Today is World Teachers' Day. This has been celebrated internationally since 1994.

The theme for this year in Queensland is 'Teachers Change Lives' - and I believe that they genuinely do.

I was inspired to become a teacher by my History teacher at Marist Brothers College, Rosalie, in Brisbane. My mother had developed in me a love of history and reading, so I did gravitate to subjects like English and History, but it was the teaching style and engagement of Mr Gerard de Silva that made me think teaching could be a career I'd get something out of. Looking back, I don't imagine that Marist Rosalie was an 'easy' school to teach in. It was (BCE closed the College in 2006) an all-boys school with a pretty rustic population, but he had absolute control with barely a raised voice. I can remember vividly the old sash windows welcoming the breeze off the Brisbane River as he walked us through Tokugawa Japan, Renaissance Europe and inter-war Australia. I remember now as I realised then that 50 minutes in those classrooms were among the highlights of my weeks. He was a rugby coach too and we won more than we lost when he had charge of us. I thought he was brilliant.

My parents and their families had not been to university, so I didn't really have an example to follow as we approached year 12 and the t-junction of post school choices. It was the simplest thing to think that I could pursue the path that would let me be the person in front of the classroom, telling that story, coaching rugby and cricket and being a lifelong teacher. It hasn't quite worked out that way, but I still thank Mr de Silva for the inspiration he gave me.

This World Teachers' Day, please take the time to quietly acknowledge a teacher who showed you a new horizon.

Mr Chris Gabbett
College Principal

The College is committed to strengthening our connection with families. We are pleased to advise that from Tuesday, 1 September, the College will transition from our current communication platform to our Sentral Parent App.

To ensure you continue to receive important College communications, we kindly ask all families to:

• Download the Sentral Parent App to your mobile device.
• Enable push notifications in the Sentral Parent App by clicking on the settings button, so you can receive alerts about College activities, camps, events, and important notices.
• Review the Parent Guide for additional information and instructions that was emailed on 26 August.

If you have not yet downloaded the Sentral Parent App, please visit:

Parents Portal and App - Sentral

We encourage all families to complete this process as soon as possible to ensure you remain connected and informed.

If you have any additional questions, please email highfields@twb.catholic.edu.au

Mr Chris Gabbett
College Principal

During October, our College community came together to celebrate the outstanding achievements of students at both the Co-Curricular Arts Awards Evening and the College Sports Awards.

These events recognised students who have demonstrated exceptional talent, dedication and commitment in their chosen pursuits. Whether through performances, exhibitions and cultural activities, or through sporting competitions and representative pathways, students proudly represented the College while displaying the values of perseverance, teamwork, leadership and excellence.

We congratulate all award recipients and participants for their contributions to the vibrant sporting and cultural life of our College. We also extend our sincere thanks to our teachers, coaches, support staff, volunteers and families, whose encouragement and support help our students develop their gifts, pursue their passions and achieve success both within and beyond the College.

Together, these celebrations highlighted the many ways our students enrich our community and exemplify the spirit of Mary Mac.

To view photos from both awards evenings and relive these special celebrations, visit the College website galleries.

We invite our community to explore the images and celebrate the achievements of our talented students.

Benn Tracy and Troy Brunner
Middle Leaders: Arts and Student Engagement, Sport and Student Engagement

Over the next four weeks, our classrooms will become wonderful places of gift giving. Junior classes will support the Vinnies Christmas Gift Appeal and Senior school PC groups will gift much needed items to women experiencing the impacts of domestic violence by supporting the "It's in the Bag" dignity drive.

The donations have already started flooding in, with P-6 baskets beginning to fill up with toys, books, stationery and card games and tote bags in Pastoral Care rooms being stocked with deodorants, body sprays, moisturisers, sanitary items, nappies, stationery and body wash.

Thank you to all families who have already donated or will donate to these very important causes over the next few weeks of Term 4. Charity and raising awareness are crucial elements of the identity and culture of a Catholic school; they are particularly needed during the festive season when so many people are struggling. If you, or your children, need ideas for items to donate, you can find the Vinnies Christmas Appeal and "It's in the Bag" dignity drive shopping lists below.

Vinnies Christmas Appeal Shopping List

"It's in the Bag" Shopping List

Leisa Radley
Director of Formation and College Culture (Year 7-12)

Andrew Fuller addresses the tough issues facing parents.

Thursday, 5 November | 6:00pm QLD TIME (7:00pm AEDT)

How can we parent peacefully in a landscape where children are confronted by extremism and violence?

Andrew will provide evidence-based approaches to creating trauma-free families and nurturing thriving young people.

This free one-hour webinar is proudly presented by Catholic School Parents Australia.

Scan the QR Code or click here to register and receive the Teams Meeting Link and calendar.

Parent Engagement Network

The QAMT Mathematics Quiz is a team-based competition that challenges students to solve a variety of mathematical problems using their reasoning, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

This year, four teams from our College competed in both the Year 5-6 and Year 7-8 divisions during Round 1, which was held at the College in Term 3. The winning team from each division progressed to Round 2 at St Ursula’s College on Thursday, 22 October, where they competed against 16 teams in the Year 5-6 division and 13 teams in the Year 7-8 division.

Congratulations to Ryan G, Matthew M, and Nate S, who achieved an impressive 3rd place in the Year 5-6 division. This excellent result reflects their strong mathematical skills and teamwork.

Congratulations also to Eva L, Elvin J, and Grace E, who placed 8th in the Year 7-8 division. In a very close competition, only three points separated them from 3rd place.

We are proud of all students who represented the College and thank them for their dedication and enthusiasm throughout the competition.

Malcolm Langerak
Middle Leader: Mathematics

On Friday, 16 October, 12 students from Years 4-6 represented the College at the annual South West Primary All Schools Touch Competition at Kearneys Spring. Our mixed primary team entered the tournament in outstanding form after claiming undefeated titles at both the Swans Cup and QCIS Touch competitions, and they carried that momentum into the day.

The team produced a series of dominant performances in the round games, recording convincing victories over Our Lady of Good Counsel (Gatton), Chinchilla, Glenvale and Concordia. Finishing at the top of the table, the team earned a direct place in the grand final.

The final saw us face fellow unbeaten side St Saviour’s in what proved to be a thrilling and closely contested match. Despite a tremendous effort, our team narrowly went down 3-2. The players displayed outstanding determination, resilience, and sportsmanship, battling back from a 3-1 deficit and dominating much of the second half in an attempt to level the scores.

Congratulations to all players on their excellent performances and the way they represented the College throughout the competition.

Our focus now turns to the Queensland Primary All Schools Touch Championships in Brisbane from 30 October to 1 November, where our mixed team will once again compete against some of the state's best teams.

A sincere thank you to Mrs Lever and all parents, staff, and supporters who helped transport students to the competition and cheered the team on throughout the day. Your support played an important role in making the experience such a success.

Craig Hubbard
Year 6 Teacher

If you have any Christmas decorations or trees that you no longer require, could you please donate them to our Primary Arts Department? We will be using them to decorate the stage in the MacKillop Centre for our annual Christmas Star Musical.

Donation for costumes that we require:

• Silver tinsel for halos for the Junior Choir and Prep classes
• Craft supplies (cardboard, jewels, glitter) to make crowns for Year 6 students
• 3 sets of angel wings
• Any fabric or old sheets that could be used to turn into costumes for shepherds, Mary/Joseph, angels and the three wise men costumes.

These donations will be used for future Christmas and Easter events. Please deliver donations to Balonne Classroom.

If you are able to help with sewing, please contact Cherie Runciman.

Benn Tracy
Curriculum Leader - Arts and Student Engagement

Junior Library's Annual Book Fair arrived in Week 3 with lots of excitement for students and staff, eager to see what treasures they could find amongst the display of books, posters and stationery. This is the first time that Book Fair has been held in Term 4, and it was a timely opportunity to purchase gifts in the lead-up to Christmas.

Thank you so much to parents, students and staff who supported Book Fair. Your generosity was greatly appreciated. Final sales have resulted in nearly one thousand dollars' worth of new books for Junior Library.

Special thanks also to Library Staff who assisted with Book Fair and to our very patient Learning Support colleagues while we shared their space.

Angela Irvine
Teacher Librarian

Work Experience - Year 10 2027

Students in Year 10 2027 will be attending Work Experience Week 1 of Term 2, from Monday, 12 April to Friday, 16 April.

Work experience is an important part of career education, giving students the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the world of work. By spending time in a real workplace, students can explore career interests, develop confidence, and better understand the skills and expectations required in different industries.

These experiences help students build self-awareness, strengthen the connection between school and future careers, and inspire them to pursue further study, training, apprenticeships or employment opportunities with greater confidence.

Students should currently be looking for placements. All forms students need to complete their Work Experience can be found on the students OneNote page or on the MMCC Career Tools website - Mary MacKillop Catholic College.

It is the expectation that students initiate contact with the employers - NOT parents. If students need help with contacting employers, we encourage them to come to the pathways office and we can help facilitate contact.

2026 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Careers Directory - Employment Opportunities and Programs

This directory lists opportunities you can apply for while still at school, or after you finish Year 12. It is not an exhaustive list but gives an idea of the range of opportunities available. Different programs, such as internships and cadetships, are available to university students. Ask prospective universities what’s available before you enrol.

2026 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Careers Directory - Employment Opportunities and Programs

Mrs Goddard and Mrs Richardson
Your Pathway Team

Mass Times

Every Sunday, St Mary MacKillop Catholic Parish gathers in the MacKillop Centre, 75 Highfields Road entry to celebrate together. You are invited to be part of this celebration. Sunday Mass starts at 8:00am (unless otherwise advised) and is led by Fr Brian Noonan.

Tuesday Mass will begin at 11:00am in the Balonne Room located in the Junior School.

Mary MacKillop Catholic Parish

Welcome Bree Puhakka!

We have had a new educator join our service, Bree Puhakka. Bree will be working in a casual capacity across both morning and afternoon shifts, as well as working during our holiday care program.

Bree attended Mary MacKillop Catholic College from Prep to Year 6 and has been part of our community for most of her life. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Primary Education and is passionate about working with children and creating a welcoming, positive environment where they can thrive.

Outside of work and study, Bree enjoys taking her dog for walks, spending time with family and friends, and making the most of her weekends.

Please make Bree feel welcomed the next time you see her!

Garth Rochford
Coordinator

The Toowoomba Hospital Foundation is proud to present Women of Strength, an inspiring evening featuring Australian of the Year and body image advocate Taryn Brumfitt.

Event Details 

• Saturday, 7 November 2026
• 5:30pm
• Oaks Hotel Toowoomba

Women of Strength is a celebration of confidence, resilience and self-acceptance, bringing together women from across the region for an evening of meaningful conversation, connection and inspiration.

Guests will enjoy a welcome drink on arrival, gourmet canapés, an inspiring presentation from Taryn Brumfitt, a dessert and cocktail experience, a premium gift bag and exclusive event memorabilia.

For more information about the event, please visit: https://www.toowoombahospitalfoundation.org.au/event/women-of-strength-2026/home

Grace Mulherin
Toowoomba Hospital Foundation