Grammar News

Faculty News

LOTE Greek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Friday 2 August, Oakleigh Grammar had the pleasure of hosting 24 students and 3 staff members from All Saints Grammar School in Sydney as part of their Greek Cultural Tour of Melbourne.

 

All Saints Grammar participated in a special two-hour program at Oakleigh Grammar, where they met our students and engaged in various activities conducted in Greek. They also visited our Early Learning Centre (ELC) and enjoyed a delightful Greek performance by our youngest students.

 

After a shared morning tea, students from both schools exchanged their thoughts and experiences on learning the Greek language and culture. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate our shared heritage.

 

Natasha Spanos

VCE Academic Leader LOTE

 

 

 

Orthodox Christian Studies 

One of the most important dates in the Orthodox Christian calendar is the Dormition of the Theotokos, which is celebrated on 15 August each year. This term, our students engaged in activities to deepen their understanding of the importance of the Theotokos for our salvation due to her crucial role in the Incarnation, her holiness, and her devotion to God. The Theotokos' role as a source of comfort and intercession helped students grow in God’s love. The students saw the Theotokos as a role model, exhibiting the virtues of humility, obedience, and faith.

 

In the Engage Phase, Prep students learned about the Biblical story of Creation. Year 1 students learned about the story of “Adam and Eve” and how God wants us to use our free will to make good choices. Year 2 students explored the theme of “Family” as one of our gifts from God.

 

Year 3 students in the Explain Phase studied the novel “Brave Like a Saint” and learned about God’s protection, developing a stronger faith through daily decisions and actions.

In the Elaborate Phase, Year 4 students learned how Jesus, during His time on earth, spoke to people through His miracles and showed His glory to help them put their faith in Him.

 

Lastly, Year 5 students learned about the “Heroes of our Faith” from the Old Testament. They analyzed the virtues of the people that God chose to prepare humanity for the arrival of the Messiah, with emphasis also given to the role of the Apostle Paul in spreading Christianity to the world.

 

Across all year levels in Junior School during Orthodox Christian Studies in Term 3, students practiced the Lord’s Prayer along with the hymn of our patron saints, Saints Anargiri, in both English and Greek.

 

Mrs V. Pavlidou and Miss E. Fanaritis

Orthodox Christian Studies Teachers

 

 

 

Debating 

With Interschool Debating wrapped up for the year, we progressed immediately to some on-campus initiatives. Every Year 8 student in the school had a chance to learn the skills and structures of formal debating, participating in a welcoming environment at their various levels of confidence. Those who did particularly well joined selected students from other year levels in the third Annual Interhouse Debating Competition! A wider-than-ever range of Oakleigh Grammar students have now been exposed to debating at our school, and they have seen Rose House victorious in 2022 and 2023. Over the past three weeks, competitors from Years 6 to 11 have debated at lunchtime in front of peers on topics including:

  • That Australia should accept more immigrants annually
  • That the voting age should be lowered to 16
  • That the government should pay for all Australians’ dentistry and optometry
  • That the school day should run from 10am to 4.30pm
  • That the government should build as much new social housing as possible

In Years 6-8, many students had their first chance to debate competitively, with Bradman and Fraser qualifying for the grand final.

 

In Years 9-11, Rose dominated once again and thus will be given the right to take on a team of teachers on grand final day!

 

These two big events will take place on Tuesday 3 September in the Conference Centre in front a packed house. We can’t wait for the next edition of this exciting event!

 

Leigh Gridley

Year Level Leader (Years 8 & 9), Debating Coordinator

 

 

A Season of Mathematical Challenges and Triumphs

 

Term 3 has been an exciting time for our Mathematics department, with many of our students in Years 6 to 9 embracing the challenge of participating in prestigious competitions: Maths Olympiad, the Australian Mathematics Competition, and the ICAS Mathematics Competition.

 

These competitions are more than just a test of knowledge; they are an opportunity for students to stretch their thinking, explore new strategies, and grow in confidence. The joy they found in tackling these mathematical challenges is a testament to their enthusiasm and determination.

 

While we eagerly await the results, we already celebrate the success of their participation. Taking on these challenges is an achievement in itself, and we are incredibly proud of their efforts. We wish all our competitors the very best and look forward to seeing them continue to shine in their mathematical journey.