A Message from Mr Scott Bedingfield, Head of College
It has been incredible to see the wonderful opportunities across the College since the last edition of Pin Oak.
It has been particularly special to welcome many new families to the College during their Orientation Days and at the Pin Oak Fair last Saturday. This has been a special time in the life of the College and our community and I have no doubt everyone will make our new members of the community feel especially welcome.
I would like to take a moment to particularly thank the Parents and Friends Association, headed by P&F President Megan Moore, who have given so tirelessly to support the College in its 40th year. Despite the rain, the Pin Oak Fair was a wonderful day for our community. We do still have a few tickets in our car raffle and I encourage you to share this with your wider networks as the funds raised in this raffle will make a difference to many people in the College.
Our Class of 2023 have concluded their HSC examinations and once again a significant number of our students have received early offers for university courses, which is testament to their hard work and sustained dedication to their studies. We look forward to sharing in their successes in the future.
Over the break, I had the wonderful opportunity to join our Year 11 students on their Outback adventure and then travel to Kenya with four students to the Round Square International Conference. This term has also seen our OLE programs in full swing. I have been delighted to hear how our students took the Oxley spirit on camps, into the city, out to the Outback and overseas where they developed their resilience and learned a little more about service. I am so grateful to all our staff who led trips over the last few weeks; their tireless efforts allow our students to thrive and grow as individuals. Our planning for the 2024 slate of activities is well underway – more information is available on our Trip and Adventures information site.
The connections our students made in Kenya with students from across the globe has confirmed the value of joining the Round Square network. Earlier this term, Oxley welcomed Mr Philip Heath (Head of Barker College) and Mr Ben George (Australasia Round Square Director) who spent time with many members of our community, including our Governors, staff, students and parents, to understand more about our Vision and Mission to see if our values are aligned with the Round Square philosophy. I am pleased to say that it was a very affirming visit and they will be shortly taking their recommendation to the Round Square Board. I look forward to sharing more about this with you at Speech Night in a few weeks.
In case you missed it, there were several important matters disclosed in my last message to the Pin Oak community, particularly regarding bell times and traffic. I will write to families again over the Christmas break but in the meantime I do encourage you to read this important information.
Staffing Announcements
In addition to the announcements made in the last edition of Pin Oak, there have been several staffing appointments made over the last few weeks and I am pleased to announce the following positions for the beginning of 2024:
- Ms Dene Patterson – Head of Academic Operations P-12. Ms Patterson is currently Head of Durack House.
- Mr Christophe Gauchat – Head of Co-Curricular P-12. Mr Gauchat’s role is currently 7-12 and in 2024 will transition to P-12.
- Mrs Lee McGuinness – Director of Curriculum 7-12. Mrs McGuinness joins us from Frensham and is currently Head of English.
- Dr Jeremy Hall – Head of Philosophy and Ethics. Dr Hall joins us from Newington College where he is the Co-Director of the Centre of Ethics and Critical Thinking and Head of Philosophy and Religious Studies.
- Mr Joshua Hurkett – Head of Senior School Sport. Mr Nathan Sievert has stepped down from this position from the beginning of 2024.
- Mrs Joanne McVean (Head of Humanities)
- Mr Justin Verco (Head of Durack House)
- Mrs Melissa Sievert (Acting Head of Dobell House) – Mrs Sievert will take on this role as Mr Kieran Staples takes leave.
- Mrs Katrine Pascoe – Head of Drama P-12. Mrs Pascoe will work closely with Mr Andrew Young (Head of Performing Arts P-12) and Mrs Renee Zink (Head of Music P-12)
- Mrs Renee Zink – Head of Music P-12
- Mrs Dani Noonan – Art Teacher P-6 and Gifted and Talented Teacher P-6
- Mrs Melissa Lamrock-George – Gifted and Talented Teacher 7-12. Mrs Lamrock-George will also continue as a Music Teacher
- Miss Georgie Ridehalgh – Junior School Teacher. Miss Ridehalgh is joining us from Knox Grammar School.
- Mr Adam Rothwell – Junior School Teacher. Mr Rothwell is joining us from PLC Sydney.
- Ms Juliet Burnham – Junior School Teacher. Ms Burnham is joining us from Bowral Public School.
- Mrs Cath Taylor – English Teacher. Mrs Taylor is an extremely experienced educator rejoining teaching after working for a not-for-profit organisation focussing on work in Nepal.
An outline of these positions as well as clear instructions on where to direct inquiries pertaining to these areas will be communicated prior to the new academic year in 2024.
I would like to thank the following staff for their service to Oxley as we farewell them at the end of 2023:
- Mrs Emma Calver – Head of Community Relations and Enrolments. Mrs Calver has made the difficult decision to finish her time at Oxley at the end of 2023. We wish her all the best for her future direction, and I have no doubt we will see her around the place in the years to come.
- Mrs Belinda McGregor – Mathematics Teacher. After a wonderful career, including 13 years at Oxley, Mrs McGregor retires at the end of 2023.
- Mr Jonathan Hunt – Junior School Teacher. After 8 years in the Stage 3 classrooms Jonathan will be departing Oxley to be able to focus on this work at University lecturing in Education.
- Mrs Kat Bevis – Junior Art Teacher – Thank you for a wonderful year at Oxley College inspiring our young artists.
Wishing everyone a safe and productive last few weeks of the school year.
Scott Bedingfield, Head of College