Letter from the Principal
What is Compassion?
I encourage any family thinking about enrolling students into our school to consider the school’s values. School values say a lot about what the school cherishes and aspires all to adopt and follow. Our values use the acronym of CHRIST. This is deliberate, as Jesus Christ is foremost what our school is about. Ultimately, we want all to come to know and follow the Lord Jesus. Jesus is the epitome of God’s love and through Him we have the forgiveness of sins and a right relationship with God. Is there any other person worth honouring?
The C in CHRIST stands for Compassion and this value is a wonderful yet challenging one to adopt. Compassion goes beyond mere pity, sympathy and empathy. Compassion is the gut response and action to do something about your pity, sympathy and empathy for someone else in need. When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them for they were like sheep without a shepherd (Mark 6:34). So what did Jesus do? He taught them and feed them. Jesus meets our spiritual, emotional and physical needs. Jesus’ act of compassion is what we want from our school community. As we become compassionate, we do what Jesus wants us to do and that is to show His love, care and help for others. Let’s wholeheartedly support this value in all that we do.
Coming Up at OCS
Term 3 is almost over!
- HSC Senior Music Showcase – 13th Sep
- Stage 5 Agriculture Farm Visit – 23rd Sep
- Operation Christmas Child Mufti Day Fundraiser – 26th Sep
- Year 12 Farewell Assembly – 27th Sep
- Final Day of Term – 27th Sep
- First Day of Term 4 – 14th Oct
- HSC Begins – 15th Oct
- Primary Musical – 31st Oct + 1st Nov
See Schoolstream for further details on these events
- 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
Deputy’s Report
Compassion in a question – R U OK?
Sometimes it is as simple as asking the question, R U OK? On Wednesday (11/9), our school community came together to celebrate R U OK? Day, as part of our Week of Wellbeing, an important initiative that encourages everyone to check in on each other and promote mental wellbeing. It was heartwarming to see both students and staff adorned in vibrant yellow accessories.
The day was filled with conversations aimed at fostering a supportive and compassionate environment. R U OK? Day aligns perfectly with our school’s core value of compassion and the teaching of Jesus, which encourages us to “love one another” (John 13:34). By actively engaging in these conversations and showing genuine care for one another. This day served as a powerful reminder that a simple question can make a significant difference in someone’s life.
As part of our Week of Wellbeing we also started a new initiative with a school community Prayer and Praise time on Friday morning. This was led by our Student Worship Team and was a great opportunity to come together as a school community to pray and sing together. Stay tuned for the next one in Term 4.
From the Head of Primary – Stage 2 and 3 Camp Photos Here!
The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to provide God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world by giving gift-filled shoeboxes to children in over 100 countries. As a school we are supporting this mission and encourage students to donate a gift to their class shoebox (or homeroom for secondary). The donations are due by the last day of term. A Mufti Day will also be held on the second last day of term, on Thursday 26th September, to raise money for the postage of the boxes. Please refer to the school app for all the dates and details.
Stage 2 and 3 students had very successful camps last week and we are very grateful to the parents who came along too. The students enjoyed many exciting and challenging experiences, and both camps ran very smoothly due to the tireless efforts of the Stage 2 and 3 teachers and our parent volunteers.
From the Head of Secondary
So much coming up!
As the end of term is in sight, there is still lots happening in the life of Secondary. Please pray for our Year 11 students as they prepare to complete their end of Preliminary examinations ready to start Year 12 after the holidays.
Operation Christmas Child. This year, the focus for secondary is to collect items for children aged between 10 to 14 years old. We kindly invite all students and staff to contribute new items before the end of term. To support the postage expenses for the parcels, there will be a mufti-day on Thursday 26th September.
Year 12 Farewell Assembly will take place on Friday 27th September in the Hall at 9.30am. Please join us as we celebrate Year 12.
Senior Music Showcase – Tonight!
From the Director of Student Development – Year 9 Urban and Work Experience Photos Here!
Week 6 was a MASSIVE week at OCS. We had over 250 students, teachers and parent volunteers on camps and at work experience. Stage 2 had a great time at Ridgecrest overlooking Burrendong Dam. A highlight I hear was shooting nerf arrows at Mr Choi and catching up with an old friend of OCS, Mr Phil Snitch who is working there now.
Stage 3 tried a new campsite for us, the CCC site at Mt Victoria. By all accounts it was a great site, with lots of good food and the theme of “On the Mountain” reflected in the studies on the Sermon on the Mount.
Year 9 were at Urban Experience. They camped at Cockatoo Island including a MasterChef challenge of ‘hunting and gathering’ in the city then preparing their meal at the camp kitchens. A poignant highlight was the visit to the Jewish Museum in Darlinghurst including a talk from a Holocaust survivor.
A huge thank you to the employers of Orange who took our Year 10 students on Work Experience. We heard may good reports of how our students reflected well on themselves, their families and our school with their work ethic, good questions and positive approach to the week.
Musical Update – The Little Mermaid Jr.
It’s getting closer!
This term has been filled with intense scene work as we prepare for our upcoming production. Weeks 7 and 8 will see students rehearsing the final scenes of “The Little Mermaid Jr.” In Week 9 students begin full run-throughs with the whole cast, and the excitement is building! Our primary students have been hard at work, crafting decorations and perfecting their song and dance routines for the show. Parents and carers may feel like “Poor Unfortunate Souls” as they hear the rehearsals echoing through their homes, but their support is truly appreciated. Meanwhile, Mrs. Drummond and Mrs. Denham are drowning in bringing everything “Under the Sea” to life. We can’t wait to share the magic with you all!
Keep your eye on Schoolstream for ticketing information in the coming weeks.
Congratulations
Recently several OCS students completed the audition process for the Orange Regional Conservatorium 2025 Scholarship Program.
Congratulations to Eleanor Buchanan (Year 9) who was awarded the Senior Strings Scholarship and Eliana Edwards (Year 9) who was awarded an Ensembles Scholarship.
