Secondary Bulletin

Staff Spotlight

Earlier this month our Head of Humanities, English and English as an Additional Language (HEAL), Mrs Emily Rossow, and our 2IC HEAL, Ms Sian Graham, presented at the Australian Association for the Teaching of English/Australian Literacy Educators' Association joint national conference in Hobart. 

Their workshop, ‘Empowering Students Through Self-Directed Literary Exploration and Creative Writing in the AI Era,’ provided English educators with practical strategies to help students engage deeply with literature and think independently, at a time where AI is challenging traditional notions of originality. 

Attendees left with valuable insights into how self-directed learning can invigorate their classrooms, inspire students to appreciate the power of storytelling and develop authentic, purposeful voices. We are incredibly proud of Mrs Rossow and Ms Graham for sharing their expertise on a national stage and for leading the way in innovative, student-centred education.

Welcome back! We hope you are well rested and ready for the term ahead. It was wonderful to read the feedback from Pastoral Care teachers on Semester 1 reports, and we hope students are using this as an opportunity to set fresh goals and embrace all facets of College life in Semester 2.

We’re already off to a great start. On Tuesday, the school community came together for a powerful Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, acknowledging and honouring the Traditional Custodians of the land.

That same day, we held our first musical rehearsal with Kristen, our Director and Drama teacher. Kristen, formerly with ROCKIT Productions, brings a wealth of experience and will create a fun, supportive environment for our young performers.

The week will conclude with our Prep to Year 12 NAIDOC Assembly on Friday 18 July at 12:00pm, where we will celebrate and reflect on the rich history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

2025 Pyjama Day Ashburn House Fundraiser

On Friday 25 July, Ashburn House will be raising funds for The Pyjama Foundation. The Pyjama Foundation aims to break the cycle of disadvantage experienced by children in care. Their mission is to create positive relationships for every Australian child in care, empowering them with learning, life skills and confidence. ALL students and staff from Pre-Prep to Year 12, are encouraged to wear their pyjamas on Friday 25 July to show their support for this vital service. Closed in footwear must be worn – no slippers or Crocs.

House Spirit Photo Competition!

Our Arts Day was bursting with colour, creativity, and Clayfield spirit — and nothing captured that more than our House Spirit Photo Competition.

We’re excited to announce that the winner of this year’s Illuminate the Sky – House Spirit Showcase is… Ashburn House!

Ashburn House

Their entry stood out for its vibrant energy, unity, and artistic flair, truly embodying what Arts Day is all about. Congratulations to all Houses for their enthusiastic participation and creativity.

Let your light shine, Clayfield!

Welcome to Term 3!

We hope you have had a wonderful break and are energised for the term ahead! Term 3 promises to be a busy academic term, with an exciting new extra-curricular activity and opportunities to reflect on results from last semester and set goals to achieve even more this semester. 

Progressive Reporting

Progressive reports for Years 7 to 10 were released at the end of last term and Year 11 and 12 progressive reports will be made available over the next couple of weeks. These reports provide feedback comments on student performance in assessment tasks and feed forward comments to help direct future improvement. These reports contain a wealth of information and are a fantastic starting point for personal reflection on academic performance. They will be used more formally in class to help students with goal setting for the semester ahead.

Goal Setting

Students will be reflecting on last semester’s assessment and setting academic goals for the upcoming semester in each of their subjects. Students will set themselves two smart goals for each subject.

 Smart goals should be:

• Specific: Clearly define the intended outcome.
• Measurable: Include quantifiable indicators of success.
• Achievable: Be realistic given current resources and support.
• Relevant: Align with the student's academic priorities or needs.
• Time-bound: Include a timeframe for completion.

We encourage students to engage meaningfully in goal setting over the next couple of weeks.

Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews

Parent Teacher Student Interviews have occurred this week. These interviews between staff and families offer a valuable opportunity to align goals, share insights, and foster collaboration aimed at supporting student achievement and wellbeing. We hope that families who have already participated in these interviews have found them to be informative and positive.

Academic Awards

We look forward to recognising and celebrating students who are receiving academic awards next week in recognition of their academic achievements. In most instances these acknowledgements celebrate not only high achievement but consistent effort, resilience, and curiosity. All students are encouraged to work towards their own academic success. Goal setting can be a useful step in facilitating this.

Subject Selection Forms

Subject selection web preference forms for all students in Years 8 to 10 are due to be completed by 5:00pm Friday 18 July. If forms are not completed by this time, there will be no further opportunity to select subjects of choice and students will need to select subjects from the 2026 subject lines once they have been created. Therefore, it is important to consider selections and complete both the student and parent/family selection of the web preference form for subject selection by this deadline.

New Academic Co-Curricular Opportunity: Chess Club Launches in Term 3!

We are pleased to announce an exciting new academic extracurricular activity available to all students in Years 7 to 12: Chess Club, commencing in Week 2 of Term 3. Sessions will be held after school on Tuesday afternoons in the Upper LRC.

This initiative is run in partnership with Gardiner Chess, a respected organisation from the Northside of Brisbane with a long-standing commitment to developing young minds through strategic chess gameplay and tournament engagement. Their experienced coaches are passionate about fostering both beginners and seasoned players.

Chess is more than just a game; it is a powerful tool for growth and development. Participation in Chess offers students numerous benefits, including:

• Enhanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Improved concentration and memory
• Stronger strategic planning and decision-making ability
• Opportunities for healthy competition and resilience-building
• Social connection with like-minded peers across year levels

Students of all experience levels are encouraged to join, whether exploring chess for the first time or sharpening existing skills.

Interested students should email their interest to Mrs Eagle as soon as possible keagle@clayfield.qld.edu.au

‘Checkmate’ your Tuesday afternoons! 😊

As we begin this fresh new term, I’m excited to continue partnering with you to support our students’ growth and learning. Term 3 is packed with enriching events, skill-building lessons and opportunities for our students to continue to interact with others and our environment to foster wellbeing through belonging.

Key Dates for Your Diary

How You Can Support Term 3 Success

• Stay engaged: Review student diaries regularly and check in with your child about what success looks like for them.
• College calendar: Review the College calendar and save relevant dates for your child/ren.
• Attend community events: On the Green is fast approaching, lock in your tickets now!
• Be organised: Encourage proactive organisation with clear goal setting and a refresh of your child’s home learning space.
• Try something new: Encourage your child to try something new, for example, they could join a new club or push themselves a little further with their current endeavours.
• Celebrate: Celebrate effort over achievement by recognising that trying hard helps build resilience.
• Communicate: Keep the lines of communication, between home and the College, open. Reach out to myself, the Heads of Year or relevant teaching staff should you have any questions or concerns.