Parents, please note, next Friday, 5 April is a Pupil Free Day. The last day for Term 1 is Thursday, 4 April for all students from P to 12.

School recommences on Tuesday, 23 April. All Pupil Free Days for 2019 are listed below. Please mark them in your calendar or head to our Schoolzine Calendar and sync them to your own mobile device.

Friday, 5 April - Staff Professional Development and Planning

Friday, 28 June - Staff Professional Development and Planning

Friday, 2 August - Bishop's Inservice Day

Friday, 20 September - Staff Professional Development and Planning

Monday, 21 October - CTJ Day 

Thoughts with the Portbury Family

In recent weeks Sue Portbury, wife of Mr Col Portbury, has been diagnosed with breast cancer.  She has been blessed with the diagnosis and a proactive team who have been able to perform surgery on multiple occasions to remove the cancer and we await the news of future treatment to support her return to good health.  Mr Portbury has been absent in recent weeks as his family deals with this crisis and we have nothing but absolute support of Sue, Col, Hannah, Nick and Mitch in this difficult time. In his absence, Mr Shane Nott has taken a reprieve from his period of leave to support the Portburys and the College by stepping in and taking Col’s timetable.  We could not hope or wish for a better man to fulfil this for the continued learning of our students.  Please keep the Portburys in your prayers as we pray for a swift recovery for Sue.

 Prayer for Sue’s Healing

May you be wrapped up in God’s love,

Found deep in His everlasting wings,

Carried and kept, safe and cherished.

May the healing power of Christ

Breathe across your being now.

New Staff @ OLSCC

We are fortunate to be welcoming many staff as well as having a few changes in our staffing.  Firstly we welcome Mr Atesh Prasad from Toowoomba who has taken on the timetable of Mrs Tania Fraser who is shortly relocating to the Kyogle area to her farm.  We wish Mrs Fraser all the best as she transitions to a new home and welcome Mr Prasad to our great team!

We also welcome Miss Jade Manteit who will be starting in Year 2C from tomorrow in a handover with Mrs Martin.  Miss Manteit has many relatives in our area will be an asset to the teaching team at OLSCC. We also thank Mrs Martin for her flexibility and dedication in taking on the class since Miss Cleal’s departure.  Mrs Martin will return to the Learning Support role from the start of Term 2.

Mr Caine Wager will start Term 2 as our Early Years and Middle Years Music teacher, as well as teaching Instrumental Music (woodwind and brass) one day per week.  Timetables are tricky at present, though once these are finalised, letters will go out to all Instrumental Music students finalising arrangements for the remainder of the year. Mrs Garside will also continue 1 day per week teaching in the Early Years, after her great efforts with taking on the music role for the first term.

We also have 2 new grounds people at the College, Mr Andrew Petersen who started this week, and Mr David Kavney who starts on Monday.  Mr Petersen will focus on grounds and ovals, while Mr Kavney will be working on getting our gardens  back to their best.

Visible Learning in Action!

Please find below some snap of Visible Learning in Action from a quick walk-around the classes this morning!

Pete Cuskelly

Principal

As we grow closer to the end of term and the halfway point of Lent, we pray for patience and endurance: 

 Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, 

A heart to seek you, 

Wisdom to find you, 

Conduct pleasing to you, 

Faithful perseverance in waiting for you, 

And a hope of finally embracing you. 

--Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas 

Cate Brennan

Deputy Principal Religious Education

Term 1 is coming to a close and we have been able to work towards achieving many successes. We had Year 5 students present their Maths skills to the Middle Years cohort at a recent assembly. Reading Improvement Strategy has moved on from the strength it gathered in the P-6 classes in 2018 and is being implemented in the Year 7-9 areas with strategies being utilized through to Year 12. The majority of our students are working effectively in class and gaining the rewards associated with hard work and effort.

A focus at the moment for us is the development of the design for the Middle Years Plaza, an area to be constructed for the beginning of the 2020 school year. The students in Year 5 and 6 will be having a look at the design today or tomorrow. It will be fantastic to get their feedback as they have had input into the design through class discussion. While Middle Years Education relies on many elements, a feeling of ownership and belonging are very important. Having an area to call their own will be a big step forward in our implementation of the philosophy of effective strategies for students of this age.

As young people go through a time of discovering a new level of independence, they can struggle with their day to day interactions with others. Students at this stage of their development often act before they fully think about the outcomes and consequences of their words or actions. This often leads to times of disharmony and conflict. This week, we have promoted the idea of kindness, that we should all take the time to ask ourselves, "is what I am going to say or send 'honest, kind and necessary?'" We can relate this back to our Christ Values in the words of Matthew 7:12 “So in everything, do unto others what you would have them do to you.” In this modern world of electronic conversation, we need our children to understand that clicking send is the 21^st century signature. Some thought, at times, saves a lot of pain and hurt.

The holidays are upon us and this is time for students to recharge ready for Term 2. It is a time for them to enjoy their family and friends without the pressure of school and study. Encourage them to use this time to explore their passions. A smiling face is the sign of happiness that can be our best barometer of how they are feeling. Take the time to find activities that allow children to make the most of time away from school. At the end of the break we celebrate Easter and Christ’s resurrection, a time when we realise that Jesus lived, died and rose again so we can live together in a life that nurtures and supports all those around us. Enjoy the break.

Steve Gillespie

Acting Assistant Principal Middle Years

Junior

Inter House Cross Country

Times for the Junior School Cross Country are attached to the newsletter. Students may dress in House colours for the day. Urban Paddock Coffee Van will be on the College grounds for the morning.

Bunya District U12 Soccer Trials

Any boys or girls who wish to attend Bunya District Soccer Trials, please sign on via the Sports Notice Board. Trials will be held on Wednesday, 24 April. Depending on numbers, a school trial may need to be held before the Bunya Trials.

Touch Football

Congratulations to Carla Nobbs who has been selected in the Darling Downs U12 Girls Touch Football Team to attend the State Carnival in Longreach in August.

AFL

Congratulations to Gabby Banks, Chris Banks and Lachlan Jacobson who have been selected in the Darling Downs U12 AFL Teams for the State Championships in Brisbane in June.

Rugby League

Congratulations to the following boys selected in the combined Bunya District / Inner Downs Rugby League Teams to attend the Darling Downs Trials in April.

Under 11 – Taj Burke, Xavier Gibson

Under 12 –Tate Woodward

Tennis

Any Under 10-12 students interested in playing in a School Tournament on Wednesday, 1 May (Term 2 Week 2) please see Mr Lincoln for more information.

Bunya District U12 Cross Country Trials

This year the Junior School Cross Country (Under 6-Under 11) is scheduled for Thursday 4 April. The Senior School Cross Country (Under 12-Under 18) is scheduled for Wednesday 8 May which is after the Bunya District Cross Country. Any students in the Under 12 Age Group only (Born 2007) who wish to compete for the College at the Bunya District Cross Country on Friday, 3 May must attend a school Cross Country trial on Tuesday, 2 April at 3.20pm. Students will run the Under 12 Cross Country Course. From this event, students will be selected to attend the Bunya District Cross Country. Please see Mr Lincoln if you need more information.

Athletics

Bunya District U12 Athletics Trials

This year the Junior School Athletics Carnival (Under 6-Under 11) is scheduled for Friday 17 May. The Senior School Athletics Carnival (Under 12-Under 18) is scheduled for 26-27 June which is after the Bunya District Athletics Carnival. Any students in the Under 12 Age Group only (Born 2007) who wish to compete for the College at the Bunya District Athletics Carnival on Tuesday 4 June must attend school trials on Tuesday 30 April and Tuesday 7 May. From these events students will be selected to attend the Bunya District Athletics Carnival. Please see Mr Lincoln if you need more information.

Senior

Boys AFL

The College has entered an Year 7-9 and Year 10-12 Boys AFL Teams in the Darling Downs Cup Gala Day. This will be held at Highfields on Friday 3 May (Term 2, Week 2). Training will be held on Wednesday and Friday lunchtimes. Boys interested in playing need to sign on via the Sports Notice Board.

Girls AFL

Congratulations to Lily Schloss who has been selected in the Darling Downs U15 Girls AFL Squad. Lily will attend further trials this weekend before the final team is announced.

Rugby League

The College will enter Under 13 and Under 15 Teams in the Darling Downs Rugby League Competition next term. Games will be played on Wednesday afternoons. Hopefully both teams will play at the same venue each week. A draw for the season will be available before the end of term. Training will be held on Tuesday afternoons for both teams starting next term.

Brisbane Broncos Challenge

A Year 8/9 Team attended the Brisbane Broncos Qualifying Challenge at Beenleigh on Tuesday. Twelve teams were competing for the final two places in the Michael Hancock Cup for 2019 which is the highest level of competition in SEQ. Playing against schools much larger in size (school numbers and physically) the boys had a fantastic day finishing in third position in Pool B and in sixth place overall with 2 Wins, 2 Losses and a Draw. Thanks to all the parents who came to support the team and to Derek Brady and Mr Cuskelly for their assistance in coaching the team. Game results are listed below:

Loss to Alexandra Hiils SHS 0 - 18 (Qualified for the Michael Hancock Cup)

Draw vs Unity College Caloundra 10-10

Win vs Clairvaux College Brisbane 16-0

Win vs Redbank Plains SHS 12-4

Loss to Ipswich SHS 0 -24  (Winners of Pool B)

Darling Downs Cluster 4 Trials

Trials will be held early next term in Orienteering and U15 Rugby Union. Students interested in attending, please see Mr Lincoln for more information.

Confraternity Shield / QISSN Meeting

A meeting will be held in Yellow 1 on Monday, 1 April at 5.00pm for all players and parents for the 2019 carnivals to be held in Bundaberg.

Rugby Union

Congratulations to Lytana King Togia who has been selected in the Darling Downs U18 Rugby Union Team for the State Championships in Brisbane in May.

Tim Lincoln

Middle Leader Sport

Praxis is experiential faith-based service learning where students actively reflect and engage in the needs of our community. Each Wednesday students in the high school have an 80-minute lesson dedicated to Praxis. There has been quite a bit of work completed around the experiential learning cycle to guide classes in this process.

Year 10s have identified needs within our local community. The class has designed a long-term project creating handmade toys for those needing it most come the festive season. They will be up-skilled in the creation of quality wooden toys with the assistance of the INTAD Department. They plan to contact St Vincent De Paul with their proposal in order to reach those in need. The students are in the process of creating a letter of support. This undertaking will provide the class with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of service learning.

While the over-arching idea for their Praxis unit for Year 9s is to work with members of our community in order to develop a relationship and become aware of their lives and interests. This will demonstrate a valuing of individuals and their continued contribution to our community. Students were discussing with peers the considerations of this service learning possibility.

The Year 11 students are spending the next 2 weeks building Easter baskets with students from Junior classes for their Praxis activity. The Year 11s worked beautifully with the little people and they were bursting with pride afterwards.

Year 12s are busy preparing, a special prayer gathering and dinner with Year 12 Parents at the PAC, Monday 1 April 5-7:30 p.m. This has been designed by the students and aims to address many aspects central to the LYF Program whilst valuing the spiritual development of the individuals.  Please RSVP to Mrs Baxter or Mrs Appleton asap.

The daily prayer life of the College continues with prayers including faith in action ideas. This is an essential way of thinking and working within the LYF program as it allows students to put into practice that day or week, central ideas in their interactions with others.

It is pleasing to see that a lot of the work across the LYF program, just in this brief snapshot this week, is addressing Catholic Social Teachings of valuing human dignity, community and the common good and solidarity.

Bronwyn McArthur

Middle Leader - LYF

Parents of Year 11 students are invited to an information night on Monday, 29 April. The presentation will focus on the new QCE and ATAR system, new curriculum expectations and provide an opportunity for parents to ask questions. We encourage all Year 11 students and their parents to attend.

Junior Cross Country - Thursday, 4 April

PLEASE USE TIMES AS A GUIDE ONLY

Following our AGM on Tuesday, 26 March 2019, we are proud to introduce our new P&F committee.  

Lotte Verhoef - President

Stephen Barwick - Vice President  

Janelle Cronin - Secretary 

Clare Gibson - Treasurer

We are looking forward to a successful year ahead working together with the College to improve our connections within the College community. 

Please do not hesitate to contact any of us if you were to have any queries and we are always happy to see new faces at the meeting.

Lotte Verhoef

President

Please read the attached letter regarding the College's expectations for participation in the Dalby ANZAC Day Dawn Service, March and Commemoration Service. This letter was also distributed via Schoolzine and sent home with the youngest in the class.

The collection of Easter Eggs for our massive Mini Vinnies Easter Egg raffle is starting to grow in size. All students are asked to bring along a donation of an Easter Egg or Easter gift to make up baskets for the raffle which will be drawn on Thursday, 4 April. Tickets for the raffle are on sale every lunch outside the MPC for 50c. There are always loads of prizes to be won so make sure your student buys a ticket.

All the funds raised from the raffle will be donated to the St Vincent De Paul Society.

We usually celebrate all our student trainee and apprentice sign ups, but this week we have had a staff member complete the sign up process.

Sarah Lilburne, who is our Health and Safety Coordinator and Science Lab Assistant, has signed up for a Cert IIII in Laboratory Techniques with Alan Richardson from Busy at Work. Sarah is looking forward to gaining more skills and qualifications to complete her duties in the Science Lab and is hoping to be able to help teachers with exciting practical experiments in all Science subjects.

The College Musical Costume department are looking for a number of items to put towards the costume wardrobe for The Wiz. If you have any of the following items, we would love to either borrow or have them:-

• Old hats/ fascinators
• Frilly shirts
• Waistcoats
• Feathers, lace, doilies
• Old brooches, costume jewellery
• Colourful half aprons
• Belts &braces
• Ankle boots/ high boots
• Leather or leather- look fabric

Any items can be dropped off on Wednesday or Friday afternoons during rehearsals to the tuckshop or to the College Office.

Please find below all the dates, times and locations for Whole College and Sector Assemblies for the remainder of Term 1. Parents are invited to come along to these assemblies to celebrate students successes and to keep up to date with activities and news across all Year levels.