Message from the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

What an action-packed way to conclude Term 2!  During the week we had the opportunity to welcome the Class of 2031 on campus as they countdown to commence Year 7 in 2026, we hosted the Futures Expo to support students with their career choices, were entertained at the Combined Choral Concert with BBC, supported the Foundation with their Annual Giving Day, and finished the week with Arts Day by embracing creative arts for all through a House extravaganza! These opportunities capped off an incredible term of learning, belonging and experiencing where all students have been provided the chance to ‘be fearless’ as they each ‘illuminated the sky.’ Thank you to all the wonderful staff who have engineered these outstanding educational opportunities for our students.

Giving Day - Thank you

I am delighted to share the outstanding success of yesterday’s Giving Day, which stands as a true testament to the generosity and spirit of our Clayfield community. In just 12 hours, we surpassed all expectations, raising an incredible $280,155 from 577 donors. 

These funds will directly support the Foundation’s upcoming projects and initiatives, which we look forward to unveiling with you soon. The impact of this generosity will further enrich the educational experience for current and future students.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our Foundation Board, led by Sandra McCullagh - Chair, for their vision and for their vital role in fostering a strong culture of philanthropy throughout our extended Clayfield family. 

It was wonderful to witness our students take such enthusiastic ownership of Giving Day. Watching them light up the Giving Station in the Chapel Courtyard and proudly become our ‘Giving Stars’ was a powerful reminder of the values we nurture here at Clayfield. Congratulations to Campbell House, winners of the Spirit Competition for a second year in a row, who enjoyed a Pizza Party as part of Arts Day today for their fundraising efforts. 

Thank you to everyone who played a part in our 2025 Giving Day! We're making the NEXT possible - together. 

Student and Parent Forums

Throughout the term, I was pleased to engage with many parents and carers through the Best of Both Worlds Parallel Learning Forum and the Information Learning Technology Learning Session. These open town hall meetings provided a valuable space for honest, thoughtful discussions around key questions: What’s working well? What could be better? Have you considered…? These conversations were enriching and complemented the Vision and Voice Sessions held with our students. 

While surveys provide a wealth of quantitative data, these conversations allowed us to delve into the stories behind the numbers. This richer context is invaluable in continuing to strengthen the relationship between home and the College and in guiding our shared direction. 

The data referenced in these conversations came from the MMG Education Parent and Student Survey conducted at the end of 2024. This independent and confidential survey, completed by parents (Pre-Prep to Year 12) and students (Years 6 to 12), reflects our ongoing commitment to continually monitor and improve the educational experience we offer. The results support both our day-to-day operations and long-term strategic planning, helping us to track our progress and shape future priorities. 

The Best of Both Worlds Forums focused on families with students in Years 7 to 9 and examined our transition towards a fully co-educational school. The sessions invited dialogue on a range of areas - Parallel Learning pathways, subject choices, co-curricular offerings, and broader discussions about the construction of gender in educational settings. 

Similarly, the Information Learning Technology (ILT) Session provided an opportunity to explore and unpack our ILT roadmap. MMG Survey feedback showed a growing preference among families for a school-managed 1:1 technology environment over the current BYOT approach. Hearing directly from parents about their preferences, concerns, and experiences in this area was particularly helpful in informing our next steps. 

Fostering the partnership between home and school through sessions such as these is an important ingredient in the creation of a shared vision for our educational environment. I look forward to creating further opportunities by hosting similar sessions during second semester. 

Looking Ahead

During the holiday period our Head of Boarding (Kathryn Searle) and Director of Marketing, Communications and Engagement (Emma Dixon) are heading to Winton and Longreach to engage with our rural families and alumni. There are also several sport trainings and camps which will occur over the break, so I encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities.  

You will notice that tickets have gone on sale for ‘On the Green’ and ‘The Exchange’. 'On the Green’ represents a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community for great food, with wonderful friends, as we are entertained by world class performers. ‘The Exchange’ is a new event this year which will occur around Father’s Day to complement the Luminous Lunch which occurred earlier this term. I hope to see you at these events in Term 3 – be sure to secure your tickets!  

I trust that you will enjoy the change of pace over the coming weeks, and I look forward to seeing you all ready for the start of Term 3.    

Kind regards 

Dr Andrew Cousins 

Principal