Senior School

Yalari Gala Dinner

Since 2005, Yalari has been offering full boarding school scholarships to Indigenous children from regional and remote communities across Australia, allowing them to complete their entire secondary education. Yalari believes education is the key to driving generational change and empowering future leaders.

We are proud to have 11 students currently benefiting from a Yalari scholarship. The Yalari Gala Dinner was a resounding success in Brisbane at the BCEC. It was a night of celebration, marking the remarkable achievements of Yalari scholarship holders from across Queensland. The evening was filled with inspiring stories from alumni and a special celebration of our Year 12 graduates.

The event also allowed attendees to contribute to this worthy cause, helping to support future students on their educational journeys.

Kelly Jackson
Reconciliation Action Plan Coordinator

Year 11 IB Extended Essay – Café

A central part of the IB Diploma Programme is the extended essay (EE)—one of three elements known as the core and the heart of the IB philosophy. The EE offers students the opportunity to research and investigate a topic of their own choice that interests them, using the independent research and writing skills they will need at university. Over a nine-month period, students design and research a question, working both independently and with a supervisor to craft a 4,000-word essay.

Last Thursday afternoon, our Year 11 IB students, who have just started their EE process, were involved in the Extended Essay Café. They spoke to their parents, teachers and peers about their potential topics and the research undertaken so far. The cohort has chosen subject areas ranging from business management, economics, philosophy, history, literature, mathematics, computer science, biology, environmental systems and societies (ESS), film, visual arts, music and theatre.

Thank you to Brian Bodell, who coordinates the extended essay process, as well as to the staff who facilitated the group discussions during the café—Matthew Preston, Alene Morley and Tracey Allen. Best wishes to our Year 11 students as they begin this exciting journey.

Year 12 IB student’s experience at MIT

Year 12 IB student Will Shackel recently returned from a week at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he attended the short course ‘Nuclear Energy in a Low-Carbon Future: Key Facts and Issues.’ Over the week, Will attended a series of lectures presented by a range of speakers, including:

• Atte Harjanne (Parliament of Finland), who spoke about nuclear energy in Finland, including energy security, waste management, public acceptance and political atmosphere
• Kasparas Spokas (Clean Air Task Force), who discussed the value of hydrogen in the global energy matrix and the role of nuclear energy in the production of clean hydrogen
• Elina Teplinsky (Pillsbury Law), who focused on the current global state of nuclear energy
• Zach Hartwig (MIT), who spoke about fusion energy.

Over the three days, the course covered topics ranging from nuclear and climate change, nuclear power plant basics and costs and the history of nuclear energy, to advanced reactors and fuels and the current state of nuclear energy worldwide. Will also participated in a tour of the MIT reactor.

This was a wonderful opportunity for Will to advance his knowledge of nuclear energy and meet with industry leaders from around the world.

Catherine Prosser
Dean of International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

Vision Valley for Year 9, 2025

Expression of interest closes Friday 20 September 2024.

Thank you to Year 8 families for your enthusiastic responses to the 2025 Vision Valley programme! Within the first few days, we surpassed the number of students who expressed interest in attending next year’s programme. With that in mind, I want to remind all families that our deadline for initial responses is Friday 20 September or when we reach 100 registrations, whichever happens first.

The cost of the programme is $6,300. This includes all activities, both on and off-campus at Vision Valley, travel to the Hawkesbury and the uniform provided to each participant.

Please use the following link to register your interest in the programme: Expression of Interest – Year 9, 2025 Vision Valley programme. This link will close at 4 pm on Friday 20 September.

A dedicated page for Vision Valley is available on myChurchie, where you can access slides from the recent information evening, as well as a video that embodies the essence of the programme can be viewed here. You can also access the 2025 Vision Valley Programme Handbook on this page.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out via email to Berian.Williams-Jones@churchie.com.au.

Berian Williams-Jones
Deputy Head of Senior School (Years 7–9)

Outdoor Education myChurchie revamp

The Outdoor Education team would like to present our revamped Outdoor Education page within myChurchie. Here, you will find our ever-evolving cookbook with easy-to-use instructional videos that will help parents and students recreate simple, healthy and tasty midweek meals while better understanding the nutritional content of our programmes. You will also find a ‘News and Updates’ section where we aim to provide the wider community with context about why we do what we do. This section will include updates on exciting news in the Outdoor Education space, such as the announcement of the inaugural recipients of the ‘Heartbreak Hero’ trophy.

Tom Barton
Outdoor Education Teacher

SchoolTV special report: R U OK? Day

The highlighted topic in SchoolTV this month is a special report on R U OK? Day which can be accessed via this link or on the Wellbeing page of myChurchie.

Understanding the growing challenges related to mental health among young people is critical. Anxiety, depression and self-harm are significant causes for concern. Factors such as academic pressure, social media, family dynamics and societal expectations contribute to these issues. It is crucial for parents and caregivers to take action early, remove the stigma surrounding mental health discussions and offer accessible support.

R U OK? Day focuses on suicide prevention by encouraging meaningful personal connections and helping informal support networks recognise the signs of distress. We urge all families to take part, emphasising the value of genuine human relationships and reminding everyone to ask the important question: ‘Are you OK?’

Engaging in R U OK? Day activities go beyond the classroom—it is a commitment to our students’ overall development. Schools that openly discuss mental health create safe spaces where students feel understood, valued and supported. Parents and caregivers can contribute by fostering open conversations, normalising feelings and breaking down mental health stigmas. Participating in R U OK? Day promotes compassion and shows our dedication to the wellbeing of the entire school community, reaffirming that together we can truly make a difference.

This Special Report provides guidance on how to talk to your child about mental health and engage in meaningful discussions.

Dr Alex Krzensk
Acting Head of Senior School