Helpful Information for Students, Parents and Carers 

School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) 

This is a federal government program that I would like to share with College community. The SSBI is a program to provide free home internet for one year for up to 30,000 unconnected Australian families with school-aged students. 

There is an information sheet from NBN Co that describes the program.

To be eligible, families must:

• Have a child living at home that is enrolled in an Australian school (up to year 12 including Prep in Qld/Vic/Tas, Kindy in NSW, Reception in SA, Transition in NT/ACT and Pre-Primary in WA).
• Not have an active National Broadband Network (nbn®) Internet service at home. Having a mobile internet service does not affect eligibility.
• Live in a premises that can access the National Broadband Network via a standard connection - this will be checked for families.
• Not have had an active nbn connection during the previous 14 days.

Families can apply to the National Referral Centre via: 

• https://www.anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet
• Calling 1800 954 610 (10am – 6pm AEDT Monday to Friday, excluding Victorian Public Holidays)

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at the college.

Kind Regards,

Mr Mark Harris

Leader of Learning, Mathematics & IT Manager

Seasons for Growth Grief Program

Learning to live with change and loss

Change and loss are issues that affect all of us at some stage in our lives. At O’Connor Catholic College we recognise that when changes occur in families through death, separation, divorce or related circumstances, young people may benefit from learning how to manage these changes effectively. We are therefore offering a very successful education program called Seasons for Growth, which will commence Week 5 this term. This program is facilitated in small groups and is based on research, which highlights the importance of social support and the need to practise new skills to cope effectively with change and loss. The program focuses on issues such as self-esteem, managing feelings, and problem solving, decision-making, effective communication and support networks.

If you think your son or daughter would benefit from Seasons for Growth we would encourage you to talk to him / her about participating in the program. Please email Denise Fittler at dfittler@arm.catholic.edu.au if you would like your son/daughter to participate in the Seasons program.

O’Connor Catholic College is pleased to be able to offer this important program and we are confident that it will be a valuable learning experience for those who request to be involved. If you require further information please contact Denise Fittler.

The Long Drive for Drought

This year O'Connor student Connor Montague will be joining his family to participate in The Long Drive for Drought. Please see below a bit more about what the Long Drive for Drought is and what it represents for Connor and his family, along with links if you wish to donate.

The Long Drive for Drought is a family adventure helping those in need Driven by personal experience of growing up on my parents property in northwest region of NSW and experiencing one of the biggest droughts in history (1990). 

The effects of the drought are long lasting and the memories are vivid.  Farm Angels provide financial & emotional support to farmers that have been affected by drought, flood, fire, plague, and other disasters. In 2024, we are kicking off in the mining town of Glenden in Central Queensland. From there we will head north to Charters Towers, west along the Flinders Highway through the beautiful towns of Hughenden, Richmond and then Julia Creek. Turning north we’ll travel through Gregory Downs stopping for the night at the historic Gregory Downs Hotel and then onto Burketown, take in the sunset at Karumba and finish in Normanton.

 While these communities have had plenty of recent rain and are in a good season, in recent times they have faced droughts, monsoonal deluges and back to back flooding events. All proceeds raised will go towards the Long Drive for Drought event and subsequently the Farm Angels. 

Please donate through the QR code or the go fund me link.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/sponsor-TSA-LDFD-2024

HSC Supervisors Needed

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)

Dear parents, guardians and carers

Re: Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019). 

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

• year of schooling
• category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
• level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.

This information assists schools to:

• formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools 
• consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
• develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.

The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.

The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. 

To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy (https://www.education.gov.au/privacy-policy).

Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au).

If you have any questions about the NCCD, please contact the school. 

Kind regards,

Mr Phillip Gibney

School Parking

ADIG Bonus Saver Account

Pathfinders

Armidale Library Programs

Health Direct Initiative

Healthdirect, now provides virtual care for children 16 years and under who meet specific triage criteria.

The link below provides a short overview of the service mentioned above.

https://vimeo.com/935296702/ea2e512e73?share=copy

Fee Schedule for 2024 

Tuition Fees 

The Tuition Fee is an annual charge that is divided into three (3) term payments for convenience. Tuition Fees include a resource fee of $500 per annum for Years 7-10 and $700 per annum for Years 11 and 12 to cover the cost of book-hire, computer software licencing and copyright etc. A Technology fee of $100 per annum for Year 7 & 8 and $150 per annum for Year 10 & 11 to cover the cost of College provided devices. 

General all school excursions including Year 7 to 10 Retreat days are now included into the Tuition Fees amount. 

Years 7, 9 & 11 Camp/Retreat is charged separately, this cost is approximately $430 (exact cost will not be available until closer to the dates planned). 

Fees for external sporting events & other non-compulsory events however will be charged separately if a student wishes to attend. 

Unless a prior arrangement has been made with either the Principal or the College Finance Support Officer, all accounts are expected to be finalised promptly. 

Family Reduction 

A reduction of fees is granted when a family has three or more children attending the College. Where there are three children, the third child will receive a 60% reduction, where there are four or more children, the third will receive a 60% reduction and there is no charge for subsequent children. Consideration will also be given to families with more than two children enrolled at O’Connor Catholic College and the Catholic feeder schools to O’Connor. 

2024 Tuition Fees 

The Resource Fee is included as part of the Tuition Fees. The 2024 Fees are: Junior Secondary Years 7 - 10 Tuition Fee $1,099 per Term x 3 Terms ($3,297 p.a.)

Senior Secondary Years 11 - 12 Tuition Fee $1,255 per Term x 3 Terms ($3,765 p.a.) 

Method of Payment 

Payment of Fees and other charges may be made in cash, by cheque, EFTPOS or by Credit Card (Bankcard, Visa, Mastercard). Whilst BPay option is the preferred method of payment. The Biller Code and your individual reference number can be found on your school fee statement. 

Notification of Withdrawal of Students 

Parents are expected to give one month's notice, in writing, if they are intending to withdraw students from the College. Failure to do so may render them liable for a full term's fees. An Exit Form for this purpose can be obtained from the College office. 

Building Levy 

The facilities at O’Connor are maintained through the contribution of families to the Building Levy. These can be existing parents of students, pensioners, or parishioners with no connection to the College. All parents (past, present and future) have a responsibility to maintain and look after the heritage and buildings they have and will inherit. A $429.00 per annum per family building levy is charged and $143 will be invoiced with the Tuition Fees each Term. It can be expected that this levy will increase in future years. 

Elective Subject Costs Years 11 – 12 

Some subjects charge extra fees for consumables. These have been detailed in Course Information Booklets and are as follows: 

Fees

Fees can be paid through the Compass system. For any information regarding the payment of fees, please call the College Office on 67 72 1666. 

When paying fees online, please use your account number or name as a reference when paying their school fees so we know where the payment has come from.

Canteen Menu

We are fortunate at O'Connor Catholic College to have such a range of healthy options at our student cafe. 

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Full time Provisional Psychologist available for students at O'Connor

At O'Connor we  have an onsite full-time provisional psychologist at the College. This will ensure timely and easy access to what is  a very important service for our students.  

Bus Timetables for 2024

Edwards Coaches

All parent, guardian and student inquiries for 2022 can be referred to Edwards Coaches on (02) 6772 3116 or by emailing them at admin@edwardscoaches.com.au or james@edwardscoaches.com.au

TFNSW is now accepting bus applications for 2022. Please go to the Transport NSW page. You can also simply use your browser by searching School Student Transport Scheme. Likewise for you can update your address or school changes.

Uniform Shop

If you require new or second hand school uniform items please contact Mrs Vickie Cooper for a fitting appointment through the College office on 6772 1666 or via email: vcooper@arm.catholic.edu.au 

Uniform Shop Hours (by appointment only). 

Monday:          8am - 4pm

Wednesday:   10pm - 4pm

Uniform prices can be found on our College website.