Term 2 Week 1 College Newsletter

Acknowledgement of Country

From the Principal

Dear Parents/Carers and Students,

Welcome back to term 2, and I hope that you had the opportunity to spend some time with those closest to you over the Easter break.

As we grappled with the news that Pope Francis had passed away, this week we were saddened to hear of the passing of Brother Paul Conn.  Brother Paul was a former student, teacher and principal at Ignatius Park and St John Fisher, and in recent years he had spent his time in Sydney as Principal at Christian Brothers College in Lewisham and as Deputy Provincial Leader of the Christian Brothers Oceania Province.  Ignatius Park always held a special place in Paul’s heart and he will be sadly missed by many people in both our community and in other communities around the country.  During this time, we keep in our prayers Paul, his brother Michael, sister Debbie and his extended family.

I have noticed in recent weeks that many students are being dropped off at the College very early or staying very late without having any after school training or activities.  I would like to take a moment to remind parents and carers that supervision is available at the College from 8.10am, and it concludes at 3.20 pm on school days.  Outside this time, any student who is on site should be engaged in sports training, interschool sport, rehearsals, practice or supervised study.  If your son/s is not involved in these activities and are at the college outside the times listed above, could you please look at alternate arrangements for them to make their way home wherever possible.  Your support with this is greatly appreciated.

It was great to see so many students volunteering their time and representing the College with pride on ANZAC Day last week.  We had well over 20 boys at the Dawn Service and easily filled our allocation of 50 places for the March.  In addition to this we held our College commemoration last Thursday, and it was a great opportunity to recognise the sacrifice of those who have served over many years, and also to invite the folks from Brooklea to share in that service at the College.

This week will see our second Stella Fella initiative, and I would like to congratulate our student leaders and the senior cohort for continuing this worthy cause.  Students will be donning a bow tie on Thursday to say no to domestic and family violence.  This campaign will be supported by Mr David Kramer from the Small Steps for Hannah foundation.  David will be speaking to all boys and hopefully challenge some of the ‘traditional thinking’ of what being a man in this country should look like, while imparting on them what it means to be a good man in our society.  I would encourage you to speak with your son’s on Thursday evening about the talk, and if you are available, come to the parent session at the College at 5.30pm, to hear about some of the challenges that our boys face in today’s society.   

Luke Thomson  |  Principal

Curriculum Corner

Key dates for Term 2 (dates subject to change) 

Welcome to the start of Term Two. The first few weeks of this term may be short but are action packed. For students in 7-10 this is the beginning of new units of work, over the next week unit outlines will appear in Parent Portal to give you some key information about the term. For students in Years 11 and 12 units are continuing from Term 1. Please note that for Year 11 students Unit One (General Subjects) will be coming to an end with the final assessment phase in Week 5. An exam schedule for this time will be released at the end of Week 3. If there are any issues with assessment, please make sure that you contact the Edmund Rice Office.

Year 10 Senior Education and Training (SET) Plans - Choosing the Right Subjects for 2026 and 2027

This term in Pastoral Care (PACA) lessons, Year 10 students will embark on their SET Plan Journeys. Every Year 10 student in Queensland is required to develop a SET Plan.

Developing a SET Plan helps students:

• investigate possible careers and future study options they may be interested in post-school
• structure their learning in Years 11 and 12 around their abilities, interests and ambitions
• ensure their learning options allow them to pursue preferred study, further education and training, and career goals
• map their pathway to a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).

  Lesley Gardner  |  Director of Curriculum

Identity and Mission

Dear Parents & Carers,

The Catholic community this week mourns the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, who died aged 88. Just one day earlier, he offered his final public blessing on Easter Sunday in Saint Peter’s Square. A loss not lost on the students as is was a hot topic of conversation around the College since returning to Term 2.

Prominent figures from the Australian Catholic and Catholic Educational communities have shared their views on the loss. Two of which resonated with me and fit profoundly within the context of our Edmund Rice Traditions.

In his tribute, Jesuit priest Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ wrote:

'He has wept with those mistreated, pleaded their cause and preached a Gospel of joy … faced all the things that make for gloom, done what he could to change them, and remained full of hope.'

National Catholic Education Commission Executive Director Jacinta Collins expressed profound sadness and gratitude for the Pope’s unwavering commitment to education as a path to peace, justice and human dignity:

'Under his pontificate, Catholic educators across the world were encouraged to lead with care, understanding and hope in nurturing the faith lives of young people and sharing the joy of the Gospel message'.

For Catholic educators and families as part of our Catholic College Community, this is a moment to reflect and guide students through the loss of a spiritual leader many have only ever known.

Commemorating ANZAC Day: A Catholic perspective

Catholics are called to mark ANZAC Day with prayer, gratitude, and a commitment to peace. It is a time to honour those who served, remember the cost of war, and reflect on how we can build a more just world. Our Liturgy last Thursday afternoon offered ways to help staff and students reflect on ANZAC Day through a Catholic lens—highlighting peace, compassion, and justice.

This week, we celebrate the Feast Day of Edmund Rice with a great day planned for Friday. This begins with a whole school mass in the Hall, followed by our Cross Country Carnival and Eddie Ride day activities for the rest of the afternoon. 

In faith and service,

Mark Holmes | Director of Identity & Mission

Director of Students

Careers

Hello, I’m excited to introduce myself as the new Careers Counsellor at Ignatius Park College. Having worked within the College for the past 6 years, heavily involved in the Curriculum area, I am passionate about helping students discover their strengths and support their interests to their future goals. Whether it’s preparing for university, entering the workforce, or exploring vocational options, I’m here to support and guide both students and families throughout every stage of the career planning process. Please feel free to reach out to me at anytime via pathways@ipc.qld.edu.au or sheena.king@ipc.qld.edu.au.

Year 10 – Career Investigation

This term we will be working closely with our year 10 students as they begin to explore and navigate future career pathways. During Pastoral Care (PACA) classes, we will provide your son with the resources, guidance, and opportunities needed to make informed and confident choices about his future career. Below is an overview of activities that students will participate in this term. These activities will lead into Term 3 and preparing your son for his Senior Education and Training (SET) Plan.

College Careers Expo

This years Careers Expo will be held on Thursday 15 May during Period 5 and 6 for all Year 10 – 12 students. We have a broad range of industries and organisations involved who will interact with students, share information about career paths within their field, and answer any questions students may have. The expo aims to provide our students with valuable insights into various career paths, opportunities for further education, and guidance on making informed decisions about their future endeavours. 

The expo will be open from 3.00pm – 4.00pm this year should parents and junior school students wish to attend.

Opportunities

Rowlands Surveys are looking for an enthusiastic person who may be interested in a career in Surveying.

Key Motors are searching for Apprentices to add to their team. They are after a 1^st year Apprentice Automotive Technician, a 1^st year Apprentice Parts Interpreter, as well as a Car Detailer.

A Landscape Apprenticeship has become available with Lynam's Landscaping for Students interested in completing a Certificate III in Landscaping. 

The JCU Pharmacy Student Association in Townsville is holding the ‘Conversations with Chemists’ event this Friday 2nd of May. This is a good opportunity for any student who may be interested in a career in Pharmacy

See flyers in the gallery below, for more information.

JCU NOW Webinar

JCU NOW offers Year 11 and 12 students a unique opportunity to experience university life by enrolling in first-year subjects taught by JCU’s expert lecturers and tutors.

Students can choose from a variety of exciting subjects across different fields of study, including Human Rights Law, Design Thinking, Health and Healthcare in Australia, Educational Psychology, and more. The first JCU NOW subject is completely free, and additional subjects are offered at a significantly reduced cost. Find out more and register

Sheena King | Careers Counsellor

Career Pathways Opportunities

Anzac Day 2025

Last week our college community came together to honour the ANZAC Legacy. We welcomed guest speaker Mr Hagar Quirke who delved into the significant impact of war and asked our students to stand in the shoes and understand the courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice felt by those men and women 110 years ago on the shores of Gallipoli.

We commemorate this day for all those Iggy Old Boys who never made it home, for the IPC parents who currently serve and for our wider Defence community who have sacrificed so much for us.

Thank you to the residents of Brooklea Retirement Village, Defence families and Mr Quirke for joining us on this special occasion.  

On Friday, Senior Student Leaders attended the Dawn Service at Anzac Park on Anzac Day, laying a wreath on behalf of the College. This moving service was a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those men and women 110 years ago. Our students and staff continued to honour the Anzac Legacy by marching in the City Parade. Students were joined by our talented Marching Drum Corps, showing their respect and appreciation for all those who have served and continue to serve.

Lest We Forget. 

Anzac Day Liturgy & Dawn Services

Year 12 Senior Jersey Order - LAST CHANCE!

Some students have not yet ordered their Senior Jersey. Mr Guerra has re-opened the "Senior Jersey Event", for those still yet to order. Orders and payments should be made through the Parent Lounge before Monday 05 May. 

Art Supplies Wanted

School TV

Students on School Grounds Outside School Hours

Ignatius Park College has an enviable co-curricular program that operates outside school hours for a number of activities. All these activities are supervised by College staff and operate with parent and/or College permission.

For students arriving at school before the school day begins and remaining behind after the school day concludes, supervision is provided by school staff from 8.10am until the start of homeroom at 8.30am and after the school day concludes at 3.00pm until 3.20pm. School bells ring at 8.10am and 3.20pm to indicate the beginning and end of this supervision.

Parents are reminded that unless students are taking part in supervised outside school activities, they will not be supervised by school staff except during the period from 8.10 am and until 3.20pm. Parents should ensure that suitable arrangements are in place to ensure the supervision of their students outside these times. While school gates will be open before and after these times, this is to provide access to staff and for students attending these supervised activities.

School Fees

The College Fee Schedule for 2025 can be viewed at https://www.ipc.qld.edu.au/enrol/fees/

Please be informed that timely payment of the school fees is mandatory. If you have defaulted a timely payment or have outstanding fees, please pay in full as soon as possible. Please contact the College Finance Team at finance@ipc.qld.edu.au or call 4796 0222 if you need further information.  

School Fee Platform - Edstart

From Term 1 2025, all school fees including termly and periodic payments will be managed by Edstart. You can set up your Edstart account at  edstart.com.au/ipc

Vilton Crasto | Director of Business Operations