House Reports

Benilde

From everyone in Benilde we hope all families had a wonderful holiday before returning to school three weeks ago. The first three weeks have been a busy time for O’Connor with our new year 7’s beginning their high school journey. Benilde is excited to welcome 27 new students - 23 being year 7 this year.

In 2026, we will further strengthen this structure by allocating multiple teachers per Pastoral Class, made possible by consolidating one class. As a result, your child may have a new Pastoral teacher, or there may be some changes within their class group.

BENILDE 1 - Miss Natalia Myers, Mrs Lauren Patterson and Mr Mark Honeysett

BENILDE 2 - Mrs Emily Smith and Mrs Tara Hogan

BENILDE 3 - Miss Claudia Percy, Mr Lance McNamara and Mrs Tully Langenbaker

BENILDE 4 - Mr Garry Osborne, Mr Clayton Thomson  and Mrs Amber Smith

BENILDE 5 - Miss Lauren English, Mr Jon Hawthorne and Miss Kaylene Johnson

As a team our approach prioritises a supportive environment where each student feels valued, respected and cared for to achieve their personal best. Through a strong focus on Pastoral Academic Care, Academic Progress, and Co-Curricular involvement. We aim to foster a sense of belonging and responsibility within the House for all students. Regular attendance and active participation are key parts, ensuring that students make the most of their learning opportunities and contribute positively to our school community.

I would like to reinforce the importance of adhering to the school's uniform policy. Students are expected to wear the correct uniform at all times, including appropriate footwear. This not only reflects pride in our community but also promotes a sense of unity and discipline. Please remember that our Uniform Shop is open (by appointment) to allow access to our uniform for all families within the community. It should also be noted that the OCC Sports Hoodie is no longer part of our uniform in any capacity.

The Cross and Dux ceremony where the new 2026 leaders were blessed for the year ahead. It was wonderful to see our house captains Nicholas Miller and Anna McClelland but also Paige Patterson (Sports Captain) and Madeleine Cowley (School Captain) both also Benilde getting involved and reading confidently in front of the whole school.

Week three also saw the highly anticipated OCC swimming carnival, it was amazing to see the majority of students here on the day and taking a real pride in the house - it was a sea of blue. All students got involved with the war cry (written this year by our captains and Year 12 team). It was wonderful to see the leadership step many of our Year 10 and 11 students take but also seeing our 7-9 students getting involved. From all the Benilde teachers we are extremely proud of your involvement and energy in this event.

I look forward to working with you all and if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact me!

Miss Elizabeth Plane

House Leader - Benilde

La Salle

Welcome to the 2026 school year at La Salle House. It has been great to see everyone back on campus. This is our second year working in House teams, and our Captains, Caitlin Montague and Evie Howlett, are already working with staff to ensure our environment remains welcoming for all.

It was a pleasure meeting many of you at the Community Engagement evening. Seeing the students perform and display their work in the Creative Arts area was a highlight of the start of term. We are looking forward to seeing our house spirit grow as we embark on the Swimming carnival on Thursday evening.

Your child’s Pastoral Academic Care (PAC) teacher remains your first point of contact. Most students have stayed with their previous teachers, and we are currently helping our new Year 7 and transfer students settle into their groups. The La Salle team for 2026 is as follows:

La Salle 1: Mr Fittler and Mrs Barnes 

La Salle 2: Mrs Stoessel, Mrs Leggart, and Miss Rothschild

La Salle 3: Mrs Frazier, Mrs Spelleken, and Mrs Sullivan 

La Salle 4: Mr Healy and Mr Powers

La Salle 5: Mr Wooster, Mrs Mitheu, and Mrs Spires

Please ensure you are familiar with the Compass App, as it is our primary channel for communication regarding academic reports, event information, and daily updates.

Our focus this year is to continue building a supportive culture based on respect and kindness. If you have any concerns throughout the year, please contact your child’s PAC teacher, subject teacher, or myself. We are here to support our students and their families.

Mrs Kathryn Czinner

House Leader - La Salle 

Merici

A Positive Start to 2026

To: The O’Connor Catholic College Community

From: Bruce Myers, House Leader – Merici

Date: February 16, 2026

It has been a pleasure welcoming our 132 students back to House Merici for the start of the 2026 school year. From our newest Year 7s finding their way around the campus to our Year 12s stepping into their final leadership roles, there is a palpable sense of energy and purpose within the house. 

Focus on Fundamentals: Ready for Learning 

As we settle into the term, our primary focus is on establishing the daily habits that set the foundation for academic success. We are currently emphasizing two key areas:

Punctuality: Arriving at class on time ensures that lessons can begin promptly and without disruption.

Preparedness: Being "ready for learning" means having the correct equipment and a focused mindset the moment the bell rings.

Uniform Standards: Wearing the school uniform with pride.

 A correct uniform reflects a student’s respect for themselves and their school community. I appreciate the support of parents and guardians in reinforcing these expectations at home, as they truly help our students transition into a productive school mindset.

Sporting Success & House Spirit. 

We recently held our first major competitive event of the year—the Annual Swimming Carnival. It was fantastic to see the sea of yellow and the high level of participation across all year groups. A massive congratulations must go to our House Captains, Rhiannon and Regan. Their leadership was instrumental in mobilizing the house, encouraging participation, and ensuring everyone felt included. Their hard work behind the scenes certainly paid off in the spirit we displayed on the day.

Open Communication

Building a strong partnership between school and home is vital. If you have any concerns regarding your child’s transition into the new year, their wellbeing, or their academic progress, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Mr Bruce Myers 

House Leader – Merici

Ursula 

It is my great pleasure to welcome all in Ursula House back for 2026! A new year has brought many new faces to the House, including myself as the new House Leader. No doubt students and staff of Ursula have so far especially enjoyed the bright and “bubbly” contributions made by Captains Isabella McKay and Sophie Roberts to House meetings.

Every house is made out of many bricks or stones. In the same way, every student and staff member brings their own unique presence that builds a collective spirit. It has been fantastic to witness the enthusiasm of many members of Ursula and I encourage everyone to participate wholeheartedly in all activities. Over the course of the first 3 weeks, we have had a chance to show our House spirit in a number of events, including attendance at the Opening Mass, the Community Engagement evening and the Twilight Swimming Carnival.

I would like to take the opportunity to announce the Pastoral Academic Care (PAC) class teachers for 2026 who play an important point of contact for students:

Ursula 1: Mr William Blake and Mrs Carleigh Eastlake

Ursula 2: Mr Steffan Fastier, Mr James Russell

Ursula 3: Mrs Megan Wooster and Mr Mark Harris

Ursula 4: Ms Jessica Armfield, Mr Matt Griffin and Mr Cody Greaves

Ursula 5: Mr Luke Andrews, Mr Mark Fulloon and Mr Anthony Kelly

On behalf of the team, we look forward to building up Ursula House on the strong foundation of participation together with all students.

Kind regards,

Mr Mark Aarts, 

House Leader - Ursula