Leadership Forum

Next Monday to Thursday I will be attending the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Leadership Forum in Toowoomba.  At this forum we learn a huge amount regarding keeping informed of Diocesan updates, changes in the administration of schools, as well as work on developing our leadership and the practices that make good leaders.  Beyond this, we have the opportunity to work with our fellow principals in order to determine what works best for our staff and students.  This forum’s topic is “Schools That Deliver” and it strongly aligns with key improvement strategies at OLSCC.  I look forward to the experience, as well as enacting my learnings when I return. 

Carpark Issues

With the increase in students this year, we have noticed greater issues with the carparking facilities at the College.  Whilst this isn’t something that can be funded in the short term for improvement, I would encourage people to consider the following options as they go about the pick up at the end of the day:

• Consider whether the car is really needed.  Could you carpool with a neighbour? Are your children capable of riding or walking to school?
• There is an easement that allows access to Brother’s oval.  Feel free to park in our easement during pick up and drop off time.  Importantly, the children can walk across the oval to access the easement rather than through all the traffic
• To avoid the mayhem, consider parking on Cooper Street and allow your children to walk themselves across Brother’s oval.  It’s only a little over 100m away.
• For Senior Years students, the area east of the old carpark entrance has plenty of space and very little traffic, especially along Aerodrome Road.

Most importantly, we ask that our community be considerate of other people at this time.  I understand it is frustrating, though it is a personal choice as to how we react.  We are currently investigating options for new parking facilities and possibly a drop-off zone, however this is not a funded reality in the short term.

Outstanding Fees

We currently have over $250,000 of fees in arrears from 2019 and prior. Whilst we have reduced this debt over the past few years, it is not possible for the College to operate effectively with such fees outstanding.  Mrs Kuruilaca regularly sends out reminders to parents regarding this, along with letters regarding how we can support you in reducing your debt through commitment to a payment plan.  The reality is that students are only funded 90% by the government, whilst the remaining 10% comes from fees.  These fees provide all facilities, maintenance, additional teaching staff, consumables, technology, resources, the College coach, and much more.  Please be aware that families that are not committed to actively reducing their debt will not have access to extracurricular activities at the College in the future.  This includes, though is not limited to,  Year 12 graduation ceremonies, Confraternity, QISSN, camps, incursions, school Sport, Instrumental Music, College Musical and other events. Further details will come shortly, however, if you have a substantial debt or are having difficulty keeping up, please call the College and we can arrange an appointment with our business manager to help resolve the issue.  

Peter Cuskelly

Principal

This week our Virtue focus is Courage with the Character Strength of Perseverance.  So we pray for the Lord’s support: 

Father, we bless and thank You for a brand-new day  

and for the fresh opportunities and challenges that this day will bring.  

Thank You that Your mercies are new every morning and I pray that I will walk worthy of You today  

and be a faithful witness in thought, word and deed. 

demonstrating a Christ-like attitude to all with whom I come in contact. 
in Jesus name I pray, 
Amen 

UPCOMING COURSE FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH 

BISHOP ROBERT BARRON’S EUCHARIST: SACRED MEAL, SACRIFICE, REAL PRESENCE.  

Christ is alive and fully present in the Eucharist. Join us as we delve into the “source and summit” of our Faith with Bishop Barron’s DVD-based program: Eucharist:  Sacred Meal, Sacrifice and Real Presence. This spiritual study will give you a deeper understanding of the precious gift of Christ’s body, blood, soul and divinity that you can receive at each and every Mass. On Sunday February 23rd from 5 to 6.30pm, our parish will begin this six session Eucharist program. Contact the parish to register 0746624011 or dalbyparish@twb.catholic.edu.au 

NAPLAN Online 

NAPLAN Online will be rolled out in our College in 2020.  We will conduct practice tests for students in Year 3, 5,7, 9 in Week 9 and 10 of this term.  I encourage all parents of children in these year levels to familiarise yourself with the test platform via https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site.  Laptops will be set up before and after school on Thursday (20 and 27 February) on walkway outside the PAC (opposite Prep entry) for parents to take a look and ask questions.  

Volunteers at the College 

Volunteers are an essential part of our College community including supporting the tuckshop, working with classes attending excursions, coaching and managing teams.  Working together we aim to create and maintain safe environments for our students, staff and families.  We require all volunteers to read, understand and follow relevent code of conduct and student protection information.  All volunteers at the College need to complete a Volunteer declaration form annually as part of our this safeguard.  Packs with relevant information are available from class teachers or the College office or directly from the Toowoomba Catholic Schools website https://www.twb.catholic.edu.au/work-and-learn-with-us/volunteers-and-visiting-service-providers/.  I am also available to assist with this process if needed.  If you are planning to assist this year, please complete the online module and form and return to the College Office. 

Cate Brennan

Deputy Principal Religious Education 

LAST CHANCE TO WIN ONE TERM OF COLLEGE TUITION FEES 

ECSI SURVEY and Catholic Dialogue in Schools Project 

With families restricted in movement and outing opportunities we have decided to extend our competition in case you now have more spare time to complete the ECSI Survey and enter our draw.  Only 29 families of our 366 families have completed the survey.  It is important that as many families as possible are represented to give us useful information about our community.  All College families are asked to complete the ECSI Survey to assist with the direction setting in regard to Catholic Identity of the College.  As an extra incentive for parents to take part in the survey we are offering a prize for one family whose parent completes the survey.  To be in the running for one term’s tuition fees taken from the oldest child in the family you must complete the survey in full, save your Certificate of successful participation (with parent contact name filled in) and email to cate.brennan@twb.catholic.edu.au or drop it into the entry box in the office foyer by Friday 24 April at 9am. The certificate verifies your completion of the survey but does not link to any of the answers you give.  

Thank you for your support and participation in this valuable research project.  Information on how to complete this survey is detailed below. 

Keeping in Control
At assembly this week I discussed an extension of my usual focus on controlling the controllables. Yes, controlling the small things like appearance and preparation for classes is essential. However, there are more inward actions that students’ can control. I asked students to consider how they control the following:

• Their sleep routine
• How they speak to themselves
• Who they follow
• The boundaries they set
• What they eat
• When they ask for help

I believe that the last item on the list is the most important. Sometimes, asking for help is the most challenging step in keeping control. Students in the Senior Years are able to speak to their peers, teachers, Mr Holmes (Counsellor), Mrs Baxter (Careers Practitioner) or myself. We live in a very caring community. I encourage all of us to ask for help when we need it.

Assessment Calendars
The examination schedule for Years 9-12 has been placed on the College website at the link below. I encourage all students to write their examination dates in their diaries. At the College, the integrity of assessment is paramount. Over the coming days, Senior Years teachers will be taking students through our examination expectations, including exam etiquette, what materials to bring and the difference between planning and perusal time.  

https://www.dalby.catholic.edu.au/assessment

All students have assessment that they should be working towards. I encourage you to check in with your student to see how they are travelling with these. If you have any concerns, please contact your student’s teacher.  

Matt Hodge

Assistant Principal Senior Years

Monday afternoon was fun. The Middle Years Sector was a buzz. After weeks of battles, the 112 entrants in the Rock, Paper Scissors competition had been whittled away to just the last 7 participants … 6 students and the College Principal. Congratulations to the Magnificent Seven: Pain Brennan, Isabel Johnstone, Kai Rush, Noah Cook, Heidi Reed, Samuel Luck and last but certainly not least, Mr Cuskelly.  

So began the live rounds. In front of the entire Middle Years assembly, the names of the remaining participants were drawn at random, for a series of live battles. Each participant squaring up three times, trying to finish this round with more win points than the others. Only the top 4 would proceed to the next round, the semi-finals.

Much to the delight of the crowd, Mr Cuskelly survived the battles and made it to the semi-finals along with Pain Brennan, Isabel Johnstone and Heidi Reed. Experience would count for nothing though, as Heidi Reed showed no mercy in the first semi-final, promptly eliminating her Principal, setting up a showdown with the winner of the second semi-final, Isabel Johnstone. The girls battled in a Best of 3 format, with Heidi Reed emerging as the eventual victor. Congratulations Heidi … you chose wisely.

Well done to all the students who participated in the competition. It was immensely pleasing to see so many students, from a range of Year levels, all getting involved and having a lot of fun along the way.

We would also like to introduce the dynamic duo of Year 5 teachers, Mrs Carey Twidale and Mrs Elizabeth Carter. Both these teachers are very experienced and have been teaching at our College for a number of years.

"We are looking forward to working with you all in our partnership of growing your children's minds. Our classes will be having some exciting things happening with lots of new technology and pedagogy," Mrs Twidale and Mrs Carter said. Both Mrs Carter and Mrs Twidale can be contacted via their email addresses or by contacting the College office any time on 4672 4111.

Craig Cullen

Assistant Principal Middle Years

When the going gets tough …….

As we head towards the mid  point of the term, the reality of attending school everyday is settling in for many of our Early Years students. It is not unusual to have some feelings of discomfort around the learning journey at this point in time. However, rather than rushing to solve all the problems for your child in the effort to create a smooth pathway for them, be brave enough to embrace the struggle. The students have been talking about the Learning Pit, and that deep learning DOES require hard work. In order to have our students reach high expectations, struggle and challenge must be embraced. Multiple wheelchair marathon winner Kurt Fearnly spoke of this in his address to one of the Words Out West audiences this week. He encouraged the struggle, and suggested we give ourselves permission not to struggle alone, but to struggle when everyone around can see you and help you. We talked about the similarities between his words and our own exploration of the learning pit. Knowing how to get ourselves out of the pit is the key. This week, make a point of asking your child what they do when they are in “the pit” and what strategies they can use when they get stuck. If you need a prompt, ask them to tell you about the 5 B’s. I hope you get some interesting conversation in your child’s responses!

Katrina Walton

Assistant Principal Early Years

On Friday, February 14, 348 students from our College had the privilege of attending the inaugural Words out West Readers and Writers Festival and the Western Downs Library. The Friday program was specifically for school students and we were extremely excited to have given every OLSCC student from Prep to mid Year 7 the opportunity to participate in workshops with authors, illustrators, narrators, cartoonists, journalists, story tellers and musicians. The sessions were very interactive and were well received by the audiences. Even Mr Cuskelly and Mr Cullen ended up as part of the show! It was a rare opportunity for students to be able to have such close interaction with professionals of this calibre and to be able to learn from their personal journey into the literary world. Our students are to be commended on their excellent presentation and behavior at this public event.

Miss Crow reported that the Middle Years students who attended were thoroughly engaged by Stig Wemyss as he described his journey as an actor and narrator of children's storybooks. The Middle Years students also participated in 'The Panel' which was chaired by Mrs Walton and featured Dalby locals Lydia Burton, a past student of the College and Sophie Volker. During this session, the students learned about the journeys of both ladies who have become very successful in the field of journalism. Sophie and Lydia were keen to discuss their pathway stressing that they had no disadvantage coming from the Western Downs region. 

Our College was the most represented on School Day at the Festival and from the amazing feedback and excited students who attended, we can't wait until next time. A huge thank you must go to the Western Downs Regional Council for hosting this event and providing our young students with such an engaging and enjoyable taste of all things 'words'.

Thanks to Ange Strling for some of these beautiful images.

SBA Sign Ups

We have had a number of students sign up for a school based traineeship and according to Mrs Baxter, College Careers Development Practitioner, there are some exciting new pathways being discovered by our amazing Senior Years students.

Mel Rose Bondoc who is in Year 11 signed up on 3 February for a Certificate III in Retail at McDonald's Dalby, Charlotte Wood from Year 10 has signed up with Melissa Harms at Urban Paddock for a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery and Zy Monaghan also from Year 10 has signed up with Jody Monaghan of Stimson Plumbing and Building Maintenance for a Certificate III in Cabinet Making.

We thank all of these local employers for providing our students with amazing opportunities to gain tertiary qualifications whilst still at school. Congratualtions to Mel Rose, Charlotte and Zy on taking up these exciting new challenges.

University Open Day Dates 2020

Brisbane Careers and Employment Expo - Friday 8 May and Saturday 9 May

Tertiary Study Expo @ Brisbane Showgrounds - Sat and Sun 18 - 19 July

University of the Sunshine Coast - 19 July

QUT Garden Point - Saturday 26 July

UQ St Lucia - Sunday 2 August

UQ Gatton Campus - 9am to 3pm 16 August 16 

USQ Toowoomba Campus - Sunday 16 August

USQ Springfield Campus - Sunday 30 August

Libby Baxter

Careers Development Practitioner

Junior

Inter House Swimming Carnival

Age Champions will be announced in the newsletter next week and presented at the next Whole School Assembly on Monday 2 March.

Bunya District Swimming Trials

The Bunya District Under 9-12 Years Swimming Trials will be held on Tuesday 25 February at the Dalby Aquatic Centre. Best of luck to all students who have qualified to compete.

Bunya District Basketball Trials

Any Boys or Girls turning 11 or 12 this year who would like to attend Bunya District Basketball Trials need to see Mr Lincoln for more information. The trials will be held at Dalby State School on Tuesday 25 February at 3.30pm.

Darling Downs Under 12 AFL Trials

Any Boys or Girls who would like to attend Darling Downs Under 12 AFL Trials in Toowoomba on March 19 need to see Mr Lincoln for more information. There will be no Bunya District trial this year in AFL so students will need to be of a high standard to be directly nominated to the Darling Downs Trials.

Aquathlon

Best of luck to Carla Nobbs who will compete at the State Aquathlon Championships at Hervey Bay this weekend.

Senior

Inner Downs Cluster 1 Trials

Congratulations to the following students who represented Inner Downs at the Darling Downs Trials on February 13.

Under 15 Girls Touch Football

Hannah Pattison, Shawnee King

Under 15 Boys Touch Football

Lleyton Dodd, Brock Sankey

Under 18 Girls Touch Football

Charlotte Crothers, Claudia Child, Maggie Laffy

Under 18 Boys Touch Football

Ky Kirtley, Dusty Brown, Michael MacDonald, Dylan Nobbs

Open Boys Tennis

Ben Forbes, Patrick Kelly

Darling Downs Swimming Trials

The Darling Downs 13-18 Years Swimming Trials will be held in Gatton on Tuesday 3 March. Students who wish to attend these trials are to see Mr Lincoln for more information.

Netball

Best of luck to the Years 7-9 Girls Team who will attend the Laura Gietz Cup in Toowoomba on Sunday. Thanks to Mrs Judy Appleton for coaching the team and to Year 10 student Claudia Child for umpiring on behalf of the College.

Cricket

The College will again participate in the DDSWQ 20/20 Cricket Competition. Games are scheduled to start in Week 5 and will be played weekly. A draw will be out shortly, and trials will be held to select a team.  

Darling Downs Cluster 1 Trials

Congratulation to the following students who were selected in Darling Downs Teams following trials in Toowoomba last week.

Under 15 Boys Touch Football

Lleyton Dodd, Brock Sankey

Under 18 Boys Touch Football

Ky Kirtley

Open Boys Tennis

Ben Forbes (Ben won the Final of this competition)

 Students named as Darling Downs Shadow Players

Under 18 Girls Touch Football

Charlotte Crothers, Claudia Child

Under 15 Girls Volleyball

Breanna Hoskin

Open Girls Volleyball

Maddy Hayes

 Inner Downs Cluster 2 Trials

Inner Downs Cluster 2 Trials will be held on Wednesday 26 February in Highfields at the Sport and Recreation Ovals at 228 Barracks Road. Sports involved will be U15 and U18 Rugby League, Soccer, Netball and Basketball. Students interested in attending need to sign on via the Sports Notice Board. The College Coach will provide transport for the day.

 Darling Downs Trials

Students will directly nominate to Darling Downs Trials held in March for the following sports;

Under 14 Boys and Girls AFL, Golf, Hockey, Squash, Girls Under 16 Rugby Sevens, Boys Under 18 Rugby Union and Girls Under 15 and Under 18 Rugby League. Students interested in attending any of the above trials need to sign on via the Sports Notice Board. Students will need to be of a high playing standard to attend the trials.

 Inter House Swimming Carnival

Age Champions will be announced in the newsletter next week and presented at the next Whole School Assembly on Monday 2 March.

Tim Lincoln

Middle Leader Sport

Check out our gallery of photos from the Swimming Carnival last Friday. Thanks to Miss Purbrick for the great photography!

The Bell Art Exhibition is coming up on Saturday 22 February. The Gala Opening and Presentation Evening is from 7pm at Bell Memorial Public Hall on Wallace Street. Viewing times continue from Monday 24 February to Sunday 1 March. The following students have entries lodged:

Hugo Fraser, Charles Sullivan, Uriah Jocson, Chloe Hayward, William Burton, Lucy Bennie, Isabelle Manley, William Hemmings, Olivia Nolan, Jett Price, Amara Sim, Jackson Simmich, Ash Harding, Sarah Hall, William Burton, Chris Wilson, Lucy Hodge, Lillianah Conlan, Josh Ncube, Ella Ramage, Charlotte Colquhoun, Ava Boland, Jack Twidale, Phoenix McArthur, Matthew Meacle-Lyell, Charlee Walker, Lucinda Conn, Indi Wilson, Tom Clarke, Lexi Bruce, Olivia Hiesler, Arabella Stirling, Louie Machin, Melody Jackson, Ashton Crothers, Tilly Ryan, Catherine Carter, Amor Brennan, Mia Ryan, Amber Mitchell, Sophie Jeude, Harry Burton, William Barwick, Joshua Barwick, Madeleine Hemmings, Archie Martin, Lachlan Fraser, Luke Elder, Ryan Elder, Lauren Ramage, Lyucian King-Togia, Ryan Ferguson, Lachlan Williams, Chelsea Butler, Brett Young, Maddison Pascoe, Samuel Luck, Brielle Haylock, Jessica MacDonald, Ethan Horrigan, Emily Griffiths, Travis Tia, Kaitlin Harms, Mia Marchant, Olivia Koehler, Lexi Kimpton, Jake Ogilvie, Kirra Utz, Cameron Bee, Shannon Larsen, Tarryn Mittelstadt, Blake Jacobson, Shiloh Parvainen, Harriet Gleeson, Philipa-Rose Simpkins, Zahra Manteit, Felicity Stephen, Noah Nothdurft, Imogen Mittelstadt, Kurt Clarke, Yolande Gordon, Cheyianna Earlery, Perry Anne Pacio, Mikaella Salvador, Deneze Catbagan, Molly Hartwig, Majella Stephen, Jorja Ellis, Emmason McIlveen, Bonnie McKay, Charlotte Wood, Georgia Bumstead, Shawnee King, Yolanda-Kate Baker, Charlotte Kelly, Jade Alderton, Mackenzie Wedrat, Claudia Child, Chloe Donaldson, Phoebe O’Connor, Eboni Jones, Amy Connellan, Beau Radke, Ty Clapperton, Anna Lilburne, Clare Griffiths, Charlotte Parvainen, Annabelle Taylor, Alexandra Lee and Lance Bondoc.

Best of luck to all exhibiting artists!

Art is made to be shown,

Mrs McArthur

Visual Art Teacher

Cucumber Sushi

2 Lebanese cucumbers

½ red capsicum

½ avocado

½ cup sushi rice cooked

1 tbs soy sauce to serve

Method

Finely slice capsicum and avocado

Cook the rice according to the packet instructions and let it cool

Cut each cucumber in half and use an apple corer to hollow out the centres.  You may need use paper towel and chopstick to dry the cavity so that the rice will stick better. 

Stuff about two teaspoons of cooked rice into the cavity then use a knife to press the rice to the sides to make way for the veggies.

Slide in a few slices of capsicum and avocado until the cavity is fully stuffed

Cut into slices and serve with soy sauce

Other fillings include tuna and carrot