College News
Presentation Day
Last Friday 3rd December, the College had their end of year Presentation Day. We were blessed again with fine weather and it was a great celebration of education. This year's guest speaker Tim Hanrahan and gave an inspiring presentation address. Fletcher Schultz and Bridie Gilles gave the 2022 College Captains' Address and Nick Troon provided a musical interlude. Director Chris Smyth from Catholic Schools Office presented Prinicpal Ms Regina Menz with a Distinguished Service Award for all her work in the Catholic Education System. All the individual award photos are included in the gallery.
CELEBRATION OF EDUCATION: All students of the College were congratulated for their efforts this year.
Blessing of the St Angela Merici Statue
The sun came out on last Thursday 2nd December for Bishop Michael Kennedy's blessing of the recently commissioned statue of one our founding Saints, Saint Angela Merici. With the beautiful statue being carefully designed by Anthony Kelly and Sister Mary Talty, the ceremony was a great celebration of our College founders. Nick Troon performed two musical interludes which added to our reflection on the history behind our College. O'Connor is on the grounds of the Armidale De La Salle College. This beautiful statue representing the founder of the Ursuline Sisters who's College amalgamated with De La Salle in 1975 to form O'Connor Catholic College is therefore a fitting addition to our grounds. Saint Angela Merici dedicated her life to the education of girls in the care of the Ursuline order and we continue her work at the College nearly 500 years later. Thank you to Bishop Kennedy for joining us in celebrating this occasion today.
Joseph Stanley Finalist
TOP 50 FINALIST: Joseph pictured at the TAFE NSW Awards in May.
We recently received news that Joseph Stanley has been selected as a Finalist in the Top 50 Year 12 Trailblazer Awards. Organised by the Art of Smart organisation, the awards recognise that an ATARE is not the full picture for success - for students or employers. They have selected 50 Year 12 HSC or International Baccalaureate students who have taken initiative and made an impact. We look forward to hearing more about the process and wish Joseph all the best with the competition.
Year 10 Program
This week, Year 10 has been participating in a three day program which is helping prepare them for their senior studies next year.
Thanks to all the teachers involved in making this happen.
Z-Club Report
Alex Shepheard and Jessica MacMahon
On Wednesday Week 8 in Break A, Z club O'Connor held their final Z club meeting for the year. We also had a nice christmas morning tea and did a little farewell for Ms Menz. At this meeting, we discussed how we were able to buy 300 birthing kits to package up soon and we also decided to postpone the AGM to the first meeting of Z club next year which will be held in February.
That night, Alex Shepheard , Mia Brotherson-Moffitt and Bridie Giles joined Mrs Channon and the other members of the Zonta Club of Armidale at their monthly meeting. The meeting was focussed on the ‘Zonta Says Not to Violence Against Women’ campaign, a 16 day activism and awareness raising event, which starts on November 25th. We heard from two guest speakers. The first speaker, Maurine Kiplagat, a university student at the UNE talked about the impact educating girls and boys can have on stopping the cycle of domestic violence, and she shared information of the work she was doing in Kenya (her home country) to try and stop the cycle. Here is the link if people are interested in learning more about this very important and sadly, relevant topic.
The second speaker, Dr Debbie Bower talked about women in leadership, specifically women in leadership in STEM areas. She shared her experiences from previous leadership courses and told the club how they impacted her and helped to build her skills. She is currently a lecturer in zoology and ecology at the UNE.
Both inspiring people and the messages were very impactful.
2022 will be an exciting time for the Z Club as our school is hosting the Zonta Clubs from the Area 3 district. Members from many towns around our area will converge in Armidale on Saturday 26th March, and in particular to O’Connor Catholic College. There will be more to come on this next year.
Friday's College Picnic
We finished week 10 with a whole school picnic where students participated in fundraising games and food and drink stalls. Following Period 3, each year participated in organised activities such as dodgeball, volleyball, touch and handball. One special event was an area set aside in the quadrangle where students and staff could write messages of farewell and thanks to Ms Menz.
School Property Planning Competition Northern Tablelands - Local Land Services
PHOTO: L to R Mrs Janet Price, Charlotte Lamaro, Chloe Rollan and Phoebe Donnelly.
Representatives from the NSW Government Local Land Services were at the College on Friday 10 December to present Mrs Price and some of our Agriculture students with the Leanne Savage Perpetual Shield as well as awards from winning the School Property Planning Competition. Well done all those involved. Thank you to the NSW and Australian Governments for their sport of this Award.
