From the Principal
Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome to Term 3! I trust you have all enjoyed some rest and relaxation with your families over the break. The College has been a hive of activity, with the ongoing capital revitalisation of our campus continuing across a number of important areas. More details about those works are outlined below.
We also welcome home our Music students and staff (Angela Lockyer, Karen Gordon, Paul Yarrow, Julie Haidley-Fixter and Melissa Graham) from their European adventure. While it was a little hotter than expected by all accounts, the students and staff had an amazing time performing and experiencing all that France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany had to offer. A big thank you to the staff for organising and leading such a memorable and enriching experience for our students.
There is already a great sense of anticipation across the College as we begin Term 3, with a full calendar of learning, co-curricular and community engagement ahead. This is a term that asks us to bring energy, focus and care to the many opportunities ahead, while continuing to work together in the spirit of partnership that defines Clayfield College.
Welcoming New Families
We extend a warm Clayfield welcome to 15 new students (Prep to Year 10) and their families who are joining us this term.
We also look forward to hosting 28 students (Prep to Year 8) as part of our Short-Stay Program during Weeks 2 to 5.
Our Short-Stay Program enriches the Clayfield experience for everyone. Through daily interactions in classrooms and the playground, students gain exposure to different cultures, perspectives and ways of thinking, helping to broaden their worldview and deepen their understanding of others. These connections create valuable opportunities for learning and friendship, while strengthening the global outlook of our College. It is also pleasing to see some students who initially join us for a short stay choose to continue their education at Clayfield as long-term members of our community.
Holiday Works across the Campus
During the holiday break, our Operations and ICT teams oversaw a range of projects designed to enhance security, improve facilities and support the day-to-day experience of our students and staff.
Key works completed or progressed during the break included:
Perimeter Fencing and Gates – New security gates and fencing have been installed across all campus entry points.
Electronic Lock Rollout – A further phase of external electronic door locks has been installed across various areas of the College.
Main Switchboard Replacement – The College's primary power connection has been upgraded through the installation of a new main switchboard.
Senior School Locker Room Improvements – all Senior School lockers have been located within a single building, with the Senior Boys' locker room established on the lower level, with Senior Girls' lockers relocated upstairs. Adjacent bathroom facilities have also been refreshed.
Pre-Prep Enhancements – Fencing around the playground has been upgraded, and the outdoor garden play space has been refurbished, including the addition of a custom-built mud kitchen.
Air-Conditioning Upgrades – The ongoing replacement and upgrade of ageing air-conditioning units have continued across the campus.
I would like to particularly acknowledge Mrs Trudi Woodhead, Operations Manager, as well as the Facilities and Maintenance Team, for delivering these projects. While much of this work occurs behind the scenes, it reflects our ongoing commitment to providing a safe, welcoming and well-maintained environment for students, staff and families.
Pedestrian Access
As mentioned above, the College's ongoing commitment to the safety and security of our community has seen new security gates and perimeter fencing installed to enhance campus security and better manage pedestrian access.
When entering the College from Bayview Terrace, please enter via the 'Let your Light Shine' walkway (Gate 6), which is the designated pedestrian entry point. For the safety of all members of our community, we ask that families and visitors do not use the maintenance car park (Gate 5 near the Pool Centre) to access the campus.
College Platform and Procedures Update
College Mobile App Update
Over the recent holiday break, important updates were introduced to the Clayfield College Mobile App.
The next time you access the App, you will be prompted to log in using your Parent Lounge username and password. This is designed to enhance the security of the App and ensure continued access to College communications. Please ensure you log in to continue receiving important College information.
Families are encouraged to regularly review your notification settings and subscriptions to ensure you receive information relevant to your child's year level, activities and co-curricular commitments.
We appreciate the patience and support of our community during this update. Early technical challenges have now been resolved, and these updates will help strengthen communication and improve the overall App experience for families.
If you require assistance with your login details, please contact the College ICT Team at itsupport@clayfield.qld.edu.au.
Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue to enhance our College systems and communication channels.
Student Absentee
All student absentee notifications must now be submitted via Parent Lounge, accessible via the College App and/or the College website. Please see the Parent Guide below for step-by-step instructions to submit a student absentee notification.
When submitting a student absentee notification from the College App Parent Dashboard, you will be prompted for your Parent Lounge log in. This is a one-time login designed to link your College accounts.
MMG Education Survey
As outlined in a previous edition of The Collective (Term 2, Week 8), the College will be partnering with MMG Education to conduct a community survey involving parents from Pre-Prep to Year 12 and students in Years 6 to 12.
Survey invitations will be distributed early this term, with further information provided directly by MMG Education. We thank families and students in advance for contributing their valuable feedback as part of our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.
Upcoming Events
I look forward to connecting with many of you over the coming weeks at the events scheduled throughout the term. It is certainly a busy period, not only for our students but also for the wider Clayfield College community, and I am grateful for the many ways families contribute to enriching College life.
Join us for On the Green
The countdown is well and truly on for our signature community event of the year, On the Green.
On the Green showcases the very best of Clayfield College, bringing together our P&F Association, Old Collegians' Association and Foundation in support of our students and community. One of the highlights of the afternoon is the opportunity for our students to share the stage with a professional artist, creating an experience that is unique to this event.
I encourage all members of our College community to join us. Bring your family, invite your friends and enjoy an afternoon of music, connection and celebration on our Main Oval (The Green). I look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible.
I am excited, grateful and filled with optimism as we commence another term in the life of Clayfield College. So far, 2026 has reflected the strength we share as a learning community that works together in true partnership, creating an environment where every student is known, valued and understood. We have continued to remain open-minded as we seek solutions, view mistakes as opportunities for learning, and ensure that our students sit at the centre of every decision we make. By drawing together our collective experience, insight and compassion, we continue to grow stronger and wiser each day.
Let’s be guided by the theme, Keep on getting stronger - keep on getting wiser, as we head into the second half of the year.
Warm regards
Dr Andrew Cousins
Principal
