Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome back to Term 3. A special welcome to our new staff members, Mr Lloyd Honnery and Mrs Katie Biddle and to the new students who have joined our O’Connor Community. We look forward to working collaboratively with you on your learning journey.

Our New Teachers, Lloyd Honnery and Katie Biddle are both ex-students of O’Connor!

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 and the many community members who enriched our celebrations.

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, Textiles and Design 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.

Real Talk

In this growing technological world, it hard to know what our young people are accessing on their devices. Last year as part of our Professional Learning, we had Paul Innes from Real Talk discuss 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. Paul and 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 Paul come 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/)

Paul will be covering areas such as current trends and statistics around young people and pornaography exposure, the effects on individual 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://youtu.be/X1OWYuBlsMY

There will be Parent Night on Monday 6th August at 6 pm in AG4/5. The presentation is entitled 'Pornography: Raising Teenagers in a Hypersexual digital world'. A flyer is attached  that gives more detail about the topics covered. I highly recommend that parents attend this workshop.

Satisfaction Surveys

Satisfaction surveys of 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 on August 6 and close on August 16, 2018 using the email addresses supplied to the school. If you do not receive an email with a link to the survey on August 6, you can access and complete the survey at the following link. https://www.research.net/r/OConnorCCPARENT2018

Staff Changes for Term 3

Mr Ross Conlon will be taking leave for Term 3. As a result, Mrs Lilly Moar will be taking on part of Mr Conlon’s role working with Casual teachers and day to day organisation of the school. Mr James Russell will be taking on the Student Welfare Coordinator component of Mr Conlon’s role. Mrs Delwyn Smidt will be taking over the majority of Mr Conlon’s classes.  Mrs Moar will continue in her role as VET Leader of Learning and Mr Russell will continue as Year 11 Pastoral Academic Care Leader as well as taking on the new roles.

What new learning will you undertake this week?

Regina Menz