Orara High School, Coffs Harbour

05/09/2026

This week we celebrated Literacy and Numeracy Week and recognising the important role these skills play in learning every day.

This year’s theme, “Every day counts, every word matters”, reflects what we see across our classrooms at Orara High School.

Literacy and numeracy are not limited to English and Mathematics. Students regularly build these skills across all of their subjects through reading, writing, interpreting information, working with data, solving problems and explaining their thinking.

Throughout the year, our students complete regular literacy and numeracy activities designed to strengthen these essential skills and help them become confident learners across every area of school and beyond.

Literacy and Numeracy Week gives us a chance to celebrate the work our students and teachers are already doing every day.

05/09/2026

04/09/2026

A big thank you to Jacqui Heward from Food Culture Nutrition and Sports Dietetics for coming to Orara HS on Friday 14th August to speak with our Year 9 and 10 OSAA students. The talk focused on nutrition and how to fuel the body for performance across different sporting disciplines, competitions and gala days. Students were also given an insight into common misconceptions around supplements and the Australian advice for athletes under the age of 18.

04/09/2026

As we continue to celebrate Literacy and Numeracy Week, our Small Group Tuition students have been working hard to strengthen their reading comprehension by exploring how texts work to create meaning.

Small Group Tuition is a Department-wide initiative aimed at improving literacy and numeracy outcomes for students requiring additional support. At Orara, we provide targeted learning opportunities that support growth and engagement by catering to students’ individual literacy and numeracy needs.

This term, students have enjoyed engaging with a selection of Roald Dahl’s cherished and iconic short stories while developing their ability to think deeply about language, characters, structure and the choices authors make.

We would also like to acknowledge the valuable support of our paraprofessional, Todd, whose contribution has helped make these learning experiences possible.

We’re proud of the progress, confidence and enthusiasm our students have shown as they continue to grow as skilled readers!

03/09/2026

This week, Orara High School celebrates School Support Recognition Week and the incredible people who support our students, staff and families every day. From the front office to the classroom, from student wellbeing to keeping our grounds and facilities running, our school support staff make an enormous contribution to our community.

03/09/2026

Our new Athletic Performance Centre (APC) has quickly become an important part of the sporting and educational opportunities available to students at Orara High School.

The facility is a significant component of our Orara Sports Academy (OSAA) program, providing students with the opportunity to take part in structured strength and conditioning sessions. Under the guidance of our experienced staff, students are learning how to become stronger, faster and more resilient, while developing an understanding of safe and effective training practices.

The Performance Centre is also playing an important role in our VET Fitness program, with students working towards attaining their Certificate III in Fitness. As part of their practical experience, these students have been building their required industry hours by delivering supervised training sessions for other students during recess. This has provided them with valuable hands-on experience while increasing their confidence in coaching, communication and program delivery.

From next year, strength and conditioning will become an embedded component of the curriculum for students studying within our Athlete and High Potential Physical Performance streams. This will provide students with further opportunities to develop their physical capabilities while learning the principles that underpin athletic performance.

The APC has been a welcome addition to our school, and we look forward to seeing the continued impact it has on our students. We hope to see significant improvements in strength, speed, physical literacy and confidence, while providing students with skills and experiences that extend well beyond the classroom.

02/09/2026

We love celebrating the achievements of our students, both in and out of the classroom! A huge congratulations to Bella on her incredible success at the recent Eisteddfod. Bella’s dedication and passion for performance truly shone, earning her multiple first-place finishes and major awards, including Overall Intermediate Champion and the Dramatic Excellence Award. This is an outstanding achievement and a reflection of her hard work and talent.
Well done, Bella!

31/08/2026

What an incredible achievement for Orara High School OSAA Academy student Jaida, who has been selected to represent Australia in Squash after four days competing for NSW at the Australian Schools Championships (CHS Squash)!

Jaida’s hard work has earned her a place in the Australian team for the Trans Tasman Test against New Zealand. Congratulations, Jaida! What an amazing accomplishment and opportunity to represent your country - the entire Orara High School community is so proud of you!