TCE Connect

How to Develop Critical Thinking in Students

27 June 2024 | By Dr Timothy Smith

Critical thinking continues to be one of the most important skills that employers seek in the workplace. The leading global consulting firm, McKinsey & Company recently reported that cognitive skills, which include critical thinking, are essential to future-proof individuals’ ability to wo

The Benefits of Service Learning

20 June 2024 | By Anita Livingston

What is Service Learning? Service learning describes pathways for learning that are grounded in students’ experiences of service action, but include purposeful reflection to discern the inner transformation that results from encounters with others. These two intentional components of service a

Teaching and Regional Areas- Top Benefits and Rewards

6 June 2024 | By Chloe McLaren

Embarking on a teaching career in remote Australia has been one of the most rewarding and unique experiences of my professional and personal life. Mount Isa, in North West Queensland, where I now call home, is a place where community and collaboration intertwine with the beauty and tranquility of ou

A Guide to Catholic Education Disability Support Available

6 June 2024 | By Amanda Holden

Catholic schools are committed to fostering cultures of inclusion that respond to the educational needs of students regardless of their abilities, backgrounds and aspirations. This commitment to inclusive practices is supportive of both Catholic Church teaching and Australian Government legislative

Bringing Innovation and Functionality to Prep Classrooms at St Francis Catholic School, Ayr

31 May 2024 | By Amanda Jones

St Francis Catholic School in Ayr is proud to announce the completion of our newly refurbished Prep classrooms, designed by i4 Architecture and constructed by Simon Bell Construction.  The project, fully funded by the school, aims to create a modern and functional learning environment for our y

Mary Help of Christians Netball Carnival: A Day of Fun and Competition

29 May 2024 | By Lauren Dee

Thursday, May 9th, saw the annual Mary Help of Christians netball carnival take place at Townsville Basketball. This highly anticipated event, convened by Southern Cross Catholic College, brought together eight teams from various Catholic and Christian schools in the Townsville area. With participan

Celebrating Cricket in Schools Award

21 May 2024

Southern Cross Catholic College, Annandale has won Cricket Australia's and Queensland Cricket's 'Celebrating Cricket in Schools Award' for the 2023/24 season! This award is an amazing thrill for the many students and staff who have contributed to the growth and development of Cricket at the College

The Role of Catholic Schools in Moral and Ethical Education

15 May 2024 | By Mary Mudge

Catholic education supports families in their efforts to educate their children, not only academically but holistically so they may reach their full potential as compassionate, life-giving members of society who are inspired by the Catholic tradition.  The Importance of Early Learning on Morals

7 Reasons Why Teaching is Such A Rewarding Career Path

13 May 2024 | By John Nuttall

Like all professions, teaching has its challenges and rewarding moments. I began my teaching career in 1988, and I can honestly say that the profession's rewarding aspects outweigh any hardship. I feel blessed that I chose this career when I left school. For those who are considering becoming a teac

Vocation Enlightened the Radio Star

13 May 2024

The contemporary world of teaching is so much more than the Jackson 5 sang about in 1970. As well as A, B, Cs and 1, 2, 3s, teachers are increasingly responsible for the holistic care and development of students. Whether it is coaching sporting teams before school, running musical rehearsals on week

Empowering Teachers, Empowering Students

18 March 2024 | By Rebecca Lucey

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

12 March 2024 | By Dana Zolli

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

28 February 2024

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

14 February 2024 | By Annette McCarthy

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

22 January 2024

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

19 January 2024 | By Krystal Stevens

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

8 January 2024 | By Amanda Banister and Rachael Hood

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

19 December 2023

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?

1 December 2023

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

29 November 2023

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

29 November 2023

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

6 November 2023

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

1 November 2023

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

31 October 2023

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

30 October 2023

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

26 October 2023 | By Amanda Jones

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

16 October 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

16 October 2023 | By Amanda Banister

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?

9 October 2023

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!

27 September 2023

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