Principal's Report
Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome back to Term 3. A special welcome to our new staff members, Mr Peter Belson and welcome back to Mr David Lush. We also welcome our new students who have joined our O’Connor Community. We look forward to working collaboratively with you on your learning journey.
NAIDOC Week
As NAIDOC Week fell in the holidays, we celebrated NAIDOC week this week. We celebrated the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to our World, Nation, Community and School. We had a BBQ, morning tea, liturgy and art during the week. It was a great celebration thanks to our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and Mr James Russell, Mr Matt Griffin, Ms Kate Bloomfield and Mrs Renee Russell and the many community members who enriched our celebrations.
A prayer for NAIDOC Week -
Creator of all things,
both seen and unseen,
speak to us in your great wisdom.
Make us strong as we seek your help and guidance.
Teach us to love all people regardless of race or colour or belief.
May we listen with great care to the heartbeat of this land and to its people who cared for it so well
and for so long.
May the peace these people and their land have
always enjoyed continue to be strengthened and preserved by all who wish to come and be part of this country and its ‘Ancient Dreaming’.
Glory to you, God of Life, Creating, nurturing, reconciling.
Glory to you forever.
St Angela Merici…………. ....................Pray for us
St John Baptist De La Salle…………… Pray for us
St Mary of the Cross Mackillop……….. Pray for us
Live Jesus in our hearts……………...... Forever
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit Amen.
Year 12
Term 3 is a very significant one for Year 12 as they consolidate their learning and begin their HSC exams. It is a time for finishing courses, completing final assessments and revising in preparation for the Trial exams (Week 5 and 6 of this term) and for their HSC examinations in Term 4. Many of our students will be completing major works for submission as part of their HSC courses including Design and Technology, Music, and Visual Arts. Some students will also complete their HSC Performance Examinations in Dance and Music and the oral component of HSC Languages. We wish all these students the very best and know that their focus on learning will result in them performing to their best. A link to the Trial Exam timetable is here.
Real Talk
In this growing technological world, it’s hard to know what our young people are accessing on their devices. Last year, Paul Innes from 'Real Talk' came and worked with parents, teachers and students and discussed the issue of pornography in our increasingly digitised lives. He discussed the issues in a considered manner and had great ideas on how to talk to young people about this issue. The team from 'Real Talk' do talks and workshops all over Australia. With the support of the Armidale Catholic Schools Office, we are fortunate to have the 'Real Talk' team come again this year and work with students, teachers and parents.
Who or What is Real Talk -
Real Talk is all about getting real on the topics of sex, relationships and personal identity. 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.
Source http://www.realtalkaustralia.com/
The team will be covering areas such as current trends and statistics around young people and pornaography exposure, the effects on individuals and society and how to safeguard your children and have the conversation as a parent with your child. The following short video has an invitation from Paul and more information on Real talk and what they will be talking to parents, teachers and students about:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZdtWG-DpVA&feature=youtu.be
There will be Parent Night on Monday 12th August at 6 pm in Library Learning Centre. The presentation is entitled 'SAFEGUARDING YOUNG PEOPLE IN A HYPERSEXUAL DIGITAL WORLD’'.
I highly recommend that parents and carers attend this workshop.
Satisfaction Surveys
Satisfaction surveys for parents, students and staff will be conducted on behalf of all Catholic schools in the Diocese this term. The surveys are designed to gather feedback from parents, staff and students about our school and will be used to inform school improvement. Responses are confidential and individuals can not be identified. The surveys will be launched via email shortly using the email addresses supplied to the school.
What new learning will you undertake this week?
Thank you
Regina Menz