Year 9 and Year 10 subject selections for 2026 

The Year 9 & 10 Subject Selection Booklet for 2026 was released to students and parents last week via email. You can also access the booklet here. 

Year 9 and Year 10 Subject Selection Evening – Tuesday 19 August 

The information session for students and parents of Year 8 students selecting subject choices for Year 9, in 2026 will commence at 6.30pm. The information session for students and parents of Year 9 students selecting subject choices for Year 10 in 2026 will commence at 7pm. This will be held in the PAP Theatre.  

Both presentations are short information sessions covering the subject selection process and platform we use to make subject choices online. They will also cover information about the number of Core and Elective subjects’ students are required to study, and where to access information about the subjects offered at each year level.  

There will be no specific subject information given on each of the different subjects available to study because of the sheer volume on offer. This information is available in the Subject Selection Book. Heads of Department will be available on the night to address any questions you may have regarding the selection of subjects to study.  

The timeline around the Year 9 and Year 10 subject selections are as follows: 

13 August - Release of Subject Selection Booklet online 

19 August - Edval WebChoice portal opens for students to select subjects 

19 August - Parent Information Evening  

29 August - Signed Edval WebChoice receipt to be handed in to Student Reception 

Year 12 – QTAC ATAR Portal Registrations 

The QTAC Portal is now open and current Year 12 students are now able to register for two accounts: 

1. To receive their ATAR score once published by QTAC students need to register for the ATAR portal. If you use this link, scroll halfway down you’ll see the steps to follow: https://www.qtac.edu.au/atar/ 

1. To apply to QTAC for university entry for 2026 students need to create a QTAC account. If you use this link you’ll see the steps to follow: https://www.qtac.edu.au/application-services/ 

Term 3 - Elevate Education Free Parent Webinar Series

Elevate Education delivers high-impact workshops that help to develop student study skills, motivation, and exam preparation. Again, you are invited to register your participation in the term two parent online seminar series. This can help you to support your child at home by reinforcing the skills that will support their learning at school.  

Webinars for this term are: 

• How You Can Make Technology an Ally (& Not the Enemy!). August 20, 6:30-7:30pm (AEST) 

• How To Help Your Child Improve Their Note Taking.  September 3, 6:30-7:30pm (AEST) 

• How You Can Support Your Child During Exams. September 17, 6:30-7:30pm (AEST) 

To register please visit: https://go.elevateeducation.com/auschoolwebinars 

Mrs Kate Aplin
Assistant Principal - Curriculum
Catherine_Aplin@rok.catholic.edu.au

Year 11 Exam Block (10-15 September) and Year 12 Mock Exam Block (8-19 September)

Attached is the Year 11 Exam Block Timetable (10-15 September) and the Year 12 Mock Exam Block Timetable (8-19 September). Students need only attend school for the exams they are to sit during this time, however, students who are behind in their schoolwork may be required to attend school to complete outstanding work. If this is required, these arrangements will be communicated by individual class teachers.

All exams are planned to be in the new Coolock building, with the exception of those that need computers - specific rooms will be added to the schedule at a later date. Please note that the Essential Maths, General Maths and Maths Methods are scheduled on the afternoon of 9 September which is a normal school day with regular classes in the morning.

Please remember that normal school rules regarding uniform, phones and behaviour continue through the exam block. These expectations are outlined in the attached document.

We wish our students all the best with their studies.

Year 11 Exam Block

Year 12 Mock Exam Block

Yr7/8 Core Studies Learner Conferences (ie Parent-Teacher Interviews) - Friday 5th September 2025

The second round of Yr 7/8 Core Studies Learner Conferences will be conducted in the Waterford Centre from 8:30am to 3:00pm on Friday 5th September 2025 (Student Free Day). Interviews will be of ten minutes duration. The rooms the interviews will take place in on this day are below. 

Please note that Kaylah Fox and Bree Broadhurst will interview together (ie parents can only book with Bree but Kaylah is present as well). Megan Munckton will be on long service leave and will be unavailable.

Learner Conferences will open for parent bookings through via your laptop Sia > Parent Lounge > PT Interviews or via the Shalom App > Links/Contacts > Links > Parent Lounge > PT Interviews at 8:00am on Monday 25 August and close at 3:00pm on Monday 1 September to allow teachers time to review and prepare for interviews.

Please review the wealth of information about your child’s progress available on Sia before attending these interviews. Your child is encouraged to attend the interview with you.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Learner Attributes

Throughout Week 6 (18 – 22 August), teachers will give feedback through Sia on the learning behaviours of students in each of their classes, as well as PC classes.

Each student will be awarded either an Excellent (5), Good (4), Sound (3), Improvement Needed (2), or Poor (1) in the following criteria:

• Organisation - punctual to class, correct equipment in good working order (academic only), laptop charged (academic only), record book present
• Application - actively engaged in learning/PC activities, appropriate use of technology (laptop, phone etc), homework complete (academic only)
• Presentation - uniform worn appropriately, follows school guidelines for hair, make-up, jewellery etc
• College Values - treats others with dignity and respect, displays a positive attitude, exhibits appropriate behaviour

This will appear on Sia Parent Dashboard under ‘Grades’.

and will appear as a mark out of 20.

More detailed information can be found by clicking on the ‘Learning Attributes – Semester 1’ link on the above screen.

After the initial feedback is published, teachers are able to update these criteria and re-publish them to parents at any time throughout the year and add a comment if necessary. Parents are advised of updates via Notifications in Sia. In this way, reporting on your child’s application in class is ‘live’, improving the quality of feedback for parents. We believe this is a significant improvement in our communication with parents, compared with the previous ‘point-in-time’ reporting.

If you have any questions about your feedback, please contact the classroom teacher. For questions about the Learning Attributes process, please contact me. Brendan Maher Assistant Principal – Administration.

Mr Brendan Maher
Assistant Principal - Administration
Brendan_Maher@rok.catholic.edu.au

Have you ever thought of becoming a Catholic or completing your Sacraments?

If this is you there will be a preparation program for high school students and adults, wanting to prepare for the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Confirmation and/or Eucharist is beginning soon.

If you are interested in preparing for these sacraments please contact Cheryl Petersen, Campus minister at Shalom College on 41558111 or Pauline Leahy at the Parish Office on 4151 6666 for further information.

Masses

Also, if you would like to join in other Parish services, the Catholic Parish of Bundaberg advertises Mass times at https://www.bundabergcatholic.net.au/mass-prayer/

Mrs Sandra Freeman
Assistant Principal - Mission
Sandra_Freeman@rok.catholic.edu.au

Pathways News
HIGHLIGHTS

EVENTS & WORKSHOPS

• Macadamia Spark 2 Day Program

CAREER EXPO WINNERS

• Cameron C and Lara P two of our lucky winners

CAREER SPOTLIGHT

• How to become an Animator

YEAR 12 GET READY

• QTAC Student Information Night

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

• Plenty of jobs this week, so don’t forget to check the Pathways SIA page jobs board for employment opportunities.

EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS

• ADF Careers
• Heroes in Vet with JCU

UNIVERSITY OPEN DAYS

• Uni Open Season is in full swing

UNIVERSITY 

• UniSC Early Offer Program
• JCU Early Offer Program
• Summer School – Accelerated Bachelor of Applied Business Innovation
• Pathway to UniSC – Cert IV in Justice Studies

UNIVERSITY

• Work Experience Forms to be completed by 24 August 2025

Find you path with this weeks Pathways Newsletter:

The Pathways Team
Mrs Liza O’Donnell, Mrs Kim Toll, Mrs Carmen Wyatt, Mrs Melanie Bock & Ms Brigette McMahon
Liza_ODonnell@rok.catholic.edu.au
Kim_Toll@rok.catholic.edu.au
Carmen_Wyatt@rok.catholic.edu.au 
Melanie_Bock@rok.catholic.edu.au 
Brigette_McMcMahon@rok.catholic.edu.au

If you would like to submit any sporting achievements about your child/children along with a photo, please email your submissions to Simon_Gills@rok.catholic.edu.au
Please note photo submissions must only include photos of students from Shalom.

You can also keep up to date with anything sport related via our Facebook page - Shalom College Sport.

Equestrian

Congratulations to the Shalom students who competed in the under 12 competition at the Bundaberg Horse and Pony Club Gymkhana on Sunday, coming 1st - Hunter P-L, 2nd - Lilyannah M and 3rd - Hannah C.

Pool Rescue

Congratulations to Shalom student Aarj D who attended the 2025 Australian Pool Rescue Championships in Adelaide over the weekend. Racing against the best competitors from across Australia with some great results. 

2nd - 100m Rescue Medley 

3rd - 200m Super lifesaver

4th - 200m obstacles 

4th - 100m Manikin Carry 

5th - 50m with Fins  

Congratulations Aarj!!!

Hockey

Congratulations  to Shalom students Courtney K and Sophie A who have just returned from the School Sports Australia (SSA) National 15yrs Hockey Championships held in chilly Canberra.  The girls were both representing QLD and came home with Gold Medals after QLD defeated VIC 6-1 in the final.  Both girls had a sensational tournament and Sophie capped off a very successful carnival with a goal in the grand final and she was also selected in the All Australian Team.  Awesome effort girls!!!

Tennis

Round 2 of the Term 3 Division A tennis competition saw Shalom College teams go head-to-head in two exciting intra-school matchups. In the first match, Shalom Black took on Shalom Yellow, with Black securing a strong win with an overall team score of 16–7. Representing Shalom Black were Xander W, Nicolas C, and Edison R, while Shalom Yellow was represented by George S, George H, Lara B, and Chase S. The match was marked by great energy and sportsmanship from both sides.

In the second match, Shalom Red faced Shalom White and delivered a confident performance, finishing with a team score of 18–5. Shalom Red’s team featured Jack B and Jai P, while Shalom White was represented by Indiannah D, Kallam W and Amelia W. The players demonstrated excellent teamwork and school spirit throughout the contest.

In Division B, Shalom College’s Black team took to the courts facing off against St Luke’s White. Despite a strong team effort and great sportsmanship from players Harmoni M, Tokoko W, Smilla P, and Lachlan D, the match ended with a 14–7 win to St Luke’s White. The Shalom team displayed resilience and teamwork throughout the contest, with moments of excellent play – well done Shalom Black.

Congratulations to all players for their effort, sportsmanship, and school spirit. The season is off to a great start, and we look forward to more exciting matches ahead!

Picture above: Jack B

Congratulations to Shalom student Aaron C who is currently representing Wide Bay at the 10-12yrs State Tennis championships in Cairns.

 

The ROSA (Recognition of Student Application) program is an award program which recognises student application to their studies.  We value the importance of acknowledging students who are motivated, show perseverance and work diligently to reach their potential. The 'goal posts' for all our students are different, however all students are capable of achieving their own success targets.  There are many ways we regularly encourage and reward the efforts of our students. The ROSA award allows for more of our students to be recognised amongst their peers.

Free workshops for parents and carers of learner and novice drivers 27 August

In September, Bundaberg and surrounding schools will be participating in Ryda - Australia's largest, longest running, and only national best practice road safety education program.

Road Safety Education, providers of the Ryda program, will also be running a free workshop aimed at helping parents and carers as they teach their teens to drive - Driver Coach.

At Driver Coach, we will go through:

• Unlock the Mysteries of the Teenage Brain: What Makes Driving a Challenge?
• Decode Risk Factors for Young Drivers • Learn the art of Coaching a Learner Driver
• Help you support the transition to solo driving
• Set a plan for collaborating with Driving Instructors
• And much more..

This workshop is supported by the Queensland Government's Community Road Safety Grants Program, Queensland Police and Rotary. We also thank Shalom College for providing the venue for this important event.

This practical workshop updates parents on the latest research and road safety approaches. It outlines some of the conversations and strategies our facilitators share with their teens at Ryda and gives them an opportunity to ask questions and get advice from the experts.

Bundaberg Drive Coach Workshop details

Date: Wednesday 27 August 2025
Time: 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Venue: Shalom College, Loyola Building, 9 Fitzgerald Street, Bundaberg Central,4670
Cost: This is a free event

Follow the link here to register to attend Driver Coach

RYDA is a National Road Safety education program for youth in Australia. It provides youth with the skills and strategies they need to stay safe on the roads. 

The RYDA workshop features highly engaging practical demonstrations, real-life narratives, videos, quizzes and interactive role play. The RYDA approach supports youth development in a number of areas including social resilience and anticipating and managing risk. Created for senior high schools, RYDA gives students a unique opportunity to set road safety goals and build strategies alongside the friends they will most likely be riding with, as drivers or passengers. At the workshop, students attend six interactive sessions at a dedicated venue over the course of a school day. Back in the classroom, we give teachers everything they need to continue the learning throughout the school year. 

The Ryda Experience - View the Video Here

On Wednesday 3 September – All of our Year 10 Students will attend a one-day workshop organised by the Queensland Police Service Bundaberg in cooperation with Rotary Bundaberg. 

Buses are organised by Bundaberg Police and Rotary. They will transport the students and staff to and from the venue on the day. The Buses will depart Shalom at approx. 9.00 am and return before 3.00 pm on this day. 

The workshop will be held at the Bundaberg Recreational Precinct, Kendalls Road. Lunch is also supplied for the students and staff, free. If your student requires any special dietary requirements for the lunch please complete the attached google form. 

Special Dietary Requirements Form

If you are concerned about the lunch provided due to special dietary requirements, please pack your own lunch and snacks for the day.

Thanks in advance for your support.

More details will be emailed to all - closer to the workshop date.

Mr Peter Robinson
Dean of Student Welfare
High Performance Program
After School Activities
Camps
Peter_Robinson@rok.catholic.edu.au

Celebrating the achievements of Years 7–9

Date: Week 10 Thursday, September 18th

Time: Drop in anytime between 3:30pm – 5:00pm

Location: Waterford Building

Join us for an inspiring afternoon as we showcase the incredible work of our middle school students across many curriculum areas. Enjoy a cuppa and biscuit while exploring student displays, including pre-recorded dance and poetry performances!

This is a wonderful opportunity for parents, guardians, students, and grandparents to come together and celebrate learning, creativity, and achievement.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Performing Arts Department are proud to announce Dance Night 2025!

Come and support our talented dance students, both curricular and extra-curricular as they take to the stage in a variety of genres and styles guaranteed to entertain young and old.

Shows: Friday 29 August 7pm | Saturday 30 August 7pm

Ticket Prices:
• General Admission $15
• Student/Pensioners $10

All students, parents, staff and members of the community are welcome to attend.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

https://www.trybooking.com/DCSFT

Preferred Student Absentee Option 

Parents are able to inform the College of student absentees via Parent Lounge, using the below pathway:

Parent Lounge> Student Details> Attendance> "+Add Absence Notification"

The Shalom College App has now been updated so when parents select "Absentee" it will re-direct to Parent Lounge for the absentee notification to be added.

For Parents that do not already have the College App please click below:

ALL student absentees should be notified to the office by 9am each day.  If no notification has been received, an absentee text message will be sent out to parents to advise of the student's absence.

Parents and Carers of Year 11 & 12 Students 

If your child has obtained their Provisional Licence and wishes to drive to and from school you are required to fill out a Permission to Drive Form and return it to Student Reception for approval by Mr Aaron Brown.  Once approved the details will be placed on our School Register.

Book Week 2025

Fun Book Week activities at Afternoon Tea in Beerarlem

• Paper plane challenge
• Adventurous word search
• Make an adventurous bookmark
• Be adventurous with scratch cards
• Make a decoupage pot

Local Author book stall

We have a selection of books written by local Bundaberg Authors on display and available to purchase.

On Friday 22 August during Lunch 1 & 2, please come to Beerarlem library to meet some of our local Bundaberg authors.

The week will culminate in our First Draft Festival, also on Friday, and the announcement of our Literary Wonders writing competition winners!

Come join us in an adventure!

Denise Harvey
School Librarian
Denise_Harvey@rok.catholic.edu.au 

Term 1: Tuesday 28 January – Friday 4 April (10 weeks)

Term 2: Tuesday 22 April – Friday 27 June (10 weeks)

Term 3: Monday 14 July – Friday 19 September (10 weeks)
Year 12 Formal: Saturday 6 September

Term 4: Tuesday 7 October – Thursday 4 December (9 weeks)

The Shalom Markets are open every Sunday 6am-midday. Come along to purchase your fresh fruit and vegetables, local food products and handmade items. 

Markets BBQ Roster

Office Hours: 9:00 - 1:00 Monday to Friday
Parish Office: Rossolini Place Level 1, 66 Woongarra St
Phone: 07 4151 6666    PO Box 79 Bundaberg QLD 4670
Email: sbundaberg@rok.catholic.net.au
AFTER HOURS:  Anointing of the sick for medical emergencies
phone 4151 6666 and follow the prompt
UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF MARY MOTHER OF CHURCH

"The annual parish "Good News" magazine is now available in all churches for a Gold Coin Donation. As you read our in-house publication of the Good News magazine this year, discover the ways in which our parish vision statement is being made clear.

Shalom College Families Business and Trade Directory 

To help assist the Shalom College community in supporting local businesses that are run by Shalom families, we have created our Shalom College Families Business and Trade Directory. If you would like to be listed in this directory, please send a copy of your business card to Mr Peter Robinson who will be establishing and developing this directory to Peter_Robinson@rok.catholic.edu.au

Student Travel Rebates 

Would you like to know more about the Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme and eligibility requirements? Click on the link to view the short introductory video here: https://youtu.be/ogWpq7tVaio 

Student travel rebate applications open 1- 31 October for Semester 2. Please click here to check if you are eligible.

Mental Health Resources