ORACLE ISSUE 1 2020 ‘Why Ormiston College?’ Yes, it’s official, fully authenticated! OUR PARENTS AND FRIENDS ASSOCIATION a great community From the Editor Ormiston College reflects the individual spirit, integrity and values Along with many other people, my thoughts for the year 2020 conjured up something “of a co-educational, independent, non-denominational Christian school, quite exciting and different, but like many others throughout the entire world, we could not have imagined how very different things were about to become. Prior to catering for students from Prep through to Year 12. the disastrous event of COVID-19, my original thought for this edition was to detail ” the different areas that make up the Ormiston College Community, plus to outline the outstanding achievements our school has accomplished over the past decade. ue to the global circumstances, I cannot think The many advantages of an Ormiston College Dof more relevant and fitting items to discuss. education are constantly being heralded by There is absolutely no doubt in the minds of all staff at people and organisations outside of the school. Ormiston College, that we can and will work together Acknowledgement and indeed facts, figures and In this to get through this time of distress and difficulty. percentages describing our high academic excellence and meaningful use of technology in teaching and Issue So, here is the 2020 Oracle magazine for learning is repeatedly noted in the local community Semester 1. The year started well with our graduates newspaper, the Courier-Mail, the Sunday Mail and from the Class of 2019 receiving the OP results that numerous educational publications. Our reputation enabled them to commence on a journey that will locally, nationally and globally is frequently well lead them towards their future careers. recorded. When looking through the Oracle, with the Plus, and most importantly, our ability as a academic, cultural and sporting achievements strong community to pull together in times of mentioned in the various articles, plus the culmination stress, demonstrates the strength behind Ormiston of awards that our school has received, not only College and the way in which we all support 5 8 throughout its history but in particular the last each other. Whether it be working from home or Learning from Home Another great decade for the College decade, one tagline kept coming to mind for the front working at school, we are all working together to cover of this magazine, that being … ensure the very best for everyone. “Why Ormiston College?”. I trust you enjoy the following pages as you read about our happenings and events. Returning By posing that question, readers would expect to the question posed on the front cover … “Why an answer. By reading the various articles on the Ormiston College?”, when you come to the end of the following pages, that answer becomes quite clear. magazine, you may respond “Why NOT?”. There are so many positive reasons as to why one would want to select our school. Valerie Warwick ORACLE EDITOR 12 26 Yes, it’s official, Outside School Hours Care fully authenticated! ORMISTON COLLEGE Design/Layout/Prepress 97 Dundas Street West • Ormiston Jessica King, Brand By Design Queensland 4160 • Australia PO Box 1835 • Cleveland Photography Queensland 4163 • Australia Ruth Ryan Photography ABN 96 010 613 135 Staff, Students, Parents, Alumni Administration Contributions welcome P +61 7 3821 8999 Please contact the editor E [email protected] [email protected] 34 46 Our Early Learning Centre Can I play sport? Visit our website at www.ormistoncollege.com.au The Oracle | Ormiston College Ormiston College | The Oracle | 1 It has been inspiring to see our teachers and support personnel “stepping up, demonstrating creativity, initiative and leadership. ” From the Headmaster Semester 1 of 2020 will be one for the history books. As we all know, there has been so much change to our much-loved way of life as COVID-19 impacted communities around the globe. ho would have predicted that our entire approach to schooling Wwould shift this year? That so many Ormiston College students would be learning without access to their magnificent campus? Nonetheless, in true Ormiston College style we have pulled together, looked out for each other and faced these unsettling circumstances as the strong and connected community we are. Everyone in Team OC has played their part spectacularly well and I extend the warm thanks and appreciation of the College to the countless students, families and staff who have been so encouraging and supportive of each other as we responded, often within tight timeframes, to the unfolding pandemic and its associated impact on schooling. Behind the scenes our staff have been extremely impressive. It has been inspiring to see our teachers and support personnel stepping up, demonstrating creativity, initiative and leadership across the many sub-teams that make up Ormiston College. As schools across the nation grappled with the need for a rapid transition to remote learning models, OC’s strong track record with tech-enabled learning was always going to provide an excellent platform for success. 2 | The Oracle | Ormiston College Ormiston College | The Oracle | 3 While we already know that Ormiston College spirit extends beyond “the campus, beyond normal school hours and beyond the years spent in uniform, the past weeks have really stood out as something special. ” While we may have been moving to process and repositioned OC to optimise online learning, we remained focused the experience for students amidst an on high quality learning. We were as education landscape that continued to determined as ever to achieve the best change. possible outcomes for students. The silver lining around this health By introducing a blended approach crisis has been our burgeoning sense of to our Learning from Home model we community. While we already know that worked to provide a comprehensive suite Ormiston College spirit extends beyond of teacher instructional videos, live online the campus, beyond normal school hours sessions, support materials and pastoral and beyond the years spent in uniform, programs all aimed at supporting our the past weeks have really stood out as students’ wellbeing, engaging them in the something special. learning activities, catering for different learning styles and enabling children to When we need it most, it is uplifting to learn at their own pace. see OC spirit come to the fore, to see our values brought to life, to see a tangible Learning As partners in the learning process, OC parents soared to new heights this sense of belonging and a feeling of being semester. I take this opportunity to thank connected to something bigger than ourselves. from home the families of Ormiston College for their positive attitude and amazing efforts in Not that we need a crisis. When the task of home schooling their children. WELL DONE TEAM OC! glancing through the pages of this edition As schools across the nation grappled with the need to rapidly Furthermore, we were so appreciative of the Oracle it becomes obvious that of the constant messages from families pulling together as a community is simply transition to online learning, it has been fascinating to see the different expressing their support and admiration the OC way. approaches that schools have adopted. for the work of the College. These heartfelt messages were truly a source of Brett Webster ver the many weeks where each day? How do I access the online inspiration as we reimagined the learning HEADMASTER Opoliticians and health learning platforms? professionals around the country placed The experience of both working and restrictions on children physically learning from home has been a major attending school, hundreds of thousands challenge for all concerned. It seemed of Australian parents and teachers tackled every school approached it differently, a very different looking school day. Of some by sending daily routines, others course, there were questions, how long allocating work and leaving it to parents should my child be sitting down to learn to guide the day. 4 | The Oracle | Ormiston College Ormiston College | The Oracle | 5 Report Card “Thank you, OC, for the positive attitude towards all trying our best. We are building “Thank you to the selfless staff for the care amazingly resilient and adaptable adults of and support you are giving the Campus of OC. the future. This is a journey and there’s a Your guidance, be it spiritually, academically great team on the task. Thank you, teachers, or mentally to the students navigating these leadership team and students”. unknown waters is to be applauded and will At Ormiston College we took a blended assure the students will ride it out. The team at approach to our Learning from Home model. As OC set an exemplary example of humankind”. a recognised leader in tech-enabled learning our priority was to deliver quality teaching to ensure “I want to send everyone involved our the best possible outcomes for students. With a family’s sincere thanks. Ormiston College solid asynchronous approach as our foundation, staff have worked so hard to create an “Ormiston College has handled the Covid19 crisis the College then enhanced the learning experience environment that helps keep our kids feel with the professionalism and expertise I’d expect with synchronous, real-time teaching and support calm, happy, engaged and connected this from my 12-year association with the school. They’ve activities via live video sessions enabling a variety time, whether they are on campus or off. The adopted online learning with ease and are continuing of learning experiences such as reviewing key approach has been comprehensive, inclusive to educate our children at a high standard, giving concepts, questions and answers, tutorials, group and flexible right from the very beginning, us the freedom to concentrate on our own work discussions and explicit teaching.