6 August 2025

Ryan Catholic College Mission Statement

Acknowledgement Of Country

Reflection

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop (1842–1909) is Australia’s first saint and a remarkable pioneer of Catholic education. She founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, dedicating her life to teaching and serving the poor, especially in remote communities. Her deep faith, courage, and compassion continue to inspire generations to live with purpose, resilience, and love. St Mary of the Cross MacKillop believed in the dignity of every person and never wavered in her commitment to bringing education and hope to those most in need. Her legacy endures in the countless schools and ministries she helped to establish across Australia. We celebrate the Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop on Friday 8 August.

We pray:

St Mary MacKillop, inspire us to act with courage, faith and kindness. Help us to see God in all people, especially those in need. Guide us to build communities of love and hope.

Amen.

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

We thank our blessings for a wonderful two weeks ahead and are thankful for last week, where we celebrated Ryan Day. This is our College Feast Day and is one of the most anticipated days in our College calendar. It also coincided with Catholic Education Week, and we celebrated the theme of Communities of Faith, Hope and Love, as we looked at the story of the road to Emmaus from a new perspective.

The Liturgy was superb, the Ryan Relay went smoothly, the Primary Mini-Fete was well received, the Amazing Race went off well, the Disco was a success, our Alumni tours and Ryan’s Got Talent and R Factor just keep getting better every year. The annual Ryan Parish mass on Sunday capped off wonderful Ryan day celebrations and blessed us all for the rest of the year. It takes a team of dedicated staff with engaged and enthusiastic students all working together to celebrate so well and ensure success. Thank you to all staff and students who contributed with your whole heart. 

We thank the following guests for their presence at our liturgy and Ryan Day celebrations - 

Kate Sargent -  Townsville Catholic Education representative, Lauren St George - College Board Chair, Tina Roberts - President of our College P&F, Andrea Bliss - Vice-President of our College P&F, Karl MacKenzie - First Nations Education Advisory Committee Chair, Fr Joseph -  our Parish Priest.

Some significant awards were celebrated and acknowledged during Ryan Day celebrations. 

Congratulations to: 

• Charli  who received the Deus Caritas Est Award

Each year, the Townsville Catholic Education Office presents the Deus Caritas Est award to a Year 12 student who shares their faith with others with pride and works for social justice. 

• Nikki Blackwell and Jacqui Loader for their Spirit of Catholic Education Award Nominations

• The First Nations Team for the Aunty Joan Hendricks Award

This prestigious award recognises recipients for creating positive change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff and/or developing improved understanding of Indigenous cultural heritage in Catholic school communities. In 2025, our First Nations Education Team were also privileged to be the Queensland Catholic Education winners! Congratulations to the team!

• Tina and John Roberts - for being the recipients of the 2025 Mark Mappas Award.  This is a long-standing award that honours and recognises those parents and carers who have given so much to our school community. This award is named in memory of the late Mr Mark and Mrs “Tom” Doreen Mappas of Ingham, whose outstanding contributions to Catholic schools across the Townsville Diocese set a shining example for all of us.

• Joleen Stitt and Daryl Bathe - Ryan Day Medal winners, voted by colleagues to be exemplary people who stand for our Ryan values, and mission.

Congratulations to all of these worthy recipients.

Friday 8 August

Ryan Fair

Another magnificent occasion is being held, with much anticipation on Friday - the annual Ryan Fair. This is a calendar event for the whole community and is THE major fundraiser for the College.

We all look forward to a wonderful evening of fun, community and fundraising.

Ryan’s School Renewal - Verification visit Wednesday to Friday

From today until Friday afternoon, we host an external Verification Team who will review our proposed strategic priorities for the next 4 years. They will meet with various staff, students, parents and parish members to verify that the priorities proposed after discerning all the evidence from the feedback obtained throughout Semester One, are the right ones.

Thank you to those parents, staff and students who will be part of the interview panels.

Shout out

Our grounds and facilities are looking wonderful, and I thank the grounds, maintenance and cleaning teams for their attention to detail, hard work and generous care of our College. We love your work!

Annual School SatisfactIon Surveys are open

All parents and carers should have received a link for the annual survey. We have so much to be proud of and so much to celebrate, and we look forward to your survey results so that we can celebrate our successes and build on our progress with your feedback. 

Surveys are open until August 18. We rely on your feedback to grow, and so we appreciate you putting aside 15 minutes to do this for us, your children and our College.

Principal Sabbatical Leave

I will be taking some leave, travelling and studying in Belgium from Week 7 to Week 10 this term. Daryl Bathe has been appointed Acting Principal, during this time. I will return at the start of Term 4.

Blessings for the fortnight ahead.

Primary News - Prep-Year 6

LIFE EDUCATION

The Life Education van is currently at the College.  Each primary class will have (or has had) the opportunity to visit Healthy Harold and learn about a healthy and safe life.  Depending on the year level, the program focuses on the key influences impacting a child’s health and well-being including: nutrition, cyber safety, alcohol, smoking, drugs, bullying, emotional health and relationships.

JUNIOR CAMPUS ARRIVAL TIME

Teacher supervision commences at 8.10am, therefore any students who arrive at school prior to that must be supervised by an adult (e.g. parent, grandparent, etc.) or attend before school care.  It is a safety issue if students arrive early and aren’t supervised.

SICK CHILDREN

If students are sick they should stay at home.  However, if they become ill during the school day, they’re sent to Sick Bay.  They will be cared for in Sick Bay and parents/caregivers contacted with a request to collect them within 30 minutes.

UNIFORM AND PERSONAL APPEARANCE

Please be mindful of our Personal Appearance and Uniform Regulations. Thank you for your support to ensure that our students are following these guidelines. 

RED TRACK

Good luck to our Red Track Team who will be competing this Friday at the Sports Reserve. A massive thank you to Leonie for her organisation of the team and for the coaches who assisted in preparing the students. Good luck!!

AFL TEAMS

Well done Vanessa, Leonie, Gavin and Zane for all your coaching efforts with our AFL Academy teams. A successful week with wins for our Boys and Girls Team at the Best On Grounds day last Monday. Our Garbutt Magpies had a fabulous day, losing in the grand final by one point.

RYAN DAY CELEBRATIONS

What an amazing day we shared to celebrate our community here at Ryan Catholic College. Students participated in our whole school liturgy, enjoyed our mini fete and were then entertained by our talented performers in Ryan’s Got Talent.

Year 4 have made a wonderful start to Term 3! Year 4 students have enjoyed the Ryan Day and Mini Fete celebrations. We also engaged in Life Education Visits with Healthy Harold, who taught us about how to be cyber safe when online. Dazzled by the many Year 4 Ryan’s Got Talent Finalists, we clapped and cheered on our peers in the competition. Congratulations to all of the finalists!

Year 4 have been busy bees in the classroom as we have engaged with our new Integrated Unit. We have been learning all about narrative writing and exploring new Writers Toolbox sentence styles. We have investigated the water cycle, food chains, sustainability practices that care for our environment, impacts of colonisation, how to read food labels to help make healthy choices among other concepts.

Year 4 students have supported their Prep buddies this year and have risen to the challenge of being Junior School leaders. Year 4 students have taken on many special Junior School Leader responsibilities such as helping on Breaky Bar, Flag helpers, Library Monitors and many other opportunities.

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Secondary News - Years 7-12

In Week 1, the Year 7 students ventured to Charters Towers for a two-night camp filled with laughter, teamwork, and unforgettable memories. Through a variety of games and activities, students embraced the opportunity to form new friendships and deepen existing ones. Their behaviour was exemplary, and they approached every challenge with enthusiasm and a generous spirit. It was a joy to witness their growth, camaraderie, and genuine care for one another. We express a massive thank you to all of the teachers for giving up their time to provide this opportunity.

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In the first week of Term 3, the Year 12 students at Ryan Catholic College embarked on a transformative retreat at Genazzano in the picturesque Atherton Tablelands. This retreat provided a unique opportunity for students to deepen their bonds and reflect on their journey as they begin to approach the final stages of their school life.

The experience culminated on Friday of Week 2, when the students engaged in an inspiring session with Allister Crocker. His insights and guidance encouraged them to reflect on their personal growth and understand that we all carry a part of one another within us. Later the same night, the students enjoyed a memorable Semi-formal event, filled with dancing, singing, delicious food and fun activities. The retreat and subsequent celebrations have left the Year 12 students with cherished memories as they prepare for their final steps.

Confraternity Cup Champions 

Ryan Catholic College has etched its name into Confraternity Rugby League history, being crowned the 2025 Division 3 Confraternity Cup Champions after an undefeated campaign in Rockhampton. The team capped off a dominant week with a 16-0 grand final win over McAuley College, Beaudesert, their first-ever division title and best result in the school's 20 years of Confraternity participation.

The title win marks a significant progression from their 2017 Confraternity Bowl victory, with the team's outstanding defensive effort across the carnival being the key contributor to their success.  

The boys navigated a tough pool stage with gritty wins over Chanel College (14-6), St John’s Roma (14-10) and St Mary’s Cairns (18-10). Finals footy brought out their best, with a 20-0 quarter-final win over Unity College, followed by a 20-8 semi-final win over St Patrick's College, Gympie, to book a back-to-back grand final appearance, going one better than last year.

The team’s defence earned them top marks, conceding just four points in 150 minutes of finals footy.

Individually, the carnival saw some incredible performances:

• Aston S – Player of the Final

• Campbell S – Player of the Carnival

• Mitch B – Spirit of the Carnival

• Taj C – Top Tryscorer with five tries

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the parents and supporters, both those who travelled to Rockhampton and cheered from home, as well as the dedicated staff who supported the boys through the season and carnival. A huge thank you also goes to our valued sponsors who made this opportunity possible:

• Brothers Leagues Club Townsville

• Mendi Constructions & Doyle Group

• Mike Carney Toyota

• North Queensland Physiotherapy Centre

• Waltlec Industries

• Northern Body Corporate Management

• NQ Plaques & Trophies

• Kinetic Townsville

Congratulations to the entire squad on a phenomenal achievement — 2025 Confraternity Cup Champions! 

QISSN

In the first week of the June/July Holidays our Open Girls Netball team travelled to Bundaberg for QISSN, the largest school netball competition in Australia.

During the pool phase of the competition the girls won seven out of their 10 games to finish third on the ladder and to set up a quarter final against St Mary's College Ipswich, who had finished second in their pool. In a fantastic performance, the girls broke a six year curse of losing at this stage of the competition convincingly winning 27-16.

The result set up a semi final against St Andrew's Tallebudgera, who had earlier defeated us in the pool phase on Day 1. In a nail-biting finish, the girls hung on to win 21-19.

The girls then played the undefeated Aquinas College Ashgrove for the title, but despite playing a fantastic match, unfortunately were defeated by one goal, going down 26-25.We are incredibly proud of their efforts and all of the girls should be commended for how they performed throughout the week. We are also very thankful to our Year 12 students (Makenzie, Ava, Ella, Keira and Piper) for their dedication to netball during their time at Ryan.

Congratulations to Year 10 student Mia who was selected in the All Star Team of the Tournament, which is a fantastic achievement especially for someone so young in an Open Girls competition.Congratulations also to team captain Makenzie, who was richly rewarded for a fanatic week of netball by being selected as our MVP for the week, an award voted on by our opposition team. This is the third time that Makenzie has won this award, which is a true testament to her impact on our team over the past four years.

Thank you to all families who were able to travel to support the team, and all those back in Townsville who watched the girls in action on the live streams. 

Thank you also to our amazing staff for all their time and efforts in working with the team this year...without them trips like QISSN are not possible.

Finally, a massive thank you to our valued partners for their support of our team this year. We are incredibly thankful for your support in making memorable experiences like QISSN possible for our students.

• Brothers Leagues Club Townsville 
• Mendi Constructions
• Doyle Group
• Mike Carney Toyota
• North Queensland Physiotherapy Centre
• Waltlec Industries 
• Northern Body Corporate Management
• NQ Plaques & Trophies
• Kinetic

This year’s Catholic Education Week theme, "Communities of Faith, Hope, and Love," reminds us of the vital role our schools play in nurturing the whole person. In 2025, the Church’s Jubilee Year, we place special emphasis on Hope. Hope is a call to believe in the potential of every student and the promise of a better future shaped through compassion, learning, and service.

On Monday evening, staff and student representatives attended the Spirit of Catholic Education Awards liturgy. This year, we saw Charli become our recipient of Deus Caritas Est Award. We also celebrated Nikki and Jacqui as Spirit of Catholic Education Award nominees. Everyone was excited to congratulate the Queensland winners of the Aunty Joan Hendricks Award - our First Nations Education Team!! On Tuesday morning, Years 6 and 12 representatives attended Catholic Education Week Mass at the Cathedral. It was a lovely celebration with students from all over the Diocese.

Friday’s Ryan Day celebrations brought this theme to life in joyful, faith-filled, and creative ways. A beautiful liturgy, enriched by the talents of our Arts Department, gathered our community in prayer and reflection. The P–6 Mini Fete created a festive atmosphere, while the Year 7–9 Disco and Year 9–10 Amazing Race encouraged teamwork and fun. Our students amazed us in Ryan Has Talent and R Factor, showing courage and creativity on stage. These events reflected the vibrant spirit of our school—one of community, hope and shared celebration.

Finally, on Sunday, we gathered in our Parish community for a Ryan Feast Day Mass. Thank you to the staff and students who volunteered their time and talents to lead Mass for the Parishioners

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Our students proudly represented Ryan Catholic College at the Townsville Council's Tree Day Ceremony, last Thursday coming together with others to care for creation and honour our shared responsibility as stewards of the Earth.

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E-Scooter Safety Alert: Let’s Keep Our Students Safe

In recent months, there has been a noticeable rise in car and student near-misses, and even collisions involving e-scooters, both around school zones and in the wider community. With more of our students using e-scooters as their primary mode of transport, it’s critical we all work together to promote safe habits and prevent avoidable accidents.

What We’re Seeing:

• E-Scooters being ridden across roads without checking for traffic

• Students failing to dismount at crossings or entering traffic from between parked cars

• A lack of helmets or visible safety gear

• Increased congestion around drop-off and pick-up zones

While e-scooters offer a fun, eco-friendly way to get around, they also require the same level of awareness and caution as bicycles or any other form of wheeled transport.

For Students:

• Always wear a helmet – it’s not just smart, it’s the law

• Dismount and walk your scooter across roads and crossings

• Be aware of driveways, parked cars, and traffic turning corners

• Use footpaths where available, and ride slowly near pedestrians

• Avoid riding while distracted (e.g. using your phone or earbuds)

For Drivers:

• Slow down in school zones and surrounding areas

• Be extra cautious during peak times when students are arriving or leaving

• Watch for sudden movements from e-scooter riders or students stepping out between cars

For Parents and Carers:

Please take a few minutes to talk with your child about e-scooter safety, even if they’ve been riding for a while. A simple conversation could prevent a serious injury. Remind them that safety comes first, even when they’re in a hurry or trying to keep up with friends.

Together, we can help make sure every student arrives safely, whether they’re on foot, by car, or riding their e-scooter. Thank you for your ongoing support in keeping our school community safe.

Whole College News - Prep - Year 12

NAPLAN

Each year, students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in NAPLAN, the annual national assessment designed to measure literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the Australian Curriculum. The data collected from NAPLAN supports classroom practices by identifying student and cohort strengths and areas for development. Alongside PAT data, A-E achievement, and attendance records, NAPLAN results help the College provide targeted support and extension opportunities, ensuring continuous improvement in teaching and learning. 

The College has received NAPLAN results, and families should have received a hard copy of their child’s individual student report. This is also available as a digital file on Compass under ‘Reports’. 

Celebrating our 2025 NAPLAN success

We’re proud to share our school’s outstanding performance in the 2025 NAPLAN assessments, with results that reflect the dedication of our students and staff across all year levels.

• Year 3 students achieved results above the state average in every domain. These strong foundations are a testament to our early years teaching and learning programs.
• Year 5 students maintained high standards, performing above the state average in Writing, Reading, and Numeracy, and at the state average in Spelling and Grammar & Punctuation. This reflects consistent progress and a strong learning culture.
• Year 7 results just slipped below the state average; however, it’s important to note that this cohort includes a significant number of new students who joined us from other schools. This transition period presents challenges, but we remain committed to supporting every learning journey. When tracking individual student achievement of students who were part of the Ryan community in Year 5, we see the clear progress above state averages.
• Year 9 students not only close the gaps, they excel. Results in Writing, Reading, Grammar & Punctuation, and Numeracy were above the state average, with Spelling at the state average. This growth highlights the impact of our targeted teaching, inclusive practices, and commitment to student success.

We celebrate these achievements and remain focused on nurturing every student’s potential–academically, socially, and emotionally. 

While we celebrate all of our students, we would like to acknowledge those who achieved results exceeding state averages across multiple domains. These students exemplify the College’s values of journey, community, and service, and their achievements reflect more than academic excellence. They represent growth, collaboration, and a commitment to making a positive impact. 

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.

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

Interested students in Years 10 to 12 are able to start organising work experience for the September holidays now. Students wanting to complete work experience in a trade area, must complete a White Card course prior to any work experience.

General Information:

Boeing - Aircraft Maintenance Apprenticeships

If a student is interested in attending a brief information session about this opportunity, they need to email me by Friday morning.

QTAC & Other Admission Centres - Opening Dates – Year 12s

QTAC will open for 2026 study applications on the 5th August. We will talk with students more about this process over the next week or two. I have sent this information to the Year 12 students last week as well as a PowerPoint from QTAC. If you will be applying to other State or Territory admission centres across Australia, they will have a similar opening date.

If an application also requires an interview/portfolio submission/written submission/audition or some other step, as part of the process, it will mean that the admission centre application and the extra component, will all be due earlier than other course applications. These due dates are usually in September. It is the responsibility of each Year 12 student to know the application date deadlines and the application components required, for their tertiary courses. I am here to assist students, as much as possible, with their applications, but I will not be reminding students of all application deadlines and requirements.

JCU Early Offer Program

Early offers at JCU now open with QTAC opening. If you are interested in JCU's Early Offer Program, please see the link below for more information.

Please also be aware that competitive courses are excluded from early offers - Bachelor of Medicine/Surgery, Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Bachelor of Physiotherapy and Bachelor of Veterinary Science. Many universities have early offer programs, so if you are planning to study away from Townsville, please check their dates and requirements for this.

Application Reminder - Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery - James Cook University

Students applying to this degree at JCU in either Townsville or Cairns, will still apply through both QTAC and JCU. Through the JCU application it will ask for an ATAR prediction from the College but no longer written statements or letters of support. If a student does not provide their ATAR prediction, they will not be considered for an interview.

For more information on applying to Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science at JCU, please see the link below.

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 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.

Upcoming Events:

Central Queensland University (CQU) Open Day - Thursday 14 August - 4pm to 6pm

This open day will assist any students exploring CQU courses as they can speak with academic staff and students. If students would like to attend, they must register via the link below.

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.

Reading @ Ryan

It’s almost here! Book Week will be held in Week 6, Monday 18th - Friday 22nd August. The theme this year is ‘Book and Adventure’. Here’s what’s coming up in our Libraries during Book Week.

Junior Campus Book Week

Get your costumes ready for the Junior Campus Book Character Parade on Friday 22nd August! The day begins with our Parent Reading Challenge at 8:30 am, followed by the Book Character Parade at 9:00 am. We'd love to see you there!

Don't forget about our Bookmark Design competition! Colour or design a bookmark inspired by the Book Week theme ‘Book an Adventure.’ Prep - Year 2 students can use the colouring template, and Year 3 - Year 4 students can use the blank template. Both are available in the Junior Campus Library. One winner from each year level will win a $50 book voucher, and one overall winner will have their bookmark produced and distributed in the Library! Entries close Thursday 21st August.

Senior Campus Book Week

Our annual Book Week Parade will be on again in Emmaus Hall from 9.00am. We encourage all Senior Campus students to get involved and dress up in something from this year's theme 'Book an Adventure'.

Check out the other activities that are happening throughout the week on the Senior Campus below.

Didge This!

NAIDOC Week Assembly & Deadly Day Out - Friday - Week 2 Celebrating Culture and Community

Last Friday in Week 2, our school proudly hosted our NAIDOC Week Assembly & the Inaugural Deadly Day Out. At our assembly, we reflected on the 50 years of the week-long celebrations, and this year’s theme, The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, which celebrates achievements of the past and the bright future ahead. Together, we walk forward, honouring where we've come from and looking boldly to the next generation who will carry NAIDOC and their communities into the future. This was exemplified by the amazing dedication of our Primary Deadly Dancers and supported by our Senior Deadly Dancers. The Primary students rehearsed over two terms with William Mabo to present a polished performance for our community. The Senior dancers followed up with a short story about the animals that reside on Wulgurukaba country. The assembly concluded with the College’s first ever NAIDOC Deadly Day Out.

This exciting event brought together our wider Ryan community to celebrate and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. The day had a vibrant program featuring a variety of interactive stalls from community organisations, engaging DJing workshops, face painting, Indigenous games, and traditional flavoured food stalls showcasing native ingredients. A highlight of the event is the Ryan Community’s student-led activities, co-designed with the Ryan First Nations Education Team, our Emerging Leaders and our Emerging Leaders Mentors. Students ran traditional games, face painting, and First Nations-designed badge making. The food stalls featured unique offerings such as kangaroo sausages, popcorn seasoned with wattle seed or lemon myrtle salts, and ice cream with Native Plum or Lemon Myrtle Flavoured syrups.

This event aligns with our college’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), reinforcing our commitment to celebrating Days of National Significance as a whole college, building strong relationships with the community, and visibly demonstrating respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. We continue to foster meaningful engagement through our First Nations Education Advisory Committee, ensuring that parents and community members are actively involved.

We were thrilled to welcome several outside agencies to participate with interactive stalls, including Deadly Choices, Yumba Meta, Girringun Rangers, Police Liaison Officers, Headspace, Ambulance, Defence, Townsville Catholic Education, and Indigenous Business Australia. We look forward to streamlining our event for next year as we come together as a whole college to celebrate our First Nations culture and history.

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Marine Science (ATSIMS) program:

So far, we have participated in two of the five ATSIMS program events. The first event was the Program Commencement at JCU on Wednesday 23 July and the second was the Yunbenun Land and Sea Ranger Day on Wednesday 30 July. The day commenced with being Welcomed to Bindal Country by Auntie Dorothy Savage. We then participated in three sessions focused on the “Citizen Science” programs being conducted by everyday people in collaboration with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Students were taught about the impacts of marine Debris with Tangaroa Blue Marine Debris and identified six different turtles that live on the reef. The second session focused on the identification of indicator species on the reef which is a measure for how healthy the reef is. The final rotation taught the students how to identify different corals and use a colour chart to report the health of the corals. In our final session of the day, the students learned about The Great Barrier Reef Zoning & Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements (TUMRA) and what each of the marine zones represent.

At the second event, the Yunbenun Land and Sea Ranger Day, the students explored Yunbenun (Magnetic Island) with the Yunbenun Rangers and were welcomed to Country at the start of the Forts Walk. They walked from the Forts Walk to Arthur Point Lookout, and then they discussed the plans to build a yarning circle on the site. Along the trail, the students learned to identify bloodwood, ironbark, local pines, and soap tree leaves. After a walk through Horseshoe Bay Conservation Park out towards the coast, they took a moment to appreciate the beauty of Wulgurukaba Country and then had a BBQ lunch. The day concluded with a quick beach stop at Alma Bay before heading home on the ferry and returning to school.

North Queensland Schools Constitutional Convention:

North Queensland Schools Constitutional Convention is an annual peak event for senior school students in Years 10 and 11, focusing on the Australian Constitution. The NQ Constitutional Convention is a program that explores resources about the Australian Constitution, engages with keynote presentations, and brings together students from across North Queensland schools. A total of 120 students will be selected nationwide each year to attend the National Schools Constitutional Convention. To be eligible for selection, one student from each school will deliver a speech on a specified topic. At the conclusion of the speech, delegates vote on the students who would represent North Queensland. This year’s speech addressed “Revisiting Section 124 to Reimagine State Formation in Australia - Should the Constitution allow for flexible state boundaries to better serve regional communities and governance?”. This year, Charlie Fuller was selected as a reserve to represent North Queensland in Canberra in March next year.

Emerging Leaders:

We are farewelling two students and welcoming two families to the Programme this term.  

The Emerging Leaders did a great job supporting the Deadly Day Out event and were so Deadly with their dance at the NAIDOC Assembly.

All students have their T-shirts delivered and are permitted to wear them when they have Pastoral Care Class. 

Our next outreach is to St Joseph’s Mundingburra next Friday doing an art program.

The focus this term will be Engagement Trackers as we come closer to the final acquittal towards their incentives which will happen early in Term 4.

Homework Club - Senior Campus:

Our Senior Tutoring and Homework program has recommenced. We have some new students who have signed up for the program or are coming in to work on specific assessments. If you would like to enrol your child/ren for the program, you can do so at the link below.

Term 3, 2025 Important Dates:

Yarning Circle:

• Years 7, 8 & 9 - 8th August 2025, week 4
• Years 10, 11 & 12 - 15th August 2025, week 5
• Year 5 & 6 - 29th August 2025, week 7

Men’s Business/Women’s Business:

• Women’s Business - 8th August 2025
• Men’s Business - 15th August 2025

Blak Excellence Lunch and Year 12 Graduation Liturgy

• Thursday, 4th September 2025

Primary Spot

What a great start to Term 3 we have had with fabulous NAIDOC week celebrations spread across both campuses. We are also very excited to welcome Cliffy to the JC with his amazing didgeridoo skills which he shared with everyone at our Ryan Day assembly.

Yarning Circle

We are looking forward to coming together with our children this week for our first Yarning Circle for the term with the Year 1 students. This term during our Yarning Circles we will be reflecting on our NAIDOC week activities and collecting feedback from the children about the exciting activities they would like to see next year.  

Deadly Dancers

Our First Primary Deadly Dancers had done an amazing job with their preparations from Term 1. They truly committed themselves at each rehearsal with lovely manners and giving up their lunch times and play with their friends to ensure that their performance was on point. Our First Nations team treated them to a much deserved Pizza Party in our Yarning Circle on Tuesday of which they thoroughly enjoyed. We can’t wait to see what they will do in 2026!

This week our Primary Initiatives begin for Term 3. It is always a late start due to our NAIDOC Week preparations which is followed by Catholic Education Week. Emails have been sent home to our Year 3 & 4 and 5 & 6 Parent/Carers regarding these Homework groups resuming for Term 3. Click on the links to register your child.

**Please note that when we announce First Nations T-Shirt Days, the only First Nations shirt that can be worn by students is the Ryan Catholic College First Nations Polo Shirt (see above photo).  No other First Nations shirts are to be worn on these days.**

Term 3 T-Shirt Days:

• Monday 4th August - National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day
• Monday 11th August - International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (9th)
• Thursday 4th September - Indigenous Literacy Day (3rd)

Cultural Corner

School TV

SPECIAL REPORT: Having the Alcohol Discussion

With the impending festive season and end of school celebrations, some teenagers may be feeling ready to party, wanting to put the disruptions, frustrations and disappointments of this past year, behind them.

To ensure our young people stay safe during this time, parents and carers are encouraged to have the alcohol discussion - no matter how difficult or overwhelming it may be. It is important to outline the rules and boundaries around age-appropriate alcohol consumption and what the legal implications may be.

Young people are at greater risk of alcohol-related harm than adults because their brains continue to develop until their mid-twenties. The safest level of alcohol consumption for teenagers, is no alcohol at all, but this may be difficult to enforce and may not prevent them from experimenting. However, parents and carers can influence sensible drinking habits and help minimise the risks.

In this Special Report, a series of discussion points are offered to help make the conversation about alcohol consumption a little easier.

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.

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

Ryan Fair Colouring In Competition Winners

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

Sponsors

Community News

A big shout out to Rhean who made sure Ryan was acknowledged again at the Townsville Show this year with a 1st and 2nd Place for our roses. If you get a chance to congratulate the Grounds Team this is a highly competitive field and they deserve the recognition, it has been a challenging year and they are working incredibly hard to keep our beautiful College grounds.