Senior Years at OLSCC – Not another Secondary School

Did you know that we are the only college in the Toowoomba Catholic Diocese that has a dedicated Year 9-12 sub-school?

This opportunity allows our College to provide a Senior Years program that is just not another secondary school, rather a learning environment for Year 9-12 students in Dalby and surrounding regions that is dedicated to the specific needs of these students.

For the students at Our Lady of the Southern Cross College, their time in the Senior Years will not only consolidate the previous nine years of learning, but they are also provided with a learning environment that encapsulates striving for academic and personal excellence.

With a focus on our Senior Years Success Qualities of Gratitude, Respect, Perseverance, Independence and Excellence, students will continue to be encouraged to engage in learning that is meaningful, stimulating and challenging.

Key developments that have been implemented in the Senior Years so far this year:

• The introduction of our Senior Years Success Qualities
• Implementation of the new Queensland Certificate of Education for Year 11 students
• The use of external educational experts in QCS preparation and study skills for Year 11 and 12 students
• The use of evidence-based pedagogies to support student learning
• The introduction of our 1:1 Laptop Program and Learning Management System (Canvas)
• Teacher professional development targeting strategies that will enhance Year 9-12 student reading, literacy and assessment capability
• The creation of an Academic Success program

The work does not stop there. Further work is currently underway to:

• Increase the rigour of our Year 9 & 10 subjects
• Implement our Train to Win program that will embed our careers and work experience program, study skills preparation, life choices sessions, review literacy and numeracy fundamentals, and post-school options support.
• Develop new opportunities for students to participate in camps and retreats

I firmly believe that the Senior Years at OLSCC are developing into a learning environment that will continue to develop learners who are curious, self-directed, collaborative, resilient and critical thinkers. Learners who are also ready for the workplace and to obtain success in their post-school careers.

Thank you, Ms Rea!

After many years of supporting our Senior Years students in a leadership capacity, Ms Rea has decided to step back into a classroom in a full-time role. I have enjoyed work with Ms Rea in Term 1 as we set out to shape the new look Senior Years. I have also been impressed with how Ms Rea has been leading the delivery of the new Year 11 syllabuses, and it is very fortunate that more of our students will be able to be taught by Ms Rea. Thank you for your dedicated service to our students, Wendy!

Year 11 Parent/Student Information Night

A reminder that there will be an Information Night for our Year 11 students and their parents on Monday 29 April at 6pm. Some of the topics that will be discussed will be the new QCE system, subject requirements, and how to achieve success in the new system. The venue will be the Performing Arts Centre.

Matt Hodge

Assistant Principal Senior Years