COLLEGE NEWSLETTER - 4 April, 2025

LEADERSHIP

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Megan Wuersching - College Principal

As Term One comes to an end, I’d like to take a moment to thank you for your continued support of our College. We are grateful for the partnership we share in supporting our students’ education and wellbeing.

This term presented some challenges with the weather and I am proud of how our staff and students adapted to ensure learning and growth continued. Their resilience and commitment have been remarkable, and it’s a testament to the strength of our community.

As we approach the Easter break, I encourage families to take this time to rest, recharge and enjoy quality moments together. Easter is a special time in our Catholic tradition; a season of hope, renewal and reflection.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back in Term Two, refreshed and ready for another exciting chapter in learning and growth across all facets of student life.

Wishing you all a safe and joyous holiday break.

Megan

ADMINISTRATION

Katrina Wootton - Deputy Principal - Primary

Thank you, everyone, for a productiveTerm 1!

Term 1, as always, has been a busy and event-filled 10 weeks despite the wet weather. We are very proud of our students' commitment to their learning and support for the various activities and opportunities that have been offered. Our students are to be commended for their resilience in wet weather and their ability to be flexible at playtimes.

Behind all these opportunities is an excellent team of dedicated and passionate educators. Each possesses their gifts and talents, as well as their own family and life outside of school.

I want to acknowledge and commend the primary staff at our College for their generous spirit, optimistic outlook, and dedicated service. Without such a wonderful group of individuals, all contributing to the same vision and mission, the students at Southern Cross Catholic College would not be as blessed as they are. They have not only received a great classroom education but also have the ability to explore, grow, and share their innate talents through the various opportunities available to them.

In the busyness of the school term and day-to-day logistics, it is the little things that staff do - the pastoral conversations, the Shine slips given to students, restocking the classroom prize box, making treats for their class, writing positive message postcards, preparing fruit platters for the students before NAPLAN testing, decorating their class areas, acknowledging birthdays, and so on - that contribute to the positive and community-centred culture of our College.

Wishing our community a very happy Easter!

On behalf of the SCCC staff, we extend warm wishes to all families for a joyous and blessed celebration. May the spirit of Easter renew your faith, inspire hope, and bring an abundance of happiness into your homes. Happy Easter to all families, may your day be blessed with peace and joy.

Happy Easter holidays, everyone, and thank you for your support throughout term one!

Katrina

Jaye Beutel - Deputy Principal - Secondary

As we reach the final leg of what will be Term 1, it is an opportune time to remind ourselves to keep our energy going and maintain the high standards we have set as a College so far in 2025.

I am confident that we can all agree that this term has presented itself with many challenges, certainly in terms of weather. I am proud of the efforts that secondary students have given over the past 9 weeks - well done, congratulations. Let’s finish Term 1 on a high note!

To that end, it is important that students reflect upon their results from assessment tasks completed this term, and teacher advice to come in the Term 1 Progress Reports. Ensuring they are setting themselves up for success as they move into next term by prioritising study, revision and assessment work. Planning out that ever important balance between school, sport & activities, social life and home with family.

Term 2 Commencement & Readiness
Term 2 will commence on Tuesday the 22nd of April and will be a full school day for all students with Homeroom starting at 8:30am.

As you would expect, uniform and appearance expectations for the first day back give us an opportunity to start the term on a positive note, and to exemplify what it means to follow The Southern Cross Way. I encourage all students and families to check uniform and appearance expectations out on our College website should you be unsure of any element.

There are a number of public holidays, and a student free day in the part of Term 2. Please familiarise yourself with these dates and plan accordingly.

Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent Teacher Interviews are a great opportunity for parents and carers to meet your student’s teachers. I encourage all parents and carers to take up this opportunity.

DATE CLAIMER

Shine Time Fundraiser - “Slam Dunk Disco"
Day: Week 2 - Thursday, 1 May
Time: 6 - 8 pm
Where: Southern Cross Catholic College Hall
Theme: Sports & Sports Stars
Who: Year 7, 8 , 9 & 10  SCCC students only
Cost: $10 entry covers food & one softdrink (payment and consent given via Compass) Additional lollies, drinks & chips will be available for purchase

Money raised goes towards the Secondary Shine Time charities.

Secondary Cross Country - Term 2 Rescheduled Date
Sadly, we had to postpone our Inter-House Cross Country event due to the impact of constant wet weather on our ovals and surrounding running circuit. However, our dedicated Acting Program Leader (Sports) Mr Roberts, has found a space in our busy college calendar for us to hold this much anticipated event. Now, we all pray and hope for drier weather.

Secondary Cross Country will take place on Thursday, 15 May from 8:30am

End of Term & Well Wishes
On a personal level, I wish to sincerely thank the entire college for the warm and supportive welcome I have received as I joined the community this year. I am truly blessed to have been given this opportunity to be part of such a vibrant school community.

As families make preparations for the Term 1 school holidays and enter into the Easter period, I trust that it is a safe, Holy and rejuvenating time for you, whatever your plans may be.

The Southern Cross staff and I look forward to welcoming you back to the college on Tuesday, 22 April. 

Jaye

FROM THE CHAPLAIN

Dot Parnell - College Chaplain

Hello, Everyone, and welcome to our last week of Term 1.

Oh my goodness!! What a term! I hope you've managed to stay dry and not grow webbed feet!

As the holidays approach, we continue our journey of Lent towards Easter. The days and weeks of Lent have skimmed by. Which begs the question: have I made the most of every moment, of every day, of every week?

In the parable in last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus told us about the Forgiving Father/Prodigal Son. We are encouraged to be forgiving people as well as people who ask for forgiveness. Jesus asks us to forgive: to let go of the past so that we can turn toward the future with hope. We need to realise that the grace of God is extended to ALL of us.

This is how we SHINE.

God’s blessings for an enjoyable and safe holiday break and a very Happy and Blessed Easter.

Remember - “In a world where you can be anything - BE KIND.”

Dot

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELLBEING UPDATES

Do We Really Need to “Get Back to the Green Zone”?

We Think Not

 Emily LaShorne Walz, MS-Special Education LD/EBD/DCD, Implementation Specialist, The Zones of Regulation

Those of you who are seasoned users of The Zones of Regulation framework are very familiar with the core tenet and phrase “All the Zones are OK.” So, if we really mean that all the Zones are OK, why are we asking kids to “get back to Green”? When it comes to The Zones of Regulation, it is imperative to state, restate, and restate again that there is no “good Zone” or “bad Zone,” and that all Zones-the full rainbow spectrum of emotions-are expected in life.

Those of you who are seasoned at using The Zones of Regulation framework are very familiar with the core tenant and phrase “All the Zones are OK.” So, if we really mean that all the Zones are OK, why are we asking kids to “get back to Green”?

The Zones of Regulation teaches learners scaffolded skills toward developing a cognitive pathway to build awareness of their feelings/internal state and utilise a variety of tools and strategies for regulation, prosocial skills, self-care, and overall wellness. This includes exploring tools and strategies for mindfulness, sensory integration, movement, thinking strategies, and healthy connection with others.

When it comes to The Zones of Regulation, it is imperative to state, restate, and restate again that there is no “good Zone” or “bad Zone”; and that all Zones - the full rainbow spectrum of emotions - are expected in life. In fact, many of us grownups spend a great deal of our lives in the Blue or Yellow Zone, so why put undue pressure on children and young adults to be in the Green Zone? While the Green Zone certainly feels good and can be beneficial for learning, there is no best Zone. When we deny the existence and need for this full emotional experience, we are teaching our learners that they need to “calm down” no matter the context or situation. This is at odds with the fundamental principles of The Zones and its philosophy of meeting each individual where they are, in the moment, and honoring their authentic feelings and state.

Let’s consider that cognitive pathway that we are teaching in The Zones of Regulation lessons. First, we figure out how we are feeling internally and categorise this feeling/energy state into one of our four colored Zones: Blue, Green, Yellow, or Red. Once we know which Zone we’re in, we can think about the context and decide if we need to regulate, or manage it. These Zones categories also help us to determine which tools and strategies we may want to try to help us regulate that particular Zone.

I’d like to illustrate this by thinking through an example from my own (grownup) life. After their very first day back at school, I stood eagerly awaiting my kids (kindergarten and 2nd grade) at the bus stop, already in the Yellow Zone as a parent nervous about her kids being in a school building. When the bus pulled up, my kindergartener hopped off the bus, but his older brother was nowhere to be found.

Trigger? Lost kid.

Zone? Full-on Mama Bear Red Zone.

Did I need to “get back to Green” at this moment? Absolutely not.

Now, let’s layer on the context. I was in a total panic, but I had my 6-year-old with me that had just taken his very first bus ride, and I really didn’t want him to be afraid of the bus. I needed to use my tools to regulate my Red Zone. Had my little guy not been there, I would have had a much different reaction. That’s why context matters.

I was in the Red Zone all throughout the six or so phone calls it took to ensure my son would get home safely, through him being dropped off at the door, and even for a while after he got home. I didn’t need to move out of the Red Zone, I needed to TAKE CARE OF MY RED ZONE. By using my Red Zone regulation tools (deep breathing, limit noise, fresh air), I was able to pause and strategise how to locate my older son and get him home swiftly and safely while also ensuring the comfort and care for my younger son. I was terrified but effective with regard to my goals and actions, and eventually my Red Zone simmered down into the Yellow Zone.

So, how does this play out when we are teaching kids, teens, and adults about The Zones? Our language is important. Instead of saying that we are using tools to “get back to the Green Zone,” consider using some of these phrases instead:

“Let’s use a tool to take care of our Zones.”
“I wonder if a tool might help us manage our Zones right now?”
“I need a tool to regulate my Zone, how about you?”
“What Zone are you in? Is there a tool that might help?”
“What is your goal right now? Would a tool help you meet it?”
““Let’s find a ____ (color Zone learner identifies in) tool to help you____(get back to the fun, follow the schedule, finish your work. . .).”

The point is to emphasise that when we are dysregulated, we don’t need to change Zones, we need to regulate within, manage, or take care of our Zone. This allows us to honor our authentic feelings while meeting the demands of the environment around us, helping us to accomplish our goals, and supporting our well-being. Sometimes we end up in the Green Zone, but often we don’t, and as the saying goes “All the Zones are OK.” So, do we really need to “get back to the Green Zone”? We think not.

PARENTS & FRIENDS ASSOCIATION

Parents and carers with children enrolled at Southern Cross Catholic College automatically become members of the Parents and Friends Association and you are most welcome to attend our scheduled monthly meetings.

NEXT MEETING is MONDAY, 12 May at 6:00pm

 Primary Staffroom

Head to the College website to check out last meeting's minutes. 

Meeting Minutes - February 2025

The Parents and Friends Association works closely with the College Leadership Team and the Southern Cross Catholic College Community to promote the interests of the College and to further develop school functions and fundraising events to the benefit of the students and their families.

The Pre-Loved Uniform Shop and our dedicated team of wonderful volunteers will be stationed under the Primary Shed every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month during the school term, from 8:00 am to 8:45 am.

Friday, 9 May

Friday, 23 May

Friday, 13 June

👉 Calling All Parents, Carers, and Grandparents! 👈

We warmly invite new members to join our team and support our cause. Jenny, Cathy and Lauren, our fantastic volunteers, are eager to welcome you. If you’re interested in lending a hand, please reach out to the ladies via email at c39pandf@sctsv.catholic.edu.au.

FIRST NATIONS EDUCATION

We made it! Term 1 done! And like always, there is much to report on:

Primary

Wool Donations
At Yarn Club we have been creating baby beanies which we look forward to giving out when someone in our school welcomes a new sibling. For this, we are chasing wool people may have at home or would be happy to donate. If you could spare any, we would greatly appreciate it with wool handed in to classroom teachers please.                

HASS Lessons With Prep C
This term all prep classes have been learning about features in our special school environment and it was a great opportunity for me to go in to chat about the First Nations features and symbols in our school. I spoke to wonderful Prep C about features around our school that show respect to First Nations people such as: the flags flows out the front, the compass in breezeway, the Acknowledgement Rock outside of Sick Bay, the mural wall on the way to the Library, the yarning circle outside of 1A and the prayer mats in all classes by First Nations artists given out at NAIDOC Assembly last year. After our slideshow, we went on a features hunt around the school which then ended with a chat in the yarning circle where we talked out which feature was our favourite or stood out to us the most. Some great questions and answers by our prep friends and a wonderful learning opportunity for all students. Great job Mrs Matheson and Prep C!

Yarn Club
Yarn Club has been a bit hit and miss with the wet weather as it is cancelled when wet weather play is on to prevent anyone having to make the trek to the OSHC building, especially our little ones. When it has been on, it’s been great to see our Yarn crew and friends. Some of the highlights this fortnight have included:

• Tasting rivermint ice-cream (made by our Year 3, 4 and 5 students)
• Beading
• Crafts

Secondary

Next term we welcome back Mrs Z, who is on her final week of prac this week. Whilst she is away, I am highlighting some great opportunities available to our Emerging Leaders:

Signed PLAS
If you haven’t already, please return your signed PLA (Personal Leadership Agreement) as soon as possible to Mrs Kinman in the Secondary Office.

ATSIMS (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Marine Science Program)
This opportunity is open to Year 10 Emerging Leaders.

This program, delivered by JCU, works with First Nations students in Year 10 to learn about marine science and management, with students taking part in a range of activities which include:

• Start of the program and introduction to agencies (held at JCU - 23 July)
• Ranger Days (working with Gudjuda Rangers) - 29 or 30 July
• Visit to AIMS (13 or 14 August)
• Orpheus Island Camp (3 days at Orpheus Island - date to be advised in late August).
• Graduation/end of program (held at JCU - date TBA).

Please find the ATSIMS website with more information here as well as a clip. If you are interested, please email Mrs Horricks (aka our school diving guru) at (khorricks@sctsv.catholic.edu.au).

JCU Winter School
This opportunity is open to Year 10, 11 and 12 Emerging Leaders. 

If you are interested in applying for the JCU Winter School, please email your pastoral leader:
Year 10 - Mr King
Year 11 - Mrs Bates 
Year 12 - Mr Roberts

And just like that, we are a quarter of the way through 2025! Wishing all families a restful break and a Happy Easter and I look forward to seeing you in Term 2.

Mrs Ponti 🙂

DEFENCE NEWS

ANZAC DAY - Liturgy
Our College will be commemorating ANZAC Day as a college on Thursday, 24 April.

Secondary Liturgy - 11am in the College Hall
Primary Liturgy - 11.50am in the College Hall

Students representatives will also be attending the below local services.

ANZAC DAY Merchandise
Our Poppy Stall will be selling ANZAC Day Merchandise on the Wednesday - Thursday morning during week 1.

ANZAC Day Services
Each year our College takes great pride in commemorating ANZAC Day. Students are invited to attend services to represent the College. 

If your child is interested in attending the service at Alligator Creek, Cungulla and Woodstock, please contact our Defence School Mentor - Ms Kira for further information.

Have a lovely Easter Break and see you all back for fantastic Term 2.

Ms Kira
Defence School Mentor

CAREERS & VET

How prepared do you feel helping your child choose a career?

Whether your child dreams of being a tradie, a teacher, or a tech innovator, we know career conversations at home can be tough. Jobs Townsville North Queensland wants to make it easier for parents to confidently guide their children towards rewarding futures.

We’re inviting you to share your thoughts in a short survey. Your feedback will help shape new resources, programs, and events designed to better support parents and students when exploring career pathways.

Plus, by completing the survey, you’ll go into the draw to win one of three $100 Coles/Myer vouchers!

It only takes a few minutes, but the impact could be long-lasting for your family and others across the region.

Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3896HML

Survey close: 11 April 2025

Ms Escriva, Mr De Luca and Mrs Glendenning

Careers & VET @ SCCC - Opportunities…Support…Empowerment…

THE ARTS

CLASSROOM MUSIC IMMERSION PROGRAM TERM 1 WRAP UP
We are excited to share some wonderful updates about our Music Immersion Program for Years 4-6. It has been an incredibly positive start to the year, and we are thrilled to see our young musicians growing and thriving. Next term we also welcome Taylor Fitzgibbon and Chloe Sibley to our team! We are so excited to be working with them.

Year 4 - New Beginnings
Our Year 4 students have embarked on an exciting musical journey this term:
- Introduction of new JFlutes
- These specially designed instruments help students with proper holding techniques and breath control
- Enthusiasm levels are sky-high as they explore their new instruments.

Year 5 - Building on Foundations
Our Year 5 musicians have hit the ground running:
- Focused revision of instrument fundamentals
- Impressive progress in technique and confidence
- Great job all around!

Year 6 Music Excellence - Mastering Musicianship
The Year 6 Music Excellence program is off to an outstanding start:
- Concentration on essential skills and elements of great musicianship
- Further exploration of instruments
- Increased focus on developing overall musicianship skills.

We're incredibly proud of all our Music Immersion students and their dedication to their craft. Their hard work and enthusiasm make our program a joy to be part of.

As always, we encourage you to support your child's musical journey at home. Regular practice and engagement with music outside of school can make a world of difference in their progress.

If you have any questions or would like more information about our Music Immersion Program, please don't hesitate to reach out to Tess Higgins.

Keep the music playing!

Harmoniously yours,

Tess Higgins and the Immersion Team
Music Immersion Coordinator

🎵 Thank you for a wonderful Term 1!
A big thank you to all our Music Academy families for a wonderful first term. It has been inspiring to hear all of your progress week to week. Finish strong, and keep up the great work next term.

Term 2 lesson timetables will be emailed through to families by Music Academy Staff by the end of the term, and lessons will be scheduled in Compass.

Remember, if you have any absences, please ensure you are communicating with your Music Academy teachers as well as conductors.

 🎵 Rehearsal Schedule Week 1 & 2

🎵 Term Two Date Claimers
We have a number of performances coming up in Term 2. Please mark these in your diaries!

🎵 Music Ensemble Performance Uniforms
With a number of performances on the horizon, now is the perfect opportunity to check your Music Performance Uniforms are ready!

Who wears the Music Performance Uniform?
All students in Music Academy ensemble members (including bands, orchestras, and choirs) are required to purchase and wear the full Music Performance Uniform at all nominated performances. This uniform is different between primary and secondary.

The Music Performance Uniform can be purchased from the School Locker Campus Store right here at Southern Cross, and there are a handful of music performance uniforms available through the Pre-Loved Uniform Shop.

Requirements for the Primary Music Performance Uniform are listed below:

If you are resizing your performance uniform, consider donating your uniform to the Pre-loved Uniform Shop.

SPORTS NEWS

PRIMARY SPORTS NEWS

Townsville School Sports Trials
In Term 2 there will be Townsville trials for the following sports listed in the table above.

Students interested in trialling for a particular sport need to be regularly playing the sport to trial and their ability must be of a very high standard. If your child is 11 or 12 and interested in trialling, please email Mrs Holmes for consideration.  

Please send through current information, such as the highest club level represented, position and alternative position. Please note, we can only send a limited number of students to these trials therefore, unfortunately not all candidates will be selected and each sport will be decided on an individual basis based on the number of nominations that are received.

Townsville School Sports Results
Congratulations to the following students who have made a Townsville School Sports Team and will now travel away to represent Townsville at the North Queensland trials. These students put in an amazing effort showing off their skills, sportsmanship and commitment. We wish the following students all the best at the next stage of the trials.

Sophie H - Hockey
Charlotte H - Hockey
Ingrid G - Hockey
Mason N - Hockey
Jackson M - Hockey
Nash S - Basketball
Koen J - Basketball
Henry AN - Netball
Flynn V - Netball
Noah V - Netball
Nash S - Netball
Lachlan H - Netball

Northern School Sports Results
A special shout out to Noah V, Henry AN, Lachlan H, Flynn V and Nash S who attended the 10-12 years Northern school boys Netball trials last week.

A team of ten were picked from the region which saw four of our Southern Cross boys selected. Noah, Flynn, Lachlan and Nash, will now compete at State Championships in Caloundra during May. An outstanding effort from these boys and some great results for our Southern Cross Netball Program.

Congratulations to Jackson M and Mason N who attended the Northern Hockey trials last week. Both boys were selected in the Northern Team and will now travel to Toowoomba for the State Championships. We wish both boys all the best for the next stage of the competition.

Parkrun every Saturday morning at Riverway or North Shore, it’s free! Just register online at https://www.parkrun.com.au/register/  and add SCCC as your running club.

LOST PROPERTY

A reminder to keep checking our lost property baskets as they fill up quite regularly.

Our baskets are located outside of our Primary and Secondary Administration.

Unclaimed items will be donated to the Pre-loved Uniform Shop or St Vincent De Paul. 

THE SCHOOL LOCKER

The School Locker Uniform Shop is opened on the following days each week.

Tuesday           8.00am – 10.00am

Wednesday      2.00pm – 4.00pm                            

Friday               8.00am – 10.00am  

OTHER

Junior Engineers Term 2: Junior AI - Machine Learning for Kids using Scratch at Southern Cross Catholic College Townsville

As Term 1 draws to a close, we want to extend our thanks once again for your ongoing support of Junior Engineers programs at your school. Your commitment to bringing innovative, engaging learning opportunities to your students is genuinely appreciated.