Browns Plains SHS - Newsletter Issue 3, 2025

Principal's Message

We’ve certainly had a busy and productive start to Term 2, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of our students for their continued commitment to both their learning and our school community.

I began the Term on leave and would like to extend my sincere thanks to Mrs Venesa Comino for her leadership and support during my absence.

In Week 1, our school community came together to pay tribute to those who have served, during our annual ANZAC Ceremony. Thank you to our special guest speaker, Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Schulze, Commanding Officer of the Logan City Community Cadet Unit, and to the Logan City Community Cadets for their involvement in delivering such a meaningful event. I also commend our student leaders, musicians, and staff for their dedication in organising a powerful and respectful ceremony.

Our students represented Browns Plains State High School with pride and dignity at the Greenbank RSL ANZAC Services. Despite the challenging weather, our student leaders delivered moving speeches and laid wreaths with grace and sincerity. We are incredibly proud of how they represented our school in the broader community.

Exciting News – Multi-Purpose Hall Construction Begins!

We’re thrilled to share that construction of our new Multi-Purpose Hall officially commenced on Wednesday, May 7. This is a significant milestone for our school, and we thank our community for your ongoing support as we move forward with this exciting development.

Please note:

• Gate 3 will be closed from May 7th onwards. We ask families to avoid using the roads near the upper end of the school where possible.
• Fencing around the construction site has now been installed.
• The initial phase includes site clearing and earthworks, which means you’ll notice increased activity, noise, and machinery on-site. Water trucks will be deployed to manage dust where needed.

For the safety of everyone, we kindly ask students and staff not to interact with any construction workers. Please remind your children to stay well clear of all fencing and the worksite at all times.

Thank you for your understanding as we work to improve our facilities for the future of Browns Plains State High School. Stay tuned for regular updates on our progress.

Celebrating Student Success

Congratulations to eight of our Year 11 students who have been accepted into Griffith University’s 2025 Student Academic Excellence (SAE) Program. This prestigious program provides access to:
• A Dell Inspiron 14” 2-in-1 laptop
• Griffith ID and library access
• Online mentoring and workshops
• Year 11 Academic & Career Day
• A Celebration Event
• Year 12 “Student for a Day” experience in 2026
• SAE membership benefits into 2027

Well done to all involved – your hard work and dedication are inspiring.

On Tuesday, we proudly recognised the achievements from Term 1 of our Junior students at the Junior Aspire to Excel Ceremony. We look forward to celebrating with our Senior students during the Senior Aspire to Excel Ceremony on Tuesday, May 20^th. Thank you to our BPSHS Families that could attend the Ceremony helping celebrate their students’ successes.

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Thank you once again for your ongoing support of your children and our school. Your involvement plays a vital role in the success and wellbeing of our students.

Wishing all families a safe and enjoyable Term ahead.

Ben Ward

Student Voice

As we continue through Term 2, we are excited to announce a number of upcoming events that highlight the creativity, generosity, and spirit of our school community.  

Throughout the month of May, we have been hosting “Music in May” to celebrate music. Each week there will be student performances ranging from musicians and vocalists during assembly. The bell songs will also feature a certain theme to recognise how far music has come. Additionally, every Thursday 1st break this May, there is karaoke available for students to come sing along and cheer on their peers.

We also have exciting fundraisers taking place this Term with proceeds supporting important causes. Students will be able to purchase 2 extra-large slices of pizza for $5 which will go towards Rosies Friends on the Street. Rosies reaches out to those most in need, people who are homeless or at risk and socially isolated within our communities. There will also be a charity fundraiser for the Cancer Council where donations will be taken at the tuck-shop each lunch from Monday Week 4 till Tuesday Week 5. The top 10 donators will get water balloons to throw at teachers who are moving targets, and the more money raised the more teachers there will be to throw water balloons at, including the principal!

We encourage everyone to get involved, whether by performing, or simply showing up to support. Let’s make Term 2 a time of connection, celebration, and community pride! 
 
Your Fraser Leaders, Lisa Lopez, Emily Galletly, Brianna Hinds and Samantha Flora 

English Update

ENABLE Debating Update

Our Debating Teams have had a strong start to the year! After attending a valuable training day in Week 6 to sharpen their skills, in Week 10 of last Term they competed in their first debate of the season. Half of our teams came away with a win—an encouraging result that reflects their hard work and potential. We look forward to seeing their confidence and abilities grow as the season continues, especially in the upcoming round of the competition in Week 5.

Upcoming Dates:

TERM 2

Round 2: Tuesday, 20th of May 2025 (Week 5)

Gala Day and Round 3: Tuesday, 24th of June 2025 (Week 10), full day excursion 

TERM 3

Semi Final + Friendly Debate: Tuesday, 5th of August 2025 (Week 4)

Grand Final: Tuesday, 26th of August 2024 (Week 7)

I Heart English Update

During Term 1 the I Heart English team ran our annual Short Story Competition. This year we saw some phenomenal stories written by students from years 7-12. It was a tough task picking winners with all of the quality submissions we received, our students should be very proud of their efforts.

During Term 2 students will have the opportunity to get involved in our Poetry and Rap Song Competition. Students need to submit their poem or rap song to Miss Osborne (Mvosb0@eq.edu.au) by 3pm Friday of Week 8. We encourage students to get creative and have some fun experimenting with different poetic styles. Prizes will be awarded for the best Junior and Senior Poem and Rap Song.

The I Heart English team are also taking expressions of interest for Write a Book in a Day, which will take place in Week 10 of Term 3. Students will work in teams of 5-10 to write and illustrate a book in one day. This is a fantastic event to get involved in as all books published will be distributed into the children’s hospital. Students who wish to join need to either email Miss Osborne or come and see us in the English Staffroom.

The Arts Update

Music Camp

On Friday May 9th our Instrumental Music students went on Camp to Kindilan for two fantastic days of team building, music making, archery and flying fox fun! They rehearsed to improve skills and prepare for the upcoming performances all while making some wonderful friendships. A big thank you to our P&C for their contribution towards such a unique learning experience, our students were very grateful for the opportunity and are already on the count down for the next one!

Music in May

Throughout May The Arts Department are celebrating all things Music! Music is an important aspect of everyone’s lives for both brain development and general wellbeing. During the month we will be providing students with a variety of opportunities to get involved musical experiences such as: 

• Workshop for our Vocal Group
• Drum Beat Incursions for all Year 7 & 8 students
• Themed bell songs
• Karaoke House Challenge
• Performances from our talented Music students, past students and ensembles

Some positive outcomes from Music education:

• “Music training is a rich, multimodal experience that has been found to modify the brain in many positive ways.”
• “Musical practice has a favourable impact on tasks that involve attentional processes, executive functions and memory.”
• “Augmented sound processing in the rain makes young musicians better learners, which can generalise to benchmarks such as standardised tests and grades that society values in education.”  Bigger Better Brains

Vocal Workshop

As one of the many activities provided to students as part of our 2025 Music in May program, our vocal group had the amazing opportunity to participate in a vocal workshop with Musical Circles. Composer and conductor, Isabella Gerometta, shared her knowledge and talent with the group and students had a great time learning new warm up activities, vocal canons and tips and tricks to improve their group singing skills. This opportunity came at a perfect time as students continue preparing for their participation in Choral Fanfare in Week 6.

Online Safety Support for Browns Plains State High School Families

As part of the Browns Plains State High School community, we understand how important it is to support our young people as they navigate the digital world. Teenagers today are more connected than ever, and their online experiences play a big role in shaping their friendships, self-esteem, and wellbeing.

That is why we take cyber safety seriously! We are committed to working with parents, carers, and the wider school community to protect students online. But families play a crucial part at home, too — by staying informed, keeping communication open, and knowing where to turn for help.

Here are some trusted resources that every Browns Plains SHS parent and student can use as needed:

🧒 Kids Helpline (Ages 5–25)

• 24/7 free and confidential counselling by phone or online.
• Topics include cyberbullying, online gaming, online friendships, and dealing with social media stress.
  🔗 kidshelpline.com.au

🧠 Headspace (Ages 12–25)

• Mental health support for young people through online, phone, or face-to-face sessions (closest centres include Meadowbrook and Inala).
• Resources on coping with online pressure, mental wellbeing, and staying safe online.
  🔗 headspace.org.au

💬 ReachOut.com

• Designed for teens, this site covers mental health, managing social media use, and dealing with online conflict.
• Easy to understand and packed with relatable advice.
  🔗 reachout.com

⚖️ Youth Law Australia

• Free legal help for young people and their families, especially around online issues like sexting, cyberbullying, and digital privacy.
  🔗 yla.org.au

🚨 Scamwatch (Government resource)

• Helps teens and parents recognise and report scams, especially fake accounts and phishing messages.
• Great for teaching young people how to spot online risks early.
  🔗 scamwatch.gov.au

🔐 Australian Cyber Security Centre

• Offers simple advice for families to stay secure online — including how to set up strong passwords, protect devices, and deal with hacking threats.
  🔗 cyber.gov.au

👪 What Can Browns Plains SHS Parents Do?

• Stay involved in your teen’s online life — talk about what apps they use, who they talk to, and how they feel about their experiences.
• Encourage them to speak up if something doesn’t feel right online.
• Use the resources above to learn together and stay safe as a family.

At Browns Plains State High School, we’re here to support our students not just in the classroom, but online too. Let’s work together to keep our young people safe, informed, and empowered in their digital lives.

Important Dates

Student Comic

Thank you to Hexx from Year 8 for contributing to our Week 4 Newsletter! Your creativity and hard work are truly appreciated, and we're excited to share your amazing talent with everyone.

Parents' Corner

Family Information - Change of Details

If you have recently moved or have a new telephone/mobile number, please advise the School Office immediately so we have the correct information on our database. At times we may need to contact you, and it is important that we have the correct information in case of emergencies.

Student Attendance

If your child is absent or arrives late to school, please notify in advance when possible:

• Notification is to be received before 9am on the day.
• Submit absence via Compass (preferred method), QParents or the school absentee line (07) 3802 6213.

Leaving Early from School

If a student needs to leave the school, a note which is signed and dated by parents, or the legal caregiver is to be presented to a Deputy Principal BEFORE SCHOOL. The Office will issue a pass for the student to be allowed out of class. The student is to present this to the attendance officer at the time of leaving and a printed slip will be issued to the students.

Please Note: All students who sign out of school early must be collected at the office by a parent or carer.

Uniform Shop Trading Hours

Finance Matters

Cash Office Trading Hours

Monday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday 8:15am – 2:00pm

Please note that the cash room is closed on Tuesdays. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs Hitchcock on 07 3802 6222.

Community News

Community Partnership| Support Browns Plains SHS with your Next Ride!

Looking for a new car or know someone who is? Browns Plains SHS P&C is thrilled to be part of a Community Program with Motorama Toyota Browns Plains, one of our amazing school Gold Sponsors!

When you purchase a vehicle and present the referral voucher, Browns Plains SHS P&C receives $300 after the sale is completed!

For more details, reach out to us at brownsplainsshspandc@gmail.com. Your support helps drive our school forward!

Logan City Community Cadet Unit Information Morning | May 31st 2025

Navigating your post-school plans with confidence

Wednesday, June 11th, 2025 at 5:00 pm (AEST)

School is such a big part of your life, you might have mixed feelings as you approach the end of it. You might be excited about your next steps. But it’s okay if you’re not sure about your post-school plans or feeling a bit anxious or overwhelmed about it all.

In this webinar, you’ll hear about six simple ideas that will help you think about your future with confidence. Some of them might surprise you!

We’ll talk about:

• Different kinds of post-school pathways.
• Why it’s OK if you don’t know what you want to do.
• Why it’s OK to change your mind.
• Why ATAR might not be as important as you think.
• How to research your options.
• Who to talk to for help.

This webinar is designed for students in senior secondary school, but it's suitable for parents and teachers too. If you can’t make it to the live webinar, register anyway, and we’ll send you the recording to watch later. 

Register now (This link works best in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.)