College News
SRC Announcement!
PHOTO: Introducing our 2020 Student Representative Council
Last Friday morning during our morning PAC, the student body met in the College gym for the announcing of our new Student Representives.
Mary Poppins!
Preparations are continuing for this year's musical 'Mary Poppins'. Mrs Melita Roache has commenced music rehearsals and the main set pieces are nearly completed under the careful and watchful eye of Mr Watto Watson!
Year 9/10 Music Day at New England Conservatorium of Music (NECOM)
PHOTO: Miss Roache, Carmella Brown, George Bull and Blake Kong among some of the Year 9/10 students attending the music day at NECOM. (Photo: Simon Scott/ NECOM)
Last week, our Year 9 and 10 music students were fortunate to have access to the NECOM music day. We are lucky to live in a City where there are so many opportunities in so many areas of learning.
GALLERY: Years 9 and 10 music students making the most of a great opportunity at NECOM last Wednesday. (Photos: Simon Scott / NECOM)
Science and Engineering Challenge - UNE 2020
On Wednesday, a number of our College students participated in the Science and Engineering Challenge at the UNE.
The Science and Engineering Challenge (SEC) is a nationwide STEM* outreach program presented by the University of Newcastle in partnership with communities, Rotary clubs, universities and sponsors. Through the SEC, students experience aspects of science and engineering which they would not usually see in their school environment.
GALLERY: The students who attended the UNE Science and Engineering Challenge certainly tackled some interesting tasks!
RYAG SHEEP PROGRAM REPORT
by Makaala Dodd
Last week Ronald Boxsell and I were given the privilege to attend the 2020 RYAG Sheep program in Walcha, with 29 other students from around the New England. It was an educational week of learning about the sheep and wool industry from, a range of amazing and highly knowledgeable presenters. We visited and had the opportunity to see how the Walcha properties of Nerstane, Petali and Europambela all operate and the diversity and similarities they share within the sheep industry. Chook Healy gave us insight on Low stress Stock handling and how to implement it in order to ensure safer and easier transport and all around less stress for any stock movement. We also got to talk Merino Ram selection with Angus Carter. Overall it was an amazing experience. Ronald and I would like to sincerely thank all involved, especially Armidale Rotary for allowing us to participate in such a wonderful program :)
PHOTO: 2020 RYAG students.
GALLERY: All the happenings from RYAG 2020
Armidale Show Report
O’Connor Livestock team had wide ranging success at Armidale show over the weekend. Our superfine wool won Champion Novice Fleece, while our sheep entries won Supreme Exhibit in both wool and meat categories..
Not–A–Lot Cattle Stud also performed well winning several winners while the College Cattle team won the inter-school competition.
There were many other winners:
Cake Judging.
Senior
1st in class Brayden Davies
Champion Lucy Barley
Reserve Champion Amy Schumann
Junior
1st in class Jemima McKay
2nd in class Will Starr
!st in class Luke Rogers
2nd in class Isabel Kelly
Champion Luke Rogers
Reserve Champion Isabel Kelly
GALLERY: Armidale Show 2020 WIN:WIN
Pavilion entries
Aveline Dawes 1st in Intermediate portrait.
Ag Farm Beetroot Champion Junior Preserves and Most Outstanding School Exhibit - Ag Farm Beetroot
Wool
Of the 9 fleeces entered, 8 won ribbons including Champion Novice Fleece and Champion Childs Pet Fleece. This is a big tick for our merino breeding program.
Livestock Judging
Stockhorse
Junior
2nd Abby7 van Eyk
Intermediate
2nd Brooke Newberry
3rd Isabel Kelly
5th Ruby Mills
Ex student Hayley Mordue was highest point score
Meat Sheep
2nd Hain van Eyk
3rd Ben Jones
Merino Sheep
Junior
1st Tom Fittler
2nd Elijah Croft
5th Emily Simpson
Intermediate
1st Hain van Eyk
2nd Isabel Hine
3rd Alex Baker
Cattle
Junior
2nd Shyan Dodd
Intermediate
1st Chloe Rollan
2nd Phoebe Donnelly
4th Quinn Dalton
Fleece
1st Angela Ryan
2nd Sam Fittler
3rd Allie Carson
4th Jack Reddon
5th Charlie Piddington
Grain
3rd Zac Walters
4th Ben Jones
Vegetables
3rd Aaron Coop
4th Abby Jackson
Analiese Wark 1st Zone Final
Armidale and New England Showgirl!
The Showgirl competition winner for Armidale Agricultural Show this year was Hollie Giles (right). Her sister Freya who is in Year 7 at O'Connor, took home many awards from the pavilion for her honey (champion junior entry) and art entries.
A fabulous example of getting families involved in the show and the range of opportunities to show the talents of our community.
It should also be noted their Mum & 2 sisters were also spotted in the pavilion with entries.
PHOTO: (L to R) Freya and Hollie Giles. (Photo: Armidale and New England Showgirl - Facebook)
Japanese University Student Visit
The College was fortunate to have a visit from a group of Japanese university students. Our college students enjoyed handball and Origami making with the visitors.
GALLERY: From origami to handball. Lots of fun with our recent visitors
Archives News
PHOTO: (L to R) Caroline Chapman, Wendy Baker, Jenny Pigram and Anthony Kelly in the College Archives.
The College Archives holds a comprehensive collection of historical material from the De La Salle, Saint Ursuline and O'Connor Catholic College eras. Coordinated by Anthony Kelly, the largely donated collection is also maintained by volunteers Wendy Baker and Jenny Pigram. Last week an important item was acquired by the College Archives. This De La Salle College school badge is estimated to be from the 1940s and appears to predate our previously oldest badge in the collection. On Old Boy who recently spoke with Mr Anthony Kelly said that he thought it may have been a recognition of achievement such as a sports award. Maybe it was a prefect's badge? We welcome more information from our alumni to be able to determine an accurate timeframe for the badge's manufacture.
PHOTO: A school badge from yesteryear but the question is, which era?
Year 7 PDHPE
On Monday 7.3 were involved in testing and peer assessing Fundamental Motor Skills.
They did an amazing job and learnt a lot about body movements in performing simple skills like running, catching, jumping, throwing, leaping, dodging and bouncing a ball.
Well done!
International Women's Day Breakfast
- Hosted by Quota
A number of senior students from the College attended the Quota International Women's Day breakfast last Friday.
GALLERY: Quota International Women's Day Breakfast