Monday 12 - Friday 16 June - Year 10 Work experience

Wednesday 21 - Athletics Carnival Prep - U11

Wednesday 21 - Enrolments Round 1 Close

Thurday 22 & Friday 23 - Athletics Carnival U12 - U18

Saturday 24 to Friday 30 - Confraternity QISSN & QISSRL

Monday 10 July - Pupil Free Day (Professional Development for Staff Day)

Monday 10 to Friday 14 July - NAIDOC Week

Friday 21 July - Dalby Careers Expo - Years 10 to 12 Students

The Term 2 calendar of events is now available via the link below. You can print this out and have it at home so you know everything that is happening at our College.

It’s Great to be Back!

On Monday I had the great pleasure of returning to work after 6 weeks of Professional Renewal Leave, walking the Camino in Spain with 2 of my principal colleagues from the Diocese.  While the pilgrimage was an absolutely life changing experience, I have greatly enjoyed being back at work, with the kids, staff and community this week.  Pope Francis talks of “the dignity of work”, and it is certainly something that I was looking forward to returning to.  While I could have made the newsletter a rather lengthy read with my reflection from my journey, I have instead attached it below. I have also included a string of photos from my pilgrimage in case it strikes an interest for you.  I would sincerely like to thank the Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools for providing the opportunity of professional renewal leave for all principals in the diocese.  I cannot imagine ever finding another means for such deep reflection and personal development with Dr Pat providing this opportunity. 

Thank You Ms Collins

Ms Sharon Collins is a superstar.  I had nothing but absolute confidence in her ability to not only maintain the functioning and leadership of the College in my absence, but also enhance it!  She has done a wonderful job in her time at Dalby, as well as providing thought provoking feedback that will assist the College in its future trajectory. The fact that Ms Collins was here for 6 weeks and she has already overtaken me as favourite Principal is of deep concern! Thanks Ms Collins – you are welcome back at OLSCC any time!

Keeping Up To Date

The College Calendar gets remarkably busy around this time of year with a wide array of events affecting all sectors of the College. Please make sure you are keeping up to date with email, FaceBook (both the 'Our Lady of the Southern Cross College' and 'OLSCC Family & Community Engagement – FACE' pages), and of course the newsletter with all the happenings of the College.

Today we hosted an Ecumenical Service in the MPC. This is a wonderful liturgy that includes many local churches and clergy and all parents and community members are very welcome to attend.

There are also some great initiatives happening in FACE at the moment, so please keep your eyes peeled for some exciting news soon!

Since Easter Monday, I have been on a journey.   

A journey by plane, train and bus.   

A journey of reflection, questions without answers, challenges, and new perspectives.  

A journey of one and half million steps across Spain.  

The journey, known as The Way of St James, or the Camino de Frances, has been one of the most challenging experiences of my life – physically, mentally and spiritually. Needless to say, the comradery and collegiality of completing this pilgrimage with two of my peer principals from the Diocese heightened the experience.  

The Way of St James is the pilgrimage to visit the tomb of St James the Greater in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain.  St James the Greater was one of Jesus’s closest apostles and is revered as the first martyr of our Catholic church, executed by King Herrod Agrippa I of Judea in 44 AD before his remains were transported and buried at the current site of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.  There are many ways to complete this pilgrimage, however I chose the most traditional path that begins in St Jean Pied de Port in France, over the Pyrenees Mountains, and then west across various regions to the Cathedral, a total of 820 kilometres.  This pilgrimage has been established since the rediscovery of St James’s burial site in the 9th century, with the first pilgrimage taken by King Alfonso II of Aragon. 

Physically, despite significant preparation before departing, nothing prepared me for the terrain, the rain, the snow, the wind, and the day to day walking long distances in ankle twisting conditions.  While we prepared on hiking trails and roads, much of the rocky path we walked was old roman roads that remained in deteriorated condition after carrying millions of pilgrims before us.  The sheer challenge of ascending a thousand metres, only to descend immediately after, and then go back up again - was beyond exhausting some days. Walking on sharp vertical slate with a river of water flowing down the path over your ankles was another challenge I did not expect.  My nice shiny trail running shoes quickly became accustomed to being wet, muddy, and mistreated on a daily basis. I would like to say that the pain went away after a while, though the reality was that it simply moved around my body from day to day.  Despite all of this, it was the physicality of the experience that made it special.  The exhaustion, fatigue, and knowingness of having to walk thirty plus kilometres in a day even though you were sore and sorry for yourself.  Realising only too late that there is no food available for thirty kilometres and all you have in your bag is a few peanuts and a bottle of water.  Funnily enough, I started the journey thinking this would be the challenge of the pilgrimage. 

Mentally, I enjoyed the challenge of organising, planning, co-ordinating, reading ahead (most days) and simply dragging myself out of bed to conquer the day before me. What challenged me the most was the down time.  The lack of busy-ness.  The space in time when you walk for 8 hours with nothing but the hiking poles in your hands and the sound of your footsteps.  Usually, I fill the gaps in my days with work, family, food, chores and fun, but on this pilgrimage in a foreign land with foreign customs and foreign language, I had more time in my own head than I have had in twenty years.  This made me take the time to consider all aspects of my life, from my family, to my attitudes, my friendships, my work, where I dedicate my time and energy, and what I want to be when I grow up. I would love to share here that I had an amazing apparition and fixed all my problems, answered all my questions and addressed all my deficits, though I have a long way to go before I find the answers that I am seeking. 

Spiritually, my faith did not strengthen so much, rather I saw my faith and my religion from a whole new perspective.  I enjoyed 40 days and nights where faith, story, history, relics, texts and belief were constantly surrounding everything I did and everywhere I went.  Tiny towns hosted multiple grand churches, each with multiple altars, all exquisitely crafted and decorated many centuries ago.  Monasteries, seminaries, and convents were significant, magnificent, and still active in many communities, while those no longer active were utilised for pilgrims.  Buildings, intersections, roads, houses, and driveways were adorned with Catholic symbolism.  There was no misunderstanding that Catholicism is prevalent throughout Northern Spain, and the prevalence of the church is maintained to this day.  I have never felt so secure and welcomed in my faith as what I have been in the past 7 weeks. Hundreds of churches in which to sit, pray, light a candle, contemplate, reflect, and challenge my way of being.  From the grand cathedrals of Leon, Astorga, Burgos, Santiago, and Pamplona to the humble tumbling structures of San Anton, Rabanal and O’Cebreiro.  From mass with 4 Bishops, to Gregorian chanting of 2 monks, to the sound of discovery of non-religious pilgrims chatting about their own spirituality.  I felt somewhat of a Thomas in reflection as my faith shifted to a different perspective when I was able to see, touch and feel the relics from times that have been unreachable to me in the past. Relics of saints, texts well over a thousand years old, golden crosses, and Catholic Museums housing artefacts since the time of Jesus, had me engrossed at every opportunity.  I only wish I had the time, and fluent Spanish, so I could immerse myself further in the history and theology that surrounds this special part of the world.   

So, what did I learn from my pilgrimage on the Camino for 40 days and 40 nights?   

I learned that: 

• I function better as part of my family than by myself 
• I know far less about myself than I know about other things 
• Thinking is harder than walking 
• A pilgrimage is only the very tip of the iceberg, and it's what you do after the pilgrimage that makes a difference 
• I am blessed to be raised in faith – I witnessed many lost souls on my journey that did not realise there was something greater than themselves 
• Everyone travels their own way depending on who they are and what they can do, and no-one should judge anyone else’s pathway or compare it to their own 
• When you think you have it tough, look up.  In front of you there are many people who have life far more difficult than you could ever imagine 

Walking the Camino with two fellow principals from our diocese was a life changing experience.  It has reset my perspective on life and has challenged me in many ways.  While I initially thought that a pilgrimage was a journey from one place to another, I now understand that a pilgrimage is something that guides and inspires you and has no designated endpoint.  It was an absolute privilege to engage in this amazing journey and see, feel, hear, touch and taste so much of what the Camino provides pilgrims.  Please enjoy the photos attached in this newsletter, and please feel free to stop me if you have any questions about the experience! 

Here we are already in Week 7 of the term.  It has been a wonderful six weeks with Sharon Collins, as our Acting Principal, and we are also excited to welcome Pete back this week.  Our classes are nearly complete their current summative assessment and many have already commenced their new units of work.  Our teachers now have the mammoth task of marking all assessment and preparing our end of semester reports.  Semester 1 Report Cards will be release in the last week of this term via Sentral for Parents and in hard copy. 

 Listening Forum Form for Parents – Strategic Planning  

Reminder that the opportunity for feedback into our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan is open until this Sunday 4 June at 5:00pm.  As mentioned in the email sent home to all families on 24/05, we value your input and feedback in this important process which sets our path for the future direction of our College.  

An important part of developing our next Strategic Plan 2024-2027, is consultation with all our stakeholders. Over the past 6 weeks, Sharon Collins, Acting Principal, has been working with staff and students regarding the future vision of our College, our aspirations, our strengths, and areas for improvement and growth. As part of this collaborative process, we would like to give all parents of the College an opportunity to contribute their thoughts in the development of this plan. As we value your time, we would ask you to complete the form linked below and answer four simple questions with your thoughts. These responses will then be collated and used with staff and student voices when considering the future priorities of our College. This 'voice of our community' is a valuable component to developing our Strategic Plan alongside educational trends, and the needs of our Learners and our College. This is to ensure we develop the most relevant and responsive plan to carry us through the next four years.  Strategic Planning Parent Listening Forum Form 

 Assistance Needed @ St Joseph’s 

St Joseph’s Catholic Parish relies on volunteers to ensure our Parish runs smoothly.  The July to December Roster is currently being prepared.  If you would like to help, we encourage you to contact the Parish office  dalbyparish@twb.catholic.edu.au to express your interest.  

A commitment to this roster is both a great way to help out and support our parish but also to achieve your own goals for Leadership Passport esp. public speaking element. 

Roles to assist at Mass: 

Running the sound desk and powerpoint – training available (usually once a month) 

Reading Scripture reading (usually once a month) 

Reading Prayers of Intercession (usually once a month) 

Welcomer – greeting others at the doors and handing out newsletter before mass (usually once a month) 

 Ignite Conference 23 

Ignite Conference, is for everyone, from leaders to first time believers.  This is the Church gathered and alive on Mission.  This is God’s people united with one heart. 

Brisbane 21-24 September 2023 – St Laurence’s College South Brisbane 

For more information: www.igniteconference.com.au 

Each year National Reconciliation Week celebrates, builds and strengthens respectful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians. It is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. As Catholic Christians who have reconciliation at the very heart of our faith, this week provides us with the perfect opportunity to put action to our beliefs.  

The theme for this National Reconciliation Week, Be a Voice for Generations, encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work, pray and socialise. It urges us to use our power, our words and our actions to create a better, more just Australia for all of us. 

Reconciliation Prayer 

Holy Father, God of Love, 

You are the Creator of all things. 

We acknowledge the pain and shame of our history 

and the sufferings of Our peoples, and we ask your forgiveness. 

We thank you for the survival of Indigenous cultures  

Our hope is in you because you gave your Son Jesus to reconcile the world to you. 

We pray for your strength and grace to forgive, accept and love one another, as you love us and forgive and accept us in the sacrifice of your Son. 

Give us the courage to accept the realities of our history so that we may build a better 

future for our Nation. 

Teach us to respect all cultures. Teach us to care for our land and waters. 

Help us to share justly the resources of this land. Help us to bring about spiritual and social change to improve the quality of life for all groups in our communities, especially the disadvantaged. 

Help young people to find true dignity and self-esteem by your Spirit. 

May your power and love be the foundations on which we build our families, our communities and our Nation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen 

(Wontulp Bi-Buya Indigenous Theology Working Group 13 March 1997 Brisbane, Qld). 

YEAR 12 FORMAL

I would like to congratulate the Year 12 group, families, and staff on what was a wonderful evening last Friday night. The year 12 Formal was filled with laughter, and joy, as we celebrated the wonderful group of Year 12 students, we have here at OLSCC. Their dedication, resilience, and passion shone brightly and will continue throughout their final year of high school.

ASSESSMENT AND THE USE OF AI

As assessment is being handed in we are identifying that students are engaging with the use of AI to generate their responses. 

When using AI in writing a student's response, it is crucial to ensure that the student's work is their own and that the AI tool is used as a support mechanism rather than a replacement for their effort and understanding. The use of AI should be transparent, and students should be aware that AI is assisting in generating the response. Teachers are unable to mark work generated by AI and submitted as a students own work.

It is important to consult the guidelines and policies provided by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA), to stay updated on any specific rules or recommendations regarding the use of AI in student assessments. These guidelines outline the acceptable ways in which AI can be used, the level of human involvement required, and the expectations for student engagement and originality in their work.

MOVING FORWARD WITH SUCCESS

As students continue to march forward in 2023 and grow as great young individuals it is clear they we all need to be aware and supportive as pressure build during assessment time.

 The below article from one of the presenters who work with our College is extremely thought provoking as we support our students in their success.

7 mental hygiene tools students need to take into 2023

By  Glen Gerreyn

Give your mindset a refresh and check your thought patterns as we head into what can still be a productive and exciting year.

      1. Take a Word

What overarching theme do you want to create for 2023? What north star can you throw out and anchor to when the winds get rough? This ‘word’ will help ground you and bring you back into alignment with your overarching goals. It will help guide your behaviour, projects, intentions and patterns of thinking. 

When you choose your word, decide to embody it. Let it become alive in your heart and mind. Say the word out loud three times when you wake up and at night before you go to bed. Examples of good words are Awe, Bloom, Bounce, Calm, Focus, Intention or Trust. Frame this year around this word and let it take on a life of itself. 

2. Generate a narrative traction

Narrative tractions can best be described as creating interest in your own story.  The best way to do this is by focusing on a project for this year that uniquely needs you. As humans, we love stories. They stir emotion and help us connect. They also have the power to influence our thinking, attitudes and behaviour. In 2023, be the hero in your own story and paint it with a gorgeous setting, deep conflict and epic conquest. It might be starting a business, writing a book, learning a new skill, being a more supportive member of your family or helping an organisation you believe in. Life is so difficult; it is vital to stay connected to the heroic part of our being. We have sources of our strength upon which we can draw. 

Deepak Chopra recently posted this on his Instagram, “Once I realised that Deepak Chopra was a fictional character, I stopped taking him seriously.” 

When I first saw this post, I thought someone was joking around, then I realised how deep this comment is. We are all in some way fictional characters created by our own thoughts, feelings and environment and influences of other people. 

American sociologist Charles Cooley said, “I am not who you think I am; I am not who I think I am; I am who I think you think I am”. This statement helps us understand the complex nature of our identity and just how easily it can be influenced. If we are all fictional characters, why not write your own hero’s journey and make the choice to believe in you, even if nobody else does. 

3. Defragment your mental software

Back in the day, we had to take the time to defragment our computer. This involved a manual process where you consolidated all the data on the disk so it worked more effectively. Without this process, the computer would be slow, overwhelmed, run down and constantly throwing us spinning pinwheels/hourglasses of death. If you have ever felt overwhelmed or stressed for seemingly no reason, it might be because you have not pulled the plug and allowed your mental software time to consolidate and ventilate all of its inputs. 

One of the best ways to defragment is to allow yourself to get bored. Boredom is the foundation for creativity; the pause is where ideas come to us. Being truly bored will allow you to see things in a different way. Docilely scrolling does not allow time for our mind to connect all the information consumed; it can leave us run down and frazzled.

Set a time in your diary at least an hour a day to be absent from all things digital and nature bathe. Your soul will thank you. 

4. Embrace the Fear and live with Courage

Courage is not the absence of fear; Courage is fear walking.  Susan David

Before covid, there were other diseases you could die from. We live in a dangerous world, but the only way to live is to not focus on the danger but to look towards the opportunity and the promise this life has to offer. Fear is inadequacy being translated into emotion. This is why knowing we are ‘enough’ is such a powerful tool. 

When you live in fear, you feel fear and when you live with courage you feel fear. The reality is there is no getting around feeling afraid. When we allow fear to run our decisions and emotions, our mind fills in the blanks of the future with anxiety for things that have not happened, leaving us paralysed. 

Comfort zones are hiding places. We cannot allow fear to navigate our thoughts or behaviours. The main problem with fear is it causes us to forget who we are and our past victories. Remember those times where you have persisted and overcome in the face of fear and let those mindsets guide your choices. 

Let courage be the dominant narrative in your life and you will see yourself rise to new levels of performance. We need faith over fear, not denial but the undeniable belief that in the end we will prevail.

5. Get big on recovery 

Lebron James spends a million dollars a year on recovery at 37 years of age. After 18 seasons as a basketballer, he is looking forward to staying in the game long enough to play in the NBA with his son. To have a career as long as he has, you have to get serious about recovery. 

His recovery routine includes a personal cryochamber, elite physiotherapists, high performance compression gear, nutritionists, electrostimulation machines, yoga and Pilates and meditation classes. 

Most of us don’t have a spare million we can dedicate to recovery! But we can all spend 20 minutes a day stretching and working on our flexibility. The key to long term agility is flexibility, both mentally and physically. Spend a little time every day this year in recovery, from eating a nutritious meal to engaging in a two-minute meditation. Look after yourself for the long haul. 

6. Avoid decision fatigue 

One of the reasons we are so tired after a good night’s sleep is because as soon as we wake, our fingers and eyes passively lurk through the contents of our phone. We don’t realise we are constantly making decisions about whether we should, like this post, comment on that photo, delete that email, file that article, respond to that text, snap back that friend or leave them open, accept that follow request etc. etc. These endless decisions drain our cognitive tank and disrupt our ability to make good decisions. 

One way to alleviate decision fatigue is to establish routines. There is a reason why Steve Jobs wore almost every day a black turtleneck, blue jeans and new balance sneakers. For Barack Obama it was either a blue suit or a grey suit and for Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook it’s the same grey tee every day. Carrie Donovan, the fashion editor for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, was famous for only wearing large eyeglasses, black clothing and pearls. 

I personally have eaten the same breakfast for over 40 years. I like my mind clear in the morning. I don’t want to spend time mulling over what I will eat. I have seen people wander aimlessly throughout the kitchen, contemplating what they will eat in the morning. It drives me nuts. Establish as many habits as possible. Keep your decision-making muscle robust for the important choices and automate the trivial. 

Try staying off your phone for the first hour you wake, and you will find your imagination comes alive with fresh ideas and visions for your future. 

7. Seek transcendence 

Pursue experiences that fill you with awe and wonder. Experiences that make you feel like you have risen above the humdrum of the everyday world and felt a higher reality, climb a mountain, see a sunrise, help those in need for support, befriend the lonely. 

For some of us, covid has beaten away the wonder and awe. We’ve become jaded, sceptical or even cynical about everything. Life has lost its colour. When we lose our sense of excitement we also lose our sense of gratitude and humility because we’re trapped in the banal of life. 

We get enmeshed in the “this person gave me a weird look today” or “they didn’t return my text” or “why didn’t anyone like my post”. While we are worried about all these tedious thoughts, galaxies the size of our Milky Way are tumbling into the unknown faster than the speed of light! For real… click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cadNZJvfl7s.

Our whole existence is awesome, absurd, miraculous and mind-numbing all at the same time. Instead of seeking out the wonder, we fuss about calls from unknown numbers or long queues or “we missed you” cards for failed parcel deliveries. Do you really want to spend your life down in the mundane?

You can walk around with your head held low, complaining about first world problems or you can walk through this life full of awe and wonder at your own amazing existence. 

A final thought that will set you on a better path for 2023: Don’t allow the news to dampen your enthusiasm for life. There is still so much longing to be experienced. 

By Katie Stenzel and Hayden Taylor

Last week was definitely one to remember. From a successful game of Rugby League School Boy Footy against our biggest rivals, Dalby State High School, to ending the week on a high at our Year 12 Formal. Formal was not only a hot topic in Senior Years for the past few weeks, but ever since starting our schooling journey, it has always been a day we have looked forward to, and it did not disappoint. In a night of many highlights, the one that stood out to us the most was the Kahoot game of Guess Who with baby photos of, not only our Year 12 cohort, but also those who made it happen, the College staff. On behalf of the Year 12 cohort, we would like to thank everyone who was involved in planning, and ensuring the night ran smoothly, especially Mrs Forbes, Miss McKenzie and our lovely announcers, Mr Fraser and Miss Willocks, as well as all those behind the scenes.

The school Confraternity teams for both Netball and Rugby League are well underway in their preparation for the carnival which kicks off in Brisbane in the first week of the school holidays. Each training session and trial game builds more and more excitement towards the week-long carnival. The open Rugby League team had a busy week playing two games over the span of three action packed days, coming out undefeated for the GIO Cup. Finals kick off the first week of Term 3.

This is a year of many lasts for our Year 12 cohort. On Wednesday, another last was added to the ever-growing list. The 1500m race gave us a taste of our last ever athletics carnival. As we have come to expect from not only our year, but also the College community, the encouragement and participation levels were high. As a College community we are counting down the days until our Athletics Carnival which is just around the corner in Week 10.

Leadership Passport

I am pleased to report that since the launch of the Leadership Passports at the beginning of this term, 34 students ranging from Year 5 to Year 11 have volunteered to begin their personal journey in leadership development. 28 of the 34 students are also from the Middle Years which is excellent!

These students now have a series of challenges they need to complete in order to develop a very specific set of leadership skills. Level 1 students must complete all of the following in order to Level Up, moving to Level 2 of their development:

Some of the Middle Years students are nearing the completion of their Level 1 booklets having completed tasks like:

• Assisting the Year 12 students serve at the Big Breaky on Mondays
• Participating in the College Musical – The Little Mermaid
• Attending key events such as Opening College Mass, Swimming Carnival, Cross Country, the Easter Liturgy, ANZAC Day march and their House Icon days.

If you child is interested in beginning their journey in leadership development, please have them contact me for a discussion and distribution of the Leadership Passport. All students are welcome.  

Attendance Matters

Every missed school day is a lost learning opportunity. It goes without saying, that non-attendance is also associated with a variety of poorer outcomes for students, both academically and socially.

The table below highlights the effects of absenteeism on students’ academic, socioeconomic, and health outcomes according to an Australian study (Hancock et al 2018).

 A New South Wales study, Tell Them From Me, which involved student feedback as part of the study, included a measure of truancy that indicated the extend to which students report about skipping classes, missing days at school, or arrive late for school or classes. A longitudinal analysis of the published data examined the impact of the students self-reported truancy in Year 7 on their NAPLAN achievement in Year 9.

Students of equal socio-economic status were matched and examined for prior academic performance. The study determined that the students who did not miss lessons in Year 7, on average, were 3 months ahead in their learning by Year 9.  

During the middle months of the year, it is not unusual to have a higher rate of absenteeism in the Middle Years. This is usually attributed to illness, and we can certainly see a higher rate of sick students staying home again right now. It is important to note though, how quickly minor non-attendance can add up and being to negatively impact a student’s schooling.

For instance, missing a single day per fortnight equates to 4 weeks across the school year. A whole month of schooling. At the completion of a student’s educational journey, this rate would equate to an entire school year missed. That is a lot of learning missed.

In 2022, the College introduced the Eligibility Criteria for Extra-Curricular events to help curb some problematic absenteeism and to reward those that demonstrate a continued commitment to the College and their learning. Criteria 1 specifically focuses on a student’s attendance rate and sets a minimum standard of 85%. That is, the student must have an attendance rate greater than 85% to be considered eligible for an extra-curricular activity. We understand that students will need to miss school days from time to time. Poor health is the primary reason for this but often there are some other family related matters that also result in a missed day here and there. However, Criteria 1 attempts to target the days  students take off when they simply don’t feel like it or would like to have a long week other than those generated by public holidays and pupil free days. These are the days that, like it or not, we need to the students to dig deep, demonstrate the Learning Dispositions, and get themselves to school so they do not negatively impact their learning. This is also and important life skill they need to develop. Good habits around school attendance will equate to good habits around work and employment in the future.   

Attendance really does matter and everyday counts.

Vaping - Unveil what you Inhale

In the news recently have been numerous articles relating to vaping and the trends of school age students engaging in this dangerous practice across Australia. Often, those involved make ill-informed statements like its not harmful or its better that smoking real cigarettes. These statements are not only inaccurate, they are dangerous in that they not only normalise the behaviour but significantly downplay the real risks associated with this practice. I have previously shared this document with families from our school, and with the recent new reports resurfacing, I thought it was time to once more share information pertaining to the real risks behind vaping.

In their Innovation and Design unit, Year 8 Design Technology students recently completed their ‘Resin Revolution’ project to create a product that incorporated resin to meet a user’s need. Students all made a coaster before embarking on their independent projects where we had a great variety of designs based on student interests. To conclude the unit, we’ll get creative making resin bookmarks, pop sockets and magnets.

Leah Parker

Each fortnight at Early Years assembly, we reflect on the learning dispositions and highlight one in particular to focus on. This fortnight, we are focusing on remaining motivated, particularly when we are feeling bogged down, or when we find something challenging. Justin Coulsen, author of the “Happy Families” website that all OLSCC families have access to, has some excellent insights into the importance of embracing challenge, just as we encourage OLSCC children to do using the analogy of the Learning Pit. He has identified that growth occurs when our children are actively in a learning zone, where they need to stretch themselves beyond their current abilities. Of course, this type of challenge feels ‘hard’ and often uncomfortable, and it can take a little extra motivation to remain engaged with the learning rather than avoiding it or finding something else – anything else! -  to do. As Justin Coulsen writes:

Struggle is temporary

It’s important to help our children recognise that the feeling of struggle and discomfort that comes with being in their Learning Zone is temporary. It passes. Many children believe if they are struggling now, then the next step in learning will involve even more struggle. They believe that the further they go, the more uncomfortable they’ll feel. So naturally, they turn away from further struggle.

The reality is that effort is the currency of growth, and struggle is the price we pay for that growth. The reward is that what we experienced as hard today, becomes easy tomorrow. It doesn’t get harder and harder and harder. It’s hard, then it’s easy. Then they move on, and the next step is also hard, until they make that easy. Being in the Learning Zone, and experiencing the struggle that comes with it, is not only a normal part of learning, but also an essential part of growth.

Parenting for more skilful learners

As parents we have an important role in helping our children become more skilful learners. This begins by helping them develop a healthy relationship with challenge. By teaching them that effort is the cost of growth, and normalising the struggle that comes from being in their Learning Zone, we help them become “comfortably uncomfortable” with challenge, and put them on a path of continuous growth.

Here at OLSCC, we embed this notion into our classrooms every day, using the Learning Pit to guide our students. The language of challenge and ‘the pit’ is now commonplace both inside and outside of classrooms, however this does not mean we can rest easy. We know that embracing challenge and being ‘comfortably uncomfortable’ is a life long learning, and one that we as adults, both parents and teachers, need to continually support our students with.

Take some time to ask your child how they are going with staying motivated this week! I know I asked some of our Early Years students this very question, and they gave me some insightful responses…..

What keeps you motivated?

Matty Broadbent Year 3 -  knowing I’m learning a lot. If you do hard assessments then after a while they become easy assessments!

Lily Martin Yr 4  - when something gets hard I stay motivated by thinking of things that make me happy, like my family and friends and then after the hard is done, I feel really good about myself because I stayed motivated. 

Mrs Katrina Walton

Assistant Principal Early Years

This group meets regularly on Thursdays at lunchtime. Students have been building skills to create and communicate different ways of responding to problem solving challenges. Our end goal is to participate in the Optiminds Challenge in Term 3. Students from Years 3-8 are welcome to bring their lunch along to room Blue 6 to join in each Thursday this term.

Katrina Walton

Getting prepared for Year 10 Work Experience

During the week commencing June 12 (Week 9), the year 10 cohort will be attending a week of work experience in Dalby and the surrounding community. In week 7 and 8, during year level connect class, the Careers Team will be preparing the year 10’s on the expectations of the College and community whilst they attend work experience. As parents/carers, it is encouraged that you discuss with your child/children of what is expected of them while they attend their workplace during this week. It is an exciting time for these students, and I am certain that they will gain valuable insights into the world of work. These are the first steps in the the journey towards shaping and planning their own careers post high school education.

On the Monday and Tuesday of week 9, Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office and QTAC are holding online seminars for parents/carers and students in year 10 and 12. These seminars are intended to inform families and students on the QTAC process when applying for future university places and subjects. Please see below for details of these online seminars.

QTAC Year 10 and 12 - Parent and Student

QTAC and Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office are holding online information sessions for year 10 and 12 students and parents via Microsoft Teams.

We encourage students and families to watch these online (via Microsoft Teams) information sessions provided by QTAC in regarding to QTAC application process, ATAR and responding to offers and how students order their course preferences.

Year 12 Monday 12 June 6pm-6.45pm

Yr 12 QTAC Information Evening - Join online

Year 10 Tuesday 13 June 6.00pm-6.45pm

Yr 10 QTAC Information Evening - Join online

Important Dates: Up and Coming Events – Save the Date

• Wednesday 31 May – year 10 to 12 students interested in construction, tour of the refurbished Dalby Police Precinct, hosted by McNab Builders, 1pm to 3pm.
• Monday 12 June – Friday 17 June – Year 10 Work Experience
• Monday 12 June Yr 12 QTAC Information Evening - Join online
• Tuesday 13 June Yr 10 QTAC Information Evening - Join online
• Friday 21 July 2023 Dalby Careers Expo

UNIVERSITY OPEN DAYS 2023

QUT Open Day

Gardens Point & Kelvin Grove Campuses     
Sunday 30 July 2023                                                9am-3pm                   

2023 QUT Open Day

University of the Sunshine Coast Australia

Sunshine Coast Campus     
Sunday 16 July 2023                                               9am – 2pm

Moreton Bay Campus                
Sunday 23 July 2023                                               9am – 2pm

USC Open Day 2023

UQ Open Day 2023

St Lucia Campus                                          
Sunday 6 August                                                    9am – 3pm

Gatton Campus                                 
TBC

2023 UQ Open Day

UniSQ Open Days

Springfield & Ipswich Campus          
Sunday 13 August 2023

Toowoomba Campus                        
Sunday 20 August 2023

2023 UniSQ Open Days

JCU Virtual Open Day

Tuesday 12 September 2023                                 3pm – 7 pm Register online

2023 JCU Virtual Open Day

Southern Cross University

Gold Coast                                         
6 August 2023

Southern Cross University Open Day

Apprenticeship Opportunities

Golden West are offering an apprenticeship in Cabinet making in Dalby please see the link Golden West Apprenticeships - Current School-based Opportunities (mailchi.mp)

Plumbing – A local plumbing business is offering an SBA in plumbing for a student who is interested in this rewarding trade and career. Driver’s licences in preferred. Please see Mr. Garside for further details.

Refrigeration Mechanic – opportunity for a year 11 student to apply for a local SBA in the electrical trades as a refrigeration mechanic with a local business. Please see Mr. Garside for further details.

Work Experience Opportunities

Ergon Energy and Energex are offering work experience opportunities for current year 10, 11 and 12 students to attend work experience this year in the areas of electrician, communication technician, linesperson, underground cable joiner, or diesel fitting (Cairns only). If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please contact Ergon at workexperience@energyq.com.au

Mr Dean Garside

Career Development Practitioner

Darling Downs Cross Country

Congratulations to all students who competed at the Darling Downs Cross Country in very cold and wet conditions in Toowoomba. Race Results are listed below.

Under 15 Boys – Jack Gibson 18^th

Under 13 Girls – Molly Gibson 24^th, Lucinda Conn 30^th

Under 12 Girls – Charlotte Colquhoun 29^th

Under 11 Boys – Benjamin Barwick 30^th, Cody Hart 42^nd

Under 10 Girls – Lucy Scott 37^th

Under 10 Boys – Charlie Sullivan 22^nd, Ace Utz 23^rd

QLD Schools Cup Volleyball

Congratulations to all girls who competed at the QLD Intermediate Schools Cup Competition on the Gold Coast. It was a very disrupted carnival for the girls with players coming and going over the weekend due to the College Formal and other commitments. Finishing in 5^th Place out of 75 Year 10 Teams across all divisions was a fair effort. In the Honours Divisions which our girls competed in – they were up against schools with over 3000 students. A huge thanks to Mrs Lisa Lincoln for coaching the team and to the parents who supported the team throughout the weekend.

Results

Finished 3^rd in Pool A

Win vs QASMT                          3-0

Loss to Craigslea SHS               0-3 (Won the Bronze Medal)

Loss to Stretton SSC                 0-3

Finals Games

3^rd in Pool A vs 2^nd in Pool B

Loss to Caloundra SHS              0-3 (Won the Gold Medal)

Win vs Rochedale SHS              2-0

5^th Place Playoff

Win vs The Gap SHS                 2-1

Rugby League

Darling Downs Competition Results

Under 18

OLSCC defeated Dalby SHS                  42-0

OLSCC defeated St Joseph’s College     42-0

Under 13

OLSCC defeated St Joseph’s College     46-4

Upcoming Games

Under 13

Wednesday 7 June

OLSCC vs Dalby SHS 4pm at the Dalby Leagues Club

Wednesday 14 June

OLSCC vs Faith Lutheran College 4pm at Brothers Toowoomba

Wednesday 21 June

OLSCC vs Wilsonton SHS 4pm at the Dalby Leagues Club

Touch Football

Any Under 15 Boys who wish to play for the College at the All-Schools Carnivals next term need to see Miss McDuff or Mr Lincoln. Trials will be held (if required) later this term.

State Championships

Rory McCutchen, Emma Cusack and Lucy Cusack last week attended the State Squash Championships in Rockhampton. Carla Nobbs attended the State Under 16 Rugby Sevens Championships in Hervey Bay. Carla was awarded Player of the Match in the final game of the carnival against Capricornia.

Athletics Carnival

1500m Race Results

Under 10 and Under 11 students who qualified to attend the Bunya District Trials:

Ace Utz, Charles Sullivan, Harriet Manley, Paityn Darr, Benjamin Barwick, Archie Stephens, Isabelle Manley and Bella Cusack.

Age Group Winners

Under 12 – Khoen Darr & Charlotte Colquhoun

Under 13 – Jasper Filewood & Molly Gibson

Under 14 – Lachlan Fraser & Chelsey Cave

Under 15 – Jack Gibson & Carla Nobbs

Under 16 – Tobin Smart & Taylor Marshall

Open – Brock Sankey & Abby Marshall

Record Breaker

Under 13 Boys

Jasper Filewood (5.11.80) Thomas Knox (1985) and Will Herbert (2018) with 5.17.00

Points

Rice                  186

MacKillop          135

Nolan                95

McAuley           74        

QCIS Netball

Congratulations to the Junior and Senior Netball Teams who competed at the Inaugural QICS Carnival at Downlands College. Both teams had successful days with the Junior Team finishing Runners Up and the Senior Team winning a tight final 10-9. Game results are listed below. Both teams will now attend the Vicki Wilson Cup Carnival on Friday. Thanks to Miss Price, Miss Fry and Mrs Bennie for their efforts in preparing our teams for these competitions.

Juniors

Win vs Concordia College                       18-2

Win vs Scots Warwick                            19-3

Draw with Toowoomba Anglican             12-12

Loss to Downlands College                     8-14

Final

Loss to Downlands College                     7-18

Seniors

Loss to Downlands College 2                  8-11

Win vs Scots Warwick                            16-11

Win vs Downlands College 1                   16-12

Win vs Toowoomba Anglican                  15-4

Final

Win vs Downlands College 2                   10-9

Mr Tim Lincoln

Middle Leader Sport

Culture Extra-Curricular Program

Last week we celebrated some of the amazing learning in our CECP through our Semester 1 concert. This is always a great night and the students are always fantastic. This one was my favourite so far as we got to see some of the great progress our students have made.

We still have some spaces in the violin and piano sections of our program so if your student is interested please contact Miss Creeley via email (tamara.creeley@twb.catholic.edu.au).

Many of our students are currently preparing for the Vocal & Choral and Piano Eisteddfod which takes place during Week 9 from Saturday 10 June to Wednesday 14 June. Make sure you keep an eye out for communication from your student’s tutor about when they are performing.

Speech and Drama Eisteddfod

Next term we have the Speech and Drama Eisteddfod in August. Students will receive an email very soon where they can express interest for participating. Keep an eye out!

If your student was absent on immunisation day, please see the attached information to attend catch up clinic's. 

If you would like further information please contact, Sandy Brookes at the College Office (07) 4672 4111, alternatively sandra.brookes@twb.catholic.edu.au