Lent is a period of 40 days before Easter. Traditionally, Christians have been called to fast, pray and spiritually reflect on the life of Jesus – his teachings and ministry, his sacrificial death on the cross and his Resurrection – and to enrich our personal relationship with the Christ, “to be reconciled to God”. 2 Cor 5:20

As the name suggests, the central symbol of this day is ashes, traditionally burned from palm crosses remaining from last year’s Palm Sunday.

Scripture:       Matthew 6:16-21

[Jesus said] whenever you fast, do not look sombre, like the hypocrites, for they mark their faces to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I invite you to reflect quietly on how this reading speaks to you at the beginning of Lent.

What are the enduring “treasures” in your life for whom/which you are grateful? In the silence, perhaps offer up a prayer of gratitude for them.

Is there any issue that is causing you concern about your relationship with God or with others? In the silence, ponder on how you can work towards reconciliation, and perhaps offer a prayer asking for God’s help in this process?

This lent let’s focus on ‘’giving up, giving to, and giving in.’ It’s in giving up our reliance on those things we don’t absolutely need, giving to those in greater need than ourselves, and giving in to God’s presence in our lives that we are able to look our own “lacking ” straight in the eye. It’s how we become aware of both the blessing and the brokenness of our human condition.

Ash Wednesday Reflection Angela Travers, Manager: Mission and Identity (Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office)

Acting Principal for Term 2

As mentioned in the last newsletter, I am undertaking a pilgrimage as my professional renewal leave in the first 6 weeks of Term 2.  I am very proud to announce that Ms Sharon Collins will be the Acting Principal at OLSCC during this period.  Ms Collins brings extensive experience to the College as the current principal of St Saviour's College in Toowoomba since 2017, as well as working as an Education Officer: Formation and Identity with the Diocese in the past and being the foundation Assistant Principal Religious Education at Xavier College in Hervey Bay. I am very excited to see the wonderful contribution that Ms Collins will make to our College during her time here.  I would like to sincerely thank Ms Collins for grasping this opportunity, as well as the community of St Saviour’s College for giving selflessly, especially Mrs Jessica Wade who will be fulfilling Ms Collins' role in her absence.  

Dalby Guidance Hub Announcement

I am also pleased to announce Mrs Rebecca Lewis will join Mrs Katrina Ballantyne to form the Guidance Counsellor Team at the new Dalby Guidance Hub.  These two wonderful ladies will be providing a variety of experience to support the students of OLSCC, as well as the students at St Joseph's Chinchilla, St Monica's Oakey, and St Joseph's Tara.  This is a new way of working forged by Mr Michael Thomason from Toowoomba Catholic Schools to ensure schools are enabled to develop collaborative solutions in providing greater outcomes to student wellbeing through entrepreneurial approaches to Guidance Counselling.  Both counsellors will support OLSCC part-time, whilst also travelling to support the other schools in the hub.  We look forward to the new initiatives and ways of working that come from the establishment of the Dalby Guidance Hub.  The counsellors will both be based in the administration area for now, though will soon move into a newly renovated space being created for both Counsellors as well as the Career Development practitioner, Mr Dean Garside, and the Careers Support Officer, Mrs Tracey Boland.

Quadrennial School Review (QSR)

Next week our College will welcome Mrs Madonna Sleba, Director: Teaching and Learning, Mrs Maryanne Walsh, Senior Education Leader, Mr Brett Pollard, Principal: St Mary's Goondiwindi, and Mr John Coman, external consultant, in order to undertake the OLSCC 2023 Quadrennial School Review.  As mentioned in previous newsletters, this process is focused on determining the great work of the College as well as the future direction for the College as we lead into the next strategic planning phase.  We look forward to receiving feedback from the 120 interviews the team will undertake to determine the trends of success and future direction of OLSCC.  All staff will be involved in the process, as well as all community members who have expressed an interest as advertised in newsletters since late Term 4, 2022.  Some students will also be engaged in providing feedback, with communications going to parents of students involved this week.   Feedback will be provided via future newsletters once the final report is received later this term or early Term 2. Thank you to everyone in advance who will be contributing to the future direction of the College.

College Advisory Council replacing College Board

For many years, the College Board has served our community by providing a consultative committee to guide the direction of the College.  While the work of the Board is valuable, a slight shift in the constitution and ways of working have resulted in the formation of the College Advisory Council which meets tonight. It's important to note that while independent schools engage a "Board" as a form of governance, our College is governed by the Bishop and Executive Director of the Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools.  This modernisation of the constitution creates more transparency and clarity regarding the work of the College Advisory Council and the highly valuable, ongoing nature of the group in supporting the strategic direction of the College. A letter is included below regarding the update.

Family And Community Engagement (FACE)

While the P&F has done some amazing work for our community for many years, it is evident by the engagement in recent years that a change of tact is in order.  In 2022, we could not form an executive committee which simply meant that the P&F could not function.  Fortunately for us, Catholic Schools Parents Queensland has been trialling new ways of working across the state to focus more on parent engagement in education over recent years.  I have been working on forming the basis for our new-look parent engagement model, titled Family and Community Engagement.  In essence, the focus will be less on meetings, and more on engaging the wider community regarding issues that are mutually important to education and parents.  Things like Cybersafety, Parenting Ideas, Study Skills and Student Wellbeing.  This will come in the form of termly workshops with parents, organised, and supported by a small executive that includes the leaders of working parties such as Head Heart Hands as well as the Saints Race Day Committee.  While some final details are being finalised, I welcome contact from any community members who are interested in forming the executive of this committee, or anyone willing to lead working parties that they are passionate about.  Please email nicole.bryers@twb.catholic.edu.au to advise of your interest and availability to be involved in this new way of working for our community.  Please be assured that attendance at the termly workshops will not result in you needing to take on any formal roles!

Outside of School Hours Care (OSHC) Survey

Below is a link to a survey regarding your perceived need for Outside of School Hours Care for your family. As a College, we are considering offering a service that provides care for students 12 years old and under on a daily basis here at the College.  This care would be available from 6:30am until 8:30am, and then from 3:10pm until 6pm.  It is a user-pays system that would be provided by Toowoomba Catholic Kindergartens and Care from Monday to Friday every school week, as well as possible options for vacation care, based on demand.  Please have a conversation regarding the needs of your family and complete the survey below prior to Thursday 9 March 2023 so that an accurate account of community needs can be ascertained.

OLSCC Dalby Outside of School Hours Care

Belief in a Better World – TCS new narrative

Over the last two years, team members in our schools and office, parent groups and members of our communities have been working together to capture the story of Toowoomba Catholic Schools. The story of how together, as a community of 31 schools and the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office, we are a great place to work, a place where students are inspired and supported to become their best self and where families are welcomed as partners in their children's learning.

These overarching messages have been brought together through capturing images of our students and our staff, and through using words that we believe reflect who we are and what we value. With the help of Wonderkarma, an external 'story-telling' agency, this co-designed story is being shared on TV, radio and online.  

We invite you to watch the overarching story video below – very exciting to see how prominently our College, staff and students feature!

Keep your eye out on Channel 7, Channel 9, and social media platforms to see us!

Peter Cuskelly

Principal