Pastoral Academic Care (PAC) 

Pastoral Academic Care (PAC) Focus - Following Through on Goals

Wellbeing Element: Accomplishment and Optimism 

Character Strength:  Zest

Parent Wellbeing: 

Plato and Aristotle both believed in the importance of developing three wills: intellectual will – mind, emotional will – spirit, physical will – body. These three wills work together to assist you to become the person who you wish to become. Describe how you could develop each of them further in yourself.

Research has indicated, that just thinking about the goals that they want to accomplish, is not sufficient for them to be motivated enough to pursue them with long-term passion. They just remain dreams. To muster the necessary enthusiasm and drive to strive for their goals, it is necessary for students to write down their goals, obstacles they may confront and strengths and people who can assist them to accomplish them. Avoid shoot for the stars goals, because maintaining their passion and zest over a longer period of time is often too difficult for them. Setting three term goals, and then breaking them down into two week targets to achieve, provides students with regular little wins, which over the term, combine to assist them to move steadily towards their goals. The most effective goals in nurturing personal and academic growth are process goals, where they focus on following a series of steps and receiving regular feedback on their progress. Unfortunately, our current school system demands performance goals, which only serve to increase pressure on students and their teachers. Converting performance goals into process ones will deliver the intended learning outcomes without the stress. Encourage students to use the goal setting, goal action plan and goal reflection pages in their journal/ planner every term. 

Acknowledgement: Sheldon & Adams Miller

Year 7

Mrs Natalie Mellowship-Brown

We’ve made it! Well done to our Year 7 students and Parents/Carers for what’s been an absolutely fantastic start to our high school journey. It’s been such a busy first term and our Year 7s have coped with the challenges of starting a new school exceptionally well. 

A big congratulations to the students who have worked extremely hard and received Teacher Commendation and Pastoral Academic Care Leader Awards this term. I’ve been inundated with awards and our students should be incredibly proud to celebrate their achievements and successes.

Over the past term, our PAC team has been working hard, collaborating on how we can further develop and support our students. We have been interpreting data to allow us to identify the strengths and areas for development of our individual students. As we examine data and teacher observations, we have been able to establish the factors that affect a students’ learning and plan for ways to help improve instruction to ensure that all our students achieve success.

During the holidays, I’m going to be challenging our Year 7s to set themselves some goals for the upcoming term. Goal setting is an important skill for students to learn. Goal setting will also allow them to aim for a specific achievement and plan towards attaining it. It could be, making a specific sports team, or it could be to raise their marks in a particular subject, but it’s also important to note that students should aim to have goals that are outside of the academic realm. During week 1 of next term, PAC teachers will be challenging our students to identify goals for what they would like to achieve. 

Have a wonderful and well-deserved break! Stay safe, have a rest and enjoy your break. We look forward to seeing you back in Term 2, wearing full winter uniform and ready to learn. 

PHOTO: The Year 7 PAC team putting faces on the data

Mrs Natalie Mellowship-Brown and the Year 7 PAC Team

Year 8

Last week the Year 8 Progress reports were posted on Compass. It is vitally important that parents/ carers discuss the results of the report with their children. Learning is at the forefront of our mind and it is essential that students come to school focused and prepared for their day of learning. Teachers emphasise the importance being a part of a respectful community. If there are concerns with any aspect of the reporting process, please contact myself or the PAC teachers.

The term concludes on this week and I am conscious that we have many tired individuals in need of a break. I wish our students and families a very peaceful Easter and are renewed and refreshed as the Easter Story reminds us. 

Term 2 starts our winter terms. Students are required to be in their full winter uniform ready for the start of a productive and positive term. It is important to ensure that all school equipment is fully stocked and books are in neat order.

Enjoy the break.

Mrs Kathryn Czinner (on behalf of the Year 8 PAC team)

Year 9

Term 1 really does feel like it has gone by terribly quickly. The incredible rate that school Terms seem to pass by reminds me of the importance of grabbing any opportunities that come our way in life and really being proactive in making the most of them. During Term 1 many of our Year 9 cohort have tried really hard to do this. Be it in engaging enthusiastically in the classroom, being a part of groups such as Vinnies, competing in Da Vinci Decathlon or playing soccer Yr 9 students have grabbed hold of opportunities to learn and grow and milked them for all their worth. 

As a Yr 9 PAC Team growth and development of our students is one of our primary goals. Our Yr 9 motto sums this up, ‘Good...Better...Best!’ We would really like to congratulate our Year 9’s on their progress during Term 1 and look forward with great anticipation to seeing each of them continue to move forward during Term 2. Thank you very much to all parents and guardians who support this process so well. We view our OCC Learning Community as a team and those of you behind the scenes are a vital part of this.

Have a fantastic Easter Break as we celebrate the resurrection of our lord. Stay safe and we look forward to an action packed Term 2.

Mr James Russell and the Yr 9 PAC Team.

Year 10

Year 10

NEWS FLASH!  Only some students will do the PRACTICE minimum standards tests.  These will be held the first day back to school next term, with help.  (This is to get you ready for the real thing).  Here is the schedule for the ACTUAL minimum standard tests.  Week 1 next term.  In the school laptops in room U11.

Schedule for Minimum Standard Tests - Year 10

Go to the website here from NESA if you would like to get ready for these tests:

https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/hsc/hsc-minimum-standard/online-tests/what-to-expect-in-the-tests/sample-test-questions 

If you have any questions, contact Mr Chapman.

schapman@arm.catholic.edu.au 

Year 11

Mrs Vicki Channon

It has been a busy first term, as usual, and a steep learning curve for most of our Year 11 students as they ventured into the world of assessment tasks, due dates, notification of tasks, drafts, study, homework, learning goals etc etc… Remembering that this year is a practice for the HSC year, so 2 more terms of refining, making study summaries, studying, doing their best, asking for help, seeking feedback are all important tools for their learning growth. PAC teachers will be having learning conversations with each of their students in Term 2 in order to prepare and guide them through their individual learning plan. Parents and carers are always welcome to contact us at school if there is a concern.

Along with the demands of school, many of our students, as young adults have responsibilities such as part time employment, sporting commitments, music groups, cultural groups etc, etc…. as well as many of our students juggling various pathways of education in the form of SBATs, and TVET programs. It is all about balance. Many would agree that the adage of ‘ask a busy person to do a job and it will get done’ is a good motto to stick by. It is great to keep busy, but not at the expense of your overall health and well being, so make sure time is taken for yourself. 

I have challenged our students to encourage each other and share in the achievements and successes of their fellow peers and friends. There is a general feeling amongst some members of the team that to receive an award is shameful, but we need to celebrate, rather than bring down others' hard work and effort. Let’s all try our hardest to do the best we can, and you never know what positive things come from this. It might be catching. 

Congratulations to the many students who have worked hard over the term, and they have been acknowledged with commendation awards. For those students who are struggling with the rigours and demands of what it means to be a senior student at our school, next term is a great opportunity to step up and make our year great. 

Happy holidays, stay safe, be kind. See you in full school winter uniform ready to learn and be part of a great year group in Term 2.

Mrs Vicki Channon (on behalf of the entire Year 11 PAC team)

Year 12

Mr Mark Fulloon

We are now at the end of another busy term, and I am sure most of our senior students and their teachers are ready for a break over the Easter period. Whilst it is a time of relaxation and reflection, I am hoping that it is also a time for students to recharge and get ready for their academic endeavours of Term 2. Term 2 will be full of other challenges with more assessments and work to be completed. There will be plenty to focus on what needs to be done to achieve each of the students specific learning goals.

This term has already seen plenty in the way of contribution to school and college life, participation in Masses, sports, music, arts and community events and activities which I hope all students benefited from in some way. Congratulations to students who have been awarded commendations and other merits, keep up the good work and to all Year 12, keep working hard.

Have a safe and happy holiday break and we will see you all back next term ready to conquer the challenges ahead. 

Mr Mark Fulloon (on behalf of the entire Year 12 PAC team)