Secondary School News

Welcome to Term 3!

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students

As we commence Term 3, we extend a warm and sincere welcome to all families. This new term brings fresh opportunities for academic growth, meaningful learning, and continued collaboration between home and school. We remain committed to building upon the strong foundations laid in Semester 1 and look forward to guiding students through new avenues of discovery. Your ongoing support and engagement are deeply appreciated, and we anticipate a term filled with progress, achievement, and enriching experiences for every student.

We are delighted that we have new students starting this term in the Secondary School in Years 7,8, 9 and 10. We welcome these students and their families to the Clayfield College community and wish them the very best for the journey ahead. We will also be welcoming short stay students in Years 7, 8 and 9 for four weeks commencing Monday 21 July. 

Term 3 begins on Tuesday 15 July. In preparation for the term, we would like to highlight some key expectations, procedures, events and dates.

For families new to Clayfield, if there is anything requiring further explanation, you are encouraged to contact College Reception on 3262 0262 from where you will be redirected to your child/ren's Head of Year. 

Communication

A reminder that the following forms of communication are used in the Secondary School: 

• The College App 
• Clayfield Collective 
• Parent Lounge Portal 
• Email/Phone 

The College App

As a condition of enrolment, we request every caregiver download the College App (free download). The App provides current information about events and activities, as well as important notices and alerts (for example, training cancellations or venue changes, wet weather plans and ETA of buses returning from co-curricular activities). It also includes a live school calendar, absentee line and key school contacts. 

You are able to manage your notifications and subscriptions to ensure you are only seeing what is relevant to your family. Please refer to College App Guide below. 

Clayfield Collective

The Clayfield Collective is our whole school weekly newsletter, sent via email every Thursday. This communication includes information/articles from our Senior Leadership Team, Deans and Heads of Department. It is imperative that you read the Secondary Bulletin to be kept up to date with all events and information. This, together with the College App, is the main form of College communication for our families, with staff assuming that what is published in the Clayfield Collective has been read by parents. 

Parent Lounge

Parent Lounge provides up-to-date information on College life. Such information includes your child’s timetable and teachers, policy documents, excursion details, school calendar and parent directory. Parents are also able to update their contact details and child’s medical details, view Report Cards and schedule Parent Teacher Interviews. 

Please refer to the following link for information on and access to Parent Lounge:

Also provided is a Guide for parents on navigating key features of Parent Lounge:

Email/Phone

Staff can be contacted via email during the school week. Email addresses are the first initial of the teacher’s name and their surname with @clayfield.qld.edu.au. If you are contacting the teachers via email, please be aware they will only be checking emails throughout the day as their teaching schedule permits and therefore will not be able to reply immediately. 

Whilst staff are more than happy to communicate with you through email, there is a 48-hour response time. If the matter is urgent, please call College Reception on 3262 0262, where a message will be passed on and the teacher will contact you when they are available. 

Further, the Parent Code of Conduct outlines appropriate communication guidelines between parents and staff members, and we encourage you to review this document.

Behavioural Expectations and Policy Documents

Every student has the right to a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment. Clayfield College is committed to a culture of connection and care. Such a culture is the result of clearly articulated expectations combined with high levels of accountability. 

It is expected that students will behave in accordance with the PMSA’s commitment to achieving fair, collaborative, inclusive and respectful working and learning environments, and with the College values of Care, Integrity, Resilience and Respect. Behaviour of a high standard requires self-discipline, self-respect and respect for the rights and property of others. 

It is expected that all members of the community strive for excellence in actions, speech and appearance. Ultimately, the promotion of positive behaviours is a shared responsibility, with all stakeholders having a role to play.

Uniform Requirements

Clayfield College expects students to take pride in their presentation each day and meet the requirements of the Uniform Policy. Please read over the below expectations and ensure your child is prepared for the first day back at school. 

• Students will return in Winter Uniform
• Shoes should be polished with laces tied
• Hair is to be kept tidy and tied up when touching the collar
• No jewellery is to be worn at school, except for one ear piercing in the lower lobe – small silver or gold sleepers, studs or pearls. Pearl earrings are available to be purchased at the Uniform Shop
• While students wear the Winter Uniform, they are required to wear their hats and blazers when out of College grounds, before and after school. Student leaders and staff are on duty at the gates before and after school to assist students meet this expectation. Students who are not wearing a hat or blazer when they arrive/depart school will be issued an infringement
• Year 12 students are permitted to wear the Senior jersey with the uniform; however, they must still have their blazer with them each day

We understand students may have had false eyelashes, fake tans and acrylic nails through the holiday period, but these are not part of the Clayfield College uniform and students must remove these before returning to school. If students have received an extra ear piercing over the break, please ensure they do not wear anything in the piercing while at school. Infringements and detentions will be applied if students are not meeting these expectations.

Please refer to the Uniform Policy for further information.

Mobile Phones

Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 need to hand in their phones at College Reception when they arrive at school and can collect them after school. The College has installed phone pouches for every student in Years 7 to 9 at Reception. Upon arrival at school, Years 7 to 9 students walk through Reception to place their phone in their pouch. Phones must be turned off. Years 7 to 9 boarding students will leave their phones in the Boarding House during the school day. 

Students in Years 10 to 12 are required to have their phones turned off, in their lockers and they are not to be used throughout the school day. The exception to this is students in Years 10 to 12 who require their phone for HPE lessons. It is then their responsibility to collect their phone from their locker before the lesson and return it back to the locker after the HPE lesson. 

If students are found with their phone, they will be confiscated and can be collected from the Dean of Wellbeing and Safeguarding in Room 20 at the end of the day. They will also receive an infringement. If they are found to have them for a second time, students will not be permitted to bring their phone onto campus until further notice. 

Smart watches are allowed but are not to be used for messaging during the school day. If students are found to be misusing their smart watch, it will be confiscated, and the student may not be allowed to bring it on campus moving forward. 

Pastoral Care Class

Pastoral Care (PC) time begins promptly at 8:30am every morning. This is an important time of the day when PC teachers mark the roll, provide ongoing support through group and individual conversations, promote connections through group activities, encourage organisation by reading the Daily Notices, help students with their daily routines and hold students accountable for the correct wearing of the College uniform. 

Thank you for making sure your child arrives at school on time. If students need to leave school throughout the day or will be late to school, please notify the College by using the College App.

Who Should I Ask?

Pastoral Matters

Your child’s Head of Year should be the first point of contact for any general questions of a pastoral nature. 

Academic Matters 

For general academic questions, contacting your child’s subject teacher is always the most effective first course of action. Please be aware, Heads of Department are available to discuss any academic matters; however, in most cases, they would obtain information pertaining to your child directly from the class teacher in the first instance. 

General Matters 

General information should be directed to College Reception, which can be found at the entrance of the College and contacted via 3262 0262.

Years 7 to 12 Academic Policy and Procedures 

Our Years 7 to 12 Academic Policies and Procedures provides an overview of all protocols that need to be adhered to by staff, students and parents with regards to:

• Academic integrity

• Assessment

• Drafting, scaffolding, conferencing and feedback

• Subject changes, and

• AARA 

You can access the document through this link. It is also available in Parent Lounge and Student Café under Links: Assessment and Reporting. 

Please be reminded that all students are required to adhere to the procedures and protocols outlined in this document with regards to submission of assignments and completion of exams.

Progressive Reports

On completion of summative assessment across all subject areas, students receive a Progressive Report which provides valuable information on their learning. The Progressive Report is personalised for each student and provides student-specific and genre-specific feedback including:

• Student learning behaviours in the lead up to the assessment
• Feedback (strengths) 
• Feedforward (future focus goals)

We urge you to view the progressive reports with your child, celebrate their strengths and achievements and discuss feedforward strategies/suggestions. 

Progressive Reports are available on Student Café and Parent Lounge. Use this link for directions on how to access the Progressive Reports on Parent Lounge.

Clayfield College Home Learning Policy

At Clayfield College we believe that home learning plays an important role in consolidating concepts and skills taught in the classroom. We also acknowledge that the expectations around home learning and the time associated with the same, are unique to different year levels, and as such will vary as students’ progress from Year 7 to Year 12. 

Please find below the Clayfield College Home Learning Policy.

Application for Leave Form

As a College, we endeavour to support our students to achieve to their maximum potential in all aspects of College life. We believe that attendance is a key contributor to achieving this, and we urge parents to avoid taking children out of school during term time to minimise the disruption to students’ learning. 

While we acknowledge that the final decision to take leave during term time rests with parents and caregivers, the College strongly advises against absences outside of the designated school holiday periods. As per our College policy, extended leave during term time may affect a child’s academic progress, assessment and leadership opportunities, co-curricular involvement, and - where applicable - student visa conditions.

Parents are reminded that if taking leave for three or more days during term time, it is a requirement to submit a request for leave to the Deputy Principal- Academic/Head of Secondary.

Please use this form to apply for leave. 

You can also find this form on Parent Lounge. Thank you for your assistance in this matter. 

Criteria to Qualify for Academic Awards

Please find below the criteria to qualify for an Academic Award in Years 7 to 12. We draw your attention to the last paragraph which specifies the attendance requirements around qualifying for an award. 

Introduction of Additional Academic Awards

As we continue to celebrate academic excellence and the dedication of our students, we will be introducing a range of new awards that recognise outstanding student achievement and effort. These awards will honour students who consistently demonstrate a commitment to learning and perseverance across all areas of study. 

Beginning this year, at Speech Night, in addition to current existing awards, we will also be honouring students across Years 7 to 11, who achieve the highest-Grade Point averages for their year level. Two awards will be presented at each year level: Highest GPA and Runner up to Highest GPA. Furthermore, individual subject certificates/prizes will be introduced for the highest achieving student in each learning area within a year level across Years 7 to 10. 

By acknowledging their hard work and success, we aim to inspire all students to strive for their best and advance the culture of academic excellence throughout our school community.

Years 7 to 12 Student Parent Teacher Conferences

Student Parent Teacher Conferences for Years 7 to 12 will be held on Tuesday 15 and Thursday 17 July from 3:30pm to 8:00pm. We are offering either a meeting in person or using the Zoom platform. Teachers will be seated in the Nancy Ashburn Learning Resource Centre (LRC) on both evenings. 

Consultations will be 10 minutes per teacher and can be booked via Parent Lounge. Details on how to book interview times have been sent out to families and bookings will close at 8:00pm Sunday 13 July. Following this deadline, there will be no further opportunity to make new bookings or amend existing ones. We encourage your child to be present and to participate in each meeting. 

Tutorials

Our dedicated teaching staff offer tutorials to provide small group and individual support to students. Please find below the 2025 Term 3 Tutorial Schedule. 

Year 12 Trial External Exams

Trial External Examinations for Year 12 students will be held in Week 2 of the September holidays, from Monday 29 September to Friday 3 October. All students are strongly recommended to attend and attempt these exams and avail of this additional opportunity to receive valuable feedback from teachers. 

Brain Break HQ: A Space for Connection

In the heart of the Learning Resource Centre (LRC), students across Years 7 to 12 now have access to a welcoming and engaging space known as Brain Break HQ, a designated area where they can relax, recharge, and connect with peers through a range of classic and modern boardgames.

Open before school from 8:00am, during morning tea and lunch breaks, and after school till 4:00pm, Brain Break HQ offers an alternative recreational space that encourages social interaction, strategic thinking, and a healthy balance between study and downtime. Games such as Scrabble, The Game of Life, Jenga, and Code Breaker are available for students to enjoy either casually or as part of a friendly competition with classmates.

Managed by our Secondary Information Literacy and Technology Integrator, Mrs Michelle Smith, this initiative supports student wellbeing by providing opportunities to step away from screens, engage in face-to-face interactions, and experience the fun of traditional gameplay in a calm and inclusive environment. We envisage that as the collection of boardgames continues to grow, so too will the popularity of this space as a hub for community and creativity.

Brain Break HQ reflects the College’s commitment to nurturing the whole student, academically, socially, and emotionally, within a supportive and vibrant learning environment.

Fundraiser Fridays

Useful Contact Details

Collaborative Partnerships 

As we begin this new term, we are dedicated to continuing to build strong partnerships with our families. Working together, we can create a supportive and enriching environment where every student feels empowered to thrive. We value the collaboration, communication, and shared commitment that make our College community so special. 

Yours sincerely

Mrs Lakshmi Mohan

Deputy Principal - Academic/Head of Secondary