Welcome to the 2021 Academic school year. It was great to see students back on site this week. There were plenty of smiles and laughter as they caught up with their friends and discussing the holidays and their recent adventures. I hope that all students have enjoyed their first week back this year and are settling into their classes.

The Journey Bell

The tradition of ringing the Journey Bell may still feel new to some. All new students get the opportunity to ring the bell to symbolise the beginning of their learning journey. The Middle Years was blessed to witness the bell being rung many times on Wednesday as we welcomed new students to Year 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Below are some reminders for students and parents:

Uniform and Grooming Expectations
In an effort to avoid any misunderstanding moving forward, I encourage all parents to read the uniform section of your child’s diary (page 22) Particular attention should be given to Personal Appearance (p22), Jewellery (p23) and Shoes (p24/25). Students who continue to not follow our expectations, by not complying with our grooming and uniform expectations, may be sent home. Students must provide legitimate written documentation from their parents/guardians as to why they are not meeting the College’s expectations.  

Hair: Sometimes students have alternative hair styles or colouring during holiday periods. It is necessary for parents to ensure that students have a hair style acceptable to the school. Any student who contravenes rules regarding haircuts – colours or styles will be sent home and asked to remain at home until the problem is rectified.

I ask you to support the staff and the College by ensuring that, when your son/daughter leaves homes, he/she is meeting the standards stipulated.

Staying in Touch
The best way for us to stay in touch with you is email. We send many announcements, invitations, and our fortnightly newsletter electronically. From time to time, teachers contact parents directly, using emails to keep parents informed of any student related issued.

Also, if we have your mobile number, we can contact you regarding student absences and can update you quickly in case of emergency.

The Change to a New School
Change is never easy - not for anyone. The change to a new school constitutes a major change for students. To minimise the effect of this change we have implemented an effective transition program that includes Up Day and specialised sessions on Day 1. While most students cope well with the transition, some will find the move to a new school to be the most difficult aspect of their schooling experience. The move to a new school is almost always accompanied by some stress and concern. Parents may find it takes some time for their son/daughter to settle. Students need time to adjust to the different culture at Our Lady of the Southern Cross College, a new and different peer group, learning new forms of school organisation and having several new teachers – each perhaps having a different learning style. If parents find that their son/daughter is not settling at the College, then please contact the relevant classroom teacher for advice and assistance.

Mobile Phones
The College recognises that there may be genuine need for some students to have their mobile phone at school (for example, for safety before and after school hours). Students can, should they choose, to leave their phone at my office at the start of the day and collect it at the end of the day. The College takes no responsibility for mobile phones that are not handed in to the College Office. Students who use their mobile phone during school hours without explicit permission from a staff member will have their mobile phone confiscated. Further sanctions may also be implemented.

Students are also strongly advised to avoid bringing expensive items such as iPods, MP3 players and alike to school. The school takes no responsibility if any such items are misplaced, lost or stolen. Students who bring them to school do so at their own risk.

College Counsellor
OLSCC employs a College Counsellor who is available for students (individually or in groups) and for family counselling. Appointments are confidential. Students’ rights to confidentiality will be respected, however, there are legal and ethical requirements for counsellors to breach confidentiality when a student is being neglected, abused, or harmed (including self-harm), or when there is current domestic violence or danger to someone’s life, health or wellbeing. In these exceptional circumstances the College Counsellor is required to report the matter to the Principal (or his delegate) who is required to notify the appropriate authorities which may or may not include parents depending on the circumstances.

Change of Contact Details
Please contact the College office if your contact details, including email addresses, and work telephone numbers change throughout the year. As many announcements use these details, it is vital they are constantly up to date.  

Classroom Behaviour
Classroom teachers have a number of strategies available to them to ensure effective learning takes place. OLSCC implements the 10 Essential Skills to Classroom Management framework to help establish good classroom routines and avoid potential conflict within the classroom.

Opportunities in 2021
Our students can look forward to many exciting learning opportunities and experiences in 2021. Many of these will be off-site this year, pending the state of Covid restrictions continuing to ease throughout the year. Our first opportunity is the Words Out West festival on 12 March, and we look forward to the Middle Years camps running again this year.

I wish every student the best success this year. If any parents have Middle Years specific questions, please do not hesitate in contacting me via craig.cullen@twb.catholic.edu.au

Craig Cullen

Assistant Principal Middle Years