5 March 2025

Ryan Catholic College Mission Statement

Acknowledgement Of Country

Reflection

God of all Mercy,

On this, the first day of Lent, as we begin our journey towards Good Friday and Easter. As we pray, fast and give alms this Lent, help us to make more space in our busy lives for you.

May the ashes received on Ash Wednesday remind us that your love is larger than life, and that all people are equal in your eyes. 

This Lent, help us to Unite Against Poverty, to work for justice, and to care for creation so that we may build the Kingdom of God where all are welcome and thrive.

In this Year of Jubilee, may we be pilgrims of hope.

Stay with us, Lord.

Amen.

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

We have had a fantastic fortnight, and, as we move into the mid-way mark of the term, there is a lot to report and look forward to.

Learning and Teaching

Assessments, portfolio pieces, presentations and tests are all being undertaken this week and right up until the end of term. These opportunities allow students to demonstrate their learning and seek feedback on parts that they need more help with. Keeping up with tasks and assessments are done best when we can all be on the same page with due dates for drafts and final submissions being known and discussed. Assessment calendars are on the College website and should be written in students' diaries, or their preferred mode for recording this information. We support student progress in multiple ways, including teacher judgment and feedback from classroom effort and work. It has been a pleasure to visit classes to see students engaged in learning new knowledge and skills.

Academic Co-Curricular opportunities

There are so many academic co-curricular opportunities on offer across the College, including Thinking Skills, Chess, Debating, Subject Competitions, Ethics Olympiad, and Public Speaking Competitions to name a few. Extending academic skills outside of traditional curriculum disciplines is another way that students can connect with peers and expand their thinking. Please contact your child's teacher for opportunities if you are unsure what is on offer. There are new offerings all the time.

Our staff are so generous with their time and skills in these offerings. I am very proud to have them on staff for our students.

Congratulations Charlie!

Our College Co-Captain Charlie has been accepted into the National Youth Wind Ensemble of Scotland (NYWES) tour 2025. NYWES forms part of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Summer School programs which are held annually. NYWES involves instrument specific workshops, rehearsals and culminates in a performance on the Friday evening at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) in Glasgow. He is one of the first regional students in Townsville to be successful!

Charlie auditioned and was accepted into the Australian Honours Ensemble Program last year in September. Furthermore, he was also successful in his audition to represent the College at the Pacific Honours Ensemble Program. This took place in Seattle (USA) and required him to be absent from school at the end of term 4 in 2024. 

Whilst in Seattle, the Griffith University staff indicated that they were impressed with Charlie’s efforts and that he would receive an invitation to audition for their program at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Congratulations Charlie! We are all so proud of your achievements.

Safe Persons at Ryan

We have a variety of staff named as Safe Persons who have a specially identified role to be a person whom students can talk to if they are feeling unsafe about anything. They have roles that include:

• Supporting students during school interviews - When police and/or Child Safety assess that they need to undertake an interview with a student at school, a Safe Person may assist by providing support to the child during the interview;
• Educating students and staff on the role of the School Safe Persons; and
• Advising colleagues on student protection processes, and supporting them through this process

Safe Persons:

• Attend training on an annual basis;
• Receive information of harm or risk of harm to a student and complete a report without delay to submit to the Principal; 
• Assist other staff to complete reports; 
• Follow up with staff/students regarding student protection worries.

Safe Persons may be required to:

• Receive information from students, staff or parents and act on information;
• Make a report about inappropriate conduct of a fellow staff member;
• Assist others in managing student protection matters;
• Assist others in writing/making a Student Protection Report;
• Keep confidential records on Student Protection matters involving students and staff.

The Safe Persons at Ryan Catholic College are below for reference.

Prep and Year 7 Expos 

We have some wonderful opportunities to showcase our College to prospective parents, students and families. Our Prep Expo is on Thursday 6 March 3.30-5.30pm and the Year 7 Expo on March 10 is from  4pm-6pm. These are important functions for students, parents and families to find out more about Ryan. So spread the word! 

Season of Lent begins

The most important season of the Church is upon us with the start of Lent. We engaged in our Ash Wednesday liturgies today. 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. Giving assistance to anyone less fortunate and needing help in an intentional way during Lent is one way of understanding our role in the world as disciples of Jesus.

Project Compassion is the central way in which we at Ryan during Lent, contribute to almsgiving. Each student will bring a Project Compassion box home to place your donations in.  

There are other ways to embrace the spirit of giving up something for Lent at home and in your workplaces. This link may give up some inspiration.

Prayers for Pope Francis

God of wholeness and hope: Send Your Spirit of healing, and accompany our shepherd Pope Francis in his illness. 
As he endures pain and discomfort, give him strength and peace.    
May he experience the continued grace of your mercy. 
May your unconditional love comfort him and help him heal.
May his faithful and humble service continue to be a beacon of hope for each of us who continue to serve your Kingdom.  
Through Your Son, Jesus, the great healer of all, we pray: AMEN. 

Best wishes and blessings for the fortnight ahead.

Primary News - Prep - Year 6

Dear Parents and Caregivers, 

Class Contacts

Ryan Catholic College is a warm and welcoming community and we highly value a strong home-school relationship with our parents and carers. Our focus on community was evident during last week's Class Contact meeting, where I had the pleasure of speaking to our parent class representatives P-6, in the Junior College Library. The Class Contact role supports our College in a variety of ways: such as welcoming new families to the College, assisting families and staff during difficult times, organising year level social events, helping to arrange celebrations for special occasions, support in promoting College events (Ryan Day), promoting volunteering amongst parents, attendance in monthly P&F meetings 3^rd Monday of each month in the Senior Campus Boardroom, and building a sense of community and positive relationships within the class group. We thank our 2025 Parent Class Contacts for their help.

Safety at Ryan

Ensuring our students feel safe and secure at school is of high importance. One way we help to promote safety and wellbeing at Ryan is via our Safe Persons Group. Their role is to increase safety for students and to provide them with an avenue to report any concerns. It was a pleasure to record a video about Safety at Ryan this week and I encourage parents to watch it via the College Facebook page. Our Power Words, Power Actions, and Anti-Bullying Strategies, which are unpacked at each assembly and in class, also support this important area.

Care for Others

Last week I attended a Yarning Circle facilitated by Gail, Kalifa, and Lucy. Students exhibited care for others in the circle and set their personal goals for the year. Care for others was also evident via the wonderful support of our recent Vinnie’s Flood Appeal and we were proud to raise $1200 in donations. Thank you for your support. Our students demonstrated their care for the environment last Friday when they participated in ‘Clean Up Ryan’ day as part of our focus on ‘Clean Up Australia Day’. Students reflected on how we can all take responsibility for caring for God’s creation.

Co-Curricular Opportunities

A good school is one that not only imparts knowledge but also nurtures the whole child, offering a rich tapestry of educational and co-curricular experiences that foster growth, creativity, and lifelong learning. Our appreciation to our staff and students who have been involved with our recent successful Interhouse Swimming Carnival, auditions for ‘Popstars’ the College musical, AFLQ Queensland School Cup, Ruth Young Gala Hockey Day, and the CBSQ Regional Basketball event. Our recent Year 6 Canberra Trip Parent Information Evening last week was another indication of the breadth of offerings and opportunity available at Ryan. Thank you to Margot and the Year 6 teaching team for their detailed presentation and itinerary. Attending Year 6 students and their parents were very excited about this new experience which will be offered in Term 4 of 2025.

NAPLAN

Our students have been successfully completing their practice tests for NAPLAN, or the National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy, which is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 across Australia. NAPLAN evaluates students' skills in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar, and punctuation), and numeracy. The results provide valuable insights into student performance and help schools identify areas for improvement in teaching and learning. Parents receive individual reports that can assist in understanding their child's academic progress and support their educational journey. We thank all our students and staff who are involved with NAPLAN.

Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, is the day before Ash Wednesday and marks the beginning of Lent in the Christian calendar. The connection between Shrove Tuesday and Lent lies in the tradition of preparing for the Lenten season, which is a time of fasting and penance. Our students enjoyed a delicious serving of pancakes or gluten free crepes on Tuesday and our thanks to Amelia for coordinating this special day. Our Primary students will attend a special Ash Wednesday liturgy in the afternoon.

What an exciting beginning to the year! Our Year 4 students have been working extremely hard both inside and outside the classroom. We’ve dived into learning, built friendships with our new classmates, and enjoyed getting to know our teacher. A highlight so far has been spending time with our Prep buddies, creating special connections across the school. We also made a splash at the swimming carnival, showing great team spirit and sportsmanship. With so much already achieved, we can’t wait to see what the rest of the term brings!

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Secondary News - Years 7 - 12

2025 Next Step Year 12 Completers Survey

All Year 12 completers from last year will soon receive an invitation to participate in the Next Step survey. This is their chance to help our school to understand the different pathways of the 2024 Year 12 students and to improve our senior programs and supports for future students. The survey only takes five minutes and asks graduates about their study and work activities since finishing school.

As a thank you for participating, Year 12 completers who complete the survey will be entered into a draw to win a MacBook Air.

We ask parents, siblings and friends to encourage our graduates to complete the survey. If their contact details have changed, please assist survey interviewers by providing their updated details or forward the survey to their new address so they can participate. Graduates may receive an invitation by mail, email or phone. The survey can be completed online or by phone.

The new school year has begun smoothly for our Year 7 students, who have quickly adapted to high school life. The first few weeks have been filled with excitement, new friendships, and a sense of belonging. The Pastoral Care Teachers are doing a wonderful job to support the students with this transition.

In addition to forming new friendships, the Year 7 students have been working on identifying their own character strengths through the engaging Friendology program. This initiative has encouraged self-awareness and personal growth.

The Semester One Class Leaders were recognised and presented with their Class Leader badges at the assembly on Friday morning.  Congratulations to these students - we know you will represent your Pastoral Care Classes with pride.

The Year 7 students have been eagerly participating in the opportunities available at school. We have had students participating in the Chess Club, interhouse futsal and spelling competitions and also the Clean Up Ryan Day initiative.  Well done to all of the students contributing to the Ryan Catholic College community.

Whole College News - Prep - Year 12

College Calendars

In order to align with the College's commitment to digital innovation and sustainability, there will not be a printed calendar for 2025. The digital calendar of events can be accessed via our website (Our College > School Calendar) or via Compass. This transition reflects our commitment to enhancing communication while reducing our environmental impact.

Road and Crossing Safety

We kindly ask parents to remind their children about the importance of road safety, especially when crossing near our school. Data from Transport for NSW shows that school students are the second-highest group of pedestrians suffering serious injuries, after those over 70. A growing concern is distraction from mobile phone use, which increases the risk of accidents. To ensure their safety, students must always cross at designated crossings with our Lollipop staff and keep their phones away while walking. By staying alert and following these simple steps, we can all help create a safer journey to and from school.

Celebrating Community and Excellence in Faith

In Week 3, our whole school gathered for a special Combined Opening Liturgy and Culture of Excellence Assembly. We marked the beginning of the academic year with faith and inspiration. We are grateful to our Elected Leaders for leading us through our liturgy, especially the Journey Captains who engaged the Year 5s to 12s in the Culture of Excellence Awards. This event was a beautiful reminder of our shared commitment to both spiritual growth and striving for excellence in all that we do. Congratulations to our 2024 Alumni - they are so inspirational!

A heartfelt thank you to our generous community for supporting the Fill a Sandbag appeal for Vinnies' Flood Disaster relief in Week 5. In just one day, we raised over $1,200, a true testament to the kindness and compassion of our school family. Your donations will make a real difference to those in need—thank you for living out the values of service and generosity. We are also grateful to the Year 4 House Captains, and volunteers from Young Christian Students and the Stand with Us committee for collecting everyone’s generous donations.

As we enter the season of Lent, we reflect on renewal, sacrifice, and giving. This morning, our Ash Wednesday Liturgy reminded us of the call to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. A wonderful way to contribute is through the Project Compassion appeal—each classroom and Pastoral Care class has a donation box to support those less fortunate. Every contribution, big or small, helps bring hope and opportunity to vulnerable communities.

Let’s continue to walk together in faith and service.

A positive culture of behaviour 

As we hit mid-term kids can start to get a little tired – as can the adults. With this in mind, it is worth acknowledging the fact that our kids are working hard, not only on their studies, but with maintaining a positive culture at our College. 

At Ryan Catholic College, we believe that an environment characterised by our behaviour code of Respect, Courage and Care 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.

Junior Campus Focus:

When acknowledging students at the Junior Campus we try and use the same language with the children so you will hear some of the following from our staff and students:

• Power Words - please, thank you, greetings, I beg your pardon and excuse me, May I help you?, I am sorry, Thank you for your apology. 
• Power Actions - Face the person I’m speaking to. Share with others (but not food). Welcome and include others. Tidy up after myself. Praise, boost and help others. Be a good sport.

At our general assembly the students will demonstrate some of these Power Words and Actions for the students. 

Positive Praise Notes on the Junior Campus:

Prep to Year 4 have received 84 Praise Notes and Year 5 and 6 have received 171 Positive Behaviour Acknowledgements! What a start to 2025. 

We celebrated 84 Star Students at our assembly on Wednesday. There were so many words of praise for students around their positive attitude towards their work, classmates and teachers!

Positive Behaviour Acknowledgements on the Senior Campus:

A total of 367 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.

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. In a previous newsletter I added some tables identifying the cumulative impact of, coming late and being absent from school, on a child’s education.

I would love to give a shout out to the 278 students who are sitting on 100% attendance at this point in the year! This is 100 more students with perfect attendance than the same time last year!! They are working really hard to ensure they get the best out of every day. Well done!

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.

Important Work Experience Information – Years 10, 11 & 12

A reminder that for work experience over the Easter holidays, our internal Work Experience Expression of Interest Google Form is due by Friday 21 March. Late submissions will not be accepted. If students are contemplating work experience over the holidays, I encourage them to send me an email or visit my office as soon as possible. If a student is participating in work experience that occurs on any type of construction site or in a trade workshop, they are required to hold a White Card.

High School Health Careers Program – Townsville University Hospital
The first two rounds of this program are fast approaching with chosen Year 11 students attending on Wednesday 19 March, and chosen Year 12 students attending on Wednesday 26 March. I have submitted the applicants for both rounds and will email the successful students as soon as I am informed by the Townsville University Hospital.

JCU Studiosity Program – Study Strategies and Assessment Feedback Platform
Last week, Orr Thomason from the Outreach Team at JCU, presented to interested students about the Studiosity program. This program offers a range of supports by JCU students in relation to study strategies as well as assessment assistance and feedback. The program is free and open to students in Years 7 to 12. The information from JCU on this great program is detailed below.

What is Studiosity
Studiosity provides students with online, personalised study help and writing feedback, 24/7. Working with higher education partners around the world, Studiosity is a trusted service, proven to increase students’ confidence and academic outcomes.
 
At JCU we believe every student has the potential to succeed with nurture and support. Empowering students to grow and build on their community and learning ecosystem as they transition through school and beyond. JCU will offer free access to Studiosity for students studying in North and Far North Queensland.

Students will receive access to:

• Student Connect - An online student-to-student service, facilitating personal mentoring provided by dedicated JCU students. Through this platform, students can seek assistance with their current course content, assessments, and study tips, while also engaging with current students to gain valuable insights into university life.
• Connect Live - A live chat service, where students can connect with a Subject Specialist across a range of subjects including English, Maths, Chemistry, Physics, and study skills.
• Writing Feedback - Students can upload any piece of written work, including essays, assignments or reports, and receive constructive feedback within a few hours.

Studiosity provides comments on spelling, grammar, structure, language, referencing and more, so students can improve their writing before handing it in.

TAFE Trade Taster Program – Interested Year 10 Students – Applications opened Monday 3 March

Information on this Term 2 program was distributed to our Year 10 students and parents/carers last week by our VETA Program Leader, Josie Hickey. For more information, please read the email from Josie or contact Josie, or myself. Classes will fill very quickly for this program, so interested students were encouraged to apply as soon as it opened.

Powerlink – 2026 Apprenticeship Program

Powerlink is calling for Expressions of Interest for their 2026 Electrical Apprenticeships. 
 
Powerlink are offering apprenticeship opportunities in Brisbane, Gladstone, and Townsville in the following apprenticeship streams:

• Electrical Trade Apprenticeship - Substations
• Electrical Trade Apprenticeship - Secondary Systems
• Communications and Control Apprenticeship - Secondary Systems
• Linesperson Apprenticeship

For any interested students, Powerlink has more information and an Expression of Interest form

CQU Year 12 Uni Experience Day

On Monday, some of our Year 12 students who are interested in studying at CQU in 2026, attended their annual Year 12 Uni Experience Day. This was a great opportunity for the students to explore their course areas of interest, talk with academic staff and learn about university life. For any Year 12 students who were unable to attend, CQU will also hold their annual Open Day on the 14th August.

UCAT ANZ 2025 Registration will open on the 4th of March 2025

Students considering a career in medicine or dentistry, during Year 12 will need to sit a compulsory entry exam known as the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) before they can apply for relevant placements in the aforementioned fields of study within most universities in Australia.

The first time a candidate is eligible to sit the UCAT is during their final year of school, that is, Year 12 (in Australia) or Year 13 (in New Zealand). Candidates can repeat the UCAT yearly. The UCAT is held once a year.

UCAT ANZ 2025 Key Dates

Candidates taking the UCAT ANZ in 2025 for entry to universities in Australia and New Zealand in 2026 should note these key dates. Deadline times are 11.59pm AEST - Australian Eastern Standard Time.

UCAT registration is available only via the UCAT ANZ website

Bond University Virtual Open Day Saturday 5 April

Experience Bond's deliberately different approach to learning at Virtual Open Day, streaming to you live on Saturday, 5 April from 12pm AEST.

Discover why the Gold Coast is Australia’s favourite classroom. From our personalised attention to our exceptional graduate outcomes, Virtual Open Day is the place to uncover everything Bond University has to offer.

Register now to gain early access to exclusive content about all the possibilities at Bond and unlock the livestream on 5 April. 

Cultural Corner

𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

What an exciting time for Ryan Catholic College! Our Year 5-12 students kicked off auditions last week, and we’re thrilled to announce that 100 talented students made the cut and had their first Popstars rehearsal this past weekend. The show is already sounding and looking amazing, with so much energy and enthusiasm in the air

Next week, our P-4 students will have their auditions, and we can't wait to see what new talent will join the stage We are incredibly lucky to have such a gifted group of students here at Ryan, and this year's musical is shaping up to be something special.

The Popstars musical is not just about the performance – it's a true community event! It brings together families from Prep to Year 12, and provides a unique opportunity for students of all ages to learn, collaborate, and create something amazing together.

Stay tuned! Tickets for Popstars will be released soon, with four incredible shows happening from the 28th to the 31st of May Make sure to keep an eye on the newsletter and social media for all the latest updates. We can’t wait to share this spectacular performance with our broader College community!

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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

College Chaplain

Hello Ryan Community,

Our home base, the Wellness Room at Ryan, has been buzzing with activity! Many students have been dropping by to visit Nikki, Jacklin, and myself, and it has been wonderful to see so much engagement and connection.

Our student groups have been diving deep into their core actions for each term. Mini Vinnies had their first leadership training, where they explored their values and those of their fellow members. We even had some fun playing Heads Down, Thumbs Up!

YCS (Young Christian Students)—our social justice group and community captains—held their YCS Leaders Formation. They ran their meeting with purpose and meaning, beginning the Review of Life process (See, Judge, Act). During our See phase, we researched a critical issue close to our hearts: ensuring all students have access to lunch so they can learn and thrive. Equity for all is at the center of our mission.

Our Rainbow Room (LGBT+ support group) has been practicing pronouns and learning how to use them correctly. We also had a blast playing a Kahoot game that provided LGBTQ+ education in an engaging and interactive way.

Exciting news—our Nintendo Switch will be up and running next week! Stay tuned! Thank you P&F!

Lastly, our Stand With Us (SWU) Committee—which focuses on student well-being—is preparing for Anti-Bullying Week. The theme this year is "Use Your Power for Good," and we've organised a panel of experts to share their insights during Week 8's assembly. We are also developing two workshops, one focused on face-to-face bullying and another on cyberbullying, which will take place during first lunch breaks to promote peer-to-peer learning and support. As a group, we will be sharing fortnightly positive messages to remind everyone that we are in this together—you are seen, supported, and never alone.

Thank you for being part of this incredible community.

Didge This!

Families Meet & Greet and Emerging Leaders PIN - Tuesday 4th March

Our First Nations Education Families Meet & Greet and Emerging Leaders PIN was held on Tuesday 4 March.  This year it was compulsory attendance to register your child in Years 7-12 into the Emerging Leaders program. We were excited to see so many families attend. 

The program has now been extended for two more years. 

Mentor Induction: Thank you to Lauren from The Emerging Leaders Team at Townsville Catholic Education Office for hosting our Mentor Induction before school on Friday 28 February. We currently have 26 mentors for this year. Parents/ Carers you will be getting agreements that must be signed and returned by the end of this term.

Yarning Circle

This term we had started strong on Friday 14 February with our Year 7, 8 and 9 First Nations students, followed by our Year 10, 11 and 12 students on Friday 28 February. The students that attended the sessions had the opportunity to introduce themselves to both old and new students. We also did some goal setting for the year and we will revise in Term 4. We will also be holding a yarning circle for all students on Friday 21 March which will see all students from the Secondary Campus being able to attend.

Senior Campus Tutoring 

Tutoring has begun and we are looking forward to supporting our students. It runs each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3.15 pm to 4.15 pm. Sessions are being run in E1 for our 7-9 students and E2 for our 10-12 students. If parents wish to enrol children for the program you may do so at the link below.

Emerging Leaders Homeroom

Emerging Leaders Homeroom has also resumed with Carmen, our new First Nations Education Teacher. We have been building a support network within the students to assist our young people in supporting each other at school. We have used targeted yarning prompts to engage students, continued the Strand Ephemera art project and provided healthy snacks to help prepare our students for a day of learning.

First Nations Homeroom Timetable is as follows:

• Monday:  Years 8 & 12  
• Tuesday: Years 7 & 11
• Thursday:  Years 9 & 10

*Emerging Leaders Homeroom for Years 7 - 12 is in I22.*

Primary First Nations News

Welcome to our first newsletter and we extend this to all of our new families who have joined our Ryan Community. With the delayed start to the school year we are gradually starting our Primary Initiatives. Here is an update as to what has happened so far.

Homework Groups

As a result of parent feedback we are providing this support again. Initially this has only been for our Year 5 & 6 students, however we are extending this to Years 3 & 4 this year. 

Due to unforeseen circumstances our Years 3 & 4 Group will run on Tuesday afternoons (not mornings) from 2:50pm to 3:20pm.

Yr 5 & 6 students meet in Meeting Room 8 (Community centre) on Wednesdays from 3pm - 4pm.

Yarning Circle

Our year level yarning circle groups began last week with our Year 4s. 

All of our students that attended the sessions have the opportunity to introduce themselves to both old and new students. 

We also use this time to set our goals for the new year and we will revise in Term 4. These goals will be included when we update the students' PLPs.

All students will receive a reminder invitation the day before their scheduled Yarning Circle.

The set dates for Term 1 are as follows:

PLPs

The format for the Personal Learning Plans for all of our First Nations students will be changed this year to make it easier to communicate with our parents/carers. More information will be provided on this initiative later in the term.

Yr 5 & 6 PCC

Pastoral Care Class runs from 8:40 am in Meeting Room 1 in the Community Centre. 

This is an opportunity for a weekly check-in and to give our students any updates on upcoming significant dates, it also allows us to develop positive relationships.

Gangali Jarjums

Our Gangali Jarjums sessions were previously for only our Year 3 & 4 students. However with the new curriculum being implemented this year from Prep to Year 6, this initiative will also be extended to accommodate the other year levels. These sessions will vary in length depending on the year level and the topics will align with the curriculum focus in the classroom. Two topics that are covered for everyone are on our 2 most important First Nations Dates of National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week, we look at the significance of these and what the meaning of the 2025 Themes.

More information regarding this initiative will be communicated when available.

Term 1, 2025 Important Dates

Day to wear your First Nations school T-shirts will be Thursday 20 March - Closing the Gap Day and National Harmony Day

**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.**

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.

P & F News

Parent Engagement

When families and schools work together, children are more likely to build good relationships and do better at school. 

Did you know your parent body Catholic School Parents Australia has put together free resources including a toolkit on parent engagement?

GEARING UP FOR PARENT ENGAGEMENT WEBSITE

The Gearing up for parent engagement website can be accessed at the link below.

This information will assist the unique relationship between parent and child to flourish into a meaningful partnership between home and school towards improving the learning and wellbeing of students.

The toolkit is comprised of:
(i) Twenty-two modules which provide practical information to assist school staff and families to develop a better understanding of the importance of relationships between home and school.
(ii) Case study videos and vignettes which highlight interviews with parents and principals who outline what their schools are doing to enhance family engagement.
(iii) Six parent engagement workshops – A local facilitator (guide provided) leads principals, teachers, other staff and importantly families through a series of videos guiding participants through various aspects of engaging families in learning and wellbeing.

This website invites you to access information on-line or you can download each of the resources. 
Catholic School Parents Australia encourages you to use the many practical ideas on this website to develop a better understanding of how to grow the partnership between home and school to benefit all within the school community

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
  

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Community News

Townsville Youth Council is recruiting new members!

Want to help shape the future for young people in Townsville?

Join the Townsville Youth Council to collaborate with community leaders, improve support, create new opportunities, and advocate for the issues that matter most to the next generation!

If you're aged 12-25, live in Townsville, and are passionate about making a difference for local young people – we want YOU!

Applications close 31 May 2025