2025 Term 1
Principals Message
We are well and truly back at full speed after a very successful and settled start to 2025. To all our returning families – welcome back and to all our new families, particularly those who may be experiencing their first time as a high school parent – a warm welcome!
On Assemblies I explored the quote by Ivan Cleary “Not everything counts – but everything matters”. This simple yet powerful idea reminds us that while not every assignment, practice, or moment in a child’s day will directly impact their final report card, each one plays a crucial role in shaping their character, habits, and future.
The Power of Small Actions
As parents, you see this every day. The way your child treats their siblings, how they handle disappointment, or the small moments of kindness they show to others—these may not be things that “count” in an academic sense, but they matter greatly in who they become as people.
At school, we see this too. A student offering encouragement to a struggling classmate, staying dedicated to their work even when no one is watching, or simply showing respect and responsibility—these actions don’t always come with a grade, but they lay the foundation for lifelong success.
Building Character Beyond the Classroom
We encourage students to recognize that growth is not just about the big milestones but about the everyday choices they make. Whether it's putting in extra effort on a project, staying patient in a tough moment, or showing gratitude, these seemingly small actions shape the mindset and work ethic they will carry into adulthood.
How You Can Reinforce This at Home
As partners in your child’s education, you play a vital role in reinforcing these values at home. Here are a few ways to encourage this mindset:
- Celebrate effort, not just results. Praise persistence and hard work, even when there’s no immediate reward.
- Highlight the importance of kindness and integrity, reminding your child that how they treat others matters just as much as their achievements.
- Share stories of perseverance, whether from your own life or from role models, to show that success is built on small, consistent efforts over time.
At the end of the day, the lessons that truly shape our students often aren’t the ones found in textbooks—they’re the ones learned through experience, resilience, and everyday actions. Together, let’s remind our children that even when something doesn’t seem to “count,” it still matters.
Events and Celebrations so far in Term 1
- Assemblies for Whole School, Year Levels, Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary to assist with students understanding the ways of working at DBSHS as well as building connections: “Belonging”.
- Swimming Carnival –Well done to Bradman
- Senior Investiture – a lovely ceremony with our Year 12’s looking fantastic and accepting their badges with pride, fantastic to be a part of.
- Year 7 Meet and Greet – great to interact with so many Year 7 families and have a chance to connect with class teachers.
Strategic Direction 2025:
Our work now is to use our positive start to drive great learning outcomes for our students.
Year 12 Investiture Ceremony
On February 17th, we proudly celebrated our Year 12 Investiture Ceremony, a significant milestone as our senior students officially stepped into their final year of high school. In the presence of their families, they were presented with their senior badge's symbols of leadership, responsibility, and the exciting journey that lies ahead.
The ceremony was not only a special moment for Year 12 but also a source of inspiration for our Year 11 students, who watched on, gaining insight into the opportunities and responsibilities that await them next year.
This event truly reflected the core values of our school recognising achievement, fostering leadership, and supporting one another as a community. It was a reminder of the strength, dedication, and potential within our senior cohort.
Congratulations, Year 12s! Embrace this year with confidence and determination, your future starts now.
Volleyball Development Program
Congratulations to our 12 students who proudly represented South District at the Regional Volleyball Trials on Monday! Earning a place on this team is a testament to your dedication and commitment to volleyball training over the past few years. We are incredibly proud of your achievements—well done!
In another exciting event, our Year 11 Girls and Year 12 Boys took to the court on Friday, 21st February, to compete in the Trish Buckley Volleyball Shield at Caloundra for the very first time. This competition provided both teams with the opportunity to challenge schools they had never played against before, and they delivered outstanding performances.
A huge congratulations to the Year 11 Girls, who secured victories against Nambour Christian College and Burnside SHS, and to the Year 12 Boys, who triumphed over Immanuel Lutheran College. Special recognition goes to Mahannah, Gloria, Lincoln, and Brock, who were voted Most Valuable Players in Game 1 or 2—a fantastic achievement!
Best of luck to both teams as they head into Round 2. The Year 11 Girls will take on Caloundra SHS and Sunshine Coast Christian College, while the Year 12 Boys will face Good Shepherd Lutheran College. Keep up the great work, and we look forward to seeing more impressive results!
QParents
Stay Connected with Deception Bay SHS Through QParents!
Parents and Carers, we’re excited to announce the launch of QParents at Deception Bay SHS! This innovative platform is here to make your life easier by providing secure, real-time access to essential information about your child’s education.
With QParents, you can:
- access and provide digital consent
- view timetables
- view and update student and attendance details (including future absences)
- view behaviour information
- view and pay invoices
- access payment history
- access report cards and assessment planners
- access enrolment history.
It’s simple, convenient, and accessible anytime from your smartphone, tablet, or computer.
MSP Photo Day
Compass and MSP have partnered to streamline the school photo ordering process! Parents and carers, you’ll find a notification on your Compass app homepage with the option to order school photos. If you haven’t set up Compass yet, you can request a new invitation by emailing office@deceptionbayshs.eq.edu.au. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact MSP Photography on 07 3865 4291 or email admin.brisbane@msp.com.au
Swimming Carnival
DBSHS held their annual Swimming Carnival Week 3 Monday and what a fun and successful day it was. House spirit was at an all-time high and 6 records were broken on the day. Congratulations to BRADMAN who took out the swimming carnival.
A big congratulations to the Age Champions
- 12 Boys Izack Howard
- 12 Girls Tyra-Jean Murdoch
- 13 Boys Jay-Siah Rangi
- 13 Girls Arya Trent
- 14 Boys Levi Burgess
- 14 Girls Katelyn Trent
- 15 Boys Marko Djurkovic (1 record broken)
- 15 Girls Grace Paye
- 16 Boys Ethan Valance (1 record broken)
- 16 Girls Ava Brown
- Open Boys Zac Learoyd (2 records broken)
- Open Girls Sophie Crep (2 records broken)
Year 9 & 10 Shine at the Science & Engineering Challenge
A group of Year 9 and 10 Science students recently had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Science & Engineering Challenge at QUT Gardens Point. Competing against other schools, they engaged in hands-on STEM activities, such as building a bridge or eco-habitech, crafting a model plane, and constructing a wind turbine.
Beyond engineering, students put their critical thinking and problem-solving skills to the test in challenges that involved coding, powering a city, managing complex schedules, and designing sustainable fish traps. These activities required strong teamwork, and it was inspiring to see our students collaborating and embodying our school values of persistence and aspiration to achieve success.
Mrs Drysdale and Mr Gee were incredibly proud of the students for their exemplary behaviour and the way they represented the school throughout the day.
We encourage students of all grades to seize the exciting STEM enrichment opportunities still to come in 2025!
Maths Masters Challenge – A Fantastic First Event!
Last Friday, Deception Bay State High School proudly hosted the inaugural Maths Masters Challenge, welcoming Clontarf Beach State High School for a competitive and engaging problem-solving showdown. Each school entered two teams from Year 7-8 and two from Year 9-10, creating an exciting atmosphere of mathematical strategy and teamwork.
Our students rose to the challenge, demonstrating resilience, collaboration, and strong mathematical thinking throughout the competition. A huge congratulations to Mackenzie, Alexander, Emmer, Harry, Isabella, Amelia, Jackson, Leith, Violette, Berndt, Rebecca, Mia, Amber, Liam, David, Laura, Arya, and Tilly for their outstanding efforts.
This event was not only a great test of problem-solving skills but also an excellent preparation for the Narangba Valley Maths Tournament in May 2025. The enthusiasm and determination shown by our students were truly inspiring, and we can’t wait to see how they continue to develop their skills throughout the year.
Well done to all participants. We look forward to the next challenge!
Justin Hodges 9s Rugby League Competition
On Thursday, 27th February, Deception Bay proudly entered three teams into the Justin Hodges 9-a-side Rugby League competition. This highly competitive event brought together teams from across Southeast Queensland, creating an exciting and challenging atmosphere.
Our teams displayed outstanding skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship, securing several wins throughout the day. Every game was played with enthusiasm and a strong sense of integrity, reflecting the dedication and commitment of our students.
A special congratulations to Oliver, Cobe, and Noah, who were voted Players of the Tournament by their peers. An incredible achievement that highlights their talent and leadership on the field.
We are extremely proud of all the students who participated and represented Deception Bay with pride. A big thank you also goes to the staff who supported and coached our teams on the day. Well done to everyone involved!
