Secondary Bulletin

Year 12 Formal

On Saturday 15 February, our Class of 2025 attended their Year 12 Formal at the Emporium Hotel, South Bank. The evening was a great success, as students celebrated their final year of College life in glitz and glam with family, friends, our Senior Leadership Team, and invited members of College staff.

A special thank you goes to our events team, particularly Ashleigh Pryor, who supported our event leaders and Georgia Corpe (Head of Year 12) in organising such a fabulous event and helping to make the evening truly memorable.

Another heartfelt thank you to Sydney Graham and Deni Seaniger (Year 12 Event Leaders), who dedicated countless hours to making the evening magical, and to Reese Orcher (Sports Captain), Sophie Carmichael, and Caitlin Southwell (Chapel Captains) for their thoughtful Acknowledgement of Country and Grace.

We also extend our thanks to the Emporium Hotel for providing a fantastic space to celebrate, our Senior Leadership Team for their ongoing support, and the invited staff members who helped ensure the evening was both fun and safe for our students.

‘Pal’entine’s Day

Clayfield College rocked red accessories to raise funds for MS Australia. Thank you to Henderson House for organising the day.

Duke of Edinburgh

We have two Adventurous Journeys on offer this year for Duke of Edinburgh this year:

• Kayaking Expedition (4 April to 7 April) which is a back-to-back journey for Bronze (Practice and Qualifier).
• Sailing Expedition (19 September to 23 September) which is a back-to-back journey for Bronze (Practice and Qualifier) and for Silver or Gold it will serve as a Practice OR Qualifier.

If your child is interested in attending one of these adventures, can you please express your interest via the survey below.

Goal Setting

All students have been engaging with academic goal setting during their Wellbeing Foundation lessons and Year Level Meetings. Students have been reflecting on their academic results from last semester and engaging with the attributes of an effective learner at Clayfield College, to set aspirational grades/marks and actions to achieve their goals.

Students are encouraged to ensure their actions follow aspects of S.M.A.R.T (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely) goals to be as effective as possible. They have written their goals on paper, as research shows that physically writing a goal can assist with committing to it.

Students should be sharing their goals with parents/caregivers and the paper form has a space for parents/caregivers to sign. We believe that working in partnership with home and the transparency of this goal setting will best support students in achieving their goals.

NAPLAN Preparation

This week, Years 7 and 9 are completing NAPLAN testing practice. NAPLAN, or National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy, is an annual national assessment for all students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. This is a measure of the literacy and numeracy skills that young Australian students are developing. This week’s NAPLAN testing practice familiarises students with the expectations of the formal NAPLAN tests such as the assessment rooms and the equipment they will need. 

Academic Extra Curricular Activity - Debating

Congratulations to all students who have signed up to be part of a debating team this year. We are delighted to have entered Year 7, 8, 9, and 10 teams in the QDU debating competition. This week we had the first debating meeting, when students were given an invigorating pep talk by Mr Lamb, the new Debating Coordinator for 2025. Mr Lamb explained the required commitment and what students can expect in their first training session and debate. Training commences this week for teams, and Years 8 and 10 will participate in their first debates next week. We wish all debating teams the best of luck this term.

Career and Tertiary Application Updates

Year 12 Students

Ms Bromley - Careers Counsellor is meeting with each Year 12 student this term and next to guide them through the process of applying for tertiary courses for 2026. With QTAC applications opening in August, these one-on-one career conversations build on the Exit Prep classes from last year.

In Term 1, Exit Prep continues with guest speakers from various tertiary institutions visiting to discuss pathways for senior students. Last week, representatives from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) spoke to Year 12 students about career opportunities for school leavers in the defence force.

For students interested in Medicine, those planning to apply in 2026 will need to sit the UCAT. Bookings open on 4 March, and test dates are now available on the UCAT ANZ Test Cycle website. Some Queensland universities, such as Bond University and James Cook University (JCU), also accept direct applications for their medical programs. For more details, visit:

• Bond University: Medical Program - Bachelor of Medical Studies, Doctor of Medicine
• JCU: Domestic Applications for Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Science

Please note that universities are currently updating their websites with the latest information for 2026 entry. Students are welcome to take brochures from the Career Corner in the Upper LRC or visit Ms. Bromley during morning tea or lunch for further assistance.

Year 10, 11, and 12 Students

The latest Options Careers Newsletters for 2025 are now available on our Careers and Pathways website. You can download them here.

Last week, we were fortunate to welcome Wade Hurst from Dolly’s Dream, who spoke with our Year 9 students.

The key message of this presentation for our students was that no matter what’s going on or happening in their lives, there is always someone they can approach to listen to them. He emphasised the importance of always reaching out.

The students resonated with the philosophy that they always have a choice when interacting with others: they can choose to be kind or unkind. For example, they can choose to hit ‘like’ on social media or add a laughing emoji to an image of someone. This concept was reinforced by the clip below. Students were then challenged to consider the intent of behaviour, and thus the resulting impact of behaviour on others:

This led into a discussion on the distinction between banter and bullying, where students were encouraged to speak up if they found themselves in a situation when banter turned into bullying. Students were provided with the Dolly’s Dream support line, 0488 881 033, and encouraged to save it for future use. Other support resources were also displayed for the students.

I encourage Year 9 parents to check in with their children about the presentation and start a conversation about what choosing to be kind means to them and its impact on others.

I am pleased to confirm that students in Years 7 and 8 will also have the opportunity to hear from Dolly’s Dream facilitators later this year.

If you’d like to learn more about Dolly’s Dream, or to check in with your child about various supports, please visit their website below.

Parent Resource

Triple P Positive Parenting Programs

Free Parenting Courses | Fear-Less Triple P Online

Build Resilience in children and help them break free from anxiety.

• Module 1: Understanding Anxiety
• Module 2: Promoting Emotional Resilience
• Module 3: Setting a good example and encouraging realistic thinking
• Module 4: Understanding avoidance
• Module 5: Responding to children’s anxiety
• Module 6: Constructive problem solving and maintaining progress

To find out more about these programs please see the link below.

Year 7 Camp

Challenges, Fun and a Whole Lot of Mud

If I had to describe our Year 7 camp in two words, they would be connection and muddy! But in the end, I would sum it up as excellent.

In Chinese culture, 2025 is the Year of the Snake, symbolizing change, and change is exactly what the Year 7 students experienced as we started this year with new friendships, new challenges, and unforgettable moments at camp.

At the very beginning, we were all pumped for the next three days, jumping, running, warming up, and trekking on a 2km hike to our campsite. After two hours, we finally arrived, feeling like ovens after the long walk. Many of us ran straight to the creek to cool off!

Our first challenge was to build our tents. It turned out to be trickier than expected because there weren’t enough pegs, so we had to improvise and find sticks that could work instead. That night, we even cooked our own dinner! Quickly, we became a little community, connecting with and helping one another.

Throughout the camp, we participated in a variety of activities, including team building, crate stacking, and raft building, as well as ziplining and canoeing. There were moments when we stepped out of our comfort zones and tried new things. For me, ziplining was a huge challenge because I’m afraid of heights! But I wasn’t alone, so much determination, trust, and resilience (this list could go on) was shown by my fellow Year 7s. There were too many incredible moments to fit into one story.

The nights brought endless rain! By morning, we woke up to a landscape of mud. When we hiked 2km back to the main campsite, our shoes were completely unrecognizable, covered in layers of thick mud.

By the end of camp, most of us were eager to return home, but some took a moment to soak in the breathtaking views one last time. I call this camp excellent because it was the perfect experience at the perfect time. Being new to the school, camp gave us the chance to truly get to know each other, build strong connections, and embody the values of our school, all while embracing a little bit of mud!

- Written by Lucas Zhuang (Year 7)

A Camp to Remember

Although the bus ride was long, the girls' bus was filled with singing, chatting, and laughter. Forget Madonna and Taylor Swift, our bus was a whole concert hall! When we finally arrived, we were warmly greeted by our camp instructors. Most of us were starving, so we were especially thankful for the burgers and fruit we were given.

During our free time, most of us played an intense game of tag. Meanwhile, a brave group of girls ventured into the bathroom and discovered a toad sitting in a toilet! As night fell, we drifted off to sleep, excited for the adventures ahead.

Most of us woke up early, eager for a day full of fun activities. Although the cabins were hot, making it difficult to sleep, we were still buzzing with excitement. Breakfast included hot food such as hashbrowns, bacon, and eggs as well as cereal. Over our meal, we chatted about how much we were enjoying our cabins.

The day's activities included crate stacking, canoeing, and zip-lining. Before we knew it, it was time to pack for our hike to the Kenilworth Campsite. After much debate over what to bring, we finally set off!

The hike was long and filled with wildlife. We trekked through mud, grass, and even fences. Just before the halfway point, we spotted a stunning lake, many of us couldn’t believe our eyes! One group of girls powered through, reaching the campsite in just 30 minutes, completely beating the boys’ time of two hours! The other two groups of girls managed to find each other along the way and walked together to the campsite, where they were welcomed with cheers from one of our teams.

After enjoying some fun games with friends, we made fried rice for dinner, an experience in itself, as some of us even got to cook the meal! Before bed, we sipped hot chocolate and reflected on our accomplishments. Although some of us were worried about sleeping in tents, we ended up having one of the best sleeps of the whole camp experience.

By the third day, we were exhausted, but we still made the walk back to camp with smiles on our faces. We shared stories, laughed, and reminisced about our favourite moments. Finally, we packed up our bags and gathered at the front gates, signalling the end of an unforgettable adventure. Another great moment during camp was celebrating Grace, Saphira, and Isla's birthdays!

As we hopped on the bus for the ride home, one thing remained the same, we sang all the way back!

- Written by Sophie Morizet-Morales (Year 7)

Contact

The first point of contact for matters concerning Pastoral and Wellbeing are the Heads of Year:

The wellbeing of our students is our top priority at Clayfield College. We recognise that academic success is intertwined with positive mental health. Therefore, fostering a supportive environment for our students is essential. Our staff actively monitor and support student wellbeing through a variety of methods, from taking the roll during PC time, observations in the classroom, informal and formal conversations, Wellbeing and Foundations lessons, and chapel service, among others. 

In addition to these efforts, we have introduced EI Pulse, an online tool designed to provide greater visibility into the overall wellbeing of students across the school, year levels, and individual classes. This tool helps us highlight areas where students may require additional support. 

Each week, students are asked to respond to a series of questions about their wellbeing. All questions are anonymous; however, one question specifically asks students how they are feeling that day. This question serves as an opportunity for students to share if they are struggling or request support if needed. EI Pulse allows our students to express their feelings about a range of factors in a safe and confidential manner. Additionally, our staff are also invited to complete their own check in via EI Pulse, which reinforces the importance of modelling healthy wellbeing practices for students. 

This tool has allowed us to check in with students who may not feel comfortable reaching out on their own who may not know how to approach a staff member for support. We want our students to know that they can always approach myself, their relevant Head of Year, our chaplains, or any trusted staff member whenever they need. For students experiencing more complex or ongoing wellbeing challenges, we collaborate with parents and carers to refer them to a network of supports in the community. 

Please contact myself or Ms Toni Kirton should you have any questions or wish to discuss this further. 

International Women's Day Breakfast

Screens, Social Media and Our Kids

Date: Thursday 13 March 2025

Time: 7:00pm to 8:30pm

Venue: Online

Cost: Free

In this parent webinar, tween/teen champion Michelle Mitchell and Clinical and school psychologist Dr Matt O’Connor will discuss some practical strategies, tips and insights for helping your child foster a healthy relationship with technology and unpack some ways to

help your family prepare for the upcoming social media ban.

Learn more and register via the link below.

Michelle Mitchell

Tween/teen expert and parenting educator

Dr Matt O'Connor

Clinical and school psychologist

St John Youth Program for 2025

St John's is excited to announce the launch of a pilot program for 2025, offering 20 exclusive spots for interested students. The weekly program, designed to provide enriching educational experiences, will begin in February and take place at the Nundah campus. Expressions of interest are now open, so if you're looking for an exceptional learning experience for your child in 2025, we encourage you to apply soon before the spots fill up!