Our Identity at OLSCC

At Our Lady of the Southern Cross College, we value our Catholic Social Teachings.

We reflect on our moral imperative of “Growing Great People”, and we align our work with our values of Wisdom, Justice and Humanity. We have received wonderful feedback throughout Quadrennial School Review processes in both 2019 and 2023, and this feedback has been enacted through the creation of the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan.  A key message heard through the review process is that while the College is continuing to improve, the performance and perception of the College should now shift from great to excellent. 

This isn’t a shift that will happen quickly, easily or without significant impact on the ways we do things as staff, students and parents at OLSCC.  This is a change of culture from mediocrity to excellence. Its also about being an excellent Catholic P-12 College in Dalby.  We must not lose sight of who we are and what our purpose is.  In order to become excellent, we must be realistic that no school can excel in everything – so we must focus our energies on key improvement strategies. This means that we may not be the school of choice for some families in Dalby and surrounding areas, and that is okay.  We value that parents have a smorgasboard of educational options available to them and respect their choice of schools for their children.  What we value the most is the parents who choose us as the educators of their children – who make the deliberate choice to engage in a Catholic P-12 Education at Our Lady of the Southern Cross College.

In our next Strategic Plan, we have a distinct focus on just a few things, and will do them well. Namely, the five key areas of the Strategic Plan are:

While this terminology may be new, the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan is well considered to shift to a new era of success by being well adapted to leading educational practices.  Though the vast majority of what we do will essentially stay the same.  Our uniform will stay the same, our behaviour standards will continue to be high, we will continue using the Learning Pit and Learning Dispositions in every classroom and we will continue doing NAPLAN.  Our fees will continue to offer our families excellent value for money in all aspects and we will continue to offer additional opportunities for student learning as well as camps that are curriculum related, fun and socially rewarding for our students. 

So this isn’t about changing what we do.  This is simply about changing HOW we do what we do.  HOW students turn up to class ready to learn.  HOW staff plan rigorously and provide every opportunity for every child to succeed.  HOW student leaders inspire the student population to engage and be their best.  HOW the College Leadership Team, and the Senior Leadership Team, communicate with others and deliver high quality work promptly.  HOW students stand up for their mates when others are making poor behaviour choices.  HOW everyone takes responsibility for their role as a student, staff or community member.  HOW we work together to support each other to make light work of the tough issues.  HOW we help our friends when poor decisions have been made.  HOW we understand the psychosocial development of our students and help them to understand themselves as they grow. HOW we all present to school with a positive mindset, expressing gratitude for all we have been afforded, and considering HOW we can positively contribute to others, the class, the culture of the College. 

So, early in the new year when we launch our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, please take the time to have a cup of tea and have a read.  This plan is not about big shiny ideas or creating a new logo, its about progressing how we work, plan, communicate, behave, interact and learn. Please consider this thought and how it could impact the life of your family at home.  Great people have great mindsets, positive dispositions and look for solutions rather than problems.  As you may be able to tell, I am very excited to be leading OLSCC through this journey and to even greater prosperity and sustainability in the future.

Staffing Update

Sadly, we find ourselves at the time of the year where we farewell our valued members of staff who are moving onto new ventures for the 2024 school year.  While its always a tough time to see people move on from OLSCC, we must be extremely thankful that these staff members have given us some precious time of their life to educate the students in Dalby.  We also trust that they leave here as a better educator than when they arrived, and progress in their career to make a greater impact on our world.  This is strongly aligned to our vision where we state: “To guide the young people entrusted to us through their journey in faith and knowledge so that they may know the value of their own lives and contribute positively to the community and world in which they live.”

We wish the following teachers all the best for 2024:

• Mrs Jacinta Morriss (nee Willocks) - Transfer to St Joseph’s College Toowoomba
• Mr Jay Hansen – Transfer to St Joseph’s College Toowoomba
• Miss Manpreet Kaur – Relocating to Brisbane
• Mrs Nicole McKenzie – Relocating to Brisbane
• Mrs Katrina Walton – Retiring to the farm until she sends Nev mad and he ships her off to another job
• Mr Luke Paffey -  relocating to Toowoomba school

In addition, we also thank Mrs Kathy Morgan, Mrs Simone Forbes, Mrs Jodie Biggar and Mrs Jacinta Morriss  for their roles as Middle Leaders at OLSCC.  Due to the Middle Leader restructure, these roles will not continue into the future, though we thank the ladies for their outstanding work in delivering improved outcomes for the students at OLSCC.

As mentioned in the last newsletter, we have our 2024 advertising for teaching staff on seek at the moment as we endeavour to employ the best possible teaching staff for our College in 2024 and beyond.  Responses to our advertising has been strong thus far and some great applicant discussions have taken place. As mentioned last week, we have the following vacancies to be filled. 

• Teachers: Year 1, HPE & Science, English & Humanities, Physics Maths & Science, Design Technology
• Middle Leader: Primary, Mathematics, English & Humanities, Science & Technology, Pedagogy & Engagement.

We look forward to fulfilling these vacancies over the next few weeks. It is always exciting to welcome new people to the OLSCC community, especially considering the quality of the applicants currently coming through.

Mr Peter Cuskelly

Principal