This week we hear from the Science, TAS, CAPA & PE Leaders of Learning

CAPA

What's been happening in the Art room?

Year 7

Have been busy developing an understanding of the elements art and putting their new knowledge to the test first in 2D form with a sample of each element.

And then in the creation of 3D self portraits in clay. Learning about proportions and how to use different techniques for effect when hand building sculptures.

Clay heads are being packed into the kiln ready for firing.

Year 8

Have been challenging their design skills to create functional Pop Art inspired ceramic mugs. Using a range of build techniques including pinch pots, slab and coil to bring to life their ideas from popular culture.

And applying their drawing and painting skills to delve into the world of abstraction, creating beautiful fish inspired images.

Year 9

Year 9 are in the process of creating contemporary self portraits, exploring a range of 2D media allowing them to experiment with techniques and symbolism.

Year 10

Have been exploring the Surrealist art world creating works that challenge the our view of the world.

Year 11

Have just completed their first mini major work, wowing us with their creativity as they explore the theme of Duality in 2d and 3D.

Year 12

Are busy working on their major works for the HSC.

Roie Wood

And exploring the traditional and challenging artworks on offer at NERAM

Drama

Eisteddfod News

On Saturday (27th May) the drama club participated in the Armidale Eisteddfod.

First, thank you to Josephine Ryan who performed in the Junior space jump due to a last minute cancellation. Eliza Clayton, Payton Steward and Bernadette Ryan did amazing in their first space jump at the eisteddfod and the team walked away with first place.

The afternoon saw O'Connor go from four entries to two due to covid. Riley Fittler, Lilly Edmonds, Joesphine Ryan, Maya Teege and Jessica Ferris competed against each other in the senior space jump competition. Thank you to Riley and Lilly who performed in the other group to allow all students a chance to get on stage. The team of Lilly, Maya, Josphine and Riley won the section with a score of 83.5 while the other team was 83.0. It was a close call.

The last performance was the same students performing a group piece called "Boy who cried genie," a comedy piece with plenty of Improvisation moments. The group scored 86 walking away with first place an excellent achievement.

Remember students can still join the drama club - Break B Wednesdays in L24 (top of La Salle Building)

Music

Welcome to our new music teacher Mr Bruce Myers. Mr Myers joins us after spending many years teaching at Duval High and Armidale Secondary college. He is a multi-instrumentalist, specialising in brass and voice. Thank you to Mrs Caroline Chapman who filled in at the start of the term working with our junior music students.

Year 7

This term students have been learning to play the keyboard and guitar. They have also been learning to compose and play their own music. The year 7 enrichment class have also been working on learning some pieces as a class ensemble to perform at the Eisteddfod and Founder’s day

Year 8

This term students have been learning to play Pachelbel’s Canon on Keyboard and Guitar as well as working towards playing this piece in small groups.

Year 9

This term yr 9 have been exploring the topic of Australian Music and are currently working in small ensembles to perform at the eisteddfod and founder’s day.

Year 11 and 12 Music

At the end of Term 1 our senior students held a performance night, with year 12 performing their core HSC pieces and year 11 Music 1 performing a percussion piece as an ensemble. This term our year 11 students have been working on their composition assessments and year 12 working on their elective projects (performance, composition or musicology). They are also been working towards performing pieces at the eisteddfod and Founder’s Day

Eisteddfod:

Term 2 is a busy term for our Performing Arts students preparing for the eisteddfod. Congratulations to all our students who have participated in the eisteddfod to date:

Composition Sections

Maxwell Buckland, Samuel Russell, Ian Berney, Olivia Fenton, Maya Teege,Valentia Veliz

Piano Sections

Max Buckland, Laura Lidgard, Tahlia Burney

Vocal Sections

Maya Teege, Marisa Suluma, Lily Croft, Isabelle Murphy and Keyman Seymour

Choir Sections

Vocal Ensemble

Speech and Drama Sections

Laura Lidgard, Rachel Ward, Madeline Cowley, Annabel Westwood

New England Championship

Maxwell Buckland

Good luck to the following who are performing over the next week:

String Sections

Eowyn Gorry, Olivia Fenton and Sofia Martin.

Band Day

years 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12 class and co-curricular ensembles.

Woodwind and Brass Sections

Laura Lidgard, Corin Cowley, Ian Berney and Mr Myers

We look forward to seeing some of these amazing performances at Founder’s Day later in the term.

PE

PDHPE Year 11 SLR

On Tuesday the 30th of May, our Year 11 SLR class went on a bush walking excursion to the Pine Forest. The current unit this term is Outdoor Recreation, students are learning about natural navigation, flora and fauna and the different recreational activities you can do outdoors. During our excursion to the Pine Forest students examined different types of Flora in the area as well as looking at the different types of birds within the forest. The students had a wonderful time on their excursion.

Miss Lily Fryar

On behalf of the PDHPE KLA

Science

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students,

We hope this newsletter finds you well, as we are delighted to share the exciting progress our students have made halfway through the school term. The grounds of our school have been buzzing with the exhilaration of scientific discovery, as each year level has delved into captivating realms of knowledge. Let's take a glimpse into the fascinating world of science that our students have been exploring!

Year 7: Unraveling the Mysteries of Forces at a Distance

Our budding scientists in Year 7 have been hard at work unraveling the fundamental principles of forces. They have mastered the foundations of forces and are now eagerly diving into the realm of forces that act at a distance. The captivating topics of gravity, magnetism, and electrostatics have been explored, captivating their curious minds. Through engaging experiments and interactive lessons, our Year 7 students have embraced the wonders of science.

Year 8: Chemical Compounds and the Power of Student Research

In Year 8, our students have embarked on a fascinating journey through the world of chemical compounds. They have honed their skills in distinguishing between chemical and physical changes, as they witness the transformative powers of chemistry. Moreover, our Year 8 students have been given a unique opportunity to conduct their own student research project. This empowering experience has nurtured their scientific curiosity, encouraging them to explore their interests through experimentation.

Year 9: Discovering Patterns in the World of Chemistry

Year 9 has been an exhilarating year for our students as they dive deeper into the intricate patterns of chemistry. From periodic table trends to various reaction types and atomic configurations, our Year 9 scientists have embarked on a quest to unlock the secrets of the molecular world. Through engaging demonstrations and collaborative projects, they have been able to make meaningful connections and develop a deeper understanding of the subject.

Year 10: Unleashing the Power of Motion and Wave Physics

Our Year 10 students have been exploring the captivating world of motion and its profound impact on our daily lives. They have skillfully applied Newton's Laws of Motion to real-world scenarios, specifically focusing on car crashes and strategies to minimize the risk of injury during collisions. In the upcoming weeks, they will delve into the realm of wave physics, discovering the intricacies of transverse and longitudinal waves. With an emphasis on electromagnetic and sound waves, they will embark on captivating research projects to further expand their scientific horizons.

As educators, we are proud of the passion and enthusiasm our students have displayed thus far. Their thirst for knowledge and eagerness to explore the marvels of science is truly inspiring. We encourage you to foster their curiosity by engaging in conversations at home, supporting their endeavours, and encouraging them to seek answers to their own scientific inquiries.

We are thrilled to see what the second half of the term holds for our young scientists. Thank you for your continued support in nurturing the scientific minds of the future.

Sincerely,

Mr Daniel Fittler

On behalf of the Science KLA

TAS

NEW Golden “TECHMAN” Awards for Stage 4 TECHnology MANdatory

After a meeting earlier this year the TAS (Technology & Applied Studies) Faculty decided that would like to acknowledge some of the excellent work being done in Stage 4 (Years 7 &8) Technology Mandatory classes.

Stage 4 (Yrs 7 & 8), Technology Mandatory engages students in design and production activities as they develop solutions to identified needs and opportunities. Through the practical application of knowledge and understanding they learn about Agriculture and Food Technologies, Digital Technologies, Engineered Systems and Material Technologies. (NESA Syllabus Document)

At O’Connor we facilitate NESA’s requirements by rotating students through a number of technology courses over 2 years. Currently Year 7 have 4 Rotations, (10 weeks each), which include:-

Wood Technology “Home Tweet Home”, birdhouse design with Mr Mark Fulloon
Food Technology “Farm To Fork”, with Mrs Anne Healy
Agricultural Technology “Protein Production” with Mrs Janet Price &
Digital Technology , “Digitech 1” with Mrs Rachael Galvin

Year 8 have 5 Rotations, (8 weeks each), which include:-

Engineering Technology “Wind It Up” with Mr Jon Hawthorne
Wood Technology “Toyworld” with Mr Nick Bolger
Textiles Technology “New Earth Entrepreneurs” with Mrs Vicki Channon
Food Technology :Fantastic Food” with Mrs Anne Healy &
Digital Technology , “Digitech 2” with Mrs Rachael Galvin

Year 7 Award Recipients to date:

7 Wood Technology “Home Tweet Home”, Emily Calkin & Oliver Starr,

7 Food Technology “Farm To Fork”, Indi Sherriff & Tom Fergusson,

7 Agricultural Technology “Protein Production” Hamish Jeffers & Charlotte Streeting

7. Digital Technology , “Digitech 1” Eloise Williams & Hunter McDonald

Year 8 Award Recipients to date:

8 Engineering Technology “Wind It Up” Faith Cochrane, Meredith Howell & Alex Marsh

8 Wood Technology “Toyworld” Poppy Stace, Charlotte Williams & Richard May

8. Textiles Technology “New Earth Entrepreneurs” Sienna Cohen & Andrew Blair

8 Food Technology :Fantastic Food” Montana Hayes & Lily McFarland

8. Digital Technology , “Digitech 2” Rachael Ward & Mikayla Foster

An example of the first batch of Golden TECHMAN Awards designed & created at O’Connor using our laser cutting machine

First Yr 8 recipients of the Inaugural Golden TECHMAN Awards

Year 10 Textiles have completed their practical projects from Term 1. The design brief was to design and produce a textile art piece that brings the viewer to a 'experience of country'. The concept was taken in different ways, leading to some amazing results, as seen by the beautiful projects.

Here are some pictures of the cushion covers that Year 8 Technology have just completed for their second rotation.

Jon Hawthorne

LOL Technology & Applied Studies

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