Welcome to our website and into our community of learners.
Our name “Clairvaux MacKillop” reflects our very proud history. Two separate Colleges – Clairvaux, a Christian Brothers College for Boys (named after St Bernard of Clairvaux) and MacKillop College for girls, established by the Sisters of St Joseph, were unified in the mid 1980s. We are a Secondary College of almost 1200 students from Years 8 to 12.
As an Archdiocesan College we operate with the authority of the Brisbane Catholic Education Centre. A dynamic learning community, we offer a unitised curriculum from Year 8 through to Year 10. At Year 10 students consider entering the senior phase of schooling and elect a study pathway relevant to their abilities and future plans.
The academic pathway prepares students for tertiary studies after Year 12. The industrial pathway prepares students for work in industry and offers apprenticeships or part-time industry placements worked into their school timetable. Each pathway requires students to be self directed and highly committed to their studies.
As well as having a strong work-ethic, students and staff are required to be supportive of the College Mission and live out the values articulated in it.
The current Independent Education Journal (Vol. 20 #2) has side by side articles about educating Queensland’s students in a variety of values. One promotes ‘getting students enthusiastic about social justice issues’ (p. 21) and speaks of how this might be achieved in the midst of their general education. It is captioned ‘Saving the world’ showing how important the writers believe the students’ attitudes are.
Relational and Cyber-Aggression in Emerging Adolescents
Dr Rhiarne Pronk currently works for Brisbane Catholic Education as the Guidance Counsellor at St Matthew’s Primary School, Cornubia. In 2008 she completed her Clinical Psychology PhD at Griffith University, focusing on emerging adolescent’s (9 - 13 year olds) peer relationships and emotional well-being.
So, what is important to emerging adolescents when it comes to their social world? Some of the issues that Dr Pronk’s research uncovered include: having a good friend to count on; popularity; being liked by most people in their grade; having a group to sit with at lunch; being seen with the ‘right’ students; to feel like a recognised member of the grade; not being teased. A large proportion of children’s wellbeing is related to their peer group and friendships. When negative experiences such as bullying or exclusion happens this largely impacts on their wellbeing, leading to depression, anxiety and behavioural difficulties.
The following teams are competing in the third round (semifinals) of the Metropolitan Winter Sports Competition on Thursday:
Boys Year 9 Football
Girls Year 10 and Open Netball
We wish them all the very best.
Last week, the Year 8 Rugby League, Year 8 Boys Football and Senior Girls Football lost the quarter finals, having played well against strong opposition.
Well done to all the players and coaches of these teams for achieving so much.
Chisholm House’s version of the Ekka (Chekka) was a great success for Chisholm’s Mission Week last week. The selling of fairy floss, Dagwood dogs and showbags proved to be a great hit, as did the Student vs. Staff soccer match. We would like to mention that the students gallantly won the contest 4-3! Thank you to all who participated and got involved during the week. All money raised goes to the Children’s Catholic Mission.
The students in the Senior School are in the midst of an extremely busy period. The year 12s in particular just completed the QCS test on Tuesday and Wednesday. Exam block begins next week (Tuesday the 7th of September) and we would like to wish all students the best of luck for this time. Oprah Winfrey once said that, “Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.”
Next Tuesday, 7th September Year 11 and 12 students commence exam block. For all other year levels, assessment is on a continual basis. Over recent weeks we have had a number of students removed from classes to complete late assignments at school. It is important that these students plan and organise their time better.
By the time you are reading this 130 Year 12 students would have completed the two days of their QCS tests. The students have been well prepared, and they understand the significance of these exams and the importance of performing well as a cohort. An individual’s specific grade will not affect their individual OP score and it is important that we perform well as a group. I am confident the students have worked to the best of their ability, and I thank them for their persistence and drive over these days.
Next week our Year 11s studying 3 OP subjects or less will commence their 3rd block of Structured Workplace Learning (SWL); the following week our Year 12s begin their final block.
At times students ask why we make it a necessary component of their studies – a valid question as it indicates that the link we would hope to achieve has not yet resonated with all of our students.
Families who requested their photos be posted out should receive them this week. All other photos are available for collection from Ms Cassels or Mr Mills at the Senior Centre staffroom.
