Assumption College Warwick
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6 Locke Street
Warwick QLD 4370
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Email: acwarwick@twb.catholic.edu.au
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Assumption College Newsletter- 06 September 2022

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Assumption College Newsletter- 06 September 2022

By Mrs Liisa Hammond, Principal

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Luke 14:1.7-14

All who exalt themselves shall be humbled, and all who humble themselves shall be exalted.

This Gospel is also referred to as the endless wisdom of the table. In short, Jesus uses the metaphor of a dinner table and where you sit as a means to identify if you are humble or not. If you are an invited guest and sit on the right side of the host, you place yourself in a position of importance. Whilst we are all important, Jesus warns us that we should not place ourselves before others, as to do so is to ignore that we are all made in the image and likeness of God, and all have worth. Being humble does not mean putting yourself down nor thinking less of yourself; it is knowing your self-worth but not thinking that you are better than others. 

When I think of those who demonstrate humility, it is hard to go past Ash Barty. On her amazing journey to achieving the penultimate achievement in tennis, winning Wimbledon, she stated, “I feel very humble to be in such a select group … to be honest, I don’t really feel like I belong with those champions … there’s still work to be done, without a doubt. I’m still very much learning and trying to refine my craft and trying to learn every single day to get better and better.”  

The idea that someone of Barty’s calibre, someone who is ranked as one of the best (note not specifically female best but simply best) ever tennis players, is still learning her craft is a lesson for us all. Barty’s humility ensures her greatness and her ability to succeed no matter the arena in which she chooses to engage. Is this not the lesson we want for each of our young people and also for ourselves? No matter how much we know or think we know, there is always the possibility to do more, learn more, and be more. 

You cannot possibly write a re-contextualised piece on humility without discussing Pope Francis, who is often referred to as, The Humble Pope. Pope Francis has proven his humility, time and time again, even if it means breaking with tradition. On Maundy Thursday, where the Pope re-enacts Jesus’ washing of the Disciples’ feet by washing the feet of bishops, Pope Francis invited lay people from all walks of life to wash their feet. He demonstrated a humility that exalted his understanding that whilst he has been bestowed with a great title and great responsibility; it does not mean he is better than anyone else. Pope Francis, in his homily, stated:

In the eyes of men, the humble are seen as weak and losers, but in reality, they are the real winners because they are the only ones who trust completely in the Lord and know His will.

Imagine not having to seek out glory nor recognition for our achievements, but simply to trust that the Lord sees what we do, which is enough. 

Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the whole earth… (The Beatitudes) 

School Renewal Improvement Process

Over the past several weeks, I have had the privilege of being a panel member for reviews of schools and principals within our diocese. This is a timely activity given that Assumption College’s Review will occur in Term 4 this year. As a College, we are reviewed on the following five (5) School Renewal and Improvement (SRI) domains and components: 

Domain 1 Engaged students, personalised learning 

1.1 Know the students and develop expert learners 

1.2 Know the curriculum and lead effective teaching 

1.3 Use high impact teaching strategies that personalise and connect learning 

The school is driven by a deep belief that every student is capable of successful learning. A high priority is given to building and maintaining positive and caring relationships between staff, students and parents. There is a strong collegial culture of mutual trust and support among teachers and school leaders, and parents are treated as partners in the promotion of student learning and wellbeing. The school works to maintain a learning environment that is safe, respectful, tolerant, inclusive, and that promotes intellectual rigour. There is a focus on evidence-based practice. 

Domain 2 Being distinctively Catholic 

2.1 Religious education and pedagogical practices 

2.2 Religious life of the school and the integration of faith, life, teaching and culture 

The school explicitly operates as a Catholic school with a distinctive Catholic identity. Staff, students, and parents/carers share in the narrative and charism encompassing the school, so education about its ongoing story involves all in the school’s community. In collaboration and partnership with families and parishes, the school prepares young people to live as Christians in the world. The Catholic Identity of the school enables it to be an instrument of the evangelising mission of the Church. There is an expectation that Religious Education will engage students in thinking about their own spiritual development. The Catholic tradition of valuing academic learning is clearly present in the school, including in Religious Education, which is taught with similar rigour to all other subjects.  

Domain 3 Staying on mission 

3.1 An explicit improvement agenda 

3.2 Analysis and discussion of data 

3.3 School and community partnerships 

The school leadership team has established and is driving a strong improvement agenda for the school, grounded in evidence from research and practice and expressed in both qualitative and quantitative measures of improvements in student achievement and behaviour. Explicit and clear school-wide targets for improvement have been set and communicated to parents and families, teachers and students, with accompanying timelines. 

Domain 4 Collective efficacy 

4.1 Goal consensus 

4.2 Empowerment  

4.3 Supportive leadership 

4.4 Cohesive staff knowledge 

4.5 Embedded practices 

The school is led in a direction that develops and grows collective efficacy, based on the collective self-perception that teachers in a school make an educational difference to their students over and above the educational impact of their homes and communities. This is evident in attributes that convey high expectations to students and foster learner autonomy. Staff are supported in building collegiality and trying new approaches based on effective practices, setting challenging goals for students and working collaboratively in attending closely to the needs of students who require extra assistance. 

Domain 5 Using resources wisely 

5.1 Human resources 

5.2 Physical resources 

5.3 Financial resources 

The school applies its resources (staff, time, expertise, funds, facilities and materials) in a targeted manner to meet the learning and wellbeing needs of all students. It has school-wide policies, practices and programs in place to assist in identifying and addressing student needs. Flexible structures and processes enable the school to respond appropriately to the needs of individual learners. 

During the review, members of our community, including parents/guardians, students, staff and others will be interviewed by a panel that currently consists of Kort Goodman (Peer Principal), Maryanne Walsh (Senior Educational Leader – TCSO), John Coman (Consultant and ex-Senior Educational Leader – TCSO) and Jim Midgley (Director Teacher and Learning – TCSO). There will be two questions asked:

  1. What is the College doing well?
  2. What would you like to see for the future of the College?

These two questions may seem familiar to those who attended our Listening Forums in Semester 1, 2022. That was a deliberate move on my behalf; being new to the community, I wanted the opportunity to listen to all stakeholders as we look to construct our new strategic plan for 2023 – 2026. 

This is an exciting opportunity for our College to re-envision and re-affirm the excellent work that is already happening within our context and to also look to the future to safeguard our commitment to ensuring the academic and wellbeing success of our students through rigorous, authentic, and responsive learning experiences.

May Our Mother Mary grant her blessings upon our College community.  

2022 Term Dates

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If you wish to submit a newsletter article, please email to acwarwick@twb.catholic.edu.au by Wednesday, 14 September 2022. Please note that all articles are subject to the Principal's approval. 

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R U OK? Day – Thursday, September 8 2022

It’s a national day of action when we remind Australians that every day is the day to  ask, ‘are you OK?’ and start a meaningful conversation whenever they spot the signs that someone they care about might be struggling with life.

The research has found four in ten Australians feel asking someone “are you OK?” is a conversation better had with an expert.

However, R U OK? want you to know you don’t need qualifications to have an R U OK? conversation. 

The work of health professionals is vital, and their value cannot be underestimated however we can all play a role in supporting the people in our world. 

You don’t need to be an expert to have an R U OK? conversation. Listening and giving someone your time might be just what they need to help them through.

Ask R U OK? No qualifications needed, because a conversation could change a life.

A free presentation will be streamed online Host an Event on R U OK?Day | R U OK? at midday (AEST) on R U OK?Day Thursday 8 September.

Students will discuss the National Day of Action in PC on Thursday with their peers and PC teachers.

Camps and Retreats.

It has come to our attention that there are a significant number of students who are opting out of the Year 8, 9, 10 Camp and Year 12 Retreat.  Camps are a College event that we consider carefully and ensure that it is a valuable experience for their personal development. 

Please be aware of the following in regards to camps:

  • Attendance at camps is a College expectation. While there are always extenuating circumstances, these are exceptions and the vast majority of students should attend.
  • These exceptional circumstances should be negotiated with your child’s Pastoral Academic Leader, Deputy Principal, Anna Hardy or with the Principal, Mrs Liisa Hammond.
  • If your child is not going to camp, they are expected to be at school unless they are absent for medical reasons.
  • These camps are an important part of the College’s Pastoral and Wellbeing program, Spiritual Development or Curriculum expectations for each student.
  • If the cost of this retreat is prohibitive, financial support is available through the College. Please contact the Principal to explore these options. No student will miss out on an opportunity because of financial reasons. This is a barrier, that as a College, we can remove for families. 

Finally, as your partners in the education of your child, we are asking for your support of what will be an important experience for your child. A significant amount of time and work has gone in to making this experience a transformative one, one that they will remember well into the future.

Uniforms

In Term 4, students will return to their Summer uniform.  For girls, the summer skirt can be worn with white socks or alternatively they can continue to wear the navy trousers.  The skirt must brush the knee.  Please ensure that they are no shorter than the knee.  Boys are able to return to wearing their shorts, with their socks pulled up at all times. 

Year 11 and 12 students are not required to wear their blazer to and from school in the Summer months; however, senior ties must be worn at all times. 

The September holidays are an excellent opportunity to check all pieces of uniform and get them ready for Term 4. Please ensure that on return to school students have the appropriate hair styles, that is, neat and tidy and no extreme styles like a mullet. Your support in ensuring your children have the correct uniform and that they are appropriately dressed for the first day of Term 4, is appreciated. Breaches to the uniform policy will result in suspensions. 

I believe that there are two key aspects in ensuring that we are providing the best opportunities for students to achieve their potential. Firstly, we must set high standards and challenge our students to strive to meet them and secondly, we must have good partnerships with our families.

The high expectations we have of our students include; wearing their uniform perfectly both inside and outside of the College grounds, attending school every day, participating in all College events, striving for their best academically and demonstrating respectful behaviour and using their manners on all occasions. Furthermore, our students understand that it is not appropriate to use foul language, intimidate or bully others or to be aggressive and/or argumentative when corrected for inappropriate behaviour. 

While we have these high expectations of our students, we cannot be successful without the support of you, the parents and caregivers.

By Mr Michael Simpson, Assistant Principal Curriculum 

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Year 10 SET Plans

Year 10 students’ preparation for their senior schooling continues this week with SET-Plan meetings. The SET Plan maps out how your child will work towards a Senior Certificate or Certificate III vocational qualification, or a viable work option. Parents play a critical role in helping their children discover and plan a personal pathway through education and training.

The SET Plans are designed to:

  • Work as a ‘road map’ to help students to achieve their learning goals during the Senior Phase of Learning
  • Include flexible and coordinated pathway options
  • Assist students to examine options across education, training and employment sectors

This is an essential process, and we look forward to meeting with parents and students to discuss their future pathways.

Assessment

The term is now over halfway complete, so students must begin to review their study routines in preparation for any examinations. Below are some suggestions of things to avoid when preparing for exams:

  1. Cramming

Cramming is about storing facts in short-term memory, usually the night before an exam. It might get you through the test, but more likely your memory won’t help you when you are asked to solve complex problems. It is better to work through the course material systematically in the weeks leading up to the exam.

    2. Reviewing

Re-reading or reviewing notes tends to trigger your familiarity rather than test your more in-depth understanding of the material. If you’re going to review, ask yourself these questions:

  • What does that mean?
  • How does it work?
  • Why is it important?
  • How is it connected to other things?

   3. Not getting enough sleep

Not sleeping enough, especially the night before an exam, is physiologically counterproductive to learning and thinking clearly.

Assessment Policy Reminder

In the Mercy and Christian Brothers tradition, Assumption College is committed to the educational philosophy that encourages all students to achieve personal excellence in their desired pathways. With assessment fast approaching, it is essential that parents and students familiarise with the Assumption College Assessment Policy.

This assessment policy incorporates the roles, responsibilities, processes and procedures used by Assumption College to ensure academic integrity concerning the completion of work and the submission of assessments (including exams).  

The roles and responsibilities outlined apply to all Assumption College students, parents/guardians and staff, and comply with policies and procedures set down by the QCAA (Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority) and the College.

It includes procedures and processes for:

  • Promoting academic integrity
  • Managing academic misconduct
  • Applying for AARA (Access Arrangements and Reasonable Adjustments)
  • The submission of assessments (including both internal and external tasks) and the administration of the external assessment.

Conducting assessments within the Senior Years (Years 10-12) is to ensure that all assessments will be valid, accessible and reliable. Assessment activities will be created by cooperative teamwork, (where there is more than one specialist teacher), or the responsible teachers working with the Assistant Principal - Curriculum. The Assistant Principal - Curriculum has oversight of the Curriculum and Assessment in Years 7-12. All QCAA processes must be followed in the first instance for Years 11 and 12 assessments.

The assessment policy can be found on the College website. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the College.

Year 12 preparation for examinations

Student expectations

  1. Students are to wear full school uniform when attending exams
  2. Students are not to wear the uniform in town at any time
  3. Do not attempt to gain access to or receive information about any external assessment.
  4. Do not allow someone else to sit an external assessment on your behalf.
  5. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your assessment. Contact Mr Simpson immediately if you will arrive late for your assessment.
  6. Bring your own approved equipment. You may use a clear plastic container or Ziplock bag to carry it in.
  7. Place all prohibited materials in your bag or locker before entering the assessment room.
  8. Bags must be stored outside the room.
  9. Do not bring food into the assessment room unless you have AARA approval.
  10. Follow all directions given by supervisors.
  11. Line up in an orderly manner outside the assessment room and follow directions regarding behaviour and equipment checks.
  12. Do not enter the room until instructed.
  13. Once you enter the room do not speak to anyone except a supervisor — raise your hand and wait quietly.
  14. Sit at the desk identified by your place card.
  15. If you have a water bottle, place it on the floor when not in use.
  16. Remove your watch and place it in clear view on your desk (Note: smart watches and fitness trackers are prohibited). Equipment may be removed from a container or ziplock bag and placed on your desk.
  17. Do not pick up any writing equipment or touch a calculator during perusal time.
  18. Do not write in the response book or touch a calculator during planning time.
  19. Do not cheat or help others to cheat. All work submitted must be your own. Do not look at or copy another student’s work.
  20. Do not ask to borrow equipment from other students. Do not communicate in any way with any other student.
  21. Do not ask anyone to explain or interpret an assessment item.
  22. If you need additional assessment materials, or need to leave the room, signal a supervisor by raising your hand and wait quietly.
  23. Carefully follow the instructions written on all your assessment materials.
  24. Do not write or draw any offensive content on your assessment materials.
  25. Keep your response books intact. Do not remove any pages or parts of pages.
  26. Stop writing immediately when instructed to do so by a supervisor.
  27. Remain seated and silent while your assessment materials are collected and checked.
  28. Do not leave the assessment room until instructed by a supervisor.
  29. Do not take any assessment materials with you when you leave the room — including place cards, planning paper, stimulus books and question books.

Approved and prohibited materials

  • All approved equipment should be in a clear plastic container or a zip-lock bag
  • All calculators must be in exam mode before entering the examination room

The approved materials are as follows:

    • black or blue pens
    • 2B pencil, sharpener and eraser

Note: a 2B pencil is required for responding to multiple-choice questions and drawing graphs or diagrams. A black or blue pen must be used for all other written responses.

  • highlighters
  • a clear plastic ruler
  • water in a clear unlabelled bottle

Prohibited materials are as follows:

  • mobile phone
  • smartwatch or fitness tracker
  • any other electronic device that stores, retrieves, displays or communicates digital information
  • correction fluid or correction tape
  • a dictionary
  • erasable pens
  • blank paper, notes, any printed/written material
  • tissues
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By Mrs Carol Sharp, Assistant Principal Religious Education

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The Ponytail Project

What an amazing community effort this has been. Our team for the Ponytail Project 2022, ‘Sandra’s Legacy’, has raised over $4,400 so far! There is still plenty of time to contribute to this worthwhile cause. Simply follow this link to the donation page. All funds raised will go towards essential cancer support services, prevention programs and lifesaving research. This means everything from transport to get cancer patients to and from their medical appointments, to assisting childcare facilities to keep kids safe from the sun.

We also have a growing number of students and teachers who are committing to #rockthechop. The big day is Friday, 9th September so keep those donations coming in.

Year 12 Retreat

Due to COVID over the past two years, our Year 12 retreat has been modified to a one-day retreat held on campus. This year, however, we are very happy to be able to provide a full and proper retreat experience for our senior class. From Wednesday, 14 September 2022 to Friday, 16 September 2022, Year 12 students will be participating in a retreat held at Bestbrook Mountain Resort. This retreat is an important part of the pastoral program for our students and is designed to provide them with an opportunity to take a break from their studies and exam preparation, and reflect on their learning and wellbeing journeys. The ‘Road to Emmaus’ retreat will also provide opportunities for students to engage with a range of activities that will challenge them to consider their journey so far, the journey ahead, and those who have supported, guided and inspired them. We wish our Year 12s the best for their retreat and hope they have a truly transformative experience.

Prayer

Thursday, 1 September was the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. With our liturgical theme for the year being drawn from Pope Francis’ Laudato Si, it seems an appropriate day to emphasise in our prayer this week.

Pope Francis’ ‘A Prayer for Our Earth’ is printed below. There is also a video adaptation of the prayer available by clicking this link.

A Prayer for Our Earth (excerpt)

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe

and in the smallest of your creatures.

You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.

Pour out upon us the power of your love,

that we may protect life and beauty.

Fill us with peace, that we may live 

as brothers and sisters, harming no one.

 

O God of the poor,

help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,

so precious in your eyes.

Bring healing to our lives, 

that we may protect the world and not prey on it,

that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.

 

Touch the hearts

of those who look only for gain

at the expense of the poor and the earth.

Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,

to be filled with awe and contemplation,

to recognize that we are profoundly united

with every creature

as we journey towards your infinite light.

 

We thank you for being with us each day.

Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle

for justice, love and peace.

A Christian prayer in union with creation

Praise be to you!

Amen.

For the full prayer, please visit Laudato Si - A Prayer for the Earth

By Mr Thomas Duggan, Sports Coordinator

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Most recently, the College had several students attend Darling Downs track and field trials in Toowoomba. The College was well represented by our athletes across the three days with all of them  putting in their best efforts.

Congratulations to all students who attended the trials and a special congratulations to the following students who have qualified to attend the State Championship Track and Field Carnival to be held later in the year:

  • Jack Burton
    • 200m sprint
  • Denika Murray
    • 100m sprint
    • 200m sprint
    • Long jump
    • Triple jump
    • Javelin
  • Samuel Wainwright
    • 100m sprint
    • 200m sprint
    • Long jump
  • Riley Wainwright
    • Long Jump
  • Mikayla O’Neil
    • Shot Put
    • Discus
  • Alyssa White
    • Discus

By Mrs Mary-Anne Driver, Library Aide

Book Week

What a wonderful week we had celebrating books and reading!  Senior English had prerecorded a different story book to be played each day in PC and it was great for students to listen to their friends reading a story to them to start the day.

We had different competitions each day in the library that were enjoyed by many.  Our movie and popcorn activity on Wednesday was very popular! We watched a short film called Ali 707 based on a true story set in the Woomera Detention Centre. 

On Friday there was a scavenger hunt in the library. Students participated fantastically, getting into teams, and racing around to different sections of the library based on clues about colours on the cover, genres, author’s initial and many more cryptic hints. It was encouraging to see how well some students know the layout of our library and how helpful they were to those who are still learning where everything is.

The week culminated in a dress up day on Friday.  As you can see from the photos, we had a fun day with lots of students and staff participating. The most creative costume was The Fantastic Mr. Fox, winner of the best dressed was Dr Alan Grant from Jurassic Park, and the best group was Shrek and friends. Best dressed teacher was awarded to Boba Fett! We also had eight Where’s Wally look - alikes wandering around the school for the day and we made our very own Where’s Wally picture!

Overall, it was inspiring to see so many students and staff celebrate a love of books and reading together. We hope the week will be even bigger and better next year!

Our next big project is in the last week of term.  During Week 10, we will be doing a stocktake of our collections. Please note that the library will have limited services at this time as it is a huge undertaking.

Year 9 Agricultural Excursion 

Year 9 students had a successful excursion to Wilsonton Agricultural Field Studies Centre. After a brief tour of the facility, students engaged in a theory lesson about aquaponics and then spent some time in the centres aquaponics facility. Students planted water chestnuts into filter media, weighed live fish and retrieved worms from the facilities ‘carbon garden’. The aquaponics facility had four harvestable products, jade perch, red claw, freshwater mussels and water chestnuts. We express our gratitude to WAFSC for their hospitality. 

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Assumption College Showcase
Last Friday evening the College was blessed to have the Senior Music Cohort showcase their beautiful performances for family, friends and staff. Leading into the showcase performers excitedly got together to run through each performance and began to feel the butterflies.
The evening started off with a heartwarming opening act from the Year 10 Music Class. From that moment the audience was taken through a roller coaster as we experienced heart - break, excitement and genuine rocking out through the solo acts and group ensemble performances from our Seniors.
A massive congratulations should go out to these students for their amazing hard work and their magnificent performances; Sebastian Scurr, Porscha Mathie, Erin Walsh, Holly Aspinall, Rachael Jordan, Isabel Natividad, Jorja Lepp and Keira Mitchell.
Thank you for a wonderous evening Year 12's it was lovely to hear you all play one last time and Year 11's and 10's we can not wait to hear you all perform again next year!
Father's Day Breakfast 2022
On Thursday, 01 September 2022 we celebrated our Father's Day Breakfast at St James' Hall. It was a wonderful morning with lovely company and great food! Thank you to all the father's and father figures who celebrated with us.
We are very thankful for all you do and we wish you a very Happy Father's Day on Sunday. A big thank you also to all of our staff who made this wonderful event happen!
Year 7 Transition Afternoon 
On Thursday, 01 September 2022 Assumption College hosted it's second Year 7 2023 Transition Afternoon. It was wonderful to see so many happy faces through our gates once again and to see all the fun activites the students participated in throughout the afternoon. 
We look forward to welcoming many of these students to our College in 2023. 
Disability Participation Day

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Junior Cricket Gala Day and Junior Sign On
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Self Defence Program 
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Toowoomba Softball Association
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