Enrolments for 2025 – Urgent

It is exciting to see the volume of enrolment applications for Prep and other year levels for 2025. Due to the volume of applications, it is likely that many 2025 classes will be at capacity after offers for enrolment are sent out next term. Once these year levels are at capacity, all subsequent applicants have the option of joining a waiting list.  This also applies to parents who already have siblings enrolled at the College, so please be sure to get your applications fully completed via the online enrolment form ASAP.  This is also important for those intending on starting at the College in Year 7.  I do not intend adding another class to our current two classes of Year 6.  This means there will be very few positions available for Year 7 in 2025.  This will be an ongoing trend into the future. Please ensure you reach out to any friends if this information is important to them. Final applications for classes with spaces available are due by 22 July 2024. 

Reporting & Learning Discussions

We are looking forward to the new ways of reporting student progress with parents, as well as following up with Learning Discussions in Week 10.  This is a big change to the existing processes and ways of working for teachers at OLSCC, and I highly value their commitment and dedication in implementing these changes in a short amount of time. Our intent is to make reporting more concise, more personal, and to ensure that you have the relevant knowledge to support your child in their journey in faith and knowledge. As I communicated to my teaching staff yesterday, the work in the classroom here is great, students have every opportunity to perform to their best standard, and the classroom environment is very conducive to learning. Our  teachers know the students and how they learn, as well as the curriculum and how to teach it. Because of this, I know that the teachers at OLSCC will thrive in this new environment as they familiarise themselves with new ways of working.  

When you arrive for your 'Learning Discussion', you can expect your child’s teacher to ask something along the lines of: “What is it you would like to discuss about Jason’s learning today?” Why are we starting like this?  Because parents usually attend these opportunities expecting to come away with a new piece of knowledge about their child as a learner, as well as something they can do to support their learning at home. We are increasing our value of this by adjusting to the new format. There may be some specific items that the teacher would like to raise as well, so teachers have been asked to ensure that there is adequate time for this two-way discussion.  Its important to note that we’re not going back to Parent Teacher Interviews here because no-one is being interviewed – it is an opportunity for dialogue between parent and teacher (with student optional) to align support for the student.

I look forward to this first step in our new reporting journey. You will be sent a link to give feedback on both reporting and the learning discussions in Week 10, and this feedback is what our future decisions will be responsive to. Thank you for the feedback leading to this trial, and we look forward to the ongoing feedback.  

Master Plan

Our architect from BOLD Architecture and Interior Design, Stewart Bagley, visited the College on Friday to take the College Leadership Team, College Advisory Council members and staff from Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office through initial thoughts regarding the new College Master Plan. It is exciting to see the conversation, feedback and ideas for the future leap off the page and transform into perspectives of the College in the future.  Much of the feedback and future needs of the College have been addressed in the first instance, though there are many adjustments yet to come. This is an exciting time for our College as we continue to expand to three classes per year level in the Early Years, and provide the best places of learning for our students across the whole College. 

St Joseph’s College School Review

Last week, I had the pleasure of being on the review panel for the Quadrennial School Review for St Joseph’s College in Toowoomba. While this does mean a week away from OLSCC, it is a wonderful learning experience and a genuine opportunity to see how another college in our system functions on a daily basis.  It is also a great opportunity to reflect on what we do here, why we do it, how we do it, and to challenge my existing ways of thinking. Of course, there’s also the chance to appreciate all we have at OLSCC, and consider the variance in context between the two colleges. I also trust that my input as a part of the review team will support St Joseph's College as it begins its journey in developing their strategic direction for the next 4 year cycle.

Darling Downs South East Queensland Football (Soccer)

On Monday, I was joined by some passionate community members and 35 OLSCC students at the Highfields Sport and Recreation Centre for the Darling Downs South East Queensland soccer finals, the first for many years.  We were one of 8 schools from the area who participated, and our students were an absolute delight on the day. The teams, all made up of boys and girls from Years 3-6, played against some formidable sides and represented our College extremely well.  We had wins and losses on the day and some teams made the final playoffs, though our focus was to participate, engage in a competitive standard of soccer and learn through sport.  A huge thanks to Steve Barwick, Nick & Candice Lloyd and Jo Cuskelly for coaching the teams at the event, as well as all the helpers who came along to enjoy the fog, wetness, cold and breeze that we were blessed with for most of the day! 

Peter Cuskelly

Principal