As our Confro Netball and Rugby League players countdown to their respective carnivals next week, we would like to wish them all the best of luck with their games. Go you good things!

Check out some of the images from the Athletics Carnival. A full report with all the results and age champions will be published in the first Newsletter next term.

What a Finish to Term 2

Yesterday was a highlight of everything that it means to be a part of the Our Lady of the Southern Cross College community. Our Year 6 and over students had a full day on the oval participating, persisting and excelling in their athletics pursuits, whilst the Prep to Year 5 students spent a lovely time with many grandparents who came in for Grandparent’s Day, starting with a liturgy, then classroom visits and a picnic lunch.  In the middle session, our primary students all got involved in the fun of ball games, and of course, the afternoon was topped off with our whole College Athletics events including the circular relays, junior student/staff relay, senior student/staff relay, the Tresillian Gift, the Gillespie Gift and of course, the All Age Relay.  The team spirit was excellent, the mood light and fun, the competition frantic though friendly, and it was an absolute delight to see over 1100 people enjoying themselves.  A huge thanks to all of our staff who have given a lot of themselves to make events like this run so smoothly, especially Mr Lincoln, Mr Coman and Mrs Lincoln in the PE department, our groundsmen, and all our staff and students who put in 100%.

Congratulations of course to Mackillop who won the overall Athletics tally, as well as Bailey and Gabby our gift winners, and all of the age champions and runners up.  

Musical Coming Soon!!

I have the great benefit of being able to hear all rehaearsals from my office, and I simply can’t wait to see and hear the whole experience when the College Musical hits the stage on the 26 and 27 July at the Great Hall!  The amount of prep that has gone into this production is unbelievable, and Mrs Baxter has done a fantastic job keeping everything on track.  There are still tickets available and this musical is intended to be a production for the students and community – all ages!!  So grab your tickets, your kids and a belly full of laughter and enjoy the show with the rest of us!  See you there Dalby 

Live streams for QISSN / QISSRL

Our senior Netball and Rugby League teams are in Bargara attending Queensland Independent Secondary School Netball (QISSN) and Queensland Independent Secondary School Rugby League (QISSRL – Confraternity) for the next week.  Please keep and eye on the Facebook page as we will be sharing when our live stream games are on so you can watch our boys in girls in action from the comforts of your favourite chair!  Their preparation has been excellent and we wish them all the best for the next week.  Thanks again to all the staff who give up their afternoons, weekends and holidays to make this event a reality for our students.

Peter Cuskelly

Principal

We thank you Lord, for this term.  

For the challenges, the successes, and the mistakes from which we have learnt.  

Be with us as we spend our time with family and friends.  

Give us strength and courage to do what is right: to be witnesses of our faith.  

Help us to be a practical Christian these holidays, to appreciate what others do for us, to give time and effort to help others.  

To be peacemakers in our family.  

Keep us safe in our activities; give us good rest and good fun.  

Bring us back refreshed and ready for a new term.  

We thank you for our classmates, teachers, parents  

And a community that cares for us.  

May we always be conscious of you in our lives.  

Amen 

Grandparents Day 2019 

What an amazing day!  Thank you to all Grandparents and family members who joined with us today in prayer, exploring our learning in our classrooms, for lunch, at Athletics and Ballgames.  One of the big reasons I love our College so much is our community which extends beyond our staff and students.  It was wonderful to welcome so many of you to the College today.  We hope you enjoyed your visit – please know that you are welcome anytime. 

Important Dates for Term 3 & 4 

These dates were included with the report cards this semester.  Please double check the October date as I had it incorrect on initial letter P-6.  We look forward to sharing these times with you next Semester.  

Cate Brennan

Deputy Principal Religious Education

End of Term

It is hard to believe that we have reached the end of another term! This is also the time of year when parents and students receive Semester 1 report cards. This is an opportunity for celebration and reflection. I encourage all parents to take a moment and read the report card with their student and set goals for the remainder of the year.

Celebrating the C

For a long period in Australian education, there has been a fixation on using a 15-pont scale (A+ - E-) when making judgments on student achievement in Prep to Year 10. The use of this scale has placed more value on an A result instead of highlighting the importance of the C result. The Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority (QCAA) outlines the importance of a C result, stating that “in Queensland, the [Australian Curriculum] achievement standard represents the C standard — a sound level of knowledge and understanding of the content, and application of skills.” The P–10 Australian Curriculum achievement standards describe what students typically are required to demonstrate at the end of each teaching and learning year. Therefore, when a C result appears on a student’s report card this means that the student is progressing towards the standard (Semester 1) or achieved the standard (Semester 2). This is something to be celebrated!

Students who are judged at the A or B standards are demonstrating their knowledge and skills at more discerning, effective, purposeful and consistent levels beyond the achievement standard.

From Semester 2, our Year 9 and 10 teachers will be using the standard elaborations created by the QCAA to assist in making judgments with assessment. These standard elaborations are directly linked to the achievement standard for each subject. Additionally, they provide a consistent language across all subjects which increase the familiarisation of ‘above’ C standard quality assessment. Students will also be assessed using a 5-point (A – E) scale. This will assist teachers and students in understanding what is expected at each standard and provide a more simplified marking system that will provide further clarity for students surrounding assessment.

So, at this stage of the year let’s celebrate the C and use it to set academic goals for the remainder of the year.

Date Claimers

QCS Practice Exams - Friday 19 July (PAC)

QCS Intensive Day - Wednesday 24 July (Blue 1)

Year 9 in 2020 Parent/Student Information Night - Tuesday 16 July 6pm (PAC)

Year 9-11 in 2020 Subject Selection Night - Wednesday 7 August (Times/Venue TBC in early Term 3)

Year 10 SET Plan Interviews - 12 – 16 August

Enjoy the break!

Pax et Bonum

Matt Hodge

Assistant Principal Senior Years

Junior

Athletics

Congratulations to Emmysen Crothers who has been selected in the Darling Downs Athletics Team for the State Championships in Brisbane in August. Emmysen will compete in the Long Jump.

Catholic Netball / Touch Football Carnival

Congratulations to all students selected to represent the College at the annual Catholic Schools Netball and Touch Football Carnival in Toowoomba on Thursday 1 August. Teams will continue training next term for this event.

Senior

Rugby League

Under 15 Darling Downs Grand Final

OLSCC defeated Lockyer District SHS 20-12

Tries – Lyhkan King Togia 3, Harry Cooper

Conversions – Will Herbert 2

A fantastic effort from the boys winning the Darling Downs Under 15 Competition (Steve Price Cup). Thanks to all parents for their support and to Derek Brady coaching the boys. Special mention to Brock Sankey, Joe Sankey, Tom Gillespie and Cody Wenham who played at different times throughout the season but didn’t play in the grand final yesterday. The boys will now move onto the next stage of the competition next term.

1500m Races Athletics Carnival Race Results

Age Group Winners

U12 – Gabby Banks & Eli Harth

U13 – Emily Griffiths & Bailey Brennan

U14 – Hannah Pattison & Will Herbert

U15 – Jade Alderton & Dylan Nobbs

U16 – Margot Gleeson & Max Ogilvie

Open – Ellie Stephen & Ky Kirtley

Inner Downs Athletics Carnival

The Inner Downs Carnival will be held on Wednesday 31 July at Oakey SHS. Students must attend this carnival to attend the Darling Downs Trials at the end of August. Travel will be via private transport.

Tennis Championships

The College Secondary Tennis Championships will be held on Wednesday 17 July at the Dalby Tennis Courts starting at 2.00pm. These championships will double as a selection trial to finalize a Team to compete at the Darling Downs Schools Challenge Championships in Toowoomba on Monday 19 August. Students interested in playing need to register interest with either Mrs Forbes or Mr Lincoln.

Touch Football

Three College Touch Football Teams have been played in the Dalby Touch Association fixtures this season. The Under 15 Boys team won the Mens’s B Grade Competition with Dylan Nobbs being named player of the Final on Wednesday night. The Under 15 girls finished Runners Up in the Women’s B Grade Competition and the Open Mixed Team were Runners Up in the Mixed A Grade Competition. Ky Kirtley was named as Player of the Season.

Confraternity Shield Rugby League

Next week, 17 Boys from the College and three boys from St Mary’s College Toowoomba will attend the Confraternity Shield Rugby League Carnival in Bundaberg. The students are Ryan Welsh, Gab Sombrero, Matt Cuskelly, Joe Walsh, Max Ogilvie, Brayden Hughes, Ky Kirtley, Pat Boland, Lachlan Wilkins, Hugh Clarke, Sam Gillespie, Lachlan Sankey, Declan Crothers, Mitch Portbury, Isaac Halling, Oliver Harth, Bailey Cleary, Jed Hill, Ryan Fisher, Joe Willett. The team will be coached by Mr Gillespie, Mr Cuskelly, Mr Garside and Mr Lincoln.

QISSN Netball

Next week, 10 Girls will compete in the QISSN Carnival Bundaberg. The team will be coached and managed by Mrs Appleton, Mrs Frid, Mrs Cesari and Ms Rea. The team will consist of Gabby Parker, Laney Schloss, Sarah McQuaid, Bronte Kruger, Shiro Frid, Jasmine Houlder, Charlotte Crothers, Claudia Child, Maggy Laffy, Bree Tanks.

Tim Lincoln

Middle Leader Sport

"When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them." - Acts 2:1-4 (MSG)

Pentecost literally means 50^th. It is a feast celebrated on the 50^th day after the Passover feast by the Jews, and it is a feast celebrated on the 50^th day after the feast of the Resurrection of Jesus by the Christians. On Christmas we celebrate the birthday of Christ in His Physical Body. Pentecost marks the birthday of the Church, of all those who have been reborn into His Mystical Body.

In Year 5T students undertook Pentecost artworks as part of their learnings in Religious Education and Faith Development. Students utilised main symbols associated with Pentecost including a dove and flame. They were able to articulate their visual ideas and make reference to previous events in the bible including the flood and the olive branch.

Emmason indicated that “the fire on the head of the people was how Jesus gave them a surprise, that they could talk to anyone about their faith and that Jesus was alive in spirit”.

Gabriella commented on her drawing, “The fire was how Jesus rose into Heaven, as a gift to the disciples was the Holy Spirit. The dove was a symbol of a new better life and the red hearts were the Holy Spirit”.

Fallon captured how the fire was based around receiving the Holy Spirit which fits the theme of Pentecost. The blue water border represents a special blessing and gift that Jesus gave to the people.

While Year 8 Religion classes undertook a Holy Spirit Dove craft activity. It was a hive of activity in Yellow 5 and 6 as students outlined key parts of the dove and pieced it together to create a dove out of a paper plate. It was pleasing to see creative thinking and problem solving in action.

Our history lesson continued as we explored Palestine and used Google Earth to see what it might have been like to live in the time of Jesus. Watching a clip on ancient cheese makers in Jerusalem helped to understand the harsh conditions experienced both now and back then. Art was involved with drawing a typical house from that time and discussing why society lived like they did. Students even liked learning about the politics of Roman time and built upon their knowledge of why Jesus was such an inspiration to many.

In Term 2 we have tackled a Kindness Challenge, with each week a goal being set for the students to follow and also seek our within our College. This will be continued into Term 3 focussing on Positive Relationships. Our Kindness goals were able to be linked into our classroom lessons which was about the Ten Commandments and the Common Good. A theme of ‘Never see a need without doing something about it’ has made for some thought provoking conversations and excellent Common Good proposals. Students are developing a strong sense of Social Justice and learning about ways to make a change, which means that our planet is in good hands.

This term in Year 8 Religion the students have been comparing the three major Monotheistic Religion of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. A particular focus has been on the similarities and differences between initiation ceremonies and rites of passage including baptism. Students completed a power point assessment on these ceremonies to complete the unit. While last term, students engaged with the work of prophets from the Old Testament and applied to modern day key messages. Key aspects of this type of work in Religious Education links to the overarching goal of the LYF (Living Your Faith) Program in transcending the gospel messages in our own time and place.

Imogen commented “to be creative in your response and learn about world religions and rituals”. While Hannah indicated “it was fun to use pictures and symbols to explain and communicate your ideas and learnings”.

We recently received this certificate from Dolly's Dream in recognition of the donation we made of $860 from our Dress Up in Blue 'Do It For Dolly' Day on Friday, 10 May. Dolly's Dream and the 'Do It For Dolly Day' reached more than 1.2 million people ensuring the message around educating and empowering the community to prevent bullying and cyberbullying was spread far and wide. Our students engaged in education around cyberbullying as we work towards a culture where this behaviour is unacceptable in our College community.

The Independent Education Union of Australia - Queensland and Northern Territory Branch’s exhibition and competition this year is based on the theme, “Unity”. 

Students are to produce an artwork that best reflects the theme. Artworks may be painted, drawn, collaged or photographic work and no larger than A3 size for transporting purposes. No framing is required. A completed entry form from College Office or Library is to be attached to the back of the artwork.

Artworks are due to the College Office by Week 1 Term 3 Friday 19 July. Late entries may not be accepted.

It is that time again and Book Week is fast approaching. The Annual Book Week Dress-Up Parade is a huge highlight on the College Calendar and the effort of parents and students in creating amazing book character costumes is a sight to behold. Here's all the details for Book Week so get your thinking caps on and start creating.