Pastoral Academic Care

Goals and Growth

WELLBEING REALITY:       Goals and Growth

WELLBEING ELEMENT:     Accomplishment + Optimism

CHARACTER STRENGTH: Zest

PARENT WELLBEING:  Plato and Aristotle both believed in the importance of developing three wills: intellectual will - mind, emotional will - spirit, physical will - body. Describe how you could develop each of them further in yourself.

 

Thinking about what they want to accomplish is not sufficient for them to be motivated enough to pursue them with long-term passion.  Research has shown that it is necessary for students to make the choice to write down their goals, obstacles they may confront and strengths and people who can assist them to accomplish them.  Avoid ‘shoot for the stars’ goals, because maintaining their passion and zest is often too difficult.

 

Setting term goals, and then breaking them down into two week targets to achieve, provides them with regular little wins, which over the term, combine to assist them to move steadily towards their goals.  The most effective goals in nurturing personal and academic growth are process goals, where they focus on following a series of steps and receiving regular feedback on their progress.

 

Unfortunately, our current school system demands performance goals, which only serve to increase pressure on students and their teachers. Encourage students to use the goal setting, goal action plan and goal reflection pages in their journal/planner every term.

Year 7

Kath Czinner

Year 7 continue to share their eagerness to become involved. There was plenty of interest in the activity stalls this week, that promoted the extracurricular activities that are on offer at OCC. The vast opportunities are often highlighted on the OCC Facebook page. We encourage all Year 7s to explore their interests and try the many activities on offer. Many of our students went along to the Guyra show to explore their interest in the agriculture arena. A few sport notices have been presented on the Daily Notices. It is very important that the students are alert to the messages so that they are fully informed about what opportunities come up.

 

This week we begin our focus on Lent. In PAC and Religious Education lessons the Catholic beliefs are explored and explained. Shrove Tuesday saw a remarkable group of Year 7 helpers in the Vinnies Pancake stall. Ash Wednesday Mass marks the start of Lent and the students are asked to consider their personal journey of reflecting, fasting and giving alms.

The SRC /Class Leader nominations were called for this week. The quality of the nominations were tremendous. I admired the courage of the students to take a positive risk and show their desire to help the school and develop their leadership skills.

 

This week all camp registrations need to be finalised. Please click on this link here for the Lake Keepit instruction sheet. Thank you to all who have already completed this process.

 

Immunisation will take place on Thursday 12th March. All forms were sent home this week. 

Please make contact with the school if you have any concerns regarding the camp or the immunisation day.

 

Kathryn Czinner

Year 8

Katie Biddle

A huge congratulations to Year 8 for the commitment that they have shown to starting the year well. Students have settled into their new classes and are quickly developing a strong enthusiasm for their class work. Students have been busy setting learning goals and plans for achieving these. Well done everyone! 

 

Congratulations to the keen Year 8 students who have been busy rehearsing and preparing for the school production of Mary Poppins. Please support our talented students and the creative arts and book your tickets now! 

 

A reminder to students that their sports uniform is only to be worn on designated days, these days coincide with practical sports lessons. Please remember that the school hat (or cap) is to be worn at school. Caps of other brands or types are not to be worn. .

 

This week, during the PAC lesson, students will be exploring resilience. Resilience can be described as  the ability to recover from difficulties. One strategy that students will be practising is the art of self talk. Research says that when we use positive self talk we can develop our confidence and sense of self. This is crucial to building resilience. I encourage you to speak with your sons and daughters about the types of things that they can say and do when times are tricky. Thank you for your support with this. If you would like more information on this the following websites may be of interest. 

 

Building Resilience in Kids 

 

Coping skills, resilience and teenagers

 

PHOTO: Lucy Campbell, Archie O'Connor and Luke Rogers receiving their awards at the Year 8 assembly on Monday. 

 

Year 8 Parent Information Night is on Monday the 16th of March at 6pm in the College Library Learning Centre. I look forward to seeing you there!

 

Sincerely

 

Katie Biddle

Year 9

Lloyd Honnery

Welcome back to Week 5 and another busy term. With a new year comes a new focus for Year 9 students. This year every Year 9 student is going to strive to be BETTER - what does that mean? Simply, we acknowledge that there is always room for improvement in the classroom and the school community... and it is up to each individual student to try. How can we be better in the classroom? It might be something as small as putting your hand up when you want to ask a question or ensuring you have the right equipment. How can parents encourage your students to be better in the classroom? Do you help with some home learning? Do you ensure they have the correct uniform on for that day? Every little bit helps in your child's journey to be better.

 

There are so many opportunities for students to be involved with activities at O'Connor that employing a "better" mindset has never been easier. From sporting events to the school play, there is a long list of new things to try to promote self-improvement and be more involved in the school community.

 

A reminder that the Year 9 Parent Evening is on Monday 2nd March and is an opportunity for parents and carers to meet the PAC team, hear about the camp, as well as other key aspects of your children's schooling. 

Year 10

Peter McLeish

It is hard to believe that by the time you read this, we will already be half way through the first term. Most students have settled well into their learning. Some students decided to change electives after realising that the course they had signed up for didn’t really meet their expectations. The deadline to change electives has now passed and there will be no more changes.

The Year 10 Parent Information Night, held on Monday 24th, saw many parents taking the opportunity to meet their child’s Pastoral and Academic Care teachers and to be informed of Work Experience opportunities, the subject selection process for 2021 and the stronger HSC standards and how we can help students achieve Minimum Standards.

Our PAC focus this week is goals and growth and our Friday lesson will be looking at ways to set and achieve realistic goals by breaking them down into fortnightly targets.

Congratulations to those students who participated in the Twilight Swimming Carnival earlier in the month, especially those students who took home a medal and / or a certificate of achievement. 

We have had a rather slow start for students receiving Commendation Certificates this term. Bonnie, Tahlia, James and Ella were recognised for excellence in subject related work this week. I feel certain this trickle will soon turn into a torrent as the term progresses.

Don’t forget, should you have any questions or inquiries about your child, they should be directed in the first instance, to your child’s PAC teacher.

Our overall theme for this year is RESPECT. Respect for self, respect for friends and family, respect for teachers, respect for the community and respect for the planet. It will be appreciated if you reinforce this theme if and when the occasion to do so arises.

Thanks for your ongoing support.

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

Year 11

Mark Fulloon

Year 11 students are now equipped with assessment information booklets, schedules for tasks and all information relevant to their courses and what’s expected from them now as senior students. Monday 17th February was Year 11 assessment night and It was great to see so many students, parents and carers attend this very important assessment evening.

Year 11 should now be working hard completing course work and setting a pattern of study.

Year 12

Vicki Channon

At our Combined Year assembly on Monday morning, I spoke of the word ‘challenge’. I am sharing the clip that I showed the students: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz3R72C7RJI

I spoke about how we are all challenged in different ways and we all cope differently with challenges. Our main challenge for 2020 is to get to the finishing line, called the HSC. Some students will breeze through the year, knowing what their direction is, sticking to it and being rewarded at the end. Others will struggle due to a few barriers that might have been placed in their way, but with support mechanisms in place, these students can and will make it. And they can also be very proud of their achievements in ‘making it’. 

“The moment you stop accepting challenges is the moment you stop moving forward” was one quote that resonated with me - even if it is just to beat my PB set in 2018 for running the 5km park run on a Saturday morning. Only .01 second off - next week I will try again:)

Another example is students undertaking work based apprenticeships. The reason your boss wants you to ‘complete’ the HSC is so that you can show them you have the grit and determination to ‘finish’ the job… How are you going to challenge yourself this week OR this term??

Food for thought…… Have a great fortnight and please contact any of the team if you have concerns.

Just a reminder that Monday 9th March is the Senior Success evening for all Year 12 students and their parents/carers, starting at 6pm. Working together is such an effective tool, and we would love to see you there.

Vicki Channon and the Year 12 PAC team.