On Monday, 18 March, eight students went to the 2019 Ipswich heat of the Australian International Kids’ Lit Quiz™. This is a literary quiz which has been running for 28 years. It is open to students in Years 5, 6 and 7. The Kids’ Lit Quiz™ encourages students to read widely for pleasure across genres and authors. The team works collaboratively during the quiz to answer 100 questions in ten categories. The categories are diverse in order to cater for all reading tastes. Book prizes are awarded and there are prizes for the winning team. The Kids’ Lit Quiz™ competition is designed to be huge fun, with an element of competition, personal challenge and reward that is seldom available to children whose passion is reading. The quiz is held in 11 countries on five continents.

OLSCC sent two teams; Team 1 was a group of Year 5/6 students (Loretta Carpenter, Charlise Conn, Lily Mackinlay and Matilda Paffey) and Team 2 was a group of Year 7 students (Nadine Garside, Shannon Larsen, Sam Luck and Brett Young). We set off early on Monday morning to arrive at Ipswich Girls Grammar School for the start of the competition. Both teams did very well with the Year 7 team finishing 7^th and only one point behind in 8^th place, the Year 5/6 team. The Year 5/6 team won round 10 and all received a book prize, Shannon also won a bonus Word Final question and received a cash prize. It was fantastic to see students engaged in so many literary discussions.

A big thank you to Mrs Carpenter and Mr Conn who gave up their time and supported the teams on the day.

Melinda Crow

Year 5/6 Teacher

Student Protection Training

Yesterday our Student Protection Contacts were all in attendance at the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Student Protection Symposium, hosted in Toowoomba.  This was a wonderful opportunity for everyone in these roles across the Diocese to come together and gain unity in protection of our students.  Presenters included Bruce and Denise Morcombe (founders of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation), Judi Fallon (Alannah and Madeleine Foundation), Professor Stephen Smallbone (expert psychologist in situation crime prevention) as well as many presenters from the Toowoomba community.  My main takeaways for the day were:

• We must educate our young explicitly regarding their personal safety and ensure parents are doing the same by providing support materials. Recognise – React - Respond
• Sexting and cyberbullying are here, and telling children not to post pictures will not solve this problem by itself.  We must develop a standard of ethics and collective responsibility amongst our young to ensure we can monitor and correct misbehaviour.  We must also make students are aware of the law regarding the production, distribution and possession of illegal content that relates to this.
• Abuse in schools :   
  • Prevention is the key – remove all possible opportunities for abuse to happen in the College environment and ensure collective accountability to observing these measures as a critical point in ensuring student safety
  • 80% of those arrested for sexual abuse are arrested for the first time.  Incidents are 6 times more predictable by their address, than predictable by the individual – Circumstances allow the abuse
  • We must teach children about sexual ethics.  Youth commit the vast majority of sexual abuse in organisations despite the outside perspective of adults.
  • Maximise visibility and accountability in all areas of the College – remove any possible barriers.

After the training and our collective reflections since, our Diocese and College are on the front foot when it comes to ensuring that our students are safe at College every day. 

P&F Association – Thank You!

The OLSCC P&F have committed to contributing $200,000 to the improvement of the College over the coming 12 months.  There are a considerable number of projects rolling out concurrently and the College greatly welcomes such a significant contribution to the strategic direction of the College.  Without this kind of support, the College would simply not be able to implement programs such as the Digital Enhancement of the Curriculum, the Middle Years Plaza (in planning), the reinstatement of a College Chapel (on the drawing board), greater communication and software solutions and the financial planning for the future including new significant infrastructure programs. Our College, together with the P&F Association, is here to be progressive and give Every Child, Every Chance, as the future is in our hands right NOW!

Peter Cuskelly

Principal

I read recently that we too often pray to God to tweak our lives to make them better when in fact we should be asking for God to transform us, an interesting idea from the Dynamic Catholics website.  I have heard lots of children including my own talking about what they will ‘give up’ this lent.  The challenge is in ‘What will I do differently this lent to transform my life and those of the people around me?’ 

Heavenly Father, 

As I enter another week of my Lenten journey, guide me to the path that leads to you.  

Fill my heart with gratitude, patience, strength, and peace as I strive to become the-best-version-of-myself, honestly admitting my shortcomings and sins. 

As I renew my resolve each day to become a better person, let me hear your voice in the deepest reaches of my heart. Give me rest in you. 

Help me to accept others, showing them your great love instead of casting judgment. 

Stay with me through the busy days this week and remind me that when I need comfort, solitude, wisdom, or guidance, I can always turn to you. 

Help me develop discipline and generosity through fasting and almsgiving, and come closer to you through prayer this Lent. 

In your name I pray, 
Amen. 

LA RE Congress 

As you read this, I am unpacking my bag in Los Angeles as I prepare to attend the LA RECongress with a group of APRE’s with Toowoomba Catholic Schools. To say I am excited about this experience is an understatement.  RECongress is the largest annual gathering of its kind in the world. The four-day event is held at the Anaheim (Calif.) Convention Centre and is sponsored by the Los Angeles Office of Religious Education. Begun in 1968 as an "institute" for religious education (CCD) teachers, RECongress has grown to include people of all vocations and different faiths. In 2019 the theme is “Thirsting for Justice” and it is open to adults and young adults and offers more than 200 speakers presenting over 300 workshops, in addition to lunchtime entertainment, evening concerts, 16 Liturgies.  In 2018, 36000 people attended this Congress.  I look forward to sharing this experience with you when I return. 

Cate Brennan

Deputy Principal Religious Education

Control the Controllables

At our sector assembly this week, I continued my discussion of our Senior Year Success Qualities, particularly perseverance. Students in the Senior Years made a meritorious start to the year in their organisation, presentation and appearance, and their application in their classes. However, as we enter the final three weeks of Term 1, I took the opportunity to remind students that these high standards must continue until the end of term. Specifically, I discussed the importance of controlling the controllables. By this, I mean that students should be doing whatever it is within their control to maintain high standards. Such actions include:

• Arriving at school ready for the day ahead
• Completing set homework
• Arriving at class on time with all required materials
• Ensuring laptops are charged overnight
• Having a growth mindset in class
• Not disrupting the learning of classmates
• Treating all members of the College community with respect
• Going to the toilet and getting a drink before class
• Not packing up books and materials until instructed to do so by the teacher

Drafting

Drafting is a process through which students develop proficient understanding and skills for competent academic writing in extended written assessment instruments and is also used to verify the authenticity of students’ work. The College has recently revised our drafting processes to ensure that we have a stronger focus on providing feedback that students can then apply to their own work. All students have been emailed a document explaining the new drafting guidelines. The document is also available on all Canvas courses and the College website. Some of the key points from the guidelines include:

• Students in Years 7 to 12 will be provided with the opportunity to submit one draft per assessment instrument.
• In some subjects, progress checks and not a whole draft, are used to validate authenticity.
• Students are to submit drafts on the due date as stated by the class teacher by 3.30pm.
• Drafts are to be submitted through Turnitin via the Canvas LMS.
• The College has an edit line policy in place whereby the teacher will indicate any errors and comment on areas in need of improvement (Edit Feedback) in a particular section of the draft (as nominated by the student). General feedback will be provided on the remainder of the draft outside of the editing section.
• In Year 7, students will have 100% of their drafts edited by their teachers in Terms 1, 2 and 3. In Term 4, they will have a 50% edit line plus general feedback for all drafts.
• In Year 8, students will have 100% of their drafts edited by their teachers in Term 1. In Terms 2, 3 and 4, they will have a 50% edit line plus general feedback for all drafts.
• In Year 9, in all four Terms, students will have a 50% edit line plus general feedback for all drafts.
• In Years 10-11, students will have a 30% edit line plus general feedback for all drafts.
• In Year 12, for Terms 1 and 2, students will receive general feedback for one draft, with a focus on teacher/student conferencing. In Term 3, students will complete their final task independently.
• General feedback will be shared to the entire class and may not appear on your draft.

QCS Intensive Training

Our OP eligible students participated in an QCS Test intensive training this week with Matthew Rigby from Go Grammar Consulting. Mr Rigby has extensive experience with the QCS Test and has worked with many Year 12 students across the country. The training this week specifically focused on achieving success in the Short Response Test. Mr Rigby was able to squeeze a large amount into the full day of activities. We look forward to his return later in the year for a refresher course.

Matt Hodge

Assistant Principal Senior Years

Congratulations to the students who achieved Excellence Awards at our assembly this week. Thank-you to the parents who were able to join us. We encourage a strong parental presence at our Early Years Assemblies, which occur at present on a monthly basis. It would be terrific if you were able to visit us regularly for this occasion. Keep your eye out in the newsletters for updates on the dates for future assemblies! 

Katrina Walton

Assistant Principal Early Years

Here are all the winners of our Early Years Excellence Award from the Early Years Assembly on Monday. Congratulations to these students.

Junior

Rugby League

Congratulations to the following boys selected in the Bunya District Rugby League Teams to play against Inner Downs next week.

Under 11 – Taj Burke, Xavier Gibson, Riley Paterson, Alex Patterson, Charlie Johansen, Judd Alderton

Under 12 – Bronson Barnett, Caleb Wieland, Tate Woodward

Netball

Congratulations to the following girls selected in Bunya District Teams to attend Darling Downs Trials next term.

Under 11 (Squad) Team will be finalized before the end of the term

Carla Nobbs, Heidi Reed, Maleah Pattison, Monique Smith, Chloe Manteit, Millie Turner

Under 12 (Team)

Kago Masako, Emma Reed, Tiffany Ham

Cross Country

Bunya District U12 Cross Country Trials

This year the Junior School Cross Country (Under 6-Under 11) is scheduled for Thursday 4 April. The Senior School Cross Country (Under 12-Under 18) is scheduled for Wednesday 8 May which is after the Bunya District Cross Country. Any students in the Under 12 Age Group only (Born 2007) who wish to compete for the College at the Bunya District Cross Country on Friday 3 May must attend a school Cross Country trial on Tuesday 2 April at 3.20pm. Students will run the Under 12 Cross Country Course. From this event students will be selected to attend the Bunya District Cross Country. Please see Mr Lincoln if you need more information.

Senior

AFL

The College has entered a Year 7-9 and Year 10-12 Boys AFL Teams in the Darling Downs Cup Gala Day. This will be held at Highfields on Friday 3 May (Term 2, Week 2). Training will be held on Friday lunchtimes starting this week. Boys interested in playing need to sign on via the Sports Notice Board.

Rugby League

The College will enter Under 13 and Under 15 Teams in the Darling Downs Rugby League Competition next term. Games will be played on Wednesday afternoons. Hopefully both teams will play at the same venue each week. Training will be held on Tuesday afternoons for both teams starting next term.

A Year 8/9 team will attend the Broncos Challenge Qualifying Day next Tuesday at Beenleigh. If successful on this day the team will play in the highest level of competition in QLD in the Michael Hancock Cup. At the qualifying day, the College has games against; Alex Hills SHS, Unity College Caloundra, Ipswich SHS, Clairvaux College and Redbank Plains SHS.

Cricket

Unfortunately Dalby SHS had to forfeit the 20/20 Cricket Game scheduled for last Wednesday. This game will be rescheduled for Term 4 along with a game against Dalby Christian College.

Darling Downs Cluster 4 Trials

Trials will be held early next term in Orienteering and U15 Rugby Union. Students interested in attending please see Mr Lincoln for more information.

Tim Lincoln

Middle Leader Sport

Any staff or families that are wanting to place an order for the Homestyle Bake Pie Drive are asked to drop their orders in to the College Office no later than Monday afternoon. The funds raised from the Pie Drive will go towards the costs of producing the Musical. We are planning amazing, spectacular costumes so all the money we can riase will help towards our costume budget.

If you would like to place an order and don't have an order form, they are available from the College Office. If you have any queries, please email Sarah Lilburne at Sarah.Lilburne@twb.catholic.edu.au

The orders will arrive on Tuesday, 2 April and we will contact all the collectors when their orders are ready.

As per our story last week on our poultry residents, we can now announce that each of the 12 ladies in the chook house has a name. Mrs Cuskelly has the difficult task of deciding which chook got which name from all the wonderful, imaginative suggestions from the students and staff across the whole College.

In the white chook section we can now christen Snowlafke, Cloudy and Salt with a Dash of Pepper. From the black chooks, we have named Midnight, Peggy and Panther, The largest group are the magnificent red layers and they are called James Bond, Rosie, Amber, Ginger, Butter and Mildred. 

It will be quite a challenge to keep track of who is who in the chook shed but the laying frequency of our wonderful chooks is sure to step up now that everybody has a name. Thanks to Mrs Fraser who has introduced the chooks to the College and made sure that they are comfortable and well cared for.

The collection of Easter Eggs for our massive Mini Vinnies Easter Egg raffle is starting to grow in size. All students are asked to bring along a donation of an Easter Egg or Easter gift to make up baskets for the raffle which will be drawn on Thursday, 4 April. Tickets for the raffle are on sale every lunch outside the MPC for 50c. There are always loads of prizes to be won so make sure your student buys a ticket.

All the funds raised from the raffle will be donated to the St Vincent De Paul Society.

Please find below all the dates, times and locations for Whole College and Sector Assemblies for the remainder of Term 1. Parents are invited to come along to these assemblies to celebrate students successes and to keep up to date with activities and news across all Year levels.