Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Carers,

Founders Day - Friday 30th June

On Friday 30th June, we will hold our Founders Day. Bishop Kennedy will visit O’Connor on Founders Day celebrating Mass in the morning. We are very pleased to welcome the Bishop on a pastoral visit to our school and look forward to him speaking to our students and staff.

Founders Day is a time to celebrate our founders of the college: De La Salle Brothers and Ursuline Sisters and a very important path of our faith learning. This year, our focus will be on Angela Merici and the Ursulines. We will have two Ursuline sisters visiting, Sr Mary Talty (Principal O’Connor Catholic College 1989-1994) and Sr Kath Dwyer. We will also have 15 students and their Principal from St Ursula’s College, Kingsgrove joining us. It will be a wonderful opportunity to form connections with our Ursuline family. We are looking at a reciprocal visit later in the year to attend their celebration of Angela Merici.

O’Connor Catholic College holds a special place in both the Ursuline and De La Salle history in Australia. St Ursula’s, Armidale and De La Salle College, Armidale were the first schools set up by the orders on arriving in Australia.

Angela Merici, the founder of the Ursuline order chose St Ursula as the Patron because of the spirit of Ursula. Ursula  was

A woman of deep courage

A risk taker

A woman of dedication and fidelity to Jesus Christ

A leader of young women

A woman of dignity

An independent woman of her time.

These qualities resonate with us all today and were ones that Angela wanted for her womenin the company. Angela was concerned about the wellbeing of young women who were particularly vulnerable at that time (in early 1500s). She had respect for every person and sought to improve the narrow life choices available for women of that time. The qualities of independence, dignity, and respect are ones we work strongly with our students about so that by the time they leave O’Connor they are firmly founded on faith and with qualities that help them become strong and capable people ready to make a difference in the world.

Reports Year 7 - 10

Academic and Pastoral Academic reports will be sent home over the next two weeks. These reports are a good opportunity for you to have a conversation with your daughter/son about how they are going and how they can move their learning forward.

Student/Parent/Teacher interviews will be held in Week 10 (Years 8-10 students) and in Week 2 Term 3 for Year 7 students. Please ensure that you attend these as they provide an excellent chance to build relationships and partnerships to improve the learning outcomes for all.

Thank you

Regina Menz

Principal