Deception Bay State High School eNewsletter

Message from the Principal

As we move through another exciting and productive term, I want to take a moment to reflect on the journey we are on together and the incredible growth we’re seeing across our school.

At Deception Bay State High School, our vision is to be “an inclusive and connected community inspiring resilient lifelong learners who are prepared for the future.” This vision is more than a statement—it’s the heartbeat of our school and the foundation for everything we do.

Guided by our school motto, “Empowering learners to thrive,” we are proud to offer a diverse and engaging curriculum that supports every student in finding their path. From academic achievement to hands-on vocational training, creative and performing arts to sport and leadership opportunities—our students are encouraged to explore, challenge themselves, and grow.

A key focus for us this year has been building strong, positive classroom climates that promote learning. This work is already showing great results, with a 27% reduction in behaviour incidents this term compared to term 1 2024. This achievement reflects the shared commitment of our staff and students to creating respectful, focused, and inclusive learning environments.

We’re also proud to share that our new Student Services Hub has become a vital support for many of our students. The hub provides a welcoming space for students to access wellbeing support, guidance, and connection. Whether it’s help navigating challenges or simply having someone to talk to, the hub is playing a key role in ensuring every student feels safe, supported, and ready to learn.

Winter Uniform Reminder:

As the cooler months approach, we want to remind families that students are expected to wear the correct winter uniform, including the official school jumper. Wearing the correct uniform fosters school pride and a sense of belonging. If you are experiencing any difficulties in purchasing a school jumper, please reach out to the school, and we will be happy to assist.

At Deception Bay, relationships matter. The connection between students and staff is one of mutual respect, trust, and teamwork. We are all on the same team—working together to ensure every learner feels seen, valued, and inspired to reach their full potential.

Uniform_Price_List.pdf

Positive Education

Term 1 has been an exciting and busy time in the Positive Education space! Students have hit the ground running, revisiting and learning about our four school rules; Safety, Respect, Cooperation, and Learning and what these values look like at Deception Bay State High School.

Students who demonstrate these values have the opportunity to be rewarded with Baycoins. Many have already started redeeming their Baycoins through the weekly Baycoin Trolley, using them to purchase items or participate in games and activities. Week 9 also saw great engagement in our Easter-themed Baycoin activities. Looking ahead to Term 2, students can look forward to our annual Baycoin Ekka, where they can use their savings to purchase a variety of food, drinks, and entry to exciting games and activities.

This term also marked the launch of our House vs. House challenges, with a Dodgeball Competition taking place each week during LFL. Students from Bradman, Cawley, Elliott, and Gould have been competing fiercely to earn points for their houses. Alongside dodgeball, students have taken part in a range of House Challenges, including a paper plane competition, a trivia contest, and our highly anticipated War Cry competition at the Swimming Carnival. With house spirit on the rise, even more events are planned for Term 2 and beyond!

In addition to these activities, students have engaged in a variety of support programs. This term, we partnered with Deception Bay PCYC to run the CHAMP Boxing Fitness program and worked with Encircle Community Services to deliver the Power of Words girls' empowerment program. Next term, we are excited to collaborate with Younity, who will be facilitating the PUSH! Bike Building and Maintenance Program.

Term 1 has been full of energy, engagement, and achievement, and we can’t wait to see what Term 2 brings!

2026 Year 7 Information

We are thrilled to announce our first Transition Day for our local feeder primary schools, happening in Term 2, Week 2 on Tuesday, April 29^th. This special day will give students a firsthand experience of high school life, including participation in our STEM and Music Specialist Excellence Programs. It’s a fantastic opportunity for students to explore exciting subjects on offer, meet new friends, and get a feel for the dynamic learning environment awaiting them in Year 7. To ensure families have all the details, Miss Crawford and Mrs Leslie will be outside each feeder primary school in Week 1 of Term 2 (Tuesday – Thursday after school), handing out flyers and answering any questions. We can’t wait to showcase the amazing opportunities our school has to offer!

Looking ahead, we are also preparing for our Junior Secondary Expo, taking place in Week 8 of Term 2, Week 8 on Wednesday June 11^th. This event will provide families with valuable insights into our school programs, facilities, and support structures designed to help students thrive in high school. Families will also have the opportunity to enrol their child for Year 7, 2026, with staff available to assist with the enrolment process and answer any questions. More details, including event times, will be shared soon. To help spread the word, Miss Crawford and Mrs Leslie will again be handing out flyers at feeder primary schools in Week 7 (Tuesday – Thursday after school). These upcoming events are an exciting way for us to welcome and connect with the Year 7 2026 Cohort, and we cannot wait to meet our future students!

Volleyball Development Program

Trish Buckley

This term DBSHS entered their first ever teams (Year 12 Boys and Year 11 Girls) in the Sunshine Coast Trish Buckley Shield. This was a 4-week volleyball competition held at Caloundra Indoor Stadium on Friday nights. This competition allowed both teams to play new competitors and continue to develop their game strategies as a team. The competition results are yet to be finalised, but regardless of the result, the coaches are extremely impressed with your commitment and effort.

Congratulations to Luke and Mahannah who have been selected as the Most Valuable Players of the competition, your consistency and work ethic weekly is commendable. Congratulations to Elisha and Arabella who have been selected as the Most Improved Player of the competition, your skill set, and game strategy saw significant growth across the competition.

A big thank you to the coaches who gave up their Friday nights; Casey, Mr Flanders, Miss Langford, Mr Lait, Miss Hall-Stocker. Without your time and commitment this would not be possible.

Term 1 Report Cards

Report cards have been sent to parents via OneSchool. If you haven't received your child's report card, please check your junk or spam folder.

If you still haven't received it, please email info@deceptionbayshs.eq.edu.au with your child's full name, year level, and a confirmation of your email address.

When school resumes in Term 2, we will update your contact details and resend the report card if needed.

Year 7 Students: All Year 7 students will receive a new timetable on Tuesday, 22nd April, which will include their Term 2 elective subjects.

Parent-Teacher Interviews – Term 2

Term 1 report cards have been emailed on Friday, 4th April.

Parent-Teacher Interviews will be held on Tuesday, 29th April, from 3:00pm to 4:40pm. Each interview will be 10 minutes long. Please book your appointment via the Compass app.

Year 7 Parents/Caregivers: Available appointments are for CORE subject teacher only as elective teachers change each term. LFL Teachers: No bookings are required for these teachers.

If you have any questions, please email info@deceptionbayshs.eq.edu.au. School Holiday Closure: The office will be closed from Monday, 7th April and will reopen on Tuesday, 22nd April.

Unlocking Student Potential with GROW Coaching

At Deception Bay State High School, we are dedicated to ensuring that every senior student has the support and guidance they need to confidently navigate their future pathways. That’s why we’ve introduced GROW Coaching—a structured, student-centred program designed to help Year 11 and 12 students set goals, explore their options, and build a strong post-school plan.

What is GROW Coaching?

GROW Coaching is based on the GROW model:

Goal – Identifying aspirations and ambitions
Reality – Understanding current strengths and areas for growth
Options – Exploring pathways and opportunities
Will – Committing to actionable next steps

This coaching framework is designed to unlock potential, improve performance, and foster meaningful conversations about students’ futures.

How Does It Work?

Each student in Years 11 and 12 has been paired with one of 29 trained GROW Coaches, who were selected based on relationships, strengths, and students’ interests. These coaches engage with students regularly during Learning for Life (LFL) sessions throughout the year, providing valuable guidance and support.

Through GROW conversations, students are encouraged to reflect on their skills, goals, and interests, helping them gain clarity and confidence as they transition beyond high school.

What Do Students Say?

Students have shared overwhelmingly positive feedback about GROW Coaching:
🗣 “I think it’s great because it helps us figure out our plans for after school and puts us on the right path for achieving the right job for us.” – Year 12 student

🗣 “I like that there’s no pressure to know exactly what we want to do right now, but it’s really helpful. We’re treated as equals by our coach, which makes for a great relationship.” – Year 12 student

🗣 “It’s helped me understand my goals better and figure out where I want to be in life. I have a great coach.” – Year 11 student

Want to Learn More?

For more information about the GROW Coaching program, please contact Jackson Dunell, GROW Coaching Coordinator, at jtdun0@eq.edu.au.

Together, we are shaping confident, future-ready students!

GROW_Coaching_overview_Newsletter_2025.pdf

Year 12 Next Step Interviews – 30th May

Year 12 students will have the opportunity to plan their future pathways during our Next Step Interviews on 30th May. These one-on-one sessions provide valuable guidance to help students refine their post-school plans, whether they’re considering further study, apprenticeships, or entering the workforce.

Appointment times will be available on Compass from 29th April, so be sure to book early!

Performing Arts News

The Deception Bay State High School Performing Arts season has officially commenced for 2025! Term 1 has been an incredible success story for the Performing Arts, which has seen a significant increase in student numbers across our extra-curricular programs and additional opportunities for students in this space.

Performing Arts Launch

On Thursday the 27^th of March, the Performing Arts held our annual PA Launch to kick-start the 2025 performance season. This was our biggest, and most successful, PA Launch to date with over 100 students participating and just shy of 300 audience members in attendance. During the performance, the audience received a sneak preview of our upcoming musical, Aladdin Jr., with the cast debuting a performance of ‘Arabian Nights’ A huge thank you to all students and staff involved it’s a night that we will all remember.

Aladdin Jr.

Aladdin Jr is shaping up to be our biggest and most anticipated show in Deception Bay State High School’s history. Students and staff have been working hard Monday afternoons between 2:30pm and 5:00pm as well as full-day Saturday rehearsals to bring the production together. Tickets for Aladdin will go on sale early term 2 – so keep a close eye on our Facebook page for further information (these will sell fast).

Performing Arts Launch

As they transition into senior schooling, Year 10 students have had a busy and exciting term, participating in a range of academic and extracurricular activities that tested their skills, teamwork, and school spirit.

Students recently completed their PAT-R testing, which helps track their reading progress from their initial testing during their year 6 transition days until now. This data has shown the wonderful growth of students and is vital to ensure our teaching programs are working to improve students’ comprehension.

During Week 7, Year 10 students took part in a house spirit dodgeball competition during LFL. Teams battled it out with speed and strategy, showcasing their agility and competitive spirit. Earlier in the term, the swimming carnival was a splash hit, with students diving into races, relays, and fun novelty events.

With more challenges and opportunities on the horizon, such as work experience opportunities for Childcare and Hospitality, Year 10 students are set for an engaging and rewarding year ahead. Keep up the great work!

Youth Week 2025

3-Point Basketball Contest

In Week 9, DBSHS challenged students to a 3-point basketball shooting contest. Students had 60 seconds to shoot 12 balls from different stations. There was a massive turn out during lunch 1 and the gym was loud, full of energy and support. The top 4 junior and senior students made it through to the final in lunch 2. Congratulations to Khiyarnu (Year 12) who took out the competition, sinking 10/12 shots!

Year 9 News

Year 9 Motto for 2025
This year our motto for Year 9 is “Rise with Resilience.” Students are encouraged to demonstrate resilience in their classes and extra-curricular activities. Students receive shout outs at every year level assembly and are given Baycoin for their efforts.

BYOD
Thank you all for your support with our Bring Your Own Device program. The take up from Year 9 students have been fantastic. If you are still having difficulties purchasing a laptop for your child, please contact us to request
an equity device.

Events so far this term:

NAPLAN:

NAPLAN is officially over for our Year 9 students! NAPLAN is a great way to provide a national, consistent measure of student achievement in literacy and numeracy, helping governments, schools, and parents understand student
progress and identify areas for improvement in education. Thank you for supporting your child’s learning.

Brisbane Youth Leadership Conference:

Students heard from keynote speakers on various leadership topics and engaged with students from other schools
about making positive changes as leaders.

Learning for Life - Term 1:

Tech Tuesday – online safety, using devices appropriately.
Wellbeing Wednesday – PERMAH framework (meditation, sport and team building activities).
Future Focused Friday – strengths, values, goal setting.