HSIE

This term in year 8 French students have been learning to discuss animals and their pets. During our classes students have been learning to read, write and speak about animals in French. Here is a photo of year 8 responding to an image of an animal they are shown stating if they like or dislike it.

Students also had an opportunity to create some lost posters for their own pets or imagined pets. Here are some samples from Piper, Bella, Isabelle,and Christian

Year 8 has finished off the term by completing a film study of ‘Belle and Sébastien’ which is a film set in the French alps that explores the relationship between a young boy and dog during WW2.

Mrs Cherie Stoessel

Leader of Learning, HSIE

TAS

HSC Major Design & Technology Projects 2024

On Tuesday 17th September markers form NESA attended O’Connor to mark this year’s Major Design Projects.

The were confronted with a vast array of design solutions to some challenging problems.

Below is a photo summary of the projects.

Benjamin Fergusson. Multipurpose storage coffee table design

Max Lee. Optic fibre van ceiling installation

Benjamin Reinke. Custom rooftop boat loading system

Adrian Walters. Educational interactive plastic recycling system

Molly Burton Transportable woodfire pizza oven design

Angus Barley Custom diorama storage table

Hunter Booth. Farm basketball training system

Brayden Grieve. Remote control solar dog box

Sam Bailey: Infinity inspired coffee table design

Zoe Walters. Culturally inspired recycled plastic apparel

Thomas Fittler. Innovative hat stretching storage solution

Mr Jon Hawthorne

Leader of Learning, TAS

CAPA

2025 Arts Captain

Congratulations to Maya Teege who has been named as the next Arts Captain. I would also like to thank Lily Croft for all her efforts in the role of Arts Captain for 2024.

Year 12 Major Projects

Well done to all our year 12 students who have now completed and submitted their major works, from performances to paintings and ceramic works. We also have 2 students who are in the process of auditioning for studying music at university. We wish Ian and Max all the best for the audition process.

Festival of Bands

The O’Connor Concert Band performed at the Festival of Bands Concert over the weekend. Well done to all students who were involved in playing in all the different bands on the day.

New England Sings!

A reminder that the New England Sings concert is on 27th of October. Final rehearsals will be 23rd and 26th of October. For tickets please book here

Learn an Instrument

If anyone is interested in learning an instrument please find the enrolment form here. We have partnered with NECOM to offer private instrumental lessons which can be organised to be taught at school or at NECOM.

Miss Melanie Sampson

Leader of Learning, CAPA

PDHPE

It is that time of year again when students elect their subjects for the new school year. The PDHPE Department has a number of electives students can choose for the new school calendar year.

Our Year 8’s going into Year 9, and our 9’s going into Year 10 for 2025 can choose from the following PDHPE Electives:

Child Studies
Physical Activity and Sport Studies (PASS)

For more information regarding these subject please explore the following resources that were presented to students:

PDHPE Stage 5 Subject Selection 2024

Child Studies

PASS

For our Year 10 students moving into Year 11 for 2025, the following information was presented to all students:

PDHPE Stage 6 Subject Selection 2024

For more information regarding any of these subjects please feel free to reach out to your child’s PDHPE, myself as Leader of Learning PDHPE or the College. We wish both you and your child the best of luck with their subject selections.

Miss Camilla Clydsdale

Leader of Learning, PDHPE

English

As the term draws to a close and the graduation of our recent cohort of Year 12 students, all students have been applying feedback and working hard in order to move their learning forward.

Throughout the course of the term, Year 7 English have been exploring informative, persuasive and discursive texts. Their learning task for this term focused on developing a persuasive article that focused on convincing a reader that video games are useful in the classroom and that social media can be harmful to our young people. They had utilised the rhetorical triangle and in particular, logos, pathos and ethos in order to create strong responses.

Year 8 English throughout the course of the term have been exploring Australian poetry, considering if the iconic ballads of Banjo Paterson reflect the current Australian context. Students have learned how to annotate poetry, focusing on a process that they had applied across all of their poems this term. Their learning task for this term was to use Dorothea Mackellar’s ‘My Country’ as inspiration to create an updated version in a multimodal response.

One of the most engaging Shakespeare plays, Macbeth has been the focus for Year 9 across Term 3. Throughout the unit they have been exploring the dramatic features of the text and how this has been utilised by Shakespeare to tell an engaging story. A character whose fatal flaw is his ambition and fate, Macbeth is heavily influenced by a prophecy of his future. The learning task for Year 9 was to create a dramatic script based on a fortune cookie.

Year 10 has been focusing on an author study of Neil Gaiman, which echoes the learning task that they have been working on across the entire term. Students were to select their own author, annotating texts of their own choosing and review this work. This provided students the opportunity to engage with a variety of texts and focus on developing their annotation skills before moving into senior English in 2025.

Congratulations to Year 11 students in completing their course and yearly examinations. Over the course of the year, students have been challenged in developing their analytical skills, annotations and critical and creative compositions. They have conquered the first challenge of sitting formalised examinations with a focus now on their impending HSC campaign.

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2024. Year 12 have completed their English courses and the English faculty wish them all the best for their impending HSC examination in October.

Ms. Lauren Donnelly

Leader of Learning, English

Science

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students,

As Term 3 comes to a close, we reflect on the exciting scientific journey our students have undertaken over the past few months. Each year level has engaged deeply with topics that not only expanded their knowledge but also encouraged critical thinking about the world around them. In this newsletter, we’ll provide an overview of what each year group has explored and celebrate the learning milestones they’ve achieved.

Year 7: Water Treatment and Purification

Our Year 7 students have become water experts, completing their studies on water treatment and purification. They’ve learned about the importance of clean water, how treatment plants operate, and the various methods used to ensure water safety. These budding environmentalists are now equipped with a solid understanding of water conservation and the steps we can take to protect this vital resource.

Year 8: The Science of Recycling

This term, Year 8 students transformed into eco-warriors, delving into the science of recycling. They explored how materials are transformed, the importance of reducing waste, and the circular economy’s role in sustainability. With this newfound knowledge, our students are now better equipped to make informed decisions that positively impact both the environment and society.

Year 9: Uncovering Energy Efficiency

Year 9 students have tackled the critical issue of energy efficiency, exploring different forms of energy and ways to reduce consumption. They investigated renewable energy sources and sustainable practices, laying the groundwork for their roles as future engineers and innovators in solving global energy challenges.

Year 10: The Fascinating World of Chemical Reactions

Year 10 students have delved into the fascinating world of chemical reactions, learning about the periodic table, chemical bonds, and the interactions between substances. Through hands-on experiments and investigations, they’ve gained a deeper understanding of the processes that govern chemistry, preparing them for advanced studies in science and technology.

Year 11 and 12: A Transition to New Challenges

For our senior students, Term 3 marked a critical transition. Year 12 students have completed their studies and are preparing for their upcoming HSC exams. This term has been about refining their knowledge and sharpening their skills. We wish them the best of luck and are confident in their ability to excel.

Year 11 students have wrapped up their preliminary courses and are learning from the results of their yearly exams. They will soon begin their HSC courses, embarking on a challenging but rewarding academic journey that will shape their futures.

As we conclude Term 3, we are proud of the growth, curiosity, and determination displayed by our students in their scientific studies. We look forward to continuing this journey with them in the coming terms.

Thank you for your ongoing support in nurturing the scientific minds of our students. Together, we are creating a brighter future for science!

Mr Daniel Fittler

Leader of Learning, Science

Maths

As we draw close to the end of another great term of academia in the Mathematics KLA I would like to thank all staff and students for their efforts.

Here is a very brief run down of proceedings over the last couple of weeks of term 3.

Year 7 have been working through their introductory measurement unit. Such an important part of Mathematical knowledge we all rely on and use each and every day.

Year 8 have been working through a unit of study on Rates and ratios culminating with its application to scale drawing and building plans.

Year 9 has been learning about quadratic equations and parabolic relationships and all the fundamental skills to do with expansion and factorisation.

Year 10 are learning about the trigonometric strand of measurement and its many applications to real world phenomena.

Year 11 have just completed their Final course examinations. There were some superb results across the Mathematics classes. I take this opportunity to congratulate all the students on the success they have achieved here. Remember the key to improvement is keeping a growth mindset and showing grit along the way. Taking a series of continuous small steps towards building your capacity to achieve.

Year 12 end their official schooling this week with the HSC exams to go next month. I would like to extend my best wishes to these fine young people.

I will leave you with some action shot’s from Mr McCann’s year 7 Maths class last week getting hands on with metric conversions!

Mr Mark Harris

Leader of Learning, Mathematics

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