25 June 2025

Ryan Catholic College Mission Statement

Acknowledgement Of Country

Reflection

As we come to the end of another school term, we pause in gratitude. In this moment, we step into the quiet of winter, the gift of rest, and the presence of God.

Let us pray:

Loving God, you are with us in every season of life. As we come to the end of this school term, we give thanks
for the people we’ve encountered,
for the allies who’ve stood beside us,
for the joys and challenges that have shaped our days.

As winter surrounds us, may we embrace its call to rest, reflect, and renew. Help us to notice your quiet presence, in falling leaves, warm drinks, still mornings, and time spent with those we love. Bless this break and help it to be what we most need: healing, laughter, stillness, reconnection.

God of the seasons, thank you for the gift of this term. For every interaction, every challenge, every small success. As we enter the winter break, may we find warmth in our homes, peace in our minds, and restoration in our hearts.

Bless each member of our community. Keep them safe, bring them joy, and help them return to Term 3 renewed. May your presence go before us, behind us, and all around us, in all we do and in all we are.

Stay with us Lord.

Amen.

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Here’s to an end to a wonderful term, with so many personal bests being experienced across our P-12 student spectrum. As reports and finalisation of assessments occur this week, our staff and students also engaged in some fantastic broader learning experiences including athletics carnivals, retreats, leadership days, positive culture celebrations and kids on campus. 

There is so much passion and energy from staff to create these experiences for our students to engage in. We are sincerely blessed by their commitment, courage and heart for our students.

I acknowledge and appreciate the College Advisory Board and the Parents and Friends association for their work across the term. Board meetings have held many robust discussions around policy development, how we engage and improve our visibility and exposure of our students to the wider community in the world of work and work experiences, with a focus on stakeholder engagement and an alumni association.

The P and F are tirelessly working on promoting our College and parent engagement and held the State CASPAQ conference this term, conducted the annual P and F quiz night and have been gearing up for the Ryan Fair.  The Leadership team and staff do not take these people for granted and sincerely thank them for their voluntary service and passion for our College.

Artificial Intelligence at Ryan

Ryan Catholic College is currently exploring how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be meaningfully and responsibly integrated into our educational environment to support both staff and student learning. While we recognise the benefits of AI for creativity, research, and productivity, we also caution our community—particularly students—about relying on AI to answer personal, social, or emotional wellbeing questions. 

• AI tools can enhance learning when used ethically and with guidance.
  
  
• Staff and students are encouraged to critically evaluate AI-generated content.
  
  
• Students should avoid using AI to answer personal or wellbeing-related questions.

AI, including chatbots, is not a substitute for trusted human connection, professional guidance, or pastoral care. In fact, AI learns the algorithm of the user's thinking and utilises the algorithm of the user's computer history. This can be damaging and self- fulfilling and sometimes dangerous.

There are many online - real time replies form trained counsellors and advocates available 24/7 - such as:

• Headspace:
  Offers 1-on-1 webchat, email, or phone support with clinicians (9am-1am AEDT) and access to a community forum for peer support. 
• Lifeline:
  Provides confidential, one-on-one chat support with trained Crisis Supporters 24/7, along with crisis support via phone and text. 
• Beyond Blue:
  Offers 24/7 online chat and phone support for anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns, as well as a forum for peer support. 
• Kids Helpline:
  Offers 24/7 phone and online chat support for children and young people, including a forum for peer support. 

Seeking advice from trusted adults, counsellors, or teachers is always the preferred and safer option.
We are committed to forming digital citizens who use technology with integrity, discernment, and care.

Holidays

Best wishes to the Rugby League confraternity and QISSN Netball teams and our teams of staff who travel to Rockhampton and Bundaberg respectively during the first week of the holidays, to engage in this year's competition. I am looking forward to some excellent contests across the week.

As we move into the holidays, I wish you on behalf of the staff a restful and peaceful break with your children. Let’s pray that the world again sees the eye of humanity in their dealings with one another, as we all are made in the image and likeness of God, regardless of where we live.

I look forward to seeing students back on Monday 14 July, to begin Term 3.

Blessing for the week ahead and the holidays.

Primary News - Prep-Year 6

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

As we come to the end of another busy and productive term, I would like to take a moment to thank you for your ongoing support in ensuring that your child is well-prepared for each school day. Your efforts in working together with us to foster a positive and productive learning environment are truly appreciated.

Congratulations to all our students for their achievements this term, whether in academics, sport, social development, or their contributions to the life of our Catholic school. It is inspiring to see their growth in all areas, and we are incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication.

We wish all our families a safe and restful school holiday. Enjoy this well-deserved break, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in the new term, ready to continue our journey of learning and growth.

UNIFORMS: Winter Guidelines and Important Updates

As we transition into the colder months, we would like to remind all families of the Winter Uniform Guidelines at Ryan Catholic College. Please ensure your child’s uniform complies with our outlined regulations to maintain a neat and uniform appearance across the school.

To help you with the upcoming winter uniform requirements and shopping, we’ve included key details regarding our Uniform Shop, including its price list, hours, and how to order online via Flexischools. We kindly ask for your support in adhering to these guidelines to ensure that every student upholds the standards of our College community.

For further details, including specific uniform requirements for each year group, please refer to the Personal Appearance and Uniform Regulations document linked below.

STAR OF THE TERM WINNERS

Congratulations to these star of the term students:

OPEN CLASSROOMS

Thank you to all of our families who have been able to attend open classrooms. These sessions are an opportunity for parents/caregivers to look through their child's books and celebrate their achievements, as well as an opportunity for teachers to showcase their hard work and what they’ve accomplished with your child/ren so far this year.  

REPORT CARDS

Reports for Prep-Year 6 students are released early in Semester 2, allowing teachers to continue teaching to the end of term which, in turn, allows our mid year progress reports to reflect a full half-year of learning.  Reports will be released via Compass. Mid-year reports provide an excellent opportunity for students and their parents and carers to reflect on the learning that has taken place so far, to celebrate successes and to plan for any adjustments to study habits that may be necessary.  We encourage families to take a moment to sit together and discuss the reports once they are released so that they can become a part of the learning process.  Parents and carers will have an opportunity to meet with teachers to discuss the reports and any subsequent progress at the Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences.

BREKKY BAR DONATIONS

Thank you to those who have already donated this year.  Your kindness is appreciated.  We are however in need of some more vegemite and jam.  These donations can be left at the Junior Campus Tuckshop or Office.

The Year 6 cohort has had an action-packed conclusion to the term! In recent weeks, students showcased their talents in field events as part of the pre-carnival activities leading up to the Athletics Carnival. Last Friday, they proudly led the Year 4-6 Athletics Carnival with great dignity. In an exciting finish, MacKillop claimed victory, with House Captains Lachlan and Breanna proudly lifting the trophies.

In Science, the students enthusiastically explored microorganisms and biomes, conducting engaging experiments with mouldy bread to deepen their understanding.

In Technology class, they dove into the world of coding, learning to create software programs using coding blocks, enhancing their digital literacy skills.

Earlier in the term, the Year 6 cohort participated in Democracy Day, facilitated by educators from Canberra, preparing them for the upcoming school camp.

With such a busy and enriching term behind them, both students and staff are looking forward to a well-deserved school holiday!

Secondary News - Years 7-12

Whole College News - Prep - Year 12

MID YEAR REPORTS - PREP TO YEAR 10

Reports in Years P-10 are released early in Semester 2, allowing teachers to continue teaching to the end of the term, which, in turn, allows these reports to reflect a full half-year of learning.

Mid year reports provide an excellent opportunity for students and their parents and caregivers to reflect on the learning that has taken place so far, to celebrate successes, and to plan for any adjustments to study habits that may be necessary. We encourage families to take a moment to sit together and discuss the reports once they are released so that they can become a part of the learning process. Parents and carers will have the opportunity to meet with teachers to discuss the reports and any subsequent progress at the Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences in Week 4 of Term 3.

Important Dates:

Changes to reports

As you may be aware, in 2024, Townsville Catholic Education conducted surveys regarding reporting with staff and parents. The survey responses have informed the review of the Reporting Guidelines for Prep to Year 10, which have now been updated. The changes to your child’s report from this semester are outlined below:

• The Learning Areas Comments have been removed. Instead, report cards will contain a Learning Area Statement outlining the key learning undertaken for the semester.
• Application to Learning refers to the student’s effort in learning and completing tasks to the best of their ability. It reflects how the student responds to the feedback and demonstrates interest in their learning. This is reported on a 4-point scale: Needs Attention, Satisfactory, Very Good and Excellent. 
• A statement indicates that the Working With or C achievement level is the expected end-of-year achievement standard. This level of achievement is highlighted in the explanation.
• In Prep, students are assessed and reported against the English, Mathematics, Health and Physical Education, and Religion achievement standards. The other learning areas are taught; however, they are not reported on.
• One general comment personalised by the Classroom teacher (P-6) and Pastoral Care teacher (7-10) is included in the report. 
• Teachers assign ‘welcome’ or ‘requested’ status for your attendance at Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences

If you have any questions about the updates to our reporting templates, please contact us to make a time to discuss. 

NAPLAN

The National Assessment Program — Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) provides information on how Australian students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 are performing in numeracy, reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation. Last week, the College received the QCAA NAPLAN school reports. Starting from Term 3, the College will provide hard copies of Individual Student Reports, which will be sent to parents and carers by mail.

The 2023 NAPLAN used a new measurement scale that is more suited to online tests and updated standards. As a result, students in Years 5, 7, and 9 in 2025 were the first to undertake two cycles of NAPLAN under the new reporting framework. This means that parents and carers can use the individual student reports they received in 2023 and 2025 to compare their child’s proficiency levels. It is important to remember that a student who achieves the same proficiency level in successive years, such as Year 5 and Year 7, may still be making progress, as the skills and understanding required to achieve each proficiency level increase in difficulty. 

PISA (the Programme for International Student Assessment)

PISA is the world’s largest international student assessment, involving around half a million 15-year-old students from nearly 100 countries. It is conducted every three years, and assesses how well students can apply their knowledge and skills to real-world situations. It evaluates their ability to analyse, reason, and communicate effectively as they examine, interpret, and solve practical problems.

Australia’s participation in PISA provides valuable insights into the strengths of the national education system, as well as areas where improvement is needed. The results help education authorities across Australia evaluate the effectiveness of their systems and learn from the policies and practices of other countries. 

26 students from years 9 to 11 will be participating in this test on Monday 28th July. These students will complete the following components:

• An online computer-based test (2 hours): This test includes questions in science, reading, mathematics, and Learning in a Digital World. The questions are a mix of multiple-choice, short written responses, and interactive tasks involving simulated activities.
• A student questionnaire (45 minutes): This questionnaire asks about students’ attitudes towards school, motivations, self-beliefs, learning strategies, and activities outside of school.

No special preparation or study is required for the assessment. However, you can view sample questions and example tasks from PISA at the link below.

Some interesting insights from PISA:

In 2022, Australian 15-year-olds compared to their peers in other countries reported:

Australian Council for Educational Research Limited (2025)

We are fortunate to be part of a country where student voice plays a role in shaping the future of our education system. The students selected for PISA are contributing valuable insights that will contribute to a global conversation about learning, equity, and improvement. I look forward to hearing their reflections and hope they realise what a great opportunity it is to be part of something bigger.

Our College recognises and respects the First Peoples of this land. We believe teaching our students about reconciliation and our nation’s history can foster a higher level of knowledge and pride in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island cultures and contributions.

At Ryan Catholic College, we see reconciliation as treating and being treated as equals, regardless of background and upbringing.

Australia is a multicultural society and we aim to embrace and treasure what each individual brings to our school. Our aim is to acknowledge and celebrate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage of Australia through sharing and experiencing activities and events within our school and broader community.

A Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is a document that provides a framework for organisations to support the national reconciliation movement.

You can view our 2025-26 RAP at the link below.

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 #6

Place visual representations around your study area related to what you would like to achieve. It might be a particular subject result, improvement, experience, ATAR or future life achievement. Such positive messaging not only creates a constant picture but it is also motivation for when the path is difficult and full of challenges.

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.

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

I wish all the students participating in work experience over the holidays, the very best. I hope this opportunity provides greater clarity with student’s decision-making about pathways.

JCU Open Day – Friday 18 July – 9.00am to 1.00pm – Interested Years 10 & 11 Students

I will be taking a group of interested students to this event in Week 1 of next term. This is a beneficial event for students considering study at JCU, where they can talk to Academic staff on information stalls, listen to mini lectures on courses, attend tours of the campus and engage with Student Ambassadors. The Compass Consent for this event has been released for students who expressed their interest to me.

JCU will also have an Open Day for the general public, which Year 12 students can attend, on Saturday 19 July from 10.00 am to 2.00pm.

Save the Date – CQU Open Day –  Thursday 14 August – 4.00pm to 6.00pm

Inaugural JCU Heroes in Engineering – 31st July – Applications close on Sunday  6 July

This one-day program is aimed at students in Years 11 and 12 who have a keen interest in STEM and would like to experience a day of solving real world challenges. For more information and to apply, please visit the link below, and scroll down to Engineering.

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.

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

For more information and application details, please visit the link below.

Wilmar Sugar & Renewables – 2026 Apprenticeship Program – Open Now

Apprenticeships in areas of Electrical, Fitting and Turning, Boiler making and Diesel Fitting will be available at a number of Wilmar Sugar’s mills. For more information on these opportunities and to apply, please visit the link below and scroll to ‘Apprenticeship Program.’ Applications close on Sunday 27 July.

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 Webinar Series – QTAC Information Webinar – Tuesday 29 July – 7.00pm to 8.00pm

This session will be a very helpful session for any Year 12 student intending on applying to QTAC and wanting to learn more about the process. This is a general QTAC session and not just for students applying to JCU. 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.

Australian Defence Force Academy Open Day – Saturday 16 August – 9.00am to 4.00pm

For students interested in a career pathway with ADFA, this Open Day provides a unique opportunity to explore this pathway. Students can attend in person or online. For more information and to register, use the link below.

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 – August to November 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.

Reading @ Ryan

Term Two is Readers Cup time. Students meet every week, testing each other on their knowledge of 5 specifically chosen novels. This year, Ryan entered four teams into the competition - 2 teams in the Year 5/6 competition and another two teams in the Year 7/8 competition. At the end of the final round, both year 7/8 teams were tied for third place. It took a nail biting 5 tie breakers to separate third and fourth place. In the end, the Book Nerds beat the Readers Cup Children by one point. The following students represented Ryan in the Year 7/8  competition: Abigail, Ella, Charlee, Rachael, Alexis, Ruby, Grace and Sophie (absent).

Mikaela Milicevic organised the Year 5/6 teams and was there on the night to support them. The Ryan Readers and Ryan Rulers competed against 31 teams and, although they didn’t win, they did a great job to finish in the middle of the pack. The following students represented Ryan in the Year 5/6 division: Caelan, Isaac, Claire, Lelani and Xavier, and Ruby, Grace, Savannah, Gabriel and Aida.

Beautiful Bella the therapy dog, and her owner Tania Brown, have visited the Hub this term regularly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It is always a delight to see them and the students love patting Bella and watching the cool tricks she can perform.

Chess Club, run by Brittany Watts and Rachelle Maskell, competed in the Interschool Chess Competition on Tuesday, 3 June. The club, who meet in the Hub on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday lunch, entered 12 teams with varying success. Liam won first place in his division and Isaac, Brent and Jobel, and Liam came second in the B grade division. Overall, a fun day was had by all.

Jigsaw puzzles have become a welcome addition to the Hub. There are two dedicated jigsaw tables and students, both junior and senior, love working together during breaks to finish the pictures.

Keep reading these school holidays!

Reading to your child is one of the most successful ways of instilling a love of reading in them, and there are a few things you can do to make shared reading experiences relaxing and enjoyable for everyone! Check out this great article by Margaret Merga published by The Conversation.

You’ll find some easy tips about prioritising reading in it. After all, it’s something we need to practice in order to improve, just like any other sport! So, during the two-week break, be sure to visit CityLibraries or borrow some ebooks and audiobooks from Sora to keep your child reading.

 CityLibraries also has a great program of fun and free events to keep you busy over the school holidays. 

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

Didge This!

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.

Shoulder to Shoulder

Peer-led, anonymous moderated forums spaces for Veterans and their families & carers

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

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