What a couple of weeks we have had in the Early Years! There has certainly been plenty of extra-curricular activity happening alongside our regular classroom program. This week alone, we have had our Year 1 and Year 3 cohorts participating via invitation at the Dalby Eisteddfod winners concert. Huge congratulations to Year 3, who were awarded the trophy for the Champion Verse Speaking Choir for 2023! Our choirs weren’t the only OLSCC representation at the concert. Students Lucy Scott, Lucy Bennie (Middle Years) and Nadine Garside (Senior Years) were also invited to perform as a result of their success last week. The skills gained by participating in events such as these are immediately transferrable to the classroom setting, where oral communication as part of a collaborative learning environment is so important.

This week, we were also privileged to once again welcome the Shake and Stir Theatre Company to our College. All Early Years classes were able to view live theatre as they performed their show ‘Fractured Fairytales’.

In addition to this, many students have taken up the opportunity to participate in other non-mandatory events, including:

• ICAS academic competitions, where students have voluntarily thrown themselves into the learning pit to sit papers in English, Maths, Science, Writing and Spelling.
• Delicious and Delightful Festival lantern parade. Miss Creeley has sent home information to all participating families this week and we look forward to another strong representation from the College at the lantern parade on Saturday evening.
• Optiminds creative thinking challenge, taking place on Sunday 27 August in Toowoomba.

Next week, the fun continues as our Prep students engage in an excursion to Myall Creek to test their mapping skills, Year 3 visits Ningana to engage with some of the older members of our community, our annual Prep Father’s Day big breakfast takes place, along with all the fun of OLSCC day.

None of this can occur without significant extra effort from the wonderful teachers in our community who constantly step up to ensure our students are able to participate in these events. They willingly give of their time to ensure our students are able to engage in activities that contribute towards full and flourishing lives, with learning extending beyond the classroom.

Welcome to Shooting Stars

With our first round of enrolment offers now complete, we were able to welcome our newest and youngest friends to the OLSCC community as our incoming 2024 Prep students had their first Shooting Stars session last week. The current Prep students and teachers have kindly shared their room and resources to assist with the transition of our new friends to ensure they are well set up for success next year. With both a morning and an afternoon session on a Friday, our teacher, Mrs Morrison, and School Officer, Mrs Cuskelly reported that the children were very excited to attend and already showed some great resilience at trying out a new routine and setting.

Mrs Katrina Walton

Assistant Principal Early Years