Around the KLA's - students and their learning
CAPA
Visual Arts
Year 8 were busy working away with clay on Monday this week. It is great to see what designs they come up with.
Music
Senior music students spoke to Ms Suan's Year 8 class this week about how they learn music and and the importance of good practice for a performance.
English
A new device that has been used in English classes recently allows students to hear how they sound when they read out loud. Great practice for any public speaking or perfecting their reading in general.
Around the English Classrooms
HSIE
Mrs Cherie Stossell
HSIE the LOTE faculty.
In the last couple of faculty reports, I have written about the value and importance of studying History and Geography. For this report, I have been researching the value of learning a second (or more!) language. All year seven students at O’Connor Catholic College benefit from our French language programme under the tuition of our highly skilled and experienced French teacher, Madame Champion de Crespigny.
Here is one of the many publications I found that list the extensive benefits of language learning in the 21st century world. This one is adapted from a list published by Auburn University:
1. Foreign Language study creates more positive attitudes and less prejudice toward people who are from different cultures.
2. Analytical skills improve when we study a foreign language.
3. Business skills plus foreign language skills make us more employable.
4. Learning about another culture enables us to gain a more profound understanding of our own culture.
5. Creativity is increased with the study of foreign languages.
6. Graduates often cite foreign language courses as some of the most valuable courses in college because of the communication skills developed in the process.
7. International travel is made easier and more pleasant through knowing a foreign language.
8. Skills like problem solving, dealing with abstract concepts, are increased when we study a foreign language.
9. Foreign language study enhances our opportunities in government, business, medicine, law, technology, military, industry, marketing, etc.
10. A second language improves our skills and grades in math and English.
11. Many jobs in the modern world are created as a result of foreign trade.
12. Foreign languages provide a competitive edge in career choices: we can communicate in a second language.
13. Foreign language study enhances listening skills and memory.
14. We can participate more effectively and responsibly in a multi-cultural world if we know another language.
15. Our marketable skills in the global economy are improved if we master another language.
16. Foreign language study offers a sense of the past: culturally and linguistically.
17. The study of a foreign language improves the knowledge of our own language: English vocabulary skills increase.
18. The study of foreign languages teaches and encourages respect for other peoples: it fosters an understanding of the interrelation of language and human nature.
19. Foreign languages expand our view of the world, liberalises our experiences, and make us more flexible and tolerant.
20. Foreign languages expand our world view and limit the barriers between people: barriers cause distrust and fear.
21. Foreign language study leads to an appreciation of cultural diversity.
22. Language learning prepares us for an increasingly multicultural society.
23. We are at a distinct advantage in the global market if we are as multilingual as possible.
24. Foreign languages open the door to art, music, dance, fashion, cuisine, film, philosophy, science…
25. Foreign language study is simply part of a very basic liberal education: to “educate” is to lead out, to lead out of confinement and narrowness and darkness.
Mathematics
Mr Mark Harris
Maths Excursion to St Mary of the Angels Guyra
Last Tuesday some of our top Mathematicians in Year 10 at O'Connor traveled up to Guyra to run some maths activities with St Mary of the Angel's students. Everyone had fun and made the most of the learning opportunity. The leadership shown by each and every Year 10 O'Connor Student was amazing!
See the Year 10 PAC report for some student reflections of the day.
PDHPE
Ms Camila Clydsdale
This week in PDHPE we have continued our preparation for our College Athletics Carnival. We look forward to witnessing some great results today!
In PDHPE theory lessons Yr 7-10 have been working on the following topics as part of learning this term:
Year 7: Turn Around A Put Down (Relationships & Bullying)
Year 8: Fit for Life (Lifelong Physical Activity and Nutrition
Year 9: Eat, Sleep, Train, Repeat (Nutrition and Lifelong Physical Activity)
Year 10: The Party (Drugs, Alcohol & Road Safety)
A reminder for all students that for every PDHPE practical lesson you need a College hat and correct OCC sports uniform please.
PDHPE Department Electives Information
Year 8 into 9 Subject Selections
Students are able to elect the following subjects for Yr 8 & 9:
PASS
Child Studies
Yr 10 into 11 Subject Selections
Students are able to elect the following subjects for Yr 11 & 12:
PDHPE - Personal Development, Health & Physical Education
CAFS - Community and Family Studies
EEC - Exploring Early Childhood
SLR - Sport, Lifestyle and Recreation
VET - Fitness
For more information on the above subjects ask your PDHPE Teacher or visit:
https://www.educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/stage-6-learning-areas/pdhpe
GALLERY: Students have been fortunate to have great weather for outdoor activity. Last week Year 9 were completing training in all Track and Field disciplines and the weights gym continues to be a popular source of exercise.
Science
Mr Daniel Fittler / Mrs Lilly Moar
Year 8 have been working hard to complete their Independent Research Projects during the past few weeks this term. Students have had the opportunity to choose an area of Science to study in depth. Some of the real life questions that students have been investigating include: How permanent are permanent markers?
At what angle does a solar panel produce the most electricity?
What factors affect the transpiration rates of plants?
The Science teachers are looking forward to finding out more about these real word problems through reading the students reports.
DISCOVERY TIME: Ms Menz and Mrs Moar's Year 7 Science class learning about the impacts of forces.
TAS
CO2 Dragster Action
The finals of the Year 10 CO2 iSTEM unit was held last Thursday in the Benilde Indoor Street. The CO2 Dragster unit, called CO2 due to the carbon dioxide cylinders that hurtle the aerodynamically designed dragsters down the 20m track in a second, is the first project in the Yr 10 iSTEM course.
The CO2 Dragsters facilitate the learning intentions of the unit which are;
- to collect, organise and analyse data
- use a variety of technologies including CAD & CAM to assist in investigations into engineered solutions
- utilise various hardware and software technologies to solve a broad range of STEM based problems
In this unit of work students produce a CO2 Dragster. Through a range of design, experimentation and testing procedures students are set the challenge of creating a CO2 Dragster with a balance of velocity, durability and aesthetic features. Throughout the design, development and practical creation of the project, students will expand their knowledge of Science, Technology and Mathematics as they collaboratively improve and apply their content knowledge to practical problem-solving situations.
Ultimately we focus on these BIG questions;
How can we use qualitative and quantitative data to evaluate engineering design ?
What factors can affect speed?
What factors can affect quality?
How can mathematics and science concepts assist in design solutions?
The “Show & Shine” section where the dragsters are peer assessed on their aesthetic qualities involves collecting qualitative data.
In the “Dragstrip” section of the course the students collect quantitative data about their dragsters.
CO2 POWER: Dragster racing in action
History was created with the same winner and runner up in the drag racing and the show and shine sections.
Ben Harris won the final over Madeleine Rice with a time of 1.266 seconds.
As mentioned Ben also won the show and shine section with Madeleine also being the runner up.
The fastest time recorded for the day was Hamish Gerard 1.04 seconds.
The one second barrier has only been broken 3 times in 5 year history of CO2 racing at O’Connor.
In the “Show & Shine” section Ben Harris' dragster was judged the aesthetically most pleasing car, followed by Madeleine Rice.
The Year 10 iSTEM class is looking forward to starting their new units on drones and robotics for the remainder of the term .
Year 8 Technology Sustainable Engineering
Mr Healy's Year 8 Technology class were busy on Thursday testing their engineering structures. It was quite a spectacle and full of anticipation, to see when a structure would fail under the weight placed above it.
Agriculture
After noticing sheep being moved to the northern part of our Agricultural Farm, Mrs Chapman decided it was a nice day to take some photos. The students love helping Mrs Price out on 'the farm'.
Year 9 Food Technology
Year 9's practical class involved producing shepherd's pie. It is great to see our students being so involved in what they are doing and collaborating together to get the job done. Well done Mrs Healey and Year 9.
