Winning

We all love to win, or when we see people we know win, we all love to celebrate the best of results. We always aim high; that gives you a great launching pad.

The problem with focussing on the win or the result is that you can take your eye off the hard work and the next step and the process of putting in place all the training you have done.

This is why we talk so much about progress. Are we getting better, stronger, thinking more clearly, and predicting better results?

I am really encouraged by all our students who have shown progress and growth over the term – that is what learning is all about.

As we finalise report cards and head towards the end of term it is important that students disconnect and have a break, celebrate their success, then reset ready to win again in Semester 2.

QCAA Year 12 External Examination Timetable has been released!

Please refer here for the latest published QCAA External Examination timetable

QCAA external assessment timetable 2024

The external assessment timetable is designed to:

• minimise clashes for students across the examination period. Where there is a clash within a morning or afternoon session, students will be allocated to the alternative session on the same day
• ensure most students sit no more than two external assessments on one day
• provide sufficient breaks between external assessments for popular courses and frequently combined courses
• enable all external assessments to be marked in time for students to receive their final Year 12 results.

Uniform Term 2

A gentle reminder that going into Term 3, the expectations regarding the uniform will not change. We continue to emphasise with the students that the uniform is important in setting the tone for the College community. A student wearing the uniform correctly shows that they have pride in themselves and pride in the community they belong to. A school uniform reduces incidents of bullying and the stress of peer pressure as all students are the same. Uniforms do not distinguish between socio-economic backgrounds like free dress does.

The uniform also helps the students focus on their job at hand. They are students not fashion statements while at school. Wearing their uniform helps the student 'switch on' to student mode and it provides the students with a reminder of what the expectations of the College are and how they are supposed to behave and apply themselves to their learning.

A student wearing their uniform well in public shows they are proud of being a part of this community. When a member of the wider community sees a student who is proud of where they come from, it often reflects to the student in the way the member of the community interacts with them and their opinion of the school.

Year 11 Leadership camp

Over the past month, our Year 11 students have begun their leadership journey and are currently away participating in their leadership camp. The students are demonstrating an outstanding attitude and engaging with each other through a variety of different sessions. The group is focused on servant leaders' strengths and characteristics while developing skills to work as a team to achieve common goals.

They have the challenges of Emu Gully ahead of them as you read this newsletter. Our day on Friday at Emu Gully will push and test our students to focus on goals as they overcome physical and mental challenges that await them.

The Year 11 group is showing true potential as a strong leadership group, and we are excited to continue this journey with them over the next 18 months.

100 Days for Year 12

Last week we also celebrated the efforts of our Year 12 group marking the 100 days left point of their secondary education. With unit 3 assessment complete, students are now surging towards external exams and completion of unit 4 work.

We look forward to our students striving to achieve the best they can as we move towards the end of the year.

Toowoomba Catholic Schools Excellence Awards

A big CONGRATULATIONS! to Miss Kylie Purbrick and Mrs Simone Forbes for being selected as finalists for the TCS Excellence Awards in the areas of Excellence in Teaching and Learning – Secondary Expert Teacher (Miss Purbrick) and Excellence in Leadership – Middle Leadership (Mrs Forbes). This is great recognition of these two wonderful Senior Years staff. They are joined by Miss Emily Blair and Mrs Melita Dellit as finalists in their respective areas. The winners will be announced at the awards dinner Thursday 25 July.

Rodney Spain

Assistant Principal Senior Years