Around the KLA's - students and their learning
CAPA
Drama
Miss Elizabeth Plane
Year 9 Drama has started the term with all cylinders firing!
As a class we have been focusing on elements of drama and how they are effectively used in the fantasy genre. We have watched many clips from beloved fantasy movies and shows to help inspire us during our performing time. While there has been a huge literacy focus this term we are gaining our skills and confidence in putting ourselves on stage.
I like to give them a Tolkien of my appreciation.
Below are photos of us becoming frozen pictures that represent a scene in fantasy.
Miss Plane
HSIE
Mrs Cherie Stoesel
There’s more to geography than you think
When you think of geography, what comes to mind? Memorizing maps and capitals? That’s not all geography is! It’s actually much more. Geography is the study of humans and people through space, throughout time, and how those spaces have shaped history. It’s a fascinating field of study, and important too. There are so many reasons why geography is still a vital part of the curriculum. Here are just a few:
According to National Geographic, geography is the “study of places and the relationships between people and their environments.” So, you can already see that geography is much more than just studying maps and knowledge of country capitals.
Geography is all about connections of humans with spaces and places. Physical properties of the earth, such as mountain ranges and bodies of water, for example, can dramatically impact the way humans move, think and act. Geography seeks to understand how physical landscapes shape human history.
Geography can help us understand the planet’s movement, changes and systems. Topics that are relevant to today such as climate change, water availability, natural resources and more, are much easier understood by those who know geography.
Human geography is an important part of geography. Knowing the relationships between cultures, and why they exist at all is vital in our increasingly global world.
Taken from UOPeople
Mathematics
It has been Assessment week this week in Mathematics for Year 11 and 12 our senior students.
Year 11 sat their First task on Tuesday as a cohort in the examination centre. I was impressed with Year 11s attitude and the etiquette they displayed in this setting. This will certainly make a difference when they sit their final year exams later this year in Term 3.
Year 12 classes all sat for the second task in their respective courses this week. I know that results were wide and varied. I was impressed to see the effort students are putting into their study and seeking out help and assistance from our senior Mathematics teachers. Whatever result achieved there is much room for growth between now and The HSC and I encourage all students to focus in on the areas that have been highlighted from these tasks where further revision is required and put the effort in to make up the ground they need to here. Senior students should be supporting their study in Mathematics every day outside of the classroom if they wish to be successful.
International Mathematics Day
Last week we celebrated International Mathematics Day with challenge containing a series of problems for each year and staff. It was excellent to see the amount of submissions that came in and the level of skill demonstrated through the problem solving that occurred.
There was a separate problem for each year and staff. The first correct fully worked solution was awarded a prize. Congratulations to the following students.
Year 12 - Emelia Rice and Ehan Boshoff
Year 11 - Angus Scrivener
Year 10 - Caleb Dubios -Bender
Year 9 - Honey Cheema
Year 8 - Gabe Harris
Year 7 - Elizabeth Shepheard
The grand finale of International Mathematics week at OCC was a count to Pi competition with students reciting Pi from memory to a number of decimal places. This year the contest was hotly contested. Angus Scrivener successfully exciting Pi to 125 digits. The champion, however, was Alex Macmahon who recited Pi to an amazing 137 decimal places.
Well done to all involved.
MINDS IN ACTION: The annual Pi Challenge
PDHPE
Mrs Mellowship-Brown for
Ms Camilla Clydsdale
In preparation for our school Cross Country event during week 10, now would be the perfect opportunity for our students to start training. You can start to build your aerobic base by doing a run/walk plan. A good first week of running is to complete about 20 to 30 minutes total of jogging/running/walking three times a week. Be sure to space your training days throughout the week to give yourself a chance to recover and rest.
KEEPING ACTIVE: Year 9 were enjoying themselves on the oval last week with Big Ball Soccer and Cricket Skills
TAS
It’s Time To Rotate
At the end of next week all Stage 4 Technology classes will rotate. There are 5 technology classes in both Years 7 & 8, so each rotation lasts approximately 8 weeks. Each rotation represents a context area and all students in Stage 4 must experience a variety of different context areas. At O’Connor every student gets to experience the same technology areas as every other student, rotating to specialist areas with specialist teachers.
In Year 7, the rotations are “Protein Production” (Agriculture Technology), “Microbit Coding” (Digital Technology), “Light The World” (STEM, LED, Lasercutting Technology), “Farm To Fork” (Food Technology) & “Home Tweet Home” (Wood Technology).
In Year 8, the rotations are “Robo Rescue” (Digital Robotics Technology), “Wind It Up” (Engineering Technology), “Fantastic Food” (Food Technology), “New Earth Entrepreneurs” (Textile Technology) & “Toyworld” (Engineering & Wood Technology).
As you could imagine, things get very busy at the end of rotations with students eagerly trying to complete design projects and challenges.
Agriculture
Walcha Show
We exhibited our Devon Cattle at both Armidale and Walcha shows 2021. Armidale held an abbreviated show with only the cattle going ahead. Students benefited from the smaller show with many of our juniors learning the techniques of exhibiting livestock. Walcha had a full show with Junior Judging, sheep and cattle.
Thirty-five students attended for the junior judging. Congratulations to our Junior stock appraisal winners. Congratulations to our stud cattle show team, The Dodd family, Mitchell Northam, Abby van Eyk, Maddie Porter, Tiily Boxall, Hunter scrivener and Jack Saxby.
Border Leicester from Chain of Ponds:
1st Hain van Eyk
2nd Alex Baker
3rd Maddie Porter
Finalists:
Lillie Kelly
Sophie Mitchell
Chloe Inman
Nerstane Merinos
2nd Phoebe Donnelly
3rd Isabel Kelly.
Well done everyone!
GALLERY: Walcha Show had a great selection of categories to enter.
Armidale Show
Year 8 students Delilah Layton and Riley Sinclair competed at the Armidale Show in the horse program on Saturday. They took turns beating each other in a friendly competition in the Show Hunter Galloway classes.
Delilah and Linkwood Chesney placed 2nd in novice small show hunter galloway, 2nd in open small show hunter galloway, 1st in child’s showhunter galloway and then Champion small Show hunter galloway.
Perhaps Riley’s mum (Tanya Sinclair?) can contribute some photos and his results? I only have this photo of them both heading into the ring for their next class. I know he won the 2 events Delilah placed 2nd in and 2nd to her in the child’s galloway and reserve champion small show hunter galloway on ‘Drawcard’. There could have been other events he placed in but I’m not sure. I thought he picked up a champion in something too.
They have both also been competing regularly and very successfully at some other Ag/Hack Shows and Dressage competitions.
Step Day at the Ag Farm
Thank you to the student team who taught the year six students at the farm during step day. You were fantastic all day and brought great joy to our younger students.
From Year 7: Lilly Pearson Anna McClelland Hunter Scrivener Lilly Lorimer and Chelsea Curry.
From Year 8: Hayden Kratz, Monty and Shyan Dodd, Abby van Eyk, Tilly Boxall, Maddie Porter and Chloe Inman.
From Year 9: Phoebe Colvin, Emily Simpson, Will Starr, Mitchell Northam and Harrison Brazier.
From Year 10: Arlie Tanner Jack Danieli and Angela Ryan.
Our fantastic seniors: Harry, Makaala, Vanessa and Emma.
GALLERY: Year 6 students enjoyed learning about the Ag Farm from our O'Connor students.
Textiles
Year 10 Textiles have been very busy designing and making some new sewing machine covers for the Textiles creative space.
The students experimented with a common Japanese dyeing technique known as shibori first (similar to tie dye) to decide on the method that they wished to create. Rubber bands, marbles, chick peas, poly pipe and string were the various materials and equipment used to develop the various design ideas. We then learned about indigo dyeing, which was super cool. The dye bath was carefully made following the instructions. The fabric was immersed and agitated for a few moments. The magic then started to appear as the dyed fabric went from a greenish hue to a deep, dark blue. This came about because of the oxidation process.
Once dried and the rubber bands etc were removed, it was then onto the production of the machine covers. Fabric was laid and cut out using a pattern, and the students worked industriously and collaboratively to complete the finished projects using construction skills on the sewing machine and overlocker - some new skills for some who have joined us our class year. They have created a nice fresh look to the room. Well done Year 10TX students.
