YEAR 10
Planning Your Journey

Sophie McQueen

Head of Year 10 smcqueen1 @cns.catholic.edu.au

YEAR 10 KEY INFORMATION: WEEK 1

Welcome to 2026! I hope you all had a relaxing time with your families over the holidays and are looking forward to this new chapter in senior.

For the new families joining us this year, I would like to introduce myself. I am Sophie McQueen, and I am thrilled to be working with the Year 10 cohort this year. As a Head of Year for over 3 years now, I believe in maintaining a firm yet fair approach and supporting students through their learning and well-being journey. I genuinely enjoy working with students and am committed to creating a supportive environment to ensure each student becomes a responsible learner and fulfils their potential. I am a Languages, Maths and Religion teacher, and when not teaching, I enjoy reading, swimming, and spending time with my family.

Year 10 marks an important milestone as students transition into senior education. At St Mary’s, we are committed to offering a range of pathways to ensure every student can achieve success in their senior years.

Our theme for Year 10 is 'Planning Your Journey', and throughout the year, students will have multiple opportunities to explore their future goals and aspirations. This begins with Work Experience at the end of Term 1, providing valuable insight into potential career paths. In addition, we have a series of key events planned, including the Careers Expo, Subject Selection Expo, Information Night, and the Year 10 Retreat. These experiences will culminate in SET Planning in Term 3, during which we will work closely with you and your child to select the most suitable subjects and pathways for Years 11 & 12.

Together, we aim to empower students to make informed decisions and take confident steps toward their future. I look forward to a productive and rewarding year, and thank you in advance for your continued support.

Tie Collection

If your child was unable to attend the Year 9 Tie Ceremony at the end of last year, students will be able to collect their tie from the SRR Office before Pastoral Group on Wednesday.

Laptop Distribution

Students will receive their new laptops on Wednesday, provided we have the signed Laptop Lease Agreement Form returned with parent and student signatures. Families who have not yet returned the lease agreement will receive a reminder email. To ensure a smooth start to the year, please email the completed form back as soon as possible.

Year 10 Timetable

Students will be able to access their electronic timetable on Wednesday morning to help them find their Pasoral Group rooms. They will also receive a printed copy of their timetable during their pastoral group session.

Year 10 Subject Changes

Subject changes (electives, English, Maths, Science) can be made up until the end of Week 2. Any request for a subject change must come from a parent/carer to Mr John Cahill, jcahill@cns.catholic.edu.au, our Curriculum Logistics Leader. Please understand that some elective classes are currently full, and changes may not be possible.

Navy Careers Opportunity

Click on the following link for further information regarding the opportunity to undertake 2 days of work experience at the Navy Base in Cairns.

https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/cp/index.cfm?

WEEK A SCHEDULE: WEEK 1

UNIFORM SCHEDULE: WEEK 1

WHOLE-OF-COLLEGE NOTICES

Commemoration Mass and Morning Tea

Sunday, March 8 2026 | 10:00 am

We warmly invite you to join us for St Mary's Catholic College Commemoration Mass. This special occasion marks 40 years since the commemoration of the opening of the College. Following Mass, morning tea will be provided.

Please register via the following link: https://www.trybooking.com/DIYHJ

Student Protection Contacts

Introducing My School Connect

We are excited to introduce My School Connect, our new online provider for tuckshop and uniform ordering.

Please keep an eye on your inbox for an email from My School Connect with instructions on setting up your account.

If you have any account-related questions, please visit the My School Connect Help Desk for support.

Thank you for your support as we make this transition as smooth and positive as possible. We appreciate the trust you place in St Mary’s Catholic College, and we look forward to continuing to provide exceptional services to our school community.