The 2023 academic year is starting very well, with our new staff settling in and classes focussed on learning. It has been a pleasure to see our new students, especially our Prep students, working well in classes and learning so much, so quickly. Despite not being so prominently advertised, our embedded processes regarding the teaching of reading remain pertinent in the minds of all staff, and our consistent approaches in both the teaching of reading, as well as intervention for those requiring more support, continue to shine in our classrooms and specialised programs.  Due to political concerns, our NAPLAN achievements against the state achievement levels have only just been released, and I am very pleased to say that our College again performed strongly with all but 3 of the 20 areas having OLSCC above, and well above, state means of achievement.  While we do not teach 'NAPLAN', the tests demonstrate how our students are performing against the achievement standards across Reading, Writing, Grammar and Punctuation, Spelling, and Numeracy.  This is always a great affirmation of the progress we are making as teachers and support staff at OLSCC.  Mrs Brennan will be keeping everyone up-to-date regarding NAPLAN this year through her section of the newsletter, so you may support your children throughout this time. 

Student Support Committee (SSC) Meetings

In Week 5 we undertake the SSC meetings for students who may require additional support.  These meetings happen on a termly basis and often yield great results for those students whose learning is addressed. Should you receive information regarding your child's involvement, please promptly return the forms so that our teachers can collaborate and create a plan moving forward to address the learning needs of your child.

Website Updates

We are gradually reviewing the information and organisation of our website in order to make everyday information available to both current and prospective parents.  We have recently updated the Camps and Retreats page and will be creating a "How we communicate" page to make it clear how, when, and why we communicate via various modes throughout the year.  We also intend to make the website more up-to-date and easy to follow, as well as contemporary in its layout over the coming term.  If you have feedback regarding what information you would like available to you via the website, please email dalby@twb.catholic.edu.au

Teaching of Mathematics

Last year I engaged a specialist to analyse our P - 10 learning data in Mathematics in order to create a plan moving forward that will enhance the teaching of Mathematics at Our Lady of the Southern Cross College.  The first key action as a result of this is to develop consistency in understanding and teaching practice regarding Key Number Concepts. Our Middle Years and Senior Years teachers will engage in professional development of Mathematics on 24 February which will address this key action.  Our Mathematics teaching team is stronger than ever and this alignment of common ground for our Maths department is an excellent stepping stone for improvement in the Mathematics journey. 

Quadrennial School Review

Every 4 years, each school and college in the Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools engages in a school review to determine what is working well as well as the areas requiring improvement.  In this process, parents and community members are invited to contact the College to organise a time for them to talk to the review team and give their feedback.  This will occur in just a few weeks, Week 6 of this term.  If you would like to be included in an interview, please email Nicole.Bryers@twb.catholic.edu.au and express your interest in providing quality feedback.  It is important to note that the purpose of the review is to ascertain general trends to drive College improvement for the coming 4-year period.  

Principal Professional Renewal Leave

In the first 6 weeks of Term 2, I will be taking professional renewal leave in the form of a pilgrimage from France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, known as St James Way, the Camino, or The French Way.   It is a walking voyage of over eight hundred kilometres from southern France to the burial place of St James.  I will be completing this pilgrimage with two other TCS principals and I thoroughly look forward to the experience as a means to reflect on my journey at OLSCC thus far and consider the ways forward for my leadership of the College.  Shortly I will be announcing the acting principal of OLSCC during my absence, and am very confident that the candidate will add a considerable contribution to the College in their time here. Upon my return, I will lead the development of the 2024-2027 OLSCC Strategic Plan, which will lead us toward the 150^th year of Catholic education in Dalby, from when the Sisters of Mercy began our generational legacy by establishing the 'Convent School' within the Old Plough Inn in 1877.  

Peter Cuskelly

Principal