Catholic Mission Liturgy

This morning the College was buzzing as we welcomed Bishop Ken Howell, Father Jim Cronin, Dr Pat Coughlan (Executive Director:Catholic Schools), Ange Travers (Senior Leader: Mission and Identity), Lee-Ann Weekes (Education Officer: Formation and Identity) and Martin Lewis (Province Director – Queensland Catholic Mission) to the College to celebrate liturgy and reflect on the very important work of Catholic Mission. 

While we live a life of privilege in Australia with boundless opportunities around every corner, today reminds us that this is not the case for all.  Many live without basic needs of food, clean drinking water, shelter, clothing and love every day, not to mention health care and education. Today is a great day for us to consider how we can balance the scales in our lives by supporting Catholic Mission, especially in their work in Zambia this year.  If you would like to know more about Catholic Mission, please check out their website: www.catholicmission.org.au.  Here you can financially support Food Security in Zambia, Maternal Health in Zambia, Emergency Aid in Ukraine, Seminarians in Timor-Leste, or supplying fresh water in Myanmar.

Engagement in Learning and College Life in Term 4

At OLSCC we are blessed to have so many opportunities that our staff go above and beyond to provide for our students.  Looking at Term 4’s calendar which is published in this newsletter, it is evident there is plenty on offer again in Term 4.  I encourage students to continue to engage in these wonderful opportunities such as QCIS events, whilst also balancing their study to finish well at the end of 2026.  In order to do so, we need to challenge what is often an unhealthy culture of finishing the school year poorly.

Many times in education we get to the end of the term and/or year and the standards and expectations of students lessen.   People make excuses and reason that misbehaviour is because of the end of the term, or they couldn’t engage because it was the end of the day, or that it is nearing the end of the year in the back half of Term 4.  These excuses are lacklustre at best and encourage our students to make excuses or cast blame on poor decisions. It should be noted, that those who perform to their capability, those who perform their best, they strive to peak at the end of the year and frequently do so.  

I struggle to find any aspect of life where making excuses for poor performance or

disengagement has resulted in a positive result. The lead in a musical, the halfback in the grand final, the aspirant for a job interview, the end of financial year, the day of a big event being organised, the last review before being signed off as a tradesperson, the final professional placement for a teacher.  There is simply no real-life connection between poor performance at the pinnacle of the event, and success.

This is a mindset that requires support and coaching for our students – just like leading up to the big finale, or the grand final.  The end is where we should expect our students to do their absolute best, to peak in their performance before they earn a rest in the holiday.  It is our role as both parents and a College to grow great people who are ready to engage in independent study or the workforce when they leave school.  Accordingly, let’s all reinforce that every school day is a day where commitment, effort and dedication are required – especially at the end of the year when it matters the most.

Student Leaders 2025 and 2026

Over the past few weeks we have seen the installation of our 2026 College Captains and Prefects as our 2025 student leaders concentrate on their studies and preparations for the External Assessment period. 

I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the 2025 College Captains and Prefects.  It has been an absolute privilege to have the six of you lead our students over the past 12 months.  I have enjoyed the disposition and attitude that has always been present, the fresh ideas that you have not only brought to the table – though also brought to life and realised.  I have loved the videos on assemblies, the humiliating video recordings, the threat and reality of getting my head shaved, and mostly the general conversation between us in our respective roles.  You have all made a wonderful contribution to your College and I thank you for your service to our great community.

To our 2026 College Captains, Prefects and soon to be announced House Leaders.  Well done firstly on securing a position of Leadership for 2026.  The competition continues to improve each and every year as our leaders learn from those before them.  An exciting 12 months lies before you with the tricky balancing act between your academic, extra-curricular and leadership pursuits all coming before you. You have started strongly, and I look forward to seeing what legacy you leave for our College community in the future.

2026 Staff Announcements

While I anticipate there will be plenty of staffing announcements over the next few weeks at the College, I would like to say a special welcome to a new teacher in the Early Years for 2026. 

I am very excited to announce the relocation of Miss Samanatha Jaeger to our College from St Joseph’s Chinchilla.  Miss Jaeger has recently relocated to Dalby and is eagerly looking forward to teaching at OLSCC. 

She has excellent curriculum knowledge and teaching practice and is currently both the Middle Leader: Teaching and Learning and the Assistant Principal Religious Education at St Joseph’s. 

We look forward to welcoming Miss Jaeger to the Early Years at OLSCC and meeting her 2026 class at Up Day on 3 December.   

Important Events

Please keep an eye upon the calendar for upcoming events this term.  I am sure your calendars are just as full as mine as we enter the festive season! 

Some key dates – not to be missed are listed below:

• 19 Nov – College Excellence Awards
• 21 Nov – Year 12 Graduation Mass and Valedictory Lunch
• 26 Nov – Colour Run
• 1 Dec – Christmas Carols
• 3 Dec – Up Day (all students in next year’s classes for a day)
• 4 Dec - Early Years Nativity Play
• 5 Dec – Final Day 2025 Academic Year

End of Year and Preparation for 2026

A lot of the work at College from this point on is preparing for 2026.  There will be lots on information in newsletters and emails over the next two months, and I kindly remind all in our community to keep an eye on these modes of communication, as well as FaceBook, to ensure that no important information or events are being missed.  As always, if you have any questions please reach out and someone will be able to pass on the information that you require.

Mr Peter Cuskelly

This week I received a copy of a book I pre-ordered many months ago.  It was like receiving a surprise gift. It was a book by Charlie Mackesy, “The Boy, the Mole, The Fox, the Horse and the Storm”. There are many wonderful lines and illustrations but one I particularly resonated with reads:

“What’s the most precious thing you’ve been given?”

“Time,” said the horse.

As the year seems to be flying by, this is a great reminder for us that we are gifted with time, time to learn, time to celebrate and then eventually time to rest on the Christmas holidays.

Year 12 Retreat

In the last week of Term 4 I spent four days on Year 12 Retreat, celebrating the journey our Year 12’s have gone through to reach this pinnacle next step.  This time of reflection and fun reminds us all that the path of life is always twisting and turning and that it is important to stop and enjoy each moment with the people we surround ourselves with.  With only a few weeks to go until they complete their journey with us, we pray for these wonderful young people during this time.

Alumni guest speakers

It is great to build connections with young people who were once students at our College in all its forms, St Columba’s, St Mary’s and Our Lady of the Southern Cross College.  At Year 12 Retreat we welcomed two past students, Janah O’Shea and Charlie Nolan, graduates of 2012 to speak to our current Year 12’s about their paths beyond school.  Janah O’Shea enjoyed creative arts whilst at school building her confidence through subjects like drama.  After school while on a gap year she began her traineeship in social working and later went on to study a Bachelor of Social Work at University in Brisbane.  She has now been working for Child Protection for ten years and reminded the students it is important to love what you are doing for work.  Charlie Nolan went down a different pathway from Janah, beginning his SBA in plumbing whilst at school.  He enjoyed sports and Manual Arts at school and his passion for working with his hands and being outdoors made him well suited to his apprenticeship. After working in plumping for ten years he pursued another apprenticeship and now works as an electrical linesman for Ergon. Both stressed the importance of having goals and allowing these to be redefined as you travel through life. Their passion for their work, the importance of a balanced life and a love of their time at our College were strong messages in their presentation. If you would like to share your story since graduation please email me, Cate.brennan@twb.catholic.edu.au, as we love to have a variety of alumni available to support these types of sessions with our students.

Grandparent’s Day

On the last day of Term 3 we ended the week with Grandparent’s Day.  It truly is one of my favourite events of the school year (I have quite a few).  My grandparents and my own parents are such an important part of my family and I know that this is true for so many in our community.  To be able to celebrate these wonderful people today, to welcome them into our College, bless them and share our learning with them brings such joy.  Thanks to everyone who joined us for this wonderful occasion.

Catholic Mission – Children’s Mission Day Prayer Celebration

Today we joined with Catholic Mission to celebrate Children’s Mission Day.  As a community we are blessed to live in Dalby, have the support of our families and to live in a way that we have all of our basic needs met each day.  Many children throughout the world do not have these same blessings, so we look beyond our horizons to how we can support others throughout the world with Catholic Mission. We welcomed Bishop Ken Howell and Fr Jim Cronin who led us in prayer.  We also had special visitors from Toowoomba Catholic Schools; Executive Director, Dr Pat Coughlan, Angela Travers, Senior Leader: Mission and Identity and Lee Ann Weekes, Education Officer: Formation and Identity.  We were joined by Rev Martin Lewis, Province Director- Queensland, Catholic Mission who leads an amazing team working to reach out and give life to those who need our support.  We were privileged to host this event and look forward to our continued work togethering being missionaries of hope through our community to communities throughout the world.

College Excellence Awards

On the 19^th November at 9:15am, we will host our 2026 College Excellence Awards.  These awards are nominated and confirmed by staff at the College and encompass all four of our College Domains: Academic, Spiritual, Sport and Arts. We look forward to this occasion showcasing the great achievements of students at the College this year. Parents are notified via Sentral for Parents in Term 4 if their child/ren are recipients of an award.

Each newsletter in coming weeks I will showcase a different domain (or two) with the awards we present.

ACADEMIC

These categories focus on the Academic achievement of a student in their areas of learning.

Crutches

In our Senior Years we have several classrooms upstairs.  It is important for student safety that when students are on crutches, we relocate their classrooms to downstairs classrooms wherever possible.  If your child is in Year 9-12 or studying Drama in Year 7-8 and they have an injury that requires crutches, please let the College office know so we can make arrangements to move their classes downstairs for the duration of their recovery. Once they are off their crutches we will return their classrooms to their normal location.

Mrs Cate Brennan

Deputy Principal Mission and Identity

Living the Beatitudes: A Reflection for Our College Community

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus begins His Sermon on the Mount with a series of blessings known as the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1–12). These teachings are not just lofty ideals—they are a roadmap for Christian living, guiding us toward a life of compassion, humility, justice, and peace.

Each Beatitude invites us to see the world through the eyes of Christ. They challenge us to go beyond surface values and embrace the deeper call to holiness. In a world that often celebrates power, success, and self-interest, the Beatitudes remind us that true blessing lies in mercy, meekness, and a hunger for righteousness.

As a Catholic college community, we are called to live these values daily—in our classrooms, homes, workplaces, and relationships. Whether it’s showing kindness to someone who is struggling, standing up for justice, or simply being present to others with a listening heart, the Beatitudes offer us a way to reflect Christ’s love in all we do.

How Can We Live the Beatitudes Daily?

• Blessed are the poor in spirit: Practice humility and gratitude.
• Blessed are those who mourn: Offer comfort and empathy to those in pain.
• Blessed are the meek: Choose gentleness over aggression.
• Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: Stand up for what is right, even when it’s hard.
• Blessed are the merciful: Forgive freely and love generously.
• Blessed are the pure in heart: Seek God in all things.
• Blessed are the peacemakers: Build bridges, not walls.
• Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness: Stay faithful in adversity.

A Prayer to Live the Beatitudes

Lord Jesus,
You taught us the way of blessing through the Beatitudes.
Help us to live with hearts open to Your grace,
To be merciful, humble, and pure in all we do.
May we bring peace where there is conflict,
Comfort where there is sorrow,
And justice where there is need.
Strengthen us to walk in Your light,
So that we may be true witnesses of Your love.
Amen.

Mrs Carey Twidale

Dear Families,

Welcome to Term 4! As we settle into the final stretch of the school year, we’d like to share a few important reminders, updates and celebrations to help keep our community informed and connected.

Drop-Off Times & Supervision

Please remember that morning supervision begins at 8:15am. Students should not be on campus before this time unless attending a scheduled activity. Upon arrival, children are expected to go directly to their designated areas:

• Prep students: Prep playground
• Years 1–6: Pavilion – students are to sit until 8:30

This helps ensure a safe and orderly start to the day.

Haircuts – College Standards

We kindly remind families that tracks, mullets, and extreme hairstyles are not permitted under our College grooming policy. We appreciate your support in maintaining a neat and respectful appearance for all students.

Shooting Stars Program Begins

Our Pre-Prep Shooting Stars Program kicks off in Week 3 and runs until Week 8. This exciting transition initiative helps our future Prep students settle into school life. During these sessions, current Prep classes will be taught by Jackie Sullivan and Dimity Whitby while classroom teachers lead the program.

Year 2 Star Gazing Night – A Blast Above the Clouds!

Even though the stars decided to play hide-and-seek behind the clouds, our Year 2 Star Gazing Night was nothing short of stellar! With spirits high and imaginations soaring, our young astronomers turned a cloudy evening into a cosmic adventure.
The night blasted off with a slice or two of pizza and from there, it was straight into the activities. The Year 2 children made paper straw rockets, created an edible galaxy of constellations out of marshmallows (with a sneaky marshmallow for dessert), experienced looking through a telescope and making shooting star bombs (which I am sure exploded the next day). It may not have been a clear night for star gazing, but it was certainly full of fun, excitement and laughter.

A huge thank you to our amazing staff, parents, and students for making the evening such a cosmic success.

Departing or Relocating?

If your family is planning to relocate or leave the College at the end of the year, please notify the office as soon as possible. This helps us with planning and ensures a smooth transition for your child.

College Calendar

Stay up to date with upcoming events, holidays, and key dates by checking the College website or via the parent portal. Term 4 is full of exciting activities!

Absence Notifications

If your child is absent, please notify the school before 9:00am via phone, email, or the Parent Portal app. This helps us maintain accurate attendance records and ensures your child’s wellbeing is accounted for. When considering absences for your children, please remember that EVERY DAY COUNTS! It is extremely important for your child/ren to be attending school every day unless they are unwell.

In the Classroom

We welcome two Prac students into our College, Miss Phoebe Mogg and Miss Sophie Moore. Phoebe and Sophie will be working in the primary sector of our College.

Congratulations to Our Optiminds Participants!

We are incredibly proud of all our students who took part in this year’s Optiminds competition. Your enthusiasm, creativity, and teamwork truly shone through every challenge. We congratulate the following students in the Early Years sector: Kaylee Lucas, Willa Nolan, Sophie Maynard, Max Lloyd, Maverick Moore, Jack McClymont, Paige Knight, Adam Broadbent, Dylan Berger, Mac Spies, Stirling Butters, Owen Donohoe, Will Chiverton, Archie Tresillian, Charlie Tresillian, Clarry Parsons, Joy Njeri and Harry Cuskelly.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to a positive and productive Term 4!

Warm regards, 

Mrs Louise Pevy

Acting Assistant Principal Early Years

Welcome Back to Term 4!

It was good to welcome everyone back from the break last week. Students are in high spirits as we embark on the final term of the school year.

Term 4 is a special time in our calendar. It's a time when we reflect on the progress we've made, celebrate our successes, and set our sights on the exciting opportunities that lie ahead. It's a time for students to consolidate their knowledge, for teachers to inspire and motivate, and for parents and guardians to continue their invaluable support. Together, we will make these final weeks of the school year truly memorable.

As we navigate this final term together, let us remember the importance of collaboration, resilience, and gratitude. Let us celebrate the journey we have undertaken and look forward with optimism to the future.

I am confident that Term 4 will be filled with many achievements and memorable moments. Together, we will finish this school year on a high note and send our students off into the world, prepared to make a positive impact.

There are many events and opportunities for students in Term 4. Please stay up-to-date with our correspondence, and encourage your child to be involved in as many opportunities and activities as possible. As a timely reminder we would like to highlight to all families that if your contact details registered with the College need to be updated, please contact the Office or via your Sentral Parent Portal.

Brief overview of some key Term 4 events:

• Assessments for all students and in particular Year 12 students sitting their External Exams for their General subjects
• Graduation
• Awards Ceremony. All are welcome and invited.
• Term 4 is the beginning of Unit 3 for many of our Year 11 students. This means that for General subjects, student assessment is now summative and contributes to ATAR calculations (if the student is ATAR eligible).

Term 4 is certainly shaping to be another full and exciting term, with many opportunities.

Prepare your 2026 approach to study

While Term 4 may seem like the perfect time to wind down or to coast through to the end. It is actually the perfect time to trial new approaches and experiment with your study techniques.

So, by getting these good habits started in Term 4, you are building your knowledge and skills to avoid Christmas holiday learning loss and reduce the stress of starting in Term 1.

One of the best things you can start exploring is how to create effective study notes for some of your subjects.

Study notes help you create a strong foundation in your knowledge! From many years of teaching, I’ve noticed that students with effective study notes are more confident and capable. 

Here are some helpful websites for tips and tricks on developing good study notes. 

• A Simple Guide to Study Notes - Oxford Learning
• 20 eye-catching ideas for your study notes | Canva

Apps for creating study notes: 

• Quizlet: Online flashcard maker and flashcard app | Quizlet
• Scribzee: SCRIBZEE, the free app that revolutionizes your handwritten notes

Consolidate Your Learning Gaps

The first thing here is to get out your assessment results for every subject you’ll be continuing in some form into next year — subjects like Religion, English, Maths, and Science. 

Any mistakes you’ve made in these assessments and exams are a clear indication of the gaps and weak areas you currently have. Unless you try to fix them, they’re only going to get a lot worse and cause you difficulty in the years to come. 

Allocate one afternoon per week after school for one subject. For example:

• Monday = Maths
• Tuesday = English
• Wednesday = Science

Spend 1 hour working on reviewing these mistakes and finding similar questions you can work on until you’re confident you’re getting them correct consistently. This will build your confidence in remembering the content!

Parent-Teacher Partnership

We remind parents that our teachers are always ready to discuss your child’s progress towards their goals. Feel free to contact the College at any time to speak with or meet your child’s teachers. Your involvement is crucial in supporting your child’s educational journey.

Year 12 Academic Interviews

Last term it was wonderful to see our Year 12 students working diligently across all areas of the College. Reviewing their academic progress has been affirming, with many students already receiving early entry offers to their chosen university courses. Their hard work and dedication are truly commendable.

Year 9 to 11 Exam Timetables

All Term 4 Exam Timetables were published to students and parents via our Sentral for Parents Portal and the student's Sentral portal. Exam timetables are also available from our college website here, Our Lady of the Southern Cross College, Dalby

It is important to note that assessment adjustments for family holidays and other events are not aligned within the QCAA guidelines across all year levels, conversations must be had with senior leadership should holidays be taken when any assessment is due.

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 College 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.

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. Any adjustments requested must be supported by medical or professional documentation.

Year 11 2026 Subject Selections

Subject selection information was emailed out to families on Friday. We look forward to finalising this process ready for 2026.

These decisions mark a significant step towards your future academic and career pathways. Choosing the right subjects is not only about pursuing your interests but also about laying a strong foundation for success in senior school and beyond. The subjects you select now will shape your learning journey, so we encourage everyone to explore their options, seek guidance from teachers and counsellors, and make informed choices that align with their goals and aspirations. We're here to support you every step of the way as you embark on this important journey towards academic excellence and personal growth.

Year 12 Final Weeks

This week, I spoke specifically to our senior students and acknowledged that the year is coming to an end, but reminded them that this does not mean that we lose focus and encouraged them to maintain momentum with their studies until the very end. I specifically spoke about the power of reflection. Reflection means that you honestly think about and evaluate your past performance. Reflection provides an opportunity to alter or change your course of action, your approach, or your habits. It is a change to start fresh and re-focus.

As our Year 12 students enter the final stretch and undertake their focused preparations in their classes for External Exams, or are working on that last piece of assessment, I encourage them to reflect. For instance, reflect on their mock exam results and use that practice run to their advantage to guide their preparation over the coming weeks. Additionally, reflect on teachers’ feedback and advice they have received to ensure that their final assessment is of a high standard.

This is a time when students need to draw upon all the information, they have received about time management strategies, study schedules, organisation and study techniques. Equally, it is important that students look after their wellbeing during this time. Balance, quality sleep, exercise and a good diet are also key to achieving success. In the final race to the finish line, the College sincerely wishes Year 12 all the best for their exams and final assessment.

Year 12 External Examinations

All year 12’s have received information from the College and QCAA about the upcoming External Examinations.

The external assessment timetable for 2025 is located here.

QCAA external assessment timetable 2025

QCAA has an excellent resource on the myQCE website called the “External Assessment Guide for students”.   This is found on the website External assessment | myQCE (qcaa.qld.edu.au)

How can I prepare?

Senior syllabuses

General senior syllabuses provide information about external assessment for each subject.

Sample papers

View the sample papers for the subjects you study, to get an idea of what external assessment will be like. You can find them in the Assessment tab on each General syllabus page on the QCAA website.

Equipment

Each syllabus details the equipment you will need for the external assessment. It may include:

• Blue or black pens
• Pencils (2B)
• A sharpener
• A clear plastic ruler
• An eraser
• Approved calculator
• Specific equipment

On the day, students may bring your equipment in a clear container or zip-lock bag.  Students may also bring water in a clear unlabelled bottle.

Mobile phones, smart watches and/or other electronic devices will not be permitted in the examination room.

The External assessment equipment list (PDF, 175.3 KB) contains information about the approved equipment for all assessments, including calculators, student devices, subject-specific equipment and prohibited items.

The 2025 external assessments will be held from Monday 27 October to Wednesday 19 November.

The 2025 external assessment timetable has been designed to:

• minimise clashes for students across the 17 days of external assessments. Where there is a clash within a morning or afternoon session, students will be allocated to the alternative session on the same day
• ensure students sit no more than two external assessments on one day
• provide sufficient breaks between external assessments for popular courses and frequently combined courses
• enable all external assessments to be marked in time for students to receive their final Year 12 results.

Directions for students

External assessments are administered by schools in line with the QCAA’s requirements. Students must also follow the requirements outlined in the Directions for students (PDF, 243.1 KB).

Assistant Principal Senior Years