KLA News
This week we hear from the English, Science, TAS & PE Leaders of Learning
TAS
Agriculture In Autumn
Autumn started with The chicken run…..
This is our latest game! Bilbo the merino and our vorweck hen ready for the cross country chicken run. (Bilbo completed the 4km cross country but the hen gave up after 500m)
Success at the Royal Easter Show
3 students made their debut in the Junior Events at the royal Easter Show this year. Junior events are 15-25 years so these students were the youngest in the class.
Angus Scrivener represented us in the F002 Junior Beef Cattle Paraders, leading a Limosinheifer. Angus goes on to compete at Wingham Beef Week next week and we wish him every success.
Erica Menzies represented New England Zone in the Merino Judging
Abigail van Eyk represented New England Zone in 3 events, Merino Fleece, Beef Cattle and Meat sheep. Abi was placed 3rd in the meat sheep.
Chelsea Green exhibited her steer in the carcase competition and while it didn’t win it was certainly in the top few animals – a credit to her months of hard work.
On the Farm
At the change of season students are embarking on the next set of tasks, including sowing of pasture, week control ready for spring and joining of sheep and cattle.
Year 7 have just rotated classes so we will see how the new group settle in.
Year 9 are working on a pastures plant collection around their own properties or at the school
Year 10 have decided to redesign the Ag Farm so we wait to see what innovative ideas they produce
Primary Industries students are on work placement and it has been fantastic to see how well they fit into the work environment and how far and wide they can travel to work placements.
What is next
We will take a pen of lambs to the schools lamb competition in Guyra on 18th May and students will have an opportunity to learn from industry experts including world renowned meat scientists.
The following week senior students will be at UNE for a sustainable Agriculture workshop
.…and that is Autumn!
PDHPE: NEW GYM SNEAK PEAK!!
The PDHPE Department and student body have been patiently awaiting the completion of the new school Gym over the past 4 years. At the end of last Term some of the O’Connor Staff were invited on our tour of the new build and explored its progress. We are all very excited to utilise the new Gym space. Pictured below are a few insights into the brand new space.
Image 1: This is the ground floor space where 3 classrooms, equipment storage and bathroom/change rooms are located. This area will also have an undercroft free space and amphitheatre stairs for larger students groups.
Image 2 & 3: This is the first floor, this space is the main indoor PDHPE space which will have an interchangeable basketball court, volleyball and netball courts. Alongside this space is a large classroom and the adjoining Performing Arts space.
Science:
Dear Parents and Students,
Welcome back to term 2! We hope you all had a great break and are ready to dive back into your studies. This term, the science curriculum is packed with exciting topics and activities across all year levels.
Year 7 students will be exploring contact and non-contact forces. You will learn about friction and buoyancy as well as electrostatic forces, gravity, and magnetism. By understanding these fundamental concepts, you will develop a greater appreciation of the world around you and how it works.
In Year 8, you will be exploring the differences between chemical and physical changes. You will learn about the structure of the atom and how it relates to the periodic table. You will also have the opportunity to conduct your student research projects, which is an excellent opportunity to apply what you've learned and develop your scientific skills.
Year 9 students will continue to explore chemical reactions in greater detail. This term, you will have a deeper understanding of the periodic table and its significance in chemistry. You will also be introduced to balancing chemical equations and classifying reaction types.
For Year 10 students, the focus will be on physics. You will be studying motion in a straight line, Newton's laws of motion, and car safety. You will then move onto waves to study sound, light, and communication with waves. This unit will help you understand how the world around us is governed by fundamental physical laws.
As you embark on this exciting journey of scientific exploration, remember to approach each topic with an open mind and a willingness to learn. Always ask questions and seek clarification if you're unsure about a concept. Remember, science is all around us, and understanding it helps us make sense of the world.
We wish you all the best for term 2 and look forward to seeing your progress throughout the term.
Sincerely,
Daniel Fittler
Leader of Learning Science
English
Welcome back to Term 2 English!
This term has begun with the English classes beginning their new units of work.
Year 7 students are studying ‘It’s a Multimodal World’, exploring the many ways that texts communicate messages in a literal and figurative way.
Year 8 students are now beginning their ‘Taste of Shakespeare’ unit which explores the influence that William Shakespeare has had on contemporary compositions.
Year 9 students are also studying The Bard, with the classes going on to discover the disastrous love story of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
Year 10 students have begun their study of the Australian Drama ‘Beautiful Words’ by Sean Riley that explores three unique stories of identity and struggle.
Year 11 Studies has begun their ‘Who Do I Think I Am?’ unit, Year 11 Standard have now begun their exploration of Contemporary Possibilities with Year 11 Advanced moving onto Narratives that Shape our World.
Year 12 Advanced and Standard English are continuing their Module A study, and English Studies are working on ‘Mytunes and Texts’.