Assistant Principal – Karen Shawcross
Welcome back to what promises to be another enriching term of learning at OLM, I pray and hope the Easter break provided a time of rest and reflection for you and your families.
A unique aspect of our students’ learning each week is the “Word of the Week.” Over Term 1, six such words were introduced, encouraging emotional literacy vocabulary expansion and thoughtful communication. To culminate this learning, we held a competition challenging students to creatively weave all six words into a single, coherent paragraph. I am delighted to announce that the winners of this competition were both students from Coolock House, adding valuable points and further extending Coolock’s strong lead in the House Points competition this year.
The runner up was Sienna of Year 8 with this paragraph;
I’m usually known to be pretty elated the majority of time, but today I just felt so befuddled. I wasn’t sure why I wasn’t my usual self: happy. Flummoxed is everything I would describe myself right now. I couldn’t bear to go on like this, I had to get back to my usual self. I’m supposed to empower people, empower myself, but I couldn’t get a grip. I felt so upset. The sincerity in the way I talked in my head brought tears to my eyes. I just knew I couldn’t stay like this, I had to move forward and persevere like any other person.
The winner of the competition was Tamarli in Year 9 with the following entry;
After hours of studying the complex math problem, she felt utterly flummoxed. Her mind befuddled by the intricate equations that danced around her in perplexing patterns. Despite her confusion, she approached her teacher with sincerity, seeking guidance not only to solve the problem but to truly understand the concepts behind it. Her teacher empowered her with the tools and strategies she needed to tackle the challenges head-on. Determined to persevere in her studies, she delved deeper into the problem, noticing every number, sign and term. She gradually began to grasp and understand the abstract language of mathematics. A sense of accomplishment washed over her as her smile grew, elated, reflecting the joy she felt inside.
Term 2 has already sprung to life with vibrant energy. We began with a wonderful assembly where we celebrated the remarkable achievements of our students. It was truly inspiring to acknowledge the incredible effort demonstrated across Term 1, with an impressive 4222 merits earned school-wide. This translated into over 60 well-deserved Bronze Awards presented across all year groups. We also proudly recognised our talented athletes and extended our best wishes to those representing the College in upcoming sporting events.
A special highlight was the captivating performance by our Year 7 Dance Troupe. It takes immense courage to perform in front of peers, and they did so with remarkable poise and talent. I am confident they will shine at their upcoming eisteddfod. There was, however, a moment of disappointment to observe a lack of encouragement from a small number of our Year 9 students during this performance. Such behaviour, often stemming from a lack of maturity, is a valuable learning opportunity for growth.
Congratulations to all students who participated in last week’s Athletics Carnival! As a newcomer to the OLM carnival, I was truly impressed by the enthusiasm displayed by every student. Those who competed in the championship events should be exceptionally proud of their efforts, and I wish them the very best in the next stage of competition.
The coming weeks are filled with a variety of important events and opportunities. These are just a few; Year 10 will be undertaking their Assessment Block, Stage 6 students will receive their reports, Year 8 will engage in a stimulating poetry incursion, students will participate in debating competitions and eisteddfods and Year 11 will participate in the valuable Tomorrow Woman (mental health) workshop. Additionally, our Cross Country team will compete at the SCS level, and there are many other activities planned. I encourage all parents and students to regularly check Compass to stay informed of all the details and ensure full engagement.
Finally, a reminder that all students should now be in complete winter uniform, including the compulsory wearing of the blazer to and from school. Summer uniform items are no longer permitted. We have noticed a couple of students who are wearing the incorrect school pants. All students are required to wear the OLM uniform options only. These are available only from Noone at Caringbah. The uniform is a symbol of our College, our students, and your family, and should be worn with pride.
I look forward to a productive and fulfilling term ahead, working in partnership with you to support the learning and the growth and development of all of our students.
Karen Shawcross, Assistant Principal