Dear Parents and caregivers,

As we progress through Week 8, it is pleasing to reflect on the many opportunities and achievements of our students this term.

Our Year 10 students have recently completed their work experience program, engaging with local employers and community organisations across a wide range of industries. This experience provided students with an invaluable opportunity to explore career pathways, develop employability skills, and gain a deeper understanding of the workplace. We sincerely thank the many businesses and partners who welcomed our students and supported their learning.

Across the school, students are also demonstrating commitment and focus as they work through a number of assessment tasks. These are an important milestone in the teaching and learning cycle, allowing students to showcase their knowledge and progress. I commend students, as do their teachers for their efforts and encourage them to continue applying themselves as we approach the end of term.

We are proud of the way our students continue to engage with their learning and represent Mackay State High School with determination, resilience, and enthusiasm.

Kind regards,

Ethan Johns
Deputy Principal

On Thursday 28th August, students from the Year 12 Health class took part in the Together For Humanity Youth Summit at the QLD Parliament House Brisbane. The Summit, created by Together For Humanity and supported by the Federal Department of Education, was a platform for students to voice their ideas around intercultural diversity, inclusion and community cohesion to fellow participants, politicians, and leaders. The students prepared a presentation around the theme of Bridging to the future: Navigating identity and differences together, selecting the topic of social media being used to challenge gender stereotypes and building respectful relationships.

There were 14 schools in attendance from Queensland & Northern Territory, with a diverse range of topics that showed what was close to the hearts of the students and their communities. Seeing the students confidently present and share their ideas on complex social issues was really inspiring!

Students were welcomed to Yuggera country by Derek Oram-Sandy, and also heard from John-Paul Langbroek, QLD Minister for Education and the Arts, and Jason Clare MP, Federal Minister for Education.

They displayed teamwork, leadership and dedication during the preparation of the presentation prior to the Summit day. We hope the Summit is a catalyst for action out in the world.

Last week our year 11 aquatic practices students visited Louisa Creek to put their fishing skills and equipment to the test with Mackay Recreational Fishers Alliance volunteers. Plenty of fish were caught across the two days and a few even made it onto the BBQ for lunch or in the esky home for dinner.

This week, our Year 7 Italian and French students celebrated their language learning journey with a much-anticipated class party assessment activity. Their excellent manners, enthusiasm, and engagement made the event a true highlight of the term.

Students enthusiastically created their own pizzas and croissants, showcasing not only their creativity but also their growing confidence in Italian and French. They followed instructions, responded to questions, used gestures, and interacted with one another in their target language!

Our senior QCIA students had a fantastic time at today’s Ready-Set-Connect event hosted by One Community! The speed-networking format made meeting disability service providers fun and engaging.
A highlight was hearing Don speak about his sporting achievements—one student said it was truly inspiring. Others loved the goodies and the chance to connect with Mackay Services. Everyone walked away with something valuable.
Experiences like this go beyond the classroom and leave a lasting impact.

Last week our Happy Paws Happy Hearts Program, Students, recieved a visit from John at Mens Shed Mackay during their time at the RSPCA.

The Interact Club’s Staff Gratitude Project was a heartwarming, student-led initiative that lit up Thursday with smiles and appreciation. In collaboration with the Rotary Club of Mackay and our very own Ugly Duckling Café, students helped to prepare and deliver complimentary café beverages and handwritten notes of appreciation to staff members as a heartfelt thank-you for their ongoing commitment and hard work. It was a beautiful display of teamwork, generosity, and community spirit, proof that a simple gesture can go a long way.

Mackay/Whitsundays Gardiner Chess Results

Mackay High have once again claimed the title of Mackay/Whitsunday Champions, securing the Premier League competition with convincing results across all four boards.

The team was led by Siguo Xiang, the highest-rated player on Board One for the day, alongside teammates Hanzo Abe, Pralin Karki, and Zack Ferrer. Each player performed strongly, with every member winning five or more games. A special mention goes to Zack Ferrer, who stepped up into the Premier team for the first time due to absences and rose to the challenge with outstanding results.

Individual Merit Awards

• Siguo Jiang
• Hanzo Abe
• Pralin Karki
• Zack Ferrer
• Kane Robertson

Participation Awards

• Neoh Ferrer
• Koen Robertson
• Kram Gatbonton
• Benji Javier
• Hunter Peet

While the results were fantastic, the real highlight of the day was the sportsmanship shown by our team. One of the proudest moments came when a Mackay High player, after winning a match, took the time to console his opponent and walk them through different strategies the game might have taken. It was a wonderful reminder of what school sport is all about.

 Two years ago, Energy Queensland teamed up with TAFE Queensland to trial a pre-apprenticeship cadetship program at selected regional and non-metropolitan depots for students heading into Years 11 or 12.

The response was overwhelming, and in 2024 the program was expanded to more regional areas.

The results are already speaking for themselves, as 3 of the 2024 are now apprentices with Energy Queensland, proving that cadetships are a great gateway to a career in the energy industry. Of our 2025 cadets, more than 25 are in the final stage of our recruitment process for the 2026 apprenticeships intake.

And now, we’re searching for the next bunch of talented high school seniors to take up cadetships in 2026. Applications open this Monday (find more info here) and close 26 September 2025.

Cadets complete a Certificate II in Electrotechnology, gain hands-on experience at our depots, and receive mentoring from our fantastic local teams. They also train in general construction, CPR and first aid.

2026 program applications will be open 9am Monday 1 September 2025 and close 9am Monday 22 September 2025.

You can find more information about this opportunity, how it works, eligibility and the application process on TAFE Queensland by clicking here