Today our Junior Choir made up of around 100 students from Prep to Year 4 joined with the students of Dalby State School to participate in the 'Music, Count Us In' event. All the students gathered in the Sports Hall at Dalby Central School firstly for a warm up and then to tune in to the live covereage of John Foreman OAM who led the broadcast from the Gold Coast beaches and Q1 Tower. There was footage of schools from all over Australia showing their excitement about joining in and also some video of the performers and songwriters who put together the music and lyrics for this year's song, 'We Are'. 

All the Dalby Central students participated along with our Junoir Choir and the sound coming from within the building was amazing. Please click on our YouTube video link to check it out. A huge thank you to all the teachers and students from both schools who took part and worked together to particpate in 'Music, Count Us In' for 2019 and especially Mrs Garside who helped to coordinate the event.

Industrial Action at Queensland Catholic Schools

You may have heard that some staff in Catholic schools in the Toowoomba Diocese, including Our Lady of the Southern Cross, have elected to take protected industrial action. This action is part of negotiations towards an enhanced Enterprise Bargaining Agreement and may include non-attendance at playground duty, withdrawal from attendance at staff meetings and non-acceptance of covers or extras beyond a teacher’s regular timetable.  Presently it does not involve strike action. 

At Our Lady of the Southern Cross College, the education and wellbeing of students remains the collective primary concern. Whilst the industrial action is most certainly having an impact, which is the primary purpose, there is no doubt that all staff at the College continue to have the best interests of the students at heart.  There have been no issues of students being unsupervised in the playground or the classroom and the College is well prepared and organised to ensure that there is to be no impact on students during this phase.

The upcoming possibility is that the negotiation evolves to the point where it is necessary for the staff who are active IEU union members to consider the option of striking. At this stage we have no advice of this taking place, though it is a possibility for the future.  Should this take place the community will be well informed and the College will be adequately prepared so that there is no impact on the safety and supervision of students, whilst also minimising the impact on student learning. Negotiations with the union will continue in good faith with the goal of reaching a resolution in the near future.

I think it pertinent to acknowledge the remarkable collective attitude of our staff at OLSCC during this period.  Whilst union members are taking action, as we encourage active union members to do, there has never been a time when any of our staff have placed student safety or learning in jeopardy. Beyond this, I have received many emails outlining continuing commitment to extracurricular activities, excursions and student opportunities where teachers have stated that they are active union members that are taking action, though in doing so, will not take action that reduces the additional opportunities for our students.  In reading these emails I am so glad that my wife and I have entrusted the education and wellbeing of my son to the amazing staff at OLSCC.   

Year 12 Grad Week 2019

Next week sees a celebratory and sad week as we farewell the current Year 12 cohort and send them graciously into the rest of their lives.  There will continue to be new learning for the Seniors throughout the week as well as ceremonies, Graduation Mass, Valedictory Dinner and College Awards and Farewell on Thursday.  Please see the details of the events of Grad Week later in newsletter and take the time to value our Seniors as they transition from schooling into their adult life.  Thanks also to the Seniors for the graffiti on the windows, the disruption to the pathways throughout senior years and for their general nuisance today!! Lytana in a netball dress wasn’t what I expected to greet me this morning….

Toowoomba Catholic Schools Leadership Forum

When working in a progressive education system such as the Toowoomba Catholic Schools, it is imperative for school leaders to keep up to date with the system as well as have input into what the system can do to best support the education of our students.  Of most significance is the address of Dr Pat, our Executive Director, who last week focussed on the notion of “Vulnerability” in challenging his school leaders.  We were challenged that without risk, uncertainty and emotional exposure we are simply going through the motions of management.  He inspired us to continue challenging ourselves to be vulnerable, as without taking (well informed and well planned) risks, we cannot make change that will improve the culture of the College for the wellbeing of our students, or the learning progress of our students. 

The week was yet again remarkably informative as well as challenging, and continues to place us in good stead to be best prepared for 2020 across all facets of College life.

Reading Assessments in Year 7-12

You may have noticed that many Year 7-12 students have completed reading assessments over the last couple of weeks. This is unusual and not a very common practice for high schools to engage in, though this year we have taken the step in earnest as we continue our focus on the Reading Improvement Strategy.  And what’s more, these assessments are being done by the collective high school staff, and the learning of the staff is fantastic!  Not only does it give staff the additional opportunity to spend some time with individual students, they get to delve deeply into the student’s repertoire of reading skills to determine their capabilities in reading and comprehension, and identify the next steps for that child. Whilst it seemed a daunting task at first, teachers are thoroughly enjoying the learning and are already making changes to their teaching practice to accommodate for individual needs in their classrooms. This is all a part of the College ensuring that students are continually progressing.  It is not about the data, it’s more about being accountable to all students that we are improving our practice as teachers to do our best, learn new things (like we expect students to) and be responsible for making a difference. May I also add that the performance of some students truly impressed some staff and due to this, staff are now raising the bar and encourage students to perform to a higher degree. Thanks again, to our amazingly dedicated staff for being the difference in the education of our students!

Term Dates 2020

Getting organised for your holidays for next year?  Prior to our calendars going out, below are the term dates for 2020.  Please note that these are the dates for the students and staff dates are slightly different.

Term 1:  Tuesday 28 January – Thursday 2 April

Term 2:  Monday 20 April – Thursday 25 June

Term 3:  Monday 13 July – Thursday 17 September

Term 4:  Tuesday 6 October – Friday 4 December

Middle Years Plaza Planning

Our planning for the construction of the Middle Years Plaza has drawn to a sudden halt with yesterday’s communication from the architect outlining that despite consistent financial limitations being maintained throughout the planning process, costings have come in at over 250% of the total allocated budget.  Accordingly we will be expanding our search for the best company to plan for, project mange and construct this area, though unfortunately I can no longer guarantee that this will come to fruition by the start of 2020. This is a disappointing setback and although upset that I cannot meet the timelines I had promised to our community, I will ensure that the project both meets the needs of the students and is best value for money without drawing resources from other areas of the College.  An update will be included in future newsletters.

Peter Cuskelly

Principal

Father, 
Be with me as I take this exam. 
Keep my mind alert and my memory sharp. 
Calm my nerves and help me concentrate. 
I know that you walk with me, 
guiding my path and inspiring my heart. 
I pray that I would feel you with me, 
and that your friendship would soften the pressure I feel. 
I pray that I would pass this exam and go on to new things with you. 
Thank you for your peace and your love in my life. 
Thank you for your kindness and care for me. 
Amen 

 Awards of Excellence Ceremony and Year 12 Farewell 

Next Thursday, as a College, we celebrate the achievements of 2019 across the four dimensions of our College Life; Academia, Spiritual, Cultural and Sporting endeavours.  All students are to wear full College Formal Uniform for this event.  Thursday 14 November at 9:00am in the MPC. 

We encourage families to join us for this occasion and at the conclusion of the Awards we will farewell our Year 12’s as a whole College and announce the Student Leadership positions for 2020.   

A list of the College Awards and criteria had been posted on SZApp. 

Graduation Mass 

The Graduation Mass for our Year 12 students will be held at St Joseph’s Church at 9:15am on Friday 15 November.  College community members are encouraged to join us for this occasion as together we send these young people off on their next adventure.  Students from Year 9-11 will attend the Graduation Mass travelling to and from the Church on the bus.  Senior Choir students will also perform at the Mass and need to be dropped directly at the Church to practice, they will return on the bus to school after Mass. 

Immaculata Mission School 2020 - To Know God, To Love God, To Make God Known 

What is it: A ten-day live-in formation school for young people, with talks on the faith from awesome speakers, daily Mass & prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, praise & worship, fun & fellowship & lots more! 

When: 1-10 January, 2020 

Where: The Glennie School, Toowoomba QLD 

Who: 15-35 year olds 

Special guest speaker: Dr Ralph Martin (USA), Professor of Sacred Theology, international speaker on evangelisation and the spiritual life.  Dr Martin is a consulter to the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelisation and has spoken in over 30 countries. 

Other guest speakers: Archbishop Julian Porteous, Vince Fitzwilliams, James Parker, Jess Leach, Paul Elarde, Sisters of the Immaculata & more. 

How much: $390 (cost includes all accommodation, food, speakers and activities) before 18 Nov, $450 after 18 Nov 

For more info or to register: www.sistersoftheimmaculata.org.au/ims or 0406 372 608 

Cate Brennan

Deputy Principal Religious Education

A Focus on Writing

I would like to share some very exciting news for our College. We have been selected by Toowoomba Catholic Schools to be a trial school for a Writing Improvement Strategy in 2020. Only 3 schools were selected to be a full trial school. The trial will focus on the full use of the Write That Essay program. The company provides testing, training and strategies to improve student writing outcomes. A full diocesan Writing Improvement Strategy will be rolled out in 2021. This means that we get a full 12 months head start!

While we will have an initial Year 7-12 focus, our key learnings will allow us to develop our own P-12 Writing Improvement Plan.

Year 7-11 students will sit a diagnostic test in an English lesson before the end of this term

Please see the following website for more information regarding the company: https://www.writethatessay.org/

About the diagnostic test: Write that Essay’s Composition Skills Index (CSI) is a scientific writing diagnostic test identifying key areas of writing strengths and weaknesses across a school.

During the online test, students select a question from a group of topics. They are given 20 minutes to respond in their best writing. This writing is submitted to Write That Essay for analysis. Unlike many tests, the CSI is externally marked, and uses scientific analysis of student writing.  Assessment is based on the key academic writing skills demanded for success in school life today: fluency, structure, analytical ability, style, precision, and coherence. Results are broken down by year level, and each report includes specific recommendations identifying how to remedy writing gaps identified among student body at respective year levels. Staged reports provide accurate information on educational value add for Boards of Trustees and senior management.

Celebrating the end of a Journey

Next week will be a very special week as we join as a community to celebrate the end of 13 years of schooling for our Year 12 students. These students will participate in a number of activities and special events throughout the week. Thank you to the many students, parents and staff who have assisted in the planning and organisation for the week.

Year 11 Final Day

A reminder that the final school day is Friday 29 November. In the six days preceding this date, students will be starting their Year 12 Unit 3 & 4 work. It is imperative that all Year 11 students attend classes until their last date of the year. The first round of assessment for Year 12 students will be in Week 6 of Term 1, therefore, the lessons running at the end of this year are important.

Matt Hodge

Assistant Principal Senior Years

Junior

Touch Football

A boys and a girls team will attend the QLD All Schools Touch Football Carnival this weekend at Cleveland. Both teams will play three games on Saturday, before elimination finals begin on Sunday. Teams have been practicing well at school since the middle of last term in preparation for the carnival. Students are expected to attend all games in College Sports Uniform.  No representative attire is to be worn. The standard of dress at all sporting events should reflect the uniform standard expected at the College.  College Sports Caps are now available at the office for $15. These are to be the only headwear worn on the field.

Senior

SWQ Rugby Sevens Series

Any late draw changes, wet weather and the final series information will be available via the SWQ Sevens Series Facebook page or at https://www.downsrugby.com.au/sevens-rugby

Round 4 Results Tuesday Games

13 Girls

Loss to Glennie 35-7

Win vs St Ursula’s 24-15

15 Girls

Win vs St Saviour’s 33-5

Loss to Centenary Heights SHS 24-19

15 Boys

Win vs Lockyer District SHS 12-10

Win vs St Mary’s A 14-12

Round 3 Results Thursday Games

13 Boys

Loss to St Joseph’s 15-10

Draw with Lockyer District SHS 12-12

Open Boys

Loss to St Joseph’s B 12-10

Loss to Faith Lutheran 43-0

Week 5 Draw Preliminary Finals

Tuesday 12 November

• College Coach will leave at 2.15pm and return at 8.00pm

  Thursday 14 November

• Private Transport

2020 Confraternity Shield Rugby League and Netball Training

The 2020 QISSRL and QISSN Carnivals will be held in Brisbane in the first week of the June/ July holidays. The Rugby League Carnival is open to any boys turning 16 or older in 2020. The Netball Carnival in open to any girls in Years 9-12 in 2020. Training for both teams is on Monday mornings from 7.00am – 8.15am. Boys will be training on the College Main Oval and Girls Team will train at the PCYC Indoor Courts. The last day of training for the term will be Monday 25 November.

Volleyball

Volleyball Training has started again on Friday mornings in the MPC from 7.00 to 8.15am until Friday 22 November (Week 7). This is open to both boys and girls to begin preparation for school competitions and representative trials early in 2020. 

Tim Lincoln

Middle Leader Sport

Last Friday we celebrated Mighty McAuley Day on the College Oval and students from Prep to Year 12 enjoyed tacos and icy cold Super Doopers as well as a variety of 'blue' lollies. One of Catherine McAuley's character strengths is humanity and we displayed this by collecting a gold coin donation for Mercy Ships. We also displayed the character strength of justice by the inclusiveness of all our activities for all students of all ages. Our House days provide opportunities for our students to recognise their icon and Catherine McAuley is one who we can admire and live by her famous saying, "resolve to be good today but better tomorrow."

We must put out a huge thank you to the staff and parents who donated food to make our lunch spectacularly blue. A huge thank you to our McAuley Captains for organising the activities for our students on the oval. We look forward to making McAuley Day bigger and better next year.

The Year 8 students held an auction yesterday in yellow block to help raise money for YES, Arusha and it was a lively event with some robust bidding. Dakota Barnett and her friend Clare Boland came up with the idea and each student was encouraged to bring in an item that could be put up for auction. There was all manner of goods including lollies, chips, containers of biscuits, chocolate brownies, books, caps and even a laptop bag. The bidding was started at $2 for most items and auctioneers Charlie Boland and Bailey Matrin both ran a fast bid with some items going up to the capped $15 limit. If more than one student was on $15, the names were put in a hat and the winning bidder drawn. Altogether, the Year 8 students raised $311 to donate to YES Arusha and after the success of this auction, there is talk of running another one. Well done to the Year 8 class on such a great fundraising activity.

Praxis is an experiential faith-based service learning where students actively reflect and engage in the needs of our community. This practical application of living Christ’s values aims to result in connecting with unity and trust in our community with integrity, acceptance and goodwill of our responsibility and beneficial desire to serve. 

As a part of Religious Education, students in 6KT have been undertaking Praxis activities at Beck Street Kindergarten throughout Term 3 and Term 4. We visit Beck Street Kindergarten once a week to support students in developing their fine and gross motor skills in a range of activities. We have buddied with Kindergarten students from both the Red and White groups to undertake these activities which has both challenged and strengthened our leadership skills.

During Term 3, we supported our buddies in sport whereas this term we have been assisting them with craft activities. It is something that we look forward to doing every week and many mutually beneficial relationships have stemmed from our regular visits. In fact, we are looking forward to welcoming some of our buddies to OLSCC next year as they begin Prep with us!

A number of students have participated in the Lions Peace Poster competition again this year and judges Mr William Chard, Dalby Lions President, Dalby Peace Poster coordinator, Mrs Elizabeth Kuruilaca and local artist Jo Cuskelly said it was not an easy process to decide the winner. Posters were judged on the following criteria, originality, artistic merit and expression of the theme 'Journey of Peace'. The judges felt the poster that best depicted the theme was created by Deneze Catbagan and her piece will now go on to be judged at a regional level. Honourable Mentions go to Noah Nothdurft and Felicity Stephen. We thank the judges for taking their time to consider the entries and also to the students who participated. A special think you also goes to Mrs McArthur for her support of the competition and encouragement of the students.

A number of staff members got into the spirit of Melbourne Cup Day by coming along to school dressed in their finest outfits and fascinators. Even Mr Kaveny and Mr Petersen donned their best ties to look the part. Some students watched the big race from the MPC and there were a number of classes who ran their own little sweeps with lollies for the various prizes. Mrs Morgan took time out of her busy day to put together a sweep for the staff and there were some lucky winners there. Mr Gillespie picked the winner in Vow and Declare who is part owned by the Principal of Assumption College at Warwick.

College Staff

• Melissa Irwin
• Peter Cuskelly
• Luke Holmes

TCS Staff

• Peter Simpson
• Barbara Woods