This week I worked with a group of our new teachers about Visible Learning in our College.  The aim of Visible Learning is for students to understand what they are learning and why they are learning it, the learning process and to use this knowledge to progress and find success at school.  When we learn we get in the Learning Pit and have to use our Learning Dispositions.  Our teachers facilitate visible learning in a number of ways.  One important way is the use of Learning Intentions and Success Criteria with our students to frame their learning and so students alongside the teacher can reflect on what they are learning and how they are going with that learning.  Often as parents we say to our children at pick up how was your day?  What did you do?  Today try framing that question a little differently and ask what did you learn today?  

NAPLAN 

Well done to our students for their commitment to the completion of NAPLAN.  Student in Year 3, 5, 7, and 9 have worked hard over the past two weeks to complete both their normal schoolwork and the NAPLAN tests.  We are proud of their efforts and look forward to receiving their results next term to assist us with our teaching.  A huge thanks to all our staff who administrate, supervise and support during these test sessions. 

Sentral for Parents App – student details 

Sentral for Parents individualises for each of your children our students.  This short help video explains how to access information specific to each of your children.  Under your Student details you will find a list of your child’s teachers, a summary of their attendance, past Academic Reports, their individual timetable if in Year 5-12 with edits for changes each day, a timeline which includes details of signing in and out at the College, Activity Participation which contains details for excursions and extra-curricular activities involving your child and their NAPLAN summary from previous years.  It is a great reference point for you as the parents and is also replicated in Sentral for Students so they can also see these details on their account. 

You can view a demonstration video here.

Student Attendance and extended planned absences 

It is important that the College is notified of all student absences and in advance if your child/ren are going to be away from school for an extended period during term time.  In some circumstances a parent can apply from an exemption from school when they have a planned absence for more than 10 consecutive school days that aligns with the criteria set for us by Toowoomba Catholic Schools.  We use the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Managing Attendance Guideline to lead our process. 

What is an Exemption from compulsory schooling? 

Exemptions from compulsory schooling are available when a child or young person cannot attend or it would be unreasonable in all the circumstances to require them to attend school, for a period of more than 10 consecutive school days. A parent/carer may apply for an exemption from compulsory schooling for their child. An exemption excuses parents/carers from their legal obligations regarding compulsory schooling or the compulsory participation phase. 

Some examples of when an exemption may be granted: 

• diagnosis of terminal medical condition  

• illness or hospitalisation (including recovery period at home) for a period greater than 10 consecutive school days  

• ‘carer’ responsibilities 

• diagnosed mental health condition 

• temporary interstate or overseas relocation where the family intends to return to Queensland and to the school.  

The guidelines outline for the College what may be granted and what does not apply for an exemption. Our College Assistant Principals are skilled in providing more information about extended absences, exemptions and how to apply for one for your child. Exemptions are pre-approved absences and as such do not count towards a student’s absentee percentage.  If you would like to apply for an exemption or discuss the guidelines further for your future family planning, please ensure you contact the College office and make an appointment to meet with your relevant sector Assistant Principal. Ensure that you allow time for this process to be followed from initial meeting to application through to approval. 

150 years of Catholic Education 

In 2027 we will celebrate 150 years of formal Catholic Education in Dalby.  It is amazing to consider all the lives that have been educated and have taught in our Catholic schools here in Dalby! One of our goals over the next two years in the lead up to this celebration is to collect updates on “Where are they now?” from students and staff who attended our College, and past two schools, St Mary’s and St Columba’s.  Our history is different to so many other schools, we have over the past 140 years varied as an education institution from being co-educational, to primary and secondary, single sex and even boarding at one point, and as such we regard anyone who attended or worked at our College at some point in time part of our OLSCC Family.  We do not limit ‘membership’ in our family to only those who graduated Year 12 at our College.  We all have different pathways that life takes us, and we would like to celebrate them all.  If you have a story to share, please email it to our College email dalby@twb.catholic.edu.au – please include with it your full name including maiden name and years and school/s you attended or worked here.   Don’t forget your best contacts so we can keep you updated about our 150 year celebrations. We can’t wait to hear from you. 

Did you know?   

Our primary school used to be named St Columba’s and was located in the centre of town on the corner of Jimbour and Bunya Street.  Our secondary school was named St Mary’s College and was located on our current site on the corner of Nicholson St and Aerodrome Road. 

SACRAMENTS OF CONFIRMATION AND FIRST COMMUNION 

Children who are baptised and have celebrated First Reconciliation (Confession) are eligible to enrol. Please contact St Joseph’s Parish to enrol your child:    

Bishop Ken Howell will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on Tuesday 20 May 6pm. 
The Sacrament of First Communion will be celebrated during 9am Mass on Sunday 25 May. 

If your child is age 7 years and older and you would like them to prepare for First Reconciliation, you can also email the Parish to be put on the First Reconciliation list.  At St Joseph’s we celebrate Reconciliation in November each year, you will then be contacted later in the year with additional information. 

Cate Brennan

Carey Twidale

Digital Citizenship – A challenge for our youth

Our current generation of students, known as Generation Alpha, possess many remarkable qualities. However, it can sometimes be challenging for older generations to fully connect with them. Below is an infographic by Mark McCrindle, a renowned social researcher, highlighting the key differences commonly observed across generations:

Growing up in a technology-centric world presents the challenge of becoming a good digital citizen. Unlike previous generations, who were introduced to modern technology at a more mature age, Generation Alpha faces this task during their formative years. This makes it crucial for them to consistently use technology, devices, and the internet responsibly and ethically—a significant challenge for those still navigating adolescence. Here are some key aspects of becoming a good digital citizen:

• Respect and Empathy
  Treat others with respect and empathy online, just as you would in person. This includes avoiding cyberbullying, harassment, and spreading false information and gossip.
  
  

Since the mid-2000s, the term "keyboard warrior" has become widely used to describe individuals who engage in aggressive and abusive behaviour online, often while hiding their true identity. These individuals typically show a complete lack of empathy and respect for others. It's important for our children to understand that not everything posted online requires a response, argument, or comment. Sometimes, it's best to simply take a breath and let things go.

• Privacy and Security
  Protecting personal information and respecting the privacy of others is critical in today's world. Using strong passwords and being cautious about sharing personal details are essential skills for our youth to navigate. When I was a child, we were warned about strangers in cars stopping to talk to us. Identifying a stranger was straightforward. Now, our children engage with strangers daily on social media and online gaming platforms and this is deemed by many to be normal and safe. They often have an innate trust in online avatars or a naïve belief that the online world and the real world are separate entities that cannot collide. Snap Maps is a prime example, advertised as a way to discover places, see what friends are up to, and view Snaps from the community.

While the platform states that there are multiple location setting levels to help "maintain privacy," it's important to note that children often avoid vetting their friends, as having more followers is seen as more socially appropriate than having true friends. This means that even with the location setting adjusted to "My Friends," children are still at significant risk of letting complete strangers know where they live, when they are at home, and when they are not.

• Critical Thinking
  Evaluate the credibility of online sources and think critically about the information you encounter. Avoid spreading misinformation and verify facts before sharing. Misinformation can cause real harm, to real people, in the real world. Not to mention the legal repercussions that could follow defamatory comments.

Follow laws and ethical guidelines related to digital content. This includes respecting copyright laws, avoiding piracy, and not engaging in illegal activities online.

• Positive Contribution
  Use your online presence to contribute positively to the digital community. Share helpful information, support others, and engage in constructive discussions.

By embodying these principles, you can help create a safer, more respectful, and productive online environment for everyone.

What can our children do to become good digital citizens?

The Australian eSafety Commissioner, Julie Grant, has outlined core principles that responsible students should practice:

1. Engage positively

When children engage positively, they are exercising their rights and responsibilities as a digital citizen, while respecting the rights of others. When students are online they can engage positively by:

• Respecting the rights of others to participate and have an opinion.
• Asking before tagging other people or posting photos.
• Reporting offensive or illegal content.
• Standing up and speaking out about cyberbullying — protect your friends.
• Don’t respond to hurtful or nasty comments — block and report.
• Speaking to their parents or a trusted adult about upsetting online experiences.
• Reporting threats of violence to the police (collect the evidence to show them).

2. Know your online world

Students have the skills and knowledge to participate in the online world with confidence, although this confidence doesn’t necessarily mean they really know the risks of the online world. Students can better understand the online world by:

• Learning new skills will help explore the online world.
• Recognising online risks and how to manage them.
• Looking out for suspicious emails and scams.
• Using secure websites for financial and retail services.
• Keeping passwords secret, strong, and unique.
• Knowing how to report bullying behaviour on social media sites.

3. Choose consciously

Students should be aware that they are in control of the decisions they make online. They can choose consciously by:

• Thinking before sharing personal information and understanding the choices you make impulsively can last forever on the internet.
• Choosing privacy and security settings carefully and reviewing them regularly.
• Choosing friends wisely online — not everybody online is who they claim to be. Regularly review your connections and remove people.
• If you have made a mistake, apologise and take down offensive material as soon as possible.
• Asking for permission before uploading pictures of your friends.

As a community, we are committed to ensuring a safe and supporting learning environment where every student feels welcome, safe and empowered to thrive. Our dedication to this mission is reflected in our inclusive atmosphere, the actions of our supportive staff, the pro-active measures we implement, and our focus on fostering positive relationships. In Term 2, we will have representatives from the QPS deliver the Think U Know presentation to the Middle Years students, providing them with information about protecting themselves in the online world along with opportunities to ask questions relating to their own experiences.

Leadership Passport  - Opportunities

In Term 2, there will be two new opportunities for students with Leadership Passports to complete the Above and Beyond component of their passport.

• Friends of Iona – Clean up crew.
  Thursday afternoon 3:30pm-4:30pm completing some tidying and cleaning tasks at Iona – the old convent. Mr Cullen, Mrs Finch and Mrs Hemmings will be working alongside keen students in helping the Parish maintain the upstairs floor on the historic building.
  
  
• Flags
  The College is in the process of obtaining new flags that we would like to proudly display at the College. I am looking for a few volunteers to be involved in the displaying of flags (raising, lowering, storing).

If your child is interested in getting involved in either of these opportunities, please have them contact Mr Cullen either in person or via email.

Many of our students are still in the depths of assessment, with assignments and exams running through to the end of term, week 10.

With the upcoming break so close I am encouraging all our students to stay focussed and make good choices over the next 2 weeks so that we all finish the term on a positive note. The engagement and commitment of our students in Term 1 has been excellent and I look forward to celebrating their successes as we wind down the days until the easter break.

With assessment and study a strong focus for our students and staff is important that we also take a break and reset, getting out and doing something active is a great way to blow off some steam.

The Benefits of Exercise

Exercise is beneficial for students for several reasons, impacting both their physical and mental well-being, and helping them become better learners! Here are some areas where exercise can make a difference, especially as a brain-boosting activity:

COGNITIVE FUNCTION:

• Enhanced Memory and Learning: Exercise has been linked to improved memory and cognitive function. It may also help with concentration and focus, which are crucial for academic performance.
• Brain Health: Physical activity stimulates the release of chemicals that promote the growth of brain cells, supporting overall brain health.
• Establishes Routine: Incorporating exercise into a daily or weekly routine helps students develop discipline and time management skills.

PHYSICAL HEALTH:

• Improves Cardiovascular Health: Regular exercise helps strengthen the heart, improve blood circulation, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
• Enhances Muscle and Bone Health: Weight-bearing exercises contribute to the development of strong muscles and bones, promoting overall physical strength and resilience.
• Better Sleep: Regular exercise can help regulate sleep patterns, leading to improved quality and duration of sleep.

MENTAL HEALTH:

• Stress Reduction: Exercise is known to reduce stress by increasing the production of endorphins, the body's natural mood lifters.
• Anxiety and Depression: Physical activity has been shown to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, improving overall mental health.
• Sense of Achievement: Setting and achieving fitness goals can provide a sense of accomplishment and boost self-worth.

SOCIAL SKILLS:

• Team Sports and Leadership: Participating in team sports or group exercises fosters social skills, teamwork, and cooperation. It also provides an opportunity for students to develop leadership qualities.
• Opportunities for Socialising: Participating in sports or group exercises provides opportunities for students to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships.
• Promotes Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Engaging in physical activity encourages other healthy habits, such as maintaining a balanced diet and interacting with other healthy like-minded people.

In summary, regular physical activity can contribute to a healthier, happier, and more successful academic experience.

School Attendance

Our goal at OLSCC is for students to experience success by achieving and maintaining a 93% attendance rate. It is inspiring to see so many of our students maintaining their strong attendance over the term.

Classes and learning begin at 8.50am with students required to be at school ready to learn at this time. Students who arrive at 8.50am or later will be late to class which contributes to their absences. 10 minutes late each day roughly equates to 6 and a half days of learning lost in a year.

According to a report by the Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation, school attendance is a crucial factor that affects students’ academic performance and long-term outcomes. Students who report positive attendance behaviours in Year 7 are on average 3 months ahead in their learning by Year 9, compared with students who have poor attendance behaviours.

Year 12 IA1 QCAA Confirmation

Confirmation is a quality assurance process that ensures the comparability of results for summative internal assessment in General and General (Extension) subjects. All provisional IA marks will be been uploaded to the QCAA. QCAA-trained assessors will review a selected sample of student responses to these internal assessments to check that schools have applied the instrument-specific marking guide (ISMG) accurately and consistently. In 2025, confirmation of a school’s first summative internal assessment for Units 3 and 4 in General and General (Extension) subjects will occur from April.

Artificial Intelligence in Assessment

The integration of AI in assessments has raised significant concerns regarding plagiarism. AI tools, such as essay generators, humanisers and automated content creators, can produce work that appears original but is not the student's own. This misuse of AI undermines the integrity of the educational process, as it becomes challenging to distinguish between genuine student effort and AI-generated content. Consequently, educators face difficulties in accurately assessing a student's understanding and skills, leading to potential issues in grading and feedback.

When students rely on AI to complete their assignments, they risk their work being flagged for plagiarism. OLSCC has a strict assessment policy against plagiarism, and AI-generated content can trigger our detection systems. As a result, students may find their work unmarked or invalidated, putting them at risk of failing the assessment. This not only impacts their academic progress but also diminishes the value of their learning experience.

At OLSCC we are guided by the recommendations and policies developed by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) when we work with breaches of academic integrity. The unauthorised use of AI is a breach of academic integrity, specifically plagiarism. Below is information from QCAA developed to support students and parents in navigating this emerging landscape.

Assessment Calendars

I encourage all parents to check assessment calendars with their children to ensure that they are managing their time and the assessment demands. Should you have any questions or concerns please contact your child’s teacher in the first instance or relevant curriculum leader.

Teachers are currently marking term 1 assessments and planning assessments for Semester 2. All students and parents & carers have access to the Semester One Assessment Calendar for 2025 via the College website and the Parent Portal App, the Semester 2 Assessment calendar will be available in week 1 term 2.

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 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.

Students are required to sit exams when scheduled unless prior communication and approval has come from the College for students to sit and alternate or comparable exam. Students will not be able to sit the same exam as their peers. In Year 9 and 10 this must be accompanied by supporting evidence to the college for approval. In Year 11 and 12 a submission for a Principal Approved AARA must be made by me with supporting evidence to the QCAA for approval for an alternate or comparable task to be administered. Approval is not guaranteed.

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.

Community Participation in Students Learning

Staff at OLSCC want to be actively communicating with families rather than providing a notification. Heather Wolpert-Gawron talks about “The Equation of Student Success”; “Family + Student + School = Student Success”.

“The difference between communication and notification is that communication is the act of communicating anything, while notification is (uncountable) the act of notifying. Communication requires two parties to engage, whereas notification is one way”.

All our staff welcome our parents on being partners in their childs education. Please reach out to your child teachers if you have any questions or wish to provide any information on your childs learning needs.

RAAP – Year 11

Year 11 students began their road safety awareness journey with us by taking part in a discussion with officers from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service this week. The Emergency services personal presented the Road Accident and Awareness Program (RAAP) to the students. For further information on the RAAP presentation please visit, Road Attitudes and Action Planning | Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (qfes.qld.gov.au).

Students engaged very well and were offered great insight into not just road safety but into making good and safe choices as they grow.

The air in the music room is buzzing with excitement as our school choir embarks on a brand new year filled with vibrant melodies. Wednesday mornings have become a highlight and this term is already proving to be one of our most energetic yet!

We're thrilled to be learning Megan Trainor's "Better When I'm Dancing," to perform at our upcoming Bush Dance. In preparation for school masses, we're practicing the beloved "This Little Light of Mine," a powerful message of hope. And to celebrate Harmony Day, we're embracing the unifying spirit of "It's a Small World After All."

The choir's enthusiasm is contagious, and we're eagerly preparing for the Eisteddfod in Term 2. I'm so proud of their dedication and look forward to a year filled with beautiful music!

Sophie Twidale

Music Teacher

College Musical

This week was our second week of Musical Rehearsals and boy are we having fun!

We would love to officially congratulate our students who received lead roles!

The cast list is as follows:

Mitchie Torres – Keira Bryant

Shane Gray – Lexie Forbes

Nate Gray – Zane Stirling

Jason Gray – Lincoln Frid

Caitlyn Geller – Annabelle Debney

Tess Tyler – Keziah Rochford

Ella Pador – Hannah Gordyn

Margaret “Peggy” Dupree – Leila Pevy

Rosie Day – Harriet Martin

Barron James – Audrey Skerman

Sander Loya – Cara Bradley

Andy Hosten – Emily Turner

Brown Cesario – Sunni Frizzell

Dana Turner – Ellie Bradley

Luke Williams – Lucy Bennie

Axel Turner – Lucy Scott

Georgina Farlow – Arabella Stirling

Keep an eye out for some exciting information from our cast members over the next few weeks to learn more about our musical.

Tamara Creeley