Dear Parents/Caregivers,

It has been a wonderful and busy start to the term at Mackay State High School.

Last week, we were incredibly proud to host a beautiful ANZAC Day service at school.

 The pride and respect shown by our students was truly inspiring, and it was heartening to see so many of our young people embrace the significance of this important occasion. This pride extended beyond our school gates, with a fantastic turnout of students and staff proudly representing Mackay SHS at both the Mackay City and Walkerston ANZAC Day services. We sincerely thank all families who supported their children in attending and honouring the legacy of our service men and women.

This week, we officially launched Compass, our new all-in-one school management platform. Compass streamlines key school operations, including attendance monitoring, parent-teacher interview bookings, internal staff relief, room bo

okings, and more. We are very grateful to our parents and carers for their patience and support as we transition to this new system. We are thrilled with the level of engagement already, with 440 parent-teacher interviews booked for next Tuesday’s event. If you haven’t yet logged into Compass, we encourage you to do so to stay up-to-date with your child’s schooling.

Looking ahead, preparations are well underway for our Year 6 into Year 7 enrolment process. Next week, we will begin our transition "Roadshow," visiting our partner primary schools to meet with students and share the exciting opportunities awaiting them at Mackay SHS. We are also very excited to be hosting our Open Night on Tuesday, 20 May, where we will showcase the school’s programs, dedicated staff, and outstanding achievements that truly represent our school community. This will be a wonderful opportunity for prospective families to see first-hand the real Mackay State High School – a dynamic and supportive

 environment where every student is encouraged to thrive.

For our senior students, Year 11 and 12 interim TrackEd reports have been sent home this week. Over the coming weeks, students will be engaging in goal-setting conversations, reflecting on their progress and identifying strategies for continued success throughout the semester. We encourage any parents with questions or concerns about their child's progress to book a time to meet with teachers

 during our parent-teacher interviews next Tuesday.

We are also seeing a growing number of curriculum excursions, sporting tours, and other activities being added to our school calendar. We have asked all staff to ensure timely and clear communication with families, particularly where there are additional costs involved. To assist with planning, we have provided an updated school calendar for parents outlining upcoming activities, and we encourage families to refer to this regularly.

Finally, Assessment Calendars for all year levels are currently being finalised and will be distributed to students and families next week. These calendars will help students and parents plan ahead for upcoming assessments and support effective study routines at home.

Thank you for your ongoing support of Mackay State High School. We look forward to a positive and productive term ahead, working in partnership with our families to support every student’s success.

Felicity Roberts

Principal