5 June 2025

From the Pen of the Principal

Welcome to Week 7 of Term 2.

Last week, we marked National Reconciliation Week, a significant moment in the life of our College. This year’s theme, “Bridging Now to Next,” calls us to continue the journey of truth-telling, understanding, and unity. As a major provider of education for First Nations students in Queensland, we are incredibly blessed by the richness of culture and the deep learnings that continue to shape our inclusive community. We honoured this important week with a dedicated assembly and shared in the following prayer:

Creator God of Holy Dreaming,
Bring us together as one,
Reconciled with you and one another.
Bless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this land.
The first peoples to receive your blessings in this land.
The first peoples to see your beauty in the land, water, sky and nature.
The first peoples to hear your voice in ancient stories.
The first to give you praises in ancient places.
The first to know your love and love you in return.
God bless the Elders keeping culture and languages alive.
Bless all who work in Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities,
Making friends, growing partnerships to deepen understanding,
Learning to love and grow together.
Give us grace to travel together towards reconciliation,
For the sake of Jesus Christ.
Amen.

May we continue to strive as a College to close the gap and ensure every student, regardless of culture or geographical location, has the opportunity to flourish as a learner here at St Brendan’s.

FORMAL EVENING

What a truly wonderful night on so many levels! For those students and parents who attended, I’m sure you would agree the evening was nothing short of exceptional.

At one point, I stood on the mezzanine level and looked out over the hall. From my vantage point, one word came to mind: “good.” But not just good in the ordinary sense, good in the way that speaks of something right, meaningful, and full of heart.

To my left was a team of students running the show, lights, sound and visuals, executing each element with precision and professionalism. The band played beautifully, with a voice and playlist that bridged generations and brought everyone together.

Traditionally, the mother–son dance signals the moment when families begin to step onto the dance floor. But this year was different, our mums, dads, sons, and their partners were out there from the start, celebrating and having fun. It was a sea of smiles and laughter; a powerful image of community and belonging.

Reflecting on the night, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride. This is who we are. Family, students, and staff celebrating not just an event, but a journey, from those young Year 7 boys of yesterday to the fine young men we saw on the weekend. Not only men but “gentle men,” decent, grounded and students who we could not be more proud of.

There is often discussion about whether the Formal should be a student only event. I can assure you, it will never be. Yes, space is tight, but we will always make it work. What makes our Formal unique is that parents are part of the experience, and to exclude them would diminish its meaning.

A huge thank you to the many staff who dedicated months to bring the evening to life. Without naming individuals (for fear of missing someone), I want to acknowledge:

- Our Technical staff and students
- The Events team
- Catering, Services and Maintenance teams
- Head of Years, Education Support Officers and teaching staff who assisted with the event
- Administration staff
- Teaching staff who attended and supported the event
- Our students—who served as waiters, car park attendants, and helped with setup and pack-down
- Year 11 students who assisted on the night
- Year 11 parents and other parents who assisted with bar serving and other areas.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, I would add; it also takes a village to create this milestone moments that shape their journey.

END OF TERM

As we approach the final weeks of the term, I encourage you to continue to have regular conversations with your sons about their assessments and upcoming exams. If any concerns arise, please reach out to the relevant staff. Proactive communication can go a long way in easing anxiety and helping students finish the term positively.

Warmest regards,
Rob Corboy

Teaching, Learning & Innovation

Strategies for End of Term

As we move into the final weeks of term, students should now be completing assignments and increasing revision for upcoming exams. The assessment phase of the term is often extremely busy for students; typically, students will have two or three assignments and multiple exams to complete in a two-week period. With this in mind, it is important for students to have a plan to manage their time and prioritise their study. If students are seeking support with their learning and assessment preparation, I strongly encourage attendance at tutorials that are available before and after school, as per the schedule below.

Four Quick Tips for Exam Preparation

1. Know Your Assessment Dates
   Record all exam and assignment due dates on a hardcopy calendar. Position the calendar in a visible location at home or in dorm. Being aware of deadlines supports planning and prioritisation.
2. Use Spaced Practice
   Instead of cramming for 2 hours the night before the exam, break the study up into smaller 25 – 35-minute blocks in the weeks before the exam. This strategy improves long-term memory formation.
3. Revision questions
   Focus first on revision questions provided by the teacher. After this, work through additional questions form the relevant sections of textbooks.
4. Create Mind Maps
   Mind maps are a visual diagram for organising and connecting ideas around a central concept. They are fantastic tools for testing understanding of knowledge and establishing relationships between concepts. See the Home Learning Handbook on the Student Homepage for further details.

Kind regards,
Peter Reddy
Assistant Principal
Teaching, Learning & Innovation

Sport

Our interschool soccer and basketball seasons progressing to the semi-final stages of their respective competitions.

The basketball teams have been toiling away quietly, remaining in contention with some impressive results, whilst our soccer teams are well in the mix having been hard to beat throughout the season.

We wish all teams participating in the finals the best of luck!

Junior & Youth AFL Gala Day

Our Junior (Yrs 7-8) and Youth (Yrs 9-10) AFL teams competed in the Rockhampton District AFL competition on Monday 26th May. The boys were greeted by fantastic conditions for football and some hungry opposition in the quest to become district champions.

Our Junior team played games against Emmaus College, The Cathedral College and The Rockhampton Grammar School. They recorded wins against Emmaus and RGS, however, were beaten by a strong TCC team.

Mr McElhone’s Youth team were unbeaten going into the final game against Emmaus after defeating RGS and TCC. The final pool game against Emmaus was a nail biter with the result not finalised until late in the game. Unfortunately for us, some in accuracy in front of goal was the difference with Emmaus winning by 7 points.

Congratulations to both teams on their second place finishes in what was one of the most competitive AFL competitions in recent years. Thank you to Mr McElhone and Mrs Jones for assisting with the teams.

Senior AFL Gala Day

On Monday 2nd June it was our senior teams turn to take on all challengers in the Rockhampton District AFL competition. The team, although depleted by injury were quietly confident going into their games against TCC, RSHS, RGS and Emmaus. They hit the ground running from the first bounce and never looked back remaining undefeated all day. Such was their dominance, the only points conceded were in the third game of the day.

They eventually finished the competition with a cumulative percentage of 1081.3% (173 points for, 16 against).

There were many highlights throughout the day, but none better than the triumphant return of Ollie Miles. It was great to see the boys get around him and welcome him back into the green and gold. Well done boys!

The team has now qualified for the NQ Finals to be played in Townsville at the end of July. Thank you to the coaching staff for their efforts and best of luck in Townsville!

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

U18 Capricornia Rugby Union Representation

A large contingent of our premiership winning 1st XV Rugby Union team recently returned from Townsville after representing the Capricornia Region at the 17-18yrs Rugby Union State Championships. During the tournament, the boys took on teams from Darling Downs, Met North, South Coast, Met East, Wide Bay and Northern where they acquitted themselves well amongst some strong competition. Congratulations Cameron, Narasi, Isaac, Scott, Jordan, Labron, Bailey and Vanama. Well done boys!

U15 Capricornia AFL Representation

Last week 5 of our U15 AFL players represented Capricornia at the state AFL championships in Harvey Bay. Tanna Sell, Hugh Krievins, Xavier

McWhinney, Jameal – Fred Kebisu – Matasia and Marcello Muir took on teams from the Darling Downs, Wide Bay, Met West and Peninsula. It was a tough week with their only win coming against Darling Downs. Congratulations to the boys on their efforts throughout the week.

Congratulations to Xavier McWhinney who after week of great performances was selected in the U15 Queensland White team to contest the national championships in Brisbane early next term. Congratulations Xavier!

Queensland Gymnastics State Titles

Year 7 student Mason Stark has returned from the gymnastics state
titles a state champion! Mason competed in the Level 4 division
on multiple apparatus including floor, pommel, rings, vault,
parallel bars and high bar. He placed 1st in pommel and 2nd on
the vault. Congratulations Mason!

Kind regards,
Damien McLuskie
Director of Sport

Music

Outstanding Achievement: Students Selected for SHEP Capricornia

We are incredibly proud to announce that a number of our talented music students were selected to represent our school at SHEP Capricornia (State Honours Ensemble Program)—a prestigious music program run by the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.

These students were chosen from among their peers across the region, many of whom have had years more experience and private tuition. What makes this achievement even more exceptional is that most of our boys only began their musical journey in Year 7. Their rapid progress and dedication are truly inspiring!

Please join us in congratulating the following students on their selection:

• Cooper Ballment – Tuba
• Oliver Bennett – Alto Saxophone
• Alexander Campbell – Trumpet
• William Campbell – Trombone
• Victor Comiskey – Clarinet
• Jesse Emery – Alto Saxophone
• Monty Harrison – Cello
• William Lees – Trumpet
• Jacob Melville – Euphonium
• Cooper Ryan – Percussion
• William Mato

This opportunity allows our students to rehearse and perform with some of the most promising young musicians in the region, under the guidance of renowned conductors and educators. It's not only a recognition of their hard work but also a celebration of the incredible talent emerging within our music program.

We couldn’t be prouder of these boys for their commitment, courage, and musical growth. We can’t wait to see what they achieve next!

Central Queensland Youth Touring Ensemble (CQYTE)

On Saturday 28 June Jesse Emery and Ashton Ryan will leave Rockhampton to begin an exciting 12 day tour of Japan, culminating in a performance in the Australian Pavilion at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka on Friday 4 July. The adventure will immerse them in Japan’s rich culture and musical landscape. The Central Queensland Youth Touring Ensemble, made up of string orchestra and a concert band, was first formed at Yeppoon in August 2024 with the sole purpose of representing Queensland and Australia at the World Expo in Japan.

It is made up of 74 talented young music students, aged from 11 to 18 years, drawn from local schools in Yeppoon, Emu Park and Rockhampton. The 74 students, nine teachers and about 23 parents will travel to Japan for the World Expo.

The unforgettable journey will begin at the serene Meiji Jingu Shrine, followed by explorations of Harajuku and Takeshita, where they will experience the city’s vibrant fashion and energy. They will also engage in the exhilarating rhythm of taiko drumming, visit the Tokyo Dome City and the enchanting Ghibli Museum, marvel at the breathtaking beauty of Mt. Fuji and Lake Yamanaka, delve into history at the World Heritage Centre and Shurei Tower and travel via Bullet train to Kyoto.

Throughout their tour they hope to share their music and foster lasting connections at the Tachibana and Shugakusha high schools.

They will also visit Universal studios and the Yamaha Innovations Centre. Our visit to the Museum of Musical Instruments in Hamamatsu will culminate in a performance at Hamamatsu Town Hall.

The tour is a wonderful opportunity to use their music to travel, perform and learn.

School Musical Update: “We Will Rock You” – Get Ready to Be Rocked!

Preparations for this year’s school musical, We Will Rock You, are well underway—and the energy is electric! With a cast of over 50 students, rehearsals are taking place every Saturday and Wednesday, as our dedicated performers and crew bring this spectacular show to life.

Our incredibly talented rock band has been working tirelessly to perfect a setlist of over 20 legendary Queen hits, including:

• “Another One Bites the Dust”
• “Bohemian Rhapsody”
• “Killer Queen”
• “We Will Rock You”
• “Somebody to Love”
• “We Are the Champions”
  …and many more!

Set in a future where music is forbidden and conformity rules, We Will Rock You tells the story of two brave rebels who fight to restore rock ‘n’ roll to the world. It’s a powerful, high-energy musical packed with heart, humor, and the unforgettable music of Queen—a fist-pumping, foot-stomping anthem to individuality.

If you’ve ever sung along to “We Will Rock You” or “Bohemian Rhapsody,” this is the show for you! 
Don’t miss your chance to experience the magic live on stage.

Let’s rock the house—see you there!

Kind regards,
Jack Ingram
Head of Department - Music

Visual Art

Year 7 Art Excursion

Last Monday, Year Seven Art students travelled to the Rockhampton Zoo and Botanical Gardens, to practise some out-of-the-ordinary life drawing skills. Students observed and sketched a wide range of animals to prepare for their mask project, called ‘Inner Animals’. 

There were some great subjects, like crocodile tails, wombats, chimps, a cheeky gibbon and a majestic wedge-tailed eagle, who were all noble subjects for drawing. This time round, we got to see a lot more activity, as many of the animals were fed whilst we were there. We even witnessed a screaming koala, and some of the boys interacted with Capri, the youngest chimp in the group. 

We had a great day, eating lunch in the gardens (with a few feathered friends), and coming away with some great ideas for our masks that will be on display in our gallery at the end of term. Come up and have a look if you get the chance!

Jessica Minto
Acting Head of Department
Visual Art

Careers

SBC CAREERS NEWSFEED

SBC Careers Newsfeed

For the latest local and regional career opportunities (apprenticeships, traineeships, casual and holiday work included), work experience opportunities, school-based career information sessions, updates from Queensland Universities, QTAC, school-based university programs, industry trends information, events, and the world of work, subscribe to the SBC newsfeed.

St Brendan's College (sbccareers.com.au)

Careers Newsfeed

CAREER RESOURCES

If you are looking for resources and information, make sure you visit our SBC careers website.

Click here to visit the SBC Careers website

CAREER MEETINGS

If you, or your son would like further information or would like to meet with me to discuss career pathways, please send an email to Rebecca Lang with your available times and we will arrange a meeting langr@sbc.qld.edu.au or use the "Book an Appointment" link on the SBC Careers Website. 

Regards,
Rebecca Lang
Director of Pathways

From the Library

Check your student email for this message and reply with your Name and Year Level to register and get ready to start the QLD Premier’s Reading Challenge

What is The Premier’s Reading Challenge?

The Premier’s reading Challenge (PRC) is an annual state-wide initiative for students up to Year 9. In 2024 more than 216,000 students participated in the challenge and read over 1.9 million books throughout the PRC reading period. 

To complete the challenge you need to read 15 books, and you will receive a certificate of achievement. 

If you don’t make it to 15, that’s ok!  Even 1 book is a great effort, and you receive a certificate of participation 😊

The PRC is not a competition but aims to encourage you to read for enjoyment. 
Write down the titles of each book you complete on your individual record form and hand them into the library.
You can download the form HERE

Why Read?

Reading a variety of books helps build vocabulary and knowledge, improves your spelling and comprehension, boosts your confidence, sparks your imagination, and is a great way to switch off and relax.  Developing your literacy skills gives the best chance to succeed in school and life. 

There are many adventures waiting and different types of genres to explore:  Fantasy, Horror, Adventure, Mystery, Crime, Comedy, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Historical, Western … or explore new and interesting topics and read some non-fiction!

When you find a good book it’s hard to put down!!

What can you read?

• Printed Books:  to access print books in the SBC Library  
  Search the library catalogue for any title
  Email the library  to see if we hold a title you would like to read OR
  Place a RESERVATION if a book is on loan - we’ll email you when it is ready for pickup
•  eBooks & Audiobooks
  
•  Graphic Novels, Comic Books & Manga
  
• Newspapers and Magazines
• Books in languages other than English
• Any books you have at home, and don’t forget the public library is free to join
• Project Gutenberg  60,000+  free eBooks

Email the library to register, or if you have trouble accessing resources online
library@sbc.qld.edu.au

The library will send out emails of encouragement throughout the reading period and help you discover new items.
If there’s a book you want to read and we don’t have it, let us know and we can purchase it for the collection.
Check out titles in these Book Lists – use the drop down menu at the top to select current year 2025 + your year level

Contact the library if you have any questions.

Elizabeth Varley
Librarian

Cattle Club

SBC Cattle Club Shines at Springsure

We had a fantastic show at Springsure last weekend. After a cold and wet journey out on Thursday, the students did an excellent job preparing the cattle for a full day of competition on Friday.

St Brendan’s was awarded Most Successful Exhibitor. In the Interbreed section, Cambil Holly had a standout performance—winning her class, taking out Junior Champion Heifer, and ultimately being crowned Supreme Champion Female of the show. Cambil Tynan also impressed, winning his class and earning Reserve Champion Junior Bull. Fairy Springs Red Lady won her class and was named Reserve Champion Junior Heifer—only narrowly edged out by Holly.

There were many other notable placings throughout the day, including strong results in the steer and replacement heifer sections. The students truly excelled in Junior Parading on Friday afternoon and continued to shine in the Stud and Prime Cattle Junior Judging on Saturday morning, just before we began the long journey home.

New Students are always welcome to join in.  Cattle Club is at the Ag area on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons after school.

Regional Chess Competition

This week, the Chess Club boys travelled to Emmaus College to compete in the Term 2 Rockhampton Regional Chess Competition.

The tournament featured seven rounds across the High School A and B divisions. Our A team performed strongly, finishing in a commendable third place overall.

Four students were awarded individual merit ribbons for achieving 4.5 points or more out of a possible 7. Congratulations to Luke Roberts, Nash Edwards, Archie Rooney, and Bronx Smith on this fantastic achievement!

These competitions are not only enjoyable but also highly valuable. They give students the opportunity to play numerous tournament-style games against peers of similar skill levels. Beyond sharpening their chess abilities, these events help develop strategic thinking, concentration, and sportsmanship—while also providing a fun and rewarding social experience.

Now it’s back to practice for the remainder of Term 2 as we prepare for our final regional competition in Term 3.

Work Experience

With the holidays fast approaching we remind students in Years 10, 11 and 12 that this is the perfect time to start organising work experience for the upcoming break. Work experience is an opportunity to obtain first-hand knowledge and experience of how an industry operates from day-to-day, and if it’s the right career path to pursue. Work experience forms are available to collect from Mr Lawrence or Ms Gray (upstairs PE Staffroom). More information can be found on the website stbrendans.qld.edu.au/teaching-learning/vocational-education-and-training

It is the responsibility of students to:

• Collect all work experience forms from Mr Lawrence or Ms Gray and discuss the industry you are considering.
• Seek out an appropriate placement and organise with the workplace provider suitable dates and times to attend.
• Return all completed forms to the College.

It is the responsibility of the College to:

• Supply students with paperwork to be signed by the employer, student, parent(s)/carers, and the College.
• Ensure the workplace provider has a. received a copy of the completed Work Experience Placement Agreement Form
  (signed by the College) b. completed the Risk Assessment Form
• Contact the workplace provider during the placement
• Provide an evaluation sheet to the employer to complete after the placement

It is the responsibility of parents/carers to:

• Ensure medical conditions and/or medication which may impact on the safety of the student or others in the workplace is included on the work experience agreement.
• Organise transportation for the student to the work experience location.

Please ensure all required forms for Work Experience placements in the upcoming holidays are returned to Mr Lawrence or Ms Gray by Thursday 19 June 2025.

If there are any problems during the placement, please contact Mr Lawrence immediately on 0428 244 406.

Tamara Gray
HR & VET Officer
Business Operations

Generous Donations to Automotive

St Brendan’s College extends its sincere thanks to Michael and Susie Cervai of Yeppoon Health and Fitness, as well as Rochelle and Nicholas Ferguson, for their generous donation of used vehicles to support our Certificate II in Automotive training course for Year 11 and 12 students.

This hands-on course relies heavily on the donation of vehicles, and it simply would not be possible without the ongoing support from parents and members of the Yeppoon community. We are incredibly grateful for your contribution to our students' education and practical learning.

Learning Support

School TV Webinar

This exclusive, one-off event is fast approaching and we’d love to share the benefit of the insights of two of Australia’s leading experts, Susan McLean and Dr Michael Carr-Gregg.

They will share invaluable insights on how to empower young people to navigate the online world safely and responsibly.

WEBINAR: Digital Media Literacy & Safety (Part II)
DATE: Tuesday, 17 June 2025
TIME: 7:30 pm

Topics in this webinar include:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Misinformation & Algorithms
• Sexting and Sextortion
• Online Grooming

Please note: Participants MUST REGISTER PRIOR to the commencement of the webinar to gain access.

Alternatively, you may consider sharing the following link in an email to your community.

http://stbrendans.qld.schooltv.me/webinar/qld-digital-media-literacy-safety-part-2

We look forward to having you join us for this insightful and engaging session.

Rodeo

Tuckshop

College App

Android download is available by CLICKING HERE.

Apple user download is available by CLICKING HERE.

Uniform Shop Trading Hours

Please note that there have been changes to the Uniform Shop’s opening hours.

See below for the updated normal trading hours and upcoming additional opening times.

Timetable

Study Groups & Clubs

Regional Visits

COUNTRY DINNER BOOKING LINKS

Darwin and Katherine
RSVP HERE by 8:00pm 10 July 2025

Roma, Quilpie and Charleville
RSVP HERE by 8:00pm 6 September 2025

Term 2 Date Claimers

The 2025 College calendar is now available to support your planning.

Access it through Parent Lounge or via the website using the following link:

Old Boys Foundation

Employment Opportunity

School Administration / Receptionist (Leave Cover & Casual Support)

We are seeking a warm, organised, and efficient Administration / Receptionist to join our school team for a 5-week leave cover, with the potential for ongoing casual support.

Duration:

• Initial contract: 5 weeks (leave coverage)
• Start date: 21 July 2025
• Ongoing: Casual support as required
  

Key Responsibilities:

• Front desk reception duties – greeting visitors, staff and students
• Managing phone calls and emails
• General administration tasks
• Supporting daily school operations
  

Who We are Looking For:

• A friendly and welcoming person who is the face of our school
• Strong organisational and communication skills
• Ability to multitask in a dynamic school environment
• Experience in a school setting is highly desirable
• Familiarity with TASS (The Alpha School System) or other databases is a strong advantage
  

This is a wonderful opportunity to be part of a supportive team in a vibrant school community.

To apply: Please send your resume and a brief cover letter to Anne Campbell, HR Manager by 20 June 2025.

CampbellA@sbc.qld.edu.au

Community

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