As we look forward to the upcoming Father’s Day Breakfast (Friday 30^th August), it’s a wonderful time to reflect on the essential role parents, particularly fathers, play in our children’s education and overall development. Studies have consistently shown that children with involved fathers (and mothers) are more likely to excel academically, develop better social skills, and exhibit healthier behaviour.

Steve Biddulph, a renowned Australian psychologist and author of “Raising Boys” and “Raising Girls,” emphasises the profound influence fathers have on their children’s development. To paraphrase, he implores, a father who is there, who is involved and interested, who models what a good man is, changes the lives of his children forever. Moreover, the impacts on their child’s education are enormous. This powerful concept underscores the role fathers play in shaping the future of their sons and daughters. It is fantastic that we can celebrate our school dads and important father figures in Week 5. As a Christian school we also acknowledge that this can be a difficult time for some and so we are thankful that we have a heavenly father who is the perfect father, showing us love and kindness despite our failings.

School Community Prayer and Praise Time: On Friday 13^th September at 8:30am, we invite all families to come together for a time of prayer and praise. This event is a wonderful occasion to build a sense of community and shared purpose, reinforcing the support system that is so vital for our students’ growth and well-being.

Steve Biddulph is an Australian author of books such as “Raising Boys” and “Raising Girls,” which offer valuable guidance on nurturing and supporting our children through every stage of their development.

The OCS Book Parade is fast approaching and will be held next Wednesday 21^st August. All Prep to Year 6 students are involved in this morning. It will commence at 9:30am in Ngalgarra Hall and we warmly welcome parents, carers, grandparents and other family members to attend. This event will be followed by a morning tea picnic in the top playground area, and we hope you are able to join us. This annual event is always a highlight for many, as we promote the importance of reading and the joy that children can find in it. There is a note on the app with all the details.

All the best to those Primary students who are competing at the CSSA State Athletics next Friday in Sydney. We have a large contingent eligible who will be representing our school, and we look forward to hearing about their efforts, achievements and personal bests. Many thanks to Mrs Buckerfield who will be accompanying the students.

Hot off the press – Congratulations to our Secondary Debating Team: Hannah Reilly, Julia Vas, Megan Huntly and Jaimee Tandang who competed in the Mayor’s Cup Debating competition as a part of the council’s ‘Local Government Week’. They victoriously took home the Mayor’s Cup and a special shout out to Julia who also won the Kerri Parkes’ Memorial award for the most outstanding debater. Well done girls!

A massive congratulations also to Aidan Wilson in Year 9 who has been selected for the ACT U/15 Boys Water Polo Team. He is set compete at National State Championships in the Gold Coast at the end of the term.

Please pray for Year 12 students as they prepare for their trial exams in Week 5.

A great start to term recognising Kindness Culture in Secondary! The Spotto box had many, many students acknowledged for the awesome things they are doing. It is truly encouraging to see students building each other up, supporting each other and serving in our school community. Congratulations to Willow Cooke and Eve Godfrey for our Week 1 recipients! We look forward to the next draw at the end of Week 3.

Integrity – Integrity is at the forefront of discussion in our society now. As a value it is at the heart of what we do as a school. It means different things in specific areas but is essentially about being honest about who we are and what we do.

Academic integrity means being truthful about what is my work or my idea. And what belongs to someone else. It has become so easy to use ‘machine learning’ or ‘artificial intelligence’ rather than each of us doing the ‘hard yards’ of research, thinking, analysis and creativity. It is attractive to think that a quick fix is a good fix.

As we work together, school and home, to navigate this change integrity is worth much more than any quick fix.

In career’s news, a group of OCS Year 9 & 10 Ag students have been involved in a TAFE AgTech program. They have investigated how technology can be used in agricultural settings. Last week they flew drones. This week using mini farm kits students had to problem solve to ensure automated processes for ensuring stock are fed, had access to water and integrating solar power.

As you can see from the photo’s the students are fully engaged in the program and focussed on making their ‘farms’ work. In two weeks time students will attend the Ag Research station on Forest Rd for a field day where they will be able to apply what they have learned.

This program is delivered by Regional Economic Development and RIEP/Training Services NSW under the Regional Investment Attraction Program, Targeted Workforce Development Scheme.

It is a true joy to serve in a Christ-centred school where we focus on partnering together in Christ. As this term began, during one of our staff devotions, Our Deputy Principal, Steve Price, reminded us that as believers in Christ, we have been chosen and sealed in the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:11-14). Reflecting on this, we see that God’s partnership with us is evident in Christ. As we remain in Him, we are called to partner with both God and one another, allowing His glory to flourish even more in the world.

At OCS, Christ is at the heart of our partnership with families, and it is a privilege to meet, connect and explore how we can share in this journey together. So far this year, we’ve welcomed 66 new lovely families from Prep to Year 12. We are eager to partner with even more families, and with placements for 2025 filling up quickly, we encourage you to inform any interested families to apply now.

The Olympics is at an end and many of us have been caught in its fever, inspiring many of our children to dream big. The tricky thing about dreams is that they are plans that you are working toward today. This odd combination typically leads to impatience. As a kid, you know that your dream is far away, and you don’t expect to wear the green and gold this minute. As we age, we get impatient for our dreams to come true in our desired time frame. We create a schedule for how we think our life should go based on our hard work. Our impatience often causes unnecessary anxiety and angst toward God.

Scripture shows us in Ecclesiastes that God has a time and reason for everything, a time for every activity under heaven; this includes our dreams. Our God is all-knowing. He does not conform to our timelines. He might instill in us dreams that we pursue, but that does not give us free rein to demand when or how God chooses for these dreams to play out in the life He gave us. As parents, it is important to encourage our children to lay their dreams at the feet of Jesus and choose to serve Him over themselves.

Pray together:

“God, You have our life in Your hands. You know how each day of our life will play out. Give us Your peace and patience so we do not rush our dreams. Let us not cast blame Your way when things do not go our way. Let us honour Your time, not pursue our own. Amen.”