Dear Benowa Families,
Welcome back for the 2023 school year to our returning Benowa families, and a special welcome to our new students and families who are joining us this year.
Currently, we have more than 2000 students enrolled at Benowa State High School. 2023 has brought significant changes to the organisational structure of our school, particularly for student management and wellbeing. Unlike previous years, students are now managed in Year level cohorts with each year level having their own Engagement and Wellbeing Team. This team includes a Year level Coordinator, an Engagement and Wellbeing Head of Department and a Deputy Principal who will oversee the engagement, wellbeing and behaviour of students. Our Houses remain integral to Benowa High and all students are allocated into a House for various House activities throughout the year. House allocations can be found on students' timetables. Please see the information below with the year level teams and contacts details.
Role
| Name | Email | Responsibility areas |
|
Year 7 | | | |
| Year Coordinator | Mr Paul Clare |
pclar51@eq.edu.au | absences, uniform |
| HOD Wellbeing and Engagement | Mr Andy McKee |
ajmck1@eq.edu.au | friendship issues, disengagement, wellbeing, support programs |
| Deputy Principal | Mrs Sarah Douglas |
sdoug70@eq.edu.au | academic tracking, pathways, subject selections/changes |
|
Year 8 | | | |
| Year Coordinator | Ms Alex Armour |
aarmo9@eq.edu.au | absences, uniform |
| HOD Wellbeing and Engagement | Mrs Amanda Kellow |
akell34@eq.edu.au | friendship issues, disengagement, wellbeing, support programs |
| Deputy Principal | Mrs Sarah Douglas |
sdoug70@eq.edu.au | academic tracking, pathways, subject selections/changes |
|
Year 9 | | | |
| Year Coordinator | Ms Renee Budden |
rmbud0@eq.edu.au | absences, uniform |
| HOD Wellbeing and Engagement | Ms Mandy Howden |
mbeva16@eq.edu.au | friendship issues, disengagement, wellbeing, support programs |
| Deputy Principal | Mr Cameron Murray |
cmurr27@eq.edu.au | academic tracking, pathways, subject selections/changes
|
|
Year 10 | | | |
| Year Coordinator | Mr Matthew Anderson |
mande362@eq.edu.au | absences, uniform |
| HOD Wellbeing and Engagement | Ms Tina Mackay |
tmack37@eq.edu.au | friendship issues, disengagement, wellbeing, support programs |
| Deputy Principal | Mr Cameron Murray |
cmurr27@eq.edu.au | academic tracking, pathways, subject selections/changes |
|
Year 11 | | | |
| Year Coordinator | Mrs Kylie Diviak |
kdivi1@eq.edu.au | absences, uniform |
| Deputy Principal | Mrs Lieve Rimbaut |
lrimb1@eq.edu.au | academic tracking, pathways, subject selections/changes |
| Head of Senior Schooling | Mrs Sarah Price |
spric79@eq.edu.au | academic tracking, pathways, subject selections/changes |
|
Year 12 | | | |
| Year Coordinator | Ms Dee Thorsborne |
dthor17@eq.edu.au | absences, uniform |
| Deputy Principal | Mrs Lieve Rimbaut |
lrimb1@eq.edu.au | academic tracking, pathways, subject selections/changes |
| Head of Senior Schooling | Mrs Sarah Price |
sprice79@eq.edu.au | academic tracking, pathways, subject selections/changes |
One of our main school priority areas for 2023 includes Student Wellbeing, we will have a strong focus on building positive relationships for learning where every student is known, and individual strategies are optimised. For our students to learn and achieve their best they need a clear mind. If our students are worried or anxious, their ability to learn is impacted.
This means that we will be working with our students to support resilience and mindfulness, we have engaged with The Resilience Project, a nation-wide, evidence-based program supporting mental health and happiness through Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness. Students in years 7-10 to will be supported through this project. A positive attitude and healthy habits are vital for learning and the Resilience Project is a strategy that will support all students to achieve their best in 2023.
The Program for our Year 11 and 12 students has also changed for 2023 with our Senior Students being given the opportunity to leave school at 1:05pm each Wednesday. Students will engage with various, individualised options that will support and enhance their future goals. Please see the attached letter that students received last year.
To ensure your child’s continued enrolment at Benowa High for 2023, please contact us if your child is expected to miss the start of the 2023 school year. Students are required to be in regular attendance from Monday (year 7, 8 and 12) and Tuesday (all students), with data sent to the Department of Education by the end of week 2. It is important that you inform us of any absences in this period to enable ongoing enrolment. If your child is absent in these first two weeks, please contact the school.
Likewise, if you are aware that your student will not be returning to Benowa High in 2023, please let us know via email: enrolments@benowashs.eq.edu.au.
The very best of luck for 2023, I am looking forward to working with you and your children to ensure their succes
We have emailed this information home as well so please check your inbox (and spam/junk folders).
Kind regards
Alison Fahlbusch
Principal