St Ursula's College Newsletter Term 4, Week 2

From the Principal

Mrs Deidre Young

I must admit, I really cannot believe we are at the start of Term 4. Is it an age thing… that time just seems to fly? I will leave that question unanswered for you to ponder.

I have just started to read the book by Jeff Olson, “The Slight Edge”. The core message revolves around the power of small, consistent actions. Olson emphasizes that success and failure are not the result of grand, sweeping changes, but rather the accumulation of simple, daily disciplines. For our students, this means that the choices they make every day, no matter how small, can significantly impact their future. Whether it’s dedicating a few extra minutes to study, practicing a skill, or even maintaining a positive attitude, these seemingly minor actions compound over time to create substantial results.

Olson’s philosophy is particularly relevant in a secondary school setting, where students are at a pivotal stage of their lives. By adopting the principles of “The Slight Edge,” they can learn to harness the power of consistency and perseverance. This mindset not only prepares them for academic success but also equips them with the resilience and determination needed to navigate life’s challenges. Encouraging our students to embrace these small, positive habits can set them on a path to achieving their long-term goals and realizing their full potential.

So many of the messages in this book can be applied to our everyday lives, but in particular, as we hit Term 4, when our energy and enthusiasm can be lacking, and significantly depilated compared to the start of a year. To focus on those small, consistent daily disciplines can be a great way to maintain momentum and manage the end of year lethargy.

What daily routines and manageable tasks do you promote at home that can help to build those positive actions that in turn are the foundation for incremental growth?

I would love to suggest the act of getting dressed, and the methodical steps of ensuring each aspect of our presentation and uniform abide by the College expectations is a good place to start. Dressed for success! A positive habit that fosters self-discipline and respect; and starts the day on the right path.

Student Leaders 2025

It was wonderful to join with the Student Leaders of 2025 and their parents as they were called by name to receive their badges on Thursday.

Each leader was reminded about their responsibility and accountability to continue the legacy created by those that have held their position. I continue to be amazed by our students in the work they do around our College, truly showing that all that is done is for our girls, by our girls and about our girls.

“The Slight Edge” would remind us, as leaders, that success is not achieved overnight but through persistent, small actions that build trust, inspire teams, and drive progress. By consistently modelling positive behaviors, setting clear goals, and encouraging continuous learning, leaders can create a culture of excellence and resilience. This approach not only fosters personal growth but also empowers teams to achieve long-term success.

Some exciting times on the horizon, as final preparations are in place for St Ursula’s College Day, including the boat race. I have fond memories of what this day meant as a second-year teacher, and importantly, it was fundamental to the identity of our Pastoral Care group. A strength of St Ursula’s College that sets us apart from others is the way in which our PC groups are, authentically, an important part of our experience where we belong and are valued.

It also marks the final week of classes for our Year 12 students, as the reality of their schooling days nearing an end is drawing closer and closer. We wish them all the best as they prepare for their external exams.

It was wonderful to join our St Ursula’s College Touch teams last week at the All-Schools Touch competition on the Gold Coast. A huge event with teams competing from all over Queensland and some from overseas. We nominated both a Junior and Senior team, and both played well against some tough competition. Our Junior team had one loss, and narrowly missed the cut off for the top sixteen play off in the finals. It was a reminder for me of the generosity of our staff. Opportunities such as these can only be possible due to staff who are willing to give their own time, away from their families, to ensure our students have such experiences. On this occasion I acknowledge and thank our staff, Elyce Rhule, Christle Cash, Jaime Thomas, Peter Cox, and our coaches, Bree and Jess.

We also thank our Parent Volunteer, Amanda Bryant, who assisted to keep our teams well fueled and cared for.

I am excited to join with many in our community for our Merici Spring Supper, and in particular, the Class of 1994. This is the first group of Year 12 students who graduated when the Ursulines Sister, under the leadership of Sr Leone Pallisier, decided to extend the College from Years 8 to 10, to include Years 11 & 12. A wonderful time in the history of St Ursula’s College, and it will be lovely to welcome this group back as they celebrate 30 years! I thank the College Parents and Friends Association for their work overseeing this event and in particular, to Mrs Jaime Thomas, Secretary.

Together, in Serviam,

Deidre Young ,Principal

Deputy Principal

Ms Bernadette Witham

Welcome to Term 4! With the final stretch of the year before us, let’s think about how to make the most of the time we have left together.

Academic Focus: This doesn’t end until the last assignment is submitted, and the last exam is completed. For each subject, make the most of class contact time and seek help from your teachers as soon as possible. Don’t let misunderstandings pile up. Take advantage of any extra tutoring or support sessions available.

Service Groups and Co-curricular: Your service groups and other co-curricular activities are a major part of the St Ursula’s experience.

"The only way to truly know yourself is to give yourself away in service to others." - Gandhi

Put yourself out there. Give as much as you can, whether it's sports, clubs, or community service, continue to explore your passions and contribute to our school community.

Personal Growth: How do you take a break from school? Self-care and reflection is important. Be careful that the choices you make for self-care are healthy. If they aren’t, systematically replace bad habits with good habits. Eg. Instead of staying up late on social media, increase your sleep by going to bed earlier. Perhaps ease into sleep with a short meditation.

Future Planning: “It ends with us….”. This was one of the films I watched over the holidays. Look at the things that you can see are destroying your future. Make the choice to rid them from your life.

Create Lasting Memories: Cherish the moments you have with friends and family. Attend and participate in school events and family activities. "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." - George Bernard Shaw.

Give these nine weeks everything and time will fly.

Bernadette Witham, Deputy Principal

Year 12:

· Week 2 and Week 3 mark the final teaching weeks for our Year 12 students.

· On Monday 21 October Year 12’s External exams begin. External exams run through to Tuesday 12 November.

· All exams impact the final subject and student results.

· Subject teachers will be available for tutoring in the timetable allocated lesson time until the date of the exam. Please encourage your daughter to make use of this valuable opportunity.

· Wednesday 13 November - 2024 Presentation Assembly

· Thursday 14 November - Year 12 Graduation Mass at 6pm

· Friday 15 November - Year 12 Final assembly starting at 8:55am. Formal in the evening at Rumours.

· Friday 13 December – Year 12’s will receive their results and QCE certificate from QCAA.

· ATAR’s (If applicable) will be issued from QTAC on the 13 December through the QTAC portal. All ATAR eligible students must register with QTAC if they wish to receive an ATAR. Has your daughter done this? If unsure, please ask them to contact Mrs Louise Delahunty or Ms Witham.

Year 11:

· Congratulations to the 2025 Student leaders, and their families who joined the College at the Leadership Liturgy last week.

· Students have begun Unit 3 work meaning that all assessment from now on counts towards their ATAR.

· This is the time to put into practice the feedback from Unit 1 and 2 assessment tasks to gain that extra point. Every point counts!

· Unit 2 Report cards were made available in Week 1 of the school holidays. It is important that your daughter has had the opportunity to read the report, taking particular note of teacher comments. If your daughter received a D or a comment suggesting a subject change has action been taken? Have they made a subject change? Have they changed how they study? Your daughters have until Friday 11 October to make all necessary subject changes.

· Friday 22 November - Last Day of school for Year 11.

· Exam block for Year 11- Monday 18 November to Friday 22 November.

Year 10:

· SET plans are being photocopied and your daughter should start to receive the original copy over the next two weeks.

· Letters outlining electives for 2025 will be sent out over the next two weeks, indicating subjects and a contact person should your daughter want to make changes in their choices.

· November 22 - Last day for Year 10

Year 8 and 9:

· All students received letters outlining electives for 2025. Thank you to those who reached out to either change electives or add to their choices.

KEY DATES for the College:

· Thursday 10 October in Period 3 - Sports and Music awards

· Friday 11 October - DANCE night.

· Saturday 12 October- Merici Spring Supper. Have you got your ticket?

· Monday 14 October to Friday 18 October - St. Ursula’s week

· Monday 21 October - External Exams begin

· Saturday 19 October - Hike for the Homeless

· Wednesday 13 November - 2024 Presentation Assembly. Starts at 9am. This assembly acknowledges the Academic, Cultural, Service and Sporting achievements of our students.

· Friday 15 November - last Day for Year 12

· Friday 22 November - Last Day for Year 10 and 11

· Thursday 28 November - Last Day for Years 7,8 and 9.

Asst Principal Mission and Identity

Mr Joe Kelly

This week has seen Year 7 and Year 9 have a full day of retreat facilitated by Dave Jorna, from Project Hatch. One of his focuses was to discuss with students, what is their code – what are their values. It is essential to listen to students and to reflect on the core values that guide our community. At the heart of our educational philosophy lies the Ursuline charism, a set of principles inspired by St. Angela Merici, the founder of the Ursuline order. These values are not just ideals but are actively woven into the fabric of our daily lives, especially for our Year 7 and Year 9 students and were highlighted by students on both days of retreat.

For our Year 7 students, the transition to secondary school is a significant milestone. Encouraging students to explore and deepen their faith through prayer, reflection, and participation in religious activities. This helps them build a strong spiritual foundation.

Community and Friendship: Emphasizing the importance of forming meaningful relationships. Activities and projects are designed to foster a sense of belonging and mutual respect among peers.

Service and Compassion: Introducing students to the joy of serving others. Through various service projects, they learn the value of compassion and empathy, key aspects of the Ursuline charism.

As our Year 9 students continue their educational journey, we aim to develop their leadership skills and moral character.

Integrity and Responsibility: Encouraging students to take responsibility for their actions and to act with integrity in all aspects of their lives. This is crucial as they begin to take on more significant roles within the school community.

Leadership and Initiative: Providing opportunities for students to lead and innovate. Whether through student representative council, service groups, or community projects, they learn to be proactive and to inspire others.

Global Awareness and Justice: Broadening their understanding of global issues and the importance of social justice. This aligns with the Ursuline commitment to advocating for the marginalized and promoting peace and justice.

Both Year 7 and Year 9 students are encouraged to embody the Ursuline values in their daily lives. By doing so, they not only grow as individuals but also contribute to a more compassionate and just world. We are proud of the way our students embrace these values and look forward to seeing their continued growth.

On Friday, our Year 11 Religion and Ethics students had their FACE retreat led by me and supported by Julie Inskip and Jemica from Vinnies and Mrs Watson. The focus was on service, as students are expected to do 40 hours of service learning over the next year. Our students have lots of opportunities to participate in service learning and we look forward to their embodiment of serviam in the year ahead.

Parents and carers - thank you for your ongoing support and partnership in nurturing these young minds and hearts.

Asst Principal Pastoral Care

Mrs Maria Gibson

Our 2025 Student Leaders

 On Thursday, 3 October, our College proudly commissioned our 2025 Student Leaders. We are elated to introduce this dynamic group of student leaders who are prepared to shape and inspire our College community. These exceptional individuals have been carefully selected to represent the student body, and they bring with them a wealth of talent, passion, and unwavering dedication to their respective roles.  

The 2025 Student Leadership Team is:  

These girls will be ably supported by the following students:  

This dedicated group is committed to leaving a lasting imprint on our College. They eagerly await to connect with the College community, share their thoughts and ideas, and join in cultivating an even stronger and more vibrant College experience for all.  

As we embark on this exciting journey with our new leaders, it is also a fitting moment to express our gratitude to the outgoing Student Leadership Team. Their vision of "Courage to Encourage" reverberated throughout the year, leaving an indelible mark on the various experiences they orchestrated.  

Over the next few weeks, the outgoing and incoming teams will have opportunities to share experiences and continue handover traditions.   

Complaints Management Procedure 

Schooling is a partnership between the College, parents/carers and guardians, students and the community. As with all partnerships, from time to time there may be misunderstandings and differences leading to various levels of concern. 

This TCSO procedure describes how parents/carers and guardians, students, and community members can make a complaint and how this complaint will be managed, guided by the principles of fairness, dignity, respect, confidentiality and equity.  

The best way to reach a resolution is for the two people, or the parties involved, to talk and resolve the matter between themselves where possible.

Director of Sport

Mrs Elyce Ruhle

QLD All Schools

The Queensland All Schools Touch carnival was held on the 2 to 6 October at Runaway Bay. The Under 15 team performed admirably, losing only one game and narrowly missing the Round of 16. The open team faced some tough competition but embraced the experience, bonding over the challenges and enjoying the camaraderie of a team dinner. The girls took valuable lessons from the carnival, not only in refining their skills on the field but also learning how to handle frustration and the unique dynamics of travelling with friends. I would like to sincerely tanks Miss Christle Cash, Mr Peter Cox, Mrs Breanna Davidson, Mrs Jaime Thomas and Miss Jessica Barnes, for helping with coaching, managing, cooking, cheering, bus driving and helping to provide a positive environment for our students to compete in the game they love.

Futsal  - Queensland Futsal Cup Competition

We competed in the Under 14 Queensland Futsal Cup at Coomera on the 10 and 11 September. The team finished second in their pool rounds and progressed to the finals of the Cup competition. Unfortunately, we lost our quarter final, but went onto win our final two playoff games, finishing 5^th in the overall. Well done to all the girls for showing their sportsmanship and dedication. Thank you to Mr Broderick and Mrs Nancy Heritage for coaching and managing this team.

Futsal – VETO Knockout Competition

We have success at the Under 14 Veto Knockout Plate Final, overcoming Kimberley College at the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre. Despite trailing 1-0 for a majority of the match, we seized the lead in the final 30 seconds, clinching the title with a 3-2 victory. It just goes to show you never underestimate an Ursie Girl. Congratulations girls on winning the Veto Plate Division. Thanks again to Mr Broderick, Mr James Darlington and Mrs Nancy Heritage for your expertise and support in getting our teams to these competitions.

Community Sport

Over the holidays Suzi Chappel, Lucy Ryan, Lucy Dyson, Sophie Hick, Kaleesha Hall and Josie Harrington competed in the National Futsal Championships as part of the South West Queensland’s team. Mr Stephen Broderick was also a coach of a younger team.  Congratulations to all girls on representing your region.

Rugby League

Congratulations to Amy King (Year 7) for being named the Player’s Player at the 12 Years Rugby league Carnival. Amy was recognised for her performance as a forward with strong carries and tough tackles. Well done Amy.

Sponsorship

Thank you to Combined Trades Group for sponsoring our new Touch singlets. We think they look fantastic.

Term 4, Week 2: Athletes of the Week

Head of Arts Faculty

Ms Lydia Pickard

With our Dance Night this Friday, we are thrilled to showcase the incredible talent and dedication of our students. The evening will feature captivating performances from our Year 7-12 Dance students, highlighting the hard work and preparation that goes into each dance. At St Ursula’s College, Dance is a cherished subject, and our state-of-the-art Dance rooms are second to none. Under the expert guidance of our Head of Faculty, Ms. Lydia Pickard, our students thrive in an inclusive and creative environment where their talents truly shine.

For bookings, please follow the below link:

https://www.trybooking.com/CVFKI

New Website and Newsletter format

As part of our transition to the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office, we have launched a new website that supports a new platform for newsletters. This change aims to provide a simpler, more streamlined process for those accessing our website, and it is much more user-friendly for us to keep updated and relevant. You will now find all newsletters linked to our website as they are posted.

Please close any open browsers on your laptop, PC, or phone and search for St Ursula’s College Toowoomba again to clear any caches. A cache is a temporary storage area in your device that saves copies of web pages to speed up loading times. Closing and reopening a webpage helps clear this storage, ensuring you see the most up-to-date content on our new website.

The view of our webpage is easy to navigate whether on a phone or a laptop or PC.  A couple of key area's to highlight on the new webpage:

Reporting Absences - if you scroll down the bottom of the new webpage, there is a large rectangle labelled Parent Dashboard. Click on this and it will take you to Firefly where you normally report absences.

Newsletters - again, if you scroll down the bottom of the new webpage, there is a large rectangle labelled Newsletter. click on this and all recent newsletters will be here for your reference.

School Calendar - same place down the bottom of the page. This lists dates and what's on each day/week/month for ease of reference.

Any other area's you're looking for are under the tabs across the top on a laptop/PC otherwise the 3 small black lines on the top left side of a phone will show you the drop down menu options.

Parents & Friends

Join us this Saturday, 12 October, for our major fundraiser at St Ursula’s College! Enjoy a casual day on the front lawns with live music, great vibes, and a relaxed atmosphere. With the weather expected to be a balmy 25 degrees, you’ll love the ambiance under the shade of the trees.

We invite you to buy a ticket to attend or, if you can’t make it, purchase a raffle ticket to support the event. Our raffle was designed for people who can't attend but still want to support the day by buying a major raffle ticket. They are open to anyone, its first in, best dressed. You don’t need to be present to win a prize from the Major Raffle — we’ll hold it for you!

Expect delicious food like arancini balls, bruschetta, cheese plates, pizzas, and meatballs, all served by our students. Refreshments for purchase include Limoncello, ginger beer, beer, wine (Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, Chardonnay, Prosecco), tea, coffee, soft drinks, and water.

The day kicks off at 11am with a tour for alumni, followed by live music at 12pm when the event officially begins. We’ll have tables set up across the front lawn (off Taylor Street). Check in at the horseshoe driveway on Taylor Street, receive your memento (an etched cup or stubby cooler), and find a spot to enjoy the day. There will also be minor raffles available for purchase on the day.

Our MAJOR RAFFLE is open to everyone, whether you attend or not, and features 5 incredible prizes. With only 125 tickets available and the raffle proceeding regardless of ticket sales, your chances are great (currently only 55 tickets sold):

First Prize: Crossfire CF125S Dirtbike (valued at $2400)

2nd Prize: 3 x premium rib fillet rolls (valued at $650)

3rd prize: $250 visa gift card

4th prize: Coach Sunglasses (valued at $150)

5th prize: Gorgeous solid pewter wine bucket ($130)

A huge thank you to our major raffle donors, in particular to Odes Superstore for our first prize - a DirtBike. We'd also like to thank St Ursula's College Boarding, St Ursula's P&F, Eyecare Eyewear and the Roger Family. Our event’s success wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, listed in the below images. Please show your appreciation by supporting the businesses that support us.

We hope to see you there!

Link to buy Entry tickets to the day or to buy a Major Raffle ticket: https://www.trybooking.com/CSXPP

Our next P&F Meeting is Tuesday, 29 October at 5:45pm in Kerrilaw. The AGM will follow immediately after the general meeting. All parents are invited to join us and engage with our community to discuss how we can best support the wider St Ursula’s Community.

Booklists 2025

Please find attached the booklists for each year level.  These booklists will also be found on our website at www.st-ursula.qld.edu.au

All General Stationery Requirements and Specific Stationery Requirements can be pre-ordered and purchased in kit form from the St Ursula's College Retail Outlet.

Please contact the Retail Outlet on 07 4638 8715 as soon as possible to order your kit.