Head of Campus - Adrian Hooper

Welcome to the end of Term 2 newsletter. Now that Mr Hansen is back from his well-earned long-service leave, I am back in the Secondary Head of Campus chair while Mr Andrejic continues at Woree SHS. This will continue until at least mid-Term 3, by which point we should start to see many of the acting positions in our region impacting on RSC start to be resolved. Mr Hansen and I will keep you update on any changes specific to RSC.

In Term 3 we will welcome back Mrs Crookes, though we will be retaining Ms Sippel in the Deputy Principal Yr7/8 role for the first four weeks. During this time Mrs Crookes will commence our Year 6 into 7 transition work

As we near the end of Semester 1 it comes with quite a feeling of accomplishment, particularly for our senior students. Our Year 11s have just finished or are about to finish Unit 1 and our Year 12s are about complete Unit 3. All students from Year 7 to 12 will be finalising assessment for the term and teachers are busy assessing, marking and compiling end of Semester 1 reports. Secondary reports will be emailed out to parents toward the end of Week 10.

Mr Bayldon, A/DP Year11/12 will provide more information about our Senior School, and particularly our Clearance Policy, while Ms Sippel, A/DP Year7/8 will keep you abreast of end of Semester 1 reporting and our next round of Secondary Parent/Teacher interviews in Week 2. Next term we have a lot going on for our Year 10s and Ms Batterham, A/DP Yr9/10 will take you through this, as well as providing a date claimer for our 2026 RSC Curriculum & Pathways Expo and a timely update for inter uniforms.

DP - Teaching & Learning – Joy Murgatroyd

Over the last few weeks I’ve been spending time in many of the classrooms at RSC and it is a privilege to see our teachers in action. To be able to follow the curriculum development process from planning to delivery is exciting and our teachers work hard to deliver engaging lessons, activities and assessment.

As we come to the end of Semester 1, your child would have completed most, if not all, of their assessment. Please take the time to talk with them about what they have submitted: from building models of systems within the human body, taking the role of a farmer researching how to be sustainable, compiling an anthology of poetry, to depicting your family as a Japanese manga comic – you will be impressed by what they have learnt.

DP - Senior Schooling - Greg Bayldon

As Term 2 comes to a close and signifies another stage completed in the students senior journey we are reminded how brief their time really is in this part of their educational journey but how important it is. The Year 12 students only have literally 13 weeks remaining of their school career. Year 11 students will most likely begin Year 12 Units within the next 10 weeks.

Attendance is the foundation

We are currently comparing achievement to attendance and there is no surprise that they are closely linked. Students attending school consistently are producing consistently higher grades while students with low attendance are consistently struggling to achieve passing grades.

A student beginning in Year 11 has approximately 405 actual days of school before they graduate: just over one year of school. If you take away the carnival days, the camps, the public holidays, the extra curricular events and excursions that figure comes down to a low 300 very quickly. It’s a small commitment for the rest of their life. There are pathways always available after school, but they often cost more and take longer than if the student completed them within school with assistance from teachers.

Clearance Policy

The Clearance policy has seen significant improvement in the senior cohort in the areas of attendance, completing assessment and completing detentions. Over the course of Term 2 we have seen a reduction in students Off Clearance by over 50% and less students receiving sanctions in the first instance. A formal letter will be coming home soon including the policy for parents to peruse.

Senior Social

The senior students are lucky to have such a committed team as Miss Roads, Miss Pam and Mr McKay who have worked hard to organise and deliver an opportunity for the students to celebrate the term with a social event in the MPH on Thursday 26^th June. Over 240 students have gained consent and just need to pay their entry fee of $5 to guarantee a night of frivolity, food and dancing to rival the great semi formal of 2024.

Standing item – Students and driving

We are trying to provide the safest environment for all students and staff at Redlynch State College and as part of that commitment we are endeavouring to monitor our student drivers. It is well known that this group of drivers are the most likely to have accidents and we are doing all we can to protect them from their own enthusiasm and naivety about the dangers that come with that freedom and rite of passage.

We still have over 30 students driving to school who have not registered their licences, car registrations and authorised passengers with the school despite many requests. We would really appreciate parents supporting us in this process and asking their students if they have registered with the school.

Assessment

Senior assessment is used to compare and rank students across the state for many levels of achievement leading to ATARS, report cards and certificates. Every document in Queensland senior school highlights the need for students to complete their assessment individually. This means that the student must individually learn the content and skills, the student must individually plan how they utilise their notes and research to work towards the assessment task, the students must individually develop and complete their assessment. There are many short cuts available to students; however, the QCAA and the school remain strictly committed to ensuring that student’s assessment accurately reflects their individual effort and ability to provide a fair playing field for all students to get the marks and ranking they deserve.

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

Cooler weather 

At Redlynch State College students are encouraged to take pride in themselves and in their College. Complying with the uniform policy is an important factor in ensuring student safety and promoting a positive learning environment where students develop a sense of belonging. If students are feeling the cold, they may wear the College jumper or jacket (pictured below). Year 12 students also have the option of wearing their 2025 Senior Jersey. Adhering to a uniform policy teaches students the importance of appropriate attire and prepares them for future work environments where dress codes are common.  

Both the jumper and the jacket are available for purchase from the Uniform Shop, located adjacent to the Primary Campus Student Services building. The Uniform Shop is open Monday – Thursday from 8 – 11 AM. Alternatively, you can order from the Uniform Shop online via https://www.rscpandc.com.au/ordering. 

Upcoming Year 10 Events 

Year 10 is a crucial year for students, with the selection of their future pathways. Over the course of the term, students will have multiple opportunities to attend events that will assist them with their decision making for their senior years. Below are the planned events for Term 3, however further information about each event will be provided closer to the date: 

1.

1. Curriculum and Pathways Expo Night (13/08/25)

On Wednesday 13^th August, Redlynch State College will be running their Curriculum and Pathways Expo Night. There will be booths set up with displays from our Curriculum Departments and External Agencies, such as universities and TAFE. This event will provide opportunities for students and parents/carers to speak with teachers and Heads of Departments about the subjects/pathways that students can pick from. In addition to the expo, there will also be an information session focussing on senior schooling at RSC, including topics such as ATAR and QCE.  

2. BLA Careers Expo (21/08/25)

Students in year 10 can choose to attend the BLA Careers Expo, an annual event located at the Cairns Showground. This expo is attended by multiple schools across the Cairns area. A large number of external agencies, such as the Defence Force, TAFE, University, Construction, will have booths set up for students to move around, asking questions and collecting information handouts. 

3. SET Planning (Term 3, week 6-10)

All year 10 students will organise a meeting time with Mr Crosby (Head of Senior Schooling) with their parents/carers for a SET Plan interview. SET Plan (Senior Education and Training Plans) interviews will take roughly 20 minutes, during which time you will discuss your future academic and career pathways, and select subjects for Year 11 and 12. Parents will be notified in Term 3 when they are able to start booking SET Plan interviews.   

Term 3 Timetables 

The start of Term 3 marks the start of Semester 2, meaning we are half way through the school year. Our junior school will rotate students through some of their subjects, meaning they will have a different timetable for Term 3. Students will be emailed their new timetable in the second week of holidays so that they are prepared for the start of Term 3. Changes to timetables include:  

• Year 7 students will swap their electives for Term 3 and change rotations for Semester 2 (Digital Technology <> Language)
• Year 8 students will swap Humanities subjects for Semester 2 (History <> Geography) 
• Year 9 students will rotate through the Humanities subjects for Term 3 (History <> Geography <> Economics/Business <> Civics and Citizenship) 
• Year 10 students will swap subjects for Semester 2 (History <> Health & Physical Education) and change science classes (Physics/Chemistry > Biology/Marine Science)

Year 11 and 12 timetables will continue as they currently are. 

Have a safe and relaxing break!  

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

Joining the team as the Deputy Principal for the Year 7 and Year 8 cohorts for Term 2 has been a wonderful experience. I have really enjoyed working with, and supporting our students, staff, and families during Term 2, and observing the meaningful and connected learning that takes place every day.  As Mrs Crookes is still in the recovery phase from her surgery, I will be staying on at Redlynch State College for another four weeks at the commencement of Term 3.

Semester 1 Reporting

Year 7 and 8 students are currently finalising their Term 2 assessment, and their teachers are in the process of making judgments about the quality of work in each student’s assessment folio, and how well the student has met those elements of the achievement standards that have been taught and assessed during the reporting period.  Teachers make a judgement aligned to the achievement standard for each learning area.  A level of achievement is then awarded using the appropriate reporting scale.  Full details of grade descriptors are included in the explanatory notes in the student report.  Writing report cards takes teachers many hours and they should be recognised for their diligence and professionalism.  Student reports will be emailed home on the last day of Term 2.

Parent Teacher Interviews

Parent/Teacher Interviews will be held in the Redlynch State College Multipurpose Sports Centre (MSC) from 3:30 – 6:30pm on Wednesday 23rd July.  We are using PTO for the online booking process. At the end of Term 2 an email will be sent home asking parents and carers to make online bookings with their student’s teachers.  Online bookings will close at 11:00am on Wednesday 23rd July, so book your interviews as soon as possible. Interview times will be set for 8-minute intervals.  Please keep an eye out for more information about Parent Teacher Interviews over the coming weeks.

DP - Diverse Learning - David Zhang

We’re pleased to share some exciting updates from the Diverse Learning Centre (DLC) as we continue our mission to provide inclusive, supportive, and personalised education for all students at Redlynch State College.

Focus on Student Growth and Inclusion

This term, our dedicated DLC team has been working closely with classroom teachers, case managers, and families to ensure every student with a disability receives the adjustments and supports they need to thrive. Whether it’s tailored literacy programs, assistive technology, or in-class support, our priority remains the academic, social, and emotional development of our learners.

Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) and NCCD

Thank you to families who have participated in the development and review of Individual Learning Plans. These important documents guide how we support your child in their day-to-day learning. Our team is also continuing to work behind the scenes to support the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD), ensuring appropriate adjustments are recognised and resourced.

Staff Spotlight

We’d like to acknowledge our dedicated team of teacher aides and case managers who continue to go above and beyond to provide consistent, compassionate support. Special congratulations to Claudia Belcher, recently nominated for the 2025 Australian Teacher Aide of the Year for her outstanding contributions.

(DLC team during a collaborative planning session)

Stay Connected

Our DLC operates with an open-door policy. If you have any concerns, questions, or just want to celebrate your child’s successes with us, we welcome you to get in touch with our team.

The Secondary Campus Leadership Team