9 November 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Message:

By Mr Kort Goodman - Principal

Dear Students, Parents and Caregivers

This week we have been greatly saddened by the tragic accident that took the life of Basil Nolan. As a number of you would be aware, Basil attended Assumption College as a student and he is the much-loved father of Basil Jnr and Lily who currently attend our College. This is a terribly sad time for the family and for our community as we gather to provide support for each other.

This week we pray for Basil Nolan, his family and the community who are supporting the Nolan family, this week, next week and in the months to come.

Father God

We pray for the Nolan family that are today grieving the tragic loss of Basil who they loved dearly.
Lord, heal the hurting, be with the Nolan family and give them strength to go on.
Be with the Nolan children and heal their broken little lives and hearts.
Provide love and nurturing through those who are supporting them.
Touch them with your healing hand today.
May the Holy Spirit speak peace to their hearts.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray.
Amen.

Year 12 Final Weeks

Today marks the second last Friday of secondary schooling for our Year 12 students. Monday will see the last of our Year 12 seniors complete their assessment before participating in a range of final week activities. These activities include our Annual Presentation Night, Graduation Mass, Year 12 Fun Day, and on Tuesday the Year 12 students will participate in their final Pastoral Care Class gathering. This pastoral care class gathering is an opportunity for the students in Years 7 to 11 to farewell the Year 12 students and to thank them for the support and guidance they have provided the younger students during their senior years. It also provides the Year 12 students the chance to say thank you to their PC teachers and fellow students. Following this gathering the students will join with their parents and the College Pastoral Leaders to attend a memories day lunch, where they will reflect on their years at Assumption College and be addressed by former Assumption College student Caitlyn Gribbon. Caitlyn is a national television, radio and online journalist for ABC News and has been working as a reporter for almost a decade. She grew up in Warwick and attended Assumption College and St Mary’s primary school. Most recently, Caitlyn has been a federal political reporter based at Parliament House in Canberra. She has also worked for the ABC in Brisbane, Perth, Bundaberg and Mount Isa. Caitlyn has reported for programs including 7.30, Lateline and Landline and national radio current affairs. She is a three-time finalist for the prestigious Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism and she has also won two Walkley Young Australian Journalist of the Year awards. We greatly look forward to Caitlyn sharing her story and experiences with us.

Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Year 12 students on the excellent manner in which they have completed the year. They have been respectful of our community and grateful for the efforts of the staff and the opportunities they have been provided with. Well done Year 12 students! Thank you for your contributions during your time as the senior leaders of Assumption College and best wishes for the future. We very much hope that one day we will be able to call upon you to come and speak to the students of our great College, as we have called upon Caitlyn.

College Leaders for 2019

Over the last two weeks the Year 11 students who have nominated for College Leadership positions for 2019 have presented a speech to their peers, the Year 10 and 12 students and a number of staff and have been interviewed by a member of the College Leadership Team. I would like to personally congratulate all of the students who nominated for a position. Your speeches were first class and your responses to the interview questions highlighted the wonderful pride and respect you have for our College, your fellow students and yourselves.

On Monday just gone at our College assembly we announced our College Leaders for 2019;

College Leader (Faith and Social Justice) – Nathaniel Ryan
College Leader (Academic and Digital Technologies) – Taylah Hoffman
College Leader (Cultural) – Amy Harrison
College Leader (Sporting) – Jack Duggan

Donovan House Leaders – Joshua Forbes & Jarrod Grayson

McAuley House Leaders – Sophie Otten & Kaitlin Thorne

Rice House Leaders – Shikya Clark & Jade Moon

Romero House Leaders – Chris Henderson & Simone Gard

Congratulations to these students on their election to these positions.

Have a lovely week

Kort

TERM 4 – 2018 DATE CLAIMERS

Pastoral Care News:

By Mr Craig Frattini, Deputy Principal

Parenting Ideas Insights

How To Help Your Kids Cope When Someone Close to Them Dies

By Michael Grose

When somebody close dies it can be difficult to help your kids cope with their grief, especially as you struggle to work through your own. What kids understand about death depends on how old they are, what they have experienced in their life, and also their personality type.

In all cases though, death must be explained in a child’s terms, and you must be honest with them and encourage them to ask questions, even though you may not have all the answers.

The following practical tips and ideas will help you to help your child cope when somebody close to them dies:

• When discussing the death with your children, it is important you let them know you are there for them and that there is no right or wrong way to feel. You should also explain that everybody deals with death in their own way.
• Any spiritual beliefs you have around death can be shared at this point. This can provide some comfort to the child.
• Until they are around five or six years old, a child views the world quite differently to you. So when explaining that somebody has died, you could simply say that the loved one’s heart stopped working and the doctor wasn’t able to fix it, or something like that to help them understand what has happened.
• It is difficult for children to understand that all people will eventually die and never come back, so be patient with them if they continue to ask when they are going to see them next, or when they are coming back.
• Kids are very curious creatures and may want to know where the loved one is now. If they have been buried, your answer may simply be “At the cemetery”, and of course if your spiritual beliefs include the existence of heaven or something similar, then you could tell them that they are now in heaven.
• As your kids get older and in particular into their teens, they begin to gain a full understanding of what death means, so you can talk to them quite differently – more at your level – about the death.
• Whether it is okay to take your child to a funeral or not depends totally on the situation surrounding the death, and how you and your child feel about them attending. No child should be forced to attend a funeral if they really don’t want to.
• You should talk to your child about the funeral beforehand, explaining to them what will happen, such as seeing the casket, and of course the fact that there will be people there who may be crying.
• If you are worried about letting your kids witness your own grief, don’t be. Allowing them to see your pain allows them to see that crying is a natural reaction to losing someone close. It will also make them feel more comfortable in sharing how they feel.

While children will not show their grief in the same way as an adult, they will grieve in their own way. A teen may not be comfortable confiding in you, but will be able to talk through their grief with a friend, but whatever their reaction you should not take it personally.

It is important at this point to watch for any signs that your child is not coping with the loss. Any significant behavioural changes such as anger, being withdrawn, being extremely anxious or even a dramatic reduction in their grades at school should be taken seriously, and you should therefore seek professional help.

Grieving the loss of a loved one is a gradual process, and it is important you remain patient with your child as they learn to deal with losing someone they love. By offering them support and encouragement, they will be able to cope in their own way.

Michael Grose

Michael Grose, founder of Parenting Ideas, is one of Australia’s leading parenting educators. He’s the author of 10 books for parents including Thriving! and the best-selling Why First Borns Rule the World and Last Borns Want to Change It, and his latest release Spoonfed Generation: How to raise independent children.

APRE News:

By Mrs Kate Cullen, APRE

Student Fundraising Efforts

There has been a range of fundraising events happening across the last fortnight and thank you very much to everyone involved in any way in these events for the Morcombe Foundation, Drought Relief, Catholic Missions and Saint Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal.

Just a reminder with the Christmas Appeal the final day is Monday the 19th of November so that we can tidy up and present the baskets for special delivery.

Assumption College Founder Charism

The College was founded when the Christian Brothers and Mercy Sisters were combined to create the co-education Catholic College – Assumption College. Here is some information about one of our charisms founders as in the next fortnight is her Saints day on the 14th of November:

Catherine McAuley

Catherine Elizabeth McAuley was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1778. From the time she was a young child, Catherine saw her parents living their Catholic faith through service to the poor. After her parents died, Catherine lived with Protestant relatives who wanted her to become a member of their church. Catherine remained true to the Catholic faith.

When Catherine was 25, she was invited to be a live-in companion to a wealthy retired couple. Her faith and loving care for them and the needy people in the neighbourhood was a powerful example for them, and they both became Catholic before they died. They left their fortune to Catherine.

This inheritance gave Catherine the money she needed to establish a house to serve people in need. Catherine purchased property and a large house was built. It was called the “House of Mercy” and opened in 1827. It included a church, school, a work area for training the residents for jobs, and dormitories for the poor and any women who wished to join Catherine in her ministry.

Catherine did not wish to form a religious order. Nuns in Ireland in those days spent most of their time cloistered away from the people Catherine was determined to serve. Catherine knew that to be a real help to the poor and needy, she needed to be among them so that she could see the realities of the struggles they faced on a daily basis.

The Archbishop of Dublin convinced Catherine that becoming a religious order would help her to serve more people. Catherine agreed, and she and two friends began training to become nuns. When they took their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, they were allowed to include a vow of service to the poor, sick, and uneducated. Catherine’s order, the Religious Sisters of Mercy, was born in 1831. The nuns wore plain clothing and were known in Ireland as the “walking nuns” because they spent so much time in the community helping people.

Catherine died in 1841. Today there are more than 12,000 Sisters of Mercy worldwide. They run 200 health care facilities, 19 colleges, and 58 schools and provide many other services that help people of every age.

Pope John Paul II declared Sister Catherine McAuley “Venerable” in 1990. This is the first step on the path to sainthood. Catherine always said that “proof of love is deed.” Like Catherine McAuley, we can let our kind and caring deeds be the proof of our love for Jesus and others.

If you want to learn about the heritage centre in Brisbane

Curriculum News:

By Mrs Anna Hardy, Assistant Principal—Curriculum

ICAS

Congratulations to all the students who sat the ICAS UNSW Science, English and Maths tests. Participation, Merit, Credit and Distinction certificates were presented to students at assembly.

A special mention to the students who were awarded Distinctions:

Science:

Year 8 – Molly Cullen

English:

Year 8 – Molly Cullen
Year 11 – Taylah Hoffman

Maths:

Year 8 – Molly Cullen

Exam Blocks

Year 11 exam block will run from 26th – Friday 30th November. All students will have normal classes up until these commencement dates. This will allow maximum amount of class time to prepare for their assessments. Exam block information (including the timetable) will be distributed to Year 11s in the coming weeks.

Semester Two Reports

Please make sure the college office has your current mailing address as reports will be sent home during the first week of the holidays.

End of Year 12 Information

A reminder to Year 12 students to ensure they have accessed their Learner Account through the Student Connect website below. Students will need their LUI numbers and password to login and access their OPs from 9 am on Saturday 15th December. Students will be able to access their results more quickly if they have previously activated their learning account.

From 9am on Wednesday 14th November students will be able to access their individual QCS Test results – from A to E – in their learning account (on the Student Connect website). These results will also be included in their Senior Statement at the end of the year.

From 9am on Monday 17th December students will begin receiving their Senior Education Profiles in the mail. Depending on individual student’s circumstances and results, each profile will comprise one or more of the following documents:

• QCE
• Tertiary Entrance Statement
• Senior Statement
• Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement.

We wish the Year 12’s the very best for their last exam block and their final weeks at school.

Student Pathway News:

By Mrs Alison Porter, Program Leader Student Pathways

Apprenticeship, Traineeship and Job Vacancies

Currently we are aware of several opportunities available to students for 2019. Information regarding these has been on the school notices and emailed to students. Please see the list of local opportunities below:

• Full-time butchery apprenticeship (2 positions for Year 12 school leavers)
• Stock worker (Feedlot)
• Full-time electrical apprenticeship (for Year 12 school leaver)
• Road Tek Civil Construction Traineeship and a Mobile Plant Mechanic apprenticeship (for Year 12 school leaver)
• Full-time Retail Traineeship (Yangan)
• School-based traineeship in hospitality (would include weekend work)
• School-based traineeship in business administration (for current Year 10 students).

Reminder that we are offering the Certificate II in Rural Operations to our current Year 10 students to study as an elective in 2019. Any students who are interested in completing this course and haven’t selected it in their 2019 subject selection should see me as soon as possible.

Tertiary Studies Application

I have been encouraging our Year 12 OP eligible students to make their application to QTAC for their university courses in 2019. I have had several sessions to support students with this but have encouraged them to make application and discuss their ‘final’ preferences with me. There are some ‘tricks’ to making the application and it is important that students order their course preferences in a manner that ensures they don’t miss out on any course offers. Any students that would like to discuss their university course preferences or like a final check over their application should see me as soon as possible.

New Website for Higher Education Courses

Courseseeker.edu.au, the brand new national higher education admissions information platform, is now live. The platform has been developed by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training, in partnership with QTAC and other state Tertiary Admissions Centres (TACs) as a tool for assisting prospective students to make the seemingly impossible choice of where and what to study, and how to gain admission.

The platform was a recommendation by the Higher Education Standards Panel in their Improving the Transparency of Higher Education Admissions report released in October 2016. Courseseeker.edu.au aims to improve admissions transparency across Australia, becoming a single point of contact for a prospective student to explore their options across the country in a simple, intuitive format. Students, parents and careers advisers are able to make comprehensive side by side comparisons on all courses available in Australia, including information about entry requirements, admissions processes, institutions and more. For further information, please visit the link below.

Australian Defence Force Careers

• Defence Careers Information Session – Wednesday 21st November, 6pm at the City Golf Club, Toowoomba – 254 South Street.
• Women in Defence Information Session – Monday 26th November, 5.30pm. This information session will provide an opportunity to engage with a current serving female members of the Australian Defence Force and discuss not only the recruiting process, but also life in the Australian Defence Force as a female. Held at the Defence Force Recruiting, Milne Bay Training Depot, O'Quinn Street, Toowoomba

Email twbcpt@dfr.com.au or call 131901 to secure your seat at these sessions.

Raymont Student Accommodation

Last but not least…

Best wishes to our Year 12 students for their final week! As a parting ‘pathways’ gift in conjunction with the local BEST (Bringing Employers & Schools Together) group, I have provided a ‘School Leavers Kit’ and booklet to each Year 12 student. The kit contains flyers, gifts and information to support our students in their transition from school to work or further education. Local youth, employment and education services generously donated to the kit and the school leavers booklet was developed by the office of The Hon. David Littleproud MP. Thank you to all contributors and a big thanks to the Gateway to Training Group for their services in packing all of the kits. I hope our Year 12 students find them useful and wish the students all the best for their future.

SBA Morning Tea

We would like to congratulate the following Year 12 school-based trainees and apprentices on their success and hard work during their senior schooling:

These students have combined work, training and school to pave the way for their future. Last week we gathered with these students at a special morning tea to celebrate their achievements and thank the parents, trainers and local employers who have supported these students in their traineeships and apprenticeships.

Library News:

By Mrs Carmel Wooding & Mrs Mary-Anne Driver

We are starting to recall books. The library will be closed in Week 8 to allow time for us to stocktake. If you see any library or text books at home, please remind your child to drop them into the library.

Chess News

Regional Chess Tournament: On Monday, November 19 we are hosting the inaugural Warwick Regional Chess Tournament. We have engaged Gardiner Chess from the Gold Coast to officiate this competition and have invited schools from all around the region. This competition is open to students from Year 4 upwards and is an awesome opportunity for students to have fun and achieve in the area of chess. Entry will be $15 per student and entry forms are available at the library. This will be an awesome opportunity for our students – please feel free to email Carmel Wooding carmel.wooding@twb.catholic.edu.au to receive a digital copy of the entry form.

School Counsellor:

By Mrs Jenny Gillespie

On Wednesday morning this week, following the tragic news of the sudden passing of a parent of two of our students, we opened up the library as a ‘quiet’ space that students could visit if they were feeling distressed.

During lessons 1, 2 and first recess distressed students were given the opportunity to express themselves in the library and were supported by conversation, card writing and care from peers and various members of Assumption College staff and the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office. A large number of students utilised this area for brief periods before settling and returning to regular classes.

We thank Toowoomba Catholic School Office for their support of our school community during this difficult time and wish to advise families that Catholic Care (formerly Centacare) is available in Warwick and provides professional grief counselling services. We encourage families to access Catholic Care on 1300 477 433 as needed or to contact myself on 4660 4000 or other members of staff if support is required.

Business News:

By Mr Scott Clegg, Business Manager.

Term 4 School fees are due 23rd November 2018. Your students 2019 textbook hire forms were sent with the account. Please fill in and return to the office as soon as possible. If you have a direct debit please review your payment plan for 2019. One student per week is $75 for 52 weeks. Two students $105 per week for 52 weeks. Three students $150.00 per week for 52 weeks. This does NOT include camps, excursions or projects as not all students participate in these events.

General Notices:

The ACW Annual Writing Competition

The Year 2018 saw the return of the ACW Annual Writing Competition, a school tradition that is growing stronger every year. This year, we had 164 exceptional entries across the school, which made it very difficult to find just 6 winners! After careful consideration over a range of criteria, like the inclusion of a clear theme, a cliff-hanger, twist or surprise, and compliance with English grammar conventions, a shortlist of 10 students from both senior and junior schools was drawn up. This was sent to expert panels (English teachers and students) to select their favourites. Finally, we have our results. Third place in each year level have won a $10 tuck-shop voucher, second place a $30 iTunes card and first place a $50 iTunes card.

So, without further ado, I am pleased to announce, from:

The Senior School (Years 10-12) :

Third Place: Callum Black with

Heart pounding. Head spinning. The quiet drip-drip-drip of blood, shining crimson in the soft light, flickering from old age. Flickering on and off, my only source of light dying. Flickering on and off, panics begins to set in. Flickering off, I feel the cold breath on my neck. She’s here.

Second Place: Jack Duggan with

Seven gunmen carried their six-shooters into the cavern, emptied their rounds into the beast’s flesh, and killed it like they’d promised. This way they’d be safe when they went to collect the treasure, even though all of them were out of bullets.

All but one.

He still had all six.

First Place: Lauren Mann with

She buried John in the woods, wrapped in his coat.
After what he tried to do, she didn’t love him anymore.
What if the police had decided it wasn’t self-defence?
The next morning, after her third shower, her phone rang.
A smiling picture and a name on the screen:
‘John’.

And, The Junior School (Years 7-9)

Third Place: Ella Rheinberger

A family’s joyful tears. Baby opens eyes. Heartbeat joins the world.
Waving goodbye. First day of many. Education and friends.
Crazy nights, morning hangovers. Exchanging vows. Settling down.
Mortgage, car, endless hours. First words. Moving out. Retirement party.
Greys, glasses, sore back. Final days. Goodbye tears, short but enough.

Second Place: Annie Hume

She wakes up, cold, sore and alone. Outside of the dark place she’s in, she hears people murmuring something. She tries to stand up, but hits her head. The murmuring stops. She hears footsteps come closer to her. She sees light, pain fills her body again. Suddenly, everything is black.

First Place: Keely Byrne

All hell has broken loose on deck. Smoke is rising up and the flame is destroying everything in its path. Thousands jump overboard and are frantically swimming to get away from this kerfuffle. The screams of women and children fill the air, as the crew hurry to get everyone off.

A big thank you to all entrants!

Rodeo Street Parade

2018 saw Assumption College enter a float in the Warwick Rodeo Street Parade. As it had been many years since the College entered such a float, we were all very excited.

Teacher Aide Rebecca Butler and many students decorated a truck which local business Ryanie For Tyres was happy to donate. The College motto ‘Sow, Nuture and Grow’ was used as this correlated with the parade theme of Rose and Rodeo. Thank you to Holly Aspinall who lent the Cystic Fibrosis Jumpers and Jazz knitted roses to complete the decorations on our float.

School and House Leaders, choir members, sporting students and many others were all outstanding ambassadors for the College. We are hoping that this will become an annual community event where we can showcase our wonderful school.

We thank Rebecca for all her efforts in organising the students and float!

Year 9 Drama Performance

Year 9 Drama are busily directing and rehearsing their final Making Task for this year. The students will be presenting Year 9 Are Animals by Richard Tulloch. The students will be presenting the show in its entirety, with small groups performing and directing their own scenes within the play. Consequently, we would like to extend an invitation for family and friends to attend this performance.

The performance will take place on Tuesday 27th November and will commence at 6pm. It is suggested you arrive from 5:50pm to ensure a prompt start.

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact Mr Kirby or Ms Timms through the College office.

Please note that some themes and language may be inappropriate for young children.

"A new teacher's struggles to get through 9F English - the class that nobody wants - and the inevitable conflicts with the students and other members of staff, form the basis of this play which questions what good teaching is all about." – AusStage.

Thank you for your support – Year 9 Drama

Second Hand Uniform Shop

Just a reminder that the Second Hand Uniform Shop will be closing as of the 16th November. If anyone is wishing to purchase second hand uniforms for their children, please see the office before this date.

School Hat

The College has a new school hat which is now available to purchase. Anyone wishing to order a new hat for the 2019 school year can place their order at the front office.

School Uniform

Lowes Discount - Lowes are offering a 20% off schoolwear sale instore and online on Thursday 15th November.

Position Vacant

Student Travel Rebates

Youth Seminar

Australian Catholic Church

Did You Know :

The good we rarely tell anyone…..

Australian Catholic University is the fastest growing, truly national university with 25,678 students, producing the most nursing and teaching graduates in Australia.

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