Congratulations

Our whole College community deserves a massive pat on the back after the week that has just been.  Every student has had the opportunity to engage with online learning with staff developing some outstanding learning for students to engage in remotely.  The most amazing aspect of all of this is that every single bit of what students see (as well as all the work that can’t be seen) has been developed by our teachers, for our students, to meet them where they are at.  And all this in a new way of working that is creating demand unseen in the teaching profession prior to this.  It is also phenomenal they way in which families and students have engaged.  While we realise some families are engaging more than others, though there are also many colleges around Australia that would give anything to have the platforms, resources and staff that we have in order to provide Remote Learning.  We look forward to this continuing to develop over the coming weeks!

College Fees

What turbulent times we have had so far this year.  We understand the impact the seasonal variations as well as the COVID-19 pandemic is having on our families. As such, I would like to everyone to have a clear message of both the fees arrangements for this period and the support we can offer families under hardship at this time.

Fee Structures:

Despite the hardships of this time, the College has continued to provide Remote Learning to all students of OLSCC.  We have also continued to operate as normal, maintaining full staffing levels, and going above and beyond to support our community.  We have also provided additional resources such as software, hardware, new devices and additional training to staff in order to create an online learning environment. As a College we rely on fees to pay for services and provide resources to our students as we are not funded to the same rate as our State Schooling counterparts.  Accordingly in order for us to maintain our wonderful staff and resources at the College, we still require parents to continue to pay school fees, as in any term. We do, however, realise some families are doing it tough at the moment, so the following supports are available through the College via an application process.

Concessions:

Our College was a part of a Diocesan Drought Relief Funding Application in 2019 which means that we have provision to support concessions for families who have been adversely affected by drought.  If you have been affected through drought in 2019 and 2020, please feel free to contact the office so that we can send you the appropriate paperwork.

Likewise, we are offering support for families adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to loss of income, loss of employment and other such impacts.  This support will also come in the form of a fee concession.  Similarly, if you would like to explore this further, please contact the office.

It is also possible that we may contact you if you already receive a concession to discuss your situation so we can be sure that we are supporting you through this time.

Whilst it is important that we support those in our community as best we can, it is also very important that the rest of our community continues to pay their fees in order to ensure that we can continue to employ staff and provide the great education we pride ourselves on.

Instrumental Music

Mrs Baxter and Mr Thacker will be resuming their Instrumental Music lessons remotely as of next week for those students already enrolled in the program. Further details regarding the organisation of this, as well as billing, will be sent home to instrumental music students early next week.  If you are interested in becoming involved in the instrumental music program please contact the Office for an Expression Of Interest form. This can be submitted via the Office or email to dalby@twb.catholic.edu.au.

Please look after your families and we look forward to hearing more advice from the National Cabinet in mid May when we hear of the arrangement for the rest of the term.  Fingers crossed we get all our students back for Week 6 or 7!

Have a wonderful week and please be proactive in contacting your child’s teacher if you any concerns regarding their learning or wellbeing.

Pete Cuskelly

Principal