2022 Term 1, Week 6

Principal's News

This year has certainly thrown some challenges to all schools, not just Chisholm Catholic College. Covid-19 is still the greatest challenge, but the extremes in weather over the last week have been a visible reminder to us to be grateful for what we have. However, I am conscious that we do have members of our FAMILY who have been impacted by the flooding, and our prayers and thoughts go out to them. We will be in contact with them and seek to offer support, engaging with the rest of the community to lend a hand where we can.

I also appreciate the frustration with the communication this week. I do apologise for any inconvenience that this has caused. As soon as a decision was made, it was communicated to parents/carers via email, BCE Connect App, SMS and Facebook. I also apologise for the inconvenience that resulted from information that had been provided to us. Please know that our focus was at all times on the safety and wellbeing of our students, families and staff. 

The impact of Covid-19 has not been the focus of communication this week, and though there are changes that come into effect at the end of today, we must all remain vigilant with our responsibilities.

As of Monday, the changes for schools are:

Parents, Visitors and Contractor

• Contractors, parents and other visitors will be able to enter school sites.
• We ask that access is via Main Reception only. Please do not enter the school without having signed-in.
• They will still be required to use the Queensland Check-In App on arrival and register their attendance through the usual school visitor process.
• Contractors and Visitors must show proof of their vaccination status.
• Parents are not required to show proof of their vaccination status.

Face Masks

• Queensland Health announced that from 6:00pm on Friday, 4^th March 2022, face masks will no longer be required in schools for staff, students and visitors.
• However, wearing a mask is still recommended if people are not able to socially distance and be 1.5m apart. 
• Some members of our communities will still need to wear masks including vulnerable staff and staff with vaccine medical exemptions. Others may have a personal preference to wear a mask.
• Please respect the privacy of members of your community who are either required or choose to continue wearing a mask. 

Large Gatherings

• Large gatherings, such as assemblies will resume – and there will be no density limits on attendance.
• However, social distancing requirements will still need to be adhered to.

As needed, communication regarding cases in the community will be either emailed or included in the Newsletter.

School Fees

While I can understand that there will be questions about a fee reduction due to the delay to students returning to the classroom and the closures that have happened this week, unfortunately, there will be no change to our 2022 School Fees. They remain the same as published on our website and shared with our school community at the end of last year. The fact is that operational costs for the school have not changed (wages, building maintenance, power etc).

However, levies for activities which have been impacted will be reviewed by the College Leadership Team. Any levies for activities which cannot proceed will be removed and acknowledged in the Term 2 School Fees Statement. This is with the understanding that some activities have been postponed and not cancelled, for example, the Swimming Carnival is likely to be scheduled for Term 4.

Please understand that we are a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation. Any funds that we receive have been attributed to ensuring that we provide access to learning experiences and resources for our students. We are not a ‘private’ or ‘independent’ school that may need to access additional funds through School Fees. We also aim to keep School Fees and Levies as low as possible. In fact, we are one of the most affordable schools in the Logan area. Any changes to our Fees and Levy structure would impact on our ability to provide for our students now and into the future. As an example, we do wish to commence new building works and the refurbishment of classrooms and grounds – we would not be able to do any of this without maintaining the budget that has been established.

I understand some families may have had their employment or businesses impacted by the current wave of COVID-19, and now the floods. If your family is experiencing financial difficulty and is concerned about paying school fees this term, please contact the College’s Business Manager, Mrs Lee Pousson, via scornubia@bne.catholic.edu.au to have a confidential discussion about how we can help you through this time and the different payment options available to you.

Deputy Principal's News

Chisholm Plus+ Update

Today parents will receive their first Chisholm Plus+ update for the year. This contains information about a student’s progress at Chisholm including information about results for any Assessment Tasks that have been completed along with indicators for their Approaches to Learning and any relevant Skills and Concepts statements. Due to the unusual start to the year there are few assessment tasks that have been completed and therefore there will be less information in regard to Skills and Concepts Statements. 

Parents will receive another Chisholm Plus+ update again at the end of term just prior to the Easter break and there will be a full Progress Report sent out early in Term 2. 

If you have any concerns about how your child is progressing in a subject, please contact the subject teacher in the first instance. 

Calendar Changes

The Interhouse Swimming Carnival has been postponed and will be moved to early Term 4 with a date yet to be confirmed.  This will allow all students – including Year 12 – to be able to participate in the carnival and display their House spirit. We will let you know once a date has been confirmed. 

Due to the ongoing severe weather the Girls Futsal tournament that was scheduled for today will be held next Friday – 11th March. More information will be sent out to those families who are affected on Monday.

The Titans Cup Rugby League that was going to be held this term has now been postponed until Term 2 with a date yet to be confirmed. 

2022 – Our 30th Anniversary!

2022 marks the 30^th Anniversary for Chisholm Catholic College.

We are reaching to our alumni to tell us what they have been up to since leaving the College, and to include them in communication about the celebrations that are being planned.

We want to tell their story, so that our students can understand that they are part of greater legacy.

To pass on alumni details, email scornubia@bne.catholic.edu.au 

Congratulations – Abbey Mathews

Abbey was a 2021 graduate who received great news recently. She has been sworn into the Royal Australian Navy as a Maritime Warfare Officer.  Abbey will do a year of training and then go to ADFA in Canberra where she will complete a 3 year Arts Degree in Politics and International Relations and Business.  After that, Abbey will return to Sydney to complete her training and then commence fulltime service on one of the ships.

Chisholm Alumni - Jade Matijevic (2007)

As a proud graduating student of Chisholm Catholic College in 2007, I can honestly say that I loved my time here so much that I came back.  After taking a gap year and spending my time as a Learn to Swim teacher, I discovered that I had an immense love for teaching and working with young people.  By 2009, I was enrolled at Griffith University and began studying a Bachelor of Education.  It wasn’t too long after graduating that I found myself back with my Chisholm family.  While I have been here I have been blessed to have worked with many lovely students and their families and many talented staff in a range of roles including Classroom Teacher, Pastoral Leader and now Middle Years Learning Leader.  I feel blessed to have found my passion, to have been privileged enough to base my career on it, and to have the opportunity every day to work with so many young people and support them in preparing for their bright future.

Assistant Principal Religious Education's News

Prayers for Peace and for Flood Victims

Ash Wednesday not only marks the beginning of Lent in our liturgical calendar but this year Pope Francis invited us to take part in a special Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace in Ukraine. As we continue to witness horrifying scenes and suffering emerging from Ukraine let us be reminded of Pope Francis’ call for peace. “We are all brothers and sisters…. God is with those who work for peace, not with those who use violence.”

We are also aware that much of our community has been devastated by the recent extreme weather across South-East Queensland. Please know that we continue to hold those impacted by the recent floods in our prayers.

Lent and Caritas Project Compassion Fundraising

Although the floods dampened our Shrove Tuesday Pancake fundraiser, we will not let the weather hold us back. Our Pancake Fundraiser has been rescheduled to this Monday, 7^th March during morning tea. Students are encouraged to bring $2 or more to purchase a pancake with topping/s of their choice. Yum!

Next Friday, 11^th March the College will hold a Casual Clothes Day. For a gold coin donation to Caritas students are able to dress in casual appropriate clothing for the day (sun safe, no singlets) or their Sports Uniform. Please remember to bring a gold coin! This small donation will go a long way in contributing to those in need.  

To mark the beginning of Lent and our annual Caritas fundraising, Project Compassion boxes have been placed in every Pastoral Care class. I would like to invite you to send a monetary donation/s with your child to contribute to their PC Project Compassion box during the next Lenten period for this worthwhile cause. There is something special planned for the Pastoral Care class that manages to raise the most funds! This year we are also offering a digital option to donate. Click on the link below: https://fundraise.projectcompassion.org.au/caroline-lc-chisholms-team

Please include your child/s Pastoral Care class in the message to ensure money collected via this site contributes towards your child/s PC fundraising effort.

This Lenten season let’s give ourselves time to heal and to grow, time to seek forgiveness and time to begin again.  

Student Voice Representative Council (SRC)

Reading through the applications for the SRC, both Mr Bottaccio and I have been very impressed with the calibre of applications. If your child would like to apply, the closing date has been extended to Monday, 7^th March. Please complete the form that had been emailed and email to Mrs Greenaway. Successful applicants will be notified via email on Tuesday of next week.

Parish Youth News

United Youth: Our next meeting will be on Friday, March 18th at the new time of 5.30pm till 8.30pm in the Truelson room at the church. Anyone from the age of 10 to 20something is welcome. Please byo dinner.

Youth Masses: 6pm Sunday 6th March, with practice at 4pm and Praise and Worship at 5.40pm; 9am Sunday 20th March with practice at 8am and Praise and Worship at 8.40am;. If there are any young people who would like to join our youth band, or take part in any other way at the Youth Masses, please let me know. Other ministries include reading, taking up the collection and marshalling/welcoming.

Band practice: 7.15pm on most Tuesday nights at the parish office.New comers to our ministry are always most welcome, so if you’re between 10 and 30, and would like to check out what we do at youth group, or would like to know what events we have coming up, please get in contact :)Cathy 0400 494 943, youth.beenleigh@bne.catholic.net.au

Enrolment Update – Year 7: 2023 and 2024

Enrolment interviews for Year 7, 2023 are just about completed. We are unable to accept any more enrolments, so a ‘Wait List’ has been applied.

Already, we have had very strong interest in enrolments for Year 7, 2024. Interviews will commence shortly and will continue through to the end of Term 3.

If you have a son/daughter in Year 5 – enrol them now. We do not wish to see any siblings miss out on a place.

If you have a family friend or work colleague who is looking at enrolling their child for Year 7, 2024 at Chisholm Catholic College, please ask them to make contact now.

Assistant Principal - Curriculum's News

Well, it has certainly been an eventful start to 2022 and the school year! As with many businesses located in South Brisbane, the QCAA is currently closed, I am sure they will be in communication about any provisions that will be put in place for our Senior Students, and I will pass on information as soon as I know. Last week, the Assessment calendar was shared and relevant Academic Leaders are in communication with assessment updates. Earlier this week I communicated with our Year 11 and Year 12 Students to continue to work on any assignments if they are able.

For Year 12 students, even though Term 4 feels a long way off, I believe it is important that students who have 50% exams (Math and the Sciences subjects) are in the habit of studying for these papers, the work they are doing now will be assessed then.

In recent years there has been a change from the QCAA with regards to Access arrangements and reasonable adjustments (AARA).  The school has policies on the Parent Portal for you to digest if you may need them, these have all been developed from NAPLAN and QCAA absence policies and documents.  If you are looking at planned absence for your children, please email scornubia@bce.catholic.edu.au for applicable forms.  The process of AARA is different to planned absence.  AARA specifically relates to units 1, 2, 3 and 4 or Years 11 and 12 however we are trying to ensure there is not a leap from the junior school to the senior school and will outline procedures where possible.

A reminder that for Senior Students who need any changes or assistance, that Access arrangements and reasonable adjustments (AARA) to assessment are there to ensure opportunities for eligible students to demonstrate their learning on the same basis as other students. We use the guidelines for AARA in the QCE and QCIA policy and procedures handbook to make appropriate decisions about assessment conditions for General, Applied, Short Course and Senior External Examination syllabuses.

The application is used to submit a request for adjustments to assessment which need to be approved by the QCAA and to report adjustments able to be approved by the Principal.  This is for all assessment in Senior where a student may require assistive technology or extra time.  The first AARA deadline is the end of Term 1, 2022 for on-going and long-term conditions for example, diabetes.

Students may have received adjustments as per their EAP in the junior school and this is used as part of evidence in making decisions.  We are required to report and/or apply to the QCAA for AARA, if you feel this may be your student, please contact me.

There are document templates to support schools make applications and provide information on some adjustments for timed assessment (examinations).

Assistant Principal - Staff and Students' News

My name in Krijn van Gils and I am proud to join the Chisholm FAMILY as the Acting Assistant Principal Staff and Students. Despite the rocky start to the year, there is a sense of optimism and change in the College. Besides welcoming the new year 7 students to the College, this year we also welcome 26 new staff members. They bring a wealth of expertise and excitement to the College and their impact is already palpable.

This year, the College continues to focus on building positive relationships within our community. As a Brisbane Catholic Education school, we use the PB4L (Positive Behaviour for Learning) framework to acknowledge positive behaviours as a foundation of learning and teaching at the College.

Since the start of 2022, Kristie Mackle (Student Engagement Officer), the Pastoral Team and the PB4L Team have been working on some very exciting, soon to be announced initiatives which will provide our staff and students with opportunities to grow and accomplish their desired goals.

This year we welcome 25 new students in year 8 – 11, who have all settled in well. On Friday week 7, the Hospitality students led by Mrs Meaney, will cater for a scrumptious lunch to welcome the new students to our College. This is a great opportunity to build new friendships with the other students and with the staff members attending. The invite for this luncheon has been emailed to all new students earlier this week. Please provide us with your special dietary requirements by emailing Angella Evans at angella.evans@bne.catholic.edu.au. We are looking forward to spending this special occasion with you.

Next week, during our College assembly, we will welcome back to the College the high achievers of last year’s Year 12 cohort. It will be great to see everybody in real-life to celebrate the achievements of these amazing students.

Finally, as we are at the start of another academic year, it’s not too late to set some SMART goals. Write them down on a piece of paper, hang them on your wall or revisit your journal entry regularly. Setting SMART goals has been proven to be a successful strategy towards academic and personal achievements.

Have a great start to the year!

Middle Years Learning Leader's News

It is that time again when schools are well into their preparations for NAPLAN.  NAPLAN is a nationwide standardized test that will be sat in May by all students in Year 7 and 9.  Here at Chisholm, NAPLAN has been conducted online since its launch in Queensland in 2019.  While our transition to NAPLAN online has been excellent, we do recognise that the students sitting NAPLAN in 2022 have not had yet engaged with the online platform.  For this reason, to ensure student readiness and familiarity of the online space, our students in Years 7 and 9 will be completing two practice tests.  The first practice test will take place in Week 9, Thursday the 24^th of March, and the second in Term 2, Week 2, Friday the 29^th of April.  The combination of these tests will ensure exposure to all of the online tools and functions of the platform, enabling students to focus on their performance. Students will need to arrive on each of the days with writing materials, headphones, and a fully charged laptop.  Please take note of the dates relating to NAPLAN Practice tests and the NAPLAN Test Timetable below so that you are able to assist them in ensuring that they are well prepared for each of these sessions.

Campus Minister's News

Labyrinth Prayer Walk

It was wonderful last week to accompany Year 8 students as they took part in a Labyrinth Walk as a practical prayer experience as part of their RE curriculum. Labyrinth walking is an ancient practice used by many different faiths for spiritual centering, contemplation, and prayer. Each core class gathered in the Chisholm Centre to walk on the large Canvas Labyrinth made available from Brisbane Catholic Education. The single circular path of the labyrinth wound it’s way to the centre offering a place to rest in the centre and then participants followed the same path back out. Students were invited to pray for someone or something on their prayer walk.

We received this wonderful feed back from one of the classes.

“…very positive experience today walking the labyrinth helped me focus & relax and connect with God. While walking there was an opportunity to focus on our thoughts. The Walking element was slow and relaxing – helping me to feel a sense of calm. While walking we were able to say (in our heads) a prayer to allow us to connect with God. All three elements, focus, relaxing and connection provided a positive experience” (Year 8 student) 

Mrs Jo-Anne Ibell, Campus Minister

Chis Culture News

Chis Culture: How can I get involved?

It’s not too late to sign up and become involved in all the wonderful activities happening at Chisholm this term in the Creative Arts!

Lunchbox Theatre

New members welcome! Lunch Box Theatre is open to all students in 7-12 and runs every Tuesday at Lunch 2. Come along to play theatre games, meet new friends as well as develop performance, acting and directing skills.

Art Club

Art Club is open to all students in Years 7-12 and takes place on Thursday afternoons from 3:00pm-4:30pm. Come along to explore your creativity and different mediums. Each week you will work through a creative task and develop new skills. So far students (and staff) have created relief prints from Iino and Styrofoam and have challenged themselves to carve animals out of soap!

Please email Ms Murray to sign up (suzanne.murray@bne.catholic.edu.au).

Instrumental Music

Instrumental lessons are recommencing for 2022 from March 14^th! We offer lesson in Guitar, Bass, Drums and Piano this term. It’s not too late to enrol!

The costs are $22.00 for 30 minutes or $35.00 for 45 minutes.

Enrolment Forms for the Instrumental Program are available at Student Reception or Parent Portal. Please contact Ms Jones (anthea.jones@bne.catholic.edu.au) with any queries.

External Opportunities:

Please see below a list of opportunities available to students:

• Sunshine Coast Art Prize: Applications are now open and close 9 May 2022 5pm AEST.
• La Boite – School Holiday Program
• Queensland Theatre– Student Pathways Program: Applications open now. Program dates 28 March – 1 April 2022
• Queensland Theatre – Theatre Residency Week: Monday 19 – Saturday 24 September. Register online, limited places available
• Queensland Theatre – Young Playwrights Award: Submissions close on Monday 11 July 2022
• QB Teen - Queensland Ballet: 12-month memberships are available
• Enter Fanfare – Artology: Composition competition. Entries close Monday 6 June 2022

Sport News

Representative School Sport

All Pacific District School Sport trials were cancelled this week due to the flooding/weather event. Once flood waters have retreated, calls will be made as to whether trials for certain sports will resume and new dates sent out. This will come from South Coast Regional Sports office and then passed down to Pacific District and may take some time over the coming week.

SECA Sport

Preparations for the Term 2 season of SECA Sport are well under way with Year 7 students now able to nominate their SECA choices for 2022. Students are encouraged to make their selections by Monday 7 March.

Congratulations to...

• Leo and Kennan Gallagher for their selection into the South Coast Regional Waterpolo team.
• Ty Iddon for his selection into the South Coast Regional Baseball Team.

Mr Mathew Ellis

Head of Sport

mathew.ellis@bne.catholic.edu.au

Tel: 3209 0700

Student, Parent and Guardian Complaints Management

Brisbane Catholic Education and Chisholm Catholic College are committed to a consistent approach to managing student, parent and guardian complaints.

The Fact Sheet below provides a summary of how complaints are managed. The BCE Policy can be accessed via the College website.

If you have any questions, please email scornubia@bne.catholic.edu.au

Community News