Basics for Learning

With the coming of the new year, we look forward to 2021 being another year of great success at OLSCC.  I am in admiration of all students who have begun the year with positivity, growth mindset and an openness to their time at OLSCC as one of great opportunity.  Our new staff have started remarkably, and the teaching in our classrooms is refined and focussed, with teachers engaging in effective pedagogy that makes a real difference for student learning. We have invested significantly in providing greater laptop devices across the College which enables all students to access the resources and tools which increases their learning, and prepares them as digitally literate, 21^st century learners.  Supporting this is the continued progress in the Digital Enhancement of the Curriculum across all year levels.  The format of our Canvas pages for students learning have been adjusted to better align to best teaching practice, and students are responding very well to this, particularly in the middle and senior years.  We should all be very grateful for the significant planning and effort that every teacher is placing into their practice, and we know that the students of OLSCC are in excellent hands!

To make the most of the opportunities provided, it is crucial that students get at least a few of the basics right.  Most important are attendance, homework and preparedness for school.

Best learning occurs when students attend the College, ready to learn, every day possible.  In 2021, student with attendance under 85% will receive formal notification and be required to commit to improving this attendance. 

Likewise, homework is required for all students.  In Prep, it begins with reading with or to your child every day, in the Middle Years it’s about exploring subject content and mastering prerequisite skills like spelling, computation and comprehension, and in the Senior Years students focus on revision, assessment completion and applying learning independently to new and more complex situations.  Those students who engage in effective study skills, reading and homework completion are placing themselves in the best position to succeed.

Of course, this is all a great challenge without routines and structures in place at home.  I ask all parents to take the time to discuss places, spaces, times and ways in which homework can be completed, as well as how students can best prepare for school so that they can not only attend the College everyday, though do so in their best mental state to learn and grow. 

Open Classrooms and P&F Welcome BBQ

A big thanks to all of our wonderful staff as well as the P&F for a wonderful evening last Tuesday at the Open Classrooms, Parent Information Sessions and P&F BBQ.  Teachers and families alike have commented on what a wonderful evening it was, getting to know one another better and preparing for the year ahead. 

OLSCC Agribusiness Pathways Program

An exciting event happened this week when the newly installed irrigation system in our agricultural space (corner of Russell and Cooper Streets) was started for the first time.  The area is ready for soil preparation and then the beginning of our vegetable planting as part of the new Certificate II of Production Horticulture which is completed in Year 10 Agriculture. Over the coming years we will see this area develop to include the vegetable beds, grape vines and an Indigenous produce/bush tucker garden. It will also include various facilities to support these endeavours.  As this space develops it will be a great space of learning for many subjects across all years levels in the College, as well as creating the opportunities for us to further develop pathways for students that support the global needs of agribusiness and all associated professions. 

Middle Years Plaza Update

The plans for the plaza are still raring and ready to go, however we have been working considerably over the past 6 months with architects, consultants, certifiers and contractors regarding the current compliance of the fire hydrant system.  Unfortunately, the College cannot be supplied with adequate pressure from the town infrastructure to support the required fire safety regulations at the College.  This means we must make some significant upgrades to this system, install additional hydrants, water storage facilities and a booster system in order to progress with any further construction.  This has proved to be a considerable task and comes at great expense, as well as dealing with the various input from key stakeholders.  Next Thursday we will be presented with a variety of solutions so we may continue to progress.  I apologise for the delays in creating this amazing space for our middle years students, though its important that we get these things right for the safety of our people and facilities.

Student Protection Contacts

Sometimes we have concerns about the wellbeing of our students and are not quite sure who to talk to.  While there is always your child’s teacher or the College Leadership Team, we have dedicated, trained staff who are specialists in dealing with those difficult conversations regarding student safety.  Whilst we have plenty of posters around the College highlighting this, every newsletter contains these contacts should you wish to talk to someone, or need your child to talk to someone.  This year, our SPCCs at OLSCC are: Peter Cuskelly, Simone Forbes, Carey Twidale, Andrea Gormley, Luke Holmes.

Have a fantastic fortnight ahead, and I look forward to all the results of the swimming carnival.

Peter Cuskelly

Principal