Assistant Principal -

Wellbeing

A Busy Start to the Year: 

Dear O’Connor Community and Friends,

It has been an exciting and action-packed start to the year, with our students jumping straight into the challenges and opportunities that come with the new school term. We’ve already seen everyone get involved in many areas, and we are excited to share just some of the highlights with you!

Welcoming our new Year 7 students

Our Year 7 students had a busy start to secondary school. So many nervous, but smiling faces were on the front lawn on day one, and by the end of the day the only thing that had changed was the fact that the nerves had disappeared. Our Year 12 students had the opportunity to spend almost half the day with them, supporting them to feel welcome to our school. Part of the day was solely dedicated to building connections across the two cohorts, and we really saw the benefits of this time at the swimming carnival in week 2.

Celebrating successes at the Dux and Cross Mass

Week 2 saw us coming together to celebrate our opening mass and also acknowledging the successes of our Year 12 highest achiever (Dux), John Harris. John shared with the student body the fact that at the end of the day, it is up to you as an individual to get the most out of every opportunity gifted to you. He spoke about the idea that the junior years are the years for you to take risks, make new friends, try new things, but the senior years are when you need to remember that the race is not over until you decide it is. That obstacles are part of life, that you just need to remember they do not define you.

As is our tradition, our Student Leadership Team announced the theme for the year - IGNITE. What an exciting theme - a single word that we can apply to so many things. They have set each and every one of us the challenge to ignite the light within, to ignite our passion, curiosity, courage and faith. 

Swimming Carnival Success

We kicked off the year with our highly anticipated swimming carnival, and what an incredible event it was! This year’s carnival was a standout, with the best attendance and participation in recent years. It was fantastic to see students of all ages getting involved, showing off their skills in the pool, and demonstrating an incredible House spirit  and sportsmanship. The excitement and enthusiasm from everyone was infectious. A big thank you to our staff, students, and families for supporting the event, making it a truly memorable occasion.

I would like to give a shout out to ALL of our student leaders for the work they put into the House chants, the costumes and getting everyone involved. The House Captains worked to revamp the chants, embracing the charisms of their founders and then had to teach everyone else in a week. The energy and passion shown in the walk by on the front lawn was electrifying. 

I would also like to acknowledge some of the outfits - The Simpsons theme in Merici was a stand out. We had big red dinosaurs, big blue sharks and it appeared that the Martians had definitely landed here in Armidale and were infiltrating LaSalle. 

Improvements in Student Uniform and Presentation

As we strive to foster a culture of excellence, one area where we have already noticed great improvement is in student uniform and overall presentation. Our students are looking smarter than ever, and we have received positive feedback from staff, parents, and visitors alike about how our students are consistently presenting themselves with pride. This attention to detail, and the effort put into ensuring our students are well-groomed and in uniform, sets a strong foundation for a successful year ahead. As a school we have made the decision that Wednesdays are a prac free day for all PDHPE/PASS students in years 7 to 10. This means every student at O’Connor will be in a formal uniform on Wednesdays every week.

A reminder to all families - as of 2025 the sports shorts for our girls are the ones without the white piping. These shorts have not been available for purchase for 6 years and are no longer accepted as part of the school uniform. Communication had been sent to families in November last year. As of 2026 the hoodies are not to be worn to school either as they have been replaced with the soft shell jacket. If you have any questions please contact your Leader of House or Vickie Cooper (uniform shop). We are asking our girls to sort this out ASAP. 

Smooth Transition to Our Vertical House Structure

Another positive development this year has been the smooth transition to our new vertical house structure, a change that is already proving beneficial to our school community. Under the leadership of our dedicated Leaders of House and House Captains, students have seamlessly integrated into their new teams. The vertical structure fosters leadership opportunities, encourages cross-age mentoring, and builds strong connections across all year groups. It’s been inspiring to see our students engage with this new model and support one another, with the older students stepping up as role models and mentors for the younger ones.

Flourishing Through High Standards

By raising the bar in both presentation and participation, we’re already seeing our students flourish. Whether it’s the pride in their uniforms, their enthusiastic involvement in school events, or their leadership in the house structure, our students are showing incredible potential. The results speak for themselves – when students are encouraged to take pride in their appearance and their efforts, they thrive both academically and personally. It’s been heartening to witness the positive impact these high standards are having on our school culture, and we look forward to the continued growth of each and every student.

As we continue to build on these successes, we want to thank you, our parents and caregivers, for your ongoing support. Together, we are creating an environment where our students not only meet but exceed expectations, and it’s a privilege to be part of this journey with you.

Warm regards,

Mellissa Bell

Assistant Principal - Wellbeing

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