Monday, 11 October - Come and Try Day Term 4

Thursday, 14 October - McAuley Day

Wednesday, 20 October - Instrumental and Vocal Music Event in the PAC @ 5pm

Term 4 Calendar 2021

Term 4 Calendar 2021 112.11 KB

Welcome back to OLSCC for a fantastic Term 4! We have a wonderful term planned, full of learning, assessment, transition and events for the community.  It is really important that families and students keep in touch with communication from the College, particularly the newsletter, so they have a confident understanding of what is occurring across the College and things that will impact their children and families as we prepare for transition into the 2022 school year. A fine example of this is the 2022 OLSCC Family Calendar in the article above which you can download and print out for easy reference and is also available on our website.  This calendar has been kindly prepared by Mrs Bryers to outline key dates so that parents can arrange their holidays, time off work, and care for their children throughout next year.  We trust this will support families in preparing for 2022 and meet some of the uncertainty that families face. 

There is much happening in the Office in regard to planning for 2022.  We continue to strategically plan for our future prosperity, and are currently working hard at ensuring that we have the best teachers for our students.  I am very pleased with how we are progressing, and I am satisfied that we are beginning to establish the long-term subjects that will be taught in our Senior years.  This means that we will not be offering online subjects in the same manner as 2021 as we have the capability to teach all subjects on our lines face-to-face.  Please keep an eye out over coming weeks for draft timetables and key dates for your students if they are entering Years 11 and 12 in 2022. 

At this time, please keep in your prayers many of our Year 12 students as they enter their External Assessments from Friday 22 October.  This is a stressful time where they strive to achieve their best and gain the appropriate results to advance into their desired profession.  In 2021, it was an OLSCC student who received the highest ATAR in Dalby and considering that teachers are continually learning and improving their practice, we continue to see students well prepared for this time. 

Over the next few weeks we will be seeing continued disruption of the College due to the upgrading of the fire hydrant system and also the construction and landscaping of the Middle Years Plaza.  I am excited that we are able to enhance the safety of our community in the event of a fire and I am very thankful that those doing the work are considerate of our College.  Our disruptions to learning have been minimal and the majority of noisy work has been completed over weekends or after hours.  At present, we expect the entire project to reach practical completion by 17 November, which will allow our students and community a couple of week’s use before the holidays begin.  In the meantime, there will be disruptions to the College carparks as well as the ovals and learning areas.  Please be careful and safe as you move around the College, refrain from using the College grounds outside of school hours, and remain outside of any areas that are taped off.  We thank you for continuing to keep our students, staff and contractors safe.

Enrolments for 2022 and Beyond

Over recent years we have seen an increase in student numbers at OLSCC, with many of our enrolments coming from other schools in Dalby.  Over the past few weeks I have been looking at a variety of data including academic data, NAPLAN data, attendance data, wellbeing data and behavioural data.  What this data shows us is very clear: Students who start their learning at OLSCC achieve, behave and feel better in the long term than those that transition midway through their education.  It is very obvious from all the data that the best time to start your child’s education at OLSCC is in Prep. It’s that simple. Starting your child at OLSCC in Prep also means that your family becomes part of our community earlier, and you don’t have to worry about all the issues involved in transition. 

It is at this time of the year when many people are looking at which school is best for their child’s education.  Below are some key points you may wish to share with your friends if they are asking about OLSCC:

• The best time to transition your child to OLSCC in is Prep, or by the start Year 5 (at the latest).
• Many of our cohorts are nearing capacity, so there is no guarantee of enrolment at any stage. 
• It is never wise to wait until crisis point to transition your child to another school. 
• We maintain high standards and expectations regarding behaviour, attitude and commitment to learning.  If transferring from another school, you will be required to demonstrate that your child is committed to the values and ethos of our College through their behaviour and learning history.
• We have relatively low class sizes and offer an expansive range of senior subjects based on our size.  Despite some rumours getting around town, all of our offered senior subjects are delivered face-to-face.  Some students may choose to engage in a language or specialised subject, and we can cater for that with online learning, though all of the offered subjects are being delivered face to face in 2022.
• Our goal is to grow great people and we have a wonderful OLSCC community in which we can do that, whilst also providing some outstanding opportunities in academia, spiritualty, sport and culture.

Peter Cuskelly

Principal 

Saint Francis of Assisi was a Catholic friar who gave up his life of wealth to live a life of poverty. He established the Franciscan Order of friars and the women’s Order of the Poor Ladies. October 4th is observed as Saint Francis Feast Day. He believed that actions were the best example, telling followers to “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary, use words.” 

St Francis Prayer 

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. 
Where there is hatred, let me sow love; 
where there is injury, pardon; 
where there is doubt, faith; 
where there is despair, hope; 
where there is darkness, light; 
where there is sadness, joy. 

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; 
to be understood as to understand; 
to be loved as to love; 
For it is in giving that we receive; 
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; 
it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life. 

St Francis of Assisi 

Welcome back to Term 4! The weeks ahead are filled with a mix of learning, challenge, and celebration, as students showcase the skills that they have developed across the year. Our Year 12 students are quickly progressing towards their external exams and soon enough will be polishing their shoes in preparation for their graduation events. We wish these students all the best for the weeks ahead.

Year 10 Camp

We wish our Year 10 students well as they depart next Tuesday on their expedition. The students will be kayaking the Pumicestone Passage near Bribie Island. Photos from the expedition will be posted on Facebook.

Year 9 Camp

At the end of Term 3, Year 9 students went on their 'survivor' camp at QCCC in Noosa. We undertook many outdoor survival activities throughout this camp, learning helpful new skills, such as navigation, search and rescue, food and meal preparation, and raft building. We learned a great deal about Indigenous culture from the local presenters. Our grade was split into two groups, the yellow team and the white team, allowing each group to sufficiently recall all tasks given. We were also able to develop friendships and had a great time making memories that we’ll think about for years to come. We really enjoyed this experience, and all students were able to leave the camp with a new set of skills and a feeling of accomplishment.

Emma Donaldson – Year 9 Student

Assessment & Exam Dates

A reminder that parents and students can find the assessment and examination calendars on our College website. Now is the time to start mapping out how students will schedule their independent study time in the lead up to final submissions and exams.

https://www.dalby.catholic.edu.au/assessment

Movember – OLSCC Mo Bros

This year, we have set up a team for staff and community members who may like to join together to participate in Movember. The initiative's focus is to support innovative projects across prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention.

We are aiming to raise $2000, hopefully, more.

Here is the link to sign up: https://movember.com/t/olscc-dalby?mc=1  

If you would like to donate to the Team page, please use the following link:

https://au.movember.com/team/2399126?utm_medium=app&utm_source=ios&utm_campaign=share-team

Communication and Pastoral Concerns

Parents are encouraged to communicate with their child's subject teachers as an initial point of contact for any pastoral or academic matters throughout the year. For further matters, don't hesitate to get in touch with me through the College Office or by email matthew.hodge@twb.catholic.edu.au

Matt Hodge

Assistant Principal Senior Years

Containers for Change

Stewardship of the Earth is a core Catholic Social Teaching. The 7B PRAXIS Group is still working hard to achieve their goal of helping our environment by sorting and removing recyclable containers from general rubbish that is destined for land fill.  

The students have set themselves a challenge of gathering 10,000 discarded recyclable containers from bins destined for landfill and to convert them into $1000 through the Containers for Change scheme by the conclusion of this school year. Not a bad goal considering they only commenced the role at the beginning of Term 3. In this short time, the students have collected, sorted and deposited over 4,700 containers. If you would like to support the students, you too can donate containers at any Containers for Change depot and by using the code below, your donation will be added to their total.

World Science Festival – STEM Punks Competition

This Sunday, 10 October, two teams from the Middle Years are competing in an interschool school design thinking competition in Toowoomba. The competition is part of the World Science Fair event sponsored and facilitated by STEM Punks. Our teams will be given a design challenge on the day and they will need to work together in a short amount of time to design a solution and build a prototype using Minecraft as a digital building tool. This competition seeks to find the most creative, fast thinking students in the Toowoomba region.  

A large contingent of students nominated themselves for selection. As such, a trial was held late in Term 3 where students were given a design challenge and a short, 20-minute period to respond in Minecraft to showcase their skills. Well done to all students who participated in the trials and congratulations to those who gained selection in the teams for this competition.

The draw from the competition on Sunday is as follows:

Battle 1
St Saviours Primary
OLSCC Team 1
Wilsonton SS
Laidley SS

Battle 2
Highlands Christian College
Downlands College
OLSCC Team 2
Hatton Vale SS

The best two designs from each battle will progress to the finals on Sunday. Good luck to both teams. If you are in Toowoomba and would like to support the sides, head down to the Cobb+Co Museum from 9:00am to 2:30pm.

During Term 4, students will have the opportunity to compete in-school design challenges that will be conducted on Wednesday and Friday during lunch breaks. Using Minecraft as the building tool, students will be given short challenges where they can compete against other students to showcase their design thinking skills all while trying to become the Minecraft Master

If any student is interested in participating in the Minecraft Masters series, please see Mr Holmes or Mr Cullen for more information.

Craig Cullen

Assistant Principal Middle Years

This week, all families will receive a letter from their child’s class teacher outlining the core content to be covered for each Key Learning Area during Term 4. This is the same process that has been undertaken throughout the year at the beginning of each term, with the purpose being to provide clarity for all families about what the learning focus is for your child in the classroom. I urge you to take some time to read this information, print it out if you find that easier, perhaps stick it on the fridge! In this way, you can engage in meaningful conversation about what your child’s day or week has been like. It is much easier to support your child in their learning journey by knowing in advance what they are engaging in. If your usual conversation around “What happened at school today?” is usually followed by “Nothing!”, then the information in this beginning of term letter will be very helpful for you! 

In exciting news, we welcomed many new faces to classes across the Early Years this week, with more joining us next week. It has been a joy to show these families around the College and I always try to do this whilst our students are present so they get a very realistic picture of life at OLSCC. I am impressed with the way the students across the Early Years greet both myself and the visitors, who often comment on how happy and settled the children are. Their exuberance and enthusiasm to engage in the school setting is obvious and I thank both teachers and parents for continuing to foster this. Our focus on the Learning Dispositions and the Learning Pit are clearly evident in these interactions both within and outside of the classroom setting. 

As we enter the busy-ness of the final term, please remember that, as always, there is no need to wait until invited or contacted if you wish to discuss anything with your child’s teacher. Parents can contact teachers to arrange an appointment time at any stage of the year and in whatever way best suits their needs – face to face, email, dojo or phone. Your teacher is, at all times, your first point of call as they know your child and their learning needs best. Trying to “catch a teacher” in the morning is not advisable as they need to be focussed on welcoming the children and preparing for the day ahead, which is why arranging an appointment is advised.  

Note that all communication from the College is digital, with information coming via email and this newsletter. Teachers may also send dojo reminders. If you know of people who feel they are missing information, I ask you to encourage them to regularly check emails and newsletters if they are not in the habit of doing so. In 2021, our walk to check the mailbox or homework folder for notes has been replaced by a daily check of emails. 

Katrina Walton

Assistant Principal Early Years

SWQ Touch Football

The SWQ Swans Primary and Secondary All Schools Touch Football Carnival will be held next Sunday 17 October in Toowoomba. The College has nominated a Primary Boys, Primary Girls, Under 15 Boys, Under 15 Girls and Under 18 Mixed Team in this competition. Further details will be passed onto students next week.

Downs Rugby Sevens

Congratulations to Emmysen Crothers, Charli Coleman, Leila Boland, Carla Nobbs and Georgia Gillett who were selected in a Darling Downs Invitational Under 13 Sevens Team. The girls were selected based on their performances at the QCIS Sevens Carnival. Breanna Hoskin was a member of the Darling Downs Under 15 Team who attended the State Championships in Mackay over the holidays.

SWQ Rugby Sevens Competition

Term 4 Weeks 2-6

Under 18 Girls - Wednesdays at Gold Park in Toowoomba

Under 13 Boys and Under 13 Girls - Thursday at Nell E Robinson Park in Toowoomba

Under 15 Girls - Thursdays at Gold Park in Toowoomba

The draw for next week is still being finalised. The College Coach will transport students to the games on a Thursday night. All players must register online for the competition. Full details can be found at https://www.downsrugby.com.au/south-west-7s/ .

Aquathlon

Any boys or girls turning 11 or 12 in 2022 (Born 2010 or 2011) who would like to participate in the Darling Downs Aquathlon trials please see either Mr or Mrs Lincoln for more information. An Aquathlon consists of a 1km run, 200m swim, followed by another 1km run. These trials will be held at the Dalby Aquatic Centre on Friday 29 October. Students must be able to swim the 200m without stopping.

Triathlon

Any boys or girls wishing to be a part of the Darling Downs Triathlon Team for 2022 please see Mr Lincoln for more information. This can involve any student born between 2009-2003. Students must compete at the QLD All Schools Triathlon on Sunday 24 October at Kawana to be eligible for selection.

Secondary Touch Football

Day 1 of the QLD All Schools Touch Football Carnival began on the Gold Coast yesterday with the Under 15 Teams competing. The Under 18 Mixed team begin their carnival on Friday and their game on Friday afternoon game at 3.30pm against Spinifex State College from Mt Isa is being livestreamed via the QLD All Schools website and on the QLD All Schools Facebook page.

QISSN Netball / QISSRL Rugby League 2022

The 2022 QISSRL and QISSN Carnivals will be held in Mackay in the first week of the June/ July holidays. The Rugby League Carnival is open to any boys turning 16 or older in 2022. The Netball Carnival in open to any girls in Years 9-12 in 2022. Any students interested in playing will be invited to attend morning trainings from Weeks 4-8 this term. There will be a parent and student information meeting for both teams at 5.15pm on Monday 18 October in the MPC.

Tim Lincoln

Middle Leader Sport

WOT IF Day

Check out the flyer below for our annual WOT IF Day for students in Year 6 - 8. This event takes place at the College during the school day and is a great opportunity for them to begin thinking about a career pathway that might interest them.

Calling all Computer and Tech Savvy parents and students

Following is some information about a series of great Tech Talk webinars being run this term. If you are interested in a career in the tech industry, these webinars are a must for you. All the links that you need to join these free webinars are below. They are approx. 25 minutes long and worth having a listen to. There are many career options out there in the tech industry, you just need to be open to the way things have changed. There is still room for the ‘programmer’ but it might be more about working in Robotics, which, in itself, is a growing industry.

Dr Amanda White Freelance Robotics 'The Future of Work with the Students of Today'

Dr Amanda White is the General Manager of Freelance Robotics, responsible for developing Industrial Robotics and the RoboTradies program. Amanda sits on the Leadership Board of the Queensland Robotics cluster, working to create and advance opportunities for industry-leaders, experts, entrepreneurs, start-ups, educators, government and innovators. She is a registered psychologist, having held membership of the Australian Psychological Society (MAPS) as well as the Australian Association of Psychologists (MAAP).

‘The tech industry has an over-supply of rewarding roles and not enough workers to fill those roles. A career in tech can be flexible, innovative, creative, challenging and well-paid. Parents and students can develop a better understanding of tech careers by accessing the interactive ICT Careers Wheel (https://qldictgisp.acs.org.au/career-pathways.html) and attending free Tech Talk webinars in Term 4 on 13, 20, 27 October & 3 November.   Each presentation will be approximately 25 minutes & attendees only need to click on the ICT GISP link here (https://qldictgisp.acs.org.au/events.html) to join on the day.  Attendees will be able to ask questions in the Q&A at the end of each session.

Special guests include established and emerging tech leaders who will share their journeys and provide insights into study and career pathways into the tech industry.

Tech Talk #1 features Dr Amanda White from Freelance Robotics on Wednesday 13 October at 3:15 pm AEST (Qld time).

The Gateway to Industry Schools Program is proudly supported by the Queensland Government.

Sign up for Jack

The Toowoomba Catholic Schools School-Based Apprenticeships Officer, Isabella Travers recently forwarded a copy of the Certificate which was sent to Beck Street Kindergarten thanking them for signing up Jack Wallace-McKay Richards for a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care. Jack is currently in Year 11 and is very excited to be given this opportunity to work and train at Beck Street Kindy. He is pictured with John Fry and Neroli Farquharson on the certificate.

Libby Baxter

Careers Development Practitioner

I would just like to thank all the Junior Leaders for their outstanding support of our children, educators and families. They were absolutely wonderful, once again, helping us out so that families were able to be in the moment and enjoy their children participating in the Beck St Kindy Sports Day. The Junior Leaders from OLSCC were totally committed to making sure the children had the best Sports Day they could, demonstrating caring and sportsmanship. The Junior Leaders are a credit to Our Lady of the Southern Cross College.

Regards

Nerolie, Sharryn, Hannah, Jack and Maylene

Beck Street Kindergarten

At the end of Term 3, Mrs Paterson's Year 7 Praxis class took the Preps on a special pirate themed treasure hunt. The treasure hunt was cleverly planned with plenty of clues to lead to some treasure!! It was a lovely idea and the Preps loved it. 

Myall Medical invites all children aged 12 years and older, staff, family and friends of Our Lady of the Southern Cross College to book into any one of our COVID Clinics.

Book your COVID Vaccination online. Please click on the link below to book an appointment for any of the clinics listed in this post.

https://automedsystems.com.au/online/clinics/489/myall-medical-practice-dalby-4405/doctors/

We are pleased to offer the following dates and times in our Pfizer Vaccine Clinics, offering 1st and 2nd vaccines including those who have had their 1st vaccine elsewhere.

• Thursday 7 Oct - 1:40 pm to 4:40 pm
• Sunday 10 Oct - 9 am to 2:30 pm (accepting Walk ins)
• Thursday 14 Oct - 6 pm to 7:20 pm
• Saturday 16 Oct - 1 pm to 3:50 pm
• Tuesday 19 Oct - 7 am to 7:50 pm
• Wednesday 20 Oct - 9 am to 12:10 pm
• Thursday 21 Oct - 6 pm to 7 pm
• Sunday 24 Oct - 9:10 am to 5:20 pm
• Thursday 28 Oct - 2 pm to 4:40 pm
• Sunday 31 Oct - 9:10 am to 2:30 pm
• Sunday 07 Nov - 9 am to 11:40 am
• Wednesday 10 Nov - 1:10 pm to 3:40 pm
• Sunday 14 Nov - 8 am to 12 pm
• Sunday 28 Nov - 9 am to 11:40 pm
• Wednesday 1 Dec - 1 pm to 3:30 pm

Hi parents, grandparents and carers, 

Everyone has responded very well to Flexischools with almost all orders now being placed online via the Flexischools app or website.

We are encouraging 100% usage of Flexischools so that we will be a cashless tuckshop. This then makes life easier for the tuckshop workers as all orders come in by 8.30am each morning and there should be no late or forgotten orders from class rooms.

Also we are still in NEED of tuckshop volunteers. If you are able to help for an hour or two a week, I would be most appreciative. Come in and see me and we can organise a day and time that suits you.

Kathy Crump

Tuckshop Convenor

Junior Basketball @ PCYC

Starts 6^th October

Ages 7 to 13

4pm to 5 pm

Wednesdays during school term

$50 a term per player

Contact tarlee.pharaoh@pcyc.org.au

WORLD SCIENCE FAIR

A reminder about the a free event in Toowoomba that you and you students may be interested in:

World Science Festival Queensland

• Community Day: Toowoomba
• This Sunday 10 October 2021
• No need to book, just drop in!
• 9:30am to 3:00pm
• FREE EVENT

Come celebrate the wonder and joy of science with us at Cobb+Co Museum. More information is at:

https://www.worldsciencefestival.com.au/event-program/toowoomba/city-of-science-toowoomba