The term continues to fly by, our College is a busy place.  End of semester sees expectations and output being asked of our students increase. The academic demands can be challenging however we work in a supportive environment. Into the mix is thrown cultural and sporting pursuits which allow young people to display their talents in many ways. Tying this all together is the evidence of the faith development of the young people in our midst.

The Christian values that underpin our actions at Our Lady of the Southern Cross are open for all to see. This is the connection with faith that is promoted through our Religious Life of the College programme. I was involved in the tours undertaken by students for principals and Toowoomba Catholic Schools representatives last Friday. The element that impressed me the most was the welcoming nature in which the students went about conducting the tours. They saw the visitors as friends of the College and as such deserved the best experience possible. This supportive nature is also highlighted in the group activities taking place in and around the College. I see young people choosing to be positive and supportive of those around them, the Eisteddfod and Development Cup Rugby League are just two examples.

I was able to attend my first Eisteddfod this week and on the same day watch our Development Cup team play their grand final. The spirit at both events was amazing, our children working together to perform as harmonious, supportive and skilful groups showed the collegiality that is a strong part of our culture. Parental and staff participation as audiences showed the strong connections being cemented between home and college. The students involved in these activities were wonderful ambassadors for the College and we should all be very proud of their efforts.

These efforts cross over into the classroom. Students who are having success in one area of life often transfer this into other areas. It is these positive vibes that can allow young people to open their minds to academic learning. The effort of belting out a tune in front a large audience or making that crucial tackle on grand final day is about will power and attitude. Imagine the transferal of that effort into academic output. We must encourage adolescents to understand that the personal input given to a task directly impacts on the output achieved. Rigour is a word that is popular in education at the moment. It focuses on the level of challenge of any given task. The more individual effort put in, the more rigorous the output can become. We must encourage young people to have a real go at every challenge they face, learning from mistakes and rejoicing in their successes.

We have so many aspects of our lives to be grateful for and these can be exemplified by the actions of the students in our College. We are very proud of the efforts of so many. Thank you for continued feedback from parents through email and discussion. Week 7 almost done and holidays just around the corner. Stay safe and take care of one another.

Steve Gillespie

Assistant Principal Middle Years