It has been a great two weeks since our last newsletter! Returning to the College after my long service leave it didn’t take long to appreciate all over again just how grateful we should be for the amazing community we have here at OLSCC. I am constantly told by visitors to our College what an amazing place we have here – how it just feels different to other schools. I believe it’s a culmination of the little things that make our College such a wonderful place to learn, work and play everyday. Maybe it’s just the way our students welcome and greet people to our College, maybe it’s the importance placed on our College values and the Catholic Social Teachings that is exemplified in the attitudes of our community. Maybe it is that through Religious Education and service learning (or Praxis) that students come to a realisation that the world is not all about them, and there is something greater than themselves. It could also be the close connection between adults and students – where names are known, relationships are strong, and support is both mutual and responsive. It could be that our teachers know, develop and deliver the curriculum in ways that mechanised curriculum simply cannot replicate. But then, it could be a million other things too. Whatever it is, it sure is affirming to return to the College and embrace the wholistic education we provide here at OLSCC.

Engaged students, learning

The first pillar in Toowoomba Catholic Schools Strategic Plan is Engaged students, learning. When I look around the College I am excited by the manner in which students are engaged in their education as well as in College life. This has been a distinct focus for many years at OLSCC and is something we are extremely proud of. It is also the cornerstone of creating wellbeing for our students – by giving them purpose and meaningful work and interactions. 

In the past two weeks, there have been plenty of opportunities for engagement in learning and life that our students have embraced. The high levels of uptake and participation is certainly evidence of why we are a good choice for our community. For us, engaging students is the foundation to both wellbeing and academic success, and what sets us apart from the majority of schools in the Darling Downs and beyond. In the last 9 days, some amazing examples of what we have provided for our students includes the following:

• QCIS cross country – one of many QCIS opportunities provided throughout the year – capably lead for all schools by Mr Lincoln
• QCIS Secondary Netball
• Musical rehearsal (Camp Rock – 8/9 August: Save this date in your calendar!)
• Year 10 Retreat w/- unOther
• Instrumental Music with specialist Guitar, Performing Arts and Piano teachers
• Staff extended twilight professional development with unOther.
• Confraternity Rugby League preparation
• QISSN Netball preparation
• Year 6 Outback Camp
• Year 9 Leadership Camp

Our students also had a great time participating in local events and competitions such as:

• Bunya District Sporting Trials such as Cross Country and Touch Football
• Inner Downs and Darling Downs trials
• Darling Downs Rugby League Competition for Under 13, Under 15 and Open teams
• Darling Downs Independent Schools Netball (Under 13 and Under 15)
• Busy at Work Career Evening

And all this in just the first 9 days! 

2026

Because of what we offer, our standards and expectations, and the safe supportive learning environment we provide for our students and staff every day, we find ourselves in high demand for 2026. It looks as though we are expecting well over 700 students already, and to be honest, we are simply running out of room in many year levels. Our first round for applications has closed and those with applications submitted will be contacted shortly for interviews and we will offer enrolment where possible. 

It is important to note that we staff and organise our College differently to many schools in the local area. It is now, in Term 2 where we determine the class structure for the following year, and develop the teaching staff team, as well as the buildings, resources, technology and budget so we are sure we can continue delivering the environment and education that we continue to provide. 

Based on our enrolment applications so far, we have very few positions remaining for Prep, Year One, and all year levels Year 4 - Year 10 for 2026. This includes Year 7. For it to be sustainable to open a third stream for Year 7 more enrolments are required. Should we not reach the target for a third stream, unfortunately there will only a few spots available which students from small state schools and other catholic schools will receive priority.

Therefore, if you, or any family or friends would like OLSCC as an option for a high-quality education, please get your enrolment applications in as soon as possible. As mentioned above, this is especially important for all year levels Year 4 - Year 10, especially Year 7, as well as Prep (currently interviewing and almost at capacity), and Year 1. Please contact our office if you would like to come and have a tour to see what the learning environment is like.

Farewell

Yesterday we farewelled Mr Bharath Vajram, our IT Support Officer for the past two years. He has a wonderful plan involving much travel and starting a cricket bat empire, and I am sure he is going to thoroughly enjoy himself as he takes some well-earned time away from work. Bharath has been an excellent member of staff, always giving of himself and placing others before himself. He has been flexible, thorough, and committed to solving the IT problems at the College for the benefit of learning. We thank Bharath for his support and wish him all the very best!

Next week Miss Laura Richter begins her maternity leave - what an exciting time for her and her family! We wish Laura, Andrew, and their families all the best of health and good fortune as they venture into the wonderful adventure, they call parenthood. Enjoy this special time!

As our OSHC families have heard this week, Miss Tahlia Tuite is stepping down as our OSHC co-ordinator for personal reasons. Tahlia has done a wonderful job growing our OSHC for both outside of school hours care and vacation care since starting here. Toowoomba Catholic Kindergartens and Care are recruiting a replacement for Tahlia at the moment. Tahlia will continue with the service as an educator, so we will still see plenty of her around the place!

Welcome

On Monday 28 April, we welcomed to our community, Mr Shijumon Elias, our new IT Support Officer. After a busy few weeks learning the ropes, he is now taking the reins until a replacement for Bharath is appointed over the coming weeks. Shijumon has already been a great addition to our team and look we forward to all he will contribute to our College in the future. Welcome Shijumon!

We will also have a very exciting announcement for a recently recruited teacher starting in the Senior Years in coming weeks. Secondary parents please keep an eye on your email next week!

We are currently recruiting for the following positions:

Coach Driver

ICT Support Officer

If you know anyone that would suit these positions, please encourage them to apply!

Staff Happenings

Mrs Cate Brennan is today and yesterday attending the Association of Catholic Secondary Schools of Queensland (ACSSQ) Conference – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is the focus. In a message from Cate yesterday she was so excited to be attending the conference, with many ideas and ways of working she cannot wait to share with us all. It is through engagement with educational experts and people with experience on the ground, that we continue to challenge our thinking to be the best we can!

Next week I am off to Goondiwindi to collaborate with Principals in our Diocese as well as staff from the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office! The TCS Leadership Forum is a time for all Principals to reflect, share, engage and strategise to align our practices and understandings of Diocesan initiatives. I look forward to new learnings and planning. Cate will be Deputising during this time.

This week I am attending a conference with other Catholic Secondary Principals and Deputy Principals on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. This follows an amazing day and evening working with our students and staff and an organisation ‘unOther’ earlier this week. On Tuesday our Year 10 students were blessed with the opportunity to attend their retreat led by unOther, which was followed in the evening of a staff retreat with their team. Why did we choose to work with unOther? In their words – our world is so often framed in terms of Us and Them. This framing is at the root of injustice, because it supports the idea that certain people are in some way, less than me. They are ‘the other’. unOther is about learning to look past the labels that shape ‘Us and Them’. unOther is about learning to explore the world as a connected community where all share an innate dignity. This amazing organisation is led by a team who do not let societal labels of disability limit their world, they immerse others and give another perspective to transform our thinking. We live in an imperfect world and opportunities like this retreat and this conference broaden our knowledge, our experience and challenge ‘norms’. It is a privilege to work in education and part of this privilege is to continue to learn alongside our students so I too can grow in my understanding and create positive connections with others. I look forward to sharing more of my learnings in the future.

Assessment and Reporting

As we reach the middle of our term next week, students are working on their unit assessments. We use the Australian Curriculum to guide our teaching and assessment and offer multiple opportunities for our students to express their learning and progress through both formative and summative assessment. At the conclusion of each semester our College will provide a written report for all students based on their summative assessment from throughout the semester. The Semester 1 report card shows the progress of your child. The purpose of reporting is to improve student learning. It provides an opportunity for parents/legal guardians to engage meaningfully in the learning journey of their child. Academic Achievement is reported in the report card using a 5-point scale from A-E.

Our report cards will also include one Application and Attitude result for each Key Learning Area. This semester we will use a new single result for Application and Attitude using a 5-point scale. This change in scale aligns to the direction from Toowoomba Catholic Schools Teaching and Learning Framework. As staff we are excited about the change to a 5-point scale for Application and Attitude to Learning. We are working together to ensure clarity and consistency of understanding and use of this new scale. Below is an image that shows the new grading language and the scale definitions that best describe a student awarded each grade.

Ignite Conference 2025 

In 2025 on the 25 to the 28 September, Thursday afternoon to Sunday lunchtime, St Laurence’s College Brisbane will host the Ignite Conference 2025. Students and educators can join over 2,500 high schoolers, young adults, leaders, and other educators, at the Ignite Conference for a transformative four-day experience. This event offers real-world formation, faith renewal, and powerful worship, creating a vibrant community of believers. Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your faith and connect with others in a meaningful way. For more information please visit their website National Catholic Conference Brisbane — Ignite Conference 25

Our New Pope 

Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, was elected pope on 8 May, becoming the first US-born and second American pope. He brings a background of study in Rome, years of ministry in Peru, where he is a naturalised citizen, and leadership in the Augustinian Order. A multilingual canon lawyer and mathematician, he supports synodality and has served communities on the margins. His chosen name reflects a commitment to Catholic social justice, and his public support for migrants, climate action, and abuse survivors signals a continued focus on key global issues. In his first message, he called the Church to move forward united, without fear, guided by Christ. 

Prayer for Pope Leo XIV 

Faithful God, 
You guide us on the path of life 
and your goodness is our constant companion. 

Be with our new Shepherd, Pope Leo XIV, 
in his service of the Church. 
Fill him with the power of your Spirit, 
the peace of your presence 
and the compassion of Christ. 

May he walk with you, 
in wisdom and humility, 
and lead us, together with all God’s people, 
to embody your love for the world. 
Amen. 

Love One Another 

Carey Twidale

Kind Regards

Social Competencies in Maturing Minds

Social competence refers to the ability of an individual to interact effectively and appropriately with others in a range of social settings. It involves utilising a wide range of skills including effective communication, empathy for others, emotional understanding of oneself and others, and the ability to read social settings while understanding social cues and the body language of others. Basically, it is about having adequate social skills needed to develop and maintain positive relationships, manage conflict, and to participate effectively in social settings. School provides a great training ground to develop these skills in a safe and supportive environment. Nevertheless, this is a challenge for students, especially in the Middle Years, as they are maturing physically at a much faster rate than they are from a cognitive perspective.

The competencies can be categorised into five core groups:

• Self-awareness
• Self-management
• Responsible decision making
• Social awareness
• Relationship skills

These core competencies are critical in creating a holistic learning experience for students. They form the foundation upon which students develop well-rounded, empathetic, and adaptive approaches to life and learning. All students benefit from the development of these competencies as they mature through adolescence and into the workforce later in life.

• Self-awareness
  Recognising one’s own emotions, strengths, and limitations in and outside of the classroom is the foundation of self-awareness. Within school life, this awareness shapes a student’s understanding of how emotions impact their own thinking and how they impact others, nurturing self-confidence, and self-esteem.  
  
  
• Self-management
  This is an art form. Emotional regulation is tough, especially for younger students. Society has its share of adults who still struggle with this. Still, it is important we support students to develop this through reflective and restorative practices here at the College so that they can develop this core competency over time. Demonstrating patience is hard, and students are encouraged to voice their concerns when feeling confused and overwhelmed.
  
  
• Responsible decision making
  With support, students learn to shift their thinking from a naturally ego-centric perspective to one that is more community minded. They learn that every choice they make can resonate beyond their own personal space. Between the ages of 10 and 14, students need help to reflect in this way. With support from our staff, they explore how their decision-making impacts others and they evolve into more equitable and compassionate thinkers.
  
  
• Social awareness
  Students are encouraged to develop an outward curiosity, to immerse themselves in experiences where social interaction is ingrained. It’s through this experience, that the students being to develop the skills required to read social cues and the body language of others. This is an area where the over-use of technology has resulted in a decline in proficiency among students. Face-to-face communication and interaction are important experiences to develop greater social awareness.
  
  To assist students, we offer a wide range of activities during social time so that students can not only have choice and options to find “their people” but also to interact with a wide range of students that they otherwise may not have. From the wellbeing wagon with its chess sets, decks of cards, board games, music, and trivia games, to 9 Square in the Air, handball courts, the sporting equipment, and the huge expanse of the oval help to create opportunities for students to explore. We have also purchased an outdoor table tennis kit and new soccer goals that will be set up once they arrive.
  
  
• Relationship skills
  Through Praxis, House Connect, Year Level Connect and a number of curriculum subjects, students are provided with a wide range of opportunities to learn about and to develop relationship skills that will serve them well into adulthood. By engaging in genuine conversations, raising concerns, and respectfully resolving conflict strengthens a student’s interpersonal skills.

Now, you do not have to look too hard to find articles highlighting the impact of technology dependence and our youth. For example, Psychreg – a company that focuses on distributing resources on psychology, health, and wellness – shared one such article titled The Impact of Constant Tech Use on Social Skill and Mental Wellbeing. In the article, they highlight the growing evidence that technology can hinder the development of social competencies in students. As society continues to reduce the volume of face-to-face interactions, in-person communication skills and the development of a range of social competencies are also negatively impacted.

[Article: The Impact of Constant Tech Use on Social Skills and Mental Well-Being | Psychreg]

Importantly, the author David Radar (a psychologist from University of Hertfordshire), highlights that not all technology use is detrimental. Educational tools, moderated and managed social media platforms and usage, and collaborative digital projects can all support social learning when balanced with sufficient offline experiences.  

Like most things in life, it is all about finding the right balance and making some choices along the way. Today, I spoke to the studnets at assmbly about choices and the inevitable flow on effect of the decisions we make. The key message was, that the wonderful thing about the lives we live and the country we live in is the enormous amount of choice we get. But, with this choice, comes the concept of choosing your hard.

In every scenario, there is a degree of difficulty, but we can choose the type of hard we want. For instance, excuses may make today easier but they inevitably make tomorrow much harder. Discipline and committment make today a little harder, but they make tomorrow much easier.

For more on the concept of Choosing your hard feel free to check out this article: https://christinagiordano.com/what-it-means-to-choose-your-hard/

So, it is important for students to think deeply and then choose which type of hard they want in their life. As always, we will be there to support them every step of the way. 

School Camps 

In the last newsletter, I wrote about the value of school camps. From the off-site learning experiences to the personal growth opportunities. Well, this week our Year 6 students had bags packed and they departed Dalby early Sunday morning to begin their outback adventure. A 2,500km round trip, these young students go on a once in a lifetime adventure with their peers and teachers visiting Tambo, Blackall, Barcaldine, Longreach, Winton, and Charleville in an activity packed camp that also helps foster enormous growth in their independence.

While it all sounds like fun and games, this camp is also the longest camp we offer as a College, and they certainly also travel the greatest distance as well. This provides countless opportunities for problem solving, relationship building, conflict resolution, peer supported learning and growth in self-regulation. Then there are all the curriculum activities for Science, HASS, English etc … that fill out the itinerary as well.

Well done students for tackling this head on. I can’t wait to hear the stories. Below are some of the shared photos      

Welcome to the end of week 4, already. It seems that the weeks are flying past as we head towards assessments becoming due across the sector. With the last of the short weeks behind us, we can focus now on getting back into a 5-day routine.

Assessment Calendars and Exam Timetables

Year 9 to 12 Exam timetables for term 2 and all Assessment calendars for Semester’s 1 and 2 have been published via the Parent Portal and are available via the college website, Our Lady of the Southern Cross College (dalby.catholic.edu.au)

If you have any questions about assessment, please contact your child's classroom teacher or the relevant Middle Leader Curriculum.

Assessment Requirements

Our Lady of the Southern Cross is responsible for gathering evidence of student achievement on or before the due date for internal assessment instruments.

All students have electronic access to their assessment, and it is their responsibility to adhere to these due dates.

Students are responsible for planning and managing their time to meet the due dates.

Students and parents can contact teachers and Curriculum Leaders via phone or email. Teachers are not able to grant extensions directly with students and parents/carers.

Our Lady of the Southern Cross College is required to adhere to QCAA policies about due dates accepting assignments only on or before the due date unless an extension through AARA processes has been approved.  For example, a student who is absent due to family holidays will not be granted an extension for an assignment as this doesn’t meet the AARA guidelines set by QCAA. Any adjustments requested must be supported by medical or professional documentation.

Communication

Term 2 is well underway and it is important that we communicate between parents and staff. Parents are encouraged to make direct contact with your child’s teacher should you have any questions about how your students is progressing.

It is also supportive when staff are aware of the challenges facing students, just getting to school can be the biggest hurdle for some of our community which impacts on there mind set impeding the learning process.

We welcome the proactive communication that takes place from our parents to ensure we are able to support your child. Our staff are always willing to be proactive and support our students through positive communication with parents.

Toowoomba Catholic Schools - 2025 External Examination Preparation Program

Year 12’s and their parents will be sent a letter from Toowoomba Catholic Schools later this term outlining this year’s External Examination Program being held in the first week of the September School holidays. Toowoomba Catholic Schools are hoping to offer a similar program to last year (depending on student interest in the Diocese). When you receive the letter you will be asked to register and pay. As a College, we encourage you to attend this excellent preparation program for any of the subjects offered that students study.

Future Focus

At OLSCC we understand that this success doesn't come without its challenges. With assessment due dates upon us, it is essential to ensure students are giving themselves every chance to succeed. We encourage all our students to adopt healthy coping mechanisms and self-care practices to ensure they are looking after themselves. Balancing academics with self-care activities like exercise, mindfulness, and maintaining a proper sleep schedule can significantly contribute to your overall well-being and performance. Remember, your mental and emotional well-being are as important as your grades.

As part of this journey of excellence in our college, we strive to empower our students by fostering a sense of “Student Agency”. We empower students to take ownership of their learning and actively participate in decision-making processes. Students are not just passive recipients of knowledge but valuable contributors to their educational journey through their attendance and engagement at our college. Through student-led projects, personalized learning pathways, and general discussions, we aim to cultivate their critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and decision-making capacities. Through “Student Agency”, we are preparing our students to become lifelong learners and confident, responsible individuals ready to navigate the complexities of the world beyond.

With the upcoming Year 11 Leadership camp, many of our students across Years 11 and 12 have been reflecting on their own agency in making strong choices for their future and working towards their individual and cohort based goals.

Rodney Spain

Assistant Principal Senior Years

Shake and Stir

This week, our school had the pleasure of hosting the dynamic and talented team from Shake & Stir Theatre Co., who delivered an unforgettable day of drama, creativity, and learning.

The day began with a captivating performance tailored for our Early Years students, filled with energy, imagination, and interactive storytelling. The young audience was completely engaged, laughing and learning as the performers brought characters to life in a way that was both entertaining and educational.

Later in the day, Shake & Stir presented a second performance for our Year 7 and Year 8 Drama students. This show showcased the company’s signature blend of powerful storytelling, physical theatre, and clever stagecraft, leaving students inspired and eager to explore their own dramatic potential.

The highlight for many was the exclusive workshop for Year 8 Drama students, where they had the opportunity to work directly with the Shake & Stir team. The focus of the workshop was on characterisation, and students learned valuable techniques for building believable, dynamic characters on stage. Through a series of engaging activities and expert guidance, students deepened their understanding of physicality, voice, and motivation in performance.

This visit was not only a celebration of theatre but also a meaningful learning experience that will resonate with students for a long time. A huge thank you to Shake & Stir for sharing their passion and expertise with us!

Tamara Creeley