Secondary Bulletin

IGNITE Program

This week, our Years 7 to 10 students will take part in a vibrant mix of service, creativity, wellbeing, and cultural celebration as part of the IGNITE Program. These activities are designed to spark connection, expand your world, and give back to our community. There’s truly something for everyone!

Service, Creativity, Wellbeing and Skills

Students will rotate through a range of activities that encourage teamwork, creativity, compassion, and skill-building, including:

• Creating Christmas decorations in Design

• Making cards for charity

• Cooking meals for Community Compassion

• Repurposing our former College uniform

• Year 9 visit to AVEO – The Clayfield Retirement Village

• Yoga sessions

• Gratitude writing

• Rock painting

• Putting together stationery packs for charity

• Mindfulness-based activities

• Technology training sessions

• Musical rehearsals – all musical students required

• Interhouse debate and staff/students debate

Cultural Celebration and Exchange Day

Monday will be a special day of cultural connection and shared experiences. We will begin with a guest speaker, followed by a visit from students of Milpera School, an Intensive English Language school which supports newly arrived young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds. Activities will include:

• Sports and team-building activities

• Connection games

• Cultural sharing

• A shared pizza lunch

• Opportunities to form new friendships and understand different lived experiences

The IGNITE Program is a chance for our students to step outside the usual routine, discover new strengths, and make a meaningful difference.

We look forward to sharing these inspiring days with you!

IGNITE Guest Speaker 

Get ready for an inspiring and meaningful conversation with Marcela Lapertosa!

This 80-minute workshop with Marcela, will prepare Clayfield College students for their upcoming meet-up with peers from Milpera State High School. 

Marcelais a cross-cultural psychologist and intercultural learning specialist with deep expertise in fostering global competence and intercultural understanding. 

As Director of Education at Value Learning, a consultancy focused on intercultural learning, global citizenship education and international youth exchanges, she co-founded the organisation and leads the design and delivery of educational programs, training and curricula tailored for diverse audiences including students, educators, host-families, volunteers and professionals. 

Marcela holds a master’s degree in Cross-Cultural Psychology and uses her background in child psychology to inform her facilitation, coaching and curriculum-development work. 

In addition, she has contributed to major youth exchange and global-competence initiatives, including the design and delivery of the Australia‑Indonesia Youth Exchange Program (AIYEP), and has been active in global conferences and training forums promoting intercultural competence and inclusive education.

Through IGNITE hands-on activities and interactive challenges, students will build the skills needed for genuine cross-cultural connection. It will be a fun, engaging session designed to make this intercultural day truly memorable and impactful.

Trips and Tours

At Clayfield College, our trips and tours are a significant part of student life, offering meaningful opportunities for growth, connection and real-world learning. Please use this form to register your interest in the 2026 programs, noting that trips depend on meeting key criteria such as minimum student numbers.

Ordering Semester 2 Co-Curricular and Groups Photos

Ordering for the 2025 Semester 2 Co-curricular and group photos is now available in the online gallery. Orders are to be placed via the Studio Kirby Website. 

• https://studiokirby.shootproof.com/gallery/clayfield 
• Password: CLAY 

All orders are processed by Studio Kirby, with delivery direct to the address confirmed in your order.  

Lighthouse

This year, we made great strides in training academic staff at the College on the use of our new Learning Management System, Lighthouse. In Term 4, we initiated a pilot trial with students and parents in Years 3, 6 and 10, and we thank these students and parents for engaging with us and providing valuable feedback. As we near the end of the pilot, we look forward to taking everything we have learned and putting it to effective use in 2026.

Lighthouse is an efficient, user-friendly Learning Management System where teachers can manage their classes in both aesthetic and practical ways. It will also serve as a communication hub for all stakeholders at the College. Our aim is to enrol all classes in Lighthouse in 2026. 

Below are some examples of Class, Unit, and Course pages created by our highly capable staff.

Secondary Lighthouse

Artificial Intelligence Workshops at Clayfield College

This past year has seen many new developments in the realm of Artificial Intelligence, particularly the impacts it has on education at both secondary and tertiary levels. Our focus at the College has been on educating students on how to use Artificial Intelligence effectively and responsibly, whilst also highlighting the potential hazards of its use. In conjunction with our Digital Technologies teacher, Mr Stemmet and Mr Sikalas, we hosted workshops for all Senior School students, aptly named N.E.U.R.A.L. — Navigating Ethical Use of Responsible AI Learning.

Teachers across Primary and Secondary Schools have also engaged with expert speakers and participated in Artificial Intelligence presentations around navigating Artificial Intelligence to enhance student learning.

As an important reminder, Clayfield College uses Microsoft Copilot through our secure school ecosystem, tightly safeguarded and monitored by our Information Technologies Team. External Artificial Intelligence tools such as ChatGPT have an age requirement of 13 plus and require parental permission; therefore, we encourage all students to use only Copilot while at school.

EdTech Applications and BYOT

To support our students across Primary and Secondary Schools, Clayfield College subscribes to a range of educational applications tailored to their learning needs. 

Educational applications at our school:

• Atomi: Lessons and activities supporting student revision, curriculum understanding, and independent learning (Years 7 to 12).
• Sora: School eBook and audiobook library giving students easy access to digital reading (Prep to Year 12).
• ClickView: Curriculum-aligned educational videos used to enrich learning experiences (Prep to Year 12).

• Canva: Creative design tool used by students to develop visuals, presentations, and project work (Years 5 to Year 12). 

   

We encourage all students who bring their own laptop to school to bring their devices fully charged each day. An increasing number of students are forgetting to charge their laptops, which disrupts learning. We also discourage laptop use during break times to help preserve battery life and to support healthy limits on daily screen time.

We kindly ask all families to assist by ensuring devices are charged and ready for learning each morning. 

Taking Care of Yourself During the Holiday Period 

As we approach the end of the school year, it is s normal to feel pressure, fatigue, or a bit overwhelmed. With the busyness and excitement of the school holidays, it becomes important to prioritise your wellbeing. Taking small, intentional steps to care for yourself during the break can make the holidays more enjoyable and help you feel more prepared for the year ahead.

Take time for yourself

Setting aside a moment for yourself can make a big difference. Whether it’s reading a book, going to the beach, baking, jumping in the pool, or simply getting outside. These moments can help you rest and recharge.

Create a healthy routine

Your usual routine shifts during the holidays. While a change to structure can be great, it may leave you feeling disoriented. Consider creating a simple routine to help you feel more balanced and in control.

Reflect on your year

The end of the year naturally invites reflection. Take a moment to think about what you have learned, the challenges you have overcome, and what you will take into the new year. 

Practice gratitude

Gratitude can lift your mood by shifting your attention to the things that bring you comfort and meaning. Gratitude has been found to have a number of emotional, social, and physical benefits. 

Stay connected

Meaningful connection doesn’t have to have to mean a big event with lots of people. A quick FaceTime call, a walk with a friend, or a quiet movie with a loved one can be just as fulfilling.

Be kind to yourself

The end of year and holiday period can be challenging. If you are feeling tired or overwhelmed, remember that you are not alone. Try offering yourself the same patience and kindness you would give to a friend. 

Reach out if you need support

Talk to a trusted adult if you are struggling. Support is always available, even during the break.

-Kelsey Lahey, College Counsellor

QTAC ATAR Verification

QTAC has confirmed the process and costs associated with ATAR Verification. Year 12 students may require verification for scholarship applications or wish to have a formal record of your ATAR results.

Printed Verification

A printed and verified copy of your ATAR certificate posted to you.

Cost: $30 incl. GST

Electronic Verification

An electronic copy of your ATAR results sent to up to three nominated institutions, employers, or other entities in a single transaction.

Cost: $17 incl. GST

For more information, please visit QTAC’s ATAR page. For further assistance, email verification@qtac.edu.au or contact the ATAR hotline on 1300 193 173.

QTAC Applications

A gentle reminder that QTAC applications are open until 8 December for the major offer round in January for study in 2026.

A handy 'How to' guide for QTAC applications is on our Careers and Pathways page: 

Missed open days earlier in Term 3?

Several universities offer campus tours on school holidays for Year 12 students and their families, and registration is online. Here are four of the major universities in Southeast Queensland offering tours during the holidays:

• University of Queensland Campus Tour
• Queensland University Technology Campus Tour
• Griffith University Campus Tour
• Australian Catholic University Campus Tour

Year 9 and 10 Families

TAFE at School 2026: offers have been sent for places in TAFE qualifications as part of their TAFE at School offerings. If you have applied for 2026, please check your emails for your offer especially your spam folders.

All Year Levels

Careers Newsletters: The latest in scholarships, tertiary study information and work information is live on Careers and Pathways page:

Casual Jobs for Clayfield Students

Grill'd and Eat Street are looking for casual hospitality workers. The flyers for these opportunities are now online:

Work and Study in 2026!

Queensland Health is offering a Podiatry Trainee Program, giving students the opportunity to be mentored and gain hands-on experience working with podiatrists while they study.

Two local accounting firms have also contacted Clayfield about their 2026 cadetship programs, allowing students to work while studying accounting or commerce.

Find out more online:

QTAC Applications

A reminder that QTAC applications are now open. The application fee is $70 until 30 September. From 1 October, the fee increases to $150.

For key dates and more information, visit the QTAC website: