What a huge end to the term we are having!  We had a wonderful Week 8 filled with prayer and reflection with the opening of our new facilities and the celebration of Our Lady of the Southern Cross Day. Week 9, we hosted student-led conferences in the Early and Middle Years and tonight we look forward to be enchanted at ‘Enchanted Evening’.  Week 10 will see Year 6 and Year 9 head to camp and of course students are busily completing assessment to demonstrate their learning, which leads to busy staff marking these assessments.

DATE CLAIMERS FOR TERM 4

14 October Grandparents Day 9:00am-12:00pm Prep – Year 6

14 October Under 13-Open Swimming Carnival

16 November College Awards Ceremony 9:15am MPC

18 November Year 12 Graduation Mass 10:00am St Joseph’s

25 November OLSCC Christmas Carols 6:00pm-8:00pm

28 November Colour Run

REGULAR EVENTS

Whole College Assemblies –in MPC – Week 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 (Odd Weeks) at 8:50am

Early Years Assemblies –in PAC – Week 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 (Even Weeks) at 8:50am

Middle Years Assemblies –in Middle Years Plaza – Week 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 (Even Weeks) at 8:50am

Senior Year Assemblies throughout the week (timetable dependant) Notification through the newsletter.

Families are welcome to join us for all assemblies. 

STUDENT LEADERSHIP 2023

Congratulations to the 14 young men and women who presented themselves for leadership positions for 2023.  In 2022, for the first, time we announced our 2023 College leaders on Our Lady of the Southern Cross Day.  These Prep – Year 12 leaders will be leaders elect until the end of this term working alongside the 2022 leaders.  In Term 4 they will take responsibility for these roles.  The Prep- Year 12 Leader positions for 2023 are College Prefects including our College Captains and our House Leaders. 

As a College we have a rigorous application process for our Prep – Year 12 Whole College Leadership positions.  It is a four-step process.  Students must apply in writing stating the characteristics they possess to achieve such a role.  They also present a short speech to the student body, who have a vote to show their support to candidates.  Lastly, they take part in an interview with members of the College Staff leadership Group.  Through this process the successful candidates are appointed by our Principal, Peter Cuskelly. 

House Leaders 2023:

Our Prefects for 2023 are:

College Captains 2023:

CLASS ALLOCATIONS FOR 2023

Our Lady of the Southern Cross College has a procedure in place for allocating students into classes each year.  Classroom teachers and the leadership team work together to determine class placements based on social, emotional and academic needs of students to ensure classes are balanced and will provide optimal learning and teaching for all.  

PROCESS

The College Leadership Team establish class structures for the following year based upon anticipated enrolments, class lists are then formed from the full lists of students in each year level.

Factors staff take into consideration when allocating students to classes include the following:

• projected number of students in each year level and past trends
• gender ratio
• spread of students with respect to academic performance, social development and classroom behaviour
• the best educational needs of the student
• special circumstances such as twins or individual family members
• classroom observations

It is acknowledged by all, that friendships are important. However, to ensure balanced classes as outlined above, friendship groups are not a primary determining factor in class allocation.

What is the process for placing students into classes?

Based on the criteria listed above, teaching staff and the College Leadership Team begin the process towards the end of Term 3.  At this time, they observe current class situations and review with the future year in mind.  Staff meet in Week 1 of Term 4 to establish class lists for the following school year. Teachers of the current year level meet with colleagues to create the class lists (i.e. Year 2 teachers decide Year 3 allocations etc.) for the following school year.  Family history and connection to teachers through siblings is not a deciding factor for class allocation as teachers are allocated to class lists once they are formed not before. 

Proposed class lists are submitted for consideration to other stakeholders within the College including the Student Services team.  Throughout this consideration present teachers are consulted and discussions are led by Assistant Principals of each sector about the combinations of students in classes. 

Draft lists are finalised and submitted to the Principal and College Leadership Team for final approval.

PARENT REQUESTS

Parents and carers may provide the College with specific information about their child’s learning or social needs that they believe the College  may not be aware of. Such information would not include a request for a particular teacher. The information should be provided in writing by completing the Class Consideration Form to the Principal during the consultation phase in Week 2, Term 4.

This information will be referenced, along with other available information, during the class allocation process. Please see the below information.

• Parents are able to make a class allocation request based on educational needs
• Parents need to submit the Class Consideration Form outlining their reasons, by the set date.
• All written parent requests that arrive by the due date will be considered based on educational merits and in relation to the class structure process outlined above. Any late submissions will not be considered.
• The College cannot guarantee that parent requests will be met.

RELEASING CLASS LISTS TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS

Class allocations for the year ahead will be communicated to the students in advance of ‘Up Day’ each year.  Class lists are final on publication to students and parents. ‘Up Day’ is the day where all students enrolled for the following year spend time in their future classes.  This orientation and experience day is held in the final week of Term 4.

This practice means that:

• Students will experience a day in their future class, with future teacher/s;
• Students begin to build relationships with their teacher/s for following year;
• Students will know which other students will be in their class; and
• Parents and carers will have time to talk positively to their children about the class experiences they may have the following year.

PARENT AND CARER COMMITMENT

Parents and carers commit to supporting the College's Class Allocation Procedure by:

• Supporting and accepting decisions made by the College; and
• Being positive with their child about the class allocation decision that has been made.

COLLEGE COMMITMENT

The College commits to supporting the Class Allocation Procedure by:

• Using informed professional judgement when deciding class allocations; and
• Considering all available information, including that received from parents and carers, to assist the process.

This procedure and FAQ about class allocation can be found on our College website:

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

Cate Brennan

Deputy Principal Religious Education