College News
Step Day 2021 - Welcome Year 7 of 2022
Our Stage 3 Transition Enrichment Program for 2021 was held on Tuesday, with students from a variety of schools attending. The students have been able to participate in a variety of activities across the KLA's. It has been a great day for our Year 7 of 2022 to get to know one another and get acquainted with the College and all it has to offer.
SO MUCH FUN: The Year 6 students had a great time getting to know our College.
Lasallian Youth Leaders Announced
As part of our wonderful Prayer Celebration this morning which commemorated 200 Years of Catholic Education in Australia, our LYL's were presented with their badges.
Thank you for offering yourselves to serve others at O'Connor this year. Your efforts don't go unrecognised. Thank you and congratulations.
Our LYL's for 2021:
Emily Lockyer
Matilda Brown
Oscar Shepard
Ned Maurer
Heath Maurer
Joshua Urquhart
Connor Miller
Fletcher Schultz
Thomas Bible
Lara Windred
Judah Flint
Thomas Honeysett
Joel Croft
Lauren Fenton
Alex Shepard
Grace Everett
Lila Bolger
Mia Brotherson
Breanna Donnelly
Imogen Hale
Jordan Blanch
Bridie Giles
Angus Scrivener
Emma Gray
Ben Jones
Zac Walters
Prayer Celebration
O'Connor held a Prayer Celebration last Monday to commemorate 200 Years of Catholic Education in Australia.
" We don't know for sure what happened during the day when students gathered in a Catholic school in Parramatta in 1821. Nor do we know the details of events twenty-eight years later, not far from here, in a small rough building in what we now know as Beardy Street where the first Catholic school in Armidale was. But almost certainly, in both places on those days, the students and teacher would have said the prayer that all Christians have said for nearly twenty centuries, the Lord's Prayer."
The College Leaders led a moving ceremony which also featured the reading of a special prayer from a prayer card handed out to all staff and students, the presentation of LYL badges and the first performance at the school of the song 'Faith in the Future'. This song was performed by Nick Troon and Melanie Sampson and was written by Fr Rob Galea & Luke Batterbury especially for the celebrations this year.
Emily Meehan attends Texstyle Presentations in Sydney
TEXTILE RECOGNITION: Emily receiving a certificate of participation in the 2020 Texstyle Exhibition form President of the Technology Educator's Association, Toni Robinson.
"This design is a two piece costume for Rapunzel. The garment is intended to be used in theatrical performances and then displayed in an exhibition. I have used 100% silk fabrics as they are rich in quality and have many properties that are suitable for costume. The German dirndl is one of my central inspirations for this design as this was the form of clothing in the period and setting that Rapunzel was written in the Brothers Grimm collection of fairy tales in 1812. The colour scheme for my garment is split complementary with amethyst purple and deep emerald green symbolising the plant in which Rapunzel was named after. The main dress is purple, composed of silk dupion. An innovative pattern has been block printed in an emerald green colour onto the main fabric and used for the centre front bodice panels. At completion of my project, I have learnt much about printing. The biggest challenge was to learn about new technology, specifically computers and the laser cutter. This challenge however, proved to be the biggest learning development for me and it allowed me to construct a costume that is irreplaceable. Gold dirndl eyelets have been stitched down the front bodice seams and a pink ribbon is laced through the eyelets across the bodice. The apron is composed of 100% silk satin and features a fitted waistband with a bow tied on the right hip. The apron is deep emerald green. This colour was my initial source of inspiration and an element that I definitely wanted to include in my design. The garment bodice is fully lined for a professional finish. I thoroughly enjoyed the creative processes of my Major Textiles project. My MTP was a labour of love and I very much enjoyed creating something from scratch and manipulating patterns to create something that is truly unique and something that I am proud of."
Twenty projects (out of approximately 1350) were selected for the 2020 Texstyle exhibition. The exhibition showcases some of the most amazing and varied projects that have been designed and constructed in HSC Textiles and Design. This event is held every year in Sydney, but due to COVID it was decided that a virtual display was the best way to present the projects and it certainly has not disappointed. The link is here for those interested in looking at the other spectacular works that were chosen for this year's exhibition: https://texstyle-exhibition.com.au/2021/
A huge congratulations to Emily who is so deserving of this award. She was committed to the job and just kept chipping away, despite the trials of COVID. The level of proficiency demonstrated in her Rapunzel Costume was excellent and the supporting documentation was outstanding.
The Textsyle Presentation was officially opened by Dr Paul Cahill, Director of Curriculum Operations at NESA. He spoke of the incredible passion, talent, creativity and innovation displayed by the students in the major projects.
An additional 14 projects were chosen for the SHAPE exhibition which is displayed at the Powerhouse Museum. Emily was nominated for this also.
GALLERY: Emily Meehan's major work and parts of her portfolio.
Year 7 (7.2) Pastoral Class
Mrs Healey's Pastoral Class has produce another great easter egg raffle this year. All proceeds go to O'Connor's Lenten fundraiser for Caritas' Project Compassion. 50c a ticket. Tickets available at the College office.
Z Club News
At our whole school assembly, on International Women's Day (8/3/21) we announced our Z-club leadership team for 2021. The roles are as follows:
- President: Grace Everrett
- Vice President: Brydie Giles
- Administration officer: Mia Brotherson-Moffitt
- Publicity officers: Jessica MacMahon and Alex Shepheard
Throughout the year this new leadership team along with our other Z club members will be partaking in many fundraising and other events, including the assembly of care packages. These care packages are made for the Armidale women's shelter, youth refuge, Vinnies and the police station. To create these care packages we rely on donations of small toiletry items particularly toothbrushes, mini toothpastes and face washers (please don’t bring in soap, as we already have plenty). Any donation of the above is greatly appreciated.
Our other main event of the year will be the fundraising and assembly of birthing kits. To make these kits, we need to purchase the required materials, which are sent to us in bulk and we then assemble the kits in the required manner. The kits include string for tying the umbilical cord after the birth, strong plastic for a clean and hygienic area for the birth, cotton gauze to clean the babies eyes, a blade to cut the cord, and a small soap for cleaning.
The club will be holding a cake stall and pizza day in term two to raise money for these kits (which cost us $5). We would love your support and any donation is gratefully appreciated. The kits were distributed via field workers in January this year to the following destinations: Congo, Uganda, Papua New Guinea, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, India, Haiti and South Sudan. We are making a difference and we are saving lives through our vital service project.
The Zonta Club of Armidale are very supportive of our club and always donate a considerable amount of money to this cause, and we would like to thank them for their continual guidance and inspiration.
International Women's Day
The OCC Z club, student leaders and a few teachers including Mrs Wooster and Ms Menz attended the International Women's Day Breakfast on Friday the 5th of March at the Armidale Bowling Club. At the breakfast we heard from the guest speaker Rianna Feenstra who is actually a past student of OCC. She spoke about the many inspiring women in her life and also about how she started her businesses and came to be the successful woman she is now. We also got to take part in the raffle and received a satisfactory breakfast too. The breakfast was a great experience and is recommended to all for the next International Women's Day.
Jess MacMahon and Alex Shepherd
Z-Club Publicity Officer