Dragon Tales | 2025 Issue #1

From the Principal

Throughout this term our students have been working hard in class to achieve some amazing academic results.

Junior Certificate of Education

Congratulations to our first 70 Year 10 students, who achieved and received their Junior Certificate of Education (JCE). This Glenmore State High School-based award recognises students' learning achievements across Years 8 and 9. The JCE encourages student engagement, promotes goal setting, and helps prepare students for their senior years of schooling.

To earn their JCE, students had to accumulate a minimum of 10 credit points across the two years by meeting academic, literacy, and numeracy standards, whilst engaging in extracurricular activities and maintaining strong attendance. The achievement of these students, reflects their continued commitment to learning and personal growth across the last two years of schooling.

Congratulations to the first GSHS Junior Certificate of Education recipients—your hard work has paid off, and we celebrate your success. Well done!

Yadaba Nunthi

This year as part of a joint program between GSHS, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS), the Woppaburra Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers, the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI), the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and Keppel Dive and Water Sports, the Year 12 Yadaba Nunthi students moved into the second phase of the Junior Ranger program, adventuring into the conservation of Sea Country, specifically Woppa (Great Keppel Island) and the Keppel Islands.

In 2024, the Yadaba Nunthi Program students worked with the QPWS Rangers at the base of Mount Etna Caves to support the conversation of the endangered Ghost Bats and vulnerable little Bent-Wing Bats. This year the program expanded with our Year 11 students continuing the work in the Mount Etna Caves National Park, and our Year 12 students moving out to Sea Country, to assist in the conversation and reconstruction of our local coral reefs and seagrass country.

To undertake this work, students will undertake extensive training in snorkelling and scuba diving. Through a range of Governmental grants and industry partners, the cost of the required Advanced Rescue Class diving qualification has been covered in full for each of the program’s 10 student participants.

Here are a few of the students talking about the program and the incredible opportunities it will provide each of them in the environment, conservation and tourism industries, when they graduate at the end of this year.

Report Cards and Parent-Teacher Interviews

Report Cards for Term 1, 2025 will be emailed home during week 2 of Term 2. Students will receive an indication of their Effort and Behaviour displayed in each class across the term.

On Monday, 9 May 2025 (week 4) between 3-6pm we will be holding Parent-Teacher Interviews. Parents and Carers for students across all year levels are invited to attend. Ten-minute timeslots will be made available, and bookings are essential via DayMap only. Bookings are yet to be opened, and text messages will be sent home when they are.

Please ensure you have registered for DayMap to ensure ease of booking interviews.

What an incredible start to our 50^th year of education at Glenmore SHS. See you all for the start of Term 2 on Tuesday, 22 April 2025.

History of Dragons

Meet our principal’s

Meet Mr Matt Newell!

Mr Newell was the Principal at Glenmore SHS from 2017 through to the middle of 2019. He is the principal who served directly before our current Principal, Mr Shannon. Throughout his time here at Glenmore SHS he:

• Speared the creation, development and opening of our FlexiSpace initiative;
• Launched the SCOPE program (extension learning program);
• Saw the implementation of a new Queensland Certificate of Education; and
• Supported the school community with the passing of our beloved Community Engagement Counsellor, Alvie Broome.

Matt’s fondest memory of Glenmore was the unrelenting support from our school community for students from diverse backgrounds. He is looking forward to visit the school during the 50^th Celebration afternoon to see what past students are now doing and the work our students are currently undertaking.

Meet Mrs Janet Young!

Mrs Young was the Glenmore SHS Principal from 2011 to February 2015. She prided herself on the strong sense of belonging and teamwork that existed amongst the staff, during her time. Whilst she steered the GSHS ship:

• The Mike Maher Centre was rebuilt after it was devastatingly destroyed by arson;
• We were chosen as a pilot school for the introduction of Year 7 to high school;
• We were awarded a Showcase Award for Excellence in Junior Secondary School by the Queensland Government;
• We were awarded a Showcase Award for Excellence in Senior Phase of Education by the Queensland Government;
• We were selected as the placement school for overseas students whose parents were part of the additional workforce for the local meatworks;
• The security fence was built around the perimeter of the school.

Janet’s fondest memory included the strong teaching and administration teams which had a shared focus on student support and inclusion. She hopes that in the next 50 years that Glenmore students and staff are proud of their school, and that they achieve their best, and support each other and the school to achieve the same.

Dragon Puff

Deep Time

By Mr Cameron Gooda and Year 7 Cohort

This term in History the Year 7 cohort focussed on our First Nations’ history. As part of this, students had the opportunity to take part in a Deep Time excursion to the Dreamtime Cultural Centre, where they engaged with authentic First Nations practices run by cultural experts from Warama Culture.

The year 7’s participated in a round robin experience to gain a deeper understanding of four important traditional practices – fire making, ochre, weapon making and dance. Warama Culture immersed students in a hands-on experience that paved way for both, knowledge acquisition and fun experiences.

During fire making, students practiced preparing, lighting and safely extinguishing fires using raw materials and team work. Ochre making taught students how to source, appropriately prepare, and properly use ochre, while gaining knowledge of the traditions and customs of ochre. Weapon making saw students source natural materials from the environment, and watch a demonstration from a traditional custodian on the various tools and techniques used to gather and hunt. Learning traditional dances was a clear favourite of all students. Split into boys and girls, students were taught the traditional dances for each group. Afterwards they came together for some healthy competition, each group learning their own unique dance and then showcasing it for the judges.

This excursion was the first of its kind for Year 7s at Glenmore High and proved successful in terms of engagement, knowledge, understanding and enjoyment. Our Year 7 teaching team look forward to continuously growing our cultural understanding and engagement into the future.

Student Testimonial

“Schools should do this day because they deserve to have fun and learn the real ways of culture from real cultural experts. Most of all you actually get to do the activities and you don’t just sit there and watch.” – JC Neah and Norbien.

“It was a fun day because there was a lot of things to do.  It felt adventurous but educational at the same time. I liked that we learnt about real culture from real cultural experts.” – Arabella and Noah.

“You should go to the Dreamtime Centre because it’s super interesting and fun experience with lots of opportunities to learn about Aboriginal culture, it was so cool to hear how First Nations peoples lived. All of the guides were really nice and we would come back.” – Georgia and Aleira.

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 21

Next

It’s all about Money

By Mrs Nancy Wheatley

Throughout this term, Mrs Wheatley and the Year 8 Intensive Numeracy class have been examining Money. To get ready for this, students engaged in skip counting activities, and identifying the different coins and notes of the Australian currency.  At first, students made values of money using coins and were asked, for example “how many ways can we make 75 cents?” After showing their success in using coins, students made values of money using notes and coins.  Mrs Wheatley was impressed with the number of different ways students showed the requested values.

Using this knowledge, students were challenged to represent the change required from purchases.  Conditions were applied, where students were told of the notes or coins they could not use.  Students were definitely up for the challenge. Shopping and budgeting activities rounded out this term’s unit on Money.

Grazing Boards

By Mrs Jo Emmert

The Year 11 Hospitality students have been hard at work this term in the creation and evaluation of their grazing boards. Aligning with current culinary trends, students were asked to prepare a grazing board suitable for a flexitarian diet (a flexible eating plan that emphasizes plant-based foods while allowing for occasional or limited inclusion of meat, fish, eggs, and dairy). Their boards required a minimum of five to six items, one being home made with appealing garnishing for under $10.

Some of their amazing creations!

The Year 11 students did a great job preparing, presenting and cleaning up all within the allotted 70-minute period. Great work Year 11s!  

Happy Little Vegemite’s

By Mrs Josie Merritt

At Glenmore there are over 12 different cultural backgrounds represented within our student body. Some of our students need assistance when English is an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D). To support these students, we have an EAL/D programme running five mornings a week throughout the term.

The lessons, which continue for approximately 12 months, are designed to create a supportive environment while immersing the students in our English language, and helping them to settle into school and community life.

During week 8 as part of our learning, we focused on Vegemite. We looked at the, who, what, when and why of vegemite, prompting the students to talk about the differences they have discovered in their school and communities.  

This was the first-time for Mery and Yan to try Vegemite, which they both said “Vegemite was, a bit salty but really good.”

Thinking Deeply, Arguing Respectfully

By Mr Bryan Cranston

Glenmore has entered a senior team in the 2025 High School Ethics Olympiad, organised by the Australian Association of Philosophy. Taking place on 19 May, this national competition invites students in Years 10–12 to analyse real-world ethical dilemmas in a collaborative, respectful format. Unlike traditional debates, teams must defend their chosen positions with insight and care, rather than argue opposing sides. Our team of "Eth-letes" meets every Thursday at lunch with Mr Cranston to prepare thoughtful responses and build critical thinking skills. The Olympiad nurtures ethical awareness, civil discourse, and philosophical reasoning—skills that are more important than ever in today’s world.

Dragons in Flight

Future Pathway Starters

Congratulations to Year 10 students, Sidney and Jayden, who officially started their School-Based Apprenticeship / Traineeship this term.

Undertaking a Certificate III in Hospitality, Sidney is a trainee with the KFC Restaurant in Stocklands. Best of luck to Sidney, as he works towards achieving his certification and takes the relevant steps towards his future career.

Proud as punch is a great way to describe Jayden and his dad, when Jayden was officially signed as an apprentice with Western Truck Group this term.

Completing a Certificate III in Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology, Jayden is well on the road to achieving his chosen pathway. A huge thank you to Warren from MAS in working to assist us in securing the work placement with Western Truck Group, and Western Truck Group for taking Jayden on as an apprentice. Keep up the good work Jayden!

From our P&C Association

Online ordering is now available for our Tuckshop with Qkr! with MasterPass. Ordering your student’s lunch is now as simple as opening an app, selecting their order and paying for it before 8am each day.

Check out the Qkr! With MasterPass How-to Guide, for all the info on downloading the Smartphone app, creating an account and making orders.

Community Notices

From the Department of Education

Preparing your child for adolescence

Parenting often can be confusing when you’re faced with differing opinions and advice. Join author of So You Want to Know What’s Good For Your Kids, Dr Norman Swan, as he offers insight into research-based evidence on preparing children for adolescence. Listen to the latest Department of Education podcast here, on Spotify or on your favourite podcast app. 

Global Engagement Prizes and Programs

Expand your global outlook and unlock fresh new perspectives, with Global Engagement program and prize applications opening this week.

Head to the Global Engagement web portal to discover the fully funded programs and prizes on offer for students, educators and schools in 2025.  

Our opportunities span online, domestic and outbound and inbound immersions that are designed to create meaningful and lasting experiences that go beyond a one-time program. 

 Subscribe to Global Engagement News to keep up to date with opportunities, Let’s get global!

The 2025 Premier’s Coding Challenge

The 2025 Premier’s Coding Challenge is NOW OPEN! Students in Years 3–10 are encouraged to showcase their coding superpowers by creating an app, game, or website that drives positive change and addresses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Winners will be awarded amazing coding and robotics prizes and attend a dedicated awards ceremony with industry experts.  Find out more: https://qld.gov.au/codingcompetition.