The Lyrebird

Muggi Friendship Day and Year 6 to 7 Transition Afternoon

This week we hosted two very successful days of connection and collaboration with our partner primary schools in the Muggi Friendship Day and the Year 6 to 7 Transition afternoon. Muggi Friendship Day sees our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from across our partner schools invite their non-Aboriginal friends to experience culture with them. Workshops were held in dance, weaving, traditional games, cooking and relaxation techniques. Our high school students assisted in the running of these workshops and were incredible role models for the younger students. Our future Year 7 students joined us on Wednesday afternoon to taste test high school through lessons in STEM, Technology and Applied Studies, Visual Arts and Science. While the focus was on learning how we learn in high school, it was wonderful to see our partner primary school students making connections and friendships between each other already.

Uniform Reminder

Please remember that as the weather gets cooler that our school uniform shop has stocks of the school (blue) hoodies and jumpers available. Only Year 12 has the privilege of wearing their Senior commemorative jersey. All other students should be in full school uniform every day. Please reach out to the school if you require financial assistance for purchasing a uniform. We also have uniform available to loan if students have not had time to get their uniform dry.

Wishing you a safe holiday

Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing holiday. When we return for Term 2, the first 2 days are School Development Days. All students return to school on Wednesday 22 April 2026.

Debating Teams

Mullumbimby High School's senior debating team have started their year with a valiant defeat against Dorrigo High school. MHS were the affirmative to the question 'Author's should never be banned by educational institutions because of their ideas or opinions'.

Our first speaker Hazel Beaton did a great job in establishing the affirmative argument by referencing the fact that banning has never achieved much in the world and where it has, often this is linked to authoritarian or dystopian political systems.

Second speaker, Scarlett Clifford was a late inclusion with one of our debaters away; however, she did a great job, especially in rebutting the Dorrigo school's case. This was quite a technical debate, and Dorrigo did have an advantage in a very niche argument having recently studied Craig Sylvie's novel Jasper Jones which had just been banned for study in public schools. Our third speaker, Eleanor Sena, did an amazing job in tying together our argument and rattling off some amazing examples such as the importance of studying the works of derided political figures to understand the history of racism or prejudice as an example. Her referencing of dystopian novels such as Brave New World, 1984 and The Handmaids Tale made this old English teacher more than proud.

However, Dorrigo's third speaker came out with a strong rebuttal, arguing that you may not have to ban books based on their ideas, but you certainly should not allow them to profit from it. Again, we endured a long reference to Craig Slyvie and Jasper Jones which was enough to win over the adjudicator. This is a wonderful group of debaters and look out for their mentorship of our two Year 7 teams in Term 2. 

English

Year 10 English

This term students have explored Shakespeare's dramatic tragedy 'Macbeth' and have examined the Elizabethan/Jacobean context and considered the way Shakespeare dramatises universal human themes of ambition, power, and corruption. Students enjoyed acting it out in class and Maayan, Leila and Amiee relished in their acting roles as the three weird sisters! "Double, double toil and trouble".

Year 12

Year 12 enjoyed serenading student's sweethearts for their Valentines Day fundraising activity. Taj and Harry from year 12 had an entourage sing them a love song. Love wins!

Music in Action: A Strong Start to 2026

The year has begun with great momentum in the Mullumbimby High music program, with students across all year groups actively engaging in practical music-making. Year 7 students have been introduced to keyboard through a focus on fundamental skills, developing their ability to coordinate melody and harmony while building confidence in performance. It has been pleasing to see so many students take pride in their progress and embrace new challenges.

Year 8 students have been investigating Blues music, exploring its historical roots and musical features. Through hands-on learning, they have applied their knowledge by performing the 12-bar blues, demonstrating both understanding and creativity. Their willingness to experiment and collaborate has been a highlight throughout the term. Senior music students in Years 9, 10, 11 and 12 have taken a more independent approach to their learning, working in small groups to rehearse and refine ensemble performances. Their commitment to rehearsals and their ability to shape cohesive performances has been impressive. These students have also contributed to the broader school community, sharing their work in performance settings such as the Step Up transition evening.

It has also been fantastic to see students extending themselves beyond the classroom, showcasing their talents through auditions for events such as Schools Spectacular and submitting original works to Triple J Unearthed High. These opportunities highlight the dedication and creativity of our students, as they continue to pursue music at a high level. With such a positive and productive start to the year, we are excited to see how our students continue to grow as musicians throughout 2026.

Pi Day Winners!

Did you know that Pi Day is an annual celebration of the mathematical constant π (pi) and Pi Day is observed on March 14 (the 3rd month) since 3, 1, and 4 are the first three digits of π and was founded in 1988 by Larry Shaw a staff of the Exploratorium Science Museum in San Francisco.

Ms Langtry every year organises Pi Day at our school for all to enjoy. This year, there was a record number of participants and a record number of decimal places recited. Congratulations to all those students who entered the Pi competition. Could anyone beat Harriet?  No way! Harriet recited an amazing 603 decimal places of Pi correctly.  Well done also to Bobby in Year 7 who recited 100 decimal places, Maggie in Year 8 with 98 places, and Oscar in Year 12 with 83. This was also a good excuse to have some delicious apple pies from the canteen on the day!

South Passage Excursion

What an incredible four-day voyage aboard South Passage for our Mullumbimby High Year 9 school crew. It has been amazing watching how much each individual student grew through challenges and teamwork. They all embraced life at sea. From teamwork on deck to soaking in the stunning beauty of Moreton Bay, they truly made the most of this adventure of a lifetime. All of them should all be so proud of what they achieved -- there is nothing quite like the experience of sailing together and stepping outside our comfort zone. Teachers and skippers hope they loved every moment and they are ready to come back on board again soon. Thank you to teachers Mr Mat Hall, Ms Emily Fowler, Mr Aaron Madritsch and support staff Mr Connor for their time and efforts, day and night.

Year 11 Marine Studies

Our Year 11 Marine Studies students had an incredible experience in Byron Bay, taking part in a dive where they explored the local marine environment firsthand. Students were lucky enough to swim alongside leopard sharks, wobbegongs, rays, and a wide variety of colourful fish, gaining a real-world appreciation of the rich biodiversity found along our coastline. Experiences like this allow students to connect classroom learning with the natural environment and develop a deeper understanding of marine ecosystems. A fantastic day of learning, adventure and discovery in the water!

SRC Induction Assembly

Congratulations to this wonderful group of students who have decided to represent their peers and were acknowledged during our Student Representative Council induction. We are looking forward to their leadership and constructive ideas throughout 2026.

Drama Excursion to QPAC

Year 10 and 12 Drama students travelled to QPAC Brisbane to be in the front row audience of Shake and Stir’s highly physical adaptation of The Great Gatsby. Immediately after the performance, the audience were invited to sit in for a Q&A with the actors and by all accounts our students were inspired by the experience, with many connecting more personally with the director and actors before leaving the venue later in the evening. Thank you Ms McEwan for giving the students a chance to see a quality professional production on stage in Brisbane.

PDHPE, Sport and Life Ready

MHS Swimming Carnival

The sun was shining as our students proudly embraced the spirit of the Mullumbimby High School Swimming Carnival. The day began with an energetic House march from school, with students showcasing creative dress-ups and loud, enthusiastic war cries that set the tone for a fantastic carnival. There was excellent participation across all novelty events, highlighting the inclusive and supportive spirit of the day. A big congratulations to all students who competed in the championship races and demonstrated outstanding effort and sportsmanship. Congratulations also to our Age Champions, who will represent Mullumbimby High School at the Far North Coast Zone Swimming Carnival in Murwillumbah on Tuesday 24 February. We wish them the very best of luck as they compete against schools from across the region. House Swimming results

1. Kurrajong 404
2. Jacaranda 283
3. Acacia 256
4. Yarrabin 249

 

Age Champions Girls Boys 12 Harper Culbert Sol Connell 13 Molly Boyle Mason Watts 14 Lily Doble BJ Keers 15 Lily-Rose Newell Zachary Boyle 16 Jinja Jones Rumi Ryabinin Frida Askill 17 Harriet Killips Clancy Halloran MC Jr Billie McKenzie MC Sr Phoenix Dwyer

Far North Coast Swimming

In the pool, congratulations to our 15 Years Girls and 14 Years Boys 4 × 50 m relay teams for their performances at the Far North Coast Swimming Carnival. Well done to Billie McKenzie, Harper Culbert, Jinja Jones, Lily-Rose Newell, Marley Taylor, Molly Boyle and Phoenix Dwyer, who have all qualified for the North Coast Swimming Championships in Kempsey. Billie was also named the Junior Girls MC Age Champion.

North Coast Swimming

At the North Coast Swimming Championships in Kempsey Jinja Jones, Billie McKenzie and Molly Boyle all performed exceptionally well and qualified for the State swimming championships to be held in Sydney at the start of term 2. Well, done girls!

AFL

A huge congratulations to our AFL players, with seven students selected in the Far North Coast AFL team. Well done Lily Wiseman, Dougie Shaw, Richie Archibald, Leif Jordin, Alfi Peacock, Benji Ward and Bastion Pearson. At the North Coast AFL Championships Dougie Shaw, Leif Jordin, Bastion Pearson and Richie Archibald were all selected in the North Coast team to compete at the NSW championships — a fantastic achievement.

Softball

At the start of the term the North Coast CHS Girls Softball Team competed at the State Championships in Woolaware, Sydney. Mullumbimby High School was proudly represented by Phoebe Byron, Violet Sandford and Janali Anson, who were all selected as members of the team. Phoebe played as the North Coast catcher and was recognised for her outstanding performance, being named the North Coast Most Valuable Player of the tournament — a fantastic achievement. Across the championships, the team recorded a win, a draw and a loss, while gaining valuable experience, developing their skills and representing the North Coast with pride. Congratulations to all three students on a great week of softball and an excellent achievement.

Far North Coast Open Girls Soccer Team

Congratulations to Brooklyn Riddle in Year 11 for gaining selection in the Far North Coast Open Girls Soccer Team. She is now in Coffs Harbour at the North Coast trials. Brooklyn is a talented soccer and futsal player who always represents Mullumbimby High School with distinction.

Open Boys Futsal

It was a big day for our Open Boys Futsal team, who produced their best performance of the year at the Gold Coast Gala Day. After three close games earlier in the day, the boys once again started slowly in their match against the talented St Andrews team, finding themselves down 2–0 after just two minutes. After a quick time-out, however, the team regrouped, composed themselves and began to fight back. The boys levelled the scores and then took the lead just before half time. From that point on, they produced their best team performance of the season, continuing to pile on the goals and eventually recording a convincing 14–4 win. Goalkeeper Jordan Kuznik was outstanding, shutting down any opportunities St Andrews had in the second half. Finn McKenzie was dominant up front as the target player, finishing with seven goals for the match. Sonny McGauley, playing in the pivot position, created numerous attacking plays while also shutting down opposition opportunities. A special mention goes to 14-year-old Cosmo Quinn, who was fantastic in his debut, scoring two goals against opponents four years older than him. Jenga Klugman, Milo Land and Lawrence Bird also played strongly, showing what self-belief, effort and teamwork can achieve against a very talented opposition. Congratulations to the whole team on a fantastic performance.

Futsal

Congratulations to our 14s Girls Futsal team who competed in Coomera this term. In their very first game as a team, they narrowly lost to Helensvale State High School’s Premier League side — a fantastic effort against strong opposition. The girls finished the day in style, defeating Beaudesert High School 6–2 in their final match. Our MHS School Futsal Teams participate in the VETO South East Queensland Schools State Championships at Coomera.  Our High Performance and Gifted Athletes represented MHS with distinction. A special mention to the girls coach Brian Hedge and Head Teacher of PDHPE Mr Lachlan Mckenzie for supporting our students to achieve sporting excellence. The competition will continue in term 2. Well done also to our boys’ teams, with the 14s Boys Futsal competing in both the Premier League and Division One facing tough competition in the Premier League. All teams gained valuable experience and represented the school with skill, determination and sportsmanship.

Far North Coast Rugby League

A massive congratulations to Aiden Gersh, Chase Hall, Rhianna Browning, Mia Mckenzie, Taminya Browning, Karney Doherty and Riley Schenk for their performances at the Upper North Coast Rugby League Trials in Ballina on Tuesday 10 March.

Upper North Coast Rugby League

Congratulations to Rhianna Browning and Karney Doherty for their selection in their respective Upper North Coast Rugby League Teams. They represented their school and region with tremendous effort and pride in Coffs Harbour on Wednesday 18 March.

North Coast Rugby League

High Performance and Gifted Education Students Aiden Gersh, Mia Mckenzie and Taminya Browning have gained selection in their respective North Coast Rugby League Teams to trial for Greater Northern NSW Rugby League selection against Hunter Sports High School in South-West Rocks at the beginning of term 2. Good luck and Play the Game!

Basketball

Our Open Boys Basketball team travelled to Ballina to compete in the FNC Basketball competition. The boys faced a strong Byron Bay High School squad in their opening game and, despite playing with determination and intensity, were defeated 64–38. They bounced back in their second match against Banora Point High School, putting together a fantastic team performance to secure a 47–43 victory, with all 11 players getting on the scoreboard. Throughout the day, the boys displayed great sportsmanship, teamwork and effort.

Netball

On Tuesday 3 March our Open Girls Netball Team participated in the FNC Open Netball Gala Day at the Cavanbah Centre in Byron Bay.

The team led by Eva Colli and Mira Brittain represented the school with pride and determination. Congratulations to our junior students who stepped up admirably to compete against senior students from other FNC schools culminating in a victory over our archrivals Byron Bay High School in the final game of the day. Thank you to Janette Brittain for coaching the girls on the day.

Lawn Bowls

On Wednesday 25 February, Nalu Hoerstmann-Simmons, Monty Haig, Neehal Wijaya, and Freeman Nichols participated in the FNC Open Lawn Bowls Gala Day. The boys had never previously bowled and prepared by researching Lawn Bowls videos on You Tube. They won their first match against Wollumbin High School and were narrowly defeated by Ballina Coast High School who had a state bowler. A tip of the hat to the boys on a great performance!

Open Soccer

The Open Boys soccer had a dominant win against Wollumbin in round one of the statewide knockouts winning 15 nil. In round 2 against a much tougher opponent, Mullumbimby went down 5-3 with Finn McKenzie scoring 3 goals. Congratulations to Brooklyn Riddle, Finn McKenzie, Neehal Wijaya and Remo Kowalski on their selection in the Far North Coast Open Soccer teams to play at Coffs Harbour.

PDH&PE

Our Year 12 Health and Movement Science students at Mullumbimby High School took the plunge—literally! As part of their learning on recovery strategies, students explored the benefits of muscle recovery techniques by using trigger balls to release tight muscles before stepping into an ice bath immersion session. It was a fantastic opportunity to put theory into practice and experience firsthand how athletes use recovery methods to enhance performance. A great effort by all students for embracing the challenge and committing fully to their learning!

Careers

Life Ready

 Thank you to Plan C who with 19 of Mullumbimby High School Year 11 students spent the day out of school on property in Kunghur, learning bush survival skills with Scott Poad from ReWild as part of their Life Ready course.  It was an amazing day of bushwalking and experiences in bushcraft and managing risk in the outdoors.

University Showcase

On 27 Feburary, the following Universities and TAFE NSW came to Mullumbimby High School to share with Year 11 students all the pathways to UNI or further study, UNI life and scholarships. Students had an opportunity to speak individually with university staff, some being former Mullumbimby High students!

• Southern Cross University
• University of Southern Queensland
• University of Queensland
• Griffith University
• Queensland University of Technology
• University of Tasmania
• TAFE NSW

Thank you from the Breakfast Club

Every Monday morning from 8:20am to 8:40am, students can enjoy a good breakfast thanks to teachers volunteering their time. The Breakfast Club extends a very big thank you to our generous suppliers throughout the term:

• Mullumbimby Bakery
• Mullumbimby IGA
• Kellogg’s buddies
• Mullumbimby Woolworths
• Merv Esau's Bananas

Leaving Early, Arriving Late or Messages

GOING AWAY 5 DAYS OR MORE? A reminder to our school community that the NSW DET requires that parents arrange holiday DURING school vacations. If your family holiday is during school time, you will need to inform the School Principal in advance and submit a permission to leave from school. An application for leave should be provided at least two weeks prior to departure. Ask our office for an “Application for Leave” BEFORE the holiday. ABSENT, LATE OR EARLY?  If your child is not at school, let us know they are safe. We will let you know they are not at school with an SMS message if we have not heard from you. COMING IN LATE?  School starts every day at 8:50am for all students. If students arrive after that time and miss CARE (roll call), please let the school know why they are late or provide them with a note. Students need to sign in at Student Services Office as soon as they arrive on the premises. LEAVING EARLY? Only legitimate one-off appointments will be approved by the principal. A note or a phone call should be made to Student Services before 9:30am and a leave pass will be processed. MESSAGES TO STUDENTS? Please call before 2pm. Only URGENT messages will be passed on during class time. We ask that all arrangements regarding after school activities be discussed with your student BEFORE school to avoid stress and distraction.

Be ready for school every day!

Please support your student to be prepared for school the night before. Here is a suggested list to put up on your fridge:

Attendance Matters