A Work of Gratitude

I have visited classrooms of all year levels and subject areas in the past 2 weeks. I have witnessed many sessions of NAPLAN and even a few  senior exams.  I have seen our inspired methodology in the teaching of mathematics (Back to Front Maths) make a real difference in correcting misunderstandings, strengthening simple concepts, and allowing students to genuinely engage in mathematical thinking without a need to sit at their desk and complete worksheets.  I’ve witnessed students as young as seven using a box plan in order to create wonderful narratives, as well as persuading audiences with quality arguments. In the middle years they have begun discovering the history of the Bunya Mountains through Humanities and Social Science (HASS).  Amongst all of this, I have seen high quality teaching practices from excellent teachers, as well as excellent support from our classroom school officers and support staff.  I’ve also seen learners that are actively engaged in their learning, that engage as social beings, and demonstrate behaviours that are supportive of one another and of their learning environment. 

In the last few weeks, I have been extremely grateful for the wonderful community we have here at OLSCC.  It certainly doesn’t happen by accident, and I am proud of the work of staff, students, parents and wider community members who support the direction of the College with their positive dispositions each and every day.  I often talk to students about “getting onboard” as when we all work as part of the same team, we can achieve great things.  I encourage you all to identify an aspect of your life over the Easter break and look for the good in what we have in our world so we may move forward with gratitude and a positive disposition to life.   

Principal Tour

On Monday evening we welcomed many prospective parents and students to our College for our first Principal’s Tour of 2024.  This is always a great way for these families to have a look around the College, learn what we are all about, and ask questions to determine whether the values and ethos of the College align with their own.  It was wonderful to see the considerable turn out, and it was a very special night to introduce OLSCC to new and returning members of our community.  Please ensure you encourage friends who may be considering enrolling here to give our enrolments officer Jean Prow a call at the College to have a chat and answer any questions they may have.  Please also keep an eye out for “Come and Try Day” flyers with further opportunities for new families and our College to get to know each other.  It was evident that there are plenty of Prep students looking at enrolling next year and we will be gradually interviewing for this starting early next term.  Please ensure you don’t wait until the last minute this year as the demand continues to rise!

Facilities Progress

The Preps are loving their new playground, and everyone is very excited to see the new area between Nicholson Street and Pink Block open for play next term.  It feels as though a lot of planning has turned into action this year, and we are excited to see the end result.  Our current challenges with our facilities rely largely on water after a significant pump failure.  There is lots of work happening behind the scenes to ensure our irrigation system is back up and running ASAP so we can begin irrigating the College ovals and grounds again. 

On the bright side, we have been securing water licenses and preparing for the drilling of a bore for many years now.  This morning, we discovered that our bore drilling has been successful and we have water to supplement our dam supply so that into the future, we may irrigate the entirety of the campus so our students have wonderful green spaces to play and learn.  This is a gradual project, though the irrigation of the new Early Years play space behind pink block is a great example of our next steps moving forward.

2-minute Parking Zone & Bus Zone

We have worked with council to create a 2-minute loading zone in the first 10 carparks in front of prep to create an efficient space for dropping students to school in the morning, and collecting them in the afternoon.  The intent is for a 2-minute maximum in these first 10 car spaces. This means that if you use these spaces, you do not have the time to walk your child/ren into school or walk into school to collect them in the afternoon – no matter what grade they are in.  If you would prefer to walk your children into school you are required to park outside of this zone so that other parents have spaces available to use the drop-off and collection zone appropriately.  This space is becoming an area of great frustration for our parental community, especially when people arrive at school 20 minutes before pickup to claim a space, or are seen having a lengthy discussion in the College grounds while they are parked in a 2-minute zone. 

These facilities have been considered, designed and put in place to make drop-off and collection far more safe for our children and time effective for our parents.  Please stay in, or at the front of your vehicle if using a 2-minute zone, or if you need longer, please park elsewhere and take a little stroll into the College.  Believe it or not, our parking range and access at OLSCC is considerably better than the majority of schools our size, we simply need to use it as intended so we can easily have all students collected safely by 3:20pm. 

‘Tip from many families: Ask your children to be patient and simply arrive at 3:15’.

Easter

Nearly two thousand years ago, Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice and died on the cross for us.  On third day, he rose again.

In the northern hemisphere, Easter takes place in the transition from winter to spring, when many egg decorating festivals occur, including pisanki (Poland), Sham el-Nessim (Egypt) and Persian New Year.   Eventually, the decorated egg found it’s way into Christianity as early Christians in Mesopotamia stained hard boiled eggs red to represent Christ’s blood and the resurrection from his tomb.  Over time, and after some magnificent marketing, this transformed into the global market that is chocolate easter eggs.  No matter how you remember and celebrate Easter this Holy Week, please do so remembering the sacrifices that were made for the betterment of our world.  The giving of oneself for others, or almsgiving, is a really important aspect of this.  So this Easter, enjoy your easter eggs, engage in your local parish during holy week, and think of what you can give of yourself for the benefit of others.

I remember clearly my first year at this College when a young boy in Year 4 won the monstrous easter egg basket from the Mini Vinnies Easter Raffle. It was a washing basket overloaded with all types and varieties of eggs.  The basket was kept by his teacher for the day, though as he walked to his car he had but a few small eggs in his basket and a huge smile on his face after gifting away all of his bounty.  This is what Easter is all about.

Have a safe, happy and family-filled Holy Week and Easter holidays, and a fantastic finish to Term 1 of 2024.

Mr Peter Cuskelly

Principal