Principal's Report
Dear Parents and Carers,
We continue to navigate the ever changing landscape of COVID 19, lockdowns and learning from home. Once again a big thankyou for the work and support of the whole O’Connor Community. I understand the difficulties and the stress that this places on families.
I would like to commend all students and in particular our Year 12 students and families. Year 12 2021 have had their final two years impacted by lockdowns in Year 11 and Year 12. They have met these challenges with resilience and strength. We moved quickly to change our Trial HSC Exams from at school to online. The students adapted and performed very well in trying circumstances.
I continue to work with the Leadership Team, Mr Mark Fulloon (Year 12 Leader of Learning) the Year 12 Pastoral Academic Care Teachers and Year 12 subject teachers to support and encourage our Year 12 students during the last few months of their formal schooling. The last few weeks should be filled with Graduation and fun. Many lasts … last lesson, last lunchtime and so on. Although this might not happen this term, we are committed to making the conclusion of schooling for Year 12 a memorable one.
Our Year 11 students begin their final assessments today (Friday) and continue next week. I wish them all the best as they navigate online assessments for the first time. As I have said to the students, all we want is for them to try their best and show us what they know and the skills they have learned.
Like you, I get my information from the 11 am press conference followed up with strong support from the Catholic Schools Office, Diocese of Armidale and Catholic Schools NSW. The information in regards to school that we hear at 11 am is confusing to say the least. As a school in a regional area, we follow different rules to the staggered return to schools that has been published in the media. If the Armidale LGA comes out of lockdown, then we will return to school under Level 3 restrictions. The return date and the details of these restrictions will be communicated as they are known.
At our Leaders of Learning Meeting we reflected on the successes and challenges of Connected Learning at Home. For me the real success is in the way our staff, students and parents have adapted to the new way of learning. The agility to move quickly, (with let’s face it a bit over one day’s notice) is testament to the learning that happens every day at O’Connor. For me, the challenge is in front of us. Last year when students and staff returned to school, there was definitely a ‘settling back into school routine’ time. This is a time when our care and empathy for each other comes to the fore. Our Pastoral Academic Care teams will work together with the students to make this transition as smooth as possible.
By now, you will all know that from January 2022, I will take on a new position as School Performance Leader at the Catholic Schools Office, Diocese of Armidale. Please find the letter of announcement here. I feel incredibly honoured to have led O’Connor Catholic College for five years. The College will always hold a very special place in my heart and life. I first came to O’Connor in 2003 as a casual teacher and right from walking in through the gates, I knew this was a special place. I am excited to take on my new role working across the Armidale Diocese and look forward to continuing my association with O’Connor into the future.
What new learning will you undertake this week?
Regina Menz
