Every individual discovering their passion on their pathway of learning.
OUR PURPOSE
To be an inclusive and respectful community that fosters knowledgeable, resilient and culturally connected individuals.
OUR MOTTO
Always Aim High
OUR VALUES
Respect, Learning, Community, Creativity
OUR EXPLICIT IMPROVEMENT AGENDA
Culture of Excellence, Leaders of Learning
Year 9 students, Emmett and Olive.
MS KIAH LANHAM
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back for the 2026 school year. As you can see, we’re trying something new with our newsletter this year.
Over the past four years, we have been monitoring how our community engages with the previous format and have noticed a gradual decline. We suspect this reflects the busy nature of family life, as well as the amount of information the previous format required readers to work through.
We are incredibly proud of our school, and particularly of the opportunities our students
STRATEGY ACTION
Leaders of Learning
A consistent and collaborative approach for curriculum planning has been established and is being further refined; ensuring a shared understanding of the Australian Curriculum and strengthening alignment between curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment.
Leaders of Learning
A shared understanding of the general capabilities, particularly Reading and Personal and Social Capability, has been systematically enacted - developing the skills, behaviours, and dispositions needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world in and beyond school.
Culture of Excellence
Staff deliver a culture of excellence by employing a range of high impact strategies and adjustments, to engage, challenge and extend all students in their learning.
experience across academic, cultural and sporting arenas. Our hope is that this new format will showcase our students and their achievements in these areas more clearly and meaningfully.
I hope you enjoy the refreshed approach, and please know that we will continue to monitor engagement to see how well this format works for our community.
This year, our Annual Implementation Plan focuses on three key strategies aligned with our Strategic Plan. I’ve included a snapshot below so families can see what our teaching staff are working towards this year:
MEASURABLE GOALS
Build and document a consistent, agreed approach for the three levels of curriculum planning V9 based on Universal Design for Learning. Record this approach in a step-by-step guide and communicate so all teachers have a clear, shared process for curriculum planning.
Develop a shared understanding about the general capabilities, focusing on the Simple View of Reading, implementing simple, high yield strategies, and providing templates and resources.
Address differentiation within the professional development plan to support staff to understand the need for, plan and implement differentiated practices in their classrooms. Audit resources available at FGSHS that currently support differentiated learning and determine effectiveness.
Improved consistency in the of C and above, across year as measured in “SORD Class Distribution” for all learning areas. 100% of faculties have engaged faculty moderation of task and and have used the step-by-by to refine their assessment. Latest student result is an increase on 2025 “Latest result to previous year 7 English, Mathematics
100% of teachers have completed simple view of reading modules
100% of staff have engaged inform their classroom practices. this PD, 80% of teachers articulate confident and capable in accessing support to differentiate to improve student results.
100% of teachers complete Differentiation Placemat in OneSchool. End-moderation includes reviewing refining differentiated strategies in V9 unit plans.
This term, our Year 8 English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, and Health and Physical Education teams have engaged in professional learning with Dr Matt Capp on Universal Design for Learning, with a particular focus on Year 8 assessment. Our other faculty areas will have the same opportunity in Term 2.
During our intentional collaboration time on Thursday afternoons, staff have also completed two modules on the Simple View of Reading and are working to embed these strategies into their unit planning. We were grateful for the support of our speech pathologist, Kirsty Knight, who copresented alongside Karen Wood, our Deputy Principal.
Both pieces of work will support teachers to implement differentiated teaching and learning strategies in the classroom. Across our school, we are fortunate to have a wealth of experience and expertise in differentiating the curriculum for both the learning and the learner. Through our professional learning plan, we aim to build on this strength and further enrich teachers’
understanding and implementation of strategies that engage, challenge and extend all students.
This is how we create a culture of excellence… where every student leads their own learning as they discover their passion on their pathway of learning. I look forward to sharing the polished versions of our Annual Implementation Plan and Strategic Plan with you early next term. The Strategic Plan outlines the teaching and learning priorities that will guide our work over the next four years, and I am confident our school will continue to go from strength to strength as we bring this plan to life and turn our vision into action.
Yours sincerely,
Kiah Lanham Executive Principal
percentage year 7 classes, Result areas. engaged in crossand planning step-by-by approach
increase of 5% previous result” in and Science. completed the modules in 2026.
in PD to practices. After articulate feeling accessing improve the OneSchool. reviewing and strategies included
YOUR 2026 SCHOOL CAPTAINS, HANNAH, ISABELLA, LUCY & MEGAN
We are honoured to be your 2026 School Captains. Over the last five years, Ferny has become more than a place of learning for us, more than just a school. Ferny Grove is a community made up of 2,000 one-of-a-kind people who, every day, shape and build the culture of the school we are so proud to serve.
This year, we wanted to focus on resilience. Here at school, we are constantly encouraged to aim high, and as captains, we believe it is
vital that our peers know they always have the support and encouragement to reach for the stars. In a world that is constantly evolving and presenting new challenges around every corner, we believe resilience is one of the most powerful qualities a person can develop.
As captains, we aim to foster a culture where every student feels valued, supported and empowered, even in times of hardship. Whether this is through setting goals for themselves, building strong
and supportive connections, or learning to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, we hope to walk alongside every Ferny Grove student as they do so.
In doing this, we hope Ferny continues to grow, not only in resilience, but towards a stronger, more interconnected community.
We are excited to work alongside you all to make this a year of unity, growth and connection.
Building House Spirit at Ferny Grove
Across the school this term there has been a real sense of energy and connection as students continue to bring our values of Respect, Learning, Creativity and Community to life. These values shape the way we learn, work and interact with one another every day, and it has been wonderful to see so many examples of students demonstrating them in classrooms and around the school.
One way we have continued to strengthen this shared understanding is through our Behaviour Bites, where students explore what our values look like in practice. These short conversations help reinforce the behaviours that create a safe, supportive and productive learning environment for everyone. At the same time, staff have been recognising students through Ferny Value Points, which celebrate the many positive contributions students make each day and contribute to the ongoing House Cup competition.
Launching Our New House Shirts
Another exciting development this term has been the launch of our new House Shirts. It has been fantastic to see students proudly wearing their House colours and representing Brolgun, Cangungan, Djurgun, Geewer, Kubul and Tagun with pride.
Our student leaders have already been sharing a range of ideas about how these shirts can be used throughout the year to build House spirit. We understand that
families want to see good value from this purchase, and we are committed to creating as many opportunities as possible for students to wear their House Shirts at assemblies, carnivals, House events and other school activities. The enthusiasm from students has been clear to see, and the shirts have already added a great sense of colour and pride to school events.
The House Cup Competition is Heating Up
Alongside this, the House Cup competition is continuing to build momentum. Students can earn points for their House in a variety of ways, including academic effort, participation in sporting and cultural activities, and demonstrating our Ferny values throughout the school.
The House Cup leaderboard has already seen some movement as Houses work hard to climb the ladder and close the gap on their rivals. One of the great strengths of the House Cup is that every student can contribute, whether that is through their learning, their participation or the positive choices they make each day.
Student Leadership in Action
A key part of this growing House culture has been the leadership shown by our students. During our Student Leadership Day, our student leaders worked together to explore what leadership looks like at Ferny Grove and to develop ideas that strengthen House spirit and student engagement.
Many of the initiatives students are already seeing across the
school have been influenced by the ideas and enthusiasm of these student leaders. Their willingness to contribute, collaborate and lead by example is helping to build a stronger sense of belonging across the school.
Finishing the Term with House Cup Challenge Day
We will finish the term with one of the most exciting events on the calendar - the House Cup Challenge Day on Thursday 2 April. This day brings students together to compete in a wide range of academic, cultural and sporting challenges, ensuring there are opportunities for everyone to get involved and contribute to their House. The focus of the day is on teamwork, participation and House pride, and it is always fantastic to see the energy and friendly rivalry between Houses. With valuable House Cup points on the line, the competition is sure to be fierce. We look forward to seeing students getting involved, supporting their Houses and finishing the term with a celebration of the vibrant House spirit that continues to grow at Ferny Grove.
FAST Hits the Ground Running: Building Athletes, Creating Pathways
It has been a fantastic start to the year for students involved in the FAST Program, with a range of opportunities for students to develop their skills, represent the school and connect with the wider sporting community.
Our rugby league students recently participated in the Tackle Ready Program, working alongside coaches and development staff from the Dolphins, Brisbane Broncos, Norths Devils Rugby League Club, West Arana Rugby League Club and the National Rugby League Development Team.
The sessions focused on safe tackle technique, body positioning and game awareness. Students benefited from learning directly from experienced coaches while also building connections with both local clubs
and professional rugby league pathways. These opportunities provide invaluable experiences for our students and help strengthen their confidence and understanding of the game.
Our Year 7 Boys Rugby League team also represented the school proudly at the Toni Carroll Cup. The boys competed with determination throughout the day and finished with one win, two draws and one loss. It was fantastic to see the boys demonstrate resilience, teamwork and sportsmanship while competing against other schools.
Another highlight was the FAST Jersey Presentation, where students were officially presented with their program jerseys. The event celebrated the commitment students make to the program and the strong
partnerships that support our athletes. We were fortunate to have representatives from Fitstop Samford, Norths Devils Rugby League Club and West Arana Rugby League Club attend and share in the occasion.
Students also had the opportunity to work with Riley Madden from Queensland Touch Football, who has been facilitating specialised touch football sessions with our Year 9 students. These sessions have provided valuable skill development and insight into the game, helping students refine their attacking and defensive strategies while building
confidence on the field.
Within the classroom, our Year 10 FAST students are now well underway with their Certificate II in Sports Coaching. As part of the course, students are learning about the fundamentals of coaching and have begun planning and delivering sports coaching sessions within their class. This provides them with hands-on experience in leadership, communication and session design while building practical coaching skills.
Looking ahead to the end of Term 1, there are more exciting opportunities for our FAST students. Our girls rugby league students will participate in the NRL Rise Development Day, which will provide another valuable pathway experience within the women’s game. We will also see our students participate in their first Schools Touch League competition day, giving them the chance to represent the school and put their developing touch football skills into action.
A big thank you to the clubs, organisations and community partners who continue to support the FAST Program and invest in the development of our students both on and off the field. We look forward to seeing our students continue to grow and represent the school with pride throughout the year.
Leading the Way: LEAF Mentoring in Action
LEAF COORDINATOR
Our students recently completed our LEAF Coaching and Mentoring Workshop, bringing together leadership, reflection, and goal setting. During the workshop, our Year 9 mentors worked closely with our Junior LEAF students, guiding them through the process of setting meaningful goals for 2026 and identifying the steps needed to achieve them.
Our Year 9 mentors did an outstanding job supporting and encouraging their younger peers and received outstanding reviews for their leadership, positivity, and guidance throughout the sessions. Their ability to listen, motivate, and share their experiences made a real impact on our junior students.
We are incredibly proud of the leadership shown by our mentors and the enthusiasm of our junior LEAF students. We can’t wait to see what our LEAF students achieve as they work towards their 2026 goals!
2026 Next Step for 2025 Year 12 Completers
The Next Step Year 12 Completers survey opens on 17 March 2026. All Year 12 completers from 2025 will receive a letter from the Minister for Education inviting them to participate in this five-minute survey to help our school understand the different pathways of our graduates. This helps us to improve services for future students, and respondents have the chance to win a MacBook Air.
We ask parents, siblings and friends to encourage our graduates to complete the survey. They may also be contacted by email or phone from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. For more information, please visit: http://www.qld.gov.au/nextstep
A Busy and Exciting Start to Junior Secondary in 2026
After first meeting our 2026 Ferny First Years at Orientation Day, it was wonderful to welcome them back on Day 1- eager, confident and proud in their new uniforms. With the support of our Year 11 buddies, students quickly settled into high school life, navigating lockers and timetables with ease.
In Week 1, all Junior Secondary students engaged with our Behaviour Bite videos, reinforcing the Ferny Values through practical tips and student-led examples. Year 7s were further supported by “how-to” videos created by our Year 11s, helping simplify key school processes and build confidence in new routines.
Week 2 saw our Year 7 cohort come together for the O-Week Picnic, featuring campus tours, house activities and plenty of school spirit.
Congratulations to 7C1, whose enthusiasm and teamwork earned them a well-deserved class reward.
It was also a pleasure to meet families at our Meet the Teacher evening, supporting a smooth transition into secondary schooling and strengthening connections within our community.
Beyond the classroom, our team has been actively engaging with feeder schools and families ahead of 2027 enrolments. This included our first Ferny Grove SHS Experience Day, where visiting students explored our facilities, participated in signature program activities and connected with our junior leaders.
It has been a busy and rewarding start to the year, and we look forward to all that lies ahead for Junior Secondary at Ferny Grove State High School.
The Arts have been buzzing with energy this term, with creativity spilling out of classrooms, studios and stages alike. From immersive experiences at Drama Camp to hands-on learning in our photography workshop, students have embraced every opportunity to explore, experiment and express themselves.
Alongside these highlights, classrooms have been alive with imagination, as students continue to develop their
Applying creativity….
skills across visual art, drama and performance. Whether preparing for the stage, capturing the world through a lens, or bringing ideas to life on canvas, it has been a vibrant and productive term in The Arts, with so much to celebrate and share.
So far this year, the Year 11 Drama classes have been learning about and practising the use of the dramatic elements and conventions in depth. We have had the opportunity to apply this knowledge, working with peers across the 3 classes, in order to create our own pieces of theatre. These creative concepts are shaped around specific
“Learning that employing different materials will help me create the final piece was a valuable lesson. This will then improve my pieces and I really appreciate learning these new skills from Carolyn as I know I can take this knowledge and use it in further practices” Miriam
purposes such as entertaining and encouraging, challenging, foregrounding to or making societal commentary for an audience. This has made us more refined actors, directors and manipulators of dramatic action.
Year 11 Student, Oliver
“I really, really liked the wearable art component and the chance to experiment in 3D. I thought learning how to create structure and how to use materials like cane, masking tape and paper towels to make a lightweight structure was really unique and valuable!” Amelia
Year 11 Visual Art students were asked to reflect on the emotions or feelings they were experiencing at the exact time of the lesson. At this stage of the task, they were instructed not to share their chosen feeling with anyone.
Their task was to represent this identified emotion as a three-dimensional artwork within an apple. In developing their work, students were asked to consider the following:
• Modifying the apple to alter its overall form and composition.
• Transforming the apple through actions such as cutting, peeling, stitching, or other physical interventions.
• Incorporating small objects or materials available to them to enhance meaning.
• Adding minimal text only if it does not directly state or clearly name the chosen emotion. If a student was unable to identify a personal feeling at that moment, they could choose to represent one of the following emotions: betrayal, connection, loneliness, or fear.
Students created soft sculptures inspired by Louise Bourgeois that explored personal identity through memory, emotion, or something they feared deeply.
Students could reflect on an aspect of their personal identity, for example, a childhood memory, cultural heritage, family dynamics, emotions, landmarks, toys. Using fabric, stuffing, and stitching techniques, they transformed an aspect of their identity into a symbolic, threedimensional form.
We were thrilled to welcome acclaimed Brisbane photographer Joachim Froese to work with our Year 10 Visual in a hands-on black and white photogram workshop recently.
Students explored the magic of camera-less photography, working with their own sourced objects and personal to create layered compositions that reflected identity and told visual narratives exploring ‘self’. Through experimentation with light, shadow and transparency, they produced striking, high-contrast works while gaining insight into the process of photogram making.
A huge thank you to Joachim for sharing his expertise and inspiring our young artists!
The art workshop was a fun, and exciting experience where we got to learn about developing photography. to create a few photograms of their own, that represent them. We would like to thank Joachim Froese for coming school to teach us his work. He was amazing and we had a great time. Year 10 students Bella, Majenta and I didn’t even realise that the school had a dark room, and even though it was a little cramped and there were to sit, it was still a really fun experience. We learned how exposure works, how to develop photograms and how developing process works, and all the while we were being taught by professional photographer Joachim Froese, so knowledgeable and I feel like he taught us a lot. Year 10 student Elsa.
Year 7 & 8 Visual Art classes are well underway on their “Creature from Elsewhere” unit. Students have used AI to develop unique creatures inspired by two Australian native animals, developing their design in clay.
Students have explored clay hand building techniques, sculpting lovely textured forms. Students are currently working on their mixed media habitat backdrops for their creatures, employing layers of watercolours, stencils and mark making to create their habitats.
Mrs Dray and Ms Barratt are impressed with the students creative and imaginative approach to the tasks and cant wait to see the students finished products at the end of the term.
Visual Art students
personal imagery experimentation the history and
photography. Everyone got coming to the and Lyla. were no places how the Froese, who was
CommunityOur School Value in Action
Our Year 10 Business students recently experienced the power of community firsthand as eight wonderful local business owners generously gave their time to share real-world insights into running a business, managing people and overcoming challenges within their business.
Across both Business classes, students engaged in authentic interviews, asking thoughtful questions and gaining valuable perspectives that simply cannot be learned from a textbook. They will now use these insights to create a short business report, identifying strengths, opportunities and threats, and providing informed decisions and recommendations.
Recently, our Year 9 -12 Digital Technologies students were very fortunate to hear from a special guest speaker, Michael Feldbauer, Founder and Managing Director of Brisbane Technology Solutions. Michael has other headquarters in Darwin NT, and in Broome WA.
His presentation covered interesting stories and footage on cybersecurity, online fraud, remote technology infrastructure, emerging AI technologies, and future IT career pathways, providing valuable realworld insights into the rapidly evolving digital landscape. A sincere thank you, Michael, we appreciate you for visiting Ferny Grove SHS and inspiring the next generation of tech innovators.
It was a morning filled with curiosity, connection and inspiration. Our business guests left feeling confident that “the future is in good hands” and encouraged by what the next generation will bring, and we couldn’t agree more.
Thank you to our incredible local business community for investing in our students. Our Community Partners are members of the NOW - Business Building Community and/or The Hills & Districts Chamber of Commerce Inc.
CELEBRATING OUR 2025 DUX
Ferny Grove State High School proudly recognises Merrick Wolski’s outstanding achievement and academic excellence!
Ferny Grove State High School proudly celebrates our 2025 DUX, Merrick Wolski, who achieved an outstanding ATAR of 99.4. Merrick was recognised at our February Leadership Ceremony, receiving the DUX Award and a $500 bursary generously donated by Honeywill Consulting.
This exceptional result reflects Merrick’s dedication, discipline and passion for learning throughout his senior years. A respected role model within our school community, his success highlights the value of perseverance and strong support from staff and family.
Student Spotlight: Our Amazing Students
Year 12 student, Oscar played his first official match with the Moreton
Congratulations, Merrick, and best wishes for the journey ahead.
Is your child doing something amazing outside of school!? We want to hear about it and share their success with our community. Email eflou0@eq.edu.au
Year 7 student Jade is taking part in Laps for Life for Life raising funds and awareness for youth mental health. The initiative supports ReachOut Australia, an organisation providing free, anonymous online support for young people facing mental health challenges.
Recently Year 12 student, Zali, competed in the Interschool Queensland North Coast IQ Regional Championships. At her most recent competition, Zali won three of her four tests and has now qualified for the Interschool Queensland State Championships in June!
Bay Excelsiors in the Queensland Powerchair Soccer competition at Nissan Arena.
Finance Update
2026 Student Resource Scheme
2026 Student Resource Scheme invoices were due for payment on 30 January 2026 or if paying by 2 instalments, the 1st instalment should have already been paid, the 2nd instalment due by 24 April 2026.
If you have a credit on your student’s account, please reply to the invoice emailed and ask for your credit to be applied. Please note, credits are not automatically applied we must receive your request/consent to do so.
2026 Signature Program Levies and Certificate courses
Invoicing for our Signature Programs including: German Immersion, FAST, LEAF and Instrumental Music; and Certificate courses has been completed. Please pay invoices by the due date. Payment Window in Administration
Our Payment Window in our Administration office will be open from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday each week during the school term.
Debtor Statements
Debtor Statements are generated at the end of each month. This assists parents and carers to track their current invoices. Please pay invoices by the due date. Please do not use a Debtor Statement BPOINT link to pay an invoice. Please use the BPOINT hyperlink on the original emailed invoice to make a payment or use QParents
If you have a credit on your student/s account this will be represented as a negative figure e.g. -$25.00. Applying a credit on the student account to an invoice.
To request a credit be applied, just reply to the invoice email (easy and convenient at all times of your day throughout the year) and request or call our Accounts Receivable Officer, Mieke Brooks on 3550 5820, happy to assist.
Excursions and Camps
Please complete the Online Consent via QParents to indicate whether your student is attending or not attending. This assists the organising teacher with managing the excursion and will allow our Accounts Receivable Officer to manage invoicing as required.
Please pay invoices by the due date to ensure your student may attend.
Year 7 Camp
Year 7 will be from 24 June to 26 June 2026. Invoices have been issued and are due by 13 May 2026.
Gala Music Camp
Gala Music Camp will be from 19 July to 21 July 2026. Invoices will be issued in Term 2, once the excursion has been approved by the Principal.
Year 12 Formal
Year 12 Formal will be on Friday, 4 September 2026. Invoices will be issued in Term 2, once the excursion has been approved by the Principal.
2026 Year 11 students – orders for 2027 Senior Jersey
For your student to be eligible to order a 2027 Senior Jersey, please ensure your student’s account is up to date. Further details regarding ordering will be provided by Ms Casey, Year Level Co in Term 2, 2026.
SNAPSHOTS OF LIFE, LEARNING AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN!
If the current leaderboard is anything to go by, the race is far from over. Djurgun has surged into the lead, with Geewer holding strong and Brolgun close behind in the mix. Kubul and Tagun are within striking distance, and with plenty still to play for, a late surge from Cangungan could shake things up yet!
BOOKINGS OPEN SOON!
Wednesday 3rd June (Years 3-5)
Monday 17th August (Years 5 & 6)
Wednesday 21st October (Years 3-5)
Find out how we support every student to discover their passion on their pathway of learning at Ferny Grove. Your child will experience firsthand our state-of-the-art facilities, innovative signature programs and our strong sense house spirit.
FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO BOOK: WWW.FERNYGROVESHS.EQ.EDU.AU
NEXT TERM’S LINEUP
WEEK 1
Wed 22nd April ANZAC Day Ceremony
Sat 24th April ICM ExcursionGallipoli Barracks
Sun 25th April ICM Dawn ServiceGallipoli Barracks
WEEK 2
Mon 27th April School Tours: 9:30am & 3:40pm
Wed 29th April Signature Programs Parent Info Evening: 5:30pm
WEEK 3
Mon 4th May Labour Day Public Holiday
Wed - Fri 6th-8th May Mother’s Day Stalls
Fri 8th May ICM Concert 1 6:30pm
WEEK 4
Wed 13th May World’s Greatest Shave
Fri 15th May Year 11 Exam Block Unit 1 commences
WEEK 5
Mon 18th May Ag Parent Support Group Meeting 6pm
Thurs 21st May Year 10 Careers Conversation Day
WEEK 6
Mon 25th May P&C Meeting 6pm
Tues 26th May Sorry Day Year 9 into 10 Subject Parent Evening: 6pm
Wed 27th May National Reconciliation Week Music Parent Support Group Meeting 6:30pm
Fri 29th May Non-Uniform Day
WEEK 7
Mon 1st June Languages Week
Wed 3rd June Year 3 - 6 FGSHS Experience Day
Fri 5th June ICM Concert 2: 6:30pm
WEEK 8
Mon 8th June Chaplaincy Week 2027 FAST Trials: 4:30 - 6pm
Wed 10th June School Tours: 9:30am & 3:40pm
Thurs 11th June Athletics Pre-Carnival Events Technologies Showcase: 4:30pm
Fri 8th May Athletics Carnival
WEEK 9
Mon 15th June 2027 FAST Trials: 4:30 - 6pm Year 10 Business Innovation Showcase: 6 – 8:30pm
Tues 16th June Year 10 DRA Community Performance: 6:00pm
Wed 17th June Music Parent Support Group Meeting 6:30pm
Fri 19th June Pride Day
WEEK 10
Mon 22nd June Ag Parent Support Group Meeting 6pm
Tues 24th June Sumo Robocup: Lunch
Wed 24th June Year 7 Camp (Wed-Fri) Year 9 DRA Documentary Performance: 6:30pm
