Due to the way the dates for Easter fell this year, we did not hold an Easter prayer gathering prior to the Term 1 holiday break. Instead, we gathered on Wednesday for a combined service for both Easter and ANZAC Day which was a unique combination of the story of Jesus' death and resurrection as well as the journey and story of  Australian servicemen and women who have also given the ultimate sacrifice of their lives during times of war.

House Captains Emma Reid, Olivia Burton and Braithen Crothers read alternately from the Easter story, the ANZAC story and the story of the remarkable qualities Jesus and our past and present servicemen have on our lives every day. Prefects Mikayla Leahy, Jonty MacDougall, Ariella Stephen and Garett Matthews acted out the story of Jesus' journey to the cross, his death and resurrection. It was simple but very meaningful. The way the stories intertwined gave a very important message of the sacrifices that have been made for us to live with faith and to enjoy peace and freedom.

Special guest, Sergeant Major Tim Thompson addressed the assembly to talk about his experiences and the importance of ANZAC Day. Sergeant Major Thompson has had many experiences including deployment abroad but he is currently a School of Army Aviation Warrant Officer from the Oakey Aviation Base. We thank Sergeant Major Thompson for attending and also for his kind donation of three copies of the book "A Brief History of the Australian Army".

The ANZAC proceedings were assisted by the 120ACU Dalby cadet catafalque party and OLSCC student Aiden Powell who is an Air Force Cadet with the 209 Squadron Oakey was the flag raiser.

We would also like to acknowledge the Dalby Legacy Ladies who later presented the College with another book for our Library in remembrance of ANZAC 2019, "World War I, A Difinitive Visual Guide". 

ANZAC Pride

In Australia we are seeing the youth make greater connections with their past and ancestry through significant historical events and our community’s commemoration of ANZAC Day has certainly been a demonstration of this throughout the week.  Firstly, we had the College ANZAC Day Service with Father Jim Cronin and Sergeant Major of the School of Aviation, Oakey, Warrant Officer Class 2 Tim Thompson in attendance.  It was a great experience for our students to hear from a highly ranked army officer who has had much experience both in active service in Afghanistan and New Guinea as well as peacetime operations all over the world.  We learnt of the value of peace, as well as the critical times where we must stand up for our countrymen and nation. In addition to this, yesterday, we saw the Dalby RSL in conjunction with the Western Downs Regional Council and a variety of  community bands and groups come together for two amazing ANZAC Day services, both of which the College were active in attendance and marching.  It was a privilege to march and attend both services with our students yesterday, and I was extremely proud to see so many of our young men and women valuing the past and developing an understanding of this past in their history.  In recent years we have seen greater engagement in ANZAC Day commemorations, and we pray that this trend continues into the future.  Thank you to all of our students, families, cadets and community members who marched and attended the services, or were there to encourage and support out students who did so.  Thank mostly though, to those dedicated and selfless service personnel who have, and continue to, be stationed and deployed all over the world in dedicated service to the betterment of life for others.   

Welcome Mr Wager

This week we have welcomed Mr Wager who has taken on the teaching of Classroom and Instrumental Music at OLSCC for the remainder of the year.  Although only here a few days as yet, we have already seen Mr Wager’s commitment to the students and his curiosity to enhance our instrumental music program in the near future.

NAPLAN

Only a few weeks to go until the NAPLAN testing on 14 - 16 May for all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.  As a distinct focus of our College developing assessment capable learners, there are a few mindsets that we are building with our students that will not only help with assessment, though will also make them better learners and employees in years to come.  They are as follows:

• NAPLAN is important, so we want all students to try their best to achieve as highly as they can.
• NAPLAN is hard.  There are many items you simply won’t be able to do, though there are many that you can do very well.
• All students can achieve well in NAPLAN given that they prepare well and focus their time and energy during assessment.  There are no trick questions!
• The best thing a student can do is practice to ensure their timing is right.  This means they have the best chance of showing their true capability
• There is no need to stress.  It’s only assessment. Just a process of doing your work in a time constraint.  There are no consequences for errors. 

Accordingly the teachers will be giving opportunities for students to practice for NAPLAN over coming weeks to ensure they are best prepared.

Pete Cuskelly

Principal

As Mr Cuskelly reports in Principal's Pen this week, a great number of students from our College proudly participated in ANZAC Day marches and services across our region. Many students got up early and attended the Dawn Service in Dalby and our participation as a group in the Dalby March was impressive. We even had two students, Baillie and Noah Cook who put on their uniforms and marched in Tara, proudly displaying medals of their relatives. 

This week we reflected as a College on the Easter Story and ANZAC Day and then together with the community commemorated ANZAC Day.  It is with much pride that we marched alongside other schools and community groups to show our respect and to honour the memory of those who have served our country, Australia. 

We remember with thanksgiving those who made the supreme sacrifice for us in time of war. We pray that the offering of their lives may not have been in vain.  We dedicate ourselves to the cause of justice, freedom and peace; and for the wisdom and strength to build a better world. 

Lord our God,  

source of peace, 

hear our constant prayer 

for those who bore witness to your own fidelity 

by giving their lives for those they loved. 

Resurrect them in our true homeland 

and perfect that peace for which they longed and died. 

May we learn from the suffering of our past  

And strive to live by the values of Your Kingdom;  

The Beatitude values of love, peace and forgiveness  

That lead us all to true freedom.  

We ask this through Jesus who shows us the way of peace. 

Amen 

Intergenerational/Intercultural Wisdom needed

OLSCC is seeking interested persons to be a part of a PRAXIS initiative with Year 9 students, running from Term 2 until the end of the year. The project will involve developing relationships with students, sharing stories, interests and wisdom. Participants will then be interviewed over a series of sessions in order to create films about their life which they will be gifted at the end of the project.

Sessions will take place at OLSCC on Wednesdays from 12:30 – 1:30pm. We hope this project will assist students to learn from other members of the community who have experienced different generations and cultures and strengthen the bonds of our St Joseph’s Parish/OLSCC community. If interested, please contact

Cate Brennan (Cate.Brennan@twb.catholic.edu.au) or

Nicholas Blauw (Nicholas.Blauw@twb.catholic.edu.au) or

call 07 4672 4111 for more information.    

Sewing help needed 

Are you a sewer who would be able to hem squares of material for our prayer tables?  Material and thread provided.  If you are able to assist could you please contact Cate Brennan via email Cate.Brennan@twb.catholic.edu.au or the College office. 

Cate Brennan

Deputy Principal Religious Education

Senior Years at OLSCC – Not another Secondary School

Did you know that we are the only college in the Toowoomba Catholic Diocese that has a dedicated Year 9-12 sub-school?

This opportunity allows our College to provide a Senior Years program that is just not another secondary school, rather a learning environment for Year 9-12 students in Dalby and surrounding regions that is dedicated to the specific needs of these students.

For the students at Our Lady of the Southern Cross College, their time in the Senior Years will not only consolidate the previous nine years of learning, but they are also provided with a learning environment that encapsulates striving for academic and personal excellence.

With a focus on our Senior Years Success Qualities of Gratitude, Respect, Perseverance, Independence and Excellence, students will continue to be encouraged to engage in learning that is meaningful, stimulating and challenging.

Key developments that have been implemented in the Senior Years so far this year:

• The introduction of our Senior Years Success Qualities
• Implementation of the new Queensland Certificate of Education for Year 11 students
• The use of external educational experts in QCS preparation and study skills for Year 11 and 12 students
• The use of evidence-based pedagogies to support student learning
• The introduction of our 1:1 Laptop Program and Learning Management System (Canvas)
• Teacher professional development targeting strategies that will enhance Year 9-12 student reading, literacy and assessment capability
• The creation of an Academic Success program

The work does not stop there. Further work is currently underway to:

• Increase the rigour of our Year 9 & 10 subjects
• Implement our Train to Win program that will embed our careers and work experience program, study skills preparation, life choices sessions, review literacy and numeracy fundamentals, and post-school options support.
• Develop new opportunities for students to participate in camps and retreats

I firmly believe that the Senior Years at OLSCC are developing into a learning environment that will continue to develop learners who are curious, self-directed, collaborative, resilient and critical thinkers. Learners who are also ready for the workplace and to obtain success in their post-school careers.

Thank you, Ms Rea!

After many years of supporting our Senior Years students in a leadership capacity, Ms Rea has decided to step back into a classroom in a full-time role. I have enjoyed work with Ms Rea in Term 1 as we set out to shape the new look Senior Years. I have also been impressed with how Ms Rea has been leading the delivery of the new Year 11 syllabuses, and it is very fortunate that more of our students will be able to be taught by Ms Rea. Thank you for your dedicated service to our students, Wendy!

Year 11 Parent/Student Information Night

A reminder that there will be an Information Night for our Year 11 students and their parents on Monday 29 April at 6pm. Some of the topics that will be discussed will be the new QCE system, subject requirements, and how to achieve success in the new system. The venue will be the Performing Arts Centre.

Matt Hodge

Assistant Principal Senior Years

Junior

Junior School Cross Country Results

Junior School Cross Country Points

Rice                 479

MacKillop          400

McAuley           329

Nolan                235

Rugby League

The ARL Development Cup Competition will be held again in Term 2 for schools in our region. Games will be played on Wednesday afternoons. This is for boys and girls turning 11 or 12 this year in Years 5/6. A draw for the season is listed below.

Round 1 Wednesday, 8 May OLSCC vs Dalby SS at 3.30pm Dalby League Grounds

Round 2 Wednesday, 22 May OLSCC vs Dalby South SS 3.30pm Dalby League Grounds

Round 3 Wednesday, 29 May OLSCC vs Pittsworth 4.00pm Pittsworth Rugby League Grounds

Finals Wednesday, 5 June 3.15pm or 4.00pm Dalby League Grounds 

Tennis

Any under 10-12 students interested in playing in a School Tournament on Wednesday 1 May (Term 2 Week 2) please see Mr Lincoln for more information. A flyer is attached to the newsletter.

Athletics

Bunya District U12 Athletics Trials

This year, the Junior School Athletics Carnival (Under 6-Under 11) is scheduled for Friday, 17 May. The Senior School Athletics Carnival (Under 12-Under 18) is scheduled for 26-27 June which is after the Bunya District Athletics Carnival. Any students in the Under 12 Age Group only (Born 2007) who wish to compete for the College at the Bunya District Athletics Carnival on Tuesday, 4 June must attend school trials during Week 3 at lunchtimes. From these events, students will be selected to attend the Bunya District Athletics Carnival. Please see Mr Lincoln if you need more information and a list of events you wish to nominate for.

Senior

Boys AFL

The College has entered an Year 7-9 and Year 10-12 Boys AFL Teams in the Darling Downs Cup Gala Day. This will be held next Friday at Highfields. Training will be held on Wednesday and Friday lunchtimes. More players are needed for the Year 7-9 Team.

Rugby League

Under 13 and Under 15 Teams have been entered in the Darling Downs Rugby League Competition next term. A draw for the season is listed below. Training will be held on Tuesday afternoons for both teams from 3.15 – 4.15pm.  

Cross Country

The Under 12 – Open Cross Country will be held on Wednesday morning 8 May. A timetable is listed below. Any students interested in attending the Darling Downs Cross Country in Toowoomba on 21 May need to see Mr Lincoln.

9.05am Girls Race

9.25am Senior Boys Race (Under 16-Open)

9.50am Junior Boys Race (Under 12-Under 15)

10.10am Trophy Presentation

Tim Lincoln

Middle Leader Sport

Students exhibited their artistic creations at The Dalby & District Show in the Junior Fine Art, Pottery and Photography categories. There were around 190 entries across the College which is an impressive amount and showcased our students work across a number of classes. There were several winners and certificates and prize money will be distributed at next available assemblies.

In the Junior Fine Art section, the following students’ artworks were awarded highly commended including William Bryant, Tilly Ryan, Jake Griffiths, Claire Davidson, Isabel Johnston, Kaity Harms and Imogen Mittelstadt.

In the Under 6 Years section, Marli Bruce achieved a second prize and Benjamin Barwick won third prize.

In the 7-9 Years category, Phoenix McArthur achieved first prize while in the 10-12 years category, Joab Jacobson won third prize.

In the Pottery category for Secondary school, Natalia Haager achieved second place and Mackenzie Wedrat won first. Phoenix McArthur won first prize for his hand built creation in the Primary School Pottery category.

In the Photography section, 12-17 Years, Charles Boland achieved an encouragement award and highly commended. Jonty MacDougall won the overall trophy for this section resulting from three first prizes, four seconds, three highly commended and an encouragement award.

Phoenix McArthur also won the overall trophy for his section, 8 years and under in the photography. This resulted from a first, second and third prizes.

Our College certainly has competent and competitive artists. All recipients should be proud of their efforts as they epitomise, art is made to be shown!

Parmesan Popcorn

150g Popping Corn

90ml Rice Bran Oil

30g Grated Parmesan

In a heavy based pot, heat the oil and popcorn on medium heat.  Place lid on top and let the corn pop until popping stops.  Immediately remove from heat and  toss through the Parmesan.  Will keep for three days in an airtight container.