The Dalby Relay for Life took place at the Dalby Showgrounds over the weekend and from our College, 56 students were registered making up 6 teams. The Showgrounds looked like tent city and the College camp was well organised with beds made before the first lap began.

This year, our teams were also made up of many Year 7 and 8 students and all the participants were outstanding in their behaviour and also their dedication to keep their team going for the entire 18 hours, some walking for five hour stints.

As the Relay commenced, Kurtis Sankey from the Dalby Pipe Band helped to get the crowd going with some bagpipe tunes and during the event, past and present students including Lachlan Malone and Jean Tia provided some musical entertainment.

Our College has raised well in excess of $1600 for the Dalby Relay with some donations still coming in. In total, the Dalby Relay hopes to raise $38,000 to donate to the Cancer Council and we are very proud of our contribution via the funds raised and also the effort and commitment of our students.

A huge thank you goes to Ms Rea and the other staff who supervised and encouraged the students throughout the entire event. Well Done!

QCAA Visit

On Tuesday afternoon we were honoured to host the CEO, Mr Chris Rider, and Director of Assessment and Reporting, Mr Claude Jones,  from QCAA (Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority) for a discussion regarding our progress in the implementation of the new senior assessment system starting with Year 11 in 2019.  We discovered we are well on our way to being prepared and had many of our questions answered by the 2 most senior leaders in the state.  Our magnificent senior staff attended voluntarily and engaged in rigorous and challenging discussions about the changes, and demonstrated their depth of understanding in doing so.  It was an added benefit that Chris Rider is a past student of both St Columba’s and St Mary’s and it was great to hear some stories of yesteryear and present him with his OLSCC keyring with his enrolment number – 997 – engraved. Along with Mr Tony Cook (Director General - Department of Education and Training) it seems our past students are essentially running the state in regards to the future of education and the education of our future, our students.

Visible Learning Visit

We have determined the specifications for the 1 to 1 laptop roll out for next year and are currently deciding on the specific model that we will roll out from Years 7-12 in 2019.  We have recently gained access to Canvas, our Learning Management System (LMS) and are working with the financing and installation of classroom technology that supports digital pedagogies.  This is a very exciting time for the College as we progress teaching and learning in a manner that gives our graduates the advantage they need to become entrepreneurs of the future.  We are currently working on costings for the laptops, though expect that we will be deploying laptops that will cost around $300 per year per student ($900 total over the 3 years).  The specifications of this machine will match that of our staff machines and will be more than capable of running the software requirements for all subjects.  There are many details that need to be clarified relating to this roll out, and this will come as a complete package next term when everything is finalised.

Peter Cuskelly

Principal

This week our focus Virtue is Transcendence and the Character Strength is Gratitude.  Take time this week to pause and be grateful for your family, your children, the place in which live, the beauty of nature around us and so many more things. 

Thank you, God, for giving me another day to become a better individual, another chance to give and experience love.  

Thank you, God, for giving me health, for the food you provide, for the awareness you have awoken in me.  

Thank you for the energy that feeds my soul, the sun that warms our bodies and the air that fills our lungs.  

Because of you I believe in believing.  

My source, stay connected to me today and always, for I need you in order to fulfil my spiritual tasks.  

Keep us all close to you and listen to our prayers.  

Amen. 

INTERESTING FACT ABOUT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 

As well as education the Catholic Church does amazing work in Health.  The Catholic Church supports 77 hospitals in Australia providing 10500 beds (12% of all hospital beds). 

(facts compiled by Rev Dr Richard Leonard SJ) 

LOST PROPERTY 

The amount of unnamed Lost Property at the College is growing each week as it warms up.  Please check the Lost Property Box on the Junior Blue wing for any unnamed items that may belong to you, before Monday next week.  All unclaimed, unnamed lost property will be put up for sale next Tuesday afternoon in the MPC at unbelievable prices.   

Cate Brennan

Assistant Principal Mission

Junior

Netball

Best of luck to the Year 5/6 Girls Netball Team who will attend the QLD Samsung Netball Cup in Bundaberg this weekend. This is massive effort for all families to attend this carnival. Thanks to Erin Pascoe for coaching our team.

Aquathlon

Any students born in 2007/2008 who would like to attend Darling Downs Aquathlon Trials next term please see Mr Lincoln for more information. The aquathlon consists of a 1km run, 200m swim, followed by another 1km run. Students need to be able to comfortably swim the 200m to attend.

Senior

Futsal

Any students Born in 2006 or 2005 who wish to attend Darling Downs Futsal Trials please see Mr Lincoln for more information.

QLD All Schools Touch Football Carnival

Version 2 of the QLD All Schools Touch Football Draw has been released and placed on the Sports Notice Board. At this stage all games are on Thursday Friday and Saturday (October 11-14) with finals only on Sunday.

Water Polo

Any Boys or Girls interested in attending Darling Downs Water Polo Trials for 2019 please see Mr Lincoln for more information. Students must be born between 2002 – 2006 and be enrolled at school next year.

Triathlon

Any Boys or Girls interested in attending Darling Downs Triathlon Trials for 2019 please see Mr Lincoln for more information. Students must be born between 2002 – 2006 and be enrolled at school next year.

Rugby Sevens

Best of luck to our Under 16 Boys, Under 16 Girls and Open Boys Teams who will attend the Scots College Sevens Carnival in Warwick on Saturday. The bus will leave the College at 6.00am.

Netball

Best of luck to the Unde15 Girls who will compete in the Junior Vicki Wilson Cup Carnival in Toowoomba on Sunday. Many girls will be backing up from Rugby on Saturday which is a great effort and commitment to College Sport.

Touch Football

The Under 15 Girls and Open Mixed Teams have trial games against Chinchilla SHS this Friday afternoon at 2.40pm and 3.10pm at the Dalby Touch Fields.

Tim Lincoln

Sports Coordinator

It has been a busy few weeks for our Senior students and with the end of Term approaching, all students are busy finalising assessments and studying for exams.

Our Year 12 students recently sat the Queensland Core Skills (QCS) test which takes place over four sessions on two consecutive days and, as is the tradition, the College provides a cooked breakfast on both mornings and lunch throughout the day. This tradition and gesture to our Year 12 students is something we are very proud of and this potentially stressful occasion is made more enjoyable with a healthy, hearty breakfast to start the day.

Members of the Presbyterian Church provided pamper packs or bags to the Year 12 students to help them through their QCS testing period and these bags were most appreciated by our students. The packs included some fantastic items such as a book by Bear Grylls, an author and adventurer who encourages bravery, being unafraid and ready for anything. We send out a very big thank you to the Presbyterian Church group for their generosity and care of our Year 12 students as they tackled their QCS tests.

Year 11 students have recently commenced an 11 week pilot program on driver education and life skills around driving which is being hosted by the PCYC. The students attend one session each week and they recently learned about the practical skills of changing tyres, checking the oil and water in the engine and how to maintain a sound motor vehicle. The students also attended the Road Awareness Program (RAP) session delivered by the local fire fighters which gave an honest insight into their experience attending road accidents and some of the confronting scenes they experience.

As we find ourselves at the end of Week 9, we wish all our Senior students well with their end of Term assessments and exams.

The Dos and Don’ts when Supporting Young Girls Through Friendship Fires

Helping young girls deal with the rollercoaster world of friendship can sometimes be complicated, overwhelming, frustrating, exhausting…or all of the above. As parents and educators, we often wonder if we’re giving the right advice. Here are a few basic tips to coach the tween girl in your life through what GirlPower calls, “Friendship Fires.”

Do not say “Just ignore her!” As much as you’d like her to ignore the other girl, she can’t.
Do ask, “Did you stand up for yourself?” Impress upon her the importance of confronting the Fire and standing up for herself.

Do not say, “She’s just jealous!” This statement offers no comfort or tools for putting out the Fire.
Do say, “You can only control one person – and that’s YOU! What can you do to make this situation better?” Take the focus off the other girl and put the power back in her hands.

Do not say, “You are not allowed to be her friend anymore!” She will resent this demand.
Do explain to her that sometimes creating some distance and taking time ‘off’ is all friends need to improve the friendship. If she has not confronted the Fire, role-play with her so she can practice. Encourage her to do things she loves.

Do not say, “This just something all girls must go through!” This statement tells a girl she must suffer through and she is helpless. We cannot normalize the behaviours of “mean girls”.
Do say, “You do not or should not be friends with someone who makes you feel bad. Surround yourself with good friends!” Let her know that she is in control of her life and trust and respect are ‘must haves’ when it comes to friendship!

Do not get emotionally invested. If you’re a parent, do not call the other girl’s parents or storm into the school expecting someone to consequence the other girl. The reality is they might be back to “Besties by tomorrow! Do, instead, ask her what you can do to help. Just being supportive might be enough.

Empathize. Hug. Listen. Share your experiences. Leave her little notes in her lunchbox. Tell her she can get through this. Let her know she’s not alone. Show her LOVE.

Written by Dana Kerford
Friendship Expert and Founder of GirlPower & GoodGuys

If you require the College to administer medication to your child at school during the day, the following steps are required:

Prescribed medication from a doctor, dentist or optometrist but NOT a pharmacist

• Medication must be labelled with prescribing practitioners name on the label
• Administration of Medication form must be provided (available from the College Office)

Non-prescribed medication including any over the counter (OTC) medications such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, antihistamines, eye drops or skin creams

• Medical authorization in the form of a letter from the doctor, dentist or optometrist must be provided
• Medication must be labelled by a pharmacist
• OTC medication can be prescribed by a doctor, dentist or optometrist and include the practitioners name on the label in which case a letter from the practitioner is not required
• Administration of Medication form must be provided (available from the College Office)

All medication for students in Prep to Year 6 including OTC medication is to be administered by the College First Aid personnel at the College Office.

Students in Year 3 or below are required to have asthma puffers kept at the College Office to be administered by the College First Aid personnel

Students in Year 4 to 6 are permitted to self-administer Ventolin at the discretion of parents

Students in Year 7 to 12 are permitted to self-administer medications (EXCEPT Controlled Schedule 8 drugs) at their parents discretion.

For camps and excursions, the same rules apply and NO staff member is permitted to administer any medication to any student unless there is medical authorisation either via a letter from a practitioner or a practitioners name on the medication label and the associated Administration of Medications form from the College. Students in Year 7 to 12 are permitted to self-administer medications (EXCEPT Controlled Schedule 8 drugs) at their parents discretion. In the case of a student becoming ill, no medication will be administered to any child unless medical authorisation is sought.

* "at their parents discretion" means that parents have approved for their child to self administer medication and as such, have determined that the College has no responsibility for the management of their child's medical condition and subsequent administration of medication.

Paramedic Science

We are very grateful to Beccy for giving up her time to speak with our students and she has offfered her time to mentor some of our seniors who are considering this pathway next year.

Sign Up for Lytana

We would like to congratulate another student, Lytana King on his recent sign up to a School Based Apprenticeship.

Lytana has commenced a Certificate III in Carpentry with Supa Constructions. Lytana is pictured here with Ted Storey from Supa Construcations who would would like to thank for providing this opportunity to Lytana.

We would like to acknowledge and thank our Major Sponsors, Shine Lawyers, Milli and Robe, Dalby Herald, Golding Air Conditioning, The Criterion Hotel, HEQ Services, SNAP and Urban Paddock. We also thank our Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsors who are listed below.

The Saints Race Day Committee worked extremely hard to provide a stunning atmosphere in the Marquee and around the track and the fun and laughter continued right throughout the day. The raffle was drawn and the live auction generated some keen bidding from the crowd for an incredible array of prizes that were generously donated by our sponsors.

A huge thank you also to Ange Strling who has allowed us access to her stunning images from the day.  Please enjoy this beautiful gallery of Ange's images.

CAPS FOR SALE

College Caps are available for $15 from the College Office. Students are able to wear these caps at certain sports events (eg Touch, Tennis, XC, Cricket). They are not to be worn instead of the College hat at lunchtime. Click on the link button to check out the desing from ZOO Sport.

UNIFORM SHOP NEWS

Please note, there has been an increase in the uniform prices which will be effective from 1 September 2018. Click on the link button for the new price list.

TUCKSHOP ROSTER

***Please Note*** Some minor changes have been made to the Flexischools online tuckshop menu. Thanks to all the families and students who are utilising this convenient tool for ordering daily tuckshop.