From the Headmaster
Celebrating Book Week and Community at OAGS
Celebrating Book Week and Community at OAGS
This week Orange Anglican Grammar School was filled with colour, creativity, and joy as we celebrated Book Week 2025 . Book Week has always been a highlight in our calendar, but this year was made especially memorable as our Secondary students (Years 7–11) joined the dress-up celebrations alongside our younger years.
The sight of Secondary students arriving dressed as characters from beloved books, films, and television series brought a wonderful sense of unity across the school . Their participation was more than fun costumes, it was an act of leadership and encouragement, showing our Primary students that a love of reading and storytelling is something to be embraced at every age. Watching older students parade proudly on the Hangar inspired younger students to see literacy not only as a learning task, but as a shared community joy .
The morning parade highlighted the creativity, imagination, and effort of students across every year group. Prizes were awarded, but the true celebration was in the smiles, laughter, and sense of togetherness that filled the campus.
A special thank you goes to our staff team for their amazing support and enthusiastic participation. In particular, we acknowledge Miss Glyde for her leadership and captivating storytelling on the day, which brought characters and books to life for students of all ages.
Book Week at OAGS is a reflection of our mission to “Seek the Truth and pursue Excellence for a life fulfilled in Service.” Literature encourages us to seek truth through story, to pursue excellence in imagination and learning, and to live in service by sharing joy, encouragement, and community with others.
We also take this opportunity to acknowledge our Year 12 students and their teachers , who have now successfully completed their Trial HSC Examinations. A special thanks to our dedicated Year 12 teachers, who in the week ahead will be marking hundreds of papers and providing essential feedback. Their commitment ensures our senior students are best prepared for success and excellence in the final stage of their schooling journey.
This year’s Book Week celebration, alongside the dedication of our senior students and staff, shows us that learning at OAGS is more than academic achievement, it is a communal experience that binds us together across year groups, generations, and shared purpose .
With gratitude,
Louis Stringer
Headmaster
Staff Spotlight
James Esson – A Guiding Presence in Our School Community
James Esson – A Guiding Presence in Our School Community
James Esson serves as both Chaplain and Teachers’ Aide at Orange Anglican Grammar School, where he is deeply valued for his compassionate support of students and staff alike. His quiet leadership, commitment to student wellbeing, and strong partnerships with teachers and families make him an integral part of the OAGS community.
Follow the Button below to read the full article published in the AIS Magazine , showcasing our wonderful colleague and the meaningful work he does at our school.
Kindergarten
100 Days of Kindergarten!
100 Days of Kindergarten!
In Week 1 of this term, our Kindergarten students proudly celebrated their 100th day of school . To mark this milestone, students arrived in creative costumes. Some dressed as what they’d like to be when they grow up, while others came as their 100-year-old selves!
The day was filled with exciting activities. Students made colourful crowns, decorated special “100” biscuits with 100s and 1000s, and created beautiful necklaces with 100 beads—one for each school day so far. Ms Glyde visited us to read a story about 100 Days of Kindergarten, and Reverend Stringer popped in to chat to the students about what they’d like to be when they grow up! The celebrations ended with a joyful dance party that had everyone smiling.
It was a wonderful way to reflect on how far our Kindergarten students have come, and we can’t wait to see all they will achieve in the next 100 days!
Mrs Pearson
Kindergarten Coordinator
Kindergarten Theatre Excursion
Kindergarten Theatre Excursion
It was an exciting start to Term 2 as Kindergarten travelled to the Orange Civic Theatre to see the Monkey Baa Theatre Company’s production of Josephine Wants to Dance .
This lively and engaging performance captivated our students as they watched the talented actors bring to life the story of Josephine, a kangaroo with a dream of becoming a dancer. The energy, humour, and creativity of the show left a lasting impression on everyone.
Back at school, students reflected on their experience by writing and drawing about their favourite parts of the story, some of which are shared below. Their responses showed just how much they connected with Josephine’s determination and joy.
We all had a wonderful day, and the teachers were very proud of how beautifully behaved the students were throughout the excursion—both during the performance and while travelling to and from the theatre.
Mrs Pearson
Kindergarten Coordinator
Primary School
Book Week, 2025 - “Book an Adventure”
Book Week, 2025 - “Book an Adventure”
On Thursday, we hosted the Great Book Swap, raising over $340 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. A big thank you goes to all the students who brought in donations and swapped books. It was wonderful to see our school community supporting such an important cause that helps foster literacy in remote Indigenous communities.
Today, our school came alive with colour, creativity, and imagination as we held our annual Book Week parade. From Prep through to Year 6, students embraced this year’s theme, ‘Book an Adventure,’ showcasing their favourite characters and stories in a joyful celebration of reading and books.
Students from Prep to Year 6 paraded in their creative costumes, and we were delighted to be joined by some secondary students who also dressed as beloved book characters. A special moment was the Stage 1 teachers, along with some of their students, acting out Julia Donaldson’s much-loved story, ‘The Snail and the Whale,’ which had the crowd smiling and laughing.
We also want to thank our parents for the time and effort they put into helping their children prepare for Book Week, whether by sourcing costumes, finding books to donate for the Great Book Swap, encouraging reading, or joining in the excitement at home.
Throughout the week, students reflected on the characters they chose to dress as, sharing why those characters inspire or excite them. Their reflections reminded us that books do more than just entertain.
They take us on adventures, broaden our understanding of the world, build empathy, and deepen our appreciation of what it means to be human.
Book Week continues to be a special tradition in our school community, reminding us of the richness that stories bring to our lives.
Alice Glyde
Director of Primary School
Year 5 Poetry
Year 5 Poetry
This term, Year 5 students have been exploring the art of poetry through the inspiring work of Australian slam poet Solli Raphael. Inspired by his creativity and wordplay, both the Sunstones and Moonstones classes came together to try their hand at writing their own entertaining limericks.
Laughter and imagination filled the room as students experimented with rhythm, rhyme, and humour to craft their verses. From quirky characters to surprising twists, their limericks showcased not only their developing poetic skills but also their ability to collaborate and share ideas.
It was wonderful to see such enthusiasm for language, and we look forward to seeing how this energy continues to spark creativity in their future writing projects.
Miss Collins and Miss Harrison
This Term in Year 6
This Term in Year 6
English - Sasha, the ‘Angel of Stalingrad’
This term, Year 6 students have truly shone in their English studies, continuing to dive deep into the moving novel ‘Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief’ by Katrina Nannestad. Through this powerful story, students have been developing a wide range of English literacy skills.
Creative writing, reading comprehension and reading fluency have been front and centre, as students tackled challenging texts, explored complex themes, and engaged in group discussions to understand the characters’ motives and emotions. With the guidance of their teachers, they practised making predictions, summarising key events, and exploring the deeper meanings behind Sasha’s challenges in war-torn Russia.
Vocabulary and grammar have been focal points, with students encouraged to use rich, descriptive language and accurate sentence structures in their writing. One of the highlights this term was a creative writing project where each student became a journalist, writing a newspaper article entitled ‘The Angel of Stalingrad.’ They wrote from the perspective of a character of their choice, skillfully portraying the protagonist, 7-year-old Sasha, in an angelic light. This exercise challenged students to adopt different viewpoints, craft compelling narratives, and think carefully about how language can be used to inspire empathy and hope.
We are incredibly proud of the imagination and effort our Year 6 students have shown. Their writing not only demonstrates technical growth but also deep emotional understanding—a wonderful achievement!
Science and Art - Beyond Earth
This term in Science and Art, Year 6 has been exploring the fascinating topic of Beyond Our Earth . Our learning has taken us deep into the mysteries of exoplanets, black holes, galaxies, and the incredible scientific discoveries that are still being made today.
We have produced some stunning artworks inspired by our studies, taking creative cues from real exoplanets to imagine and design our own. It has been an exciting journey filled with curiosity, creativity, and plenty of wonder as we discover what lies beyond our galaxy.
Later this term, we will step into the role of museum curators — researching, designing, and showcasing our own creations and inventions to make discoveries about outer space for ourselves.
Mrs Purvis and Mr Lipscomb
Secondary School
Book Week Secondary Students Joining In
Book Week Secondary Students Joining In
Faith at OAGS
Names Of God
Names Of God
This term in secondary chapel, we have been looking at the Names of God.
Each week we have spoken of how, as we get to know God’s name, this allows us to get to know him more personally, too.
As we read of God throughout the Bible, there are different names given by the authors and people of those times. These names were used interchangeably depending on the situation or the person speaking to, or of, God, and they all highlight the character and person of God.
We have been reminding ourselves in our chapel times each week that those who know God’s name, those who know and trust him, are never left without.
We are praying that as we explore God’s names each week, we would continue to grow in our understanding and love for who he is.
Mr James Esson
Assistant Chaplain
CAPA
Senior Concert Band at Bathurst Eisteddfod
Senior Concert Band at Bathurst Eisteddfod
Members of the Senior Concert Band attended the Bathurst Eisteddfod on Thursday last week to defend their 2024 win. We played ‘Rocky Top’ and ‘Epic Games Themes’ in the Secondary Schools - Band & Orchestra section’. All the groups played well with varied repertoire for their two contrasting pieces, in this strong section we came away with 2nd place.
Upcoming Events next week:
- Wednesday - City of Orange Eisteddfod Band Day
- Thursday - City of Orange Eisteddfod Strings Day
- Thursday evening - CAPA HSC Showcase for Music & Drama. Visual Arts and Design & Technology students will also present their major works
Sport
Primary HICES Athletics Carnival
Primary HICES Athletics Carnival
Our Primary HICES Athletics Carnival was a resounding success on Monday, 18th August, with 35 enthusiastic students participating at the new Blacktown location. Despite the carnival needing to run at a brisk pace to beat incoming bad weather, our young athletes rose to the challenge and delivered outstanding performances. Students were treated to exceptional accommodation at The Lodge, where each room was uniquely themed and dedicated to different Olympics, creating an immersive experience that celebrated the Olympic spirit throughout their stay.
We are thrilled to announce that nine of our talented students have qualified to progress to the CIS Primary Athletics competition on Friday, 5th September! Our CIS qualifiers include: Genevieve W (Long Jump), George A (100m and Junior Relay), Levis A-B (Long Jump and Junior Boy Relay), Khloe B (Long Jump), Tim N (1500m, 800m, 100m, and 200m), Luke P (Long Jump), Tim P (Junior Boy Relay), Rory T (Junior Boy Relay), and Malcolm W (High Jump). Special thanks to Mrs Wallace, Mrs Willis, and Mr Nye for accompanying our students on this successful excursion and helping make this memorable event possible.
Upcoming Sports Events for the Next 2 Weeks:
- Wednesday 27th - WAS Secondary Athletics in Dubbo
- Thursday 4th September - Secondary WCW Finals, Netball NSW Schools Cup - Year7/8 Boys Division
- Friday 5th September - CIS Primary Athletics
Thanking our Co Curricular Sport Sponsors
Thanking our Co Curricular Sport Sponsors
252 ACU- Cadets
Army Cadets Unit Report
Army Cadets Unit Report
Recent Activities
Bunnings BBQ Fundraiser - 9 August The unit achieved record sales at another successful Bunnings BBQ, demonstrating excellent teamwork between cadets, staff, parents, and community. Thanks to LT (AAC) Russell Player and all volunteers, plus Bunnings and Aunty Linda for their support.
1/19 Battalion Visit - 11 August Cadets visited Romani Barracks for presentations on the Australian Army Reserve's role within the ADF. The interactive evening featured demonstrations and equipment displays, providing valuable insights for senior cadets considering military careers after school and inspiring junior cadets in their present roles.
Orange RSL Commemoration Events - 15 & 18 August Our team supported the Orange RSL Sub-Branch for Victory in the Pacific and Vietnam Veteran's Days. Cadets performed their ceremonial roles with distinction, supporting community remembrance and honoring those who served. To those we say “Thank you for your service’ and ‘Lest we Forget’.
Brigade Visit - 18 August Colonel James Cameron (NSW Brigade Commander) and Mr. John Hageman (Executive Officer) visited the unit. Highlights included:
- Observing cadet training activities
- Touring the Orange RSL Sub-Branch Museum
- Presenting a Bronze Commendation to Cadet Under Officer William C (a well-deserved surprise honour witnessed by his father David and brother Nicholas)
- Joining the unit's evening sausage sizzle
Both visitors praised the unit's work supporting youth development and encouraged continued excellence.
Upcoming Events
- 23-24 August : STEM Weekend (Camden unit) & Term 3 Recruit Bivouac
- 30-31 August : 25 Battalion Lance Corporal's Course, Dubbo
- 13 September : Bunnings BBQ fundraiser
- 12 September : Year 12 Cadet Passing Out Parade dinner
- 22 September : Term 3 final parade
- 22 September - 2 October : Kokoda Trek Challenge
Kokoda Trek Update
Training continues every Sunday at Mt. Canobolas, stepping off at the Power Lines at 08.30 and now extended to include Mt. Towac. The team completed last Sunday's extended route in 4 hours 10 minutes—excellent pace considering the actual trek will be spread across full days.
Final Checklist:
- Passport ready
- Gratuity money prepared
- Medical shots completed and anti-malarial prescription obtained
- Water purification tablets purchased
- Watch for visa application email (coming soon)
- Kathmandu Gear Up Week: 25-30 August
Keep training—we're almost there!
Reid
CAPT (AAC)
252 ACU - OC
Community News
Visit with Dr Patricia Weerakoon
Visit with Dr Patricia Weerakoon
Enrolments
Enrolments
OAGS Classifieds
Kid's Club
Kid's Club
