Leadership Forum

Last week I was privileged to be a part of the Diocesan Leadership Forum where the Principals and executive leadership team gathered to not only learn, though to also contribute to the future direction of the Diocese.  The keynote presentation by Dr Pat Coughlan, TCS Executive Director, focused on “Schools That Deliver” and this theme continued throughout the week.  There were some key deliverables from Dr Pat’s presentation that really caught my attention.  These served both as a great reflection point and surety regarding the direction our College is setting for the students of OLSCC as they succeed into the future.

Firstly, the theme of “wanderers vs travellers” emerged where we contrasted the mindsets of these and compared them with the leadership behaviours that are associated.  We discussed the importance of knowing our destination and purpose, mapping that plan specifically through our strategic plan, travelling together as a community on a common goal, setting clear expectations, being well-organised, and delivering what was promised.  It is through these behaviours where we see “travelling” schools deliver greater education for learners, and I am proud to note that we are certainly a travelling school with clear objectives that relate to improved student learning. 

Secondly, was a long term research results regarding the 10 Most Important Factors for parents regarding their child’s education. This longitudinal study from 2006-2018 collates information from parents to determine what parents believe to be the most important factors in schools.  The 4 most important factors were presented as being:

4. An orderly and well organised environment
5. School knows my child as a person and a learner
6.  The high quality of teachers
7. Preparation of my child to fulfil their potential in later life

Whilst this feedback varies across every community depending on local priorities, issues and opportunities, it certainly aligns remarkably well with both the feedback of the community through the review process in 2019, feedback in the RADII surveys, the College Draft Strategic Plan and the Annual Action Plan of the College.

Essentially, it was summarised that schools that deliver know why, when, how and by whom their goals will be delivered.  This is why staff work more effectively in schools that deliver, and parents take note of this.  A critical note is that what schools deliver must be aligned carefully between the needs of the local community, the needs of the students, and the direction of the educational authority through which the school operates.  Our Lady of the Southern Cross College is currently rigorously engaged in the journey of continual renewal, and our work aligns considerably with all mentioned above.

This year, we focus on ECSI (Enhancing Catholic School Identity) at OLSCC.  Please take the time to read a little more about the process further in the newsletter and have your say in the development of the Catholic identity of OLSCC.  The survey takes around 30-45 minutes and the input of all staff, students and parents will mean that our direction will be best directed toward our communities preferred position. Over the 4 year period of our Strategic Plan, this is one of the key elements that we will be delivering for OLSCC.

Pete Cuskelly

Principal

One of our seven focus Learning Dispositions is Independent.   

Being Independent is the “ability to be self-sufficient, to self-organize, and [to] self-manage”.  As teachers and parents we need to support our youth to develop independence.  It is not something that they just gain over time. Like a garden we tend to in the beginning planting stages, we need to work together to nurture this disposition in our children.   

Hold me steady Lord. 

Let not winds or storms erode my roots. 

Let me be strong, like an oak tree, tall and grace filled, 

Budding with expectant shoots. 

Bending gently, through each season, 

Waiting patiently for change. 

Upright, righteous, full of life, 

Giving shade and shelter with each bough. 

Pushing roots so deep with growth, 

Quenching thirst from eternal streams. 

Hold me steady Lord, strong and healthy, 

Let my mind be close to thee. 

Amen 

Morning Supervision Before School 

Please be aware that students are not directly supervised at the College before 8:30am.  Students who arrive before 8:30am are expected to be sitting in the Pavilion; working in the library, dropping off bags and preparing books for the day or sitting in Senior Plaza.  The College Library opens at 8:00am, the library facilities are manned by staff for borrowing of books and students are free to come and go from this location.  At 8:30am the Teachers on duty supervises students in two areas the Basketball Court/Main Oval area and the Senior Plaza.  Students may be permitted access to their classrooms at 8:30am, this is dependent on their teacher.  This information has been disseminated to students, please consider this when making arrangements for your child before and after school. 

NAPLAN Online 

NAPLAN Online will be rolled out in our College in 2020.  We will conduct practice tests for students in Year 3, 5,7, 9 in Week 9 and 10 of this term.  I encourage all parents of children in these year levels to familiarise yourself with the test platform via https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site.  Students in Year 3, 5, 7, and 9 will sit practice Naplan Online tests in Week 9 and 10 of this term. 

Monday 23/3 – Year 3, 5, and 9 Writing tests 

Tuesday 24/3 – Year 3, 5 and 9 Omnibus tests 

Friday 27/3 – Year 7 Writing and Omnibus tests  

It is essential that students in Year 7 and 9 bring their laptops to school fully charged to access these tests. 

Volunteers at the College 

Volunteers are an essential part of our College community including supporting the tuckshop, working with classes attending excursions, coaching and managing teams.  Working together we aim to create and maintain safe environments for our students, staff and families.  We require all volunteers to read, understand and follow relevant code of conduct and student protection information.  All volunteers at the College need to complete a Volunteer declaration form annually as part of our this safeguard.  Packs with relevant information are available from class teachers or the College office or directly from the Toowoomba Catholic Schools website https://www.twb.catholic.edu.au/work-and-learn-with-us/volunteers-and-visiting-service-providers/.  I am also available to assist with this process if needed.  If you are planning to assist this year, please complete the online module and form and return to the College Office. 

Cate Brennan

Deputy Principal Religious Education

Year 6 Canberra Tour

Next Wednesday, 11 March, the College is hosting a parent input session for the 2020 Year 6 Canberra Tour. During the session, a number of possible itineraries for the Tour will be presented. Parents will be asked to submit feedback via an Online form to identify their preferred itinerary. The online feedback form will also be distributed via ClassDojo.

All parents of Year 6 students are invited to attend and to submit their feedback. The session will be held in the PAC from 5:30pm and will run for approximately 30 minutes.

Craig Cullen

Assistant Principal Middle Years

Week 6 is always a significant week in the College calendar, as it is the week we aim to complete stage one of a collection of data about our students that we then use to inform future learning in our classrooms. Across the Early Years, this data collection is mainly related to important pre-reading skills, including a knowledge of sounds and associated letters, skills related to the sound structures of language (eg rhyme, isolating individual sounds in words, stretching sounds in words, blending sounds back together) and reading across the year levels. This information informs both students and teachers about where to go next in the learning journey. Our goal is to create Assessment Capable Learners – but what does that really mean? These are students who

• Know their current level of understanding
• Know where they’re going and are confident to take on the challenge
• Select tools to guide their learning
• Seek feedback and recognize that errors are opportunities to learn
• Recognize their learning and teach others

That is powerful learning at work!

Safety in the Early Years

Please note that students should not be arriving at school prior to 8:30am as there is no supervision of any students before this time. If an Early Years student is on school grounds prior to that time, they are directed to go to the Pavilion where they must wait seated until the first teacher on duty begins at 8.30. At this time, they may move to the basketball courts under the teacher’s direction where they can then engage in handball etc. The College Library is open from 8:00am.

Katrina Walton

Assistant Principal Early Years

Junior

QCIS Swimming Carnival

The College will be attending the QCIS Swimming Carnival on Monday 16 March at the Milne Bay Pool in Toowoomba. Students who have been selected to attend have been given information letters this week.

Bunya District Rugby League Trials

Any boys born in 2009 or 2008 who wish to attend Bunya District Rugby League Trials need to sign on via the Sports Notice Board. The trials will be held on Tuesday 17 March.

Bunya District Netball Trials

Any girls born in 2009 or 2008 who wish to attend Bunya District Netball Trials need to sign on via the Sports Notice Board. The trials will be held on Tuesday 17 March.

Bunya District Cricket Trials

Any boys or girls born in 2009 or 2008 who wish to attend Bunya District Cricket Trials need to sign on via the Sports Notice Board. The trials will be held on Tuesday 10 March.

Senior

Cricket

DDSWQ 20/20 Competition Round 1

OLSCC defeated Oakey SHS 6-104 to 56

Batting

Pat Boland 38, Ky Kirtley 18, Sam Gillespie 14*, Matt Cuskelly 12

Bowling

Pat Boland 4- 22, Josh Hart 3- 16, Sam Gillespie 1-6, Dusty Brown 1-2

Round 2 will be against Dalby SHS in Week 8

Rugby League

The College will be playing in the Under 13, Under 15 and Under 18 Darling Downs Schools competition next term. We have organised a trial game against Dalby SHS on Wednesday, 11 March at the Dalby League Grounds. The Under 18 team will be the same boys that have been training for the Confraternity Shield Carnival, however boys interested in playing in the Under 13 and Under 15 team need to see Mr Gillespie or Mr Lincoln to register their interest.

Netball

We have organised three trial games against Dalby SHS on Wednesday 11 March at the Dalby PCYC. The Under 18 team will be the same girls that have been training for the QISSN Carnival, the Under 15 Team will be the girls who played at the Laura Gietz Cup, however players will be needed for an Under 13 Team. Girls interested in interested in playing need to sign on via the Sports Notice Board.

Darling Downs Rugby League Gala Day

Congratulations to the following boys who were selected to attend the Darling Downs Rugby League Trials after representing Inner Downs at the Gala Day on Monday.

U15 – Lyhkan King Togia, Joe Gillett, Will Herbert, Bailey Rathmell, Brock Sankey, Lleyton Dodd

U18 – Sam Gillespie, Ryan Welsh

QCIS Swimming Carnival  

The College will be attending the QCIS Swimming Carnival on Monday 16 March at the Milne Bay Pool in Toowoomba. Students who have been selected to attend have been given information letters this week.

Swimming Age Champions

Congratulations to all those students who received their awards at Assembly on Monday for Age Champions and Runners Up from the College Swimming Carnivals. Here's a few pictures from the ceremony.

Tim Lincoln

Middle Leader Sport

On Friday, 28 February, the Year 3 classes visited our local parish, St Josephs Catholic Church in Dalby. We went on the College coach to the church. When we arrived, Father Jim was there to greet us along with our parents, families and Mrs Brennan. We received our special prayer books from our teachers. After we received our prayer books and our families had left, we learnt some new things about the church and our diocese. The alter is made from marble all the way from Italy and Father Jim showed us the Tabernacle where the bread is kept. Father Jim also explained the history of the church and how the big Rose glass is to remember those from Dalby who died in World War 1. We then came back to school on the bus after a great morning.

Written by Milla, Thomas, Evalyn and Izzy.

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.

All students across the College participate in the LYF program at different stages that build during their thirteen-year journey at OLSCC.

We aim to have an aspect of the LYF program everyday across the College. In Years 7-12 this looks like the following:

• Monday: Year Level Connect /Rotational Assembly or House Connect
• Tuesday & Thursday: Religious Education
• Wednesday: Praxis (Prep-4: Make Jesus Real (MJR) and begin Praxis, Years 5-8: MJR / Praxis, Years 9-12: Praxis)
• Friday: Re-creation

Four Key Components of the LYF program:

Praxis is experiential faith-based service learning where students actively reflect and engage in the needs of our community.

Religious Education / Faith Development is the acquisition of knowledge and understanding of Christian faith and life in the Catholic tradition.

House Connect / Year Level Connect / Assembly is addressed through a caring and positive approach, we provide opportunities to build and celebrate our faith community. 

Re-creation allows students an opportunity to energise their spiritual potential through using their passions, gifts and talents for the betterment of our community.

Last week we gathered as sectors to acknowledge and celebrate Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday marked the start of Lent, where for forty days, we are asked follow Jesus on his journey to Calvary.

This important time in the Church’s calendar asks us to reflect on the needs of our brothers and sisters, and be thankful to God for all of the things we are lucky to have in our lives.

Indigenous minorities in the Philippines face regular discrimination and disadvantage, limiting their access to education, employment and healthcare. But thanks to Caritas Australia’s Supporters, Shirley’s life has transformed. She is now leading her community to take a stand against discrimination, improve health and education, and pave the way for a better future.

Unequal access to health services means that many indigenous children and families cannot access basic medical care. Preventable diseases, such as tuberculosis, dengue fever and measles are common among their community, and there is a high maternal and new-born mortality rate.

With Caritas Australia’s support, Shirley trained to become an indigenous health worker and a leader in her community. She has learned to supplement her income as is able to feed her family. The program has also helped Shirley’s children with school fees, uniforms and supplies.

Shirley says there’s still a long way to go to fight for better employment opportunities for the Manide tribe and to reduce discrimination, but together they’ll get there.

“I became the voice of my tribe to have their needs heard,” Shirley says. “As a trained health worker, I am confident to talk, to mingle with non-indigenous people, even with government employees."

Your support is life-saving for people experiencing poverty and oppression. Please help more people like Shirley gain confidence and respect within their community and help improve the conditions of indigenous people around the world. Let’s Go Further, Together.

As a College, we had over 100 entries submitted into the Bell Art Exhibition this year. They were of great quality and all artists should be proud of their efforts. A special congratulations goes to all place winners, see results below.

Champion Junior Section Award

Artist:   Molly Hartwig – ‘The Illusion of being Sacred’

Class 22 – Year 1 & Under

2nd: Uriah Jocson ‘Swirly Thinking’

Class 23 – Year 2 & Year 3

1st: Phoenix McArthur ‘Turtle in it’s Natural Habitat’

2nd: Ashton Crothers ‘A Bold Design’

Class 24 Year 4 & Year 5

1st: Ryan Elder ‘In the Tractor Again’

2nd: Madeline Hemmings ‘A Country Scene’

Class 25 – Year 6 & Year 7

1st: Lachlan Williams ‘Robotic Hand’

2nd: Kirra Utz ‘Triangles and Flowers’

Class 26 – Year 8 to Year 10

2nd Yolanda-Kate Baker ‘Colour Doesn’t Matter’

Certificates and prizes will be distributed at next available sector assemblies.

Art is made to be shown,

Mrs McArthur

Visual Art Teacher

A Sign-up for Jade

Congratulations to Jade Alderton from Year 10 who signed up at the end of last year for a Certificate III in Hairdressing with Elite Hair Design's Tammy Alderton. If you or your child is interested in pursuing a Certificate in any field, please contact Mrs Baxter for more information. Our College is proud to be able to offer students tertiary opportunities while still studying at school and we commend students like Jade who are taking a big step on their pathway to a dream career.

University Open Day Dates 2020

Brisbane Careers and Employment Expo - Friday 8 May and Saturday 9 May

University of the Sunshine Coast - Fraser Coast - 21 June 10am to 1pm

Tertiary Study Expo @ Brisbane Showgrounds - Sat and Sun 18 - 19 July

University of the Sunshine Coast Sippy Downs - 19 July

QUT Garden Point - Saturday 26 July

UQ St Lucia - Sunday 2 August

University of the Sunshine Coast Caboolture - 2 August 10am to 1pm

UQ Gatton Campus - 9am to 3pm 16 August 16 

USQ Toowoomba Campus - Sunday 16 August

James Cook University Open Day Cairns - 23 August 

USQ Springfield Campus - Sunday 30 August

Libby Baxter

Careers Development Practitioner

Mrs Baxter is calling for applications from any Year 10 or 11 students who would like to join the Dalby Junior Chamber of Commerce. The Junior Chamber meets monthly in the mornings at 7.15 for a 7.30am start at the Dalby Chamber in Stuart Street. Mrs Baxter would like a written letter of application addressed to Mr Cuskelly on why you would like to be part of the Junior Chamber. Please have your applications completed and handed in to Mrs Baxter or the College Office by next Wednesday.

Here's a bit of information from Cara Hawkey on what is involved. 

Junior Chamber inspires young people to recognise their responsibility to create change and empower them to better their community.  The Junior Chamber is involved in various initiatives and events throughout the year such as the Colour Run for the Delicious and Delightful festival, Arrow Bronco Fan Day, Creekside Markets, the Dalby Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s monthly Business After Hours events, Business Excellence Awards, Community Christmas Party and various other initiatives as outlined by the Dalby Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Teachers registered with Queensland College of Teachers who are available for releif and and relief Teacher Aides are required for casual on call work at the College.

If you have the required qualification to work as a relief teacher or are interested in relieving as a teacher aide, please contact the College Office for a pack to register with the Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools.

LAST CHANCE TO WIN ONE TERM OF COLLEGE TUITION FEES 

ECSI SURVEY and Catholic Dialogue in Schools Project 

With families restricted in movement and outing opportunities we have decided to extend our competition in case you now have more spare time to complete the ECSI Survey and enter our draw.  Only 29 families of our 366 families have completed the survey.  It is important that as many families as possible are represented to give us useful information about our community.  All College families are asked to complete the ECSI Survey to assist with the direction setting in regard to Catholic Identity of the College.  As an extra incentive for parents to take part in the survey we are offering a prize for one family whose parent completes the survey.  To be in the running for one term’s tuition fees taken from the oldest child in the family you must complete the survey in full, save your Certificate of successful participation (with parent contact name filled in) and email to cate.brennan@twb.catholic.edu.au or drop it into the entry box in the office foyer by Friday 24 April at 9am. The certificate verifies your completion of the survey but does not link to any of the answers you give.  

Thank you for your support and participation in this valuable research project.  Information on how to complete this survey is detailed below.