Letter from the Principal
Welcome back to Term 3
Each term of school has its particular joys and challenges. For me, Term 3 denotes a significant milestone for our Year 12s, who are in their last stretch of schooling. Using an Olympic analogy, if schooling was a 100-metre race, the Year 12s are in their final 7.7 metres – so close to the finish line! Please keep our Year 12s in your prayers, in particular, those who are completing major works and preparing for their Trial HSC exams in Week 5. Term 3 also includes our Parent Teacher interviews (Week 3) and this is an important time to connect with your teachers and ascertain your child’s progress and growth.
Lateness and absenteeism
The school is currently reviewing student lateness and absenteeism which is concerning. I am not referring to occasional lateness due to one-off occasions, rather the habitual lateness of students which is starting to impact their learning and engagement at school. School preparedness, assisted by pre-planning the night before, aids student’s willingness to be at school. I ask our school community to consider the start of each day, as a crucial part of learning. Students who are on time, at the start of the day, tend to have a mindset that is more organised and form habits that appreciate deadlines and eliminate procrastination.
I pray that each student starts the term well, and I look forward to each one growing in their faith, and character.
Coming Up at OCS
Lot’s happening in Term 3!
Orientation to Christian Schooling Evening\xA0– 7th Aug
CSSA Primary Girls + Mixed State Netball Gala Day – 8th Aug
Primary Boys CSSA Top 8 Soccer Gala Day – 8th Aug
Semester 2 Parent Teacher Interviews – 13th + 15th Aug
Primary Inter-School Debating at KWS – 15th Aug
Parent Forum (topic TBC) – 20th Aug
OCS Book Parade – 23rd Aug
CSSA Primary State Athletics – 23rd Aug
Primary Read-Aloud Picnic – 23rd Aug
HSC Trials Begin – 26th Aug
CSSA State Secondary Athletics – 29th Aug
Primary Inter-School Debating – 29th Aug
Father’s Day Breakfast – 30th Aug
Year 10 Work Experience – 2nd – 6th Aug
Stage 3 Camp on the Mountain – 4th-6th Sept
Year 9 Urban Experience – 4th-6th Sept
Stage 2 Ridgecrest Camp – 5th-6th Sept
If you’d like to volunteer to be a part of one of our camps, please\\xA0see the note on Schoolstream titled “Outdoor Education and Camps” from July 24th and fill in the expression of interest form, we’d love to have you!
Please note that all volunteers for overnight camps MUST have a WWCC. If you don’t have one, you can apply for one\xA0here
STAR – Mon-Thurs from 3:15-5:00pm
Active Kids Club – Mon-Fri from 3:15-5:00pm
Primary Assembly – Friday Week A 9:30am
Secondary Assembly – Friday Week A 10:50am
Parent’s Connect in Bembooka – Friday Week A 8:45-9:30am (before Primary assembly)
Deputy’s Report
Christian Education Matters!
Christian education holds a vital role in Australia’s cultural landscape, especially at a time when there’s growing intolerance toward the gospel and those who embrace it. In the midst of a post-pandemic world and an increasing emphasis on humanistic ideals, we are deeply committed to understanding God’s word and seeking His promises in this new era. Our commitment is rooted in a steadfast hope in God and a dedication to living, loving, and learning with purpose.
During the Term 3 holidays, some of our executive staff had the privilege of attending the Christian Education National International Transforming Education Conference in Perth. The experience was enlightening, with sessions that delved into biblically sound teachings, innovative pedagogical practices, and inspiring leadership. It challenged us to pursue excellence in our practice and to create beautiful, transformative works that honour and glorify God.
In the final week of the holidays, our entire teaching staff gathered for a week of professional development. This enriching time allowed us to reflect on our identity as a school and strategize for the upcoming semester’s learning journey.
It was wonderful to welcome our students back on campus this week and hear about their holiday adventures. We look forward to seeing all parents during Parent-Teacher Interviews in Week 3 (August 13th & 15th).
Staff PD Week
Teachers are Learning!
Our teacher’s take their role as educators very seriously, and there are dedicated weeks throughout the year called Professional Development (PD) week which always fall in school holidays where teacher’s will gather together to learn. We have guests and experts in their particular field come in and train us and talk to us about how to be better educators, and better equipped to deal with the many and varied needs that our students deal with on a daily basis to support them and grow them academically, spiritually and socially.
We also value team bonding. School staff can have stressful jobs and get so busy that they forget to or don’t have time to build relationships with each other, which can sometimes result in a less than productive workplace because no one knows anyone very well, which in turn affects our students – your children! So, we always take time to have some fun together and let the hair down a little bit…..
From the Head of Primary
Welcome Back Mrs McKern!
We warmly welcome back Mrs. Sabrina McKern who has returned from maternity leave. Mrs. McKern will be teaching on 2M every Thursday and Friday and is excited to work with the students. We also extend our thanks and gratitude to Mrs. Caron McCoy for her dedication in stepping in last term, ensuring continuity and support for our students until Mrs. McKern’s return.
This term sees several of our Primary students showcasing their skills in the areas of music, speech, drama, and dance, as they enter Eisteddfod competitions or sit AMEB exams. We wish them all the best and commend their dedication and hard work in preparing for these events.
We love having parents involved in school activities, whether it be for regular help with classroom reading activities or one-off events like assemblies, excursions and carnivals. Please contact me if you would like to discuss further ways to get involved.
From the Head of Secondary
Stage 5 Art Show Coming Up!
Welcome back to Term 3! This term promises to be packed with exciting events. Don’t miss the Parent Teacher Interviews, an excellent opportunity to connect with class teachers and discuss your child’s progress.
Join us for the Stage 5 Art Show next Wednesday 7th August in the Learning Hub from 3.10pm-5pm as we celebrate our students’ creativity. The Senior Showcase on Tuesday 20th August will highlight the exceptional talents of our HSC Drama and Art students in the Music Room. The HSC Music Performance Night on Friday 13th of September at the Orange Conservatorium of Music promises an evening of spectacular performances. We look forward to seeing you at these events and sharing in the accomplishments of our wonderful students.
Spotto!
Kindness Culture for the Win!
Term 2 was another amazing time of many, many Spottos! It is a privilege to read through all the nominations and see the way our students are encouraging each other and building up our community.
Before we begin our Term 3 draws, it is time to announce our second SPOTTO LEGEND! This is for a student who over the term had been noticed displaying a wide range of top-notch Kindness Culture.
Congratulations to Avi Sadykova! She has been noticed demonstrating great service to others in a number of areas, including setting up for events and being considerate.
From the Director of Student Development
Camps and Careers
Is story telling important? We have so many stories in a community such as OCS. The joy we have from sharing our stories with others is immense. As we move into Term 3, we prepare for some of the most important events in our school life and there will be so many stories to tell. From Trial exams for Year 12, work experience for Year 10 and camps for Urban Experience for Year 9, To the Ridge (Ridgecrest) for Stage 2, and “On the Mountain” for Stage 3.
In Careers News: We had a visit from Defence Force recruiting team last Monday. Interested students from Years 9 – 12 were able to hear about potential career pathways from driving, to trades to degrees through ADFA and even nuclear submarines.
Work Experience: Most Year 10 students have secured work placements for the work experience week. A reminder for students to ensure they email the completed, signed forms to Mrs Sims before work experience starts.
Careers Conversations: the next round of Careers Conversations begins next week. I will meet with each Year 11 student for a short discussion of career options and post-school opportunities so that we can work together to help the students achieve their goals.
UAC: For Year 12 students
SRS application and offer dates.
- Application deadline: 16 September
- Student ratings deadline (in School Access): 29 September
- Course preference deadline: 1 November
- First offers released: 8 November (November Round 1)
- Conditional offers converted to unconditional offers: from 23 December (December Round 2)
UAC tip for navigating offers and preferences: Students should always prioritise their dream course.
From the Head of Learning Support and Enrichment
Who would have thought that preparing for the 2024 NCCD Census could evoke a range of emotions such as appreciation, conviction and compassion!
As I’ve worked through more than 80 Support Plans and 24 Health Care Plans, I’ve had an overwhelming sense of gratitude towards the many people who form the circle of care for students who need someone to walk alongside them. Simultaneously, I’ve felt a deep empathy for our students who are either experiencing some form of social/emotional distress or have some difficulty in learning. Added to this, I’ve felt convicted to continuously improve our systems and the support we provide.
The Academic Growth Centre (AGC)currently has ten Teacher Aides who not only carry out the roles below but also assist in providing exam provisions, keep record of student progress, and help wherever they can:
Alex McFadyen – HUB, in-class support and assistance with exam provisions
Kim Reilly – MiniLit, Numeracy, in-class support
Adam Osborn – MacqLit and Chaplaincy
Alison Nelson – In-class support, Intensive Reading Program, Chaplaincy
Laura Christian – MacqLit, Trampoline Program, in-class support and violin tutoring
Dylan Naveau – In-class support and sport
Michelle Oh – In class support
Kate St Julian – In-class support and assistance with YARC assessments
Liz Rumbold – STAR Program, in-class support, Mathematics for Secondary Students
Stephen Harberecht – In-class support
Thank you to the network of OCS parents and carers, teachers, teacher aides, volunteer readers and writers, the community of service providers, the DCJ and our school management team who work together to support our students.
May we continue to deepen our knowledge and understanding of conditions such as anxiety, ASD, ADHD and learning impairments, and may we, the larger circle of care, always remember that Jesus knows our students best – let’s keep praying for His wisdom and guidance regarding learning support.
We Need You!
Calling all reader/writer volunteers
If you, or someone you know is available to help as a reader/writer for our exams (no experience required- just a Working with Children Check), we always need help in this area. Please contact Cindy Hales on chales@ocs.nsw.edu.au and let her know when you’re available. Exams dates are as follows:
Term 3:
| HSC Trials | 26/8 – 30/8 |
| Year 11 Exams | 24/9 – 26/9 |
| HSC exams | 14/10 – 05/11 |
| Year 9-10 exams | 06/11 – 08/11 |
| Year 7-8 exams | 11/11 – 13/11 |
Apply Here for your volunteer WWCC.
Zone Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to all our competitors!
Tuesday morning was dark and cold as the bus filled up with Primary and Secondary students all excited to travel to Dubbo and represent OCS at the Primary and Secondary Zone Athletics Carnival.
There were records broken, PB’s smashed and a LOT of fun. More specific results to come, but take a look through our gallery for some great pics of our awesome kids.
101 Days of Kindergarten
The cutest day of the year – hands down
On the very first day of school this term, our Kindergarteners celebrated 101 whole days of big school!
It’s always such an amazing thing to see these shy nervous little puppies come into school on the first day of school, and then to see what a difference 101 days makes. Enjoy the pictures from the cutest day of our calendar at OCS!
