At the time of writing this, we are approaching the halfway mark of term 3 and the term has been action packed already!  I had the pleasure of briefly attending the Relay for Life fundraiser at Barlow Park Saturday 2 August. Our College was front and centre there with over 50 students and many staff in attendance. This year our students beat their previous fundraising record of $5,500. They raised over $9,000! This is a fantastic achievement and all who supported this effort should be very proud of this achievement. I am.  I would, in particular, like to recognise the work of Mrs Pam Dean and Mrs Nicole Neill who were the driving force from a staff perspective. I look forward to what we can achieve next year. At the same time, we also had a Primary Campus staff and retired staff team entered.  They raised approximately $6,000.  Congratulations to that team as well.

Last Wednesday the Queensland Teachers Union directed its members to take a day of Protected Industrial Action. Most of the Redlynch State College teachers participated in this day of action. I would like to thank the parents of our College for your support by keeping your children at home. I understand and respect that this was not possible for all parents and as a result we had adequate supervision in place for those students that attended on the day. I sincerely hope that our Department and the Teachers Union can reach an agreement.

It is with a lot of excitement that I can announce that Mrs Claudia Belcher has been selected as the Queensland Nominee in the category of Australian Teacher Aide of the Year 2025! Mrs Belcher now represents all Queensland schools, state, private and independent as the nominee at the upcoming awards in September. This is an awesome accolade and just recognition of Mrs Belcher’s dedication to her students and her work.  I am very proud of her achievement this far and wish her all success as the finalists and Australian Teacher Aide of the Year is announced next month.

I am noticing, perhaps because of the colder weather, an increase of students arriving late at school. Whilst being punctual is always the best outcome, this is a timely reminder to ensure that you remind your children that if they are late they must get a late slip. I have also noticed a decrease in parents notifying the school to “explain” an absence. This directly has an impact on your child’s official attendance record. For students in Year 11 & 12, this may impact whether a student has “Clearance” or not. If you are aware that you may have missed notifying the College regarding an absence, you are still able to contact the College and have that absence recorded accurately. 

The next 9-10 weeks of school are the most important weeks of school left for our Year 12 students. After this, students will be undertaking external exams and before they know it, their year is finished. Please encourage your Year 12 students to take every opportunity and put the work in for their final assessments, which are quickly approaching. 

Mike Hansen - Executive Principal

Head of Campus - Adrian Hooper

Welcome to our August Newsletter and it’s another bumper edition celebrating the great work of our student on the Secondary Campus.

In this newsletter, Deputy Principal Diversity and Inclusion Mr David Zhang provides a timely update on the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) submission and the process behind this. I would like to thank Mr Zhang and his DLC team for all their work in this area and the tireless support they provide to our students. Also, Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning Ms Joy Murgatroyd has an update around our 2025 NAPLAN results and when parents can expect this result coming home with their children.

Deputy Principal Yr7/8 Ms Jodie Sippel is continuing with us this term while Mrs Crookes is gradually returning from leave. We continue to be grateful for the wonderful support Ms Sippel has been providing our Year 7s and 8s. Ms Sippel and Mrs Crookes are currently conducting interviews for Year 6 students enrolling at RSC for Year 7 next year and details of how to complete this process are outlined further on.

Further on in the Newsletter, Yr9/10 and timetabling Deputy Principal Ms Ashleigh Batterham will talk about the resounding success that was last Wednesday’s RSC Curriculum & Pathways Expo.

Of course, the Expo signals the public start of our 2026 timetabling process. Current Year 10 students are about to commence their subject selection process for Year 11 in 2026 and all parents/carers of Year 10 students are reminded to book in their Senior Education & Training Plan (SETP) meeting with Mr Crosby. It is essential that all current Year 10s returning for Year 11 in 2026 have a SETP meeting.

Similarly, in coming weeks, Junior Secondary students will commence completing some OneSchool surveys to provide the College with necessary data about what elective subjects students are interested in pursuing in 2026. This will be followed by formal online subject selections through OneSchool in Week 8. We encourage all students to be checking their school emails daily, so they are fully informed when the process commences. Parents will also be emailed, and we will post regular updates on Facebook for those that follow us there.

Deputy Principal of 11/12 Mr Greg Bayldon has provided an update on the Senior School. Can I also take the opportunity to ask for the support of parents of Year 12 students regarding their attendance for the last nine weeks of timetable classes before external exams commence in Term 4 Week 4. As always, I encourage all Year 12s to make the most of their teachers, classes and classmates over the next nine weeks. While it may seem a way off to our students, parents and teachers know the end of school for our graduating class will be here before we know it.

In staffing news, I would like to welcome new ITD and HPE teacher Mr Stuart Price to RSC. Mr Price brings a wealth of experience teaching in both New Zealand and Melbourne. I know our students will benefit from his addition tour expert teaching team. Welcome Mr Price.

Finally, this past week has been Support Staff Week and on behalf of the Secondary leadership team, I would like to give a heartfelt thanks to our talented and hard-working support staff for everything they do.  They are the backbone of our great College and their contribution to the effective running of our school and the work of both teachers, and the leadership team cannot be underestimated.  Thank You!

DP - Teaching & Learning – Joy Murgatroyd

NAPLAN results

Year 7 and Year 9 students have received their 2025 NAPLAN reports this week. If your child sat the tests, they will receive a report showing their performance in Numeracy, Reading, Writing, Spelling and Grammar and Punctuation. Students are placed within bands labelled: Needs additional support, Developing, Strong, and Exceeding so you will see what level your child performed at on the day of the testing. You will also be able to see where your child is placed compared to the national average. The front page of the report outlines “How to read the student report” to assist you in understanding the results.

Student reports were handed out during their form class on Thursday and Friday; if you have any questions about the reports; or if your child has not received one, please email me on jmurg1@eq.edu.au

DP - Senior Schooling - Greg Bayldon

Term Three is a significant milestone for our senior students.

Year 11

Many Year 11 subjects will finish the Year 11 curriculum this term and start Year 12 work in Term 4. The Year 11s will also complete preparations to attend their leadership camp in Term 4.  The leadership camp is a wonderful opportunity for the students to bond with their peers and senior teachers, create lifelong memories, challenge themselves with the variety of tasks on offer and identify themselves as future leaders of our school. Meanwhile they need to maintain their focus on their prime reason for attending senior school at RSC; their academic success and gaining credentials to carry into the next stage of their journey outside of school.

Year 12

The Year 12 students are gearing up for their gala night at the Formal where they will celebrate their final year at RSC and their emergence as young adults of the future. We all await the fabulous fashion and swagger the students bring to our red carpet, and some of us can’t wait to see the array of magnificent vehicles delivering our students. It will be a welcome release valve for the students after their second last term of school completing their final internal assessments and preparing for the rigorous round of final external assessments, completing certificates and traineeships amongst other deadlines. The Year 12s still need to retain their focus on the big prise in their scopes as they finish the remaining 45 days of scheduled classes along with 4 weeks of crucial exams.

The seniors have lots of hurdles and rewards ahead but they must be disciplined and remember why they chose to complete the optional senior years of school and ensure that their focus is always on achieving success in those areas.

DP - Middle Secondary (9/10) - Ashleigh Batterham

Curriculum and Pathways Expo 

The Curriculum and Pathways Expo held on Wednesday 13^th August was a resounding success. Designed to let students and parents/carers explore the different opportunities and pathways available to students both at and beyond Redlynch State College, the event featured subject displays, food and live entertainment, career insights and breakout information sessions. This event also served as the first step in our Year 10 students selecting their subjects for senior schooling. 

Year 10 SET Planning 

This expo was instrumental in guiding students toward their Senior Education and Training (SET) Plan meetings, where Year 10 students and their parents/carers will meet with Mr. Crosby, Head of Senior Schooling, to select their senior subjects. These SET Plan meetings enable students to align their subject choices with their career aspirations, ensuring a tailored approach to their Year 11 and 12 studies. All year 10 students will be required to complete a SET Plan meeting. 

To book a SET Plan meeting for your child, follow the link in the email Mr. Crosby sent earlier this week to Year 10 Parent/Carers. If your child is not planning to return to Redlynch State College in Year 11, it is still advised to book a SET Plan meeting. 

DP - Junior Secondary (7/8) - Jodie Sippel

All Year 8 students will complete the Student School Opinion Survey on Friday, Week 5. Year 8 students have received an email inviting them to participate in the survey. The School Opinion Survey is designed to obtain the views of students on what their school does well and how they can improve. Opinions about the school on a range of topics are sought from state school students in Years 5, 6, 8 and 11.The 2025 School Opinion Surveys will be open between 28 July and 22 August 2025. Additional information about the School Opinion Survey is located on the Department of Education’s website.

As a reward for our new Positive Behaviour for Learning pilot in the junior school, the Year 7 & 8 team have introduced incentives to allow the top ten Ready to Learn earners from each grade to take an early lunch break during Week 10. Students will also be rewarded with foody treats of popcorn, lollies and icy poles. A maximum of 20 students will be given 20 - 30 minutes extra lunch time. Supervision will be provided in a designated area either by a Dean, Head of Department or Deputy Principal. The Year 7 & 8 team is also having discussions about hosting a disco for our juniors. Mr Buttenshaw came up with a great idea to make it a Halloween theme, and holding it during the week of Halloween, which is Week 5, Term 4. We will keep you posted with any updates. Please encourage your students to support and participate in these wonderful initiatives!

We will try to accommodate reasonable requests from parents and caregivers to provide work for Year 7 – 10 students taking holidays during the school term. In most cases, teachers will direct students to existing resources e.g. OneNotes, subject specific online platforms or textbook chapters. Teachers are not required to provide individually tailored lessons for students on holidays, and decisions about learning and assessment will be made on a case by case basis.

DP - Diverse Learning - David Zhang

Term 3 has seen strong progress across the Diverse Learning Centre. I extend my appreciation to our staff, students, and families for their ongoing support, commitment, and collaboration.

A key focus this term has been the successful completion of the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) submission. This process plays a vital role in ensuring students with disability receive the adjustments and resourcing they require. I acknowledge the work of our classroom teachers, case managers, and support staff who have worked diligently to ensure accurate, evidence-based documentation. I also thank our families for their contributions throughout this process.

Staff capability has remained a priority. Targeted support has been provided to new staff and teacher aides, particularly in the areas of behaviour support and the use of information technologies. These efforts are strengthening our collective capacity to meet the diverse learning needs of students.

Our support structures continue to evolve in response to student need. The Check-In/Check-Out program has been refined to support certain students requiring regular feedback and positive reinforcement. Re-entry meetings following suspensions are now more clearly structured, focusing on goal setting and reintegration planning. Intervention in literacy and numeracy has also continued, with a focus on early identification and targeted teaching.

As we look to the remainder of the term, our focus remains on ensuring every student is supported to thrive. Thank you again to our dedicated staff and engaged families who continue to make this work possible.

The Secondary Campus Leadership Team

Netball Academy

Fowler’s Cup 2025 – Lynton McKay (Netball Academy Coordinator)

The netball culture continues to grow at our amazing college. This year we entered 5 teams. One in each division: Year 7 girls, Junior Boys, Year 8/9 Girls, Senior Girls and Senior Boys. Many of the players have been working hard at Netball Academy and I knew we had the opportunity to be competitive in nearly all of the divisions. This was our most successful Fowler’s Cup ever with 3 of our teams remaining undefeated and taking gold! Well done to our Year 8/9 girls, Senior Girls and Senior Boys. Our Junior Boys were also able to come home with the silver as the runners up of their division. All of the students participating represented our college with pride and great sportsmanship. I would like to thank all of the people who helped to make a day like this possible. Our amazing parents (Debra and Kristy) and ex-students (Rachael) who volunteered their time to help out and coach and umpire a team. Without you, days like this are not possible and we truly appreciate you. The amazing Ivy Sneddon, who spent the whole day down at the courts umpiring and cheering on the Junior Boys, and finally Erin Toomey who as always does a brilliant job helping me organise the teams, coach and umpire games. Below are the write ups for each individual team.

Year 7 Girl’s team – Rachael Hurst (coach)

What a Day! We wrapped up the day with 2 wins from 5 games and a whole lot of team spirit! Even though we didn’t make the final, the girls played with a positive attitude and a strong determination on the court. My MVP was Halle. She was unstoppable on court and gave 100% every game. The coach’s award goes to Sophie – a defensive powerhouse, who made crucial intercepts and kept the pressure on and Bhavni. At the start of the carnival Bhavni was shy and unsure but as the day progressed, she became confident, vocal, and read the play like a pro! As a coach I am so proud of every single girl – their teamwork, respect, and energy were next level. An absolute joy to coach, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

7-9 Boy’s team – Erin Toomey (coach)

For a group of boys starting out in this sport, it seemed unusual to have experienced such big highs and definitive lows in a short space of time. In their first game of the day against St. Mary’s, the boys adjusted quickly to the fast-paced game and their confidence grew as they started to get a better understanding of their roles in the game. They sealed the win notably influenced by their determined defence across the court.

In following games, our defensive trio of John, Carter and Riley were able to shut down opportunities for opposition attackers often whenever the ball made it to the opposition’s attacking end. Aman became a surprise addition to the team who showed great persistence in attack and defence. Aman combined with Blake, Josh and Con to successfully clear out the ball and give many opportunities for the RSC shooters, Hezekiah, Darius and Eli.

The greatest challenge for our RSC junior boys was faced in their game against Smithfield High School. RSC Dragons showed early in the game that they were not going to give Smithfield any easy points and there was little separating the teams at half time, but the Smithfield boys stepped up another level in the second half leaving our RSC boys to reflect on how much they still have to learn in the game. Following this loss, we realised that Smithfield were going to be the most likely winners for the day so our new focus was ensuring that our Dragons’ team had no more losses for the day. Our boys were successful in achieving this goal, finishing off with a 16-0 win against Bentley Park and a hard-fought win in their second match-up against St. Marys in the final game, winning by three goals. The team never looked like they would back down and Darius was a stand out with his timing, movement and rebounding in the final game to help the team finish off the day as the overall Runners Up.

RSC Junior Boys MVP is awarded to John for creating the most turnovers and for his consistent pressure in defence. A coach’s award goes to Blake for being the most reliable player, his timing was excellent to get to the ball and he made very few mistakes throughout the day. Congratulations to all our Junior Boys.

8/9 Girl’s Team – Kristy Nowak (coach)

What a great day for the year 8/9 Netball team! The girls are such a wonderful and talented team, who ended up being undefeated and coming away with the trophy.

In the pool games we managed to stay undefeated. Our closest game was against St Mary's who we only beat by 1 goal. What a nail biter! Our amazing shooting end consisted of Jemma, Violet and Tayla and they shot great all day and really worked well together. Nevayeh also went shooter in some games to help out and was an amazing all rounder. During the day she also played in the midcourt and helped out in defence when needed. She gave 100% in every position and really helped the team! For all her hard work on the court at all different positions, Nevayeh got MVP for the day! Well done.

Our midcourters, Alexis, Lucy, Ruby and Emma, worked hard every game against some tough competition and moved the ball with great timing down the court into the shooters. Our defence of Indi and Bianca shut down the opposition shooters time and time again and worked well together. They got some great help from Lucy, Emma and Jemma when needed too. 

Our semi-final was against Tully, with the winner progressing to the GF. This was a hard game from the get-go. The girls all played great and worked so well as a team and at the end the scores were even! The game went into overtime. The girls dug deep and stayed calm to win in overtime by 4. They then had to go straight on and play Newman College in an epic final. With no break, they were all starting to get tired but they found that extra energy to dig deep and play some great netball. Every position I put them in they gave it their all and it paid off. When the final siren sounded they had beaten Newman by 5 goals. 

My coach’s award goes to Tayla who gave 100% in both midcourt and shooting. She shot great all day against some very tall defenders and her accuracy was on point.

All the girls were a pleasure to coach. They are all very talented players who deserved to be winners at the end.

10-12 Girl’s team – Deb Thompson (coach)

The senior girls’ team had an outstanding performance at the carnival, winning every single game with confidence and determination. Despite the unpredictable weather conditions, the girls stayed focused and played with great enthusiasm and dedication throughout the day. In their final pool game the girl’s came up against the formidable St Mary’s, who won both the CISSA title and Vicki Wilson Cup this year. The girls put together their strongest game of the carnival to gain the lead and they never looked back. They were patient and posed in attack and their defensive end made life hard for the Saint Mary’s shooters. The defenders consistently turned over the ball in pivotal moments during the game. After topping their pool, they were grand final bound. The grand final came against Cairns State High School who were the runners up this year for CISSA. Again the girls played brilliantly and ran home with a dominant win. I’m incredibly proud to have coached such a talented and committed group of young women. My Coach’s Award goes to Soraya Nowak for her unwavering motivation and encouragement towards the team, as well as for playing with incredible grit and determination. My MVP is a little harder as ALL the girls played well with the same intensity and determination for their team, but because I have to choose only one my MVP of the day goes to Zoe C.

10-12 Boy’s team – Lynton McKay (coach)

The senior boys had a fantastic day. This team has been building all year, attending netball academy lessons in order to learn the many rules of netball along with tricks and skills that they can use to their advantage to pair with their amazing athleticism. The boys managed to claim comprehensive victories against Ravenshoe, Mareeba, TAS and St Andrew’s. Their final game of the day was against Smithfield State High School. Smithfield have absolutely dominated the boy’s netball scene in Cairns for the last 3 years and their team has 2 QLD boys netball players. After losing to them in the final of the Vicki Wilson Cup the Redlynch team was back and ready to take it to them. The first half was very even with Redlynch trailing by one. In the second half Ben and Leon played with control in the attack end and fed the ball brilliantly to both Josh and Patrick. This limited Smithfield’s opportunities to turn the ball over. The defensive trio of Beau, Aiden and Danny did a fantastic job of building pressure on the Smithfield attacking end and as the half continued the team began to run away. By the time the final siren went the score was 15-9 to Redlynch. The boys were ecstatic to finally beat Smithfield. The MVP for the day went to Patrick Lacey. He was absolutely unstoppable in the shooting circle with opposition teams unable to shut him down. The Coach’s award goes to Danny Rapier. Danny consistently used feedback to adjust his game and was an extremely important part of the midcourt. Well done boys!

Student Resource Scheme