Welcome back!  It has been great working with our staff since last week, but it was excellent to have our students back with us since Tuesday.  They were full of smiles and stories as they quickly settled into their new classes.  The learning started on day 1 and it is excited to see the knowledge start to develop from the very beginning of the year.  This year our liturgical theme challenges us to “Think Big, Act Boldly and to Serve Others”.  We look forward to the adventures that 2024 will hold for everyone, both staff and students at the College. 

ACADEMIC ASSEMBLY

This Wednesday, 24 January, we celebrated our Academic achievements of our 2023 Year 12 students.  We are proud of the hard work, dedication and resilience of this Year 12 group and the achievements of all students esp the individuals we celebrated on Wednesday.   Congratulations to Felicity Stephen, our 2023 College Dux and recipient of the Western Downs Regional Council Academic Excellence Bursary of $250 and the Dalby & District Friendly Society Dispensary Bursary of $2000.  Congratulations to our Academic Honours students Joshua Nimmo, Majella Stephen and Zahra Manteit who all received an ATAR higher than 90.00.  We thank both Western Downs Regional Council and Dalby & District Friendly Society Dispensary for their continued support of our College.

NAPLAN Year 3, 5, 7, 9 

NAPLAN is a national literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake.  The test window for NAPLAN is 13-25 March 2024.  

NAPLAN is a nationwide measure through which parents, teachers, schools, education authorities, governments and the broader community can determine how well young Australians are developing the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for other learning, and for their productive and rewarding participation in the community.  

• NAPLAN tests are one aspect of each school’s assessment and reporting process. NAPLAN does not replace the extensive, ongoing assessments made by teachers about each student’s performance. A child’s teacher will have the best insight into the child’s educational progress. NAPLAN results do not measure overall school quality. 
• NAPLAN questions are directly linked to the Australian Curriculum: English and Mathematics. As such, the best preparation students can do for NAPLAN is to learn what they do in the classroom every day. On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for, and students are not expected to do so. 
• The assessments allow parents to see how their child is progressing against national standards in literacy and numeracy, and over time. Along with other school assessment reports, NAPLAN supports parents in discussing their child’s strengths and areas for improvement with teachers. 
• NAPLAN results can assist teachers by providing additional information to support their professional judgement about students ’ levels of literacy and numeracy attainment and progress. 
• NAPLAN can support school improvement by enabling teachers to monitor their students’ progress over time against the national measure, to identify strengths and areas to improve in teaching programs, and to set goals in literacy and numeracy. 
• Students and parents wishing to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN can visit the public demonstration site on the NAP website. Some past NAPLAN papers are also available.

Each fortnight leading to NAPLAN we will include general NAPLAN information in the College Newsletter.  If you would like to discuss your child’s participation in NAPLAN please contact your child’s core teacher, Andrea Gormley or myself.  

Volunteers in our College 

Volunteers are welcome to assist in the classroom, on excursions and at our tuckshop upon completion of Volunteer Induction Module and return Declaration form. Volunteer Induction must be completed annually at the beginning of the new school year.  Declaration forms must be submitted before your day of volunteering to ensure approval is granted. 

Information regarding the Volunteer Induction Module can be found on Parent Portal or via the link: https://www.twb.catholic.edu.au/work-and-learn-with-us/volunteers-and-visiting-service-providers/ 

Bike Racks 

Bike racks for storing student bikes have been relocated at the College as redevelopments have occurred.  The bike racks are now located at the side of the MPC between the MPC and Senior Years.  Students who ride bikes or scooters to school should store their bikes at the location on the racks provided and use personal security devices to ensure they are secured during the school day.  No students should be in the bike rack area during the school day.   

Parking and pick up 

Before and after school we supervise a number of areas around the College to ensure safe arrival and departure of the students.  The front footpath is supervised at 8:30-8:50am and from 3:10-3:30pm and the Cooper Street fence line from 3:10-3:30pm.  Parking around the College can be congested at peak times and parents are encouraged to make regular arrangement with their children to save confusion at home time.   

Loading Zone Passengers – 2min max 

In front of Prep we have designated loading area that allows 2 min drop and go between 7:00am-9:00am and 2:00pm-4:00pm.  Parking is also Police regularly patrol our school zone to ensure the safety of our students and the compliance of drivers, we encourage this support from the police and we thank parents for following all the road rules. 

Front Car Park & Bus Zone 

It is important that parents and extended family who do pick up and drop off are aware that the bus zone and front car park are not suitable places for drop off and pick up.  Our staff park in this front car park and this is the location of 3 disabled car park which parents can access based on individual needs.  All other student drop off and pick up activity should avoid this area.   

Mrs Cate Brennan

Deputy Principal Religious Education