AROUND THE COLLEGE & BEYOND

Tolle Lege – Take Up and Read

Our Year 7 boys have been making the most of the North Queensland winter sunshine while reading Two Feet and Wings by Abbas Kazerooni. Based on the author's own experiences, the memoir tells the story of a nine-year-old boy who escapes the threat of child conscription in Tehran and spends 12 weeks alone in Istanbul while waiting for a visa to England. His journey is one of courage, resilience and hope in the face of extraordinary challenges.

The novel provides rich opportunities to consider how people respond to adversity, how experiences can shape identity and perspective and the plight of children in war-torn countries. As they engage with the text, our boys are living out our college motto, Tolle Lege – Take Up and Read – discovering how stories can broaden perspectives and inspire personal growth.

For our Year 7 families, this novel also provides a wonderful opportunity to connect with your son's learning. A simple question at the dinner table such as, "What's happening in Abbas's story at the moment?" or "What would you have done in his situation?" can spark meaningful conversations. We encourage parents to take an interest in the journey their sons are sharing this term and enjoy hearing their thoughts, questions and reflections as the story unfolds.

Poetry in Action

On the first day of Term 3, Year 11 Literature students took part in a two-hour workshop delivered by Poetry in Action - a Sydney-based company. Through interactive performances and activities, students explored how poetry can be interpreted, performed and brought to life.

The facilitators were full of praise, with one actor commenting, "The boys came in ready to engage and have fun. This was the most productive, most well-received workshop we have done so far."

It was fantastic to see our students embracing the curriculum in such an engaging and creative way.

Mario Calanna Public Speaking Competition 

Recently, seven students proudly represented the College at the Mario Calanna Public Speaking Competition, hosted by St Stephen's Catholic College, Mareeba. The competition showcased students' confidence, poise, knowledge and persuasive speaking as they presented speeches prepared in response to a set topic.

All participants demonstrated outstanding maturity, integrity and dedication. Congratulations to Aryian Singh, Paxton Cordwell and Jamal Goncalves, who placed among the top three in their age category. They will now attend the official awards ceremony, where their final placings will be announced.

A huge thank you to Mr Bryan Carswell for his support with transportation and encouragement on the day. 

Italian Master Chef Program

As we wrapped up an exciting Term 2 Italian Master Chef program, we celebrated the creativity, teamwork and culinary skills of our students. Congratulations to our winners and to all participants who embraced every challenge with enthusiasm and confidence. It was wonderful to see our young chefs develop their cooking skills while exploring the rich flavours and traditions of Italian cuisine.

Term 3 has begun with the start of our exciting Curry Journey, where students will discover the vibrant tastes and aromas of Indian cooking. This week, our chefs got hands-on in the kitchen preparing Cauliflower Pakora and Onion Bhaji. Students enjoyed learning new cooking techniques, working safely with ingredients and experiencing the diverse flavours of another culture.

We look forward to sharing more delicious creations and culinary adventures throughout the term!

A Creative Finish to Term 2 in Art

Last term ended on a high note in the Art Department, with students showcasing their creativity, skill, and dedication through a range of impressive works.

Our Year 8 students proudly completed their vibrant Pop Art Portraits, demonstrating a strong understanding of colour, composition and the bold visual style inspired by Pop Art artists. Their finished pieces are full of personality and creativity.

Meanwhile, our Year 11 and 12 Visual Art in Practice students successfully resolved their A2 Looking Inwards artworks. These thoughtful and expressive pieces explored personal perspectives and artistic techniques, resulting in a collection of highly individual and engaging works.

We invite all members of our school community to visit the B1 Art Room to view a selection of these outstanding artworks. Be sure to also keep an eye out for the upcoming Gallery on the Green, where even more student creativity will be on display.

Congratulations to all our art students on a fantastic term of artistic achievement!

FNQ Regional RoboCup Competition

During the robotics competition, at Redlynch State College last month, all students participated with enthusiasm, determination and good sportsmanship. Although only one pair won the Sumo event, every member competed fairly and demonstrated excellent teamwork throughout the day. 

Students encountered a variety of challenges with their robots but showed resilience by troubleshooting problems and making adjustments. Through perseverance and strong coding skills, each student resolved obstacles and improved their robot's performance, making the competition a valuable learning experience for everyone involved.

Congratulations to Hudson and John who won first prize in the Secondary Sumo Category. Well done to the rest of the team, Nico, Dylan, Liam, Jayden, Lael and Aiden, for their hard work and dedication.