Catholic Education Week

It was a pleasure to attend the Queensland Catholic Education Week launch at St Patrick's Cathedral on Tuesday morning.  Although the crowd was small due to COVID concerns, it was a fitting beginning to the celebration of the exceptional highlights of Catholic education in Queensland.  This year we celebrate being Communities of Faith, Hope and Love across all of our Diocese, and reflect that the greatest of these is love. When we reflect on the behaviours of love, 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 best explains… “⁴ Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. ⁷ It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

I ask all our community to consider how their lives reflect this simple message about Communities of Faith, Hope and Love.  We are reminded that our material possessions are merely worldly possessions, and we should focus on our own Faith, Hope for a sustainable and enhanced future for out next generations, and love for all, especially those who walk in the margins as Jesus did.

Tomorrow our staff will gather as a Community of Faith, Hope and Love as we listen to the message of the Bishop Robert McGuckin, Dr Pat Coughlan (Executive Director Toowoomba Catholic Schools) and Christian Brother Damian Price, a remarkable leader of a lived Catholic faith.  We will hear many messages which will then be translated to the students over coming weeks and we are sure that the time dedicated to this learning will be of considerable benefit for the future of our Diocese.  It is also rather timely to listen again to Brother Price, as he is a regular visitor to our College, and will be working with us again in term 4 as we plan for a renewed service learning philosophy across all P-12 Colleges in the Diocese. 

A reminder that all aspects of the College will be closed for Bishop’s Inservice Day tomorrow, including the office.

OLSCC P&F Association

We currently only have one executive member of the College P&F Association which means we essentially cannot function, fundraise, or utilise raised funds until this is rectified.  Next week I will announce a P&F extraordinary meeting in order to appoint an executive team, make some important decisions regarding the intent, vision and purpose of the P&F, and get a renewed membership to begin the next chapter at OLSCC.  In doing so, I would like to acknowledge and thank the outgoing executive for the huge amounts of work that they have undertaken in recent years to keep the P&F running, as well as make significant contributions to the education of each and every child at OLSCC.  Items such as the College Coach, Middle Years Plaza, Coffee Machines for Barista Courses, the whole college bell and alarm system, new fridges throughout the College, the interactive whiteboards and laptops in every room and much, much more are all heavily supported by the P&F.  Thank you for your service and dedication to all involved!

Jacobsons Representing for Pancreatic Cancer

Lachlan and Blake Jacobson spoke at the last whole College Assembly regarding their Aunty, Marianne Finch, who is currently halfway through the Mongolian Rally.  Essentially, she is riding 1000 kilometres over 10 days on horseback in a gruelling competition in order to raise funds and awareness for pancreatic cancer, an illness very close to the heart of the family.  Please find the time and a few dollars to click on the link below and help raise some funds for this great cause.

https://pankind-fundraising.raisely.com/marianne-finch

Mrs Walton

We all know she deserves it, though we’re all still a little sad that Mrs Walton is heading off for 5 weeks of long service leave in the snow with her last day at school being tomorrow.  Mrs Bennie will be Acting Assistant Principal Early Years during Mrs Walton’s absence and Mrs Cruickshank will be teaching 3B.  We kindly welcome back Mrs Cruickshank, wish Mrs Walton the best of luck on her holiday, and look forward to supporting Mrs Bennie as she tries her hand at a new role.

Cunnamulla Leadership Forum

In Week 5, I will be attending the Cunnamulla Leadership Forum focussing on “Staying on Mission”.  This will provide a wonderful opportunity to gain better insights into new initiatives from Toowoomba Catholic Schools, the strategic initiatives for 2023 and beyond, and an opportunity to work collaboratively with other principals to align the great work happening across the Diocese. 

Peter Cuskelly

Principal