The Symbols of Christmas Explained

Ever wondered where our beloved Christmas symbols originated and the meanings they hold? From the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree to the serene glow of the advent wreath , each tradition carries a rich tapestry history, culture and faith. As we deck the halls and embrace the festive spirit, l

Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: Emerging Leaders Program extended!

Since 2018, Townsville Catholic Education, in partnership with the Australian Government, has proudly delivered the Emerging Leaders Incentive Scheme, a transformative First Nations Education program. This initiative empowers students to become proud, confident and capable leaders of tomorrow by add

2024 Sustainability Through Catholic Social Teaching Grant Recipients

Each year, schools are invited to apply for the TCE Sustainability Through Catholic Social Teaching Grant. It recognises the way in which the school responds to Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ on caring for our common home through sustainable practices. Laudato Si’ is an encyclical of Po

Ready for High school?

Transitioning to high school is a significant event in every child’s education journey. While it is a very exciting time for many children, it can often be overshadowed by feelings of stress and anxiety. The change of their social status within their friend group and the increased number of te

Child Protection Week

Teaching children personal safety strategies can help them build confidence and resilience and help keep them safe. This week is National Child Protection Week and it is an opportunity to revisit key safety messages with our children.  Townsville Catholic Education schools are utilising this we

Small Town, Big Impact: A Graduate Teacher's Passion for Teaching in her Hometown

Born and raised in the small town of Ayr in far North Queensland, school has always held a special place in my heart. Growing up in a close-knit community meant that teachers and friends were a constant presence in my life. Imagine going from prep to grade 12 with the same group of friends and havin

Deus Caritas Est Award Recipients

The Catholic Education Deus Caritas Est Award is our most prestigious student award and is presented during Catholic Education Week at the Catholic Education Week Mass. Each of our secondary schools nominated one representative (Year 12 student) who demonstrated a commitment to Christian living

Spirit of Catholic Education Awards

Earlier this week, we celebrated our Spirit of Catholic Education Award nominees and winner! These awards highlight the important work being undertaken by staff, parents, carers and volunteers who support Catholic school students. Nominees, including teams, are recognised across a number of categori

Catholic Education Week - Bishop's Tim Homily

On Tuesday 23 July, members of the Townsville Catholic Education community gathered at Sacred Heart Cathedral to celebrate Catholic Education Week Mass. In his homily, Bishop Tim made a connection between Catholic Education Week's theme of Communities of Faith, Hope and Love and the distinctive miss

Do you have to be Catholic to attend a Catholic school in Australia?

Does my child need to be Catholic? Short answer is nope! Our Catholic schools are open to all who want to bask in our stellar education! We are all about the families who want to share our educational goal, inspired by Christian values. Granted, baptised Catholics have a slight edge when it comes to

How to Develop Critical Thinking in Students

Critical thinking continues to be one of the most important skills that employers seek in the workplace. The leading global consulting firm, McKinsey & Company recently reported that cognitive skills, which include critical thinking, are essential to future-proof individuals’ ability to wo

The Benefits of Service Learning

What is Service Learning? Service learning describes pathways for learning that are grounded in students’ experiences of service action, but include purposeful reflection to discern the inner transformation that results from encounters with others. These two intentional components of service a

Teaching and Regional Areas- Top Benefits and Rewards

Embarking on a teaching career in remote Australia has been one of the most rewarding and unique experiences of my professional and personal life. Mount Isa, in North West Queensland, where I now call home, is a place where community and collaboration intertwine with the beauty and tranquility of ou

A Guide to Catholic Education Disability Support Available

Catholic schools are committed to fostering cultures of inclusion that respond to the educational needs of students regardless of their abilities, backgrounds and aspirations. This commitment to inclusive practices is supportive of both Catholic Church teaching and Australian Government legislative

Bringing Innovation and Functionality to Prep Classrooms at St Francis Catholic School, Ayr

St Francis Catholic School in Ayr is proud to announce the completion of our newly refurbished Prep classrooms, designed by i4 Architecture and constructed by Simon Bell Construction.  The project, fully funded by the school, aims to create a modern and functional learning environment for our y

Vocation Enlightened the Radio Star

The contemporary world of teaching is so much more than the Jackson 5 sang about in 1970. As well as A, B, Cs and 1, 2, 3s, teachers are increasingly responsible for the holistic care and development of students. Whether it is coaching sporting teams before school, running musical rehearsals on week

Empowering Teachers, Empowering Students

Empowering Teachers, Empowering Students: The Benefits of Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers in the Classroom When teachers grow and continue to learn both professionally and personally, so do your children in their classroom. This is evident as teachers progress through the different career stag

Tweens and teens and their skin

Recently, I've received an influx of parents with tweens and teens seeking advice about their young daughters' 7-step skincare routines and obsession with all things Mecca and Sephora. Yes, you read that right, 7-step skincare routines! As a Beauty Therapist and Makeup Artist with more than 25 years

Student Wellbeing Spotlight: How the Love Bites Program Promotes Respectful Relationships

The Love Bites Respectful Relationships Program has been run in most of our Secondary colleges and is strongly supported by the TCE office and school staff. As the Manager of the Student Wellbeing & Pastoral Services (SW&PS) in the Townsville Diocese, I have strongly supported our Guidance C

Issuing advice to parents during Severe Weather Events

During a weather event it is very important for parents/carers to be aware of school procedures in the event of school closures or affected access due to floods, cyclones or severe weather. Townsville Catholic Education (TCE) works closely with Education Queensland (EQ) in determining school cl

Safe School Travel: a Guide for Parents and Carers

Safe School Travel: A Guide for Parents and Carers As a new school year begins, many families are looking at safe school travel plans for their children. While allowing children to travel independently is a great way for them to develop confidence and new skills, it's important to ensure they are eq

St Clare's Catholic School Students Embrace LittleScribe Mini-Writing Festival

In an effort to improve and develop writing skills amongst their students, St Clare's Catholic School recently participated in Australia's largest online, interactive writing festival for schools, the LittleScribe Mini-Writing Festival. The festival, which took place in Term 3, saw Year 2 and Year 4

Bringing Bush Tucker Back: How St Benedict's Students Make a Difference Through STEM and Design Thinking

St Benedict's Catholic School, Shaw entered the STEM Mad competition this year. STEM MAD is a national competition that celebrates STEM learning initiatives, addresses real-world problems and encourages students to make a difference (MAD) in the world by acting for justice and the com

Celebrating Catholic Schools' Contributions to a Greener Future

Each year, schools are invited to apply for the TCE Sustainability Through Catholic Social Teaching Grant. It recognises the way in which the school responds to Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ on caring for our common home through sustainable practices. Laudato Si’ is an encyclical of Po

St Margaret Mary's College celebrates 60 years!

St Margaret Mary’s College celebrated its 60th anniversary last month, bringing together past and present staff members, students, as well as esteemed guests in a series of memorable events.The festivities kicked off on Friday, August 18, with a special Whole School Assembly held in Benedictin

Inspirational Pilgrimage To The Holy Land: In The Footsteps Of Jesus

The call of the Holy Land has resonated with devout Christians for centuries, and for a number of staff from Townsville Catholic Education, principals and teachers, it was the perfect way to continue their pilgrimage after attending World Youth Day in Lisbon.This dream they finally re

Healthy Minds Project Continues

Students from six local high schools across Townsville came together last month, for the second interactive workshop for the Healthy Minds Project. The project, funded by Rotary Club - Townsville Central, and hosted by Ryan Catholic College, aims to empower students to be ‘Leaders of Change&rs

Group Chats: The Hidden Bullying Epidemic

The significance of social media in the lives of children continues to grow as does their complete dependence on that constant online connection. As a result, there are now real concerns about the number of young people (as young as eight in most cases) that sleep with devices in their room and unde

Reflecting on Catholic Education Week: Bishop Tim's Inspiring Homily

It has been two weeks since we gathered to celebrate Catholic Education Week and reflect on what it means to be a part of this special community. We shared stories, celebrated achievements, and liturgy during the event and it has remained in our hearts ever since. Bishop Tim's homily that day was pa

Exploring Innovations: Robotics Enhancing Student Learning

Townsville Catholic Education (TCE) has recently purchased a variety of robotics kits to trial in its Catholic schools. To facilitate this, TCE will make the kits available for schools to borrow, rather than incur the cost of purchase. Collection of the kits will be available from the TCE office in

Celebrating the Dedication and Excellence of Catholic Education Award Nominees

The Spirit of Catholic Education Awards are presented annually in conjunction with Catholic Education Week to celebrate outstanding contributions to Catholic education in Queensland. Each year, nominations are received from our school communities throughout the Townsville Diocese, highlighting the i

For our Elders: NAIDOC Mass

Last week, a special celebration took place at St Theresa's Church in Townsville - National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week Mass.  The event, themed "For Our Elders", sought to acknowledge the significant contributions and influence that our elders have and conti

High Potential Learners at Ryan Catholic College, Townsville

HPL is an exciting new program dedicated to Ryan Catholic College’s High Potential Learners. It is a program that is created with a focus on the integration of knowledge, rather than focus on a singular topic of interest. It focuses on Entrepreneurship principles where finding soluti

Bishop Putney Shield to kick-start mental health awareness

Ryan Catholic College and Southern Cross Catholic College took to the field in Round 3 of the NQISSRL with an extra special purpose, officially kicking off the 2023 Bishop Putney Shield Series across u13, u15, Open Girls and 1st XIII Boys. The Bishop Putney Shield is all about raising awareness for

An Artwork that Inspires: Discovering the Legacy of the Good Samaritan Sisters at St Francis Catholic School, Ayr

“Go and do the same” This quote from the Parable of the Good Samaritan is at the heart of St Francis Catholic School Ayr’s Catholic Identity Model. The Good Samaritan Sisters were welcomed to the Burdekin district in September 1912 and for 84 years contributed to the charism and hi

St Anthony's College Drama Teacher Receives Prestigious Award for Creative Research

Todd Barty, Drama Teacher at St Anthony’s Catholic College, has been awarded the Colin Roderick Prize for English Honours for his coursework and thesis, including the creation of the play “Knock, Knock, Knock!”, which will be performed by St Anthony’s Catholic College student

Living with Ichthyosis: My Journey with a Rare Condition

My name is Amber Brine and I live in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. I was born with Netherton Syndrome which is a form of ichthyosis. Ichthyosis is an extremely rare and incurable condition currently affecting only one in 250,000 people worldwide. This condition makes my skin very red, dry, sore

Uncovering the Invisible

Please see below an article from Linewize - for further information, visit www.linewize.com While there are physical indications of how a child is feeling, there are numerous other ‘invisible’ or hard to access cues that exist within the child's digital world. For example, mental health

Lights, camera, engagement

Southern Cross Catholic College (SCCC) has been a prolific figure in the Townsville Catholic Education diocese since its grand opening in 1998. Originally a primary school, SCCC has since expanded to P-12 and is home to over 1450 bright eyed students. On paper, SCCC might appear like your average sc

Clean Up Australia Day

World Cleanup Day is one of the biggest civic movements of our time, uniting 1919 countries across the world for a cleaner planet. Every year, our Catholic Schools participate in Clean Up Australia Day. This event inspires and empowers communities to clean up, fix up and conserve our envir

Hear what International Women's Day means to our senior students

At Townsville Catholic Education, we #EmbraceEquity every day. Hear from four of our Townsville secondary students on what International Women's Day means to them. 

Lent is a time to take stock on our lives

Lent is a time to ask yourself what you really need to make time meaningful. Traditionally Lent is about reconciliation and repentance, which can feel negative and depressing particularly when we have been through so much in the last three years. The pandemic, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine

Celebrating 150 years of Catholic Education in the Townsville Diocese

Townsville Catholic Education is celebrating 150 years of educating students within the Townsville Diocese with two schools being opened in 1873 by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart.  The two schools celebrating the milestone are St Joseph’s Catholic School, The Strand and S

Students get switched on with Certificate II in Electrotechnology

Thirteen Townsville Catholic Education students have been given the opportunity to commence a Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start) while completing their secondary school education. In partnership with Major Training (RTO 6139), students from Ryan Catholic College, St Anthony’s C

Talking To Your Child About Cyber Safety

Children and young people have the right to be and feel safe at all times, including when they are online.  It is never too early to start talking to children about online safety.  Regularly talking with your children about safety online will help children safely navigate their digital wo

What is it Like Teaching in Townsville

What Is It Like Teaching in Townsville? Thinking about making the career switch to teaching in Townsville? Perhaps you’re already teaching in another city in Queensland or around Australia? Townsville’s population growth is well ahead of the national average, which means that teaching jo

Understanding the importance of sport

Understanding the Importance of Sport in Schooling       Sport and schooling have gone hand in hand for centuries, with physical education and sport classes being taught in some form since the late 1800s. Today, however, the value of sport in schooling has grown expone

Fostering Empathy in Children is Crucial

As seen in pakmag As parents, we are always hopeful that our parenting has provided our children with the skills required for them to flourish. But what does that really mean, and how do we know what aspects of parenting are going to help ensure this happens? Research tells us that being emotionally

The Future of Emerging Leaders

Over the past five years Townsville Catholic Education has delivered the Emerging Leaders Incentive Scheme, an impactful Indigenous Education program enabling students to strive for and pave pathways to become proud, confident and capable leaders of tomorrow. The program focuses on addressing educat

The Dangers of Vaping Among Young People

Over recent years, viral online trends involving vaping have become increasingly popular and rates of vaping amongst young people is steadily rising.  A dangerous trend which has surfaced this year involved the use of Nitrous Oxide bulbs, or commonly referred to as ‘Nangs’. Although

The Writing Project

The boardroom at Townsville Catholic Education office was abuzz with excitement last Thursday as the seven Writing Project schools  from across the Townsville Diocese joined together in a celebration writing.  Participants have recently completed their first year of a two year professional

Innovative Teaching in Our Schools

In semester one this year, two P-12 Colleges within the Townsville Diocese took the opportunity to deliver learning and teaching a little differently! Columba Catholic College in Charters Towers partnered with St Anthony’s Catholic College to teach Physics to a combined group of Year 11 and 12

Celebrating our Teachers!

A job like no other After only three years as a teacher, Brooke Stevenson knows she’s in the right place and has already begun making a difference in students’ lives.Destined to be a teacher from a very young age, Brooke was inspired by her pre-school teacher and could eve

School Law Conference

Yesterday,  Wednesday 19 October, we hosted our bi-annual School Law Conference at the Ville Resort-Casino. The one day conference focused on implications of changing legislation, school liability and legislative trends. The event’s keynote speaker, Melinda Tankard Reist is an author

QLD Mental Health Week Carnival

The 4th instalment of the Queensland Mental Health Week 9s Carnival was the biggest and most evenly contested yet. Last Friday (14 October), 14 Rugby League 9s teams across both the boys and girls divisions competed for the annual Bishop Putney Shield at the Townsville Sports Reserve. Congratulation

Mental Health & Wellbeing Roadshow a success!

Last week the Mental Health & Wellbeing Roadshow was held, which saw a group of deadly presenters travel all over the Townsville Diocese to discuss the importance of mental health and share their stories and strategies on how to cope. The Emerging Leaders Initiative Scheme is Townsville Catholic

Step into Prep

Supporting Your Child to Step Into Prep in 2023 Starting school is an important and exciting milestone for children and families.  A positive transition to school sets children up for a love of learning. Families play a critical role in supporting their children as they step into Prep. Here are

Eco Warriors

On Tuesday 13 September, 100 of our school students were Eco Warriors, fighting for the environment at our 11th Eco Warrior’s Day.Eco Warriors’ Day 2022 was held at St Clare's Catholic School on Tuesday 13th September and students and teachers arrived ready to take action and learn more

Annual Festival of Sport

On Thursday 1 September nine schools from across the Townsville Diocese came together to participate in the Annual Festival of Sport Carnival. This is an amazing opportunity for year six students within our Diocese to come together to showcase not only their skills, but to mingle with other stu

Blak Excellence

On Thursday 1 September, our Blak Excellence lunch was held at The Ville Resort-Casino, which was an aspirational afternoon for Townsville Catholic Education’s graduating First Nations Year 12 students. The afternoon was hosted by the Emerging Leaders Incentive Scheme which is a Fede

St Teresa's celebrates NAIDOC Week

Families from St Teresa's and St Patrick's College this year travelled from their home communities to celebrate this year's NAIDOC. Over 800 family members and friends of the school communities, gathered on Warrgamay Country (Abergowrie) to dance, sing, cook, share, listen, yarn and celebr

Rugby League stars in the making!

The inaugural North Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Rugby League (NQISSRL) team took to the field at the Hutchinson Builders Centre (NQ Cowboys), on Sunday 21 August against the touring Northern Territory Titans. The NQISSRL team was made up of girls from 7 of the 10 QISSRL eligible schools

How To Support and Advocate for Your Child with a Learning Difficulty

Schools in Australia aspire to promote equity and excellence, so all young Australians can become successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed citizens. As parents, there is great excitement, hope and a degree of trepidation your child’s schooling will resul

The Importance of Perspective-Taking for Social Development

As seen in PakMag- August issue. As parents, we may aim for a life of ease and tranquillity for our children, but the reality is that there will always be challenges along the way. The secret is to empower young people so they can navigate their way through challenges while interacting positively, r

Birthing kit Foundation

St Margaret Mary’s College became involved with the Birthing Kit Foundation in 2007. That year marked the beginning of our wonderful relationship with ZONTA Townsville Metro. At this time, we involved students from the Year 11 and Year 12 Early Childhood classes. The girls packe

Spirit of Catholic Education Awards recipients

The Spirit of Catholic Education Awards are presented annually in conjunction with Catholic Education Week to celebrate the outstanding contributions to Catholic education in Queensland. Recipients are members of our school communities who are making an outstanding contribution to the life of the sc

Deus Caritas Est (God is Love) Awards

The Catholic Education Deus Caritas Est Award is our most prestigious student award.  It is presented to one secondary student from each school in the diocese. Each school is to nominate one representative who meets all or most of the criteria. The award is inspired by the encyclical &ldqu

SMMC Diplomats' Club

The Diplomat's Club is a student club that was created at the beginning of 2022 for the express purpose of discussion. As online media brings us news of the events happening in our global community, particularly the invasion of Ukraine, many students here at St Margaret Mary’s have felt the ne

Leading the way in Indigenous Education

When it comes to Indigenous Education, Townsville Catholic schools strive to deliver an engaging educational experience, through opportunity, strategic support, and celebration of culture. Students are at the centre of all that we do, whether that is supporting our students’ educational goals,

Surviving the School Holidays - helpful tips

Fashion students at SMMC take on a new (wild) adventure

We have all heard the saying in theatre, ‘never work with children or animals’, the courageous Year 12 Fashion students at St Margaret Mary’s College are bravely doing both.  Led by local theatre director, Carla Lejarraga and head of costume designs, Judy Atzeni and with the s

From Little Things, Big Things Grow

From the humble covered sport shelter to the magnificent Benedictine Place, St Margaret Mary’s College delighted in the official Opening and Blessing of our brand-new facilities on Thursday 2 June. The community came together to witness the Apostolic Nuncio in Australia, Archbishop Charles Bal

PE Teacher by Day...Rugby League Star by Night

Get to know Alisha Foord, PE teacher at Good Shepherd Catholic School, Rasmussen and part of the Gold Stars 2022 Squad. How long have you been a teacher?I began teaching in term 2, 2021. I am currently in my second year of teaching. What made you want to become a teacher?I have always love

Fundraising drive for the people of Ukraine

Southern Cross Catholic College’s Year 11 student, Hailey Penna-Collins took it upon herself to start a week-long fundraising drive for the people of Ukraine. She met with the College Leadership team for approval, came up with ideas and rallied her troops to get multiple fundraising ideas. Hai

For the Love of Reading and Writing

As parents, we always  want the best for our children. One thing you can do to give your child the best start in developing their reading and writing skills, is to  talk with your child. And read. read, read and read some more. The earlier you take an active role in your child’s lit

St Benedict's continues paving the way for sustainability

St Benedict’s Catholic School, Shaw is proof that showcasing world-class sustainability is possible, no matter the size or scale of a project. The Prep to Year 6 school is known as one of Australia’s greenest schools, embracing sustainable practices for the natural and built environments

Principal's Reflection - National Reconciliation Week

Almost thirty years ago in the International Year of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Australia held its first Reconciliation Week activity - a week of Prayer for Reconciliation. This was an event celebrated by Australia’s major faith communities of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism

What you need to know about the 'Huggy Wuggy' trend on TikTok and YouTube

You may have heard about the latest TikTok craze involving Huggy Wuggy, which is a character from horror survival game Poppy Playtime. The game is a scary experience designed to thrill and unsettle. It has been rated suitable for 13 year olds. It features a sense of threat and dread throughout as th

Japanese Immersion at St Anthony's Catholic College

St Anthony’s Catholic College is the only school in Townsville to offer a Bilingual program. This unique approach to education is shown to strengthen the learner’s ability to process information, which prepares them for higher-level thinking skills and enhances brain development. Led by