Junior: POSITIVE LISTENING AND RESPONDING

Senior: BEING PRESENT

Wellbeing Element: RELATIONSHIPS + EMPATHY

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

Parent Wellbeing: your son/daughter will benefit considerably when you role model that you are prepared to take measured risks to try new things and experiences, such as, failing well, accepting that mistakes are part of life, forgiving yourself for making them and seeking feedback to learn new approaches to correct them. These are valuable skills to develop.

Year 7

We have made it to the last term for 2023, can you believe that 3 terms ago Year 7 was embarking on the beginning of high school? Now we are used to the routine and expectations of the College and our classrooms. Some important things to remember around being a safe and respectful learner at O’Connor include being an active listener and participant in class, getting to class on time and being ready for learning - including a stacked pencil case and a charged device. We will continue to work with Year 7 to make every class a great experience.

We know that Term 4 is going to be over before we know it important dates for year 7 include:

Week 6 (13th - 15th November) Year 7 Camp - Compass registrations and payments are closed however the Coffs Coast Adventure Centre needs parents/guardians to fill out their documentation via the following link by the 30th October
Week 7 (23rd November) CAPA Soiree - Students will have the opportunity to perform (dance, music, drama) and/or present (art, tech) projects. More information will be available soon.
Week 9 (4th - 8th December) Lifesaving - Information will be available over the next couple of weeks via Compass

Last week Year 7 gathered for ‘Real Talk’ seminars that were presented by guest speakers. Girls had the chance to talk about beauty standards in society and how we can find the REAL beauty within all of us. The boys participated in Stronger which looked into how to be a good person and character with a value on self worth as they begin to move into teenage years. The students were a wonderful audience, giving respectful and well thought answers as well as participating in all activities including some moment games to keep our brains active.

Last week the Year 7 PRAXIS classes presented their Project Based Learning to authentic audiences composed of year 9 & 10 students as well as staff. Small groups were required to collaborate with one another to create their own country in a digital workbook.

It was wonderful to see so many students take pride in their work as they confidently explained aspects of their country, such as culture, flag, resources, currency, flora, and fauna. The authentic audience completed feedback forms, which enabled the year 7 students to improve the quality of their work. Well done to everyone involved!

(Written by Mrs Jennifer Roff - PRAXIS)

Miss Elizabeth Plane (Acting Leader of Learning Wellbeing, Year 7)

On behalf of the Year 7 PAC Team

Year 8

We gathered together last week to listen to the ‘Real Life’ seminars that were presented by our guest speaker Paul Ninnes and team. This alerted our students of the importance of showing self respect, dignity and valuing ours and others personal worth. The issues discussed were crucial to our students developing an understanding of safe internet and social media use. Most importantly the focus was on the development of healthy and respectful relationships. The notion of giving consent was teased out to give a clear message of the need to grant permission. As an audience our Year 8 cohort were respectful and mature and responded with thoughtful answers. I congratulate them on their attention on some issues which may have been sensitive. I am affirmed when I see our core Catholic values of promoting Human Dignity being respected and valued by our community.

Term 4 will fly ahead with a lot of school activities that will inspire us and give us the momentum to push through to the finish of the year. We look forward to sharing our talents in extraordinary CAPA performance, refreshing our aquatic and lifesaving skills and finalising various school projects or assessments in each subject.

This week we were able to hear our senior students share their pride in our college. Various candidates for school leadership roles delivered a speech to share their reasons for wishing to be college leaders. I hope this has inspired our year group to enjoy the moments we share now and strive to be the best people we can be. Potential leaders in the making.

Each week our teachers work tirelessly to work on developing consistent and predictable routines. This ensures that students are clear with our expectations and the school day runs as smoothly as possible. The mobile phone policy has been renewed and refined to encourage greater focus on learning and less screen time during breaks to encourage more social interaction and physical activity. We have noticed tremendous improvements in this area.

A reminder to students - please ensure you are fully prepared for learning for each and every lesson. Our basic expectations of having a charged device, a fully equipped pencil case and a scientific calculator. There should be no need to borrow equipment or no mention that I don’t have a pen or a calculator. In order to become more independent learners it is important to be prepared and organised.

This week I was very appreciative to receive a thank you note from a student who is grateful for the care and support we have provided. Little moments like this make our vocation so rewarding.

Mrs Kathryn Czinner

On behalf of the Year 8 PAC team.

Year 9 - “Where is your power?”

Welcome to Term 4

Welcome to the final term of 2023! I hope that all families enjoyed a relaxing holiday and that students are ready to pursue their final weeks of learning for the academic year. Our staff have been very busy in the holidays planning for a fun filled term of learning for our students. As we commence term 4, I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new families that have joined the O’Connor Catholic College Community.

This term, we have made some changes to our Year 9 PAC team. Please see below for the Year 9 team for term 4:

9 Benilde - Rachael Galvin and James Haggerty

9 Merici - Jason Saayman and Helene Klopper

9 Ursula - Mark Fulloon and Matt Griffin

9 La Salle - Jenny Frazier and Nick Bolger

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Marie Gould and Kara Spicer for their work with their respectives PAC classes over the course of the year.

Term 4 marks the ‘end of an era’ for some of our students who choose to move to other educational pathways. These opportunities bring new challenges and promising prospects for growth and accomplishment. As we reflect on the impressive milestones we have achieved together, I hold the belief that this last term of the year and for some, their schooling, will bring many mixed emotions.

I Succeed

Our first assembly of this term allowed us to celebrate some successes of our Year 9 students from earlier terms. We recognised the achievements of students who had received Pastoral Academic Care Leader awards. Congratulations to: Skye Barley, Madeleine Cowley, Chelsea Curry, Lucas Ferris, Sean Healy, Bailey Howe, James Lawry, Isabella McKay, Caitlin Montague, Harrison Newcombe, Paige Patterson, Elizabeth Shepheard, Tu My Tran and Lalina Ward, who received these awards.

During the school holidays, Chelsea Curry represented Netball NSW Academy Challenge in Port Macquarie for NIAS. Congratulations Chelsea!

Year 9 PAC Activity

Students also had the opportunity during this first assembly time to be a part of a powerful lesson in inclusivity. The year group played a game where the teacher whispered to each of them whether they were a witch or a regular person. Students’ goals were to build the largest group of people that didn’t have a witch in it. At the end of the game, any group that was found to include a witch, failed the activity.

Students grilled others and many groups were formed with some breaking out into smaller, exclusive groups, turning away any one they thought gave off a hint of guilt or that they didn't trust for whatever reason. After the time limit, students were asked to raise their hands if they were a witch…no one raised their hand. Some of the students questioned their teachers to see if they’d made a mistake but the teachers did not. The idea was that they shouldn’t believe everything they hear or everything that they’re told. The idea for this activity was teaching the students how easy it can be to divide a community.

Junior Warraymalaya

During week 1 of this term, a number of our Year 9 students, along with Aboriginal Education Officer Matt Griffin, and Leader of Learning Wellbeing - Year 9 Natalie Mellowship, had the opportunity to attend the Junior Warramaylaya excursion to Stuart’s Point with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from across the Armidale Diocese.

This retreat provided students with the opportunity to focus on the meaning of Aboriginal identity and knowing who you are, where you come from, and being proud. Students participated in a number of activities that helped to work on many skills such as resilience and teamwork.

A huge congratulation to Year 9 students Charlotte Fletcher, Oliver Irwin, Levi Mace, Abbigail Roberts, and Maddy Vidal-Widders for their hard work over the week. We are incredibly proud of your participation and commitment to your culture.

Real Talk

During week 2, students in Year 9 attended live seminars by guest speakers from the Real Talk organisation. Based on Christian values and using personal sharing from a team of dynamic presenters, Real Talk provides presentations, programs and up-to-date resources. We want all young people to know their true value, worth and dignity and to experience love for all it was created to be. These talks impact students and their decision making on the topics of sex, relationships and personal identity. Real Talk uses personal sharing, hard hitting facts, multimedia, interactive learning, discussion & reflection time and they help to engage, educate, evangelise, equip & empower students in their day-to-day lives to feel confident in dealing with today's issues. For more information and resources, please go to the Real Talk Australia website.

Around the KLAs

Looking at our Living Well Learning Well: A Student Support Framework, one of the statements from the Rules for Living is “I am a Learner”.

Good learning experiences adds value to the learner. The entire learning experience should feel purposeful and relevant to the individual. Our committed teachers have been working tirelessly to maintain a secure, caring, and inclusive school environment, enabling students to excel in their academic and personal pursuits. Over the past few weeks, students have been really motivated in their learning and have been provided with many opportunities to demonstrate their skills in a variety of environments.

Natalie Mellowship (Leader of Learning Wellbeing, Year 9)

On behalf of the Year 9 PAC Team

Year 10

Welcome to the final term of 2023. With our Year 12’s of 2023 now finished their formal schooling, there is only one Year group older than our Year 10’s at the college. We are now very senior students. With this seniority comes the responsibility to be a good example to our younger students. We expect our Year 10’s to wear the school uniform with pride, to be engaged learners within their learning environment and to be respectful young adults in their interactions with all people in the O’Connor community and the wider community.

On Friday 20th October, Year 10’s were given the privilege as senior students to listen to speeches from our prospective student leaders of 2024. Our Year 12’s of 2024 put forward their reasons for wishing to be college leaders. All in attendance were impressed with their public speaking skills, their enthusiasm and what shone through most of all in their speeches, was their pride in being part of the O’Connor Catholic College community.

Year 10’s were given the opportunity to vote for the student leadership team for 2024. It was fantastic for Year 10’s as a whole cohort to listen to those speeches, knowing that this time next year, it will be our turn to put ourselves forward for these student leadership positions. I would encourage all Year 10’s to already start thinking and acting as potential candidates for the various student leadership positions which are a huge part of our tradition at O’Connor Catholic College. Students should be making the right impressions now on their teachers and peers in how they conduct themselves throughout their school day.

On Tuesday of Week 1, Year 10’s gathered in the library to attend a Road Safety presentation. The presentation was delivered by ambassadors of the National Rugby League, including former NRL star Trent Hodkinson. The theme of the talk was the ‘Knock-on Effect’. Topics discussed included drink driving, speeding, distractions while driving, making the right decisions and speaking up.

Students were presented with information surrounding each of these topics and were challenged to think of the ‘knock-on effect’ which can result from decisions made in relation to road safety. This was a very timely presentation for this cohort as many of our Year 10’s are getting their Learners and Provisional licenses. Thanks to Mark Honeysett for organising this presentation for our Year 10’s.

During week 2, students in Year 10 attended live seminars by guest speakers from the Real Talk organisation. Based on Christian values and using personal sharing from a team of dynamic presenters, Real Talk provides presentations, programs and up-to-date resources. We want all young people to know their true value, worth and dignity and to experience love for all it was created to be. These talks impact students and their decision making on the topics of sex, relationships and personal identity. Real Talk helps to engage, educate, evangelise, equip & empower students in their day-to-day lives to feel confident in dealing with today's issues.

It has been a busy start to term 4 with a lot of opportunities and experiences on offer for our Year 10’s. The Year 10’s continue to play an active role in the extra-curricular activities of the college. This includes: musicians and singers involved in musical ensembles at our whole-school mass on Wednesday this week, those involved in faith and service activities at school mass and within the wider community, Futsal ladies competing in a weekly competition. We wish our boys basketball team best wishes for their trip to Sydney next week in the Combined Catholic Colleges competition hosted in Bankstown, Sydney.

Shane McCann

On behalf of the Year 10 PAC team

Year 11 (Year 12)

Welcome to Year 12! Mr Holstein declared in a meeting (about 10 minutes after Year 12 2023 had graduated) that our year group was now Year 12 and will be addressed as Year 12 2024. He continued, to state that this comes with expectations, such as knowing that we are setting the standard for the college and that we are also starting our HSC studies and will need to be making a strong, consistent effort from here on. I encouraged all students to be the best that they can be and to speak with other students that are not being the best they can be. Together we can make O’Connor Catholic College even better than it is and leave a strong legacy for future students.

Term 4 started off with the retreat at Coffs Coast Adventure Centre. Students had a fantastic time participating in some adventure packed activities, working together to develop their team building skills and also brainstorming themes for 2024 and ways in which they could support the college community.

Every student is to be commended on their efforts in all activities throughout the camp, pushing themselves in every activity to get the most out of it. I know I was impressed with how some students in my group pushed through their fear (often of heights) and excelled.

It was an absolute pleasure to spend the last three days with such a polite, mature and supportive group of students and staff. I thank Mr Andrew May, Ms Camilla Clydsdale, Mr Stephen Kirkaldy, Mrs Helene Klopper, Mr Gustav Klopper, Miss Sophie Troon, Mr Philipe Dulawan, Miss Bridie Giles for their efforts.

I am sure all students and staff will have formed many fond memories of the retreat and developed even stronger relationships!

I wish to congratulate those students who were successful in securing captaincy roles for 2024.

School Captains: Alexis Cook, John Harris, Indiana Ramage, Georgina Schultz

Sports Captain: Ava Vaughan

Arts Captain: Lily Croft

Faith and Service Captain: Josephine Ryan

Benilde House Captains: Fraser McQueen, Brooke Newberry

LaSalle House Captains: Tom Fittler, Salisar Poomipak

Merici House Captains: Finlay Coop, Clancy McDermott

Ursula House Captains: Lily Bull, Lucas Howlett

I also thank all 32 applicants for their efforts; it was great reading through their applications and listening to some of the speeches.

I thank all parents/carers and students that were able to attend the HSC information night and remind everyone that we are only an email or phone call away if you need some clarification on anything relating to your child’s education and wellbeing.

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