YEAR 10
Planning Your Journey

Sophie McQueen

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

YEAR 10 KEY INFORMATION: WEEK 3

On Tuesday in Week 2, the College proudly recognised our students' academic achievements for Semester 2, 2025. Special congratulations to our outstanding Year 10 recipients who received Academic Awards. Their hard work, curiosity, and commitment to excellence have truly stood out. We are incredibly proud of your efforts—well done! These habits of hard work and self‑discipline are not only commendable but are also an excellent indicator of the students’ readiness for the demands of Senior Studies.

Laptops

Year 10 students have received their new laptops. It is essential that students take care of their devices and accompanying equipment to ensure they remain in good working order. Laptops must always be transported in the College‑issued laptop bag, both at the College and on the journey to and from home. If your child’s bag is damaged, replacement bags are available for purchase from the Library. As many year levels now use the same laptop model, the Library is unable to supply loan chargers.

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) - Wellio

In Week 2, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) - Wellio, students explored the concept of emotional intelligence, focusing on how understanding their own emotions and recognising others' feelings can strengthen relationships built on empathy, respect, and compassion. These skills are essential as students step further into adolescence and prepare for the more independent environment of senior schooling.

Welcome Mass

As we look ahead to next week, we are excited to gather as a community for our Welcome Mass. During this celebration, our Year 10 Junior Leaders will be formally presented with their badges. Whilst this group has assumed official leadership roles, our theme, Planning Your Journey, reminds us that leadership extends far beyond titles. Every student has the opportunity to lead — through their choices, their attitude, and the way they contribute to our College community each day. We thank our Junior Leaders for stepping forward, and we encourage all Year 10 students to demonstrate leadership in their own way as they continue to shape their journey.

QTAC Competition

QTAC is organising a poster competition for the 2029 QTAC Year 10 guide. If your child is interested, please check the QTAC competition website for details and entry. Submissions close on 6 March.

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?

UNIFORM SCHEDULE: WEEK A

Due to the Welcome Mass, Tuesday Week A will swap with Wednesday Week A (Periods 1 & 2 only)

Sport Information - Week 3

It has been a busy start to the 2026 sporting year at St Mary’s College.

My name is Mrs Tanya Draheim, and I am pleased to introduce myself as the new Sports Operations Manager at the College. I am delighted to be joining the St Mary’s community and its dedicated sports team. I look forward to getting to know our students and working alongside them and our staff to provide high-quality sporting programs that support participation, skill development, and personal growth. I am committed to ensuring all students have the opportunity to develop their abilities and reach their full potential through sport.

Students are encouraged to regularly check the noticeboard and the CollegeBulletin for information about upcoming events and important updates. Should you or your child have any questions regarding sporting activities, trials, or events, please feel free to contact me at any time. I look forward to working closely with our families to provide a positive and rewarding sporting experience for all students.

TCS & Peninsula Trial Information

2026 TCS Calendar

2026 TCS Sports Calendar

2026 Peninsula Sports Calendar

PENINSULA PAPERWORK

Students wishing to trial for TCS must complete the Peninsula paperwork before they can trial. This can be downloaded from the Sports Canvas page, or a printed copy can be collected from the leaflet box outside the Sports Office (near the Sports Mailbox)

 PAPERWORK PROCESS:

The parent/carer must complete the Peninsula Paperwork.
Students must return completed paperwork to the Sports Mailbox.
The Sports Department will seek the relevant approvals.
Students can collect the Peninsula Paperwork from the Sports Office at lunch on Fridays. 
Students must take approved paperwork with them to the TCS trial (unless it is paperless nominations) .
If the nomination is paperless, parents must submit the paperwork via the link/QR code provided.

Please complete the Peninsula Permission/Details Booklet:

Peninsula School Sport Permission Booklet

WHOLE-OF-COLLEGE NOTICES

Assessment Calendars

Students have been emailed a copy of the Term 1 Assessment Planners. These will also be available to parents via the Parent Portal by Week 3.

Thursday Early Finish Procedure

Students must remain in the Library until they are collected from the College on Thursdays, with a 1:45 pm finish time, if they cannot be collected before 3:00pm. This ensures students are supervised appropriately. Students are not to leave the College and return at any time, or access other areas of the College.

Riding to School

We ask parents to support the College in reminding their child to meet the following College expectations when riding to and from the College:

Wear a helmet (required by law)
Walk bike/e-scooter in and out of the College grounds using the designated bike path
Lock bike/e-scooter in the designated bike racks (unlocked bikes/e-scooters are parked at the student's risk)
Only 1 student per bike/e-scooter

School Photos

Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 February 2026

The Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop will be closed on Friday, 20 February 2026.

Welcome Mass

Wednesday, February 11 2026 | 8:30 am for a 9:00 am start

We warmly invite you to join us in celebrating the Welcome Mass.

This special occasion marks the official welcome of our new Year 7 students and the commissioning of Senior Student Leaders for the 2026 academic year.

Following Mass, invited guests are welcome to join Principal Kerry Manders,

the College Leadership Team and Staff for Morning Tea.

Please note that the Front Office will be closed from 9:00am to 10:30am for this special occasion, as all staff will be attending the Welcome Mass.

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

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

College Key Dates

Event	Date	Term
Welcome Mass	Wednesday, 11 February	Term 1
Ash Wednesday	Wednesday, 18 February	Term 1
Swimming Carnival	Tuesday, 3 March	Term 1
Commemoration Mass & Morning Tea	Sunday, 8 March	Term 1
Cross Country	Wednesday, 1 April	Term 1

Parish Support - Our Lady Help of Christians

Dear Parents and Carers, your children attend school within our parish boundaries, and we warmly welcome your support. You can be a volunteer and/or contribute to the parish financially (one-off or regular donations).

Our banking details are provided below:

Earlville Parish Account

BSB: 084352

Account number: 000004441

Reference: Surname and initials of first name(s).

Please contact the parish office if you have any questions.

Thank you for your support, Fr. Nathan.