Mareeba SHS Newsletter - Term 2, Week 10
- Principal's Update
- Deputy Principal - Senior Secondary
- Deputy Principal - Junior Secondary
- Deputy Principal - Student Services
- Deputy Principal - Educational Support Services
- Head of Department - Junior Secondary
- Head of Department - Senior Secondary
- Upcoming Events
- Photos! Good News and Our Achievements
- News from the P&C Association
- School Information
- Community News
Principal's Update
Mr Regan Gant
As we complete the last week of the term 2, I would like to commend our students who are continuing to be focussed and working hard. Over the last few weeks our classes have been finalising their units of work and our semester 1 reports should be arriving in your inboxes this week. If you don’t receive your student reports, please ensure you contact the college and check that we have the right details.
We frequently remind our students that if they have not achieved their goals yet that they still have time and support to do so. Our teachers will remind them and support them towards achieving this goal and for some of us that just takes more time. We remind everyone of the power of ‘yet’!
As we approach the school holidays, we pass on our gratitude to the whole Mareeba State High School community, our families, our students, our staff and the wider community help to make our school what it is. Together we are responsible for the reputation of our school, for the support and care we show to our students and for the opportunities and future we provide to them as well. On behalf of our staff, I pass on our heartfelt gratitude for your ongoing support and care for our team as we navigated the first semester of 2025. We wish you all a restful and enjoyable mid-year break from school and we look forward to seeing you all in term 3.
Staffing changes
As you will be well aware, there have been a number of changes in staffing at Mareeba State High School especially over the last half of the term. In our social media posts, we will be introducing our news members to the MSHS team.
New members to the team include:
Regan Gant – Principal
Peter Thompson – Deputy Principal Junior Secondary
Krista Inglis – Deputy Principal Student Services
Linda Knottenbelt – Deputy Principal Inclusion - Term 3
Dan Leschke – Head of Department Junior Secondary
Jacob Pyper – Head of Department Senior Secondary
Sarah Perkins – A/Head of Department (Maths) - Term 3
On behalf of our team, we pass on our thanks for the welcome we have received. Students, staff, families and community have made us feel welcome as we navigate our new school. All of us are very excited to be in Mareeba and looking forward to our work together.
Uniforms
Our uniform has been devised by the Mareeba State High School P & C Association. Every student is expected to dress appropriately and modestly if the school is to achieve an identity, cohesion, tone, pride and spirit. Students are expected to wear the school uniform and to take pride in its appearance. It is designed to contribute to and support a healthy and safe learning environment which allows students to participate in school activities. The main purpose of a uniform is that it identifies the person as a member of our community and secondly it removes the competitive element from dress style, presenting students more equally.
As the cool weather is upon us, jumpers are very important, but they seem to go missing so easily. Trust us, we will be regularly talking to our students about not just throwing their school jumpers onto their bag, rather putting it inside of their bag. Historically, we notice a number of students wearing non-school items of clothing especially jumpers. We ask that families adhere to our uniform policy and ensure their children have access to a school jumper.
Students who wear non-school items may be asked to remove the item and may be supplied with a clean, school approved replacement to borrow. If you are having challenges with this, please let us know and we will work out a solution together.
School improvements
As you can imagine, maintaining our school takes an enormous amount of effort and often comes at a great expense, however, undeterred, we aim to enhance our school for the benefit of all of our students, staff and community. I wish to say a huge thanks to our administration, grounds and cleaning teams for their ongoing efforts across the school. Whilst we endeavour to ensure that our school is well maintained, unfortunately there are times when we must respond to some senseless damage. These repairs take time and we are working to ensure a sense of pride in our school extends to our facilities.
To those ends, we have been working closely with our Regional Infrastructure team to secure some works over the school holidays. Works including replacing and upgrading our bell and PA system as well as the resurfacing of floors in our science labs are set to occur.
Further works including internal painting of a number of teaching blocks and the removal of the aging demountables will occur during holidays later in the year. We will keep you up to date with plans as they become clearer.
Have a great break and we look forward to seeing you all next term!
Regan Gant
Principal
Deputy Principal - Senior Secondary
Hello Everyone,
Its been a fantastic way to finish the term with the Athletics Carnival. I just want to say a massive thankyou to the staff, students and our P & C for making the event run so smoothly. Of course, I am so proud of my team McKinlay.
The highlight for Term 2 in the senior schooling space has been the Year 12 Formal held on Saturday the 14th of June. Our seniors dazzled us all with their beautiful attire and they danced the night away at their Formal. Events like these cannot occur without the dedication and commitment of our staff. I would sincerely like to thank Ms Lambert, Ms Stankovich and the team of Teachers, Office staff and our grounds staff who pulled off another incredible evening for our students and parents.
Starting Term 3 we welcome our new HOD of Senior Schooling Mr Jacob Pyper. A big welcome to him, we are all looking forward to working with him to continue the great work the senior school.
Report cards are being issued, and I would like to encourage all senior students to review their progress and particularly book in with their teachers at Teacher Parent Interviews on July 22nd from 3.30-6pm. There are many pathways available to students and discussing these options with our school staff will support students to move to a meaningful pathway.
I am looking forward to a restful winter holiday and I wish you all the same, see you in Term 3.
Keep Smiling
Lesa Moro
Deputy Principal - Senior Secondary
Deputy Principal - Junior Secondary
Hello Mareeba SHS community!
It’s a real pleasure to introduce myself as one of the new Deputy Principals at Mareeba State High School. With nearly two decades of experience teaching and leading in schools across Far North and North Queensland—including most recently with the Queensland Virtual Academy—I’m excited to bring my passion for education and student success to this vibrant school.
At Mareeba, I’m committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive school culture, while championing academic excellence and meaningful pathways for every student. I believe in nurturing independent, socially responsible, and lifelong learners who are ready to make a positive impact in an ever-changing world.
Looking ahead to Term 3, there’s much to be excited about—including the next phase of our Year 6 into Year 7 Transition program, continued curriculum development, and welcoming our first cohort of Mareeba students into the STEM Enrichment stream of the Queensland Virtual Academy. My family are looking forward to being welcomed into the Mareeba community, and we’re all looking forward to settling in and becoming part of this wonderful school journey. I’m excited to begin Term 3 and continue this rewarding experience with you all.
Peter Thompson
Deputy Principal - Junior Secondary
Deputy Principal - Student Services
Hi everyone,
My name is Krista Inglis and I’m excited to be stepping into the role of Deputy Principal – Student Services at Mareeba State High School.
I come to this position with a background in student wellbeing, behaviour support, and engagement, having worked in several like schools in Far North Queensland. My passion has always been supporting young people to feel safe, valued, and connected at school, and I’m proud to be part of a team that shares that same commitment.
Here at MSHS, I’ll be working closely with our Heads of Department both Senior and Junior Secondary, Guidance Officer’s, Community Education Counsellor’s, Youth Support Coordinator, Social worker, Student Support Officer and School Chaplain as well as external agencies to provide wraparound support for students. We will be working together to help every student feel a sense of belonging and to remove any barriers that may get in the way of their learning.
I believe in building strong relationships, being approachable and fair, and working in partnership with families and community. I’m looking forward to getting to know our students and working alongside our dedicated staff and families to help our students thrive.
Warm regards,
Krista Inglis
Deputy Principal - Student Services
Deputy Principal - Educational Support Services
Hi Parents, Carers and Community Members,
This will be my last newsletter as DP, Education Support Services at Mareeba State High School. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with all the Staff and Students and will leave Mareeba with many fond memories.
The highlight recently was attending the Year 12 Formal and how inclusive and respectful the students were with their peers and staff. The students in the ESS unit were initially hesitant in attending the formal, however they had a night to remember dancing and socialising with each other and the other students.
I want to acknowledge the Leadership team and teachers for their support, collaboration and friendship during my time and the expertise and knowledge they bring to the table about the students and improving their education outcomes to be successful citizens.
Working with the Education Support teachers, teacher aides, parents and carers I saw exceptional teamwork and many shared successes with our students. I wish to say ‘thank-you’ to you all and keep up the fantastic work in your devotion to the students and to the school.
Finally, I have asked Linda Knottenbelt who will be taking over my role to share some information about herself. Please make her feel welcome.
My name is Linda Knottenbelt and I am very excited to be joining the Mareeba State High School community. I am originally from South Africa, but have been in Australia since 2018, when I worked at a remote community in the Northern Territory. From there, I moved to Darwin where I worked as the Head of Department – Inclusion Support for 3 years. I moved to Cairns in 2021 to assist with opening a new school as the Head of Diversity. When I bought a property in Mareeba in 2023, I transferred to St Stephen’s Catholic College as the Leader of Diversity. I am passionate about inclusion, about ensuring that young people get fair and equitable access to their learning and about helping students achieve their goals. I look forward to meeting the staff and students at MSHS in Term 3.
Enjoy the mid-year holidays and be safe.
Take care,
Ann-Maree Fewtrell
Deputy Principal - Educational Support Services
Head of Department - Junior Secondary
Hi everyone,
I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself as the new Head of Department for Junior Secondary at Mareeba State High School. I joined the school at the end of Term 2 and have already felt incredibly welcomed by students, staff and families.
Before coming to Mareeba, I worked at Bwgcolman Community School on Palm Island and at Doomadgee State School. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside strong and resilient communities, and those experiences have shaped my passion for equity, wellbeing, and supporting students to succeed.
Here at Mareeba, my focus is on helping our Year 7–9 students thrive—both in the classroom and beyond. I’m committed to building a positive and inclusive school culture where every student feels supported, valued, and confident to do their best.
It’s been a great start to the journey, and I’m excited for what lies ahead—both in Junior Secondary and, with a bit of luck, maybe even a long-overdue Parramatta Eels premiership in the near future (we can dream!).
Please don’t hesitate to reach out by contacting the school or emailing me directly at dlesc0@eq.edu.au—I’d be happy to connect.
Daniel Leschke
Head of Department - Junior Secondary
Head of Department - Senior Secondary
Dear School Community,
I’m excited to introduce myself as the new Head of Department - Senior Secondary. Over my education journey I’ve taught in Central Queensland across primary, secondary, and special education settings. I’m passionate about developing and delivering curriculum that meets the individual needs of students, helping each one define and achieve their own version of success.
I firmly believe in the importance of student agency ensuring all students have choice, voice, and ownership in their learning journey.
In my new role, I look forward to working in partnership with students and their families or caregivers to keep students on track and support them in reaching their potential. Please don’t hesitate to reach out via email or request a meeting, I'm here to help and eager to connect.
I look forward to working with you all to ensure our students thrive.
Warm regards,
Jacob Pyper
Head of Department - Senior Secondary
Upcoming Events
Photos! Good News and Our Achievements
Year 12 Hospitality
The year 12 Hospitality class, as a part of their final assessment, had to plan and prepare an event that focussed on a current food trend. Filipino foods are a popular and tasty current trend, and many delicious tasting samples of menu items were presented on serving platters at vibrantly decorated tables.
Guests were treated to Brown sugar boba tea, Lumpia (spring rolls) Meatballs, Empanadas, Chicken skewers/Adobo, Filipino noodles, caramel desserts and Ube bars (purple yam sweet potato lamingtons), Leche flan and Turon (banana spring rolls). Both guests and students enjoyed this experience.
Filipino Food
Some of the Year 12 Formal photos
The Readers Cup
The Readers Cup is a literary event where teams of 4 participants read five carefully selected books and then compete by answering questions about them. This competition pushes you to read genres and titles you might not normally choose. It also enhances your memory and comprehension skills and the collaborative aspect of working in a team made it fun for all of us.
Thanks to Mrs Daly for organising us. It was an enjoyable and rewarding experience!
By Zander
Gearing Up with LEGO: Year 7 Explores Forces and Simple Machines
This term, Year 7 has been diving into the world of forces and simple machines — and what better way to explore these concepts than by building with LEGO? In a fun and hands-on activity, students used LEGO kits to experiment with gears, discovering how they can change the direction, speed, and strength of forces in a machine.
As part of their science unit, students investigated how different gear combinations affect motion. By changing the size and arrangement of gears, they explored how force can be increased or decreased — a key principle behind many everyday machines.
Through trial and error, creative thinking, and teamwork, Year 7 students built impressive models that demonstrated how gears transfer and transform force. This hands-on experience helped them connect scientific theory with real-world applications — from bicycles to cranes.
Well done to our budding engineers and scientists for bringing physics to life!
Connect 4 Tournament
The Academic Captains recently hosted a Connect 4 tournament, bringing together students from different Year levels in a fun and competitive environment.
On Wednesday, Seniors from grades 10, 11, and 12 competed, with Finn emerging as the champion. On Thursday, Juniors from grades 7, 8, and 9 took centre stage, and Zander claimed victory. The tournament was a great success, and we congratulate both Finn and Zander on their victories.
A big thank you to everyone who participated and made this event possible.
Connect 4 Tournament photos
Indigenous Leaders of Tomorrow (ILT) Camp
In Week 8, three senior students, along with their mentors and teacher, attended the Indigenous Leaders of Tomorrow (ILT) Camp at the Holloways Beach Environmental Education Centre.
Winnie Foley, Harry Sullivan, and Tosh Newbury, supported by CEC mentors Bianca Rainbow and Shaqelle Banjo, and mentor teacher Kirsty Shakespeare, stepped out of their comfort zones on the high ropes course, participated in cultural activities, formed new friendships, and built strong leadership skills through various challenges.
The students were also impressed by the facilities, support, course offerings, and tour of James Cook University (JCU). The students left the camp with valuable skills and experiences that have prepared them well for their future pathways.
ILT Camp
Term 2 Student Breakfast. A big thank you goes to the Seventh Day Adventist Church putting on fortnightly BBQ Breakfast for the students in Term 2.
Year 10 Careers Day at Atherton State High School 20.06.2025
Year 7 Investigates: Does a Longer Arm Throw Farther?
In week 8, our curious Year 7 students took science outdoors for their "Throw It Far" assessment — an exciting investigation into forces, motion, and simple machines. Using ball throwers with different arm lengths, students tested the theory that the longer the throwing arm, the farther a ball will travel.
The throwers acted as third-class levers, one of the simple machines Year 7 has been studying in class. Just like in the human arm, the effort was applied between the fulcrum and the load — a perfect real-world example of science in action!
In groups, students launched identical balls using throwers of varying lengths and carefully measured the distances each ball travelled. The results sparked great discussions and showed how scientific thinking can be both fun and hands-on.
This practical activity not only reinforced classroom learning but also highlighted the power of experimentation and teamwork.
Year 7 Physics in Action: Spear and Boomerang Throwing with the Djabugay Rangers
During term 2, our Year 7 Science students were treated to a unique and engaging hands-on physics experience, thanks to a special visit from the Djabugay Rangers. The session focused on traditional Aboriginal technologies, specifically spear throwers and boomerangs and this linked directly to their current assessment on forces and levers.
The highlight of the lesson was seeing physics brought to life through the throwing of spears using traditional woomeras, which act as third-order levers. Students are currently investigating how changing the length of the lever affects the force applied and the distance objects travel. They observed firsthand how traditional knowledge, and scientific principles intersect to enhance efficiency and accuracy in tool use.
The opportunity to learn from the Djabugay Rangers was invaluable, and the students left inspired and better equipped for their upcoming physics assessment. We thank the Djabugay Rangers for sharing their knowledge and helping bring science off the page and into the real world.
2025 National Excellence in Teaching Awards.
Nominate an outstanding educator for the 2025 National Excellence in Teaching awards. These awards recognise inspirational, talented and committed teachers who make a significant impact on their students, school and community. Winners will receive a $5,000 or $10,000 professional development grant. Nominations close 27 June.
Parentline service supporting parents and carers
Parentline is a free, confidential counselling service available for all Queensland parents and carers.
If you need support navigating challenging situations, Parentline offers qualified counsellors who can help with expert advice, emotional support and referrals when needed.
Parentline’s services include:
practical parenting resources on their website
live webchat with professional counsellors
phone support for immediate assistance (1300 30 1300)
the option to pre-book ongoing sessions with the same counsellor
online counsellor-facilitated parenting forums for shared support
referrals to other family support services when additional help is needed.
Visit their website (parentline.com.au) for more information or give them a call on 1300 30 1300.
News from the P&C Association
P&C meetings are held every second Wednesday of the month, during school terms.
The next meeting will be held at 5:30pm Wednesday, 13 August 2025, in the Q Block Common Room.
We hope to see you there.
School Information
Year 7 and 10 Tablelands Immunisation Program
Please return completed forms to Q Block by Tuesday, 22 April 2025. The program will visit the school on the below dates:
Visit 1: Monday 12/05/2025 vaccinating: Year 10 Female and Male students - Meningococcal ACWY & Meningococcal B dose 1
Visit 2: Monday 28/07/2025 vaccinating: Year 7 Female and Male students – HPV (9v) dose 1 & dTpa dose 5. Catch –up for students new to the school or who missed the first-round vaccinations.
Visit 3: Monday 20/10/2025 vaccinating: Year 10 Female and Male students- Meningococcal B dose 2. Catch –up for students new to the school or who missed previous vaccinations.
Community News
Play On! Queensland
The Queensland Government is delivering cost of living relief for Queensland families and helping keep kids active, with $200 Play On! sport vouchers.
From Monday 4 August, Queensland families can claim a $200 Play On! voucher per child aged between five and 17.
Here’s what you need to know:
- each voucher is worth $200
- the vouchers will be provided over two rounds, for summer or winter sports
- there is a dedicated allocation for kids in regional and country Queensland
- there will be more accessible sports to give children of all abilities the chance play sport.
Play On! is here to stay with $62.5 million set aside each year for Queensland families.
Sign up for Play On! updates so you don’t miss out.
| Click here to register for updates as an activity provider |
