Year 12 External Assessments

We are in the second week of the first ever External Assessments for our Year 12 students.  I must say that I am very proud of how the students have approached the exams, as well the work done by staff in best preparing them to be able to put their best foot forward in this very critical moment.  There has been much feedback around the state in regards to the difficulty of the assessments in various subjects, though we continue to emphasise to all students that they must focus on doing their best for the whole time they have available to them in every examination.  I eagerly anticipate the feedback from our current Year 12s for our other high schoolers in giving tips to best prepare themselves for success in this period.  

Students on Campus before 8:00am

Students are not to be on campus prior to 8:00am for any reason or purpose other than a planned, supervised activity such as netball training.  At present we have far too many students arriving prior to 8:00am, and an extraordinary amount here before the start of supervision at 8:30am.  Please be mindful that you, as parents are responsible for your children until supervision begins at the College at 8:30am.  This is an issue of concern which we will monitor over coming weeks.  Please be responsible and maintain duty of your children until 8:30am and if unable, make arrangements outside of the school to ensure this takes place.

Shooting Stars

Our transition to Prep program is excellent and I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Shooting Stars on Mondays and Thursdays in recent months.  Mrs Morrison and Mrs Clarke do an amazing job transitioning students and spending time supporting their learning and social skills.  We are greatly looking forward to Up Day on 26 Novmeber as well as the parent information the evening before.  A letter is on its way to all families of 2021 Prep students to outline the events leading up to the end of the year, as well as information on class allocation. It’s at this time of the year when the children are so eager to get Kindy out of the way and get to big school, though there is still so much to learn and celebrate at Kindy. 

Up Day

Thursday 26November is Up Day where all 2021 students will spend a day in their 2021 life and timetable.  This is a great chance for students and teachers to begin building relationships as well as understand the routines, expectations and curriculum in the next year level.  For some, there will be a shift in technology use, play spaces, where to keep personal possessions, lockers, teachers and much more.  This day not only assists in transition for the next year, but also plays a significant role in the wellbeing of every student in their understanding of the year before them.  More finite details for parents and students will be in the next newsletter.

Class Lists

Our class lists are a little delayed as we work very hard to get them right before sending them out. At this point in time I am not entirely happy with the lists, though expect that they will be sent via email to all parents (with the correct details recorded at the College), as well as placed on the walls for students to see. 

Peter Cuskelly

Principal

As the days slips by and we pass the half way mark of the term, I find myself balancing all the hours of the day.  I know I am not alone in this as our students balance, school, home recreation and even work commitments each week.  So this week we offer a prayer to God for his support in these ‘busy’ times: 

Lord, I need Your wisdom regarding my time management.  

Make me a wise manager of my time, and strengthen me to make choices that honor You, that lead me closer to You, and that reflect Your love to the world.  

Teach me to be intentional with the choices I make and the activities I’m involved in.  

Make me aware of poor choices and lead me to a better way.  

Strengthen my faith in You and give me discernment about things that will cause me harm. My loyalty is to You, Lord, and to You I surrender my time.  

I am in constant need of Your wisdom and guidance in every area of my life.  

Reveal to me Your plan for this day, show me what You would have me do, and give me the courage to do it. 

 Lead me clearly as I follow You boldly. 

Amen  

Mini Vinnies Christmas Appeal 

A letter was emailed home to all families last week in regards to our annual Mini Vinnies Christmas Appeal.  Christmas is a difficult time for families within our community and this is one way we can assist St Vincent de Paul to support them.  Your generosity each year with this appeal is wonderful and we look forward to presenting numerous hampers again this year. 

End of Year events 

We are in initial stages of planning of end of year events.  With COVID guidelines, the format of many of these events will change.  As more details become available we will update families. 

Awards Ceremony – Wednesday 18 November – students only 

Graduation Mass – Friday 20 November – Yr 12 students and their families only (limited to 3 members per student) 

Christmas Carols – Friday 27 November 6:00pm-8:00pm College families

Cate Brennan

Deputy Principal Religious Education 

As we approach the midpoint of this final term, the classrooms are a ball of energy and activity. This is a great time for all families to review the letter sent home at the beginning of term outlining what your children would be covering in each Key Learning Area. With this knowledge onboard, it is easy to start and guide conversations about your child’s learning. Some ways to progress the conversation could include:

• What are you learning?
• How do you know what you are learning?
• How well are you going? What do you have to do to be successful?
• What do you do if you get stuck, or don’t know what to do?

Hopefully, by using these prompts, your children will be able to use the language of their classroom learning intentions, the success criteria, and the use of the 5 B’s (brain, book, board, buddy, boss) to guide them through the learning pit. These family conversations are an essential part of your child’s educational journey, helping them to reflect and review their learning. Most importantly, these conversations are a way of ‘telling your children’ that you value their education.

It has been fabulous to see some activities returning to our regular schedule, albeit in a slightly different format to what we were used to pre-COVID. The Prep students enjoyed an excursion to St Joseph’s Catholic Church recently, and the Year 1 students are giving the College coach a workout over the next few weeks, with visits to the Empire Theatre in Toowoomba and the Post Office here in Dalby. We are grateful to have this wonderful resource at our fingertips to make it easier for us to facilitate these learning experiences.

Katrina Walton

Assistant Principal Early Years

The Business of Being a Learner

Last week I organised a listening forum for a number of our Year 9-12 students to provide an opportunity for their voices to be heard regarding their learning in the Senior Years. Mr Paul Herbert, acting Senior Education Leader at Toowoomba Catholic School led the forum. There was an overwhelming demonstration that this group of Senior Years students were able to reflect on their strengths as learners and the learning environment in which they would like to see at the College.

Knowing your strengths and weaknesses in all part of the business of being a learner. At our recent Senior Years assembly, the following slide was shown as a snapshot of the elements which go into being a learner at OLSCC. These elements include:

• Our College Learning Dispositions
• The Learning Pit
• The qualities of an assessment capable leaner
• Having a growth mindset

For a student in the Senior Years, it is very clear what needs to be prioritised to develop as a successful learner. The more capable that students become as learners by focusing on these elements, the more they continue to grow as young people who are on track to have significant success in their post-schooling endeavours. This success will be regardless of their pathway – tertiary, employment, further training – as they will be prepared for the challenges of life after school. However, it is our task as educators to continue to support our students to be able to identify the areas that are their strengths and the areas to grow.

With a continued focus on our learning dispositions, learning pit and assessment capability, all approached with a growth mindset, the business of learning in the Senior Years will continue to flourish. I encourage all parents to have a discussion with their child regarding how they are developing as a learner. Sharrat & Fullan, 2020, offer the following five questions that parents could ask their child to assist in this conversation:

What are you learning?

How well are you going?

How do you know?

How can you improve?

Where will you go for help?

If your child is unable to answer these questions, I encourage you to contact their teachers.

Matt Hodge

Assistant Principal Senior Years

Early Years Swimming Carnival

Year 1-3 students born in 2014, 2013, 2012 will attend the Early Years Swimming Carnival on Friday 27 November at the Dalby Aquatic Centre. Nomination forms have been sent home with students and need to be returned by Friday 13 November. Under the Covid safe plan in place at the venue no parents or spectators will be in attendance. The canteen at the pool will also be unavailable on the day.

Aquathlon

Congratulations to the all students who competed at the Darling Downs Aquathlon Trials in Dalby last Friday. Lachlan Fraser was selected in the Darling Downs Team to attend the State Championships in 2021. Race Results are listed below:

Boys (57 Competitors)

Lachlan Fraser 8^th, Hayden Koehler 27^th, Innes Dellit 38^th, Lucas Galligan 40^th

Girls (43 Competitors)

Lauren Ramage 25^th, Catherine Cater 35^th, Olivia Ham 36^th

Primary Touch Football

Congratulations to all students who competed at the SWQ All Schools Carnival in Dalby on Sunday. Thanks to Mrs Tresillian, Miss McDuff and Mrs Wilkins for coaching our teams along with senior students Claudia Child, Hannah Pattison, Maggie Laffy and Shawnee King. Game results are listed below.

Boys

Win vs St John’s Roma              4-1

Win vs Dalby State School         5-2

Loss to St Mary’s B                    1-2

Loss to St Mary’s A                    0-8 (Runners Up)

Loss to Mater Dei                      1-7 (Overall Winners)

Girls

Win vs Dalby State School         4-2

Loss to Mater Dei                      1-4 (Overall Winners)

Win vs Glennie B                       6-1

Loss to Fairholme College          1-5 (Runners Up)

Loss to Glennie A                      0-4

QISSN Netball

Training has begun for the 2021 QISSN Netball Team on a Wednesday morning from 7.00am – 8.00am at the PCYC. Training will continue until Wednesday 25 November and is open to any Year 8-11 students.

QISSRL Rugby League

Training has begun for the 2021 Confraternity Shield Team on a Thursday morning from 7.00am – 8.00am on the main oval. Training will continue until Thursday 26 November and is open to any boys turning 16 or older in 2021.

Cricket

The Senior Boys Cricket Team have 20/20 Games next week against Dalby SHS (November 12) and Dalby Christian College (November 13).

Volleyball

The Year 7 Girls Volleyball Team will play against Dalby SHS again before the end of term. The team has been training weekly all of Semester 2 and will head into the 2021 year well prepared for regional and state championships.

Rugby Sevens

SWQ Rugby Sevens Results

Under 15 Boys

Round 3

Loss to St Mary’s 5-19

Loss to Highfields SSC 5-21

Win vs Scots Warwick 29-14

Finals TBC

Tuesday 10 November

3^rd Place Playoff 5.15pm

OLSCC vs Mary MacKillop Highfields

Under 18 Boys

Round 3

Win vs Highfields SSC 17-12

Draw with Lockyer District SHS 24-24

Loss to TAS 12-19

Finals TBC

Tuesday 10 November

3^rd Place Playoff 6.30pm

OLSCC vs St Mary’s

Under 15 Girls Division 1

Round 3

Loss to Fairholme College 15-24

Loss to Downlands College 5-32

Round 4

Loss to Glennie 7-20

Loss to Fairholme College 0-20

Finals

Thursday 12 November

3^rd Place Playoff 5.15pm

OLSCC vs Glennie

Tim Lincoln

Middle Leader Sport

On Thursday, 22 October the College celebrated with our School Based Apprentices and Trainees in style. The students, parents, employers and training organizations all gathered at the Dalby Leagues Club for a well-deserved lunch to recognize not only the achievements of our students but also to say thank you to the employers who have given our students this wonderful opportunity. The completion of a Vocational certificate within the work environment provides students with an incredible opportunity to gain credit towards a nationally recognized qualification with in the Australian Qualifications framework. The training that our students receive reflects the specific industry competency standards for their particular qualification. In short a VET qualification has provided our wonderful students with the knowledge and skills needed to makes the most of their future. Three of our students have also made the decision to pursue further qualifications at University and we also congratulate them on this wonderful pathway choice: Jasmine Houlder – Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Southern Queensland completed a Certificate III in early Childhood Education and Training, Mitchell Portbury – Bachelor of Science (Animal Science) at the University of Southern Queensland and completed a Certificate III in Agriculture and Isaac Halling- Bachelor of Engineering – Agriculture at the University of Southern Queensland who also completed a Certificate III in Agriculture.

Bailey Cleary SP & KE Cleary AHC30116 Certificate III in Agriculture

Declan Crothers Breza Farming AHC30116 Certificate III in Agriculture

Isaac Halling O'Keeffe & Sons AHC30116 Certificate III in Agriculture

Oliver Harth Gersekowski Kitchens MSF31113 Certificate III in Cabinet Making

Jasmine Houlder Kids Club Dalby CHC3013 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

Bronte Kruger Sunshine Mitre 10 Dalby BSB30115 Certificate III in Business

Sarah McQuaid MPC Contracting UEE30811 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician

Hannah Nimmo Ningana CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support

Charlotte Parviainen Ningana CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support,

Mitchell Portbury Burenda Holdings Pty Ltd AHC30116 Certificate III in Agriculture

Kasey Taylor Pascal and Co SHB30416 Certificate III in Hairdressing

Amy Walker Dalby Beck Street Kindergarten Association Inc. CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

Ryan Welsh First Priority Auto Electrical & Air Conditioning AUR30316 Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology

Lachlan Wilkins Coslinco Farming AHC30116 Certificate III in Agriculture

Libby Baxter

Careers Development Practitioner

Last Friday, we celebrated World Teacher's Day with a fabulous afternoon tea in the Staff Lunchroom. School Officers baked up some delicious goodies for afternoon tea and all staff gathered to celebrate our teachers and thank them for the wonderful job they do.The School Officers also made up huge batches of rocky road which was packaged up with a special message to our teachers to let them know how much they are valued. The College P & F Association helped with the purchase of all the ingredients for the Rocky Road which was handed out with love. 

College Up Day will take place on Thursday, 26 November and on this day, the College Uniform Shop is offering extended hours with online bookings to accommodate all new enrolments while observing COVID social distancing requirements.

New OLSCC Dalby students starting in 2021 are encouraged to book an appointment with Wearitto College Uniform Shop ahead of the back to school rush in Term 4. 20 minute appointments are available Thursday 26 November between 10:00 am – 4:00 pm and can be made online via the Wearitto Website  or by visiting www.wearittoolscdalby.simplybook.me. 

All uniform items can be purchased on the day and should you require a change of size prior to the commencement of school, any items can be exchanged with the original labels intact.

For more information please contact the local Wearitto team at the store Tuesday and Thursday on 07 46724111 or email olsc@wearitto.com.au 

Normal Trading Hours

Tuesday 8:00 am – 9:30 am, Thursday 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Last week, OLSCC was lucky enough to have a visit from Nic Porter, an Australian Water Polo player. He visited the school to share his excitement about water polo and to see if any students were interested from our College. Many students turned up to talk to Nic, especially a large number of swimmers from Year 3 and 4. It was wonderful to see so many wanting to try a new sport.

Nic will be conducting water polo clinics in Dalby in the coming weeks and is hoping that there is enough interest out here to start a competition in Dalby. He spoke to our students about how the younger players can get in the water with a version called Flipper Ball and then transition into full blown water polo.

Keep an eye out in future newsletters for information about the clinics.

Mrs Biggar

Medication Collection

Any medications that are kept at the College Office for your child's use at school must be collected and signed for by a parent after 3.00pm on Friday, 4 December.

2021 Medications

Any students who require medication to be administered whilst at school will need to bring their child's medication, administration for medication forms and 2021 Medical Action Plans (e.g. Asthma, Anaphylaxis, and Diabetes) in to the College Office by Monday, 18 January 2021.

If you have any queries regarding this, please contact Tracey Boland at the Office on 4672 4111.