28 July 2025

Principal's Address

Dear Parents and carers,

Welcome back to Term 3. I hope all our families enjoyed a safe and restful break. It has been a vibrant and purposeful start to the semester, with students embracing a wide range of cultural, academic, and extracurricular opportunities that reflect the richness of the Corinda community.

We had a vibrant start to Term 3, beginning with NAIDOC Week and a powerful Smoking Ceremony to welcome students back. This was especially meaningful for our Year 12 students, as they entered their final semester. A highlight was the collaboration of a student mural, symbolising new beginnings and connection to Country. We also celebrated French and Spanish Weeks, filling our school with language, music, dance and culture, including the popular Alebrije competition and salsa dancing. Another significant event was seeing our students shine on the state stage at CGEN. You can read more about these events further in the newsletter.

In Week 2, our Year 10 students and their families participated in Senior Education and Training Planning (SET-P) interviews – a critical step in shaping personalised pathways for success beyond school.  Our SET-P team worked tirelessly to meet with hundreds of families, often across early mornings and late evenings, including during our Parent-Teacher Interviews.  I am incredibly grateful for the shared commitment to such an important process, which helps students chart a course for their future aspirations.

 I also had the pleasure of attending the Year 7 Debating Finals at Padua College.  One of our teams debated the topic "That all schools should offer hybrid learning," with some insightful and humorous nods to our shared pandemic experiences.  It was heartening to see our young debaters thrive in their first year of competition. 

Thank you to all families who joined us for parent teacher evening. These events are essential in strengthening the learning partnership between home and school.  I received many warm comments from parents acknowledging the care, enthusiasm and professionalism of our teaching staff.  

This week, we’ll welcome students from Shafston Shanghai West Jianping Middle School on study tour, participate in the winter gala days as part of the local school sports competition, and hold an information evening for our Corinda Excellence and Year 10 Honours Programs. 

On the weekend, we’ll welcome the class of 1985 back to Corinda SHS for their 40^th reunion.  Our participation in the reunion is part of our ongoing commitment to fostering a vibrant Alumni network that is reflective of the proud history of our school.  I’m sure that there will be many memories shared by this cohort as they reminisce about their time at school. 

Finally, congratulations to our Mathematics Challenge team, who returned proudly wearing medals after their recent competition success.  A huge thank you to the coaches, parents, teaching team and supporters behind the scenes.

As we move through the term, the significant renovation of our Assembly Hall will accelerate.  This project will impact some central areas of the school, and we appreciate your patience and support as we establish new routines to ensure student safety and a smooth construction process.  I would like to again thank the Corinda State High School P&C for their support of this project, without which it would not have been possible – thank you!

It’s been an inspiring and action-packed start to Semester 2.  I encourage you to read more about the many achievements and stories that follow in this newsletter.  I look forward to all that we will accomplish together this term.

Warm regards,
Ross Bailey
Executive Principal

Key dates

Some of our best

Honouring culture and community during NAIDOC Week

Term 3 kicked off with NAIDOC Week celebrations. A Smoking Ceremony was delivered by Tribal Experiences Australia. This significant cultural tradition marked a meaningful start to Term 3, especially for our Year 12 students as they embark on their final semester. 

Throughout the week, students were invited to join a collaborative art project during break times, guided by First Nations artist Liz Bong. Together, they created a beautiful mural that reflects the spirit of Corinda's school community. The artwork tells the story of Corinda’s place on Turrbal land. The central circle and half-circles represent our school as a meeting place for students, staff, and community. Kangaroo tracks acknowledge the animals that once roamed here and sustained the Turrbal people. Smaller shapes represent traditional ancestors and the 200-300 tribes who once lived, hunted, and danced on this land. House symbols in the artwork symbolise a connection between past and present, recognising the rich cultural history we continue to honour today. The finished art piece is on display at student services. 

Ayda’s art shines on a statewide canvas

We are proud to celebrate the success of Year 9 Visual Art Excellence student Ayda E, whose artwork was selected as the winning design for the QATACON25 (Queensland Art Teachers Association State Conference) tote bag. Ayda’s work was featured on bags distributed to educators attending the statewide event, a remarkable achievement that showcased her creativity and skill.

As part of her recognition, Ayda received a certificate and a selection of high-quality art supplies to support her continued artistic journey. In addition, our Visual Art teacher, Ms Leech (pictured with Ayda below), was invited to speak at the conference, where she shared the learning process behind Ayda’s work and highlighted the valuable opportunities provided through our Visual Art Excellence program. Congratulations to Ayda on this outstanding accomplishment!

Senior Girls tennis team shines at State Titles 

Congratulations to our outstanding Senior Girls tennis team, who placed third at the Queensland Senior School Teams Tennis State Titles held at The University of Queensland. 

Competing against strong teams from Kelvin Grove, Palm Beach Currumbin, Sunshine Coast Grammar, and Brisbane State High, our Tennis Excellence students demonstrated impressive determination, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the tournament. Well done to the entire team and to Coach Linyard on this fantastic achievement. We are proud of their efforts and the way they represented Corinda SHS.

Corinda students shine at CGEN

A huge congratulations to our students that took part in CGEN 2025. Our students showcased their talents in Orchestra, Featured Strings, Drumline and Dance. They worked alongside top Australian artists and industry professionals to prepare for the big event at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Each student shined and delivered a spectacular performance that is nationally renowned. We’re so proud of our students for embracing the challenge and shining on such a grand stage. 

A fiesta of language and culture: French & Spanish Week

Corinda SHS was buzzing with colour, culture, and creativity as we celebrated French and Spanish Week! Students embraced the opportunity to explore two vibrant cultures through a range of exciting activities.

French Week in Week 1 brought a taste of France to campus with a Bastille Day display, a French film screening, French Bulldog scavenger hunt, trivia for house points, and delicious French treats in the Backstage Brew Cafe. 

The fun continued into Spanish Week during Week 2, where students took part in Latin American dancing workshops, Spanish games, a country flag hunt, and a creative competition designing magical Mexican alebrijes. It was fantastic to see so many students getting involved, trying new things, and celebrating the richness of language and culture in true Corinda style!

School news

NAPLAN individual student reports for Years 7 & 9

Year 7 and Year 9 students received their individual student reports for NAPLAN last week. These were distributed during English lessons for Year 7 and Maths lessons for Year 9.

If the report did not make it home, parents and carers are welcome to contact Administration to request a digital copy once reports become available electronically.

Meet Sandra, our new School Based Youth Health Nurse

Welcome Sandra, our new School Based Youth Health Nurse (SBYHN). Sandra is available on Mondays and Wednesdays. She is here to provide students with support on their healthcare needs through:

• Individual consultations for health-related concerns e.g. general health and wellbeing, mental health and sexual health
• Health Interventions and referrals to other health and support services.

For more information, view the flyer below. To book an appointment with Sandra, please email nurse.corinda@health.qld.gov.au.

New bus protocols: Ensuring safe and respectful travel to and from school 

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students at the end of the school day, Corinda SHS has implemented clear procedures for bus line areas and boarding.

Waiting Areas and Line Markings
Students are expected to:

• Stand at their designated bus number, marked in yellow on the ground

• Avoid green diagonal zones, which are no-standing areas, unless they are moving directly to their bus

• Line up in two calm, orderly lines without pushing, crowding, or cutting in.

Boarding Procedures

• Students will be boarded in small groups under staff supervision to ensure safety and efficiency

• Pushing or attempting to skip the line is not permitted and will result in students being sent to the back

• Refusal to follow staff instructions will be referred to the Deans

• All students must tap on using a bus pass or pay 50c with a bank card. If students consistently fail to tap on, the school may risk losing the bus service

• Any concerns or unsafe behaviour can be reported to school staff or the driver.

We appreciate your support in reinforcing these expectations with your student to help maintain a safe and respectful environment during afternoon departures. For a full listing of bus routes servicing Corinda SHS, please click here. In addition, for live public transport updates the QR code pictured below has been placed around the bus boarding areas to see live updates of buses that stop outside the school. Parents are welcome to use this in conjunction with Translink’s Journey Planner to help their students plan their trips to and from school. 

Free online student exchange information sessions 

Is your child studying a Language and dreaming of going overseas? WEP (World Education Program) is hosting a series of free information sessions this term for students and their families. These sessions are a great way to learn more about the exchange experience, available destinations, and how to get involved. It’s especially valuable for Language students to have these kinds of opportunities to immerse themselves in the culture and language they’re learning. For more information about these online sessions, you can scan the QR code on the flyer below or click here.

Community news

Oxley Chaplaincy Aussie Trivia Night

Get your team together and dust off your best Aussie outfit for the Oxley Corridor Chaplaincy Aussie Trivia Night on Thursday 21 August at 5:45 PM at the Sherwood AFL Club.

The event will raise funds for school chaplaincy at Darra SS, Oxley SS, Rocklea SS, Corinda SS and Corinda SHS. All event details are listed in the flyer below. Please register your team of 8-10 people through the QR code on the flyer or by clicking the link below.