Assistant Principal -
Wellbeing

Mrs Mellissa Bell

What a night!

Week 6 alone has been a very busy one. The week kicked off with our very first Community Night. The goal behind this initiative was to invite our community to join us on a social level, to come and look around our amazing school grounds, to mix with each other, share a few stories, a meal and watch our students shine. It was a great evening. The weather was kind to us, and we were blown away by the numbers that came along.

I am personally so proud of our senior leadership team. They were able to take a small idea from a few adults and bring it to life. All with such enthusiasm and a willingness to show off their school. We were all very nervous on Monday, wondering if anyone would come along, if people would get involved in the games. We were all like little kids waiting for our birthday party to start. And yes people came, they got involved and they even had a great time. We had students willing to show off their amazing musical talents and provide some entertainment. All of this truly came together with very little guidance by us adults. We simply trusted in our senior students and they did not miss a beat.

This week is also International Women’s Day. We have small groups of students involved in a range of community events, all aimed at raising the awareness of women and women and children's rights around the world. We have attended breakfasts and listened to a range of guest speakers. It is a real privilege to walk alongside our young people as they begin to see the world beyond their immediate surroundings. This year's theme is Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress. This theme focuses on addressing economic disempowerment by highlighting the significance of diversity and empowerment across all sectors of society.

On Wednesday evening we held the School Advisory Council AGM and our first of a series of community engagement sessions. Since covid we have really struggled to get enough people interested to keep this small group alive and relevant. We had several interested parents come along to join us. Our conversations were focused on today and ensuring we also had an eye on the needs of the future. We know it is hard to find time after a busy day at work to come into the school for a meeting, but I believe we have a real opportunity to work in partnership to continue to grow our school community and to keep the College connected beyond the front gates.

As we head towards the end of the term our House Captains are raising awareness for Project Compassion and Caratis by raising money. Each House has a week to focus on

fundraising. This week Ursula House is holding a great Lolly Grab and next week Benilde are selling afternoon treats from the famous OCC wheelbarrow. All of these activities will see monies being donated to Caratis to be used by communities in need.

Please note the following key events happening before the end of the term: