Thank you to our families who returned this year and welcome to those who have newly joined us in 2025.  It is hard to believe we are at the halfway mark of Term 1.  Yet when I reflect on the last five weeks, I understand why it has seemed to have raced by.

As a school we have welcomed 160 Year 7 students, 40 additional new students across the other year levels as well as 15 new teachers and ancillary staff, increasing the overall school population by approximately another 90 people.  This is a huge accomplishment and testament to the good work of our staff in the classrooms and our students as ambassadors in the community.

We have had the Swimming Carnival, Student Leaders Badge Ceremony, Year 7 'Meet and Greet', and Year 7 Camp.

Thank you to our parents who have already been in attendance or involved in the Term 1 events.  I look forward to seeing more of you across the year. In amongst these big-ticket items, we have practiced lock-downs and fire drills, are gearing up for our first parent forum for the year and of course launched into teaching our students across their classes.

Year 11 students are certainly at a stage where they can notice the increase in rigour needed to be successful in both the ATAR and vocational pathways.  Year 12 students are completing Internal Assessment, while both year 11 and 12 students are gearing up for block exams later this term.  and/or heading into the exam block next week hoping to be adequately prepared and achieving their best possible results as they too see how quickly this year is going by.

Each term our House Coordinators and key staff plan activities of a cultural, sporting, community or charitable nature.  These activities are designed to increase each student’s awareness of global perspective, local issues, or their engagement in school life.  Recently the Senior Leaders, with the support of the Junior Leaders and House Leaders, facilitated a very successful Valentine’s Day event.  The level of commitment required, and the time taken was extensive and it was great to see this teamwork culminate to ensure they met the demands of the event.

I know the coming weeks will see many more Clontarf events and I look forward to these activities working to continue to foster the community spirit of the Clontarf students and how our House Leaders, Junior Leaders and Senior Leaders evolve in their leadership journey over the course of the year. 

I am looking forward to us “Making the Difference: through an interactive and connected year.

Cath

Cath Pfingst

Principal

https://forms.office.com/r/NRPrLvP22a

Bel Edwards

HOD Junior Secondary

CBSHS

A reminder for students participating in Interschool Sport: you may not return by the end of the school day and may need to arrange an alternative way home. The draw includes details of home and away games, as well as which teams will be travelling.

CBSHS vs Mueller College - Weekly Sports Results ?

Last week, our students took on Mueller College in a range of sports, showcasing great teamwork and sportsmanship!

Junior Boys

• Basketball 7/8 – Loss 15-49
• Basketball 8/9 – Loss 24-48
• Futsal 7/8 – Loss 2-6
• Futsal 8/9 – Loss 1-7
• Touch Football 7/8 – Loss 2-8
• Touch Football 8/9 – Loss 1-5

Junior Girls

• Touch Football 7/8 – Win 1-0
• Touch Football 8/9 – Win 1-0
• Volleyball 7/8 – Win 2-0
• Volleyball 8/9 – Win 2-0

Senior Girls

• Futsal – Win 4-1
• Futsal – Win
• Volleyball – Win 2-1
• Volleyball – Win 2-0

Senior Boys

• Basketball – Loss 29-70
• Basketball – Loss 26-62
• Futsal – Win 11-0
• Futsal – Win
• Volleyball – Win 2-1
• Volleyball – Win 2-0
• Touch – Draw 7-7
• Touch – Win

Great effort from all our teams! 

HPE Department

Our Year 7 students have had a fantastic start to high school which kicked off with a dedicated Welcome Week to induct them into Clontarf. This week involved learning how to connect and use their laptops, introductions to key staff and their Student Leaders, a parent BBQ and an action-packed camp. Students had a ball getting to know their peers from other primary schools while pushing themselves in challenges. Plenty of fun was had down at the beach with only a few groups ‘accidentally’ falling out of their kayaks.

Students have since settled into their classes and are getting used to having multiple teachers. The Year 7 area is always buzzing with energy at lunch times and our Student Leaders have also kept the fun going with lunch dodgeball and dance competitions.

Belinda Edwards

HOD Junior Secondary

School photo day will be on Tuesday 11th March (catch up day Monday 17th March).

Photo envelopes have been handed out to students.

An email with further information was also sent to parents.

If you did not receive this email, please check your junk folder or contact the office on info@clontarfbeachshs.eq.edu.au or by phone on 07 3480 4777.

Admin

On Thursday, 20th February, the Year 11 and 12 Tourism classes had the opportunity to explore Southbank and the city, giving them a hands-on experience that directly relates to their coursework.

We began the day by catching the train into Southbank, where students had time to walk around and visit key attractions such as the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) and the Museum. We also had the chance to explore the many events and activities that take place in this popular tourism destination. Afterward, we hopped on the ferry to the city, where students continued their adventure, exploring urban landmarks, enjoying some free time for lunch, and reflecting on their experiences.

This excursion provided valuable insights into the tourism industry, particularly in relation to the push and pull factors that influence a destination’s popularity. By experiencing these locations firsthand, students are better equipped to understand and analyse these factors for their upcoming assessments in tourism.

We hope the excursion inspired and supported their learning in a real-world context, helping to make key concepts more tangible. It was a fantastic opportunity to observe tourism in action and gather ideas for future assessments.

Thank you for your continued support. 

Brittany Francis 

Drama & Humanities Teacher 

Hey there all you crazy Wildcats- this is where Broadway begins! It’s been all systems go as High School Musical is coming to life before our very eyes. Our students are currently working on their singing, acting, and staging while the dancers have been their usual amazing selves, dancing rings around those on stage…literally! Soon we’ll be soarin’ and flyin’ toward stardom.

Don’t forget to save the date, the 6th and 7th of June.  This show is going to be spectacular! GO WILDCATS!

Louise Longhurst

Engligh & Humaniites Teaher

Once again, the Clontarf Beach State High School community would like to extend a big “Thank You!” to Redcliffe Mums Inc. for their generous donation to our school.

Redcliffe Mums have been some of our biggest supporters over the years and they donate to our school twice a year. The Student Support Services Team access the donation to provide no-cost school essential items like uniforms, shoes and stationery to disadvantaged families in our community.

Pictured below are our Principal, Youth Support Coordinator and Year 12 students meeting representatives of Redcliffe Mums. This generous donation will go a long way to allowing all our students to be prepared and ready to learn here at Clontarf Beach State High School.

Redcliffe Mums work tirelessly around the Peninsula – if you would like to know more, please visit their Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/redcliffemums/

Redcliffe Mums are holding their next fundraising Trivia Night on Saturday 15^th March at The Deception Bay Club – see the flyer below for more details.

Ali Guijarro

Youth Support Coordinator

The Practical Technologies Department have recently bought a Vegepod raised garden to assist us in becomming more sustainable.

A Vegepod is an Australian innovated garden that requires minimal maintence once setup is compete. It uses a wicking system to water and feed the plants inside. 

We will use our Vegepod to grow herbs and edible flowers for students to use in their practical cookery tasks. Growing our own will save us hundreds of dollars each year. We look forward to sharing photos of our crops as they mature.

Sarah Lucy

Experienced Senior Teacher

This year, between 12 and 24 March, our school will be doing NAPLAN online. 

NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are already learning at school. On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for, and students are not expected to do so.

NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process – it does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance; however, students and parents may use individual results to discuss progress with teachers.

Craig Tewes

Deputy Principal

To everyone who might be concerned about a distressed bird in the big tree near the cul-de-sac. I managed to get some photos of it and have identified it as a Channel-billed cuckoo scientific name Scythrops novaehollandiae.

It is the world’s largest parasitic cuckoo measuring 56-70 cm long with a 88-107 cm wingspan and can weigh up to nearly one kilo.

Like many other cuckoo’s, the female will lay her eggs in the nest of another bird such as currawong’s, magpie’s or crow’s. Adults will pair bond for the mating season and the male will provoke the host birds to come after him and allow the female to stealthily lay her egg in their nest. Unlike many other cuckoo’s though, the young birds do not evict the host eggs, but they grow faster and demand more food and out compete the other chicks,

The juvenile is similar to the adult but has pale tips to the feathers of the wings, and the rest of the plumage is buff instead of pale grey. The bill is less massive and dirty pink in colour, and the skin around the eye is not red.

To find our more visit:

https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profiles/channel-billed-cuckoo/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel-billed_cuckoo

Kate Phillips

Science Technician

Clontarf State High School is thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of its new Clontarf Beach Cafe, a student-led initiative designed to provide hands-on learning for students enrolled in the certificate II in Hospitality program.

The café will open as a fully functional business, giving students the opportunity to apply the skills they have learned in the classroom. From food preparation and barista training to customer service, students will gain experience in every aspect of running a café.

Set to open soon, this vibrant café will not only serve staff and students but the local community. It will also offer students invaluable real- world experience in the hospitality industry!!

Kandice Cruden

Hospitality VET Teacher

CEC/Teacher Aide

Tracey Woolf

CEC/Teacher Aide

A Twilight NAPLAN session for parents and carers will be held on Thursday, 6 March at 6 PM. In collaboration with P&Cs Queensland, the session will provide valuable NAPLAN information and helpful tips on supporting children to do their best. Resources are also available for both parents and students.

https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan

CBSHS

By completing the Certificate II in Hospitality, students will build a strong foundation for their future careers.

This qualification is widely recognized across the hospitality sector and opens doors to opportunities in cafes, restaurants, hotels and beyond.

The hands on experience gained at the Clontarf Beach Café will also give students a competitive edge when entering the workforce or pursuing further education in the hospitality industry.

Kandice Cruden

Hospitatlity 

Barramundi (Lates calcarifer), Asian sea bass, or giant sea perch

We recently adopted two barramundi fish from Aspley State High School as they had outgrown their tank.

After several emails we organised their delivery and they moved in to our empty aquaponics tank. They were very shy at first and didn’t eat for nearly a week. Now they look comfortable and are used to our (Kate and Ravneet) faces.

We are going to add some plants and rocks to their tank so they can hide and be more comfortable. Ask your friendly science teacher if you would like to visit them.

FAST FACTS…

• Barramundi is a loanword from a first nations language of the Rockhampton area meaning "large-scaled river fish".
• Barramundi can reach up to 1.8 m long, though evidence for this is scarce. Generally, the maximum weight is about 60 kg. The average length is about 0.6–1.2 m.
• Barramundi inhabit coastal waters, estuaries, lagoons, and rivers; they are found in clear to turbid water, usually within a temperature range of 26−30 °C.
• Barramundi feed on crustaceans, molluscs, and smaller fish (including its own species); juveniles feed on zooplankton.
• Barramundi are sequentially hermaphroditic, with most individuals maturing as males and becoming female after at least one spawning season.

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barramundi

Kate Phillips

Science Technician

Care Challenges are under way for 2025!

Kicking off this year we have a held series of general knowledge quizzes that promote teamwork among students.

Keep an eye on student notices for when challenegs are happening.

CBSHS

Clontarf Beach SHS’s annual Swimming Carnival made waves once again this year, bringing together students and teachers for a day of fun, competition, and school spirit. Held at Redcliffe Memorial Pool on Tuesday 11th Feb, the event provided an opportunity for students to swim regional qualifying times, compete for their house and participate in several novelty events.

With perfect weather and high energy, students from all year levels competed in a variety of races, including freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and the thrilling relay events. The much-anticipated novelty races, such as the inflatable boat races and the sinky toy fetch, provided plenty of laughs and entertainment.

House spirit was high, with students decked out in their house colours, waving banners, and cheering for their teammates. Congratulations to Pegasus House for taking home the Swimming Carnival trophy!

Overall House Points:

1. Pegasus House - 1243
2. Leo House - 1188
3. Argo House - 1116
4. Orion House – 1026

Congratulations to the below age champions (not all winners are shown for privacy reasons)

• Under 13 Male: (Pegasus House) - 56 points
• Under 13 Female: Elisa Thomson (Leo House) - 52 points
• Under 14 Male: Carter Ford (Pegasus House) - 70 points
• Under 14 Female: Pamela Thompson (Pegasus House) - 72 points
• Under 15 Male: Parker Tanner (Pegasus House) - 52 points
• Under 15 Female: Peyton Larsen (Argo House) - 80 points
• Under 16 Male: Mariano Adan Annunciato (Orion House) - 56 points
• Under 16 Female: Eliza Lever (Leo House) - 40 points
• Under 17 Male: Raiden Donnelly (Orion House) - 60 points
• Under 17 Female: Matilda Brittain (Argo House) - 80 points
• Open Male: Bristol Battle (Leo House) - 38 points
• Open Female: Charlie Sweeney (Orion House) - 66 points

A special thank you to our dedicated teachers who helped make the day a success. From timekeepers and race marshals to bus drivers and house coordinators the event could not have run smoothly without their support.

As we wrap up another fantastic Swimming Carnival, we look forward to next year’s event, where we will dive into even more fun and excitement.

Alex Machin

Sports Coordinator (Argo House)

From Term 2 this will be the only way permission can be given for your student to attend excursions and other school events.

This will also significantly reduce the amount of printing and paper in use across the school and mean no more paper permission notes for parents to find, sign and return.

If you have not yet downloaded the QParents App or you need assistance in doing so, please contact the school office for support.

The module is compliant with Department of Education requirements, easy to manage for teachers and school administration and convenient to use for parents.

To ensure that you are ready for this change please ensure that you have access to the QParents App.

What ID do you require to sign up for QParents

https://clontarfbeachshs.eq.edu.au/calendar-and-news/news/qparents-online-consent-is-coming

CBSHS

CBSHS