5 September 2025

School Motto

From the principal

Parent Survey

Thanks to the families who have completed their annual survey to give feedback to the school and DET on the experiences of students and parents at Nhulunbuy High School. If you have not yet been able to do this, access to the survey is available at 2025 Parent Survey - Nhulunbuy High School and will be open until midnight on Friday September 5. We appreciate the time that parents give to provide us with information that can be used to help with our efforts to improve the school experience for all students.

Student led conferences and parent teacher interviews

Thanks to the families who were able to set aside some time this week to come along to the student led conferences and parent teacher interviews. This is an important event held in Term 1 and Term 3 as it brings together students, teachers and parents to discuss progress with learning and ways in which support can be given to ensure future progress. We understand that sometimes other commitments will mean that not all families can attend, but we encourage parents to be involved by checking Compass regularly and communicating with teachers when there are things happening that will affect students at school. Grades for the first assessment task of the semester are now available for parents to view. 

End of year presentation assembly change of times

Our end of year awards presentation assembly will be held on Tuesday November 25 which is in Week 8 of Term 4. The decision has been made this year to hold the presentations during the day so that students can be present to see their peers being recognised for their effort and achievement. We are giving advanced notice so that parents and family members can make arrangements to be in attendance as well. The assembly will run from approximately 12:45pm until 2:15pm and will include a sausage sizzle as students and families are leaving at the end of the assembly at the end of the school day. Specific invitations will be sent to the families of students receiving awards, but all parents and family members are invited to attend. Further details will be contained in future newsletters and Compass bulletins.

ROUK? Day

The school will embrace RUOK? Day on Thursday September 11 with a series of activities and guests. The day is observed Australia wide and is focused on encouraging people to have meaningful conversations about mental health and wellbeing. The theme for 2025 is “Ask R U OK? Any Day,” which emphasizes that checking in with others about their mental health should be a regular, everyday practice rather than a single event. The school Wellbeing Team led by Carlee Colville will be co-ordinating activities that will raise awareness for students about how they can help their peers and family members.

Farewell to Shanece

Many families who call or visit the school will have met Shanece in the front office. If you have not, you would have certainly read some of her Facebook posts highlighting the work of the school. We say farewell to Shanece this Friday and wish her well in her new employment and thank her for her contribution to NHS in the office and originally at Dawurr. Sam, Jo, Wendy and Casey will still be on hand to share good news stories and welcome families and visitors to the school.

School Uniform

The school has a well-established uniform which includes polo shirts, shorts, caps and hoodies in school colours and designs. These are available from the office at any time with most people purchasing at the start of the year using back to school vouchers. Students are also expected to wear enclosed shoes to enable safe participation in all areas of the curriculum. We ask that parents support the uniform policy by providing the required items and ensure that students are not coming to school in other pieces of clothing that are not part of the uniform. We also have new House sports shirts which many students are proudly wearing to school on the days of their PE classes.  

School Wide Positive Behaviour Program

Throughout 2025, teachers have been emphasising the instruction and recognition of behaviours that promote good learning and positive relationships. Students are given Compass points when they are noticed doing the right things in class. When these points are accumulated, students receive certificates of recognition in assembly and top points getters in each year level are invited to a rewards morning tea a couple of times each term.

Students who have accrued enough Compass points to earn a certificate will be presented in the Week 9 whole school assembly.

While we would like all students to be completely focused on their work for the whole of each class, we realise this may not happen. Happily, though, for this term, our data collection is showing that teachers have recognised over 800 more positive than negative behaviours across the school.

2026 preparation

Our 2026 Year 7 students have had two visits to the school so far with one more to come in Week 9 of this term. We are also planning for a full day visit later in the year to finalise the transition and ensure all students are ready to start learning from the first day of next year. We are currently organising students into groups for next year’s classes and will be trying to finalise these to enable us to recruit the staff we will need. To help with this task, we would ask that if you know your children will not be at school next year to let us know as soon as you can. Similarly, if you know people who are moving to town next year but have not yet enrolled, please encourage them to get in touch with us as soon as possible. This information will be treated as confidential.

End of Term 3

Friday September 19 is the last day of this term. Students return to school for Term 4 on Tuesday October 7. The office will be open, and teachers will be back at work on Monday October 6. We hope that all students and families can have some time to rest and reflect on the term in preparation for the very important final term of the year.

Brad Madden

Principal

From the assisstant principal

Applications for the 2026 NT Youth Week Ambassador program are now open!

Represent the voices of young people in your region on important topics that impact young Territorians.

If you’re a young Territorian aged 15-25, passionate about your community, and eager to make a positive difference, this is your chance!

As an ambassador, you will:
🤝 influence youth service providers and key stakeholders in the NT
⭐ develop your skills in leadership, media, public speaking, project management, team building and networking.

If you’re ready to make an impact, visit 🔗 youth.nt.gov.au or contact dpsc.oya@nt.gov.au for further information.

📆 Applications close 21 September 2025. Don’t miss out!

Kate McNeill

Assistant Principal

2025 School Calendar

Term 3

Week 9  -  Monday 8 September - Friday 12 September - Gymnastics NT Visit

                 Monday 8 September - Friday 12 September - Year 10 Work Experience

                 Wednesday 10 September - Song Spirals Excursion

                 Thursday 11 September - RU OK Day - Colour Run

Week 10 - Monday 15 September - Friday 19 September - Year 10 Work Experience

                 Friday 19 September - Last day of Term 3

Term 4

Week 1 - Tuesday 7 October - Students return

                Wednesday 8 October - SRC - Dress Like Your Teacher Day

Week 2 - Monday 13 October - Friday 17 October - Cert11 Building and Construction Course

               Thursday 16 October - Interschool Friendly Sports Day

Week 3 - Wednesday 22 October - Party Program Excursion Year 10

               Thursday 23 October - Party Program Excursion Mix 15 years and over

School uniform

Middle school news

This term we have been working hard to proactively support students with key transitions in their schooling. Year 6 students from NPS and NCC have visited our school to experience life as a “High Schooler”: familiarising themselves with the school facilities, participating in Cooking, Science, Woodwork and PE lessons and meeting some of the Year 7 teachers and other key staff. There will be another visit in Week 9 and a whole day is planned for Term 4, along with a Year 7 Parent Information evening and tour. More details about these events will be circulated next term.

Similarly, Year 9 students will start thinking about their Senior and post-school pathways by completing a Careers Unit where their individual interests, characteristics, and skills will be matched to particular jobs. Information about Senior subjects, programs and post-school training and education has formed part of this initial thinking and planning. Students, along with their parents and carers are encouraged to engage in upcoming information sessions to be well informed about the Year 10 subjects and programs which will run in 2026. Students, parents and carers are welcome to contact me or Ms Tegan Burness (Senior Teacher, Senior Years) with any questions about Senior pathways.

Jane Utting

Middle School Leader

Middle School Matters

senior school news

As Term 3 draws to a close, our senior students have been engaged in a range of valuable and exciting opportunities.

In Week 6, students took part in workshops run by the Dolly’s Dream Foundation, which promoted kindness, positive mental health, and the importance of fostering a supportive school culture. It was really nice to see senior students engaging with the Foundation team members outside of the workshops too. This week, a group of our Year 10 and 11 students completed Block 4 of their Certificate II in Construction, further developing their practical skills and industry knowledge.

Across Weeks 8 to 10, our Year 10 students are undertaking work experience placements. We have already received positive feedback from employers praising our students’ professionalism and enthusiasm, and we look forward to hearing about their experiences when they return. A huge thank you to Lauren Ewing and Ethan Jolley for all of their work in facilitating this valuable opportunity for students to explore potential career pathways.

As assessments start to wrap up for the term, we remind all students to remain focused, manage their time effectively, and meet due dates to achieve their best results. Consistent attendance is essential for staying on track and we encourage students to be at school every day.

Looking ahead, our current Year 10 and 11 students will soon begin the subject selection process for next year. More details will be shared shortly to support students and families in making informed decisions about future pathways.

Tegan Burness,
Senior School Leader

Liya Djambutj News

Moiety Mural

Liya Djambatj students have been working together on a mural in the classroom that celebrates the richness of Yolŋu culture, with a special focus on moiety, skin names and classifying plants and animals. This was a cross-subject project for art, science and EIF. The project was guided by Wunbirrwuy and Yolŋu students who shared the importance of these systems in maintaining balance, kinship and identity. The mural tells a story of connection and shares a message that everything has a place. We are starting to work on an additional mural which will show what lands our students come from and have connections to. Big shout-out to Evan and Jo for their great help in this project.

Yolŋu Plant Knowledge Walk at Town Lagoon

In Science, students have been learning about plants and classification. Longbinga Munungurr (from Miwatj/Core of Life) and Wunbirrwuy Yunupingu led this special walk through Gaynguru (Town Lagoon) to learn all about the plants there and their story in Yolŋu culture. We learned plant names, their moieties, uses and laws around them. Some uses included bush medicine, bush foods, ceremony, fire lighting, transporting, carving and jewellery.  We learned which plants belonged to different clans and what different flowers and fruits can tell us about hunting seasons and the weather. We photographed the plants to add them to our moiety mural in the classroom. Big shoutout to Longbinga for sharing her knowledge with the students!

Traditional fire pit kiln

Students have just commenced a ceramics project that combines art, culture, and practical learning, giving them the chance to create their own ceramic pieces and fire them using natural methods. The first step was to dig out the old fire pit and line it with compacted sand. Stay tuned to see the final results…

Music video

Some behind the scenes shots from our music video that was filmed late in term 2. Release date TBC…

Ash French & Triny O'Brien

Liya Djambutj Leader - Teacher

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Humanities News

As part of our Landforms and Landscapes unit, Year 8A are exploring how different groups view land for their assessment. We were very grateful to have Wunnbirr, Zavie and DayDae share their Yolŋu culture with us, teaching about moieties, Mäḷk (skin names), and connections to land and animals. Their Mäḷk artwork gave us a deeper understanding of landscape as identity and where certain things belong in moieties. A big thank you to the boys and Gemma for sharing their valuable knowledge with us!

Connections to Land

Science News

Art News

Our Visual Art students have been busy in the ceramics studio this term.

Year 9 students have excelled in their hand-building skills, progressing so quickly that they have already moved onto the ceramic wheels. Their finished pieces are now emerging from the kiln, looking refined and highly professional.

Meanwhile, Year 7–8 students are working on their Clay Head project. This technique begins with two pinch pots as the foundation and requires careful hand-building and fine motor skills to shape unique facial features and bring their characters to life. These works are nearly complete and will soon be on display at the Nhulunbuy Community Library – keep an eye out for them

My New Gallery

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Physical Education and health News

Our Year 9 girls had an amazing time on the Core of Life excursion at the Town Lagoon! During the day, they explored local cultural practices and learned about the rich traditions and stories of our community. Their curiosity, respect, and enthusiasm made the experience truly memorable. Well done to all the girls for representing our school so brilliantly.

Lauren Ewing,
Physical Education and Health Teacher

Core of Life

2025 NT Athletics Championships

Nhulunbuy High School Students Shine at NT Track & Field Championships

From 20–23 August, 10 Nhulunbuy High School students proudly represented our school at the NT Track & Field Championships in Darwin.

They joined 19 students from across five East Arnhem schools to form a strong regional team:

• Laynhapuy Homelands – 3 students
• Nhulunbuy High School – 10 students
• Umbakumba School – 4 students
• Milingimbi School – 1 student
• Alyangula Area School – 1 student

The East Arnhem team competed across both junior (10–12 years) and senior (13–19 years) divisions, with incredible results:

• 29 Gold Medals (7 junior, 22 senior)
• 26 Silver Medals (4 junior, 22 senior)
• 24 Bronze Medals (9 junior, 15 senior)

Our Nhulunbuy High students alone achieved 13 personal bests, showcasing their commitment and growth through participation in previous championships.

A huge thank you goes to the dedicated teachers, volunteers, and supporters who made this experience possible. Your passion and encouragement ensured our students could shine on this Territory stage.

Lauren Ewing,
Physical Education and Health Teacher

Tech Studies

catering for the student-led conference

Catering for the Student-Led Conference

As part of our Integrated Learning program, the students at our school came up with a great idea — to cater for our Student-Led Conference. By doing this, we provided beautiful food for families and teachers to enjoy, which helped encourage more people to attend the event.

Throughout this experience, we learned a range of valuable life skills, including budgeting, working out the right amount of food needed for a large group, and learning how to cook different dishes. We split into groups, and each group chose a dish they wanted to make. Working together as a team, we prepared and served a variety of meals, including:

• Spaghetti Bolognese
• Cookies
• Curry and Rice
• Mac and Cheese
• Chilli Con Carne
• Shredded Beef
• Fresh Bread Rolls

It was a fantastic experience that taught us teamwork, planning, and practical cooking skills. Everyone who attended enjoyed the food, and the night was a huge success. We’re proud of what we achieved, and it’s something we’ll remember for a long time!

Isabelle Campbell

Student

Clontarf news

The last four weeks have been super busy in Clontarf. The lads have been putting in a massive effort at all trainings and activities and doing great things in the classroom. In Week 6, Will flew with five Year 12 students to Darwin for the annual Employment Forum, where the boys had an opportunity to interact with our wonderful partners and get a taste of life after school. On Friday of Week 6, we drove our senior boys to Gapuwiyak for a day trip to play against their seniors in a basketball game. The round-robin tournament was played in true Clontarf spirit, and it was great to see so many happy faces on the sidelines supporting the lads.

Last week, we took our junior boys on a work site visit to the police station. A big thanks to school-based Constable Kyrra for letting us come in, learn some new skills, and get an insight into what it’s like to be a police officer.

On Tuesday of Week 8, we held the Yirrkala Tuesday Night Footy Grand Final. With plenty of numbers, the two teams battled it out, making for a fantastic way to finish the season. Huge thanks to Woolworths, who came out and put on a BBQ for the community.

We have a massive Term 4 ahead, and we can’t wait to get into it.

Darren Ewing

Program Coordinator

Four Weeks: Out and About

Stars News

Stars have had a very busy term with a large focus on employment and training pathways. 

Senior Stars students Chloe, Meialee, Dianne and Rochelle participated in Barista Training at the Miyalk Café in Yirrkala. All the students did an amazing job, impressing the trainer and successfully completing a Certificate of Attainment.

Stars students had the opportunity to attend the Midawarr Day Out hosted by Anglicare and Miwatj Health. It was a fantastic day out at the surf club; students embraced the opportunity to engage with community organisations and enjoyed the experience. 

Lizzie Graham,

Stars Happenings

Dawurr News

Term 3 has been extremely busy, with a range of activities at Dawurr and around the East Arnhem Land Region. In recent weeks, Djamika and Titi deepened their scientific knowledge after their Deadly Science school trip to Melbourne. Trevor, Abriel and Djamika got to compete against the Territory’s best in Darwin, in a variety of track and field events and they made us all very proud. We held our first McDawurr drive through event, which was a great success, raising the funds needed for our Athletes to get to Darwin.

We had the Minmal Land Management crew from Bulman come and stay with us. While they were here, a few of our boarders got to spend time and gain experience learning form the Yirrkala Rangers on a trip out to Cape Arnhem. The local footy grand final saw Gopu take out the title this year, with 2 Dawurr students and 1 staff member represented.

The girls have been doing Miyalk mornings with Rhoda which might include a beach walk or a bike ride before school, followed by a hot choccy. The Miyalk also had a special camp out at Latram, where they could spend time out on country to help build positive relationships amongst staff and boarders.

With this cooler weather, takeaway beach dinners have proven popular with staff and students and the communal firepit at Dawurr has been getting used quite regularly. Laser tag has made its debut and proven to be a hit already between staff and students.

We’re looking forward to finishing off the term strong at Dawurr. With a few special events planned for the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned…

Kiri Deegan & Brett Osborne

Head of Boarding - Deputy Head of Boarding

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Maritime News

Year 11 Students Make Waves in Maritime Training

Year 11 Maritime and LD students have been taking their studies out of the classroom and into the real world as part of their Certificate I in Maritime Operations.

As part of the program, students recently completed fire-fighting training scenarios to meet the requirements of the unit MARF028 – Follow procedures to minimise and fight fires on board a vessel. This hands-on training gave students the opportunity to learn critical safety procedures used in the maritime industry.

Wearing protective gear and using real firefighting equipment, students worked in teams to safely approach and extinguish simulated onboard fires. The training emphasised the importance of clear communication, teamwork, and safety awareness – all essential skills for those considering careers in the maritime sector.

The Certificate I in Maritime Operations allows students to combine theory with practical, industry-standard training. From fire fighting and safety at sea to emergency procedures, the program prepares students for both future study and employment opportunities in the marine industry.

This experience is not only a key step in their qualification but also an exciting example of how vocational education is giving students the chance to apply classroom learning to real-life challenges.

Matt Bell

Teacher

Making Waves

enrichment news

Every Wednesday afternoon, students can participate in a variety of enrichment activities, which rotate each term.  Enrichment activities at school provide numerous benefits for students by enhancing their learning experience beyond the traditional classroom setting. These activities develop important skills like teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving. They also boost students' confidence and motivation by allowing them to explore their interests and talents.

This week's newsletter is showcasing our Mural Painting and Anime Club activities.

Mural Painting

Over the course of this term, a small number of students have created a mural on the end of Building Block 23 depicting our sport team's logos and names. It has been an arduous but fun work in progress, and many positive comments have been made as it develops into the finished creation. 

Mural Painting

Anime Club:

In Enrichment, students in Anime Club have the opportunity to explore Japanese culture through well-known anime films by renowned studios such as Studio Ghibli, as well as popular series like Naruto.

Dolly's Dream foundation

During week 6 of this term, we were delighted to welcome presenters from the Dolly’s Dream Foundation who worked with all students across the school. Through engaging workshops, students explored themes of kindness, respect, resilience, and safe online behaviour. We are proud to share that students participated thoughtfully and that many meaningful conversations were held.

The Dolly’s Dream Foundation provides excellent resources to support families in continuing these important discussions at home. These resources, including conversation guides and information for parents, can be accessed via their website: www.dollysdream.org.au.

As always, we encourage students and families to seek support if needed. Services such as Dolly’s Dream 24/7 Support Line (0488 881 033)  Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) and Lifeline (13 11 14) are available 24/7, and our school wellbeing team is here to provide ongoing support.

We thank the Dolly’s Dream Foundation for their invaluable contribution to our school and for empowering our students to help create a culture of kindness and safety.

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Song Spirals

Excursion to the Gove Arts Theatre – Song Spirals

Nhulunbuy High School is thrilled to announce an exciting cultural opportunity for our students: a special performance of Song Spirals at the Gove Arts Theatre.

On Wednesday 10th September, from 11:00am to 1:00pm, students will experience this epic dance adaptation of the award-winning book Song Spirals – Buku, created by local women. This remarkable production has toured nationally - including a season at the Sydney Opera House - and we are fortunate to now see it performed here in East Arnhem Land.

Directed and choreographed by Yolŋu artist Rosealee Pearson, the performance brings the Yolŋu Matha language to life through dance, storytelling, and movement. Song Spirals draws on the deep cultural significance of Milkarri, the Yolŋu women’s practice of crying songlines, offering a powerful insight into connection to Country, culture, and community.

Key Details

• Date & Time: Wednesday 10th September, 11:00am–1:00pm
• Venue: Gove Arts Theatre
• Cost: $15 per student
• Eligibility: Students who submitted an Expression of Interest have received an excursion note.

We feel very privileged to provide our students with this incredible cultural experience and look forward to sharing this special event with them.

Song Spirals

RUOK Day

Dress Like your teacher day

🎉 SRC’s is hosting the ‘Dress Like Your Teacher Day!’ 🎉

(World Teachers’ Day Celebration)

📅 When: Wednesday 8th October
📍 Where: Nhulunbuy High School
👕 Theme: Come dressed as your favourite teacher!

In Term 4, the SRC is bringing the fun with a special event to celebrate World Teachers’ Day. On Wednesday 8th October (Week 1), students are invited to come to school dressed as their favourite teacher!

Will you be strutting the senior block in Ming Yan’s AMAZING New York catwalk style? 💃✨
Or maybe rocking Ms Henwood’s full Collingwood fan kit — shirt, headband, shorts, and trainers 🖤🤍
Perhaps you’ll channel Mr Madden’s signature look: crisp school shirt, black shorts, and trainers 👔🩳
Or are you brave enough to pull off Donny’s iconic checkered button-up and shorts combo 🍖🕺

The possibilities are endless, and we can’t wait to see your creativity shine!

Why We’re Doing It 💡

World Teachers’ Day is all about recognising the incredible work our teachers and support staff do every day. By stepping into their shoes (literally!), we’re showing our appreciation with laughter, fun, and school spirit.

What You Need to Know 📝

• Costumes should be school appropriate and non-offensive – talk to a staff member if you are unsure. Unfortunately, if students can not adhere to this you will be asked to go home and get changed into school uniform.

Snap a Pic 📸

The SRC will be out and about capturing the best looks of the day. Make sure to strike a pose for the newsletter and socials. A special prize will be awarded to best dressed student!

✨ Get creative, get silly, and let’s make World Teachers’ Day one to remember!

RTP - responsible thinking process