Pastoral Academic Care (PAC) 

Pastoral Academic Care (PAC) Focus - KEYSTONE HABITS / – HABITS ENABLING HABITS (senior)

Well Being Element - Health + strengths

Character Strength - Humour

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 overcome obstacles and challenges to accomplish something special to you? 

Acknowledgement: Angela Duckworth

Year 8

Ms Natalie Mellowship

As Term 1 draws to a close, it’s important for us to reflect on how this has been the most ‘normal’ term that students have experienced in a number of years. A huge congratulations must go to those students who have really embraced being at school full time, experiencing a full term of face to face learning and participating in the many opportunities that O’Connor Catholic College has to offer. For some students, the transition back to ‘normality’ has provided more challenging times, but please remember, Term 2 is a fresh start! 

In our Pastoral Academic Care times, we have acknowledged the importance of celebrating success and recognising the achievements of our students because it allows them the chance to pinpoint exactly what works well for them. Taking pride in their accomplishments by celebrating them can help to boost their self-confidence and motivate them to achieve more.

Over the past few weeks, the Year 8 students have been continuing with their theme of ‘I succeed’ and it has been pleasing to see such a large number of students focussing on their academic pursuits. I have recently been writing a large number of Pastoral Academic Care Leader Commendations and during our year assembly last week, we had the opportunity to really celebrate student achievement. A huge congratulations to the following students on achieving Pastoral Academic Care Leader Awards: Skye Barley, Ebony Barnes, Ryan Biddle, Hayley Bliss, Madeleine Cowley, James Everett, Iliana Fernandez, Lucas Ferris, Jade Foster, Indiana Gent, Emily Grieve, Sean Healy, Archie Howarth, Clare Kelly, Hannah Khan, Stephanie Kliendienst, Lily Lorimer, Jessica MacMahon, Mary Natividad, Eve Newsome, Tillie O’Connor, Maggie Ridley, Ella Vidler, Jack Walsh and Breanna Westaway.

During Term 4 2021, students participated in Lifesaving Week at the town pool. Majority of students participated in the Swim and Survive program which is a fun and dynamic swimming and water safety program that focuses on the development of swimming, personal survival, basic rescue and lifesaving skills. Swim and Survive aims to provide individuals with the required skills to lead safe and active lives in, on and around water. Students who achieved the Swim and Survive Active level 4 are: Ethan Archer, Fergus Bradshaw, Maclaren Craven, Mitchell Davies, Lucas Ferris, Charlie Foster, Jade Foster, Mackenzie Gash, Alexander Hamlin, Lila Killen, Marko Mijajlovic, Pacie Mulligan, Madison Smith, Maddy Videl-Widders, Benjamin Walsh, Jack Walsh and Hunter Webster. 

The following students achieved the Swim and Survive Active Level 5 award: Emily Grieve, Bella Hawkins, Leah Jones, Hannah Khan, Caitlin Montegue, Eve Newsome, Tillie O’Connor, Lily Pearson, Sophie Roberts and Breanna Westaway and Ella Vidler.

The following students achieved the Swim and Survive Active Level 6 award: Hayley Bliss, Chelsea Curry, Huw Davidson, Brittany Doran, James Everett, Benjamin Faria, Brock Hoffman, Archie Howarth, Clare Kelly, Jessica MacMahon, Nicholas Miller, Harrison Munsie, Paige Patterson, Grace Pett, Abigail Roberts, Jack Saxby, Hunter Scrivener, Elizabeth Shepheard and Sajak Timalsena.

A number of students also achieved the Bronze Star award. The Bronze Star tests a student’s knowledge, fitness, skills and judgement and is a step towards achieving the iconic Bronze Medallion. Students develop problem-solving and decision-making skills in learning how to recognise an emergency and make an assessment before and during a rescue. Students are tested on a range of rescue skills where they will be required to have an understanding of lifesaving and rescue principles. The following students achieved the Bronze Star award: Lily Lorimer, Isabella McKay, Vanessa Rigall, Lucy Selby and Aleesha Stuart.

On Monday 28th March, a team of Year 8 students attended The Armidale School to participate in the Da Vinci Decathlon. The Da Vinci Decathlon is an academic competition designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of school students. Students compete in small teams across 10 disciplines which include: Engineering, Mathematics and Chess, Code Breaking, Art and Poetry, Science, English, Ideation, Creative Producers, Cartography and Legacy. A huge congratulations to: Alexander Hamlin, James Everett, Archie Howarth, Jessica MacMahon, Maggie Ridley and Vanessa Riggall who achieved 3rd place overall. 

This week, 8PAC2 has been working hard to sell this year’s Easter Egg Raffle. Every break and lunch time, a number of students have been selling tickets and offering the chance to win a basket of Easter goodies, with the proceeds going towards the Caritas Foundation. Thank you to all students in 8PAC2 who got involved in the raffle. 

On behalf of the Year 8 PAC Team, I would like to offer gratitude for the continued  support from our students and families over the course of the Term. We would like to wish you all a peaceful, restful and safe break, and look forward to working together again in Term 2. 

Ms Natalie Mellowship

Year 10

Mr James Russell

Term 1 is very quickly drawing to a close and it has been fantastic to have enjoyed our most ‘usual’ term of schooling at O’Connor for the past couple of years. Having students at school for a full term of face to face learning, and getting back to normality has been both a wonderful opportunity for students to learn and grow, but also been quite challenging for many students. We started Term 1 with a very positive feel to the year group and to the credit of the Year 10 cohort this has continued across the whole term. Most students continue to work hard to squeeze the most that they can from their opportunities at school and are really aiming up to our Year 10 Theme, to ‘Aspire to Inspire’. The learning that students have engaged in has been extremely diverse and has ranged from more traditional lessons in classrooms through to participating in sporting teams, playing Chess, attending Masses and Liturgies, having an amazing time at Youth Group, rehearsing for the school musical and strategising and collaborating at the Da Vinci Decathlon. This is only a snapshot of the amazing things our students have been up to during Term 1.

In our Pastoral Academic Care times we have maintained a strong focus on the importance of setting goals, collaborating and applying effort towards our learning. We have used the incredible example of Ash Barty to inspire many of our discussions and students are developing a strong understanding of the values Ash exhibits, particularly humility, determination and a strong team mentality. 

The Year 10 PAC Team wants to express our thanks for the wonderful support of our students’ families and we wish you all a restful and safe break. We really look forward to building upon the groundwork laid in Term 1 and continuing to work together in supporting and providing opportunities for our students to grow and thrive.  Easter is a very special time on our calendar and we pray that you will enjoy the time together as families as we remember the true message of love and forgiveness found in the Easter story.

Year 10 Girls Training for the Regional Rugby League Carnival.

Our outstanding Yr 10 Da Vinci Decathlon Team

 Year 10 Drama students masked up

Mr James Russell

Year 12 

Mrs Vicki Channon

Year 12 will be breathing a sigh of relief come this Friday after a really busy term!! 

Juggling part time work for many, family responsibilities, friendship pressures (at times), HSC content along with the rigours of completing assessment tasks - it is tough going!!!

The leadership team have worked hard toward the latter part of this term to organise fundraising activities for Caritas and Project Compassion. This will culminate in a big event on the last day of school where Year 12 students in their various houses will run a stall during Break A. Break B will consist of a pizza lunch, followed by the annual Cross Country. We are really hoping the school community get behind their respective houses and dig deep for this important cause.

I wish to thank all of the cohort for their grit and determination throughout another pretty difficult term in regards to students and staff being absent through COVID or other sickness, myself included. We might all think we are bulletproof until we succumb to the highly infectious strain of COVID. It certainly has made me stop and think about measures we need to continue to take to keep our family and friends safe and well.

On behalf of our Year 12 PAC team I encourage all of the students to take a balanced approach to this Easter break. Rest, relax and enjoy time with family and friends. Then, set some time for school work - make study notes, revise, do past papers. We cannot overstate how important this will be in preparation for the Half Yearly exam period in Week 1, Term 2. 

I have attached the timetable for exams. Please make sure you read it carefully as there is much information to digest. It is important to note that these exams are not assessable, but they do provide an excellent opportunity to sit an exam under exam conditions, something that our students have not had experience with due to COVID. Doing your best is all we ask. They will provide you and your teachers with a good understanding of your strengths and where you might need to improve.

 2022 Half Yearly Exam Timetable (Student copy)

Have a safe and happy Easter, and we look forward to a healthier Term 2, fingers crossed:)

Mrs Vicki Channon