TCE Connect
Empowering Teachers, Empowering Students
Empowering Teachers, Empowering Students: The Benefits of Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers in the Classroom When teachers grow and continue to learn both professionally and personally, so do your children in their classroom. This is evident as teachers progress through the different career stag
Tweens and teens and their skin
Recently, I've received an influx of parents with tweens and teens seeking advice about their young daughters' 7-step skincare routines and obsession with all things Mecca and Sephora. Yes, you read that right, 7-step skincare routines! As a Beauty Therapist and Makeup Artist with more than 25 years
Teaching in a Catholic School: Nurturing Faith, Wisdom, and Community
The Catholic school is an educational community where learning, culture, faith and life find a meeting place. It is a place for learning and teaching that seeks to nurture and develop the faith of individuals in ways that are mindful of their cultural and religious identity. Making every child&rsqu
Student Wellbeing Spotlight: How the Love Bites Program Promotes Respectful Relationships
The Love Bites Respectful Relationships Program has been run in most of our Secondary colleges and is strongly supported by the TCE office and school staff. As the Manager of the Student Wellbeing & Pastoral Services (SW&PS) in the Townsville Diocese, I have strongly supported our Guidance C
Issuing advice to parents during Severe Weather Events
During a weather event it is very important for parents/carers to be aware of school procedures in the event of school closures or affected access due to floods, cyclones or severe weather. Townsville Catholic Education (TCE) works closely with Education Queensland (EQ) in determining school cl
Safe School Travel: a Guide for Parents and Carers
Safe School Travel: A Guide for Parents and Carers As a new school year begins, many families are looking at safe school travel plans for their children. While allowing children to travel independently is a great way for them to develop confidence and new skills, it's important to ensure they are eq
Improving Reading Culture Among Students
Townsville Catholic Education (TCE) believes that literacy is a human right intrinsically important for human development and well-being and works with school staff to develop a strong reading culture in all of our schools. Reading is fundamental to a student’s ability to engage and learn at
The Role of Technology in Modern Education
It’s no secret that technology is now an integral part of the way we live, work and learn. Information has never been more accessible with the help of the internet and its vast sources of knowledge at the click (or tap) of a button. Naturally, the benefits of technology have transformed the wa
What's Catholic About Parental Engagement?
Article source: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19422539.2023.2276919 Introduction This article will examine the concept of parental engagement in young people’s learning, as it relates to practice within Catholic schools. This examination will utilise the lens of Catholic S
St Clare’s Catholic School Students Embrace LittleScribe Mini-Writing Festival
In an effort to improve and develop writing skills amongst their students, St Clare's Catholic School recently participated in Australia's largest online, interactive writing festival for schools, the LittleScribe Mini-Writing Festival. The festival, which took place in Term 3, saw Year 2 and Year 4
Sextortion Safety Information from the Australian Federal Police
In the lead up to the end of year school holidays, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) is asking education departments to share important safety information within their departments and school communities to help prevent
The Importance of Social-Emotional Learning in Education
The importance of social and emotional learning (SEL) in education cannot be understated. According to the national Australian Curriculum, SEL is one of the key building blocks in any form of education. A recent study demonstrated that students who received social and emotional learning in their edu
Bringing Bush Tucker Back: How St Benedict's Students Make a Difference Through STEM and Design Thinking
St Benedict's Catholic School, Shaw entered the STEM Mad competition this year. STEM MAD is a national competition that celebrates STEM learning initiatives, addresses real-world problems and encourages students to make a difference (MAD) in the world by acting for justice and the com
St Peter's Catholic School Receives Major Award in National Festival
St Peter's Catholic School has taken home a National Award for their performance 'Boomerang' as part of the 2023 National Wakakirri Story-Dance Festival.Wakakirri is Australia’s largest performing arts event for schools with 200 taking part in 2023. Participating schools are inspired by the Wa
Catholic Education vs. Public Education: Weighing Up Options
There’s no doubt about it – education has a huge influence on each child's development. When choosing the right school and educational path for your child, there are many factors to consider. One of the biggest decisions parents will have to make will be the type of education – mor
Lego Robotics: Innovative Minds in Action
Townsville Grammar School hosted the annual Townsville Junior Lego Robotics Competition, with a dynamic display of creativity and ingenuity. Teams from schools in Townsville, the Burdekin and Charters Towers participated in this event where young minds were challenged to craft innovative solutions u
Eco Warriors 2023
On Tuesday 12 September, 100 of our local Catholic school student became Eco Warriors, fighting for the environment at our 12th Eco Warriors’ Day. Eco Warriors’ Day 2023 was held at St Benedict’s Catholic School on Tuesday 12th September from 9:30 am - 2:00 pm. Stu
Celebrating Catholic Schools’ Contributions to a Greener Future
Each year, schools are invited to apply for the TCE Sustainability Through Catholic Social Teaching Grant. It recognises the way in which the school responds to Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ on caring for our common home through sustainable practices. Laudato Si’ is an encyclical of Po
Why is Faith Based Education Important?
Catholic schools promote an educational philosophy in which faith, culture and life are harmonious. They build the foundation of faith and spiritual development, learning, teaching and the formation of culture and our society from Jesus Christ. Catholic schools are more than just places where
St Margaret Mary's College celebrates 60 years!
St Margaret Mary’s College celebrated its 60th anniversary last month, bringing together past and present staff members, students, as well as esteemed guests in a series of memorable events.The festivities kicked off on Friday, August 18, with a special Whole School Assembly held in Benedictin
St Mary's Catholic School Celebrates 150 Years of Excellence in Bowen
St Mary's Catholic School is celebrating 150 years of dedicated service to the Bowen community in 2023. Since its establishment in 1873, St Mary's has been an enduring symbol of faith, knowledge, and service, providing generations of students with a strong foundation for success. Principal Alicia Ni
Inspirational Pilgrimage To The Holy Land: In The Footsteps Of Jesus
The call of the Holy Land has resonated with devout Christians for centuries, and for a number of staff from Townsville Catholic Education, principals and teachers, it was the perfect way to continue their pilgrimage after attending World Youth Day in Lisbon.This dream they finally re
Healthy Minds Project Continues
Students from six local high schools across Townsville came together last month, for the second interactive workshop for the Healthy Minds Project. The project, funded by Rotary Club - Townsville Central, and hosted by Ryan Catholic College, aims to empower students to be ‘Leaders of Change&rs
National Speech Pathology Week
Speech Pathology Week Promotes the profession and the work done by Speech Pathologists. This year, the theme for Speech Pathology Week is 'Communicating for life'. Did you now that 1 in 7 Australians will have a communication difficulty at some stage in their life? Communication is a basic hum
Group Chats: The Hidden Bullying Epidemic
The significance of social media in the lives of children continues to grow as does their complete dependence on that constant online connection. As a result, there are now real concerns about the number of young people (as young as eight in most cases) that sleep with devices in their room and unde
Reflecting on Catholic Education Week: Bishop Tim's Inspiring Homily
It has been two weeks since we gathered to celebrate Catholic Education Week and reflect on what it means to be a part of this special community. We shared stories, celebrated achievements, and liturgy during the event and it has remained in our hearts ever since. Bishop Tim's homily that day was pa
Exploring Innovations: Robotics Enhancing Student Learning
Townsville Catholic Education (TCE) has recently purchased a variety of robotics kits to trial in its Catholic schools. To facilitate this, TCE will make the kits available for schools to borrow, rather than incur the cost of purchase. Collection of the kits will be available from the TCE office in
Celebrating the Dedication and Excellence of Catholic Education Award Nominees
Townsville Catholic Education Celebrates 150 Years of Education in the Townsville Diocese
Townsville Catholic Education is delighted to commemorate a significant milestone in its history as it celebrates 150 years of providing quality education to students within the Townsville Diocese. St Joseph’s Catholic School, The Strand and St Mary’s Catholic School, Bowen are the two e
For our Elders: NAIDOC Mass
Last week, a special celebration took place at St Theresa's Church in Townsville - National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week Mass. The event, themed "For Our Elders", sought to acknowledge the significant contributions and influence that our elders have and conti
The History of Catholic Education in Australia
Whilst the Townsville Diocese is celebrating 150 years of Catholic education in 2023, Catholic education in Australia began over 200 years ago and was brought into existence through the charity of the Catholic Church and the support of its parishes. The arrival of Catholic priests and religio
High Potential Learners at Ryan Catholic College, Townsville
HPL is an exciting new program dedicated to Ryan Catholic College’s High Potential Learners. It is a program that is created with a focus on the integration of knowledge, rather than focus on a singular topic of interest. It focuses on Entrepreneurship principles where finding soluti
Digital Accessibility for All
Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is about getting everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion. More than one billion people live with disability globally, who are underserved by today’s digital products. Someone with a disability must be able to experien
St Joseph’s Catholic School, The Strand Celebrates 150 Years of Excellence in Education
St Joseph’s Catholic School, The Strand proudly celebrated a momentous milestone in its rich history with the commemoration of its 150th anniversary last month. This significant achievement not only recognises the school’s steadfast commitment to education but also pays tribute to the en
An Artwork that Inspires: Discovering the Legacy of the Good Samaritan Sisters at St Francis Catholic School, Ayr
“Go and do the same” This quote from the Parable of the Good Samaritan is at the heart of St Francis Catholic School Ayr’s Catholic Identity Model. The Good Samaritan Sisters were welcomed to the Burdekin district in September 1912 and for 84 years contributed to the charism and hi
Bishop Putney Shield to kick-start mental health awareness
Ryan Catholic College and Southern Cross Catholic College took to the field in Round 3 of the NQISSRL with an extra special purpose, officially kicking off the 2023 Bishop Putney Shield Series across u13, u15, Open Girls and 1st XIII Boys. The Bishop Putney Shield is all about raising awareness for
St Anthony’s College Drama Teacher Receives Prestigious Award for Creative Research
Todd Barty, Drama Teacher at St Anthony’s Catholic College, has been awarded the Colin Roderick Prize for English Honours for his coursework and thesis, including the creation of the play “Knock, Knock, Knock!”, which will be performed by St Anthony’s Catholic College student
Living with Ichthyosis: My Journey with a Rare Condition
My name is Amber Brine and I live in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. I was born with Netherton Syndrome which is a form of ichthyosis. Ichthyosis is an extremely rare and incurable condition currently affecting only one in 250,000 people worldwide. This condition makes my skin very red, dry, sore
Uncovering the Invisible
Please see below an article from Linewize - for further information, visit www.linewize.com While there are physical indications of how a child is feeling, there are numerous other ‘invisible’ or hard to access cues that exist within the child's digital world. For example, mental health
How Does a Catholic Education Impact Your Character?
Investing in a Catholic education for your child goes beyond reading, writing, and academic development. The Catholic education system also focusses on holistic development of the mind, body, spirit, and character. Those indefinable traits that we develop at an early age to shape our thinking, devel
