Newsletter

These discussions help reinforce the responsible AI practices we're developing at school while ensuring your child feels comfortable coming to you with questions or concerns about AI tools. Parents play a crucial role in shaping how students understand and interact with AI.

By talking openly about AI at home, you're helping your child navigate this technology thoughtfully and preparing them for a world where AI will be commonplace. Position yourself as a fellow learner, develop critical thinking skills about technology, understand both its potential and limitations, and build healthy habits around digital tools.

At RGS we will SEE AI use; we want student to understand what it means to use AI safely, ethically and efficiently, whether they are just starting their learning journey with technology or preparing to move to a world beyond school.

Remember, the goal isn't to have all the answers about AI, but to create an environment where your child feels comfortable discussing their experiences and questions about this evolving technology.

This term, our focus on courage and resilience has supported students in developing the confidence and strength to face challenges both inside and outside the classroom. These qualities have shone through in classwork, playground interactions, performances, sporting events, and collaborative tasks.

A highlight of this week is our Year 5 camping experience to Konomie Island. Camps provide students with the chance to build resilience in authentic, hands-on ways—encouraging independence, teamwork, and problem-solving. Applying these life skills in real-world environments plays a vital role in student development. I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the incredible work of our teachers and staff, who go above and beyond to ensure the success of these experiences. Planning and attending camps requires significant time, care, and commitment, and we are grateful for the energy and dedication they give to create safe, enriching, and memorable opportunities for your children.

Student report cards will be available at the end of the term. These provide a valuable opportunity to reflect on the progress your child has made throughout Semester 1. We encourage families to read through the report with their child, celebrate successes, and talk about areas for continued growth.

As we move into the holiday period, we encourage families to take the time to reflect with their children on the progress made during Semester 1. Conversations around goal setting for Semester 2 can help strengthen student ownership of learning and set a clear path forward.

Changes to Afternoon Pick-Up Procedures
We appreciate your support with our afternoon pick-up processes. Over the past two weeks, we have trialled a new system where students waiting for pick-up are seated in alphabetical order inside Duggan Hall. This arrangement has worked well, creating a safer and more orderly environment while allowing staff to efficiently locate and connect students with their families.

Thanks to its success, this system will continue into next term and beyond. We thank you for your ongoing cooperation as we maintain a smooth and safe end-of-day routine.

Assembly Update for Term 3
From the beginning of next term, we will be introducing a change to our Monday assemblies to better meet the developmental needs of our students. Assemblies will now be held in two sessions:

Years 3–6 Assembly: Mondays, 1:50–2:20pm

Prep–Year 2 Assembly: Mondays, 2:30–3:00pm

This split allows for age-appropriate curriculum messaging and a more responsive approach to celebrating student achievements. Assemblies will continue to take place in Duggan Hall, and families are warmly invited to attend.

Thank you for your continued partnership throughout the term. We wish all families a safe, restful, and joyful holiday break.

Book Week is a much-loved celebration on the school calendar, and this year marks the 80th anniversary of Children's Book Week , proudly presented by the Children’s Book Council of Australia.

The 2025 theme, ‘Book an Adventure!’ , encourages children to see reading as a journey filled with imagination, discovery and exploration. We're already looking forward to the exciting events we have planned, and a full program will be shared in early Term Three.

With the holidays approaching, now is a great time to begin planning your child’s Book Week costume. Costumes can reflect this year’s theme or simply be inspired by a favourite book character. We encourage creativity, fun, and a sense of adventure! Sourcing, making and building costumes during the holidays is always a fun activity.

On our Book Week Parade Day , students are invited to bring along the book that inspired their costume so we can celebrate and share these wonderful stories together.

We’re also excited to be hosting our Pre-loved Book Stall during Book Week. If you have any gently used books suitable for primary-aged readers, we would love your donations. Please drop these off to Primary Reception during Weeks 1 and 2 of Term 3 .

Books will be sold for a gold coin donation, with all proceeds going to Reading Out Of Poverty (ROOP) — an organisation supporting access to books and literacy resources for children in Yarrabah, Queensland .

Thank you for supporting our community’s love of reading. We can’t wait to share the adventure of Book Week 2025 with you!

RGS Students Step into Global Leadership through UNICEF Science Team Challenge.

Last week, our students participated in an inspiring series of workshops as part of the UNICEF Science Team Challenge , delivered by Zoe and Sophie from UNICEF Australia in collaboration with Mr Libke and Ms Duggan.

The workshops introduced students to Child Rights and Design Thinking , providing a meaningful context to explore the real-world impacts of natural disasters. Working in groups, students developed themed ideas and created empathy maps , allowing them to imagine what it might feel like to experience the devastation of a natural disaster. These activities helped students gain a deeper appreciation of the importance of protecting children’s rights during emergencies.

Through group brainstorming, students generated creative product ideas aimed at upholding children’s rights—such as the right to clean water —in times of crisis.

As the challenge continues, our UNICEF Science Team Challenge students will soon receive a video scenario brief from UNICEF Australia outlining three potential disaster situations. They will then begin a Design Sprint during after-school sessions to develop innovative prototypes in response to the brief.

Students will present their concepts to a school panel, and the top two teams will be selected to pitch their ideas directly to UNICEF. These teams will go on to compete against other schools from across the country in the Virtual Grand Final .

This exciting challenge forms part of the "Changing Our World" stream within our Leadership for All Programme at Rockhampton Grammar School. We are incredibly proud of our students’ initiative, empathy, and innovation as they take action on global issues and demonstrate what it means to be young leaders of change.

Understanding Semester Reports: Celebrating Growth and Setting Future Goals

As we approach the end of Semester 1, we look forward to sharing your child’s academic progress through their semester report , which will be communicated in the coming weeks.

At The Rockhampton Grammar School, we take great pride in recognising and celebrating the growth and success of every student. Our reports are designed to provide a clear picture of each child’s progress in relation to the Australian Curriculum achievement standards for their year level.

It is important for families to understand that a ‘C’ grade reflects that a student is meeting the expected standard for their year level. A ‘C’ means that your child is achieving the learning outcomes outlined in the Australian Curriculum—it is a positive result that indicates they are on track with their learning.

Furthermore, if a student receives a ‘C’ in Semester 1 2024 and again in Semester 1 2025 , this demonstrates a full year’s growth in their learning. This steady progress is to be acknowledged and celebrated, as it reflects the student’s ability to continue meeting increasingly complex expectations as the years progress.

Semester reports also highlight areas of strength and provide guidance for next steps in learning . We encourage families to view these as valuable opportunities to set goals and support their child’s continued development across all areas of the curriculum.

We thank you for your ongoing partnership and support in your child’s learning journey. Together, we continue to nurture a strong foundation for academic achievement and personal growth.

The School received its pre-appeal data mid last week.

The table below shows the Year 7 and Year 9 data. 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
In 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
I hope all families enjoy the upcoming holiday break and spend time relaxing! Given the cold weather it would be an opportune time to enjoy a hot chocolate in front of the television. As always, if you have any questions regarding academics or your child’s progress, please feel free to contact me on [email protected] or 49360 609.

Thank you for your communication throughout the term and for supporting your children as challenges have arisen. Secondary School is a journey, and I firmly believe that the partnership between families and the school is key to a successful experience.

This week, we conclude our unit on Growth Mindset. It has been wonderful to see so many of our Year 7 students adopting a growth mindset as they have faced challenges and navigated their end-of-semester exams. It always brings a smile to my face when I hear students prompting each other towards a growth mindset, or when families share stories about their child challenging them to shift from a fixed to a growth mindset. The Athletics Carnival was a fantastic opportunity to see this mindset in action, as many students pushed themselves out of their comfort zones to compete for their House. Congratulations to all students who attended, cheered on their peers, and participated - especially those who won their events on the day!

We are very much looking forward to the Year 7 Showcase this Friday. The day will begin with an Assembly at 10:00 am in Duggan Hall, finishing at approximately 10:40 am. If attending, please arrive punctually to support our Form Captains, who will be leading the event. If you are unable to attend the Assembly but can come between 10:40 am and 11:40 am, classrooms will be open for you to view your child’s work. The rooms look amazing - our teachers deserve a huge thank you for their creativity, patience, and perseverance in helping students prepare. I cannot wait for you to see what is on display. Please note that this is a compulsory school day for Year 7 students, and they are expected to remain at school until 11:50 am when the term concludes.

As the semester comes to a close, I would like to thank our Year 7 Form Teachers, who have worked tirelessly to support students in their transition to Secondary School. Their care, patience, and encouragement have been invaluable. In particular, I would like to acknowledge Mrs Sally James, who has not only been 7A’s Form Teacher but has also co-led our Year 7 Homework Club with Ms Hickson. Mrs James will be taking long service leave for the remainder of 2025 - we wish her a wonderful break and look forward to welcoming her back next year.

Wishing you all a safe and relaxing holiday. I look forward to seeing many of you on Friday as we celebrate a fantastic start to Year 7.

As we reach the midpoint of the year, it has been wonderful to see how well our Year 8 students have settled. Many of the challenges that once seemed daunting at the start of the year are now part of their daily routine. Between sporting, cultural, and academic pursuits, Year 8 has been a hive of activity. It has been a pleasure continuing to develop strong relationships with the cohort, and I look forward to further strengthening these connections as the year progresses.

In Form and Tutorial lessons this term, our focus has been on Character Strengths. We began by completing our own Character Strengths Profile, encouraging students to reflect on where their personal strengths lie. For some, this was affirming; for others, it offered surprising insights. From there, we explored strengths that were less dominant in their profiles.

Students engaged in a range of hands-on activities to bring these strengths to life:

* A Kangaroo Court to explore fairness and judgement

* A Marshmallow Tower Challenge to build teamwork

* A Card House Challenge that demanded perseverance and resilience

* An outdoor walk to foster appreciation of beauty and excellence

Each activity was filled with zest and humour. While there was plenty of fun, I hope students leave this term with a deeper understanding of themselves and the character strengths they bring to everyday situations.

Another highlight was our Year 8 camp at Ritamada. Each class undertook a three-day adventure that called on every strength we have been developing - especially leadership and collaboration. Camps are a vital component of our Personal Development Programme, offering rich opportunities for growth, connection, and challenge.

A quick reminder to all families: please check and update your child’s details - particularly your home address, contact numbers, email addresses, and medical information - via Parent Lounge.

As we approach the holidays, I encourage everyone to prioritise rest and reconnection. Enjoy the warm winter sun, step away from screens, and get out into nature. There is strong evidence that spending time outdoors is beneficial for our minds, bodies, and spirits. I know I will be doing just that, and I hope you can too.

Wishing you a restful break. We look forward to welcoming students back next term!

This cohort continues to thrive academically and socially, demonstrating a genuine commitment to learning and a remarkable ability to navigate the evolving demands of Secondary School. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know this group more deeply and witnessing their enthusiastic engagement with this term’s theme: What About Me?

This term in Form and Tutorial, students have explored a variety of topics culminating in this week’s What About Me Camp. With the support of our dedicated staff, students have taken part in sessions on Nutrition, Indigenous Perspectives, Connection, Resilience, and Team Building, along with gender-specific discussions. I extend sincere thanks to the staff who made these sessions possible. Our Tutorial Programme has offered opportunities to reflect on these experiences, deepening students’ understanding of teamwork and connection. Under the guidance of Mr Kyle Langman, our Head of Leadership, the Leadership for All Programme has been embedded across the term, with a focus on self-leadership as a foundation for future growth.

The term concludes with the four-day What About Me Camp - designed to challenge students and foster joy and connection. The value of school camps cannot be overstated. They are essential experiences that help students develop independence, broaden their social horizons, improve decision-making, and enjoy time away from technology. I encourage all students to embrace the opportunity with open hearts and minds.

Looking ahead to Term 3, our Form and Tutorial Programme will shift focus to topics such as choice, risk, personal reputation, and healthy decision-making. Students will begin exploring subject preferences, and families will soon receive information to support these important discussions. We will also engage students in age-appropriate conversations around alcohol, vaping, and other risk-related behaviours, framed through the lens of responsibility and consequence.

A reminder to families to please check and update your contact and medical details via Parent Lounge to ensure we can provide the best possible care and communication.

Wishing you a restful holiday filled with connection and renewal. We look forward to seeing everyone refreshed for Term 3.

Throughout the term, students have consistently demonstrated our School’s values of respect and care for others. I would also like to thank families for their ongoing support and communication, particularly around catch-up exams due to illness or injury - your cooperation has been invaluable.

A special thank you to those who participated in the Athletics Carnival. It was inspiring to see so many students stepping outside their comfort zones in support of their House and School.

Looking ahead to Term 3, students will begin selecting subjects for their senior years. These decisions are significant and deserve thoughtful consideration. Over the holiday break, I encourage families to discuss options together. Students can refer to the Curriculum Handbook, also available via Student Café.

The Year 10 Outdoor Education Programme (OEP) camps are also fast approaching. Families are asked to keep an eye on their emails for important updates to help prepare for their child’s scheduled camp.

A reminder to all families to review and update contact information - home address, parent/guardian phone numbers, email addresses, and medical details - via Parent Lounge.

Wishing you all a safe and restful break. I look forward to welcoming everyone back in Term 3.

This term has been full of learning, challenges, and memorable moments that have helped shape both individuals and the wider school community.

We are incredibly proud of our students’ dedication and resilience. Their hard work has led to success across a wide range of subjects. Beyond academics, many have excelled in sport, the arts, and community service, showing admirable teamwork, creativity, and commitment.

Our focus remains on developing the skills and values students need for life beyond school. Next term, Form lessons will centre on community service, with students supporting Share the Dignity’s It’s in the Bag campaign. This will provide an opportunity to act as responsible and compassionate global citizens.

A few reminders:

Subject Changes : Students must complete and submit their own subject change form.

Committee Nominations : Year 11 students can now nominate for the Formal, Valentine’s, Christmas, and Senior Jersey committees. Nominations close Friday, 18 July via Microsoft Forms. All other Leadership Role nominations close Friday, 12 September.

Senior Jerseys : Sample jerseys are available in the SSO. Students may only use their first name, surname, initials (with full stops), or preferred name (as listed on Student Café). No other name variants will be approved.

Parent Lounge Updates : Families are reminded to review and update student information online.

As we head into the break, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. Wishing all families a restful and enjoyable holiday. We look forward to another term filled with growth and opportunity.

There is much for students to reflect on this term, which I have detailed further in my end-of-semester letter, to be sent out later this week.

A major highlight of the past fortnight was the Athletics Carnival. Year 12 students did a brilliant job creating House spirit and enthusiasm. A big thank you also to our canteen volunteers - your efforts contributed significantly to our Formal fundraising goals.

In Term 3, students begin finalising their post-school plans. Some may require references or letters from the school - please let me know if these are needed. I am also happy to act as a referee, and students are welcome to list my details on relevant applications.

As many students prepare to move out of home next year, this transition brings a mix of emotions - excitement, nervousness, and perhaps a little sadness. Semester 2 will focus on essential life skills for independent living. Topics will include car maintenance, understanding rental agreements, financial literacy (including credit cards, loans, and superannuation), enrolling to vote, healthcare, sexual health, and safety when socialising.

Guest speaker sessions will include:

LIVINWELL – Friday 18 July (PFS)

Red Frogs: Life After School – Tuesday 22 July (YLM)

Bolsover Health – Tuesdays 12 & 19 August (YLM)

Young Workers Hub – Tuesday 26 August (YLM)

Important upcoming dates:

External Exam Block : 27 October – 18 November (see QCAA website)

Mock Exam Block : 8 – 19 September

Key Events :

100 Days Left Celebration – 5 August

Leadership Colours Rehearsal – 23 October, 9:50 am

Headmaster’s Lunch – 23 October, 12:30 pm

Mocktails – 23 October, 5:30 pm

Final Day of Classes – 24 October

Leadership Ceremony – 24 October, 9:30 am

Honour Guard – 24 October, 10:10 am

Curriculum Prep Days – 13 & 14 November

Year 12 Final Day – 21 November, 8:30 am (compulsory attendance)

Valedictory – 21 November, 5:00 pm

Speech Day – 26 November

For further reflections on the term and additional details for the rest of the year, please refer to my end-of-semester letter. Best wishes to all students competing at Confraternity, QISSN, and the CQ Rowing Championships during the break. I hope you all have a restful and rejuvenating holiday and return refreshed for your final school semester.

Visit the RGS VET and Careers Newsletter for all the latest news.

RGS Athletics Carnival
During the previous week RGS hosted the annual Athletics Carnival.  Congratulations to Kellow House for taking home the House Trophy.  Congratulations to the following students:

Age Champions:
12-year Boy – Oliver Lau

12-year Girl – Mia Mills

13 Year Boy – Robert Muller

13-year Girl – Grace Evans

14-year Boy – Oscar Rogers

14-year Girl – Imogen Appleton

15-year Boy – Spencer Swaffer-Selff

15-year Girl – Grace Francis

16-year Boy – Ryan Newby

16-year Girl – Mila Kronk

Open Boy – Ethan Asimba

Open Girl – Katie Cooper

Winner of the girls Percy Withers 75 Yard Sprint – Katie Cooper

Winner of the boys 75 Yard Sprint – Ethan Asimba

Records:
Mia Mills (12 Years Girls): Triple Jump – 9.02m
Previous record – 8.66m (2017) - Megan Adamski

Audrey Tincknell (12 Years Girls): High Jump – 1.40m
Previous Record – 1.29m – (2017) – Megan Adamski

Oliver Lau (12 Years Boys)
Javelin – 22.31m . Previous record – 21.46m (2014) Henry Gray
Triple Jump – 9.56m. Previous record – 9.23m (2021) - Samuel Driscoll
200m – 29.29. Previous record – 29.62 (2021) Ben Mosby

Cameron Bell (14 Years Boys): Triple Jump – 11.56m
Previous record – 11.53m (1993) – K. McGinty

Katie Cooper (17-19 Years Girls): Triple Jump – 10.43m
Previous record – 10.27m (2014) – Eleanor Gambling

Jardine 12 Year Girls Relay Team – 1:04.17: Mia Mills, Aria Caton, Piper Neven, Aaliyah Loomans
Previous record – 1:05.02 (2017) - Wheatcroft

Basketball
Congratulations to the RGS Junior A division boys basketball team on their performance in the final against Emmaus, going down by 50-42. Congratulations to Valentino Cook who was the RGS player of the final.

Football
Congratulations to the following RGS Football teams on their results in the RDSS Grand Finals –

Year 11/12 Boys - RGS beat St Brendan’s College 1-0, with Spencer Besch scoring a late goal.

Year 9/10 Boys - RGS beat St Brendan’s College 2-1 with goals from Jude Smart and Sai Guatam.

Music Festival
Congratulations to students and staff for an amazing set of performances demonstrating the vast array of performers from Prep through the Year 12 at the annual Music Festival at the Pilbeam Theatre. From solo performances to ensembles the large crowd at the Pilbeam theatre were captivated by each performance. The finale saw all students from Prep to Year 12 perform ‘A Million Dreams’ from the Greatest Showman.

Netball
RDSS School Girls Grand Finals

Well done to all the RGS netball teams that played in the 2025 Rockhampton District School Sport Secondary Schools Netball competition this year.

Congratulations to Bullets (Open D), Lakers (Open E) and Thunder (10B) on winning their respective grand finals. Congratulations also to Magic (Open A), Meteors (Open B), Celtics (Open C), and Dodgers (7B) on having a fantastic season and finishing runners-up in their divisions.

Thank you to the RGS students who umpired grand finals and thank you to all the RGS supporters for cheering on the RGS teams at Jardine Park on grand final day. Good luck to RGS netball teams as they continue their Rockhampton Netball Association fixtures this season.

Girls Rugby League
Congratulations to the RGS teams in the grand finals this year being the Year 7/8  and  Year 11/12 A division. Unfortunately, both teams lost to TCC.  RGS players of the final were Evie Francis (Year 7/8) division and Offiliah Chippendale (Year 11/12 A Division).

Show Cattle Team
Congratulations to the RGS Show Cattle Team on winning the 2025 Secondary School Interschool Challenge at the Rockhampton Show and being named Champion School in the FeedPro 2025 Secondary School Challenge.

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

Basketball
Congratulations to Brenton Gaka who was part of the Capricornia Basketball Team who finished second at the state championship. Brenton has been selected to the Queensland team to compete at nationals.

Hockey
Congratulations to Amy Woods who has been selected in the QLD U18 women’s hockey team to participate in nationals in July

Oztag
Congratulations to Scarlett Gear on representing QLD Oztag at the Tri Series as a member of the Rebels U15 Girls team.

Softball
Congratulations to Grace Skilling who has been selected to the Capricornia 10-12 Years Girls Softball Team.

Rugby 7’s
Congratulations to Scarlett Gear on her selection to the Queensland 15-16 Years Rugby 7s girls Team to participate in ASRU National Championships in July. Evan Sullivan was selected in the 17-18 years Queensland White team.