Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back! Our students have returned refreshed after a well-deserved break and hopefully have taken some time to reflect on their achievements during Semester One. As we begin Semester Two, the challenge ahead is for each student to identify at least one area they can improve in and set meaningful goals to support their ongoing growth.

We are already three weeks into Term 3, and the term is well underway with a range of important activities and events taking place.

Year 10 students have engaged in the subject selection process for Year 11, 2025, a significant step in shaping their senior learning journey.

At the same time, we have begun the Student Leadership selection process for 2026. As part of this, candidates presented speeches either to the whole student body or to their house groups and participated in interviews with a panel comprising staff and current student leaders. This year’s candidates were diverse in personality and academic strengths, and I was incredibly proud of the way they presented themselves. Many shared their personal journeys at O’Connor Catholic College, expressed their motivations for becoming senior leaders, and articulated their desire to make a positive contribution to our school community. Their willingness to share and lead offered a valuable lesson for all students about striving to be the best version of themselves.

Next week, our Year 11 students will attend their Senior Retreat in Coffs Harbour — a special event on the Year 11 calendar. The retreat is a time for students to connect and reflect before beginning their Year 11 exams and transitioning into their Year 12 studies. 

Across all year levels, students have been participating in a variety of sporting and academic representative competitions, consistently achieving excellent results and representing our college with pride.

Our Year 12 students are preparing for a significant milestone as they commence their Trial HSC Examinations starting Monday, 18 August. Over the coming weeks, they will also be submitting their Major Projects for assessment. With only about 20 days of face-to-face learning remaining before the conclusion of their school journey, this is a particularly important and, at times, stressful period. Please keep our Year 12 students in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate this final stage of their schooling.

White Winter Wonderland

It was truly amazing to witness the snowfall in Armidale and the surrounding areas on Saturday, a once in a lifetime experience for many of the young people. Watching both the young and old sliding down hills on cardboard and bodyboards, engaging in snowball fights, and building snowmen of all shapes and sizes brought so much joy. While heavy snowfall can cause challenges like infrastructure damage and injury risks, this unforgettable experience will be a cherished memory we’ll talk about for years to come.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of our students and the O’Connor Catholic College community.

O'Connor Catholic College Armidale - The fruit of the spirit is love

Yours in Christ

Phillip Gibney

Principal