Principal's Report

For schools, Term Four is a very busy time. Despite coming to the end of the school year, a lot of work and decision making goes into the necessary planning that must take place for the following academic year. As a school, we depend on information sessions, newsletters, and conversations to equip you with the ability to assist your child to make wise choices, and thus the need to have clear and open communication is essential.

We live in a world that increasingly favours those that can positively communicate with others. Individuals that can be confident, listen with attention, be respectful and promote their opinions are increasingly sought by employers. 

For O’Connor to exist and prosper, it must not only uphold the three critical components of effective communication – trust, transparency, and active listening, but also maintain healthy relationships between all members of the school community, helping to fulfill the high expectations that you as parents have for your child and supporting the well-being of your son/daughter. As a school, we have a responsibility to support and help develop strong and effective communication skills that empower our students into their future careers.

As Bill Gates rightly put it,

I’m a great believer that any tool that enhances communication has profound effects in terms of how people can learn from each other and how they can achieve the kind of freedoms that they’re interested in.

My wish would be to see students of O’Connor succeed in all aspects of their life journey. In an increasingly interconnected world, good communication skills can assist them in forming online and offline relationships and assist them to be active and engaged citizens. Whilst at school, their participation and contributions in classrooms could lead to better academic outcomes which assist when applying for jobs in the future. With these future jobs increasingly focused on collaboration, presentation, and communication, positive communication skills would support them working well with others and negotiating effectively.

I would encourage all members of the O’Connor community to remember that communicating with others is a natural daily event. That every interaction has a common need for effective communication and that by continuing to develop the capacity to engage in the three critical components of trust, transparency, and active listening we also benefit as individuals. We must always remember that the continued growth of the College community and success of our students, has as its basis a three-pronged focus of teacher, student, and parent.

Finally, I wish to offer my congratulations to the school leaders for 2024 who were commissioned this week. I am certain that this group will make the College proud and display the necessary communication skills to grow and prosper.

My very best wishes.

Mr Robert Holstein

Interim Principal