We captured all the colour and creativity from Book Week, both as classes entered the MPC today and once inside. We'd love to include a photo of all the incredible costumes, but there were so many, so here's a snapshot of just a few. Check out our Facebook page for more images also.

Monday 28 August - Year 3 Visit to Ningana

Tuesday 29 August - Prep Excursion to Myall Creek

Thursday 31 August - OLSC Day

Friday 1 September - PUPIL FREE DAY (CTJ Day)

Friday 8 September - Day for Daniel

Friday 8 September - Prep to Year 6 Dance

Thursday 14 September - Year 2 Invention Convention

Friday 15 September - Prep to Year 12 Grandparents Day

Saturday 16 September - Saints Race Day

Cyber Safety – the biggest risk to our kids

We hear a lot about cyber safety and what we can do to support our families, and yet this continues to significantly impact all communities across Australia.  In 2018, due to the concerns regarding sedentary lifestyles in Australian children, The Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care, developed the ‘Being Active’ Guidelines for Children and Young People (5 to 17 years), which outlines what we should expect of a healthy day, every day for every child and young person in this age bracket.  I encourage all parents to click on the link, and have a read of what we should expect from each of our school aged children every day. Importantly, we should limit sedentary recreational screen time to no more than 2 hours a day. 

This is a challenge to us all. My boys love a game on the Nintendo and are a little obsessed with NRL.  There are many Saturdays when we watch lots of footy which goes over the 2 hours per day.  This will happen from time to time, though we always make sure our kids are engaged with local sports and clubs like cricket, soccer, swimming, basketball and tennis, have lots of play afternoons with friends where they run around playing a variety of games with no screens, engaging with family and friends, taking walks around Toowoomba hiking trials or the Bunyas, and pottering about with the dog, chooks or in the garden. On the holidays, we always make time to be somewhere without technology to give our kids a detox.  For us, this is camping.  It’s a great way to break bad digital habits for parents and kids alike and spend some quality time in conversation with one another without our devices. 

When our kids are on screens, which is the reality for most families, we need to make sure they are safe.  There are a few key considerations when determining safe digital platforms for our kids to engage in.  A great place for us to start is the following:

• Social Media: This is where most bullying now happens for school aged students.  This is where the power in the social structures of youth begins.  This can also be poorly monitored by parents as they think their children are responsible users of technology.  In reality it is much the same as handing a child a rifle and ammunition and expecting them to do no harm without teaching them how to use it.  I know that sounds ridiculous, though so does much of what we deal with at a school level that comes from social media.  Most teenagers have multiple snapchat accounts, one their parents can see and many they can’t, they engage in private rooms, and hide documents, photos and communication.  Remember, these apps aren’t designed to be safe for children, they are designed to be popular and meet the needs and wants of the children. 
• Devices and Access: No device is secure - it is the network that it connects to, or the security software installed that provides the safety. If your internet isn’t restricted and firewalled, or the device doesn’t have specific security software, then your child can access limitless inappropriate content.  This is especially concerning regarding mobile phones.  Don’t assume your child won’t access inappropriate content, make it that they can’t.
• Online gaming: One of the most dangerous places your child can be at any time is in an unmonitored online game like Roblox or Fortnite. These platforms are where most sexual harassment, cybersex, paedophile attacks and grooming take place.  While I am no expert in this space as my children don’t play online games at home, I am very concerned about all students who do play online games without explicit and direct monitoring by parents. Please don’t assume your child is safe. If your child plays Roblox (its an online only game), I encourage you to read the following: Is Roblox Safe for Kids

Please take the time to do some research about what your child accesses on their devices at home, and lean towards family screen time, such as watching sport or a movie together, rather than engaging in risky behaviours like online gaming.  What’s more important is to develop a healthy lifestyle where our young people choose to be outside and active rather than being inside and sedentary.  Make some time in your calendar to take the kids to the netball courts or leaguesy, build some lego, go fishing, do some dancing or go for a walk.  If we don’t make time for it, we simply won’t prioritise it, and then not do it.  Make a promise, stick to it and get active with your kids.  Its also a great way to open up conversation about what’s important in their lives.

Mr Peter Cuskelly

Principal

At the end of last week, I was privileged to attend the AMSSA Conference at All Hallow’s College.  This conference for secondary schools with a ‘Mercy’ tradition was a gathering of school leaders from throughout Australia and New Zealand.  It is always wonderful to be able to see another school in action and to network with leaders to grow my knowledge. The theme of the conference, which had been delayed for three years because of COVID, was ‘Mercy in liminal times’.  It challenged us as educators in times of uncertainty and challenge to be visionaries like Catherine McAuley was in Ireland in the 1820’s. To think that, in 1827 from humble beginnings with just two women, we have this network throughout the world of Sisters of Mercy congregations and schools. The Sisters of Mercy began educating young people in Dalby in 1877 when the sisters came to the bush by train and began teaching in the Plough Inn. We were encouraged to consider the ways we see mercy in action in our schools and how we engage our students so that they are living full and flourishing lives. It affirmed for me the work we do in the LYF – Living Your Faith space.  LYF aims to make God a part of students’ lives where they come to know and experience Jesus in their lives and community though action-based faith. 

Our Lady of the Southern Cross Day

On Thursday 31 August, we will celebrate Our Lady of the Southern Cross Day (feast 1 September).  This is a special day in our College Calendar and it will be marked with a P-12 College Mass and our Whole College Athletics events.  All students are encouraged to dress in their house colours on this day. Go crazy and show your team spirit through the coloured outfits you wear!  Free Dress must be sun safe as the afternoon will be spent outdoors.

Mass 12:15pm in MPC

Whole College Events on Main Oval following Mass

These events include Prep – Year 4 Ballgame competition, house relays, the Gillespie and Tresillian Gifts, the all-age relay and the teacher v student relay. 

Grandparent's 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. RSVP by Friday 8 September https://forms.office.com/r/c8gPux2LwV

The day will flow as follows:

8:30-9:15am - Morning Cuppa offered to grandparents in MY Plaza
9:15-9:30 - Grandparents and students move to the MPC
9:30-10:00 - Prayer Celebration
10:00-11:30 Classroom visits - Grandparents asked to go with older students first then they can accompany them to the next one.. next one.. next one

Mrs Cate Brennan

Deputy Principal Religious Education

Father’s Day is coming up and we are all searching madly to find that little something special for the main man in our lives. It is a great day to say thanks to our Fathers, Grandfathers, Uncles or that special person who represents the father in our lives. We know that we should be doing this every day, but this one distinct day reminds us to make a real effort. Father’s Day is an important time to recognise the hard work of those in our lives that we see as fathers and father figures. What a father is, can be different for every individual, and it’s important to recognise those who might not fit the typical label of a father, but are still just as important in our lives. Being a father is more than just being a man in the house – it encompasses particularly the traits of being caring, loving, supportive, vulnerable, encouraging, and gentle. We wish all ‘Fathers’ a very lovely day on Sunday 3 September this year. 

God our Father, 
We give you thanks and praise for fathers young and old. 
We pray for young fathers newly embracing their vocation; 
May they find courage and perseverance 
to balance work, family, and faith in joy and sacrifice. 
We pray for fathers around the world whose children are lost and suffering; 
May they know that the God of compassion walks with them in their sorrow. 
We pray for men who are not fathers 
but still mentor and guide us with fatherly love and advice. 
We remember fathers, grandfathers, and great grandfathers 
who are no longer with us but who live forever in our memory 
and nourish us with their love, 
Amen. 

On Friday 18August, 11 students had the courage to apply for a leadership role within our College. Seven of those students applied for Prefect and 5 of those students went for House Leaders. The students went up in front of the College to give their leadership speeches and even though it was a nerve-racking start to their day with butterflies in our stomach and shakiness within our voices, everybody gave a great speech. Everyone had the feeling of relief once they had finished their speeches and there was a great selection of candidates. The candidates were given an encouraging pep talk by Mr Cuskelly which helped to boost the morale. On Tuesday 22 August, the House Leaders had their interviews with the Senior Leadership Team, and this coming Friday, 25 August is the Prefect interviews and final stage of the process. Mr Cuskelly, Mr Spain and Mrs Brennan will be interviewing Prefects and will have the biggest say in the selection of leaders for 2024. This whole leadership process of our Year 11 cohort first started when we went to our Leadership camp in Brisbane. The camp provided activities that allowed us to unlock our potential as well as the potential of others to be leaders. Even though some students did not apply for a leadership position, they will still be a leader within our school as the class of 2024.

In the middle of the week, the College celebrated Book Week through fun, creative and intricate costumes. People see Book Week as a Junior event but this year, the Senior area decided to join in and dress up as well. It was great to see the College pride and thank you to everyone that dressed up. We thank Mrs Jenkinson for organising such a great event and to all the teachers, students and parents who contributed. We are looking forward to seeing more College spirit next Thursday for OLSCC Day.

Travis Tia and Mia Marchant

Academic Pursuits - QAMT Maths Competition

On Tuesday and Wednesday we sent some of our finest Mathematical minds in the Middle Years to compete in the QAMT Competition in Chinchilla against 18 other school teams. I am incredibly proud of the students who attended for their efforts and teamwork. Below are the breakdowns of the results across both age groups:

Tuesday Competition

Team 1 - Lainey Geiger, Ella Moore, Chloe Cassidy (2nd place)
Team 2 - Archie Stephens, Khayden Hall, Charles Sullivan (6th place)
Team 3 - Bobby Machin, Cody Bryant, Josh Ncube (5th place)

Wednesday Competition

Team 1 - Lochie McNaughton, Travis Collins, William Barwick (4th place) 
Team 2 - Tom Clarke, Matthew Brennan, Zac Gould (4th place) 
Team 3 - Bella Bonnin, Lusy Cusack, Lucinda Conn (4th place)

Book Week Celebrations

Promote reading, literacy, and the job of books – that is the aim of Book Week. Books are a powerful device that allows the user to transported to a different place, another world, even forward and back in time. All without needing to be recharged. Amazing really. Although there is no exact date known for the publishment of the first book, it is believed to be somewhere between 618 and 907 CE during the Tang Dynasty of China. Since then, my how have they changed the world for their users.

A few years back now, prior to a certain pandemic changing the world, I was extremely fortunate enough to visit England to attend a good friend’s wedding. While in the country I reached out to some other friends in and around Oxford. One of my mates was working at the Bodleian Library at the time and his role was the head of security. He offered a personal tour of the library, and I am so glad that I took him up on the offer as it afforded me access to areas not normally for public access. If you haven’t heard of the Bodleian Library, its well worth checking out as it will not disappoint. 

First opened in 1602, it is one of the oldest libraries in Europe and the second largest in England. It holds over 13 million printed items!

Even if you have never heard of the Bodleian, many of you may have seen parts of it as rooms within its walls have features in many movies, such as the Harry Potter series. It is hard not to gain inspiration once standing inside the reading halls. Some of the great literary minds, including Oscar Wilde, C.S Lewis, J.R.R Tolkien have browsed along its shelves and devoted hours to reading in the nooks of the reading rooms. Similarly, 40 Nobel Prize winners, 26 Prime Ministers and about half a dozen kings have all studied at the Bodleian. Books certainly can make a difference.     

Now, back to our Book Week celebrations. I was so pleased to see such a wonderful turn out on Wednesday for the Book Week Dress Up. From Llamas in Pyjamas to the Man from Snowy River, it was great to see students having fun with books being the theme. Well done to everyone who dressed up on the day. I hope we can make it bigger and better next year with more of the Year 7 and Year 8 students getting involved.

Well done to these prize winners for best dressed:

Year 5 – Nate Muller and Sarah Hoppe
Year 6 – Lexie Forbes and Lucie Bennie
Year 7 – Josh Dippelsmann and Georgie Russell
Year 8 – JJ Greenaway, Chelsey Cave, Abbey Garvey    

Leadership Passport – Update

This is Josh Dippelsmann in Year 7. He is the latest student to take up our leadership development challenge through the passport model and the 90^th this year (I wonder who will be our 100^th student). This week, Josh booked a meeting with me to discuss his desire to start his journey in leadership skill development. Through the discussion, he realised that a lot of his volunteer work this year can be counted for the Leadership Passport Level 1 booklet and he is well on his way to completing the booklet despite only having had it for a handful of days. Well done, Josh. All the best with the remaining tasks. I think we will be celebrating your graduation to Level 2 very soon.      

If your child is thinking about starting their leadership development journey, encourage them to book a meeting with me via the front office. Remember, people are not born leaders. Good leaders are made. It takes time, effort, and a lot of practice and that is what the Leadership Passport model.

 Mr Craig Cullen

Assistant Principal Middle Years

What a couple of weeks we have had in the Early Years! There has certainly been plenty of extra-curricular activity happening alongside our regular classroom program. This week alone, we have had our Year 1 and Year 3 cohorts participating via invitation at the Dalby Eisteddfod winners concert. Huge congratulations to Year 3, who were awarded the trophy for the Champion Verse Speaking Choir for 2023! Our choirs weren’t the only OLSCC representation at the concert. Students Lucy Scott, Lucy Bennie (Middle Years) and Nadine Garside (Senior Years) were also invited to perform as a result of their success last week. The skills gained by participating in events such as these are immediately transferrable to the classroom setting, where oral communication as part of a collaborative learning environment is so important.

This week, we were also privileged to once again welcome the Shake and Stir Theatre Company to our College. All Early Years classes were able to view live theatre as they performed their show ‘Fractured Fairytales’.

In addition to this, many students have taken up the opportunity to participate in other non-mandatory events, including:

• ICAS academic competitions, where students have voluntarily thrown themselves into the learning pit to sit papers in English, Maths, Science, Writing and Spelling.
• Delicious and Delightful Festival lantern parade. Miss Creeley has sent home information to all participating families this week and we look forward to another strong representation from the College at the lantern parade on Saturday evening.
• Optiminds creative thinking challenge, taking place on Sunday 27 August in Toowoomba.

Next week, the fun continues as our Prep students engage in an excursion to Myall Creek to test their mapping skills, Year 3 visits Ningana to engage with some of the older members of our community, our annual Prep Father’s Day big breakfast takes place, along with all the fun of OLSCC day.

None of this can occur without significant extra effort from the wonderful teachers in our community who constantly step up to ensure our students are able to participate in these events. They willingly give of their time to ensure our students are able to engage in activities that contribute towards full and flourishing lives, with learning extending beyond the classroom.

Welcome to Shooting Stars

With our first round of enrolment offers now complete, we were able to welcome our newest and youngest friends to the OLSCC community as our incoming 2024 Prep students had their first Shooting Stars session last week. The current Prep students and teachers have kindly shared their room and resources to assist with the transition of our new friends to ensure they are well set up for success next year. With both a morning and an afternoon session on a Friday, our teacher, Mrs Morrison, and School Officer, Mrs Cuskelly reported that the children were very excited to attend and already showed some great resilience at trying out a new routine and setting.

Mrs Katrina Walton

Assistant Principal Early Years

Athletics

Darling Downs Under 9-12 Carnival Results

Ben Barwick -12^th in the 200m

Emily Bundy -30^th in the 100m

Henry Cassidy -8^th in the 800m, 15^th in 100m

Bella Cusack - 1^st in the Multi Event, 6^th in 1500m

Khoen Darr - 6^th in the 1500m

Mason Francis -  6^th in the 200m

Khayden Hall -12^th in the Multi Event

Justin Hemmings - 4^th in the 800m, 14^th in 200m, 16^th in 100m

Harriet Manley - 6^th in the Multi Event

Isabelle Manley - 2^nd in the Multi Event, 2^nd in High Jump, 3^rd Long Jump, 9^th 200m

Angel Ncube - 10^th in the 80m and 200m

Jack Neal - 15^th in the 200m

Archie Stephens - 5^th in the Multi Event, 20^th in 200m

Charles Sullivan – 1^st in Multi Event, 1^st 100m, 3^rd 200m

Jean Timms – 29^th in the 200m

Felix Twidale – 30^th in the 100m

Jack Walker – 26^th in the 100m

Bella Cusack, Isabelle Manley, and Charles Sullivan were selected in the Darling Downs Team to attend the State Athletics Championships in October.

Darling Downs Secondary Athletics Carnival Results

Molly Gibson – 4^th in 400m, 19^th in 200m

Kai Rush – 3^rd Long Jump, 5^th in Triple Jump

Monique Smith – 3^rd in Shot Put, 7^th in Discus

Hannah Taylor – 4^th in Discus and Shot Put

Abby Zillman – 8^th in Discus and 10^th in Javelin

Hannah Taylor and Carla Nobbs were selected in the Darlking Downs Team to attend the State Championships in October.

DD Independent Girls Sevens Round 3

Under 13

Fairholme defeated OLSCC                    27-5                

Downlands defeated OLSCC                  19-7

Under 15

Fairholme defeated OLSCC                    35-12

Downlands defeated OLSCC                  17-10

Under 18

Fairholme defeated OLSCC                    32-12

Downlands defeated OLSCC                  22-7

Athletics

The final events of the College Athletics Carnival will be held next Thursday afternoon as part of OLSC Day celebrations. The order of events for the afternoon is as follows:

Prep-Year 4 Ball Games

Middle Years House Relay

Senior Years House Relay

Year 6 / Staff Relay

Secondary Captains / Staff Relay

Tresillian Gift

Gillespie Gift

All Age Relay

Presentations

Tresillian Gift Runners

Emily Bundy, Bella Cusack, Charlotte Colquhoun, Laney Werth, Chelsey Cave, Chloe Manteit, Karlie Falvey, Charlotte Roberts.

Gillespie Gift Runners

Charles Sullivan, Felix Twidale, Khoen Darr, Mason Geisel, Kai Rush, Jack Hall, Tobin Smart and Joey Sankey.

Touch Football

Congratulations to Carla Nobbs, who last week was in Darwin for the National Touch Football Championships as part of the QLD U15 Team. At the conclusion of the carnival, Carla was selected in the All-Australian Merit Team.

Mr Tim Lincoln

Middle Leader Sport

After the inaugural Australian Women’s Rugby 7’s Team won the first Olympic Gold Medal offered for this sport in 2016, I was approached by a group of Year 9 girls who wanted me to coach them in Rugby 7’s. This group went on to play Rugby 7’s for the College until their graduation in 2020. The following year in 2017, I was involved with introducing Year 6 students to the game during several after school coaching clinics. The same group of girls began their journey in Rugby 7’s playing in the South-West Series, Downs Rugby Competition at Gold Park in Term 4, 2018. I recall this very first game where our team comprised of Year 7/8 girls vs Downlands College. A big storm swept through just as the game began and we all were thoroughly drenched. This did not dampen their spirits and we went on for the rest of this season with a really good show in the competition.

I never would have imagined that this young team of Year 7 girls would go on to be one of the longest coaching appointments that I have ever experienced. This year, these girls will graduate Year 12, and we will play our final games in the Darling Downs Independent Schools Girls Rugby Competition. This gives me time to reflect on the 7 years of coaching this young team, not just for the players, but also for myself. I have joked with the team this year that other than my teaching job at OLSCC over the past 10 years, this coaching gig has been the second longest job I have held.

It has been loads of fun, very rewarding and amongst this, we have experienced some excellent success at the Southwest Sevens, QIS, and Scots College Carnivals. I would like to thank all the parents and grandparents who have attended these tournaments over the last 6 years. It has been encouraging to have your support, but mostly, I would like to thank the players for being highly motivated, great sports and a very coach-able group of young people. As we will play our last two games in Week 7 at Downlands against Scots College and Downlands College, it will most likely be in front of very few spectators and very little fanfare. I would like all the girls to recall all their great successes and the example they have set for all the younger girls who now play because of their excellent standards of grace, humility, encouragement and success as a Rugby 7’s team.

Dean Garside

2013 - Under 13's first game - Gold Park

2022 - Open team's last game - Toowoomba Anglican School

2023 - Open team's second last game - Downlands

Speech and Drama Eisteddfod

What an amazing turn out we had for our Speech and Drama Eisteddfod this year. We had a large range of students competing from Early Years all the way through to Senior Years. It’s amazing to see so many students participating in The Arts – even the adjudicator was delighted to see it!

Many celebrations are to be had with our great results. Most students have been working towards this Eisteddfod all term, if not longer. Every student should be proud of their dedication and effort, regardless of the results. We can’t wait to see even more entries next year!

This week we held the winners concert and had a number of our students were selected to perform their winning pieces. We had both the Year 1 and Year 3 students invited. Lucy Bennie was also asked to perform her character recital, Lucy Scott her Humorous Verse Speaking and Nadine Garside performed her character recital.

To top off a brilliant night, we walked away with three (!) trophies!

Year 3 were named Best Overall Verse Speaking Choir

Lucy Bennie won the Primary Speech Champion

Nadine Garside received the Encouragement Award

Delicious and Delightful Festival

Mrs Sullivans classes were a whirlwind of colour and paint over the last few weeks as our students, who opted in, painted their lanterns for the Delicious and Delightful Festival.

The Delicious and Delightful festival is on this Saturday 26 August. We are looking forward to showcasing our lanterns in the parade. 

Students who have made a lantern are to make their way to the lantern assembly area at 6:30pm - the MC will announce this. This area is along the pathway towards Patrick Street, but we are sure that you won't miss all the lanterns. There will be a number of our staff to help you find your child's lantern which will have their name on it. Please remain with your child until the parade begins and collect them immediately upon completion of the parade. Alternatively, you are welcome to walk with your child. 

To help make it a little easier to find lanterns this year, we have written students names on the top of the lantern, colour coded depending on their year level.

Prep: Green

Year 1: Red

Year 2: Blue

Year 3: Purple

Year 4: Yellow/Orange

Year 5-12: Black

We are looking forward to this wonderful celebration of our community. 

Miss Tamara Creeley

Middle Leader Culture

School Based Apprenticeships

Term 3 has experienced several School Based Apprenticeships offered to year 10 and 11 students from the college. Congratulations to these following students.

Samuel Hands, Year 10 – School Based Apprenticeship Certificate (III) in Cabinet Making at Golden West Joinery.

Ella Garvey, Year 10 – School Based Apprenticeship, Certificate (III) in Early Childhood Education at Kids Club, Dalby.

 Lachlan Jacobson, Year 10 – School Based Apprenticeship, Certificate (III) Diesel Mechanic, Woodlands Mechanical.

Martha Hiku, Year 11 – School Based Apprenticeship, Certificate (III) Hairdressing, Pascal and Co.

UNIVERSITY OPEN DAYS 2023

JCU Virtual Open Day 

Virtual Open Day                                       Tuesday 12 September 2023, 3pm – 7 pm - Register online 

2023 JCU Virtual Open Day 

Australian Catholic University 

Brisbane                                                       Saturday 26 August 2023, 10am – 2pm 

ACU Brisbane Open Day 

Early Offer applications open               24 July – 18 September 2023 

Apprenticeship Opportunities

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 licence is preferred. Please see Mr. Garside for further details.

QBuild Career Opportunities –

Exciting Apprenticeship Opportunities with QBuild (mailchi.mp) 

Mr Dean Garside

Career Development Practitioner

The Optiminds critical and creative thinking challenge will take place this weekend in Toowoomba. This year, we have two teams taking on the challenge. Best of luck to:-

Thankyou to Miss Blair and Mrs Workman for guiding these teams through the Optiminds process. The teams have only had six weeks since being notified of the official challenge, and have worked diligently to creatively solve the problems put to them, giving up afternoons and lunch hours to do so. In addition to the prepared challenge, students will also participate in a spontaneous challenge, where their teamwork and collaboration will be put under the spotlight. We look forward to hearing the outcomes from Sunday!