Message from the Director of Schools

Dear Colleagues,

ACS had the pleasure of hosting a group of nine pre-service teachers from the University of Notre Dame and the University of New England on a recent pilgrimage across our diocese. These students are currently completing their placements in Tamworth and were able to visit several of our schools. The tour provided a valuable opportunity for the students to witness firsthand the strong alignment between our schools and the broader diocesan system. They commented on the exceptional support they have received throughout their time here, a testament to the welcoming and collaborative environment fostered within our schools.

As I traveled around the schools, I saw many examples of our coherent instructional framework in action. The classrooms I visited had excellent "learning walls" that truly acted as a third teacher in the learning process. What stood out to me most was how each school was successfully contextualising this framework for its unique setting. I observed the following examples of this in practice:

Congratulations to our Keystone Graduates

Last week, we celebrated the successful completion of the Keystone Leadership Program, a course designed to cultivate leadership skills and prepare staff for senior leadership roles.

The 19 participants in this year's program recently finished phase two of the course, which culminated in them presenting their key learnings and leadership visions to members of the leadership team. Facilitated by Catherine Jackson of Leopard Tree Consulting, the Keystone program is an intensive course that targets staff across the system who want to move into senior leadership positions. It also helps to develop leadership skills in both future and newly appointed school principals. Over the three years the Armidale Catholic Schools office has offered this program, feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. It continues to develop a strong pipeline of future leaders, and its success is evident as many participants have successfully applied for and been appointed as principals within the Armidale Diocese.

Congratulations to McCarthy Year 12 Student Hannah Wakely

Hannah’s HSC Drama project, “I am Not a Monster”, has been nominated for OnStage – a prestigious showcase at Sydney’s Seymour Centre for the very best HSC Drama performances. An outstanding achievement! Congratulations to Hannah and to her teacher Felicity Sawtell.

Vale Sister Catherine (Cath) Duxbury OSU

Sister Catherine (Cath) Duxbury OSU died peacefully on the 4th of September. Sister Cath was an Ursuline sister whose life was a testament to her unwavering faith and her profound dedication to Catholic education. She was a foundational part of the Armidale Catholic Schools community, and her legacy of leadership and commitment will forever be cherished.

I was privileged to attend Sr Cath’s funeral in Brisbane with Carmel Heagney. It was a moving and prayerful service. It was also a lovely opportunity to connect with the Ursuline Sisters who had such a significant impact on education on Armidale at St Mary’s Armidale, St Ursula’s Convent and O’Connor Catholic College. 

Sister Cath was St. Mary's Primary Principal from 1967 to 1976, where she was a truly visionary leader. She was the first to design and build an open-plan classroom for our Year 5 and Year 6 students, an innovative project that opened in 1974. This forward-thinking approach was a hallmark of her dedication to creating the best possible learning environment.

Sister Cath also served as Assistant Director for three directors—Fr. Bernard Flood, Paul Woodcock, and Kevin Hazel then was Acting Director for a year and continued to work with the Armidale Catholic School, alongside her last Director of Schools, Rick Johnston. She also made significant contributions to ACEL awards, served as Chaplain at St Albert's College, and was a steadfast presence at Sts Mary and Joseph's Cathedral Parish and the Armidale Ursuline Convent. She holds a special place in our history as the last Ursuline sister to live in the Ursuline Convent before it was converted to the Bishop’s and priest residence. We are profoundly grateful for Sister Cath's tireless service and the immense impact she had on our community. Her light will continue to shine in the many lives she touched.

Please join us in keeping Sister Cath, her family, and the Ursuline community in your thoughts and prayers.

Eternally rest, grant unto her, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace.

Vale Peter McLeish

It is with deep sadness that I share the news of the passing of our colleague and friend, Peter McLeish. Pete served as a Mathematics Teacher at O’Connor from 2013 until he retired in 2022. He held many leadership roles, including Leader of Learning, Pastoral Academic Care. On joining O’Connor from Uralla Central, he quickly became an integral part of the school community. Pete’s patient guidance for young people was deeply valued by students and their families. 

Peter will be deeply missed, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and the O’Connor Community during this time. 

Eternally rest, grant unto him, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.

It has been a big couple of weeks of selfies: