Coronavirus COVID-19

As one would expect, Coronavirus is the hot topic on everyone’s tongues as the spread of the virus continues to have greater impact across the globe.  While there is much speculation about what may happen in Australia, particularly with day care centres, kindergardens, schools and universities, at this point there is no further information at hand.  What does remain consistent is the information we have been communicating to parents and the community throughout this emerging situation.  There are however, a couple of key items that require our ongoing focus.

1. Personal hygiene of all is the greatest way to impact the spreading of the virus.  At the College we have shifted the focus of our cleaners from cleanliness to hygiene.  This means that handles, latches and fixtures touched by hands are cleaned more frequently to reduce the spread of any illness. In addition, we encourage everyone to reinforce the following with the children and in the community:
1. Wash hands regularly with soap and water, or in the absence of soap and water, hand sanitiser.  This is especially important before and after eating, and after going to the toilet
2. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or bent elbow
3. If you have any flu like symptoms, stay at home and avoid contact with others such as touching, kissing or hugging.
2. In regards to travel restrictions we continue to follow the advice of Queensland Health. This means that we will have people returning from overseas holidays at various stages, though we would expect this to lessen as time goes on.  Presently, isolation is only required if travelling from high risk countries, which includes, Iran, Korea, Italy and China.  People travelling from all other countries are checked as they enter the country and are asked to monitor their health and look out for symptoms. We understand that people may be concerned by students and families returning from overseas, though these are the current arrangements that are in place.

I am sure there will be plenty of future communication based on the rumblings of the last 2 days, and we will ensure you get the message very promptly.  Please remember that the SZApp and Facebook page are our most efficient modes of communication, so please keep an eye out.

New Hats

Our new College hats with the House colours on the underside are available for sale from the Uniform Shop and are priced at $16.70 which is a great price in comparison to the old hat which was $15.70 and did not include the fantastic colours of red, blue, green and yellow.

Peter Cuskelly

Principal

PHANY FROM CAMBODIA

Then in 2016, Phany joined a Caritas supported program, learning more productive farming and irrigation techniques. Her community learned to work together for better water management, to combat drought. 

Over 70 percent of Cambodia's population live in rural communities – and the farming families living in poverty are the most food insecure. Thirteen percent of Cambodians live below the poverty line, while 35 out of every 1000 babies die due to malnutrition.

In 2016, Phany joined the Upholding Community Dignity Together program, where she learned new farming techniques, such as a drip irrigation system which enabled her to get a better yield from her vegetable crops and to conserve water for drier periods. She also learned how to grow vegetables and raise chickens and ducks. Phany’s community also took part in training in health, nutrition, hygiene and disaster preparedness, arming them with better strategies to cope with environmental changes. 

With your help, mothers like Phany can continue to uplift their communities and provide food for their families. A brighter future for women, men and their families can start today. Let’s Go Further, Together.

“I am proud that I was a farmer who had no skills and now I can earn and improve my living, share my knowledge and also improve solidarity in the family and amongst our neighbours,” Phany says. “I live better than before, I’m not as tired. I can earn and live in the village, I don’t need to go to city to find job.” 

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. 

Mini Vinnies Easter Raffle  

The Lenten Season has begun, and our annual Easter Egg Raffle is about to start. College families are invited to donate Easter eggs or other Easter items to be used to create Easter Baskets as prizes for our raffle.  Donations of Easter Eggs can be left at the College Office or given to classroom teachers.    

Raffle tickets will be on sale outside the tuckshop for 50c during both eating breaks, beginning this Monday, 16 March. Prep students will be able to purchase tickets from their class teachers.   

Prize winners will be announced and presented at the Easter Prayer Celebration on Monday 30 April.   

Many thanks in advance,  

The Mini Vinnies Committee  

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

Deupty Principal Religious Education

It was fantastic to see so many parents attend the Input Session for the Canberra Tour for 2020. Parents of Year 6 students who could not attend the session last night are still invited to submit their feedback on the proposed itinerary options. Please review the booklet below and use the QR code on the last page to access the online Feedback Form. Simply scan the QR Code with the camera on your phone and follow the prompts.

Pam Walsh from EducaTours will be at OLSCC on Tuesday, 17 March  at 6pm in the PAC to present information about the Canberra component of the Tour. All parents welcome.

If you are having issues accessing the Feedback form, please contact me at craig.cullen@twb.catholic.edu.au.

On Tuesday afternoon, our Year 5 Technology students had the privilege of visiting the Dalby Garden Centre and the Ausplant Nursery. Students were guided through each nursery and shown the many different systems of management in order to maintain a healthy environment for each plant. Water systems, pest management, plant nutrition, and packaging and transport were identified and the students were able to ask questions about these areas. A huge thanks goes to Brady Cummings at Ausplant Nursery and Jen and Sonie at the Dalby Garden Centre for providing this wonderful learning experience.

This week, all parents should have received a letter home from your child’s teacher regarding Parent Teacher Interview times. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher for a brief snapshot of how they are going as a learner in the classroom setting. Your attendance at these meetings not only provides valuable information to you about where your child is sitting in the learning journey, it also allows you to discuss future learning goals. It also sends a clear message to your child that you value their learning and are interested in supporting them.

Parental engagement such as this is vital to creating the connections we seek in order to assist us in our mission to “grow great people”. These “formal” interviews are offered twice a year, along with another two formal written reports, however there are many more ways to keep in touch and engaged in the learning journey. One of these is via our Early Years Assemblies, which all parents are welcome to attend. The next of these will be in the Performing Arts Centre on Monday, 16 March at 2.30pm. Each assembly is hosted by a different Early Years class (Year 3HB next week!) and is a gathering of our community to share messages and celebrations of excellence throughout the year. Feel free to join us if you can!

Katrina Walton

Assistant Principal Early Years

Junior

QCIS Swimming Carnival

This coming Monday, the College will attend the Qld Independent Schools Swimming Carnival at the Milne Bay Aquatic Centre in Toowoomba. This will involve swimmers from under 10 through to the open age group. The bus will be departing the College at 8.00am. Other schools competing include Downlands College, Scots College Warwick, Concordia College, Toowoomba Anglican School and Toowoomba Christian College.

Bunya District U12 Touch Football Trials

Any boys or girls who wish to attend Bunya District Touch Football Trials, please sign on via the Sports Notice Board. Trials will be held in the first week back of Term 2. Depending on numbers, a school trial may need to be held before the Bunya District Trials.

Darling Downs Swimming

Congratulations to all students who represented Bunya District at the Darling Downs Swimming Trials in Gatton last week. Results from the day are listed below.

Carla Nobbs – 17^th 100m Freestyle, 17^th 50m Butterfly, 20^th 50m Freestyle, 21^st 50m Breaststroke, 30^th 50m Backstroke

Lachlan Fraser – 7^th 50m Freestyle, 9^th 100m Freestyle, 16^th 50m Backstroke

Hayden Koehler – 5^th 100m Breaststroke, 8^th 50m Breaststroke, 19^th 50m Backstroke

Izzy Johnston – 14^th 50m Breaststroke, 26^th 50m Backstroke, 34^th 50m Freestyle

Louie Machin – 14^th 50m Backstroke, 22^nd 50m Freestyle

Thomas Calver – 16^th 50m Backstroke, 29^th 50m Freestyle

Alex Boland – 18^th 50m Backstroke, 27^th 50m Freestyle

Ava Boland – 5^th 50m Freestyle

Gemma Sullivan – 15^th 50m Backstroke

Innes Dellit – 23^rd 50m Freestyle

Charlotte Colquhoun – 14^th 50m Freestyle

Hamish Colquhoun – 34^th 50m Freestyle

Secondary

Cricket

Round 2 of the DDSWQ will be played against Dalby SHS next Friday, 20 March at 2.00pm at the Dalby Cricket Grounds. If the team can win this game they will move through to the regional final of the competition.

Touch Football

Trials will be held later this term to select an Under 15 Boys Team to attend the SWQ and QLD All Schools Carnivals held later in Semester 2. Interested students need to sign on via the Sports Notice Board.

Netball and Rugby League vs Dalby SHS

Yesterday, Inter School Sport was held in the Under 13, Under 15 and U18 Age Group against Dalby SHS in Rugby League and Netball. Thanks to all staff and students who contributed to make the afternoon a success. Results are listed below.

Netball

Under 13 Won by OLSCC

Under 15 Won by OLSCC

Under 18 Won by Dalby SHS

Rugby League

Under 13 Won by OLSCC 18-12

Under 15 Won by OLSCC 60-0

Under 18 Won by OLSCC 8-0

Darling Downs Cluster 2 Trials

Congratulations to the following students who were selected in Darling Downs Team following trials held in Toowoomba this week.

Under 15 Rugby League

Joe Gillett, Will Herbert, Lleyton Dodd, Bailey Rathmell, Lyhkan King Togia

Under 18 Rugby League

Sam Gillespie, Ryan Welsh

Open Boys Squash

Isaac Halling, Lachlan Sankey

Blake Jacobson was named as a Shadow Player for the Under 14 Boys AFL Team.

QISSN Netball

Congratulations to the following ten girls selected to attend the QISSN Netball Carnival in Brisbane during the June/July School Holidays. A squad of girls have been training with Miss Belonogoff since last October in preparation for this carnival.

Jasmine Houlder, Shiro Frid, Bree Tanks, Charlotte Crothers, Sarah McQuaid, Kasey Taylor, Bronte Kruger, Claudia Child, Lily Schloss, Hannah Pattison.

Rugby Sevens

Congratulations to Lily Coleman, Maggie Laffy, Claudia Child and Yolande Gordon who attend the Inaugural Darling Downs Under 16 Girls Rugby Sevens Trials at Highfields yesterday. Whilst the girls were not successful in making the team, it was a great experience to play with and against the best players in the region.

Darling Downs Swimming

Results from the Darling Downs Swimming Trials are listed below. Congratulations to Pat Boland and Jennifer Nothdurft who were selected in the Darling Downs Team for the State Championships later this month.

Jennifer Nothdurft

1^st in 200m Butterfly, 2^nd in 100m Butterfly, 3^rd 50m Butterfly, 3^rd 200m Individual Medley, 4^th 50m Breaststroke, 10^th 50m Backstroke

Pat Boland

2^nd 200m Freestyle, 3^rd 50m Freestyle, 3^rd 100m Freestyle, 3^rd 50m Breaststroke, 3^rd 50m Backstroke, 6^th 50m Butterfly

Bailey Martin

7^th 50m Backstroke, 7^th 50m Butterfly, 11^th 50m Freestyle

Clare Griffiths

6^th 100m Freestyle, 9^th 50m Freestyle

QCIS Swimming Carnival  

This coming Monday the College will attend the Qld Independent Schools Swimming Carnival at the Milne Bay Aquatic Centre in Toowoomba. This will involve swimmers from Under 10 through to the Open Age Group. The bus will be departing the College at 8.00am. Other schools competing include Downlands College, Scots College Warwick, Concordia College, Toowoomba Anglican School and Toowoomba Christian College.

Tim Lincoln

Middle Leader Sport

This week, Miss Parker and Miss Purbrick's Praxis class was busy at work on their project to beautify the gardens in front of the Senior Plaza. With the recent rains, the weeds were abundant and due to the removal of some high mantenance bushes, the garden are set to take on a whole new look. These gardens will evolve as the weeks go by and we look forward to seeing the results.

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

Last Friday, two Year 10 girls, Anna Lilburne and Claudia Henderson represented the Dalby Junior Chamber of Commerce and attended the International Women's Day event which was held at the Dalby Leagues Club. The girls wre required to usher guests and present gifts to the guest speakers who included Ann Leahy MP, Member for Warrego, Vanessa Fowler, sister of Allison Bayden Clay and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Allison Bayden-Clay Foundation as well as local women Jodie Taylor, Tracey Ryan, Tanya Whitman and a special video message from Deb Frecklington MP, Leader of the Opposition. It was a great experience for the girls who were able to listen to the speakers as well as gain experience with the work of the Junior Chamber in the Dalby Community.

This morning, the Dalby Junior Chamber was present at the 'Meet Your Council Candidates' breakfast at the Russell Tavern and our College students including Anna, Claudia and Beau Radke were present again to help greet and usher guests and mark off attendees as they arrived. Anyone from Year 10 or 11 who would like to join the Chamber should write a letter of application and address it to Mr Cuskelly by next Friday. If you are interested, but not sure what the work of the Junior Chamber involves, please see Mrs Baxter for more information.

On 20 March 2020 our College will once again stand together to take action against bulling by participating the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. This is a time where our College focuses on bringing to light the importance of togetherness, acceptance and support, through our following of God who commands us to be inclusive of all.  This year marks the 10-year Anniversary of the event, to celebrate students are encouraged to wear an orange accessory with their uniform on Friday 20 March. Acceptable accessories could include orange socks, wide brim hat, ribbons, tie etc.

“Let’s take a stand together and wear ORANGE!”

For the Photography competition please ensure your name, address and section is clearly marked on back of the cardboard. No frames required but needs to be mounted on to cardboard with a maximum of a 2cm border. No dates or writing on photographs. Winning entries from previous years are ineligible. It is 50c per entry, which will be covered by the College.

Entries are due to the College Office by Monday 30 March (Week 10).

JUNIOR SECTION – Colour, Black & White & Sepia

8 Years and Under

Class 10000 Any photo 4” x 6”

9 -11 Years (Colour, Black & White, Sepia) 4” x 6”

Class 10001 Animal, pet, bird or insect

Class 10002 Selfie

Class 10003 Birthdays

Class 10004 Landscape, natural scenery, beach etc.

Class 10005 Any other Photo

12 - 17 Years (Colour, Black & white, Sepia) 4”x 6”

Class 10006 Animal, pet, bird or insect

Class 10007 Selfie

Class 10008 Food

Class 10009 Landscape, flowers, natural scenery etc.

Class 10010 Birthdays, special occasions

Class 10011 events

Class 10012 Any Other Photo

Each year budding photographers respond to the various themes available in the Bell Show Photography Competition.

This year Charlie Boland has received a First Place for his captivating image. Well done, Charlie.

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.