French Revolution Cinquain Poem & Haiku by Darcy Speers, Lisa Walker, Lola Eaton & Laura Harvey
From the Headmaster
In April I attended the AHISA Heads conference for 3 days of workshopping and exploring the new world of Artificial Intelligence and its likely impact on the educational landscape. Professor Yong Zhao (University of Melbourne), states that;
‘... hopes and warnings about Artificial Intelligence or AI are growing. As AI-based computer programs, ChatGPT can write essays and DALL-E can generate artistic images. In other words, it seems that computers now can do human work, humanly creative work. While the technology will continue to grow more sophisticated for sure, conversations about the implications of these two creative AI applications have become wide ranging, affecting almost every aspect of human life, including education. For example, what should teaching of writing be like when machines can write? What is the nature of art education when machines can create art’?
One of the enormous shifts in education in the last 30 years has been the shift away from teachers being the source of knowledge, to them being the filters and interpreters of knowledge. Remember library assignments based on your ability to secure the ‘C’ World Book Encyclopaedia to copy out a paragraph on the ‘Crocodile’ and draw a picture in your project book?! If the ‘C’ book was missing, you ended up being an expert on the ‘Dingo’.
As recently as the 90s, school children were being taught how to find information and reproduce it. An enormous shift occurred in early 2000 when suddenly a student could access overwhelming amounts of information on any topic they pleased, but needed help to ascertain which information came from reliable sources and was therefore likely to be factual. Suddenly the craft of educating a child was one of helping them make sense of all the information they already had found rather than revealing it to them for the first time. I recall in my own teaching journey shifting my focus from revealing atomic theory for the first time to wide-eyed 16 year old chemists, to correcting incorrect thinking about the theory they had already ‘googled’. This shift was a relatively easy one for educators.
We stand now on the cusp of a whole new challenge in life, as well as education. Now, the question is not simply ‘is this information reliable, but rather ‘is this information human or machine generated? Oh the possibilities, but also, oh the possible pitfalls. There are already multiple stories of people being duped out of money, reputation and relationships by creative generative AI. Students murmur about others getting ‘AI’ to get their marks for them. Did you know that snap-chat has a built-in bot called ‘my-AI’? It observes your child’s actions and interactions and then offers to interact with them. The more the user interacts with the AI-bot, the more it ‘gets to know’ its user. It offers a ‘social interaction’ over social media when the user is between conversations with their humanoid friends. Your child didn’t need to turn this feature on, or even agree to it being there, it simply just… appeared, and offers to make friends with you… and you can’t turn it off.
AI is here to stay, and our world will be indelibly marked by its presence. In education, it will be unleashed in a powerful and creative way, but will require careful and thoughtful management. Traditional assessment forms like essays have been under attack for years, will this be the final straw? The art of writing a compelling CV, or a speech to win a debating competition, or a photograph to submit for the local show… all such creative pieces will now always need to pass the ‘is that human or AI produced?’
Right now, there is a sense of whirlwind in academic circles, and certainly a strong voice that calls for a ‘slowdown’ approach to embracing all things AI. Dr Lucinda McKnight (Deakin University) has made some very helpful commentary on the current attempts to provide a framework for schools to use with regards to AI;
‘ As experts in generative AI in education, we have moved from optimism to a much more cautious stance about this technology over the past 12 months. As UNESCO has recently warned, ‘the speed at which generative AI technologies are being integrated into education systems in the absence of checks, rules or regulations, is astonishing.’
There will be much more to say on this topic in the months and years to come, but for now, might I encourage you to converse with your children about where they’re seeing AI appear in their everyday lives? Opening up conversations and giving your little human a voice to show you where it’s popping up and how they’re dealing with it will ensure that should they feel uncertain, at least they’ll know you’re not just an ‘outdated human-bot’. Of course, if we as a school can help you in any way, or if you’d like more information around the current landscape of AI in schools, please do reach out.
Blessings,
Scott Hazelton
Acting Headmaster
Engagement & Wellbeing
Gratitude for our Mothers and Mother-figures
There is a difference between saying ‘thank you’ and being truly grateful for something or someone. Gratefulness takes practice and sometimes it is important to intentionally pause and think about what you are grateful for - for the things that truly matter. Our students practise this skill through our Pastoral Care Program and through practising the 7 Habits. They regularly identify parents as something that they are particularly grateful for. I wonder if they share this with you often?
On Friday 10th May, OAGS paused to think about and show gratitude to our mothers and the many other important female figures in our lives at the annual Mother’s Day Breakfast. It was a momentous occasion for our school community to come together and celebrate the wonderful gifts that our mothers provide and the many sacrifices that they make each and every day. It was inspiring to see the huge turnout (we even ran out of the second delivery of bacon and egg rolls!) and to see mothers, aunts, grandmothers and friends gathering around tables to chat with their children and with each other.
On behalf of OAGS, I thank all of our mothers and motherly-figures for their invaluable input in our school community.
Mrs Jessica Willis
Director of Engagement
Prep
Prep News
Prep News
The Power of Creative Art in Early Education at Orange Anglican Grammar School
At OAGS, we believe that creative art is not just an extracurricular activity but a pivotal learning platform in our classrooms. Our approach integrates art into the core curriculum, recognizing its profound impact on cognitive, emotional, and social development.
Recent research underscores the significance of creative arts in early childhood education. A study by the National Endowment for the Arts found that "children who engage in the arts are more likely to excel in academic performance, develop superior social skills, and exhibit greater motivation and self-esteem." This insight highlights the multifaceted benefits of incorporating art into young students' learning experiences.
In our prep school, students engage with various forms and elements of art, including painting, drawing, sculpture, and digital media. These activities are not merely for artistic expression but are designed to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Through art, children learn to observe closely, interpret their surroundings, and express their understanding creatively.
Additionally, we introduce students to the meta language of art, enabling them to articulate their thoughts and feelings about their creations and the works of others. Terms such as texture, form, colour, and composition become part of their vocabulary, fostering a deeper appreciation and understanding of art. This language development is crucial, as it helps children to communicate more effectively and confidently.
By integrating creative art into our curriculum, we provide a rich, engaging, and supportive environment where students can explore their creativity while building essential skills for future academic and personal success. We invite parents to support and encourage their children’s artistic endeavours, knowing these experiences lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
At OAGS we are committed to nurturing the whole child through the power of creative arts, preparing them for a bright and imaginative future.
Mr Bornen
Prep Coordinator
Primary School
Primary News
Primary News
The Power of Reading Aloud - National Simultaneous Storytime
The teaching of English is a core part of the Primary School curriculum. More time is devoted to teaching English than any other Key Learning Area. We know that success at school is largely enhanced by a student’s ability to read and write with clarity and fluency. Our English programs are designed to develop a love for reading in our students.
This Wednesday was National Simultaneous Storytime. Our Primary students joined others across the nation in reading the rich text ‘Bowerbird Blues’ by Aura Parker. Several classes also enjoyed completing activities with their buddies, enhancing the experience.
Reading aloud to children offers extensive benefits. It helps develop children’s empathy and social skills, expands their vocabulary and increases their knowledge of the world. As children grow and become more independent readers, often the frequency with which they are read to by adults decreases. As your children progress through Primary School, please don’t stop reading aloud and with your children. As illustrations decrease, the texts generally increase in complexity and the danger is that reading reluctance may creep in. Engaging in rich discussions about texts can help children access and enjoy increasingly complex reading material.
Here are some simple ways to help your child develop a love for reading:
- Read aloud with your child each day. This not only supports their literacy development, but can also be a treasured bonding time with your child.
- Listen to audiobooks as a family. This is a great activity to do in the car.
- Choose books that match their interests and reading level. Not every book needs to be challenging, as experiencing success is important in developing a love for reading.
- Encourage your child to spend time reading each day. Help them to find series, authors and topics that interest them.
- Expose your child to a variety of texts. Through fiction, children learn to empathise with others, learn about friendships and relationships. Through nonfiction, children learn about how the world works.
- Model the joy of reading. Show your children that reading is an enjoyable activity.
Bee-utiful Mother’s Day Presents
In Geography the Year 4 students from the Narwhal class have been exploring sustainability and stewardship. They are beginning to understand the importance of reducing waste and making eco-conscious choices, even when creating gifts for their Mums.
In a beautiful display of collaboration and cross-year engagement, the Year 4s teamed up with the Year 10 Ag class.
The joint activity? Creating reusable beeswax wraps.
Utilising wax harvested from our very own bee hives, refined by the Year 10s, it was crafted into reusable beeswax wraps using fabric offcuts, resin and jojoba oil.
The Year 10 students took on the role of facilitators, guiding and mentoring the younger students through each step of the process.
By choosing to make beeswax wraps instead of relying on single-use plastic wraps, our students are actively contributing to reducing plastic waste. It's a simple yet impactful step towards a more sustainable future—one that they proudly gifted to their Mum’s earlier this month.
Mrs Allie Downie and Mrs Sarah Eyb
Year 4 Narwhals Teacher and Coordinator, Agricultural Centre of Excellence, Agriculture Teacher
Exploring the Power of Informative Narratives with Year 3 Anemones
This term, our class delved into the fascinating world of informative narrative texts. Combining the storytelling elements of narrative writing with the factual depth of informational texts, we explored how these powerful narratives can engage readers while educating them. From historical accounts to scientific discoveries, our students have been analysing and creating their own informative narratives, honing their skills in both research and storytelling. Join us as we share highlights from our journey, insights gained, and a few student creations.
In the ocean, the terrific turtles swam with beautiful flippers looking for their favourite snack, jellyfish. Finally the turtle finds his prey. The jellyfish tries to sting the turtle, but the turtle's strong skin protects him, and then…. CHOMP, the turtle had its lunch.
Here is the baleen whale gliding gracefully, looking for a good place to have its lunch. The baleen whale has found it. He dives down and starts to make beautiful bubbles. The big beautiful bubbles push all of the krill into the middle. Slowly and silently, the baleen whale swims up gulping up his lunch.
Jade Boss
As the turtle chomps the jellyfish, a massive tiger shark opens its gigantic jaws and gulps the poor turtle down. The jellyfish scatter to survive.
Meanwhile in the coldest part of the ocean, there is a terrified sea lion laying on some pancake ice. Four orcas team up and swim together at high speed. They swim under the pancake ice and flip their tails up and Bam! Crack!...
Heidi Spicer
In a cold deep part of the Antarctic ocean a big blue whale is flopping its tail up and down. Swimming up to the sunlight zone, swimming at about 18 km/h. Today he was getting lunch, but then he saw a great white shark also looking for lunch, showing its 7 shiny layers of sharp teeth.
Beau Pigot
Secondary School
Secondary News
Secondary News
Outdoor Education Week - Years 7-10
Outdoor education programmes at OAGS are integral to the holistic development of students, fostering resilience and character growth through experiential learning. These programs are designed with a 'challenge by choice' philosophy, which encourages students to push their boundaries and step outside their comfort zones in a supportive environment. This approach helps students build confidence and develop essential life skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership. Each year group embarks on a unique outdoor adventure that is carefully curated to match their developmental stage, ensuring age-appropriate challenges and learning opportunities.
The Year 7 camp in the Blue Mountains serves as an introduction to the wonders of outdoor education. Here, students engage in activities such as bushwalking and abseiling, which not only enhance their physical fitness but also teach them the importance of perseverance and facing fears. The Year 8 camp in Shoalhaven offers water-based activities like kayaking and rafting. These experiences teach students how to navigate uncertainty and work collaboratively, reinforcing the value of mutual support and effective communication.
By Year 9, students participate in a camp at Lake Macquarie, where they undertake more complex tasks that test their endurance and problem-solving abilities. Activities like sailing, dragon boating and high ropes courses push them to refine their decision-making skills under pressure. Finally, the Year 10 camp in Sydney combines urban challenges with adventure, providing a diverse array of experiences that encourage independence and resourcefulness. Through these progressively challenging programs, OAGS ensures that its students emerge as resilient, confident individuals ready to tackle the complexities of life.
I would like to wish all our students the very best as they embark on their outdoor education journey next week.
Half Yearly Examinations - Year 11 and 12
As our Year 7 to 10 students embark on their camp experience, the Year 11 and 12 students will be undertaking their Half-Yearly Examinations. This period marks an important milestone in their academic journey. The examinations mirror the Yearly and Trial Examinations for Year 11 and 12, providing valuable experience and feedback. It has been pleasing to see students diligently prepare, reflecting the high standards of our school community. Year 11 and 12, We wish you well as you sit your examinations.
Mr Tim Brown
Director of Secondary School.
Years 9 & 10 Protest Poetry
In Stage 5 English, students have been studying poetry by looking at, and experimenting with, the notion of protest. We have revised our techniques, put our knowledge into practice and plugged in our imaginations!
In groups, the students have been researching famous protests in history and responding to them by composing their own poems, using their language skills and creativity to reflect on times past.
Here are some examples of the works produced. The calibre is high and this is only a small sample of the wonderful poems written by our students. I think you’ll agree, we have some gifted poets in our midst!
Mrs Catherine Brown
English Faculty
Russian Revolution Haiku by Dean Lipscomb
The March On Washington Cinquain & Haiku by Olive Craig, Hunter Slattery & Alyssa Oh
Excerpt from 'Tank Man' (Tiananmen Square 1989) by Cooper Thomas, Hannah Flynn, Rebekah Cooke, Max Maclean, Josh Wheeler
Tiananmen Square 1989 Cinquains by Max Maclean
Russia by Dexter Lloyd, Milla Bruem, Elke Watts, Nick Irwin, Connor Gillard, Rayyan Shah
Faith at OAGS
KYCK Wrap Up
On the last weekend of the Autumn break, 23 students along with Ms Botta and Mr Esson had a great weekend in Katoomba at the OAGS' 3rd KYCK weekend!
With around 2000 other students and leaders, the weekend was spent in the shed listening to 7 sessions exploring the book of Genesis and our identity in God.
We even had the chance to join some other OAGs students who were there with their youth group for KYCK-On, the 7 a-side soccer tournament!
A great weekend was had by all with minimal sleep, lots of singing, shouting, an afternoon of indoor/outdoor games and great discussion following sessions about our identity and relationship with God.
Thanks to Ms Botta for the organisation of the weekend, and to the parents who ended up with some hoarse voiced and very tired teenagers to start the term!
CAPA
CAPA Academy
CAPA Academy
Eisteddfod Dates
We are heading for Eisteddfod season 2024 and OAGS will be expanding its participation in a number of areas, particularly in music and dance. We have been very successful in many areas in recent years and I have no doubt that we will find success again this year while providing entertainment for audiences and a great learning experience. Below is a table showing the dates for the major events here in Orange and for other nearby centres. This is broad information for your diaries, more detailed information will be sent out to relevant stakeholders as the events approach.
There are numerous individual and small group sections available in these Eisteddfods as well. I would encourage any OAGS students to consider entries beyond these school sections. Details are easily accessible online by searching for Stardom .
Eisteddfod Dates | | |
---|---|---|
Dubbo Eisteddfod | School Dance Day | June 13 |
City of Orange Eisteddfod | Dance - School Groups | August 8 |
Bathurst Eisteddfod | Music Ensembles | August 8 & 9 |
Bathurst Eisteddfod | Choir Day | August 21 |
City of Orange Eisteddfod | School Choirs | August 29 & 30 |
Bathurst Eisteddfod | School Dance | September 2 |
City of Orange Eisteddfod | Instrumental Music (Band Day) | September 4 |
City of Orange Eisteddfod | String Groups | September 5 |
Dance For Sick Kids
Dance for Sick Kids ran from 13th May - 20th May and during the week, dancers were asked to register the number of minutes they danced and to raise funds to go towards the Ronald McDonald Children’s House charity. Dancers were also asked to bring in toiletries that could be donated to our local Ronald McDonald Children's House.
Over the past week, members of the OAGS Dance Crew have danced, fundraised and collected toiletries to support the Dance for Sick Kids initiative. We are thrilled to announce that the group of dancers who registered for this initiative have danced a grand total of 1757 minutes which is over 29 hours of dancing! They have also smashed their $500 fundraising goal by reaching a massive $1327. To top this off, we have two bags of toiletries that will be given to the Orange McDonald House.
Thank you to all who supported the dancers, and made this initiative a success.
Mrs Pearson
Sport
Sports Academy
Sports Academy
Celebrating Student Achievements at Recent Carnivals
We are thrilled to share the outstanding accomplishments of our Sport Academy students at the recent carnivals held towards the end of Term 1. Our students' hard work and dedication shone through in swimming, athletics, and cross country events.
We proudly recognised our Age Champions and Reserve Champions for their exceptional performances. Additionally, students who excelled in individual events were honoured for breaking records and setting new benchmarks.
Dinawan was declared Champion House of the Swimming carnival and Bandhaa showed dominance in both athletics and cross country being named Champion House for both carnivals.
Congratulations to all our talented athletes for their remarkable achievements!
Dominique Hutchinson
Leader of Sport
SWIMMING | | | | |
---|---|---|---|---|
AGE | MALE | RESERVE | FEMALE | RESERVE |
8 | | | Sia Mittal | |
9 | Beau Pigot | | Summer Barkwill | Madeline Bugden |
10 | Harvey Bruem | Boston Stewart | Victoria Ingram | Imogen Flowers |
11 | Vincent Oxenburgh | Alfred Jones | Isabella Ghattas | Sadie Kimmins |
12 PRIMARY | Oscar Pigot | Robert Ingram | Harper Quick | Jessica McGreal |
8-12 MULTICLASS | Ruben Oxenburgh | | | |
12 SECONDARY | Flynn Webb | | Hannah Whittingham | |
13 | Elliot Stuart | Dylan Whiting | Grace Lingier | Loti Ward |
14 | Joel Springer | Jack Thompson | Lilly Hawke | Milla Bruem |
15 | Nicholas Irwin | Kyran O'Donnell | Poppy Kay | Calai Bunworth |
16 | Jacob Hassan | Miles Bucknell | Rebecca Kemp | Milla Jurd |
17 | Lachlan Thompson | Jonathan Pottie | Isla Stringer | Brooke Floyd |
18 | Nate Lee | Keegan Willis | Tomika Frankham | Alexandra Baines |
ATHLETICS | | | | |
---|---|---|---|---|
AGE | MALE | RESERVE | FEMALE | RESERVE |
8 | | | Sia Mittal | Poppy Sandford |
9 | Beau Pigot | Levis Annis-Brown | Khloe Brasington | Mackenzie Hutchinson |
10 | Jarvis Llyod | Harvey Bruem | Heidi Spicer | Sophie Bishop |
11 | Timothy Napier | Luke Peterson | Olivia Boyce | Veronica Lipscomb |
12 PRIMARY | Edward Goldsmith | Hugo Goldsmith | Jovi Birkin | Victoria Chung |
12 SECONDARY | Flynn Webb | | Laila Buckland | Isabelle White |
13 | Tate Bunting | Archie Chrystall | Daisy Dwyer | Charli Garlick |
14 | William Gosper | Joshua Blackwell | Adelaide Pittis | Matilda Spicer |
15 | Greg Finlay | James Butt | Amelia Paterson | Elyse Stringer |
16 | Dean Starling | Finn Dwyer | Milla Jurd | Lucy Martin |
17 | Marley Ash | Harrison Brown | Isla Stringer | Leah Phiri |
18 | Keegan Willis | Nate Lee | Xan Milne | Alexandra Baines |
CROSS COUNTRY | | | | |
---|---|---|---|---|
AGE | MALE | RESERVE | FEMALE | RESERVE |
8 | John Paul Weber | | Sia Mittal | Poppy Sandford |
9 | Beau Pigot | Hamish Holgate | Mackenzie Hutchinson | Khloe Brasington |
10 | Harvey Bruem | Jarvis Llyod | Genevieve Wallace | Heidi Spicer |
11 | Timothy Napier | Luke Peterson | Angela Gleeson | Lily Nyers-Saunders |
12 PRIMARY | Oscar Pigot | Edward Goldsmith | Jovi Birkin | Victoria Chung |
SMILE FOR A MILE PRIMARY | Timothy Napier | Luke Peterson | Victoria Chung | Jessica McGreal |
12 SECONDARY | Laila Buckland | Isabelle White | Flynn Webb | |
13 | Daisy Dwyer | Charli Garlick | Zach Brakenridge | George McGregor |
14 | Lucy Jurd | Georgina Baines | Joshua Blackwell | Samuel Brown |
15 | Amelia Paterson | Isabelle Waters | Oscar Paul | Greg Finlay |
16 | Milla Jurd | Lucy Martin | Dean Starling | Finn Dwyer |
17 | Isla Stringer | Charlotte Jackson | Marley Ash | Benjamin Postma |
18 | Tomika Frankham | Alexandra Baines | Keegan Willis | Nate Lee |
SMILE FOR A MILE SECONDARY | Greg Finlay | Keegan Willis | Amelia Paterson | Caitlin Blackwell |
HICES Cross Country
We couldn’t have asked for better conditions for a cross country meet. Under clear skies, OAGS students delivered an outstanding performance at the Junior campus of Scots All Saints College in Bathurst. Among the 37 runners from across Years 3-6, our young athletes achieved personal bests on challenging 2km and 3 km courses. Tim N, Luke P, Ed B, Harvey B, Victoria C and Jessica McG finished in the top 10 against tough competition and will progress to CIS championships later this year.
A special thank you to all of the parents who travelled to spur our runners on. It certainly boosted their confidence and made for impressive finishes. As well as our Cross Country Ambassador, Year 12 student Nate who helped all the runners feel prepared prior to racing.
Students represented the school with pride and excellent sportsmanship, cheering on teammates and other runners alike. The HICES Cross Country meet was a resounding success for OAGS, showcasing our students' great attitudes, resilience, and team spirit. Congratulations to all 37 runners!
OAGS Wallabies Embark on Basketball Journey
The OAGS Wallabies have enthusiastically kicked off their basketball journey by joining the local Orange Basketball competition. Proudly representing our school in the mini ball fixture, these young athletes are gearing up for an exciting season ahead. Under the guidance of their dedicated coach, Dave, the team is putting in rigorous training sessions, focusing on mastering the fundamental skills of basketball. From dribbling to shooting, they are honing their techniques and developing a solid foundation to excel on the court. As they embrace the challenges and opportunities that come with competitive sports, the OAGS Wallabies are not only learning the intricacies of basketball but also fostering teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship. With determination and hard work, these budding athletes are poised to make their mark in the local basketball scene, showcasing the spirit and talent of OAGS. Stay tuned to witness their progress and achievements throughout the season!
Mrs Erin Purvis
MIC Basketball
ACE
Agricultural Centre for Excellence
Agricultural Centre for Excellence
ACE Update
Over the last week the focus has certainly been on biosecurity, with the students in Stage 5 and 6 learning some valuable, but hard lessons about the importance of farm biosecurity. Biosecurity is the practice of keeping both our individual farms, and on a wider picture, Australia, safe from exotic disease as well as complying with our legal requirements to maintain biosecurity protocols at the OAGS ACE facility.
As part of their senior studies, Year 11 Agriculture visit a number of leading agricultural producers each fortnight in the local region. This week, we were fortunate enough to visit Cargo Valley Wines and talk to the owner of the world’s first holistically certified vineyard. Arriving at the farm, students were required to download an on farm biosecurity App “Onside” prior to leaving the bus, and then to walk through a disinfectant footbath. This is done to prevent the spread of soil borne pathogens (such as Phylloxera) entering the property. Mr Sweetapple, owner / manager of Cargo Road Wines then discussed his regenerative approach to wine growing including the use of sheep to recycle and build soil carbon plus recycle nutrients and to also manage energy flows around the farm. The growth of multi - species cover crops under the vines working to develop soil health and boost nutrient cycling is a key feature of the farm with excess spring growth utilised as under row mulch. These practices have increased soil organic matter from 0.8 percent 20 years ago to between 8-10% today. In practical terms, for every increase of one percent matter, the water holding capacity of the soil increases by 178,000.
Unfortunately, this week, two of our beautiful beehives were positively confirmed with American Foul Brood by the Department of Primary Industries, resulting in 200 hours Agriculture and Year 11 Agriculture and Primary Industries having to complete the notification paperwork, collect diagnostic samples and then follow hive destruction protocols. While this has been a devastating experience, the ACE program has been most fortunate with the welcome donation of two beautiful new hives from the Camargo-Rivera family who are relocating to Adelaide after five years at OAGS. Mr Rivera and Ms Camargo donated the hives as a symbol of care they have received as a family while their children have been enrolled at OAGS. What a symbolic gesture, and for which we are most grateful. A big thanks to Flynn and Justin Baker for assisting Mrs Eyb in collecting the hives after dark on a cold night.
Sarah Eyb, ACE Leader
ACE Partnership with AISNSW
OAGS continues to expand the ACE academy via genuine industry partnerships and Vocational Education with the Certificate II in Agriculture (Primary Industries). Australian Independent Schools (NSW) have been shortlisted as the State Training Awards large VET training provider of the year. Mrs Eyb will be presenting at the AIS NSW Primary Industries conference in Armidale next week regarding the multi faceted ACE program, including our most recent project incorporating Verroa Detection Technology in partnership with the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in addition to the wide range of agricultural sector partnerships.
Community News
ARMY CADETS - 252 ACU
Recruiting
We will be taking on new recruits in Term 3. Hopefully a large intake of Y7 and Y8 students.
CAPT (AAC) Terry Nye
Officer Commanding - 252 ACU
Dates for your Diary | |
---|---|
27 May | NO Parade - OAGS Camp week |
8-9 June | We are not able to conduct the planned Bivouac at Bowhunters as we could not meet the lead times for document submission (after advice we were now able to hold overnight activities). |
6-13 Jul | NSW BDE Promotion Courses – selected cadets only Cadets on the promotion courses will be receiving “targeted” training during the Monday parades to prepare them for these courses. |
26-28 Jul | Term 3 Biv – Cudal supporting OAGS Interschools Equestrian Competition. We will be supporting the OAGS Interschools Equestrian Event whilst conducting our own training in preparation for the AFX. This was a very enjoyable activity in 2023 and will be our first opportunity to trial our new Cooking/BBQ trailers. |
28 Sep- 4 Oct | AFX (Annual Camp) – Singleton - This will be held at the Singleton Army Field Training Area adjacent to the military camp. Please note the dates – it is the first week of the NSW state school holidays BUT it is the middle week of the OAGS holidays. |
Nov | T4 Activity – WTSS Singleton – date tbc Annual Dinner – date tbc Annual Ceremonial Parade – date tbc |
OAGS Student Transport
Welcome to the next edition of the traffic report for OAGS. As you are aware the school continues to grow and as part of this growth traffic will remain a consistent focus both internally and externally. The graph above shows in orange students arriving to school by private transport, in blue those leaving and the red line is the externally provided maximum number of students accessing school by private transport. As you can see we have not exceeded the maximum amount in May. While the data does show some busier days for traffic we are tracking well below the maximum amount of students allowed to leave via private transport. Traffic queuing at the highway still does pose an element of risk. If you find this intersection creating a queue it would be helpful to turn left and exit.
Mr Robert Watts
Director of Data and Analytics
Chess
NSW Secondary Schools (Western Region) Knockout Competition
We played Kinross Wolaroi on Wednesday 22 May in our quest to claim the second place position. OAGS was represented by Archie Casey, Cameron McLean, Liam Nyers-Saunders, Charlotte Johnstone, Amrinder Dahliwal and Alex Tait. All games were very close and extremely challenging – we even had to introduce a timer to Archie’s game after 80 minutes so Kinross could depart on time. A fantastic result with 4-0 in favour of OAGS. We now await results of other matches to see who our next opponent will be.
Primary School Competition
Mr Lipscomb will again take a group of our young Chess players to represent the school in June at the competition for local schools.
OAGS Competition
We have commenced the round robin games for those students wishing to compete and challenge themselves further. The games are drawn to determine the champions of upper and lower Secondary and Primary School.
Master Class
Available to stage 3 and senior school students on Wednesdays 3.30-4.30pm to learn from Mr Cummins our very dedicated and experienced chess tutor. Players who would like to represent the school should consider attending these sessions.
Mr Terry Nye
Chess Coordinator