Inside the Classroom
Early Primary
During week 2, our early primary students came together to celebrate NAIDOC Week with a range of fun and educational activities. We rotated through three sessions:
Storytime & Painting - We read How the Birds Got Their Colours and the students painted beautiful birds inspired by the story.
Symbol Making - Using shaving cream, we created Indigenous symbols and had a fantastic discussion about their meanings and significance.
Music & Singing - The students enjoyed singing songs with a focus on Australian Aboriginal culture, learning more about the richness of Indigenous music.
To wrap up, we shared a Bush Tucker experience! The kids were thrilled to try "leaves," "snakes," "grubs," "frogs," and "lizards" – and we had a laugh when they realised it was just lollies all along!
Such a wonderful way to honour and learn about Indigenous culture.
Class 5 has had a wonderful time exploring sensory experiences, including creating art with shaving cream and painting with forks. They've also focused on counting and one-to-one correspondence skills and gross motor development and regulation in the Engine room. Additionally, the class warmly welcomed some new kindergarten students for 2025 into their classroom!
Class 10 had an exciting start to term 4! The students loved exploring big books, celebrating NAIDOC Week and exploring various creative art projects. They also enjoyed sports sessions, engaged in music lessons, and spent time with friends. The focus was on the Zones of Regulation to help them understand and manage their emotions.
It was a fantastic time of learning, friendship, and fun!
This term, Class 11 has engaged in a diverse array of learning activities. Students have practiced essential skills like counting change, experienced the benefits of hydrotherapy in the spa, and participated in gross motor activities, including bike riding.
Billie-Jo Rutten
Assistant Principal Early Primary
Upper Primary
All upper primary classes participated in rotational activities last Thursday for NAIDOC week. The staff and students had a great time involved in storytelling, sand art, boomerang painting and indigenous games.
Class 6 students enjoy music lessons with Ms Cooke each Tuesday. The students have been learning different songs and playing a range of musical instruments. The students also love drawing and are creating some fantastic pieces.
Class 8 made Wattleseed and white chocolate chip muffins as a part of NAIDOC week activities.
Class 12 have been enjoying class outings in the community. In the classroom they have listened to stories, completed cooking activities and working with Tenielle on their communication.
Class 13 have been working hard in the classroom completing a range of learning activities. The students have participated in cooking and music with Ms Cooke.
Kari Priest
Assistant Principal Upper Primary
Stage 4
Stage 4 students had a wonderful overnight excursion to Canberra in Week 3. After a stop for morning tea at Boorowa, they headed to Questacon, where they loved the hands-on, science-based activities. They experienced a simulated earthquake, tackled the thrilling drop slide, and picked up some special memorabilia at the Questacon Shop.
From there, they checked into their accommodation and unpacked before visiting the National Arboretum, where they enjoyed the incredible playground. Stage 4 then returned to their cabins via the Telstra Tower, enjoying dinner and dessert together before a good night's sleep.
The next morning, students and staff rose early, ate breakfast, packed up, and set off on a scenic drive around Canberra. They visited Mount Ainslie, Old and New Parliament House, the War Memorial, and The Lodge, with Mr. Gross serving as an outstanding tour guide. They then spent the remainder of the day at Canberra Zoo and Aquarium before heading home.
Our students were beautifully behaved and represented our school with pride. Staff are so proud of the independence and maturity they showed throughout the entire experience.
Cassie Lloyd
Assistant Principal Stage 4
Stage 5
Students have had an immersing start to Term 4, with a focus on NAIDOC activities, experiencing an array of events from sampling foods i.e. emu, crocodile and kangaroo to actively moving with the visiting Dinawan Connection dance group, games and creative works.
Our Stage 5 excursion coincided with the NAIDOC activities, we ventured to Molong, Borenore Caves, Lake Canobolas and Mt. Canobolas (Gaanha-bula).
The significance of Yuranigh gravesite (nearby Molong) who was Sir Thomas Mitchell’s Aboriginal assistant, is the only known site in Australia where Aboriginal and European burial practices coexist. Onsite there are geometric carved designs on yellow box eucalyptus trees and several native parrots which rest in the nearby trees, including the colourful eastern rosellas and crimson rosellas.
At Borenore Caves we explored the Verandah Cave with its limestone outcrops and the Arch Cave which roof is full of stalactites that cling tightly and to the stalagmites that grow upwards from the ground. The area is well known for its native wildlife and protected species like the eastern bent-winged bat, however, we didn't see any bats on the day.
Lake Canobolas was a stunning venue for lunch and the opportunity to be instructed and "have a go" at cray fishing. Staff accessed the BBQ area and cooked up a surprise for all, with tasty BBQ kangaroo sausages and damper.
After lunch we ventured to the summit of Mt. Canobolas Gaanha-bula (Gaanha meaning shoulder and bula meaning two), standing at 1,395 metres above sea level. It is noted that the mountain is the highest peak between the Blue Mountains and the Indian Ocean. Is a place rich with Indigenous and cultural history and is also a modern-day tourist hotspot and telecommunications hub for regional NSW.
Thank you to all staff and students for a wonderful experience, great appreciation to Miss Payton and Mr. Tabbernor for their planning and coordination of this enriching event for all.
As responsible recyclers, students from Stage 5 visited the Wangarang Return and Earn facility, trading the cartons, bottles and cans for cash, which enhances and expands resources at Anson Street School. Don't forget families are most welcome to drop off their recycling (cans, cartons and bottles to the yellows bins at our transport zones.
Hugh Rasmussen
Assistant Principal Stage 5
Stage 6
The year 12 students have returned happily to engage with their term 4 community access program. Every week we are busy exploring the local community, visiting local service providers, spreading kindness and curiosity.
Kindness- Year 12 students have painted rocks with special messages to spread kindness within the local community.
Curiosity- Where's Wally. Students have created where's Wally characters to hide within he school. The first class to find the complete set will win a prize!
Fundraising- The year 12 students are raising funds to purchase a gift for the school upon their graduation. We have been busy cooking jams this week.
Citizenship- Year 12 students have been exploring what makes a good citizen through accessing the Symphony learning platfrom and completing the Life Ready Program.
Recycling - Year 12 have been busy continuing the recycling program across the school. Twice a week students collect recycling from each class and collect return and earn bottles and cans to fill our school bins.
Jess Hodder
Assistant Principal Stage 6
Orange Learning Centre
Term 4 has seen the continuation of learning on the Campus. Class 21 are working hard on mathematics, both independently and as a group.
Class 21 have also been learning about sustainability and have visited the Return and Earn facility at Wangarang.
Iyzacke made a "Big Mac" from scratch, during his weekly OT session. This included making the special sauce using fresh ingredients.
Campus students made great use of the sunny weather, enjoying eating lunch together outside, picnic style. It was wonderful to see students from different classes spending time together chatting and having lunch together. We are thinking this could be a weekly event while the weather is so nice.
We are welcoming new students into the Tutorial program this week as well as supporting others to transition back to their base schools.
Kate Griffen
Head Teacher OLC