From the Principal

Yesterday represented an amalgamation of a series of significant milestones in the College calendar as we came together to celebrate the importance of academic success, personal excellence, leadership and student voice. We inducted our 2022 student leadership team and welcomed back scholars from the class of 2021. In celebrating these achievements, it is important to realise that they have not just done great things and shown leadership, but have done so in the face of unbelievably challenging circumstances. 

Which makes these achievements all the more special. Congratulations and well done!  

We also had the opportunity to recognise and acknowledge several of our amazing staff who embody the spirit of Clayfield College.

After a discussion with staff, the previous award recipients and a review at the Consultative Committee the Staff Awards previously called the Staff Excellence Award has been changed to the Spirit of Clayfield Award to better capture the purpose of this recognition. Part of this change was also a review of the process for the nomination of staff for this award and rather than being presented on Speech Night it was deemed by the committee that moving the presentation to Foundation Day was more appropriate.

The Spirit of Clayfield College is an award that is presented to two staff members (one academic and one corporate). This award honours an academic and corporate staff member who demonstrates enthusiasm, exceptional effort and commitment. It acknowledges qualities of performance that Clayfield College is proud to embrace and the way that these qualities let the light shine in those around them.

Staff are nominated by their peers and selected after consultation with the Senior Leadership Team and the Principal.

The Corporate Award winner for 2021 is: Julianne Cilliers

Julianne is thoroughly professional, discreet when necessary, very approachable, quick turnaround of requests, thinks on her feet, knows her area and all other areas of the school to communicate effectively. She is respectful of intruding on your workload, and her requests for information are given in a timely manner.

The Academic Award winner is: Sofie Spencer

Sofie is an excellent candidate for the Academic Staff Spirit of Clayfield Award. She is a well-respected member of our team, who consistently demonstrates commitment, empathy, creativity and a positivity that is infectious in all situations. Most of all, Sofie is kind. Kind to students, staff, parents, everyone she comes into contact within our school community. I know I am lucky to work with someone like Sofie and believe her hard work, always delivered in a kind manner, deserves to be publicly recognised. Sofie is incredibly dedicated and committed to her work. Sofie works hard and takes time to do things properly, taking pride in her work…

For the first time in the College’s recent history, we will also recognise the continuous service of staff. Continuous Service by staff is recognised annually on Foundation Day. This service is recognised in the following categories and is tallied up to and including the December of the year prior to the Foundation Day when the recognition is awarded. 

Awards are categorized in the following years:

• The ‘Bronze Continuous Service Recognition’ is awarded to an individual who has given 10 years of continuous service to Clayfield College.
• The ‘Silver Continuous Service Recognition’ is awarded to an individual who has given 15 years of continuous service to Clayfield College.
• The ‘Gold Continuous Service Recognition’ is awarded to an individual who has given 20 years of continuous service to Clayfield College.
• The ‘Platinum Continuous Service Recognition’ is awarded to an individual who has given 25 years of continuous service to Clayfield College.
• The ‘Diamond Continuous Service Recognition’ is awarded to an individual who has given 30 years of continuous service to Clayfield College.

Given the start to 2022 and the changed way that we celebrated Foundation Day we recognised the Diamond Continuous Service Recognition recipients at the assembly yesterday and the remainder of the staff will be acknowledged appropriately throughout the term. 

Ms Dorris Haddock and Miss Elizabeth Stoneley both started at Clayfield College in 1990 and have given 32 years of service in teaching in the Secondary School. Their significant contributions in their respective departments of Mathematics, Science and Social Science have been truly appreciated by students, staff and the broader community. We thank them most sincerely for their tremendous contributions for this substantial length of time. 

We look forward to acknowledging the staff for their continuous service in the coming weeks.  

Goondiwindi Visit

Our Principal - Dr. Andrew Cousins, College Council Chair - Mrs. Catherine O’Sullivan, Deputy Principal - Mrs. Audrey Fellowes and myself, will be attending the Aspects Art Show and Goondiwindi Show between 28 and 30 April.

If you’re in the area, we warmly invite you to join us for dinner and drinks on Friday 29 April at the Queensland Hotel. Please RSVP to enrol@clayfield.qld.edu.au by Tuesday 26 April.