As we move through the final weeks of the school year, there is a strong sense of focus and purpose across the school as students and staff work toward the completion of key learning programs and transition activities.

Parent–Teacher Interviews

It was very pleasing to see so many parents and students attend our recent Parent–Teacher Interviews. These conversations play a vital role in supporting student learning and strengthening the partnership between home and school. If you were unable to attend or would like further feedback on your child’s progress, please don’t hesitate to contact the relevant teacher to arrange a suitable time for discussion.

Student Wellbeing and Support

We are pleased to welcome Mr John Treasure, our new Pastoral Care Worker, who has joined our wellbeing team. John will be on-site each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, providing additional support to students through mentoring, one-on-one conversations, and wellbeing programs. His calm and approachable manner has already been well received by both staff and students.

Student Behaviour and School Environment

Recently, we have experienced a few instances of inappropriate use of the boys’ toilets. This behaviour does not reflect the respect and responsibility expected within our school community. In response, we have implemented additional supervision and restricted access during class time. These measures are intended to ensure all facilities remain safe, hygienic, and respectful spaces for everyone. We ask families to reinforce the importance of appropriate behaviour and respect for shared areas at home.

Projects Abroad – Fiji Service Trip

Our students have now returned from their Projects Abroad Service Trip to Fiji, and there have been many conversations about what an incredible learning experience this was for everyone involved. The opportunity to engage in community projects, experience another culture, and contribute to meaningful service has clearly left a lasting impression. A huge thank you goes to Danya McKay, who was the lead organiser from our school, and to Emma Jeffries, who also attended the trip. This was a significant commitment from both staff and students, who gave up a large portion of their school holidays to take part in this life-changing experience. We are very proud of the maturity and leadership our students displayed throughout the journey.

Transition Program

Our transition activities are now in full swing, with Year 6 students joining us over the next two weeks for a series of part-day visits. These sessions help students build familiarity with staff, routines, and the layout of the school before their full two-day transition program in December. We are always impressed by the enthusiasm and confidence these students bring and look forward to officially welcoming them as our 2026 Year 7 cohort.

Senior Students

Our Year 11 students are currently finalising their coursework and assessments. In the coming weeks, they will begin an early start on their Year 12 subjects, giving them a valuable head start for 2026. This transition period allows students to set clear goals, become familiar with expectations, and build momentum leading into their final year of schooling.

Our Year 12 students have now submitted their final assessments and are about to commence their exams. We wish them all the very best as they complete this important stage of their schooling. Their hard work and perseverance throughout the year have been commendable, and we look forward to celebrating their achievements at the end of the term.

Bushfire Safety

A reminder Gladstone High School is rated a high-risk site and as such will be closed in the case of a catastrophic fire danger rating for the Mid North Region. Please refer to the attached brochure for additional information.

AUSTDRIVE Defensive Driving Program – Wednesday 19 November

We are excited to once again offer the AUSTDRIVE Defensive Driving Program to our senior students on Wednesday, 19 November. Young drivers continue to represent the highest proportion of road crashes in Australia, making this program a vital learning opportunity for our youth.

We sincerely thank the Rotary Club of Port Pirie and the Rocky River Lions Club for their generous donations, which have made this important safety initiative possible.

Places are limited — families are encouraged to secure a spot for their young driver as soon as possible.

Farewell to Formal Lessons – Year 12 Class of 2025

Our Year 12s officially finished their formal lessons at the end of Week 2, Term 4 — a major milestone for the Class of 2025!

They celebrated the occasion with a week filled with fun and spirit: dressing up for themed days, raising money for Breast Cancer awareness, and even arriving at school in the early hours for their traditional “muck-up” morning. To cap off the festivities, students treated graduating peers and staff to a delicious breakfast. The Year 12s were then waved off by the whole school in the traditional driving cavalcade.

Year 12s are now finalising their assignments and preparing for upcoming exams. We wish them every success and look forward to celebrating their achievements at the Formal and the Presentation Night in December.

Alison Johnson

STAGE 1 BIOLOGY

The Stage 1 students have been working on an antibiotic practical as part of their Cells and Microorganisms topic. The students learned about sterilisation techniques and how to prevent contamination of samples. They also worked with several common antibiotics and E. Coli bacteria. 

Michael Bennet

Welcome to Term 4 at Gladstone High School! As we step into the final term of the school year, there is a sense of energy and enthusiasm across our school community. The days are longer, the sun is shining, and a full calendar of learning and activities awaits us.

For our Year 9 students, this term also brings an important milestone. Students have received their elective subject choices for Year 10. This is an exciting step in shaping their educational journeys for the coming year. We encourage all families to take the time to discuss these options together, considering both interests and future pathways. Your support and guidance are invaluable as students make these decisions. Should you need any assistance or further information, please feel free to contact me, and I can support you through this process.

With the arrival of warmer weather, we would like to remind everyone that hats are now a compulsory part of our uniform during break times in Term 4. Please ensure students bring a suitable hat to protect themselves from the sun. Sun safety remains a top priority at Gladstone High School, and we appreciate your help in reinforcing these healthy habits.

In addition to sporting events and subject selections, Term 4 will also feature a range of activities and preparations for the transition into the next year. We encourage all students to participate fully and make the most of every opportunity.

The beginning of Term 4 is a fresh chance to set new goals, maintain focus, and finish the school year on a high note. We look forward to working in partnership with you to ensure a successful and rewarding term for every student.

Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement in our school. Here’s to a fantastic Term 4 at Gladstone High School!

Emma Jeffries

As we head into the final term of the year, our Year 7 and 8 students can look forward to another busy and rewarding few weeks filled with a mix of learning experiences in the classroom and beyond, along with plenty of opportunities for extra-curricular involvement. After finishing off Term 3 with the annual Wirrabara Fun Run and Hike — which saw great participation from our Year 7 and 8 students and provided a chance to be active and have some fun together — students have returned refreshed and ready to make the most of the term ahead.

In Week 1, we held Parent Teacher Interviews, which drew strong engagement from families. These conversations are always a valuable way to strengthen partnerships between home and school. Parents and caregivers who were unable to attend are encouraged to make contact with class teachers if they would still like to discuss their child’s progress.

After the success of the Year 7/8 “Madagascar” excursion to Port Pirie, where our students enjoyed seeing some of their peers perform in the Youth Theatre production, the Year 7 students also recently attended St Joseph’s Parish School’s theatre production “What a Knight!” — a lively performance that allowed students to appreciate the creative talents of others. It was wonderful to see their engagement and enthusiasm for the arts, and many have returned inspired by the energy of live performance.

Transition is a huge focus this term. We have welcomed Year 6 students from a number of local primary schools, joining us for tours, taster lessons, and activities designed to build confidence and familiarity with secondary life. The way our current students supported and guided these visitors showed genuine care and leadership, and we look forward to seeing these future Year 7s become part of our community next year. Families are reminded that our Transition Information Night for 2026 Year 7 students will be held on Wednesday of Week 4 in the GHS Hall, starting at 6:00pm. Tours will be available for those who have not yet had the opportunity to visit, and uniform items will also be available for purchase on the night.

In preparation for next year, our Year 8 students have been working through the elective subject selection process. While their core subjects remain compulsory, they are now entering the next phase of their schooling where they begin to make more individual choices about their learning pathways. Families with questions about any of the subjects on offer are encouraged to make contact with the school for further information or guidance.

Attendance remains an important focus for us. Every day of learning makes a difference, and we appreciate the support of families in encouraging students to maintain consistent routines — particularly as we head into the later part of the year. Good sleep, nutritious food, and regular attendance all play a key role in helping students stay focused, positive, and ready to learn. We also encourage parents and caregivers to support students in packing nutritious food for the school day, and remind families that Breakfast Club is available on Mondays and Thursdays.

As the term continues, we look forward to celebrating student achievement and reflecting on the growth we’ve seen across our middle years. We are also excited for the end-of-year activities that have become annual traditions at GHS, including the Port Broughton Picnic and Beach Day, Activities Day, and finally the last day of term where students enjoy activities at school before heading to the Gladstone Swimming Pool and finishing with a BBQ lunch in Tresylva Park. There is much to be proud of, and plenty still to look forward to as we move toward the end of the year.

Helen Gaunt

Year 8 B Maths: “Big Ideas in Number”!

It’s been an exciting semester in our Year 8 B Maths classroom, where students have been tackling some big challenges. Using the Scaffolding Numeracy in the Middle Years (SNMY) approach, every student works at their own pace in one of five activity groups, ensuring everyone has the right learning challenge.

In these students are developing their maths skills through a mix of hands-on activities that focus on the Big Ideas in Number and strengthen the four key mathematical areas: fluency, problem-solving, understanding, and reasoning. Whether they’re playing manipulatives, cracking real-world problems, or explaining their strategies, students are using multiple approaches and really thinking about the “why” behind the maths. Students are growing in confidence and developing those important metacognitive skills.

We’re so proud of their perseverance, creativity and teamwork. It’s wonderful to see each student’s mathematical journey take shape and have a little fun along the way.

Lauren Amey

Term 4 - Finishing Everything and FUN!

We all enjoyed seeing our Year 12s have lots of FUN in their last official week of school and wish them all the best for finishing up their tasks, sitting exams and their Graduation Dinner. This is a busy time of year for the Year 12s, and one that can be a bit stressful. This is true for students across all year levels who might start hearing teachers talk about final assessments and report grades. There are lots of great tips and strategies out there for managing school-related stress and improving organisation - some specifically for Year 12s, but we want to acknowledge that worry about school-work and grades can impact students of any age. 

We encourage parents, families and carers to check in with young people and see how many of these strategies they are using - can you help them to implement more? Maybe work together to prepare a healthy snack for a study break, go for a walk with them, or help them organise a colourful study schedule! Check out the 2Connect website, ReachOut or Kids Help Line for other ideas. 

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Mid North Tag Rugby – Years 9 & 10

This week, our year 9s and 10s ventured off to Jamestown for the School Sport, annual Mid North Tag Rugby Carnival. Thanks to JCS for hosting a great day out, Amanda Bowman for organising, NRL for running the games and bringing staff to referee, Miss Pullan, Mrs Amey, Mr Fogarty, Mr Cadzow and Mrs Brougham for attending and encouraging everyone to do their best.

Results:

- Boys came first, beating Orroroo in overtime. An exciting finish to the day!

- Gladstone Girls 2 – Won the Spirit Award! For their positive sportsmanship!

South Australian Aboriginal Secondary Training Academy- (SAASTA) Shield 2025

On Monday 8th September to Wednesday 10th September, Farley O’Brien represented Gladstone High School as part of the Port Pirie SAASTA Academy at the annual SAASTA Shield in Adelaide.

The SAASTA Shield is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait learners and participate in a two-day sports carnival.

Each year the sports changes and this year the learners had a chance to play touch football. Like the Santos Aboriginal Power Cup, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait learners build points across the semester and compete in a round robin tournament. The overall winners are the two academies who finish with the highest combined points across the semester, including points earned at the carnival.

For the first time, our Year 12 learners had an opportunity and attended a gala celebration at the newly built Yitpi Yartapuultiku in Port Adelaide, recognising their commitment and achievements in SAASTA over the past few years.

Overall, the Shield was an excellent opportunity for our learners to challenge themselves, try new experiences, and celebrate their achievements with other mobs.

All our Aboriginal learners had a fantastic time and represented the Port Pirie Academy with pride.

Judy Crosby

Lung Foundation- Mirra Tunbridge

For my Integrated Learning assignment, I held a bake sale on Tuesday, October 14th, to raise funds for the Lung Foundation Australia. The proceeds support life-changing services that bring hope to those living with lung disease and lung cancer by promoting lung health, encouraging early diagnosis, advocating for policy change and research, and raising awareness about lung health.

The bake sale took place during recess and lunch, where we sold cupcakes, muffins, cookies, and brownies. We raised a total of $178, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of our teachers and students.

Thank you all for helping to raise funds for such an important cause.

Childhood Cancer Association- Leani French- Sherlock, Ebonee Nitschke & Eli Tucker

On Tuesday of Week 10, Term 3, we held a bake sale to raise funds and spread awareness for childhood cancer. This initiative was part of our Integrated Learning project, where students purchased soft drinks and baked cookies, brownies, and cupcakes.

We successfully raised $167, which was donated to the Childhood Cancer Association.

This would not have been possible without the help and support of our teachers and the students at Gladstone High School.

We still have School Magazines available for purchase.

Please contact the Front Office to secure your copy.