Letter from The Principal
Celebrating Excellence
This week has been a wonderful celebration of excellence at Ipswich State High School, recognising the achievements, dedication and contributions of our students across academics, sport and service.
Our Annual Sports Awards on Tuesday recognised 97 students for their outstanding sporting achievements. On Wednesday, our Academic and Citizenship Awards ceremonies celebrated further success, with 260 Academic Excellence Medals, 64 Subject Trophies across Years 11 and 12, and 83 Major Awards recognising excellence in General and Vocational subjects, along with service to our school and wider community.
These achievements reflect more than talent or academic ability. They represent persistence, commitment, hard work and our school values of Respect and Responsibility. They also reflect the dedication of our staff and the encouragement of families who support our students to succeed.
During Wednesday evening's ceremony, I challenged students to consider the power of improving by just 1% each week. Small, consistent improvements can lead to extraordinary growth over time. Excellence is not simply about being the best; it is about continually striving to become better.
This week also marks the conclusion of formal lessons for our Year 12 students, who commence their external examinations next Monday. We wish them every success as they approach this important milestone.
We look forward to welcoming our Year 12 students back in Week 7 for their final celebrations, culminating in Graduation on Thursday 19 November.
Congratulations to all our award recipients and best wishes to our Year 12s participating in external exams!
Kathryn Todd
Executive Principal
Looking Ahead
Upcoming Events
| Event | Date | Time | Who |
Drama Club
| 27/10/26
| 3.00pm - 4.00pm
| Select Students
|
Go Global Languagese Excursion
| 28/10/26
| All Day
| Select Students
|
Dungeons & Dragons Club
| 28/10/26
| 3.00pm - 4.00pm
| All Welcome
|
P&C Meeting
| 29/10/26
| 7.30am - 9.00am
| New Parent Members Welcome
|
Drama Club
| 03/11/26
| 3.00pm - 4.00pm
| Select Students
|
| Dungeons & Dragons Club | 04/11/26 | 3.00pm - 4.00pm | All Welcome |
Year 11 Riverlink Excursion
| 05/11/26
| 9.30am - 2.30pm
| Select Students
|
Year 11 Biology Excursion to UQ
| 06/11/26
| All Day
| Select Students
|
Creative Generation
Creative Generation 2026 is coming to television! Catch the broadcast on:
Channel 9, Queensland only
Sunday 1st November at 1:00 pm
9Go!, national broadcast
Saturday 7th November, with the time to be confirmed.
A great chance to watch the performances again or catch them if you missed the show.
Please note that the broadcast is a shortened version of the program, produced by the Nine Network.
Long Tan Bursary
Applications are now open for the 2027 Long Tan Bursary, which offers eligible children and grandchildren of Australian Vietnam veterans up to $12,000 over three years to help with further education costs.
Students planning to study full time at university, TAFE or a registered training organisation in 2027 are encouraged to check their eligibility and apply. Applications close on Saturday 31st October 2026.
Check eligibility or apply online through AVCAT.
Dance Scholarships
Applications for our 2027 Dance Scholarships are now open! If you love to dance, this is your opportunity to showcase your skills and be part of dance at Ipswich State High School. Applications close at 3.00pm on Friday, 6th November.
Practical auditions will be held on Saturday, 14th November in X Block:
• Years 7, 8 and 9 in 2027: 9.00am to 11.00am
• Years 10, 11 and 12 in 2027: 11.30am to 1.30pm
For any questions, please email Miss Ross at aross252@eq.edu.au.
Halloween Dress Up
Students and staff are invited to get creative for our Halloween Dress Up Day on Friday, 30th October! It's a chance to have some fun together, with SWITCH points available for student participation.
Costumes must be modest, appropriate for school and reflect our values of Respect and Responsibility. They must not include offensive content or references to violence or political figures. Students must also wear at least one item displaying the school logo.
We look forward to seeing everyone's spooky creations!
Volunteers needed for MND Queensland's Christmas gift wrapping stall
MND Queensland is seeking volunteers for its Christmas gift wrapping stall at Riverlink Shopping Centre, Ipswich, from 7th to 24th December.
By giving a few hours, volunteers can help raise vital funds to support people living with Motor Neurone Disease and their families. It's a fun, social way to give back this Christmas, with no gift wrapping experience required.
Interested members of our school community can find more information and apply here: https://bttr.im/18q55
Focus of The Week
As we work towards finishing the term strong, our Focus of the Fortnight will become a Focus of the Week, reinforcing the everyday choices that demonstrate Respect and Responsibility.
Week 4: Respect
“I will follow teacher instructions during break times.”
Week 5: Responsibility
“I am responsible for keeping my environment clean.”
Families can support these weekly focuses by discussing the importance of following staff instructions and caring for our shared school spaces.
