No. 13 Term 3 - Week 4 Newsletter, 2025

From the Principal

This week at Burdekin Catholic High School, I’ve been reminded once again of the extraordinary spirit that thrives within our community. Whether gathered in celebration, united in prayer, or working side-by-side in learning, we continue to see the values of faith, respect, and service lived out in tangible ways. Our students and staff have embraced opportunities to connect, to grow, and to shine, not only in their achievements, but in the way they support and encourage one another.

The Year 10s have embarked on their Creating Futures program.  They spent a week engaged in career focussed activities, ending with either a visit to JCU or Industry visits at the start of this term.  On Wednesday night, they commenced their subject selections for senior school.  This was very well attended by Year 10 families, with only 3 families not attending.  This is a wonderful commitment to the partnership we have with our families.

Enrolments for 2026 are looking very promising.  Over the past two weeks, we have been interviewing all our incoming Year 7 students.  This is a very exciting time in a young person's life.  We are very excited to be moving to three streams for Year 7.  We feel very blessed to see the rise in our enrolments and the confidence that our families have in our school.

A highlight of the term was the 2025 Debutant Ball, a cherished tradition in our school community. The evening was a resounding success, beginning with a beautiful liturgy in our chapel, followed by an elegant and joy-filled celebration. Our debutants and their partners conducted themselves with grace and pride, showcasing the values of respect, dignity, and community spirit. The event was made possible through the incredible commitment of staff, volunteers, and families, whose support and dedication contributed to a memorable and uplifting experience for all involved. Moments like these continue to strengthen our school’s connection with the wider community and highlight the importance of tradition and celebration in the life of our students.

We celebrated our Founders’ Day with our primary feeder schools, St Francis and St Colman’s.   This term, we proudly celebrated Founders’ Day alongside our primary feeder schools, St Francis and St Colman’s, coming together as a unified Catholic community. The day began with a shared Mass that honoured our Marist heritage and the legacy of those who laid the foundations of our schools. It was followed by a communal lunch and activities that fostered connection and belonging across all year levels. With over 630 students participating, the event was a vibrant expression of our shared faith, values, and commitment to Catholic education in the Burdekin. This celebration not only deepened our partnerships with our feeder schools but also provided a meaningful opportunity for students to engage with the broader Marist family.

A significant highlight this term was celebrating Debbie Siandri as the recipient of the Townsville Diocese Spirit of Catholic Education Award. I had the privilege of accompanying Debbie to Rockhampton for the official presentation during Catholic Education Week. This recognition is a testament to Debbie’s unwavering commitment to faith, service, and Catholic education over many years. Her award not only brought pride to the Townsville Diocese but also shone a spotlight on the values and dedication that define our school community. Debbie’s recognition reflects the strength of our staff and their deep contribution to the spiritual and educational life of Burdekin Catholic High School.

Finally I was very excited to attend our Confraternity Awards dinner last Monday evening.  We proudly celebrated the achievements of our inaugural Confraternity Rugby League team at a special Awards Dinner, a night filled with pride, gratitude, and well-deserved recognition.  Now it’s time to honour some of the outstanding individual performances that defined our 2025 campaign. These awards go beyond talent, they recognise growth, spirit, dedication, and the deep respect shared between teammates and coaches.

Player of the Carnival – Harrison Lammon 
Spirit of the Carnival – Mason Kiehne 
Most Improved – Nate de Bartolo 
Players’ Player – Mason Kiehne 
Coaches’ Award – Leylan Lampton 

Thank you to our coach Mr Luke Marano, our Trainer, Thomas, our Manager, Melissah and our Number 1 supporter and bus driver, Dan. A big thank you to every family member who backed this team. This season marks the beginning of something special.

Yours in Christ

Lorraine Wolffe
Principal

From the Deputy Principal

Our first weeks of Term 3 have certainly been busy. We have held our “Creating Futures” week, visited James Cook University, attended a Careers Expo and held the first of our subject selection nights. We have also changed the way Assessment Calendars are published to students and families. 

Education does not stand still. Reflection and renewal are integral in ensuring the best possible curriculum delivery we can offer. We are currently working through a reflection and renewal focus when it comes to our timetable for 2026. At the end of Term 2 the Non-State School Accreditation Board (NSSAB) provided advice to non-state schools regarding the implementation of Version 9.0 of the Australian Curriculum and the importance of developing pathways for students as they move into Senior Schooling. These were conversations we were already having as a school prior to the report, and what we had drafted was very similar to the advice provided by NSSAB. Further work and meetings have been attended this week and another will be occurring next week to ensure we faithfully implement the revised guidelines for implementation. 

While we continue to work on NSSAB’s advice, the daily run of school is still happening. As we are in the late flu season, students are reminded to keep up the good choices when it comes to food, water, sleep and exercise. Staying healthy means keeping the water intake up, getting enough rest, eating the right foods and making sure the sun is seen. Of course, if students are sick, please stay home, rest and get better. Students in Years 11 and 12 are reminded to see the doctor when sick and ask for a medical certificate. Special provision will be applied in the cases of illness, but we need the medical certificate for verification and guidance on assessment changes.  A reminder that if there are any Year 11 and 12 students have pre-existing medical conditions to see me to talk through the AARA process (if they have not already). 

The Year 7 and 8 students will be changing over electives later this month. This will be their final elective rotation for the year.  These details have been published to students and are on Compass for reference.

From the Assistant Principal - Pastoral

2026 Student Leadership Interviews Underway

Leadership interviews for 2026 are currently taking place, and it’s been incredibly encouraging to see both the quality and quantity of Year 11 students putting themselves forward.

Across the board, applicants have spoken passionately about school culture, community involvement, and the kind of leaders they hope to be. Many have drawn on personal experiences and reflected thoughtfully on how they can make a meaningful contribution to the school next year.

What’s been most impressive is the maturity and purpose with which these students have approached the process. Their willingness to lead, serve, and support their peers speaks volumes about the strength of our student body.

We look forward to announcing the 2026 student leadership team later this term and are confident that the future of our school will be in capable hands.

From the Assistant Principal - Religion

Today, 8^th August, is special to the Catholic Church in Australia because it is the Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross, Mackillop; our very own saint. How often do you feel closer at home with a saint? She has a special place in my heart too, because I just came from a New Zealand parish, college and community under her patronage. The Josephite Sisters were the symbol of strength, stability and service in the surrounding rural towns of Rotorua and their influence emanate even today.

Mary Mackillop was the eldest of 8 children who grew up in Melbourne, Victoria, thus from a young age, learned about how to care for young people. In 1856, at the age of 14, she started working firstly as a clerk and later as a governess, to be an extra financial support for her struggling family. As a governess, her work attracted the attention of Fr Julian Woods, who became her spiritual director, encouraging her to direct her intentions of caring for the children towards God. They worked closely, consequently, Mackillop opened her first boarding school for girls in Portland, Victoria, mostly students from her extended family, but her immediate family also moved in the property to live. The young women eventually joined Mackillop as teachers where Fr Woods invited them to open new schools. The success of the schools became evident in Mackillop’s life that God was calling her to service and religious life. Not long after, she started wearing black to dedicate herself to the service of God. In 1866, at the age of 24, her religious group of women were now calling themselves as the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, also known as the Josephites, wearing a simple brown habit. They were nicknamed as the Brown Joeys because of their habit. Mackillop took the name of Sister Mary of the Cross. In 1885, Pope Leo XIII gave the Josephites his papal recognition as a religious congregation. After suffering a stroke in Auckland, New Zealand in 1902, she returned to Australia where she continued her work until her death in August 1909. By the time of her death, there were over 700 Josephite sisters both here in Australia and in New Zealand. After her burial, people were taking the soil, surrounding her grave, resulting in her body being exhumed and now reburied at its current site, Mary Mackillop Memorial Chapel, Sydney. In 1995, Pope John Paul II beatified Mary Mackillop and in 2010, declared a saint by Pope Benedict XVI.

Let us pray to Mary Mackillop for her strength in faith, especially as we are now faced with the many social issues of this world. Let us ask for her intercession for our young people and let us never forget to - pray for one another.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK

Last week was our Catholic Education Week with so much happening during throughout the week. Catholic Education Week started on Monday with the service leader’s initiative of a PJ Day. In the evening, we celebrated one student’s achievement, Cleo Delle Baite as our 2025 recipient of the Deus Caritas Est Award. On Tuesday, we joined all the Catholic schools of the Townsville Diocese in a Catholic Education Week Mass at the Cathedral. On Wednesday, we proudly celebrated with one of our staff, Mrs Deborah Siandri, who was presented the Diocesan Spirit of Catholic Education Award. On Thursday, we had a challenging start to the day (of the Catholic Education Week) by having classes without power for about 2 hours or so. Then on Friday, we concluded the week with an expression of community with St Francis and St Colman joining us for our three schools’ Founder’s Day Mass. Such a great way to celebrate Catholic Education Week.

SCHOOL MUSICAL - Moana Jnr

On July 26, BCHS took to the Burdekin Theatre stage to perform Moana JR. and what a magic experience it was! 

Twenty-two students, the majority of whom in Years 7, 8 and 9, had their first lead roles as performers. With the support of more seasoned performers in Years 10 and 11, our Juniors shone. They were outstanding. The audience was amazed by the talent, the costumes, the lighting and the sets. Moana JR. was another first for BCHS. We were the first group to perform the show in North Queensland. 

Congratulations to our crew who made sure our performers were able to sail the sea with grace. Again this was a group from the Junior school who volunteered their time to our show. 

A musical does not just happen. Special thanks to Ms Rigano (Director), Mrs Lammas (Vocal Director), Mrs Licciardello (Stage Manager and Assistant Director), Mr Guy and Mr Keryk (Sets) for giving up their time over weekends, holidays, before and after school in making sure our cast and crew were ready to take to the stage. 

From the Careers Department

The Creating Futures Career space has been a hive of activity over the past few weeks.

Year 10 students are finalising their assessments for the Career Education Short Course. This week’s Subject Selection Evening provided valuable clarity as they plan for their futures. With all the information and activities they’ve engaged in, students are now well-equipped to complete their Career Investigation and SETPlan documents, which they’ll present during their upcoming SETPlan interviews.

On Monday, 4th August, Year 11 students attended the Townsville Career Expo. A wide range of industries, universities, and RTOs were present, offering our young people a wealth of knowledge to help refine their career choices. A special thank you to Mrs Loizou, Mrs Callcott, and Mrs Giddy for accompanying and supporting our Year 11s on the day.

Tuesday, 5th August marked the opening of QTAC, and we celebrated with “QTAC Tuesday.” Year 12 students were invited to gather at lunchtime to take the first step—registering on the QTAC portal. The relaxed and supportive atmosphere helped ease what can often be a daunting experience. The red lollies—QTAC's signature colour—made the moment just that little bit “sweeter.”

The following day, Paul Carr from QTAC delivered an informative enrolment presentation to our Year 12 students. With 15 years of experience at QTAC, Paul shared his depth of knowledge to support students on their next steps beyond school.

Antonetta Dalle Cort
Careers Advisor

Additional Pupil Free Days

During this year, the school has been notified of significant changes to curriculum for our students.  To support these changes, Townsville Catholic Education have added two Pupil Free Days (PFD) to assist and support schools in undertaking the implementation of the new NSSAB Educational Guidelines. The days approved are:

• Tuesday, 7th October 2025 
• Tuesday, 27th January 2026 

Our school will prioritise planning / replanning for Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum in light of the revised educational guidelines and associated minimum hours on both days.

Media Consent

Media Consent Updates 
At the time of enrolment, parents are asked to consent to the use of their child’s name and image in various forms of media to promote the school/College and Catholic Education. If you DO NOT wish to consent to your child's photograph/video appearing as stated in the below, and you wish to withdraw this authorisation and consent, you must notify the school by phone or email, bchs@catholic.edu.au
 
If we do not hear from you to make any changes, your original consent provided will remain in effect.
 
PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO/MEDIA CONSENT
Photos, video footage and work samples of students are used regularly by the school/College for the purpose of acknowledging the efforts of the student/College, or for promotion, marketing or advertising the College or Catholic Education.
 
I consent to the student being photographed or filmed for school/College, Catholic Education or Townsville Catholic Diocese related communication or for education purposes.   I understand this may include media (e.g. television, radio, publications), school/College publications (e.g. newsletters, year books), online media (e.g. websites) and social media (e.g. Facebook, Instagram). 
 
I understand it is my responsibility to notify the school/College if I do not wish to consent to the student’s photograph/video appearing in any or all of the above, or if I wish to withdraw this authorisation and consent. Please note the student’s name and voice may be included with the photograph/video.
 
I understand the copyright of such images will be retained by the school/College, Townsville Catholic Education, the Diocese of Townsville or their contractors, and there will be no remuneration or compensation for the images.

Catholic Network Australia (CNA) Cyber Safety Webinar for Parents

Catholic Network Australia (CNA) Cyber Safety Webinar for Parents

Please consider sharing this webinar with your school communities
 
CNA has partnered with Cyber Safety Project to deliver a specialised webinar exclusively for Catholic school parents. This session explores practical strategies for extending classroom digital citizenship into the home, creating a unified approach to safer technology use across school and family environments.
 
Join Trent Ray, co-founder of the Cyber Safety Project, for essential expert insights on deepfakes, AI companions and online truth.  In today’s connected world, parents play a powerful role in shaping safe and healthy digital habits. This practical session is designed especially for busy parents who want to: 
 
 - Cut through the overwhelm: Clear, up-to-date info without the tech jargon  
 
 - Know what tech your child’s using: AI chatbots and tools explained simply  
 
 - Start the chat with confidence: Easy ways to talk about deepfakes and fake news 
 
 - Guide safe, ethical use: Practical tips to support smart choices online.  
 
Who should attend: Parents/Guardians and people caring for Primary and Secondary aged children.  
 
Proudly supported by Catholic Network Australia.  Parents can register through the link below. 

Register for the Parent Webinar

Expression of Interest – Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) Program

Burdekin Rotary Club of Ayr are currently seeking expressions of interest from families who would be willing to host Nico, an Italian exchange student here through the Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) program.

Each family typically hosts for a 3-month period, and while two generous families have already committed, Rotary are now searching for Family #3 and Family #4 to complete Nico’s 2026 experience.

Hosting a student like Nico offers a rich cultural exchange for both the host family and the student. It’s a truly rewarding experience, creating lifelong memories and global connections. Nico is a respectful, engaging student who would greatly benefit from experiencing life with a variety of local families during his stay.

The Rotary Youth Exchange program is regaining momentum post-COVID and continues to provide incredible opportunities for young people. Past BCHS student Ruby Sitton is currently on exchange and loving every moment—she’s excited to return next year and share her experience with students considering RYE after Year 12.

If you’re interested or would like to know more, please reach out:
 Lex Cox (Rotary Contact) – 0428 833 261
 Alison Sitton (Current Host Family) – 0411 648 053

Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) 2025 - Townsville Diocesan Update

🌟 Australian Catholic Youth Festival 2025 – Register Now! 

The Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) is fast approaching, and we’re excited to invite our students to be part of this incredible opportunity to grow in faith, friendship, and inspiration with other young Catholics from across the country.

🗓 Final numbers are due by the end of August, so we encourage families to begin the registration process as soon as possible.

🔍 Need More Information?

If your child is interested but would like more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch:
📧 Email: youth@tsv.catholic.org.au or use the
📄 Expression of Interest Form: Click here to complete

Please also refer to the attached Information Booklets for details about the trip and festival experience.

📝 Registration

👉 Register here: Townsville Diocesan Group Link
📱 A QR code is also attached for quick access.

Important: Please do not register via the official ACYF website — registrations must be made through the Harvest Journeys Portal linked above for the Townsville Diocese group.

A step-by-step Registration Guide is also attached.

💰 Cost: $2,095 per person
A deposit of $200 is required upon registration.
If a sponsorship is covering the cost, there is an option to request an invoice through the ‘Sponsorship payment’ section during registration.

🗓 Final payment due: 17 September 2025

🎥 Promo Videos

• Official ACYF Promo Video

• Townsville Diocesan Promo Video

🌐 More Info: Visit the official ACYF Website

Small Steps for Hannah - Free Community Conversation Event

Burdekin Community Association – Volunteers Needed!

The Burdekin Community Association (BCA) is urgently seeking volunteers – and your time could make all the difference.

Volunteering is more than just helping others; it’s an opportunity to enrich your own life. Whether you’re sharing your skills, offering a helping hand, or simply being a supportive presence, your time and experience are incredibly valuable.

Becoming a volunteer can reignite your sense of purpose, create new connections, and combat feelings of isolation. It’s a chance to build friendships, learn new skills, and experience the joy that comes from supporting those in need.

The impact of your involvement extends far beyond the task at hand—it contributes to a stronger, kinder, and more connected community.

🌟 Join BCA and help shape a brighter future—for others and for yourself.
There's a perfect opportunity waiting for you—start making a difference today!

For more information or to express interest, please contact the Burdekin Community Association directly.

Burdekin Sports