28 May 2025

Ryan Catholic College Mission Statement

Acknowledgement Of Country

Reflection

On Easter morning, the stone was rolled away—revealing that life triumphs over death, and hope conquers despair. We are still in the Catholic Easter season, spanning 50 days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost, is a time of joy, renewal, and deep reflection on the promise of eternal life. We are reminded that the Risen Lord walks with us, calling us to be bearers of His light and love. As Easter people, we are invited to roll away the stones in our own lives and bring hope to others.

Over the last few weeks, our social media posts have highlighted how some of our students are doing just that—bringing hope to themselves and to the world around them. When have you rolled the stone away?

We pray:

Loving God,
As we continue our journey through this Easter season, we give thanks for the gift of new life through the Resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ. May this time of prayer bring us closer to You and to one another.

Thank You for calling us by name and never giving up on us. Strengthen us to follow You with courage and joy. May we be in right-relationships with one another—offering care, kindness, and mercy in our daily lives. Keep us safe in Your loving embrace today and always.

Amen.

Stay with us Lord. AMEN

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

As we enter into the second half of the term, we have once again, so much to celebrate over the past fortnight. Here is a snapshot:

• Year 11 students engaged in their first week of senior examinations, 
• There have been consistent assessment submissions across the College, 
• There have been very fruitful and positive individual educational progress meetings with parents
• Our primary interschool cross country students ran well, with good character and ability
• Class photos occurred seamlessly
• Careers Week/Month kicked off across the College
• Our sacramental program students are forming well in preparation for their sacraments on Pentecost Sunday - June 8.

We are a busy place, full of opportunity and energy!

This week is Popstars week, with opening night tonight.  Best wishes to all the staff, students and parents after many months of planning, rehearsals, and balancing the emotional energy of staff, students, and ourselves! 

Careers Week/Month

The senior campus has been a hive of activity over the last few weeks, especially with various career areas invited to showcase various ‘careers on the green' stalls for students and staff to invest their time in to gain further knowledge about careers. Nicole Stott-Whiting, Careers Adviser, has organised a vast array of opportunities, and I thank her for her insights, dedication, and continued passion for informing, educating and enlivening opportunities for our students.

This year, the primary teaching staff are participating in some events for careers month. 

What do you want to be when you grow up? 

Our primary teachers were invited to reflect on their practice using a podcast about careers which partly discusses the issues with the question, 'What do you want to be when you grow up.' The crux of this part of the podcast is that the question is limiting rather than expansive. This type of question does not encourage young students to embrace the ideas that many of the professions they might be interested in have either not been created yet or are simply unaware of them. It encourages them to decide on the limited professions they have seen or heard of. 

This podcast was the stimulus for this reflection. It is worth a listen.

Update: Year of Renewal feedback to date - we’re getting closer…

Thanks to the excellent feedback to our year of renewal questions from all stakeholders, the College Leadership Team is now sifting through responses to identify some strategic priority areas for further discernment.

Below is a snapshot of some of the findings to date. Our next step is to engage in deep discernment around how we capture these areas and shape them into our strategic priorities to guide our college between 2026 and 2029.

School Strengths and Celebrations

• Visible commitment to Catholic identity through liturgies, RE curriculum, and community service.
• Professional and dedicated staff acknowledged across all groups.
• Supportive and well-maintained learning environments and facilities.
• Positive feedback on the leadership team’s strategic planning and school-wide communication efforts.
• High standards for student behaviour, academic outcomes, and classroom expectations were consistently recognised.
• Strong culture of inclusiveness and student support structures praised by parents and staff.
• Students value opportunities for hands-on learning, electives, and social justice initiatives.

Areas for Further Investigation

• Enhancing student engagement in RE, prayer, and liturgical experiences to ensure they are meaningful.
• Improving consistency in classroom and playground behavioural expectations across year levels and staff.
• Addressing feedback on inconsistent communication practices with families and between leadership and staff.
• Investigating the effectiveness of the student voice in influencing change and shaping school practices.
• Exploring the adequacy and fairness of resource distribution, including support staff allocation and classroom resourcing.
• Re-evaluating professional learning priorities to ensure they are role-relevant, strategic, and impactful.
• Strengthening processes for feedback, reflection, and data-informed teaching practice across all staff groups.

Blessing for the fortnight ahead.

Primary News - Prep-Year 6

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

I would like to sincerely thank everyone for the warm and generous welcome I have received since joining the Ryan community this term. It is a true privilege to be working at such a wonderful school.

Ryan holds a special place in my heart, as I completed my own schooling here from Year 5 to Year 12. Returning in this new capacity is incredibly meaningful, and I am deeply committed to upholding the outstanding reputation the school has built over many years.

Although I am new to the staff, it is already clear how dedicated and passionate the team is. What makes Ryan truly special is the strength of its community, which is evident every day. One of my favourite moments is the morning drop-off – a time when I witness the love and connection between families. It is in these small but powerful moments that I see God’s presence at work in our school.

This week, we also welcome Matt Knight, our Acting Assistant Principal – Administration. We look forward to working with him as part of the Ryan Junior Leadership Team.

This term, I am especially looking forward to getting to know all of our Prep to Year 6 students and their families. The Leadership Team has nominated days to work with our Year 5 and 6 students on the Senior Campus, which will provide another opportunity to connect and support our learners.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there is anything I can assist with. I look forward to sharing a meaningful and successful term together.

Secondary News - Years 7-12

Students Explore Ross River in "Adopt a Creek" Environmental Program

Last week, students from the newly created Earth Tribe and EcoMarine environmental groups had the exciting opportunity to participate in the Adopt-a-Creek program along the Ross River, engaging in hands-on environmental science activities.  The Program is run by Oz Fish and is part of a Townsville City Council Creekwatch initiative to empower communities to take action and look after their favourite waterways.The data collected during Creekwatch activities helps to better manage Townsville’s waterways and improve habitat for fish.

As part of the experience, students learned how to sample water and identify aquatic macroinvertebrates—tiny creatures like insect larvae and water bugs that help indicate the health of our waterways. With guidance from environmental educators, they discovered how science can be used to monitor ecosystems and protect local biodiversity.

Programs like Adopt a Creek help foster a deeper understanding of our natural environment and empower students to become active stewards of their local ecosystems. It was a morning of curiosity, discovery, and meaningful learning in nature!

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✨ 𝙋𝙊𝙎𝙄𝙏𝙄𝙑𝙀 𝘾𝙐𝙇𝙏𝙐𝙍𝙀 𝘾𝙀𝙇𝙀𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 ✨

Over the course of Term 2, our Senior Campus students have consistently demonstrated outstanding behaviour and genuine kindness in the way they include and support others. It's been truly rewarding to see them live out the values of our College's RCC Code.

🎉 To celebrate this positive culture, all students will gather in Emmaus Hall during Pastoral Care Class on Thursday of Week 9 for a Positive Culture Celebration.

There’ll be a random prize draw for our Level Zero Heroes 🦸 — plus, we'll be announcing the top two students from each year level who will receive a special prize.

Whole College News - Prep - Year 12

We are over half way through the term and the vast majority of our young people continue to present and conduct themselves well. We appreciate the appropriate engagement of our students and the support of our families. Great engagement in a challenging, but supportive learning environment, will always lead to better outcomes.

At Ryan Catholic College, we help provide the best environment we can within the framework of our College Code: “Respect, Courage and Care”. This is essential for personal growth and academic success.

Students’ positive behaviours are acknowledged through:

• Positive Praise Notes/Positive Behaviour Acknowledgements for behaviour reflecting our RCC Code of Respect, Courage and Care;
• Star Student and Star of the Term nominations;
• Level Zero Hero awards for students who have consistently shown that they can follow the RCC Code.
• A once per term celebration, Kids on Campus, for Level Zero Heroes on the JC for Prep - Year 4 students. 
• A once per semester celebration to emphasise the positive contribution of Year 5-12 students on the SC. 

Primary Focus:

At the beginning of this term the Primary classes focused on being inclusive of all students. Each class completed a lesson on what inclusion can look like in their classroom. There was a focus on we all have our gifts and talents, and we need to look for them in others.

Primary Positive Praise Notes:

Prep to Year 4 have received 134 Praise Notes and Year 5 and 6 are following close behind! What a start to 2025. 

On a whole class level, there is now a class who receives the Specialist Trophy each week. This trophy goes to the class who have demonstrated the RCC Code in their specialist lessons. Some of the winners this term have been 2A and PD. 

Positive Behaviour Acknowledgements for Year 7-12:

A total of 1575 have been sent out this year, so far!

We invite parents and guardians to collaborate with the College in fostering positive behaviours. Reinforcing these values at home ensures a consistent learning experience, helping students embrace the principles we uphold. By working together, we can cultivate a supportive and inspiring environment that empowers our students to thrive academically and personally. Thank you for being a valued member of the Ryan Catholic College community.

Attending school and being on time matters!

Attendance for Primary:

Considering the start to the year, with the weather event there have still been 390 Primary children who have attended every day of school so far. Attendance plays a huge role in a child’s achievement! The more they are at school the more opportunities they have to learn.

Attendance for Secondary:

100% attendance:

It is worthwhile acknowledging some of our attendance data for the year to date. 

I would love to give a shout out to the 38 secondary students who are sitting on 100% attendance for the year so far! They are working really hard to ensure they get the best out of everyday by not missing anything. What an achievement! Well done!

Roary, the School Mascot

Throughout the beginning of the year, Roary, our school mascot, has made some appearances! Roary has been involved in both of our swimming carnivals, he represented Australia in our Harmony Day assembly, and welcomed many of our future students at our 2025 Orientation Days and Expos. Both Junior and Senior students get along extremely well with our friend, leading to our College spirit being uplifted! Roary has made a positive impact on the College, and we cannot wait to see what he gets up to at the up and coming Push Up Challenge in Week 9 and the Athletics Carnival in Week 10.

Valentine’s Day 

Every year, on the Senior Campus, warm & fuzzies are sold for 20c. These are small paper hearts that students write kind messages on for their friends. The hearts then get delivered to the certain students’ homerooms for them to keep and read. This year, we included an additional gift for students to give each other. These were roses made from ribbon and were sold for $2. Students had the option to buy red and pink roses for someone special and yellow roses for friendship. Thank you to Grace Meynell-Saunders for creating these roses and all the help the Year 12 Leadership team and SRC (Student Representative Council) students contributed to making sure this event could occur. All of the $111.10 raised from these Valentine’s hearts and flowers was donated to Caritas Australia. 

Responding to Feedback 

The Student Representative Council is a representative body charged with providing advice or recommendations to the College Administration and Student Leadership teams.  The SRC elects two new representatives every year from each grade from Years 5 to 12. As the Student Representative Council, we are called to be the voice for the student body, so that they may be able to make a difference in their community. It is not just the council members that make this change. We have been working hard behind the scenes to promote the excellent suggestions put forward by students for students. In this way, we are always continuing to improve and grow to fit our College’s needs. These little things make our College a great place to be. Some examples include providing soccer nets, and improving small issues the students find around the school that are easily fixable. It is also an important part of our role to be approachable so that students are comfortable with communicating these issues around the school with us. Allowing us to be able to guide these students to the correct places and people who will solve any problems, questions or queries they may have. We are forever grateful to Daryl for helping us to put our ideas into action. If there is anything that you believe would help improve the school in any way, please do not hesitate to email us via srcmembers2025local@ryan.catholic.edu.au.

Curious about where a career at Ryan could take you?

Join fellow teachers, school officers, and support staff for a relaxed networking hour and get a glimpse of what life at Ryan Catholic College could look like for you.

📅 Monday 9 June 2025
⏰ 5:00pm – 6:00pm
📍 The Hub, Senior Campus
🏫 59 Canterbury Road, Kirwan

Spend an afternoon connecting, learning, and discovering what makes Ryan Catholic College a workplace that offers more. You’ll have the chance to experience our modern facilities, meet passionate professionals, and hear firsthand what it’s like to be part of a supportive, growth-focused community. Whether you're considering a new opportunity or simply interested in learning more, this event offers a genuine insight into the people, culture, and career pathways that set us apart.

Career Pathways

Career Pathways assists students, particularly those in secondary school, with all of their career decision-making through a large number of resources on offer, careers counselling, career events and expos, guest speakers and other career-focused activities that arise throughout the year.

Study/Revision Tip #5

Addressing the study environment is a key concept for any revision strategy. Students must ensure that their study space is quiet, tidy, organised and with minimal distractions. It is also beneficial to have visual representations of the study focus for the night or week, such as via a whiteboard. Study goals assist students with knowing what they are trying to achieve and encourages them to keep on track. Effective study will not occur if students are being distracted by a television, conversations amongst other family members or an interrupting mobile phone.

JCU Studiosity Program – Study Strategies and Assessment Feedback Platform for Students in Years 7 to 12
This free, study and feedback online platform for students, can be accessed by registering via the link below.

Careers Month at Ryan

Our Careers Month @ Ryan has been a fantastic success! Between ‘Careers on the Green’ pop-up stalls, tours of different facilities, sessions on the Junior Campus and displays in the Hub and JC library, the students have had access to many learning opportunities in the careers exploration space.

Work Experience: June/July Holidays – Years 10, 11 & 12

The Work Experience Google Form for the June/July holidays will close on Tuesday 10 June. Late admissions will not be accepted.

2026 QTAC (Qld Tertiary Admissions Centre) Guides

These guides have arrived for 2026 tertiary study and can be collected by interested Year 12 students from my office. Guides for admission centres in other States or Territories are also available online.

Changes to JCU Application Process and Course Details

JCU have informed me of the information below.

• Interviews for Bachelor of Medicine/Surgery will no longer be performed via Zoom. These interviews will now be via the Kira platform which will cost approximately $30. More information will be passed onto students when I receive this from JCU.
• From 2026, there will no longer be the dual degree of Bachelor of Nursing Science/Bachelor of Midwifery offered. These will be two separate courses only. Nursing Science will be offered as usual in 2026, but the Bachelor of Midwifery will not be offered until 2027.
• Changes will be made to the Bachelor of Veterinary Science application process with an interview now being added. It is also possible that students will be required to sit a Casper (online, situational judgement test). I will send out all confirmed changes once I receive these from JCU.
• There will most likely be the introduction of a Bachelor or Sports Science/Exercise Physiology dual degree, but I will send out more information when this is confirmed.

JCU Heroes in Science Program - Tuesday 1 to Wednesday 2 July

This school holidays program is occurring in Cairns this year and will include the Daintree Rainforest Observatory. If you are interested in attending, please apply via the link below by Sunday 1 June. Students were emailed this information, two weeks ago. Please also be aware of any possible transport, accommodation or cost information as this program is not
in Townsville.

JCU Webinar Series – Unmasking the ATAR System - Thursday 29 May – 7.00pm to 8.00pm

This is a great opportunity for Year 10 students, in readiness for SET Plans, and any Year 11 students who need a refresher as they commence Unit 2.

Please use the link below to register.

Careers in Health – Tuesday 22 July – 7.00pm to 8.00pm
This webinar will focus on the Health and Allied Health courses that exist at JCU in relation to their corresponding careers.

Please use the link below to register.

JCU Law Seminar Series

These webinars occur very frequently and explore a different legal topic during each webinar. A great series to explore, if students are interested in Law, Criminology or Justice studies. Please use the link below to register for any of these webinars.

Please use the link below to register.

CQUniversity – Year 12s, Parents & Supporters Webinar – Tuesday 10 June – 4.00pm-5.00pm

This online session aims to assist students and their families navigate the transition from school to tertiary study at CQU, through information, resources, and a Q&A forum. For more information and to register for the webinar, please see the link below.

2026 Apprenticeship/Traineeship Opportunities

Please be aware that certain businesses e.g. Ergon Energy, Townsville City Council, will start advertising their 2026 apprenticeship programs from now until September. Businesses may also advertise outside of this period, but the majority will do so in the next few months. Year 12 students should be registering to employment apps such as SEEK, Indeed and SmartJobs to be aware of all opportunities.

2026 Ergon Energy/Energex Apprenticeships Information Sessions – Tuesday 3 & Thursday 5 June

In preparation for the opening of the 2026 apprenticeship program, Ergon Energy and Energex will be conducting two information sessions via Microsoft Teams. The session on the 3rd will be from 4.00pm-5.00pm, and the 5th June will be 6.30pm-7.30pm. If you are interested in attending one of these online sessions, please follow the information on the attachment below. If you are unable to attend either session, please submit a request form via the link below to receive a recording

2026 Powerlink Apprenticeship Program – closes Sunday 8 June

In 2026, Powerlink are offering apprenticeship opportunities in Brisbane, Gladstone and Townsville in the following apprenticeship streams:

• Substations - Electrical Apprentice
• Secondary Systems - Electrical Apprentice
• Secondary Systems - Communications and Control Apprentice
• Transmission Linesperson Apprentice

Please visit the link below for more information and to apply.

Defence Careers Information Session – Wednesday 4 June – Townsville ADF Centre – 6.00 to 8.00pm

If you are interested in attending this information session, please register via the link below. This session is also repeated on the Wednesday 2 July if you are unable to attend the June session.

Pathways and Possibilities – Monday 16 June – Pimlico State High School – 5.30-7.30pm

This event is a direct response to parent feedback from the recent Guiding Career Choices survey and will feature first-hand information on local career pathways and future workforce needs in North Queensland.

Australian Defence Force Gap Year Program – Applications Open

If students are interested in a position with the Australian Defence Force, the Gap Year Program may be a good option to explore. This program allows students to experience an ADF position, basic training, and the military lifestyle for 12 months. At the end of this time, they can either choose to begin the process of full enlistment or move to other pathways outside of the ADF. This program can be helpful for students contemplating the ADF but unsure if it is the pathway they really want. Please see below for more information.

Defence Work Experience – March to July 2025

The schedule below is the work experience opportunities being offered by Defence Recruiting over the next few months. As the work experience is often not during school holiday periods, interested students must come and talk with me first, before applying, to ensure the dates are not clashing with important subject requirements or College events.

Cultural Corner

Home Base

Home Base (H4) is our Chaplain/Defence/Wellbeing space.

Home Base is located H4 on the Senior Campus for students Years 5-12.

Parish News

Defence News

If you have any concerns or need our support please contact the College by phone or email us directly.

Nikki Blackwell will be working Monday to Friday across both Campuses to support students P-12.

Jacklin Weston is available Monday and Tuesday on the Senior Campus to support students 5-12.

Defence Member And Family Helpline 

For advice, support or local community information, contact our all-hours Defence Member and Family Helpline. Run by Defence Member and Family Support, the helpline is the best way to access the programs and services that we offer to help Defence families manage the military way of life.

The helpline is available 24/7 and is staffed by qualified human services professionals, including social workers and psychologists.

Partner Employment Assistance Program

Partner Employment Assistance Program (PEAP) recognises the service and sacrifices of the ADF members and their families, and the unique challenges ADF partners face in sustaining a career whilst supporting the ADF members' service. This program allows partners to claim reimbursement up to $1500 per financial year for a variety of employment services.

DMFS Newsletter

Read on for DMFS news and upcoming events across the month of May.

AVCAT Scholarships

The Australian Veterans' Children Assistance Trust is offering tertiary scholarships for children and grandchildren of Australian ex-serving veterans. Click on the links below for more information.

P & F News

We wish to give a warm welcome to the 2025 P&F Executive Committee:

President: Tina Roberts

Vice President: Andrea Bliss

Secretary: Jen Nielsen

Treasurer: Kylie Muir

The Ryan P&F are partnering with Entertainment.
Support our school by purchasing a membership to The Entertainment App.
By purchasing a Membership, you're not just treating yourself to fantastic savings—you're also directly supporting our school. With every Membership purchase, our P&F Association receives 20% of the Membership price.
These helps fund resources for our school including, most recently:

• Seating on the Senior Campus
• Choir risers
• Scoreboard on the oval
• Playgrounds on the Junior Campus
• Air-conditioning Emmaus Hall backstage
• Table settings for all classes at Junior Campus
• Upgrade of Emmaus Hall lighting & sound
• New instruments for instrumental music program
• Camera and accessories for Culture
• Contribution to Maker Space on Senior Campus

Uniform Shop Hours

Community News