Pastoral Academic Care

Pastoral Academic Care (PAC) Focus

This week’s Pastoral Academic Care focus is: THE JOY OF OTHER PEOPLE

Wellbeing Element:    POSITIVE EMOTIONS + GRATITUDE     

Character Strength:       HUMILITY

Strengths Booster:  VALUED STRENGTHS

Wellbeing Reality Activities:  THE JOY OF OTHER PEOPLE 

Parent Wellbeing:     

Have a photo 7 week by taking a photo on your mobile every day of something which makes you happy and full of positive emotions.

Being a teenager should be a most satisfying and enjoyable time in students’ lives. Safely negotiating new relationships, risk taking activities, having fun and learning about what their best possible self could look like are stimulating experiences. The natural highs students get from having fun in person with groups of family and friends, come from the brain’s feel good brain chemicals serotonin and oxytocin. No electronic pleasure comes close in intensity to being with other people. Humour is a wonderful thing to enjoy for students to lighten up. It creates opportunities to look on the bright side of life, have fun and laugh, which boost positive emotions that nurture feelings of optimism and hope for the future. Everyone has mirror neurons which imitate the expressions and emotions of those around us. By encouraging students to be on the lookout for the funny things in life, they can unconsciously use mirror neurons to benefit theirs and others’ wellbeing through the release feel good brain chemicals into their bloodstream. The best tonic when they are feeling a little down is to do something kind for someone else or have fun with other people. Being with others in person is what most humans need. 

Acknowledgement: McQuaid & Kern

Wellbeing Measurement Tool:  Students, staff and parents can measure the state of their wellbeing by taking the free PERMAH survey at https://permahsurvey.com

 Acknowledgement and thanks: Dr Peggy Kern & Michelle McQuaid

Year 7   

Mrs Kath Czinner

We have had a great week concentrating on improving our manners, relationships and school work. In our Pastoral Academic Care lesson we worked on improving manners and showing respect. The other focus was to look out for each other and aim to support a friend in need. By asking the question, RUOK ?, was explored. I am pleased to see many for group reach out and be proactive in helping their friend.

We continue to educate our students of the need to use social media sensibly. Difficulties arise when people misuse technology. In partnership with families support around these issues are required.

The athletics carnival will be a great opportunity for our school to get together to be active and to develop school spirit. With many sporting events being cancelled this year, finally we can enjoy some competition. As we are unable to have visitors to the school at the moment plenty of photos will be taken.

Congratulations to the Yr 7 Debaters who were willing to take on a new challenge this week. Well done our very confident Ben Kaberry, Forest Warburton, Gabe Harris, Tommy Schaeffer, Abi Van Eyk, Tahlia Bird and Mia Vaughan.

Congratulations to Ella Luchich who has gained a Principal’s Award.

I have also included some photos of our classes in action in the Creative Arts, the projects are coming on beautifully.

Kath Czinner (on behalf of the entire Year 7 PAC team)

Year 8 

Mrs Katie Biddle

On Monday night we had our subject selection information night via zoom. Students received an information booklet on Monday with information on some of the subject selection possibilities.  Information can be found in the booklet or by contacting the relevant Leader of Learning. Students are encouraged to choose subjects that they are interested in. If you have any questions please contact me. 

Year 8 continues to focus on R U OK in their Pastoral periods. Students have been discussing signs that someone may not be feeling ok and what to do if they notice this. 

PRIDE program.

Congratulations to the year 7 and 8 students who participated in this week's PRIDE program that focused on Relationships. Students discussed what makes a good friend and how they can be a good friend. They also worked together on some fun teamwork and problem solving activities.

GALLERY: Participants in the PRIDE program.

Sincerely

Katie Biddle and the Year 8 team

Year 10

Mr Peter McLeish

Let me start with the many positive things that are happening with the wonderful students that make up Year 10. They have been working particularly well at producing their best effort to be successful in a variety of Assessment Tasks and regular classwork. Their resilience, positivity and optimism has been sorely tested this year and most of them have risen to the challenge. And let’s face it, the challenge of this year has weakened many of us. 

I must take this opportunity to remind parents, and students alike, of their obligation related to wearing the correct uniform every day. Cold weather always presents problems in this area. We are not unreasonable. Warmer clothing is allowed to be worn beneath the blazer. However, the school blazer is expected to be the top garment and is expected to be worn into morning PAC classes and leaving the school in the afternoon. Parental encouragement is a vital part of us maintaining this important College tradition. Please have the discussion with your child.

Sadly, there has been a number of incidents of students refusing to follow teacher instructions, especially related to requests for placing phones ‘out of sight’, or ultimately, handing them over in the case of repeated infringements.

This is not good enough and flies in the face of all that we have been working towards this year in terms of RESPECT. I will appreciate you having the conversation with your child about respectful treatment of their teachers.

The Athletics Carnival this Friday is under very different circumstances. Unfortunately, there will be no parents allowed to cheer on their children. Strange days indeed.

Congratulations to Jean Boshoff who qualified for a Principal’s Award last week and Jenna Seach and Imogen Hale who have both qualified for a College Award. A magnificent achievement! 

As Mark Twain once said “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” So be kind to each other. It’s free. 

Stay safe!

Peter McLeish (on behalf of the entire Year 10 PAC team)

Year 12

Mrs Vicki Channon

The Athletics Carnival will be a wonderful way to finish a busy couple of  weeks with the Trial HSC examinations wrapping up today (Thursday). It’s one of the very few events that we have been lucky enough to still have this year, so let’s make the most of it.

We are so proud of the manner in which they have conducted themselves during the exam period. The next four weeks is a really important time to work with teacher feedback given from the exams, refine writing skills, consolidate knowledge of course content and do LOTS of past papers:) 

It is also a time when writing and filling in applications for universities is starting to happen, so please ask for help if needed. It is really important that the students know their student number. 

We will be having a whole year meeting next Wednesday Period 1 in the Library Learning Centre to discuss some very important issues leading into the last 4 weeks of term. There is much to organise in regards to the end of Year 12 activities and events. Mrs Kerry Steller (HSC Presiding Officer) will be in attendance via zoom to inform students of details regarding HSC rules and procedures. It is therefore imperative that all students are present.

Due to COVID -19, there are many restrictions that have come into play leading up to our traditional end of term celebrations. A letter outlining all of this information and an outline of events will be delivered by Ms Menz so that you can stay informed of what is happening. We will do our best to acknowledge our Year 12 cohort 2020 and provide them with some memories of their time at O’Connor Catholic College. 

We look forward to sharing the next four weeks with these amazing young adults. I hope they can reflect upon the importance of friendships and their time at school as happy times. Let’s all make it a positive end of schooling experience by treating it responsibly and wisely. We want everyone to stay safe and healthy in preparation for the HSC exams which will commence Week 2 in Term 4. 

Vicki Channon (on behalf of Year 12 PAC Team)