Principals Pen
Family & Community Engagement (FACE)
At Monday’s Annual General Meeting of FACE we established our 2024 Executive as well as the heads of our Sub-Committees for the year. Although this team is only small, I encourage the community to value the work of FACE (and previous P&F Associations) by the impact they have through community engagement and support for the College’s strategic direction. Last year, FACE welcomed 160 community members from our local area to attend a free workshop and gathering with Justin Coulson, a very renowned expert in his field of parental education. Around 100 care packages were provided for those in need in our community, and an amazing Saints Race Day took place in September. In addition, they have contributed $127,000 towards the cost of recreating the new early years playground both in front of Prep and behind Pink Block. This is an amazing legacy that will greatly benefit many children well into the future.
I would like to welcome and congratulate the following to FACE in 2024:
- Mrs Kaitlin Machin President
- Mrs Kate Cullen Vice-President
- Ms Hailey Wex Secretary
- Mrs Nicole Bryers &
Mrs Rebecca Martin Heads Hearts & Hands - Mrs Rachel Thompson Fundraising Co-ordinator
Please find FACE on FaceBook under “OLSCC Family and Community Engagement” to keep up to date with the exciting strategy and events they have organised for this year. If you ever feel as though there is an initiative or event you would like to help out with, just contact FACE through Facebook or through Dalby FACE.
More Great Opportunities at OLSCC
Over recent weeks I continue to be impressed with the engagement of our students in various fields outside of the regular classroom. While the work in the classroom is excellent to begin with, it is the ability of students to find their family, engage in their passion, and build a community around themselves that contributes greatly to their wellbeing and life trajectory. Since the last newsletter we have become state champions in beach volleyball for both Year 9 and Year 11 girls. The Year 11 group won this title in Years 9 and 10 as well. The Bell Art Show was well attended by OLSCC art works, with many students receiving prizes for their beautiful works. In addition, last Friday we hosted and attended QCIS Swimming with an amazing team of committed swimmers who, despite being the smallest school by a considerable margin, placed 3rd out of 6 schools, and only very marginally missed out on second. Miss Creeley spoke at staff briefing on Monday and also highlighted the opportunities for our students to engage in a wide variety of events at the Dalby Show (12/13 April) on the last weekend of the School Holidays. Hop on the website and see what you can do to get involved and get into something new!
Middle Years Student Led Conferences
I attended a middle years student led conference for my son last week. Like most schools, OLSCC has been changing our practice to make parent teacher interviews valuable for parents and students whilst also becoming an opportunity for collaboration and communication, rather than simply communicating results and problematic behaviours. The conference I had with Miss McDuff was empowering. It celebrated my son as a learner and looked for ways for him to become even better. He shared his goals with his mum and I, reflected on strengths and weaknesses, and told us what he’s working on at the moment. He told us hard facts about his own improvement, and we had a chance to ask questions and provide input. The whole process took 9 minutes and now informs what we talk about around the kitchen table.
There has been change regarding our Student Led Conferences since 2019. I encourage you this year to book in a meeting or two during these periods to keep on the same page with your child and their teacher/s for the remainder of 2024.
Mr Peter Cuskelly
Principal
