FROM THE COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

In 2026, we have chosen the theme Character Lasts Forever to build opportunities to connect with our young people about the things that are important in life, and those which are less so. In a world which is becoming increasingly consumerist, transactional and me-centred, we seek to highlight what should be fleeting, and what should sustain us. At St Patrick’s College Townsville, we believe in a values-based education which empowers individuals to achieve what they set out to for themselves, whilst also contributing to the common good. In this, the Liturgical Year of Grace, our intention is to continue to emphasise the importance of seeking purpose in life, emphasising God’s mercy, peace and communion with others. We encourage our young people, and all in our community, to be people of prayer and action, strengthening discipleship. 

Throughout the year, we are engaging with our students around the following topics:

• Seeking to understand before reaching judgement
• Respecting the dignity of the human person
• Choosing positivity over toxicity
• Helping those in need, including using one’s voice to counter persecution and victimisation
• Putting aside short-term gratification for long term gain
• Reflecting inwardly on how our own behaviour helps or hinders a situation
• Considering the common good and others, before self

This week, at our College Assembly, I spoke about the intersecting themes of character and technology, emphasising key points including:

• Being alert to over exposure to negative representations of human interactions on both social media and reality television
• Being alert to over reliance on screens for learning or social engagement, and the potential impact on the brain
• Being mindful to make decisions around the use of technology that reflect well on your character – refraining from vilification, abuse, image manipulation, negative social commentary

We continue to ensure our young people have a consistent understanding of our expectations in relation to character and technology, and I would urge all members of the College community to engage with our Communications Policy.

PARENT ENGAGEMENT

At the end of last term, I provided an update to parents in relation to the College’s ongoing review of best practice parent engagement forums. As part of that review, we asked parents to complete a survey so that we could better understand their perspectives about current engagement opportunities and forums, and expectations moving forward. In the interests of transparency, the survey results demonstrated the following:

• 56% of respondents indicated they were satisfied or very satisfied with current engagement opportunities, whilst 27% of parents were neutral. 17% of respondents were dissatisfied with present opportunities.
• Online surveys are the preferred method for seeking parent feedback, chosen by 61% of respondents.
• For future engagement groups, most parents favour a focus on providing feedback to guide College decision-making on parent-related matters e.g. parent engagement, after school care, parent-teacher interviews, social events, College technology systems (38%) and emerging issues (29%).
• The main barriers to parent engagement are time constraints and work commitments (46%), followed by family commitments and lack of awareness of opportunities (both 15%).
• Weekday evenings (45%) and flexible timing (38%) are the most preferred options for parent engagement activities.

These results, along with ongoing engagement with Independent Schools Queensland and other forums, will inform the next steps taken by the College Leadership Team, in our ongoing review process.  

Irrespective of future parent engagement opportunities, I would encourage parents to take advantage of current arrangements. While it is wonderful to see so many parents at this morning’s Mother’s Day celebration, attendance at Academic Conferences is somewhat concerning. I have included below a snapshot of the percentage of bookings per grade level, over the last three years, for your attention. Please note, this data refers to bookings and does not allow for parents who were unable to make their appointments.

Parent, student and teacher conversations about next learning steps can enable student learning outcomes. There is clear research which points to a correlation between high parent engagement and expectations, and student outcomes. The College will continue to track bookings with a view to facilitating conversations around student learning and areas for improvement.

Kath Little

COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

CANVAS SECURITY INCIDENT – PASSWORD RESET

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We are aware of recent security breaches affecting the Canvas Learning Management System.

St Patrick’s College Townsville does not use Canvas. However, it is used by many education providers, including universities, TAFEs, state schools and RTOs. If you have previously been involved with any of these institutions, your credentials may have been compromised and could place our College systems at greater risk.

As a precaution and to protect our College information and systems, we request you update your passwords for any College systems you currently access.

Students were guided through a password reset process today. Please note that some parents (particularly in Year 7) may have used their own contact details for two-step authentication. In these instances, you may need to assist your child with updating their password.

The current security breach is still active and ongoing, and we will provide any further information and guidance relevant as we become aware of it.

We want to reassure our community that we have strong infrastructure in place at the College and believe the risk to our systems is minimal.

FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL – ACADEMIC

Preparing for Assessment: Why Starting Early Matters

As assessment periods approach, it is common for students to feel pressure and become overwhelmed. One of the most effective ways to reduce stress and improve results is simple: start early and avoid leaving assessment tasks until the last minute.

When students delay starting an assignment or studying for an exam, they often underestimate how long tasks will take. Research, drafting, editing, referencing, practising exam questions, and seeking feedback all take time. Rushing these steps at the end can lead to incomplete work, avoidable mistakes, and unnecessary anxiety.

Starting early gives students the chance to work steadily and produce their best effort. It also allows time to ask teachers questions, clarify task requirements, and improve their work based on feedback. This is particularly important in the senior years, where assessment must meet specific conditions and students are required to demonstrate their learning authentically.

Another key benefit of preparing early is that it supports student wellbeing. Students who plan ahead are more likely to maintain a healthy balance between school, sport, work, and family commitments. They are also less likely to experience late nights, stress, or conflict at home during busy assessment weeks.

A helpful strategy for students is to break assessment into manageable steps. For example:

• Week 1: Read the task sheet carefully and plan
• Week 2: Research and draft
• Week 3: Edit, finalise, and submit early

Families can support students by encouraging them to begin early, checking in regularly, and helping them create a simple study schedule. Even short, consistent effort across a few weeks is far more effective than a last-minute rush.

Assessment is not just about the final grade, it is also about building strong habits that will benefit students in future study, training, and work. Developing time management skills now is one of the best ways students can set themselves up for long-term success.

By starting early and staying organised, students can reduce stress and give themselves the best chance of success. Families and students are also reminded that the Study Skills Handbook is available on The Learning Hub, providing practical information and advice on effective study habits, time management, and learning strategies that can support students to strengthen their skills and improve their academic outcomes.

Jacinta Collings

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL – ACADEMIC

FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL – STUDENTS

Attendance and Punctuality
Being present and on time is essential for making the most of your learning opportunities this term. Students are encouraged to attend PC and all classes punctually. Regular attendance plays a vital role in both academic success and overall wellbeing at school.

Arriving late to class can increase stress, as you may miss important instructions or the start of a task. Every minute of every lesson counts. For example, being just 5 minutes late to one lesson each day adds up to the equivalent of 3 full school days lost over a year. If you are 5 minutes late to every lesson in a single day, this can total up to 18 days of lost learning time across the year.

Every lesson, every day, matters.

The Australian Government has committed to deliver a public information and warning system known as AusAlert prior to the 2026-27 Higher Risk Weather Season (HRWS). This system will enable emergency service organisations to deliver emergency and public safety messages to compatible mobile phones and other mobile devices.

AusAlert operates independently of traditional mobile networks, eliminating delays caused by network congestion. This ensures it remains a dependable tool for delivering life-saving information when it matters the most.

It will include two (2) alert levels:

• Critical Alert
  • This is the highest level of warning. This intrusive alert will have a fixed volume unique alert sound (10.5 seconds), vibration and potentially a flashing light. Users cannot opt out of receiving Critical Alerts.
  • The Critical Alert overrides silent and do not disturb. The only method of not receiving this alert is to turn a device off or put it in aeroplane mode.

• Priority Alert
  • This has the same alert sound as a Critical Alert. It will still make the unique alert sound for 10.5 seconds and your device will vibrate. However, users can opt out of receiving Priority Alerts by going to their notification settings on their device.

OFFICIAL AusAlert Product Benefits include:

• Immediate Reach: Alerts are delivered almost instantly to all compatible devices in a targeted area.
• Network Resilience: Cell broadcast is not impacted by network congestion during emergencies.
• Geo-targeted Delivery: Alerts are delivered to a specific geographic area within 160m accuracy.

EA will operate in tandem with AusAlert until July 2027, where it will reach its end of life and AusAlert will take its place. Landline emergency messaging will continue through this transition. 

Community-Based Trials

Prior to launch, AusAlert will undergo extensive testing and community trials. These trials will not occur in Townsville.

National Test

A national test will follow community-based trials and is scheduled to take place at 2.00pm (AEST) on Monday 27 July 2026. This test will feature the Critical Alert and activate on all compatible devices. 

It is recommended that students have their phones turned off and kept in lockers/bags during the testing timeframes. The critical alert will activate if a phone is turned to silent or do not disturb.

 We will be informing students of this closer to the date.

Kristen Armitage

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL – STUDENTS

FROM THE HEAD OF FACULTY – SCIENCE

Welcome to Term 2 – Science in Action

It has been a fantastic start to Term 2, with students across all year levels engaging in hands-on scientific learning, building on the strong momentum from Term 1. There’s been a real energy in classrooms and labs as students move beyond theory and begin doing science.

Our Year 7 students have been laying the foundations with lab inductions, building confidence in working safely while beginning to explore how particles behave through separation techniques. This early focus on practical skills sets the tone for their scientific journey.

In Year 8, that curiosity has quite literally been on display, with students performing flame tests – bringing chemistry to life as they observe how different elements produce distinctive colours. Meanwhile, Year 9 students have been developing their understanding of biological systems through detailed flower dissections, connecting structure to function in plant reproduction.

By Year 10, students are deepening both conceptual and technical skills. The Physical Science classes have been investigating Hooke’s Law through applied experiments, while the Natural Science classes have been refining microscope techniques by preparing wet mount slides – an important step toward senior science.

Senior students have also embraced practical work as a central part of their learning. Year 11 Chemistry students have been investigating energy changes by burning fuels, while Biology students explored membrane processes through agar diffusion experiments. In Marine Science, students examined how environmental factors such as temperature and salinity influence water density – key knowledge for understanding ocean systems.

Across all year levels, these experiences are designed to build not only knowledge, but also confidence, curiosity, and the ability to think and work like scientists.

Chris Pacey

HEAD OF FACULTY – SCIENCE

FROM THE DEFENCE SCHOOL MENTOR

ANZAC DAY 2026

Anzac Day, 25 April, is observed nationally as a solemn day of remembrance, held on the anniversary of the landing of the First Australian Imperial Force and New Zealand Army troops at Gallipoli in 1915. This year, our Anzac Liturgy was held in Week 1 of Term 2 and was respectfully hosted by Krystal Kalipa and Isobelle Gilbride.

The College was honoured to welcome guest speaker, Trooper Tayla-Rose Donovan (Australian Army and St Patrick’s College Townsville alumna), along with Veteran Kate Annetts and her daughter, Trooper Summer Donnelly.

Following the Liturgy, students supported the fundraiser for Homeless Diggas by selling Hero Tags. Hero Tags are $3.00 each or 4 for $10.00, with all proceeds supporting the local charity Homeless Diggas. A limited number are still available – please see Ms Walkom in the Library if you would like to purchase.

Hero Tags: https://militaryshop.com.au/herotags/

Our students also attended the Dawn Service and proudly represented the College at the Townsville Strand March, marching behind the College Banner. At the Dawn Service, College Captains Bridget Baxter and Mary Lansley, along with senior student Isobelle Gilbride, laid a wreath on behalf of the College community. Marching alongside current and former service personnel, students helped commemorate 111 years since the Gallipoli landing in 1915 and honoured the service and sacrifice of all Australians and New Zealanders who have served. As the march passed the College, boarding students stood in respectful support and acknowledged our students with applause. As a community, we remain grateful for the service of all who have served, and we will continue to remember them.

The College also congratulates the 2026 Defence Student Leader, Isobelle Gilbride. Isobelle has demonstrated strong commitment to her ties to the Defence Force, a genuine community spirit, and a willingness to serve and support others across the College community. In this role, she will:

• Mentor and support younger ADF students
• Assist with ADF groups such as the Amazing Race and Defence Morning Teas
• Help facilitate College ceremonies like ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day
• Represent the College at community events

SCARWATER SCHOLARSHIP

The Scartwater Education Trust supports students who are descendants of Returned Servicemen and Women who have served on overseas active duty with the Australian Defence Force. The College congratulates the 2026 recipients, Year 11 students Hannah Mosch and Violet Seri, and was honoured to have both families present at the Liturgy to celebrate this recognition of service and scholarship.

QCWA PRESENTATION

The College was pleased to welcome Jeanette Weston, President of the Magnetic Garbutt branch of the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA), who generously presented two books to the College community: an ANZAC book for the Library and a QCWA Recipe Book celebrating food, family, and community. The College sincerely thanks Jeanette and the Magnetic Garbutt QCWA for their generosity and ongoing commitment to service.

\

Gayle Walkom

DEFENCE SCHOOL MENTOR

REEF GUARDIANS UPDATE

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Our Reef Guardian students recently had the opportunity to take their learning into the field with a fringing reef experience on Magnetic Island within the Great Barrier Reef. Through snorkelling, students explored reef ecosystems firsthand while also learning about the island’s natural and cultural history.

A key focus of the experience was understanding the value of the Great Barrier Reef as a multiple-use marine park – balancing conservation with sustainable use. Seeing these concepts in action provided powerful context to their classroom studies and highlighted the importance of informed stewardship.

Looking ahead, students also have an exciting opportunity to hear from a guest researcher from James Cook University, who will be speaking about shark research and career pathways in marine science. This is a valuable chance for students to connect their learning to real-world science and future opportunities.

It’s been a strong and engaging start to the term, and we look forward to building on this in the coming months with more talks, whale watching and one or two other surprises – keep an eye on your emails Reef Guardians!