Secondary Insights
Welcome to Term 3 – A Season of Opportunity and Engagement
As Head of Secondary and as we begin Term 3, I would like to extend a warm welcome back to all families. This term promises a rich array of learning experiences, key academic checkpoints, and exciting events across our Secondary school.
Our Year 12 students are continuing their work on IA3 submissions, demonstrating great persistence as they move toward their final internal assessments. With checkpoints now underway, we are grateful for the ongoing support of families in helping students stay on track and focused.
Last week’s Year 12 QTAC Parent Information Evening was a valuable opportunity to connect with families and provide guidance on tertiary applications and future pathways. The evening also included important information regarding the upcoming external examination block, as well as the STUVAC process, designed to support student preparation, wellbeing, and revision in the lead-up to final assessments.
This term also featured a number of important experiences outside the learning environment:
- Year 9 and Year 10 Camps took place in Week 2, providing students with the chance to develop resilience, teamwork and leadership.
- Year 8 and Year 11 Camps followed this week, offering valuable opportunities for connection and personal growth.
- In Week 5, we are excited to celebrate Science Week, with a variety of engaging experiments, challenges, and activities that inspire curiosity and scientific thinking. Home - National Science Week
- Then in Week 6, we will enjoy the magic of Book Week, promoting a love of reading and storytelling through creative displays, reading sessions and themed events. 2025 Children's Book Week - The Children’s Book Council of Australia
As always, we ask families to support student learning by ensuring devices are fully charged overnight, ready for each day’s scheduled timetable.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement as we work together to create a positive and enriching Term 3 for all students. If you have any questions at all, please phone the College for an appointment or email julie-anne.skelton@hills.qld.edu.au
Mrs Julie-Anne Skelton
Head of Secondary
Teaching and Learning - Science
From Tuesday 12 August to Friday 15 August, students across the school will have the opportunity to engage in activities involving the use of a Scanning Electron Microscope. This device is on loan from an organisation called ‘Inspire Stem Education’ in conjunction with the University of Queensland. This device will allow us to see objects 1000 times smaller than can be seen with a regular light microscope. Students can talk to their teachers about what they might wish to bring to look at under the microscope. In addition, if parents wish to see any of the images live the lab (I1) will be open from 8:20am on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. Some images accompany this article.
Mr Chris Schultz
Head of Science
Teaching Learning - Mathematics
Hills College proudly sent twenty-five students across five teams, accompanied by three student volunteers, to compete in the Canterbury College Maths Team Challenge on 22 July. Hosted at Canterbury College, the event brought together a diverse group of over 400 students from both state and independent schools, comprising of 75 teams from 22 different schools.
The competition featured two rigorous rounds—a team challenge and a relay event—designed to test mathematical thinking, problem-solving ability, and collaborative skills. Our students demonstrated exceptional teamwork and perseverance in tackling complex mathematical tasks throughout the day.
Ms Sim and Mrs Wilson, who attended the event, commended all students for their outstanding conduct and enthusiasm. The College is looking forward to participating again in 2026, as the challenge provides an excellent platform for high-achieving students to extend their mathematical knowledge and engage in meaningful academic competition.
Mrs Rachael Wilson
Head of Mathematics
Teaching and Learning- Health and Physical Education
The HPE Department has worked across Primary and Secondary to ensure that our P-10 students were primed for our final major carnivals for the year - Athletics! Students were able to participate in physical performances, coaching opportunities as well as self evaluation and peer evaluation assessments.
Students also had opportunities to shine in net and court sports such as beach volleyball, world chase arena tag and event management, as well as brushing up on theoretical skills such as mental health, nutrition, proficiency of movement, and promoting healthy communities. Term 3 has already shaped up into another great opportunity for wonderful learning outcomes.
Mrs Leah Stone
Head of Faculty Health and Physical Education
Teaching and Learning- Year 9 Excursion Brings Anatomy to Life at Body Worlds Brisbane
Recently, our Year 9 students had the extraordinary opportunity to visit the Body Worlds Brisbane Official Exhibition, diving headfirst—quite literally—into the incredible complexity of the human body. Hosted at the Myer Centre, the exhibition showcases real anatomical specimens preserved through the groundbreaking process of plastination. Far more than a static display, Body Worlds offers a compelling, educational journey through the intricate systems that keep us moving, thinking, and thriving.
This term, students are exploring the unit Understanding How the Body Moves, examining how bones, muscles, tendons, and joints work together to enable motion. The Body Worlds exhibition brought these concepts to life, allowing students to observe firsthand the muscle layering of a runner mid-stride, the delicate framework of the spine, and the intricacies of organ systems rarely seen in such vivid detail.
Linking Learning to Creation
The excursion isn't just a stand-alone experience—it ties directly into the upcoming assessment task, where students will design and build their own human anatomy models. With the knowledge gained from Body Worlds, they’ll be able to more accurately demonstrate the structures and movements they’ve studied and better appreciate the remarkable mechanics of the human form.
The day sparked deep curiosity, meaningful discussions, and a renewed appreciation for the science of the self. We’re excited to see how students will channel this inspiration into their own anatomical creations in the weeks ahead.
Stay tuned for a display of their finished models—learning in motion, quite literally!
Mrs Leah Stone
Head of Faculty Health and Physical Education
Water Safety Warning
Please note the important information pertaining to water safety.
Mrs Leah Stone
Head of Faculty Health and Physical Education