Pastoral Academic Care (PAC)
Pastoral Academic Care (PAC) Focus - Sharing Feedback/ Listening Sharing and Learning
Well Being Element - Meaning + purpose
Character Strength - Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence
Parent Wellbeing: Grit is much more than just making an effort. It is your long-term passion, persistence and self-regulation to accomplish something that you really want to achieve. It is also much more important than intelligence and natural talent in determining whether or not you will be successful. When are times you have shown grit to accomplish something?
Learning how to give and receive feedback is an essential lifelong skill for students to develop. They don’t know what they don’t know and developmental feedback enables them to consider other perspectives. Quality feedback builds social connectedness by others feeling that they matter, and broadens and builds students’ engagement with others and themselves. When giving or receiving feedback, students are forced to slow down their thinking, to be in the moment and think hard to consider, compare, evaluate and analyse what is being said. Positive learning and teaching communities rely on feedback to build open, trusting and respectful communication lines, which in turn strengthen the wellbeing of everyone. The key is to welcome feedback as positive encouragement rather than negative criticism, even if it is advice that we don’t want to hear. The purposes of feedback include listening to ideas and concerns to improve a situation, suggesting alternative approaches and strategies, monitoring attitudes, behaviours and performance. When giving and receiving feedback, it is apparent when others aren’t listening with their eyes, ears and hearts. Is it that they are not interested or that they have never been taught how to mindfully use feedback? Effective feedback is reliant on both parties listening empathetically and attentively listening, and this needs to be role modelled; respectful relationships rely on it.
Acknowledgement: Ericsson & Anderson
Year 7
Myself and the Year 7 PAC team would like to extend the warmest welcome back to our Year 7 students. We’ve really enjoyed seeing you all again, face to face, after such a long period of Connected Learning. It’s been an absolute pleasure to celebrate the successes of our students in this week’s Year 7 Briefing where the following students were recipients of Principal’s Awards: Eve Newsome and Archie Howarth.
We also had the opportunity to celebrate the following students who were recipients of Pastoral Academic Care Leader Awards: Hayley Bliss, Bella Hawkins, Pacie Mulligan, Charlotte Browning, Paige Patterson, Aleesha Stuart, Ethan Archer and Huw Davidson. A huge congratulations to those students.
As well as school awards, we celebrated Aleesha Stuart from 7PAC2 on becoming the 2021 Swimming Age Champion 12 Years Girl’s of the NSWCCC Swimming Championships which were held in March 2021. Aleesha has been acknowledged as a fine ambassador for both her school, Armidale and Dioceses/Association, Armidale.
Last week on Thursday 9th September, our Year 7s virtually acknowledged RU OK? Day 2021 by dressing in the colours yellow or black and yellow and black. During the PAC Zooms students were able to discuss the theme of 2021 which is “Are they really ok?”. The question we have posed to the students is: Do you know how the people in your world are really going? Life’s ups and downs happen to all of us. So the chances are someone you know might be struggling. Your genuine support can make a difference whatever they are facing, big or small. So don’t wait until someone’s visibly distressed or in crisis. Make a moment meaningful and ask them how they’re really going. Below are some opportunities for support access if required:
- Leader of Learning Year 7 - Ms Mellowship
- PAC Teachers
- Leader of Learning (Wellbeing and Pastoral Academic Care) - Mrs Bell
- Wellbeing Officer - Mr Harper
- Psychologist - Jason Newcombe
- Kids Helpline https://kidshelpline.com.au/ phone 1800 55 1800
Throughout Week 9, we ran a competition for students to design an RU OK? 2021 Banner using the official logo. Well done to all the students who entered, there were some fantastic examples. Congratulations to the following Year 7 winners (see below for their winning entries):
7PAC2 Skye
7PAC3 Charlotte Browning
7PAC4 Paicey Mulligan
On behalf of the Year 7 PAC team, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank and praise the Year 7s for their engagement in the Connected Learning process over the past 5 weeks. The change in the style of learning made it difficult for some to be able to connect with their learning but our students demonstrated great resilience and should be extremely proud of their efforts. We’d also like to thank our Year 7 families for their support and kind words we received during this time. We really are lucky to be a part of such a positive and supportive community here at O’Connor.
Ms Mellowship and the Year 7 PAC team
Year 8
Mrs Kath Czinner
Term 3 has indeed been an extraordinary term. The challenges that we has faced as a society have been significant. I reflect to remember the greater world, our country, our state, our region, our school, our students and indeed our families. I am grateful to be living in an a safe area and teach in a school that has been so well supported.
Thanks to the students, parents and teachers who have worked together with unusual circumstances to cope with and show great resilience during the extended connected learning period. I feel for our Greater Sydney friends who have been in lockdown all term and the schools in Nepal who for over 18 months have been involved in remote learning.
Congratulations to the multiple students who have received commendations during this time. You have really stepped up and continued to forge forward with your learning.
As a Year Group we are challenged to think beyond our self and think about world and community issues and develop a greater awareness for those around us. This week we shared the excitement of sharing the journeys with the Year 11 students who took a positive risk to apply for the college leadership positions and our concern for our Year 12 students whose school year has been extended with the delayed HSC exams.
Term 4, Year 8 will work on building our community and I am keen to share ideas and incentives with our students to really bring the Year group together.
Have an enjoyable holiday with a nice touch of sun to refresh us in this break time. Stay safe.
Pictured: Principal’s awards-Kayla Selby, Olivia Fenton and Krystal-Leigh Brown.
Year 9
Mr James Russell
Term 3 2021 has been yet another Term that we will certainly not forget in a hurry. Five weeks of home learning really changed what was planned for the term and offered up a number of challenges for us all. Fortunately, I will remember this term as one where many Year 9 students really stepped up and showed great resilience, focus and independence to work hard across this period. Learning can take place in many forms and around many aspects of life. During lockdown, I feel very confident in saying that our Year 9 cohort learnt a considerable amount, be it in the academic realm or that of working in paid/voluntary employment, or even that of helping out around home in ways such as cooking a meal. Each of these is valuable in the growth and development of a young person and it has been really pleasing to hear from students what they have been up to over the recent period of home learning.
During lockdown a number of students were involved in activities that warrant a particular mention. Congratulations to our recently victorious debaters, Sophie Ridley, John Harris and Joe Schmude who had a win in their recent virtual debate. Further congratulations to Jenna Alkalaldeh, Tinny Nguyen and Harrison Selby who were each presented with their Principal’s awards on Tuesday morning.
It really has been lovely to have almost all students back at school and banter and bluster back in the playground this week. Schools are special places, and I may be biased, but I think ours is extra special...and a large part of this is our amazing students and their families. Please have a restful and safe Spring Holiday and we look forward to seeing you all for the start of Term 4.
Mr James Russell and the Yr 9 PAC Team.
Year 10
Ms Amanda Bell and Mr Frank Patricks
Welcome back to school Year 10 you are all so cool.
Mr Patricks during lockdown
Mr Patricks ready to come back
After such a long time away from the normality of school it was a real pleasure to see such a large number of students rock up on Monday, ready for the wonderful experiences that school brings. The vibrancy that you bring as contributing members of our school community is one of the reasons your teachers return time and time again. Yes, teachers are here to facilitate your learning outcomes, but it is much, much more than that to them. The images above show how Mr Patricks’ felt last week before we were told lockdown was over and how he felt about coming back to school.
There were many people that took the opportunity during lockdown to engage in home learning, but also, to connect in many other ways. We had a large number of students out working and completing their trades, as well as helping around the house, and a large number joining us on some of our PAC challenges, including the 10/1 daily question which sparked some great conversation. A special shout out goes to Caleb who correctly guessed the most Year 10 PAC teachers - attached is one great example of what was achieved for the family dog during lockdown and one of our PAC teacher challenges.
During connected learning, students completed what, for most, will be their final subject choices for years 11 and 12. A big thank you to our families for working with their students to make these big decisions! As a whole year group, you have settled into the last week of term really well and the engagement in class is really good considering what we have all gone through. Keep on being the great people you are, get together with your friends during the holidays and make up for the lost time during lockdown. Have a great break and we all look forward to seeing you back for your final term in Year 10.
Ms Amanda Bell / Mr Frank Patricks (on behalf of the Year 10 PAC team)
Year 11
Mrs Vicki Channon
It was really lovely to have our students back at school this week. These last couple of weeks have been pretty hectic for our Year 11 cohort. Final assessments were conducted last week under remote conditions via zoom. Everyone handled these different and sometimes difficult circumstances with great maturity and grit. They will be getting their results back this week, with teachers giving feedback on how they can move their learning forward as they approach their HSC studies starting in Term 4.
Another big week for Year 11 students with the leadership process being the focus. A huge congratulations to all of the students who stepped up to the plate and nominated for 2021-2022 leadership positions this week. Speeches were held on Wednesday via zoom for Year 10 students and face to face with the Year 11 cohort and staff. The speeches were thoughtful, amazing and well presented. It always makes me so happy to witness the growth of our students as they mature and develop the skill of greater and deeper thinking of the world in which they live and how they are all so capable of making change. I just love it. You should all be so proud of yourselves. Voting took place on Thursday morning during PAC, and the exciting announcements will be made in the first week back next Term.
I hope you all have a restful, relaxing, fun break. You all deserve it.
Year 12
Mr Mark Fulloon
Well we are at the end of term 3 and usually Year 12 would have looked quite different, but Covid has had other ideas for us all. But as I have stated before, well done to all of Year 12 for sticking with it and displaying great resilience through adversity at this challenging time.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish Year 12 and their family and friends to have a safe holiday break, and as discussed with Year 12 students that they have a holiday away from study to return refreshed and ready for Term 4 and their formal HSC exams.
Term 4 will look a lot different but here is what we have in place for Year 12 for the weeks before their HSC exams begin and after.
The key dates are outlined:
Monday 30th September- UAC On-time Applications without added fees
Term 4 Week 1 - Normal Classes Tuesday 5th October - Friday 8th October
Friday 8th October - HSC Music Performance Music 1 and Music 2 Students only
Monday 11th October - Practice Exams - U11 Friday 15th October
(If students do not have an exam normal classes or Study at home (student choice)
Monday 18th October HSC Exam Meeting - Rule and Procedures All Students 9 am
Mrs Kerry Steller, HSC Exam Supervisor
Wednesday 20th October- Last Day of Formal Classes
Monday 25th October - Friday 29th October - Seminar Sessions
Tuesday 9th November - HSC Written Examinations Commence
Wednesday 1st December - HSC Written Examinations Conclude
Thursday 20th January - ATAR Released (for eligible students)
Monday 24th January - HSC Results Released Morning Tea Celebration for all Students 11 am - AG1
Year 12 Events - these cannot be confirmed or guaranteed and all these dates are very fluid depending on the restrictions we are on. We are currently on Level 3 and this means that graduation etc is on hold. We will work hard to ensure these events in some form can happen.
Tuesday 19th October Year 12 Final Mass (TBC) (venue and time TBC) Friday 22nd October Year 12 Graduation (TBC) (venue and time TBC) Friday 3rd December Year 12 Formal (TBC) St Albert’s College
Mr Mark Fulloon (on behalf of the entire Year 12 PAC team)