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OXFORD FALLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL<br />
2017 Yearbook
Contents<br />
1 Official REPORTS<br />
5 Academic OVERVIEW<br />
8 Senior School SPORT<br />
Principal 4<br />
Christian Studies 89<br />
Athletics 146–147<br />
Chairman of the Board 5<br />
Dance 90<br />
Basketball 148–151<br />
Head of Senior School 6<br />
Head of Junior School 7<br />
Head of Operations 8<br />
Director of Curriculum 9–10<br />
Director of Teaching and Learning 11<br />
School Community Chaplain 12<br />
OFGS Foundation 13<br />
Alumni 14<br />
Parents and Community 15–16<br />
2 School STAFF<br />
All School Staff 18<br />
Service Anniversaries 19<br />
School Staff Listing 20–23<br />
3 Senior SCHOOL<br />
Drama 91<br />
English 92–93<br />
History 94–95<br />
History Tour 96–97<br />
Languages 98<br />
Mathematics 99–100<br />
Music 101<br />
PDHPE 102<br />
Photography, Video<br />
and Digital Imaging 103<br />
Science 104<br />
Social Science 105<br />
STEM 106<br />
TAS 107–108<br />
Visual Arts 109–112<br />
Visual Arts Camp 113–114<br />
Golf 151<br />
Cross Country 152–153<br />
Football 154–157<br />
National Christian School Games 158<br />
Netball 159–160<br />
Rugby Union 161<br />
Swimming 162–163<br />
Tennis 164<br />
Triathlon 164<br />
Touch Football 165<br />
Graduating Year 12 Elite Athletes 166<br />
Sports Awards Dinner 167<br />
9 Junior School SPORT<br />
Junior School Sport 169<br />
Athletics 170–173<br />
OXFORD FALLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2017 YEARBOOK<br />
School Captains 25–27<br />
Student Leadership Team 28<br />
Honour Roll 29–30<br />
Leadership Team 31<br />
Year 12 Report 32–40<br />
HSC Showcase 41–48<br />
Year 11 Report 49–50<br />
Year 10 Report 51–52<br />
Year 9 Report 53–54<br />
Year 8 Report 55–56<br />
Year 7 Report 57–58<br />
4 Junior SCHOOL<br />
School Captains 60<br />
Student Leadership Team 60<br />
Leadership Team 61<br />
Honour Roll 62<br />
Year 6 Report 63–66<br />
Year 5 Report 67–69<br />
Year 4 Report 70–71<br />
Year 3 Report 72–73<br />
Year 2 Report 74–75<br />
Year 1 Report 76–77<br />
Kindergarten Report 78–79<br />
Art 80–83<br />
Music and Drama 84<br />
K–2 Nativity Musical 85<br />
6 Student SERVICES<br />
Chaplaincy 116–117<br />
Gifted and Talented 118–119<br />
Extension Literacy 120<br />
Learning Support 121<br />
Learning Resource Centre 122–123<br />
eLearning 124<br />
Careers 125<br />
BASC 126–127<br />
7 Co-curricular<br />
Chess Club 129<br />
Dance 130–132<br />
Drama 133<br />
Duke of Edinburgh 134<br />
History Debating 135–136<br />
Music 137–138<br />
OFGS Outreach 139–140<br />
Outdoor Education 141<br />
Philippines Mission Trip 142–143<br />
Robotics and Coding 144<br />
Basketball 174–176<br />
Biathlon 177<br />
Cross Country 178–180<br />
Eagle Tag 181<br />
Football (Soccer) 182–183<br />
Netball 184<br />
PISA Sports 185–188<br />
Rugby Union 189<br />
Swimming 190–192<br />
Tennis 193<br />
Awards 194–195<br />
CSSA, CIS and PSSA<br />
Representatives 195–197<br />
Christian Studies 86<br />
2<br />
French 87
1<br />
Official REPORTS<br />
Principal 4<br />
Chairman of the Board 5<br />
Head of Senior School 6<br />
Head of Junior School 7<br />
Head of Operations 8<br />
Director of Curriculum 9–10<br />
Director of Teaching<br />
and Learning 11<br />
School Community Chaplain 12<br />
OFGS Foundation 13<br />
Alumni 14<br />
Parents and Community 15–16
Principal’s REPORT<br />
Arriving as a new Principal in a school gives one a singularly unique opportunity<br />
to see it with ‘fresh eyes’. Things that may otherwise be taken for granted or<br />
overlooked by the veteran are glaringly obvious to the newcomer.<br />
Dr Peter Downey<br />
Principal<br />
OXFORD FALLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2017 YEARBOOK<br />
Following a few months of rest,<br />
exploration and mental preparation<br />
in Patagonia and the Antarctic with<br />
my wife, I arrived at OFGS in April.<br />
The first thing that struck me (aside from<br />
awe at the beauteous leafy bushland<br />
setting, which lifts one’s spirit on a daily<br />
basis) was the incredible warmth of the<br />
community. Friendly and kind staff,<br />
affable engaged parents, and students<br />
who went out of their way to introduce<br />
themselves and make me feel welcome.<br />
This I have come to realise is a core<br />
cultural feature of OFGS. The School is<br />
a happy place. I immediately felt at home.<br />
I was next inspired and pleased by the<br />
genuine centrality of Christian faith<br />
which underpins School culture and<br />
operations. Beyond just a Christian<br />
ethos of noble values and positive<br />
relationships, OFGS genuinely<br />
challenges its students to engage in<br />
faith and follow Jesus. Nowhere is<br />
this Christian foundation seen more<br />
than every morning when the staff<br />
join together for worship and prayer,<br />
a wonderful way to start each day.<br />
What also quickly became apparent<br />
to me was the work ethic and<br />
professionalism of an exceptional staff.<br />
Hard-working, dedicated, motivated<br />
and creative, they show incredible care<br />
for our students and devotion to the<br />
School and their profession. They are<br />
focused on their craft, on improving<br />
teaching and learning, and the pursuit<br />
of best practice in preparing our children<br />
for the 21st and 22nd centuries. They<br />
also know how to laugh and have fun.<br />
One of the biggest surprises to me<br />
was just how busy the School is.<br />
The calendar is packed, and there are<br />
students and staff on site from early<br />
morning into the night on most days,<br />
participating in all sorts of activities and<br />
events. There is always something on.<br />
The Yearbook that you hold in your<br />
hands bears testament to the vibrancy<br />
of school life over the course of this year.<br />
I am indebted to the vast and<br />
multi-faceted team of people that<br />
collaboratively helped OFGS run on<br />
a daily basis throughout 2017:<br />
• To the School Board under the<br />
passionate leadership of Dr Phil<br />
Pringle, Mrs Pam O’Flaherty and<br />
Mr Craig Stanmore for their<br />
professional governance and clear<br />
vision for the School.<br />
• To the School Foundation, led by Mr<br />
Marc Forestieri, for their ardent support<br />
and commitment to volunteerism,<br />
generosity and engagement.<br />
• To the P&C for providing so many<br />
opportunities for our wider community<br />
to connect and be involved in School<br />
life. Our School is certainly richer for<br />
you and I am indebted to the many<br />
volunteers who give much to serve<br />
others regularly. Particular thanks to<br />
outgoing President, Mr Paul O’Brien,<br />
for his business acumen and clear<br />
leadership.<br />
• To the academic, administration<br />
and support staff for their<br />
professionalism, care and devotion.<br />
You make coming to work every<br />
day a joy. In particular, thanks to<br />
the senior leaders and directors<br />
with whom I work closely, and the<br />
Executive – Mr Greg Morris, Mrs<br />
Juliette Siemsen, Mrs Amy Corrigan<br />
and Mrs Rae Doak – for their<br />
support, strength and collegiality.<br />
• To the students: they are the reason<br />
the School exists. They are friendly,<br />
engaged, aspirational and polite. Our<br />
students help craft the culture of the<br />
School; their youthful energy, joy and<br />
optimism is infectious and makes our<br />
School a happy and vibrant place …<br />
and keeps us educators on our toes.<br />
A Yearbook is a snapshot of school life<br />
over twelve months. I commend to you<br />
the pages that follow, which give just a<br />
taste of the rich and busy year it has been.<br />
I have enjoyed becoming part of this<br />
wonderful community, and I am excited<br />
about what 2018 may bring as Oxford<br />
Falls Grammar School continues to grow<br />
and thrive and as we all learn and live<br />
for greatness, for excellence, for Christ.<br />
Dr Peter Downey<br />
Principal<br />
4
Chairman’s REPORT<br />
“The task of a modern educator is not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts.”<br />
C S Lewis wrote these words and even though they are now 75 years old, they<br />
resonate well with me when I look at how our team at Oxford Falls Grammar<br />
School do what they do, week in week out.<br />
Mrs Pam O’Flaherty<br />
Chairman<br />
OFGS is a thriving community<br />
where children are nurtured,<br />
challenged, encouraged and<br />
supported. And yes, as C S Lewis said,<br />
it is not about cutting down but rather<br />
building up. It’s about investing,<br />
academically and emotionally, in the<br />
next generation. It’s about providing an<br />
environment that enhances learning and<br />
having a team who genuinely care about<br />
children as they grow and develop from<br />
five-year-olds to young adults. I am<br />
pleased that that environment is alive and<br />
well at Oxford Falls Grammar School.<br />
2017 was another successful year<br />
at OFGS. In Term 2 we warmly<br />
welcomed Dr Peter Downey as our<br />
new Principal. Dr Downey is a highly<br />
respected and exceptional educational<br />
leader, with a wealth of experience in<br />
Christian education. We are thrilled to<br />
have him lead our School.<br />
This year saw the appointments of<br />
Mrs Rae Doak to Executive Leader and<br />
Mrs Juliette Siemsen to Head of Senior<br />
School. Both these women have been<br />
a vital part of our leadership team for<br />
many years and we congratulate them<br />
on these senior appointments.<br />
and pray they enjoy a happy, healthy<br />
and well-earned retirement!<br />
I acknowledge and thank our highly<br />
competent School Executive led by Dr<br />
Downey who, along with Mr Greg Morris,<br />
Mrs Rae Doak, Mrs Juliette Siemsen and<br />
Mrs Amy Corrigan, form a very strong<br />
and stable team, and continue to take our<br />
School from strength to strength. I also<br />
acknowledge the Directors and Heads<br />
of Departments and thank them all for<br />
the dedication and expertise they bring<br />
to these important roles in our School.<br />
I am indebted to our staff, a large and<br />
complex team, for their professionalism,<br />
talents and enthusiasm in all they do.<br />
The contribution they make to OFGS<br />
on a daily basis is so appreciated.<br />
OFGS is blessed with a wonderful<br />
community of parents who volunteer in<br />
many areas of school life. I particularly<br />
thank Mr Paul O’Brien who has served<br />
the School for the last two and a half<br />
years as the President of the P&C. We<br />
very much appreciate the time he has<br />
given to leading a team of parents who<br />
so willingly sow into our School. Huge<br />
thanks to our many parent volunteers<br />
and to our very supportive parent body.<br />
To our School Board I say a big thank<br />
you. Our President, Pastor Phil Pringle,<br />
our Deputy Chairman, Mr Craig<br />
Stanmore, and each of our directors are<br />
some of the most dedicated people I<br />
know. Their genuine love of OFGS and<br />
commitment to it is something I value<br />
highly and it is truly a privilege to work<br />
alongside each of them. I am indebted<br />
to them for their time and unwavering<br />
dedication to our great School. In that<br />
context I thank Pastors Phil and Christine<br />
Pringle for birthing our School 33 years<br />
ago, and the C3 church community for<br />
their continued support. In addition,<br />
Board member Mr Marc Forestieri is<br />
the Chairman of the OFGS Foundation<br />
and I thank him and his Foundation<br />
team for the time and commitment<br />
they give to our School community.<br />
Finally, I thank God for His continued<br />
faithfulness to us and for his blessings<br />
over 2017.<br />
Mrs Pam O’Flaherty<br />
Chairman<br />
At the end of this school year, two of<br />
our long-term staff members retired:<br />
Mrs Georgia Judge (who has been<br />
with us in the Junior School for 17<br />
years) and Mrs Liz de Guio (who has<br />
worked in our TAS Department for<br />
12 years). We thank them sincerely for<br />
their many years of service to OFGS<br />
OFFICIAL REPORTS CHAIRMAN REPORT<br />
Dr Phil Pringle<br />
President and<br />
Founding Member<br />
Mr Craig<br />
Stanmore<br />
Deputy Chair<br />
Mr Marcello<br />
Forestieri<br />
Director<br />
Mr Paul Macken<br />
Director<br />
Pr Tracey Berry<br />
Director<br />
Mr Ian Harry<br />
Director<br />
Mr Clyde Daish<br />
Director<br />
5
Head of Senior School<br />
REPORT<br />
It has been such a privilege and honour this year to lead a dynamic and<br />
progressive Senior School. It has certainly been a successful year for our<br />
students and staff in so many domains.<br />
Mrs Juliette Siemsen<br />
Head of Senior School<br />
OXFORD FALLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2017 YEARBOOK<br />
This success is the result of dedicated<br />
and professional teachers who<br />
continue to go above and beyond<br />
for our students. This is evident in the<br />
opportunities offered to our students in<br />
attending the overseas mission trip,<br />
History tour, public speaking competitions,<br />
debating, co-curricular dance eisteddfods,<br />
national sports representation, music<br />
recital night, music eisteddfods, HSC<br />
showcase, the outreach program; the<br />
list is endless. To the teaching staff, I<br />
extend my heartfelt appreciation for the<br />
provision of the highest quality of<br />
teaching to engage our students in active<br />
and creative learning environments.<br />
I also value the partnerships we have<br />
with our parents in educating and<br />
supporting our students. This is a<br />
remarkable School community who<br />
genuinely want the best for each other<br />
and seek to value-add in so many ways.<br />
Our positive reputation continues to<br />
thrive and I proudly promote our School<br />
as a place that offers our students holistic<br />
twenty-first century learning experiences<br />
with the best practices in wellbeing and<br />
pastoral care. We take pride in truly<br />
knowing our students and equipping<br />
them with the skills to lead successful,<br />
Christ-centred lives. We are so proud<br />
of the students who graduated this year,<br />
they are exceptional young men and<br />
women of great character. Our student<br />
numbers are healthy and continue to<br />
grow, and I am thrilled to welcome<br />
another stream into Year 7 in 2018.<br />
Our Quality Teacher Program<br />
continues to inspire and professionally<br />
develop our staff in regular sharing and<br />
learning teams. The focus this year<br />
has been on Building Learning Power:<br />
Learning behaviours based on the 3Cs<br />
model: Cognition, Collaboration and<br />
Commitment. The model has provided<br />
a toolkit for teachers to discuss,<br />
<strong>demo</strong>nstrate and design their lessons<br />
to incorporate the 3C model and build<br />
strong, positive learning behaviours in<br />
our students. This common language<br />
and instruction has improved student<br />
engagement and learning outcomes<br />
in our classrooms. Dr Marks has<br />
customised this unique program at<br />
OFGS to help the staff encourage<br />
students to take responsibility for<br />
their learning and build solid learning<br />
behaviours for life. I sincerely thank<br />
Dr Susan Marks, Director of Teaching<br />
and Learning, for her direction and<br />
dedication to the program and for<br />
fostering a love of learning in all staff.<br />
We offer a comprehensive academic<br />
program at OFGS that is so ably managed<br />
under the stewardship of Mr Paul Arena.<br />
Thank you to our Director of Curriculum<br />
who ensures we meet NESA standards<br />
in all subjects, ensures students’ academic<br />
programs are engaging and appropriate<br />
and drives the innovative curriculum on<br />
offer at our School. Thank you to Mr<br />
Arena and the Heads of Department<br />
for providing such creative and engaging<br />
curriculum for our Senior School<br />
students across every KLA.<br />
The area of Wellbeing has developed<br />
and grown this year under the tutelage<br />
of Director of Wellbeing, Mrs Penelope<br />
Turnbull, her stellar team of Year<br />
Advisors and the counsellors. The<br />
Wellbeing program has been given<br />
deliberate time in the daily timetable so<br />
that important themes around student<br />
mental health, study skills, and positive<br />
social and learning behaviours can be<br />
learnt and discussed. This program has<br />
added such a positive opportunity for<br />
students to discuss important topics<br />
and issues relevant to them with their<br />
teacher Mentors and their respective<br />
Year groups. Thank you to Penelope<br />
and her team for the implementation<br />
of a significant and relevant wellbeing<br />
program.<br />
Many thanks to the 2017 student<br />
leadership team: Captains Aimee<br />
McIntyre and Joshua Spiller, Vice<br />
Captains Remy Siemsen and Ben<br />
Turner, and Prefects Isabella Luciani,<br />
Hannah Borg, Lea Gleitsmann, Lucy<br />
Laidlaw, Elyse Morris, Ella Stannard,<br />
Francesca Mays, Finn Ruby Dawe,<br />
Nathan McDonald and Milan Kruger,<br />
for the time and effort they have given<br />
to their portfolios this year to assist and<br />
support staff and the student body. The<br />
student leaders have been generous in<br />
their leadership and leave an important<br />
legacy of service in our School.<br />
It has been a very full and rewarding<br />
year in the Senior School and I look<br />
forward to leading and taking the<br />
Senior School to greater heights and<br />
accomplishments in 2018.<br />
Mrs Juliette Siemsen<br />
Head of Senior School<br />
6
Head of Junior School<br />
REPORT<br />
2017 in the Junior School has been full, fun and fast.<br />
A major focus once again was thankfulness.<br />
Mrs Amy Corrigan<br />
Head of Junior School<br />
Staff and students regularly<br />
discussed the importance of being<br />
thankful for others, to lift up and<br />
encourage them, and also as a positive<br />
habit for each of us to <strong>demo</strong>nstrate. Our<br />
students also spent time discussing the<br />
concept of ‘Love is a Verb’. This topic<br />
was discussed in particular detail during<br />
Christian Studies and during class time,<br />
with encouraging and exciting results.<br />
Classes enjoyed working on personal<br />
goals to show that ‘Love is a Verb’. I was<br />
impressed with the range of ideas the<br />
children came up with. These included:<br />
‘Thankful Ninjas’, whole classes raised<br />
money for local community members,<br />
some classes wrote thank-you notes to<br />
people in our School and to others.<br />
Staff in the Junior School have enjoyed<br />
professional development and additional<br />
resources to support our ongoing<br />
Literacy focus. This year the Buddy<br />
Reading program was introduced. This<br />
highly successful scheme has not only<br />
fostered a genuine love of reading but<br />
has also positively affected playground<br />
interactions between students of varying<br />
ages. This year we celebrated Book<br />
Week and loved the pleasure our<br />
students and staff have taken in reading<br />
new and interesting stories. The<br />
culminating event for this fun week was<br />
the first K–6 Book Parade and teacher<br />
Reader’s Theatre. The students brought<br />
an amazing selection of characters and<br />
stories to the Parade as we watched<br />
buddy classes walk together reflecting<br />
on this focus, I remembered a quote by<br />
a favourite author, C S Lewis, “A children’s<br />
story that can only be enjoyed by children<br />
is not a good children’s story in the<br />
slightest.” A great reminder of the joy<br />
that can be found in reading for all ages.<br />
This year many talented students in our<br />
School achieved heights we had not seen<br />
before. More than 450 students attended<br />
sports carnivals of varying levels, breaking<br />
all sorts of records. Our Swimming<br />
Carnival, Cross Country and Athletics<br />
Carnivals continue to provide opportunities<br />
for students to push themselves and<br />
achieve goals. Students have had the<br />
privilege of trialling for CIS sporting teams<br />
or representing the School in PISA.<br />
Our NAPLAN results were a good<br />
reflection of the hard work of staff and<br />
students alike, with both Year 3 and<br />
Year 5 results s above State and AIS<br />
averages. Student teams won prizes<br />
in a range of competitions including<br />
Tournament of the Minds, and a gifted<br />
Year 5 team was awarded second place<br />
in the 2017 University of Sydney Sleek<br />
Geeks Science Eureka Prize.<br />
Years 3–6 participated in their annual<br />
camps this year. For many students this<br />
is their first overnight adventure and all<br />
the camps were a great success. We<br />
are so proud of each student and the<br />
resilience they <strong>demo</strong>nstrated in tackling<br />
what is sometimes a tricky first step.<br />
I thoroughly enjoyed my time visiting<br />
the students and staff at each camp<br />
– I witnessed students and teachers<br />
enjoying the flying fox, the crate climb,<br />
BMX riding, rock climbing and more.<br />
A huge thank you to our dedicated staff<br />
who sacrifice time with their families<br />
(and sometimes tiny, new babies!) to<br />
be there, it was obvious from all the<br />
smiling faces it was much appreciated.<br />
The Year 6 students have served<br />
the School so well in their various<br />
leadership roles throughout the year.<br />
For the first time, every student in Year<br />
6 elected a portfolio area to serve the<br />
School in as a leader. These portfolios<br />
included a Community, Ministry,<br />
Creative focus. Our Year 6 students<br />
once again proved to be caring and<br />
compassionate mentors and buddies to<br />
their peers and will be greatly missed<br />
as they move on to Year 7 next year.<br />
We have a group of dedicated Junior<br />
School student leaders who have run<br />
lunchtime clubs for interested peers and<br />
sacrificed their time to contribute to<br />
the School community. Student leaders<br />
enjoyed receiving training and attending<br />
a student leadership conference to learn<br />
about the qualities of an effective leader.<br />
Each year our goal is to see each and<br />
every student grow and learn in a<br />
positive environment. A 2017 Oxford<br />
Falls Grammar School student had<br />
opportunities throughout the year to<br />
display and work on qualities such as<br />
diligence, servant-heartedness, respect,<br />
to develop in their Faith, knowledge<br />
and love of God. I am impressed by the<br />
passion and dedication our students<br />
exhibit in their commitment to their<br />
academic and personal interests and we<br />
look forward to another great year ahead.<br />
Mrs Amy Corrigan<br />
Head of Junior School<br />
OFFICIAL REPORTS HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL REPORT<br />
7
Head of Operations<br />
SUPPORT SERVICES REPORT<br />
We welcomed our new Principal, Dr Peter Downey, at the start of Term 2 and as I<br />
complete another year as Head of Operations, I look forward to 2018 and beyond,<br />
serving on the Senior Leadership Team under Dr Downey’s direction.<br />
Mr Greg Morris<br />
Head of Operations<br />
Having reached my 10 years<br />
of service in March this year,<br />
I continue to reflect on the<br />
wonderful community spirit of OFGS,<br />
and the privilege it is to work here.<br />
Lastly, I would like to thank each<br />
member of the Support Services team<br />
for their dedication and hard work in<br />
the delivery of the many and varied<br />
roles they perform. I am extremely<br />
privileged to lead such a wonderful<br />
team of dedicated staff committed to<br />
supporting every area of School life.<br />
Mr Greg Morris<br />
Head of Operations<br />
OXFORD FALLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2017 YEARBOOK<br />
As I write this report, I am completing<br />
the final negotiations with a construction<br />
company to build the largest project in<br />
the history of Oxford Falls Grammar<br />
School. It will comprise eight new<br />
21st-century learning spaces, a Senior<br />
School study centre, a multipurpose<br />
learning facility and a second bridge<br />
crossing over the creek. Incorporated<br />
into the design will also be a new<br />
location for the School’s café and the<br />
Year 12 common room.<br />
This year we saw Andrew Mah (HR<br />
Manager) depart. While Andrew will<br />
be missed, we have been blessed to<br />
have Nicola Pengilly step into the role<br />
of Human Resources Manager. Also,<br />
Michelle Wernicke (Executive Assistant<br />
to Head of Senior School) moved to<br />
Melbourne early in the year and has<br />
been replaced by Julie Shortland.<br />
Support Staff<br />
FRONT ROW: Kathy Somers, Kevin Wood, Kim Rooke, Julie Tilley, Peter Downey, Greg Morris,<br />
Jennifer Lugsdin, Nicola Pengilly, Paul Bickell, Michael Parker<br />
SECOND ROW: Belinda Dart, Anita Schrader, Jacqueline Borg, Donna Luciani, Danielle White,<br />
Carol Campbell, Katrina Jackson, Kaylene Harry, Wendy Pyl, Merryn Parks, Bev Cooke<br />
THIRD ROW: Simone Bullen, Janine Ghilks, Sharon Emery, Lindy Hubbard, Jenny Cook, Adam<br />
Hardwick, Matthew Harding, Louisa Morris, Nataleigh Green, Susan Henderson, Amanda Aspin,<br />
Selina Malcolm, Robyn Davies<br />
FOURTH ROW: Jacqueline Field, Kerry Saundercock, Julie Shortland, Mitchell Hammond,<br />
Kimmie Holloway, Fiona Ryder, Jessica Smallwood, Ben Dreyer, Jillian Perry, Olivia Gilbert<br />
8
Director of Curriculum<br />
REPORT<br />
This year, a number of exciting new opportunities were introduced into the<br />
Senior School curriculum.<br />
Mr Paul Arena<br />
Director of Curriculum<br />
• A new languages program was<br />
rolled out; for the first time, students<br />
in Year 7 studied two languages<br />
through a Languages ‘Taster’ with<br />
a semester of study of Chinese<br />
(Mandarin) and of French. Chinese<br />
was introduced in the Senior School<br />
two years ago and interest in this<br />
language has been sustained with<br />
a strong number of students now<br />
studying this language in Stage 5. In<br />
the coming years, we look forward<br />
to student studying both Mandarin<br />
and French for the HSC.<br />
• Year 8 students benefitted from a<br />
new STEM (Science, Technology,<br />
Engineering and Maths) unit of work<br />
and this has translated to strong<br />
demand for STEM related electives<br />
such as Information & Software<br />
Technology and Design and<br />
Technology in 2018.<br />
• The Year 9 Accelerated Mathematics<br />
program was successfully introduced<br />
and next year, students in Year 10<br />
will commence the Preliminary 2<br />
unit Mathematics HSC which will<br />
set them up for their Extension<br />
Mathematics study in Year 11 and 12.<br />
• Our first group of Year 11 students<br />
studied 1 unit Studies of Religion and<br />
2 unit courses in Photography, Video<br />
& Digital Imaging and Sport (PVDI),<br />
Lifestyle & Recreation Studies (SLRS).<br />
Each of these courses were a<br />
welcome addition to the suite<br />
offered in Stage 6 and strong demand<br />
was again recorded by Year 10<br />
students in their selections for 2018.<br />
There were a number of academic<br />
highlights in 2017. We were particularly<br />
pleased with the achievements of our<br />
Year 12 students in their HSC and<br />
the exciting opportunities for tertiary<br />
study available due to the strong ATARs<br />
achieved. Our NAPLAN results this<br />
year also continued to <strong>demo</strong>nstrate<br />
a strong focus in both Literacy and<br />
Numeracy in the Senior School.<br />
HSC RESULTS 2017<br />
INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENTS:<br />
The top ATAR of 99.6 was achieved by Joshua Spiller. In addition Joshua Spiller<br />
was honoured as an All-Rounder for attaining 90 or above (Band 6 or Band E4)<br />
in at least ten units of study.<br />
DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVERS WHO SCORED A BAND 6 OR BAND E4 IN NUMEROUS SUBJECTS:<br />
Joshua Spiller Rebecca Barlow Cameron Gain Isabella Luciani Elyse Morris<br />
Economics Ancient History Ancient History Business Studies Economics<br />
English Advanced Business Studies Biology English Advanced English Advanced<br />
English Extension 1 English Advanced English Advanced Geography Legal Studies<br />
English Extension 2 English Extension 1 English Extension 1 Modern History Modern History<br />
Mathematics Modern History Mathematics General 2 History Extension<br />
Mathematics Extension 1<br />
Physics<br />
OFFICIAL REPORTS DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM<br />
9
OXFORD FALLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2017 YEARBOOK<br />
TOP ACHIEVERS IN<br />
THE STATE WERE:<br />
• Monique Gomez placed in the top<br />
20 in the State for French Beginners<br />
• Luciana Lopez placed in the top 50<br />
in the state for Dance<br />
• Harry Vasey placed in the top 70 in<br />
the state for Industrial Technology<br />
35 students appear on the Distinguished<br />
Achievers List, having scored in the top<br />
band (Band 6 or E4) in at least one course:<br />
Rebecca Barlow, Charlie Birnie, Nathan<br />
Blyme, Tyler Bowles, Caitlyn Burton,<br />
Arabella Cleary, Rory Coverdale, Finn<br />
Ruby Dawe, Joshua De, Matthew<br />
Dennison, Jacob Ditchfield, Aryan<br />
Eshraghi, Cameron Gain, Lea<br />
Gleitsmann, Monique Gomez, Red<br />
Hunt, Lucy Laidlaw, Luciana Lopez,<br />
Isabella Luciani, Sascha MacDonald,<br />
Francesca Mays, Madeleine McIntyre,<br />
Donald McNamara, Elyse Morris,<br />
Alexander Nicholls, Alexandra Norris,<br />
Oliver Perillo, Maddison Pullinger,<br />
Amelia Rose, Joshua Spiller, Daniel<br />
Stone, Hamish Taylor, Benjamin Turner,<br />
Harry Vasey, Melanie Wearing.<br />
PERFORMING AND<br />
CREATIVE ARTS<br />
• Accelerated Dance students, Luciana<br />
Lopez, Sascha MacDonald and<br />
Melanie Wearing in Year 11, were<br />
nominated for CallBack; a selection<br />
of outstanding performances and<br />
projects from HSC Dance students<br />
to be held at the Seymour Centre,<br />
University of Sydney. All three<br />
students were nominated for both<br />
their Core Composition and their<br />
Major Study Performance – a very<br />
rare event indeed. The judges<br />
ultimately selected Luciana and<br />
Sascha’s Major Study Performances<br />
for inclusion in CallBack.<br />
NAPLAN RESULTS 2017<br />
In May this year the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy<br />
(NAPLAN) was completed by all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 in all<br />
Government and Non-Government schools in Australia. The NAPLAN tests<br />
report each student’s level of achievement against the National benchmarks in<br />
Literacy (Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar & Punctuation) and Numeracy<br />
(Data, Measurement, Space & Geometry and Number, Patterns & Algebra).<br />
NAPLAN tests allow us to identify areas for improvement for individual<br />
students and to identify school-wide priorities for the future. It was pleasing<br />
to note that the Literacy and Numeracy scores at OFGS exceeded the State<br />
comparison in all areas for each cohort sitting this assessment program.<br />
AVERAGE SCORES<br />
Reading Writing Spelling Grammar Numeracy<br />
OFGS NSW OFGS NSW OFGS NSW OFGS NSW OFGS NSW<br />
Year 3 469 437 434 421 449 427 457 444 459 416<br />
Year 5 542 509 493 478 545 508 564 506 531 500<br />
Year 7 580 549 539 517 572 558 577 547 580 560<br />
Year 9 623 589 607 559 613 592 624 583 626 603<br />
• Caitlyn Burton and Harry Vasey<br />
were both nominated for inclusion in<br />
Intech, the annual exhibition of<br />
outstanding Major Projects by HSC<br />
Industrial Technology (Multimedia)<br />
students. Caitlyn produced a website<br />
and an immersive short film installation<br />
to raise awareness of mental health<br />
issues. Harry produced a short film,<br />
using ‘claymation’, with an<br />
accompanying website. Harry’s Major<br />
Project was, in fact selected by the<br />
judges for display in the exhibition.<br />
• From Visual Arts, two Major Works<br />
were selected for the Express Yourself<br />
Exhibition, these being Georgia<br />
Peter’s watercolour and Ben<br />
Shelley’s drawing work.<br />
COURSE HIGHLIGHTS<br />
The school average exceeded the state<br />
average in over 95% of the courses<br />
offered here. In the following courses<br />
the school average greatly exceeded<br />
the state result:<br />
• Ancient History<br />
• Biology<br />
• Business Studies<br />
• Dance<br />
• Economics<br />
• Food Technology<br />
• French Beginners<br />
• Geography<br />
• History Extension<br />
• Industrial Technology (Multimedia)<br />
• Legal Studies<br />
• Mathematics General<br />
• Mathematics<br />
• Modern History<br />
• Music 1<br />
Mr Paul Arena<br />
Director of Curriculum<br />
10
Director of Teaching<br />
and Learning K–12 REPORT<br />
At Oxford Falls Grammar School teachers work hard to design learning experiences<br />
that are rich, relevant and rigorous.<br />
Dr Susan Marks<br />
Director of Teaching<br />
and Learning K–12<br />
This year teachers have continued<br />
to meet together in Sharing and<br />
Learning Teams (SaLT) to set<br />
goals, plan teaching and learning strategies,<br />
reflect on students’ learning and share<br />
best practice. Our SaLT program provides<br />
teachers with an action research model<br />
of continuous professional development<br />
that is grounded in research, inspires<br />
teachers to experiment with engaging<br />
approaches to<br />
learning, and<br />
holds them<br />
accountable to<br />
one another.<br />
In the Senior<br />
School, this year<br />
has seen the<br />
introduction of the<br />
OFGS 3Cs model<br />
of learning (see<br />
right). Inspired by<br />
Guy Claxton’s<br />
Mind<br />
Questioning<br />
Reasoning<br />
Analysis<br />
Observation<br />
Cognition<br />
Independence<br />
Imagination<br />
Connecting<br />
Reflection<br />
(2002, 2011) Building Learning Power<br />
approach to developing effective<br />
learners, the OFGS 3Cs model was<br />
designed in-house, specifically with<br />
OFGS students in mind, and centres on<br />
three domains of learning – Cognition,<br />
Collaboration and Commitment – each<br />
of which features eight important<br />
learning behaviours. In the cognition<br />
domain, behaviours such as questioning<br />
assumptions, imagining and critical<br />
reflection engage students in the<br />
learning process as creators, rather than<br />
merely consumers, of ideas. The<br />
importance of working effectively in<br />
collaboration with others, through<br />
exercising behaviours such as reliability<br />
and empathy, is also vital to successful<br />
learning. Finally, commitment to<br />
learning is an important part of the<br />
model, for without <strong>demo</strong>nstrating<br />
behaviours such as perseverance,<br />
self-belief, focus and effective planning,<br />
learning may well be shallow and<br />
sporadic. Carol Dweck’s (2006) research<br />
on ‘growth mindset’ (that is, the belief<br />
that intelligence is not fixed, but can grow<br />
through effort) and Angela Duckworth’s<br />
Listening<br />
Empathy<br />
Reliability Humility<br />
Collaboration<br />
Encouragement<br />
Leadership Teamwork<br />
Assertiveness<br />
Effort<br />
Focus Revision<br />
Perseverance<br />
Commitment<br />
Self-Belief<br />
Planning Risk-Taking<br />
Absorption<br />
Emotions<br />
and Will<br />
Relationships<br />
(2016) work on ‘grit’, support this<br />
emphasis on learning behaviours<br />
located in the commitment domain.<br />
In the Junior School, teachers have<br />
been consolidating last year’s focus<br />
on the implementation of strategies<br />
to improve reading through the CAFÉ<br />
model. This model – an acronym for<br />
Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency<br />
and Expanding vocabulary – involves<br />
teachers offering explicit instruction in<br />
these key areas. In addition, students<br />
are encouraged to practise literacy skills<br />
independently, while the classroom<br />
teacher engages in reading conferences<br />
with individuals and small groups. This<br />
year teachers have also restructured<br />
a number of English lessons, so that<br />
aspects of literacy – such as spelling,<br />
reading, writing and grammar – are<br />
integrated into literacy blocks, rather<br />
than being taught in isolation. Our<br />
sustained focus on reading, both at<br />
School and in terms of our homework<br />
policy that prioritises reading, has seen<br />
a substantial increase in the number of<br />
books borrowed from the Library and<br />
improved reading results across the<br />
board, including improved NAPLAN<br />
reading results.<br />
As part of the SaLT program this year,<br />
Junior School teachers also had the<br />
opportunity to participate in passion<br />
projects, ably led by our Junior<br />
School SaLT leaders. These included<br />
workshops on: teaching writing<br />
effectively; inquiry-based learning;<br />
effective use of iPads in the classroom;<br />
and new approaches to fostering<br />
students’ wellbeing and resilience.<br />
Once again, 2017 has afforded OFGS<br />
teachers a range of opportunities to hone<br />
their craft as skilful practitioners. Our<br />
vibrant professional learning community<br />
has continued to flourish as we have<br />
devoted ourselves to ongoing learning,<br />
reflection and refinement of our practice.<br />
Dr Susan Marks<br />
Director of Teaching and Learning K-12<br />
Claxton, G. (2002). Building learning power: Helping young<br />
people become better learners. Bristol, U.K., T.L.O.<br />
Claxton, G. (2011). The learning powered school:<br />
Pioneering 21st century education. Bristol, U.K., T.L.O.<br />
Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The power of passion and<br />
perseverance. New York, N.Y. Scribner.<br />
Dweck, C. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of<br />
success. New York, N.Y. Random House.<br />
OFFICIAL REPORTS DIRECTOR OF TEACHING AND LEARNING<br />
11
School Community Chaplain<br />
REPORT<br />
Oxford Falls Grammar School and our community of parents, students and staff<br />
are truly our richest assets. Every day I stop and reflect on the depth and strength<br />
of community we have.<br />
Mrs Simone Bullen<br />
School Community<br />
Chaplain<br />
OXFORD FALLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2017 YEARBOOK<br />
Whether it be in times<br />
of need, or one of the<br />
many celebrations and<br />
achievements – our School community<br />
rallies together and does make a<br />
difference. Sometimes it is through<br />
meals cooked and delivered, or an<br />
encouraging word to each other, but<br />
whatever it is, it does make a difference.<br />
This year has been full with Outreach<br />
Programs, Chapels, Family Services,<br />
Parent Prayer and Missions Trips, just<br />
to mention a few.<br />
However, what stands out in my mind,<br />
perhaps as I have recently returned<br />
from the Philippines, is the regular<br />
feedback from strangers commenting<br />
on how our students were the most<br />
polite and respectful they have ever<br />
come across. I was not surprised at all,<br />
but none the less was super-proud.<br />
As I was relatively new to this role in<br />
2016, one of the numerous highlights of<br />
my year has been getting to know many<br />
families, through the various events<br />
and opportunities that always present<br />
themselves.<br />
Our Moonlight Movie Night was such<br />
a hit and I was overwhelmed by the<br />
support of both parents and staff, but<br />
also the generosity shown by the<br />
funds raised on the night. It is always<br />
a good thing when we take our eyes<br />
off our own situation and help others.<br />
Somehow everything else is put in<br />
perspective. Our Term 4 initiative of<br />
Christmas Hampers always leaves<br />
an impact, and I am excited that as a<br />
School community this year we filled<br />
and donated 100 hampers to families<br />
in need.<br />
I consider it a tremendous privilege to<br />
be leading our School Chaplains, Peter<br />
Ryburn, Mitch Hammond and Olivia<br />
Gilbert. Our students are so blessed<br />
by the encouraging words of wisdom<br />
and the enthusiasm of these three<br />
Chaplains, but are especially fortunate<br />
to have someone who continues to<br />
believe in them and pray for them –<br />
no matter what.<br />
We welcomed our first baby into our<br />
Department this year! We congratulate<br />
Peter Ryburn and his wife Bek on the<br />
safe arrival of beautiful baby Daisy. Also<br />
in the July holidays we celebrated the<br />
wedding of Olivia to Ben Gilbert. So<br />
many celebrations and firsts for us all.<br />
Sadly though, Mitch Hammond will be<br />
leaving us after three years as one of<br />
the Youth Chaplains. Not only was he<br />
a graduate of Oxford Falls Grammar<br />
School, he has made an invaluable<br />
difference here to myself, my team,<br />
the staff but especially the students<br />
and he will be very missed.<br />
I pray as 2017 comes to a close that<br />
you enjoy your familiy, stop, reflect<br />
and savour what is truly important in<br />
your life.<br />
Let me leave you with these words<br />
from PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7:<br />
“Don’t worry about anything; instead,<br />
pray about everything. Tell God what you<br />
need, and thank him for all he has done.<br />
7 Then you will experience God’s peace,<br />
which exceeds anything we can understand.<br />
His peace will guard your hearts and<br />
minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”<br />
Mrs Simone Bullen<br />
School Community Chaplain<br />
12
OFGS Foundation REPORT<br />
We believe that part of equipping our children is to teach them to be givers, to be<br />
others-centred, and to expand their world view beyond themselves. This can only<br />
be achieved by our example. Being givers and seeking opportunities to contribute<br />
outside of our own lives <strong>demo</strong>nstrates this spirit of generosity to our children.<br />
Mr Marc Forestieri<br />
Foundation Chairman<br />
FIELD OF DREAMS<br />
We can confirm that the land needed<br />
to allow for the redevelopment of<br />
the School oval was settled and now<br />
completes the land required for the<br />
Field of Dreams. Therefore planning<br />
for the Field of Dreams is full steam<br />
ahead. The timeline for the School<br />
to commence construction on the<br />
100-space underground car park and<br />
our new state of the art playing field is<br />
July 2018, with completion expected in<br />
the second half of 2019.<br />
FOUNDATION MEMBERS<br />
We welcome John Ford to the Foundation<br />
Team. John and his wife Monica have<br />
three children at OFGS: Bella Year 9,<br />
Louise Year 7 and Jack Year 4. John is<br />
CEO and founder of The One Centre,<br />
an ideas and innovation company for<br />
brands. He works locally and internationally<br />
on marketing innovation for emerging<br />
and industry-leading businesses.<br />
Thank you to our volunteer team<br />
Tracey Berry, Julian Harris, Phillip<br />
Lonergan and Silvestro Morabito for<br />
their continuing generous support.<br />
GENEROSITY DINNER<br />
We were greatly encouraged by the<br />
increased number of people attending<br />
our Generosity Dinner this year.<br />
Numbers reached 325! Pre-dinner<br />
canapés was a great time for socialising<br />
and community building. The surprise<br />
table prizes were a success, and our<br />
customary balloons sold out in record<br />
time. More people gave financially and<br />
sacrificially and we are humbled by our<br />
community’s willingness to give their<br />
time, talents and dollars. The amount<br />
of accumulated donations earmarked<br />
for the Field of Dreams project now<br />
exceeds $1.5M. Specifically we wish to<br />
recognise the tireless efforts of the P&C<br />
event subcommittee. We thank you.<br />
We had the pleasure of hearing from<br />
Dr Peter Downey about the plan for<br />
all our building works, including the<br />
Field of Dreams where students will<br />
be provided with a state of the art<br />
recreational and competitive space<br />
where they can play, train and compete.<br />
Reminding us that physical fitness and<br />
access to quality sporting amenities<br />
play a critical role in our educational<br />
offering and the daily experiences of<br />
the children.<br />
We look forward to your support in<br />
2018 as we continue to foster a culture<br />
of generosity.<br />
Mr Marc Forestieri<br />
Foundation Chairman<br />
OFFICIAL REPORTS FOUNDATION REPORT<br />
13
Alumni REPORT<br />
As a relatively young school, OFGS does not have a long-instituted Alumni Association. However,<br />
we are continuing to build our connection with our past students, knowing that each year this will<br />
continue to grow.<br />
Our first alumni event was held<br />
this year – the Class of 2016<br />
Reunion, held on 27 October<br />
at The Beach Club Collaroy. It was a<br />
celebration of community, a night filled<br />
with joy and friendship, which is testament<br />
to the solid foundation of shared values<br />
the students acquired over their years<br />
together at OFGS. Fourteen staff<br />
attended and enjoyed catching up<br />
with the alumni and hearing about our<br />
ex-students’ journeys after school.<br />
KEEP IN TOUCH<br />
We encourage all<br />
ex-students to sign up<br />
to the alumni at<br />
http://bit.ly/ofgsalumni<br />
and like our Facebook<br />
page Oxford Falls<br />
Grammar Alumni. Parents, ex-students, past families and friends love to<br />
hear about members of our alumni and life after OFGS.<br />
Please email alumni@ofgs.nsw.edu.au and help us share your news!<br />
OXFORD FALLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2017 YEARBOOK<br />
14
Parent Community<br />
President REPORT<br />
It is often said it takes a whole community to raise a child. That is never truer<br />
than with a child’s education and development through a school community.<br />
Mr Paul O’Brien<br />
P&C President<br />
A<br />
partnership of teachers and<br />
parents when working together<br />
can enrich the life-learning<br />
experiences of our beautiful and<br />
precious children.<br />
If you think about it, our kids attend a<br />
village every day of their school lives. It<br />
is filled with all the richness and diversity<br />
life has to offer, equipping them to<br />
eventually take their place in the big,<br />
scary and ever-changing world we live<br />
in. Every degree of human endeavour,<br />
opportunity and emotion are on display<br />
each day in the village we call School.<br />
As I’ve come to the end of my tenure<br />
as your P&C President for the past two<br />
and a half years I’ve reflected on what<br />
drives individuals within our parent<br />
body to serve on a school P&C. The<br />
conclusion I’ve arrived at is that parents<br />
want to belong to something bigger<br />
than themselves. They want to give<br />
back to the village in a way that benefits<br />
not only their own children but the<br />
children and parents of others.<br />
In 2017 the P&C made some significant<br />
contributions and commenced<br />
a number of new initiatives. We<br />
contributed more than $50,000 to<br />
facilities around the School, including<br />
upgrades to student toilet facilities and<br />
outdoor seating furniture. There were<br />
contributions both in kind by dedicated<br />
volunteers and financially towards the<br />
Field of Dreams building project as<br />
part of the OFGS Foundation Dinner.<br />
We continued to refine and issue our<br />
quarterly newsletter Connections (first<br />
developed in 2016) and it has received<br />
many unsolicited favourable comments.<br />
We launched the Connect Cafe on the<br />
Deck area of the School to provide a<br />
meeting area for Junior School parents<br />
after fortnightly assemblies. Special<br />
thanks to Judy Gombos for driving that<br />
project. Another initiative late in the<br />
year was the rollout of a second-hand<br />
online trading system for school items<br />
through the Sustainable School Shop.<br />
While all these new initiatives add<br />
to the depth of infrastructure for the<br />
School, the core objective of nurturing<br />
friendships and building community<br />
OFFICIAL REPORTS PARENT COMMUNITY PRESIDENT<br />
15
OXFORD FALLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2017 YEARBOOK<br />
continues as the cornerstone of the<br />
P&C. The real strength of OFGS comes<br />
from a significant grassroots community<br />
that continues the practice of building<br />
relationships and organising activities at<br />
a class and Year level right across the<br />
Junior and Senior Schools. These come<br />
in the form of picnics, dinners and other<br />
social gatherings.<br />
In addition to smaller gatherings, a series<br />
of traditional and non-traditional events<br />
dot the School calendar. They include,<br />
for example, Father’s and Mother’s Day<br />
events and fun activities such as Colour<br />
Splash in Term 3. Attendance was high<br />
at many of these, but the highlight was<br />
the Father’s Day breakfast attended by<br />
more than 600 people, supported by<br />
Junior and Senior bands and a keynote<br />
address by Dr Downey.<br />
Another new initiative for 2017 was<br />
the first evening expert presentation<br />
specifically for mothers and daughters,<br />
focusing on particular challenges for<br />
young women in the 21st century.<br />
Special thanks for driving this initiative<br />
go to Lisa Rees-Allen in bringing her<br />
vision to reality.<br />
Another first for the P&C was the<br />
establishment of an honorary Life<br />
Membership recognition to individuals<br />
who have made significant contributions<br />
to P&C activities over many years. The<br />
inaugural recipients of this award were<br />
Tina Taylor and June Scifo, two legends<br />
of OFGS.<br />
School Maintenance Working Bees were<br />
restructured and revitalised in 2017<br />
under Bernd Petring’s astute leadership.<br />
Record attendances were achieved on<br />
the Saturdays when they were held<br />
during the year. Thank you, Bernd!<br />
The School canteen turnover and<br />
patronage continues to grow. Our<br />
dedicated team of full-time staff,<br />
supported by parent volunteers,<br />
continued to provide our children with<br />
the best in nutrition and variety. Thank<br />
you, ladies, and to all the volunteers<br />
who served throughout the year.<br />
There are so many individuals who<br />
serve across our great community that<br />
due to space constraints I’m unable to<br />
adequately cover them all. People who<br />
prepare and deliver meals to families<br />
who face significant challenges, others<br />
who prepare refreshments for myriad<br />
School events for us all to enjoy, and<br />
those who quietly go about completing<br />
vital administrative support activities<br />
without which things just wouldn’t<br />
work. Thank you to you all.<br />
I would like to take this opportunity to<br />
personally thank all those who served<br />
on the P&C both during this year and<br />
in the past. Our class and Year parents<br />
are the glue that keeps our parent<br />
body connected to each other and<br />
your efforts and dedication to our<br />
community are so greatly appreciated<br />
by the rest of us.<br />
I would particularly like to thank my<br />
fellow executives who served on the<br />
P&C executive in 2017 – Emily, Korena,<br />
Fabio, Debra and Jessamy. We had a lot<br />
of fun meeting and planning together<br />
and your spirit of collective enthusiasm<br />
and individual initiative drove much of<br />
the success we enjoyed this past year.<br />
I wish Deb McIntyre as the new P&C<br />
President every success and God’s rich<br />
blessings in filling her own shoes and<br />
continuing the legacy of others who<br />
have gone before.<br />
The mission of ‘building community’<br />
through practical acts of love and kindness<br />
continues to define what we are about<br />
as a parent body. For this reason we<br />
continue to seek creative, savvy and<br />
passionate community partnership<br />
builders who exist within our School’s<br />
community of parents. If you are such a<br />
person I would strongly encourage you<br />
to step forward, and to give whatever<br />
amount of time you can to serving the<br />
children and parents of your School.<br />
You won’t be burdened or disappointed.<br />
Thank you to all of you, best wishes and<br />
may God bless you and your families.<br />
Paul O’Brien<br />
OFGS P&C President 2015–2017<br />
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