In the mornings and afternoons, students are coming and going from the front of the College either on foot, by bicycle, by bus or parent pick up and it is often very busy and congested. At this time, it is paramount that all parents and students observe our Traffic Management procedure to ensure safety of everyone in our community. It is a proven statistic that pedestrian accidents occur as a result of obscured visibility so we must ensure that vehicles and people are being directed in the correct manner. Buses coming in and out of the semi circular drive can impede vision so we do not want students in the internal car parking area under any circumstances.

• The semi circular driveway and internal car park is NOT FOR STUDENT DROP OFF OR PICK UP at any time.
• Parents dropping off and picking up students should use the car parks on Nicholson Street only and should never enter the staff car park or semicircular drive way during this time.
• Students should only cross Nicholson Street via the Pedestrian Crossings. The crossing near the Prep area is manned by the Crossing Supervisor from 8.05 to 8.50am and 3.00 to 3.30pm every day to ensure absolute safety during this busy time.
• Students on bicycles are to remain dismounted whilst leaving the College car parking area. Bicycles should be pushed along the footpaths until clear of people and cars.
• Students catching buses are supervised at the bottom of the Plaza ramps whilst they wait for boarding.

We ask that all parents observe this procedure to ensure the safety of our students and staff. 

Welcome Back to Our Lady of the Southern Cross College

What relief it was to see our 553 students streaming back into the College on Tuesday and Wednesday!  In the past weeks, we have been flat out as we prepared for an amazing year ahead, though there was much excitement in getting all our people back together in one place.  This year we welcome 49 new Prep students to the College, as well as many other students who have had a change of school over the break.  I have been most impressed by the manner in which the entire College has begun the year in earnest.  Today I had the joy of seeing all of our Faith Development lessons in the high school (Religious Education, Religious Education & Ethics and Study of Religion) taking place the same time across yellow, blue and gold block.  The alignment of the religious life of the College through our new Living Your Faith program is already very rigorous and was a great privilege to see the great collective capacity of our staff in delivering a very high standard of Faith Development. 

This year we have the mantra “Every Child, Every Chance” and the rigour of the classroom learning as well as the professional attitude and aptitude of staff means this is certainly being lived up to.  There will be plenty of information for the new year coming home via class newsletters, Dojo and email, though please remember and commicate with your friends that the primary mode of communication to parents is through SchoolZine.  This can be accessed online or via the SZApp.  We also use Facebook to communicate some successes, challenges and important information to get the message out.  I encourage all parents to get onboard with at least the SZapp to ensure that they are not missing out on any important news and updates.

Our Strategic Agenda

Below are the 5 components of our strategic agenda for 2019.  We have a very pointed agenda and based on our progress in student learning outcomes from 2018, we strive for continual improvement as a College, and as individuals.   

Visible Learning: Developing assessment-capable learners through the implementation of effective feedback and other high yield strategies.

Senior Schooling: Successful implementation of the new QCAA syllabuses units 1 and 2 whilst also maintaining focus on last cohort of Year 12 students for educational success.

LYF: Enhance the Catholic Identity of the College through the development and implementation of Living Your Faith (LYF)

Quality Leadership and Wellbeing: To develop a College culture that is progressive, aligned strongly to a succinct strategic agenda, strives for excellence, and expects professional performance from all staff.

Quality Leadership: To create predictability and clarity regarding systems, processes and the allocation of resources to attain the strategic direction and maintain a high standard of facilities at the College.

Within this agenda there are some key organisation and educational changes which will affect parents and carers and as such, I include a very brief outline of some key aspects as the year begins:

Uniform – our expectations have shifted slightly as per the multiple communications via multiple modes at the end of the 2018 school year.  The biggest changes are that Year 5 will now wear the Middle Years uniform (with 2018 as a grace period – so either uniform is acceptable), we are following through with the expectation regarding uniform standards and joggers must be predominantly black with only red or white trim.  We also expect that boys from Years 5-12 have their shirts tucked in, and all boys have their sock up.  Girls in formal uniform are expected to have their top button done up also.  For more information please read the policy under Back to School on the website.

Digital Enhancement – Ove the holidays, 40 interactive panels were installed in classrooms and wiring was corrected to enable digital enhancement of the curriculum.  Teachers have also started their training in using a Learning Management System called CANVAS.  With these enabling tools we can begin teaching in ways in which students will be expected to work when they graduate.  We are developing 21st Century Learners with 21st Century Skills. Feel free to have a look in the classrooms and ask a teacher to tell you about them – they’re pretty amazing and will allow all board work to be saved for later reference.  Students with laptops (see below) will also be able to access this information for revision and consolidation at any time using CANVAS on their laptops.

Years 7-12 student laptops – Wowsers – what a journey!  The laptops are here and ready.  We are awaiting the cases, identification labels and the finalisation of the Family Zone software before rolling out as soon as possible, likely next Friday or early Week 3.  It is quite the task to have the College prepared for such a transformation and I would like to acknowledge the work of all of external providers as well as Mrs Kuruilaca, Mr Sankey and Mr Alikutty for their vigilance and dedication in getting us to where we are.  Like I mentioned plenty of times last year, this is not simply about rolling out a bunch of computers to students, its about recreating the way we work and think to enhance the curriculum for the benfit of our students’ learning.  Tomorrow afternoon Mr Hodge and I will talk to all Year 7-12 students regarding the laptops and how they are to be used, as well as the general use of IT at the College, including mobile phones.  Please note, from when the laptops are handed to students, all mobile phones must have Family Zone installed in order to be permitted on site.  On 5 February, all Year 7-12 parents will receive a log in to Family Zone including an invitation to a webinar on the 7 Feb.  This is a great tool to ensure the cybersafety and responsible use of IT for our students and families.

College Leadership

Our College now has 3 sectors, Early Years (P-4), Middle Years (5-8) and Senior Years (9-12).  Each sector has an Assistant Principal, Mrs Walton, Mr Gillespie and Mr Hodge, and students will be grouped in these sectors for all activities, events and assemblies.  It creates greater clarity and organisation for our College and already this year we have noticed the impact on the administration of the College and the clarity of our purpose.   Should you have any issues, feedback, compliments, questions or queries, your first port of call for communication is your child’s teacher.  If they have multiple teachers, ask any of them.  Your next port of call is the Assistant Principal for the Sector.  You can call the office to speak to them or make a time with the staff in the front office and they will get back to you as soon as possible. 

There will be more about our exciting 2019 journey in faith and knowledge to come in the next newsletter.  I trust everyone had a great start to the school year, and we all look forward to seeing you soon!

Peter Cuskelly

Principal

Welcome back to the 2019 academic year.  What a fabulous start we have had!  There have been many physical changes to the classroom technology over the holidays and staff and students are enjoying seeing how the new boards enhance the learning environment of our College.  We look forward to showing this to our wider community in the coming weeks.  A warm welcome to our new students and new families to our College this year.  

Lord Jesus, I ask for Your help as I begin this new school year.  

Allow me to experience Your presence in the many blessings You put before me.  

Open my eyes to the new challenges and exciting opportunities that this new school year brings.  

Open my heart and mind to new friends and new teachers.  

Give me a generous spirit to be enthusiastic with my studies and courage to accept new opportunities.  

Help me to be attentive to my teachers and let me experience Your presence in my new friends.  

Jesus, inspire me to do my best this year!

Amen 

LYF @ OLSCC 

At OLSCC, all students contribute to the religious life of our Catholic College.  They do this in numerous ways and at different levels; for example by their active involvement in the liturgical and prayer life of the College, House days and knowledge of College Icons and more formally through the key learning area of Religion.  Every child in Prep - Year 12 studies Religious Education for a minimum of 2.5 hours per week.  In Prep – Year 10, the RE program delivers the Religious Education Curriculum developed by Archdiocese of Brisbane.  Currently, in Year 11 & 12, students choose between Religion & Ethics (REE) and Study of Religion (SOR).  As we move into the new Senior School Assessment system in 2019, all Year 11 & 12 (2020) students will study the subject of REE and have the option to choose SOR as one of their electives.   

In 2019, we have added further layers to our Religion program through the implementation of the LYF program.  Over the next few weeks in the Newsletter I will explain all the elements of the LYF program. 

Our goal through the LYF program: 

Living Your Faith (LYF) Program aims to make the Reign of God a reality, where every student comes to know and experience Jesus in their lives and community through action-based faith. As students journey in their faith and knowledge from P-12, this critical reflection and response model provides the skill-set of translating the gospel messages in our time and place. This thereby cultivates a transformative culture where students know the value of their own lives and contribute positively to our community right into adulthood. This is achieved by the implementation of key components of Religious Education / Faith Development, House Connect / Year Level Connect / Assembly, Making Jesus Real (MJR) / Praxis and Re-creation. 

Commencement Mass & Academic Assembly 

DATE CLAIMER: Wednesday – Week 3 – 13 February at 12:20pm in the Multi-purpose Centre. 

Cate Brennan

Deputy Principal Mission

As part of our welcome to families, the College Leadership team had Urban Paddock park their coffee van outside the Junior School entrance on Wednesday morning to make free coffee for all the mums, dads and grandparents who were dropping off their students and first day Preppies.

All the College Leadership members (except for Mrs Walton who was very busy welcoming the new Preps) met with families and introduced themselves over great cup of coffee from Urban Paddock. Staff also enjoyed a great cuppa to get thier day started while mingling with members of our College Community and families.

Welcome back to a new school year and, in particular, a warm welcome to our new families and those students entering Year 9 as they become part of the Senior Years community. We look forward to supporting our students this year as they develop greater independence and self-reliance in their education. 

It has been very exciting to see all students settle quickly into their lessons and to start building relationships with their new teachers. All parents should anticipate an email from their child’s teacher outlining each subject and the expected classroom behaviours over the coming weeks.

Ingredients to Success in the Senior Years
During our first sector assembly for the year, I discussed the key qualities that define our students in the Senior Years at Our Lady of the Southern Cross College. We will be discussing these qualities throughout the year as they are imperative in the development of each student in this stage of their educational journey. The qualities are:

Gratitude
Respect
Excellence
Perseverance
Independence

I have spoken to a number of students from Years 9 -12 who are encouraged by our focus on these qualities, as they are also a reflection of our College’s purpose, vision and mission.  In my mind, they are some of the key ingredients to achieving success in the Senior Years.

Uniforms and Grooming
As highlighted in previous newsletters and on the College App, there have been some slight changes to the Uniform Policy. Additionally, I have outlined the expectations for Senior Years students regarding the correct wearing of their uniform. I ask for parents’ support of these expectations.

• Boys must have their formal uniform shirt tucked in and socks pulled up all year round. Ties are only worn in Terms 2 & 3
• Girls must have their top button done up when wearing their formal uniform
• Black leather shoes must be polished regularly
• Students are required to wear the correct hat when they are not under the cover of a building

I have been very impressed with the way that students have been wearing their uniforms. The appearance of each student reflects on the individual and on our College as a whole. Students should check that each and every aspect of their uniform and grooming meets school requirements and displays pride in our College.

Communication and Pastoral Concerns
Throughout the year, parents are encouraged to communicate with their child’s subject teachers as an initial point of contact for any pastoral or academic matters. For further pastoral or academic matters, please contact me through the College’s Administration or by email matthew.hodge@twb.catholic.edu.au

I certainly look forward to working with the Senior Years students, staff and parents in 2019. I wish all our students a fulfilling and successful year.

Matt Hodge
Assistant Principal Senior Years

We have had a wonderful start to the year. Students have arrived with a willingness to begin with enthusiasm. This is my opportunity to introduce my self as the Acting Assistant Principal Middle Years. The restructuring of the College Leadership has provided for focus on this very important time in your child’s development. Assisting me in my position is Jodie Biggar who is the Middle Leader for Years 5 to 8. Working in partnership with us is a group of motivated and experienced teachers with the goal of making positive impacts on all children in their classes.

Your son or daughter will have been coming home talking about changes that are happening around the College. Some relate to the image of the College and how we are perceived by students, staff and the wider community. The boys have been instructed to have their shirts tucked in and their socks up; the phasing in of the predominantly black sport shoes during first term and the movement of the Year 9 cohort over to the Senior Plaza where their lockers are now situated. Changes in this area are more about habit and our students will adjust quickly. We are also developing our classroom practices.

We continue our push towards the full implementation of the “Visible Learning” strategies across the College. This mode of instruction is vitally important in the Middle Years when children are becoming young adults. The College has purchased and installed state of the art electronic boards in the classrooms. The capacity of these as teaching and learning tools will continue to become apparent as staff and students explore the capabilities of the technology. Connected with this area of advancement is the role out of the 1 to 1 Laptops in Years 7-12. This is a major step forward for teaching and learning as we truly move towards a digital classroom. The students have been excited to learn that the laptops they will be allocated are very well appointed with the latest technologies.

Students will have received their diaries in class yesterday. This, and the College website, are important avenues for students and parents to find out the various expectations that will impact the students during their time at school. If there is something that is unclear or you or your child is unsure of please contact their teacher. Please also contact me as the head of the Middle Years if the need arises.

I hope to meet you all during the year; the building of strong positive relationships between the College and home is very important. Open lines of communication are the key to creating an environment that is safe and productive. The start to the year has been excellent and the possibilities for the future look positive. Let’s have a great 2019 in the Middle Years.

Steve Gillespie

Acting Assistant Principal Middle Years.

Junior

Inter House Swimming Carnival

The Under 9 to Under 12 (Born 2010 – 2007) Swimming Carnival will be held next Thursday morning, 7 February and should finish by 1.00pm. Buses will leave the College at 8.50am. All students who are swimming in the 100m Freestyle event need to be ready for a 8.45am start. It will be best if these students get dropped off at the pool and do not catch the bus. Order of Events for the Carnival is 100m Freestyle, 12.5m Kickboard, 12.5m Freestyle, 25m Freestyle, 50m Freestyle, 25m Backstroke, 50m Backstroke, 25m Breaststroke, 50m Breaststroke, 25m Butterfly, 50m Butterfly and Relays. Programs will be available at the College office on Wednesday.

Catholic Schools Swimming Carnival

The Catholic Schools Swimming Carnival will be held on Thursday, 14 February at the Dalby Aquatic Centre. Students will be notified shortly after the school carnival if they have been selected to attend.

Bunya District Swimming Trials

The Bunya District Under 9-12 Years Swimming Trials will be held on Thursday, 21 February at the Dalby Aquatic Centre. Students who meet qualifying times to attend this carnival will be notified after our school carnival.

Secondary

Inter House Swimming Carnival

The 13- 18 Years Swimming Carnival will be held next Friday 8 February from 9.00am to 2.30pm. Buses will leave the College at 8.50am. Order of Events is 100m Freestyle, 25m Freestyle, 50m Freestyle, 25m Backstroke, 50m Backstroke, Boys Belly Flop Competition, Girls Bomb Dive Competition, 200m Individual Medley, 25m Breaststroke, 50m Breaststroke, 25m Butterfly, 50m Butterfly, All Age Relay, House Captains / Staff Relay. Programs will be available at the College Office on Wednesday.

Darling Downs Swimming Trials

The Darling Downs 13-18 Years Swimming Trials will be held in Gatton on Tuesday 5 March. Students who wish to attend these trials are to see Mr Lincoln for more information.

Touch Football

Season 1 of the Dalby Touch Football Competition starts on Monday 4 February for the Open Mixed Team (Stingers) and Wednesday 6 February for the Under 15 Boys (Makanana’s) and Under 15 Girls Team (Vipers). Students interested in playing in these teams need to sign on via the Sports Notice Board and are invited to play in the first two rounds of the Dalby Touch Competition. If required trials maybe held to finalise teams after these two rounds. The draw for the games will appear on the Dalby Touch Football website. Any queries please see Mr Lincoln.

Athletics

Congratulations to Harry for his selection in the Queensland All Schools Athletics team. The National Athletics Championships were held in Cairns in December. Harry placed 11th in the 400m Hurdles and 15^th in the 110m Hurdles. Well done on your efforts to achieve the results you did and best of luck in 2019.

Netball

The Laura Geitz Netball Competition will be held in Toowoomba on Sunday 17 February. This is for Girls in Year 7-9. The College will be sending one team to attend this carnival. Girls interested in playing need to sign up via the Sports Notice Board.

Inner Downs Cluster 1 Trials

• These Trials will be held on Tuesday 12 February in Dalby
• Sports Involved will be U15 Boys and U15 Girls Touch Football, Open Boys and Open Girls Touch Football, Open Boys and Open Girls Tennis
• Boys interested in attending Open Cricket Trials will possibly go straight through to the Darling Downs Trials
• Inner Downs Teams will be selected to attend the Darling Downs Trials on 19 February
• Students interested in attending need to sign on via the Sports Notice Board.

Darling Downs Cluster 1 Trials

• Students will nominate directly to Darling Downs Trials in Open Girls Softball Boys Baseball and Boys and Girls Volleyball.
• Students interested in attending need to sign on via the Sports Notice Board.
• Travel will be via Private Transport

Tim Lincoln

Sports Coordinator

College Photographs will take place next week on Tuesday and Wednesday. Every child was handed an envelope for photo orders last week. These are to be handed to Queensland School Photography staff at the time your child's photograph is to be taken. Please do not hand them in to the College Office or your child's class teacher.

For their photograph, students should be wearing full formal uniform including ties for boys and girls from Year 5 on wards, belts for boys from Year 5 on wards, shoes should be polished and hair should be neat and tidy.

A timetable of when your child will be required for their photograph is available by clicking on the tab below. We have also included the instructions that were sent out last week on Schoolzine on how to order photographs from Queensland School Photography.

We would like to welcome our two Japanese exchange students, Yosuke Inagaki and Sarina Kakegawa who will be attending the College for all of Term 1.

Yosuke, aged 16 comes from Iharaki in Japan and travels to school each day by train which is a journey of one hour. Sarina is lucky to live in Tokyo and she rides a bicycle to school.

Both students are enjoying their time at the College so far and have found people to be very friendly. Yosuke was asked what food he likes to eat that is different to his usual cuisine in Japan and he says he loves wraps for lunch. Sarina has visited the shops in Dalby and says she would like to see a Koala.

Yosuke commented that our College is very large and flexible and he enjoys Maths and says he is able to keep up with the Maths lessons so far. Sarina likes English and is looking forward to improving over the next Term.

Welcome Sarina and Yosuke.

The artworks or the intention to nominate for the Bell Art Exhibition 2019 are due to Mrs McArthur, please no later than end of Week 1 at first break (Friday 2 February). Students are to write first and last name and year level on back in pencil please.

Artworks can be any topic, 2D media but A4 or A3 size as I will need to frame them (I have more A3 frames though). Entry is free. 

Gala Opening and Presentation of Awards is Saturday 23 February at 7 pm at Bell Memorial Public Wall, Wallace Street. All welcome. Exhibit runs for a week up to Saturday 2 March. 

Bell Show - Photography Competition is due at the same time. Photos have a 20c entry fee for each photo. 

Photos - 6" x 4", with name and address of exhibitor on the back of the mount at top left corner with class number. 

Section K- Photography

Junior Section (15 years and under)

K32 Weather

K33 People

K34 Any other subject

K35 Animal

K36 Special Occasion (Wedding, Birthday, Christmas, Christening etc)

Art is made to be shown

Bronwyn McArthur

Visual Arts Teacher

Thursday 7 February

Under 9 Under 12 (Born 2010 – 2007) Carnival 8.45am – 1.00pm

• This will involve students from Year 3-7
• All students who are swimming in the 100m Freestyle event need to be ready for a 8.45am start. It will be best if these students get dropped off at the pool and do not catch the bus.
• Order of Events for the Carnival is 100m Freestyle, 12.5m Kickboard, 12.5m Freestyle, 25m Freestyle, 50m Freestyle, 25m Backstroke, 50m Backstroke, 25m Breaststroke, 50m Breaststroke, 25m Butterfly, 50m Butterfly and Relays.

Friday 8 February

Under 13 – Open (Born 2006 – 2000) Carnival 9.15am – 2.45pm 

• This will involve students from Year 7-12
• Students in Year 7 born in 2007 will remain at school with an alternate academic program for the day.
• Order of Events is 100m Freestyle, 25m Freestyle, 50m Freestyle, 25m Backstroke, 50m Backstroke, Boys Belly Flop Competition, Girls Bomb Dive Competition, 200m Individual Medley, 25m Breaststroke, 50m Breaststroke, 25m Butterfly, 50m Butterfly, All Age Relay, House Captains / Staff Relay.

General Information

• Buses will leave the College at 8.50am
• Programs will be available at the College office on Wednesday.
• These carnivals are not a day off school and ALL students are expected to attend and participate in some events on the day
• Parents please feel free to come and enjoy the day with us. We are looking forward to your company during the Carnival.
• Students are encouraged to SLIP, SLOP, SLAP, SEEK and SLIDE all day. Body Paint and Streamers are not permitted as it can damage the filtration system of the pool but all other sunscreen is fine. This will also be supplied at the pool for student use. Constant application is encouraged.
• Students are encouraged to wear their house colours
• Parents must report to Mrs Tracey Boland at the first aid tent before taking their child home.
• The Carnival is meant to be full of fun and cheering and can only be a success if the students are willing to participate and get in and have a go.

Schoolzine

Each week, we will highlight some of the great features that we can now enjoy with the use of Schoolzine as our communications platform.

• Syncing - You can go to the College Calendar and sync any of our events directly to your own mobile device. You can then set up reminders that you can personalise to make sure you don't forget any of our important College events.

This week we have iuncluded the Commencement Mass in the Newsletter as an important whole College event. Simply go to that event article and click on sync and you will have that date uploaded directly to your calendar on your own device.

Tuckshop

Please see the timetable below to find out who is rostererd as the patty cake baker and volunteer in the Tuckshop each week. If you would like to volunteer your time to help in the Tucskhop or to bake patty cakes, please see Mrs Chalmers or Mrs Crump, our Tusclshop convenors.

Tennis Anyone?

Group & Private lessons are now available with the #1 tennis academy in the Western Downs.

We offer coaching for students of all ages & standards every day of the week.

Want to play matches? – we have junior match play options available too.

Contact Ben Campbell – Head Coach – for further information

m: 0414 645 916 e: coaching@faultless.net.au or find us on Facebook (Faultless Tennis)

We look forward to seeing you on court soon.

Student Protection Contacts 

College Staff

• Nicholas Blauw
• Melissa Irwin
• PeterCuskelly
• Luke Holmes

TCS Staff

• Peter Simpson
• Barbara Woods