Mrs Kylie Cochran

Head of School Secondary

As we head into the end of term, I  would like to take this opportunity to wish Head of School Secondary Stuart Edwards all the best as he heads of for a well deserved break on Friday. Stuart will be taking long service leave for all of Term 3 and will get to enjoy some precious time with his family.

I would also like to welcome Rebekah Bidois to Bentley Park College, who will be joining us from Tully State High School in the role of Acting Head of School Secondary for the term.

Reading through the Australian Curriculum

On Wednesday of Week 8, we had the privilege of hosting the Queensland Department of Education's Principal in Residence - Reading, Clayton Carnes, School Improvement Coach, Danielle Priday, and leaders from Woree State High School. The purpose of their visit was to view the College's highly successful approach to implementing Reading framework.

The day centred on 'Reading through the Australian Curriculum', moving through Prep, Year 1, Year 5 and Junior Secondary classes to see instructional routines and talk with students. 

Extensive positive feedback was provided, acknowledging the College's long-term commitment and unified purpose of improving reading; and the planning and professional development and experience for all staff - from leaders and teachers, to teacher aides, and to our students.

Feedback included:

• Staff are highly engaged across the College, with student engagement in reading being a major success.
• 'P-12ness', pride and ownership exist across the College in an authentic way, improving outcomes for students.
• Classrooms are calm, with explicit instruction and an appropriate learning pace.
• Practices are being fed back to students.
• There's a positive school environment, and our classrooms and libraries are symbolic of our reading journey.

We are very proud of the incredible work of College staff! Thank you also to the teachers who volunteered their classes for the visits, which was greatly appreciated by all.

In Queensland state schools, reading is taught across all learning areas of the Australian Curriculum using evidence-informed teaching practices. he Department of Education Reading Position Statement, linked below, provides more information on our commitment to reading. 

Parent/Carer communication and events

In Term 3 there will be several important events where parents and carers will have the opportunity to connect with staff:

• Secondary Parent Teacher Interviews: Tuesday 22 July, 3.20 pm to 6.00 pm
• Year 7 2026 Enrolment Information Session: Tuesday 29 July, 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm
• Year 11 2026 Enrolment Information Session: Tuesday 29 July, 5.00 pm to 6.30 pm
• Prep Enrolment Information Sessions and Tours: Tuesdays from 29 July, 9.00 am to 10.00 am
• Primary Parent Teacher Interviews: Tuesday 5 August, 3.15 pm to 5.00 pm
• Year 11 Enrolment Interviews: Monday 18 August to Friday 5 September

It is very important for parents and carers to have a clear understanding of their child's academic progress and pathway options, and support their child through the crucial school junctions in Primary, Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary.

More information on these events has been or will be distributed soon. We strongly encourage you to attend all relevant sessions and look forward to seeing you!

Emergency Evacuation Drill

We held a whole-College Emergency Evacuation Drill on Wednesday 11 June. Staff and students demonstrated a good knowledge of the procedure and evacuated the buildings to the oval in almost record time.

Safe school drop-offs and pick-ups

Stop-Drop-Go Zones

There are three Stop-Drop-Go Zones at the College, which have been chosen to provide the safest entry and exit for students during peak periods of traffic movement:

• Primary: McLaughlin Road, near Gate 9
• Secondary: Borrowdale Close, near Gate 23
• Special Education Program (SEP): F Block cul-de-sac off McLaughlin Road, near Gate 6

You can see the Zones on the College Map. Parents/carers must ensure they use the Stop-Drop-Go Zones rather than dropping students off at the footpath along McLaughlin Road. 

Also, they must ensure they do not leave their vehicle while in these Zones. They are designed to enable fast and safe drop-offs and pick-ups and are not car parks. 

Car parking

An important reminder that parents and carers are to please use designated car parks only at the College, and are not to park in:

• Stop-Drop-Go Zones
• designated disability zones without appropriate permission
• designated loading zones
• the five minute zones on McLaughlin Road
• the cul-de-sac in front of F Block
• the Cairns Early Years carpark
• driveways to buildings and sheds
• garden or lawn areas
• staff carparking areas. 

For more information, please see the Safe Secure Environment Policy on our website.

No excuse for school abuse

Schools are workplaces and, just like any workplace, abuse or aggression of any kind is unacceptable. While most interactions are positive, there's no excuse for aggressive or harassing behaviour either in person or online. Everyone has the right to be safe at work.

We thank you in advance for treating our school staff, as well as students and other parents and carers and school visitors, with respect. 

Tropical Fridays for our Cleaners

Don't Jackie, Sharon, Julie and Maddie look great?! They're members of our wonderful cleaning team, who all have gorgeous new 'Tropical Friday' shirts!!

Our cleaners work hard every morning and afternoon to keep our learning, work and play spaces fresh and clean. Thanks team for all you do for us!

Our cleaners will work hard during the first week of the holidays, but will enjoy the second week off to recharge before Semester 2! Have a great time, team!!

Winter school holiday break

On behalf of Bentley Park College staff, I wish you a safe and happy winter school holiday break. School holidays begin this Saturday 28 June, and Semester 2 commences for all students from Prep to Year 12 on Monday 14 July.

Term 3: A reminder that Friday 18 July (Week 1) is the Cairns Show public holiday; and Friday 5 September (Week 8) is a Queensland-wide state school student free day.