Partnerships are important for the success of your child, our students.  In coming weeks, we will begin our scheduled Learning Discussions with parents to discuss your child’s progress so far this term.  With combined input from both teachers and parents we can build a strong foundation where students feel supported and where trust can be developed further between home and school. We acknowledge the trust you have placed in us as teachers, leaders and a College when you enrol here, and active communication helps to strengthen this trust. There will be moments this year when we celebrate the success of your child, where we challenge each other’s choices and when our opinions differ – this is the reality of relationships.  It is through developed trust that we navigate these times.  So I encourage you to take up opportunities to meet with your teacher/s, send emails or messages when things are going well as well as when they have steered off course, attend events, volunteer in our classrooms and tuckshops, and be active in your child’s educational journey in a way that works for your family as you are a vital part of the OLSCC family. 

Learning Discussions 

Next week we commence our first round of Learning Discussions with our Middle and Senior Years, in Week 8 we will host these for the Early Years.  All Student-Led Conferences are booked via the Sentral for Parent (Parent Portal) under the Learning Discussions widget.  Information regarding conferences will be communicated by Sector Assistant Principals in the lead up to the discussions.  Parents are encouraged to take up this opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher/s and them as the learner to discuss their progress and their next steps in their learning.   

Parents can arrange appointments to meet with their child’s teacher at any stage throughout the year and we encourage you to do so if they have any pressing concerns or updates for the teacher.  These are best coordinated directly with the teacher or through the College office.    

Sentral for Parents (Parent Portal) – absentee 

A great way to let the College know that your child is absent or will be absent in the future is via Sentral for Parents.  These can be put in on the day or before the day if it is a preplanned absence.  This will then be accepted by administration staff and added to the Sentral system. 

HOW TO  

• Sentral for Parents App 
• Choose the Absences Icon 
• In top right hand corner choose the plus sign 
• Select which child/ren 
• Select a reason from the list e.g. if sick choose medical 
• Choose appropriate start and end date for the absence 
• Add a comment if needed or desired 
• Then click SEND 

It will show on the absences list as PENDING until it is accepted by Administration staff 

If at any time you have queries or concerns about the attendance data showing in your child’s Sentral profile there are a number of avenues for parents: 

• Contact core teacher if Prep – Year 6 
• Contact lesson teacher if Year 7-12 
• If due to extra-curricular contact the teacher in charge of this activity 
• Contact Assistant Principal of your child’s Sector  
• Email dalby@twb.catholic.edu.au 

This issue will then be explored and rectified or explained. Check the video demo link HERE

NAPLAN Year 3, 5, 7, 9 

NAPLAN is a nationwide measure through which parents, teachers, schools, education authorities, governments and the broader community can determine how well young Australians are developing the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for other learning, and for their productive and rewarding participation in the community. 

Students and parents wishing to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN can visit the public demonstration site on the NAP website. Some past NAPLAN papers are also available. QCAA also has information for Parents about NAPLAN NAPLAN information for parents and carers | Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority. 

Students will be sitting NAPLAN between 12 and 24 March 2025 

This is the third year NAPLAN will be held in March, having previously taken place in May. This change was made so school systems would have access to results earlier in the school year, so they can be used to inform teaching and learning plans for the remainder of the year. 

Why NAPLAN is conducted online? 

• All schools transitioned to NAPLAN online in 2022, as the online format improves NAPLAN. 

• NAPLAN online provides a better assessment and more precise results. 

• One of the main benefits of NAPLAN online is that it uses tailored (or adaptive) testing. This means that students receive questions better suited to their abilities, so they can show what they know and can do. 

• Online testing also allows us to provide a wide range of accessibility options to support students with disability to access NAPLAN. 

• Feedback from students is that they find the online test more engaging. 

• For more information about online assessment, visit the ‘Understanding online assessment’ page of the NAP website. 

If you would like to discuss your child’s participation in NAPLAN please contact your child’s core teacher, Learning Support Team or myself.  

SAVE THE DATE AND REGISTER YOUR INTEREST: ACYF 2025 

The next Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) will be hosted by the Archdiocese of Melbourne and will be held in a central Melbourne location from 30 November – 2 December 2025. You can find out more about the festival on their website. 

The Toowoomba Diocese is currently looking at options for attending the festival. If you're interested in receiving updates and travelling as part of a diocesan group, please supply some info below. The Diocese will contact you once plans take shape. You can register your interest to find out more here. 

Cate Brennan