A few weeks ago, Mr Cuskelly asked me to put at the very top of our Newsletter, a 'What's On' article to keep everyone up to date with our College events. Well, there's not much on so I've bumped it down to article number two and this takes the top of our Newsletter this week. I hope that I can continue to publish a Southern Cross Connection regularly to keep us all connected and to provide good news stories of how our students are learning and dealing with the challenges facing us today and for the foreseeable future. If your child is doing something they would like to share with us, please email me at Sarah.Lilburne@twb.catholic.edu.au

Today, Mrs Patterson's Year 8 students have made a world wide web wall on the end of Yellow block which symbolises how we can all link together to get through this chapter of our lives. The students created this ‘web’ as a way of expressing the importance of keeping in touch with the people they would most miss if they are not able to see them, hug them or hang out with them for an extended period of time. The students traced around their hands and then wrote the names of those people on the hands. The hands are spread out indicating ‘social distancing’,  joined together with string combining the ideas of reaching out and staying connected through the world wide web – which also represents their world in which we are all in this together.

Check out the calendar below to keep up to date with what is happening in the next two weeks at OLSCC. It's really not much but here it is anyway! A full calendar of events can be found by clicking here.

PUPIL FREE DAYS 2020

Monday 30 March to Friday 3 April
Friday 26 June
Friday 31 July - Bishop's Inservice Day
Friday 4 September - CTJ Day
Friday 18 September

What an amazing turnaround we have had since our last newsletter!  We have transitioned from a College of over 600 students to one with under 40 students on a daily basis.  This has been a remarkable challenge, though the engagement of our staff throughout this period has been amazing.  Further in in this newsletter you will see some amazing updates regarding remote learning from learners in each sector, which is just wonderful to see.  The feedback we have received from our community has been extremely positive and we thank parents and carers for their efforts in continuing the education of their children at this time.

You will have noted the release of the first version of Remote Learning @OLSCC last week in our regular updates.  The world of remote learning is spinning so fast that you can expect an update of this (version 2.0) prior to the holidays.  Throughout the experience of engaging in Remote Learning this week we are finding new ways, different ways and better ways to do remote learning and as such this will constantly evolve over the coming months.  As mentioned yesterday, Remote Learning @OLSCC is our new normal until we are directed otherwise, and we are planning for this to occur for at least Term 2. If you have not yet read Remote Learning @OLSCC, I encourage you to do so, so you have a common understanding of what this looks like at OLSCC, and keep an eye on the website after the holidays with more information for parents and version 2.0 of Remote Learning @OLSCC.

Amongst this madness of change in our community, I again ask our community to think and act in ways aligned to our Catholic beliefs. Of critical importance we must give more than we expect to receive, take only what we need, heighten our social connection using technology, carrier pigeon or the good old fashioned letter, and consider ways in which we can help the most vulnerable at this time. Please take the time to check in on grandparents in your street and do the shop for them, don’t take your kids to the shops with you, keep your social distance and use technology for your social catch-ups.  My siblings, parents and I had a catch up on Sunday night on Facetime, while the kids all hung out on Zoom in their playspaces.  It was great to catch up with everyone and really not that different to a face-to-face conversation!  And like always, what was planned for half an hour quickly blew out to much longer.

Have a fantastic last week of term and enjoy your socially isolated holidays!

Peter Cuskelly

Principal

Together we pray for the Lord’s support and guidance in this time of turmoil and uncertainty: 

In this challenging time Lord Jesus Christ, our true physician and healer, be merciful to us and bring us your aid in these troubled times. 

Heal all our sickness and every affliction of your people. Drive out our infirmities of soul and body; free us from all disease and especially from this pestilence. 

We place in your gentle Heart the elderly, the frail, people with disability, children, young people and families, our indigenous peoples, those who are poor, lonely and isolated. 

As you walk with us, free them from fear, and give them patience and hope together with our loving care. 

In your mercy deal also with the causes of our pitiful condition, that in curing our lack of faith and spiritual weakness, you may also remedy our bodily ills. 

We place our trust in you, the risen Lord, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen 

Mass Celebrations Suspended 

With mass celebrations suspended until 1 May and churches throughout the world closed to parishioners, it is important that we spend time in personal prayer.  We pray with many others throughout the world in solidarity.  Easter is normally a time filled with ritual and tradition in our parish.  I would encourage families to access our Diocesan website to access online Mass services and resources to lead prayer in your homes and with your families at this time. 

https://www.twb.catholic.org.au/coronavirus-response-resources/ 

Share the Easter story with your family.  There are many online resources on the Easter Story but make sure you focus on the key events in the best resource of all the Bible. 

Students in Year 7-12 have access to Holy Week prayers in their LYF Course suitable for the whole family. 

Cate Brennan

Deputy Principal Middle Years

TAWONGA FROM MALAWI

Tawonga is a 10-year-old girl, living with a disability. She lives in a village in northern Malawi in a region plagued by food insecurity and poverty. For most of her life, her parents have struggled to put meals on the table. Tawonga often had to miss school because she was too sick from hunger. The family also faced discrimination in their community due to her disability. 

Since participating in a Caritas Australia supported program, Tawonga’s life has transformed. Her family now grows enough food to provide three meals a day, ending the struggle of malnutrition, and helping her thrive at school. 

Tawonga, whose name means ‘thank you’, says her community is blessed with many resources, like rivers, fertile soil and hills. However, with dry spells followed by floods, armyworm infestations and crop failures, her parents struggled to make a living. 

In 2016, Tawonga’s parents heard about the A+ program run by Caritas Australia’s partner, CADECOM (Catholic Development Commission in Malawi). They learned irrigation farming and were given fertiliser and high-yield seeds. With these new techniques, their production of crops almost tripled. 

With your help, this transformational program can continue to empower vulnerable women, men and children, and strengthen the communities around them. Let’s Go Further, Together.

“It gives me hope that I will finish my education,” Tawonga says. “My community now understands that my living with a disability is not inability. Although I sometimes face discrimination, most of the community has realised my value as a person.”

Remote Learning @ OLSCC is here and it is great to see so many of the Middle Years students engaging in this new and exciting form of education. All Middle Years students have been enrolled in the MYCASE Canvas page. This is a place for students to interact with their CASE Managers as well as access information, updates, tips/tricks and competitions that we will be running for the MY Students. The MYCASE homepage has a number of images, many with clickable links, to resources and videos that will assist students while they are Remote Learning. Below are some examples.

Battle of the Bots is an Art competition that will run and close on 17 April. Students can enter the competition by simply contacting Mr Cullen via email and submitting a photo of them and their work. Click on the Battle of the Bots image on the Canvas page for more information.

It is important that student continue to connect with their CASE Managers during this period of Remote Learning. Students will be connecting in a mixture of student conferences (group sessions) and individual check-ins. If there are any issues with the subject work, the protocol is still to contact the specific classroom teacher. 

Craig Cullen

Assistant Principal Middle Years

In spite of the fact that we are in challenging times for education, there is much positivity throughout the Early Years regarding the new skills and proficiencies we are all developing at this time. This week, all Early Years students should have begun working through the Home Resource Kits that have been provided. It is important to note that remote learning will look different for Term 2 as we progress to more use of digital platforms, primarily email and our school wide learning management system called 'Canvas'. Whilst those of you with children in older year levels will already be familiar with Canvas, it is a new learning journey for many of us!  

Whilst we have used Class Dojo extensively in the past, we are only able to use this as a quick messaging platform due to concerns regarding data breaches as the storage system is offshore. This has necessitated the fast tracking of our implementation of Canvas and increased use of email. Please be sure to keep a close eye on emails as this will be a primary mode of correspondence regarding your student's learning, including details of how and when to log on to the various platforms used. These emails have begun this week and you will receive several over the next few days, and weekly telephone check-ins will also be occurring.  

Teachers will be in regular contact to ensure our students remain connected and well supported through this period. We are endeavouring to provide a variety of opportunities to bring students 'together' virtually as small groups and as a class, using Zoom. Being new territory for us all, it is likely that we will have some teething problems and we ask for your patience if things do not go as smoothly as anticipated on our first attempts as we navigate this new normal. It is new for all of us. The key to our success will be in the strength of our communication. If at any time you are unsure, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher, preferably by email in the first instance. 

Next week our teachers will be offline as we move into the holiday period, just as they would in any normal situation. There is no expectation for your child to be engaging in any schoolwork during this period and teachers will not be providing any learning for this time. Our teachers also need a break and I have specifically requested that they do take time out to care for themselves and their families. As such I kindly ask that you do not email them during the break period to request work to be made available.  

Katrina Walton

Assistant Principal Middle Years

Cross Country

The Prep – Under 11 Cross Country will not be held on Wednesday 1 April as previously advertised. A decision will be made early next term as to whether the event will be postponed or cancelled for 2020.

Touch Football

At this stage the QLD All Schools Touch Football Carnival in October is still going ahead as planned as this event is over six months away. The Under 15 Girls and the Under 18 Mixed Teams have been selected for this carnival. An Under 15 Boys team will be attending but is yet to be finalised. Boys wishing to be part of this team need to email Mr Lincoln. The College is also hoping to implement the “QLD Touch Performance Academy Program” late in Term 3.

QISSRL /QISSN / Confraternity Shield

Unfortunately, the QISSRL/QISSN Rugby League and Netball Carnivals which were to be held in the June / July school holidays have been cancelled. Students selected in these teams will have the opportunity to buy a training shirt and have been emailed the details of this. A huge thanks to Mr Gillespie and Miss Belonogoff for their efforts in training our teams at 7.00am on Monday mornings since Term 4 last year. A decision will be made later in the year about whether the 2021 carnival will be held in Mackay as previously announced or will stay in Brisbane as a make up for the 2020 cancellation.

Representative School Sport

All Bunya District / Inner Downs / Darling Downs and QLD School Sport Events have been cancelled until further notice. All National School Sport Championships have been cancelled for 2020.

Tim Lincoln

Middle Leader Sport

Term 1 has seen an exciting start to music at the College. Some examples of this include:

• Preparations are in place to have live music being performed at assemblies, including featured performances; the school song  and national anthem being performed by student musicians – LIVE!
• The Concert Band has been reinvigorated by Mrs. Baxter and has many new members from beginners to more experienced musicians. The are looking forward to their first assembly performance later this year, performing an Australian piece by composer Brian West
• Instrumental lessons started with excitement and enthusiasm with students learning piano, voice, brass, woodwind, percussion and guitar with Mr. Dore, Mrs. Baxter and Mr. Thacker
• A new ensemble is in our midst with students learning the guitar, preparing to start the newly created Guitar Ensemble performing classics from AC DC, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Cold Play
• Our Contemporary Vocal Ensemble under the direction of Mrs. Baxter performed at the opening service
• Students performing for their peers during classroom music lessons

Even though many events have been postponed or cancelled at the moment, students are still practising and preparing at home for the days in the future when we can continue to take music at OLSCC to new heights.

I am excited to be a part of the team at OLSCC and look forward to an exciting year of music making.

Neill Thacker

Middle Leader of Arts and Culture

Before the end of the official term, I will be sending a Canvas invite to all students in Years 9 -12 for the new Careers and Pathways page. I want students to use this in the first instance if they are away from the College for an extended period.  As always, both students and parents can always email me with questions, and I will respond as quickly as possible. I will also be posting announcements on the Home page in relation to Apprenticeships / Traineeships and TAFE as they come through to me.

I understand that students involved in this kind of training maybe feeling anxious about completion and training, however if you have access to an online learning platform for your course, please continue to access that. I ask that if you are emailing questions or modules of work to your trainer during this time that you cc me, Mrs Baxter into your email so that you have a virtual paper trail. This is a protection for students during this time.

Th page also has two resume templates, one for Year 9 and 10 and one for Year 11 and 12, that students can access. Please email me the completed resume if you need it to be checked. If you are including staff as a referee, please make sure that you have sought permission from the staff member mentioned before putting them into the resume. A reminder that it is not appropriate to place a family member on your resume as a referee.

I really hope that students find this a useful resource especially in these uncertain times. I welcome any comments and suggestions from parents and students about the content of the page and I will do my best to consider and change things if needed.

Libby Baxter 

College Careers Practitioner

The Mini Vinnies team would like to thank everybody who has in some way supported this years Easter Egg Raffle. Your support is truly appreciated as we know the difficult times everybody is experiencing. Congratulations to the follow people on being this year's raffle winners. You can collect your prizes from the Library before this Thursday.

1. Lachlan Fraser 5T
2. Trudy Smith Prep Blue
3. Harriet Martin 3HB
4. Ryan Welsh 12B
5. Charlie Johansen 7B
6. Henry Stephens 6KT
7. Sienna Bundy 3S
8. Ella Hayward 4C
9. Maxine Hetherington
10. Amber Mitchell 5C
11. Andrew Peterson
12. Charlotte Bennie 5C
13. Matilda Kahler 1B
14. Claire Davison 5T
15. Flynn Zillman 3HB
16. William Hemmings 3HB
17. Elder Family
18. Bridie Rush 7A
19. Chloe Donaldson 10A
20. Joanne Bourne
21. Mia Ryan 5C
22. Elder Family
23. Jacinda Smith 5T
24. Amy Stevens
25. Neville Walton
26. Lexie Forbes 3S
27. Ellie Nutter 3HB
28. Kate Jeude 2M
29. Olivia Ham 6C
30. Jake Griffiths 5T
31. Heidi Reed 6C
32. Hamish Colquhoun 7C
33. Felix Twidale 3HB
34. Charlie Boland 9B
35. Chloe Manteit 7B
36. Mary Nevell 1D
37. Milla Barnett 3HB

Enjoy the Easter Season

Some of the students from the Early Years joined in with Mrs Garside to sing the song, Mr Clickety Cane, Wash Your Face in Orange Juice. Please enjoy!

Mrs Biggar has been behind the lens at some of the Rugby Leagues matches held this term including the Inter College match up and the games against Dalby State High School a couple of weeks ago. Here are a couple of galleries of photos from those games.

Intra College Game

Under 15 and Open against Dalby State High School

Annabelle Walker from 1B had her first day at home last week and we are planning to isolate for the foreseeable future! This has been a very big, stressful decision but one we needed to make with my health issues in mind.

I hadn’t had time to look over the home resources pack, so we enjoyed games together, some physical activity in the form of singing and dancing, said our prayers to keep our friends safe and well, ABC reading eggs, independent play time and some reading together. 

We also decided to go for a drive for some fresh air and see what is happening outside the house. We discovered some traffic lights weren’t working and police had to direct traffic. Once we came home we did some story writing to draw and colour a picture to document what we saw! 

It was a wonderful first day and while we both would have liked her being at her beloved school with Miss Black providing amazing education - we are so blessed to have a school that provides so much support through these difficult times! 

Thank you for all you are doing and please stay well! 

Regards

Chris, Melinda and Annabelle Walker 

Who thought this could be so much fun?  It is new and exciting. When my parents told me I would be starting remote learning, I had mixed emotions. Would I see my friends? Yes! Would I be missing out on learning? Definitely not! 

Yesterday (first day) I connected via ‘Teams’ with friends also at home, friends at school and Mr Lincoln. This technology is awesome! I also received my Science assessment result via Canvas and so excited it was an ‘A’. I still get to play Handball, it’s just with different competitors Mum, Olivia, Hugo and a lot of interference from Gilbert and Digga (dog)!!! Mum has set boundaries that we must get changed out of PJ’s, no TV during school hours and the kitchen only opens at break times.

Tiffany Ham - Year 7

Year 12 students went to the St Joseph's Parish in Week 8 undertaking brassware cleaning of a range of items used in various services. Students went to the Parish during Praxis with Mrs McArthur and learnt the fine art of brassware cleaning and polishing. It was messy work that required quite a bit of elbow grease. The Parish members were pleased with the efforts of the students and sent in a bag of goodies including chocolates and prayer cards to the school as a thank you. A good effort by all involved. 

The Year 12 Food and Nutrition class had Homestyle Bake deliver a range of their products to use as samples for their upcoming assessment yesterday. For their task they need to generate a new product in their single serve carbohydrate product range that is inline with current eating trends ie using alternative sources of sugar (honey, maple syrup etc instead of refined sugar) or increasing the resistant starch (to improve gut and intestinal health). Homestyle Bake delivered a range of products for the students to taste, free of charge. We are very appreciative of the support from Homestyle Bake for this task.

The brave Year 11 Agricultural Science students, Tia Morgan and Millie Mead took part in a ruminant digestive system dissection practical last week. They learnt about the anatomy of the 4 stomachs that are part of ruminant animals such as sheep and cattle. They took their findings from the practical to the classroom where they then studied the physiology of these anatomical structures. They learnt about the 4 stomachs role in digestion and how they convert the plant material the animals eat into protein. Well done girls!

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. 

Tuckshop News

Please be reminded that orders for Flexischools must be in by the cut off time of 8:30am each morning.