By Mrs Liisa Hammond, Principal

Gospel John 6: 1-15 and Bishop’s Inservice Day

The Gospel of John 6: 1-15 can also be found in Matthew 14: 13-21, Mark 6: 30-44, and Luke 9: 10-17. In fact, it is the only story repeated in all four (4) Gospels, so it is significant and very familiar to us all. It tells the narrative of when Jesus fed 5000 people with only five (5) loaves and two (2) fish provided by a boy – a miracle that was recognised by the crowds of people. 

Sitting in the audience of Bishop’s Inservice Day at the Edmund Rice Centre of St Mary’s College, I had a sense of what it may have been like to be a member of that crowd who was fed such a simple meal, yet one that nourished the soul. 

Dr Pat Coughlan’s address refocused our distinctively Catholic schools’ purpose and challenged us to concentrate on what we are here to do and who we serve. He connected us to our ‘better’ story and supported us in bringing our legacies forward through our strengths of faith, progressiveness, interconnectedness, and unity. We were encouraged to recognise and achieve our purpose through deep learning moments, discovered in true dialogue with members of our college community. 

This address was enhanced and enlivened through the delivery of Graeme Connors’ performance of My Lyrical Life. Graeme Connors is a renowned Australian country music singer, songwriter, performer and theologian. In a blink of an eye, which is how fast an hour went past during his performance, through music and words, he was able to tell his story, his ‘better’ story, of how his catholic lens afforded him insight into this life. His life is distinctive in its simplicity and poetry, refined by moments connected to school, love and a career that is marked by signposts and timing. The beauty of Graeme’s story lay in its simplicity and relatability that forged a connectedness to each member of our TCS community - “… the search for humanity through spirituality …” 

How is this connected to John 6: 1-15? Great question. 

The simplicity of the meal provided by a boy, shared by the miracle of Jesus, is seen in the nourishment gained by the simplicity and beauty of Graeme’s ‘better’ story. A narrative that nourished the soul of the Toowoomba Catholic Schools’ crowd and encouraged us all to be the authors and creators of a better narrative, a better future for ourselves, but most importantly, for the young people whom we serve. 

A Moment to Observe 

Unfortunately, Bishop Ken was not physically present at the Toowoomba and Surrounds Bishop Inservice Day; this was owing to the loss of his mother and the need to be with family at that time. The Assumption College family would like to acknowledge Betty Howell’s passing and recognise her life as one that was fulfilled by her faith, compassion and joy – as witnessed by her family. May she rest in God’s eternal peace as we offer our prayerful support. In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust Betty. 

Catholic Education Week – Faith 

In Week 3 of Term 3, Catholic Education Week is an opportunity for all 312 Catholic schools across Queensland to celebrate and promote their distinctive mission and ethos. 

Specifically within our Assumption College Warwick community, we acknowledge Catholic Education Week with the presentation of our Semester 1 Academic Pins ceremony, our acknowledgement of Long Service Award achievers, the celebration of Toowoomba Catholic Schools Excellence Award nominees, and finally the attendance at Bishop’s Inservice Day. 

Ms Jessica Henry 

We would like to sincerely thank Alumnus Jessica Henry for her presentation at our Academic Pin Ceremony. In responding to a last-minute call-up, it is important to note that Jessica was not our replacement speaker but the next person on the list. Jessica spoke with such authenticity, encouraging our students to pursue each of their pathways with dedication and distinction. Jessica spoke of her own journey to accountancy at Globe Accounting via a pathway that included university study and acknowledgement of signposts along the way, as well as a special mention of her brother Matthew’s apprenticeship pathway, which we refer to now as an Applied Pathway, through which he has gained great success. 

Jessica sent us a lovely email following her speech, and with her permission, I place it here because it speaks so highly of our Alumni and the richness of their journeys—all ways, for always! 

Hi Liisa and Anna, 

I just wanted to again thank you for asking me to come and speak at today’s ceremony. I felt truly honoured and excited to be asked back, particularly to a community that holds so many fond memories for me and gave me such a great start in life. It was eye-opening to see how much the school has changed and evolved since I left in 2016; it has definitely progressed! 

The staff and the students were all so friendly, I felt so welcomed. It was great to see so many students achieving highly in their academic studies, and it was great to be a part of today’s ceremony celebrating these students. 

I’m always more than happy to come and talk to the students or lend a hand if need be. 

Thank you very much again. 

Kind regards, 

Jessica Henry BBusCom CPA 

Accountant | GLOBE ACCOUNTING 

jessica@globeaccounting.com.au | info@globeaccounting.com.au

Academic Pins 

Congratulations to the 68 students who achieved a Bronze, Silver, or Gold Academic Pin. This achievement speaks to the ever-increasing aspirational culture that our community, and in particular our Year 12 students, have engendered over the past 12 months. 

Long Service Awards 

Congratulations go to our Long Service Award recipients, Mrs Kerri Collins for 30 Years of Service and Mrs Carol Sharp for 25 Years of Service to Catholic Education. 

Kerri, every member of our community knows that we would be lost without your support, wisdom, and guidance. From English to Religious Education to Science and Mathematics, from Juniors to Seniors, the way you engage with our students and answer the call of need for our staff, we are thankful that you are a member of the community. 

Carol, your dedication to the roles that you have held at the College, as Assistant Principal of Religious Education, Curriculum Leader: Religious Education, and, most importantly, Educator, has seen staff and students flourish. Thank you for your time, wisdom, and insight. 

Excellence Award Recipient and Nominations 

Congratulations to Mr Riley Salter, recipient of the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Early Career Teacher Excellence Award for 2024. 

Riley Salter has a passion for teaching and a contagious energy and enthusiasm. He goes above and beyond, taking on leadership roles and co-curricular activities that foster a poster learning environment at the College. 

In addition to the expected responsibilities of an Early Career Teacher, Riley serves as a Subject Discipline Literacy (SDL) Coach, supporting staff with greater experience. His commitment to professional growth extends to networking with other institutions and enriching the College community. Riley also facilitates the SDL Professional Learning Team, expanding connections with St Joseph’s College, Toowoomba and Education Officers from TCS. 

Riley spearheaded the creation of the ANZAC Day liturgy, collaborating with a local historian in the construction and delivery of the ‘They Shall Not Grow Old – a History of the Assumption College Roll of Honour’ text by John Telfer. Riley’s dedication to our community also led to the construction of an Honour Board, honouring local service people. Through these projects, he has challenged students to reflect on their place in the world. 

Riley’s overall positive impact on the College community, his exceptional care for students and his commitment to community building are what set him apart in this early part of his career – not to mention his homage to the Back Street Boys, along with Mr Devon Pringle and Mr Aaron Buchanan. 

Congratulations to Mrs Esther Hohenheim, a finalist for the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Expert Secondary Teacher Excellence Award for 2024. 

Esther’s transformative impact on education extends beyond our local community, resonating across Queensland and the World. 

As an acknowledged expert classroom practitioner, Esther champions evidenced-based, high-impact strategies that affirm the dignity and potential of all students. Her commitment to fostering an inclusive and empowering mathematics department has transformed classrooms, creating an environment where every student thrives. 

Esther’s influence reaches beyond the College. As a QCAA Lead Marker and External Examiner for General Mathematics, she contributes significantly to the syllabus development within the new QCE system. Her expertise extends to presenting at the Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers State Conference and TCS’ Examination Preparation Program (EEPP). 

Esther’s journey as an educator reflects resilience, innovation, and a deep commitment to personalised learning and inclusivity. Drawing from her own experience of clinical blindness, she ensures the accessibility and flexibility of subject delivery. Formative and diagnostic assessment lies at the heart of her approach. 

Furthermore, we congratulate both Mr Riley Salter and Mrs Natalie Bennett on their Team Nomination as Subject Discipline Literacy (SDL) In-School Coaches for the Spirit of Catholic Education Award. 

Assumption College Warwick would also like to acknowledge two of our parents: Jodie Cosmo, who achieved the Excellence in Education Support: Volunteer Support award, as nominated by St Joseph’s School, Stanthorpe, and Angela Skillington, who was a finalist in the Excellence in Teaching and Learning: Primary/Kindergarten Expert Teacher award, as nominated by St Francis de Sales School, Clifton. 

2024 Spirit of Catholic Education (SOCE) Award Recipient – Assumption College Alumnus 

Eileen Moyle – Manager: Inclusive Education at Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office and Alumnus of Assumption College, was the worthy recipient of the greatest of awards offered during Catholic Education Week. It is with great pride that we congratulate Eileen by reproducing her acknowledgement: 

Respected and admired throughout Toowoomba Catholic Schools, Eileen’s dedication over twenty-eight years to staff, students and their families has had a lasting impact. 

As an exceptional leader, Eileen’s commitment to rigorous practices and high expectations is coupled with warmth and the ability to connect with others genuinely and deeply. 

Eileen’s expertise lies in evidence-informed recommendations and expectations for teaching and learning. She is a sought-after collaborator, frequently engaged by schools and colleagues to share her insights and lead the development of inclusive education structures. 

One example of her impact is Diocesan-wide ‘Planning for Personalised Learning ‘ (PfPL). Through PfPL, teachers have gained confidence and competence in tailoring curriculum delivery to cater to student diversity, ensuring no one is left behind. 

Her ability to identify and support change to ensure greater equity in education has also included teacher training in nonviolent crisis intervention. Eileen’s empathetic approach has fostered openness and renewed perspectives, ensuring our most vulnerable students can access their learning environment because of confident teachers who feel supported in challenging situations. 

Guided by Catholic values, Eileen honours the dignity of every person. She invests time in building meaningful relationships, actively listening and providing support for professional growth. Her transparent decision-making processes reflect integrity, respect, and high ethical standards. She encourages diverse viewpoints through open dialogue, thus ensuring innovative ideas flourish. 

In a role where diversity is championed and celebrated every day, Eileen’s inclusive leadership has created an environment where diverse perspectives, experiences, and ideas are valued. 

For these reasons, we wish to acknowledge Eileen as this year’s Diocese of Toowoomba SOCE recipient and thank her for contributing to the full and flourishing lives of staff, students, and their families. 

It is a privilege to have depth within our entire College community, and we celebrate the richness of quality that our staff, alumni, and parents bring to our distinctively Catholic learning environment. 

Jumpers and Jazz, 2024 

The Jumpers and Jazz Festival is a fabulous time for the Warwick community and celebrates the absolute best of what a country community has to offer. Assumption College has a proud tradition of supporting this event, and 2024 saw our strongest contribution yet. This included: 

• The Tree Jumper Exhibition - the Free Choice Category for 2024, where we showcased our Year 12s Senior Theme: Sower of Seeds.
• Wearable Art – at Kings Theatre.
• School Tree Decorating Competition – designed and constructed by our Wellbeing Wednesday Art and Craft group.
• Jazz and Concert Band Musical Performances
• Potter’s Soup Night – served by our Hospitality class and Mrs Donna Williams. 

Japanese Exchange Students 

Assumption College Warwick would like to thank Jane Greenhalgh and Bianca Retallick, Curriculum Leader: English and Languages, for the gift of their time and expertise in hosting the exchange experience between Chiba Kita and Assumption College. We thank every family that opened their home, every teacher that opened their classroom, and the students themselves who gave their time, space, and energy. 

The College acknowledges and celebrates the richness of experience that hosting exchange students provides. Initiatives such as these foster not only a positive educational experience but also international friendships and understanding. 

We hope that our new brothers and sisters enjoyed their time at Assumption College Warwick, and we look forward to continuing our newfound friendships. 

Welcome to Curriculum Leader (CL): Arts/Performance 

Assumption College, Warwick, would like to welcome Mr John Hodder to our staff. John comes to us from St Joseph’s Nudgee College. With vast current experience in the field of Drama and Music, as well as his experience with the QCAA, including Confirmer, External Marker, and Subject Matter Expert, we are looking forward to John’s valuable contribution to our ever-increasing cultural offerings at the College. Welcome, John! 

May our Mother Mary grant her blessings upon our College Community. 

By Mrs Anna Hardy, Assistant Principal Curriculum 

Academic Awards Semester 1 2024

Congratulations to all of our Academic Awards recipients. It was heartening to see so many students striving for success. Thank you to the parents and special guests that joined us for the ceremony and morning tea. 

As we move into the latter part of the academic year, we would like to update you on some important upcoming events and developments at Assumption College. Your continued support and engagement in your child's education are greatly appreciated. 

Year 9 and Year 10 2025 Subject Selection 

An information night was held this week to discuss the Year 9 and Year 10 subject selections for 2025.  The elective subject selection process for Year 9 and Year 10 students for the upcoming 2025 year will be conducted online through web preferences. Detailed instructions and the web preference link will be sent to students via email. Please refer to the Curriculum Handbook for Year 9 and Year 10, available on our website, for more information. 

Year 10 Student Education and Training (SET) Plans 

These meetings have begun this week, with members of the Academic Team. Year 10 students and their parents have received an appointment time. These discussions are instrumental in shaping the pathways for our Year 10 students; therefore, if the time does not suit your schedule, please contact the College office to rearrange the time. 

Year 12 Academic Coaching Sessions and Exam Block 

Parents will be sent the schedule for Year 12 Academic Coaching Sessions via email. These sessions provide invaluable insight as our Year 12 students and their families prepare for the upcoming external exam phase. These will take place from the Wednesday, 21 August 2024. The Year 12 Exam Block is scheduled from Wednesday, 4 September to Friday, 6 September 2024. A timetable of these examinations will be published in the coming weeks. 

Year 11 Exam Block and Unit Transition 

From Wednesday, 9 October 2024 to Friday, 18 October 2024 our Year 11 students will undertake their examination block, marking the conclusion of Unit 2. A comprehensive timetable will be shared with Year 11 students in the coming weeks. Students will transition into Unit 3 in Week 4 of Term 4. 

Term 3 Reports 

Years 7-12 students will receive a Term 3 report. This report serves as an interim assessment for Semester 2, offering valuable insights into your child's academic progress. 

We appreciate your ongoing support in ensuring your child's success. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teachers if you have any questions or require further information provided in the report.

By Mrs Julie Collins, Assistant Principal Pastoral and Wellbeing 

Butterfly Foundation

This week the Butterfly Foundation delivered positive body image awareness and education to the students in Years 7-10. The sessions covered a range of topics that work to address the modifiable risk and protective factors that underpin the development of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviours. The sessions for Years 7-10 did not cover eating disorders. 

Please see information below from the Butterfly Foundation to support you in conversations with your children.

By Mr Scott Clegg, Business Manager 

College Fees

We have recently issued the statements for our College fees via email. We kindly ask that you review these statements and arrange for payment by the due date. For those feepayers who have an existing Direct Debit or an approved payment plan with our College, please consider this notice as a friendly reminder and feel free to disregard if your payments are already scheduled accordingly.

We understand that managing finances can sometimes present challenges, especially in the current climate. If you encounter any difficulties with accessing your emailed statement, have not received it, or have any queries related to your College fees account, we urge you to contact our Finance Team. We are available to assist you via phone on 07 4660 4000 or email at Finance@acwarwick.catholic.edu.au, thereby ensuring you have all the necessary information at your disposal.

We recognise that unforeseen circumstances can affect one's ability to settle accounts on time. If you find yourself in a situation of financial hardship or if there are any concerns about meeting the payment deadline, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our Principal and I are available to discuss any matters confidentially and to explore supportive measures that can be put in place. Our aim is to ensure that financial concerns do not impede our students' education and wellbeing. Please contact our College Office via phone on 07 4660 4000 to make a mutually convenient appointment.

Your cooperation and prompt attention to these matters are greatly appreciated. We are committed to supporting every family within our community and believe that open communication is key to overcoming any challenges that may arise.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in fostering an enriching educational environment for our students.

By Mrs Alison Porter, Career Development Practitioner 

AgInspirations Program

Last week several Year 10 students attended the three-day AgInspirations Program, run by AgForce Queensland. The program enables students to broaden their networks and explore the diverse opportunities within the agricultural industry. We hope the students who were in attendance found the program worthwhile, experienced much learning and developed some networks in the agriculture workforce.

2025 TAFE at School courses 

Applications are open for 2025 TAFE courses that students can do while at school! 

TAFE is excited to announce that the 2025 Darling Downs, South Burnett 
and South West Queensland applications are open. Please click the link to see the attached information about courses or students should talk to the College Career Development Practitioner about the courses and those that might suit. 

How to apply 

To apply to the 2025 TAFE at School Programs, students will need to: 

Enter the application code for the course and campus location they wish to apply for. Please refer to the table at the back of the TAFE at School Course Guide for the codes. Darling Downs, South Burnett and South West Queensland Course Guide 

Reminder: Students WILL need their Learner Unique Identifier (LUI) and their Unique Student Identifier (USI) numbers to be able to apply for TAFE at School Programs.

What’s New for 2025 ?

Aviation Australia 

Aviation Australia are officially a part of the TAFE Queensland family – See the programs on offer on page 32 and page 34 of the Darling Downs, South Burnett and South West Queensland Course Guide.

Year 10 Careers Counselling 

Over the last couple of weeks, Year 10 students have attended careers counselling sessions in the lead up to their SET plan meetings to be held with parents. The purpose of these sessions was to start students thinking about their potential careers, pathways and their senior subject selections. These meetings were positive and Year 10 students should be congratulated on their planning and initiative in developing their future pathways.

University Applications Information Session for Year 12 

This week, Year 12 students had the opportunity to attend the University Applications Information Session held at the College. During this session, students were provided information about early entry opportunities at university, scholarship resources, instructions on how to apply to university in Queensland, course information booklets and course preferencing advice. 

Resources from this information session have been published to students on the Canvas Careers page.

Date Claimers 

First Aid Course (skills cluster) for Year 10 and Year 11 students, Wednesday, 11 September 2024. Letters have been sent home to parents/guardians. Parent/Guardian signed permission slips are due by Friday, 16 August 2024. Please note this is a strict date due to the requirements of the training organisation delivering the course and late permission slips and student course enrolments cannot be accepted. 

Year 10 Pathways Days

The Year 10 Pathways Days will be held on Thursday, 12 September and Friday, 13 September 2024. We hope students are looking forward to the scheduled Pathway Days at the end of Term 3, where students will potentially tour a university, TAFE and other organisations and hear from industry insiders on the range of careers and pathway options available. More details to follow. 

Espresso Barista Course will be held for Year 10 students on Wednesday, 2 - Friday, 4 October 2024. Letters with further information will be sent home soon.

By Mr Thomas Duggan, Sports Coordinator  

Border District Athletics

Congratulations to all students that attended the Border District Athletics meet on Thursday, 25 July 2024. Assumption College was well represented and finished in overall second place in the championship school rankings. We were awarded as the Champion Girls School for the second year in a row. Special congratulations to our individual award winners: 

•  Matilda Doyle - 13yrs Runner Up
•  Hayley Wainwright - 15yrs Age Champion
•  Harry Hume - 16yrs Runner Up and new 16yr  Boys Shot Put Record Holder
•  Riley Wainwright - Opens Runner Up

Best of luck to our students born in 2012 that will attend the Southern Downs trials on Wednesday, 14 August 2024.

Assumption College looks forward to the Warwick All Schools Track and Field Carnival which is being held on Wednesday, 7 August 2024 at Scots PGC. We aim to have a healthy representation of Assumption College athletes attend this carnival as well as some cheerful Assumption College supporters. This will be the 102nd Annual Warwick Secondary Schools Sports Athletics Track and Field meet and Assumption College are aiming to win the championship school. Let's go Frogs!

By Mr John Hodder, Curriculum Leader  

Jumpers and Jazz

By Mrs Amanda McCosker, College Chaplain  

Japanese Exchange Students

Haven’t we all hit the ground running for the start of Term 3? What a lovely experience it was for us all to have the pleasure of hosting the Japanese Exchange Students at our College last week. I am sure that connections and friendships were built as we spent time with the students, and they would have taken home many lovely memories of their time with us. 

Butterfly Foundation

This week, we were lucky enough to have Laura from the Butterfly Foundation talk to students about body image, social media and the dangers of chasing an ideal look or physique. As so many of us engage with social media each day, it is important we possess the ability to be able to discern the real from the staged and to be kind to ourselves and our own bodies. 

Be Kind To Yourself

Speaking of being kind to yourself, I recently saw a clip of Brene Brown talking about “candle-blower-outers”. She spoke about how every single one of us has a candle within us; think of it as your soul or your spark. Sometimes our light shines really brightly, and it’s important for us to surround ourselves with people who celebrate our light and protect it from going out. These are our friends, the people who are in our corner, celebrating our success and joy without judgement or jealousy. She explained that there are also people around us who are “candle-blower-outers” – those who feel threatened by our spark and basically want to try and blow the candle out. These are the people we need to protect ourselves from and be aware that they are not a positive person to have in our life. It is so important to not only be kind to yourself and take care of your own light, but to make sure we are the cheer squad for our friends and not a “candle-blower-outer.” 

Have a fabulous week!

By Ms Taylor Quinn, Teacher Librarian

Welcome back to the Library!

Last week our Interschool Chess Competition was an immense success! We were so pleased to host almost 70 students and their teachers from Stanthorpe, Allora, Warwick, Clifton and Goondiwindi here at Assumption College. The day was remarkable, and we would particularly like to congratulate Assumption College students Erik McConnell and Natalia Stewart, who received recognition for highest ranked player in Year 11 (Erik) and highest ranked player in Year 8 (Natalia).

This week, we are playing the Olympics on the big screen in the library all week long. All students are welcome to come in and view the incredible talent of professional athletes from around the world as they compete for gold in Paris.

Our discussion board, and artwork are still up for a limited time! The students funky Jumpers and Jazz crafts are still here for everyone to view while learning about how we treat our friends and what to do if roasting goes too far.

Time is marching on as we get closer and closer to Book Week in Week 7. How exciting! We hope you are thinking about your costumes that are inspired by the theme “Reading is Magic”. Our dress up day will be Tuesday, 20 August 2024 (Week 7). We can not wait to see all the creative costumes, and of course, the staff have something planned too! 

Come in and check out our new books display which is front and centre in the library. Mrs Driver has put all the Children's Book Council of Australia Notables out, making it easy to borrow these new and exciting novels. 

Reader’s challenge is coming up. Are you a whiz at remembering book trivia about what you have read? Are you detail oriented and notice everything about the pictures on a page? Do you thrive when working in a team? Do you love reading? Well then Reader’s challenge is for you! Reader’s Challenge is a competition for Junior Secondary students in Years 7, 8 and 9. Students are required to read three books and one picture book. The students will participate (in teams of up to four) in a trivia style question and answer competition at Warwick State High School on Thursday, 10 October 2024. This is always a great afternoon and to make it even more exciting each participating school has a teacher team trying to beat the students and each other.