2022 Term 4 Week 8

Upcoming Events

Principal's News

Welcome to the last Newsletter for 2022.

Awards Night

Last Wednesday was a magnificent celebration of our many students whose academic efforts and achievements were deserving of recognition. In my address to the community, I referred to a lines penned by Marianne Ferguson. I expressed that they were a beautiful articulation of what we want from all of our students – it is to empower them to display their God-given talents and abilities for all to see. The culture that this would create would be beyond amazing.

I also expressed my gratitude to our parents who have sought to positively support their child’s efforts throughout 2022. Working in partnership with our teachers, who want the best for all students, so much is possible.

Congratulations to all who walked the stage. Stand tall and be proud.  

Year 12 Graduation

Last Friday, the Seniors left our gates for the final time as students of the College. It was a wonderful celebration and it was great that the community were present to acknowledge this important milestone. The students were reminded that we value their uniqueness and that we pray they go forward, using what they have learnt here, to make the world a better place. The Reading and the Gospel highlighted that God calls each of us, regardless of how imperfect we are, to Live Christ’s Challenge.

We wish all the best for our 2022 Graduants. They are now alumni of the College and we look forward to sharing their story.

Year 7, 2023 Orientation Day

On Monday, 28^th November, we will welcome our 2023 Year 7 cohort for their Orientation Day. No doubt, they will be excited and so will the Student Leaders who will greet them and walk with them as they begin their journey at Chisholm Catholic College. 

It is a Pupil Free Day; however, if your student requires supervision, please contact us to make arrangements – scornubia@bne.catholic.edu.au

College Awards' Evening

Graduation - Class of 2022

Assistant Principal Religious Education's News

Vinnies Christmas Hamper Appeal

Thank you to the Chisholm community for the many generous donations. These items have been packaged and sent to St Vincent De Paul for delivery to local families in need in our area. In donating to this appeal, we are truly working towards our College Mission to Live Christ’s Challenge.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” Matthew 25:40.

Queensland Indigenous Youth Strategy

On Monday, a group of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students participated in the  Queensland Indigenous Youth Strategy online session. This was an amazing interactive opportunity for our young people to share their vision for a better future with the Queensland Government.  We heard from Myiesha, a past QATSIF student and a member of the Queensland Government Youth Strategy Engagement Panel and all of our students contributed to the discussion. Read below Leilani’s comments on the consultation.

‘Being able to participate in this meeting was an amazing opportunity. It was incredible to feel seen and heard as an indigenous student, and incredibly comforting to know that other indigenous students across our nation share similar opinions, views and issues as us. It was very validating to be able to share our experiences as indigenous people, and to brainstorm solutions to the issues faced. To have people in position of power take note of our feelings, and take our solutions and ideas into account was something that made everyone happy. To be involved in conversations that are taken into account by our government is important, and demonstrates commitment to reconciliation from many.’

Graduating Class of 2022

Farewell to our Class of 2022! It was a joyous occasion to share your Graduation with you, your family members and the College on Friday. May God Bless our 2022 Graduands and their families now and into the future.

Blessing on Our Year 12 Graduates

We ask the blessings of our Lord be upon you

May you be strengthened with the Spirit

To act justly, love tenderly and to walk humbly with God

And to always be people of faith, ambition, commitment, integrity, love and mercy.

May you be blessed with the spirit of Caroline Chisholm

To question what seems unjust

To serve those who are in need

To befriend the alienated and lonely

To dedicate yourself to God’s purpose

May you be blessed with the spirit of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

To value the poor and helpless

To include the marginalized

To treat all with dignity

May you Live Christ’s Challenge:

To serve,

To forgive,

To love.

Amen.

ADVENT

The Season of Advent marks the beginning of a new year in the liturgical calendar. It is the time of expectant waiting and remembering the birth of Jesus at Christmas. It is a significant Catholic tradition and celebration of the year.  The readings for Advent begin with a magnificent passage from the early chapters of Isaiah, the prophet whose writings will dominate the entire season. For the readings please follow the link  First Sunday of Advent Year A (australiancatholics.com.au)

Blessing for this Christmas Season

Whenever we gaze into the crib this Christmas season

May new hope and joy flood our spirit

Whenever we watch babies and young children playing

May a new energy delight our hearts

Whenever we are tantalised by the aroma of a bbq

May we unwind, relax and enjoy time off

Whenever the crush of family and friends overwhelms us

May the hospitality of our hearts expand

Whenever we provide a meal or bed over the holidays

May we experience love and appreciation

Whenever we spy our reflection in the mirror or pool

May we find ourselves to be images of God

Whenever we put our feet up for leisure

May the humble presence of the Incarnate One companion us

Whenever we feel our distance from each other around the world.

May the Christ child draw us into unity.

Amen

Assistant Principal - Curriculum's News

Study Fit for the Holidays

With the holidays in sight, it is a special time of the year when our students can recharge their batteries, spend time with their nearest and dearest and prepare for the New Year. 

Year 11 students transitioning into Year 12 especially, it is important that some of those preparations include some holiday study.  When our students come back to school in 2023, we want them to come in confident in their ability to succeed in their studies.  For our ATAR eligible students, this may be time spent on consolidating Unit 3, pre-reading their textbooks and summarising notes, it could also include creating ATAR study notebooks.  For students completing TAFE, this is an excellent opportunity to get ahead of the game and complete modules, catch up on any missed competencies or get some hands-on experience by seeking opportunities in their chosen field.

Fear not Middle School, there is plenty that you can be doing as well to maintain optimum brain power coming into 2023.  Suggestions include reading every day, completing challenging brain busters – sudoku, puzzles, crosswords etc. and spending time every day unplugged from digital devices. For reading inspiration, Readers Digest has published the Best 50 Books for Teens of all time: 50 Best YA Books for Teens of All Time — Must-Read Young Adult Books (rd.com).  How many have you read?

Assistant Principal - Staff and Students' News

 Uniform reminders: what to purchase for next year (commentary around review in Term 1 for T2 onwards); Behaviour; Attendance; Last Week Expectations 

UNIFORM 

Next week draws to a close the very successful trial of an alternative uniform. We have seen a dramatic reduction in the number of uniform infringements, and we thank all students and their families for their hard work to ensure the uniform guidelines are followed.  

For next year, we ask families to ensure they are ready to return to the college with the full and correct summer uniform. This includes: 

• Formal hats to be worn with the formal uniform.  
• Formal dress shoes to be worn with the formal uniform. Please note, this does not include Nike air forces or any other skate-style shoe. Please see the infographic below.  
• Runners to be worn with the sports uniform. Skate shoes or canvas shoes are not permitted.  

Students are reminded that jewellery should be limited to one necklace of religious significance and one set of sleepers or studs in ears. Piercings are not permitted at the college.  

Uniforms are available for purchase through the School Locker website.  

We thank families for their ongoing support of our uniform and its process.  

Attendance

As we are coming to the end of the 2022 school year, the College would like to acknowledge the increased attendance of our students. Throughout the year, we have seen a clear improvement towards our goal of 90% of students attending at least 90% of the time. Due to the continued impact of COVID-19 and the lockdowns at the start of the year, the attendance rate was lower than anticipated. In 2023, the College focus will be on improving student engagement, College pride with a positive effect on the attendance rate.

In the last week of school, the year 7 to 9 students are expected to attend on Tuesday and Wednesday as a prerequisite to joining the end of year excursion on Thursday. Students are encouraged to start to bring their materials home and clear their lockers, starting on Tuesday.

Although the Chisholm Catholic College students have completed most of their assessment, the teachers will continue to provide the students with subject related activities in their classes. We encourage students to continue to build positive relationships with their teachers and peers during these final days of the year.

We wish all students and parents/caregivers a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Middle Years Learning Leader's News

NAPLAN 2023

Purpose

In previous years, the National Assessment Program — Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) was held in May of each year. This year the Education Ministers agreed to move the test window, and NAPLAN will be held earlier next year, to the end of Term 1 in 2023.

Background

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment, and Reporting Authority (ACARA) is responsible for the central management of NAPLAN tests. The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) coordinates the administration, marking, and reporting of the tests in Queensland. The tests assess students in the areas of literacy (reading and writing) and numeracy.

Previously, NAPLAN has been held in the second week of May for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) notified schools that education ministers had agreed to move the test window for NAPLAN to Term 1. It will be held from Wednesday, 15^th to Monday, 27^th March (Weeks 8 to 10).

Moving the tests to Term 1, 2023 will have two benefits:

1. For our parents and carers, this point-in-time assessment provides parents and carers information about how their child is progressing in literacy and numeracy against the national standard and compared to their peers throughout Australia, earlier in the year.
2. At the classroom level, moving the tests forward means this data will be available earlier in the year to inform teaching and learning programs.

Practice Test

In 2023, practice tests are available, though no formal practice week will be conducted. As a school, we have been encouraged to participate in practice tests to check technical and student readiness or complete staff training.  Advice early next year will be provided to inform students in Years 7 and 9 when these will occur.

NAPLAN Tools

From 2022, all Queensland schools transitioned well to the online platform delivery of NAPLAN. This means that all students across Queensland sit their NAPLAN test online, using a computer. As you prepare for your student’s return to school next year, please ensure you include plug-in-headphones when shopping for school supplies, as these will be required for both the practice tests and NAPLAN tests. Please note: Bluetooth headphones cannot be used in NAPLAN.

NAP Resources

 The NAP resources page www.nap.edu.au/resources also has many documents including:

• NAPLAN information for parents/carers NAP - For parents and carers
• NAPLAN information brochure for parents/carers NAPLAN – information for parents and carers

Finding Out More

The latest information on the National Assessment Program (NAP) is available from the:

• NAP website nap.edu.au
• NAPLAN Online webpage www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment
• QCAA 2023 NAPLAN webpage www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/p-10/naplan/naplan-2023.

Further information regarding NAPLAN will be sent home in Term 1, 2023. If you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Mrs Elisabeth Lord

A – Middle Years Learning Leader

elord@bne.catholic.edu.au

Sport News

Chisholm Sport 2023 SECA Sign On

Preparation is underway for the 2023 SECA Sports year. All students from Year 7 to Year 12 are able to sign on for a SECA Sport/Activity in early 2023. If students really enjoyed a certain sport or activity this year, please talk with your mates and so you can all participate together again in 2023. It is important that students have registered their interest to play via ChisholmPlus+ in the first few weeks of Term 1 so the relevant information can be received. Further information regarding this will be communicated once the College resumes in Term 1, 2023.

Pacific District School Sport 2023 SECA Sign On

The Representative Sporting Calendar for 2023 is set and will begin in earnest, with the following nominations/trials being called in the first week back at the College in 2023. If students are interested they are to email Mr Ellis via College email, mathew.ellis@bne.catholic.edu.au to express their interest to participate. Students must be active members in the sport they are choosing to attend, these are not come and try trials. This is the beginning step of the Queensland Secondary School Sport pathway through to Qld Schoolboy/Schoolgirl and National Schools selection. 2023 will follow what occurred in 2022 with students and parents being emailed in the beginning of the school year a complete electronic sign on sheet for school representative sport that will be open until Week 3 of Term 1. We will not take any nominations after this point. Students are required to nominate for all 2023 trials via this form over this time period to allow the timely passing on of trial information as it comes to hand from the District Secretary and District Sport Convenors.

District Nominations Due:
Tuesday 24^th Jan 2023

• 16-19 Boys Cricket
• 13-19 Girls Softball
• 15-18 B&G Baseball
• 13-19 B&G Tennis

Wednesday 25^th Jan 2023

• 16-19 Girls Cricket
• 10-12 Boys Cricket
• 10-12 Girls Cricket
• 17 years B&G Water polo (Paper nomination)

District Trials 2023:

Wednesday 25^th Jan 2023

• 16-19 Boys Cricket

Friday 27^th Jan 2023

• 13-19 Girls Softball
• 15-18 B&G Baseball
• 13-19 B&G Tennis

Tuesday 31^st Jan 2023

• 16-19 G Cricket
• 10-12 B Cricket
• 10-12 G Cricket

Chisholm Sport 2022 Award Winners

The 2022 College Awards Night occurred last week and it was fantastic to be able to recognise all students who made valuable contributions to the College’s Sport programme. Well done to all students who received their Bronze, Silver, Gold level awards across the Interhouse Carnivals and Representative Sporting arenas. Please find below, the recipients of our major culminating awards:

Male Sportsman of Year – Locklan Ball

Female Sportswoman of Year (Alicia Coutts award) – Annika Vermeulen

Congratulations to…..

Thank you to all those parents and students who have notified the College Sport Department of your Sporting success in 2022. We are continually blown away by our student sporting achievements across a range of disciplines.

2022 Thankyou

Thank you to all students, parent, Chisholm staff and community members who have supported our College Sport Program this year. We wish everybody a safe and happy holiday time, recharge the batteries over this Christmas and New Year period as the 2023 sporting year is fast approaching!

Mr Mathew Ellis

Head of Sport

mathew.ellis@bne.catholic.edu.au

Tel: 3209 0700

Library News

NEW TITLES

There have been a lot of new titles added to our collection this term. Click on the linked image to find out more. These are just a few to whet your appetite!

The Upwelling (riverbendbooks.com.au)

The Insiders (riverbendbooks.com.au)

The Marvellers (The Marvellers, #1) (riverbendbooks.com.au)

Spark (riverbendbooks.com.au)

Where You Left Us (riverbendbooks.com.au)

Fake (riverbendbooks.com.au)

Indigo Moon (riverbendbooks.com.au)

Indigo Moon (riverbendbooks.com.au)

The First to Die at the End (riverbendbooks.com.au)

2023 Important Dates

2023 Bus Information and Updates

Chisholm Bus 1 Springwood / Bus 2 Redlands in 2023 

The Chisholm Bus Card needs to be retained for use in 2023.  Please ensure your student keeps it in a safe place, suggest their school bag, ready for start of the school year. 

If your student has lost their card, please email ChisholmBus@bne.catholic.edu.au to request a replacement card for 2023.  The cost of replacement cards is $5. 

All seats of the Chisholm Bus 1 Springwood and Chisholm Bus 2 Redlands have been allocated for 2023, confirmation emails have been issued. 

There is a waiting list for both Springwood and Redlands bus. 

Community News