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Friday 15 September - Grandparents Day Whole College
Saturday 16 September - Saints Race Day
Saturday 16 September to 2 October - Holidays
The Term 3 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.
Catholic Education Week
We started Catholic Education Week with a wonderful mass on Monday afternoon, proudly presided by our Parish and College Priest, Father Jim Cronin. It is always a special time when we celebrate the Eucharist together here at OLSCC, and Monday was no exception. This Catholic Education Week we are called to be “Communities of Faith, Hope and Love”, and gathering for Eucharist is a key experience and expression of our faith. We are very blessed to all be a part of the Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools and share a common worldview of hope for the future.
We also valued the long service of many of our staff of our College, especially those who were presented with the following awards:
- 20 years’ service:
- Miss Katherine Black
- Mr Steve Gillespie
- Mr Rodney Spain
- Mrs Geraldine Priebbenow
- Mr Tim Lincoln
- 40 years’ service
- Mrs Maureen Cesari
TCS Excellence Awards
OLSCC was strongly represented at the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Excellence Awards. We have 6 staff members shortlisted for awards:
- Excellence in Teaching & Learning
- Early Career Teacher – Lucy Price
- Early Career Teacher – Tamara Creeley
- eLearning – Rod Spain & Tyron Fraser as part of the Hybrid Learning Program Team
- Excellence in Education Support
- Administration, Finance & Facilities Support – Anthony Pope
- Teaching & Learning Support – Donna Nothdurft
Shaping Our Future
With only two weeks left to share your views and shape our future, we encourage all our parents to complete the Shaping our future – Toowoomba Catholic Schools perception survey.
Parents, staff and students from our other 30 schools and the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office are being called on to complete this survey to shape the ideas, innovations and quality of Toowoomba Catholic Schools.
If you are yet to share your thoughts, please check your email for the link, sent around the 17 July, and complete the 15-minute survey. The survey closes on Sunday 6 August.
Winter Uniform Standard
As the bleakness of winter brings its cold challenges to every household, I would like to remind the community regarding the value of the uniform standard at OLSCC. The application of the uniform is intended to unify the student population, as well as remove any barriers of judgement. This is why Blessed Edmund Rice first introduced uniforms in his schools many years ago. From next week we will be having a greater focus on the wearing of the College uniform. I ask all parents to support the College, most particularly through the following:
- Ensure your child has the correct uniform and all items are labelled.
- Check daily that your child is wearing the correct uniform, and is wearing it appropriately. Especially check the following:
- Formal uniform and sport uniform on the correct day
- Correct shoes and belt
- Correct uniform / jumper combination (new jacket or red jumper with formal)
- Earrings / lashes / nails
From next week students in incorrect uniform will be required to rectify immediately or wait at the office until a parent is able to bring correct items of uniform to the College.
Mr Peter Cuskelly
Principal
Catholic Education Week is such a special time in the year as we celebrate all the wonderful things that are highlighted as a Catholic College.
Catholic Education Week events in our College
We began our week in prayer with our College Mass with Fr Jim. The theme of the week is ‘Communities of Faith, Hope and Love’. To begin the mass students brought forward branches to create a tree, these branches were filled with the names and hopes of all in our College community, including staff and students. This tree will be on display in the foyer for the next few weeks.
On Wednesday to say thanks to our staff for their dedication to our College, our senior students cooked them a delicious breakfast. The BBQ bacon and eggs was amazing and the coffee from the café was a great start to the day. It was lovely to slow down as a staff and just take time to have a meal together. The rich conversations amongst staff reflected for me how blessed I am to have such dedicated and caring colleagues.
Today our Year 11 students led short retreats with our Prep – Year 4 students. The Year 11 students have been working on these since last term and today they get to put their preparation into action. There are four phases to a retreat
Part 1 - Gather includes Icebreaker & Theme focus
Part 2 - Story
Part 3 - Activity and Response
Part 4 - Ritual and Sending Forth
Altogether these four parts give participants the opportunity to listen to others, learn from others, reflect and pray. It is the aim through this experience that all involved, participants and leaders learn from each other and have fun together.
Tomorrow we round out Catholic Education Week with a School Free day for students whilst all of our staff gather together in Toowoomba for Bishop’s Inservice Day. On Bishop’s Inservice Day our staff gather with all other Toowoomba and regional schools from our Diocese for a day of fellowship and professional learning. This is the only time in the school year where we get to gather as a full staff with all other diocesan schools in the proximity of Toowoomba, it is a great time to reconnect with past staff and meet new people. We are looking forward to hearing from our new Bishop, Ken Howell this year.
GRANDPARENTS DAY
Don’t forget to let your grandparents know that our annual Grandparent’s Day has been expanded for 2023 and will encompass all year levels from Prep to Year 12. It will be a big morning at the College on Friday 15 September.
NAPLAN reports
The College has received students NAPLAN reports for students in Year 3, 5, 7, 9. These reports will be distributed via students next week. NAPLAN reports will be accompanied by information regarding the new proficiency standards and how to read and under these reports.
Some important points to remember when looking at NAPLAN results:
- The tests complement school assessments of literacy and numeracy.
- The student report in conjunction with other forms of assessment contributes to a balanced view of student achievement.
- The paper tests contain questions of varying difficulty to cover a broad range of student abilities. Because of this, there are some questions that most students answered correctly, and some that only a few students answered correctly.
- The online tests for Reading, Conventions of language and Numeracy use tailored testing. For more information on tailored testing, see the nap.edu.au website.
- NAPLAN tests are written with reference to the content descriptors for Australian Curriculum: English and Australian Curriculum: Mathematics (www.australiancurriculum.edu.au).
- Only some aspects of literacy (Grammar and punctuation, Writing and Reading) and numeracy (Number and Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, and Statistics and Probability) are assessed.
- A student’s writing result is based on first-draft writing.
- The information about each student’s performances is confidential and is known only to the student themselves, and their parents/carers, the teacher and the school.
- The student’s performances may be compared with ACARA’s national minimum standard for that cohort.
- Information for parents/carers on interpreting their child’s report is available on the nap.edu.au website.
New proficiency standards in NAPLAN
From 2023, new standards were introduced to NAPLAN reporting. This reporting replaces the previous numerical NAPLAN reporting bands and national minimum standards. Education ministers agreed 2023 was the right time to introduce this change alongside moving NAPLAN to March. Proficiency standards provide clear information on student achievement. They are set at a challenging but reasonable level expected for the child at the time of NAPLAN testing, based mainly on what has been taught in previous years of schooling.
There are 4 proficiency levels:
- Exceeding: The student’s result exceeds expectations at the time of testing.
- Strong: The student’s result meets challenging but reasonable expectations at the time of testing.
- Developing: The student’s result indicates that they are working towards expectations at the time of testing.
- Needs additional support: The student’s result indicates that they are not achieving the learning outcomes expected at the time of testing. They are likely to need additional support to progress satisfactorily.
What NAPLAN assesses has not changed. Page 4 of the individual student report provides a more detailed summary about what students know and can do within each of the proficiency levels. Further information is available at www.nap.edu.au.
Mrs Cate Brennan
Deputy Principal Religious Education
This week 313 Catholic schools across Queensland are celebrating their community spirit as they mark Catholic Education Week from Sunday 23 July – Saturday 29 July 2023. The theme for this year’s celebrations is: Communities of Faith, Hope and Love.
At OLSCC we celebrate with a Mass, classroom activities, sporting events and a day for teacher renewal in Toowoomba for the Bishop’s Inservice on Friday.
Catholic Education Week gives us all the opportunity to celebrate and promote our distinctive mission and ethos. Through Catholic education, we strive to make a difference in the lives of those in our schools and in the wider community by challenging young people to live out the message of Jesus and to reach their full potential as compassionate, contributing, life-giving members of society.
Heavenly Father,
As we gather in gratitude during this blessed Catholic Education Week in the Toowoomba Diocese, we lift our hearts in prayer, filled with love, hope, and faith. We come before You, acknowledging the precious gift of education, where we nurture the minds and souls of our young people.
Lord, we thank You for entrusting us with the responsibility of guiding these bright minds, shaping them in the image of Your Son, Jesus Christ. We pray that our educational institutions may be places of love, where every child is seen, valued, and embraced for who they are, just as You love each of us unconditionally.
In this week of celebration, we ask for Your grace to instil hope in the hearts of our young ones, empowering them to dream big and envision a world filled with compassion, justice, and unity. May they hold onto the hope that springs eternal from Your promises, finding strength in adversity, and courage in times of uncertainty.
Father, we also seek Your divine guidance, that our educational endeavours may always be rooted in faith. Let the message of Jesus Christ be a guiding light, illuminating the path of our students so they may walk in His footsteps, living out His teachings and emulating His love for all.
As we strive to nurture faith in our young people, we pray for the wisdom to show them the way of compassion, forgiveness, and mercy. May they be beacons of Your love, carrying the flame of faith wherever they go, touching the lives of those they encounter.
Heavenly Father, we entrust our students, teachers, and school communities into Your loving care during this Catholic Education Week. May Your Holy Spirit inspire and guide us all to be true witnesses of Jesus' message, spreading love, hope, and faith in a world hungry for Your divine presence.
We offer this prayer with hearts full of gratitude and hope, trusting in Your boundless grace. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Amen
By Sam and Kurt
Less than four months until graduation and the seniors have been scurrying to complete every piece of our last internal assignments ever. However, workdays have added extra pressure on many seniors who are currently completing a School Based Apprenticeship or Tafe Course. Kurt, who is working as a light vehicle mechanic at Brackens Field Maintenance, has developed many crucial skills that can be applied both inside and outside of the school environment. Such opportunities are also given to many other students who are currently undertaking SBAs in a variety of fields. Sam is currently undergoing an SBA in a course for refrigeration electrical with Nathan Kohler at Golding Air Conditioning. He works two days a week while juggling the responsibilities of school and home life. Although it is a tough workload, he is enjoying this opportunity in getting a head start in his career. Both Sam and Kurt have completed a Certificate II in Engineering Pathways, provided through the College. It was a good opportunity because anyone could do it, as it is designed to educate anyone of any ability.
In addition some exciting news, our seniors have been gifted a brand-new senior tie. Although we have only received this with 10 weeks left in the year, all the seniors are ecstatic to receive the first ever senior ties courtesy of the school. It seems the college hopes to carry on this legacy into the coming years.
As we find ourselves past the midway point of the year, it's time to reflect on the accomplishments of our students and recommit ensuring our focus is on education. The past few months have been filled with hard work, dedication, and countless moments of growth.
Student Led Conferences: Building Knowledge, Embracing GrowthThank you to all those parents and students who engaged with the Student Led Conferences on Wednesday evening. Teachers will continue to communicate progress with parents and students as we continue through the remainder of the year.
Learning is at the core of everything we do. It is vital for students to review their progress and set goals for the remainder of the year. Whether it's acing a challenging math problem, delving deep into a thought-provoking literature piece, or exploring new scientific concepts, every step forward is worth celebrating.
Wearing the Uniform: Pride in Our School, Pride in Ourselves
The school uniform is more than just a dress code; it symbolizes our shared identity and values as a school community. When you wear the uniform, you become part of a larger collective that upholds respect, integrity, and a commitment to learning. The uniform fosters a sense of belonging and equality, reminding us that we are all on this journey together, regardless of our backgrounds or differences.
I follow on from my article in the Term 2 Week 9 newsletter:
Wearing the uniform is not just an obligation; it's an opportunity to express pride in who we are and the educational institution we represent. Students are reminded to wear our uniform with confidence, knowing that we are all apart of a community that supports and uplifts one another.
Students and parents are reminded that the uniform policy is on our College website and in the student's diary. If a student is not in the current uniform staff will work with the student and parents to ensure this is rectified. A partnership with parents is important in ensuring that students can meet expectations here at the College that mirror the expectations of the future workplaces our students are moving into.
Celebrating the Success of Our Students: Achievements Worth Commemorating
We take great pride in the accomplishments of our students, from outstanding academic performances to exceptional achievements in extracurricular activities, each student's progress contributes to the vibrant tapestry of our school.
At the end of Semester 1, 50% of all students in the Senior Years attained at least 1 “A” grade in their subjects, with 20% of students obtaining at least “A”s in their subjects.
As a school community, we celebrate not only the high achievers but also those who have shown tremendous growth, perseverance, and improvement. Every step forward, no matter how big or small, deserves recognition and applause.
As the term progresses we encourage our students and parents to engage with our staff to ensure students in all year levels are working towards being the best versions of themselves.
Mr Rodney Spain
Assistant Principal – Senior Years
Gratitude and a Positive Mindset
In our ever-changing, fast-paced, and often unpredictable world, it is very easy for students to feel overwhelmed and stressed by the challenges they face. From assessment tasks to the fall out from a social situation gone wrong, none of it is easy for a developing teenage brain. There is one thing that students can try and while it isn’t easy developing this as a habit, it can be an effective strategy that makes a great difference – adopting a positive mindset is that strategy.
A positive mindset is more than just hoping for good things or wishful thinking. It’s a way of approaching life with optimism, resilience, motivation, and a belief that good things can happen if we are open enough to seek them out. The points below breakdown the numerous benefits of cultivating a positive mindset and offer some practical suggestions as to how to foster it in our lives:
Tips for Cultivating a Positive Mindset
- Practice Gratitude.
Gratitude is the practice of acknowledging and appreciating the positive aspects of life. It has numerous benefits for mental, emotional, and social well-being. Take a few moments each day to reflect on the things you are grateful for. Gratitude shifts a student’s focus from what is lacking to what they have in their life. Ask them “What was your favourite part of today?” Practice this every day and over time it becomes a great positive habit. - Surround Yourself with Positivity.
Encourage students to surround themselves with positive influences. Whether this be friends who lift them up, inspirational books, music, or podcasts, or even motivational posters. Find what works for them. Everyone is different. - Challenge Negative Thoughts.
When you notice your child dwelling on negative thoughts, challenge them as to whether the thoughts are based on facts or just a series of assumptions and speculation. A healthy and positive perspective is one that is realistic and based more on facts not the unknown. - Find the Silver Lining.
Help your child to develop the skill of seeking out the silver lining in difficult situations. Even in challenging times, there are often valuable life lessons to be learned. These are opportunities that can be harvested. - Positive outlets.
Encourage your child to engage in some form of mindfulness activity or have a positive and healthy outlet when they experience frustration and stress. Sometimes students need to vent. This is natural however their venting must be completed in appropriate ways. Physical activity, like a run, walking the dog, or a bike ride are great and healthy options. Doing something creative can work for some as well. Sport (and training for it) can also be a great way for people to burn up some frustration through physical activity.
Developing a positive mindset is a wonderful strategy that can empower students through their formative, teenage years. It can foster fantastic habits that will serve them well beyond their schooling years and early adulthood. By consciously choosing a positive outlook and adopting strategies to cultivate it, students will be well equipped to navigate life’s up and downs with optimism and motivation. Their resilience will grow. Embracing a positive mindset is not about ignoring challenge or of difficulty, but instead it is about empowering ourself with strength.
Leadership Passport – Update
Skill development remains at the core of the Leadership Passport model. We understand that students are not born leaders, but they can grow and develop into wonderful leaders, not just at school but also in the wider community, if given the time and the opportunity to do so. Leadership skill development takes time and a lot of practice and so it is wonderful to see so many students volunteer to begin their journey of development this year.
Currently, we have 77 students who are working their way through Level One. Well done to these brave students for taking the first step in their personal growth. They are now setting about completing the requirements and seeking advice from staff along the way. The evaluation sections present in each passport provide the student with high quality feedback from staff so that they can target areas of weakness moving forward, growing strong in these areas with repeated effort. Just like training in sport, once a skill has been identified as a weakness, it needs to become an area of focus if we are to get better in time.
Well done Level One legends.
A big congratulations to Lexie Forbes and Kaity Harms who both have completed all the requirements of the Level One passport and have transitioned onto Level Two. Well done, ladies!
Mr Craig Cullen
Assistant Principal – Middle Years
Part of belonging to the OLSCC family includes involvement in various community events. Doing so allows us to become part of the rich tapestry of our town. One of the events we have been very long-term supporters of is the Dalby Eisteddfod. This year, OLSCC has chosen to focus on the Verse Speaking category of the Eisteddfod to tie in with both the curriculum studied in Arts classes in Term 2/3 as well as the inaugural TCS Arstfest, where our Year 4 team performed so admirably on the stage at the Empire Theatre in Toowoomba.
We are extremely fortunate that the Dalby Eisteddfod Verse Speaking category will be held right here on site at OLSCC, in our Multipurpose Centre. All year levels from Prep to Year 4 will be involved in this section. Details are:
When? Friday 11 August
Where? OLSCC Multipurpose Centre
Who? All students Prep-Yr 4
Time? The section begins at 9:00am, with P-2 in the first category, followed by Year 3 then Year 4. Each performance will take between 5-7 minutes.
What do students wear? The P-2 students are in the “creative” section and will wear clothes to match their performance piece (see below). The Year 3 and 4 students will wear their formal school uniform as they perform in the traditional section.
Cost? The Eisteddfod committee have waived any admission fees for this performance since it is taking place on our College premises.
|
Year Level |
Name of Poem |
What to Wear |
|
Prep |
Lost |
Pyjamas |
|
Year 1 |
Daddy Fell Into the Pond |
Children’s play clothes eg going to a park |
|
Year 2 |
Slumber Party |
Pyjamas |
|
Year 3 |
Puzzlement |
FORMAL school uniform |
|
Year 4 |
Space Encounter |
FORMAL school uniform |
In addition to eisteddfod preparation, this week, many of our students have been engaged in painting lanterns with Mrs Sullivan and Miss Creeley for the upcoming Delicious and Delightful festival. The lanterns will be used as part of the twilight lantern parade on Saturday August 26. This same weekend, the College will also have two teams participating in the regional round of the Optiminds Creative Thinking Challenge. Thankyou to the teachers who give up their time to allow our students to participate in these events.
Mrs Katrina Walton
Assistant Principal Early Years
Please find below an article discussing the connection that many students and parents make between their worth and their grades. At OLSCC, we teach and discuss with students about jumping into the Learning Pit. Students can have different experiences of the Learning Pitt. Learning is not about the perfect result but the process of experience. We teach and build our students capacity to be resilient to jump into the pit and to have the persistence to climb out of it. If they did this independently, even better! It’s this process that we want to draw our attention to and congratulate students on, not the result.
Below is an article from our Happy Families school membership, developed by Dr Justin Coulson.
I still remember the first grade I received on a German test in high school. It’s been more then 16 years, but I still remember my heart sinking when I saw that I had only scored 50%. I can’t remember the vocabulary I was being tested on. In fact, I can only remember a handful of German words at all now. But I still remember the feelings that I had that day, the thoughts that I would never be able to learn that language.
Reflecting back now, I can understand that my disappointment wasn’t that I had only remembered 50% of the words I was being tested on. It was true, I had only remembered half of the words, and understanding that helped me realise that I needed to study more if I ever wanted to be able to speak German. My disappointment stemmed from what I felt the grade said about me. It was the first time I had scored poorly in a test, and I was suddenly feeling like I wasn’t as smart as those around me.
See, there’s a disconnect between what grades are actually for, and what students often think about them.
What grades are actually for: showing our children what they know and what they still need to work on.
What many students think about grades: Where do I rank among my peers? Am I a high achiever? Or am I not as smart as everyone else?
Unfortunately, for many students, this type of thinking causes increasing stress and anxiety in their final years of high school, where an over-fixation on ATAR scores results in many students feeling as though their self-worth can be summed up in a single number.
Our task: to teach our kids that their grade isn’t who they are. This is important for students who are struggling, but just as important for those who get perfect marks on almost every test. Yet before we leap into trying to teach this to our kids, the first person who needs to believe it is you.
You probably grew up believing that your life prospects depended on the outcome of each test and exam you did. But look around you. Can you pick the ATAR score of your co-worker? Which of the parents in the school pick-up line was the dux of their school? Which of the people at your church or gym or pottery class failed their Geography exam in high school? Can’t tell? Of course not! Our grades are part of our story. But they do NOT define our story.
In fact, our grades impact our lives much less than our attitude to our grades do. For example, there are many pathways to most careers. You could be a high school drop out and go on to be a doctor or a lawyer or a particle physicist if you’re patient and determined enough (and I know several who were dropouts and still managed to have these types of jobs). You just need to believe that it’s possible and believe that you can get there. But if you allow yourself to believe that your low grade prohibits you from achieving your goal, you’re limiting yourself.
Now that you’ve reminded yourself that grades don’t define your child, you’re prepared for when they come to you with the inevitable bad grade. When that happens, remember these 3 things:
1. Remind yourself that grades are much less important than your attitude about grades. To model that, you need to focus less on the grade, and more on the attitude.
Here’s what it sounds like when we focus on the grade:
“60% hey? Looks like there’s room for improvement.”
Here’s what it sounds like when we focus on the attitude:
“How do you feel about your mark?”
Don’t even mention the number (or the letter, depending on how grading works at your school)! Instead, ask them how they feel about how they did.
1. Remind them that grades reflect where they are in their learning journey. They are not the final destination. Work with them as they reflect on what they understand well, what they could work on further, and then make a plan for how they can do that. Maybe they will ask their teacher for extra maths problems. Or maybe you can listen to them practice their next oral presentation.
2. Cultivate a growth mindset. If your child comes to you saying “I can’t do fractions”… or “I’m no good at breaststroke”… or “I don’t understand titration”… just add the word “yet”.
“I can’t do fractions…yet” reminds them that while they can’t do it now, they can learn them one day.
“I’m no good at breaststroke…yet” encourages them that with practice, they can get better.
“I don’t understand titration… yet” reassures them that they might understand it tomorrow.
Being able to accomplish great things doesn’t depend on high test scores. It just depends on an inner conviction that greatness can be accomplished. Believe in your child. Believe in their ability to accomplish greatness. And believe that they can accomplish great things even with a low grade on whatever test they had today.
Grades do not define our worth – early learning and primary
I remember the first time I felt like my pre-schooler was falling behind. I had just met another 3-year-old who could read. Actually read, not just remembering the words to a favourite story like my pre-schooler did. In fact, my kid was only just mastering the alphabet song! Should I have been spending more time with phonics flashcards? Maybe we needed to start doing worksheets? Was I doing something wrong?
Yes!
But I didn’t need to pull out the flashcards. What I was doing wrong was focusing on observable outcomes. We want to see growth in the way our kids can count and read because those are the things we can easily measure. But the real work of pre-school and even primary school is much more important than A B C and 1 2 3. It’s the work of teaching our kids social skills, the not easily measured attributes of being able to wait for a turn, process uncomfortable feelings, and problem solve.
Obviously, we do want our children to learn their A B Cs and 1 2 3s too. But we don’t need to rely on tests and homework to measure their learning. We should be able to see it in the way they talk about the problem at hand, the way they apply knowledge to new situations, and in the way they creatively build on what they know.
We also don’t need to compare them to their peers to see how they measure up. Childhood is a period of rapid growth and learning. But learning isn’t linear, and it isn’t consistent across every child. One child may be thriving academically – able to spell words even adults struggle with like ‘definitely’ and ‘facetious’… but they can’t do the monkey bars yet. Another child may be a competitive gymnast… but hasn’t learnt all their times tables yet. And yet another child may be a maths whizz…but still needs to work on making eye contact with people while they’re talking.
But just as we need to remember not to compare our kid to their peers, we also need to teach our kids not to compare themselves to their peers. This is important for students who are struggling, but just as important for those who seem to be at the top of the class. Here’s how you can teach them, by teaching yourself first:
Step 1. Remind yourself that grades aren’t everything
You probably grew up believing that your life prospects depended on the outcome of each test and exam you did. But look around you. Can you pick the ATAR score of your co-worker? Which of the parents in the school pick-up line was the best speller in grade 1? Which of the people at your church or gym or pottery class failed their Geography exam in high school? Can’t tell? Of course not! Our grades are part of our story. But they do NOT define our story.
Step 2. Remind yourself that grades are much less important than social skills
We can teach a computer to do just about anything these days… except have feelings. In an increasingly digitised and technological world, if you want your child to have skills that truly set them apart, focus on helping them grow their emotional IQ. Empathy, creative thinking, grit…these are all things that are much more important than being able to spell flawlessly.
Step 3. Remind yourself that “comparison is the thief of joy”
Every child is on their own learning journey. Some kids may seem to be in the fast lane. Others may seem to be in the slow lane. But instead of comparing your child to another, compare them to where they were a year ago. Reflect on what they have learnt to do. Think about what they could work on further.
Step 4. Cultivate a growth mindset.
If your child comes to you saying “I can’t do fractions”… or “I’m no good at colouring in the lines”… or “I don’t understand phonics”… just add the word “yet”.
“I can’t do fractions…yet” reminds them that while they can’t do it now, they can learn them one day.
“I’m no good at colouring in the lines…yet” encourages them that with practice, they can get better.
“I don’t understand phonics… yet” reassures them that they might understand it tomorrow.
Being able to accomplish great things doesn’t depend on high test scores. It doesn’t depend on being better than others. It just depends on an inner conviction that greatness can be accomplished. Believe in your child.
Mrs Katrina Ballantyne
College Counsellor
Darling Downs Rugby League Competition
Under 13 Grand Final Wednesday 2 August
OLSCC vs Dalby SHS 4pm
Under 18 OLSCC vs Dalby SHS
Game 3 Berwick/McCullough Shield at 5pm
Rugby League
Congratulations to Charlotte Colquhoun has been selected in the Darling Downs Girls Rugby League Team to attend the State Championships in Townsville in September.
Girls Confraternity Shield
Over the June / July holidays Yolande Gordon, Claire Harth, Karlie Falvey and Gaby Anderton were part of the St Joseph’s College Toowoomba Girls Team for the Confraternity Shield. The team had a fantastic carnival and finished in 5th place out of the 12 teams. Thanks to St Joseph’s for providing this opportunity for our girls.
QCIS Girls Rugby Sevens
Congratulations to our three Rugby Sevens Teams who attended the QCIS Carnival at Downlands last Friday. For some of our U13 Girls – this was their first games of Rugby Sevens. Game results are listed below. The season will continue next Friday in Round 2 of the Independent Schools Competition.
Under 13
Win vs Scots Warwick 15-10
Loss to TAS 5-10
Loss to Downlands
Third Place Playoff
Win vs Scots Warwick
Under 15
Win vs Scots Warwick 34-5
Loss to TAS 12-43
Loss to Downlands 15-25
Third Place Playoff
Win vs Scots Warwick 35-12
Under 18
Win vs Scots Warwick 22-15
Win vs TAS 34-10
Final
Loss to Downlands
College Athletics Carnival
Age Champions and Runners Up presentations will be made at College Assembly on Monday 7 August at 8.50am. Award recipients were announced in the last edition of the newsletter.
Bunya District Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to all students who competed at the Bunya District Athletics Carnival on Monday. The College had a fantastic day winning both the overall points and average points trophies.
1500m Race Results
Under 10 Boys – Ace Utz 4th
Under 10 Girls – Paityn Darr 5th
Under 11 Boys – Benjamin Barwick 4th
Under 11 Girls – Bella Cusack 1st, Isabelle Manley 2nd
Under 12 Boys – Khoen Darr 1st, Harrison Peach 6th
Age Champions
Under 10 Boys – Charles Sullivan
Under 11 Girls – Bella Cusack
Under 11 Boys – Archie Stephens
Under 12 Girls – Charlotte Colquhoun
Multi Event Results (100m 800m, Long Jump, Shot Put)
Under 10 Boys – Charles Sullivan 1st, Ace Utz 3rd
Under 10 Girls – Harriet Manley 2nd, Pippa Smith 3rd
Under 11 Boys – Archie Stephens 1st, Benjamin Barwick 3rd
Under 11 Girls – Isabelle Manley 1st, Bella Cusack 2nd
Under 12 Boys – Khayden Hall 2nd, Khoen Darr 4th
Under 12 Girls – Charlotte Colquhoun 1st
Most Outstanding Female Athlete of the Carnival Award
Bella Cusack
Students selected in the Bunya District Team to attend the Darling Downs – Angel Ncube, Archie Stephens, Bella Cusack, Benjamin Barwick, Charles Sullivan, Charlotte Colquhoun, Emily Bundy, Felix Twidale, Mason Francis, Harriet Manley, Henry Cassidy, Isabelle Manley, Jack Neale, Jack Walker, Jean Timms, Justin Hemmings, Khayden Hall, Khoen Darr, Matilda Kahler.
Inner Downs Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to all students who competed at the Inner Downs Athletics Carnival. Mason Geisel was named Age Champion in the Under 13 Boys age group. Students who met Darling Downs qualifying standards were – Chelsey Cave, Laney Werth, Ella Hart, Annie Borck, Carla Nobbs, Monique Smith, Abby Zillman, Kai Rush and Mason Geisel.
QLD Combined Independent Schools Athletics Carnival
The QCIS Athletics Carnival will be held on Monday 31 July at Scots College Warwick. This is for students aged Under 10 – Open. The Bus will depart the College at 5.45am. Best of luck to all competitors.
Volleyball
Congratulations to the Year 10 Girls Volleyball Team who won the Darling Downs Year 11/12 Schools Cup Competition. This is the third straight year the team has won this competition. Thanks to Mrs Lincoln for coaching the team. Game results are listed below. Hannah Taylor was named Player of the Tournament.
Win vs St Joseph’s 25-9
Win vs Harristown SHS B 25-11
Win vs Highlands CC 25-20
Win vs Fairholme 25-13
Win vs Glennie 25-8
Win vs Toowoomba SHS 25-5
Final
Win vs Harristown SHS A 25-19
Touch Football
Best of luck to the Under 15 Boys, Under 15 Girls and Under 18 Mixed Touch Football Teams who will compete at the SWQ All Schools Championships in Toowoomba on Sunday 6 August.
Mr Tim Lincoln
Middle Leader Sport
Term 3 fees were issued on 20/07/2023, with a due date of 16/08/2023.
Please contact the College Business Manager, Sarah Hall, if you have any concerns.
College office phone number (07) 4672 4111, sarah.hall@twb.catholic.edu.au
Careers Expo 2023
The annual Careers Expo was held on Friday 21 July at Dalby PCYC. OLSCC students from years 9 to 12 and students from Dalby and surrounding districts as far as Millmerran to Quinalow, were invited to attend the expo.
Exhibitors included those from Dalby and travelling from as far as the Gold Coast, set up their stalls and presented opportunities of future careers on offer for the students. Local businesses provided students with opportunities in an eclectic range of careers. It was also exciting to have a large range of national and multinational business represented at the expo that also provided students with a range of opportunities from aviation, Defence, police, energy, mining and agricultural, earth moving machinery, manufacturing and plant equipment. A number of universities and training organisations were also on hand to speak to the students on future post high school education opportunities.
It was evident during the day that the students were very engaged with this opportunity to meet exhibitors and develop an understanding and appreciation of the careers available in their future. An event of this size and nature takes a great deal of planning and preparation.
A big thank you to Tracey Boland and the grounds staff from OLSCC, Dalby BEST group, assisting staff from Dalby State High School, and the Dalby Christian College. We would also like to thank OLSCC students, Olivia Koehler, Emma Donaldson, Travis Tia, Cooper and Cobie Wedrat for their assistance in setting up for the Expo. The day could not have gone ahead without the sponsorship and assistance from Origin Energy and sponsorship from University of Southern Qld (UniSQ), we thank you for your generosity and support.
Middle School Career Day Special Visitor
During week 1 of term 3, year 7 students attended career intensive day held on Thursday 13July at the College. These students experienced activities that are designed to give them an insight into the world of careers and employment post high school education.
These students were treated to a special visit from past graduating student from 2020, Patrick Boland. Patrick gave a special insight, to the year 7 students into the career of a commercial pilot. As a part of his presentation, Pat provided students with images and videos of his travels as a pilot, with his job of transporting passengers to all parts of Queensland and interstate. As a part of his presentation to the grade, Patrick also impressed upon the students to work hard at school, so that it gives them every opportunity to follow their dream career. I would like to thank Patrick for giving up his precious time to spend it with the year 7 students.
Important Dates: Up and Coming Events – Save the Date
- 1 August Year 12 Students Queensland Tertiary Application Centre (QTAC) opens.
- 2 August ATAR students register an account for ATAR and QTAC.
- Year 12 Barista Course – 4-6 September
- Year 12 RSA Course – 6 September
UNIVERSITY OPEN DAYS 2023
Griffith University
Gold Coast & Nathan Campuses
Open Day Sunday 13 August, 9am -2pm
QUT Open Day
Gardens Point & Kelvin Grove Campuses
Sunday 30 July 2023, 9.00-3.00pm
UQ Open Day 2023
St Lucia Campus
Sunday 6 August, 9am – 3pm
Gatton Campus
TBC
UniSQ Open Days
Springfield & Ipswich Campus
Sunday 13 August 2023
Toowoomba Campus
Sunday 20 August 2023
JCU Virtual Open Day
Virtual Open Day
Tuesday 12 September 2023, 3pm – 7 pm - Register online
Southern Cross University
Gold Coast
6 August 2023
Southern Cross University Open Day
Australian Catholic University
Brisbane
Saturday 26 August 2023, 10am – 2pm
Early Offer applications open
24 July – 18 September 2023
QTAC Information Evenings
The Queensland Tertiary Application Centre (QTAC) presented online information sessions for parents and students during week 7 of term 2. A copy of these sessions can be found below.
Year 10 QTAC information evening held in term 2 on the ATAR and QTAC Process
Year 12 QTAC information evening held in term 2 on the ATAR and QCTAC Process.
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 or Mrs Boland for further details.
Mr Dean Garside
Career Development Practitioner
