Pastoral Academic Care (PAC) Focus

This week’s Pastoral Academic Care focus is It’s a Matter of Time

Wellbeing Element: ACCOMPLISHMENT + OPTIMISM

Character Strength: LOVE

Wellbeing Reality Activities: IT’S A MATTER OF TIME

Parent Wellbeing:

Draw an outline of your body and on it write down the warning signs you feel on different parts when you are becoming stressed or angry. Be on the lookout for them and use deep breathing to self-calm yourself.

Many students believe they ‘have their acts together’ and don’t need to organise their time in a structured way. The reality for most of them is the exact opposite. Making the choice to create a timetable of their commitments and responsibilities will actually provide them with more time to do what they want to do and sticking to it will also build their resilience to distractions to enable personal and academic growth. Prioritising is a self-regulation skill and strength which enables them to use their time more effectively by organising what needs to be done in order of importance under Musts and Options (see index). Doing this broadens their attention and engagement with what they need to do. Musts and Options, Time Understandings and Urgency versus Importance are effective Thinking Tools (website) which provide students with valuable perspectives on the activities they participate in which may include: • Sport training and part-time jobs • Study, reading and deliberate practice • Networking and gaming with friends • Watching TV and playing games • Family commitments • Daily exercise and leisure activities. Learning to prioritise and creating a learning/study timetable provides students with the tools to develop growth mindsets to overcome setbacks and challenges which inevitably crop up.

Acknowledgement: Ericsson & Anderson

“I do the very best I know how, the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing it to the end.” Abraham Lincoln

Year 7

Mrs Kath Czinner & Mr James Russell

Hi Yr 7 students and families. Life has certainly changed quite a bit in the past couple of weeks. We have gone from sitting in classrooms and playgrounds together to zoom meetings and staying at home - definitely very different to what we are used to. I hope that you are all managing as well as possible with all of these changes, particularly with the isolation of being at home all of the time along with time away from friends.

As you would be aware, we are working very hard as a school to ensure that we are staying connected with students and providing learning opportunities that are easy to access from home, but still engaging and meaningful. Keeping track of everybody in Yr 7 when you are all so spread out is not easy, but one way that we can do this is by using a Yr 7 Google Classroom. We have one set up and would really like all students and parents/guardians to join it. Communication has been sent out regarding the classroom code. Contact us if you don't have access to the code.

Zoom Meetings have also become an important part of our lives in isolation and I wanted to take this opportunity to thank those who joined us for our recent Yr 7 Student PAC Catch Ups. These meetings are an excellent way for us to maintain contact and discuss any challenges or issues students and families may be facing. It is also lovely to see all of our students smiling faces - we really do miss seeing you all. The Year 7 PAC Team will be continuing to use Zoom next term as a way of maintaining contact and checking in on student wellbeing. Please take up these opportunities where ever possible and join any coming Zoom Meetings to feel as connected as possible.

Finally, this is a very significant time on the Catholic Calendar as we celebrate Easter. Easter is a wonderful and time to share with our families, but is also an important time to remember the true message of Easter - that Jesus was crucified and rose again for the forgiveness of our sins. Hopefully at some time over the Easter period you will take a moment to reflect on this and be thankful. Have a fantastic break and hopefully the Easter Bunny isn't bound by our social distancing regulations and makes a stop at your place.

Take Care,

The Yr 7 PAC Team

Year 8

Mrs Katie Biddle

Wow! How things have changed since the last newsletter. Over the last 2 weeks I have been so impressed to see the resilience and maturity with which year 8 has taken to their remote learning. We have had so much participation in our daily college challenges, Google classrooms and even learning to use Zoom. It was impressive to see 72 of us at our whole year's zoom meeting yesterday! Well done everyone!

A big thank you to those parents and students who have reached out for help or with questions - we are more than happy to assist in any way that we can. I encourage you to email me or your child’s PAC teacher or subject teacher if you have any questions.

In times such as these it is more important than ever to actively take care of our wellbeing. This can be as simple as a walk around the block, playing a game with your family, reading a book or saying a prayer. If you or your child would benefit from further support with wellbeing during this time please contact me and I can help you to engage with support structures that can help.

All students have been invited into a Google classroom for their PAC class. Can you please ensure that your child has accepted this invitation? This will be my main way of keeping in contact with all students.

There are many things that we can celebrate:

Students connecting online!

Students managing their workload and balancing their wellbeing too!

Students (and teachers!) participating in the OCC daily challenges!

Students receiving commendations and Year Leader Awards!

Congratulations to the following students for receiving a Year Leader’s Award:

Ben Fergusson, Jessica Ferris, Luke Rogers, Alexis Cook, Emily Hallman, Georgie Schultz, Ava Vaugh, Riley Fittler, Finlay Coop, Paige Ramage, Emily Simpson, Max Lee and Molly Burton

Congratulations to Manon Perrin for receiving a Principal’s Award.

Wishing everyone a healthy and safe school holiday!

Katie Biddle and Year 8 PAC team

kbiddle1@arm.catholic.edu.au

Year 9

Mr Lloyd Honnery

With everything that is happening around the world, it is important for Year 9 to stay connected with their learning and each other. Parents and guardians can still make contact with their students' PAC teachers if there is anything the PAC team can do to help. We will still be offering the outstanding Pastoral and academic care that O’Connor specialises in.

With Zoom meetings becoming the norm it is important to ensure your student has a safe, quiet place in your home where they can work. Students should be setting up a routine to work within and clearly define their space to ensure the differentiation between home and school. Students should create a schedule to help get in the school work mindset. For parents and students alike you might like to read up on some strategies for working from home. Compass will with the first stop each day, Mr Roff is still releasing the daily notices and all the students work is linked from their Compass classes.

Remember to check-in with your mental health and how you’re feeling during this time. We are all due for a break, so take advantage of the down-time and don’t forget to reach out to your student's PAC teachers if you feel your student is struggling with the new situation.

Year 10

Mr Peter McLeish

To quote the late, great John Lennon; “Nobody told me there’d be days like these. Strange days indeed, strange days indeed, most peculiar.”

It is what is folks and we are doing our level best to cope as teachers, parents and students. In fact, I think most of our students are coping magnificently and this speaks volumes for the love and support they are receiving from their caring parents and guardians. Thank you!

Students have not only risen to the challenge of home based learning, they have involved themselves in the daily challenges, completed online assessment tasks, stayed in touch with teachers through email and Zoom meetings and, most importantly, kept up to date with their learning.

If you think, for any reason, your child is not coping, you should email me or their PAC teachers to let us know. We are here to help!

The number of Commendation Certificates being awarded is absolutely astounding. We would need to make this Newsletter three times the length just to mention them all. So I will just let you know who has achieved Year Leader Awards recently. Congratulations to Imogen, Ella R, James R, Fletcher, Jenna, Mia, Thomas H, Jean, Ryan, Ben J, Sam F, Allie, Angus, Tahlia, Aaron, Brydie P and Grace. Well done! Plus James R has just notched up a Principal’s Award. Onya James!

I only said to Ms Menz last week that we are going to need a bigger Honour Board in the Library if the volume of Awards continues. Let’s hope it does.

Author Henry James once said “Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.” I agree with Henry.

Stay safe people! Enjoy Easter and the school holidays (staycation) as much as you can.

Peter McLeish (on behalf of the Year 10 PAC team)

Year 11

Mr Mark Fulloon

I hope you are all well and trying to keep up with work to the best of your ability. Please remember that whilst your learning environment is now very different than it was only two weeks ago it is important that you keep on top of your work load and make contact with your PAC teachers and subject teachers as necessary.

Points to go through that are essential to your wellbeing and success as a remote learner:

• Keep up to date with your work, which can be accessed through Compass and Google Classroom. Reading the morning messages will create a good daily routine.

• Make sure you stick to the assessment schedule that has already been set for you this term. Submit work on time.

• If you need to ask your teachers questions please email them as soon as you need feedback or answers to your questions.

• Make sure that you have a designated work space to do your work and this is really important if you're having Zoom meetings with your teachers. Please make sure you keep it professional as it is a school based lesson.

• Please keep an eye out for your peers, I would like you to think of it as the buddy system, have a work buddy that you can contact about your work even if not the same subject or class. Be kind to one another, one day you might be fine and can be a friend and vice versa if things are becoming tough for you.

• Look after yourself and your family during this somewhat challenging time, exercise, eat as healthy as you can, help out around the house, cook your family breakfast, lunch or dinner, be a role model to any younger siblings in the house.

• My last point is being patient, things will be tense sometimes whilst waiting for replies to questions, feedback from teachers, replies from peers, being woken up by parents/carers/siblings in the morning. Take a deep breath, it will be fine and things will become easier.

Mr McLeish is calling it a “Staycation” and whilst that is not exactly what we would usually be doing I hope it gives us time to reflect on the importance of staying connected to the important people in our lives. Keep up the good work Year 11, enjoy Easter and have a well deserved break.

Regards,

Mark Fulloon

(on behalf of the Year 11 PAC team)

Year 12

Mrs Vicki Channon

Well, our key word “Challenge” for this year, 2020, really is turning out to be particularly appropriate in these uncertain times.

One thing for certain is that students and teachers are working so hard to make the most of things despite the current difficulties. Whether it is in the form of constant communication with subject teachers, PAC teachers via remote means in the form of zoom, everything Google, in person for practical projects….. Everyone is doing their best.

Holidays are coming up, so have a great break for the first week, then start to ease yourself back into some work by doing a little each day. Some teachers will be in touch for extra tuition/workshops/Zoom meetings in that second week, so make sure you are continuing to check your emails and google classroom for information.

There has been a lot of information posted on google classroom in regards to university entry, UAC etc… Please make sure you read through all of this and ask for help if you are unsure.

Special shout out to the following people who are having birthdays shortly. Heidi Matthews, Lara Walters, Tori Brazier and Liam Smith.

Congratulations to the following students who have received commendations: For consistent application in Textiles - Clancy Hedges, Ellen Hawthorne, Emily Meehan, Abbey Thomas, Lucy Fittler. Year Leader’s Awards go to Liam Smith for being a legend in the daily challenges. Also Ellen Hawthorne for her solid efforts.

Happy Easter everybody. Take care, stay safe, stay at home, stay connected….. Look after each other, remotely:)

Vicki Channon (on behalf of the Year 12 PAC team)

O'Connor Catholic College Newsletter

Newsletter Issue Five · 09 Apr 2020

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