As we work towards the end of 2024, I would like to thank the Pastoral Care Team for all they have done to build relationships and support our school’s families this year. Pastoral Care Coordinators are well supported and directed by the experience and wisdom of Mrs Wallace, Mrs Taylor and Mr Esson (who as a chaplain, does much to support families in our community).

I would also like to draw attention to several initiatives and experiences the team have driven this term.

Mrs Nealon took our new leadership team to the GRIP Leadership Conference in Dubbo. The students learnt valuable leadership skills such as time management, the responsibilities of a student leader, and creating great school events, as well as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. The students reported that it was a valuable experience and returned to school with lots of great thoughts for the year ahead.

Mrs Kimmins took a large group of our senior students to the Anti-Bullying Summit in Orange. They shared their experiences, and as a result, at the beginning of next year we will facilitate a meeting between the Secondary SRC and new Primary leaders to talk through the initiatives they’d like to implement in our school in 2025.

Mrs Wallace facilitates the SCR meetings and was greatly encouraged by the enthusiasm and organisation of our new Year 12 students at their first meeting earlier this week.

Miss Botta has organised a Crazy Hair Day for next Thursday 28th November . We have members of our community who have been recently, as well as historically, been impacted by cancer. Many of our Secondary students were keen to organise a school fundraiser to support cancer research. Please read the email regarding the day.

Finally, please see our previous communications regarding our service projects in Secondary. We’d love more donations for the local food drive and Share the Dignity bags. We are all grateful to those who have been able to donate so far. Our students are looking forward to sorting the donations for delivery in Week 8.

We have so much to celebrate, be grateful for and work towards at Orange Anglican Grammar School. However, as we finish the year and students, teachers and parents find themselves busy, tired and overwhelmed, can we please ask that everyone takes a few moments to regularly check in with their child, listen to any of their concerns, and ask them what they are looking forward to next year? We want to finish the year well, so we are trying to remind our students of our school rules and expectations, so we can all be safe and feel welcome and secure at OAGS. We would appreciate every family’s support in encouraging their child to be respectful in class, bring their hat each day this term and meet our school’s expectations regarding uniform. Your support is valuable and greatly appreciated.

Georgian Willis

Director of Pastoral Care

Leader In Me

In Term 4, we have been reviewing all of our 7 Habits that we have been learning about this year to see how they all link together to help us be more effective learners, friends, and members of our communities. We have explored how not only people but animals follow some of our 7 Habits to help them survive and flourish in their environments. By looking at how animals follow the 7 Habits, we reinforce the importance of healthy relationships and work-life balance to be happy and healthy kids.

Habit 1: Be Proactive – I’m in Charge of Me
I am a leader. I am in charge of me, my actions, and my words. To be proactive means following our 5 classroom agreements so we can learn better and so can our classmates. We can help in our community by noticing something needs to be done and doing it, even if we aren’t asked, for example, cleaning up or helping a friend.

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind – Have a Plan
Snowflake making can be tricky if you don’t know how. So first, we made a plan, collected our materials, and watched a demonstration so everyone could learn how to make their own snowflakes. They looked amazing. Making a plan helps us achieve our goals and stay focused.

Habit 3: Put First Things First – Work First, Then Play
We looked at how even playful otters have to Put First Things First. They must work first by creating shelter and hunting food before they can enjoy play, even foregoing play when there is too much work to be done or when food is scarce.

Habit 4: Think Win-Win – I win, you win, everyone wins
We discovered that Egyptian crocodiles and plovers even have a win-win relationship, despite them seeming to be natural predator and prey. The plover helps to keep the crocodile’s teeth healthy by picking the meat out of their teeth. In return, the plover gets a free feed without the fear of being eaten.

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Meerkats are a great example of learning to listen and understand how slight differences in sounds can have different meanings of safety and danger. They must learn to be great communicators to survive. This reinforces the importance for us to listen to what is being said, not assuming we know what a person is expecting.

We also explored why it is important to recognise that everyone is different and can have different perspectives and points of view due to their communities, cultures, and languages. We need to acknowledge and understand that our differences make us unique and special and that we are all amazing because of our diversity.

Habit 6: Synergize – Together is Better
People/trees, bees/flowers, clownfish/anemones, and many more animals synergise through symbiotic relationships to help them all have better outcomes. We looked at synergising with our classmates through playing games and learning to participate together so that we all enjoyed the experience. We remember that TEAM means Together Everyone Achieves More .

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw – Balance is Best
We need to look after our mind, body, heart, and spirit to maintain a balanced life and be healthy and happy. We explored ways to recharge our energy levels and ensure we balance work, relaxation, and hobbies while recognising and managing our emotions. A balanced life is a happy and healthy life.

Mrs Helen Gersbach

Teacher Aide

As we draw near to the end of 2024, we have been considering ways to provide a smooth transition for our students into the 2025 school year.

On Friday 27th November, Primary School will be holding its first Transition Morning from 9.30 - 11.00am. Students from Kindergarten - Year 5 will spend the morning in their 2025 classroom, with their 2025 class and teachers. The aim of the morning is to provide students with the opportunity to become familiar with their new classroom, peers and teachers, allowing them to head into the holidays with an understanding of what 2025 will look like. We hope that through Transition Morning, students will spend the holidays getting excited for a wonderful 2025. Prep students will remain in their classroom, alternate activities will be arranged for Year 6 and students who are moving schools will still be invited to participate in Transition Morning.

All teachers in the Primary School at Orange Anglican Grammar School are experts in their field and create wonderful learning environments for their students. A great deal of time and care is placed into the allocation of students and teachers to create balanced classes, where all students have a friend. Please note that we are unable to accommodate parent requests for class allocations for their children. Except in extenuating circumstances that are beyond our control where some revision may be required, the class lists and teacher allocations are set.

Alice Glyde

Director of Primary School

As the year draws to a close, with exams, assessments, and teaching programs behind us, it's easy to let focus wane in those last few days of school. But this year, we're shaking things up! Introducing Discovery Days —a fresh, fun, and meaningful way to end the year, designed to keep you engaged and inspired.

On Monday and Tuesday of Week 8 , the regular timetable will pause, and in its place, two special days of electives and activities will take centre stage.

Day 1: Elective Extravaganza

On Monday, students will dive into two exciting electives—each lasting 2.5 hours, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. These electives are brand new and some are just 100% fun whilst others are designed to develop new skills or abilities while having fun at the same time. From creative arts and hands-on projects to sports and technology-based activities, there’s something for everyone!

On this day students will wear their OAGS sports uniform and hat.

Day 2: Service and Adventure

Tuesday kicks off with a powerful start as you engage in service learning , giving back to others in meaningful ways.

Afterward, from 11 a.m. onward , the day changes with a variety of offsite and onsite activities to choose from. Offsite Options cost $20 per person and includes things like: Pickle Ball : Fast-paced, fun, and great for all skill levels; Dragon Boating : Work together as a team on the water; Fishing : Relax by the water; Tenpin Bowling : Strike out the stress of the year; and Futsal and Dodgeball , just to name a few of the options.

For those who would prefer to say onsite with a cost free option students can select to play games at school

We’re so excited to see our students take part in this revamped end-of-year experience. Whether they’re learning, leading, or laughing with friends, Discovery Days are designed to leave a lasting impression and remind them of the joy of community and exploration.

Mr Tim Brown
Director of Secondary