Written by Abigail Hammond - Faith and Social Justice Leader

Leadership

In Wednesday Wellbeing, for Week 6, the Year 12

cohort came together with Maryanne Walsh from TCSO and recapped on what we covered at the end of last year, during our Leadership Retreat. This session was to ensure that we had started implementing what we had learnt, regarding topics such as how we can help lead the college and how we can become more cohesive, to ensure that we can be our best selves as a cohort.

We examined topics from integrity and reinforcing the understanding that the things we walk past is the standard we accept, not only for ourselves, but for our whole community. We learnt how to effectively show respect to everyone, inform people if what they are doing is wrong, respect each other no matter what the circumstances, as well as to saying ‘yes’ to speaking in front of people. We explored what makes a leader a good leader and discovered that communication is imperative to ensure the best for the College and our community.

The session was more than beneficial in empowering the ACW 2025 Senior Cohort to take the next step in becoming the best leaders we can be, whether in a formal position or not.

Written by Bianca Retallick - Curriculum Teacher English

Welcome to Week 6!

The first half of the first term of 2025 has been jampacked with exciting learning opportunities in the English and Languages Department.

Students across Years 7-10 have been interacting with various genres of fiction writing. From fantasy to adventure and Shakesperian classics, students have been engaging with the conventions and structures of these genres, using their understanding, to create their own fictional narratives and spoken presentations.

Students of Senior English are currently working through their first assessment pieces. From novel and film studies to persuasive speeches and presentations, our senior English students have been continuing to develop and perfect the skills and knowledge they cultivated last year.

Spanish

In Spanish, junior students have been exposed to the beauty of the Spanish language, quickly mastering introductory phrases and learning how to read and write in Spanish. This year, we have our first Year 11 Spanish class, lead by the very capable Mr Carrasco. The senior Spanish students have been honing their ability to read, write, speak and listen in Spanish, working towards submitting their first senior Spanish assessment task, where they have to write journal entries in Spanish describing their family members and their relationships.

Pride and Predjudice

Aside from the wonderful opportunities our teachers provide in the classroom, senior students were afforded the opportunity to travel to Toowoomba and see the stage adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved and iconic novel, Pride and Prejudice. On the 13 February 2025, fifty senior English students travelled to The Empire Theatre. We were lucky enough to see the play’s premiere showing, the very first performance of Pride and Prejudice, in the country. Students and staff watched in awe as the performance unfolded. It was whimsical, entertaining and helped to foster more interest in Jane Austen’s classic novel.

Queensland Debating Competition

The English Department also offers students the opportunity to participate in debating. Once again, ACW is taking part in the Queensland Debating Union’s debating competition in Toowoomba. So far, our Year 10 team has completed their first round of four debates. After intense preparation, our Year 10 team walked away with a convincing win. Congratulations to April Nelson, Summer McKelvey, Aishleen Sidhu and Mackenzie Fritz on their success. Tonight, our Year 9 team will participate in their first round of debating. We wish them the very best in this endeavour.

As we move further into the year, there will be more co-curricular opportunities for students to partake in, so keep an eye out for those.

Happy reading!

Bianca Retallick

Written by Dimity Gardner - Pastoral Middle Leader Year 9

Southern Downs Youth Council 2025

On Thursday 27th February, Samuel Black, April Nelson and Ella Winfield attended our first ever SDYC meeting. We believe that it was an extremely enlightening experience, and through the assistance of Peer Power and the Councillors, we were able to learn a lot about the Youth Council. Over the year, we will be working closely with the Councillors to address key issues that affect adolescents in the Southern Downs region.

We were given the opportunity to meet and interact with other youth members from schools within the Southern Downs region. This gave us the opportunity to not only meet new people but discuss our interests with other young people who have the same passions.

We spoke on topics that are important to us; however, we are not just the voice for our own ideas and would like to hear from you. Please feel free to email any of us with any concern or question you would like to be raised in a council setting.

Contacts are as follows: