No. 2 Term 1 - Week 4 Newsletter, 2025
From the Principal
Dear Parents, Students, and Staff,
As we enter Week 5, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the resilience and spirit of our school community following the recent weather event. I know it has been a challenging time for many, and I thank our students, staff, and families for their patience, support, and willingness to adapt. It has been wonderful to see everyone settling back into their learning routines, reconnecting with friends, and embracing the many opportunities this term has to offer.
The Importance of Respect
As we continue through the term, I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the importance of respect—a core value at Burdekin Catholic High School. Respect begins with how we treat one another, especially our teachers and staff, who work tirelessly to provide the best possible education and support for our students. Showing gratitude, listening attentively, and following instructions are simple but powerful ways we can demonstrate respect in our daily interactions. When we uphold respect in our classrooms, we create a positive and inclusive learning environment where everyone can thrive. As a community we expect all our students to be respectful and cooperate with our staff.
Opening and Commissioning Mass
Next week, we will come together for our Opening and Commissioning Mass, a significant event that marks the official beginning of the school year. This is a time to ask for God's blessing on our students, staff, and families as we embark on another year of faith and learning. We will also commission our student leaders, recognising the important role they play in guiding and inspiring our school community. I encourage all parents and families to join us for this special celebration.
Entering the Season of Lent
As we move further into the term, we also prepare to enter the season of Lent, with Ash Wednesday fast approaching. Lent is a time for reflection, prayer, and renewal as we journey towards Easter. As a school, we will participate in Ash Wednesday liturgies, reminding us of the call to “turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” I encourage all students to consider how they can embrace this season through acts of kindness, service, and personal growth.
Awards Night
Last night we celebrated the 2024 Awards Night. It was a wonderful celebration of success. We will be sharing these awards with you in the near future. However, I would like to share my address to all our community.
Principal’s Address – School Awards Night
Good evening, distinguished guests, staff, parents, and most importantly, our wonderful students including our Graduates of 2024 or their parents representing them tonight. Tonight, we come together as a school community to celebrate the achievements, dedication, and spirit that make Burdekin Catholic High School such a special place.
First and foremost, I want to congratulate all of our award recipients. Whether you are being recognised for academic excellence, service, or effort, your hard work and commitment have set you apart, and we are incredibly proud of you.
Academic Excellence is not simply about achieving high marks. It is about a love of learning, a curiosity that drives us to explore beyond the classroom, and a determination to reach our full potential. To those receiving academic awards tonight, you have demonstrated not only intelligence but also perseverance and a thirst for knowledge. Keep striving, keep questioning, and keep pushing yourselves beyond what you think is possible.
Service is at the heart of our school values. True leadership is measured not by personal success but by the impact we have on others. To those receiving service or Christian Leadership awards, you have shown kindness, generosity, and a willingness to help without expectation of reward. You embody the spirit of compassion that defines BCHS, and we thank you for making our community stronger and more connected.
And then there is effort—perhaps the most important quality of all. Tonight, we recognise students who have shown determination, resilience, and grit. Success is not always about being the best; it is about always striving to be your best. To those being honored for their effort, your commitment to self-improvement is inspiring, and we applaud your dedication.
To our teachers and staff, thank you for your unwavering support, guidance, and encouragement. To our parents and families, your role in nurturing these young minds is invaluable, and we are grateful for your partnership with us in education.
Finally, to all our students—whether you are receiving an award tonight or not—remember that success is not a destination but a journey. Keep working hard, support one another, and never stop believing in your potential.
Congratulations to all, and may you continue to shine brightly in all that you do.
Thank you, and enjoy the evening.
As we continue to settle into the rhythm of the school year, I am grateful for the strength and unity of our Burdekin Catholic High School community. Let us move forward together in faith, learning, and respect for one another.
Yours in Christ
Lorraine Wolffe
Principal
From the Deputy Principal
Last night we celebrated the 2024 academic year and it was gratifying to see so many support our awardees. Awards Night is a special night on the calendar, an opportunity as a school community to ‘see the school’. It is also an opportunity for the wider community to visit our school and join us for these special events. I always remind students that there may be a potential employer in the audience, just waiting to find their newest employee.
Despite the disrupted start, students have settled into the pattern of school and have been kept up-to-date with their school work via Google Classroom and emails from teachers. It is important to remember that students are well-versed in Google Classroom and know to locate their lesson materials should they need to either when absent from school or when revising in preparation for assessment.
Students are reminded to ensure preparedness for classes is key to success in learning. Laptops should come to school fully charged. Charging during the school day should not be happening during class. A charging-bay is available for students to access in the Library during break times. Students are reminded to shutdown their laptops between uses to preserve the battery as well as allow the school network to push out any updates to apps as required.
This week, new students to the school have been completing PAT testing and we are almost finished collating that data. PAT testing is an important part of our data story about students. The results from the tests, along with NAPLAN data helps inform teachers in their planning and preparation for their classes. Year 7 and 9 students are in the preparation stage for NAPLAN. NAPLAN testing will take place from March 12th and will run until March 24th. Further information about NAPLAN will be communicated to families next week via Compass.
Year 7 and 10 immunisations have been moved to accommodate our rescheduled Commissioning Mass. Immunisations have been moved to March 12th, starting with Year 10s in the morning, then Year 7s after the lunch break.
School photos will take place the following week, March 17. Below is a draft of the schedule, along with uniform requirements:
Elisa Rigano
Deputy Principal
From the Assistant Principal - Pastoral
Firstly, I hope everyone has recovered from a crazy two weeks of unpredictable weather and rising water levels. It has been great to see a full contingent of both staff and students back at school this week.
Secondly, I want to use my newsletter article as a space to offer an alternative viewpoint on issues affecting our school community and the holistic development of our young people.
Personal Responsibility in a Low-Stakes Environment
Aside from the obvious curriculum-based benefits of a school environment, another major advantage is its role in teaching personal responsibility in a lower-stakes setting compared to the "real world." However, as parents and teachers, we sometimes unintentionally hinder this learning by providing students with excuses for why they didn’t complete a task. While it's possible that we contributed to their inability to fulfill their responsibilities, they gain nothing if we absolve them of all accountability.
One of my most frequently used phrases when speaking to students about their choices is, “Control what you can control”. This speaks directly to the concept of personal responsibility.
Research shows that learning personal responsibility as a teenager increases a person's ability to adapt to an ever-changing economic, political, and social landscape.
Below, I’ll use our school uniform policy as an example, but you can insert any other scenario that applies to your student.
Our uniform policy is designed to encourage low-stakes personal responsibility. If a student does not follow the uniform policy (without a note) twice, they receive an infringement. On the third and subsequent infringements within the same term, they are assigned to the Respect Room during the first break. During this time, they reflect on why they are there and what they can do differently next time. The teacher facilitating the reflection prompts them with one key idea: “Control what you can control.”
We are not interested in external reasons—only in the choices students had direct control over. Here are some common responses we receive, along with what my responses might be if I were facilitating the reflection:
- Student: My parents didn’t get my day uniform ready.
- Response: Is that something they normally do? Is it possible for you to get it ready without their assistance? If not, what steps could you take to make it easier for them to help?
- Student: I woke up too late to get my uniform ready.
- Response: Why did you wake up late? How can you make sure your uniform is ready regardless of what time you wake up?
By continuing to ask open-ended questions that encourage deeper reflection, students eventually begin to feel empowered. They start to see that they are in control of their own lives and that taking responsibility is up to them.
So, my question to you is this: Is it worse that they receive an infringement or spend time in the Respect Room, OR will they face much bigger consequences later in life if they fail to learn personal responsibility now?
Next time your student asks for a note to avoid an infringement or the Respect Room—no matter the reason—ask yourself whether this is an opportunity for them to learn a valuable lesson about personal responsibility. If it is, let them face the natural consequences of their choices in this low-stakes environment, with the hope that they learn their lesson here rather than in the "real world".
Leighton Gallagher
Assistant Principal - Pastoral
School Board Annual Report 2024
Introduction
I am delighted to present the Annual Report for Burdekin Catholic High School for the academic year 2024. It has been a year filled with growth, achievement, and community spirit, and it gives me great honour to share our progress. We continue to be supported by Townsville Catholic Education. Early in 2024, the opportunity was provided for the Board to participate in Board Formation. This formation focused on key areas such as Student Wellbeing, Meeting the Needs of Learners, Teacher Capability, Catholic Identity, and School Improvement. These discussions have strengthened our ability to guide the school effectively in its mission to support every child’s growth and success. This year, we welcomed our new Principal, Lorraine Wolffe, whose vision has been instrumental in revitalizing the School Board. Under her leadership, the Board has taken significant steps toward becoming a fully functioning body that actively contributes to the life of the school.
Board Constitution Review and Ratification
A significant focus this year has been the reform, review, and submission of the Board Constitution for ratification. Considerable time and effort were dedicated to ensuring the constitution reflects our current needs and aligns with best practices in governance. Board members engaged in in-depth discussions to develop a clearer understanding of the constitution's provisions and their practical applications.
Financial Planning and Oversight
The Board has played an advisory role in supporting sound financial stewardship, ensuring the responsible allocation of resources to advance the school’s educational mission. We have worked closely with school leadership to review the 2024 budget, offering guidance to ensure it aligns with the school’s strategic priorities and long-term sustainability. Additionally, the Board has begun providing input on the 2025 budget, helping to anticipate future needs and recommend strategies to maintain financial stability while addressing emerging opportunities.
Connection to the Parish
The 2024 school year saw a continuing strong partnership and relationship between the school and our local parish. The Board would like to thank Father Manoj and members of the parish for their commitment and effort to ensure the parish plays an active role in the lives of BCHS students. This partnership has been vital in nurturing the faith life of our school community and providing opportunities for students to engage with their Catholic identity.
Conclusion
The efforts of the past year have strengthened the Board’s capacity to govern effectively and support the school’s mission. Moving forward, we remain committed to ensuring sound governance, financial stewardship, and alignment with the needs of our school community.
With everyone's continued support and the guidance of Principal Lorraine Wolffe and team, I am confident that Burdekin Catholic High School will continue to grow stronger as we celebrate the diversity of all people, becoming an even richer and more vibrant community of faith and learning.
This, sadly, is my final meeting. In my ten years on the Board, I have witnessed amazing changes in the school’s structures, leadership, and the many faces of teachers and students. However, one thing has always remained constant—the vision to continue creating a vibrant and loving environment for our students.
On behalf of the Board, I once again acknowledge and thank the hard work and dedication of the School’s leadership team, all of the teachers, support staff, and volunteers at BCHS. I would also like to thank my fellow Board members for their commitment, insight, and contributions throughout the past year.
It has been an honour to serve this wonderful school community.
Tony Polga
Board Chair - 2024
From the Guidance Counsellor
A SPECIAL REPORT: Surviving the Final Year
It’s no secret that the end of school can be a huge source of anxiety for both students and parents alike. Studies have shown that over 40% of final year students suffer from high-level anxiety or stress, with some even suffering from depression.
It is important to prepare a student’s brain for success. Studies show there is a clear link between students taking care of their health, and their overall productivity during the final year of school. Understanding how best to support your child’s health and wellbeing during this time will help them perform at their best. The student brain has a lot going on, so understanding how it works will help them get the most out their brain power. Acknowledge that not all stress is bad. The art is in finding the right balance. Having the right amount of stress can encourage students to be at their optimal level of alertness, and improve behavioural and cognitive performance. It helps tune their brain and focus.
In this Special Report, parents and care givers will be presented with a number of strategies on how best to support their child during the final year at school.
Here is the link to your special report:
https://bchs.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/surviving-final-year
From the Careers' Department
First of all I would like to introduce myself to those of you new to the school. My name is Antonetta Dalle Cort and I am a teacher and Career Advisor. At BCHS we pride ourselves in preparing our young men and women for life after school. For some this is an academic pathway and others a prevocational one. The Australian Government has developed the Australian Blueprint for Career Development:
“The Australian Blueprint for Career Development (the Blueprint) is a framework that can be used to design, implement, and evaluate intentional career development learning for people of all ages and stages, beginning in early childhood.
At its core, the Blueprint identifies the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that an individual needs to make sound choices and effectively manage their own career. In the Blueprint, these are referred to as career management competencies.” https://www.education.gov.au/school-work-transitions/australian-blueprint-career-development
BCHS has a Career website designed by Career Tools. Students and families are welcomed to engage with this site bchscareers.com. They also provided regular newsletters that will be linked to the BCHS Newsletter.
Career Development commences in Year 8 as a rotation that I facilitate. During the 13 week rotation students interact with the BCHS Website that has lessons designed under the guidelines in the Australian Blueprint for Career Development. Students engage with a number of topics: Learn About Myself, Career Exploration, Preparing for Work. Students produce a portfolio of work that contains a Career Personality Report, Workplace Health and Safety Certificate, Resume and Cover Letter.
The knowledge acquired in Year 8 continues in Year 9. For one day students participate in a Career Day where we delve deeper into career exploration and the skills needed to achieve goals.
In Year 10 Students complete a QCAA Career Education Short Course. For one week students engage with guest speakers form a variety of industries, participate in Industry walkthroughs / JCU Open Day. This week is designed for students to make decisions on pathways after school -Vocational or Academic, this will enable them to make informed decisions about subject selections moving into Senior Schooling and preparing for SET Plan Interviews.
Work Experience is encouraged during school holidays for students in Years 10 - 12. The poster attached has important information about the process. If you are intending on doing a placement during the Easter holidays all paperwork is due 14th March. During the 2024 December holidays 18 students participated in work experience. As a result of work experience one student secured a full time apprenticeship and two student will be signed up as School Based Apprentices. I look forward to sharing these stories with you in the next newsletter.
Community News
