Newsletter

These guidelines are designed to help parents feel informed, confident and involved in their children’s digital world. They provide a clear overview of how we approach AI use across the School — including how we support responsible use, promote academic integrity, and protect student privacy.

At the start of the term, we introduced two student-friendly versions of the guidelines – one for Secondary students and one tailored for Upper Primary students. These are available via the student intranet, the Student Hill, where students can view and interact with the guidelines in an age-appropriate way.

As the world of generative AI continues to evolve, so too will our approach. These guidelines are living documents, and we will continue to review and update them as technology develops and as our journey with AI at RGS progresses.

We encourage all parents to take a moment to read the Parent Guidelines and explore how we are partnering with families to prepare students for a future where digital tools, including AI, are part of everyday learning.

Click here to view the Generative AI Guidelines for Parents

As we begin Term 3, we extend a very warm welcome back to all our students and families. A special welcome goes out to the new families joining our school community this term – we are so pleased to have you with us and look forward to the term ahead.

This term, our school values focus on Endeavour and Responsibility. These values are central to how we learn and grow together – striving to do our best and taking ownership of our actions and decisions.

We are placing particular emphasis on helping students develop accountability – the ability to recognise their role in any challenges and to take responsibility for making things right. This is not always easy. Being accountable can feel uncomfortable at times, especially when mistakes are involved. However, it is in moving through that discomfort that the greatest growth occurs.

We ask for your support as parents and caregivers in encouraging your children to face these moments with honesty and courage. Please know that at school, this process is handled in a holistic and restorative way. Our focus is always on learning, repairing relationships, and building the skills children need to thrive both now and in the future.

We’re also excited to welcome Mr Richardson, who joins our team as the new Year 4 teacher. Mr Richardson is a familiar face to our students as he most recent role has been working in the library. He is a passionate educator who brings great energy and experience, and we’re thrilled to have him on board.

At the same time, we say goodbye to Mrs Karthik, who is leaving us to take up a leadership position in another sector. We thank her for her dedication and contribution to our school and wish her every success in this exciting new role.

I wish everyone a wonderful term of learning.

Maths is Fun Incursion- Term 3, Week 4
During Week 4 of this term, students will have the exciting opportunity to participate in a fun, problem-solving-focused Maths Escape Room Challenge . There will be three separate sessions tailored for students in Prep–Year 1 , Years 2–4 , and Years 5–6 .

This interactive experience encourages students to work collaboratively as they tackle a series of engaging maths challenges in order to crack the code. It’s a fantastic chance for students to think critically, strengthen their problem-solving skills, and enjoy maths in a fun and supportive environment.

We look forward to seeing students come together, engage positively with mathematics, and enjoy the challenge!

Bullying No Way: National Week of Action- Term 3, Week 5
Bullying No Way Week is returning from 11–15 August 2025 , and this year’s theme is “Be bold. Be kind. Speak up.” Throughout the week, our school will continue our conversations and learning to further explore how we can support others by speaking up, showing kindness, and taking action when we see bullying behaviours. Students will engage in class discussions and activities that reinforce the importance of building a safe, respectful environment where everyone feels they belong.

To show our support for the National Day of Action , we encourage all students to wear their RGS sports shorts and a purple t-shirt and/or purple hair accessory on Friday 15 August . Together, we can take a visible stand against bullying and continue creating a school culture built on respect, empathy, and inclusion.

Important: Year 5 and Year 6 students will still need to bring their sports uniform to be changed into.

Book Week 2025 – Term 3, Week 6
18–22 August (See Flyer)
Now that the holidays are behind us, we hope they offered a great chance for families to start getting ready for Book Week 2025 —whether that meant gathering costume ideas, collecting materials, or starting to create an outfit inspired by a favourite book character or this year’s exciting theme, "Book an Adventure!" We encourage students to be bold, imaginative, and creative in their costume choices—it’s all about celebrating stories, characters, and the joy of reading!

On our much-loved Book Week Parade Day will be held on Monday 18th August 8:35-9:10am, students are invited to bring along the book that inspired their costume. It's a wonderful way to share and celebrate the adventures that live within the pages of a great book.

Friday 22nd August will be our first Breakfast and Books on the oval . We encourage families to bring a picnic rug and some books, to share some time with their students and make our oval a sea of stories for the morning. A lovely way to start the day!

We’re also delighted to be hosting our first Pre-loved Book Stall . If you have any gently used books suitable for primary-aged children, we would love to receive them. Donations can be dropped off at Primary Reception during Weeks 1 and 2 of Term 3 .

Books will be available to purchase for a gold coin donation , with all proceeds going to Reading Out Of Poverty (ROOP) —a fantastic organisation that provides books and literacy resources to children, this year it is in support of children from Yarrabah, Queensland.

Thank you for supporting our school’s love of books, stories, and literacy. We can’t wait to join you on the Book Week 2025 journey as we all “ Book an Adventure! ”

As Term 3 gets underway, it has been wonderful to see students settling confidently into their school routines and engaging positively with their learning. Classrooms are buzzing with curiosity, collaboration, and a strong sense of purpose. We are also delighted to welcome several new students and families to the RGS community. Our existing students have shown great warmth in helping them feel at home, and we look forward to seeing all our learners continue to grow throughout the term.

Sharing Best Practice – Staff Professional Development
Fourteen of our dedicated staff chose to spend the first day of their school holidays engaging in professional learning at the 2025 “Sharing Best Practice” conference in Gladstone. The day offered valuable professional learning centred on the Science of Learning, high-impact instructional practices, and responsive teaching. With sessions exploring fluency, attentional control, cognitive load theory, and strategies for supporting diverse learners, staff came away affirmed that our school is focused on the right work. The evidence-informed approaches and practical tools shared throughout the day strengthened our collective confidence and clarity in delivering teaching that truly makes a difference. It was an inspiring and enriching day that reinforced our team’s commitment to continuous improvement and educational excellence.

ICAS Registration Closes Soon
A reminder to families that ICAS registration closes on Monday, 28 July . If you would like your child to participate in this year's ICAS assessments, please ensure you complete the online registration before the deadline. Details on how to register are available via the following link: ICAS support and resources - ICAS Assessments .

Each year, all Australian schools participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). This process requires schools to identify and report on the support and adjustments provided to students with disability, in line with legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005.

The following information is collected and submitted to the Australian Government:

- The student’s year level
- The category of disability (Cognitive, Physical, Sensory, or Social/Emotional)
- The level of adjustment being provided (within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial, or extensive)

This data enables schools to:

- Recognise and reflect on the support being provided to students with disability
- Strengthen school-wide practices and approaches to inclusion
- Review and enhance teaching and learning programs to improve outcomes for all students

Please note that the NCCD has no direct impact on your child and there is no action required from families. There is no testing involved, and data is provided in a non-identifiable format to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of all students. All information is protected under relevant privacy legislation. For further details, you may refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy .

Additional information about the NCCD is available on the NCCD Portal .

If you have any questions about this process, please contact the school.

NAPLAN
The table below shows the Year 7 and Year 9 data for the School for 2025. As you will see, RGS is well ahead of the State mean for every domain reported on by ACARA.

Further data, including individual student letters for parents, is expected mid-Term 3. Parents of students in Year 7 and Year 9 will be advised when further details are received from ACARA and QCAA.

Year 10 – Where to now? SET Planning
Year 10 students will continue to complete their Senior Education and Training (SET) Plan, with the HOY – 10, Mr Nathan Doyle, or with me, as the Head of Secondary School (Academics). This is an important document as it allows students to consider their post school goals and ambitions. The link below, to a QCAA resource – MyQCE, provides an excellent overview of the process. The frequently asked questions section is particularly informative.

https://myqce.qcaa.qld.edu.au/your-qce-pathway/planning-your-pathway

Coursing and Timetabling for 2026
Over the course of Semester 2, students in Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10, will complete their subject selection documentation for 2026. It is important students submit their selection data on time, to allow the Studies Directorate the opportunity to ensure all requests can be met. It is important students review their Semester 1 report card and use the upcoming holidays to consider what subject electives they would like to take for next year.

General
If you have any questions regarding academics or your child’s progress, please feel free to contact me on [email protected] or 49360 609.

Last week began with great excitement as students changed their experience subjects, ensuring that each student has the opportunity to complete a semester of Agriculture, Digital Technologies, Drama, and Visual Arts in Year 7. If you did not have the opportunity over the holidays, now would be an excellent time to take a quick inventory of stationery and replenish any low supplies.

Last Tuesday, 7D set off on their Form Camp to Ritamada. They could not have asked for better weather for their camp experience. With sailing, canoeing, raft-building, and many other activities, they returned tired but happy on Thursday afternoon. Thank you to their Form Teacher, Mrs Waddell, Mr Fisher, Ms Cox, and our Transport, Catering, and Grounds and Maintenance teams, who all worked to make this camp possible. This week, we wish 7B and Mr Scott a wonderful time away. All camp forms have now been issued. If you have not yet completed the permission forms, please access Parent Lounge or the Parent Orbit app to do so. Please also take a moment to ensure all medical and dietary information is correct.

The dates for our Form Camps are:

7A: 13 - 15 October

7B: 23 - 25 July

7C: 29 - 31 July

7D: 15 - 17 July

7E: 4 - 6 August

7F: 12 - 14 August

7G: 7 - 9 October

In Form and Tutorial lessons this week, we began our unit on Teamwork. This unit aligns well with our Form camps, and we look forward to the practical application of this term’s work. On Thursday, we also began the process of electing new Form Captains for Semester 2. Our Semester 1 Form Captains did a wonderful job, and we thank them for their time. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

We are excited to welcome our Year 8 students back for the start of Term 3! After a well-earned break, it has been wonderful to see students reconnecting with their peers and stepping back into school routines with renewed energy.

This term in Tutorial and Form, our focus will centre on the important topic of relationships - both online and offline. Through guided discussions and interactive activities, students will explore what it means to have safe, respectful relationships, how to recognise unhealthy or toxic dynamics, and how to be a good friend and ally to others. We will also have age-appropriate conversations around consent, aiming to help students understand their rights and responsibilities in all kinds of relationships.

In addition to our relationships focus, we will support students through the Year 9 subject selection process later this term. This is an exciting time that encourages students to start thinking about their strengths, interests, and future goals. We will guide them carefully to ensure they feel confident and informed about their options and, of course, include parents and guardians in this important process.

To kick off the term, students participated in a reflection activity during Form this week, looking back at their Semester 1 report cards. This gave them an opportunity to celebrate their achievements, acknowledge areas for improvement, and set meaningful goals for the semester ahead.

We look forward to a term filled with growth, positive relationships, and new opportunities. Let’s make Term 3 one to remember!

It was a big week, filled with challenges, new experiences, and opportunities to step outside your comfort zones - and you gave it your all. You should be proud of yourselves. I certainly am.

The camp experiences were intentionally designed to stretch you a little - to help you grow in confidence, learn more about yourselves and each other, and remind you that sometimes life asks us to lean into the hard stuff. You might not realise the value of some of those moments straight away, but with time and reflection, you will hopefully draw on them when you need to take a deep breath, face something big, and find the strength to get through.

Of course, a camp like this does not just happen on its own. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Secondary School Office for their planning and behind-the-scenes support, to our transport and catering teams, and to our brilliant Outdoor Education team—without whom none of this would have been possible. Your work made the week not only possible but seamless.

It was also a privilege to welcome a range of guest presenters across the term who generously gave their time and expertise to help lay the groundwork for the experiences we shared at camp. Thank you for being part of the journey.

It was wonderful to see so many parents join us at the end of the week to celebrate what was a truly memorable and formative experience for our students.

Looking ahead, we will soon begin important conversations during Tutorials about subject selection for Year 10. I encourage you to start talking with your families at home too - about which subjects interest you, what you are good at, and what feels like the right fit moving forward. Remember, subject offerings depend on student interest, so if there’s something you are genuinely keen on, make sure you indicate that now.

And finally, when you are choosing, please choose for yourself - not because of what your friends are doing, but because the subject excites you, challenges you, or plays to your strengths.

Let’s keep the momentum going.

As always, please get in touch if you have any questions, queries or concerns.

This term will be busy and exciting, with continued work on SET Planning and the highly anticipated Outdoor Education Program (OEP) experiences taking place later in the term.

Next week during tutorials, we will continue our discussions around subject selection for Year 11. It is important that students complete their SET Plans before finalising subject choices in the coming weeks. Once electronic selections are submitted, parents will receive a confirmation email for review and signature. If you have any questions about subject choices, please do not hesitate to reach out. The Curriculum Handbook is also available on Student Café to help guide decision-making.

Year 10 camps are now in the final stages of planning. Over the coming weeks, students will attend camp-specific briefings to address any questions and ensure they are well-prepared and confident for their OEP experience. Please note from Friday 18 July, no further changes to camp allocations will be possible.

Lastly, I addressed the cohort on Friday regarding some concerns that emerged during Week 1. These included misuse of laptops for online shopping and gaming, disruptions during class time while on bathroom breaks, inappropriate behaviour toward peers, and the use of unkind language. Your support in reinforcing respectful and responsible behaviour with your child is greatly appreciated.

Looking forward to a productive and engaging term ahead.

I hope you managed some downtime with your student(s) over the break. Students will be commencing Unit Two of their senior studies this term. I have reviewed QCE data over the break once reports were submitted and will be working with students and families to ensure they are on track for their QCE. More information on the senior system can be found here. If you or your student would like to explore the possibility of changing subjects, please have them speak with me or Mrs Reniece Carter (Head of Secondary School Academics) as soon as possible.

This past Saturday, a group of Year 11 students participated in Relay for Life, hosted by the Cancer Council at CQU. Students worked very hard assisting with the organisation and setup of the event. If you would like to support the cohort in their fundraising efforts, thank you to all who assisted on the day and to those from the RGS community for their time and donations.

Work experience is again available for the September/October school holidays. If your student is interested in participating, or if your business would be willing to take students on, please contact the Secondary School Office or myself. This opportunity allows our students to experience a role and better understand whether it is suitable for them. I encourage all our students to trial as many industries as possible – sadly, we cannot offer placements in health and dental at this time.

This term, the Year 11 cohort will focus on leadership and giving back to the community. Each form class will work to support Share the Dignity’s It’s in the Bag campaign. Please use this as a topic of conversation with your student(s).

I hope the term has started well for your student(s). Please reach out if there is anything I can do to assist with any questions or concerns you may have.

There are 11 school weeks remaining before students enter the external exam block. Year 12 students have returned to a period of heavy assessment for their final internal tasks. Most students are expected to complete all internal tasks by the end of Week 4 this term, which may contribute to increased stress levels. It is important for students to maintain their well-being through adequate sleep, balanced nutrition, and time for relaxation or social activities. These practices support effective study habits. Regularly adjusting planning is also recommended to manage workload and minimise stress. Students experiencing difficulty are encouraged to seek assistance as early as possible. While extensions require evidence under QCAA guidelines, other forms of support may be available if challenges are identified promptly.

Following the current assessment phase, attention will shift to mock exams scheduled from 8 to 19 September and to external exams beginning Monday, 27 October. Both mock and external exam timetables have been distributed to families, with the external exam timetable also accessible via the QCAA website. Please review these schedules and prepare accordingly. For questions or concerns, contact is encouraged. Additional information about the exam periods will be provided in the coming weeks.

As per my final newsletter and end-of-semester letter in Term 2, please note the following important dates for this semester:

External exam block: 27 October to 18 November (timetable available on the QCAA website)

Mock exam block: Monday 8 to Friday 19 September

Semester 2 Important Dates:
• 100 days left celebration – Tuesday 5 August
• Leadership Colours Ceremony rehearsal – Thursday 23 October, 9:50 am
• Headmaster’s Lunch – Wednesday 22 October, 12:30 pm (change of date)
• Mocktails – Thursday 23 October, 5:30 pm
• Final day of classes – Friday 24 October
• Leadership Colours and Induction of School Leaders Ceremony – Friday 24 October, 9:30 am
• Honour Guard – Friday 24 October, 10:10 am
• Curriculum Prep days – Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 November
• Year 12 Final Day – Friday 21 November, 8:30 am in Auditorium (ALL students MUST attend)
• Valedictory – Friday 21 November, 5:00 pm
• Speech Day – Wednesday 26 November

Additionally, to supplement our Pastoral Care Programme, the following guest speakers and workshops will be held this term:

Red Frogs: Life After School – Tuesday 22 July during our Year Level Meeting (12:30 – 1:30 pm)

Bolsover Health Presentation – Tuesday 12 and 19 August

Young Workers Hub – Tuesday 26 August during our Year Level Meeting (12:30 – 1:30 pm)

Last week, we had Jodi from LIVINWell speak to Year 12 students about mental ill health and ways to manage it, as well as reduce the stigma surrounding mental health concerns. The presentation was excellent and touched on the area of mental health that few people discuss – stigma. Additionally, there was a very male-dominated approach, which was refreshing and helped reduce the stigma of being open about mental ill health, given that males are often more hesitant to seek help. Jodi shared his personal story to engage students and was highly interactive. It was a wonderful presentation and another tool to remove the devastating impact that misunderstanding, lack of information, and apprehension have in this area.

I look forward to another busy yet exciting term as Year 12 students begin the final leg of their journey. I encourage all students, once again, to enjoy these last few months and the many ‘lasts’ that come with them.

Music
Music Tours: RGS students were on the international music stage over the school holidays.

RGS Year 12 student Caden Mahon is currently in the UK after successfully auditioning for the National Youth Wind Ensemble of Scotland. Caden was one of five regional students selected after attending the Queensland State Honours Ensemble Program. The Ensemble rehearsed and performed at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow.

Nathaniel Han, Year 10, also toured Japan with the Central Queensland Youth Touring Ensemble (CQYTE). The group of students, aged between 8 and 18 years, represented Australia at the World Expo in Osaka - an event that celebrated both culture and music.

Netball
QISSN
A special congratulations to RGS Year 12 goal shooter Kaylee Acton who was not only named the RGS team's Most Valuable Player, but was also selected in the QISSN All Star Team and was crowned Player of the QISSN Carnival.

Congratulations also to Meg Childes, who received the RGS Netball Spirit of QISSN Award for her positivity, encouragement, and leadership throughout the carnival.

It was the first QISSN carnival for many of the RGS Magic team this year, with the girls placing 12th overall out of 64 teams and finishing fourth in Division 2 - a credit to the team's commitment, teamwork, and determination displayed in some tight games throughout the week-long competition.

Rowing
RGS rowers competed in their first championship of the season at Bucca Weir at the start of the holidays, featuring prominently on the medal podium:
7 Gold; 14 Silver; 6 Bronze

Rugby League
QISSRL - Confraternity Carnival
Congratulations to the RGS Boys First XIII on winning the Bob Lindner Trophy after a titanic battle with Marymount College in the final. Scores were locked up at 20-20 after both full time and extra time, with RGS taking the title after scoring the game's first try.

Congratulations to the following RGS players on their awards:
QISSRL Boys Merit Team - Leo Fanuatanu
RGS Player of the Carnival - Leo Fanuatanu
RGS Spirit Award - Luke Frame
Stewart Norford Medal for the Spirit of Confraternity – Jake Gillard

Congratulations to the RGS First XIII girls team on producing some great rugby league this week at the Confraternity Carnival in Rockhampton. The girls placed 6th overall after a great battle in their final game against Marymount College, going down 10-4.

Congratulations to the following RGS players on their awards:
QISSRL Girls Merit Team - Alice Kallquist
RGS Player of the Carnival - Evan Sullivan
RGS Spirit Award - Alice Kallquist
Spirit of Confraternity – Kyra Kent

Rugby Union
Western Force Academy Session
Eight RGS Rugby Players attended a Western Force Academy session on the holidays on the Sunshine Coast. This was the second interaction between the Force and our Rugby programme as the recently established relationships starts to see benefits for our students.

Trampoline
Naviah Cook (Year 7) competed at the Australian Gymnastics Championships as a member of the Queensland State Team this week and achieved the following results:
Individual Trampoline – 4th in Australia
Double Mini Trampoline – 9th in Australia

Notifications of Achievements
Due to the vast array of core and non-core sporting activities that students participate in, can all students’ sporting achievements be emailed through to Mrs Coetzer, the Sports Administrator – [email protected]

Student Achievements
AFL
Congratulations to RGS Year 11 student Oliver Bennett on being named the Gold Coast Suns Most Valuable Player at the Under-16 AFL National Development Championships. Oliver played in three games for the Suns – lining up against the Brisbane Lions, Sydney Swans, and Tasmania. While the Suns didn’t get the wins, Oliver was a standout player on field being named the Suns best on ground in both the Lions and Swans games, and in the Tasmania game he played on despite battling sickness. An amazing feat by Oliver, cementing his place as a rising star in the AFL pathway programme.

Touch Football
Several RGS Students played in the Rockhampton U14 boys team that won the State Final. The team included RGS students Nate Turner, Flynn Maxwell and Noah Pethers. The Rockhampton U14 girls team also won the State Final. This team included RGS student Hollie Foot who was unfortunately injured and unable to take the field, but was still on the sideline cheering her team mates that she trained with leading into the carnival. Bronson Carlos played in the U18 boys team that finished runners-up.

Rugby Union
Evan Sullivan and Scarlett Gear represented Qld School Sport U18 and U16s 7s teams.

Ten RGS students were selected in the Qld Country Rugby Union Teams following trials in Townsville to then play in these championships. The U16 team including RGS players Tom Jacques, Austin Armitage and Latelle Robertson won the National Championships.

U18 Girls - Willow Childs, Faerlie Bailey (South Australian team)

U16 Boys - Latelle Robertson, Tom Jaques, Austin Armitage, Kurt Lynch (South Australian Team), Tom Baillee (Tasmanian Team)

U16 Girls - Zafeera Gibson, Lara Maxwell

U14 Boys - Zavier Bills, Nate Turner, Harper Clifford, Sam Bahnisch

Alex Kulla Kulla and Emmalina Ingui represented the Lloyd McDermott U17 Girls 7s Development Team at this National Championships.

Capricornia Representatives
(Please note that all Rockhampton and Capricornia representative recognitions are updated in the newsletter once final teams are provided to the School)

Rugby Union
Latelle Robertson, Zavier Bills, Jehezekiel Tekii, Thomas Baillie, Nate Turner, Harper Clifford, Noah Pethers.

Rugby League
Sinead Crawford-Naylor, Sophie Dendle.