared their knowledge with the kindergarten children and planted the plants together. The students thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity, and we know that our Kindergarten friends will enjoy caring for our plants and watching them continue to grow.

Writers’ Retreat

At the end of last term 64 budding Gowan students set off for 3 days of writing inspiration and skill development atop Mt Tamborine. This year, our theme Take Flight began with a bushwalk on the Curtis Falls track where students immersed themselves in the beautiful surrounds and observed a variety plants and animals. Students explored the natural world from the perspective of the native bowerbird and delivered their ideas and inspiration to form a bower of ideas. During our Stretton staff led workshops, students dabbled with different planning styles, leveraging poetic devices and linking

Students created their own ‘choose your own adventure’ stories using inspiration from workshops and lessons over their time at camp. They had opportunities to seek feedback from teachers and each other and left camp a tired but full of more ideas and inspiration for their writing. Our visiting author this year was Josh Donellan, an author, poet, musician, and teacher who had our students captivated! Josh took the students through a variety of creative exercises and supported the construction of some brilliant poems. Josh had glowing feedback for the behaviour of students during his workshop and took the time to provide feedback on student writing. In the evenings, students created pieces of writing and accompanied mixed media artworks which will be included in our collaborative book Adventures Around the World. This will be published later in the year alongside our annual Writers’ Club anthology.

We are extremely grateful to our wonderful staff who give of their time to create and inspiring experience for these students. Nicole Hary our Camp Co-ordinator alongside Linda Conlon, Demi Bourke and Morgan Manhire for giving their time to accompany the students on camp. The team works all year round reading and marking submissions, teaching mini lessons in our club and providing feedback to students that we would also like to acknowledge for their hard work. We look forward to continuing the development of our young writers in our club which will be advertised to attendees this term.

Bec Solomon
Deputy Principal – Years 2 and 3

Prep/Year 1 Deputy Principal News

100 Days Brighter!

Our Prep cohort celebrated 100 days in school on Wednesday 23^rd of July. Students and staff dressed up in all things bright and sparkly to commemorate this special milestone in school life. Thank you to our Year 12s who made the day extra special with a special Guard of Honour.  Our Prep students always love the interaction with our Illaweena friends and the smile on their faces showed how much they look up to the ‘big’ kids.

101 Days of Fun in Year 1!!

On Thursday 24^th of July, Year 1 students celebrated '101 Days of Fun in Year 1'. The students celebrated the day by developing their numeracy skills with activities focused on the number 101. Students moved between the eight classes and worked with our Year 1 teachers who had prepared a variety of hands on, challenging numeracy activities.  101 Days of Fun in Year 1 has become an enjoyable annual celebration for the year 1 children to flex their numeracy skills through problem solving, teamwork and fun.

Terra-Lee Peters
Deputy Principal – Prep & Year 1

Absence Reporting Information

Absent for Three or more days

When a student is absent for more than three days, parents/carers are to notify Stretton State College in writing by sending a SMS to 0429 396 836 or email to absence@strettonsc.eq.edu.au including the students name, year level, all dates of absence and the reason for the absence.  If the absence is due to medical reasons, a medical certificate will be required for all absences for three or more days.  Certificates can be emailed to the absence email, absence@strettonsc.eq.edu.au or a hard copy can be handed in at Gowan Campus or Illaweena Campus.  Please do not text any attachments as these will be rejected.

Preferred notification for daily absences is:

• SMS for each individual student: 0429 396 836
  • Important please note: Our system does not accept photos or medical certificates or any attachments and the text will be rejected.

Please send all Medical Certificates and other attachments to the following email address:

• Email: absence@strettonsc.eq.edu.au

Melissa Wakerley-Palmer
Data Management and Analysis Officer

A Message to Year 7 students

The Wild Lessons of School Camp:  Year 11 Camp Reflections

Let’s face it—when you first hear “school camp,” your brain immediately pictures a campfire, bunk beds, and the sound of someone snoring like a freight train. But camp is more than that – it’s a crash course in real-life skills you won’t find in any textbook. I recently returned from a week at our Year 11 Camp at Maroon Outdoor Educational Centre. By far, it was my favourite camp I’ve ever been to. Whether it be digging deep to complete high ropes, participating in team-building obstacle courses, and cooking over a campfire without my mum, camp taught me about friendships, perseverance and making awesome memories!

Then the perseverance bit—yep, the part where your legs turn to jelly halfway up a hike and your brain suggests faking a twisted ankle. This was Bald Knob for me. The incline was tough, and my bag was heavy, but I kept going - powered by trail mix and teamwork! Seriously! I could not have done the climb without the encouragement of Mr Kettle or my friends. When I got to the top, I discovered that I’m actually capable of more than I ever thought – and the view!

Camp is about trying new things and stepping out of your comfort zone. Trust me – waking up to frost on the tent and seeing your breath in the crisp air was challenging. But at camp you somehow give it all a red-hot crack! Camp teaches you that life’s better when you take a few risks, laugh at yourself, and say “yes” even when you’re not totally sure what you just agreed to. I learned so much about myself over the camp week.

My advice to all students:  Get out of your comfort zone and sign up for camp when you have the chance. You’ll make amazing memories, have hilarious stories to share and appreciate the new friends you made.

Finally – a massive shout out to Mr Chant and the teachers that supported us during the week.

Stella Peters
Year 11

Year 9 Camp

In Week 1 of this term, our Year 9 students kicked off with a four-day adventure at Maranatha Recreation Camp in Yandina. It was a fantastic way to reconnect after the holidays and set the tone for a positive and united term ahead.

Over the course of the camp, students participated in a wide range of activities that focused on building teamwork, resilience, and confidence. Group initiatives and raft building tested their problem-solving and communication skills, while high-adrenaline challenges such as the high ropes course, Jacob’s Ladder, and the Giant Swing gave students the chance to face their fears head-on.

The camp was filled with moments of encouragement and determination, as students and teachers pushed each other beyond their comfort zones. Whether it was climbing to new heights, jumping into the unknown, or supporting a friend through a challenge, the sense of accomplishment was felt across the entire group.

By the end of the four days, students had strengthened their friendships, discovered new capabilities within themselves, and created lasting memories. The camp provided the perfect environment for students to grow both individually and as a group.

Daniel Graham
Year 9 Dean of Students

Humanities

A Walk-Through Time: Year 11 and 12 History Students Visit Ancient Egypt at the Queensland Museum

Last week, our Year 11 and 12 Modern and Ancient History students embarked on a journey back in time as they visited the Queensland Museum to experience the Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition. This collection, on loan from the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities, brought to life the mystery, artistry, and rich rituals of one of history’s most captivating civilisations.

Students were immersed in the culture and beliefs of ancient Egypt through a display of artefacts, artworks, and ceremonial objects. Among the highlights were 3D light projections of the Temple of Taffeh, excerpts from the Book of the Dead, and collections of jewellery and daily-use items showcasing the Egyptians' renowned craftsmanship.

Perhaps most striking was the opportunity to view the coffins, containing the mummified remains of Heytehmat, Kohnsuhotep, and Hor. Other student highlights included a statue of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, the false door of Neferenkhufu, mummified animals, and a replica of the famous Rosetta Stone. Some of these artefacts are over 2,500 years of history.

Beyond the Ancient Egypt exhibition, students also had the chance to explore the museum’s World War I gallery, the dinosaur displays, and the natural history section—making for a rich and diverse learning experience.

It was a fantastic day of hands-on history, allowing students to connect with the ancient and modern past in meaningful and memorable ways. Opportunities like these bring history off the page and into reality, sparking curiosity and deepening students’ understanding of the people and events that have shaped our world.

Rachael Murphy
HOD – Humanities, Business and Languages

Library News

2025 Bookmark Design Competition

An impressive number of students from both campuses participated in our annual Bookmark Design Competition. They were tasked with creating a bookmark inspired by one of the following reading genres: graphic novel, humour, science fiction, mystery, spooky, or adventure.
We were thrilled to receive an overwhelming number of entries that highlighted the creativity and artistic talent of our Stretton students.

Congratulations to our winners:
Mitchell 2E
Jesse 3D
Ishneet 5D
Shomili 9K
Aastha 10H
Arunjeet 10H

Our winning student’s bookmarks are available at both Illaweena and Gowan library.

Book Week on Gowan

This term we will be celebrating CBCA Book Week on Gowan. Book Week at Stretton will be in Week 6 from Monday 18th August to Friday 22nd August. The theme this year is ‘Book an Adventure’.

Our Book Week costume Parade will be on Tuesday 19th August in the Gowan Hall. There will be 3 parades as follows:
Prep, Year 1, Year 6: 9am
Year 2, Year 3: 10am
Year 4, Year 5: 11.30am

Please encourage your child to come dressed as their favourite book characters. There will be prizes for the most creative and original book costumes.

Stretton Great Book Swap

In Term 4, Grades 6-12 will be participating in the annual Stretton Great Book Swap to raise money for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. We are currently collecting book donations- these can be dropped off at Illaweena or Gowan library. Please see below for more information:

Book Club

Scholastic Book Club catalogues for students in Prep- Grade 6 have been sent home. Additional catalogues can be collected from Illaweena or Gowan Library. You can place your order online via the Scholastic Loop website:

Orders are due by 1^st August.

Premier’s Reading Challenge

The Premier’s Reading Challenge is well underway.

Students in Prep to Grade 9 are encouraged to select a range of fiction and non-fiction books suited to their reading ability and record books read during the reading period, 6th May to 22nd August.
A reader record form can be collected from Illaweena and Gowan library.

To complete the challenge:

• Prep to Year 2 must read or experience at least 20 books
• Years 3 and 4 must read at least 20 books
• Years 5 to 9 must read at least 15 books.
  
  

Experiencing books can include shared reading, listening to stories, or reading picture books.

Every student who completes the challenge will receive a Certificate of Achievement signed by the Premier. We currently have a display of Premier’s Reading Challenge recommended books in both libraries for students to borrow, however these are only recommendations and students may read any book at their level.

More Premier’s Reading Challenge book recommendations can be found here: https://prc.median.com.au/BookList

Happy reading,

Sara Effron                                                    Kelly Norman
Teacher Librarian                                           Librarian
Gowan Library                                               Illaweena Library

Illaweena Music

MOST 2025

The Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Instrumental Music is a biennial event offering a residential extension program for up to 80 musically outstanding students (MOST) from Queensland state secondary schools.

The MOST program extends musically gifted and talented students in a 10-day program of musical development in large and small ensembles, tutorial groups, aural musicianship and a range of music and cultural activities. Conductors and tutors are eminent musicians who are recognised as leaders in their respective fields.

Huge congratulations to three of our Stretton musicians who were accepted into the 2025 MOST program this year – Fan-Rong Kong (Year 12), Briana Watters (Year 11), and Julian Lee-Nair (Year 10). We are incredibly proud of these fine musicians who made Stretton College very proud. 

Julie Stewart (Music Teacher)

Creative Generation 2025 - The Next Chapter 

This year’s Creative Generation - State Schools On Stage took the audience on a journey through the next chapter. Featuring over 2000 talented state school students across dance, choir, and orchestra. This show celebrated imagination through stories, dance, and especially music such as Over the Rainbow and Test Drive from How to Train Your Dragon. CGEN is a televised show and will broadcast later in the year on Channel 9. The following students were involved in this year’s performance.

Jack Giles (year 11) Company Choir
Niki Mosayebi Dehkordi (year 11) Company Choir
Fan-Rong Kong (year 12) Musical Theatre, Orchestra and Big Band
Sheen Kong (year 10) Orchestra
Julian Lee-Nair (year 10) Orchestra

Written by Jack Giles (Year 11 student)

National Youth Wind Ensemble of Scotland

Recently, I was fortunate enough to travel to Scotland to be part of the National Youth Wind Ensemble of Scotland (NYWES) after being selected by Artistic Director Matthew Chinn from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Alongside me, fifteen students from Queensland also attended the program. Before beginning our musical journey in Scotland, we spent three full days exploring London as tourists. During this time, we visited many historic landmarks including Kensington Palace, Royal Albert Hall, Buckingham Palace, and the Royal College of Music.

This trip offered me the opportunity to expand both my musical knowledge and ability, while also forming lasting connections with fellow musicians. I had the privilege of working with Joanne Freeland, a clarinet specialist, and was conducted by Kevin Price who has served as the Music Director of NYWES since 1998. After seven intense days of rehearsals and learning nine new pieces, the experience culminated in a final concert. Along the way, many wonderful memories were made, and I was proud to represent my country.

Written by Briana Watters (year 11 Student)

Gowan Music

CHOIR REHEARSALS – REHEARSAL DAYS

Year 2 Choir

The Year 2 Choir has now started rehearsing, on Mondays at first break in the music block (not the current Year 2 Music room). All Year 2 students are welcome to join the choir. If your child would like to join the choir, please read and return the expression of interest form that was emailed home in June, or contact Mrs Hornagold.

Year 3 Choir

Well done to the Year 3 Choir for their performance on assembly at the end of Term 2. They are now learning new songs in preparation for upcoming performances later this semester.

Year 4 Choir

On Tuesday 2 September, the Year 4 Choir will be participating in a massed choral event, called Singfest. This event sees 200-300 students from various schools come together to participate in singing workshops during the day, and then perform as a massed choir in the afternoon concert. Information will be sent to families in the next week, and any questions can be directed to Miss Sandilands.

Senior Choir

The Senior Choir are now preparing for their next main performance which will be at Night of Stars. Information will be sent to families closer to the time. Rehearsals will continue each week even when school camps are on. If your child knows in advance that they cannot make a rehearsal, they can email Mrs Hornagold to let her know.

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

2026 Enrolments

Enrolling at our school 

Families wishing to enrol at Stretton State College are required to complete the enrolment application. Families can download, print and complete an enrolment application (PDF) then 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 – Oz Tag

Rachel Noble 
HPE Teacher

Sports News – Football Academy

Southern Scorpions Primary Gala Day

Stretton State College proudly hosted the Southern Scorpions Primary Football Gala Day. It was a busy and exciting day of football, with our Junior Boys, Senior Boys, and Senior Girls teams welcoming St John’s Anglican College, Parklands Christian College, and Corymbia.

All Stretton teams performed exceptionally well, winning every match and claiming the title of Southern Scorpion Champions. They will now go on to represent the district at the Met West Primary Finals Day on the 7th of August at Lions FC.

Year 10 student Matilda Wise recently represented Queensland at the CommBank Emerging Matildas Championships held in Sydney. After six days of high-level competition, the Queensland team proudly finished 4th overall.

Well done, Tilly — an outstanding achievement!

Under 19 National Titles

Academy Captain Jayden Hansen has been selected to represent Queensland at the upcoming National Schoolboys Championships. This is a fantastic achievement, and we wish Jayden all the very best as he competes on the national stage

Football Trials

The Football Academy is excited to announce that trials for our 2026 intake will take place

during Term 3. Please see the trial dates and times below:

Douglas Neill
Head Coach – Football

Sports News –Rugby League

Met West Trials

Congratulations to the following students who were named in the 2025 Met West teams for 11-12 & 13-14 Girls Rugby League.

Rugby Union 11-12 State Championships

A massive congratulations to Benson and Pat Fepuleai, who recently participated in the Rugby Union State Championships. The boys represented our school with pride and ultimately beat Met West in a tight Grand Final, 17-10 to be crowned 2025 State championships. A massive congratulations to Benson who was named player of the final.

Rugby League 11-12 State Championships

A huge congratulations to 8 of our Rugby League Academy students who represented Met West at the 11-12 State Championships for Rugby League Last month. Braxton Ratima, Ephesians Lale, Harlem Poutasi, Hunter Taufelila, Levi Vakauta, Lincoln Vang, Nepia Tauri, Neremiah Lauti-Paluple. The boys had an unbelievable tournament, being crowned the eventual winners, beating South Coast in the final.

A further congratulations to Ephesians Lale, Harlem Poutasi, Hunter Taufelila, Levi Vakauta and Neremiah Lauti Palupe who were all named in the 11-12 years Queensland team! The boys are currently at the National Carnival and have been instrumental in their teams 26-0 win over NSW and 30-0 win over ACT.

Rugby League National Championships

Over the holidays Bella Alo (Queensland) and Te Rina Pearse (Northern Territory) participated in the annual national championships for rugby league held in Coffs Harbour. Both girls had an outstanding tournament with Queensland claiming silver after narrowly going down to NSWCHS in the Grand Final. We are so proud of these girls and their efforts. 

Rugby Union National Championships

Congratulations to Te Rina Pearse, who recently represented Queensland at the u18 National Carnival held in the Sunshine Coast. Te Rina had a superb tournament with her team being crowned national champions after a try after the fulltime hooter. This was the first time ever QLD has won the 18 Girls Rugby 7’s National Championships.

Brandon Khuu
Head Coach – Rugby League

Sports News –Stretton Storm Sports Academy

Stretton Storm Sports Academy Announces Partnership with Bendigo Community Bank Logan for 2025

Stretton Storm Sports Academy is proud to welcome Bendigo Community Bank Logan as our official partner for 2025. This exciting collaboration marks a significant milestone, as it is the first partnership to span across all three of our academy sports programs of Football, Rugby League, and Volleyball.

Bendigo Bank has a strong reputation for supporting initiatives that empower young people to thrive, and we’re thrilled they’ve recognised the positive impact Stretton Storm is having on our student athletes. Their support will further strengthen our ability to help students develop their skills, grow in confidence, and compete at a national level.

This partnership isn’t just a win for our athletes, it’s a boost for our entire school community. The support from Bendigo will also benefit our dedicated college staff and help us continue to grow and inspire excellence both on and off the field.

We look forward to achieving great things together in 2025 and beyond.

For more information about how Bendigo Bank can support your banking needs, please contact:

📍 Bendigo Bank – Logan Community, Springwood Branch
📞 Phone: 07 3208 2611
📧 Email: Joni.carnell@bendigoadelaide.com.au 
📍 Address: 34 Fitzgerald Avenue, Springwood QLD 4127

Jayden Best
Director of Sporting Excellence

Sports News – Volleyball Academy

Domnic Aguiar
Head Coach – Volleyball

2026 Stretton Storm Trial Dates & Registration Links

Football - https://forms.office.com/r/6zgXG4Tgb6?origin=lprLink
Year 7 Boys and Girls of 2026 - Tuesday 12^th August 8:45am - 2:45pm
Year 4 - 6 Boys of 2026 - Wednesday 30th July 3:30pm - 5pm
Year 4 - 6 Girls of 2026 - Monday 4^th August 3:30pm - 5pm
Year 8 - 12 Boys and Girls of 2026 - Invitation to train with current Stretton Storm teams

Rugby League - https://forms.office.com/r/HZY3xTfgwT
Year 7 Boys and Girls of 2026 - Thursday 7^th August 8:45am - 2:45pm
Year 4 - 6 Boys and Girls of 2026 - Thursday 31st July 3:30pm - 5pm
Year 8 - 12 Boys and Girls of 2026 - Invitation to train with current Stretton Storm teams

Volleyball - https://forms.office.com/r/1s90BniBA6
Year 7 Boys and Girls of 2026 - Tuesday 12th August 8:45am - 2:45pm
Year 4 - 6 Boys and Girls of 2026 - Thursday 14^th August 3:30pm - 5pm
Year 8 - 12 Boys and Girls of 2026 - Invitation to train with current Stretton Storm teams

Date Claimers