From the Deputy
Turning the Sod: Building for the Future with Hope and Resilience
Turning the Sod: Building for the Future with Hope and Resilience
This week marked a historic moment in the life of our school as our Primary School Captains, Edward and Stacey and Secondary School Captains, Harry and Josie, alongside the Headmaster, Rev'd Stringer and Chair of School Council, Mrs Drabsch, turned the first sod on what will become the Trinity Building, a cornerstone project for the future of Orange Anglican Grammar School.
With golden shovels in hand and wide smiles on their faces, our student leaders embodied what this new chapter represents: a commitment to excellence, a bold vision for the future, and a school community united in faith and purpose. The Trinity Building will serve as a vital bridge, both physically connecting our Primary and Secondary campuses, and symbolically, as we continue to grow in strength and capacity.
This milestone has not come easily. The three-year journey to finalise development approvals and navigate the complexities of terminating historical rights of way has been a vivid reminder that building something meaningful, something lasting, requires patience, perseverance, and faith. Life is like that too. The greatest rewards often come through the toughest challenges.
Next week, students in Years 7 to 10 will head off on their respective school camps. While recent wet weather may pose some practical hurdles, it also provides a fitting parallel to our current season. Just as we have faced obstacles in the construction process, so too will our students face possible discomforts of soggy tents and muddy shoes. Yet it is often through these shared challenges that the deepest bonds are formed. Trust is built when we help each other navigate the hard ground...or soft. Resilience is forged not in perfect conditions, but in our collective response to adversity.
Given the recent floods, we want to reassure families that while we recognise some challenges can provide valuable opportunities for growth and resilience, the safety of our students remains our highest priority. Our team is currently working closely with camp providers to assess site conditions and ensure that our planned camps next week are both safe and productive. Should any adjustments be necessary, we will communicate these changes with parents as soon as possible.
As we celebrate the beginnings of the Trinity Building and prepare for the week ahead, we give thanks for the future being built, the character being shaped, and the God who walks with us through every season. May our community continue to grow in truth, excellence, and service working together, embracing joy, and building a legacy for generations to come.
Engagement & Wellbeing
Stronger Together: School - Parent Collaboration from Kindergarten to Year 12
Stronger Together: School - Parent Collaboration from Kindergarten to Year 12
At OAGS, we know that students flourish when schools, families, and communities work together. From the first day of Kindergarten to the final steps of Year 12, strong partnerships help students grow in confidence, character, and capability. Proactive and effective collaboration between school and home also affords the opportunities to share knowledge, develop mutual understanding and provide the most appropriate support for students to achieve their best.
Collaboration isn’t just something we talk about - it’s something we build every day through trust, communication, and shared purpose. When parents and carers are actively engaged and connected to the school and their child’s educational journey, students feel more supported, more motivated, and more successful in their learning.
Here are some simple, practical ways we can work together to support every student’s journey:
1. Communicate Early and Often
- If you have any concerns - big or small - please raise them with your child’s teacher or PC Mentor early. Together, we can address issues before they grow.
- Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions. Whether it’s about schoolwork, friendships, or routines, we’re here to help and want to support your family.
- If you are unsure who to speak with about your child, call Admin and they will guide you to the most appropriate person.
2. Stay Connected
- Check the school calendar, newsletter, and parent portal for key dates and updates.
- Attend school events, interviews, and information sessions whenever you can - it helps build understanding and a shared vision between home and school.
- Keep an eye on the School’s social media platforms for reminders, updates and interesting stories.
- Check the parent portal often to see recognition points as they are awarded and celebrate these moments with your child.
3. Be Involved
- Whether it’s helping in the classroom, joining the P&F, coaching a team, attending parent-teacher interviews or coming to school assemblies, your involvement sends a powerful message to your child that you care about their learning.
- Community partnerships are always welcome - if you have ideas, contacts, or expertise to share, let us know!
4. Keep Learning Together
- Talk to your child about their day, their learning, and their goals. Encouragement at home boosts confidence and builds a love of learning.
- Reinforce school values at home - respect, service, and doing your best go a long way in every setting.
- Remind your child of the School’s standards and expectations, especially when they are learning from mistakes they may have made.
- Support your child to set up an appropriate space for completing homework and study. They may need your reminders to keep it neat and organised!
Together, we are building a safe, supportive, and inspiring environment where every student is known, valued, and prepared for the future. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Let’s keep the conversation going and build positive, collaborative partnerships that support the individual success of each student.
Jessica Willis
Director of Engagement
Prep
Letters, Sounds, and Smiles: Literacy in the Early Years
Letters, Sounds, and Smiles: Literacy in the Early Years
At OAGS, we are passionate about laying strong foundations in literacy from the earliest years. Across the school, we use the PLD (Promoting Literacy Development) programs to enhance and support the development of core literacy skills. This evidence-based approach is designed to support learners at their developmental stage and help them become confident, capable readers and writers.
In Prep, our literacy learning is structured around four key pillars:
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Syllables
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Initial sounds
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Onset and rhyme
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Blending and segmenting
Each of these areas plays a vital role in building phonological awareness, a critical early literacy skill. This term, our focus has been on initial sounds, taught in clusters to help students recognise and apply letter-sound knowledge more effectively.
Through engaging, hands-on learning experiences, our students participate in songs, games, visual prompts and sensory activities that support the explicit teaching of sounds. These activities are designed not only to be fun, but also to embed key learning in a meaningful and memorable way.
Here’s what some of our Prep students had to say about their literacy learning:
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“I love learning the ‘s’ sound! I can find it in snake and sun!”
– Betty
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“We played a game with the ‘m’ sound and I won!”
– Charlotte
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“It’s fun when we clap the syllables. Banana has three!”
– Louis
Recent research from the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO, 2023) highlights that explicit and systematic instruction in early literacy—particularly in phonological awareness, phonics and oral language—is one of the most effective ways to support strong reading outcomes in later years. Early exposure to these foundational skills helps children develop the confidence and ability to decode, comprehend and enjoy written language.
We are incredibly proud of the progress our Prep students are making, and we look forward to seeing how their literacy journey continues to unfold throughout the year!
Mr Bornen
Prep Coordinator
Secondary School
Rotary Science and Engineering Challenge - 2025
Rotary Science and Engineering Challenge - 2025
Dear Parents and Caregivers, Apologies for the late presentation of this great news. On Thursday, 03 April, 31 students, from Year 8, 9 and 10 represented our school at the Rotary Science and Engineering Challenge. Held at the Orange Function Centre, eight teams of students were tasked with eight challenges. Shared across a morning and afternoon session, seven were half day tasks and the bridge building were an all-day task. All students were in good spirits and enjoyed the day and the learning it provided.
We were very well placed in the morning session, being in first place overall and this was maintained right until the very end. However, due to a technical issue on behalf of the organiser, it was determined that the bridge challenge, an area we always do well in, would not be included in the count back for results. If this task was included we would likely have won the challenge, as our bridge outperformed the eventual winner and the difference was only 40 points. This would have been our first time as winners.
However, there is always next year and a new pool of students to choose. All teams worked to a high standard and achieved either first or second place in all activities. I was very impressed in how each team worked together and there was minimal if any conflict which has been a minor feature in previous years. My thanks to the year 10 students who backed up from last year in their final challenge and also the year 8 students who stepped in at the last minute to make up numbers. Thanks also to Year 9 who are now the foundation for a great team next year.
Thanks to our staff and you, parents and caregivers’, for your support and encouragement of our student’s participation.
Peter Reid Snr
Faculty Coordinator TAS/PDHPE
Secondary Engineering and Technology Teacher
Year 7–10 Camps: A Week of Growth, Challenge, and Connection
Year 7–10 Camps: A Week of Growth, Challenge, and Connection
Year 7 to 10 Camps
We are just a few days away from our Year 7 to 10 students embarking on an exciting week of outdoor education, commencing Monday morning. Our staff have been diligently preparing for this experience—organising programs, cabin groups, addressing dietary needs, and equipping students for four days of personal growth and adventure.
In light of recent severe weather events affecting parts of New South Wales, we have maintained close communication with our camp providers to assess any potential impacts on our planned activities. We are pleased to inform you that, based on the latest information, all camps are deemed safe to proceed. Our providers, experienced in managing school groups, are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all participants, adhering to guidance from relevant government authorities.
The weather forecast for next week suggests that we will have fine weather with minimal chance of rain, but as per the camp note, students are asked to pack for the possibility of sunny and rainy weather. Please consult the camp note for information on how to pack for camp.
Should you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact the school. We appreciate your support and are confident that this camp will be a memorable and valuable experience for all our students.
CAPA
Music
Music
Entries are in for both the Orange and Bathurst Eisteddfods next term. If your child is part of a music ensemble there is a good chance they will be involved. Groups are starting to prepare and lots of practice is being done. Here are some dates for your diaries, more information and details will be forthcoming closer to the relevant dates:
- Bathurst Eisteddfod Band Day - August 14 (Senior Band only)
- Orange Eisteddfod Band Day - August 27
- Orange Eisteddfod Strings Day - August 28
- Orange Eisteddfod Schools Choral - September 4
Other events for this term to keep in mind:
- Choral Festival at Thomas Hassall Anglican - June 5 (Senior Vocal Ensemble)
- Make Music Week - June 16-20 at Orange Regional Conservatorium
- Dubbo Dance Eisteddfod - June 17
- Primary School Show - July 2 & 3
- HICES Music Festival - August 17-21
Year 9 student Emily C. recently had some outstanding success at the Cowra Eisteddfod in the U16 vocal section. Emily is a great talent, managing to take the overall championship for her age group. Here are her placings along with the songs she sang.
- Intermediate Championship - 1st (Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again & Skinny Love)
- Vocal Solo - 2nd (Voi Che Sapete)
- Pop/Rock Song Solo- 1st (You Are The Reason)
- Ballad Sacred solo - HC (Ave Maria)
- Country Music Solo- HC (Here You Come Again)
Noel Annett
CAPA Coordinator
Visual Arts
Visual Arts
Year 7 have been studying the work of pop artists including Andy Warhol, after being introduced to Adobe Effects they produced their own Warhol inspired digital portraits.
Year 8 have been feeling pleased with their efforts as they have been drawing a variety of animals in preparation for some clay sculptures.
Gemma Clipsham
Visual Arts Teacher
ACE
A bee-utiful Mother’s Day gift
A bee-utiful Mother’s Day gift
Secondary students processed and refined beeswax which was generously donated to the Year 4 students for their Mother’s Day craft. Students then melted and mixed 2 parts beeswax with 1 part coconut oil to make lip balm for their mum’s. Everyone was very pleased with the results.
Orange Show report
Orange Show report
The annual Orange Show saw record entries in the school section with big teams from schools locally and away competing in a wide variety of agricultural events. Our OAGS students did an excellent job across a range of events in the cattle and pavilion events. Mrs Eyb was delighted when, not only did the team collect the Best Presented Team and Herdsman ship award, but Year 9 student Jade H took on all comers to win the Supreme parader under 25 years.
Nearly every student collected a ribbon in either Open or Novice paraders, with team captain Flynn B receiving special mention for his leadership of the students.
In the honey judging, OAGS collected first prize in the school’s honey section, and parents and friends can now buy our beautiful honey from our lovely administration ladies at the bargain price of $10. Our bees have been a big hit across the school - check out Mrs Downey’s exciting project in this newsletter.
Senior Agriculture have been busy in industry immersion attending the Hutcheson and Pearce workshops in Orange and cattle weaning facilities at Springvale to view the latest in emerging technologies. At Springvale, students were able to discuss the merits of selective stock assessment and culling as the region enters into a period of winter feed gap with the autumn rains failing to deliver.
In Junior Agriculture, Stage 5 have been using the Numnuts equipment to master lamb marking techniques and were able to view the improved welfare outcomes of using the combination of local anaesthetics and elastrator rings. The use of the anaesthetic allows lambs to go straight back to their mothers without the usual issue of lambs lying down.
Sport
Sports Assembly for Athletics Carnival and Cross Country
Sports Assembly for Athletics Carnival and Cross Country
Today we recognise some of the amazing achievements from our students in sport for Term 1. Our Sports Assembly is all about celebrating effort, talent and the positive attitude so many of you bring to our athletics and cross country events. A big congratulations to all of our Age Champions and Reserve Age Champions in both the Primary and Secondary .
We also want to give a huge shout-out to our Athletics record breakers —breaking a record is no easy task, and it’s exciting to see new benchmarks being set.
Like any big event, there were a few bumps along the way. We had a couple of sound issues during the assembly, and a delay as some of our students were held up returning from swimming lessons. Thanks to everyone for your patience—it was great to see students showing understanding and supporting one another while things got sorted.
Thanks again to all the staff and students who helped make it happen.
Thank you for our Sponsors
Thank you for our Sponsors
We extend our sincere thanks to all our valued sponsors for their generous support of the Sports Academy. Your contributions provide vital opportunities for our student-athletes to train, compete, and thrive through sport.
Special thanks to CBS Industries for sponsoring our U12 Soccer Team , Brazzo Civils for supporting our U10 Netball Team , Orange Real Estate for their sponsorship of another of our Netball Teams U13 and Bencer and Hazelnut for backing our Basketball Hazelnuts .
Your commitment to youth sport is deeply appreciated and plays a significant role in the continued growth and success of our sporting programs.
Your partnership truly makes a difference.
252 ACU- Cadets
Community News
Enrolments
Enrolments
OAGS Classifieds
Kid's Club
Kid's Club
Speech and Drama classes @ Jenny's Classroom
Speech and Drama classes @ Jenny's Classroom
