Pastoral Academic Care
Building Social Connections - The Role of Serotonin and Oxytocin
Wellbeing Element: RELATIONSHIPS + EMPATHY
CHARACTER STRENGTH: Love of Learning
STRENGTHS BOOSTER: Learning Strengths
PARENT WELLBEING: Social-emotional resilience is made up of optimism and hope for the future, regulating emotions, controlling impulses, thinking flexibly, having empathy, self-belief and building social connectedness. What does each mean to you?
When students enjoy honest and caring relationships with their families and friends, they are happy in themselves and able to look for the good things they are doing. This puts them in a position to make the most of teamwork and feel socially connected with a sense of belonging.
Human beings are hard wired to be our best when cooperation with others to achieve things together. When we feel that others think that we matter, a powerful brain chemical, serotonin, is released in our bloodstreams to create feelings of self-worth. When we experience trusting and loving relationships, another brain chemical, oxytocin, is released to make us feel loved and special.
Receiving and accepting developmental, non judgemental feedback from family, friends, coaches and teachers on how they are travelling, enables students to use their strengths to self-assess and then set process self-expectations to live by.
The adolescent brain is a turbulent place, with the good decision making centre, the pre-frontal cortex, not completely wired up. As such, while they can create emotions just like adults, they don't yet have the capabilities to consistently control them, which often leads to any feedback being seen by students as criticism. Social-intelligence is an effective strength to use here.
"A loving heart is the truest wisdom" Charles Dickens
Year 7 PAC
Mrs Kath Czinner
Year 7 have been welcomed to our school and are busy establishing routines. In such a short time they have had the task of getting to know their teachers and peers, following the timetable and being organised for a 5 period day. As well as this they have participated in the School Dux and Passing of the Cross ceremony, the Year 7 Mass, house meeting, house cheers, the Twilight swimming carnival and the Opening School's Mass on Wednesday. I expect the students were exhausted last week and appreciated our non-school day on Friday.
On Monday evening we had the information night where we were able to introduce staff and share the PAC goals and Academic goals for the year. Attached is the brief power point that guided our discussions. Click here to view the presentation. It was a great opportunity to meet and mingle with parents. Please continue to stay in touch regarding your child's education.
Our PAC team consists of:
7PAC 1 Mrs Cath Deshon/ Mr James Heally
7PAC 2 Mr Michael Wooster/ Mr Anthony Kelly
7PAC 3 Mr Steve Kirkaldy/ Mrs Kaylene Osborne
7PAC 4 Mrs Eli Simpson/ Madam Florence de Champion Crespigny
7PAC 5 Mr Peter Trinh/ Mrs Melissa Killen/ Mrs Kath Czinner
The student devices are set up now. Regular reminders about care of the device and sensible use is advised. Initial literacy screening has commenced and this helps to inform the teachers of how best to support the students.
We will be working on our organisation for Year 7 Camp which is scheduled for Week 8. Camp will run Wednesday 19th March through to Friday 21st March. Please complete the consent form and payment as soon as possible. Please refer to the document shared regarding the log in details.
Please contact your PAC teachers or myself kczinner@arm.catholic.edu.au if you need assistance.
We have been very impressed to see the enthusiasm and positivity in the Year 7 year group for 2020.
Mrs Kath Czinner (Acting PAC Coordinator)
PHOTO: The first bell of the school Year. Welcome to O'Connor Year 7.
Year 8 PAC
Mrs Katie Biddle
Welcome to Year 8 2020!
I am so excited to be working with year 8 students, families and teachers on their learning journey this year!
Year 8 students have had a fantastic start to the year, with students already demonstrating an enthusiasm towards learning, inclusivity of all and a commitment to achieving their goals.
This year, Year 8 will be building up our skills of gratitude and positive thinking. Studies have shown that skills in this area are key to developing resilience and achieving goals. Our Pastoral academic care focus for the first few weeks will be on developing individual words (or phrases) that we can say to ourselves when things are not going to plan. I encourage you to talk with your child about this, maybe you have one of your own that you can share?! Phrases like, 'Keep going!' or 'This is tough but so am I', or 'I can do this' are a good place to start.
I would like to thank you in advance for supporting your child with their new class. New classes can bring new challenges, but they also bring new opportunities. I encourage you to highlight these opportunities with your child - new friends, new teachers, new classes, the list goes on! I anticipate that any concerns about new classes will ease as the students settle into their new routines, but if any concerns remain by Week 4, these may be reviewed.
The Year 8 PAC teachers are:
8.1 Lauren Donnelly and Renee Russell
8.2 Amanda Bell and Mark Harris
8.3 Damian Roff, Kate Bloomfield and Taryn Ramage
8.4 Daniel Fittler and Mark Honeysett
8.5 Cheryl Leggatt and Shane McCann
I value communication between home and school and I encourage you to contact your child's PAC teachers or myself if you have any questions or concerns. You can contact me by calling the front office or by email. My email address is kbiddle1@arm.catholic.edu.au.
I look forward to working with you.
Katie
Year 10
Mr Peter McLeish
Dear Parents and Carers of Year 10 students in 2020,
On behalf of the Year 10 Pastoral Academic Care Team of Ms Mellissa Bell, Ms Camilla Clydsdale, Ms Glenda Lemon, Mr Ian Tonkin, Mr Andrew May, Mr Matthew Griffin, Mr Frank Patricks, Ms Jessica Molkentin, Ms Phoebe Biddle, Ms Jennifer Frazier and Ms Cherie Stoessel, I would like to welcome you as a Year 10 parent/carer this year. Year 10 is a positive group of students and we are looking forward to working with them throughout the year.
The first major event for Year 10 will be upon us quickly. The Parent Information Night on Monday 24th February in The Library Learning Centre starting at 6pm. The purpose of this night is to meet with parents and explain the procedures and expectations for the year, including the way the academic curriculum is to be covered. There will be an explanation of any HSC changes relevant to Year 10 and overview of the ROSA (Record of Secondary Achievement).
I am looking forward to meeting you at the information night.
I will appreciate you contacting me by email to acknowledge receipt of this letter and please feel free to contact me at any time during the year.
Email: pmcleish@arm.catholic.edu.au
(My preferred method of contacting you, will be via text message.)
This information is also on Compass.
Yours faithfully,
Mr Peter McLeish (on behalf of the Year 10 team)
(Year 10 Pastoral Academic Care Leader)
Year 11
Mr Mark Fulloon
Year 11 have now started 2020 as senior students and should be now working to a new senior study and work schedule. What I as the PAC coordinator have already witnessed is a very settled start to the academic school year. Next Monday the 17th February we have a parent/carer/student information night for senior assessment starting at 6pm in the Library Learning Centre (AG4/5) and all are encouraged to attend this information session as important subject and assessment information will be explained. A letter has been sent out with students and is available on compass and website.
For your information I introduce the Year 11 2020 PAC Team with email addresses for you to make contact with your student's PAC teacher for any queries etc. As always, a good point of contact is your student's PAC teacher as they have morning contact and lessons with the students and will be able to answer most questions you may have.
PAC Coordinator: Mr Mark Fulloon mfulloon@arm.catholic.edu.au
11 PAC 1 (Mr Nicholas Bolger, Miss Melanie Sampson) nbolger@arm.catholic.edu.au msampso1@arm.catholic.edu.au
11 PAC 2 (Mr David Lush, Mrs Megan Wooster) d.lush@arm.catholic.edu.au megan.wooster@arm.catholic.edu.au
11 PAC 3 (Mrs Natalie Mellowship-Brown, Mr Darryl Harper, Miss Eliza Clark)
nmellows@arm.catholic.edu.au darrylharper@arm.catholic.edu.au eclark1.arm.catholic.edu.au
My hope is that Year 11 will settle into their new subjects and leadership roles within the school community and make most of the new opportunities offered to them. Good start Year 11 - well done.
Mr Mark Fulloon.
Year 12
Mrs Vicki Channon
Welcome back parents and carers of Year 12 2020.
I am including the message I placed on our Year 12, 2020 classroom for you to read:
I hope you have all had a great break and are excited to get back into the new school year as leaders of the College. Hopefully you have had time to reflect over the holidays as to what you would like to achieve in this very important year. My wish for all of you is to be the best person you can be and try your hardest in everything you do. It's going to be a big year, and yes, there will be some rough patches along the way, but remember we are all in this together; teachers, students, staff. Seek help when you need it. Look after each other by treating all with respect and kindness. It's going to be a fabulous year if we all work together and what a wonderful celebration we will all have in November. PS. Be ready to have a learning conversation with your mentor in the first week, and get used to setting weekly goals, as that will play a huge part in your success in moving your learning forward, in preparation for the HSC.
The swimming carnival was the first major highlight for Year 12 this term. The afternoon/evening, although very inclement, was such a positive and successful event, with the students displaying great leadership along with friendship, fun and a healthy rivalry. Congratulations to all of the House Captains and the house members who had a go and stepped up on the cold and very wet evening.
A welcome letter has been emailed to parents/carers. If you have not received this please let me know. Please remember that the PAC teacher is your first port of call. Communication is the key to a successful year.
I am really looking forward to working with all of our Year 12 students over the next 3 Terms.
Vicki Channon and the Year 12 PAC team