19 March 2025

Ryan Catholic College Mission Statement

Acknowledgement Of Country

Reflection

Pope's March prayer intention

We all dream about a beautiful, perfect family. But there's no such thing as a perfect family. Every family has its own problems, as well as its tremendous joys. 

Every member of the family is important because each member is different than the others, each person is unique. But these differences can also cause conflict and painful wounds.

And the best medicine to heal the pain of a wounded family is forgiveness.

Forgiveness means giving another chance. God does this with us all the time. God's patience is infinite. He forgives us, lifts us up, gives us a new start. Forgiveness always renews the family, making it look forward with hope. 

Even when there's no possibility of the "happy ending" we'd like, God's grace gives us the strength to forgive, and it brings peace, because it frees us from sadness, and, above all, from resentment.

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

As we move into the last three weeks of term, there is much activity in classrooms, as students have the opportunity to show the learning and skill development that they have been working on throughout the term. Assessments and portfolios are really underway and are coming to a conclusion, especially across the next few weeks.

Class visits and study

During my visits to classrooms across the past few weeks, I encountered some excellent work in a Year 11 Psychology class, where they were surveying students about their study routines and delved into the use of music as part of a study regime. Through data collection, their initial hypothesis was that having music on while engaging in activities or information gathering exercises worked well for the memory and engagement in work; however when the brain needed to really focus on solving problems or creating responses to questions, then the use of music was ineffective and hindered connection making, as well as retention in the short and long term memory. What an important hypothesis to test at this time of the year! 

So the results are in. Music can enhance mood and engagement when engaging in study, but only up to a certain level. Different types of music assist more than others, and when studying becomes complex or needs retention in short-medium term memory, it may hinder it. This article is a good one to reflect on.

Planning and enrolments for 2026 are in full swing, with very successful Prep and Year 7 Expos. With over 1200 visitors across our College across both expos;  demand for a Ryan education is very strong. I am very grateful to the whole staff team for the pride in their work and the culture of growth and care that sets the examples for a well rounded, broad based catholic education for our students. They in turn make us really proud!

Dates for application for enrolment and interviews are all on the College website.

Parent Teacher Student Conferences are the times through which teachers can connect with you and your son or daughter around their gifts, learning achievement and suggestions for improvement. There have been declining numbers across schools regarding these face to face meetings, however I hope that we at Ryan do not follow this trend, as we relish and treasure the opportunity to meet you with your son or daughter in partnership to set goals. Having these opportunities twice a year held in high regard and importance, really sets such a positive tone.

These opportunities are:

Advanced dates for your diaries - Student Free Days and Times

• Tuesday 1 April - Early finish for all students at 12.40pm
• Friday 2 May - P-12 Pupil Free Day for Australian Curriculum Professional Learning

NAPLAN

NAPLAN tests have concluded with students engaging very professionally and with determination. Knowing what students know and do not know in literacy and numeracy gives us the advantage to respond to any gaps or to realise already known facts, so time can be allocated to the most worthwhile teaching sequence. This is the real beauty of NAPLAN as it is the only indicator of how our students at Ryan learn compared to all learners in Year 3,5,7, and 9 across Australia.

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) Parent fact Sheet

This process occurs each year for students who have adjustments made for their learning. Below is a fact sheet for all parents who have NCCD funding, so you are aware of the data and its collection.

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.  

Blessings for the fortnight ahead.

Primary News - Prep - Year 6

Dear Parents and Caregivers, 

NAPLAN

Our Year 3 and Year 5 students (and Years 7 and 9) have been working very diligently during their NAPLAN testing. Overall, our students were focused and tried their best. Our thanks to Margot Richards (AP- Pedagogy and Learning) for her detailed and expert organisation and to our dedicated educators who have worked hard to prepare the students. It was wonderful to start our NAPLAN testing session with some delicious fruit to boost our brains, most generously donated by Luke and Renee Clasie (parents of the College) from ClasiCo Fresh.

ST PATRICK'S DAY

Our primary students delighted in our traditional St Patrick’s Day activity on Monday 17 March.  According to tradition, St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is famously associated with the shamrock, which he used to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—by illustrating how three leaves can exist on a single stem. We thank our student leaders who visited the Junior Campus to facilitate ‘shamrock’ face painting at lunch time. Our Year 5-6 students enjoyed the option of purchasing a shamrock temporary tattoo. Money donated via this event will support Project Compassion.

CRAZY SOCKS 

All students are encouraged to wear 'CRAZY socks' (mismatched, colourful, patterned) to support World Down Syndrome Day on Friday 21st March. This is a wonderful day to raise awareness (no coin donation required) about Down Syndrome in support of Ezra in Year 1.

PARENT TEACHER STUDENT CONFERENCES

Bookings can now be made via the Compass Parent Portal until 9 am Monday 24th March.  After bookings close, you will only be able to view and/or print your bookings. Should you need to make any last-minute cancellations or changes, you will need to contact your class teacher.

EARLY FINISH

Due to Parent Teacher Student Conferences, school will finish at 12:40pm on Tuesday 1 April.  Primary students need to be collected from school by 1:00pm please.

YEAR 5 EXCURSION

The Year 5 HASS excursions to the Disaster Centre are scheduled for Monday 31 March (5C and 5A) and Wednesday 2 April (5B and 5D). The excursions are offered by the Townsville City Council and will provide our Year 5 students with information about their current unit of work on natural disasters and safety.  Please ensure you’ve given permission via the Compass portal for your child to attend.

PREP EXPO

Our recent Prep Expo was a huge success, with numbers up from last year. It was a pleasure to host prospective families at our Junior Campus. Visitors enjoyed spending time inside and outside our Prep classrooms and participating in some fun, educational activities whilst meeting our talented Prep Team. Candi’s Principal Address, hosted in the Junior Library, was an opportunity for parents to learn more about our lovely school. Families delighted touring our beautiful Junior Campus with either a member from the Primary Leadership Team or via a Senior Student Leader. Families appreciated the opportunity to view displays and speak to staff representing the areas of Defence, First Nations, uniforms, and the P&F. Listening to our talented student musicians and singers whilst munching on delicious food from the P&F hosted sausage sizzle, brought smiles to the faces of all.  Participating in sport and playing the fun games hosted by Leonie was also a popular activity.  My sincere thanks to everyone involved for their hard work in organising and hosting our successful Prep Expo.

2026 PREP APPLICATIONS

Prep enrolment application packages are available on the College website.  The closing date for first round Prep enrolment applications to be considered for interview is 4th April 2025.  Current Ryan families wishing to enrol a Prep child next year are also required to complete an application form, please do so immediately.  Interviews will be held in May (for new families to the College) and in September (for siblings). 

INTERSCHOOL SWIMMING CARNIVAL

Some of our primary swimmers will be participating in an Interschool Swimming Carnival on Fri 28 March hosted at the Long Tan Pool. We thank Leonie and staff attending for facilitating this event and we wish all our primary swimmers the best of luck!

CAR PARK

Our school car parks are extremely busy areas. Thank you for driving slowly, with due care and attention. Please observe the 3C’s - courtesy, consideration, and caution when parking and driving in the car park to keep everyone safe.

In Year 5, we have been having a fantastic time with our weekly Jump Rope for Heart activities! It's been great to see everyone getting active while learning about the importance of heart health. In addition to our fun jump rope sessions, we have also been diving into our science lessons, focusing on the fascinating topics of weathering and erosion. The students have shown great enthusiasm as they explore how these natural processes shape our world. With NAPLAN wrapping up this week, we want to share that the Year 5s were feeling well-prepared and ready, with all their hard work paying off! Keep up the great work, Year 5!

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Secondary News - Years 7 - 12

In Week 5, our Year 7 and 8 students gathered in Emmaus Hall for a special Class Leader Assembly, celebrating the dedication and leadership of our class representatives. These students have demonstrated enthusiasm, commitment, and a strong sense of responsibility in their roles, setting a wonderful example for their peers.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the parents who attended and all our parents who continue to support our students on their leadership journey. As we acknowledge their efforts, we also wish our class leaders all the best for the rest of the term. We look forward to seeing them continue to grow, inspire, and make a positive impact within our school community.

Year 8 Outdoor Skills: Indigenous Fire-Making & Science in Action

This week, our Year 8 students explored the hand drill, a traditional fire-starting method used by First Nations Australians. Through this practice, they gained insight into Indigenous knowledge systems, which have been passed down for thousands of years.

From a scientific perspective, the activity demonstrated energy transfers and transformations—students used kinetic energy (movement) to create heat energy through friction, eventually producing an ember that could ignite a fire. 

Ask your child how they tackled this challenge—fire-making is harder than it looks!

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Whole College News - Prep - Year 12

Clean Up Australia Day

Clean Up Australia Day is celebrated annually at our College, allowing students to take action for a cleaner environment. Students learn about the impact of waste and pollution while actively participating in cleaning up their school environment. For students, it’s an opportunity to:

• Take responsibility for their environment by collecting litter and properly disposing of it.
• Learn about sustainability and how waste affects wildlife, waterways, and ecosystems.
• Develop teamwork skills by working together to clean up and improve their school or local area.
• Promote environmental awareness and inspire others to reduce waste, recycle, and adopt sustainable habits.

Clean up Australia Day helps build a sense of pride and responsibility in students for their community and environment.

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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.

Parent Teacher Student Conferences

The College hosts Parent-Teacher-Student-Conferences twice a year - once in Semester One and once in Semester Two. These sessions align with the Term 1 Progress (7-12) and Semester Two reports. They provide an opportunity to discuss your child’s academic, emotional, and social progress while sharing relevant information with their teacher/s.  

The Term 1 Progress reports for Years 7 to 12 will be released at 3pm on Friday, 21st of March. These reports offer insights into student’s progress at this stage of their learning, helping parents/guardians make an informed decision about attending a conference. Areas of feedback include academic progress, effort, and behaviour. While teachers may request an interview to discuss specific aspects of a student’s learning, all parents are welcome to book a session. Bookings for PTSC will open simultaneously as Progress reports are released. 

Tips for a successful Parent-Teacher-Student-Conference:

• Students are to attend, wearing their College uniform - they are the central focus of these discussions
• Be punctual - conferences are limited to 10 minutes, and teachers often have back-to-back interviews. Arriving on time ensures a smooth and productive session.
• Prepare in advance - discuss the progress report with your child beforehand and reflect on their academic, emotional and social development.
• Maintain a professional and respectful approach.
• Follow up - implement any agreed-upon strategies and maintain open communication with teachers to track progress.

NAPLAN

Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 recently participated in NAPLAN, the annual national assessment designed to measure literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the Australian Curriculum. Catch-up tests will continue until 24th March for students who were absent.

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. 

Schools will receive NAPLAN results in Term 3, and a NAPLAN individual student report will provided in August.

We are incredibly grateful to Clasico Fresh for their generous supply of delicious fruit for our students to enjoy before their NAPLAN tests.

Their support has helped our students stay energised and focused, ready to tackle their exams with confidence. 

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The Importance of Student Leadership

Student leadership is a vital part of any school community, empowering students to take responsibility, inspire their peers, and create positive change. At our College, leadership opportunities are available across all year levels, from Year 12 Senior Leaders to Year 9 House Captains, Year 5-8 Class Leaders, and our dedicated Student Representative Council (SRC) members from Year 5-11. Our Year 4 and 6 Student Leaders also support the College in a range of areas throughout the academic year. These are some examples of formal positions of leadership available within the College.

Beyond formal leadership roles, there are many other ways for students to get involved and make a difference in our College community. Opportunities include participating in peer mentoring, joining clubs and committees, volunteering for College events, and contributing to environmental and social initiatives. These activities allow students to develop leadership skills, build friendships, and positively impact their peers. Taking an active role in the College community fosters a strong sense of belonging and responsibility, shaping future leaders.

This year, many exciting initiatives have been successfully implemented thanks to the dedication and hard work of students in working in various roles. Their commitment to making a difference—whether through organising events, fostering school spirit, or advocating for student needs—demonstrates the power of student-led change. Leadership builds confidence, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, all of which are essential for future success. By stepping up and leading, our students help shape a College environment that is inclusive, dynamic, and inspiring for all.

Their efforts continue to make a lasting 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.

Study/Revision Tip #1

When students have completed their work in an exam and are looking over their answers, it is better to look over stand-alone questions out of order, where possible, when checking for mistakes. If the questions keep being looked at it in the same order repeatedly, it is easy for our brain to keep missing the mistakes.

JCU Studiosity Program – Study Strategies and Assessment Feedback Platform for Students in Years 7 to 12
A reminder from last fortnight’s newsletter that this free, study and feedback online platform for students, can be accessed by registering via the link below.

Work Experience: Easter Holidays – Years 10, 11 & 12 – Closing Friday 21 March

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 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 Wednesday 19 March

Our successful Year 11 applicants have been enjoying this program today and our successful Year 12 students will experience this great program, next Wednesday.

Heroes in Health – JCU and The Mater Hospital – Applications close Wednesday 26 March

Students in Years 11 and 12 were sent information and application details two weeks ago about this very beneficial program. The program will be conducted on the Wednesday 30 April and Thursday 1 May. Students must ensure that the dates do not conflict with any subject or College requirements, particularly for Year 11 students heading toward end of Unit 1 assessments.

Defence Work Experience – March to July 2025

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

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 Regional Medical Pathway Online Information Session – Thursday 3 April – 4.30 to 6.00pm

This pathway includes the Bachelor of Medical Science through CQU and then to the Doctor of Medicine through the University of Queensland. More information on this pathway can be found at the link below.

Cert II in Health Services Support – School Holiday Program – April to July

This certificate course is a great opportunity for students interested in a Health career pathway or extra QCE points. Please see the flyer below for more information and application via the QR code. Interested students would apply as soon as possible. Current Year 11 students completing the Certificate III in Health Services Assistance would not apply for this program as the Certificate II is part of their higher qualification.

University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) ANZ 2025 Registrations Now Open

The key dates below, are for current Year 12 students interested in applying for Medicine, Dentistry and some other Health degrees at universities where passing the UCAT is a requirement of the application process.

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

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,

There are so many wonderful things happening at Ryan this term, and it’s inspiring to see our students getting involved and making a difference!

Our Year 9 students have been busy at the Vinnies shop, sorting clothes, working in the store, and building great relationships with the older volunteers. It’s fantastic to see them serving the community and gaining valuable life skills along the way.

Mini Vinnies have now completed their leadership training and are ready to make a real impact this year. Coming up soon are their President and Vice President speeches, followed by a well-earned pizza party to celebrate their hard work!

Our YCS group is taking action to support low socio-economic schools, ensuring students have access to meals that help them focus and learn. Their commitment to breaking the cycle of poverty is truly commendable.

The Rainbow Room, our LGBTQ+ support group, is currently hosting a colouring competition, encouraging students to express their pride in creative and meaningful ways. This initiative helps foster a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and accepted.

Stand With Us has been working tirelessly to raise awareness about anti-bullying strategies. This past week, they ran two incredible workshops—one focused on face-to-face bullying and the other on cyberbullying. The strong turnout of students showed how powerful peer-to-peer learning can be.

Be sure to watch out for this week’s assembly, where our panel of experts will share their knowledge and experiences about bullying. Thank you to Johanna, Jacklin, Michael, Charli, Margot and Jie for helping with this. Their insights will empower our students with the tools they need to create a kinder and more respectful school community.

Thank you to everyone who is contributing to these fantastic initiatives. Your efforts are making Ryan a more compassionate and inclusive place for all!

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Didge This!

Emerging Leaders Incentive Scheme

We had great attendance at our Parent Information Night on Tuesday, 4th March with 79% of students enrolled on the night. Parents who could not attend have to make contact with the team or there is an opportunity to attend a zoom information session on Tuesday 25th March. 

Mentors: We have 28 Mentors on board this year who have been allocated and sessions have begun with students. Parents please look out for the personal leadership agreements to sign up. Please contact: firstnations@ryan.catholic.edu.au

JCU Indigenous Winter School 2025

Students from Grade 10 to Grade 12 studying ATAR-eligible subjects who are keen to explore university life and career pathways have been invited to apply for JCU’s Indigenous Winter School. It is an incredible opportunity for our young people to experience what uni is all about, meet other First Nations students looking at going to university and experience life in the residential college.

JCU will cover all return travel, accommodation, and catering costs. Students will be fully supervised, ensuring a fun and safe experience.

Study Areas Available:

• Allied Health
• Indigenous Studies
• Law
• Marine
• Mathematics/Science
• Medicine/Dentistry
• Nursing/Midwifery
• Social Work

Important Dates:

• Monday, March 10 – Applications open NOW!
• Wednesday, April 30 – Applications close
• Tuesday, May 6 – Applicants notified

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.

Primary Spot:

Hello families, how quickly the term is moving along. Most of our Primary Initiatives are up and running. The next two Initiatives being focussed on are Gangali Jarjums and PLPs (Personal Learning Plans). We are in the process of changing the format for both. However for PLPs, we will still have the meetings early next term. I will send more information out by the end of this term regarding these two initiatives. Thanks Gail.

Homework Groups

The year 5 & 6  Homework Group is in full swing on Wednesday afternoons from 3:00pm to 4:00pm, with a great turn out of up to 9 students attending each week. The students have been effectively using this time to complete their homework tasks and gain additional support for their core subjects from some of the members of our First Nations team. A big shout out to Gail and Lucy for continually supporting our students. 

We had five Year 3&4 Students that joined us on Tuesday afternoon for our homework club. A big thank you to Gail and Therese for your support and making our students feel welcoming.

Any parents who would like to sign their child/ren up to this program, please complete the relevant form.

Yarning Circle

We have had yarning circles with almost all year levels except for Prep and Year 1. As the weather has been either too hot or it's been raining, we have held these sessions in a classroom where it is away from the elements of the weather. The students have been very excited with our gatherings and have enjoyed the experience. This term along with getting reacquainted we have been setting our Personal and Cultural Goals for the year. Parents will get to see these along with their classroom teachers at our upcoming PLP meetings next term.

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: These polo shirts will be available for purchase from the uniform shop.

**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

Get a table together and come support the Ryan P&F at the St. Patrick's Day Trivia Night! There's $885 of prizes up for grabs, including $500 cash for the winning team. PLUS, there's lucky door prizes and a prize for best dressed. There's 3-12 to a table, so gather your friends and enjoy the biggest trivia night of the year!

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:

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

Uniform Shop Hours

Community News