Around the KLA's

CAPA

Miss Melita Roach

IN HARMONY: The beginner wind ensemble has commenced rehearsals under the direction of Paul Marshall from NECOM.

HSIE

Mrs Cherie Stoesel

GALLERY: Year 8 Geography engaged in and enjoying their learning.

GOING BACK IN TIME: Year 12 Ancient history exploring early times on Thursday.

French

Year 7 at O'Connor are fortunate enough to be able to take lessons in French with Ms Florence Champion de Crespigny. This week they are mastering using greetings in the French language.

Mathematics

Mr Mark Harris

WORKING THROUGH IT: Makayla and Georgia making it all add up in Maths today.

Students are continuing on with their topics that were commenced at the beginning of Term and remain engaged with their learning. A walk around the senior classes today (Friday) confirmed this. Topics can be found issue one of this year's newsletter.

FINDING A SOLUTION: Mr Peter McLeish and Charlie Fittler nutting out a solution to a problem.

GALLERY: Around the classrooms in the Maths KLA today.

PDHPE

Ms Camilla Clydsdale

Sun Safety in PDHPE

A reminder for all students about the importance of wearing a hat for all practical PDHPE lessons. The following information is from our College’s Sun Smart Policy:

Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Skin cancer, including melanoma and non-melanoma, is the most common cancer in Australia.

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in childhood is a major risk factor for the development of skin cancer later in life. By implementing a best-practice Sun Protection Policy, schools can help protect staff and children from UV radiation and teach children good sun protection habits from an early age to reduce their risk.

Sun protection times are a forecast for the time of day UV levels will reach 3 or above. At these levels, sun protection is recommended for all skin types and the policy areas should be implemented. In NSW, UV levels are high enough (UV 3 or above) to damage unprotected skin most months of the year. UV levels are particularly high during the summer months, and highest in the middle of the day. UV levels and daily sun protection times can be accessed via the SunSmart App or Cancer Council Australia’s home page to determine sun protection requirements.

Rugby 7s Visit

On Friday at the College O’Connor students were lucky to have Tim Walsh, Josh Turner, Michael Icely, and Waratahs Development officer Will Latham visit the College to share some of their advice and experiences with a selection of students.

All are currently in Armidale for the Men’s 7s Rugby Union Final Trials at Moran Oval tonight. Following a Coaching Master Class last night, there will be a four way tournament at 3.50pm between Australia’s best Rugby 7s players.

Tim Walsh is the current head coach of the Australian Men’s 7s team and was previously Head Coach of the Australian Women’s 7s team which won Olympic gold in 2016.

Josh Turner is a current member of the Australian 7s open side and he is looking forward to the experience of competing in this year’s Olympic Games. He described the importance of being focused on your goal and backing that up with eating well, training hard and benefits of adequate recovery.

Michael Icely is a current Waratah’s player and he spoke of the progression to a professional level through the schoolboy ranks and shared some of his Rugby experiences. He described the hard work and determination required that has taken him from initially playing 16 E’s at Joey’s in Sydney to the heights of professional rugby.

O’Connor students have benefit from the College’s Rugby development programs over time and with the addition of Girls Rugby in more recent years, many of the students in the audience were also current players.

PHOTO: Josh Turner presented Ms Menz with an Australian Team shirt which will be displayed at the College.

Two lucky students were presented with Waratah caps for asking great questions and all students present were able to chat with the players following the talk. Before they concluded the visit, Principal Ms Regina Menz was presented with a signed Australian 7s Rugby shirt that will be proudly displayed at the College as a source for inspiration for our budding players.

GALLERY: Photos from the day

Science

Mrs Lilly Moar / Mr Daniel Fittler

The University of New England's Growing Regional & Agricultural Students in Science (UNE GRASS) program leads the development and delivery of education programs that inspire students towards science careers, and helps create high-calibre science graduates who are business-ready for Australia's primary industries.

Two students from O’Connor participated in the 2020/2021 program and shared their insights into the program and their Industry placement to a range of Industry representatives and their peers.

Sam Graham spent a week at the Costa Tomato Farm in Guyra. “My time at costa has widened my options to careers I may not have looked into upon completing my degree, prior to this industry placement I was focused on broad acre agronomy and livestock production, following my week at Costa I feel I am more open to a career in horticulture, especially in plant agronomy and nutrition or pest management”.

Isabel Hine completed her placement at East West Enviro Ag in Tamworth. “UNE Grass has helped me affirm that I definitely want to pursue a career in agricultural research whether that be with stock of soil and water. I have gained a whole new understanding on the need for young people to continue to pursue careers in agriculture and the importance of this”

PHOTO: Year 8 science collecting data.

TAS

Agriculture

Glen Innes Show

Glen Innes Show 21 students competed in the Junior Stock Appraisal events at Glen Innes Show. There were 15 students who made the finals with Arlie Tanner winning the Fleece and placing 2nd in Merino sheep. Other students to place were Alex Baker, Lucy Campbell, Quinn Dalton. Congratulations to all students and a big thank you to Emily Lockyer who was our peer mentor for the day.

GALLERY: Photos from the day at Glen Innes.

Guyra Show

News just in....

Our students who traveled to Guyra show today have had a great day of learning and below are some of our sheep competition winners.

Construction

Uniplan Excursion

Today Mr Healy's construction class visited the Uniplan Group construction company at Acacia Park industrial area. Our students were able to see a variety of stages of the construction process and were appreciative of the opportunity that Uniplan gave them to get a first hand insight into their expanding construction business.