Since 2023, our staff have been familiarising and then implementing the Australian Curriculum Version 9.0. This rollout is expected to be completed by 2027.  The curriculum is reviewed every 6 years and this updated curriculum is a result of the 2020-2021 review.  We do not write the curriculum as teachers. It is provided to us, as it is to all other Australian Schools.  As teachers we then use this curriculum to develop units that we implement with our students.  These units are progressive and build on previous knowledge and skills that develop across P-10.  Then our students enter Senior Schooling and teachers work from Syllabi, which is aligned to other schools, to ensure students can achieve the results to journey onto their desired pathway.

With the implementation of this revised curriculum, there is a large amount of learning for our teachers.  We are in the learning pit, building our own knowledge and capability with our colleagues to ensure we deliver ACARA v9.0 to a high standard.  Many of these changes, revisions and updates may go unnoticed by families as we work to ensure consistency of practice for your children.  Other changes we will highlight to you as they reflect the changing times and needs of our young people to become successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed citizens. 

AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM – HPE

Respectful relationships are key to a happy and healthy community, and teaching children the skills to foster these connections is essential. By instilling values such as empathy, kindness, and active listening, we empower them to navigate friendships, family interactions, and future workplace environments with confidence and integrity. Respect is more than politeness—it’s about understanding different perspectives, embracing diversity, and treating others with care and fairness. As a school, we are committed to equipping our students with the knowledge and skills needed to build respectful relationships, ensuring they grow into compassionate and thoughtful individuals. When we teach respect, we are shaping a generation that knows how to uplift and support one another.

The Australian Curriculum for Health and Physical Education (HPE) has undergone updates to strengthen the teaching of respectful relationships and consent education across all year levels (P–10) in age-appropriate ways. These changes aim to provide students with the knowledge and skills to navigate relationships with respect, empathy, and understanding.

Key updates include:

• Explicit teaching of respectful relationships: The curriculum now emphasizes the importance of respect, empathy, and valuing diversity in relationships.
• Consent education: Age-appropriate lessons on consent, boundary setting, body rights, and protective behaviours have been incorporated.
• Improved guidance for teachers: Content descriptions have been refined to remove ambiguity and provide clearer direction on how to teach these topics.
• Integration with personal and social development: Students analyse factors influencing emotional responses and develop strategies for self-management.

These updates reflect a broader effort to ensure students develop the skills needed to foster healthy relationships and contribute positively to their communities. As we roll out Version 9.0 of the Australian Curriculum these changes will be taught to our students, parents are kept up to date on curriculum delivery via the course descriptions and unit overviews sent out by teachers.  Toowoomba Catholic Schools is currently investing in a Project Officer to develop resources and work with teachers on their delivery of this curriculum with a Catholic lens and we look forward to working with Kellie-Marie Ford on this initiative.

 Assessment and Reporting

As we reach the middle of our term next week, students are working on their unit assessments. We use the Australian Curriculum to guide our teaching and assessment and offer multiple opportunities for our students to express their learning and progress through both formative and summative assessment. At the conclusion of each semester, our College will provide a written report for all students based on their summative assessment from throughout the semester. The Semester 1 report card shows the progress of your child. The purpose of reporting is to improve student learning. It provides an opportunity for parents/legal guardians to engage meaningfully in the learning journey of their child. Academic Achievement is reported in the report card using a 5-point scale from A-E.

Our report cards will also include one Application and Attitude result for each Key Learning Area.  This semester we will use a new single result for Application and Attitude using a 5-point scale. This change in scale aligns to the direction from Toowoomba Catholic Schools Teaching and Learning Framework.  As staff we are excited about the change to a 5-point scale for Application and Attitude to Learning. We are working together to ensure clarity and consistency of understanding and use of this new scale. Below is an image that shows the new grading language and the scale definitions that best describe a student awarded each grade.

ARTISTIC TALENT

Year 8 student, Lincoln Frid, has created an amazing artwork for the Yarning Competition, open to First Nations secondary schools students to share their unique stories and experiences.  This compeition is about storytelling and Lincoln has taken stories from his childhood to create his artwork.

"Family Foundations (My artwork) portrays a story that represents my grandmother (Big Nan). My grandmother Theresa was a descendant of the Mandandanji People they’re the traditional owners of Roma and surrounding. I am her grandson my name is Lincoln, I’m 13 years old, the artwork I painted was inspired by a snapshot of me and my grandmother out on country learning about our culture heritage. Big Nan often told me stories about her on country with her family, some of her stories they weren’t always fond memories she shared as she was taken from her family put in a home in Brisbane forbidden to practice cultural traditions or speak about her aboriginality. This life-changing event in her has shaped her into having a strong resilience for going back to country and regaining our connection to our country and culture. Because of her passion for her culture, she has always maintained the importance of passing on her knowledge to generations that have come after her.  I’m very grateful that she has set the strong foundation that give us the footing to stand and to make sure our culture is passed on for many generations to come. Hence the name of “Family Foundations” of this painting of my interpretation I have painted I have painted this beautiful picture taken on country with my grandmother."

Submissions are reviewed by a panel of judges and finalists will be selected from different year level groups.   This is the first time this competition has been run and we are excited to have such an awe-inspiring artwork from one of our students.  The artwork will be on display at the College in coming weeks.

Ignite Conference 2025 

On 25 - 28 September this year from Thursday afternoon to Sunday lunchtime, St Laurence’s College Brisbane will host the Ignite Conference 2025. Students and educators can join over 2,500 high schoolers, young adults, leaders, and other educators, at the Ignite Conference for a transformative four-day experience. This event offers real-world formation, faith renewal, and powerful worship, creating a vibrant community of believers. Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your faith and connect with others in a meaningful way. For more information please visit their website National Catholic Conference Brisbane — Ignite Conference 25  

Mrs Cate Brennan

Deputy Principal Mission and Identity