Senior School Bulletin

Sometimes it takes someone seeing your College for the first time to make you realise just how much is happening within it. Our Principal-led tours last week gave me that opportunity. As I walked alongside prospective families, I was struck by the energy, pride and sense of possibility that exists across our campus every day. It reminded me that what makes a College special is not simply the buildings or the opportunities we provide, but the people who bring them to life.

Across the Senior School, I have been noticing the many ways our students contribute. Our 2027 senior leaders are beginning to step forward and share their vision with their peers, showing the confidence and courage, it takes to put yourself forward in service of others. On the sporting fields, our boys and girls have been giving their best, supporting their teams and proudly representing the College. And in the everyday moments between these bigger occasions, students are encouraging one another, celebrating each other's successes, and simply showing up for their friends.

What strikes me is that contribution does not look the same for everyone. For some, it might mean standing before their peers and sharing an idea. For others, it might be giving everything on the sporting field, encouraging a teammate or quietly helping someone else. Each contribution adds something to the experience of those around us, and together these moments shape the Senior School community we are so proud of.

As our students move through their Senior School years, I hope they discover not only what they can achieve, but how they can contribute. Learning to listen, encourage, collaborate, and give your best are qualities that will serve them well beyond their time at Clayfield College. When young people recognise that they each have a part to play, they begin to understand the difference they can make to the communities they are part of.

Staffing Update 

I wanted to share with you that Toni Kirton, our Dean of Wellbeing and Safeguarding, has made the decision to step down from her role to pursue other personal and professional interests. Toni's final day with us will be Friday 21 August 2026.

Toni has been an important member of our Pastoral Care team, and we are grateful for the way she has supported students and colleagues throughout her time at the College. She has shown a deep commitment to student wellbeing, leading initiatives that have strengthened support for our young people and making a meaningful contribution to the life of the College.

We are putting arrangements in place to ensure continuity of care for our students, families and staff. We will provide a further update on these arrangements in the Week 6 edition of The Collective. In the meantime, we know you will join us in thanking Toni for all she has contributed to Clayfield College and wishing her every happiness in the next chapter ahead.

Semester 2 Co-curricular Photos 

Term 4, Week 1 - Wednesday 7 October 

Further information and the photography schedule will be provided to families shortly. 

Photography sessions will take place concurrently across the College, with: 

• Junior School co-curricular groups photographed in the Assembly Hall 

• Senior School co-curricular groups photographed in the PE Centre 

   

To help ensure all students are photographed with their groups, families are asked to note the date in their calendars now. Further details regarding timings, uniform requirements and participating groups will be communicated closer to the event.  

MMG Education Survey - Have your say!

I encourage all Senior School families to share your feedback through the MMG Survey. If you have not yet completed the survey, you will receive a reminder invitation via email. This survey has been extended until Sunday 16 August. and I encourage you to take a few minutes to participate and have your say.

Your feedback provides valuable insights that will help inform future planning and support our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement across the College. We greatly appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.

Teacher Education Scholarship Applications Open

Applications for the PMSA Teacher Education Scholarship (TES) are now open.

The scholarship supports senior students who are planning to undertake studies in teaching or early childhood education.

Valued at $2,000 per year for up to four years, the scholarship aims to encourage and support the next generation of educators while fostering connections with PMSA schools throughout their studies and future careers.

Year 12 Study Bootcamp

Monday 21 September to Thursday 24 September

To support our Year 12 students as they prepare for their External Examinations, we will run a Study Bootcamp in the first week of the September holidays. 

Tutors from MindBridge Education will be available from Monday 21 September to Thursday 24 September from 9:00am to 12:30pm in the Upper LRC to assist students with questions or queries. If students are interested in availing themselves of this opportunity, they are asked to follow the link below to pick the subject/s they would like assistance with and the session/s they will attend.

All QCE subjects offered at Clayfield College will be covered however, based on the data that students provide us, priority will be given to subjects that the cohort indicates are highest areas of need.

All students are required to sign in on arrival and must leave the College campus at 12:30pm.

Academic Goal Setting

Over the past four weeks, students have been engaged in the Semester 2 academic goal-setting process. Goal setting is an important part of learning, encouraging students to reflect on their progress, identify areas for growth and take ownership of their academic development.

Students have developed subject-specific goals designed to provide clear direction and focus for the semester ahead. Research consistently shows that students who set meaningful goals are more likely to remain motivated, demonstrate persistence and make steady progress towards academic success.

Students have recorded their goals in a Word document, which they are now expected to share with their parents or caregivers. We encourage families to take the opportunity to review these goals together and discuss the strategies students will use to achieve them throughout the semester.

Once parents and caregivers have viewed their child's goals, we ask that they log in to Parent Lounge and confirm that they have sighted them. This partnership between students, families and the College plays an important role in supporting student growth.

Upcoming Block Exams

Year 12 Block Exams will take place across Weeks 8 and 9, while Year 11 Block Exams will be held in Weeks 9 and 10. Block Examination Timetables will be made available to students early next week, providing a detailed overview of exam dates, times and locations.

Block Exams provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding under formal examination conditions, developing important skills such as time management, revision planning and exam technique. These experiences help prepare students for future senior assessments and in particular, external examinations.

While the timetable allows students to plan their final weeks of preparation, effective exam preparation should already be underway. Students are encouraged to revisit course content regularly, identify areas requiring further revision and seek assistance from their teachers’/attend tutorials where additional support is needed. Consistent preparation over time remains one of the most effective strategies for building confidence and achieving success in examinations. Best wishes to Year 11 and 12 as they prepare for their upcoming block exams.

Updated Tutorial Schedule

Students are encouraged to review the updated tutorial schedule available below and consider which sessions may best support their learning throughout the term.

Australian Mathematics Competition

On Wednesday 5 August, 40 students across Years 7 to 12 participated in the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC), Australia’s longest running maths competition for school students. 

The AMC challenges students with unique and engaging problems designed to extend their mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Australian Education Awards

We are proud to celebrate Dr Steven Griffiths, who has been recognised as an Excellence Awardee in the Secondary Teacher of the Year – Non-Government category at the 2026 Australian Education Awards.

At the recent awards ceremony in Sydney, Dr Griffiths was recognised among an outstanding field of educators from across Australia, acknowledging his contribution to Science and Biology education, and his commitment to creating learning experiences that are accessible, engaging and designed around the needs of Clayfield students.

Through his innovative, research-informed approach, Steven creates engaging, accessible learning experiences that challenge and inspire students to reach their potential. Steven’s contribution extends well beyond the classroom, through his involvement in the College Musical, Service Learning, Boarding and his advocacy for inclusive education.

We congratulate Steven on this achievement and thank him for the energy, expertise and heart he brings to students, colleagues and the wider College community.

This marks the fourth year that Clayfield College has been recognised on the national stage and is a wonderful reflection of the exceptional educators who make our College community so special.

House Spirit Excellence

This week’s House Excellence focus was on punctuality, with students recognised for arriving on time and being ready to learn. Congratulations to Henderson House, who demonstrated outstanding commitment to this focus and earned this week’s House Spirit Excellence award.

Upcoming Focus Behaviours:

• Week 6: Expect Respect
• Week 7: Wearing of Hats, particularly during lunch breaks
• Week 8: Book Week Participation

• Week 9: Pulse Check-In

   

Thank you to all students for continuing to demonstrate pride in our College values and expectations.

Year 7 Bridge Award

A reminder to Year 7 students and families that Bridge Award registration forms are now due and should be returned to Mrs Greig at rgreig@clayfield.qld.edu.au as soon as possible. We are excited to see students begin their Bridge Award journey, including their first Service project supporting Stationery Aid.

Kilvington Grammar Exchange Program

This week, we were delighted to welcome our Kilvington Grammar Exchange students to Clayfield College. After meeting their Clayfield counterparts and experiencing school life on Monday, the group enjoyed a memorable day exploring Brisbane on Tuesday, including visits to the Brisbane Wheel, South Bank, Strike Bowling and a CityCat ride.

On Wednesday, our Clayfield students and Mr Stemmet departed for Melbourne to complete the reciprocal component of the exchange program. We wish them a wonderful experience and look forward to hearing about their adventures and learning at Kilvington Grammar.

Crazy Hair and Sock Day Youngman House Fundraiser

Friday 9 October 2026

Care@Clayfield Parent Event

Thursday 13 August

Explore Your Future in STEM at the CCOCA Future Leaders Breakfast this Friday

Tomorrow, we will welcome a number of Old Collegians back to the College to join our Senior students for a STEM breakfast.

Working across a range of STEM industries, our Old Collegians will share their stories, answer questions and offer insights into the pathways and opportunities that could shape our students’ futures in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics 

This event is part of the 2026 Future Leaders Program, proudly supported by the Clayfield College Old Collegians’ Association.

Upcoming Events