Assistant Principal - Mission 

Welcome back to all students to O'Connor Catholic College for 2020, especially to our brand new Year 7 students and students in other years who are new to the College. It has been as usual, a very busy start to the year. try putting yourself in these new students' shoes. Apart from settling into new classes with new classmates, new teachers and finding your way around the school, there have been a number of events out of the normal routine to witness and participate in.

The Cross and Dux Ceremony

Every year past captains pass on the responsibility of leadership to our new captains. Our captains then unveil the theme for the year. This year it is 20:20 Win-Win. Our student leadership emphasised that we can involve ourselves in actions where all parties can benefit. We are talking about Christian leadership here and it is great to see it being a theme for our College community. Students, teachers, and guests were also treated to an inspirational address by ex-student and a former captain, Brendan Murtagh. Brendan has been working with the Army Reserve and RFS during the bushfire crisis. Brendan made the point of the value of community in the face of disaster giving examples of humanity and hope the face of extreme adversity. The second part of this ceremony is to recognise the Dux of the College for 2019. Ms Menz in congratulating the whole cohort paid tribute to our highest achievers including Aiden Wicks, the Dux for 2019. Aiden's whole family was on hand to witness the recognition due to him.

The Annual Swimming Carnival.

There will be a report elsewhere in the newsletter but I would like congratulate everyone, especially participants at the swimming carnival. With non-stop rain the commitment and resilience of students and staff was inspirational. Special mention needs to go Lara Moloney who broke a number of records including two from the 70s held by Wanda Tomaszewska Thanks to Mr. Honeysett for organising an awesome carnival.

Start of the New School Year Mass for the Cathedral Parish.

O'Connor students were bused down to the Cathedral to join with St Mary's students to celebrate the start of the new school year. Our Captains introduced the College theme amongst the wider community and Fathers Paul and Samson co-celebrated a beautiful mass to a capacity filled cathedral. The Junior Beatitudes provided the music ministry and led the congregation in singing inspiring hymns and the various parts of the mass. Maya Teege did a wonderful job as cantor and Natalie Chin provided an angelic solo.

Damian Roff