St Ursula's College Newsletter 2025 Term 3, Week 2

From our Principal

As we begin this new term, I extend a warm welcome back to all our students and families. I hope the holidays provided a wonderful opportunity to slow the pace and recharge the batteries. For our Year 12 students, they enter a critical time where the end feels so close, and yet there is so much important work still to be achieved. Across Term 3, Year 12 students will focus on completing Unit 4 work, preparing for external exams and completing requirements for any outstanding certificate courses. We wish them all the best throughout the coming weeks and months, knowing that all has been done to prepare them for time beyond the school gates.

Parents often talk about choosing St Ursula’s College for the holistic education offered. It is more than just the academic achievements; but about providing a foundation for our young women influenced by our values, with the intention to nurture good people. We continue to be guided by these values that shape not only our learning environment but our shared community—service, compassion, justice, courage, and respect. These values are more than just words on a wall; they are the heartbeat of our culture and the lens through which we see each student’s growth and potential. Whether it's through acts of service, respectful dialogue, or courageous learning, our students are constantly building a foundation for life that goes far beyond the classroom.

In 2025, our theme is Strive to Thrive; and this term we will embed a particular focus around what this means through the lens of compassion. Together, we will actively foster interactions that are underpinned by empathy and understanding. Compassion is embedded in the way we teach, care for, and speak to each other—it's in the patience we show, the encouragement we give, and the awareness we cultivate of each individual’s journey. When compassion leads, thriving follows. I invite you, our families, to partner with us in modelling this value at home and in the wider community, so together we create a strong, nurturing foundation for every students to flourish.

Compassion is embedded in the way we teach, care for, and speak to each other—it's in the patience we show, the encouragement we give, and the awareness we cultivate of each individual’s journey. When compassion leads, thriving follows.

Welcome

As we commence the new term, we welcome a number of new students and staff to our community. In particular, we welcome the following staff:

Ms Chloe Tiley – Chloe joins us from St John’s College in Roma. She is a teacher of Science and Mathematics. Across the next three terms, she will also take on the Acting Head of House (Fiducia) as Ms Clare Watson assumes the role of Acting Director of Learning and Teaching.

Ms Renee Hamiton – Renee joins us from Sophia College, Plainlands. Renee was a foundation staff member, and as a result, has had the unique experience of working in a new school. She is a teacher of Humanities and The Arts. Renee will take on the role of Acting Head of House (Speranza) whilst Christle Power takes her maternity leave from Week 4 of this term.

Mrs Hayley Lobwein – Hayley is a past student, returning as a beginning teacher in the areas of Hospitality and Technologies. Hayley will work in a Part Time capacity, sharing classes with Ms Fabiana Wilson.

Ms Shannon Tumbridge – Shannon is also a past student. Shannon will be teaching Japanese and English, covering classes for Ms Laura Booth who has commenced her exchange in Japan. Shannon has accepted this role until the end of the year.

Miss Amelia Hope – Amelia is a new member of our Learning Support Team and will assume the role of Support Officer – Classroom Support for two days a week, working across Thursday and Friday.

I know you will join with me in welcoming Chloe, Renee, Hayley, Fabiana, Shannon and Amelia to St Ursula’s College.

Top L to R: Chloe Tiley, Renee Hamilton, Hayley Lobwein, Fabiana Wilson, Shannon Tumbridge and Amelia Hope

The term has certainly kicked off with a pace, as we enjoyed the talents of our girls showcased at our Fusion of the Arts evening on Friday night, last week. It was wonderful to see the scope of opportunities provided across Dance, Music, Drama, Film and Television, Visual Art and Media Arts. Well done to Ms Pickard and The Arts staff for all they do, both within the curriculum and across the breadth of co-curricular opportunities to foster a love of The Arts. We will have some photo's to share in the coming week from this wonderful night.

I was certainly so proud of the St Ursula’s College students who performed in the Toowoomba Choral Youth Society performance, Mary Poppins, over the holidays. Mrs Jaime Thomas was the Co-Producer, and it was wonderful to see Grace, Ella, Abby, Zoe, and Lilah participate in a wonderful community production. St Ursula’s College was proud to be a Silver Sponsor of the show, knowing that “The Arts matter”.

And, as we near the end of the first fortnight, I am excited for what lies ahead. Next week, we will celebrate Catholic Education Week, which will include the Bishop’s Inservice Day on Friday 1 August, a pupil free day for our students. As well, we congratulate the following staff, Kerry Chrusciel, Business Manager and James Darlington nominated for a Spirit of Catholic Education Award; as well as to James, again, and Amanda Kilgour who have been nominated and shortlisted for the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Excellence Awards. We are proud of this recognition of Kerry, James and Amanda, and their contribution to our College.

If you have a daughter currently in Year 5 and 6, please don’t forget to complete an enrolment application for their enrolment in 2026 or 2027. Interviews are being conducted in Term 3, so we encourage families to apply as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs Lisa McKellar, PA to Principal/Registrar at enrolstursulas@twb.catholic.edu.au or phone 07 4632 7611.

Have a great fortnight everyone. I am excited to join with our students on Thursday next week, for the Acknowledgment of Academic Distinction based on the End of Semester One or Unit One Reports for Years 7 to 11, as well as listen to the students who have been shortlisted for the position of College Captain, who will address the assembly.

Together, we strive,

Deidre Young

Principal

Deputy Principal

In the absence of Ms Witham for this fortnight, I remind parents of Year 12 of the wonderful opportunity to participate in additional preparation for External Exams over the holidays, organised and delivered by Toowoomba Catholic Schools. (Refer to the flier attached)

At the end of this newsletter, there is communication about the upcoming iCAS Competition where students can opt to enrol in exams across a range of subject areas as a way of extending and enriching their learning opportunities. Please refer to the letter for more. 

And finally, on Thursday of next week, students from Years 7 to 11 will be acknowledged for academic distinction from their Semester One or Unit One Reports. We congratulate those students on their results and encourage all students to consider ways to keep improving and growing in what they achieve across the subjects they study. 

Have a wonderful fortnight, remembering that next Friday, 1 August, is a pupil free day for the Bishop's Inservice Day. 

Regards, 

Deidre Young (for Ms Witham)

Assistant Principal Pastoral Care

The Torch of Leadership.   

Leadership at St Ursula’s College is an important aspect of personal growth for our students and Term 3 sees the leadership journey begin for a multitude of our students.    

Currently, our Year 11 students are diligently preparing for positions within the Student Leadership Team, a collective of roles that encompass various forms of leadership:   

 The Student Leadership Team   

• College Captain   

• College Vice-Captain   

• Boarding Captain: assisted by the Boarding Representative Council.   

• Cultural Captain: aided by cultural captains eg: Music Captain, Debating Captain    

• Faith Captain: with support by the Liturgy group.   

• House Captains: (2 per House): backed by House Leaders.   

• Service Captain: receiving support by Service Group Leaders.    

• Sports Captain: working alongside individual Sport captains.    

• SRC Captain: with reinforcement by two-year level representatives.   

 Leadership, at its core, is more than just a badge and title. It is about the art of inspiring, influencing, and empowering others to work together harmoniously towards a shared goal. It's about envisioning a future and motivating others to believe in that vision.   

Recognising the importance of nurturing leadership skills, St Ursula’s College actively encourages student-led initiatives. Through Service Groups, clubs, individual sporting groups, students learn to take ownership of their ideas, communicate effectively, and rally their peers around shared interests. These experiences provide invaluable lessons in decision-making, adaptability, and problem-solving – vital traits for future leaders. A single act of leadership, whether big or small, can inspire others to act, creating a chain reaction of positive change.   

From the Student Leadership Team to individual students guiding their Pastoral Care groups, the essence of leadership is interwoven into the very essence of our College community. Acts of leadership instil values of responsibility, empathy, and teamwork, and are considered lifelong skills that extend far beyond the classroom and school life.   

 This week marked an exciting milestone with the initial group interviews for the position of College Captain. The panel was honoured to welcome back Mrs Jennifer Kratzmann, solicitor and proud alumna of St Ursula's, as the External Moderator. Jennifer’s connection to the College made her observations especially poignant as she shared, "Even though I left the College many years ago, the culture and ethos of St Ursula’s still exists—and I feel confident that it is in good hands." 

What stood out most in the interviews were the reflections and insights offered by the students. Their one-liners spoke volumes, capturing the essence of leadership with maturity and heart: 

• “Leadership is not about being the best but showing up and doing your best.” 

• “Leadership begins with listening.” 

• “Leadership is about holding the door open for others, not expecting others to hold the door open for you.” 

The process continues over the coming weeks with interviews for the other leadership roles being held in group settings. The Student Leadership Team selection remains a cornerstone of our College’s commitment to cultivating compassionate, confident, and courageous young women. Stay tuned as the journey unfolds—we can’t wait to introduce the leaders in Week 10.  

 Mrs Maria Gibson

Assistant Principal Mission and Identity

Be the Kid Who… Reflects Ursuline Values in Action

I recently saw this simple yet powerful mural posted on social media and I couldn’t help but pause and reflect on its message—one that resonates deeply with our Ursuline heritage and the legacy of Saint Angela Merici.

“Some kids are smarter than you… have cooler clothes… are better at sports… IT DOESN’T MATTER. You have your thing too. Be the kid who can get along. Be the kid who is generous. Be the kid who is happy for others. Be the kid who does the right thing. Be the nice kid.”

In our community, these words are more than a reminder—they are a call to action. They echo the very heart of what it means to walk the Ursuline way: to lead with compassion, to honour the dignity of every individual, and to embrace humility and service in our daily lives.

Saint Angela encouraged her companions to "act, move, believe, strive, hope, cry out to God with all your heart." This wall capture that spirit beautifully. It reminds our students that academic success, popularity, or sporting achievements—while valuable—are not the measure of who we are. What truly matters is how we treat others, how we include those on the margins, and how we contribute to a community built on respect and kindness.

At our College, we strive to nurture young women who:

· Get along – practicing peace and patience in their friendships.

· Are generous – giving time, kindness, and encouragement freely.

· Celebrate others – rather than compete or compare.

· Choose what is right – even when it is difficult.

· Lead with love – just as Saint Angela did.

Let this be more than a mural. Let it be our mission. In classrooms, outside of class, online, and beyond, may we all “be the nice kid.” In doing so, we bring to life the Ursuline values that shape our identity and guide our journey together.

Mr Joe Kelly

Month Ahead Dates for Term 3

Term 3 is shaping up to be a vibrant and eventful part of the school year, filled with learning, activities, and community engagement. To help you stay organised, here are some important dates to keep in mind.

With so much happening, we encourage families to stay connected through the school calendar, newsletters, and our social media platforms.

Director of Sport

Training Days and Times

QISSN

Our Senior A Netball team made the trek to Bundaberg to compete in the annual QISSN (Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Netball) competition in the first week of the holidays. The girls played exceptionally well, reaching their Division 3 goal and finishing 5^th. Thank you to Julian Cattonar and Jaime Thomas for organising and coaching the girls. Thank you to all the parents who volunteered to help with meals and general household duties - especially Sonia and Suanne, it is much appreciated. Congratulations to Mikayla O’Neill who was named the Most Valuable Player for 2025 from our team.

MC Cup

The Merici-Chevalier Cup is an annual netball competition held between St Ursula’s College and Downlands. We encourage all girls to come and cheer on their peers.

When: Friday 25 July

Where: Downlands Indoor Courts (Sacre Centre)

Game Times:

Best of luck to all teams playing.

International Success on the Track: Eliza and Bethany Shine in Canada

Over the recent break, two of our talented athletes, Eliza and Bethany, proudly represented St Ursula’s College at two major athletics meets in Canada: the Jack Brow Meet in Kelowna and the British Columbia Championships in Coquitlam.

Jack Brow Meet – Kelowna
Eliza and Bethany competed strongly against international competition, achieving outstanding results:

Eliza

• 🥇 1st – 400m Hurdles
• 🥈 2nd – 400m

Bethany

• 🥇 1st – 800m, 2000m, 1500m Race Walk
• 🥉 3rd – 1200m

British Columbia Championships – Coquitlam
Both students continued to impress at this prestigious event:

Eliza

• Finalist in 400m, 400m Hurdles, and 800m

Bethany

• 🥇 1st – 1500m Race Walk, setting meet records for both U16 and Open Age categories
• Top 5 finishes in 800m, 1200m, and 2000m

Bethany was especially thrilled to break both age group records in the race walk, joking that she now has a reason to return next year—to beat her own record!

We are incredibly proud of Eliza and Bethany for their dedication, sportsmanship, and outstanding performances on the international stage. Their achievements are a testament to their hard work and passion for athletics.

Mrs Elyce Ruhle

Head of Faculty: Arts

Fusion of the Arts

Friday 18 July saw the return of our Fusion of the Arts evening. We commenced the evening in the Salo Courtyard with drinks and nibbles, accompanied by our fantastic Music students. Our Salo Gallery was then open for attendees to view works from our Media Arts & Visual Art departments. Finally, attendees took their seats for the performance part of the evening and were treated to works from our Dance, Drama, Media Arts & Music department. A massive thank you all staff and students involved and stay tuned in the coming weeks for photos from the evening.

 Clay Club

Clay Club has commenced Term 3 as our girls continue to work with Jane Orme. We look forward to seeing the works created this term!

Dance Date Claimers

• Toowoomba Eisteddfod – Dance: Thursday 31 July
• Beenleigh Eisteddfod – Dance: Thursday 7 August
• Sydney Dance Tour: Thursday 21 August – Sunday 24 August
• Dance Night: Friday 17 October

 Senior Play Date Claimer

• Friday 10 October

 Ms Lydia Pickard

Careers & VET Pathways

QTAC Applications and Early Entry 

Term 3 is a very busy one for our Year 12 students, with QTAC applications opening on 5 August. Students will be guided through the process during their Careers lessons and in individual consultations that will take place throughout the term.  

Many of our students will also be applying for early entry to secure a conditional place at university before they sit the end of year exams. Some universities manage their own early entry programs, so students apply directly to the university instead of through QTAC - though sometimes students will need to apply through both. 

Each institution has a different application process and opening/closing dates, so it is important that students do their research. For information about every early entry program available in Australia, please click here. 

University Open Days 2025    

Students who are interested in a university pathway are strongly encouraged to attend University Open Days. There's no perfect university that works for everyone. The "best" university is the one that's right for you - your goals, your learning style, and your interests.   

Open days are your chance to go beyond the glossy prospectuses and Instagram-worthy campus shots to explore the campus, meet current students and staff, and get a real feel for what studying at a particular institution might be like.  

Toowoomba     

UniSQ     Saturday 9 August Springfield & Ipswich     

                Sunday 17 August Toowoomba     

Brisbane     

ACU                       Saturday 2 August Nudgee Road, Banyo    

Griffith        Sunday 10 August Gold Coast & Nathan    

QUT                      Sunday 27 July Kelvin Grove and Gardens Point     

UQ                       Sunday 3 August                St Lucia Campus     

                  Sunday 17 August Gatton Campus    

 Sunshine Coast     

 UniSC        Sunday 3 August Sippy Downs    

Toowoomba Careers Expo 2025 

On Wednesday, our Year 10 students ventured out to the Toowoomba Showgrounds for the Toowoomba Careers Expo. It was a fantastic opportunity for the students to engage directly with a diverse range of exhibitors from tertiary institutions, traineeship and apprenticeship providers, accommodation providers, and government agencies.  

Work Experience 

If students are interested in completing Work Experience during the September holidays or the last few days of Term 3 (pending assessments), please see Mrs Tawns no later than Week 3 to make arrangements.  

Congratulations! 

A huge congratulations to the following students: 

• Georgia Marshall – Georgia has recently commenced her SBA at Little Kooka’s and will be completing her Cert III in Early Childhood Education and Care 

• Yar Pager – Has enrolled in the Taster Program in Health at TAFE  

• Letaya Sam – Has enrolled in the Taster Program in Beauty at TAFE  

• Ava Youngberry – Has recently enrolled in the Taster Program in Trade at TAFE 

• Hannah Voss – Has completed her SBA – Cert III Hospitality at Zarraffas 

• Natalie McLean – Has completed her SBA – Cert III Business at Subway 

• Brooke Newberry – Has completed her SBA – Cert III Fitness at Fitlab  

• Paige McKellar – Has completed her SBA – Cert III Health Services Assistant 

• Elouise Redfern, Bella Carswell and Ava Dickfos – All have completed a Cert III Beauty at TAFE 

• Matilda Cosgrave – Received a Distinction for the Headstart course Playing with Words at the University of the Sunshine Coast 

• Molly Standing – Recently completed a Work Experience placement at Vision Exercise Physiology 

• Claire Salmon – Recently completed a Work Experience placement at Wolff Power 

Upcoming Events 

The Women's College 2025 Open Day  

Date: Sunday 3 August 2025 

Time: 9:00am to 4:00pm 

Venue: The Women's College, College Road, St Lucia  

RSVP by: 4:00pm Monday 21 July 2025 here 

Queensland Police Service (QPS) Open Day, Brisbane 

Date: July 26, 2025  

Location: Bob Atkinson Operational Capabilities Centre 

Take this rare opportunity to check out our state-of-the-art training facilities and chat with our specialist units like the Dog Squad, Road Policing Command, Dive Squad, Mounted Unit, Stock Squad, PolAir and many more. 

Policing can be a lifelong career with many different pathways, so take your time touring our training facility, driver training track and firearms range, and drop in to an information session throughout the day where you can ask questions about your future career. Find out more and register 

Launchpad 2027 – Igniting futures in Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing 

Date: Wednesday 30 July 2025 

Times: Session 1: 9 am to 11.30am, Session 2: 12.15pm to 2.45 pm 

Venue: St Mary’s College, Toowoomba 

Other details about the event:  

• A day dedicated to secondary school students to gain first-hand insight into how to get a job in the region’s growing Aerospace Industry 

• Students from Year 9 – 11 are invited to attend. 

• If you are interested in registering for this event, please express your interest by emailing Mrs Tawns anita.tawns@twb.catholic.edu.au   

McNab’s Pathways Program  

Dates: Week 1 – 22 to 26 September 2025, Week 2 – 29 September to 3 October 2025 

Who is eligible: Year 11 and 12 students  

Other details about this event:  

• The program is conducted during the 2025 September school holidays. Students are able to apply for an intensive one week work experience placement (there are two work experience block options as listed above) 

• It’s a great chance for students to get their foot in the door and kick start a career with one of Australia’s leading construction, development and property businesses.  

• For more info click here to download an information brochure and apply 

• You will need to email Mrs Tawns anita.tawns@twb.catholic.edu.au if you are planning on applying as a Work Experience Form will need to be completed. You will not be able to attend without the appropriate paperwork complete.  

Jacqui & Anita

P&F News

Our P&F meetings are always held in Kerrielaw from 5:45pm. You are welcome to join us either in person or via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent out the Monday before the meeting, or you can request the link by emailing stursulaspfa@gmail.com

Please join us for our next P&F Meeting on Tuesday 12 August.

We are desperately keen for sponsors and donations for our major fundraising event this year, the Merici Spring Supper. If you are able to donate anything, please advise the office and we'll be in touch. Thanks for your consideration.

Tahnee Coombs, P&F Secretary

ICAS Competition

Website Spotlight

📬 Did You Know? Stay Connected with Our College Newsletters!

Did you know you can access past editions of our College newsletters anytime via our website? Whether you’re catching up on recent events or revisiting important announcements, our newsletter archive is just a few clicks away.

Even better — you can subscribe yourself to receive future newsletters directly to your inbox! Here's how:

1. Visit our website and click on Our Community.
2. Select Newsletters, then click on Latest Newsletter.
3. At the top of the page, you’ll see a button that says “Subscribe to Newsletter.” Click it, and you’re all set!

Subscribing ensures you never miss out on College updates, celebrations, or important information again. Stay informed, stay connected! 💙

Catholic School Parents Qld

Catholic School Parents Queensland (CSPQ) invite all Catholic school parents and carers to a national Karen Young live webinar on Strengthening Young People Against Anxiety. Details below

Youth Leaders Program