Letter from the Principal
R U OK?
I thank our wonderful staff and supportive families in their work in preparing our Year 12 students, camps, work experience, and activities for our upcoming Prep 20th year celebrations. My thanks also to those involved in the recent OCS Fundraising Event, R U OK day and Father’s Day breakfast. If you missed the Fundraiser, then you missed out on seeing me in a disco themed costume! On R U Ok day, the lovely Prep class came and visited me and wanted to ask if I was OK? Thanks Prep team for highlighting the importance to ask everyone, even us adults, it was a real encouragement and made my day!
Staffing updates
I would like to update the School Community in regard to some staffing changes.
We farewell:
Mel Collins is resigning from her role as Head of Secondary. Mel is moving back to Newcastle to be closer to her friends and family at the end of the year. Mel was initially appointed as CAPA Coordinator and brought much joy and love for her subject and towards the students she taught. In a short while, Mel stepped into the Head of Secondary role and was keen to care for staff and bring a strong sense of welfare to all the students. Mel’s contributions towards CAPA, Musical program and Missions were enormous. Our Musical offerings are of a high standard, and the Mission opportunities provided to our students are life changing. I am particularly grateful for Mel’s faithful presence, as well as her creative ideas, caring and easy-going and often humorous nature. May God continue to use her mightily for his glory.
Leonie McCarronis retiring. After many years of teaching and pouring out her heart to the kids she teaches, Leonie is deserving of a well-earned break. No doubt, God has other plans for her, and we will miss her gentle and kind influence upon the whole school. Her love and care for the kids are a testament of a life in service of our Lord Jesus. We are privileged to have had Leonie teach alongside and be a colleague amongst us. We know Leonie will continue to be around our school as a parent and grandparent.
We welcome:
We welcome:Claire Smith will join us in 2026 as Chaplain and Academic Support Officer. Claire has extensive experience as a camp leader and trainer for CRU. CRU camps is a vibrant teen ministry that shares the Gospel to camp attendees throughout the year. We look forward to Claire joining our team next year and ministering amongst our students.
Drew Hocking is well known to us currently serving as Academic Support Officer. Drew will now take on some responsibilities as Chaplain. Drew is keen to utilise his training and experience (Social Science Degree) and minister alongside our students. Drew will commence in Week 7, Term 3.
Marina Melnichuk, Trishie Castvan, and Claire Bate. All three have joined the Prep team in various roles. We look forward to their contribution to what is already a well-established team, contributing to the high standard of care and support for our Prep children. Chaplain and Academic Support Officer. Commencing in Week 7, Term 3. Drew is well known to us and is keen to use his training (Social Science degree), experience, and gifts to get alongside students in a more targeted pastoral role.
Community news
Passing of Nick Griffiths (Class of 2009). Nick recently died in a tragic accident. Robert, his father was once the Orange Baptist Pastor and member of the OCS Board. Our prayers go out to his family, and to his friends and loved ones.
Passing of Charlie Kirk. Many in our community are grieving the news of Charlie Kirk’s death following a targeted shooting earlier this week. Some of you may have seen discussions and footage circulating on social media platforms. Please be mindful that this content can be distressing and, if you haven’t viewed it, we encourage you not to.
As Christians, we believe that violence in any form goes against God’s good design for the world. Every human life is sacred, created in His image. Acts of violence are not moments for division but for deep sorrow. Charlie was a husband, a father, and a man who spoke with conviction. Whether or not one agreed with his views, his passing is a sobering reminder of the brokenness in our world.
In times like these, our response is not to retaliate but to seek empathy, respect, and compassion. Jesus calls us to love even our enemies and to pray for those who oppose us. We grieve with Charlie’s family, his community, and a nation once again wounded by senseless violence.
As a school community, we pray for peace, for justice that heals as well as restores, and for many to find in Christ the only true source of comfort and hope.
Coming up at OCS
A few more weeks to go!
- Dudley Debating Competition – 15th Sep
- CIS Primary and Secondary Athletics – 16th Sep
- Business Studies Excursion to Luna Park – 18th Sep
- Prayer and Praise Morning – 19th Sep
- Leadership Induction Assembly – 19th Sep
- Prep 20 Years Celebration – 19th Sep
- Year 11 Exams – 22nd – 24th Sep
- Secondary Social – 24th Sep
- Operation Christmas Child Mufti Day – 25th Sep
- Year 12 Farewell Assembly – 26th Sep
- Last Day of Term 3 – 26th Sep
- First Day of Term 4 – 13th Oct
- NAIDOC Assembly – 13th Oct
- HSC Exams Begin – 14th Oct
- Prep Orientation – 25th Oct
- Kindergarten Orientation – 3rd + 5th Nov
- STAR – Mon-Thurs from 3:15-5:00pm
- Active Kids Club – Mon-Fri from 3:15-5:00pm
- Primary Assembly – Friday Week A 9:15am
- Secondary Assembly – Friday Week A 10:30am
Deputy’s Report
Music News
City of Orange Eisteddfod
Over the past three weeks, many OCS students have proudly represented our school in the City of Orange Eisteddfod, showcasing their talent, teamwork, and growth as musicians.
- Secondary Concert Band performed in the 18 Years & Under Senior Instrumental Ensemble section, playing with confidence and demonstrating their continued development as an ensemble.
- Advanced Strings competed in the Open Secondary School Age (3 – 5 players) Ensemble section, delivering a beautiful performance that earned them first place.
- Secondary String Ensemble took part in the Open Secondary School Age (6 or more players) Ensemble section, performing at an exceptional level and achieving first place against other highly accomplished school ensembles.
- Secondary Choir sang in the 18 Years & Under Senior Vocal Ensemble School Choir section, giving a strong performance and placing third.
- Primary Stage 1 and Stage 2 Choirs sang in the Open Stage 1 and Stage 2 Primary School Choir sections. Each choir represented OCS with pride, singing with joy and energy. The Stage 1 Choir received second place, while the Stage 2 Choir placed third.
Congratulations to all students involved – you performed with excellence and truly reflected the dedication, growth, and teamwork shown throughout the year. A heartfelt thank you also goes to our music staff, who have invested countless hours in rehearsals and preparation to make these opportunities possible.
In addition to our ensembles, many individual students also entered solo sections of the Eisteddfod. Well done to every performer – you have gained valuable experience in public performance and should be proud of how you represented both yourselves and OCS.
A special mention goes to Eleanor Buchanan and Nate Johnston, who both achieved outstanding success in the Senior Scholarship sections. Eleanor was awarded the Senior String Scholarship, and Nate received the Senior Piano Scholarship. Each scholarship includes $1000 towards their instrumental tuition – a remarkable achievement!
Orange Regional Conservatorium Scholarships
We are also delighted to celebrate the success of several OCS students who recently auditioned for the 2026 scholarships with the Orange Regional Conservatorium. Congratulations to the following recipients:
- Francis Buckingham-Jones (Year 5): Ensemble Scholarship
- Lucinda Denham (Year 6): Junior String Scholarship
- Nate Johnston (Year 7): Male Voice Scholarship
- Abbie Buchanan (Year 9): Senior Piano Scholarship
- Emily Metcalfe (Year 10): Senior String Scholarship
These scholarships are a testament to the students’ dedication to their craft and the vibrant music culture we are blessed to foster at OCS.
From the Head of Primary
Operation Christmas Child shares God’s love in a tangible way by giving gift-filled shoeboxes to children in need across more than 100 countries.
As a school, we are excited to support this mission and invite students to contribute a gift for their class shoebox (or homeroom, for Secondary students). A list of suitable items can be found in the note on the school app. All donations are due by Friday 19th September.
To help cover postage costs, we will also hold a Mufti Day in the final week of term on Thursday 25th September. For a gold coin donation, students may wear appropriate casual clothes.
Please see the school app note for full details.
From the Head of Secondary
We are looking forward to several special events this month in our Secondary School calendar. On Friday 19 September, we will induct our new Senior Leaders for 2026, on Wednesday 24 September, our Year 12 students will host the Secondary Social, a fun evening for students to connect and celebrate together. The following day, Thursday 25 September, we will hold an out of uniform day to raise funds for Operation Christmas Child. Families and friends are warmly invited to join us on Friday 26 September at 9.30am in the Hall as we farewell our outgoing Year 12 class.
Please pray for the upcoming Year 12 HSC Music Performances and for our Year 11 students preparing for their Preliminary exams in Week 9.
Week 6 Camp Wrap-Up
Stage 3 – Canberra + Year 9 – Urban
Stage 3 Canberra
The Stage 3 students visited Canberra from the 2nd to the 5th of September, going to many political areas including Parliament House, Government House and the High Court of Australia. My highlight of the camp was laser tag, complete with suits and arcade games while you waited for your turn. We also went to Questacon, the National Museum of Australia, the National Botanical gardens and the Rotary Peace Bell.
Molly Barr (Year 5 student)
Year 9 Urban
“Camping” and “city” are not usually associated, but when it comes to the Year 9 Urban Experience — and the camping is on Sydney’s idyllic, historical Cockatoo Island — then the combination makes sense.
Making their base the permanent campsite on the northern foreshore of Cockatoo Island, Year 9 students swapped the regional surrounds of Orange for the salty air (and squawky seagulls!) of Sydney Harbour. The experience began with a harbour cruise on the ‘Tribal Warrior’ ship, providing our students with an understanding and connection to some of the history, traditions, and stories of Aboriginal people who first called the shores of Sydney home.
Day 2 began with a visit to the Sydney Jewish Museum where students were honoured and humbled with a private session with Paul Drexler, a Holocaust survivor whose story is a powerful testament to resilience and remembrance. Following this, students were led in small groups on a guided tour of the museum, witnessing original artefacts, memorials, and stories to commemorate the six million Jewish people who were murdered. Having previously studied Nazi Germany and the Jewish Holocaust in their history lessons, this opportunity to have a tangible, personal experience of these atrocities was powerful, and important in ensuring that future generations of Australians will strive towards greater tolerance and love despite our differences.
That afternoon, students competed in ‘Urban Teams’ in a city-wide scavenger hunt, selecting from various target locations and challenges (each being worth different points) with the intention of being the victorious team. Utilising the entire Sydney public transport network — and a fair amount of walking! — students enjoyed the game.
I’m very grateful for the staff and parent volunteers who attended, and for staff who prepared and supported us from OCS, who enabled a safe, enjoyable, and meaningful experience for our students.
Trivia Fundraising Update
Fundraising Results
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone in our school community who joined us for our recent Trivia Night fundraiser. It was such a wonderful evening, full of fun community building and friendly competition, and it was made all the more special by the generosity and enthusiasm of those who attended.
A special thank you also goes to the many local businesses who kindly donated prizes and auction items. Your support made the night even more exciting and helped us reach our goal. Together, we were able to raise over $3000, which is a fantastic result.
The funds raised will be used to purchase a new drinking fountain and bottle refill station for our students, a lasting and practical addition that will benefit the whole school community. We are so grateful for the way everyone has come together to support this project.
Our Donors
Businesses
Nestle Purina
Cricket NSW
BnB Made Easy (Night in Nashville)
Golden Bowl Chinese Restaurant
Gracie’s at 4Pines Restaurant
Sugar Mill Café
Lawn Tips
Totally Workwear
Iko Iko Hair
Forever Beautiful Souls
Jenny’s classroom
Chocnotes
Chloe Gray Alterations
Robbie Mortimer
The Sweet Hive
Apix Photography
Coffee Link
Contemporary Homes
Laurie O’Brien Equipment Finance
Seven Miles Coffee
Mortimer’s winery
Whitey’s Pies
Individuals
Louise Childs
Rosa Cunial
Jaimie Honeysett
From Careers and Leadership
Year 10 Work Experience
Year 10 students completed work experience in Week 6. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to have a taste of vocations they may choose for the future. We had students go to Blayney, Bathurst, Sydney including the Sydney Youth Orchestra and Taronga Zoo. Closer to home students were placed in childcare centres, vet surgeries, with electricians and the local museum.
OCS offers our sincere thanks and gratitude to the many employers who were so accommodating of our students to offer them this wonderful insight into the world of work.
Leadership Interviews
We have been interviewing Year 11 students following personal nomination and recommendations form staff and students for Leadership of the school in 2025/2026.
This has been a very tough process as we have a field of very high-quality candidates. Leadership induction assembly is on Friday of Week 8.
University Applications and UAC
Many of our students in Year 12 have put in their applications to both UAC (University Admission Centre) and for early entry. Congratulations to those who have received first round early entry offers coming in from the universities. UAC ‘Early Bird’ closes at the end of September so I encourage all Year 12 students to register with UAC and make their preferences.
Sport Spot
A BIG congratulations to Jacob Price and Dimity Buckerfield who left Stage 3 camp early to attend CIS Primary Athletics Championships last Friday 5th September.
Dimity was competing in the Senior Primary girls High Jump &
Jacob was competing in the 1500m, 800m, 200m, 100m, High Jump and Discus.
Both students gave it their all.
A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS goes to Jacob who won his 800m event. Jacob loves this event and he proved why he loves it.
I know the OCS community stand with me in congratulating Jacob on progressing to the next level, where he’ll head to NSWPSSA Athletics in October.
In other exciting news our secondary students competed at CSSA Athletics at Sydney Olympic Park recently. Many PBs were achieved across the day with several top 10 places.
Congratulations to all students on making it to state.
Special congratulations goes to Charlie Reeks who had an amazing championship securing top 3 placings across 100m(3rd), 200m (2nd), shot put (3rd) and discus (3rd) and to Henry Kay who came 2nd in his 1500m. Both these Yr 7 boys will head to CIS Athletics on September 22nd.
Together we pray for a successful championship for all these young Christian athletes.
