Pastoral Academic Care (PAC) 

Pastoral Focus: Junior –   CHOOSING TO BE GRATEFUL

Senior – GRATITUDE

Wellbeing Element: POSITIVE EMOTION + GRATITUDE

Character Strength: brainstorming how they can build their wellbeing and resilience using Hope

Parent Wellbeing: Aristotle once wisely said that “the most important relationship we have, is the one with ourselves.” Are you kind to yourself? Do you treat other people better than you treat yourself? And how often do you say yes to others, which really means you are saying no to yourself? What are your thoughts about these questions?

This fortnight we hear from the Year 8,  Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12 Leaders of Learning.

Year 8

I believe in the good. I continue to encourage our students to be the good. 

It has been tremendous to see so many people really trying hard to complete the set work. I am delighted to wander through the classrooms to see a calm learning atmosphere. I love to walk through the technology classes and see the fabulous projects that the students are working on. 

Teenage years are often testing as students navigate friendship highs and lows. Peer group pressure can be subtle or intense and this causes people at times to make poor choices. We need to reflect on the power of our own morals and reflect carefully about the actions and choices we make. Building resilience and inner strength is also very important to resist temptations and do the right thing. Standing up for what is right is a strength that I admire as students support their peers. As always if our students need support in the social setting of school, help can be sought. 

As the students exit my classroom they are reminded of the words,

“ I am strong, I am capable and I am confident”

Mrs Czinner on behalf of the Year 8 PAC team.

Year 10

As we enter the final couple of weeks of Term 1, I am taking time to reflect on what has been a very positive and busy term for our Year 10’s. It is noticeable that our Year 10’s are reaching a level of maturity where they realise the importance of taking on personal responsibility for their attitudes towards their learning and their education, as they start to plan their paths into the future. 

One of the highlights of Term 1 was our Year 10 Retreat Day on the Friday of Week 4. ‘Leadership’ was the theme of the retreat. Our students in attendance contributed greatly to discussions on leadership, participated fantastically well in team building games and shared ideas and listened attentively to each other in group discussion activities. It was fantastic to see our students strike up conversations and work collaboratively with some of their peers who they may not know so well or not usually have conversed so openly with inside the school setting. The LaSallian leaders who ran our retreat were very impressed with our Year 10’s attitude towards the day. We were very proud of the Year 10’s in attendance who contributed so much to the retreat with their participation. We admired the sense of fun with which they approached the day. Days such as these within the school calendar are the days that stand out, extend and challenge our students and I feel, these are the days that are remembered fondly when looking back on our school days.

With this in mind, our next ‘out of the ordinary’ day is the cross-country event which will take place on Thursday 6th April, the final day of term 1. I would like to encourage all of our year 10’s to get involved in this day, by running or walking the cross-country track, helping out at water stations, assisting with marshalling and of course, by wearing their respective house colours to add to the atmosphere of the day.

We want to encourage our Year 10’s to continue to ‘represent’ with pride in everything they do; representing themselves, their house, their year group and O’Connor Catholic College.

Shane McCann, on behalf of the Year 10 PAC team

Year 11

The role ‘Leader of Learning, Wellbeing’ is composed of words that carry a significant amount of weight and responsibility. Leading the wellbeing of others is a massive responsibility…and equally an incredible opportunity. I have been extremely fortunate to have had this opportunity to lead at O’Connor for the past six years. Most recently I have had the wonderful opportunity to spend two years and a term working as Leader of Learning, Wellbeing for our current Year 11’s. Sadly the time has come for me to finish up at O’Connor and as result, relinquish the role of Year 11 Leader of Learning and at this point I really want to take the time to acknowledge our Year 11’ as a collective of outstanding young people. One of the very best aspects of the LOL Wellbeing role is the associated time and opportunity to get to know students (and their families). I feel so very privileged to have been able to get to know most of our Year 11’s quite well. The insights I have gained into their personalities and personal qualities make me feel confidently assured that the ongoing and upcoming student leadership of our school is in very good hands. There is no way I can mention the wonderful qualities of all of these students nor would I want to single some out and thereby leave others out, but Year 11 2023 are a cohort who could be described with a few key descriptors. These include, diverse, enormously talented, very social, dedicated, compassionate, independent, cheerful and kind. I am sure that you would agree that this list of qualities goes a long way towards these students enjoying future success and making exciting and valuable contributions to our society. A very large part of me would love to be staying (I am already pencilling in a quick trip to New England to attend the 2024 Graduation and Formal) and seeing them through to the completion of the HSC, but I really look forward to watching from afar as our Year 11’s complete this journey over the next year and a half and as they embark on individual journeys out into the world. 

As I write this final Yr 11 Article, I also want to take this opportunity to express heartfelt thanks to the amazing colleagues who have made my job so much easier over the years…be it PAC Teachers, Education Assistants or Support Staff from the office or grounds. I also want to express my deep thanks to the families of the students I have been fortunate enough to support. Thank you for trusting me to have your children’s best interests at heart and for working alongside me to support and encourage them.

Mr James Russell on behalf of the Year 11 PAC team

Year 12

We would like to invite you to attend the upcoming Year 12 Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences, to be held this coming Monday, March 27th from 4-6pm.

All Year 12 students and their parents are highly encouraged to attend and take the opportunity to meet with classroom teachers to discuss how their students' learning is going. These bookings can be made through Compass. If you are unable to attend, please contact your child’s classroom teachers to arrange another opportunity.

The Pastoral Academic Care teachers for Year 12, Miss Lauren Donnelly, Miss Jessica Armfield, Mr Frank Patricks and Mrs Clare Healy and myself will also be available for you to meet as well and we look forward to seeing you! 

Mrs Amanda McFarland on behalf of the Year 12 PAC team