KLA News
HSIE
Welcome back to another exciting year of learning at O’Connor Catholic College and the HSIE KLA. We trust that you all have had a great Christmas and New Year and enjoyed a restful break.
There are no new faces in the HSIE Department for 2025, but we welcome back Mrs Cheryl Leggatt; Ms Kara Spicer; Mr Garry Osborne; Mr William Blake, Mr Evans Madhuyu and a special welcome back to Mrs Amanda McFarland who is returning from maternity leave.
HSIE Home Learning Programme
Following feedback during parent-teacher-student interviews in 2024, this year the HSIE KLA will be introducing regular homework into our teaching and learning practice.
Far from being onerous, these homework tasks will be short (around 10-15 minutes) and will be designed to either practise subject related skills that have been taught in class or to consolidate and improve our student’s literacy through writing tasks. They are also intended to develop positive learning habits for our students.
The tasks will be released on Compass every fortnight and students will have two weeks to complete and upload their responses to Compass. This means they will be able to complete them at a time that is convenient for them and without the pressure of a quick turnaround time.
Class teachers will check the work which will then be marked on Compass simply as ‘achieved’, ‘partially achieved’ or ‘not achieved’. You will be able to check on Compass that your child/ward submits the task. If students wish to discuss their task with their teacher before submission or after checking, they are encouraged to make a time to do this.
We thank you in advance for your continued support of your child’s education by encouraging them to engage with these home learning activities.
Tutankhamun Roadshow
The Tutankhamun Roadshow is returning to O’Connor on February 25th. The Tutankhamun Roadshow is a purpose built semi-trailer that contains three 'mini theatres' designed to allow students to be immersed in a full-sensory learning experience about rediscovering Pharaoh Tutankhamun of Ancient Egypt and the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Students will be able to get to know:
- Who this young Pharaoh was
- How the Rosetta stone was the key that unlocked the secrets of Hieroglyphs
- The techniques of ancient mummification
- How Archaeology and the people of our past can come alive again… and much more.
All content is designed to fulfil the Australian and NSW Curriculum. For year 7 students, this is a great introduction to their studies in History. This year we are giving students in years 9 - 10 -11 and 12 an opportunity to see the Roadshow as well. Interested students in those years should register their interest at the office. The cost is $20. Consent and payment can be made via Compass.
Ready to Learn : Equipment
Thank you to the many of you who have ensured that our students have returned to school with fresh exercise books and other stationery.
For reference a basic equipment list below. All students should bring the following stationery items every lesson:
• x2 Blue or black pens • x2 lead pencils • A ruler
• A sharpener • An eraser • Glue stick
• Scissors • Highlighter/s
all kept together in a pencil case. Additionally, a red pen and coloured pencils are good items to have on hand.
I would extend this list to also ensuring that your child’s/ward’s laptop is fully charged overnight and that they also bring their charger to school.
If you require any support in providing these stationery supplies, please contact the college.
Mrs Cherie Stoessel
Leader of Learning, HSIE
Languages
Isaac Hayes in Year 10 studied Spanish as a distance education subject last year in Year 9. He excelled at this and was rewarded with a Principal’s Award for getting 10 commendations. Well done, Isaac!
PDHPE
Welcome to the new school year in the PDHPE Department. We hope all families had a safe, healthy and happy Christmas, New Year and Holiday period!
The PDHPE Department for 2025 includes some familiar faces and some new staff as well. Welcome back to:
Mrs Felicity Magann
Leader of Learning Wellbeing and Engagement
Mrs Amber Smith
Mrs Camilla Clydsdale
Leader of Learning PDHPE
Mr Shane McCann
Leader of House - Merici
Ms. Mellowship
Leader of Pedagogy
Mrs Jenny Roff
Mrs Rachel Galvin
Leader of Student Pathways
Welcome back to O’Connor, returning staff member Mr James Russell!
Leader of ATSI
A big welcome to our newest staff member Mr Steffan Fastier, all the way from New Zealand!!
(Alicia can you please take a photo or Steffan or use the photo day photo if it is released in time please?)
Last week the following letters were emailed home to all parents outlining important information for our Department:
PDHPE at O’Connor
Dear Sir/Madam,
Welcome to the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education Department at O’Connor Catholic College. Years 7-10 PDHPE is a compulsory part of your child’s education. Our Department aims to develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes needed to take action to protect and enhance your child’s, and others’ health, safety and wellbeing in varied and changing contexts that they may experience in life. Physical Education is fundamental to the acquisition of movement skills and concepts to enable students to participate in a range of physical activities – confidently, competently and creatively.
To ensure a smooth transition into a new academic year, our Department has put together some useful information for both you and your child.
For all PDHPE lessons that state OVAL as the classroom on Compass, your child has a practical PDHPE lesson where they will need to wear their correct sports uniform for the entire school day.
The correct compulsory O’Connor sports uniform consists of:
- OCC Polo Shirt
- OCC Shorts
- OCC Track pants
- OCC Tracksuit top
- OCC Hat or cap
- Plain white or black socks (No logos)
- Joggers (Supportive athletics shoes - no Converse, no skate style shoes, Vans etc)
Mobile or digital devices are not required for practical lessons (unless requested by the teacher) and these devices are to remain in student bags. All students will need a charged device, exercise book, student diary and a well equipped pencil case for all theory lessons.
If you have any questions or concerns in relation to this document or anything PDHPE related, please feel free to contact the College, your child’s PDHPE teacher or myself.
Yours Faithfully
Camilla Clydsdale
PDHPE Leader of Learning
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education Department
O’Connor Catholic College Armidale
Dear Sir/Madam,
Over the course of the next academic year your child will be studying a variety of topics in PDHPE at the College. Some of the units we explore are sensitive in nature and we would like to inform you about the content we will explore this year.
Year 7
Who Am I? (Identity)
Turning Around a Put Down (Bullying)
Risky Business (Risk Taking & Safety)
Year 8
Fit for Life (Fitness and Healthy Lifestyles)
Did you know (Sexting and Drug Use)
Mind, Body, Spirit (Mental Health)
Year 9
The Network (Accessing Health Support)
Eat, Sleep, Train, Repeat (Nutrition and Lifelong Physical Activity)
RUOK (Mental Health)
Staying Alive (First Aid and Personal Safety)
Year 10
Respect (Respectful Relationships, misuse of power, domestic violence)
Be Street Smart (Road Safety)
The Party (Drugs and Alcohol)
The Next Chapter (Managing Change and Challenges)
If you have any questions or concerns around the content delivered in the PDHPE Department please feel free to contact the College and your child’s PDHPE Teacher. To access the full PDHPE Syllabus in greater detail please visit the NESA website at: https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/k-10/learning-areas/pdhpe/pdhpe-k-10-2018
Yours Faithfully
Camilla Clydsdale
PDHPE Leader of Learning
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education Department
O’Connor Catholic College Armidale
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our PDHPE team if you have any questions or concerns regarding our subject. Wishing all students and families a successful 2025!
TAS
TAS (Technology & Applied Studies) At O’Connor
Dear Parents & Carers,
Welcome to the TAS (Technology & Applied Studies) faculty at O’Connor Catholic College.
All students in Stage 4 (Years 7 & 8) study the Mandatory Technology course. At O’Connor we facilitate this through rotating our students through a number of different context areas over 2 years.
In Stage 5 we offer elective courses in Food Technology, Textiles Technology, Agriculture Technology, Industrial Technology-Wood, Industrial Technology-Building & Construction and STEM.
For our senior students we currently facilitate courses in Design & Technology, Engineering Studies, Textiles & Agriculture. There are also many VET options that use the same staff & facilities. The big two for us are VET Construction & Hospitality.
To ensure a smooth transition into a new academic year we would ask you to consider the following points.
-Technology subjects involve practical activities involving specialist equipment.
-All students MUST complete the necessary safety instruction and complete the relevant safety tests using the ONGUARD Safety Portal.
-In practical environments students must wear suitable leather school shoes to protect their feet
(Please see attached diagram of what constitutes suitable school shoes for practical activities)
-In line with WH&S (Work, Health & Safety) guidelines and to ensure the safety of both students and staff, all students MUST adhere to safety rules and directions. Failure to do this will result in the student being removed from the practical environment.
In most situations, mobile or digital devices are not required for practical lessons, (unless requested by the teacher), and these devices are to remain in student bags.
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to email or contact me or your child’s teacher.
Yours In Technology,
Jon Hawthorne
Leader of Learning, TAS (Technology & Applied Studies)
jhawthorne@arm.catholic.edu.au
PLEASE NOTE: We do keep a supply of old shoes for students who may have forgotten theirs. Students are not to rely on these shoes but bring their own.
If you have an old pair of shoes you wish to donate, please give them to your teacher.
Year 11 Engineering Studies students Harrison Musie & Fergus Bradshaw constructing a Da Vinci bridge,
Year 11 Engineering Studies students Alex Hamlin & Ethan Archer constructing a Da Vinci bridge,
Year 10 and Year 12 Textiles students getting acquainted with brand new Bernina sewing machines.
Agriculture
Our Agriculture and Primary Industry students have been busy these last weeks getting ready for the upcoming show season.
Some photos below of students getting the cattle ready and practicing their leading.
Below students who attended Guyra Show this Friday. Well done to you all for your participation and efforts!
Mathematics
Welcome back to the 2025 academic year at OCC
It has been a busy few weeks to start Term 1..
I would firstly like to take the opportunity to introduce our two newest Mathematics Teachers for 2025.
Mr Jie Chen has joined us full time this year in the Mathematics department after a 2 year stint at Nambucca Christian School. Mr Chen has started well this term and his knowledge, skills and ideas have been welcomed by the students in his classes.
Mr William Zsigmond has joined us temporarily in the Mathematics KLA for Term 1 2025.
Mr Zsigmond brings a wealth of knowledge and experience across many different schools and systems of education.
We look forward to working with both of these gentlemen this year.
Here is a quick summary of the focus areas for each year group at present.
Year 7 - operations with positive integers
Year 8 - fractions, decimals and percentages
Year 9 - Financial Mathematics
Year 10 - Algebra and equations
Year 11 - Advanced Basic Algebra, Standard Financial Mathematics, Extension Combinatorics
Year 12 - Advanced/Extension Differential Calculus, Standard Trigonometry
I would like to take this opportunity to remind all students that a calculator is a compulsory tool for studying Mathematics at O’Connor. These are available for purchase from the school office.
Please ensure you have your with you each day ready for class.
Mr Mark Harris
Leader of Learning - Mathematics and Numeracy
CAPA
Creative and Performing Arts at O’Connor.
Welcome back to 2025. We’re looking forward to getting our extra-curricular groups up and running from February 17. These programmes aim to extend and enrich the opportunities offered to students in the classroom. In 2025 the following co-curricular programmes are on offer to students:
Drama Club. Tuesday. Break A, Drama Rooms with Miss Plane
Beginner Brass & Wind. Tuesday Break A, MPA1 with Mr Myers
Jazz Band. Tuesday Break B, MPA1 with Mr Myers
Concert Band. Wednesday Break B, MPA1 with Miss Sampson
String Ensemble. Thursday Break B, MPA1 with Mr Myers
Vocal Ensemble. Friday Break B, MPA1 with Miss Sampson (invitation only)
Private Instrumental lessons are offered during school hours upon arrangement. These are delivered by visiting tutors from NECOM. Private Lessons are available for piano, guitar, drums, voice, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, and cello. Lessons start from $420 (9 x 30 min lessons/ term) payable to NECOM.
We also have a small range of instruments available for hire. Instruments available for hire include flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, trombones, violins.
For further information in all these matters, contact Mel Sampson (Leader of Learning, CAPA) via email: msampso1@arm.catholic.edu.au
Mr Bruce Myers
On behalf of the CAPA team.
English
Welcome back to another exciting year of High School English! Whether you’re a returning student or new to our school community, we’re thrilled to embark on another year of exploration, creativity, and critical thinking. This year, we’ll dive into rich texts, sharpen our writing skills, and engage in meaningful discussions that challenge perspectives and inspire new ideas. Parents, your support is invaluable in fostering a love of reading and learning, and we look forward to working together to help our students grow. Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!
Year 7
Year 7 have immersed themselves into their first term of high school English with enthusiasm and excitement! They are exploring the concept of ‘Survival’ and how survival can look different depending on context as well as how composers can represent it.
Below are some of our students engaging in the hook lesson trying to summon a rescue!
Year 8
Year 8 English has begun their unit exploring the Australian voice in poetry, considering how composers such as Dorothea MacKellar were able to create a sense of time and place in their compositions such as ‘My Country’. Students have utilised visual techniques to engage with personal responses to the texts before beginning their analysis.
Year 9
Year 9 have started the unit, “Fighting the grey”. A deep dive into the dystopian genre using the novel “The Giver” by Lois Lowry, students will refine their sustained analytical writing skills with a focus on analysis of the novel.
We encourage parents and carers to support their students' engagement with this unit and their learning through encouraging their student to engage with the novel, The Giver. Students are expected to be reading this novel outside of class time and if they finish the novel, to speak with their teacher to broaden their engagement with the other novels that fit within the dystopian genre.
Attached below are student samples breaking down the front cover of the text and visual representations of extracts from chapter 1.
Year 10
Year 10 have begun their study of ‘Scott Pilgrim vs The World’ in a unit that explores the transposition of the text from graphic novel to film. As students progress through the text they analyse the composer's choices as to whether they are staying true to the original text or creating something new. Students will develop their analytical skills as they focus on completing their learning task.
Miss Lauren Donnelly
Leader of Learning, English
Science
Welcome to an Exciting Term of Science Learning!
Dear Parents and Carers,
We are thrilled to welcome our students to another exciting term of science learning! This term, our young scientists will be exploring a range of fascinating topics that build their knowledge and curiosity about the world around them. Below is an overview of what each year level will be studying in Term 1.
Year 7 – Science Safety and Water Purification Our Year 7 students will begin their science journey by learning about safety in the laboratory. They will explore the importance of following procedures, using equipment correctly, and understanding potential hazards. Students will then move on to studying how substances can be separated, including filtration, evaporation, and distillation. This will lead into an investigation of water purification, where they will explore methods of making water safe to drink—an essential topic with real-world applications!
Year 8 – The Building Blocks of Life In Year 8, students will dive into the world of biology. They will start by learning about cells, their structures, and functions. This will lead into an exploration of the needs of living things and the interconnected systems within the human body. Students will also examine the role of plants in ecosystems and their importance in sustaining life on Earth. These topics will provide a strong foundation for their understanding of life sciences.
Year 9 – Maintaining Balance in the Body Year 9 students will be studying homeostasis, the body’s ability to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes. They will investigate the endocrine system and how hormones regulate important bodily functions. A key focus will be on diabetes—what causes it, how it affects the body, and how it can be managed. These concepts help students understand how their bodies work and the importance of maintaining health and balance.
Year 10 – Genetics and Evolution Our Year 10 students will be diving into the fascinating fields of genetics and evolution. They will explore DNA, the molecule that carries genetic information, and learn about the reproductive systems. Evolution and inheritance will also be key topics, helping students understand how traits are passed down through generations and how species adapt to their environments over time. These lessons provide an essential understanding of biology and the science behind our own existence.
We look forward to an engaging term filled with hands-on experiments, critical thinking, and scientific discovery! We encourage you to discuss these topics with your children at home to reinforce their learning. If you have any questions about the science curriculum, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Best regards,
Daniel Fittler
Leader of Learning - Science