KLA News
This fortnight we hear from the English, Science, TAS, CAPA and PE Key Learning Areas.
CAPA - Creative and Performing Arts
Year 8 Prepare for Battle of the Bands!!
Year 8 have started the term preparing for their epic Battle of the Bands competition at the end of the term! Students have been working with their teachers to use their knowledge of interpreting forms of notation from YEar 7 and 8 music to prepare and present a final performance for their peers, teachers and school community. Students will be working on ensemble skills including team work, communication and commitment, gaining real life performance experience. We wish 8.2 and 8.3 luck with their preparations, and look forward to seeing you rock out at the end of the term!
Year 8 Band
Miss Suann's Year 8 Band had their first rehearsal of the term last Friday and were sounding great. It's the first time they have had the opportunity to rehears the full band this year due to previous COVID restrictions. Lallina Ward has just joined on bass guitar which the band is very excited about.
Drama
OCC Drama has been busy getting ready for the Armidale Eisteddfod at the start of week 4. Students from 7-10 will be performing in a variety of performances including Space Jump, Monologues, Group Performance and more. Families are welcome to come watch at NECOM 16th and 17th May Evening performances starting at 6pm, entry is $5 per adult.
We wish all students the very best and look forward to sharing their achievements on the facebook/instagram pages.
School of Rock!
The cast and crew of School of Rock sacrificed 3 days of their holidays for intensive rehearsals, held at our performance space in the Pavillion at the showground. Students worked with Director Mrs Killen, Assistant Director Miss Plane, Music Director Miss Roache, Vocal Coach Miss Suann and Stage Manager Miss Sampson, as well as our dedicated and talented affiliated Jock Sweeney (Graduated 2021), Kate Frazier (Graduated 2015), Ehan Boshof (Graduated 2021), Nikolia Tursan D’Espaignet (Graduated 2021), Grace Heagney (Graduated 2019), Meg Lawry (Graduated 2021) and of course our leads Nick Troon and Georgia MacMahon.
Meet the Affiliates…
Ehan and Nikolai!!
Nikolai
My main roles are Jeff Sanderson, the artistically enthusiastic announcer/official of the ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition; and Gabe Brown, a bad tempered English/history teacher at Horace Green Prep. My debut into musical theatre was in the 2018 OCC production of High School Musical as part of the ensemble, but I have experience in theatre since 2010.
I returned to O’Connor to participate in perhaps my last OCC musical production, and as a last memory of my great time as a student.I’m looking forward most to the excitement of performing and where my passion for acting will take me, hopefully into a career in screen acting.
During rehearsals, I have been reminded of so many memories I have of OCC but out of all of them, my best memories would probably be the atmosphere and participation at the school carnivals and growing my relationships with my teachers and peers.
Ehan
My main role is SoR is as Mr Mooneyham - the neglectful father to one of the child leads. I first got into theatre by participating in the Ben Venue yr6 play Peter Pan - as Peter Pan. From then on I have actively participated in school drama activities and enjoy watching musical style films.
Since leaving O’Connor I have recently become an activities officer at the PCYC where I help out wherever I’m needed.
I came back to OCC for my last play as a high school student. One last hoorah.
I am most looking forward to the wild fun of the OCC performances, hoping that my last one will be just as awesome as the rest.
Sam and James!
Sam Frazier - Class of 2018
What is your role in SOR?
Ned Schneebly
How did you get into musical theatre?
I have always loved everything music related, and also love nothing more than being the centre of attention whenever possible. So the idea of putting both of those together, and getting a few days off school was enough to convert me to a love of musical theatre.
What have you done since leaving OCC?
Since leaving OCC I have moved to Sydney to study Environmental Engineering at the University of New South Wales.
Why come back to OCC?
Some of my best memories from my time at OCC was doing Annie and HSM, so when approached about coming back for SOR I had to say yes.
What are you looking forward to most?
Seeing the new generation of OCC students take on the challenge of putting on a musical, and seeing if they are as good as we were back in the day.
James Wood - Class of 2018
What is your role in SOR?
My role in SOR is behind the scenes primarily in the lighting of the show. I’ll be rigging and running the lights throughout the production.
How did you get into musical theatre?
Funnily enough I got into it because I wanted a couple of days off from school helping with the showcase “Don’t Stop Believing” in 2013. I enjoyed it so much that I kept working on shows until my first musical in 2015 which was “Legally Blonde” with ADMS. After that I was hooked.
What have you done since leaving OCC?
After taking a gap year I began studying a Bachelor of Secondary Education majoring in Mathematics at the University of Newcastle in 2020. At the beginning of 2022 I moved to Sydney, continuing my degree at the University Of Sydney.
Why come back to OCC?
I’ve always loved coming back to Armidale and I always loved working on productions at O’Connor so when the opportunity arose to come back and work on SOR I jumped at it.
What are you looking forward to most?
The pure excitement you feel when a performance is about to start. Nothing compares to that feeling of anticipation.
English
Miss Lauren Donnelly
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 some classes exploring the tale of ambition gone too far ‘Macbeth’ and others, 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 ‘English and the Experiences of Travel’.
March Writing Competition Winners
It was great to see so many students compete in the March Writing Competition. All students had to use the writing prompt provided to compose a narrative piece between 700-1000 words long.
The following students won their Year level and will be presented with their certificate and prize at the next school assembly.
Year 7 - Laura Lidgard
Year 8 - Skye Barley
Year 9 - Zachary Hale
Year 10 - Lilli Blake
Year 11- Roie Wood
Year 12 - Jean Boshoff
PDHPE
O’Connor PDHPE students in Years 7-10 have been busy training and preparing for our upcoming College Athletics Carnival on Friday the 20th of May. Students have been practising the following events:
Throws: Shot put, discus and javelin
Jumps: Long jump, triple jump and high jump.
Track: 1500m, 800m, 400m, 200m, 100m and 4x100m relays.
Pictured below are the weights students will throw for shot put, discus and javelin on Carnival Day:
In the videos below you can see Miss Clydsdale’s Year 7 PDHPE class practising discus:
Science
This week in Mr Fittler's Year 7 Science class, students were busy analysing the stretching of rubber bands to see when the theory of Hooke's Law would apply.
TAS
O'Connor Technology teams up with Precious Plastics Australia to reinforce the importance of recycling plastic.
O'Connor recently purchased a plastics recycling machine from Precious Plastics Australia (PPA).
in the words of PPA:
"We're creating disruptive design to positively impact the planet, striving for better outcomes for traditionally non-recyclable products, and providing accessible, local manufacturing solutions Australia-wide."
The new machine and associated products such as plate mould allows students at O'Connor to recycle old milk bottles (HDPE) and milk lids (LDPE) into usable products and materials that can then be used create new designs.
It is already being put to good use by Yr 12 HSC DT student Tommy Nguyen who is designing and creating a range of kitchen utensils from recycled plastic. Tommy's aim is too also raise awareness of the importance of recycling plastics to prevent them ending up in our oceans and landfill.
O'Connor also purchased a jenga block mould with the O'Connor logo to start making class sets of this popular game. It is hoped that the recycled plastic products produced will be used in a number of technology classes including textiles, DT, STEM & food technology.
Mr Hawthorne, Mr Fittler, Mr Kelly and Tommy Nguyen recently attended a training course with Precious Plastics to understand how to use the new recycling equipment effectively.
In the words of the PP presenter he described O'Connor as being a "trailblazer" as the College is one of the first schools in Australia to undertake such a project.
In the coming weeks some exciting news will be released about a house competition to collect milk bottle caps for recycling.
Year 10 Agriculture
On Tuesday this week, Mrs Price's Year 10 Agrculture class were busy branding cattle. Some of the students were pleased to show off the roosters and some herding was also needing to be done. Keep up the good work Year 10.
Year 7 Wood Technology
Mr Fulloon's Year 7 Tech class was busy this week making bird boxes. The projects involved many aspects of creating a product with wood. Well done Year 7.
Year 7 Food Technology
Mrs Healey's Year 7 class we busy making loaded baked potatoes this week cooking the potatoes in the microwave. Mrs Healey explained that as most of the vitamin C in a potatoe is just under the skin, unpealed potatoes are the healthiest option.
