FROM THE COLLEGE PRINCIPAL
Welcome back to all for what I am confident will be another successful term. I hope the Easter period provided the necessary respite and that everyone has returned refreshed and ready to begin Term 2.
Term 2 is a key time for students to build momentum in their academic learning, and I trust that the upcoming Academic Conferences will support productive conversations about progress, areas for improvement, and strategies for future growth.
Improvement is not something we expect only of our students. In 2026, as part of the College’s commitment to continuous improvement, we are reviewing our approach to parent engagement. Strong, two-way communication between families and the College is central to building a genuine partnership in each student’s education. Research consistently shows that when families and teachers share relevant information, both are better equipped to support academic progress and personal development.
This year, the College is extending its engagement with parents through a range of opportunities, including:
- Academic information sessions for parent/guardians of students in each year level
- Access to expert facilitators leading parent/guardian education sessions on pastoral matters affecting young people
- Academic Conferences in Term 2 and Term 3, supporting direct dialogue between students, parent/guardians, and teachers about learning progress and next steps
A summary of current engagement opportunities is outlined below.
College-led information and learning opportunities
- Term 1: Learning
- Term 2: Student safety and wellbeing, subject selection, and SET planning
College-led Academic Conferences
- Conducted twice yearly
- Available to boarding and day families
- Designed to support reciprocal dialogue between students, families, and staff
- Focused on identifying strengths, areas for growth, and strategies for success
Parent/Guardian Feedback
- Annual surveys focused on service satisfaction (learning, wellbeing programmes, and extracurricular offerings)
- Additional surveys as required to gather feedback on specific issues or initiatives
College-led community and social events for parents/guardians
These events aim to foster connection between parents/guardians, students, and staff, and include:
- Principal’s Welcome Twilight Drinks
- Mother’s Day Breakfast
- Father’s Day Breakfast
- Trivia Night
- International Women’s Day High Tea
- Music Soirée
- Music by the Sea
- Performing Arts Showcase
Community-led engagement opportunities
- NAIDOC Community Celebration, supporting social and cultural connection across parents/guardians, staff, and students
Throughout 2026, the College is also working with Independent Schools Queensland to explore contemporary, best-practice models of parent engagement. We recognise that simply reinstating previous structures may not be effective. For example, the Parents and Friends forum that operated prior to 2021 did not continue post-COVID, with feedback indicating declining attendance and a shift towards more flexible, technology-enabled forms of engagement.
As we progress this work with Independent Schools Queensland, we will continue to keep the community informed. In the meantime, we welcome your input and invite you to complete the survey below to help shape the future direction of parent engagement at the College.
Parent Engagement Survey – Fill out form
Kath Little
COLLEGE PRINCIPAL
