Current Edition | Term 3, Week 3

Going for Gold: Celebrating Academic Excellence

This week, our College community came together to celebrate one of the highlights of the academic year: the Semester 1 Academic Awards Assembly. Much like Australia's athletes competing on the Commonwealth stage, our students understand that excellence is rarely the result of a single performance. It is earned through disciplined preparation, consistent effort, resilience and a commitment to continual improvement.

Academic success is built lesson by lesson, assessment by assessment, and semester by semester. This week's assembly recognised those students whose dedication has translated into outstanding achievement.

Based on Semester 1 results, an impressive 425 students received a Black Academic Award. In the Primary and Middle School, recipients achieved a GPA of at least 12, while in the Senior School students achieved an average of more than 70%, representing consistent performance at approximately a B+ standard across their subjects.

An outstanding 373 students were awarded a Gold Academic Excellence Award. These students achieved a GPA of at least 13 in the Primary and Middle School or an average of more than 80% in the Senior School, equating to an A- average or higher across their studies.

We also celebrated 19 Growth Award recipients. These students improved their GPA by more than 1.5 points during the semester: the equivalent of lifting their achievement by approximately half an achievement level across every subject they studied. These awards are among our most inspiring because they recognise perseverance, determination and the courage to embrace challenge.

This year's results continue to reflect a growing culture of academic excellence across the College. Compared with Semester 1 last year, the number of Gold Academic Excellence Awards increased from 353 to 373, while Black Academic Awards grew from 399 to 425. These achievements are a credit to our students, the dedication of our teaching staff and the invaluable support of families at home.

The assembly also recognised another significant academic milestone. We proudly celebrated 50 Year 12 students who successfully completed the Diploma of Business. The Diploma is a nationally recognised qualification that equips students with practical knowledge and workplace-ready skills in areas such as leadership, project management, communication and business operations. Importantly, the Diploma also provides students with an additional pathway into higher education. Many Australian universities recognise the qualification as a direct entry pathway or award selection rank adjustments and advanced standing, giving students greater flexibility as they transition beyond school.

Reflecting the success and growing demand for the program, the Diploma of Business is now fully integrated into the Year 11 and Year 12 timetable as a dedicated subject line. This enables students to pursue a valuable vocational qualification alongside their QCE studies without having to attend classes outside of school hours.

While medals at the Commonwealth Games celebrate those who stand on the podium, every athlete measures success by becoming better than they were before. The same is true in education. Excellence is not only about achieving the highest grades; it is about striving for continuous improvement, embracing challenge and making the most of every opportunity.

Congratulations to every student recognised this week. Whether acknowledged for excellence, growth or the successful completion of the Diploma of Business, each achievement reflects the curiosity, discipline and persistence that define our College community. We look forward to seeing our students continue to pursue their personal best throughout Semester 2.