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With learning back in full swing this week, our students have proven to us once again what a resilient bunch we have here at OLSCC. Children have a wonderful capacity to respond to the curve balls that life throws at us all – if only we let them. A parent’s first instinct is often to do all they can to smooth out life’s bumps for our children. Those bumps come in many forms. As students transition back to school life, they have experienced the busyness of the classroom that may have become a distant memory. Coupled with this, there has been a flurry of activity as teachers work to establish the next steps in the learning journey for each individual student in their care. Add this to reconnecting to the normal routines of any school day – have I packed my lunchbox? Waterbottle? Computer? Did I do my homework on time? Am I wearing my uniform correctly? Will I play soccer at lunch? Go to the library?
Each of these presents as challenges of varying degrees of severity to different students. Our goal at OLSCC is to have our students embrace these challenges and learn to thrive on them in order to work out “what to do when I don’t know what to do”! It is essential to develop these skills in the early years to succeed later in their schooling and beyond, in life. To do this, we must accept that sometimes our child needs to experience “being stuck” and not race in to rescue them. I have had many conversations with parents about this during the week. I encourage you to be courageous for your child – it will help to build skills to know that the next time they face a similar challenge, they have the strategies necessary to get through it. Your child will thank you for it later.
Katrina Walton
Assistant Principal Early Years
Our Year 10 and 12 students are entering a very important part of their Senior school journey. The Year 12 students will be exploring their pathway options post Year 12 and at school we will be helping them prepare for their all important QTAC entries. This year will be very different to previous years, and students will be completing the process of creating their QTAC account and ATAR accounts on 5 August. Prior to this happening, all Year 12 students will need to book a pathways meeting with Mrs Baxter through the College Office commencing the last week of Term 2 or the first, second or third week of Term 3. All students must have attended their pathways meeting prior to 4 August. Any Year 12 students applying for early round offers at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Central Queensland University or the University of Southern Queensland will also have to send through during that week as well. Students applying at Australian Catholic University can also do this through their CAPS program. Year 12 students need to see me about this as soon as possible.
Year 10 students and their parents will also need to book a pathways meeting with me and Mr Hodge will notify parents when this will start happening. At these meetings, we will discuss subject choices as well as opportunities that are available for Certificate courses and Apprenticeships or Traineeships.
University Open Days are going to look very different this year and, as I receive information, I will email it to students and send home the information through the College Newsletter. Below is the latest update from Griffith University.
Griffith University Update
Year 11-12 Parent and Student Information webinar
Back by popular demand! 0ur Year 11-12 Parent and Student Information webinar will be held on Tuesday, June 16 from 5.00- 7.00pm. For registration and further information please refer your parents and students to the following link griffith.edu.au/parent-student-info-webinars
The webinar will include;
- QTAC and Griffith Pathways presentations
- Online chat with Student advisors
Elite Athlete Webinar
Do you have any Elite Athletes at your school? This is a webinar designed especially for elite athlete looking to study at University. Hear how Griffith Sports College can help them to balance their sport and academic goals.
This online event designed specifically for students of years 10-12 and their families, will provide information on:
- Griffith University as the number one University in Australia for elite athlete support
- Sports scholarship opportunities for 2021
- Gaining entry to the Sports College post COVID-19, with limited competition during 2020
- Joining the almost 600 elite athletes already studying at Griffith Uni
Webinar Format
4.30-5.15pm Webinar Presentation (live)
5.15-6.00pm Q&A chat with staff and students
(Registration link to come)
NEW! Year 12 Scholarship
Our Scholarships department are working on a great new initiative especially for current year 12 students. There are 80 of these substantial scholarships available in this program, which is amazing. I will let you know as soon as they have been released.
Griffith OPEN DAY now Open House!
Due to the current restrictions, Open Day will not be moving to an online format. More information will be released shortly.
InspireED Event: QCE and Beyond Careers Expo
With all of the restrictions that are being placed on our communities at the moment, InspirED are bringin us a Virtual QCE & Beyond Careers Expo for all Year 10-12 students and parents.
Visit virtual booths from over 80 University and Higher Education providers and access faculty-specific information. Ask live questions or book a video chat with student advisors or book a video chat.
Find out more and register here.
- 17- 21 June
- QLD and NSW university representation along with QTAC & the QCAA
- Live presentations held throughout the event, along with on demand videos
- Including nine Year 12 ‘subject’ presentations
- Griffith will be available for online Chat throughout the event
Study at ACU Webinar Series
Join us online to have all your questions about studying at ACU answered. Get helpful advice on how to apply, find out more about non-traditional pathways to uni, explore study options and hear from students about what life is really like at ACU.
Ask an ACU Student Tuesday 16 June at 5.00pm
Placements and Internships with ACU Wednesday 15 July at 5.00pm
More sessions will be added in the coming months.
Talk with Industry Series
Join us for one of our Talk with Industry events, a series of webinar panel discussions featuring ACU graduates across a range of different professions. Get helpful advice and find out what it’s really like to work in your area of interest.
Join the webinars to:
- hear from ACU graduates about their work experiences
- get tips and advice for pursuing a career in your area of interest
Talk with Business and IT Professionals Tuesday 2 June at 5.00pm
Talk with Lawyers Wednesday 3 June at 5.00pm
Talk with Occupational Therapists and Speech Pathologists Wednesday 17 June at 5.00pm
Libby Baxter
Careers Development Practitioner
The features of the article this week are; The final week of online learning, Instrumental Music and what’s been happening in Drama.
I hope you find the videos interesting and if you have any questions please email me at neill.thacker@twb.catholic.edu.au
Neill Thacker
Middle Leader Arts and Culture
Charting a new course for kids post COVID-19
While we’ve been denied access during the COVID-19 pandemic to activities such as playing group sport, spending time in a café or meeting with friends, there’s been plenty of upside too.
Discussions with friends reveal that family life has been a big beneficiary from the physical distancing measures. Comments such as “It’s so good to slow down,” “I cherish the time I’m spending with my children,” and “I’m discovering the joy of having real conversations with my teenager” point to the positive side of getting off the family roundabout many of us have been on.
Though the restrictions placed on society are of course challenging, the imposed period of social isolation has provided an opportunity for parents to forge new habits that have potential to bring more joy and less stress to their children’s lives once the threat has subsided. Here are some ideas to consider while charting a new course for kids post COVID-19.
Significant personal hobbies
Our previous reliance on organised, adult-initiated activity to keep kids busy came at the expense of child-initiated hobbies and interests. The rise of personal digital entertainment and communication technology in recent years has also contributed to the demise of hands-on hobbies such as collecting, crafts and music.
The Scandinavians have long valued the positive impact of hobbies on a person’s wellbeing and quality of life. In turn they encourage (and in Sweden’s case heavily subsidise) the uptake of hobbies and personal interests from a very young age.
Personal learning centres
Experts agree that the future of work will be characterised by constant change, requiring workers to continually learn and upskill if they are to adapt. Our children will need to see themselves as continuous learners if they are to succeed in this uncertain future.
The home is a great place to plant this concept in young minds and there’s no better way to do this than establishing their own personal learning centre. Start small with a bean bag, a small book shelf and build from there. It’s the idea rather than the physical setting where the learning significance lays.
Mental health practices
This period in isolation has offered an opportunity to embed good mental health practices in children and young people. Three key health practices to continue include healthy eating, plenty of exercise and good sleep patterns. Add regular mindfulness practice, deep breathing and the opportunity to spend plenty of time in nature and you’ll be establishing a strong mental health and wellbeing framework for life.
Mix of alone and group activities
Life in social isolation has meant family members have had to compromise. Extroverts who love to be surrounded by people have had to give parents and siblings the space they need. Introverts who prefer their own company have been sharing their time, space and company with other family members. Post COVID-19, consider encouraging kids to experience a mixture of alone time, allowing for personal reflection and family time, which promotes family connection. Both are essential for healthy wellbeing.
Deep eldership connection
Increased one-on-one time between parents and kids has been a positive side effect of life in social isolation. The opportunity for parents to connect with children and young people with greater depth and meaning is a return to eldership, practised by past generations. Eldership, where parents shared their wisdom and their vulnerabilities with young people, when combined with healthy rites of passage is a time-honoured way of preparing young people for adulthood.
This period of social isolation has provided a rare opportunity for parents to renew and refresh their children’s lifestyles, and in some circumstances, reboot family lives as well. It would be a waste to climb back on the busy roundabout of life once the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, without making some positive changes to the way we live.
By Michael Grose
Founder Parenting Ideas
In August every year, schools are required to submit information for the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) for School Students with Disabilities. The NCCD counts the number of school students receiving an adjustment or help due to a disability and counts the level of adjustment they are receiving to access education on the same basis as other students. Parents who would like to know more about the NCCD are encouraged to read the flyer via the link below.
Monday 15 June 2020
Twilight College Tours
Tour 1: - 4:00 – 4:45 pm (capped at 20 people – with current restrictions)
Tour 2: - 4:45 – 5:30pm (capped at 20 people – with current restrictions)
Parents / Carers that have previously enquired are invited to attend one of our tours. Please contact the College Office on 4672 4111 to make a booking.
Tuckshop News
Please be reminded that orders for Flexischools must be in by the cut off time of 8:30am each morning.
