Welcome Back to Term 4!

It was good to welcome everyone back from the break last week. Students are in high spirits as we embark on the final term of the school year.

Term 4 is a special time in our calendar. It's a time when we reflect on the progress we've made, celebrate our successes, and set our sights on the exciting opportunities that lie ahead. It's a time for students to consolidate their knowledge, for teachers to inspire and motivate, and for parents and guardians to continue their invaluable support. Together, we will make these final weeks of the school year truly memorable.

As we navigate this final term together, let us remember the importance of collaboration, resilience, and gratitude. Let us celebrate the journey we have undertaken and look forward with optimism to the future.

I am confident that Term 4 will be filled with many achievements and memorable moments. Together, we will finish this school year on a high note and send our students off into the world, prepared to make a positive impact.

There are many events and opportunities for students in Term 4. Please stay up to date with our correspondence, and encourage your child to be involved in as many opportunities and activities as possible. As a timely reminder we would like to highlight to all families that if your contact details registered with the College need to be updated, please contact the Office or via your Sentral Parent Portal.

Brief overview of some key Term 4 events:

• Assessments for all students and in particular Yr 12 students sitting their External Exams for their General subjects
• Graduation
• Awards Ceremony. All are welcome and invited.
• Term 4 is the beginning of Unit 3 for many of our Year 11 students. This means that for General subjects, student assessment is now summative and contributes to ATAR calculations (if the student is ATAR eligible).

Term 4 is certainly shaping to be another full and exciting term, with many opportunities.

Prepare your 2025 approach to study

While Term 4 may seem like the perfect time to wind down or to coast through to the end. It is actually the perfect time to trial new approaches and experiment with your study techniques.

So, by getting these good habits started in Term 4, you are building your knowledge and skills to avoid Christmas holiday learning loss and reduce the stress of starting in Term 1.

One of the best things you can start exploring is how to create effective study notes for some of your subjects.

Study notes help you create a strong foundation in your knowledge! From many years of teaching, I’ve noticed that students with effective study notes are more confident and capable. 

Here are some helpful websites for tips and tricks on developing good study notes. 

• A Simple Guide to Study Notes - Oxford Learning
• 20 eye-catching ideas for your study notes | Canva

Apps for creating study notes: 

• Quizlet: Online flashcard maker and flashcard app | Quizlet
• Scribzee: SCRIBZEE, the free app that revolutionizes your handwritten notes

Consolidate Your Learning Gaps

The first thing here is to get out your assessment results for every subject you’ll be continuing in some form into next year — subjects like Religion, English, Maths, and Science. 

Any mistakes you’ve made in these assessments and exams are a clear indication of the gaps and weak areas you currently have. Unless you try to fix them, they’re only going to get a lot worse and cause you difficulty in the years to come. 

Allocate one afternoon per week after school for one subject. For example:

• Monday = Maths
• Tuesday = English
• Wednesday = Science

Spend 1 hour working on reviewing these mistakes and finding similar questions you can work on until you’re confident you’re getting them correct consistently. This will build your confidence in remembering the content!

Year 9 to 11 Exam Timetables

On Friday all Term 4 Exam Timetables were published to students and parents via our Sentral for Parents Portal and the student's Sentral portal. Exam timetables are also available from our college website here, Our Lady of the Southern Cross College, Dalby

It is important to note that assessment adjustments for family holidays and other events are not aligned within the QCAA guidelines across all year levels, conversations must be had with senior leadership should holidays be taken when any assessment is due.

If you have any questions about assessment, please contact your child's classroom teacher or the relevant Middle Leader Curriculum.

Our Lady of the Southern Cross College is responsible for gathering evidence of student achievement on or before the due date for internal assessment instruments. All students have electronic access to their assessment, and it is their responsibility to adhere to these due dates. Students are responsible for planning and managing their time to meet the due dates. Students and parents can contact teachers and Curriculum Leaders via phone or email. Teachers are not able to grant extensions directly with students and parents/carers.

Our Lady of the Southern Cross College is required to adhere to QCAA policies about due dates accepting assignments only on or before the due date unless an extension through AARA processes has been approved.  For example, a student who is absent due to family holidays will not be granted an extension for an assignment as this doesn’t meet the AARA guidelines set by QCAA. Any adjustments requested must be supported by medical or professional documentation.

Year 11 2025 Subject Selections

Last Wednesday our Year 10 students engaged with senior subject teachers to ask questions about the subjects on offer to them in 2025. There was great discussion with students getting great opportunities to discuss subjects that align with great future pathways and strong academic outcomes.

A reminder all subject selections need to be submitted by 9am Monday, 14 October 2024.

Year 12 Final Weeks

Last Wednesday, I spoke specifically to our senior students and acknowledged that the year is coming to an end but reminded them that this does not mean that we lose focus and encouraged them to maintain momentum with their studies until the very end. I specifically spoke about the power of reflection. Reflection means that you honestly think about and evaluate your past performance. Reflection provides an opportunity to alter or change your course of action, your approach, or your habits. It is a change to start fresh and re-focus.

As our Year 12 students enter the final stretch and undertake their focused preparations in their classes for External Exams, or are working on that last piece of assessment, I encourage them to reflect. For instance, reflect on their mock exam results and use that practice run to their advantage to guide their preparation over the coming weeks. Additionally, reflect on teachers’ feedback and advice they have received to ensure that their final assessment is of a high standard.

This is a time when students need to draw upon all the information, they have received about time management strategies, study schedules, organisation and study techniques. Equally, it is important that students look after their wellbeing during this time. Balance, quality sleep, exercise and a good diet are also key to achieving success. In the final race to the finish line, the College sincerely wishes Year 12 all the best for their exams and final assessment.

Year 12 External Examinations

All year 12’s have received information from the College and QCAA about the upcoming External Examinations.

The external assessment timetable for 2024 is located here.

QCAA external assessment timetable 2024

QCAA has an excellent resource on the myQCE website called the “External Assessment Guide for students”.   This is found on the website External assessment | myQCE (qcaa.qld.edu.au)

How can I prepare?

Senior syllabuses

General senior syllabuses provide information about external assessment for each subject.

Sample papers

View the sample papers for the subjects you study, to get an idea of what external assessment will be like. You can find them in the Assessment tab on each General syllabus page on the QCAA website.

Equipment

Each syllabus details the equipment you will need for the external assessment. It may include:

• Blue or black pens
• Pencils (2B)
• A sharpener
• A clear plastic ruler
• An eraser
• Approved calculator
• Specific equipment

On the day, students may bring your equipment in a clear container or zip-lock bag.  Students may also bring water in a clear unlabelled bottle.

Mobile phones, smart watches and/or other electronic devices will not be permitted in the examination room.

The External assessment equipment list (PDF, 175.3 KB) contains information about the approved equipment for all assessments, including calculators, student devices, subject-specific equipment and prohibited items.

The 2023 external assessments will be held from Monday 23 October to Tuesday 14 November.

The 2023 external assessment timetable has been designed to:

• minimise clashes for students across the 17 days of external assessments. Where there is a clash within a morning or afternoon session, students will be allocated to the alternative session on the same day
• ensure students sit no more than two external assessments on one day
• provide sufficient breaks between external assessments for popular courses and frequently combined courses
• enable all external assessments to be marked in time for students to receive their final Year 12 results.

Directions for students

External assessments are administered by schools in line with the QCAA’s requirements. Students must also follow the requirements outlined in the Directions for students (PDF, 243.1 KB).

Mr Rodney Spain

Assistant Principal Senior Years