Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

As this is the last edition of The Collective for Term 1, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the wonderful journey of learning we have taken together. In partnership with families, we continue to strengthen the sense of belonging that sits at the heart of our College. This commitment to ensuring that every student is known, valued and understood was on display during the week at our annual Harmony Day Assembly.  Harmony Day provides the Clayfield community a wonderful opportunity to come together as we acknowledge, celebrate and gain a better understanding of our diverse and multicultural community.  This colourful celebration, which is student-led and occurs through word, dance and song, is one of the many ways we demonstrate our commitment at Clayfield to being a place that values the formation of respectful and inclusive relationships.   

This year, our guiding theme is Keep on getting Stronger - Keep on getting Wiser which reminds us that we achieve our very best when we work as an inclusive and respectful team. Harmony Day is a chance to share the rich diversity which makes up Team Clayfield, with students being encouraged to listen with open minds, collaborate to find solutions and use mistakes as a learning opportunity.  Our Harmony Day Assembly is a celebration which proudly places our students at the centre and draws on the collective wisdom of the diverse Clayfield community as together we continue to grow stronger each day. Thank you to all students and staff involved in the performances and reflections shared during the meaningfulAssembly, and in particular to Adrian Walker, Dean of Senior School, and the Creative Arts and Languages Team.

On the Green - Artist Launch

I am delighted to announce that the headline artist for On the Green 2026 is Australian singer‑songwriter Ben Lee.

With a music career spanning more than three decades, Ben has built a highly regarded solo career, with songs such as Catch My Disease earning widespread recognition. His extensive catalogue blends infectious melodies with thoughtful, optimistic storytelling, resonating with audiences across generations and earning both critical acclaim and a loyal following in Australia and internationally.

Ben is renowned for his energetic and engaging live performances, and his career reflects creativity, resilience, and a genuine love of connecting with audiences. He continues to evolve artistically, including DJ performances under his playful alter ego, DJ Dad Bod, who will also feature as part of his set at On the Green. 

Securing professional artists of Ben Lee’s calibre is made possible through the Opportunities for Excellence Program, proudly supported by the Clayfield College Foundation. This program enables us to offer experiences that extend learning beyond the classroom and connect students with professionals working at the highest level of their field.

As part of Ben’s visit, selected Clayfield students will take part in a dedicated workshop, engage in a Q&A session, and have the opportunity to perform alongside him on stage. It is these rich, once-in-a-lifetime experiences that sit at the heart of On the Green and underpin its purpose. 

I also want to acknowledge the generous support of our long-term major sponsor, Ray White Kim Olsen Property, who is partnering with us again for our flagship community event. 

I look forward to welcoming Ben Lee to Clayfield College and sharing this special occasion with our community. Tickets will go on sale in Term 2! 

Lighthouse Update

As part of our ongoing work to strengthen how we support learning, teaching and communication, we are continuing the phased rollout of our new Learning Management System (LMS), Lighthouse, throughout 2026.

The introduction of Lighthouse marks an important step forward for Clayfield. As the College’s first integrated LMS and communication platform, it represents a meaningful shift in how we support learning and share information. Change of this scale asks us to be flexible and responsive, and I am deeply grateful for the way staff across Teaching and Learning, ICT and Advancement have worked together to support this work as we move through the journey together.

While we were originally planning to introduce Lighthouse to all parents during Term 2, we will now be using this time to pilot the platform with select classes. This will create space to engage more closely with parents about how they would like to connect with their child’s learning.

Our Senior Leadership Team is currently participating in a year‑long, research‑informed program, Mastering Parent Engagement, in partnership with Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ). This work reflects our ongoing commitment to strong partnerships between home and school, and to listening carefully to the perspectives of our parent community.

During Term 2, we will host a series of parent forums focused on understanding how parents wish to be engaged in the educational life of their child. These conversations will explore how information is shared, how often, and in ways that feel most meaningful for families. The insights gathered will directly inform the next phase of the Lighthouse rollout, which we anticipate introducing to parents in Term 3.

Details of the parent forums will be shared in our Welcome to Term 2 communication, to be distributed on Thursday 16 April 2026. For families new to Clayfield, these forums are a well‑established way for us to gather feedback in an informal and relaxed setting, and they play an important role in shaping how we work together as a community.

Current communication channels

As a reminder, the ways we will continue to communicate with you are outlined below, along with guidance on who to contact in the first instance should you need to reach out to our team.

Head of Inclusive Learning

During Term 3 of 2025, the College engaged ISQ to undertake a comprehensive review of our Learning Support practices. The main motivation for commissioning this review was to reflect on our current approaches, ensuring that we remain future-focused and that appropriate supports are in place for all learners as well as academic staff. The findings from this review highlighted the College’s strong commitment to fostering an inclusive learning environment, where every student is given the opportunity to thrive.

The process involved a detailed appraisal of the College’s policies and documentation, interviews with approximately 20 staff members, and an audit of relevant data. This review spanned three days during the final weeks of the 2025 academic year. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the staff who, despite the demanding end-of-year workload, facilitated and actively participated in this important review. In particular, I acknowledge Kim Eagle, Emma McPherson and Rachael Mukauskas for their significant contributions, not only throughout this review but also for the ongoing, outstanding work they do in this area each day.

A key recommendation arising from the review was for the College to establish a Pre-Prep to Year 12 Inclusive Learning Department. The review proposed that introducing this additional governance structure will further support this area as the College continues to grow. In response, I am pleased to share that the College has advertised for a Head of Inclusive Learning (Pre-Prep to Year 12). This role will provide leadership across Learning Support, EAL/D, and extension learning. 

The creation of this new structure has also enabled the College to further strengthen its academic leadership. With Inclusive Learning now clearly defined, we are able to progress the development of English and Humanities as a standalone area, supported by its own Head of English and Humanities. We have therefore also commenced advertising for this role.

This represents a considered and positive step forward for Clayfield College. I am deeply appreciative of the thoughtful feedback, understanding, and support shown by staff as we worked towards this important outcome.

Staffing Updates

As Term 1 draws to a close, we share the following staffing updates. We look forward to welcoming new colleagues to Team Clayfield, while also acknowledging those whose time with us is concluding and wishing them every success in the next stage of their professional journey.

Advancement

• Natalie Claut will commence at the start of Term 2 as Marketing and Communications Manager.

   

Boarding House

• Hughina Tindall will commence at the start of Term 2 as Senior Boarding House Supervisor.

   

Corporate Services

• Sri Pogaku has been promoted to ICT Manager.

   

Junior School

• Lauren Coote has been promoted to Head of Year 3 to 6. 

• Julee Shiby will commence at the start of Term 2 as Junior School Executive Support Officer.

   

Senior School

• Sian Graham, Acting Head of Department – HEAL, will conclude her time at the College on 3 April.
• Shannon McGeady, English and Social Science Teacher, will finish on 3 April.
• Jane Bailey, Teacher Aide – EAL/D, joined us on Wednesday 11 March.
• Belinda Pilgrim, English and Social Science Teacher and Acting 2IC - HEAL, has recently been appointed as a permanent member of staff.
• Lisa Chadwick, English and Social Science Teacher, will commence at the start of Term 2.

Any timetabling or teacher changes which result from these staffing updates will be communicated directly with parents/caregivers at the start of Term 2. 

As we head into the holiday break, I thank you for your unwavering support and partnership in your child’s educational journey. I hope that the Easter period affords you some special moments with your family and the opportunity to create lasting memories.

Kind regards

Dr Andrew Cousins

Principal