Media releases

Good Samaritan College celebrates student achievements

In an impressive achievement, a student from Good Samaritan College in Toowoomba has become the first student from the College to be accepted into university. Emily Murphy has overcome significant challenges and has shown immense resilience to pave her way towards higher education. Her journey is a testament to her commitment and courage.

Hybrid Learning – the new frontier

A new way, an exciting transformational way, is emerging and Toowoomba Catholic Schools (TCS) are at the forefront of this innovation. Hybrid learning is making it possible to offer subject equity across schools in our Diocese, allowing every student to experience academic success in subjects that may not have otherwise been available to them.

Students engage in intensive exam preparation during school holidays

Students from across Toowoomba Catholic Schools have gathered in Toowoomba to prepare for their upcoming external assessments during their school holidays. Over 120 dedicated students from Toowoomba, Stanthorpe, Warwick, Dalby and Roma are participating in the External Examination Preparation Program (EEPP).

2023 Year 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student graduation ceremony

The Toowoomba Catholic Schools’ Mass for 2023 Year 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Graduands was celebrated at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Monday, 4 September.

School-Based Apprenticeships on the rise

For over two decades, the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office (TCSO) has been supporting students to build rewarding careers through the undertaking of a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship. This program continues to go from strength to strength, with a record of 410 students participating in an SBA in 2022.

Hybrid Learning - welcome to the new world order

The traditional way of delivering subjects in our schools is being reshaped and students are enthusiastically engaging in this new approach. A new way, an exciting transformational way, is emerging and Toowoomba Catholic Schools are at the forefront of this innovation. A focus on ‘starting over’, forgetting the traditional approach to the planning and preparation of material and concentrating on the design of courses that foster student control in their learning is emerging.

Students prepare for final exams over school holidays

This week students from across Toowoomba Catholic Schools have gathered in the Micah Centre at the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office to prepare for their upcoming external assessments. Over 100 students from Toowoomba, Stanthorpe, Warwick, Dalby and Roma are participating in the program. The Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office, External Examination Preparation Program (EEPP) aims to give students the edge in their preparation for the external exams which begin in October.

Mass celebrating the graduation of the 2022 Year 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students

The Toowoomba Catholic Schools’ Mass for 2022 Year 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Graduands was celebrated at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Wednesday, 14 September.

WORLD TEACHERS' DAY CELEBRATIONS 2021

October 29 is World Teachers' Day. There are many reasons why students succeed in our schools but the most important of these is our staff. After the family the teacher is the most influential person in the lives of students whilst they are at school. Our teachers make a difference every day, educating and inspiring our young students.

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION PREPARATION PROGRAM A POPULAR CHOICE IN SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

This week students from across Toowoomba Catholic Schools have gathered at St Saviour’s College to prepare for their upcoming external ATAR assessments. Over 100 students from Toowoomba, Stanthorpe, Warwick, Dalby and Roma are participating in the program.

DIOCESE OF TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS MASS FOR 2021 YEAR 12 ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER GRADUANDS

The Toowoomba Catholic Schools’ Mass for 2021 Year 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Graduands was celebrated at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Tuesday, 14 September.

LOCAL AUTHOR, RORY H. MATHER TO VISIT OUR LADY OF LOURDES PRIMARY SCHOOL FOR BOOK WEEK CELEBRATIONS

The Toowoomba based picture book enthusiast and author will visit Our Lady of Lourdes Prep to Year 3 students on Wednesday, 25 August as a part of their Book Week celebrations.

TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS - A PASSIONATE AND INSPIRATIONAL COMMUNITY

last night Toowoomba Catholic Schools held its annual Excellence Awards ceremony.

Good Samaritan College runs great race!

On Thursday, 24 June students from the Good Samaritan College will run its second 'Great Race'. The event is open for young people who have achieved 85% attendance or above for the semester.

ST JOSEPH'S SCHOOL, STANTHORPE FIRST IN QUEENSLAND TO BE ACCREDITED WITH INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED AWARD

St Joseph's School, Stanthorpe have been recognised as the first Visible Learning+ certified school in Queensland and joins only two others in Australia with this award. With only 8 schools across the world who have Level 3 Visible Learning+ certified school status, this is a great accomplishment.

Youth Entrepreneurs and STEAM (YES) Conference at capacity

Over 500 students. Teachers and STEAM experts will gather for the Youth Entrepreneurs and STEAM (YES) Conference on Wednesday, 2 June to share, network and connect with inspiring industry role models, innovators and universities for a day of interactive STEAM workshops.

CONGRATULATIONS TO QUEENSLAND COLLEGE OF TEACHERS

Toowoomba Catholic Schools congratulates Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) on 50 years of upholding and improving the standards of the teaching profession. The QCT and the Toowoomba Catholic Schools system align in their ambition to have high quality teachers in every classroom.

FUTURE IS EVEN ROSIER AT CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN WARWICK

With multi-million-dollar new facilities and enrolments growing, St Mary’s School and Assumption College in Warwick are flourishing.

TEACHING THE JOEY’S WAY

In 2021, St Joseph’s College, Toowoomba’s Student Engagement Team is rolling out two significant initiatives that are designed to maximise attendance, positive behaviour, achievement and safety of all students.

ST SAVIOUR’S COLLEGE PRINCIPAL RECOGNISED WITH NATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD

Sharon Collins, Principal of St Saviour’s College Toowoomba has been recognised nationally, and received an ACEL Leadership award for her outstanding school leadership as a strong advocate for educational excellence in diverse environments.

WELCOMING OUR NEW PRINCIPALS FOR 2021

As the new school year approaches, parents, staff and students are starting to get excited and many are ready to return to school for 2021. Toowoomba Catholic Schools has this week welcomed three new principals to the Diocese.

FIFTY NEW TEACHERS JOIN DIOCESE OF TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

Fifty new teachers, both experienced and beginning their career in teaching are joining the Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools in 2021. Of the new staff, 19 are graduates. These new staff have spent the past two days week in an intensive orientation program designed to prepare them for their new position and teaching in a Catholic school.

INAUGURAL YEAR 12 UNIVERSITY OFFERS IN MEDICINE AND ENGINEERING

The long awaited University offers are in for our Inaugural Year 12 graduates at Mary MacKillop Catholic College, Highfields, and for College Dux and 2020 Captain, Caitlin Lang, the results couldn’t be better! Caitlin has been accepted at the University of Queensland to complete a Doctor of Medicine.

Toowoomba Catholic schools best in country for reading and spelling

Catholic school students from across the Toowoomba Diocese are leading the country in reading and spelling as a result of a three-year focussed strategy led by Education Officers from the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office.

School-Based Apprentices and Trainees paving the way for their future careers

In a turbulent year for so many businesses, 120 Year 12 students from across Toowoomba Catholic schools have been supported by local firms to complete a School-Based apprenticeship or traineeship (SBAs). As a result, many of these students have been offered full-time jobs in those fields or early University placements.

TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS HEARING HEALTH PROGRAM GETTING RESULTS

A new hearing health program has been launched by Toowoomba Catholic Schools that teaches children and their parents how to identify, manage and prevent hearing loss.

TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS PLANNING FOR PERSONALISED LEARNING IS ENGAGING ALL STUDENTS

Students in Toowoomba Catholic schools with individual learning needs requiring specialist support, enrichment and extension programs are reaping the benefits of ‘planning for personalised learning’ or PfPL for short.

TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS EXCELLENCE AWARDS – AN EXCEPTIONAL YEAR

On Wednesday, 21 October Toowoomba Catholic Schools presented its annual Excellence Awards. The awards recognise members of Toowoomba Catholic Schools whose outstanding contribution has assisted staff, students and their families to experience exemplary places of learning and academic success within a distinctly Catholic environment.

NEW EXTERNAL EXAM PREPARATION PROGRAM (EEPP) POPULAR

A new program developed by Toowoomba Catholic Schools to assist Year 12 students prepare for external ATAR assessments has proven to be a popular holiday pursuit for over one hundred students from Catholic schools and colleges around the Toowoomba diocese.

ST JOHN’S ROMA STUDENT WINS QUEENSLAND TRAINING AWARD

St John's Roma student, Shauna Fisher was named The Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander VET Student of the Year at the Queensland Training Awards this morning.

Toowoomba Catholic Schools staff member makes 'The Educator’s' annual 'Hot List'

Rebecca Brownhall, Education Officer: Lighthouse Schools Numeracy has been recognised in 'The Educator's' annual 'Hot List'. This prestigious list recognises and celebrates professionals who represent the cutting edge of educational excellence in Australia.

Congratulations to our educational leaders

The Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) has honoured five of our educational leaders who have made a significant contribution to the teaching profession and educational leadership through its annual awards.

YEAR 5 STUDENTS PREPARE FOR THEIR ROLES AS SCHOOL LEADERS IN 2020

This year, for the first time, Toowoomba Catholic Schools are planning a Year 5 combined schools leadership retreat. The event will be held at Assumption College, Warwick on Monday, 18 November.

TWO TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS SUCCESSFUL IN APPLICATIONS FOR LEAD TEACHER CERTIFICATION

Two Toowoomba Catholic Schools teachers have been successful in joining an elite group of Australia’s best teachers by gaining Lead Teacher Certification. The certification is recognized nationally and teachers gaining this status have been independently assessed as having the highest levels of expertise and capability as classroom practitioners and educational leaders in their fields.

STEM INTEGRATED LEARNING AT ST MARY'S COLLEGE, TOOWOOMBA

STEM at St. Mary’s College is encapsulated through the use of real-world problems to spark curiosity and deepen student knowledge through collaborative and independent inquiry. This is reinforced through integrated learning in the classroom whilst providing extra-curricular opportunities for boys. This includes a timetabled STEM class for Year 9’s where they concentrate on solving real world issues throughout Term 3, before competing in the international First Lego League competition in Term 4. Further opportunities are offered after school with the Primary STEM Club and Future Solutions.

DIOCESE OF TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS MASS FOR 2019 YEAR 12 ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER GRADUANDS

The Toowoomba Catholic Schools Mass for 2019 Year 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Graduands was held at St Patrick’s Cathedral this morning. Thirty students from Toowoomba and Warwick attended the Mass. Other students from St John’s School, Roma and St Joseph’s, Stanthorpe were unable to attend.

YOUTH AND COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTRE STUDENT RECOGNISED FOR ARTISTIC TALENT AT RECENT AWARDS

On Wednesday night, the Independent Education Union–Queensland and Northern Territory Branch, held its annual Awards for Excellence in Art Design competition at the Queensland Multicultural Centre in Brisbane.

TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC EDUCATORS DELIVER KEYNOTE AND WORKSHOPS AT THE FESTIVAL OF LEARNING IN PORT MORESBY

The Festival of Learning is a unique, exciting opportunity for Papua New Guinea educators to engage with recognised international and national educational leaders to deepen their capacity and knowledge in effective classroom practice. This year’s Festival themes covered a range of topics including educational leadership, effective differentiation, inquiry learning, student agency and voice, authentic assessment, the use of technology for meaningful learning and the importance of student wellbeing for learning.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK

Queensland Catholic Education Week is a time for the 306 Catholic school communities across the state to celebrate Catholic education, its many achievements and substantial contribution to the broader community.

TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS EXCELLENCE AWARDS - FINALISTS AND RECIPIENTS

Last night we acknowledged the outstanding contributions of staff at the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Excellence Awards.

ST SAVIOUR'S PRIMARY SCHOOL STEM SHOWCASE

The students of St Saviour’s Primary School in conjunction with STEMPunks are very excited to be hosting a STEM Showcase Day to present their learnings in the area of STEM to over 80 students and their teachers from other schools in Toowoomba.

NOMINEES - SPIRIT OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION AWARDS 2019

Award nominees for the Toowoomba Diocese announced.

TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS LAUNCHES NEW RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COURSE FOR SENIOR STUDENTS

A new Religious Education course for Year 11 and 12 students was launched today by the Most Reverend Robert McGuckin, Bishop of Toowoomba and Dr Pat Coughlan, Executive Director: Catholic Schools. The launch was held at St Mary’s College and attended by representatives from secondary schools throughout the Diocese and guest speaker, Fr Richard Leonard.

ST JOHN’S SCHOOL, ROMA STUDENT WINS PRESTIGIOUS STEM AWARD

Amy York, a Year 12 student at St John’s School, Roma has received a Peter Doherty Award for Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education. The awards recognise students, teachers, support officers, schools and education partners (volunteers, mentors and organisations) who demonstrate an outstanding and innovative contribution to STEM education in Queensland.

STEAM CONFERENCE REGISTRATIONS AT CAPACITY

Nearly 600 students and teachers will attend the It Takes a Spark EDU Conference on Thursday, 9 May to share, network and connect with inspiring industry role models, innovators and universities for a day of interactive STEAM workshops.

DIOCESE OF TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS EXCELS IN NAPLAN RESULTS

Toowoomba Catholic Schools is proud to have been recognised by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) for demonstrating substantially above average growth in its NAPLAN results across six of its schools. St Saviour’s College Toowoomba, St Stephen’s School Pittsworth, Sacred Heart Primary School Toowoomba, St Joseph’s School Chinchilla and Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School and St Saviour’s Primary School,Toowoomba all achieved significant growth.

ST STEPHEN’S SCHOOL, PITTSWORTH SHOWS SIGNIFICANT NAPLAN GAIN IN 2018

St Stephen’s School Pittsworth is proud to have been recognized by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority for demonstrating substantially above average growth in its NAPLAN results. The gains were seen in the Year 3 to Year 5 progress in numeracy. The class had 88% consistency of students over the two-year period demonstrating this improvement.

ST MARY'S COLLEGE STUDENT COMPETES IN THE LIONS CLUB YOUTH OF THE YEAR AWARDS

On Saturday, 23 February, St Mary’s College student, Tikiri Lamb, was the only Year 11 student to compete against a field of Year 12 students in the Lions Club Youth of the Year Awards.

MEET OUR NEW PRINCIPALS FOR 2019

A warm welcome to all new staff who have joined Toowoomba Catholic Schools (TCS) in various roles this year. Welcome to the new principals in the diocese, some to Toowoomba Catholic Schools for the first time and others to a new role or school.

SUPPORTING GRADUATES TO BECOME EXPERT TEACHERS

St John’s School, Roma is one of Toowoomba Catholic School’s largest P-12 schools with 730 students and is a great place for graduate teachers to start their career.

GRADUATE TEACHER'S FIRST YEAR

Graduate teacher, Jessica Parker talks about her first year as a teacher at Holy Name School, Toowoomba.

RURAL SCHOOL PRINCIPAL RETIRES AFTER 39 YEARS IN CATHOLIC EDUCATION

December 2018 marked the conclusion of a long and successful career spanning 39 years for Principal, Mr Roland (Roly) Poulton.

ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE PROVIDES MORE THAN AN EDUCATION

St Joseph’s is a Year 7 to 12 co-educational Catholic College where Catholic principles permeate all aspects of College life. Two of the Year 12 students were asked about their experiences at the College.

STEM CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN TOOWOOMBA IN 2019

The “It Takes a Spark” Conference for girls and their teachers will be held in Toowoomba on May 9, 2019. This is the first time this unique Conference will be held in a regional city and will be hosted by St Saviour's College.

TWO MEMBERS OF ST SAVIOUR’S COLLEGE NOMINATED AT WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS

At this year’s Women in Business Awards Jana Mari Dela Cruz, St Saviour’s College Captain was shortlisted in the “Empowering Young Women” category and Principal, Sharon Collins was nominated in the “Women in Business" category and was announced as a finalist for this award. An outstanding achievement for two inspiring leaders.

MATER DEI PRIMARY SCHOOL OPENS NEW BUILDING

On Wednesday, November 21 Mater Dei Primary School celebrated a significant milestone with the Official Blessing and Opening of the newly built Good Samaritan Building.

Bishop Robert McGuckin, Bishop of the Diocese of Toowoomba conducted the ceremony with school leaders and the Mater Dei Choir participating in the service.

GOONDIWINDI STUDENT WINS ICAS AWARD

Thomas Masel, a Year 3 student at St Mary's School, Goondiwindi has achieved the highest score in the ICAS science exam for Year 3.

KINDY CHILDREN VISIT ST PATRICK’S PRIMARY SCHOOL, MITCHELL IN PREPARATION FOR 2019 SCHOOL YEAR

Children from the Mitchell Kindergarten will be visiting St Patrick’s Primary School for four Kindy-Prep Transition sessions on a fortnightly basis from 9.00am to 11.00am commencing on Thursday 18 October 2018. The dates for Transition sessions are October 18, November 1, November 15 and November 29. Parents are very welcome to attend these sessions with their children.

DIOCESE OF TOOWOOMBA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS MASS FOR YEAR 12 ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER GRADUATION

The 2018 Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools Mass for Year 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Graduation will be held at St Patrick’s Cathedral at 10.30am on Tuesday 16 October. Thirty- four students from across the diocese will participate in the Graduation Mass. In addition to students graduating from Toowoomba schools, students from Dalby, Roma and Stanthorpe schools will also attend the Mass.

LEADING TOOWOOMBA STEM EDUCATORS INVITED TO SPEAK AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Three leading STEM educators from Toowoomba Catholic Schools have been invited to speak at a national conference in Melbourne on 16-17 October. Peter Horton and Wayne Williams from St Mary’s College and Stephen Broderick from St Ursula’s College will all speak at the Improving STEM Education Conference.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION AWARD RECIPIENT TO USE BURSARY TO SUPPORT STAFF FORMATION

Cecily Fitzpatrick was recognised for her remarkable contribution to Catholic schools during Catholic Education Week, being named one of Queensland’s Spirit of Catholic Education Award recipients.

ST SAVIOUR’S COLLEGE, TOOWOOMBA OFFERS 8 BURSARIES TO SUPPORT DROUGHT CRISIS

St Saviour’s College is a Catholic day and boarding school for young women in Years 7 to 12. The College is doing their bit for the drought crisis by offering eight bursaries for young women, from Years 7 through to Year 12. The bursaries begin in 2019 and cover 75% of all boarding and tuition fees for the entire duration of the Student’s stay at the college.

ST SAVIOUR’S COLLEGE STEM WORKSHOP–Thursday 13 SEPTEMBER

On Thursday, 13 September, St Saviour’s students will create a virtual landscape of pre-colonial Toowoomba in a STEM Workshop with Brett Leavy. Brett is a Kooma man from Western Queensland who specialises in virtual cultural heritage and digital landscaping.

Continued funding of the Teacher Capability program beyond 2017 - seeking an election commitment

Continued funding of the Teacher Capability program beyond 2017 will deliver improved outcomes for students in Catholic schools. This successful and valuable program needs to be funded at existing levels over the next four years.

Kids Connect preparations are well underway

Kids Connect preparations are well underway with students from Mary MacKillop Catholic College. The students from Year 6 are preparing a STEM conference for kids by kids.

Senior debating team win the Queensland Debating Union 2017 grand final

The senior debating team of St Mary’s College is celebrating a well-deserved win this week. Year 12 students: Finn Coleman, Darcy Coleman and Christopher Godfrey won the Queensland Debating Union 2017 Grand Final on Wednesday, 16 August 2017, which was held at Downlands College.