School Activites
Year 12
The Year 12 cohort has had a busy start to the year. It commenced with the amazing support and 100% participation at the swimming carnival. We have had Valentine’s Day, with roses, songs and chocolates being shared. Year 12 have certainly been living the BE theme for 2017.
The University Roadshow travelled to O’Connor on Tuesday 28th February. Representatives and a couple of students fromSouthern Cross and Charles Sturt Universities spoke about the experiences of university life, including accommodation, costs and social life in a rural setting. The students were then able to ask questions and receive information about the courses on offer.
Learning is the focus at O’Connor, (goes without saying for Year 12) and attendance remains a huge indicator of student success in learning. To this end, Year 12 students are expected to be at school for morning pastoral and remain until their last period. We are encouraging students to remain at school during their study periods at the end of the day also, so that maximum learning can happen. They then have access to teachers, resources, quiet… Once they are home, other stuff tends to get in the way. To cater for study periods, a study timetable has been set up. Students have been allocated rooms where they can go, under teacher supervision, for some quiet study time and to get extra tuition where needed. This is a little flexible and I thank the students who contact me and let me know of any changes to this timetable.
A mentoring program has also commenced for Year 12 students. A group of teachers have been buddied up with a small group of students. It is anticipated that they meet up on a regular basis to see how things are going in regards to school life, other issues that may be happening at the time and just keeping an eye on general well-being of the students. To assist with this, I am offering hot chip Tuesday just to chat and mix with the year group (hard to know how many chips to buy☺) This will not be every week though.
Half Yearly Exams commence on Thursday 30th March. They will conclude on Thursday 6th April. Students should now be consolidating their study notes and practicing past papers in order to do the best they can. A study plan would be a good starting point to help get them become organised and prepared for these exams. It is important for them to remember that much of the focus, results and feedback need to be based on their individual growth over the next few months.
College Leaders will be attending an afternoon tea hosted by PLC on Tuesday 21st March from 4-5pm. This will be a good opportunity to meet and collaborate with leaders from other schools.
Friday 7th April is the last day of term, and Year 12 students will be expected to attend the events organised by the College, which includes the Stations of the Cross in the morning and the Cross Country in the afternoon.
This is not an exhaustive list of the life of Year 12, but I am tired just typing it all, so it is important that the students take time out for themselves and find a healthy balance to get them through this very challenging but exciting year. ☺
Vicki Channon
Year 12 Pastoral Academic Care Leader
Caritas Visit
A huge thank you to Semiti from Fiji who spoke to the O'Connor community today about the good works of Caritas Australia. Students have been given Project Compassion boxes to raise money for Caritas projects within Australia and around the world to assist and empower those in need.
Over Lent we encourage you and your family to "give up" something and place the money you would otherwise have spent into the Project Compassion box. For example you could give up dessert, pizza, chewing gum or even Facebook! These boxes will be collected at our Easter Mass, and Caritas Australia will use the money to fund their many projects.
Please refer to this link where you can watch the stories of people whose lives have been changed with Caritas.
http://www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion
Child Studies
Year 10 Child Studies are looking at successful weaning of a baby. Today in their lesson the girls looked at comparisons between home made food and store bought food. They taste tested all foods and did a comparison of home made VS store bought on taste, texture, nutrition, cost, convenience and wastage.
It was a great success and we are looking forward to their analysis.
International Women's Day Breakfast
Quota of Armidale hosted the annual breakfast in which 30 students from O’Connor attended last Friday morning. College Leaders and members of the Z Club, including our new executive team for 2017 enjoyed a bacon and egg breakfast. They also had the opportunity to hear inspiring words from guest speaker Head of Senior School, Mrs Anna Caldwell who spoke on the theme for International Women's Day 2017 #BeBoldForChange.
Anna spoke of the many women throughout history who have been brave and bold in their endeavours and achievements to help forge a better working world – a more gender inclusive world. Sappho, Cleopatra, Mary Magdalene, Marie Curie, Mother Teresa and Coco Chanel are just to name a few. A more contemporary counterpart, Emma Watson has inspired millions with her travels and advocacy for women and equal rights.
Local Armidale woman, Gemma Sisia (a past student of NEGS) has achieved amazing things due to her courage in making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. With only a $10.00 deposit in the bank and a dream of building a school in Africa for the poorest of children, she set about achieving this goal through hard work and determination. The School of St Jude’s is now a reality with over 1600 students being given the opportunity of an education.
Gender equality and equal pay is something Anna wants to see in her lifetime. Her message was that education was the key to assisting in this, along with the support of all our male counterparts.
Z Club members meet every month, usually on the last Thursday. Our projects include making personal care packages for the Women’s Shelters, Vinnies and the hospitals, the construction of breast care cushions for women recovering from breast cancer, and we raise money to fund the assembly of birthing kits, which are sent to developing countries so that women can have access to a clean and safer birth.
Elevate Program
The very successful Elevate Programs were held on Tuesday 7th March. The presentation for Year 12 focussed on the topics of ‘Ace your Exams’ and ‘Memory Mnemonics’. Steph, the enthusiastic presenter, worked with the students on the 10 steps to exam excellence. Some discussion involved the common mistakes in exam preparation, exam room behaviour, practicing past papers, staying organised and rationing your time. The second session was a guide for the forgetful and how we can remember. Factors included attention, encoding, semantic learning techniques, memorisation, and retrieval. It was really beneficial and the students took away a lot of really helpful hints.
Senior Maths Help
All Year 11 and 12 students are invited for group work and free tutoring for all maths courses. Every Tuesday afternoon from 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm. Room A17 and A16. Experienced HSC maths teachers are in attendance, even a previous O'Connor Principal. Sometimes we even have a treat to eat.
Stephen Chapman
Mathematics Coordinator
Preserving Rare Poultry Breeds
AvGen Poultry is an international poultry breeder that is endeavouring to preserve some of the worlds rarest poultry genetics. During the latter half of 2016 Sam Bible answered an expression of interest for schools to become involved. He was successful in having 2 breeding pairs assigned to the school. These birds arrived in early February and are now settled in to our breeding
program.
Glen Innes and Guyra Shows
"Not a Lot" Devon stud exhibited cattle at both Glen Innes and Guyra show. Twenty students competed in the Junior Judging events at Glen Innes including sheep, cattle grain and vegetables with great success. Winners included Karenna Dawson, Nick Graham, Megan Tisdell, Bethany Rhode, and Savanah Roberts. "Not A Lot" Haylee was champion Devon exhibit.
Guyra was the following week with O’Connor represented by forty students, again with significant success. Fifteen students were finalists with Will Schmude 1st in the Junior sheep judging, and Tom Smith winning the senior section with Nick.
Nick Graham was third, while Year 7 student, Joel Croft was a finalist in both events.
A very good effort for a first attempt.
Year 12 Primary Industries Students
Year 12 Primary industries students spent several hours assisting to set up the
animal sections of the show.
Armidale show is this weekend with the school again entering a large team.
Tree Planting
In between shows Agriculture students have been working with the Urban Landcare group to plant the Urban forest on the North side of Dumaresq creek.
Congratulations to a small band of students who spent almost two days assisting with this project.