Senior School Bulletin

As the term progresses, this week offers an opportunity to reflect on resilience and the power of a growth mindset in the Senior School. In recent weeks, I have seen many students persevere through demanding tasks, navigate friendship challenges, and show determination when learning has felt uncomfortable. These quieter moments often mark where the most meaningful growth occurs.

Challenges are opportunities in disguise, inviting students to respond with curiosity and courage. Mistakes are not setbacks; they are stepping stones that guide improvement and deepen understanding. Each time a senior student faces something difficult, whether in the classroom, on the sporting field, or in personal life, they strengthen skills that will serve them well beyond school.

The strongest learners are not those who avoid struggle, but those who keep showing up, even when progress feels slow. I encourage students to reflect on one recent challenge and what it taught them, and to share their approach with a peer. Families may like to continue this conversation at home, reinforcing that working through difficulty builds confidence and capability.

Staffing Update 

Ms Emily Rossow, Head of HEAL, will conclude her position on Friday 27 February 2026, as her family is relocating to the Sunshine Coast. An Old Collegian and valued member of our Teaching and Learning Team, we thank Emily for her dedication and significant contribution to Clayfield College and extend our very best wishes for this next chapter. Ms Sian Graham, currently 2IC in HEAL, is serving as Acting Head of HEAL for the remainder of Semester 1, and we thank her for her leadership and ongoing commitment to the department.

Lighthouse Learning Management System

This year we officially launched our new Learning Management System, Lighthouse, across the Junior and Senior Schools. Lighthouse (Schoolbox) is a modern, intuitive platform that enables teachers to manage their classes in ways that are both practical and visually engaging.

Following the significant professional learning undertaken by academic staff in 2025, it has been incredibly encouraging to see such high levels of engagement with the platform from both teachers and students.

The collective effort of our teachers has resulted in the following impressive milestones:

• 532 Class Pages created (main channel for communication between teachers and students) 
• 188 Course Pages created (central information hub where all units of study are organised) 

• 562 Unit Pages created (this is where all resources are stored).

   

These pages now serve as the central hub for lesson resources, homework, assessment information and class communication. Our next goal is to welcome parents into Lighthouse later this year. This will allow families to view class information and homework tasks, strengthening the partnership between school and home.

AI at Clayfield College

In 2025, we delivered AI workshops to all Senior School students. In 2026, we will aim to provide updated workshops to students in Years 7 to 12, and where relevant, at appropriate year levels in the Junior School. 

These sessions will explore the rapid developments in AI and its impact on education. Our priority at Clayfield College is to educate students on how to use AI effectively, ethically and responsibly, while also understanding the potential risks and limitations of these tools.

Staff across both Junior and Senior Schools have continued to engage with expert speakers and professional learning opportunities focused on integrating AI to enhance student learning. During Professional Development Days at the beginning of this term, all teaching staff completed an Artificial Intelligence course with Dr Sweeney from AI HerWay. This professional learning allowed us to explore the latest developments in educational AI and reflect on best practice within our contemporary classroom context.

As a reminder, Clayfield College uses Microsoft Copilot within our secure school ecosystem, which is carefully safeguarded and monitored by our Information Technologies Team. External AI platforms, such as ChatGPT, have a minimum age requirement of 13+ and require parental permission. For this reason, we encourage students to use Microsoft Copilot while at school.

EdTech Applications and BYOT

To support student learning across Junior and Senior Schools, Clayfield College subscribes to a range of high-quality educational applications, including:

• Atomi – curriculum-aligned lessons and activities supporting revision and independent learning (Years 7–12)
• Sora – a digital eBook and audiobook library providing accessible reading for all students (Prep–Year 12)
• ClickView – curriculum-aligned educational video content that enriches classroom learning (Prep–Year 12)
• SmartLab – Literacy and Numeracy Diagnostics (Years 6-12) 

• Canva – a creative design platform enabling students to develop visual presentations and project work (Years 5–12)

   

As part of our BYOT program, students are expected to bring their laptops fully charged each day. We have noticed an increase in students arriving with uncharged devices, which disrupts learning time.

We also encourage students to minimise laptop use during break times. This supports healthy screen habits and helps preserve battery life for classroom learning.

We kindly ask families to assist by ensuring devices are charged and ready for learning each morning. Thank you for your continued support.

House Excellence

This term, we are introducing a new initiative where the Director of Senior School will award a weekly House Excellence point to the House that best demonstrates our focus behaviour. This week’s focus was maintaining tidy locker areas and ensuring locks are on lockers for safety reasons, and it was pleasing to see students taking pride in their shared spaces and protecting their belongings. Congratulations to Youngman House, our first recipients of the House Excellence point - a wonderful start to the term. Next week, our focus turns to Punctuality, as we continue to build habits that make us stronger and wiser together.

Uniform Policy

The only articles of jewellery that are permitted to be worn with the College uniform are earrings for pierced ears, and watches. Exceptions are permitted for cultural pieces of jewellery; however, these must not be visible. Only matching plain small studs or sleepers, gold, silver or pearl, may be worn - one in each ear lobe in the lower hole. Studs or sleepers with stones or with twisting or thickening are not acceptable. Tongue studs and visible body piercing are not allowed. Body decoration of any kind is not allowed.

Please note that spacers and the use of tape to cover piercings are not permitted. Students are required to remove these items rather than cover them. We appreciate your support in addressing this promptly, and in reinforcing our shared standards around presentation.

Stronger and Wiser

2026 House Spirit Photo Competition

In 2026, we are launching our Stronger and Wiser House Spirit Photo Competition. For our major events, we will select a photo that best captures outstanding House spirit - whether through participation, encouragement, teamwork or pride in our College. The House with the most points at the end of the year will see these contribute towards the House Cup, along with special privileges and celebrations. 

Let’s show what it truly means to be Stronger and Wiser together!

Interhouse Swimming Carnival

...and the Winner is...RADCLIFFE!

Pal’entine’s Day

...and the winner is...ASHBURN!

Clayfield College Behaviour Investigation Process

At Clayfield College, we recognise that young people are continually learning how to navigate relationships, responsibilities and the expectations of a shared community. Along the way, they will sometimes make behavioural mistakes. This is a normal part of growing up and our focus is always on learning, repair and moving forward with confidence.

When a behavioural concern is raised, the Head of Year (HoY) may conduct a behaviour investigation. The purpose of this process is not to assign blame, but to understand what has occurred and to ensure all students involved feel heard and supported.

The first step in any investigation is a calm and curious conversation with the students who may have been involved. The HoY approaches these conversations with openness, seeking to learn rather than assume. At this early stage, no conclusions have been drawn and no judgments have been made about whether a student has or has not done something wrong.

As part of our commitment to strong College partnerships with families, parents are generally contacted after this initial step. This allows the HoY to provide parents with a clear summary of what is being explored and what the next steps may look like. We appreciate that receiving news of an investigation can feel concerning; however, please know that these early updates are simply part of keeping communication transparent and supportive.

We also understand that wellbeing is central to a young person’s capacity to learn from challenges. Depending on the context, the College may involve additional support, such as our College Counsellor, Ms Lahey, to help students process their experiences in a safe and constructive way.

If friendships or connections between students have been impacted, restorative conversations may be offered. These are guided discussions that support young people to repair relationships, rebuild trust, and understand one another’s perspectives.

We firmly believe that mistakes are opportunities for growth. With the right support, students can learn valuable lessons, strengthen their resilience and move forward feeling empowered.

As always, thank you for your partnership and trust as we work together to nurture the wellbeing, character and success of every student so that they continue to feel known, valued and understood.

Careers and Pathways at Clayfield College

Let me begin by introducing myself. My name is Natalie Horrobin and I'm delighted to introduce myself as the new Careers and Pathways Counsellor at Clayfield College. I am very much looking forward to getting to know our wonderful Clayfield College students and supporting them as they plan their futures beyond school. During Term 1, I am meeting individually with all Year 12 students to discuss their goals, intended pathways, and next steps after graduation, ensuring each student feels informed, prepared, and confident as they approach this important transition.

Last week, students in our Year 10 Get Set for Work classes and Year 11 and 12 Exit Preparation classes had the valuable opportunity to hear from presenters from ADF Careers. They shared insights into the wide range of roles available within the Australian Defence Force, along with information about entry pathways, training, personal development, and long-term career progression. Students also gained practical advice about application processes, eligibility requirements, and the diverse skills valued in Defence careers.

The sessions aligned closely with what students are currently learning in class about post-school options and making informed decisions about future pathways. Hearing directly from industry professionals helps students connect classroom learning with real-world possibilities, broadening their understanding of the opportunities available to them after graduation and encouraging them to think proactively about their next steps. We sincerely thank ADF Careers for their time, expertise, and ongoing commitment to supporting our students’ futures.