19 February 2025

Ryan Catholic College Mission Statement

Acknowledgement Of Country

Reflection

We come before You with hearts full of gratitude, giving thanks for Your presence in the midst of the storms. When the waters rose, You were with us; when our hearts were heavy, You were our strength.

We thank You for the resilience of our community—the hands that reach out, the kindness that is shared, and the generosity that flows just like the rain. We are grateful for the courage of those who rescue, shelter, and support those in need. For the emergency workers, volunteers, and neighbours, we give You thanks.

As the land dries and hope returns, may our hearts remain steadfast in gratitude. Help us to be good stewards of Your creation, mindful of the fragility of life and the strength found in faith and community.

We place our trust in You, Lord, knowing that even in the darkest moments, Your light continues to shine.

Stay with us, Lord. 

Amen.

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

We have had a fantastic fortnight and have some important traditions in our Church season to look ahead to in the fortnight ahead.

Opening Liturgy

Our College theme this year, introduced in our Opening Liturgy, focuses on the Emmaus Story passage Luke 24:15 and invites each of us to come to a state of grace to know the times when Jesus walks with us, and when we walk, like Jesus with others - accompanying them on the journey to understanding kindness and transcendence.

This theme fits well with the Year of Jubilee theme for our global Catholic church as Pilgrims of Hope, as we join together in the hope of deepening our relationship with Jesus, with one another, and with our wider community to see and give witness to the dignity of life and potential in every person we encounter throughout 2025. 

The Culture of Excellence Assembly, celebrating the official commencement of our year together and our Year 12 graduates and their academic awards from 2024, was a great success. 

The students who were able to return for the ceremony represented the 180 graduates who already are young women and women making their mark on the community. They were beacons of success and hope for their peers assembled in the Hall.

The three 2024 alumni who spoke - Rayann, Ethan, and Emily were outstanding ambassadors of what the College gives and what can happen if it is received! We were blessed with humbling and sincere speeches from all three. They are outstanding examples of dignified hope and perseverance combining their gifts and talents to pursue their dreams.

Service and Support - please help

On Tuesday, 25 February, Ryan Catholic College is coming together to support the Vinnies Flood Disaster Appeal uniquely and meaningfully. We ask each student to bring a gold coin donation (or any contribution they can) to help us fill a sandbag with money to assist those affected by recent floods.

This is a one-time event, and we would love for as many students and families as possible to get involved. Every little bit helps support those in need.

The Sacramental Program for our young people entering the Church has begun. They will be preparing for their welcome into the Church over the weeks leading up to Lent. Let’s keep all of them and their families close to our hearts, during this time.

The most important season of the Church is almost upon us, with the start of Lent on Wednesday, 5 March. We will engage in our Ash Wednesday liturgies on this day. The 40 days leading up to Easter and the death and resurrection of Jesus is a time of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. Almsgiving is particularly important, as we pledge to give alms to those less fortunate than us. There are always ways to help in our Parish Bulletin, which can be accessed through this newsletter under Parish news. Assisting anyone less fortunate and needing help intentionally during Lent is one way of understanding our role in the world as disciples of Jesus.

Best wishes for the fortnight ahead.

Primary News - Prep - Year 6

Dear Parents and Caregivers, 

Open Classrooms

Thank you to those who were able to attend our Primary Open Classroom event last Tuesday. The children delighted in discussing their learning journey to date with you. We hope that parents and carers found the class information shared via the pamphlet helpful and informative. We have noted some parental feedback to move Years 5-6 to a different date/time at the next Open Classroom event, to enable parents to visit their children across campuses more easily.

Volunteer Site Induction

Many thanks to our parents and carers who were able to attend last week’s Primary Volunteer Site Induction. Our appreciation to David for leading this session. We are very grateful to parents/carers for supporting our work at Ryan and for giving their time to support our students and events.

Sacramental Program Information Sessions

Our appreciation to Amelia (Assistant Principal Identity and Wellbeing), Fr. Joseph Reddy Dondeti, and Fr. Joe Jacob, for leading our Sacramental Program via the parent information session this week. We thank the Good Shepherd Parish for extending the invitation for children to make the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Holy Communion in the Parish in 2025.

Years 3-6 Primary Swimming Carnival

Recently we have heard the enthusiastic chants of House war cries in the air as our students in Years 3-6 prepare for their Primary Interhouse Swimming Carnival held this Thursday at Long Tan Pool. Our thanks to Leonie and all staff who are supporting this event and we look forward to our students trying their best, having fun, and demonstrating their House team spirit!

Prep Expo

Save the date! We will be hosting our annual Prep Expo on Thursday 6 March from 3.30-5.30 pm. Please share this information with your friends/ community members. Candi will be presenting information about our beautiful College via her regular Principal talks hosted in the Junior Library. Visiting prospective children and their families will be able to participate in a range of fun activities such as a school tour, following a special map with their ‘passport’, receiving a goodie bag, and eating a delicious sausage sizzle hosted by our Ryan P&F Committee. Please look at our Facebook page for more details.

Early Years Assessments

Early Years assessments are important to provide valuable information via data on children’s oral language, literacy, and numeracy skills and are a collaborative process involving teachers, students, and parents. Our appreciation to Margot (Assistant Principal Pedagogy and Learning) and our teachers for their leadership of this important area.

Primary Class Contacts

Thank you to parents and carers who have agreed to be a Primary Class Contact in 2025. Our first meeting is on Wednesday 26 February at 1.50-2.45 pm in the Junior Library. Please see your class teacher if you are interested in being a Class Contact as some classes are still in need of help in this important role.

These first few days of school have been exciting for the Prep students, as we are finally old enough to come to school! Although it’s been a wet start we have been so busy getting to know the school routine, how everything works, started making some new friends and meeting all our teachers. We have been practising recognising and writing our names. We have started learning about what a word is, rhyming words and about the numbers 1 and 2. We can’t wait to see where this year takes us and all the new things that we will learn!

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Secondary News - Years 7 - 12

Celebrating our Culture of Excellence

At our recent Opening Liturgy & Culture of Excellence Assembly, we welcomed back three outstanding 2024 graduates as guest speakers: Rayaan, Ethan and Emily. Their inspiring stories of growth and achievement during their time at the College captured the attention of many.

Rayaan, Ethan and Emily shared how their experiences at the College shaped their academic and personal development. They emphasised the supportive environment fostered by our dedicated staff, engaged peers and comprehensive programs. Their journeys exemplify the Culture of Excellence we strive to achieve, built on:

• Academic Rigor: Students are encouraged to challenge themselves and strive for excellence.
• Supportive Community: The bond among students and staff creates a nurturing atmosphere where everyone feels valued.
• Diverse Pathways: Our graduates are equipped with the skills and confidence to navigate various post-schooling paths, whether in higher education, vocational training or the workforce.

Our Culture of Excellence is a collective effort involving students, parents, teachers, non-teaching staff, our parish and the wider community. Each participant plays a vital role:

• Parents: Your support at home fosters a love for learning and resilience.
• Teachers: Our educators mentor and inspire students to reach their potential.
• Non-Teaching Staff: Our dedicated non-teaching staff ensure a supportive, well-maintained and organised environment for all.
• Students: Each student contributes by participating in class and engaging in extracurricular activities, creating an environment where excellence is celebrated.

As we nurture this Culture of Excellence, we invite all parents and students to engage in upcoming events. Your involvement is crucial for sustaining our collective success.

Together, we can cultivate an environment where every student feels empowered to do their best.

Thank you for being an integral part of our College community.

Last week was a memorable occasion for the Year 12 cohort as they received their senior jerseys.

Last Friday, the Year 12 students attended the Opening Liturgy. This significant event marks the beginning of an important year for our senior students as they prepare for their final stretch of high school. 

Let us come together as a community to support and celebrate their achievements!

Whole College News - Prep - Year 12

NAPLAN 2025

In weeks 7 and 8 of this term, students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will participate in the annual NAPLAN testing program. Students will complete four tests:

• A writing test
• A reading test
• A conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) test
• A numeracy test

The testing schedule for NAPLAN 2025 is outlined below:

Catch-up tests will be scheduled for those students who are absent from one or more tests.

Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will be undergoing practice testing to prepare for the tests next month. This will include practising administration processes (entering the room, logging into devices, etc.) and practising the skills required to complete the tests (using the platform, approaching tests strategically, etc.)

The practice testing schedule for NAPLAN 2025 is:

As a College, we use the data collected through NAPLAN to identify students needing extension or additional support, to quality-assure our programs, and to support students as they discern their pathways into their senior years. Consequently, we encourage all students to complete the NAPLAN tests as a periodic “health check” of their literacy and numeracy capabilities. We are aware, however, that parents and carers may choose to withdraw their children from NAPLAN. Students who are withdrawn from NAPLAN will be provided with supervision during the testing periods. Should you wish to withdraw your child from the NAPLAN program, please contact:

• Years 3 and 5: Margot Richards (mrichards7@ryan.catholic.edu.au)
• Years 7 and 9: Grace Meldrum (gmeldrum@ryan.catholic.edu.au)

Upon contact, you will receive a form confirming your intention to withdraw your children from the program. When this form is returned, your child will be withdrawn. To allow time for processing, we ask that all parents seeking to withdraw their child/ren make contact by Friday, 07/03.

Some students may be eligible for adjusted conditions to allow them to complete NAPLAN to the best of their ability. Adjustments may include extra time, rest breaks, or other supports. Our Inclusive Education team works closely with parents, carers, and students to ensure appropriate adjustments are implemented for NAPLAN. 

NAPLAN has published an information document for parents and carers. 

Sacramental Program Registration and Information Evening

The Ministerial Region of the Good Shepherd would like to extend an invitation to your child/children to make the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Holy Communion in the Parish in 2025. It is the duty of parents and the Parish to offer an opportunity to celebrate these Sacraments in a prayerful and practical way.

I encourage all our parents to take up this opportunity to develop the faith of your children by enrolling in the Good Shepherd Parish Sacramental Program.

Prep and Year 7 2025 Sibling Applications

Here is some important information regarding the application process for Prep and Year 7 2026 eligible students and families.

Prep 2026:

• Applications can be submitted via the College website (Enrol > Apply Here)
• To ensure consideration for an enrolment position please have these applications completed by Friday 28 February, 2025.
• To register for our Prep Expo on Thursday 6 March please follow this link: 

Year 7 2026:

• Applications can be submitted via the College website (Enrol > Apply Here)
• Current Year 6 Ryan Students do not need to apply. A letter of 2025 enrolment Confirmation will be sent out.
• To ensure consideration for an enrolment position please have these applications completed by Friday 28 February, 2025.
• To register for our Year 7 Expo on Monday 10 March please follow this link:

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, career events and expos, guest speakers and other career-focused activities that arise throughout the year.

Study Strategies Assistance

Skills related to study and time management are important for school but also are
transferable to future employment. I am available to assist students in developing study habits and strategies. Students can email me or come to my office to make an appointment.

Habits to Assist Effective Learning
Often parents and caregivers will ask me for advice on assisting their child with study habits.
Below is a great article, ’10 Habits of Effective Students,’ that I believe captures the key concepts that allows each student to find their success. The article by Organising Students, explains these habits –
1. Making the most of class time
2. Being effective with time both at school and home
3. Being a good self-advocate – asking questions/seeking feedback
4. Being an independent learner
5. Focusing when learning
6. Avoiding the ‘illusion of knowing’ – students only passively studying
7. Regularly reviewing what has been learnt
8. Spacing out study sessions – not cramming
9. Setting a goal for what is to be studied/practiced/revised
10. Working smarter, not harder – scheduling time

These are habits that are beneficial to engage with early in the secondary years as this is the time to develop positive habits and strategies that will assist as the work and demands increase with age. Students often find it difficult to break negative habits and develop new ones once the work and demands start increasing as they move toward Senior schooling. For every adult who reads this article, they will no doubt be able to see the application of these ‘habits’ in both professional and personal lives. It is important for students to realise that the habits and strategies they develop for finding their success at school are not school-specific. These are life habits and strategies they will be able to apply to many situations as they get older, no matter their pathway.

Important Work Experience Information – Years 10, 11 & 12

At the beginning of each year, it is helpful to remind students and parents/caregivers about the process for engaging in work experience. The steps are detailed below.

1) Students need to talk with me as a first step if they have discussed work experience with an employer or are contemplating work experience but are unsure of who and how to make contact.

2) Students are to complete the Expression of Interest Google Form. This can be found in the Career Pathways Google Classroom. I will give the student the code to the classroom once they have discussed work experience with me. This form must be submitted no later than the end of Week 8, each term.

3) I make contact with the employer to complete documentation related to student safety. If there are no issues in this area, I will move onto the Risk Assessment and creation of the official Work Experience Agreement. This agreement will be sent home for signature.

4) Students need to be aware of any qualifications etc. that are required for their work experience. If a student is participating in work experience on any type of construction site or in a trade workshop, they are required to hold a White Card.

5) Once all the paperwork is completed and signed, students collect their fully signed agreement and Log Book as well as receiving final information related to undertaking work experience and student protection whilst on placement.

6) A site visit is always conducted during a student’s work experience to ensure that all is going well. Students can also contact me or the College during their work experience if they have concerns or are experiencing difficulties.

Important Points –

• Work experience occurs during school holidays but there can be exceptions, such as block exam times, when a certificate course has been completed, or with the approval of the College Leadership Team. Dates outside of school holidays must be discussed with me first, before they are organised with an employer.
• The Work Experience Agreement gives the insurance coverage for work experience. If a student does not go through our process and have a fully signed agreement, they are not covered by insurance if an accident occurs.
• All information must be accurate so that we can properly ascertain the risks and ensure that a great learning opportunity is the outcome.

Important information can be found in Frequently Asked Questions of the Work Experience section of the Department of Education’s website.

Powerlink Visit – Tuesday 25 February – 10.45am to 11.45am

Powerlink will be giving a presentation to interested students next Tuesday and will explore all the career pathways and opportunities they offer. Students have been sent information on this presentation and are to email me if interested in attending.

Queensland Police Service Work Experience - Applications close Friday 28 February

This is the final reminder for interested students in Years 11 and 12, that the deadline for applications is fast approaching. A reminder was emailed to the students last week. Students need to meet with me to gain the application forms.

High School Health Careers Program – Townsville University Hospital

This one-day program will be offered to students in Years 10, 11 and 12, six times across this year. This program provides important information and hands-on activities that can assist students considering a career in health. The dates for this term will be 19 and 26 March. Students will be emailed further application information this week.

Year 12 Careers Interviews

These individual interviews with students are a beneficial process that is conducted each year by me. These interviews will commence toward the end of Term 1.

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

Welcome to 2025!

We hope all students are settling into their new classes. 

For those families new to the College, we will be checking in with students over the next few weeks, and making sure they are finding their way around the College and making friends. 

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.

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

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.

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:

• Airconditioning Emmaus Hall backstage
• Table settings for all classes at Junior Campus
• Table settings for I block on Senior Campus
• Camera and accessories for Culture
• New instruments for Instrumental music program
• Upgrade of Emmaus Hall lighting
• Upgrade of Emmaus Hall sound
• Contributions to the Maker Space on Senior Campus
• Year 1 playground on Junior Campus
  

Uniform Shop Hours

Community News