LENT

Last newsletter, I included a reflection from Angela Travers from the start of Lent.  The article concluded with the suggestion of “giving up, giving to or giving in” this Lent.  Below are some suggestions to keep you going through Lent and how to focus on what this season can teach all of us. This includes making time and space and to focus on the essentials in our lives, sharing our time and worldly goods with those less fortunate, and making time for prayer and reflection in our lives.

Giving up: Fasting, a spiritual practice that has declined in popularity over the years, has made a comeback in a less-than-spiritual way. 'Intermittent fasting' is all the rage lately on nutrition websites and in best-selling books but when fasting is understood not as a weight-loss technique but as a way of letting go of our reliance on things we don’t actually need, it can be a powerful form of prayer. It’s fine to give up desserts for Lent if that helps us reflect on the things we can do without. Perhaps it can be more powerful, though, to 'fast' from gossip or unnecessary spending or an insistence on having the last word. Fasting is a way to experience our own 'lacking' in a transformative way.
Giving to: Almsgiving, which means the giving of money or food to those in need, is another traditional Lenten practice. This, too, is relevant for us today during Lent—and all year long—because it takes the focus off ourselves and is how we recognise that we aren’t the only ones who are vulnerable. The world is full of others just like us in our lacking. They may be vulnerable in different ways than we are, but by reaching out to them in their need, we bear witness to their pain. By standing in solidarity with their brokenness, we take steps toward being healed of our own. Let us reflect on all that we have been given, on all that makes us fully human and then ‘pay forward’ these gifts to others.
Giving in: Prayer as a spiritual practice never goes out of style. Lent calls us to develop a little more of this deep inner reflectiveness, a reflectiveness about our relationship with ourselves, with God, with others and with creation, of which we are a part. By lifting our own broken pieces and those of others in prayer, we attest to—rather than run from—the vulnerable parts of our lives. Prayer connects us with each other and with God. This sacred unity connects our individual broken pieces with those of others, creating a beautiful new kind of wholeness.

Go for Gold!  

This is Stew.  Stew is our College’s 'Go for Gold' Write Thate Essay (WTE) Coach.  Stew comes to OLSCC every year and gives students focussed writing sessions prior to NAPLAN taking place.  Over the 6 days that Stew spends with us this year, he will run workshops for every Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 class regarding how to use WTE effectively so they can put their best foot forward when they have the chance to write in NAPLAN.  We are very proud of our engagement with Write That Essay at OLSCC, as we believe that it provides the structure for writing effectively that so many students need.  Please also note that all students from Years 3-12 have personal WTE Toolkit accounts that they can access online to help them with all their writing tasks, as well as providing valuable feedback. This includes daily challenges, creating, planning and writing, personal learning journeys, self-guided lessons and much more.  This, coupled with the work of Stew and our teachers, provides a wonderful opportunity for our students to advance their writing capability at their own pace.  It’s wonderful to watch students feeling confident and successful in their writing at OLSCC!

Quadrennial School Review

Last week the College underwent its Quadrennial School Review for this 4-year cycle of improvement.  Over 130 students, staff, parents, and community members were interviewed over 2 days and the review team is currently finalising the report before approval and distribution back to the College.  When this report is received, it will be shared on the website for all members of our community to access.

I would like to sincerely thank everyone who gave feedback for the review which will provide the basis for the next OLSCC Strategic Plan from 2024 – 2027.  The immediate feedback reported has seen pleasing improvements over the past 4 years, and that there continues to be areas for focus over the next 4 years to make the College an even better place for the education of our students. 

A big thanks to everyone who took time out of their day to share their thoughts on the College with the review team.  This process of school improvement is well proven to be effective and to give everyone in the community an equal and meaningful voice in the advancement of the College. 

Staff Update

We have had an amazing start to 2023, with stable staffing across the College to begin the school year.  We are working towards filling roles in the Grounds Team, Admin Team and the Tuckshop at present, which will soon see us back to capacity in all of our non-teaching areas.  At the start of next term, we are welcoming back Mr Daniel Cross to the Middle Years.  This will mean adjustments to the timetables of some students.

I am excited announce that Mrs Linzi Smith (Administration), Mrs Hayley Hayllor (Senior Years Teacher), and Mrs Rachel Rockliff (School Officer) have all announced their respective pregnancies and will each be taking maternity leave later this year as they focus on their growing families.  We wish Linzi, Andrew & Addison, as well as Hayley and Robert, and Rachel and Jack, all the best with the health and wellness of their families.  The College will be advertising for their replacement shortly.  We can’t wait to meet some future OLSCC community members throughout the course of the year!

Commencing 21 August, Mr Steve Gillespie will also be taking two months of well-earned Long Service Leave to travel with his family and support his son overseas.  Timetable adjustments will allow the College to use existing staff to cover Mr Gillespie during his absence.

Family And Community Engagement (FACE)

I would like to welcome all interested parents to an information evening in the PAC where we can discuss the new FACE model for parental and community engagement at OLSCC.  It will start with a brief presentation from myself, and then, most importantly, feedback from those present regarding what they would like to see presented and workshopped in Parent Forums.  This is the biggest target of FACE – 1 parent forum every term where parent and community needs are met through presentations, workshops, or discussions around important topics such as Cyberbullying, Internet Safety, Healthy Minds and Bodies, Study Skills, Raising Boys/Girls, Ten-ager (Madonna King presentation), amongst many hundreds of options.  After determining immediate needs, we will also identify what working parties will function (Saints Race Day, Head Heart Hands etc), as well as a few parents who are keen to be involved in the committee to guide the working groups, organise the forums and provide a voice for parents at OLSCC.

This event will take place from 5:30-6:30pm on Monday 20March in the PAC, and from here the future direction of FACE will be determined to support parental engagement in what matters to parents at OLSCC. We hope to see you there!

Outside of School Hours Care (OSHC) & Vacation Care      

The feedback form for OSHC and Vacation Care closes at 8:30pm tomorrow night!  This form is directly connected to the likelihood of Toowoomba Catholic Kindergartens and Care (TCKC) starting this service at the College in the future.  The reality is that we need minimum numbers in attendance every day, and parents to value and utilise the service so it may continue into the future.  While costing is yet to be established, it is important to note that this service will carry similar costs to other local services and is directly paid for by parents to TCKC.  If you haven’t yet responded to the form and would like your interest in utilising this service if it were provided, please do so ASAP.

Complaints Management Link   

There are times when parents and community members wish to resolve issues that occur at OLSCC. In order for this resolution to take place, the Complaints Management Procedure and TCS Complaints Form are available through a link at the bottom of the website homepage.  It is important that our community knows that making a complaint is important when issues arise so that resolutions can be found quickly and effectively so that students can continue learning as best they can. Click on the image below to take you to the Complaints Management webpage.