Around the KLA's

 

CAPA

Miss Melita Roach

PHOTO: Charlie Fittler, Miss Melita Roach, Meg Lawry and Nick Troon providing music for our Cross and Dux Ceremony on Monday.

 

CAPA opportunities at OCC

There are big things happening at OCC in the arts this year. In preparation for our new performing spaces later in the year, we are offering a number of opportunities to all students to get involved NOW. 

 

DANCE 

Dance Club is back! We are so excited to welcome the dance club back to O’Connor. Dance Club will run friday lunch times in AG3, come and learn a variety of dance styles and techniques whilst having fun with your friends. All abilities and ages welcome.

Any questions please email; pbiddle1@arm.catholic.edu.au

 

DRAMA

Drama club will be running Break B every Wednesday. All welcome to come and join in the fun. 

 

MUSIC

Foundation Strings and Wind Scholarship 

There are still places available in our beginner string program for Violin, Viola and Cello, and beginner wind for Flute, Clarinet and Saxophone. 

Scholarships include:

  • Free instrument hire
  • Weekly 45 minute lessons at a reduced fee
  • All resources and repertoire
  • Unlimited support from the Music staff at OCC

Guitar Ensemble

Guitar Ensemble is open to all levels and abilities. Come along and learn the basics, or extend your skills whilst feeling part of a supportive and committed group. Don’t have a guitar? No problems. We will provide a guitar for you to get started. 

 

 

Choir and Vocal Ensemble

We are hoping to re-commence rehearsals for our OCC Choir pending Covid restrictions. We will keep you updated. 

For more information about how you can get more involved in Creative and Performing Arts at OCC, please see your teachers or email mroache@arm.catholic.edu.au 

 

PHOTO: Miss Sampson's Year 9 Music class practicing various rhythms this week in their practical class.  

HSIE

Mrs Cherie Stoesel

 

Welcome back to all in the O’Connor community to another great year of learning.  A special welcome to our year 7 students as they commence their secondary school studies.  The HSIE faculty has, as always, a fun-filled year planned for all years, having spent the Staff Development Days at the end of last year mapping our 7-10 Curriculum (see photo below).  To start our learning for the semester, students will be learning about:

 

Year 7 Geography: Landscapes and Landforms

Year 8 Geography: Water in the World

Year 9 History: The Industrial Revolution

Year 10 History: Changing Rights and Freedoms

 

GALLERY: The HSIE 7-10 Curriculum mapped out for 2021.

 

The HSIE staff are looking forward to working with all students in safe, respectful and caring environments as they move forward with their learning in 2021.

Mathematics

Mr Mark Harris

 

How exciting to see another year of learning begin in the Mathematics KLA at the college.

It is so important to have a good understanding of Mathematics and its application in the real world and that starts here at school.

Although we are only a week in, all students have made a fine start to the academic year in their Mathematics classes working closely with their teachers to move their learning forward.

Here are the focus areas in Stage 4 for the beginning of 2021. 

Year 7:  Computation with positive Integers and Number Theory

Year 8:  Algebraic Techniques and Indices

From Year 9 course pathways diverge based on the levels students are in but areas of study for this term include Measurement, Integers, Fraction, Decimals, Percentages and Rates and ratios.

Year 11 have just started their courses for 2021 and Year 12 have picked up where they left off at the end of term 4 last year continuing to work through the HSC topics relevant to there level of study.

The Mathematics Staff are looking forward to a great year of learning working with all students in the college in the only subject that counts!

PDHPE

Ms Camilla Clydsdale

 

The PDHPE department is excited about starting a new school year of learning! To kick start our learning this term students will be studying the following topics: 

Yr 7 Who am I and Fundamental Movement Skills

Yr 8  - Fit for Life and Fitness

Yr 9  - The Network and Striking Games

Yr 10  - Respectful Relationships and Modified Games

For more information about our department parents please read the following document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12Dm6QGIPaxU5tHPERbPyxZnNTR7GPcz8Suk5jXvdchk/edit?usp=sharing 

Religious Education

Mr Damian Roff / Miss Melita Roach

 

Martin Luther paid a visit to O'Connor yesterday for a reenactment of the nailing of his 95 Theses to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517.

This supported the learning of the Year 12 Studies of Religion class, bringing this aspect of the course alive and engaging.

Many thanks to Nick Troon for acting the role of Martin Luther as he was ex-communicated from the Church and banished from the realm of the Roman Empire by the Pope (Mrs Roff).

Science

Mrs Lilly Moar / Mr Daniel Fittler

 

It always brings joy to our hearts when we see bright and fresh faces filled with excitement for the opportunity that the new year presents as students return to O’Connor after the Christmas break, but this is especially true this year after the challenges that 2020 brought. The warm weather that we enjoy in Armidale in Term 1 allows for lots of different experiment opportunities and this is reflected in the units that students will be covering in Term 1. 

The units are as follows;

 

Year 7 - Filthy Filthy Water (learning about separation techniques and the particle model)

Year 8 - Energy (learning about the different types of energy and the conservation of energy)

Year 9 - Living forever (Learning about some body systems and ecosystems)

Year 10 - Evidence is Everything (learning about evolution and genetics)

 

PHOTO: There are always fun things to learn about in Science.  Mr Fittler's Year 11 physics class last year learning about projectile motion. 

TAS

Agriculture

 

On Tuesday, a number of the College's Agriculture students participated in the Grazag Elanco 76th Armidale Merino Ram Show and Sale  Armidale Exhibition Centre.

There were many ribbons awarded on the day. Well done to all those involved and thank you to Mrs Janet price who organised our College contingent. 

GALLERY: Lots of success at the The Grazag Elanco 76th Armidale Merino Ram Show.

Textiles

Year 9 and 10 Textiles students made fidget quilts at the end of last year. This was a great way to use up small amounts of fabric, but also students were able to learn new skills and place them into a small project rather than a big one. It also fitted in perfectly with caring for others in our community. The quilts provide the elderly with some sensory experiences as there are many tactile materials attached to the quilts. I am so pleased with the students for creating these. We delivered them (with the help of members from Vinnies) to Autumn Lodge. We look forward to seeing some photos of them being put to good use.

PHOTO: Year 9 and 10 Textiles Students (2020)