Many of our students are still in the depths of assessment, with assignments and exams running through to the end of term, week 10.

With the upcoming break so close I am encouraging all our students to stay focussed and make good choices over the next 2 weeks so that we all finish the term on a positive note. The engagement and commitment of our students in Term 1 has been excellent and I look forward to celebrating their successes as we wind down the days until the easter break.

With assessment and study a strong focus for our students and staff is important that we also take a break and reset, getting out and doing something active is a great way to blow off some steam.

The Benefits of Exercise

Exercise is beneficial for students for several reasons, impacting both their physical and mental well-being, and helping them become better learners! Here are some areas where exercise can make a difference, especially as a brain-boosting activity:

COGNITIVE FUNCTION:

• Enhanced Memory and Learning: Exercise has been linked to improved memory and cognitive function. It may also help with concentration and focus, which are crucial for academic performance.
• Brain Health: Physical activity stimulates the release of chemicals that promote the growth of brain cells, supporting overall brain health.
• Establishes Routine: Incorporating exercise into a daily or weekly routine helps students develop discipline and time management skills.

PHYSICAL HEALTH:

• Improves Cardiovascular Health: Regular exercise helps strengthen the heart, improve blood circulation, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
• Enhances Muscle and Bone Health: Weight-bearing exercises contribute to the development of strong muscles and bones, promoting overall physical strength and resilience.
• Better Sleep: Regular exercise can help regulate sleep patterns, leading to improved quality and duration of sleep.

MENTAL HEALTH:

• Stress Reduction: Exercise is known to reduce stress by increasing the production of endorphins, the body's natural mood lifters.
• Anxiety and Depression: Physical activity has been shown to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, improving overall mental health.
• Sense of Achievement: Setting and achieving fitness goals can provide a sense of accomplishment and boost self-worth.

SOCIAL SKILLS:

• Team Sports and Leadership: Participating in team sports or group exercises fosters social skills, teamwork, and cooperation. It also provides an opportunity for students to develop leadership qualities.
• Opportunities for Socialising: Participating in sports or group exercises provides opportunities for students to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships.
• Promotes Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Engaging in physical activity encourages other healthy habits, such as maintaining a balanced diet and interacting with other healthy like-minded people.

In summary, regular physical activity can contribute to a healthier, happier, and more successful academic experience.

School Attendance

Our goal at OLSCC is for students to experience success by achieving and maintaining a 93% attendance rate. It is inspiring to see so many of our students maintaining their strong attendance over the term.

Classes and learning begin at 8.50am with students required to be at school ready to learn at this time. Students who arrive at 8.50am or later will be late to class which contributes to their absences. 10 minutes late each day roughly equates to 6 and a half days of learning lost in a year.

According to a report by the Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation, school attendance is a crucial factor that affects students’ academic performance and long-term outcomes. Students who report positive attendance behaviours in Year 7 are on average 3 months ahead in their learning by Year 9, compared with students who have poor attendance behaviours.

Year 12 IA1 QCAA Confirmation

Confirmation is a quality assurance process that ensures the comparability of results for summative internal assessment in General and General (Extension) subjects. All provisional IA marks will be been uploaded to the QCAA. QCAA-trained assessors will review a selected sample of student responses to these internal assessments to check that schools have applied the instrument-specific marking guide (ISMG) accurately and consistently. In 2025, confirmation of a school’s first summative internal assessment for Units 3 and 4 in General and General (Extension) subjects will occur from April.

Artificial Intelligence in Assessment

The integration of AI in assessments has raised significant concerns regarding plagiarism. AI tools, such as essay generators, humanisers and automated content creators, can produce work that appears original but is not the student's own. This misuse of AI undermines the integrity of the educational process, as it becomes challenging to distinguish between genuine student effort and AI-generated content. Consequently, educators face difficulties in accurately assessing a student's understanding and skills, leading to potential issues in grading and feedback.

When students rely on AI to complete their assignments, they risk their work being flagged for plagiarism. OLSCC has a strict assessment policy against plagiarism, and AI-generated content can trigger our detection systems. As a result, students may find their work unmarked or invalidated, putting them at risk of failing the assessment. This not only impacts their academic progress but also diminishes the value of their learning experience.

At OLSCC we are guided by the recommendations and policies developed by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) when we work with breaches of academic integrity. The unauthorised use of AI is a breach of academic integrity, specifically plagiarism. Below is information from QCAA developed to support students and parents in navigating this emerging landscape.

Assessment Calendars

I encourage all parents to check assessment calendars with their children to ensure that they are managing their time and the assessment demands. Should you have any questions or concerns please contact your child’s teacher in the first instance or relevant curriculum leader.

Teachers are currently marking term 1 assessments and planning assessments for Semester 2. All students and parents & carers have access to the Semester One Assessment Calendar for 2025 via the College website and the Parent Portal App, the Semester 2 Assessment calendar will be available in week 1 term 2.

If you have any questions about assessment, please contact your child's classroom teacher or the relevant Middle Leader Curriculum.

Our Lady of the Southern Cross is responsible for gathering evidence of student achievement on or before the due date for internal assessment instruments.

All students have electronic access to their assessment, and it is their responsibility to adhere to these due dates.

Students are responsible for planning and managing their time to meet the due dates.

Students and parents can contact teachers and Curriculum Leaders via phone or email. Teachers are not able to grant extensions directly with students and parents/carers.

Students are required to sit exams when scheduled unless prior communication and approval has come from the College for students to sit and alternate or comparable exam. Students will not be able to sit the same exam as their peers. In Year 9 and 10 this must be accompanied by supporting evidence to the college for approval. In Year 11 and 12 a submission for a Principal Approved AARA must be made by me with supporting evidence to the QCAA for approval for an alternate or comparable task to be administered. Approval is not guaranteed.

Our Lady of the Southern Cross College is required to adhere to QCAA policies about due dates accepting assignments only on or before the due date unless an extension through AARA processes has been approved. For example, a student who is absent due to family holidays will not be granted an extension for an assignment as this doesn’t meet the AARA guidelines set by QCAA.

Community Participation in Students Learning

Staff at OLSCC want to be actively communicating with families rather than providing a notification. Heather Wolpert-Gawron talks about “The Equation of Student Success”; “Family + Student + School = Student Success”.

“The difference between communication and notification is that communication is the act of communicating anything, while notification is (uncountable) the act of notifying. Communication requires two parties to engage, whereas notification is one way”.

All our staff welcome our parents on being partners in their childs education. Please reach out to your child teachers if you have any questions or wish to provide any information on your childs learning needs.

RAAP – Year 11

Year 11 students began their road safety awareness journey with us by taking part in a discussion with officers from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service this week. The Emergency services personal presented the Road Accident and Awareness Program (RAAP) to the students. For further information on the RAAP presentation please visit, Road Attitudes and Action Planning | Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (qfes.qld.gov.au).

Students engaged very well and were offered great insight into not just road safety but into making good and safe choices as they grow.