Northern Schools

In 2021, St Peter’s Catholic School had five new prep students join the school community.

Older students have taken special care with the new students as they learn everything about school.

Gilroy Santa Maria College, Ingham

Year 12 students; Eryn Gusmeroli, Isabella Melara, Tahlia Nowak and Darcie Spina competed in the annual Lions Youth of the Year Public Speaking Quest which was held in mid February.

All four students represented the school very proudly. Their impromptu questions were very topical and somewhat controversial in our society presently. Students answered these questions in a way that demonstrated poise and maturity. Their prepared speeches were also very well researched, presented and interesting!

Congratulations to Darcie Spina who won both Best Public Speaker and Overall Winner. She will now compete at the Zone level with winners from the Lions District – Ingham and Tully. A big thank you to teachers Ms Paula Rand and Mrs Nicola Winterbourn for helping the students prepare. Good Luck to Darcie!

St Teresa’s College, Abergowrie

A whole school yarning circle allowed students and staff at St Teresa's College to come together to discuss the significance of the 13th Anniversary of the National Apology to the stolen generation.

A yarning circle is built on respectful, trusting relationships and is a place for all to be heard and to respond.

Students and staff at St Teresa's College often use yarning circles to collaboratively communicate in a creative and safe space. It was culturally significant to have a yarning circle for staff and students to share their stories and perspectives in relation to the apology and the cultural, social, political and spiritual impacts it has had for First Nations peoples. The yarning circle began with all participants receiving ochre. The students confidently led the yarning circle with an acknowledgement to country, a slideshow with researched information and a series of points to guide the discussion.

Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Ingham

At the beginning of every school year, Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School celebrates a Welcome Liturgy for their new staff, students and families.

This is always a joyful assembly. The school has a tradition that has been part of their Welcome ceremony for many years, whereby the new members of the school community are called by name and invited to add a blue pebble to their community bowl. Each pebble represents a member of the Our Lady of Lourdes Community. This year, they welcomed 70 new students and their families and seven new staff members. Listening to the Gospel of Matthew, they learnt from this reading that how we treat each person is important and that we can change people’s lives for the better. As they welcomed new members to their community, they thought about the small acts of kindness everyone could perform to ensure others feel welcome and valued.