Next week, from Monday 31 May to Friday, 4 June, we will be celebrating Canteen Week and there will be some exciting daily specials on the menu and some cool activities to participate in.

ASCA is an organisation that gives better buying power to schools across a whole range of purchases, not just specifically for canteens. ASCA's promotion of our school canteens and tuckshops is culminated in Canteen Week and they have provided some cool colouring in sheets and a word search that will be distributed to our Early Years students. Judging will take place and the winning class will all receive a cup cake from the canteen.

We are having some daily specials throughout the week which will be available for order via Flexischools. We are limiting each special to 30 items so if you want to order any of these yummy options, please get in quickly to avoid disappointment. 

MEXICAN MONDAY – NACHO’S – Mexican mince, sour cream and corn chips

TERIYAKI TUESDAY – Teriyaki Chicken and Hokkien Noodles

WINTER WEDNESDAY – Pumpkin Soup & Bread Roll

THIRSTY THURSDAY – Hot Milo

FISHY FRIDAY – Fish and Chips

Another really important aspect of the running of our canteen is our canteen convener and our volunteers. Please take the time next week to thank our tuckshop convener, Mrs Crump and the other parents and friends who come in to volunteer each week. If anyone is keen to get involved with voluntary work in the canteen, please see the Office.

Eisteddfod

From the 31 May to the 5 June we are privileged to have the opportunity to see many of our classes, choirs and individual students perform at the 49^th Annual Dalby Eisteddfod at Dalby Great Hall (Dalby State High School).  This is an amazing annual event where we come together as a community to celebrate all things piano, vocal and choral.  There are many further details in this newsletter, and individuals and classes who are nominated in the program will have received communication from their teachers and tutors already.  I cannot wait to see our College’s participation, especially the class performances from 10am on Friday 4 June.  See you there!

Parking Reminder

I remind all parents and community members that the new 2 minute zones outside the Prep area are 2 minute parking between 7am-9am and 2pm-4pm on all school days.  Unfortunately, there have been many instances where parents have arrived well before the completion of school and stay parked for extended periods.  We ask people to respectfully use these parks and be very aware that the College requests police presence frequently around the College to keep our students and community safe.  This is also the case for parking illegally and crossing a solid white line.   Please be careful, safe and follow the rules.  If you are looking for somewhere less hectic to collect your child, the best place to arrange is Cooper Street for Early Years and Middle Years, and Aerodrome Road for Senior Years. 

Standards

In recent weeks there has been a gradual decline in standards regarding uniform, jewellery and chewing gum.  Please be aware that starting on Monday we will be more vigilant in following through on these items as we need to reset the standard so we can continue focusing on learning.  Those that can’t do the little things right, will certainly struggle when a genuine challenge comes along.  Please be aware that students chewing gum will be scraping up gum off hard surfaces for many of their future lunchtimes, incorrect jewellery will be confiscated, and those in incorrect uniform will be required to correct it. 

School Fees

If your family is anything like mine, you will have recently received your WDRC Rates Notice, WDRC Gas Notice and your OLSCC Fees all in the same week.  My family has just begun a Direct Debit Request (DDR) with the office, which makes paying our fees far more manageable.  Our fees schedule on the website even outlines how much you can pay on a fortnightly basis so that your fees are covered. If you have found yourself behind on fees and simply don’t know how you can catch up, a DDR is the way to go.  Just pop into the office to receive a form, or make an appointment with our Business Manager, Elizabeth Kuruilaca, who can calculate your repayments for you and help you get back on track.  This can even be done over a quick phone call!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Peter Cuskelly

Principal 

This year we join with catholic schools throughout Australia to celebrate 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia.  On Monday we join with other Catholic schools to pray for Catholic education on the Solemnity of Our Lady Help of Christians.  The songs and readings were chosen to reflect the mission and vision we have for Catholic education; we celebrate the growth of wisdom, the uncovering and recognition of our unique gifts, the light that God provides to illuminate this for us all and as a part of one Church we are celebrating who we are and what we bring to our world. So I share with you this scripture

The rewards of wisdom

Wisdom teaches her children
    and gives help to those who seek her.
Whoever loves her loves life,
    and those who seek her from early morning are filled with joy.
Whoever holds her fast inherits glory,
    and the Lord blesses the place she enters.

Sirach 4:11-13

NAPLAN 2021

What an amazing job our students in Year 3, 5, 7 & 9 did over the past two weeks to complete their NAPLAN.  It was great to see them trying their best on the four different tests.  We look forward to the information these tests will provide to us, as a College, to inform how we can continue to improve and grow our teaching practice to progress student learning.

200 YEARS OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION

Catholic Education is celebrating 200 years in Australia, marking the bicentenary of the first Catholic school established in Parramatta in October 1820.

First Catholic school in Australia

The first Catholic school in Australia was founded in October 1820 by Irish Catholic priest Fr John Therry and run by convict and lay person George Marley. The school, which Catholic historians believe was in Hunter Street, Parramatta, taught 31 students. By 1833, there were 10 Catholic schools in the colony. 

Catholic Education in Dalby

In 1863 the O’Farrell Family bought the Royal Hotel as their residence and a portion of this building became the first Catholic school in Dalby run by lay teachers.  Then 14 years later in 1877 formal Catholic Education began in Dalby with the Sisters of Mercy, under the leadership of Mother Mary Rose, conducted a school at The Plough Inn.  The school at the “Inn” was to be known as St Columba’s and was situated on the Corner of Myall and Bunya Streets. 

Over 200 years, Catholic schools have grown to become the largest provider of schooling in Australia (outside government) with one in five school age students attending a Catholic school.  This represents 777,000 students in 1,755 schools across the country and employing over 100,000 teachers and staff.  Nearly 40 per cent of Catholic schools are located outside of metropolitan cities in regional, rural and remote communities.  www.200years.catholic.edu.au

Cate Brennan

Deputy Principal Religious Education

It is hard to believe that we have reached the halfway point in the term. Students are now in the middle of the assessment period and should be focused on achieving their best in each task. This is now an excellent opportunity for students to demonstrate what they have learnt and the new skills that they have developed.

Year 12s – Reaching the Middle

By the time that you read this newsletter, our Year 12 students have now completed 50% of their assessment for each subject. In most cases, this means that they have only one more internal task to complete for each subject before the external exams in Term 4. Keeping focused and using their learning disposition toolkits is essential in the coming weeks. Year 12 students should now be completing 10-15 hours of homework each week. This homework can be focused on retrieval practice and reviewing notes.

I look forward to hearing the results of the recent round of assessment.

Year 12 External Exam Timetable

QCAA has just released the 2021 External Examination Timetable. It can be found at the following link. In Term 3, students will be provided with their attendance requirements across the examination block.

https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/downloads/senior/snr_ext_assess_timetable_2021.pdf

Mobile Phones

I want to take this opportunity to remind parents and students that all communication between parents and students during the school day should go through the office. Students should not be using phones throughout the school day. This can affect their ability to concentrate in class, develop their strategies for resilience and interact socially with their peers in a face-to-face environment. Occasionally, staff may request that student use their phones for learning purposes (to film performances, experiments, etc.), but this would be an exception rather than a common occurrence. Please encourage your child to avoid personal mobile phone use throughout the day.

Uniform Expectations

Over recent weeks there has been a slip in standards in the wearing of uniform for our Senior Years students. I am sure that you will agree that when students wear their uniform correctly, it represents that College positively. Over the coming weeks, we will be placing a strong focus on wearing the uniform and meeting presentation expectations.

I ask that parents and students please address the following:

Socks – The grey socks that boys wear are required to be just below the knee. When the double fold is completed, this assists with keeping the socks pulled up. Several boys will need to replace their socks with a larger size to ensure that they can pull them up fully.  

Sports Jackets – The sports jacket can only be worn over the top of the red pullover when a student is wearing the formal uniform. Please be advised that if students are only wearing a sports jacket with their formal uniform, they will be asked to remove it.

Earrings – girls are permitted only to wear one sleeper or stud in each ear lobe. We currently have several students wearing multiple earrings. Please note that students will be asked to remove or swap additional earnings immediately. Repeat offences will have the earrings confiscated.

I encourage all parents to go through the College’s uniform requirements to ensure that their child meets the required standards. Your support on this matter is greatly appreciated.

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

Communication and Pastoral Concerns

Throughout the year, parents are encouraged to communicate with their child’s subject teachers as an initial point of contact for any pastoral or academic matters. For further matters, please contact me through the College Office or by email matthew.hodge@twb.catholic.edu.au

Matt Hodge

Assistant Principal Senior Years

Under 8s’ Day Week of Celebrations

This year we welcome back the opportunity to celebrate Under 8s’ Day, although in a more College focused format. Unfortunately, due to ongoing Covid restrictions we are limiting the attendees to the Prep to Year 2 students at our College. This, though, has given us and the Senior students at the College a chance to come together to explore the theme for this year - “Outdoor Play and Learning”. The students from Year 7 to 10 along with their Praxis teachers, are in charge of organising and running learning and play experiences for the Prep to Year 2 students. These will take place during the lunch time breaks from Monday to Thursday and then from 12:20 to 1:20 pm on Friday. We also hope to have a visit from Emergency Services and the PCYC is organising an activity for the Friday event. Keep an eye out for follow-up photos in the next newsletter.

Kathy Morgan

Middle Leader Early Years

Last Tuesday, the Year 6 students participated in Origin Energy Foundation ‘Lights for Learning’ program. ‘Lights for Learning’ brings Origin volunteers and school children together to make portable solar lights for Papua New Guinean communities living in energy poverty. The lights help children along the Kokoda Track to study when the sun goes down, improving their prospects of using education to break the cycle of poverty. The students learnt about the potential humanitarian impact of STEM. This program linked in with the current Year 6 Science unit on Energy and Electricity and also formed one of our Praxis projects. The program is run by the Origin Energy Foundation who have partnered with SolarBuddy, an Australian-based non-profit organisation working to improve the educational opportunities of children throughout the South Pacific, South East Asia and Africa, by distributing portable solar lights. Origin volunteers came into our classrooms to run a workshop on renewable energy, energy poverty and global citizenship. They then lead the students through an activity to assemble portable solar lights for the children of PNG. The students also wrote a letter for the recipients to accompany their light. We would like to thank Anthony Ham for his assistance in organising and running this program for our Year 6 students.

Melinda Crow 

Middle Years Teacher

Industry Dinner Friday 14 May

The Dalby BEST (Bringing Schools and Employers Together) group held its Inaugural Industry Dinner on Friday night at the Dalby Events Centre. The purpose of the evening was to have students from the Year 9 cohort in Dalby sit down with local employers to discuss what they are looking for in their workplace. Students could ask questions about qualifications that are needed and what qualities employers are looking for in their workers. We certainly had a fantastic night with several highlights. These included a fantastic speech from Councillor Ian Rasmussen that encouraged students to look to their local employers as their future. Mrs Helen Nolan, Executive Director (Strategic Liaison Education Community) from the University of Southern Queensland highlighted the opportunities that students have connecting work to further study in the tertiary sector. She pointed out that many students at tertiary level do not commence study until much later in life. Doctor Judy Cawdell – Smith spoke to the audience about the future of the agricultural industry and focussed on the new Agricultural Hub that is being developed at USQ and the new Agricultural programs being run at the Uni.

The BEST group will be making this event a highlight every year for our Year 9’s and we look forward to next year being bigger and better.

Guest Speaker for National Careers Week

On Monday, the College hosted Karen Browning from the University of Southern Queensland Careers Program. Karen spent time engaging with the Year 9 – 12 students discussing what career is, the world of work and what is happening out there, what jobs are around now and possibly in the future. This is aimed at getting students to think a little more broadly about jobs and what skills they need for the future. Karen certainly gave students a lot to think about and importantly, students were given a broad outline about the importance of transferable skills and micro credentials. Our students are certainly entering a world that thinks very differently about careers and work.

QTAC and Work Pathways for Year 12

Starting this Friday during first lunch, I will have an open office in the Library to meet with Year 12 students. During this time students can sit with me to look at University options, Early Round Offers, Resumes, applications for apprenticeships and anything else that they are unsure about. During this time, I will also be helping students to set up their ATAR accounts and their QTAC accounts once these portals are open. During Term 3, students will be asked to organise a meeting for themselves and their parents so that we can discuss individual applications and post Year 12 pathways. As always, parents can book a time to meet with me at any time of the year to discuss any of these areas. On Friday 23 July, the Dalby BEST group will be hosting a Careers Market at the Dalby PCYC. As details for this event are finalised, I will be sending home information to students and parents. This event will provide a fantastic opportunity for parents and students to speak with staff from universities and some of the big employers in Dalby. We will also have, on site for the day, representatives from apprenticeship companies and TAFE Southwest and hopefully QTAC will also be involved by running short sessions for parents and students.

Libby Baxter

Careers Development Practitioner

University Open Days 2021

Following is the latest updated list for Open Days in 2021. These events continue to be updated as the universities navigate the COVID world. I strongly encourage students from Year 7 – 10 to attend at least one open day each year to help them gain a better understanding of what is available for them in this fast-changing world we live in. These days give students and parents a wonderful opportunity to chat to students and lecturers about courses and options and sometimes it might even help students make the decision about their pathway: Uni/Work/Trade.

Australian Catholic University

Saturday 7th August, 10am – 2pm

Campus tours available year-round; email ACU. 

Griffith University

Open Day – Sunday 8th August 

James Cook University

Information Webinar – Thursday 29th July

SAE Creative Media

Brisbane Campus – Sunday 8th August

University of Queensland

Open Day – Sunday 1st August

University of Southern Queensland

Ipswich and Springfield – Sunday 8th August

Toowoomba – Sunday 15th August

Virtual Open Day Access

Visit the USQ website for more information.

Libby Baxter

Careers Development Practitioner

QCIS Cross Country

The QCIS Cross Country will be held at Scots College in Warwick on Tuesday 1 June. Students who have been selected to represent the College at this event have been notified. The College Coach will transport students to the event. Spectators will be able to attend on the day.

Bunya District Cross Country

Congratulations to all students who competed at the Bunya District Cross Country. The College won the overall points trophy and had the following students selected in the Bunya District Team to attend the Darling Downs Trials.

Under 10 – Khoen Darr, Gemma Sullivan

Under 11 – Joshua Barwick, William Barwick, Molly Gibson

Under 12 – Lachlan Fraser, Macie Allen, Olivia Ham, Lauren Ramage  

Darling Downs Cross Country  

Congratulations to all students who competed at the Darling Downs Cross Country in Toowoomba. Our Year 6 students were unable to attend due to the Year 6 Camp. Congratulations to Carla Nobbs who was selected in the Darling Downs Team to attend the State Championships in Ipswich.

Under 10 Khoen Darr 18^th, Gemma Sullivan 19^th

Under 13 Carla Nobbs 6^th, Jack Gibson 26^th

Under 14 Taylor Marshall 12^th

Under 17 Dylan Nobbs 12^th

Rugby League

Darling Downs Rugby League Competition Week 5 Results

Under 13

Harristown SHS defeated OLSCC 38-22

Under 15

Wilsonton SHS defeated OLSCC 36-14

Under 18

OLSCC defeated Wilsonton SHS 32-4

Week 6 Wednesday 26 May Brothers Rugby League Grounds Toowoomba

Students will travel via the College Coach leaving at 2.15pm and return at 8.15pm

Under 13 vs Lockyer District SHS at 4pm

Under 15 vs St Joseph’s College at 5pm

Under 18 vs St Joseph’s College at 6pm

Week 7 Wednesday 2 June

Under 13 vs Faith Lutheran College at 4pm Brothers Toowoomba (College Coach Travel)

Under 15 vs Highfields SSC at 5pm at Dalby Leagues Club  

Under 18 vs Pittsworth SHS at 5pm Dalby Leagues Club (Monday 31 May)

Bunya District Tennis

Congratulations to Travis Gater and Kai Rush who were selected in the Bunya District Team to attend the Darling Downs Trials in Dalby on May 24.

Touch Football

Congratulations to Claudia Child who has been added into the South West Under 18 Girls Touch Football Team for the State Championships in June.

Netball

The Vicki Wilson Cup Netball Competitions will be held in Toowoomba on Friday 4 June. Both the Years 7-9 and QISSN Team will compete on this day. A draw for the day will be passed on next week to all players. Travel will be via private transport.

Volleyball

Best of luck to the Year 8 Girls Volleyball Team who will compete at the QLD Intermediate Schools Cup Competition in Toowoomba next weekend.

Tim Lincoln

Middle Leader Sport

Visual Art

Senior Visual Art Students from years 9 – 12 made our excursion to Brisbane an outstanding success! After and early start and a comfortable coach ride, we arrived at Australian Catholic University ahead of schedule. We were warmly welcomed and had a short tour of the library – which displays some outstanding student artwork, before meeting with Alumni Artist Rachel Brennan. Rachel described her art making processes and the evolution of her style with our students, answering their many insightful questions.

We were then treated to a guided tour of the Universities excellent Arts facilities by their Director of Arts, Alasdair Macintyre. We viewed the painting studio, ceramic arts studio, performing arts studio and music room. Students were able to ask questions and discover more about pathways into University through the Arts, and about university life. ACU staff were happy to talk on a range of topics and are keen to establish collaborative opportunities for our senior students to work with them in the future.

We ate our lunch on the lush grounds of the ACU campus before heading into the city to tour the Queensland Art Gallery permanent collection, and Gallery of Modern Art exhibition from the Excellence in Secondary Visual Arts Award. Students were highly engaged in their viewing of a diverse range of Fine Art, asking salient questions, taking photos and discussing their newfound inspirations with each other. Our Senior Visual Art students were a credit to themselves as they represented Culture at OLSCC with dignity.

Music

Our Lady is pleased to introduce our first cohort of Violin students! We have room for a few more in this program, so if your child is interested in learning to play violin with the enormously talented Ms Nicholson, please contact the office for application forms.

Senior Choir is off to a great start, thanks to all those singers who are volunteering their Thursday lunchtime to make this a success! There are still plenty of spaces for people to join – we know there are some amazing voices out there in the student community so don’t be shy. Join Ms Nicholson in the music room, the more the merrier!

Performing Arts

This term is incredibly exciting for our Performing Arts students. We have been busily preparing for the Vocal and Speech Eisteddfods that are rapidly approaching. For the Vocal Eisteddfod June 3-5, our College has 3 choral groups performing; Allegro (Years 2/3/4 choir), Lyrica (Years 5/6) and Mishmash (Year 4 Performing Arts students). We also have some students singing solos, duets and trios. From Prep to Year 4, whole classes have been preparing a song to sing. A note has gone home with students this week outlining times and costumes.

Eisteddfod Performing Arts Schedule

In Performing Arts classes, students have been developing skills in mime, improvisation, characterisation, microphone use and speaking with expression. Most students now have plays and poems that they are working on memorising and delivering for the Speech and Drama Eisteddfod at the end of August.

Glistening Deepwater

Middle Leader Culture

Mark this down in your calendar - Saturday, 18 September for Saints Races 2021. This is the first weekend of the September school holidaysso grab a ticket for a great way to start off the spring break.

Sponsorship packages to be released in the coming month.  If any families or businesses are interested in sponsorship or donations for the multi draw raffle, please contact:

Courtney Geiger - Courtney.Geiger@twb.catholic.edu.au or Hannah Gilliland - admin@glm.net.au

The Queensland Museum has a travelling road show called the 'World Science Festival' which is soon to be heading out to the Western Downs. The festival will be stopping in Chinchilla on Sunday and Monday, 6 - 7 June. On Sunday, there will be a free community day for anyone who would like to go along and then on Monday, we are currently planning on some of our students attending the school day. Stay tuned for more details on the school trip but if you would like to head out to Chinchilla on Sunday, 6 June, it should be a great day out. Organisers   are also looking for some volunteers to help so if you think you can spare some time to get into all things Science, please click on the link below.

Join us as a volunteer - World Science Festival Brisbane

Applications for travel rebates under the Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme (NSSTAS) are now open online and will close on 31 May. Please see the image below and head to the NSSTAS website via the link to determine your eligibility and to claim your rebate.

Pedestrian Responsibilities

Do you wait behind the line for the supervisor to open the crossing?

Do you wait for the supervisor to blow the whistle twice before crossing?

Do you know that one blast of the whistle requires you to take immediate direction from the supervisor?

If you answered “Yes” to the above questions you are doing the right thing.

Driver Responsibilities

Do you drive slowly enough through the school zones, so you can stop safely if required?

Do you plan to stop when you see a pedestrian is on or waiting to enter the crossing?

Do you wait until all pedestrians and crossing supervisor have reached the kerb before driving on?

If you answered “Yes” to the above questions you are doing the right thing.

From the Uniform Shop

Please be advised that fleecy jackets in size 4 and 6 have arrived and are available for purchase now.