Cairns State High School eNewsletter

Department News

The Arts

Energy Exhibition

The Energy Exhibition 2025 is Queensland’s largest high school visual arts showcase, featuring outstanding work from students across Far North Queensland. This year, Cairns High has 14 students represented in the exhibition, with four students shortlisted for submission to the prestigious Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art — the state’s highest accolade for secondary school visual arts.

Congratulations to our Creative Generation submission students: Alexis Laine-Gelden, Beatrice Hossen, Kokona Miyashita, and Lily Forsyth.

The following students also had their work selected for inclusion in the exhibition: Grace Duraj, Sasha Monckton, Esther Yanum, Zander Kingsford, Mak Boivin, Tamalin Morris, Georgia Willis, Baran Eftekhar, Faniella Scott, and Ella Carney.

The exhibition runs 19 September – 5 October 2025 at Tank 4 Gallery, Tanks Arts Centre. Entry is free. The official launch will be held on 19 September from 6pm, featuring awards presentations and performances by selected high school musicians.

Cairns High Students Shine at the 2025 Reel Futures Film Awards

Congratulations to our talented student filmmakers whose works were officially selected for the 2025 Reel Futures Film Awards, which opened on Friday night in Port Douglas.

A special shoutout goes to Year 10 film-maker Hudson Smith, who took home the coveted “ShoutOut Award” for Best Film, as voted by his peers. Hudson’s standout film, Insomniac, will now go on to screen at the Port Shorts Film Festival on 18 October — a remarkable achievement for such a young film-maker.

Students took part in a film focused program of workshops and events, including a virtual presentation from XM2, the world’s leading aerial cinematography company led by Cairns High alumna Leroy Button; a Producing on a Budget session with film-maker and another Cairns High alumna Kate Boylan-Ascione; and Sound & Lighting on a Budget with the Port Shorts Crew. They also tuned into the Reel Futures Virtual Panel featuring industry figures Matt Hearn (Wolf Creek), Stephen Curry (The Castle), and Ivan Vukusik (AACTA), before enjoying a film screening at the Clink Theatre, where their own creative work lit up the big screen.

David Marsden | HOD of Arts

Business Enterprise and Technology

Success in Economics

Congratulations to Year 11 student Claudia Kurowski for placing Third in State in the 2025 Economics Competition organised by the Queensland Economics Teachers Association (QETA) and University of Queensland (UQ).

This annual competition saw over 2000 Year 10-12 students from Queensland compete across three categories.

Congratulations as well to students Logan Tallis and Novi Baker for scoring Distinctions in the competition.

Anita Beutel | HOD - Business and Enterprise Technology

Chess Success!

Our Cairns High chess team had a very successful day at the Term 3 Tournament held at Trinity Anglican School on Thursday 4th September.

Premier division (Team 1) won first place and secured a spot at the state championships in Brisbane. Angus was awarded individual winner for board 2.
A division (Team 1) won first place. Rohan and Thomas awarded 2^nd and 3^rdindividual medals.
A division (Team 2) won third place.
B division (Team 5) won second place. Anuja and William awarded 1^st and 2^nd individual medals.
Anuja in Year 7 won first place overall in B division.

Phaun Ottone |Teacher/Chess Coordinator

Global Studies - Humanities and Languages

Where there are Italians, there is food! Year 9 Italian class

This term, our Year 9 students discovered that learning Italian doesn’t just happen in the classroom – sometimes it happens in the kitchen!

As part of their unit “A tavola con gli italiani” (At the table with Italians), students explored the central role of food in Italian culture and how it brings families and communities together. Earlier in the term, they enjoyed a “food museum” activity, where they researched, cooked, and sampled dishes from different Italian regions. Building on this, students began working with authentic recipes in Italian: giving instructions, naming ingredients, and practising cooking terminology.

The highlight of the unit was taking to the kitchen to prepare and share two classic dishes – a fresh and tasty bruschetta al pomodoro to start, followed by a comforting pasta alla bolognese. This hands-on experience gave students the chance to put their new language skills into practice while also connecting with one of Italy’s most delicious and meaningful traditions.

The end result? Smiles all around – and empty plates! It was a fun, memorable way to experience Italian culture through one of its most beloved contributions to the world: la cucina italiana.

Bravissimi, ragazzi! Everything was squisito!

Year 7 Classics Excursion – Cairns Museum

Over Weeks 4–8, all Year 7 Classics classes had the chance to step back in time on an excursion to the Cairns Museum as part of our Ancient Civilisations: Deep Time Australia unit.

From the moment we arrived, students were drawn in by the passionate museum guides who brought the stories of Cairns to life. We learned about the Gimuy Wallaburra Yidinji and Yirrganydji peoples and their deep connection to Country, and got to see amazing artefacts like shields, headdresses, and story poles that tell the stories of the past. This was a highlight because it made history feel real and close to home.

The tour also took us through “Old Cairns,” where we explored how First Nations tracks became roads and railways, and how the arrival of European settlers changed life in the region. Everyday objects from kitchens, fishing, and tropical living helped us imagine what life was like in the past, long before modern technology. We even had the chance to see how Cairns grew into the city we know today, through migration, tourism, and environmental change.

Students were engaged and excited throughout the visit, and many said they were surprised at how much they enjoyed learning about the history of our own town. The museum made clear links to our Deep Time Australia unit, showing us how the stories of the past connect with the present.

A big thank you to the Cairns Museum and its wonderful guides for making history come alive!

Sarah Moss | HOD Global Studies

Music

End of Term 3 – A Celebration of Musical Excellence

Our Music Department continues to uphold its proud tradition of excellence, fostering a vibrant culture of achievement, growth and community connection. Withing our programmes, students are provided with a rich breadth of opportunities designed to extend their artistry, musicianship and personal confidence.

The success of our high-performing students is reflected not only in outstanding results across competition, festivals and examinations, but also in the leadership they bring to Cairns State High School and community events. Through collaboration with professional musicians, participation in regional and state-level initiatives, and access to masterclasses with industry experts, our student are immersed in experiences that nurture excellence and innovation. These opportunities ensure that our young musicians emerge as confident performers, empathetic collaborators, and lifelong ambassadors for the Arts.

AMEB – Australian Music Examinations Board

In weeks 6, 7 and 8 of this term, our department was proudly represented in the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) performance examinations, held across Cairns for Strings, Woodwind, Brass, Piano and Voice. These rigorous examinations provide an important benchmark of musical achievement, recognising not only technical and interpretive skill but also the discipline and perseverance required to prepare at the highest level. Among the many outstanding results, we are especially delighted to acknowledge the achievement of the Associate in Music, Australia (AmusA) diploma. This prestigious award regarded nationally as equivalent to an associate undergraduate degree in music, in awarded for exceptional artistry and ability in performance. Congratulations Olivia Stein on this remarkable achievement and thank you to esteemed accompanists Jill Todd.

We extend our warmest congratulation to all students who understood examinations, as well as to the accompanists, teachers and families whose dedication, encouragement and support made such success possible.

The commitment and determination displayed by our music community continues to inspire, reflecting the strength of our shared pursuit of excellence.

ICONIC

The pinnacle of our cultural calendar, ICONIC, once again lived up to its name as an unforgettable celebration of artistic brilliance, uniting senior students from Dance, Film and Music in a showcase of extraordinary talent.

Symphony Orchestra set the scene in style with John Williams’ Olympic Fanfare and Theme, a resounding opening that created a sense of grandeur for the evening ahead. This 80-strong ensemble proving why they are considered one of the best in Australia. The Film and Dance presentations were captivating, fresh, polished and deeply expressive, reminding us that the Arts thrive most vibrantly when disciplines converge. The Percussion Ensembles offered audience a glimpse of their award-winning National Percussion Eisteddfod repertoire, before being joined by the entire senior percussion cohort for a finale of epic proportions, complete with helmets, acrobatics, and precision throwing techniques that had the audience both amazed and enthralled. Chamber Strings brought an intimate brilliance, with Maya Hadar-Pagliari lyrical cello concerto, and a sparkling trumpet duet from Olivia Stein and Lara Oya performing on D trumpets. Big Band kept spirits soaring with groove and swing, highlighted by Beatrice Hossen’s soulful rendition of Feelin’ Good and Gabriel Havini’s smooth soprano saxophone solo. Symphonic Winds brought the evening to a close – Lili Gochee dazzling on piccolo in Stars and Stripes Forever, before the full ensemble ignited the theatre with a thrilling performance of Riverdance, proving why the were worthy of ‘Best Instrumental Performance’ of Eisteddfod 2025. The whole evening a tour-de-force of percussive drive, musical artistry and technical mastery. Our community is inspired and energised, and we thank everyone who came along to support our young performers in this feast of the senses.

Thankyou – Cairns High staff, conductors, accompanists, instrumental music teachers, Arts teachers, musicians, dancers, film makers, CPAC staff, VIP guests, music committee, admin staff, supervising teachers, van drivers, equipment movers, programme designers, photographers, hair and make-up, soloists, sound and lighting team, Cairns High tech team, leadership team, list and excel creators, logistics, office staff, parents, friends and community – together, we did it!

Good Luck SHEP, QLD

Good luck to Lena Aoki (violin) and Madison Coates (cello) who will travel to Brisbane over the holiday to take part in State Honours Ensemble Programme, QLD. It was an honour to nominate these two exceptional young musicians to take part in this intensive 4-day course, run by Griffiths University and held at the prestigious Brisbane Conservatorium of Music. We wish them all the best as they represent CSHS in this annual gathering of the finest young instrumentalists from around Queensland. The finale concert will take place on Sunday 5 October. We look forward to a follow-up interview on their return.

In conclusion, the ongoing success of our students is a powerful reminder of the central role music plays in education and in the life of our community. Research consistently demonstrates the strong links between music participation and broader academic achievement. Studies have shown that sustained engagement in music support higher levels of literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills, while also enhancing memory, focus and creativity (Hallan, 2010; Kraus and Chandrasekaran, 2010). Just as importantly, music cultivates resilience, teamwork, and empathy-qualities essential not only for artistic growth, but for life itself.

Globally, the importance of music is affirmed by many leaders. As Plato famously remarked, “Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mid, flight to the imagination” (Plato, c. 428-348 BC). In this sense, every performance and every shared musical experience contributes to the building of stronger communities within schools and beyond.

Cairns High Music Department remains committed to nurturing these opportunities, confident that the benefits of music will continue to empower our students academically, artistically, and personally while strengthening the cultural fabric of our wider community.

Calendar Term 4

Click here to download.

Important Dates for your diary 2026

30/31 March and 1 April - Symphony Orchestra – Residential Camp (Genezzano)
18 – 22 May – Possible Fanfare Heats Week (Instrumental)
11/12/13 May – Choral Camp (Genezzano)
11/12 June – Fanfare Finals (Regional)
18 – 26 June – Eisteddfod

Maureen Cameron | HOD of Music

Senior Schooling

Year 10 Work Experience 2025

VPG Work Experience Cairns SHS Report 2025.pdf

VPG Work Experience Cairns SHS Report 2025 _pdf 4.93 MB

CQUniversity

QTAC Savings

Year 12 students applying through QTAC before Tuesday, 30 September can access significant application fee savings. Offers for our Principal's Recommendation Scheme have started to be released, with Year 12 students having until Monday, 24 November to apply.

On-Demand Webinar

Students who missed our recent Open Day events can still access all information through our comprehensive on-demand webinars, available anytime at their convenience.

Josh Whitehouse | HOD Senior Schooling

Sport

Inter-House Swimming Carnival

Congratulations to O'Keefe House, crowned champions of our Inter-School Swimming Carnival at Tobruk Memorial Pool! With perfect weather, passionate competitors, and a strong sense of school spirit, the day was a spectacular success from start to finish.

Students from all houses gave their best in the pool, cheered on their teammates, and demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship throughout the day. Whether they were racing, supporting from the sidelines, or helping with the event logistics, every student and staff member contributed to the positive atmosphere.

We also extend our warm congratulations to all event champions, who showcased talent, determination, and teamwork in every lap.

The team at Tobruk Memorial Pool was so impressed by our school community that they took the time to share this message:

"It was a genuine pleasure to welcome your school community. The students were not only enthusiastic and full of energy, but also exceptionally polite and respectful throughout the day. You should be very proud—your students were a real credit to the school, themselves, and their parents."
— Tobruk Memorial Pool Management

A big thank you to the organisers, staff, and student volunteers who ensured the event ran seamlessly. We look forward to making a splash again next year!

Well done, O'Keefe House, and to all who participated. You truly made Cairns State High School proud.

Age Champions

12yrs Girls	Kennedy Bryan	O’Keefe
12yrs Boys	Frankie Waller	Collins
13yrs Girls	Ashley Hewitt	O’Keefe
13yrs Boys	Justin Molford	Collins
14yrs Girls	Lauren Baldwin	Tully
14yrs Boys	Mark Suntsov	O’Keefe
14yrs Boys	Callum Bolton	Collins
15yrs Girls	Brooklyn Hewitt	O’Keefe
15yrs Boys	Mark Molford	Collins
16yrs Girls	Hayley De Bonis	Tully
16yrs Girls	Johanna Axmann	Collins
16yrs Boys	Ethan Ellis	Bruce
17yrs Girls	Emily Brown	Bruce
17yrs Boys	Liam McNamara	Collins
18+yrs Girls	Sierra Squire	Bruce
18+yrs Boys	Jack Coldebella	Tully