Music

Music experiences extend well beyond the classroom at St Ursula’s College, Yeppoon. Our vibrant Instrumental Music program includes varied and interesting performance opportunities at College Masses, Assemblies, Musicals and Arts Showcases. The Capricorn Coast is home to a thriving Arts scene, and St Ursula’s students perform at annual events such as the Yeppoon Village Festival and Queensland Catholic Schools Music Festival. Regional competitive opportunities include the Central Queensland Schools Battle of the Bands, and the Rockhampton Eisteddfod. Please read the Instrumental Music Handbook 2024 for more information and complete the Instrumental Music Enrolment Form 2024 to enrol in our Instrumental Music Program.

Each year, St Ursula’s students are able to undertake Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB) exams and are guided through this process by committed and highly skilled staff. AMEB qualifications recognise each student’s ability and commitment to their respective craft, be it Music, Speech, or Drama.

The College actively engages with Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University’s Ensemble Program (SHEP) Capricornia and encourages interested students to nominate for this annual experience. SHEP hosts regional workshops throughout Queensland and invites selected students to attend a four-day series of intensive tutorials at Griffith’s South Bank Campus. Participants in SHEP are exposed to different genres and styles of music and the techniques required to play them skilfully. It is a fantastic opportunity for talented Secondary School students to receive coaching from nationally and internationally recognised instructors.

ACADEMIC AWARDS

Academic Assemblies are held twice each year, at the beginning of Terms 1 and 3, to recognise those students who have achieved impressive academic standards on their Semester Reports. Additionally, Presentation Evening – the College’s annual awards event – is held in November each year and recognises achievement across Academic, Sporting, and Cultural fields. All College families are warmly invited to attend Presentation Evening and celebrate the success of their daughters.

There are three levels of Academic Awards – Bronze, Silver & Gold. Criteria for Academic Awards is as outlined below:

Gold Award: At least four A’s and nothing less than a B, or Satisfactory for Skills and Training.

Silver Award: Three A’s and nothing less than a B, or Satisfactory for Skills and Training.

Bronze Award: Two A’s and nothing less than a B, or Satisfactory for Skills and Training.

Please note: students who do not submit or complete all required assessment items will be ineligible to receive awards.

Presentation Evening awards (depending on Donors) may include:
• Prix D’Honneur (Year 12)
• Dux of the College (Year 12)
• Presentation Sisters Service Award (Year 12)
• Jenny Stanton Boarding Leadership Award (Year 12)
• Conscientious Student Award (Year 12)
• Music Awards
• Public Speaking Awards
• Middle and Senior School Sports Awards
• Music Teachers’ Commitment to Music Award
• Overall Academic Achievement Award (Year 11,10,9,8 & 7)
• Public Performance Award (Year 12)
• Honouring the Mission of the College (A House Group)
• Middle School All Rounder Award (Years 7, 8 & 9)
• Edward Hutley Bursary – Yeppoon RSL (Mathematics)
• CQUniversity English Award – Year 12 Top of Subject
• Skills and Training Student Award (Year 12)
• Indigenous Student Leadership Award (Year 11 or 12)

Lantern Awards

Lantern Awards are distributed once each year, at Presentation Evening, to selected students in Years 7-12 who demonstrate exceptional attitude to their studies, and commitment to the College Values.

Teachers will nominate up to five (5) students in each of their classes who have demonstrated outstanding application to studies, continuous preparation for class, and display the College Values of Excellence, Compassion, and Respect throughout the year. A team of teachers review the performance of nominated students in each Year Level, and determine those who will receive Lantern Awards.

To apply for a Senior Student Leadership position, a Year 11 student must be nominated for a Lantern Award in that year.

Leadership

Student leadership opportunities are promoted to all students at the College through involvement in sporting, cultural, spiritual, outreach and well-being activities.  Each year, students from all year levels are invited to apply for selection for the Student Representative Council (SRC). SRC members work in conjunction with College Captains to identify issues or areas for action. They also assist with and support campus and community events and represent the College at ceremonies such as ANZAC Day services, Parish Youth Masses and Presentation Evening.

Year 12 students can be elected to the roles of College Captain, House Captain, and student leaders in the areas of Faith in Action, Culture, and Boarding. To ensure Senior students are well prepared for their roles, they are provided with training and leadership experiences prior to their final year. Elections for Senior Leaders occur in Term 4 each year; voting is conducted electronically and both staff and students have the opportunity to vote.

International Tours and Student Exchange

As one of a few Secondary Schools in Queensland to offer two Languages Other Than English (LOTE) through to Year 12, St Ursula’s complements its Japanese and French language learning with the provision of optional overseas experiences for students. On tours led by their LOTE teachers, students are immersed in the language and culture of their classroom subject and gain greater proficiency in their chosen language. This often encourages interest in a longer study exchange in an overseas country, a life-enriching experience that can also lead to career opportunities. St Ursula’s also welcomes students on exchange from other countries, especially those from countries where French or Japanese is spoken. The College has also formed a Sister School relationship with Yangzhong Baqiao Secondary School in Jiangsu Province in China and our students can look forward to visits to that school and return visits from their students and staff. Former College Principal, Mrs Catherine Dunbar, visited Baqiao Secondary School in March 2019 and received a warm welcome. Mrs Dunbar was very impressed by the facilities and by the enthusiasm and skill demonstrated by their students and their interest in visiting Central Queensland and St Ursula’s College.

The overseas experience is also available to students who undertake Vocational Education and Training in the Hospitality and/or Tourism areas. Renowned travel ‘hot spots’, New Zealand and Singapore, are popular destinations as these enable students to sample the tourist experience, explore the excellent culinary and sightseeing opportunities on offer and gain a deeper understanding of the industries that support these.

Our College works in conjunction with Exchange agencies and, subject to enrolment criteria, can host International students for limited (6 weeks) to extended (12 months) periods.

St Ursula’s College offers enriching French and Japanese language programs through to Year 12, with non-compulsory International tours available annually. Immersion experiences for St Ursula’s students who learn Senior French can be arranged through an Expression of Interest. Japanese language students who participate in the International tour to Japan are accommodated through a ‘Homestay’ program, where they reside with a Japanese family for a period of days and immerse themselves in the culture and language of everyday experiences.

Community Partnerships & Opportunities

St Ursula’s College, Yeppoon, is a proud member of the Capricorn Coast Community and has established strong links with industries throughout the region. Whenever possible, learning excursions planned for students take advantage of the ready access provided to government facilities, businesses and organisations within the local area, as well as the natural environment of the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

Capricorn Coast Tropical Fruit producers welcome College Field Studies in the areas of Business Management, Food Processing, and Quality Control. Local restaurants and hotels also provide practical placements for Hospitality students, particularly those working towards Skills and Training qualifications while at the College. To gain authentic experience in the industry and satisfy competencies, students prepare and serve dinners to patrons of the Capricorn Cruising Yacht Club twice per term.

The thriving Capricorn Tourism industry also provides many opportunities for students to discover and appreciate the attractions of Yeppoon and surrounds. Exploration of Great Keppel Island, the Yeppoon Visitor Information Centre and the Capricorn Caves delivers first-hand industry knowledge to students and supports local enterprise.

CQUniversity Australia (CQU) and James Cook University (JCU) are regionally-based institutions that engage with the College each year to assist school-leavers pursue tertiary education. CQUniversity Rockhampton Campus, and JCU Townsville Campus, conduct on-site tours for students in Years 10-12 annually. Regional Liaison Officers from Bond, Griffith, and University of Queensland actively engage with the College’s Careers Advisor and interviews are arranged on an individual basis.