Open Day – Wednesday 23rd July

We are excited to invite families to our upcoming Open Day on Wednesday 23rd July. There will be two school tour sessions available – one at 10:00am and another at 5:00pm. This is a fantastic opportunity for Year 5 and 6 students, as well as any current students and their families, to visit our school, meet staff, explore our facilities, and learn more about the programs and opportunities available. We encourage all interested families to come along and see what makes our school a vibrant and supportive place to learn.

End of Semester Reports

Student reports will be sent home at the end of this term. These reports provide valuable insight into student progress and achievement across subjects. We encourage families to take the time to review and discuss them together. Please feel free to contact the subject teachers if you’d like to follow up on any aspect of your child’s learning.

Semester 2 Begins Monday

A reminder that students will begin their Semester 2 classes this Monday. This marks a fresh start with new subjects and renewed learning goals. We’re looking forward to seeing students continue to challenge themselves and grow.

Staff Training: Using AI to Improve Efficiency

Congratulations – Fiji Projects Abroad Team

A heartfelt congratulations to the group of students participating in the Fiji Projects Abroad trip. Under the leadership of Danya McKay and with the support of Emma Jeffries, the students have already shown incredible initiative and teamwork by running an amazing online auction and Quiz Night. These events have been instrumental in supporting their fundraising efforts and have brought our school community together in a fun and meaningful way. We are proud of their commitment and can’t wait to see the impact they make abroad.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we head toward the term break. Wishing everyone a safe and restful holiday when it arrives.

GHS Olympics 

The Gladstone High School Olympics have proved to be a huge success amongst students, with impressive skill and increasing popularity. Over the course of the 7 weeks, we have endured the likes of football, volleyball, netball, basketball, soccer and table tennis, all of which ran quite smoothly and brought smiles all around.

However, none of this would have been possible without the tireless efforts of the school captains, making sure all games run on time, gathering all the teams and using their free lessons to plan, set-up and organise the scoring and team fixtures.

We would also like to thank the teachers for supervising these games over their lunch breaks; it wouldn’t have worked without you. With the success from this year’s Olympics, it would be great to see this carried on annually!

Max Pedler - School Captain

Year 9 Ski Trip

We would like to extend our gratitude to all the parents and guardians who attended the information night for the Year 9 Ski Trip. Your participation and support are greatly appreciated. As we prepare for this exciting adventure, please remember to complete and return the consent forms as soon as possible. Additionally, if you are able to donate food items for the trip, please refer to the sheet included in the information pack for details.

We are pleased to announce that the lunch fundraiser was a success. Our students demonstrated excellent organisation and communication skills, working together effectively and persisting through challenges to ensure all orders were filled. It was a great experience for everyone involved.

Semester Changeover

This week marks the semester changeover at Gladstone High School. Year 9 students will begin their new elective subjects, offering them fresh opportunities to explore different areas of interest. Meanwhile, our Year 10 students have successfully completed their first SACE subject, Exploring Identities and Futures (EIF) and also look to change into some new elective subjects in semester 2. 

Year 10 Work Experience

Year 10 students are gearing up for their work experience placements, scheduled for Week 10. This valuable experience allows students to gain insight into their prospective career paths and is an expectation for all students to undertake a week of work experience. If any students have arranged to conduct their work experience at a different time, please ensure all necessary paperwork is submitted by the end of Week 7. Our students have been diligently completing their Work Health and Safety training, as well as obtaining their White Card, to prepare for this valuable experience. If parents have any questions, please feel free to let me know.

Winter Uniform Reminder

As the colder months approach, we remind all students to ensure they have access to a Gladstone High School jumper. These are available for purchase at the front office, with options including the rugby top or pullover jumper. Staying warm and comfortable is essential for maintaining focus and well-being during the school day.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation. We look forward to a successful and engaging term ahead.

Junior School Report – Term 2 Week 8

Our Year 7 and 8 students have had a busy and rewarding term so far, engaging in a range of activities that build skills, values, and connections with our wider school community.

In Year 8 Homegroups, students have been focusing on empathy and the school value of responsibility, with a particular emphasis on social responsibility. They have explored important topics such as homelessness and local aid campaigns, encouraging thoughtful discussion about how we can support those in need within our community. Students have also been engaging with Child Protection Curriculum topics, including being safe online and understanding gender representations. These lessons have been well received and have sparked some rigorous and thoughtful discussions.

In Mathematics, our Year 7 students have been learning about financial maths, investigating best buys and applying their skills to calculate the cost of a slice of pizza. As a fun and practical extension of this learning, Mrs Seidel’s class made their own pizzas in Home Economics, using mathematical skills to weigh and measure ingredients and calculate costs. It was a fantastic way to see maths in action! Mrs Gaunt’s class look forward to making their pizzas in the coming weeks.

In English, our Year 7 students have been working on their Soap Box Oral task with Miss Travers. All students did a fantastic job presenting their speeches. While some chose to deliver light-hearted and humorous topics, the majority focused on serious and thought-provoking issues. This task helped students build confidence in public speaking and learn how to communicate their ideas clearly and persuasively.

In Health, both Mrs Skinner and Mrs Pech have introduced the Embrace Kids program to our Year 7 and 8 classes. This exciting initiative focuses on building positive body image, self-acceptance, and resilience. The program will continue to be a key focus for the remainder of the term, alongside the SHINE program, which supports students’ learning about relationships, respect, and wellbeing.

As this week marks the end of Semester 1, students are busy finalising their tasks and preparing for the new timetable. For our Year 7 students, this means a change in electives — they will swap between Food Technology and Wood Technology to Digital Technologies and Creative Arts. We encourage parents and caregivers to check their child’s continuous assessment on Sentral and to contact teachers directly if they have any questions or would like further information about their child’s progress.

Our students have also continued to take part in the Premier’s Be Active Challenge, working towards their goal of 60 minutes of activity, five days a week — helping to build healthy habits and support overall wellbeing.

We are proud of the enthusiasm and effort our Year 7 and 8 students are showing this term and look forward to sharing more highlights soon!

8/9 Science – Term Highlights

This term in Science, our Year 8 and Year 9 classes have been busy exploring the wonders of biology and chemistry through engaging lessons and hands-on investigations.

Year 8 students have been diving into the microscopic world of cells and discovering how organ systems work together to keep the human body functioning. A particular highlight has been their study of the cardiovascular system, where students learned how to keep their hearts happy and healthy. One of the most memorable activities was the sheep heart dissection, giving students the chance to see firsthand how the heart’s chambers connect to major veins and arteries.

Meanwhile, Year 9 students have been developing their understanding of the structure of atoms and the periodic table. They recently completed a practical investigation into the law of conservation of mass, where they measured and analysed chemical reactions to observe how mass is conserved. This hands-on approach helped bring abstract concepts to life and build confidence in scientific thinking.

It’s been a term full of curiosity, learning, and discovery across both year levels!

Sarah Philp - Science Teacher 

Year 8B Hass

This is our Year 8B Class' Minecraft city. Students were tasked to design a city, taking into consideration what kind of industries would be found in the city, and then justify their decisions in their written assignment. The written component also asked them to consider how we could manage urban sprawl and make the city more sustainable. 

Ben Hussell - HASS Teacher

On Wednesday the 11th of June, a group of students, many with little experience in hockey, ranging from Years 8-12 travelled to Kadina to compete in Knockout Hockey.

The first game brought a challenge to our squad, with the likes of St Mark’s finest hockey talent putting up a strong fight. We lost that game, but we still managed to have fun! The next game was against Kadina Memorial School, which also put a wall of talent against us. We lost that game too, but again, we still had fun! We braved the cold in the last game, which was against the first-class hockey players of the Yorke Peninsula team. The team carrier, Eli Tucker, took a ball to the leg in this game, which left a mighty imprint! Ouch. You guessed it - we lost that game too.

But the McDonald’s promise at the end made it worth it! Overall, it was a really fun day for all, even those who had never picked up a hockey stick in their lives!

Thanks to Ali Gulin and Paul Fogarty for making this day possible.

Max Pedler - Year 12

Wellbeing – Accessing Mental Health Support

Following up on our staff training in Mental Health First Aid, we wanted to take a moment to share some places that young people and their families/care givers can access information, strategies and support when needed. SA Health offers a comprehensive range of public mental health services in SA. Services are provided through community health centres and hospitals, and to consumers in their own homes. Your doctor can help and make referrals to specialist mental health services.

But sometimes, the first steps are about asking questions, having someone to talk to and accessing reliable information. We all love to Google things, so below is a range of reliable websites and the services they offer:

If you would like to chat about any specific concerns for your child and the supports available, please make contact with the Wellbeing Team at our school.

Kate Seidel (Coordinator) and Ali Gulin (Wellbeing Support/Youth Work)

It’s been a productive and hands-on term in Agriculture for our students, developing their skills and deepening their understanding of animal and plant care.

Year 12 students have recently been completing or reaching the mid-point of their external projects. Nicki Zanker has seen considerable weight gain in her sheep and should make good profits at the markets. Hayden Laird and Haylee Magnay have very recently planted broccoli and brussel sprout seedlings in a paddock to have a go at a vegetable irrigation production. These students have all been very impressive in their planning of their own production and their collection of high-quality data.

Year 11 students have been learning about new technologies in agriculture. Students have been using research skills to determine what the future of agriculture may look like and largely considering the impact of robotics and AI. These students have also been preparing the steers for the led steer competitions. We have been practising breaking in the steers and training them to walk on a lead rope, which has sometimes been challenging, but we are making progress toward being show-ready.

Year 10 students have been working diligently with the school’s Merino wethers, building on the livestock handling skills they developed last year with the goats. They’ve been gaining valuable experience identifying both wool and meat characteristics, and have started the exciting process of selecting which wethers will be taken to the Royal Adelaide Show for competition.

Year 9 students have embraced new challenges as they work with goats for the first time. This has been a fantastic introduction to small livestock management, giving students practical experience in animal care, feeding, and handling.

As we continue our shared journey of reconciliation, we reflect on significant dates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  

We aim to keep the conversation going to acknowledge and accept our shared histories.  

May 26th information relating to the Stolen Generation was shared with a flag raising and creating the SORRY day flower – Native hibiscus. 

May 27th – June 3rd National Reconciliation Week. Conversations have been shared in learning areas relating to the 1967 Referendum, Eddie Mabo, the Stolen Generation, Language/Terminology and Racism. 

We collaborated with Zephie Neil, one of our past Aboriginal learners, to support and raise awareness in literacy for Aboriginal learners, an aim for closing the gap in education.  

WEAR IT YELLOW was a successful event with a bake sale and casual dress day. Work created by Antwan O’Brien as part of his assignment task for SAASTA was also showcased.  

Our Aboriginal learners participated in community events in Port Pirie. The NUNGA screening at the Northern Festival showcased short films created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  

TAFE Port Pirie held a Reconciliation morning, where service providers and local Aboriginal people performed and shared stories.  

Nunga Screen Excursion

We really enjoyed attending the Nunga Screen. The most interesting film was when the Aboriginal Elder was teaching the young ones how to make the axe out of a rock, a stick and a glue made of kangaroo poo, charcoal. They heated it up in a fire to make it strong.

There were several animations that we could really relate to.

A highlight of the day was attending the TAFE Reconciliation Celebration. We enjoyed listening to Chris tell his stories and play his original songs on the guitar. We could also see some of the artwork from John Pirie Secondary School Aboriginal Students, which was really cool.

We also had an opportunity to just have fun down on the Foreshore and build our connections with each other.

We also helped contribute to the Native Hibiscus Flower display at school. Everyone had a chance to colour a flower for the display.

The flag raising at school for Sorry Day was a bit quiet due to the weather. We also had a Wear it Yellow Day, which supports Children’s Ground, which helps children get out of trouble and have some fun excursions.

Written by  Farley, Jemma and Ms Travers