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School Term Dates
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School Term Dates
The calendar below covers feature events, holidays, and term dates for the whole school and may not include specific events for each school area.
Term 3 – 2024 (9 Weeks)
MONDAY 15 JULY
Boarders’ Travel Day
TUESDAY 16 JULY
Term 3 Begins
THURSDAY 12 SEPTEMBER
Term 3 Ends
FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER
Boarders’ Travel Day
Term 4 – 2024 (9 Weeks)
MONDAY 30 SEPTEMBER
Boarders’ Travel Day
TUESDAY 1 OCTOBER
Term 4 Begins
MONDAY 7 OCTOBER
King’s Birthday Holiday
FRIDAY 15 NOVEMBER
Year 12 Valedictory Day
Wednesday 27 NOVEMBER
Term 4 Ends
THURSDAY 28 NOVEMBER
Boarders’ Travel Day
Term 1 – 2025 (10 Weeks)
TUESDAY 28 JANUARY
Boarders’ Travel Day
WEDNESDAY 29 JANUARY
Term 1 Begins
THURSDAY 3 APRIL
Term 1 Ends
FRIDAY 4 APRIL
Boarders’ Travel Day
Term 2 – 2025 (10 Weeks)
FRIDAY 18 APRIL
Good Friday
MONDAY 21 APRIL
Easter Monday
TUESDAY 22 APRIL
Boarders’ Travel Day
WEDNESDAY 23 APRIL
Term 2 Begins
FRIDAY 25 APRIL
ANZAC Day
MONDAY 5 MAY
Labour Day Holiday
THURSDAY 26 JUNE
Term 2 Ends
FRIDAY 27 JUNE
Boarders’ Travel Day
Boarders’ Travel Day
Boarders’ Travel Day occurs eight times yearly, on the day before and after each term. This day ensures that Boarding and International students arrive or depart on the same day, allowing time for transfer to or from their chosen accommodation.
Depending on flight availability, students travelling through Townsville Airport should book their flights in advance and schedule them for mid-morning on Boarders’ Travel Day. The school offers complimentary airport-to-campus transfers for students who send their travel itineraries in advance.
Early or late arrivals and departures are not permitted.
For international arrivals and departures, Brisbane Airport is recommended as the transfer destination in Australia. A direct flight from Brisbane to Townsville takes approximately two hours.
Orientation
Orientation is a vital process for new students at Cathedral. Students will receive relevant information from the Head of School regarding orientation tours for Junior, Middle, and Senior School students. Orientation is compulsory for International Students.
International Student Orientation Guide
The Cathedral School welcomes all new International Students to an informative tour of the school after settling into your accommodation.
When you arrive, please report to the Registrar (International Student Coordinator). After you settle into your accommodation, we’ll start your orientation as soon as possible. This includes a school tour and introductions to key staff. You’ll also get your course orientation, which covers your subjects, timetable, and student diary.
Orientation Activities
Campus Tour:
- Accommodation, dining, and laundry facilities
- Staff offices
- Classrooms
- Library/Learning Hub
- Student Health Centre
- Recreation and sports areas
Meet Relevant School Leaders:
- Registrar/International Student Coordinator
- Boarding House staff (or homestay coordinator)
- Tutor and Dean (pastoral care providers)
- Head of School
- Director of Studies
- Careers Advisor
- ESL teacher
- Health Centre staff & School Counsellor
Understanding Your Schedule:
- Learn how to use your timetable and student diary
- Get advice from your Tutor and student buddy
- Meet other students, including fellow international students, and share any concerns or fears
Student Essentials:
- Get your student card (needed for bank accounts, library access, and more)
- Familiarise yourself with services you may need off-campus
Support System
You’ll be paired with one or two student buddies to help you get comfortable with the school routines. Additionally, a designated staff member (your Tutor) will oversee your orientation. Remember, orientation for international students is compulsory.
Welcome to our school! We’re here to help you every step of the way.
Homestay Accommodation
The Cathedral School Boarding Dormitories close during the term breaks requiring Boarding students to return home, or arrange alternative accommodation. Homestay Accommodation may be arranged for students during Easter & September school holidays if the student is not returning home. Homestay Accommodation host families may be based locally in Townsville or with boarding families across the state, offering International Students a wide range of unique experiences.
The Cathedral School selects homestay families according to our Homestay Policy. In brief, such families must:
• have suitable space to accommodate the student
• have current Blue Cards (Suitability for Working with Children)
• undertake to provide supervision ‘equivalent to that of a reasonable parent’
A signed agreement between the student’s parent/guardian and homestay provider will be obtained before any homestay placement can proceed. Homestay families will be responsible for providing an appropriate home environment for the student, including a private room and quiet study area, and provide the student with a minimum of three meals a day.
The School retains responsibility for accommodation and welfare of international students, and will oversee homestay arrangements and conduct periodic checks, according to the homestay policy.
Homestay Applications can be downloaded from the School Information page on eCat. Costs are detailed in the International Student Fee Schedule.
School Buses
The Cathedral School manages a comprehensive School Bus Service. The service aims to ensure that students are escorted to and from school in a safe and timely manner, collecting and delivering them at a convenient location that is agreed to by both the family and the school.
Vehicles Used
The school has two large buses (33 seaters), two small buses (24 seater), and one minibus (12 seater) providing the regular bus services. All vehicles are well maintained and have all safety equipment, including seat belts for all passengers.
Suburbs Serviced
As far as possible, the runs are tailored to meet the needs of our regular passengers, and include the following list of Townsville suburbs. If demand exists, this list may change.
Alligator Creek, Annandale, Belgian Gardens, Bushland Beach, Condon, Cranbrook, Douglas, Hermit Park, Idalia, Kelso, Kirwan, Magnetic Island Ferry Terminal, Mount Louisa, Nome, North Shore, North Ward, Pallarenda, Riverside Gardens, Upper Ross.
Ayr Service
The Cathedral School Townsville offers a weekly bus service from Ayr To Townsville, direct to campus.
The service is ideal for weekly boarders from Year 7 to Year 12. The bus departs from the Queen Street McDonalds in Ayr each Monday at 6:45am. The return service will arrive at the McDonalds in Ayr each Friday at 5pm.
Monday (or first school day of the week): 6:30am (Bus Arrives Ayr) – 6:45am (Bus Departs Ayr).
Friday (or last school day of the week): 3:45pm (Bus Departs School) – 5:00pm (Bus Arrives Ayr).
Limited spaces are available. For bookings or more information, please contact our Registrar, Mrs Jane Passmore at registrar@cathedral.qld.edu.au or call 07 4722 2000.
Register your expression of interest for this service via our Ayr Bus Online Form.
Bookings are made via eCat.
Students Eligible
The bus service is available for students from Year 3 to Year 12.
Younger students will only be permitted to travel if in the company of an older sibling student who has designated travel responsibility for them as determined by the Head of Junior School. Younger students being accompanied by an older student will be assessed and approved by the school on a case by case basis. The school will take into consideration the age and maturity of the older student, the distance the student has to travel between home and the bus stop and the localised traffic/road safety of the area. Families are encouraged to contact the School Office prior to any bookings being made to discuss your individual circumstances.
School Contact for Bus Travel
Main Office (8am to 4pm)
07 4722 2000
bus.bookings@cathedral.qld.edu.au
MORNING (AM)
Ayr (AM) – 0427 655 068
Burdekin Bus (AM) (11 Seater) – 0427 655 068
Bushland/Kirwan (AM) – 0419 482 216
City/Alligator Creek (AM) – 0407 159 432
Upper Ross/Douglas/Annandale (AM) – 0448 151 734
AFTERNOON (PM)
Ayr (PM) – 0427 655 068
Burdekin Bus (PM) (11 Seater) – 0427 655 068
Bushland Beach (PM Only) – 0419 337 895
Douglas/ Annandale/Alligator Creek (PM) – 0448 151 734
City (PM) – 0407 159 432
Upper Ross/Kirwan (PM) – 0419 482 216
Emergency Calls – 0447 886 216
Booklists
Most textbooks are provided on loan, in the students choice of digital or hardcopy.
The Junior School operates an all-inclusive book list levy which is included in the scheduled school fees.
The school will supply the required book list materials for Junior School students.
Middle and Senior students will need to purchase items from the booklist of their specific subject selections.
Subject Booklists and Stationery requirements are available on the eCat Parent Portal in ‘School Information‘.
ICPA Queensland
ICPA Queensland is a voluntary and apolitical not-for-profit organisation with 45 branches across the state and over 1200 member families. ICPA members encompass a broad range - those who are regional, rural, and remote, those with children pre-schooling, attending state schools, boarding schools, or Schools of Distance Education, as well as those in the tertiary phase of their education. ICPA membership also includes a variety of individuals and businesses who continue to offer their support to the organisation from the South-East corner and beyond.
The Cathedral School is proud to support ICPA QLD. For more information visit the ICPA QLD website.
Financial Assistance
To find out more about Financial Assistance options, please visit the ICPA QLD website. The Are You Aware factsheet provides a summary of State and Federal allowances that are available to families in rural and remote areas of Queensland, as well as how to apply.
Student Health Centre
Staff at The Student Health Centre care for children and adolescents with bumps, bruises, broken bones, and sometimes broken hearts. Whilst they are primarily responsible for the boarding students, they also care for day students and manage any medical emergencies.
The Centre has a dedicated and experienced Registered Nurse and Support Officer who effectively meet the health care needs of the growing school community. They both bring valuable and varied experiences.
The staff of The Student Health Centre are all committed to the implementation of “health promotion and education” for the students of The Cathedral School. The staff also work very closely with the medical team, in particular doctors, at the Mundingburra Medical Centre.
Student Health Centre hours are 8am – 4.30pm Monday – Friday with a nurse rostered on-call after hours, for the boarding students.
Find Out More
Educating for life-long success.
154 Ross River Road, Mundingburra QLD 4812